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Album Review – Oceans of Slumber / Where Gods Fear to Speak (2024)

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One of the must-see names of the Progressive Rock and Metal scene returns with their sixth full-length album, sounding like a dystopian western or a post-apocalyptic survival movie.

More than a decade has passed since the release of Aetherial, the debut album by Houston, Texas-based Progressive Metal/Rock band Oceans Of Slumber, and a lot has changed since then for this “Dark Cinematic Metal” outfit. After recruiting Cammie Gilbert (now Gilbert-Beverly) in 2014, the crew’s trajectory took a natural, upward tilt, fueled by the hugely positive response received by second album, Winter, released in 2016. Monuments to a restless creative spirit, the band’s third, fourth and fifth albums, The Banished Heart (2018), Oceans Of Slumber (2020) and Starlight and Ash (2022), raised the stakes ever higher. Recorded at Estudios Audiovision, produced, mixed and engineered by Joel Hamilton at Studio G, mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering, and displaying a classy artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, their sixth full-length opus, titled Where Gods Fear to Speak, sees the band exploring new heights, therefore sounding even tighter and more compelling than before, proving why vocalist Cammie Beverly, guitarists Alex Davis and Chris Kritikos, bassist Semir Ozerkan and drummer Dobber Beverly have become a reference in the style.

The album kicks off with the darkly embracing title-track Where Gods Fear to Speak, where the heaviness in the guitars by Alex and Chris make a stunning paradox with the powerful vocals by Cammie, blending Progressive and Groove Metal with the obscurity and heaviness of Doom Metal, followed by Run From the Light, featuring guest vocals by the one and only Mikael Stanne of Swedish melodeath legends Dark Tranquillity, another avalanche of intricate guitar lines, harsh and clean vocals, and the always groovy beats by Dobber, sounding like several songs in one. Then a smooth intro boosted by minimalist background synths evolves into a beautiful ballad titled Don’t Come Back From Hell Empty Handed, where Cammie obviously steal the spotlight with a phenomenal vocal performance, whereas Wish is another solid tune by the band showcasing the always massive beats by Dobbie supported by the classic bass lines by Semir. And Cammie will steal your heart in the captivating tune Poem of Ecstasy, presenting the band’s trademark hybrid of Progressive Rock and Metal in a beyond thrilling way.

The Given Dream presents hints of R&B added to the band’s core rock essence, feeling very delicate yet profound and somber, with once again all background elements sounding beautifully haunting; while I Will Break the Pride of Your Will is even more experimental and progressive than its predecessors, with Alex and Chris taking the lead with their stylish riffs. In Prayer we face the dark and evil harsh roars by the iconic frontman Fernando Ribeiro of Moonspell clashing in great fashion with Cammie’s embracing, delicate vocals, with all acoustic elements making the song even more detailed and complete, followed by The Impermanence of Fate, showcasing another jaw-dropping vocal performance by Cammie to the classy sound of the piano by Dobber, who also hammers his drums, exploding into sheer savagery while sounding like classic Death Metal in a multi-layered and bold aria of heavy music. And lastly, we have their stunning rendition of Wicked Game, originally recorded by Chris Isaak in the 1989 album Heart Shaped World (check the original version HERE), a more than gorgeous icing on the cake to close the album on a perfect note.

“This album is a dystopian western or a post-apocalyptic survival movie, somewhere between The Handmaid’s Tale, The Dark Tower and Cormac McCarthy,” states Dobber. “The whole idea is that Where The Gods Fear To Speak is a movie, and we’ve written the soundtrack. If the world was taken over, like in movie The Book Of Eli, and Gary Oldman had found the Bible and the true power of it, and he was wielding the power of the lord over everybody, those people that were maybe just into their traditional spiritualism or people that were not religious at all, they would be the defectors, so the record is written from the viewpoint of the defectors. The ending credits are our version of ‘Wicked Game’ by Chris Isaak. We wanted to take it back to when the music in movies set the tone for everything.” Hence, if you want to join Oceans of Slumber in this thrilling cinematic ride, you can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, listen to all of their beautiful albums on Spotify, and of course purchase their new album by clicking HERE or HERE. Where Gods Fear To Speak proves that Oceans Of Slumber will not let the occasional setback put them off their creative stride, and I personally can’t wait to see what’s next to one of the must-see names of the progressive scene worldwide.

Best moments of the album: Where Gods Fear to Speak, Poem of Ecstasy, The Impermanence of Fate and of course Wicked Game.

Worst moments of the album: I Will Break the Pride of Your Will.

Released in 2024 Season of Mist

Track listing
1. Where Gods Fear to Speak 6:25
2. Run From the Light 5:15
3. Don’t Come Back From Hell Empty Handed 8:28
4. Wish 3:53
5. Poem of Ecstasy 6:33
6. The Given Dream 3:36
7. I Will Break the Pride of Your Will 5:27
8. Prayer 5:03
9. The Impermanence of Fate 6:20
10. Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover) 5:26

Band members
Cammie Beverly – vocals
Alex Davis – guitars
Chris Kritikos – guitars, synths
Semir Ozerkan – bass
Dobber Beverly – drums, piano

Guest musicians
Mikael Stanne – vocals on “Run From The Light”
Fernando Ribeiro – vocals on “Prayer”

Metal Chick of the Month – Corinne Cardinal

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We are ready to die, Corinne!

Sons of Odin, can you hear the call of our metal lady of this month of September? If your answer is yes, then I’m sure you’ll have a very good time here on The Headbanging Moose with our humble tribute to Corinne Cardinal, also known as Korrinn or Crook, a multi-talented singer, voice actor and vocal coach who’s making a name for herself in the Canadian scene as the frontwoman for Montreal, Quebec-based Melodic Black/Folk Metal horde Valfreya, proudly waving the flag of Québécois metal high in the sky wherever she goes and hypnotizing us all with both her clean and guttural vocals. She takes no prisoners in her quest for heavy music, leading Valfreya into glory ride, and of course you’re more than invited to stand side by side with Corinne and her henchmen in the battlefield after knowing a little bit more about her life and career.

