Album Review – Encelado / Pillars of Creation EP (2025)

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A debut EP of classic Death Metal made in Italy, paying tribute to the elephant trunks of interstellar gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula photographed by the Hubble Telescope from NASA on April 1, 1995.

Created by two old time friends sharing a passion for Extreme Metal, with its name taken from “Enceladus”, the sixth largest moon of Saturn, Italian Death Metal duo Encelado is set to unleash upon us their debut EP, entitled Pillars of Creation. Recorded and mixed at Umbra Studio, with band logo and album artwork designed by the band’s own Damien, and featuring guest drummers Max and Devin, the new EP by the aforementioned Damien on the guitars, bass, synths and backing vocals alongside Simone on vocals pays tribute to the elephant trunks of interstellar gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula photographed by the Hubble Telescope from NASA on April 1, 1995, with lyrics dealing with topics including space exploration, artificial intelligence, human consciousness, and death, while the music displays a solid mix of Aborted, All Shall Perish, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, and Suffocation.

Simone’s deep, otherworldly guttural will send shivers down your spine in Dark Nebulas, while Damien fires some sick Death Metal riffs and metallic bass lines and guest Max demolishes his drums mercilessly. Gravety, the second song of the EP, keeps the atmosphere dense and grim, with the bass lines by Damien sounding truly menacing, all boosted by the devilish guest drums by Devin. Then an overdose of hammering drums, visceral growls and classic Death Metal riffs will smash you like an insect in Fragments Of Fear, perfect for some wild headbanging, and the EP ends on a high note with the title-track Pillars Of Creation, where Simone’s deep, vile gnarls match perfectly with the brutal yet technical sounds crafted by Damien and Max, beautifully depicting their passion for Death Metal and, therefore, leaving us eager for more of their music in a not-so-distant future.

Pillars of Creation, which is available for purchase from the band’s own Big Cartel, might be short in duration, with only four songs in total, but it’s indeed an amazing debut by the duo formed of Simone and Damien, and a very good indication of where they’re headed to with Encelado. Who knows, maybe they’ll reach an unknown constellation in the near future with new music, right? And if you want to get in touch with the boys, you can find them on Instagram, as I’m sure they would love to hear what you have to say about their cosmic Death Metal music. I don’t think it will take long for them to release their first full-length album, and if it’s just half as good as Pillars of Creation, we’ll surely be very happy Death Metal fans.

Best moments of the album: Dark Nebulas and Pillars Of Creation.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Regenerate Records

Track listing
1. Dark Nebulas 4:11
2. Gravety 3:25
3. Fragments Of Fear 3:34
4. Pillars Of Creation 2:58

Band members
Simone – vocals
Damien – guitar, bass, synths, backing vocals

Guest musicians
Max – drums on “Dark Nebulas”, “Fragments Of Fear” and “Pillars Of Creation”
Devin – drums on “Gravety”

Concert Review – Machine Head (History, Toronto, ON, 04/28/2025)

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Monday nights are always boring, except when you have four of the must-see bands of the current metal scene worldwide kicking some serious ass in the city.

OPENING ACTS: Unearth, Lacuna Coil and In Flames

What a night of modern and electrifying heavy music at the always amazing History this Monday during the North American Tour 2025 spearheaded by MACHINE HEAD, with special guests UNEARTH, LACUNA COIL and IN FLAMES, and despite the insane traffic in the city and the fact it was a Monday night, we can say it was a nearly sold out event where every single person at the venue had a phenomenal time, including Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I, of course. History is also a great venue for concerts because not only there are plenty of restaurants in the neighborhood, but they also have a few food options inside, like pizza for example, something not common at most venues in Toronto. This means that if you’re running late to any concert but you need to eat something beforehand, you don’t need to waste any second searching for food outside the venue. Simply get inside, and enjoy a slice of pizza while watching your favorite bands playing.

The doors opening at 5pm, when most people were still at work, plus the first band of the night, Boston, Massachusetts-based Metalcore outfit UNEARTH, kicking off their show already at the early time of 6pm, was kind of a bummer as a lot of people ended up missing their show, including myself, and I was very disappointed with that because their 2023 album The Wretched; The Ruinous is a real banger and I was eager to see them playing some of those not-so-new tunes live alongside some older meterial (although their short onstage time didn’t allow them to play their regular full setlist, of course). Well, Keith said they were beyond ruthless onstage led by their rabid frontman Trevor Phipps, already igniting some sick mosh pits in the floor section, and if you also missed those guys live on Monday at least we can enjoy their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, and patiently wait for the next time they pay a visit to Toronto. Hopefully at a later time slot.

