Tag Archives: brutal death metal

Album Review – Gutslit / Carnal (2023)

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India’s own Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore warriors are back with their incendiary third full-length album, a masterful exploration of the intricate struggles of the human psyche.

In their over 15-year journey, Mumbai-based Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore masters Gutslit have transcended their status as a mere household name in the Indian metal scene to a global force to be reckoned with, showcasing their technical prowess and brutal riffs on two critically acclaimed full-length albums, Skewered in the Sewer, released in 2013, and Amputheatre, from 2017. Now in 2023, the band formed of vocalist Aditya Barve, guitarist Prateek Rajagopal, bassist Gurdip Singh Narang and drummer Aaron Pinto unleash hell once again with their third full-length opus, titled Carnal, showcasing the band’s evolution in sound, smoldering and surging with violent energy. Mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis at Audio Hammer Studios, produced by the band’s own Prateek Rajagopal, and displaying a stylish artwork by Kidsquidy (aka the band’s own Aaron Pinto), the album offers our avid ears eight crushing compositions which together represent a captivating exploration of the many facades that we all wear and the numerous personas that we all adopt to navigate the challenges of life.

As soon as you hit play, brutality and rage flow from all instruments in the pulverizing opening track Son of Sam, with Aditya roaring like a beast supported by the Death Metal blast beats by Aaron. The album couldn’t have started in a more demolishing way, I might say, and things get even heavier in Matriarch, another infernal Death Metal attack by those talented musicians with Gurdip’s rumbling bass bringing sheer groove to the music while Prateek will pierce your skin deep with his sick riffage. Then we have the heavy-as-hell Bind Torture Kill, featuring guest vocalist Julien Truchan of Benighted, and his pig-like screeches add an even higher level of insanity to the overall result, resulting in a lecture in Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore where the guitar by Prateek sounds utterly caustic. There’s no time to breath as the quartet will kick us hard in the head in The Killing Joke, bringing forward their trademark aggressiveness spearheaded by the deep, inhumane growls by Aditya.

The second half of the album begins with the infuriated Insidious, with the band’s stringed duo sounding incendiary during the song’s intense 41 seconds, followed by Body Snatcher, a much darker, more introspective creation by Gutslit, hammering our heads with their wicked bass lines and incendiary riffs, not to mention another flawless performance by Aaron on drums. In Altar of Putridity we face lyrics that are as acid as their music (“I walk past the lines of grim depression / A fantasy to behold / A morbid compassion to withhold / Sliver of remorse, flowing through my veins / Easing up to that moment / One step closer to creating”), although the song is not as exciting as the rest of the album; whereas closing the album on a high, melodic and visceral note we have Primeval, presenting an amazing job by all band members, in special Aaron with his demented drums, being therefore perfect for slamming into the circle pit like a true metalmaniac while Aditya continues to scream nonstop before all fades out to a sinister outro.

“Carnal is a masterful exploration of the intricate struggles of the human psyche. With a keen eye for detail and a remarkable understanding of the complexity of the human mind, we delve deep into the age-old conflict between good and evil. The tracks on this album depict the various phases of the human experience, from the deepest pits of despair to the highest peaks of euphoria,” commented the band about their flammable new album, which is by the way available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and you can also purchase a copy of it from the band’s official site (India and worldwide) or from their BandCamp page (worldwide), or simply click HERE for all things Gutslit. In addition, don’t forget to also show your support to the band by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and by subscribing to their YouTube channel. Let the violence of Carnal flow through your mind, and may Gutslit keep destroying our senses with their music by releasing amazing albums like their new one until the very end.

Best moments of the album: Matriarch, Bind Torture Kill and Primeval.

Worst moments of the album: Altar of Putridity.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Son of Sam 4:04
2. Matriarch 3:31
3. Bind Torture Kill 3:23
4. The Killing Joke 3:05
5. Insidious 0:41
6. Body Snatcher 4:54
7. Altar of Putridity 4:13
8. Primeval 6:05

Band members
Aditya Barve – vocals
Prateek Rajagopal – guitars
Gurdip Singh Narang – bass
Aaron Pinto – drums

Guest musician
Julien Truchan – vocals on “Bind Torture Kill”

Album Review – Orphalis / As The Ashes Settle (2023)

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Counterbalancing Technical Death Metal with brutal elements, this ruthless Teutonic horde will crush your senses with their beautifully tempered, vibrant and energetic new album.

Counterbalancing Technical Death Metal with Brutal Death Metal elements, Dortmund, Germany-based outfit Orphalis might have found the perfect stylistic balance for the kind of music they are playing on their fourth full-length album, titled As The Ashes Settle, sounding astonishingly fluid given its dynamic and multifaceted nature. Displaying another sinister artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, As The Ashes Settle is a beautifully tempered, vibrant and energetic album that is bound to leave an indelible mark in the style, all masterfully crafted by Thomas Szczecina on vocals, Jens Dürholt and Morten Formeseyn on the guitars, Thomas Köhler on bass, and Phillip Hatcher on drums, being therefore recommended for fans of Benighted, Cutterred Flesh, Aborted, and Enragement, among several others.

