Album Review – Lust Of Decay / Entombed In Sewage (2025)

Twenty five years since their tale of terror began, the demigods of death return with their long awaited, gory and brutal fourth full-length album.

Twenty five years since their tale of terror began and far too long a time since the release of their last album Purity Through Dismemberment back in 2006, the demigods of death, legends of the underworld, Kings Mountain, North Carolina-based Brutal Death Metal/Grindcore beasts Lust Of Decay have returned, carrying with them in their bloodstained, disease riddled hands something bleak and soul destroying, ten new commandments of depravity and tragedy, new incitements to violence and degradation, their long, long awaited fourth full-length album, Entombed in Sewage. Mixed and mastered by Tony Tipton at Metal Foundry, and displaying a gory, demented artwork by the indomitable Daemorph, the new opus by vocalist Jay Barnes, guitarist Steve Green, bassist Ryan Coulter, and drummer Jordan Varela has a surprisingly bright and vibrant sound that brings every element, every weapon in the Lust Of Decay armory into play to tremendous effect, being therefore perfect for fans of Cannibal Corpse, Psycroptic, Disavowed, and Prostitute Disfigurement.

Prepare your damned bodies for a wild and gruesome ride starting with Parasitic Exsanguination, a demented display of the band’s trademark Death Metal where Jordan sounds absolutely inhumane on drums, and they managed to sound even heavier and more deranged in Hallucinations of the Decrepit, where Jay’s demonic growls are the epitome of madness and violence. The screeching of dirty pigs ignite Nourishing the Swine, another exhibit of pure violence and gore by the quartet where once again Ryan and Jordan make the earth tremble armed with their infernal kitchen; and you’ll be smashed into pieces in the best Cannibal Corpse-style in Fetal Contamination Process, led by Steve’s infuriated, scathing riffage.

Rusty Razor Rimjob requires no comments about its title, while the music is just as gory and depraved, with Jay vomiting its visceral words amidst an overdose of Death Metal insanity. Jay sounds even more demonic in Order 66, inviting us all to crush our damned skulls into the pit, not to mention how fulminating Jordan is once again behind his drums. Put differently, it can’t get any more Death Metal than this, whereas Desiccate the Epithelium sounds beyond perfect for breaking your neck into tiny pieces headbanging like a true maniac to the nonstop riffs by Steve. Finally, they offer our putrid ears the horror movie-like title-track Entombed in Sewage, starting in an cinematic manner before all hell breaks loose to the heavy artillery crafted by Steve, Ryan and Jordan.

Unleashed upon the world like a knife from the dark into the throat of the festive season, Entombed In Sewage is a must-listen for fans of absolute brutality and gore, and you can put your putrid hands on such a precious gem of the extreme scene by grabbing a physical copy of the album and merch by clicking HERE, or from Comatose Music’s BandCamp. Don’t forget to also give those guys a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping an eye on their live concerts, and to stream their sick music on Spotify or any other platform. Needless to say, if you refuse to do so, get ready to be mercilessly entombed in sewage.

Best moments of the album: Hallucinations of the Decrepit, Order 66 and Entombed in Sewage.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Parasitic Exsanguination 4:26
2. Hallucinations of the Decrepit 4:01
3. Nourishing the Swine 4:29
4. Fetal Contamination Process 3:58
5. Rusty Razor Rimjob 3:45
6. Order 66 3:41
7. Desiccate the Epithelium 3:45
8. Entombed in Sewage 5:18

Band members
Jay Barnes – vocals
Steve Green – guitars, backing vocals
Ryan Coulter – bass
Jordan Varela – drums

Album Review – Wrath of Belial / Embers of Dead Empires (2025)

Danish Death Metal juggernauts return with fire and fury on their sophomore full-length opus, casting a harsh light on human cruelty and societal decay.

