Tag Archives: death metal

Concert Review – The Black Dahlia Murder (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/21/2023)

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A celebration of the life and contribution to the heavy music scene by the deceased Trevor Strnad on a special night in Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: Phobophilic, Fuming Mouth, Frozen Soul and Terror

Do you know those events called “celebration of life”, a time when people come together to celebrate the unique personality and achievements of the deceased without the more formal and traditional funeral service? Maybe that’s exactly how we can call The Verminous Remnant Tour 2023 with the bands PHOBOPHILIC, FUMING MOUTH, FROZEN SOUL, TERROR and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, celebrating the life of Trevor Strnad (RIP), the iconic frontman for The Black Dahlia Murder who passed away on May 11, 2022. All bands have some sort of connection with Trevor, as he was a huge supporter of the underground and did A LOT to those bands and to heavy music in general during his amazing life, and fortunately several fans of heavy music in Toronto had the pleasure of taking part in that celebration this Friday at The Phoenix Concert Theatre.

After the doors opened at 6pm and fans had their special time to purchase some merch, grab a beer and chat with friends, Fargo, North Dakota-based Death Metal band PHOBOPHILIC kicked off the celebration at 7pm with a short and sweet performance promoting their 2022 album Enveloping Absurdity, getting all concert goers into the mood to start all the pit action, sounding not just great but also engaging a lot with the crowd. If you know nothing about the band go check their stuff on BandCamp or on Spotify, as I’m sure you’ll enjoy their straightforward, ass-kicking Death Metal, and who knows, maybe you’ll be caught in a mosh whenever those four metallers storm your city with their undisputed heaviness.

Band members
Aaron Dudgeon – vocals, guitars
Josh Poer – guitars
Christian Alm – bass
Vincent Tweten – drums

It was around 7:40pm when the second band of the night, Milford, Massachusetts’s own Death Metal/Crust outfit FUMING MOUTH, hit the stage with their fast, thrashing and heavy music, again getting a nice mosh pit going, blending songs from their 2020 EP Beyond the Tomb, such as the title-track Beyond the Tomb and Master of Extremity, with others form their 2019 album The Grand Descent, like Out of the Shadows and Visions of Purgatory. Needless to say, they also dedicated their performance to Trevor, which of course got a warm answer from the audience. Hence, if you haven’t ever heard of this band either, you should go to BandCamp or Spotify and bathe in their demolishing creations.

Band members
Mark Whelan – vocals, guitars
Andrew Budwey – guitars
James Davis – drums

After another short break, it was time for Fort Worth, Texas-based Death Metal horde FROZEN SOUL to smash the cranial skulls of all fans at the venue with another amazing performance. Playing songs from their 2021 album Crypt of Ice, including Encased in Ice, Arctic Stranglehold and Crypt of Ice, as well as the new tunes Death and Glory and Arsenal of War, from their upcoming 2023 album Glacial Domination, Frozen Soul delivered their trademark fusion of Death Metal with heavy doom and fast thrash elements, having the house turn the lights all blue, and the reaction from the crowd was nothing but a huge mosh pit. Their lead singer Chad Green even asked the fans to do push ups, and they didn’t disappoint at all, so if you’re searching for a heavy soundtrack for your push ups at the gym you know what to do, right? Simply visit BandCamp or Spotify, and voilà!

Setlist
Encased in Ice
Merciless
Beat to Dust
Morbid Effigy
Death and Glory
Arsenal of War
Arctic Stranglehold
Crypt of Ice

Band members
Chad Green – vocals
Chris Bonner – guitars
Michael Munday – guitars
Samantha Mobley – bass
Matt Dennard – drums

One more memorable show was provided to all fans at the venue by Los Angeles, California-based Hardcore act TERROR, delivering their fast-paced creations highly inspired by the fantastic LA thrash scene from the 80’s and 90’s. Right after they started their concert at around 9pm the entire floor section turned into a massive circle pit, keeping the security guys busy and even photographers like my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography, who helped the staff in between taking shots to steer the crowd surfers out of the pit. Alex and Liam (and their front stage crew) did an amazing job holding it down and making sure everyone was safe, by the way. Terror released a short but fulminating album in 2022 titled Pain into Power (available on BandCamp and on Spotify), with songs like the title-track Pain Into Power, Can’t Help but Hate and Boundless Contempt being part of their setlist for the delight of all fans at The Phoenix Concert Theatre.

Setlist
Pain Into Power
Overcome
Stick Tight
Spit My Rage
Betrayer
Lowest of the Low
Can’t Help but Hate
Boundless Contempt
The 25th Hour
One With the Underdogs
Keep Your Mouth Shut
Keepers of the Faith

Band members
Scott Vogel – vocals
Martin Stewart – guitar
Jordan Posner – guitar
Chris Linkovich – bass
Nick Jett – drums

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER

It was a little past 10pm when the main attraction of the night, Detroit, Michigan’s Melodic Death Metal institution THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, began their infernal performance, and everyone at the venue was blown away by their heavy and catchy sounds as expected. Now fronted by Brian Eschbach, who used to be the band’s guitarist until the death of Trevor, the band named their current tour after their 2020 album Verminous, adding the word “remnant” to it for obvious reasons, with songs like the title-track Verminous and Sunless Empire, mixed with their older material including Everything Went Black, I Will Return and Deathmask Divine, driving all fans crazy.

