Review: (UN)WORTHY – From the Belly of the Beast
It’s 2025, and the polarizing genre known as deathcore is still alive, well and kicking. Impending Doom continue to release a string of EP’s and are teasing at a new album, Voluntary Mortification have established themselves as the new kings of ultra-brutal deathcore, and Cleansing the Temple are putting out some terrifying stuff. But there is another.
Hailing from the same place as Impending Doom (Riverside, California), (UN)WORTHY seem poised to become one of the next big bands in the scene.
Look. As readers of Heaven’s Metal probably know by now, I’m not the most die-hard deathcore guy. I enjoy it from time to time, and Impending Doom’s Nailed. Dead. Risen. is one of my favourite metal albums of all time, but there’s something about the genre I just can’t seem to connect with. Perhaps it’s the hardcore element, the tough guy Biohazard vibes, or maybe it’s just that the breakdowns become all too predictable. But I do have to say that I’ve been quite impressed with the current crop of deathcore acts as of late, (UN)WORTHY being one of them.
From the Belly of the Beast is the band’s first release as a five-piece band, and it pulls exactly zero punches. Outside of the one’s directed at your ears, of course. (UN)WORTHY’s sound lies within a similar realm to the monolithic approach of Impending Doom’s Death Will Reign album – oppressive, dark, and yet atmospheric somewhat as well. Vocal work on here is refreshingly varied for a deathcore record, veering from the deep roars to feral, blood-curdling snarls such as those heard on the title track. The first two tracks are definitely modern deathcore by the numbers with a heavy edge, but I can’t deny the passion on display here. The title track is the highlight, boasting some of the freakiest sounding deathcore vocals I’ve yet come across. Only the last track, “Judgement Denied,” gets a pass from me; just me, but the melodic riffing and robotic, pitch-shifted vocals take away from this band’s overall intensity.
Lyrically, this little EP is essentially a deathcore retelling of the book of the prophet Jonah, from his prophetic call to his infamous attempt to escape his destiny and subsequent swallowing by a fish, right up until his anger at God for not punishing the people of Nineveh. It’s a bit of an odd book for a deathcore band to take up as a lyrical focus, at least at first, but I have to say that the emphasis in Jonah on his anger makes some sense in the end.
Overall, if you’re a deathcore devotee, I think (UN)WORTHY are definitely worthy of your attention. It might not do anything especially new with the style, but what it does, it does very well.
For Fans Of: Impending Doom, With Blood Comes Cleansing (later), Thy Art is Murder, Lorna Shore
About Author
