Category Archives: 2023 New Releases

Album Review – Thron / Dust (2023)

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Behold the majestic fourth album by this unrelenting German Black Metal horde, explicating the undeniable fact that everything will turn to dust someday.

Forged in 2015 in the deep darkness of the Black Forest, a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France, the unrelenting Black Metal horde Thron is back with a fantastic new opus, titled Dust, their fourth full-length album following up on their 2021 effort Pilgrim. Currently formed of Samca on vocals, PVIII and Raven Dust on the guitars, SXIII on bass and J on drums, the band incorporated new elements to their sound in Dust by going back to their very roots which lie in the early 80’s, when bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate ruled the field, while at the same time taking inspiration from the 90’s when bands like Tiamat, Edge of Sanity and Sentenced expanded their horizons. This fusion of sounds, combined with serious dedication to the glorious Progressive Rock dinosaurs of the 70’s, the love for the dark extreme musical arts with blasting fury and aggressive vocals, the crisp recording at Black Halo Studios Rheinfelden, Chäuer Studios Bärn and RL Studios Freiburg, the first-class mixing and mastering by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios, and the sinister artwork by Khaos Diktator Design, turn Dust into a must-listen for admirers of the music by Dissection, Watain, Necrophobic, Unanimated and Tribulation, just to name a few.

The devilish guitars by PVIII and Raven Dust will send shivers down your spine in Dying In The Mud, kicking off the album on a beyond dark note with Samca gnarling nonstop in the name of Black Metal; and such talented German horde puts the pedal to the metal in Return…, delivering classic Black Metal spearheaded by the massive drums by J while the band’s guitar duo keeps firing sheer obscurity from their axes, sounding furious, insane and evil just the way we like it. SXIII adds his share of heaviness to the music through his bass lines in The True Belief, leaning towards Melodic Black Metal while Samca keeps vociferating manically, being therefore perfect for some vicious headbanging, whereas back to a more infernal mode the band will demolish our souls with The Golden Calf, once again showcasing a superb guitar job and demonic blast beats, not to mention its welcome breaks and variations. And not a single second of peace is offered to us all in Monologue, another straightforward, Stygian Black Metal extravaganza showcasing the usual demolishing drums by the infuriated J.

The intro in The Eve is certainly spine-chilling, and that sulfurous, demonic vibe grows in intensity before exploding into old school Black Metal with hints of Death Metal. Needless to say, Samca sounds utterly grim on vocals, whereas Into Oblivion is another very harmonious and piercing creation by Thron venturing through the realms of modern-day Melodic Black Metal where all riffs and solos are absolutely incendiary. More of their razor-edged riffs will penetrate deep inside our psyche in The Tyranny Of I, with J dictating the song’s venomous pace with his intricate but also violent beats; followed by Face Of Despair, darker and more demonic than its predecessors thanks to its hints of Doom Metal while remaining loyal to the band’s core essence, presenting another superb vocal performance by Samca and overflowing desperation, hatred and sulfur. Their second to last breath of blasphemy comes in the form of The Wrong God, with PVIII and Raven Dust cutting our skin deep with another flawless riff attack, while lastly the band still has time to fulminate our senses with Martyr, where J is bestial behind his drums supported by the rumbling bass by SXIII throughout the song’s almost seven minutes of pure Black Metal awesomeness.

In summary, Thron more than nailed it with the apocalyptic Dust, delivering a collection of eleven Black Metal anthems that will undoubtedly place it among the best Black Metal albums of the year. Furthermore, such sensational blast of extreme music made in Germany can be appreciated in all of its obscure glory on YouTube and on Spotify, and if you consider yourself a true servant of the underworld you should definitely purchase a copy of it from the Listenable Records’ BandCamp page or webstore, or by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, keeping the fires of Black Metal burning bright until the very end. Because you know, as the band itself stated, everything will turn to dust someday.

Best moments of the album: Return…, The Golden Calf, The Eve and The Tyranny Of I.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Listenable Records

Track listing
1. Dying In The Mud 5:08
2. Return… 4:52
3. The True Belief 4:06
4. The Golden Calf 6:13
5. Monologue 3:31
6. The Eve 5:52
7. Into Oblivion 3:58
8. The Tyranny Of I 5:42
9. Face Of Despair 4:20
10. The Wrong God 4:48
11. Martyr 6:55

Band members
Samca – vocals
PVIII – guitars
Raven Dust – guitars
SXIII – bass
J – drums

Album Review – Mork / Dypet (2023)

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Let yourself sink into the depths of the abyss to the sound of the sixth full-length album by this one-man Black Metal project hailing from Norway.

