Category Archives: Album Reviews

Album Review – Ectovoid / In Unreality’s Coffin (2026)

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From the abyssal and blistering depths of Alabama, this vile creature returns with its third studio album, an exhumation of Death Metal’s spectral essence and a relentless pulse of putrefaction.

From the abyssal and blistering depths of Alabama and featuring members from Seraphic Entombment and Father Befouled, the destructive Death Metal force known as Ectovoid returns in full force with their third full-length opus, titled In Unreality’s Coffin, the follow-up to their 2015 sophomore Dark Abstraction. Recorded, mixed and engineered by Alex Parra at Second Sight Sound, mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio, and showcasing another killer artwork by Italian master Paulo Girardi, the new offering by C.B. on vocals and guitars, C.S. also on the guitars, R.S. on bass, and C.M. on drums is an exhumation of Death Metal’s spectral essence and a relentless pulse of putrefaction, summoning shadows into eternal decay and entombing listeners in cavernous pummeling riffs.

Those American death dealers begin their infuriated feast of venomous sounds in Dissonance Corporeum, with C.B. already vomiting the song’s devilish words accompanied by the unstoppable beats and fills by C.M., whereas Collapsing Spiritual Nebula sounds even more dynamic and vibrant, with the Crust-infused riffs by C.B. and C.S. transpiring a violent blend of Death Metal. R.S. and C.M. continue to shake the foundations of earth in Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane), perfect for some insane “dancing” inside the circle pit; and investing in a ruthless 90’s Death Metal sonority we face Formless Seeking Form, with C.B.’s gruesome roars being nicely complemented by C.S.’s grim backing vocals. And if that’s not heavy enough for you, Irradiated Self manages to get even more demented, infernal and visceral than its predecessors, with C.M. once again stealing the show with his deadly beats and fills.

The guitars by C.B. and C.S. keep breathing fire in the title-track In Unreality’s Coffin, inviting us all to bang our fucking heads nonstop in the name of primeval Death Metal, supported by the rumbling bass by R.S.; and the quartet shows no mercy for our putrid souls in Erroneous Birth, melting our faces with their undisputed violence and hatred, with C.B. barking and roaring manically for our total delight. Their second to last explosion of old school Death Metal comes in the form of It Is Without Shape, an instrumental interlude that could have had some vocals to give it an extra taste, flowing into In Anguished Levitation, a lecture in absolute brutality and insanity where their caustic riffs, demonic guttural and demolishing bass and drums turn it into a must-listen for fans of the genre.

Across three full-length albums and various other releases, Ectovoid have fiercely honed their craft, carving out a distinct identity in the broader Death Metal landscape while continuing to pursue higher plateaus of dark Death Metal artistry, with In Unreality’s Coffin flawlessly representing the band’s evolution in the extreme arts, being therefore tailored for admirers of the just as heavy sounds by Autopsy, Necrot, Incantation, and Acephalix, among others. The guys from Ectovoid are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their music, and don’t forget to also stream their vicious creations on Spotify, and to put your bloody hands on In Unreality’s Coffin by clicking HERE (BandCamp) or HERE (mailorder). In other words, it’s time to summon total darkness to the sound of the new opus by Ectovoid, feeding you inner demons with their ruthless and primeval blend of Death Metal insanity.

Best moments of the album: Collapsing Spiritual Nebula, Irradiated Self and In Anguished Levitation.

Worst moments of the album: It Is Without Shape.

Released in 2026 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Dissonance Corporeum 4:24
2. Collapsing Spiritual Nebula 5:42
3. Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane) 3:55
4. Formless Seeking Form 6:02
5. Irradiated Self 3:55
6. In Unreality’s Coffin 4:06
7. Erroneous Birth 5:42
8. It Is Without Shape 3:22
9. In Anguished Levitation 7:26

Band members
C.B. – vocals, guitars
C.S. – guitars, backing vocals
R.S. – bass
C.M. – drums

Album Review – Redivider / Sounds Of Malice (2026)

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This up-and-coming Death Metal outfit will destroy our putrid bodies with their debut album, a conceptually rich, sonically punishing record that blends fantasy-driven storytelling with crushing heaviness.

Formed in early 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky by vocalist Jacob Spencer and guitarist Paul Nunavath, the ruthless Death Metal squad known as Redivider is ready to attack armed with their debut album, entitled Sounds Of Malice. Recorded at Round Table Recording Company and Michael Kent O’Bryan Studio, mixed by the band’s own Paul Nunavath, and mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound, the debut opus by the aforementioned Jacob Spencer on vocals and Paul Nunavath on the guitar, alongside Jake Atha also on the guitar, Alexander Farrington on bass, and James Goetz on drums is a conceptually rich, sonically punishing record that blends fantasy-driven storytelling with crushing heaviness, always thriving on tension, rhythm, and unapologetic intensity, or in other words, it’s Death Metal built to be felt as much as heard.