Born on August 20, 1986 in the charming city of Montreal, Quebec, in Canada, Corinne is not just the founder, main composer and vocalist of Valfreya, but she’s also a voice actor for La Fabrique de Monstres (or The Monster Factory), and a singer for the Growlers Choir, just like one of our most recent metal ladies Maude Théberge, showing how united the Québécois scene is. Not only that, she has also studied classical singing and instrumental composition, does graphic design, and of course she applies all those elements to her work with Valfreya. Her talent seems to be infinite, which translates into first-class heavy music when a new Valfreya album is unleashed upon humanity for our total delight.

After exploring choir singing during her formative years, Corinne, who’s a mezzo-soprano, undertook her studies by enrolling at Cégep Saint-Laurent and obtained her college degree in classical singing in 2007, perfecting her instrument with many teachers between 2007 to 2015 like Cécile Gendron, Mark Pedrotti, Christine Lemelin and Colette Boky, and pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UQAM in music (artistic performance concentration) in 2015. During her studies there, she developed a varied lyric repertoire and sings in more than eight different languages (Russian, Czech, German, Italian, Latin, Catalan, French and English), obtaining her diploma in December 2018. Finally, in 2020 she obtained her Estill Voice Training certificates one and two, and if you have no idea what that means, this course pertains to parts of the anatomy singers can exercise conscious control on to modify their sound.

After founding Valfreya back in 2009, merging the metal genre with classical and folk, Corinne started to develop different vocal techniques, matching guttural singing with opera and pop, which culminated with her joining the aforementioned Growlers Choir back in 2019, plus collaborations with many artists as a performer or composer the likes of Léa Dupuis, Augury, and Jeff Marcoux. That expertise also opened several doors to vocal acting out of specialized fields into voices for creatures and monsters in video games and film, including Resident Evil 7 (Capcom), Helix Season 1 (Syfy), Soul Blade (Namco, Project Soul), Rainbow Six Siege: Operation Chimera (Ubisoft), Tomb Raider: Shadow of the Tomb (Eidos Montréal), and Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos), and also led to her founding in 2019 La Fabrique de Monstres alongside Sébastien Croteau and Jeffrey MacDermott, working in the sound design of hundreds of monsters and creatures over twenty or so video games, films and television series.

Corinne started studying for her musicologist’s master’s degree at Université de Montréal in 2020, wishing to analyze vocal techniques in metal music, precisely to identify the process of vocal production permitting control on specific structures of the vocal apparatus linked to guttural metal singing, with her ultimate goal being to produce the first pedagogical treaty on metal singing in English and French. In addition, Corinne is also a member of diverse research groups such as OICRM and ACTOR Project, and one of the rare vocal coaches who’s able to teach metal singing (both growl and fry) in Quebec.

As already mentioned, Corinne founded Melodic Black/Folk Metal horde Valfreya back in February 2009 in Montreal, with the band’s name being influenced by one of the names of Óðinn, Valföður (Old Icelandic for “Father of the Slain”) and Freyja, the Vanic deity, sister of Freyr. Valfreya deals with themes such as Norse mythology, Pagan gods, life, death, and legends, having released their debut EP First Chronicles in 2010, followed by their first full-length album Path to Eternity in 2012, the EP Acoustic Chronicles in 2013, and the full-length albums Promised Land, in 2017, and more recently Dawn of Reckoning, earlier this year, not to mention the band was also feature in the 2011 Galy Records compilation Trois-Rivières Metalfest 11 with the song Deity’s Grace. The band currently formed of our metallic diva Corinne on vocals together with Graz’zt and Erik on the guitars, Abhor on bass, Dommar on drums, and Eva Doucet De Leon on the violin has already played hundreds of concerts across Canada and the United States, and if you want to enjoy their amazing music you can find all of their releases on BandCamp, on Spotify, or by clicking HERE.

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Corinne is much more than just the band’s frontwoman, having also been responsible for the music, lyrics, arrangements, artwork and layout in their 2012 album Path to Eternity, the artwork, layout, cover art and lyrics in their 2017 album Promised Land, and the layout in their most recent album Dawn of Reckoning. Hence, if you want to have an absolute blast with Corinne and her Valfreya, apart from the aforementioned sources like BandCamp and Spotify, you can enjoy their official videos on YouTube for the songs Le Périple, The Rise, Odin’s Fury, Confront Immensity, Ocean’s Assault, and My Everlasting Star, as well as several unofficial footage of the band kicking some ass live.

Besides her career with Valfreya, Corinne also played keyboards and did backing vocals between 2008 and 2010 for a Montreal, Quebec-based Melodic Black Metal band named Vehemal, albeit she didn’t record anything official with the band; and did the live vocals with Canadian Progressive/Experimental Death Metal band Bookakee a few years ago. She can also be seen as a guest musician for a few interesting bands in the past few years, as for example doing additional vocals in the song Impending Apocalypse, from the 2020 EP Repaying Evil with Evil, by Canadian Death/Thrash Metal/Deathcore musician Jeff Marcoux; vocals in the 2017 single La pluie noire, by Canadian Black/Doom Metal band Lacrimae Mortalium; and more recently additional vocals in the songs Welcome, Immuration and Resilience, from the 2023 album Maladaptive Daydreaming, by Canadian Melodic Death/Gothic Metal band Sanguine Glacialis. Moreover, she was also responsible for the layout in the 2012 EP Deviated Inner Spectrum, by Canadian Technical/Melodic Death Metal act Pronostic, under the curious moniker of “Crapule”.

