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Album Review – Sanguisugabogg / Hideous Aftermath (2025)

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The ‘Bogg is back in action with an ass-kicking record as gore-obsessed and violence-inclined as their prior works, but with a career-defining command over their ugly art.

Known for being THAT band with the unpronounceable name and unreadable logos, Columbus, Ohio-based Brutal Death Metal/Deathcore entity Sanguisugabogg returns to action with Hideous Aftermath, a record as gore-obsessed and violence-inclined as their prior works Tortured Whole (2021) and Homicidal Ecstasy (2023), but with a career-defining command over their ugly art. Recorded by Zach Weeks, produced by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Recording Studio, and mastered by Mike Kalajian at Rogue Planet Mastering, the newborn beast by frontman Devin Swank, guitarist Drew Arnold, bassist Ced Davis, and drummer Cody Davidson is the work of a band who has already cut a bloody swath into the underground and beyond, leaving any “Caveman Death Metal” tags in the dust while also flexing every muscle they have.

It’s pedal to the metal right from the beginning in Rotted Entanglement, led by the vicious drumming by Cody, almost sounding like old school, primeval Death Metal. In Felony Abuse of a Corpse we face guest vocals by the one and only Damonteal Harris (of Brutal Death Metal beast PeelingFlesh), and of course such an awesome partnership with Devin would result in pure sonic madness, with the riffs by Drew exhaling hatred; followed by Ritual Autophagia, featuring guest vocals by Todd Jones (of Nails), another slamming extravaganza by the quartet with the bass and drums by Ced and Cody, respectively, transpiring heaviness. They show no mercy for our souls in Heinous Testimony, offering an avalanche of unyielding Death Metal, with Devin’s Neanderthal vocals bringing pure hatred to their music; whereas the roars by guest Josh Welshman (of Defeated Sanity) add even more insanity to Abhorrent Contraception, with its lyrics reeking of evil (“Don’t run away, let’s play house, just stay / I’ll send them to their room, just ignore them for one day / And while they’re there, it’s just you and me right here / I’ll do what it takes for us forever”).

The second half of the album kicks off in an ominous manner, with a cryptic tune titled Repulsive Demise, led by the rumbling bass by Ced and setting the stage for the band to  kill us all in Erotic Beheading, with Drew setting fire to the atmosphere with his scathing riffage. In other words, its putrid, vile sound will please all fans of the most demented form of Brutal Death Metal, and needless to say, it will work brilliantly live. The quartet keeps hammering their sonic weapons in great fashion in Sanctified Defilement, with the deep, gargantuan vociferations by Devin sending shivers down our spines; and in Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction we’re treated to the more-than-special guest vocals by Travis Ryan (of the unparalleled metal commando Cattle Decapitation), obviously turning it into one of the top moments of the album, with the instrumental chaos blasted by Drew, Ced and Cody providing such a phenomenal vocal duet with exactly what they need to crack the skies with their visceral roars. Lastly, featuring guest vocals by Dylan Walker (of Full of Hell), Paid in Flesh offers almost eight minutes of the most demonic form of the band’s blend of Death Metal, showcasing lots of break, variations, and of course, endless violence flowing from their riffs, beats, and the gruesome gnarls by Devin.

With Hideous Aftermath, Sanguisugabogg have proven themselves more than just an eccentric death crew on an acid-addled hateroll. They’re both champions of the underground and a musical force unto themselves. “It’s definitely our most death metal record, our most personal record, our most focused and brutal record to date,” commented Devin Swank, who’s waiting for you alongside his bandmates on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and so on. Don’t forget to also stream their undisputed brutality on Spotify, and of course to grab a copy of their excellent new album from their own BandCamp or webstore, from Century Media Records, or by clicking HERE or HERE. Hideous Aftermath showcases a band that’s not just out for blood, but out for YOUR blood, and once you find yourself in the hands of the ‘Bogg, there’s no escape.

Best moments of the album: Felony Abuse of a Corpse, Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction and Paid in Flesh.

Worst moments of the album: Repulsive Demise.