It’s time to slam into the circle pit like a true bastard to the sound of Quartered & Devoured, opening the album on a demented note thanks to the gruesome roars by Jacob and James’ unstoppable beats and fills. Paul and Jake continue to feed Jacob’s roars with their visceral riffage in the title-track Sounds of Malice, resulting in a brutal and intricate display of old school Death Metal; whereas Alexander’s bass couldn’t have sounded more metallic in Shackled to Existence, accompanied by the once again demented drumming by James. Apocalyptic Waste is another bestial song perfect for some wild headbanging, with Jacob vociferating rabidly in the name of Death Metal, followed by Fratricide, a no shenanigans, in-your-face Death Metal extravaganza where Paul and Jake slash their stringed axes ruthlessly. After that, James kicks off the just as heavy and evil Bask in the Rot, an excellent option for their live performances, before we face the bludgeoning Left to Rot, ending the album on a demonic mode to the inhumane growls by Jacob.

In a nutshell, Redivider have crafted a debut that is punishing, articulate, and unflinchingly true to the spirit of Death Metal, a concentrated expression of aggression, narrative depth, and old school brutality fused with modern execution that will surely please the most diehard fans of the style. Those talented and unrelenting American death dealers are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their music, and you can also enjoy their demented creations on Spotify and of course purchase Sounds Of Malice from BandCamp or by clicking HERE or HERE. Sounds of Malice brings forward the sounds of the glory of 90’s Death Metal, and we can rest assured Redivider will keep destroying our putrid bodies with their undisputed blend of savagery for many years to come.

Best moments of the album: Quartered & Devoured, Apocalyptic Waste and Left to Rot.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. Quartered & Devoured 4:04
2. Sounds of Malice 3:10
3. Shackled to Existence 5:21
4. Apocalyptic Waste 4:40
5. Fratricide 4:34
6. Bask in the Rot 3:46
7. Left to Rot 4:01

Band members
Jacob Spencer – vocals
Paul Nunavath – guitar
Jake Atha – guitar
Alexander Farrington – bass
James Goetz – drums

Guest musician
Mike Hargrave – drums (live)

Album Review – Bound To Prevail / Enthroned in Torment (2026)

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A relentless Maltese Death Metal force will attack armed with their debut album, a powerful rediscovery and reinterpretation of the early 2000’s Death Metal vein, blending old school brutality with a modern edge.

Founded in the fall of 2014, and influenced by a wide variety of extreme music subgenres, with each band member bringing their own distinct influences to the songwriting process, Birkirkara, Malta’s relentless Death Metal force Bound To Prevail is unleashing  upon humanity their debut full-length album, aptly titled Enthroned in Torment, following up on their 2017 EP Omen of Iniquity. Recorded, mixed and mastered at SpineSplitter Studio, the new offering by Alan Briffa on vocals, Jean Vella (who’s no longer a member of the band) and Keith Fenech on the guitars, Kevin Mifsud on bass, and Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo on drums is a powerful rediscovery and reinterpretation of the early 2000’s Death Metal vein, blending old school brutality with a modern edge. Drawing on the technical ferocity of old masters like Suffocation and Monstrosity, as well as the more extreme, yet precise, pummeling approaches of Beheaded, Hour of Penance and Inveracity, the album delivers tracks that are simultaneously tense, technical and fluid, giving every riff room to breathe and strike with maximum impact.

Their sonic massacre begins with the devastating The Nevergod, where Mark sounds demented behind his drums, offering Alan exactly what he needs to bark manically, not to mention the caustic riffage by Jean and Keith. Into the Depths is an absolute chaotic, heavy-as-hell Brutal Death Metal tune led by the inhumane growling by Alan, while Kevin and Mark continue to make the earth tremble in the name of extreme music; and another slab of Kevin’s metallic bass is offered to us all in the Death Metal massacre entitled Defier of Empires, perfect for slamming into the pit. Moreover, it’s impressive how they manage to blend Technical and Brutal Death Metal with great balance and energy, exactly like what we get in Consecrated Perdition, keeping the album at an absurdly high level of violence.

