A new blackened death metal project coming out of Leiden, The Netherlands. Back in 2021, they released their very first track ‘Frost God’. That was a great introduction of what Release The River is releasing in the form of their very first release ‘Spirit Corrupt’. 

 

To label Release The River as a blackened death metal project doesn’t do them justice. Just by listening to their very first track ‘Spiritual Poison’ you hear like a lot of genres passing by. 

There are quite a few tempo changes and surprises during ‘Spiritual Poison’. It really shows the quality and musicianship of Release The River because Release The River isn’t the first band of the trio. All of the members used to be in the Leiden-based band Illusionless you might remember from years back. So experience is something you won’t miss during ‘Spirit Corrupt’.

 

After the first track it is clear (for me) that Release The River sounds more like a modern metal band with progressive influences here and there. And by progressive I mean not scared to add a few weird choices in their music. Like the chanting bit in the second song ‘Prometheus’. Weird doesn’t automatically mean bad. On the contrary in this case! It sounds very natural like it needed to be there. 

 

Chugging slam/death riffs to raw screeching black metal screams, you name it and it will appear throughout this EP. If I would recommend ‘Spirit Corrupt’ and I need to make a few similar bands, I would say that Cradle Of Filth meets the death metal aspects of Septic Flesh. Combine that with mid-range growly type of vocals in the vein of Carach Angren’s Seregor and you will have the style of music that Release The River have conjured in the form of ‘Spirit Corrupt’.