heavy-metal-darkness: Slaughterday |Dread Emperor |Testimony Records

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Slaughterday |Dread Emperor |Testimony Records

Release Date 13.02.2026
Format CD/LP/MC/Digital
Genre Death Metal
Country Germany

Slaughterday formed in the East Frisian city of Leer back in 2010. This heavy powerhouse comes with a pedigree that amounts to death metal nobility in the northwestern corner of their native country. The original and still remaining core duo consists of string-shredder Jens Finger, who served as the guitarist of Oldenburgian death metal legends Obscenity from 1994 until 2010, and is also the growler of new label mates Temple Of Dread. The other half of the duo is personified by vocalist and drummer Bernd Reiners, who has also lent his voice to Aurich based death thrashers BK 49 among other acts. Since their inception, they have released a string of well-received albums starting with "Nightmare Vortex" in 2013, followed by "Laws of the Occult", "Ancient Death Triumph", and "Tyrants of Doom". "Dread Emperor" marks their sixth full-length studio album.

"Dread Emperor" hits like a sledgehammer to the face immediately. Slaughterday proves once again why they are top dogs in the German scene, delivering a barrage of riffs that worship at the altar of the Florida greats. The sound is thick, gritty, and incredibly loud. Jens Finger churns out guitar lines that swing between doom-laden heaviness and high-speed aggression. The transition between the slow, crushing segments and the faster, chaotic parts keeps the energy up. It is pure death metal worship, fueled by distortion and adrenaline, catering to anyone who likes their music heavy and hostile.

One thing that makes this album rip is the songwriting. While plenty of bands can play fast, Slaughterday writes songs that actually stick in your brain. The choruses are catchy, and the haunting melodies layered over the rhythm section give the tracks a dark atmosphere. You can hear the experience in the way the duo structures the songs. They know when to let a riff ride and when to switch gears into a blast beat. Reiners’ vocals are deep and guttural, matching the cosmic horror themes perfectly.

Speaking of themes, the Lovecraftian vibe is strong here. The lyrics paint pictures of ancient monsters and cosmic terror, which fits the music like a glove. The production by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge is top-tier. The drums sound huge, and the guitar tone has enough filth to please the old school purists without sounding like it was recorded in a trash can. The artwork by Pär Olofsson is also sick, perfectly capturing the vibe of the music contained within.

If you are looking for a soundtrack to the apocalypse, this is it. "Dread Emperor" is a solid addition to the band's discography and a great start to the death metal year. It is aggressive, melodic in the right places, and heavy as hell. Slaughterday has delivered the goods once again. Crank it up and let the cosmic rot take over.

Score: 8.0