Tag Archives: death metal

Album Review – Cytolysis / Surge Of Cruelty (2025)

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This one-man Technical and Brutal Death Metal machine is back with its ruthless sophomore opus, constructed from eleven sonic acts of torture.

Born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, but currently based in Boston, Massachusetts, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Darren Cesca, the demented drummer with Goratory, Eschaton and previously Deeds Of Flesh, has returned with Surge Of Cruelty, the second album from his unconscionably brutal solo project, Cytolysis, following up on his 2020 debut Portraits of Malevolence. Mixed and mastered by Darren Cesca himself, adorned in the hypnotically horrifying artwork of Vladimir Cebakov (Six Feet Under, 1914, DeadHead), and featuring brutal guest vocal performances from Mac Smith (Eschaton), Brian Forgue (Syphilic), Adam Mason (Goratory) and Flo Butcher (Tortured), Surge Of Cruelty is constructed from eleven sonic acts of torture, where twisted technicality and methodical precision collide with frenzied explosions of fury and unnerving alien atmospheres, offering exactly what we’re always looking for in high-quality Technical and Brutal Death Metal in the vein of Cannibal Corpse, Deeds Of Flesh, In Asymmetry, and Incinerate.

Darren wastes no time and ignite his demented metal attack in the form of Your Slow Demise, where his infernal gnarling matches perfectly with his killer blast beats; and featuring guest vocals by Mac Smith, Devout Sacrifice is a beyond demented creation where the sound of his riffs is truly piercing and austere, resulting in a lecture in violence and gore. Then in the title-track Surge of Cruelty our dauntless Darren keeps barking like a demented creature while also firing some of his most intricate and visceral riffage, and get ready to headbang until your neck breaks in half to the sound of Consenting Brood, with Darren’s metallic bass and pounding drums boosting his visceral growls in great fashion. After such an insane tune, guest Brian Forgue lends his demented gnarls to A Blood-Soaked Offering, leaning towards the most gruesome form of Brutal Death Metal.

The Stygian, atmospheric interlude Ritual Carnage will darken the skies before Darren comes ripping once again with Tribal Savagery, where his deep pig-like screeches will disturb your frail mind while he keeps blasting his drums in the name of extreme music. Then featuring guest vocals by Adam Mason, Tortured Flesh brings forward more of the inhumane fusion of Brutal Death Metal and classic Deathcore by Cytolysis, spiced up by some nicely inserted cryptic nuances; and of course with a guy like Flo Butcher as a guest vocalist the final result was going to be demolishing to say the least in Mark of the Demons, offering those downtempo breaks perfect for some brutal slamming. Darren doesn’t sound human with his deep guttural and unstoppable beats and fills in Innocence is Raped, offering an avalanche of first-class Brutal Death Metal, whereas the last song of the album, titled Hung from the Rafters, is just as insane and demented, with Darren hammering his guitars and bass until the very end.

Not only a seasoned musician who has already played with tons of amazing underground bands the likes of Eschaton, Goratory, Pillory, Serpent of Gnosis, Vile, In Asymmetry, Virulence, Hideous Deformity, Arsis, Blasphemer, Deeds of Flesh, Incinerate , Burn in Silence, Strappado, and Embers from Cremation, Darren has also studied Performance: Percussion at Berklee College of Music, and appeared as a guest drummer in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, just to give you an idea of how talented he is, and how he crafted Surge of Cruelty to sound as catchy as razor wire through flesh, offering a blend of Technical and Brutal Death Metal of the highest order. You can find more information about him on Facebook, and put your dirty hands on Surge Of Cruelty via Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore, supporting such an amazing underground musician in his quest for extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Devout Sacrifice, A Blood-Soaked Offering and Innocence is Raped.

Worst moments of the album: Ritual Carnage.

Released in 2025 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Your Slow Demise 4:29
2. Devout Sacrifice 4:29
3. Surge of Cruelty 4:32
4. Consenting Brood 3:19
5. A Blood-Soaked Offering 3:41
6. Ritual Carnage (Instrumental) 1:34
7. Tribal Savagery 3:40
8. Tortured Flesh 4:58
9. Mark of the Demons 5:07
10. Innocence is Raped 3:48
11. Hung from the Rafters 4:03

Band members
Darren Cesca – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Mac Smith – vocals on “Devout Sacrifice”
Brian Forgue – vocals on “A Blood-Soaked Offering”
Adam Mason – vocals on “Tortured Flesh”
Flo Butcher – vocals on “Mark of the Demons”

Album Review – Thorn / Nebulous Womb of Eternity (2025)

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Phoenix, Arizona’s own Death/Doom Metal creature arises from its Stygian lair with its fourth studio offering, bringing forward more of its asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll.

