Tag Archives: death metal

Album Review – The Human Race Is Filth / Cognitive Dissonance (2023)

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A filthy trio hailing from Pennsylvania will attack our senses with their debut full-length album, churning out a new slab of death-grinding disorientation.

Sonic violence abounds, as Pennsylvania, United States-based Death Metal/Grindcore rabble The Human Race Is Filth churns out a new slab of death-grinding disorientation entitled Cognitive Dissonance, their first full-length album and the follow-up to their 2022 EP Echo Chambers. Recorded at The Kaleidoscope, mixed and engineered by Ben Roth, mastered by Joel Grind, displaying a demented artwork by All4Band Design, and featuring a noise track recorded on every song throughout the entire recording, sometimes prominent in mix, sometimes faint, Cognitive Dissonance is a inhumane album carefully brought into being by Kasey Harrison (Police State, Bittered) on vocals and bass, Paul Folk (Exterminance, Police State, Bittered) on the guitars and noises, and Brett Rebman (Punctual, Phlegm, Gangrenous Flesh Consumption) on drums, dealing with topics like mental health, socioeconomic injustice, technology, personal struggle and privilege throughout the album’s intense 25 minutes of music.

Kasey had his toddler son speak the name of the band in the beginning of the intro Life Of Tyrants, followed by tribalistic, primeval beats and vociferations, setting the stage for the trio to kick some ass in Apes With Christ, with Brett showing no mercy for his drums and obviously for our necks while Kasey barks like a rabid beast throughout the entire song in an awesome fusion of Death Metal and Grindcore. Then we have Electronic Caterpillars, just as infernal and neckbreaking as its predecessor, showcasing dirty riffs by Paul that together with the rumbling bass by Kasey will penetrate deep inside your psyche; and the menacing bass by Kasey ignites the grim and groovy Bastardized before exploding into a demolishing Death and Sludge Metal onrush spearheaded by Kasey’s bestial roars, with the song’s heaviness going through the freakin’ roof. There’s no sign of the band slowing things down or delivering anything light; quite the contrary, their vicious, sludgy attack goes on in Cloaked In Shame, with Paul’s riffs and noises bringing an extra dosage of filth to their sound.

The Human Race Is Filth need less than two minutes to pulverize our senses in Hopes Wavered, a lesson in brutality, heaviness and darkness by the trio where Paul has a fantastic performance armed with his axe, and they keep hammering their sonic weapons in Propagating Technology, with Brett alternating between groovier moments and sheer violence. The album’s second to last song, beautifully titled Vomiting Strings Of Human Decay, is the perfect depiction of the band’s music, blending the savagery of Death Metal and Grindcore with sluggish, somber elements, being therefore ideal for slamming into the pit while drinking a cold beer, whereas Tribal Injections Of Division is solid and heavy from start to finish, albeit the band has a much stronger performance when investing into shorter songs. Nothing that hurts the overall quality of the album, of course, as it’s still very enjoyable.

“We wrote this album from August to November 2021 and were really going for straight out Death Grind with a touch of d-beat and Hardcore mixed in. We wanted dirtier guitar and bass tones, more aggressive drums, and more extreme vocals compared to the first three releases and we believe we accomplished those things on this release,” commented the band about their newborn beast, and if you want to know more about them, their tour dates and plans for the future, you can check what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream all of their creations on Spotify, and grab your copy of Cognitive Dissonance from their own BandCamp page or by clicking HERE. Cognitive Dissonance is heavy, noisy, evil, disturbing, and everything else we love in extreme music, proving that as long as the human race continues to be filth like the name of the band states, those three metallers will keep piercing our ears with their venomous music.

Best moments of the album: Apes With Christ, Bastardized and Vomiting Strings Of Human Decay.

Worst moments of the album: Tribal Injections Of Division.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Life Of Tyrants 1:22
2. Apes With Christ 3:23
3. Electronic Caterpillars 3:54
4. Bastardized 4:24
5. Cloaked In Shame 2:31
6. Hopes Wavered 1:42
7. Propagating Technology 2:04
8. Vomiting Strings Of Human Decay 1:59
9. Tribal Injections Of Division 4:04

Band members
Kasey Harrison – vocals, bass
Paul Folk – guitar, noise
Brett Rebman – drums

Guest musician
Ben Roth – guitars on “Bastardized”

Album Review – Depraved Murder / Unethical Terrestrial Collapse (2023)

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In the fecund swamps of East Java, this venomous Brutal Death Metal entity attacks once again with their bestial third full-length album.

