Album Review – Dissociated / No Connections EP (2025)

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This talented Spanish Metalcore act is ready to take their message of liberation and solidarity to  audiences all around the world armed with their striking debut EP.

Forged inside the creative mind of vocalist Kevin Soto during the years of 2019 and 2020 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, with a deep desire to break free from the traditional bounds of classic Metalcore, the up-and-coming unit Dissociated is ready to take their message of liberation and solidarity to  audiences all around the world armed with their debut EP entitled No Connections, proving that even in the darkest moments, music can be a powerful act of release and transformation. Currently formed of the aforementioned Kevin Soto on lead vocals alongside guitarist Raúl Muñoz, bassist Toni P. Sánchez and drummer Lucas, the band delivers a powerful mix of emotional intensity and technical precision in their debut EP, leaving us eager for more of their music in a not-so-distant future.

The opening track Self-Destructive Chains sounds very introspective and modern from the very first second, exploding into a demented fusion of Metalcore and Deathcore with Djent and dissonant elements while Kevin showcasing his evil creature-like gnarls; and their Progressive Metalcore vein pulses even harder in No Connections, with Toni’s metallic bass hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly. Endless Waves offers another overdose of insanity in the form of modern, visceral Metalcore by the band, where the riffs by Raúl sound at the same time caustic and very melodic, also presenting those downtempo, punishing breaks for our total delight. Then the desperate screeches by Kevin will haunt your damned souls in Timeless Remorse, bringing forward an avalanche of violence amidst an ethereal, grim atmosphere, resulting in the most detailed and dynamic of all songs. Lastly, more of the dissonant yet harmonious riffs by Raúl permeate the air in Lost in Traces, with the entire band sounding tight and sharp until the very end.

You can find more information about this very promising Spanish band on Instagram, and of course show them your support and bang your heads to their sick creations by purchasing their striking EP from Art Gates Records as an “Endless Waves” shirt + fitted cap + CD combo, a “No Connections” hoodie + “Chains” shirt + CD combo, or as a “No Connections” shirt + tote bag + CD combo, or simply click HERE for all things Dissociated. The next step for those Spanish rockers is undoubtedly releasing their first full-length album, and if it’s just half as good as No Connections, we can rest assured the world of Metalcore will be in very good hands in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: No Connections and Timeless Remorse.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Art Gates Records

Track listing
Self-Destructive Chains 3:15
No Connections 3:59
Endless Waves 4:16
Timeless Remorse 4:26
Lost in Traces 4:27

Band members
Kevin Soto – lead vocals
Raúl Muñoz – guitars
Toni P. Sánchez – bass, vocals
Lucas – drums

Album Review – Cumbeast / Fairytales Of Filth (2025)

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Finish your plate and buckle in, as Finland’s own Brutal Death Metal creature returns with their depraved seventh studio album, their first dive into twisted fairytale territory.

Finish your plate and buckle in, as Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland’s own Brutal Death Metal creature Cumbeast is back with Fairytales Of Filth, their seventh full-length album and the follow-up to their 2019 opus Gore Zoo. Recorded and mixed by Tomi Uusitupa at Oxroad Studios, mastered By Miro Kiiski at Miro Mastering, and embracing new textures without losing sight of their signature groove-heavy and aggressive sound, now enriched by melodic twists, folk influences, and a handful of surprising collaborations the likes of Sami Perttula (Korpiklaani) and John Puig (Phrymerial), the new album by Snoop Rott on vocals and bass, and Rob ‘O Cock on the guitars and additional vocals, plus former drummer Mikko “Fleshpipe Mike” Konki (who left the band after recording the album last year, being replaced by Stinky Minky this year) is their first dive into twisted fairytale territory, pushing their trademark blend of brutal grooves, blast beats, fretless bass, and guttural absurdism into even stranger places.

Cummando sounds and feels heavy-as-hell from the very first second thanks to the scorching riffs by Rob and the venomous beats by Mikko, while Snoop inspires us to slam like true metal beasts; followed by Metham Of Gotham, a first-class Brutal Death Metal extravaganza led by the deep, evil roars by Snoop, perfect for some wild mosh pit action. Then featuring guests Sami Perttula (Korpiklaani) on accordion and John Puig (Phrymerial) on vocals and intro speech we have Captain Cock, where the music sounds as demented as the “story” of its main character; and guest Lukas Swiaczny (Stillbirth) delivers some sick vocal lines in Abacus Of Testicles, with the band’s pounding drums and vicious riffage turning it into a must-listen for fans of the style. Then it’s time for Henri Sorvali (Finntroll, Moonsorrow) to blast some wicked synths in Troll Named Scrot, adding even more insanity to their core heaviness.

Åbomination is another hammering tune by those depraved bastards, with the deep vociferations by Snoop sounding truly inhumane; whereas a lot of groove flows from Snoop’s bass and Mikko’s drums in Forest Fap Frenzy, sounding at the same time perfect for slamming into the pit or for simply enjoying a cold beer in the name of our beloved Brutal Death Metal. In Ghostfuckers I’m not sure if their intention was to add some sort of Rap-like vibe to its core, but it’s by far the weakest of all due to that; and last but definitely not least, Cumbeast still has enough energy to melt our putrid faces with the cryptic, cinematic Spermafrost, sounding like a bulldozer from hell with the guitar by Rob exhaling pure heaviness.

In summary, if you’re a fan of the absurdity and gore crafted by bands such as Dying Fetus, Suffocation, Stillbirth, Aborted, and Party Cannon, you’ll definitely have a very good time listening to the ruthless, visceral Fairytales Of Filth, taking you on a one-way journey into a rotten land where all fairytales end in pure filth. The guys from Cumbeast are waiting for you on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify with more of their depraved music, news, tour dates, and an endless dosage of sonic filth, and of course you can show them how demented you are by purchasing a copy of their new album from their own BandCamp. Because although some people might think they live in a fairytale, it’s albums like Fairytales Of Filth by Cumbeast that show those people that the reality is a lot harsher and more gruesome than any type of extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Metham Of Gotham, Abacus Of Testicles and Forest Fap Frenzy.