Having a knack of churning out punchy, rotten Death Metal hymns rife with some nasty, lurching grooves, Phoenix, Arizona’s own Death/Doom Metal creature Thorn arises from its Stygian lair with its fourth studio offering, entitled Nebulous Womb of Eternity, following up on its critically acclaimed 2023 opus Evergloom. Mixed and mastered  by Daniel Bonofiglio (Fumes, Gutvoid, Intestinal Hex, Grotesque Mass, Internal Infestation), and displaying a visceral artwork by Arifullah Ali of KanvasKarat, the new album by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brennen Westermeyer brings forward more of the project’s asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll, being therefore perfect for fans of bands the likes of Mortician, Fumes, Wharflurch, Fluids, Intestine Baalism, and Retching.

Brennen showcases all his passion for the extreme from the very first second in Ooze Maelstrom, crushing his drums nonstop in great Death Metal style while also adding an extra dosage of groove to the music, and our cryptic lone rider goes full Doom Metal in the utterly heavy and disturbing Entombed in Chrysalis, hammering his drums like there’s no tomorrow while also extracting pure malignancy from his riffs, ending in a beyond cadaverous way. Then back to a more in-your-face, straightforward Death Metal mode we have Quartersawn Remains, where Brennen sounds inhumane on vocals while also firing flammable, acid riffs. Zombifying Mold, featuring a guest solo by Daniel Bonofiglio, also sounds utterly inhumane for our total delight; and it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated Haunting Gale, with its Death Metal core being nicely blackened by a good dosage of Doom Metal. Before all is said and done, we face the obscure, grim interlude Gloaming Corporeal Form, which could have been slightly shorter, setting the stage for the title-track Nebulous Womb of Eternity, featuring guest vocals by Ryan Fairfield (Hallowed Butchery, Toxic Cross), bringing to our putrid ears Brennen’s deep passion for heavy and visceral sounds, resulting in a scathing fusion of primeval death and doom where his vocals sound as cadaverous as possible.

In a nutshell, if you like the idea of Death Metal sounding massive, ponderous, and packed with heaving, earth-rumbling parts, then Nebulous Womb of Eternity is most certainly meant for you, and you can grab a copy of the album from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store, adding it to your devilish collection of doom. Don’t forget to also check what Brennen and his Thorn are up to on Instagram, to stream all of his albums on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Thorn. This is definitely the type of music not recommended for the lighthearted. This is primeval, dirty and vile Death Metal, and you better be prepared if you think you have what it takes to face Nebulous Womb of Eternity.

Best moments of the album: Entombed in Chrysalis, Quartersawn Remains and Nebulous Womb of Eternity.

Worst moments of the album: Gloaming Corporeal Form.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Ooze Maelstrom 5:14
2. Entombed in Chrysalis 8:27
3. Quartersawn Remains 4:35
4. Zombifying Mold 4:19
5. Haunting Gale 3:54
6. Gloaming Corporeal Form 2:56
7. Nebulous Womb of Eternity 7:33

Band members
Brennen Westermeyer – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Daniel Bonofiglio – guitar solo on “Zombifying Mold”
Ryan Fairfield – vocals on “Nebulous Womb of Eternity”

Album Review – Crimson Shadows / Whispers of War (2025)

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Bringing fast and thrilling songs of battle and victory to our metal hearts since 2006, Toronto’s own metal warriors are finally back into the battlefield with their breathtaking third studio album.

Bringing fast and thrilling songs of battle and victory to our metal hearts since the already distant year of 2006, Toronto, Canada’s own Epic/Melodic Death/Power Metal warriors Crimson Shadows are finally back into the battlefield with their fusion of the guttural screams and blast beats of Death Metal with the epic up-tempo guitar harmonies and choruses of Power Metal in their brand new album, the magnificent Whispers of War. Mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson, and displaying a classy artwork by Péter Sallai of Mortpaintgraphics, showcasing a brave, dauntless warrior that perfectly depicts the sound of the band, the new album by frontman Jimi Maltais, guitarists Greg Rounding and Ryan Hofing, bassist Alex Snape, and drummer Cory Hofing is a worthy follow-up to their 2014 beast Kings Among Men, offering our avid ears an overdose of the band’s characteristic sound while also pointing to an even brighter future ahead of them.

