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Album Review – Sisyphean / Divergence (2026)

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Providing us all with an inspiring creative outlet of their unique-sounding Black Metal, this Lithuanian horde is finally back with their scorching third album.

Providing us all with an inspiring creative outlet of their unique-sounding Black Metal, true to their musical legacy and their history while also open to new inspirations, Vilnius, Lithuania’s own Blackened Death Metal horde Sisyphean is finally back with their third full-length offering, entitled Divergence, following up on their critically acclaimed 2022 sophomore Colours of Faith. Recorded at Hertz Studios, produced, mixed and mastered by Wojtek Wieslawski (Behemoth, Decapitated), and displaying another Stygian artwork by the beyond talented Chris Kiesling of Misanthropic-Art, the new album by Dainius P. on vocals, Kamil U. and Saulius B. on the guitars, Augustinas B. on bass, and Mantas D. on drums exhales aggression and creativity, with its lyrics providing depth that many writers would envy, therefore keeping their music always fresh and timeless.

The sinister, atmospheric intro The Tower will drag us to pitch black darkness before the band destroys our souls with A Point in the Abyss, with the classic blast beats by Mantas enhancing the song’s punch, offering Dainius exactly what he needs to roar like a true demonic entity supported by the cadaverous guitar lines by Kamil and Saulius. The band continues their path of chaos and obscurity in Occultation, where the stringed trio formed of Kamil, Saulius and Augustinas melts our faces with their dissonant and evil Black Metal sounds; and Sisyphean arise from the underworld in full force with Stupor Mundi, a Latin phrase meaning “wonder of the world” or “astonishment of the world,” used to describe the 13th-century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194-1250), eviscerating our putrid bodies with their cadaverous riffs, bass lines and drums while Dainius keeps haunting us all with his devilish vociferations.

The quintet speeds thigs up and spread sheer animosity and sulfur in Hunting for Answers, led by another galloping performance by Mantas on drums and supported by Augustinas rumbling bass. In Divergence is a lecture in modern-day Black Metal, also presenting the most infuriated elements of Death Metal, with Dainius sounding absolutely rabid and evil on vocals for our absolute delight; followed by Black Bird That Brings No Joy, bringing to our putrid ears an overdose of sharp, caustic words (“There’s little time for snakes / Those bastards suspended in infectious states / Stretching vines, grasping for every throat and wonder / Suddenly, an enemy / Who uses doubt as a potent weapon / Projecting woes and misfortunes”) while the music is a true Blackened Death Metal attack. Lastly, closing such a powerful and captivating album we’re treated to Sangfroid, offering over seven minutes of harsh, scathing sounds where the guitars by Kamil and Saulius transpire darkness.

After listening to Divergence, you’ll quickly realize Sisyphean play Black Metal for the future, perfect for the quietness of the winter forest, but also well suited for a walk through the city centre. You can get to know more about those unrelenting Lithuanian metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their enfolding creations on Spotify, and of course purchase their breathtaking new album from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. Manipulation, narcissism and other similar physic disorders remain a huge part of the darkest corners of the human mind. How can those be exposed, how shall those be revenged and how can we learn from them? You’ll find the answers to those obscure questions in Divergence, but be careful, as the truth might at the same time set you free, and imprison your soul within your own self.

Best moments of the album: Stupor Mundi, In Divergence and Black Bird That Brings No Joy.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Edged Circle Productions

Track listing
1. The Tower 1:43
2. A Point in the Abyss 5:32
3. Occultation 6:29
4. Stupor Mundi 6:15
5. Hunting for Answers 4:39
6. In Divergence 5:04
7. Black Bird That Brings No Joy 5:29
8. Sangfroid 7:20

Band members
Dainius P. – vocals
Kamil U. – guitars
Saulius B. – guitars
Augustinas B. – bass
Mantas D. – drums

Album Review – Engulf / The Dying Planet Weeps (2024)

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A one-man studio Death Metal act drawing influence from all dark corners of the extreme music realm returns with his massive and savage debut full-length album.

