Album Review – Hiraes / Dormant (2024)

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Germany’s own rising metal force strikes back with their sophomore beast, a stirring, intense and dynamic Death Metal affair that is both heavily brutal and dark, yet full of melodic melancholy.

Formed in 2020 in the city of Hanover, the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony, the unstoppable Melodic Death Metal beast Hiraes strikes back with their highly anticipated sophomore effort, titled Dormant. Produced by the band itself, recorded at LCHQ Studio (vocals), Warehouse Studio (drums) and K-Sound Studio (guitars and bass), mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren and Ricardo Borges at Fascination Street Studios, and displaying a stylish artwork by the band’s own frontwoman Britta Görtz, Dormant is a stirring, intense and dynamic Death Metal affair that is both heavily brutal and dark, yet full of melodic melancholy, masterfully brought into being by the aforementioned she-wolf Britta Görtz alongside guitarists Lukas Kerk and Oliver Kirchner, bassist Christian Wösten, and drummer Mathias Blässe.

Futuristic sounds are quickly joined by the slashing riffs by Lukas and Oliver in Through The Storm, exploding into a feast of modern-day Melodic Death Metal led by the hypnotizing roars by Britta; followed by We Owe No One, one of the coolest songs of the current Melodic Death Metal scene where Britta and the boys are on absolute fire throughout its entirety, presenting amazing riffs supported by the rumbling bass and hammering drums by Christian and Mathias, respectively, being therefore perfect for their live performances. Then slowing things down a bit we have the ballad Undercurrent, while at the same time sounding epic, introspective and delicate, with Britta alternating between her trademark screams and gentle clean vocals; and back to a more visceral sonority it’s time for sheer heaviness spiced up by the striking riffs and solos by the band’s guitar duo in Chance To Fail, not to mention how bestial yet intricate the drumming by Mathias sounds. And the proof of the band’s musical evolution is offered to us all in About Lies, bringing forward almost seven minutes of top-of-the-line contemporary Melodic Death Metal, starting in an enfolding manner and growing in intensity until all spaces are filled with the band’s sharp sounds, resulting in a lecture in the style.

After such insane avalanche of heavy and melodic music, the band offers the cryptic, Stygian interlude Come Alive, a cinematic creation by Hiraes that will hold you in a dark embrace before they come crushing once again in Ocean Child, a hammering, multi-layered tune overflowing passion and hatred, with Britta vociferating rabidly nonstop supported by the headbanging beats by Mathias and the always caustic riffs by Lukas and Oliver, flowing into the breathtaking, menacing Nightflight, a violent onrush of metal music by the quintet that will smash your cranial skull mercilessly, with Britta’s soaring vocals matching perfectly with the electrifying riffage and solos by the band’s axe duo, and with Mathias once again pounding his drums in great fashion. They still have a lot of fuel to burn in Red Soil, a neck-breaking extravaganza bringing forward a massive wall of sounds, including hints of Melodic Black Metal, while also sounding mysterious and utterly obscure; whereas the title-track Dormant closes the album on a whimsical mode, not as striking as the rest of the album, but it’s still a solid composition full of love, rage and darkness.

Due to the use of varying keys and sonic elements, Dormant is undoubtedly fresh without sacrificing the nuances that caused their first album to connect so successfully with fans, and if you want to put your hands on such awesome release you can purchase it from their own webstore, from Napalm Records in the US or in Europe, and by clicking HERE, or you can also stream it in full on Spotify. Don’t forget to also give Britta and the boys a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with all things Hiraes including their incendiary live dates. Dormant will certainly feature among the top metal albums of the year of 2024 due to its endless energy, superb musicianship, and first-class quality of its overall production, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for one of the most electrifying names of the current metal scene worldwide.

Best moments of the album: We Owe No One, Chance To Fail, About Lies and Nightflight.

Worst moments of the album: Dormant.

Released in 2024 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Through The Storm 4:04
2. We Owe No One 4:11
3. Undercurrent 5:23
4. Chance To Fail 4:13
5. About Lies 6:50
6. Come Alive 1:54
7. Ocean Child 4:21
8. Nightflight 3:48
9. Red Soil 5:44
10. Dormant 5:11

Band members
Britta Görtz – vocals
Lukas Kerk – guitars
Oliver Kirchner – guitars
Christian Wösten – bass
Mathias Blässe – drums

Album Review – Soulcarrion / Enthrone Death (2024)

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A ruthless Death Metal entity from Poland will demolish your damned souls with their heavy-as-hell sophomore full-length opus.

Formed in 2019 in the always pleasant city of Warsaw, Poland, the ruthless Death Metal duo comprised of Michał on rhythm guitars and bass and Greg on lead guitars, known as Soulcarrion, will demolish your damned souls with their sophomore full-length opus, titled Enthrone Death. Mixed and mastered by Darek Młody at PanzerStudio, and displaying a sick cover art and layout by Maciej Kamuda Art and an evil logo by Paweł Pawłowski Illustration, the follow-up to their 2023 self-titled EP and their 2022 debut album Infernal Agony offers the listener 30 minutes of intense, undisputed Death Metal for the masses, with the support of session musicians Mateusz Sibila (Imperial Sin) on vocals and Darek Młody (Hellfuck, Embrional, Stillborn) on drums adding an extra touch of heaviness and insanity to the whole album.

