(written by Islander)
Diabolus Incarnate is a long-running extreme metal project with roots in South Africa, now based in the UK. They were first formed in 2010, and Metal-Archives identifies a 2015 demo and a 2016 single as their output until now. Obviously, they haven’t rushed things, but now, 10 years since they arrived in the UK and with a current incarnation that brings together musicians best known for their work in other extreme metal bands, Diabolus Incarnate are ready to take a big step forward.
The band’s founder Dieter Engel is now accompanied by members of such bands as Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ingested, and Worm Shepherd, and we’re told that they have two EPs under way, with one at the mixing stage and another in pre-production. What we have for you today is the premiere of a fully finished single, “Human, All Too Human“, along with statements about the song by all four bandmembers.
Lyrically, this new song presents the narrative of a man hollowed out by pain and regret, fallen from grace and no longer what he was, merely human — “Not the hero you thought / Not the pillar anchored in stone,” only “A fractured soul / still choosing to live.”
Musically, the song is an alloy of powerful elements that are themselves joined together with a narrative quality, represented by the band as a track “that sits in the space between symphonic black metal and modern extreme metal.”
In its overture it introduces brightly dancing (but diabolical) keys and heavy, menacing undercurrents, and then its intensity magnifies through immense crashing jolts and vicious growls. Shining stratospheric orchestration, vast in scale but not overpowering, preserves the atmosphere of mystery…
…and then the band magnify the song’s intensity and tension even further, unleashing a torrent of blast-beats, thunderous bass-lines, moaning riffage, fire-storm symphonics that channel a distraught mood, and screaming vocals.
The music batters and slugs, sears and soars, pierced by vocals of explosive and tortured passion and accented by a spectacular guitar solo. The music also towers and sweeps, its apocalyptic immensity contrasted by the reappearance of those brightly dancing keys, and ultimately by closing gasps of haunting sadness.
LINE-UP:
Drums — Eugene Ryabchenko (Fleshgod Apocalypse)
Guitars — Fabio Bartoletti (Fleshgod Apocalypse)
Bass — Thomas O’Malley (Ingested / Worm Shepherd)
Guitar/vocals/orchestration — Dieter Engel (Diabolus Incarnate)
The music was mixed by Ricardo Borges and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios.
And now, as promised, we want to share statements about the song from all four of the band’s members (after the statements you’ll find links for ways to follow the band’s future activities and announcements):
Fabio Bartoletti:
This was the first song I recorded a solo for, and it immediately called for an emotional approach rather than static arpeggios. The writing is controlled and purposeful, pushing boundaries in a very unique way.
Eugene Ryabchenko:
“Human, All Too Human” personally sounded to me like a strong blend of ominous, ceremonial atmosphere and symphonic black metal intensity. The composition is relatively short, built around catchy melodies and riffs, and feels very well balanced, with rhythmic changes that leave room for slow, menacing, dark, and atmospheric parts, as well as relentless, brutal blasting without compromise. The vocal style and approach make the song feel like a self-contained story, making it easy and satisfying to listen to from start to finish.
Thomas O’Malley:
From a bass perspective, the goal was to support the orchestral and atmospheric weight of the EP without ever overcrowding it. The tone allowed the low end to stay articulate and controlled, giving the music a solid foundation while still leaving space for the symphonic elements to breathe. Rather than just reinforcing the guitars, the bass helps shape the mood, moving between subtle cinematic support and more aggressive driving moments when the compositions demand it. It’s an organic blend of heaviness and atmosphere that really ties the creative elements together.
Dieter Engel:
“Human, All Too Human” came out far better than I ever expected. I sat on the demo for years—no vocals, programmed drums, and a constant doubt that my own mixing and production could take it where it needed to go. Once the real performances started coming in and the vocals were finally down, the song became real. But it wasn’t until the final mix and master that it fully clicked: this was always a strong song—it just needed elite musicians and the right people around it to realise its full potential.
FOLLOW:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DiabolusIncarnate