Texas death metal upstarts Tribal Gaze return with their latest full-length, Inveighing Brilliance, a record that digs deep into their 90s-inspired roots while pushing the boundaries of groove-laden brutality. Where their split with Deadbody hinted at a band discovering its identity in riff-heavy grooves and primal aggression, this new album feels like a statement of intent—embracing punishing riffs, thunderous rhythms, and a brooding atmosphere of decay and darkness.
The record opens with “Smiling From Their Chariots,” a ferocious yet slightly hollow introduction. Fast drum rolls and chugging guitars hit hard, but the mix feels a touch thin, making the track feel more like a prelude than a true statement. It hints at the power to come but doesn’t fully land the first blow. Thankfully, “Beyond Recognition” immediately corrects course, plunging the listener into a cavernous death metal groove. Here, the guitars slash with intent, the guttural vocals drip menace, and the drumming locks into a rhythm that’s simultaneously primal and satisfying. The song’s dark, grinding tone and groove-driven swagger perfectly capture Tribal Gaze’s ethos: death metal that moves as much as it mauls.
Throughout Inveighing Brilliance, the band masterfully balances mid-tempo heaviness with bursts of speed and aggression. “Emptying the Nest” embodies this push-and-pull approach—its riffs swing between headbang-inducing grooves and rigid passages that occasionally lose momentum. When the band chemistry clicks, however, the interplay between bass and drums grounds the song, and the low, commanding vocals give the track its full emotional heft.
The tension continues with “Guarding the Illusion,” where blast beats and thrashy riffs inject energy and chaos. The track alternates between punishing low passages and galloping thrash-metal bursts, showcasing the band’s dynamic range. By the album’s midpoint, “To the Spoils of Faith” and “Ruling in a Land with No God” reveal both Tribal Gaze’s strengths and areas for growth. On Spoils, the drums anchor the track with cinematic, booming hits, while the vocals remain powerful yet distant, and the riffs crawl with deliberate purpose. Conversely, Ruling demonstrates the band’s rhythmic potential and occasional rigidity—the tribal grooves and dissonant riffs shine, but repetitive 1–2 drum patterns sometimes sap momentum. Still, flashes of gang vocals and evolving rhythms add freshness, hinting at a willingness to push beyond the familiar.
The album regains energy in its closing stretch. “The Irreversible Sequence” and “Draped in Piercing Radiance” capture Tribal Gaze at their tightest and most inspired. Irreversible features dynamic drumming and adventurous riffing, scaling the fretboard rather than lingering on one-note chugs. Draped leans into hardcore-influenced grooves and eerie solos, injecting tension and life into the record’s final moments. Even when the title track, “Inveighing Brilliance,” falters as a disjointed interlude, the finale “Lord of Blasphemy” erupts with sheer force—furious drums, thick bass, and a hidden tribal drum solo that leaves no doubt about the band’s rhythmic mastery.
Drumming remains the defining factor of Tribal Gaze’s sound. When the drummer leans into fluid, groovy patterns, the songs surge with primal energy. When patterns become rigid, the spark dims—but the guitars consistently impress, delivering thick, distorted riffs rooted in the 90s death metal tradition of Obituary, Sepultura, and Morbid Angel. Vocals are classic death metal—guttural, commanding, yet clear enough to convey the song’s menace—while the bass provides vital low-end glue, keeping the album heavy even when the mix thins out.
Ultimately, Inveighing Brilliance is both a celebration and a challenge for Tribal Gaze. It celebrates their command of groove-driven death metal—relentless, earthy, and punishing—while exposing moments of growing pains as the band experiments with pacing and texture. The album’s strongest moments—“Beyond Recognition,” “The Irreversible Sequence,” and “Draped in Piercing Radiance”—demonstrate a band capable of marrying precision with chaos and injecting personality into their sound. When they fall back on predictable patterns, the intensity dulls, yet Tribal Gaze’s presence and power remain undeniable.
Inveighing Brilliance is not perfect, but it’s a compelling continuation of the band’s ascent—a modern homage to classic 90s death metal with enough fire and identity to stand out in today’s extreme music landscape.
NOTABLE TRACKS:
Beyond Recognition
To the Spoils of Faith
The Irreversible Sequence