New Music Review: MOLDER ‘Catastrophic Reconfiguration’

MOLDER 'Catastrophic Reconfiguration' - COVER PHOTO

Rating: 9 / 10 Stars

MOLDER is: Aaren Pantke (vocals/guitar), Carlos Santini (guitar), Dominic Vaia (bass), Kyle Pooley (drums)

REVIEW – MOLDER is back with a vengeance as they prepare to unleash their highly anticipated third album, ‘Catastrophic Reconfiguration’, set for release on November 8th via Prosthetic Records. Following up on the decaying brutality of their 2022 album ‘Engrossed In Decay’, the Joliet, IL death metal outfit continues their gruesome journey into the abyss with their newest material. With this album, MOLDER pushes the boundaries of death metal while staying true to their rotting core, delivering a visceral and unforgiving sonic assault.

The title track, “Catastrophic Reconfiguration”, sets the tone for the entire album, unleashing a maelstrom of blistering riffs, pummeling drums, and the agonizing howls of Aaren Pantke. This song is a standout with its ferocious pace and crushing heaviness, giving listeners a preview of the album’s intensity. “Pulped” and “Overdue Burial” follow with no room for respite, pulling listeners deeper into the band’s nightmarish soundscape with grinding guitar riffs and relentless drumwork from Kyle Pooley.

Tracks like “Frothing” and “Masked in Mold” showcase MOLDER’s ability to balance technical precision with raw energy. With guest vocals from Scott Carroll of Cianide on “Frothing”, the song takes on a chaotic thrash-meets-death metal vibe that is sure to become a fan favorite. Dominic Vaia’s bass rumbles through the mix, adding a nauseating undercurrent to the blistering guitar leads of Carlos Santini.

Lyrically, ‘Catastrophic Reconfiguration’ explores themes of decomposition, decay, and rebirth, perfectly mirrored in the grimy, blood-soaked tones of the music. The album art, designed by Mexican oil painter Julian Felipe Mora Ibañez, complements these themes, portraying a haunting scene that draws inspiration from death metal classics like ‘Mental Funeral’ and ‘Dark Recollections’.

Despite some challenges during recording, including Pantke breaking his nose right before tracking vocals, the band emerged stronger than ever, delivering a record that is tighter, nastier, and more dynamic than their previous efforts. Engineered by Matt Aguilar and mixed and mastered by Greg Wilkinson (Autopsy), ‘Catastrophic Reconfiguration’ is a masterclass in modern death metal production—clean yet unrelentingly brutal.

With tracks like “Bursted Innards” and “Corpse Copulation”, MOLDER ensures that fans of old-school death metal will be fully satisfied. Pantke’s vicious growls, the punishing rhythm section, and Santini’s scorching guitar leads make this album a standout in the death metal scene.

‘Catastrophic Reconfiguration’ is more than just an album; it’s a blood-soaked journey into the bowels of death metal history and MOLDER’s evolution. Mark your calendars for November 8th, because MOLDER is ready to take the underground by storm with their most polished and punishing release yet.