Author Archives: Gustavo Scuderi

About Gustavo Scuderi

"If I could survive to live one more time I wouldn't be changing a thing at all Done more in my life than some do in ten I'd go back and do it all over again..."

Album Review – Monachopsis Art / An Empty Existence (2023)

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A newborn Finnish creature is ready to darken the skies with their debut opus, inspired by early first and second wave Black Metal as well as more recent Atmospheric Black Metal.

Playing brutal yet hypnotic and hauntingly beautiful music straight from their woeful souls, Finnish Black Metal trio Monachopsis Art was formed in 2022 by members from such bands as The Abbey, Henget, Shape of Despair and Licht des Urteils, aiming at creating music that is organic and raw, but still powerful and feeling-evoking, which is exactly what you’ll find in the band’s debut opus, titled An Empty Existence. Mixed and mastered at Studio Beyond North Star by the band’s own guitarist, bassist and keyboardist J.H. (aka Jesse Heikkinen), the album is inspired by early first and second wave Black Metal bands such as Venom, Bathory and Burzum, but also more recent Atmospheric Black Metal acts such as ColdWorld and Lustre, while the lyrics revolve around war, suicide and the meaningless struggles of human life, all played with passion and hatred by the aforementioned J.H. together with N.K. (aka Natalie Koskinen) on vocals, and A.K. (aka Antti Kaislaranta) on drums.

Atmospheric and sinister from the very first second, the intro Thee Darkness Gathers… will darken the skies before the trio comes hammering our hearts with Seeds, a solid fusion of old school, raw Black Metal with more contemporary sounds and nuances led by the venomous gnarls by the she-demon N.K., whereas Silent Torture presents a hypnotizing rhythm led by the Doom Metal beats by A.K. while J.H. adds his share of horror to the music with his somber keys and sharp riffage. Following such powerful tune, the band brings forth River of Blood, offering us all devilish lyrics grasped by N.K. (“Hear the sound / Of the burning wood / Feel the power of / Pure disgust / See how the light (is) fading away / Watch how flesh…buried under the tone”) amidst a dense and Stygian sonority.

Then featuring guest vocals by the demonic Spellgoth (Horna, Trollheims Grott), who makes a phantasmagorical duet with N.K., we have A Dark Place, with J.H. extracting pure evil from his guitar and keys; followed by Stargazer, once again bringing to our avid ears a grim hybrid of Black and Doom Metal while A.K. dictates the song’s lugubrious pace and N.K.’s witch-like vociferations and introspective clean vocals permeate the air beautifully. J.H.’s keys continue to give their music a theatrical vibe in Flesh Will Be Humiliated, while their core Black Metal sound is perfect for summoning all creatures from the underworld; and the trio continues to walk straight into darkness in No Desire to Live, with J.H. and A.K. making a sinister duo and, therefore, making our heads tremble with their devilish sonic weapons. Finally, we face Flame of Night, which is not a bad song but the keys sound a bit excessive during its entirety, taking away a bit of its heaviness. N.K. is awesome on vocals as usual, though.

The name of the band couldn’t have been more appropriate than Monachopsis Art, as “monachopsis” is defined as the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place, plus the word “art” to depict how the band members see their creations as a different form of art that doesn’t follow the rules of the existing music scene, all carefully brought into being in An Empty Existence. Hence, go check what such promising trio is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and above that, go grab your copy of their idiosyncratic debut album from the Nordvis webstore or by clicking HERE, and you can also find all things Monachopsis Art by following this link. The music by Monachopsis Art is evil, atmospheric, delicate and captivating, turning An Empty Existence into the perfect soundtrack for one of those dark days with no end in sight.

Best moments of the album: Silent Torture, A Dark Place and Stargazer.

Worst moments of the album: Flame of Night.

Released in 2023 Forgotten Friends/Silent Future Recordings

Track listing
1. Thee Darkness Gathers… 2:05
2. Seeds 3:50
3. Silent Torture 4:02
4. River of Blood 5:00
5. A Dark Place 3:06
6. Stargazer 3:34
7. Flesh Will Be Humiliated 2:55
8. No Desire to Live 3:30
9. Flame of Night 4:25

Band members
N.K. – vocals
J.H. – guitars, bass, keyboards
A.K. – drums

Guest musician
Spellgoth – vocals on “A Dark Place”

Album Review – Viscera / Carcinogenesis (2023)

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UK’s own Technical Death Metal/Deathcore monster returns with their striking sophomore album, an essential listening for fans of modern Deathcore.

Formed in 2019 in the UK and featuring former members of Heart of a Coward, Abhorrent Decimation, Martyr Defiled, Nervecell and Surfaces, the electrifying Technical Death Metal/Deathcore monster Viscera returned to the battlefield this year with their sophomore opus, titled Carcinogenesis, the follow-up to their 2020 breakthrough debut Obsidian. Produced by Viscera and Justin Hill, and mixed and mastered by Simon Pietroforte, the album is an essential listening for fans of modern Deathcore, Pantera, Killswitch Engage and Fit For an Autopsy, showcasing all the rage and dexterity by frontman Jamie Graham, guitarists Charlie Michael and Adam Bell, and bassist David Archer and drummer Alex Micklewright (both having left the band recently for personal reasons). “Lyrically/thematically, this album continues on from Obsidian with Delilah’s soul reaping cover. This time the energy she has gathered feeds her tyrannical partner, who in turn uses the newly absorbed life force to corrupt all around him. Metaphorically it’s a statement of how humanity tends to feed of others only then to tear itself apart,” commented Jamie about the band’s infuriated new opus.

