One of the most ruthless entities hailing from Chile is back with a lesson in devilish and archaic Death Metal, exactly the way it was meant to be in the 80’s.
Originally formed in Concepción, Chile in 1987 by vocalist Peter and split up in 1994 with two demos recorded before that, the unrelenting Death Metal beast known as Cancerbero is ready to kill once again armed with their third full-length opus, entitled Sempiternal Decay, following up on their 2019 sophomore Reconquering the Throne of Death. Recorded by V. Wraith, and displaying an ass-kicking, classic cover art by Mörtuus Art, the new album by Peter on vocals and bass, Evil Killer and Silencio on the guitars, and L. Grave on drums is an album that’s most definitely a lesson in devilish and archaic Death Metal the way it was meant to be in the 80’s, not just musically, but also in essence, spirit and attitude.
The intro The Arrival feels like the sounds of evil entities arising from the pits of the underworld, warning us all about the demented feast that’s about to begin in Primal Deities, with L. Grave already pounding his drums in the best Doom Metal style while Evil Killer and Silencio melt our faces with an overdose of harsh riffs and solos. The quartet continues to darken the skies with their undisputed blend of Death Metal in Infernal Fire, with Peter not only roaring like a beast, but his bass lines also sound demonic; and delivering a more straightforward, no shenanigans Death Metal onrush we face Obscure Rites, led by the classic beats and fills by L. Grave, sounding perfect for slamming into the pit like there’s no tomorrow.
Bollocide (Deathrashing Chaos) is another song with a charming name that will inspire you to dive deep into the circle pit while Evil Killer and Silencio fire classic (and absolutely demented) Death Metal riffs, and the band will then drag you six feet deep in Burial, offering that traditional Death Metal sound perfect for some wild headbanging. They continue to crush our damned souls in Serpent’s Domain, spearheaded by another demonic vocal performance by Peter and the always pulverizing beats by L. Grave; whereas lastly, they offer our putrid ears almost seven minutes of Death Metal insanity in Burning Angels, starting with another riff-attack by the band’s guitar duo, with their gore, violence and obscurity flowing manically until the very last second.
Extremely recommended to fans of Morbid Angel, Possessed, Mortem, Sadistic Intent, Asphyx, Celtic Frost, Death, Messiah, and Pentacle, among countless other giants of old school Death Metal, Sempiternal Decay (available in full on YouTube) will crush you like a putrid insect, proving why the band has become a synonym to the genre in their homeland. Hence, you can get in touch with the guys from Cancerbero on Facebook, staying up to date with all of their news, tour dates and so on, and of course grab a copy of their new album from Memento Mori. Cancerbero are the epitome of primeval, no shenanigans Death Metal, and once you listen to their bestial new offering, your putrid bodies and minds will never be the same again.
Best moments of the album:Primal Deities, Obscure Rites and Serpent’s Domain.
This ruthless Chilean horde returns with more of their “Ritualistic and Hypnotic Black and Death Metal”, canvassing past, present, and future in their first full-length offering.
At long last, nearly a decade after their formation, Valparaíso, Chile-based Black/Death Metal horde Invocation are unleashing their first full-length opus, beautifully entitled The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures), the follow-up to their 2020 EP Attunement to Death. Recorded and mixed by E. Brisso at Equinox Studio, mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio, and displaying a Stygian artwork by Abomination Hammer, the new album by Sense of Premonition on vocals and guitars, Sense of Clairvoyance on bass, and Sense of Clairaudience on drums offers us all more of what the band likes to call “Ritualistic and Hypnotic Black and Death Metal”, canvassing past, present, and future and fittingly framing it with another gritty analog recording rich with sulfurous fire and sepulchral echoes.
Extreme aggression and obscurity flows from all instruments in Ecstatic Trance, where you can sense the fumes emanating from the deep roars by Sense of Premonition, who’s also infernal armed with his stringed axe, followed by The Serpent of Faardal, just as hellish and grim as the opening track, with the rumbling sounds blasted by Sense of Clairvoyance and Sense of Clairaudience showcasing a spot-on balance between Death and Black Metal. Opium Thebiacum (Somniferum) again presents the darkest elements of Black Metal while Sense of Premonition’s primeval gnarls exhale old school Death Metal; and it’s pedal to the metal as the trio will crush our cranial skulls to pieces in Metamorphosis, a vile, demonic attack where the hammering drums by Sense of Clairaudience sound truly evil.
The band shows absolutely no mercy for our rotten souls in Horn of Colima, again blasting sheer Black and Death Metal madness through the scorching riffs by Sense of Premonition and the thunderous, low-tuned bass by Sense of Clairvoyance, and there’s still a lot of fuel to burn, starting with The Psicopompos, offering more of the band’s trademark extreme sounds, with Sense of Clairaudience stealing the spotlight with his unstoppable blast beats. There’s no sign of the trio slowing down or playing any type of mellow music; quite the contrary, they offer the sulfur-infused aria Venus of Laussel, another blast of the underground led by the gruesome vociferations by Sense of Premonition, whereas last but not least the trio will evoke the powers of the underworld in Hypnosis, sounding absolutely harsh, raw and demonic.
