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Album Review – Jasmeno / Assemblage of Cinematic Idioms (2026)

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After nearly four years, Poland’s own Avantgarde Metal act returns with a work that not only expands on its existing language, but also redefines it in an almost sculptural spirit.

After nearly four years, Poland’s own Avantgarde Metal act Jasmeno returns with a work that not only expands on its existing language, but also redefines it in an almost sculptural spirit, titled Assemblage of Cinematic Idioms, offering us all six extensive tracks totaling nearly 50 minutes, creating a cohesive, thoughtful structure. Featuring the band’s mastermind Slavomir Nietupski on orchestrations, synthesizers, grand piano and programming, alongside vocalist Brian Gawaski, guitarist Michal Grall (Sinister, Unblessed Divine), and bassist Artur Olkowicz (Art of Illusion, Mechanism), as well as an array of guest musicians including Bartlomiej Krysiuk (Patriarkh, Batushka), Marc Grewe (Morgoth, Insidious Desease), Snorre Ruch (Thorns, Satyricon), and Yusaf Parvez (DHG, Dødheimsgard), among many others, Assemblage of Cinematic Idioms is a musical assemblage in its purest form – fragmented yet coherent, multi–layered yet subordinated to a single vision without the use of artificial intelligence solutions. Produced by Slavomir Nietupski and Tangled Records, mixed and mastered by Jakub Mankowski at Sounds Great Promotion Studio, and with all graphic design, hand paintings and layout by Slavomir NietupskiIn (in memory of Wladyslaw Hasior), the album is not about being an easily digestible beauty, but about the intensity of experiences and the recurring desire to commune with the Jasmeno universe.

The opening track Synesthesia Imperialis offers a cinematic intro that gradually evolves into a bestial display of the band’s core avantgarde and experimental sounds, with the powerful vocals by Brian walking hand in hand with all riffs, bass lines and imposing orchestrations by Michal, Artur and Slamovir; followed by A Code of Equivocation, another beautiful, bold and captivating creation by the quartet, alternating between heavier moments and pure atmospheric, introspective passages, with their guitars exhaling fire. Then venturing through the realms of Epic and Melodic Death Metal we have His Rebirth, again presenting an imposing ambience that will embrace our souls in darkness; and their riffs and solos will pierce our minds in The Void, while Brian’s vocals are back to their more epic vibe, like the soundtrack to a futuristic thriller, not to mention how charming the piano sounds. The Provocation ov Fate is as intense and vibrant as its predecessors, with the band once again delivering an overdose of Avantgarde Metal magic, Needless to say, it should sound incredible if played live, whereas lastly we face Seduced by Ambiguity, a more introspective, grim creation that concludes the album on a Stygian mode, with all guitars sounding menacing.

Emerging as a complete work both conceptually and in terms of execution, Assemblage of Cinematic Idioms offers a sonic matrix that resembles an assembly line more than a classic album – a space in which each element has its own name, but only when fully assembled does it reveal its full meaning, based on the principles of collaboration and openness. Not only that, the diversity of personalities found in the album gives the entire piece additional depth and a distinctive character among contemporary productions, with each guest bringing their own idiom – a distinct, yet unique language of emotion and sophisticated experiences. Having said all that, you should definitely give Slavomir and his Jasmeno a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course purchase their striking new album from BandCamp. Assemblage of Cinematic Idioms might not be an easy listen at first, but once the music hits you, get ready for a wild ride together with one of the most interesting bands of the Polish music scene.

Best moments of the album: Synesthesia Imperialis and The Provocation ov Fate.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Tangled Records

Track listing
1. Synesthesia Imperialis 10:12
2. A Code of Equivocation 8:03
3. His Rebirth 5:19
4. The Void 8:08
5. The Provocation ov Fate 7:55
6. Seduced by Ambiguity 8:15

Band members
Brian Gawaski – vocals
Michal Grall – guitars
Artur Olkowicz – electric & fretless bass
Slavomir Nietupski – orchestrations, synthesizers, grand piano & programming

Guest musicians
Bartlomiej Krysiuk – vocals
Marc Grewe – vocals
Slawomir Slavo Maryniewski – vocals
Snorre Ruch – vocals
Joanna Zondlowska – vocals
Sasha Janowicz – vocals
Yusaf Parvez – vocals, electric guitars
Lecia Louise – electric & acoustic guitars
Piotr Filonowicz – electric guitars
Mariusz Domaradzki – electric guitars
Marek Depa – electric guitars
Tomasz Andrzejewski – electric guitars
Jakub Wagner – flamenco guitars
Lukasz Kowalski – electric guitars
Robert Kolakowski – synthesizers
Ryszard Kramarski – synthesizers

Album Review – Leper Colony / Those of the Morbid (2025)

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The unstoppable Marc Grewe and Rogga Johansson are back with their infuriated sophomore album, once again bringing forth a ruthless, violent fusion of German and Swedish Death Metal styles with classic American influences.

