Review: “Genesis of Decay” by Godless

There are always going to be casualties in a decade of destruction from any band and in the case of Hyderabad Indian Death Metal machine Godless, their need for reinforcements makes their fourth record “Genesis of Decay” an even more intriguing prosect. Bassist Abbas Razvi is the sole survivor from the line up that gave us 2016’s “Centuries of Decadence” and 2018’s “Swarm“, toured India with Psycroptic and played Wacken Open Air Festival. Guitarist Moiz Mustafa joined the ranks in 2019 and in 2021 the band delivered their finest piece of work in debut album “States Of Chaos“, laced with themes of death, anti-religion, conflict and human psyche. The arrival of Demonic Resurrection drummer Nikhil Rajkumar and Catatonic vocalist Nangsan Lyngwa in 2024 raised a few eyebrows, both musicians being phenomenal artists in their own right but could they fill the boots of Kaushal LS and Vishnu Reddy?

The answer to that question if found in the dark heart of “Genesis of Decay“, a skull crushing first record from a line up that seeks to make its own mark on the legacy of Godless. Death Thrash opening cut “Amorphous Mass” is a savage beating that roars like a beast from the black depths, the throat splitting vocals of Nangsan Lyngwa, a man known for his work in Grindcore and Post Metal perforates the ear drums. Good use of guitar layering means we get the effect of two guitars when there is only one guitarist, a classically styled Death Metal riff with a 90’s Florida style to it inflicting plenty of damage. As if that wasn’t enough there is a solo that requires flame retardant clothing to listen to as well as plenty of innovation from the drum stool courtesy of Rajkumar. Having immediately gone for the throat, the quartet don’t offer even a moments respite, hammering home their credentials for World Domination with the brutal “Doctrine of Hate“. A vocal change up to offer some shriller first verse is a nice touch, the complexity of a more Technical Death Metal riff adding a spice that’s nice to a track that is laced with neck snapping groove. Whammy bar action in a Thrash style solo is classy, the band giving you absolutely everything you could want in a record of this nature.

Reaching deep within themselves, Godless then offer up “Silent Oppression“, a Death Thrash cut of fierce intensity delivered at breakneck speed with a go hard or go home attitude. Rajkumar is an absolute animal on the kit, giving another masterful performance that serves to enhance his already glowing reputation no end, the gang chant vocal moments almost missed in this fierce sonic assault on the senses. The razor sharp riffage raises the hairs on the back of the neck, the non stop audio violence getting the adrenaline flowing while the caustic vocals have that scream-a-long ability that we all know and love. As if needing to prove that they can do atmosphere, “Prologue to Dissent” offers a gradual build into “Echoes of Collapse” and a moments respite. Arguably it didn’t need to be a separate track in its own right because it’s clearly been cut from the same cloth to give the later that instant slap in the face. A piledriver of a cut which combines brutal vocals with another flamboyant solo, the later is a demonstration of what it would be like if Lamb Of God did Death Metal and it hits where it hurts [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Amorphous Mass
2. Doctrine of Hate
3. Silent Oppression
4. Prologue to Dissent
5. Echoes of Collapse

“Genesis of Decay” by Godless is out 4th April 2025 and is available over at bandcamp.