Category Archives: Album Reviews

Album Review – Gore Force V / At Full Force (2024)

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Get ready for an overdose of visceral Death Metal, acid humor, violence, and of course, pigs, in the new album by this unrelenting Belgian brigade.

Formed in the already distant year of 2007 in Zwijndrecht, both a village and a municipality located in the Flemish province of Antwerp, in Belgium, the Death Metal squad known as Gore Force V (or Gore Force 5) is back in action after three EPs, those being Happy as Pigs in Shit (2011), It Came from Behind (2012) and Metally Challenged (2017), with their first full length opus, titled At Full Force. Recorded by Sennen, Joshua K and Sasha B at Soundhound Studio, mixed by Sennen, and mastered by Sven Janssens, the new album by the aforementioned Sennen on vocals, Wesley Heyndrickx and Buysse Jeroen on the guitars, Dominique Michiels on bass and Jan de Maeyer on drums is a ruthless feast of violence, heaviness and (why not?) comedy, with the album’s artwork showing that once you hit play, get ready for some laughs while you’re brutally assaulted inside the circle pit by some nasty pigs.

Molokai Deathslam 2.0 : The Re-Slammening carries a wicked name for an even wilder sound, with Wesley and Buysse extracting sheer heaviness from their riffs, sounding absolutely brutal from start to finish; and the story progresses in Superior Mating Rituals, quickly exploding into a boisterous fusion of Death Metal and Deathslam, with Sennen barking manically until the end. The names of their songs are a thing of beauty, and in the case of Rudolph The Red Nosed Rapist the music is also pulverizing, as heavy as it can be spearheaded by the pounding drums by Jan. Jean Baptiste : De indoctrineer beer sounds a bit weird compared to the other songs, but it’s still a good option for slamming into the pit; then back to a more in-your-face, venomous sound and approach we have The Doryhole, with the infuriated beats by Jan matching perfectly with the guttural by Sennen. Their second to last explosion of demented Death Metal is offered to us all in Panda Porking Power Ranger, with the band’s stringed triumvirate formed of Wesley, Buysse and Dominique hammering their axes mercilessly; and last but not least, let’s all dive into the circle pit to Domates Soslu Pit Ninjalar (or “pit ninjas in tomato sauce” from Turkish), the most pulverizing of all songs, with Sennen sounding inhumane on vocals.

The band has  already stated that mid-2025 they will be dropping another EP to finish off the Grinding Nemo trilogy in order to keep everyone’s attention for the next full album, which will drop somewhere 2026. Hence, while we wait for their new material next year and in 2026, you can enjoy At Full Force in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, follow the band on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and of course click HERE to grab a copy of the album and supported those Belgian death metallers. Gore Force V definitely know how to mix good quality Death Metal with a huge dosage of acid humor, some violence, and of course, pigs, and they’re coming at us ruthlessly armed with their new album, inviting us all for some quality slamming at full force.

Best moments of the album: Rudolph The Red Nosed Rapist and Domates Soslu Pit Ninjalar.

Worst moments of the album: Jean Baptiste : De indoctrineer beer.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Molokai Deathslam 2.0 : The Re-Slammening 3:40
2. Superior Mating Rituals 3:31
3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Rapist 2:30
4. Jean Baptiste : De indoctrineer beer 2:03
5. The Doryhole 2:21
6. Panda Porking Power Ranger 2:39
7. Domates Soslu Pit Ninjalar 3:18

Band members
Sennen – vocals
Wesley Heyndrickx – guitars
Buysse Jeroen – guitars
Dominique Michiels – bass
Jan de Maeyer – drums

Album Review – Vile Species / Disqualified As a Human (2024)

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Get ready to be pulverized by 20 minutes of first-class Grindcore made in Greece not recommended for the lighthearted.

