apanthropy

New World Depression
Abysmal Void
Testimony Records
To Be Released: 9/19/25

Rating: 82/100

“Overall, this is a solid album by a now-veteran band with seven prominent releases to their discography. Fans of bands such as Obituary, Bolt Thrower, and Kataklysm will have a great time with Abysmal Void, thanks to the largely mid-tempo, rhythm-centric delivery.“

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1 – The Vault
2 – Book of Trophies
3 – Spoils of War
4 – Blind Eyes
5 – Marching on Our Graves
6 – Burning Down
7 – Grenadier
8 – Expect No Mercy
9 – Carnage
10 – Moonbound Hunger
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New World Depression has been around since 2005, producing two EPs and, now, seven full-length albums. German death metal with plenty of groove, melody, and a flair for Obituary and Bolt Thrower-style deliveries, New World Depression unleash Abysmal Void on September 19^th, 2025, through Testimony Records. Ten new tracks clocking in at 42 minutes of crushing fury and riff-forward composing.

Opening with ‘The Vault,’ the template for Abysmal Void is established. Cyclical melodic grinding with intense focus on rhythmic power coupled with chunky palm-muted chord sequences, the contrast between faster melodic phrases against slower mid-tempo ones create a push and pull effect against the listener. Heavily harmonized dual-layered guitar work keeps the mix fully saturated in its display of raw power. Vocalist Hütte gives a very John Tardy-style delivery in vocal execution.

‘Book of Trophies’ hits hard fast, entering on a storming blast beast and grinding single-note melodies contrast with rapid-fire palm-muted runs with breaks coming through thick, crunching power chords. Melodic interchanges and slower sections drive the song deeper and deeper, an almost Kataklysm-like delivery.

Tracks such as ‘Blind Eyes’ and ‘Marching On Our Graves’ invoke major Bolt Thrower vibes in pace and riff composition. ‘Blind Eyes’ rolls in like a tank, crushing everything under a storm of double-bass and simplistic, rhythm-focused riffing. ‘Marching On Our Graves’ really gives the bass guitar an opportunity to shine with its principal riff comprised of palm-muted single-note sequencing, adding a ravenous rumble to the forward momentum. Double melodies during the chorus mix with stacked guttural vocals to create a full booming push to contrast the otherwise direct frontal assault of the song.

‘Carnage’ is pure death and roll with crunchy downpicking pushing the verses forward into exhibitions of melodic exchange during verse sections. ‘Moonbound Hunger’ slows things down in a primal stomping rage, showing off plenty of groove within the composition.

Production on Abysmal Void is warm and sharp, with great mid and low-end tonality on the guitars, which have a satisfying crunch during palm-muted sections and great heat during melodic exchanges. Drums rest behind the guitars, serving to propel the compositions forward on punchy bass and great snare tone. Bass really serves to double the rhythmic power of the guitars, adding a tonal foundation for the riffs to exist on.

Overall, this is a solid album by a now-veteran band with seven prominent releases to their discography. Fans of bands such as Obituary, Bolt Thrower, and Kataklysm will have a great time with Abysmal Void, thanks to the largely mid-tempo, rhythm-centric delivery. Brutal, tight riff work exchanges with expansive melodic phrases, not quite hitting levels of melodic death metal, but existing more towards conventional mid-tempo European death metal. A worthy album that has no weak tracks and has plenty of headbanging moments stitched throughout its structure.

Label: Testimony Records
Band: New World Depression

AJK