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Album Review – Eight Lives Down / Fates (2025)

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This multinational Progressive/Groove Metal four-headed creature is back with its sophomore opus, looking at forces beyond human control and how we respond in the face of helplessness.

Looking at forces beyond human control and how we respond in the face of helplessness, building and exploring tensions created from a sense of unease, Fates, the sophomore album by the multinational Progressive/Groove Metal four-headed creature Eight Lives Down, is a journey into the shadows of mortality. Recorded and mixed by Dan Baune at Tectonic Tone, mastered by Rasmus Andersen at Raw Sound Studio, and with a classy artwork by Diana Sawicka of What the Moon Brings, the follow-up to their 2020 debut Humans turns inward and downward, fixating on death, decay, and forces beyond human control. It’s a gaze into the abyss, and a study in how we respond when all sense of agency is stripped away, all masterfully brought into being by Aliki Katriou on vocals, Paul Allain on the guitar, Marcin Orczyk on bass, and Rodrigo Moraes Cruz on drums.

Dark and sluggish sounds kick off the opening tune Void before exploding into a modern-day blend of Groove and Progressive Metal, all embraced by Aliki’s vicious, raspy vociferations, who also declaims the words to the next song, titled Dog’s Breakfast, with tons of passion (“Everything changed seemingly overnight / Everything messed up and suddenly felt so right / Everyone covered eyes and ears / And climbed inside the anthill / Of despair and death / To practice learned helplessness”) amidst an overdose of heaviness. Fishbones sounds less violent while also leaning towards more melodic and experimental sounds, with Paul’s guitar transpiring electricity; and Aliki’s dark and pensive vocals are perfect for Phobia, again exploding into a feast of heavy and groovy sounds with Rodrigo dictating the song’s frantic pace with his classic beats and fills. Deicide brings forward more of the band’s caustic riffs supported by Marcin’s heavy-as-hell bass and Rodrigo’s killer beats; and Aliki sometimes sounds like a Death Metal version of the iconic Mike Patton, which is obviously awesome, like in the visceral tune The Point.

Then the band switches gears to a more melancholic, darker sonority in Green Light in the Distance without forgetting to blast our faces with their harsh sounds and tones; and the quartet still has a lot of fuel to burn, with Left Behind being a very good example of how they can mix harsher metal sounds with nuances from several non-metal styles. Marcin then blasts his bass, extracting pure metallic sounds in Storm, while Aliki keeps declaiming the song’s Stygian words nonstop (“It starts like liquid, water / One and the same / And I find comfort in the shelter / Hiding from the blame / I feed off you every day / And you infect my mind / In this race of coming out ahead / I’ve already fallen behind”). Constantinople is a bit disappointing compared to the rest of the album, sounding generic at times, but the band gets back on track in The Process of Dying, one of the most diverse, dynamic and vibrant of all songs, with Aliki kicking some serious ass on vocals. Furthermore, the bonus track (available on Spotify) featuring the iconic metal choir Hellscore, directed by Noa Gruman, sounds even more powerful.

Musically, Eight Lives Down maintained their progressive spin, with raw thrash foundations audibly peaking through in Fates (available in full on  Spotify), while the album weaves Greek Zeibekiko, snotty Punk, Black Metal, NWOBHM, and even Brazilian Forró rhythms into a dynamic sonic landscape, being therefore highly recommended for fans of System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Sepultura, Carcass, Pantera, Prong, Faith No More, Lamb of God, and Jinjer. you can find those unstoppable metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and purchase Fates from their own BandCamp page, from their webstore, or by clicking HERE. In other words, simply sit down, relax, and descend into the abyss of heavy music crafted by Eight Lives Down. You won’t regret the experience at all.

Best moments of the album: Void, Phobia, Storm and The Process of Dying.

Worst moments of the album: Constantinople.

Released in 2020 Independent

Track listing
1. Void 4:51
2. Dog’s Breakfast 5:39
3. Fishbones 4:35
4. Phobia 4:28
5. Deicide 4:20
6. The Point 3:17
7. Green Light in the Distance 7:16
8. Left Behind 4:48
9. Storm 7:33
10. Constantinople 4:56
11. The Process of Dying 7:17

Spotify bonus track
12. The Process of Dying (Hellscore version) 7:14

Band members
Aliki Katriou – vocals
Paul Allain – guitar
Marcin Orczyk – bass
Rodrigo Moraes Cruz – drums

Guest musicians
Hellscore – metal choir on “The Process of Dying”

Album Review – Mass Deception / Resurrections (2025)

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The final chapter of the trilogy by this ruthless Dutch Thrash Metal outfit offers a powerhouse fusion of NWOBHM, Heavy, and Thrash Metal, packed with technical precision and explosive songwriting.