The crowd chanted Trevor’s name between songs during their entire performance, an emotional gesture in honor of the great Trevor, whose lyrics, onstage presence and contributions to the metal scene will always be missed. As aforementioned, what he did for all openers that are part of this tour was amazing, helping all bands get signed. He was a voice of reason to the labels, said one concert goer, and the response from all fans to The Black Dahlia Murder during their entire performance only proved how much everyone will always love Trevor and his music. Thanks once again to Noel Peters from Inertia Entertainment for organizing such incredible night for metal fans in Toronto, and of course for allowing all Torontonian fans to celebrate the life of the one and only Trevor Strnad.

Setlist
Verminous
What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse
Kings of the Nightworld
Sunless Empire
Carbonized in Cruciform
Child of Night
Statutory Ape
On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood
Everything Went Black
Nightbringers
Miasma
Unhallowed
Funeral Thirst
I Will Return
Deathmask Divine

Band members
Brian Eschbach – vocals
Ryan Knight – guitars
Brandon Ellis – guitars
Max Lavelle -bass
Alan Cassidy – drums

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Album Review – Fracturus / Versus The Void (2023)

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The debut album by this up-and-coming metal act from Canada will pulverize your senses with its modern and technical fusion of Death Metal and Deathcore.

Hailing from “la Vieille Capitale” Montreal, in Quebec, Canada, the ruthless Death Metal/Deathcore four-piece act Fracturus has just released their first full-length album, entitled Versus The Void, following up on their 2021 debut EP L’appel du vide. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy), and displaying a sinister artwork by Abysmial, the album features a modern and technical style of Death Metal powered by the aggressive vocals by Alexandre Leblanc (Dark Century, Neuraxis), the razor sharp guitar riffs by Greg Nicholls (Dark Century, Pyramidion), the ground shaking bass work by Peter Hamm (Cryptic Forest), and the lightning fast drum thunderstorm courtesy of Alexis Serré (Dark Century, Transe Metal Machine), turning the album into a must-listen for fans of the more modern and melodic version of Death Metal from the current scene.

The futuristic, modern intro titled Ascension invites us all to join Fracturus in their quest for heavy music to the sound of Storm, showcasing wicked lyrics barked by Alexandre (“Born to defy, an agent of demise / Created to resist, unaffected by the lies / Forged by a code of beliefs, a one-man creed / With nothing to corrupt, this unbreakable will”) and a demolishing sonority blending Groove and Death Metal with Deathcore. In the title-track Versus the Void, Greg delivers sheer adrenaline through his riffs while Peter hammers his bass in the most intricate way possible, or in other words, it’s an amazing option to slam into the circle pit, whereas Alexis dictates the pace in Forget the End, blasting his drums like there’s no tomorrow supported by the thunderous bass lines by Peter, therefore resulting in one of the heaviest and most technical of all songs.

As the rain falls the band will kill in Hand of Man, spearheaded by the fulminating drums by Alexis and the always venomous roars by Alexandre, uniting Death Metal and Deathcore in the name of pitch-black darkness; whereas Dissolve is perhaps the most Deathcore of all songs from the album while also showcasing hints of Progressive Death Metal, bringing forward an amazing job done by Greg armed with his stringed axe accompanied as usual by the relentless bass by Peter. Lastly, in Rational / Animal we’re treated to one final round of their acid lyrics (“Either food or killer, hunter or prey / Nature favors the strong, survival of the species / Primitive aggression, a king among beasts / Dominant upon a savage domain”), with Peter and Alexis making the earth tremble with their progressive yet infuriated kitchen before everything fades into a melancholic piano outro.

If you want to experience all the heaviness and rage flowing from Versus The Void, you can simply stream the album as many times as you want on Spotify, but of course in order to show your utmost support to the underground you can purchase a copy of the album from Apple Music, from Amazon, or by clicking HERE or HERE, and don’t forget to also start following Fracturus on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube. The guys from Fracturus are definitely taking a huge step forward in their career with Versus The Void, making the Canadian metal scene stronger and, consequently, offering us all another very good reason to keep banging our heads and having some fun inside the circle pit to the sound of their newborn opus.

Best moments of the album: Storm and Forget the End.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Ascension 0:42
2. Storm 3:40
3. Versus the Void 3:58
4. Forget the End 3:27
5. Hand of Man 4:16
6. Dissolve 3:46
7. Rational / Animal 4:35

Band members
Alexandre Leblanc – vocals
Greg Nicholls – guitars
Peter Hamm – bass
Alexis Serré – drums

Album Review – The Last Prophecy / Hate Is My Mentor EP (2023)

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A young, rising Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band from Finland will kick you in the head to the sound of their new EP, sounding faster, heavier and more ferocious than ever.

