Review: Encryptor – Sermon Decay
From the Crypt Review
Encryptor – Sermon Decay
Released 2002.
Felipe Diez III is a prolific guy, and should be known by anybody more than cursorily
acquainted with Christian metal. He’s most known as Ogrvst in his black metal project
Sorrowstorm, but is also known for his work in Northern Ash, Rehumanize, Ministros del
Santuario, and Entorn, all spanning a variety of extreme metal styles.
Aside from his classic work in Sorrowstorm, it’s his Encryptor project that really caught
my eye. I mean, that cover art – how can one not take notice? A skeletal, rotting figure backed
by sinister creatures, preaching to a decaying crowd of corpses? Art like this really needs to be
kept alive in death metal. I digress.
If you’re like me and had some bad experiences at church in your life, this album is for
you. Felipe’s overt frustration with the infiltration of legalism, heresy, and error into the life of the
church is felt in every word, (though I’d really recommend a lyric sheet on this one!). Sermon
Decay is essentially a death metal tirade against churches rotting from the inside because of
false doctrine and teaching. Growing up, I encountered a lot of this kind of legalism and bizarre
teachings, and often left church in major frustration, so I can relate to what he’s saying here. To
the music. Sermon Decay is not for the faint of heart. Taking the punchy percussive aspect so
central to the sound of death metal legends Suffocation, Encryptor dials up the intensity by
blending the hammering rhythms with the speed and chaos of bands like Afflicted Truth and
Tortured Conscience, resulting in a death/grind record that will most likely divide listeners due to
its unforgiving approach.
The talent on display by Felipe here is simply incredible. The guitar work is violent, the
drums hit with the precision of a jackhammer, and the ultra-deep vocals give Luke Renno of
Crimson Thorn a major run for his money. “Bloodflow Towards Salvation” boasts an amazing,
almost black metal-esque riff that flows perfectly over the frantic drum work, with the song
ending on with an inescapable feeling of overwhelming dread. “Vomit Congregation” opens with
some amazing tribal-sounding percussion that somehow absolutely works with the relentless
autocannon drums. However, it can sometimes be easy to get lost in the all-encompassing
precision chaos of it all, and songs can blend together into one massive attack. The production
work on the album could use a bit of polish here and there (and I hardly ever advocate this in
most cases!), as there is a sense of muddiness in the overall sound.
That said, this is one underground gem that you don’t want to miss out on. If you’re a
major fan of that punchy Suffocation sound mixed with the unrelenting approach of death/grind
acts like Afflicted Truth and Circle of Dead Children, you’ll love this one.
For Fans Of: Crimson Thorn, Revulsed, Afflicted Truth, Tortured Conscience, Suffocation, Circle
of Dead Children
https://coleiosis.bandcamp.com/album/sermon-decay
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