Category Archives: Album Reviews

Album Review – Bad Marilyn / Eye of the Snake (2024)

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The debut album by this talented Swiss Heavy Metal outfit will take you on a journey to a magical world to the sound of its eleven incendiary tracks.

Founded in the summer of 2023 in Wangen an der Aare, Bern, a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, Heavy/Power Metal warriors Bad Marilyn have just unleashed upon us their debut album, titled Eye of the Snake, an album that will transport the listener into a magical metal world. Recorded at Kangaroo Studios, The TrakShak Studio and The Hämst Studio, produced, mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward, co-Produced by Sammy Lasagni and Andri Leonardo, and displaying a classic artwork by Stan-W Decker, Eye of the Snake offers eleven powerful songs thoroughly crafted by the Helvetic formation of Andrea Raffaela on vocals, Sammy Lasagni on guitars, David Craffonara on bass, Andri Leonardo on keyboards, and Armin Schöpfer on drums.

An epic intro quickly evolves into the Power Metal feast I Die Inside, where the whimsical keys by Andri walk hand in hand with the she-wolf roars and soaring vocals by Andrea, whereas Middle-Eastern sounds ignite the also very melodic and headbanging Eye Of The Snake, where Armin pounds his drums nonstop supported by the solid bass lines by David; and leaning towards Melodic Rock and AOR we have Perfect Moment, but of course without forgetting their classic Heavy Metal essence, with the guitars by Sammy sounding striking and harmonious. Retribution is not as exciting as the previous songs and quite confusing at times, albeit the vocals by Andrea are spot-on as usual, but fortunately back to a more direct sonority the band offers our ears the upbeat, melodic Heavy Metal tune Children Of Tomorrow, with Armin dictating the pace with his classic beats and fills. Sammy then takes the lead with his Iron Maiden-inspired riffs in When She’s Gone, a song that blends melody and heaviness in a well-balanced manner.

Their Rock N’ Roll party continues with an overdose of metallic riffs and blast beats titled Revolution, where Andrea delivers a striking vocal performance supported by the fast and thrilling music by her bandmates; and it’s time for a charming power ballad titled Legend Of Salvation, where the power of Armin’s drums is boosted by Andri’s stylish keys. Queen Of Thunder carries an old school name for a song with a strong 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vibe, keeping the adrenaline flowing in the album while also showcasing more of Andrea’s beautiful vocals, with Andri also kicking some ass with a nice keyboard solo; and they take their heaviness to new heights in Eternal Pain, led by the pounding drums by Armin and the slashing riffage by Sammy, resulting in a thrilling Heavy Metal attack tailored for fans of 80’s heavy music. Last but not least, we’re treated to one final strike of soaring vocals and classic riffs in We Will Rise, putting an incendiary ending to the album.

Eye of the Snake can be appreciated in full on Spotify, but of course you can show your utmost support to Andrea and the boys by purchasing the album from their BandCamp page or webstore, or by cliking HERE, and don’t forget to also give the band a shout on Facebook and on Instagram. This Swiss band definitely knows how to craft fun and vibrant Heavy Metal, taking you as mentioned to a magical world to the sound of their flammable music, and just like a snake I’m sure they’ll strike again soon with another album just as good as their debut offering.

Best moments of the album: I Die Inside, Revolution and Eternal Pain.

Worst moments of the album: Retribution.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. I Die Inside 4:42
2. Eye Of The Snake 4:18
3. Perfect Moment 4:55
4. Retribution 4:22
5. Children Of Tomorrow 3:45
6. When She’s Gone 4:15
7. Revolution 4:00
8. Legend Of Salvation 4:30
9. Queen Of Thunder 4:34
10. Eternal Pain 4:16
11. We Will Rise 5:15

Spotify bonus track
12. Stay Awake 4:34

Band members
Andrea Raffaela – vocals
Sammy Lasagni – guitars
David Craffonara – bass
Andri Leonardo – keyboards, backing vocals
Armin Schöpfer – drums

Album Review – Occulta Veritas / Irreducible Fear of the Sublime (2024)

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A multi-talented Italian musician will attack your senses with his Atmospheric Black Metal debut effort, a dive into the beauty of darkness, sublimated in songs with intense melodies and riffing.

The multi-talented Daniele Vergine, the Turin, Piedmont, Italy-based guitarist for Noise Trail Immersion, is a musician who has in his strings not only the Post-Black Metal played by the band he is part of, but also the darkest and most Atmospheric Black Metal, as presented to us all in his solo project Occulta Veritas (or “the hidden truth” from Latin), debuting with the album Irreducible Fear Of The Sublime. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Daniele himself, and displaying a Stygian cover art by Vama Marga, the album is a dive into the beauty of darkness, sublimated in songs with intense melodies and riffing brought into being by Daniele on vocals, guitars and drums, alongside guest bassist Gabriele Ponziano, being highly recommended for fans of Krallice, Altar of Plagues, Yellow Eyes, and Thantifaxath, just to name a few.

