Category Archives: 2022 New Releases

Album Review – Abaddon Incarnate / The Wretched Sermon (2022)

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These Irish Death Metal and Grindcore legends are back form the underworld after eight years with their most diverse and expressive album yet.

Having been active since the early 90’s, Dublin, Ireland-based Death Metal/Grindcore legends Abaddon Incarnate have only perfected their sound over the years, creating a quintessential blend of both the styles that can easily be enjoyed in all of its glory in their newborn spawn, entitled The Wretched Sermon, the sixth album in their undisputed career and their first since the 2014 album Pessimist. Displaying a sick artwork by renowned artist Ken Coleman, The Wretched Sermon is easily their most diverse and expressive album yet, meticulously written to flesh out every nuance while keeping things brisk and intense, showcasing a band in top form currently formed of Steve Maher on vocals and guitar, Bill Whelan also on the guitar, Irene Siragusa on bass and Olan Parkinson on drums and, therefore, being highly recommended for admirers of the sonic chaos blasted by renowned acts the likes of Napalm Death, Rotten Sound and Misery Index, among others.

Olan’s vile beats kick off the band’s devilish machine in Rising Of The Lights, a fulminating Grindcore attack where Steve roars manically in the name of evil, whereas Veritas is even more demented and infernal than the opening tune, with the guitars by Steve and Bill exhaling pure sulfur while Irene and Olan are on fire with their heavy-as-hell kitchen. Then bringing forward elements from Black and Death Metal carefully added to their core essence, it’s time to slam into the pit to the sound of Gateways, absolutely fast, furious and demonic, followed by Epic Desecration, not recommended for the lighthearted, where Steve and Bill fire endless violence and hatred through their wicked riffage accompanied by the thunderous bass by the she-demon Irene. In the less demolishing but still caustic and obscure Parasite, it’s time for Olan to blast some headbanging beats while Steve screams rabidly from the bottom of his lungs; and back to their most visceral, deranged mode, the band offers us all Hideous Arise, a bestial creation by the quartet with their guitar work and nonstop drums turning it into one of the most pulverizing of all songs. And if you think Abaddon Incarnate will slow down at any given point you’re absolutely wrong, as in Killing Spree they continue their sonic onrush showcasing never-stopping, frantic riffs and solos, crushing drums and evil roars.

Steve’s guttural screams get deeper and more satanic in Into The Maelstrom, with the entire band sounding possessed by an evil force from the underworld, while Irene hammers her bass in great fashion in Resurrected From A Mass Grave, extracting tons of groove and providing her bandmates with everything they need to craft another explosion of Grindcore. There’s no time to breathe as it’s total anarchy to the sound of Shrine Of Flesh, with Steve gnarling like a creature from the abyss until the very last second; and blending elements from bands like Carcass and Sepultura to their sonority the quartet will smash our cranial skulls mercilessly in Hyperchaos, a fantastic tune spearheaded by Olan’s boisterous beats. Their second to last display of sheer animosity and sulfur is entitled Isolation And Decay, presenting another awesome job done by Steve and Bill armed with their axes without showing not even a single second of peace throughout its over six demonic minutes, and lastly, how about we destroy our bodies into the circle pit one final time with the band? That’s what they have to offer us all in Silent Indifference, with the harsh vociferations by Steve pounding our hearts and minds into dust.

As you can see, Abaddon Incarnate are not just back from the netherworld carrying their apocalyptic, gruesome new album The Wretched Sermon in their blood-soaked arms, which is by the way available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, but they’re eager to tear your flesh apart to the sound of their undisputed Grindcore, and if you want to show them all your support and admiration you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and more of their caustic music. Hence, don’t forget to also grab your copy of The Wretched Sermon from their own BandCamp page, from the Transcending Obscurity Records webstore as an 8-panel digipak CD (by clicking HERE or HERE) or as a gatefold LP, as well as from Apple Music or Amazon. And may the wretched sermon of old school Grindcore by Abaddon Incarnate reverberate inside our damned minds for all eternity.

Best moments of the album: Veritas, Epic Desecration, Hideous Arise, Resurrected From A Mass Grave and Hyperchaos.

Worst moments of the album: Parasite.

Released in 2022 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Rising Of The Lights 2:46
2. Veritas 1:16
3. Gateways 2:26
4. Epic Desecration 2:47
5. Parasite 2:11
6. Hideous Arise 1:16
7. Killing Spree 2:21
8. Into The Maelstrom 1:56
9. Resurrected From A Mass Grave 2:23
10. Shrine Of Flesh 3:47
11. Hyperchaos 3:43
12. Isolation And Decay 6:56
13. Silent Indifference 2:18

Band members
Steve Maher – vocals, guitar
Bill Whelan – guitar
Irene Siragusa – bass
Olan Parkinson – drums

Album Review – Empress / Fateweaver (2022)

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This up-and-coming Symphonic Metal five-piece outfit from Philadelphia is well on their way to conquering the big stages and setting people’s minds ablaze to the sound of their striking debut album.

An up-and-coming five-piece act from Philadelphia, in the United States, centered around classically-trained singer Barbara Blackthorne and main songwriting, mastermind and guitarist Vlad Khavin, Symphonic Metal outfit Empress is well on their way to conquering the big stages and setting people’s minds ablaze with kaleidoscopic arrangements, and their brand new album Fateweaver is the perfect way to kick-off their path to success showcasing their unique take on Symphonic Metal while they effortlessly transition between a variety of powerful tunes. Mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios, produced and engineered by the aforementioned Vlad Khavin, and displaying a classy artwork by Nguyen Hieu, Fateweaver will fully captivate your senses thanks to the amazing job done by Barbara and Vlad alongside their bandmates Joseph Muir on the guitars, Nicholas Bonsanto on bass and Mark Stainthorpe on drums, asking you if you’re bound by fate or bound to control it, as they navigate the overarching theme of destiny through the tales of the individual characters on each song.