Founded in 2015 in The Netherlands with a bold vision to craft a trilogy of albums, Thrash Metal brigade Mass Deception laid the foundation with Revelations (2016) and Redemptions (2019), followed by the EP Halls of Amenti (2022). Now, with Resurrections, the final chapter arrives and it’s heavier, sharper, and more energized than ever before. Produced by Mass Deception and Jörg Uken, mixed and mastered by the same Jörg Uken at Soundlodge Studios, and displaying a sinister cover art by the band’s own guitarist Bänziger, the new album by Klaus on vocals, Waltmans and Bänziger on the guitars, Van Den Beuken on bass, and Sanders on drums is a powerhouse fusion of NWOBHM, Heavy, and Thrash Metal, packed with technical precision and explosive songwriting, drawing influence from genre-defining acts such as Flotsam and Jetsam, Meliah Rage, Laaz Rockit, Nocturnus, Testament, King Diamond and Judas Priest, all while forging a sound distinctly their own.

Rev up your engines as it’s total anarchy and violence in Gain of Function, a fun thrashing feast perfect for banging our heads like there’s no tomorrow, followed by Selling Souls! Buying Lies!, exhaling pure Thrash Metal from the Anthrax-inspired riffs by Waltmans and Bänziger while Klaus declaims the song’s acid lyrics in great fashion. Then after two hard hitting songs in a row, the band offers a more introspective mid-tempo tune titled Menticide, led by the intricate drumming by Sanders, followed by the futuristic interlude Metropolis, before the band attacks once again with 1984, putting the pedal to the metal with their infuriated riffs and classic Thrash Metal beats and fills. And The Road to Hell leads to Rome carries one of the most poetic names out there, offering more of the razor sharp riffs by the band’s guitar duo for our total delight.

Then we face another heavy interlude, entitled Saturn, setting the stage for the band to kick some ass in Ruins of Dominion, where the thunderous bass by Van Den Beuken transpires our good old Thrash Metal. Blue Flame of Anger is another explosion of thrashing madness led by the striking beats and fills by Sanders, putting us all to slam into the mosh pit manically, whereas Passenger of Time and V are two instrumental pieces that despite not being bad tunes, they end up taking away some of the album’s punch. On the other hand, Dark Matter brings back their fury and rage, with Sanders sounding demented behind his drums while his bandmates make sure the circle pit doesn’t stop moving as fast as possible. We’re then treated to the “calm before the storm” in the form of the semi acoustic Druids Descendants, warming us up for Reveal, Redeem & Resurrect, where Klaus takes the lead with his harsh storytelling vocals supported by the crushing drums by Sanders and the always striking riffage by Waltmans and Bänziger.

For the purists, there’s no AI, no MIDI drum computers, no shortcuts in Resurrections. Just raw, honest, and thunderous Heavy Metal, and you can experience all that and get to know more about Mass Deception by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming their incendiary creations on Spotify, and of course by purchasing a copy of Resurrections from the Gruesome Records’ BandCamp. As aforementioned, Mass Deception are sounding tighter and more ruthless than ever in their new album, putting a beyond striking and climatic conclusion to their killer trilogy for the delight of all fans of our good old Thrash Metal.

Best moments of the album: Selling Souls! Buying Lies!, Ruins of Dominion, Blue Flame of Anger and Dark Matter.

Worst moments of the album: Passenger of Time and V.

Released in 2025 Gruesome Records

Track listing
1. Gain of Function 2:41
2. Selling Souls! Buying Lies! 2:33
3. Menticide 4:00
4. Metropolis 1:15
5. 1984 4:37
6. The Road to Hell leads to Rome 4:13
7. Saturn 2:05
8. Ruins of Dominion 2:56
9. Blue Flame of Anger 4:32
10. Passenger of Time 1:48
11. V 1:46
12. Dark Matter 3:21
13. Druids Descendants 3:03
14. Reveal, Redeem & Resurrect 6:36

Band members
Klaus – vocals
Waltmans – guitars
Bänziger – guitars
Van Den Beuken – bass
Sanders – drums

Album Review – Antropomporphia / Devoid of Light (2025)

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These Dutch death deallers return from the underworld with their newborn beast, combining a wide variety of harsh musical textures and emotions into dark and oppressive soundscapes.