Serene, grim sounds gradually evolve into a harsh, visceral Atmospheric Black Metal aria titled The Mirror Stage, where Daniele’s vocals and guitars sound truly haunting, or in other words, it’s an embracing start to the album that beautifully introduces us to Daniele’s cryptic realm, followed by The Sacred Horizons of Totality, where he keeps his ethereal, somber ambience strong, with his classic beats and fills, together with the low-tuned bass lines by Gabriele, enhancing the project’s darkness considerably. Daniele’s harsh gnarls and strident riffs will penetrate deep inside your psyche in Metonimia, exhaling modern-day Atmospheric Black Metal; whereas S(Ⱥ) is an instrumental tune that could have been shorter, but it’s still captivating and cold, with Daniele blasting minimalist sounds until the very last second. The second to last eerie creation by Daniele comes in the form of Bound to Incompleteness, with his demonic, visceral screams creating a very interesting paradox with the more melodic sounds from his guitar, whereas lastly we’re hit hard with the title-track Irreducible Fear of the Sublime, presenting elements of Post-Black Metal while still sounding obscure and vile, with Daniele once again roaring and growling nonstop, bursting his lungs with anger and despair.

Irreducible Fear Of The Sublime hides a poetic, philosophical soul, expressed both in the sumptuous cover painting and in a veiled melancholy that seems to envelop all the songs and that comes from having probed the depths of the unconscious, in the wake of the studies and theories of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. Hence, if you want to feel all those emotions crafted by Daniele in his newborn beast, you can purchase a copy of the album from the I, Voidhanger Records’ BandCamp page or from Metal Odissey in Europe (CD or LP) and in the United States (CD or LP), and don’t forget to also give him a shout on Instagram. Partly instinctive drive, partly projection of desires, the music of Occulta Veritas is another torch lit in the darkness of the spirit, and I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time letting the music by Daniele penetrate deep inside your soul in this stylish album of dark music.

Best moments of the album: The Mirror Stage and Irreducible Fear of the Sublime.

Worst moments of the album: S(Ⱥ).

Released in 2024 I, Voidhanger Records

Track listing
1. The Mirror Stage 7:57
2. The Sacred Horizons of Totality 4:43
3. Metonimia 3:49
4. S(Ⱥ) 4:19
5. Bound to Incompleteness 5:31
6. Irreducible Fear of the Sublime 5:47

Band members
Daniele Vergine – vocals, guitars, drums

Guest musician
Gabriele Ponziano – bass

Album Review – Kerry King / From Hell I Rise (2024)

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Like a demon arising from hell, the iconic Kerry King returns to action armed with his debut solo album alongside a stellar lineup in a lesson in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal.

When you put together Slayer’s indomitable, iconic guitarist Kerry King, the fantastic vocalist Mark Osegueda of Death Angel, former Vio-lence and Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and Slayer and former Testament, Forbidden and Exodus drummer Paul Bostaph, you know it’s going to be an extremely heavy, evil and violent feast of Thrash Metal. That’s exactly what you’ll get in Kerry King’s debut solo album From Hell I Rise, his first material since disbanding Slayer back in 2019. Produced by Josh Wilbur, the album sounds like Slayer without being Slayer, bringing to our avid ears an overdose of caustic riffs, soaring vocals and blast beats, or in other words, a must-listen for fans of both old school and modern-day Bay Area Thrash. Well, just take a look at the album’s demonic artwork and you’ll quickly realize Mr. Kerry King and his henchmen are not among us to bring peace nor hope.

As soon as you hit play you’ll face Diablo, a beyond electrifying intro to the album, almost working as a full song, opening the gates of hell for the quintet to attack us all in Where I Reign, a lecture in contemporary Thrash Metal where Mark’s vocals sound incendiary, while the scorching riffs by Kerry and Phil will penetrate deep inside our skin. Residue is a heavy-as-hell extravaganza by the band that delivers sheer aggression in the form of obscure, grim guitars and the always hammering drums by Paul; followed by Idle Hands, the first single of the album, offering the perfect fusion of the music by Slayer and Death Angel, with of course the trio formed of Kerry, Mark and Paul blasting our cranial skulls with their infuriated sounds. Trophies of the Tyrant is another late Slayer-inspired tune where the groovy kitchen by Kyle and Paul add endless density to the overall result, all spiced up by Kerry’s trademark solos, whereas Crucifixation, the longest of all songs from the album, is a hurricane of acid Thrash Metal, with Paul taking the lead with his inhumane beats while the band’s guitar duo slashes their stringed axes nonstop. And Tension sounds like a song taken from Diabolus in Musica or God Hates Us All, being very modern while still showcasing Kerry’s characteristic old school sound, albeit not as exciting as the other songs.

Everything I Hate About You is a bestial display of Thrash Metal by the band where Mark sounds possessed on vocals, resulting in one minute and twenty seconds of pure insanity that will ignite some demented circle pits during their live concerts, flowing into the also headbanging, groovy Toxic, where Mark once again roars and barks like a creature from the underworld, keeping the album at a humongous level of violence. Then flirting with the Groove Metal played by bands like Lamb of God while also showcasing strong elements from Mark’s own band Death Angel we have Two Fists, not to mention the sound of the guitars is simply striking; whereas a song by Kerry King named Rage doesn’t need a lot of explanation, as it’s pure riff-driven Thrash Metal with endless animosity and, of course, rage flowing form Mark’s raspy vocals. Paul keeps pounding his drums in great fashion in Shrapnel, with the band offering an avalanche of wicked riffs and deep vocals, being therefore perfect for slamming into the pit while they craft one of the most detailed sounds of the whole album. And lastly, we’re treated to the perfect way to conclude the album, the title-track From Hell I Rise, an incendiary, frantic and heavy tune just the way we like it in classic thrash, with Kerry and Paul making an insane duo with their riffs and beats.

