Review: Kostnatění – Přílišnost (Excess)

November 14, 2025

393

Psychedelic Freakout

Kostnatění is one of the more interesting bands in the underground black metal scene right now. This project from Minneapolis, Minnesota, helmed by D.L. has had a really varied but intense array of releases. Their debut album, Hrůza zvítězí, had a strong dissonant blackened death sound that was very good. The following EP, Oheň hoří tam, kde padl, added Turkish folk elements that somehow blended really well with that. Their last album from 2023, Úpal, had an experimental and technical edge that was balanced fantastically well to make a unique sound without losing intensity. D.L. does a fantastic job in experimenting with other elements without losing the aggression from his previous releases. Now with the additional help of Joseph Goldwater from Concilium, they’ve released their third album in Přílišnost (Excess).

This album starts with a curve-ball of an opening track, “Dokonalé křišťalové město (Perfect Crystal City).” One of the things you’ll notice immediately is the insanely intriguing industrial elements that reminds me a bit of Mysticum or even Anaal Nathrakh with a more psychedelic approach. Despite the off-kilter and left field elements thrown into the black metal cauldron, it still sounds absolutely savage. Following what was an insane opener comes “Křehký bůh (Fragile God)” a deeper and heavier track. There are some more death-y vocals in this song which is refreshing. I like the doomy guitar riffs, and the last section of the song gets intensely chaotic. After this is a calmer track in “Kostely byly mrakodrapy (Churches Were the Skyscrapers).” While it’s still aggressive, this song shows off the Turkish elements of the project that blends well with every other part of the sound.

Flying by next goes “Zpět ke kmenům (Back to the Tribes),” a ruthless two minutes of harsh intensity and riffs. Coming back to the psychedelic side of things, “Mrtvola Jupitera (Corpse of Jupiter)” shows off more spacey synths which adds to the variety of instruments used on this album. I adore the song progression throughout this track. It gets wackier and more aggressive especially towards the end that is amped up by a crazy guitar solo and intense drumming work. “Samotář (Loner)” is another intense song that utilizes a variety of riffs throughout and hits the sweet spot without doing too much or not doing enough. The intensity continues with “Čelist utlačovatele k obrubníku (Jaw of the Oppressor to the Curb)” which is just really heavy, fast and chaotic. The drumming on this song is also a blast.

Another well-done example of how Kostnatění executes their songwriting and progression is shown through “Znal jsem tě (I Knew You).” It starts off industrially then starts getting more unhinged and ridiculous as it goes on. The vocals get even more unhinged on “Dále zvenčí (Further from Outside)” and its aggression is outstanding. Another curve-ball is thrown here with an intriguing clean vocal section that weirdly enough doesn’t feel out of place based on the band’s sound on this record. Finishing off on what’s been a ridiculous album in a positive way is the title track, “Přílišnost (Excess).” As expected, it closes off in truly chaotic fashion. It feels like everything you heard before blended together that makes it a blissful way to end the album.

If you thought Úpal was obscure and experimental, Přílišnost (Excess) amps it up to 11 with very good results. One thing that Kostnatění doesn’t do is fall into the same trap most bands do when they experiment with their sound, losing the aggressive/heavy side of things. Here, while it amps up on experimentation, it still feels aggressive and heavy throughout. It’s an intense and very unhinged journey that gets psychedelic, industrial, spacey and will throw out curve-balls that you don’t expect at all. It might throw some people off with how belligerent it gets (especially with the opening track) but I personally adore Kostnatění’s third album for its variety and intensity throughout. There have been some stellar new releases in black metal over the past few weeks and this record adds to that tally; it’s a wild journey that is well worth experiencing.