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Album Review – Destroy Fear / The Dark Carnival (2026)

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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

Album Review – Destroy Fear / The Mountain Before Us All (2025)

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A dynamic new force emerging from Melbourne’s vibrant metal scene is ready to strike armed with their debut album, blending crushing heaviness with intricate melodies.

A dynamic new force emerging from Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant metal scene, blending crushing heaviness with intricate melodies heavily inspired by In Flames, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Parkway Drive, As I Lay Dying, and Heaven Shall Burn, among many others, Melodic Death Metal outfit Destroy Fear is unleashing upon us their debut offering, titled The Mountain Before Us All. Comprised of vocalist Scott Masson (Born Of A Bastard King, Outer Worlds), guitarists Jayden Genuis (War Of One) and Luke Baird (Made From Broken Parts, The Empire), bassist Justin Wong (Tides Collide), and drummer Alex Bull (Outer Worlds), the band offers in The Mountain Before Us All a striking sound defined by soaring guitar riffs, emotionally charged vocals, and a powerful rhythm section, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Melodic Death Metal, Hardcore and Metalcore from the “glory days” of the early 2000’s.

It’s easy to feel that characteristic Gothenburg sound right from the start in Ulterior Motive, with Scott already roaring nonstop while Alex keeps the song’s rhythm flowing smoothly; and the guitars by Jayden and Luke will inspire you to bang your heads nonstop in The Serpent, inviting us all to slam into the pit and have a very good time with our good friends. Sweat Equity is absolutely inspired by the current sound by In Flames, with Scott and Justin kicking some ass on vocals, followed by The Redeemer, another fast and melodic creation by the band where the riffage by Jayden and Luke exhale heaviness while also sounding piercing and harmonious. Then we face another round of anguished roars and razor-edged guitars in Flames of Division, while the song’s clean vocals bring a touch of finesse to the overall sound, and the band then enhances their animosity and fury in Sever, with Scott screaming manically amidst a Hardcore-infused sonority.

The second half of the album begins in full force to the sound of Blue Sky Thinking, which should sound fantastic if played live, led by Alex’s Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore pounding drums. Fade to Obscurity is another exciting tune by the band, with their guitar duo hitting us hard with their fusion of aggressiveness and harmony, all boosted by another killer performance by Scott on vocals, and there’s no sign of the band slowing down at all, as it’s a feast of Melodic Death Metal that goes heavy on all Metalcore elements in Brimstone, in special in their vocals and riffs. Yesterday presents a more introspective side of the band, albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album, whereas in order to properly end the album the band will melt our faces with The Mountain Before Us All, where their caustic riffs and roars match perfectly with Alex’s hard hitting drums.

A super group of sorts made up from members of other bands and projects with a passion for all things metal, Destroy Fear are already deep into writing and actively recording for a second album release projected for the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026, and until then you can have an absolute blast with their debut offering by streaming it on Spotify and purchasing it from BandCamp. Don’t forget to also follow those talented Australians on Facebook, keeping an eye on their live concerts as they’re more than ready to crush the stages Down Under, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music and videos. Needless to say, I’m sure we’ll soon hear a lot more from Scott, Jayden, Luke, Justin, and Alex, as they keep destroying fear armed with the best weapon ever to do so, which is high quality music like what they have to offer in their excellent debut album.

Best moments of the album: The Serpent, The Redeemer and Fade to Obscurity.

Worst moments of the album: Yesterday.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Ulterior Motive 4:07
2. The Serpent 4:28
3. Sweat Equity 4:34
4. The Redeemer 3:59
5. Flames of Division 4:13
6. Sever 4:08
7. Blue Sky Thinking 5:05
8. Fade to Obscurity 4:06
9. Brimstone 3:22
10. Yesterday 5:20
11. The Mountain Before Us All 4:23

Band members
Scott Masson – vocals
Jayden Genuis – lead guitar
Luke Baird – rhythm guitar
Justin Wong – bass, vocals
Alex Bull – drums