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God Complex - 'He Watches In Silence' EP Review

Sean Friswell
Feb 22
3 min read

Tracklist:

1. Salt And Ash

2. Depraved Idol

3. Ba'al's Trick

4. The Judge

5. Flooded Lungs

Four years after their debut album, Merseyside hardcore outfit God Complex are back with their EP 'He Watches In Silence', released on February 21st, and their first effort as part of the Sharptone Records family.

First up we have 'Salt And Ash', which kicks off with a Slipknot-esque atmospheric intro that fades into guitar feedback, before exploding with a fervent energy and full outright aggression. The incredibly blast beat drumming and demonic vocals pair extremely well throughout, before transitioning into a half-time breakdown, which maintains that insane energy, before the drummer kicks things back up a notch by bring back the blast beats. It sets the EP up perfectly, but still doesn't prepare you for what's to come.

'Depraved Idol' is up next, and God Complex are not messing around, launching straight into it. The vocals are like nothing I've ever heard, a phenomenal mix of low growls and screeching high screams, paired with some great lyrics such as "put your money where your soul is", which match the aggression of the track. Naturally, they maintain that insane energy, with guitars and drums working in tandem so extremely well, especially in the half-time section that slows down even further at the close of the track.

Serving as the mid-point of the EP is 'Ba'al's Trick', carrying on that same aggression straight out of the gate, the drums definitely lead this effort, and as a result I feel that the guitars are mixed slightly too quietly in places, however the talent of the entire band, in particular the guitarists, is still very evident, with some brilliant tandem guitar work in the breakdowns, as well as amazing drum fills throughout, and the switch to a constant double kick pattern after the second breakdown left me in awe of the drummer's stamina. Things slow right down towards the end, transitioning from another breakdown into a stripped-down outro that is the only moment of respite in the EP but maintains such a menacing atmosphere. It is absolutely brutal, and is modern British hardcore at its finest.

'The Judge' carries straight on from 'Ba'al's Trick' using the spoken sample, and is perhaps the most aggressive track on the EP, containing said aggression into a minute burst to provide the shortest track on the EP. Once again, I'm reminded of Slipknot, more in attitude, as it feels much like that singular release of pent-up rage that the Nu Metal icons are known for, but cranked up to eleven

We finish with 'Flooded Lungs', which serves as a more sustained lesson in aggression, exploding through in quick chugging bursts throughout the track. I can only imagine the carnage that this track will cause with a live audience. The sustained scream through the first half of the breakdown should go down as one of the best screams in recent metal history, and that paired with even more insane guitar work, a driving bassline and punishing drums? You won't be likely to forget this anytime soon. The track ends with one final riff, fading out to draw things to a close, and I can't help but feel this riff took inspiration from Tenacious D's The Metal, and in this version I'm pretty sure Satan won the rock off.

'He Watches In Silence', as I've mentioned throughout this review, is a non-stop lesson in pure aggression that leaves nothing to the imagination. It feels like a musical snuff film in the best possible way, and certainly establishes God Complex as a future powerhouse of the UK metal scene. I for one cannot wait to see where they go next.