Most people spend New Year’s Eve trying to find a taxi, avoiding overpriced entry fees to pubs, or pretending they know the words to “Auld Lang Syne”. However, Swedish death metal solo project Enemy Awake has decided to see out 2025 in a slightly heavier fashion. The project, helmed by Ivan Castro, has announced the release of a new record, Rotten Soul, which lands digitally on December 31st.
While the press materials float between calling it an album and an EP, looking at the runtime – four new tracks plus a bonus demo – it sits firmly in the EP camp. Regardless of the classification, it’s a bold move to drop a release on the final day of the year. It certainly sorts out the playlist for any metalheads looking to ring in 2026 with a bit of aggression rather than the usual pop hits.
The most interesting detail for the genre purists among you is the production history. While Castro handled the recording duties himself, the mixing was done at the legendary Sunlight Studios. For anyone familiar with the history of Swedish death metal, Sunlight is hallowed ground, responsible for that iconic “buzzsaw” guitar tone used by bands like Entombed and Dismember. That seal of quality suggests Rotten Soul aims to capture an authentic, gritty sound.
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Citing influences such as Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, and In Flames, the music promises plenty of melody alongside the heaviness. If you fancy ending the year on a high (and heavy) note, you can check out the tracklist below.
- Too Empty to Bleed
- No Way Out
- Following the Light
- My Hell Is Yours
- Sangre (Demo)
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Enemy Awake: facebook | bandcamp | youtube