Setlist
The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News song)
My Will Be Done
This Lying World
The Wretched; The Ruinous
Giles
Incinerate
Black Hearts Now Reign

Band members
Trevor Phipps – vocals
Buz McGrath – guitars
Peter Layman – guitars
Chris O’Toole – bass
Mike Justian – drums

Luckily, I made it just in time for the superb performance by Italian Alternative Rock/Metal icons LACUNA COIL, more specifically three minutes before they took the stage by storm with their endless charisma, undeniable talent, and highly addictive, catchy tunes, most of them from their brand new album Sleepless Empire (available on all streaming services like Spotify), including the excellent Hosting the Shadow, Gravity, I Wish You Were Dead, and Oxygen. Damn, those tunes sounded amazing live. The beyond stunning diva Cristina Scabbia (she looks younger than ever, by the way) and the enigmatic, sinister Andrea Ferro drove fans wild during their set, making a more-than-dynamic duo onstage for the delight of everyone who enjoys this type of “Beauty and the Beast” vocal attack. As usual, the duo was effectively supported by their bandmates Daniele Salomone, Marco Coti Zelati and Richard Meiz, enhancing the band’s energy and punch and, therefore, inspiring everyone to raise their horns and sing all songs along with Cristina and Andrea. Lacuna Coil are a must-see band of the current scene, and I can’t wait to see them again in the near future. Needless to say, next time they deserve their own headlining tour, so we can enjoy a lot more of their hypnotizing creations.

Setlist
Intro
Layers of Time
Reckless
Hosting the Shadow
Gravity
Our Truth
Blood, Tears, Dust
I Wish You Were Dead
Oxygen
Never Dawn

Band members
Cristina Scabbia – vocals
Andrea Ferro – vocals
Daniele Salomone – guitars
Marco Coti Zelati – bass, keyboards
Richard Meiz – drums

It was already past 8pm when Sweden’s own Melodic Groove Metal/Metalcore/Alternative Rock titans IN FLAMES began their incendiary performance at History (pun intended), already melting our faces with one of their most electrifying songs ever, Cloud Connected. Frontman Anders Fridén and his henchmen, including the fantastic axeman Chris Broderick, showed no mercy for our souls, delivering hit after hit, with the newer songs from their 2023 album Foregone (also available on Spotify), like In the Dark and Meet Your Maker, blending perfectly with their classics and, consequently, igniting some insane circle pits that were nicely acknowledged by Anders. Not only that, he was also on fire with his dark Swedish humor, making an even stronger connection with the crowd. For instance, he noticed one fan was singing ALL songs perfectly at the barrier, so he said he should not screw up any song otherwise that fan would catch his error. The ending with I Am Above and My Sweet Shadow was epic, and I must say their concert this Monday night might have been their best in the city to date. In Flames certainly love Toronto, and we love them back, which means it won’t take long for the band to kick our asses again with another unrelenting concert in the near future.

Setlist
Cloud Connected
Take This Life
Deliver Us
In the Dark
Voices
Coerced Coexistence
Bullet Ride
Trigger
Meet Your Maker
State of Slow Decay
The Mirror’s Truth
I Am Above
My Sweet Shadow

Band members
Anders Fridén – vocals
Björn Gelotte – guitars
Chris Broderick – guitars
Liam Wilson – bass
Tanner Wayne – drums

MACHINE HEAD

Finally, after an avalanche of first-class heavy music from different parts of the world, the main attraction of the night, Oakland, California’s own Groove/Thrash Metal brigade MACHINE HEAD kicked off their electrifying concert to finish destroying anyone who dared to face some wild mosh pits during the execution of their hard hitting tunes. Robb Flynn, Reece Scruggs, Jared MacEachern and Matt Alston were unstoppable onstage, kindly asking every single fan to keep their phones in their pockets and simply have an amazing time with them, banging their heads, slamming into the pit, having a beer and raising their fists in the air. Blending classics the likes of Locust and Bulldozer with several songs form their new opus Unatoned (also spelled UNATØNED, and of course available on Spotify), released this past Friday April 25, such as ØUTSIDER and BØNESCRAPER, the band put on a phenomenal concert that made a boring Monday night feel like a metallic party on a Saturday.

They’ve been on the road since 1991, but their passion for heavy music is so strong it felt like they were just newcomers full of energy and ready to kick our asses. The circle pit action was intense, Robb kept throwing beer to the fans and having a lot of fun interacting with everyone, including a little kid at the back of the balcony section (showing he’s a guy that pays attention to EVERYONE who attends a Machine Head concert), and the background screen, lighting and smoke added an extra touch of insanity to their show. In the end, after they played the classic Halo, they stayed a little longer throwing countless guitar picks and drumsticks to the crowd, who was brave enough to stay at the venue until the very end, already past 11pm on a Monday night. I guess even if they had stayed there until 2 or 3am the fans would have also been there to support them, because this is how superb heavy music is done. Played live, played loud, and with a beautiful connection between the artist and their fans. Thank you, Machine Head, and rest assured whenever you return to Toronto, we’ll all be there for you.

Setlist
Diary of a Madman (Ozzy Osbourne song)
In Comes the Flood
Imperium
Ten Ton Hammer
CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE
Now We Die
Catharsis
NØT LØNG FØR THIS WØRLD
ØUTSIDER
Locust
BØNESCRAPER
Declaration
Bulldozer
From This Day
Davidian

Encore:
Halo

Band members
Robb Flynn – vocals, guitars
Reece Scruggs – guitars
Jared MacEachern – bass, backing vocals
Matt Alston – drums, percussion

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Album Review – Listless / Listless (2025)

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Behold the debut opus by this one-man Depressive Black Metal project from Canada, aiming to capture an isolated sense of solitude through melancholic introspection.

