Get ready for another review!
The lineup on this FYU sampler represents the sheer diversity of the Belgian scene.
Technically, we see everything from complex odd-time signatures (Miridian) and orthodox
Death metal dissonance (Theion) to the HM-2 buzzsaw aesthetic (Works of the Flesh) and
vocal extremes (Goreforce 5). Whether it's the local heritage of H8000 or the modern
polish of Nomad, this sampler is a masterclass in extreme music production and Belgian
craftsmanship.
Enthroned – 'Ashspawn'
'Ashspawn’ feels like A ritualistic incantation performed in an icy, pitch-black void. It isn’t
just aggressive; it feels genuinely malevolent and spiritually heavy.
What immediately stands out is that Enthroned doesn't just rely on blind speed here.
'Ashspawn' is layered and dissonant. Nornagest’s vocals sound as if they are echoing from
the deepest pits, while the drumming displays a level of technical mastery rarely heard in
standard black metal. The production is crystal clear but manages to retain that essential, icy
grit.
'Ashspawn' proves that black metal doesn't have to be just noise; it is atmospheric,
oppressive, and technically impressive. It’s a track you don't just listen to—you endure it. It is
a "blitzkrieg" with a philosophical brain. This is sophisticated black metal that hasn't
sacrificed a single ounce of its inherent malice.
Splendidula – ‘Kilte’
Unlike many traditional doom tracks 'Kilte' opens with surprising energy, leaning into pure
black metal with aggressive tempos and tormented screams. Over its 9-minute runtime, it
shifts through various tempo changes that act like emotional tides, eventually unfolding into a
lingering, atmospheric climax.
The track thrives on the interplay between Kristien’s ethereal Dutch vocals and Guy’s raw
grunts. Technically, they use extensive layering to create a "choir of despair."
The guitars focus on texture and sustain rather than speed, using low tunings to emphasize the
"chill" of the atmosphere. Even during the heaviest "wall of sound" moments, every
instrument remains clear and distinct.
'Kilte' is a masterclass in tension and release, combining the technical aggression of black
metal with the crushing weight of post-doom.

A goat as our Shepherd – ‘Circling the Drain’
‘Circling the Drain’ feels like a literal downward spiral. It feels claustrophobic, anxious, and
relentless—capturing the inevitable descent into a void.

There is a rhythmic complexity. The track utilizes heavy syncopation and technical
drumming. The transitions between high-speed blastbeats and crushing half-time breakdowns
keep the listener off-balance.
Instead of traditional melodies, AGAOS uses dissonant guitar work where notes clash
intentionally to create psychological tension. The performance of T’Seyen is a masterclass in
modern extreme vocals, blending high-pitched frantic screams with deep guttural growls and
dense layering in the climax.
The production is Sharp, modern, and punchy. The mix prioritizes clarity and "attack,"
ensuring the technical riffs don't get lost in the chaos.
Anthrophagus - Myriad of Scavengers
‘Myriad of Scavengers’ feels like A post-apocalyptic scavenger pit. It’s gritty, relentless, and
possesses a "meaty" heaviness that caters perfectly to fans of old-school brute Death Metal.
The drumming acts like a steamroller. The double bass is exceptionally tight, providing a
foundation for the riffs. The inclusion of "slammy" grooves prevents the high-speed sections
from becoming monotonous. Utilizing high-speed tremolo picking and chromatic scales, the
guitar work creates an atmosphere of pure malice. The use of pinch harmonics adds a sharp,
aggressive texture to the low-tuned riffs.
The vocal performance centers on powerful, guttural lows. The projection and breath control
are notable, maintaining a commanding presence over the instrumentation. The mix is
incredibly "thick" emphasizing the low-end frequencies to ensure the track feels physically
heavy while keeping the guitars wide and the vocals authoritative.
Ter Ziele – ‘The Separation of Body and Soul’
Painfully accurately titled, this track sounds like the exact moment the spirit gives up and
detaches from the physical world. It is suffocating, profoundly sad, and strangely
cathartic—sitting at the intersection of Atmospheric Black Metal and Post-Metal/Doom.
It is a masterclass in "Silence vs. Storm." The song relies on a controlled, minimalist build-up
that allows the eventual sonic explosion to feel massive and earned. The focus of the guitars is
on sonic layering rather than speed. Using heavy reverb and delay, the guitars create a ghostly
atmosphere. Dissonant melodies reinforce the feeling of "separation" and psychological
unrest. The vocals feature long, tortured screams buried deep within the mix. This creates the
effect of a voice calling from a great distance, mirroring the theme of a soul drifting away
from the body.
Avoiding the sterile sound of modern metal, the production feels raw and "alive" The natural
drum room sound makes the listener feel as if they are standing in a cold, empty hall with the
band.