Whimsical keys ignite the symphonic, epic title-track entitled Legion, with Mark dictating the pace with his heavy beats before Barbara arrives like a Valkyrie from the sky and stuns us all with her operatic vocals, and the guitars by Vlad and Joseph reverberate in the air in the also imposing Beyond the Sleep, with all background elements adding an extra touch of magic to the overall result. Then a sinister, somber start evolves into a multi-layered feast of Symphonic Power Metal titled Chimera, also presenting tons of progressiveness and electricity while Barbara is flawless on vocals supported by the pounding drums by Mark; whereas they don’t waste a single second and continue their musical adventure in The Fall of Kingdoms, with Vlad and Joseph being on absolute fire with both their riffs and solos, followed by Black Arcana, very rhythmic, epic and dense from start to finish, with Barbara’s soaring vocals being a thing of beauty while Nicholas and Mark generate a rumbling atmosphere with their respective bass and drums.

Monarch is another dynamic and ethereal display of Symphonic Metal by those talented musicians where the riffage by the band’s guitar duo beautifully clashes with the song’s  background keys, while there are moments of sheer progressiveness that remind me of Opeth and Dream Theater. In the electrifying Into the Grey, the unstoppable Barbara gorgeously declaims the song’s words (“The coming storm brings a change / The eye of fate shifts its gaze / The sky will show the way to rend fear from my heart”) while her bandmates make sure we’re transported into a world of magic and epicness to the sound of their undisputed Symphonic and Melodic Metal; whereas Immortelle sounds clearly inspired by classic Nightwish and Epica, offering our ears another round of their piercing sounds albeit a bit generic if compared to the rest of the album. And last but not least, closing such powerful album we have the seven-minute symphony Eventide, where Barbara showcases all her vocal range and potency and where all elements are in the right place, elevating the song’s punch to a whole new level and resulting in a climatic ending for admirers of the genre.

You can get to know more about Empress, their music, plans for the future, tour dates and so on by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stay up to date with their new songs and videos by subscribing to their YouTube channel and by streaming their music on Spotify, and show your utmost support to those hard working American metallers by purchasing a copy of their new album from their own webstore or from their BandCamp page, or simply by clicking HERE or HERE to select your favorite version of the album or to stream it in full. What do you say? Are you bound by fate or bound to control it? If you don’t know the answer to that, let Empress help you to the sound of their striking debut album, allowing their stylish Symphonic Metal to penetrate deep inside your mind and soul.

Best moments of the album: Legion, Chimera and Into the Grey.

Worst moments of the album: Immortelle.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Legion 4:20
2. Beyond the Sleep 4:34
3. Chimera 7:11
4. The Fall of Kingdoms 5:40
5. Black Arcana 4:38
6. Monarch 5:35
7. Into the Grey 4:00
8. Immortelle 4:53
9. Eventide 6:54

Band members
Barbara Blackthorne – vocals
Vlad Khavin – guitars
Joseph Muir – guitars
Nicholas Bonsanto – bass
Mark Stainthorpe – drums

Album Review – Amon Amarth / The Great Heathen Army (2022)

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Join the great heathen army spearheaded by one of the most respected bands of the current metal scene to the sound of their electrifying, Viking-inspired new album.

One of the best-loved metal bands in the world, Sweden’s own Melodic Death Metal horde Amon Amarth is back into the battlefield with a new opus, the heavy-as-hell, epic The Great Heathen Army, their twelfth studio album and the follow-up to their 2019 release Berserker. Produced, mixed and mastered at Backstage Productions in Derbyshire, England by the one and only Andy Sneap, and displaying a pure Viking-style artwork by Tom Thiel of Illuvision, the album encapsulates the essence of the band currently formed of frontman Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström and drummer Jocke Wallgren, while still allowing acres of space for new ideas. “The Great Heathen Army is not a concept album like Jomsviking, but I’m taking inspiration from some of the same historical elements,” said Johan Hegg. “There were also some really cool and different ideas I wanted to explore, and they came very much from my wife, Maria, who has been tapping into the more esoteric aspects of Viking lifestyle and culture. Musically, I would say there are a couple of surprises on there, a little bit of uncharted territory for Amon Amarth. Overall it’s one of the heavier albums we’ve made.”

The dirty, raw guitars by Olavi and Johan permeate the air in Get in the Ring, a fighting song that exhales Amon Amarth with its official video featuring wrestling superstar Joseph Ruud (aka Eric Redbeard or Eric Rowan, of AEW and WWE), who’s by the way a huge metal fan, kicking off the album in great fashion. The title-track The Great Heathen Army is another headbanging creation by those Norsemen, where Johan Hegg growls deeply and with tons of anger like a true metal Viking from start to finish; whereas in the fantastic Heidrun it’s time to raise your horns and pints, and sing its catchy lyrics together with the band (“Hail the dead and the goat that gives us mead / On the roof she’s gnawing Lärad’s leaves / Fills the vat with a drink that is so sweet / Worthy of fame / Heidrun is her name”). Then they put the pedal to the metal and deliver the frantic Oden Owns You All, which will inspire all fans at their live concerts to slam into the circle pit manically while Jocke does a great job hammering his drums like there’s no tomorrow in the name of Melodic Death Metal.

