Album Review: Of Virtue – Death Of The Altar (Arising Empire)

One of the hottest modern metalcore bands in the world, Of Virtue, return with their highly anticipated new album, ‘Death of the Altar’, out October 2nd, 2026, via Arising Empire.

When I say hot, that’s not hyperbole. Of Virtue have become one of the most lauded names in modern metalcore and the growth continues to be showcased in bright and brilliant fashion when releases like this are what they have in their arsenal. Releases that come with anthem after anthem, display unflinching honesty, and get the balance between metal and melody right.

Sometimes heavier than a granite block dropped from an immense height. Sometimes so melodramatic it is impossible to not feel the effect on an emotional level. That’s Of Virtue for you and I think Death of the Altar is one hell of a powerful showcase of growth.

It doesn’t take long for the album to take hold, and that grip tightens and tightens as the album goes on. The mood-altering, but highly anthemic, title track, the hyperactive Divinity, the punchy singalong that is The End, and the raging metalcore bounce of Enemy State will well and truly sell the addictiveness of the album. Hooky, exciting, varied, and offering up plenty of reasons to bang the head hard.

Every track comes with some sort of creative twist or turn, and What’s It Like to Be Happy? and Too Late are no different. Finding Of Virtue continuing to explore poppier thinking, delivering choruses that still having plenty of bite, and showing the experimental strength within all parts of the band. The latter is one of the album’s most potent and infectious efforts of all.

An energy uptick is welcome with Welcome to Hell, and I can assure that this is going to be one of those tracks that just works so well live. Although when you have so many singalongs, it’s hard to argue with the fact that the whole album will work live. Of Virtue throwing just as much passion into crunchy and catchy efforts like The Art of Love, Flatline (one of the heavier tracks), and Devotion (one of the poppiest).

Perhaps that should have been the finale though? It’s not that I don’t like Can’t Keep Knockin’ Me Down, it has got some heavy sting to it, I just don’t think it is that memorable or a punchy way to finish. A small blemish on an otherwise strong album from a band that understands how to stand out from the modern metalcore crowd. Death of the Altar is liable to set the world on fire and propel Of Virtue to even greater heights. It’s the least they deserve.

Of Virtue – Death of the Altar Track Listing:

1. Death of the Altar
2. Divinity
3. The End
4. Enemy State
5. What’s It Like to Be Happy?
6. Too Late
7. Welcome To Hell
8. The Art of Love
9. Flatline
10. Devotion
11. Can’t Keep Knockin’ Me Down

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