Release Date April 17th, 2026
Format Digital/LP/CD
Genre Olympic Death Metal
Origin Germany
Rise Of Kronos emerged in 2021, literally dragging the corpse of their previous project, Surface, into new light. After grinding for over a decade and dropping three records, these Germans realized that sticking to the same old routine was a death sentence. They took the name of their 2015 album and turned it into a brand new identity, keeping the muscle of their history while sharpening the blades for something far more focused and lethal.
“Slaves Of Time” is a beast that lives in the space between Swedish buzzsaw riffs and the surgical strike of progressive metal. It is death metal for the modern age, packed with an intensity that mirrors the Greek myths they obsess over. There is no fluff here, just a constant, driving force that mirrors the crushing reality of mortality. The production is thick and lethal, making sure every riff on tracks like “Heresy” or “Poison Of The Gods” sounds like a hammer to the skull.
The guitars from Jhonnie Ritter and Hendrik Schmidt provide a total wreckage of sound, blending technical patterns with the kind of groove that makes you want to wreck your living room. Tom Robinson’s vocals are deep and authoritative, leading the charge through a landscape of existential dread. “Conception Of Humanity” and “Escalate The Rot” are prime examples of how they balance speed with a heavy, mid-tempo stomp that feels like an army marching over your chest.
What works best on this record is the sheer persistence of the rhythm section. Marco Bechreiner’s drumming is a relentless battery that keeps the songs from drifting into space, even when the guitars get a bit more adventurous. The title track, “Slaves Of Time,” captures that feeling of being caught in a vice, blending that hardcore energy with a death metal foundation. It is a mature step up, showing a group that has moved past their early days to find a sound that is entirely their own.
By the time you hit “Phantom Eternity,” it is clear Rise Of Kronos isn't playing games. This album is a dark, focused journey into the inevitability of the end, and it sounds exactly as pissed off as it should. It is a strong, heavy-as-hell offering that puts Germany on the map for something beyond the usual thrash. If you want death metal that respects the old gods while carving its own path through the dirt, this is it.
Score: 8.0
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