Then the band offers the longest, most detailed of all songs from the album, Atone in Blasphemy, a six-minute overdose of brutality and gore where Mark hammers his drums like a stone crusher, opening up the pit for the visceral riffage by Jean and Keith. It’s pedal to the metal in the frantic, no shenanigans Death Metal attack titled Dawn of Emptiness, again presenting that rudimentary, raw drum sound we all love in this type of music; whereas an ominous start gradually evolves into a bestial sonority in Tomb of the Graveless, with Alan once again vomiting the song’s devilish words like a rabid creature. Lastly, we’re treated to the ruthless title-track Enthroned in Torment, ending the album with the same level of violence as it started for our total delight.

Showcasing their core fusion of aggressive, frantic, pounding rhythmic passages with instantly recognizable melodic overtones, Enthroned in Torment beautifully blends the relentless aggression of classic Death Metal with contemporary clarity and production, creating a sound that honors the past while feeling undeniably current, while also exploring the morbid tension between malevolence and benevolence, set in a chaotic realm shaped by false beliefs and deceitful ambitions. Hence, you can get in touch with those talented and hardworking Maltese metallers via Facebook and Instagram, stream their bludgeoning music on Spotify, and of course purchase Enthroned in Torment from the Lethal Scissor Records’ BandCamp or webstore. With their debut, Bound To Prevail stake their claim in European Death Metal, captivating fans of both old school and modern eras and, therefore, leaving us eager for more of their sonic violence in a not-so-distant future.

Best moments of the album: Into the Depths, Consecrated Perdition and Dawn of Emptiness.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Lethal Scissor Records

Track listing
1. The Nevergod 5:04
2. Into the Depths 5:06
3. Defier of Empires 5:14
4. Consecrated Perdition 3:47
5. Atone in Blasphemy 6:08
6. Dawn of Emptiness 4:59
7. Tomb of the Graveless 5:28
8. Enthroned in Torment 3:41

Band members
Alan Briffa – vocals
Jean Vella – guitars
Keith Fenech – guitars
Kevin Mifsud – bass
Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo – drums

Album Review – Deadwood / Rituals of a Dying Light EP (2026)

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It’s time to make Deathcore angry again with the incendiary new EP by these unstoppable Canadian bruisers.

Make Deathcore Angry Again. That’s the ruthless motto by Montreal, Quebec’s own Deathcore bruisers Deadwood, who uniquely blend elements from Death Metal and Hardcore to create their own blend of modern Deathcore. Aiming to evoke terror and fear through their music, ensuring their performances are unforgettable, the band currently formed of Derek Heynekemp on vocals (note: the vocals in the EP were recorded by Martin Demontigny), Stephane Filion and Fred Element on the guitars, and Charles Etienne Lafrance on drums returns with a new EP entitled Rituals of a Dying Light, following up on their vicious 2023 EP Inhuman. Recorded at EMNT Studio, and produced mixed and mastered by the band’s own guitarist Fred Element, the EP caters to enthusiastic metalheads who crave pure brutality and violence, positioning the band as one of the must-see acts of the current scene.

In Tales of Massacre the band blends Deathcore with Technical Death Metal to give the song an even more insane vibe, with Stephane and Fred sounding ruthless armed with their axes, therefore offering Martin all he needs to growl like a rabid beast. Heretic is an even heavier, more dynamic and bestial tune by the quartet, with the deep guttural by Martin matching perfectly with the rumbling drums by Charles, not to mention the song’s background haunting sounds; whereas another demented roar by Martin kicks things off in Thirst for Blood, offering more of the band’s trademark Deathcore violence. Whispers of Death is a song made for being played live, as it will surely ignite some sick, infernal mosh pits to the metallic, thunderous riffs by Stephane and Fred; and the EP ends just like it started, on a vile and demented mode with Echoes of The Fallen thanks to the hammering drums by Charles in a beyond cryptic instrumental tune.

Drawing from the ferocity of Meshuggah, the brutality of Whitechapel, and the groove-driven power of Pantera, Deadwood deliver crushing riffs and haunting atmospheres steeped in true dark histories, from the Salem witch trials to the reign of Jack the Ripper, translating into a no shenanigans, vicious EP that will surely please all fans of extreme music. You can get to know more about Deadwood on Facebook, including their upcoming tour dates across Canada and Europe, stream their wicked music on Spotify, and purchase the excellent Rituals of a Dying Light from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In other words, it’s time to make Deathcore angry again, and the incendiary new EP by these unstoppable Canadian beasts is exactly what’s needed to achieve such a fun objective.

Best moments of the album: Heretic and Whispers of Death.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Innerstrength Records

Track listing
1. Tales of Massacre 2:48
2. Heretic 4:23
3. Thirst for Blood 2:54
4. Whispers of Death 4:26
5. Echoes of The Fallen 3:36

Band members
Martin Demontigny – vocals
Stephane Filion – lead guitars
Fred Element – guitars
Charles Etienne Lafrance – drums

Guest musician
Derek Heynekemp – vocals (live)

Album Review – Ellende / Zerfall (2026)

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Austria’s own one-man Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal project is back with its sixth opus, portraying the state of being shattered into fragments and the slow, painful process of rebuilding oneself.

