#ancient death

Ancient Death: Ego Dissolution (2025)

Even with my intermittent and undisciplined modern-day music discovery process (a far cry from the almost scientific assiduousness of my youth), it was easy to see that Ancient Death's Ego Dissolution was one of the most frequently praised heavy metal releases of 2025.

And when I gazed upon the eyeball-smothered, otherwordly wonder of its cover art (*) I was assaulted by fond memories of Sepultura's Arise, Obituary's Cause of Death, and other classic death metal albums, and pretty much sold before I heard a single note.

But I wasn't disappointed once I did, because this retro-minded quartet from Walpole, MA's consistently backed up their aesthetically-nostalgic imagery with an equally period-correct blend of OSDM (Old School Death Metal) influences.

Uh, they ARE called Ancient Death, after all!

After forming in 2021, vocalist/guitarist Jerry Witunsky (**), guitarist Ray Brouwer, bassist/vocalist Jasmine Alexander, and drummer Derek Moniz dropped a few singles and an EP to hone their sound, but waited until last year to record this, their first long-player.

It was produced with analog authenticity by Seth Manchester (not yet known for his work with a bunch of bands you've barely heard of) at Pawtucket, RI's Machines with Magnets studio; but if you'd told me it had been recorded by Scott Burns at Tampa's Morrisound, instead, I might have bought that.

For, you see, in Ancient Death's carefully constructed '90s simulacrum, bestial brutality and semi-progressive structures balance to perfection on the title track, "Breaking the Barriers of Hope," and "Violet Light Decays" evoking globally-widespread forerunners like Death, Edge of Sanity, Sepultura, and Entombed.

And because sinister melodies and Alexander's breathy, ethereal goth vocals are generously distributed among these violent death metal trademarks and Witunsky's Cookie Monster growls, long-winded, esoteric fare like "Breathe - Transcend (Into the Glowing Streams of Forever)" and "Echoing Chambers Within the Dismal Mind" is as accessible as death metal gets.

Even the album's two instrumentals, "Journey to the Inner Soul" and "Discarnate," are very well-crafted and nicely complement (along with another highlight, "Unspoken Oath") an album that, albeit on the short side (just 35 minutes), is consistently engaging, as advertised.

And yet, I fear my natural attraction to Ego Dissolution may rely on familiarity and a sentimental hankering for the days when "old school death metal" was "fresh groundbreaking death metal," and that my enthusiasm may fade once I rack this record with 3,000 more.

But we'll see about that, and don't let this closing misgiving dampen my preceding endorsement of Ancient Death's debut, which still ranks among the best metal albums of any stripe that I heard in 2025.

* Designed by the talented Maegan LeMay.

** Witunsky also performs live with the current formation of death/jazz iconoclasts Atheist.

WORM, Ancient Death, and The Oracle will be performing on June 18 at The Palladium Upstairs in Worcester, MA. Tickets can be obtained here or directly from the bands.

Ancient Death est un groupe de death metal progressif formé en 2019 à Walpole, dans le Massachusetts, par Jasmine Alexander (basse et chant), Ray Brouwer (guitare), Jerry Witunsky (guitare et chant), Derek Malone Moniz (batterie). Avec la sortie de l'E.P « Sacred Vessel » en 2022, du split single « Glowing Auras » en 2023, suivi de « Demo 2024 », le groupe continue de se développer et de repousser les limites avec leur premier album, « Ego Dissolution » via Profound Lore Records, enregistré et mixé par Seth Manchester (Amenra, Full Of Hell, High Command, Liturgy, The Body...) et masterisé par Dan Lowndes (Ancient Torment, Cruciamentum, Imindain).

Mêlant death metal progressif et technique à des atmosphères cosmiques/mystiques luxuriantes, dans un mélange entre Blood Incantation, Atheist, Nile, Death, en combinant introspection et évolution, mysticisme, approfondissant les atmosphères dans le doom cosmic, et toujours dans une cohérence et équilibre de variations mélodiques passionnantes. Il y a brièvement le chant féminin clair de la bassiste sur les titres “Breathe - Transcend (Into the Glowing Streams of Forever)” et sur "Echoing Chambers Within the Dismal Mind". Okay c’est cool, mais ce qui interpelle c’est qu’Ancient Death évoque quelque chose de profond que même la mort ne peut garder et c’est le spleen. Quand on s'enfonce il est bon de parvenir à sentir le sol sous nos pieds, trouver son fond car on sait qu'on peut s'y appuyer pour se relever. Ce qui bouleverse, c’est ce qui dépasse, c’est ce qui casse un peu, c’est ce qui tremble sans tomber.En quête de soi le développement personnel, les blessures intérieures à guérir n’appartiennent pas qu’au metalcore et parviennent jusqu’au death metal contemporain. Cet album est l’essor d’une lutte et de son épanouissement musical.