Tag Archives: the serpent

Album Review – Destroy Fear / The Mountain Before Us All (2025)

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A dynamic new force emerging from Melbourne’s vibrant metal scene is ready to strike armed with their debut album, blending crushing heaviness with intricate melodies.

A dynamic new force emerging from Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant metal scene, blending crushing heaviness with intricate melodies heavily inspired by In Flames, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Parkway Drive, As I Lay Dying, and Heaven Shall Burn, among many others, Melodic Death Metal outfit Destroy Fear is unleashing upon us their debut offering, titled The Mountain Before Us All. Comprised of vocalist Scott Masson (Born Of A Bastard King, Outer Worlds), guitarists Jayden Genuis (War Of One) and Luke Baird (Made From Broken Parts, The Empire), bassist Justin Wong (Tides Collide), and drummer Alex Bull (Outer Worlds), the band offers in The Mountain Before Us All a striking sound defined by soaring guitar riffs, emotionally charged vocals, and a powerful rhythm section, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Melodic Death Metal, Hardcore and Metalcore from the “glory days” of the early 2000’s.

It’s easy to feel that characteristic Gothenburg sound right from the start in Ulterior Motive, with Scott already roaring nonstop while Alex keeps the song’s rhythm flowing smoothly; and the guitars by Jayden and Luke will inspire you to bang your heads nonstop in The Serpent, inviting us all to slam into the pit and have a very good time with our good friends. Sweat Equity is absolutely inspired by the current sound by In Flames, with Scott and Justin kicking some ass on vocals, followed by The Redeemer, another fast and melodic creation by the band where the riffage by Jayden and Luke exhale heaviness while also sounding piercing and harmonious. Then we face another round of anguished roars and razor-edged guitars in Flames of Division, while the song’s clean vocals bring a touch of finesse to the overall sound, and the band then enhances their animosity and fury in Sever, with Scott screaming manically amidst a Hardcore-infused sonority.

The second half of the album begins in full force to the sound of Blue Sky Thinking, which should sound fantastic if played live, led by Alex’s Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore pounding drums. Fade to Obscurity is another exciting tune by the band, with their guitar duo hitting us hard with their fusion of aggressiveness and harmony, all boosted by another killer performance by Scott on vocals, and there’s no sign of the band slowing down at all, as it’s a feast of Melodic Death Metal that goes heavy on all Metalcore elements in Brimstone, in special in their vocals and riffs. Yesterday presents a more introspective side of the band, albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album, whereas in order to properly end the album the band will melt our faces with The Mountain Before Us All, where their caustic riffs and roars match perfectly with Alex’s hard hitting drums.

A super group of sorts made up from members of other bands and projects with a passion for all things metal, Destroy Fear are already deep into writing and actively recording for a second album release projected for the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026, and until then you can have an absolute blast with their debut offering by streaming it on Spotify and purchasing it from BandCamp. Don’t forget to also follow those talented Australians on Facebook, keeping an eye on their live concerts as they’re more than ready to crush the stages Down Under, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music and videos. Needless to say, I’m sure we’ll soon hear a lot more from Scott, Jayden, Luke, Justin, and Alex, as they keep destroying fear armed with the best weapon ever to do so, which is high quality music like what they have to offer in their excellent debut album.

Best moments of the album: The Serpent, The Redeemer and Fade to Obscurity.

Worst moments of the album: Yesterday.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Ulterior Motive 4:07
2. The Serpent 4:28
3. Sweat Equity 4:34
4. The Redeemer 3:59
5. Flames of Division 4:13
6. Sever 4:08
7. Blue Sky Thinking 5:05
8. Fade to Obscurity 4:06
9. Brimstone 3:22
10. Yesterday 5:20
11. The Mountain Before Us All 4:23

Band members
Scott Masson – vocals
Jayden Genuis – lead guitar
Luke Baird – rhythm guitar
Justin Wong – bass, vocals
Alex Bull – drums

Album Review – Völva / Desires Profane (2024)

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Behold the new album by these three ruthless Swedish Black Metal ladies, a howling, hate-filled voice of rage, fueled by the fire and the fists that have subjugated womankind.

