heavy-metal-darkness: Enemy Awake |Rotten Soul |Self-release

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Enemy Awake |Rotten Soul |Self-release

Release Date December 31^st, 2025
Format Digital
Genre Death Metal
Country Sweden

Enemy Awake is a one-man death metal machine hailing from Sweden, driven by the vision of multi-instrumentalist Ivan Castro. Functioning as a solo project, Castro handles the writing and recording duties, channeling his personal views and life struggles into aggressive music. This latest output, an EP titled "Rotten Soul", serves as the follow-up to previous works, recorded personally by Castro before being sent off for mixing at the legendary Sunlight Studios and mastering by Lawrence Macrory.

When you see the Sunlight Studios logo on a death metal release, you enter with certain expectations. You want that buzzsaw guitar tone that sounds like a chainsaw cutting through a ribcage, and Enemy Awake delivers exactly that. Ivan Castro went to the right place to get his sound sorted. The production here is thick and aggressive without turning into a wall of noise. It is loud and in your face, making the guitars sound massive. Lawrence Macrory did a fine job on the master, ensuring that everything punches through the speakers with enough force to wake the neighbors.

Musically, "Rotten Soul" sits comfortably between the melodic side of Swedish death metal and a more American groove-thrash rhythm. You can hear the ghosts of the Gothenburg scene in the riffing, but there is also a stomp to it that reminds me of late 90s groove metal. Tracks like "Too Empty To Bleed" and "No Way Out" have catchy hooks that get your head moving immediately. Castro isn't trying to be the fastest player in the world but focuses on writing songs that stick in your head. The riffs chug along with a heavy bottom end, providing a great backdrop for the growls.

The aggression here is genuine. Since this is a one-man project, the vision remains focused solely on what Castro wants to say. The anger in the vocals matches the distortion in the strings. The inclusion of the demo track "Sangre" is a cool addition, showing a slightly rawer side of the project, but it fits right in with the studio tracks. The songwriting is competent, keeping things moving so you don't get bored. It’s simple, effective heavy metal that makes you want to drink beer and break stuff.

This EP is a worthy listen for anyone who digs that classic HM-2 pedal sound but wants it arranged in a catchier, more rhythmic structure. It is a fun release that bangs hard enough to justify the time investment. "Rotten Soul" might not change the landscape of extreme music but it hits the spot when you just need something heavy and loud. It is a respectable effort from Ivan Castro and a good way to blow out your eardrums unto the new year.

Score: 7.5