Released in 2025 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Rotted Entanglement 5:37
2. Felony Abuse of a Corpse 5:23
3. Ritual Autophagia 4:48
4. Heinous Testimony 3:20
5. Abhorrent Contraception 5:30
6. Repulsive Demise 4:02
7. Erotic Beheading 2:52
8. Sanctified Defilement 3:32
9. Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction 4:33
10. Paid in Flesh 7:50

Band members
Devin Swank – vocals
Drew Arnold – guitars
Ced Davis – bass
Cody Davidson – drums

Guest musicians
Josh Welshman – vocals on “Abhorrent Contraception”
Travis Ryan – vocals on “Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction”
Dylan Walker – vocals on “Paid in Flesh”
Todd Jones – vocals on “Ritual Autophagia”
Damonteal Harris – vocals on “Felony Abuse of a Corpse”

Album Review – Abraded / Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries (2025)

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The newborn spawn by this American beast sees the band pushing deeper into filth, spewing slime-drenched Deathgrind, balancing frenetic blasting, grooves, grime, and putrefaction with unadulterated passion.

Formed in the festering underground of Cleveland, Ohio in 2018, the ruthless Death Metal/Grindcore entity Abraded delivers raw, repulsive Death Metal rooted in the old school traditions of the genre’s most grotesque pioneers. Drawing influence from legends like Napalm Death, Assück, Agathocles, Repulsion, Autopsy, and Carcass, the band is back in action with Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries, following up on their 2023 offering Unadulterated Perversions. Originally recorded in 2017, mixed by Patric Pariano at Aggressively Uninterested Studios, mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios, with additional drum programming by Black Art Audio, an infernal cover art by Mihály Zichy, and layout by Nestor Carrera, the new album by the band’s mastermind Patric Pariano on guitars and drums alongside vocalist Mark Gallon and bassist David Kirsch sees the band pushing deeper into filth, spewing slime-drenched Deathgrind, balancing frenetic blasting, grooves, grime, and putrefaction with unadulterated passion.

It’s pedal to the metal from the very first second in the demented Ethereal Emanations, with Mark’s gurgling, deranged vocals matching perfectly with the song’s violent vibe, and with Patric kicking some serious ass on drums. Their depraved, gory party goes on in full force in Menticide, perfect for slamming like a wild beast inside the pit, followed by Uroboric Incest, presenting hints of Progressive Death Metal added to its core essence, with their guitars, bass and drums hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly, not to mention all inhumane screeches and gnarls by Mark. And Collectivized Enmeshment is another song where Patric’s riffage will cut your skin deep, supported by David’s thunderous bass punches in a hurricane of first-class, no shenanigans Grindcore.

Compensatory Contrarianism is highly recommended for some vigorous headbanging while Abraded keep firing their trademark riffs and evil vociferations, keeping the album’s aura burning, whereas Theonemesis should sound absolutely amazing and devastating if played live. It’s Grindcore at its finest, with no filters, no fillers, only our good old savagery and hatred, and the band still has a lot of fuel to burn starting with Mass Formation Psychosis, a bludgeoning tune that lives up to the legacy of the style. Chthonic Caries, the second composition to “form” the name of the album, is a bit generic compared to all other songs; while the album ends with its most intricate and demonic tune of all, entitled Theodicy, where Patric distills his Grindcore riff-fueled venom until the very last second like a true beast.

Executed with a relentless DIY ethos that was undoubtable carried over from founding member Patric Pariano, Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries cements Abraded’s status as one of the most promising acts in the resurgence of the American Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore scene, and you can show your total support to such a vicious beast by following it on Instagram, by streaming its gory creations on Spotify, and of course by grabbing a copy of the album from the Redefining Darkness Records’ Bandcamp or webstore (in the United States or the EU / rest of the world), or by clicking HERE. Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries transpires gore, violence, insanity and heaviness just the way we like it in extreme music, and you better brace for impact as once Abraded’s music embraces your darkened soul, there’s no way out.

Best moments of the album: Ethereal Emanations, Theonemesis and Theodicy.

Worst moments of the album: Chthonic Caries.

Released in 2025 Redefining Darkness Records

Track listing
1. Ethereal Emanations 2:04
2. Menticide 2:49
3. Uroboric Incest 2:35
4. Collectivized Enmeshment 2:27
5. Compensatory Contrarianism 3:10
6. Theonemesis 2:43
7. Mass Formation Psychosis 2:48
8. Chthonic Caries 2:52
9. Theodicy 4:28

Band members
Mark Gallon – vocals
Patric Pariano – guitars, drums
David Kirsch – bass

Guest musicians
Evan Crouse – guitars (live)
Brad Moore – bass (live)
Jon Gonzalez – drums (live)

Album Review – Vindicator / Whispers of Death (2025)

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It’s thrash or be thrashed to the sound of the new album by these Cleveland, Ohio-based Thrash Metal torchbearers.

