God Dethroned // The Judas Paradox // Album Review

The Netherlands based blasphemers God Dethroned are here with “The Judas Paradox”.

Formed in 1991 & after multiple hiatus, the band are in full force. 2017’s “The World Ablaze” & 2020’s “Illuminati” saw a huge resurgence in the group’s output.

Written & recorded in early autumn 2023 “The Judas Paradox” is another stellar album in the band’s diverse catalogue.

The title track opens the album & right from the beginning the band’s signature blackened death metal is fierce yet beautiful. When God Dethroned plays with melodies they go hard. This opening track is expansive & epic.

Band leader, vocalist & guitarist Henri Sattler’s lyrical & vocal abilities shine already from track one. His bellowing lows, raspy whispers & projective clean tones are just effortless.

The next track “Rat Kingdom” opens in a glorious traditional heavy metal passage. Before the track opens & it switches to a great straight-up black metal blasting section before evolving to its final form in this great thundering-paced track. Drummer Frank Schilperoort gets to show off his double bass technique here. It’s his first album with GD and he has made one hell of an impression this early on in the record!

The Christopher Young – Hellraiser-inspired grand intro track “Black Heart” blends perfectly into its companion “Asmodeus”.

An all-out assault on the senses. Intensive riffing, with thick & groovy bass lines from Jeroen Pomper. This track might go for the jugular but it’s an instant catchy earworm. God Dethroned have always been able to craft brutal complex but lush moments within their music that take the listener on a journey with each album.

If you like your BDM straight-up hard & unrelenting “Hailing Death” has it for you. A real showcase for guitarist Dave Meester’s lead sections in the song’s chorus. Which gives it a really big grandiose sound.

The closing track “War Machine” gives you that last ounce of unstoppable force the band holds within. This track has a 00s Behemoth & Morbid Angel feel but stepped in darkness. A breakneck track that is unrelenting but again gives you that feel of melodie & closes out the album on a huge high.

God Dethrone is really like no other. Their diverse sound gives their albums that difference within the extreme metal underground. “The Judas Paradox” is another album in their arsenal that is soaked in darkness, melody & brutality that goes unmatched.

Review: Joseph Mitchell

The Judas Paradox is out via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) on 6th September 2024