Today we have the privilege of sharing an early stream of “Planetoktonos” the title track taken from ‘Planetoktonos‘ the fifth full-length album from Athens, Greece-based astrogrind (eclectic blackened death/grindcore) quartet DEPHOSPHORUS. Exploring the far-out realms of science fiction via their own vast array of extreme metal inspiration one could consider the work of this quartet esoteric in theme and action by way of its thrillingly sprawling, through-provoking approach to the lightspeed eject of grindcore. You’ll recall I’d been a huge fan of the band’s previous album (‘Sublimation‘, 2020) and here I think they’ve brought that same brain-rippling space magic once more. Taking inspiration from black metal, death metal, noise rock and post-hardcore while setting grindcore as their core action makes for an always intense, always inventive streak in these folks hands and the title track (“Planetoktonos”) presented today is no exception with its heavier-tuned drive into a swerving barrage of riffs and howling tension. The whole of the record is reflected here in some sense, carrying their ability to surge with violent energy yet present a fascinating atmospheric drift which is righteously suitable for their themes.
Vocalist Panos Agoros comments on the title track: “Unlike our previous album Sublimation—which revolved around a cohesive theme inspired by the concept of the same name from the late Iain M. Banks’ novels—Planetoktonos doesn’t follow a unified lyrical concept. That said, three of the nine songs, including today’s revealed title track, Pale Veins, and Eternal Bloom, along with the cover artwork, draw direct inspiration from The Expanse novel series by James S.A. Corey. (The TV adaptation is solid—but the books excel in character development and plotting.)
Set in a near-future Solar System colonized by humanity (but still without interstellar travel), The Expanse explores what happens when humankind encounters alien intelligence and technology. I’ve always appreciated how the series reflects on our nature as a species—and how we might avoid self-destruction, ultimately thriving beyond our planetary cradle.
Our cover art takes cues particularly from Tiamat’s Wrath and Leviathan Falls, the final two books in the series. I won’t dive into details here—no spoilers. Just read the books! Musically, the title track presents a different flavor compared to our first reveal, “Pale Veins”, which leaned heavily into noise rock with a crust/grind edge. This time, the lower tuning to A adds serious crunch to the death metal onslaught, creating stark contrast with the fusion of my harsh vokills and Thanos’ chant-like vocals in the track’s atmospheric mid-section. It’s no exaggeration to say this is one of our favorite tracks written together as a four-piece. Play it loud and enjoy—Astrogrind forever!“
Thanks goes out to Dephosphorus, 7Degrees, Nerve Altar, Selfmadegod and their representatives for the opportunity to share this song early. Scroll down to the YouTube embed below to finalize your descent… As always, please do your best to support the worldwide death metal underground and grab a copy on CD, vinyl, cassette and digitally this coming July 18th, 2025.:
Lyrics (in English and Greek) for the song:
Πλανητοκτόνος (Planetoktonos)
Beyond the gates
Mass slips through
But nothing returns
Unimaginably powerful magnetic field
Focused in a narrow beam
Defenders of a new galactic civilization
Cultural forms and expectations
Planet killer – Planetoktonos
Invading spaceships
With inconceivable weapon systems
Technology that dissolves the atomic structure
Cultural forms and expectations
Planet killer – Planetoktonos
Defenders of a new galactic civilization
Planet killer – Planetoktonos
–––––––––––––––––
Πέρα από τις πύλες
Ξεγλιστράει η μάζα
Αλλά τίποτα δεν επιστρέφει
Αφάνταστα ισχυρό μαγνητικό πεδίο
Επικεντρωμένο σε μια στενή αχτίδα
Υπερασπιστές ενός νέου γαλαξιακού
πολιτισμού
Πολιτισμικές φόρμες και προσδοκίες
Φονιάς πλανητών – Πλανητοκτόνος
Εισβάλλοντα διαστημόπλοια
Με αδιανόητα οπλικά συστήματα
Τεχνολογία που διαλύει την ατομική δομή
Πολιτισμικές φόρμες και προσδοκίες
Φονιάς πλανητών – Πλανητοκτόνος
Υπερασπιστές ενός νέου γαλαξιακού
πολιτισμού
Φονιάς πλανητών – Πλανητοκτόνος
Per the Press Release:
Greek forward-thinking grinders DEPHOSPHORUS return with their fifth album, “Planetoktonos”, set for release on July 18th, 2025. The LP edition will be jointly issued by 7Degrees Records and Nerve Altar, while Selfmadegod Records will handle the CD version.
DEPHOSPHORUS aims to expand listeners’ consciousness, fostering a vision of a sustainable future where humanity not only survives but thrives in harmony with its biosphere – and even with AI. Much like the anarchic utopia imagined by Iain M. Banks in The Culture books, this future is one where technology and humanity coexist symbiotically.
Their latest effort, “Planetoktonos”, is the band’s fifth full-length release, a ferocious collection of 9 cosmic, menacing tracks that pay tribute to the energy and dynamics of trailblazing acts such as Anodyne, Nasum, Playing Enemy, Breach, Knut, Leviathan and Bolt Thrower.
“Planetoktonos” – a Greek word coined by the band, roughly translating to “Planetkiller”- brings DEPHOSPHORUS closer than ever to their ideal sound. Mindfully forged in the positive atmosphere of Ignite Studio, a rising cornerstone of the local underground scene (home to acts like Antimob, Embrace Of Thorns and Chain Cult), the album was mastered by sonic guru James Plotkin (OLD, Khanate), ensuring every detail hits with impact.
Psychedelic layers are woven into the album’s fabric thanks to electronics mastermind Miltos Schimatariotis, a long- term collaborator and unofficial fifth member of the band. Schimatariotis, owner of Northside Studio, has been instrumental in shaping previous releases such as “Night Sky Transform”, “Ravenous Solemnit” and their collaboration LP with Haapoja.
As always, DEPHOSPHORUS explores science fiction and cosmology through an existential and political lens in both the lyrics and aesthetics of “Planetoktonos”. Several tracks, along with the album’s title and artwork – designed by Graphic No Jutsu (see Planet Of Zeus, Nightrage, etc.) – are inspired by The Expanse novel series by James S.A. Corey, a near-future universe where humanity has colonized the Solar System but faces the unknown consequences of encountering alien intelligence and technology. Other tracks delve into reflections on cosmologic and existential themes, spanning Dyson spheres and the persistence of life to the toxicity of defeatism and the looming threats of rogue AI or superintelligence.
“Planetoktonos” delivers a boundary-pushing sonic journey, sparking the imagination and inviting listeners to explore new dimensions of thought and sound.
Tracklist:
- Living in a Metastable Universe
- Hunting for Dyson Spheres
- Pale Veins
- After the Holocaust
- The Triumph of Science and Reason
- The Kinetics of a Superintelligence Explosion
- Planetoktonos
- Calculating Infinity
- Eternal Bloom
Line-up:
Thanos Mantas – guitars/e-bow/chants
Panos Agoros – vocals
John Votsis – drums
Kostas Ragiadakos – bass
On Sunday 27th July, DEPHOSPHORUS will be returning to Greece’s New Long Fest after 11 years, having played their first concert there in 2014. More info at: https://fb.me/e/izItlYxty
DEPHOSPHORUS
7 Degrees Records
Nerve Altar
Selfmadegod Records
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