Tag Archives: progressive death metal

Album Review – Autopsy / Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts (2023)

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Oakland, California’s own Death Metal institution is back with their pulverizing ninth studio album, featuring brutal bouts of riffery feral attacks, soul crushing doom and all out skull splitting heaviness.

Likely needing no introduction, Oakland, California’s own metal institution Autopsy has been a pioneering Death Metal band for 36 years now. They’ve influenced a generation of bands with their brutal, unhinged brand of violent, grotesque Death Metal with classic releases like Mental Funeral and Severed Survival, and now in 2023 the band formed of Chris Reifert on vocals and drums, Eric Cutler on vocals and guitars, Danny Coralles on the guitars, and Greg Wilkinson on bass returns to the battlefield with their ninth studio album, titled Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts. Recorded by Scott Evans and Greg Wilkinson at Sharkbite Studios, mixed by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studio, mastered by Ken Lee at Ken Lee Mastering, and displaying a visceral artwork by Wes Benscoter, the album follows last year’s acclaimed Morbidity Triumphant, while also featuring brutal bouts of riffery feral attacks, soul crushing doom and all out skull splitting heaviness recommended for fans of Obituary, Suffocation, Immolation and Deicide, just to name a few.

Eric and Danny begin their rabid riff attack in Rapid Funeral, a no shenanigans, ass-kicking Death Metal composition that exhales heaviness, rage and violence, and the band needs a little less than three minutes to crush our cranial skulls in Throatsaw, with the hammering drums by Chris walking hand in hand with all deep, guttural vocals blasted throughout the song. Then slowing things down a bit but keeping the atmosphere dark and evil we have No Mortal Left Alive, with Greg adding an extra touch of obscurity to the overall result with his low-tuned bass; whereas their devilish riffs and bass accompanied by the ruthless drums by Greg will haunt your souls in Well of Entrails, offering more of the band’s trademark Death Metal, followed by the title-track Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts, where not only they continue to demolish our senses with their undisputed extreme sounds, but there are also hints of Progressive Death Metal and even Doom Metal added to it to make things even more infernal.

And the band’s guitar duo shows no mercy for our spinal cords in Bones to the Wolves, inspiring us to slam into the pit while they deliver sheer awesomeness through their riffs and solos; whereas their guitar madness goes on in Marrow Fiend, also presenting their traditional harsh growls spiced up by the doomed beats by Chris, followed by Toxic Death Fuck, and a beautiful name obviously needed an uncompromised, demonic sonority, which is exactly what Autopsy offer us all with the guitars by Eric and Danny exhaling heaviness. Get ready to break your neck in the name of Death and Doom Metal in Lobotomizing Gods, once again proving why Autopsy are one of the most beloved bands of the underworld, and it’s then time for a destructive onrush titled Death Is the Answer, perfect for diving into the circle pit in the name of gore and violence, with Chris dictating the song’s pace with his demolishing beats. Lastly, the quartet invests in their most Doom Metal vein in Coagulation, bringing to our avid ears gargantuan, vile roars, disturbing riffs and sluggish beats until the very end.

You can see what such important name of the Death Metal scene is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, stream all of their incendiary albums on Spotify, and of course grab your copy of Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts by clicking HERE. Based on the quality of the music found in their 2022 album Morbidity Triumphant, and specially on their newborn beast Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts, the guys from Autopsy are far from calling it quits, keeping the fires of old school Death Metal burning and, consequently, inviting us all to get into the pit together with them like there’s no tomorrow, and may we keep getting more and more albums of pure, unfiltered Death Metal like their latest installment in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Throatsaw, Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts and Death Is the Answer.

Worst moments of the album: No Mortal Left Alive.

Released in 2023 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. Rapid Funeral 5:02
2. Throatsaw 2:31
3. No Mortal Left Alive 4:35
4. Well of Entrails 5:06
5. Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts 3:45
6. Bones to the Wolves 4:16
7. Marrow Fiend 3:32
8. Toxic Death Fuck 2:41
9. Lobotomizing Gods 2:34
10. Death Is the Answer 3:41
11. Coagulation 3:38

Band members
Chris Reifert – vocals, drums
Eric Cutler – vocals, guitars
Danny Coralles – guitars
Greg Wilkinson – bass

Album Review – Horrendous / Ontological Mysterium (2023)

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Philadelphia’s filthiest and finest Progressive Death Metal band returns in full force with their fifth studio album, a labyrinth where the deeper in you go, the more it twists and churns, luring you toward some monstrous final battle.

Five years after their latest album Idol, Philadelphia’s filthiest and finest Progressive Death Metal band Horrendous is finally back with their fifth full-length instalment, titled Ontological Mysterium, a love letter to Death, Atheist and other classics from the late 80’s and early 90’s. Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by the band’s own Damian Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios, and displaying a sick artwork by Alex Brown and Brian Smith, Ontological Mysterium is a labyrinth where the deeper in you go, the more it twists and churns, luring you toward some monstrous final battle, all masterfully brought into being by the aforementioned Damian Herring on vocals and guitars alongside Matt Knox also on vocals and guitars, Alex Kulick on bass, and Jamie Knox on drums.

A Stygian invocation titled The Blaze warms up the listener for the infernal metal attack that’s about to come in Chrysopoeia (The Archaeology of Dawn), a fast and demolishing tune where the riffs by Damian and Matt set fire to the atmosphere spiced up by the song’s demented lyrics (“Immerse me / In jubilant flames / With iridescent tongue / Lick away the skin / Don’t dare be kind / Paralyze me in paraffin / And spark the match”). Then blending the madness and creativity of Mastodon with their own Death Metal vein we have Neon Leviathan, and the result is a crushing tune where Alex steals the spotlight with his metallic, groovy bass punches; followed by Aurora Neoterica, bringing forward two minutes of sheer insanity, progressiveness and atmospheric passages where Jamie and Alex make an amazing duo with their respective beats and bass lines, flowing into the intricate Preterition Hymn, where the quartet once again blasts our ears with their sonic extravaganza, delivering a sick fusion of harsh growls and clean vocals (albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album).