This beast of an album can be appreciated in full album on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you want to put your dirty, evil hands on it you can grab a copy of it by clicking HERE or HERE, or click HERE for all things Kerry King, including the links to his own Facebook and Instagram. Just like a phoenix arising form the ashes, or maybe I should say a demon arising from hell, Kerry King returns to the battlefield with his striking debut solo album, and hopefully he’ll keep delivering awesome music like what’s found in the album in the near future (even if Slayer are back for good), because with a stellar lineup like what he’s put together we can rest assure all hell will break loose to the sound of his visceral thrash.

Best moments of the album: Where I Reign, Idle Hands, Everything I Hate About You and From Hell I Rise.

Worst moments of the album: Tension.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Diablo 1:54
2. Where I Reign 3:51
3. Residue 4:40
4. Idle Hands 3:45
5. Trophies of the Tyrant 3:33
6. Crucifixation 5:15
7. Tension 2:48
8. Everything I Hate About You 1:21
9. Toxic 3:54
10. Two Fists 3:37
11. Rage 3:25
12. Shrapnel 5:01
13. From Hell I Rise 3:33

Band members
Mark Osegueda – vocals
Kerry King – guitars
Phil Demmel – guitars
Kyle Sanders – bass
Paul Bostaph – drums

Album Review – Wolfheart / Draconian Darkness (2024)

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Finnish frontrunners of icy Melodic Death Metal return with the musical embodiment of frigid, dark winter nights that, while terrifying and foreboding, reveal the majestic power and beauty of the natural world.

Finnish frontrunners of icy Melodic Death Metal, the unstoppable Lahti, Päijät-Häme-based Wolfheart, are preparing to unleash their latest album, Draconian Darkness, taking every aspect of the band’s trademark sound of colossal melodies, growling vocals, and driving drum rhythms to searing new levels. Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios, the follow-up to their 2022 album King of the North is the musical embodiment of frigid, dark winter nights that, while terrifying and foreboding, reveal the majestic power and beauty of the natural world, all carefully brought into being by Tuomas Saukkonen on vocals and guitars, Vageliss Karzis on lead guitars and clean vocals, Lauri Silvonen on bass and backing vocals, and Joonas Kauppinen on drums.

An imposing, epic start gradually evolves into the metallic feast Ancient Cold, with all background orchestrations adding an extra touch of epicness to the heavy and technical sounds blasted by Tuomas & Co., whereas Joonas pounds his drums in the name of Melodic Death Metal in Evenfall, with their riffs matching perfectly with the deep roars by Tuomas, or in other words, it’s a beautiful song from the North. It’s then pedal to the metal in the just as heavy and multi-layered Burning Sky, where the riffage by Tuomas and Vageliss will pierce your mind like an arrow on fire; while slowing things down but sounding just as melodic we have Death Leads the Way, presenting nice headbanging riffs complemented by the classic drums by Joonas. And in Scion of the Flame the band brings elements from Symphonic Metal to their core Melodic Death Metal, resulting in a very detailed and epic song tailored for fans of Finnish melodeath.

Back to their more vicious sonority, it’s time for the violent Grave, a metal assault showcasing harsh lyrics (“Cross breed of pure violence and virtuous flesh / Driven by the principle of wrath / Overfeed the senses / Let the cancer cells devour / Cranial nerves under profusion of information”) and endless electricity, and their razor-edged guitars will keep cutting our skin deep in Throne of Bones, while Lauri and Joonas fill out every space left in the air with their rumbling bass and drums. It’s not as exciting as the other songs, though, but still really enjoyable. Then in Trial by Fire the quartet once again delivers a high-octane, groovy and incendiary Melodic Death Metal feast where Tuomas deeply roars supported by his bandmates until the very last second. Lastly, we face The Gale, starting in a serene and soothing manner in paradox with the rest of the album, and alternating between more violent moments and pure acoustic sounds, putting a charming yet strong ending to the album.

The guys from Wolfheart are waiting to show you all the glory of the North, and you can join them by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their official YouTube channel, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing a copy of the excellent Draconian Darkness by clicking HERE. Melodic Death Metal will always be one of the best genres to translate the harsh yet alluring cold of the winter into music, and the unstoppable Wolfheart are offering exactly that in their powerful and enfolding new album.

Best moments of the album: Evenfall, Burning Sky and Grave.

Worst moments of the album: Throne of Bones.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Ancient Cold 5:37
2. Evenfall 4:03
3. Burning Sky 4:15
4. Death Leads the Way 3:22
5. Scion of the Flame 4:01
6. Grave 4:22
7. Throne of Bones 5:28
8. Trial by Fire 3:53
9. The Gale 4:28

Band members
Tuomas Saukkonen – vocals, guitars
Vageliss Karzis – lead guitars, clean vocals
Lauri Silvonen – bass, backing vocals
Joonas Kauppinen – drums

Album Review – Arhat / Secrets of Ancient Gods (2024)

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Crafted in the style of ethnic Extreme Metal, the newborn spawn by this Ukrainian horde will take you on a journey into the world of ancient gods and mysterious rituals, reflecting the depths of wisdom of ancient civilizations.

