Hades Descent are a UK-based symphonic melodic
death metal band that has been steadily building momentum over the past decade.
Known for fusing orchestral arrangements with crushing riffs and growling
intensity, they have become a name to watch in the modern extreme metal scene.
“The Monolith,” their newest release, arrives after nearly five years of
preparation and is the most ambitious chapter in their story so far.
The album
unfolds as a nine-track concept journey, narrating the tale of a lone traveller
who abandons a doomed future world in order to step back through time and avert
disaster. Across its 51 minutes, the band shape this science fiction vision
into music that feels cinematic, driven by atmosphere and dramatic contrasts.
Towering symphonic passages weave through the aggression of melodic death
metal, creating a sense of grandeur and scale that matches the storyline.
“Tomorrow Is Dead!” opens the album with firepower, featuring Brian Kingsland and Karl Sanders of Nile, and immediately setting a tone of colossal weight paired with orchestral depth. “Through Savage Seas” and “Forged In Darkness (And Fire)” continue the voyage with galloping riff-work and sweeping arrangements that suggest both peril and determination. Songs such as “Path Of The Seeker” and “The Oncoming Storm” channel more direct aggression, while the layered choirs and orchestral sections of “Veiled Ambitions” add a dramatic edge. “Sentinels Of Time: Illium’s Demise” carries a strong narrative feeling, before “The Sea Of Silent Warriors” builds anticipation for the closing title track.
“The
Monolith” itself brings the story full circle with the guest voice of Björn Strid (Soilwork),
who adds an additional dimension to the finale. At nearly eight minutes, it
feels like the culmination of the band’s vision, balancing soaring symphonic
peaks with relentless metallic force.
The production, handled at Titan Studios in Berkshire, captures both the aggression and the cinematic scale without losing power in either direction. The orchestral arrangements feel fully integrated with the metal foundation, and the guest appearances add weight to the album’s international reach.
Fans of Septicflesh, Fleshgod
Apocalypse, and Dimmu Borgir will
find plenty to enjoy here, while listeners drawn to the melodic side of Soilwork and Kataklysm
will also find familiarity in the balance of brutality and
accessibility. With “The Monolith,” Hades Descent position
themselves among the genre’s most promising rising acts.
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