Those Toronto warriors waste no time and kick off their metal music played at the speed of light party in Dawn of an Age, with Cory taking the lead with his crushing beats, and Jimi and Greg make a phenomenal vocal duo in Guardians, with it’s catchy-as-hell lyrics (“Guardians / We stand in a time of blood and fire / Ancient tales become our legacy / Skies ablaze, spirits of evil surrounding me / The prophecy remains our destiny”) inspiring us all to raise our fists and join them in a lecture in Melodic Death and Power Metal. Defenders of the Crown offers our avid ears more of their epic lyrics (“Here we stand to hold our ground / We defenders of the crown / Hold your steel and clench it tight / Or we all will die tonight”) in another classic battle hymn; and featuring the unparalleled Canadian growler Matt McGachy of Cryptopsy, Whispers of War is a fulminating metal attack by the boys sounding as fast as it is epic and aggressive, with Greg and Ryan firing truly piercing riffs nonstop, followed by Embrace the Fire, a little bit below the rest of the album but still fast, furious and presenting the band’s trademark sonority.

Then a smooth piano-driven intro quickly evolves into another shredding extravaganza by Greg and Ryan titled Battle Hard II: Battle Harder (the sequel to their 2012 song “Battle Hard”), while Jimi roars and growls with all of his strength and passion for heavy music. And featuring the indomitable Brittney Slayes (frontwoman for Canadian metal masters Unleash The Archers), who brings balance to the vocals together with Greg, we have Secrets of Our Time, not to mention Cory demolishes his drums in great fashion until the very last second. Jimi then sounds out of control, roaring manically in The Legacy of Steel, another headbanging beast where their riffs and solos exhale pure Heavy Metal magic, whereas lastly, the band will head into their final battle entitled Rise of the Fallen Soul, with Greg stealing the show with his awesome clean vocals while their Dragonforce-like guitar solos bring an extra onrush of electricity to their sound.

Crimson Shadows might have competed in and won the 2013 edition of Wacken Metal Battle Canada, and they absolutely deserved it, but in my humble opinion it’s now with Whispers of War that their trademark metallic, roaring sounds are ready to spread all over the world, positioning them as one of the forces to be reckoned with in the current Heavy Metal scene. Furthermore, those brave metallers are ready to take on the stages of the world by storm, and you can keep an eye on their tour dates by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, as well as by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to also stream their striking creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course to grab a copy of the incendiary Whispers of War from BandCamp or from Big Cartel. War is upon us, and it’s time to fight side by side with Crimson Shadows to the sound of their superb new album, one of the best of the year, and a lecture in Canadian metal.

Best moments of the album: Guardians, Whispers of War, Battle Hard II: Battle Harder and The Legacy of Steel.

Worst moments of the album: Embrace the Fire.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Dawn of an Age 4:46
2. Guardians 4:20
3. Defenders of the Crown 5:09
4. Whispers of War 5:18
5. Embrace the Fire 4:07
6. Battle Hard II: Battle Harder 5:57
7. Secrets of Our Time 4:48
8. The Legacy of Steel 5:39
9. Rise of the Fallen Soul 5:51

Band members
Jimi Maltais – vocals
Greg Rounding – guitars, clean vocals
Ryan Hofing – guitars
Alex Snape – bass
Cory Hofing – drums

Guest musicians
Matt McGachy – vocals on “Whispers of War”
Brittney Slayes – vocals on “Secrets of Our Time”

Album Review – Disembodiment / Spiral Crypts (2025)

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This Canadian Death Metal quartet is finally storming back into the scene with their debut full album, digging you deep into the most gruesome slasher experience your deviated mind has ever experienced.

Sherbrooke, Quebec’s own Death Metal quartet Disembodiment is finally storming back into the most rancid and filthiest Death Metal scene with their debut full album Spiral Crypts, four years after their acclaimed EP Mutated Chaos, and it was definitely worth the wait. Recorded at the band’s own rehearsal space (vocals and guitars) and at Studio C (bass, drums and additional guitar tracks), mixed by the band’s own guitarist Christian, mastered by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement, with a gory, sinister cover art by Slimeweaver (with additional artworks by draught__, and logo by the band’s drummer Eric), Spiral Crypts digs you deep into the worst and most gruesome slasher experience your deviated mind has ever experienced, all carefully brought into being by all four members of Canadian Death Metal band Oath Div. 666, those being Mathieu on vocals, Christian on the guitars, Carl on bass, and Eric on drums.

Like the soundtrack to a gory horror movie, the band will spread their metallic virus in Morbid Infestation, with Mathieu vomiting the song’s demented words accompanied by the caustic Death Metal riffs by Christian, followed by Stygian Overture, offering us all classic and gruesome Death Metal spearheaded by Eric’s unrelenting beats and fills, also presenting hints of Doom Metal to make things even more obscure. The title-track Spiral Crypts brings to our avid ears another round of heavy and visceral sounds by the band, with Christian’s riffage sounding truly vile; and Disembodiment then blasts a shorter Death Metal tune titled Putrification, with its three minutes bringing forward absolutely intense, unstoppable and thrilling violence.

