Unstoppable thrashers DeathAssault are about to drop an expanding sound that pulls in savage riffs and gripping soundscapes. The band have announced they will release their self-titled debut album, DeathAssault, on Friday 13th February, and we exclusively asked the UK heavyweights to break down their album track by track:
“Ashes Of Reality”: “Ashes Of Reality” was one the first songs we wrote fully during the EP era. Whilst writing and recording the first EP, we started playing around with new sounds and exploring our creative abilities. It almost made it to the EP due to when it was written, but with time we felt it more fitting to open up the album. An explosive sound meant to encapsulate the atmosphere of a dystopian mindset, with imagery depicting the fall of humanity and delving into a sense of inner imprisonment.
As many of our songs do, the lyrics morphed and shifted over time, with many sections being omitted in the early stages as I began to develop my writing away from the EP era and into something more deep in a literary sense (which is very visible in the later tracks). It serves its purpose not only as a song that conveys the imagery of a dystopian and imprisoned world, but was reflective of my mindset at the time. Many songs we write focus on personal experiences and feelings, but also as a commentary of the world around us. The title “Ashes Of Reality” which is belted in the song in and of itself is an image that existed in my mind after the collapse of reality as we know it, engulfed in flames and ruin of a world that once was, now reduced to ashes.
“We Will Remain”: The song “We Will Remain” started off as a love poem, in a sense, a letter to the band about the brotherhood and bond we share in DeathAssault. Initially when writing the lyrics, the song just fuelled me with a real sense of unity, love and an undying force. That really is how this song and this band makes me feel. Sharing, through song, a message that permeates through this band that no matter what we go through, we will always persevere in times of hardship. The title really encapsulates that as a statement: We Will Remain.
Diving into aspects of reflection on self identity and the lack thereof, the music and the people gave me the sense of purpose I missed in my life. When I thought I would never find my way as a human, we all walked into each other’s life at the right time and I think that birthed something beautiful. The lines “I don’t know my place, my identity, my face and when we fall, I know you’re still with me” really sums up the entirety of this song that we will not back down, regardless of what we endure.
“Replaced”: Like many of our songs, “Replaced” really stands as a message. I was in a relationship which really was terrible for me; this song followed as the aftermath of that relationship and me sharing my grievances and using it to heal. The cycle of a toxic relationship, falling back into the same pit every time with a sense of blissful unawareness that comes back and bites you in the arse. The lyrics really depict how I saw myself and what I wanted them to know and reflect on. I write with that mindset a lot of the time, in a sense that I am saying to someone “Listen to me whilst I have your attention, you know who you are. You will hear me”. I want to make people think. Whether it’s directed or taken in an interpretive manner, I want to force people to really reflect.
Regardless of its original meaning, people derive their own meaning and connection out of everything. Take it as you will—face value or deeper. But if it makes you think, that is what matters. Touching on the feeling of suffocating in a toxic environment as “an angel struggling to breathe” or the rinse repeat cycle of such a bond “sick and succumbed, my mind has been numbed to hit play, hit pause, rewind”. You always come back to it, until you realise, one way or another, you’ve had enough. No matter what replaces you… “You’ve been replaced”.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
“Pro Crisis”: As many of our songs do, the title speaks for itself. Any person of sane mind is sick and tired of: lies, hate, division, death, war and fear mongering. “Pro Crisis” is another song that serves a statement with the hope to be heard. I see music as a platform not just to entertain but to share cathartic release and to use your voice. Use the power you have to make change and unite. It is something that exists in all human history, but we all live to see atrocities that leave a scar on humanity. This song feels more prevalent than it ever has, but written sometime during 2022-2023 during the war in Ukraine.
