Less than one year after the release of their excellent debut, this melodeath beast from Down Under returns with eleven tracks of undisputed aggression, melody and electricity in their sophomore opus.

Less than one year after the release of their excellent debut album The Mountain Before Us All, the unstoppable Melbourne, Australia-based Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore ensemble Destroy Fear continues to build momentum with their sophomore album, entitled The Dark Carnival. Having recently updated their lineup, the band currently formed of Scott Masson on vocals, Jayden Genuis on lead guitar, Luke Baird on rhythm guitar and bass, and newcomer Ondre Barca on drums offers eleven tracks of undisputed aggression, melody and electricity in The Dark Carnival, inviting us all to slam into the pit while they kick some serious ass both in the studio and onstage.

The cryptic Intro to the Dark Carnival sets the stage for the band to kick our asses with Dark Carnival, where Jayden and Luke shred their axes nonstop, delivering killer riffs and solos and, therefore, offering Scott exactly what he needs to roar like a headbanging maniac. Ondre then showcases his dexterity and fury in Slings and Arrows, hammering his drums while his bandmates deliver a striking fusion of Metalcore and Hardcore; and a darker, more sinister start evolves into another feast of groove and heaviness titled Elusion, showcasing a more introspective side of the band. The incendiary Hypochondriac presents hints of Progressive Metal and even Djent, with Scott sounding truly enraged on vocals while the riffage by Jayden and Luke transpire madness; and the band continues to venture through Groove Metal lands the likes of Machine Head in Overcome, albeit a bit generic in the end.

The second half of the album begins with an explosion of aggression titled All for Nothing, where the metallic guitars and bass by Jayden and Luke walk hand in hand with Ondre’s pounding drums. The quartet still has a lot of fuel to burn in House of Cards, with Scott taking the lead with his visceral growls and clean vocals supported by the wall of sounds built by his crew; whereas it’s time to slam into the pit to the sound of Alpha Omega, with Ondre crushing his drums like there’s no tomorrow in a demented explosion of melodeath with an edgy Hardcore vibe. Their second to last metal attack comes in the form of Without Teeth, again presenting their trademark ferocity and groove through their rebellious vocals, caustic riffs and hammering drums, and last but definitely not least, Scott will vociferate rabidly in our faces one final time in Recreant, accompanied by another striking guitar work by Jayden and Luke.

A must-listen for admirers of the caustic melodeath played by In Flames, Trivium, Parkway Drive, and Heaven Shall Burn, among several others, The Dark Carnival is already available for a full listen on any streaming platform such as Spotify and Audiomack, and you can also check what the band is up to, including their live performances, on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, or simply click HERE for all things Destroy Fear. Speaking of their live concerts, Destroy Fear managed to released the album in time for Outcast Festival 2026 in Melbourne alongside Verona Lights, Machine On A Break, ANA, Ion Sky, Jupiter The Giant, and Silent Lakes, proving those guys are all about bringing to the stages the energy found in their studio albums, and I’m sure it won’t take long for their album number three to come to light, and for us fans to have a few more reasons to enjoy a nice mosh pit just like what they have to offer in the excellent The Dark Carnival.

Best moments of the album: Dark Carnival, Hypochondriac and Alpha Omega.

Worst moments of the album: Overcome.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. Intro to the Dark Carnival 0:47
2. Dark Carnival 4:40
3. Slings and Arrows 4:31
4. Elusion 4:34
5. Hypochondriac 4:12
6. Overcome 4:36
7. All for Nothing 4:27
8. House of Cards 5:23
9. Alpha Omega 4:10
10. Without Teeth 4:37
11. Recreant 4:06

Band members
Scott Masson – vocals
Jayden Genuis – lead guitar
Luke Baird – rhythm guitar, bass
Ondre Barca – drums