Then a beyond cryptic, disturbing start gradually evolves into a massive wall of Death Metal thunder in Larval, slower than its predecessors yet just as pulverizing and grim, with Eric smashing his drums supported by Carl’s Stygian bass. Mathieu takes the lead once again with his deranged guttural in Infected To Rot, again delivering sheer insanity, with the low-tuned bass by Carl sending shivers down our spines; followed by Unknown Origins, two minutes of obscure, demonic sounds brought into being by those Canadian death metallers, before Sentient Inorganic Mess ends the album on a high note with the vile growls by Mathieu matching perfectly with Christian’s ruthless riffage.

In a nutshell, fans of the putrid, violent music blasted by some of the biggest names of the global Death Metal scene the likes of Incantation, Corpus Offal, Undergang, and Rottrevore will certainly enjoy what Disembodiment have to offer in Spiral Crypts, which is by the way available for purchase on BandCamp or via mailorder. You can also check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their ruthless live concerts, and stream their wicked creations on Spotify or any other streaming service. Because life is most definitely not made of rainbows, unicorns and butterflies; quite the contrary, it’s a downward spiral filled with gore, violence and hatred, and the music by Disembodiment is perfect for opening your eyes to that harsh reality.

Best moments of the album: Stygian Overture, Putrification and Infected To Rot.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Morbid Infestation 6:04
2. Stygian Overture 5:04
3. Spiral Crypts 4:26
4. Putrification 3:02
5. Larval 4:44
6. Infected To Rot 3:45
7. Unknown Origins 1:52
8. Sentient Inorganic Mess 3:57

Band members
Mathieu – vocals
Christian – guitars, backing  vocals
Carl – bass, backing  vocals
Eric – drums

Guest musician
Frank Z. – intro on “Morbid Infestation”

Album Review – Necht / The Inevitable Suffering EP (2025)

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This mysterious Symphonic Black/Death Metal cult returns with a scorching new EP presenting five “sermons” conjuring both the epic power of a cosmic battle and the grim reality of its earthly implications.

Following on quickly from their 2024 debut album The Prophecy of Karnifor, the mysterious Calgary, Alberta-based Symphonic Black/Death Metal cult Necht returns with a brand new EP, entitled The Inevitable Suffering. Operating jointly from the frozen wastelands of Canada and the damp gloom of Northern Ireland, the cult formed of Zenith Maharg on vocals, Ascendant Zhargor on the guitars, Ascendant демон on bass, and Ascendant Vlasfimos on drums presents in The Inevitable Suffering five “sermons” of Atmospheric Black Metal conjuring both the epic power of a cosmic battle and the grim reality of its earthly implications, each based on the myths and history of the Enkari – the early civilization from which the cult arose – as told in the controversial Enkari-B’ahn Scolls.

Like a creature arising from the underworld, the imposing, epic intro Over Ten Thousand Spears, B’ahn Rises Red kicks off Necht’s black mass before we face The Night That Knows No Dawn, starting in a cinematic manner and quickly exploding into the band’s trademark darkness led by the demented drumming by Ascendant Vlasfimos and the haunting gnarls by Zenith Maharg. Dread Is the Consort of the Dark is another harsh and infuriated display of Symphonic and Melodic Black Metal spearheaded by the Stygian riffage by Ascendant Zhargor, sounding perfect for a ceremonial black mass; and the visceral guitar lines by Ascendant Zhargor are boosted by the rumbling bass and drums by Ascendant демон and Ascendant Vlasfimos in As Oars Through Blood, offering Zenith Maharg exactly what he needs to darkly declaims the song’s impious words, morphing into the phantasmagorical outro …and so Across the Bloody Lake We Did Sail in Silence, putting a beyond obscure ending to one more successful gathering of the cult of the sun.

Such an amazing cult from the underground nailed it once again with The Inevitable Suffering, which is available for purchase from BandCamp or by clicking HERE, and for streaming on Spotify, and you can always join Necht and worship the sun together with them by following the cult on Facebook and on Instagram. “The Cult believed themselves to be spiritually bound to their sun-god, B’ahn, who was locked in a ceaseless battle for survival against His all-powerful mother, the Dragon Karnifor, as She sought to swallow Him and the world. The souls of dead Cultists could rise to join B’ahn in His struggle on the cosmic plains – and thus hold the Dragon back for just a little longer – but only if those Cultists died in battle. Thus, to the Cult, the only means to prevent the Apocalypse of the Dragon was, ironically, to prosecute an endless war on earth, which of course resulted in great misery for their people,” explained Zenith Maharg, leader of the Temple. “Thus, The Inevitable Suffering – for the Cult believed the suffering of war was fundamentally to be embraced as the only means of saving humanity.”

