Februus, the enigmatic Swedish death metal project, returns with its latest album, 'Construction of Conflict', a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 'Surveillance Orgy'. This new release continues to showcase the band's unique blend of technical prowess and raw aggression, pushing the boundaries of the genre. The album's title, inspired by the Etruscan god of the underworld, hints at the dark and complex nature of the music, which is indeed cavernous, esoteric, and terrifying. As a solo artist, Februus showcases an impressive level of craftsmanship, with nearly every element of the album, except the drumming, created by the artist himself. The programming of the drums is seamlessly integrated, making it difficult to distinguish from live drumming, a testament to the band's attention to detail and artistic vision.
One of the standout features of 'Construction of Conflict' is the guitar work, which is stuffed to bursting with pirouetting riffs, odd-timing, and progressive alchemy. Andreas Karlsson's indecipherable vocals add an arcane element, reminiscent of the weirdest parts of Blood Incantation. The dense instrumentation and challenging vocals make for a rewarding and bewildering listening experience, demanding the listener's full attention and rewarding them with memorable riffs and atmospheric passages. However, the album's strength also becomes its Achilles' heel, as the sheer volume of ideas in each track can be overwhelming, leaving the listener with a sense of being lost in a maelstrom of cacophonous vocals and crunchy guitar heroics.
The production and guitar tone are incredibly consistent, but the lack of throughline riffs can make the album feel samey at times. Karlsson's vocals, while adding to the album's arcane atmosphere, further blend the band into a soup of carnage, making it difficult to distinguish between tracks. The album's biggest issue is its reliance on the strength of its instrumentation, which, while undoubtedly impressive, never quite reaches the ecstatic heights of its predecessor, 'Surveillance Orgy'.
Despite these minor quibbles, 'Construction of Conflict' is a testament to Februus' artistic vision and technical prowess. It is an acquired taste, rewarding those who take the time to let the abstruse songs whisk them away to a truly alien land. The album draws inspiration from the ills of modern society, reflecting on the obtuse, monolithic, and devious nature of our ruling bodies and systemic structures. For fans of technical death metal, this album is a must-listen, offering a unique and challenging listening experience that will leave a lasting impression.
Rating: Very Good
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records (https://tometal.com/)
Websites: Bandcamp (https://februusdm.bandcamp.com/album/construction-of-conflict) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Februusband/)
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026
