Tag Archives: arizona

Album Review – The Final Witness / Beneath The Altar (2025)

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Behold the debut album by this Phoenix, Arizona-based Progressive Thrash/Death Metal one-man act, progressing with intense aggression, passages of amazing, atmospheric, melodious reflection and a staggering array of riffs.

Solo projects are not the rare entity that they once were in the multitude of metal genres, and an album can simply pass us by as just another barely noted scrap of information. However, when the songs are so individual, complex and emotionally charged it can still take your breath away. That’s exactly the case with The Final Witness, the debut album by Phoenix, Arizona-based Progressive Thrash/Death Metal act The Final Witness, the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Josh Henderson. Produced by Jason Wisdom of Becoming The Archetype, Beneath The Altar offers no gradual immersion into its turbulent waters, no gradual revealing of its unpredictable nature, progressing with intense aggression, incredible guitar solos, passages of amazing, atmospheric, melodious reflection and a staggering array of riffs.

Josh’s incendiary riffs set fire to the atmosphere in Principalities, also presenting crushing beats and fills, and his trademark demonic roars, resulting in a great start to the album, followed by Coronation, even more melodic than the opening track, with Josh shredding his axe in the name of Progressive Death Metal. The title-track Beneath The Altar also brings to our avid ears Josh’s share of aggressiveness mixed with pure melody and intricacy, not to mention his work on the guitars and drums is fantastic; and he keeps roaring and barking nonstop in Sanctum of the Holy, offering more of his Progressive Death Metal blend, with his scorching riffs adding intricacy and rage to the music. Our lone wolf then puts the pedal to the metal in the infuriated Negative World, offering a high dosage of Death and Thrash Metal violence armed with his blast beats and visceral growling. Testimony, the second to last song from the album, is a burst of pure energy, keeping the fun inside the pit flowing until we face The Blood, another complex and long composition presenting his piercing riffage and progressive beats and fills, resulting in a multi-layered tune recommended for fans of the genre.

Highly recommended for fans of bands the likes of Sadus, White Stones, Coroner, and Moonloop, among others, Beneath The Altar definitely deserves a listen by any fan of high quality extreme music with a strong progressive and melodic vein, and you can get to know more about Josh and his The Final Witness on Facebook and on Instagram, stream the album in full sooner than later on Spotify, and of course, grab a copy of it from the Rottweiler Records’ BandCamp or webstore, as well as from DistroKid, or simply click HERE for all things The Final Witness. It’s time for Beneath The Altar to be unleashed, positioning The Final Witness as a force to be reckoned with in the current American scene, therefore inspiring the multi-talented Josh to keep venturing through the wild and unpredictable lands of progressiveness as a true lone wolf, always putting a huge smile on our faces with more excellent releases like Beneath The Altar.

Best moments of the album: Coronation, Beneath The Altar and Negative World.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Rottweiler Records

Track listing
1. Principalities 5:13
2. Coronation 3:56
3. Beneath The Altar 5:14
4. Sanctum of the Holy 4:27
5. Negative World 4:59
6. Testimony 6:13
7. The Blood 6:40

Band members
Josh Henderson – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Incite / Savage New Times (2025)

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This Phoenix, Arizona brigade is back with a new powerhouse of modern Thrash Metal, encapsulating the pure nature of the band instilled with their unyielding drive and years of dedication to honing their sound.

Ever since their beginnings, Phoenix, Arizona’s own Thrash/Groove Metal brigade Incite has been fiercely devoted to crafting their distinctive sound, making their mark since their 2009 debut The Slaughter. Now in 2025 the band formed of Richie Cavalera on vocals, Layne Richardson on the guitars, Christopher “EL” on bass, and Lennon Lopez on drums presents their most ferocious incarnation in the form of Savage New Times, the follow-up to their 2022 album Wake Up Dead. Recorded by Steve Evetts at Bell House Studios, mixed by Arthur Rizk, and displaying a dystopian artwork by Marcelo Vasco, Savage New Times is a powerhouse of modern Thrash Metal, encapsulating the pure nature of the band instilled with their unyielding drive and years of dedication to honing their sound.

Eli, Christopher and Lennon begin hammering their sonic weapons in the name of Thrash Metal in Lies, being quickly joined by the visceral vocals by Richie; followed by Feel This Shit (I’m Fired Up), another feast of Thrash and Groove Metal where Richie screams like a demented beast while Lennon invites us all to slam into the pit to the sound of his unstoppable beats and fills. Then the scorching riffs by Eli keep burning our skin in Just a Rat, offering more of the band’s trademark fusion of Groove Metal and heavier sounds, whereas Chucked Off is also heavy as hell, albeit a bit confusing compared to the other songs, with Eli still showcasing a good performance armed with his axe. And Doubts and the Fear lives up to the legacy of modern-day Thrash and Groove Metal, with Richie once again bursting his lungs roaring.

A sinister intro gradually morphs into a harsh and obscure metal attack titled Dolores, showcasing the band’s darkest, most introspective side, with Lennon dictating the pace with his hammering beats, and the quartet then offers an overdose of groove and violence in the form of No Mercy No Forgiveness, with Eli and Christopher extracting sheer aggression form their stringed weapons. Richie declaims pensive, dark words with tons of hatred in Used and Abused, resulting in a vile and infernal metal attack by the band, while Never Die Once reminds me of some of the creations by Soulfly, offering a strong Groove Metal sound boosted by Lennon’s pounding drums. Finally, closing the album we’re treated to two minutes of violence and animosity in the form of the title-track Savage New Times, inspiring us all for some wild, neck-breaking headbanging together with the boys.

With sheer determination and raw talent, Incite have carved out a place in modern thrash, dominating every stage with their unbreakable, unforgiving sound, and their new opus Savage New Times represents a true coronation of their focus, hard work and passion for heavy music. Hence, you can get in touch with those Phoenix thrashers via Facebook and Instagram, stream their wicked music on Spotify, and above all that, show them your utmost support by purchasing Savage New Times by clicking HERE or HERE. Our rotten and decaying society is definitely living its most savage, evil times in history, and in order to survive that there’s nothing better than our good old Thrash Metal, just like what Incite are offering in their scathing new album.