Best moments of the album: The Night That Knows No Dawn and Dread Is the Consort of the Dark.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Over Ten Thousand Spears, B’ahn Rises Red 2:04
2. The Night That Knows No Dawn 6:08
3. Dread Is the Consort of the Dark 6:12
4. As Oars Through Blood 4:18
5. …and so Across the Bloody Lake We Did Sail in Silence 1:18

Band members
Zenith Maharg – vocals
Ascendant Zhargor – guitars, choir
Ascendant демон – bass, choir
Ascendant Vlasfimos – drums

Album Review – Phobetor / A Solitary Vigil EP (2025)

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UK’s own acolytes of the very darkest Blackened Death Metal are back after four years with a brand new EP, a work of rare mystery and malevolence.

In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Phobetor (‘Frightener’), so called by men, or Icelos (‘Like’), so called by the gods, is one of the thousand sons of Somnus (‘Sleep’). He appeared in dreams “in the form of beast or bird or the long serpent”. In heavy music, Phobetor are a London, UK-based Blackened Death Metal band who has been around since 2018, having already released the 2019 EP Burning Memories and their full-length albums When Life Falls Silent (2020) and Through Deepest Fears and Darkest Minds (2021). Now in 2025, the band formed of vocalist Debora Conserva, guitarists Ross White and Ben Ash, bassist Dredgewood, and drummer Marc Dyos is unleashing a new EP, titled A Solitary Vigil, a work of rare mystery and malevolence. Mixed by Ollie Roberts at Kettle Brew Studios, mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Rory Sound Studios, and displaying a haunting artwork by Ghost Kid and photography by Scott Chalmers, the EP simply leads us deeper into the darkness than ever before.

The piercing riffs by Ross and Ben ignite the band’s detailed, visceral and grim feast of Black and Death Metal titled A Solitary Vigil, while Debora offers our putrid ears an overdose of sulfur and rage through her harsh vociferations, followed by Absence of Light, another bestial blast of Black Metal magic, with Marc smashing his drums in the name of pitch black darkness accompanied by the always thunderous bass by Dredgewood. Debora sounds like a demonic entity, roaring as a true she-demon in Black Fading Winter, while her bandmates fire the most caustic and evil form of Blackened Death Metal; whereas in The Vacant World Within Us we can say that such a poetic name deserved a no shenanigans sound, and that’s exactly what Phobetor bring forward with their infernal roars and demented blast beats. Last but not least, the razor-edged guitar riffs by Ross and Ben will penetrate deep inside your soul in Where Mournful Shadows Dwell, while Debora continues to hypnotize us with her devilish vocals until the very last second.

After all is said and done, you’ll quickly realize A Solitary Vigil is more than just the new EP by these acolytes of the very darkest Blackened Death Metal; as you peer into its impenetrable blackness, an obsidian mirror, it disgorges all the terrors you had forgotten were real, the dream monsters that hide in the deepest recesses of your mind, resulting in an onslaught of blackened death and mind-rending fear highly recommended for fans of Behemoth, Immolation, Belphegor, and Dark Funeral. Hence, don’t forget to join Phobetor in absolute darkness by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their sulfurous creations on Spotify, and of course by purchasing A Solitary Vigil from BandCamp or Big Cartel. Phobetor are back from the netherworld sounding darker and more sinister than ever, and I bet you’ll succumb to their obscure powers once you begin your descent into madness to the sound of their Stygian new offering.

Best moments of the album: A Solitary Vigil and Black Fading Winter.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. A Solitary Vigil 3:54
2. Absence of Light 5:02
3. Black Fading Winter 2:58
4. The Vacant World Within Us 4:08
5. Where Mournful Shadows Dwell 4:41

Band members
Debora Conserva – vocals
Ross White – guitar
Ben Ash – guitar
Dredgewood – bass
Marc Dyos – drums

Album Review – Haxprocess / Beyond What Eyes Can See (2025)

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Playing incredibly heavy Death Metal music, this American group will attack with their sophomore album, sounding relentless in its barrage of gargantuan otherworldly riffs.