A solo Depressive Black Metal project based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from the mind of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Aidan Crossley, the vocalist and guitarist for the excellent Atmospheric Black Metal band Liminal Shroud, Listless aims to capture an isolated sense of solitude through melancholic introspection. Recorded and mixed by Aidan himself, who was also responsible for all visual design, mastered by Cody Baresich at Circle A Studios, and with photography by Rob Hehr, the project’s self-titled debut aims to hypnotize listeners into a dark, endless oblivion with its emotionally resonant guitars, desperate howls, and sorrowful keys, being highly recommended for fans of Austere, Woods of Desolation, Coldworld, None, and Gris, among others.

Devoid starts in a lugubrious, grim manner to the minimalist guitar lines by Aidan, gradually evolving into a dense display of Depressive Black Metal while at the same time exploding into his anguished gnarls; and Aidan speeds things up in Burning Sky, blending his core Depressive Black Metal with Post-Metal elements, and the final result is simply amazing. Then we have Bloodstained Memories, back to a more introspective mode, with Aidan extracting minimalist sounds from his guitar, sounding caustic and despondent until the end. Aidan keeps dragging us down to his Stygian lair in Futility, an interlude that sounds bitterly harsh before we face Absence, one of the darkest, most depressive of all songs, with Aidan once again extracting unsettling sounds from his instruments while also gnarling deeply. Passerine, the longest song of the album, also brings to our avid ears a harsh onrush of Depressive and Atmospheric Black Metal, with his guitar lines and drums exhaling melancholy, whereas lastly, Aidan brings forward A Final Yearning Breath, a serene, grim outro that will darken our hearts for all eternity.

In summary, Listless channels the songwriting, intensity, and surging expansiveness of Liminal Shroud while focusing more on emotive aspects of musical expression in its debut album, resulting in a must-listen opus for admirers of contemporary Depressive Black Metal. You can check what Aidan and his Listless are up to on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, and grab a copy of its caustic debut offering from the Hypnotic Dirge Records’  BandCamp, worldwide store or Canada/US store (CD only), letting the project’s harsh and atmospheric music penetrate deep inside your soul. There’s always some controversy surrounding Depressive Black Metal as a whole, but when the artist is question is as talented and focused as Aidan, bringing to us the striking sounds of Listless, any type of preconception should be ignored, simply letting the music do its wonderful job.

Best moments of the album: Burning Sky and Absence.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Hypnotic Dirge Records

Track listing
1. Devoid 5:41
2. Burning Sky 4:00
3. Bloodstained Memories 6:21
4. Futility 3:31
5. Absence 7:41
6. Passerine 8:29
7. A Final Yearning Breath 3:12

Band members
Aidan Crossley – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Disfuneral / In Horror, Reborn (2025)

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This Archaic Death Metal entity from France will crush your souls armed with their sophomore album, delving deeper into themes of death, gore, and horror.

Formed in 2015 in Nancy, France, Disfuneral emerged from the remnants of the band Herpes, embracing a raw and unfiltered approach to Death Metal. Crafting a sound that pays homage to the early days of Death Metal while infusing their unique sense of humor and personality, calling their style as “Archaic Death Metal”, the band formed of Renaud Mann on vocals, Florian Brabant on the guitar, Clément Favre on bass and Nicolas Bauer on drums is set to unleash hell with their sophomore opus, entitled In Horror, Reborn. Recorded by the band itself (vocals, guitars, bass) and by Fabien Cruzille (drums), mixed and mastered by Robert Pehrsson at Studio Humbucker, and displaying a monstrous artwork by Jon Whiplash, the follow-up to their 2022 album Blood Red Tentacle delves deeper into themes of death, gore, and horror, encapsulating the band’s signature sound by blending ferocious riffs, guttural vocals and pounding rhythms, reflecting their strict dedication to the genre’s roots.

Simply hit play and a massive wall of sounds will crush you like an insect in Catacomb Dwellers, with Florian and Clément slashing their stringed axes in the name of classic Death Metal, and it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated Tombs Vomiting the Dead, led by the hammering drums by Nicolas while Renaud barks and roars manically nonstop. The lancinating, visceral riffs by Florian will pierce your soul in Ripped from Within, a Death Metal beast that sounds and feels as dark and heavy as it can be, whereas Crypt of Demented lives up to its “charming” name, offering an overdose of heaviness and guttural vociferations, with the metallic bass by Clément walking hand in hand with Nicolas’ pounding drums.

Then adding a bit of Crust to their core Death Metal we have Extremity in Morbidity, a fast and furious tune spearheaded by Renaud’s demented roars, and investing in a much more somber, cadenced sound presenting hints of Doom Metal the band brings forward Dark Ages Ritual, with Clément’s bass sounding beyond heavy. Blessed by Decay is another slab of brutality and savagery by those French bastards, with Nicolas dictating the song’s frantic pace with his unstoppable beats, followed by the title-track In Horror, Reborn, presenting everything we love in Death Metal and more, sounding ruthless from start to finish and inviting us all for some wild mosh pit action. The band then closes the album on a high and demolishing note with Call from the Void, again showcasing Florian’s caustic riffage and Renaud’s deranged vocals.