Six years after their 2019 acclaimed studio album Merciless Savagery, the ruthless Tilburg, Netherlands-based death dealers Antropomporphia return with their darkest and most brutal record so far, aptly entitled Devoid of Light. Recorded and mixed by the band’s own drummer Marco Stubbe at Aftermath Studio, with further recording by Daan Janzing at Pitchfork Studio, mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound, and showcasing a Stygian cover art by Richard Schouten, the new beast by Ferry Damen on vocals and guitar, Jos van den Brand also on the guitar, Jeroen Pleunis on bass, and Marco Stubbe on drums combines a wide variety of harsh musical textures including fanatical, white-eyed aggression, misanthropic and nihilistic lyrics, and dark emotions such as anger, despair, and pain among many others into dark and oppressive soundscapes.

The gates of the underworld are wide open to the sound of the evil guitars by Ferry and Jos in The Withering Stench of Hope, igniting a headbanging beast of Black and Death Metal followed by the title-track Devoid of Light, sounding and feeling even more obscure than the opening track, with the unstoppable drums by Marco matching perfectly with Ferry’s hellish Death Metal roars. Funeral Throne is another sulfurous, unrelenting attack by the quartet where their pulverizing riffage walks hand in hand with the pounding bass by Jeroen; and then adding elements from Doom Metal to their acid essence, the band fires the even heavier and more menacing In Writhing Rapture, led by the steady and vile beats by Marco in an ode to obscurity.

The second half of the album begins in full force with a demented Blackened Death Metal creature named Cancerous Bane, spearheaded by the always demonic guttural by Ferry; and the band continues to haunt our damned souls with their blend of Death and Black Metal in Unending Hunt, with Jeroen’s bass lines sounding utterly brutal, all boosted by a striking guitar solo. After that, the crushing drums by Marco kick off the venomous Ash Drapes the Earth, accompanied by the blackened riffs by Ferry and Jos, resulting in a lesson in extreme music; whereas In the Shade of the Devils Horns carries a beautiful name for another explosion of infernal Death Metal by such an amazing Dutch horde. And last but not least, the band goes full Doom Metal in Triumphant Death, sounding haunting, evil and melodic, albeit lacking the same punch as the rest of the album.

In a nutshell, Devoid of Light shows the world that Antropomporphia are still hungry to push the limits of both themselves and of the Death Metal scene to new frontiers, inviting us all to crank the volume up to 10 and simply let the album rip, which is quite easy to do as you can grab a copy of this sulfurous opus from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. You can also join such an amazing Dutch horde in total darkness by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping an eye on their tour dates, and staying loyal to the foundations of extreme music while also renouncing all light, exactly like what the band wants you to achieve to the sound of their excellent newborn spawn. And if you have what it takes to face Devoid of Light, you’ll certainly have a very good time together with those bringers of Dutch darkness.

Best moments of the album: Devoid of Light, Cancerous Bane and Ash Drapes the Earth.

Worst moments of the album: Triumphant Death.

Released in 2025 Testimony Records

Track listing
1. The Withering Stench of Hope 5:05
2. Devoid of Light 5:17
3. Funeral Throne 3:28
4. In Writhing Rapture 5:04
5. Cancerous Bane 3:37
6. Unending Hunt 5:32
7. Ash Drapes the Earth 3:47
8. In the Shade of the Devils Horns 4:53
9. Triumphant Death 5:58

Band members
Ferry Damen – vocals, guitar
Jos van den Brand – guitar
Jeroen Pleunis – bass
Marco Stubbe – drums

Album Review – Cryptosis / Celestial Death (2025)

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Netherland’s own Progressive Thrash Metal beast is back with their sophomore opus, expanding their reign of cerebral terror while drawing a red line between the horrors of the present day and the limitless chaos of the future.

Playing what they like to label as “futuristic multi-metal eruption”, Enschede, Netherlands-based Progressive Thrash Metal beast Cryptosis is back after their critically acclaimed debut Bionic Swarm and their 2023 EP The Silent Call with their sophomore offering, titled Celestial Death, expanding their reign of cerebral terror while maintaining their core policy of making epic music that refuses to be pigeonholed. Once again recorded by Olaf Skoreng at The Moon, mixed by Fredrik Folkare, mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, and showcasing a classy artwork by the always amazing Eliran Kantor, the new opus by vocalist and guitarist Laurens Houvast, bassist Frank te Riet, and drummer Marco Prij is a more nuanced and complex affair than their debut album, with lyrics that draw a red line between the horrors of the present day and the limitless chaos of the future.