Originally conceived as an introverted, misanthropic, and anonymous project by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist L.G. (aka Lukas Gosch) in Graz, Austria back in 2011, the unrelenting Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal entity Ellende, a Middle High German adjective which means “miserable” or “exiled” (as well as “misery” in Dutch), is unleashing upon humanity its sixth full-length offering, titled Zerfall, which translates as “disintegration” or “decay,” portraying the state of being shattered into fragments and the slow, painful process of rebuilding oneself, a confrontation with the void and ultimately a triumph over it. Recorded, mixed and mastered by L.G. and Markus “Schwadorf“ Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E, featuring session drummer P.F., with oil painting by L.G. himself (under the moniker Farbbringer), and shaped also by a tragic event in the life of its mastermind, the follow-up to the project’s critically acclaimed 2024 album Todbringerin continues to fuse raw intensity with profound emotional depth, turning it into a must-listen for fans of Harakiri For The Sky, Wolves In The Throne Room, Alcest, Drudkh, Blut aus Nord, Negura Bunget, Paysage d’Hiver, and Woods of Desolation.

Stygian, introspective sounds set the tone in the intro Nur (or “only” from German), growing in intensity until we face Wahrheit Teil I (“truth part I”), starting with the caustic riffs by L.G. in the most visceral Black Metal style, offering seven minutes of first-class extreme music with L.G.’s venomous gnarls bringing even more anguish to the music, flowing into Wahrheit Teil II (“truth part II”), a darker tune exhaling Depressive Black and Doom Metal, with P.F.’s pounding drums hammering our souls mercilessly. Then the title-track Zerfall starts in a serene, melancholic manner before exploding into majestic Atmospheric Black Metal led by our lone wolf’s devilish riffs and vociferations, alternating between absolute darkness and whimsical, enfolding passages; followed by Übertritt (“transition”), another song that reeks of contemporary Melodic and Atmospheric Black Metal where the strident sound of L.G.’s guitar will pierce our blackened minds in great fashion.

Ode ans Licht (“ode to the light”) brings forward an imposing start to L.G.’s scathing riffage, sounding very melodic albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album while still presenting the project’s trademark melancholy. Zeitenwende Teil I (“turning point part I”), featuring Klara Bachmair from German Black Metal horde Firtan on the violin, is a lecture in extreme music, taking the listener on a one-way journey to absolute darkness together with L.G., with his riffs transpiring epicness; whereas in Zeitenwende Teil II (“turning point part II”), the second piece of such a thrilling Black Metal aria, L.G. keeps gnarling in the most obscure way imaginable supported by the classic beats by P.F., ending with a killer guest guitar solo by Peter Mairhofer from Austrian Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band Norikum. And lastly, we’re treated to the atmospheric, gloomy Reise (“journey”), where its acoustic moments bring peace to our gloomy hearts while its climatic ending sounds as captivating as it is devilish and grim.

Ellende has grown into an internationally recognized live act with session musicians firmly rooted in the Atmospheric Black Metal genre, while also incorporating classical instrumentation such as strings and grand piano, often pushing beyond the boundaries of what is considered traditional within the style, and that’s exactly what makes an album like Zerfall so interesting, detailed and hypnotizing. Hence, you can get in touch with L.G. and his Ellende via Facebook and Instagram, stream his vast and innovative discography on Spotify or any other streaming service, and grab a copy of Zerfall from BandCamp, from AOP Records, from Nuclear Blast or from Napalm Records allowing the music by Ellende to penetrate deep inside your blackened heart and, therefore, letting your deepest emotions arise. Because that’s what high quality Atmospheric Black Metal is all about, and we should always thank L.G. and his Ellende for providing us with such an amazing form of extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Zerfall, Zeitenwende Teil I and Zeitenwende Teil II.

Worst moments of the album: Ode ans Licht.