In a nutshell, fans of bands the likes of Autopsy, Entombed, Necrot and Death Breath will certainly have an excellent time listening to In Horror, Reborn, and you can join those ruthless death metallers by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, and above all that, by purchasing their demented new album from Bandcamp or from the Redefining Darkness’ webstore (in the United States or in the EU and rest of the world). Disfuneral are definitely among us to spread gore, violence and death armed with their unrelenting music, with In Horror, Reborn representing a solid step further in their career and, consequently, a very good reason for us all to dive into the pit to the sound of our beloved Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Tombs Vomiting the Dead, Extremity in Morbidity and In Horror, Reborn.

Worst moments of the album: Dark Ages Ritual.

Released in 2025 Redefining Darkness Records

Track listing
1. Catacomb Dwellers 4:19
2. Tombs Vomiting the Dead 3:59
3. Ripped from Within 3:34
4. Crypt of Demented 4:52
5. Extremity in Morbidity 2:37
6. Dark Ages Ritual 3:50
7. Blessed by Decay 4:16
8. In Horror, Reborn 3:22
9. Call from the Void 4:30

Band members
Renaud Mann – vocals
Florian Brabant – guitar
Clément Favre – bass
Nicolas Bauer – drums

Album Review – Felgrave / Otherlike Darknesses (2025)

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This one-man project from Norway breaks the mould and offers three lengthy tracks that flow in an intuitive, undulating, almost whimsical manner, touching upon several styles and effortlessly shape shifting through them all.

After dropping its well-received debut album A Waning Light back in 2020, Viken, Norway-based entity Felgrave has crafted an ingenious album melding influences of Avantgarde Black, Death and Doom Metal in a way rarely done before, entitled Otherlike Darknesses, breaking the mould and offering three lengthy tracks that flow in an intuitive, undulating, almost whimsical manner, touching upon several styles and effortlessly shape shifting through them all. Mixed by the project’s mastermind, vocalist, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist M. L. Jupe, mastered by Brendan Sloan, featuring session drummer Robin Stone (Evilyn, Norse), and displaying another beautiful artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, Otherlike Darknesses is a multi-faceted opus and yet has a fairly cohesive sound with exceptional song writing, always engaging while also being unpredictable.

M. L. Jupe ignites his blackened machine armed with his scorching riffs and a menacing atmosphere in Winds Batter My Keep, sounding disturbing, avantgarde and addictive all at once, with the puissant drums by Robin adding an extra dosage of heaviness to the music, resulting in a sonic creature arising from the underworld ready to consume us all. After such a bludgeoning beast we face Pale Flowers Under an Empty Sky, the “shortest” song of the album (which still surpasses the 12-minute mark), beginning in a sinister manner until all morphs into an experimental, dissonant display of Black and Death Metal led by M. L. Jupe’s visceral growls and infernal riffage, also showcasing ethereal, soothing passages; building an instant bridge with the colossal title-track Otherlike Darknesses, offering us all mere mortals 18 minutes of grandiose Avantgarde Black and Death Metal. Futhermore, M. L. Jupe and Robin are on fire during the entire song, demolishing our senses and piercing our minds with their wicked vociferations, incendiary riffs and pulverizing drums, while also bringing forward so many breaks, variations and cryptic moments it feels like countless songs in one in the end.

“I’m super glad to have found a label so excited to release Otherlike Darknesses, an album of experimental, avantgarde extreme metal with many diverse influences, namely 20th century classical music, 70s symphonic prog rock, and the weirder side of 90s black and death metal. The music herein is a meticulously crafted dark yet colourful tapestry that goes far beyond anything I’ve done before, and will reward diligent and attentive enjoyers of unique extreme metal for countless repeats,” commented M. L. Jupe about his newborn spawn and his partnership with the always amazing Transcending Obscurity Records, and you can put your damned hands on such a unique album of extreme music by purchasing it from the label’s Bandcamp, main store, Europe store, or US store, keeping in mind it comes as a hand-numbered eight-panel digipak with full color printing and a metallic effect throughout, in addition to gloss raised UV lamination done on parts of the artwork, a download code and transparent logo stickers. Don’t forget to also see what M. L. Jupe and his Felgrave are up to on Facebook while listening to his new album, embarking on a multi-layered, classy and embracing journey across an array of music styles, all masterfully brought into being by a Norwegian lone wolf that definitely knowns how to turn music into a work of art.

Best moments of the album: Otherlike Darknesses.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Winds Batter My Keep 18:09
2. Pale Flowers Under an Empty Sky 12:29
3. Otherlike Darknesses 18:00

Band members
M. L. Jupe – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, programming

Guest musicians
Robin Stone – drums (session)

Album Review – Behölder / In The Temple Of The Tyrant (2025)

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This American horde will attack our senses with their debut opus, a true love letter to Epic Doom Metal inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States, Behölder are an Epic Doom/Dark/Power Metal band inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons, formed in late 2021 by guitarist Carlos Alvarez. Produced by the same Carlos Alvarez, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström at Björnström Ljud & Produktion, and displaying a stunning artwork by Zsofia Dankova, their debut opus, titled In The Temple Of The Tyrant, features eight tracks of monstrous proportions, a true love letter to Epic Doom Metal weaving cautionary tales from the more grim, foreboding realms of fantasy against a backdrop of colossal riffs with elegant yet powerful melodies, all carefully crafted by vocalist John Yelland, guitarists Carlos Alvarez and Matt Hodsdon, bassist Michael Sanchez, and drummer Andrew Julkowski.