Worst moments of the album: Ghostfuckers.

Released in 2025 Morbid Generation Records

Track listing
1. Cummando 3:18
2. Metham Of Gotham 3:19
3. Captain Cock 3:45
4. Abacus Of Testicles 3:28
5. Troll Named Scrot 3:48
6. Åbomination 3:39
7. Forest Fap Frenzy 2:36
8. Ghostfuckers 3:13
9. Spermafrost 5:06

Band members
Snoop Rott – vocals, bass
Rob ‘O Cock – guitars, additional vocals
Mikko “Fleshpipe Mike” Konki – drums*

*Mikko “Fleshpipe Mike” Konki left the band in 2024 after the recordings of the album, being replaced by Stinky Minky in 2025.

Sami Perttula – accordion on “Captain Cock”
John Puig – vocals and speech on “Captain Cock”
Lukas Swiaczny – vocals on “Abacus Of Testicles”
Henri Sorvali – synths on “Troll Named Scrot”

Album Review – Vyr Muk / Crimson Fields of Sorrow (2025)

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This dauntless Ukrainian lone wolf returns with a harsh and visceral new album, a raw and atmospheric journey through desolation, sorrow, and the decaying remnants of civilization.

A musical project of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Vladyslav Blizniuk from Kharkiv, Ukraine which debuted in 2023, Black/Death Metal entity Vyr Muk, or “whirlpool of torment” from Ukrainian, focuses on dark, deep themes including suffering, personal struggles, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, making it a very personal and intimate project. Mixed and mastered at Anti Social Riddim Studios, and displaying a sinister artwork by Oleksandr Koval, the project’s brand new opus, titled Crimson Fields of Sorrow, is a logical continuation to its 2024 EP Shadows Falling on The Dead Cities, offering us all a raw and atmospheric journey through desolation, sorrow, and the decaying remnants of civilization, immersing the listener in a sonic battlefield where each track is a blade forged from chaos, cutting through the veil of illusion and apathy.

The visceral riffs by Vladyslav will cut your skin deep in Voracity / Ненажерливість, already offering a phantasmagorical, haunting blend of Black Metal boosted by his devilish gnarls and endless obscurity; whereas after a serene yet dark piano intro we’re treated to a Melodic and Atmospheric Black Metal aria titled Cold Steel / Холодна сталь, again translating his personal struggles into captivating extreme music. The harsh vociferations by our lone wolf set the tone in The Era of Rot / Епоха гнилі, where once again he invests in a sharp, austere sonority led by his scorching riffs and blast beats. And get ready for a nine-minute voyage through the realms of darkness and solitude to the sound of Bitterness of Loss / Горіч втрати, starting in an enfolding and melancholic manner, presenting elements of Doom Metal added to its drums and cadaverous guitar lines. Vladyslav’s horror movie-inspired keys darken the skies in the closing tune Oh How It Was / Ой як же було, an instrumental feast of Symphonic Black Metal that sounds as epic as it is cinematic.

Exploring themes of war, existential decay, and inner torment, with lyrics presented in Ukrainian, Crimson Fields of Sorrow (already available in full on YouTube and on Spotify) is a ritual of grief and defiance, a hymn for the fallen and a curse upon the void, and you can put your damned hands on such a personal and acid album by purchasing it from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to also follow the multi-talented Vladyslav and his Vyr Muk on Instagram, showing your support not only to Ukrainian extreme music, but to Ukraine as a whole during such difficult times to their citizens. Because Crimson Fields of Sorrow is not just music. It is a howl from the void. It is struggle, grief, and truth, and you should definitely give it a listen to be part of that harsh yet unique sonic experience.

Best moments of the album: Voracity / Ненажерливість, The Era of Rot / Епоха гнилі and Bitterness of Loss / Горіч втрати.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Voracity / Ненажерливість 6:04
2. Cold Steel / Холодна сталь 6:28
3. The Era of Rot / Епоха гнилі 6:32
4. Bitterness of Loss / Горіч втрати 9:00
5. Oh How It Was / Ой як же було 4:37

Band members
Vladyslav Blizniuk – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Devine Defilement / Ruthless (2025)

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This ruthless Icelandic crew returns in full force with their third opus, stripped down of the melodic parts for more favorable “slam worship”, speed and brutality.

When you think of Scandinavia, let’s say that slamming and brutality aren’t the first things to come to mind. That’s until the Reykjavík-based Brutal Death Metal/Deathcore slam crew of Devine Defilement spewed onto the Icelandic scene in late 2016, drawing inspiration from a variety of Death Metal sub-genres and having concocted a brutal cocktail of groove, slams, blasts and ferocity that has made them a force to be reckoned with. Now in 2025 such an insane horde formed of Freyr Hreinsson and Ingólfur Ólafsson on vocals, Guðmundur Hermann Lárusson and Sigurjón Óli Gunnarsson on the guitars, Arek Alenjikov on bass, and Stefán Friðriksson on drums returns in full force with Ruthless, their third full-length offering, following up on their 2024 beast Age of Atrocities. Mixed and mastered by Floor VK at GLDCHN Studios, Ruthless is stripped down of the melodic parts for more favorable “slam worship”, speed and brutality, focusing more on the groove and amplifying what makes the crowd move, with its lyrics about murderers, neglect, suicide, cannibalism, and violence being tailored for fans of Ingested, Vulvodynia, Whitechapel, and Pathology, among countless others.

