ALBUM REVIEW: SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL - GRIZZLY (18/07/25)
Russian deathcore giants Slaughter to Prevail return with Grizzly, their most ambitious and polished album to date. Set for release on July 18 via Sumerian Records, the album sees the band push their sound further into the mainstream without losing the heavy edge that made them a global phenomenon.
Grizzly opens with ‘Banditos’, an explosive opener that sets the tone with punishing riffs and frontman Alex Terrible’s signature guttural vocals.
The lead single ‘Russian Grizzly in America’ follows, a feral anthem that is bold and loud, with their signature deathcore brutality. The track arrives alongside a cinematic music video featuring UFC fighter Alexander Volkov, adding to the band’s aggressive image and theatrical presentation.
The third track ‘Imdead’ (featuring Falling In Reverse’s frontman Ronnie Radke) brings a dose of nu-metal flair whilst ramping up theatrics in true Falling In Reverse fashion - packed with punishing breakdowns, pounding drums and clean vocals from Radke, it is raw and unpredictable.
‘Viking’ stands out for its marching rhythm and war-like energy. The song feels made for the live stage, with thundering drums and a commanding vocal delivery. It's heavy, but easy to follow - and very effective. ‘Koschei’ follows the same recipe, it is a relentless crushing blend of guttural vocals, thick guitars, and headbanging breakdowns.
Produced with a clear intent to evolve, the 13-track album blends brutal breakdowns with moments of melody and groove. Songs like ‘Viking’ and ‘Behelit’ showcase their technical precision, while the collaboration with BABYMETAL on ‘Song 3’ adds an unexpected genre fusion that works, introducing Eastern influences and experimental textures.
Speaking on the album, Alex Terrible called it “the best we’ve ever written,” pointing to the band’s growth both musically and thematically. While Slaughter to Prevail has always leaned into chaos and darkness, Grizzly feels more focused - built to fill arenas, not just mosh pits.
One of the strongest singles, ‘Behelit’ mixes technical guitar work with cinematic heaviness. The breakdowns hit hard, but there’s more atmosphere here too, with added violins on the track, a good example of the band balancing brutality with detail. It is both powerful and beautiful - our favourite track of the album.
The band taps into Slipknot-esque aggression, especially on ‘Conflict’. Brutal and direct, the most recent single delivers pure aggression. With more crushing breakdowns and guttural vocals, it’s a reminder of the band’s deathcore roots. There’s not much melody here - just full-force chaos.
‘Kid of Darkness’ offers a shift, leaning into melody with a chorus that’s more accessible than anything the band has done before, with cleaner vocals. It's a bold move that shows they’re not afraid to experiment.
Lyrically inspired by themes of control and oppression, ‘1984’ features chugging riffs, more deep growls by Terrible and a driving rhythm. The track references control, censorship, and oppression - echoing George Orwell’s classic novel by the same name, and filtered through a lens of rage and rebellion, a strong close to the album.
With Grizzly, Slaughter to Prevail continues to evolve without abandoning their roots. It’s heavy, theatrical, and made for the main stage - a confident step forward from one of metal’s rising acts. Grizzly proves they can unionize brutality and mainstream appeal without sacrificing their identity, delivering chaos and charm in equal measure.