Best moments of the album: Feel This Shit (I’m Fired Up), No Mercy No Forgiveness and Savage New Times.

Worst moments of the album: Chucked Off.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Lies 3:27
2. Feel This Shit (I’m Fired Up) 2:33
3. Just a Rat 2:40
4. Chucked Off 2:48
5. Doubts and the Fear 3:15
6. Dolores 5:42
7. No Mercy No Forgiveness 2:46
8. Used and Abused 3:11
9. Never Die Once 3:22
10. Savage New Times 2:28

Band members
Richie Cavalera – vocals
Layne Richardson – guitars
Christopher “EL” – bass
Lennon Lopez – drums

Album Review – Thorn / Nebulous Womb of Eternity (2025)

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Phoenix, Arizona’s own Death/Doom Metal creature arises from its Stygian lair with its fourth studio offering, bringing forward more of its asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll.

Having a knack of churning out punchy, rotten Death Metal hymns rife with some nasty, lurching grooves, Phoenix, Arizona’s own Death/Doom Metal creature Thorn arises from its Stygian lair with its fourth studio offering, entitled Nebulous Womb of Eternity, following up on its critically acclaimed 2023 opus Evergloom. Mixed and mastered  by Daniel Bonofiglio (Fumes, Gutvoid, Intestinal Hex, Grotesque Mass, Internal Infestation), and displaying a visceral artwork by Arifullah Ali of KanvasKarat, the new album by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brennen Westermeyer brings forward more of the project’s asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll, being therefore perfect for fans of bands the likes of Mortician, Fumes, Wharflurch, Fluids, Intestine Baalism, and Retching.

Brennen showcases all his passion for the extreme from the very first second in Ooze Maelstrom, crushing his drums nonstop in great Death Metal style while also adding an extra dosage of groove to the music, and our cryptic lone rider goes full Doom Metal in the utterly heavy and disturbing Entombed in Chrysalis, hammering his drums like there’s no tomorrow while also extracting pure malignancy from his riffs, ending in a beyond cadaverous way. Then back to a more in-your-face, straightforward Death Metal mode we have Quartersawn Remains, where Brennen sounds inhumane on vocals while also firing flammable, acid riffs. Zombifying Mold, featuring a guest solo by Daniel Bonofiglio, also sounds utterly inhumane for our total delight; and it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated Haunting Gale, with its Death Metal core being nicely blackened by a good dosage of Doom Metal. Before all is said and done, we face the obscure, grim interlude Gloaming Corporeal Form, which could have been slightly shorter, setting the stage for the title-track Nebulous Womb of Eternity, featuring guest vocals by Ryan Fairfield (Hallowed Butchery, Toxic Cross), bringing to our putrid ears Brennen’s deep passion for heavy and visceral sounds, resulting in a scathing fusion of primeval death and doom where his vocals sound as cadaverous as possible.

In a nutshell, if you like the idea of Death Metal sounding massive, ponderous, and packed with heaving, earth-rumbling parts, then Nebulous Womb of Eternity is most certainly meant for you, and you can grab a copy of the album from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store, adding it to your devilish collection of doom. Don’t forget to also check what Brennen and his Thorn are up to on Instagram, to stream all of his albums on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Thorn. This is definitely the type of music not recommended for the lighthearted. This is primeval, dirty and vile Death Metal, and you better be prepared if you think you have what it takes to face Nebulous Womb of Eternity.

Best moments of the album: Entombed in Chrysalis, Quartersawn Remains and Nebulous Womb of Eternity.

Worst moments of the album: Gloaming Corporeal Form.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Ooze Maelstrom 5:14
2. Entombed in Chrysalis 8:27
3. Quartersawn Remains 4:35
4. Zombifying Mold 4:19
5. Haunting Gale 3:54
6. Gloaming Corporeal Form 2:56
7. Nebulous Womb of Eternity 7:33

Band members
Brennen Westermeyer – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Daniel Bonofiglio – guitar solo on “Zombifying Mold”
Ryan Fairfield – vocals on “Nebulous Womb of Eternity”

Album Review – Necrambulant / Upheaval of Malignant Necrambulance (2025)

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Enjoy this relentless record presented as an anthology of horror, gore, and slamming Brutal Death Metal by an amazing American band that describes their sound as “Inhuman Slam Grind”.

A relentless record presented as an anthology of all that the band represents, horror, gore, and slamming Brutal Death Metal, incorporating a full arsenal of Death Metal and Deathslam to further define their self-described sound of “Inhuman Slam Grind”, Upheaval of Malignant Necrambulance, the sophomore opus by Phoenix, Arizona-based horde Necrambulant, has something to offer on many levels of thematic brutality, including zombies, serial killers, cannibals, sci-fi, and Warhammer. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Xander Bridge, produced by the band itself, and displaying a venomous cover art by Nev of Gruesome Graphx, the new album by vocalist Andy “Bonemeat” York, guitarist Ron Clark, bassist Trent Pittard and drummer Matt Riena is perfect for fans of Devourment, Kraanium, Cephalotripsy, Cannibal Corpse, and Abominable Putridity, bringing an overdose of heaviness and gore to admirers of the heaviest side of extreme music.

A horrid, desperate scream ignites the band’s overdose of brutality in Amalgamation of Gresome Curdling Ambonination, led by the inhumane gnarling by Andy in the best “BREEEEEE!” style possible, whereas the slashing guitar lines by Ron walk hand in hand with the primeval beats by Matt in Inhumane Creophagus Repulsion, a vile blast of Brutal Death Metal violence. The beautifully titled Catastrophic Inversion of Stellar Harmony Collapsing the Web of all Universal Matter into the Colossal Gaping Maw of the Widening Void that Heralds the Dawn of Absolute Unreality (Epoch.0) is highly recommended for some demented slamming into the pit, with Andy sounding even more putrid and demonic on vocals, flowing into the also demented Barbarian Brute Force Annihilation (BFTBG), where Matt hammers his drums nonstop. Their Brutal Death Metal attack goes on in the heavy-as-hell Sentenced to a Guttonous Pit, spearheaded by the trademark BREEEEEE! vociferations by Andy; and they show no mercy for our putrid, decaying bodies in Pestilential Ascendancy, offering more of their first-class, infernal riffs and blast beats.

