EP Review: Existentialist – Terminal (Seek & Strike)

Colchester based symphonic death/deathcore band, Existentialist release their new EP titled Terminal on the 27th of June via Seek & Strike.

Formed in 2015 by guitarist Jonny Flack and drummer/keyboard player Olly Winn, Existentialist released their debut full length, Prophet of Ignorance, during the pandemic of 2020. As the world reopened in 2021, the band eagerly exploded onto the live scene in and quickly gained a reputation for their intense performances and razor-sharp precision. This also led to a victorious run in Metal To The Masses Essex in 2022 and the grand prize of playing at Bloodstock Festival in that same year. Not long after this, the band signed with Seek & Strike, releasing their second album, The Heretic, in 2023.

Existentialist’s growth continued with The Heretic garnering a stream of positive reviews, a sell out tour for the album and a string of support dates for bands like Drown in Sulphur, Osiah, Paleface Swiss and Bound in Fear. The leads us to now, in 2025 and the band’s 3rd release, Terminal. Terminal represents something a bit different for Existentialist, as well as being their first EP. Terminal is a concept EP, written as a single continuous piece of music and accompanied by a series of 1920’s horror inspired music videos.

Having already debuted the EP at a packed show at Colchester Arts Centre in March, 2 singles out so far (Death Before Death and Wretchedness ov Existence), the new EP just around the corner, clearly a ton of ideas and an ever growing fan base, 2025 is setting up to be a good year for Existentialist and their fans.

Existentialist is Phill Morley on bass, Olly Winn on drums, Samuel Berriman and Jonny Flack on guitars and Patryk Kolasa on vocals.

Speaking about, Terminal, the band stated:

“With this release, we wanted to take a different approach—both thematically and musically—to make it feel like a true standalone project for us. The content of the tracks is more honest and grounded than anything we’ve done before, diving deep into the human condition and how it shapes us as individuals. Musically, it’s still unapologetically us, but we’ve pushed into new territory with fresh sounds and an overall different energy. Some moments are slower, more reflective. Others hit with full intensity. That contrast felt necessary. The entire process, writing, recording, living inside these songs, changed each of us in different ways. We believe the final product will hit every listener differently too. That’s what makes it real.”

Terminal comes with 4 tracks on it in total and around 30 minutes of music to get stuck in to starting with Death Before Death. What a stunner of a track this is too – it starts off with a nice symphonic tease before launching into a ferocious mix of throat ripping vocals, insane drums and speedy riffs. All of that sits alongside a layer of symphonic greatness. The vocals are amazing, with a wonderful mix of tones and deathcore styles on show. The speed and intensity is relentless with impressive musicianship from all corners. It’s so much more than a blasting track with the symphonic edge adding a touch of dark grandeur, a gorgeous melodic section and a phenomenal and emotional solo. This song has it all.

Wretchedness ov Existence obviously carries on directly from the start as we listen to this as a continuous song and the fire and fury lifts back up from the softer close to the opening segment. It’s a darker passage, with deep vocals, thick bass, and deeper riffs combining with the insane drum speed. Melody grows into the song at points, as does the symphonic edge and it has an overall blackened feel despite definitely still staying very much in the symphonic deathcore camp. Despite it’s very heavy and very aggressive approach, maybe because of the moments of melody, but also the flow of the song means that there is a very prominent catchiness too.

It’s listenable, enjoyable and while I am going to need lyrics to have a clue what is being said in most of the sections, you feel despair and desperation pouring through your speakers and washing over you.

Wraithchild is our 3rd song, and the last one that isn’t a bonus song and also a longer track at near 8 minutes long. Such is the quality of the opening two tracks/segments that I am madly excited for a longer form piece from Existentialist and it does not disappoint. We are talking Lorna Shore and Pain Remains levels of quality. I wonder if that trilogy was an inspiration for Existentialist at all here with Terminal? Anyway. An extended symphonic intro builds you in nicely, creating atmosphere and bedding you in before we hit the heavy deathcore verses packing more superb vocals, drums and guitars to let loose to.

That transitions smoothly into a cleaner, more melodic guitar driven section, then the two worlds combine to create a wave of sound that washes over you and fully drenches your soul. The flow of the song is immense as you move from extreme sections to more melodic sections, moments where the guitars lead, moments where the symphony leads, moments where they all come together and it is all so seamless. The vocals are superb, again and kudos to the drummer who is getting one hell of a work out but is also able to switch tempo and style at will. The is a stunning song.

Moving on though and we close out Terminal with the song, Garden of Bones (Orchestral Bonus Track) which is as per the title, a bonus track. At near 12 minutes in length, there is a lot to listen to and enjoy with this closing number. It is full orchestral and very cool. It is dark and threatening and very easy to get lost in and hypnotised as you absorb it. I guess if you are here for the deathcore side of the band, you might get bored due to the hefty runtime of this last song but that’s okay, I like it a lot but will definitely be spending the majority of my time on the first three tracks.

Terminal really then is a trilogy of songs that all flow as one to create a single piece and then we have a nice bonus track too because, why not. What you get here, even if just talking about the three tracks is a stunning example of modern metal and modern deathcore. To me, Lorna Shore’s Pain Remains trilogy is the finest example of deathcore breaking free from it’s genre shackles and becoming something more. An example of how to combine heaviness, darkness and aggression with real passion and emotion. I  can think of no greater praise for Existentialist and Terminal than to say that I think this is on that same level. It’s a remarkable release and a must listen for everyone.

Track List:

01-Death Before Death
02-Wretchedness ov Existence
03-Wraithchild
04-Garden of Bones (Orchestral Bonus Track)

Existentialist Links

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