The futuristic intro Prologue – Awakening will transport us to the metallic realm ruled by Cryptosis in Faceless Matter, with Marco already stealing the spotlight with his unparalleled drumming, offering Laurens all he needs to vociferate rabidly for our total delight in a killer display of Progressive and Technical Thrash Metal. Then the mellotron and synths by Frank will destroy your senses in Static Horizon, another blast of futuristic violence by the trio, followed by their 2024 version for The Silent Call, from their 2023 EP, sounding sharper and more dynamic, with Frank and Marco crafting a thunderous atmosphere perfect for Laurens’ riffs and roars. And in Ascending we face a fast, heavy, in-your-face blend of Thrash Metal and modern, otherworldly elements, sounding utterly vibrant form start to finish.

After the ethereal interlude Motionless Balance, the trio comes ripping once again with Reign Of Infinite, starting in an epic mode thanks to the visceral riffs by Laurens, striking us hard with their cryptic Thrash Metal attack; whereas slowing things down considerably we have Absent Presence, a more pensive, atmospheric tune albeit not as thrilling as the rest of the album. Then back to a more vicious sonority we have In Between Realities, with Laurens screaming manically supported by the metallic bass by Frank and the always demolishing beats by Marco; and Laurens continues to shred his axe mercilessly in Cryptosphere, offering more of the band’s extremely technical blend of Thrash Metal, resulting in by far one of the strongest songs of the album. Finally, we face Coda – Wander Into The Light, a captivating, eerie outro that puts a climatic conclusion to the band’s journey through an unknown dimension.

“We wrote a lot of different material. We had so many ideas, which eventually ended up on a slightly different path – a more cinematic path, I would say. This new record has a much darker atmosphere,” commented Frank, while Laurens also had some remarks about the album compared to their debut. “We learned a lot from our debut album. The biggest lesson we learned was how to create songs that really come together as complete pieces, rather than just combining riffs.” In other words, get ready for the second chapter of Cryptosis by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing Celestial Death from their own webstore, from BandCamp, or by clicking HERE or HERE. The hour is upon us, or maybe I should say the future of extreme music is upon us, led by those Dutch metallers armed with their technical yet always visceral music.

Best moments of the album: Ascending, Reign Of Infinite and Cryptosphere.

Worst moments of the album: Absent Presence.

Released in 2025 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Prologue – Awakening 1:16
2. Faceless Matter 3:52
3. Static Horizon 5:10
4. The Silent Call 5:02
5. Ascending 3:38
6. Motionless Balance 1:48
7. Reign Of Infinite 5:44
8. Absent Presence 4:15
9. In Between Realities 3:47
10. Cryptosphere 4:22
11. Coda – Wander Into The Light 3:11

Limited Edition bonus track
12. Geometry Of A Digital Thought 6:36

Band members
Laurens Houvast – vocals, guitars
Frank te Riet – bass, mellotron, synths, backing vocals
Marco Prij – drums

Album Review – Nephylim / Circuition (2025)

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This Dutch Melodic Death Metal brigade is ready to strike again with their sophomore album, exploring the concepts of “the cycle of life” and “the wheel of fate”.

Founded back in 2015 by friends Kevin van Geffen and Rens van de Ven in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, colloquially known as Den Bosch, a city and municipality in the province of North Brabant, in the Netherlands, Melodic Death Metal outfit Nephylim is ready to strike again with their sophomore opus Circuition, the long-awaited follow-up to their 2020 debut album Severance of Serenity. Produced by Joost van den Broek, Yarne Heylen and Nephylim, with guitars, bass and vocals recorded at Project Zero Studio and drums recorded at Sandlane Recording Facilities, mixed by Joost van den Broek at Sandlane Recording Facilities, mastered by Darius van Helfteren at Amsterdam Mastering, and displaying a captivating artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, the new album by frontman Tijn Bosters, guitarists Kevin van Geffen and Ralph Lentink, bassist Rens van de Ven, and drummer Martijn Paauwe is a conceptual album that explores the concepts of “the cycle of life” and “the wheel of fate”, with each song being connected to a meaning or state of being such as the origin of life or birth, the consequences of old age, or everyone’s perception of the circle of life, always supported by the world famous Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal sound.