In the wicked Cult of Shaad’oah  we’re treated to more of their lunatic words (“Beat me back but I’ll keep on climbing / When you’re lost in the dreams / Of the dead / And the final sun burns / Oh, the battle begins… / Prepare for brutal ascent”) amidst a fantastic Progressive Death Metal sonority led by the band’s guitar duo’s caustic riffage; whereas switching gears to a darker, heavier sound with a dense atmosphere, it’s time for the cryptic Exeg(en)esis, once again blasting our ears with their chaotic yet extremely melodic riffs, beats and bass lines, or in other words, a weird creation that fits really well in the album, followed by the Progressive Metal-infused title-track Ontological Mysterium, where Horrendous showcase all their insanity and passion for heavy music. Moreover, Jamie is amazing as usual behind his drums while the diversity of vocal styles again reminds me of some of the best songs by Mastodon. Lastly, how about another explosion of Progressive Death Metal to close the album on a high note? That’s what you’ll get in The Death Knell Ringeth, with the whole song sounding very compelling and dynamic, while the guitars by Damian and Matt exhale sheer electricity.

“At this point, we want to wave the Horrendous banner high in a way that we perhaps didn’t around Idol and continue on this path that we’ve forged,” said the band’s talented drummer Jamie Knox. “We are very proud of Ontological Mysterium and what our band has become – it’s almost like we’ve figured out how to make this band work amidst the wildness of adult life. This entity feels worth celebrating and feeding to see where it might take us next.” Hence, go check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their tour dates and plans for the future, and of course go grab a copy of Ontological Mysterium from the Season of Mist webstore, as well as by clicking HERE or HERE, and don’t forget to also stream such demonic album in full on YouTube and on Spotify. Having said all that, what are you waiting for to enter the labyrinth of progressive, technical and extremely heavy Death Metal crafted by Horrendous in their infernal new album?

Best moments of the album: Chrysopoeia (The Archaeology of Dawn), Cult of Shaad’oah and Ontological Mysterium.

Worst moments of the album: Preterition Hymn.

Released in 2023 Season of Mist

Track listing
1. The Blaze 2:00
2. Chrysopoeia (The Archaeology of Dawn) 7:16
3. Neon Leviathan 3:30
4. Aurora Neoterica 1:56
5. Preterition Hymn 3:58
6. Cult of Shaad’oah 5:24
7. Exeg(en)esis, 3:38
8. Ontological Mysterium 4:44
9. The Death Knell Ringeth 5:20

Band members
Damian Herring – guitars, vocals
Matt Knox – guitars, vocals
Alex Kulick – bass
Jamie Knox – drums

Album Review – Olkoth / At The Eye Of Chaos (2023)

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A newborn Blackened Death Metal entity formed of seasoned underground musicians is ready to kill with their debut album, a deadly, ferocious extreme music feast that’s absolutely true to the band’s brutal and blackened roots.

Dedicated to the memory of Vance Reon Jeffcoat, former drummer of the band who died of cystic fibrosis in 2017 at the age of 36, At The Eye Of Chaos, the debut opus by Columbia, South Carolina-based Blackened Death Metal outfit Olkoth, is a deadly, ferocious extreme music feast taking the animosity of Nile and Hate Eternal and bringing it even further, while also taking inspiration from the occult, horror, mythology and corruption throughout history. Recorded and Produced by the band itself at Hexology Studios, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström at Björnström Ljud & Produktion, and displaying an sick, nightmarish artwork by Paolo Girardi, the album offers a unique and brutal blend of Death and Black Metal by Zach Jeter on vocals and guitars, Hunter Ross also on the guitars, and Alex Rush on bass and backing vocals, supported by session drummer Krzysztof Klingbein (10 Plagues, Deathspawn, Resurrection), sounding utterly loyal and true to the band’s brutal and blackened roots.

The band’s devilish and obscure side arises majestically in the opening tune Alhazred, inspired by Abdul Alhazred, a fictional character created by American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, with Zach sounding inhumane on vocals while Krzysztof pounds his drums in the name of darkness. Then after such infernal start it’s time for more of the band’s acid lyrics in Incendiary Prayer (“For the lord who knows all that is / Has promised the crown of an Emperor / Giving power to the false / Who pray spinelessly to god as their greed becomes our overlord”), another bestial Death Metal creation by Olkoth; whereas the demonic riffs by Zach and Hunter are beautifully complemented by the metallic bass by Alex in The Resurrectionist, a heavy-as-hell, deep and dense metal attack that keeps the album as sulfurous as possible. And Thousand Faced Moon sounds and feels extremely intricate, or in other words, it’s a multi-layered and incendiary lecture in Blackened and Progressive Death Metal led by the venomous drumming by Krzysztof.

To Eat Of The Lotus is another excellent tune showcasing darkly poetic lyrics (“Lost within this self-made haze of gnarled delusion / You create deception to hide your life’s failures / Bury all of your demons; you’re too weak to face them / To eat of the lotus, you’ll abandon all that’s sacred”) and the demolishing kitchen by Alex and Krzysztof; and a sinister intro quickly explodes into a Stygian fusion of Black and Death Metal titled Eidolon In The Flames, with the guitars by Zach and Hunter exhaling sulfur while Zach deeply growls for our total delight. Following such high level of insanity we have Lords Of The Kali Yuga, one of the most devastating songs of the album (and let’s not forget it is already an album that overflows brutality and rage) where Zach leads his horde with his hellish screams supported by the stone crushing beats by Krzysztof, flowing into the title-track At The Eye Of Chaos, closing the album in a stylish manner with all band members generating a vile yet progressive wall of sounds tailored for admirers of Blackened Death Metal.

