ALBUM REVIEW: Yersin – The Scythe Is Remorseless


A beguiling atmosphere. A deliberate sense of urgency. A cacophony of turmoil and finality: blackened Grindcore-meets-crust purveyors Yersin needed only a hair under twenty-five minutes to effectively and enthusiastically encapsulate all of the above mentioned techniques, and then some.

The Scythe Is Remorseless (Trepanation Recordings) sounds as if the Sunderland-based trio recorded seven tracks in the midst of an apocalyptic phenomenon known only to them. The sound bites and pierces; the vocals pummel and decimate. Together, it’s enthralling.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Resin Tomb – Cerebral Purgatory


One of the many things Resin Tomb got right on Cerebral Purgatory (Transcending Obscurity) is how compact yet fully fledged the tracks are. None of the eight songs run longer than 4:20 (nice), and even so, there is a recurring theme of individuality permeating through the entire debut full-length. A combination of desolate Death Metal and gregarious Grindcore is never a bad thing, either. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Bronson Arm – Bronson Arm


Having followed Learning Curve Records for a fair old while, it was exciting to see one of their number, Bronson Arm, pop up on the Ghost Cult reviews list. Other noteworthy acts from said label that are worthy of investigation include The Tunnel, Something Is Waiting and Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, to name but a few.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Magnum – Here Comes The Rain


This review was submitted before the sad news of the passing of guitarist and band leader Tony Clarkin. Our condolences and best wishes to Tony’s family, friends, and the members of the band. 

It only takes a few moments of opener “Run Into The Shadows” to be welcomed with open arms back into Magnum’s world, as the opening guitar motif intertwines with the dancing keyboards and Bob Catley’s distinctive storyteller-cum-favourite-uncle’s-croon transports us into the kingdom of madness once more, forty-six years after Catley and Tony Clarkin recorded the band’s debut album, a fantastic record that laid the groundwork for a marvellous career. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Saevus Finis – Facilis Descensus Averno


For quite some time now, but arguably in the last few years especially, Transcending Obscurity Records has been one of the most consistently excellent champions for new, exciting and often innovative extreme metal acts, both in quality and in the sheer volume of their releases. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Engulf – The Dying Planet Weeps


The Dying Planet Weeps (Everlasting Spew Records) – Engulf‘s first full-length – is the solo project of Hal Microutsicos (Blasphemous.) The opening track benefits from a dissonant throb, rather than following the course most death metal takes in pummeling you with a head-first assault. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Cariosus – Will, Until Beauty


Labeled as a Melodic Death Metal band, Cariosus instead is better defined as a melting pot of exquisite musical elements. Though that descriptor may not sound as flashy or attention grabbing, bear with me (it’s worth it). Will, Until Beauty (Self-Released), the duo’s first full-length, meshes deathcore, metalcore, tech-death and even some progressive techniques while boasting eight thunderous – thunderous – tracks.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Awesome Machine – … It’s Ugly Or Nothing 


The start of a new year is the time to look ahead, of course, but fans of great rock music just love to look back, don’t they? Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Domination Campaign – A Storm Of Steel


What Domination Campaign, a duo comprised of Psycroptic bandmates Jason Peppiatt (vocals, guitar, bass) and Joe Haley (drums), have tried to do with A Storm Of Steel (Prosthetic Records) is craft a Death Metal record that reveals the perils and horrors of war (World War II, in particular) in a way that is less sensationalist, and more raw and real.Continue reading


EP REVIEW: Alluvial – Death Is But A Door


Atlanta-based Alluvial hit the scene running in 2017 with their independently released full-length debut The Deep Longing For Annihilation, a wholly instrumental Death Metal record which caught the ears of the mighty Nuclear Blast Records, who subsequently snapped them up for their follow up Sarcoma in 2021. Continue reading