Life as we know it flows in robust, dynamic cycles. We rise, we fall; we grow, we wither. This absolute truth unites both the animate and inanimate—humans, animals, mountains, forests, empires, and even the cosmos. As chaotic and destructive as it all might seem, Mother Nature’s intention with us is not personal; it’s simply how existence unfolds. The cycle of life is a sobering reminder that our reality is constantly in motion. We can either submit and accept our place in the chaos or we can rebel against it. Those who fight against it—who cling to the past, who refuse to move forward—will never know their true path through this life. The cycle, the circuition, continues whether we like it or not.

Just as humans follow a pattern of birth, growth, transformation, and renewal, music also follows a similar cycle of life shaped by cultural, technological, and emotional influences. From the primitive practice of clapping and bone flutes to the monstrous percussion and vicious tempos of death metal, music has evolved at pace with humanity. Death metal itself is ever-changing, rising from primitive origins and eventually giving birth to the sub-subgenres of brutal death metal, technical death metal, death-doom, blackened death metal, slam, progressive death metal, and melodic death metal.

The latter of the above-mentioned, melodic death metal, sprung to life in the 90s in Gothenburg, Sweden, with bands like At The Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquillity inventing a sound that combined unique riffing with twin guitar harmonies. Through the years, other bands followed suit while also borrowing from power metal (Children Of Bodom), metalcore (Killswitch Engage), Viking themes (Amon Amarth), and even symphonic elements (Wintersun). Perhaps most impressive are the prog-meets-melancholy stylings of Finnish melodic death metal, which includes bands such as Omnium Gatherum, Insomnium, Wolfheart, and Mors Principium Est. The impact of the Finnish contingent was groundbreaking and continues to evolve and inspire to this very day.

One such band is Dutch melodic death metallers, Nephylim. Getting their start back in 2015, the five-piece released one EP and full-length (2015’s Torn and 2020’s Severance Of Serenity, respectively). The latter release, Severance Of Serenity, combined the ferocity of traditional death metal with the incredibly luscious melodies and evocative depth of both the Gothenburg and Finnish scenes. Not to be outdone by their debut album, Nephylim have returned with their long-awaited sophomore effort, entitled Circuition, the first to feature new vocalist, Tijn Bosters (Depths Of Kronos and Godsfarm).

It is immediately clear that the guys have assembled a product that can and will sit comfortably alongside the big boys of melodic death metal. The overall production and quality of Circuition (both musically and lyrically) are top-notch. Tracks such as ‘Amaranth’ and the title-track expertly balance a beautiful mid-paced aggression with dark, haunting melodies. Tijn gives perhaps one of the best vocal performances I have heard in a long time, possessing both a beautiful clean-singing voice and gutturals that shake the earth to its very core. This guy is the real deal. ‘Grand Denial’ and ‘Withered’ are shining examples of how to create stunningly perfect odes to the Gothenburg and Finnish sounds. Of these two incredible tracks, ‘Grand Denial’ is a perfect melodic death metal song with anthemic and powerful riffing that gives Dark Tranquillity‘s classic song ‘Therein’ a run for its money while also diving into some truly weighty melodies and crushingly heavy atmospherics similar to Insomnium‘s fantastic ‘While We Sleep’.

Even though you might not have ever heard of Nephylim, I can tell you now that you’d be incredibly foolish to sleep on this one. Circuition is an absolute must-listen for melodeath enthusiasts. I’ll go one further: Circuition is the best melodeath album thus far in 2025. Yeah, it might be early, but it’s gonna be tough to beat this one. If Circuition reaches enough people, it will no doubt be the album that puts Nephylim on the global melodic death metal map.