Album Review: Orbit Culture – Death Above Life (Century Media)

A band that needs no introduction, Orbit Culture return with their new album Death Above Life on 3rd October 2025 via Century Media.

Orbit Culture take another leap forward with their 5th full length, and Century Media debut Death Above Life – an album that embodies growth and change, as stated by frontman Niklas Karlsson.

”This record represents change, a new beginning. It brings up a lot of good and bad emotions but it’s a big change for the better. It feels like a rebirth.”

Known for their cinematic, melodic death metal sound, the band honed their craft in the isolation of rural Eksjö, Sweden, channelling influences that range from Metallica to Gojira to Hans Zimmer creating a style that’s both raw and atmospheric. They come from humble beginnings though, becoming and staying a DIY band as explained by Niklas –

“It’s dark and cold all the time and the only thing you have is snow and streetlights. We were small-town kids from nowhere. We were never part of a scene or anything, so we had to do it ourselves. We’re still very much of a ‘Do It Yourself’ kind of band. I tried to learn as much as I could during those formative years. I used my sister’s SingStar microphone!”

From that, to sharing stages with Rivers of Nihil, Avatar, Slipknot and In Flames, their DIY ethic has shaped everything from sound production to haunting visuals. With sharpened song writing and a desire to stay true to themselves but also to grow and evolve, Death Above Life – produced by the band and mixed by Buster Odeholm—captures the energy of their explosive live shows and that evolution as a modern force in metal. Here on Death Above Life, Orbit Culture continue to push boundaries while staying true to themselves, remaining a defining voice in metal’s future.

Orbit Culture are Niklas Karlsson on guitar and vocals, Richard Hansson on guitar, Fredrik Lennartsson on bass and Christopher Wallerstedt on drums.

Following up an album like Descent, an album I rate massively, should be a tough ask for a band but Orbit Culture are operating on a different level these days. Death Above Life isn’t just a follow up, it’s elevation. All of our core Orbit Culture elements still exits, don’t worry. It’s just darker, more aggressive at times, more precise and focused – it’s Descent turned up a few notches in all departments. The scene is set right from the opening track, Inferna, where within seconds in a blind listening you would be like “oh, that’s Orbit Culture” and as the song progresses and you get smashed with jagged riffs and double kicks, you’ll feel right at home.

The vocals snarl and rip, with a groove laden beat through the verses before the cleans come in for a chorus that drops the right amount of melody to elevate it. The combinations of harsh and clean vocals are perfect. With smooth transitions throughout between the crisp and cinematic sections, back into pit destroying groove, it’s a real statement of intent and they don’t stop there.

Bloodhound goes straight for the jugular with no messing about as they just smash us with an assault of crunchy riffs and intense beats. It’s a pit track, full of groove and vicious vocals with verse vocals delivered at hyper speed. The backing vocals are strong and follow the leads so it appears like a continuous vocal line throughout the first 2 or 3 minutes of the song before the riffs and beats start breaking and we hit a chaotic section full of distortion and reverb. The crisp transitions bring us back into the main beat in a song that is possibly the most straight up aggressive beast Orbit Culture have hit us with to date.

Inside The Waves is a stunning track that brings together all the Orbit Culture elements we love into a deeply personal anthem. It starts with clean vocals and melody before transitioning into harsh vocals and groove, building to a powerful, emotional chorus. The mix of cleans, heavy beats, and melodic backing perfectly showcases the band’s signature style. Lyrically personal, the track features a stunning solo that delivers an emotional wave, with a killer transition back into the crunching groove.

Next up is The Tales Of War, a fan favourite and one of my all-time favourite tracks from the band. It balances pounding rhythms with soaring leads, and the chorus is massive, memorable, and urgent, dealing with themes of internal conflict and survival. It’s a track that speaks for itself—if you know Orbit Culture, you know how good this song is; if not, it’s the perfect place to start.

Hydra follows, living up to the high bar set by The Tales Of War. The song slows down with crushing riffs and booming drums, creating a relentless, threatening vibe. The verse leads into a chorus with cleaner vocals over the same tempo, while bursts of speed and intensity keep things dynamic. A neat, dissonant solo adds to the anthem feel, making this another standout on an album that keeps hitting all the right notes.

We hit the second half of the album starting with Nerve. Packed with those hard hitting beats and crunching riffs, it’s an energetic track with a quality chorus. The drums are fire, and there is a strong melodic background which, coupled, with the cleaner vocals adds a real emotional weight to the track. The title track, Death Above Life comes next and brings every bit of Orbit Culture’s flair and fire together into a beast of a track.

Starting with an ambient intro, the track gradually transitions into slower grooves and mammoth riffs that immediately get necks moving. While undeniably heavy, it also impresses through the emotional weight carried in each crushing note. Furthermore, the backing layers introduce subtle melody and a dense atmosphere, elevating the song to feel like a true centrepiece of the album. More ambient atmospherics drop nearing the end, lulling you in before a wave of darkness washes over us. Distortion, backing, slowed drums – it’s impactful and memorable.

The Storm ramps up the pace with fire and fury, driven by a wicked riff. The vocals hit hard and heavy, and the drums deliver relentless energy as expected from Orbit Culture. The melodic edge in the vocal delivery adds depth, and a standout guitar solo makes this track the album’s closest to traditional melodic death metal. It’s one of my favorites—short, direct, and impactful—adding variety that keeps the album fresh and flowing.

Nearing the end, Neural Collapse delivers a precise blast of aggression with chaotic textures and dissonant guitars. The intense drums and bass push boundaries while the vocals roar through powerful verses. The slightly cleaner chorus offers a brief reprieve before plunging back into darkness. The band then shifts into a moody ambient section, building back into heavy riffs with real impact. It’s a thrilling, intense journey and a standout track.

Well my mind is blown, and we have another track to go still. The Path I Walk. An elegant and reflective track intended to offer closure and give a sense of journey, it’s a beautifully sung, clean song that switches traditional heaviness in favour of melody, mood and openness. It has a singalong feel to it – a song that brings emotion out of you and shows a depth and maturity to Orbit Culture in 2025. It’s a gorgeous track, and feels like a fitting way to bring Death Above Life to a close.

Death Above Life is a powerful and ambitious record from Orbit Culture. It shows a band confidently evolving — embracing heavier tones, richer atmospheres, and bold song writing without losing the aggressive foundation that defines their sound. It’s consistent, dynamic, and often thrilling. Tracks like The Tales Of War, Death Above Life, The Storm and Inside The Waves stand out as some of their finest work to date. The production is sharp and spacious, allowing every riff and vocal to hit with full impact.

Instead of simply repeating the formula from Descent, this album moves forward with greater cinematic scope and deeper emotional resonance. For fans of modern melodic death and groove metal, Death Above Life isn’t just a solid listen — it’s a standout release that confirms Orbit Culture’s place as one of the most exciting bands in the genre right now.

Grab your copy of Death Above Life, here.

Tracklist
1. Inferna
2. Bloodhound
3. Inside The Waves
4. The Tales Of War
5. Hydra
6. Nerve
7. Death Above Life
8. The Storm
9. Neural Collapse
10. The Path I Walk

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