Lastly, as pretty much any metal lady hailing from Canada, Corinne is crazy for animals, having several pets from different species. For instance, in one of her interviews during the pandemic, she said she had at that time three fishes named Super Nova, Galaxy and Comet, five rats named Wicca, Gandalf the White, Zelda, Bouda and Titite (which means Tiny-tiny), and also a cat named Saroumine. As you might have already notice, the inspirations she takes for the music by Valfreya also have an impact on the names of her pets, which in my opinion is simply awesome. She mentioned she enjoys taking her rats to places like stores, parties, family reunions, chilling with friends, and so on, also saying that especially during the pandemic all of her pets brought a lot of joy and comfort as she couldn’t live in an empty house. She also said that all of her pets don’t seem to care about the fact she practices her music at home, and that whenever she’s on tour with Valfreya, it’s either her boyfriend or her sister who usually takes care of them for her. If you want to know more about such an amazing musician and animal lover, you can visit her own website (including a look at her impressive resume), and stay tuned for all news about Valfreya, because if by any chance they take your city by storm, don’t waste a single second and go check the powerful vocals by one of the most talented women of the current Canadian metal scene.

Corinne Cardinal’s Official Facebook page
Corinne Cardinal’s Official Instagram
Corinne Cardinal’s Official YouTube channel
Valfreya’s Official Facebook page
Valfreya’s Official Instagram
Valfreya’s Official YouTube channel

Album Review – Various Artists / Surrender to Death: A History of the Atlanta Metal Underground Vol. 1 (2024)

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Get ready for a night of fierce metallic sounds born in sweaty nightclubs, packed house parties, and DIY warehouse shows, a retrospective of the Atlanta metal underground from 1982 to 1999.

Deep from the vaults, Boris Records and Deanwell Global Music are unleashing the vinyl and digital versions of Surrender to Death: A History of the Atlanta Metal Underground Vol. 1, a retrospective of the Atlanta metal underground from 1982 to 1999. Spanning two decades of local bands, studio projects, and touring heavyweights, Surrender to Death showcases over 20 bands, ranging from the early days of traditional Heavy Metal to gory basement Death Metal to second-wave Black Metal, far from the better-known scenes in the Bay Area and New York and Florida. Over half a decade in the making, featuring original recordings sourced directly from the bands  (with all tracks remastered from various sources by Jessica Thompson Audio), and displaying a sick artwork by Brian Warner (aka Esayde or Total Weirdoh), this ass-kicking compilation will give you a glimpse of the Atlanta metal scene’s depth and its awesome and sometimes truly bizarre takes on the genre and all of its sub-genres.

Side A of the first vinyl starts way back in 1982 with Strangers, the opening track of the self-titled album by Messendger, presenting a great fusion of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock where the trio delivers fierce riffs and beats, and with their vocal lines also sounding electrifying; followed by Lucifers Eyes, by Fortnox, another beast from 1982 offering us all a powerful blast of old school Hard Rock. Fast forward a few years to 1990 and we face the Power/Thrash Metal by Atlanta’s own Ghost Story, with the song What Few Even Dare, from their 1990 demo The Image and the Reality, also presenting hints of Death and Speed Metal in its riffs and drums, whereas in 1988 a Thrash Metal band form Georgia called Necropolis released the album Contemplating Slaughter, and from that album we have the song Waters of Lathe, showcasing the amazing raspy vocals by Keith Charron.

It’s time to kick off side B of vinyl number one with Rock You, by MX, another old Heavy Metal/Hard Rock outfit from Georgia from the early 80’s, delivering sheer adrenaline and electricity through their fiery riffs and unrelenting attitude, and let’s continue our journey though the 80’s with Sinister Angel and the song Street Light Glamour, from their 1984 self-titled EP, where you can sense elements from early Judas Priest in their sound as well as harsher thrash and death nuances. Then in 1991 the Augusta, Georgia-based Heavy/Power Metal band Legion released the album Darkness, and from that album comes Evil Mind, with a sensational vocal performance by Loy Mitcham, followed by Reflected Fear, by Kinetic Dissent, more inclined to classic Thrash Metal, a song from their 1987 demo The Fall of Individualism, bringing forward an amazing guitar work by Stephen Danyo. In the song Til Death Do Us Part, from the 1989 demo Overloaded, by Dark Overlord, the music exhales the same rebelliousness from the early days of Exodus, or in other words, it’s a fantastic option to slam into the pit like a true metalhead, while Metal Merchants, from the 1985 cult album Tales of Terror, by Hallows Eve, is an explosion of Thrash and Speed Metal led by frontman Stacy Andersen, also perfect for some sick mosh pits.

Unblessed, one of the first Death Metal bands from Georgia, kicks off side A of the second vinyl with When it Bleeds it Pours, from their 1998 demo, already blasting that harsh, vicious sound that became a staple in today’s Death Metal scene, whereas Sixteenth Chamber, released in the 1995 demo Oh Come All Ye Faithful… Tonight We Feast, by Lestregus Nosferatus, presents those truly evil vocals we love in extreme music, not to mention the heaviness of their riffs. We’re then treated to Pray to Death, by ROT, from the 1990 demo Diabolus (The Unholy Rot), offering our putrid ears more of Atlanta’s own blend of classic Death Metal to inspire us all for some vigorous headbanging, followed by Avulsion with the song Inexorable Suffering, from their 1994 demo of the same name, enhancing the city’s ferocity in the scene, sounding slow, evil and, therefore, definitely not recommended for the lighthearted. Gates Of Emptiness, from the 1997 demo Twilight Eternal, by Dawn of Orion, is an overdose of classic Death Metal, with the harsh vociferations by Myke Jamison sounding insane, and things get even darker in Metaphorical Ithaca, by Haborym (a Hebrew synonym for Satan), mixing Black and Death Metal in an utterly demonic chant from their only demo released in 1995.