A young, rising Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band formed in early 2021 in Espoo, Finland, the four-piece act known as The Last Prophecy has been connecting the best bits of Thrash Metal and Melodeath since their inception, crafting their own sound while also honoring their main influences including In Flames and Children Of Bodom. Now in 2023 the quartet formed of Joakim Haahtela on vocals and guitars, Petteri Karinen also on the guitars, Saku Kivirinne on bass, and Henri Toropainen on drums unleashed upon us a 25-minute EP titled Hate Is My Mentor, sounding faster, heavier and more ferocious than ever, with the mixing and mastering by the band’s own Petteri and Henri and the artwork by @dodolokstrom bringing an extra touch of insanity to the album, therefore positioning the band as one of the must-see new names of the current Finnish scene.

The guitars by Joakim and Petteri bring the noise to the opening tune Deranged, slashing our ears in great fashion in the name of Melodic Death Metal supported by the pounding drums by Henri; whereas Dead Forever is even groovier and heavier thanks to the rumbling kitchen blasted by Saku and Henri, or in other words, it’s an amazing option to slam into the pit while Joakim vociferates rabidly. Then drinking from the same fountain as Scandinavian giants the likes of Soilwork, In Flames and Arch Enemy (while also adding their own Death Metal twist to the overall result), we have Dark Sky of the Dawn, where another amazing guitar job by Joakim and Petteri keeps the song’s energy level truly high; followed by the title-track Hate Is My Mentor, which beings in a serene manner before evolving into another classy Melodic Death Metal feast, showcasing dark lyrics (“Restless soul in darkness / Waiting for salvation / World’s turning its back / Sing the song of death / While holding your breath / Aid is never here / It’s a one-way path / Light has passed away / This is the last day”) amidst a neck-breaking sonority. Finally, closing the EP the quartet offers us all Course of War, again delivering their usual incendiary riffage while Henri dictates the pace with his intricate and hammering drums.

Such fun and vibrant EP is available in its entirety on Youtube and on Spotify, and of course if you want to show the guys from The Last Prophecy how much you enjoy their music you can give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and purchase a copy of Hate Is My Mentor from Apple Music or by clicking HERE. The EP already gives the listener a very good idea of how exciting the music by The Last Prophecy is, and now those Finnish metallers have the mission of delivering an even bolder, faster and heavier full-length album in the near future. Well, I’m sure they’ll get there even if it’s hard to beat the quality of the songs from Hate Is My Mentor, don’t you agree?

Best moments of the album: Dead Forever and Dark Sky of the Dawn.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Deranged 3:52
2. Dead Forever 5:56
3. Dark Sky of the Dawn 3:42
4. Hate Is My Mentor 6:13
5. Course of War 5:34

Band members
Joakim Haahtela – vocals, guitars
Petteri Karinen – guitars
Saku Kivirinne – bass
Henri Toropainen – drums

Concert Review – Carcass (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/16/2023)

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Four metallic beasts cranked the heat with their undisputed music on an already scorching day in Toronto, inspiring us all to get caught in endless mosh pits. 

OPENING ACTS: Creeping Death, Sacred Reich and Municipal Waste

As the “gods of weather” decided to crank the heat in Toronto this past week, with the thermometers breaking the +30oC (or +86oF) mark, it was more than obvious that the temperature inside The Phoenix Concert Theatre last night was going to be insanely high due to the feast of Grindcore, Thrash and Death Metal blasted by CREEPING DEATH, SACRED REICH, MUNICIPAL WASTE and the mighty CARCASS, four amazing bands that are highly recommended for admirers of some good old mosh pits. And oh, there were so many mosh pits for all metalheads at the venue to bathe in (and most of the time that mosh pit bath included a lot of sweat, beer, and even some vomit)! A special shout-out to Embrace Presents for organizing such epic event, and another to the venue staff for keeping everything clean (because dealing with vomit is one of the most disgusting things ever), for keeping everyone safe, and for always being nice to everyone before, during and after all concerts. That’s how fans should always be treated!

I was not even 10 minutes inside the venue when the first band of the night, Denton, Texas-based Death Metal/Hardcore act CREEPING DEATH, kicked off the night with their brutality and heaviness, already inspiring everyone at the venue to slam into the pit, and that high level of violence went on until the last second of their performance. Gearing up for the release of their new album Boundless Domain, which should become available mid-June (and of course, I’ll have a very good time listening to it, and probably reviewing it too), frontman Reese Alavi and his bandmates put on a fantastic show, with their brand new song Intestinal Wrap (don’t forget to check out the studio version featuring the one and only George “Corpsegrinder” Fischer on guest vocals) and The Edge of Existence being the highlights of their pulverizing concert for me. Let’s see when those American metallers will return to Toronto for another round of insanity armed with their classic Death Metal; maybe as soon as their new album sees the light of day?

Setlist
Humanity Transcends
Doused in Flames
Skinned Alive
The Edge of Existence
Bloodlust Contamination
Intestinal Wrap
Specter of War

Band members
Reese Alavi – vocals
Trey Pemberton – guitars
A.J. Ross III – guitars
Rico Mejia – bass
Lincoln Mullins – drums

After the usual bathroom/beer/cigarette/whatever you want to do break, it was time for Phoenix, Arizona’s own Thrash Metal institution SACRED REICH to hit the stage spearheaded by the iconic vocalist and bassist Phil Rind, and as expected their entire performance was absolutely amazing, blending songs from their most recent album Awakening, released in 2019, such the opener Divide & Conquer, Manifest Reality, Salvation and the title-track Awakening, with really old stuff the likes of Death Squad and Ignorance, from their 1987 debut album Ignorance, and The American Way, from their 1990 album of the same name. There was a lot of interaction between Phil and the crowd, with the most beautiful moment being when Phil talked about how music unites people, and how we make good friends through music, which is more than true. Without music I might not have become a friend of Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography, who once again provided me with the amazing photos for this review. Back to the concert, Sacred Reich kept kicking our asses with their classy thrashing tunes, ending with their circle pit hit Surf Nicaragua, and leaving us eager for another one of their stylish performances in Toronto in a not-so-distant future.

