Sometimes, we all just need a bit of unbridled chaos to help us unwind or escape the day. UK metalcore act God Complex return with a follow-up to 2021’s To Decay in a Deathless World, and it’s anything but subtle about the brutal energy it wishes to conjure up. Given the band’s breakup after their first album, this EP may come as a bit of a surprise some. He Watches in Silence marks a new chapter for the band with Sharptone Records, and it’s nothing if not feral and caustic.
With 5 songs in 13-minutes, God Complex can truly focus on providing the most abrasive experience without having to worry about listener burn out. “Salt and Ash,” the opening cut, swings between some haunting and eerie guitar melodies and explosive, frantic energy that barely relents. Some slower grooves are pummeling in tone when it does, and it’s blast-ridden nature keeps the listener gasping for air. “Depraved Idol” follows suit, battering away with blast beats occasionally, but it’s more focused on almost death metal themed mid-tempo riffing and groove. “Ba’al’s Trick” comes across as an early favorite, with it’s combination of thick, massive grooves that pair up with almost unhinged bursts of energy – offering just enough hooks in the melodies to keep it interesting without watering down it’s premise. That said, “The Judge” delivers the full-on chaos, going on a 59-second pathway towards carnage and not easing off the brutality for a second. “Flooded Lungs” closes things off on a very groovy note, which feels just as catchy as it does a steamroller of a track.
A return that’s complete in it’s destruction and carnage, God Complex deliver plenty of caustic energy with He Watches in Silence. It’s swirling and almost hypnotic grooves batter the listener at every opportunity, and while it does suffer a little bit because of that unrelenting approach, it’s clear the band’s intention was to provide something that knocked the listener back in their seat. To that end, it’s a wild success and well worth seeking out if you want something that’s going to act like a musical wrecking ball.