If you want to experience At The Eye Of Chaos in all of its glory, you can stream the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show all your support to the underground you can purchase a copy of the album by clicking HERE (mailorder) or HERE (BandCamp), or visit this link for all things Olkoth. In addition, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with all of their tour dates, news and other details, adding even more first-class Black and Death Metal into your life. Olkoth might be a new name from the underground scene, but its members are seasoned veterans from an array of amazing bands the likes of Rapheumets Well, Enthean, Lecherous Nocture and Imperium, and that experience certainly helped the band to achieve the amazing quality of the music found in At The Eye Of Chaos, offering us all another very good reason to keep banging our heads and leaving us eager for more of the music by those skillful musicians. I’m sure Vance is also banging his head inspired by the music by his friends wherever he might be.

Best moments of the album: Alhazred, Thousand Faced Moon and Lords Of The Kali Yuga.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Alhazred 4:26
2. Incendiary Prayer 3:58
3. The Resurrectionist 3:41
4. Thousand Faced Moon 4:21
5. To Eat Of The Lotus 5:24
6. Eidolon In The Flames 4:31
7. Lords Of The Kali Yuga 3:20
8. At The Eye Of Chaos 5:19

Band members
Zach Jeter – vocals, rhythm & lead guitars
Hunter Ross – rhythm & lead guitars
Alex Rush – bass, backing vocals

Guest musician
Krzysztof Klingbein – drums (session)

Album Review – Fall Of Earth / From The Ashes (2023)

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A young and rising Canadian Progressive Death Metal and Metalcore act will attack your senses mercilessly with their incendiary and very personal sophomore album.

Hailing from the Canadian city of Edmonton, Alberta, the up-and-coming Progressive Death Metal/Metalcore band Fall Of Earth (a play on words that reflects their core belief that the world is experiencing a multitude of issues including climate change, war and mass extinctions that is leading us all to a darker place as a society) has unleashed this year their sophomore beast titled From The Ashes, highly recommended for fans of Trivium, Gojira, Dream Theater, Periphery and Mastodon, among others. Playing what they like to label as “Hybrid Metal”, with elements of Metalcore, Death, Thrash, Groove, Nu and Progressive Metal combined into a sound all their own, the band formed of Inuit frontman Alex Rye, guitarist Brody Bauer, bassist Aaron Winklmeier  and drummer Brendan Meilleur delivers everything you want in a metal album and more in From The Ashes, with the crisp production, mixing and mastering by Diego Fernandez at Oracle Recording Studios and the fiery artwork designed by the band itself turning the album into the perfect follow-up to their 2020 debut self-titled effort, and a must-listen for anyone who enjoys the more modern version of heavy music found in North America.

The opener Medusa is a feast of Progressive Death Metal form the very first second spearheaded by the classic riffs by Brody supported by the rumbling bass by Aaron, which is pretty much everything Alex needs to blast both his evil roars and cleaner, enraged vocals; whereas investing in a more melodic sonority it’s time for the quartet to deliver a hybrid of violence and harmony in The Dead And Soon To Be, perfect for breaking your neck headbanging to the pounding beats by Brendan. Alex keeps showcasing his wide vocal range, easily going from deep guttural to gentle clean vocals, in Block Out The Sun, a beautiful composition by Fall Of Earth that will please all fans of bands like Mastodon and Trivium, and the classic beats and fills by Brendan invade our ears once again in Path To Self Destruction, while Alex continues to vociferate rabidly nonstop.

It’s then time for almost ten minutes of progressiveness, groove and a hurricane of different emotions titled Crossroads, blending the Progressive Metal of Mastodon with the band’s own Metalcore twist. Moreover, it’s two thumbs up to Alex for such impressive and flawless vocal performance, resulting in one of the album’s most detailed and thrilling songs. The title-track From The Ashes, which speaks levels on childhood abuse, reclamation and metamorphosis, will bring to your ears the band’s most demonic and heaviest side, presenting the trademark scorching riffs by Brody and the metallic bass lines by Aaron, followed by Shores Of War, another Trivium-infused creation that will certainly ignite some fun circle pits and a lot of headbanging, spearheaded by another incendiary performance by Brody armed with his axe. After that, sheer electricity and rage flow nonstop in the excellent Purgatory, elevating the album’s punch considerably thanks to Alex growling like a beast supported by the intricate drumming by Brendan, and lastly those talented Canadian boys deliver another round of their modern-day metal music in Into The Woods, again investing in their most progressive vein. It’s not a bad song, but it could have been slightly heavier and more climatic.

The multi-layered and exciting From The Ashes, which is available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, will definitely help Fall Of Earth go places, effectively increasing the quality of their music and, therefore, attracting the attention of fans and critics worldwide in a very positive way. Hence, you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news and tour dates (and they kick ass live by the way, like what I was able to witness at The Rockpile in Toronto earlier this year), subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music, and grab a copy of the album by clicking HERE. “The album is a consistent ride full of ups and downs, with no breaks. We’ve taken our heavy sections and made them heavier, and taken our softer sections and made them more impactful.  We have carefully calculated all the dynamics and structures of each song so each second of every track serves a purpose. This record has pieces of us personally etched into the music, so we could share who we are and what our minds look like on an audio basis. As far as the listening experience goes, with all this being said, we hope for our fans to feel the love and importance that music has had on our lives, and pass that on to them through our own interpretation,” commented the entire band about their new album, showing not only how much those young guys love heavy music, but also making the whole Canadian metal scene stronger and more fun than ever.

Best moments of the album: Block Out The Sun, Crossroads and Purgatory.