Finally, side B of the second vinyl brings to us all The Righteous Shall Fall, by Tragic Demise, displaying one of the most primeval sounds of the entire compilation, sounding like creatures arising form the pits of the underworld while again showcasing classic Death Metal beats for our total delight. Then the band Demoncy blasts a more Black Metal-inspired sound in Winter Bliss, from their 1999 album Joined in Darkness, with their Stygian, cryptic harsh vocals and a beyond raw sound quality giving it a more-than-infernal vibe. Necroflesh then offers a brutal slab of old school Death Metal in Scream, from their 1997 demo, where their guitars sound as caustic and sharp as possible; followed by the song Synthesis of Rebirth, taken from the 1996 demo of the same name by Procostimus, another band blending Death and Black Metal in their music where Greg King shows no mercy for our souls with his grim vocals and drums. Darkened Skies, the second band deeply rooted in old school Black Metal, delivers their share of obscurity and evil to the masses like a creature lurking in the dark in Reign of Radulescu, before Vastion, one of the first Technical Death Metal bands from Atlanta, crushes us all like insects in Ensuring Your Death, from their 2000 album Closed Eyes to Nothing, sounding absolutely wild and bestial until the very last second.

Part of “Georgia Historical Metal Archive Series” by Deanwell Global Music and volume 2 of “Atlanta Metal Underground Archive Series” by Boris Records, Surrender to Death can be described as a night of fierce metallic sounds born in sweaty nightclubs, packed house parties, and DIY warehouse shows, and you can experience all those decades of first-class music made in Atlanta by purchasing a copy of the album from the Boris Records’ BandCamp page, from Deanwell Global Music’s BandCamp page, or by clicking HERE, and let me tell you the package that those guys put together is brilliant, including the double-vinyl (available in four different color options) with a gatefold jacket, an 11×17 double-sided insert containing bios and photos of each band, a sticker, random repro band flyers, and an 18×24 full color poster. This is heavy music, this is Atlanta, and I honestly can’t wait for the next volume in this beautiful tribute to one of the most prolific scenes of the North American underground.

Best moments of the album: Kinetic Dissent – Reflected Fear, Dark Overlord – Til Death Do Us Part, Dawn of Orion – Gates Of Emptiness, Procostimus – Synthesis of Rebirth and Vastion – Ensuring Your Death.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Boris Records/Deanwell Global Music

Track listing
1. Messendger – Strangers 5:44
2. Fortnox – Lucifers Eyes 3:44
3. Ghost Story – What Few Even Dare 4:28
4. Necropolis – Waters of Lathe 5:23
5. MX – Rock You 3:48
6. Sinister Angel – Street Light Glamour 4:16
7. Legion – Evil Mind 3:25
8. Kinetic Dissent – Reflected Fear 3:26
9. Dark Overlord – Til Death Do Us Part 2:56
10. Hallows Eve – Metal Merchants 3:21
11. Unblessed – When it Bleeds it Pours 4:34
12. Lestregus Nosferatus – Sixteenth Chamber 3:47
13. ROT – Pray to Death 3:40
14. Avulsion – Inexorable Suffering 3:41
15. Dawn of Orion – Gates Of Emptiness 2:58
16. Haborym – Metaphorical Ithaca 3:39
17. Tragic Demise – The Righteous Shall Fall 3:33
18. Demoncy – Winter Bliss 3:47
19. Necroflesh – Scream 3:56
20. Procostimus – Synthesis of Rebirth 4:44
21. Darkened Skies – Reign of Radulescu 3:15
22. Vastion – Ensuring Your Death 2:19

Album Review – Typhonian / The Gate of the Veiled Beyond (2024)

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This unrelenting German entity will crush your damned soul with their newborn spawn, a phenomenal journey rooted in the old school Death Metal sound.

Where most bands are content reveling in the sound of the glory days of early 90’s Death Metal, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany-based band Typhonian has not only beautifully reimagined it with blackened elements laced with the classic Swedish and Finnish melodies, but they are also attempting to take that sound ahead in the most logical manner. Displaying a classic artwork by Juanjo Castellano Rosado, their new opus titled The Gate of the Veiled Beyond goes a step further compared to their 2021 EP The Cosmic Pendulum of Time and their debut album Beneath the Streams of Life, adding more progressive and atmospheric elements, a phenomenal music journey that’s evidently rooted in the old school Death Metal sound metamorphosing gradually and finally taking on a gleaming, breathtaking form and ascending, all carefully crafted by M. W. Styrum on vocals, Prometheus on the guitars, Typhon on the guitars and orchestrations, Charybdis on bass, and Thanatos on drums, being highly recommended for fans of Edge of Sanity, Unanimated, Necrophobic, Dismember, Desultory, Unleashed, and Evocation, among several others.

Just hit play and the atmospheric intro Celestial Salvation will transport us all to the dark world ruled by Typhonian before the band begins hammering our souls in Cosmic Throne, with the massive beats by Thanatos walking hand in hand with the powerful riffs by Prometheus and Typhon, not to mention how deep the guttural vocals by M. W. Styrum sound, flowing into the straightforward Death Metal attack titled Primal Deceptive Light, with the caustic riffage by the band’s guitar duo inviting us all to slam into the circle pit like true maniacs. Then bringing elements of Doom Metal to their sound, plus cryptic background orchestrations, the band fires the short and sweet Crimson Rivers, where once again M. W. Styrum sounds demonic on vocals; whereas another atmospheric, Stygian start gradually evolves into the heavy-as-hell, devilish aria The Gatekeeper, with Charybdis and Thanatos making the earth tremble with their respective bass and drums, also presenting elements from Atmospheric Black and Death Metal in their bold and dense sound.