The title-track As the Ashes Settle is a fantastic hurricane of brutality blasted by Orphalis where Thomas Szczecina roars in great fashion supported by the technical yet violent drums by Phillip and the scorching riffs by Jens and Morten, whereas Ritual of Conflagration sounds as infernal and detailed as the opening track, resulting in another lesson in Technical Death Metal by the quintet where Thomas Köhler and Phillip craft a thunderous and menacing atmosphere with their respective bass and drums. The unstoppable Jens and Morten deliver sheer electricity, fury and insanity through their riffs and solos in Watch Them Descend, a lecture in Death Metal that will please all fans of the genre; followed by The Wolves Draw Near, absolutely demolishing from the very first notes delivered by Jens and Morten, being therefore perfect for slamming into the circle pit while Thomas Szczecina’s guttural roars get deeper and more demented as time passes by. And investing in a more technical and intricate sonority without forgetting to add their trademark aggressiveness to the music we have An Effigy to Humanity, where Phillip is once again bestial behind his drums.

Such unrelenting Teutonic horde keeps hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly in Staring into Ruin, with their strident, piercing riffs walking hand in hand with the low and thunderous kitchen by Thomas Köhler and Phillip. Then after the unnecessary electronic interlude Moon Supremacy the band returns in full force with From Shadows Arisen, a neck-breaking extravaganza where the guitars by Jens and Morten couldn’t have sounded any heavier, or in other words, it’s first-class Brutal Death Metal with some welcome progressive elements. There’s no sign of slowing down as their technical yet visceral sounds keep coming strong in Labyrinth Configuration, showcasing another vile vocal performance by Thomas Szczecina; while the second to last song of the album, titled To Embrace Defeat, is also perfect for headbanging like a metalmaniac, with their fulminating riffs and beats darkening the entire atmosphere for our total delight. Lastly, get ready to be crushed into tiny pieces by Orphalis in Crowned in Hatred, starting in a grim, obscure manner before exploding into more of their Technical Death Metal. Furthermore, Thomas Szczecina leads his horde with his inhumane, deep growls, not to mention how metallic the bass by Thomas Köhler sounds.

In summary, Orphalis know exactly how to explode our senses with their refined hybrid of progressiveness and brutality, and As The Ashes Settle is the perfect depiction of the top-notch quality of their work. Hence, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, to stream all of their wicked creations on Spotify, and above all that, to add the breathtaking As The Ashes Settle to your personal (and devilish) collection by purchasing a copy of it from their BandCamp page, from Apple Music or from Amazon. As The Ashes Settle is a beast of an album highly recommended for anyone who loves Death Metal, it doesn’t matter if it’s old school, modern, technical or brutal, leaving us eager for more of the pulverizing music by one of the most interesting names of the current German scene hands down.

Best moments of the album: As the Ashes Settle, Watch them Descend and Crowned in Hatred.

Worst moments of the album: Moon Supremacy.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. As the Ashes Settle 4:34
2. Ritual of Conflagration 3:58
3. Watch Them Descend 3:35
4. The Wolves Draw Near 4:21
5. An Effigy to Humanity 4:01
6. Staring into Ruin 4:33
7. Moon Supremacy 0:57
8. From Shadows Arisen 3:34
9. Labyrinth Configuration 3:46
10. To Embrace Defeat 4:58
11. Crowned in Hatred 4:48

Band members
Thomas Szczecina – vocals
Jens Dürholt – guitars, backing vocals
Morten Formeseyn – guitars
Thomas Köhler – bass
Phillip Hatcher – drums

Album Review – A Pretext To Human Suffering / Endless Cycle Of Suffering (2023)

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Tearing away the pitifully thin, obscuring skin of our reality, this multinational horde will crush your soul to the sound of their new album of first-class Technical and Brutal Death Metal.

Tearing away the pitifully thin, obscuring skin of our reality, revealing the rancid meat sculpture that is our dystopian present, United States/Canada/Mexico-based Technical/Brutal Death Metal act A Pretext To Human Suffering will crush your damned soul with their debut full-length album, entitled Endless Cycle Of Suffering, highly recommended for fans of Cryptopsy, Origin, Beneath The Massacre and Ingested, among others. Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Floor van Kuijk at GLDCHN Studios, and displaying a sick artwork by Vladimir “Smerdulak” Chebakov and a sinister logo by Steve Crow of Malevolent Icons Logos, Endless Cycle Of Suffering compels us to confront the unending nightmare of our own existence, and the horror which we have labored to construct, all masterfully brought into being by Chris Mathis on vocals, guitar and drum programming, Beto Vipe and Wesley Van Hook also on the guitars, and Spencer Atkinson on bass.

The short and sweet intro Indoctrinated reminds us all we’re not free, exploding into sheer brutality and rage to the massive riffs by Chris, Beto and Wesley in Endless Cycle of Suffering, a psychological and absolutely somber metal attack by such demonic band. Chris keeps roaring manically in Architect of Reality, another infernal yet very technical Death Metal feast where it’s impressive how organic their programmed drums sound; followed by Hollow Sanctuary, heavy and groovy from the very first second with the bass lines by Spencer making our heads tremble. In Formless Collective we’re treated to wicked lyrics (“Pray to old gods / Altars of antiquity / Watch them die slow / Unleash their final form / Of existence / Cleanse of this virus / Wasting away / It is time to reap what weve sewn”) embraced by a demonic instrumental led by the demented riffage by Chris, Beto and Wesley; and taking their heaviness and insanity to a whole new level, Void sounds and feels almost pure Brutal Death Metal.

