Horror of Pestilence (feat.Kyle Schaefer from Fallujah) - Death Within a Dream - Song Review

Another week ends and begins anew, leaving significant changes for another time while life in Helsinki continues at full throttle. Today, I explore a song that has repeatedly caught me by surprise, performed by a band the metalhead community ought to know—Horror of Pestilence from Guangzhou, China. This marks my first feature of a band from this region and my first personal discovery. As I pen this review, I listen one final time to their latest single, “Death Within a Dream,” featuring Kyle Schaefer from Fallujah.

Horror Of Pestilence – Death Within a Dream（feat.Kyle Schaefer from Fallujah)

“Death Within a Dream” initially stood out for its well-produced yet somewhat overly processed soundscapes that blend technical, progressive, melodic, gothic, and symphonic metal influences. Despite not usually favoring such symphonic and processed sounds, I found their execution impressive—a notable achievement given their unique origins. This 6:26-minute symphonic progressive metal piece conjures memories of Dream Theater and Symphony X, showcasing the band’s promising musicianship despite the predominant processed sound. Although the technical performances often feel too computerized, lacking human warmth, “Death Within a Dream” manages to demonstrate undeniable potential.

Horror of Pestilence band photo. Photo credit: Unknown.

However, my reservations lie mainly with personal preferences regarding the production style. As previously mentioned, the overly processed sound tends to feel outdated over time, and “Death Within a Dream” is no exception. Its sound production felt excessively digitalized, which might alienate those who prefer analog sounds and organic performances.

In conclusion, “Death Within a Dream” by Horror of Pestilence has carved out a distinct space within the technical death metal scene. Featuring Kyle Schaefer from Fallujah, this track merges sophisticated musical complexity with a modern processed sound that, while not to everyone’s taste, showcases the band’s ability to push genre boundaries. For those drawn to the technical side of metal, this song—and Horror of Pestilence—deserves attention. Thank you for reading.