Tag Archives: alabama

Album Review – Ectovoid / In Unreality’s Coffin (2026)

Posted on by
Reply

From the abyssal and blistering depths of Alabama, this vile creature returns with its third studio album, an exhumation of Death Metal’s spectral essence and a relentless pulse of putrefaction.

From the abyssal and blistering depths of Alabama and featuring members from Seraphic Entombment and Father Befouled, the destructive Death Metal force known as Ectovoid returns in full force with their third full-length opus, titled In Unreality’s Coffin, the follow-up to their 2015 sophomore Dark Abstraction. Recorded, mixed and engineered by Alex Parra at Second Sight Sound, mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio, and showcasing another killer artwork by Italian master Paulo Girardi, the new offering by C.B. on vocals and guitars, C.S. also on the guitars, R.S. on bass, and C.M. on drums is an exhumation of Death Metal’s spectral essence and a relentless pulse of putrefaction, summoning shadows into eternal decay and entombing listeners in cavernous pummeling riffs.

Those American death dealers begin their infuriated feast of venomous sounds in Dissonance Corporeum, with C.B. already vomiting the song’s devilish words accompanied by the unstoppable beats and fills by C.M., whereas Collapsing Spiritual Nebula sounds even more dynamic and vibrant, with the Crust-infused riffs by C.B. and C.S. transpiring a violent blend of Death Metal. R.S. and C.M. continue to shake the foundations of earth in Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane), perfect for some insane “dancing” inside the circle pit; and investing in a ruthless 90’s Death Metal sonority we face Formless Seeking Form, with C.B.’s gruesome roars being nicely complemented by C.S.’s grim backing vocals. And if that’s not heavy enough for you, Irradiated Self manages to get even more demented, infernal and visceral than its predecessors, with C.M. once again stealing the show with his deadly beats and fills.

The guitars by C.B. and C.S. keep breathing fire in the title-track In Unreality’s Coffin, inviting us all to bang our fucking heads nonstop in the name of primeval Death Metal, supported by the rumbling bass by R.S.; and the quartet shows no mercy for our putrid souls in Erroneous Birth, melting our faces with their undisputed violence and hatred, with C.B. barking and roaring manically for our total delight. Their second to last explosion of old school Death Metal comes in the form of It Is Without Shape, an instrumental interlude that could have had some vocals to give it an extra taste, flowing into In Anguished Levitation, a lecture in absolute brutality and insanity where their caustic riffs, demonic guttural and demolishing bass and drums turn it into a must-listen for fans of the genre.

Across three full-length albums and various other releases, Ectovoid have fiercely honed their craft, carving out a distinct identity in the broader Death Metal landscape while continuing to pursue higher plateaus of dark Death Metal artistry, with In Unreality’s Coffin flawlessly representing the band’s evolution in the extreme arts, being therefore tailored for admirers of the just as heavy sounds by Autopsy, Necrot, Incantation, and Acephalix, among others. The guys from Ectovoid are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their music, and don’t forget to also stream their vicious creations on Spotify, and to put your bloody hands on In Unreality’s Coffin by clicking HERE (BandCamp) or HERE (mailorder). In other words, it’s time to summon total darkness to the sound of the new opus by Ectovoid, feeding you inner demons with their ruthless and primeval blend of Death Metal insanity.

Best moments of the album: Collapsing Spiritual Nebula, Irradiated Self and In Anguished Levitation.

Worst moments of the album: It Is Without Shape.

Released in 2026 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Dissonance Corporeum 4:24
2. Collapsing Spiritual Nebula 5:42
3. Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane) 3:55
4. Formless Seeking Form 6:02
5. Irradiated Self 3:55
6. In Unreality’s Coffin 4:06
7. Erroneous Birth 5:42
8. It Is Without Shape 3:22
9. In Anguished Levitation 7:26

Band members
C.B. – vocals, guitars
C.S. – guitars, backing vocals
R.S. – bass
C.M. – drums

Album Review – Blood and Brutality / Wrath Upon EP (2025)

Posted on by
Reply

This three-piece Death and Thrash Metal outfit attacks again with a brand new EP, offering six tracks that are fast, heavy and sharply executed, with a sound that stays true to their roots while pushing into fresher ground.

A three-piece band known for their uncompromising live performances and raw intensity formed in 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama, Death/Thrash Metal outfit Blood and Brutality is raising hell once again with their brand new EP, entitled Wrath Upon, the follow-up to their 2023 EP Evil Dead (and their third EP in a row). Recorded at B&B Records Studios, mixed by Bryan Arant, and mastered by Andreas Westholm at Dark Prod, the new EP by Bryan Arant on vocals and drums, Tim Boykin on the guitars, and Max Rains on bass offers six tracks that are fast, heavy and sharply executed, with a sound that stays true to their roots while pushing into fresher ground.

