Ectovoid – In Unreality’s Coffin Review

A well-executed death metal riff or blastbeat provides a satisfaction comparable to savoring a cup of coffee on a quiet Sunday morning by the fireplace.

So, whenever I stumble upon a killer new record, it serves as a friendly reminder that there is indeed peace in chaos.

With that said, Ectovoid’s new opus, In Unreality’s Coffin, is like being wrapped in a warm anxiety blanket while watching Faces of Death as you’re spiraling into the bowels of an infinite wormhole.

Pardoxical, sure.

However, the warm production is like slurping on chicken noodle soup, but at the same time, like chomping down on a Carolina Reaper dipped in ghost pepper sauce.

From the get-go, “Dissonance Corporeum” bounces in with a reverse buildup before crashing through the wall with Ozempic-resistant riffs of flat-out chunkiness. There’s mixing and mashing tremolos and power-chord plunges. Fun, fun, fun. But the work behind the kit really sets the tone for the remainder of the record, methinks. There are these little intricate rolls and crashes between chord changes mid-riff that help emphasize the guttural vocal cadences.

If we fast-forward to “Collapsing Spiritual Nebula,” C.M.’s drumming is indeed influenced by Chris Reifert of, obviously, Autopsy fame. Much of that probably boils down to how well the band, and C.M., in particular, manage the eloquent tempo changes in the vein of something like a Severed Survival or Mental Funeral. While there’s certainly some of that, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s Autopsy-worship. You’ll find some Incantation in there, too, primarily in the riff construction, with the focal point being the John McEntee-esque tremelo riffs with a few power chord chugs on the tail end — check out “Irradiated Self,” for example.

But there are some other little nuances that you’ll pick up on if you’re paying close attention — and I think this says a lot about Ectovoid’s attention to detail — but layers of texture, like the subtle arrpegios on “Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane),” or the faint, whispered voice on “Formless Seeking Form” — throw some brushes of cosmic creepiness into the equation (much like that Paolo Giardi painting on the cover art). Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that sweet solo during the latter half of “Formless…”

The album really comes into form just two tracks later on “In Unreality’s Coffin.” Without question, the most evil-sounding song on the record, the title track is as chaotic — in a good way — as it is structured. C.B’s Ross Dolan-ish guttural vocal work, especially during the breakdown around the two-minute mark, is a gut-punch. Along with the rhythm guitar duo of C.B. and C.S., it’s quite groovy and would demolish in a live setting. But, holistically, the track’s pacing is strong, pulling and pushing between breakneck speeds and stank-face-inducing mid-pace riffs. Again, I definitely had the most fun throughout these four minutes.

Speaking of pacing, “It Is Without Shape” is a quality instrumental that makes way for “In Anguished Levitation,” the coup de grace. In their typical fashion, Ectovoid brings more of that Mental Funeral influence, along with some traces of Immolation’s Atonement, so super quality stuff to round things out. At its core, the final two songs are reminders of just how well the album is structured sequence-wise and within the confines of each individual song. As you’ll hear on “In Anguished Levitation,” it’s a nice sendoff after 35-plus minutes of being pulled back and forth between respite and suffocation.

Overall, Ectovoid delivers a strong start to 2026 with a death metal album that appeals to both longtime fans and noobs. And whether you enjoy old-school death metal or simply gravitate towards catchy, riff-heavy music, this LP is accessible and right up your alley, or metal up your ass, for a cooler descriptor. Simply put, if you’re looking for some extreme music comfort food, prepare to feast. Like the great soup of chicken, In Unreality’s Coffin is a timeless dish. And like the great soup of chicken, you shall enjoy.