It was only a matter of time before Invocation delivered a debut album to capitalize on the massive potential they displayed on their short-lengths, and with The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures), they now can enter the hallowed ranks of fellow cult countrymen Force of Darkness, Slaughtbbath, and the sorely missed Hades Archer, among others, for standard-bearers of classic South American madness. Hence, if you want to feel that metal madness flowing through your veins, you can find more about the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, and above all that, purchase their sulfurous newborn spawn from their own website or from their BandCamp page, inspiring Invocation to keep spearheading the Chilean underground with their endless rage, blasphemy and heaviness for all eternity.
Best moments of the album:Ecstatic Trance, Metamorphosis and The Psicopompos.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2024 Iron Bonehead
Track listing 1. Ecstatic Trance 3:49
2. The Serpent of Faardal 3:31
3. Opium Thebiacum (Somniferum) 3:54
4. Metamorphosis 4:07
5. Horn of Colima 3:57
6. The Psicopompos 4:17
7. Venus of Laussel 4:52
8. Hypnosis 5:36
Band members Sense of Premonition – vocals, guitars
Sense of Clairvoyance – bass
Sense of Clairaudience – drums
This four-piece brigade form Chile will bring sheer blood and gore to us all armed with their demented new EP, overflowing Death Metal and Grindcore.
Formed in 2022 in Santiago, Chile, the unrelenting Black/Death Metal/Grindcore four-piece brigade Onslaught Kommand is among us to spread gore, perversions and explicit violence with their music, which is what they have to offer us all in their brand new EP entitled Visions of Blood and Gore. Recorded and mastered at Abysm of Burning Corpses, and displaying gore masterpieces by Brian Paulin and layout by Paweł Ozon of XXV The Sign, the EP is a delight for fans of the most ruthless form of Death Metal infused with Grindcore and Black Metal nuances, showcasing the passion for all things evil by SplatterHate on vocals and bass, Necromancer and Behemot on the guitars, and Cvnthvnt on drums.
The massive, dirty bass lines by SplatterHate together with the Motörhead-infused riffage by Necromancer and Behemot will drag you to the circle pit in Old Death Ripper, a ruthless Death Metal extravaganza by the quartet that will simply smash your cranial skull mercilessly; and their onrush of brutality, gore and darkness goes on in Headless, with Cvnthvnt dictating the song’s sluggish, menacing pace while SplatterHate continues to roar and bark like a demonic creature from the underworld. It’s then pedal to the metal as the quartet will set fire to the atmosphere in Visions of Blood and Gore, offering our avid ears an onrush of old school Death Metal led by the sick riffs by Necromancer and Behemot. Not only that, it’s actually quite impressive how they managed to sound even more infernal than before. And lastly, we have their rendition for Dead Body Love, by Pungent Stench (check the original version HERE, from their 1989 split Pungent Stench/Disharmonic Orchestra), with their version being just as demolishing and bloodthirsty as the original, and with the deep guttural by SplatterHate sounding utterly inhumane, therefore sending shivers down our spines until the very last second.
The talented and evil Chilean horde named Onslaught Kommand is waiting for you on Instagram with news, tour dates, more of their caustic music and so on, and of course if you want to join their deadly brigade you can purchase a copy of Visions of Blood and Gore from the Godz ov War Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore as a cassette or as a special cassette bundle including Visions of Blood and Gore plus their 2022 self-titled debut demo. Onslaught Kommand bring pure blood and gore in their incendiary new EP, paving the path for those amazing musicians to deliver their first-ever full-length opus in the near future and, consequently, making the Chilean Death Metal scene stronger and more infernal than ever.
Best moments of the album:Old Death Ripper and Visions of Blood and Gore.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2024 Godz ov War Productions
Track listing 1. Old Death Ripper 4:08
2. Headless 2:09
3. Visions of Blood and Gore 2:23
4. Dead Body Love (Pungent Stench cover) 4:07
Band members
SplatterHate – vocals, bass
Necromancer – guitars
Behemot – guitars
Cvnthvnt – drums
A talented and hardworking musician from Chile channels all his anger in his debut EP, overflowing Thrash and Speed Metal for our total delight.
Formed by guitarist Cristóbal Perez in Chile’s capital Santiago earlier this year as a four-piece act, but currently having Cristóbal as its sole member (with the support of session vocalist Michel Hoogervorst of Dutch Heavy/Thrash Metal band KFFR), the newborn Thrash/Speed Metal entity Headfist has just released their debut EP This New World…., following up on their 2022 two-track self-titled demo. Comprised of six songs clocking at 20 minutes of pure speed and insanity, the EP is according to Cristóbal himself highly influenced by Motörhead, Overkill, Exodus, Anvil, Anthrax, Testament and Iron Maiden, among others, allowing him to channel all his anger while the lyrics deal with the adversities most musicians face in life when trying to create new music.
Uncertainty is a very melodic intro inspired by renowned acts such as Megadeth and Testament, exploding into the high-octane and rebellious This World, with Cristóbal slashing his guitar in great fashion, firing caustic riffs and solos while Michel roars manically in the name of 80’s Thrash Metal. Then pounding drums and endless heaviness are the main ingredients in What a Nice Way to Live…, another incendiary tune by Headfist with nuances of Hardcore and Punk Rock added to its already violent core; whereas the soaring vocals by Michel add an extra touch of insanity to the music in Instinct to Kill, where once again the Speed Metal riffage by Cristóbal lives up to the legacy of the genre. It’s time to put the pedal to the metal as Headfist invites us all to slam into the pit to the sound of Reign of Treason, sounding like a Chilean version of Anthrax with Cristóbal’s sharp riffs and solos bringing that welcome dirt to the overall result. Lastly, the song that carries the name of the band, Headfist, overflows electricity and rage, with Michel and Cristóbal being in perfect sync and, therefore, offering us all another hurricane of Thrash and Speed Metal.
