Tag Archives: hardcore

Album Review – Centinex / With Guts and Glory (2025)

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These Swedish legends return to their roots with a sound that combines the ferocity of early Death Metal with the urgency of Punk Rock in their new album.

Stripping away atmospheric frills and polished production, Swedish Death Metal legends Centinex return to their roots with a sound that combines the ferocity of early Death Metal with the urgency of Punk Rock and elements from Death N’ Roll in the form of their new album, titled With Guts and Glory, their most ferocious and uncompromising offering yet. Following up on their 2020 album Death in Pieces, the new album by Henrik Andersson on vocals, Jörgen Kristensen on the guitars, Martin Schulman on bass, and Florian Rehn on drums is a raw, high-energy album that ditches the excess and focuses on what matters, blasting our faces with unrelenting riffs, d-beats, and thrash-infused aggression.

The album kicks off in full force with the Death and Thrash Metal extravaganza titled Becoming, with Jörgen slashing his axe while Henrik vomits the song’s words like a true beast, and you gotta love the dirty riffs by Jörgen in the excellent fusion of Death and Thrash Metal with Hardcore and Punk Rock elements titled Your Religion Dies Tonight, always supported by the classic beats and fills by Florian. Then the bass by Martin will crush your skull mercilessly in the hard hitting tune Gods Of Guilt, proving extreme music doesn’t need to be played at the speed of light all the time. And back to a more demolishing sonority we face I Am The Way, inspired by old school Death Metal while also presenting hints of the thrash attack by Slayer and Exodus.

A Masterpiece In Flesh is a Motörhead-infused metal onrush by the quartet where once again Florian dictates the pace armed with his unstoppable beats and fills for our absolute delight, whereas they offer a more direct Death Metal sound in In My Dreams, with Jörgen extracting sheer hatred and violence from his guitar while Henrik screams and roars like a demented creature. Symphony Of Screams carries a charming title for a heavy-as-hell, rumbling tune by Centinex, with Martin pounding his bass like there’s no tomorrow; and in order to properly conclude the album the quartet fires another round of aggressiveness and speed titled Sorrowtears, perfect for slamming inside the pit with your good friends.

Forget atmospheric trends, as Centinex keep it raw, fast, and filthy in their newborn spawn, inviting us all to slam into the pit like there’s no tomorrow to the sound of their frantic and caustic creations. You can find more details about the band, their tour dates and their music on Facebook and on Instagram, or simply by clicking HERE, bang your goddamn heads to their wicked discography on Spotify, and obviously support those hardworking guys by purchasing their excellent new album by clicking HERE. With Guts and Glory is not pretty. It’s not supposed to be. It is pure, raw aggression made in Sweden, and it’s exactly what the underground has been craving.

Best moments of the album: I Am The Way, A Masterpiece In Flesh and Sorrowtears.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. Becoming 3:55
2. Your Religion Dies Tonight 3:27
3. Gods Of Guilt 3:44
4. I Am The Way 3:08
5. A Masterpiece In Flesh 3:14
6. In My Dreams 3:47
7. Symphony Of Screams 4:10
8. Sorrowtears 3:32

Band members
Henrik Andersson – vocals
Jörgen Kristensen – guitar
Martin Schulman – bass
Florian Rehn – drums

Concert Review – Crypta (The Garrison, Toronto, ON, 10/08/2025)

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On a cooler night in Toronto, metalheads from all over the city had an absolute blast with one of the must-see Death Metal beasts from the worldwide extreme music scene.

OPENING ACTS: Pretty Face and Death Club

This Wednesday was by far the coolest day from the past three or four months in Toronto, but that didn’t stop the metalheads from different parts of the city to head to The Garrison for a sold out show with PRETTY FACE, DEATH CLUB and CRYPTA during their In the Other Side Tour 2025, another killer event organized by the unstoppable Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. As the first band was only going to hit the stage at 8pm, I decided to take my time at home, had proper dinner, relaxed a little, and therefore avoided the chaotic madness of QEW during rush hour. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi got to the venue a little earlier to get ready to take some amazing shots of all bands, which by the way are all led by super talented ladies who make heavy music way better, heavier, and more fun. The merch selection was also great for all bands, including some kick-ass guitar picks from Crypta, and everything with good quality and for a reasonable price. Not only that, the variety of beer and other drinks at The Garrison is way bigger and cheaper than at bigger venues like Budweiser Stage. Supporting the underground definitely has its advantages, with the main one being the much lighter impact on your pocket for an even higher amount of adrenaline and energy onstage.