Zubzero – ‘The Essence of our Existence’
A head-on collision. ‘The Essence of our Existence’ breathes urban aggression and social
critique—the ultimate soundtrack for a moshpit in a derelict warehouse.
The drumming masterfully transitions between high-speed thrash beats and crushing, natural-
sounding breakdowns. The snare precision is the backbone of the track's intensity. It feels like
a rhythmic sledgehammer. Featuring down-tuned, "chugging" guitar patterns blended with
faster chromatic runs, the bass guitar is notably percussive, adding a "clack" that thickens the
overall sonic wall. Leaning into the hardcore tradition, the vocals consist of powerful,
authoritative shouts.
The production is direct and unapologetic. The mix avoids digital over-processing, opting for
an "in-your-face" sound where the instruments feel raw and physical.
Haze at dawn – ‘Sepulchral at the Abyss’
An atmospheric descent into a cold, weightless abyss. The track balances dreamy melancholy
with crushing heaviness, blending Post-metal with a strong Doom/Sludge undertone.
The song is a masterclass in building tension at a low BPM. It uses volume swells and careful
layering to transition from ethereal clean sections to a massive wall of sound. The guitar work
focuses on sustain and dissonant melodies. The use of natural feedback creates a "sepulchral"
atmosphere, making the space between the notes as impactful as the music itself.
You can feel a rhythmic heartbeat pounding while listening. The drums act as an atmospheric
anchor. "Washy" cymbal work enhances the hazy feel, while the kick drum provides a heavy,
primal pulse. Pain-stricken cleans are processed with significant reverb, creating the illusion
of a voice echoing from the bottom of a deep cavern.
The mix emphasizes spatial depth and a wide stereo field, offering an immersive experience
that highlights the subtle details in the echoes and noise.
Imprisoned in Flesh – 'Extermination Reimagined'
This is the ultimate "no-nonsense" track on the sampler. In an era where a lot of death metal
gets bogged down in overly complex patterns, this band reminds us exactly why the genre
became so huge in the first place. It’s like cracking open a cold beer after a brutal day:
predictable, but damn effective and exactly what you need. An absolute neck-breaker for the
purists.
The overall vibe of ‘Extermination Reimagined’ is a tribute to the heyday of death metal. It
feels like a well-oiled machine systematically mutating everything in its path.
The track thrives on classic death metal riffing. Technically, the tightness of the palm-muted
passages stands out, synchronizing perfectly with the double bass drum. The solos are
functional and cutting, with a clear nod to the early 90s Florida scene.

The mix is remarkably "dry", shifting the focus entirely to the percussive power of the
instruments. This gives the recording an honest, almost live feel.
Rudenya – ‘Healing’
This track is heavy—morbidly heavy. The title 'Healing' feels almost like a sadistic joke
because you won't find any comfort here. It crawls right under your skin and leaves you
feeling a bit dirty. For me, it’s one of the most daring and artistic tracks on the disc—this isn't
just headbanging; this is pure psychological terror.
Technically, extensive use is made of "drones"—long-sustained, low guitar notes that place
constant pressure on the ears, which contributes to the building of suspense. The tempo is
slow, with some sludge influences, which accentuates the sheer heaviness of the riffs.
Theion – 'Psalm 73'
If you love Death/Thrash metal that sounds like it was recorded in a deep, ice-cold cavern,
this is your jackpot. It possesses that elusive, almost religious possession. The clashing chords
make it a challenging listen, but for fans of the occult, this sets an absolute mood. Perfect for
those late, dark hours.
‘Psalm 73’ resembles an ominous mass in a deserted cathedral. Orthodox Death metal that
leans more on atmosphere and occultism than on pure speed. Theion utilizes dissonant
intervals. This creates that typical spiritual unrest you see in bands like Deathspell Omega.
Instead of constant blastbeats, the track plays with rhythmic patterns on the ride cymbals,
giving the music a hypnotic character.
Nomad – 'Breath'
This is the modern "hit" of the sampler. It has that thick American production style that
punches you straight in the face. While other bands on the CD aim for atmosphere or pure
underground filth, Nomad aims directly for the moshpit. It’s catchy, the groove is irresistible,
and this is bound to cause absolute chaos live.
Groove and timing wise the track is technically played very "tight" The focus lies on
syncopation, which provides a massive 'bounce'.
The mix is modern and polished. The sub-frequencies of the bass guitar are highly prominent,
making the breakdowns physically palpable.
Vagevuur – 'Afscheid'
Dutch-language black metal always has an extra edge when it comes to intensity because the
despair hits so directly. Vagevuur sounds like they hate everything, including the studio they
stood in. It is freezing, minimalist, and raw. No guitar solos just to impress—just pure,
unadulterated winter melancholy. Wonderfully uncompromising.

