CARBON TOMB‘s full-length debut is ungodly fun and brutal, even if it is the tiniest bit rough around the edges.
Release date: July 17, 2026 | Transcending Obscurity Records | Instagram | Bandcamp | Streaming
Denmark’s new dissonant death metal band CARBON TOMB is a bit of a genre supergroup, if there is such a thing for a niche subsect like this. CARBON TOMB shares members with Dysgnostic, a creative force in the field, and other ‘undisclosed‘ Danish bands, which adds an air of mystery to the whole thing. While microgenres like this can run the risk of having every album be virtually identical, CARBON TOMB do an excellent job of distinguishing themselves as an act to be watched on their debut, titled Passage to a Neutron Star.
“Chanting Spells I” opens the album with a deliberately off-kilter and, well, dissonant riff that repeats as a leitmotif a few times throughout Passage to a Neutron Star, teeth-grindingly uncomfortable to experience in the best way possible. The ever-present influence of Ulcerate is most noticeable here, but I think that’s a good thing – they exemplify a fine-tuned mix between atmospheric and crushing that CARBON TOMB strive to replicate, with their own spin on it, throughout the record. I think the whiplash between the almost delicate tempo of the main hook, and the intensity of the blast beats and harsh vocals that follow, are a perfect encapsulation of CARBON TOMB‘s ethos on this record, deliberately trying to keep you on your toes while still creating music that, even amidst moments of utter insanity, still is enjoyable to listen to.
“Of God’s Neglect” is one of my favorite tracks on Passage to a Neutron Star, perhaps CARBON TOMB at their most cinematic. This song veers more into death-doom territory, slower tempo with a plodding riff, building up with layers of sound over time as the composition reaches its climax. The operatic female backing vocals made the whole thing feel a bit like a long-lost Nightwish and Blood Incantation collaboration, cosmic and brutal while retaining an almost gothic melodrama that stood out on this album.
Don’t let this lull in the tracklist fool you, though. Passage to a Neutron Star is packed with grindy goodness that will satiate even the most extreme-seeking of fans. “Reversed Head Renewal” gives Dysgnostic a chance to display his incredible competency with different types of harsh vocals, including some super demonic Conan screams at the top, which makes for a great change of pace towards the end of the album. He runs the gamut of low, grumbly false chord growls all the way up to a raw, murderous screech, and switching between these registers within the same song is no easy feat.
For an album about dissonance, there’s actually some great moments of melody and sonic tension on Passage to a Neutron Star, which makes the more chaotic bits stand out in comparison. That’s a hard balance to strike, especially for a newer group, but the experience of CARBON TOMB‘s members allow them to navigate it with ease. A lot of bands within a microgenre like this fall into the trap of feeling to confined by the specificity of their sound, and as a result, can produce an album where all the tracks blend together without enough moments of intrigue. I’m happy to report that Passage to a Neutron Star possesses none such failings.
I do, however, have one (very) minor gripe with Passage to a Neutron Star, and that is that I don’t care for the snare sound. I think this really just comes down to personal preference, but on the more blast-y sections, I usually like hearing a snare with a bit more oomph to it, whereas CARBON TOMB‘s comes across as tinny and a touch wimpy. There’s so many great snippets of raw power and oppressive noise on this record, and I’d have liked to have the production emphasize that.
That’s quite the miniscule complaint, though. I think CARBON TOMB have released a record that is pretty much exactly the right length, with a good mixture of track length and style, and very fun big ‘Space Metal‘ energy. It’s an intergalactic journey worth taking.