Starting in a sinister, doomed manner, the opening tune Cage of Nothingness already invades our minds with a demonic onrush of Death Metal boosted by tons of Brutal Death Metal elements thanks to the inhumane gnarls by Mateusz and the boisterous drums by Darek, whereas Night Ceremony keeps the album at a Stygian, venomous vibe with the riffage by both Greg and Michał sounding utterly infernal, albeit a bit repetitive at times. Then featuring guest vocalist Vesper Locust (Dammnatorum), the title-track Enthrone Death offers pure hatred and darkness to our putrid ears, with the ripping sound of the guitars matching perfectly with the blast beats by Darek, and there’s no sign of peace or hope, as Infernal Agony is an overdose of old school Death Metal tailored for fans of the genre, with Mateusz once again roaring and barking like a beast for our total delight.

Oblivion will hit us hard with its two and a half minutes of brutality blasted by those talented Polish metallers, with Greg and Michał once again demolishing our senses and adding endless heaviness to the music armed with their stringed axes; and enhancing the album’s obscurity and malignancy, the Doom Metal-infused aria Revenge is Mine brings forward another round of Darek’s massive beats accompanied by the sick riffage by the band’s guitar duo. After that we have Deathoskullum, following a similar pattern as the previous song, with the deep, hellish riffs and beats blasted by the band penetrating deep inside our rotten corpses, being therefore perfect for some intense headbanging; and lastly, World of Putridity carries a beautiful name and puts a beyond vicious ending to the album, with Mateusz vociferating rabidly in the name of classic Death Metal until the very last second.

The Polish underground has always been one of the most exciting of all, in special if you’re a fan of extreme music, and of course Soulcarrion offer in their new opus a high dosage of all that sonic awesomeness that’s found in Poland. Hence, don’t forget to show the guys from Soulcarrion your utmost support and admiration by purchasing a copy of the sulfurous and infernal Enthrone Death from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD or as an ass-kicking CD + shirt bundle, keeping the flames of Polish Death Metal burning for many years to come. Soulcarrion are on fire throughout the entire Enthrone Death, and they’re more than eager to burn your soul armed with the caustic compositions from such insane album.

Best moments of the album: Enthrone Death, Oblivion and World of Putridity.

Worst moments of the album: Night Ceremony.

Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions

Track listing
1. Cage of Nothingness 4:08
2. Night Ceremony 4:17
3. Enthrone Death 5:03
4. Infernal Agony 3:38
5. Oblivion 2:29
6. Revenge is Mine 3:02
7. Deathoskullum 4:56
8. World of Putridity 2:50

Band members
Michał – rhythm guitars, bass
Greg – lead guitars

Guest musicians
Mateusz Sibila – vocals (session)
Darek Młody – drums (session)
Vesper Locust – vocals on “Enthrone Death”

Album Review – Lucifer / Lucifer V (2024)

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Sweden’s own Heavy and Doom Metal coven will drag you to their Stygian lair to the sound of their breathtaking fifth full-length offering.

Three years after the release of their critically acclaimed album Lucifer IV, Stockholm, Sweden’s own Heavy/Doom Metal/Rock coven Lucifer returns from the depths of the underworld with a new and breathtaking offering, simply titled Lucifer V, blasting our ears with their characteristic doomed sounds in the name of darkness and evil. Highly recommended for fans of Ghost, Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Witch Mountain, Coven, Kadavar and Fleetwood Mac, among others, the new album by the talented witch Johanna Platow Andersson on vocals, Linus Björklund and Martin Nordin on the guitars, Harald Göthblad on bass and Nicke Andersson on drums will put you in a fantastic trance with its sharp and enfolding fusion of Heavy and Doom Metal with Rock N’ Roll, proving why the band has become a reference in the genre worldwide.

The Black Sabbath-inspired riffs by Linus and Martin ignite the thrilling opening tune Fallen Angel, showcasing the band’s trademark groove and darkness, with Johanna stealing the spotlight already with her mesmerizing vocals; whereas a Doom Metal start gradually morphs into the rockin’ extravaganza At the Mortuary, where once again Nicke showcases all his talent behind his drums dictating the song’s charming pace in great fashion. Then investing in a more direct Rock N’ Roll sound, get ready to dance in the dark together with Lucifer in Riding Reaper, with the riffs by the band’s guitar duo exhaling electricity and feeling, and the cabaret-inspired sound of the piano sets the tone for Johanna to deliver her passionate, devilish vocals in Slow Dance in a Crypt, a beautiful ballad that should sound amazing if played live, not to mention the song’s fiery guitar solos. Right after that we have A Coffin Has No Silver Lining, a true Rock N’ Roll anthem played to perfection by Johanna and the boys, bringing to our ears an addictive chorus and the striking riffs and solos by Linus and Martin.

It’s then time for another ass-kicking creation by Lucifer titled Maculate Heart, starting in an introspective way before exploding into a feast of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock led by the hammering drums by Nicke, followed by The Dead Don’t Speak, bringing forward four minutes of the band’s classic sonority with hints of Blues Rock added to their core essence, in special to the awesome guitar solo by Linus. Let’s now hit the road with Lucifer to the sound of Strange Sister, with Johanna having another soaring, sensational vocal performance supported by the rumbling bass by Harald and the classy beats by Nicke; followed by the straightforward tune Nothing Left to Lose but My Life, which despite being a solid song and having its dark charm it’s below the rest of the album in terms of energy and creativity. And lastly, there’s still time for two alternate versions of At the Mortuary (Halloween edit) and Maculate Heart (radio edit) as bonus tracks, and both are just as incendiary as the original ones.

