Haliphron – Anatomy of Darkness

Reviewed by: Blake Mossey

Review Score: 8.5

Symphonic death metal band HALIPHRON, formed in 2021, consists of members from notable Dutch bands like Izegrim and Bleeding Gods. Known for their powerful, bombastic sound, the band has made a name with performances at CopenHell, Bloodstock, and supporting acts like Arch Enemy. Their upcoming album Anatomy of Darkness, a follow-up to Prey, explores themes of addiction, with tracks delving into serial killing, pyromania, gambling, and self-mutilation. The album features aggressive, guitar-driven tracks with a blend of grunts, screams, and clean vocals. The cover art symbolizes the struggle with inner darkness, portraying a figure in a wheat field, where darkness morphs into birds of freedom.

This is Haliphron’s 2nd album coming out less then 2 years since their debut album Prey was released. Anatomy Of Darkness comes out October 25th on Listenable Records.

The lead track on this album kicks things off with an instrumental opener, building tension before erupting into the powerhouse track, Silent Escape. Right from the start, the thunderous riffs hit you like a brick wall. It’s the first single from the album, and there’s no holding back. Marloes’ vocals have this raw, emotional weight, perfectly capturing the agony of addiction. This song dives deep into the despair of being trapped in a cycle of painkillers, something that feels almost too real with the intensity in her delivery. You can feel the struggle, the need to escape, but there’s a suffocating helplessness in the air.

Then comes Feasting on Flesh, and the brutality goes up another level. It’s a relentless assault of crushing metal, and the lyrical content pushes things into some pretty twisted territory. The song takes on the dark obsession of cannibalism, with lines like “I love the delightful smell of the deceased, it stimulates my appetite, that you are on my plate tonight.” That’s the kind of imagery that sticks with you long after the track’s over. The music itself is just as relentless—thick, fast riffs that don’t let up, like the band is trying to rip through your speakers. It’s dark, violent, and completely unapologetic—exactly what you’d expect from a band pushing boundaries.

Buried Truth stands out immediately, mainly because it’s the only track on the album where we hear Marloes step into clean vocals. And wow, does she deliver. Her voice here is both angelic and haunting, creating a striking contrast to the otherwise relentless heaviness of the album. There’s this eerie, almost ethereal quality that adds an entirely new texture to the song. It’s like a brief, beautiful moment of calm in the eye of the storm, but there’s still that unsettling undercurrent, as if something dark is just beneath the surface. The track opens with a chilling news report, setting the stage for a deep dive into the mind of a serial killer. The way the clean vocals play off this sinister theme makes it all the more impactful, as if you’re hearing the inner thoughts of someone teetering between the ordinary and the monstrous.

Then we’re thrown headfirst into the frenzy of Double Or Nothing. If you thought things were about to mellow out, think again. This track is a heavy hitter from start to finish, with gambling as the central addiction this time. The lyrics pull no punches, capturing that reckless desperation, the all-or-nothing attitude of someone who’s lost themselves in the roll of the dice. Musically, it’s aggressive, fast-paced, and chaotic—mirroring the high stakes and constant tension that come with a gambling addiction. The guitars are frantic, the drums hit like a freight train, and Marloes returns to her guttural, intense delivery, reminding us that there’s no escape once you’re in too deep. These two tracks back-to-back showcase the band’s ability to explore different emotional landscapes while keeping the intensity at an all-time high.

Epitome Of Perfection wastes no time making its presence known, kicking off with a thick, heavy bassline that immediately pulls you in. This one stands out as one of my personal favorites on the album, and it’s easy to see why it’s already become a staple in their live set. There’s an undeniable intensity here as the song dives into the twisted mindset of an arsonist, someone addicted to the thrill of destruction. You can almost feel the heat of the flames through the riffs—there’s a sense of urgency, chaos, but also control, like the arsonist is both lost and in complete command of the fire they start. It’s a track that balances raw power with lyrical depth, hitting that perfect sweet spot of aggression and storytelling.

Then we get Art Of The Blade, a track that cuts deep both musically and thematically. It tackles the addiction of self-harm, which might be the most relatable and real of all the subjects on this album. This track doesn’t hold back, diving straight into the emotional core of what drives someone to hurt themselves just to feel something, to regain control in a world that feels uncontrollable. The guitars slice through the mix like the very blade the lyrics describe, while the drums pound with a steady, almost heartbeat-like rhythm, giving the song a grim but reflective vibe. Out of all the addictions discussed on the album, this one hits hardest because it’s something so many people struggle with but rarely talk about.

The whole album is like a concept album without calling itself one, and that’s part of what makes it so intriguing. Each track deals with a different addiction, from painkillers to cannibalism to gambling, yet it’s all woven together through the music and the lyrics in such a way that it feels cohesive, even if it’s not officially labeled as a concept album. It’s an album that explores the darkest corners of human behavior, and it does so with such creativity and intensity that it feels like you’re going on this journey through the various forms of destruction people can become addicted to. It’s brutal, it’s raw, and it’s thought provoking.

The album closes with the title track, an instrumental that perfectly encapsulates everything that came before it. It’s like the band took all the chaos, all the intensity, and distilled it into one final, crushing blow. There’s a cinematic feel to it, almost like it’s the soundtrack to the aftermath of the destruction we’ve just been through, and it ties the entire experience together. It’s a bold move to end on an instrumental, but it works—letting the music speak for itself and leaving you with this lingering feeling of everything you’ve just witnessed. It’s both a reflection and a final release.As a follow-up to their impressive debut, this album doesn’t just hold its own—it pushes things even further. The band has clearly grown, both in terms of musicianship and thematic ambition. The production is tight, making every riff hit with precision, and the overall sound is massive. From the first track to the last, they’ve crafted something that’s both brutal and thought-provoking, without ever losing that raw edge that made their debut so exciting. It’s a great sounding album, no doubt, but what really stands out is how the band has taken on darker, more complex themes and woven them into their music without missing a beat. A very solid follow-up that shows they’re not afraid to evolve while staying true to their heavy roots.

ALBUM TRACKLISTING:

Opus Addicere
Silent Escape
Feasting on Flesh
Black Star
Buried Truth
Double or Nothing
Epitome of Perfection
Art of the Blade
Anatomy of Darkness

HALIPHRON
Marloes Voskuil – Vocals
Ramon Ploeg – Guitars
Jeroen Wechgelaer – Guitars
Jessica Otten – Bass
Paul Beltman – Drums