Find a Way or Make One brings to our ears classic Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal by the Amon Amarth horde, with the riffage by Olavi and Johan Söderberg being simply incendiary while  the message sent by the band through the lyrics is beyond awesome. Following such powerful tune we have Dawn of Norsemen, a song that goes back to the early days of the band including its old school lyrics barked by Johan Hegg (“We’ve heard rumors of land to the West / Beyond the oceans, where the sun sets / Sailing across the waves, we will fly / This voyage of discovery, no one has tried”); and featuring guest vocals by the one and only Biff Byford of Saxon, as well as his bandmates Doug Scarratt and Paul Quinn on the guitars, we’re treated to Saxons and Vikings, a beyond thrilling musical voyage where the unparalleled lines by such imposing vocal duet will pierce through our minds beautifully as a tribute to both bands (and to Heavy Metal in general). They keep pounding their instruments mercilessly in Skagul Rides with Me without forgetting their trademark harmony, and while it’s far from being a masterpiece it’s still very enjoyable. Finally, The Serpent’s Trail, the darkest song of the album, is also the longest one, with Johan Hegg’s introspective vocals bringing an extra somber touch to the overall result while Jocke smashes his drums supported by the low-tuned bass by Ted, flowing into a sinister ending.

My one and only complaint about The Great Heathen Army is the fact that the excellent song Put Your Back into the Oar was not included in the album, and apparently not even in any of its special or deluxe editions, but that’s not a real problem as there’s a lot to enjoy already in the album as is. Having said that, what are you waiting for to put your Viking hands on The Great Heathen Army? Simply go to their official webstore, to the Metal Blade Records webstore, or click HERE for all places where you can buy or stream the album. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram to stay up to date with all things Amon Amarth, including their unique live performances, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their Viking-inspired creations. In other words, it’s time to grab your sword and shield and join the great heathen army of Amon Amarth to the sound of their new album, heading into the battlefield ruthlessly, without fear, and with metal music in our hearts.

Best moments of the album: Heidrun, Find a Way or Make One, Dawn of Norsemen and Saxons and Vikings.

Worst moments of the album: Skagul Rides with Me.

Released in 2022 Metal Blade Records

Track listing
1. Get in the Ring 4:24
2. The Great Heathen Army 4:04
3. Heidrun 4:42
4. Oden Owns You All 4:17
5. Find a Way or Make One 4:30
6. Dawn of Norsemen 5:32
7. Saxons and Vikings 4:55
8. Skagul Rides with Me 4:34
9. The Serpent’s Trail 6:01

Band members
Johan Hegg – vocals
Olavi Mikkonen – lead guitar
Johan Söderberg – rhythm guitar
Ted Lundström – bass
Jocke Wallgren – drums

Guest musician
Biff Byford – vocals on “Saxons and Vikings”
Doug Scarratt – lead guitar on “Saxons and Vikings”
Paul Quinn – lead guitar on “Saxons and Vikings”

Album Review – Reincarnated / Of Boötes Void Death Spell (2022)

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Submit to the sonic onslaught found in the debut album by this infernal death and doom horde from Thailand, sounding absolutely gutted, ghastly and knuckle-dragging.

Diehard fans of bands the likes of Disma, Undergang, Funebrarum, Grave Miasma and early Necros Christos, among others, are wholeheartedly encouraged to submit to the sonic onslaught crafted by Thailand’s own Death/Doom Metal entity Reincarnated in their debut album, the infernal Of Boötes Void Death Spell. Recorded at Dee Music Studio, Nuclear Bomb Studio and TNT Music Productions, mixed at Nuclear Bomb Studios, mastered by Dan Lowdes at Resonance Sound Studio, and displaying a sick logo by Nox Fragor Art, layout and illustrations by Sickness 666 and a devilish booklet artwork By Festeringphlegm, Of Boötes Void Death Spell is basically a Death Metal maniac’s record recorded by the Death Metal maniacs NB on vocals, Patiwat and Saran on the guitars, Chester on bass and Thinnarat on drums, all skillful veterans of the Thai metal underground.

A short and sinister intro welcomes us all to the dark world ruled by Reincarnated in Ophiuchus Crypt, where Patiwat and Saran bring forward sheer doom armed with their riffs in a Blackened Doom feast with elements from Death Metal to make things even more menacing. Then NB’s haunting vocals will send shivers down your spine in Quasar God Oration, a lecture in modern-day Death and Doom Metal while also showcasing an amazing old school feeling, with Thinnarat inviting us all to break our necks headbanging to his devilish beats; whereas the venomous guitars by Patiwat and Saran generate a Stygian atmosphere in Proxima Hibernation, supported by the rumbling bass by Chester and another hammering performance by Thinnarat behind his drums. Triumphant Dead Comet is an avalanche of crushing doom for our total delight, with all infernal beats, riffs and bass lines offering NB exactly what he needs to vociferate like a creature form the underworld; and the sulfurous Tomb of Boötes Void puts a beyond demonic ending to the album, with Thinnarat pounding his drums mercilessly while NB roars and growls from the bottom of his blackened heart in another visceral hybrid of classic Death and Doom Metal.

In a nutshell, let’s say Reincarnated more than succeeded in achieving their goal of playing only the darkest and most doomed-out style of death in their debut full-length opus, sounding absolutely gutted, ghastly and knuckle-dragging until the very last second, with no room for innovation or progression. Hence, in order to show them all your admiration for their services to the underworld, you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course purchase your copy of their venomous newborn beast from the Inhuman Assault Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore. Extreme music made in the scorching hot Thailand has never been more demonic and evil, and thanks to the talented and hardworking guys from Reincarnated we can rest assured darkness will forever emanate from their homeland.