Human Sewer is a beyond bestial and devastating way to kick off the album, with Stefán’s stone crushing drums inviting us all to slam into the pit like a bunch of headbanging bastards, followed by Abusement Park, the perfect fusion of Brutal Death Metal and Deathcore, with the demented guttural by both Freyr and Ingólfur sounding utterly inhumane. Then the Cannibal Corpse-inspired riffage by Guðmundur and Sigurjón match perfectly with all haunting background sounds in Terror Tales, whereas massive blast beats and a striking guitar solo ignite the also ruthless Excreted Entity, with their monstrous dual vocal attack melting our faces mercilessly. Internal Delusions of the Torn Mind carries a very Death Metal name for what’s perhaps the most Death Metal of all songs, with Stefán demolishing everything and everyone that crosses his path on drums, while Pulverised Secretions is simply pulverizing from start to finish, with Freyr and Ingólfur unleashing their deepest, most infuriated growls of the album.

The two-part song “Anthropophagic Apocalypse” kicks off in full force with Anthropophagic Apocalypse Pt. 1 Collapse, a slab of sheer brutality by this Icelandic squad spearheaded by the cryptic riffs blasted by their unrelating guitar duo, whereas Anthropophagic Apocalypse Pt. 2 Lord of Flesh is another demonic onrush of Brutal Death Metal with symphonic elements, elevating the album’s reach and punch to a whole new level. Get ready to have your head smashed in the curb to the sound of Curbstomp the Predator, perfect for some “no holds barred” action inside the pit; and the infernal, metallic bass by Arek and the unstoppable beats and fills by Stefán will make the earth tremble in Draco Dominus, followed by the beautifully titled Bio-Organic Liquid-Slam, starting with a TV ad-like intro for some sort of “action figures” before all hell breaks loose to the demented vociferations by the band’s two-headed vocal beast. Lastly, the album ends on a dark and mysterious note with Beyond the Veil of Death, offering over five minutes of melodic yet hard hitting Brutal Death Metal with lots of Deathcore nuances.

The guys from Devine Defilement are eagerly waiting to consume your putrid body on Facebook and on Instagram, and you can obviously stream all of their vicious, demented creations on Spotify, and purchase a copy of the unrelenting Ruthless from BandCamp, from Time to Kill Records, or simply click HERE for all things Devine Defilement. There’s no better word to describe the music found in Ruthless than its own title. It’s a ruthless album, a putrid Death Metal and Deathcore attack made in Iceland, and once you’re caught inside their gory mosh pit, you’ll never see the light of day again.

Best moments of the album: Abusement Park, Internal Delusions of the Torn Mind, Anthropophagic Apocalypse Pt. 2 Lord of Flesh and Bio-Organic Liquid-Slam.

Worst moments of the album: Draco Dominus.

Released in 2025 Time To Kill Records

Track listing
1. Human Sewer 3:46
2. Abusement Park 2:46
3. Terror Tales 3:09
4. Excreted Entity 4:10
5. Internal Delusions of the Torn Mind 2:54
6. Pulverised Secretions 3:51
7. Anthropophagic Apocalypse Pt. 1 Collapse 5:08
8. Anthropophagic Apocalypse Pt. 2 Lord of Flesh 3:36
9. Curbstomp the Predator 2:10
10. Draco Dominus 2:27
11. Bio-Organic Liquid-Slam 2:45
12. Beyond the Veil of Death 5:49

Band members
Freyr Hreinsson – vocals
Ingólfur Ólafsson – vocals
Guðmundur Hermann Lárusson – guitar
Sigurjón Óli Gunnarsson – guitar
Arek Alenjikov – bass, backing vocals
Stefán Friðriksson – drums

Album Review – Escarnium / Inexorable Entropy (2025)

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This Brazilian outfit continues to craft raw, visceral Death Metal fueled by anguish and nihilistic idea in their new album, cementing their name as one of the driving forces of the current scene.

Formed in 2008 in the city of Salvador, Brazil, Escarnium emerged in the local scene committed to crafting raw, visceral Death Metal fueled by anguish and nihilistic ideas. Now in 2025 the band currently formed of Victor Elian on vocals and guitars, Alex Hahn also on the guitars, Gabriel Dantas on bass, and Nestor Carrera on drums returns with their fourth full-length album Inexorable Entropy, featuring nine track of unrelenting, blast beats driven, infernal Death Metal. Recorded at Walzwerk Tonstudio (vocals), Escarnium Studio (guitars and bass), and RMS Studio (drums), mixed and mastered at Walzwerk Tonstudio, and displaying a suffocating, anguished artwork by Hugo Venancio and Nestor Carrera, Inexorable Entropy is highly recommended for fans of Dead Congregation, Cruciamentum, Krisiun, and Fossilization, among others, cementing the band’s name as one of the driving forces of the current Brazilian Death Metal scene.

In the intro Fentanyl, the somber keys by Nestor will darken the skies before the band pulverizes us all with Relentless Katabasis, a demented onrush of classic, infernal Death Metal where Nestor also sounds inhumane on drums. Cancerous Abyss is another ruthless display of heaviness and savagery, also carrying a beyond sinister name, where Victor’s deep guttural will send shivers down your spine while the same Victor and Alex extract sheer aggressiveness from their axes; whereas the title-track Inexorable Entropy reeks of the music by their countrymen Krisiun, which means it’s a visceral, undisputed tune tailored for fans of crushing Death Metal. And Gabriel and Nestor keep shaking the foundations of the earth in The Heritage, crafting a thunderous atmosphere perfect for Victor’s demonic growling.

Gabriel’s reverberating, metallic bass lines set the tone in Revulsion Of Carbon, offering more of the band’s spine crushing, no shenanigans Death Metal for our absolute delectation, and they show zero mercy for our souls and bodies in Through The Depths Of The 12th Gate, adding hints of Doom Metal to their core essence to make things even more obscure, and with Nestor delivering venomous yet intricate beats flawlessly. Before all is said and done, the cryptic interlude Ashen Path will warm us up for their final attack entitled Pyroscene’s Might, starting in a neck-breaking manner to the vicious riffs and solos by Victor and Alex, again blending their trademark Death Metal with doomed elements while Nestor hammers his drums like a demonic beast nonstop.

