Occult Kenji is the solo project of Cyprus based musician/vocalist Marios "Kenji" Michaelides, who has been a part of bands such as Daggr and MethysOs. Where MethysOs went for more of a folk/symphonic metal approach, Kenji’s solo project explores a wide range of metal and rock styles that span everything from groove metal/thrash to doom and even some hard rock, making this year’s Of Gods and Ancestors an album that has a unique sound from the very start. While this kitchen sink approach of rock and metal doesn’t always result in a cohesive experience, Occult Kenji has pulled it off and delivered a standout effort.
Of Gods and Ancestors showcases a balance of melody and aggression early on, though opener “The Hand of Nergal” doesn’t let on just how much variety and depth the album has to offer. It does smartly choose to stick towards the heavy end of the spectrum, spending a decent amount of time hitting listeners with dense grooves and riffs that fall somewhere between metalcore and melodic death metal while also letting some warmer melodies soar overhead. But as you get further into the album the instrumentation shifts again and again, sometimes slowing things down for a doomier and even gothic metal approach while other passages encompass everything from post grunge to progressive rock. Despite how much ground Occult Kenji covers, the songs do generally have a good flow to them and the transitions from subtle melodies to booming grooves works well. You even get some thrash and folk metal leaning moments and the unexpected pop punk sound on “Death’s Road”, which really makes the album a wild ride. Closer “Hylates” does run a bit long and I did find myself drawn to the slower grooves and doom/gothic sounding moments the most as this is where the album truly shines, but there’s no denying that Occult Kenji has written material that is engaging from beginning to end.
The vocals are another area that’s just as diverse, though that isn’t fully evident until the second song “The Sea Peoples”. “The Hand of Nergal” chooses to keep things on the harsher end of the spectrum with lower growls and yells that also have a bit of a tribal feel. But when you get to “The Sea Peoples” Occult Kenji flips things over to a combination of growls and soaring clean singing that is sure to immediately grab your attention. The singing reminds me of a cross between doom and hard rock, but that changes with each song. Sometimes the pitch is mournful and somber, channeling more alternative rock and even some prog, while other times it has more of that soaring 90s/2000s hard rock sound to it. When mixed with the aggressive pitches, this results in some stunning moments that sets Of Gods and Ancestors apart from some of the other albums I’ve spent time with recently.
It initially seemed like Occult Kenji was going to focus on heavy grooves, but Of Gods and Ancestors really branches out in unexpected ways. There’s a little bit of everything from both the metal and rock ends of the spectrum, as both the instrumentation and vocals cover so much ground while ensuring that everything flows seamlessly and keeps the listener engaged. As a result, this has been one of those albums that has found its way back to my playlist since its October release and a hidden gem of 2025.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg