Immolation – Descent
Immolation – Descent
Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 10/04/2026
Review by Oli Gonzalez
9/10
When we think of death metal, a few bands spring to mind. Bands who you’d consider seminal and key influences in the genre. Deicide, Decapitated, Obituary, Suffocation. And of course, Death! All bands I discovered at the tender age of 15, as I was dipping my toe into the more extreme side of music. In my later teen years, I delved deeper into the genre and the discographies of Vader, Nile, and Morbid Angel. There are some bands who sadly lived in these performance shadows, going under the radar of discovery. It’s only really now almost 20 years later and in my mind 30s where I’ve begun to discover more and more truly underrated gems in the genre. Bands like Immolation who were all part of the struggle in the early days of the genre, coming up through the New York metal scene with the likes of Internal Bleeding and the Frank Mullen lead Suffocation. The term underrated is thrown around too much but Immolation are definitely that! 37 years into their career, they now sit on the eve of their 12th studio album, “Descent”.
Well, Immolation are not here to play games! They’ve been somewhat in the shadows cast by the giants of the death metal genre. But now they’re forcefully removing those hogging the limelight and now taking their rightful place on centre stage and for all to admire. “Descent” may well be Immolation’s most ambitious and sophisticated release yet! There’s been no doubt that their music has always captured the brutality of the New York metal scene from where they originate. Though “Descent” explores a much deeper and complex sound. With varying rhythmic attacks from the neck snapping grooves to full throttle blast beats, this one will tear you up and spit you out! There’s a subtle symphonic undertone to the music throughout, adding an intoxicating atmospheric element that beefs up and fills out the sound immeasurably. I want to make a comparison to Septic Flesh, and ‘Bend Into The Dark’ is perhaps the one that provides the best example of this.
The vocals consistently fierce, demonic, and the stuff of nightmares, sitting menacingly over the rhythm section which is locked in tighter than a mechanics spanner and ready to deliver gut punch after devastating body blow! The lead guitars are given free license to roam and raise hell, providing a sense of frantic chaos. The end product being a series of ferocious licks and solos that will inspire many to pick up the guitar for the first time and make seasoned vets purr in admiration! There’s a sense of urgency and apocalyptic terror induced by all these malevolent elements locking in together in unholy unison.
This isn’t really one for overly detailed musical analysis. This just one to lose yourself in and allow that blackened wave to wash over.
How to fault “Descent”? Maybe, just maybe it’s lacking that one huge hook, that huge one huge chorus, one defining moment for the album. Though this is one this is everything you want and could possibly ask for in a death metal album! This is definitely on my list as a serious contender for album of the year!
TRACKLISTING:
01. These Vengeful Winds
02. The Ephemeral Curse
03. God’s Last Breath
04. Adversary
05. Attrition
06. Bend Towards The Dark
07. Host
08. False Ascent
09. Banished
10. Descent
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