Richard Johnson, Ivan Khilko, and Ethan Griffiths have been the stable line-up for Virginia’s rollicking Drugs of Faith for a while now. Not only does the band have one of the coolest names in rock and metal, they have also never put out anything that wasn’t essential. The pattern continues with Asymmetrical, perhaps the unit’s most crackling and timely release to date. Out Feb. 21st via Selfmadegod Records, this album finds the grind n’ roll band asserting even more dissonance, precision, riff-perfection, noise grit, and concerned realism into their fierce sound.Continue reading
Tag Archives: extreme metal
ALBUM REVIEW: Nachtblut – Todschick
Out via Napalm Records which initially specializes in releasing Folk Metal and Black Metal units (but later expands in terms of genre diversity), Germany’s very own Nachtblut drop their seventh studio album entitled Todschick after previously having achieved a milestone regarding their previous release Vanitas, which peaked at #19 on the German album charts.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Rectal Smegma – To Serve and Protect
Back in 2023 this young (not so young), innocent (well, pretty corrupted actually) writer had the pleasure of attending Berlin Deathfest—two days of Death Metal, Slam and Grind. For the pummelling rhythms, churning riffs, turbo-charged energy and just gleeful silliness it’s hard to pick a bigger high point than Dutch, Goregrind four-piece Rectal Smegma. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Neckbreakker – Within The Viscera
Name changes can be important. Many great bands start out under completely different names only to find a quick re-evaluation of their brand is key to their eventual success.
In the case of Neckbreakker, language appears to have been at least partly responsible as their recent name change alters nothing in its meaning, just the form in which it is delivered. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Bedsore – Dreaming The Strife For Love
Hello friends, quick question, what do you get when you mix prog rock with metal? Well short answer, you get the Italian based band Bedsore. This statement, although true falls very short though, of defining what this band is presenting on their new cut Dreaming The Strife For Love (20 Buck Spin.)Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Veilburner – The Duality of Decapitation and Wisdom
Veilburner (the mysterious, otherworldly duo of Mephisto Deleterio and Chrisom Infernium, are never shy of tying lore and mythology into their releases. Seven albums, seven tracks, and each of them seven minutes long. On The Duality of Decapitation and Wisdom (Transcending Obscurity Records) the pair pick up where they left off (both musically and conceptually) with 2022’s almost-eponymous VLBRNR. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Gaerea – Coma
Back in 2022, Portuguese Extreme Metal recluses Gaerea released Mirage (Season of Mist), my album of the year. It was the first time I had been exposed to the shrouded-in-mystery outfit, but it was nearly impossible to choose any other record to headline that year.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Barathrum – Überkill
With the existence of bands like Beherit, Impaled Nazarene, and Archgoat emerging as the quintessential pioneers of the Finnish Black Metal scene back in the nineties, fair to say that throughout the years, Finland has left a long-lasting, profound legacy when it comes to presenting a harsh sonic journey of Black Metal, or most of Extreme Metal subgenres in general; even including the more contemporary names surrounding, such as Sargeist and Havukruunu. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Undeath – More Insane
Undeath are here to stay, and we’re all better people because of it.
More Insane (Prosthetic Records) is certainly an on-the-nose title for a record that absolutely lives up to its moniker.
ALBUM REVIEW: Vafurlogi – Í vökulli áþján
The Icelandic music scene has always been an integral part of me that shaped my identity into the person I am today, ever since I was a middle schooler (which is also what got me into learning Icelandic at 12. Who on earth learns Icelandic at 12, in this economy?). The metal festival Eistnaflug and the multi-genre festival Iceland Airwaves have always been on my ongoing bucket list.Continue reading