Album Review – Walking Corpse / Our Hands, Your Throat (2023)

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Let these Swedish Grindcore beasts put their hands around your throat to the sound of their infernal sophomore opus.

It’s not too often that you come across a Grindcore album that gives you the kind of thrilling intensity that you’ve come to expect from this style of music, and at the same time there’s unpredictability in the writing which keeps you hooked. That’s exactly what you’ll get in Our Hands, Your Throat, the sophomore beast by Gothenburg, Sweden-based Grindcore animals Walking Corpse, following up on their 2020 debut The Fear Takes Hold. Displaying a sick artwork by Portuguese artist CVSPE (aka André Trindade), the new album by vocalist Henrik Blomqvist, guitarist and bassist Fredrik Rojas, and drummer and bassist Magnus Dahlin showcases the band’s most aggressive and innovative side, providing variations to break monotony and even predictability without compromising on the pure blistering, cathartic expression of Grindcore and, therefore, being highly recommended for fans of Rotten Sound, Fuck the Facts, Bathtub Shitter, Terra Builder, Spurn, Antigama, and Ernia, just to name a few.

Dreamflesh Navigator is absolutely devastating and evil from the very beginning, a demented Grindcore tune led by the unrelenting drums by Magnus while Henrik sounds inhumane on vocals. Then, Fredrik hammers his guitar in great fashion in Born in Hell, adding a touch of progressiveness and dementia to the trio’s already incendiary metal music, or in other words, it’s one of the most infuriated Grindcore songs you’ll listen to this year, followed by the title-track Our Hands, Your Throat, bringing forward more of their wicked sounds with Magnus crushing his drums like there’s no tomorrow in a lecture in extreme music and insanity by such talented group. And investing in a more melodic sonority with elements from Hardcore and Thrash Metal we have The Wheel, perfect for “dancing like a monkey” to the slashing riffage by Fredrik, whereas in Brainworm we face less than two minutes of pure violence spearheaded by the venomous, deranged roars and barks by Henrik.

Slowing things down a bit while also enhancing their obscurity, the trio fires the metallic Falling Through A World of Wounds, with their bass jabs hitting you hard in the face, and nonstop savagery and hatred flows from their riffs, bass and drums in Malediction, while Henrik continues to growl like a beast, followed by The Last Laugh, one of the most depraved songs of the album where Henrik sounds even more infuriated than before, resulting in a Swedish Grindcore party at its finest. Nothing Grows Here, the longest of all songs, will drag your soul to a realm of insanity and evil, where Magnus once again kicks some ass behind his drums supported by the razor-edged riffs by Fredrik. And how about one minute of pure aggression as the second to last song of the album? That’s what you’ll get in Forever Sleep, setting the tone for the obscure closing tune Eye of an Angry God, where Magnus dictates the song’s pace with his caustic beats while Fredrik will pierce your souls with his riffs, putting a brilliant ending to the album.

Those merciless Swedish Grindcore marauders are waiting for you on Facebook with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know information about their music, and of course you can also stream all of their insane creations on Spotify to properly disturb the peace of your neighborhood. Furthermore, above all that, don’t forget to show those unrelenting Swedish metallers your utmost support by purchasing a copy of the excellent Our Hands, Your Throat from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records webstore as an 8-panel digipak CD (in the US or the EU), or as a very special CD + shirt combo (also in the US or the EU) sooner than you can say “violence”, letting Walking Corpse put their damned, blood-soaked hands around your throat in the name of classic Grindcore.

Best moments of the album: Born in Hell, Our Hands, Your Throat, The Last Laugh and Eye of an Angry God.

Worst moments of the album: Malediction.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Dreamflesh Navigator 1:37
2. Born in Hell 3:58
3. Our Hands, Your Throat 3:36
4. The Wheel 4:57
5. Brainworm 1:38
6. Falling Through A World of Wounds 3:38
7. Malediction 1:48
8. The Last Laugh 2:27
9. Nothing Grows Here 5:17
10. Forever Sleep 1:09
11. Eye of an Angry God 3:58

Band members
Henrik Blomqvist – vocals
Fredrik Rojas – guitars, bass
Magnus Dahlin – drums, bass

Album Review – Akouphenom / Death·Chaos·Void (2023)

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A rising force of the Spanish Black and Death Metal scene will destroy your soul with their first full-length album, a hymn to the three ruling powers of existence – death, chaos and the void.

Embodying different influences from Doom Metal to Noise with the ambition to reflect absolute evil in their creations, A Coruña, Spain-based Blackened Death Metal horde Akouphenom (a name that comes from a twist on the word tinnitus, a real consequence of the band’s prolific live activities) is unleashing upon humanity their first full-length opus, titled Death·Chaos·Void. Mixed and mastered by Simón Da Silva at The Empty Hall Studio, Death·Chaos·Void is a hymn to the three ruling powers of existence – death, chaos and the void, leaders, kings and conquerors for all eternity, all carefully brought into being by DraGon on vocals and guitars, Pandemia also on the guitars, Korgüll on bass, and Prgich on drums. Furthemore, Death·Chaos·Void is a concept album divided into six chapters, which Akouphenom explain as a journey to unveil the truths of the Arkhé, the natural law, which is no more than an extension of the chaotic reality of the human condition.

