Band: Ethereal Wound
Album: Defile / Demise
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Country: Portugal
Label: Independent
Released: August 29, 2025
Introduction
Ethereal Wound is a Blackened Death Metal band from Portugal. Consisting of Sergio Ramos (Lyrics/Vocals) and Nuno Verdades (Guitars/Recording/Mixing/Mastering). The duo was rounded out by Robin Stone (Session Drums) for the album.
Defile/Demise
Before even listening to the album my interest was peaked. I immediately recognized the “Brand of Sacrifice” symbol embedded in the band’s logo and knew that this had to be a Berserk themed band. Upon digging a little deeper I was not disappointed. The album is indeed a tribute to one of the greatest dark fantasy stories ever told, Kentaro Miura‘s (1966-2021) Berserk.
Tracklist:
- Lust
- Cursed
- Vile
- Defiled
- Broken
- Lost
Now the important part. Does the music live up to the story it encapsulates in its themes and imagery?
The short answer. Fuck yes.
The opening track Lust, sets the overall tone for what’s to come for the remainder of the album’s 6 tracks. An immaculate hellscape of modern blackened death metal.
It’s relentless and crushing. Even ambient at times. A madness fueled by waves of dissonant guitar riffs, blast beats and jarring guttural vocals. The production is top notch. It’s articulate and clean, a staple that has become common in modern metal. But it’s not overly polished. It still feels human.
The lyrics are extraordinarily well crafted around the lore. They serve as snapshots, placing the listener into some of the most horrific and gruesome moments throughout Berserk.
My favorite track is Broken. This is definitely the album’s magnum opus. That being said though the album as a whole is incredible and absolutely worth the listen.
There is a quote from the Manga that describes the Dragonslayer sword, and I feel that it’s an apt description of Ethereal Wound and this album….”It was too big to be called a sword. Massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. Indeed, it was like a heap of raw iron”.
Conclusion
An extremely promising debut that boasts excellent musicianship, songwriting and production. Not to mention it’s an excellent tribute to Kentaro Miura‘s Berserk. Im looking forward to hearing future offerings from this band and hope they continue on with the Berserk theme. Fans of Ulcerate, Ahklys and Death Spell Omega will find themselves at home here.
BMZ Rating: 8,5 out of 10
Support Ethereal Wound here: https://etherealwound.bandcamp.com/album/defile-demise
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