Playing incredibly heavy Death Metal music, leaden, thick and dark, while also somehow attempting to go progressive wielding that sound, like Morbid Angel covering The Chasm songs under the influence of Blood Incantation, Jacksonville, Florida-based Progressive Thrash/Death Metal brigade Haxprocess in unleashing upon humanity their sophomore beast, entitled Beyond What Eyes Can See, following up on their critically acclaimed 2023 debut The Caverns of Duat. Displaying another sick artwork by Juanjo Castellano (Ritual Fog, Typhonian), the new album by Lothar Mallea on vocals and guitar, Shane Williamson also on the guitar, Davis Leader on bass, and Adam Robinson on drums once again brings to our avid ears an overdose of epic songs averaging 10 minutes, sounding relentless in its barrage of gargantuan otherworldly riffs, what with the ever-changing patterns and combinations, albeit delivered in a comfortable pace so that everything can be registered for posterity, being therefore recommended for fans of Morbid Angel, Blood Incantation, The Chasm, Immolation, Opeth, Atvm, Atheist, Felgrave, and Typhonian, just to name a few.

Just like in their debut offering, the album begins in an atmospheric manner with the ethereal 11-minute beast titled Where Even Stars Die, with the deep, visceral growls and the slashing riffage by Lothar, alongside Shane also on the guitar, turning it into a must-listen song for admirers of Progressive Death Metal. The Confines of the Flesh is yet another complex, multi-layered and incandescent composition by the quartet, with Adam taking the lead with his intricate beats and fills while also presenting the raw and gory sounds of classic Death Metal the likes of Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse; and the band continues to embrace us in darkness and insanity with Thy Inner Demon Seed, with Davis firing absolutely mental bass lines while Adam keeps pounding his drums nonstop, all of course spiced up by another vile vocal performance by Lothar. Finally, after a beyond technical and melodic start we’re treated to an overdose of progressiveness and demented sounds in Sepulchral Void, with Lothar and Shane sounding brilliant armed with their axes, offering our avid ears several breaks, variations and tempo changes. In other words, it’s hard to describe the whole song in words due to its endless layers, an amalgamation of styles rooted in first-class Progressive Death Metal.

In summary, Beyond What Eyes Can See is an album that can withstand endless listens, offer everything a Death Metal fan would want, and yet do so much more than an average album would because of their constantly evolving music that manages to remain engrossing as well. Hence, don’t forget to give the band a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase such a multi-layered, captivating album from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. Beyond What Eyes Can See is as epic as a Death Metal album can possibly get without letting go of any of the heaviness that’s an inherent part of the band’s sound, and if you think you have what it takes to face this metallic voyage blasted by Haxprocess, simply hit play and you’ll definitely have an amazing time.

Best moments of the album: Where Even Stars Die and Sepulchral Void.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Where Even Stars Die 11:28
2. The Confines of the Flesh 9:28
3. Thy Inner Demon Seed 10:43
4. Sepulchral Void 13:12

Band members
Lothar Mallea – vocals, guitar
Shane Williamson – guitar
Davis Leader – bass
Adam Robinson – drums

Album Review – Dephosphorus / Planetoktonos (2025)

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Greek forward-thinking grinders return from outer space with their fifth album, a ferocious collection of nine cosmic, menacing tracks delivering a boundary-pushing sonic journey.

“Pessimism is an indulgence and despair is kind of an insult to the imagination.” – Wade Davis 

Exploring science fiction and cosmology through cosmic aesthetics and a wide range of heavy, extreme music since their inception back in 2008, even dubbing their style as “Astrogrind”, Athens, Greece-based Death/Black Metal/Grindcore outfit Dephosphorus return with their fifth album, entitled Planetoktonos (a Greek word coined by the band, roughly translating to “Planetkiller”), following up on their 2020 opus Sublimation. Recorded and mixed by George Christoforidis at Ignite Music Studio, mastered by James Plotkin, displaying an intergalactic artwork by Jon Toussas of Graphic No Jutsu, and featuring guest musician Miltos Schimatariotis on all electronics (recorded at Northside Studio), the new offering by Panos Agoros on vocals, Thanos Mantas on the guitars, e-bow and chants, Kostas Ragiadakos on bass, and John Votsis on drums delivers a boundary-pushing sonic journey, sparking the imagination and inviting listeners to explore new dimensions of thought and sound.

The caustic riffs by Thanos and the pounding drums by John will transport us to another dimension in Living in a Metastable Universe, blending the innovation of Mastodon with the heaviness and insanity by Blood Incantation; and Thanos keeps embellishing the airwaves with his wicked e-bow in Hunting for Dyson Spheres, while Panos gnarls like a creature from an uncanny world, flowing into the also demented Pale Veins, offering a well-balanced, thrilling fusion of the harsher sounds of Black and Death Metal with Sludge Metal and more modern and experimental sounds, led by the incendiary drumming by John. Then the quartet shows no mercy for our souls in After the Holocaust, hammering our cranial skulls with more of their intergalactic heavy sounds.