Formed in late 2019 in Athens, Greece, the ruthless Grindcore brigade known as Vile Species has just unleashed upon us all their pulverizing new album, titled Disqualified As A Human, the follow-up to their 2022 opus Against the Values of Civilization. Recorded, mixed and mastered by David Prudent at Made in Hell Studio, and displaying a stylish artwork by Giannis Nakos of Art Remedy Design (Suffocation, Vomitory, and many more), the new beast by Sotiris on vocals, Mat on the guitar, Chris on bass and vocals, and Michalis on drums offers our avid ears 20 minutes of first-class Grindcore not recommended for the lighthearted, in special the ones who should not be qualified as humans as the title of the album already states.

The album begins in full force with the title-track Disqualified As a Human, a lesson in Grindcore led by the brutally furious beats by Michalis, followed by Once a Body, Now a Corpse, another blast of sheer violence where Sotiris barks like a demonic creature for our total delight, whereas Those Who Act Violent is also as putrid and demented as it can be, keeping their animosity flowing strong. In Αγκυλωτός Σκοταδισμός, which means “hooked obscuration” in Greek, the visceral riffs by Mat sound utterly insane; and Mat and Chris show no mercy for their axes in Self Inflicted Mind Imprisonment, proving Greek Grindcore is perfect for some brutal slamming. There’s no sign of those guys slowing down, as it’s absolute madness blasted by the quartet in Preaching Hatred – Side Casualties, and by now I guess you know Injected With Apathy is going to be another round of Grindcore insanity made in Greece, while hammering drums and caustic riffs set the tone in the fulminating Plebs in Despair.

Battering Scum is by far one of the most demented songs of the album, if that’s humanly possible, with Sotiris roaring manically nonstop. Then Michalis sounds like a demolishing machine in Predetermined Decadence Pt.3, whereas in The Sound they let their Brutal Death Metal vein arise to the deep gnarling by Sotiris. The Invisible Ones offers us all a massive wall of insanity, violence and obscurity blasted by the band in the name of our good old Grindcore, followed by The Cradle Has Fallen, again injecting the aggression and heaviness of Death Metal into their sound, with Michalis once again taking the lead behind his drums. And continuing their path of savagery in the form of Grindcore we have A Cross Up the Ass = God As a Weapon, before all comes to an end in Sverkoma, offering a little over a minute of the carnivorous riffs by Mat while Chris pounds his bass ruthlessly until the very end.

This precious gem of the Greek Grindcore scene is available in full on YouTube, but of course you can purchase the album on BandCamp, or grab a vinyl copy of it from countless places as this is a co-release between EveryDayHealth, Gore Kitty Records, Helldog Records, Nihilocus Records, Nothing to Harvest, Nostril Bush and Throne of Lies Records, and there’s also a CD and tape release in the horizon. You can also find the band on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping up to date with all things Vile Species, and keeping more than pumped for some quality time inside the circle pit together with this amazing Greek band armed with their ruthless new album.

Best moments of the album: Disqualified As a Human, Once a Body, Now a Corpse, Battering Scum and The Cradle Has Fallen.

Worst moments of the album: Preaching Hatred and A Cross Up the Ass = God As a Weapon.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Disqualified As a Human 1:47
2. Once a Body, Now a Corpse 1:24
3. Those Who Act Violent 0:54
4. Αγκυλωτός Σκοταδισμός 1:25
5. Self Inflicted Mind Imprisonment 1:12
6. Preaching Hatred – Side Casualties 1:24
7. Injected With Apathy 1:08
8. Plebs in Despair 1:16
9. Battering Scum 1:37
10. Predetermined Decadence Pt.3 1:04
11. The Sound 1:33
12. The Invisible Ones 1:32
13. The Cradle Has Fallen 1:52
14. A Cross Up the Ass = God As a Weapon 1:18
15. Sverkoma 1:16

Band members
Sotiris – vocals
Mat – guitar
Chris – bass, vocals
Michalis – drums

Album Review – Úlfarr / Fornetes Folm / His Crown Grows From His Skull (2024)

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This uncompromising, antisocial UK horde returns from the underworld with an ode to darkness and evil, appealing to all fans of the most devilish, somber form of Black Metal.