Johanna and her henchmen are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their music, news, and their tour dates (and you should never miss a Lucifer concert as it’s simply brilliant, like the one I had the pleasure to witness in Toronto in November), and don’t forget to also subscribe to their official YouTube channel and stream all of their stylish compositions on Spotify. And above all that, go grab a copy of the incendiary Lucifer V by clicking HERE or HERE, adding to your grim album collection one of the coolest albums of another dark and sinister year ahead of us.

Best moments of the album: Fallen Angel, Slow Dance in a Crypt, A Coffin Has No Silver Lining and Maculate Heart.

Worst moments of the album: Nothing Left to Lose but My Life.

Released in 2024 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Fallen Angel 3:15
2. At the Mortuary 6:07
3. Riding Reaper 4:19
4. Slow Dance in a Crypt 4:28
5. A Coffin Has No Silver Lining 4:25
6. Maculate Heart 4:09
7. The Dead Don’t Speak 3:58
8. Strange Sister 4:20
9. Nothing Left to Lose but My Life 4:40

Bonus tracks
10. At the Mortuary (Halloween edit) 4:56
11. Maculate Heart (radio edit) 3:37

Band members
Johanna Platow Andersson – vocals
Linus Björklund – lead guitars
Martin Nordin – rhythm guitars
Harald Göthblad – bass
Nicke Andersson – drums

Album Review – Sovereign / Altered Realities (2024)

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This Norway-based Technical Death and Thrash Metal unit will attack our senses with their first full-length offering, a monstrous masterwork of old school extreme music ecstasy.

Formed in Oslo, Norway in 2018, the ruthless yet very technical unit Sovereign is ready to unleash their lethal blend of evil Death and Thrash Metal in their first full-length album, titled Altered Realities, the follow-up to their 2020 debut EP Neurotic. Three years in the making, “Altered Realities is a product of an ever-evolving journey we have taken as a band, from our start in 2018 and culminating in the album’s recording in early 2022,” reflects lead guitarist Tommy Jacobsen, joined in the band by former Nocturnal Breed band-mate Vidar Fineidet also on the guitar alongside drummer Cato Syversrud, and vocalist and bassist Simen “Gravskjender” Grong. “We strive to push ourselves, both in terms of speed and technicality, whilst still keeping a groove and dynamic. Our approach to death/thrash is an interplay between fast-paced aggression and a slower, more groove-oriented feel. The lyrical themes of the album mirror events and unrest that happened during the time of writing and is in itself a journey,” complemented Tommy about the band’s monstrous masterwork of old school extreme music ecstasy, being recommended for fans of Nekromantheon, Sepultura, Pestilence, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, and many others.

Atmospheric noises grow in intensity until an avalanche of violence and progressiveness hits us hard in Altered Reality, led by the harsh gnarls by Simen while Cato delivers a fusion of Death, Thrash and Doom Metal through his obscure beats and fills; and Tommy and Vidar dictate the pace with their flammable riffage in Futile Dreams, supported by the always rumbling kitchen by Simen and Cato, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Immolation, flowing into the disruptive, massive Nebular Waves, with its caustic riffs slashing our ears mercilessly while Simen continues to roar in the darkest and most demented way possible. And Counter Tech is another breathtaking hybrid of Death and Thrash Metal exhaling aggression and intricacy where Cato pounds our cranial skulls nonstop with his damned beats.

There’s no time to breathe as the quartet will bring hell on earth with the frantic, insane and demonic The Enigma of Intelligence, a six-minute lecture in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal perfect for some action inside the circle pit, whereas their second to last onrush of thrashing sounds comes in the form of Synthetic Life, blasting our putrid minds once again to the infernal riffs and striking solos by the band’s guitar duo and the always hammering drums by Cato. Lastly, get ready for ten minutes of top-of-the-line Thrash and Death Metal in Absence of Unity, starting in a rhythmic, groovy manner spearheaded by Cato’s classic beats, offering us all an amalgamation of blackened sounds, cryptic passages and the ruthless growls by Simen, getting darker and darker as the music progresses, and with its climatic ending putting the perfect conclusion to the album as a whole.

In summary, if you love the violence of Death and Thrash Metal, but at the same time you nurture a deep passion for the more technical and intricate side of music, you’ll have an absolute blast listening to Altered Realities, which is available for purchase from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD (in the US and Europe), an LP (in the US and Europe) and a pro tape (also in the US and in Europe). In addition, don’t forget to start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and to stream all of their wicked creations on Spotify or any other streaming service. Sovereign are among us to fill all empty spaces in the air with their technical aggression, and I’m sure once you start listening to their new offering you’ll instantly become addicted to their pulverizing music.

Best moments of the album: Futile Dreams, The Enigma of Intelligence and Absence of Unity.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Dark Descent Records

Track listing
1. Altered Reality 7:01
2. Futile Dreams 4:29
3. Nebular Waves 3:46
4. Counter Tech 5:40
5. The Enigma of Intelligence 6:05
6. Synthetic Life 4:17
7. Absence of Unity 10:16

Band members
Simen “Gravskjender” Grong – vocals, bass
Tommy Jacobsen – lead & rhythm guitars
Vidar Fineidet – rhythm guitars
Cato Syversrud – drums

Album Review – Resin Tomb / Cerebral Purgatory (2024)

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A remarkably cohesive mix of Dissonant Death Metal, gravelly Grindcore and somehow even thick Blackened Sludge crafted by an up-and-coming squad from Down Under.