On a side note, before and after the bands kicked some serious ass onstage, I had the pleasure of chatting with the organizers of the Icelandic festival named Satán, who were on vacation in the city, enjoying a few concerts like Judas Priest/Alice Cooper last week, and Crypta this Wednesday. Gísli Sigmundsson, an Icelandic metal legend who fronts the old school Death Metal band Sororicide, and Kristján Guðmundsson, drummer for the ruthless Blackened Death Metal horde Nexion, were having an amazing time at The Garrison, and of course I enjoyed a lot talking to them about heavy music and both the Canadian and the Icelandic underground scenes. I told Kristján that Nexion must come to Toronto for a show, to which he replied “do people enjoy that type of blasphemic music here?” Well, I guess I don’t even need to say what I answered to him, right? And if you have the time and money available for a trip next summer, the Satán festival is happening between June 4 and 6, 2026. Who knows, maybe I can visit Iceland for a share of their own blasphemy then.

Labeled as a queer-fem metal band hailing from Brampton, Ontario, expressing experiences and struggles growing up as teenage fem-presenting people through their music, PRETTY FACE kicked off the party with their fusion of Hardcore with elements of Death and Doom Metal, and the reaction of the fans at The Garrison was excellent. Although they only have one song officially released, the 2024 single The Gore Road, available on Spotify, those girls sounded excellent onstage and showed endless energy during their short but effective set. I have zero idea of which songs they played, or who the band members are as there’s nothing online about that (and I’m sorry, but I forgot to ask them in person after their show), but those girls have a bright future ahead of them. As long as they release an EP or a full-length album in the coming months to keep their momentum going, of course.

The second opening band of the night was another local band, Hamilton, Ontario-based modern Sludge Metal/Deathcore act DEATH CLUB, who released their debut Betrayal back in 2024, available on both BandCamp and Spotify. Formed of Dana Bowman on vocals and guitar, Adam Baldwin on bass and backing vocals, and Chelsea Todd on drums, plus another unknown musician who’s probably just their tour guitarist (and again, sorry for not asking him his name), the band kept the heaviness flowing inside The Garrison, which was already packed by the time they hit the stage. You can get more details about the band by clicking HERE, and if they ever play a concert at your city or town, I highly recommend you go watch them live because their music is great, and their stage presence is just as awesome.

CRYPTA

There was some uncertainty in the air if the indomitable Brazilian Death Metal beast CRYPTA was actually going to play this Wednesday night in Toronto as the iconic Fernanda Lima and another one of her bandmates got stuck at the Canadian border when trying to cross it from the United States, forcing them to fly from a city near Buffalo into YYZ and going straight to the venue for the show. Fortunately, those girls are absolute badass, and nothing would stop them from delivering their slab of Death Metal to one of their most loyal fanbase worldwide. The band was on absolute fire from the very first seconds of one of my favorite Crypta songs, The Other Side of Anger, and their setlist blending their two album Echoes of the Soul (2021) and Shades of Sorrow (2023), both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, brought sheer chaos and anarchy to The Garrison to the point Keith didn’t even dare to try to get a spot in front of the stage for his photos. Yes, it was wild.

Fernanda was insane on stage as usual, the mesmerizing Tainá Bergamaschi kept shredding her axe in great fashion, headbanging like a maniac, and making what was supposed to be an “angry” face during the heaviest parts of their songs (although she looks way to nice and cool to really look angry), Luana Dametto showed no mercy for our necks and bodies, crushing her drums nonstop for our total delight (therefore igniting some demented mosh pits), and their new touring guitarist Victoria Villarreal, from bands like Chaos Rising and Syrebris, proved why she was chosen by the band to support them on this tour, also kicking some serious ass with her flammable riffs and solos. I just think the overall sound volume was a bit low, but nothing that could make their performance less demolishing.

Some of the songs were phenomenal live, including Kali, The Outsider, Stronghold, Starvation, and of course From the Ashes, and when you have that high quality material in your hands like the girls from Crypta do, you can rest assured you’re in for a treat when they take the stage of your city by storm like this Wednesday night in Toronto. Not only that, Fernanda might be one of the sweetest musicians from the current scene worldwide, as even after going through all that hassle to make it to Toronto for the show she didn’t leave the stage after their concert was done, taking photos, signing albums and shirts, and chatting with each and every fan that stayed at The Garrison way past 11pm to meet one of the most talented women in heavy music. Toronto loves you, girls! And we’re ready for another round of your ruthless Death Metal anytime you decide to return to our metallic city.

Setlist
The Aftermath
The Other Side of Anger
Kali
Lift the Blindfold
The Outsider
Possessed
Lullaby for the Forsaken
Stronghold
The Limbo
Trial of Traitors
Under the Black Wings
Starvation
Dark Clouds
Lord of Ruins
From the Ashes
The Closure

Band members
Fernanda Lira – vocals, bass
Tainá Bergamaschi – guitars
Victoria Villarreal – guitars
Luana Dametto – drums

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Concert Review – Signs of the Swarm (The Mod Club, Toronto, ON, 10/03/2025)

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***Review by Kevin Ibbitson and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

OPENING ACTS: Face Yourself, Carcosa, Ten56 and Mental Cruelty

Friday October the 3rd, 2025 The Mod Club located in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood played host to a night of pure deathcore delight, with such bands as FACE YOURSELF, CARCOSA, TEN56, MENTAL CRUELTY and headlining act SIGNS OF THE SWARM, another amazing event organized by our metal hero Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Headbangers from across the Greater Toronto Area enjoyed a night of self-inflicted whiplash and bodily torment as they moshed their brains out to some kick ass, heavy and hard as fuck deathcore from start to finish. I was also pleased to see that the venue now had a photo pit/barrier as well as a newly remodeled stage.

