EP Review: Worm Shepherd – Dawn Of The Iconoclast (Unique Leader Records)

Worm Shepherd return from a two-year silence with Dawn Of The Iconoclast, an EP that wastes no time reasserting their place among deathcore’s most punishing operators. Formed in Massachusetts in 2020, the band built their name on suffocating atmosphere, blackened extremity, and a technical edge that elevates their brutality beyond mere breakdown worship. Released on February 20th, 2026 via Unique Leader Records, this EP marks a decisive new chapter following a significant line-up shift and the return of original drummer Leo McClain.

Now operating as something close to a deathcore supergroup—with current and former members of Immortal Disfigurement, Ingested, and Archaic Epidemic in the ranks—Worm Shepherd sound sharpened and fully locked in. Dawn Of The Iconoclast leans hard into blistering blast work, abyssal riffing, and a thick, blackened atmosphere that feels oppressive rather than decorative, delivering a short but devastating statement of intent rather than a tentative comeback.

Worm Shepherd consists of Tre Perdue (guitars and orchestration), Leo McClain (drums), Thomas O’Malley (bass), Harry Tadayon (guitars and orchestration), and Ian Smith (vocals).

Speaking about the return of Worm Shepherd, Tre Perdue states:

“I’m very excited about the new line-up. I feel like we have the most talented members that we’ve had to date. Harry brings so much to the table for writing and meshes with my style so well. Tom is an absolute workforce on the bass and really adds some flare to the rhythm guitars with his aggressive style and tones. I’m also very excited that Leo is back in the band and having him back behind the kit for the Worm Shepherd sound gives some of that original tone from our first albums together. Us having this new sort of style that we’re doing, Ian fits in perfectly with his aggressiveness and tonality of our new music, and I can’t wait to see what people think. This is the beginning of a new era for Worm Shepherd.”

Dawn Of The Iconoclast kicks off with The Omen and delivers a surprisingly epic start, pairing intriguing melody, orchestrations, and choirs before crashing drums, riffs, and devastating vocals reign down fire and fury. There’s a strong symphonic deathcore vibe here and, even as the song becomes increasingly extreme, layers of orchestration add depth and power throughout. The extreme side really does take things up a notch with fry screams, gutturals, and growls over stop-start musical explosions. It’s heavy and impactful, especially during the contrasting moments, where the brutality suddenly breaks into a guitar solo or the choral backing steps forward. While it’s a very busy track, it has an exciting structure and flow, holding attention from the first notes through to the end.

Soulless Lament doesn’t take its foot off the pedal either, delivering a punchy and aggressive track that moves between symphonic deathcore and straight-up extremity. The vocals are a standout, and with sections where they’re isolated to highlight the grunts and growls, they need to be strong – and they are. Alongside the excellent orchestration and impressive vocals, the drums are killer, and there are some exceptional guitar melodies being interwoven. The solo is a highlight, and the chorus, where all these elements collide, stands out as a moment of epic proportions.

Feast is up next, and here Worm Shepherd slow things down for a threatening intro with extra emphasis on the orchestrations and choir vocals. It’s a huge sound and works perfectly as a lead-in to the heavier sections. Everything then combines with metallic riffing and crunchy drum patterns, while the multi-toned vocals attack from every angle. These intense blasts of heaviness are broken up by drops into melancholic melody with hushed vocals, used cleverly as both a breather from the aggression and a setup to launch back into it with maximum impact.

The patient approach of Feast is thrown out of the window for Sanctified Rot, where more of the technical side is on display in a brutal track full of pace and energy. Despite the aggression, it still balances melody, choirs, and symphonic tints. It’s very heavy, yet somehow manages to be catchy. The orchestration is especially impressive, and how it’s blended with the heavier instruments and vocals shows a band playing with confidence and experience.

Dawn Of The Iconoclast closes with Whispers Of A Buried Land, and it’s clear the band want to leave a lasting impression with a track that’s significantly longer and more expansive than anything else here. Stylistically, it’s exactly what you’d expect: huge, intelligently placed orchestrations, winding guitar melodies, brutal vocals, and relentless drums and riffs. The song flows wonderfully, choosing carefully when to spotlight the vocals, when to push the orchestration forward, when to shift the pace from extreme to slightly restrained, and when to let the guitars lead. There’s a lot of talent in this band, but knowing when and how to use each element shows a level of song writing craft that goes beyond the norm.

Dawn Of The Iconoclast is an EP Worm Shepherd can be proud of. The performances are ferocious, the production is weighty without losing clarity, and the songwriting shows care in how brutality, melody, and orchestration are balanced. The flow across the EP is strong, with each track feeling purposeful rather than just another vehicle for blasts and breakdowns. The symphonic elements in particular are well judged, adding atmosphere and scale without ever feeling tacked on.

While the sound won’t feel wildly unfamiliar to anyone deep into the genre, the execution is consistently high and the EP lands with real impact. Worm Shepherd set a strong standard for themselves here, and if they can maintain this level moving forward, they’re well placed to build on the momentum of this return.

Track List:

The Omen
Soulless Lament
Feast
Sanctified Rot
Whispers Of A Buried Land

Worm Shepherd Links

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