Album Review – Cumbeast / Fairytales Of Filth (2025)

Finish your plate and buckle in, as Finland’s own Brutal Death Metal creature returns with their depraved seventh studio album, their first dive into twisted fairytale territory.

Finish your plate and buckle in, as Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland’s own Brutal Death Metal creature Cumbeast is back with Fairytales Of Filth, their seventh full-length album and the follow-up to their 2019 opus Gore Zoo. Recorded and mixed by Tomi Uusitupa at Oxroad Studios, mastered By Miro Kiiski at Miro Mastering, and embracing new textures without losing sight of their signature groove-heavy and aggressive sound, now enriched by melodic twists, folk influences, and a handful of surprising collaborations the likes of Sami Perttula (Korpiklaani) and John Puig (Phrymerial), the new album by Snoop Rott on vocals and bass, and Rob ‘O Cock on the guitars and additional vocals, plus former drummer Mikko “Fleshpipe Mike” Konki (who left the band after recording the album last year, being replaced by Stinky Minky this year) is their first dive into twisted fairytale territory, pushing their trademark blend of brutal grooves, blast beats, fretless bass, and guttural absurdism into even stranger places.

Cummando sounds and feels heavy-as-hell from the very first second thanks to the scorching riffs by Rob and the venomous beats by Mikko, while Snoop inspires us to slam like true metal beasts; followed by Metham Of Gotham, a first-class Brutal Death Metal extravaganza led by the deep, evil roars by Snoop, perfect for some wild mosh pit action. Then featuring guests Sami Perttula (Korpiklaani) on accordion and John Puig (Phrymerial) on vocals and intro speech we have Captain Cock, where the music sounds as demented as the “story” of its main character; and guest Lukas Swiaczny (Stillbirth) delivers some sick vocal lines in Abacus Of Testicles, with the band’s pounding drums and vicious riffage turning it into a must-listen for fans of the style. Then it’s time for Henri Sorvali (Finntroll, Moonsorrow) to blast some wicked synths in Troll Named Scrot, adding even more insanity to their core heaviness.

Åbomination is another hammering tune by those depraved bastards, with the deep vociferations by Snoop sounding truly inhumane; whereas a lot of groove flows from Snoop’s bass and Mikko’s drums in Forest Fap Frenzy, sounding at the same time perfect for slamming into the pit or for simply enjoying a cold beer in the name of our beloved Brutal Death Metal. In Ghostfuckers I’m not sure if their intention was to add some sort of Rap-like vibe to its core, but it’s by far the weakest of all due to that; and last but definitely not least, Cumbeast still has enough energy to melt our putrid faces with the cryptic, cinematic Spermafrost, sounding like a bulldozer from hell with the guitar by Rob exhaling pure heaviness.

In summary, if you’re a fan of the absurdity and gore crafted by bands such as Dying Fetus, Suffocation, Stillbirth, Aborted, and Party Cannon, you’ll definitely have a very good time listening to the ruthless, visceral Fairytales Of Filth, taking you on a one-way journey into a rotten land where all fairytales end in pure filth. The guys from Cumbeast are waiting for you on Facebook, InstagramYouTube and Spotify with more of their depraved music, news, tour dates, and an endless dosage of sonic filth, and of course you can show them how demented you are by purchasing a copy of their new album from their own BandCamp. Because although some people might think they live in a fairytale, it’s albums like Fairytales Of Filth by Cumbeast that show those people that the reality is a lot harsher and more gruesome than any type of extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Metham Of Gotham, Abacus Of Testicles and Forest Fap Frenzy.

Worst moments of the album: Ghostfuckers.

Released in 2025 Morbid Generation Records

Track listing
1. Cummando 3:18
2. Metham Of Gotham 3:19
3. Captain Cock 3:45
4. Abacus Of Testicles 3:28
5. Troll Named Scrot 3:48
6. Åbomination 3:39
7. Forest Fap Frenzy 2:36
8. Ghostfuckers 3:13
9. Spermafrost 5:06

Band members
Snoop Rott – vocals, bass
Rob ‘O Cock – guitars, additional vocals
Mikko “Fleshpipe Mike” Konki – drums*

*Mikko “Fleshpipe Mike” Konki left the band in 2024 after the recordings of the album, being replaced by Stinky Minky in 2025.

