Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
OUR MIRAGE is: Timo Bonner (vocals), Marvin Bruckwilder (guitar), Martin Bruckwilder (guitar), Patrick Will (bass), Marcel Schön (drums)
REVIEW – OUR MIRAGE have never shied away from emotional weight, but on ‘Fractured Minds’, the German metalcore outfit sharpen that focus into something heavier, darker, and more refined. Due out January 30th, 2026 via ARISING EMPIRE, this album feels like the sound of a band fully aware of who they are—and unafraid to push that identity to its breaking point.
From the opening moments of “Bury Me”, the tone is set: urgent, suffocating, and emotionally charged. Crushing riffs collide with atmospheric layers as Timo Bonner’s vocals balance raw anguish and melodic clarity. “Violent Spin” follows with relentless momentum, channeling inner chaos through tight rhythms and a chorus built to hit hard both emotionally and physically. “Right Now” leans into immediacy and desperation, capturing the anxiety of living inside your own head when everything feels like it’s closing in.
Mid-album, ‘Fractured Minds’ digs deeper into its themes of isolation and mental fracture. “ColdHearted” strips things back just enough to let the emotion breathe, while “Fractured” feels like the album’s emotional core—layered, heavy, and uncomfortably honest. “Farewell” slows the pace and allows vulnerability to take center stage, offering one of the record’s most affecting moments.
Collaboration tracks add texture without disrupting the flow. “The Chase” featuring Elwood Stray injects raw urgency, while “Don’t Talk” with Christopher Kristensen of Dead By April brings a sharp contrast between aggression and melody that works seamlessly. These songs don’t feel like features for the sake of features—they feel purposeful, enhancing the album’s emotional arc.
As the record moves toward its conclusion, “God Behind Your Eyes” stands tall as a slow-burning, five-minute emotional release, weaving atmosphere and heaviness into something almost cinematic. Closer “Timeloss”, featuring Screamistry, leaves the listener suspended in reflection—unresolved, but intentional. It’s an ending that lingers long after the final note fades.
With ‘Fractured Minds’, OUR MIRAGE deliver an album that’s both explosive and deeply human. It builds on the success of Eclipse while pushing further into darker emotional territory, proving the band’s growth isn’t just measured in streams or stages, but in honesty and impact. This is metalcore that doesn’t just hit hard—it stays with you.
For more information on OUR MIRAGE, visit:
www.OurMirage.de
www.Facebook.com/OurMirageBand
www.Instagram.com/OurMirageBand
www.YouTube.com/@OurMirage
www.Spotify.com/Artist/OurMirage