Crafted in the style of ethnic Extreme Metal, blending Death, Groove, and Thrash Metal, the breathtaking Secrets of Ancient Gods, the sophomore album by Kyiv, Ukraine’s own Groove/Death Metal beast Arhat, will take you on a journey into the world of ancient gods and mysterious rituals, reflecting the depths of wisdom of ancient civilizations. Mixed and mastered by Dmitry Kim, re-amped by Oleksandr Chernikov, and displaying a badass artwork by Viktor Gudkov, the new album by Alex Sitkoff on vocals, Anton Skrebov on the guitar, Anton Inov on bass, and Ivan Semenchuk on drums offers ten striking songs imbued with the spirit of mystery and magic, embodied in sophisticated melodies and epic arrangements, with the band also utilizing the Turkish ney, sitar, percussion, and cinematic sound design throughout the entire album, blending symphonic orchestrations with ethnic elements.

Get ready to be dragged to the mystical world ruled by Arhat to the sound of the album’s Intro, a mesmerizing, enfolding wall of sounds that will captivate your senses before we face Abyss Of Flame, a full-bodied, whimsical Groove Metal attack by the band showcasing darkly poetic lyrics (“Out of your body, / Your mind is free / You see the things, / As they should be / Power and energy / Of purity / The waves of life, / Vitality”) amidst sheer devastation blasted by Anton Skrebov, Anton Inov and Ivan. Their fusion of Groove and Death Metal with ancient, ritualistic sounds gets even more striking in Karnak, with Ivan dictating the pace while Alex roars nonstop in the name of the ancient gods; and Ivan leads his bandmates in the also embracing and obscure Arcana XVI, offering more of the band’s incendiary hybrid of extreme music styles. Moreover, the bass by Anton Inov sounds absolutely metallic, hitting us hard in the head mercilessly. And after that, the visceral riffage by Anton Skrebov will pierce our minds in Nasha Khoda Nevpynna, which is Ukrainian for “our walk is unceasing”, keeping the adrenaline flowing in the album to the devilish roars by Alex.

Then featuring Oleksii Syrota of Voracity, Symbols is a demonic song where the quartet will crush our souls with their groovy and infuriated sounds, with the deep Brutal Death Metal-style guttural by Oleksii sounding simply amazing; and let’s keep raising our horns and banging our heads while worshiping the ancient gods in Path Eternal, where Ivan sets the pace with his heavy and vile beats and fills. The band puts the pedal to the metal in the faster tune Wheel Of Fate, an excellent choice for some sick circle pit action, with Anton Skrebov extracting strident sounds from his guitar supported by the rumbling bass by Anton Inov, followed by The Great Unknown, featuring Dmytro Moskalenko of Violateress, offering us all another round of their otherworldly words (“You are alone in dungeons / Sharp stones are cutting your skin / Uncanny voices from darkness, / Are filling you with doubts and fear / The Great Unknown!”) boosted by a massive, detailed sonority. Finally, Shlyakh Do Prozrinnya, or “the path to enlightenment”, is an amazing closure to one of the most powerful albums of the year, with Alex once again stealing the show with his demonic roars supported by the crushing drums by Ivan.

Allow yourself to immerse in the captivating world of mythology from past epochs and feel the sounds of antiquity that remain relevant even today in Secrets of Ancient Gods by streaming the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and even better, by purchasing a copy of it from Arhat’s own BandCamp page, and remember you can also keep an eye on all things Arhat by following the band on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Despite all adversities the country is facing, Ukrainian extreme music is blooming and getting stronger than ever, and we must thank Arhat not only for being part of that beautiful scene, but also for offering us in their newborn spawn exactly what we need to unveil the darkest secrets of ancient gods.

Best moments of the album: Abyss Of Flame, Arcana XVI, Symbols and Wheel Of Fate.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Intro 1:44
2. Abyss Of Flame 5:36
3. Karnak 4:48
4. Arcana XVI 4:58
5. Nasha Khoda Nevpynna 4:18
6. Symbols 3:31
7. Path Eternal 5:27
8. Wheel Of Fate 5:12
9. The Great Unknown 4:40
10. Shlyakh Do Prozrinnya 3:26

Band members
Alex Sitkoff – vocals
Anton Skrebov – guitar
Anton Inov – bass
Ivan Semenchuk – drums

Guest musicians
Oleksii Syrota – vocals on “Symbols”
Dmytro Moskalenko – vocals on “The Great Unknown”

Album Review – Monument of Misanthropy / Vile Postmortem Irrumatio (2024)

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Austria’s own ruthless Technical/Brutal Death Metal titans return with an even more infuriated concept album, this time revolving around the life of serial killer Ed Kemper.