In the fecund swamps of East Java, the ruthless Brutal Death Metal entity Depraved Murder has been pouring blood, tears and black sorcery into their cauldron of nightmares since their inception in 2011, adding bone and bile to the accompaniment of whispered incantations, conjuring up the soundtrack to the end of the world. Mixed and mastered by the arcane master Indra Braille at Texas Sicklab Studio, and displaying a sick artwork spawned from the twisted visions of Aghy Purakusuma, the band’s third full-length opus, entitled Unethical Terrestrial Collapse, is a firestorm to usher in the end times demonically brought into being by vocalist, guitarist and bassist Ogy together with drummer Rama Maulana, seething with a grim and sordid life and a pulsating blackness that exudes fear and disgust, resulting in an intimidating manifesto of brutality tailored for fans of Devourment, Skinless, Suffocation and Pathology.

Otherworldly background sounds will haunt your damned soul before the duo smashes our cranial skulls in Entering into Calamity, where Ogy barks and roars in the name of gore supported by the pulverizing drums by Rama in a demented display of Death Metal, whereas The Anguish of Dystopian is a straightforward, no shenanigans Brutal Death Metal extravaganza by the duo sounding and feeling very intricate and demented form start to finish, with the colossal beats by Rama making the earth tremble. Even heavier and more insane than its predecessors thanks to the inhumane guttural by Ogy, False Adoration will inspire you to slam into the circle pit manically; and the duo shows absolutely no mercy for our bodies and souls in Mass Murder Existence, with Ogy kicking some serious ass with his roars, infernal riffage and rumbling bass lines, elevating the song’s truculence and brutality to the second power.

There’s no time to breathe as those Indonesian marauders keep crushing our heads with their Brutal Death Metal in Unmanifest Void, fulminating and evil from the very first second with Rama showcasing all his fury and dexterity behind his drums, while investing in a more doomed sonority, Ogy and Rama will darken the skies in The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit, again exploding in their traditional Brutal Death Metal sound. Then back to their more vicious mode it’s time to slam into the circle pit to the sound of Relentless Brutality, where Ogy’s deranged roars and riffs are flawlessly complemented by Rama’s stone crushing drums, followed by Unethical Terrestrial Collapse, another three intense minutes of Brutal Death Metal for our avid ears where the bass jabs by Ogy sound more metallic than ever. Lastly, their final breathe of animosity and gore comes in the form of Apocryphal Hymns, with Rama dictating the song’s devilish pace while Ogy gnalrs the song’s words deeply nonstop.

In case you would like to show the guys from Depraved Murder all your support and admiration, you can give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream all of their gory and evil creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of Unethical Terrestrial Collapse from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore, from Apple Music, or from several other retailers out there such as ImportCDs.com and Merchbar.com. As this gruesome, vile album has just been released from its infernal pit, there’s no time left to pray. This is the end, and it’s indeed a blood-soaked one.

Best moments of the album: The Anguish of Dystopian, Mass Murder Existence and Relentless Brutality.

Worst moments of the album: The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit.

Released in 2023 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Entering into Calamity 3:42
2. The Anguish of Dystopian 3:08
3. False Adoration 3:19
4. Mass Murder Existence 3:04
5. Unmanifest Void 3:50
6. The Pinnacle of Vile Conceit 3:00
7. Relentless Brutality 2:30
8. Unethical Terrestrial Collapse 3:08
9. Apocryphal Hymns 2:55

Band members
Ogy – vocals, guitars, bass
Rama Maulana – drums

Album Review – Okkultist / O.M.E.N. (2023)

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Get ready to have your sinful soul dragged to hell by this Portuguese Blackened Death Metal outfit to the sound of their infernal sophomore opus.

The result of loss and sacrifice, the culmination of pain, and absolute detachment from life, O​.​M​.​E​.​N., or Omnis Malum Et Noceo, which translates from Latin as “everything evil and harmful”, is the sophomore opus by Lisbon, Portugal-based Black/Death Metal horde Okkultist, representing the band’s strongest effort since their inception in 2016 and, consequently, a huge step forward in the career of one of the most interesting names of the current Portuguese scene. The journey of an obsolete sense of desperateness from walking out of the void weighting us down that is depression, into the high state of spiritual healing, O​.​M​.​E​.​N. has everything a diehard fan of Blackened Death Metal desires and more, showcasing the undeniable talent and passion for the occult by vocalist, lyricist and visionary Beatriz Mariano, lead guitarist and co-founder Leander Sandmeier, rhythm guitarist João Corceiro (who by the way pre-produced the album), bassist David J. Rodrigues and drummer Eduardo Sinatra, all of them more than ready to drag your sinful soul to the pits of hell.

