The Dutch band NEPHYLIM got noticed by me when playing live at a concert hall just one town over from where I live. Thay really set the stage alight (thank you WEAPON) when they did their thing, which prompted me into asking for the possibility of reviewing their latest offering on the Melodic Death Metal world, which is called “Circuition”. It was released on March 7, 2025, and is the follow up to their debut album “Severance of Serenity” from 2020. Let me be frank, the five-year wait is long, but understandable when taking into account the effect that the COVID virus has had in the intervening years. The band themselves are from a town some 20 kilometres from my house called ‘s-Hertogenbosch, which in the south of the Netherlands, and whilst they do play Melodic Death Metal, they also fit in with the Viking Metal world.

Musically NEPHYLIM have grown quite a lot in the five years that we have been forced to wait for “Circuition” to emerge. The sound has become a lot more mature, a lot better thought out. The songs themselves have grown to in comparison to the debut album, they are arranged more logical, have the breaks, mood and speed changes and overall feel that sounds much more like you would expect from a very experienced band. What I like personally is the fact that there are times that take me back to the “Whoracle” and “Colony” times of IN FLAMES. There are a lot of moments that I feel that oi have been taken on a time travel back to those days, and as that is my favourite time of IN FLAMES, I am quite happy for NEPHYLIM to take me there and show me their take on those days.

NEPHYLIM has not stood still in the eras mentioned. On the contrary, they have evolved with ta very contemporary sound, very much established songs and quite frankly a flawless production. Every song is a masterpiece in its own right, and during the fast moving 38 minutes that “Circuition” is emitting its impressive sounds I am very much in a dream state. It didn’t look like I would be when I started listening, but with every time the record has been coming through my speakers, I have had to admit that it is even better than the last time I listened. Where will this end? Who knows, but I am very keen to find out. As for the record companies that have been sleeping up and until now, please wake up. This needs to be on a proper label, sop it can be promoted and enjoyed worldwide.