First World Appetite Confronts Trauma, Addiction, and Society’s Dark Corners on Upcoming Album Angel Shades Demise

For Ronald de Groot of The Netherlands, music was never just a hobby — it was survival. Under the name First World Appetite, the alternative metal artist has spent years channeling personal struggles, emotional trauma, and frustrations with society into music that is both brutally honest and emotionally raw.

How it all started

De Groot began writing music and playing guitar at just 16 years old during a difficult childhood marked by turmoil at home. Music quickly became an outlet for expression and reflection, heavily inspired by Marilyn Manson. That influence helped shape the foundation of First World Appetite, a project built on exposing uncomfortable truths while creating music that others can connect with on a deeply personal level.

Minor setback into a major comeback

Now 35, de Groot has transformed years of depression, addiction, and unresolved trauma into fuel for his songwriting. Through battles with alcohol abuse, marijuana dependency, and burnout, he continued creating music that confronts those realities head-on rather than hiding from them.

“My music has a raw and honest approach to the metal sound that I feel is missing in the scene,” de Groot explains. “It’s backed up by heavy riffs, solos, and songs that come from real experiences.”

That honesty reaches new heights on the upcoming album Angel Shades Demise, set for release on June 12th. The 11-track record represents one of the most emotionally demanding projects of his career. Created in the aftermath of a friend’s suicide, the album became both a tribute and a deeply personal reflection of grief, anger, and emotional exhaustion.

The process of completing the album was far from easy. Unsatisfied with the sound for nearly a year, de Groot repeatedly revisited the mixes with different engineers before finally finding the right direction. The project ultimately found its final form through collaboration with mixing and mastering engineer Joel Wanasek.

“Because the record was dedicated to my friend, it had to sound perfect,” he says.

As the album evolved, so did its meaning. During the long remixing process, de Groot realized the project had become a snapshot of his inner world — documenting years of emotional conflict, frustration, and introspection.

That realization inspired the album artwork, which features de Groot alongside a dark negative version of himself overlooking the world below. The imagery symbolizes internal conflict and what he describes as “shadow work,” confronting the darker sides of identity and emotion while questioning the state of the world around him.

The album’s closing track also features guest vocals from singer Diffy, adding another emotional layer to the project’s final moments.

Alongside the album release, First World Appetite continues building momentum with growing industry attention. De Groot is scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of Metalized Magazine, while the completion of the album itself marks another major milestone — especially considering he independently wrote and recorded the entire project on his own.

what’s next

Looking ahead, de Groot hopes to continue expanding the reach of First World Appetite while eventually bringing the project to the live stage with a full band. He also dreams of one day collaborating with longtime inspirations such as Marilyn Manson or Tim Skold.

For now, however, the focus remains on bringing Angel Shades Demise to audiences worldwide and creating music that speaks to those battling their own darkness.

With its uncompromising honesty, aggressive sound, and emotional depth, Angel Shades Demise promises to be more than just another metal album — it stands as a document of survival, reflection, and transformation.

Angel Shades Demise by First World Appetite releases June 12th.