Assumption - Paradox Of The Arrow (2026)

Hailing from Italy, today we have Death/Doom outfit Assumption with their chunky third full-length release titled “Paradox of the Arrow”. With a bigger emphasis on the Death Metal side of things, this release unleashes six tracks and over 41 minutes of crushing distorted guitars and deep growls. The band’s sound is punishing, as it feels more gargantuan than Doomy, but still keeps the tempo slow at times to create imposing compositions.

Opening with the album title track, the release sets a very bleak and powerful vibe thanks to the crushing guitar riffs and its tempo changes. The growls are as deep as you can imagine, giving some old-school Funeral Doom vibes, as “A Labyrinth In Ruin” rips through the listener’s speakers. We particularly like how the band keeps things old-school, with some atmospheric edges, creating a very immersive experience on higher octane pieces like “Tombs Upon the Sun”.

The playful opening of “Southwards Our Spirits Shall Forever Drift”, leads to more ripping guitar riffs alongside a crunch bass guitar line that is nicely highlighted by the crystal clear production. This bleak track is one of our favorites thanks to its crafty guitar leads and gradual tempo adjustments. After a commanding ending, the back changes the pace with the weirdness of “Selenite” and its clean opening vocals alongside heavier and faster paced sections with some Black Metal-ish influences.

Closing with the chilling “Vrykolakes”, the band nicely progressed from more traditional Death/Doom territories to heavier and more complex compositions adding additional influences. As a whole, “Paradox of the Arrow” is one of those slowburning releases that the more times you hear it, the more you discover and enjoy it. Catering both to genre purists and more adventurous listeners, Assumption has something for everybody with the crafty music presented in this release.

Rating: 91/100