From the onset, New York band FACE YOURSELF, who has just released an amazing new EP titled Fury, had the crowd moshing in circle pits for the entire duration of their incredible and energetic first set. I could barely look away from the drummer the whole time as he was clad in a shirt with the face of Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys on it and couldn’t shake the image of Bubbs slaying on the drum kit out of head to my own personal delight. Lead vocalist Yasmin Liverneaux Belkhodja has quite a set of pipes on her that could strip the paint off the walls and could curdle blood with her guttural screams. Face Yourself totally kicked ass to open up the show. 10/10

Band members
Yasmin Liverneaux Belkhodja – vocals
Dave Ricco – lead guitar
Thomas Cardone – guitar
Corey Doremus – guitar, backing vocals
Kyle Muenzner – bass, backing vocals
Eric DiCarlo – drums

Next up was CARCOSA, a band created by Viral TikTokers Andrew Baena and Johnny Ciardullo out of Vancouver, British Columbia. They were absolutely brutal and didn’t let the crowd slack up, not even for a second. These guys crushed it on stage with their blend of doom & gloom, brutality, sick breakdowns, low end bass drops and humour. I also caught Andrew’s pick at the end of their set. The last album released by those guys was the EP Wrath of the Tyrant, back in 2022, which means I don’t think it will take long for them to attack us all again with their undisputed blend of death metal and hardcore. C’mon, Carcosa! WE need new music from you guys asap!  10/10

Band members
Johnny Ciardullo – vocals
Andrew Baena – guitar, backing vocals
Cooper Lagace – guitar
David Hicks – drums

French deathcore outfit TEN56 came on next and delivered a fantastic set which kept the crowd frantic and buzzing with energy. Non-stop moshing was the theme of the night. I found their drummer Arnaud Verrier to be quite impressive and he reminded me a lot of Dave Grohl mixed with Mario Duplantier. I kept getting blasted in the face with puffs of air from the bass drum as it was directly in line with me in the front row, and as I left the venue towards the end of the show I ran into Arnaud on the street outside of the club and he told me he was looking at me the whole set, and noticed that he was not exactly set up perfectly straight on to which I let him know that I felt the percussive air puffs hitting my face and thanked him for the air conditioning. I let him know that he is a hell of a drummer. Ten56 were seriously good. 10/10

Band members
Aaron Matts – vocals
Quentin Godet – guitar
Luka Garotin – guitar
Steeves Hostin – bass
Arnaud Verrier – drums

Germany’s MENTAL CRUELTY was up next and they proceeded to absolutely destroy. The crowd ratcheted up even more and exploded into wave after wave of crowd surfers and lead vocalist Lukas Nicolai eventually made his way closer to the crowd and braced by fans and balanced on top of the barrier where he continued to melt faces. The audience was losing its collective mind for Mental Cruelty. This band is pretty fuckin’ sick! Thier new song Helheim, which features the guys from Signs of the Swarm in its studio version, was a nice addition to their setlist, and a great indication of what to expect from those Germans after their 2023 masterpiece Zwielicht.  10/10

Setlist
The Venerable One
King ov Fire
Helheim
Forgotten Kings
Obsessis a Daemonio
Ultima Hypocrita
Nordlys
Zwielicht
Symphony of a Dying Star

Band members
Lukas Nicolai – vocals
Nahuel Lozano – guitars
Marvin Kessler – guitars
Viktor Dick – bass
Danny Straßer – drums

SIGNS OF THE SWARM

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania deathcore gods SIGNS OF THE SWARM headlined the show with a intensely killer set. Having just released their new album To Rid Myself of Truth, SOTS are always awesome to see live as they are one of those bands that burn with such intensity, brutality and raw aggression. Vocalist David Simonich blew me away with his brutal gutturals and sheer power. His vocals cutting straight through all of the brutally intense instrumentation to deliver a sonic assault not unlike a shotgun blast to the chest. The audience was in a frenzy with moshing in the circle pit when I decided my body couldn’t take any more of the brutality. My neck and back were sore from all of my non-stop headbanging and I regret that I couldn’t stay until the very end. I ended up out front of the club where my brother Keith and I ran into Members of Carcosa and Ten56. We shot the shit and got out of there as soon as possible while thanking them for a great show. I have no doubt in my mind that the crowd had an amazing time. 10/10

Setlist
Borrowed Time
Pray for Death
To Rid Myself of Truth
HELLMUSTFEARME
Natural Selection
Scars Upon Scars
Chariot
IWONTLETYOUDIE
Between Fire & Stone
Revelations Ov a Silent King
Creator
Pernicious
Amongst the Low & Empty

Band members
David Simonich – vocals
Carl Schulz – guitars
Michael Cassese – bass
Bobby Crow – drums

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Album Review – Arson Charge / A Dying Light (2025)

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Rising up from Denver, Colorado, this Hardcore outfit is unleashing their debut opus, a bludgeoning and brutal dive into the feelings of pain, disconnection, and loss that arise from abuse and self-sabotage.