Released in 2026 AOP Records

Track listing
1. Nur 2:35
2. Wahrheit Teil I 7:03
3. Wahrheit Teil II 5:50
4. Zerfall 7:19
5. Übertritt 6:03
6. Ode ans Licht 4:23
7. Zeitenwende Teil I 6:36
8. Zeitenwende Teil II 5:01
9. Reise 7:14

Double LP bonus tracks
10. Secunda (Jeremy Soule cover) 2:03
11. Verborgenes inneres Leiden 2:28

Band members
L.G. – vocals, choirs, whispers, electric & acoustic guitars, bass, piano, synths, samples, ambience

Guest musicians
P.F. – drums (session)
Klara Bachmair – violin on “Zeitenwende Teil I”
Peter Mairhofer – guitar solo on “Zeitenwende Teil II”
S.R. – guitars (live)
G.T. – guitars (live)
S.L. – bass (live)
T.H.Z. – drums (live)

The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2025

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“Who the fuck is Justin Bieber?” – Ozzy Osbourne

There’s not much to celebrate in rock and metal music in the same year when we lost the one and only John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne. Nothing will ever be the same without the Prince of Darkness, the Madman, The Wizard of Ozz. There isn’t a single artist or band reviewed in the history of The Headbanging Moose that wasn’t influenced in several ways by Ozzy and, of course, by Black Sabbath. It is a very sad year indeed. However, Ozzy was always in a great mood, always happy, and I’m sure that, wherever he is now, he wants to see us all smiling and laughing, because that’s what life is all about. He also wants us to keep attending rock and metal concerts to have a good time with our loved ones, with our closest friends, just like Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I did so many times this year, covering incredible bands the likes of Blackbraid, Ne Obliviscaris, Cattle Decapitation, Blind Guardian, and so on. I’ve also had the utmost pleasure of seeing the mighty Judas Priest in Dalhalla, Sweden, a dream come true for this fanboy here, and I can’t wait to “run for my life” in 2026. Having said all that, let’s honor the life of Ozzy with The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2025, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, and keep on rockin’ like the Madman until our very last breath!

1. Blackbraid – Blackbraid III (REVIEW)
Behold the stunning next chapter in the musical and spiritual journey of the witch hawk of Black Metal hailing from the Adirondack Mountains.
Best song of the album: Wardrums At Dawn On The Day Of My Death

2. Werewolves – The Ugliest of All (REVIEW)
The torchbearers of “Caveman Death Metal” continuing to annihilate intellects with an unlistenable barrage of truly hideous music.
Best song of the album: The Ugliest of All

3. Testament – Para Bellum (REVIEW)
Let’s prepare for war to the sound of the breathtaking fourteenth studio album by California’s own masters of old school Thrash Metal.
Best song of the album: Para Bellum

4. Helloween – Giants & Monsters (REVIEW)
These German giants of Heavy Metal and monsters of Rock N’ Roll are back with their ass-kicking seventeenth studio album.
Best song of the album: Majestic

5. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (REVIEW)
This incredible Swedish Progressive Death and Black Metal entity returns with their heaviest and most atmospheric work to date.
Best song of the album: Like a Geyser Ever Erupting

6. Allegaeon – The Ossuary Lens (REVIEW)
World domination awaits to the sound of the striking new beast by one of the must-see bands of the current tech death scene worldwide.
Best song of the album: The Swarm

7. 1914 – Viribus Unitis (REVIEW)
Trench warfare meets blackened death and doom in 1914’s fourth onslaught of war-torn fury.
Best song of the album: 1918 Pt 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)

8. Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence (REVIEW)
Canada’s own Death Metal machine returns with their ruthless ninth studio album.
Best song of the album: Until There’s Nothing Left

9. Baest – Colossal (REVIEW)
Back from the fires of Denmark, this unstoppable creature will crush you with their fourth studio album.
Best song of the album: Colossus

10. Diabolizer – Murderous Revelations (REVIEW)
The torchbearers of diabolical abomination unite once again to drag us down into the fiery abysses of Turkish Death Metal without warning.
Best song of the album: Deathmarch of the Murderous Tyrant

And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:

11. Lorna Shore – I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me (REVIEW)
12. Impureza – Alcázares (REVIEW)
13. Crimson Shadows – Whispers of War (REVIEW)
14. Primal Fear – Domination (REVIEW)
15. Serenity In Murder – Timeless Reverie (REVIEW)
16. Khôra – Ananke (REVIEW)
17. Panzerchrist – Maleficium – Part 2 (REVIEW)
18. Ominous Ruin – Requiem (REVIEW)
19. Wrath of Belial – Embers of Dead Empires (REVIEW)
20. Grima – Nightside (REVIEW)

Not only that, here’s once again our Top 10 EP’s of 2025, proving once and for all that the duration of an album is not that important in the end. As long as the music is great, the whole thing can be only one second long, like the classic “You Suffer” by Napalm Death!