Pulling inspiration from Death Metal legends the likes of Aborted, Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, and even the progressive might of Mastodon, Aarhus, Denmark-based Death Metal juggernaut Wrath of Belial returns with fire and fury on their sophomore full-length opus, entitled Embers of Dead Empires, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2017 debut Bloodstained Rebellion. Mixed and mastered by Mendel bij de Leij (Aborted, Severe Torture, Cytotoxin), with drums recorded under the skilled engineering of Jacob Bredahl at Dead Rat Studios, and featuring a brutally futuristic artwork by world renowned illustrator Daemorph, the new album by Kasper B. Hornstrup on vocals, Jonas L. Thomsen on the guitars, and Anders F.S. Mikkelsen on bass, with support from session musicians Alex Bossen (of OXX) on lead guitars, and Bastian Thusgaard (of Soilwork, Dawn of Demise, and The Arcane Order) on drums, while the live lineup now includes Richardt Olsen on the guitars and Bent Bisballe Nyeng on drums, is a savage, refined, and punishingly tight release that casts a harsh light on human cruelty and societal decay, featuring ten meticulously crafted tracks of  Brutal and Melodic Death Metal packed with razor-sharp riffs, breakneck drumming, and searing vocals.

Dismantling Logos is absolutely insane from the very first second, with guest drummer Robin Stone (of Ashen Horde and Norse) crushing his drums manically while Kasper roars like a demonic entity. In other words, the album couldn’t have started in a more ferocious and exciting way; and Alex and Jonas shred their axes without a single drop of mercy in Mask of Commiseration, offering more of the band’s demented blend of Brutal and Technical Death Metal, followed by The Secular and the Divine, a lecture in Technical Death Metal with the infuriated growls by Kasper walking hand in hand with the inhumane beats and fills by Bastian. The stringed weapons by Alex, Jonas and Anders keep breathing fire and violence in Embers, showcasing the band’s trademark fusion of intricacy and darkness, whereas the metallic, rumbling bass by Anders adds tons of groove to their sound in Visions of the Annointed, being more than perfect for some hard hitting action inside the circle pit.

Bastian shows no mercy for our damned necks an bodies in Atonement, hammering his drums nonstop in the name of classic Death Metal, therefore keeping the album at a humongous level of animosity; followed by The Devouring Mother, one of the heaviest, most infernal of all songs, led by the brutal guttural by Kasper while the band’s guitarists shred their instruments in the name of sheer aggression. There’s absolutely no time to breath to the sound of The Marble and the Sculptor, a no shenanigans, in-your-face Death Metal attack by Wrath of Belial that should work majestically if played live; and the band then sounds even more infuriated in The Stench, a visceral lesson in extreme music where Bastian steals the spotlight with his ruthless and precise drumming. Lastly, the band’s final attack, titled Weight of the Transcendent, offers more of Kasper’s demented screeches while Alex and Jonas keep firing their trademark hellish riffage nonstop.

Fans of bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder, Aborted, and high-speed Death Metal with a razor-sharp melodic edge will have a great time listening to Embers of Dead Empires, which in the end is more than just a record, but a sharpened spear aimed at the heart of apathy and decay. Hence, as Wrath of Belial ignite the underground once again, you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, stream their music on any platform such as Spotify, get more details about the band from CDN Records or by clicking HERE, and of course grab your copy of their ruthless new album from the CDN Records webstore. Danish Death Metal has never sounded stronger than now with Wrath of Belial, and if you think you have what it takes to face Embers of Dead Empires, I’m sure you won’t regret getting pulverized by the music found in the band’s newborn beast.

