Review: “Revelations” by Echoes Of A Dying World

Hailing from the Belgian city of Antwerp Echoes Of A Dying World began life as Northwind before changing their name a year into their plot to harness the dark power of Metal. After impressing with 2022 EP “Before the Fall” a year later they returned with album “Tribulation” making new record “Revelations” a third in six long year from a band who include former members of Ashmolean, Oceans of Sadness, Exoto and Mittgard in their ranks.

It’s often the subject of debate around an open fire with a bottle of Wild Turkey as to whether bands should separate a longer introduction piece from a track or not. Some do and some don’t which is sometimes at the advice of a producer. Opening track “Iskariot” is one that will divide listeners as its meandering atmospheric introduction makes the opening thirty seven seconds of a sixth minute piece and when it bursts into life it does so with the force of a sucker punch. Sure the riffs follow that same melodic pattern but it’s like taking life from the lifeless as it becomes a pulsating Melodic Death Metal onslaught. The vocals are savage with Tijs Vanneste making a guest appearance, the soloing spellbinding and by the end a more powerful introduction to the band you’ll struggle to find.

Dropping into some dirge laden, slightly odd time signatured riffs “The Rupture” feels darker until the solo sends shafts of light through the dark clouds before the clean vocal part adds a weight and gravity. A powerful tune to help you breath more easily, this malevolent force of nature isn’t one that is afraid of a longer instrumental passage either as the band demonstrate their prowess with conviction.

The storytelling capabilities of vocalist Tine Vanmuysen are put to the test with “Generational Curses” which is a blend of Melodic Death Metal and early 2003 era American Metalcore sounds. Chugging riffs from Wim Melis and Michiel Debie have moments that remind of old school Killswitch Engage but the atmosphere is so dark that it almost creates an eclipse. Death growls from Vanmuysen dominate “Mathematical Design” alongside the mid tempo menacing and sinister riffs as the band produce some serious skull splitting sounds with a weighty crush. The churn and burn of this one is majestic, creating a dark and malevolent atmosphere with powerful rhythms.

Grand finale “Systems In The Dark” is a magnum opus of a track which surpasses seven minutes with consummate ease. This one is more atmospheric that the earlier cuts with Vanmuysen using her clean vocals far more than upon any other tune. That works incredibly well in the context, making her savage uncleans sound more prominent and impactful when they surface. A solo in the final third lands with a touch of Traditional Heavy Metal influence, the chugging main riff distinctly Death Metal which makes for a nice contrast before the whammy bar takes over. Raw brutality and atmospheric darkness remain intact, as does their fierce reputation [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Iskariot
2. The Rupture
3. Generational Curses
4. Mathematical Design
5. Systems In The Dark

“Revelations” by Echoes Of A Dying World is out 28th August 2026