Tag Archives: apostasy records

Album Review – Defacing God / Darkness Is My Crown (2026)

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These Symphonic Black Metal visionaries are back with their stunning sophomore opus, this time with a strong focus on inner conflict, loss, transformation and resilience.

After the more-than-positive feedback received with the release of their 2022 breathtaking debut The Resurrection of Lilith, Aalborg, Denmark-based Symphonic Black/Gothic Metal visionaries Defacing God return from the underworld with their most personal and intense album to date, titled Darkness Is My Crown. Mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios, and showcasing a visceral artwork by Leoncio Hrmr (capturing the darker, more intense, and complex atmosphere developed for the album), the newborn spawn by frontwoman Sandie “The Lilith” Gjørtz and her horde formed of guitarists Jakob Batten and Christian Snapholt Nielsen, bassist Rasmus “Kalke” Munch Nielsen, and drummer Michael Olsson sees the band once again fuse Blackened Death Metal, symphonic darkness and occult atmosphere, this time with a strong focus on inner conflict, loss, transformation and resilience, an unfiltered reflection of confronting darkness head-on and reshaping it into strength, identity and purpose.

An ominous intro drags us all to the Stygian lair ruled by The Lilith and her henchmen in Nocturnal Vestige, sounding and feeling very melodic, harsh and piercing, with Jakob and Christian firing their scathing riffs nonstop. Malediction Manor already kicks off in full force to the hammering drums by Michael, evolving into a bestial display of Symphonic Black Metal for the delight of all fans of the darkest side of music; whereas in It Comes at Night the band slows things down and brings to our avid ears an overdose of dark sounds led by the devilish guitars by Jakob and Christian. Then offering another cryptic intro we face I See Shadows, evolving into a headbanging, grim aria blending Black and Doom Metal in a compelling way, followed by Nefarious Enclave, one of the most venomous songs of their career, an onrush of Black Metal sounds with a rebellious thrashing twist where The Lilith roars and barks like a she-demon unleashed into humanity and avid for blood.

The second part of the album begins with the absolutely obscure Hymns of the Memoir, sounding like a devilish ceremony led by the vile vociferations by The Lilith, therefore getting us ready for the Symphonic Black Metal beast entitled There Is No Light, where its background keys add an extra touch of epicness to their sound while Rasmus and Michael bring the groove armed with their respective bass and drums. Your Presence Lingers Here, one of the first singles released, follows a similar pattern as the previous song but with more enraged riffs and the utterly venomous roars by The Lilith; and the album keeps its imposing, bold and dense atmosphere flowing in Transition, with their guitars and drums walking hand in hand with its once again killer background keys, offering different layers and nuances until its excellent finale. Lastly, the icing on the cake comes in the form of the blasphemous, visceral The Last Revelation, where The Lilith leads her vicious horde in another metallic journey through the lands of modern-day Symphonic Black Metal.

Defacing God are on another level after the release of Darkness Is My Crown. They not only sound heavy, dark and relentless, but the message behind their music has tons of depth, multiple layers, and a sense of hope during such difficult times to basically everyone alive. Sandie and the boys deserve our total admiration and recognition for their efforts to make our dark world a better place through their Black Metal magic, and we can all see what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their undisputed tour dates, and don’t forget to also stream their music on Spotify, and to put your damned hands on their new album from their own BandCamp or by clicking HERE. From darkness they’ve arisen, and in darkness they’re now crowned the new torchbearers of Symphonic Black Metal.

Best moments of the album: Malediction Manor, Nefarious Enclave, Your Presence Lingers Here and The Last Revelation.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Apostasy Records

Track listing
1. Nocturnal Vestige 4:29
2. Malediction Manor 3:11
3. It Comes at Night 3:54
4. I See Shadows 3:56
5. Nefarious Enclave 3:25
6. Hymns of the Memoir 3:51
7. There Is No Light 3:40
8. Your Presence Lingers Here 4:08
9. Transition 4:28
10. The Last Revelation 3:33

Band members
Sandie “The Lilith” Gjørtz – vocals
Jakob Batten – lead guitars
Christian Snapholt Nielsen – rhythm guitars
Rasmus “Kalke” Munch Nielsen – bass
Michael Olsson – drums

Album Review – Serenity in Murder / Timeless Reverie (2025)

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Japan’s own Melodic Death Metal beast returns with their stunning fifth opus, exploring the fragility of life, the complexities of human emotions and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Having carved their place in the Melodic Death Metal scene worldwide for almost 15 years, Tokyo, Japan-based Symphonic/Melodic Black/Death Metal outfit Serenity In Murder continues to push boundaries in 2025 with their latest masterpiece, entitled Timeless Reverie, their fifth studio album and the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2021 opus Reborn, further refining their signature blend of raw aggression and symphonic beauty. Navigating a dark and emotional landscape, taking listeners on a journey through themes of time, destiny, inner turmoil and personal revolution, the new album by frontwoman Ayumu, guitarists Freddy and Ryuji, bassist Yu-ri and drummer Allen seamlessly weaves complex melodies, atmospheric symphonic elements, and crushing heaviness, exploring the fragility of life, the complexities of human emotions and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

The band needs less than two seconds to already crush our souls in God Forsaken, as imposing, complex and heavy as it can be, led by the masterful drumming by Allen while all symphonic elements take its epicness to a whole new level; flowing into the also melodic yet visceral Matrix, reminding me of the sounds blasted by Soilwork, Children of Bodom and In Flames but with the band’s own technical Japanese twist. Freddy and Ryuji are on fire in Blue Roses Gracefully Fall, blasting sheer electricity through their lancinating riffs while once again the background orchestrations sound majestic, and it’s pedal to the metal in the melodeath feast entitled And the World Awake, where their guitars transpire heaviness supported by the rumbling kitchen by Yu-ri and Allen. Allen keeps hammering his drums nonstop in Never Defiled, while Ayumu roars and gnarls like a true she-demon for our total delight.

A Dance of Sorrow lives up to the legacy of Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal, with Ayumu once again stealing the spotlight with her piercing screams, whereas the band sets fire to the atmosphere in The Flames Ablaze, where the riffs and solos by Freddy and Ryuji will electrify your mind in great fashion. Revolt definitely sounds more modern than its predecessors, yet still raw and violent, with its vocal lines alternating between Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore, followed by the serene interlude Past: Timeless Reverie, bringing peace to our hearts before their new version of the song Noticed This Is the Betrayal, originally released in the 2015 album The Highest of Dystopia, sounding sharp and infuriated just the way we like it in melodeath, with Ayumu bursting her lungs by barking rabidly until the very end. Lastly, we have Hope: Timeless Reverie, a lengthy outro that despite sounding detailed and cinematic, takes away a tiny bit of the album’s punch due to its duration. It might have worked better if shorter or if it had vocals, but nothing to worry about as it’s still a good song.

After all is said and done, Timeless Reverie, which is by the way available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, showcases a band at the peak of their creativity and form, hopefully expanding their reach beyond their homeland and letting them spread their wings over other parts of the world like North America and Europe. Timeless Reverie is undoubtedly one of the precious gems of heavy music in 2025, and if you want to know more about the band and their music, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and of course purchase a copy from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. The paradox between light and darkness (and no, I’m not talking about “Olbers’ paradox” in astronomy) seems to be a constant in heavy music, but few bands are capable of translating it into first-class, captivating music like what Serenity In Murder has to offer in their new album, turning it into a must-listen for anyone, and I mean anyone, who enjoys good music anywhere in the world.

Best moments of the album: God Forsaken, And the World Awake, Never Defiled and The Flames Ablaze.

Worst moments of the album: Hope: Timeless Reverie.

Released in 2025 Apostasy Records

Track listing
1. God Forsaken 4:13
2. Matrix 3:46
3. Blue Roses Gracefully Fall 4:08
4. And the World Awake 3:34
5. Never Defiled 4:40
6. A Dance of Sorrow 3:48
7. The Flames Ablaze 3:06
8. Revolt 3:18
9. Past: Timeless Reverie 1:25
10. Noticed This Is the Betrayal 3:28
11. Hope: Timeless Reverie 6:04

Band members
Ayumu – vocals
Freddy – guitars, clean vocals
Ryuji – guitars
Yu-ri – bass
Allen – drums