Over the years, DISTANT has firmly established itself as one of the defining forces in the European deathcore scene. The Dutch/Slovakian outfit not only maintains an unrelenting touring schedule but continuously pushes its creative boundaries, refining and evolving its sound with each release. For “Into Despair”, guitarist Nouri Yetgin took an ambitious step forward by expanding his role—educating himself in production and engineering, and ultimately overseeing much of the creative process. Supported by fellow Dutch producer Roelof Klop, the band embraced a fully hands-on approach. “After months of reinventing our songwriting approach, we built a brand-new digital guitar amp from scratch and handled the entire mix and master ourselves to push our sound to the absolute extreme,” they explain. The result is a record that feels visceral and unfiltered—raw, crushing, and uncompromising. “It’s a perfect vessel for lyrics that channel our rage against the corruption, greed, and systemic misconduct poisoning this world. It’s pure passion and aggression, captured in its most unfiltered form.”

Following the conceptual, fantasy-driven themes of their previous album, DISTANT now turns its gaze toward the stark realities of the modern world. “Into Despair” confronts deeply human struggles—our fear of death, the weight of personal loss, and the grief that shapes our existence—while also dissecting broader societal illusions, such as the false sense of freedom fostered by the digital age.

“Into Despair” is available as: Standard CD Jewelcase, LP, Digital Album