An original renovation of classic death-metal sound that strikes deep.
German death-metal veterans New World Depression have carved deep trenches underground for over two decades. Their seventh full-length record, Abysmal Void, makes it very clear: they haven’t lost an ounce of brutality nor their appetite for atmosphere. Across ten tracks of unrelenting riff work, crushing grooves and throat-searing vocals, they deliver an album that honors the old guard and firmly asserts their identity in the present.
From the opening rumble of “The Vault,” the tone is set — dark, heavy and uncompromising. Gnashing riffs drift in, vocals growl with menace and the rhythm section stomps through mid-tempo doom-laden passages that give way into bursts of urgency. It’s a statement: this won’t be gentle. “Book of Trophies” wastes no time doubling down, rotating between punishing riffs and haunting harmonics, reminding us that melody and menace can be siblings. “Spoils of War” alternates grooves and aggression, introducing jerky rhythms that feel old-school and fresh, showcasing the band’s ability to blend heaviness with flair.
On “Blind Eyes,” you get the best of both worlds: dense, suffocating death metal riffing with a momentary burst of speed that jolts the senses before sinking back into plodding weight. It’s a track with texture — dissonant touches here and melodic accents there — that pays off in headbanging satisfaction. “Marching on our Graves” features a slower, more deliberate pacing, allowing the melody to peek through thick guitars and letting the bass rumble in ways that flesh out the darker landscape. It’s one of the more atmospheric moments, but still anchored in sheer weight.
Then “Burning Down” ignites with fire. Guitars intertwine, drums thunder and the energy ratchets up: this feels like two parts catharsis, one part fury. “Grenadier” follows with groove-heavy, stripped-back riffing emphasizing structure; less about speed, mood and tension — vocal delivery throbs in the lower register, bubbling with resentment and raw power.
If a moment on Abysmal Void underlines New World Depression’s strength, it’s “Expect No Mercy” and “Carnage.” The former begins calm — almost a deceptive lull before the storm — then explodes into crushing riffs. At the same time, “Carnage” throws down with a punishing feel reminiscent of death-and-roll stylings: down-picked verses, serrated leads and an intensity that never lets up. Closer “Moonbound Hunger” ends the album on a slow, stomping note — an echoing, heavy groove that pulls the listener back into the mosh and into reflection. There’s weight here — not just in sound, but in emotion.
Production on Abysmal Void walks a fine line: rugged enough to retain the grime and rawness that makes death metal visceral, clean enough so that no riff gets lost, no vocal growl too mushy. Guitars crunch, drums snap, the bass underpins and boosts rather than getting buried. And Hütte’s tormented, gravelly vocals fit perfectly: impassioned, not over-produced and deeply human even as they dwell in darkness.
What makes Abysmal Void strong is its refusal to compromise. It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t bend to what’s expected. Instead, New World Depression doubles down on the fundamentals: riff, groove, atmosphere, aggression.
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