Just when you think they couldn’t sound more infuriated or insane, they offer our avid ears the frantic and chaotic The Triumph of Science and Reason, with Panos roaring nonstop supported by the ruthless bass by Kostas, and those Greek bastards will attack our senses with two intense minutes in The Kinetics of a Superintelligence Explosion, with Thanos delivering his most Death Metal riffs of the whole album. The title-track Planetoktonos brings forward the band’s core sonic madness where Kostas and John will make the galaxy tremble armed with their infernal kitchen, and there’s still a lot of fuel to burn in Calculating Infinity, offering more of their demented vocal lines, thunderous, rumbling bass and intricate beats. Lastly, their voyage through the realms of progressive, avantgarde and experimental heavy music ends with Eternal Bloom, where Panos delivers his trademark vociferations supported by the austere riffage by Thanos.

Those Greek forward-thinking grinders once again aim to expand their listeners’ consciousness with Planetoktonos (dedicated to Swiss musician Didier Séverin, of bands like Knut and Strommorts, who sadly passed away in 2022), fostering a vision of a sustainable future where humanity not only survives but thrives in harmony with its biosphere, and even with AI. Drawing lyrical inspiration from The Expanse novel series by James S.A. Corey and from Superintelligence: Paths Dangers Strategies by Nick Bostrom, Planetoktonos is a ferocious collection of nine cosmic, menacing tracks that pay tribute to the energy and dynamics of trailblazing acts such as Anodyne, Nasum, Playing Enemy, Breach, Knut, Leviathan and Bolt Thrower, and you can join the band in their cosmic adventure by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their excellent discography on Spotify, and by purchasing Planetoktonos from BandCamp, from 7Degrees Records, from Nerve Altar, or from Selfmadegod Records, or click HERE for all things Dephosphorus. End of transmission.

Best moments of the album: Living in a Metastable Universe, Pale Veins and The Triumph of Science and Reason.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 7Degrees Records/Nerve Altar/Selfmadegod Records

Track listing
1. Living in a Metastable Universe 3:05
2. Hunting for Dyson Spheres 4:20
3. Pale Veins 3:07
4. After the Holocaust 2:33
5. The Triumph of Science and Reason 1:51
6. The Kinetics of a Superintelligence Explosion 2:09
7. Planetoktonos 3:00
8. Calculating Infinity 3:27
9. Eternal Bloom 4:26

Band members
Panos Agoros – vocals
Thanos Mantas – guitars, e-bow, chants
Kostas Ragiadakos – bass
John Votsis – drums

Guest musician
Miltos Schimatariotis – electronics

Album Review – Mörtual / Altar of Brutality (2025)

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Rising from the oppressive crypts of Central America, this Death Metal horde is ready to deliver their most unrelenting statement of intent yet, spawned in the black rain and pestilent winds of their homeland.

Rising from the oppressive crypts of Central America, San José, Costa Rica-based Death Metal horde Mörtual, the combination of the Latin word “mort” (“death”) and “ritual”, therefore meaning “ritual of death”,  is ready to kill armed with their most unrelenting statement of intent yet following a trilogy of celebrated EPs. Spawned in the black rain and pestilent winds of their homeland, and mixed and mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio, their debut full-length opus, entitled Altar of Brutality, is a declaration of total spiritual negation featuring eight impure hymns steeped in decay, fanatic violence and the iconoclastic hunger to desecrate all that is sacred, being therefore tailored for admirers of Deicide, Mortem, Sadistic Intent, and Monstrosity, among others.

The trio shows no mercy for our rotten souls in Mortuary Rites, smashing their instruments nonstop in great Death Metal fashion, with Justin and Juan delivering an overdose of demented growls and riffs, followed by Necromancy Ritual, an avalanche of heaviness and guttural roars with Chalo dictating the song’s demented pace behind his drums. Then adding hints of the devilish music played by Slayer to their Death Metal core, the trio will pulverize us all in Divine Monstrosity, with the guitars by Justin and Juan exhaling sulfur. And Mörtual will attack once again with a six-minute feast of first-class Death Metal entitled Dominion of Eternal Blasphemy, sounding utterly demonic until the very end.