Known for their firebranded approach to songwriting and relentless energy, Cleveland, Ohio-based Thrash Metal torchbearers Vindicator are gearing up for the release of Whispers of Death, the band’s fifth and most destructive full-length album, following up on their 2021 opus Communal Decay. Produced, engineered and mastered by Ben Bennett at Chop Daddy Ranch, and displaying a thrashing artwork by Frank Walls, the new offering by M. Law on vocals, B. Zahn and V. Stown on the guitars, E. Stephens on bass, and G. Monturi on drums is an album that’s definitely true to the band’s roots, being highly recommended for admirers of the violence blasted by bands the likes of Havok, Lich King, Violator, and Megadeth.

The caustic riffs by B. Zahn and V. Stown will drag you to the circle pit in Whispers of Death… Anxiety’s Grip, a pure old school Thrash Metal feast tailored for diehard fans of the genre, and G. Monturi puts the pedal to the metal in Charnel Pastures, turning the song into a hurricane of blast beats, rage and sheer aggression. Then a name like Thirst For Violence demands absolute hatred and animosity, and that’s exactly what the band offers us all, with the demented gnarls by M. Law exhaling Thrash Metal. Then B. Zahn kicks some serious ass with his incendiary riffs and solos in Your World Dies In Flames, another frantic creation by those headbanging bastards, and the band shows no sign of slowing down at all in Exhaustion, with G. Monturi crushing his drums without a single drop of mercy until the very last second.

After that, the instrumental piece Novocain warms us up for Bleed Between The Lines, where the band offers an overdose of pure Thrash Metal led by the venomous gnarls and barks by M. Law. Then in Merry Evenings Make Sad Mournings the entire band is on absolute fire, putting the pedal to the metal and inviting us all to slam like true beasts; whereas M. Law’s vocals sound even more inebriate in Battle Box, while the stringed trio formed of B. Zahn, V. Stown and E. Stephens pound their axes mercilessly. Abominable Intelligence is by far the weakest song of the album, never really taking off nor getting truly heavy or exciting; but they quickly get back on track in style with a fulminating Thrash Metal onrush titled Ripper Attack, spearheaded by M. Law’s devilish roars supported by his bandmates’ spot-on backing vocals, flowing into the apocalyptic and melancholic outro Obsoletion Complete, ending the album on a truly dark vibe.

After all is said and done, you’ll realize Whispers of Death is raw, aggressive thrash – no filler, no compromise and no bullshit – as Vindicator continue to unleash their signature brand of Thrash Metal to diehard fans of the genre and the unsuspecting alike. Hence, you can be caught in their frantic mosh by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their sick creations on Spotify, and of course by purchasing the incendiary Whispers of Death by clicking HERE. It’s thrash or be thrashed, and if you have what it takes to face Vindicator’s newborn beast, I’m sure you’ll thrash majestically.

Best moments of the album: Thirst For Violence, Your World Dies In Flames and Ripper Attack.

Worst moments of the album: Abominable Intelligence.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Whispers of Death… Anxiety’s Grip 5:37
2. Charnel Pastures 3:42
3. Thirst For Violence 6:31
4. Your World Dies In Flames 4:46
5. Exhaustion 3:05
6. Novocain 1:29
7. Bleed Between The Lines 4:59
8. Merry Evenings Make Sad Mournings 4:26
9. Battle Box 2:37
10. Abominable Intelligence 2:45
11. Ripper Attack 4:07
12. Obsoletion Complete 1:07

Band members
M. Law – vocals
B. Zahn – lead guitar, backing vocals
V. Stown – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
E. Stephens – bass
G. Monturi – drums

Album Review – For Your Health / This Bitter Garden (2025)

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A Post-Hardcore/Mathcore creature from Columbus, Ohio will attack your senses with the chaotic intensity and politically-charged lyrics of their sophomore album.

Since their formation in 2018, Columbus, Ohio’s own Post-Hardcore/Mathcore creature For Your Health has been building a reputation for chaotic intensity, visceral live performances, and politically-charged lyrics. Now in 2025 the band currently comprised of vocalist Hayden Rodriguez, guitarists Nick Marzluf and Rosa Delgado, bassist Johnny Deborde, and keyboardist Simona Morales has just released their sophomore album, titled This Bitter Garden, following the band’s acclaimed 2021 debut full-length In Spite Of. Recorded in only 15 days, with the band working with producer Eric Hudson at a studio “repurposed from an old church in the sticks of Illinois”, with an eerie artwork by the band’s own Simona Morales, and featuring session drummer Caden Clinton, the album sounds utterly harsh, haunting and caustic, helping the band in paving their Stygian path armed with their undisputed, impactful music.