The first half of a two-part song is actually an intro, Travail Pt. I – Anima, a futuristic, whimsical composition that works as the calm before the storm that is the second half, titled Travail Pt. II – Animus, with all background elements elevating the band’s Melodic Death Metal to new heights, not to mention the guitars by Kevin and Ralph transpire melody and rage in the best Gothenburg-inspired style, connecting with Amaranth, where Martijn dictates the song’s rhythm with his classic beats, blending the best of bands like Dark Tranquillity, Insomnium and The Halo Effect. Grand Denial is another lengthy, intricate and energetic aria by Nephylim, with Tijn’s deep, enraged roars walking hand in hand with their boisterous instrumental pieces; followed by the title-track Circuition, which sounds even more melodic and epic, with the stylish riffs and solos by Kevin an Ralph embellishing the airwaves in great fashion. In Withered we face lyrics that reek of Melodic Death Metal (“Glimpse upon a tainted mind, Entangled by the heart of man / Reaching deeper and beyond, As the void smothers whole”) amidst a high-octane, metallic sonority, before all comes to an end with Inner Paradigm, presenting some welcome elements from other genres like Groove Metal and Djent, in special in the rumbling bass by Rens.

By pushing the boundaries in terms of overall production and quality, music and lyrical compositions, Circuition (which is by the way available in full on YouTube and on Spotify) is undoubtedly the band’s strongest effort to date, and will surely elevate the band to new heights in the world of heavy music. You can get to know more about those Dutch metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on YouTube and on Spotify, and obviously support such a talented band by purchasing Circuition from BandCamp or Big Cartel, or by clicking HERE. Nephylim are surely one of the torchbearers of the Melodic Death Metal movement in their homeland, and it’s armed with albums like Circuition that they’re going places, ready to conquer new territories while blasting their undisputed music to metalheads worldwide.

Best moments of the album: Amaranth, Circuition and Withered.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Travail Pt. I – Anima 2:24
2. Travail Pt. II – Animus 6:13
3. Amaranth 5:31
4. Grand Denial 6:22
5. Circuition 5:19
6. Withered 6:18
7. Inner Paradigm 6:08

Band members
Tijn Bosters – lead vocals
Kevin van Geffen – guitars, clean & backing vocals
Ralph Lentink – guitars
Rens van de Ven – bass
Martijn Paauwe – drums

Guest musicians
Kevin van Geffen & Yannick Maris – orchestrations

Album Review – Misanthropia / Envy The Dead (2024)

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These Dutch Black Metal veterans are back with a concept album that conjures a dark, gritty atmosphere inspired by historical horrors like Jack The Ripper and necromancy.

For over 20 years, Nijmegen, Netherlands-based Melodic Black Metal horde Misanthropia has been carving a path through the metal scene with their unique blend of blackened fury and Death Metal aggression, and that grim path continues now in 2024 with their fifth full-length offering, entitled Envy The Dead. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Mike Wead (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond), Envy The Dead is a concept album that conjures a dark, gritty atmosphere inspired by historical horrors like Jack The Ripper and necromancy. Moving away from symphonic elements, it embraces a Progressive Death and Thrash Metal vibe with influences from Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Necrophobic, Mayhem, and Death, all carefully brought into being by Bram Koller on vocals and guitars, Dennis Schoenmaker also on the guitars, Pepijn Heilbron on bass, and Hugo de Waal on drums.

The cryptic, cinematic intro Envy the Dead will drag you to the world of horrors ruled by Misanthopia before they crush your soul in Malediction and Laughter, where Bram leads his horde with his austere, sulfurous gnarls supported by the violent yet intricate beats and fills by Hugo. Bram and Dennis showcase their passion for the riff in Organs, for a Fair Price, evolving into a bestial fusion of Death and Black Metal; followed by Prosperity by Cocaïne, presenting over five minutes of Melodic Black Metal for the masses spearheaded by the rumbling drums by Hugo with the help of Pepijn’s massive bass lines. And Hugo continues his path of devastation in Maze of Madness, enhancing the visceral reach of the riffage blasted by Bram and Dennis.

River Dumplings reminds me of some old school creations by Dimmu Borgir with the bands own Melodic Death and Black Metal twist, in special the harsh, piercing vociferations by Bram, whereas the quartet delivers another round of their flammable, caustic sounds in Coughing in the Coffin House, led by the classic beats by Hugo and supported by Pepijn’s devilish bass. Fade into the Abyss, the second single of the album, brings forward the band’s most aggressive side, resulting in a feast of Black and Death Metal where Bram’s vocals sound and feel truly haunting; and their last breath of obscurity and fear, entitled A Deadly Embrace, a Sinister Grace, will pierce our minds with it Melodic Black Metal vocalizations and riffs, not to mention how thrilling the drums sound and feel throughout the entire song.