A one-man studio Death Metal act drawing influence from all dark corners of the extreme music realm, New Jersey, United States-based entity Engulf is back with its catchy riffs, gnarly vocals and brutish yet dark vibes in the project’s massive and savage debut full-length album, titled The Dying Planet Weeps. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Kelly, mastered for vinyl by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio, displaying an otherwordly artwork by Pär Olofsson (with additional artwork by Chris Kiesling of Misanthropic-Art, and logo by Steve Crow of Malevolent Icons), and featuring an array of very special guest musicians, the album is the perfect follow-up to the three story-driven EP’s released between 2017 and 2019, showcasing all the talent and passion for heavy music by the project’s mastermind, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Hal Microutsicos.

Eerie, cryptic sounds permeate the air in the opening tune Withered Suns Collapse until all explodes into a Technical Death Metal attack by our lone wolf, where he not only extracts sheer violence from his riffage, but his guttural roars also bring endless insanity to the song. Then featuring guest vocals by Kevin Muller (of Alluvial), Bellows from the Aether offers more of Hal’s groovy and dissonant Death Metal, supported by the rumbling bass by session musician Giacomo Gastaldi (of Darkend); and Hal keeps hammering his instruments in The Nefarious Hive, featuring guest vocals by the one and only Sven de Caluwé (of Aborted), who delivers his deep, inhumane growls as expected, making a devilish vocal duo with Hal. After such inspiring metal attack, Ominous Grandeur brings elements from Doom and Black Metal to Engulf’s already demonic sonority, resulting in over five minutes of insanity and heaviness where the bass by Giacomo sounds absolutely rumbling until the very end.

The second half of the album will hit you hard in the head with its even heavier and more venomous sounds, starting with Lunar Scourge, a brutal and evil attack of Death Metal by Hal with its blast beats and sick riffage inviting us all to join Engulf in pitch black darkness, whereas Plagued Oblivion, featuring a guest guitar solo by Pat Bonvin (of Near Death Condition), reminds me of some of the wicked creations by Death Metal veterans Unleashed, also presenting some sick elements from Black Metal in its riffs. Then featuring guest vocals by Enrico “H.” Di Lorenzo (of Hideous Divinity) and a guest guitar solo by Chris Kelly, Earthbore is a six-minute journey through the realms of cryptic and savage Death Metal, starting in a serene manner before morphing into a Dissonant Death Metal extravaganza led by the wicked riffs by Hal, flowing into the title-track The Dying Planet Weeps, an extended instrumental outro that follows the same pattern of the previous song, but that takes away a bit of the album’s energy due to its length.

The multi-talented Hal Microutsicos and his demented beast Engulf are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more nice-to-know details about the entire project, and you can also stream his wicked creations on Spotify and on several other streaming services. Furthermore, in order to show Engulf your utmost support, you can purchase a copy of The Dying Planet Weeps by clicking HERE (physical version) or HERE (digital version), inspiring Hal to keep crafting first-class Death Metal for years to come. The Dying Planet Weeps will surely please most fans of all types of Death Metal due to its versatility and dynamism, once again proving how important one-man or one-woman bands are to the continuity of the underground scene.

Best moments of the album: Bellows from the Aether, The Nefarious Hive and Earthbore.

Worst moments of the album: The Dying Planet Weeps.

Released in 2024 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Withered Suns Collapse 5:51
2. Bellows from the Aether 3:31
3. The Nefarious Hive 3:38
4. Ominous Grandeur 5:19
5. Lunar Scourge 4:28
6. Plagued Oblivion 4:45
7. Earthbore 6:11
8. The Dying Planet Weeps 2:19

Band members
Hal Microutsicos – vocals, all instruments, drum programming

Guest musicians
Giacomo Gastaldi – bass (session)
Kevin Muller – vocals on “Bellows from the Aether”
Sven de Caluwé – vocals on “The Nefarious Hive”
Pat Bonvin – guitar solo on “Plagued Oblivion”
Enrico “H.” Di Lorenzo – vocals on “Earthbore”
Chris Kelly – guitar solo on “Earthbore”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2021 Everlasting Spew Records

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

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

Guest musician
Ally Storch – violin on “Hypersleep Dementia”