This unique Experimental Death and Thrash Metal creature returns with its sophomore opus, offering more of its hypnotic wall of sound that leaves the listeners stunned by its heaviness and complexity of forms.
The raw beauty of The Treason of Consciousness, the 2024 debut album by Poughkeepsie, New York-based Experimental Death/Thrash Metal creature Odious Spirit (the brainchild of vocalist and guitarist James Oskarbski), was a significant hint of the wonders to come, which duly arrive now in 2026 with the project’s sophomore effort, titled The Sourceless Scourge. Written and recorded by James Oskarbski, mixed by Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations, mastered by James Plotkin, displaying an enigmatic artwork by Jari Anttonen of fantastinen (with visual design by Francesco Gemelli), and with session musicians Cullen Gallagher on bass and Jason Bursese (Thanatotherion, Black Fucking Cancer) on drums, The Sourceless Scourge offers more of the project’s hypnotic wall of sound that leaves the listeners stunned by its heaviness and complexity of forms, but equally eager to uncover its secret mechanisms with each new listen.
The crushing drums by Jason ignite the band’s inhumane feast in True Non-Existence, with James already delivering his insane, deep guttural vociferations for our total delight; followed by Close to the Sun, which sounds even more demented and dissonant, with the heaviness flowing from James’ riffs living up to the legacy of Experimental Death Metal while also flirting with Technical Death Metal for our total delight. The Betrayer’s Will keeps the momentum going with another multi-layered, experimental blast flowing from all instruments, with Cullen’s bass and Jason’s drums sounding thunderous; whereas Void Without End is even more technical and dissonant than its predecessors, not to mention James is once again demented on the guitars while also blasting his scathing roars nonstop. And lastly, we’re treated to Temporal Euthanasia, another complex and detailed creation by James where his visceral guttural matches perfectly with the demolishing drums by Jason.
Builders of grandiose sonic architecture that exist in perfect balance between Technical Thrash and Death Metal and minimalist Avantgarde Metal, Odious Spirit is on fire in The Sourceless Scourge, an album highly recommended for admirers of the music by renowned acts the likes of Voivod, Immolation, Krallice, Mick Barr, and Ocrilim, just to name a few. You can find more information about Odious Spirit on Instagram, stream the project’s eccentric music on most platforms like Spotify, and of course purchase The Sourceless Scourge from the I, Voidhanger Records’ BandCamp or from Metal Odyssey in the EU or in the US. No one knows what James Oskarbski and his Odious Spirit will offer us all after The Sourceless Scourge, and that’s the beauty of his music. It’s unique, heavy, visceral, and never the same.
Best moments of the album: Close to the Sun and Temporal Euthanasia.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2026 I, Voidhanger Records
Track listing
1. True Non-Existence 6:27
2. Close to the Sun 8:53
3. The Betrayer’s Will 7:48
4. Void Without End 6:47
5. Temporal Euthanasia 8:37
Band members
James Oskarbski – vocals, guitars
Guest musicians
Cullen Gallagher – bass (session)
Jason Bursese – drums (session)