While the EP can be heard in full on YouTube and on Spotify, the talented Cristóbal is currently looking for musicians who nurture the same passion as he does for heavy music, and who are also willing to embark on the hard and difficult (but exciting) path to create high-quality metal music. Hence, if you think you have what it takes to be part of Headfist, or if you just love Speed Metal and want to show Cristóbal all your support, go check what he’s up to on Facebook and purchase a copy of This New World…. from Apple Music. Hopefully, Cristóbal will quickly find some skillful metallers to join Headfist and become once again a full-bodied band, because the music found in his debut EP is excellent, it perfectly represents what the underground is all about, and above all that, it exhales Heavy Metal. We need more of the music by Headfist, no doubt about that.
Best moments of the album:This World and Reign of Treason.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2022 Independent
Track listing 1. Uncertainty 1:06
2. This World 2:38
3. What a Nice Way to Live… 3:28
4. Instinct to Kill 4:10
5. Reign of Treason 5:02
6. Headfist 3:54
Band members
Cristóbal Perez – guitars, bass, drums
Guest musician Michel Hoogervorst – vocals (session)
A sinister horde from Chile arises from the pits of hell with their debut full-length opus, offering us all eight dismal and imperishable tracks of determined darkness and majestic, sinister Black Metal purity.
From the darkest depths of the subconscious, stained by the blood of the dragons from the other side, Valparaíso, Chile-based Black Metal entity Faustian Spirit was born to see the darkness in 2019 beyond the blackened sun of the anti-cosmic void. Comprised of Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 on vocals and bass, N. Psicopompos on the guitars (or on the “anticosmic vibrations” as the band itself likes to say), and Knoʯmenon on drums, Faustian Spirit arise from the underworld in 2022 with their first full-length opus, entitled Blessed by the Wings of Eternity, following up on the absolute darkness of their 2020 self-titled debut demo. Recorded and mixed at Dead Signal, in Chile, and displaying a sinister logo and Sol Intempesta sigil by Nox Fragor Art and a darkly stunning cover artwork and photo frame sigils by Beatriz Wolf Artworks, Blessed by the Wings of Eternity presents eight dismal and imperishable tracks of determined darkness and majestic, sinister Black Metal purity not recommended for the lighthearted.
The opening tune Nullification is brutal, raw and blasphemous form the very first second, with the obscure gnarls by Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 crawling deep inside your skin while the anticosmic vibrations blasted by N. Psicopompos are an ode to classic Black Metal. Then Knoʯmenon hammers his drums with endless hatred in his heart in Mysterivm Veritas Silentivm, something in the lines of “the mystery of the truth of silence”, another demolishing Black Metal onrush that will please all fans of the darkest side of music with Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 sounding once again inhumane on vocals for our total delight; and the acoustic and extremely sinister guitar lines by N. Psicopompos in the interlude The Faustian Archetype set the stage for Faustian Spirit to crush our damned souls in Sanguinem Drakonis (or “dragon’s blood”), where the trio keeps slamming their sonic weapons mercilessly in the name of pure evil. Furthermore, Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 is not only a talented vocalist, but his low-tuned, demonic bass lines also bring an extra touch of obscurity to the overall result.
If you think you’ll have a moment of peace you’re absolutely wrong, because infernal riffs, rumbling bass jabs and nonstop blast beast will decimate your senses in the fast and furious title-track Blessed by the Wings of Eternity, a solid display of Scandinavian Black Metal made in Chile for admirers of the genre; followed by Die Minnensänger, which translates as “the minstrels”, and that’s what you’ll get from Faustian Spirit with three minutes of acoustic guitars, somber passages and sheer melancholy, warming up our senses for the Stygian and grim Sol Intempesta, their most infernal and detailed creation exhaling old school Black Metal spearheaded by the demonic gnarls by Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218, while N. Psicopompos continues to invade our minds with his undisputed anticosmic vibrations, flowing into the outro Gazers of Tehiru, which despite taking away a tiny bit of all the darkness and energy of the album, it ends up working fine for what it is.
You can enjoy all the blasphemy and obscurity blasted by Faustian Spirit in Blessed by the Wings of Eternity by streaming the album in its entirety on YouTube, but in order to show your utmost support to the most Stygian corners of the underground you should purchase a copy of the album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Inferna Profundus Records’ BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from several other retailers such as Sound Cave, Oratorivm, iMusic and Discogs. South American Black Metal never disappoints, and Faustian Spirit make sure the fires of Chilean metal keep burning bright with Blessed by the Wings of Eternity, inviting us all to destroy and transcend the material castle of our ego, conquer our will, and open ourselves to chaos.
Best moments of the album:Mysterivm Veritas Silentivm, Sanguinem Drakonis and Sol Intempesta.
Worst moments of the album:Gazers of Tehiru.
Released in 2022 Inferna Profundus Records
Track listing 1. Nullification 5:03
2. Mysterivm Veritas Silentivm 4:56
3. The Faustian Archetype 2:19
4. Sanguinem Drakonis 8:39
5. Blessed by the Wings of Eternity 3:34
6. Die Minnensänger 3:18
7. Sol Intempesta 6:52
8. Gazers of Tehiru 2:15
Band members
Magister Nihilifer Vendetta 218 – vocals, bass
N. Psicopompos – guitars
Knoʯmenon – drums
An unstoppable power trio from Chile goes against the world armed with their third full-length album, continuing on their path of traditional Heavy Metal.