Ineffable Tormenting Possession brings forward two and a half minutes of undisputed malignancy in the form of heavy-as-hell extreme music led by the crushing drums by Matt, followed by the also deranged Chunked Pus Chowder, carrying a sick name for an overdose of deep guttural roars, venomous riffs and classic, deadly drums, with Andy once again barking and vomiting the song’s lyrics in great fashion. The title-track Upheaval of Malignant Necrambulance will burst our ears with more of the band’s undisputed Brutal Death Metal sounds, whereas Coffin Meat offers the same level of savagery, albeit not as inspired (Andy’s depraved guttural is still there, of course). And last but not least, the dirty riffs by Ron and the metallic bass by Trent will pierce your damned soul in Self-Biologic Carnivorous Cannibalism, ending the album on a beyond visceral note.

“This new album is just a relentless barrage of slamming brutal death metal. We strived for a no-bullshit / no-filler tracklist that will just pummel the listener with heaviness. We spent the past two years working on fine-tuning these songs to be a proper representation of our original moniker of ‘Inhuman Slam Grind’. We hope this new album is something that fans of our earlier material will appreciate and something fresh for the newer fans as well. Expect a full audial assault of horror, gore, and guttural slamming sickness the Necrambulant way,” says the band, and you can join them inside their demented mosh pit by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on any streaming platforms like Spotify, and above all that, by purchasing the bludgeoning Upheaval of Malignant Necrambulance from the Gore House Productions’ BandCamp or by clicking HERE, or you can also click HERE for all things Necrambulant. This is “Inhuman Slam Grind” at its finest, bringing horror, violence, blood and gore to your miserable life, and may this amazing slamming band from Phoenix continue to blast our ears with the brutality found in their unrelenting new album for many decades to come.

Best moments of the album: Inhumane Creophagus Repulsion, Pestilential Ascendancy and Chunked Pus Chowder.

Worst moments of the album: Coffin Meat.

Released in 2025 Gore House Productions

Track listing
1. Amalgamation of Gresome Curdling Ambonination 3:09
2. Inhumane Creophagus Repulsion 3:14
3. Catastrophic Inversion of Stellar Harmony Collapsing the Web of all Universal Matter into the Colossal Gaping Maw of the Widening Void that Heralds the Dawn of Absolute Unreality (Epoch.0) 3:14
4. Barbarian Brute Force Annihilation (BFTBG) 3:47
5. Sentenced to a Guttonous Pit 2:59
6. Pestilential Ascendancy 2:53
7. Ineffable Tormenting Possession 2:24
8. Chunked Pus Chowder 3:04
9. Upheaval of Malignant Necrambulance 2:01
10. Coffin Meat 2:50
11. Self-Biologic Carnivorous Cannibalism 3:00

Band members
Andy “Bonemeat” York – vocals
Ron Clark – guitars
Trent Pittard – bass
Matt Riena – drums

Album Review – Light Dweller / The Subjugate (2025)

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Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Boesch strikes again with his fifth album, delving into themes of death, purgatory, and the cessation of time.

Founded in December 2017 by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Boesch in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States, Dissonant Death/Black Metal entity Light Dweller is set to release its fifth offering, entitled The Subjugate. Inspired by a broad spectrum of dissonant and melodic influences, including Cosmic Putrefaction, Defacement, Mesarthim, Convulsing, Violet Cold, Mare Cognitum, and more, Light Dweller has forged a unique path through the darker, more obscure realms of metal, with The Subjugate spanning six tracks delving into themes of death, purgatory, and the cessation of time, presenting a cohesive journey through these concepts, all embraced by another ass-kicking artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration.

Cameron begins his riff and growl attack in full force in Echoes from the Spectral Void, offering our avid ears four minutes of top-of-the-line Progressive Death Metal; whereas Cessation of Time sounds as demolishing and experimental as the opener, with Cameron’s deep guttural walking hand in hand with his intricate yet heavy-as-hell drumming. Then a sinister intro evolves into another darkened amalgamation of sounds in Fracturing Light, where Cameron lets his Progressive Metal vein pulse harder than ever, and with his demonic gnarling matching perfectly with the music; followed by the eight-minute title-track The Subjugate, where Cameron invests in a very diverse and progressive sound by bringing into being several breaks, variations, and experimental and sharp sounds, all combined in a harmonic yet visceral way. In the second to last song of the album, titled Phasing Through the Veil, our one-man band shows no mercy for our souls with his demented riff, bass and drum attack, with its phantasmagorical ending flowing into Adrift the Expanding Nothingness, another bestial tune overflowing insanity and heaviness where he fires his most experimental riffs of the entire album, smashing our minds and souls mercilessly during its hellish seven minutes.

With each release, Light Dweller has evolved, skillfully weaving dissonance with melody, and balancing intense aggression with haunting, introspective passages, culminating now in 2025 with the excellent The Subjugate, and of course pointing to an even more interesting path ahead for Cameron. You can get to know more about him, his music and other details by following Light Dweller on Facebook and on Instagram, and show him your utmost support by streaming his music on Spotify or any other streaming service, and of course by purchasing The Subjugate from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp or from Sound Cave. This is undoubtedly Cameron’s strongest opus to date, but I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more from him in the near future, and we’ll say the same about his upcoming albums, as Light Dweller is always evolving, always looking forward, and always ready to surprise us all with its unique sounds.