The ever prolific, Halden, Norway-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Eriksen returns from the underworld with his Black Metal outfit Mork armed with the project’s sixth studio, entitled Dypet, following swiftly on the heels of his 2021 opus Katedralen. Recorded and mixed by Thomas himself, mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door, and displaying a sick artwork by David Thiérrée (inspired by the album’s theme of “Draugen” or “Cthulhu”) and crest by Jannicke Wiese-Hansen, Dypet, which means “the deep” from Norwegian, is a miasma of grim and frost-bitten riffs and harsh vocal melodies, simultaneously pushing new ideas forward yet still retaining the signature foundations of ice cold hypnotic Black Metal. Furthermore, Dypet is not a concept album and the themes of hatred, death, betrayal, inner demons and misanthropy will find fans of Black Metal right at home, continuing his exploration of the depths of darkness.

Thomas unleashes his inner demons in the Stygian opening tune Indre Demoner (“inner demons”), starting in a somber, pensive way before exploding into first-class Melodic Black Metal led by his harmonious yet piercing guitar lines, followed by Forført Av Kulden (“seduced by the cold”), even more obscure than its predecessor, with Thomas gnarling like a creature from the abyss until the very end. Moreover, regarding its concept Thomas said that the song “is about being seduced into the cold hard weather outside by an unknown force, wandering into the snowstorm at night and ending up freezing to death. It depicts a somewhat glorified theme of death as a beautiful and unavoidable thing.” Then in Svik (“betrayal”) we’re treated to classic Scandinavian Black Metal infused with Melodic Black Metal elements, with Thomas firing his usual roars supported by a solid job done on drums; whereas Et Kall Fra Dypet (“a call from the deep”) is absolutely heavy and dark from the very first second, where Thomas once again hammers his drums fiercely while his growling resonates through the air.

Featuring guest vocals by Norwegian vocalist Hjelvik, Høye Murer (“high walls”) brings forward strident, razor-edged riffs and low-tuned bass which together generate the perfect atmosphere for Thomas and Hjelvik to vociferate in the darkest possible way; and inspired by the beautiful Nordic countryside we have Bortgang (“demise”), thematically exploring the idea of legacy and it’s various interpretations from both the perspective of the deceased and those that were left behind, another melodic and flammable display of Black Metal by such talented Norwegian musician. Enhancing his animosity and rage it’s time for the venomous Avskum (“scum”), where Thomas keeps roaring rabidly while his guitar sounds absolutely infernal, also showcasing demonic blast beats; and  last but not least Thomas invests in a more direct, old school Black Metal sonority in Tilbake Til Opprinnelsen (“back to origins”), flowing smoothly until the song’s climatic and grim finale.

“It is with great pride that I am able to present and experience the release of my sixth full length album. I put every single drop of myself into the process of shaping Mork’s music. Perhaps even more so with this new album. As the album title, which translates to ‘the deep’, something from the depths has been brought to the surface, Dypet was inspired by my life over the last couple of years, the thoughts, feelings, passion and the evolving of creative free will. Dive in and let yourself sink into the abyss,” commented Thomas about his newborn beast, and you can let your soul be dragged into the deep by streaming the album in full on YouTube or on Spotify, or by clicking HERE and purchasing your favorite version of it. In addition, don’t forget to also follow Thomas and his Mork on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with all things surrounding such grim and captivating project. The abyss is calling you to the sound of the new album by Mork, and I’m sure that, once there, you’ll enjoy its cold embrace for all eternity.

Best moments of the album: Forført Av Kulden, Høye Murer and Avskum.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. Indre Demoner 6:15
2. Forført Av Kulden 5:20
3. Svik 5:16
4. Et Kall Fra Dypet 7:31
5. Høye Murer 6:37
6. Bortgang 5:49
7. Avskum 4:44
8. Tilbake Til Opprinnelsen 6:15

Band members
Thomas Eriksen – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Hjelvik – vocals on “Høye Murer”

Album Review – Shakma / On Tenebrous Wings (2023)

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A force to be reckoned with, this Norwegian Blackened Thrash Metal trio is back with a deadlier sequel to their 2018 debut album, expanding the band’s dark horizons even further.

Formed in 2014 in Haugesund, a municipality on the North Sea in Rogaland county, Norway, and inspired by the occult and 80’s horror B-movies (which makes me wonder if the name of the band comes from the 1990 cult film Shakma), the unstoppable Blackened Thrash Metal horde Shakma continues to haunt our damned souls with their visceral music in their new opus, titled On Tenebrous Wings. Recorded and produced by Tom Poole-Kerr at Green Engine Recording, and displaying an obscure artwork by Solo Macello, On Tenebrous Wings picks up right where their 2018 debut House of Possession left off while sounding darker and more intricate, or a deadlier sequel expanding the band’s dark horizons that proves vocalist and guitarist Marco Runic, bassist Stian Golden and drummer Aleksander Runic are a force to be reckoned with.