Since their inception back in 2011 in the fires of Cumbria, England, the unrelenting Black Metal horde Úlfarr has stood for uncompromising, antisocial UK Black Metal, or under their own banner of “Cumbrian Black Metal”. Now in 2024 the band formed of Játvarðr on vocals, Dominus on the guitars, and Nosdrahcir on bass and drums is unleashing upon us their sophomore opus, titled Fornetes Folm, following up on their 2023 debut Orlegsceaft, and featuring His Crown Grows From His Skull as a bonus EP on both CD and vinyl LP formats. Mixed and mastered by Nosdrahcir, with artwork by Játvaðr, cover border designs and details by Heortlufu Symbolism, and photo border designs and details by Arabella Cartwright (Voiidlyrkr), the album is an ode to darkness and evil, appealing to all fans of the most devilish, somber form of Black Metal.

The trio makes sure our experience listening to Fornetes Folm is beyond disturbing, starting with the eerie, vile Alarūna, with Játvarðr’s demonic gnarls sending shivers down our spines; followed by Hildeleoma, sounding utterly sulfurous thanks to the sharp, in-your-face riffage by Dominus while Nosdrahcir crafts a thunderous atmosphere with his bass and drums. Algol (As Malice Shone Upon Northward Doors) carries a stunning name for an old school, caustic creation by Úlfarr, again disturbing our damned souls to the sound of the creature-like roars by Játvarðr, and the trio is never tired of invading our senses with pure Black Metal magic like what we get in November, spearheaded by the classic riffs by Dominus. Then Moonskin might be perhaps the strongest song of the album, a tribute to our mighty darkness where all band members exhale sulfur and hatred, in special the razor-edged, thrilling riffs by Dominus.

It’s amazing how Játvarðr can keep growling like in Glæterung without hurting his vocal cords, adding an extra layer of insanity to their already incendiary Black Metal, and they keep the flames of the underworld burning in The Cold Council of Old Shadow, a very detailed, multi-layered display of Black Metal where Nosdrahcir continues to kick some serious ass on drums. The album ends with more evil and darkness in the form of Forn-Jotr, again presenting the band’s trademark riffs, blast beats and devilish vociferations. After the end of Fornetes Folm, we’re treated to the short and sweet bonus EP His Crown Grows From His Skull, where a cryptic intro will blacken your minds before the band comes ripping one more time in Ānforlætan, as demolishing and infernal as it can be, with Nosdrahcir pounding his drums manically in the best Black Metal way imaginable. Lastly, there’s still time for two minutes of pure insanity in In Veneration of the Corpse Eaters Star, a venomous explosion of Black Metal tailored for fans of the genre.

Absolutely vile and impious, Fornetes Folm, potentialized of course by the more-than-welcome bonus EP His Crown Grows From His Skull, is a must-listen for admirers of classic Black Metal, and you can put your dirty hands on such an amazing album by purchasing it from Purity Through Fire’s official webstore, and let’s also hope they restart uploading their albums on streaming platforms because Spotify only has their 2013 split Wulfhere with Hrafnblóð. You can also get in touch with the band on Facebook, letting the caustic waves of Cumbrian Black Metal flow through your damned mind and soul, always in the name of evil, and always praising bands like Úlfarr for keeping releasing amazing music like what’s found in their newborn beast.

Best moments of the album: Hildeleoma, Moonskin and The Cold Council of Old Shadow.

Worst moments of the album: Forn-Jotr.

Released in 2024 Purity Through Fire

Track listing
Fornetes Folm
1. Alarūna 5:42
2. Hildeleoma 5:30
3. Algol (As Malice Shone Upon Northward Doors) 5:26
4. November 3:52
5. Moonskin 5:14
6. Glæterung 4:27
7. The Cold Council of Old Shadow 5:34
8. Forn-Jotr 3:59

His Crown Grows From His Skull (Bonus EP)
9. Intro 2:35
10. Ānforlætan 3:12
11. In Veneration of the Corpse Eaters Star 2:00

Band members
Játvarðr – vocals
Dominus – guitars
Nosdrahcir – bass, drums

Album Review – Zen Disdain / Inanition (2024)

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An up-and-coming Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit will reach deep inside your soul with their incendiary first full-length opus.