As aforementioned, Escarnium are undoubtedly one of the frontrunners of the current Death Metal scene in their homeland, and their brutal and visceral new album is a strong confirmation of their growing importance to the extreme music scene worldwide. You can get in touch with those Brazilian metallers via Facebook and Instagram for new, tour dates and more of their music, stream their ruthless discography on Spotify and purchase a copy of the austere, infernal Inexorable Entropy via mailorder or from BandCamp, or simply click HERE for all things Escarnium, proving you’re a true servant of old school Death Metal, therefore keeping the violence crafted by the band throughout the entire album flowing to all four corners of our dying world.

Best moments of the album: Relentless Katabasis, Inexorable Entropy and Revulsion Of Carbon.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Fentanyl 1:15
2. Relentless Katabasis 3:47
3. Cancerous Abyss 4:15
4. Inexorable Entropy 4:58
5. The Heritage 3:07
6. Revulsion Of Carbon 3:31
7. Through The Depths Of The 12th Gate 4:38
8. Ashen Path 1:45
9. Pyroscene’s Might 4:00

Band members
Victor Elian – vocals, guitars
Alex Hahn – guitars
Gabriel Dantas – bass
Nestor Carrera – drums, keyboards on “Fentanyl”

Concert Review – Arch Enemy (Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, ON, 05/09/2025)

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The classy Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto became a huge circle pit this Friday night in a celebration of pure fuckin’ metal.

OPENING ACTS: Thrown Into Exile, Baest and Fit For An Autopsy

Only two days after absolute chaos and carnage in Toronto, the city was ready for another round of insanely heavy and vibrant music this Friday night, courtesy of THROWN INTO EXILE, BAEST, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY and ARCH ENEMY during their North American Blood Dynasty 2025 Tour at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, another ass-kicking event brought to the city by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. This time I was able to arrive to the venue in time to enjoy all bands together with my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi, and as expected it was indeed a celebration of pure fuckin’ metal with four fantastic bands that truly deserve our total respect, admiration and support for making the world of Heavy Metal a much better (and heavier) place. The venue selected for this concert was also excellent in my opinion, because not only it is a well structured one, but its location is also very convenient for anyone driving or taking public transportation, making our lives a lot easier and, therefore, saving our energy for the circle pits. And hell yeah, there were plenty of circle pits for our vulgar delectation.

Los Angeles, California-based Metalcore outfit THROWN INTO EXILE kicked off the festivities around 6:30pm, already setting fire to the stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with their pounding, unfriendly sounds. I must say the venue was way too empty for Thrown Into Exile, which makes me wonder if most people were still stuck at work, traffic, or some type of appointment, but that didn’t stop Evan, Mario, Austin Monzon, Javier Quinto and Tom Tierney from bringing forth an amazing performance, jumping up and down and headbanging nonstop alongside the crowd. You can check all of their sick creations on Spotify, including their latest EP Passageways (which was the base of their setlist, by the way), and whenever they schedule a show in your city don’t miss the chance of seeing those LA bastards live, because they kick some serious ass.

Setlist
The Forsaken
Caskets Beyond Creation
Desolation
Eternal Nothingness
You’ve Fallen so Far

Band members
Evan – vocals
Mario – guitars
Austin Monzon – guitars
Javier Quinto – bass
Tom Tierney – drums

After the short and sweet display of savagery by Thrown Into Exile, it was time for the also short and sweet explosion of pure heaviness by Denmark’s own Death Metal creature BAEST, who sounded ruthless and brutal onstage just the way we like it in old school Death Metal. Spearheaded by the iconic frontman Simon Olsen, the band nailed it with their infernal performance, with their new songs Colossus and Misfortunate Son, from their upcoming album Colossal (to be released on August 15) sounding amazing live. Furthermore, it was Simon’s birthday that night, which means that not only he got a happy birthday and a cake onstage, but he decided to celebrate it by getting offstage during Necro Sapiens and singing it in the middle of the circle pit, showing how much he loves what he does and his admiration for fans of extreme music. Go check those guys on Spotify because they’re phenomenal, one of the must-see bands in the current Death Metal scene, and I honestly can’t wait to see them again live in Toronto playing a much bigger setlist, pretty please.

Setlist
Genesis
Colossus
Misfortunate Son
Gargoyles
Necro Sapiens

Band members
Simon Olsen – vocals
Lasse Revsbech – guitars
Svend Karlsson – guitars
Mattias Melchiorsen – bass
Sebastian Abildsten – drums

The venue only got truly busier when New Jersey’s cult Deathcore brigade FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY hit the stage for an absolute insane performance, with the circle pits getting so wild to the point a guy right beside me, who was about to enter the circle pit, stopped, looked at me, said “nope, too fast and too dangerous”, turned his back and gave up joining the action. The band spearheaded by the demented Joe Badolato was on fire from start to finish, with songs like Warfare and The Sea of Tragic Beasts, plus the new one Savior of None / Ashes of All, from their 2024 album The Nothing That Is (available on Spotify), inspiring an already packed venue to keep running like maniacs inside the pit. This is the type of show that requires fans who have floor tickets to be extremely fit. Maybe not “fit for an autopsy” per se, but you better work out, do some cardio and so, otherwise the name of the band will make total sense if you’re out of shape and try to venture inside their wicked circle pits.

Setlist
Lower Purpose
Red Horizon
Warfare
Hostage
Pandora
The Sea of Tragic Beasts
Savior of None / Ashes of All
Far From Heaven

Band members
Joe Badolato – lead vocals
Pat Sheridan – guitars, backing vocals
Tim Howley – guitars
Will Putney – guitars
Peter “Blue” Spinazola – bass
Josean Orta – drums

ARCH ENEMY

Ticket prices in Toronto are way too expensive these days, with the exception being the show this Friday, in special when you have as the main attraction of the night the one and only Swedish Melodic Death Metal machine ARCH ENEMY. I’m not joking, it was a very, very cheap concert for the quality of all bands on the bill, and if you’ve never seen Arch Enemy live, well, they’re one of the most professional and electrifying bands you can think of, making every penny invested beyond worth it. Having recently released the excellent Blood Dynasty (also available on Spotify), such an amazing band currently formed of the stunning Alissa White-Gluz on vocals, Michael Amott and Joey Concepcion on the guitars, Sharlee D’Angelo on bass, and Daniel Erlandsson on drums was flawless with their mix of new songs the likes of Dream Stealer and Liars & Thieves, and undisputed classics including Ravenous, My Apocalypse and Dead Bury Their Dead, one of the heaviest songs of the night and, therefore, one of my favorites.