The band takes no prisoners and begin distilling their noisy sounds in Davenport (A Rotten Pear), with Hayden screaming manically nonstop, followed by Flowers For The Worst Of Them, bringing forward a great fusion of Hardcore with progressive elements, with Nick and Rosa extracting sheer adrenaline from their guitars. Then the rumbling drums by Caden dictate the pace in the also melodic yet visceral With Empty Promises & Loaded Guns, perfect for some action inside the pit, and it’s pedal to the metal in the demented Gaia Wept, where Hayden’s vile screams are nicely boosted by the song’s violent beats. After such an insane sonic attack, the band delivers more melodic sounds in the form of Clementine, followed by the weird The Radiant Apostasy, a short and eerie display of the band’s core sonority.

Heaven, Here begins in a more serene mode to the sound of the piano by Simona, flowing smoothly while adding a good share of melancholy to the album before all explodes in absolute chaos and madness in Longinus, led by another wicked performance by the band’s guitar duo supported by Johnny’s bass. The Rotting Pair is undoubtedly one of the most detailed and complex of all songs thanks to the amazing job done by all band members armed with their sonic weapons, with Hayden’s striking vocals being the icing on the cake; and they keep hammering their instruments without mercy in In The Valley of Weeping, resulting in another frantic display of Post-Metal with Hardcore influences. Then they need less than two minutes once again to kick us hard in the ass with Lamb Without Fold, with the blast beats by Caden sounding heavier than hell. Your New Curse follows a similar pattern, with Hayden showcasing pure insanity and rage through his screams, and the band concludes their wild feast with the longest of all tracks, Hostel Elysia, starting in an enfolding manner until their venomous vein bursts once again.

“These songs are a true distillation of all the sonic ideas we’ve explored previously and our different interests,” shared guitarist Rosa Delgado. “Hayden has a strong appreciation for film. We’re coupling his world-building and atmosphere with the immediacy, urgency, and brutality of our early material. We’re always striving to challenge ourselves. This Bitter Garden is an expansion of everything before.” Vocalist Hayden Rodriguez also had some interesting words to say about the album. “This Bitter Garden is the first recording where we got to express ourselves as the full band we’ve been playing as for the last four years. Everyone’s voice comes through. We’ve progressed, but it still feels like For Your Health.” Hence, in order to experience the sonic attack by For Your Health in all of its glory, you should start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and above all that, grab a copy of their new album from the band’s own BandCamp, from the 3DOT Recordings’ webstore or by clicking HERE. The music by For Your Health might not seem too aggressive at first, but once you’re embraced by their scorching noise and grim lyrics, you’ll then realize Hardcore has never sounded so intense nd violent.

Best moments of the album: Flowers For The Worst Of Them, Gaia Wept and The Rotting Pair.

Worst moments of the album: The Radiant Apostasy.

Released in 2025 3DOT Recordings

Track listing
1. Davenport (A Rotten Pear) 2:02
2. Flowers For The Worst Of Them 3:18
3. With Empty Promises & Loaded Guns 3:29
4. Gaia Wept 1:40
5. Clementine 3:36
6. The Radiant Apostasy 1:53
7. Heaven, Here 3:10
8. Longinus 1:59
9. The Rotting Pair 4:26
10. In The Valley of Weeping 4:07
11. Lamb Without Fold 1:46
12. Your New Curse 1:46
13. Hostel Elysia 5:01

Band members
Hayden Rodriguez – vocals
Nick Marzluf – guitar, vocals
Rosa Delgado – guitar, vocals
Johnny Deborde – bass
Simona Morales – keyboards, piano, synthesizers, vocals

Guest musician
Caden Clinton – drums (session)

Album Review – Axiom Chaos / Primacy Arrival (2025)

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A new entity has crawled from the boiling swamps that lie in the deepest recesses of the Death Metal underworld, unleashing hell to the sound of their debut offering.

A new entity has crawled from the boiling swamps that lie in the deepest recesses of the Death Metal underworld, a force of terrifying alien power and chilling otherness that is about to bleed insidiously into our reality. I’m talking about Ohio/South Carolina, United States-based Technical/Brutal Death Metal outfit Axiom Chaos, a ruthless creature that’s unleashing upon humanity their debut offering, entitled Primacy Arrival. Bedecked in the visionary artwork of Morket Art (Engulfed, Inverted Ascension), the first full-length opus by the duo formed of Justin Vølus (Vølus, Fall Of Gnosis, Maggot Crown) on vocals and Ben Vanweelden (Venomous Echoes, Ceremonic Buryment) on the guitars, bass and drums will challenge, disturb and dominate, opening new pathways for Death Metal and, therefore, being recommended for fans of Immolation, Vastum, Blood Incantation and Disma, just to name a few.