The band continues their path of devastation and hatred in Fiendish Visions, again blasting wicked, demented guttural vocals intertwined with visceral riffs and nonstop beats and fills, and their passion for all things Death Metal goes on in full force in Skeletal Vortex, again presenting that ruthless, unrelenting vibe we all love so much, perfect for slamming into the pit. Altar of Brutality, the song that carries the name of the album, is simply infernal from start to finish, with their demented, deep roaring and the crushing drums by Chalo turning it into a must-listen for fans of the genre, before we face the atmospheric outro Ecstasy of Death, which takes away a bit of the album’s punch despite being sinister and phantasmagorical, but nothing to really worry about.

Carrying forward the cursed legacy of their previous EP Evil Incarnation, Mörtual reach deeper into the void, channeling a darker, more oppressive sound, dripping with heretical intent and sharpened through years of relentless underground devotion. However, this is not a reinvention, but a declaration, a brutal affirmation of Death Metal’s primal force. With Altar of Brutality, available for purchase on BandCamp, Mörtual summon a vision of spiritual ruin and corporeal decay, wrapped in chains of riffs, blasts and unwavering intensity, and you can join them in their tribute to all things heavy and dark by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, or simply by clicking HERE for all things Mortual. This is extreme music made in Costa Rica at its finest, or maybe I should say at its heaviest, and if you dare to cross the band’s path, be prepared to be demolished to the sound of their undisputed Death Metal attack.

Best moments of the album: Mortuary Rites, Divine Monstrosity and Altar of Brutality.

Worst moments of the album: Ecstasy of Death.

Released in 2025 Nuclear Winter Records

Track listing
1. Mortuary Rites 5:24
2. Necromancy Ritual 4:32
3. Divine Monstrosity 4:57
4. Dominion of Eternal Blasphemy 5:59
5. Fiendish Visions 4:12
6. Skeletal Vortex 4:11
7. Altar of Brutality 4:02
8. Ecstasy of Death 1:56

Band members
Justin Sánchez – vocals, guitars
Juan Salas – vocals, guitars
Chalo – drums

Album Review – Akouphenom / Connections To The Erebus EP (2025)

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Coming from the same recording sessions of their 2023 album, the new EP by this uncanny Spanish horde continues the exploration of dark themes and complex compositions.

Known for their fusion of Blackened Death Metal with elements of Doom Metal and Noise, aiming to reflect absolute evil in their creations, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain-based entity Akouphenom returns from the netherworld with a brand new EP titled Connections To The Erebus, following up on their critically acclaimed 2023 full-length offering Death·Chaos·Void. Coming from the same composition and recording sessions of Death·Chaos·Void, their new four-track EP continues the exploration of dark themes and complex compositions by DraGon on vocals and guitars, Pandemia also on the guitars, Korgüll on bass, and Prgich on drums, further establishing their presence in the extreme metal scene.

Absurd of the Arkhe already brings to our putrid ears 11 minutes of ruthless Blackened Death Metal, with the crushing drums by Prgich setting the tone for DraGon to roar like an evil creature. Not only that, the guitars by Pandemia transpire malignancy while Korgüll hammers his bass nonstop, resulting in a true aria of absolute darkness. Then switching to their native language Spanish, the songs Extrema Uncion and Abismo, as described by Akouphenom themselves, are “a denial to Christianity and the idea of a paradise after death in exchange of an entire living as sheep and following the rules,” while musically speaking Extrema Uncion sounds as demented as it can be, with the infernal vociferations by DraGon penetrating deep inside your putrid soul, while Abismo showcases an even harsher vibe with the vocals by DraGon sounding truly inhumane, supported by the crushing drums by Prgich. And lastly, we’re treated to a whimsical instrumental track titled Limbo, where the haunting sound of the piano will bring some peaceful obscurity and melancholy to our hearts.

“We are atheists, we do not believe in nothing, and we accept that Death is the main end,” commented the band, and if you also want to follow Akouphenom in their dark path you can find more information about the band on Facebook and on Instagram, including their demonic live concerts, stream their music on any available platform like Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of the excellent Connections To The Erebus from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp, or from Sound Cave, and you can always click HERE for all things Akouphenom. Those Spanish servants of the black arts are on an absolute roll after the releases of Death·Chaos·Void in 2023 and now Connections To The Erebus, proving why the extreme music scene in their homeland cannot be ignored at all; quite the contrary, Spain hosts an ever-growing manifestation of first-class Black and Death Metal, with Akouphenom being one of the torchbearers of such an exciting movement.

Best moments of the album: Absurd of the Arkhe and Abismo.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Avantgarde Music/Unorthodox Emanations

Track listing
1. Absurd of the Arkhe 11:50
2. Extrema Uncion 6:42
3. Abismo 3:55
4. Limbo 3:03

Band members
DraGon – vocals, guitars
Pandemia – guitars, backing vocals
Korgüll – bass, backing vocals
Prgich – drums