Best moments of the album: Dismantling Logos, The Secular and the Divine, The Devouring Mother and The Stench.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 CDN Records

Track listing
1. Dismantling Logos 4:49
2. Mask of Commiseration 4:23
3. The Secular and the Divine 3:49
4. Embers 5:19
5. Visions of the Annointed 4:05
6. Atonement 4:14
7. The Devouring Mother 4:07
8. The Marble and the Sculptor 3:30
9. The Stench 4:11
10. Weight of the Transcendent 4:42

Band members
Kasper B. Hornstrup – vocals
Jonas L. Thomsen – guitars
Anders F.S. Mikkelsen – bass

Guest musicians
Alex Bossen – lead guitars (session)
Bastian Thusgaard – drums (session)
Robin Stone – drums on “Dismantling Logos”
Richardt Olsen – guitars (live)
Bent Bisballe Nyeng – drums (live)

Album Review – Avulsed / Phoenix Cryptobiosis (2025)

Spain’s own Death Metal veterans return in full force with a pulverizing new album, raising their violence to another level, sounding as brutal, heavy, intense and catchy as always.

With the new line-up in exhilarating form and a final touch of gore soaked magic applied by the mixing of Alejandro Lobo at Acórdica Studios, the mastering of Davide Billia at MK2 Studio, and a venomous artwork by Ukrainian illustrator Daemorph, the pulverizing Phoenix Cryptobiosis represents Madrid, Spain-based Death Metal veterans Avulsed at the peak of their form. Currently formed of the iconic frontman Dave Rotten, guitarists Victor Dws and Alejandro Lobo, bassist Alex Nihil and drummer Santiago Arroyo “GoG”, Avulsed are on absolute fire in their eighth studio album and the follow-up to their 2013 opus Ritual Zombi, raising their violence to another level, sounding as brutal, heavy, intense and catchy as always, turning the album into a pure delight for fans of Demigod, Carcass, Bolt Thrower and Cannibal Corpse, among others, with each track having a wealth of haunted vaults to explore (and you’ll just want the bloodshed to keep on coming).

Limbs Regeneration is evil, haunting and embracing form the very first second, an extended intro that will decimate your blackened minds before we face Lacerate to Dominate with its poetic yet caustic lyrics barked by Dave (“In the realm of shattered dreams / Where agony reigns supreme / Razor’s edge a bloodied gleam / Lacerate to crush the dream”) amidst a brutal Death Metal atmosphere. It’s time to open up the circle pit and begin the slamming feast with Blood Monolith, with Victor and Alejandro firing classic Death Metal riffs while Santiago hammers his drums nonstop, and they need less than three minutes to smash us like disgusting insects in Unrotted, followed by the also pulverizing Guts of the Gore Gods, with Santiago and Alex hammering their rumbling drums and bass, respectively, in the name of old school Death Metal. After such an overdose of violence, the title-track Phoenix Cryptobiosis brings to our avid ears that sinister, sluggish and gory version of Death Metal we all learned to love so much, and the final result is truly infernal.

Santiago then sets the pace with his classic beats in the fast and furious extravaganza titled Devotion for Putrefaction, with Dave once again melting our faces with his deep guttural roars, followed by Neverborn Monstrosity, five minutes of pure Death Metal showcasing the band’s passion for the extreme and an intense, bold atmosphere, with the riffage by Victor and Alejandro exhaling rage. They keep the momentum going with Dismembered, another savage display of Death Metal made in Spain where Dave sounds possessed on vocals; and Bio-Cadaver, carrying a charming name for an overdose of brutality, heaviness and gore blasted by Dave and his henchmen. Last but not least, Santiago brings an extra dosage of rage and insanity to their music in Wandering Putrid Souls, inviting us all to slam into the pit one final time together with those beyond talented servants of the extreme.

In a nutshell, Phoenix Cryptobiosis is everything you could desire from an unwavering, undiluted Death Metal album in this age of fractured loyalties and pandering to the thin-blooded masses, bringing forward a band that takes no prisoners in their quest for extreme music. Hence, you can join those Spanish metallers on Facebook and on Instagram to stay up to date with everything surrounding them, including their live concerts, stream their sick music on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of the infernal Phoenix Cryptobiosis from Xtreem Music’s BandCamp or webstore. Avulsed are coming in full force to crush our putrid bodies armed with their new album, and you better be prepared because impact is imminent, and it will be absolutely violent.

Best moments of the album: Blood Monolith, Devotion for Putrefaction and Dismembered.

