{"id":636997,"date":"2026-04-29T19:51:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/636997\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T19:51:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:51:17","slug":"review-cognizance-in-light-no-shape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/636997\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Cognizance – In Light, No Shape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Published by Clay<\/a> on 2026\/04\/292026\/04\/29<\/p>\n

\"\"Artwork by Jef Whitehead<\/p>\n

Style: Progressive death metal, technical death metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Rivers of Nihil<\/a>, Black Crown Initiate, Alluvial
Country: United Kingdom
Release date: 1 May 2026<\/p>\n

Expectation can be a ruthless killer. After staking my claim to United Kingdom\u2019s Cognizance\u2019s new release, In Light, No Shape, I was met with the promise of a masterful progressive death metal opus in the promo materials. Say no more. The band\u2019s fourth full LP follows a line-up change as original vocalist Henry Pryce has been replaced by guitarist Alex Baillie, who has retained guitar duties. After surpassing the Subway\u2019s underground definition of 20,000 monthly Spotify listeners, they are primed to soar into the metal overground as the bearers of the progressive death metal torch, right?<\/p>\n

Well\u2026.not exactly. In Light, No Shape is a homogenous slab of uninteresting and unmemorable downtuned riffs. With ten songs all under four and a half minutes that each follow a similar structure, the tracks blur into each other, causing the album to crawl by. While progressive music isn\u2019t simply defined by expansive song lengths, there is an inherent complexity and experimentation that must be present. Successful progressive death metal creates a dynamic emotional contrast between brutal instrumentation and vocals with subtle elements of beauty. In Light, No Shape, however, does not provide a dynamic listening experience whatsoever, as Cognizance suture together repetitive riffs with minimal variation in intensity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Guitarists Baillie and Apostolis Karydison rely on riff harmonization too much in an attempt to infuse intrigue into their songwriting. The uninteresting and drab chugging across \u201cTransient Fixations\u201d, \u201cInflection Chants\u201d, and \u201cA Game of Proliferation\u201d, however, are not disguised by this approach. While the riffs are often disengaging, Cognizance also struggle to successfully conclude the songs of In Light, No Shape. The endings of \u201cInflection Chants\u201d and \u201cSubterranean Incantation\u201d meander along with a tedious crawl\u2014shifting my boredom into downright annoyance\u2014while album closer \u201cThe Zone\u201d, ends abruptly, in an unsatisfying conclusion. Frustratingly, when Cognizance hit their stride, like the satisfying punchy groove that opens \u201cVertical Illusion\u201d, they illogically, abruptly snap back to uncompelling chugs, erasing the brief momentum that was building.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say Cognizance completely fail to deliver. The tedium of In Light, No Shape is broken up by \u201cThe Chasm\u201d, a more compelling track that mixes interesting technical riffs, ethereal atmosphere, and (actually interesting!) guitar harmonization. Reminiscent of the winding bends of Decapitated\u2019s winding \u201cDay 69\u201d, \u201cReconfiguration\u201d begins with eerie, twisting guitars that establish an ominous vibe. The guitar solos, though scattered sparingly across the album, are consistently captivating. Often brief, they strike like a flash of lightning and are gone without becoming weighed down by unnecessary self-indulgence. David Diepold\u2019s drumming is a consistent stampede of blastbeats, groove-laden fills, and double bass kicks performed with the right touch of restrained chaos. Baillie\u2019s growl is effective and consistent, though it doesn\u2019t offer much variety. Alongside the redundant riffs, his monotonous gruff vocals add to the bland uniformity that characterize In Light, No Shape.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, In Light, No Shape is sorely lacking from dynamic contrasts. The incorporation of acoustic passages, significant tempo changes, or melodic guitar harmonies on top of the downtuned riffs would have nicely broken up Cognizance\u2019s monotonous performance. Boredom is not a word I associate at all with progressive death metal, but perfectly describes my experience with In Light, No Shape. May I take this as a lesson, trust no one\u2026especially not a promise from promotional materials.<\/p>\n

Recommended tracks: Inflection Chants, Chasm, Vertical Illusion
You may also like: Xenobiotic, Soreption, Omnivortex<\/a>, Defaced, Phasma<\/a>
Final verdict: 5\/10<\/p>\n

Related links: Bandcamp<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

Label: Willowtip Records<\/a><\/p>\n

Cognizance is:
\u2013 Alex Baillie (vocals, guitars)
\u2013 Apostolis Karydis (guitars)
\u2013 Chris Binns (bass)
\u2013 David Diepold (drums)<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n