Best moments of the album: Echoes from the Spectral Void and The Subjugate.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Avantgarde Music/Unorthodox Emanations

Track listing
1. Echoes from the Spectral Void 4:29
2. Cessation of Time 5:20
3. Fracturing Light 4:45
4. The Subjugate 8:10
5. Phasing Through the Veil 4:38
6. Adrift the Expanding Nothingness 7:39

Band members
Cameron Boesch – vocals, all instruments

Concert Review – Carcass (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/16/2023)

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Four metallic beasts cranked the heat with their undisputed music on an already scorching day in Toronto, inspiring us all to get caught in endless mosh pits. 

OPENING ACTS: Creeping Death, Sacred Reich and Municipal Waste

As the “gods of weather” decided to crank the heat in Toronto this past week, with the thermometers breaking the +30oC (or +86oF) mark, it was more than obvious that the temperature inside The Phoenix Concert Theatre last night was going to be insanely high due to the feast of Grindcore, Thrash and Death Metal blasted by CREEPING DEATH, SACRED REICH, MUNICIPAL WASTE and the mighty CARCASS, four amazing bands that are highly recommended for admirers of some good old mosh pits. And oh, there were so many mosh pits for all metalheads at the venue to bathe in (and most of the time that mosh pit bath included a lot of sweat, beer, and even some vomit)! A special shout-out to Embrace Presents for organizing such epic event, and another to the venue staff for keeping everything clean (because dealing with vomit is one of the most disgusting things ever), for keeping everyone safe, and for always being nice to everyone before, during and after all concerts. That’s how fans should always be treated!

I was not even 10 minutes inside the venue when the first band of the night, Denton, Texas-based Death Metal/Hardcore act CREEPING DEATH, kicked off the night with their brutality and heaviness, already inspiring everyone at the venue to slam into the pit, and that high level of violence went on until the last second of their performance. Gearing up for the release of their new album Boundless Domain, which should become available mid-June (and of course, I’ll have a very good time listening to it, and probably reviewing it too), frontman Reese Alavi and his bandmates put on a fantastic show, with their brand new song Intestinal Wrap (don’t forget to check out the studio version featuring the one and only George “Corpsegrinder” Fischer on guest vocals) and The Edge of Existence being the highlights of their pulverizing concert for me. Let’s see when those American metallers will return to Toronto for another round of insanity armed with their classic Death Metal; maybe as soon as their new album sees the light of day?

Setlist
Humanity Transcends
Doused in Flames
Skinned Alive
The Edge of Existence
Bloodlust Contamination
Intestinal Wrap
Specter of War

Band members
Reese Alavi – vocals
Trey Pemberton – guitars
A.J. Ross III – guitars
Rico Mejia – bass
Lincoln Mullins – drums

After the usual bathroom/beer/cigarette/whatever you want to do break, it was time for Phoenix, Arizona’s own Thrash Metal institution SACRED REICH to hit the stage spearheaded by the iconic vocalist and bassist Phil Rind, and as expected their entire performance was absolutely amazing, blending songs from their most recent album Awakening, released in 2019, such the opener Divide & Conquer, Manifest Reality, Salvation and the title-track Awakening, with really old stuff the likes of Death Squad and Ignorance, from their 1987 debut album Ignorance, and The American Way, from their 1990 album of the same name. There was a lot of interaction between Phil and the crowd, with the most beautiful moment being when Phil talked about how music unites people, and how we make good friends through music, which is more than true. Without music I might not have become a friend of Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography, who once again provided me with the amazing photos for this review. Back to the concert, Sacred Reich kept kicking our asses with their classy thrashing tunes, ending with their circle pit hit Surf Nicaragua, and leaving us eager for another one of their stylish performances in Toronto in a not-so-distant future.

Setlist
Divide & Conquer
The American Way
Manifest Reality
One Nation
Salvation
Ignorance
Awakening
Independent
Death Squad
Surf Nicaragua

Band members
Phil Rind – vocals, bass
Wiley Arnett – lead guitars
Joey Radziwill – rhythm guitars
Dave McClain – drums

It was then time for the highly anticipated concert by Richmond, Virginia-based Thrash Metal/Crossover squad MUNICIPAL WASTE, and they didn’t disappoint at all their Torontonian fans; quite the contrary, it was an unforgettable show by Tony Foresta, Ryan Waste, Nick Poulos, Landphil, and Dave Witte, who were visibly excited to be playing in Canada, jumping up and down, headbanging and raising their horns nonstop as if they were the crowd, and us fans in the mosh pit were the main attraction. Maybe that’s exactly how they felt last night, right? Furthermore, all songs from their sensational 2022 album Electrified Brain worked really well live, such as Grave Dive, High Speed Steel, and in special Crank the Heat, which was played by the band only because “they were having an amazing time” according to Tony himself, mixed with thrashing beasts the likes of Beer Pressure, Thrashing’s My Business… And Business Is Good, and Headbanger Face Rip.

And speaking about Tony, the man was on fire during their entire performance, having fun with the inflatable orca (don’t ask me why that was brought to a metal concert) and all the cardboard boxes flying around, joking it was a miracle they were allowed to cross the border to Canada, asking for more crowd surfing to keep the security guys busy as they were getting “bored” due to the lack of action, and thanking everyone for attending their concert on a Sunday night. It was awesome when he asked the crowd if they liked to party for Jesus, or if they liked to party for Slayer, and I bet you already know what the fans answered, right? Right after they closed their flawless performance with the headbanging classic Born to Party, you could see the smile on the faces of all fans at the venue, all demanding for more Municipal Waste in the city, including myself, and hopefully it won’t take long for a new visit by those partying thrashers. As the lyrics from Born to Party say, Municipal Waste is gonna fuck you up!