Setlist
Divide & Conquer
The American Way
Manifest Reality
One Nation
Salvation
Ignorance
Awakening
Independent
Death Squad
Surf Nicaragua

Band members
Phil Rind – vocals, bass
Wiley Arnett – lead guitars
Joey Radziwill – rhythm guitars
Dave McClain – drums

It was then time for the highly anticipated concert by Richmond, Virginia-based Thrash Metal/Crossover squad MUNICIPAL WASTE, and they didn’t disappoint at all their Torontonian fans; quite the contrary, it was an unforgettable show by Tony Foresta, Ryan Waste, Nick Poulos, Landphil, and Dave Witte, who were visibly excited to be playing in Canada, jumping up and down, headbanging and raising their horns nonstop as if they were the crowd, and us fans in the mosh pit were the main attraction. Maybe that’s exactly how they felt last night, right? Furthermore, all songs from their sensational 2022 album Electrified Brain worked really well live, such as Grave Dive, High Speed Steel, and in special Crank the Heat, which was played by the band only because “they were having an amazing time” according to Tony himself, mixed with thrashing beasts the likes of Beer Pressure, Thrashing’s My Business… And Business Is Good, and Headbanger Face Rip.

And speaking about Tony, the man was on fire during their entire performance, having fun with the inflatable orca (don’t ask me why that was brought to a metal concert) and all the cardboard boxes flying around, joking it was a miracle they were allowed to cross the border to Canada, asking for more crowd surfing to keep the security guys busy as they were getting “bored” due to the lack of action, and thanking everyone for attending their concert on a Sunday night. It was awesome when he asked the crowd if they liked to party for Jesus, or if they liked to party for Slayer, and I bet you already know what the fans answered, right? Right after they closed their flawless performance with the headbanging classic Born to Party, you could see the smile on the faces of all fans at the venue, all demanding for more Municipal Waste in the city, including myself, and hopefully it won’t take long for a new visit by those partying thrashers. As the lyrics from Born to Party say, Municipal Waste is gonna fuck you up!

Setlist
I’m a Rebel (Accept song)
Demoralizer
Breathe Grease
Mind Eraser
Beer Pressure
Thrashing’s My Business… And Business Is Good
The Thrashin’ of the Christ
Poison the Preacher
Grave Dive
You’re Cut Off
Sadistic Magician
Slime and Punishment
Crank the Heat
Headbanger Face Rip
Blood Vessel
High Speed Steel
Pre-Game
The Art of Partying
Wave of Death
Born to Party

Band members
Tony Foresta – vocals
Ryan Waste – guitars, backing vocals
Nick Poulos – guitars
Landphil – bass, backing vocals
Dave Witte – drums

CARCASS

Exactly 135 days after their last visit to Toronto (when they opened for Amon Amarth), UK’s Grindcore/Extreme Metal trailblazers CARCASS returned to the city with more of their visceral, infuriated music, this time as the headliners of the night. Jeff Walker, Bill Steer, Tom Draper and Daniel Wilding were sharp, evil and caustic from the very first second of their undisputed performance, kicking some serious ass and proving why they’re still the most important Grindcore band of all time. They did a fantastic job blending songs from all of their albums, with a higher focus on their latest opus Torn Arteries, their 2013 infernal album Surgical Steel, and their 1993 masterpiece Heartwork. Songs like Kelly’s Meat Emporium, Under the Scalpel Blade, This Mortal Coil, and The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing sounded demented live, with all four band members playing those to perfection, of course.

The mosh pits kept going like crazy, the band was in total sync with their fans, and the temperature inside the venue kept going up to the point Jeff began throwing bottles of water for people to rehydrate. He even asked why it was so hot in Toronto, as Canada is supposed to be cold, but apparently he doesn’t know how hot and muggy the GTA can get during the summer. Well, I must admit the summer-like weather in Toronto in the middle of April was a big surprise, but still when it gets hot here, it gets REALLY hot. After playing my favorite Carcass song of all time, the brilliant Heartwork, plus the outro to Carneous Cacoffiny, Jeff and his henchmen returned for what I would call a ruthless, supersonic attack with one of the most violent encores I’ve ever seen, with the songs Exhume to Consume, Tools of the Trade, and 316L Grade Surgical Steel putting every single person at the venue to slam into the pit, bang their heads and raise their horns together with the band. It was beyond infernal, and if Carcass wants to return to Toronto in another 135 days for more of that, I’m totally in!