The album kicks off with the gripping, melodic and imposing title-track Carcinogenesis, blending the best elements from Technical Death Metal and Symphonic Deathcore while Alex is bestial behind his drums and Jamie roars manically for our vulgar delectation; followed by Rats with Wings and its insurgent lyrics barked by Jamie (“A legion shall arise / A second sun has risen / Encase the earth in a fiery prison / The weeping world shall reap / The fruits of her dark secrets bequeathed / Calling out from the dark / Bring forth the ancient arc / Behind her blackest eyes / Unquenching thirst for blood”), while his bandmates generate a fulminating wall of Deathcore sounds. Then the band takes their animosity and heaviness to a whole new level in the headbanging extravaganza Layers of Skin, with Charlie and Adam spreading fire and hatred through their riffs supported by the crushing drums by Alex, and there’s no time to breathe as Viscera keep hammering our damned souls in Resolver, showcasing another violent vocal performance by Jamie and the always melodic but fierce riffs by the band’s guitar duo.

One more round of their demented Deathcore comes in the form of Omnipotence, presenting deep, inhumane roars by Jamie while his bandmates keep exhaling aggressiveness from their sonic weapons, whereas Sungazer is one of the most exciting songs of the album, with the soaring vocal lines by Jamie matching perfectly with the song’s epic atmosphere while Charlie and Adam continue to hypnotize us with their riffs and solos. In Lex Talionis we face more of their wicked lyrics (“I was trying to rebuild something / You promised that you’d listen to me / But if that were true it meant that you were human / That’s something that remains to be seen”) while the music is Deathcore played to perfection; followed by Demon Queen, absolutely technical, intricate and groovy, and the only song of the album where the vocals by Jamie are almost one hundred percent clean, overflowing darkness and heaviness until the very last second. And lastly, we have On Earth as it is in Hell, the most introspective and sinister of all songs, closing the album on a high note spearheaded by the pounding beats by Alex while its otherworldly vibe will darken your thoughts for all eternity.

Viscera more than nailed it with Carcinogenesis, which is by the way available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, positioning it as one of the top heavy music albums of 2023 hand down. Hence, don’t forget to pay those guys a visit on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and more of their infernal music, and of course to purchase your copy of Carcinogenesis from the Unique Leader Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD or as a special edition 12″ vinyl, as well as from indiemerchstore.com also as a a special edition 12″ vinyl (or simply click HERE to buy or stream the album form your favorite retailer). The word “carcinogenesis” might mean the initiation of cancer formation, when normal cells are transformed into cancer cells, but in the case of Viscera it represents the initiation of an exciting new phase in their career, setting the bar high for their future releases and, therefore, offering us all another amazing reason for raising our horns high in the name of heavy music.

Best moments of the album: Carcinogenesis, Layers of Skin, Sungazer and Lex Talionis.

Worst moments of the album: Absolutely none.

Released in 2023 Unique Leader Records

Track listing
1. Carcinogenesis 5:49
2. Rats with Wings 3:31
3. Layers of Skin 4:03
4. Resolver 3:41
5. Omnipotence 3:40
6. Sungazer 4:33
7. Lex Talionis 4:30
8. Demon Queen 4:44
9. On Earth as it is in Hell 5:11

Band members
Jamie Graham – vocals
Charlie Michael – guitars
Adam Bell – guitars, synths
David Archer – bass, synths
Alex Micklewright – drums

Album Review – Angelic Desolation / Orchestrionic Abortion (2023)

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A gore-fueled assault on the senses in the form of the sophomore album by a ruthless American Razorgrind band.

A Brutal Death Metal band formed in 2006 in Denver, Colorado, in the United States with a full-scale sonic attack and a sound unique enough to label their own music as “American Razorgrind”, Angelic Desolation are unleashing upon humanity their sophomore opus, titled Orchestrionic Abortion, a gore-fueled assault on the senses taking influences from Thrash Metal, Grindcore, Death Metal, horror movies and a love for the power of the riff. Recorded and mixed at Hahn Audio, mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, and displaying a sick cover art by Kevin Waltz, Orchestrionic Abortion is a blood-soaked album best enjoyed loud masterfully put together by vocalist Jay Medina, guitarist Matt Markle, bassist Leonard White and drummer Max “Thunder” Stark, sounding ruthless and vile throughout its 31 minutes of musical savagery.

The quartet’s razor-edged onrush begins in full force with Brutus McMucus, a Brutal Death Metal tune with hints of Thrash Metal where Jay is absolutely infuriated with his sick roars, sounding fast, demented and infernal just the way we like it; followed by Shake The Baby, one of the most wicked songs of the current Deathgrind scene presenting a bestial job done by Matt with his piercing riffage and of course Max with his thunderous and intricate drumming. There’s no sign of slowing down at all for those American razorgrinders as we can see in Pterrordactyl Mann, with Matt slashing his axe nonstop supported by the low-tuned, metallic bass by Leonard and all beats and fills by Max. And switching gears to a more cadenced, headbanging vibe, the band brings forth the electrifying Dic Tater, where they distill all their technique while continuing their path of sonic devastation led by the deep gutturals by Jay.

