REVIEW: Within Destruction - Animetal

Within Destruction is an innovative three piece metal group from Slovenia consisting of Rok Rupnik on vocals, Howard Fang on guitars and Luka Vezzosi on drums. They've been disrupting the deathcore and metalcore scenes since their formation in 2010, and have gone between the genres across their previous work. Known for their intense sound, the band uniquely incorporates electronic elements and anime samples into their music, adding layers of unpredictability that have captivated fans worldwide. They gained international recognition with their 2016 album VOID which, alongside their irreverent approach to metal, has built them a dedicated global following. Packed with relentless riffs, soaring melodies, and their signature anime-inspired electronic elements, the band’s new album epitomises Within Destruction’s ability to innovate and push boundaries whilst staying rooted in the chaos of modern metal.

The album kicks off with the heavy riffs of ‘Animetal’ and Rok goes straight into brutal vocals for the first verse. Heading into the chorus, the track takes more of a techno turn and we hear the band's typical anime character sounds and voices in the background, setting the tone for the album from the get-go. As the song progresses, the singing and screams combine into the metalcore-esque style they've honed. The song finishes up with a squealing solo and a great riff, to tee up the rest of the album in style.

Next up comes ‘Demon Child’. This track starts and instantly draws comparisons to bands like I Prevail, using whispered growls to add tension, and as the song develops we hear more melodic singing which then is paired with screaming. This track has more of a techno undertone throughout, and, when paired with the band's heavy guitar riffs, makes for a great listen. Following on from this, we have what we would consider the track with the heaviest screams of the album thus far, ‘Kanashibari’. This track gives a full 3:30 of brutal vocals and breakdowns, but still includes a noticeable techno flare. Think Electric Callboy meets modern deathcore - and there are absolutely no complaints here about that combo!

The next track ‘Bitter Embrace’ then takes a more melodic, upbeat turn while still capturing that hard-rocking feel. The clean vocals work towards a very catchy chorus, then as the song develops and begins to break down, more screamed vocals kick in alongside Fang's staple heavy guitar riffs - which are growing to become a key part of Within Destruction’s signature sound across this album. Track five is called ‘Fate/Separate’, and it contains one of the strongest guitar solos on the album. Not to be outdone of course though, the vocal performance is captivating and will draw you in for the duration. The contrast of the screams and clean vocals layer and blend perfectly, leading us nicely into the halfway mark of the album.

Next up is ‘Cybergirl’, and this is where the album takes a slight turn vocally. Instrumentally, it remains consistent with the rest of the album thus far, however the singing is in a distinctly higher octave than the previous tracks - these cleans then go into fast-paced screams in the centre of a very catchy chorus. ‘Incomplete’ is next on the album and this is a distinctly softer song than what's come before. While some screams still accompany the clean vocals, they are more in the background, blended behind the main melodic vocals until the second chorus. The track then breaks down in typical metalcore fashion, eventually sounding as if it's been taken from the Bad Omens playbook.

Unlike the previous two tracks, ‘Stay 4Eva’ kicks off aggressively, rolling back to the earlier style on the album. It then drifts into a very harmonious chorus, with an unbelievably catchy drum beat from Vezzosi. The verses are noticeably heavier than the choruses, and as the song breaks down at the end it features a techno beat layered with screams. It then drifts into a guitar solo which - despite being notably heavy - has a distinctly animated sound to it, which helps put the bands' own stamp on the music. Another heavy start comes courtesy of the next track, ‘Automation’. The song opens with whispered growls on top on a techno beat and heavy bassline, then as the chorus kicks, in the screams become much more brutal before they're accompanied by the melodic singing midway through the track, and this continues until the end. We're predicting this one to be a fan favourite, due to the distinct sound of the band stamped all over this track!

As we approach the end of the album, the next track ‘Torment’ opens with CORPSE type vocals then are accompanied by electronic  sounding vocals on top of a high guitar riff and catchy drum beat which leads us into a very catchy chorus. The song then gets heavier towards the end, with some brutal long screams. The final track of the album is ‘A Love That Slowly Died’. This track has arguably the most techno sound on the entire album. The song consists of a very light drum beat and electronic/autotuned vocals until halfway through the song, when the heavy guitar riffs kick in and the metalcore sound is reintroduced. Then, as we go into the last minute of the song, we hear some heavier vocals, which draws the album to a close perfectly. 

Animetal is filled with catchy memorable choruses, brutal screams which hit on their own yet also blend with the melodic clean vocals, hefty riffs, and massive drums. This album had a target and absolutely hits what it intended - all throughout there is a fun, anime feel and bags of energy. It's undeniable that Within Destruction have hit their stride, and might have cemented themselves into the international metalcore mainstay community with this release.

Score: 8/10

Animetal will be released on April 11th 2025 via Sumerian Records.

Words: Amy Watson

Photos: Within Destruction