The title-track O​.​M​.​E​.​N. feels like the band is summoning evil spirits from the underworld (“In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas / Luciferi Excelsi / Ave”), resulting in a very extensive intro that opens the gates of hell for Okkultist to attack our senses with Death to Your Breed, where the Melodic Death and Black Metal drums by Eduardo create a rumbling ambience for the witch-like roars by Beatriz, providing us with everything we love in extreme music, being fast, furious, heavy and absolutely evil. The band continues to fire their acid fusion of Death and Black Metal in Meet Me in Hell, inviting us all to bang our heads nonstop to the devilish, piercing riffs by Leander and João; whereas the hellish sound of their guitars permeate the air in Blood on Satan’s Claw, bringing to our ears four minutes of undisputed heaviness and obscurity. And in Demonic Warfare we face another round of first-class Black and Death Metal spearheaded by the inhumane roars by Beatriz while Eduardo dictates the pace with his pounding drums, not to mention the striking solos by Leander.

9th Layer of the Abyss is a song that can be considered Okkultist’s ultimate black mass, taking us on a one-way journey to the pits of the netherworld while Eduardo brings forward sheer doom through his slow and steady beats; whereas back to a more infuriated mode, this unstoppable horde will darken our minds with the brutality and harmony found in Thy Blood, Thy Flesh, Thy Sacrifice, showcasing once again striking riffs and solos, devilish blast beats, and the always mesmerizing she-demon gnarls by Beatriz. Then in loving memory of the one and only Alexi Laiho (RIP), it’s time for their rendition of Children of Bodom’s hit Sixpounder (check out the original one HERE) from their 2003 critically acclaimed album Hate Crew Deathroll, presenting a fantastic job done by the entire band from start to finish. Lastly, closing the album we’re invited to slam into the pit one last time to the sound of Crimson Ecstasy, with Beatriz growling viciously while David’s bass and Eduardo’s drums make the earth tremble in the name of Extreme Metal. In addition, not even the unnecessary lengthy silence at the end of the song (before one final invocation of around one minute comes up) ruins the track’s overall quality. I wonder if they had to release an album with over 40 minutes of duration as requested by their record label, and that was their way of doing it.

The caustic and thrilling O​.​M​.​E​.​N., which is available in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, and on sale from the Alma Mater Records’ BandCamp page and webstore, as well as from Apple Music (or you can click HERE for links to the album and all other things Okkultist), will certainly open countless doors worldwide for the band, and you can also show them your support and admiration by following them on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube. “Dark times exist so we can harness that power through them, and rise above anything or anyone that has tried to put us down. This album is for YOU – YOU who have survived through the worst of your days, YOU who didn’t know what to do when things got tough, YOU who’ve felt hopeless, blind, beaten up, not knowing where you have to be in life. You are not alone. Take this album, and use its strength to show you how endless your inner power is. It’s all in your hands,” commented Beatriz about their newborn spawn, an album that will feature among the best hailing from Portugal this year hands down.

Best moments of the album: Death to Your Breed, Meet Me in Hell, Thy Blood, Thy Flesh, Thy Sacrifice and, obviously, Sixpounder.

Worst moments of the album: None, except for the length of the first track and the extensive silent break of the last track.

Released in 2023 Alma Mater Records

Track listing
1. O​.​M​.​E​.​N. 4:00
2. Death to Your Breed 3:24
3. Meet Me in Hell 4:31
4. Blood on Satan’s Claw 4:05
5. Demonic Warfare 4:33
6. 9th Layer of the Abyss 4:13
7. Thy Blood, Thy Flesh, Thy Sacrifice 4:05
8. Sixpounder (Children of Bodom cover) 3:26
9. Crimson Ecstasy 10:12

Band members
Beatriz Mariano – vocals
Leander Sandmeier – lead guitars
João Corceiro – rhythm guitars
David J. Rodrigues – bass
Eduardo Sinatra – drums

Album Review – Ciemra / The Tread of Darkness (2023)

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Behold the magnificent debut opus by this Belarusian Black Metal horde, based on the denial of the usual foundations of the world, on the darkest manifestations of human activity, and on energies hidden beyond the Dark Abyss.

Forged in the scorching fires of Minsk, Belarus in 2019, when five essences emerged from the abyss to the veils of night on the eve of the end times in order to reap the living, to satisfy the hunger of darkness and to nourish the wombs of the dark gods, the venomous Melodic Black Metal horde Ciemra (or Цемра, which means “darkness” in Belarusian) delivers fast-paced, cold and pure Black Metal which is looking at both the classic European sound and its more contemporary interpretations, which is exactly what you’ll find in their newborn opus titled The Tread of Darkness. Recorded at Alma Studio, mixed and mastered by Yaroslav Tseluyko at Jaro Sound, and displaying a demonic artwork by Nestor Povarnin, The Tread Of Darkness is based on the denial of the usual foundations of the world, on the darkest manifestations of human activity, and on energies hidden beyond the Dark Abyss, masterfully brought into being by the witch Malvain on vocals, Misery and Zima on the guitars, Kurz on bass, and Sønn on drums.

