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Album Review – Drawn and Quartered / Lord of Two Horns (2025)

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These American Death Metal beasts will desecrate all that is holy with their new album, a maelstrom of blast-driven violence, suffocating atmosphere, and riff work sharp enough to flay flesh from bone.

Relentless and unwavering, Seattle, Washington-based Death Metal beasts Drawn and Quartered return to desecrate all that is holy with the release of their brand new full-length album, Lord of Two Horns, their ninth studio album and a more-than-worthy follow-up to their 2021 record Congregation Pestilence. Mixed and mastered by Loïc F. at Krucyator Productions, and displaying a sick artwork by Gabriel T. Byrne, the new offering by vocalist and bassist Herb Burke, guitarists Kelly Shane Kuciemba and Brandon Corsair, and drummer Simon Dorfman sees the band deliver eight tracks and 34 minutes of their trademark unfiltered carnage spiced up by their signature early 90’s-influenced Death Metal darkness with more speed and brutality than ever before, proving why they’ve become legends in the underground extreme music scene.

Their opening attack titled Black Castle Butcher is a demented, no shenanigans, and absolutely ruthless display of Death Metal that kicks off the album on an insane mode, with Simon sounding simply inhumane on drums while Herb vomits the song’s devilish words like a true beast. Then the visceral riffage by Kelly and Brandon will peel your flesh like a rabid cannibal in Zealous Depopulation, perfect for some insane action inside the mosh pit; followed by the title-track Lord of Two Horns, showing absolutely no mercy for our putrid bodies and souls, a demonic display of violence led by the infernal roars by Herb who also hammers his bass in great fashion. And Into the Mouth of the Dead is another song with a charming and delicate name that will pulverize your senses to the demented beats and fills by Simon.

The quartet then adds hints of Blackened Death Metal to their core sonority in Three Rivers of Poison (Blasphemous Persecution), showcasing an even darker side thanks to the venomous vociferations by Herb; whereas Simon delivers a freakin’ brutal performance in Grimoire of Blood, providing Kelly and Brandon with exactly what they need to slash their axes in the name of heavy music. Then adding a welcome dosage of Doom Metal to their evil sound we face The Devil’s Work Is Never Done, slower than its predecessors but utterly heavy and caustic, proving how dynamic their music can be; and ending the album we have the two-minute feast of madness and aggression titled Mass Grave Curse, with the entire band crushing their sonic weapons mercilessly until the very last second.

A maelstrom of blast-driven violence, suffocating atmosphere, and riff work sharp enough to flay flesh from bone, Lord of Two Horns is Death Metal crafted to maim, forged in fire and performed with malicious intent, and you can put your blood-soaked hands on such a demented album by purchasing it from the Nuclear Winter Records’ BandCamp or webstore, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and to stream their music on Spotify (it looks like there are two links, which means you can stream their albums either HERE or HERE). Lord of Two Horns is a savage display of classic Death Metal, leaving us eager for more of the music by those ruthless American musicians, and if you don’t like what they have to offer in their newborn spawn, well, you should definitely be drawn and quartered.

Best moments of the album: Black Castle Butcher, Lord of Two Horns and The Devil’s Work Is Never Done.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Nuclear Winter Records

Track listing
1. Black Castle Butcher 3:24
2. Zealous Depopulation 3:23
3. Lord of Two Horns 5:37
4. Into the Mouth of the Dead 4:20
5. Three Rivers of Poison (Blasphemous Persecution) 5:19
6. Grimoire of Blood 3:38
7. The Devil’s Work Is Never Done 5:33
8. Mass Grave Curse 2:00

Band members
Herb Burke – vocals, bass
Kelly Shane Kuciemba – lead & rhythm guitars
Brandon Corsair – guitars
Simon Dorfman – drums, percussion

Album Review – Lacabra / Lacabra (2025)

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Arising from a previous band out of the ashes of the Covid-19 pandemic, this five-piece Progressive/Blackened Death Metal act is ready to kill armed with their debut offering.

Arising from a previous band named Locisteller, out of the ashes of the Covid-19 pandemic, Seattle, Washington-based Progressive/Blackened Death Metal act Lacabra is ready to kill armed with their self-titled debut offering, showcasing an array of eclectic influences from traditional Heavy Metal, Dark Wave, Black Metal as well as 90’s Melodic Death Metal. Produced by Gwen Kerjan at Slab Sound Studio, mastered by Andy LaRocque at Sonic Train Studios, and displaying a sinister artwork by world renowned illustrator Néstor Ávalos, the album is a must-listen for fans of Goatwhore, Crypta, Nervosa, Blood Incantation, and Amorphis, effectively depicting all the dexterity and passion for heavy music by Lance Neatherlin on vocals, Michael Anthony and Eric Snyder on the guitars, Eric Weber on bass, and Richie Sather on drums.

