Tag Archives: technical thrash metal

Album Review – Cryptosis / Celestial Death (2025)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worst moments of the album: Absent Presence.

Released in 2025 Century Media Records

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

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

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

Concert Review – Meshuggah (Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, Mississauga, ON, 03/29/2025)

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A night to remember of sheer heaviness and brutality with three of the most must-see bands in the history of heavy music, at the best and most entertaining venue you can think of.

OPENING ACTS: Carcass and Cannibal Corpse

An amazing theater, several good friends, free parking, free pop and coffee inside the casino, no work the next day as it was a weekend, a vast selection of food options, and three of the most must-see bands in the history of extreme music. Apart from the shitty weather, with freezing rain and ice storms in parts of Ontario, Saturday night was perfect for countless metalheads at the fantastic Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, when the ruthless CARCASS, CANNIBAL CORPSE and MESHUGGAH took the venue by storm with their undisputed North American Tour 2025, and of course Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I wouldn’t miss it not even if the biggest snow storm ever had devastated the city that same day. My only complaint is that I couldn’t find the food truck (or tent) by Slayer Burger before the doors opened, and it was pouring after the show so I didn’t even dare to go outside to purchase one. Well, I wasn’t able to try their new Meshuggah’s Burger, but that’s fine. Next time I attend a concert near one of their locations I’ll definitely grab it, or another one of their exclusive burgers, because they kick some serious ass.

There was a huge line already forming way before the doors opened at 6pm, which made me a little worried if I would be able to buy a Cannibal Corpse shirt before the show started at 7pm, but the merch team was awesome and I had over 30 minutes to simply chill before the first attraction of the night hit the stage, the mighty CARCASS. They only played for a little bit over 30 minutes, but what a devastating concert by those Melodic Death Metal and Grindcore masters, or as some people like to label their music these days, “Death N’ Roll” masters. Despite their short setlist, they played some of the best songs from their most recent album Torn Arteries and Surgical Steel, plus of course my all-time favorite Carcass songs No Love lost and Heartwork, both from their 1993 masterpiece Heartwork. Let’s say it was a beyond phenomenal warmup for the upcoming attractions, courtesy of Jeff Walker, Bill Steer, Nippy Blackford and Daniel Wilding, and if Carcass ever visit your city armed with their venomous music, you know what to do.

Setlist
The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue (Intro)
Unfit for Human Consumption
Buried Dreams
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
No Love Lost
Corporal Jigsore Quandary
Heartwork
Tools of the Trade
Carneous Cacoffiny (Outro)

Band members
Jeff Walker – vocals, bass
Bill Steer – guitars, backing vocals
Nippy Blackford – guitars
Daniel Wilding – drums

After a quick break, it was time for my favorite Death Metal band of all time to do what they do best, which is get onstage and “crush their enemies, see them driven before them, and to hear the lamentations of their women.” I’m talking about the one and only American institution CANNIBAL CORPSE, who precisely at 7.55pm kicked off their pulverizing show with the neck breaking Scourge of Iron, followed by Blood Blind (from their 2023 album Chaos Horrific), Inhumane Harvest and Evisceration Plague. And what do those songs have in common, you might ask? They’re not played at the speed of light, but that doesn’t make them less infuriated; quite the contrary, it’s their heaviness that counts, in special Evisceration Plague, which is always a pleasure to enjoy live. All that plus the gruesome roars and insane headbanging by Mr. George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, and the flawless, jaw dropping bass playing by Mr. Alex Webster, turn their shows into memorable experiences even for nonbelievers.

As the venue is quite wide, it was not too hard to stay away from the mosh pits in case you didn’t want to experience some brutal action, or if you couldn’t because of an injury, for example, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t headbang like a beast to masterpieces like Unleashing the Bloodthirsty (and I’m so happy they’re playing this song even in this shorter than usual setlist), Stripped, Raped and Strangled and Hammer Smashed Face. And of course, participating in another “headbanging contest” against Corpsegrinder (and therefore failing miserably) during I Cum Blood is one of the coolest things one can ever do at a metal concert. The mighty corpse killed it once again, leaving all concert goers absolutely stunned, and next time they come to the city it better be as headliners because we need more of their first-class Death Metal.