The obscure, atmospheric intro Tritone Descent will drag your soul to the pits of the underworld before the band comes crushing our souls in Devour, offering our damned ears over eight minutes of a first-class fusion of Black and Death Metal where Prgich sounds demolishing with his blast beats accompanied by the demonic riffage by DraGon and Pandemia, flowing into the 12-minute beast titled Upper Cycle of Infinite Tails, a lecture in Blackened Death Metal where DraGon and Pandemia once again extract pure insanity and darkness form their guitars, while DraGon roars and vociferates nonstop for our total delight. And the song will haunt our souls until its very last second, being immediately followed by Flesh Sublimation, where the quartet keeps blasting their devilish sounds mercilessly, with Korgüll and Prgich making the ambience feel truly heavy, dense and grim armed with their heavy-as-hell kitchen, alternating between pounding, infernal moments and sheer Black Metal attack. The title-track Death·Chaos·Void begins in full force with another thrilling display of savagery by the band’s guitar duo, resulting in a hurricane of blackened, demonic sounds not recommended for the lighthearted, not to mention DraGon’s vocals sound insanely heavy and grim; whereas lastly, get ready for one final blast of the band’s infernal sounds in Incorporeal, trapping our minds in pitch black darkness to the sound of the demented drums by Prgich, therefore resulting in a twisted, vile conclusion to the album.

Death·Chaos·Void, which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, certainly places Akouphenom as one of the new driving forces of the Spanish underground scene, and you can help the band go even higher (or lower, depending if you consider hell the ultimate place to be for a Black and Death Metal band) by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course by purchasing a copy of their amazing new album from their own BandCamp page, from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp page or webstore (as a CD or an LP), or simply by clicking HERE and choosing your favorite version of the album. Akouphenom are among us to bring death, chaos and void to our lives armed with their debut album, and once you listen to their music you better be prepared because there’s no coming back from the dark side.

Best moments of the album: Upper Cycle of Infinite Tails and Death·Chaos·Void.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Avantgarde Music/Unorthodox Emanations

Track listing
1. Tritone Descent 1:35
2. Devour 8:17
3. Upper Cycle of Infinite Tails 11:57
4. Flesh Sublimation 9:52
5. Death·Chaos·Void 8:07
6. Incorporeal 5:12

Band members
DraGon – vocals, guitars
Pandemia – guitars, backing vocals
Korgüll – bass, backing vocals
Prgich – drums

Concert Review – Katatonia (The Axis Club, Toronto, ON, 11/15/2023)

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And the void in the skies of Toronto was filled with the progressive and atmospheric sounds by one of the most important names of the Swedish rock and metal scene.

***Review by Kevin Ibbitson, with photos by Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography***

OPENING ACTS: SOM and GOST

Good weather and great music was on tap this past Wednesday the 15th of November in the Little Italy section of Toronto. In the good company of my older brother Keith (myself on review duty and Keith on photography duty), we travelled to the Brass Taps Pizza Pub on College St. to have a bite to eat and meet up with friends and fellow Katatonia Fans Jason and Kim before the show. We timed it perfectly, finishing our meals and drinks at 7p.m., giving us enough time to stroll down the block enjoying the night air. The weather was pretty nice that evening.

Arriving at The Axis Club (formerly known as The Mod Club) located at 722 College St.W, it was time to check in and get set up. No complaints about the security at the front door, everybody seemed pretty chill and relaxed, letting us in with no hassle. My number one priority as soon as I get inside venues is to visit the merch tables and much to my disappointment there were no shirts in my size (3XL) but I’m used to that by now, it’s not the end of the world.  At least I was able to kop a patch and cd so I was happy. Ran into some Familiar faces as soon as I was inside and chatted with them until the first act got on. SOM, a band cobbled together from current and former members of such bands as Caspian, Junius and Constants. A band which I have never heard before. What can I say but that they were the very definition of shoegaze. I think everybody was in their own little worlds while SOM played. They went on at 7:30 to a 1/3 full venue with their brand of introspective shoegazing music. The crowd was a little subdued at first but as the venue started to fill up, the crowd started to come to life. Maybe it’s just me but shoegaze is not the most enlivening music to start a show with so it was slow going but eventually the audience got into it.

Band members
Will Benoit – vocals, guitar, synths
Joel Reynolds – guitar
Mike Repasch-Nieves – guitar
Justin Forrest – bass
Duncan Rich – drums

By the time the Darksynth band GOST got on stage I was at the back of the venue (the venue now about 2/3 full), having a nice conversation with the security guard at the entrance to the upstairs balcony and asked permission to go upstairs which he kindly let me and my brother do because we had credentials, otherwise it was off limits. The balcony sported some great views of the stage and crowd. All in all I’d have to say that The Axis Club is a decent little venue. The club has a good sound to it and a great low end.  As Gost was blasting out their dark horror themed electro dance grooves I could feel the bass in my chest at the back of the venue. As catchy as some of Gost’s music is, I’m not a dancer (can’t dance, won’t dance kind of guy) and I was not drinking enough to truly enjoy the buzz but Gost certainly does exude a fair amount of stage presence and charisma. Gost is a 2-man act of just a head-banging bass player and a multi-talented synth/drum machine player with a skull face mask. While listening to Gost’s set all I could think of was playing my Cyberpunk 2077 video game. Gost certainly livened up the mood. Funny story, during the Intermission my brother Keith (@lowereastsidephotography) got a selfie with the skull faced man himself James Lollar (aka Baalberith) outside the club inadvertently saving him from the clutches of an over excited fan, much to James’ appreciation.