Then an atmospheric, sinister intro evolves into a very melodic sound in Toxic Dreams, showcasing inhumane, deep growls, strident riffs and fulminating blast beats, leaning towards the more technical and progressive side of Death Metal, whereas Shadow of Time follows a similar pattern as the previous song, with the band’s guitar triumvirate shredding their axes mercilessly. In Paradox the band once again pierces our minds with their caustic words (“Peripheral shadows move rapidly / The familiar feelings of lunacy / They keep calling-give into lunacy / Entranced and lost-I feel”) amidst a hurricane of demonic sounds, sounding amazing from start to finish; followed by their second to last blast of insanity, titled Clandestine, bringing forward more of Chris’ deep guttural and devilish screeches supported by the song’s Cannibal Corpse-like riffs. And lastly, it’s time to slam into the pit one final time like a maniac to the sound of Cult(ure), where once again the rumbling bass by Spencer sounds insanely heavy and metallic.

The demented sounds found in Endless Cycle Of Suffering can be appreciated in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and you can obviously purchase a copy of the album from the Realityfade Records’ BandCamp page or by clicking HERE. In addition, you can also show all your support to this multinational entity by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and by subscribing to their YouTube channel. Be ready for when you hit play in Endless Cycle Of Suffering, because A Pretext To Human Suffering are not just coming to present you with a scenario of futility and despair; they are coming to ask you a question. What can be done, and what will you do?

Best moments of the album: Endless Cycle of Suffering, Formless Collective and Paradox.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Realityfade Records

Track listing
1. Indoctrinated 0:05
2. Endless Cycle of Suffering 3:50
3. Architect of Reality 2:32
4. Hollow Sanctuary 5:26
5. Formless Collective 2:56
6. Void 3:40
7. Toxic Dreams 1:24
8. Shadow of Time 2:55
9. Paradox 2:44
10. Clandestine 2:48
11. Cult(ure) 4:40

Band members
Chris Mathis – vocals, guitars, drum programming
Beto Vipe – guitars
Wesley Van Hook – guitars
Spencer Atkinson – bass

Concert Review – Ingested (The Velvet Underground, Toronto, ON, 06/02/2023)

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The “slam tour of the year” beautifully crushed the “slam capital of the world” to pieces on a hot and humid night thanks to five of the best bands of the current extreme music scene.

OPENING ACTS: Mendacity, Organectomy, Vomit Forth and Devourment

A night of nonstop brutal slammin’ death metal. That pretty much summarizes what happened at The Velvet Underground this past Friday in Toronto, when MENDACITY, ORGANECTOMY, VOMIT FORTH, DEVOURMENT and INGESTED brought to the city the ruthless, venomous Ingesting North America 2023 – The Slam Tour Of The Year, another beautiful event organized by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. By the way, he was explaining to my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography that the guys from Belarusian Death Metal horde Extermination Dismemberment couldn’t get their Canadian visas ready on time and, therefore, couldn’t make it to the concert in Toronto. However, all five bands demanded the fans to raise their horns for those Belarusian slammers, showing how united the scene is and will always be.

And although there was no Extermination Dismemberment it was still a night to remember, with Innisfil, Ontario-based Technical/Brutal Death Metal trio MENDACITY kicking off the event at around 7:30pm, and they more than nailed it with their fusion of technical and progressive sounds with the brutality of Death Metal. Kyle Lam was fantastic on bass, and I just wish the sound of it was a little bit higher so we could all enjoy his rumbling lines better, while Jason and Jeff Burt were crushing their respective guitars and drums. There weren’t any mosh pits as the crowd was still very small when they started, but they got some great feedback form the audience with lots of horns in the air, shouts and claps, and if you’re curious to know how technical and brutal they sound at the same time, you can find their music on BandCamp and on Spotify.

Band members
Jason Burt – vocals, guitars
Kyle Lam – bass, backing vocals
Jeff Burt – drums, backing vocals

After a really short break, more precisely at 8:05pm, Christchurch, New Zealand-based Slam/Brutal Death Metal unity ORGANECTOMY began their pulverizing performance, and I must say they were in my opinion the most impressive of all bands. I didn’t know anything about those guys before the show, and now I’m listening to their music nonstop on Spotify. Frontman Alex Paul was vicious throughout their entire set, inspiring everyone at the venue to slam into the pit, to jump up and down, to do some sick crowd-surfing and so on, to a point that there were only two options for all attendees, which were either being slamming into the pit, or being outside the venue. Their 2022 album Nail Below Nail is freakin’ amazing, and the songs played live from that album such as Concrete, the title-track Nail Below Nail, The Third Mutation, Entranced by Calamity and Coerced Through Submersion sounded insane live! I really hope those guys return to Toronto soon, because their live shows are infernal, and based on the reaction of the band itself to all the action going on inside the pit they’ll surely carry Toronto inside their hearts until their next visit to the city.

