REVIEW: All Men Unto Me - Requiem

There’s something deeply stirring about music that balances the sacred and the profane, that dares to channel centuries-old spiritual tradition through a contemporary and often confrontational lens. Requiem, the latest offering from avant-garde outfit All Men Unto Me, does exactly that. It’s an album that feels like it was recorded in a cathedral at midnight, haunting, cavernous, and unashamedly intense. With frontman Rylan Gleave of Ashenspire at the emotional and sonic helm, this record isn't just listened to, it’s experienced. Across eight immersive tracks, Requiem offers a genre-defying journey through despair, transcendence, and catharsis.

We begin with 'Introit', a track that immediately situates listeners in a realm somewhere between Swans-style post-rock and orchestral gothic. The atmosphere is thick and immersive, as screeching violins slice through a dense fog of distorted guitars and methodical drums. Gleave’s vocals start as a solemn presence and gradually become a commanding force, elevating the track to something both chaotic and divine. It's a bold and cinematic opening, setting the emotional and sonic stakes high.

Following this is 'Kyrie Eleison', a softer, more intimate offering that trades bombast for

vulnerability. Gleave’s voice sounds fragile here, almost desperate, as if genuinely reaching out to some divine presence for mercy or understanding. Stripped-back instrumentation and a raw vocal performance make it one of the album’s most personal and affecting moments, demonstrating the band’s skill at emotional contrast.

The third track, 'Sequentia', is the only one accompanied by a music video at the time of

writing, and it’s easy to see why - it’s a standout. The production is driven by a deep resonant

bassline and a thundering kick drum that provides both tension and momentum. Gleave’s vocals glide hauntingly over this rhythmic backbone, creating a track that feels ritualistic, almost like a summoning. The accompanying visuals only heighten this sense of mystery and grandeur, positioning 'Sequentia' as the record’s sonic centrepiece.

'Agnus Dei' leans even further into religious imagery, resembling a twisted, modern hymn. The classical organ and eerie choral vocals give it the feel of a service being held in a crumbling chapel, the sacred space reimagined through a distorted, apocalyptic lens. It’s beautiful and unsettling, another track that blurs the line between devotion and despair.

The album closes with 'In Paradisum', a quiet, reverent track built on a foundation of echoing guitar strums and Gleave’s soft, almost whispering voice. It serves as a gentle exit from an otherwise intense record, like stepping out of a storm into candlelight. There’s a sense of peace here - perhaps not resolution, but acceptance.

Requiem is a masterclass in emotional range and sonic atmosphere. It’s a requiem in the truest sense: a lament, a prayer, and a confrontation with the divine, all wrapped in a challenging but beautiful musical package. For those willing to give themselves over to the experience, it’s nothing short of transcendent.

Score: 8/10

Requiem was released on June 27th, 2025 via The Larvarium.

Words: Sage James

Photos: All Men Unto Me