The acoustic guitars by Misery and Zima will mesmerize your soul accompanied by the slow and steady beast by Sønn in Ciemra, before the Belarusian sorceress Malvain begins gnarling in a dark and beautiful manner, with the music growing in intensity until becoming a sulfurous and grandiose feast of undisputed Black Metal. After such impactful start, the band continues to distill their blend of Melodic Black Metal with old school, raw Black Metal in Four Riders, with the band’s guitar duo cutting our skin deep with their evil riffage, followed by Vomiting Void, very melodious and bestial from the very first second while showcasing devilish lyrics growled by Malvain (“Burning the world / Building the temple / In the end of the night / There’s a Vomiting Void / So far material awake the gun”). And investing in a more cadenced, obscure sonority led by the classic drums by Sønn supported by the low-tuned bass by Kurz, Call of the Ancestors is an evil composition perfect for summoning evil spirits.

Then continuing to pave their path to pitch black darkness it’s time for War, again presenting the trademark roars by Malvain while Misery and Zima add elements from Death and Doom Metal to their riffs; and their piercing, strident guitars keep darkening the skies in A Night for the Death, where their Blackened Doom vein arises like a creature from the netherworld, with Kurz and Sønn once again hammering our heads with their demonic kitchen in a lecture in extreme music. The eerie vociferations by Malvain are the main ingredient in the Black Metal extravaganza Winter, where the caustic sound of their guitars will blacken your mind for all eternity, whereas in Serpent’s we face more of their infernal words (“The shaking Serpent / In the Abyss / The Raw materials / I’m on my knees…”) while the music is just as Stygian and heavy as the rest of the album, exploding into a gargantuan onrush of pure Black Metal at the end. Lastly, closing such somber album we have Where the Eyes Close, offering more of the band’s darkly melodic and grim Black Metal for our total delight, with its ethereal passages creating a stunning paradox with the band’s more visceral and violent side.

The bestial debut album by such promising Belarusian horde can be appreciated in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you consider yourself a true servant of darkness you can purchase your favorite version of the album from their own BandCamp page, from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp page, from Sound Cave as a digipak CD, a black vinyl or a color vinyl, from Season of Mist also as a digipak CD or a color vinyl, from Record Shop X, or from Apple Music. Furthermore, don’t forget to start following Ciemra on Facebook, on Instagram and on VKontakte for news, tour dates and so on, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their wicked music and videos. Nature, in its primordial beauty and originality, also finds a place in The Tread Of Darkness, as there is where Ciemra find themselves at peace, but the exact opposite of that peace is what the quintet will offer you throughout the entire album, relentlessly dragging you toward endless darkness.

Best moments of the album: Ciemra, Vomiting Void, A Night for the Death and Where the Eyes Close.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Avantgarde Music

Track listing
1. Ciemra 7:09
2. Four Riders 4:41
3. Vomiting Void 3:52
4. Call of the Ancestors 4:59
5. War 5:49
6. A Night for the Death 5:43
7. Winter 4:48
8. Serpent’s 4:28
9. Where the Eyes Close 5:00

Band members
Malvain – vocals
Misery – guitar
Zima – guitar
Kurz – bass
Sønn – drums

Album Review – Lost Brethren / Dimensional Rift EP (2023)

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This UK-based Sci-Fi inspired Technical Death Metal entity will crush your senses with their brand new 14-minute EP from outer space.

A Sci-Fi inspired Technical Death Metal band formed in 2011 in Peterborough, a cathedral city in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England, Lost Brethren are unleashing upon us a pulverizing EP titled Dimensional Rift, following up on their 2019 full-length opus The Abduction. Mixed and mastered by Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studio and displaying a futuristic artwork by Moga Alexandru of Kogaion Art, the four-track EP continues to deliver the characteristic heaviness, intricacy and fury from the band’s four full-length albums, showcasing all the dexterity by vocalist Adam Brown, guitarist Adrien Crozet, and guitarist and bassist Ant Deane, with the demolishing support of Polish drummer Krzysztof Klingbein (10 Plagues, Deathspawn) as a guest musician.

A wicked, very entertaining intro about extraterrestrial forms suddenly explodes into the band’s furious Death Metal in Terrestrial Ashes, with Adam roaring like an otherworldly creature supported by the crushing drums by Krzysztof, feeling absolutely demolishing yet extremely technical. And Adrien and Ant distill all their dexterity and passion for heavy music armed with their strident riffs and solos in Intergalactic Reprisal, kicking some ass form start to finish while inviting us all to slam into the pit; whereas the title-track Dimensional Rift takes their unrelenting Technical Death Metal to a whole new level spearheaded by the deep guttural by Adam and the always inhumane beats by Krzysztof, not to mention how striking and incendiary their guitars sound once again. Lastly, we face another three-minute metal attack titled Nefarious Reign, with their intricate riffage bringing even more dementia to the overall result, or in other words, it’s in-your-face, no shenanigans Technical Death Metal from outer space.