Worst moments of the album: Into The Woods.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Medusa 8:25
2. The Dead And Soon To Be 5:54
3. Block Out The Sun 4:24
4. Path To Self Destruction 6:40
5. Crossroads 9:35
6. From The Ashes 5:14
7. Shores Of War 5:49
8. Purgatory 6:00
9. Into The Woods 6:33

Band members
Alex Rye – vocals
Brody Bauer – guitars
Aaron Winklmeier – bass
Brendan Meilleur – drums

Album Review – Delyria/ III; Oracles And Tentacles (2023)

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An introspective journey into the deepest fears and disbelief that keeps humanity on the religious and irreligious leash of doubt, brought into being by an unrelenting Italian Death and Thrash Metal squad.

Having their name inspired by the 1987 thriller/horror movie Deliria, by Michele Soavi, Grosseto, Italy-based Death/Thrash Metal squad Delyria was founded back in 2005 and coils in the Lovecraftian concept of some kind of unnamable horrors from beyond the known boundaries of the universe. Now in 2023 the band formed of Synder (Eyeconoclast, Promaetheus Unbound, Hideous Divinity) on vocals, Fabio Barbetti and Franco Piras on the guitars, Dario Capitani on bass and Kyle Mencucci on drums returns in full force with III; Oracles And Tentacles, the third full-length album in their career. Recorded at Fugu Studios,  mixed and mastered at Tide Studios, and with the participation of Giuseppe “Tat0” Tatangelo (Zora, Defechate, Glacial Fear, Spiral Wounds, Throne Of Flesh, Unscriptural) and artwork by Francesco “Basthard” Moretti (Southern Drinkstruction, Corpsefucking Art), the album is an introspective journey into the deepest fears and disbelief that keeps humanity on the religious and irreligious leash of doubt, blindly reading an hypothetical anti-book of Doom – The Book Of Nihil.

A humongous amount of heaviness will smash your cranial skull in the opening tune The Glyph, with Kyle dictating the song’s demented pace and, therefore, offering Synder all he needs to roar manically; and  their Thrash Metal vein arises stronger than ever in Irreligious Fallout, while also presenting their more violent Death Metal side and an amazing guitar job done by Fabio and Franco with their guitars, exhaling pure electricity. The band keeps the momentum going with another circle pit feast titled Serpents In Your Churches, again showcasing the heavy and groovy kitchen by Dario and Kyle, and the always demonic roars by Synder; followed by From Outer Spheres, another solid and aggressive creation by the quintet bringing to our ears a well-balanced fusion of modern-day Thrash and Death Metal. After such vibrant tune we have Book Of Nihil, one of the most exciting and caustic of all songs, where Synder sounds infernal on vocals while Fabio and Franco add their share of intricacy and darkness to the music with their classy riffage.

Then investing in a more detailed sound by bringing elements from Progressive Death Metal to their music the band offers us all Republic Of The Obscene, which is not a bad song but it sounds confusing at times as it doesn’t decide if it’s a straightforward heavy tune or a more progressive one. Putrid Monarch Crowned is utterly sinister and evil thanks to the deep growls by Synder, while Dario makes the earth tremble with his bass, again blending the most visceral elements from Thrash and Death Metal, and it’s pedal to the metal as those Italian metallers are on absolute fire in Scourges Of The Sybilline, with Fabio and Franco distilling their metallic venom through their stringed axes supported by the massive beats by Kyle in a great display of contemporary extreme music. Last but not least, the band will hammer our heads one final time with the pulverizing Gazmasked Reaper, ending the album on a high and venomous note with Synder once again stealing the spotlight with his sick roars.

The dark and furious III; Oracles And Tentacles is available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show those Italian metallers your utmost support you should purchase a copy of the album from the Great Dane Records’ BandCamp page or webstore, as well as from Season of Mist or from Apple Music. Don’t forget to also start following the band on Facebook to stay updated with all things Delyria, letting your inner demons and deepest fears arise to the sound of the band’s devilish new album of contemporary Death and Thrash Metal.

Best moments of the album: Irreligious Fallout, Book Of Nihil and Scourges Of The Sybilline.

Worst moments of the album: Republic Of The Obscene.

Released in 2023 Great Dane Records

Track listing
1. The Glyph 4:01
2. Irreligious Fallout 3:18
3. Serpents In Your Churches 3:00
4. From Outer Spheres 4:23
5. Book Of Nihil 3:06
6. Republic Of The Obscene 3:46
7. Putrid Monarch Crowned 4:50
8. Scourges Of The Sybilline 2:45
9. Gazmasked Reaper 3:39

Band members
Synder – vocals
Fabio Barbetti – guitar
Franco Piras – guitar
Dario Capitani – bass
Kyle Mencucci – drums

Guest musicians
Giuseppe “Tat0” Tatangelo – additional vocals

Album Review – Cattle Decapitation / Terrasite (2023)

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Fear the devourer of earth in the form of the brand new and absolutely majestic album by California’s own Progressive Death Metal and Grindcore masters.

Dedicated to the memory of Gabe Serbian (RIP), former guitarist and drummer of the band from 1996 until 2000 and also known for his work with The Locust, Holy Molar and Zu, the acid and infernal Terrasite, the brand new album by San Diego, California’s own Progressive Death Metal/Grindcore masters Cattle Decapitation, is a work-of-art by one of the most important extreme music bands of all time. Produced, mixed and mastered by Dave Otero at Flatline Audio, and displaying a phenomenal artwork by American illustrator Wes Benscoter, who has been working with the band since their 2002 album To Serve Man and with countless other metal giants the likes of Bloodbath, Slayer and Hipocrisy, Terrasite (which is the portmanteau of the words “terra”, or “earth” in Latin, and “sitos”, or “food” in Greek, and a paronomasia with the word “parasite”, meaning a devourer or destroyer of land or earth or a post-Anthropocene “humanity”) offers our avid ears everything we love and more in the music by frontman Travis Ryan, guitarists Josh Elmore and Belisario Dimuzio, bassist Olivier Pinard and drummer David McGraw, positioning it as one of the beast albums in their career and, consequently, as one of the top metal releases of 2023.