Dark and sinister from the very first second, the 80’s horror movie-inspired intro Evocation will embrace you in total darkness before the trio comes hammering our heads with their infernal fusion of Black and Thrash Metal in the title-track On Tenebrous Wings, with Marco extracting pure malignancy from his riffs supported by the bestial drumming by Aleksander, being therefore the perfect way to kick off such incendiary album. Stian then brings the groove to the band’s flammable thrashing sounds in Nocturnal Obsession, also presenting hints of Hardcore to make it an even better option for some circle pit action; whereas Marco continues to bark and gnarl in the name of evil in Cryptic Apparition, a frantic, in-your-face creation by the trio that lives up to the legacy of Scandinavian Blackened Thrash Metal.

The trio shows no signs of slowing down nor any mercy for our souls in Necromancer, another explosive tune played at the speed of light with Aleksander smashing his drums nonstop for our vulgar delectation, followed by Under His Spell, simply demented and breathtaking from the very first second with all three band members being on absolute sync, spearheaded by the stylish and furious riffage by Marco (who also delivers his usual raspy, unfriendly vocal lines). Their second to last breath of sulfur and Thrash Metal, entitled The Howling Beast, will keep the mosh pit moving manically, with Marco and Stian kicking some ass with their respective riffs and bass lines; and as the entire album exhales darkness and hatred, the closing song, titled Ancient Power, would certainly follow that same demonic pattern, bringing to our ears a humongous dosage of the trio’s infernal riffs, hammering bass and incendiary blast beats.

The sulfurous and frantic On Tenebrous Wings is available for a full and detailed listen on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you can put your damned hands on this precious gem of the underground by purchasing it from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Duplicate Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, an LP, a marble LP, a cassette or a blue cassette, or simply click HERE for all things Shakma, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram. If On Tenebrous Wings was a horror movie, it would surely be a deadly, bloodthirsty one, and we all should thank the guys from Shakma for bringing such high level of horror and fury in the form of first-class metal music to our avid ears.

Best moments of the album: On Tenebrous Wings, Cryptic Apparition and Under His Spell.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Duplicate Records

Track listing
1. Evocation 1:00
2. On Tenebrous Wings 4:53
3. Nocturnal Obsession 3:31
4. Cryptic Apparition 6:01
5. Necromancer 3:11
6. Under His Spell 4:58
7. The Howling Beast 4:07
8. Ancient Power 4:57

Band members
Marco Runic – vocals, guitars
Stian Golden – bass
Aleksander Runic – drums

Album Review – Fracturus / Versus The Void (2023)

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The debut album by this up-and-coming metal act from Canada will pulverize your senses with its modern and technical fusion of Death Metal and Deathcore.

Hailing from “la Vieille Capitale” Montreal, in Quebec, Canada, the ruthless Death Metal/Deathcore four-piece act Fracturus has just released their first full-length album, entitled Versus The Void, following up on their 2021 debut EP L’appel du vide. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy), and displaying a sinister artwork by Abysmial, the album features a modern and technical style of Death Metal powered by the aggressive vocals by Alexandre Leblanc (Dark Century, Neuraxis), the razor sharp guitar riffs by Greg Nicholls (Dark Century, Pyramidion), the ground shaking bass work by Peter Hamm (Cryptic Forest), and the lightning fast drum thunderstorm courtesy of Alexis Serré (Dark Century, Transe Metal Machine), turning the album into a must-listen for fans of the more modern and melodic version of Death Metal from the current scene.

The futuristic, modern intro titled Ascension invites us all to join Fracturus in their quest for heavy music to the sound of Storm, showcasing wicked lyrics barked by Alexandre (“Born to defy, an agent of demise / Created to resist, unaffected by the lies / Forged by a code of beliefs, a one-man creed / With nothing to corrupt, this unbreakable will”) and a demolishing sonority blending Groove and Death Metal with Deathcore. In the title-track Versus the Void, Greg delivers sheer adrenaline through his riffs while Peter hammers his bass in the most intricate way possible, or in other words, it’s an amazing option to slam into the circle pit, whereas Alexis dictates the pace in Forget the End, blasting his drums like there’s no tomorrow supported by the thunderous bass lines by Peter, therefore resulting in one of the heaviest and most technical of all songs.

As the rain falls the band will kill in Hand of Man, spearheaded by the fulminating drums by Alexis and the always venomous roars by Alexandre, uniting Death Metal and Deathcore in the name of pitch-black darkness; whereas Dissolve is perhaps the most Deathcore of all songs from the album while also showcasing hints of Progressive Death Metal, bringing forward an amazing job done by Greg armed with his stringed axe accompanied as usual by the relentless bass by Peter. Lastly, in Rational / Animal we’re treated to one final round of their acid lyrics (“Either food or killer, hunter or prey / Nature favors the strong, survival of the species / Primitive aggression, a king among beasts / Dominant upon a savage domain”), with Peter and Alexis making the earth tremble with their progressive yet infuriated kitchen before everything fades into a melancholic piano outro.

