Style: Dissonant Death Metal, Experimental Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Ulcerate, Gorguts, Thou
Country: Germany and United States
Release date: 30 January 2026

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Sometimes you just need to have your head kicked in, you know? For those times that call for auditory punishment, Nightmarer are here for you with their new EP, Hell Interface. Nightmarer, who previously demonstrated their proficiency at creating a suffocating dissonant atmosphere in Deformity Adrift (and the reworked Deformity Adrift: Reformed), have turned up the intensity even further in this four-song, twenty-minute release.

Nightmarer have no interest subtly luring you in with nuance that requires multiple listens to grasp. The band brings a violent and immediate brand of dissonant and technical death metal. Hell Interface opens effectively in “Extinction Burst” with a crescendoing tick that builds the anticipation for the pummelling onslaught of the downtuned, blast-beat fury that is to come. “Extinction Burst” is the strongest track on Hell Interface, demonstrating what Nightmarer do best, interweaving fast-paced frenetic energy with the backbreaking weight of their slower sections. A sense of urgency is palpable in Hell Interface, led by drummer Paul Seidel whose aggressive cymbal crashes and fills are vital, adding the bite to the vocal bark and dissonant swagger of the strings. The slowed-down, crawling pace in the mid-section of “Extinction Burst” has the auditory effect of being crushed by a hypergravity environment—absolutely suffocating in the best way. In these slow sections, Nightmarer are at their most ferocious, enveloping the listener with rumbling dissonant guitar tones punctuated by Seidel’s battering.

If you are like me, a man that worships at the altar of the riff, Simon Hawemann’s guitar playing makes Hell Interface an exciting listen. Hawemann’s guitar lines creep along, never stagnant, utilizing interplaying melodies that sound like two slimy organisms consuming all they come into contact with. The descending guitars of aptly named “Shame Spiral” march downward into the dungeon where Nightmarer thrive, one ruled unmercifully by co-vocalists John Collett and new member, Christian Kolf. Collett and Kolf employ a range of vocal styles from brutal growls to the more serene chanting sections of “Crawl of Time,” which bring the mighty Slugdge to mind. This powerful duo are able to shift their tone to match the backing musical atmosphere; whereas in Deformity Adrift the vocals were almost exclusively a deep, guttural tone. The higher pitched screams and occasional clean vocal lines add a layer of depth that was previously absent.

Despite the strong performances from each member, Hell Interface loses a bit of its momentum around the halfway mark. “Crawl of Time” employs a slow, plodding pace that doesn’t match the intensity of the previous tracks. In a full length release, this song may have provided a needed breather and temporary break from the intensity of the surrounding tracks. Within a four song EP, however, Nightmarer would have been better served keeping up the violent intensity throughout the entire listen. Thankfully, the band yanks the listener back in the blistering closer of “Hell Interface.” Here, Nightmarer channel their inner sludge reminiscent of Thou’s ferocity by combining a slower marching musical pace courtesy of Hawemann and Seidel with higher pitched vocal shrieks. Hell Interface concludes with synchronizing feedback that brings me back to the eerie ending of Slayer’s classic “South of Heaven.” In doing so, rather than ending the EP abruptly, Hell Interface seems to slowly back into the dungeon from which it came, an appropriate finish to the frenetic violence the band just unleashed.

In Hell Interface, Nightmarer succeed in pushing the boundaries of their self-described “pitch-black atmosphere.” The addition of Kolf results in a wider range of vocal performances, allowing the music to flourish and explore a variety of styles from dissonant death metal to sludge. The slight misstep of “Crawl of Time” aside, the result is an EP with a ferocity and immediacy that demands revisiting. As a glutton for punishment I look forward to having my head kicked in time and time again with this and future releases from Nightmarer.

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Recommended tracks: Extinction Burst, Hell Interface
You may also like: Wake, Hath, Pyrrhon, Replicant, Aseitas, Portal, Nithing
Final verdict: 7/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Total Dissonance Worship

Nightmarer is:
– John Collett (Vocals)
– Christian Kolf (Vocals)
– Paul Seidel (Drums)
– Simon Hawemann (Guitars)