Worst moments of the album: Limbs Regeneration.

Released in 2025 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. Limbs Regeneration 2:55
2. Lacerate to Dominate 5:01
3. Blood Monolith 4:15
4. Unrotted 2:39
5. Guts of the Gore Gods 3:03
6. Phoenix Cryptobiosis 4:23
7. Devotion for Putrefaction 3:27
8. Neverborn Monstrosity 5:12
9. Dismembered 4:40
10. Bio-Cadaver 3:53
11. Wandering Putrid Souls 4:57

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Victor Dws – guitars
Alejandro Lobo – guitars
Alex Nihil – bass
Santiago Arroyo “GoG” – drums

Album Review – Holycide / Towards Idiocracy (2024)

Armed to the teeth with machinegun riffs and prophecies of destruction, Spain’s premier Thrash Metal battle tank is unleashing a completely uncompromising thrash attack on the soulless avarice, self-serving arrogance and blind stupidity of mankind.

Armed to the teeth with machinegun riffs and prophecies of destruction, Towards Idiocracy, the third full-length album from Madrid, Spain’s premier Thrash Metal battle tank Holycide, is a completely uncompromising thrash attack on the soulless avarice, self-serving arrogance and blind stupidity of mankind and its crumbling towers, built upon the rotting carcass of this once paradisiacal world. Mixed by Nexus 6 at Monsteny Studios, mastered by Davide Billia at Mk2 Recording Studio, and displaying a dystopian artwork by Daemorph, the new album by frontman Dave Rotten (Avulsed, Christ Denied, Putrevore), guitarists Salva Esteban (Charontid) and Ankor Ramírez, bassist Vicenta J. Payá (Unbounded Terror, Golgotha), and drummer Santi ‘GoG’ Arroyo (Avulsed, Buriality) is the perfect follow-up to the band’s previous efforts BazookillerFist to Face, and Annihilate… Then Ask!, a total sonic apocalypse highly recommended for fans of Slayer, Exodus and D.R.I., among others, that will surely keep fueling the band’s thrashing machine for many years to come.

The opener A.I. Supremacy already brings forward an overdose of rage, heaviness and old school Thrash Metal by the quintet, with Dave showcasing his trademark visceral roars right from the start, sounding sick and violent just the way we like it in extreme music; followed by the title-track Towards Idiocracy, where Salva and Ankor show no mercy for our souls delivering electricity and fury through their riffs. Remote Control is another blast of ass-kicking Thrash Metal led by the hammering drums by Santi while their guitars will slash your ears in a violent and thrilling manner, whereas Lie Is the New Truth is one of the most frantic, demented tunes of the entire album where Dave once again growls in our faces like a beast, resulting in a lecture in Thrash Metal made in Spain. And there’s no sign of Holycide slowing down at all, as the band blasts our ears with one more feast of thrashing sounds titled Power Corrupts, with Salva and Ankor stealing the spotlight with their razor-edged, massive riffs.

Get ready to be smashed like an insect inside the circle pit to the sound of Technophobia, an infuriated Thrash Metal anthem against the perils of present day technology, with Dave bursting his lungs screaming in the name of heavy music; and Angry for Nothing is what we could call the Spanish version of the ruthless Thrash Metal played by Exodus, a demented creation by the band with Santi taking the lead with his unstoppable beats and fills. As usual, Holycide offer a sick cover of a thrash anthem in the album, this time Chemical Dependency, by Atrophy (check out the original version from their 1987 demo Chemical Dependency), and Holycide’s version is just as frantic and electrifying. The whole album exhales madness and violence, and in Pleased to Be Deceived it couldn’t have been any different than that, with their riffs, bass and drums generating a menacing atmosphere perfect for Dave’s trademark roars; while lastly, the band will burn everything and everyone that crosses their path with Flamethrower ‘Em All, again blasting our faces with their boisterous blend of Thrash Metal.