Setlist
The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue (Intro)
Kelly’s Meat Emporium
Buried Dreams
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
Under the Scalpel Blade
This Mortal Coil
Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody (Intro)
Death Certificate
Dance of Ixtab (Psychopomp & Circumstance March No. 1 in B)
Black Star (Intro)
Keep On Rotting in the Free World
The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing
Corporal Jigsore Quandary
Ruptured in Purulence (Intro)
Heartwork
Carneous Cacoffiny (Outro)

Encore:
Exhume to Consume
Tools of the Trade
316L Grade Surgical Steel

Band members
Jeff Walker – vocals, bass
Bill Steer – guitars, backing vocals
Tom Draper – guitars
Daniel Wilding – drums

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Album Review – Decipher / Arcane Paths To Resurrection (2023)

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This infuriated Black and Death Metal horde from Greece will crush your mind with their debut effort, showcasing their steely vision and penchant for writing superbly structured songs that have an inherent catchiness to them.

Formed in October 2017 in the hypnotizing city of Athens, Greece, the unrelenting Black/Death Metal horde Decipher is ready to unleash upon humanity their first full-length opus, entitled Arcane Paths To Resurrection, the follow-up to their 2019 debut EP Of Fire and Brimstone. Displaying a stunning artwork by Artem Grigoryev, the album showcases the steely vision and penchant for writing superbly structured songs that have an inherent catchiness to them by vocalist M.L., guitarists K.G. and K.C., and drummer N.C., while also being gritty and dynamic, not giving you much time to dwell on things as it keeps throwing one deadly riff after the other at you as you’re forced to scramble in an attempt to fully comprehend them before life comes to an end.

The band’s Stygian guitars ignite their sulfurous attack in Chants of the Unholy, with the blast beast by N.C. bringing hell to their imposing musicality, and K.G. and K.C. continue to extract darkness and hatred from their guitars in Lost in Obscurity while M.L. vociferates rabidly in the name of evil in a great display of contemporary Black Metal. Then a beyond creepy, phantasmagorical interlude titled Arcane Paths will send shivers down your spine before the quartet comes crushing our putrid souls once again in Enslaved to Be, presenting their demonic riffs and growls supported by another bestial performance by N.C. on drums, also showcasing hints of Melodic Black Metal carefully inserted into their core sound.

Get ready for eight minutes of sulfur and obscurity entitled Altar of the Void, with the entire band being on absolute fire from start to finish, in special M.L. with his venomous gnarling while K.G. and K.C. once again hammer our skulls with their axes; whereas investing in a more somber sonority with elements from Doom Metal and Blackened Doom we have Penance, before exploding into their core insanity led by the infernal drums by N.C., sounding very detailed, demonic and thrilling, or in other words, a lecture in modern-day Black Metal. And lastly, closing the album the band offers us all one last onrush of malignant Black Metal titled Sanctum Regnum, with their piercing guitars and hellish roars elevating the song’s obscurity to a whole new level, therefore feeling very dense and grim until the very last second.

In a nutshell, Decipher are more than ready to kill armed with their sulfurous debut effort, and if I were you I would definitely give those Greek metallers a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their classy music, stream their sick creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of Arcane Paths To Resurrection from their own BandCamp page or from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore as a special digipak CD or as an ass-kicking shirt + CD combo (or click HERE for all things Decipher). The band is surely delivering a timeless piece of Black Metal that’s impactful and strongly evocative with Arcane Paths To Resurrection, keeping in mind this is just their first opus, which means Decipher will surely make a lot of noise in the coming years for the delight of al lovers of extreme music out there.

Best moments of the album: Chants of the Unholy, Altar of the Void and Penance.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Chants of the Unholy 4:11
2. Lost in Obscurity 5:40
3. Arcane Paths 1:48
4. Enslaved to Be 4:56
5. Altar of the Void 8:52
6. Penance 5:15
7. Sanctum Regnum 5:42

Band members
M.L. – vocals, chants
K.G. – lead and rhythm guitars, bass, vocals, chants
K.C. – guitars
N.C. – drums

Album Review – Descent Into Maelstrom / Dei Consentes (2023)

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Have fun with the farewell opus by this Italian Dodecaphonic Metal entity, a concept album exploring how the Gods of Ancient Rome would present themselves in our modern-day society.

Originally a Dodecaphonic Metal band founded in 2016 as a solo project by guitarist, vocalist and sound engineer Andrea Bignardi, combining the intensity and energy of metal with the intricate, mathematical structures of dodecaphonic music, Piacenza, Italy-based Progressive/Technical Death Metal outfit Descent Into Maelstrom has since expanded to include Mattia Panunzio (Nameless Grave) on lead guitars, Pietro Buzzi (Necroptic) on rhythm guitars, and Michele Augello (Agony Face) on bass, having already released two full-length albums and two EPs, and gearing up now in 2023 to release their third and final full-length opus, titled Dei Consentes. The most direct and powerful effort that the band has ever created, Dei Consentes, which translates from Latin as “God’s consent”, is a 12-track concept album that explores how the Gods of Ancient Rome would present themselves in our modern society if they existed today, with the music uniting twisted and complex rhythms, savage riffing and a gratifyingly dark ambience in the vein of Death, Pestilence and Edge Of Sanity.

