Barriers - Decay (Album Review)

Barriers - Decay
‍Released: August 29, 2025

Lineup

Kyle Bloksgaard // Guitar & Vocals
Stacey Loy // Guitar & Vocals
Liam Okninski // Drums
Ben Loy // Bass

Online

Instagram

I love finding a good local band. Decay is the debut album by tech-death collective Barriers. There’s pretty obvious influences (Gojira) but they’ve got their own twist on it and it’s a sound that adds to the wider Aussie scene’s diversity. Members have previously been in bands like True Corroded, Cry Murder and the newly reformed Day of Contempt, so this is a debut with a truck load of experience behind it. 

Opening track ‘Consumed’ serves as a statement of intent. It's deliberately midtempo, giving the riff plenty of room to breathe and fans to bang their head. The track sequencing is actually a key to enjoying Decay as each track slowly reveals a new element of the band’s sound. Second track ‘Dissolution’ increases the tempo slightly and becomes a showcase for Liam‘s drumming fills and double kick work. The climax is in one hell of a breakdown. 

Where I really dug it and got into the album was on ‘Endless Rot’ - a song that combines hardcore and groove, without losing any of the tech death aesthetic that Barriers are keen to be known for. Definitely check this out on a streaming service since it might be the most accessible point to just jump straight in. For me all these little teasers lead into the instrumental track ‘Decay’, which is bass heavy and feedback drenched before segueing into ‘Devourer’. It’s got a clean chorus you can sing along with.

It’s then into the excellent tune ‘Servant’. It’s probably the most catchy but has all the elements the band have been putting together as this the album has revealed itself. They follow with the haunting intro to ‘Perpetual Curse’. The song relies on a grinding syncopation between guitars and drums. The chorus features more clean vocals at a faster tempo but with a haunting guitar line throughout. It’s an inspired bit of songwriting that underlines that Barriers aren’t just mimicking their influences.

‍Decay is a great first record. Given the band members live in different states, I’m not sure what the future holds for Barriers but they know how to write technically proficient and memorable death metal. It’s definitely worth checking out and getting a few of these gems stuck in your head. 

Rating: 7.5 / 10
‍Decay is out now. Stream it on your chosen app. 
Words by KJ Draven @kjdraven