Album Review: The Disappearing Act - Dethwish
As I’ve been screaming from the rooftops all across New York City for anyone who will listen: independent artists are carrying the art of creating an album or project through the slop of the music industry and TikTok algorithms. Instead of trying to create a viral sound bite and leaving the rest of the album unpolished, boring, and repetitive, independent artists have been crafting LP masterpieces to express themselves and communicate a message with purpose, in the way they see fit. The Disappearing Act by Dethwish is a perfect example of this.
Dethwish is a nu-metal/alternative artist from the Tri-State Area, rapidly gaining recognition for high-energy live performances and innovative soundscapes. He leverages his platform to advocate for important causes and create music with intensity and purpose. Released on March 26th, 2026, his debut, The Disappearing Act, exemplifies Dethwish's artistry and musicality, both vocally and instrumentally, across styles. Each track on here is textured, purposeful, and unpredictable, leaving you on the edge of your seat with each listen. Mixing nu-metal with experimental electronic synths and beats, Dethwish revives the nu-metal genre in a way that’s creative and fresh. This dystopian-themed, futuristic-sounding thematic project will have you dancing, moshing, and headbanging throughout all 14 tracks.
Dethwish sets the mood with the title track, “the disappearing act,” an ambient intro with radio crackling. Then immediately we get thrown into “grow,” one of my favorite tracks, with one of the heaviest and gnarliest screams in the intro. “grow” sounds like a 90s/2000s nu-metal classic, specifically taking inspiration from Linkin Park. It starts with an almost rap vocal style and melody. The chorus is almost a breakdown in itself, and then it gets thrown into an actual heavy breakdown. Dethwish sings of his dissatisfaction with feeling suffocated by and not knowing how to grow within a greedy system that benefits only wealthy billionaires in the United States. Anger that the fallacy of the “American Dream” only being promised to certain people is shown through the rawness of his vocals.
“thx4nuthin” is a change in pace and sound, starting off with a club beat with strong synths and deep, low vocals. It's catchy with its infectious beat driving the song. Guitars come in with the chorus, but get heavy and more metal-sounding as the second chorus comes in, creating a great mash-up of so many different genres that Dethwish must be inspired by. We are led into the next track, “cowboykillrrr” featuring Elliot Wyka, with “I bet you’re probably wondering, am I going to die? Probably!” and the heaviest and one of the shortest songs on the album ensues. The first verse has a rhythm in which the last word of each line is a scream, once again adding unexpected textures to the soundscape for the listener to savor. This song has a great punch to it, not being too short, and a strong collaboration between the artists, with their contrasting vocals in the chorus.
“glue” is definitely one of the strongest songs on The Disappearing Act. It has a captivating beat, fast synths, and a sense of urgency so strong that you’ll be compelled to dance, mosh, or both! The screams show how he feels stuck (like glue… get it?) to someone or something who claims they will fix him. The sense of being trapped is conveyed throughout the track by the loud, high-pitched repetition of synths. After this roaring, suffocating soundscape, “luckie” slows down the speed and makes the listener reflect on the past and their own struggles. The acoustic guitar and sample create a dense web of sounds that resembles a soft lo-fi beat as Dethwish sings beautifully, gently over the instrumental, contemplating his shame and confusion about not being able to escape depression.
“rot away” is another one of my favorite songs on here. Although about the same idea as the previous track (rotting away within depression, unable to find a way out), Dethwish casts it in a different sonic landscape. It ropes you in with electric guitars right off the bat, and the more upbeat drumming sounds more pop-punk-inspired. It’s catchy, and the synth especially is memorable. This is a fun one that you can two-step and cry to if you listen to the lyrics a bit too hard. The next track, “suffer (nice to know you),” continues the theme of an almost dystopian radio station, beginning with a radio host sample. The electronic synth intro is the most interesting on here and builds into heavy guitars and deep vocals. There are so many little bits and pieces of layers in this one that you find a new sound in each listen, as there are also so many different-sounding parts throughout the track, each one leading into the next, making it anticipatory and unpredictable. Dethwish delves into the gritty reality of feeling crazy during times of uncertainty and how systems make you feel like you can’t trust yourself, as he repeats throughout the song, “Your mind is now the enemy,” instead of thinking about what systems are in place that make you feel this way and put you at this stressful point. Definitely another one of my favorites on this project.
“the contortionist” is an ambient interlude with beautiful synths that build into the next song. It’s almost an ascension into heaven. It goes straight into “wrapped in blu,” featuring Eric Raven, another very 90s-2000s nu-metal-inspired classic. Similar to “grow,” it starts with a gnarly scream and goes straight into a rap verse. I love the many small tempo changes throughout the track. Eric Raven adds another layer to the screams, filling the song with texture. This one has some of my favorite lyrics. Dethwish speaks on cops and asks them whether they will ever question their morality as they terrorize vulnerable people and get away with it. Then we are hit with broken glass sounds, crowds cheering, and static as the track “crucify” begins, which delves into the topic of selling out and feeling disgust toward those who do.
“i knew what you wanted, i just didn’t want to give it to you” is another banger with catchy, cut-up beats, deep vocals, and cool electronic effects. It’s upbeat and danceable. The “listen” part is fun and different from the rest of the album, as it’s mostly a breakbeat. This one has a great breakdown at the end, with a scream that completes the song. It transitions into the next song, “downinahole,” another beautiful track about being in love. It’s almost interlude-like, with a fingerpicked electric guitar melody and harmonies. It’s short but sweet and perfectly sets up the final track.
The project ends with the strongest track on the album, “mourn,” featuring Punchlove. This six-minute ballad embodies the pain of missing someone who left in the past. It opens with an atmospheric, almost nostalgic-sounding synth soundscape. As we get into the chorus, guitars, beats, and bass fill out the sound. It’s a softer song, even with the fast-paced beats and screamy, raw vocals in the chorus. The vocals and instrumental break convey the ache of loving someone who has left and of reflecting on their actions. The overlapping of Punchlove’s and Dethwish’s vocals is truly beautiful, creating a sense of yearning for the person they are speaking about. It is definitely a great closer for the entire project.
Find The Disappearing Act on all major streaming platforms and follow Dethwish on Instagram @dethwishdotnet to keep up with future shows and upcoming releases!
