ALBUM REVIEWSPROGRESSIVE METALREVIEWS

From the ashes of supergroup SONS OF APOLLO rises a new and exciting venture with Derek Sherinian and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal joining forces once again. With frontman Dino Jelusick, bassist Yas Nomura and drummer Bruno Valverde along for the ride, WHOM GODS DESTROY are looking to take the metal world by storm with their highly anticipated debut album Insanium which is due for release on March 15th via InsideOut Music. What does this exciting collective have in store?



In The Name Of War commences with a jarring piano sequence before meticulously building its deranged soundscape of chaotic technicality. The groove-heavy verse riff is a certified earworm, particularly beside the powerful pipes of Jelusick. Emphatic melodies intertwine with wild unpredictability to form an exciting blueprint. Over Again offers a similarly dramatic demeanour as devilish syncopation has your head in a spin. The bass lines and drum beats locked in, in beautifully insane synchronicity, is a pleasure to experience. This mentality spills directly into the introductory segment for The Decision to further hammer home the band’s razor-sharp instrumental acumen. While maintaining the copious intricacies and flamboyance, this track brings forth an emotive narrative packed with plentiful melodies.


Crawl dives straight back into the multifaceted attack, hitting you from every conceivable angle with impressive experimentation. Find My Way Back opts for a comforting ballad approach, letting clean tones and Jelusick‘s commanding presence lead the way. Crucifier, however, has zero intention of letting you become complacent. Exhilarating aggression takes a firm grip on proceedings, injecting mindboggling complexity at every turn.

Keeper Of The Gate provides some additional addictive grooves to get your head nodding. The infectious rhythm section is sure to be a firm fan favourite. Hypernova 158 kicks the craziness up a few gears with frantic drum flourishes and waves of intense fret/key acrobatics. Complete and utter anarchy. Title track Insanium is packed with plenty of enticing qualities to give this release a satisfying send off. From the anthemic vocal work to the gnarly breakdown section, it will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Insanium is like a rollercoaster. Some will grimace in disapproval while others will happily strap themselves in for the adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride. Did this release need to be around an hour long? Probably not, but with such instrumental mastery at their collective fingertips, it is little surprise that WHOM GODS DESTROY wanted to make a statement by showcasing the bewildering array of skills and techniques at their disposal. Whether this will be a long-term project remains to be seen but if you have a soft spot for stunningly inventive progressive metal this is definitely one for the collection.

Rating: 9/10



Insanium is due for release on March 15th via InsideOut Music.

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