Awakening from a 7-year slumber, the newest offering from techincal death metallers Decrepit Birth is entwined with musical athleticism and characteristic esoteric themes. Axis Mundi was recorded at 3 different studios over the course of a year. The clarity, the power, the musicianship, and the brutality aren't vying for attention. They're in absolute harmony. The guitars are razor sharp yet spine-snappingly heavy. The drums are genre-defining, recalling what Sean Reinert, Gene Hoglan, and Steve Flynn did for Death and Atheist, respectively. And the bass has a great deep-end against the ceaselessly wicked rhythms.