Featuring keys and drums by Dis Pater (of Midnight Odyssey), Terrasitic Adaptation is a sinister opener that already blasts our minds with their caustic lyrics (“Life finds a way / The fauna from the trauma / Culled from the pages of this human drama / Our petrified tombs / Now crumbling oothecas / From which a new species of human arises”) and an infernal but extremely technical sound; followed by We Eat Our Young, a bestial creation by Cattle Decapitation with Travis sounding inhumane on vocals accompanied by the demented drums by David and the always scorching riffs by Josh and Belisario, or in other words, it’s a newborn classic by those unrelenting metallers. Dis Pater returns in the ruthless Scourge of the Offspring, a song that keeps the album at an insane level of aggressiveness with Travis once again barking and roaring nonstop amidst a stunning Progressive Death Metal hurricane. There’s no sign of slowing down as The Insignificants is another breathtaking aria by the quintet where the drums by David and the rumbling bass by Olivier generate a massive sonic earthquake, whereas The Storm Upstairs sounds chaotic, grim and austere from the very first second, with the razor-edged riffage by Josh and Belisario piercing our minds mercilessly.

Get ready to be smashed like a putrid corpse in …And the World Will Go on Without You, spearheaded by the infernal blast beats by David and the inhumane growls by Travis, resulting in one of the heaviest moments of the album hands down. There’s no hope for mankind and Cattle Decapitation make sure we understand that in A Photic Doom, with the band’s stringed trio bringing endless heaviness and electricity to their music; followed by Dead End Residents, a headbanging composition by the band showcasing their trademark violence and dexterity, also presenting somber background elements which enhance Travis’ vocal performance considerably. Solastalgia is ruthless and extremely intricate from start to finish, with the entire band being on fire delivering first-class Progressive Death Metal with Grindcore nuances for our vulgar delectation; and lastly we have the grim aria Just Another Body, again featuring keys and drums by Dis Pater and more of their darkly poetic words (“Existence… the poetry of the flesh which we will trust from conception to dust / Just another body – a temple of shit / Filled with the trash that we dump in it”), offering us all over ten minutes of sonic perfection, with the combination of phantasmagorical keys with sheer Death Metal devastation turning the song into a must-listen for any fan of heavy music.

“We are one of the few bands that have never rested on our laurels and keep pushing ourselves to improve. At this stage of our careers we could easily be trying to rewrite Monolith Of Inhumanity (2012) over and over, but since we did not and have never settled that way, the end results were The Anthropocene Extinction (2015), Death Atlas (2019) and now Terrasite, which have pushed us further into more mature and experimental territory,” commented Josh about their new album, while Travis said that “I just feel with the way things change so drastically nowadays, especially the last three or four years, that it’s surprising an extreme metal band can not only be around for so damn long but still stay anchored in this constantly changing scene that’s dictated where it’s going to go by younger generations – and still maintain relevance. Our band truly is an anomaly. I’d prefer to keep it that way.” If they’re an anomaly, they’re an ass-kicking one, and Terrasite, which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, will always feature among their best albums due to its heaviness, intricacy and impact. Hence, don’t forget to follow Cattle Decapitation on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and to purchase a copy of the stunning Terrasite by clicking HERE, adding such hymns to the downfall of mankind to your bestial collection and, therefore, having the perfect soundtrack to our extinction on your dirty hands.

Best moments of the album: We Eat Our Young, Scourge of the Offspring, …And the World Will Go on Without You, Solastalgia and Just Another Body.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Metal Blade Records

Track listing
1. Terrasitic Adaptation 5:01
2. We Eat Our Young 3:55
3. Scourge of the Offspring 4:28
4. The Insignificants 4:43
5. The Storm Upstairs 5:27
6. …And the World Will Go on Without You 4:14
7. A Photic Doom 4:26
8. Dead End Residents 5:09
9. Solastalgia 4:56
10. Just Another Body 10:15

Band members
Travis Ryan – vocals
Josh Elmore – lead guitars
Belisario Dimuzio – rhythm guitars
Olivier Pinard – bass
David McGraw – drums

Guest musicians
Dis Pater – keyboards and drums on “Terrasitic Adaptation”, “Scourge of the Offspring” and “Just Another Body”
Dave Otero – additional keyboards on “Just Another Body”

Concert Review – Fall of Earth (The Rockpile, Toronto, ON, 06/18/2023)

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A young and rising band from Edmonton kicked some ass armed with their Progressive Death Metal and Metalcore where rock will never die in Toronto last night.

INTRODUCTION: Where rock will never die…

It doesn’t mater if it’s a brand new Heavy Metal band no one knows about, a cover band of classic Rock N’ Roll or Industrial Metal, or a rock and metal karaoke night, the old school venue The Rockpile will always receive everyone with open arms, keeping the fires of rock music burning no matter what. Although it’s promoted as being in Toronto, it’s actually located in Etobicoke, an administrative district and former city within Toronto, a bit far from downtown but just a 15-minute walk from the Kipling subway station. Just don’t walk for THREE HOURS to get there like a very nice photographer named Cord Allman who was there last night. Take the subway or drive to the venue, enjoy the shows, their beer (for a very decent price), and have a good time with all the nice people who are always there.

Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography and I were there for FALL OF EARTH, a young and rising metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, but The Rockpile also had other attractions as part of their Father’s Day celebration, those being AL REILLY’S CATALYST performing classics from Led Zeppelin, at 7:30pm, and PERFECT STRANGERS, a famous Canadian cover band founded in 1989 in the city of Brampton, Ontario that pays homage to  one of the greatest bands of all time, Deep Purple, playing from Smoke On The Water to Highway Star, and so on. Both tribute bands were awesome, and if you’re in the area and wants to experience the true Canadian rock scene, go check The Rockpile’s schedule for several other bands like those, and even some wrestling events, which is awesome in my opinion!

FALL OF EARTH

As mentioned, right after Al Reilly’s Catalyst and before Perfect Strangers, more specifically at 8:30pm, it was time for Edmonton, Alberta-based Progressive Death Metal/Metalcore outfit FALL OF EARTH to hit the stage with their enraged but very melodic music, putting a pin on Toronto (for the second time this month) as part of their Eastern Canada tour to promote their brand new album From the Ashes, which will soon be reviewed by The Headbanging Moose. Formed in 2019 by Alex Rye on vocals, Brody Bauer on the guitars, Aaron Winklmeier on bass, and Brendan Meilleur on drums, the band plays a fusion of the music by Mastodon, Gojira, Trivium, Whitechapel and so on, with lots of Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, Metalcore and Deathcore influences and nuances as well, and if they’re playing in your city anytime soon don’t miss the chance to watch one of the most promising names from the Canadian Prairies.

Despite the small audience, those four guys put their hearts and souls into their performance, and I can imagine how amazing it would have been with more people at the venue and some circle pits. All songs from their setlist, from both their 2020 self-titled debut album and from From the Ashes, worked really well live, like for example the title-track From the Ashes where Alex was screaming at the top of his lungs (and he can also deliver some classy clean vocals, by the way), and the lack of some mosh pit action didn’t mean the people present at the venue didn’t enjoy their concert; quite the contrary, everyone had a very good time watching those kids kicking ass on stage, banging their heads and clapping their hands all the time, and I’m sure word-of-mouth will attract a lot more people to their next concert in Toronto when they do another big Canadian tour this fall already with a second guitarist, which will surely add even more depth to their live music.

If you’re curious to know more about their music, you can enjoy all of their creations on Spotify and watch their official videos on YouTube (and click HERE for all things Fall of Earth), showing your support to another up-and-coming metal act from Edmonton. After the show I had the pleasure to chat with Alex, Brody, Aaron and Brendan, and their passion for heavy music is just as great as their talent on stage. They’re huge fans of bands like Gojira, Trivium, Megadeth, Whitechapel, and other metal giants, and it’s nice to see them crafting high-quality new music by mixing their influences with their own twist. Keep an eye on Fall of Earth because those guys are going places, and who knows, maybe we’ll already see them touring the United States or playing at some amazing European summer festivals in 2024. and last but not least, thanks a lot to Jon Asher of Asher Media Relations for inviting us to the event, and to Kristen Cholak and Paul Husband of The Next Level Entertainment Consulting Inc. for supporting such promising band of the Canadian scene.

Band members
Alex Rye – vocals
Brody Bauer – guitars
Aaron Winklmeier – bass
Brendan Meilleur – drums

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Concert Review – Dark Funeral (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 05/27/2023)

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The Decibel Magazine Tour 2023 brought another night of blasphemy, rage and heaviness to Toronto, spearheaded by one of the pillars of Swedish Black Metal.

OPENING ACTS: Blackbraid, 200 Stab Wounds and Cattle Decapitation

If there’s one thing that the Toronto metal scene has specialized in, that’s undoubtedly mosh pits, and it doesn’t matter which concert we’re talking about. Add to that the perfect weather on Saturday and four insanely heavy bands, and there you have the perfect recipe for nonstop action on the floor section. The venue chosen for such metallic celebration was The Phoenix Concert Theatre, and the bands featured in that night of rage and blasphemy were BLACKBRAID, 200 STAB WOUNDS, CATTLE DECAPITATION and DARK FUNERAL, as part of The Decibel Magazine Tour 2023. My only complaint was that the line to get in was ridiculous, and between the doors opening at 6pm and the first band starting at 7pm, there wasn’t much time to do anything like buying merch, having a beer, or simply getting into the venue. I myself just got in at 6:55pm, and I was there as soon as the clock hit 6pm.

Fortunately, I just made it for the openers, Adirondack Mountains, New York-based Atmospheric Black Metal horde BLACKBRAID, and I must say I’m beyond happy to have arrived in time for such intense and unique performance. The solo project of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Sgah’gahsowáh (pronounced “SKA-Gah-SoW-Ah”, a Mohawk name meaning “the witch hawk”), supported by touring musicians Y. E. and an unknown musician on the guitars, another unknown guy on bass, and Johnny Violence on drums, the band simply nailed it with their fusion of Atmospheric Black Metal with elements of traditional indigenous music, such as the Native American flute, generating a mesmerizing and ominous atmosphere that captivated everyone already at the venue. They might have played only four songs from both their 2022 debut Blackbraid I and their upcoming sophomore album Blackbraid II (to be released in the beginning of July), but as they’re all long songs let’s say the fans had plenty of time to enjoy their unique music, and of course, ignite some decent mosh pits. If you’re curious to know more about their music, you can find their creations on BandCamp and on Spotify, and I really hope Sgah’gahsowáh and his henchmen return to Toronto sooner than later because they’re awesome.