Setlist
Scourge of Iron
Blood Blind
Inhumane Harvest
Evisceration Plague
Death Walking Terror
Unleashing the Bloodthirsty
Summoned for Sacrifice
I Cum Blood
Stripped, Raped and Strangled
Hammer Smashed Face

Band members
George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher – vocals
Rob Barrett – lead and rhythm guitar
Erik Rutan – lead guitar
Alex Webster – bass guitar
Paul Mazurkiewicz – drums

MESHUGGAH

Last but definitely not least, the main attraction of the night, Sweden’s own Technical Groove/Thrash Metal/Djent entity MESHUGGAH, kicked off their festivities at around 9:15pm for the delight of their diehard fans that have taken the entire venue. I forgot to mention it was a sold out event, just to give you an idea of how much Toronto loves Meshuggah, and they put on a striking, hypnotizing concert that definitely lived up to their legacy. Playing songs from all of their albums, including their most recent ones Immutable and The Violent Sleep of Reason, and their classic ObZen, the band spearheaded by Jens Kidman offered a well-balances blend of harsh vocals, rumbling bass lines, pounding drums, and a massive feast of lighting that made the whole concert even more impactful.

All fans were going wild, with some headbanging, jumping up and down, or raising their fists like there was no tomorrow, and the band seeing that made sure they kept kicking ass onstage. When it was time for the encore, with their hits Bleed and Demiurge, the synchronicity between the band and their fans was absolutely fantastic, proving why they’re one of the most beloved bands in Toronto in present-day metal. After the show was over, a huge amount of fans stayed at the casino to try their luck, who knows, maybe some would even recover the money spent on tickets, merch or drinks, and I love the fact that there’s that option at the casino, so you don’t need to rush home nor anything like that. I mean, you can savor the post-concert adrenaline still at the venue, spend some extra time with your friends and family, grab a bite, and start thinking of your next metal show. And if it is at the Great Canadian Resort Toronto, that’s a no-brainer. Simply buy your tickets, and go enjoy some high quality music at the best venue in the entire GTA, or maybe I should say in the entire province of Ontario.

Setlist
Careless Whisper (George Michael song)
Intro (Atmospheric soundscape)
Broken Cog
Violent Sleep of Reason
Rational Gaze
Combustion
Kaleidoscope
God He Sees in Mirrors
Lethargica
Born in Dissonance
Dancers to a Discordant System
Swarm
Future Breed Machine

Encore:
Bleed
Demiurge
Boombastic (Shaggy song)

Band members
Jens Kidman – vocals
Fredrik Thordendal – guitars
Mårten Hagström – guitars
Dick Lövgren – bass
Tomas Haake – drums

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Interview – Meshuggah’s Burger (Slayer Burger)

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This Meshuggah-inspired beast of a burger will satisfy your craving for high quality food infused with Swedish traditions and an endless dosage of unrelenting heavy music.

Meshuggah’s Burger @ Slayer Burger

The Headbanging Moose: Thank you for this opportunity to meet you and know more about Slayer Burger, and your new partnership with Meshuggah. As this will be published to readers from all over the world, could you please introduce Slayer Burger to the ones who don’t know it?
Slayer Burger: Slayer Burger is not just a local premium burger place — it’s an experience. We bring together fresh, high-quality ingredients, bold flavors, and a rock-and-roll attitude to serve up the ultimate smash and grill burger. Our menu is inspired by heavy music, and we’re always pushing the boundaries with creative and unique recipes. If you love great food and even better music, Slayer Burger is the place for you.

THM: When and where was the idea of having a Meshuggah-themed burger born? And who’s responsible for selecting its ingredients, bringing it to life and making it available at Slayer Burger?
SB: The idea came by Meshuggah’s team and your chef consultant Lilian Cardoso. We wanted to honor Meshuggah’s legacy with a burger that’s just as intense as their music — bold, complex, and unforgettable. Our team, our chefs and marketing crew worked together to perfect the ingredients and create something truly worthy of the name.

THM: What makes Meshuggah’s Burger special in your opinion, I mean, why should people choose it instead of any other burger from your menu or from any competitor?
SB: This isn’t just any burger — it’s a full-on sensory experience. The black bun sets the tone, the lingonberry bacon jam adds a touch of Swedish influence, and the rich, savory flavors balance it all out. It’s a burger that stands out visually and flavor-wise, making it a must-try for fans of Meshuggah and anyone who loves a next-level burger.

THM: Apart from Meshuggah’s Burger, you also have two other burgers with black charcoal buns, Vecna and The Wagyu. How has been the feedback from your consumers to those burgers with black buns? And what makes it special? Is it just the association of color black with heavy music, or is there something else?
SB: People love them! The black bun always grabs attention, but it’s the flavors that keep customers coming back. The association with heavy music definitely plays a role, but at the end of the day, it’s about taste — and we make sure every bite delivers.