Setlist
I’m a Rebel (Accept song)
Demoralizer
Breathe Grease
Mind Eraser
Beer Pressure
Thrashing’s My Business… And Business Is Good
The Thrashin’ of the Christ
Poison the Preacher
Grave Dive
You’re Cut Off
Sadistic Magician
Slime and Punishment
Crank the Heat
Headbanger Face Rip
Blood Vessel
High Speed Steel
Pre-Game
The Art of Partying
Wave of Death
Born to Party

Band members
Tony Foresta – vocals
Ryan Waste – guitars, backing vocals
Nick Poulos – guitars
Landphil – bass, backing vocals
Dave Witte – drums

CARCASS

Exactly 135 days after their last visit to Toronto (when they opened for Amon Amarth), UK’s Grindcore/Extreme Metal trailblazers CARCASS returned to the city with more of their visceral, infuriated music, this time as the headliners of the night. Jeff Walker, Bill Steer, Tom Draper and Daniel Wilding were sharp, evil and caustic from the very first second of their undisputed performance, kicking some serious ass and proving why they’re still the most important Grindcore band of all time. They did a fantastic job blending songs from all of their albums, with a higher focus on their latest opus Torn Arteries, their 2013 infernal album Surgical Steel, and their 1993 masterpiece Heartwork. Songs like Kelly’s Meat Emporium, Under the Scalpel Blade, This Mortal Coil, and The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing sounded demented live, with all four band members playing those to perfection, of course.

The mosh pits kept going like crazy, the band was in total sync with their fans, and the temperature inside the venue kept going up to the point Jeff began throwing bottles of water for people to rehydrate. He even asked why it was so hot in Toronto, as Canada is supposed to be cold, but apparently he doesn’t know how hot and muggy the GTA can get during the summer. Well, I must admit the summer-like weather in Toronto in the middle of April was a big surprise, but still when it gets hot here, it gets REALLY hot. After playing my favorite Carcass song of all time, the brilliant Heartwork, plus the outro to Carneous Cacoffiny, Jeff and his henchmen returned for what I would call a ruthless, supersonic attack with one of the most violent encores I’ve ever seen, with the songs Exhume to Consume, Tools of the Trade, and 316L Grade Surgical Steel putting every single person at the venue to slam into the pit, bang their heads and raise their horns together with the band. It was beyond infernal, and if Carcass wants to return to Toronto in another 135 days for more of that, I’m totally in!

Setlist
The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue (Intro)
Kelly’s Meat Emporium
Buried Dreams
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
Under the Scalpel Blade
This Mortal Coil
Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody (Intro)
Death Certificate
Dance of Ixtab (Psychopomp & Circumstance March No. 1 in B)
Black Star (Intro)
Keep On Rotting in the Free World
The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing
Corporal Jigsore Quandary
Ruptured in Purulence (Intro)
Heartwork
Carneous Cacoffiny (Outro)

Encore:
Exhume to Consume
Tools of the Trade
316L Grade Surgical Steel

Band members
Jeff Walker – vocals, bass
Bill Steer – guitars, backing vocals
Tom Draper – guitars
Daniel Wilding – drums

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Album Review – Vampiric / Supernatural Tales (2020)

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Phoenix, Arizona’s own lone wolf returns with more of his blood-soaked Symphonic Black and Thrash Metal in a tribute to darkness and the supernatural.

Arising from the depths of his lair less than one year after the release of his debut full-length album The Magic of the Night, the Phoenix, Arizona-based one-man army Nik Williams, the mastermind behind Symphonic Black/Thrash Metal entity Vampiric, is back with more of his blood-soaked, dark and captivating music in his brand new opus entitled Supernatural Tales, bringing to our ears more of his fusion of extreme and symphonic sounds while singing about vampires, wolves and other creatures of the night. Not only that, Nik once again did everything by himself, including all music, lyrics, artwork and so on, proving how passionate he is about heavy music and vampirism, and how his undeniable talent allows him to unite those two distinct topics into a collection of dynamic and obscure compositions.

Phantasmagorical synths and a stench of blood permeate the air in the opening track Endless Night, where Nik generates a bold atmosphere with all instruments, also firing both harsh growls and cryptic clean vocals and uniting Black and Thrash Metal in the name of darkness. In Bloodthirst we’re treated to sheer brutality, with Nik barking the song’s vampiric lyrics manically (“Do you hear it? / Does it not sound like the shadows calling your name? / At midnight’s strike, piercing the dark / Calling to you as if in dream / His presence made known / His shadow crawls across the wall”) while the music brings a fusion of Second-Wave Black Metal with classic Bay Area Thrash, all spiced up by its background keys; and blasting a more straightforward and rockin’ sonority, Nik offers us all the dark and dancing tune The Wolves Of Winter, showcasing slashing riffs and massive beats and bass punches, being tailored for admirers of Gothic Rock and Metal from the 80’s and 90’s with a more venomous twist. Then Nik continues to blast his drums and extract sheer malignancy from his guitar, resulting in a hybrid of Blackened Death Metal and Symphonic Black Metal entitled Heart Of Fire, where our lone wolf sings about how fear sometimes controls our lives (“Rise from the fire whose flames burn you not / Become the fire / It matters not the fear that lives inside of your heart / But how you go forth and face that fear / Times of turmoil beget times of peace”).

Melodic guitars ignite the also frantic and obscure The Embrace Of The Vampire, with Nik growling and gnarling while at the same time generating a truly wicked ambience with his Phantom of the Opera-inspired keys, also presenting some elements found in the music by the almighty Cradle Of Filth, whereas an exciting ride through the lands of Rock N’ Roll, Black Metal and symphonic music is condensed into the multi-layered The Darkness Reborn, where Nik does a superb job with all instruments, in special with his demonic riffage and vicious roars. A Descent Into Madness is a visceral, in-your-face Extreme Metal tune where the bass sounds are absolutely metallic and thunderous, making a solid paradox with all the ethereal keys in the background, while Fall From The Sky leans towards the rawer musicality from his 2019 album, also bringing forward a spot-on balance between aggressiveness and melody while the drums sound as Black Metal as they can be. It’s a bit lengthy, though, despite all of its breaks and variations, but nothing to worry about, before the cinematic outro The Dawn Is No More puts a melancholic and at the same time epic conclusion to this bloodthirsty album.

