Album Review: Outergods – Dethroned & Devoured (Apocalyptic Witchcraft)

UK extreme metal band, Outergods will unleash their brand-new album ‘Dethroned & Devoured’ on June 13th via Apocalyptic Witchcraft. An album rooted in dark fantasy and cosmic horror, drawing inspiration from the lore of Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring—all of which provided escapism during the tougher moments of recent years.

Ugly and harsh, but bloody creative and highly enjoyable, this has been a long time coming but it’s great to have them back, albeit in a new form. Still wrecking necks and cracking skulls, none the less, but with a refinement that offers up darker atmosphere, horror imagery, and fantastical wickedness. All of which is showcased in impressive fashion with opening track, Origin.

This is the sound of Outergods as they are now and what they can offer the world of extreme metal in 2025. Yet, it is not the defining feature of the album. No, that comes from a cacophony of brutal, fast, and heavy efforts that are filled with intricate extreme detail and atmosphere. From the blistering head banger that is Mortal Gateway, to the manic vomit-inducing ferocity of Sprawling Chaos, and the crunching cruelty of Cosmic Abomination, Outergods’ deliver an unforgiving blend of blackened death metal, grindcore, and extreme power.

My favourite side of Outergods though comes from their darker, more sinister, and more measured sound. Something delightfully evident on the dramatic Phantasm. Here, thanks to the slower tempo and twisted melody, the atmosphere really stands out, resulting in one of the album’s most creative listens. This is the stuff I’m all in on, and I suspect many others will feel the same too. Especially as it leads into the thick and rhythmic sound of The Sleepless Malice, where Outergods continue to keep things restrained, but (almost) get a bit catchier.

Though that’s not to diminish the wilder and more uncouth side of Outergods, far from it, as their savagery is always enjoyable too. The band hitting another high level of ugly intensity with the raging Sparagmos and riff-driven potent power of Celestial Heretic. All of which might be enough to leave you seeing long-forgotten stars and dreaming of haunting eldritch horrors, except there’s one more track… and it’s a biggie.

A Mausoleum at the Edge of Time wraps up the album and sees Outergods expanding on everything they’ve done to this point. More atmospheric, more intense, heavier, faster, more aggressive, and more detailed than anything else. It’s a beast of a track, egregiously drawn out, with varying levels of brutality, ensuring it hits impressively hard. It’s an enormous closer on such an ambitious release. Outergods have sought to showcase their advancement and refinement and done so with mighty aplomb. Dethroned & Devoured is a remarkable release.

Outergods – Dethroned & Devoured Track Listing:

1. Origin
2. Mortal Gateway
3. Sprawling Chaos
4. Cosmic Abomination
5. Phantasm
6. The Sleepless Malice
7. Sparagmos
8. Celestial Heretic
9. A Mausoleum at the Edge of Time

Links

LinkTree | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | TikTok | Apocalyptic Witchcraft