1914: The Südtirol Offensive - New Single Review
The Ukrainian blackened death/doom war machine 1914 has returned with their brand-new single, "1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)," from the forthcoming album Viribus Unitis (out November 14, 2025 via Napalm Records). Known for weaving historical authenticity with unrelenting heaviness, 1914 once again deliver a track that is as devastating musically as it is thematically. And they’ve done this while their country is currently in the midst of a three-year long war and the current state doesn’t look promising for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
A Soundtrack to the Battle of Asiago
The single plunges listeners directly into the chaos of the Battle of Asiago, a World War I campaign that claimed over 230,000 lives. Through suffocating doom passages, relentless blackened tremolos, and crushing death metal riffs, the band captures both the horror and futility of the Austro-Hungarian offensive. Each section of the track mirrors the brutality of trench warfare: oppressive, claustrophobic, and merciless.
With all that said my favourite part has to be the gang vocals when Vocalist Dmytro Kumar starts shouting “Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate!” The haunting atmosphere is amplified by battlefield soundscapes and mournful melodies that highlight the futility of the carnage. Where many bands rely on shock value, 1914 elevate history into an art form, forcing us to confront the human cost of war.
The best part is that it also includes an animated music video where Death lays waste to the souls on the battlefield. The artistic style echos much of 1914’s personality as well, muted colours, hard jagged edges and the constant march forward towards the inevitable.
Blackened Death/Doom With Heart & History
What sets 1914 apart in the extreme metal scene is their ability to merge historical storytelling with uncompromising heaviness. The track showcases their signature blend of black metal ferocity, death metal aggression, and doom-laden despair, while adding orchestral and melodic textures that signal a step forward in their sound.
Lyrically, "1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)" remains true to 1914’s conceptual framework: not glorifying war, but presenting it with chilling honesty. Dmytro’s tortured delivery feels less like performance and more like testimony, embodying the anguish of soldiers thrown into the grinder of empire.
The March Toward Viribus Unitis
If this single is any indication, Viribus Unitis may be 1914’s most ambitious release to date. The album’s central theme revolves around unity, survival, and the bonds formed in war, a shift from the futility-focused narratives of The Blind Leading the Blind (2018) and Where Fear and Weapons Meet (2021).
Guest appearances from legends like Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride) and Jerome Reuter (Rome) promise additional emotional depth, while the band’s meticulous attention to historical detail ensures an immersive listening experience that is both punishing and profound.
Check out the full track list below:
War In (The Beginning of the Fall)
1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)
1915 (Easter Battle for the Zwinin Ridge)
1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)
1917 (The Isonzo Front)
1918 Pt 1: WIA (Wounded in Action)
1918 Pt 2: POW (Prisoner of War) (feat. Christopher Scott)
1918 Pt 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape) (feat. Aaron Stainthorpe)
1919 (The Home Where I Died) (feat. Jerome Reuter)
War Out (The End?)
The HMC Verdict
With "1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)," 1914 have once again proven why they are one of the most unique forces in extreme metal today. Brutal yet intelligent, unrelenting yet deeply human, this track is an aural war memorial. The fact that 1914 continues to create music despite their country fighting for it’s existence shows you how real and relentless this band is.
If you’re a fan of blackened death metal, doom metal, war-themed concept albums, or bands like Bolt Thrower, My Dying Bride, and Triptykon, this is essential listening.
