HELLSHOCK “XXV” LP

25 years on, Hellshock still has a lot to say, and their sound is getting darker and heavier than ever. XXV delves deep into grim, metallic stenchcore, combining their signature crust foundation with Bolt Thrower-esque riffs, brooding melodies, and even occasional synths that heighten the apocalyptic atmosphere.

The production is powerful, dense, and heavy, but never overly polished. Everything hits hard: the guitars crush, the rhythm section is powerful, and the vocals bark with their signature visceral intensity. An oppressive, almost mournful atmosphere permeates the album, drawing the listener in—and that’s a compliment.

Hellshock, in a sense, reinvents the wheel, creating something a bit different from the usual, something I’d describe as “progressive, dark stenchcore.” XXV is a soundtrack perfectly suited to the end times: terrifying, powerful and absolutely uncompromising.