Dogtak |Shattered Reflection |Self-Release

compositions developed into a full band after Alex Ritzenhoff joined on vocals, followed by Gero Samrey on drums, Sören “Rippy” Schwartau on guitar and Basti Doell on bass. Demo singles and a live debut in February 2026 led to their first official release, “Shattered Reflection”. The background of the musicians gives the band a broad metal vocabulary, while the material stays focused on death metal, thrash metal, groove and melodic touches.

“Shattered Reflection” contains six songs recorded between March and May 2026, with a total length of around twenty three minutes. The production gives the guitars a central role, bringing forward aggressive riffing, rhythmic grooves and melodic details, while the drums provide a firm base for the faster sections. Alex Ritzenhoff’s vocals add a death metal character to the material, fitting the darker atmosphere of songs such as “Wrath Within Me”, “Thrown Into The Abyss” and “Isolation”.

The lyrics revolve around inner conflict, anger, alienation and darker psychological themes, giving the EP a grim character without turning it into theatrical metal. “The Beginning” introduces the musical direction, while the title track combines the death/thrash approach with a more melodic edge. “See Us Again” closes the release with a longer composition that gives the band more space for its melodic side. The main issue is that some ideas could use more development, as several sections pass quickly and leave limited room for the songs to establish a stronger individual character.

There is enough material here to make the debut interesting, although the songwriting needs more refinement before Dogtak can create a truly distinctive sound. The production is appropriate for a first release and the combination of styles is handled with reasonable control. “Shattered Reflection” is a promising debut EP with several good musical ideas, though it remains a first step rather than a fully developed artistic statement.

|7.5