Ameonna, the new project featuring former members of Chelsea Grin, arrives on the scene with a debut EP that reaches for the epic and the otherworldly. The Birth of Death is as much a statement of intent as it is a release, aiming to push the boundaries of modern deathcore into more atmospheric and emotionally complex territory. While the band doesn’t fully hit every mark, their vision is undeniable, and their ability to blend brutality with ethereal beauty makes them a promising voice in the genre’s next evolution.

What stands out immediately is the production—tight, spacious, and expertly balanced. Every element, from blast beats to whispered ambience, hits with purpose. The guitars move fluidly between tech-death fret acrobatics and sludgy, djent-influenced grooves, while the drums strike a satisfying middle ground between mechanical precision and expressive weight. The mix is clean without becoming sterile, and the band's ability to maintain clarity even at their most chaotic is impressive.

Ameonna thrives most when it embraces contrast. The Birth of Death constantly shifts between extremes: heavenly synths give way to hellish growls, and moments of gentle calm are shattered by pummeling grooves. At their best, these juxtapositions feel intentional and immersive—pulling the listener into a realm where life, death, birth, and decay swirl together in sonic purgatory. The inclusion of ambient and even divine-sounding vocal textures, including haunting female vocals layered beneath the chaos, adds a spectral depth rarely heard in traditional deathcore.

However, not every moment lands. When the band leans too far into familiar genre tropes—like standard chug riffs or breakdowns that lack the EP’s otherwise eerie grandeur—the songs can begin to feel somewhat conventional. There’s a tension between Ameonna’s ambition and their genre roots; at times they seem stuck between breaking new ground and playing it safe. It's in the slower, more atmospheric passages that the band truly shines, channeling sadness, reflection, and a sense of something beyond the brutality.

Lyrically and thematically, the EP explores transformation—birth, death, and the strange liminal space in between. This is reflected in both the structure and tone of the release. The track transitions are smooth and cinematic, lending the entire project a sense of continuity and purpose. The final moments especially suggest a rebirth—not just within the concept of the EP, but perhaps for the band itself, as artists redefining their creative identity.

Vocally, there's range and power. The frontperson deftly moves from deep gutturals to distorted screams, even brushing up against melodic phrasing in the EP’s more reflective sections. These shifts help carry the emotional weight of the songs and provide texture beyond the brute force typically expected in the genre.

In the end, The Birth of Death is a bold debut from a band clearly striving to evolve. While it doesn’t fully escape some of deathcore’s pitfalls, it does present a vision that feels deeply cinematic and spiritually apocalyptic. Ameonna may still be figuring out exactly what they want to be—but the groundwork they’ve laid here is promising, and when they lean into the ethereal side of their sound, they approach something genuinely moving.

Fans of heavy music looking for something more immersive and emotionally complex than your typical breakdown fest.