Slayer Gif GIFs | Tenor

Click on our Slayer buddy to access the official Slayer Burger website!

THM: Perhaps the most unique ingredient in the new burger is its lingonberry bacon jam. Lingonberries are extremely popular in Sweden, used in countless Swedish dishes including kroppkakor, pitepalt, potato pancakes, spinach pancakes, kåldolmar, and more, and many Swedes grow up picking them in the forest. However, we’re not in Sweden, we’re in Canada. Having said that, do you think Torontonians are ready for the lingonberry?
SB: Absolutely! Toronto is a city that embraces diverse flavors, and lingonberry jam brings the perfect balance of sweet and tart to complement the richness of the burger. It’s a nod to Sweden, but it works incredibly well in Canada burger scene too.

THM: Have the guys from Meshuggah already tried the burger, or are they going to try it during their stop in Toronto next weekend, when they play in the city alongside Cannibal Corpse and Carcass?
SB: We can’t wait for them to try it when they’re in town! We’re confident they’ll love it — it’s made with the same precision and intensity as their music. Also, we’ll have our food truck on the day of the concert, we can’t wait to serve the band and their crew as well.

THM: Is this just the beginning of a series of partnerships with metal bands to create other special items in your menu? And if so, do you already have any other bands in mind for the near future?
SB: We’re always open to new collaborations, especially with bands that share our energy and passion. We can’t reveal anything yet, but let’s just say there are some exciting ideas brewing. Stay tuned!

Meshuggah’s Burger and the Immutable album

THM: You have some amazing options in your menu to go with your burgers, including delicious sides, sweets and exclusive beers. Just like Meshuggah are making the perfect combo with a Cannibal Corpse and Carcass in the city this Saturday, what would be the ideal side and drink to go with Meshuggah’s Burger?
SB: You’ll want something that can stand up to the burger’s bold flavors. Our special Slayer cheese poutine or onion rings make a killer side, and for drinks, our own Slayer Premium Beer with deep, roasted flavors would be the perfect match.

THM: And as in the end it’s always all about the music, what’s the perfect soundtrack for enjoying Meshuggah’s Burger? It can be a full album, just a few songs, or simply one song (if the consumer is a fast eater)!
SB: If you want the full experience, put on Meshuggah’s ObZen or Immutable and let the complex rhythms match the layers of flavor in the burger. If you’re a fast eater, Bleed is a perfect choice — just make sure you can keep up!

THM: Thank you very much for your time! Feel free to send a final message to our readers, and to invite them to visit one of the Slayer Burger locations in Toronto whenever they’re in the city for a nice night of heavy music!
SB: If you love metal and burgers, you need to try the Meshuggah Burger. It’s bold, intense, and built for those who crave something different. Come visit Slayer Burger in Toronto and experience it for yourself — because great food deserves a heavy soundtrack.

Locations

1400 O’Connor Dr. – East York
Toronto – ON – M4B 2T8

739 Queen St E – Riverside
Toronto – ON – M4M 1H4

2013 Yonge St – Midtown
Toronto – ON – M4S 1Z8

Thank you so much for this opportunity to show Slayer to more people =)

Links
Slayer Burger Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Meshuggah Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

Concert Review – Decapitated (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 02/13/2025)

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It doesn’t matter how much snow there is in Toronto, the metalheads in the city will always be there for a night of sheer violence with bands like Decapitated and Incantation.

OPENING ACTS: Exmortus, Darkest Hour and Incantation

After the massive snow storm that hit the city of Toronto and most of the province on Ontario from Wednesday night until Thursday morning, bringing an endless amount of snow to the streets and, therefore, turning any commute into a true nightmare, I thought all roads would be clear Thursday evening when Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I headed to The Phoenix Concert Theatre for a night of sheer brutality offered by EXMORTUS, DARKEST HOUR, INCANTATION and DECAPITATED during their Nihility Across North America Tour 2025, another killer event brought to the city by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Unfortunately, my predictions about the roads being clear of snow were wrong (although I was right about traffic being light that evening due to people staying home instead of going to work that day), and Toronto was still a huge freakin’ mess when I got to the show, but in the end no one seemed to care about the gargantuan snow banks blocking every single sidewalk and some streets, as the crowd at the venue was really good for a night when the best thing to do was staying home.

