Album Review: Within Destruction – Animetal (Sumerian Records)

Slovenia’s genre defying metal pioneers Within Destruction will release their new album ‘Animetal’, on April 11th, 2025, via Sumerian Records.

‘Genre-defying’ – those are the words every fan of Within Destruction should be well aware of, especially those that have been there since the beginning. You simply cannot put this band in a box, and shouldn’t want to, as their creativity comes from their freedom to do what they want.

Animetal this them doing what they want, and it’s going to polarise their fanbase. The deathcore is still there, at times, but it now sits in the shadow of electronic experimentation, a stronger focus on pop melodies, and anime-inspired embellishments. Baffling at times, but always interesting and undeniably creative. This is Within Destruction and they’re moving in a new and exciting direction. One that has a more unified approach than ever before and sees them embrace new ideas.

Dare it be said that this is the sound of the band at their most comfortable? It’s certainly the sound of the band at their most accessible.

Kicking off with a bout of energetic mania that introduces listeners to this new look Within Destruction. Fast and brutal, but with egregious layers of electronica, clean singing (guitarist Howard steps up impressively here), dividing anime aspects, and a chorus that, admittedly, does go off.

Unfortunately, it’s a lot harder to get excited about the following Demon Child though, a very generic sounding metalcore track that lacks life. Within Destruction are far too creative to be putting out something so forgettable.

Happily, it’s a short-lived lull and it’s a big return to form with the straight-forward blast of brutalising modern heaviness that is Kanashibari. Intense, regardless of tempos, and featuring some of the most feral sounding vocals of all. It’s great. As is Bitter Embrace, with its layered vocals and dramatic melodies, a track that gets better and better as it goes on. Whereas Fate // Separate is an immediate hit that takes on a more cinematic form, albeit with another accessible chorus, and some fun guitar soloing.

After all, they are such a creative band. Which brings me to Cybergirl and its experimental ways. Within Destruction at their most pop-inspired, infusing elements of cyberpunk into an anthemic body shaker. Before showcasing a deeper and more expressive side to themselves with the beautiful Incomplete. One that many a listener will find themselves connecting to, left dealing with some emotional drama in the mind. That it comes with core heft too just makes it even more special. It’s one of the more impressive tracks on the album, even if those who are here for the deathcore are going to left wanting, breakdown aside.

See? Polarising throughout and easy to recognise, even if what you’re hearing is personally enjoyable. It really is a whole new side to their sound, but the clues were there, so a lot of it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Even if a series of tracks like Stay 4ever, Automaton, Hide & Seek, and Torment have plenty of surprising moments. Creative, fun, interesting, and exciting, even if unlikely to set the world alight. Yet, it does leave an impression, and in the case of the finale of A Love That Slowly Died, it just so happens to be an flamboyant impression.

Within Destruction – Animetal Track Listing:

1. Animetal
2. Demon Child
3. Kanashibari
4. Bitter Embrace
5. Fate // Separate
6. Cybergirl
7. Incomplete
8. Stay 4ever
9. Automaton
10. Hide & Sick
11. Torment
12. A Love That Slowly Died

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