The incendiary, harsh and devilish Envy The Dead is already available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you can join Misanthropia in their darkened path by purchasing your favorite version of the album by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to also follow those talented Dutch metallers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, helping them keep the spirit of both old school and present-day Black Metal alive, therefore inspiring the band to keep moving forward in the name of extreme music for at least another 20 years.

Best moments of the album: Malediction and Laughter, Prosperity by Cocaïne and Fade into the Abyss.

Worst moments of the album: Maze of Madness.

Released in 2024 WormHoleDeath

Track listing
1. Envy the Dead 2:23
2. Malediction and Laughter 6:12
3. Organs, for a Fair Price 5:47
4. Prosperity by Cocaïne 5:37
5. Maze of Madness 6:25
6. River Dumplings 4:21
7. Coughing in the Coffin House 5:10
8. Fade into the Abyss 4:15
9. A Deadly Embrace, a Sinister Grace 0:41

Band members
Bram Koller – vocals, rhythm guitars
Dennis Schoenmaker – lead & rhythm guitars
Pepijn Heilbron – bass
Hugo de Waal – drums

Album Review – Zen Disdain / Inanition (2024)

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An up-and-coming Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit will reach deep inside your soul with their incendiary first full-length opus.

Formed in 2021 by the creative minds behind the Symphonic Extreme Metal band Esperoza, Enschede, Netherlands-based Blackened Doom/Death Metal outfit Zen Disdain has quickly expanded into a full-bodied act, drawing talented musicians from different bands, having already released their debut EP Premonition in 2023. Now the band formed of Zoya Belous (Zoya, Esperoza) on vocals, Dmitrii Prihodko (Esperoza) on the guitars, Ivo Bijker (Krijs, Dimensional Psychosis) on bass, and Ronny Meinders (Diseased Brains, Death Squad) on drums will unleash their highly anticipated debut album, Inanition, an album that will surely captivate new audiences and solidify their place in the metal world.

The scorching, strident riffs by Dmitrii ignite the venomous opener Everpresent, with its deep guttural vocals sounding haunting and absolutely impressive throughout its almost seven minutes of a first-class hybrid of Death and Doom Metal; whereas a tempest-infused intro explodes into a feast of Blackened Doom in The Shore, also presenting elements from old school Black Metal, in special in the riffage by Dmitrii, with Zoya also delivering classy operatic vocals. It’s truly interesting how the band managed to add hints of an amalgamation of styles to their music, like in The Woods, where we can sense some Gothic and Symphonic Metal nuances thanks to the dynamic vocals by Zoya.

The title-track Inanition will darken your minds and thoughts in the name of extreme music, with the metallic, reverberating bass by Ivo and the pounding drums by Ronny hitting us hard until the very last second; and then investing in a much heavier, more electrifying sonority led by the hammering drums by Ronny we face Spiritual Desert, while Zoya continues to hypnotize us all with her powerful vocals. Symbols again presents a strong and hammering Doom Metal vibe, with the piercing riffs by Dmitrii walking hand in hand with the blast beats by Ronny, and the closing tune What Remains of Us is sluggish and pensive from the very first second, with Zoya delivering her most melancholic, somber vocals lines of the whole album, sounding and feeling like a classic by Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride.

Blending diverse influences to craft a style that’s as haunting as it is dynamic, Zen Disdain are on fire throughout their entire first full-length opus, which you can grab a copy from their own BandCamp page. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and stream their music on Spotify, letting the dark and mesmerizing music by those Dutch metallers reach deep inside your soul while they conquer the world of heavy music with more excellent albums like Inanition, setting the bar high for any other band hailing from their stunning homeland and, of course, darkening the skies with a huge dosage of high quality doom for our total delight.

Best moments of the album: Everpresent, Spiritual Desert and Symbols.

Worst moments of the album: Inanition.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Everpresent 6:48
2. The Shore 6:07
3. The Woods 6:01
4. Inanition 5:57
5. Spiritual Desert 6:37
6. Symbols 7:30
7. What Remains of Us 8:42

Band members
Zoya Belous – vocals
Dmitrii Prihodko – guitars, harsh vocals
Ivo Bijker – bass
Ronny Meinders – drums

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worst moments of the album: The Eye of Providence.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

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

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

Album Review – Defacement / Duality (2024)

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Three years after their latest output, this Dutch Black and Death Metal entity flares its cryptic head yet again with an epic tome of twisted and gnarly emanations, an immersive pathway into the void.

