REVIEW: PRESIDENT - King Of Terrors

Fresh out the womb, PRESIDENT are in possession of one of the most hotly-tipped rock and metal releases in 2025. It’s an anticipation they’ve created through mystery and intrigue as they, nameless and disguised, join the ranks of GHOST, SLIPKNOT and SLEEP TOKEN for masked bands met with the same eager excitement. Their gimmick is different, though - PRESIDENT are a sort of political cosplay, “campaigning” rather than performing, at rallies, rather than shows. One thing that PRESIDENT are very good at is creating a vibe - something that’s echoed in their very first EP, King of Terrors. 

The EP consists of six songs - five of which we heard at their inaugural performance at Download Festival - and begins with their debut single, In The Name Of The Father. The biblical undertones that run throughout the project begin here - with a desperate plea from the PRESIDENT singer not to lose his faith as he is slowly disillusioned. There’s a melodic metalcore-ness to this one, featuring processed pop vocals juxtaposed with thudding guitars and screams. This song particularly indicates an author with experience - the vocals are well-supported, the structure is thoughtful, and the production more than cuts the mustard. The breakdown is particularly standout in this track, announcing the drop with a sweet whisper to Father.

PRESIDENT quite enjoy announcing their breakdowns. It’s a trend continued in Fearless, calling out the title with a glitchy decline as if we’ve won a prize at the arcade. This is a far more electronic and experimental song in comparison. The heaviness is still apparent, but the band have leaned further into stylistic autotune and drum machines. RAGE is very interesting for this reason, too - the rock aspects don’t appear until later in the song, preferring to build a soundscape of synths. It’s all very conceptual - something we’ve come to expect from the band.

It’s distinctly interesting that electronic influences and synths play such a big role in PRESIDENT, considering the vintage feel they’re seeming to go for in all else. The man himself has exclusively appeared in his tailored suit and dicky-bow, walking out to Eisenhower’s 1952 presidential campaign song at Download festival with his “hair” neatly combed back. It speaks of a band that wants to experiment and embrace the future of music, with nods to the past for aesthetic purposes only. 

Destroy Me features more of this drum machine, getting heavier later on. It could be read as another allegory for religion and destruction or it could be about a toxic relationship. Many of the lyrics, though, read as on-the-nose drug allegories: stuck in a place where he can’t get straight, destroyed with a “blunt scratch through my veins”. It’s certainly an interesting one for fans to dismantle online.  Sonically, the post-chorus of “get me out of this hell” is where the song gets really fun - you’ve got to appreciate the cheeky diner “ding!” before we get stuck back into a really gritty breakdown. 

We’ve run through the songs we already know, but there’s still two more. Dionysus continues a similar formula to the previous track, entertaining the two extremes of metalcore - from the abrasive to the melodic - whilst fusing trap drum beats and a Deftones-esque sludgy guitar in a way that, even though it does blend a multitude of genres, doesn't feel like there's been too many cooks spoiling this broth.

Finale Conclave is more of a ballad, introducing piano and a slower pace to begin with. It seems like a full-circle to the first track, still doubting but choosing to be faithful. That uncertainty really makes the song, and the sounds complement it, with the drums and guitars feeling like they crash around the singer as he reflects. The line “I would love you anyway - even in the afterlife” is a pretty nice way to round the EP off - who knows, maybe this is PRESIDENT’s song for people to propose in the pit while someone a meter to the left gets their ankle broken?

While it definitely seems as though there are two distinctly different genres at play here on this EP, PRESIDENT make it happen. It’s less a symbiosis of sounds and more a marriage, but it works nonetheless. Both the BLACKBEAR-style alt trap and BMTH-style metalcore are given space to breathe, and the screams in particular on this EP are really great. There is a rage here, but also an insistence to convey a message to a rapt audience. We expect they’ll make full use of this on their upcoming campaign trail, which commences in the new year. There are plenty more themes, sounds, experiences to explore with what’s on offer here - but for all intents and purposes, this is a great start. 

Score: 8/10

King Of Terrors will be released on September 26th 2025.

Words: Erin Strom

Photos: PRESIDENT