Best moments of the album: Quasar God Oration and Triumphant Dead Comet.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Inhuman Assault Productions

Track listing
1. Ophiuchus Crypt 7:27
2. Quasar God Oration 7:04
3. Proxima Hibernation 6:48
4. Triumphant Dead Comet 4:55
5. Tomb of Boötes Void 4:33

Band members
NB – vocals
Patiwat – guitars
Saran – guitars
Chester – bass
Thinnarat – drums

Album Review – Hellfuck / Diabolic Slaughter (2022)

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A horde of seasoned musicians from Poland brings pure sulfur and blasphemy to us all throughout the 32 minutes of Blackened Thrash and Speed Metal from their new album.

It looks like the more religious and conservative a country becomes, the better its Extreme Metal scene is, and when the country in question is Poland that becomes even more noticeable as some of the best metal acts to arise from the country are in the extreme music landscape such as Behemoth, Ragehammer, Embrional, Kult Mogił, and so on. That couldn’t have been any different with Blackened Thrash/Speed Metal horde Hellfuck, and if the name of the band is not enough to attract your attention maybe you’ll enjoy the name of their new opus, Diabolic Slaughter. Recorded at Panzer Studio, mixed and mastered by Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio, and displaying a sick cover artwork and layout design by Maciej Kamuda Art, Diabolic Slaughter is a beast of an album carefully brought into being by vocalist and guitarist Skullripper, guitarist Nelek, bassist Armagog and drummer Darek Mlody, all seasoned musicians from bands the likes of Embrional, Azarath, Stillborn, F.A.M. and Squash Bowels, bringing pure sulfur and blasphemy to our demented minds throughout the album’s 32 demolishing minutes.

Distorted, evil guitars ignite the opening tune Religious Scum, exploding into ass-kicking Thrash Metal spearheaded by the unfriendly, raspy vocals by Skullripper, consequently sounding absolutely perfect for slamming into the circle pit like a true metalmaniac. Darek continues to hammer his drums in great fashion in War Obsession accompanied by the razor-edged riffage by Skullripper and Nelek, as if Municipal Waste made a deal with the devil in the name of Black Metal; whereas Reigning in Hell is infernal, frantic and demented just the way we like it, with Armagog and Darek generating a reverberating atmosphere perfect for Skullripper to fire his demonic screams in a lecture in Blackened Thrash Metal by the band. The quartet keeps the momentum going with Angel’s Disgrace, another brutal fusion of Black and Speed Metal showcasing a fantastic riff work by the band’s guitar duo, and get ready to be pulverized by this Polish horde in God in Flames, even more demonic and breathtaking than the previous songs, where Darek once again dictates the pace with his hellish drums.

Living up to the legacy of the most demolishing form of Thrash Metal, it’s time for Time to Suicide, with the riffage by Skullripper and Nelek walking hand in hand with the massive beats by Darek; and the incendiary riffs and solos by Skullripper and Nelek keep piercing our ears in Church – Pigsty of Nations, with Armagog and Darek once again shaking the foundations of the earth with their Black Metal-inspired kitchen. Then arising from the very depths of the underworld the band offers us all H.M.S.T.O.P.S (or “Holy Mary, Suck The Prick Of Satan”), a no shenanigans sonic onslaught by Hellfuck that keeps the album at an insane level of animosity and rage, with Darek crushing our damned souls with his unstoppable beats. Their second to last blast of insanity, blasphemy and darkness comes in the form of The Vampiric Oath, with Skullripper gnarling rabidly supported by his devilish bandmates, not to mention its headbanging riffs are absolutely awesome; whereas last but not least, the quartet incorporates an extra dosage of the rebelliousness of bands like Toxic Holocaust, Exodus and Obituary into their core sonority, resulting in a thrashing creature entitled Despise the Priest to properly conclude the album.

As already mentioned, Poland is the place to be if you’re a diehard fan of the most extreme, blasphemous and ruthless forms of heavy music, and the guys from Hellfuck are making sure the fires of Polish metal keep burning bright anywhere they go to the sound of their awesome new album. Hence, don’t forget to start following those headbanging bastards from Poland on Facebook for news, tour dates and more of their wicked music, and to grab your copy of the incendiary Diabolic Slaughter from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp page, adding an extra dosage of profanity to your already devilish collection and, as a consequence, making sure there’s absolutely no peace for your religious neighbors.

Best moments of the album: Religious Scum, Reigning in Hell and Church – Pigsty of Nations.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Godz ov War Productions

Track listing
1. Religious Scum 3:29
2. War Obsession 3:18
3. Reigning in Hell 2:43
4. Angel’s Disgrace 3:23
5. God in Flames 3:36
6. Time to Suicide 3:33
7. Church – Pigsty of Nations 2:23
8. H.M.S.T.O.P.S 3:36
9. The Vampiric Oath 2:49
10. Despise the Priest 3:13

Band members
Skullripper – vocals, guitar
Nelek – guitar
Armagog – bass
Darek Mlody – drums

Album Review – Bleed Like Mylee / Nuk Soo Kow EP (2022)

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You will bleed like Mylee after listening to the hard-hitting Metalcore blasted by this talented and ruthless five-piece act hailing from the United States.