1. When Plagues Collide – Kingmaker (REVIEW)
2. De Profundis – The Gospel Of Rot (REVIEW)
3. Fimbul Winter – What Once Was (REVIEW)
4. NecroticGoreBeast – Brute (REVIEW)
5. Serpent Corpse – Retaliate (REVIEW)
6. Akouphenom – Connections To The Erebus (REVIEW)
7. Necht – The Inevitable Suffering (REVIEW)
8. Discovery Through Torment – Telesynthetic Rebirth (REVIEW)
9. Der Rote Milan – Verlust (REVIEW)
10. Eleine – We Stand United (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2025? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show!

Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2026!

And of course, as we really don’t like those boring Christmas songs here on The Headbanging Moose, we’ll leave you with what’s perhaps the most emotional and strongest metal hymn of the year, the charity version of “War Pigs”, by Black Sabbath, recorded by Judas Priest and with Ozzy himself sharing the vocal duties with the Metal God Rob Halford! This is the epitome of rock and metal music!

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses…

Album Review – Olde Outlier / From Shallow Lives to Shallow Graves (2025)

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Taking Death Metal deep into the caverns of old(e), this newborn beast from Down Under will consume your soul with its debut opus, a 35-minute spelunk into those caverns.

A continuation of Australia’s late, great Innsmouth, a certifiably cult band whose 2014 debut album Consumed by Elder Sign is considered a classic by the underground-dwelling souls who heard it, Black/Death Metal creature Olde Outlier is unleashing upon humanity their debut opus, titled From Shallow Lives to Shallow Graves, a four-song/35-minute spelunk into those caverns. Formed of the Dyer Brothers, Beau Dyer on the guitar and Neil Dyer on drums, alongside Mark Appleton on vocals, Ben Askew on the guitar, and Greenbank on bass, the band simmers their cauldron with ones both culter and less detectable, from the earthy likes of Amon Goeth, Martyrium, Head of the Demon, and Florida’s Equinox to the more ethereal undercurrents of Ophthalamia and even echoes of early Katatonia and Tiamat in their debut, taking the Death Metal by Innsmouth deeper into the caverns of old(e), but ones totally their own, and suitably extending the sulfurous splendor across epic track lengths.

The Revellers already begins in full force, offering an overdose of raw Death Metal where Mark barks the song’s demented words viciously accompanied by the intricate and hammering beats and fills by Neil, all while Beau and Ben slash their axes manically. Then bringing elements from the most primeval form of Doom Metal to their core deadly sonority, we’re treated to more of their caustic riffs and rhythmic beats in The Pounding of Hooves, also presenting some interesting breaks and variations to give the whole song an extra kick; followed by Swept, presenting eight minutes of hard hitting, ruthless Death Metal from Down Under, with the stylish rockin’ riffs and solos by Beau and Ben sounding thrilling and captivating until the very end. Their last breath of elderly Death Metal comes in the form of All Is Bright, with the raspy vociferations by Mark walking hand in hand with their melodic yet visceral instrumental, resulting in a very detailed and consequently vibrant aria of extreme music.

Altogether, and with keenly timed bits of clean and chorused guitar, From Shallow Lives to Shallow Graves becomes an utterly immersive experience that defies time itself, showing Olde Outlier are simply eternal, existing in a forgotten realm that’s worth the journey a hundredfold. Those metallic cavemen are not easy to find, though, as they’re not present in any type of social media; however, you can still purchase their primeval debut offering from Iron Bonehead’s BandCamp or webstore, letting their cadaverous sounds consume your putrid soul mercilessly. Olde Outlier play the rawest, most primitive form of Death Metal you can think of, and once you start listening to the visceral sounds form their new album, there’s no way back.

Best moments of the album: The Pounding of Hooves and All Is Bright.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Iron Bonehead

Track listing
1. The Revellers 7:54
2. The Pounding of Hooves 10:55
3. Swept 8:05
4. All Is Bright 7:50

Band members
Mark Appleton – vocals
Beau Dyer – guitar
Ben Askew – guitar
Greenbank – bass
Neil Dyer – drums

Album Review – Weft / The Splintered Oar (2025)

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Behold the striking debut album by this new Atmospheric Black Metal entity from Texas, a vessel of exploration set adrift in a vibrant storm of metal intensities.

A new musical project by Charlie Anderson, who is a violinist and composer from the United States known for his work with the band Panopticon, Huston, Texas-based Atmospheric Black Metal entity Weft is ready to unleash upon us its debut opus, entitled The Splintered Oar. Recorded and mixed by Charlie himself (with contributions by Austin Lunn, Andrea Morgan and Jordan Day, who are also guest musicians in the album), mastered by Spenser Morris, and displaying a stylish artwork by Austin Lunn, The Splintered Oar is a vessel of exploration set adrift in a vibrant storm of metal intensities, a very adventurous and exciting album that perfectly represents Charlie Anderson’s vision and passion right from its very first notes until its climatic ending.

