Album Review: The Absolution Sequence – Dread Cycle (Bleeding Art Collective)

Tasmanian devils The Absolution Sequence will release their highly anticipated full-length album, ‘Dread Cycle’, on August 14th, 2026, via Bleeding Art Collective.

The tech-death scene isn’t short of talent, so much so that new bands coming in really need to be delivering premiere stuff to even have a hope of standing out. So, when someone as vibrant and contemporary sounding as The Absolution Sequence comes along, it’s almost impossible to not pay attention. This is a band who understand that good tech-death is so much more than just instrumental complexities and crushing heaviness, and that having anthemic properties is no bad thing.

Kicking things off in powerful fashion, Despotic Ruin (Diet of Worms) is an explosive start that has an underlying brutality, but features strong guitar harmony, relentless technical shifts, and ferocious vocals. For four straight minutes, it goes hard, but more importantly, it sounds huge too.

Idols of Confraternity comes next and here, The Absolution Sequence really show what having multiple vocalists in a band can deliver. Especially when backed up by a frenzied instrumental section that has the potential to cause heart palpitations. This is then followed by Ghost Mantra, a track with some stompy groove and whining guitar tones, and The Sordid Miasma, a track that can be summed up as a slice of vitriolic savagery twisted by an extravagant amount of technical flair.

There’s so much to take in, but importantly, it’s an album with immediate appeal too, especially for those who like extreme metal. The Absolution Sequence do a great job of balancing things, while still being capable of experimenting with the core foundations of tech death. Case in point, The Nightlight Sigil, a fascinating listen that brings back a potent sense of strength and scale.

I dig the intensity of Promethean Pilferage though as sometimes uncompromising speed and heaviness is all I need and this track delivers that with mighty aplomb. Whereas A Mire Caked in Nativity, Grinding the Sphere, and The Diary of the Emaciated offer up varying degrees of ferocity crossed with thick gloom and violent technicality. Right up to the end, The Absolution Sequence keep things fresh and interesting, while not straying too far from core tech-death expectations.

It’s an album that satisfies, showcasing talent and delivering on all promises, as well as proving that the formula doesn’t need to be strictly adhered to. Few bands are capable of delivering something so strong with their debut.

The Absolution Sequence – Dread Cycle Track Listing:

1. Despotic Ruin (Diet of Worms)
2. Idols of Confraternity
3. Ghost Mantra
4. The Sordid Miasma
5. The Nightlight Sigil
6. Promethean Pilferage
7. A Mire Caked in Nativity
8. Grinding the Sphere
9. The Diary of the Emaciated

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