Emptiness - Nowhere Speaks (2026)

Creating a truly immersive and sickening listening experience, “Nowhere Speaks” delivers waves of minimalist textures layered in dissonant ways unlike anything you have heard before. Emptiness continues to surprise the listener with their highly evocative fractured approach to experimental Metal, while incorporating tons of decadent elements to perfection. For over 40-minutes, the listener will be challenged by this expansive and disturbing release.

This album is more of a continuation of 2014’s “Nothing but the Whole”, as the release has that cavernous and more Avant-garde Black/Death Metal nature. Bringing back that darker and more punishing side of the band, tracks like “The Threat”, "Nowhere Speaks”, and the vicious “Darkness Commands”, layer crafty distorted guitars with minimalist rhythms and some enigmatic vocals. The band’s Black/Death Metal elements shine more than in their recent release, and create creepy tracks like the playful and funky “Words to Wind”.

Other pieces deliver some Doomier riffs like “When the Whole Arrives", which creates a very asphyxiating atmosphere that will make your skin crawl as the track slowly progresses and the vocals and percussions come around. However, there is also certain catchiness and standard elements like on “The Class of Forces”, which sounds ‘more normal’ (for Death Metal), but yet keeps the same vibe as the whole release. The band is not afraid to experiment and excels at creating bleakness with their simpler songs like “Next in Line”.

As a whole, “Nowhere Speaks” is one of those weird releases that you can’t seem to be able to put down. The band is dialed in on creating one of the densest and most crushing albums of 2026, with their amalgamation of styles and relentless brutality. Releases do not have to be loud and fast to create these emotions, and Emptiness has just showcased a masterclass on this. Do not miss out on getting a copy of this piercing and enigmatic release.

Rating: 94/100