Formed in 2021 by the creative minds behind the Symphonic Extreme Metal band Esperoza, Enschede, Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit Zen Disdain has quickly expanded into a full-bodied act, drawing talented musicians from different bands, having already released their debut EP Premonition in 2023. Now the band formed of Zoya Belous (Zoya, Esperoza) on vocals, Dmitrii Prihodko (Esperoza) on the guitars, Ivo Bijker (Krijs, Dimensional Psychosis) on bass, and Ronny Meinders (Diseased Brains, Death Squad) on drums will unleash their highly anticipated debut album, Inanition, an album that will surely captivate new audiences and solidify their place in the metal world.

The scorching, strident riffs by Dmitrii ignite the venomous opener Everpresent, with its deep guttural vocals sounding haunting and absolutely impressive throughout its almost seven minutes of a first-class hybrid of Death and Doom Metal; whereas a tempest-infused intro explodes into a feast of Blackened Doom in The Shore, also presenting elements from old school Black Metal, in special in the riffage by Dmitrii, with Zoya also delivering classy operatic vocals. It’s truly interesting how the band managed to add hints of an amalgamation of styles to their music, like in The Woods, where we can sense some Gothic and Symphonic Metal nuances thanks to the dynamic vocals by Zoya.

The title-track Inanition will darken your minds and thoughts in the name of extreme music, with the metallic, reverberating bass by Ivo and the pounding drums by Ronny hitting us hard until the very last second; and then investing in a much heavier, more electrifying sonority led by the hammering drums by Ronny we face Spiritual Desert, while Zoya continues to hypnotize us all with her powerful vocals. Symbols again presents a strong and hammering Doom Metal vibe, with the piercing riffs by Dmitrii walking hand in hand with the blast beats by Ronny, and the closing tune What Remains of Us is sluggish and pensive from the very first second, with Zoya delivering her most melancholic, somber vocals lines of the whole album, sounding and feeling like a classic by Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride.

Blending diverse influences to craft a style that’s as haunting as it is dynamic, Zen Disdain are on fire throughout their entire first full-length opus, which you can grab a copy from their own BandCamp page. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and stream their music on Spotify, letting the dark and mesmerizing music by those Dutch metallers reach deep inside your soul while they conquer the world of heavy music with more excellent albums like Inanition, setting the bar high for any other band hailing from their stunning homeland and, of course, darkening the skies with a huge dosage of high quality doom for our total delight.

Best moments of the album: Everpresent, Spiritual Desert and Symbols.

Worst moments of the album: Inanition.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Everpresent 6:48
2. The Shore 6:07
3. The Woods 6:01
4. Inanition 5:57
5. Spiritual Desert 6:37
6. Symbols 7:30
7. What Remains of Us 8:42

Band members
Zoya Belous – vocals
Dmitrii Prihodko – guitars, harsh vocals
Ivo Bijker – bass
Ronny Meinders – drums

Album Review – Noitasapatti / Sankarin matka (2024)

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This ruthless Finnish Black Metal horde returns with a scorching yet cold and vile concept album where its dreamlike story slowly advances towards indescribable horrors.

Formed in the spring of 2017 in Pori, a city in Finland and the regional capital of Satakunta, the unrelenting Black Metal horde known as Noitasapatti, which is Finnish for “witch’s sabbath”, is set to darken the skies with the release of their sophomore album, titled Sankarin matka, or “a hero’s journey”, the follow-up to their 2022 debut Kuolemattomille maille. Displaying a broad range of sounds while also bringing a lot of fresh soundscape to their music, Sankarin matka is a concept album consisting of an intro and seven songs where its dreamlike story slowly advances towards indescribable horrors, which waver between dream and reality until the truth is exposed in all of its heinousness, while the music is clearly inspired by 90’s Black Metal, British Death and Doom Metal, and even Progressive Rock, showcasing all the talent and dexterity by Erakko on vocals, bass, mouth harp and horns, Liekkiö on the guitars, Kadonnut on keyboards, and Häviö on drums.