Formed in 2010 in the stunning city of Vienna, Austria, Technical/Brutal Death Metal titans Monument of Misanthropy return once again with a sickening concept album based on a serial killer, and this time it revolves around Ed Kemper. The album is titled Vile Postmortem Irrumatio, which is Latin for “a cheap postmortem raid”, where the band formed of vocalist George “Misanthrope” Wilfinger (Miasma, Raising The Veil), guitarists Julius Kössler (Spire of Lazarus) and Joe Gatsch (Scävenger), bassist Raphael Hendlmayer, and session drummer Eugene Ryabchenko (Fleshgod Apocalypse) delves into aspects of his life, using violent music to add meaning to it; their visceral and incisive music with highly expressive vocals perfectly capturing the terrifying aura around the figure, all embraced by a disturbing artwork by Daemorph Art (The Last of Lucy, Cutterred Flesh), being highly recommended for fans of Cattle Decapitation, Benighted, Aborted, Blood Red Throne, and Depravity, among others.

The wicked intro First Time It Makes You Sick to Your Stomach offers a sinister narration that will warn you of all the violence that’s about to come in How to Make a Killer, blasting our ears with an overdose of brutality with Eugene pulverizing everything and everyone that crosses his path, and with the venomous growling by George being the icing on the cake in such an amazing display of Brutal Death Metal. The same level of gore and dementia is offered to us all in The Atascasdero Years, with the guitars by Julius and Joe enhancing George’s vile gnarls to a whole new level, whereas Hits One and Two is utterly inspired by the sick creations by the mighty Cattle Decapitation, a lesson in violence while also sounding very technical and intricate. Why Did You Keep Their Heads is another eerie, visceral interlude that will send shivers down your spine until Manipulating the Experts explodes in our faces in another onrush of demonic Technical Death Metal, with George once again haunting our souls with his grim gnarling.

After that, the title-track Vile Postmortem Irrumatio will smash you like a putrid and gory insect, with the band’s fusion of enraged roars, striking riffs and solos, and stone crushing drums sounding fantastic form start to finish; whereas the band continues their path of extreme aggression and insanity in The Devil’s Slide, with the infuriated blast beats by Eugene inviting us all to the eye of the circle pit. Not sure if another interlude was necessary, although Oh, I Suppose You’re Gonna Want Sit Up and Talk All Night Now makes sense taking into account the album’s theme, morphing into A Nice Beheading for MoM, where the riffage and solos by Julius and Joe bring a welcome melodic touch to their infernal music. Then the massive kitchen by Raphael and Eugene will make your head tremble in Pueblo Paranoia, almost four minutes of unhappy, demonic Brutal Death Metal, flowing into their cover version for Dying Fetus’ Your Treachery Will Die with You (check the original one HERE, from their 2009 album Descend into Depravity), and the band’s rendition of it is just as demented and violent.

The guys from Monument of Misanthropy are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and so on, on YouTube and on Spotify with more of their caustic music, and if you want to put your hands on the excellent Vile Postmortem Irrumatio you can purchase it from their BandCamp page, from Transcending Obscurity Records by clicking HERE, HERE or HERE, or click HERE for all things Monument of Misanthropy. Big Ed and the boys are inviting you for a gruesome and sick party in their excellent new album, overflowing brutality while at the same time being an amazing and detailed work musically speaking, and I don’t think you should miss it or the same Big Ed will definitely pay you a not-so-friendly visit when you least expect.

Best moments of the album: How to Make a Killer, Hits One and Two and Vile Postmortem Irrumatio.

Worst moments of the album: Oh, I Suppose You’re Gonna Want Sit Up and Talk All Night Now.

Released in 2024 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. First Time It Makes You Sick to Your Stomach 0:39
2. How to Make a Killer 3:13
3. The Atascasdero Years 3:12
4. Hits One and Two 2:46
5. Why Did You Keep Their Heads 0:55
6. Manipulating the Experts 3:12
7. Vile Postmortem Irrumatio 2:52
8. The Devil’s Slide 3:08
9. Oh, I Suppose You’re Gonna Want Sit Up and Talk All Night Now 1:20
10. A Nice Beheading for MoM 3:06
11. Pueblo Paranoia 3:55
12. Your Treachery Will Die with You (Dying Fetus cover) 3:37

Band members
George “Misanthrope” Wilfinger – vocals
Julius Kössler – guitars
Joe Gatsch – guitars
Raphael Hendlmayer – bass

Guest musician
Eugene Ryabchenko – drums (session)

Album Review – Orden Ogan / The Order Of Fear (2024)

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One of the torchbearers of German Power Metal is back with their seventh album, continuing their saga with a particularly triumphant lesson in dark metal music.

A standout in the Power Metal genre and a crucial part of the international metal scene since their 2008 debut album Vale, Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s own Power Metal warriors Orden Ogan are back with their latest epic The Order of Fear, their seventh studio opus, continuing their saga with a particularly triumphant lesson in dark metal music in a Hollywood-style story. Recorded, mixed and mastered by the band’s frontman Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann at Greenman Studios, and displaying a classy artwork by Dan Goldsworthy (Aborted, Corpsegrinder, Accept, Alestorm, Cradle of Filth, Gloryhammer, and many more), The Order of Fear seamlessly fits into the band’s impressive catalog, showcasing all the dexterity and passion for heavy music by the aforementioned Seeb on vocals alongside Niels Löffler and Patrick Sperling on the guitars, Steven Wussow on bass, and Dirk Meyer-Berhorn on drums.

