Having already dropped a handful of short-form studio releases, Massachusetts Progressive Death Metal act Ancient Death finally unleash Ego Dissolution (Profound Lore Records), their full-length debut album. Having already built up a well-deserved reputation in just a few short years, the four-piece from Walpole throw their psychedelic hat into a ring occupied by such luminaries as Gorguts and current darlings of the scene Blood Incantation.Continue reading
When it comes to Death Metal, Polish duo Dormant Ordeal have all the trappings of a colossal contender within the scene.
Tech Death tendencies, groovy vocal lines, venomous guitar tones, sizzling percussion. They have it all and then some.Continue reading
Revitalised and rejuvenated by the homecoming of original frontman Ezra Haynes, Colorado Tech Death act Allegaeon return with its seventh full-length studio release The Ossuary Lens (Metal Blade Records). Since Haynes’s return at the back end of ’22, the quintet has already teased fans with two singles before finally unveiling what everyone has really been waiting for. Continue reading
The Italian band Vulvectomy is back at it with their unique brand of death metal on the new cut Aberrant Vaginal Gestation out on Comatose Music. Of course, anyone who picks up this cut will notice the gore/brutality elements in everything from the art to the song titles. Do not be fooled though there is much to be had sonically once we dive into the actual music. Continue reading
I recently re-listened to “Varyags of Miklagaard” by Amon Amarth and was wondering if there’s any close contender that could match their sonic nuances– coincidentally, the album I was assigned to review this time, Ordo Diabolicum by Aran Angmar, I think, passes as a close contender with vibes adjacent to “Varyags of Miklagaard” and all. Aran Angmar might not be a Viking Metal band just like what Amon Amarth is, as they primarily play Black Metal, but on my first listen, I got the impression that Ordo Diabolicum exudes that necromancer-like energy that is almost suitable as a D&D/MMORPG soundtrack– which is a fair point, considering that ancient lores and necromancy happen to be some of the recurring themes incorporated in their songwriting.
Cytotoxin have well and truly embraced the Chernobyl disaster as impetus for what they term Nuclear Death Metal, and their latest foray, Biographyte (Self-Released) is yet another gruelling installment, for better and worse.Continue reading
A duo accompanied by an unofficial yet ever present third member, German Blackened Death Metal act The Infernal Deceit are back with second full length album The True Harmful Black (Personal Records). Formed in 2018, the pair from North Rhine-Westphalia go only by enigmatic single initials – guitarist/bassist C and vocalist R – while session drummer Jörg Uken gets to use his full name while pounding the living hell out of his kit.Continue reading
For those with the good fortune (and talent) to make an indelible mark on the music world, there are those who achieve mainstream fame, and then like a concurrent shadow are those so vital that their creative essence is absorbed into the very fabric of the music world. Continue reading
Messa’s fourth album, The Spin (Metal Blade Records), finds the band embracing their inner prog rock guitar gods, and channeling that energy in a few different directions. The first few songs might fake you out as they sound as if the band is heading in a more post-punk direction. The guitars gallop with more tension at a fairly brisk pace. This is certainly a shift from their earlier material that found them as more of a doom band. The vocals are very strong and well-defined from a songwriting perspective, which is the most important element of their sound. The band has always carried a smoky blues-based undercurrent, which is still present, though at times they wander off into more atmospheric shadows, as heard on ” At the Races”. Their guitarist begins to shine on this one, and his heroics do not let up from here. Continue reading
The press release can call it “neo-gothic” or whatever they want, but Magnolia Park‘s Vamp (Epitaph Records) is Nu Metal, landing somewhere between Linkin Park, and Oh! The Horror. What that means in this context is that I really dig it. Continue reading