Towards the Chamber of the Omnipresent Mind carries a beautiful name for a fast, acid and thunderous aria by Typhonian, with the guitars by Prometheus and Typhon exhaling heaviness and despair while M. W. Styrum keeps roaring and barking the song’s obscure words nonstop, and Typhonian brings forward a menacing fusion of Death Metal with Doom and Epic Metal entitled A Glimpse at the Starless Ocean, where Thanatos takes the lead with his crushing beats and fills, accompanied by the scorching riffs and solos by Prometheus and Typhon. Lastly, you better be prepared for a 20-minute ethereal, harsh and hypnotic musical voyage titled Cath’un – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond, flowing majestically to the demolishing drums by Thanatos before a sinister break permeates the air for quite some time, until all explodes into an imposing feast of Death Metal sounds, with M. W. Styrum’s vociferations adding an extra touch of insanity to their already wicked music, resulting in a stunning sonic beast by the quintet to conclude their infernal mass.

With the visionary The Gate of the Veiled Beyond release, Typhonian have more than just outdone themselves; they have surpassed expectations for the style as a whole. Hence, don’t forget to give them your best guttural shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their music on Spotify, and of course, to purchase their imposing new album from their own BandCamp page, as well as from Transcending Obscurity Records (main store, BandCamp, EU store, and US store), or click HERE for all things Typhonian. Those talented German metallers are not your average Death Metal band, delivering a breathtaking amalgamation of styles that will leave you completely disoriented after all is said and done in The Gate of the Veiled Beyond, all in the name of first-class extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Primal Deceptive Light, Towards the Chamber of the Omnipresent Mind and Cath’un – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Celestial Salvation 0:44
2. Cosmic Throne 4:06
3. Primal Deceptive Light 4:48
4. Crimson Rivers 3:35
5. The Gatekeeper 7:06
6. Towards the Chamber of the Omnipresent Mind 4:46
7. A Glimpse at the Starless Ocean 5:39
8. Cath’un – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond 19:21

Band members
M. W. Styrum – vocals
Prometheus – guitars
Typhon – guitars, orchestrations
Charybdis – bass
Thanatos – drums

Album Review – Buryfication / Gallows Rise (2024)

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Let the gallows rise to the sound of the infernal debut by one of the must-see new names of the Finnish extreme music scene.

Featuring eight tracks in less than 30 minutes, following a thematic route from steady and thrashy riffing to manic blackened brutality where death is always present, the pulverizing Gallows Rise, the debut album by Tampere, Finland-based  Blackened Death/Thrash Metal five-piece unit Buryfication, will undoubtedly crush your soul with its undisputed violence and heaviness. Recorded by Mikko Koskinen, mixed by Matti Mäkelä, and mastered by Jon Sjolin at Experitone, Gallows Rise is a precious gem of the underground carefully brought into being by frontman Marko Ala-Kleme, guitarists Tommi Kolehmainen and Henri Kyllästinen, bassist Pasi Bunda, and drummer Mikko Koskinen, paving a very exciting path ahead of such an amazing up-and coming band.

Get ready to be crushed like a putrid insect already in the opener The Plague, a demented creation by the band where Marko’s deep guttural walks hand in hand with the razor-edged, evil riffs by Tommi and Henri, and continuing to destroy everything and everyone that dares to cross their path we have Supreme Being, where Mikko is ruthless with his classic Death Metal beats and fills, supported by the rumbling bass by Pasi. An overdose of brutality, gore and violence flows from all instruments in the headbanging Human Cattle, with the guitars by Tommi and Henri exhaling sulfur, therefore inviting us all to slam into the circle pit like demonic creatures; and while Cannibal Corpse have the classic “Make Them Suffer”, those Finnish metallers offer us all the just as infernal Let Them Suffer, a lecture in modern-day Death Metal led by the inhumane growls by Marko, not to mention the song’s wicked guitar solos.

It’s then pedal to the metal as the band doesn’t have time to fool around, delivering a visceral onrush of Blackened Death Metal titled Year Zero where Mikko’s blast beats match perfectly with the devilish roaring by Marko, and inspired by the most demented names of the scene including Cannibal Corpse, Disloyal, Diabolizer and Immolation, the title-track Gallows Rise will hit you hard in the head to the striking riffs and solos by the band’s dynamic guitar duo. The quintet still has a lot of hellish fire to burn in Trails of Blood, a massive, dense and evil composition showcasing Marko’s trademark roars and the always killer drumming by Mikko; whereas featuring guest vocals by Matti Mäkelä of Corpsessed, closing this excellent album of sheer brutality we’re treated to Haunted, Enslaved, Devoured, with all riffs and solos adding an extra touch of aggression and insanity to their music, resulting in a stunning aria of violence.

Buryfication are definitely one of the must-see new names of the Finnish extreme music scene based on the music found in Gallows Rise, or in other words, a force to be reckoned with that will add even more heaviness to their already demented local scene, and you can stay in touch with those promising musicians by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming their sick creations on Spotify, and of course by purchasing their incendiary debut opus from BandCamp. It’s time to join Buryfication in their quest for extreme music, and let the gallows rise!

Best moments of the album: Let Them Suffer, Year Zero and Haunted, Enslaved, Devoured.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Kvlt und Kaos Productions

Track listing
1. The Plague 3:23
2. Supreme Being 3:03
3. Human Cattle 3:30
4. Let Them Suffer 3:43
5. Year Zero 4:15
6. Gallows Rise 3:56
7. Trails of Blood 2:36
8. Haunted, Enslaved, Devoured 4:00

Band members
Marko Ala-Kleme – vocals
Tommi Kolehmainen – guitar
Henri Kyllästinen – guitar
Pasi Bunda – bass
Mikko Koskinen – drums

Guest musician
Matti Mäkelä – vocals on “Haunted, Enslaved, Devoured”

Album Review – Ignobleth / Voidspawn Sacrifice EP (2024)

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This young and restless Italian Black Metal trio is ready to wage war upon us armed with their violent debut offering.