Formed in Santiago, Chile in the year of 2010, Heavy Metal/Hard Rock brigade Bólido has just unleashed upon us all their third full-length opus, entitled Against the World, the electrifying follow-up to their 2014 debut installment We Are Rock and their 2017 critically-acclaimed effort Heavy Bombers. Now a power trio comprised of Johnny Triviño on vocals and guitar, Vic Deimos on bass and Chris Von Daniken on drums, Bólido are heavily influenced by classic rock and metal acts from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s the likes of Manowar, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Anvil and Jag Panzer, among several others, with their new album continuing on their path of traditional Heavy Metal while at the same time showcasing an extra touch of originality and energy that led the band to stand out in the Chilean metal scene.
The old school riffs by Johnny kick off the Manowar-inspired tune Against the World, overflowing pure Heavy Metal for admirers of the genre while Chris pounds his drums “with the hammer of Thor”, dictating the song’s headbanging pace; and putting the pedal to the metal the trio fires the rockin’ extravaganza titled MIG Alley, with Vic’s thunderous, metallic bass hitting us hard in the head while Johnny declaims the song’s lyrics with might and power. Then investing in a fusion of Heavy Metal with 70’s Progressive Rock, Johnny is once again flawless on vocals in Time to Be Yourself while his bandmates bring the groove to the music (it falls flat after a while, though). Their progressive vein goes on in Angel in Black and White, showcasing strident riffs and groovy bass punches while Chris keeps hammering his drums nonstop, resulting in a classic metal tune inspired by the golden years of the 70’s and 80’s, whereas another shot of their Manowar-like sonority comes in the form of BHWF, with Johnny slashing his guitar nonstop accompanied by the low-tuned bass by Vic.
Over eight minutes of doomed, sluggish sounds are offered to us all in In Dreams, with Johnny adding tons of passion and darkness to his vocal performance while Vic and Chris are heavy-as-hell with their respective weapons, and let’s slam into the circle pit while enjoying a cold beer together with the boys from Bólido in the Heavy Metal thunder Turbo, with Johnny leading his crew with his wicked vocals and riffs while Chris shows no mercy for his drums. Piercing guitars ignite the second to last breath of pure metal music entitled Heartbreaker, once again taking us back to the glory of the 80’s with Vic being unstoppable with his stylish bass jabs, inviting us all to stand up and hit the dance floor. Last but not least, Bólido tell the story of the battle of Stalingrad in 21 minutes of classic, unfiltered Heavy Metal entitled White Hell, alternating between faster moments, groovy passages, grim narrations and endless epicness, with Johnny kicking some ass with his intricate riffage supported by the fierce bass lines by Vic and the always visceral beats by Chris, and the music progresses majestically until the song’s climatic ending.
If you would like to join Bólido in their quest for Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, you can enjoy Against the World in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and above all that, grab your copy of their thrilling new album from the Fighter Records’ BandCamp page, from the Xtreem Music webstore or from Amazon, proving you’re a true defender of underground metal music. And we all know that there’s nothing better than going against the world armed with our good old Heavy Metal like what Bólido offer us all in their awesome new album, right?
Best moments of the album: Against the World, Turbo and White Hell.
Worst moments of the album:Time to Be Yourself.
Released in 2021 Fighter Records
Track listing
1. Against the World 2:51
2. MIG Alley 4:36
3. Time to Be Yourself 3:28
4. Angel in Black and White 3:38
5. BHWF 3:20
6. In Dreams 8:53
7. Turbo 4:00
8. Heartbreaker 4:12
9. White Hell 21:12
Band members Johnny Triviño – vocals, guitar
Vic Deimos – bass
Chris Von Daniken – drums
Let this vile and demonic breath of Ritualistic and Hypnotic Black and Death Metal from the infernal pits of Chile reach deep inside your damned soul.
Forged in the fires of Valparaíso, Chile in 2015, Black/Death Metal horde Invocation is unleashing upon humanity a sulfurous and absolutely obscure EP entitled Attunement to Death, the follow up to their highly acclaimed 2016 demo Seance Part. I and their 2018 EP The Mastery of the Unseen, offering fans of extreme music a short but fulminating blast of what the band itself likes to call “Ritualistic and Hypnotic Black and Death Metal” in the form of six original compositions. Comprised of Sense of Premonition on vocals and guitars, Sense of Clairvoyance on bass and Sense of Clairaudience on drums, Invocation reached a hellish harmony with their classic South American diabolism with Attunement to Death, while at the same time imbuing it with a deeper and more unique aspect that bountifully displays their authentic grounding in the occult, setting the tone for a very promising and infernal future for such talented band.
Ominous, cryptic noises permeate the air in the opening track Oppression, a phantasmagorical intro that will drag you to the pits of the underworld before the trio begins blasting their instruments mercilessly in Flying Ointments, exhaling pure evil and heaviness, and with the gruesome vociferations by Sense of Premonition being complemented by his own demonic riffs and Sense of Clairaudience’s intricate and sulfurous beats. After such demented start to the EP, scorching riffs and rumbling, metallic bass lines dictate the rhythm in the also Stygian and infernal Divine Transition, presenting a solid fusion of the darkness of Black Metal with the raw sounds of Death Metal, offering to our avid ears pure devastation in the form of music from start to finish, without of course a single second of peace just the way we like it in extreme music.