If you like tacos and brutality, the band will offer you a gory fusion of both in Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco), with Matt and Leonard adding their own spices to their already furious Death Metal thanks to another classy stringed work by the duo, whereas Barbaric Destroyer is as progressive as it’s violent, showcasing a fulminating performance by Max on drums while Jay keeps growling in the name of extreme music. Then screeches from a mad chimp blend perfectly with the band’s hellish sound in AIDS Chimp Lab Attack, a lesson in Technical and Brutal Death Metal with Matt stealing the spotlight with his ruthless riffage, being therefore  perfect for slamming into the circle pit. And last but definitely not least, the band offers their rendition for Cattle Decapitation’s Forced Gender Reassignment (check out the original one HERE from their 2012 album Monolith of Inhumanity), delivering a fantastic tribute to their idols spearheaded by Jay and Max with their respective growls and blast beats.

Do you have what it takes to get face-to-face with the guys from Angelic Desolation? If your answer is yes, go check what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their visceral music on Spotify, and of course, grab your copy of the pulverizing Orchestrionic Abortion from their own BandCamp page, from Apple Music, or simply by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, Orchestrionic Abortion overflows blood and violence, and those American metallers responsible for such demented album are craving your blood to keep fueling their unrelenting Death Metal machine.

Best moments of the album: Shake The Baby, Dic Tater and AIDS Chimp Lab Attack.

Worst moments of the album: Pterrordactyl Mann.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Brutus McMucus 3:47
2. Shake The Baby 4:12
3. Pterrordactyl Mann 3:40
4. Dic Tater 3:44
5. Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco) 3:52
6. Barbaric Destroyer 3:49
7. AIDS Chimp Lab Attack 3:44
8. Forced Gender Reassignment (Cattle Decapitation cover) 3:50

Band members
Jay Medina – vocals
Matt Markle – guitars
Leonard White – bass
Max “Thunder” Stark – drums

Album Review – Category VI / Firecry (2023)

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A classic 80’s metal combustion of bold and true female-fronted anthemic Power Metal masterfully brought into being by one of the most promising names hailing from Atlantic Canada.

Hailing from the misty shores of Avalon, also known as St John’s, the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Heavy/Power Metal unity Category VI formed in early 2010 bringing something new to their local metal scene as they are not only the only band from the city that plays Melodic Metal, but also the only active female-fronted Melodic Metal band in their hometown. Now in 2023 the band comprised of Amanda Gosse on vocals, Geoff Waye on the guitars, Keith Jackman on bass, and Patrick Tarrant on drums returns with a full blazing firestorm with their third album and most accomplished release to date, entitled Firecry, offering us all a classic 80’s metal combustion of bold and true female-fronted anthemic Canadian Power Metal. Featuring a fiery cover art by Serbian artist Ivan Radnić (Enchanted Sword, Fractures in the Sky), Firecry is mandatory for fans of Chastain, Warlock, HellionSentinel Beast and Fear of God, among others, a global scale climate-changing metal cyclone that just may melt the North American frozen tundra with its blazing sound.

The quartet wastes no time and kick off their metallic feast with the title-track Firecry, with Amanda already showcasing all her vocal potency supported by the thunderous bass lines by Keith in a lesson in modern-day Power Metal; whereas darker and more introspective than the opening tune, the somber Valkyrie brings forward piercing riffs by Geoff while Patrick hammers his drums in the best Manowar style. Then we have The Vultures Never Came, presenting a sonority that reminds me of 90’s Megadeth infused with elements from Mercyful Fate, while Patrick is on fire behind his drums providing Amanda with exactly what she needs to kick some ass with her soaring vocals, followed by She Runs With Wolves, another solid hybrid of classic Heavy Metal with more modern Power Metal spearheaded by the stylish riffs and solos by Geoff. And Heavy is the Crown is a direct song with all the classic elements from Heavy Metal, albeit not as exciting or inspiring as its predecessors.

Adding a touch of darkness to their sound and feeling even more inspired by the music by the iconic King Diamond, Amanda’s vocals will resonate through the four corners of the earth in Coven while her bandmates smash their instruments in the name of heavy music, and as every album of metal music inspired by the 80’s needs a power ballad, that’s offered to us by Category VI in The Cradle Will Fall, with of course Amanda stealing the show with her powerful vocals while the music increases its heaviness and epicness considerably as time passes by. Burning Bridges carries a beautiful name for a song that exhales Heavy Metal, with all band members being in total sync, in special Geoff and Keith who deliver a thrilling stringed attack; before the album ends with their rendition of Heart’s all-time classic Barracuda (check the original version HERE), and the band did a sensational job with their own version by bringing the same energy from the original one.

Such electrifying Canadian quartet can be found on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details, and don’t forget to also stream their music on YouTube and on Spotify. The excellent Firecry, which can be purchased from the Moribund Records’ webstore, from Season of Mist, from Apple Music or from Amazon, is undoubtedly the band’s strongest effort to date, bringing endless fire not only to their beautiful homeland, but also to any part of the world where our beloved heavy music is truly appreciated.