In summary, Holycide nailed it once again with Towards Idiocracy, an album that exhales aggression musically and lyrically speaking, turning it into a must-listen for any metalhead who enjoys the austere, unrelenting and violent sounds of our good old Thrash Metal. Hence, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, to stream their demented music on Spotify, and above all that, to put your damned hands on their bestial new album by grabbing a copy of it directly from their own BandCamp page or from the Xtreem Music BandCamp page, keeping our beloved Thrash Metal alive and kicking, and of course the circle pits moving frantically in total Armageddon. And through the hail of bullets and cancerous fumes we march on, from our brave new world towards idiocracy.

Best moments of the album: A.I. Supremacy, Lie Is the New Truth and Angry for Nothing.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. A.I. Supremacy 3:15
2. Towards Idiocracy 3:49
3. Remote Control 4:17
4. Lie Is the New Truth 3:42
5. Power Corrupts 4:30
6. Technophobia 3:17
7. Angry for Nothing 3:53
8. Chemical Dependency (Atrophy cover) 3:03
9. Pleased to Be Deceived 4:46
10. Flamethrower ‘Em All 4:24

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Salva Esteban – guitar
Ankor Ramírez – guitar
Vicente J. Payá – bass
Santi ‘GoG’ Arroyo – drums

Album Review – Holycide / Bazookiller EP (2023)

The unstoppable Dave Rotten and his crew are back in action with an explosive new EP, an uncompromising and thrilling assault on the senses inviting us all to join the band into the battlefield.

Three years after their breathtaking album Fist to Face, Spanish Thrash Metal juggernauts Holycide are back in action, inviting us all to join them into the battlefield with their relentless new EP titled Bazookiller, a sonic four-track blitzkrieg not recommended for the faint-hearted. Mixed by Nexus 6 at Monsteny Studios, mastered by Davide Billia at Mk2 Recording Studio, and displaying an old school artwork by Daemorph that transpires Thrash Metal, the new EP by frontman Dave Rotten, guitarist Salva Esteban, bassist Vicente Payá and drummer Santi “GoG” Arroyo is an uncompromising and thrilling assault on the senses, offering us all three scorching original compositions by the quartet plus a merciless cover of a classic song by D.R.I. that will certainly put a huge and evil smile on your face, keeping the fires of Spanish Thrash Metal burning brighter than ever.

Dirty, demonic riffs ignite the bestial War Broadcast Live, with Dave growling the song’s contemporary, acid lyrics (“It’s modern times / The media rule it all / Immediacy is required / Hungry for audience / War Broadcast Live / Business is what matters / War Broadcast live / Audience is what matters”) in a classic, no shenanigans Thrash Metal feast made in Spain. Santi’s beats then dictate the pace in the thrashing extravaganza titled Bazookiller, supported by the metallic bass by Vicente. Moreover, it should certainly inspired some decent circle pits and endless headbanging, not to mention the amazing solo blasted by Salva; and let’s keep slamming into the pit to the sound of Modern Day Dictator, where Dave continues to distill his evil roars and gnarls, adding an extra touch of animosity to the music, with Salva and Vicente extracting pure dementia form their stringed axes. Last but not least, we face their cover version for Five Year Plan by D.R.I. (check out the original version HERE from their 1987 classic Crossover), and Holycide make sure the essence of the original song remains intact while they add their own thrashing twist to it, resulting in an excellent choice for some sick, frantic headbanging and, of course, for a wild mosh pit.

In a nutshell, Holycide offer in their new EP an honest and vibrant share of Spanish Thrash Metal without any artificial elements, setting the tone for what’s next in the career of such hardworking band. Hence, you can enjoy the EP in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of it from Xtreem Music’s BandCamp page or by clicking HERE, and don’t forget to also start following the unstoppable Dave Rotten and his crew on Facebook and on Instagram for news and tour dates, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their wicked music. Holycide are bringing their heavy artillery in the 15 infuriated minutes of music found in Bazookiller, and you better be prepared because those Spanish metallers will mercilessly explode you with their thrashing music.