A putrid roar by Sense of Premonition kicks off the Death Metal extravaganza entitled The First Mirror, showcasing a great sync between Sense of Clairvoyance and Sense of Clairaudience with their respective bass punches and beats and fills, resulting in a true headbanging tune that lives up to the legacy of the genre. Then get ready for over seven minutes of obscurity and rage in The Officiants, where the classic riffage by Sense of Premonition gets even more impactful accompanied by Sense of Clairaudience’s infernal drums, whereas its vocals couldn’t have sounded more disturbing and visceral. And last but not least, Invocation summon all creatures of the dark in their most detailed and devilish creation, the heavy-as-hell Secret Tongues, uniting elements from Black and Death Metal in the name of evil. In addition, its guitar sounds will certainly darken your mind, while Sense of Clairaudience continues to crush our skulls without a single drop of mercy in this multi-layered aria that sounds absolutely ritualistic.
In a nutshell, while Invocation (hopefully) get ready for their debut full-length opus in a not-so-distant future, there’s a lot to savor in their brand new EP, which as already mentioned might be short in duration but reeks of violence and obscurity. Having said that, simply let the dark and demonic sounds blasted by this awesome Chilean horde penetrate deep inside your soul by following them on Facebook and by purchasing your copy of Attunement to Death from the band’s own BandCamp page, from Record Shop X, or from other locations as soon as the album is officially released in February, celebrating all things evil in the name of our good old Black and Death Metal.
Best moments of the album:Flying Ointments and Secret Tongues.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2020 Iron Bonhead
Track listing 1. Oppression 0:56
2. Flying Ointments 5:05
3. Divine Transition 7:46
4. The First Mirror 5:06
5. The Officiants 5:29
6. Secret Tongues 6:29
Band members Sense of Premonition – vocals, guitars
Sense of Clairvoyance – bass
Sense of Clairaudience – drums
Let’s all dive into the incendiary deep waters of Technical and Progressive Death Metal ruled by one of the most talented and innovative names of the South American metal scene.
Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to be absolutely stunned by the music crafted by four extremely talented guys hailing from Santiago, the beautiful capital of Chile, who seem to have mastered the art of blending sheer aggression and tons of progressiveness infused with atmospheric and melancholic passages. I’m talking about a Technical/Progressive Death Metal four-piece unity that goes by the name of Target, who released earlier this year their sophomore full-length opus, the amazing Deep Water Flames, one of the best metal albums of 2019 so far without a shadow of a doubt, and I’m sure you’ll agree with that after listening to such imposing and dense album of extreme music.
Formed in the year of 2002, the band now comprised of lead singer Andrés Piña, guitarist Luis Soto, bassist Rodrigo Castro and drummer Rodrigo Arias put on a lot of hard work, passion for heavy music and talent into the making of Deep Water Flames. Recorded and mixed in Santiago by Erick Martínez at Orange Studio, mastered in Sweden by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Recording Studios, and featuring dark and flammable artwork, design and graphics by Dehn Sora, from Paris, France, Deep Water Flames sounds and feels like a tribute to all things Progressive and Death Metal, captivating all your senses from its first notes until its climatic grand finale, therefore positioning Target as one of the best and most innovative names of the underground scene in South America.
The intro Immerse is absolutely eerie and atmospheric from the very first second, reaching deep inside your soul and warming up your mind for the bold and crushing Inverted Gloaming, featuring Juan Escobar (Aphonic Threnody, AstorVoltaires, Tetractys, Mar de Grises) on vocals. Sounding utterly wicked and experimental, this excellent tune is led by Rodrigo’s insane beats and fills, while Andrés screams in a deranged and visceral way, resulting in a lecture in contemporary Progressive Death Metal. Then once again offering madness in the form of music, the band brings forth No Solace Arises, where Luis is on fire with his razor-edged strings, or in other words, this is a neck-breaking tune where the band’s “Rodrigos” shake the foundations of the earth with their beats and bass punches, making it feel like we’re listening to three or four songs all at once.
As obscure and atmospheric as its predecessors, Oceangrave is a flawless fusion of intricacy and rage, sounding as if Lamb of god went full progressive, showcasing ominous passages blended with Luis’ evil guitar lines and Rodrigo Castro’s damned, thunderous bass roars; followed by Surge Drift Motion, which begins in full force with both Luis and Rodrigo Castro shredding their strings mercilessly. Put differently, it’s a heavier-than-hell version of classic Progressive Metal spiced up by Andrés’ roars, with the piercing guitar solos by the band’s stringed duo being the icing on the cake. Submerged is a futuristic and melancholic instrumental bridge that will mesmerize you and prepare you for the pulverizing Drowned in an Everlasting Mantra, starting in a purely experimental mode before Rodrigo Arias begins exterminating his drums beautifully. Furthermore, sheer violence emanates from every riff and beat, with the deep, bestial growls by Andrés seeming inspired by Deathcore while the instrumental pieces remind me of the gripping music by bands like Gojira and Opeth.