Tulikipuna, or “red fever”, is a beyond cinematic intro, a phantasmagorical start to the album that nicely flows into Tuhatkasvoinen, or “thousand faced”, where Erakko begins screaming like a maniac supported by the classic Black Metal riffs by Liekkiö. After that, we have the the title-track Sankarin matka, bringing to our avid ears more of their fusion of Black Metal with experimental sounds, with the intricate beats by Häviö and the wicked keys by Kadonnut sounding absolutely electrifying; and their fusion of raw Black Metal with atmospheric and melodic sounds works really well in Paluu liekkeihin (“back to the flames”), the most Atmospheric Black Metal song of the entire album.

Käskyläisen sanat (“orderly words”) continues with their piano-infused extreme music attack, sounding even more piercing and devilish to the caustic riffage by Liekkiö while Erakko barks the song’s Finnish lyrics like a creature of the underworld, whereas Henkien polulla (“on the path of spirits”) sounds haunting and captivating from the very first second, reminding me of some of the songs from the early days of Cradle of Filth. Moreover, Kadonnut has mastered the art of devilish keys, making the song feel truly experimental at times. Then creepy guitars and bass lines will penetrate deep inside your skin in Matka halki myrskyjen, or “a journey through storms”, despite lacking more energy and getting stale after a while, though. Finally, let’s embark on a 10-minute voyage through the realms of cryptic Black Metal with Noitasapatti in Tähtivaeltaja, or “star trek”, where the bitterly cold gnarls by Erakko match flawlessly with the phantasmagorical sounds crafted by his bandmates, with its piano outro exhaling melancholy for our total delight.

A hero’s journey can be dark, evil and very demanding, just like what Noitasapatti have to offer us all in their new beast Sankarin matka, and if you think you have what it takes to face that infernal path you can get in touch with the band via Facebook or Instagram, stream their wicked creations on Spotify, and purchase their venomous new opus on BandCamp or from the Inverse Records webstore. However, be warned you’re going to face unimaginable horrors as soon as you hit play, proving once and for all the devilish power of Black Metal hailing from the North, sounding scorching and caustic while at the same time bitterly cold and chilling.

Best moments of the album: Sankarin matka, Käskyläisen sanat and Tähtivaeltaja.

Worst moments of the album: Matka halki myrskyjen.

Released in 2024 Inverse Records

Track listing
1. Tulikipuna 1:33
2. Tuhatkasvoinen 4:09
3. Sankarin matka 5:10
4. Paluu liekkeihin 6:21
5. Käskyläisen sanat 6:42
6. Henkien polulla 4:18
7. Matka halki myrskyjen 5:48
8. Tähtivaeltaja 9:50

Band members
Erakko – vocals, bass, mouth harp, horns
Liekkiö – guitars
Kadonnut – keyboards
Häviö – drums

Album Review – Todestrieb / Corona Tenebra (2024)

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An up-and-coming Polish Black Metal duo is crowned in darkness to the sound of their debut opus, dealing with themes like spirituality, gnostic Satanism, blasphemy, theology and philosophy.

Formed in Krakow, Poland in 2023 by vocalist Res and guitarist and bassist Blein, the ruthless Black Metal duo Todestrieb (a German word that translates to “death drive” or “death wish” in English, from the classical Freudian psychoanalytic theory) is set to darken our minds and souls with their debut album, titled Corona Tenebra, or “crown of darkness” from Latin. Recorded at No Solace Studio, mixed and mastered at Impressive Art Studio, with a fiery artwork by Izabela Grabda and with guest Michał “The Fall” Stępień (Mgła, Hauntologist, Owls Woods Graves) on drums, Corona Tenebra consists of five tracks and an outro inspired by the music by Watain, Odraza, Drastus, Kriegsmaschine, Tortorum, Funeral Mist and many more, with its lyrics circling around themes like spirituality, gnostic Satanism, blasphemy, theology and philosophy.