Not only Supernatural Tales represents a healthy and interesting step forward in the career of Nik Williams and his Vampiric, but it’s also a solid statement that Nik is an unstoppable force of the underground, always working on new material and always eager to release original music to fans of that more extreme side of metal, having released so far two excellent albums in less than one year, and I’m not even counting his debut EP Death Tore Through, also released in 2019. Hence, you can show your support to such up-and-coming, hardworking artist by following him on Facebook, by subscribing to his official YouTube channel, and obviously by purchasing Supernatural Tales sooner than you can expect from his own BandCamp page (where you can by the way take a listen at a couple of his new songs already, as well as his previous releases). In a nutshell, in praising darkness and the supernatural with his new album, Nik is also carving his name in the metal underworld, leaving us eager for more of his vampiric tales and extreme sounds until the end of days.

Best moments of the album: Bloodthirst, The Wolves Of Winter and The Darkness Reborn.

Worst moments of the album: Fall From The Sky.

Released in 2020 Independent

Track listing
1. Endless Night 5:28
2. Bloodthirst 2:50
3. The Wolves Of Winter 5:40
4. Heart Of Fire 4:51
5. The Embrace Of The Vampire 5:31
6. The Darkness Reborn 3:36
7. A Descent Into Madness 3:20
8. Fall From The Sky 6:22
9. The Dawn Is No More (Outro) 2:31

Band members
Nik Williams – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Vampiric / The Magic of the Night (2019)

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An insatiable lust for blood and passion for the night will grow inside you to the sound of the debut album by this American Symphonic Black and Thrash Metal one-man army.

My dear creatures of the night, it’s time to join a Symphonic Black/Thrash Metal one-man army formed in 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States that goes by the straightforward name of Vampiric in his quest for blood with the released of his debut full-length opus The Magic of the Night, offering us all nine original songs that exhale darkness and the sweet smell of fresh blood. As a matter of fact, the true beginnings of Vampiric can be traced back to 2008, when the band’s mastermind, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nik Williams started writing music and recording demos at the young age of 14, eventually forming a full-bodied band and opening for renowned acts like Mayhem, Abigail Williams and Keep of Kalessin. This live lineup disbanded after a while, but Nik kept experimenting with music until the release of his debut EP Death Tore Through, in 2018, ranging from the project’s core Black and Thrash Metal to distinguished styles like Gothic, punk and classical, further developing all that depth and diversity this year with his newborn spawn The Magic of the Night.

The Cradle of Filth-inspired riffs and keys by Nik kick off the phantasmagorical opening track A Death in the Throne Room, an old school Extreme Metal tune reeking aggressiveness, madness and obscurity; and his slashing guitars keep dictating the rhythm in the faster and more exciting Vampire Blood, where not only we’re treated to poetic lyrics (“I wake from a deathlike slumber / And gaze at the harvest moon in the night sky / Bloodlust, the children of the night sing / As I fly above the land of broken hearts”), but once again Nik generates a cryptic paradox between his atmospheric keys and enraged growls. And if you’re still hungry for human flesh it’s time for over six minutes of pitch black darkness and blood in The Full Moon Rising, with his keys sounding as strident and piercing as usual, while at the same time he kicks ass on drums, resulting in sheer adrenaline in the form of Symphonic Black Metal that sounds and feels hypnotizing and ritualistic form start to finish.

Adding the frantic riffage of Thrash Metal and the complexity of Progressive Metal to his core obscurity, Nik delivers Gothic, This Masquerade, a true masquerade ball feeling like two or three songs in one where our dauntless one-man band goes full thrasher on vocals, reminding me of Exodus original singer Paul Baloff (R.I.P.) at times. Of Bloodlust and the Moon is another display of bestiality and insanity the likes of Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Marduk where Nik’s raspy gnarls and scorching riffs steal the spotlight, and with its last piece being an instrumental shredding extravaganza for our total delight; followed by Nosferatu, filling the airwaves with three minutes of an intense feast of Thrash and Black Metal by Vampiric where the guitars breathe fire while drums are played with tons of violence and rage, all spiced up by Nik’s demonic vociferations.

Then pounding his drums manically Nik offers another circle pit-catalyst entitled The Witch, with its heavier-than-hell riffs being perfectly complemented by somber and piercing background sounds, leaning towards classic Blackened Thrash Metal. And besides, songs about witches are always very enjoyable and fun to listen to, don’t you think? In Carpathian Lycan Curse our talented musician puts the pedal to the metal in a hurricane of cryptic keys and berserk shredding, also presenting elements from bands like Slayer and Misfits added to his traditional sonority, while its catchy chorus is an ode to all wolf-men of the world (“Carpathian lycan curse / Condemned to darkness and blood thirst / Carpathian full moon curse / The wolfs bane blooms to my return”). Lastly, closing the album we have the 11-minute aria of darkness titled The Magic of the Night, living up to the legacy of the emperors of long and intricate extreme music compositions such as Cradle of Filth and their infamous Bathory Aria. Nik does an amazing job throughout the entire song, elevating the electricity of all instruments to new heights and also making the whole ambience absolutely enfolding and Stygian until the very last second.

If you’re more than eager to join Nik’s Symphonic Black and Thrash Metal coven, simply go check what he’s up to on Facebook, and don’t forget to purchase your copy of The Magic of the Night directly from his own BandCamp page. After listening to such well-crafted, aggressive and melodic album of extreme music, you better be prepared to feel an insatiable lust for blood growing inside you, dragging you into an endless night and keeping you away from sunlight for all eternity. Well, in the end, who doesn’t want to be an immortal, bloodthirsty creature of the night, always accompanied by a good dosage of metal music, right?

Best moments of the album: The Full Moon Rising, Nosferatu and The Witch.

Worst moments of the album: A Death in the Throne Room.

