Origin: Serbia
Formed: 2014
Location: Temerin, South BaÄŤka, Vojvodina
Genre: Depressive Black Metal
Status: Changed name (continues as Chaoist since 2022)
Label: Jesboligakurac Records
Themes: Psychosis, Death, Violence, Drugs, Alcohol
Joys of Life was a one‑man depressive black metal project from Temerin, active between 2014 and 2022 and known for its brutally honest, self‑destructive aesthetic. The project stood out within the Serbian DSBM underground for its raw emotional exposure, unfiltered lyrical themes, and the unmistakable sonic signature of its sole member, Dopamine&Serotonine. His work blended the bleakness of classic DSBM with a distinctly Balkan sense of despair—harsh vocals drenched in anguish, repetitive hypnotic riffs, and a suffocating atmosphere shaped by themes of addiction, psychosis, and existential collapse.
The debut album Dem Tod sei Dank (2015) quickly gained cult status among followers of the genre. Praised for its sincerity and emotional extremity, the album delivered a lo‑fi yet immersive descent into suicidal ideation and psychological torment. Underground reviewers highlighted its authenticity, noting that the project avoided theatricality in favor of a stark, lived‑in portrayal of suffering.
With Ausweg / Existenzfeind (2018), Joys of Life expanded its sonic palette, incorporating more dynamic structures and a deeper sense of melodic melancholy while retaining the abrasive core of DSBM. The album further cemented the project’s reputation as one of the most emotionally intense and uncompromising acts in the Serbian depressive black metal scene.
The project also appeared on the digital compilation Jericho Vol. 44 – Another Day Has Begun (2018) with the track “Gelb wird Rot,” exposing Joys of Life to a broader international audience within the niche DSBM community.
In 2022, the project underwent a transformation and continued under the new name Chaoist, marking a shift in conceptual direction while retaining the same creative force behind the music. Dopamine&Serotonine’s involvement in numerous other underground projects—Todesfall, Жегор, ex‑AcidFather, ex‑Ljuska, ex‑Kobb—further situates Joys of Life within a wider network of Serbian experimental and depressive black metal activity.
Despite its limited discography, Joys of Life remains a notable and respected name in the regional DSBM underground, remembered for its uncompromising emotional intensity and its role in shaping the darker edges of Serbian black metal during the 2010s.
Dopamine&Serotonine – All instruments, Vocals (2014–2022)
Full‑length albums
Dem Tod sei Dank (2015)
Ausweg / Existenzfeind (2018)
Compilation appearance
“Gelb wird Rot” – Jericho Vol. 44 – Another Day Has Begun (2018)