ALBUM REVIEW: Ingested – The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams


Deathcore stalwarts, Ingested, once again release into the world their own blend of pig squeals, breakdowns, and hypnotizing guitar leads. This collection of slamming tracks makes up their eighth full-length album called The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams (Metal Blade Records). While the subgenre has fallen far from its once prominent standing in the heavy music world, the UK natives put together quality deathcore without trying anything too experimental. Ten tracks hit you right in the face for forty-five minutes before finally letting go.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: My Dying Bride – A Mortal Binding


My Dying Bride might be the most important Doom band ever. Their second album Turn Loose The Swans (1993, Peaceville Records) redefined the genre, forsaking Sabbath worship, and creating a romantically depressing river of sonic darkness from which they sailed. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Coffins – Sinister Oath


Sinister Oath (Relapse Relapse), the sixth full-length from Tokyo-based Coffins, is a measuring stick for the Death/Doom scene, providing an undeniable starting point for anyone looking to dip their toes into the genre, performers and fans alike. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Absence – The Absence


Every so often, I get a message from the captain here at Ghost Cult to potentially squeeze in a review. Let’s just say, this was an easy “sure thing” when I saw it was the new, self-titled album by The Absence (Listenable Insanity Records).  While it has been a while since I last listened to these Floridian thrash-meets-melodic-death-metalers, the lineup has seen some big changes outside of vocalist Jamie Stewart and returning drummer Jeramie Kling. The good news: we all get another thirty-seven minutes worth of killer, groovy, riff-tastic, death metal!Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Defect Designer – Chitin


If the striking artwork courtesy of Ian Miller of Ulthar was not a giveaway, Chitin (Transcending Obscurity Records) is far from a conventional affair. As previous output from Defect Designer proved, this Russian (by way of Norway) vehicle is one totally unafraid of formulas and usual genre structures even amongst a seemingly increasing amount of more esoteric death metal acts. Even previous experience however will not fully prepare listeners for proceedings here however with some equal parts innovation and outright absurdity- for better or worse.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Perpetua – Resurgence


Scotland: a country of rolling hills and glens; forests, moorlands, and mountains. A people surrounded and enriched by a proud cultural history.

Also Scotland: bad weather, heroic levels of alcohol consumption, and a widely held intolerance of English politics and sporting teams. Also, Metal. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: BRAT – Social Grace


Where to start with BRAT? The potential is on the wall as I don’t recall too many bands that get to release their debut LP – Social Grace, by the way – via Prosthetic Records. And bear in mind that this is an outfit that formed right before the golden days of the Coronavirus pandemic so it’s not like they’ve been toiling away in the dark for the better part of a decade. So, therefore, these kids must have the goods. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Aborted – Vault Of Horrors


For nearly thirty years, Aborted has been the backbone of the Death Metal scene. With another release in the collection, the Vault of Horrors (Nuclear Blast Records) has been opened. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Skeletal Remains – Fragments of the Ageless 


On paper, Skeletal Remains should be on top of the mountain for many a Death Metal connoisseur. All the parts are here, really: plenty of double-kick drums, blast beats and screaming lead guitars to go around. 

They’re even from California, and we all know how much of a gold mine the West Coast has been for extreme metal in the last four decades.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Hand Of Kalliach – Corryvreckan


Ah, Scotland. Home of the highlands, tartan kilts, bagpipes, haggis, and whisky; Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod, the deep-fried Mars bar, the Loch Ness Monster, Outlander, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and an instant aversion to anyone from England who casually reduces the country to a series of stereotypes for the sake of a quick laugh. Not to mention its thriving metal scene, of course, with folk metal being one of the country’s most popular exports.Continue reading