If you want to experience all the heaviness and rage flowing from Versus The Void, you can simply stream the album as many times as you want on Spotify, but of course in order to show your utmost support to the underground you can purchase a copy of the album from Apple Music, from Amazon, or by clicking HERE or HERE, and don’t forget to also start following Fracturus on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube. The guys from Fracturus are definitely taking a huge step forward in their career with Versus The Void, making the Canadian metal scene stronger and, consequently, offering us all another very good reason to keep banging our heads and having some fun inside the circle pit to the sound of their newborn opus.

Best moments of the album: Storm and Forget the End.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Ascension 0:42
2. Storm 3:40
3. Versus the Void 3:58
4. Forget the End 3:27
5. Hand of Man 4:16
6. Dissolve 3:46
7. Rational / Animal 4:35

Band members
Alexandre Leblanc – vocals
Greg Nicholls – guitars
Peter Hamm – bass
Alexis Serré – drums

Album Review – The Last Prophecy / Hate Is My Mentor EP (2023)

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A young, rising Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band from Finland will kick you in the head to the sound of their new EP, sounding faster, heavier and more ferocious than ever.

A young, rising Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band formed in early 2021 in Espoo, Finland, the four-piece act known as The Last Prophecy has been connecting the best bits of Thrash Metal and Melodeath since their inception, crafting their own sound while also honoring their main influences including In Flames and Children Of Bodom. Now in 2023 the quartet formed of Joakim Haahtela on vocals and guitars, Petteri Karinen also on the guitars, Saku Kivirinne on bass, and Henri Toropainen on drums unleashed upon us a 25-minute EP titled Hate Is My Mentor, sounding faster, heavier and more ferocious than ever, with the mixing and mastering by the band’s own Petteri and Henri and the artwork by @dodolokstrom bringing an extra touch of insanity to the album, therefore positioning the band as one of the must-see new names of the current Finnish scene.

The guitars by Joakim and Petteri bring the noise to the opening tune Deranged, slashing our ears in great fashion in the name of Melodic Death Metal supported by the pounding drums by Henri; whereas Dead Forever is even groovier and heavier thanks to the rumbling kitchen blasted by Saku and Henri, or in other words, it’s an amazing option to slam into the pit while Joakim vociferates rabidly. Then drinking from the same fountain as Scandinavian giants the likes of Soilwork, In Flames and Arch Enemy (while also adding their own Death Metal twist to the overall result), we have Dark Sky of the Dawn, where another amazing guitar job by Joakim and Petteri keeps the song’s energy level truly high; followed by the title-track Hate Is My Mentor, which beings in a serene manner before evolving into another classy Melodic Death Metal feast, showcasing dark lyrics (“Restless soul in darkness / Waiting for salvation / World’s turning its back / Sing the song of death / While holding your breath / Aid is never here / It’s a one-way path / Light has passed away / This is the last day”) amidst a neck-breaking sonority. Finally, closing the EP the quartet offers us all Course of War, again delivering their usual incendiary riffage while Henri dictates the pace with his intricate and hammering drums.

Such fun and vibrant EP is available in its entirety on Youtube and on Spotify, and of course if you want to show the guys from The Last Prophecy how much you enjoy their music you can give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and purchase a copy of Hate Is My Mentor from Apple Music or by clicking HERE. The EP already gives the listener a very good idea of how exciting the music by The Last Prophecy is, and now those Finnish metallers have the mission of delivering an even bolder, faster and heavier full-length album in the near future. Well, I’m sure they’ll get there even if it’s hard to beat the quality of the songs from Hate Is My Mentor, don’t you agree?

Best moments of the album: Dead Forever and Dark Sky of the Dawn.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Deranged 3:52
2. Dead Forever 5:56
3. Dark Sky of the Dawn 3:42
4. Hate Is My Mentor 6:13
5. Course of War 5:34

Band members
Joakim Haahtela – vocals, guitars
Petteri Karinen – guitars
Saku Kivirinne – bass
Henri Toropainen – drums

Album Review – Argenthorns / The Ravening (2023)

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Prepare yourself for a breathtaking Symphonic Black Metal journey to the war-torn, magical and baroque world of Argenthorns.

A new and mysterious Symphonic Black Metal project from the land of a thousand lakes, more precisely from the Finnish city of Lahti, Argenthorns will take you on an epic cloak and dagger adventure in the project’s debut opus The Ravening, all taken from the mind of its sole member, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Juuso Peltola, the man behind Warmoon Lord and Old Sorcery who goes by the name of Mason Rofocale in this epic and baroque metal saga. Mastered by Gabriele Gramaglia (Cosmic Putrefaction, Vertebra Atlantis, and many more), and displaying a stylish, classic artwork by Swedish master Pär Olofsson, The Ravening marks the first chapter of Mason Rofocale’s occult chronicle through lands unknown, a Black Metal tale told the way it used to be in the 90’s with piercing screams, fascinating keyboards and icy cold riffs, recommended for fans of Dimmu Borgir, Bal-Sagoth, Odium and Limbonic Art.