Band members
James Lollar – synths, drums
Unknown – bass

KATATONIA

Finally the Band we all came to see, Stockholm Sweden’s own KATATONIA, on tour promoting their latest album Sky Void Of Stars. The crowd erupted as soon as the band took the stage, as if we were saving our energy just for them. What a great band Katatonia is. Even being a man down was no challenge for them as Anders Nyström was absent for some reason I could not discover. However, it didn’t affect their sound as they were as tight as ever and Jonas Renske had us eating from the palm of his hands. The crowd was loving it. Roger Öjersson’s leads were fantastic and were as crisp as a cloudless full moon winter night. The banter between Jonas and the crowd was great and he frequently aimed the mic towards the crowd for our response, which we did with gusto. Katatonia put on a stellar performance (no pun intended) even though Jonas’ mic started to act up a bit towards the end. No complaints from myself or anybody else there. This was my first time seeing Katatonia live but it damn sure won’t be my last. Toronto loves you, Katatonia.

Setlist
No Beacon To Illuminate Our Fall
Colossal Shade
Lethean
Flicker
Dead Letters
Opaline
Forsaker
Buildings
Decima
The Racing Heart
Nephilim
Birds
Atrium
July
Old Heart Falls
Journey Through Pressure

Encore:
Behind The Blood
My Twin
Evidence

Band members
Jonas Renkse – vocals
Roger Öjersson – guitars
Niklas Sandin – bass
Daniel Moilanen – drums

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Savage Lands – Nonprofit featuring members of Megadeth, Sepultura, Obituary and other legends of metal to support forests in Costa Rica

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Savage Lands – Nonprofit featuring members of Megadeth, Sepultura, Obituary and other legends of metal to support forests in Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Artists occasionally support causes through donations to organizations. With SAVAGE LANDS, Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren teamed up with his guitar-wielding friend Sylvain Demercastel to create their own US 501(c)3 non-profit.

Savage Lands raises money for reforestation & the creation of sanctuaries free of human destruction. Using their own royalties, donations and other fundraising efforts, the organization builds nature sanctuaries, establishes green zones and other land preservation projects. They partner with other non-profits, scientists and forest engineers, as well as Decibel Magazine and Season of Mist.

Donate: https://savagelands.org/donation/

“If you want to make a difference, take action! Our greatest hope with Savage Lands is that it will inspire you to join us, and if you can, to start your own initiative to help preserve animals, forests, and our planet”, says Dirk.

Learn more about Savage Lands: https://savagelands.org/

Fittingly, “The Last Howl” is a howling tribute to the howler monkey, which are endangered in Costa Rica. The song features Savage Lands co-founders Sylvain Demercastel & Dirk Verbeuren, as well as support from John Tardy (Obituary), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Poun (Black Bomb A) & Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A).

100% of the song royalties will help fund nature sanctuaries, establish green zones and other land preservation projects in Costa Rica.

Lineup
Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth) – drums
Sylvain Demercastel – guitar
Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) – guitar
John Tardy (Obituary) – vocals
Poun (Black Bomb A) – vocals
Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A) – bass

Recording
Savage Lands / Adair Daufembach / John Tardy / Andreas Kisser / Steeven Corsini

Production
Savage Lands

Mixing & Mastering
HK – Vamacara Studio

Donate: https://savagelands.org/donation/

***Listening to Savage Lands is already donating directly to this forest preservation effort.***

Album Review – Hyperia / The Serpent’s Cycle (2023)

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One of the driving forces of the current underground Canadian scene returns with another demented album of caustic, unrelenting Thrash Metal.

Known for their wailing vocals, shredding guitars, and fast, heavy drums, Vancouver, British Columbia-based Melodic Death/Thrash Metal outfit Hyperia is back in action with a newborn beast titled The Serpent’s Cycle, following up on their highly acclaimed albums Insanitorium (2020) and Silhouettes of Horror (2022). Mixed by the band’s own guitarist Colin Ryley at Singularity Sound Studios, mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios, and displaying a sinister artwork by Caitlin Delaplace, The Serpent’s Cycle has a wide variety of riffs throughout its 11 demented songs, ones that will remind listeners of the 80’s and also ones that usher in the new era of modern thrash, showcasing all the talent, hard work and passion for heavy music by Marlee Ryley on vocals, the aforementioned Colin Ryley on the guitars, Jon Power on bass, and Ryan Idris on drums.

A sinister intro sets the tone in Ego Trip, exploding into sheer madness led by the sick vocals by Marlee, declaiming the song’s acid words rabidly (“Chest is tight / Hard to breath / Tick like a bomb, don’t wanna explode / You got me in a choke hold”), followed by Automatic Thrash Machine, a wild, metallic ride by Hyperia where the frantic riffage by Colin and the classic beats by Ryan will drag you to a fun, unstoppable circle pit in the name of our good old Thrash Metal. More of the band’s insane thrashing sounds is offered to us all in Prophet of Deceit, where Marlee sounds absolutely demented on vocals while her bandmates keep the music as melodic and heavy as it can be, whereas Psychosomatic is another excellent tune crafted by Hyperia where the riffs and solos by Colin together with the rumbling bass by Jon will punch you hard in the head mercilessly. And even more frantic, caustic and demented than its predecessors, the title-track The Serpent’s Cycle is a lecture in modern-day Melodic Thrash Metal where Marlee continues to roar like a she-beast while Ryan steals the show with his ruthless and very technical drumming.

