Holy War
Thy Art Is Murder · 2015
38 min · 10 tracks · deathcore
Brutal riffs and guttural vocals intertwine with atmospheric elements, creating a relentless exploration of darkness and despair.
Top tracks — play these first
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Holy War — The title track encapsulates the album's thematic core by confronting religious extremism through aggressive instrumentation and thought-provoking lyrics.
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Deliver Us to Evil — This track showcases the band's signature blend of ferocity and melody, effectively illustrating their ability to create tension while addressing deep-seated fears.
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Child of Sorrow — A poignant exploration of personal anguish set against crushing riffs, this track highlights the emotional depth that contrasts with the album's overall brutality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong writing and production, with a cohesive sound that reflects its themes of darkness.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a relentless pace, maintaining intensity through the first five songs before introducing a slower tempo in 'Emptiness'.
- Guttural vocals dominate the mix, often layered with atmospheric guitar effects that create a sense of depth and darkness throughout the tracks.
- Several tracks feature abrupt transitions between sections, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the music and keeping listeners engaged with unexpected shifts.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- relentless exploration of darkness
- cathartic intensity at full volume
- short bursts of aggression
- atmospheric elements enhance despair
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light-hearted, upbeat sounds
- seek melodic, soothing experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Holy War' was released in January 2015, Thy Art Is Murder was already gaining significant traction in the deathcore scene, following their breakthrough album 'Hate' in 2012. This third album showcased their evolving sound and solidified their place in the genre, as they began to attract a wider international audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Whitechapel· Carnifex· Fit for an Autopsy
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Absolute Genocide 4:25
- 2 Light Bearer 3:55
- 3 Holy War 4:00
- 4 Coffin Dragger 2:55
- 5 Fur and Claw 4:16
- 6 Deliver Us to Evil 3:06
- 7 Emptiness 4:03
- 8 Violent Reckoning 2:55
- 9 Child of Sorrow 3:33
- 10 Naked and Cold 5:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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