The ruthless, violent result of wedding German and Swedish Death Metal styles with classic American influences, Death/Thrash Metal entity Leper Colony is back with  Those of the Morbid, the follow-up to their 2023 self-titled album, blasting our faces once again with their harsh, no shenanigans blend of extreme music. Recorded by Rogga Johansson at The Rotpit, with vocals and moth harp recorded by Marc Wüstenhagen at Daily Hero Recording Studios, mixed and mastered by Håkan Stuvemark at Necrotic Audio Productions, and featuring a classic Death Metal artwork by Felipe Mora, the new album by the infernal duo formed of Marc Grewe (Morgoth, Insidious Disease, Asinhell) on vocals and Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Revolting) on guitars and bass, supported by Håkan Stuvemark (Wombbath) on lead guitars, and Jon Rudin (Monstrous, Dead Sun) on drums is perfect for fans of Obituary, Death, Pestilence and Insidious Disease, delivering a pure, unfiltered fusion of Death and Thrash Metal with no fillers, just killers.

Håkan  and Rogga waste no time and kick off their shredding attack in Facing the Faceless, with Marc quickly joining his bandmates with his demented screams, followed by Masters Voice, a pulverizing fusion of Death and Thrash Metal led by the crushing beats by Jon, being perfect for some demented action inside the pit. Their hammering sounds continue to pound our cranial skulls in The Age of Insanity, with the band’s guitar duo extracting sheer aggression from their axes, and it’s time for a brutal, demented metal attack by Leper Colony titled Flesh to Rot to Ashes, with Jon demolishing his drums manically. and it looks like their thrashing Death Metal party has no time to end, as Realm of Madness once again presents the trademark scorching riffs by Rogga burning our skin mercilessly.

Then the metallic riffs and bass lines by Rogga set the tone in the also infuriated Those of the Morbid Inclination, offering more of the band’s blend of Death and Thrash Metal while Marc vociferates like a devilish creature; whereas it’s pedal to the metal in the frantic Apocalypse Whore, with Håkan kicking off the song with a wicked guitar solo before everything converges into a hurricane of thrashing and deadly sounds. Then featuring guest Oliver Recker armed with his mouth harp, Leper Colony crafts an overdose of heaviness in the gruesome, evil Creature from the Deep, an excellent depiction of their core sound. Lastly, after endless devastation the band offers the horror movie-inspired track A Story in Red, sounding dark and heavy albeit lacking the same punch as the rest of the album.

Rogga Johansson is undoubtedly one of the most hardworking musicians to ever arise from the Swedish metal scene, making it impossible to keep track of all of his bands and projects, but if there’s one band that deserves a listen from all of his endeavors, that’s Leper Colony. His partnership with Marc Grewe is amazing, and that synergy translates into an overdose of aggression and rage in the music by Leper Colony. Those unstoppable metallers are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram, they’re ready to kick your ass with their putrid sounds on Spotify, and you can obviously purchase Those of the Morbid from the band’s own BandCamp, from the Testimony Records’ webstore, or by clicking HERE, showing your support and admiration to the underground as a whole. Because it doesn’t matter if it’s with Leper Colony, Paganizer, Ribspreader or any other of his projects, Rogga Johansson is going to get you, no matter how far, nor how morbid.

Best moments of the album: Flesh to Rot to Ashes, Those of the Morbid Inclination and Apocalypse Whore.

Worst moments of the album: A Story in Red.

Released in 2025 Testimony Records

Track listing
1. Facing the Faceless 3:21
2. Masters Voice 3:40
3. The Age of Insanity 3:35
4. Flesh to Rot to Ashes 3:10
5. Realm of Madness 3:23
6. Those of the Morbid Inclination 3:49
7. Apocalypse Whore 3:31
8. Creature from the Deep 3:40
9. A Story in Red 4:14

Band members
Marc Grewe – vocals
Håkan Stuvemark – lead guitars
Rogga Johansson – guitars, bass
Jon Rudin – drums

Guest musician
Oliver Recker – mouth harp on “Creature from the Deep”

Album Review – Leper Colony / Leper Colony (2023)

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***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

I’m very much of the opinion that Rogga Johansson doesn’t sleep! How can he sleep with a list of bands and projects that would keep a civil servant happy for a decade? His latest endeavour is the Death/Thrash Metal triumvirate Leper Colony, who have chosen Friday the 13th of January as a suitable date to unleash their debut self-titled album through Transcending Obscurity Records.

You can’t ask for a more powerful opener than The Human Paradox; a blistering track of intensive Death Metal ferocity and wild thrashing aggression. Deep growled vocals bring to life a very captivating chorus section whilst chugging riffs and frenzied drumming complete with punishing bass and extravagant guitar melodies. ‘Perdition’s End’ is a more direct and hard-hitting track with simpler riffs and in-your face vocals, though the rhythm guitar here has a cold tinge to it that is rather enigmatic.

There is little variation to this opus which spans just over the half an hour mark, save for the odd passage of slower, groovier rhythm such as during tracks like Rapture Addict. However, the ferocious aggression, raging guitar solos and fuck you attitude certainly make up for that! A very listenable album full to the gills with mighty riffs, energetic urgent drumming styles and unadulterated violence.

Best moments of the album: The roaring opener that is The Human Paradox.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 by Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. The Human Paradox 4:22
2. Perdition’s End 3:19
3. The Surgical Undeadvors 3:43
4. Tar and Feathers 3:15
5. Rapture Addict 4:40
6. Leper Colony 4:35
7. A Flow So Greatly Macabre 3:20
8. Flesh Crawl Demise 3:24
9. Gruesome End 2:55

Band members
Marc Grewe – vocals
Rogga Johansson – guitars, bass
Jon Skäre – drums

Links
Leper Colony Facebook | YouTube | BandCamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon