Review by Jeger on August 19, 2024.

For Henri Sattler and God Dethroned, the creation of blackened metal is a matter of conviction: to stand vehemently against the cross and to envision a world free of religion but to also romanticize the unholy as has been the God Dethroned way since day one. Stories of great occult works and of The Fallen Ones as so masterfully told through monumental album releases like 2020’s Illuminati and their forthcoming opus, The Judas Paradox, set for a September 6, 2024 release via the formidable Reigning Phoenix. 

It’s been a long and arduous journey for Sattler. Early issues with collective vision and overall band concept forced Henri to dissolve the project early on, but perseverance is the Left-Hand way, so the show has - despite the adversity - gone on. To stand by conviction either means to stand alone or with a chosen few. And now, the chosen come in the form of said Henri (guitars/vox), Jeroen Pomper (bass), Dave Meester (lead guitar), and Frank Schilperoort (drums) - a classic four-piece lineup led by the sub-genre’s own Sage-like visionary. Nobody does blackened death metal with the same level of class as GD, so as the fiery church-torched horizons blaze the night and as Judas fans the flames with betrayal most unholy, it’s as a player in a new chapter of postdiluvian anti-Christendom. In this volume, Judas is used as the scapegoat to usher in a different, un-prophesied Kingdom and Jesus’ response to Judas’ entrapment is detailed. And the metal? Like white hot-forged Obsidian: blackened to the hilt, deadly and fucking brutal… 

As lyrical revelations pertaining to the poetic justice handed down to Judas are realized during the opening titular track, it’s to the sound of intrepid double-bass currents, melodic riffing patterns, and chant-like cleans. Groove and melody in danse with rhythm in a most epic catalyst to kingdoms forged. As usual, a no-bullshit record: ten tracks, one interlude, and packed with enough re-listenable parts to see your return for years to come, but the bread and butter? Product. Yet another pristinely-produced album by Henri whose knack for recording music with character as well as clarity is unmatched. A perfect mix here where all phases stand as pillars to the macrocosm and make up equal parts as opposed to lead guitar and percussion dominating everything. 

As it was with Illuminati, so shall it too be with this one; a melodic affair. Asmodeus - rapturous destroyer, King of all Daemons, and murderer plays a key role in the tale and an entire song is dedicated to his namesake who happens to also be of the heavily melodic consort. Each soul-stirring passage is like the precursor to some great epiphany and epic like a sacrificial ceremony. True DM-worshipping brutality coming in by way of 'Hailing Death': the grinds are Bolt Thrower heavy and the beats are like a fucking jackhammer in this the second-longest track on the record. Followed up by another bruiser it is as 'Broken Bloodlines' alternates between huge chopping riffs set to controlled-burst machine gunfire paradiddles and dreamlike clean guitar leads that emit their way mistily into an otherwise chasmic atmosphere. 

With The Judas Paradox, God Dethroned put on display their usual clinic of adept musicianship but also do they put together a record of intelligent design on both lyrical/musical fronts. Wisdom is only gained through time, but unfortunately is it also paramount for the realization of genuinely great music, and God Dethroned happen to exude this character trait in spades as per tradition. There are no “look mom, no hands” solos and rhythm guitarist-jerking-himself-off riffs, just evenly-keeled, tempered music to properly aestheticize the tale and to homage His Infernal Majesty. 

It just gets better every time, man, and to deny God Dethroned is to deny things like free weed and blowjobs. You just can’t deny it, because it’s that damned good, and always has been. From their war volumes to of course their diabolical stories, the cream of the blackened death circuit. Celebration is in order! Don the cloaks and torch the Bibles this eve in preparation for the dethroning of divinity once again. Lux Tenebris! Hails be unto Him and unto God Dethroned. 

Rating: 9.5 out of 10