All fans at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre were having a superb time together with Arch Enemy, with the circle pit going absolute mental, plus tons of crowd surfers giving a lot of work to security, while the band kept blasting their slab of melody and brutality. The only song I think could have been replaced in their setlist was Avalanche, but overall it was a near perfect selection of songs, with the closing tune Nemesis making me and several other fans lose our voices screaming. There were some giant balloons at the end of the show that gave it a very festive touch, proving extreme music brings happiness to our hearts, and not the opposite like non-metalheads like to “vomit” out there. Let’s see when the band returns to Canada if they’ll deliver the same amount of energy onstage, or even more, and whenever that happens I’ll certainly be there, because when Michael Amott takes your city by storm with his phenomenal riffs and solos accompanied by his spectacular crew, that’s definitely a no-brainer for anyone who loves good quality music.

Setlist
Deceiver, Deceiver
Ravenous
Dream Stealer
Blood Dynasty
War Eternal
My Apocalypse
A Million Suns
Liars & Thieves
The Eagle Flies Alone
First Day in Hell
Saturnine
As the Pages Burn
Sunset Over the Empire
Dead Bury Their Dead
We Will Rise

Encore:
Avalanche
Nemesis
Fields of Desolation

Band members
Alissa White-Gluz – vocals
Michael Amott – lead guitars, backing vocals
Joey Concepcion – lead guitars, backing vocals
Sharlee D’Angelo – bass
Daniel Erlandsson – drums

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Album Review – Axiom Chaos / Primacy Arrival (2025)

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A new entity has crawled from the boiling swamps that lie in the deepest recesses of the Death Metal underworld, unleashing hell to the sound of their debut offering.

A new entity has crawled from the boiling swamps that lie in the deepest recesses of the Death Metal underworld, a force of terrifying alien power and chilling otherness that is about to bleed insidiously into our reality. I’m talking about Ohio/South Carolina, United States-based Technical/Brutal Death Metal outfit Axiom Chaos, a ruthless creature that’s unleashing upon humanity their debut offering, entitled Primacy Arrival. Bedecked in the visionary artwork of Morket Art (Engulfed, Inverted Ascension), the first full-length opus by the duo formed of Justin Vølus (Vølus, Fall Of Gnosis, Maggot Crown) on vocals and Ben Vanweelden (Venomous Echoes, Ceremonic Buryment) on the guitars, bass and drums will challenge, disturb and dominate, opening new pathways for Death Metal and, therefore, being recommended for fans of Immolation, Vastum, Blood Incantation and Disma, just to name a few.

Justin begins his ruthless vocal attack in The King, I Am, sending shivers down our spines while Ben crafts a caustic fusion of Death and Doom Metal not recommended for the lighthearted; whereas the title-track Primacy Arrival showcases an even more enraged duo, with the riffage by Ben exhaling heaviness and hatred. They keep spreading their sonic violence in The Gift of Recognition, a Brutal Death Metal feast led by Justin’s deep, inhumane roaring, and Justin’s vile shrieks will crawl under your skin in Extraterrestrial Necrotic Urge, while Ben smashes his drums in the name of Death Metal. Let’s then slam into the pit together with Axiom Chaos in Antediluvian Origin Unknown, a frantic, no shenanigans explosion of Death Metal led by the crushing riffs and drums by Ben; and there’s still time for more violence and hatred in the form of Wormhole Pathways of Conquest, with Justin bursting his lungs by roaring like a beast. Finally, Ben sounds once again striking and furious with his riffs and beats in Exodus Into Oblivion, putting a demolishing yet very melodic and vibrant ending to the album.

In Primacy Arrival, Axiom Chaos have fused the devastating impact of Death Metal with the untamable capricious might of pandemonium, invoking strange, compelling visions tailored for admirers of the genre. Hence, if you want to get in touch with such a talented and brutal American duo, you can find those guys on Facebook, stream their music on Spotify, and of course show them your utmost support by purchasing a copy of their incendiary, evil debut from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore. The stairways to the new world are open and the drums of destruction are calling. The fires of war are alight to the sound of Primacy Arrival, a demented display of savagery that will surely please anyone in search for endless violence but with a huge slab of dexterity and melody.

Best moments of the album: The King, I Am, The Gift of Recognition and Exodus Into Oblivion.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. The King, I Am 4:24
2. Primacy Arrival 4:30
3. The Gift of Recognition 4:53
4. Extraterrestrial Necrotic Urge 3:54
5. Antediluvian Origin Unknown 4:25
6. Wormhole Pathways of Conquest 4:22
7. Exodus Into Oblivion 5:24

Band members
Justin Vølus – vocals
Ben Vanweelden – guitars, bass, drums

Concert Review – Dying Fetus & Cradle of Filth (Rebel, Toronto, ON, 05/07/2025)

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And Toronto savored a wild and frantic night of pure chaos and carnage, offered by seven of the must-see names of the current extreme music scene worldwide.