The cinematic and phantasmagorical intro Hanen Salissaan Kastoimme Unenhoureet Vereen (“In Hane’s hall, we drenched the sleeping whores in blood” from Finnish) will captivate your senses before Juuso smashes our cranial skulls in The Manor of the Demon Duke, a pulverizing Symphonic Black Metal aria showcasing fast and electrifying riffs, menacing drums and Juuso’s infernal gnarls, resulting in a grandiose start to such compelling tale. Juuso wastes no time and continues to tell the album’s story in the most metallic way possible in In the Hoary Shadows of the Blighted Gardens, where all background keys, orchestrations and sounds provide him with the perfect atmosphere for his wicked Black Metal vociferations; whereas his old school Black Metal vein gets stronger in I: Incursion II: a Procession of Spectres, bringing forward his passion for the 80’s and 90’s sound while also adding his own twist to the music, ending in a doom-ish, sluggish manner.

Investing in a more orchestral, imposing sonority, Juuso will embellish the airwaves with his piercing guitar lines in Malefic Chronicle, enhancing the song’s punch and heaviness with his classy drums and whimsical keys; and in Wings of Psychomachia he adds elements from Atmospheric Black Metal and also from Doom Metal to his core sound, resulting in a song that exhales melancholy and introspection while also evolving into a Symphonic Black Metal voyage that will smash your mind mercilessly. Then epic keys ignite the second to last song of the album, titled The Grand Hallowing of the Tyrant, with Juuso declaiming the song’s words in a poetic way before gnarling and roaring like a demonic beast, feeling modern yet deeply rooted in classic Black Metal (not to mention his amazing riff work), flowing into the also cinematic outro Elpyminen (“recovery” from Finnish), putting a mesmerizing and climatic finale to Juuso’s blackened musical journey.

The multi-talented metal warrior Juuso, or maybe I should say Mason Rofocale, is eager to know what you think of his music on Facebook, and you can show him all your support by purchasing a copy of the intense and multi-layered The Ravening from his own BandCamp page, from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp page, from Sound Cave (as a CD, a vinyl, or a special galaxy vinyl), as well as from other sources such as mvdshop.com. Prepare yourself for a breathtaking journey to the war-torn, magical and baroque world of Argenthorns, but I must warn you that once you enter such metallic realm you might never come back.

Best moments of the album: The Manor of the Demon Duke, In the Hoary Shadows of the Blighted Gardens and The Grand Hallowing of the Tyrant.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Avantgarde Music

Track listing
1. Hanen Salissaan Kastoimme Unenhoureet Vereen 1:36
2. The Manor of the Demon Duke 3:55
3. In the Hoary Shadows of the Blighted Gardens 5:29
4. I: Incursion II: a Procession of Spectres 7:21
5. Malefic Chronicle 5:28
6. Wings of Psychomachia 7:02
7. The Grand Hallowing of the Tyrant 5:19
8. Elpyminen 2:17

Band members
Juuso Peltola – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Blodtår / Det Förtegna Förflutna (2023)

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This Swedish Folk and Black Metal entity will take you on a thrilling voyage in its first full-length album, telling stories inspired by Scandinavian folklore, forests, mountains and mythological beings.

A Folk and Black Metal fusion of the lo-fi malice of Embassy-era Gorgoroth, the folkish grandeur of Windir, and Dissection’s icy, melancholic melodies, the stunning Det Förtegna Förflutna, or “the secretive and quiet past” translated from Swedish, is the debut full-length opus by Stockholm, Sweden-based Black Metal entity Blodtår (“blood tears” or “tears of blood”), the follow-up to the band’s 2021 self-titled debut EP. Recorded and mixed at Wing Studios, Det Förtegna Förflutna showcases masterful riffing heavily inspired by Swedish folk melodies, played lightning-fast but without sounding upbeat, by the project’s mastermind, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Carl, supported by Hebert Alarcón Cerna on drums. “The album title expresses my wish to shine some light on a cultural heritage we in Scandinavia still have but appear to be neglecting more and more. Det Förtegna Förflutna consists of songs that are somewhat linked together by themes such as northern folklore, forests, mountains, and mythological beings. Each composition tells a different story, akin to old Scandinavian fairy tales (which were often illustrated by artists like John Bauer),” commented Carl about his awesome new album.