Setlist
Impale the Bitch
Terror Form
Entrapped Savagery
Concrete
Nail Below Nail
The Third Mutation
Entranced by Calamity
Severed From Humanity
Coerced Through Submersion

Band members
Alex Paul – vocals
Sam McRobert – guitars
Matthew Bolch – guitars
Tyler Jordan – bass, backing vocals
Levi Sheehan – drums

After such demolishing performance by Organectomy, it was time for Connecticut, United States-based Death Metal horde VOMIT FORTH to turn The Velvet Underground into a cauldron of blood to the delight of all lovers of some brutal slamming. Their frontman Kane Gelaznik looks like a younger version of the almighty George “Corpsegrinder” Fischer, having the same looks, clothes, and even his headbanging and vocals, and that was already enough for me to enjoy their concert to the fullest. Of course the rest of the band was also on fire, in special Nick Herrmann with his sick blast beats, and the songs form their 2022 album Seething Malevolence, those being Eucharist Intact, Carnivorous Incantation, Unrecognizable, Severely Wounded, Predatory Savior and Pain Tolerance drove the audience crazy inside the endless circle pit, including a nice a wall of death. You can enjoy all their sick creations on Spotify or you can click HERE for all things Vomit Forth, and if they have a concert scheduled in your city, don’t think twice and go slam together with those awesome death metallers.

Setlist
Eucharist Intact
Carnivorous Incantation
Unclaimed Cadaver
Rotting Wool
Unrecognizable
Untitled
Severely Wounded
Predatory Savior
Pain Tolerance

Band members
Kane Gelaznik – vocals
Ricky Brayall – guitars
Tyler Bidwell – bass
Nick Herrmann – drums

It was already past 9:30pm when one of the highly anticipated bands of the night, Dallas, Texas-based Slam/Brutal Death Metal institution DEVOURMENT, hit the stage with one of the heaviest concerts you’ll see anywhere. Still promoting their 2019 album Obscene Majesty, the band formed of frontman Ruben Rosas, guitarist Chris Andrews, bassist Dave Spencer and drummer Brad Fincher was ruthless from start to finish, inspiring obviously the crowd to slam into the pit like maniacs and to crush their skulls into a sick wall of death to the sound of songs such as A Virulent Strain of Retaliation, Fucked to Death and Devour the Damned. I just think the lights for those guys were way too red and low, making it almost impossible to see them (and impossible for Keith to take proper pictures of them, by the way), but their brutality was there, stronger and heavier than ever. Their last song, the visceral Babykiller, was the icing on the cake on their flawless and demonic show, leaving all fans eager for more Devourment in Toronto in a not-so-distant future.

Setlist
A Virulent Strain of Retaliation
Fucked to Death
Postmortal Coprophagia
Choking on Bile
Self Disembowelment
Narcissistic Paraphilia
Devour the Damned
Babykiller

Band members
Ruben Rosas – vocals
Chris Andrews – guitars
Dave Spencer – bass
Brad Fincher – drums

INGESTED

Finally, as the clock hit 10:35pm, Manchester, England’s own Slam/Brutal Death Metal/Deathcore institution INGESTED began the destruction of The Velvet Underground with one of the most electrifying performances of the past few months in the city. Spearheaded by their lunatic frontman Jay Evans, and promoting their 2022 album Ashes Lie Still, the band delivered an incendiary performance for an avid crowd eager for some intense circle pits, crowd-surfing and walls of death, and let’s say they got everything they asked for from those UK metallers. There were bodies being carried around nonstop in a lecture in crowd-surfing, with one guy maybe going from the front of the stage all the way to the back, showing how happy the fans were with Ingested’s visceral music.

Their new songs like Shadows in Time and Echoes of Hate sounded even heavier and more caustic live, not to mention of course their demented grand finale with Skinned and Fucked. Jay and his henchmen were absolutely impressed with all the action going on inside the pit, opening a huge smile every single time they saw how excited their Torontonian fans could get while slamming into the pit. Speaking about Jay, that gentle and very polite guy selling their own merch and the stand turned into a monster on stage, with his demonic, piercing eyes, sick grim and demonic vocals setting fire to the concert while the rest of the band was merciless armed with their respective sonic weapons. The Velvet Underground might be a small venue, but the energy flowing from Ingested’s concert on Friday was the equivalent to any arena shows, and I’m sure those guys will return to Canadian lands for another wicked performance sooner than we can say “SLAM!”

Setlist
Rebirth
No Half Measures
The List
Shadows in Time
I, Despoiler
Impending Dominance
Invidious
Echoes of Hate
Copremesis
Skinned and Fucked

Band members
Jay Evans – vocals
Sean Hynes – guitars, backing vocals
Andrew Virrueta – guitars
Thomas O’Malley – bass
Lyn Jeffs – drums

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Album Review – Angelic Desolation / Orchestrionic Abortion (2023)

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A gore-fueled assault on the senses in the form of the sophomore album by a ruthless American Razorgrind band.