In summary, Lost Brethren are ready to kick your freakin’ arse with their newborn 14-minute beast, and if you want to show those UK death metallers your utmost support you can follow them on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, stream all of their infernal creations on Spotify, and of course purchase Dimensional Rift from their Big Cartel as a CD or as a special CD + T-shirt bundle, as well as from Apple Music. The combination of Sci-Fi and Death Metal always brings to our ears some amazing music, and Lost Brethren seem to have mastered that art with all of their releases, including of course their vibrant new EP.

Best moments of the album: Dimensional Rift.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Grindscene Records

Track listing
1. Terrestrial Ashes 4:27
2. Intergalactic Reprisal 3:09
3. Dimensional Rift 3:09
4. Nefarious Reign 3:03

Band members
Adam Brown – vocals
Adrien Crozet – lead guitar
Ant Deane – rhythm guitar, bass, theremin

Guest musician
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums

Album Review – Man Must Die / The Pain Behind It All (2023)

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This Scottish Death Metal institution returns with their most aggressive album to date, once again bringing the fight but in a bigger way than ever.

Having already released four furious records and having toured with the likes of Kataklysm, Aborted, Misery Index, Machine Head, Hatebreed and Decapitated, to name a few, Glasgow, Scotland-based Technical Death Metal entity Man Must Die is back in action with their most aggressive album to date and their first full-length album in almost ten years, The Pain Behind It All, following up on their 2019 EP Gagging Order and their 2013 full-length opus Peace Was Never an Option. Known and praised for their highly energetic music style, with early releases containing elements of Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal and even influences from old school Hardcore Punk, but currently showcasing much more melodic elements coupled with a Deathgrind-based sound, the band formed of vocalist Joe McGlynn, guitarists Alan McFarland and Mike Allan, bassist James Wright, and drummer Tony Corio is once again bringing the fight but in a bigger way than ever armed with their new album, always dealing with religion, murder, death, hate and warfare in their lyrics, usually written in a very violent fashion.

The sinister and short intro O.C.D sets the stage for Man Must Die to smash our cranial skulls with Patterns In The Chaos, a pulverizing display of Death Metal with Deathcore nuances with Tony going berserk behind his drums while Joe roars and gnarls nonstop for our vulgar delectation, whereas the title-track The Pain Behind It All brings forward sheer heaviness directly to our faces, with the band’s guitar duo Alan and Mike sounding visceral armed with their axes, not to mention the song’s eerie background ambience. It’s pedal to the metal with the band being on fire in In The Hour Before Your Death, a frantic, heavy-as-hell Death Metal extravaganza led by the always demolishing beats by Tony while their guitars keep exhaling absolute hatred, followed by Clickhate, another boisterous tune by those Scottish death metallers where the level of fury and animosity flowing from all instruments is gargantuan, with Joe bursting his lungs growling like a beast.

After such intense first half of the album, it’s time for a darker song entitled Enabler, a decent mid-tempo feast of Technical Death Metal spearheaded by the piercing riffage by Allan and Mike; and back to their most vicious mode, the band will pulverize our ears in Bring Me The Head Of The King, taking their violence to a whole new level while Joe vociferates the song’s catchy lyrics in great fashion. Get ready for six minutes of anguished passages, thrilling riffs and endless obscurity in War Is My Will, with James blasting his rumbling bass while Tony completes their evil kitchen with his pounding drums, followed by the instrumental interlude Alone In A Crowded Room, soothing our souls for a little less than two minutes before the band comes ripping with their final sonic attack entitled Who Goes There?/I.F.F, a lecture in Death Metal infused with elements from Deathcore, Hardcore, and even hints of Punk Rock. Put differently, it’s impossible to stand still to this venomous sonic hurricane, inspiring us all to slam our damned bodies into the circle pit.

The ruthless squad of Man Must Die is waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and other great information about the band and their music, and of course you can stream all of their pulverizing creations on Spotify. The Pain Behind It All, available for purchase from the Distortion Music Group’s webstore as a CD or a vinyl, as well as from Apple Music or Amazon, is as aforementioned Man Must Die’s strongest and most obscure album to date, positioning the band as one of the torchbearers of the current Scottish metal scene and, therefore, leaving us eager for more and more of their flammable music in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Patterns In The Chaos, In The Hour Before Your Death, Bring Me The Head Of The King and Who Goes There?/I.F.F.

Worst moments of the album: Enabler.