There’s no time to breathe as the quartet continues their thrashing extravaganza in Trapped in Time, again showcasing their trademark wicked screams, sharp riffs and thunderous bass and drums, whereas Marlee takes her insanity to a whole new level in Spirit Bandit, an explosion of old school Thrash Metal that will please all fans of the genre. Eye for an Eye brings forward another round of their acid lyrics (“A flicker of a person / A victim of arson / Sudden movement of a chair / But nothing’s there”) amidst a neck-breaking sound led by the pounding drums by Ryan, followed by Binge & Surge, offering us all a solid display of Thrash Metal with a strong melodic vein (albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album). Deathbringer, the last original song of the album, will darken the skies in the name of pure evil and hatred, and it’s impressive how the band added elements from Black Metal to their sound, in special the demonic riffs by Colin, resulting in a beyond heavy and thunderous tune. Lastly, we’re treated to Hyperia’s rendition of Heart’s classic Crazy On You (check the original version HERE, from their 1975 album Dreamboat Annie), and their version keeps the core essence of the original intact while adding their own thrashing twist to it.

It’s a real pleasure witnessing the evolution of Hyperia through the years, carving their names in the Canadian scene and becoming one of the driving forces of the current Thrash Metal environment, with The Serpent’s Cycle definitely taking the band to new heights. Hence, don’t forget to check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their YouTube channel and to stream all of their amazing albums on Spotify, and above all that, to purchase their sick new album directly from their BandCamp page. Having said all that, it’s time to join the thrashing feast by Hyperia in The Serpent’s Cycle, and you better get ready because their circle pit has no date or time to end.

Best moments of the album: Automatic Thrash Machine, The Serpent’s Cycle, Spirit Bandit and Deathbringer.

Worst moments of the album: Binge & Surge.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Ego Trip 4:41
2. Automatic Thrash Machine 4:02
3. Prophet of Deceit 4:16
4. Psychosomatic 4:29
5. The Serpent’s Cycle 5:04
6. Trapped in Time 3:58
7. Spirit Bandit 4:04
8. Eye for an Eye  4:47
9. Binge & Surge 3:44
10. Deathbringer 5:31
11. Crazy On You (Heart cover) 5:03

Band members
Marlee Ryley – vocals
Colin Ryley – guitars
Jon Power – bass
Ryan Idris – drums

Concert Review – Suffocation & Incantation (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 11/13/2023)

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Four of the best Death Metal bands of the current scene worldwide delivered a night of sheer brutality, rage and endless circle pits last night in Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: Stabbing and Skeletal Remains

What a night of brutality and circle pits in Toronto, my friends! SUFFOCATION and INCANTATION, with very special guests SKELETAL REMAINS and STABBING, put on a sensational performance for the delight of all attendees at Lee’s Palace last night during their Ancient Unholy Uprising Tour 2023. Although it might be getting colder and colder in Toronto as winter is almost upon us, all four bands made sure we remained as warm as possible while they blasted their instruments on stage in the name of our good old Death Metal. I just think the venue should have opened their doors a little earlier than 6:30pm to give everyone enough time to buy merch and have a few drinks, but nothing that would make the whole night less enjoyable, of course.

Shortly after the doors opened, the first band of the night, Houston, Texas-based Brutal Death Metal entity STABBING, kicked of the Death Metal ceremony with a ruthless and demonic performance spearheaded by the she-demon Bridget Lynch, who by the way looked possessed on stage and made it almost impossible to see her face during the entire show. Having released the album Extirpated Mortal Process in 2022, plus a brand new demo earlier this year, the quartet showed no mercy for our necks and bodies, demanding some vigorous headbanging and already inspiring the crowd to slam into the circle pit frantically, playing songs such as Inhaling The Dead, Gutted By The Beast, and Pulsing Wound with endless rage and dexterity. If you know nothing about Stabbing, go check their wicked and beyond brutal creations on BandCamp and on Spotify, and if you’re attending any of the shows form this tour make sure you get to the venue in time to witness Bridget and the boys crushing the souls of the lighthearted on stage. You’re going to love it!

Setlist
Inhaling The Dead
Final Flesh Feast
Gutted By The Beast
Visions Of Eternal Suffering
Vortex Of The Severed Dead
Ravenous Psychotic Onslaught
Pulled Apart
It Ends With Flames
Pulsing Wound

Band members
Bridget Lynch – vocals
Marvin Ruiz – guitars
Matt Day – bass
Nat Conner – drums

After a quick intermission (and by the way, kudos to the house DJ for playing tons of Death and Thrash Metal songs during the breaks instead of some generic stuff), it was time for Whittier, California’s own Death Metal squad SKELETAL REMAINS to ignite some of the sickest mosh pits of the night armed with their sonic savagery and heaviness. If I said it was almost impossible to see Bridget’s face during Stabbing, well, it was ABSOLUTELY impossible to see the face of vocalist and guitarist Chris Monroy during Skeletal Remains. Was it really him on stage? Jokes aside, it was another phenomenal display of classic Death Metal by the quartet, with drummer Pierce Williams sounding infernal throughout the entire concert. Blending songs from all of their four amazing albums, including their latest one The Entombment of Chaos, released in 2020, plus their brand new single Void of Despair (and judging by how demolishing the new song is, we should get ready for another merciless Death Metal attack by those guys in their upcoming album), those American metallers pulverized everyone who dared to brave the nonstop circle pit at Lee’s Palace, and if you want to get a sense of how vile and thunderous their music sounds before seeing them live, I recommend streaming all of their catalogue on Spotify. And on a side note, I must say Skeletal Remains had the best merch available hands down, offering so many cool shirts and other items you must see their merch stand to believe it.

