Behold the debut album by this Phoenix, Arizona-based Progressive Thrash/Death Metal one-man act, progressing with intense aggression, passages of amazing, atmospheric, melodious reflection and a staggering array of riffs.

Solo projects are not the rare entity that they once were in the multitude of metal genres, and an album can simply pass us by as just another barely noted scrap of information. However, when the songs are so individual, complex and emotionally charged it can still take your breath away. That’s exactly the case with The Final Witness, the debut album by Phoenix, Arizona-based Progressive Thrash/Death Metal act The Final Witness, the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Josh Henderson. Produced by Jason Wisdom of Becoming The Archetype, Beneath The Altar offers no gradual immersion into its turbulent waters, no gradual revealing of its unpredictable nature, progressing with intense aggression, incredible guitar solos, passages of amazing, atmospheric, melodious reflection and a staggering array of riffs.

Josh’s incendiary riffs set fire to the atmosphere in Principalities, also presenting crushing beats and fills, and his trademark demonic roars, resulting in a great start to the album, followed by Coronation, even more melodic than the opening track, with Josh shredding his axe in the name of Progressive Death Metal. The title-track Beneath The Altar also brings to our avid ears Josh’s share of aggressiveness mixed with pure melody and intricacy, not to mention his work on the guitars and drums is fantastic; and he keeps roaring and barking nonstop in Sanctum of the Holy, offering more of his Progressive Death Metal blend, with his scorching riffs adding intricacy and rage to the music. Our lone wolf then puts the pedal to the metal in the infuriated Negative World, offering a high dosage of Death and Thrash Metal violence armed with his blast beats and visceral growling. Testimony, the second to last song from the album, is a burst of pure energy, keeping the fun inside the pit flowing until we face The Blood, another complex and long composition presenting his piercing riffage and progressive beats and fills, resulting in a multi-layered tune recommended for fans of the genre.

Highly recommended for fans of bands the likes of Sadus, White Stones, Coroner, and Moonloop, among others, Beneath The Altar definitely deserves a listen by any fan of high quality extreme music with a strong progressive and melodic vein, and you can get to know more about Josh and his The Final Witness on Facebook and on Instagram, stream the album in full sooner than later on Spotify, and of course, grab a copy of it from the Rottweiler Records’ BandCamp or webstore, as well as from DistroKid, or simply click HERE for all things The Final Witness. It’s time for Beneath The Altar to be unleashed, positioning The Final Witness as a force to be reckoned with in the current American scene, therefore inspiring the multi-talented Josh to keep venturing through the wild and unpredictable lands of progressiveness as a true lone wolf, always putting a huge smile on our faces with more excellent releases like Beneath The Altar.

Best moments of the album: Coronation, Beneath The Altar and Negative World.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Rottweiler Records

Track listing
1. Principalities 5:13
2. Coronation 3:56
3. Beneath The Altar 5:14
4. Sanctum of the Holy 4:27
5. Negative World 4:59
6. Testimony 6:13
7. The Blood 6:40

Band members
Josh Henderson – vocals, all instruments