Death metal from the gritty streets of New York City is notorious for its raw, unforgiving nature, but Glorious Depravity takes it to a whole new level of grotesque brilliance. With ties to bands like Pyrrhon and Woe, their sound is a twisted amalgamation of Floridian death metal worship and grindcore chaos. Their 2020 debut, Ageless Violence, paid homage to the gods of the genre, but Death Never Sleeps doubles down on the filth, delivering a sludge-filled assault that’s as unapologetic as it is unrelenting. This isn’t music for the faint of heart—it’s for the unwashed, the unruly, and the unhinged. And let’s be honest, the only thing remotely refined here is Dan Seagrave’s killer cover art, but who needs polish when you’re here to wreak havoc? But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this album a masterpiece of chaos or a missed opportunity for a band with such a formidable pedigree?*
The album kicks off with the ferocious ‘Slaughter the Gerontocrats,’ a track that rips through your eardrums with feverish riffs and Doug Moore’s vomit-inducing vocals. Moore’s performance is nothing short of batshit crazy, blending screams, shrieks, and guttural growls that sound like they were birthed in a hobo’s wine bottle. And this is the part most people miss: While some leads nod to Morbid Angel’s vintage sound, Glorious Depravity injects a grindcore ferocity that feels both unhinged and refreshingly unpredictable. However, the follow-up track, ‘Stripmined Flesh Extractor,’ stumbles with an awkward tempo that kills some of the momentum. From there, the album oscillates between face-melting death metal anthems and forgettable filler, leaving you wondering what could’ve been.
Highlights like ‘Sulfurous Winds (Howling Through Christendom)’ and ‘Necrobiotic Enslavement’ showcase the band’s ability to craft brutal, riff-driven chaos, with Moore’s repeated roars of ‘SCIENCE’ adding a bizarrely entertaining old-school vibe. Yet, tracks like ‘Freshkills Poltergeist’ and ‘Carnage at the Margins’ fall flat, relying on generic scream-fests that grate more than they thrill. But here’s the real question: Is this album a solid offering for die-hard fans or a disappointing misstep for a band capable of so much more?
The musicianship is undeniably tight. George Paul and Matt Mewton resurrect riffs from the depths of death metal’s slime-covered history, while Chris Grigg’s drumming is a technical yet brutal force. Yet, the songwriting often lacks the staying power needed to elevate this album from good to great. Clocking in at a tight 34 minutes, the album’s brevity works in its favor, but the weaker moments still drag down the overall experience.
Glorious Depravity clearly revels in their side project freedom, throwing caution to the wind and embracing the chaos. While Death Never Sleeps isn’t essential listening, it’s a solid dose of ratmeat and scumtaters for the genre’s most diseased fans. But here’s the final thought: Does this album live up to the band’s potential, or is it just another entry in the crowded death metal landscape? Let us know in the comments—we’re ready for the debate.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Websites: facebook.com/gloriousdepravity | instagram.com/gloriousdepravity
Releases Worldwide: November 7th, 2025