A Brutal Death Metal band formed in 2006 in Denver, Colorado, in the United States with a full-scale sonic attack and a sound unique enough to label their own music as “American Razorgrind”, Angelic Desolation are unleashing upon humanity their sophomore opus, titled Orchestrionic Abortion, a gore-fueled assault on the senses taking influences from Thrash Metal, Grindcore, Death Metal, horror movies and a love for the power of the riff. Recorded and mixed at Hahn Audio, mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, and displaying a sick cover art by Kevin Waltz, Orchestrionic Abortion is a blood-soaked album best enjoyed loud masterfully put together by vocalist Jay Medina, guitarist Matt Markle, bassist Leonard White and drummer Max “Thunder” Stark, sounding ruthless and vile throughout its 31 minutes of musical savagery.

The quartet’s razor-edged onrush begins in full force with Brutus McMucus, a Brutal Death Metal tune with hints of Thrash Metal where Jay is absolutely infuriated with his sick roars, sounding fast, demented and infernal just the way we like it; followed by Shake The Baby, one of the most wicked songs of the current Deathgrind scene presenting a bestial job done by Matt with his piercing riffage and of course Max with his thunderous and intricate drumming. There’s no sign of slowing down at all for those American razorgrinders as we can see in Pterrordactyl Mann, with Matt slashing his axe nonstop supported by the low-tuned, metallic bass by Leonard and all beats and fills by Max. And switching gears to a more cadenced, headbanging vibe, the band brings forth the electrifying Dic Tater, where they distill all their technique while continuing their path of sonic devastation led by the deep gutturals by Jay.

If you like tacos and brutality, the band will offer you a gory fusion of both in Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco), with Matt and Leonard adding their own spices to their already furious Death Metal thanks to another classy stringed work by the duo, whereas Barbaric Destroyer is as progressive as it’s violent, showcasing a fulminating performance by Max on drums while Jay keeps growling in the name of extreme music. Then screeches from a mad chimp blend perfectly with the band’s hellish sound in AIDS Chimp Lab Attack, a lesson in Technical and Brutal Death Metal with Matt stealing the spotlight with his ruthless riffage, being therefore  perfect for slamming into the circle pit. And last but definitely not least, the band offers their rendition for Cattle Decapitation’s Forced Gender Reassignment (check out the original one HERE from their 2012 album Monolith of Inhumanity), delivering a fantastic tribute to their idols spearheaded by Jay and Max with their respective growls and blast beats.

Do you have what it takes to get face-to-face with the guys from Angelic Desolation? If your answer is yes, go check what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their visceral music on Spotify, and of course, grab your copy of the pulverizing Orchestrionic Abortion from their own BandCamp page, from Apple Music, or simply by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, Orchestrionic Abortion overflows blood and violence, and those American metallers responsible for such demented album are craving your blood to keep fueling their unrelenting Death Metal machine.

Best moments of the album: Shake The Baby, Dic Tater and AIDS Chimp Lab Attack.

Worst moments of the album: Pterrordactyl Mann.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Brutus McMucus 3:47
2. Shake The Baby 4:12
3. Pterrordactyl Mann 3:40
4. Dic Tater 3:44
5. Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco) 3:52
6. Barbaric Destroyer 3:49
7. AIDS Chimp Lab Attack 3:44
8. Forced Gender Reassignment (Cattle Decapitation cover) 3:50

Band members
Jay Medina – vocals
Matt Markle – guitars
Leonard White – bass
Max “Thunder” Stark – drums

Album Review – Whore Of Bethlehem / Ritual Of Homicide (2023)

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This Blackened Brutal Death Metal horde from Texas is ready to kill armed with their third full-length album, an outpouring of black blasphemy and twisted brutality to shake the pillars of faith.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, the vile Blackened Brutal Death Metal horde Whore Of Bethlehem has been spreading their visceral brand of brutality since their inception in 2009, with their sinister barrage of riffs, blast beats, unnatural screams and heavy songwriting being influenced and inspired by classic Death and Black Metal heavyweights such as Morbid Angel, Immolation, Dissection, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation and Belphegor, among others. Mastered by Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering, mixed at Test Tube Audio, and displaying a sick artwork by Jon Zig, the band’s third full-length opus, titled Ritual Of Homicide, is an outpouring of black blasphemy and twisted brutality to shake the pillars of faith masterfully brought into being by James VanDenBerg on vocals, Ryan Sylvie and Phil King on the guitars, Alan Berryman on bass, and Sam Axelrad on drums, invoking the sound of violence and wickedness with a heart sworn to the black and a soul pledged to hell.

Stygian guitar lines permeate the air in the opening track Enlightenment Through Pain, exploding into a darkened, sinister feast of brutality and gore led by the pulverizing drums by Sam; and putting the pedal to the metal and delivering old school Death Metal with some melodic and progressive nuances, it’s time for the brutal Nails in Your Coffin, with James barking nonstop in the name of evil. Then enhancing their heaviness and obscurity the band offers us all the title-track Ritual of Homicide, where Ryan and Phil are bestial with their axes, cutting our skin deep in true headbanging fashion, followed by Vermin, an infernal, in-your-face Death Metal onrush with no shenanigans nor any other artificial elements, with Sam kicking ass on drums supported by the rumbling bass by Alan. The sinister interlude Gateway will darken our minds before the band comes ripping in Sermon of the Malignant Spirit, the most demonic and obscure of all tracks showcasing an amazing job done by the entire band, in special their guitar duo with their sulfurous riffs and solos.