Sami Perttula – accordion on “Captain Cock”
John Puig – vocals and speech on “Captain Cock”
Lukas Swiaczny – vocals on “Abacus Of Testicles”
Henri Sorvali – synths on “Troll Named Scrot”

Album Review – Sepulchral Curse / Crimson Moon Evocations (2025)

This ruthless Finnish horde demonstrates their unmatched ferocity and craftmanship in their third studio album, cementing their place at the very zenith of the global Blackened Death Metal scene.

Arriving merely two years after their bold leap forward with Abhorrent Dimensions, Crimson Moon Evocations, the third full-length opus by Turku, Finland-based Death Metal creature Sepulchral Curse, paints a vivid portrait of a band at their creative and productive peak. Recorded and mixed by Tomi Uusitupa at Oxroad Studios, mastered by Are Kangus, and displaying a dark and sinister artwork by Mark Erskine, the new album by vocalist Kari Kankaanpää, guitarists Jaakko Riihimäki and Aleksi Luukka, bassist Niilas Nissilä, and drummer Johannes Rantala demonstrates their unmatched ferocity and craftmanship, cementing their place at the very zenith of the global Blackened Death Metal scene.

The guitars by Jaakko and Aleksi rev up the band’s deadly engine in Wildfires, quickly morphing into a bestial Death Metal extravaganza to the crushing drums by Johannes, who sounds even more infernal in House of The Black Moon, with Kari’s utterly deep guttural adding an extra touch of heaviness to the band’s core Blackened Death Metal. Then the band goes full Death Metal in The Locust Scar, with the guitars by the band’s axed duo exhaling heaviness and hatred, whereas a sluggish, Doom Metal-infused start gradually evolves into another demented beast by Sepulchral Curse entitled Beneath The Dismal Tides, with Niilas and Johannes building the heaviest ambience of all songs armed with their demonic kitchen.

Then investing in a more melodic sonority it’s time for Empress of The Dead, without of course forgetting the band’s trademark bludgeoning sounds; whereas their second to last sonic attack comes in the form of The Currents of Chaos, with Kari roaring deeply like a demonic creature supported by the vile riffs by Jaakko and Aleksi. Finally, the band brings forward Crimson Passages, again blasting our damned souls with their Doom Metal-infused blackened sounds, showcasing crisp, piercing guitar lines in paradox with the inhumane, gruesome gnarls by Kari, resulting in not only one hell of a bestial song, but also putting a beyond phantasmagorical and haunting conclusion to one of the heaviest albums of the year.

“The backbone is death metal,” states vocalist Kari Kankaanpää about their newborn beast, “but we’ve never shied away from exploring new inspirations and influences, which shape the unique edge synonymous with Sepulchral Curse. Music needs to be dark, heavy and furious!” Crimson Moon Evocations indeed takes an even deeper dive into who Sepulchral Curse are and crystallizes the essence of their sound, helping the band to ascend to the pinnacle of Blackened Death Metal. Hence, if you want to “stay cursed” as the band’s frontman likes to say, you can find the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their wicked creations on Spotify or any other streaming service, and obviously grab a copy of their new album from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp or webstore in the US and the EU, or simply click HERE for all things Sepulchral Curse. In a nutshell, Crimson Moon Evocations is utterly dark, evil and, more important than that, extremely heavy, paving a fantastic path ahead of those Finnish beasts in the years to come.

Best moments of the album: House of The Black Moon, Beneath The Dismal Tides and Crimson Passages.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Dark Descent Records

Track listing
1. Wildfires 4:58
2. House of The Black Moon 6:09
3. The Locust Scar 5:06
4. Beneath The Dismal Tides 5:29
5. Empress of The Dead 6:39
6. The Currents of Chaos 5:09
7. Crimson Passages 6:11

Band members
Kari Kankaanpää – vocals
Jaakko Riihimäki – guitar
Aleksi Luukka – guitar
Niilas Nissilä – bass, backing vocals
Johannes Rantala – drums