BLACK RABBIT is a concept-driven death metal band from Apeldoorn (The Netherlands), seamlessly blending raw power and aggression with deep thematic storytelling and an immersive visual experience. The band consists of five musicians with diverse influences, forging a dynamic, relentless yet refined sound. With energetic live shows featuring theatrical visuals and an intense lighting, BLACK RABBIT pulls their audience into a narrative world of darkness and mystery. That is the information that I got with this self-released EP. “Chronolysis” offers us 24 minutes of Thrash/Death Metal. This is not their first release, as they started with an EP in 2020 (“Warren Of Necrosis”), followed by their debut album “Hypnosomnia” in 2023. I regret to have to admit that I haven’t heard those releases up and until now, so “Chronolysis” is taking my BLACK RABBIT virginity.

And it is taken by force, as opener “Malevolent Glare” makes no mistake in showing us as listeners where BLACK RABBIT is coming from. Superfast Thrash metal with a Death Metal undertone, making it an introduction that can and will not be denied. The same goes for the following song, “Paracusia”, although the roles are reversed there. This is a Death Metal tune that is immersing itself in Thrash Metal surroundings. Bloody impressive. I especially like the ending, just after the break, it gives it all just that extra dimension. “Pity the Mind of the Frail and the Feeble” is a very dark 4:34 minutes long exercise in breaking down your walls of happiness. But I can tell you, that isn’t working, because what I have heard so far is making me very happy indeed. I just wish they could have avoided the fade out on this song.

BLACK RABBIT is not as clean or organised as the Bay Area or Teutonic Thrash bands, but also not as disorganised as bands like early VENOM or MIDNIGHT. They hover somewhere in between, and by mixing Death and Thrash Metal in the way they do, it makes it all sound bloody impressive. “To Be Alive, To Walk This Earth, That Is My Curse” is quite the statement. This one starts with a Melodic Death Metal vibe that you would expect to come from Scandinavia, and when the very gentile female vocals start, I am bracing myself. Unnecessarily so, as after a few seconds the usual aggressiveness and explosive nature of BLACK RABBIT emerges. Just so you know, the way this one starts is also how it finishes.

The closing song “Rancid Taste of Horror” is also the longest track of them all, and by starting the music slower than on any other track, it is setting expectations high. And BLACK RABBIT doesn’t disappoint. This will be a real live favourite, one that has a tempo you can really bang your head to. All my comments put together will give you an inkling that I feel that “Chronolysis” is a great EP. Not earth shattering, but still bloody good indeed. It is my hope that the BLACK RABBIT will keep on hopping the way is does here.