A darkly atmospheric intro sets the stage for Lacabra to summon the dark forces in Blood Of The Goat 1876, offering a solid blend of Blackened and Melodic Death Metal led by the striking riffs and solos by Michael and Eric Snyder. Lance’s enraged vocal lines are the main ingredient in the striking Fallacy, where the progressiveness flowing from their guitars, bass and drums is amazing; and it’s time to bang our heads nonstop together with Lacabra in Human Quilt, where the metallic sound of their guitars walk hand in hand with the massive beats by Richie. And another shot of eerie sounds ignite Nothing, where the band fires an even darker sonority led by the devilish gnarling by Lance.

The band then enhances their animosity and delivers an overdose of aggressive sounds in Reprobate, leaning towards a more classic version of Black Metal, with Richie stealing the show with his intricate yet demented drumming; whereas Enemy (Feeding The Flames) is indeed a flammable display of blackened music, with Lance roaring manically supported by the unstoppable riffs by Michael and Eric Snyder. Such an evil horde shows no sign of slowing down at all in I Am Thee, crushing our frail bodies with their Blackened Death Metal attack mercilessly, while a more cadenced side of the band arises in The Devil’s Mechanic, with their Melodic Death Metal riffs and beats reminding me of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity. They end the album with Fractured, which is in my opinion the most electrifying of all songs, delivering sheer adrenaline and heaviness and, therefore, inviting us all to slam into the pit like there’s no tomorrow.

The guys from Lacabra are not fooling around when it comes to crafting heavy, enraged, dark and melodic music, and you can give them a shout and show them all your respect by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, as well as by streaming their music on Spotify, and put your dirty hands on their infernal debut opus by purchasing it from their own BandCamp or from the M-Theory Audio’s webstore. I’m sure Lacabra will soon spread their blackened wings and horns to all four corners of the earth with their live performances, and if the energy flowing from the stage is just as half as good as the music found in their new album, you better be prepared to be crushed like an insect inside the pit, because there will be blood.

Best moments of the album: Reprobate, The Devil’s Mechanic and Fractured.

Worst moments of the album: Nothing.

Released in 2025 M-Theory Audio

Track listing
1. Blood Of The Goat 1876 6:15
2. Fallacy 4:39
3. Human Quilt 3:35
4. Nothing 5:32
5. Reprobate 4:18
6. Enemy (Feeding The Flames) 3:53
7. I Am Thee 5:49
8. The Devil’s Mechanic 3:37
9. Fractured 5:32

Band members
Lance Neatherlin – vocals
Michael Anthony – guitars
Eric Snyder – guitars
Eric Weber – bass
Richie Sather – drums

Album Review – Blighted Eye / Agony’s Bespoke (2024)

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Behold this monumental, hour-long work of Progressive and Blackened Death Metal made in the United States, heavily inspired by the 2018 Australian film The Nightingale.

A monumental, hour-long work of Progressive and Blackened Death Metal, the breathtaking Agony’s Bespoke, the brand new album by Seattle, Washington-based outfit Blighted Eye, marks a new height for the band’s growing skills of songwriting and storytelling. Mixed and mastered by Alex Sedin at Ghostalgy Prods, and displaying a stunning artwork by Caelan Stokkerman, the new opus by Kyle Chapman on vocals and guitars, Christopher Jones also on the guitars, Ben Gassman on bass, and John Devos on drums is heavily inspired by the 2018 Australian film The Nightingale, telling a similarly tragic story. Highlighting the transformative power of violence and the ultimate futility of revenge, the album seeks to explore the lasting emotional and psychological impact of trauma, being highly recommended for fans of Opeth, Swallow the Sun, and Dissection.

Cryptic, melodious sounds arise from the underworld in the opening track Tragoedia, with the deep vociferations by Kyle walking hand in hand with the pounding drums by John, also presenting delicate yet visceral riffs for our total delight, and flowing into the just as demonic and grim The Wounding, with Kyle and Christopher extracting sulfurous riffs from their axes supported by the menacing bass by Ben. In Enmity invites us all to bang our heads in total darkness together with the band in a well-balanced fusion of Melodic and Progressive Death Metal tailored for admirers of the genre, with Kyle roaring with endless anger until the very end; whereas serene, embracing sounds kick off the beautiful Howls From Beyond the Mist, with their caustic riffs, harsh gnarls and crushing drums sounding amazing. Then investing in a more direct, visceral Black Metal sonority the band will pulverize us all in A Feast for Worms, spearheaded by the classic drumming by John and the always sharp growls by Kyle.

Pallid brings to our avid ears almost nine minutes of heavy, sluggish and somber sounds, presenting elements from Doom Metal in the guitars by Kyle and Christopher, and even stronger vibes in John’s drums; and after the short and sweet interlude Nightingale, the band brings forth a Melodic Black and Death Metal feast titled A Reverent Stillness, where all instruments sound thunderous and visceral and with their guitars, bass and drums once again offering Kyle everything he needs to haunt our souls with his devilish roars. Finally, like the soundtrack to a Stygian horror movie we have the title-track Agony’s Bespoke, presenting the band’s trademark heaviness intertwined with grim passages. Moreover, the guitar work by Kyle and Christopher is once again superb, sounding heavy and very melodic at the same time, with endless progressiveness flowing from the bass lines by Ben while at the seven minute mark it all morphs into an overdose of epicness, putting a classy ending to the album.