OPENING ACTS: Corpse Pile, Vomit Forth, Undeath, Ne Obliviscaris and Fleshgod Apocalypse

If there’s one thing that has become a true torment in the lives of all metalheads that live in Toronto and vicinities, that is concerts with an early start time. Traffic to get to the city is already brutal on any regular day, but when the weather is amazing (meaning more people on the streets) and there’s also at the exact same time an NHL playoff game happening in the heart of the city, then it’s an absolute nightmare. Those are the reasons why I had to miss almost half of CHAOS & CARNAGE 2025 (from the must-see Chaos & Carnage series) this Wednesday night when CORPSE PILE, VOMIT FORTH, UNDEATH, NE OBLIVISCARIS, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, DYING FETUS and CRADLE OF FILTH arose from the underworld to crush us mere mortals with an overdose of darkness, heaviness and insanity at the almost-impossible-to-get-in-and-out Rebel. Fortunately, Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi made it in time for all bands, and gave me an overview of the first three attractions of the night, who were kicking ass onstage while I was still stuck in the horrid and tiresome QEW.

Houston, we have a problem. I think it wasn’t event 5pm when Houston, Texas-based Brutal Death Metal/Hardcore outfit CORPSE PILE hit the stage at Rebel, and just to give you an idea of how early that was, I was still in the office having a client meeting at that time. I confess I was listening to their 2024 EPs Hardgore Deathmetal and Holly Jolly Hardgore a few days before the show, plus their new single Fed To The Starved, all available on Spotify, hoping I could do some sort of magic trick and be there in time to see them live, but of course that didn’t happen. Well, Keith said they were insanely heavy and fun, already igniting some sick mosh pits with whoever was lucky enough to be at a concert in the middle of the afternoon on a Wednesday. Maybe next time I’ll catch those guys live, as long as they don’t play at a “matinée” time again.

Setlist
Intro
Genesis Of Suffering
Kicked in Cadaver
Vengeful Hymns
For Flesh and All
Stacking Bodies
Fed to the Starved
Reality
Fuck Your Life

Band members
Jason Lionel Frazier – vocals
Landry Arredondo – guitars
Cody Webb – guitars
Davis Pryse Snyder – bass
Alex Covarrubias – drums

I also missed the next attraction of the night, Connecticut’s own Death Metal brigade VOMIT FORTH, who released last year the excellent album Terrified of God (also available on Spotify and all other streaming platforms), and again I was very disappointed for not having the pleasure of seeing those guys live. All my buddies who could make it to the venue in time for their show said they were ruthless onstage, blasting sheer Death Metal for the delight of a wild crowd avid for some action inside the pit. I’ll have to repeat myself and complain about the start time again, because I think it was maybe 5:30pm when they began their set. Who scheduled those early-as-hell times? Bands like Vomit Forth deserve bigger audiences, but if they keep playing at early slots like this a lot of people will end up missing them and will not care about buying their music or merch, you know what I mean?

Setlist
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Sacred Apple
Rotting Wool
Negative Penance
Blood Soaked Death Dream
Pain Tolerance

Band members
Kane Gelaznik – vocals
Bailey Olinger – guitars
Ricky Brayall – guitars
Jett Stotts – bass
Luke Zeitler – drums

Guess what? Yes, I also missed the unrelenting performance by Rochester, New York’s Death Metal beast UNDEATH, because despite their starting time being a little later than the first two bands, it was still freakin’ early. Another huge bummer as their 2024 album More Insane, also available in full on Spotify and any other streaming service, is exactly that, an insane explosion of visceral Death Metal. Keith and the other guys said they put on a fantastic show, with the bigger (but not big enough) crowd going mental inside the circle pit. If you’re attending any of the shows from Chaos & Carnage 2025, I highly recommend you try your best to arrive in time at least for Undeath, because those guys are insane live and definitely know how to electrify fans of extreme music during their entire set.

Setlist
Dead From Beyond
Rise From the Grave
More Insane
Necrobionics
(Unknown)
Lesions of a Different Kind
Brandish the Blade

Band members
Alexander Jones – vocals
Jared Welch – guitars
Kyle Beam – guitars
Tommy Wall – bass
Matt Browning – drums

Finally, after my excruciating quest to arrive to Toronto, I made it to Rebel around 7pm, just in time to witness one of the most hypnotizing concerts I’ve ever seen in my life, the atmospheric, progressive and vibrant performance by Australian Extreme Progressive Metal unit NE OBLIVISCARIS. Having released the album Exul back in 2023 (also available on Spotify), the band now fronted by James Dorton, replacing the iconic Xenoyr, who was the band’s lead singer from 2003 until earlier this year (what’s going on with so many extreme music bands switching their vocalists these days?), put on  a short but beyond phenomenal show that inspired us all for some nonstop headbanging, horns raising and crowd surfing, plus of course some crazy mosh pit action to the sound of the crying violin by Tim Charles, turning it into one of the classiest heavy concerts of all time in Toronto. I can’t wait for those amazing musicians from Down Under to return to Toronto with another round of their unique music, and until then we all know what to do. Stay classy, and listen to Ne Obliviscaris.

Setlist
Equus
Suspyre
Painters of the Tempest (Part II): Triptych Lux
And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope

Band members
James Dorton – harsh vocals
Tim Charles – violin, clean vocals
Benjamin Baret – lead guitars
Matt Klavins – guitars
Martino Garattoni – bass
Daniel Presland – drums

Another band I was eager to see was Italian Symphonic/Technical Death Metal horde FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, and once again it was a jaw-dropping, unforgettable experience to all fans at Rebel. When the sensational soprano Veronica Bordacchini took the stage carrying a huge Italian flag, I knew we were about to enjoy a magnificent, epic concert, and that’s exactly what the band provided us with. Francesco Paoli was on fire during their entire set, as well as drummer Eugene Ryabchenko, who can play drums AND headbang at the same time, which was truly impressive in my humble opinion. In addition, not only their latest album Opera (also available on Spotify) is one of the best of 2024, but the songs played from that album, I Can Never Die, Pendulum, and Bloodclock, sounded way more powerful live, and as I’m always pro live music, those Italians won my heart with their flawless concert. Veronica’s voice live is something out of this world, simply beautiful and enfolding, and I highly recommend you go see such a unique band live at least once. And did we get a nice wall of death while Francesco Ferrini was playing his classic piano onstage? Oh, hell yeah! And what about the ending with their metal version of Eiffel 65’s dancing hit Blue (Da Ba Dee)? It was apotheotic to say the least!