The project’s Folk Metal vein arises in full force in En krona av is (“a crown of ice”), blending the magic of the genre with the obscurity of Scandinavian Black Metal while Carl roars from the bottom of his blackened heart supported by the classy beats by Hebert; and the duo’s fusion of harsh and folky sounds goes on in Ur mörker (“of darkness”), showcasing an amazing job done by Carl with his strident, caustic riffage and low-tuned bass lines, sounding very melodic and grim and, consequently, living up to the legacy of the genre. In Skymning (“dusk”) we face three intense minutes of modern-day Melodic Black Metal made in Sweden with the blast beats by Hebert adding an extra touch of violence and heaviness to the overall result, followed by Den fördärvande sorgbundenheten (“the devastating grief”), a pulverizing and majestic aria of Black Metal where Carl is on fire armed with his stringed axes and deep, infernal roars.

The guitar-driven interlude De dansar på berget… (“they dance on the mountain…”) will set the stage for the duo to kill again in I avgrundens djup (“in the depths of the abyss”), offering more of their furious yet extremely harmonious sounds, with Hebert sounding possessed behind his drums while the music feels imposing until the very last second. It’s then time for another intermission, Gånglåt (“walking tune”), this time slightly longer in duration and more melancholic, and once again led by Carl’s melodic guitar lines, followed by Uttala dess namn (“speak its name”), a headbanging feast of Folk and Black Metal tailored for lovers of the genre where Hebert hammers his drums in great fashion nonstop, with the song’s breaks and variations bringing a fresher vibe and taste to it. Lastly, an epic, galloping pace spearheaded by Hebert will put you to bang your head to the sound of En brynja av barr (“a hauberk of pine needles”) while Carl extracts pure metal from his rumbling bass, flowing flawlessly until the end and putting a climatic finale to the album.

Carl and his incendiary Blodtår are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, plans for the future and so on, and don’t forget to also go to Spotify to stream all of the project’s amazing creations. Furthermore, if you want to show Blodtår your utmost support, you can purchase a copy of Det Förtegna Förflutna from the band’s own BandCamp page, or simply by clicking HERE. Det Förtegna Förflutna beautifully combines the intricate and unique stories from the Scandinavian culture with the visceral sounds from Black Metal and the magic of Folk Metal, and may Carl and his Blodtår continue to tell such stylish tales through their music for years and years.

Best moments of the album: Ur mörker, Den fördärvande sorgbundenheten and En brynja av barr.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Nordvis Produktion

Track listing
1. En krona av is 6:01
2. Ur mörker 5:16
3. Skymning 3:13
4. Den fördärvande sorgbundenheten 7:10
5. De dansar på berget… 0:39
6. I avgrundens djup 4:26
7. Gånglåt 1:30
8. Uttala dess namn 5:47
9. En brynja av barr 7:25

Band members
Carl – vocals, guitars, bass
Hebert Alarcón Cerna – drums

Album Review – 4ARM / Pathway to Oblivion (2023)

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One of the best groups of the modern Groove and Thrash Metal scene is finally back after almost eight years with a new album, offering us all 43 minutes of incendiary, top-of-the-line heavy music.

Recorded at Cobra Island Studios in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States and at Scarred Studio in Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia, produced by vocalist, guitarist and bassist Markus Johansson and drummer Michael Vafiotis, mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson, and displaying a sinister artwork by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design, the excellent Pathway to Oblivion, the brand new opus by Groove/Thrash Metal outfit 4ARM, represents a beyond welcome return to action by such amazing Australian/American band, more precisely eight years after the release of their also thrilling album Survivalist. Now a duo formed of the aforementioned Markus and Michael, 4ARM will explode our senses with their newborn opus, offering us all 43 minutes of top-of-the-line modern heavy music that will undoubtedly put the band back on track after so many years in a silent limbo.

A serene and atmospheric intro will soothe your souls before the duo comes ripping with their incendiary sounds in Stigmata, with Markus kicking ass with his Godsmack/Metallica-inspired vocals and shredding guitars while Michael crushes his drums mercilessly. Activator is another fantastic Groove and Thrash Metal extravaganza by 4ARM that will inspire you to slam into the circle pit like a maniac, with Markus once again firing electrifying riffs and solos for our total delight, and it’s pedal to the metal as Markus and Michael keep decimating our ears with their modern-day thrashing sounds in Born to a Dying World, with Michael’s performance behind his drums being yet again impressive, adding tons of groove and rage to the song. Then we have Nothing Comes From Nothing, another fast and furious creation by 4ARM that will boil your blood due to its heaviness and speed, with Markus delivering more of his trademark raspy vocals in great fashion.