After releasing their 2020 self-titled debut EP followed by their 2022 EP Unconsecrated // Ascendancy, Brisbane, Australia-based Sludge/Death Metal band Resin Tomb has perfected their sound for their highly awaited debut full-length album, entitled Cerebral Purgatory, and it’s everything you’ve come to expect from them and more. Recorded and mixed by the band’s own Brendan Auld at Black Blood Audio, mastered by Arthur Rizk, and displaying a fantastic artwork by Mitchell Nolte (who’s by the way responsible for all cover arts for Baest and Werewolves), with layout and graphic design by Mitch Long, the new album by vocalist Matt Budge (Consumed), guitarists Brendan Auld (Descent, Feculent) and Matt Gordon, bassist Mitch Long (Consumed), and drummer Perry Vedelago (Siberian Hell Sounds) is highly recommended for fans of Terra Builder, Replicant, and Vermin Womb, just to name a few, offering our avid ears a remarkably cohesive mix of Dissonant Death Metal, gravelly Grindcore and somehow even thick Blackened Sludge.

The opening tune Dysphoria is absolutely devastating and infernal, not recommended for the lighthearted, with Mitch and Perry generating a venomous wall of sounds with their respective bass and drums; and featuring additional vocals by guest Scott Tabone (Burial Pit), Resin Tomb show no mercy for our damned souls in Flesh Brick, a dissonant, violent onrush of Sludge and Death Metal with hints of Grindcore where the guitars by Brendan and Matt will darkly pierce your mind. Then the metallic, sulfurous bass jabs by Mitch will smash your skull in Scalded, a lecture in brutality and insanity by Resin Tomb that should sound amazing if played live on their shows, whereas the title-track Cerebral Purgatory is another heavy bass-infused tune by the band, with the guitars by Brendan and Matt once again cutting our skin deep (albeit a bit too repetitive).

It’s then time for a dark and sinister composition titled Human Confetti, offering the band’s dissonant sounds while Matt vociferates rabidly until the very last second. Needless to say, this song will darken your thoughts without a shadow of a doubt, followed by Purge Fluid, a disruptive, groovy and melodic chant where their guitars and bass sound absolutely heavy and evil, while Perry keeps hammering his drums in a fusion of classic Death Metal and Experimental Death Metal. Their second to last explosion of madness and heaviness is offered to us all under the name of Concrete Crypt, one of the most devastating songs of the album, if not the most, thanks to the visceral screams by Matt and the always thunderous drums by Perry, flowing into the closing extravaganza titled Putrescence, demolishing everything and everyone that’s still standing after all the violence presented in the album, also showcasing an amazing guitar job done by the band’s axe duo as usual.

If high-quality Death Metal is your cup of tea, then you must spend some time Down Under to enjoy the pulverizing new album by Resin Tomb, which is available for purchase from the band’s own BandCamp page of from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a digipak CD, a gatefold LP, a cassette, or a special CD + shirt combo. Furthermore, don’t forget to also give the guys from Resin Tomb a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream all of their sick creations on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Resin Tomb. Cerebral Purgatory is an untamed, noisy beast of death, sludge and doom, positioning the band as one of the must-see acts of the year hands down, consequently leaving us eager for more of their wicked sounds in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Flesh Brick, Scalded and Concrete Crypt.

Worst moments of the album: Cerebral Purgatory.

Released in 2024 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Dysphoria 2:39
2. Flesh Brick 3:09
3. Scalded 4:20
4. Cerebral Purgatory 4:20
5. Human Confetti 4:20
6. Purge Fluid 3:06
7. Concrete Crypt 2:46
8. Putrescence 4:20

Band members
Matt Budge – vocals
Brendan Auld – guitar
Matt Gordon – guitar
Mitch Long – bass
Perry Vedelago – drums

Guest musician
Scott Tabone – additional vocals on “Flesh Brick”

Album Review – Lutharo / Chasing Euphoria (2024)

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One of the must-see names of the current Canadian scene is back with their breathtaking sophomore album, sounding as destructive and violent as it is soaring and captivating.

Bringing forth their signature mixture of traditional Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal and more, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada-based Melodic Death Metal outfit Lutharo returns with their sophomore opus (and strongest effort to date), titled Chasing Euphoria, following up on their critically acclaimed 2021 debut Hiraeth. Recorded by drummer Cory Hofing at Coho Studio, with additional recording by Thomas Ireland and mixing and mastering by Lasse Lammert of LSD Studio, and showcasing a stunning artwork by Swedish artist Niklas Sundin, Chasing Euphoria is as destructive and violent as it is soaring and captivating, inspiring us all for some vigorous headbanging, boisterous pits and chanting singalongs together with frontwoman Krista Shipperbottom, guitarist Victor Bucur, bassist Chris Pacey and the aforementioned drummer Cory Hofing.

The epic, cinematic intro Gates of Enchantment will set the stage for Krista and the boys to crush our souls in Reaper’s Call, presenting an amazing guitar job by Victor that sets fire to their music in the name of Melodic Death Metal, therefore resulting in a beyond thrilling start to the album. Their violent yet very melodious sounds keep hammering our cranial skulls in Ruthless Bloodline, with Cory dictating the song’s galloping pace with his heavy beats accompanied by the metallic bass by Chris; and get ready for another blast of sick riffs, thunderous bass and unstoppable drums in Time to Rise, with Krista once again showcasing all her vocal range with both her clean vocals and she-demon roars. In Born to Ride we’re treated to pure metal lyrics roared by Krista (“We’re striking the lights out stately / Let the banners fly / Sights never guided me before just stifled my might / Short circuited odds and judgment / With victory to taste / When the blind leads the blind, / You’re at the edge of a blade”) amidst a beyond exciting and incendiary sound perfect for hitting the highway, followed by Bonded to the Blade, a good song albeit not as dynamic as the rest of the album. Victor continues to deliver sheer adrenaline through his riffs and solos, though.

