Origin // Chaosmos // Album Review

Origin has always been a titan in the tech-death world.

Since forming in 1997 & now on their 25th year as a band “Chaosmos” see the band release their 4th album with their current line up & next release on Agonia Records.

Forged of eight tracks and a nice forty-five-minute running time “Chaosmos” was a very big surprise for me. I have always been an occasional listener of Origins but for me technical death metal can sometimes fly over my head or bore me quickly. Technical skill is great but I need something to dig my teeth in.

The last few albums have been good but after ⅔ listens I never really returned to them. But unlike those albums with “Chaosmos” i found myself revisiting again & again. Not only for review purposes but because I enjoyed it so much.

So what have Origin been able to do for me that they haven’t in the past that now i can really enjoy?

Well just from a few interviews I’ve watched & read from guitarist Paul Ryan the band has seemed to keep the core Origin sound fans know but also leaned heavily into some of the influences of older death metal.

For me is a massive plus being an old school death metal lover but Origin hasn’t jumped ship here. What the band has been able to do is craft their sonic blistering sound with different elements to create one of the best Origin albums to date.

The opening track “Ecophagy ” starts out in the signature Origin fashion. 1000BPM blasting from legendary drummer John Longstreth, A thick but piercing bass tone from Mike Flores & the technical guitar wizardry of Paul Ryan. But the latter half of the track slows down & shows the more chugging & hypnotic side of Origin, Keeping it simple but still having the flair that makes Origin who they are shines through.

As we hit the second track “Chaosmos” is another freight train of brutality. Featuring a Dying Fetus style chugging breakdown section with some ultra guttural vocals this was a lovely surprise as the band brought it back around a second time as a heavy ass breakdown to close the song out. A fantastic title track!

The fifth track “Decolonizer” for me is the strongest on the album.

Keeping a very raw sound similar to the band’s sound when forming in 1997. But what caught me was the 10/10 groove they have running through the track. Some great riffing start to finish on this one. Picking up its speed at the right time keeps the track interesting but also very memorable.

“Chaosmos” is the most diverse Origin album within the last few years. Not only is it sonically brutal in nature but it has something that always lacked for me. Big grooves & very catchy moments. If you love Origin this will hit hard, but if you have never given Origin a listen this is the best album for newcomers!

Chaosmos is out via Agonia Records on 3rd June 2022

Review: Joseph Mitchell