If you’ve been going to shows in Philadelphia over the last five years (or caught them on tour), it is likely that at some point, Congenital Death has made an impression on you. There’s been some lineup changes and stylistic mutation over the years, but one thing has been true the whole time: They write razor sharp hardcore songs, and deliver them with unbelievable fury.

There’s something menacing, almost mechanical about the tempos and guitar riffs on this record, it’s impossible not to be filled with tension when listening to it. There are occasional small passages where the volume comes down leaving only some strange unsettling melody, setting you up for the next explosion. The production is smart; it’s a full and clear sounding recording, thick and heavy, it feels like standing in the middle of the band. It’s a fitting representation of this outfit that just seems to get more focused, more abrasive, and more unusual every year.

Track listing:
01. Dasein Striving
02. Alyosha The Pot
03. City Mouse, Country Mouse
04. The Deep Silence
05. Jenova
06. This Is What (American) Dreams Are Made Of
07. The Profane Angel Descends
08. Om (All Good Things)
09. Congenital Death (The Mortician’s Friend)
10. Ascension
11. World B. Free II
12. The Profane Angel Descends: Man’s Responsibility
13. When The Porridge Is Cold
14. Magna Carta (Magnum Opus)
15. Tuscan Pain