Setlist
Void of Despair
Parasitic Horrors
Beyond Cremation
Illusive Divinity
Internal Detestation
Conquer
Congregation of Flesh
Torture Labyrinth
Tombs of Chaos

Band members
Chris Monroy – vocals, guitars
Mike De La O – guitars
Brian Rush – bass
Pierce Williams – drums

INCANTATION

One of the main attractions of the night, Johnstown, Pennsylvania’s own Death Metal machine INCANTATION, was supposed to have started their concert at around 8:35pm, but it was already past 8:45pm when they finally hit the stage. That small delay didn’t mean anything to their avid fans at all, because as soon as they began playing the first notes from the opening song Concordat (The Pact) I it was absolute carnage and violence in the floor section with a wild circle pit that looked like it was going to last forever. The new songs from their recently launched beast Unholy Deification, such as Invocation (Chthonic Merge) X, worked really well mixed with some of their most demolishing classics, while the band’s iconic frontman John McEntee kept his horns high in the air every single second he wasn’t shredding his guitar, being always promptly followed by all of the band’s diehard fans in the pit.

One of the funniest moments of the concert happened between two of the songs from their setlist when John said that every single time Kyle hits his drums, a poser dies. Guess what? Kyle hit his drums, and John simply said “another poser just died”. A simple but effective joke that added an extra touch of intimacy to their incendiary performance, building an even stronger connection between the band and their fans. Hence, if you want to feel all the fury blasted by Invocation and get more than prepared for their killer concert in your city, you can stream all of their wicked creations on BandCamp and on Spotify, warming up your blood vessels for the music by one of the most hardworking and vibrant veterans in the history of Death Metal.

Setlist
Concordat (The Pact) I
Rites of the Locust
Carrion Prophecy
Shadows of the Ancient Empire
Fury’s Manifesto
Blasphemous Cremation
Ascend Into the Eternal
Chalice (Vessel Consanguineous) VIII
Invocation (Chthonic Merge) X
The Ibex Moon
Impending Diabolical Conquest

Band members
John McEntee – vocals, guitars
Luke Shively – guitars
Chuck Sherwood – bass
Kyle Severn – drums

SUFFOCATION

It was a little past 10pm when Long Island, New York-based Brutal/Technical Death Metal institution SUFFOCATION began their violent, ruthless performance, and I honestly don’t know how all photographers, including my friend Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography and Kim Baarda, managed to take proper photos of Suffocation or of any of the other bands without a barrier separating them from the crowd, as they had to endure all mosh pits while holding their cameras. It was insane, and I must say they’re really brave for facing that. Promoting their brand new opus Hymns from the Apocrypha (their first without Frank Mullen on vocals), the band now fronted by the talented growler Ricky Myers (Disgorge, Sarcolytic) simply kicked us all in the ass with their fast, heavy and evil songs, including some newborn killers the likes of Seraphim Enslavement, Dim Veil of Obscurity, and the title-track Hymns From the Apocrypha, all by the way available on Spotify.

There was this guy who spent more time up in the air doing crowd surfing than actually standing on his feet. I don’t know his name, but holy shit, he was going up and down the stage pretty much the entire time doing crowd surfing. Does anyone know his name? He deserves a medal for crowd surfer of the year. Anyway, one of the coolest moments during Suffocation’s thunderous concert, if not the coolest moment of the entire night, was when Bridget from Stabbing joined the band on stage and made one of the most visceral duos in the history of Death Metal with Ricky, with both growling, barking and roaring like beasts for our total delight. And suffocation kept the momentum going nutil the very last second of their show, leaving us all eager for more of their music in a not-so-distant future, and proving once again that singing about death, murder, blood, gore and so on can indeed put a smile on ourfaces, just like what happened last night in Toronto.

Setlist
Catatonia
Seraphim Enslavement
Breeding the Spawn
Dim Veil of Obscurity
Pierced From Within
Funeral Inception
Perpetual Deception
Bind Torture Kill
Hymns From the Apocrypha
Liege of Inveracity
Infecting the Crypts

Band members
Ricky Myers – vocals
Terrance Hobbs – guitars
Charlie Errigo – guitars
Derek Boyer – bass
Eric Morotti – drums

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Album Review – Display of Decay / Vitriol (2023)

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Edmonton, Canada’s own Death Metal machine is back with their demolishing fourth full-length album, paying homage to the brutal and aggressive roots of the genre.