The title-track Chasing Euphoria will bring to our avid ears more of the band’s modern-day, electrifying Melodic Death Metal, with the soaring vocals by Krista walking hand in hand with the massive wall of sounds crafted by her bandmates; and the band then enhances their epicness to a whole new level in Creating a King, offering more of their crystal clear, visceral melodeath with Cory pounding his drums mercilessly from start to finish, resulting in the perfect song for some sick headbanging. There’s no sign of the band slowing down at all, as Strong Enough to Fall is another feast of Canadian Melodic Death Metal with the striking riffs and solos by Victor sounding venomous, enfolding us all in a Heavy Metal embrace. A futuristic start quickly evolves into a straightforward Melodic Death Metal attack by Lutharo in Paradise or Parasite, where Krista keeps delivering her trademark hypnotizing vocal lines while Chris and Cory build a strong base boosted by the song’s background orchestral elements; whereas the doomed bass by Chris ignites the closing tune of the album, titled Freedom of the Night, offering the listener seven minutes of fast-paced riffs and beats and the always sharp yet charming vocals by Krista, or in other words, it’s a more introspective creation by the band putting a climatic finale to their metallic feast.

Lutharo Chasing Euphoria Ultimate Bundle

Lutharo are definitely going places armed with Chasing Euphoria (both figuratively and literally speaking, as they’re gearing up for a massive tour across the United States and Canada), and if you want to show such awesome band from the current Canadian metal scene your utmost support, you can start following them on Facebook and on Instagram, always keeping an eye on their tour dates, subscribe to their YouTube channel and stream more of their breathtaking music on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of Chasing Euphoria from their own official website (including the more-than-special Chasing Euphoria ultimate bundle, featuring the album on limited edition pink and blue marble vinyl, a limited edition signed photo, an album T-shirt, a “Time To Rise” patch, a battle flag, and limited edition guitar picks), or you can also find your favorite version of the album by clicking HERE or HERE. Lutharo are definitely going to make a lot of noise worldwide armed with their new album, a cacophony of all that is metal, always chasing euphoria and inspiring us to bang our heads nonstop to the music by one of the best bands of the contemporary Canadian scene.

Best moments of the album: Reaper’s Call, Born to Ride, Creating a King and Paradise or Parasite.

Worst moments of the album: Bonded to the Blade.

Released in 2024 Atomic Fire Records

Track listing
1. Gates of Enchantment 1:13
2. Reaper’s Call 4:00
3. Ruthless Bloodline 4:12
4. Time to Rise 4:21
5. Born to Ride 3:52
6. Bonded to the Blade 4:33
7. Chasing Euphoria 4:31
8. Creating a King 4:08
9. Strong Enough to Fall 4:56
10. Paradise or Parasite 5:07
11. Freedom of the Night 6:45

Band members
Krista Shipperbottom – vocals
Victor Bucur – guitars, backing vocals
Chris Pacey – bass
Cory Hofing – drums

Guest musician
Jeff Wilson – guitars (Live)

Album Review – Fathomless Ritual / Hymns For The Lesser Gods (2024)

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Behold this one-man project from Canada and his striking debut opus, offering us all a technical and brutal form of Death Metal for sacrifices and caverns fully dedicated to the prehistoric gods.

With manic glee, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada-based Technical/Brutal Death/Doom Metal creature Fathomless Ritual recreates the maddening, unhinged kind of Death Metal created by the likes of Demilich, Chthe’ilist, Dead and Dripping, and Mortiferum, among others, and give its own ugly, grime-ridden twist to it, which is exactly what you’re going to get in the project’s debut opus Hymns For The Lesser Gods. Displaying a stunning artwork and gouache paintings by renowned Brazilian artist Marcio Blasphemator, Hymns For The Lesser Gods offers a darker, murkier, cavernous sound, being labeled as “Death Metal for sacrifices and caverns”, but all the same has a denser quality and a sense of modern urgency about it which livens up the proceedings, with the project’s sole member Brendan Dean (or simply B. Dean), of bands like Gutvoid, Fumes and Pukewraith, making a conscientious effort to make the sound more extreme and relevant in his own way without attempting to dethrone the gods.

Pure insanity and heaviness flow from all instruments from the very first second in Hecatomb for an Unending Madness, where Brendan’s deep, inhumane gnarls add an extra touch of obscurity to the music, also showcasing infernal, demented riffs not recommended for the lighthearted; and our lone wolf keeps hammering all of his instruments in Exiled to the Lower Catacombs, resulting in a Neanderthalic, grim Death Metal attack with the bass sounds reverberating deep inside our heads. Those drums keep pounding our cranial skulls in Gorge of the Nameless, not to mention the acid electricity exhaling from Brendan’s riffs and bass, feeling like he’s dragging us deeper and deeper into his Stygian lair. Then get ready for six minutes of demented groove in the form of Grafted to the Chambers of Mirth, where Brendan follows his own “Cavern Death Metal” formula in great fashion, blasting his stringed axes mercilessly while also barking like a demonic entity.