Released in 2019 Independent

Track listing
1. A Death in the Throne Room 6:27
2. Vampire Blood 3:33
3. The Full Moon Rising 6:16
4. Gothic, This Masquerade 7:22
5. Of Bloodlust and the Moon 4:20
6. Nosferatu 3:06
7. The Witch 4:40
8. Carpathian Lycan Curse 6:40
9. The Magic of the Night 10:53

Band members
Nik Williams – vocals, all instruments

https://youtu.be/ZuJ0Mefn0ZU

Album Review – Singularity / Place of Chains (2019)

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The emotions of being wrongfully imprisoned turned into an ass-kicking hybrid of Technical Death Metal and Symphonic Black Metal by a sensational metal unity from Arizona.

Tempe, Arizona-based Technical Death Metal/Symphonic Black Metal hybrid act Singularity is back from outer space to pulverize our senses once again with the release of Places of Chains, the follow-up to their highly acclaimed 2014 self-titled debut album and their 2016 EP Void Walker. Since their formation in 2010, the band now comprised of Jack Fliegler (ToxicxEternity, Hemoptysis) on vocals and guitar, Adam King (Depraved Heretic, Arkaik) on bass and vocals, and Nathan Bigelow (Arkaik, Alterbeast, Solar Impulse) on drums, not to mention keyboardist Nick Pompliano (R.I.P), who sadly passed away during the creation process of the album in 2018, has continually shown themselves to be a forward-thinking act, one with a bold vision built on fusing Technical Death Metal and Symphonic Black Metal together in a myriad of ways. In other words, let’s say this talented American entity was capable of uniting the best of both worlds in Place of Chains, bringing forth music that has at the same time the intricacy and aggressiveness of Death Metal with the beauty and mystery of Black Metal, and the final result is absolutely stunning to say the least.

Mixed by Mike Low (Inferi, Oubliette), mastered by Zak Denham (Anagnorisis), and featuring additional orchestrations on every track by Malcolm Pugh (Inferi, A Loathing Requiem) and a futuristic and apocalyptic artwork by Justin Abraham, who has already worked with several excellent bands like Equipoise, Inanimate Existence, Lecherous Nocturne, A Loathing Requiem, Virulent Depravity and Æpoch, among several others, Place of Chains will undoubtedly and strongly appeal to all fans of bands like  Fleshgod Apocalypse, Old Man’s Child, Dimmu Borgir and the first album from Irreversible Mechanism. “Place of Chains is the translation to the song title ‘Desmoterion’ which lyrically illustrates the emotions of being wrongfully imprisoned. Considering that many of the songs on this record lyrically are about enslavement, we felt it was a good over-arching title for the record. We strongly believe that this is the best Singularity record so far. Singularity would also like to thank our guest artists that we had the privilege of having on this record. With every record, we try to further hone in on what the core of Singularity’s sound is and what we want to bring to the world of metal,” commented the band on the release of their newborn spawn.

Bellum, a cinematic and incendiary intro led by the futuristic orchestrations by guest Malcolm Pugh, sets the stage for Singularity to smash us all in Victory or Death, featuring Jared Christianson (Arkaik) as a guest vocalist.  Showcasing lyrics that invite us all to war (“Let the games begin / Your legions are chosen for a tournament / Worthy of the ages / The astral arena beckons your names”), this is a first-class Technical Death Metal tune where Jack is astounding with his riffs and solos while Nathan sounds like a stone crusher on drums, not to mention the intricacy and groove flowing from Adam’s bass. And in Sisyphean Cycle an ominous intro evolves into a doom-ish feast of Symphonic Black Metal the likes of Dimmu Borgir infused with Death Metal nuances, where Adam continues to impress with his thunderous bass jabs while the keys by Nick bring an extra touch of malignancy to the overall result.

Guest vocalist Jeremy Davis (Animus Complex) brings his own dosage of lunacy to Ritual of Regret (by the way, check the band’s amazing guitar playthrough for it HERE), a song that begins in full force spearheaded by Nathan and his insane beats while Jack and Nick have a healthy and thrilling “riffs-versus-keys duel”, leaning towards pure Symphonic Black Metal at times. Furthermore, all of their roars reach a true demonic level as the music progresses, also bringing to our ears sensational razor-edged guitar solos. Back to a more technical mode, Singularity offer us all Consume and Assume, a fast and intricate Death Metal chant perfect for slamming into the pit, all embraced by the whimsical keys by Nick and also featuring a guest guitar solo by Nick Padovani (Equipoise, Virulent Depravity), who co-composed the song with the band; whereas in Desmoterion you better get ready for over seven minutes of pulverizing Technical Death and Black Metal with all band members being in absolute and demonic sync, bringing forth an imposing and epic atmosphere for our total delight. The song’s vocals couldn’t sound more infernal and wicked than this, as well as its piercing guitar solos and all breaks and variations, resulting in a full-bodied aria by this talented metal unity.

In the berserk Serpentes, Eternal not a single space in the air is left empty, with the Stygian words vociferated by Jack and Adam (“Far below / Beneath black earth and snow and decay / Residing under ice and rot, they seek / Surface world never knows / Eyes like fire, these Serpentine / Hearts beat steady as the ancient ones”) shining amidst a feast of slashing riffs and solos, rumbling bass lines and unstoppable blast beats, followed by Dead Receptors, co-composed by Singularity and John Low (the band’s former drummer), which sounds like a hybrid between classic and a more technical version of Death Metal with a stylish twist, as if it was a dark and devilish “waltz” where the vocal lines alternate between obscure Black Metal moments and full Death Metal roars. And last but not least, As Dark as This Nefarious Night is another onrush of darkened and complex sounds by Singularity where Nathan once again delivers sheer violence on drums, while Jack and Adam make our heads tremble with their respective riffs and bass punches, ending in a visceral and epic manner.

