Style: Melodic death metal, technical death metal, progressive death metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Mors Principium Est, Allegaeon, Archspire, Obscura, Beyond Creation
Country: Canada
Release date: 10 July 2026

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Ah yes, the death metal space opera. What about technical and progressive death metal has resulted in an identity rooted in the themes of deep space exploration? The complexity and adventurous nature of modern progressive-leaning death metal simply doesn’t fit with the gore and serial killer-horror themes of traditional old school death metal acts. Themes of alien intelligence, galactic civilizations, and the questioning of humanity’s place in the universe intertwine naturally with the technicality and song structures that continuously expand the boundaries of conventional death metal. Also, let’s face it, we’re all just nerds who share a love for science-fiction and wild death metal riffs (the sooner you come to accept this, the better). 

Canada’s Volubilis weave a technical version of melodic death metal, akin to Mors Principium Est, with blistering riffs and intermittent subtle orchestral strings which add a grandiose touch. Passages of layered gentle, though no-less virtuosic, acoustic guitars are sprinkled throughout their debut album, Theasterion, amounting to a rich sonic texture. Theasterion chronicles the final days of the future human race, who have moved on from the uninhabitable Earth and colonized a satellite orbiting the planet Theasterion. After a prophecy foretelling the supernova of Unukhalia, the nearest star, the human colony seeks refuge in the hostile planet below, though ultimately unable to avoid their inevitable demise from the bands of plasma spewed forth from the dying sun. At just over thirty-minutes, Theasterion is jam-packed, both with the narrative and a bonanza of fiery melodic and technical death metal riffs. Volubilis were wise to craft such a tight package, as they avoid listener fatigue from an excess of frenetic riffage.

Guitarist Miguel Marcheterre-Pina strings together face-melting lick after lick throughout Theasterion performed with otherworldly speed. Individual notes seem to gasp for air in between the flurry of palm-muted aggression in “Le Flamboiement Stellaire” and “Ashes & Embers” amongst drummer Jacob Collins’ rapid double-bass-led gallop. A key to Volubilis’ appeal in Theasterion is their ability to consistently inject grooves throughout their displays of technicality. Skillfully, Volubilis ramp up the groove in “Homo Cumulus” and “The Prism” without sacrificing tempo. In the spare moments when the band slows it down, like the early section of “Le Flamboiement Stellaire”, Volubilis satisfyingly fry the listener with a steady stream of unrelenting interstellar radiation. Wisely, Shawn Hilman’s fretless bass is featured prominently in the mix and provided plenty of moments to shine alongside the guitars and in isolation throughout Theasterion. André Dubien’s harsh vocals carry a consistent hearty, deep-tone throughout the album, though avoids monotony by incorporating a higher-pitched shriek, often layered on top of his burly growl. The inclusion of the instrumental track, “The Prism” further limits any onset of weariness from Dubien’s vocals without sacrificing overall fervor.

There are countless universes out there full of bland and unimaginative technical and melodic death metal bands out there, so how does Volubilis distinguish themselves as a planet, or in this case satellite, worthy of our attention? Volubilis’ willingness to incorporate additional sonic elements into Theasterion allow them to stand out from the pack. The Spanish-guitar acoustic section and piano solo at the conclusions of “Homo Cumulus” and “Ashes & Embers”, respectively, and orchestral/piano additions to “Theasterion” and “Unkhalai Supernova” provide a complexity to Theasterion and demonstrate that Volubilis are more than a simple riff factory. These dynamic contrasts of the various instrumental additions to a traditional technical, melodic death metal backing provide a suitable soundtrack to Theasterion’s imaginative narrative.

Moments of questionable mixing detract a bit from Theasterion’s overall impact. The early guitar solo of “Le Flamboiement Stellaire” and violin addition at the conclusion of “Unkhalai Supernovo” are largely hidden underneath the surrounding instruments, at times becoming almost imperceptible. Though Volubilis do create a diverse sonic experience, the guitar phrases at the mid-point of the album, namely the opening section of “Ashes & Embers”, begin to blend together in a riff-salad. Fortunately, Volubilis’ overall skill and creativity prevent tedium from taking hold by brandishing a string of tasteful solos at varying tempos as the track progresses. 

In Theasterion, Volubilis have crafted an album that will broadly appeal to melodic and technical death metal enthusiasts. Without additional materials, the nuances of the album’s narrative will likely be lost on most listeners (due to the delivery with largely undecipherable harsh vocals), though the explorative nature of the instrumentation is undeniable. Theasterion is the perfect soundtrack to ponder our role in this chaotic universe of ours, and come to terms with your inner-nerd as an enthusiast of death metal and sci-fi alike.

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Recommended tracks: Le Flamboiement Stellaire, Theasterion, Unkhalai Supernova
You may also like: Stortregn, Xoth, Alustrium, First Fragment
Final verdict: 7.5/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram

Label: Independent Release

Volubilis is:
– Miguel Marcheterre-Pina (guitar)
– Shawn Hillman (bass, contrabass)
– André Dubien (vocals)
– Jacob Collins (drums)

With guests:
– Alexis Rioux (guest solos on the first three tracks).
– Michelle Gao (violin, viola on Unkhalai Supernova)