Review: “Kaiju” by Dissentience

Inspired from classic Japanese monster films and the unknowable terrors of Lovecraftian mythology (rather than Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim), it is written upon ancient scrolls in a rarely used Japanese dialect, that “Kaiju” by Dissentience explores the narrative of a colossal, nameless beast as it decimates a city. Rather than paying tribute to the Kaiju lore in name alone, the Progressive Death Thrash quartet have created a world where riffs, lyricism and production align… to place the listener in the path of annihilation. Sparing no expense, the record was engineered by Matt Menafro at Peach Pie Sound, mixed by Zeuss (Hatebreed, Revocation, The Acacia Strain) and mastered by Alan Douches (A Life Once Lost, Morbid Angel, Warbringer)…

…in order to bring their uncompromising, inventive and unapologetically intense vision to life it becomes evident very quickly that guitarist and vocalist Connor Valentin, guitarist James Vitale, bassist Sean Langer and drummer Nick Scherden have spent a lot of time in the rehearsal space in preparation. A classic melodic, slightly unsettling introduction reminiscent of “Master Of Puppets” era Metallica introduces “Obsidian Tomb” like warning that something wicked this way comes before the quartet reach Thrashing speed, Valentin’s storytelling capabilities tested to the fullest. His raspy dry throated unclean vocals strike the perfect balance for this kind of record, harsh enough to sound great while clean enough that you can decipher every word without needing a lyric sheet. Staccato riff breaks and spellbinding solos are the order of the day, adding stardust to this, pardon the pun, beast of a track, which over its six minute duration is as captivating and enthralling as they come. A powerhouse that not only serves its purpose but is also greater than the sum of its component parts. After that warning shot “Chaos Absolute” slaps hard with juddering riffs that take them into Trivium territory. Eerie moments in the middle of this one creating an unsettling atmosphere before they snap back with jackhammer footwork and razor sharp riffs galore.

Title track “Kaiju” is a whirlwind of percussive battery and tight rhythms that cascade across the cranium at neck snapping, circle pit starting speed, the scream-a-long bridge masterfully done so as not to suck any of the energy out of the piece. Capturing the aggression and violence of the Kaiju with their performances Dissentience impress throughout, hitting all the right notes as they race through the material like a raging inferno. A classic combination of old school elements which have an air of familiarity alongside modern production values means these songs have a satisfying crunch to them, the money the band have invested in the project very well spent because the mix has been absolutely nailed. A seven minute surpassing magnum opus “Death Shroud” is another powerhouse from the ominous introduction passage to the bursts of gravity blasting alongside sinister and menacing riffs. The whammy bar drop solo in the final moments is the kind of thing that you dream of, like an ice cold beer on a hot summers day, it’s that good. If you’re out there looking for buried treasure and hidden gems then this record is one you need to hear because its a bulldozer [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Obsidian Tomb
2. Chaos Absolute
3. Kaiju
4. Death Shroud

“Kaiju” by Dissentience is out 20th February 2026 and is available over at bandcamp