Prepare for an unrelenting assault on your senses as Edmonton, Alberta’s very own Brutal Death Metal titans Display of Decay unleash their latest opus, titled Vitriol. Drawing inspiration from the early Death Metal pioneers like Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation and Cryptopsy, Display of Decay have crafted an album that pays homage to the brutal and aggressive roots of the genre while infusing their own unique sickness into the mix. Produced by the band itself, mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson of Cryptopsy, and displaying a sick cover art by Caelan Stokkermans, Vitriol is an auditory journey into a realm of relentless brutality, where thundering drums, guttural vocals, and savage guitar riffs converge to create a sonic onslaught that leaves no room for compromise, all masterfully crafted by Sean Watson on vocals and guitar, Brandon Siefert on bass and Logan Wilson on drums, resulting in the perfect follow-up to their 2018 album Art in Mutilation.

Sean shows no mercy for his guitar in Malicious Motorcide, delivering dirty, devilish riffs while Logan crushes his drums nonstop in the name of Death Metal, resulting in an aggressive way to kick off the album by those three marauders followed by The Butcher, even heavier and more obscure, where Sean continues to vociferate like a demon while Brandon and Logan make sure the atmosphere remains as dense as possible with their respective bass punches and hammering drums. Their fusion of brutality and rage will set fire to the music in Legion of Doom, with Brandon’s bass sounding utterly metallic while Sean shreds his guitar in great fashion until the very last second. And Familial Feast is another no shenanigans, in-you-face display of classic Death Metal infused with Brutal Death Metal elements, inviting us all to slam into the pit to the manic roars by Sean and the always demented drums by Logan.

Get ready for another sonic attack courtesy of Display of Decay titled Harbinger, where Logan brings his heavy artillery to the music contributing to make it even more perverse and insane, not to mention the putrid guttural by Sean; and featuring guest drummer Tyson Travnik (Gatekeeper, Striker, Ironstorm), the band brings forward more of their caustic Death Metal in the form of Hot Lead Vengeance, with Tyson stealing the show with a very technical yet violent performance. It’s time for Sean to slash our ears with his dirty riffage in Slaughtercast, perfect for some vigorous headbanging until your neck can’t take it anymore, keeping the album at a high level of animosity; whereas Tyson Travnik returns with his infernal, demolishing beats in the title-track Vitriol, putting a pulverizing ending to the album while Sean barks and growls in them most gruesome and demented way you can imagine.

Vitriol, which is available for a full and detailed listen on YouTube and on Spotify, definitely represents a step forward in the career of those Canadian metallers, cementing their name in the local scene and helping them spread their music all across the world. Hence, you can keep updated with all things Display of Decay by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, and of course by purchasing a copy of the vicious Vitriol by clicking HERE or HERE. Brutal Death Metal made in Canada is on the rise, and we must thank bands like Display of Decay for their relentless work in the name of extreme music, always offering us all top-of-the-line albums like their latest opus.

Best moments of the album: The Butcher, Harbinger and Hot Lead Vengeance.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Gore House Productions

Track listing
1. Malicious Motorcide 3:17
2. The Butcher 4:26
3. Legion of Doom 4:04
4. Familial Feast 3:26
5. Harbinger 3:06
6. Hot Lead Vengeance 4:01
7. Slaughtercast 3:55
8. Vitriol 3:19

Band members
Sean Watson – vocals, guitar
Brandon Siefert – bass
Logan Wilson – drums

Guest musician
Tyson Travnik – drums on “Vitriol” and “Hot Lead Vengeance”

Album Review – NecroticGoreBeast / Repugnant (2023)

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A depraved Brutal Death Metal entity from Quebec City returns from the pits of hell with a new album, offering us all a 30-minute cascade of magnificent horrors.

A tumultuous confluence of a multitude of extremes, crimson streams of wicked creativity, cruel precision, sheer sickening heaviness and fear-choked atmosphere, bleeding together into a coagulating pool of ichor and viscera, Quebec City, Quebec-based Brutal Death Metal unity NecroticGoreBeast returns from the pits of the underworld with a pulverizing new album, titled Repugnant. Mixed and mastered by Miguel Tereso at Demigod Recordings, and displaying a sinister artwork by RF Pangborn, Repugnant is a cascade of magnificent horrors masterfully brought into being by John Mayer on vocals, Michael Chamberland on the guitars, Alexandre Brochu on bass and JP Bouchard on drums, being highly recommended for fans of the visceral music by Devourment, Cryptopsy, Deeds Of Flesh and Wormed, among many others.

Twisted, devilish guitars ignite the title-track Repugnant, exploding into a gory and visceral sound where John vociferates rabidly supported by the massive drums by JP, flowing into the also brutal and technical Unsedated Face Removal, with Michael slashing his axe in great fashion, inviting us all to slam into the pit like demented beasts. Consensual Castration is another cohesive, in-your-face display of Brutal Death Metal by the quartet where JP steals the show by hammering his drums until the very last second, whereas Michael and Alexandre keep pounding their strings mercilessly in Self-Inflicted Cerebral Edema, another vile Death Metal onrush where John continues to bark and roar viciously for our total delight. Then, bringing forward an even more sinister vibe, the band offers our putrid ears the insane Gouged Eye Copulation, a neck-breaking tune showcasing their trademark guttural and slamming riffs and drums.

