Thus Spoke Zarathustra – I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others’ Harm | Album Review

In recent years deathcore has seen somewhat of a resurgence, much in part to Lorna Shore exploding back into the scene with 2021’s To The Hellfire.

Fast forward four years and we’re seeing more bands either copying this format or going back to the roots of the genre. Thus Spoke Zarathustra are in the latter option. Taking their inspiration from the MySpace era of deathcore while enveloping the more modern sound, the band provide a bridge between the then and now, something they showcase brilliantly here.

Thus we have sophomore effort I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others’ Harm. We told you it’s going back to the MySpace era. Full sentences as album titles and songs are aplenty here. But when you get into the meat of the album, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and hit with a barrage of pain. Opener ‘GGO’s’ spiralling wall of harsh noise backed with a triple guitar assault as vocalist and primary songwriter Andy Reynold’s violent vocals provide a welcoming introduction to the following 29 minutes of pure anarchy.

Catering for old deathcore heads with their default chugs and blast beats while earning a newer fan base with the cliches of newer deathcore orchestral sounds bounces off each other perfectly. Most newer albums in the genre are mostly chugs, breakdowns and who can do the best feral witch impersonation. Thus Spoke Zarathustra turn their nose up at such qualities and focus instead on the songwriting. The triple guitars hold a labyrinth of chugs, melodies and some riffs that, frankly, elevate the songs higher. ‘The Final Blow Will Bring Blood’ being the main culprit of this as the riff here is razor sharp and gives your neck a rough time.

But behind the wall of catastrophic ambiance is a concept album. Inspired by the German writer Friedrich Nietzsche, the band have crafted a tale for the character you see on the album cover named Henry Ford. A sadistic antagonist, who through the journey across the album, slips further into Satanism, existential crisis and psychological decline. ‘I Never Believed In Magic Til’ My Dog Turned Into A Snake’ really pushes the story narrative. Lyrically it’s painful to hear as it encompasses the further decline of Ford. Ending with the line that explains the characters state of being ‘You Are Fucked.’

From front to back the album is a masterclass in how to give reverence to the past of deathcore while evolving the current scene. If you’re a fan of gritty nail-biting riffs backed with a bewildering concept to boot, then Thus Spoke Zarathustra have produced an offering that will one day be viewed as a corner stone of the genre.