Res and Blein are definitely another prolific duo of the underground, and the dense atmosphere and enfolding darkness found in Axis Nihil are proof of their talent, supported by the complex yet vile drums by Michał. Then investing in a more direct form of Black Metal the band will pulverize our senses with Na Twoje Przeciwienstwo, which is Polish for “for your opposite”, where Res not only sounds demonic on vocals, but the fact the lyrics are in Polish gives the song an even edgier vibe. Blein’s visceral riffs and bass add a touch of lunacy to Po krokach naszych tylko cisza, or “after our steps only silence”, another song where the duo continues to experiment with darker than usual sounds; followed by the title-track Corona Tenebra, a lecture in Polish Black Metal, or in other words, a blasphemous, infernal blast of obscurity where Res keeps roaring like a true demon supported by the classic drums by Michał. They still have time for one final exhibit of their passion for all things evil in Misterium Fidei, which is Latin for “the mystery of faith”, with the incendiary riffs by Blein burning our souls mercilessly, ending with ע, the letter “p” or number 70 in Hebrew, a whimsical outro to their more-than-demolishing opus.

As Blein and Res are crowned in total darkness to the sound of their vile debut offering, you can show them your support by following them on Facebook and on Instagram for all things Todestrieb, and of course you can purchase a copy of Corona Tenebra from Avantgarde Music or from Sound Cave (as a digipak CD, a red vinyl, or a very special vinyl + CD bundle). Corona Tenebra is a spiritual and philosophical voyage through the realms of Black Metal, and I’m sure after such an imposing album we’ll hear a lot more from Todestrieb in the near future as they’ll keep darkening our minds and souls with their music without showing a single drop of mercy.

Best moments of the album: Na Twoje Przeciwienstwo and Corona Tenebra.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Avantgarde Music

Track listing
1. Axis Nihil 5:09
2. Na Twoje Przeciwienstwo 6:50
3. Po krokach naszych tylko cisza 6:25
4. Corona Tenebra 4:38
5. Misterium Fidei 3:49
6. ע          0:56 ע

Band members
Res – vocals
Blein – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Michał “The Fall” Stępień – drums (session)

Album Review – Golgothan Remains / Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death EP (2024)

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A concept EP of monumental Death Metal mastery made in Australia, recounting a journey across a mystical, barren world cloaked in darkness.

A concept EP of monumental Death Metal mastery, recounting a journey across a mystical, barren world cloaked in darkness, Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death is the brand new offering by Sydney, Australia-based entity Golgothan Remains, following up on their 2018 debut Perverse Offerings to the Void and their 2022 sophomore album Adorned in Ruin. Re-amped, mixed and mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios, and displaying a stunning artwork by Christian Kiesling of Misanthropic Art, capturing the journey through time and space, and the story’s setting, landscapes and aura which are relayed in the EP, Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death brings forth the band’s distinct brand of relentless Death Metal, masterfully balancing blistering speeds, sinister Black Metal undertones, and crushing doom, all carefully crafted by Matthieu Van den Brande on vocals, Matt Hillman on the guitars, Adam Martin on bass, and Aled Powell on drums.

The dissonant, cryptic guitars by Matt set the tone in the opening track Methuselah, being gradually accompanied by his bandmates while Matthieu delivers his deepest roars with tons of anger, all boosted by the massive beats by Aled; whereas Tribulation presents an even more infernal and demolishing version of the band where Aled keeps hammering his drums nonstop supported by the rumbling bass by Adam. Put differently, it’s harsh, no shenanigans Death Metal that sounds like it’s coming from the deepest tomb, ending in a haunting manner before we’re treated to Necropoles, another pulverizing explosion of primeval Death Metal spearheaded by the visceral growling by Matthieu. Lastly, closing the EP we face the incendiary, somber Andromeda, where once again the blast beats by Aled match perfectly with the strident riffage by Matt in the best Death Metal vibe possible.

