Zornheym release an epic video of "Keep the Devil Away" as a teaser for their upcoming graphic novel version of "The Zornheim Sleep Experiment"
Zornheym is on the more extreme end of the heavy metal I usually listen to, but in the case of "The Zornheim Sleep Experiment," that's a good thing. Telling the story of a mad scientist, reminiscent of Josef Mengele, content to literally walk over the dead bodies of his unwilling victims in a quest for his warped vision of the advancement of science, it is perhaps one of the most effective portrayals I have ever seen and heard of some of the anxiety, chaos, and madness that have plagued me for large parts of my adult life.
The video feautures an accoustic version of "Keep The Devil Away" set to an outstanding soundscape and some spectacularly disturbing imagery, making the story even more powerful.
Having self administered sleep experiments with terrifying results, and having suffered from prolonged sleep deprivation resulting in hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and other mental ailments, as well as having been diagnosed with severe anxiety, depression, and PTSD, the story speaks to me on a very personal level. Both the lyrics and soundscape feel very familiar and when you add the imagery from the upcoming graphic novel it feels like they are mining my brain to highlight some of the immediate anxiety and horror lurking in the corners. Oddly rather than trigger a negative spiral, it feels cathartic.
The voices in my head give the album 8 out of 10 skulls, and the video the first ever 10 out of 10, while we eagerly await the launch of both the graphic novel and their upcoming acoustic EP "The Forgotten Inmates."
Album:
Video:
September 30th, 2023
Rattus Pertrificus
https://www.petrifiedpixels.com
P.S.: If anyone from the band happens to read this, the story, soundscape, and visuals could be adapted into a truly stunning computer game.
Last updated: May 30th, 2025
Post Tags:
zornheym keep the devil away zornheim the zornheim sleep experiment bendler zorn scucca joakim stephan möller pygmalion richard bendler tomas nilsson tino vesanen