Review: “Journey Beyond Death” by Unholy Redeemer

After the arrival of their 2023 demo “A Fever to Dethrone All Kings“ announced Unholy Redeemer to an unsuspecting world as an old school Death Metal force of nature, the bloodlust for more material from them remained ever present. An international project comprising musicians from Australia, Denmark and Finland who share a passion for late 80s and early 90s Death Metal, they also have rich history in bands like Desecresy, Coffin Lust, Crucifire and Cerekloth to name but a few so experience is on their side. Rumours are circling that Death is only the beginning as they’re already working on their next record…

The early menacing and sinister riffs of title track “Journey Beyond Death” take on a whole new meaning as the death growled vocals from Jens Pedersen begin. Blast beats and barbed Blackened Death Metal riffs make way for a malevolent atmosphere laden bridge of dark and oppressive sounds, the whammy bar moment from guitarist Steven Hull adding a touch of insanity. A horror befitting the title, this one not only sets the tone but has termites crawling out the woodwork in search of a fresh place to hide.

Equally as dark and disturbing is the pummeling “Carrion Of The Gods“, which has those classic old school brutal death metal hallmarks like the band were brought up on a diet of rusty radiator water and nails on a construction site in hell. The rhythms from drummer Jarro Raphael and bassist Tommi Grönqvist are pulsating and the only real surprise is the band don’t add in a face melting solo, instead choosing to inflict maximum cranial damage with a good old fashioned beating.

There are some interesting lead licks on “Blazing Grave Cathedrals” as well as a solo of a kind so they do have it within their bitter beating black hearts to create that kind of magic, it’s just they don’t always choose to use every weapon in their arsenal. There are few hints at wider inspirations with the opening riffs sounding like a Sludge Metal warning before the band go headlong into Blackened Death Metal, the consistent low and gravelly vocals telling a bleak tale.

The old school horror movie aesthetic that runs through the veins of this record reach a high with “The Blades Of Inversion“, a ninety five second instrumental that sounds like it should be the theme music to a Stephen King adaptation. Creepy and dramatic it creates a sense of tension with unease that builds the atmosphere for closer “Ever Drifting… They Wait” perfectly. A lumbering opening passage feels like a slow crawl through a primordial tar, the guitars dropping out for bass and drums alone in low and slow fashion. A sick and twisted mid tempo crusher, this one is pure unadulterated evil, a journey to the depths of hell itself with the grim reaper rowing in place of the night boatman [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Journey Beyond Death
2. Carrion Of The Gods
3. Blazing Grave Cathedrals
4. The Blades Of Inversion
5. Ever Drifting… They Wait

“Journey Beyond Death” by Unholy Redeemer is out 28th August 2026 via Extremely Rotten Productions and Dark Descent Records