Less than half an hour after the doors opened, Whittier, California’s own Technical Thrash/Death Metal beast EXMORTUS kicked off the festivities with a frantic, very technical and absolutely fun performance, igniting some of the coolest and wildest circle pits of the entire night. Spearheaded by the talented vocalist and guitarist Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez, the band played a short but powerful set including songs form their latest opus Necrophony, available by the way on Spotify, and the reaction form the fans already at the venue was superb. Those guys are simply amazing live, playing all songs to perfection, and I guess it won’t take long for Torontonians to see them again in the city, and hopefully next time they’ll be the headliners and play a full set for our total delight.

Setlist
Oathbreaker
Feast of Flesh
Storm of Strings
Warrior of the Night
Let Us Roam
Metal Is King

Band members
Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez – vocals, guitars
Chase Becker – guitars
Brice Snyder – bass
Adrian Aguilar – drums

After a very short break, Washington, D.C.-based Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore act DARKEST HOUR hit the sage at the Phoenix Concert Theatre for a very energetic show, thanks in part to the breathtaking performances by guitarists Mike Schleibaum and Nico Santora, who didn’t stop shredding their axes, headbanging, running and jumping around the stage, not even for a single second. Currently promoting their 2024 album Perpetual | Terminal, available on both BandCamp and on Spotify, the quintet was eager to get more action from the crowd, which seemed a bit tired most probably due to an entire day of shoveling and braving snow banks across the city. That doesn’t mean we didn’t get some sick mosh pits during their show, and of course every single time frontman John Henry asked people to move inside the pit, he was promptly answered with some nice action by the crowd.

Setlist
Societal Bile
The Sadist Nation
Stand and Receive Your Judgment
The Flesh & The Flowers of Death
Rapture in Exile
Doomsayer (The Beginning of the End)
Tranquil
Amor Fati
Convalescence
With a Thousand Words to Say but One
Goddess of War, Give Me Something to Die For

Band members
John Henry – vocals
Mike Schleibaum – guitars
Nico Santora – guitars
Aaron Deal – bass
Travis Orbin – drums

I guess fans were also saving some energy for the ruthless performance by Johnstown, Pennsylvania’s own Death Metal veterans INCANTATION, who after a considerable delay started playing their 1994 cult album Mortal Throne Of Nazarene in full, just like in all other stops from their current tour. And let me tell you, the live rendition of such a classic album of Death Metal with Doom Metal influences sounded utterly evil, heavy and demented onstage, with the bass by Chuck Sherwood making our heads tremble during their entire show. The iconic John McEntee sounded as infernal as usual on vocals, inspiring us all for some brutal headbanging and, therefore, reminding us all why Incantation have been a staple of the extreme music scene worldwide for so many decades. It was just my second time seeing those guys live, and hopefully not the last one, as I’m sure Incantation love Toronto as much as we love their music.

Setlist
Mortal Throne of Nazarene
Demonic Incarnate
Emaciated Holy Figure
Iconoclasm of Catholicism
Essence Ablaze
Nocturnal Dominium
The Ibex Moon
Blissful Bloodshower
Abolishment of Immaculate Serenity

Band members
John McEntee – vocals, guitars
Luke Shively – guitars
Chuck Sherwood – bass
Kyle Severn – drums

DECAPITATED

Last but not least, it was time to turn up the volume to 11 with the infuriated performance by the main band of the night, Poland’s unrelenting Technical Death/Groove Metal horde DECAPITATED, and when I say it was loud, it’s because it was LOUD. Performing their 2002 classic album Nihility in full, plus a few other songs as part of the encore, the band now fronted by vocalist Eemeli Bodde (who by the way contributed vocals for the track “Flooding Secrations”, performed by a fictional band called Impaled Rektum from the 2018 Finnish movie Heavy Trip), Decapitated crushed our damn minds, souls and bodies with endless heaviness and violence, inspiring all mosh pit lovers to have a very good time inside the hurricane formed in the middle of the floor section. My only complaint is that the show started late, after 10pm, and some fans had to leave before the end because they had to take public transportation home, or simply because they were absolutely tired. As I said, the snow storm drained a lot of our energy during the day, but of course there’s always some left when the band in question is as infernal and vibrant as Decapitated.

Setlist
Nihility
Perfect Dehumanisation (The Answer?)
Eternity Too Short
Mother War
Nihility (Anti-Human Manifesto)
Names
Spheres of Madness
Babylon’s Pride
Symmetry of Zero
Suffer the Children (Napalm Death cover)

Encore:
From the Nothingness With Love
Cancer Culture
Kill the Cult
Hello Death
Iconoclast

Band members
Eemeli Bodde – vocals
Wacław Vogg Kiełtyka – guitars
Paweł Pavlo Pasek – bass
James Stewart – drums

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Concert Review – Symphony X (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 05/24/2024)

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The city of Toronto had the pleasure of witnessing one of the most technical, progressive and vibrant metal concerts of the year this Friday night, courtesy of two old school bands who nurture a deep passion for heavy music.

