Metalcatto
t’s been a while since I looked into a German band that wasn’t making some weird and sad Post/Black. Mouth of Madness is hard to define. Sometimes it feels like a Black/Thrash band, and other times like dirty Death Metal. What I’m sure of is that Event Horizon isn’t an album that’s going to leave anyone indifferent. The band might have been quiet for a long time, but this new release is clearly aiming to put them back on the map. Time to unfairly judge whether it succeeds—or if it’s just talking crazy (see what I did there? Don’t hit me!).
It was already difficult to pin down Mouth of Madness, but after a run or two with Event Horizon, that got even harder. Sure, some riffs reminded me of Bathory or Morbid Angel, and others leaned more toward Entombed or Feral, but it never committed too much to one lane. What stayed consistent was the overwhelming feeling of human decadence—even if this album might fool you into thinking it’s about space. Maybe it is, but without the interlude tracks, I’d just assume it’s the soundtrack for that one gig toilet that haunts your nightmares.
The first thing that caught my attention while listening to Event Horizon was how old and fresh the guitar tone felt. Yes, it sounded extremely ’80s Thrash at times, but the way it’s used doesn’t really go that route. If anything, it tremolo-picks our wrists straight into arthrosis—which is always fine by me since it’s not my hands doing the work! Most tracks are packed in a way that, despite not feeling simplistic, remain easy to digest. This changes as the album progresses, and you realize that Mouth of Madness isn’t trying to be just another “we’re just having fun” band. It’s trying to express more troubling emotions than just anger. And that’s all fine by me. Sometimes I want to feel more, you know?
Now, there’s nothing particularly bad about Event Horizon. I don’t have my typical snarky double-comment. Or maybe I do? The album could’ve used a few more memorable hooks here and there. When Mouth of Madness explores more melodic ideas, it gets genuinely interesting—so a bit less of the stick and more of the carrot would’ve been nice. Also—and you already know what I’m going to say—take away all those “atmospheric” interludes and give me a proper track! They keep kicking me out of the immersion! Alright, the hate stops now.
Event Horizon is strange in how it mixes its influences. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it changes again and turns into something more uneasy. So, I guess if someone mixed Thrash with whatever other retro-extreme Metal trend you enjoy, this might be as close as it gets. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some memes to prepare.
Label: Darkness Shall Rise Productions
Release date: July 17, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thewolvesofgolgatha
Country: Germany
Score: 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 