‘Afscheid’ provides us with pure, raw melancholy. It feels like a lonely walk through a
burning forest. The production aesthetics provide a deliberately produced "lo-fi" to preserve
the rawness. The guitars sound cold and thin, which is essential for the track's atmosphere.
The repetition of the tremolo riffs has a meditative effect. The Dutch lyrics provide a direct,
almost confrontational emotional impact.

Behind Bars – 'Spiral'
This song is pure gasoline on a burning fire. The energy practically explodes out of your
speakers. It’s unpretentious, right-between-the-eyes, and has that great "us against the world"
vibe that defines the Hardcore scene. If you don't feel like running through a brick wall after
listening to this, you might want to check your pulse.
‘Spiral’ is a straightforward adrenaline rush. It’s the ideal mix between mosh-pit and
headbanging. It excels in transitioning from fast thrash sections to slow, heavy hardcore
breakdowns. The drummer must be technically highly alert to keep the transition flawless.
Miridian – 'Catatonic Schizophrenic'
For the musicians among the readers, this is the ultimate treat. There is so much happening in
this track that you need to listen to it three times just to wrap your head around it. The clever
part is that despite all the intricate rhythms and tempo changes, they never lose their brute
power. It’s intelligent, but it remains fiercely heavy Death metal. A massive thumbs-up for the
craftsmanship.
‘Catatonic Schizophrenic’ is a complex puzzle of aggression. The song feels unpredictable
and technically challenging. Miridian plays with odd time signatures. This requires a high
level of technical proficiency from the entire band to avoid losing the "flow."
The riffs are layered and utilize both fast death metal runs and more progressive, melodic
passages.
Clusterfuct – 'I Don't Mind Just Die'
This is a sonic terrorist attack. By the time you realize what’s happening, the song is already
over. Extremely distorted and pushed vocals balance right on the edge of feedback.
It has all the subtlety of a brick through a window, and that is exactly why it’s so brilliant.
Pure auditory anarchy for the ADHD grinder. Short, painful, and perfect.
In this genre, the challenge is to build a recognizable structure within a very short timeframe.
Clusterfuct succeeds here by using distinct rhythmic stops.

Works of the Flesh – 'Class War’
The vibe of this track is pure, filthy, politically charged aggression that sounds exactly like an
uprising in the streets. Mechanically, my guess is Works of the Flesh works with the
legendary HM-2 pedal to achieve that classic "buzzsaw" guitar tone, giving the riffs a unique,
gritty texture that adds an extra layer of sonic filth to the music. (Feel free to correct me if I
am wrong!)
Beneath this wall of noise, the influence of crust punk is clearly audible in the driving d-beat
drumming style, which provides a relentless forward momentum. For me, that iconic HM-2
buzzsaw sound is like a warm blanket—it brings instant joy. Pair that guitar tone with a heavy
dose of political rage and a crushing rhythm section, and you have a golden combination. It
sounds like it was dragged straight out of the 1990s Swedish underground, but with a sharp
Belgian edge, making it one of my personal favorites on the sampler.
Goreforce 5 – 'Advanced Cripple Shaming'
Delivering an absurdist and extreme vibe, this is music that unapologetically pushes the
boundaries of the genre—and good taste. The vocals are purely inhuman, delivered as a
barrage of guttural, wet gurgles and piercing 'pig squea' screams that strip away any sense of
recognizable human speech.
Structurally, the focus lies entirely on the "slam"—utilizing extremely slow, chromatic guitar
riffs specifically designed to maximize the music's physical impact.
Ultimately, you either love it or you hate it; there is no middle ground with Goreforce 5. It’s
disgusting, it’s over-the-top, and musically it’s complete madness. But man, those slams are
so incredibly ignorant that you can't help but make a "stank face"; the second the breakdown
drops, making it the perfect guilty pleasure for the extreme underground enthusiast.
Barren Chainsaw Grind – 'Abase'
The vibe here is exactly as the name implies: a chainsaw cutting through metal—utterly
destructive and relentless. From a technical standpoint, the track thrives on sheer frequency
overload; the mix is so crammed with piercing highs and crushing lows that it creates a
suffocating "wall of noise" Driving this chaos is drumming at the absolute limit, featuring
blastbeats so incredibly fast they border on the physically impossible, locking the track into a
constant state of panic. Ultimately, this track functions as the ultimate closer because it
completely levels whatever was left standing. It is a wall of pure noise and blistering tempo
that balances right on the edge of what can still be considered "music"—and happily steps
over it. A perfect middle finger to end the sampler.