In the opener Kings of the Underworld there’s no intro, nor any moments of peace; it’s a fast-paced, no-shenanigans Power Metal attack right from the beginning led by the classic drums by Dirk while their guitars sound absolutely striking and vibrant. Then the title-track The Order of Fear offers an overdose of whimsical lyrics declaimed by Seeb (“I heard the king is dead / Now others reign instead / Pulling the strings in the dark of the day / Abel, my good old friend / Through shadows we descend / He’ll follow me to the end of the way”) while the music is a well-balanced mix of Heavy and Power Metal, followed by Moon Fire, another solid and entertaining creation by the band bringing forward traditional Power Metal with some additional background elements, adding a more epic vibe to it. Then an acoustic, gentle start gradually morphs into a galloping sound in Conquest, with once again Dirk pounding his drums accompanied by the metallic bass by Steven, whereas the fast riffage by Niels and Patrick set the tone in Blind Man, a fun and thrilling Power Metal extravaganza that should work really well if played live.

The second half of the album offers more of their metal hymns, starting with Prince of Sorrow, with Seeb kicking some ass on vocals as usual while the riffs by the band’s guitar duo sound striking, followed by Dread Lord, which tries to be epic but ends up being cheesy and generic, although the riffs and solos by Niels and Patrick are once again very pleasant. It’s then time for a stunning power ballad titled My Worst Enemy, led by the passionate vocals by Seeb, bringing a touch of finesse to the album; and speeding things up again the band delivers the electrifying Anthem to the Darkside, alternating between heavier moments and more melodic passages, with Dirk kicking some serious ass behind his drums. Finally, the interlude The Journey Thus Far offers a dark narration that will take you on a wild musical journey titled The Long Darkness, with Seeb leading his henchmen in a melodious, epic and charming song where all backing vocals enhance the power of his own vocals, offering over eight minutes of classic Orden Ogan by bringing forward their trademark riffs and bass lines, pounding drums and soaring vocals, also ending in a climatic and epic way.

“The album is much more stripped down,” commented Seeb. “It is to the point, more metallic, direct, and perhaps ‘authentic’. The guitars are more in the foreground, but of course, it didn’t work entirely without orchestral elements,” he complemented, and if you want to experience that more metallic side of the band you can grab a copy of the album by clicking HERE, also keeping in mind that soon this ten-song cinematic story will be available in a reading version through the official Orden Ogan fan club. You can also find more information about the band and the album, and of course more of their music, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify, joining the band in their quest for Power Metal. In a nutshell, the saga goes on in The Order Of Fear, an album that will surely please all fans of the band, therefore leaving everyone eager for the next chapter in the metallic book by one of the torchbearers of German Power Metal.

Best moments of the album: Kings of the Underworld, Blind Man and Anthem to the Darkside.

Worst moments of the album: Dread Lord.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Kings of the Underworld 3:58
2. The Order of Fear 4:26
3. Moon Fire 4:14
4. Conquest 4:12
5. Blind Man 3:52
6. Prince of Sorrow 4:02
7. Dread Lord 3:33
8. My Worst Enemy 3:28
9. Anthem to the Darkside 7:09
10. The Journey Thus Far 0:54
11. The Long Darkness 8:21

Band members
Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann – vocals
Niels Löffler – guitars
Patrick Sperling – guitars
Steven Wussow – bass
Dirk Meyer-Berhorn – drums

Album Review – Aposento / No Safe Haven (2024)

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There’s no safe haven when it comes to the brutality blasted by these Spanish Death Metal titans in their pulverizing fourth studio album.

Following up on the brutality and darkness of their 2020 opus Conjuring the New Apocalypse, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain-based Death Metal titans Aposento are back with their pulverizing fourth full-length installment, beautifully titled No Safe Haven. Recorded by Dan Díez at Rock Lab Studios, mixed by Davide Billia at Mk2 Recording Studio, and displaying a gory, devilish artwork by Spanish artist Naroa Etxebarria, No Safe Haven presents a brutal and powerful sound reminiscent of the classic Death Metal era of the early 90’s in Florida, with the band now formed of a returning Carlos Garcia on vocals (who was the band’s frontman from 1993 to 1997), Manolo Sáez and Manu Reyes on the guitars, and newcomers Pablo Vazquez on bass and Raúl Ceballos on drums sounding absolutely ruthless from start to finish for our total delight.

Get ready to be pulverized by the almighty Aposento in the title-track No Safe Haven, where Carlos proves why his return was the right choice for the future of the band, also showcasing decimating Death Metal riffs and crushing beats; and Raúl continues to hammer his drums mercilessly in Tortured and Abused, inviting us all to slam into the pit to the band’s classic, no shenanigans Death Metal attack. There’s no time to breath as the quintet fires another brutal tune titled Uncertain Death, with the riffage by Manolo and Manu sounding incendiary for our total delight. Moreover, it’s impressive how they manage to sound so technical without forgetting their infernal core essence. And this Spanish Death Metal brigade sounds just as infuriated in A Texas Funeral, a lesson in violence and gore where the vocals by Carlos will haunt your putrid souls for all eternity; whereas Raúl takes the lead with his wicked, demented beats and fills in The Bad Seed, keeping the animosity flowing strong in the album.

