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Album Review – Putrevore / Unending Rotting Cycle (2025)

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This unrelenting Spanish and Swedish two-headed beast returns from the grave with an album of impossible horrors, the most relentless, ravenous and remorseless example of their Death Metal war machine.

Blasting dark, putrid old school Death Metal for fans of Incantation, Immolation, Avulsed, and Grisly, among others, since their inception back in 2004 under the moniker Deadbreath, the unrelenting Spanish-Swedish Death Metal creature Putrevore returns from the grave with their fifth full-length offering, entitled Unending Rotting Cycle, the follow-up to their 2021 album Miasmal Monstrosity. Mixed and mastered by Avulsed’s guitarist Alejandro Lobo at Acordica Studios, and displaying a cadaverous artwork by Lucretia Morti, the newborn spawn by the iconic duo formed of Dave Rotten (Avulsed, Christ Denied, Decrapted, Holycide, Rotten, Weaponry, Yskelgroth) on vocals, and Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Furnace, Leper Colony, Revolting) on the guitars and bass, and featuring the cataclysmic drumming of regular Rogga Johansson co-conspirator Thomas Ohlsson (Blackscape, War Magic), continues to pay tribute to the hardest, heaviest and most brutal of the Death Metal pioneers of the late 80’s and early 90’s. In other words, Unending Rotting Cycle is an album of impossible horrors, the most relentless, ravenous and remorseless example of the duo’s Death Metal war machine.

They waste absolutely no time and kick off their onrush of sheer brutality with No Mourning the Grace, a ruthless Death Metal attack led by Dave’s demented deep guttural, whereas Thomas kicks off the just as demonic Morbid Procession, supported by Rogga’s relentless riffs and bass lines. In other words, it can’t get any more Death Metal than this. Rogga’s visceral axe keeps spreading violence and hatred in Subterranean Paths to the Temples, a mid-tempo, headbanging feast of pure death tailored for fans of the most primeval form of the genre; and get ready to be pulverized like a putrid insect to the sound of Beneath These Graves, where Thomas once again shows no mercy for any living creature behind his drums.

The trio continues to infest the air with their putrid Death Metal stench in Mortal Ways of the Flesh, another display of sheer savagery where Dave sounds like a creature form the underworld on vocals. Then we face the demonic title-track Unending Rotting Cycle, blasting our ears with their blend of undisputed Death Metal aggression led by Rogga’s metallic riffage, and there’s no sign of the band slowing down at all, as we’re treated to more of their inhumane sounds in They Worship Disarray, excellent for some wild headbanging. Rogga’s bass will hammer your cranial skulls in Cult of the Tentacle, offering the perfect opportunity for having lots of fun inside the circle pit, whereas lastly the trio will darken the skies one final time with The Cradle Replaced by the Grave, a crushing Death Metal beast for admirers of the music by old school legends of the style.

Bleak, black and bestial, Putrevore remain the undead embodiment of an old phrase from the age that inspired them – some music was meant to stay underground, and that’s exactly the feeling when you listen to the ruthless, savage Unending Rotting Cycle. Hence, if the underground is your business, and business is good, you can get in touch with the indomitable Dave Rotten and Rogga Johansson via Facebook, stream their demented music on any online platform such as Spotify, and of course grab a copy of their new album from Xtreem Music’s BandCamp or webstore. Because their rotting cycle of undisputed Death Metal will never end as they keep delivering excellent albums like Unending Rotting Cycle, just the way we like it in raw, visceral and demented Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Morbid Procession, Unending Rotting Cycle and Cult of the Tentacle.

Worst moments of the album: They Worship Disarray.

Released in 2025 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. No Mourning the Grace 3:59
2. Morbid Procession 3:06
3. Subterranean Paths to the Temples 3:33
4. Beneath These Graves 3:05
5. Mortal Ways of the Flesh 3:38
6. Unending Rotting Cycle 3:30
7. They Worship Disarray 3:30
8. Cult of the Tentacle 3:29
9. The Cradle Replaced by the Grave 3:33

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Rogga Johansson – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Thomas Ohlsson – drums (session)

Album Review – Avulsed / Phoenix Cryptobiosis (2025)

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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)

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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 Bazookiller, Fist 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)

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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 – Yskelgroth / Bleeding of the Hideous (2023)

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After almost 15 years, this Spanish Black Metal horde is finally back in action and will summon all creatures of the underworld with their ruthless sophomore opus.