Justin begins his ruthless vocal attack in The King, I Am, sending shivers down our spines while Ben crafts a caustic fusion of Death and Doom Metal not recommended for the lighthearted; whereas the title-track Primacy Arrival showcases an even more enraged duo, with the riffage by Ben exhaling heaviness and hatred. They keep spreading their sonic violence in The Gift of Recognition, a Brutal Death Metal feast led by Justin’s deep, inhumane roaring, and Justin’s vile shrieks will crawl under your skin in Extraterrestrial Necrotic Urge, while Ben smashes his drums in the name of Death Metal. Let’s then slam into the pit together with Axiom Chaos in Antediluvian Origin Unknown, a frantic, no shenanigans explosion of Death Metal led by the crushing riffs and drums by Ben; and there’s still time for more violence and hatred in the form of Wormhole Pathways of Conquest, with Justin bursting his lungs by roaring like a beast. Finally, Ben sounds once again striking and furious with his riffs and beats in Exodus Into Oblivion, putting a demolishing yet very melodic and vibrant ending to the album.

In Primacy Arrival, Axiom Chaos have fused the devastating impact of Death Metal with the untamable capricious might of pandemonium, invoking strange, compelling visions tailored for admirers of the genre. Hence, if you want to get in touch with such a talented and brutal American duo, you can find those guys on Facebook, stream their music on Spotify, and of course show them your utmost support by purchasing a copy of their incendiary, evil debut from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore. The stairways to the new world are open and the drums of destruction are calling. The fires of war are alight to the sound of Primacy Arrival, a demented display of savagery that will surely please anyone in search for endless violence but with a huge slab of dexterity and melody.

Best moments of the album: The King, I Am, The Gift of Recognition and Exodus Into Oblivion.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. The King, I Am 4:24
2. Primacy Arrival 4:30
3. The Gift of Recognition 4:53
4. Extraterrestrial Necrotic Urge 3:54
5. Antediluvian Origin Unknown 4:25
6. Wormhole Pathways of Conquest 4:22
7. Exodus Into Oblivion 5:24

Band members
Justin Vølus – vocals
Ben Vanweelden – guitars, bass, drums

Album Review – Weed Demon / The Doom Scroll (2025)

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A Columbus, Ohio-based trio returns heavier than ever with their vicious new album, revamping their sludged-out stoner doom with death/thrashing atrocity.

The audio equivalent of bong water spilled on a Ouija board, Columbus, Ohio-based Weed Demon are a 4-piece Sludge/Stoner/Doom Metal beast who continues to push the boundaries of their sound, captivating audiences with relentless creativity and a crushing cosmic vision. Now in 2025 the band formed of Jordan Holland on vocals and bass, Andy Center and Brian Buckley on the guitars, and Nick Carter on drums returns with their third installment, titled The Doom Scroll, following up on their 2020 album Crater Maker. Engineered at StoneRipper Studios, and displaying a stunning artwork by Mont Doom, the album sees the band revamping their sludged-out stoner doom with death/thrashing atrocity, often weaving through hallucinatory dungeon synth passages.

Just hit play and Acid Dungeon will hit us like the soundtrack to a horror movie from the 80’s, sending shivers down our spines before all hell breaks loose in Tower of Smoke, where Andy and Brian begin their riff attack in great fashion supported by the massive, headbanging drums by Nick, with the only problem for me being that it’s an instrumental song (it’s quite decent overall, though). Then we have Coma Dose, featuring guest vocalist Shy Kennedy of Funerals (PGH) and Horehound, sounding a lot stronger and overflowing groove thanks to the striking riffage by the band’s guitar duo, while the vocals by Jordan and Shy sound enraged and mesmerizing at the same time. Roasting the Sacred Bones brings forward more of the band’s acid, visceral Doom and Sludge Metal, with Jordan once again roaring manically supported by the hammering beats by Nick, flowing into the acoustic outro Dead Planet Blues, which puts a cinematic ending to the album. But wait, as there’s a secret track in the vinyl edition of the album, their cover version for Frank Zappa’s Willy The Pimp, originally recorded back in 1969 in the album Hot Rats, with Weed Demon’s rendition being as impactful and vibrant as the original.

