By [Music Reporter Feature]

In an era where industrial music often finds itself trapped between nostalgia and reinvention, Dutch industrial alternative metal project First World Appetite appears determined to weaponize both. The project’s latest single, “Eternal War,” released ahead of the forthcoming album Angel Shades Demise, arrives not merely as another heavy track but as a furious manifesto against helplessness, political frustration, and psychological collapse.

Led by Dutch musician Ronald de Groot, First World Appetite has steadily evolved from an aggressive industrial metal outlet into something far more personal and emotionally exposed. With Angel Shades Demise scheduled for release on June 12, “Eternal War” serves as one of the album’s defining statements—a relentless industrial assault fueled by anger, anxiety, and a refusal to remain silent in the face of suffering.

Industrial Music for a Fractured World

Industrial music has always thrived during periods of societal tension. From Ministry’s politically charged sonic warfare to Marilyn Manson’s confrontational examinations of media and culture, the genre’s greatest works often emerge from unrest. “Eternal War” continues that tradition.

Speaking about the song’s origins, de Groot cites the influence of Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar and Ministry’s thrash-oriented years, but the inspiration extends beyond music. The song is rooted in his reaction to modern warfare, political power structures, and the emotional burden of witnessing violence through digital media.

Rather than presenting a detached political commentary, “Eternal War” documents the psychological consequences of living in a world saturated with conflict.

“Looking at it in a psychological way, I’d say it’s both,” de Groot explains when asked whether the war referenced in the title is internal or external. “It’s my inner world reacting to the outside world.”

That duality becomes one of the song’s greatest strengths. The track functions simultaneously as social criticism and emotional autobiography.

The Sound of Controlled Destruction

Musically, “Eternal War” delivers exactly what fans of industrial metal would hope for.

Grinding guitar riffs collide with machine-like percussion while layers of distortion create a suffocating atmosphere that never quite releases its grip. The production emphasizes momentum over melody, creating a sense of perpetual motion that mirrors the song’s thematic obsession with endless conflict.

De Groot admits the songwriting process was largely instinctive.

“When I wrote the song all those years ago it started with the guitar riffs and vocals being the main point of energy,” he says. “My co-producer took the drums to the next level which added even more energy.”

The result is a track that feels less like a conventional song and more like a psychological pressure chamber.

The industrial influences are obvious, but there are also traces of groove metal and modern alternative metal woven throughout the composition. Listeners familiar with artists such as Rob Zombie, Slipknot, and Korn will recognize elements of those sounds, though First World Appetite avoids becoming a simple homage act.

What separates the project from many industrial revivalists is de Groot’s willingness to embrace vulnerability alongside aggression.

Angel Shades Demise: An Album About Survival

While “Eternal War” is among the album’s most explosive moments, it represents only one chapter in a much larger narrative.

According to de Groot, Angel Shades Demise functions as a snapshot of his internal world over the past three years. Themes of depression, trauma, anxiety, identity struggles, and perseverance run throughout the record.

The album’s opening track, “Erase My Scars,” was inspired by a friend who died by suicide in 2023. That song serves as a deeply personal examination of grief and existential questioning before “Eternal War” shifts the focus outward toward societal conflict.

This sequencing is significant.

Rather than presenting anger as a starting point, de Groot frames it as a response to pain. The rage heard throughout “Eternal War” emerges from loss, helplessness, and emotional exhaustion rather than simple rebellion.

That emotional complexity appears to define the album as a whole.

Tracks such as “Faye,” written for his daughter, reportedly showcase a softer side rarely heard in previous First World Appetite material. Meanwhile, songs like “When The Devil Collects” and “Don’t Run From Demons” explore themes of empowerment and resilience.

The result appears to be the project’s most dynamic and personal work to date.

From Character to Confession

One of the most fascinating aspects of First World Appetite’s evolution is how dramatically its purpose has changed.

When the project began in 2017, de Groot envisioned it as a vehicle for a confrontational character who would challenge societal norms and frustrations. Over time, however, the distinction between character and creator gradually disappeared.

Today, First World Appetite functions as a largely autobiographical platform.

De Groot openly discusses living with ADD, depression, anxiety, and the lasting impact of various personal experiences. Rather than masking those realities behind fictional narratives, he has increasingly incorporated them into his songwriting.

That shift is evident throughout Angel Shades Demise.

The album does not merely observe psychological struggle—it inhabits it.

In many ways, this evolution mirrors broader changes within heavy music itself. Modern metal audiences increasingly value authenticity and emotional honesty over theatrical posturing. While industrial music has traditionally embraced larger-than-life personas, artists who combine those aesthetics with genuine vulnerability often create the deepest connections.

First World Appetite appears to be moving firmly in that direction.

The Shadow of Marilyn Manson and the Search for Identity

When discussing influences, de Groot repeatedly returns to one artist: Marilyn Manson.

Specifically, he points to the period culminating in Holy Wood, an album renowned for its conceptual ambition and thematic depth.

The comparison is understandable.

Like Manson’s classic work, First World Appetite combines social criticism, personal reflection, and narrative storytelling into a cohesive artistic vision. Yet the project’s growing diversity suggests influences beyond industrial metal alone.

De Groot also cites Roger Waters, David Bowie, blues rock, Nordic folk music, and traditional songwriting approaches among the inspirations that shaped Angel Shades Demise.

That eclecticism may ultimately become one of the project’s defining strengths.

Songs reportedly range from crushing industrial aggression to emotionally vulnerable balladry, creating a listening experience that resists easy categorization.

“I don’t like it when I buy a record and all the songs sound the same,” de Groot says.

It’s a philosophy increasingly reflected in his work.

Why “Eternal War” Matters

What makes “Eternal War” compelling isn’t simply its heaviness.

Heavy music is everywhere.

What distinguishes the track is its sincerity.

At a time when outrage has become commodified and political commentary often feels performative, de Groot’s anger comes across as deeply personal. Whether listeners agree with every viewpoint expressed is ultimately secondary to the authenticity behind them.

The song captures a feeling many people understand: witnessing events beyond one’s control while struggling to process the emotional weight of them.

That sense of powerlessness has become a defining characteristic of modern life.

“Eternal War” transforms it into something louder, more physical, and perhaps more manageable.

Industrial music has always excelled at converting anxiety into energy. In that respect, First World Appetite is operating within the genre’s finest traditions.

Looking Beyond Angel Shades Demise

Perhaps most intriguing is the fact that de Groot is already working on a third album.

According to him, the next project will move even further beyond the industrial framework, incorporating greater melodic depth alongside influences from power metal and punk.

If Angel Shades Demise represents the culmination of First World Appetite’s industrial metal foundations, future releases may reveal an artist increasingly unwilling to be confined by genre expectations.

For now, however, “Eternal War” stands as one of the strongest indicators yet that First World Appetite is entering a new creative phase.

It is angry, uncompromising, emotionally raw, and unapologetically human.

In a musical landscape often obsessed with perfection, Ronald de Groot has chosen something far more interesting: honesty.

And on “Eternal War,” that honesty hits like a bomb.

Rating: 8.5/10

“Eternal War” is available now, with Angel Shades Demise arriving June 12. Fans of Ministry, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, and emotionally driven industrial metal should have First World Appetite firmly on their radar.