Best moments of the album: Firecry, The Vultures Never Came and Burning Bridges.

Worst moments of the album: Heavy is the Crown.

Released in 2023 Moribund Records

Track listing
1. Firecry 6:10
2. Valkyrie 6:05
3. The Vultures Never Came 4:10
4. She Runs With Wolves 4:12
5. Heavy is the Crown 3:47
6. Coven 4:52
7. The Cradle Will Fall 4:53
8. Burning Bridges 3:49
9. Barracuda (Heart cover) 4:21

Band members
Amanda Gosse – vocals
Geoff Waye – guitars
Keith Jackman – bass
Patrick Tarrant – drums

Album Review – Whore Of Bethlehem / Ritual Of Homicide (2023)

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This Blackened Brutal Death Metal horde from Texas is ready to kill armed with their third full-length album, an outpouring of black blasphemy and twisted brutality to shake the pillars of faith.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, the vile Blackened Brutal Death Metal horde Whore Of Bethlehem has been spreading their visceral brand of brutality since their inception in 2009, with their sinister barrage of riffs, blast beats, unnatural screams and heavy songwriting being influenced and inspired by classic Death and Black Metal heavyweights such as Morbid Angel, Immolation, Dissection, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation and Belphegor, among others. Mastered by Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering, mixed at Test Tube Audio, and displaying a sick artwork by Jon Zig, the band’s third full-length opus, titled Ritual Of Homicide, is an outpouring of black blasphemy and twisted brutality to shake the pillars of faith masterfully brought into being by James VanDenBerg on vocals, Ryan Sylvie and Phil King on the guitars, Alan Berryman on bass, and Sam Axelrad on drums, invoking the sound of violence and wickedness with a heart sworn to the black and a soul pledged to hell.

Stygian guitar lines permeate the air in the opening track Enlightenment Through Pain, exploding into a darkened, sinister feast of brutality and gore led by the pulverizing drums by Sam; and putting the pedal to the metal and delivering old school Death Metal with some melodic and progressive nuances, it’s time for the brutal Nails in Your Coffin, with James barking nonstop in the name of evil. Then enhancing their heaviness and obscurity the band offers us all the title-track Ritual of Homicide, where Ryan and Phil are bestial with their axes, cutting our skin deep in true headbanging fashion, followed by Vermin, an infernal, in-your-face Death Metal onrush with no shenanigans nor any other artificial elements, with Sam kicking ass on drums supported by the rumbling bass by Alan. The sinister interlude Gateway will darken our minds before the band comes ripping in Sermon of the Malignant Spirit, the most demonic and obscure of all tracks showcasing an amazing job done by the entire band, in special their guitar duo with their sulfurous riffs and solos.

More of their unrelenting music comes in the form of Out of Body, with James roaring like a maniac while Sam dictates the song’s evil pace, and James keeps hammering our cranial skulls with his brutal drumming in Disembodied, absolutely heavy from start to finish with their guitars and bass generating an unfriendly ambience perfect for raising our horns high. The flammable guitars by Ryan and Phil will pierce your soul in Monolith of Cremation while James crushes his drums as usual in a great display of classic Death Metal, resulting in an invitation to some brutal slammin’ activity; whereas lastly the quintet will demolish our fragile bodies with an avalanche of Death Metal titled Pseudochrist, a more than exciting bonus track bringing forward frantic beats, acid riffs and gruesome vociferations.

The guys from Whore Of Bethlehem are eagerly waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their depraved music, and of course don’t forget to also stream their sick creations on Spotify. The  dark and heavy-as-hell Ritual Of Homicide, which is on sale from Comatose Music’s BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from Apple Music and Amazon (and you can also click HERE for all things Whore Of Bethlehem), is definitely not recommended for the lighthearted, bringing endless chaos, blasphemy and violence to our avid ears and, therefore, cementing the band’s evil legacy in the underground scene.

Best moments of the album: Enlightenment Through Pain, Sermon of the Malignant Spirit and Pseudochrist.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Enlightenment Through Pain 4:39
2. Nails in Your Coffin 4:09
3. Ritual of Homicide 4:21
4. Vermin 3:37
5. Gateway 1:00
6. Sermon of the Malignant Spirit 4:47
7. Out of Body 4:18
8. Disembodied 3:49
9. Monolith of Cremation 3:50
10. Pseudochrist 3:15

Band members
James VanDenBerg – vocals
Ryan Sylvie – lead guitars, backing vocals
Phil King – rhythm guitars
Alan Berryman – bass
Sam Axelrad – drums

Album Review – Godsmack / Lighting Up the Sky (2023)

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Sully Erna and his henchmen will light up your sky to the sound of their thrilling (but unfortunately) final studio album.

Produced and engineered by Andrew Mudrock, mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, and mixed by Dave Fortman, the excellent Lighting Up the Sky is not only the eight studio album by Boston, Massachusetts-based Alternative Rock/Metal titans Godsmack, released five years after their last studio album When Legends Rise (therefore making it the longest gap between two of their studio albums), but it’s also the final one by vocalist and guitarist Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill and drummer Shannon Larkin. And let me tell you that if that’s it for Godsmack at least in terms of releasing new albums, they’re definitely going out with a bang.

