EP Review: Then We Died "Broken Skull Opera" (Independent) by Daniel Ryan

Band: Then We Died

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

Country: USA

Genre: Death metal, black metal

EP: Broken Skull Opera

Format: Digital

Label: Independent

Release date: March 30, 2025

Now this one is a weird one to review but has some value to it in this EP format. It’s 5 songs of pure insanity by Then We Died. The 1st one is a heavy instrumental with Obituary like guitar riffs in the beginning and brings much promise. Then in Broken Skull Opera you get the vocals of the songs. Which are a tad too cartoony for my taste but may attract other fans of this style. I was absolutely repulsed and felt nauseous after hearing them personally. I imagine it is because it’s goregrind but the music overall was pretty sick and well done.

The following tracks were just as enjoyable, and made me go WTF at the same time. The song Face Down In Mud Covered In Blood was more straightforward and had its own theme I liked about it. My favorite track would have to be Where Eagles Dare. It reminded me of southern punk rock and the vocals were much clearer this time around. It sounded like a song that Cancerslug would do. Nonetheless you can find this playlist on YouTube if you'd like to check them out! –Daniel Ryan

Lineup:

Stevo: Vocals

Jerry Barksdale: Guitars

Mike May: Bass

Jim Higgins: Drums

Chris Leffler: Guest guitars

Track list:

1. Scenes From A Macabre Landfill

2. Broken Skull Opera

3. Flesh Farm

4. Face Down In The Mud Covered In Blood

5. Where Eagles Dare [Misfits cover]