Born from the need to bring to mortals the truest war spirit, Northern Italy-based Black/Death Metal horde Ignobleth, whose young members are only 16 and 17 years old, merges fast and frenetic riffs and blast beats to slow and macabre sections in order to create a sinister and obscure atmosphere. Now in 2024 it’s time for vocalist and bassist Bloodlord Ixiataaga, guitarist Nex VII, and drummer Kommander Baal to crush our damned souls with their debut EP Voidspawn Sacrifice, offering us all 15 minutes of what they like to label as “War Metal” in a fun and vibrant album nicely recorded at Atomic Arts Studios and co-produced with Sulphur Music.

The ominous intro Golgotha VII will take you to the Stygian world ruled by Ignobleth, darkening your putrid souls before they attack you with Bestial Witchery, a venomous Black Metal extravaganza that sounds taken from the glory of the 80’s and 90’s, although the band members were all born in the 2000’s, and where Bloodlord Ixiataaga’s gruesome vocals sound demonic while always accompanied by the ruthless riffs by Nex VII. Then adding elements of Doom Metal to their already infernal sonority it’s time for the cryptic, sulfurous Omen Of A Nuclear Spell, with Kommander Baal taking the lead with his sluggish and heavy-as-hell beats. Lastly, back to a more visceral, demented sound, the band brings forth the Black Metal onrush Wrathful Eradication, inviting us all to worship Satan while slamming into the circle pit to their solid fusion of Black and Death Metal, spearheaded by the guttural roars by Bloodlord Ixiataaga.

The infernal trio formed of Bloodlord Ixiataaga, Nex VII and Kommander Baal is waiting for you in their Stygian lair on Facebook and on Instagram, where you can get more details about their underground black masses (also known as live performances), and you can definitely put your dirty hands on Voidspawn Sacrifice by purchasing it from the Masked Dead Records’ BandCamp or webstore. It’s really cool to see fresh young blood crafting high quality Black Metal, paving a great future ahead of the band and the genre, and may those talented Italian musicians keep waging war with more of their caustic music in the form of several thrilling albums like their debut EP in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Bestial Witchery.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Masked Dead Records/Sulphur Music

Track listing
1. Golgotha VII (Intro) 1:25
2. Bestial Witchery 4:30
3. Omen Of A Nuclear Spell 5:44
4. Wrathful Eradication 3:43

Band members
Bloodlord Ixiataaga – vocals, bass
Nex VII – guitars
Kommander Baal – drums

Album Review – God Dethroned / The Judas Paradox (2024)

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These Dutch Blackened Death Metal legends are back to offer up their latest sacrifice, delving deep into the catacombs of religion.

Delivering the goods since their inception in the distant year of 1990, Dutch Blackened Death Metal legends God Dethroned have returned to offer up their latest sacrifice, their new album The Judas Paradox. Recorded and mixed by Henri Sattler at Woodland Park, and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Henri Sattler, guitarist Dave Meester, bassist Jeroen Pomper, and drummer Frank Schilperoort delves deep into the catacombs of religion, drawing inspiration from mythology from all over the world, taking the listener on a thrilling, thought-provoking journey from Christian history to Greek mythology, complete with layers of dark, heavy riffs and nuanced classical touches.

The title-track The Judas Paradox kicks off the album on a melodic and grim note, with Henri already vociferating rabidly supported by the enfolding instrumental pieces by his bandmates while Frank dictates the pace with his classy Black Metal beats and fills, whereas the first single of the album, titled Rat Kingdom, brings to our ears a harsh and acid dosage of their trademark Black Metal, with the piercing riffage by Henri and Dave sounding wicked from start to finish. The Hanged Man presents four minutes of sulfurous extreme music for our total delight, with the vile beats by Frank walking hand in hand with the rumbling bass by Jeroen, flowing into the cinematic interlude Black Heart, setting the stage for the pulverizing Asmodeus, offering everything we learned to love in their caustic Black Metal, from the harsh roars by Henri to the blast beats by Frank, not to mention their riffs and bass lines exhale pure Black Metal magic, embracing us all in pitch black darkness.

Kashmir Princess is one more doomed, devilish aria by this iconic Dutch horde where their guitars sound melodic yet demonic, providing Henri with all he needs to roar in a vile manner, and investing in a more direct and traditional Black Metal sound led by the infernal growls by Henri we have Hubris Anorexia, a song perfect for darkening the skies in the name of evil. The next song, titled The Eye of Providence, is not a very strong tune, lacking the same energy of the rest of the album albeit still sounding grim and evil; whereas back to a more frantic, demented Black Metal sonority, it’s time for Henri to burst his lungs screaming supported by his bandmates’ hellish sounds in Hailing Death. They still have a lot of (demonic) fuel to burn in Broken Bloodlines, a headbanging, impactful Black Metal onrush where the sound of their guitars will embrace your damned soul before dragging you to the underworld for all eternity; and their black mass reaches its conclusion with the also disturbing War Machine, bringing forward one last blast of their trademark Black Metal where Henri darkly declaims the song’s eerie words in great fashion.

As already mentioned, the new album by the almighty God Dethroned is indeed a musical voyage to the darkest corners of religion, and you can let their music consume your rotten soul by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, including of course their sulfurous tour dates, by streaming all of their vast catalogue on any streaming service like Spotify, and above all that, by purchasing your favorite copy of The Judas Paradox by clicking HERE. God Dethroned once again take no prisoners in their quest for extreme music with The Judas Paradox, and while the church continues to destroy our already corrupt and decaying world, those Dutch metallers will keep drawing inspiration from everything that’s evil about religion to open our eyes and our minds to all that to the sound of their venomous music before it’s too late.

