BRAINMAZE Unleashes a Decade of Darkness with Debut Album "When Your Demons Come"

After over a decade of creative gestation, Bulgarian musician and photographer Ivan Shishkov steps into the metal arena with When Your Demons Come, the debut album under his solo project BRAINMAZE. A visceral and unflinchingly personal collection of tracks, the album offers a raw confrontation with the shadows of the psyche, brought to life with the kind of dedication and authenticity only time can forge.

Crafted with an almost obsessive attention to detail, When Your Demons Come is the result of sleepless nights, countless revisions, and a commitment to truth over trend. Shishkov composed every song on bass guitar, his lifelong companion and creative anchor, then collaborated with a powerhouse international lineup to flesh out the vision. The result is an unrelenting metal experience steeped in emotion and atmospheric weight.

The album kicks off with “Fear,” a brooding opener that sets the psychological tone. Thick with tension and dark melodic shifts, it introduces listeners to a soundscape where inner conflict takes sonic form. “Spite” follows with sharp edges and grinding riffs, a sonic punch to the chest that captures the venom of unresolved bitterness.

One of the standout moments, “Despair,” feels like a descent into an emotional void. There’s a haunting clarity to its structure. Every solo, every silence, carries weight. This track features Argentine guitarist German Maldonado’s emotive solos, delivering heartbreak without saying a word. On “Uncertainty,” rhythm and dissonance dance a delicate waltz. It’s a track that feels unstable by design, and that unease only adds to its grip.

“Disillusion” stands as a stark reflection of what happens when faith and hope begin to corrode. The arrangements here blur the line between control and chaos, mimicking the slow unraveling of idealism. “Envy” takes a sharper, more confrontational turn. Its tone is aggressive, bordering on manic, and its pace suggests a mind racing with resentment.

Then there’s “I’m Terrified,” the closer and perhaps the most revealing piece of all. It doesn’t seek to resolve the chaos. It embraces it. A confessional climax that encapsulates the vulnerability and rage pulsing through the entire record.

More than just a metal album, When Your Demons Come is a chronicle of internal war. It is a daring, emotional, and unfiltered offering that reaffirms Ivan Shishkov’s place as a relentless creative force. With this release, BRAINMAZE doesn't just confront demons. It dares them to speak back.

Follow BRAINMAZE and Ivan Shishkov on social media to experience more behind the scenes content, visuals, and updates: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | SoundCloud