With an inception going back to 2019, Utrecht, Netherlands-based Blackened Death Metal beast Defacement rapidly gained momentum within the underground realms with two full-length records marked by an intense and experimental take on Death and Black Metal, those being their 2019 debut Deviant and their 2021 self-titled album. Three long years after their latest output, the band flares its cryptic head yet again with an epic tome of twisted and gnarly emanations, an immersive pathway into the void entitled Duality. Mixed by Gabriele Gramaglia (Cosmic Putrefaction, Vertebra Atlantis) and mastered by Simon Da Silva (Aversio Humanitatis) at The Empty Hall Studio, Duality is as addictive as it is distressing, a vast landscape of sense and spirit, an ode to the dark night of the soul, a penetrating sonic journey masterfully crafted by Forsaken Ahmed on vocals and bass, Khalil Azagoth on the guitars, and Mark Bestia on drums, sounding unpredictable in its own dynamic, ever-changing form.

Eerie sounds arise from the depths in the opener Optic, sounding and feeling futuristic yet primeval, therefore captivating our senses before the trio smashes our souls in Burden, where a visceral, demented roar by Forsaken Ahmed invites us all to their Stygian lair, not to mention how evil and technical the blast beast by Mark Bestia sound, resulting in a multi-layered aria of darkness alternating between Black Metal-inspired moments and sheer Death Metal bursts for admirers of the most experimental side of both genres. Vagus is another cryptic interlude that brings moments of serenity, yet sounding obscure, flowing into the phantasmagorical Barrier, a fulminating onrush of Experimental Death Metal not recommended for the lighthearted where the riffage by Khalil Azagoth couldn’t have sounded more dissonant and infernal, adding extra layers of violence and insanity to their core sound.

It’s then time for another instrumental piece titled Facial, again presenting the band’s characteristic obscurity and experimental vein, morphing into Scabulous, a very detailed and disturbing creation where the deep roars by Forsaken Ahmed walk hand in hand with the piercing riffs by Khalil Azagoth, all embraced by another bestial performance by Mark Bestia behind his drums. Hypoglossal, their last interlude, will drag us back to the pits of hell together with the trio, consuming our souls until there’s no way back in the 16-minute feast of darkness titled Duality, an absolutely demonic, captivating and grim explosion of Black and Death Metal, showcasing their caustic riffs, blast beats and infernal vociferations, a sonic descent into the abyss presenting all the band’s dexterity and passion for the underworld, ending in a climatic, ethereal and hellish way.

If you think you have what it takes to face the disturbing sounds blasted by one of the most talented bands hailing from the Netherlands, you can start following Defacement on Facebook, stream their wicked creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of the pulverizing Duality from their own BandCamp page, from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp page, or from Sound Cave as a CD or LP. Duality is challenging and confrontational in its invocation of primal forces lying dormant in the world below, and Defacement deserve our full recognition and admiration for continuing to pave their path to total darkness with another excellent album of pure, undisputed extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Burden and Duality.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Unorthodox Emanations

Track listing
1. Optic 2:10
2. Burden 9:48
3. Vagus 2:23
4. Barrier 5:05
5. Facial 2:23
6. Scabulous 6:27
7. Hypoglossal 2:30
8. Duality 16:18

Band members
Forsaken Ahmed – vocals, bass
Khalil Azagoth – guitars
Mark Bestia – drums

Concert Review – Battle Beast (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 05/11/2024)

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The indomitable Battle Beast returned to Toronto during their first ever headlining tour in North America with one of the most vibrant and entertaining shows of the year so far.

OPENING ACT: Blackbriar

Two days after the bards took the city of Toronto by storm with a flawless performance, it was time for another European band to show us everything they got at the always amazing The Opera House. I’m talking about the indomitable BATTLE BEAST, who are headlining a tour in North America for the first time ever after having opened for several bands in the past few years (like for example their show with Kamelot and Xandria last August). Supported by the up-and-coming band BLACKBRIAR, Battle Beast brought endless electricity to the stage in Toronto with their Circus of Doom Over North America 2024, another excellent event hosted by  Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, and another amazing opportunity for both Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I to enjoy some high quality heavy music on a pleasant Saturday night.