Sully blasts his Moog synthesizer to generate a magical atmosphere in You and I, kicking off the album on a high note and delivering classy Hard Rock led by the groovy bass by Robbie, whereas Red White & Blue can be considered their tribute to their homeland, also presenting an amazing guitar job done by Sully and Tony, inspiring us all to raise our fists while Shannon smashes his drums in the best rockin’ way possible. In the first single of the album, the trademark Godsmack tune Surrender, we face their usual acid lyrics (“You’ve always told me / That you know me / But you don’t really know me at all / You just played me and betrayed me / And showed no sympathy at all”) amidst a pure Rock N’ Roll sound, and the quartet doesn’t let the energy level go down by offering more of their electrifying music in What About Me, showcasing another solid kitchen by Robbie and Shannon. And Sully takes care of all acoustic guitars, drums and keyboards in Truth, a beautiful ballad overflowing melancholy and passion.

Back to their more visceral mode we have Hell’s Not Dead, blending elements from Southern Rock and Metal to their core essence and sounding very catchy and vibrant. Needless to say, it will work perfectly if played live during their upcoming tour, while in Soul on Fire the lyrics couldn’t have been more Rock N’ Roll (“In the end / There will come a time my friend / I’m gonna break you wide open / I didn’t see this side unfolding / Hey, I can’t wait for you to make up your mind / I need to take you every time / I’m self destructing”), with the quartet once again kicking some ass with their incendiary sonic weapons in a lecture in modern-day rock music. Let’s Go is perhaps the most generic of all songs, including its instrumental parts and lyrics, albeit it still carries the band’s characteristic sonority in it, whereas exhaling the purest form of the music by Godsmack we can think of, Best of Times is a journey back in time to their early days led by the classic beats by Shannon and the piercing riffage by Tony. The second ballad from the album, titled Growing Old, sounds very introspective and dark thanks to another stylish performance by Sully not only on vocals but also on the piano; and closing the album we have the title-track Lighting Up the Sky, showcasing a fantastic stringed duo by Tony and Robbie, adding endless groove and harmony to the music. In other words, Godsmack definitely know how to hypnotize us with their catchy riffs and lyrics, and this is a really good example of that.

“We’ve enjoyed decades of doing this and we’ve sacrificed a lot of time. But the reality is – and I say this with zero ego – we’re at 27 top 10 (Mainstream Rock Airplay) singles, 12 No. 1s (including ‘Surrender’ from the new album). We could pull three or four more off this new record – it’s a strong record, we feel. That means we could do back-to-back nights in an arena, play 15 songs each night and never play the same single, let alone deep cuts. That’s a helluva place to get to…so you think, how much more do we need?,” commented the band about Lighting Up the Sky (and you can see more details about that HERE), which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify. Moreover, you can also start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram (if you don’t already do so), subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music and videos, and of course purchase their thrilling new album by visiting their official website or by clicking HERE. The band already said that although this is their last studio album they’ll keep touring for the foreseeable future, but of course after listening to Lighting Up the Sky several times already I’ll surely miss new music by Godsmack. Well, at least I can always light up the sky to the sound of all of their creations, including their last and amazing album, right?

Best moments of the album: You and I, Red White & Blue, Soul on Fire and Lighting Up the Sky.

Worst moments of the album: Let’s Go.

Released in 2023 BMG

Track listing
1. You and I 5:16
2. Red White & Blue 4:04
3. Surrender 3:40
4. What About Me 3:55
5. Truth 4:33
6. Hell’s Not Dead 4:50
7. Soul on Fire 4:05
8. Let’s Go 5:40
9. Best of Times 3:36
10. Growing Old 5:01
11. Lighting Up the Sky 4:46

Band members
Sully Erna – vocals, guitar, Moog synthesizer on “You and I”, acoustic guitars, drums and keyboards on “Truth”, backing vocals, organ and piano on “Growing Old”
Tony Rombola – lead guitar
Robbie Merrill – bass
Shannon Larkin – drums

Album Review – Ignominy / Imminent Collapse (2023)

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Prepare your senses for the debut effort by this Canadian four-piece outfit, offering us all 34 minutes of Dissonant Death Metal that’s aggressive, punchy and hook-laden.

Founded in 2013 in the charming Canadian city of Montreal, Quebec, the unrelenting Death Metal beast that goes by the name of Ignominy has just unleashed upon humanity their debut full-length opus, titled Imminent Collapse, the follow-up to their 2019 EP Fear the Living offering us all 34 minutes of Dissonant Death Metal that’s aggressive, punchy and hook-laden, which is rare to find in a style that tends to be more abstract and unpredictable. Mixed and mastered by Erol Ulug, and displaying a grim artwork by Austin Weber, the album is a remarkable effort that manages to find an identity of its own by mangling and mesmerizing listeners at once, showcasing all the talent and fury by vocalist Alexandre Desroches, guitarist Philippe Gariépy, bassist Alexandre Préfontaine and drummer Marc-Antoine Lazure, being therefore recommended for fans of Dysgnostic, Gorguts, Ulcerate, Dischordia and Noctambulist, just to name a few.

