Release Date August 7th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Groove Metal
Origin Finland
Formed in Helsinki in 2023, Ill Geared is a Finnish three-piece featuring Cem Karakaş on vocals and bass, Tatu Virta on guitars and backing vocals, and Jani-Petteri Polo on drums. The band began its recording activity with a two-song demo, followed by the EP "Ill Beginning's" in 2025. "To Dust" marks their first full-length release, featuring ten tracks that combine groove metal with doom metal elements and old-school influences. The band also incorporates different vocal approaches into its material, with aggressive delivery playing an important role in its overall sound.
"To Dust" moves between fast, aggressive sections and slower compositions with a strong doom metal presence. "Delirious" and "Abyss" introduce blast beats and faster guitar work, while "Valley Of Death" takes the album into much slower territory, with a heavier emphasis on atmosphere and sustained riffs. The songwriting follows a varied direction, although some transitions between these different tempos could have been handled with greater care. Karakaş delivers an assortment of vocal styles, while Virta's guitar work provides the main source of melodic and rhythmic variation. Polo's drumming handles the changes in pace, adding intensity to the faster tracks.
Production and mixing by the band and Niklas Piispala retain a raw approach, with mastering completed at Tide Studios London. The lyrics draw from nightmares, predators in nature, real-life incidents and fictional stories, giving the album several different subjects across its ten tracks. "To Dust" presents an early full-length statement from a band combining groove metal aggression with doom-oriented songwriting, although some of its material would benefit from more developed arrangements.
|7.0
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