A no-holds-barred critique of religion and politics

As 2021 nears its end, Creeping Death managed to push out a six-track EP release, The Edge of Existence, which came out on October 8th. Creeping Death originated out of Denton, Texas. The current lineup consists of Eric Mejia on bass, Lincoln Mullins on drums, Trey Pemberton and Reese Alavi on vocals and A.J. Ross III on the guitar. This is the band’s first release since Wretched Illusions, which came out in 2019.

The Edge of Existence takes no prisoners—various songs attack religion while others have political undertones, proving the band isn’t afraid to criticize the human race. Such lyrics are all complimented by brutal instrumentals that reflect these themes.

The first song in the album, “The Edge of Existence,” directly attacks humanity for its cruelty toward Earth and its obsession with power. Entertainment and politics have intertwined considerably in recent years, and this song continues that tradition.

The third song in the album, “Humanity Transcends,” can be viewed as a sequel to the title track, focusing on the obsession with human perfection, endless conflict and how humanity gets stronger with each of these conflicts, regardless of the consequences. The guitar solo by Ross III before the second to last verse may just be the best moment on the entire song.

“Sacrament of Death” is about the cycle of life and death. Alavi sings about how, from the birth of human life to its demise, angels will bring life while the devil brings death. Mullins’ drumming skills and Ross’ guitar abilities shine on this song, and their playing helps tell the story of life and death by reflecting the tumultuous nature of the theme.

In fact, Mullins’ and Ross’ instrumentals are the stars of the album. Still, Alavi’s deep vocals and no-holds-barred lyrics about humanity make the album interesting for both new and old metal fans.

Altogether, The Edge of Existence is an exceptional addition to Creeping Death’s growing resume. What makes this album so interesting are its bold takes on humanity and religion. Creeping Death isn’t afraid to combine politics and entertainment. Whether the listener prefers their entertainment free from politics or not, this is a strong album that will force the listener to think while also enjoying killer vocals and exhilarating instrumentals.