A Pale Blood Sky begins in a strong doomed vibe thanks to the heavy riffs by Carlos and Matt, supported by the always thunderous bass by Michael, and let’s all headbang like beasts to the epic vocals by John because those are awesome. Then their melodious, penetrating guitar lines set the tone in Dungeon Crawl, another feast of Epic and Doom Metal with a thrilling galloping pace; and it’s time for an even heavier tune titled Into the Underdark, with the pounding drums by Andrew walking hand in hand with the deep vocals by John, not to mention how powerful the bass by Michael sounds. After that we face Eyes of the Deep (featuring guest vocalist Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis), which reminds me of some of the darkest creations by Black Sabbath with Dio, in special from when they were called Heaven & Hell, with the entire band sounding tight, epic and fierce until the very last second.

The band then fires a more introspective composition entitled For Those Who Fell, offering seven minutes of dark, sluggish passages rooted in classic Doom Metal, or in other words, it’s a beautiful dark ballad by the band. Then investing in a primeval, tribalistic sound we have Draconian (Slave or Master), as if it was part of a somber, obscure ritual, with the riffage by Carlos and Matt penetrating deep inside our skin in great fashion, followed by Summoned & Bound, which lacks the same energy and punch from the previous songs. John still delivers his share of epicness through his vocals, though. And lastly we’re treated to I Magus, an amazing blast of Epic Doom Metal led by the thunderous vocals by John while his bandmates not only craft a powerful sound, but their backing vocals are also spot-on, putting a phenomenal and obviously epic ending to the album.

As the band itself likes to say, their debut album offers us all avid listeners “magic, mayhem and riffs heavier than a storm giant’s ass,” being therefore highly recommended for fans of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Sorcerer, and Memento Mori, among others. Hence, you can join the band in their magic metal quest by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course by purchasing a copy of In The Temple Of The Tyrant from the Black Lion Records’ BandCamp or webstore, from Indiemerchstore, from Season of Mist, or simply by clicking HERE or HERE. In the end, Behölder are definitely going to make a lot of noise armed with their first ever album, adding an extra dosage of sheer doom to the already heavy and thunderous world of Dungeons & Dragons.

Best moments of the album: A Pale Blood Sky, Draconian (Slave or Master) and I Magus.

Worst moments of the album: Summoned & Bound.

Released in 2025 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. A Pale Blood Sky 6:34
2. Dungeon Crawl 5:39
3. Into the Underdark 5:20
4. Eyes of the Deep 6:25
5. For Those Who Fell 6:58
6. Draconian (Slave or Master) 5:52
7. Summoned & Bound 5:34
8. I Magus 6:44

Band members
John Yelland – lead vocals
Carlos Alvarez – guitars, backing vocals
Matt Hodsdon – guitars, backing vocals
Michael Sanchez – bass, backing vocals
Andrew Julkowski – drums, backing vocals

Guest musician
Tomi Joutsen – vocals on “Eyes of the Deep”

Album Review – Wurmian / Immemorial Shrine (2025)

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Enter the shrine of first-class Melodic Death and Doom Metal crafted by this one-man project from France, and let the echoes from his debut album guide you on a brooding and immersive journey through sorrow, introspection, and existential desolation.

Founded in 2024 by Antoine Scholtès, the mastermind behind Atmospheric Black Metal project Inherits The Void, Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France-based act Wurmian emerges with a mission to resurrect the essence of classic Melodic Death and Doom Metal. Drawing inspiration from the melancholic and introspective tones of bands like October Tide, Horrified, and Edge of Sanity, the project’s debut offering, titled Immemorial Shrine, embraces the duality of soaring melodies and crushing heaviness. Mastered by Simon Da Silva at The Empty Hall Studio, and displaying a classic logo by Dipayandas Art and a stunning, doomed artwork by Silvana Massa, Immemorial Shrine is a somber odyssey into solitude and decay, a brooding and immersive journey through sorrow, introspection, and existential desolation, turning it into a compelling listen for fans of both classic and modern death and doom.

Antoine begins embellishing the airwaves with his melodious guitar lines in Aeon Afterglows, reminding me of both old school and contemporary Paradise Lost with a harsher twist; whereas in the title-track Immemorial Shrine he showcases all his passion for Black and Death Metal without forgetting to add a good share of Doom and Gothic Metal to his sound, and the final result is simply beautiful. His Melodic Doom Metal attack goes on in Haven, with his guttural vocals and pounding drums being perfect for some sick headbanging, and our lone wolf speeds things up in Spires of Sorrow, offering a rawer, more direct Death Metal attack led by his classic beats and fills. Then back to a more pensive, melancholic sonority, Antoine roars with tons of anguish in Yearning Unseen, also delivering piercing, sharp riffs, followed by Sleeping Giants, another stunning composition by this multi-talented French musician that overflows Atmospheric Black and Death Metal for our total delight. And the closing song of the album, The Everflowing Stream, is another lecture in Doom Metal, with Antoine enhancing the acidity of his riffs and the depth of his Stygian roars for our vulgar delectation.