The band will then break your body in half with their thunderous sounds in Where Darkness Reigns, with Carlos deeply roaring like a demented creature supported by the heavy-as-hell kitchen by Pablo and Raúl, resulting in an amazing Death Metal aria by those Spanish beasts. A sinister start quickly explodes into sheer madness entitled Let it Bleed, where no one will be left alive to the demolishing sounds blasted by Aposento, while Manolo and Manu continue to slash their axes in The Devil’s Bargain, delivering caustic, flammable riffs while Raúl crushes his drums nonstop. Two more songs to go and the band doesn’t slow down at all, offering us absolute hatred and heaviness in As Your Life Ends, a decent Death Metal tune albeit not as good as the other songs, followed by Parásitos, one last blast of insanity and violence by the band where Raúl sounds inhumane on drums as well as Carlos with his deep guttural roars.

If you nurture a deep passion for the heaviest and most aggressive form of Death Metal, you must take a listen at the new demented album by Aposento, obviously grabbing a copy of it from Xtreem Music’s BandCamp page or webstore to show all your support to the underground, and don’t forget to also give the guys from Aposento your best guttural shout on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with everything about the band including their infernal live concerts, and to stream all of their amazing discography on Spotify. There’s no safe haven when it comes to the violence blasted by Aposento in their new album, no way out, nowhere to go, with their demented sounds dragging our putrid bodies into an endless circle pit in the name of old school Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: No Safe Haven, Uncertain Death and Where Darkness Reigns.

Worst moments of the album: As Your Life Ends.

Released in 2024 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. No Safe Haven 3:40
2. Tortured and Abused 2:59
3. Uncertain Death 3:13
4. A Texas Funeral 3:00
5. The Bad Seed 3:30
6. Where Darkness Reigns 2:42
7. Let it Bleed 4:24
8. The Devil’s Bargain 3:38
9. As Your Life Ends 3:24
10. Parásitos 3:30

Band members
Carlos Garcia – vocals
Manolo Sáez – guitars
Manu Reyes – guitars
Pablo Vazquez – bass
Raúl Ceballos – drums

Album Review – 200 Stab Wounds / Manual Manic Procedures (2024)

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Cleveland’s own legends-in-waiting will crush your damned souls with their sophomore album, a brutal slab of old school Death Metal with a contemporary edge not for the faint-hearted.

Following up on their very successful 2021 debut album Slave to the Scalpel, Cleveland, Ohio, United States-based Death Metal legends-in-waiting 200 Stab Wounds are back into the battlefield with their sophomore opus Manual Manic Procedures, a brutal slab of old school Death Metal with a contemporary edge. Produced and mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Mastering, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Steve Buhl, guitarist Raymond MacDonald, bassist Ezra Cook and drummer Owen Pooley is certainly not for the faint-hearted, putting classic gore-themed ferocity back into the metal community’s collective consciousness.

In the opener Hands of Eternity, a grim and sinister start gradually evolves into a demented Death Metal beast where Owen dictates the pace with his furious beats supported by the always metallic bass by Ezra, sounding bestial and damned from start to finish. After such a demonic start, the band needs less than two minutes to smash our cranial skulls in Gross Abuse, with the demented harsh vocals by Steve redefining the meaning of “deep”, whereas their undisputed Death Metal sounds continue to split our spinal cords in half in Manual Manic Procedures, again showcasing Steve’s venomous roars boosted by his own and Raymond’s infernal riffs and solos. Release the Stench is another short and sweet display of savagery by the quartet, offering endless groove and electricity thanks to the amazing job done by their stringed trio, followed by Led to the Chamber / Liquified, an instrumental piece where the first part is just an intro that morphs into a more melodic second half, bringing more of their classic Death Metal (albeit never really taking off).

Back to their more ferocious mode we’re treated to Flesh from Within, with Owen and Ezra hammering their thunderous instruments while Steve vociferates rabidly nonstop; and the bass by Ezra sounds even more metallic and heavier in Defiled Gestation, with Owen accelerating the band’s already killer sonority in great fashion. Then featuring guest vocals by Jami Morgan of Code Orange we have Ride the Flatline, offering our avid ears an explosion of caustic lyrics (“Back against the rail, stones beneath my feet / Fantasies of speeding steel dominate my dreams / Colder than a knife, faster than a gun / Exhilaration, annihilation / Pressure of a ton”) while the music remains violent and heavy until the very end. Finally, closing one of the heaviest albums of the year we have Parricide, where their riffs, bass lines and crushing drums are exactly what Steve needs to bark like a demonic creature.

200 Stab Wounds keep going strong in their demolishing path of old school Death Metal, and Manual Manic Procedures is exactly what they needed to reach new heights with their undisputed violence and musicianship. Having said that, let those Cleveland metallers stab your heart 200 times with their refined extreme music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their sick creations on Spotify, and by grabbing a copy of the ruthless Manual Manic Procedures from the Metal Blade Records webstore or by clicking HERE. Because they’re violent, gory, brutal, and above all that, they’re pure Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Hands of Eternity, Manual Manic Procedures and Flesh from Within.

