Band – Februus
Album – Surveillance Orgy
Country of Origin – Sweden
Genre – Progressive Death Metal
Release Date – July 19, 2024
Label – Transcending Obscurity Records
Author – Hayduke X
“Surveillance Orgy” starts out with a bang…or rather a ‘bleh’ before turning on the funk, and that’s thanks to Gentrification of the Soul. The track is a good starting point for this album, though it’s hard to point to one track as an exemplar for the album – there is just too much diversity on the album. This track has a haunting atmosphere, weird riffs, incredible bass work, rock steady drumming, and the growl of the damned. Check it out for yourself, then drop below the player for my full review.
So, let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the room right away. Februus is weird. There, I’ve said it. However, we like weird around these parts, and I think a lot of our readers do too, so long as it’s good weird, and this is definitely good weird. The album is heavy as Everest, and the terrain is just about as difficult in parts, but the pay-off, that feeling of mastering the mountain when it all clicks into some strange part of your psyche makes it more than worth it. Make sure you’re properly prepared, then strap on your gear for “Surveillance Orgy.”
Februus is the solo project of Andreas Karlsson from Sweden, a project he announced to the world in 2021 with the release of a self-titled demo, followed by a two track EP in 2022. “Surveillance Orgy” is the debut full length and his official entry into the hallowed halls of weirdo progressive death metal. The album is sometimes chaotic, sometimes calm, but always coherent. Everything fits together nicely, from riffs to rumble, blasts to belching vocals, but the music does often takes unexpected turns – up when you think it will go left, teleporting when you think it will go right. The result is a beautiful sense of disorientation.
If you’re an adventurous sort, this album is for you. If you’re not, well you will be by the time you’re done listening, because this album is for you anyway. Climb on in for the “Surveillance Orgy!”
Preorder the album on the Transcending Obscurity Bandcamp page or webstore.
Biography: Hayduke X has been writing for MoshPitNation since June of 2016. He is also a contributor to The Metal Wanderlust. Prior to joining the MoshPitNation team, Hayduke published reviews on his own blog Rage and Frustration. In addition, he has DJ’ed an online metal radio show of the same name as his blog, written for TOmetal.com, done interviews for Metal Rules, and collaborated with The Art of B Productions to create video interviews with a wide variety of bands.
