Out of the icy depths of Ottawa's underground comes HARVESTED, a Canadian death metal act that has quietly and now violently clawed its way into the genre's upper echelons. After their self-titled EP in 2022, which hinted at their potential through sheer ferocity and technical precision, the band has returned with Dysthymia and this is a contender for best Death Metal Album of 2025, just my opinion but I am sticking to it. HARVESTED sound takes its cues from the old gods of the genre CANNIBAL CORPSE, SUFFOCATION, DYING FETUS, MORBID ANGEL & DEICIDE but filters that chaos through modern production and an almost surgical approach to composition.

The lineup behind this sonic autopsy is Adam Semler on vocals, Mitchi Dimitriadis and Vitto Oh on guitars, Eric Forget on bass, and Jacob Collins on drums. Together, they've delivered a record that captures the essence of Canadian death metal cold, clinical, and unforgiving while still retaining a modern sense of groove and dynamic control. In a genre overflowing with technical overkill and sonic fatigue, HARVESTED bring back what's been missing: restraint. Every riff has intent. Every transition feels earned. This is death metal that punches, bleeds, and still makes you think about what's happening beneath the noise. Their new record is not just a barrage of riffs; it's a psychological dissection of the human mind. This isn't just another exercise in brutality Dysthymia is an exploration of psychological rot, internal suffocation, and the slow grind of depressive decay made audible through riffs, blast beats, and guttural roars.

HARVESTED waste no time in this lesson of brutality with the self-titled track Harvested 3:28 and you can hear in the first few seconds that they are not here to play, and the band SUFFOCATION comes to mind with this one. Mid pace groove followed by a punch to the face. Outstanding. Repressed Neurosis 3:32 I no doubt this is going to be a pit favourite and a few broken bones coming out of this track. Groove and madness collide. The riffs are catchy before exploding into tight, controlled carnage. The drumming is off its head. Unending Madness 3:22 this is as tight as a fish's A**hole, and the band showcase their musicianship skills on this one. The Slam Metal Influence is present here too. Synaptic Confusion 3:30 another track that would leave broken bones in the pit. Double kick drumming for days, very catchy and a lot of tempo shifts. Designed Dilemma 3:18 this reminds me of a great band that we have here in Australia and that would be Melbourne's WHORETOPSY. this song showcases their ability to fuse groove with technical flair. Every riff hit like a calculated strike, and the solos cut through like precision scalpels.

Gathered and Deluded 3:00 for me this must be the pick of the album. Brutality and Intensity, precision playing and break-neck riffing, It's the kind of track that turns pits into warzones. Voices of the Void 3:17 Another brilliantly constructed song, love the mid- paced blast beat with the double kicks going off and the tempo changes are off its head. Unanchored 3:51 The Deicide Influence is strong in this one, A mid-tempo crusher that drags you down into a slower, heavier, and suffocating vibes. The Infestation 4:36 The closer is an absolute banger and fits perfectly to close this near flawless album. The Infestation ties all previous chaos together, fusing aggression, melody, and finality. The outro feels like the descent into the abyss.

Verdict: Being a old school metalhead it is quite refreshing to know there are bands like HARVESTED keeping the old school metal torch alive and well. HARVESTED have crafted a record that balances technical proficiency with emotional weight, never straying into sterile territory. Each track has purpose, structure, and venom. This is death metal that bleeds, breathes, and still bites. Absolute Masterpiece