There’s no limit to the level of insanity and darkness blasted by Brendan and his Fathomless Ritual, resulting in another onrush of brutal, dense and headbanging sounds titled Wielding the Bone Wand, while our ears keep being invaded by his devilish roars. And Brendan shows no sign of slowing down; quite the contrary, he keeps slashing his stringed axe like a beast in Cosmic Reflections from the Basin of Blood, another solid creation venturing through the realms of Experimental Death Metal. It’s then pedal to the metal as Brenda’s Death Metal attack will leave you absolutely disoriented in Gelatinous Being of Countless Forms, where the song’s demented but very intricate drums walk hand in hand with his devilish gnarls and rumbling bass punches, and Gifts for Aranaktu is one final onrush of demonic, ruthless metal sounds that will hit us hard in the face. Furthermore, it’s truly impressive how Brendan managed to keep his guitar and bass work so vibrant throughout the entire album without sounding repetitive or stale.

Be prepared to sacrifice yourself and win the favour of the forgotten ones with Hymns For The Lesser Gods, an album that should delight any fan of underground Death Metal, and that you can purchase from Fathomless Ritual’s own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore as an 8-panel digipak in the US or in Europe, and as a very special CD + shirt combo also in Europe. Don’t forget to also give Brendan and his Fathomless Ritual a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, because not only he’s embellishing our lives with an album chock-full of riffs and jangly hooks with escalating song structures culminating in cranial implosions, but it’s also a fierce and pulverizing tribute to the prehistoric gods, all embraced by that murky, twisted and engrossing form of Death Metal we all love so much.

Best moments of the album: Exiled to the Lower Catacombs, Grafted to the Chambers of Mirth and Gelatinous Being of Countless Forms.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Hecatomb for an Unending Madness 2:32
2. Exiled to the Lower Catacombs 4:55
3. Gorge of the Nameless 4:15
4. Grafted to the Chambers of Mirth 6:11
5. Wielding the Bone Wand 4:45
6. Cosmic Reflections from the Basin of Blood 4:01
7. Gelatinous Being of Countless Forms 4:58
8. Gifts for Aranaktu 6:54

Band members
Brendan Dean – vocals, guitars, bass, drum programming

Album Review – Eternal Storm / A Giant Bound to Fall (2024)

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A boundless, always-evolving Spanish Progressive and Melodic Death Metal outfit returns with their hugely ambitious yet still passionate and heartfelt sophomore album, a giant step ahead for the band and for the entire style.

Following up on the release of their 2019 debut album Come the Tide, which was a shockingly accomplished, poignant and evocative album which many still regard to be one of the highlights in the style, Spanish Progressive/Melodic Death Metal outfit Eternal Storm returns to the battlefield four years later with their sophomore opus, titled A Giant Bound to Fall, a worthy effort that doesn’t betray their sound nor dilute it. Produced by the band itself, recorded at The Empty Hall Studio (vocals, guitars, bass) and at Sadman Studio (drums), re-amped, mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound, and displaying a sinister artwork by Leoncio Harmr (with logo by Christophe Szpajdel of Lord of the Logos), the album is far more nuanced, multifaceted and even feels darker than their debut installment, all masterfully brought into being by Daniel R. Flys on lead vocals, guitars, keyboards and bass, Jaime Torres on the guitars, vocals, keyboards, bass and fretless bass, and Daniel Maganto on bass, additional guitars and additional vocals, plus guest musicians Gabriel Valcázar (Wormed, Ernia) on drums and percussion, and Jaboto Fernández (Nexus 6, TodoMal) on additional keyboards and synths, being recommended for fans of Be’lakor, Dyssebeia, Insomnium, and Dark Tranquillity.

Guest Roberto Bustabad (Varunian, Ovakner, Rvinas) brings some noise and additional synths to the opening tune An Abyss of Unreason, starting in an ethereal manner as the drums by Gabriel arise from the underworld, exploding into a dissonant and experimental hybrid of Black and Death Metal where Daniel R. Flys roars manically nonstop, offering us all endless progressiveness and multiple layers of unique sounds and tones in a true aria of darkness. Then featuring guest vocalist Sven de Caluwé (Aborted), A Dim Illusion is another melodious yet visceral and somber creation by the band, a more progressive version of the music by Insomnium highly recommended for some vigorous headbanging to the piercing riffage by Daniel R. Flys and Jaime; and after such intense and bold tune it’s time for a soothing, serene sonority in There was a Wall, bringing forward elements from modern-day Doom Metal, in special in the sluggish beats by Gabriel, while Daniel R. Flys, Jaime and Daniel Maganto extract sheer groove and feeling form their stringed axes. Their mesmerizing feast goes on in Last Refuge, featuring guests Kheryon on additional vocals and Paul R. Flys on violin, a ten-minute journey through the realms of Progressive and Melodic Death Metal showcasing another amazing job done by all band members, with Daniel R. Flys once again leading his horde with his anguished screams.

It’s then time for a gentle, enfolding interlude titled Eclipse, generating a delicate atmosphere to the sound of minimalist guitar lines (albeit going on for a bit too long, but nothing that takes away its vibe), setting the tone for Lone Tree Domain, with guest Eloi Boucherie (Vidres a la Sang, White Stones) on additional vocals, an even more intricate, detailed and visceral creation by Eternal Storm, with their guitar riffs getting boosted by the rumbling bass by Daniel Maganto, sounding beautiful and impactful at the same time. The trio keeps embellishing the airwaves with their complex yet captivating sounds in The Sleepers, featuring Dan Swanö on additional vocals, a Progressive Death Metal aria alternating between deep, enraged moments and atmospheric passages, exploding into the infernal The Void, a lecture in Death Metal infused with progressive, technical and blackened elements tailored for admirers of the genre, with the superb drumming by Gabriel enhancing the song’s punch while Daniel R. Flys roars like a beast, always accompanied by the thunderous bass by Daniel Maganto. Lastly, we’re treated to the title-track A Giant Bound to Fall, featuring Sergi “Bobby” Verdeguer (Persefone) on additional vocals, beginning in a futuristic, whimsical vibe while also offering more of the band’s harsh and demolishing sounds, bringing peace and hope to our damned hearts and, therefore, putting a stunning finale to the album.

