I'm Done with Self Care, It's Time for Others' Harm

4.33

PICKMETER

4.66

HMB

4.09

CRITICS

band:

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

release date: May 23, 2025

label: Prosthetic Records

type: Full-length

HMB´S REVIEW

As we explore the trajectory of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, it becomes clear that we are dealing with a band that refuses to follow predictable scripts. Hailing from Maryland, they operate on the fringes of extreme metal, guided by the restless and visionary mind of Andy Reynold. Their sound is a controlled paradox: brutal and refined, chaotic and meticulous—like a storm composed of deliberate detail.

From the very first seconds of I'm Done With Self Care, It's Time For Others' Harm, it’s clear that this is not a conventional album. The presence of three guitars is not a mere gimmick, but a tool to construct a rich and intricate sonic spectrum. The listening experience hits like an emotional blow, yet it's infused with nearly poetic nuances, shaping sonic violence into something more than mere aggression.

What impresses most is the band's ability to orchestrate contrasting elements in a cohesive way. Deathcore forms the foundation, but there are harmonies reminiscent of melodeath and atmospheric passages that evoke the darkest edges of black metal. Listening feels like walking through a dense and uncertain forest, where beauty and menace coexist.

Despite its heaviness, the album possesses a narrative flow. It doesn’t come across as a mere collection of tracks, but rather as a work that unfolds in sonic chapters. The complexity of the guitars and the use of melodic passages reflect a concern for building an emotional arc, rather than simply piling on brutality.

Another striking point is the conceptual nature of the work. Even without examining each lyric, it’s evident that there’s thoughtful reflection behind every measure: themes like madness, nihilism, and self-destruction resonate through the sonic texture. This elevates the album from a musical experience to something existential.

By the end, it feels as if you've passed through something transformative. I'm Done With Self Care, It's Time For Others' Harm is not an album for passive consumption, it demands full commitment. It requires attention and emotional openness from the listener but rewards with rare depth.

If the band’s goal was to push the boundaries of deathcore and deliver something with a unique identity, the result is an unequivocal statement that they have succeeded.

Review by Troadie - HMB´s Staff