In the end, prepare to embark on a melancholic odyssey that echoes the spirit of the 90’s Death and Doom Metal while forging a path into the present in Immemorial Shrine, already available in full on YouTube and on Spotify. Hence, don’t forget to follow the project on Facebook and on Instagram for news, and maybe some live performances in the future in case Antoine assembles a live band for his shows, and above all, to purchase  Immemorial Shrine from  Wurmian’s own BandCamp or from the Pest Records’ BandCamp, or simply by clicking HERE. After all is said and done, simply enter the shrine of first-class Melodic Death and Doom Metal crafted by Wurmian. Let the echoes guide you.

Best moments of the album: Immemorial Shrine, Haven and Sleeping Giants.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Pest Records

Track listing
1. Aeon Afterglows 4:55
2. Immemorial Shrine 4:54
3. Haven 6:33
4. Spires of Sorrow 4:36
5. Yearning Unseen 5:27
6. Sleeping Giants 5:21
7. The Everflowing Stream 7:19

Band members
Antoine Scholtès – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Morbific / Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh (2025)

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This rotten-to-the-core Death Metal trio from Finland is back with their ruthless third studio album, their best, darkest and most disgusting melding of form and content to date.

A rotten-to-the-core, festering, mouldering and disgusting Death Metal trio (de)formed in the filthy and profaned boneyard of Kitee, Finland in early 2020, featuring Jusa Janhonen on vocals and bass, Olli Väkeväinen  on the guitars, and Onni Väkeväinen on drums, Morbific are ready to demolish our putrid souls with their third full-length album, titled Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh, a ruthless display of classic Death Metal that follows up on the horror and insanity of their 2021 debut Ominous Seep of Putridity and their 2022 sophomore album Squirm Beyond the Mortal Realm. Recorded by Jesse Räsänen at Vaskela Metal Forgery, produced by Morbific, mixed by the band’s own Jusa Janhonen, mastered by Mikko Saastamoinen, and displaying a sick cover art by Chase Slaker (with additional art by Martyrdoom Illustrations), Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh is undoubtedly Morbific’s best melding of form and content, conveying its dark, disgusting, and unconventional aura across every element.

A sinister intro quickly explodes into a filthy, raw Death Metal attack titled Smut Club (For the Chosen Scum), with Jusa roaring deeply supported by the bestial drums by Onni, and the trio goes full Death Metal in Panspermic Blight, pounding our putrid souls with their scorching riffs and demented beats and vociferations. Menagerie of Grotesque Trophies carries a beautiful title for a display of pure savagery, with the gore infested guttural by Jusa sending shivers down our spines; followed by Promethean Mutilation, living up to the legacy of 90’s Death Metal, sounding ruthless and vile with Olli extracting sheer aggression from his riffs and solos. And Womb of Deathless Deterioration (Trapped in the Essence of Putrescence) is another slab of brutality by Morbific, exhaling heaviness thanks to the grim roars by Jusa, despite sounding a bit generic if compared to the previous songs.

Then the Stygian, horror movie-like interlude Stifling Stagnant Reek will darken your minds and thoughts before Crusading Necrotization brings forward the trio at their most inhumane shape and form, blending their core Death Metal with the obscurity of Blackened Doom. Hydraulic Slaughter also showcases a “charming” name for a beyond heavy and demonic tune led by the razor-edged riffage by Olli; whereas From Inanimate Dormancy offers our damned ears almost six minutes of violence and gore blasted by the band, or in other words, it’s a headbanging tune led by the infernal growling by Jusa. Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh (A Travesty of Human Anatomy) is yet another six-minute descent into a world of violence and obscurity, with the crushing drums by Onni hammering our cranial skulls nonstop in great fashion, and last but not least, they still have energy left for one final attack titled Slithering Decay, offering two minutes of classic Death Metal spearheaded by Olli’s savage riffs.

The unrelenting, filthy Finnish bastards of Morbific are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their gore infested music, their tour dates and so on, and don’t forget to also stream all of their demented creations on Spotify or on any other platform available out there. Furthermore, in order to show them your utmost support and your deep passion for Death Metal, you can purchase a copy of the infernal Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh from their own BandCamp or from the Me Saco Un Ojo Records’ BandCamp, proving you’re a loyal servant of all things Death Metal. I guess it won’t take long for us to hear from Morbific again in the near future, blasting our faces with another slab of violence and gore like what’s found in their new album, and I bet you’re all eager for more of the depraved music crafted by such an amazing trio from Finland.

Best moments of the album: Panspermic Blight, Promethean Mutilation and Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh (A Travesty of Human Anatomy).

Worst moments of the album: Womb of Deathless Deterioration (Trapped in the Essence of Putrescence).