Dissonant, devilish and chaotic form the very first second, the opening tune Cinis et Pulvis (or “ashes and dust” from Latin) will darken your mind to the sound of the deep guttural by Andrea, resulting in the epitome of Dodecaphonic Metal, followed by Triumphus Falsarius Daemonium (“false triumph of the demons”), where Mattia and Pietro offer Andrea the perfect support with their slashing riffage and solos while Michele sounds absolutely bestial with his rumbling bass. Then we have Abyssus Devorat Terram (“the abyss devours the earth”), blending the fury of classic Death Metal with their unique progressive and technical sound, or in other words, a song perfect for “slipping into madness”; and there’s no time to breathe as their sonic Death Metal avalanche goes on in Infecundus (“unborn”), with Michele’s metallic bass adding sheer groove to the stringed attack by his bandmates. The first single of the album, titled Pater (“father”), will smash your cranial skull thanks to its massive blast beast and the inhumane roars by Andrea, whereas an imposing start explodes into the band’s somber, technical Death Metal in Silvarum Patrona (“patroness of the forests”), with Michele once again stealing the spotlight with his menacing bass.

The second half of the album begins with Deus Sol Invictus (“the invincible sun god”), another Death Metal onrush by the quartet showcasing their usual fury and dexterity with all instruments exhaling fire and insanity; and slowing things down a bit and investing in a more melodic sound and vibe, Andrea, Mattia and Pietro will pierce your ears with their strident riffs in Amor Sola Lex (“love is the only law”). Back to their most visceral mode, the quartet is ready to go to war in Deus Belli (“god of war”), presenting an amazing guitar job done by the band’s axe triumvirate while Andrea growls deeply nonstop, flowing into the absolutely technical instrumental feast Silentium (“silence”), continuing the band’s path of melodic savagery led by the intricate bass by Michele. Their second to last blast of Dodecaphonic Metal, titled Mater (“mother”), keeps the album at a high level of violence and obscurity, with Andrea leading his horde armed with his visceral growls and sick riffs; while lastly we’re treated to Defloratio Gratiae (“defloration of grace”), a brutal yet very intricate display of Death Metal where once again Michele’s bass lines sound ruthless.

“We regret to inform you that our band will be coming to an end after the release of our final album, Dei Consentes. We have had an incredible journey together, and we are grateful for all of the love and support you have given us throughout the years. This album is a culmination of all of our hard work and dedication to our craft, and we hope that it will be a fitting farewell. We want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of our journey. It has been an honor to make music for you, and we will treasure the memories we have made together. Thank you for everything,” commented Andrea about the end of the band and their farewell opus, and if you want to say goodbye to Descent Into Maelstrom and tell them you’ll miss their wicked music, you can find the band on Facebook, and of course you can also purchase Dei Consentes by clicking HERE. And may the Ancient Gods change Andrea’s mind and we see Descent Into Maelstrom get reborn in the future to keep blasting our heads with their dodecaphonic craziness.

Best moments of the album: Triumphus Falsarius Daemonium, Silvarum Patrona and Deus Belli.

Worst moments of the album: Amor Sola Lex.

Released in 2023 Club Inferno Ent.

Track listing
1. Cinis et Pulvis 4:22
2. Triumphus Falsarius Daemonium 3:27
3. Abyssus Devorat Terram 3:12
4. Infecundus 5:16
5. Pater 4:31
6. Silvarum Patrona 4:32
7. Deus Sol Invictus 4:20
8. Amor Sola Lex 4:15
9. Deus Belli 1:59
10. Silentium 5:42
11. Mater 3:24
12. Defloratio Gratiae 4:36

Band members
Andrea Bignardi – vocals, rhythm guitars
Mattia Panunzio – lead guitars
Pietro Buzzi – rhythm guitars
Michele Augello – bass

Album Review – Yskelgroth / Bleeding of the Hideous (2023)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Xtreem Music

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

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

Album Review – Angelic Desolation / Orchestrionic Abortion (2023)

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A gore-fueled assault on the senses in the form of the sophomore album by a ruthless American Razorgrind band.

A Brutal Death Metal band formed in 2006 in Denver, Colorado, in the United States with a full-scale sonic attack and a sound unique enough to label their own music as “American Razorgrind”, Angelic Desolation are unleashing upon humanity their sophomore opus, titled Orchestrionic Abortion, a gore-fueled assault on the senses taking influences from Thrash Metal, Grindcore, Death Metal, horror movies and a love for the power of the riff. Recorded and mixed at Hahn Audio, mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, and displaying a sick cover art by Kevin Waltz, Orchestrionic Abortion is a blood-soaked album best enjoyed loud masterfully put together by vocalist Jay Medina, guitarist Matt Markle, bassist Leonard White and drummer Max “Thunder” Stark, sounding ruthless and vile throughout its 31 minutes of musical savagery.

The quartet’s razor-edged onrush begins in full force with Brutus McMucus, a Brutal Death Metal tune with hints of Thrash Metal where Jay is absolutely infuriated with his sick roars, sounding fast, demented and infernal just the way we like it; followed by Shake The Baby, one of the most wicked songs of the current Deathgrind scene presenting a bestial job done by Matt with his piercing riffage and of course Max with his thunderous and intricate drumming. There’s no sign of slowing down at all for those American razorgrinders as we can see in Pterrordactyl Mann, with Matt slashing his axe nonstop supported by the low-tuned, metallic bass by Leonard and all beats and fills by Max. And switching gears to a more cadenced, headbanging vibe, the band brings forth the electrifying Dic Tater, where they distill all their technique while continuing their path of sonic devastation led by the deep gutturals by Jay.

