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Album Review – De Profundis / The Gospel Of Rot EP (2025)

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The rot is everywhere, and it’s time to tear it down to the sound of the pulverizing new EP by one of the must-see names of the current UK Death Metal scene.

“The Gospel Of Rot is both a warning and a weapon – a sonic rebellion against the forces that seek to silence and subjugate. De Profundis offers not salvation but a wake-up call…” – De Profundis

Celebrating 20 years of death dealing and devastation, London, England-based Death Metal horde De Profundis has returned with a rejuvenated lineup and a brand new EP of stunning power and intensity, entitled The Gospel Of Rot. Recorded at Barking Dog Studio, mixed and mastered by Matt Jones at CapsaArx Studios, and embraced by a darkly beautiful artwork by Pierre-Alain D. of 3mmi Design, the new EP by frontman Stefano Bassi, guitarists Shoi Sen and Paul Nazarkardeh, bassist Simon McAuliffe, and drummer Tom Atherton will most definitely please fans of bands the likes of Death, Morbid Angel, Immolation, and Nocturnus, bringing together four tracks of furious Death Metal and masterful musicianship into a manifesto of resistance against the empty vessels that rule us, dragging our civilization into a mire of degradation.

The band wastes no time and kicks off the EP with the Death Metal extravaganza I: Corruption, where newcomer Stefano already showcases his ruthless deep guttural for our total delight, and Tom crushes his drums with rage and dexterity in II: Deception accompanied by the visceral Death Metal riff attack by Shoi and Paul. Then the quintet shows no mercy for our putrid souls in III: Indoctrination, offering an overdose of harsh riffs and demonic vociferations, with once again Simon and Tom making the earth tremble with their evil kitchen. And lastly, we have their cover version for Sepultura’s IV: Subtraction, from their 1991 masterpiece Arise (you can enjoy the original one HERE). De Profundis take the vibe from those Brazilian thrash and death heroes and add their own twist to it, resulting in a lecture in modern-day Death Metal where Stefano sounds brutally violent on vocals until the very end.

From their early days of primeval Doom and Death Metal, then venturing through the Progressive Death and Black Metal realms of their latest albums The Blinding Light of Faith (2018) and The Corruption of Virtue (2022), to the full-on Death Metal attack in The Gospel Of Rot, the band keeps crushing our putrid souls with their undisputed aggressiveness, precise musicianship, and a deep passion for the extreme, and you can get to know more about one of the precious gems of the British Death Metal scene by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by listening to all of their demented tunes on Spotify, and by purchasing the excellent The Gospel of Rot from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, De Profundis are back at the very top of their game with The Gospel of Rot. Because the rot is everywhere, and it’s time to tear it down.

Best moments of the album: I: Corruption and IV: Subtraction.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. I: Corruption 4:11
2. II: Deception 3:45
3. III: Indoctrination 4:27
4. IV: Subtraction (Sepultura cover) 4:34

Band members
Stefano Bassi – vocals
Shoi Sen – guitars
Paul Nazarkardeh – guitars
Simon McAuliffe – bass
Tom Atherton – drums

Album Review – State of Deceit / Stalked by Daemons (2023)

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This Metalcore, Thrash and Groove Metal band with an attitude is ready to attack your senses with their debut full-length album.

A Metalcore, Thrash and Groove Metal band with an attitude founded by guitarist Jonathan Russell in South Wales, UK, and currently formed of Jonathan alongside vocalist Peter Scammell, guitarist Gareth Jones, bassist Davide Santini and drummer Matthew Toner, the unrelenting metal act State of Deceit is about to unleash upon us their first full-length opus titled Stalked by Daemons, following up on their 2019 EP Retribution. Recorded by Tim Hamill at Sonic One Studio, and displaying a modern and captivating artwork by Pierre-Alain D. of 3mmi Design, Stalked by Daemons delivers the best of several extreme music styles, often in stylistic antithesis that is startling and ultimately satisfying, resulting in a must-listen album for fans of Trivium, Pantera, Fit For a King, Machine Head and Killswitch Engage, just to name a few.