The sinister guitar lines by Philippe kick off their dissonant attack in Frantic Appeasement, evolving into a chaotic yet progressive sound led by the classic drumming by Marc-Antoine while Alexandre Desroches roars deeply for our total delight. Then the second song of the album, titled Defaulting Genetics, is even more demented and demonic, with Philippe’s wicked riffs matching perfectly with the fulminating beats by Marc-Antoine; followed by Reminiscence of Hatred, presenting poetry and violence united in its lyrics (“Resurging the violence / Evicting their mistakes  / Disregarding their cries / No matter how they try / To resist the prophecy I’ve been putting in place / It’s simply useless, weakness to not embrace / What’s in front of their face”) amidst a hurricane of Dissonant Death Metal.

The phantasmagorical Premonition of a Dead-End (Interlude I) sets the tone for the visceral Nightmare Bacteria, offering our putrid ears six minutes of hatred and dementia in the form of Death Metal, with all band members being in total sync spearheaded by the inhumane guttural by Alexandre Desroches while also being full of breaks, variations and endless obscurity. Their progressive and dissonant vein pulses stronger than ever in Visceral, showcasing an amazing job done by Philippe and Alexandre Préfontaine with their stringed weapons while Marc-Antoine’s blast beats dictates the song’s pace. After that, another interlude titled Prélude vers l’angoisse (Interlude II) will darken your mind before Ignominy come crushing one last time in Closed-Mind Visuals, a multi-layered, detailed and grim creation by the quartet alternating between more introspective, sinister and atmospheric moments and sheer aggressiveness, with Marc-Antoine stealing the spotlight with another bestial performance behind his drums.

The ruthless, vile Dissonant Death Metal horde from the Great White North known as Ignominy is waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their music, news, tour dates and so on, and don’t forget to also stream all of their eerie creations on Spotify, including obviously their newborn debut opus. Furthermore, the pulverizing Imminent Collapse is on sale from their own BandCamp page, from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore as a digipak CD or as a CD + shirt bundle, from Apple Music, from Amazon, or simply by clicking HERE. Ignominy are undoubtedly going places based on the quality of the music found in Imminent Collapse, with their dissonant sounds darkly echoing through the vast and bitterly cold lands of the Canadian Death Metal scene.

Best moments of the album: Defaulting Genetics, Reminiscence of Hatred and Nightmare Bacteria.

Worst moments of the album: The two interludes are not bad, but they could have been replaced by another song or even merged in just one interlude.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Frantic Appeasement 3:51
2. Defaulting Genetics 4:39
3. Reminiscence of Hatred 5:55
4. Premonition of a Dead-End (Interlude I) 0:49
5. Nightmare Bacteria 6:09
6. Visceral 5:46
7. Prélude vers l’angoisse (Interlude II) 1:02
8. Closed-Mind Visuals 6:18

Band members
Alexandre Desroches – vocals
Philippe Gariépy – guitars
Alexandre Préfontaine – bass
Marc-Antoine Lazure – drums

Guest musicians
Etienne Bayard – additional vocals on “Closed-Mind Visuals”
Vincent Pilon – additional vocals on “Closed-Mind Visuals”

Album Review – The Human Race Is Filth / Cognitive Dissonance (2023)

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A filthy trio hailing from Pennsylvania will attack our senses with their debut full-length album, churning out a new slab of death-grinding disorientation.

Sonic violence abounds, as Pennsylvania, United States-based Death Metal/Grindcore rabble The Human Race Is Filth churns out a new slab of death-grinding disorientation entitled Cognitive Dissonance, their first full-length album and the follow-up to their 2022 EP Echo Chambers. Recorded at The Kaleidoscope, mixed and engineered by Ben Roth, mastered by Joel Grind, displaying a demented artwork by All4Band Design, and featuring a noise track recorded on every song throughout the entire recording, sometimes prominent in mix, sometimes faint, Cognitive Dissonance is a inhumane album carefully brought into being by Kasey Harrison (Police State, Bittered) on vocals and bass, Paul Folk (Exterminance, Police State, Bittered) on the guitars and noises, and Brett Rebman (Punctual, Phlegm, Gangrenous Flesh Consumption) on drums, dealing with topics like mental health, socioeconomic injustice, technology, personal struggle and privilege throughout the album’s intense 25 minutes of music.

Kasey had his toddler son speak the name of the band in the beginning of the intro Life Of Tyrants, followed by tribalistic, primeval beats and vociferations, setting the stage for the trio to kick some ass in Apes With Christ, with Brett showing no mercy for his drums and obviously for our necks while Kasey barks like a rabid beast throughout the entire song in an awesome fusion of Death Metal and Grindcore. Then we have Electronic Caterpillars, just as infernal and neckbreaking as its predecessor, showcasing dirty riffs by Paul that together with the rumbling bass by Kasey will penetrate deep inside your psyche; and the menacing bass by Kasey ignites the grim and groovy Bastardized before exploding into a demolishing Death and Sludge Metal onrush spearheaded by Kasey’s bestial roars, with the song’s heaviness going through the freakin’ roof. There’s no sign of the band slowing things down or delivering anything light; quite the contrary, their vicious, sludgy attack goes on in Cloaked In Shame, with Paul’s riffs and noises bringing an extra dosage of filth to their sound.