If you like tacos and brutality, the band will offer you a gory fusion of both in Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco), with Matt and Leonard adding their own spices to their already furious Death Metal thanks to another classy stringed work by the duo, whereas Barbaric Destroyer is as progressive as it’s violent, showcasing a fulminating performance by Max on drums while Jay keeps growling in the name of extreme music. Then screeches from a mad chimp blend perfectly with the band’s hellish sound in AIDS Chimp Lab Attack, a lesson in Technical and Brutal Death Metal with Matt stealing the spotlight with his ruthless riffage, being therefore  perfect for slamming into the circle pit. And last but definitely not least, the band offers their rendition for Cattle Decapitation’s Forced Gender Reassignment (check out the original one HERE from their 2012 album Monolith of Inhumanity), delivering a fantastic tribute to their idols spearheaded by Jay and Max with their respective growls and blast beats.

Do you have what it takes to get face-to-face with the guys from Angelic Desolation? If your answer is yes, go check what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their visceral music on Spotify, and of course, grab your copy of the pulverizing Orchestrionic Abortion from their own BandCamp page, from Apple Music, or simply by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, Orchestrionic Abortion overflows blood and violence, and those American metallers responsible for such demented album are craving your blood to keep fueling their unrelenting Death Metal machine.

Best moments of the album: Shake The Baby, Dic Tater and AIDS Chimp Lab Attack.

Worst moments of the album: Pterrordactyl Mann.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Brutus McMucus 3:47
2. Shake The Baby 4:12
3. Pterrordactyl Mann 3:40
4. Dic Tater 3:44
5. Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco) 3:52
6. Barbaric Destroyer 3:49
7. AIDS Chimp Lab Attack 3:44
8. Forced Gender Reassignment (Cattle Decapitation cover) 3:50

Band members
Jay Medina – vocals
Matt Markle – guitars
Leonard White – bass
Max “Thunder” Stark – drums

Album Review – Whore Of Bethlehem / Ritual Of Homicide (2023)

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This Blackened Brutal Death Metal horde from Texas is ready to kill armed with their third full-length album, an outpouring of black blasphemy and twisted brutality to shake the pillars of faith.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, the vile Blackened Brutal Death Metal horde Whore Of Bethlehem has been spreading their visceral brand of brutality since their inception in 2009, with their sinister barrage of riffs, blast beats, unnatural screams and heavy songwriting being influenced and inspired by classic Death and Black Metal heavyweights such as Morbid Angel, Immolation, Dissection, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation and Belphegor, among others. Mastered by Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering, mixed at Test Tube Audio, and displaying a sick artwork by Jon Zig, the band’s third full-length opus, titled Ritual Of Homicide, is an outpouring of black blasphemy and twisted brutality to shake the pillars of faith masterfully brought into being by James VanDenBerg on vocals, Ryan Sylvie and Phil King on the guitars, Alan Berryman on bass, and Sam Axelrad on drums, invoking the sound of violence and wickedness with a heart sworn to the black and a soul pledged to hell.

Stygian guitar lines permeate the air in the opening track Enlightenment Through Pain, exploding into a darkened, sinister feast of brutality and gore led by the pulverizing drums by Sam; and putting the pedal to the metal and delivering old school Death Metal with some melodic and progressive nuances, it’s time for the brutal Nails in Your Coffin, with James barking nonstop in the name of evil. Then enhancing their heaviness and obscurity the band offers us all the title-track Ritual of Homicide, where Ryan and Phil are bestial with their axes, cutting our skin deep in true headbanging fashion, followed by Vermin, an infernal, in-your-face Death Metal onrush with no shenanigans nor any other artificial elements, with Sam kicking ass on drums supported by the rumbling bass by Alan. The sinister interlude Gateway will darken our minds before the band comes ripping in Sermon of the Malignant Spirit, the most demonic and obscure of all tracks showcasing an amazing job done by the entire band, in special their guitar duo with their sulfurous riffs and solos.

More of their unrelenting music comes in the form of Out of Body, with James roaring like a maniac while Sam dictates the song’s evil pace, and James keeps hammering our cranial skulls with his brutal drumming in Disembodied, absolutely heavy from start to finish with their guitars and bass generating an unfriendly ambience perfect for raising our horns high. The flammable guitars by Ryan and Phil will pierce your soul in Monolith of Cremation while James crushes his drums as usual in a great display of classic Death Metal, resulting in an invitation to some brutal slammin’ activity; whereas lastly the quintet will demolish our fragile bodies with an avalanche of Death Metal titled Pseudochrist, a more than exciting bonus track bringing forward frantic beats, acid riffs and gruesome vociferations.

