Style: Progressive death metal, technical death metal (harsh vocals)
For fans of: Rivers of Nihil , Black Crown Initiate, Alluvial
Country: United Kingdom
Release date: May 1, 2026
The philosophy of “the faster, the better” has defined technical death metal for years, with bands often moving at outrageous speeds. Although this approach requires undeniable virtuosity, I’ve personally always been more drawn to the more restrained, focused and groove-based side of the genre. Cognizance initially followed the familiar path of bands like The Faceless and The Zenith Passage on their debut Malignant Dominion, presenting speed and technicality in equal doses, without however particularly standing out within an already saturated space.
However, to their credit, the international band — which went from a quintet to a quartet — spent the next three albums gradually building their own identity, reaching a peak with Phantazein in 2024. Although it didn’t get the attention it deserved, the record was full of heavy grooves, powerful compositions and excellent performances — all the things that make you return again and again to the genre. Just two years later, Cognizance return with In Light, No Shape.
Lineup changes – new identity
Much of the band’s evolution is due to the lineup’s stability, although the recent departure of longtime vocalist Henry “Big Mac” Pryce brought upheaval. Guitarist Alex Baillie has now taken over vocals as well, which directly affects the band’s sound.
Baillie stands ably in the role, replacing Pryce’s more deathcore vocals with a style closer to David Davidson of Revocation. In fact, In Light, No Shape — especially on tracks like “Vertical Illusion”, “Witness Marks”, “Chasm” and “The Zone” — borrows heavily progressive elements from Revocation, and it works in its favor.
Performa
nce that kills
Drummers and the more “seasoned” fans already know David Diepold (ex-Obscura). For those who don’t: here he gives a recital.
With detail-filled fills and sharp accents, he plays like a maestro conducting an orchestra, having a lead role in the mix. Beside him, guitarists Apostolis Karydis and Alex Baillie along with bassist Chris Binns “click” perfectly, never showing strain, alternating riffs, solos and more intricate passages across the record’s 37 minutes.
Less speed – more atmosphere
In contrast to the Archspire-style excess, In Light, No Shape brings the speed down and emphasizes atmosphere. Diepold keeps “the fast part”, while the guitars leave more room for:
- atmospheric arpeggios
- more open compositions
- dynamic shifts
Tracks like “A Reconfiguration”, “Witness Marks” and “A Game Of Proliferation” show this turn, giving the record a more “open” and evolving character.
Structure and highlights
The opening with “Transient Fixations” comes in straight and hard, like an intro that recalls the band’s old face. Though brief, it ties in perfectly with “Inflection Chants”, which brings a more groove-based tempo.
“Chasm” starts aggressively and then “breaks” into a more atmospheric point, before returning to the intensity. A similar structure is shared by:
- “The Zone”
- “A Game Of Proliferation” (perhaps the best on the record)
Other tracks, like “Induced Contortions” and “Subterranean Incantation”, stay closer to classic tech death.
Production (finally, a proper one)
Let’s put it simply: tech death usually has bad production. Here, though, no.
In Light, No Shape has a relatively balanced sound (DR 6), which:
- isn’t overly “suffocated”
- keeps a natural character
- gives room to the details
The guitars have “bite” without sounding plastic, though the solos could be more upfront in the mix. The spoken interludes (robotic vocals) on some tracks don’t add much, as they get lost in the sound.
Conclusion
After several listens, In Light, No Shape stands alongside Phantazein. The departure of a key member is never easy, but here the band appears to redefine its sound in the right way.
Cognizance are evolving into one of the most interesting bands of modern tech death and this record clearly shows what the genre can achieve when it’s done right.
👉 A strong recommendation. 🔥
Rating: Very good
DR: 6 | Evaluated format: 320 kb/s mp3
Record label: Willowtip Records
Sites: cognizance.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/cognizanceband
Releases worldwide: May 1, 2026