Leaves sounds absolutely melancholic and delicate from the very first second, with the crying violin by Andrea walking hand in hand with Charlie’s minimalist acoustic guitar, flowing into False Kingdoms, which also begins in a cinematic manner, evolving into a feast of contemporary Atmospheric Black Metal led by Charlie’s anguished gnarls and his flammable, piercing stringed weapons. The striking violin by Andrea returns in full force in The Hull, clashing with the Black Metal blast beats by Austin and, therefore, resulting in a superb aria of darkness where Charlie keeps vociferating like a demonic entity for our total delight. Then Charlie and his crew continue to embellish the airwaves with their blend of Atmospheric Black Metal madness in Red Dawn, with his guitars and synths adding an extra touch of insanity to the overall result; whereas lastly we’re treated to the longest of all songs, entitled Dream of Oaks, an acoustic display of Black and Folk Metal that morphs into some sort of Blackened Doom insanity during its second half, presenting different layers carefully crafted by our multi-talented Charlie and his crew.

They say that it takes a band or musician their entire life to create their first album, and on the weathered, atmospheric, and truly adventurous The Splintered Oar, it sounds like every note has indeed a lifetime of exploration, joy, loss, and growth behind it. Hence, you can put your hands on such a unique, multi-layered album of extreme music via the project’s own BandCamp, as well as from the Bindrune Recordings’ BandCamp or webstore as a CD or an LP, and I’m sure we’ll soon see Charlie and his Weft take other virtual realms by storm such as Facebook, Instagram and Spotify. In the end, Charlie Anderson is Weft, and Weft is Charlie Anderson, with The Splintered Oar beautifully representing the fusion of body, soul and extreme music by such an amazing new entity of the current American scene.

Best moments of the album: False Kingdoms and The Hull.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Bindrune Recordings

Track listing
1. Leaves 5:04
2. False Kingdoms 9:12
3. The Hull 10:25
4. Red Dawn 6:36
5. Dream of Oaks 12:11

Band members
Charlie Anderson – vocals, guitars, bass, strings, electric violin, synth, piano, additional percussion

Guest musicians
Austin Lunn – drums
Andrea Morgan – violin and vocals on “Leaves”, “The Hull” and “Dream of Oaks”
Jordan Day – vocals on “Dream of Oaks”

Album Review – Funeral Vomit / Upheaval Of Necromancy (2025)

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This blood-soaked creature hailing from Colombia is back with their second tome of monstrosities and malignancy, spewing forth their particular brand of Death Metal sickness.

He’s dead? Not anymore…” – Herbert West, Reanimator

Formed in the time of the global pandemic, Barranquilla, Colombia’s own Funeral Vomit have been spewing forth their particular brand of Death Metal sickness since 2020, becoming a must-listen for fans of Autopsy, Grave, Mortician, and Grave Desecrator, among many other torchbearers of pure death. Now in 2025 the band formed of C. Monsalve on vocals and guitar, Y. Lopez also on the guitar, H. Montaño on bass, and J. Carvajal on drums returns from the grave with their sophomore offering entitled Upheaval of Necromancy, their second tome of monstrosities and malignancy to be released on the same fateful date on which their debut Monumental Putrescence was exhumed, two years ago.

Get ready to be pulverized by Funeral Vomit, as the cadaverous intro The Disentombment will drag us to their Stygian lair where the quarter will crush our putrid bodies and souls with the title-track Upheaval of Necromancy, a lecture in old school, primeval Death Metal where C. Monsalve sounds like a creature from the abyss on vocals. After one of those classy excerpts of some crazy dude talking crazy stuff, we have more of their evil sounds in Sulphuric Regurgitation, with J. Carvajal showing absolute zero mercy for our necks armed with his demented beats and fills, followed by Hematophagia, less frantic but still venomous and absurdly heavy, with C. Monsalve and Y. Lopez firing devilish riffs and solos in great fashion.

The second part of the album kicks off with another phantasmagorical instrumental piece titled Interlude (Mortuary Ecstasy), opening the gates of the underworld for the band to consume our souls with Winds of Exhumation, an evil, no shenanigans Death and Doom Metal creature led by C. Monsalve’s visceral guttural, supported by the thunderous kitchen by H. Montaño and J. Carvajal. Then the band goes absolute berserk in Altars of Doom, demolishing their instruments mercilessly, therefore inviting us all to crush our skulls into the pit. A name like Cryptic Miasma Stench demanded the most putrid form of Death Metal, and the band delivers exactly that with honors led by J. Carvajal’s violent drums; whereas the album ends with the gruesome, devilish Rancid Insorcism, another blast of pure Colombian gore and violence, morphing into the bestial outro Effluvia of the Mass Grave, sounding like the closing credits of a brutal horror flick.