Released in 2023 Distortion Music Group

Track listing
1. O.C.D 0:33
2. Patterns In The Chaos 4:38
3. The Pain Behind It All 5:01
4. In The Hour Before Your Death 4:11
5. Clickhate 4:07
6. Enabler 5:57
7. Bring Me The Head Of The King 3:33
8. War Is My Will 5:57
9. Alone In A Crowded Room 1:45
10. Who Goes There?/I.F.F 4:13

Band members
Joe McGlynn – vocals
Alan McFarland – lead guitars
Mike Allan – guitars
James Wright – bass
Tony Corio – drums

Album Review – Apollo / A Divine Comedy EP (2023)

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An up-and-coming Canadian Deathcore beast will embrace your soul with its debut metal opera, revolving around the classic story of Dante and his descent into hell.

The solo side project of Canadian guitarist and bassist Kyle Prusky, with the support of Canadian vocalist Adrian Parcioaga, the newborn Deathcore entity Apollo has just released its debut concept EP, titled A Divine Comedy, revolving around the classic story of Dante and his descent into hell split into five distinct acts. Produced by Kyle and Adrian themselves, mixed and mastered by Kyle, displaying a classy artwork by Adrian, and featuring guests Alex Rudinger on drum programming, Layne Murdoch on the guitars, and Lucas de la Rosa on keyboards, the album is according to the duo a Progressive Death Metal opera, unabashedly dynamic and ever-shifting, taking the listener on a cathartic journey through breakdowns, growls and aggressive riffs, therefore being recommended for fans of Slice the Cake, Between the Buried and Me and Rivers of Nihil.

The gentle keys by Lucas kick off the first act of the EP, I: Dark Woods, exploding into a dark and pensive Metalcore extravaganza where Adrian’s roars match perfectly with all of the song’s Stygian elements, morphing into a Deathcore attack titled II: Abandon All Hope, where Kyle is on fire with his piercing riffs and metallic bass, consequently resulting in a violent, headbanging tune tailored for admirers of the genre with over six minutes of adrenaline, fury and heaviness flowing nonstop. Following such epic tune we have the melodic III: Interlude, with the guitar solo by Layne creating a stunning paradox with Lucas’ piano, flowing into IV: Deeper, Darker, blending elements from Deathcore and Metalcore with Progressive Metal nuances. Furthermore, Kyle once again slashes his guitar in great fashion while the drums programmed by Alex couldn’t have sounded more organic, presenting several layers, passages and climatic moments. Lastly, closing the EP we face the imposing V: Ascendance, where Kyle kicks some ass armed with his guitar and bass in a lesson in Deathcore supported by the always venomous screams by Adrian, resulting in a neck-breaking conclusion to properly send Dante to hell.

“This EP has been in the works for a long time, and I could not be happier with the result. This EP is for those who have ever doubted themselves, have fallen apart to the demons in their head, felt like giving up, and needed guidance. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Keep climbing. Trust the ones who stick by your side. Eventually, you’ll find your path. Every single choice, every note, and vocal take was absolutely deliberate and meant to evoke a specific response. Throughout the journey, the listener will be presented with soaring melodic solos, somber but beautiful keys that guide the self to introspection, crushingly heavy 8-string guitars, pounding drums, and vocals that dance with the music like a soliloquy to an audience of one,”​ commented a proud Kyle about his newborn beast, and if you want to show him all your support you can stream the EP in full on YouTube and on Spotify, grab a copy from Apple Music, and also follow the project on Facebook, on Instagram, and on YouTube. There’s nothing better than enjoying some first-class heavy music while witnessing Dante’s descent into the pits of the underworld, and Kyle and his Apollo more than succeeded in that with their striking debut effort.

Best moments of the album: II: Abandon All Hope and V: Ascendance.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. I: Dark Woods 3:59
2. II: Abandon All Hope 6:19
3. III: Interlude 1:19
4. IV: Deeper, Darker 6:22
5. V: Ascendance 6:56

Band members
Adrian Parcioaga – vocals
Kyle Prusky – guitars, bass

Guest musicians
Alex Rudinger – drum programming
Layne Murdoch – guitar solo on “I: Dark Woods”, “II: Abandon All Hope”, “III: Interlude” and “IV: Deeper, Darker”
Lucas de la Rosa – keys on “I: Dark Woods”, “II: Abandon All Hope”, “III: Interlude” and “IV: Deeper, Darker”

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

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Get ready for a furious blood storm made in South Korea, offering us all Brutal Death Metal of the most fiercely focused and unremittingly battering kind.

