Desolus, outta the MD/DC area, are back with album #2, Dwellers of the Twilight Void. I reviewed their debut in 2024, System Shock, and really enjoyed their take on classic German thrash metal. Bileh Dougsiyeh is welcomed into the fold as the new drummer. Their previous drummer, Travis Stone, has moved from drums to guitars to also join Jimmy Frost, vocals, also remaining on guitars. My friend, Vivek Rangarajan, continues to strum the bass and let out some maniacal vocals.
With a young and aggressive thrash band, I always want to make sure it’s not a one-hit wonder. Knowing Vivek’s love for all things metal and classic thrash, I was happy to hear there is no drop off in quality with their sophomore effort. After a brief, but foreboding instrumental, “The Portal”, the title track erupts, and the first thing coming to mind is classic Sepultura – think Beneath the Remains, as well as Sodom circa 1987-1992. Blistering speed and the 1.35 timestamp will start circle pits all damn day. The music has been tightened up a bit, with a greater emphasis on the production as well. The groove is pure 1988 and is most excellent until the fast blazing thrash returns with guitar solos. The vocals of Vivek and Jimmy, really add to the frenzied assault.
“Threading the Atom” is the longest song at still only 4.50. This song begins with a monster groove. Even has a little Municipal Waste to it. The speed erupts, and it really gets into Beneath the Remains territory, as well as moments of Sepultura’s Morbid Visions, with the crossover into death metal. This song has stop-and-start, very catchy moments, and the squealing Slayer-inspired guitar solos add to the character of the tune. This song is planted in the middle of the album and would go over well planted in the middle of their live set. One of the best songs Desolus has written.
“Visages of Death” shows the band is unafraid to show their melodic leanings, and then Vivek rips into a bass solo and right into the ripping thrash metal. While the band has tightened up their sound, I still like their “live” feeling to the record, and that has to do with the sheer energy the band brings to every song. This song is pretty darn ferocious, and the song slows down, eventually, towards the end with the melodic elements. The bass guitar is piped in a bit louder, which is important to point out, since the notes sound great. The song trails off, and it’s a very cool song ending.
Desolus then does an admirable job at covering Slayer’s “Show No Mercy”. A little more deathly with the raspiness of the vocals. Actually, imagine if Kreator covered this song during their Pleasure to Kill era, for you to get an idea of how this cover song sounds. All the elements of the classic song are intact, with varying vocal ranges to capture Araya’s crazy performance on that album.
“Nefarious Dominion” ends the album with a terrific Slayer-inspired opening guitar riff. A bit of a headbanging gallop takes us along for the ride. The speed is injected with a pounding and angry feel to it. This almost has a primitive quality to it in terms of the feel, and this is a great song to add into their live set.
As much as I enjoyed their debut, Desolus, has topped it with Dwellers of the Twilight Void. Better musicianship, songs, and production. This is what you want out of a young and hungry band. The band plays live shows and tours, and I foresee some bigger tours coming their way. They did just play MDF, and as the band continues along, they are injecting that old school venom back into thrash metal. Something that has been missing for a bit. Great album fellas!
