Cryptopsy

Surprisingly, Cryptopsy's latest offering doesn't suck. In fact, it's pretty damn good. Following numerous line-up changes and some lacklustre releases, the long-running Quebecois tech-death outfit have redeemed themselves with their new self-titled album. Cryptopsy is the band's seventh studio album and it's a huge return to form after 2008's abysmal venture into deathcore, The Unspoken King, which completely sullied the reputation they built with 1996's genre-defining None So Vile and alienated their core fanbase. With this new self-released record, Cryptopsy bring back the brutal, stressing speed and utter intensity. "Two-Pound Torch" is a solid start, with a return to death growls, as vocalist Matt McGachy gratefully kicks his clean singing to the curb. "Damed Draft Dodgers" showcases Flo Mounier's pummelling drum work, while "Amputated Enigma" and "The Golden Square Mile" display guitarists Jon Levasseur and Chris Donaldson's abilities. Also produced by Donaldson, the album is extremely crisp, adding to its mammoth sound, making it the record that should have been released years ago. Better late than never, Cryptopsy. Welcome back.