Rising up from Denver, Colorado’s prolific metal scene, Arson Charge are a five-piece behemoth made up of former members from mile-high area stalwarts Native Daughters, Chieftain, and Love Me Destroyer, playing a unique blend of Hardcore, Thrash Metal and Punk Rock, with elements from Thrashcore and Metalcore, tailored for fans of Mastodon, In Flames, Sepultura, Gojira and Black Flag. Now in 2025 the band formed of Ben Roy on vocals, Justin Hackl and Dave Sandoval on the guitars, Kris Hodgell on bass, and Cody Hull on drums is set to release their debut album, titled A Dying Light, recorded at Green Door Recordings and produced by Felipe Patino, Justin Hackl and Arson Charge, offering a bludgeoning and brutal dive into the feelings of pain, disconnection, and loss that arise from abuse and self-sabotage.

The intro The Feeding Grounds sets the stage for the band to kick some serious ass in For The Damned, with the harsh vocals by Ben penetrating deep inside our minds accompanied by the pounding beats by Cody, who then shows no mercy for his drums in Cleanup On Aisle 10, while Justin and Dave make a dynamic guitar duo in an explosion of modern-day Thrash and Groove Metal in the vein of Lamb of God. It’s pedal to the metal in the Hardcore beast titled One by One, with its rebellious backing vocals walking hand in hand with Cody’s sick drumming, whereas investing in a more modern sound we have A New Throne, without forgetting to add their share of heaviness to the sound, followed by There Was No Dog, sounding inspired by classic Punk Rock and led by the raspy vocals by Ben and the pounding drums by Cody.

666 BC stands strong with a foot on the heaviness of Gojira and the other on the progressiveness of Mastodon, with Justin and Dave delivering some of their best riffs of the entire album, followed by The Aftermath, again investing in the power of the riff, with Ben’s harsh vocals being boosted by the thunderous kitchen crafted by Kris and Cody. The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit is another song with a strong Mastodon vibe, and that means sheer awesomeness flowing from all instruments, of course; and then back to a more straightforward Groove Metal sound we face Build a Fire, with the band’s guitar duo firing sheer heaviness from their axes. Bloodstains offers a nice blend of Thrash Metal and Punk Rock led by Ben and his unrelenting screams, not to mention its hypnotizing riffs and solos, while lastly the title-track A Dying Light closes the album on a Sludge Rock and Metal vibe thanks to the ruthless beats by Cody and the scorching riffs by Justin and Dave.

Arson Charge know exactly how to fuel their metal machine with the feelings of anger and pain in a compelling way, and their debut A Dying Light is a more-than-excellent example of how heavy music will always be a recommended way to channel all that darkness inside us. Hence, you can get in touch with those hardworking and talented boys via Facebook and Instagram, enjoy their caustic music on any streaming services like Spotify, and purchase A Dying Light from BandCamp or from the Anxious & Angry webstore. Arson Charge are beginning to spread their wings over their own country and everywhere else where good Hardcore music is appreciated with their striking debut, leaving us eager for more in the near future while we keep dealing with our inner demons.

Best moments of the album: One by One, 666 BC and The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit.

Worst moments of the album: A New Throne.

Released in 2025 Anxious & Angry

Track listing
1. The Feeding Grounds 1:16
2. For The Damned 4:18
3. Cleanup On Aisle 10 2:44
4. One by One 4:27
5. A New Throne 4:43
6. There Was No Dog 1:57
7. 666 BC 3:42
8. The Aftermath 4:10
9. The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit 2:13
10. Build a Fire 3:23
11. Bloodstains 1:50
12. A Dying Light 5:27

Band members
Ben Roy – vocals
Justin Hackl – guitar
Dave Sandoval – guitar
Kris Hodgell – bass
Cody Hull – drums

Album Review – Blood and Brutality / Wrath Upon EP (2025)

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This three-piece Death and Thrash Metal outfit attacks again with a brand new EP, offering six tracks that are fast, heavy and sharply executed, with a sound that stays true to their roots while pushing into fresher ground.

A three-piece band known for their uncompromising live performances and raw intensity formed in 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama, Death/Thrash Metal outfit Blood and Brutality is raising hell once again with their brand new EP, entitled Wrath Upon, the follow-up to their 2023 EP Evil Dead (and their third EP in a row). Recorded at B&B Records Studios, mixed by Bryan Arant, and mastered by Andreas Westholm at Dark Prod, the new EP by Bryan Arant on vocals and drums, Tim Boykin on the guitars, and Max Rains on bass offers six tracks that are fast, heavy and sharply executed, with a sound that stays true to their roots while pushing into fresher ground.

