Burned In Effigy - Rex Mortem

One of the first strong albums of 2022, Chicago based melo death group Burned In Effigy finally unleash their first full length album since their EP back in 2017. A very guitar focused group, the band sounds like they mix a bit of metalcore a bit in their style, but draw on influences that range from early Soilwork, Starkill, and even Insomnium, bu...

05/01/2022

Malefic Throne - Malefic Throne

This review could simply end in three short sentences: - Gene Palubicki (Perdition Temple, Angelcorpse, Blasphemic Cruelty) on guitars - Steve Tucker (Morbid Angel, Warfather) on vocals / bass - John Longstreth (Origin, Hate Eternal, ex-Angelcorpse) on drums But let's go in order and try not to lose our temper. Malefic Throne are the new crea...

04/01/2022

Needless - The Cosmic Cauldron

“The Cosmic Cauldron” is a new turning point for Hungary’s thrash death outfit Needless. Delving into a sci fi themed album the music supports the album with its rather grandiose and dramatic sound, especially in the solos. It is more progressive than their previous work and pushes the group’s boundaries more. Opening with the hard hitting ‘Warvoid...

03/01/2022

I Helvete - Sinisten Puiden Niitty

It isn’t very often a band can throw some big surprises in with their debut album, but Finland’s I Helvete does just that with their deceptively short debut “Sinisten Puiden Niitty.” There is A LOT going on here with 6 tracks, and one would think that they were in for some long, epic doom metal album, but I Helvete only touch on the doom elements,...

30/12/2021

Nihility - Beyond Human Concepts

Second album for Nihility, blackned death metal from Portugal. "Beyond Human Concepts" comes out after only 3 years from the previous "Thus Spoke The Antichrist" which had already spread the name of the band within the European death metal scene. In my opinion, this album sounds much darker and heavier than the previous one, highlighting the true p...

29/12/2021

Bloodride - Idiocracy

Bloodride hail from Finland and their fourth full length album, “Idiocracy,” continues true to their style. Deeply rooted in thrash that mixes the riffing of groups like Exodus and Kreator with the throaty vocal approach of Testament, what one has here is a pretty basic, but solid effort. 12 tracks that clock about 40 minutes listeners will not fee...

28/12/2021

Haiduk - Diabolica

Haiduk is a rather interesting one man group from Canada. Melding black metal and death metal together, Luka Milojica’s third full length album is more of an instrumental collection rather than the typical vocal driven music backed by instrumentation. The blend of black metal and death metal can certainly be heard in the riffing on tracks like ‘Cor...

27/12/2021

Poppy Seed Grinder - Faceless Atrocities

If you are into qualitative death/grind metal then the name of the Checz monster Poppy Seed Grinder should ring a bell. The band exists since 1997 and in 2021 they release their fourth full-length album "Faceless Atrocities". So first things first - this record shows the most extreme female vocals that I have ever heard after Som Pluijmers from...

23/12/2021

Prezir - Depredation

Being reminiscent of bands like Behemoth, Dissection, and a little bit of Emperor, Prezir’s “Depredation” is a malicious onslaught of death infused black metal with each element seemingly fighting for supremacy. The death metal vibes are orchestrated nicely within to make this a unique sounding piece of work. What I like about this release are the...

22/12/2021

Corpse Eater - The Stench Of Mutilated Corpses

First full length album for Corpse Eater from Germany. For those not familiar with the name, Corpse Eater is a one man band and exist since 2014. Nine EPs, one demo and a handful of split CDs in their possession so far… About time they released their full length no? The play button is pushed and what you come upon is nasty doses of utterly ugly...

21/12/2021

Ophis - Spew Forth Odium

Ophis has been around for some time, and 20 years later they are still producing excellent death doom. Hailing from Germany I remember when I first heard these guys back in 2010 with ‘Withered Shades’ on Solitude Productions Russian doom label, and I’m happy to see them still cranking out solid music. While their sound has changed a little bit, shy...

20/12/2021

KHNVM - Portals To Oblivion

Second full length for KHNVM, pronounced as Kha-noom, death metal band with members from Germany and Bangladesh. After the first album released before this terrible pandemic and with an intense work of songwriting, KHNVM release their second album entitled "Portals To Oblivion" via Neckbreaker Records. After an intro that recalls oriental melodi...

14/12/2021

Asarmoth / Living Decomposition - Alliance In Chaos

What we have here is a split collection of two very different styles of death metal. The first four tracks are from Italy’s one man death metal band Asarmoth with tons of symphonic influences, and the last five are from Venezuela’s three piece more technical death metal group Living Decomposition. Both track groupings are featured on previous album...

13/12/2021

Wolftooth - Blood & Iron

Do you like your metal with a lot of rhythm, intelligent, well thought out, and played with the utmost intensity and passion? Then look no further than Wolftooth’s new opus entitled, “Blood & Iron”. This is much heavier than your typical heavy/doom metal album, and the band drive that statement home with each of the 9 tracks presented here. Wit...

09/12/2021

Godless - States Of Chaos

India’s Godless slay hard with their debut full length. Bringing a full assault of death metal to the ears, they sound like a thrashier version of Deicide with their groove laden riffs and deep barked vocals. Tracks like ‘Malevolent’ and ‘Post-Cryogenic’ feature Slayer inspired riffs with Glen Benton inspired vocals that merge very well together, c...

07/12/2021