heavy-metal-darkness: Age Of Ruin | Nothingman

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Age Of Ruin | Nothingman | Self-Release

Release Date: 17 October 2025

Format: Digital / CD / Vinyl

Genre: Melodic Death Metalcore,

Country: USA

For over two decades, Age Of Ruin has been a name that storms through the American metal underground. Emerging in the late 90s, they were part of that fierce generation mixing European melodic death metal with American hardcore energy. Through lineup changes, scene shifts, and years on the road, the band has endured like veterans who simply refuse to rust. Vocalist Benjamin Swan, alongside the Flemings (Daniel and Christopher), guitarist Casey Flanagan, and drummer Hendrik Osinga, now returns with “Nothingman,” an album that represents persistence through chaos and dedication to the craft.

Produced by Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour and mixed by Will Beasley, “Nothingman” has the sonic hallmarks of its lineage. It’s fast, muscular, and drenched in melody without falling into overproduction. The dual guitars cut with precision, intertwining harmonies and thrash-driven rhythm sections that nod to classic influences like In Flames and Soilwork, while the hardcore undertones summon the ferocity of Madball and Killswitch Engage.

The band rely on sounding seasoned, fiery, and locked into their own chemistry. The rhythm section provides enough punch to make heads bang instinctively, while the guitars build an atmosphere that moves from melodic triumph to relentless aggression. “The Traveler” and “The Ghosts We Carry” show how the band weaves harmony into their intensity, while “Heavy Is The Crown” and “Bleed For Better Days” hit with pure kinetic energy. The title track “Nothingman” acts as the emotional anchor, pushing the band’s songwriting to its most anthemic point.

There’s a live energy running through the album designed to be shouted back from the pit, every chorus written with fists in mind. The mix keeps things organic, giving the sense of a real band playing in real rooms, which fits perfectly with their long-standing DIY roots and the spirit that’s carried them through decades. “Nothingman” sounds like a continuation of a legacy forged in sweat, riffs, and grit. It’s an album that doesn’t need to prove anything because the proof is already there. Age Of Ruin is still roaring, still thrashing, and still creating with the fire of musicians who understand what heavy music is meant to be, loud, human, and honest.

Score: 7.0