Review by Arek on October 11, 2017.

Teething is four screwy Spaniards who after five years of creative activity, in which they delivered (as befits any grinders) many EPs and splits to their fans, finally broke out and put out their first full-length album, which came to me through SelfMadeGod Records. We Will Regret This Someday are 12 amazingly trenchant kicks. This HC-Grind plow up takes just over 24 minutes, which is just enough not to return the last meal and yet still has the urge for further listens. By adjusting to the construction of this album I will cut off unnecessary fuckery and go straight to the music that hit my grind-absorbent tastes.

The material was recorded at Madrid's Sadman Studio and mixed in American AudioSiege (Nails, Magrudergrind). This confirms that dissecting of the sound will not be compulsory. The sound of percussion is very elegant, the bass is heavy, and the vocal does not drown the music. The tone of guitars with the bass cooperation is what the tigers like the most while bouncing, and they also sound like the best musical stories out of Sunlight. These twelve tracks are the quintessence of GC played heavily in punk rhythms and with HC manners of the vocalist. What we have here are chaotic, short, grinding pegs such as 'Mic Check', 'Up In Smoke' and 'Life Is Peachy'. The latter reminded me of old Americans from Wehrmacht. Yes, it is another value of this album - it brings back memories.

While listening to the debut of those Spaniards, we will find a lot of different influences ranging from punk, crust and crossover to death metal, although the basic bonding agent of course is the grind. Going back to the record, it must be said that despite all the grind madness, some down tempo respite also happened here and there. We will hear it in 'Just Kids', ending of 'White Cross Inversion', or slowest one - 'Subway Rat'. Do not be afraid, however, it will not dull out even for a moment. It's not doom, its grindcore, so the next hyper-blast will indicate the style of the disc. Are there any songs that should be mentioned with special honors? Probably not, since GC is not pop. The power of this disc is a mad rage of energy served up in varying tempos. In combination with the inventiveness of the musicians, it gave the prime sort of product. Although all the riffs, patents, etc. have already been played somewhere, and although some will label this album a "reheated cutlet", it does not bother me at all. I will be happy to go back to it anyway.

There isn't much to write about the depth of lyrics, because the cover of the album announces them quite accurately. From sharply contrasting colors of rotten green, radioactive yellow and rusty red to the titles from newspaper clippings clearly indicating that this is not some fairy tale. Thematically it is as predictable as it is musically, but thanks to that - everything stays together. Such a macabre taken out of life, lightly sharpened and served up with humor. GC / HC, in spite of its moral background, is primarily good fun and we have it all right here. 

Ending all this verbal spasms, I admit that We Will Regret This Someday is my first encounter with this Spanish quartet. It probably wouldn't have changed anytime in the near future, if it wasn't for the extremist approach and activity of SelfMadeGod Records, for which I bow deeply to them. Satisfaction would be even greater if I could drop some sweat around maddening stage presentation of these madmen, but I guess I will have to wait for that a little longer. At this moment I have to settle for the sound of their 12-track debut. For all the fans of hard hitting ensembles I recommend this as adrenaline injection. It may not save a life, it may not change the world, but with such pieces, the time will definitely flow faster. They got me with their punkish grind, the rest of you should check them out for yourselves.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Dominik on January 23, 2025.

There's a German saying: Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten—"cobbler, stick to your trade". This proverb was the first thing that came to mind when I accidentally stumbled upon Ill Tidings' video for "Perchtensabbat", the flagship song of their latest release, Hymns To Demise. Imagine a stunning song reduced to the cinematic equivalent of a drunk uncle's forest cosplay party. This near-perfect song—don't worry, I'll explain why later—ruined by a black-and-white video where the band jams awkwardly in a forest while masked trolls, apparently trapped in invisible quicksand, shuffle aimlessly in the background. It's as terrifying as Tinkerbell showing up at your goth-themed Halloween gathering. Whoever is the person behind this visual crime probably spends their day job shooting Nutella ads, because it's saccharine (in a black metal way), messy, and completely uncalled for. (Though, for the record, I still like Nutella. Despite all dietary advice.)

After my initial attempt to endure this trainwreck of a video, I did the only sensible thing for round two: I closed my eyes. And thank god I did. Because musically, Hymns To Demise is everything the video is not: cohesive, thrilling, and full of surprises.

The album is a relentless, beautifully crafted slice of black metal that proves Ill Tidings has matured into a force to be reckoned with. Building on hints of brilliance from their debut, this sophomore release delivers memorable songs with a unique twist. The multilingual approach—English, German, and what I can only assume is an Austrian dialect so deep it might as well have been excavated with a pickaxe—adds an unusual yet seamless layer to an album that thrives on its coherence. Despite this linguistic variety, the album is a masterclass in consistency, flowing seamlessly from start to finish without any jarring moments.

There's also an overarching attention to detail. Each song offers something distinct—be it an unexpected riff, a haunting melody, or a vocal moment that practically forces you to rewind (or, in the true spirit of metal, smash the "repeat" button while brooding in your dark lair). This knack for adding small but effective twists elevates the tracks from merely "great" to "why am I headbanging at 2 a.m. in my living room?"

As is tradition on many albums, the opener sets the tone for what's to come. Ill Tidings immediately grab your attention with varying tempos, dynamic vocal range, and the kind of despair-drenched, bleak atmosphere that makes you question why you ever left your cave. The frontman, whose visual acting career we've already discussed (and will not revisit for his sake), more than redeems himself. He channels despair, psychological torment, and existential doom with precision, making you believe he's been to hell and rented a summer cottage.

The first standout track comes early with "Die Welt Stürzt Ein" ("The world is coming to an end"), a ferocious anthem that perfectly captures black metal's raison d'être: chaos, hopelessness, and apocalyptic beauty. The song is an emotional rollercoaster with an outstanding chorus. The whirring guitars sound like sirens of the apocalypse and support the vocals excellently. This is one of those moments you understand why black metal has evolved in the first place. You need this ferocity, combined with menacing melodies and a vocalist haunted by all demons from the underworld to paint a vivid picture of the world crumbling—both the one around you and the one inside you. If that doesn't send chills down your spine, you're probably already six feet under, cemented into a mafia-funded parking garage.

But then there's "Perchtensabbat", the album's crowning achievement. Lyrically, it dives into a folkloric tale of masked figures driving out the evil spirits of winter (if I understand this arcane ritual correctly), sung in that wonderfully incomprehensible dialect. Musically, it's a masterpiece. The track flows effortlessly between blistering sections and more restrained, double-bass-heavy respites, culminating in a guitar solo so good it could make even a stoic Norwegian shed a tear (remember: the "art" of writing is the "art" of exaggeration….). If the other songs have magnificent moments, "Perchtensabbat" is pure ecstasy from start to finish and plays in a league of its own. It's the kind of track you'll replay obsessively—provided you're not watching that cursed video.

Ill Tidings have done what so few can: created an album that combines consistency with moments of transcendent brilliance. For every second where you think, "Ah, this might be drifting toward mediocrity", the band delivers a punch to the gut to remind you who's boss. The production is clean but not sterile, heavy without losing warmth—a balance that strongly works in favor of this release.

That said, we return to the "Perchtensabbat" video. There's a lesson here: bad visuals can't ruin great music, but they sure can make you question some life choices. And yet, Ill Tidings have taught us to withhold judgment and to look (or listen) deeper. If anything, their "misstep" proves that, contrary to popular belief, you can get a second chance to make a first impression—provided your music slaps hard enough.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10 – because Hymns To Demise is an incredible black metal album with only one fatal flaw: a video so misguided it makes you wonder if the trolls were behind it all along.