Released in 2025 Memento Mori/Me Saco Un Ojo

Track listing
1. Smut Club (For the Chosen Scum) 3:48
2. Panspermic Blight 3:51
3. Menagerie of Grotesque Trophies 4:35
4. Promethean Mutilation 3:29
5. Womb of Deathless Deterioration (Trapped in the Essence of Putrescence) 5:04
6. Stifling Stagnant Reek 1:25
7. Crusading Necrotization 4:16
8. Hydraulic Slaughter 3:53
9. From Inanimate Dormancy 5:58
10. Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh (A Travesty of Human Anatomy) 6:01
11. Slithering Decay 2:04

Band members
Jusa Janhonen – vocals, bass
Olli Väkeväinen  – guitars, backing vocals
Onni Väkeväinen – drums

Concert Review – 80’s Rock Invasion – Great White & Slaughter (Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON, 04/19/2025)

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Three of the must-see Hard Rock legends from the 80’s took the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls by storm this Saturday on an electrifying night of soaring vocals, classic riffs and endless adrenaline.

OPENING ACT: Vixen

There’s nothing better than spending part of the Easter long weekend enjoying some good old Rock N’ Roll, and that’s exactly what countless fans got at the always awesome OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls with a mini-festival beautifully titled 80’s ROCK INVASION 2025, spearheaded by GREAT WHITE and SLAUGHTER with special guests VIXEN. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I endured the not-so-light traffic from Toronto to Niagara Falls for the show (as it was a beautiful day at the falls, tons of people had the same idea), but it was absolutely worth it as the whole night was fun, from arriving a bit earlier to meet with friends and enjoying some quality beer (including an “ice wine beer”, which I recommend you search for it online to see what I’m talking about), to spending some time at the casino before (and after) the event. Not only that, the fact the concert began only at 8pm also gave even late attendees enough room to get to the venue in time for the first attraction of the night.

Fans of all ages, plus some guests from the casino (who had no idea what they were about to see, but ended up having a good time with all bands) had already taken the entire venue when Saint Paul, Minnesota’s iconic Hard Rock queens VIXEN kicked off the festivities with an energetic performance, playing some of their biggest classics such as Rev It Up, How Much Love, Cruisin’, and of course Edge of a Broken Heart. Led by the only founding member left, drummer Roxy Petrucci, “the female Bon Jovi” didn’t stop running around the stage, jumping up and down, dancing, and interacting with the crowd, with the stunning Britt Lightning and Julia Lage (who was by the way the touring bassist for Smith/Kotzen back in 2022, having recorded with them the live EP Better days and Nights) making an amazing axe duo. My only complaint is that frontwoman Rosa Laricchiuta kept calling Niagara Falls as Toronto maybe 20 or 30 times, and as she’s from Montreal that’s kind of a “big mistake” from her, but I don’t think most people noticed that as she was on fire with her striking vocals. The next time they play in Niagara Falls or Toronto I’ll definitely be there, and maybe even give Rosa some “geography tips” before the show, right?

Setlist
Rev It Up
How Much Love
Cruisin’
I Want You to Rock Me
Cryin’ (Jeff Paris cover)
Edge of a Broken Heart

Band members
Rosa Laricchiuta – lead vocals
Britt Lightning – guitar, backing vocals
Julia Lage – bass, backing vocals
Roxy Petrucci – drums, backing vocals

SLAUGHTER

There was a very short break between Vixen and Las Vegas, Nevada’s own Hard Rock masters SLAUGHTER to the point a lot of people missed the beginning of their show, but of course their diehard fans didn’t move from their seats between those two shows to make sure they could have a blast with every second of their striking performance. Mark Slaughter and his henchmen put on a great show, despite some technical issues that made it difficult to hear his own vocals and the solos by Jeff “Blando” Bland, but overall it was an excellent rockin’ party full of classics the likes of Mad About You, Burnin’ Bridges, Fly to the Angels, and the rockin’ anthem Up All Night. Their insane drummer Jordan Cannata stole the show in my humble opinion, blasting his drums with tons of energy the whole time, and delivering a very exciting drum solo that sounded awesome even for people who don’t care abut drum solos (like myself). The guy is a beast on drums, which is why during his solo there was a short video of The Muppets’ one and only Animal in the background, and even if you’re not a fan of Slaughter you should check them out live to see Jordan hammering his drum kit like a maniac in the name of our good old Rock N’ Roll.