The drunken brainchild of vocalist Joseph Izayea (Seeking Sirens, From Under Concrete Kings, Sour Times) bassist Josh Previte (From Under Concrete Kings, Patient 0) and drummer Doug Waite (To Die This Night, Gamohra), United States-based  Metalcore act Bleed Like Mylee is a hard-hitting five-piece outfit comprised of the aforementioned musicians plus longtime friends Jeremy Litton (Patient 0) on the guitars and Armando Yambao (Galvanized) on additional vocals, delivering crushing breakdowns, epic choruses and gut-punching songwriting, all absurdly packaged in a tribute to the movie Kickboxer featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Fans of acts like Austrian Death Machine and Okilly Dokilly should easily find enjoyment in their debut EP Nuk Soo Kow, which stands to leave some bruises on 2022 due to its endless adrenaline and heaviness carefully brought into being by a band that’s more than ready to kick some ass in the name of heavy music and, of course, in honor of the unparalleled Van-Damme.

Get in the ring to the sharp riffs by Jeremy and the infuriated beats by Doug in the opening tune Kiss Of Death, inspired by this classic scene from the movie, with Joseph roaring the song’s lyrics as if he was a true kickboxer ready for a fight, followed by Now Kiki Even Too, another iconic line of the movie turned into visceral Metalcore where Jeremy and Josh are in perfect sync with their stringed weapons, sounding melodic and heavy-as-hell at the same time. Then one more unforgettable movie moment has its own tribute in the form of Kick The Tree, bringing forward ass-kicking Metalcore perfect for slamming into the pit with Armando supporting Joseph’s rabid roars in great fashion; and the band alternates between pensive moments and sheer adrenaline in Stone City (inspired by the movie’s own stone city), with Joseph screaming from the bottom of his heart while Doug sounds like a machine gun behind his drums. Lastly, the screams of “Nok Su Kao! Nok Su Kao! Nok Su Kao!” taken from this fantastic movie scene ignite the closing song, the frantic, insane Nuk Soo Kow, showcasing an awesome job done by Jeremy on the guitars while Josh makes the earth tremble with his bass, resulting in a lesson in Metalcore violence.

In a nutshell, the high-octane Nuk Soo Kow, which by the way should become available in its entirety on Spotify soon, is indeed a fun and vibrant tribute to one of the best fight movies of all time throughout its 22 minutes of classic Metalcore blasted by those five talented American metallers, with all of them being on fire from start to finish and, therefore, leaving us eager for more of their kickboxing heavy music in a not-so-distant future. And as Bleed Like Mylee smashes your head with their furious Metalcore, you’ll be lying on the ground like Kurt Sloane in the movie Kickboxer while the band approaches you with a smile on their faces and simply pronounce Tong Po’s famous words, “You bleed like Mylee! Mylee… good fuck!”

Best moments of the album: Now Kiki Even Too and Nuk Soo Kow.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Kiss Of Death 4:12
2. Now Kiki Even Too 3:47
3. Kick The Tree 3:47
4. Stone City 4:28
5. Nuk Soo Kow 5:40

Band members
Joseph Izayea – vocals
Jeremy Litton – guitar
Josh Previte – bass
Doug Waite – drums
Armando Yambao – additional vocals

Album Review – Soilwork / Övergivenheten (2022)

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Musically and lyrically evolved, Swedish Melodic Death Metal masters are back with a fantastic new opus dealing with darker thoughts that have shaped the band itself.

Musically and lyrically evolved, Swedish Melodic Death Metal masters Soilwork are back with their twelfth studio album, entitled Övergivenheten, the follow-up to the amazing Verkligheten and one of their most complex and elaborate albums to date, strengthening their legacy even more in the world of heavy music. Recorded and produced by Thomas “Plec” Johansson and Soilwork at Nordic Sound Lab, and mixed and mastered by the same Thomas “Plec” Johansson at The Panic Room (assisted by Simon Eliasson and Viktor Brunö), Övergivenheten, which means “abandonment” in Swedish, deals with darker thoughts that have shaped the band itself and affected the development process of the album. The personal struggles align with social difficulties outside of the band, all embraced by the first-class, sharp music beautifully crafted by frontman Björn “Speed” Strid, guitarists Sylvain Coudret and David Andersson, bassist Rasmus Ehrnborn, keyboardist Sven Karlsson, and drummer Bastian Thusgaard.

The acoustic guitars and banjo by guest Johan Randén kick off the multi-layered title-track Övergivenheten before Björn and his henchmen begin a fantastic sonic attack showcasing melodious riffs, rhythmic beats and endless adrenaline; followed by Nous Sommes La Guerre, or “we are the war” from French, where the ladies’ choir brings an extra kick to the music while Björn beautifully declaims the song’s lyrics (“I can feel the shadows enter, risin’ from the earth / Now that everyone is giving me the widest berth / I have nightly visits, sentient absence watchin’ me / Nurturin’ the itch where other worlds are scratchin’ me”). There’s no time to breathe as the band keeps slamming their instruments in Electric Again, with Sylvain and David doing an amazing job armed with their stringed axes; and in Valleys Of Gloam the skillful Bastian adds tons of groove to the overall result is a first-class Melodic Death Metal feast for the masses. Let’s then slam into the circle pit together with the Soilwork boys in the striking, high-octane Is It In Your Darkness, with Bastian hammering his drums mercilessly supported by the rumbling bass by Rasmus, whereas the band keeps invading our senses with their dense, groovy Melodic Death Metal in Vultures, where Rasmus is on fire with his metallic bass lines, being therefore perfect for headbanging like a true metalmaniac. After the short, atmospheric instrumental interlude Morgongåva / Stormfågel, or “morning gift / stormbird” from Swedish, it’s time for us all to bang our heads to Death, I Hear You Calling, a solid composition where Björn’s angry vocals match perfectly with the song’s lyrics, pace and heaviness, meaning it should work amazingly if played live.