In the end, there will be no escaping Funeral Vomit’s call from the grave to the sound of their demented new album, and you can join them in their quest for extreme music, violence and gore by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their depraved and sick music on Spotify or any other streaming platform with enough guts to host their music, and obviously by putting your impious, dirty hands on the album via Xtreem Music’s BandCamp or webstore. As you listen to the extreme aggression found in Upheaval Of Necromancy, you’ll soon realize this is not just your regular Death Metal. The Funeral Vomit nightmare is real, and it will never end.

Best moments of the album: Upheaval of Necromancy, Winds of Exhumation and Cryptic Miasma Stench.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. Intro (The Disentombment) 1:45
2. Upheaval of Necromancy 3:30
3. Sulphuric Regurgitation 4:05
4. Hematophagia 5:48
5. Interlude (Mortuary Ecstasy) 1:15
6. Winds of Exhumation 4:00
7. Altars of Doom 2:48
8. Cryptic Miasma Stench 3:25
9. Rancid Insorcism 3:40
10. Outro (Effluvia of the Mass Grave) 1:05

Band members
C. Monsalve – vocals, guitar
Y. Lopez – guitar
H. Montaño – bass
J. Carvajal – drums

Album Review – Morbonoct / No One Knows We’re Dying (2025)

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Let the ambience take you over in the fifth studio album by this up-and-coming Cosmic Black Metal entity from outer space.

Having started back in 2021 as a studio project by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Aleksandr Medvediev in his hometown of Kherson, Ukraine, but currently located in Szczecin, Poland, the otherworldly Symphonic Black Metal entity known as Morbonoct evolved into a more serious and powerful beast in 2023 when vocalist and lyricist David Welnicki joined the band. Now in 2025, after the releases of Anmet (2021), Chorna bezodnya (2022), Galactic Gloom (2023), and The Highest Purpose (2024), the duo returns in full force with their fifth opus, entitled No One Knows We’re Dying. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Aleksandr himself, who also took care of the album’s cryptic artwork, the album offers more of the project’s blend of Cosmic Black Metal, continuing with their exploration of the captivating space theme while presenting dense atmospheric canvases in the background.

It doesn’t take too long for Aleksandr to go full Black Metal in The Creation, offering us all 11 minutes of visceral passages, breaks and variations, with his beats and fills sounding truly insane while Dawid barks and growls nonstop. Lost also surpasses the ten minute mark, warning the listener the album is not for the lighthearted, blending Atmospheric Black Metal moments with the undisputed, raw aggression of Black Metal; followed by Cold Wind, one of the heaviest songs of the album, if not the heaviest, showcasing an amazing job done by Aleksandr on both the guitars and drums, providing Dawid with exactly what he needs to vociferate sheer Black Metal fury. Drifting Away is more contemporary and melodic, also starting in an ethereal way led by the whimsical keys by Aleksandr, offering elements of Doom Metal to spice things up a bit while Dawid’s vocals exhale anguish, and lastly, an extraterrestrial intro slowly morphs into the Atmospheric Black Metal title-track No One Knows, We’re Dying, with Aleksandr crushing his drums majestically in a lecture in progressiveness, heaviness, intricacy and darkness.

“No One Knows We’re Dying traces the inevitable cycles of life – from the beauty of creation to the weight of existence, and finally, to a cold, inevitable silence. The project embraces raw authenticity, with the mix and master intentionally restrained to preserve the natural texture of the vocals. Minimal post-processing allows every imperfection to speak truthfully, amplifying the emotional resonance of the performance. The instrumental foundation forms a cohesive narrative that evokes deep melancholy and a quiet sense of hopelessness, guiding the listener through a hauntingly introspective experience,” commented Aleksandr, and you can be part of Morbonoct’s cosmic journey by following the project on Instagram, by streaming their unique albums on Spotify, and of course by purchasing No One Knows We’re Dying from BandCamp. Or in other words, relax, take a deep breath, and simply let the ambience take you over in the excellent new album by this up-and-coming Cosmic Black Metal entity from outer space.

Best moments of the album: Cold Wind and No One Knows, We’re Dying.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. The Creation 10:55
2. Lost 10:43
3. Cold Wind 11:45
4. Drifting Away 11:16
5. No One Knows, We’re Dying 12:07

Band members
Dawid Wełnicki – vocals
Aleksandr Medvediev – guitars, bass, keyboards, drums