Release Date July 24th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Deathcore
Origin Austria
Castiel is an Austrian deathcore band formed in Klagenfurt in 2014. The band built its early profile through the debut single "Human Scum" and the "Exitium" EP in 2015, followed by "Blasphemy" in 2017. Lineup changes eventually led to a hiatus, with Castiel returning in 2023 through "Shadowlands". Their 2025 "Khaos" EP continued the darker direction, dealing with psychological collapse and existential themes. Live appearances alongside Distant, Carnifex and Born Of Osiris have also placed the band in the modern European deathcore circuit. Their signing with Seek And Strike now brings "All Returns To Hollow And Silence" as the first release of this new chapter.
"All Returns To Hollow And Silence" is a four chapter EP built around a bleak story involving tension, transformation and emotional conflict, with elements inspired by the worlds of Arthas Menethil and Jaina Proudmoore from World Of Warcraft. Musically, Castiel works with low tuned guitars, downtempo deathcore, fast sections and a strong atmospheric layer, drawing obvious influence from Black Tongue, Humanity's Last Breath, Bodysnatcher and The Acacia Strain.
The production gives the guitars a broad, low register presence while the drums add more sonic detail to the faster parts, and the vocals stay rooted in the expected deathcore range. The twenty minute duration helps the EP remain focused, although the heavy reliance on established genre characteristics limits how much individuality comes through. The atmospheric side is more prominent than on a straightforward deathcore release, giving the material a colder character, while the lyrical concept adds a darker dimension to the music.
"Act I: Defile // Denounce", "Act II: A Festering Wound", "Act III: Vile Spirits" and "Act IV: Empty Throne" form a continuous sequence, with each chapter contributing to the larger concept. Castiel presents a competent modern deathcore release with enough variation to prevent the formula from becoming monotonous, though the influences are easy to identify throughout. There is substance here, yet the EP remains firmly within territory already heavily explored by the genre.
|7.5
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