A Giant Bound to Fall is a giant step ahead in the logical direction, for the band and for the entire style. There is little doubt that this hugely ambitious and more importantly still passionate and heartfelt album will go down as another towering landmark in the genre, and if you want to show Eternal Storm all your support you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, on YouTube and on any other streaming platform, and above all that, purchase a copy of the album from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore as a CD (in the US and Europe) or as a very special CD + shirt combo (also in the US and Europe). The storm of Progressive and Melodic Death Metal available in the new album by such talented band from Spain definitely deserves a detailed listen by all of us, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in their boundless and always evolving career.

Best moments of the album: An Abyss of Unreason, Last Refuge and The Void.

Worst moments of the album: Eclipse.

Released in 2024 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. An Abyss of Unreason 13:35
2. A Dim Illusion 7:18
3. There was a Wall 5:07
4. Last Refuge 10:00
5. Eclipse 4:06
6. Lone Tree Domain 9:27
7. The Sleepers 6:27
8. The Void 6:27
9. A Giant Bound to Fall 6:46

Band members
Daniel R. Flys – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass
Jaime Torres – guitars, vocals, keyboards, bass, fretless bass
Daniel Maganto – bass, additional guitars, additional vocals

Guest musicians
Gabriel Valcázar – drums, percussion (session)
Jaboto Fernández – additional keyboards and synts
Roberto Bustabad – noise and additional synths on “An Abyss of Unreason”
Sven de Caluwé – additional vocals on “A Dim Illusion”
Kheryon – additional vocals on “Last Refuge”
Paul R. Flys – violin on “Last Refuge”
Eloi Boucherie – additional vocals on “Lone Tree Domain”
Dan Swanö – additional vocals on “The Sleepers”
Sergi “Bobby” Verdeguer – additional vocals on “A Giant Bound to Fall”

Album Review – Tanin’iver / Dark Evils Desecrate (2024)

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The blind dragon steed of Lilith will breathe fire upon humanity once again to the sound of his fourth full-length opus, an outpouring of blazing hatred and rage in the form of devilish Blackened Death Metal.

“The heavenly serpent is a blind prince with name of Tanin’iver…he is the bond, the accompaniment and the union between Samael and Lilith. If he were created whole in the fullness of his emanation he would have destroyed the world in an instant.” – The Early Kabbalah

A Black and Death Metal embodiment of one man’s creative spirit, forged in the cold flames of tragedy, loss and personal struggle, an outpouring of blazing hatred and rage at a world blighted by sickness, cursed by violence and intolerance, drowning in greed and ignorance, Adelaide, Australia-based Blackened Death Metal outfit Tanin’iver (the blind dragon steed of Lilith in ancient mythology) is unleashing upon humanity its fourth full-length opus, titled Dark Evils Desecrate, the follow-up to the project’s 2021 album The Lucifer Effect. Produced, mixed and mastered by the band’s mastermind, vocalist and guitarist Steve Lillywhite (aka Skorpa), Dark Evils Desecrate sees Steve (alongside once again guitarist and bassist Liam Mohor) turning his coruscating gaze from the poisonous cesspit of religion and delivering a bombardment of scathing, acidic vitriol onto humanity’s obsessions with war, violence, intolerance and the brain-sapping curse of social media, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Dissection, Belphegor, Mayhem and Svart Crown.

Another World’s Hell hits us hard in the face with its infernal lyrics roared by Steve (“Long, the way, to light  / Out of all this dark / To be precise, / The killing of the night /Will be the end, / Of what I failed to be / Your dreams, are dead”) while the music is as bestial as it can be, with his caustic riffage adding an extra touch of evil to the overall result; followed by Disrepair, another pulverizing, devilish tune by the duo, with Liam sounding thunderous with his bass while also delivering a crisp guitar solo for our total delight. Then we’re treated to Separatist, sounding absolutely devastating from the very first second, with its blast beats and venomous screams and riffs generating a truly demonic atmosphere perfect for some vigorous headbanging, whereas a rumbling, massive wall of sounds will crush your soul in Better the Devil, with its mechanized, pounding rhythm matching perfectly with Steve’s devilish gnarls.

It’s time for another feast of Black and Death Metal titled Freedom Is Never Free, with the guitars by both Steve and Liam grinding your mind in the name of absolute evil and darkness, flowing into Soul Thief, offering our putrid ears six minutes of hatred and fury blasted by the duo, with Steve stealing the spotlight with his most Black Metal, infuriated harsh growls, showcasing a very detailed and dense sonority. Get ready for another Blackened Death Metal onrush by Tanin’iver titled The Seer, where Steve vociferates like a demonic entity nonstop supported by the song’s classic riffs, beast and fills; and a cryptic start evolves into more of the band’s hellish sounds in Drowning on Dry Land, this time also presenting subtle elements from Industrial Metal in special in its drums. It drags for a bit too long, though. And lastly, the band offers us all an ode to the pits of hell titled So Was Red, bringing forward more of Steve’s high-pitched growling, demented riffs and brutal drums, consequently spreading a visceral, demonic stench in the air.