Following on from their acclaimed 2022 album Human Meat Distribution Process, Malevolent Dismemberment Of Entire Putrefacted Gastrointestine, the brand new EP by South Korea-based Brutal Death Metal outfit Visceral Explosion, raises the bar for the band in every way. Recorded, mixed and mastered by the band’s own vocalist and guitarist Ryu Gun, and displaying a sick artwork by Ukrainian artist Daemorph (Aborted Fetus, Avulsed, The Black Dahlia Murder), the EP showcases no gradual build up, no warning, nor any sort of introduction by the aforementioned Ryu Gun alongside guitarist Lee Seok Ho, bassist Lee Kyeong Won and drummer Kim Yu Jong, simply offering our putrid ears Brutal Death Metal of the most fiercely focused and unremittingly battering kind, a furious blood storm highly recommended for fans of Guttural Disease, Beheaded, Unfathomable Ruination and Posthuman Abomination, among other masters of unrelenting brutality.

Kim kicks off the band’s gory and truculent party by hammering his drums in Unanesthetized Hypothalamotomy, accompanied by the inhumane screeches by Ryu in an infernal display of South Korean Brutal Death Metal for our total delight. Then the razor-edged riffs by Lee Seok and the metallic bass by Lee Kyeong will pierce your flesh in Rancid Purulent Neonatal Cerebral Cortex, while Ryu continues to bark and gnarl like a creature from the abyss, exhaling blood and gore until the very end; followed by Acute Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalopathy, utterly demented and therefore perfect for slamming into the pit like a ruthless metalmaniac. Moreover, Kim dictates the pace with his crushing beats while Lee Seok extracts sheer heaviness from his guitar in a lecture in venomous Death Metal. There’s time for one final demolishing tune by the quartet titled Asphyxiation by Malignant Neoplasm of Oropharynx, with Ryu growling deeply supported by the extreme, unfriendly sounds blasted by his bandmates, being beyond tailored for admirers of the genre.

Such putrefying EP can be enjoyed in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you can add it to your devilish collection by purchasing a copy from their own BandCamp page, from the Brutal Mind’s BandCamp page or webstore, from Apple Music or from Amazon, and don’t forget to also give those brutal South Koreans a shout on Facebook and on Instagram. The ravens soar across vast landscapes formed from the broken bodies of the tortured. They lie in tumbled heaps, hang from hook and branch with every intimate secret of their inner workings torn out and displayed for all to see, while an impossible flicker of agonized life remains within their hopeless eyes. There was no beginning, there will be no ending to the fields of torment, there is only now and always, knee deep in blood forever, with the new EP by Visceral Explosion being the perfect soundtrack for that gory and unfriendly scenario.

Best moments of the album: Acute Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalopathy.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Brutal Mind

Track listing
1. Unanesthetized Hypothalamotomy 3:03
2. Rancid Purulent Neonatal Cerebral Cortex 2:32
3. Acute Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalopathy 2:18
4. Asphyxiation by Malignant Neoplasm of Oropharynx 2:20

Band members
Ryu Gun – vocals, guitar
Lee Seok Ho – guitar
Lee Kyeong Won – bass
Kim Yu Jong – drums

Album Review – Nemesism / Nemesism EP (2023)

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Follow in the footsteps of this Las Vegas-based Brutal Death Metal horde as they tear a bloody path into the future armed with their striking debut effort.

Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, infamously referred to as “Sin City”, the newborn ruthless Brutal Death Metal entity named Nemesism will crush you like an insect to the sound of their debut five-track self-titled EP. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Ryan Wechta (Cerebral Incubation, Guttural Secrete, Invirulant) at Sound Horizon Productions, the EP hits with a staggering sonic impact while the haunting artwork created by Bahrull Marta (Asagraum, Centinex, Illdisposed) completes the package perfectly, showcasing all the talent and fury of vocalist Andrew LoMastro (Cerebral Incubation), guitarist Randall Thompson (Euphegenia, Guttural Secrete), bassist Bruno Macias Quezada (Foul Deformity, Guttural Secrete), and drummer Michael Fitzgerald (Guttural Secrete).

From the pits of the underworld comes a sonic attack entitled Mindful Abomination, with Michael sounding like a demonic beast behind his drums while Andrew vomits the song’s darkened words manically in the name of Brutal Death Metal, followed by Absolved in the Abyss, even more demolishing than the opening tune, a bestial onrush of Death Metal by the band with Randall kicking ass with his riffs while Bruno is on fire armed with his rumbling bass. Then sheer hatred flows uninterruptedly in Constricting the Ambient Noise, with Andrew barking and screaming nonstop supported by the inhumane drums by Michael. Terminal Spreading Depolarization is a lesson in brutality, speed and heaviness by Nemesism where Randall doesn’t stop extracting pure electricity from his guitar, while Bruno’s bass will hammer your ears in great fashion, and the band makes sure no one survives their Brutal Death Metal assault by ending the EP with the fulminating Delusions of Morality, very technical and visceral spearheaded by Andrew’s evil roars and screeches.

