New World Depression – Abysmal Void
Release Date: 19th September 2025
Label: Testimony Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Old School Death Metal, Death-n-Roll.
FFO: Jungle Rot, Obituary, Bolt Thrower, Kataklysm, Pestilence, Creeping Death.
Review By: Rick Farley
Germany’s New World Depression has firmly rooted themselves in the throes of iconic old school death metal. Founded originally in 2005, the band is about to be seven full lengths deep into the death metal underground. Their most recent release in 2023 Interment of Sins was a steamrolling attack of heavy groove, caustic melodies, and vomited style vocals. Think Jungle Rot and Bolt Thrower mixed with Obituary, but with more musical depth and atmosphere. 2025’s earth shaking Abyssal Void brings us the same intensity, brawn, and heathy love of OSDM. Brutal, unfiltered, and unforgiving, this album is a full of striking melodies combined with riffs that will putrefy your puny bones upon impact.
Musically, Abyssal Void stays on the same old school death metal rails as the rest of their discography, not really a bad thing, but at times and depending on the band it’s nice to have a little extra. That’s where this album shines, it’s everything you already love about New World Depression or this style of death metal if you will, just kicked up a notch. The groove has extra swagger, the atmosphere has extra depth, and the production seems meatier. Tracks like assaulting opener The Vault comes out of the gates swinging its hammer towards your skull with reckless force. The vomited vocal style is harsh as fuck; it reminds me of a mixture of gravel throated Dave Matrise (Jungle Rot) and the forced spewing delivery of John Tardy (Obituary), with a little more deepened harshness than either of them. While Marching on Our Graves gives me the death metal feels of Bolt Thrower, which is never really a negative. Warship level heaviness mixed with speedy headbanging pace is a match that’s hard to beat when it comes to OSDM. Palm muted, forward moving guitar riffs and drums that are all about getting your body moving violently. Closing track Moonbound Hunger is all about lumbering groove, not quite swampy but filth filled, nonetheless. Stompy yet searing riffs twist and turn back and forth, creating a compelling tension between the two. The low end is full toned and adds serious oomph to the mix. Throw in the emphasized, puking vocals and some fresh lead work and this track will level your house.
Production wise this is a hulking, warm bodied, full on, crushing beast. Each level has a pristine quality but maintains its rawness. The overall mix sounds together as one yet fully distinguishable as individual, with the snare and the guitar tones being extra nasty. Jörg Uken is credited as honing the album to perfection at the famous Soundlodge Studio in East Frisia. Killer cover art by Juan Castellano.
The beauty of bands like New World Depression is you know exactly what you’re getting every time. High quality, crunchy, battle ready death metal steeped in old school ideals and composition. If you like even one band mentioned in the “For Fans Of” section, chances are you’ll like this. Abyssal Void isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel by any means, but they are definitely trying to run you over with it. Recommended to those who wish to turn their brain off, jump in the pit and fucking headbang until you pass out.
(3.5 / 5)