Best moments of the album: Rat Kingdom, Asmodeus and Hubris Anorexia.

Worst moments of the album: The Eye of Providence.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. The Judas Paradox 6:02
2. Rat Kingdom 3:39
3. The Hanged Man 4:02
4. Black Heart 0:50
5. Asmodeus 3:33
6. Kashmir Princess 4:48
7. Hubris Anorexia 3:37
8. The Eye of Providence 3:34
9. Hailing Death 5:28
10. Broken Bloodlines 3:23
11. War Machine 3:58

Band members
Henri Sattler – vocals, guitars
Dave Meester – lead guitars
Jeroen Pomper – bass
Frank Schilperoort – drums

Album Review – Gutvoid / Breathing Obelisk EP (2024)

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One of the best still-young Death Metal entities from Canada challenges you to stand before their Breathing Obelisk.

Since their formation in 2019, the ascent of Toronto, Canada’s Death Metal entity Gutvoid has been nothing if not meteoric. From their 2019 debut EP Astral Bestiary to their 2022 full-length opus Durance of Lightless Horizons, the band churned forth a world-eating metal of death that duly devoured the listener whole. Currently formed of Brendan Dean on vocals and guitars, Daniel Bonofiglio also on the guitars, Justin Boehm on bass, and D.W. Lee on drums, the band is unleashing upon us their brand new 31-minute EP Breathing Obelisk, a grim and visceral creature embraced by the otherworldly artwork by Marcio Blasphemator that will surely cement their status as one of the best still-young Death Metal entities around.

Those four demented metallers transport us to their Stygian realm with their minimalist notes in Swamp Consumed, gradually evolving into a darkened Death Metal entity to the visceral roars by Brendan and the hammering drums by D.W. Lee, presenting elements from Doom Metal and Blackened Doom embedded in their core (and evil) essence, whereas For We Are Many, the first single of the album (which they played live with Tomb Mold and Horrendous in Toronto), is a lecture in Progressive Death Metal sounding dissonant, intricate and disturbing, with Brendan and Daniel making an amazing guitar duo while Justin supports them with his menacing bass (not to mention it’s easy to sense elements from Brendan’s Fathomless Ritual in the riffs). Let’s then embark on one more cryptic, grim voyage together with Gutvoid in When The Living Dome Opens, again presenting their trademark vociferations, low-tuned, groovy bass lines and pounding drums, sounding dark and evil until the very end; and the last song of the EP, entitled Shodar, offers us all seven minutes of solid, melodic and visceral Death Metal led by the strident riffs by Brendan and Daniel, an awesome headbanging feast by the quartet where Brendan continues to deeply gnarl like a demonic entity.

After all is said and done, Gutvoid challenge you to stand before their Breathing Obelisk, and you can do that by following them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, by listening to their wicked music on Spotify, and by purchasing a copy of their new EP from Blood Harvest’s BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, a MLP or a cassette. In other words, do you think you have what it takes to face Gutvoid’s menacing and caustic Breathing Obelisk?

Best moments of the album: For We Are Many and Shodar.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Blood Harvest

Track listing
1. Swamp Consumed 9:50
2. For We Are Many 5:51
3. When The Living Dome Opens 7:20
4. Shodar 7:03

Band members
Brendan Dean – vocals, guitars
Daniel Bonofiglio – guitars
Justin Boehm – bass
D.W. Lee – drums

Album Review – Pneuma Hagion / From Beyond (2024)

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This auditory Texan Black and Death Metal onslaught returns with their new and brutal album, exploring Lovecraftian ideas of horrifying extra-dimensional entities forcing their way into the causal universe by infecting the minds of humans.

The auditory Black and Death Metal onslaught hailing from Texas and known as Pneuma Hagion, which is Greek for “Holy Spirit”, is about to unleash upon humanity their third full-length album, titled From Beyond, a relentless barrage of down tuned brutality that will resonate deep with the darkest chords of your soul. Mixed and mastered by Mike G, with the vinyl master being taken care of by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studios, and displaying a stylish cover art by English poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake (1757-1827), the new album by the monstrous duo R. on vocals, guitars and bass, and S. on drums explores Lovecraftian ideas of horrifying extra-dimensional entities forcing their way into the causal universe by infecting the minds of humans. Each song is from the perspective of some malevolent entity of unfathomable nature trying to influence the world of mortals and trying to infiltrate our universe in order to cause its ultimate destruction.

The opener Harbinger Of Dissolution sounds groovy and infernal from the very first notes, with R. delivering an overdose of aggression through his riffs and vocals supported by the classic blast beats by S., while Resurrected Abominations is a lesson in old school, primeval Death Metal by the duo, with their Cannibal Corpse-inspired riffs and beats turning it into the perfect soundtrack for some sick mosh pit action. Lurking Beyond Time And Space offers another two and a half minutes of sheer animosity and heaviness led by the cadaverous roars by R., who also hammers his guitar and bass mercilessly nonstop; and the duo keeps haunting our damned souls in Those Who Obey, a Death Metal onrush tailored for fans of the genre showcasing a brutal and evil performance by S. on drums. It’s then time to break our necks headbanging to the caustic riffs by R. in The Temple Fires, bringing forward a beyond heavy sound boosted by the deep guttural by R., exploding into sheer madness halfway through it.

