Swedish melodic Death Metal project Dead Sun are back with their ninth studio full-length, This Life Is A Grave, which, to those not familiar, is a solo project by the ever-prolific Death Metal legend Rogga Johansson. This is just one of around forty active bands and projects he is involved in. Rogga is supported by just a drummer for this release in Thomas Ohlsson, who has previously worked alongside Rogga in Stass and House By The Cemetery, with Rogga covering everything else.
Dead Sun – This Life Is A Grave
Release Date: 19 December 2025
Words: Jools Green
One of his longest-standing endeavours, Dead Sun came into existence back in 1996, alongside his other longstanding and probably best-known band, Paganizer, as an exploration of a more melodic Death Metal sound and a contrast to that more brutal driving sound of Paganizer.
Sound-wise, I think it is closest to Furnace, Rogga’s project with Peter Svensson. It is dark, melodic, and riff-driven, so if, like me, you enjoy those albums, this will also be of great interest to you.
It is not strongly conceptual like those releases, but there is an abundance of horror/Lovecraftian-inspired tales that link together in these pieces.
Dark and hauntingly reflective to open, Primordial Knowledge (Where Ubbo-Sathla Reign) builds in pace and develops an unmistakable Rogga groove which complements the lyrically well-defined growls perfectly. The catchy repeats make it an addictive listen, and the line “open up the door to the unknown…” opens up a whole heap of intrigue in a piece that sets the mood for the whole album.
The haunting mood continues with Embraced By The Succubus. I love both the punch of the riffs and the phrasing of the vocal delivery in this piece. Those elements make it such an impactful listen, and the haunting melodic repeat holds your attention throughout.
A Midnight Serenade comes in initially heavier and punchier than the previous pieces. The repeat riff is sharp, but then it pans out into something altogether more haunting and reflective, developing a melodic edge and the intensity ebbs and builds engagingly.
An eerie build and blood-curdling scream greet you as Sin Collector opens, then panning out onto something more melodic and familiar, but gradually darkening as it progresses.
Nighttime Butterfly is a superbly haunting melodic piece that flows along, the necessary harsh edge coming from the growled vocals, which gives the piece perfect balance.
Sometimes you can immediately love a song for its title. She Drank My Soul is one such piece, and musically, it does not disappoint either. The climbing riff opener sets the ominous scene, expanding into a piece that is crunchy and punchy yet compellingly melodic. A superb dark, slightly groovy undercurrent lurks in its midst, and Rogga’s protraction and latter part blood-curdling scream of agony as he is relieved of his soul and left as an empty shell, is powerfully impactful. Lyrically, it is a piece that builds a vividly unnerving picture.
On the next piece, Your Life Is A Grave, the opening riffs climb and fall engagingly, dramatically dropping briefly back as the vocals arrive, both here and further in, allowing those vocals to be more impactful. All across this piece, Rogga’s vocals are exceptional, well-protracted, delivered with drama and impact and are at times higher and gloriously blood-curdling. He is definitely pushed his capabilities well on this piece.
Penultimate offering Calls From The Crypt has a very melancholic mood to the melody and is well contrasted by Rogga’s vocals, which have an otherworldly snarl to their delivery. A piece that wends its way along steadily and hauntingly, it is as addictive as it is unnerving. I love it!
Final piece, To Give The End A Voice, brings this otherworldly musical journey to a close. It ties in and flows nicely on from its predecessor, then rapidly takes a different route, with deeper vocals and dark haunting swathes of melody closing on a raw, gravelly scream of “A Voice!”
This Life Is A Grave is an end-to-end great listen. Release on 19 December 2025 via Emanzipation Productions, it will be available as a CD or digital download from Dead Sun – TargetShop.