The Human Race Is Filth need less than two minutes to pulverize our senses in Hopes Wavered, a lesson in brutality, heaviness and darkness by the trio where Paul has a fantastic performance armed with his axe, and they keep hammering their sonic weapons in Propagating Technology, with Brett alternating between groovier moments and sheer violence. The album’s second to last song, beautifully titled Vomiting Strings Of Human Decay, is the perfect depiction of the band’s music, blending the savagery of Death Metal and Grindcore with sluggish, somber elements, being therefore ideal for slamming into the pit while drinking a cold beer, whereas Tribal Injections Of Division is solid and heavy from start to finish, albeit the band has a much stronger performance when investing into shorter songs. Nothing that hurts the overall quality of the album, of course, as it’s still very enjoyable.

“We wrote this album from August to November 2021 and were really going for straight out Death Grind with a touch of d-beat and Hardcore mixed in. We wanted dirtier guitar and bass tones, more aggressive drums, and more extreme vocals compared to the first three releases and we believe we accomplished those things on this release,” commented the band about their newborn beast, and if you want to know more about them, their tour dates and plans for the future, you can check what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream all of their creations on Spotify, and grab your copy of Cognitive Dissonance from their own BandCamp page or by clicking HERE. Cognitive Dissonance is heavy, noisy, evil, disturbing, and everything else we love in extreme music, proving that as long as the human race continues to be filth like the name of the band states, those three metallers will keep piercing our ears with their venomous music.

Best moments of the album: Apes With Christ, Bastardized and Vomiting Strings Of Human Decay.

Worst moments of the album: Tribal Injections Of Division.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Life Of Tyrants 1:22
2. Apes With Christ 3:23
3. Electronic Caterpillars 3:54
4. Bastardized 4:24
5. Cloaked In Shame 2:31
6. Hopes Wavered 1:42
7. Propagating Technology 2:04
8. Vomiting Strings Of Human Decay 1:59
9. Tribal Injections Of Division 4:04

Band members
Kasey Harrison – vocals, bass
Paul Folk – guitar, noise
Brett Rebman – drums

Guest musician
Ben Roth – guitars on “Bastardized”

Album Review – Depraved Murder / Unethical Terrestrial Collapse (2023)

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In the fecund swamps of East Java, this venomous Brutal Death Metal entity attacks once again with their bestial third full-length album.

In the fecund swamps of East Java, the ruthless Brutal Death Metal entity Depraved Murder has been pouring blood, tears and black sorcery into their cauldron of nightmares since their inception in 2011, adding bone and bile to the accompaniment of whispered incantations, conjuring up the soundtrack to the end of the world. Mixed and mastered by the arcane master Indra Braille at Texas Sicklab Studio, and displaying a sick artwork spawned from the twisted visions of Aghy Purakusuma, the band’s third full-length opus, entitled Unethical Terrestrial Collapse, is a firestorm to usher in the end times demonically brought into being by vocalist, guitarist and bassist Ogy together with drummer Rama Maulana, seething with a grim and sordid life and a pulsating blackness that exudes fear and disgust, resulting in an intimidating manifesto of brutality tailored for fans of Devourment, Skinless, Suffocation and Pathology.

Otherworldly background sounds will haunt your damned soul before the duo smashes our cranial skulls in Entering into Calamity, where Ogy barks and roars in the name of gore supported by the pulverizing drums by Rama in a demented display of Death Metal, whereas The Anguish of Dystopian is a straightforward, no shenanigans Brutal Death Metal extravaganza by the duo sounding and feeling very intricate and demented form start to finish, with the colossal beats by Rama making the earth tremble. Even heavier and more insane than its predecessors thanks to the inhumane guttural by Ogy, False Adoration will inspire you to slam into the circle pit manically; and the duo shows absolutely no mercy for our bodies and souls in Mass Murder Existence, with Ogy kicking some serious ass with his roars, infernal riffage and rumbling bass lines, elevating the song’s truculence and brutality to the second power.

There’s no time to breathe as those Indonesian marauders keep crushing our heads with their Brutal Death Metal in Unmanifest Void, fulminating and evil from the very first second with Rama showcasing all his fury and dexterity behind his drums, while investing in a more doomed sonority, Ogy and Rama will darken the skies in The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit, again exploding in their traditional Brutal Death Metal sound. Then back to their more vicious mode it’s time to slam into the circle pit to the sound of Relentless Brutality, where Ogy’s deranged roars and riffs are flawlessly complemented by Rama’s stone crushing drums, followed by Unethical Terrestrial Collapse, another three intense minutes of Brutal Death Metal for our avid ears where the bass jabs by Ogy sound more metallic than ever. Lastly, their final breathe of animosity and gore comes in the form of Apocryphal Hymns, with Rama dictating the song’s devilish pace while Ogy gnalrs the song’s words deeply nonstop.

In case you would like to show the guys from Depraved Murder all your support and admiration, you can give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream all of their gory and evil creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of Unethical Terrestrial Collapse from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore, from Apple Music, or from several other retailers out there such as ImportCDs.com and Merchbar.com. As this gruesome, vile album has just been released from its infernal pit, there’s no time left to pray. This is the end, and it’s indeed a blood-soaked one.