Setlist
Ode to Art (de’ Sepolcri)
I Can Never Die
Minotaur (The Wrath of Poseidon)
The Fool
Pendulum
Bloodclock
Sugar
The Violation
Blue (Da Ba Dee) (Eiffel 65 cover)

Band members
Francesco Paoli – lead vocals, guitars, bass
Veronica Bordacchini – vocals (soprano)
Fabio Bartoletti – lead guitars
Francesco Ferrini – piano, orchestrations
Eugene Ryabchenko – drums

CRADLE OF FILTH

Almost three years after their last visit to the city, Suffolk, England’s iconic Extreme Metal miscreants CRADLE OF FILTH were finally back to the city with another round of their undisputed, sulfurous and blasphemous music, this time promoting their latest opus, the collection of sweet lullabies entitled The Screaming Of The Valkyries, which you can enjoy in full on Spotify, of course. Their set might have been extremely short (at least for me, as I would love to see them play for over two hours if possible), but it was as dark as the black wings of a Nazgûl, and as venomous as the bite of a King Cobra. Even after seeing Mr. Dani Filth live countless times I’ll never understand how he can scream like that, and if you add to that the violent yet very technical sounds blasted by his bandmates, there you have the perfect recipe for a wild concert with lots of mosh pits, horns in the air and demonic roars form the crowd. The new songs To Live Deliciously and Malignant Perfection sounded great live, but it was Nemesis plus the closing duo Death Magick for Adepts and Her Ghost in the Fog that inspired all fans to succumb to the dark side of music and worship Suffolk’s finest. Hopefully it won’t take another three years for Dani and his horde to return to Toronto, because Cradle of Filth are one of the best bands to see live in the history of heavy music. And if you’re not convinced yet, just as Richmond from IT Crowd.

Setlist
Resurrection
To Live Deliciously
Nemesis
She Is a Fire
The Principle of Evil Made Flesh
Malignant Perfection
Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
Death Magick for Adepts
Her Ghost in the Fog
Blooding the Hounds of Hell

Band members
Dani Filth – vocals
Marek ‘Ashok’ Smerda – guitars
Donny Burbage – guitars
Daniel Firth – bass
Zoe Marie Federoff – keyboards, vocals
Martin ‘Marthus’ Skaroupka – drums

DYING FETUS

It was getting late but after facing the brutality of all the traffic to get to the city I needed some relaxing music before heading home, and there’s nothing better than the fusion of Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore by Baltimore, Maryland’s technical and savage trio DYING FETUS. Next time your company’s HR asks for ideas for this year’s office Christmas party, simply say “the Fetus Boys” (like how Dani Filth enjoys calling them), and I’m sure Karen from Operations will love the idea and will be in the middle of the band’s demented circle pit. Blending songs from all of their albums in their setlist, including some from their 2023 offering Make Them Beg for Death, also available on Spotify, John Gallagher, Sean Beasley and Trey Williams simply decimated every single living creature at Rebel, delivering a pulverizing, frantic and absolutely technical concert for the delight of their diehard fanbase. Not even the stress of trying to get out of the city after the show was enough to erase the joy of experiencing Dying Fetus live, and I’m sure whenever they return to the city, there will be blood, sweat, violence, and endless circle pits again.

Setlist
Praise the Lord (Opium of the Masses)
Unbridled Fury
In the Trenches
Wrong One to Fuck With
Compulsion for Cruelty
One Shot, One Kill
Your Treachery Will Die With You
Grotesque Impalement
Subjected to a Beating
Into the Cesspool
Killing on Adrenaline

Band members
John Gallagher – guitars, vocals
Sean Beasley – bass, vocals
Trey Williams – drums

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Album Review – Ominous Ruin / Requiem (2025)

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San Francisco, California-based tech death juggernauts are back with their infuriated sophomore opus, representing a powerful exploration of the human psyche, the ravages of time, and the inevitable descent into oblivion.

San Francisco, California-based Ominous Ruin, the ruthless Death Metal juggernaut known for their intricate compositions and unrelenting sonic brutality, has returned to the battlefield with their highly anticipated new album, simply titled Requiem, following up on their critically acclaimed 2021 opus Amidst Voices That Echo in Stone. Written, produced, mixed and mastered by the band’s own guitarist Alex Bacey, recorded by Cody Fuentes at Rapture Recordings and by Petr Oplatka at Petropolys Media, and displaying a striking artwork by world renowned illustrator Pär Olofsson, the new album by newcomer Crystal Rose on vocals, Alex Bacey and Joel Guernsey on the guitars, Mitch Yoesle on bass, and Harley Blandford on drums is a formidable leap forward in both musical complexity and emotional depth, while also representing a powerful exploration of the human psyche, the ravages of time, and the inevitable descent into oblivion.

The album starts with a delicate, atmospheric Intro, setting the stage for Ominous Ruin to demolish our senses in Seeds of Entropy, with the intricate yet visceral guitar lines by Alex and Joey providing Crystal with exactly what she needs to roar like a true she-wolf in a killer display of Technical Death Metal. Crystal continues to vociferate rabidly in Eternal, while Harley delivers a bestial performance behind his drums, resulting in six minutes of first-class extreme music; and after the eerie instrumental interlude Bane of Syzygial Triality the band will smash us like putrid insects with Divergent Anomaly, with Harley once again pounding his drums manically supported by the rumbling bass by Mitch, sounding beautifully insane from start to finish.

In Fractal Abhorrence they continue with their undisputed feast of Technical Death Metal infused with sheer brutality and rage, with their riffs and bass lines sounding utter metallic while Crystal keeps blasting her venomous roars for our total delight. And get ready for eight minutes of demented, intricate and visceral sounds in Architect of Undoing, the most detailed of all songs, starting with a beyond thrilling instrumental piece before crystal arrives growling like a demon, not to mention Harley sounds beyond inhumane on drums. Then the band shows no sign of mellowing down their sound in Staring into the Abysm, again blasting our ears with their ruthless Death Metal, with Mitch simply sounding infernal on bass; whereas lastly, we’re treated to the Archspire-like title-track Requiem, another lecture in dexterity, speed and insanity by the band led by the phenomenal riffage by Alex and Joey.

