EP Review: God Complex – He Watches In Silence (via Sharptone Records)

Hardcore’s ‘up north’ powerhouse God Complex are back with their seismically huge extended play ‘He Watches In Silence.’ Returning from their 2021 dissolution, they’re back and sounding as scary as ever.

Salt & Ash, a single I have already familiarised myself with, is just a taste of some of the filth you’ll hear on this release. Starting off with some hauntingly wonderful instrumentals, God Complex waste no time in assaulting your senses. I genuinely struggle for words to describe the state of frantic onslaught of noise this track holds.

Up next is Depraved Idol, a track deep rooted in their ability to subvert expectations. It’s heavy, frantic, laced with blast beats that shatter the teeth and is here to rock your shit. At any point God Complex prove they could go in any direction they feel well, and they make sure it doesn’t lack the groove in doing so. This is an evil ass track made for pits that I hope to be spinning in.

On the new EP the band have some words to say –

“We’re incredibly proud of this EP and we’re thrilled for people to finally hear it. As a comeback effort, we felt it was important to do things differently, so we deliberately avoided lengthy pre-production and allowed small variations in the recordings to embrace the mess and chaos that sit at the heart of our sound. We wanted to create something more refined and savage than anything we’ve previously attempted.”

I can back up this statement by saying; Ba’al’s Trick is probably my favourite hardcore track I’ve heard in the last year, it manages to take everything you think you know about God Complex and throw that out in the preference of unmatched fear. This track fuses dark melodies and horrible breakdowns to create a 3 minute track of brutalising hardcore that leaves you hungry for more. 

The final two tracks on this EP make up the rest of it’s short 12 minute runtime and honestly it’s over too soon. There’s only so many ways I can write ‘this is beautiful horrible music go listen to it.’ So take my word on it and take 12 minutes out of your day today and give God Complex your undivided attention. It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of this band, but this EP is a clear step up from an already wham discography. God Complex are a band to keep your eye on, if you aren’t already.

I’ll be seeing them on the 11th March in London, if you’re free, come with and say hello.

Their new EP ‘He Watches In Silence’ is available today via Sharptone Records.

God Complex – He Watches In Silence (via Sharptone Records)

1. Salt and Ash

2. Depraved Idol

3. Ba’al’s Trick

4. The Judge

5. Flooded Lungs