There’s no holding back in When Your Demons Come, the thunderous and deeply introspective latest release from BRAINMAZE, the solo metal project of Bulgarian bassist Ivan Shishkov. More than a decade in the making, this is not just an album. It’s a sonic purge. A personal reckoning. A confrontation with the inner chaos that haunts us all.
From the very first track, “Fear,” the record doesn’t creep in, it slams the door open and drags you under. Each title reads like a page torn from a private journal: “Spite,” “Disillusion,” “Insanity,” “I’m Terrified.” And the sound matches the emotional weight: explosive riffs, guttural lows, and chilling melodic breaks that never quite offer resolution. This is catharsis in motion.
Shishkov does more than compose, he curates an experience. Every note is charged with tension, every arrangement soaked in midnight sweat. Bass guitar leads the charge, but there’s no shortage of muscular, precise musicianship from a global cast of collaborators spanning the UK to Ukraine, Argentina to the U.S. These guest performances bring flesh to the skeleton of Shishkov’s vision, making When Your Demons Come feel massive yet intimate, brutal yet deliberate.
What elevates this record beyond standard metal fare is its refusal to look away. This isn’t just dark for dark’s sake, it’s vulnerably bold. The lyrics don’t cloak the pain in metaphor. The production doesn’t smooth over the rough edges. Even the photography and album design,, crafted by Shishkov himself—carry the same raw, personal imprint.
The result? An album that feels like a psychological storm. It doesn’t ask for empathy, but it demands understanding. It tells you, in no uncertain terms: demons don’t vanish; you learn to live with them or get consumed.
When Your Demons Come is now out on all major streaming platforms. Listen with your guard down. It might just stare back!