Requiem is, at its core, a continuation of Amidst Voices that Echo in Stone, having its conception spawned from the raw emotion of personal issues and turmoil, as it was created during a dark time in the band’s lives. All that darkness translates into first-class extreme music as expected, turning the album into a must-listen for fans of the genre. Hence, don’t forget to check what Ominous Ruin are up to on Facebook and on Instagram, to check more of their music on YouTube and on Spotify, and to grab a copy of the incendiary Requiem by clicking HERE. The album might be a new phase in the band’s career, but their core savagery, violence and intricacy is intact, inviting us all to join them in the battlefield while they take another giant step forward in their exciting career.

Best moments of the album: Seeds of Entropy, Divergent Anomaly, Architect of Undoing and Requiem.

Worst moments of the album: Bane of Syzygial Triality.

Released in 2025 Willowtip Records

Track listing
1. Intro 0:56
2. Seeds of Entropy 4:03
3. Eternal 6:05
4. Bane of Syzygial Triality 2:39
5. Divergent Anomaly 5:17
6. Fractal Abhorrence 5:14
7. Architect of Undoing 7:59
8. Staring into the Abysm 3:16
9. Requiem 5:01

Band members
Crystal Rose – vocals
Alex Bacey – guitars
Joel Guernsey – guitars
Mitch Yoesle – bass
Harley Blandford – drums

Album Review – Leper Colony / Those of the Morbid (2025)

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The unstoppable Marc Grewe and Rogga Johansson are back with their infuriated sophomore album, once again bringing forth a ruthless, violent fusion of German and Swedish Death Metal styles with classic American influences.

The ruthless, violent result of wedding German and Swedish Death Metal styles with classic American influences, Death/Thrash Metal entity Leper Colony is back with  Those of the Morbid, the follow-up to their 2023 self-titled album, blasting our faces once again with their harsh, no shenanigans blend of extreme music. Recorded by Rogga Johansson at The Rotpit, with vocals and moth harp recorded by Marc Wüstenhagen at Daily Hero Recording Studios, mixed and mastered by Håkan Stuvemark at Necrotic Audio Productions, and featuring a classic Death Metal artwork by Felipe Mora, the new album by the infernal duo formed of Marc Grewe (Morgoth, Insidious Disease, Asinhell) on vocals and Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Revolting) on guitars and bass, supported by Håkan Stuvemark (Wombbath) on lead guitars, and Jon Rudin (Monstrous, Dead Sun) on drums is perfect for fans of Obituary, Death, Pestilence and Insidious Disease, delivering a pure, unfiltered fusion of Death and Thrash Metal with no fillers, just killers.

Håkan  and Rogga waste no time and kick off their shredding attack in Facing the Faceless, with Marc quickly joining his bandmates with his demented screams, followed by Masters Voice, a pulverizing fusion of Death and Thrash Metal led by the crushing beats by Jon, being perfect for some demented action inside the pit. Their hammering sounds continue to pound our cranial skulls in The Age of Insanity, with the band’s guitar duo extracting sheer aggression from their axes, and it’s time for a brutal, demented metal attack by Leper Colony titled Flesh to Rot to Ashes, with Jon demolishing his drums manically. and it looks like their thrashing Death Metal party has no time to end, as Realm of Madness once again presents the trademark scorching riffs by Rogga burning our skin mercilessly.

Then the metallic riffs and bass lines by Rogga set the tone in the also infuriated Those of the Morbid Inclination, offering more of the band’s blend of Death and Thrash Metal while Marc vociferates like a devilish creature; whereas it’s pedal to the metal in the frantic Apocalypse Whore, with Håkan kicking off the song with a wicked guitar solo before everything converges into a hurricane of thrashing and deadly sounds. Then featuring guest Oliver Recker armed with his mouth harp, Leper Colony crafts an overdose of heaviness in the gruesome, evil Creature from the Deep, an excellent depiction of their core sound. Lastly, after endless devastation the band offers the horror movie-inspired track A Story in Red, sounding dark and heavy albeit lacking the same punch as the rest of the album.

Rogga Johansson is undoubtedly one of the most hardworking musicians to ever arise from the Swedish metal scene, making it impossible to keep track of all of his bands and projects, but if there’s one band that deserves a listen from all of his endeavors, that’s Leper Colony. His partnership with Marc Grewe is amazing, and that synergy translates into an overdose of aggression and rage in the music by Leper Colony. Those unstoppable metallers are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram, they’re ready to kick your ass with their putrid sounds on Spotify, and you can obviously purchase Those of the Morbid from the band’s own BandCamp, from the Testimony Records’ webstore, or by clicking HERE, showing your support and admiration to the underground as a whole. Because it doesn’t matter if it’s with Leper Colony, Paganizer, Ribspreader or any other of his projects, Rogga Johansson is going to get you, no matter how far, nor how morbid.

Best moments of the album: Flesh to Rot to Ashes, Those of the Morbid Inclination and Apocalypse Whore.

Worst moments of the album: A Story in Red.

Released in 2025 Testimony Records

Track listing
1. Facing the Faceless 3:21
2. Masters Voice 3:40
3. The Age of Insanity 3:35
4. Flesh to Rot to Ashes 3:10
5. Realm of Madness 3:23
6. Those of the Morbid Inclination 3:49
7. Apocalypse Whore 3:31
8. Creature from the Deep 3:40
9. A Story in Red 4:14

Band members
Marc Grewe – vocals
Håkan Stuvemark – lead guitars
Rogga Johansson – guitars, bass
Jon Rudin – drums

Guest musician
Oliver Recker – mouth harp on “Creature from the Deep”