The guitars by Gareth and Jonathan will inspire you for some sick headbanging in the opening tune Endure My Fate, while Davide brings the groove to the music armed with his thunderous bass in a great fusion of Melodic Death Metal with Hardcore elements. Then it’s pedal to the metal as the pounding drums by Matthew will hammer your heads mercilessly in Demi-God, with Peter manically barking and roaring for our total delight; and get ready to break your freakin’ neck headbanging like a metalmaniac in Stalked By Daemons, Guarded By Angels, exhaling heaviness and violence to the visceral growling by Peter. It’s time for a darker, more melancholic creation by State of Deceit titled Hate Within, with the band’s stringed trio adding tons of feeling to the music, whereas drinking from the same metallic fountain as Soilwork and Arch Enemy, the band delivers sheer adrenaline in Withered, with the riffage by Gareth and Jonathan piercing our ears in great fashion.

Mark Of The Whale is a decent song, but it lacks the same punch and heaviness of the previous ones, albeit Matthew does a very good job on drums as usual; and back to a more thrilling and vibrant mode, the quintet will drag your soul into the circle pit to the sound of Scorched, a rumbling extravaganza showcasing elements from Death and Thrash Metal added to their core sound. After such demented tune, a slow and sinister start suddenly explodes in more of the band’s crushing Metalcore in Suffer, spearheaded by the venomous riffs by the band’s guitar duo and the always enraged, demented guttural by Peter. Davide’s bass sets the tone in the heavy and groovy At What Cost?, perfect for some vigorous headbanging while Matthew keeps blasting his drums nonstop; while one last round of aggressiveness infused with tons of melody and groove is offered to our ears in Digital Tattoo, with Pater and Matthew making an incendiary duo from start to finish, therefore ending the album on a sensational note.

The guys from State of Deceit are waiting for you on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube with news, tour dates and more of their flammable music, and if you want to show them your total support you can purchase a copy of the excellent Stalked by Daemons by clicking HERE. As expected in most debut albums, Stalked by Daemons is daring and inspiring through and through track to track, positioning State of Deceit as one of the most interesting names of the current UK scene and, consequently, fueling their minds and souls for another blast of their solid and captivating music in the coming years whenever the band is ready for their sophomore opus, all of course in the name of heavy music.

Best moments of the album: Endure My Fate, Withered and Digital Tattoo.

Worst moments of the album: Mark Of The Whale.

Released in 2023 Eclipse Records

Track listing
1. Endure My Fate 3:47
2. Demi-God 4:14
3. Stalked By Daemons, Guarded By Angels 4:46
4. Hate Within 4:40
5. Withered 3:41
6. Mark Of The Whale 4:45
7. Scorched 3:57
8. Suffer 4:17
9. At What Cost? 3:52
10. Digital Tattoo 3:08

Band members
Peter Scammell – vocals
Gareth Jones – lead guitar
Jonathan Russell – rhythm guitar
Davide Santini – bass, backing vocals
Matthew Toner – drums

Album Review – Solborn / Dark Lights of Delirium (2018)

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Welcome to a world of fantasy, childhood memories and beautiful dreams, all embraced by the stylish Symphonic Metal crafted by this very talented Canadian band.

Founded in 2014 by songwriter and keyboardist Anri Tsiskaridze, who was born in the Republic of Georgia and moved to Canada in 2008, Edmonton-based Symphonic Metal band Solborn (or Sōlborn, if you prefer) has suffered a few lineup changes and a noticeable musical evolution since their inception, until the band reached their final shape and form in 2018, culminating with the release of their debut album Dark Lights of Delirium. Featuring a dark and somewhat futuristic artwork by Pierre-Alain Durand (3mmi Design), Dark Lights of Delirium represents a world where you get to travel and witness fantasy, the mind’s beautiful plays, and fly through the clouds, walk on beaches on a moonlit night, and lay in the meadows of your childhood memories and be at peace with yourself and the worlds that surround you, all embraced by the powerful and symphonic arrangements delivered by McKenna Rae on lead vocals, Cody Lloyd on lead guitar, Mike Bell on rhythm guitars and growls, Dylan Mooney on bass, Anri Tsiskaridze on keyboards, and Danial Devost on drums.

Four years in the making, Dark Lights of Delirium is thematically and loosely based on Carl Sagan’s astronomical series ‘Cosmos’ (as well as Neil D. Tyson’s modern reboot of the series), with its lyrics taking your imagination to worlds of fantasy and memories of the most precious times of youth, childhood, and feelings of love and dreams. The songs dive into the escapism that Symphonic Metal is steeped in, where history is presented in a dream-like light, and fantasy and reality poetically collide. Starting with the revelation of an endless universe, soaring through the themes and imagery of the purge of knowledge, imaginary inner worlds, striving to find happiness or meaning in life, and ending with the tragic story of the execution of Giordano Bruno, whereby the narrator speaks to us as Bruno. Every song has its own individual meaning but still connects to each-other, and is still a part of the whole journey.

