EP Review: Stellvris – Shatter & Bloom (Self Released)

Set for independent release on November 7th, Shatter & Bloom is Stellvris’ explosive new EP, blending raw emotion, melody, and heaviness into a powerful statement of modern metal strength.

Since forming in 2019, the European metal outfit have built their brand around honesty and emotional depth, exploring pain but also how to turn that pain into power. Here on their new EP, Shatter & Bloom, they aim to deliver their most intense statement yet.

Following the success of their debut Upside Down (2022) and the follow up, Persistence (2023), this release dives deeper into emotional territory. It tackles mental health, toxic relationships, and betrayal while still holding onto hope. The message Stellvris look to deliver is a timely reminder that no one has to fight alone. Anyone can rise to their respective moments. Stellvris channel their message through thunderous riffs and anthemic choruses — music made for those who need to find strength in the storm.

Produced by Christoph Wieczorek of Sawdust Recordings, Shatter & Bloom looks to continue the evolution and phenomenal growth of Stellvris. From their releases, and their emotive live performances, they have garnered a large following of devoted fans. Growth that has also seen them share the stage with the likes of Megadeth, Jinjer, and The Black Dahlia Murder as well as many European Festivals.

Stellvris are Nicol Hofman on vocals, Libor Hřebík on bass, Andreas Polášek on guitar and Hanz Polášek on drums.

We kick off in some style with the opening track, the title track Shatter & Bloom. The samples of an alarm clock bring us to life before we get into explosive territory. Hyperspeed drums and riffs, backed by guttural screams, drop down into an electro beat with clean vocals, then burst back into heaviness. There’s a lot happening — a lot of vocal transitions and style changes. It’s energetic, passionate, and balances melody and heaviness, traditional instruments and synth backing, very well. There’s a catchy chorus that will stick with you and a nice, heavy breakdown. It’s an impressive start, and that momentum continues into Silence After Violence.

The tone shifts a little here, bringing a moodier and darker feel. Musically, we still hear the constantly writhing and transitioning sound where the masterful vocals drop from spoken to sung to screamed to roared continuously. The verses are quite heavy on synth and electronic sounds — maybe a little too much for my personal taste. The chorus is fire again — choruses appear to be something Stellvris have mastered. Shoutout also to the expert drumming and solid riffs. There’s a technical edge to them, and while they carry that metalcore-like metallic tinge, the guitars, bass, and drums all hit hard.

Monster lays the emotion on thick with heavy lyricism and a nice balance between the electronic elements and the instruments. Vocals are expert again, and I really like the light rap verse. The tempo is catchy, and while there’s still a lot going on, it’s more restrained and tighter overall as a song than the opening two tracks. Well, at least for its opening two or three minutes before it gets a little chaotic nearing the final quarter. I’m a fan of the big, punchy drums and guitars, and while there’s an almost purely electronic instrumental section, it fits the song and leads us nicely into a vicious, pit-destroying section. The ending gets quite creative with lots of transitions and heavy synth reliance, but it adds another layer of interest and variety to Shatter & Bloom, so it’s welcome.

Time’s Up keeps the emotional depth and honesty at the forefront, pairing heartfelt lyricism with strong melodies and some neat guitar work. It’s still a heady mix of different styles — the vocals shift through multiple tones and techniques, and the electronica adds extra texture. Those constant changes are exciting, but four tracks in, when every song has followed a similar formula, the unpredictability starts to feel a little predictable. That said, it’s still impressive. The individual components — the drums, guitars, and vocals — all shine, but so do the flow, songwriting, lyricism, and production. Every element feels considered and executed with skill.

Shatter & Bloom then throws a curveball with a wild cover of Nicki Minaj’s Starships (I had to Google it). Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect — and I wasn’t convinced at first. The opening minute leans heavily on clean vocals and electronica, and I worried it might sound a bit too close to the original. But then the heavy instruments kick in, the vicious vocals take over, and we’re right back in familiar Stellvris territory, full of dynamic contrasts and sharp transitions. Don’t tell anyone, but I actually started enjoying it — and can see this being a lot of fun live. Is that why I hate it? Have Stellvris just made me like a Nicki Minaj song? Damn them.

Okay, obviously I’m joking — it’s a bit of fun at the end of the EP, and I’m absolutely fine with that.

Overall, Shatter & Bloom is a high-energy, intense, and creative record. When you pack so many ideas, components, and genre switches into a release — and even within individual songs — there’s always a risk of losing some listeners. But Stellvris manage to strike a balance, especially between the electronic elements and the more traditional instrumentation. What’s clear is that this band has real talent: powerful rhythm work, strong guitar and bass tones, and a remarkably versatile vocalist. They know how to use those strengths intelligently, and the crisp production ensures every detail shines through. The result is a modern, ambitious, and fiercely engaging release from a band that looks set to achieve huge things.

Grab your copy of Shatter & Bloom from the band, here.

Tracklist:

1. Shatter & Bloom
2. Silence After Violence
3. Monster
4. Time’s Up
5. Starships

Stellvris Links

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