Follow in the footsteps of Nemesism as they tear a bloody path into the future armed with their self-titled debut effort (available in full on YouTube and on Spotify), and who knows where this journey will end, being highly recommended for admirers of the music by Cryptopsy, Defeated Sanity, Malignancy and Wormed, among others. Hence, don’t forget to check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and to purchase a copy of their visceral EP from their own BandCamp page or Big Cartel, adding a relatively short but infuriated dosage of Brutal Death Metal made in the United States to your private collection of first-class extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Absolved in the Abyss and Terminal Spreading Depolarization.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Mindful Abomination 3:51
2. Absolved in the Abyss 2:50
3. Constricting the Ambient Noise 4:05
4. Terminal Spreading Depolarization 2:43
5. Delusions of Morality 4:01

Band members
Andrew LoMastro – vocals
Randall Thompson – guitar
Bruno Macias Quezada – bass
Michael Fitzgerald – drums

Album Review – Skulldozer / Non Stop Ruthless Crushing (2023)

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Behold the debut effort by this ruthless American beast, showcasing a unique heaviness that’s firmly rooted in the old school but stands out in the current stream of Death Metal.

Blasting a visceral and crushing form of Death Metal since their inception back in 2020 in Texas, but currently located in Long Beach, a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States, Skulldozer will smash your cranial skull with their newborn spawn, entitled Non Stop Ruthless Crushing. Combining elements of traditional Death Metal and modern melodic Sludge Metal, the band comprised of Jason Ramsay on vocals and guitars, Keith Dobson on lead guitars, Mike Spurlock on bass, and Joel Stepp on drums has truly captured a unique heaviness that’s firmly rooted in the old school but stands out in the current stream of Death Metal, delivering a ten-song offering of powerful and catchy, classic Death Metal that worships at the altar of righteous headbanging.

The title-track Non Stop Ruthless Crushing will darken your soul and crush you like an insect from the very first second, with Jason’s deep guttural walking hand in hand with the venomous riffage by the same Jason and Keith; whereas Joel sounds like a stone crusher in the vile Thy Enemies Driven Before Me, again showcasing the band’s passion for all things Death Metal, sounding visceral and heavy until the end. Kingdom Ossuarium is a neck-breaking, mid-tempo black mass by the quartet spearheaded by the inhumane roars by Jason while Mike hammers his bass mercilessly, and blasting sheer heaviness and hatred it’s time for Hatesworn Shitstorm, one of the most crushing songs of the album with Joel stealing the spotlight with his demonic beats. After that, get ready for two and a half minutes of absolute chaos and insanity titled Scum Beneath the Skin, offering brutal and technical Death Metal for the masses with Jason and Keith kicking ass with their riffs and solos.

Adding hints of obscure Doom Metal to their already damned sonority, the band fires Wolves Amongst Sheeple, showcasing another round of their headbanging riffs and fulminating beats, and more of their old school Death Metal sounds comes in the form of Bastards of Zeus, where not a single second is left empty, overflowing obscurity, rage and heaviness led by the pounding drums by Joel. Then in Bow to None the band alternates between faster moments and pure heaviness with Jason growling deeply during the entire song, supported by Joel’s crushing beats and Mike’s rumbling bass, whereas Deathblessed keeps the album at a high level of animosity, albeit a bit generic if compared to the rest of the album, while once again bringing elements from classic doom. Finally, those American death metallers offer our avid ears the infernal Skullfucking Domination, where the entire band is on fire, in special Joel with his demolishing beats, and with Jason vociferating rabidly in the name of extreme music.

If you want to show your support to this newborn beast named Skulldozer, you can start following them on Facebook and on Instagram for news, more of their music and so on, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and above all that, grab your copy of Non Stop Ruthless Crushing from their own BandCamp page as well as from the Guts and Blood Records’ BandCamp page. Skulldozer are among us to stay based on the high quality of the music found in their extremely vile debut album, and if I were you I would start warming up your neck for some unstoppable headbanging as soon as those guys hit the road with their venomous and demonic Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Hatesworn Shitstorm, Scum Beneath the Skin and Skullfucking Domination.

Worst moments of the album: Deathblessed.

Released in 2023 Guts and Blood Records/Rotten Records

Track listing
1. Non Stop Ruthless Crushing 4:35
2. Thy Enemies Driven Before Me 4:01
3. Kingdom Ossuarium 4:59
4. Hatesworn Shitstorm 3:58
5. Scum Beneath the Skin 2:30
6. Wolves Amongst Sheeple 4:42
7. Bastards of Zeus 3:47
8. Bow to None 5:05
9. Deathblessed 6:33
10. Skullfucking Domination 4:03

Band members
Jason Ramsay – vocals, guitars
Keith Dobson – lead guitars
Mike Spurlock – bass
Joel Stepp – drums