Review SINSAENUM “In Devastation”

“In Devastation” is Sinsaenum’s third album, and the first without Joey Jordison (RIP), who passed away in 2021. The all-star ensemble started in 2016 with an impressive line-up also including Heimoth, Stéphane Buriez, Frédéric Leclercq and Attila Csihar.

Their debut album, released in 2016, was called “Echoes of the Tortured” and generated initial interest in the group. The band delivered harsh death metal, and now, nine years later, Sinsaenum has their third longplayer ready to be shipped to record stores. “In Devastation” is the project’s first new album in seven years and features ten substantial metal tracks.

One of the songs that has already been revealed is the title track. “In Devastation” opens with a dystopian intro before morphing into an intense death metal blast. It’s a dark, roaring headbanger that sets the tone for the rest of the album.

“Cede to Thunder” follows and maintains the same ferocious intensity as the opener. The furious guitar solos are a particular highlight of this brutal death metal song.

With “Obsolete and Broken”, Sinsaenum showcases a new twist that the band has added to their music. Still firing on all cylinders, the more progressive touch makes this song a highlight. Additionally, the blackened scream of Attila Csihar adds to the brutality of this tune, which reflects an embedded counterpart. The progressive middle section with clean vocals has an almost Opeth-esque touch, before the blasting death metal inferno takes over again.

“Last Goodbye” opens with an atmospheric intro, followed by clean vocals that echo the album’s and song’s versatility. The filigree middle section of the album showcases the most significant developments, while remaining true to the roots of Sinsaenum’s massive metal endeavour. Fusing atmospheric moments and harsh blasts isn’t new, but the band does it in great fashion. Listening to this song, it feels as though it grew naturally, rather than being created using a sketchboard approach.

The second half of the album begins with the metallic blasts of “Spiritual Lies” and “Destroyer”. “This Wretched World” is brutal yet dramatic, and the up-tempo closer “Over the Red Wall” brings the stellar album to a stunning close.

Sinsaenum is a group of masters of their craft who have come together to follow their passion for metal. The result is a furious death metal album that showcases a blackened spirit. It is also the band’s most versatile release to date. Here, musical prowess fuses with creativity and dedication to create music that will delight fans of extreme metal.