Best moments of the album: War Broadcast Live and Modern Day Dictator.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. War Broadcast Live 3:54
2. Bazookiller 4:19
3. Modern Day Dictator 3:25
4. Five Year Plan (D.R.I. cover) 3:54

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Salva Esteban – guitars
Vicente Payá – bass
Santi “GoG” Arroyo – drums

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

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 – Kadavereich / Radiance of Doom EP (2021)

Behold the debut EP by a Russian Death Metal horde unleashing hell on earth with its 19 minutes of brutality, hatred and obscurity.

Brought into being in the dirtiest and darkest alleys of Moscow, Russia by members of local underground bands the likes of Grond, Act Of God and Gwarloth, the ruthless Death Metal creature known as Kadavereich has just unleashed hell on earth with their debut EP, entitled Radiance of Doom. Recorded at Rofocale Studio during the summer of 2021 (with the exception of drums, which were recorded at Giereolith Studio in April 2021), mixed at Angelrape Studio, and featuring a sick artwork by the band’s own bassist Daemorph, Radiance of Doom will bring to your ears 19 minutes of brutality, hatred and obscurity masterfully crafted by Morkbeast on vocals, Panzer and Bonecrushing Apocalypse on the guitars, Daemorph on bass, and Kist on drums, providing fans of the most devilish form of Death Metal with a very good reason to slam into the pit and headbang like a true maniac .

Epic, imposing sounds open the gates of the underworld for Kadavereich to crush our souls in Invincible Sun Devourer, a bestial, crude Death and Black Metal onslaught spearheaded by the gruesome vociferations by Morkbeast accompanied by the utterly infernal beats by Kist; whereas Caldarium of Boiling Blood is just as obscure and grim as its predecessor, with Panzer and Bonecrushing Apocalypse showing no mercy for their stringed axes supported by the rumbling bass by Daemorph in another awesome display of primeval Death Metal. Then get ready to be pulverized by this Russian quintet in CCCIII, with the sound of their incendiary riffs and blast beats setting the atmosphere on fire, also presenting elements from D-Beat Crust and the always demonic gnarls and roars by Morkbeast. And closing such devilish EP we’re treated to the massive, pounding tune Dismal Radiance of Doom, with Panzer and Bonecrushing Apocalypse paying a tribute to all things evil through their wicked riffage while Daemorph and Kist generate a beyond Stygian ambience with their heavy artillery.

If you want to add the apocalyptic and venomous Death Metal by Kadavereich to your personal collection of evil music, you can grab a copy of it directly from the band’s own BandCamp page, as well as from the Godz Ov War Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, a black cassette or a red cassette, showing your utmost support to our beloved underground. Hopefully the unrelenting Russians from Kadavereich won’t take too long to crush our souls again with another release, maybe their first full-length opus, but until then we can rest assured the 19 minutes of infernal death found in Radiance of Doom will keep us absolutely entertained in the name of darkness.

Best moments of the album: Invincible Sun Devourer and CCIII.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2021 Godz Ov War Productions

Track listing
1. Invincible Sun Devourer 4:26
2. Caldarium of Boiling Blood 4:39
3. CCCIII 4:44
4. Dismal Radiance of Doom 5:12

Band members
Morkbeast – vocals
Panzer – guitar
Bonecrushing Apocalypse – guitar
Daemorph – bass
Kist – drums

Album Review – Acranius / Reign of Terror (2017)

It’s time to crown this talented German unit as the new slamming kings of this putrid reign of terror we live in, and enjoy their demolishing music while we witness the brutal downfall of our society.

Rating5

acranius-album-artFormed in 2009 in Rostock, the largest city in the north German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brutal Slamming Death Metal wolf pack Acranius will tear you down with their third full-length installment, the unrelenting Reign of Terror, an album that will certainly leave some serious bruises and scars on your body and mind after you take a listen at each one of its ten rampant compositions. Besides, when you face a Death Metal album that contain songs named “Warpath” and “Return To Violence”, you already know there will be some good blood spilled before even listening to the music inside it, don’t you agree?

