Since The Death is not easy to describe, but I will try. Conventional descriptions fail as there is a little bit of everything in this soup, most notably: black, death, and thrash metals with a clear nod to punk. As the most recent signing to one of my favorite labels, I was filled with anticipation at what Since The Death would bring forward.

Since The Death is a solo Christian metal project headed up by Swedish multi-instrumentalist Oscar Rask and has been running since 2016. His debut album, “A Gift To My God,” was released independently in 2018 and showcased a cast of guest vocalists and guitarists with Oscar running drums, bass, and guitars. This garnered the attention of Vision Of God Records, which released the next two albums in 2020 and 2022. In 2024, Oscar switched to the Charon Collective for the release of the EP “His Heart Hates,” showing him on vocal duties as well as most of the instruments. Now in 2026, the mighty Nordic Mission label signed Since The Death for today’s review: “Entangled.”

If one could harness Oscar’s energy, we would solve the world’s energy crises. This album shows a creative mind pulling from a palette of extreme metal using thrashy death riffs, blackened vocals, atmospheric synths, and punkish song structures that is constantly in motion and changing directions. Once a groove is set, it changes with Oscar’s playful variations where the senses are engaged almost to the point of being overwhelmed. With a hopeful message in stark contrast to dark musical elements, I can’t help but love the project even if it lands a little outside my comfort zone.

This album will likely have a strong appeal to black metal fans as Oscar’s vocals have a raspy edge that would be right at home in many a blustering black metal record. There are some deep growls thrown in and it is often quite layered so it isn’t pedigree black, but his impassioned delivery has a punk flavor to it as he focuses on getting a message across rather than poetic diction. The verbose song titles tip me off here.

And that message is this overflowing hopeful message of the One True God that bursts from within. He can’t hold back and I love it! “He Keeps Forgetting” takes a biblical angle that sin often is characterized as forgetting of God’s law and “Forgive All Of Them” admonishes, as one would expect, forgiveness for all. Oscar does his own thing even if it is offbeat like the last track about an adorable girl who feels damaged inside, which is rather refreshing.

Many of the songs start with an idea that serves as the foundation for variations in riffs and playing with arrangements. For example, “Hearts Are Getting Darker” has a two chord progression that is constant throughout the song, but is refreshed through sustained chords and tremolo picking, doomy drums and blast beats, and threads of technical lead guitar work. Except for the relatively serene Schaliach-esque instrumental “Eleventh,” there is this constant assault on the senses with brutally attacking drums, intense vocals, and blasting guitars that cut through jaggedly through the song.

Although the songs might have simple bones, he packs them with meat. Vocals are often front and center, but supporting underneath is a maelstrom of a rhythm section in the drums and bass with guitar riffs that oscillating styles. Oscar adds clouds to the storm through atmospheric synths that settle moodily when the action calms down. Guitar solos are not very common, but when they do come it has an early punk flavor where it channels the energy and style without the melody.

The sticky points might be summed up as the devil’s in the details. For example, the different vocal layers often will enunciate syllables at different times losing words in the music. At other times it might be loose timing of the instruments that weaken the assault. Then there are the endings of songs that sound like Oscar wanted to drop and move on to something else instead of tying it up. In the vein of the DIY punk aesthetic, this all can work. Nothing of its own is bad, but all together it detracts from an otherwise scrumptious outing.

“Entangled” is bringing the good news with urgency and extreme metal palette. There is raw energy and talent unleashed with a creative imagination that drops the mic when finished without a worry to loose ends. I hope to hear more from Since The Death with a little more tightening up on the little things to bring this to a whole new level. Definitely good stuff worth checking out.

Rating: 8.0/10

Written by Sean Bailey

Tracklist
1 – When Hatred is Being Fueled
2 – Adorable But Treacherous
3 – He Keeps Forgetting
4 – The Wolves Hunting The Pure Hearted
5 – Hearts Are Getting Darker
6 – As A Beloved Brother
7 – Late To Anger No Revenge
8 – Forgive All Of Them
9 – The Blackest Of Days
10 – Shine On Me
11 – Eleventh
12 – Beautifully Damaged (Bonus Track)

Since the Death is:
Oscar Rask – drums, synthesizers, samples, bass, and vocals
Richard Adolfsson – guitars

Release Date: April 24, 2026

Record Label: Nordic Mission

Discography:
Thy Presence (EP) (2017)
A Gift To My God (2018)
The Black Must Come Out (2020)
I Belong To Christ (2022)
His Heart Hates (EP) (2024)
Entangled (2026)

Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Bandcamp (old stuff) | Bandcamp (new album)

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