Album Review: Thus Spoke Zarathustra – I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others’ Harm (Prosthetic Records)

Recent Prosthetic Records signees Maryland deathcore group Thus Spoke Zarathustra will be releasing their forthcoming sophomore album, I’m Done with Self-Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm, on May 23rd, 2025. Intended as an examination on the duality of the self and human existence, I’m Done with Self-Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm is a conceptual horror-inspired excavation of the bipolarity of self-betterment and healing with mankind’s more malevolent inclinations towards turmoil, anxiety and vengeance.

The new wave of deathcore, paying homage to the past but taking the sound in an exciting fresh direction, is exemplified by a band like Thus Spoke Zarathustra. A powerhouse of intensity that delivers crushing brutality and unyielding heaviness, while also having experimental aspects and massive moments of melodeath style flair.

With this sophomore album the group have also refined their sound. Sometimes sharp, sometimes blunt, but always notable, and it doesn’t get more stompy than the opening blast of bullishness that is GGO. Thus Spoke Zarathustra are back, showcasing their measured side in emphatic style, before going on a rampage with the frenetic and furious sounding I Can’t Save You. A two-ish-minute blast of aggression that is surprisingly rhythmic, at least until Matt McDougall (Boundaries) joins the fray.

It’s early, but already the album’s strength can be heard (a trio of storming guitars and vocals that spit fire and fury) and things only seem to get more imaginative as it goes on. First, there’s the riotous Gage Lanza 2: Return of the Red Hammer, where I swear, there’s a small nod to Enter Shikari’s Sorry You’re Not a Winner at the start here, but it might be my imagination. Then there’s the I Never Believed in Magic Til My Dog Turned into A Snake, a blast beat heavy track with brutish breakdowns to boot, and a manic blast of emancipating intensity with The Final Blow Will Being Blood. The halfway point of the record arriving in destructive and memorable style.

It’s all about the elaborate touches, elements that give the album an edge, and even when chaotic in tone, which it often is, Thus Spoke Zarathustra twist those traditional core elements in fresh ways. This is what helps keep the album so interesting and makes Santosha another beastly effort. Although the guest vocals of Cameron Argon of Disfiguring the Goddess certainly helps too.

It’s funny really, the guests are awesome and do make a difference, but Thus Spoke Zarathustra don’t need help sounding vicious. They’re on mighty mean form as the latter half of the album showcases brash efforts like All I Feel is Cold and The Difference Between You and Me Is I Never Got Caught. The latter’s opening scream of “what the fuck” really gets the attention, and it just gets more ferocious from that point. One of the album’s heaviest, especially as the tempo switches are notable.

Finally, it’s Mithrandir and Bereft of Light, the former paying tribute to everyone’s favourite Lord of the Ring’s wizard in anarchic fashion. Whereas the latter is the biggest and grandest showcase of the complex and layered aspects of Thus Spoke Zarathustra sound. Not only the longest track by some distance, but also the most progressive. Although, the fact that it is also deathcore brutishness through and through can’t be ignored. Thus Spoke Zarathustra have stepped up and delivered an unforgettable album that will delight deathcore fans but also excite those who want just a bit more nuance to their savagery.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra – I’m Done with Self Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm Track Listing:

1. GGO
2. I Can’t Save You
3. Gage Lanza 2: Return of the Red Hammer
4. I Never Believed in Magic Til My Dog Turned into a Snake
5. The Final Blow Will Bring Blood
6. Santosha
7. All I Feel Is Cold
8. The Difference Between You and Me Is I Never Got Caught
9. Mithrandir
10. Bereft Of Light

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