After nine years in the void, Geneva’s Mandroïd of Krypton returns with Cosmic Sarcophagus, a fierce and adventurous amalgamation of progressive thrash, black metal, and punk. This third full-length release marks a bold evolution for the band, blending sci-fi themes with sonic exploration in a way few others dare. The result is an album that is as aggressive as it is adventurous, pushing boundaries while never losing track of its fierce energy.
Cosmic Sarcophagus opens with “Deep Resistance,” a track that immediately showcases the band’s flair for blending the unblended. The combination of pulverizing thrash riffs, dissonant black metal tremolo picking, and frantic punk shouts might sound like a chaotic mess on paper, but Mandroïd of Krypton makes it work. This track sets the tone for the album’s eclectic style—an unpredictable collision of influences, from classic prog titans like Mastodon and Gojira to the ferocity of hardcore punk and black metal. Vocals careen wildly between choppy punk-style shouts and soaring cleans, held together by a thin veneer of pulp sci-fi camp.
Despite its wild genre-mashing, Cosmic Sarcophagus remains surprisingly accessible. Tracks like “Mountains of Fear” and “The Waltz of Death” could easily slot into a Metallica fan’s collection, providing hefty, distorted riffs wrapped in under-three-minute chunks. These moments are where the band’s ability to merge their prog inclinations with a more straightforward, riff-heavy approach shines. Even black metal purists can get behind the headbang-worthy “Asteroid Brigade,” a track that brings ferocity without sacrificing the groove.
One of the album’s strengths is its ability to throw the listener into the deep end without overstaying its welcome. The band’s rapid-fire approach, even within the constraints of tight track lengths, ensures that there’s no room for self-indulgent filler. For all its lean brevity, there are moments where you can feel the potential for more. “Drag Drag Sisyphus,” while packing in a lot of fire within its runtime, leaves you craving a few more repetitions of those monstrous riffs. Similarly, “Veterans of the Cosmic War,” with its blackened thrash energy, could have gone further with a bit more space to breathe, but it still leaves an undeniable impact with its dramatic, almost operatic approach.
Cosmic Sarcophagus is a triumph in blending seemingly incompatible genres into something wholly unique. Mandroïd of Krypton doesn’t shy away from their weirdness; they embrace it, crafting an album that isn’t just a musical journey but a cosmic one. The slick pulp sci-fi aesthetic—complete with atmospheric, otherworldly imagery—complements the chaotic yet captivating sound.
On Cosmic Sarcophagus, Mandroïd of Krypton takes everything you thought you knew about progressive thrash and warps it into a new shape. The result is a record that feels as expansive and weird as the universe itself, yet remains grounded by its relentless energy and punk ethos. It’s a journey unlike anything on Earth, and if you’re into boundary-pushing metal, this is an experience you won’t want to miss. 
