Album Review: Sinsaenum – In Devastation (earMUSIC)

Extreme metal supergroup Sinsaenum will make their long-awaited return with the release of their crushing new, and third studio album, ‘In Devastation’. Out August 8th, 2025, via earMUSIC.

The album serve as a cathartic tribute to legendary drummer Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Murderdolls) and to guitarist and founder Frédéric Leclercq’s late father, whose deaths profoundly shaped the emotional and creative direction of the project.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that this is an album that comes with emotion, an aspect that is extremely potent on certain tracks, but what might surprise many is that it’s an album about hope and an album about moving forward. Sinsaenum are honouring the past and those that have been lost, but they’re also focused on the present and future. Proudly displaying more elements to their sound, refining their melodic metal edge, but still delivering a cacophony of extreme noise across ten strong efforts.

It’s a destructive and emotionally wrought start with the title track. A glowing and glowering tribute to those we’ve lost and the dark times that everyone will face at some point in their lives. It’s Sinsaenum pouring all their vitriolic power into a meaty blast of blackened death metal and delivering anthemic head banging ferocity.

Sure, it doesn’t get any less brutal, but there’s more to Sinsaenum and this album really does show off an evolved sound. Even if Mayhem’s Attila Csihar and Dååth’s Sean Zatorsky vocals are born of hell. Often, it’s Frédéric Leclercq and Loudblast’s Stéphane Buriez who spit the riffs out, and power up with groove and melody, while Seth’s Heimoth and Andre Joyzi (bass and drums, respectively) give us thickness that makes it so much more substantial sounding.

In the case of a track like Cede to Thunder, it’s all about the guitar soloing though. Wicked and wild. Whereas Shades of Black is daringly catchy, showcasing a dramatic intro and then exploding in excitable groove metal fashion. Followed by the powerful and punchy Obsolete and Broken, and the remarkable Last Goodbye. Both tracks feature clean singing, and it really does work. Adding extra layers of gloom, heightening the melody, but not distracting from the crushing heaviness in any way. It’s just the sound of a band expanding and experimenting, especially the second of the two, but it really does pay off.

Though, if speed and intense heaviness is your jam, then you won’t be left wanting thanks to absolute beasts like Spiritual Lies, Destroyer, and Buried Alive. Albeit with undeniable nuance and detail that makes each a strong and solid extreme experience.

Personally, it’s the beginning and the end of the album that kicks the most ass. I’ve already sang the praises of the title track and Cede to Thunder, but how about the crashing and smashing beast that is This Wretched World!? A track that batters away, but across its near-five-minute runtime showcases exciting twists and turns, clever keyboard melodies, and flashes of experimental groove, resulting in a heavy experience that sounds so fresh. Then, alongside that, there is Over the Red Wall. A potent blast of extreme noise that combines old-school horror and modern savagery. Capped off by one of the album’s best guitar solos.

It, like everything that came before, is a statement making moment for Sinsaenum. They have been through so much and here they stand, stronger than ever and focused on the future.

Sinsaenum – In Devastation Track Listing:

1. In Devastation
2. Cede to Thunder
3. Shades of Black
4. Obsolete and Broken
5. Last Goodbye
6. Spiritual Lies
7. Destroyer
8. Buried Alive
9. This Wretched World
10. Over The Red Wall

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