The guys from Weed Demon are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, more of their music, their tour dates and so on, and of course you can stream their sludgy and visceral creations on Spotify, as well as purchase a copy of the excellent The Doom Scroll from their own BandCamp, from the Electric Valley Records’ BandCamp or webstore, from the Glory or Death Records webstore, or click HERE for all things Weed Demon. As already mentioned, Weed Demon continue to experiment with different sounds including Thrash and Death Metal in The Doom Scroll without forgetting their core Sludge and Doom Metal essence, resulting in a very dynamic and fresh album while at the same time sounding old school, and based on the quality of their new opus I bet we’ll hear a lot from those Ohio guys in the coming years, always in the name of weed, heaviness and doom.

Best moments of the album: Coma Dose and Roasting the Sacred Bones.

Worst moments of the album: Tower of Smoke.

Released in 2025 Electric Valley Records

Track listing
1. Acid Dungeon 2:42
2. Tower of Smoke 7:33
3. Coma Dose 9:33
4. Roasting the Sacred Bones 6:17
5. Dead Planet Blues 4:49

Vinyl Edition secret bonus track
6. Willy The Pimp (Frank Zappa cover) 6:14

Band members
Jordan Holland – lead vocals, bass
Andy Center – guitars, backing vocals
Brian Buckley – guitars, backing vocals
Nick Carter – drums

Guest musician
Shy Kennedy – vocals on “Coma Dose”

Album Review – 200 Stab Wounds / Manual Manic Procedures (2024)

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Cleveland’s own legends-in-waiting will crush your damned souls with their sophomore album, a brutal slab of old school Death Metal with a contemporary edge not for the faint-hearted.

Following up on their very successful 2021 debut album Slave to the Scalpel, Cleveland, Ohio, United States-based Death Metal legends-in-waiting 200 Stab Wounds are back into the battlefield with their sophomore opus Manual Manic Procedures, a brutal slab of old school Death Metal with a contemporary edge. Produced and mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Mastering, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Steve Buhl, guitarist Raymond MacDonald, bassist Ezra Cook and drummer Owen Pooley is certainly not for the faint-hearted, putting classic gore-themed ferocity back into the metal community’s collective consciousness.

In the opener Hands of Eternity, a grim and sinister start gradually evolves into a demented Death Metal beast where Owen dictates the pace with his furious beats supported by the always metallic bass by Ezra, sounding bestial and damned from start to finish. After such a demonic start, the band needs less than two minutes to smash our cranial skulls in Gross Abuse, with the demented harsh vocals by Steve redefining the meaning of “deep”, whereas their undisputed Death Metal sounds continue to split our spinal cords in half in Manual Manic Procedures, again showcasing Steve’s venomous roars boosted by his own and Raymond’s infernal riffs and solos. Release the Stench is another short and sweet display of savagery by the quartet, offering endless groove and electricity thanks to the amazing job done by their stringed trio, followed by Led to the Chamber / Liquified, an instrumental piece where the first part is just an intro that morphs into a more melodic second half, bringing more of their classic Death Metal (albeit never really taking off).

Back to their more ferocious mode we’re treated to Flesh from Within, with Owen and Ezra hammering their thunderous instruments while Steve vociferates rabidly nonstop; and the bass by Ezra sounds even more metallic and heavier in Defiled Gestation, with Owen accelerating the band’s already killer sonority in great fashion. Then featuring guest vocals by Jami Morgan of Code Orange we have Ride the Flatline, offering our avid ears an explosion of caustic lyrics (“Back against the rail, stones beneath my feet / Fantasies of speeding steel dominate my dreams / Colder than a knife, faster than a gun / Exhilaration, annihilation / Pressure of a ton”) while the music remains violent and heavy until the very end. Finally, closing one of the heaviest albums of the year we have Parricide, where their riffs, bass lines and crushing drums are exactly what Steve needs to bark like a demonic creature.

200 Stab Wounds keep going strong in their demolishing path of old school Death Metal, and Manual Manic Procedures is exactly what they needed to reach new heights with their undisputed violence and musicianship. Having said that, let those Cleveland metallers stab your heart 200 times with their refined extreme music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their sick creations on Spotify, and by grabbing a copy of the ruthless Manual Manic Procedures from the Metal Blade Records webstore or by clicking HERE. Because they’re violent, gory, brutal, and above all that, they’re pure Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Hands of Eternity, Manual Manic Procedures and Flesh from Within.