Wrath Upon Thee already blasts our ears with their trademark Death Metal with an edgy Hardcore vibe, with Bryan sounding demented both on drums and with his visceral screams while Tim delivers pure, unfiltered Punk Rock-infused riffs. Chaos to Silence, the first single of the EP, offers more of the trio’s undisputed attitude and violence, with both Tim and Max hammering their stringed axes; then a sinister, cinematic interlude titled March Towards Destiny sets the tone for Never Surrender, a no shenanigans display of aggression in the vein of the early days of Slayer, which is obviously a great thing, led by Bryan’s nonstop beats and fills. Fuck You brings forward one minute of a beautiful message by the band presenting hints of Rockabilly in their core sound, whereas lastly they fire a heavier neck-breaking tune titled Life is Pain, with the riffage by Tim sounding beyond caustic while Bryan barks like a demented creature nonstop until the song’s ethereal finale.

Many of the songs have been tested live over the past few years, giving them a natural energy in the studio. Not only that, the band describe their new EP as the best representation so far of what they sound like on stage, delivered with a clean and high-quality production that will certainly please fans of Slayer, Pantera, Metallica, Death, and Morbid Angel, just to name a few. Hence, you can get in touch with those hardworking metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their sonic brutality on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of their new EP from BandCamp. Those guys are not named Blood and Brutality in vain, because that’s exactly what you’ll get in Wrath Upon. Pure blood and brutality in the form of ass-kicking Death and Thrash Metal.

Best moments of the album: Wrath Upon Thee and Never Surrender.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Blood and Brutality Records

Track listing
1. Wrath Upon Thee 2:12
2. Chaos to Silence 3:12
3. March Towards Destiny 1:31
4. Never Surrender 1:49
5. Fuck You 1:00
6. Life is Pain 4:37

Band members
Bryan Arant – vocals, drums
Tim Boykin – guitars
Max Rains – bass

Album Review – Werewolves / The Ugliest of All (2025)

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The torchbearers of “Caveman Death Metal” strike again with album number six, continuing to annihilate intellects with an increasingly unlistenable barrage of truly hideous music.

By now, everyone knows Melbourne, Australia’s own Werewolves and their insane mission of releasing ten Death Metal albums in ten years. Now in 2025 the torchbearers of “Caveman Death Metal” strike again with album number six, The Ugliest of All, continuing to annihilate intellects with an increasingly unlistenable barrage of truly hideous music. Mixed and mastered by Joe Haley at Crawlspace Productions, and once again displaying a visceral artwork by Mitchell Nolte, the beleaguered artist of the previous albums, the sixth blasphemous offering by Sam Bean on vocals and bass, Matt Wilcock on the guitars, and David Haley on drums is not only a worthy follow-up to their 2024 beast Die For Us, but a lesson in primeval, visceral Death Metal by one of the most (if not THE most) demented bands to ever arise from Down Under.

There’s not a single second of peace in the bludgeoning opener Fools of the Trade, with David already doing what he does best, which is crushing our damned bodies with his inhumane technique; and we gotta love all of their song titles such as I Want to be Offended, with the music being a lecture in ruthless Death Metal led by the scorching riffs by Matt. Skullbattering keeps the level of animosity absurdly high, with Sam barking the song’s violent lyrics nonstop in another lesson in brutality from the stunning Australia. Sam roars like a rabid beast in Unoriginal Sin, offering an overdose of blasphemy flowing from all instruments for our total and depraved delight, whereas more of David’s unstoppable, thunderous beats and fills will shake the foundations of the earth in the demolishing The Enshittification, inviting us all for some quality time inside the pit.

Logorrea sounds like some of their darkest creations from From the Cave to the Grave and My Enemies Look and Sound like Me, which obviously means it’s an awesome onrush of brutality, gore and rage, ending in a truly insane mode and connecting instantly with Rats Versus Snakes, one of the first singles released, showcasing the trio’s trademark fury spearheaded by the deep guttural by Sam. Then adding hints of Punk Rock and Hardcore to their undisputed Death Metal sound, it’s time for a no shenanigans, fast and furious aria titled Slaves to the Blast, again with Matt delivering pure electricity from his maniacal riffage. And last but most definitely not least, ending the album we have the demonic title-track The Ugliest of All, one of their strongest songs to date, sounding simply infuriated form start to finish, with David yet again hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly until our very last drop of blood leaves our frail bodies.

