HomeReviewReview: “Epoch Inhumane” by Nuclear Tomb
10th June 2026
Review: “Epoch Inhumane” by Nuclear Tomb
Blazing a trail for Progressive Death Thrash from Baltimore Maryland around the globe since 2011, Nuclear Tomb have often been called out as being a little weird. Perhaps that’s because of their wide ranging sound that has been known to include shades of noisy Punk aggression as well as Traditional Heavy Metal at its extremes or perhaps it’s more to do with themes of Madness, Savagery, Isolation, Neurosis, Eldritch horrors and Death that are interwoven into its very fabric. Either way, the mind thrashing sonic nightmares continue with “Epoch Inhumane”, a second album in two years rumoured to be inspired by the likes of Voivod, Pestilence and Coroner.
Engineered and mixed by Matt Michel (Antichrist Siege Machine, Svarta Havet, Witch’s Mirror) at Viva Studio and conjoined to artwork by Brad Moore (Coffin Mulch, Gatecreeper, Last Retch) this one looks both socially aware and politically charged…
Aided and abetted by Demir Soyer (Perpetuated, Nazar, Goetia) who provides additional lead guitars throughout the record, the killing frenzy begins with Death Thrash ripper “Watch The Skies“. Helter skelter riffs fly in all directions fast and loose, capturing the bands live energy like lightening in a bottle, Michael Brown’s raspy, dry throated vocal calling the warning shots. Lyrically it feels like a throwback to the classic science fiction movie The Thing from Another World from 1951 although whether that serves as inspiration remains a mystery.
The war drums pound as Falling Out The World of Lies” rises from the tar pit, the illusion shattered by a burst of high speed aggression as the band pull the pin and run like hell. The combinations and interplay are joyfully chaotic, the vocals being what holds it all together and the same can be said of “Unbowed and Averse” which has a quirky introduction into a bass solo from Amelia Morris before it gets going. When it reaches ramming speed however it’s an old school adrenalised 80’s Thrash encounter of the strangest kind with a blistering solo that raises the roof.
A deranged madness in the riffs of “Faithless Continuum” makes for an evil pleasure as all three guitarists play their part, the layering nailed by Matt Michel so that you get the best of it all. There is even a sublime false ending in the final third before a rampaging solo that feels like you’ve been hit with shock and awe tactics. It almost sounds like the Thrash equivalent of improvised Jazz, as if the band went into the studio with incomplete structures and then just made up the rest on the spot. That flair and creativity is impressive, the five musicians knowing no borders or boundaries as they breathe life into their sonic creations.
There is something menacing and sinister about “Broken Promise, Barren Essence” as Brown points the fickle finger of fate at the corrupt politicians and greedy corporations who fail to deliver. Repeating the trick from earlier in the record, the atmosphere builds over the first sixty seconds or so before Nuclear Tomb put the pedal to the metal and go zero to sixty in as if it were nothing. Impressively there are more playful moments, that come out of the woodwork like termites over multiple listens in nuance, the spellbinding extended solo masterfully done
“Lifeless Transformation” is reminiscent of recent works from Electocutioner with tight Thrash riffs and pummelling percussion combining to give that instant head bang appeal, the old school 80’s nostalgia reaching its heights even before the Death Metal style vocals bite into your brains. This one has another masterful solo, this time progressing from something tastefully controlled into something which matches the frantic and frenetic nature of the rest of the cut.
An instrumental cut before the final three is an interesting chess move, the off kilter, stop start riffs helping to give “Butcher’s Lament” something a little unpredictable to counteract the slick Thrash riffs at its bitter black beating heart. Another head banger’s delight, it’s placing in the running order is perfect because it means that “Terminally Emboldened” hits that much harder. In truth, nothing could prepare you for the all out war of this one, the band coming out all guns blazing with a vicious onslaught that delivered at neck snapping speed. It’s almost like they’ve been playing with us, holding back some of their finer work until later on so as to ensure they don’t lose their grip on our concentration.
The acoustic introduction to “The Coward’s Curse” is a nice touch, the Municipal Waste inspired riffs and pounding drums creating a brutal soundscape for Michael Brown’s fire breathing vocals. His musings on institutional failure, disillusionment and systemic societal decay have that grit and intensity that tells you how bitter and twisted he has become and to be honest, it’s refreshing to hear someone vent their spleen with such vim and vigour on the subject.
Last but by no means least, title track “Epoch Inhumane” rears its ugly head and surprisingly enough the brute of a track is the only one of the collection surpass the five minute mark. This is the one where sonically these mad scientists go crazy, leaping on their workbenches and kicking their test tubes in all directions before watching in horror as chemicals bubble and boil before strange things start to happen. The vocals are once again scalding as Brown muses on how long it might take to fix this broken world or indeed if it is at all possible. All in all an absolute ripper of an album that will have you coming back for more like an addict [8.5/10]
Track Listing
1. Watch The Skies
2. Falling Out The World of Lies
3. Unbowed and Averse
4. Faithless Continuum
5. Broken Promise, Barren Essence
6. Lifeless Transformation
7. Butcher’s Lament (Instrumental)
8. Terminally Emboldened
9. The Coward’s Curse
10. Epoch Inhumane
“Epoch Inhumane” by Nuclear Tomb is out 12th June 2026 via Rotted Life Records and is available over at bandcamp