“Like the screams from a thousand vengeful souls from the witch’s bonfire.” – Vittra describes the sound of Völva

Forged in 2018 in in the simmering underground cauldrons of Punk and Black Metal of Malmö, Sweden, Black Metal/Crust outfit Völva will crush your damned soul to pieces in their new album, titled Desires Profane, a howling, hate-filled voice of rage, fueled by the fire and the fists that have subjugated womankind since the old ways were undone by the insidious Christian contamination of the world. Recorded by Oliver Dah in Studio Quaalude, mixed and mastered by Ulf Blomberg at Hoborec, and with a cryptic artwork by The Black Bird Sings, the first full-length album by vocalist and bassist Hedonosticia, guitarist Vittra and drummer Skuld seeks to explore Satanic Feminism, breaking away from conformity and exploring a higher purpose through free will, body and lust, all while being recommended for admirers of the caustic creations by Darkthrone, Urgehal, Wolfbastard and Taake, among many others.

Their evil, dirty and cryptic feast of Black Metal kicks off in full force with The Tower (check their performance playing this amazing song at Quaalude Sessions #15), with Hedonosticia already crushing our minds with her she-wolf gnarls, and it’s time to walk through the fires of hell together with those talented Sweds in Walk With Me, with Vittra showing no mercy for our souls, blasting infernal riffs nonstop. They then go full Black Metal in Expulsion of the Flesh, delivering endless animosity and darkness, with Hedonosticia’s harsh vocals sounding utterly piercing; followed by Inverted Cross, displaying a beautiful name for another explosion of Black Metal magic by the trio, again melting our faces with their unrelenting savagery, blast beats and hellish growls, before we face five minutes of sluggish, grim and visceral passages in Never Forgive, showcasing elements of Doom Metal added to their devilish core essence.

And they keep hammering our putrid souls with their blend of Black Metal and Crust in The Serpent, also delivering elements of Death Metal and Blackened Death Metal, led by the infernal roars by Hedonosticia and the massive beats by Skuld, whereas Perpetual Putrefaction sounds a bit generic compared to the rest of the album, albeit still presenting the band’s characteristic blasphemous, demonic sounds. Asmodeus is one of the most infuriated of all songs in Desires Profane where Vittra’s riffs are the epitome of evil, sounding devilishly metallic, while Hedonosticia continues to summon the creatures of the underworld with her she-demon gnarls; followed by Salvation, another evil onrush of Black Metal masterfully brought into being by the band, living up to the legacy of Swedish Black Metal, with Skuld once again kicking ass on drums. And last but not least, they offer us all a ruthless Black Metal extravaganza titled Vagabond, reminding me of some of the most wicked creations by the mighty Skeletonwitch.

In summary, those three Swedish ladies sound absolutely insane and on fire throughout their entire newborn beast, proving once again that women not only have their place in heavy music, but that they can also sound heavier, darker and more caustic than any man. Hence, you can check what they’re up to on Instagram, including their tour dates, stream their creations on any streaming service like Spotify, and grab a copy of their scathing new album from their own BandCamp, from the Grind To Death Records’ BandCamp, or from the Fiadh Productions’ BandCamp, helping them spread their infernal howl in the name of feminism and Black Metal to all four corners of our sexist and decaying world.

Best moments of the album: Expulsion of the Flesh, The Serpent and Asmodeus.

Worst moments of the album: Perpetual Putrefaction.

Released in 2024 Grind To Death Records/Fiadh Productions

Track listing
1. The Tower 4:10
2. Walk With Me 2:59
3. Expulsion of the Flesh 3:45
4. Inverted Cross 3:12
5. Never Forgive 5:19
6. The Serpent 3:42
7. Perpetual Putrefaction 2:30
8. Asmodeus 2:31
9. Salvation 4:38
10. Vagabond 2:28

Band members
Hedonosticia – vocals, bass
Vittra – guitars, backing vocals
Skuld – drums, backing vocals