Replicant – Infinite Mortality Review

I was never a big fan of Replicant. The New Jersey quartet’s¹ sophomore record Malignant Reality earned a high score on this here blog, but it failed to resonate with me at all. It featured solid enough tunes with big grooves and chunky riffs, but for one reason or another nothing stuck. However, every advance single for third LP Infinite Mortality struck a chord, so I snagged the promo in hopes that Replicant were about to turn the tables on me this time around.

Lo and behold, the turns have tabled massively. Still formed on the backbone of sounds established by legends Gorguts and Demilich, Replicant’s third assault throws its considerable heft towards even groovier, riffier, and more impactful material than ever before. Notable influences from brutal death metal, hardcore, dissonant death metal, and even a hint of slam inform much of what Infinite Mortality offers, but in no way do Replicant leave their uniquely intelligent and vitriolic character behind. In fact, these added traits serve exclusively to enhance what Replicant already did well, elevating their uncompromising songwriting to a new echelon of quality.

Luckily for me, I only have to wait a quarter of one second before Infinite Mortality smashes my skull in with an unfathomably ruinating opening quartet of songs. “Acid Mirror” through “Reciprocal Abandonment” show me new worlds of weird, swaggering death metal overburdened with unstoppable riffs and face-ripping solos—some chunky (“Acid Mirror,” “Shrine to the Incomprehensible”), some slithery (“Acid Mirror,” “Orgasm of Bereavement”), and some subtly atmospheric and technical (“Reciprocal Abandonment”). As the album progresses into its second half, more purposeful dalliances with dissonant atmospheres and post-hardcore flourishes function not only as effective spacial reprieves from what would otherwise be a relentless crush, but also as memorable landmarks that help give these songs distinct definition without compromising thematic unity (“Dwelling on the Threshold,” “Planet of Skin”). Even here, though, Infinite Mortality houses some of the record’s hardest-hitting and infectious riffs in this second act, like those burgeoning from album highlights² “Pain Enduring” and “Nekrotunnel.” This, in turn, further accentuates Infinite Mortality’s wonderfully fluid ebb and flow as one of its great strengths.

Replicant’s tight and expressive performances match one-for-one Infinite Mortality’s buttery smooth songwriting. With such focused skill and immense talent on tap, the band as a unit gains greater flexibility to explore and develop their compositional ideas to their maximum potential at every turn (“Acid Mirror,” “Nekrotunnel”). Granting those ideas a fearsome rhythmic power, James Applegate’s destructive kit work harkens to the blunt force of hardcore, enriched by the frantic verve of brutal technicality (“Reciprocal Abandonment”). Michael Gonçalves’ howling vocals and punchy guitar and bass support play their part as well, primed to engage the fight, flight, or freeze response of anyone who dare approach (“Pain Enduring,” “Planet of Skin”). Peter Lloyd and Itay Keren lift massive weight with their guitars (and, in Itay’s case, also vocals), delivering destructive riffs and weaving together colorful layers of deceptively beautiful harmony (or frightening dissonance) to leads, accents, and solos as any given song requires.

500 words in, and I suddenly realize how difficult it is to come up with anything negative to say about Infinite Mortality. Initially, I believed closer “Planet of Skin” to be overlong at just over nine minutes, and even now instrumental interlude “SCN9A” doesn’t offer much in the way of useful content. I later came to at least appreciate “Planet of Skin” as a horrifying epic through eerie, twisted soundscapes, which eased the impression of bloat significantly, but not entirely. If I were to strain myself reaching for more nitpicks, I could note that most of Infinite Mortality’s six-plus minute songs could also be trimmed to further maximize impact. However, even as I type that line, I lack conviction, debating whether or not I actually believe those words or just feel compelled by a sense of duty to include one more point of critique. The simple truth is that Replicant have me head over heels for Infinite Mortality. It’s brutal, it’s smart as hell, and it’s a novel entry in the wild world of skronky death. You’d be remiss to let it pass you by.

Rating: Excellent!
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Websites: facebook.com/replicantnj | replicantnj.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: April 12th, 2024