OPENING ACT: Heathen

Friday was not only one of the best days of the year in terms of weather, but the city of Toronto also had the utmost pleasure of hosting one of the most technical, progressive and vibrant metal concerts of the year thanks to the stellar performance by HEATHEN and SYMPHONY X during their North American Tour 2024 at the cozy, well-located and pretty much sold out The Opera House, and I’m pretty sure all fans who were at the venue had a relaxing morning the day after with huge smiles on their faces as both bands kicked some serious ass on stage. My buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi also had a great time taking his amazing shots during the entire night, as the lighting was near perfect and there was no smoke to “disturb” his practice, which was also great for the crowd as we could perfectly witness the superb performances by each and every musician from both bands on stage, shredding their instruments with their beyond refined techniques and an absolute passion for heavy music.

The opening band, or maybe I should say the more-than-special guests, were San Francisco, California-based Technical Speed/Thrash Metal veterans HEATHEN, who were insanely heavy and flawless on stage during their breathtaking performance, properly warming up all fans for the main attraction of the night. Those guys are so good in what they do to the point that you could close your eyes and it would feel like you were listening to the studio versions of their songs, just to illustrate how precise all band members were in Toronto. I dare to say the most excited of all musicians was definitely Kitchener, Ontario’s own Kyle Edissi (vocalist and guitarist for Canadian Melodic Thrash Metal band Invicta, who has been playing live with Heathen since 2022), as it was his first time ever playing at a venue he had already been to countless times as a regular fan to see some of his favorite bands. It was a dream come true for him, no doubt about that, helping his bandmates David R. White (what a voice, my friends!), Kragen Lum, Jason Mirza and Ryan Idris hammer our heads with infuriated songs the likes of Opiate of the Masses, The Blight and Breaking the Silence. I only wish there were a few mosh pits to make things even more fun, but the show was simply awesome and I highly recommend you go see Heathen live if you haven’t done so already in your life.

Setlist
Rock Bottom (UFO song)
Intro
Dying Season
Opiate of the Masses
Empire of the Blind
The Blight
Breaking the Silence
Hypnotized

Band members
David R. White – vocals
Kragen Lum – guitars
Kyle Edissi – guitars
Jason Mirza – bass
Ryan Idris – drums

SYMPHONY X

After a short and sweet break, the band everyone was waiting for hit the stage for one of the most tight and precise performances of the year for the delight of all concert goers. I’m talking about Middletown, New Jersey’s Progressive Power Metal institution SYMPHONY X, and let me tell you that the band formed of the iconic Russell Allen on vocals, Michael Romeo on the guitars, Mike LePond on bass, Michael Pinnella on the keyboards and Jason Rullo on drums redefined the meaning of “perfection” at The Opera House this Friday. What a sensational show by those veterans, who by the way sounded like they were in their early twenties in terms of energy and onstage presence, proving once again how heavy music can keep us a lot younger for a much longer time, right?

Although those guys haven’t released anything new since their excellent 2015 album Underworld, their entire setlist felt very modern and fresh, with songs like Serpent’s Kiss, To Hell and Back and Evolution (The Grand Design) driving their fans wild to the point we got some sick mosh pits in the middle of the floor section, something that made Mr. Russell Allen and his crew very happy and entertained. I guess they weren’t expecting that level of action during a Progressive Metal concert. And speaking about Russell, the man was on fire throughout their entire set, not only delivering his trademark, stunning vocal lines, but also dancing nonstop, having a few beers and interacting more than any other metal vocalist in the world with each and every fan at the venue, an amazing way of Russell and the band to say how much they love their fanbase. Needless to say, when the band hit the encore with the classics Paradise Lost, Run With the Devil and Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies), it was pure madness, leaving everyone eager for more Symphony X in the city in the near future. Well, they said they’re (finally) working on new material after almost a decade, so I guess we can expect to see them embellishing the Torontonian airwaves again really soon with another majestic live concert.

Setlist
Iconoclast
Nevermore
Inferno (Unleash the Fire)
Serpent’s Kiss
Without You
To Hell and Back
Dehumanized
Evolution (The Grand Design)
Sea of Lies

Encore:
Keyboard Solo
Paradise Lost
Run With the Devil
Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies)
The Throne Room (John Williams song)

Band members
Russell Allen – vocals
Michael Romeo – guitars
Mike LePond – bass
Michael Pinnella – keyboards
Jason Rullo – drums

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Album Review – Sovereign / Altered Realities (2024)

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This Norway-based Technical Death and Thrash Metal unit will attack our senses with their first full-length offering, a monstrous masterwork of old school extreme music ecstasy.

