International (UK/Austrian) Cognizance is trying to make a name for themselves and combine many shades of death metal in the process. Trying to be different and not fall into a rut is not an easy task when you call death metal home. For Cognizance, on the single The Foreboding Impasse and previous EP Illusory the guys certainly wanted to be brutal, but also provide technical showmanship and melodic groove as well. Starting with rapid blasts, The Foreboding Impasse switches time signatures a few times, but doesn’t lose the catchy aspect. An unexpected classical music Grieg-like insert breaks the flow only to be followed by a melodic passage and a flying solo. Not very vicious, and not celebrating breakdown excessively, the single may still be called deathcore, given that Cognizance is after accessibility factor somewhat. Melody, groove and flow is important here, perhaps more so than in your face riff. The vocals also demonstrate a certain level of duality. There are lower register Suffocation growls, but also higher pitched, blackish vocals which even sound almost clean at times.

To all out brutal blasting traditional death metal fans Cognizance may appear not true enough, but people who like Suffocation Souls to Deny, Kataklysm melodic groove and Jason Suecof’s technical ventures (he is guesting) may enjoy this band.