Target Deep Water Flames Digipak
The following song, entitled Blackwaters, couldn’t have started in a more demented way, with its eccentric notes morphing into another brutal feast of progressive sounds where Rodrigo Castro’s bass lines are more imposing than ever. Hence, it’s highly recommended for either slamming into the pit or simply witnessing the band playing it to perfection on stage; and get ready for over nine minutes of the most devastating and intricate form of Progressive Death Metal you can think of in Random Waves, featuring Jeronimo Ruiz (Entrefuego), who brings insanity to the music with his vocals, remaining completely wicked, vile and cinematic until the very end. And lastly, the band offers us the serene outro Emerge, where its piano notes and background elements will embrace you and make you feel comfortable in darkness.
You should definitely take a very good and detailed listen at this magnificent album of Technical and Progressive Death Metal made in Chile on YouTube and on Spotify, and after being hypnotized by Target’s heavy and complex sounds you can purchase Deep Water Flames directly from the band’s BandCamp page, from the Australis Records’ BandCamp page, from Apple Music, from Amazon or from CD Baby. Furthermore, if I were you I would go for the digipak version of the album as it’s simply fantastic. I got it from Australis Records, and let me tell you those guys did a beautiful job producing the physical CD format of such distinct album. Also, don’t forget to follow Target on Facebook and to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and let your body and mind dive into the incendiary deep waters of progressive and heavy music ruled by those extremely talented Chilean musicians.
Best moments of the album:Inverted Gloaming, Oceangrave and Drowned in an Everlasting Mantra.
No kisses, no games, don’t think I want love… Do not complain, it’s the speed metal way!
It’s time to put the pedal to the metal here on The Headbanging Moose by presenting to you one of the meanest, fastest and most ferocious ladies in the world of heavy music, a woman that loves Heavy and Speed Metal from the bottom of her heart and who takes no prisoners in her quest for underground music. Not only a talented musician, she’s also a model, a designer and an artist, always fighting for her dreams and never giving up or slowing down no matter what. I’m talking about Constanza Godoy Díaz, better known by her fast and furious moniker of Tanza Speed (or simply Tanza), the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist behind American Heavy/Speed Metal band Outline and the project’s previous incarnation, Chilean Speed Metal band Demona. With that said, are you ready to accelerate and bang your heads together with Tanza?
Born on August 13, 1990 in Quilpué, a city and capital of the Marga Province in central Chile’s Valparaíso Region, and living her entire childhood in Villa Alemana near her family and friends, Tanza is the daughter of two 80’s metalheads and has always been linked to the metal scene (by the way, her father Mauricio “Jackie” Godoy played guitar in two bands from Valparaíso, those being Distorsion and D.O.D.), with her passion for metal music starting when she was around 12 years old while searching for her own identity and exploring different styles. In 2007, at the age of 17, she created her own band Demona (a project without major expectations that didn’t release anything until 2008), only days after moving to Santiago to study English in university. She didn’t finish her career, though, because she realized it was not what she wanted and decided to change her major and study what she really wanted, photojournalism. However, that only lasted for one year, as she couldn’t continue her studies due to her move to Canada in 2011. Tanza actually said being a photographer was pretty exciting, especially in her home country due to all violence and riots happening at that time, and she still takes photos at her home studio and publishes those on her own website.
Our dauntless musician considers herself a person that likes to learn and study by observing things, always trying to notice the differences between cultures as she’s already lived in Chile, Canada and the United States, and traveled to countries like Brazil and Japan, enjoying seeing the contrasts in people. For instance, when she was a kid she enjoyed observing her mother and grandmother sew, always trying to replicate what they were doing, which ended up helping her develop her skills as a fashion designer. Regarding the time when she moved to Canada, in 2011, Tanza said that was necessary as she was being bullied a lot in her homeland Chile. The local scene didn’t really love her, and due to her lack of experience things got out of control and she couldn’t continue in the band she was at that time anymore. It was thanks to her Canadian friends that she decided to save some money and try a new life in Canada, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for her not only as a musician, but as an artist and a businesswoman.
Before Demona, Tanza was part of a couple of bands with some friends, but nothing that could be considered a serious or professional project, those being Chilean Thrash Metal band Corrosion, where she played guitars and with whom she played a few live concerts and recorded only one demo, and another band named Poisoned, where she was also the guitarist, but that lasted only for a few months. In addition, you can also find Tanza collaborating with American Power/Thrash Metal band Destructor in their 2016 album Back in Bondage, not as a musician but as their cover model, giving a touch of delicacy and sexiness to their crushing music. However, as aforementioned, after forming Demona in 2007 Tanza really started to build a career in heavy music, with the band either working as her solo project, where she took care of vocals and played all instruments, or as a regular band with other musicians involved. Since 2008, Tanza and her Demona have released a promo EP in 2008, followed by the demo Metal Is Me in 2009, the EP Die in Violence in 2010, the demo Nightmare in 2011, the EP MIM / The Assassin in 2012, the full-length albums Metal Through the Time, in 2012, and Speaking with the Devil (which she was also responsible for the layout), in 2013, and finally the EP 2015, obviously launched in 2015. The idea behind Demona was quite simple, as Tanza started playing the guitar at home on a regular boring day during her teens, wrote an original song and voilà, the project was born, with the name Demona being inspired by the word “demon”, but with the additional “a” giving it a more feminine touch. You can visit the band’s YouTube channel to get a good taste of their vicious music, like this video of the band playing the song The Apocalypse live in Sherbrook, Quebec, Canada on August 12, 2011, or also go to Tanza’s personal channel to watch her kicking some ass live in Osaka, Japan in 2014 with the songs Demona and Dirty Speed Metal.