The original title of the song was a play on words of the term “Anti-Christ” being “Anti-Crisis” but given the directed nature I felt it fitting for the title to be a label and a name that was directed intentionally at those who sew division and inflict pain, whist waving a flag stating they wish for peace. Hypocrisy towards the people when saying one thing, but acting another. Lead by example. Taking the stance in the song as the “Anti-Crisis” that is viewed as a figure such as the Anti-Christ by those who use gods name to justify their actions. I’ll say now that I am no religious person, but if you want to spread a message of unity, peace and love… don’t you dare use such a message as a justification for what you do. It also serves as a commentary of what is shared with the people of the world and acts also as a middle finger to the media, through the lines: “Guns, that’s what we need / Hate, is all that we see / Murder, is on the TV / Beauty, to make us hate ourselves”. We join together under the name of unity and revolution. We are much stronger than those who divide us, we just have to realise that.
“Falling Down”: “Falling Down” is a song that tackles the world of alcoholism and substance abuse both a wider world perspective and a personal anecdote. Taking an eerie yet relaxed intro of serenity into a blistering chaotic noise that conveys a sense of downfall, finished with a final euphoric return to the beginning section in its outro—a surrender. Inner beasts that lay within all of us, addiction or not, is something that everyone has and makes everyone feel helpless. Whether people admit that or not.
In the early days of DeathAssault, as a lot of bands do, we were drinking a lot from quite a young age. Vodka, beer, cider, rum… pretty much anything, cheap or expensive, quality wasn’t a thought when you are busy getting drunk. I really overdid it for some time, both at rehearsals, at gigs and when we would hang out. It was grabbing bottles of vodka before rehearsal to drink straight and not much else. There are a few times in the band’s history on my own behalf I can’t look on fondly because of how much I drank. Breaking down at rehearsal because I was so drunk and not in a good mental state at the time, breakdowns in public before going onto the stage and performing a show. It really fucked me up. It was probably a year or two ago I pretty much cut out drinking entirely as it had such a negative effect. I found no enjoyment out of it.
This song pretty much sums up my view on the effect it had on me at that time and also my views on wider society and how common alcohol abuse is. Stating: “Falling down, the crisis of the nation, a last chance for holding on, falling down, a crisis to a place I used to love, now live in fear…”. It is such a visceral song to play live and never lets up, I feel that it really captures the struggle in both a musical and lyrical sense. It takes you by the throat, destroys your soul and throws you to the ground. Defenceless.
“DeathAssault”: The title track of our self-titled album, one that delves into a conceptual and literal nature that is intended to capture our message, our atmosphere, its purpose, our feelings…. Summing everything up from the past couple years, this isn’t just a song, this isnt just a band, it’s something that burns within and bubbles to the surface with hate, anger, passion and each aspect of the human condition. We aren’t just our average selves on stage, standing around playing some songs for shits and giggles. We are brothers that unite to create something you remember, share our grievances and unite people to let them know they aren’t alone. We are all different, yet one in the same.
We wrote “DeathAssault” before the departure of our last guitarist Jack Madderson, who wrote the majority of the riffs in that song alongside Wiktor (who plays a large part in writing and composition within DeathAssault). The initial riffs were driven with something that just perfectly envisioned the essence of our being, the definition and anthem of this band. This is our defining anthem: Eerie, Chaotic, Fuck you energy. Written from a personal perspective, but more that of the energy of DeathAssault personified and realised. Almost a continuation from “We Will Remain,” discussing self identity being found within the chaos and stating how I feel plain and clear about myself and how I view myself across my life. But now in a stance of power over it all. The beauty in the pain. The sickness of life condensed into something greater than itself. A greater being, fuelled by negativity, yet serving positivity.
The breakdown in this song, driven to a crescendo with pounding tribalistic drums, followed by a swelling bass, before a pause that drops into unadulterated fury. These themes can be found in all sections, but if you want one that summarises it all, the ending I find is the most powerful statement: “Pushing myself to the breaking point of everything, In my life, In my soul, In my flesh, The slow decay. Clawing at pieces I cannot put together, I bide my time to find that I am only lesser, Pry behind the mask and learn a fucking lesson, I bide my time to find it’s DeathAssault forever…”. What lies behind our appearance on stage is a version of us only we can understand. Something that fuels what we do. The outside is merely an expression of inner self. A manifestation of self. DeathAssault is forever.
