siLLy puPPy As one of the ugly mutated spawns of the 2020 pandemic, Chicago area CRYPTUM has emerged from the gutters to deliver a vile representation of the classic old school death metal when it was still having separation anxiety from the parent thrash metal world. This band features the lineup of Kyle Pooley (Drums), Carlos Santini (Lead Guitar), Mike Brilmyer (Vocals), Trevor Cook (Rhythm Guitar) and Matthew Aguilar (Bass Guitar).

CRYPTUM is following the trend of many newer bands in the attention deficit world of the 2020’s and that is by releasing a series of EPs instead of full albums. Following 2021’s “Enter The Cryptum EP” comes VILE EMERGENCE in 2022 which features a mere four tracks adding up to only about 16 minutes. This band looks to the past for its inspiration and i’m talking classic Morbid Angel, Pestilence, Autopsy, Cannibal Corpose and other no nonsense old school death metal bands that eschewed epicness, progressive or experimental touches.

So authentic is VILE EMERGENCE that you could easily believe this was some band from 1992 with its razor-sharp rhythms laced with crushing guitar dominance and hyperactive bass and drumming action. The guttural growls are nothing new under the sun but simulate a veritable retro experience which is the avenue many new bands have taken as of late. While comparable to Corpsegrinder’s own 2022 old school tribute to death metal of the past, CRYPTUM has a darker and more formidable vibe to its blackened schizophrenic uproar.

Not exactly anything that will take death metal into its next phase of evolution but a powerful and dynamic representation of a old school death metal interpreted in the modern world and for that VILE EMERGENCE is a worthy formidable beast to check out if old school death metal sounds are your serious thing. After all those classic styles never really grow old and can easily be upgraded as bands like Defiled and Deathhammer have demonstrated. While CRYPTUM hasn’t sprouted its own wings quite yet, the band certainly is one to watch out for in coming years.