Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
CREMATORY is: Felix Stass (vocals), Rolf Munkes (guitar), Oliver Revilo (bass), Katrin Jüllich (keyboards/samples), Markus Jüllich (drums/programming)
REVIEW – Gothic metal pioneers CREMATORY return stronger than ever with their 17th studio album ‘Destination’, releasing May 2nd via ROAR. A career-defining record that blends all eras of their storied 34-year legacy, ‘Destination’ is a sonic journey through darkness and intensity, balancing melodic death metal roots with brooding gothic atmospheres and even electro-driven anthems. This is CREMATORY at full power—focused, fearless, and unrelentingly authentic.
From the opening title track “Destination”, the album delivers thick grooves, haunting synths, and that signature duality of growl and melody from Felix Stass, who stands solo on vocals this time and absolutely owns it. “The Future Is A Lonely Place” follows with a doom-soaked stomp and melancholic grandeur that lands hard in both message and impact.
One of the album’s boldest highlights is the darkwave-tinged “Welt aus Glas”, an electro-gothic anthem with a cinematic chorus that will no doubt own the dance floors as much as it will crush live. That energy continues with “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend”, CREMATORY’s powerful tribute to TYPE O NEGATIVE. Michelle Darkness of END OF GREEN lends his voice to the cover, mirroring Peter Steele’s deep timbre and meshing perfectly with Felix’s growls—an absolute standout.
The intensity ratchets up with “After Isolation”, a doom-laden crusher that drips with despair and distortion. “My Own Private God” and “Days Without Sun” dive into philosophical and emotional territory, pushing the band into more introspective sonic spaces, but always with that dark, unmistakable CREMATORY energy.
Later tracks like “Deep in the Silence”, “Banished Forever”, and “Ashes of Despair” channel equal parts beauty and brutality, laced with cinematic synth layers and thunderous guitars courtesy of Rolf Munkes, who also co-produced the album. “Toxic Touch” bites back with a shorter, punchier format before closing with “Das Letzte Ticket”, a powerful farewell that’s equal parts Gothic poetry and metallic defiance.
Backed by artwork from Noah Bouchard and produced with precision by the band themselves, ‘Destination’ marks a creative high point. The mix between heavy guitars and layered synths is perfectly calibrated. Markus Jüllich’s drums pulse with industrial precision, and Felix’s vocal range—growls, whispers, clean chants—cements his place as the band’s anchor and unfiltered voice.
CREMATORY doesn’t just survive—they evolve. ‘Destination’ is proof that after 34 years, they’re not interested in slowing down. They’re interested in defining what modern gothic metal should be.
For more information on CREMATORY, visit:
www.Crematory.de
www.Facebook.com/Crematory.de
www.Instagram.com/Crematory.de
www.YouTube.com/@Crematory-de
www.Spotify.com/Artist/Crematory
www.RPM-ROAR.com