Formed in Oslo, Norway in 2018, the ruthless yet very technical unit Sovereign is ready to unleash their lethal blend of evil Death and Thrash Metal in their first full-length album, titled Altered Realities, the follow-up to their 2020 debut EP Neurotic. Three years in the making, “Altered Realities is a product of an ever-evolving journey we have taken as a band, from our start in 2018 and culminating in the album’s recording in early 2022,” reflects lead guitarist Tommy Jacobsen, joined in the band by former Nocturnal Breed band-mate Vidar Fineidet also on the guitar alongside drummer Cato Syversrud, and vocalist and bassist Simen “Gravskjender” Grong. “We strive to push ourselves, both in terms of speed and technicality, whilst still keeping a groove and dynamic. Our approach to death/thrash is an interplay between fast-paced aggression and a slower, more groove-oriented feel. The lyrical themes of the album mirror events and unrest that happened during the time of writing and is in itself a journey,” complemented Tommy about the band’s monstrous masterwork of old school extreme music ecstasy, being recommended for fans of Nekromantheon, Sepultura, Pestilence, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, and many others.

Atmospheric noises grow in intensity until an avalanche of violence and progressiveness hits us hard in Altered Reality, led by the harsh gnarls by Simen while Cato delivers a fusion of Death, Thrash and Doom Metal through his obscure beats and fills; and Tommy and Vidar dictate the pace with their flammable riffage in Futile Dreams, supported by the always rumbling kitchen by Simen and Cato, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Immolation, flowing into the disruptive, massive Nebular Waves, with its caustic riffs slashing our ears mercilessly while Simen continues to roar in the darkest and most demented way possible. And Counter Tech is another breathtaking hybrid of Death and Thrash Metal exhaling aggression and intricacy where Cato pounds our cranial skulls nonstop with his damned beats.

There’s no time to breathe as the quartet will bring hell on earth with the frantic, insane and demonic The Enigma of Intelligence, a six-minute lecture in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal perfect for some action inside the circle pit, whereas their second to last onrush of thrashing sounds comes in the form of Synthetic Life, blasting our putrid minds once again to the infernal riffs and striking solos by the band’s guitar duo and the always hammering drums by Cato. Lastly, get ready for ten minutes of top-of-the-line Thrash and Death Metal in Absence of Unity, starting in a rhythmic, groovy manner spearheaded by Cato’s classic beats, offering us all an amalgamation of blackened sounds, cryptic passages and the ruthless growls by Simen, getting darker and darker as the music progresses, and with its climatic ending putting the perfect conclusion to the album as a whole.

In summary, if you love the violence of Death and Thrash Metal, but at the same time you nurture a deep passion for the more technical and intricate side of music, you’ll have an absolute blast listening to Altered Realities, which is available for purchase from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD (in the US and Europe), an LP (in the US and Europe) and a pro tape (also in the US and in Europe). In addition, don’t forget to start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and to stream all of their wicked creations on Spotify or any other streaming service. Sovereign are among us to fill all empty spaces in the air with their technical aggression, and I’m sure once you start listening to their new offering you’ll instantly become addicted to their pulverizing music.

Best moments of the album: Futile Dreams, The Enigma of Intelligence and Absence of Unity.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Dark Descent Records

Track listing
1. Altered Reality 7:01
2. Futile Dreams 4:29
3. Nebular Waves 3:46
4. Counter Tech 5:40
5. The Enigma of Intelligence 6:05
6. Synthetic Life 4:17
7. Absence of Unity 10:16

Band members
Simen “Gravskjender” Grong – vocals, bass
Tommy Jacobsen – lead & rhythm guitars
Vidar Fineidet – rhythm guitars
Cato Syversrud – drums

Album Review – Exmortus / Necrophony (2023)

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California’s own Neoclassical Thrash and Death Metal institution returns with a collection of twelve piercing hymns, sounding blacker and more nefarious as illustrated by the eeriest and evilest Lovecraftian and Tolkien-esque tales.