The guys from Whore Of Bethlehem are eagerly waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their depraved music, and of course don’t forget to also stream their sick creations on Spotify. The  dark and heavy-as-hell Ritual Of Homicide, which is on sale from Comatose Music’s BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from Apple Music and Amazon (and you can also click HERE for all things Whore Of Bethlehem), is definitely not recommended for the lighthearted, bringing endless chaos, blasphemy and violence to our avid ears and, therefore, cementing the band’s evil legacy in the underground scene.

Best moments of the album: Enlightenment Through Pain, Sermon of the Malignant Spirit and Pseudochrist.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Enlightenment Through Pain 4:39
2. Nails in Your Coffin 4:09
3. Ritual of Homicide 4:21
4. Vermin 3:37
5. Gateway 1:00
6. Sermon of the Malignant Spirit 4:47
7. Out of Body 4:18
8. Disembodied 3:49
9. Monolith of Cremation 3:50
10. Pseudochrist 3:15

Band members
James VanDenBerg – vocals
Ryan Sylvie – lead guitars, backing vocals
Phil King – rhythm guitars
Alan Berryman – bass
Sam Axelrad – drums

Album Review – Ignominy / Imminent Collapse (2023)

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Prepare your senses for the debut effort by this Canadian four-piece outfit, offering us all 34 minutes of Dissonant Death Metal that’s aggressive, punchy and hook-laden.

Founded in 2013 in the charming Canadian city of Montreal, Quebec, the unrelenting Death Metal beast that goes by the name of Ignominy has just unleashed upon humanity their debut full-length opus, titled Imminent Collapse, the follow-up to their 2019 EP Fear the Living offering us all 34 minutes of Dissonant Death Metal that’s aggressive, punchy and hook-laden, which is rare to find in a style that tends to be more abstract and unpredictable. Mixed and mastered by Erol Ulug, and displaying a grim artwork by Austin Weber, the album is a remarkable effort that manages to find an identity of its own by mangling and mesmerizing listeners at once, showcasing all the talent and fury by vocalist Alexandre Desroches, guitarist Philippe Gariépy, bassist Alexandre Préfontaine and drummer Marc-Antoine Lazure, being therefore recommended for fans of Dysgnostic, Gorguts, Ulcerate, Dischordia and Noctambulist, just to name a few.

The sinister guitar lines by Philippe kick off their dissonant attack in Frantic Appeasement, evolving into a chaotic yet progressive sound led by the classic drumming by Marc-Antoine while Alexandre Desroches roars deeply for our total delight. Then the second song of the album, titled Defaulting Genetics, is even more demented and demonic, with Philippe’s wicked riffs matching perfectly with the fulminating beats by Marc-Antoine; followed by Reminiscence of Hatred, presenting poetry and violence united in its lyrics (“Resurging the violence / Evicting their mistakes  / Disregarding their cries / No matter how they try / To resist the prophecy I’ve been putting in place / It’s simply useless, weakness to not embrace / What’s in front of their face”) amidst a hurricane of Dissonant Death Metal.

The phantasmagorical Premonition of a Dead-End (Interlude I) sets the tone for the visceral Nightmare Bacteria, offering our putrid ears six minutes of hatred and dementia in the form of Death Metal, with all band members being in total sync spearheaded by the inhumane guttural by Alexandre Desroches while also being full of breaks, variations and endless obscurity. Their progressive and dissonant vein pulses stronger than ever in Visceral, showcasing an amazing job done by Philippe and Alexandre Préfontaine with their stringed weapons while Marc-Antoine’s blast beats dictates the song’s pace. After that, another interlude titled Prélude vers l’angoisse (Interlude II) will darken your mind before Ignominy come crushing one last time in Closed-Mind Visuals, a multi-layered, detailed and grim creation by the quartet alternating between more introspective, sinister and atmospheric moments and sheer aggressiveness, with Marc-Antoine stealing the spotlight with another bestial performance behind his drums.

The ruthless, vile Dissonant Death Metal horde from the Great White North known as Ignominy is waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their music, news, tour dates and so on, and don’t forget to also stream all of their eerie creations on Spotify, including obviously their newborn debut opus. Furthermore, the pulverizing Imminent Collapse is on sale from their own BandCamp page, from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ webstore as a digipak CD or as a CD + shirt bundle, from Apple Music, from Amazon, or simply by clicking HERE. Ignominy are undoubtedly going places based on the quality of the music found in Imminent Collapse, with their dissonant sounds darkly echoing through the vast and bitterly cold lands of the Canadian Death Metal scene.

Best moments of the album: Defaulting Genetics, Reminiscence of Hatred and Nightmare Bacteria.

Worst moments of the album: The two interludes are not bad, but they could have been replaced by another song or even merged in just one interlude.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Frantic Appeasement 3:51
2. Defaulting Genetics 4:39
3. Reminiscence of Hatred 5:55
4. Premonition of a Dead-End (Interlude I) 0:49
5. Nightmare Bacteria 6:09
6. Visceral 5:46
7. Prélude vers l’angoisse (Interlude II) 1:02
8. Closed-Mind Visuals 6:18

Band members
Alexandre Desroches – vocals
Philippe Gariépy – guitars
Alexandre Préfontaine – bass
Marc-Antoine Lazure – drums

Guest musicians
Etienne Bayard – additional vocals on “Closed-Mind Visuals”
Vincent Pilon – additional vocals on “Closed-Mind Visuals”