In addition, as briefly mentioned in the beginning of this tribute to Tanza, Demona recently morphed in 2017 to a new entity entitled Outline, having released in 2017 their first demo named Fire Whiplash and, more recently, an expanded and more professional version of that demo, with the addition of a few new songs to it and, of course, a better overall production. Outline is not just a continuation of Demona, but an enhanced project where Tanza, together with J. Hammer, the mastermind behind American Black/Speed Metal/Punk one-man army Hammr, reveal to the diehard fans of Demona a newer and more traditional side of Tanza, and you can take a good listen at that metamorphosis directly at Outline’s BandCamp page or YouTube channel, like the title-track to their debut album Fire Whiplash. Under this new name, Tanza is known as “The Speed”, while J. Hammer is simply “The Hammer”, just to give you an idea of how raw, direct and metallic their music sounds.
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Not only an up-and-coming metalhead, Tanza is also the founder of her own clothing store named Speed Clothes, an idea that was originated as soon as Tanza moved to Canada in 2011, when she was broke and didn’t speak the language, and therefore felt the need and desire to start her own business inspired as mentioned by her mother and grandmother. In 2012, she made her first printed swimsuit on spandex and things started to change, but it was in 2015 when she relocated to the United States after getting married that her business really took off, investing all she had at that time to create a product that would fulfill every girl’s demands when it comes to metal clothing, empowering them to dress as they please and “looking hot without sacrificing brutality”, as frontman Mauro Gonzales from American Thrash Metal act Bonded by Blood said once. Furthermore, as Tanza herself stated, she’s not just selling clothes, but also taking care of all other business areas such as marketing, promotion, photography, customer service and website development, for example. You can get more information about Speed Clothes from their official website or from their Facebook page, getting in touch with Tanza and, if you’re a girl who loves metal above all things, maybe even purchase new clothes or accessories for your devilish wardrobe.
Still regarding Speed Clothes and fashion in general, Tanza said in one of her interviews that freedom and creativity are the key points in metal fashion, allowing people to express themselves and to innovate, which is something Tanza believes is a crucial part of metal music. “Metal wouldn’t be what it is now without innovation, and innovation comes with trying new things. Whether you want it or not, it implies that you have to mix and try and invent things. Mainstream artists wear a lot of leather with studs and stuff and, if that’s what you mean then, I think that’s great,” said our multi-talented metaller, complementing by saying why innovation is essential in her line of business. “You cannot pretend you are still in the ‘80s when you are using the internet, you know? Even in metal, we can’t keep it squarely in the ‘80s. I understand the tendency, but the 17-year-old girls of today simply do not care about the ‘80s anymore. They want cool things. And why shouldn’t there be cool things for metal, as there are for everything else in life?”
Tanza’s inspirations and idols in music and arts in general are pretty much everything we metalheads love, with underground bands like Living Death, Wardance, Desaster and Sentinel Beast being among her favorite ones alongside metal titans such as Judas Priest and the early days of Metallica. However, she mentioned in one of her interviews that she also takes lots of inspiration from other kinds of music like classic rock, such as Queen and Led Zeppelin, and also from 80’s synth pop like Yazoo, Depeche Mode and Trans X. As a matter of fact, Tanza and her Demona were originally inspired by her own personal experiences plus a wide range of styles, from national classic folklore to the most remote and underground bands that may exist, which is basically why her music sounds so raw, vibrant and honest, working as a representation of her own true self.
When asked about the metal scene in her homeland Chile, Tanza said that Chilean metal fans are extremely passionate, loving metal from the bottom of their hearts and with their souls, but that also means they can be very hateful as well to anyone who doesn’t have the same beliefs and ideas or to who’s too different from them. She said that, while she was living in Chile, women were not very accepted in the metal scene, not being taken seriously as they should as the scene was too sexist and elitist at that time which, as already mentioned, was one of the main reasons why she left her country and moved to Canada. However, even with all those hassles, Tanza loves metal from her homeland, with bands like Force of Darkness, Atomic Aggressor, Pentagram, Insanity and Invocations Spells being among the ones she personally recommends to anyone who’s interested in knowing more about Heavy Metal made in Chile.
It was in 2014 when Tanza had perhaps her biggest adventure in the world of heavy music, having visited and played in Japan, the “Land of the Rising Sun”, something not very common for several bands (especially if we’re talking about bands from Chile), with the story behind her trip to Japan being very curious to say the least. Before travelling to Japan, Tanza was going through a boring and depressed period in her life, almost ready not to play with Demona anymore. One day, out of nowhere, a Japanese label called Rock Stakk Records contacted her for playing her music in Japan alongside Japanese musicians, resulting in the first ever (and so far, the only) occasion Demona performed live in Japan. Furthermore, Tanza obviously has a strong connection now with the Japanese rock and metal scene, recommending countless local bands such as Sabbat, Metalucifer, Gastunk, X Japan and Loudness, among many, many others.
And last but not least, when asked about her hobbies and other activities, our alternative Chilean singer and model (or “trollmodel”, as her own uncle would say) answered that she actually doesn’t have much time for hobbies, although she loves doing some relaxing activities like taking pictures and recording videos once in a while. Overall, her time is divided between music, her clothing store and modeling (and of course her husband). There are several interesting interviews with Tanza Speed online, such as this one for The Noise Hour Radio Show on May 22, 2013, where she talks about the music by Demora and other nice-to-know details about her career. The only thing is that the full interview is in Spanish, her mother tongue, but as a true supporter of underground metal I guess it’s a very good opportunity for you to practice your Spanish, right? All in the name of our good, old, fast and furious Heavy Metal.
