From the shadowy, rain-drenched streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, emerges CHESTCRUSH , a band that has been forging an unrelenting path through the most extreme realms of underground metal since their inception in early 2020. Founded by Greek-born guitarist and lyricist Evangelos Vasilakos , CHESTCRUSH has built a ferocious reputation by blending Black, Death, Sludge, Grind, and Noise into a brutal yet captivating sonic assault. Their highly anticipated sophomore album, ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ (pronounced “Psycho-vgaltis”), meaning “Soul Extractor” in Greek, is out now and ready to wrench the very essence from its listeners.
A Legacy of Relentless Extremity
CHESTCRUSH burst onto the scene with their 2020 debut Demo , an explosive introduction that showcased their raw aggression and unique sound. The follow-up album Vthelygmia (2021) established the band as formidable purveyors of darkness and misanthropy. Named after the Greek word for abhorrence and abomination, Vthelygmia channeled deep societal disgust and personal torment into an intense conceptual journey, earning critical acclaim and selling out all physical copies.
The band continued to evolve in 2022 with Apechtheia , an EP that explored new sonic territory by incorporating ambient noise and drone elements alongside their signature brutality. The track “The Despiser” even caught the attention of Matt Heafy (Trivium) and was selected for the soundtrack of the anticipated horror-comedy film DEATHGASM II: Goremageddon (2025). Like its predecessors, Apechtheia was met with glowing praise from the underground metal media and quickly sold out.
The Crushing Weight of ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ
With ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ , CHESTCRUSH dives deeper into the abyss of nihilism, misanthropy, and anti-religious vitriol. The album is a punishing, visceral experience, described by the band as a “boiling, corrosive magma of evil and negativity” confronting the curse of hope and the rejection of life itself. It challenges listeners to face the darkest truths of existence through a searing narrative of trauma, hatred, and societal decay.
Musically, the album is a masterclass in extreme metal fusion. It melds the bleak, desolate soundscapes of Black Metal with the merciless, technical brutality of Death Metal, enhanced by atmospheric post-metal layers that add depth to the oppressive, nightmarish sound. The unhinged yet communicative vocals act as a guide through a labyrinth of degradation, making each track a cathartic plunge into chaos.
Track Highlights
The album’s eight tracks offer no respite, from the haunting opener “Underneath This Rotten Soil Bodies Are Still Bleeding” to the incendiary “Hang Them! Torch Them!” and the crushing finale “As The Damned Writhe In Eternal Woe.” Each song is steeped in bleak lyrical themes that explore existential punishment, lies, rejection, and eternal torment, culminating in a total runtime of 40:36 minutes of sheer brutality.
The Creators Behind the Chaos
Evangelos Vasilakos (Guitars, Bass, Lyrics) — Also known for his work in Caustic Phlegm
Topias Jokipii (Vocals) — Also part of Saasta
Robin Stone (Drums) — Also a member of Convulsing
The album was expertly mixed and mastered by Ben Jones , while the striking cover artwork was created by Vladimir Chebakov , with vinyl inlay art by Adam Medford . Written and recorded between April and August 2024, ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ is self-released and available now in all physical formats through CHESTCRUSH’s Bandcamp, as well as all major streaming platforms.
Critical Acclaim and Influence
CHESTCRUSH’s previous works have been praised for their uncompromising intensity and innovative brutality:
“Brain-splattering, building-shaking, heavy-distorted ear candy… for the most extreme of metal-heads!” — Metal-Digest.com (9/10)
“A misanthropic noise terror of the highest order.” — ScreamBlastRepeat.com (8/10)
“One of the finest—if not darkest—black metal albums of the year.” — metal-temple.com (8/10)
“No doubt one of the more interesting blackened death metal outfits in the current era.” — sleepingvillagereviews.com
Connect and Experience
Prepare for an unholy journey into the depths of the human psyche and the harsh realities of modern existence. CHESTCRUSH’s ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ is not merely an album; it is a ritualistic confrontation with suffering, chaos, and the dark shadows we all carry.
Listen, suffer, and embrace the darkness:
CHESTCRUSH’s ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ is available now — a brutal, unrelenting extraction of the soul itself. Are you ready to face the torment?
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