Then investing in a much more demented and visceral sonority the duo will pierce our cranial skulls with Aeon, a thunderous tune overflowing groove with the infernal drums by S. providing R. with exactly what he needs to bark and growl like a beast, and there’s no time to breathe in The Light of Long-Dead Stars, another pulverizing aria of classic Death Metal spearheaded by the hellish roars and caustic riffs by R. There are two more demonic chants to go, starting with All Worlds Enslaved, where the duo once again destroys our frail bodies with their dense and fierce sounds, with S. sounding inhumane on drums as usual, therefore adding even more violence to their music. Finally, get ready to be smashed like a putrid insect in the closing tune Archon, offering their characteristic aggression led by the demented drums by S. while R. continues to vociferate in the name of extreme music.

In a nutshell, From Beyond is thick, raw, crushing and unfiltered aggression made in Texas, and Pneuma Hagion are definitely waiting for you on Facebook to join them in their malevolent realm of Death Metal. Also, don’t forget to stream their music on Spotify, and obviously to show them all your support by purchasing their wicked new album by clicking HERE (physical) or HERE (digital). In other words, the otherworldly entities depicted in From Beyond are ready to take over our rotten world, and the Death Metal by Pneuma Hagion is exactly what they need as the soundtrack to their upcoming apocalyptic strike.

Best moments of the album: Resurrected Abominations, Aeon and Archon.

Worst moments of the album: Lurking Beyond Time And Space.

Released in 2024 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Harbinger Of Dissolution 2:43
2. Resurrected Abominations 2:51
3. Lurking Beyond Time And Space 2:25
4. Those Who Obey 2:57
5. The Temple Fires 2:54
6. Aeon 2:49
7. The Light of Long-Dead Stars 2:48
8. All Worlds Enslaved 2:51
9. Archon 2:03

Band members
R. – vocals, guitars, bass
S. – drums

Album Review – Phenocryst / Cremation Pyre (2024)

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A ruthless Death Metal entity from Portugal will attack us all with their debut opus, illustrating soundscapes of disastrous, catastrophic, and annihilating volcanic and natural events.

Based on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal, the infuriated Death Metal beast Phenocryst is releasing their highly anticipated debut album, titled Cremation Pyre, a worthy follow-up to their 2021 debut EP Explosions. Produced, mixed and mastered by Fernando Matias at The Pentagon Audio Manufacturers, and displaying a front cover oil painting by English artist James Campbell (with artwork concept by the band’s own vocalist and guitarist D.S., inspired by Polish painter and photographer Zdzisław Beksiński), the new opus by D.S. on vocals and guitars, Santana also on the guitars, V.M. on bass, and Artur on drums showcases the foundation of a Death Metal act crossing other influences like Doom Metal and some psychedelic vibes, beautifully illustrating soundscapes of disastrous, catastrophic, and annihilating volcanic and natural events.

Absolute darkness and despair flows from all instruments in the opening tune Pinnacle Of Death, with Artur crushing his drums while D.S. vociferates like a creature arising from the abyss, resulting in a demolishing Death Metal feast to kick off the album, whereas sinister notes explode into a putrid Death Metal onrush titled Astonishing Devastation, where the guitars by D.S. and Santana sound evil and grim until the very end. Then featuring guest vocals by Jorge Santos, Belathauzer and Fernando Matias, their evil invocations continue to burn our damned souls in Pyres Of The Altar, offering almost five minutes of caustic riffs and blast beats not recommended for the lighthearted; while Incandescent Debris is a devilish instrumental aria by Phenocryst that has all elements form classic Death Metal, except of course for the guttural vocal lines.

The second half of the album begins in full force with Embers Of An Ancient Fire, a song that couldn’t have sounded more infernal nor heavier, presenting another great job done by D.S. and Santana on the guitars supported by the Doom Metal-inspired drums by Artur, followed by Volcanic Winter, a song perfect for headbanging like an evil entity to the massive beats by Artur while D.S., Santana and V.M. show no mercy for their stringed axes, exhaling endless sulfur and hatred. Fogo Nas Entranhas, or “fire in the entrails”, is one of the most pulverizing songs of the album where D.S.’s infernal roars walk hand in hand with the crushing drums by Artur in a lecture in Death Metal made in Portugal, not to mention the cryptic riffs blasted by D.S. and Santana, flowing into the atmospheric outro Burial Swamps, darkening the skies and dragging us to burn in scorching lava together with the band for all eternity.

Forward-thinking traditionalism? Perhaps, but the real beauty of Cremation Pyre is that it’s open to myriad interpretations; with just one single step needed into its lava. After all is said and done, Phenocryst prove, once again, that “Only Death is Realer!”, and if you agree with the band and want to feel their Death Metal fires burning your soul until the end of times you can find them on Facebook and on Instagram, where you can stay updated with all things Phenocryst including their tour dates, and grab your copy of their incendiary new album from their own BandCamp page, or from Blood Harvest’s BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, LP, or cassette. Phenocryst are among us to spread fire and evil, and may their flammable Death Metal sounds continue to incinerate our avid ears with all of their upcoming releases, hopefully all just as great as Cremation Pyre.

Best moments of the album: Astonishing Devastation, Pyres Of The Altar and Fogo Nas Entranhas.

Worst moments of the album: Incandescent Debris.

Released in 2024 Blood Harvest

Track listing
1. Pinnacle Of Death 4:58
2. Astonishing Devastation 6:05
3. Pyres Of The Altar 4:48
4. Incandescent Debris 3:51
5. Embers Of An Ancient Fire 6:31
6. Volcanic Winter 6:05
7. Fogo Nas Entranhas 4:41
8. Burial Swamps 2:05

Band members
D.S. – vocals, guitars
Santana – guitars
V.M. – bass
Artur – drums

Guest musicians
Belathauzer – additional vocals on “Pyres Of The Altar”
Fernando Matias – additional vocals on “Pyres Of The Altar”, fx and synthesizers on “Fogo Nas Entranhas”
Jorge Santos – additional vocals on “Pyres Of The Altar” and “Fogo Nas Entranhas”