“Metal wouldn’t be what it is now without innovation, and innovation comes with trying new things. Whether you want it or not, it implies that you have to mix and try and invent things.” – Tanza Speed
Blending modern elements of extreme music with feelings of loss, fragility and desperation, this one-man band from Chile offers us a unique interpretation of the apparent conflict on the naturalistic experience.
Hailing from the alluring city of Santiago, the capital of the mighty Republic of Chile, here comes a Post-Black Metal one-man army that goes by the name of Lascar, who since 2014 has been delivering truly captivating music by blending modern elements of extreme music with feelings of loss, fragility and desperation, offering a unique interpretation of the apparent conflict on the naturalistic experience. After the releases of the demos Lascar (2014) and Depths (2015), followed by the band’s debut full-length album Absence (2016), it’s time for Lascar, the brainchild of Chilean multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Hugo, to mesmerize us once again with beautiful Atmospheric Black Metal in the full-length opus Saudade, a Spanish word that can be translated as “yearning” or “nostalgia” (albeit there’s no specific word for it in English), implying a sense of abandon and a nostalgic mourning manifested within an artistic environment.
The opening track, entitled Tender Glow, is Atmospheric Black Metal at its finest, bringing forward a bucolic start with the sound of the guitar thoroughly blended with the wind while the music remains gloomy, desperate and anguished at all times thanks to the demonic gnarls by Gabriel, who effectively vociferates the song’s poetry-like lyrics (“The sun expands through the morning air / with its astral constant energy. / Ornaments of ice melts / through the cracks of crystal moments in an hyperbole. / A heartbeat rumble through a fragile atmosphere. / Echoes of lost dreams trespassing the ethereal. / Seasons of purple blossoms falling through the hands of time. / Ornaments of ice melts / through the cracks of crystal moments in an hyperbole.”). Thin Air continues from where the first song ended, impregnating the air with visceral blast beats, old school Black Metal riffs and tons of agony and melancholy, resulting in a wall of dark sounds built up by several distinct layers that will crush your soul mercilessly. Furthermore, Gabriel keeps growling like an uncanny entity until a gentle break brings some peace to our minds, with this paradox of negative emotions and gentle sounds being absolutely fantastic.
The third track of the album, Uneven Alignment, couldn’t start in a more melancholic manner, with its smooth sounds and nuances mesmerizing our senses before Gabriel returns with his visceral roars and frantic drums. Put differently, this is a solid and beautiful depiction of modern Black Metal with Gabriel taking us all on a whimsical journey through the obscure realms of Lascar. And lastly, the acoustic guitar by Gabriel kicks off the final breath of Post-Black Metal in Saudade, a 14-minute aria named Bereavement, showcasing all elements from Atmospheric and Depressive Black Metal fused with traditional Doom and Black Metal, with devastation and despair flowing from all instruments from start to finish, therefore ending the album on the highest note imaginable.
It’s quite difficult to express in just a few lines what the music by Lascar truly represents, which means that, if I were you, I would definitely go take a very detailed and focused listen at Saudade in its entirety on YouTube, as well as follow Lascar on Facebook. Hence, in case Saudade has all the elements you’re searching for in obscure extreme music, you can purchase a copy of the album at Lascar’s BandCamp page, at the ATMF’s BandCamp page or webstore (as a regular CD, a regular LP, or a collector’s edition translucid purple vinyl LP with white speckles), at the Throne Records’ webstore or at Discogs. The feeling of loss followed by a strong and deep sense of yearning might not be something easy to deal with inside ourselves, but with the lugubrious music by Lascar as the soundtrack at least we have a very good reason to let those feelings and thoughts consume our minds in the darkest way possible.
Best moments of the album: Thin Air and Bereavement.
Originally formed in Concepción, Chile in 1987 by vocalist Peter and split up in 1994 with two demos recorded before that, the unrelenting Death Metal beast known as Cancerbero is ready to kill once again armed with their third full-length opus, entitled Sempiternal Decay, following up on their 2019 sophomore Reconquering the Throne of Death. Recorded by V. Wraith, and displaying an ass-kicking, classic cover art by Mörtuus Art, the new album by Peter on vocals and bass, Evil Killer and Silencio on the guitars, and L. Grave on drums is an album that’s most definitely a lesson in devilish and archaic Death Metal the way it was meant to be in the 80’s, not just musically, but also in essence, spirit and attitude.
Extremely recommended to fans of Morbid Angel, Possessed, Mortem, Sadistic Intent, Asphyx, Celtic Frost, Death, Messiah, and Pentacle, among countless other giants of old school Death Metal, Sempiternal Decay (available in full on YouTube) will crush you like a putrid insect, proving why the band has become a synonym to the genre in their homeland. Hence, you can get in touch with the guys from Cancerbero on Facebook, staying up to date with all of their news, tour dates and so on, and of course grab a copy of their new album from Memento Mori. Cancerbero are the epitome of primeval, no shenanigans Death Metal, and once you listen to their bestial new offering, your putrid bodies and minds will never be the same again.
Formed in Santiago, Chile in the year of 2010, Heavy Metal/Hard Rock brigade 
If you would like to join Bólido in their quest for Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, you can enjoy Against the World in its entirety on 
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