This Finnish beast returns with its third full-length opus, delivering a raw and unrelenting blend of Death Metal infused with Grindcore and Hardcore elements.
Formed in Helsinki, Finland, in early 2008, Death Metal/Grindcore outfit Refusal is set to unleash upon humanity their third full-length album, entitled Venomous Human Concept, the follow-up to their 2019 offering Epitome of Void. Delivering a raw and unrelenting blend of Death Metal infused with Grindcore and Hardcore elements, striking a perfect balance between groove-driven intensity and razor-sharp precision, the band currently formed of Juhani Paasipohja on vocals, Tero Pirhonen and Kalle Kuosmanen on the guitars, Timo Pirhonen on bass, and Aleksi Roitto on drums is on fire throughout their entire new album, with the sharp mixing by Olli Nokkala at Studio Kolotila and the first-class mastering by Henri Sorvali at Trollhouse Audio turning it into a must-listen for fans of Napalm Death, Misery Index, Entombed, and Rotten Sound, among several others.
Tero and Kalle will cut your skin deep with their dirty, caustic riffs in Scholar of Perversion, while Juhani already barks and roars like a creature from darkness. The title-track Venomous Human Concept tells a story of rising up against the ruling class, and the ones who hold the wealth and power; musically speaking, it’s a demented hybrid of Death Metal and Grindcore led by the insane drums by Aleksi, followed by The Grip Tightens, sounding even more infuriated, or in other words, it’s a demonic display of Death Metal where Juhani vociferates rabidly nonstop. The band continues to spread hatred and violence in Insatiable God, with the scorching riffs by Tero and Kalle inspiring us all for some wild headbanging, and those Finnish death metallers show no mercy for our cranial skulls in War of Nothing, with Aleksi once again crushing his enemies behind his drums.
There’s no sign of the band slowing down or sounding mellower; quite the contrary, it’s total anarchy in Dehumanize, blasting our heads with their furious Death Metal onrush, whereas We Are the Undead is one of the most violent tracks of the entire album, overflowing aggression thanks to another venomous performance by Juhani with his demented roars and the always demolishing beats and fills by Aleksi. Their violent sounds continue to fill every single space in the air in Sleeping Leviathan, with the stringed axes by Tero, Kalle and Timo transpiring pure, unfiltered Death Metal magic. There’s still time to slam into the pit to the hybrid of Death Metal with Grindcore entitled Congregation of the Eyeless, again presenting an avalanche of piercing riffs and infernal growls, and the band then ends the album with the Doom Metal-infused Eternal Refrain, sounding dark and sinister until the very end, with the hammering drums by Aleksi feeling utterly chaotic.
After all is said and done, Venomous Human Concept, which is available for purchase from the band’s own BandCamp or from the Time To Kill Records’ webstore, will definitely help Refusal cement their name not only in the always incendiary local Finnish scene, but also all over the world where our good old Death Metal is properly appreciated, and you can also support those hellish metallers by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and by streaming their discography on Spotify. In other words, get ready to be pulverized by Refusal to the sound of Venomous Human Concept because, as you might already know, Death Metal is their business, and business is good.
Best moments of the album: Venomous Human Concept, We Are the Undead and Sleeping Leviathan.
Worst moments of the album: Insatiable God.
Released in 2025 Time To Kill Records
Track listing
1. Scholar of Perversion 3:39
2. Venomous Human Concept 2:57
3. The Grip Tightens 3:13
4. Insatiable God 2:50
5. War of Nothing 4:38
6. Dehumanize 4:39
7. We Are the Undead 3:42
8. Sleeping Leviathan 1:24
9. Congregation of the Eyeless 3:36
10. Eternal Refrain 5:04
Band members
Juhani Paasipohja – vocals
Tero Pirhonen – guitars
Kalle Kuosmanen – guitars
Timo Pirhonen – bass, backing vocals
Aleksi Roitto – drums
Hailing from Finland’s capital Helsinki, the unrelenting Black Metal horde that goes by the name of 
You can easily join the Black Metal cult led by Lord Of Pagathorn by following the band on 
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 