Conjonctive are a “Blackened Deathcore” outfit born in Nyon, Switzerland in 2007. “In the Mouth of the Devil” is their second release.  They feature two singers Sonia and Randy and guitarists and bassists who have all decided that the usual number of strings is just not enough and have added one a piece. This suggests to me that this is going to be quite a tech fest.

“Purgatory” is a cinematic introduction to the collection full of drama and bombast before it switches to more familiar chugging riffs.  “You’re Next “is the first time I get to hear Sonia and Randy trading vocal lines and it works well.  Both voices offer something different and complement each other over the chugs. The music itself is pretty generic unfortunately offering up much of the same Deathcore that Whitechapel , Chelsea Grin et al proffer. The title track has some interesting sections but the drums sound electronic giving a real tinny feel to what should be a pretty organic blaster.

“Let Blow the Grim Wind” at last shows the Blackened side that was promised with some effective blasts and more of a groove to it. The guitar solo offers another side to Conjonctive and helps me imagine them more as a live band in a studio rather than a bunch of WAVS in a Pro Tool file.   “The Cult of the Shining Planet” continues the feel whilst incorporating elements of early Fear Factory . Each song segues into the next with big riffs and mighty drums but it is the subtleties that stand out for me. Baritone choral moments in “Burn Your Eyes” and bursts of cleaner punky rasps add spice to the meat and potatoes Deathcore on offer.   “Defeat the Red Sun” has some horns aloft moments and a neck breaker of a riff. When Conjonctive simplify things they fucking rock it just feels that there is the need to throw the kitchen sink in during the first half of the album. Must be all those extra strings that need plucking. Overall this is a good band who have made a competent album with some great stand out tracks.

(6/10 Matt Mason)

https://www.facebook.com/conjonctive

https://conjonctive.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-mouth-of-the-devil