Album Review: 1914 – Viribus Unitis (Napalm Records)

Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal veterans 1914 return with purpose on their fourth studio album, Viribus Unitis, due November 14, 2025, via Napalm Records’.

Translating to “With United Forces,” the title captures both the band’s historical focus and their own resilience through years of war, upheaval, and personal loss. Building on the legacy of The Blind Leading the Blind and Where Fear and Weapons Meet, Viribus Unitis sees 1914 shifting from depictions of battle’s brutality to the endurance, camaraderie, and emotional aftermath of those who survived. The result is a record that balances suffocating heaviness with haunting melody — a devastating yet deeply human reflection on the cost of war and the strength it takes to continue.

Musically, 1914 remain true to their identity – brutal mixtures of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes. This time, however, their sound gains a broader dynamic range, with soaring melodic leads, orchestral textures, and haunting clean vocals that provide dramatic contrast to the crushing heaviness.

Viribus Unitis deepens 1914’s commitment to historical authenticity, both lyrically and conceptually. Told through real events and personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army, the album traces a timeline from 1914 to 1919, painting a grim journey through the war’s rise, climax, and hollow aftermath.

1914 is Dmytro “Kumar” Ternuschak on vocals, Oleksa Fisyuk and Vitaliy Vyhovskyi on guitars, Armen Oganesyan on bass, and Rostyslav Potoplyak on drums.

Viribus Unitis comes with 10 tracks on it, starting with the scene setting intro track, War In (The Beginning of the Fall). An old time hymn, played out on gramophone with all the realistic wavers and nuances of that sound transport you back in time before our first tale starts, 1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl). It’s an explosive start delivering pace and ferocity by the bucket load. Harsh vocals combine with speed drumming and dark riffs. It feels ominous – feels like war, and the little atmosphere generating cuts to old time war songs half way through add realism. This isn’t for the faint hearted and definitely leans towards the heaviest possible side of 1914.

We move into 1915 (Easter Battle for the Zwinin Ridge), which is also the longest song on the album at over 9 minutes long. Extra time gives 1914 the option to really stretch some creative muscle. Starting with war time music to lead us in, the early stages of this track are extremely dark with brutal music and very aggressive vocals. It’s a raging and writhing start full of anger and frustration. The pace eventually relents and we head into a blackened doom style where you can feel the suffocating atmosphere growing up around you. Extended guitar notes add threat and when it starts to build back up again, there is some serious catchiness to the heavy drum patterns.

Vocals are harsh but backed by a kind of choir/gang chant, which I love, before we move into a more melodic section. This slower pace still packs weight and heaviness and the combinations of these aggressive tones with the melody and the chant like vocals is a real treat. 1916 (The Südtirol Offensive) is up next and after some war samples, drops a dark and brooding track with a massive blackened lead guitar melody piercing through the veil of intense drums and riffs.

It’s a banger and the big bass slams in the verses, and vocal patterns have a modern touch to them and are certain to get you moving and your head banging. There is some proper groove at times, but all while never losing the overall atmosphere and brutality of 1914 or the subject matter. It’s such a superbly written track, and probably my favourite on Viribus Unitis so far.

1917 (The Isonzo Front) closes out the first half of Viribus Unitis with, of course, another heavy one. Sampled spoken word lead us in, keeping the story tied together before the explosive drums and riffs take over and rain down upon us. The impressively powerful vocals spit fire and venom on a song that never moves away from being an intensely dark song for even a second. There are moments within that where the clever musicianship transforms the brutality into something a bit catchier but even those moments are just respites before the heaviness swallows you up again.

The next three tracks in Viribus Unitis combine for a larger overall story with  three parts set in 1918. We start with 1918 Pt 1: WIA (Wounded in Action), before moving into 1918 Pt 2: POW (Prisoner of War) and then finally, 1918 Pt 3: ADE (A duty to escape). The opening part has more traditional wartime music to get you bedded in for the story that follows. As that fades out, the most ominous of music starts to take over. Doomy stomping riffs and drums offer threat and danger. The guitar melody joins in adding to the feeling of insecurity before the ripping vocals join to complete the ensemble and fill your ears with atmospheric heaviness.

The beat, and backing chants really give the impression of an infantry regiment marching into battle. The harsh tones on the music and vocals then do a great job of making sure you understand the dirt, the mud, the misery and fear these heroes had to fight through. It’s not glorified, it’s just very real and the backing screams make that very apparent. 1918 Pt 2: POW (Prisoner of War) then carries the story on, picking up from being injured to now being a POW. Keep in mind these are real stories, this was their reality. Staying in the doom side of 1914 here, there is definitely more expansion in the band’s style here.

It’s still heavy as hell, but the storytelling is better than it has ever been. Additional vocals from Christopher Scott (Precious Death) add a whole new dimension too. Moments of whispered vocals and a strong, rebellious melody sit over the punch of doom laden metal nicely. Scott’s cleaner, more melodic tones over 1914’s music makes for a glorious combination and helps to visualise both the horror of the situation and the strength of character shown by those in captivity.

The final part of this epic trilogy then pushes the envelope further, this time bringing a collaboration with Aaron Stainthorpe (ex-My Dying Bride, High Parasite) in. His mournful voice adds a solemn quality to this elegy of grief and brotherhood. His voice, combined with the harsh tones of Dietmar Kumarberg is to die for. Musically we stay in the doom style mainly, but there are definite post elements too. 1914 are definitely growing and evolving wonderfully here on Viribus Unitis.

The album ends (outro aside) with “1919 (The Home Where I Died). This time featuring Jerome Reuter (Rome), the story tells tale of a soldier’s will to live and his family values, seeing him escape from captivity to finally return home to embrace his wife and daughter. While he escapes the war, he cannot shake off it’s shadow. Piano melody leads us in with a melancholic and emotional melody. Clean vocals lead us forwards in a beautiful track that is so sorrowful. It is a story, sung and spoken and crystal clear to understand. It brought tears to my eyes – it will bring tears to everyone’s eyes.

The story closes out then with the outro, War Out (The End?). A war time song, traditional of course and perfectly suited to ensure this wonderful album ends with the same authenticity and honestly it has displayed throughout.

Viribus Unitis feels like 1914’s most complete and emotional work yet. It’s as heavy and intense as ever, filled with crushing blackened death and doom riffs, but there’s something deeper running through it. The band haven’t just written songs about war; they’ve captured the human side of it – the endurance, the pain, and the small moments of hope that survive even through devastation. Each track feels like part of a larger story, told with honesty, power, and respect. It’s an album that balances atmosphere and aggression perfectly, and one that leaves a lasting emotional mark long after it ends.

Preorder 1914’s Viribus Unitis in your preferred method at this link tree here – 1914 Link Tree.

Track List:

1 – War In (The Beginning of the Fall)
2 – 1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)
3 – 1915 (Easter Battle for the Zwinin Ridge)
4 – 1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)
5 – 1917 (The Isonzo Front)
6 – 1918 Pt 1: WIA (Wounded in Action)
7 – 1918 Pt 2: POW (Prisoner of War)
8 – 1918 Pt 3: ADE (A duty to escape)
9 – 1919 (The Home Where I Died)
10 – War Out (The End?)

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