Setlist
The Spirit Returns
The River of Time Flows Through Me
Moss Covered Bones on the Altar of the Moon
Barefoot Ghost Dance on Blood Soaked Soil

Band members
Sgah’gahsowáh – vocals
Y. E. – guitars
Unknown – guitars
Unknown – bass
Johnny Violence – drums

After a really short break (and I think maybe there shouldn’t be so many bands on the lineup so fans can at least try to buy some merch and go for a bathroom stop without missing any of the action on stage), it was time for Cleveland, Ohio-based Death Metal marauders 200 STAB WOUNDS to give their Torontonian fans all the fuel they needed to slam into some sick mosh pits like true headbanging bastards, delivering a pulverizing concert that left everyone at the venue absolutely on fire. Playing songs form all of their albums, with a bigger focus on their 2021 album Slave to the Scalpel plus the two songs form their brand new EP Masters of Morbidity, the band spearheaded by vocalist and guitarist Steve Buhl was ruthless from start to finish, praising their Torontonian fans for always showing everything they got inside the circle pits, and saying that Toronto is one of their favorite places to play. I guess you know why, right? And if you’re also a lover of some good old mosh pits, you can enjoy the music by this fantastic band on BandCamp and on Spotify.

Setlist
Phallic Filth (Intro)
Fatal Reality
Skin Milk
Tow Rope Around the Throat
Drilling Your Head
Itty Bitty Pieces
Masters of Morbidity
Phallic Filth
Release the Stench
Stifling Stew
She Was Already Dead

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

As the temperature kept rising inside The Phoenix Concert Theatre, American Progressive Death Metal/Grindcore masters CATTLE DECAPITATION hit the stage with another pulverizing performance, proving why they’re one of the most admired bands of the genre worldwide. I strongly believe Travis Ryan, Josh Elmore, Belisario Dimuzio, Olivier Pinard and David McGraw love Toronto as much as the Torontonian metalheads love them, because the synergy was incredible, and the mosh pits even more. Blending classics with new songs from their 2023 masterpiece Terrasite (to be reviewed soon here at The Headbanging Moose), those being the fantastic We Eat Our Young, Scourge of the Offspring and A Photic Doom, the band fired a flawless concert overflowing heaviness, dexterity and feeling, putting a smile on the faces of everyone at the venue, including the band. I don’t think Travis was expecting such powerful reception from their fans in the city, but let’s be honest, when the music is great like what Cattle Decapitation have to offer us, of course the concerts will be incendiary! I can’t even describe how insane the mosh pits were throughout their entire set, to a point the entire floor section became one massive, unstoppable circle pit. It was superb, to say the least! Thank you, Cattle Decapitation!

Setlist
Intro (Jurassic Park theme)
The Carbon Stampede
We Eat Our Young
Scourge of the Offspring
Bring Back the Plague
The Great Dying, Pt. 1
Finish Them
Lifestalker
A Photic Doom
Kingdom of Tyrants

Band members
Travis Ryan – vocals
Josh Elmore – lead guitars
Belisario Dimuzio – rhythm guitars
Olivier Pinard – bass
David McGraw – drums

DARK FUNERAL

The night was getting darker and the temperature inside the venue even higher, setting the stage for another sulfurous performance by the one and only Swedish Black Metal institution DARK FUNERAL to conclude the night on a high and devilish note. It was great to see them as the headliners this time, instead of “just” an opener as it happened last year when they played alongside Cannibal Corpse, and based on the reception of the fans this Saturday we’ll surely see Dark Funeral headlining more impious nights in the city in a not-so-distant future.

Still promoting their amazing 2022 album We Are The Apocalypse, the horde formed of Heljarmadr on vocals, Lord Ahriman and Chaq Mol on the guitars, Adra Melek on bass and Jalomaah on drums was demonic from the very first notes of Nosferatu until the climatic Where Shadows Forever Reign, proving why they’re one of the pillars of Swedish Black Metal. I have to admit if there was a little less smoke the fans would have been able to see the band better on stage, but of course I’m pretty sure that was part of their plan, to look and sound as dark and evil as possible, and with the iconic Heljarmadr as their frontman the whole stage smoke and lightning made total sense.

Their setlist was an ode to blasphemy, including precious gems the likes of Vobiscum Satanas, My Funeral and Nail Them to the Cross, with Heljarmadr demanding a huge HAIL SATAN! from the crowd while the mosh pits kept moving like the fires of the pits of the underworld. The setlist could have been slightly longer, though, but nothing that could harm such beautiful performance by Dark Funeral. And if you think slow songs are not Black Metal, simply witness Dark Funeral playing When I’m Gone and Let the Devil In live, and you’ll feel absolute darkness taking over your damned soul. Thanks a million to Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment and to Metal Blade Records for bringing such venomous tour to Toronto, and thanks also to metal photographer Kim Baarda for letting us use her fantastic photos (as my buddy Keith could not make it to the concert this time). May Dark Funeral return to the city soon for another impressive concert and, of course, HAIL SATAN!

Setlist
Nosferatu
Hail Murder
My Funeral
In the Sign of the Horns
Vobiscum Satanas
Goddess of Sodomy
The Secrets of the Black Arts
When I’m Gone
Unchain My Soul
Temple of Ahriman
Nail Them to the Cross
Let the Devil In
Where Shadows Forever Reign

Band members
Heljarmadr – vocals
Lord Ahriman – guitars
Chaq Mol – guitars
Adra Melek – bass
Jalomaah – drums

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Album Review – Dysease / Era of Decay EP (2023)

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A new Progressive Death Metal entity from Germany is armed with their debut EP, leading us all to a dystopian world that lets us dive into a universe of atrocities, (im)mortality and miseries of our modern-day society.

Formed in 2018 by former members of Iuramentum, Skin Harvest, Morok and Defector in Siegen, a city in Germany in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia, the five-piece Progressive Death Metal act Dysease is dedicated to creating dark and haunting sounds by blending brutal riffs, catchy refrains, and progressive and thrash elements while prioritizing groove and atmosphere to immerse listeners in a dystopian ambiance. Now in 2023 the band formed of René “Wolles” Ax on vocals, Pätrick L. and Rafael G. on the guitars, Dimitri V. on bass, and Lukas Fenster on drums will attack your senses with their debut EP, entitled Era of Decay, leading us all to a dystopian world that lets us dive into a universe of atrocities, (im)mortality and miseries of our modern-day society, all embraced by the first-class, sharp production, mixing and mastering by the band’s own bassist Dimitri V., making the album’s atmosphere and vibe even heavier and more menacing.