A cinematic, ethereal intro titled Aurora, led by the smooth piano notes and the imposing keys by Anri, sets the stage for the 7-minute aria Ad Infinitum, exploding into a modern and vibrant fusion of Melodic and Symphonic Metal where McKenna mesmerizes us all with her gorgeous voice, while Danial makes sure the word “heavy” is part of the music through his pounding, violent drums. The album couldn’t have started in a better way, and things get even better in Beast Of Oblivion, considerably more breathtaking and electrifying than the previous song, with McKenna having an interesting “beauty and the beast” duel with Mike, while the same Mike together with Cody slash their guitars beautifully from start to finish. Then Dylan’s rumbling bass and Danial’s fast and precise beats dictate the rhythm in another Symphonic Metal feast titled Pale Blue, bringing forward some stylish lyrics (“Visions in my sleepless night took me to the moonlit sky / I stood in awe before the greatest show / And took a step away from what I have ever known”), and of course I would love to see them giving life to this metallic symphony during their live performances; and slowing things down a bit and being highly inspired by iconic bands like Nightwish and Epica, the band delivers another solid tune named Arcane Shores (Compass to Light), showcasing gripping guitar riffs intertwined with the flammable keys by Anri and McKenna’s passionate vocals.

Time for McKenna and her ethereal voice together with Anri’s gentle piano to take us to a world of love and peace in the enfolding ballad Crestfallen, with the song’s taste being nicely enhanced by all background orchestrations, flowing flawlessly until its climatic finale, whereas whimsical sounds ignite the epic and beyond symphonic Starbreathe, a song perfect for closing your eyes and embarking on a metal journey together with Solborn. Furthermore, Cody and Mike are on fire with their riffs and solos, slashing our senses while Danial doesn’t let the energy level go down not even for a single second, not to mention Anri’s futuristic (and therefore amazing) keyboard solo. In Voyage To The World’s End we’re treated to a galloping exhibit of classic metal music embraced by the stunning orchestrations by Anri and Danial, offering our avid ears over eight minutes of the best Symphonic Metal you can think of, including thrilling guitar and keyboard solos, spot-on breaks and variations, serene piano passages, epic orchestral moments, and once again presenting classy and poetic lyrics (“Paint my memory where we lay in haven of time / Play music of creek, sounds of wild clashing winds / With new life, awake from delirium / Spread your wings, come fly away with me”). And last but not least we have Last Curtains Fall, the perfect name for a closing song with the bass by Dylan bringing thunder to the sound while McKenna continues to deliver her romantic and fiery vocal lines. Although the overall result is not as thrilling as the rest of the album (and a bit too slow at times), it’s still a solid and entertaining creation by this skillful Canadian act.

Solborn might not be revolutionizing the world of Symphonic Metal with their music, but who said they were supposed to do that in Dark Lights of Delirium to succeed? They stuck to a well-known formula, added their own personal ingredients and twist, and voilà! There you have a full-bodied, imposing and enfolding album of classic Symphonic Metal (available for a full listen on Spotify, by the way). Having said that, if you want to know more about the band and show them your true support, don’t forget to check out their Facebook page and YouTube channel for news, tour dates and more of their music, and purchase your copy of Dark Lights of Delirium from their own BandCamp page or webstore. Because, as you already know, there’s nothing better than some first-class symphonic music to embark on an epic adventure through the eccentric realms of your own thoughts and dreams.

Best moments of the album: Beast Of Oblivion, Pale Blue and Voyage To The World’s End.

Worst moments of the album: Last Curtains Fall.

Released in 2018 Independent

Track listing 
1. Aurora 1:19
2. Ad Infinitum 7:08
3. Beast Of Oblivion 4:52
4. Pale Blue 5:07
5. Arcane Shores (Compass to Light) 4:53
6. Crestfallen 4:44
7. Starbreathe 6:04
8. Voyage To The World’s End 8:47
9. Last Curtains Fall 6:53

Band members
McKenna Rae – lead vocals
Cody Lloyd – lead guitars
Mike Bell – rhythm guitars, growls
Dylan Mooney – bass guitar
Anri Tsiskaridze – keyboards, orchestra
Danial Devost – drums, orchestra