More of their unrelenting music comes in the form of Out of Body, with James roaring like a maniac while Sam dictates the song’s evil pace, and James keeps hammering our cranial skulls with his brutal drumming in Disembodied, absolutely heavy from start to finish with their guitars and bass generating an unfriendly ambience perfect for raising our horns high. The flammable guitars by Ryan and Phil will pierce your soul in Monolith of Cremation while James crushes his drums as usual in a great display of classic Death Metal, resulting in an invitation to some brutal slammin’ activity; whereas lastly the quintet will demolish our fragile bodies with an avalanche of Death Metal titled Pseudochrist, a more than exciting bonus track bringing forward frantic beats, acid riffs and gruesome vociferations.

The guys from Whore Of Bethlehem are eagerly waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their depraved music, and of course don’t forget to also stream their sick creations on Spotify. The  dark and heavy-as-hell Ritual Of Homicide, which is on sale from Comatose Music’s BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from Apple Music and Amazon (and you can also click HERE for all things Whore Of Bethlehem), is definitely not recommended for the lighthearted, bringing endless chaos, blasphemy and violence to our avid ears and, therefore, cementing the band’s evil legacy in the underground scene.

Best moments of the album: Enlightenment Through Pain, Sermon of the Malignant Spirit and Pseudochrist.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Enlightenment Through Pain 4:39
2. Nails in Your Coffin 4:09
3. Ritual of Homicide 4:21
4. Vermin 3:37
5. Gateway 1:00
6. Sermon of the Malignant Spirit 4:47
7. Out of Body 4:18
8. Disembodied 3:49
9. Monolith of Cremation 3:50
10. Pseudochrist 3:15

Band members
James VanDenBerg – vocals
Ryan Sylvie – lead guitars, backing vocals
Phil King – rhythm guitars
Alan Berryman – bass
Sam Axelrad – drums

Album Review – Depraved Murder / Unethical Terrestrial Collapse (2023)

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In the fecund swamps of East Java, this venomous Brutal Death Metal entity attacks once again with their bestial third full-length album.

In the fecund swamps of East Java, the ruthless Brutal Death Metal entity Depraved Murder has been pouring blood, tears and black sorcery into their cauldron of nightmares since their inception in 2011, adding bone and bile to the accompaniment of whispered incantations, conjuring up the soundtrack to the end of the world. Mixed and mastered by the arcane master Indra Braille at Texas Sicklab Studio, and displaying a sick artwork spawned from the twisted visions of Aghy Purakusuma, the band’s third full-length opus, entitled Unethical Terrestrial Collapse, is a firestorm to usher in the end times demonically brought into being by vocalist, guitarist and bassist Ogy together with drummer Rama Maulana, seething with a grim and sordid life and a pulsating blackness that exudes fear and disgust, resulting in an intimidating manifesto of brutality tailored for fans of Devourment, Skinless, Suffocation and Pathology.

Otherworldly background sounds will haunt your damned soul before the duo smashes our cranial skulls in Entering into Calamity, where Ogy barks and roars in the name of gore supported by the pulverizing drums by Rama in a demented display of Death Metal, whereas The Anguish of Dystopian is a straightforward, no shenanigans Brutal Death Metal extravaganza by the duo sounding and feeling very intricate and demented form start to finish, with the colossal beats by Rama making the earth tremble. Even heavier and more insane than its predecessors thanks to the inhumane guttural by Ogy, False Adoration will inspire you to slam into the circle pit manically; and the duo shows absolutely no mercy for our bodies and souls in Mass Murder Existence, with Ogy kicking some serious ass with his roars, infernal riffage and rumbling bass lines, elevating the song’s truculence and brutality to the second power.

There’s no time to breathe as those Indonesian marauders keep crushing our heads with their Brutal Death Metal in Unmanifest Void, fulminating and evil from the very first second with Rama showcasing all his fury and dexterity behind his drums, while investing in a more doomed sonority, Ogy and Rama will darken the skies in The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit, again exploding in their traditional Brutal Death Metal sound. Then back to their more vicious mode it’s time to slam into the circle pit to the sound of Relentless Brutality, where Ogy’s deranged roars and riffs are flawlessly complemented by Rama’s stone crushing drums, followed by Unethical Terrestrial Collapse, another three intense minutes of Brutal Death Metal for our avid ears where the bass jabs by Ogy sound more metallic than ever. Lastly, their final breathe of animosity and gore comes in the form of Apocryphal Hymns, with Rama dictating the song’s devilish pace while Ogy gnalrs the song’s words deeply nonstop.

In case you would like to show the guys from Depraved Murder all your support and admiration, you can give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream all of their gory and evil creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of Unethical Terrestrial Collapse from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore, from Apple Music, or from several other retailers out there such as ImportCDs.com and Merchbar.com. As this gruesome, vile album has just been released from its infernal pit, there’s no time left to pray. This is the end, and it’s indeed a blood-soaked one.

Best moments of the album: The Anguish of Dystopian, Mass Murder Existence and Relentless Brutality.