Wrath Upon Thee already blasts our ears with their trademark Death Metal with an edgy Hardcore vibe, with Bryan sounding demented both on drums and with his visceral screams while Tim delivers pure, unfiltered Punk Rock-infused riffs. Chaos to Silence, the first single of the EP, offers more of the trio’s undisputed attitude and violence, with both Tim and Max hammering their stringed axes; then a sinister, cinematic interlude titled March Towards Destiny sets the tone for Never Surrender, a no shenanigans display of aggression in the vein of the early days of Slayer, which is obviously a great thing, led by Bryan’s nonstop beats and fills. Fuck You brings forward one minute of a beautiful message by the band presenting hints of Rockabilly in their core sound, whereas lastly they fire a heavier neck-breaking tune titled Life is Pain, with the riffage by Tim sounding beyond caustic while Bryan barks like a demented creature nonstop until the song’s ethereal finale.

Many of the songs have been tested live over the past few years, giving them a natural energy in the studio. Not only that, the band describe their new EP as the best representation so far of what they sound like on stage, delivered with a clean and high-quality production that will certainly please fans of Slayer, Pantera, Metallica, Death, and Morbid Angel, just to name a few. Hence, you can get in touch with those hardworking metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their sonic brutality on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of their new EP from BandCamp. Those guys are not named Blood and Brutality in vain, because that’s exactly what you’ll get in Wrath Upon. Pure blood and brutality in the form of ass-kicking Death and Thrash Metal.

Best moments of the album: Wrath Upon Thee and Never Surrender.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Blood and Brutality Records

Track listing
1. Wrath Upon Thee 2:12
2. Chaos to Silence 3:12
3. March Towards Destiny 1:31
4. Never Surrender 1:49
5. Fuck You 1:00
6. Life is Pain 4:37

Band members
Bryan Arant – vocals, drums
Tim Boykin – guitars
Max Rains – bass

Album Review – Black Hole Deity / Lair Of Xenolich EP (2021)

Posted on by
1

This new American entity comes ripping with their debut dimension-altering listening experience, overflowing their supernatural and sci-fi-themed Death Metal.

When you put together past and present members of ruthless metal acts like Chaos Inception, Malignancy, Fear Factory, Cruelty Exalted and Calcemia, the result is obviously going to be demolishing to say the least. That’s exactly what vocalist Chris White, guitarists Alec Cordero and Cam Pinkerton, and renowned drummer Mike Heller, collectively known as Birmingham, Alabama-based Death Metal horde Black Hole Deity, have to offer us all in their debut EP entitled Lair Of Xenolich, highly recommended for fans of the likes of Nocturnus, Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal and Deeds of Flesh, just to name a few. Produced and mixed by Mike Heller at Heaven and Heller Studios, re-amped and mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD Studios, and featuring a blasphemous artwork by Chris Kiesling from Misanthropic Art, Lair Of Xenolich is a dimension-altering listening experience, bringing to our ears supernatural and sci-fi-themed Death Metal, sounding progressive yet dark and brutal throughout its intense 16 minutes of music.

Mike showcases all his brutality and skills behind his drums in the fulminating opening tune Razed Earth Edict, where the band goes straight to the point, with Chris’ demented roars complementing their razor-edged riffs flawlessly. Then in Railgun Combat we’re treated to venomous lyrics barked by Chris (“Incandescent / Blaze through steel corridors / Priming our armaments / To sear their flesh / Break the covenant / Carnage in the church of Nihilanth / Bursts of plasma, claims their souls”) while Alec and Cam continue to kill with their stringed axes in another bestial Death Metal exhibit by the quartet, and featuring guest violinist Ally Storch, Hypersleep Dementia is a melodic and introspective interlude that will penetrate deep inside our psyche before the band comes ripping in Multiverse Incantations, with Mike hammering his drums mercilessly accompanied by the obscure riffage by Alec and Cam, resulting in a headbanging extravaganza with absolutely no shenanigans nor any artificial elements. And lastly, the title-track Lair Of Xenolich will offer your avid ears three minutes of top-of-the-line Death Metal, with Alec’s soulful solos and Mike’s crushing beats adding an extra touch of malignancy to the overall result, therefore putting an amazing ending to the album.

After all is said and done, although we’re talking about just 16 minutes of music, let’s say the dexterity, rage and intensity those four horsemen of Death Metal put into the making of the EP make it sound like a full-bodied album, pointing to an exciting future ahead of them full of wicked, multi-layered releases. Hence, don’t forget to show Black Hole Deity your appreciation by following them on Facebook, and especially by purchasing Lair Of Xenolich from the Everlasting Spew Records’ BandCamp page or webstore (and soon from other retailers like Apple Music and Amazon), keeping the fires of underground Death Metal burning bright and, of course, inspiring us to slam into the pit like true metalmaniacs to the furious sound of their top-of-the-line sci-fi inspired creations.

Best moments of the album: Razed Earth Edict and Lair Of Xenolich.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2021 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Razed Earth Edict 4:22
2. Railgun Combat 3:28
3. Hypersleep Dementia 1:49
4. Multiverse Incantations 4:10
5. Lair Of Xenolich 3:03

Band members
Chris White – vocals
Alec Cordero – lead guitar
Cam Pinkerton – rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals
Mike Heller – drums

Guest musician
Ally Storch – violin on “Hypersleep Dementia”