Review: “Warren Of Necrosis” by Black Rabbit

Like some kind of inception level madness five long years after debut EP “Warren Of Necrosis” surfaced from Apeldoorn Netherlands based Death Thrash ensemble Black Rabbit, the band have issued a new record… with the same title. That’s right. It’s not a remix, remaster, re-imagining or re-recording with their current line up but instead comprises four new songs to keep you warm this winter. For those not in the know the five piece are a concept driven band who have unraveled the tactics and techniques of the entity known as Black Rabbit, exploring the boundaries of consciousness and dream manipulation with 2023’s “Hypnosomnia” album. They then delved into the human psyche and the horror of sleep paralysis with their April 2025 released EP “Chronolysis“, all of which allowed them to share stages with genre titans like Baest, Vader, Exhorder, and Pestilence. It is written that the second incarnation of EP “Warren of Necrosis” returns to the inception of the creature, revealing the sacrifice, betrayal, and blasphemous devotion that transformed man into myth…

Returning those they know and love the band have once again enlisted Roberto Toderico to create the artwork for “Warren Of Necrosis“, Stijn Donders (The Subliminal, Icarus, Infestis) to mixed and post-produce and Peter Brussee (Knight Area, Ayreon, Torque) to master. They have done so safe in the knowledge that the trio have done a wonderful job over the past five years or so and have become very much part of the Black Rabbit journey. Acoustic guitars introduce the ethnic sounds of ancient Arab lands before “Initium Finis” transforms into a neck snapping old school Death Thrash cut of violent intent, Nino Thomas once again proving himself to be a vocalist of supreme storytelling skills. Dark, swirling atmospheres and bombastic bass lines from the bands newest recruit Thijs Mulder fuel the fire, original axe wielding duo Jelle Brekelmans and Hidde Hofland bringing the kind of high quality incendiary riffs that capture the imagination from the very start. Classy leads and whammy bar tingled scorcher of a solo in the final moments of this one make it a stone cold killer of an opening track.

A spoken word introduction to “Apprehension” gives the track a low budget 80’s horror movie feel before the five piece once again race away with razor sharp riffs and thunderous percussion. This one evolves quickly with Death Groove flamboyance, the torrid tale from Thomas one which fits the narrative and atmosphere of the piece perfectly. Another virtuoso solo with some electrifying whammy bar action is a masterstroke, showing off their talents without destroying the flow of the song. It all plays out at the tempo of the damned before a little somber violin ends the dance macabre once and for all. By the time “Null and Void” is reached its clear that there is a formula of a kind at play with the introduction to each cut a slower sirens song of a call to the mosh pit, the illusion shattered almost as quickly as it began with vim and vigor. This one is more of a stompy affair with big chugs in the mid section as Thomas rants and raves like an unhinged lunatic. Inspired by 90’s Death Metal, the sinister urge of “Insurrection…Liberation” is compelling, the gang chanted passages and instant sing-a-long for the live shows. The quality of the musicianship on display here is second to none and will leave you wonder exactly why the Dutch quintet aren’t signed to a label like Century Media and playing stages around Europe because on this evidence they deserve to be [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Initium Finis
2. Apprehension
3. Null and Void
4. Insurrection…Liberation

“Warren Of Necrosis” by Black Rabbit is out 10th December 2025