“Why did we call the album The Ugliest Of All?” Sam asks himself, seeing as though there’s no-one actually asking him any questions. “On the one hand, we are turning into a fearsomely hideous old-man band. We’re all grey, I’ve got a gut, it’s like if The Hills Had Amps. Also, I read an interview with Malevolent Creation where Phil Fasciana was bragging about how they were the ugliest band alive, and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Hi-top sneakers are cool. Denim shorts are cool.” In the end, it doesn’t really matter if you follow those headbanging bastards on Facebook or on Instagram, if you stream their pulverizing, no shenanigans music on YouTube or on Spotify, or if you purchase the indomitable The Ugliest of All from their own website or BandCamp page, from Direct Merch, from Nightshift, or from Plastic Head. Even if no one cares at all about The Ugliest of All, 2026 will see the band returning in full force with album number seven, because that’s what Werewolves are all about. They’re bringing to us this year the ugliest of all albums, aiming at becoming the heaviest of all bands.

Best moments of the album: I Want to be Offended, Skullbattering, Logorrea, Slaves to the Blast and The Ugliest of All.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Back On Black Records

Track listing
1. Fools of the Trade 4:08
2. I Want to be Offended 3:36
3. Skullbattering 3:15
4. Unoriginal Sin 4:13
5. The Enshittification 3:40
6. Logorrea 3:21
7. Rats Versus Snakes 3:43
8. Slaves to the Blast 3:01
9. The Ugliest of All 3:28

Band members
Sam Bean – vocals, bass
Matt Wilcock – guitars
David Haley – drums

Album Review – Spades GT / United (2025)

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This Canadian brigade is ready to save rock music with the incendiary fusion of Crossover Thrash, Hardcore and Punk Rock found in their sophomore album.

Hailing from the charming Barrie, a city in Central Ontario, Canada, about 90 kilometers north of Toronto, the up-and-coming sonic brigade known as Spades GT is ready to save rock music with the incendiary fusion of Crossover Thrash, Hardcore and Punk Rock found in their new album, titled United. Produced by Kyle Marchant at Room 21 Sound in Toronto, the follow-up to their 2024 debut Sewer City Radio sees the band currently formed of John Pierce on vocals, Matt Voros and Dan Horton on the guitars, Sean Macnab on bass, and Tyler Reiner on drums on absolute fire, inspiring us all to slam into the pit to its eight hard-hitting compositions in a resonant exploration of connection and unity, examining diverse perspectives and scenarios from the deeply interpersonal to broader political landscapes.

The quintet wastes no time and kicks off their Rock N’ Roll party with Anthem, led by the pounding drums by Tyler and the classic, soaring vocals by John, not to mention how incendiary the riffs by Matt and Dan sound, followed by the electrifying title-track United, where the band unites the heaviness of metal music with the rebelliousness of Hardcore and Punk Rock, and the final result is perfect for some crazy mosh pit action. Tyler keeps hammering his drums in Demons, while Matt and Dan deliver an overdose of adrenaline through their stringed axes, and Filthy Lie is a song that’s more than perfect for hitting the road with your loved ones, for enjoying it while going skateboarding, and of course for showing the band your horns during their live concerts.

Game for Two then blends the sounds blasted by giants like Motörhead, The Exploited and Rancid, with Tyler taking the lead behind his drums in a frantic rock and punk extravaganza; whereas the last batch of songs features some very special guest musicians, starting with guest vocals by Andrew Moorehouse of The Fast Life in Wrecked, even faster than its predecessors. Needless to say, it should sound amazing if played live. Strong, featuring a rap verse by guest Julien “Mersinary” Santos of Reel Wolf, is another furious, heavy-as-hell tune by Spades GT, with the vocals by John exhaling sheer adrenaline, and lastly, featuring former second guitarist Jay Sarrazin, we have the flammable Die on Our Feet, closing the album on a high and vibrant Rock N’ Roll note.

John, Matt, Dan, Sean and Tyler are among us to save Rock N’ Roll, and the music found in their new album United proves they’re in the right path to reach their undisputed goal, combining hard-hitting riffs, driving rhythms, and compelling vocals to create a sound that’s both familiar and refreshingly contemporary. Hence, you should give those hardworking Canadians a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping an eye on their live performances, subscribe to their official YouTube channel, stream their new album in full on Spotify or on other major streaming platforms, or simply click HERE for all things Spades GT. Those five talented musicians are united in the name of Rock N’ Roll throughout the 27 minutes of music found in their new album, and you won’t regret joining them and headbanging to their melodic and very aggressive sounds.

Best moments of the album: United, Filthy Lie and Wrecked.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Sewer City Records

Track listing
1. Anthem 2:39
2. United 3:49
3. Demons 3:03
4. Filthy Lie 3:25
5. Game for Two 3:39
6. Wrecked 3:14
7. Strong 3:33
8. Die on Our Feet 3:29

Band members
John Pierce – lead vocals
Matt Voros – guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Filthy Lie”
Dan Horton – guitar
Sean Macnab – bass
Tyler Reiner – drums

Guest musicians
Andrew Moorehouse – vocals on “Wrecked”
Julien “Mersinary” Santos – vocals on “Strong”
Jay Sarrasin – guitars on “Die on Our Feet”

Album Review – Verdalack / Force from the Grave (2025)

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Tokyo, Japan’s own Speed Metal Forces are on the attack to the sound of their debut album, ready to take over the underground with violence and force.

