Cognitive

**Cognitive** is a technical death metal band from New Jersey, formed in 2011 with a mission to create heavy, intense, and creative music that stands out from the overly polished sub-genres. Known for blending technicality, soaring guitar solos, and groovy brutality with abstract lyrical ideas, they’ve carved a space in the underground metal scene with relentless tours across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. Their debut EP, *The Horrid Swarm* (2012), made an immediate impact, and subsequent releases continued to push the band’s sound forward, including albums like *Matricide* (2018), *Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction* (2021), and their latest, *Abhorrence* (2024).

The band’s lineup features key members like founding guitarist Rob Wharton, guitarist Harry Lannon, and vocalist Shane Jost, among others, who have each contributed to Cognitive’s signature blend of technical precision and brutal vibe. They’ve shared stages with renowned acts such as Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, and Between the Buried and Me, earning a reputation for powerful live performances. Lyrically, Cognitive explores themes like mental health, societal decay, and personal struggles, showcased vividly on albums like *Abhorrence*, which addresses depression and anxiety with raw aggression and emotional depth.

Genres

Death Metal

Deathcore

Related Artists

Archspire

Lorna Shore

Ingested

Enterprise Earth

Cannibal Corpse

Shadow of Intent

The Black Dahlia Murder

Decapitated

Dying Fetus

Signs of the Swarm

Suffocation

Cryptopsy

Latest Release

People = Shit

Cognitive

Single - Released September 15, 2025