The title-track Pathway to Oblivion begins in a more melancholic, darker manner to Markus’ introspective vocals before evolving into a multi-layered Groove Metal feast led by Markus’ unstoppable riffage and striking solos; whereas the duo shows no mercy for our necks and souls in the infuriated Thrash Metal tune Headhunter, sounding and feeling heavy and intense from start to finish with Michael hammering his drums like there’s no tomorrow. Their second to last sonic attack comes in the form of Snake in the Grass, a more cadenced, headbanging song where Michael dictates the pace with his galloping drums supported of course by the slashing riffs by Markus; and like a battering ram the duo will destroy everything and everyone that crosses their path in the closing tune Gutterfeeder, a lecture in modern-day Thrash Metal that will leave the listener eager for more of their music. Needless to say, Michael is flawless with his thunderous beats.

It’s a great pleasure to see 4ARM back into the battlefield after so many years with Pathway to Oblivion (which is by the way available in full on YouTube and on Spotify), and of course that’s even better thanks to the superior quality of the music found throughout the entire album. Hence, in order to show the duo all your support and admiration, and in order to welcome them back to the current metal scene, you can start following them on Facebook and stay updated on everything surrounding such awesome band, subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their incendiary music, and obviously purchase Pathway to Oblivion from their BandCamp page. I’m sure Markus and Michael won’t take a decade to deliver another 4ARM album as it definitely feels they’re back for good, and if they keep releasing great material like Survivalist and now Pathway to Oblivion we can rest assured the fires of the modern thrash scene will continue to burn majestically.

Best moments of the album: Stigmata, Activator, Headhunter and Gutterfeeder.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Stigmata 5:43
2. Activator 5:36
3. Born to a Dying World 5:40
4. Nothing Comes From Nothing 4:39
5. Pathway to Oblivion 6:42
6. Headhunter 4:50
7. Snake in the Grass 4:51
8. Gutterfeeder 5:00

Band members
Markus Johansson – vocals, guitars, bass
Michael Vafiotis – drums

Album Review – Decipher / Arcane Paths To Resurrection (2023)

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This infuriated Black and Death Metal horde from Greece will crush your mind with their debut effort, showcasing their steely vision and penchant for writing superbly structured songs that have an inherent catchiness to them.

Formed in October 2017 in the hypnotizing city of Athens, Greece, the unrelenting Black/Death Metal horde Decipher is ready to unleash upon humanity their first full-length opus, entitled Arcane Paths To Resurrection, the follow-up to their 2019 debut EP Of Fire and Brimstone. Displaying a stunning artwork by Artem Grigoryev, the album showcases the steely vision and penchant for writing superbly structured songs that have an inherent catchiness to them by vocalist M.L., guitarists K.G. and K.C., and drummer N.C., while also being gritty and dynamic, not giving you much time to dwell on things as it keeps throwing one deadly riff after the other at you as you’re forced to scramble in an attempt to fully comprehend them before life comes to an end.

The band’s Stygian guitars ignite their sulfurous attack in Chants of the Unholy, with the blast beast by N.C. bringing hell to their imposing musicality, and K.G. and K.C. continue to extract darkness and hatred from their guitars in Lost in Obscurity while M.L. vociferates rabidly in the name of evil in a great display of contemporary Black Metal. Then a beyond creepy, phantasmagorical interlude titled Arcane Paths will send shivers down your spine before the quartet comes crushing our putrid souls once again in Enslaved to Be, presenting their demonic riffs and growls supported by another bestial performance by N.C. on drums, also showcasing hints of Melodic Black Metal carefully inserted into their core sound.

Get ready for eight minutes of sulfur and obscurity entitled Altar of the Void, with the entire band being on absolute fire from start to finish, in special M.L. with his venomous gnarling while K.G. and K.C. once again hammer our skulls with their axes; whereas investing in a more somber sonority with elements from Doom Metal and Blackened Doom we have Penance, before exploding into their core insanity led by the infernal drums by N.C., sounding very detailed, demonic and thrilling, or in other words, a lecture in modern-day Black Metal. And lastly, closing the album the band offers us all one last onrush of malignant Black Metal titled Sanctum Regnum, with their piercing guitars and hellish roars elevating the song’s obscurity to a whole new level, therefore feeling very dense and grim until the very last second.

In a nutshell, Decipher are more than ready to kill armed with their sulfurous debut effort, and if I were you I would definitely give those Greek metallers a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their classy music, stream their sick creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of Arcane Paths To Resurrection from their own BandCamp page or from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore as a special digipak CD or as an ass-kicking shirt + CD combo (or click HERE for all things Decipher). The band is surely delivering a timeless piece of Black Metal that’s impactful and strongly evocative with Arcane Paths To Resurrection, keeping in mind this is just their first opus, which means Decipher will surely make a lot of noise in the coming years for the delight of al lovers of extreme music out there.

