“I will forsake the sunlight, and curse the dawn.”
“You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame; how could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?”. Indeed, this quote from Friedrich Nietzsche’s work of historical fiction “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” or “Also Sprach Zarathustra” in his German tongue resonates with the ascent of the band that bears its namesake. The 2000s deathcore revivalists made a striking entrance with 2023’s Act Like You Don’t Know—a powerful, if somewhat scattered, release that teetered the edge of mid-2000s metalcore and deathcore, drawing influences from both in equal measure. The group’s latest offering I’m Done with Self Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm delivers a familiar experience, in that it sees Thus Spoke embrace the most desirable elements of both metalcore and deathcore from the mid 2000s and neatly package them into a follow-up LP marked by a renewed refinement of cohesion and precision.
“G.G.O.”, following an introductory ambient section, comes out swinging, wasting little time in introducing the listener to Thus Spoke’s newfound brand of melodic deathcore. The trademark elements of the sound remain intact from the group’s previous work, only with greater ferocity and technical precision this time around. With each consecutive listen of Self Care, I found myself appreciating the guitar work on display here more and more, as it effortlessly and seamlessly transitions between brutal and melodic passages in a way that makes Self Care feel like a fresh, modern release, despite its obvious roots that lie in another generation of metalcore altogether. “I Can’t Save You” is a brief yet brutal affair in which Boundaries frontman Matthew McDougal makes a welcome appearance during the track’s frenetic closing breakdown, which once again feels like it teeters the line between metalcore and deathcore as McDougal and in-house vocalist Andy Reynolds trade off in a swaggering fashion.
“Gage Lanza 2: Return of the Red Hammer” is another track where the instrumentation stands out with undeniable skill and precision that cannot be understated. At the one minute mark, infectious drum fills and rapid double kick runs soar over driving melodic chord progressions, paving the way for a crushing breakdown. Following cuts “I Didn’t Believe in Magic Till’ My Dog Turned Into a Snake” and “The Final Blow Will Bring Blood”, continue to impress—especially in terms of percussion and vocals—as Reynolds delivers some of the LP’s most guttural, deathcore-driven performances over relentless blast beats that seamlessly shift into slower, crushing passages.
As I’m Done with Self Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm has already more than proven its strengths, my only real complaint lies within the production, as I believe the record could’ve benefitted from just a little more punch. The drumming throughout is undeniably impressive, but the snare, in particular, lacks the sharp “ping” or bite that is often associated with revivalcore that would elevate the heavier moments. This becomes especially noticeable during the more deathcore-focused breakdowns on tracks like “Santosha” and “All I Feel Is Cold,” where a more impactful snare could have made a significant difference. That said, this is only a minor nitpick that hardly detracts from the overall experience.
The penultimate and ultimate final tracks, “Mithrandir” and “Bereft of Light”, close the album on a strong note, offering moments that—while stylistically consistent—feel particularly grand and epic compared to the record’s earlier and middle sections. The heavier moments feel heavier, the melodic moments feel more powerful than ever, and everything is as it should be and then some as the album left me simply wanting more. Even as “Bereft of Light” is the lengthiest track on the album by a decent margin, I still couldn’t help but wish I’m Done with Self Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm had not ended so soon—although perhaps this is for the better as such a consistent and laser-focused sound might overstay its welcome if it treads the same path for too long.
Regardless, if you fancy yourself a metalcore veteran and you’ve understandably grown tired of the oversaturation of synths and other modicums of overproduction that is ever-present in modern strands of metalcore and deathcore, I’m Done with Self Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm is here to save the day, as not only does it harken back to an era where less was more, it does so in a way that feels truly fresh with no overreliance on nostalgia. It gives this bygone era of deathcore a second chance, as it was perhaps robbed of its spotlight a little too soon as deathcore has evolved much more rapidly than many of its contemporaries. As someone who enjoys all flavors of deathcore—one of my favorite metal subgenres—I’m simply grateful to be living in a time when the genre is more diverse than ever, thanks to both modern heavyweights and their revivalist peers.
8/10
I’m Done with Self Care, It’s Time for Others’ Harm releases on May 23rd via Prosthetic Records, and you can pre-order it here.