Metalcatto
If you’ve ever read Sophie’s World, you’ll understand how perfectly Platonic the band name Cartoon Can’t Die truly is. Now that I’ve indulged in that moment of cheap snobbery, let me tell you that their new album, Rebirth, doesn’t really fit into a simple genre box. And no, it’s not exactly the soundtrack to Who Framed Roger Rabbit. So, let’s jump into one genuinely strange album, because that’s what you’re here for.
Yes, I already said it, but it’s hard to overstate how weird Rebirth is. I don’t mean this in a purely Avant-Garde or academic sense. The band employs a chaotic fusion of elements from Metalcore, Melodic Death Metal, Djent, and even more accessible, commercial hooks to create an experience that is equally heavy and entertaining. Despite how edgy many of the track titles sound, the final product is more approachable than expected. It was genuinely impossible to predict what the next song would bring, as Cartoon Can’t Die likes to keep the sonic landscape wild and unpredictable—a trait as volatile as your most memorable ex.
What truly captured my attention was how, despite its generally approachable and almost angsty vibe, every song on Rebirth is built with multiple layers and possesses a substantial duration. Don’t get me wrong; these aren’t bloated, self-indulgent tracks. Instead, they have far more musical “beef” and compositional depth than the first thirty seconds might lead you to believe. It is the band’s chameleon-like nature, seamlessly shifting between aggressive and melodic passages, that makes the entire listening experience feel more complex and rewarding than a surface-level listen would suggest. However, it is now time to talk about the elements that might make some listeners say, “Well, we had a good run for a while, at least.”
Rebirth is still an album that relies heavily on the impactful delivery of its breakdowns and its convoluted Djent-inspired rhythmic sections. That stylistic choice alone will be a hard pass for a significant half of the metal community who finds such techniques tiresome. Furthermore, it feels to me as if the band could benefit from a slightly grittier, less polished production style. Not a full-on lo-fi approach, but just a touch more dirt and texture to add a raw, organic layer to the music’s otherwise sleek presentation. Finally, if angsty, emotionally vulnerable vocals that straddle the line between singing and screaming aren’t your thing, you’ll likely run from this album faster than you’d sprint to the bathroom after eating dubious street food from that place your so-called “friend” recommended years ago.
Despite these caveats, this is an album absolutely worth your time. It might not fit the stereotypical, grim aesthetic of the underground, but I have to recognize the impressive level of creativity and earnest effort poured into Rebirth, even if I personally rarely dive into music this openly emotional and vulnerable. You’ll have to listen to grasp the full effect, as my expertise in anything Core-adjacent is intentionally limited—life is too short to dwell in that much concentrated sonic pain. Whether you end up feeling sheer hatred or genuine love for it, one thing is certain: Cartoon Can’t Die will not leave you indifferent.
Label: Independent
Release date: February 6, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/CartoonsCantDie
Country: UK
Score: 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 