Steve’s story has been one of ongoing struggle, fighting against illness and addiction and processing the impact of heart rending loss, but he has harnessed the chaos that has raged around his life and channeled it into music of profound power and impact. Hence, if you want to show Steve how much you love the music by his Tanin’iver, you can start following him on Instagram, stream more of his music on Spotify, and above all that, purchase the sulfurous Dark Evils Desecrate from his own BandCamp page or from the Morning Star Heresy webstore as a CD or a cassette, letting the music by the blind dragon steed of Lilith reach deep inside your blackened heart.

Best moments of the album: Another World’s Hell, Separatist and The Seer.

Worst moments of the album: Drowning on Dry Land.

Released in 2024 Morning Star Heresy

Track listing
1. Another World’s Hell 4:14
2. Disrepair 5:40
3. Separatist 4:41
4. Better the Devil 4:32
5. Freedom Is Never Free 5:26
6. Soul Thief 6:22
7. The Seer 3:50
8. Drowning on Dry Land 4:34
9. So Was Red 5:30

Band members
Steve Lillywhite – vocals, rhythm guitars, sampling
Liam Mohor – lead guitars, bass

Album Review – Engulf / The Dying Planet Weeps (2024)

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A one-man studio Death Metal act drawing influence from all dark corners of the extreme music realm returns with his massive and savage debut full-length album.

A one-man studio Death Metal act drawing influence from all dark corners of the extreme music realm, New Jersey, United States-based entity Engulf is back with its catchy riffs, gnarly vocals and brutish yet dark vibes in the project’s massive and savage debut full-length album, titled The Dying Planet Weeps. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Kelly, mastered for vinyl by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio, displaying an otherwordly artwork by Pär Olofsson (with additional artwork by Chris Kiesling of Misanthropic-Art, and logo by Steve Crow of Malevolent Icons), and featuring an array of very special guest musicians, the album is the perfect follow-up to the three story-driven EP’s released between 2017 and 2019, showcasing all the talent and passion for heavy music by the project’s mastermind, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Hal Microutsicos.

Eerie, cryptic sounds permeate the air in the opening tune Withered Suns Collapse until all explodes into a Technical Death Metal attack by our lone wolf, where he not only extracts sheer violence from his riffage, but his guttural roars also bring endless insanity to the song. Then featuring guest vocals by Kevin Muller (of Alluvial), Bellows from the Aether offers more of Hal’s groovy and dissonant Death Metal, supported by the rumbling bass by session musician Giacomo Gastaldi (of Darkend); and Hal keeps hammering his instruments in The Nefarious Hive, featuring guest vocals by the one and only Sven de Caluwé (of Aborted), who delivers his deep, inhumane growls as expected, making a devilish vocal duo with Hal. After such inspiring metal attack, Ominous Grandeur brings elements from Doom and Black Metal to Engulf’s already demonic sonority, resulting in over five minutes of insanity and heaviness where the bass by Giacomo sounds absolutely rumbling until the very end.

The second half of the album will hit you hard in the head with its even heavier and more venomous sounds, starting with Lunar Scourge, a brutal and evil attack of Death Metal by Hal with its blast beats and sick riffage inviting us all to join Engulf in pitch black darkness, whereas Plagued Oblivion, featuring a guest guitar solo by Pat Bonvin (of Near Death Condition), reminds me of some of the wicked creations by Death Metal veterans Unleashed, also presenting some sick elements from Black Metal in its riffs. Then featuring guest vocals by Enrico “H.” Di Lorenzo (of Hideous Divinity) and a guest guitar solo by Chris Kelly, Earthbore is a six-minute journey through the realms of cryptic and savage Death Metal, starting in a serene manner before morphing into a Dissonant Death Metal extravaganza led by the wicked riffs by Hal, flowing into the title-track The Dying Planet Weeps, an extended instrumental outro that follows the same pattern of the previous song, but that takes away a bit of the album’s energy due to its length.

The multi-talented Hal Microutsicos and his demented beast Engulf are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more nice-to-know details about the entire project, and you can also stream his wicked creations on Spotify and on several other streaming services. Furthermore, in order to show Engulf your utmost support, you can purchase a copy of The Dying Planet Weeps by clicking HERE (physical version) or HERE (digital version), inspiring Hal to keep crafting first-class Death Metal for years to come. The Dying Planet Weeps will surely please most fans of all types of Death Metal due to its versatility and dynamism, once again proving how important one-man or one-woman bands are to the continuity of the underground scene.

Best moments of the album: Bellows from the Aether, The Nefarious Hive and Earthbore.

Worst moments of the album: The Dying Planet Weeps.

Released in 2024 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Withered Suns Collapse 5:51
2. Bellows from the Aether 3:31
3. The Nefarious Hive 3:38
4. Ominous Grandeur 5:19
5. Lunar Scourge 4:28
6. Plagued Oblivion 4:45
7. Earthbore 6:11
8. The Dying Planet Weeps 2:19

Band members
Hal Microutsicos – vocals, all instruments, drum programming

Guest musicians
Giacomo Gastaldi – bass (session)
Kevin Muller – vocals on “Bellows from the Aether”
Sven de Caluwé – vocals on “The Nefarious Hive”
Pat Bonvin – guitar solo on “Plagued Oblivion”
Enrico “H.” Di Lorenzo – vocals on “Earthbore”
Chris Kelly – guitar solo on “Earthbore”