Worst moments of the album: The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Entering into Calamity 3:42
2. The Anguish of Dystopian 3:08
3. False Adoration 3:19
4. Mass Murder Existence 3:04
5. Unmanifest Void 3:50
6. The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit 3:00
7. Relentless Brutality 2:30
8. Unethical Terrestrial Collapse 3:08
9. Apocryphal Hymns 2:55

Band members
Ogy – vocals, guitars, bass
Rama Maulana – drums

Album Review – Visceral Explosion / Malevolent Dismemberment Of Entire Putrefacted Gastrointestine EP (2023)

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Get ready for a furious blood storm made in South Korea, offering us all Brutal Death Metal of the most fiercely focused and unremittingly battering kind.

Following on from their acclaimed 2022 album Human Meat Distribution Process, Malevolent Dismemberment Of Entire Putrefacted Gastrointestine, the brand new EP by South Korea-based Brutal Death Metal outfit Visceral Explosion, raises the bar for the band in every way. Recorded, mixed and mastered by the band’s own vocalist and guitarist Ryu Gun, and displaying a sick artwork by Ukrainian artist Daemorph (Aborted Fetus, Avulsed, The Black Dahlia Murder), the EP showcases no gradual build up, no warning, nor any sort of introduction by the aforementioned Ryu Gun alongside guitarist Lee Seok Ho, bassist Lee Kyeong Won and drummer Kim Yu Jong, simply offering our putrid ears Brutal Death Metal of the most fiercely focused and unremittingly battering kind, a furious blood storm highly recommended for fans of Guttural Disease, Beheaded, Unfathomable Ruination and Posthuman Abomination, among other masters of unrelenting brutality.

Kim kicks off the band’s gory and truculent party by hammering his drums in Unanesthetized Hypothalamotomy, accompanied by the inhumane screeches by Ryu in an infernal display of South Korean Brutal Death Metal for our total delight. Then the razor-edged riffs by Lee Seok and the metallic bass by Lee Kyeong will pierce your flesh in Rancid Purulent Neonatal Cerebral Cortex, while Ryu continues to bark and gnarl like a creature from the abyss, exhaling blood and gore until the very end; followed by Acute Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalopathy, utterly demented and therefore perfect for slamming into the pit like a ruthless metalmaniac. Moreover, Kim dictates the pace with his crushing beats while Lee Seok extracts sheer heaviness from his guitar in a lecture in venomous Death Metal. There’s time for one final demolishing tune by the quartet titled Asphyxiation by Malignant Neoplasm of Oropharynx, with Ryu growling deeply supported by the extreme, unfriendly sounds blasted by his bandmates, being beyond tailored for admirers of the genre.

Such putrefying EP can be enjoyed in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you can add it to your devilish collection by purchasing a copy from their own BandCamp page, from the Brutal Mind’s BandCamp page or webstore, from Apple Music or from Amazon, and don’t forget to also give those brutal South Koreans a shout on Facebook and on Instagram. The ravens soar across vast landscapes formed from the broken bodies of the tortured. They lie in tumbled heaps, hang from hook and branch with every intimate secret of their inner workings torn out and displayed for all to see, while an impossible flicker of agonized life remains within their hopeless eyes. There was no beginning, there will be no ending to the fields of torment, there is only now and always, knee deep in blood forever, with the new EP by Visceral Explosion being the perfect soundtrack for that gory and unfriendly scenario.

Best moments of the album: Acute Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalopathy.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Brutal Mind

Track listing
1. Unanesthetized Hypothalamotomy 3:03
2. Rancid Purulent Neonatal Cerebral Cortex 2:32
3. Acute Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalopathy 2:18
4. Asphyxiation by Malignant Neoplasm of Oropharynx 2:20

Band members
Ryu Gun – vocals, guitar
Lee Seok Ho – guitar
Lee Kyeong Won – bass
Kim Yu Jong – drums

Album Review – Nemesism / Nemesism EP (2023)

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Follow in the footsteps of this Las Vegas-based Brutal Death Metal horde as they tear a bloody path into the future armed with their striking debut effort.

Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, infamously referred to as “Sin City”, the newborn ruthless Brutal Death Metal entity named Nemesism will crush you like an insect to the sound of their debut five-track self-titled EP. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Ryan Wechta (Cerebral Incubation, Guttural Secrete, Invirulant) at Sound Horizon Productions, the EP hits with a staggering sonic impact while the haunting artwork created by Bahrull Marta (Asagraum, Centinex, Illdisposed) completes the package perfectly, showcasing all the talent and fury of vocalist Andrew LoMastro (Cerebral Incubation), guitarist Randall Thompson (Euphegenia, Guttural Secrete), bassist Bruno Macias Quezada (Foul Deformity, Guttural Secrete), and drummer Michael Fitzgerald (Guttural Secrete).

From the pits of the underworld comes a sonic attack entitled Mindful Abomination, with Michael sounding like a demonic beast behind his drums while Andrew vomits the song’s darkened words manically in the name of Brutal Death Metal, followed by Absolved in the Abyss, even more demolishing than the opening tune, a bestial onrush of Death Metal by the band with Randall kicking ass with his riffs while Bruno is on fire armed with his rumbling bass. Then sheer hatred flows uninterruptedly in Constricting the Ambient Noise, with Andrew barking and screaming nonstop supported by the inhumane drums by Michael. Terminal Spreading Depolarization is a lesson in brutality, speed and heaviness by Nemesism where Randall doesn’t stop extracting pure electricity from his guitar, while Bruno’s bass will hammer your ears in great fashion, and the band makes sure no one survives their Brutal Death Metal assault by ending the EP with the fulminating Delusions of Morality, very technical and visceral spearheaded by Andrew’s evil roars and screeches.