Just like in the 2018 movie that inspired the album, power, violence, revenge and trauma are the main ingredients in the music by Blighted Eye in Agony’s Bespoke, and you can get to know more about the band and how they turned all that darkness into amazing metal music on Facebook and on Instagram, listen to more of their ruthless creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and grab a copy of their caustic new album from the Beyond The Top Records’ BandCamp or webstore. As you listen to the album from start to finish, you’ll clearly witness how a tragic story can become so compelling through the power of heavy music, inspiring Blighted Eye to keep crushing our souls for many years to come with their meaningful and extremely heavy creations.

Best moments of the album: Tragoedia, A Feast for Worms and Agony’s Bespoke.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Beyond The Top Records

Track listing
1. Tragoedia 7:22
2. The Wounding 5:59
3. In Enmity 7:05
4. Howls From Beyond the Mist 7:03
5. A Feast for Worms 6:13
6. Pallid 8:48
7. Nightingale 1:05
8. A Reverent Stillness 6:18
9. Agony’s Bespoke 11:06

Band members
Kyle Chapman – vocals, guitars
Christopher Jones – guitars
Ben Gassman – bass
John Devos – drums

Album Review – Greyhawk / Call of the Hawk EP (2022)

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Flying higher than the sky and spreading their wings all over the world, these American metallers are back with a thrilling new EP of old school Heavy and Power Metal.

Equal parts traditional Heavy Metal, Power Metal and shred, Seattle, Washington, United States-based outfit Greyhawk blends the best parts of these styles together to create a high energy, dynamic heavy metal music that fans of Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen, Racer X, Manowar, Visigoth and Judas Priest will rejoice in. Having released their debut EP Ride Out in 2018 and their first full-length album Keepers of the Flame in 2020 to acclaim from both critics and fans alike, the band comprised of Rev Taylor on vocals, Jesse Berlin and Jacquelynn Ziel on the guitars, Darin Wall on bass, and Nate Butler on drums is back with a new EP, entitled Call of the Hawk, continuing the epic metal stylings of the previous releases while also adding some fresh new elements to their music. Mixed and mastered by Deron Daum, recorded by Deron Daum and Shana Daum at MagicMix Studios, and displaying a kick-ass cover art by GrimuzzA, the EP has everything we love in metal music, from blazing guitar solos and driving rhythms to soaring operatic vocals, harkening back to the golden years of Heavy Metal.

Jesse and Jacquelynn begin slashing their stringed axes in Steelbound, generating a classic, metallic atmosphere accompanied by the rumbling bass by Darin, feeling like a fusion of Queensrÿche and Saxon while Nate dictates the song’s imposing pace with his beats. The title-track Call Of The Hawk  brings to our avid ears an old school, in-your-face sonority inspired by 80’s Heavy Metal, with Rev declaiming the song’s epic words in great fashion while the band’s guitar duo stuns us all with their refined riffs and solos; whereas in Demon Star the band offers us all a galloping pace thanks to the awesome job done by Farin and Nate with their thunderous kitchen, presenting elements found in the music by Iron Maiden, Helloween and Iced Earth. Moreover, Rev’s soaring vocalizations sound very theatrical, always supported by his bandmates’ backing vocals. Then we have Shattered Heart, even more melodic and powerful than its predecessors, or in other words, a lecture in 80’s Heavy and Power Metal by Greyhawk showcasing epic vocal lines, reverberating bass and pounding drums, all spiced up by the razor-edged guitars by Jesse and Jacquelynn. Lastly, it’s time for more of their sharp riffs and rhythmic beats in the form of Take The Throne, a very pleasant mid-tempo tune led by Rev’s vocalizations.

In summary, Call of the Hawk, which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, keeps the talented and hardworking Greyhawk flying higher than the sky, spreading the band’s wings all over the world with their classic fusion of Heavy and Power Metal. Hence, in order to show those American metallers your utmost support, don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course to purchase their first-class new EP from their own BandCamp page, from the Fighter Records BandCamp page, or from the Xtreem Music webstore. And after an array of excellent albums, I’m sure it won’t take long for Greyhawk to invite us to fly once again on their metal wings with more of their thrilling creations.

Best moments of the album: Call Of The Hawk and Shattered Heart.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Fighter Records

Track listing
1. Steelbound 4:10
2. Call Of The Hawk 3:56
3. Demon Star 4:07
4. Shattered Heart 3:26
5. Take The Throne 6:40

Band members
Rev Taylor – vocals
Jesse Berlin – guitars
Jacquelynn Ziel – guitars
Darin Wall – bass
Nate Butler – drums