Worst moments of the album: Led to the Chamber / Liquified.

Released in 2024 Metal Blade Records

Track listing
1. Hands of Eternity 4:44
2. Gross Abuse 1:50
3. Manual Manic Procedures 2:43
4. Release the Stench 2:31
5. Led to the Chamber / Liquified 3:10
6. Flesh from Within 3:11
7. Defiled Gestation 4:24
8. Ride the Flatline 2:50
9. Parricide 4:06

Band members
Steve Buhl – vocals, guitars
Raymond MacDonald – guitars
Ezra Cook – bass
Owen Pooley – drums

Guest musician
Jami Morgan – vocals on “Ride the Flatline”

Album Review – Nogothula / Telluric Sepsis (2024)

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Raise your horns high to the first full-length opus by this talented American Blackened Death Metal band, sounding technical yet brutal, melodic yet malevolent.

Formed in 2021 originally as a studio project amongst three friends to create fun, heavy Death Metal that eventually became a more serious endeavor to create more unique Black and Death Metal, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States-based Blackened Death Metal entity Nogothula has just released their first full-length opus, titled Telluric Sepsis, the follow-up to their 2022 debut EP Gore Vortex Ascension. Recorded by the band itself (vocals, guitars, bass and synths) and by Eric Tuffendsam at Moonlight Studios (drums), mixed and mastered by Noah Buchanan at Mercinary Studios, and displaying a sick artwork by Niklas Webjorn (plus a beyond deadly logo by Crepuscular Gloom), the new album by Eric Payne on vocals and bass, Colton Deem on vocals and guitar, John “Nick” Moeller also on the guitar, and Alex Hooper on drums will please fans of both Black and Death Metal, always sounding technical yet brutal, melodic yet malevolent.

The intro Awakening offers us all the band’s heavy-as-hell, menacing welcome card, with their deep guttural and harsh screeches piercing our minds before Chaospore arrives like a hurricane of blackened sounds, with Colton and John hammering their axes nonstop supported by the massive beats by Alex. Then in Catacomb Cauldron the band invests in a more brutal, visceral Death Metal sound led by the unstoppable drums by Alex, while Eric and Colton keep vociferating rabidly, therefore resulting in a perfect song for igniting some insane mosh pits; followed by Lacerating Vibrations, another infernal explosion of Brutal Death Metal, inviting us all to slam into the pit while Eric and Colton continue to deliver their gruesome double vocal attack. And their avalanche of Blackened Death Metal gets even more sulfurous in Observers of Perpetual Rot, again presenting the wicked riffage by Colin and John accompanied by the always menacing bass by Eric.

They still have a lot more fuel to burn, starting with Labyrinthian Sunken Spires, where their raspy, unfriendly roars match perfectly with all the instrumental devastation crafted with tons of hatred, sounding and feeling absolutely infernal until the very end; whereas Morbid Seas of Stygian Blood carries a beautiful name for a lecture in Blackened Death Metal, sounding very detailed, obscure and caustic thanks to the band’s usual demonic vocal lines and crushing drums. Then the title-track Telluric Sepsis brings forward the band’s trademark animosity and rage without forgetting to sound melodic and vibrant, with Alex stealing the spotlight once again with his massive beats and fills; and lastly, let’s enjoy eight minutes of cryptic sounds, vile passages and the band’s hammering Death Metal in Meandering Comatose Twilight… The Carrion Viaduct, where their guttural vocals sound utterly deep, sending shivers down our spines and obviously closing the album on a sulfurous note.

The guys from Nogothula are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates, more of their music, and other nice-to-know details about the band, letting their caustic sounds penetrate deep inside your psyche. Needless to say, above all that, don’t forget to grab a copy of Telluric Sepsis, which is by the way available for streaming in full on YouTube and on Spotify, from their own BandCamp page, keeping your horns high in the name of Black and Death Metal to the sound of the visceral new album by one of the most promising bands of the current American scene.

Best moments of the album: Catacomb Cauldron, Lacerating Vibrations and Morbid Seas of Stygian Blood.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Awakening 2:19
2. Chaospore 4:39
3. Catacomb Cauldron 4:17
4. Lacerating Vibrations 5:16
5. Observers of Perpetual Rot 3:17
6. Labyrinthian Sunken Spires 5:53
7. Morbid Seas of Stygian Blood 4:30
8. Telluric Sepsis 4:09
9. Meandering Comatose Twilight… The Carrion Viaduct 8:09

Band members
Eric Payne – vocals, bass
Colton Deem – vocals, guitar
John “Nick” Moeller – guitar
Alex Hooper – drums

Album Review – Midnight / Hellish Expectations (2024)

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Filthy, belligerent and obnoxious, the new opus by this american lone wolf offers the listener 25 minutes of blasphemy and depravity that live up to the legacy of Black, Thrash and Speed Metal.