After releasing their debut EP The Echo of Her Cracking Chest in 2011, followed by the full-length albums When Mutation Becomes Homicidal, from 2013, and Dishonor, from 2014, and after a few lineup changes through the years, Acranius return with their most complete and professional work to date, featuring a killer artwork by Ukranian musician and illustrator Daemorph, who by the way also worked with the band in their previous album. As any good Death Metal release, get ready for putrid growls, flammable riffs and crushing drums, delivered by four German metallers that are building a beyond solid reputation among fans of the genre not only in their homeland, but also anywhere in the world where good Death Metal is appreciated.

After a short movie-inspired intro, Born A King brings forward a very metallic and aggressive explosion of blast beats and sheer fury, with the deep guttural by Kevin Petersen living up to the legacy of old school Death Metal, while Kingmaker, an amazing composition that will kick you in the face, continues the demolishing path of its predecessor with guitarist Björn Frommberger firing menacing neck-breaking riffs and drummer Robert Arndt smashing his drum set manically. As its name already states, Return To Violence is extreme violence in music where Kevin’s voice sounds more cavernous than before, while Björn keeps slashing his strings as a veteran in Death Metal, and the band doesn’t seem to get tired of being gory and brutal as we can witness in Outlaw, perhaps the most electrifying composition of the entire album. Kevin and Robert sound pulverizing, with Björn and bassist Lars Torlopp punching us in the head ferociously with their flammable strings.

acranius-band-photoBuilt On Tradition is another slamming gruesome tune by this talented quartet, displaying all the main elements from our good old Death Metal with highlights to its rhythmic beats and boisterous guitar lines, followed by The True Reign, where Robert sounds like a stone crusher on drums, blasting his beats and fills powerfully and providing the rest of the band all they need to sound extreme and bloodthirsty. After that bestial chant, we have the fantastic Warpath, a Death Metal hymn for metalheads who want to have a neck injury headbanging, showcasing an infernal rhythm with Kevin barking like a beast, but still melodic and quite progressive. I’m sure you’ll feel your brain moving inside your skull while banging your head to this song, no doubt about that.

Back to their more visceral mode, sounding like a war machine of Brutal Death Metal crushing everything and everyone, Acranius offer the listener Battle Scars, where Björn managed to sound even more menacing than in all previous songs. And the musicality crafted by Acranius will “execute” you ruthlessly in The Executioner, another heavy composition full of bestial drums and hellish growls where devastation never stops. If you can still feel your neck after this song is over, their deathblow comes in the form of more traditional Death Metal titled Died A Liar, bringing another shot of sharp riffs and beats by these German metallers.

You can stream Reign of Terror in its entirety and consequently put an end to all that calm and peace environment in your neighborhood by clicking HERE, follow Acranius on Facebook, check more of their music on YouTube and, as usual, show your passion for slamming Death Metal by purchasing the album at the Rising Nemesis Records’ BandCamp and Big Cartel, on iTunes or on Amazon. As this reign of terror we live in becomes more and more hideous day after day due to all the shit done by mankind, there’s nothing better than crowning Acranius as our new slamming kings of Death Metal and enjoy their demolishing music while we witness our world falling apart.

Best moments of the album: Kingmaker, Outlaw and Warpath.

Worst moments of the album: Died A Liar.

Released in 2017 Rising Nemesis Records

Track listing
1. Born A King 2:10
2. Kingmaker 3:12
3. Return To Violence 3:12
4. Outlaw 3:36
5. Built On Tradition 3:22
6. The True Reign 3:26
7. Warpath 3:09
8. Battle Scars 2:51
9. The Executioner 3:28
10. Died A Liar 3:05

Band members
Kevin Petersen – vocals
Björn Frommberger – guitar
Lars Torlopp – bass
Robert Arndt – drums