You can enjoy this striking album of technical and symphonic extreme music in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show your true support to the guys from Singularity, and as a tribute to the deceased Nick Pompliano, you should definitely purchase your copy of the album from The Artisan Era Records’ webstore, from Singularity’s BandCamp page, from Apple Music or from Amazon. Also, don’t forget to give them a shout on their official Facebook page, as I’m sure the band would love to hear your thoughts on Place of Chains. Now it’s time for Singularity to give life to their creations on stage while promoting their new album (which means you should definitely keep an eye on their live tour announcements) before heading back to their spacecraft and begining the writing process of their new material, and I personally can’t wait to see what those skillful and hardworking guys from Arizona will provide us in their future releases.

Best moments of the album: Victory or Death, Ritual of Regret and Desmoterion.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2019 The Artisan Era Records

Track listing
1. Bellum 2:44
2. Victory or Death 3:39
3. Sisyphean Cycle 6:26
4. Ritual of Regret 3:07
5. Consume and Assume 4:50
6. Desmoterion 7:07
7. Serpentes, Eternal 4:39
8. Dead Receptors 4:03
9. As Dark as This Nefarious Night 5:08

Band members
Jack Fliegler – vocals, guitar
Adam King – vocals, bass
Nick Pompliano (R.I.P) – keyboards
Nathan Bigelow – drums

Guest musicians
Malcolm Pugh – additional orchestrations
Jared Christianson – vocals on “Victory or Death”
Jeremy Davis – vocals on “Ritual of Regret”
Nick Padovani – guitar solo on “Consume and Assume”

Album Review – Meathook / Crypts, Coffins, Corpses (2019)

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Terror is coming in the form of an absolute ode to all things brutal by this ruthless and demented Death Metal squad from Arizona.

The very first album review of 2019 is an absolute ode to all things brutal, and I’m sure you’ll feel completely disoriented after listening to its 31 minutes of pulverizing and gruesome extreme music. I’m talking about Crypts, Coffins, Corpses, the third full-length installment by American Brutal Death Metal unity Meathook, released on January 1 via Unmatched Brutality Records. Formed in 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona by the Gonzales Brothers, Meathook are ready to strike again six years after the the cruel assault of their 2012 album, Facing Deformity, and their depraved inclinations have only become more sickening with the passage of time.

If the dreams of the deranged could be captured in music, if the tales of their sleeping journeys through kingdoms of the unspeakable and grotesque were vomited out from the mouths of demons, then you would have the sound found in Crypts, Coffins, Corpses, comprised of nine crushing hymns of old school, unrelenting Brutal Death Metal highly recommended for fans of Devourment, Skinless, Ingested and Terrordrome, among other utterly vicious and demolishing metal bands. As the new year begins, a new age of dark dreams and devastation will dawn with the new opus by Meathook, so simply say goodbye to quiet nights and untroubled sleep because terror is coming in the form of the most extreme type of music you can think of.

Wicked noises explode into sheer brutality led by the demented beats by drummer Johnny Gonzales in the opening track Awaiting Torment, while lead singer Mars Gonzales barks like a rabid demon in a feast of violent, gory and visceral sounds just the way we like it; and their onrush of crushing noises goes on in Cauldron of Dead Bodies, a lesson in Brutal Death Metal where guitarists Robin Mack and Aaron Gonzales decimate their strings beautifully, delivering classic Death Metal riffs while the roars by Mars get deeper and deeper. Then Mars once again leads his horde of sick bastards in Purification Through Pain, almost vomiting the lyrics (and therefore making it quite impossible to follow them) while Johnny pulverizes everything and everyone with his bestial drumming, followed by the fulminating title-track Crypts, Coffins, Corpses, perfect for braking your spinal cord in half headbanging, with Robin and Aaron being in total sync with their axes supported by the low-tuned punches by bassist Elliot Thomas in a lecture in gore and dementia. And in Placed Upon the Altar we’re treated to a high-octane devastation bringing the most disturbing and gruesome elements from Brutal Death Metal such as inhumane growls, incendiary guitars and nonstop blast beats, or in other words, another sensational creation by this devilish Death Metal squad.

Leaning towards old school Cannibal Corpse but at the same time presenting a more contemporary vibe, Temples Made From Flesh is a song perfect for slamming into the pit, with Mars sounding absolutely monstrous on vocals, whereas in Disseminated Remains an operatic intro morphs into an ass-kicking display of savagery led by Johnny’s potent and rhythmic beats, hammering our heads mercilessly from start to finish. If you’re still alive after such gargantuan level of havoc blasted by Meathook up until now, you better get ready because the album’s second to last bloodthirsty extravaganza, titled Awakened by the Stench, is just as perverse and vile as the rest of the album, with Mars and Johnny complementing each other’s demonic roars and beats respectively. And last but not least, closing their Death Metal coffin the band offers our avid ears the insanely heavy and brutal Coils of Entrails, presenting hints of the most devastating form of Grindcore, not to mention Mars’ spine-tingling screeches and gnarls as well as Robin’s and Aaron’s razor-edged riffs.

If you have what it takes to face the disturbing and thunderous Death Metal by Meathook, you can take a detailed listen at Crypts, Coffins, Corpses on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course if you’re already a longtime member of the Death Metal underworld you can purchase your copy of the album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Unmatched Brutality Records webstore, or from the Comatose Music webstore. As aforementioned, the first review of 2019 was going to be a total carnage, and we have to thank the guys from Meathook  for kicking off this new year on such a high, apocalyptic and barbaric mode for our total delight.

Best moments of the album: Cauldron of Dead Bodies, Crypts, Coffins, Corpses and Placed Upon the Altar.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2019 Unmatched Brutality Records

Track listing
1. Awaiting Torment 3:28
2. Cauldron of Dead Bodies 3:39
3. Purification Through Pain 3:09
4. Crypts, Coffins, Corpses 3:38
5. Placed Upon the Altar 3:19
6. Temples Made From Flesh 3:04
7. Disseminated Remains 3:56
8. Awakened by the Stench 3:32
9. Coils of Entrails 3:37

Band members
Mars Gonzales – vocals
Robin Mack – guitar
Aaron Gonzales – guitar
Elliot Thomas – bass
Johnny Gonzales – drums