After a hiatus of 14 years, the devilish Spanish Black Metal horde Yskelgroth is back with a new and pulverizing album, titled Bleeding of the Hideous, the follow-up to their 2010 opus Unholy Primitive Nihilism. Although the band was formed back in 2000 with the aim of creating a ferocious and savage blend of Death and Black Metal, the project fell apart in 2007 when frontman Dave Rotten (Avulsed, Christ Denied, Decrapted, Holycide, Putrevore) moved to Germany, but they relaunched their evil beast in 2008 when Dave together with guitarist and bassist Vicente J. (Decrapted, Golgotha, Holycide, Unbounded Terror) teamed up to write songs for their debut album. Now in 2023, alongside Javier Fernández (aka Nexus 6) of bands like Harmpit, Nexus 6 and TodoMal on drums, synths and guitars, Yskelgroth will summon all creatures of the underworld with Bleeding of the Hideous, a ruthless metal attack comprised of nine sulfurous songs with an even more complex, twisted and intricate sound highly influenced by Myrkskog, Angelcorpse and Emperor, among other Black Metal giants, that will leave you craving more, all embraced by the infernal artwork by Venezuelan artist John Quevedo Janssens.

Infuriated and epic Black Metal flows from all instruments from the very first second in The Morbid Earth before Dave arises from the underworld with his demonic roars and screeches, being therefore highly recommended for fans of the iconic Immortal; whereas Javier is infernal behind his drums in Prone to Gobble Life while Vicente and Javier himself provide us with a technical yet blackened riff attack. Furthermore, Dave also delivers his more demonic guttural from Avulsed, making the whole song even heavier. Then the sinister, phantasmagorical keys by Javier walk hand in hand with his massive drumming in Omnicidal Ends, supported by the rumbling bass by Vicente; and investing in a pure Norwegian Black Metal sonority it’s time for the band to smash our senses with Aeons Empty, offering our ears three intense and sulfurous minutes led by Dave’s hellish gnarls. After such powerful tune, infinite aggressiveness and devilish roars are the main ingredients in Plagueridder, with Javier once again pounding his drums in the name of Black Metal.

Those Spanish metallers put the pedal to the metal in Spasmic Extinction, inspired by the most recent works by Immortal and Abbath, with the riffage by Vicente and Javier exhaling rage and obscurity for our total delight, and it’s quite interesting how the band added elements from their other Death and Thrash Metal projects to their music yet still sounding purely Black Metal, which is exactly what you’ll get in Primal Expulsion. Their second to last explosion of brutality and evil is titled Riddance of the Graves, a solid, in-your-face Black Metal extravaganza showcasing spine-chilling gnarls by Dave supported by the massive wall of sounds crafted by his bandmates, and Javier’s blackened keys give the last song of the album, the demolishing Path to Devourment, an even more Stygian vibe. In other words, the band’s return to action couldn’t have ended in a more demonic manner.

In the end, although it might have taken over a decade for the ruthless Yskelgroth to return from the pitch black pits of the underworld with a new slab of evil and sulfur, the wait was absolutely worth it based on the infernal music found in Bleeding of the Hideous, and if you want to show the talented Dave, Vicente and Javier your utmost support and admiration, you can succumb to their devilish powers by following them on Facebook, and of course by purchasing a copy of their newborn spawn from the Xtreem Music’s BandCamp page. As aforementioned, Bleeding of the Hideous is twisted, demonic and very detailed, inviting us all to worship our beloved darkness while listening to the first-class Black Metal blasted by a Spanish trio that hopefully won’t take another 15 years to release more of their unrelenting music.

Best moments of the album: The Morbid Earth, Aeons Empty, Spasmic Extinction and Riddance of the Graves.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. The Morbid Earth 3:12
2. Prone to Gobble Life 3:46
3. Omnicidal Ends 4:17
4. Aeons Empty 2:58
5. Plagueridder 2:55
6. Spasmic Extinction 4:08
7. Primal Expulsion 3:57
8. Riddance of the Graves 3:51
9. Path to Devourment 3:30

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Vicente J. – guitars, bass
Javier Fernández – drums, synths, guitars

Album Review – Holycide / Fist to Face (2020)

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A ruthless attack of pure Thrash Metal in its most intense and aggressive form by one of the most talented an fun squads of the Spanish underground scene.

Madrid, Spain-based Thrash Metal platoon Holycide is back with their sophomore album Fist to Face, the follow-up to their awesome 2017 debut opus Annihilate… Then Ask!, and an album that’s likely to become one of the best Thrash Metal albums of 2020. Showcasing a ruthless attack of pure Thrash Metal in its most intense and aggressive form while at the same time being technical and catchy as hell, the excellent Fist to Face, which was recorded at Cadillac Blood Studios in Spain and features a classic, in-your-face artwork designed by Brazilian artist Alberto Quirantes (Akirant Illustration), who has already worked with bands like Blaze Bayley, Hyperion and most of the current art for Iron Maiden’s Legacy of the Beast theme, proves once again that the band comprised of Dave Rotten on vocals, Miguel Bárez and Salva Esteban on the guitars, Dani Fernández on bass and Jorge Utrera on drums is on the right path to stardom, crushing everything and everyone who dares to go against their thrashing way of life.

