Fourteen years in the making and a full fifteen years since their debut album, this Russian Brutal Death Metal force returns with their sophomore offering, an irresistible, unstoppable surge of soul devouring power.

Fourteen years in the making and a full fifteen years since their debut album Victim Of Wicked Sickness was released, Omsk, Russia-based Brutal Death Metal force Cranial Osteotomy is finally releasing their sophomore beast, entitled Vortex Of The Dark Knowledge, an irresistible, unstoppable surge of soul devouring power that will shatter your body and haunt the hidden chambers of your mind. Mixed and mastered at Impulse Studios and Gravestone Studios, and adorned by a hellish artwork by Marco Hasmann (Kraanium, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Vile), the new album by Vad Moskalenko on vocals and guitar, Vladimir Pomytkin also on the guitar, Vitaliy Sturk on bass, and Vladislav Melnik on drums is destined to be one of the heaviest releases of the year, a decimating assault of guttural chaos, ritual, invocation, nightmares and death.

The beyond sinister intro Praecursor sets the stage for the band to pulverize us all in Thanatomorpheus, led by the massive, no shenanigans drums by Vladislav while Vad keeps barking like a true beast in the name of brutality. Hideous Monument of Ambrosial Pulchritude sounds even more demented and vibrant, with the guitars by Vad and Vladimir transpiring classic Death Metal, and their demolishing feast goes on in full force in Dipping into Sombre Quagmire, with Vladislav once again pounding his drums manically. Needless to say, there’s no sign of the quartet slowing down at all, offering our putrid ears more of their blend of Brutal Death Metal insanity in the form of Structures of Decadence Impurity.

With a name like Cathedral Butchery Feast it was obvious the music was going to be absolutely brutal from start to finish, with Vad’s guttural sounding insanely inhumane; while Divine Desecration keeps the atmosphere as gory and violent as it can be, again presenting a demented performance by Vladislav on drums. Then the classic initial beats by Vladislav ignite another infernal circle pit in Obscenity Aeon, with the guitars by Vad and Vladimir exhaling hatred and gore, whereas the excellent title-track Vortex of the Dark Knowledge presents a sound in the vein of the mighty Organectomy and Devourment, putting us all to dance in a cesspool of blood. And get ready for one final blast of slamming brutality by the band titled Scorched Diadem, with Vitaliy pounding his bass in the best Death Metal style until the very end.

Highly recommended for admirers of the absolute brutality blasted by renowned acts the likes of Suffocation, Condemned, Skinless and Internal Bleeding, just to name a few, you can find more information about the guys from Cranial Osteotomy on Facebook and on VKontakte, including their punishing live concerts, stream their sonic savagery on any platform like Spotify, and of course purchase their demented sophomore album from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore. It’s been an undeniably long wait, no doubt about that, but you’ll be too busy screaming to worry about that when Vortex Of The Dark Knowledge drags you inexorably into its maelstrom of madness.

Best moments of the album: Hideous Monument of Ambrosial Pulchritude, Cathedral Butchery Feast and Vortex of the Dark Knowledge.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Praecursor 0:46
2. Thanatomorpheus 3:46
3. Hideous Monument of Ambrosial Pulchritude 3:03
4. Dipping into Sombre Quagmire 3:31
5. Structures of Decadence Impurity 3:08
6. Cathedral Butchery Feast 3:37
7. Divine Desecration 3:17
8. Obscenity Aeon 2:57
9. Vortex of the Dark Knowledge 3:31
10. Scorched Diadem 4:06

Band members
Vad Moskalenko – vocals, guitar
Vladimir Pomytkin – guitar
Vitaliy Sturk – bass
Vladislav Melnik – drums