A song about the problems in dealing with nature, and the revenge of nature on man, the opening track Unfurl The Plague is a demonic, heavy-as-hell display of Death Metal where René roars deeply nonstop, presenting a serene break before the band returns with their pulverizing sounds, flowing into the interlude Prologue, exhaling melancholy and setting the stage for the infernal Manufractured, based on the 2013 movie Elysium, where a future fictional dystopian world is described, while musically speaking Lukas crushes his drums mercilessly supported by the incendiary riffs by Pätrick and Rafael, being highly recommended for some classic headbanging. Then dedicated to all dictators hungry for power who act against the will of society and are ultimately overthrown, the band brings forth six minutes of Doom Metal-infused obscurity titled Deterrence By Brutality, with Dimitri and Lukas making our skulls tremble with their respective bass and drums, not to mention how demonic the guttural vocals by René sound. Lastly, we’re treated to the menacing The Staring Eye, dealing with the “locked in” syndrome described from the point of view of an affected person, showcasing the always somber riffage by Pätrick and Rafael and, therefore, putting a climatic and absolutely savage ending to the album.

A brand new entity in the world of extreme music, the guys from Dysease are waiting for you on Facebook with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about the band, and on YouTube with more of their music and videos. However, in order to properly welcome them to our beautiful underground scene, you should definitely purchase a copy of the album from Apple Music or from Amazon, stream it in full on YouTube and on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Dysease. As the band mentions in their amazing debut EP, we’re indeed living in an era of decay, where our society is falling to pieces and everything that’s wrong and evil is taking over the world. Well, at least we have the striking metal music by bands like Dysease to keep us entertained until our inevitable end.

Best moments of the album: Manufractured and The Staring Eye.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Unfurl The Plague 5:39
2. Prologue 0:31
3. Manufractured 5:13
4. Deterrence By Brutality 6:03
5. The Staring Eye 4:25

Band members
René “Wolles” Ax – vocals
Pätrick L. – guitars
Rafael G. – guitars
Dimitri V. – bass
Lukas Fenster – drums

Album Review – Fracturus / Versus The Void (2023)

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The debut album by this up-and-coming metal act from Canada will pulverize your senses with its modern and technical fusion of Death Metal and Deathcore.

Hailing from “la Vieille Capitale” Montreal, in Quebec, Canada, the ruthless Death Metal/Deathcore four-piece act Fracturus has just released their first full-length album, entitled Versus The Void, following up on their 2021 debut EP L’appel du vide. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy), and displaying a sinister artwork by Abysmial, the album features a modern and technical style of Death Metal powered by the aggressive vocals by Alexandre Leblanc (Dark Century, Neuraxis), the razor sharp guitar riffs by Greg Nicholls (Dark Century, Pyramidion), the ground shaking bass work by Peter Hamm (Cryptic Forest), and the lightning fast drum thunderstorm courtesy of Alexis Serré (Dark Century, Transe Metal Machine), turning the album into a must-listen for fans of the more modern and melodic version of Death Metal from the current scene.

The futuristic, modern intro titled Ascension invites us all to join Fracturus in their quest for heavy music to the sound of Storm, showcasing wicked lyrics barked by Alexandre (“Born to defy, an agent of demise / Created to resist, unaffected by the lies / Forged by a code of beliefs, a one-man creed / With nothing to corrupt, this unbreakable will”) and a demolishing sonority blending Groove and Death Metal with Deathcore. In the title-track Versus the Void, Greg delivers sheer adrenaline through his riffs while Peter hammers his bass in the most intricate way possible, or in other words, it’s an amazing option to slam into the circle pit, whereas Alexis dictates the pace in Forget the End, blasting his drums like there’s no tomorrow supported by the thunderous bass lines by Peter, therefore resulting in one of the heaviest and most technical of all songs.

As the rain falls the band will kill in Hand of Man, spearheaded by the fulminating drums by Alexis and the always venomous roars by Alexandre, uniting Death Metal and Deathcore in the name of pitch-black darkness; whereas Dissolve is perhaps the most Deathcore of all songs from the album while also showcasing hints of Progressive Death Metal, bringing forward an amazing job done by Greg armed with his stringed axe accompanied as usual by the relentless bass by Peter. Lastly, in Rational / Animal we’re treated to one final round of their acid lyrics (“Either food or killer, hunter or prey / Nature favors the strong, survival of the species / Primitive aggression, a king among beasts / Dominant upon a savage domain”), with Peter and Alexis making the earth tremble with their progressive yet infuriated kitchen before everything fades into a melancholic piano outro.

If you want to experience all the heaviness and rage flowing from Versus The Void, you can simply stream the album as many times as you want on Spotify, but of course in order to show your utmost support to the underground you can purchase a copy of the album from Apple Music, from Amazon, or by clicking HERE or HERE, and don’t forget to also start following Fracturus on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube. The guys from Fracturus are definitely taking a huge step forward in their career with Versus The Void, making the Canadian metal scene stronger and, consequently, offering us all another very good reason to keep banging our heads and having some fun inside the circle pit to the sound of their newborn opus.

Best moments of the album: Storm and Forget the End.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Ascension 0:42
2. Storm 3:40
3. Versus the Void 3:58
4. Forget the End 3:27
5. Hand of Man 4:16
6. Dissolve 3:46
7. Rational / Animal 4:35

Band members
Alexandre Leblanc – vocals
Greg Nicholls – guitars
Peter Hamm – bass
Alexis Serré – drums