Intrump might be one of the funniest intros I’ve ever seen in my life, as mocking such “unique” character like Donald Trump is obviously something most metal bands enjoy a lot, setting the tone for Dave and his horde to hit us hard in the title-track Fist to Face, with both Miguel and Salva being demolishing with their riffs and solos while Jorge doesn’t stop hammering his drums like a maniac. After such rebellious start, we have the also great Empty Cyber Life, presenting meaningful and austere lyrics growled by Dave (“You think you’ve got lots of friends on your profile / You think you’ve got a truly successful life / You think you’ve got a great power of influence / You think you’ve got an interesting life to share / Come on, wake up! / You’ve got nothing at all / Everything around you / It’s false”) while the music remains fast, furious and raw as good Thrash Metal always demands.

Dani’s thunderous bass punches and Jorge’s classic beats dictate the rhythm in Vultures, a headbanging tune perfect for enjoying a beer or slamming into the pit where Dave’s raspy, devilish gnarls are effectively supported by the song’s entertaining backing vocals, and they keep blasting pure Thrash Metal  to our ears in Nuclear Fallout, a high-octane creation where Dave is once again bestial on vocals while the band’s guitar duo deliver sheer adrenaline through their incendiary strings. In the acid Trapped by the Crappy Trap you’ll notice how much the guys from Holycide hate all that nasty, fake and boring trap music stuff, with Dave beautifully vociferating the song’s funny words, whereas Mentality Packs is another good thrashing song, albeit not as powerful as the rest of the album, but of course bringing the band’s trademark circle pit-generator vibe and Dave’s infernal growls and roars.

Then Holycide bring forth a vicious cover version for The Aftermath, released in 1988 by a defunct American Thrash Metal band from Los Angeles named Recipients of Death (check the original version HERE), and let me tell you that Holycide’s version sounds just as devastating and evil, bringing elements from the demented sound crafted by Slayer and Exodus in their early years. Miguel, Salva and Dani generate an unrelenting hurricane of Thrash Metal with their stringed weapons in Napalm Sweet Napalm, a brutal tune that couldn’t have sounded faster and more electrifying than this, providing Dave all he needs to shine with his enraged Thrash and Death Metal-inspired screams; followed by Innocent Hate, where the band keeps the pedal to the metal in their thrashing machine showcasing spot-on backing vocals, rumbling bass lines and endless violence flowing from their riffs and beats. Lastly, there’s no better way to end the album than with more pulverizing sounds in the form of Fake Libertarian, where Jorge is vicious and very melodic at the same time on drums while Miguel and Salva bring a touch of insanity to the music with their sick guitar solos.

If you want to thrash like there’s no tomorrow together with the guys from Holycide, you can simply follow them on Facebook and on Instagram, and obviously purchase your copy of Fist to Face (available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, by the way) from their own BandCamp page, from Xtreem Music’s BandCamp page or webstore in CD and other formats and bundles, from Apple Music, from Amazon or from Discogs. There’s no excuse to not put your hands on such high-octane, insurgent and well-crafted album of Thrash Metal, and just in case you don’t support Holycide I guess you know you’ll get nothing more, nothing less than a huge fist directly to your face.

Best moments of the album: Fist to Face, Vultures, Napalm Sweet Napalm and Innocent Hate.

Worst moments of the album: Mentality Packs.

Released in 2020 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. Intrump 1:32
2. Fist to Face 3:26
3. Empty Cyber Life 4:32
4. Vultures 3:53
5. Nuclear Fallout 3:24
6. Trapped by the Crappy Trap 4:00
7. Mentality Packs 3:58
8. The Aftermath (Recipients of Death cover) 3:33
9. Napalm Sweet Napalm 4:56
10. Innocent Hate 3:18
11. Fake Libertarian 3:49

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Miguel Bárez – guitar
Salva Esteban – guitar
Dani Fernández – bass
Jorge Utrera – drums

Album Review – Holycide / Annihilate… Then Ask! (2017)

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A fantastic album of old school “Motherfucking Thrash Metal” by an unstoppable quintet from Spain, annihilating everything and everyone that dares to cross their path.

What started in 2004 as an uncompromised Thrash Metal project by vocalist Dave Rotten (frontman of underground Spanish Death Metal act Avulsed) long before the New Wave Of Thrash Metal exploded massively has finally reached its final stage of evolution, culminating in an unstoppable and pugnacious thrashing beast for lovers of bands such as Dark Angel, Infernäl Mäjesty, Atrophy, Coroner and Sacrifice. In other words, it might have taken over a decade for Madrid-based steamroller Holycide to become a reality, but after listening to the crushing music from their debut album, the excellent Annihilate… Then Ask!, you’ll see the wait for this new entity created by Mr. Rotten was definitely worth it.