Slaying the metal and punk underground with its own highly addictive brand of lust, filth and sleaze dating back to the band’s inception in 2003, Cleveland, Ohio-based Black/Speed Metal one-man cult Midnight, the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Athenar (aka Jamie Walters), is back with its sixth full-length offering, titled Hellish Expectations, following up on the critically acclaimed album Let There Be Witchery, released in 2022. Filthy, belligerent and obnoxious, Hellish Expectations offers the listener 25 minutes of blasphemy and depravity split into ten infuriated, austere compositions that live up to the legacy of Black, Thrash and Speed Metal, setting fire to the underground scene while Athenar continues to worship Satan armed with his always irreligious and impure sounds.

Get ready to be crushed like an insect by the Punk Rock-infused Speed Metal by Midnight in Expect Total Hell, with Athenar delivering classic 80’s raspy vocals and electrifying riffs nonstop, followed by Gash Scrape, another harsh and visceral creation by Midnight that will surely ignite some fun mosh pits, with Athenar kicking some ass on drums while he keeps roaring and vociferating like a maniac for our total delight. Masked and Deadly keeps the album at a high level of animosity, although not as dynamic as the previous songs; whereas in Slave to the Blade we face a Motörhead-inspired sound that will drag us all into the pit while Athenar sounds ruthless on the guitars and bass, delivering striking riffs and rumbling bass lines throughout the entire song. And let’s keep banging our heads and raising our horns to that sweet trademark depravity from the 80’s in Dungeon Lust, with Athenar once again taking us back in time with his dirty guitars and inebriate vocals.

It’s pedal to the metal as Athenar and his Midnight will attack our senses in Nuclear Savior, again showcasing an amazing fusion of Hardcore and Punk Rock with Blackened Speed Metal, all spiced up by a thrilling guitar solo, and he continues his descent into the pits of hell with the blasphemous and frantic Deliver Us to Devil, with his Speed Metal riffage adding an extra touch of dementia to the overall result, resulting in what’s undoubtedly one of the best songs of the album. Then investing in a heavier headbanging sound, let’s break our necks to the raging Mercyless Slaughtor, where his Black Metal vein pulses stronger than ever; and once again inspired by the dirty Rock N’ Roll blasted by the iconic Lemmy and his crew we have Doom Death Desire, excellent for some beer drinking while Athenar hammers his drums in the name of evil, while F.O.A.L. offers one last explosion of raw, rebellious sounds by our multi-talented lone wolf, with its Speed Metal riffs walking hand in hand with the massive Punk Rock drums.

“It’s a knuckle dragger with a fat cutoff. Pure testosterone meat. Probably the most concise and straight to the point Midnight album to date, and all written in a weekend.  The album was written on pure reaction upon leaving the studio after listening to raw tracks from the previous album Let There Be Witchery.  The final mix of that album was good, but at the time of laying it down in the studio, I didn’t like what I was hearing and demanded a new leviathan of an album to be written that weekend,” commented the unstoppable Athenar about Hellish Expectations, which is by the way available from Midnight’s own BandCamp page or from the Metal Blade Records webstore, and don’t forget to also start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram (because Midnight might be a one-man band in the studio, but Athenar surely summons some wicked musicians to join him on stage for some depraved concerts), and to stream his sick creations on Spotify and on all other streaming services. It’s always midnight in the land of Black and Speed Metal, and I’m sure you’re more than ready to raise your horns nonstop in the name of sheer blasphemy to the sound of this precious gem of the underground.

Best moments of the album: Slave to the Blade, Nuclear Savior and Deliver Us to Devil.

Worst moments of the album: Masked and Deadly.

Released in 2024 Metal Blade Records

Track listing
1. Expect Total Hell 3:29
2. Gash Scrape 2:18
3. Masked and Deadly 2:50
4. Slave to the Blade 1:51
5. Dungeon Lust 2:13
6. Nuclear Savior 2:38
7. Deliver Us to Devil 2:23
8. Mercyless Slaughtor 2:45
9. Doom Death Desire 2:16
10. F.O.A.L. 2:48

Band members
Athenar – vocals, all instruments