The gentle keys by Sven are suddenly joined by a wall of sounds spearheaded by Bastian’s crushing beats in This Godless Universe, presenting elements form Death and even Black Metal which bring a touch of eccentricity to it. More modern than its predecessors, Dreams Of Nowhere offers another round of their caustic lyrics (“Bleeding through the blanching skin you’re / Offering the Gods your name / Bound to see the sunrise fading / The everlasting flame”), flowing into the whimsical interlude The Everlasting Flame, where Sven will captivate your senses once again before we’re treated to tons of progressiveness in the form of Golgata, with Sylvain and David extracting sheer electricity form their guitars, providing Björn with exactly what he needs to fire both his guttural roars and his classic clean vocals. Those Swedish metallers still have a lot of fuel to burn in the album, with Harvest Spine being the perfect depiction of how heavy and melodic they can sound at the same time and with Björn stealing the spotlight once again with his flammable vocals; and lastly we have On The Wings Of A Goddess Through Flaming Sheets Of Rain, a stunning name for an incendiary song that begins in a sinister manner before evolving into one last Melodic Death Metal attack by Soilwork, offering our avid ears piercing, strident riffs and solos, massive blast beats and stylish keys, putting an outstanding ending to Övergivenheten.

Needless to say, Soilwork did it again, kicking some serious ass with their undisputed Melodic Death Metal throughout the entire Övergivenheten while always loyal to their core essence (even when experimenting with new elements and sounds). Hence, don’t forget to check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their official YouTube channel for their official videos, to stream more of their top-of-the-line creations on Spotify, and above all that, to grab your favorite version of Övergivenheten by clicking HERE or HERE. Övergivenheten is one of those albums that not only represents what Soilwork are all about, but it also emanates a sharp and strong energy that’s the result of all of the aforementioned personal struggles from the band members, proving once again heavy music is always the best remedy for any type of adverse situation.

Best moments of the album: Is It In Your Darkness, Death, I Hear You Calling, Harvest Spine and On The Wings Of A Goddess Through Flaming Sheets Of Rain.

Worst moments of the album: Dreams Of Nowhere.

Released in 2022 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Övergivenheten 5:45
2. Nous Sommes La Guerre 6:53
3. Electric Again 4:22
4. Valleys Of Gloam 4:11
5. Is It In Your Darkness 4:04
6. Vultures 5:47
7. Morgongåva / Stormfågel 1:33
8. Death, I Hear You Calling 4:41
9. This Godless Universe 4:41
10. Dreams Of Nowhere 4:29
11. The Everlasting Flame 1:06
12. Golgata 4:59
13. Harvest Spine 5:10
14. On The Wings Of A Goddess Through Flaming Sheets Of Rain 7:31

Band members
Björn “Speed” Strid – vocals
Sylvain Coudret – guitar
David Andersson – guitar
Rasmus Ehrnborn – bass
Sven Karlsson – keyboards
Bastian Thusgaard – drums

Guest musicians
Johan Randén – acoustic guitars and banjo on “Övergivenheten”
Laila Prigorowsky, Helene Alexandersson, Catrine Ellwen, Gonca Yazan, Jenny Ericsson & Cia von Heijne – ladies’ choir on “Nous Sommes La Guerre”

Album Review – Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement / Constructing The Cataclysm (2022)

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A demonic American duo is back in action with eight songs of fiercely implacable Death Metal bristling with riffs like lethal weapons and devilish growls, inspired by the history and mythology of the samurai.

Drawing on the complex history and vibrant mythology of the samurai, the powerful warrior caste of feudal Japan, Gastonia, North Carolina-based outfit Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement has carved out their own kingdom of intense and characterful Death Metal, and although the demonic duo formed of multi-instrumentalist Jordan Varela (Lust Of Decay) and vocalist Jay Barnes (Cesspool Of Vermin) unveiled their second album Resuscitating The Vile almost a decade ago and may have fallen on their swords, consigning the project to the dust of ages, their third full-length opus, entitled Constructing The Cataclysm, is about to see the light of day. Recorded by Mike Clevenger at Audio Helm Studios, and displaying a fantastic samurai-inspired artwork by Andreas Christanetoff of Armaada Art, the album features eight songs of fiercely implacable Death Metal bristling with riffs like lethal weapons and devilish growls and howls, taking the duo to new levels of intensity and sheer class.

Get ready to be transported to feudal Japan before Jordan begins decimating his drums in the hellish Insurrection of the Diabolic while Jay growls and roars like a rabid beast, offering us all unrelenting and extremely vile Death Metal that goes straight to your jugular. Then blasting old school Death Metal the likes of Morbid Angel and Deicide it’s time for the duo to crush us all in Breaching the Gates of Tranquility, where Jordan is not only an evil machine behind his drums but his riffage is also caustic just the way we like it; and there’s no time to breathe as Jay and Jordan continue to hammer our heads with their Brutal Death Metal in Insidious Spiritual Incarceration, a fantastic option to slam into the pit to the wicked, demented vociferations by Jay. And Awaiting the Infinity of Oblivion doesn’t have a single moment of peace or boredom; quite the contrary, it’s an endless Death Metal onrush that will leave you completely disoriented when it’s over.