Worst moments of the album: Led to the Chamber / Liquified.

Released in 2024 Metal Blade Records

Track listing
1. Hands of Eternity 4:44
2. Gross Abuse 1:50
3. Manual Manic Procedures 2:43
4. Release the Stench 2:31
5. Led to the Chamber / Liquified 3:10
6. Flesh from Within 3:11
7. Defiled Gestation 4:24
8. Ride the Flatline 2:50
9. Parricide 4:06

Band members
Steve Buhl – vocals, guitars
Raymond MacDonald – guitars
Ezra Cook – bass
Owen Pooley – drums

Guest musician
Jami Morgan – vocals on “Ride the Flatline”

Album Review – Benighted / Ekbom (2024)

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Let’s dive into the auditory abyss with this Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore entity armed with their newborn beast, inspired by the rare neurological disorder known as “Ekbom syndrome.”

Formed in 1998 in the French city of Saint-Étienne with roots deeply entrenched in the macabre realms of Extreme Metal, the vicious Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore entity Benighted has evolved from a side-project into a malevolent force, captivating fans worldwide with their skull-shattering sound and thematically explorative pieces. Now in 2024 the band formed of Julien Turchan on vocals, Emmanuel Dalle on the guitars, Pierre Arnoux on bass, and Kevin Paradis on drums invites us to dive into the auditory abyss with Ekbom, their latest offering inspired by the rare neurological disorder known as “Ekbom syndrome.” Recorded, engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Kristian Kohlmannslehner at Kohlekeller Studios, and displaying a Stygian artwork by Róbert Borbás of Grindesign, Ekbom is a nightmarish album that drags listeners through the darkest recesses of the human psyche, a grotesque journey where the ferocious music mirrors the unsettling sensations of delusional parasitosis.

Benighted are definitely a band that knows how to craft wicked, phantasmagorical intros, like Prodrome, inviting us all to a world of gore and darkness in Scars, a pulverizing feast of Grindcore tailored for admirers of the genre where Julien and Kevin will hammer your heads ruthlessly with their respective devilish roars and blast beats, followed by Morgue, presenting a demented sound for a song with a cadaverous name, with Emmanuel slashing his stringed axe like there’s no tomorrow and, therefore, making the atmosphere even heavier and more disturbing. Le Vice des Entrailles, or “the vice of entrails” from French, is another hurricane of Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore by the quartet, with Julien’s vile gnarls cutting our skin deep supported by the always demolishing drums by Kevin. Then featuring guest vocals by Oliver Rae Aleron of Archspire, Nothing Left to Fear is highly recommended for some brutal slamming, with the unparalleled vocals by Oliver matching perfectly with the band’s bestial sounds; followed by the evil title-track Ekbom, bringing forward their trademark violence while still sounding very groovy, technical and detailed.

Metastasis, the second single released by Benighted, will pulverize your cranial skull, as Julien couldn’t have sounded more demonic than this accompanied by the caustic riffs by Emmanuel, and the quartet shows no mercy at all for our souls and keep delivering the most demented form of Grindcore in A Reason for Treason, with the beats and fills by Kevin sounding and feeling absolutely brutal. Guest vocalist Xavier Chevalier of Blockheads lends his roars in Fame of the Grotesque, perhaps the most infernal of all songs where the entire band is on fire, especially Kevin with his stone crushing drums; whereas Scapegoat is another two-minute explosion of sheer dementia and violence by the quartet where Julien once again roars manically while Emmanuel keeps firing his sulfurous riffs and solos. The second to last attack by those Grindcore beasts comes in the form of Flesh Against Flesh, once again inviting us all to slam into the pit like there’s no tomorrow; whereas lastly we’re treated to Mother Earth, Mother Whore, a charming name for a Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore assault, with Julien’s roars walking hand in hand with the chaotic sounds blasted by his bandmates.

Can you feel it crawling under your skin? If your answer is yes, you can grab a copy of Ekbom, available for a full streaming on YouTube and on Spotify, from the band’s own BandCamp page, or by clicking HERE or HERE. Also, don’t forget to check what the band’s is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their insane tour dates. Ekbom is undoubtedly a chilling sonic landscape that will linger in your consciousness long after the last brutal note thanks to a band that knows how to sound extreme yet melodic and captivating at the same time, penetrating deep inside our skin like parasites of brutality and gore in the best way possible, of course.

Best moments of the album: Scars, Le Vice des Entrailles, Metastasis and Fame of the Grotesque.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Season of Mist

Track listing
1. Prodrome 1:18
2. Scars 3:14
3. Morgue 3:22
4. Le Vice des Entrailles 3:05
5. Nothing Left to Fear 2:43
6. Ekbom 3:42
7. Metastasis 3:32
8. A Reason for Treason 3:17
9. Fame of the Grotesque 2:19
10. Scapegoat 2:22
11. Flesh Against Flesh 3:17
12. Mother Earth, Mother Whore 4:28

Band members
Julien Turchan – vocals
Emmanuel Dalle – guitars
Pierre Arnoux – bass
Kevin Paradis – drums

Guest musicians
Oliver Rae Aleron – vocals on “Nothing Left to Fear”
Xavier Chevalier – vocals on “Fame of the Grotesque”