The fact the doors opened at 7pm but Assen, Netherlands-based Alternative/Symphonic Metal band BLACKBRIAR only began their concert at 8pn was great, as it gave everyone time enough to buy merch, enjoy some time with their friends, and even get to the venue in time just like what happened to me, as I made it to The Opera House only five minutes before the show due to the insane traffic to get to Toronto. Well, I gotta say I’m very happy I could make it this time, as the band kicked some ass on stage, and I’m sure they’ll get bigger and bigger and return to Toronto sooner than later. Still promoting their 2023 album A Dark Euphony, the band spearheaded by the charming and talented frontwoman Zora Cock was phenomenal throughout their entire set, and the warm reaction of the crowd was visible in the huge smiles on the band’s faces. Their frantic bassist Siebe Sol Sijpkens was on absolute fire the entire time, even having a GoPro attached to his bass during one of the songs, so I guess we’ll see some wild footage of the Toronto show in their social media in the coming days or weeks. Blackbriar are definitely going places, and if you want to know more about one of the rising forces of the Dutch scene, go check their gentle but heavy creations on Spotify as I’m sure you’ll love their music.

Setlist
Crimson Faces
I’d Rather Burn
Far Distant Land
Forever And A Day
Arms of the Ocean
Selkie
Deadly Diminuendo
Lilith Be Gone
Cicada
Until Eternity

Band members
Zora Cock – vocals
Bart Winters – lead guitar
Robin Koezen – rhythm guitar
Siebe Sol Sijpkens – bass
Ruben Wijga – keyboards
René Boxem – drums

BATTLE BEAST

It was close to 9:30pm when Helsinki, Finland’s own Heavy/Power Metal/Hard Rock machine BATTLE BEAST ignited one of the most energetic and fun performances of the city this year, proving why they’re finally headlining a tour in North America. My only complaint as usual is that they didn’t (or maybe I should say can’t) play anything form their older albums, but fortunately the material found in Bringer of Pain, No More Hollywood Endings, and Circus of Doom is awesome enough to guarantee a night of top-notch heavy music for all attendees. In addition, I need to say that their merch is a thing of beauty, offering a variety of items including patches (like the one I got with the band’s logo) and stunning shirts, all for a very reasonable price. That shows how much they care about their fans, and of course if you’re able to afford anything from a band, you become an even stronger fan of that band, right?

As mentioned, their setlist was pretty much a “best of” from their last three albums, with only the Power Metal hurricane Bringer of Pain missing to make it perfect, but of course songs like Straight to the Heart, Eye of the Storm, Bastard Son of Odin (born to kick your ass!) and Wings of Light were more than enough to keep the energy level truly high, resulting in some frantic mosh pits in the floor section, something kind of unexpected for a Battle Beast concert. Of course, all that was only possible due to another breathtaking, undisputed performance by one of the best vocalists of the current metal scene, the incendiary she-wolf Noora Louhimo, who had the entire crowd on the palm of her hands the entire time due to her undeniable charisma, onstage presence and soaring vocals. Moreover, she doesn’t stop dancing not even for a single second, leaving some of us fans breathless just by watching her moving around nonstop.

Also, it’s important to say that as now headliners, Battle Beast made sure they brought the big guns to North America, adding some wild and entertaining elements to their performance. For instance, there was a moment of whiskey drinking where they even shared some cups with the crowd, a more-than-colorful keys-drum-whatever machine guided by keyboardist Janne Björkroth, a cover version for Badfinger’s Without You sung by the band’s electrifying bassist Eero Sipilä, and a guitar-driven version of The Imperial March. And as the icing on the cake, right after that we were treated to a thrilling, pulverizing triumvirate of pure heavy music during the encore with Master of Illusion, King for a Day and Beyond the Burning Skies, putting a brilliant ending to a very successful night for the band, and leaving them more-than-eager to return to Toronto soon, as the city has become one of their favorite places in the world to play. Well, in my humble opinion, they should always return to Toronto as headliners, because they kick ass. PALJON KIITOKSIA, BATTLE BEAST!

Setlist
Circus of Doom
Straight to the Heart
Familiar Hell
Armageddon
Place That We Call Home
No More Hollywood Endings
Eye of the Storm
Without You (Badfinger cover)
Where Angels Fear to Fly
Bastard Son of Odin
Russian Roulette
Wings of Light
Eden

Encore:
The Force Theme / The Imperial March (John Williams cover)
Master of Illusion
King for a Day
Beyond the Burning Skies
Top Gun Anthem (Harold Faltermeyer song)

Band members
Noora Louhimo – vocals
Joona Björkroth – guitars, backing vocals
Juuso Soinio – guitars
Eero Sipilä – bass, backing vocals
Janne Björkroth – keyboards, orchestrations, backing vocals
Pyry Vikki – drums

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