Jordan once again gives a lecture in caustic riffs and blast beats in Irrevocable Siege of the Abominable, offering Jay exactly what he needs to infernally roar the song’s dark words nonstop, being therefore perfect for some good old headbanging, whereas in Fragmenting the Profane the duo adds some welcome elements from Thrash Metal to their core sonority, resulting in another riff-fueled devastation by the duo tailored for igniting some serious circle pits at a live concert or festival. The second to last explosion of intricacy and rage by Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement, entitled Tribunal of the Oni, keeps the album scorching hot, with Jordan sounding fantastic with both his riffs and metallic bass, followed by the title-track Constructing the Cataclysm, putting a sick ending to the album by blending traditional Japanese sounds in the background with the fury of American Death Metal, while also leaving our corpses lying in the battlefield like deceased samurais after all is said and done.

The metal samurais Jay Barnes and Jordan Varela are waiting for you to join them in the battlefront by following them on Facebook, by streaming all of their wicked compositions on Spotify, and mainly by purchasing a copy of the excellent Constructing The Cataclysm from the Comatose Music’s BandCamp page or webstore (as a regular CD or a CD + shirt + sticker bundle), as well as from Apple Music and other retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Plastic Head Megastore. Having said all that, instead o committing a seppuku or hara-kiri, use your katana for something a lot more fun such as raising it in the air while banging your head to the music blasted by Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement in their high-octane new album, honoring all metalheads that came before us.

Best moments of the album: Insidious Spiritual Incarceration, Fragmenting the Profane and Constructing the Cataclysm.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Insurrection of the Diabolic 4:19
2. Breaching the Gates of Tranquility 4:10
3. Insidious Spiritual Incarceration 3:43
4. Awaiting the Infinity of Oblivion 4:46
5. Irrevocable Siege of the Abominable 3:13
6. Fragmenting the Profane 4:06
7. Tribunal of the Oni 3:47
8. Constructing the Cataclysm 4:55

Band members
Jay Barnes – vocals
Jordan Varela – guitar, bass, drums

Album Review – Black Reuss / Journey (2022)

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Liechtenstein’s own one-man Gothic and Doom Metal band returns with the second part of his four-album concept, surrendering to inner preferences and being less and less controlled by material or negative things.

Formed in 2018 in Triesen, the third largest municipality of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Gothic/Doom Metal one-man army Black Reuss has just released the second part of his four-album concept, entitled Journey, the follow-up to his 2021 album Metamorphosis and a preparation for the upcoming albums Arrival and Death. The man behind Black Reuss, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Maurizio Dottores, is at home in doomy Heavy Metal with a touch of melancholy and a certain heaviness that has accompanied him in some chapters of his life, with Journey being about surrendering to inner preferences and being less and less controlled by material or negative things, being therefore highly recommended for admirers of the doomed music by Paradise Lost, Type O Negative, Katatonia and Black Sabbath, among others.

Eerie, futuristic sounds ignite the atmospheric Exodus, with Maurizio wasting no time by distilling his trademark fusion of Gothic Rock and Metal while firing sharp riffs from start to finish, and switching gears to a more sinister vibe thanks to his tribal beats and minimalist guitar lines we’re treated to Dejection, living up to the legacy of classic Doom Metal. Moreover, Maurizio’s deep vocals add a touch of anguish to the overall result, whereas experimenting with more unconventional sound and elements it’s time for the somber Egression, where Maurizio does a great job with both his riffs and bass lines; followed by the bold, atmospheric and pensive Hole, where its sonority will embrace you in the name of Gothic and Doom Metal and with Maurizio’s riffage and beats bringing forward sheer heaviness. Slowing things down a bit we have the Gothic Rock feast Fail, where once again Maurizio is on fire armed with his rumbling bass, adding endless groove to the music, while a beyond sinister and atmospheric start evolves into a Gothic Metal extravaganza in Deep-Seated, with Maurizio’s introspective, deep vocals and low-tuned bass lines beautifully darkening the skies, also presenting hints of Southern Rock and Metal for our total delight.

Drinking from the same obscure fountain as renowned acts the likes of Moonspell, My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost, Maurizio brings forth sheer doom in Regression, another first-class composition showcasing sluggish beats and riffs enfolded by an ethereal ambience, and it’s then time for a headbanging tune entitled Dependence, where Maurizio slashes his guitar in great fashion while his beats bring an extra kick to the song, being clearly inspired by the 80’s Gothic Rock scene (and a recommended addition to your road trip playlist, by the way). Integrity keeps the album at a high level of energy and doom, with Maurizio adding a phantasmagorical vibe to it with his keys while his guitar work sounds very melodic and sharp as usual; and the last two songs of the album are also the longest ones, starting with Affection, a slow, reverberating composition that exhales pure Doom Metal with his guitar solos being a thing of beauty, flowing into the pensive and grim Redemption, an atmospheric nine-minute aria where Maurizio declaims the song’s lyrics with tons of anguish while its instrumental pieces are simply spot-on, consequently putting a delicate but impactful ending to the album.

While we wait for the third and fourth chapters in the musical adventure crafted by Maurizio Dottores and his Black Reuss, we can definitely have a very good time enjoying Metamorphosis and of course Journey, which is by the way available in its entirety on Spotify, and you can also show your utmost support to this interesting one-man band from Liechtenstein by following him on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to his YouTube channel, and obviously by clicking HERE and purchasing your favorite version of Journey. What’s next for Black Reuss? How will Arrival and Death sound in comparison to Metamorphosis and Journey? The wait for those questions to be answered is one of the most compelling parts in the music by Maurizio Dottores, a man that’s definitely placing Liechtenstein in the map of heavy music with his unique creations.

Best moments of the album: Hole, Deep-Seated and Dependence.

Worst moments of the album: Egression.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Exodus 5:54
2. Dejection 6:41
3. Egression 4:40
4. Hole 4:20
5. Fail 4:51
6. Deep-Seated 6:02
7. Regression 6:17
8. Dependence 4:44
9. Integrity 4:46
10. Affection 8:39
11. Redemption 9:46

Band members
Maurizio Dottores – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Flame Imperishable / Glory and Ruin (2022)

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This talented husband-and-wife duo is back in action with a new project of first-class Progressive Power Metal inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, video games and more.

A husband-and-wife duo comprised of multi-instrumentalist Jason Lee Greenberg and vocalist Jennifer Michelle Greenberg, known for the 2014 self-titled album by Orisonata, Houston, Texas-based Progressive Power Metal entity Flame Imperishable is ready to take the world of heavy music by storm with their debut opus entitled Glory and Ruin, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, video games and more. Produced and engineered by Gregg Rossetti of Suspyre, who also plays saxophone and keyboards, and is responsible for the orchestrations in the album, Glory and Ruin is highly recommended for fans of Blind Guardian, Opeth, Epica, Nightwish and Ghost, with each one of its songs presenting either a heroic literary figure or a very tragic soul destined for a path of ruin.

Acoustic guitars ignite the opening tune The Halls of Waiting (Oblivion), where Jennifer beautifully declaims the song’s lyrics (“Broken, treachery, a given promise kept / of changing and of shifting shape / Thereby the snare was set / Revealed the truth of where / his companions lay / and thus his kinsmen found / their final resting place”) amidst an imposing and progressive sonority, whereas investing in a more direct, metallic sound we have Frozen in Time, with Jason doing an awesome job with his riffs and beats accompanied by the classic keys by Gregg in a first-class fusion of Symphonic and Progressive Metal. And the couple keeps delivering epicness and intricacy in Slavebranded, showcasing their more Dream Theater-ish side with hints of Opeth while keeping a more direct, vibrant vibe, followed by Shrine of Resurrection, featuring bass lines by Gregg and sounding a lot less metal or intense than its predecessors, but still very melodic thanks to the great job done by Jennifer on vocals. Then the whimsical, melancholic sax by Gregg in the interlude Bregalad’s Lament sets the stage for The Herald’s Approach, with a guest guitar solo by Drew Creel (Masqued) and another round of their magical lyrics (“Surrender the light / In the midst of ruin, defy / The silent watchmen of lies / Broken promises shattered inside”) while Jason and Gregg make a dynamic duo with their respective riffs and sax.

Flammable riffs by Jason and the futuristic keys by Gregg ignite the Symphonic and Progressive Metal feast titled Reign of Fire, also presenting a sick guitar solo by Drew, where once again Jennifer fires her fusion of operatic and metallic vocals for our total delight; whereas The Scarlet Gale (Part 1: Darkness Falling) will prepare our souls to the sound of the acoustic guitars by Jason and Jennifer’s whimsical voice for the 12-minute aria The Scarlet Gale (Part 2: The Descent), featuring male vocals by John Yelland (Judicator, Dire Peril, Principium). It’s an exciting musical voyage alternating between ethereal passages, sheer heaviness and climatic moments where John and Jennifer make a fantastic vocal duet while Jason is a machine of progressiveness, also presenting elements from the music by early Nightwish, Dream Theater and Opeth with the band’s own twist, therefore resulting in a metal opera that will please all fans of the genre, flowing into the closing tune The Scarlet Gale (Part 3: Reflection), a delicate, melancholic outro featuring the stunning classical guitar by guest Valerie Hartzell that puts a beautiful ending to the album, mesmerizing us all until the very last second.

“I fully devoted myself to studying and pursuing classical guitar. In getting back to writing metal music, it was a blast incorporating newly learned classical composition techniques, approaches to counterpoint melody, as well as baroque and romantic styled themes into heavy metal,” commented Jason about his approach in crafting the music found in Glory and Ruin, and it’s indeed a fun experience noticing all those nuances in each and every track of the album. Hence, don’t forget to give Jason and Jennifer a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of their new album directly from their BandCamp page to keep the flames of Progressive Power Metal burning for all eternity.

Best moments of the album: The Halls of Waiting (Oblivion), Slavebranded and The Scarlet Gale (Part 2: The Descent).

Worst moments of the album: Shrine of Resurrection.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. The Halls of Waiting (Oblivion) 9:12
2. Frozen in Time 4:39
3. Slavebranded 6:00
4. Shrine of Resurrection 5:13
5. Bregalad’s Lament 2:52
6. The Herald’s Approach 5:32
7. Reign of Fire 4:44
8. The Scarlet Gale (Part 1: Darkness Falling) 2:21
9. The Scarlet Gale (Part 2: The Descent) 12:53
10. The Scarlet Gale (Part 3: Reflection) 2:57

Band members
Jennifer Greenberg – vocals
Jason Lee Greenberg – guitar, bass, drums

Guest musicians
Gregg Rossetti (Suspyre) – saxophone, keyboards, orchestrations, bass on “Shrine of Resurrection”
Drew Creel (Masqued) – guitar solos on “Reign of Fire” and “The Herald’s Approach”
John Yelland (Judicator, Dire Peril, Principium) – male vocals on “The Scarlet Gale (Part 2: The Descent)”
Valerie Hartzell – classical guitar on “The Scarlet Gale (Part 3: Reflection)”