Hailing from the always exciting city of Tokyo, Japan, Speed Metal warriors Verdalack are ready to take over the underground with violence and force armed with their debut full-length opus, entitled Force From the Grave, the follow-up to their 2022 demo Rites of Hell. Comprising eight hard-charging songs across a fun and frantic half-hour, Force From the Grave approximates its namesake through a laser-focused mindset and soundfield, with influences ranging from mid 80’s Speed Metal, ancient American Power Metal, and classic Japanese Hardcore-Punk, all masterfully crafted by the “Five Japanese V’s of the Apocalypse,” those being Villain on vocals, Vandal and Vortex on the guitars, Void on bass, and Vigor on drums.

The album starts in full force with the frantic and electrifying Axehead, where the band’s ruthless guitar duo fires some amazing Heavy Metal-infused thrashing riffs, and get ready for total war inside the pit to the sound of Heretic Flights, a fantastic hybrid of Thrash and Speed Metal with Villian’s vocals being flawlessly supported by the hammering beats by Vigor. In Desecrater the name of the song says it all, an avalanche of demented riffs and blast beats in the best 80’s Thrash Metal style, whereas Villain shows no mercy for our souls with his deranged vociferations in Blood Eagle, while Vandal and Vortex extract sheer adrenaline form their axes, resulting in the perfect soundtrack for slamming into the circle pit.

There’s still a lot more of the undisputed Speed Metal by Verdalack in the album, starting with Final Assault, where Vigor accelerates the song’s pace considerably, inviting us all to slam like true headbanging bastards. Then we face the title-track Force from the Grave, starting with melodious, piercing guitars by Vandal and Vortex before all hell breaks loose in the name of speed and aggression. Into the Flames offers our putrid ears another overdose of thrashing sounds in less than three minutes, with their early Megadeth approach working really well thanks to the unstoppable beats by Vigor; and the album ends with the absolutely mental Speed Metal tune Rites of Hell, leaving us all disoriented and absolutely satisfied with the band’s fast and furious feast of thrashing sounds.

Classics-minded but exuding an authentically fresh approach, Force From the Grave will throttle maniacs of Jag Panzer to Japan’s Bastard, Exciter to GISM, and Piledriver to Deathside. Put differently, the Tokyo Speed Metal Forces are on the attack, and you can fight side by side with Verdalack in the battlefield by following them on Instagram, staying up to date with their news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about the band, and above all that, by purchasing their frantic, no shenanigans new album from BandCamp or from the Hells Headbangers’ webstore. Verdalack are undoubtedly making a name for themselves in the beyond exciting Japanese underground, with Force from the Grave representing just the first (and awesome) step in their promising journey.

Best moments of the album: Heretic Flights, Into the Flames and Rites of Hell.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Hells Headbangers

Track listing
1. Axehead 3:36
2. Heretic Flights 3:09
3. Desecrater 3:19
4. Blood Eagle 3:58
5. Final Assault 4:21
6. Force from the Grave 4:48
7. Into the Flames 2:57
8. Rites of Hell 3:24

Band members
Villain – vocals
Vandal – guitars
Vortex – guitars
Void – bass
Vigor – drums

Album Review – Destroy Fear / The Mountain Before Us All (2025)

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A dynamic new force emerging from Melbourne’s vibrant metal scene is ready to strike armed with their debut album, blending crushing heaviness with intricate melodies.

A dynamic new force emerging from Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant metal scene, blending crushing heaviness with intricate melodies heavily inspired by In Flames, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Parkway Drive, As I Lay Dying, and Heaven Shall Burn, among many others, Melodic Death Metal outfit Destroy Fear is unleashing upon us their debut offering, titled The Mountain Before Us All. Comprised of vocalist Scott Masson (Born Of A Bastard King, Outer Worlds), guitarists Jayden Genuis (War Of One) and Luke Baird (Made From Broken Parts, The Empire), bassist Justin Wong (Tides Collide), and drummer Alex Bull (Outer Worlds), the band offers in The Mountain Before Us All a striking sound defined by soaring guitar riffs, emotionally charged vocals, and a powerful rhythm section, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Melodic Death Metal, Hardcore and Metalcore from the “glory days” of the early 2000’s.

It’s easy to feel that characteristic Gothenburg sound right from the start in Ulterior Motive, with Scott already roaring nonstop while Alex keeps the song’s rhythm flowing smoothly; and the guitars by Jayden and Luke will inspire you to bang your heads nonstop in The Serpent, inviting us all to slam into the pit and have a very good time with our good friends. Sweat Equity is absolutely inspired by the current sound by In Flames, with Scott and Justin kicking some ass on vocals, followed by The Redeemer, another fast and melodic creation by the band where the riffage by Jayden and Luke exhale heaviness while also sounding piercing and harmonious. Then we face another round of anguished roars and razor-edged guitars in Flames of Division, while the song’s clean vocals bring a touch of finesse to the overall sound, and the band then enhances their animosity and fury in Sever, with Scott screaming manically amidst a Hardcore-infused sonority.

