Ov Sulfur – Endless
Release Date: 16th January 2026
Label: Century Media
Bandcamp
Genre: Deathcore, Blackened Deathcore.
FFO: Whitechapel, A Wake in Providence, Immortal Disfigurement.
Review By: Jeff Finch
After revisiting the current state of deathcore and the genre’s well-documented shortcomings, it’s worth turning attention to a band that largely sidesteps those pitfalls. Ov Sulfur, the Las Vegas–based deathcore outfit, return with their sophomore full-length Endless, and in doing so, deliver an album that feels deliberate, oppressive, and refreshingly free of overt “paint-by-numbers” songwriting.
What immediately sets Endless apart is its restraint. While many bands in the genre rely heavily on predictable structures, Ov Sulfur favors momentum and atmosphere. Blistering, pummeling riffs collide with piercing high shrieks and cavernous, demonic lows, all wrapped in a suffocating ambience that feels like a door slowly closing off the last remaining light. The result is unsettling yet deeply engaging, an album that demands attention rather than background listening.
From start to finish, Endless is an unrelenting deathcore assault, propelled by inhuman tempos and precision-driven drums. Yet the band pushes beyond the genre’s typical boundaries, incorporating blackened elements, layered melodies, and moments of experimentation, most notably the track Wither, featuring predominantly clean vocals. While such risks may not resonate with every listener, the execution is confident, and the pristine production ensures every element lands with clarity and weight.
Deathcore lyricism is often secondary to sheer sonic impact, and Endless is no exception in that the vocals can obscure immediate comprehension. However, reading along reveals a consistent thematic focus on despondency, existential uncertainty, and the fear of perpetual conflict. These ideas are reinforced musically through bleak orchestral flourishes and oppressive arrangements, lending the album a palpable sense of hopelessness that feels intentional rather than performative.
To be clear, Endless is still very much a deathcore record. Chugs, breakdowns, and moments where tracks briefly blur together are all present. No band operating within the genre escapes these critiques entirely. Where Ov Sulfur succeeds is in relegating those familiar elements to supporting roles rather than allowing them to dominate. Breakdowns and chug sections function as connective tissue, brief interludes within larger compositions, rather than the sole focal point.
In doing so, Ov Sulfur separates themselves from much of the contemporary deathcore landscape. Endless may not redefine the genre, but it refines it with purpose, atmosphere, and conviction, making it one of the more compelling and thoughtfully executed releases the style has seen in recent memory.
(4.5 / 5)
