REVIEW: Death Rattle - The Moral Chokehold

New England natives Death Rattle have finally brought their fans their long anticipated album The Moral Chokehold, after eight long years of waiting, and it is jam-packed with riffs from the first song to the last. Coming from an area that has a long history of producing some of the most influential metal acts in modern metal, the band's working towards achieving the same success, and it's abundantly clear that they are not going to be stopped anytime soon.

Featuring a number of meticulously constructed pieces, The Moral Chokehold is a promising release that's been very thoroughly thought through when pieced together, and it is a stunning comeback after a long time without new music.

The first three tracks, 'The Light', 'Malthusian Dependency' and 'Nietzche, and the Fall' all share many similarities in the execution of the melody, featuring heavy riffs and drums, but are divided when it comes to rhythms and technicality. The band is well-known for these elements, alongside with the raw intensity and passion of their delivery. These have been evident since the start of the album, and it is exactly these qualities that make these three songs stand out on the album, together with Trey Holton’s voice, that can easily give a person goosebumps. On the third song of the album, 'Nietzche, and the Fall', listeners are able to hear a harmonious euphony right before Ryan Vanderworlk’s guitar drops and delivers a bone-chilling bridge, only for the harmonies to pick up again after some harshly delivered screams to deliver the line “Where is the meaning? Where is the meaning in this life?”. On the other hand, in 'The Light' and 'Malthusian Dependency', we do not get as many vocal harmonies, so the sound purely relies on Holton’s raw vocals, which are paired well with Vanderwolk’s guitar, Brown’s bass and Morin’s drums.

The album changes its rhythm a little with the track 'Veils of Consciousness', diving deeper into slower, yet very dynamic melodies. The usage of synths throughout the recording give it a new dimension that pairs well with the sound of the snare drum. It is also the only track, that does not use any vocals, meaning the sound of the song relies purely on the usage of instruments and the execution, which went well. Providing a somewhat sought upon escape from the intensity, complexity, and in some cases repetition of Death Rattle’s records, it is a well-placed track, sitting right in the middle of the album.

After this little break, the album continues with the intense music. Finishing off with the track 'The Darkness', the band closes their newest project with a heavy metal drop that's all about guitar and drum work, giving the audience a variety of sounds, and once again the track features some interesting harmonies. The last song does not feel as intense as the rest of the release, yet the music is fitting its name in sense of the lyrics and usage of instruments, and it is still an interesting piece to listen to.

The Moral Chokehold is a good comeback album for a band that's already been touring with some well-known names, and its composition is very good. Although some of the songs do sound similar in nature, there are pieces on the release, such as 'Nietzche, and the Fall', that boast unique elements which makes them stand out from the other songs. It is a very enjoyable album to listen to and definitely is suitable for anyone who enjoys metal with a little bit of intricate instrumentalism.

Score: 8/10

The Moral Chokehold was released on May 30th 2025 via M-Theory Audio.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: Death Rattle