Formed in 2002 in Whittier, California, in the United States, the unstoppable Neoclassical and Technical Thrash/Death Metal outfit Exmortus is back in action in 2023 with their amazing sixth studio album, titled Necrophony, a portmanteau of “necro” and “phony” (or “dead sounds”), offering nothing but a savage rebirth and a fierce renewal in the form of twelve tracks highly recommended for fans of Hatchet, Warbringer, Havok, Toxic Holocaust and Skeletonwitch, among others. Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren at Sharkbite Studios, and displaying a striking artwork by Indonesian artist Toha Mashudi, Necrophony showcases a beyond focused and inspired band currently formed of Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez on vocals and guitars, Chase Becker also on the guitars, Phillip Nuñez on bass, and Adrian Aguilar on drums, emerging stronger, faster and crazier from the throes of the pandemic while going from a Conan the Barbarian and Gladiator aesthetic from their previous records to something blacker and more nefarious as illustrated by the eeriest and evilest Lovecraftian and Tolkien-esque tales.

Melancholy flows from the intro Masquerade, evolving into a cinematic sonority before the quartet kicks some serious ass in Mask of Red Death, with Conan roaring like a beast accompanied by the pounding drums by Adrian and scorching, visceral guitar riffs in a great display of Melodic Death Metal, whereas in Oathbreaker we face poetic words declaimed by Conan (“Over the western lands a long shadow lies / And in evil times the dead awaken and arise / Until the end, they know no peace, remain forlorn / As punishment of old for an oath they have forsworn”) while the music is as vile, fast and heavy as it can be. Mind of Metal is another classic Melodic Death Metal creation by Exmortus where the guitars by Conan and Chase will pierce your mind mercilessly, keeping the album at a high level of animosity; and Yanni’s “The Storm” and Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” are blended together in Storm of Strings, an instrumental metallic extravaganza perfect for banging your head nonstop or simply enjoying some high-end shredding. Then back to their trademark Melodic Death Metal mode we have Test of Time, inspired by the classic sound from the Gothenburg scene, with Adrian dictating the pace with his intricate but thunderous beats.

After such striking tune, strident, melodious guitar lines set the tone in Darkest of Knights, presenting elements from classic Thrash and Death Metal with Phillip and Adrian making the earth tremble with their kitchen while Conan continues to vociferate rabidly, followed by Prophecy,  another neck-breaking tune by the quartet, with Conan roaring nonstop and blasting his stringed axe at the same time, feeling like a fusion of Megadeth, Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne. The low-tuned, metallic bass by Phillip will crush your head in Children of the Night, a high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal extravaganza spearheaded by the demonic growls by Conan while Adrian speeds things up considerably behind his drums; whereas the slashing riffage by Conan and Chase keep darkening the skies in Beyond the Grave, blending the brutality of Death Metal with the rebelliousness of Thrash Metal. After that, the melodic and introspective interlude Overture will pave the band’s obscure path until all explodes into the title-track Necrophony, which takes away some of the energy from the rest of the album despite not being a bad song. The guitar work by Conan and Chase is once again truly solid, though.

“We wanted everything on this album to be a fresh take of what we envisioned Exmortus to be,” said Conan about Necrophony. “We had a lot of time to reflect on that during the isolation period of the pandemic, and so, this new material is a sort of rebirth of our approach to writing and performing our music.” Hence, don’t forget to give the guys from Exmortus a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their official YouTube channel, to stream their wicked music on Spoitfy, and above all that, to purchase a copy of Necrophony from their own webstore, or by clicking HERE or HERE. Exmortus are going to invade your senses with their piercing, scorching “dead sounds”, and there’s nothing you can do about it but succumb to the thunderous music by one of the most innovative and hardworking bands of the current scene.

Best moments of the album: Mask of Red Death, Darkest of Knights and Children of the Night.

Worst moments of the album: Necrophony.

Released in 2023 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Masquerade 2:33
2. Mask of Red Death 4:42
3. Oathbreaker 3:24
4. Mind of Metal 4:33
5. Storm of Strings 2:55
6. Test of Time 4:48
7. Darkest of Knights 8:11
8. Prophecy 4:14
9. Children of the Night 7:13
10. Beyond the Grave 3:48
11. Overture 2:05
12. Necrophony 5:10

Band members
Jadran “Conan” Gonzalez – vocals, guitars
Chase Becker – guitars
Phillip Nuñez – bass
Adrian Aguilar – drums

Album Review – A Taste Of Fear / God’s Design (2017)

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An amazing display of dexterity, professionalism and devotion to Thrash and Death Metal by a promising Italian quartet, representing to perfection what the band is all about.

