Death metal is a genre that’s equal parts chaos and precision. It thrives on a delicate balance between raw aggression and technical control, and Rohan’s Suffering with a Smile nails that balance in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. This one-man project, helmed by Thomas Berg, doesn’t just dabble in death metal’s many eras - it dives headfirst into its evolution, creating an album that’s as punishing as it is memorable.
What stands out first is the variety. Death metal can sometimes pigeonhole itself into one corner of the genre, whether that’s old-school brutality, groove-heavy rhythms, or the technical wizardry of modern styles. Rohan sidesteps that trap. Across these eleven tracks, you get a taste of everything: gritty riffs that nod to the genre’s origins, complex arrangements with modern precision, and breakdowns that hit like a sledgehammer. There’s groove here, too - enough to make your head move without sacrificing the unrelenting heaviness that death metal demands.
If there’s a downside, it’s that the album sometimes stretches itself thin trying to cover so much ground. The genre variety is a strength, but it occasionally feels like the album jumps between ideas without letting any single one fully sink in. Some transitions feel abrupt, and a couple of moments veer close to losing the momentum that drives the album’s best stretches. Still, those dips are minor, and they’re outweighed by the sheer enthusiasm for the genre that bleeds through every track.
The production is clean but not overly polished, striking a balance that lets the heaviness hit hard without sounding clinical. You can tell Thomas has an ear for detail, but he’s careful not to lose the gritty, human element that makes death metal feel alive.
For a debut, Suffering with a Smile feels remarkably self-assured. It’s a love letter to death metal, but it’s not just rehashing old ideas.
If you’re a death metal fan, this one’s worth your time. It’s brutal, ambitious, and, most importantly, fun. It’s the flaws that make it feel real. And you get the sense that Thomas Berg knows exactly where he wants to take this project next. If this is where Rohan starts, I wouldn’t be surprised if the follow-up takes things to an even more punishing level.
https://www.instagram.com/rohan_metalband/
Thanks to Grand Sounds PR.