Whitechapel, Hymns in Dissonance | Bangerz N Bopz

In the 15th edition of Bangerz N Bopz (2025), we highlight “Hymns in Dissonance” performed by Tennessee death metal band, Whitechapel.  

Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 15^th edition of Bangerz N Bopz (2025), we break down “Hymns in Dissonance” performed by Whitechapel.

“Rehtaf fo seil / Rehtaf fo eht ssyba / Ew emoc morf woleb / Nepo ruoy seye gnik Reficul / Redrum meht lla.” Say what, now?! What the hell does that mean? The lyrics from the intro of “Hymns in Dissonance” are reversed… Dissonance indeed! What Phil Bozeman, the Whitechapel frontman sings is “Father of lies / Father of the abyss / We come from below / Open your eyes king Lucifer / Murder them all.” Hellish to the nth degree! “Hymns in Dissonance” is the second track from the Tennessee death metal band’s ninth studio album, Hymns in Dissonance, released in 2025. 

“Hymns in Dissonance” is chaotic, noisy, and infernal from the onset. The pummeling drums and jagged guitars hit you right in the chest. Throughout, there are different musical changes, particularly tempo changes during various sections. Bozeman’s boisterous, unclean vocals catch the ears from the beginning.  With reversed lyrics setting the tone, the songwriting draws ample attention.  The lyrics are intense and intriguing.  “I stand before this withered sepulcher / Saturating my flesh in sulfur,” Phil sings in the first verse, adding, “The fruitful now rotten / Restrained by roots of feces and mold.” Damn – more liked damned!  It gets worse: “Feel the worms crawl in your evеry orifice/ Your eyes start to jaundice as they make their way through / Converted to our ways, you can’t ignore this / Saved from the faith that’ll fuck you.” Faith that’ll fuck you, huh? “Hymns in Dissonance,” indeed.  In line with sinfulness, in the third verse, Bozeman asserts, “As you lay impaled on this inverted cross / I masticate the throats of your lambs / As I masturbate to the sound of them choking.” Yes, it’s giving unholy shit! The chorus can’t be denied either, referencing previous Whitechapel songs, and memorably stating, “To all that are dead, stay dead / We are the means to a messiahbolical end.” Dark, damning, anti-Christian (“The trinity denied”) and Satanic AF, “Hymns in Dissonance” is something else, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Whitechapel // Hymns in Dissonance // Metal Blade // 2025

Whitechapel, Hymns in Dissonance: Bangerz N Bopz No. 15 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Metal Blade; Bigshow Lamar Campton, Daniel Duarte, Eduardo López from Pexels; AcatXIo, djexpectations, OpenClipart-Vectors, Thai Zeo from Pixabay]