Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Los Angeles progressive death metal crew The Zenith Passage return with a new single titled “Fleshbound Reliquary”, delivering another blast of hyper detailed technical death metal. It arrives as their first fresh material since the 2023 full length “Datalysium”, a record that pushed their blend of clinical precision and sci fi atmosphere into sharper focus.
The new song fires off with a wall of tight, syncopated riffs that jump between dense chugs and icy melodic runs. The drums hit with mechanical accuracy while Derek Rydquist cuts through the chaos with a sharp mid range snarl. The lyrics dive into body horror and post human transformation, painting a vivid picture of flesh, machinery and twisted evolution.
The current lineup connects the band to two giants of progressive extreme metal. Guitarist Justin McKinney, vocalist Derek Rydquist and bassist Brandon Giffin all spent time in The Faceless, while Giffin also performed live for Cynic. This crossover explains why The Zenith Passage carry both the clinical edge of tech death and the atmospheric touch of progressive metal. Alongside guitarist Christopher Beattie and drummer Max Sepulveda, the group continue to evolve without losing their signature sound.
Fans may have caught glimpses of the track during recent US shows where the band played the song live before its official release. Now that the studio version is out, it sets the tone for whatever comes next. The Zenith Passage sound sharper than ever and the next chapter looks intense.
