Review: 1914 – Viribus Unitis

November 12, 2025

328

A requiem to the horrors of war.

Ukraine has always been a curious country when it comes to metal music, for better or worse. The country, of course, has a vibrant music scene and has had breakthrough artists like Jinjer, the extreme metal scene has also had a major showcase, and, in this case, its WW1 themed blackened death/doom band 1914. In spite of their country’s –as of me writing this review– still ongoing and unprovoked invasion from Russia by the Putin dictatorship, 1914 have now unleashed their fourth LP Viribus Unitis through Napalm Records.

For a solid decade, 1914 have occupied a space that is wholly unique to them. Although they’ve been favorably compared to Bolt Thrower due to scratching a similar itch of brutal death metal with a warlike bent, the band has an identifiable sound that has brought them success and recognition. That success comes namely through their hybrid of blackened death/doom metal. There the band combines fast and heavy riffs and crushing atmospheres with sprawling compositions, complete with extensive, but carefully used thematic samples of WWI. In turn, those elements are complemented with the same aesthetic in their album artworks, music videos and live performances.

This very specific and focused conceit for the music continues to be a core part of their identity and, suffice to say, the band have done an excellent job at both their image and their music being one and the same. Given the inhumanity their country has endured for 3 years and counting only makes their dedication stronger. For this new record, the band continue their musical journey through trenches, ruined cities and the diaries of shell-shocked veterans. However, Viribus Unitis is by far the band’s most musically aggressive and thematically bleak. From beginning to end, 1914 do not let the intensity up and, even when they slow down in tempo, they do so with extended death marches of pure gloom. The only sense of reprieve being their samples of 1910’s soldier songs, and even those still evoke a sense of dreading the incoming battle or worse, death.

The record is very oppressive and claustrophobic in tone and music. While the band has never been overly melodic or technical, they have downplayed their doom-laden melodies on this album. They’re still present, but as a texture to add dynamics. There’s a stronger focus on both heavy riffs and technical drumming overall, and the bulk of the music has a weirdly orchestral quality that’s nonetheless dissonant. It further enhances the bleak tone and atmosphere with a cold and calculated musicianship.

That orchestral quality, which I would also describe as cinematic, also applies to the lyrics throughout the entire album. It is sequenced with every year wherein WWI took place; from 1914 to 1918, and the lyrics follow stories set in those years, and told from a first person narrative. The biggest standouts are the 3-part epic ‘1918’, and the second-to-last track ‘1919 (The Home Where I Died)’, which detail the end of the war and its immediate aftermath. The latter track drops the metal entirely for what can best be described as a martial industrial piece featuring neofolk artist Rome. Rome sings about the aforementioned aftermath of the war and the realization that the war is over, but those who survived never came home. Their souls died with their comrades. It is then followed by an outro with yet another sampled song titled ‘War Out (The End?)’ and, needless to say the album, opens and ends with utter despair and bleakness.

Photography by Sofiia Ruda.

Before closing I do want to stress that Viribus Unitis is a good album, a great one even. 1914 are truly one of a kind and, despite how desolate and depressing the music can be, you can still feel their passion for making it. Even under dire circumstances, they still poured their soul in the music. The experience is ultimately an emotionally taxing one because, not only are they recounting the horrors of the Great War, but are currently themselves victims of one. Viribus Unitis is a relentless dive into absolute anguish. Some will enjoy it, but others may find it too draining to fully enjoy. However, I do want to commend the band for still making their art in spite of their country’s strife.