Follow in the footsteps of Nemesism as they tear a bloody path into the future armed with their self-titled debut effort (available in full on YouTube and on Spotify), and who knows where this journey will end, being highly recommended for admirers of the music by Cryptopsy, Defeated Sanity, Malignancy and Wormed, among others. Hence, don’t forget to check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and to purchase a copy of their visceral EP from their own BandCamp page or Big Cartel, adding a relatively short but infuriated dosage of Brutal Death Metal made in the United States to your private collection of first-class extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Absolved in the Abyss and Terminal Spreading Depolarization.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Mindful Abomination 3:51
2. Absolved in the Abyss 2:50
3. Constricting the Ambient Noise 4:05
4. Terminal Spreading Depolarization 2:43
5. Delusions of Morality 4:01

Band members
Andrew LoMastro – vocals
Randall Thompson – guitar
Bruno Macias Quezada – bass
Michael Fitzgerald – drums

Album Review – Imperial Execration / Commanding Satan’s Crusades (2022)

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A Colombian Death Metal horde based in the UK is inviting us all to join Satan’s crusades to the sound of their pustulent psalms of inverted sanctity.

At the spearhead of a new assault upon the bulwarks of civilization comes the barbaric Brutal Death Metal/Deathslam horde of Imperial Execration, armed with the rotting horror of their debut album Commanding Satan’s Crusades. Formed in 2019 by two Colombian musicians now relocated to the UK, drummer Ruben Jaramillio (Ataud, Engulfed In Abomination), and guitarist and bassist Eduardo Camargo (Ataud, Goreinhaled, Despondency), this putrid platoon of Satan’s soldiers is completed by the bestial bellows of the infamous Colombian vocalist Oscar “Mr. Oscarnivore T-666” Macias (of Carnivore Diprosopus), together creating six pustulent psalms of inverted sanctity and added to that grim order of service a cover song that exhales death and gore. Mixed and mastered by Tom Bradfield at Grindethic Records, and displaying a sick artwork by Venezuelan artist John Quevedo Janssens, Commanding Satan’s Crusades will leave no doubt about the future, as there is no light at the end of the tunnel, there is no redemption and absolutely no resurrection, being therefore recommended for lovers of the devastating music by Suffocation, Gorgasm, Devangelic and Disentomb, just to name a few.

Summoning of the Ancient Hordes sounds utterly putrid, gory and demolishing from the very first second, and it’s impressive how just three guys can make so much noise. Moreover, Oscar’s deep barks sound and feel inhumane throughout the entire song (and album), accompanied by the classic blast beats by Ruben. Commandments of the Age of Darkness is another onrush of first-class Brutal Death Metal that will decimate your damned soul during its three demented minutes, with Eduardo doing a fantastic job with both his riffs and bass lines, and those three Colombians are ready to pound our cranial skull to dust with the venomous Throne of Sadistic Abominations, a lecture in Brutal Death Metal that lives up to the legacy of the genre with Oscar vomiting the song’s dark words majestically.

In His Ominous Presence the band keeps the insanity and blasphemy of the album at an unimaginable level, with Ruben being absolutely bestial behind his drums in this ode to darkness, and he keeps hammering his drums in Lords of Tyrannical Perversion, with Eduardo’s evil riffage providing Oscar with exactly what he needs to bark nonstop. There’s still more fuel to burn to the sound of Victory of the Stygian Empire, with its cryptic intro evolving into a brutal assault of classic Death Metal led by the gruesome vociferations by Oscar. Put differently, it can’t get any heavier than this, flowing into their cover version for Dehumanizer’s classic tune Condemned (check the original version HERE, from their 1998 demo Prophecies Foretold). Needless to say, Imperial Execration’s version is just as demonic and obscure, with Eduardo kicking some serious ass with both his riffs and bass punches.

The malevolent, hellish Death Metal played by Imperial Excretion in Commanding Satan’s Crusades can be appreciated in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course let’s show those Colombian metallers our true support by purchasing their fulminating album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Comatose Music BandCamp page or webstore as a CD or as an amazing CD + shirt + sticker bundle, and from several other locations such as Discogs and Barnes & Noble. They are also eager to hear what you have to say about their newborn vile creations on Facebook and on Instagram, inviting us all to join Satan’s crusades to the sound of their thrilling, sulfurous Death Metal, and I’m sure we’ll have a very good time banging our heads manically with them.

Best moments of the album: Summoning of the Ancient Hordes, Throne of Sadistic Abominations and Victory of the Stygian Empire.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Summoning of the Ancient Hordes 3:08
2. Commandments of the Age of Darkness 2:59
3. Throne of Sadistic Abominations 2:56
4. His Ominous Presence 2:57
5. Lords of Tyrannical Perversion 3:21
6. Victory of the Stygian Empire 3:41
7. Condemned (Dehumanized Cover) 2:55

Band members
Oscar “Mr. Oscarnivore T-666” Macias – vocals
Eduardo Camargo – guitars, bass
Ruben Jaramillio – drums