The intention, from the very beginning, was to create a very aggressive kind of thrash, exempt of commercial touches and focusing on the intense side of this kind of music. However, Dave was able to record the project’s first demo only in 2013, named No Escape, followed by the EP Toxic Mutiation in 2015. Although those releases might not have been exactly what Dave had in mind at first, they certainly fueled him and his bandmates to keep moving forward and become a full-bodied Thrash Metal group in the next couple of years. Featuring a kick-ass old school cover art by Andrei Bouzikov (Municipal Waste, Skeletonwitch, Toxic Holocaust), Annihilate… Then Ask! not only brings forward all the passion of the members of Holycide for the most hostile form of Thrash Metal, but it’s also the first major step in the career of a project that can now be considered one of the best and most electrifying new names of the genre worldwide.

Guitarists Miguel Bárez and Salva Esteban, together with drummer Jorge Utrera, build the stage for Dave and his demented growls in the opening track, a brutal and metallic devastation named Afterworld Remnants, a perfect sample of what the band calls “Motherfucking Thrash Metal”, followed by the insane title-track Annihilate… Then Ask!, presenting more of Dave’s sick screams supported by the reverberating bass by Dani Fernández. This is another classic chant with amazing backing vocals during its beyond-fun chorus, with the album’s crisp production boosting its already belligerent vibe. Dani continues to kick us in the head with his bass while the rest of the band delivers pure Thrash Metal for our total delight in Human’s Last Dawn, in special the awesome job done by the talented Jorge on drums and the old school guitar solos by Miguel and Salva. And following the path of icons such as Exodus, Forbidden and Overkill, the band blasts high-speed, visceral Thrash Metal that will certainly inspire you to slam into the pit in Eager to Take Control, with highlights to the always inebriate and acid growls by Dave.

Motörhead, Holycide’s tribute to the most badass Rock N’ Roll institution of all time is flammable, potent and as thrashy as hell, with an entertaining bonus for the listener in all the references to Lemmy and his crew in its lyrics, while the band delivers unstoppable beats, classy solos and endless aggression to our ears. The next tune, Bonebreaker, is an uproarious, rhythmic and ruthless composition, with the bass lines by Dani and the riffs by Miguel and Salva cutting our skin deeply (the song could have been slightly shorter to keep the music fresh, though); whereas the band’s raging onrush of Thrash Metal goes on in full force with another furious spawn entitled Deserve to be Erased, where Dave continues to be the madman on vocals while Jorge accelerates the music with his frantic and precise drumming. Needless to say, this song should sound fantastic if played live.

Holycide’s cover version for Losers, one of the most famous songs by American Thrash/Speed Metal band Détente, is a thing of beauty, living up to the anarchy and hardcore vibe of the original version, with its guitar solos being exactly what we want in Thrash Metal, while Leather Spikes Chains & Blood carries in its name all elements we crave in good heavy music. Musically speaking, it’s a magnificent feast of slashing riffs, thunderous bass lines, powerful beats and a superb performance by Dave on vocals, supported by the song’s sick backing vocals. Put differently, it can’t get any more thrashing than this. And the album ends at maximum speed and savagery with the merciless tune Back and Forth, a demolishing hymn led by the hellish growls by Dave and Jorge’s intricate and demonic drumming. Well, what are you waiting for to have some beers and get smashed into the circle pit to the sound if this sensational song?

If you’re still not convinced about the absolute awesomeness of the music by Holycide, simply click HERE and, after around 42 minutes of sheer havoc, you’ll certainly bow your head to this amazing Spanish quintet (or at least headbang nonstop to them). Holycide can be reached through their Facebook page, where you can keep updated with everything the band is working on, while Annihilate… Then Ask! can be purchased at their BandCamp, at the Xtreem Music’s BandCamp or webstore, on Amazon or at Discogs. When you have in your hands an amazing album of old school Thrash Metal like what Holycide are offering us, you don’t ask anything. You simply annihilate whoever crosses your path.

Best moments of the album: Annihilate… Then Ask!, Motörhead, Leather Spikes Chains & Blood and Back and Forth.

Worst moments of the album: Bonebreaker.

Released in 2017 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. Afterworld Remnants 4:13
2. Annihilate… Then Ask! 4:04
3. Human’s Last Dawn 4:43
4. Eager to Take Control 3:24
5. Motörhead 4:42
6. Bonebreaker 4:56
7. Deserve to be Erased 4:47
8. Losers (Détente cover) 3:13
9. Leather Spikes Chains & Blood 4:20
10. Back and Forth 4:00

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Miguel Bárez – guitar
Salva Esteban – guitar
Dani Fernández – bass
Jorge Utrera – drums

Guest musician
Juancar – guest vocals on hooligan chorus