Masturbated to Death is one of those songs with an eerie intro that evolves into pure carnage, heaviness and gore, with Michael once again cutting our skin deep with his caustic riffage; while Nail Clipper Circumcision carries a very charming name for another classic Brutal Death Metal extravaganza, with John roaring like a demented creature while his bandmates keep destroying their instruments in the name of savagery and heaviness. After that, Ruptured Priapism keeps the album at a high level of blasphemy, violence and evil, with the riffs by Michael being nicely complemented by the metallic bass by Alexandre; and devilish barks and roars, unstoppable drums and extreme aggression will hit you hard in Phlebotomized, a great option for crushing your skull into the circle pit. Last but not least, there’s still time for one final venomous attack titled Frozen Feces Evisceration, with john sounding inhumane on vocals as usual.

With each new album, NecroticGoreBeast redefine what Brutal Death Metal can be, to what breathtaking sonic extremes this music can be taken. Repugnant (which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify) represents a new terrifying pinnacle for the genre, and NecroticGoreBeast are gazing down at the carnage they have left in their wake, secure upon their throne. Hence, if you want to feel that carnage penetrating deep inside your mind and soul, you can purchase a copy of the album from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore (as a CD, a cassette, a vinyl or a very special CD + shirt + sticker bundle), or simply click HERE for all things NecroticGoreBeast. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news and tour dates, and to stream all of their wicked creations on Spotify, keeping those Canadian metallers inspired to haunt our souls with their demonic music for many years to come.

Best moments of the album: Unsedated Face Removal, Self-Inflicted Cerebral Edema and Nail Clipper Circumcision.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Repugnant 3:07
2. Unsedated Face Removal 3:07
3. Consensual Castration 3:07
4. Self-Inflicted Cerebral Edema 2:59
5. Gouged Eye Copulation 2:58
6. Masturbated to Death 3:46
7. Nail Clipper Circumcision 3:15
8. Ruptured Priapism 3:18
9. Phlebotomized 3:00
10. Frozen Feces Evisceration 2:17

Band members
John Mayer – vocals
Michael Chamberland – guitar
Alexandre Brochu – bass
JP Bouchard – drums

Album Review – Angelus Apatrida / Aftermath (2023)

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Spain’s Thrash Metal masters are back with a vicious and vital response to the chaos we see all around us, offering our avid ears all titanium-plated modern thrash of the highest order.

The world has taken a battering over the last few years, but Spanish Thrash Metal masters Angelus Apatrida are leading the fightback. Two years after their breathtaking self-titled album, the band formed of vocalist and guitarist Guillermo Izquierdo, guitarist David G. Álvarez, bassist José J. Izquierdo and drummer Víctor Valera returns to the battlefield with a striking new opus titled Aftermath, a vicious and vital response to the chaos we see all around us. Produced by the band itself, recorded by Juanan López at Baboon Records, mixed and mastered by Zeuss at Planet-Z, and displaying a classy artwork by longtime collaborator Gyula Havancsák of Hjules Illustration and Design, the eighth studio album in their undisputed career is titanium-plated modern thrash of the highest order, marking a pinnacle in the band’s determined and always fruitful career.

Their most thrashing side arises like a beast from the underworld in Scavenger, with Víctor showcasing a superb performance on drums while the guitars sound as caustic as they can be, followed by Cold, a very rhythmic yet visceral tune with its awesome lyrics being declaimed by Guillermo in great fashion (“I find myself in places that I’ve never been before / Tried to beat the weakness but I’m not even close / The sands of time are falling and it’s hard to get this far / Left behind in chaos I keep going the best I can”). Then, featuring guest vocals by the iconic Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, it’s time to add an extra dosage of Hardcore to their sound in Snob, where Guillermo and Jamey make a sensational vocal duo while the instrumental pieces sound pulverizing; whereas Fire Eyes is a darker, more introspective tune where Guillermo and David, plus guest guitarist Pablo García of Warcry, sound ruthless with their sharp riffage and solos. And Rats is faster, more brutal and electrifying, another Thrash Metal beast by Angelus Apatrida that will generate some insane circle pits during their live shows.

A slow and dark start quickly evolves into another thrashing attack by the quartet in To Whom It May Concern, with Víctor once again hammering his drums nonstop, not to mention it’s beautiful breaks, variations and guitar solos, and they keep blasting their instruments in Gernika, perfect for some action inside the pit to the venomous roars by Guillermo and the rumbling kitchen by José and Víctor. Are you still alive? If so, get ready to be crushed to pieces in I Am Hatred, with the guitars by Guillermo and David piercing our ears mercilessly; and featuring guest vocals by Sho-Hai of Violadores del Verso, What Kills Us All brings forward more of their acid Thrash Metal for our total delight, with Víctor stealing the spotlight with his classic beats and fills. Lastly, featuring guest vocalist Todd La Torre of Queensrÿche, we’re treated to the stunning Vultures and Butterflies, showcasing a beautiful chorus (“As deadly as a vulture / As fragile as a butterfly / Both dancers within nature / Circling till they die”) amidst a lecture in heavy music blending heaviness, melancholy and darkness in a sensational way. Furthermore, the digital edition of the album contains two killer bonus tracks, those being live versions of Indoctrinate and Give ‘Em War that sound absolutely insane, with Guillermo sounding flawless on vocals on both.

