January saw the latest Confess album, Destination Addiction, arrive. It was a heavyweight release, with George Kollias (Nile) and Marzi Montazeri (ex-Phil Anselmo and Illegals amongst others) adding their weight to an album I described as ‘a ferocious and triumphant career best.’
Confess – In Pursuit Of Dreams (2025 Remaster)
Release Date: 7 November 2025
Words: Paul Hutchings
In a year when the Iranian/Norwegian outfit has also been announced for a full feature episode on their story as part of the HULU show Into The Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal, they are now filling any gaps with the reissue of In Pursuit Of Dreams, an album that celebrates its 10th anniversary.
With a fresh remaster, three previously unreleased songs, now is a great time to get reacquainted with the clenching fist of rebellion that this album symbolises. “This isn’t just an album; it’s a piece of history,” says frontman Nikan Khosravi. “The last record we dropped while still in Iran, it became a lightning rod for rebellion, defiance, and unapologetic expression. Just two weeks after its release, the authorities arrested us for its incendiary, protest-fuelled lyrics.
“This was the spark that ignited a movement and put us on the global map. Widely regarded as one of the most impactful and groundbreaking Metal albums in the history of the Middle East, we believe In Pursuit Of Dreams firmly established our place in the Metal world.”
The story of Confess is something that most of us cannot contemplate.
Listen to the early Iblis Manifestations podcasts of Shayan, lead singer of Trivax, and you will get some idea of the repression that these musicians experienced.
In the case of Confess, formed in 2010 in Tehran, theirs was another act of defiance that led to arrest and imprisonment in 2015. Having been granted political asylum in Norway, Khosravi and bandmate DJ Arash Ilkhani have continued to develop their sound and standing across the extreme world.
While this summary only touches briefly on their history, it is worth exploring the immense sacrifices made by Confess. In Pursuit Of Dreams is an album brimming with anger and energy. Its songs are openly critical of the political and religious systems of Iran.
Released just two weeks before the band’s arrest by Revolutionary Guards for blasphemy and propaganda, the album is charged with powerful statements, sociopolitical commentary, and personal struggle.
It is evident from the opener Te-Hell-Ran that the band were bursting to get their message out. Ferocious, raging riffage and snarling vocals that power through, a surging blend of styles that combine every influence that would have been with the band at that time.
There is little let-up as the songs cascade like an unstoppable waterfall of brutality. The sound switches, but there is plenty of groove that underpins the tracks. What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Exhausted! combines the pulse of Pantera, the thrash of Slayer, with a Nu Metal vibe. It is big, brash, angry and explosive.
Although Confess veered towards a slightly more mainstream sound than Trivax, do not expect this to be easy listening. The fire burns deep within the band, and songs like I’m Your God Now, Thorn Within and the blistering Tsunami Of Hate are all delivered with as much energy and passion as they would have been in those dark, hidden days when they were formed in hiding.
One of the things that still impresses me about Confess and this album is their sheer power. The riffs are killer, thick and chunky with enough energy to power small towns. Khosravi’s delivery is consistent throughout, a gravel-throated roar that does not let up. Sure, it may be limited in tone and variation, but it fits the sound the band have crafted perfectly.
Once you have navigated through the 14 songs that form In Pursuit Of Dreams, you can then enjoy three unreleased songs. Watch The Decay Of The Sun is the first, and it is a stomping bruiser that demands you nod your head to the overriding pulse of the riff.
Convention, which follows, changes tempo a little, although the band’s formula of big riffs and ample groove remains in place. I am not as excited about this one. The vocal delivery is more crossover rap, and it struggles in comparison to the others. Bits of Machine Head circa Burning Red springs to mind.
The final track Face Off shows that Confess can do traditional Heavy Metal in parts before descending into another inferno of anger and fire.
It is nearly impossible to fully grasp the challenges faced by Confess. Yet, above all, the band wishes to be judged on their music alone. While this may not be everyone’s preferred style, revisiting the album from 2015 is a rewarding experience.
So, raise a glass or your horns in salute to a band whose very existence is extraordinary. That they have brought such a visceral work to life—and revived it a decade later—deserves nothing but applause.
Confess – In Pursuit Of Dreams (2025 Remaster) is released via EVIN Productions on 7 November 2025. For more details, visit the band on BandCamp.
