Necrocosm - To The Depths - Metal Epidemic

Ne c rocosm – To The Depths (EP)
Release Date: 17th July 2026
Label: Self-Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal.
FFO: At The Gates, Dissection, The Black Dahlia Murder, Majesties, Obscura.
Review By: Mark Young

As you can see, Necrocosm as an entity should appeal to a wide range of fans who are looking for something that sits between those different genres. Personally, I love the idea that a band should try to expand their sound, although there are some that are born to stay in a certain lane – AC/DC as an example of a band that recognises where its talents lie (I’m not suggesting that Necrocosm sound like AC/DC, just in case). To The Depths marks a return for the Raleigh, North Carolina natives with the EP arriving some nine years after Damnation Doctrine.

Putting the instrumental opener to one side, admittedly having the right arrangement to it, things kick off in good style with To The Depths, the title track coming flying in on the back of some supreme death metal drumming. These boys are in a hurry and are taking no prisoners with this. It’s a song that is chock-full of energy, and it does everything right; duelling lead breaks, rhythms that pummel and a core objective to absolutely smash you to bits. It’s that good an opening track that I forgive the instrumental, it’s as perfect an opener as you will hear this year. Limb Rot continues on that path, no let-up in attack and any initial worries on my part that they had blown themselves out dissipate. That fine eye for scorching riffs stays with us, adding to a constant forward movement which basically equates to a blitzkrieg where they constantly adjust the tempo, only slightly so it doesn’t intrude but enough so that you pick up on it. As a one-two it’s an excellent start and finish to what would have been Side A.

Side B starts up and with Nuclear Eschatology I’m happy to report they haven’t written a ballad. Of the songs on here, this one wears its At The Gates influences on it sleeve, and it is noticeable, especially to fans. There is enough of Necrocosm on this to make it their own, what I’m saying is that fans of ATG will love this track, and it barrels along before making way to their last belt, The Howling Deathblow. Again, they have succeeded in achieving their brief – make each song as vital as the one before, no let up in that attack. This is one of those songs that kicks in at a high gear and then stays there. I appreciate that this is only an EP from them, but by Christ its one of the best things I’ve heard in 2026. The lead breaks mix in that technical approach whilst keeping them as exciting as possible. Each of the tracks here are of a high class, and I’ll be honest that I couldn’t pick one out as being any better than the others. They all have a relative high point to them, whilst being examples of top class extreme metal and I hope that they don’t leave it as long next time between releases!!