“WHEN YOUR DEMONS COME” by BRAINMAZE

Bulgaria’s own Ivan Shishkov steps boldly into the metal world with When Your Demons Come, the searing debut album from his solo project BRAINMAZE. Across eleven tracks, Shishkov unearths the shadows we keep buried—fear, despair, rage, envy—and transforms them into a raw, unfiltered listening experience years in the making. What makes this project remarkable isn’t just its sound—though the sound is punishing and immersive—but its origin. Every corner of When Your Demons Come is a reflection of Shishkov’s artistic DNA. From the composition and lyrics to the visuals and design, this album is his creative soul laid bare. A skilled photographer as well as a bassist, Shishkov has spent over a decade shaping this vision in quiet solitude, often working deep into the night to chip away at its final form. The result? A sonic monument to personal reckoning.

Opening with the thundering “Fear” and closing with “I’m Terrified,” alongside the haunting 17-second reflection, the album doesn’t just tell a story—it stages a confrontation. This is music for those willing to meet themselves in the dark. Each song was born on bass, which grounds the project in a rhythmically intense foundation, and is layered with vocal fire from Rob Davies (UK), blazing solos by German Maldonado (Argentina), and hard-hitting drums courtesy of Fabian Carrion Troya (Ecuador) and David Mendez (Argentina). Mixing and mastering duties were deftly handled across Ukraine and the U.S., highlighting the album’s global collaboration without diluting its fiercely personal nature.

The production balances chaos with clarity—aggression without excess—making every growl, riff, and blast beat hit with purpose. There’s a surprising versatility in When Your Demons Come. From explosive metal assaults to eerier, almost cinematic transitions, the record crosses genre lines while maintaining its core intensity. It’s not just a collection of heavy songs—it’s a labyrinth of emotional weight, each track a hallway leading deeper into the psyche. BRAINMAZE doesn’t aim to comfort—you’re not here to be saved. But in surrendering to the album’s ferocity, you just might find release. This is a debut with teeth, vision, and soul. Let it roar.