“My Insanity”: More a conceptual poem that integrates with the atmosphere this record captivates. Very inspired by classic horror movies, the mind of many famous serial killers. A summary of what lies inside behind the eyes of a mad man: Mundanity, Cold, Uncontrollable. With aspects that do delve into my personal connection to such themes and feelings but are put forward to enhance this visceral nature of the imagery. I like to refer to it as… beautifully fucked up.
This song’s creation, alongside “We Will Remain,” really set the course for what the later songs would become and the direction we’ve taken. Keeping our roots intact but shaping into something of its own… more advanced, more evil and far more matured in a composition aspect to the early days of DeathAssault. The lyrics convey a sadistic nature, almost perverted by sickness and horror… think of the likes of Hannibal Lecter if you want to look at movies. Real life? Well, you know who they are… A sick and twisted, yet intimate opening: “A delicate knife, Thin paper blade, Sweet words you caress, Still I can’t see… Just an innocent wing, Clothed in down, I try to scream, To blur the sound…”.
It’s sick, using imagery of innocence alongside a twisted mindset. Macabre, yet viewed under a microscope that finds beauty in its nature. A juxtaposition in art I find really compliments one another, whatever its form, be it; Painting, Music, Movie, Poetry…. While having personal connections to its lyrics, “My Insanity” develops this character through its musical and lyrical storytelling. Developing a relentless beast of a human being who sees beauty in all things grotesque. Eerie, yet thoughtful and calculated. Before moving on, I’ll leave you with lyrics from a section of the song: “The slightest slip in my tectonic mind, Catalyst of this feeling inside, With fingers clenched and gritted teeth, One Shallow breath a final release…”.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
“Forgotten”: “Forgotten,” being one of the two final songs on the album that were written over the course of 2024-2025 but conceptualised some time ago, returns to themes that are touched on in “Replaced” in a full circle nature… fitting that it is placed towards the album, a reflection on past relationships and where I am at now mentally. A fresh perspective, still fuelled with unrelenting vitriol but more introspective and reflective than the blunt and cyclical nature of “Replaced”.
Taking a perspective and announcing that I am breaking free from what held me back, expressing disdain yet freeing myself of its grasp. Something everyone in the band, and in wider society can relate to in the process of healing and growing as a human. “Forgotten” stands as one of the first times I have truly incorporated my true singing voice into a song that displays all aspects of vocal ability. A display of where we are going musically: Ever changing, Always experimenting.
“Forgotten” looks at the tug of war that exists within the heart and mind of everyone. A yearning for love and connection whilst knowing what you desire only serves as a form of self destruction. The title “Forgotten” and lyrics contained within, tell of a feeling that the past and what you once were is being forgotten. Forgetting both who you were and feeling as if those who’ve wronged you are starting to forget what they’ve done, the consequences of their actions they don’t feel the result of. “You are the one I hate, You are the one I love, Your soul, Your face, You are- You are a bitter drug…”. It’s a mixed bag really as a concept. The music that carries throughout develops this sombre and sorrowful atmosphere and expresses multiple perspectives of such a life event. I like to write when I have time to think, so the majority was spread across in studio writing, then finalised on a bus home late at night. One of the most introspective journeys I have had that leant to one of my favourite songs on the album. It’s pain, it’s healing, hatred and love all wrapped up in a beautifully explosive song.
“Winds Of The Past”: Finally, reaching the close of the album, I believe we touch on an aspect never seen and expressed in DeathAssault before. The most experimental song we’ve done, it really is beautiful. Everytime we play it together I feel a strong sense of connection, emotion. Varying from grief to unity. “You have to see the truth, The truth, It lies in you..”.
The core of the song was composed by Wiktor Osiecki and ex-guitarist Jack Madderson, written after the passing of Wiktor’s Grandad as a means of commemoration and healing through the grief. A song which you can feel that woven through every fibre is a life lived, a connection. It’s heavy but not through punchy riffs and guitar, but through emotion and powerful emotive drumming, bluesy soloing on the guitar. Wrapped up in a perfect concoction of purpose, impermanence and reflection. A break from the chaos that still perfectly encapsulates what DeathAssault means… The core of who we are. The Poetic nature of life. Ever Growing, Ever Changing, Human.