Best moments of the album: Chants of the Unholy, Altar of the Void and Penance.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Chants of the Unholy 4:11
2. Lost in Obscurity 5:40
3. Arcane Paths 1:48
4. Enslaved to Be 4:56
5. Altar of the Void 8:52
6. Penance 5:15
7. Sanctum Regnum 5:42

Band members
M.L. – vocals, chants
K.G. – lead and rhythm guitars, bass, vocals, chants
K.C. – guitars
N.C. – drums

Album Review – When Plagues Collide / An Unbiblical Paradigm (2023)

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Belgium’s own Symphonic Deathcore institution returns with an even more impressive and bold opus that will certainly reach deep inside your blackened heart and soul.

Five years after the release of their excellent debut full-length album Tutor of the Dying, Zaventem, Belgium-based Symphonic Deathcore beast When Plagues Collide is back with an even more impressive and bold album, their sophomore effort titled An Unbiblical Paradigm, highly recommended for admirers of the music by Shadow Of Intent, Lorna Shore and Thy Art Is Murder, among others. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Yarne Heylen at Project Zero Studio, the new album by vocalist Wouter Dergez, guitarists Santy Van der Mieren and Joris Dergez, bassist Joshua Kinsbergen and drummer Siebe Hermans continues to showcase a focused and sharp band venturing through the realms of Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Black Metal and Metalcore just like in Tutor of the Dying, but this time the quintet took up their music a notch, delivering an even stronger and more electrifying work that will certainly reach deep inside your blackened heart and soul.

An atmospheric start gradually evolves into a Symphonic Deathcore attack titled Converted Into Cipher, with Siebe hammering his drums mercilessly while Wouter roars and screams like a demonic beast, or in other words, it’s indeed a fantastic tune to kick things off; and things get even heavier and more infernal in Death In Progress, featuring guest vocals by Sven de Caluwé (Aborted, Coffin Feeder, Bent Sea), with Santy and Joris kicking some serious ass armed with their axes in the name of first-class Deathcore. God Complex is absolutely epic, imposing and majestic from start to finish, with the deep guttural by Wouter sounding truly inhumane in paradox with the song’s background keys, not to mention how thunderous the kitchen crafted by Joshua and Siebe is, whereas in The Glutton we face wicked lyrics barked by Wouter (“In the absence of daylight / We lay dying in the palm of the promised land / Where failure meets hate and mercilessness / Dominated by the sick and the cold / These barren grounds were always welcoming the nomads we are / An eternity of dying is nothing -Death is our womb”) amidst a furious Symphonic Deathcore madness.

Then the band’s stringed trio formed of Santy, Joris and Joshua will make your head tremble with their venomous riffs and bass lines in Monopoly Of Violence while Siebe keeps pounding his drums nonstop, followed by the demented The Grand Mouth Of Hell, most probably their darkest creation to date, showcasing all of their talent, rage and passion for extreme music spearheaded by the hellish gnarls by Wouter and the always piercing riffage by Santy and Joris. In Devourer Of Memories the band offers us all another round of their acid words (“This inexorable wind collects the lives of the lost and the wandering / Spreading sorrow and despondency / Whilst offering salvation through the breath of extinction / Reaching out her cold hands to deliver and ensure the loss of our cherished and beloved”) spiced up by their sick, heavy-as-hell sound, while ending the album we have the melancholic and atmospheric outro In Alle Stilte (or “in complete silence” from Dutch), with its delicate background sounds walking hand in hand with the words declaimed by Wouter.

The talented and hard working guys from When Plagues Collide are waiting for you with their undisputed Symphonic Deathcore on Facebook and on Instagram, and you can also stream all of their creations on Spotify. Furthermore, above all that, don’t forget to purchase a copy of the breathtaking An Unbiblical Paradigm from Apple Music, or click HERE for all things When Plagues Collide. It’s simply amazing to witness the growth of When Plagues Collide from their previous effort Tutor of the Dying to the sensational An Unbiblical Paradigm, positioning those Belgian metallers as one of the references in Symphonic Deathcore worldwide and, consequently, giving us several reasons to keep banging our heads and raising our horns to their first-class music.

Best moments of the album: Death In Progress, God Complex and The Grand Mouth Of Hell.

Worst moments of the album: I think In Alle Stilte could have been placed before Devourer Of Memories, which would have given the album a much more climatic ending.

Released in 2023 Necktwister/Sonic Rendezvous

Track listing
1. Converted Into Cipher 3:52
2. Death In Progress 5:03
3. God Complex 3:25
4. The Glutton 3:38
5. Monopoly Of Violence 4:23
6. The Grand Mouth Of Hell 4:33
7. Devourer Of Memories 4:39
8. In Alle Stilte 2:46

Band members
Wouter Dergez – vocals
Santy Van der Mieren – guitar
Joris Dergez – guitar
Joshua Kinsbergen – bass
Siebe Hermans – drums

Guest musician
Sven de Caluwé – additional vocals on “Death In Progress”