Best moments of the album: The Anguish of Dystopian, Mass Murder Existence and Relentless Brutality.

Worst moments of the album: The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Entering into Calamity 3:42
2. The Anguish of Dystopian 3:08
3. False Adoration 3:19
4. Mass Murder Existence 3:04
5. Unmanifest Void 3:50
6. The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit 3:00
7. Relentless Brutality 2:30
8. Unethical Terrestrial Collapse 3:08
9. Apocryphal Hymns 2:55

Band members
Ogy – vocals, guitars, bass
Rama Maulana – drums

Album Review – Insomnium / Anno 1696 (2023)

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Finland’s masters of Melodic Death Metal return with a bold and sinister new album, taking us back into the dark times of the witch prosecutions in Northern Europe.

Based on a short story by Niilo Sevänen (just like their 2016 album Winter’s Gate), Anno 1696, the ninth studio album by Finnish Melodic Death Metal institution Insomnium, takes the listeners back into the dark times of the witch prosecutions in Northern Europe, famine and superstition. Mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Arda Recorders, mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Recording Studios, displaying a classy artwork by Sami Makkonen, and featuring guest keyboards by Coen Janssen (Epica, Amahiru), the follow-up to their 2019 effort Heart like a Grave doesn’t disappoint at all, proving why this Joensuu, Pohjois-Karjala-based unity currently comprised of vocalist and bassist Niilo Sevänen, guitarists Ville Friman, Markus Vanhala and Jani Liimatainen, and drummer Markus Hirvonen has become one of the pillars of the genre in the entire Scandinavia, delivering first-class Melodic Death Metal album after album for our total delight.

Acoustic guitars and tribal beats ignite the opening tune 1696, being gradually joined by several other elements and evolving into a demolishing feast of their trademark Melodic Death Metal, with Niilo’s growls matching perfectly with their melodious guitar lines; followed by White Christ, presenting strong, classic lyrics flawlessly declaimed by the iconic Sakis Tolis of Rotting Christ together with Niilo (“In the name of our Saviour and Lord / In the name of our Monarch and the Crown / I’ve come to bring the law and justice to this land / I’ve come to bring the light and grace of the Christ”) in a lecture in Melodic Black and Death Metal. Then we have Godforsaken, featuring Johanna Kurkela (Altamullan Road, Auri, Eye of Melian) on vocals, adding a touch of finesse and melancholy to the overall result, accompanied by the massive beats by Markus Hirvonen and the piercing riffs by the band’s guitar triumvirate, flowing into the pure Insomnium tune Lilian, where a serene, delicate intro once again explodes into their unparalleled sound, showcasing an amazing job done by Ville, Markus Vanhala and Jani with their axes and, therefore, inviting us to headbang in pitch black darkness.

More of their poetic, bitterly cold lyrics is offered to us all in Starless Paths (“Cruel is the winter’s might / Dreadful the howl of wind / Beyond the pathless treks we roam / Where the church bells never toll”) while the music sounds extremely harmonious and dense from start to finish, and the band continues to distill their stylish Melodic Death Metal in The Witch Hunter, spearheaded by the classic beats by Markus Hirvonen while keeping the album as vibrant as it can be. The shortest of all tracks, titled The Unrest, begins in a similar acoustic way as the opening tune while Niilo darkly declaims the song’s words together with the clean vocals by Ville and Jani, and albeit being a good song it lacks the same energy from the others. Finally we’re treated to The Rapids, bringing forward a superb fusion of violence, melancholy, harmony and darkness by Insomnium, offering our avid ears almost eight minutes of their undisputed music. Moreover, Niilo roars deeply while his bandmates make sure the music remains imposing until the very last second, with their guitar solos piercing our souls majestically.

Perhaps the best way to fully understand everything Insomnium wanted to accomplish with Anno 1696 would be by watching this track by track video, and before or after you do so you can stream the album in its entirety on Youtube and on Spotify, being therefore properly immersed in the sinister world crafted by such important band from the Finnish scene. Also, don’t forget to start following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and above all that, to purchase the excellent Anno 1696 by clicking HERE or HERE. As already mentioned, the album is all about the witch prosecutions in Northern Europe, and there’s nothing better than the Stygian and melancholic music by Insomnium to guide us all through such dark and horrifying times.

Best moments of the album: White Christ, Lilian and The Rapids.

Worst moments of the album: The Unrest.

Released in 2023 Century Media

Track listing
1. 1696 6:18
2. White Christ 6:03
3. Godforsaken 8:35
4. Lilian 4:29
5. Starless Paths 7:48
6. The Witch Hunter 5:43
7. The Unrest 3:52
8. The Rapids 7:38

Japanese Edition Disc 2 – Songs of the Dusk
9. Flowers of the Night 5:28
10. Stained in Red 6:50
11. Song of the Dusk 9:43

Band members
Niilo Sevänen – lead vocals, bass
Ville Friman – guitars, clean vocals
Markus Vanhala – guitars
Jani Liimatainen – guitars, clean vocals
Markus Hirvonen – drums

Guest musicians
Sakis Tolis – vocals on “White Christ”
Johanna Kurkela – vocals on “Godforsaken”
Coen Janssen – keyboards