Setlist
Mad About You
Burnin’ Bridges
Spend My Life
Unknown Destination
Eye to Eye / Drum Solo / Eye to Eye
Days Gone By
Real Love
Fly to the Angels
Up All Night
Won’t Get Fooled Again (The Who cover)

Band members
Mark Slaughter – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards, piano, tambourine
Jeff “Blando” Bland – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Dana Strum – bass, backing vocals
Jordan Cannata – drums, percussion

GREAT WHITE

It was already past 10pm (which means nothing when you’re at a casino) when Los Angeles, California-based Grammy-nominated Hard Rock legends GREAT WHITE hit the OLG Stage for an overdose of their trademark Blues-infused hybrid of Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll, always led by the unparalleled riffs and solos by the guitar hero Mark Kendall. It was a fantastic performance by the entire band, and I must admit that although I knew nothing about their current vocalist Brett Carlisle, I was absolutely impressed with his vocals and charisma, proving why such a young musician was chosen by an old school band to be their new frontman. Both Mark and Brett were in total sync during their entire show, elevating the energy of already electrifying hits such as Desert Moon, Stick It, Rock Me, and the closing rockin’ feast titled Once Bitten Twice Shy. I personally think it was a shorter than expected setlist by those Hard Rock giants, but because the whole event started only at 8pm I guess they had to shorten their set, otherwise we would have been there way past 1am. Well, to be honest, I wouldn’t have cared at all if their concert had gone on past 1am or even 2am, because they play first-class pure, unfiltered Rock N’ Roll, and as you know, a true Rock N’ Roll party never has a time to end.

Setlist
Desert Moon
Lady Red Light
Stick It
House of Broken Love
The Angel Song
Mista Bone
Big Goodbye
Gonna Getcha
Save Your Love
Rock Me
Once Bitten Twice Shy (Ian Hunter cover)

Band members
Brett Carlisle – lead vocals
Mark Kendall – lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals
Michael Lardie – rhythm guitar, banjo, electric sitar, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, backing vocals
Scott Snyder – bass, backing vocals
Audie Desbrow – drums, percussion

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Album Review – Vermilia / Karsikko (2025)

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Let your soul wander through the forest to the sound of the stunning third full-length offering by this one-woman Atmospheric and Pagan Black Metal entity from Finland.

In the Finnic religion, a “karsikko” was a set of markings made on a tree somewhere between a deceased person’s home and the burial site, which was believed to prevent the individual’s spirit from coming back. In heavy music, Karsikko is the stunning third full-length offering by one-woman Atmospheric Pagan/Black Metal entity Vermilia, following up on her 2018 critically acclaimed debut Kätkyt and her also amazing 2022 opus Ruska. Since 2017, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Vermilia has been playing a beautiful hybrid of Epic Pagan Metal and sweet, raw and melancholic vocal harmonies with lyrics in her native language, and in Karsikko she has outdone herself with her strongest effort to date, a charming yet visceral album that lives up to the legacy of extreme music while at the same time it pays homage to her beautiful culture and roots.

The charming piano by Vermilia kicks off the dancing Pagan Black Metal title-track Karsikko, with her powerful, penetrating vocals matching perfectly with the song’s stunning wall of sounds. Vakat is the name of a traditional Finnish pagan festival, and that’s exactly what we get from Vermilia in this excellent song, perfect for dancing around the fire and raising our horns high in the sky. Then we have Kivutar, a Finnish goddess of pain and suffering whose name translates to “Lady of Pain”; musically speaking, Vermilia once again delivers an overdose of blast beats, scorching Black Metal riffs, and her fusion of clean vocals and harsh roars. And her classic drums and whimsical keys set the tone in Suruhymni, or “an anthem of mourning” from Finnish, embracing us in pitch black darkness in the middle of the forests of Finland.

Then the atmospheric, enfolding sounds crafted by Vermilia will penetrate deep inside your soul in Koti, or “home”, offering us all a well-balanced fusion of Black and Pagan Metal while again presenting her hypnotizing vocalizations; and in Veresi, or “your blood”, the name of the song says it all, demanding a heavier, more visceral sonority, and our lone she-wolf brings it while also sounding haunting thanks to her Doom Metal-inspired riffs and beats, presenting a fantastic rhythm, crisp instrumental and spot-on vocal lines. In Talven Jälkeen, or “after the winter”, we’re treated to more of her hybrid of harsh sounds and whimsical, embracing passages, with her work on the guitars and drums sounding utterly vibrant. Lastly, Vermilia ends the album on a high note with the dark and heavy Kansojen Kaipuu, or “the longing of nations”, where she gnarls like a creature of the forest for our total delight amidst sounds of pure Atmospheric Black Metal magic.

You can experience Karsikko in all of its glory on YouTube, on Spotify, or on any other streaming service, but of course in order to support the beyond talented Vermilia you can purchase her newborn beast from her own BandCamp or webstore, or by clicking HERE. Also, don’t forget to join her pagan festivities by following her on Facebook and on Instagram (including her unique, mesmerizing live performances), and by subscribing to her official YouTube channel, letting her fascinating music penetrate deep inside your mind, as your soul wanders freely through the darkly peaceful forests of her homeland. Karsikko is one of those albums that gradually takes over your spirit with each and every listen, a precious gem of the underground that will surely feature among the best albums of the year, inspiring Vermilia to continue her amazing path of Atmospheric and Pagan Black Metal for many years to come, as her connection with her pagan roots get stronger and stronger with each album released.

Best moments of the album: Karsikko, Suruhymni, Veresi and Kansojen Kaipuu.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Karsikko 4:44
2. Vakat 7:07
3. Kivutar 4:32
4. Suruhymni 5:08
5. Koti 3:28
6. Veresi 6:39
7. Talven Jälkeen 3:46
8. Kansojen Kaipuu 6:01

Band members
Vermilia – vocals, all instruments