The final result in Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death is a suffocating, trance-inducing atmosphere of unyielding intensity, with the story being told only making things even more hypnotizing. “It is a wrought, and evil love story about two centuries old creatures trying to find companionship but due to their strong evil spirit are unable to exist with another powerful figure by their side,” commented the band, and you can get in touch with them and find more information about their new EP on Facebook and on Instagram. Don’t forget to also stream their music on Spotify or on Apple Music, and of course to grab a copy of Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death from their own BandCamp, as well as from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp or webstore in CD or vinyl format. The journey through the dark has begun to the sound of the new opus by Golgothan Remains, and you better get ready as once you start following the band on that sinister path, there’s no turning back.

Best moments of the album: Tribulation and Andromeda.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Dark Descent Records

Track listing
1. Methuselah 6:13
2. Tribulation 5:22
3. Necropoles 4:24
4. Andromeda 5:04

Band members
Matthieu Van den Brande – vocals
Matt Hillman – guitars
Adam Martin – bass
Aled Powell – drums

Album Review – Deamonolith / The Monolithic Cult of Death (2024)

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This Polish cult will attack you with their debut offering, a 35-minute amalgamation of heavy and experimental sounds highly recommended for fans of the darkest side of Death Metal.

Formed in 2022 in Warsaw, Poland, Experimental/Progressive Death Metal act Deamonolith has just unleashed upon humanity their debut album, titled The Monolithic Cult of Death, a 35-minute amalgamation of heavy and experimental sounds highly recommended for fans of the darkest side of Death Metal. Recorded by Paweł “Janos” Grabowski at JNS Studio (guitars, bass and drums), by Szymon “Sigmar” Grodzki at Invent Sound Studio (vocals), and by Przemysław “Imp” Moszczyński (saxophone), mixed and and mastered by Paweł “Janos” Grabowski at JNS Studio, displaying a creepy artwork by Michał “Xaay” Loranc, with logo by Ihasan Art and layout by Paweł Ozon of XXV The Sign, plus several special guests to give their music even more depth, the debut offering by Kobuch on vocals, Major and Sunrise on the guitars, Lukas on bass, and Desecrate on drums and dark ambients will take you on a journey to the most obscure corners of the human psyche, overflowing heaviness, rage and evil.

Dark, devilish sounds arise from the underworld in The Afterfall, exploding into a visceral blend of Black and Death Metal led by the crushing drums by Desecrate while Kobuch roars manically, flowing into The Ultimate Solution, a slab of brutality where the thunderous kitchen by Lukas and Desecrate will make the earth tremble in the name of extreme music; and the following piece, titled The Fall, The Reek & Forlornness, is even more explosive and vile, with the riffs by Major and Sunrise sounding absolutely scorching. The Acknowledgment continues to burn our damned souls with the band’s venomous fusion of Black and Death Metal, with the Immolation-inspired vocals by Kobuch being an ode to classic Death Metal, immediately connecting with the longest of all parts of the song, Conquerors of the Void, a brutal Death Metal attack by the band overflowing hatred and obscurity, with Desecrate once again pounding his drums nonstop while also presenting a melancholic break and vibrant progressive passages, before all comes to an end in When All Has Been Done, with Lukas’ bass and Desecrate’s beats once again sounding ruthless accompanied by the wild riffage by Major and Sunrise until the song’s grim finale.

