TOMB MOLD
Canadian purists find a new form of regression
As death metal splinters into ever more disparate strands, Tomb Mold’s exhilarating harnessing of dense, old-school squall marks them out as one of the modern era’s most fervent purists. And yet, as guitarist Derrick Vella explains, the songs on the Canadians’ second album, Manor Of Infinite Forms, are primarily the result of instinct.
“For me personally, death metal has to be imaginative and it has to have spirit,” says guitarist Derrick Vella. “I’m not too picky about stuff sounding ‘old school’ or filthy, as much as I like those things. I just want to see a clear vision, an interesting aesthetic and good riffs. I try not to think too much about what I write… I just let it happen.”
Formed by Derrick and drummer/vocalist Max Klebanoff in 2015, Tomb Mold began as a conscious attempt to ape the scabrous brutality of early Finnish death, with a side order of mid-90s USDM worship thrown in for good measure. Despite those obvious influences, however, Manor Of Infinite Forms has a deliciously idiosyncratic feel to it, the band’s lyrical preoccupations, knack for warped surrealism and those grotesque, churning riffs setting them measurably apart from the scowling hordes.
“On the surface, this record deals with finding a passage to an ancient subterranean civilisation living inside the planet,” Derrick explains. “But the themes behind the record include loss, ascension, being torn apart from within, past-life hypnosis and hallucinations. The title refers to one’s mind and how it can be changed or manipulated.”
Speaking of change, Tomb Mold’s original ambitions were endearingly humble and low-key, but the band are swiftly getting used to the idea that death metal fans can spot the real, darkness-embracing deal when they hear it. “The original idea was to record a couple of demo tapes, sell ’em online and then pack it in!” Derrick notes. “But now we’ll tour more, make another record and hopefully cross the water to play in the UK, Europe and elsewhere, too. This has definitely exceeded expectations!”