Musically inspired by old school Thrash and Death Metal bands such as Testament, Kreator, Death and Obituary, just to mention some of them, while the lyrics are essentially based on moods, feelings, sensations and on social injustices, God’s Design, the brand new album by Italian Technical Thrash/Death Metal act A Taste Of Fear, is not only a top-notch high-speed feast of metallic and belligerent sounds, but it also represents to perfection what this Rome-based four-piece band is all about and their goals in the world of extreme music.

A Taste Of Fear came alive in 2014 thanks to bassist Michele Attolino (Avanguard, Ruinthrone, Blooddawn) and his deep passion for Thrash and Death Metal, being joined at later stages of the band by the versatile vocalist Stefano Sciamanna (Endaemona), the unstoppable drummer Flavio Castagnoli (Exhume to Consume, Forgotten Lore), and finally the experienced guitarist Emiliano Pacioni (Lunarsea, Catales). After the lineup reached its final shape and form, it was time for those four Italian metallers to begin crushing with their unrelenting music, culminating with the release of God’s Design now in 2017, an album that will definitely leave some good scars on you due to its high level of intricacy, progressiveness and, above all, sheer aggression.

Michele kicks off the title-track God’s Design in an eerie way with his mesmerizing bass, being smoothly joined by the other band members, always sounding very technical and fresh in a solid hybrid of Thrash and Death Metal with hints of Black Metal, with Stefano switching his gentle clean vocals to an even more demonic version of Mille Petrozza. Following that excellent start we have Into Hell, with no slow or atmospheric intros, but only sheer Death Metal bursting with dexterity and stamina where Flavio seems to be in ecstasy while smashing his drums. Moreover, the great string duo comprised of Emiliano and Michele delivers cutting riffs and metallic low-tuned sounds respectively, making the whole song even more impactful.

A calm and serene intro once again explodes into brutal devastation in Out Of Place, a fast-paced creation by the quartet with highlights to the amazing synchronicity between Flavio’s beats and Emiliano’s riffage, not to mention its Flamenco-inspired short break; whereas A Feared Secret brings the most electrifying elements found in Thrash and Death Metal, with Stefano’s harsh gnarls getting more piercing and ferocious. In other words, this is a full-bodied hymn perfect for headbanging or slamming into the pit with its almost 8 minutes of a very intricate and technical sonic attack, all enhanced by an amazing guitar solo by Emiliano. And Make Suffer, a high-octane chant led by the demented growls by Stefano and the furious drumming by Flavio, feels like a kick-ass fusion of Kreator and Carcass. Simply sing its chorus along with the band and crush your skull into the circle pit to this awesome composition, and don’t forget to thoroughly enjoy the song’s superb bass solo.

In Ripped Soul’s Gift, the heavy, headbanging riffs by Emiliano impregnate the air, building a truly demonic ambience for Stefano’s hellish screams in this nonstop sonic demolition tailored for fans of gory and menacing Death Metal, followed by The Passage, which sounds considerably thrashier than its predecessor (in special the frantic drumming by Flavio). This is a good sample of what we can call Blackened Thrash Metal due to its darker and more aggressive sounds, with Emiliano and Michele pounding their strings ferociously from start to finish, emanating keen, demonic sounds to pulverize our ears. And last but not least we have A Taste Of Fear, the song that carries the band’s name, a 7-minute Death Metal onslaught full of demonic guitar lines, thunderous bass and drums and the always deranged growling by Stefano, also showcasing hints of progressiveness to enhance its taste. Moreover, every single second of this tune bursts with anger, hatred and obviously fear, ending with another sensational guitar solo by Emiliano.

If you want to know more about A Taste Of Fear, go check what they’re up to on Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud, and grab your copy of God’s Design (available for a full listen on Spotify) at their own BandCamp page, at the Time to Kill Records’ Big Cartel, at Qobuz or on Amazon. God’s Design might not be the revolution in heavy music, and I truly believe that was never the band’s intention with it, but it’s indeed an amazing display of dexterity, professionalism and devotion to Thrash and Death Metal by this Italian quartet, and let’s hope the band releases several albums in the future with the same punch and finesse as their debut endeavor.

Best moments of the album: Into Hell, A Feared Secret and Make Suffer.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2017 Time To Kill Records

Track listing
1. God’s Design 6:08
2. Into Hell 4:04
3. Out Of Place 5:24
4. A Feared Secret 7:48
5. Make Suffer 5:18
6. Ripped Soul’s Gift 4:55
7. The Passage 5:56
8. A Taste Of Fear 7:27

Band members
Stefano Sciamanna – vocals
Emiliano Pacioni – guitars
Michele Attolino – bass
Flavio Castagnoli – drums