In a nutshell, Angelus Apatrida nailed it once again with Aftermath, proving why they’re one of the most respected, talented and hardworking names of the Thrash Metal scene worldwide. Hence, you can feel all the adrenaline and violence flowing form their bestial new album by streaming it in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course by purchasing your desired version of the album by clicking HERE. You can also start following the guys from Angelus Apatrida on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about them, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their insane music and videos. “We can describe ‘Aftermath’ as what metal means to us,” commented Guillermo. “It contains the best songs we’ve ever written. It is just very difficult to pick just one or two highlights on this album since every single track could be a single itself.” Let’s say that he basically summarized the album perfectly, and if you consider yourself a true thrasher, don’t waste a single second and go slam into the circle pit while listening to such metal masterpiece.

Best moments of the album: Scavenger, Snob, Rats and Vultures and Butterflies.

Worst moments of the album: Fire Eyes.

Released in 2023 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Scavenger 3:47
2. Cold 5:53
3. Snob 4:33
4. Fire Eyes 5:26
5. Rats 5:12
6. To Whom It May Concern 8:38
7. Gernika 3:59
8. I Am Hatred 3:27
9. What Kills Us All 5:02
10. Vultures and Butterflies 4:44

Digital Edition bonus tracks
11. Indoctrinate (Live in Bilbao 2023) 6:27
12. Give ‘Em War (Live in Barcelona 2023) 3:30

Band members
Guillermo Izquierdo – vocals, guitars
David G. Álvarez – guitars
José J. Izquierdo – bass
Víctor Valera – drums

Guest musicians
Jamey Jasta – vocals on “Snob”
Pablo García – guitars on “Fire Eyes”
Todd La Torre – vocals on “Vultures and Butterflies”
Sho-Hai – vocals on “What Kills Us All”

Album Review – A Dark Reborn / Last Echo (2023)

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Embark on a musical voyage to the sound of this conceptual album about a space trip to a new life, carefully brought into being by an up-and-coming Melodic Death Metal outfit from Spain.

Leaded by the charismatic vocalist Lur, Girona, Spain-based Melodic Death Metal outfit A Dark Reborn combines atmospheric piano sounds with clean vocals and their darkest influences shaped by the power of their guitar riffs, which can easily be seen in their newborn opus, titled Last Echo. Produced, recorded and mixed by Raúl Abellán at The Mixtery, mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios, and displaying a futuristic artwork by Gustavo Sazes (and in the words of the band, it reflects “that new world to discover, decadent, desolate and dark, but still harbors hope”), the follow-up to their 2022 album The Light is a conceptual album that is about a space trip to a new life, all carefully brought into being by the aforementioned Lur on vocals alongside Thomas and Denis on the guitars, Ivan on bass, and Saül on drums.

The guitars by Thomas and Denis set the tone in the opening tune The Flight, being quickly joined by the rumbling kitchen by Ivan and Saül and, of course, the delicate yet infernal roars by Lur. Then drinking form the same fountain as Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal masters such as Soilwork, Arch Enemy and In Flames, the band offers us all an electrifying tune titled Illusions, which should work really well if played live, whereas minimalist, sinister guitar lines gradually evolve into a modern-day Melodic Death Metal feast titled Keida, with Lur roaring manically supported by the rumbling bass by Ivan while Saül keeps hammering his drums in great fashion. And in the title-track Last Echo the band enhances their heaviness and obscurity, which leads Lur to vociferate with even more anger in her blackened heart while also delivering her passionate clean vocals for our total delight.

Featuring vocalist Daniël de Jongh (Crown Compass, Black Nazareth, Textures) in a gripping duo with Lur, Ritual will inspire us all to bang our heads together with the band while Raül continues to pound his drums mercilessly; followed by Delirium, as atmospheric and futuristic as its predecessors, reminding me of some of the most visceral creations by Infected Rain. Moreover, Lur once again steals the spotlight with her wild growls and clean vocals. Their Melodic Death Metal feast with modern elements goes on in Levitating the Void, with Lur kicking ass on vocals as usual supported by the metallic bass by Ivan and the always hammering drums by Saül. Dark Matter is not a bad song, but a bit generic if compared to the rest of the album, while Lur still showcases all her vocal power, of course; whereas lastly, we’re treated to Hopeless, another song with an atmospheric vibe that evolves into a dark ballad full of passion, anguish and melancholy, putting a stylish ending to the album.

“The atmospheres and pianos will accompany you on this journey composed of three parts, where they continue with a Melodic Death Metal base, raw and dark parts, heartbreaking passages, melodic and melancholic choruses, and even some parts that reveal a lot of light, but soon return to take you to darkness and desolation,” commented the band about their new album, and you can enjoy that fusion of heavy music, passion and great storytelling in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, or purchase your favorite version of the album from the Art Gates Records webstore or by clicking HERE. In addition, go check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their tour dates, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their classy music. After all is said and done, are you ready to join A Dark Reborn in their space trip to a new life to the sound of their new album? I’m sure you won’t regret it at all.

Best moments of the album: Illusions, Last Echo and Ritual.

Worst moments of the album: Dark Matter.

Released in 2023 Art Gates Records

Track listing
1. The Flight 4:02
2. Illusions 4:06
3. Keida 4:26
4. Last Echo 3:27
5. Ritual 4:23
6. Delirium 3:44
7. Levitating the Void 5:47
8. Dark Matter 3:53
9. Hopeless 3:42

Band members
Lur – vocals
Thomas – lead guitars
Denis – rhythm guitars
Ivan – bass
Saül – drums

Guest musician
Daniël de Jongh – vocals on “Ritual”