The Monolithic Cult of Death, which by the way contains only one song that lasts for longer than 35 minutes like the version available on Spotify (with cut episodes in the YouTube and CD versions to make the listening of the album easier), definitely sends a strong and sound message to the metal community about what Deamonolith are capable of, and if you want to know more about the band and show them your support you can find them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and of course purchase a copy of their debut opus from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp or webstore, as well as from Ancient Dead Productions. In other words, it’s time to join Deamonolith’s cult of death, with their first ever album being the perfect soundtrack to such a unique and devilish celebration.

Best moments of the album: The Ultimate Solution and The Acknowledgment.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions/Ancient Dead Productions

Track listing
1. The Afterfall 5:19
2. The Ultimate Solution 3:53
3. The Fall, The Reek & Forlornness 4:19
4. The Acknowledgment 3:18
5. Conquerors of the Void 12:34
6. When All Has Been Done 5:47

Band members
Kobuch – vocals
Major – guitars
Sunrise – guitars, classical guitar
Lukas – bass
Desecrate – drums, dark ambients

Guest musicians
Łukasz Wypych – saxophone
Magdalena Sienkiel – piano
Sebastian Świciak – piano
Michał “Xaay” Loranc – male clean vocals, choir
Anna Malarz – female vocals

Album Review – KIR / L’appel du Vide (2024)

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Behold this journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, by a newborn Black Metal beast hailing from Poland.

Exploring the lowest of lows of human nature, warped and excreted by the concrete jungle, a deeply personal tale of a troubled mind entrenched in a society seething right below the surface, and a journey through disappointment and despair, towards disintegration, the scorching L’appel du Vide (which is French for “the call of the void”), the debut opus by Kraków, Poland-based Black Metal unity KIR, is a powerful testament to the band’s relentless pursuit of creative expression. Recorded by Maciej Soboń at TRIPlets Audio, produced, engineered, mixed, mastered by the band’s own guitarist and bassist Ferment, displaying a grim artwork by another member of the band, vocalist Harvest, and featuring guest drummer Krzysztof Klingbein, the album explores themes of urban isolation, human frailty, and despair, reflecting a profound awareness of music as an art form that can challenge, disturb, and inspire.

The album couldn’t have started in a more atmospheric vibe than with DestinationVoid, exploding into the Black Metal extravaganza titled Monument, where the insane beats by Krzysztof alongside the piercing guitars by Ferment build the perfect ambience for Harvest to vociferate rabidly in the name of Black Metal. Then get ready for almost eight minutes of pure sonic devastation not recommended for the faint at heart titled Znów, or “again”, where Harvest sounds absolutely merciless during the whole song while Ferment fires his most decimating riffs of the entire album, followed by Eter, the Polish word for “ether”, which starts in a grim, more introspective manner to the vile guitar lines by Ferment, showcasing hints of Doom Metal added to their sound, therefore resulting in what’s by far the most haunting, obscure of all songs. The band brings forward their final Black Metal offering in Apoptosis, where their most cadaverous vein arises like a demonic entity, blasting almost ten minutes of no hope, nor any sign of peace, while the despair flowing from Harvest’s anguished roars is truly outstanding, consequently putting a terrific conclusion to such a flammable opus.

L’appel du Vide is a grungy, suffocating invitation to explore the “call of the void” within oneself – that impulse to teeter over the edge, to feel the pull of darkness and walk right up to it. Hence, you can get to know more about the duo on Facebook and on Instagram, and show them your utmost support to the extreme music scene by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp page or from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp or webstore. With the caustic L’appel du Vide, KIR are inviting all listeners to lose themselves in a sonic landscape where the absurdity of modern life meets the beauty and despair of the human psyche, creating an unforgettable Black Metal journey for those willing to heed the call and, consequently, keeping the fires of underground extreme music burning bright for many centuries to come, always offering us all harsh, visceral and captivating music like what’s found in the band’s debut opus.

Best moments of the album: Znów and Apoptosis.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions

Track listing
1. DestinationVoid 1:14
2. Monument 4:34
3. Znów 7:47
4. Eter 7:54
5. Apoptosis 9:28

Band members
Harvest – vocals
Ferment – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums (session)