The second half of the album begins in full force to the sound of Blue Sky Thinking, which should sound fantastic if played live, led by Alex’s Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore pounding drums. Fade to Obscurity is another exciting tune by the band, with their guitar duo hitting us hard with their fusion of aggressiveness and harmony, all boosted by another killer performance by Scott on vocals, and there’s no sign of the band slowing down at all, as it’s a feast of Melodic Death Metal that goes heavy on all Metalcore elements in Brimstone, in special in their vocals and riffs. Yesterday presents a more introspective side of the band, albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album, whereas in order to properly end the album the band will melt our faces with The Mountain Before Us All, where their caustic riffs and roars match perfectly with Alex’s hard hitting drums.

A super group of sorts made up from members of other bands and projects with a passion for all things metal, Destroy Fear are already deep into writing and actively recording for a second album release projected for the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026, and until then you can have an absolute blast with their debut offering by streaming it on Spotify and purchasing it from BandCamp. Don’t forget to also follow those talented Australians on Facebook, keeping an eye on their live concerts as they’re more than ready to crush the stages Down Under, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music and videos. Needless to say, I’m sure we’ll soon hear a lot more from Scott, Jayden, Luke, Justin, and Alex, as they keep destroying fear armed with the best weapon ever to do so, which is high quality music like what they have to offer in their excellent debut album.

Best moments of the album: The Serpent, The Redeemer and Fade to Obscurity.

Worst moments of the album: Yesterday.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Ulterior Motive 4:07
2. The Serpent 4:28
3. Sweat Equity 4:34
4. The Redeemer 3:59
5. Flames of Division 4:13
6. Sever 4:08
7. Blue Sky Thinking 5:05
8. Fade to Obscurity 4:06
9. Brimstone 3:22
10. Yesterday 5:20
11. The Mountain Before Us All 4:23

Band members
Scott Masson – vocals
Jayden Genuis – lead guitar
Luke Baird – rhythm guitar
Justin Wong – bass, vocals
Alex Bull – drums

Album Review – Lifetaker / Herbsthunde EP (2025)

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These German Grindcore and Sludge Metal marauders are back with a caustic new EP, a concentrated, precisely articulated sonic language in which madness and surrender blur into one another.

After crushing the souls of the infields with their 2022 sophomore album Der letzte Raum, Dortmund, Germany-based Grindcore/Hardcore/Sludge Metal marauders (and proud supporters of the antifascist movement) Lifetaker are back in action with a short but extremely aggressive and caustic EP, titled Herbsthunde, which translates from German as “autumn dogs”, or whatever the band means with that, always navigating somewhere between noise, punk, and destructive sonic expression. Presenting themselves as a trio for the first time, formed of KonstanJn Schepes on vocals, Alexander Kämper on the guitars and synths, and Gerrit Vocke on bass, vocals and machines, the band delivers in their new EP a concentrated, precisely articulated sonic language in which madness and surrender blur into one another, continuing to dismantle the boundaries of extreme music since their inception back in 2018.

Totsignal (“dead signal”) is absolutely harsh and experimental from the very first second, with the visceral sounds and demented growls blasted by the trio sending shivers down our spines; and Gerrit turns their music into the sounds of heavy machinery in Schattenkabinett (“shadow cabinet”), while KonstanJn  keeps vociferating rabidly for our total delight. Then leaning towards the music crafted by Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, it’s time for Alpha Centurio, sounding more like Industrial or Experimental Metal than their early Grindcore, followed by Maschinensturm (“machine storm”), and the name of the song says it all, a dissonant, experimental and caustic display of the band’s new sound led by the wicked synths by Alexander and the evil machines by Gerrit. Lastly, we have Herbsthunde der Karpaten (“autumn dogs of the Carpathians”), another song with a very poetic name showcasing a menacing atmosphere that goes on until the very end.

Guitar walls, analog interference patterns, and synthetically distorted cries form an intense acoustic field in Herbsthunde (available in full on YouTube and on Spotify), devoid of comfort, but marked by uncompromising clarity. All that creativity and courage to explore new lands while staying true to their roots is what makes the music by Lifetaker so compelling, and in order to join them in such a unique sonic experience you can find those guys on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course put your dirty hands on their even dirtier new offering by grabbing a copy of it from their own BandCamp. Because Lifetaker are more than ready to take your life armed with the undisputed noises found in Herbsthunde, and you better be prepared as those guys most definitely won’t take no for an answer.

Best moments of the album: Schattenkabinett and Alpha Centurio.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Ván Records/Summer Darling Tapes

Track listing
1. Totsignal 4:08
2. Schattenkabinett 3:01
3. Alpha Centurio 3:26
4. Maschinensturm 3:52
5. Herbsthunde der Karpaten 4:57

Band members
KonstanJn Schepes – vocals
Alexander Kämper – guitar, synths
Gerrit Vocke – bass, vocals, machines