Blending religious debauchery with classic Death Metal, God Dethroned returns on September 6, 2024 with their new album The Judas Paradox through Reigning Phoenix Music. A follow-up to 2020’s Illuminati, this latest album cannot be denied its place in the pits of hell.
Out of The Netherlands, with God Dethroned screaming rage is a given, and Lead Vocalist Henri Sattler is nothing short of a demon as he screeches over the microphone in this 40-minute ode to the dark side of religious icons. This in mind, it is hard to nitpick exactly why The Judas Paradox feels so raw and powerful. The best explanation is that it comes from how well polished it is. The experience and ambience that the music gives off is deadly in aura, plus consistently devilish. With a history that dates all the way back to 1991, God Dethroned are masters of their work and have made a foreboding, intense collection of songs for the fiery castle of the underworld.
Complete with eleven tracks, the title-cut is a stellar intro to the album that pushes you straight into the mindset of Judas. Anger and betrayal rule their leader of the pits of hell as he retells his story. The song has a fearful beginning that quickly builds into a drumming beat drop as Judas himself screams out. It is a warm welcome to an infernal ecosystem that is covered in demonic guitar riffs and stampeding drums both unwilling and unable to halt. The storytelling here is echoed throughout the album; as each that follows has its own tale to yell out.
However, the most powerful aspect of The Judas Paradox is unceasing power, embodying a joyride that cannot afford to let you have a second to catch your breath. Even when Sattler rests his vocals, the guitar work of Dave Meester and drumming Frank Schilperoort sing out in rising chord progressions and undying drumlines. This can feel repetitive in places, and the work loses itself to pure Metal rocking at times, but what it lacks in thematic range, the album makes up for it with religious irony. With choir hymns in the background and heraldic humming with bells sprinkled into the music, they paint the world of hell as a deeply religious place. On top of it all, Jeroen Pomper’s forever present bassline is the soul of each song. Silence is not an option here and even if the music is waning in or dying out, like in the intro of “Kashmir Princess” which is only a calm before the storm.
This considered, the tracks that rage with sound the most are “Rat Kingdom,” “Asmodeus,” “Hubris Anorexia,” “Broken Bloodlines,” and “War Machine.” In all, they are packed full of sounds that seem to leak straight from the devil’s mouth and scratch against the rhythms; turning the music into something inhuman. In these moments God Dethroned has found the limits of their instruments, but still consistently pushes against them. Although, regardless of lyricism, there is a level of musical mastery that can be appreciated as Meester rips up and down the fretboard; such as in “War Machine,” or while Schilperoort’s drums create staccato noise vacuums on “Rat Kingdom.”
If there is one criticism about Judas Paradox it is sometimes the repetition in the sound. Each song feels similar and takes up the same space in the genre. They are one of two soundscapes here – either, “we are demons, and you will hear our story!,” or “We are demons, righteous in our own way!” That being said, these are both enthralling themes which are executed with mastery, but apart from the 50 second “Black Heart” prelude to “Asmodeus,” some may see the sound as a droning ensemble of guitar solos and demon screams.
God Dethroned has been working for three decades now at creating sounds for the underworld, and The Judas Paradox is no exception. This album is an experience that shows their prowess in creating intimidating sound. With planned touring to start back up soon, after a series of breaks/hiatuses, it is exciting to see what the future holds for this longtime band and their consistently defiant music. Another worthy entry from God Dethroned, Cryptic Rock gives Judas Paradox 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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