6th May 2026

Review: “The Truth Of Hate” by Disarmer

They say that the more things change… the more they stay the same and in the case of Knoxville, Tennessee Beatdown Deathcore quintet Disarmer that couldn’t be much close to the truth. They first crossed our path back in 2018 with single “Callous” and have since exclusively used the services of Dalton Skinner (Elseetoss, Primal Scourge, Summoner’s Circle) at Anchor Sound Recording Studios to record, mix and master all their material. However the line up that brought us their 2019 EP “Merciless” in now down to two original members in vocalist Michael Raney and drummer Nick Montgomery with guitarists Michael Clester and Josh Chaplin alongside bassist Justin Henegar all exiting stage left. Their replacements are Christopher Damron, Michael Ramsey and Chris Gallien respectively, leaving us to wonder what Disarmer v2.0 sounds like…

Straight out of hell’s gate there is a psychological horror aesthetic to opening cut “Regicide” as Disarmer have returned to claim their crown in brutal fashion. The downtempo grooves of the opening verse are a storms warning, the tempo shift into thunderous percussive battery with jackhammer footwork soaked in abrasive riffs and scalding vocals a demonstration of their prowess. Raney reaches throat splitting territory with some Slam inspired blood curdling screams that make him sound like a vision from a nightmare that Freddy Kruger suffers. It’s the bands seamless tempo shifts and sonic transitions that really make the track, which is as lethal as it is effective.

A quote from Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood introduces “YJB” before the band bounce your skull off the floor in Signs Of The Swarm like fashion. A fierce opening verse designed from the ground up to open up arteries leading to breakdowns piled upon breakdowns like pancake stacks in an American diner before a two-step inciting bridge and a bass solo that bring total annihilation. It the very definition of Beatdown Deathcore in the current climate, served piping hot by a quintet who know exactly what they’re doing.

The oppressive atmosphere of the record as a whole builds a palpable tension you could cut with a knife even before the savage “Eyes” kicks in meaning blood can be shed with vicious screams from the very first second. Heavy hitting groove laden riffs accompany an introspective lyrical narrative that burns like wire all fuel the fire but a Gloom Metal inspired solo with a melancholic vibrancy might be the last thing you’d expect to hear. Is it possible that Raney has developed Stockholm Syndrome with his captor being Knoxville? [7.5/10]

Track Listing