Tag Archives: thrash metal

Album Review – Angelic Desolation / Orchestrionic Abortion (2023)

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A gore-fueled assault on the senses in the form of the sophomore album by a ruthless American Razorgrind band.

A Brutal Death Metal band formed in 2006 in Denver, Colorado, in the United States with a full-scale sonic attack and a sound unique enough to label their own music as “American Razorgrind”, Angelic Desolation are unleashing upon humanity their sophomore opus, titled Orchestrionic Abortion, a gore-fueled assault on the senses taking influences from Thrash Metal, Grindcore, Death Metal, horror movies and a love for the power of the riff. Recorded and mixed at Hahn Audio, mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, and displaying a sick cover art by Kevin Waltz, Orchestrionic Abortion is a blood-soaked album best enjoyed loud masterfully put together by vocalist Jay Medina, guitarist Matt Markle, bassist Leonard White and drummer Max “Thunder” Stark, sounding ruthless and vile throughout its 31 minutes of musical savagery.

The quartet’s razor-edged onrush begins in full force with Brutus McMucus, a Brutal Death Metal tune with hints of Thrash Metal where Jay is absolutely infuriated with his sick roars, sounding fast, demented and infernal just the way we like it; followed by Shake The Baby, one of the most wicked songs of the current Deathgrind scene presenting a bestial job done by Matt with his piercing riffage and of course Max with his thunderous and intricate drumming. There’s no sign of slowing down at all for those American razorgrinders as we can see in Pterrordactyl Mann, with Matt slashing his axe nonstop supported by the low-tuned, metallic bass by Leonard and all beats and fills by Max. And switching gears to a more cadenced, headbanging vibe, the band brings forth the electrifying Dic Tater, where they distill all their technique while continuing their path of sonic devastation led by the deep gutturals by Jay.

If you like tacos and brutality, the band will offer you a gory fusion of both in Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco), with Matt and Leonard adding their own spices to their already furious Death Metal thanks to another classy stringed work by the duo, whereas Barbaric Destroyer is as progressive as it’s violent, showcasing a fulminating performance by Max on drums while Jay keeps growling in the name of extreme music. Then screeches from a mad chimp blend perfectly with the band’s hellish sound in AIDS Chimp Lab Attack, a lesson in Technical and Brutal Death Metal with Matt stealing the spotlight with his ruthless riffage, being therefore  perfect for slamming into the circle pit. And last but definitely not least, the band offers their rendition for Cattle Decapitation’s Forced Gender Reassignment (check out the original one HERE from their 2012 album Monolith of Inhumanity), delivering a fantastic tribute to their idols spearheaded by Jay and Max with their respective growls and blast beats.

Do you have what it takes to get face-to-face with the guys from Angelic Desolation? If your answer is yes, go check what they’re up to on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their visceral music on Spotify, and of course, grab your copy of the pulverizing Orchestrionic Abortion from their own BandCamp page, from Apple Music, or simply by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, Orchestrionic Abortion overflows blood and violence, and those American metallers responsible for such demented album are craving your blood to keep fueling their unrelenting Death Metal machine.

Best moments of the album: Shake The Baby, Dic Tater and AIDS Chimp Lab Attack.

Worst moments of the album: Pterrordactyl Mann.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Brutus McMucus 3:47
2. Shake The Baby 4:12
3. Pterrordactyl Mann 3:40
4. Dic Tater 3:44
5. Paco’s Satanic Taco Truck (Los Tacos De Diablo De La Troca De Paco) 3:52
6. Barbaric Destroyer 3:49
7. AIDS Chimp Lab Attack 3:44
8. Forced Gender Reassignment (Cattle Decapitation cover) 3:50

Band members
Jay Medina – vocals
Matt Markle – guitars
Leonard White – bass
Max “Thunder” Stark – drums

Album Review – Hellripper / Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (2023)

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Behold this infernal storm of Blackened Thrash Metal by a one-man army from Scotland, heavily inspired by witchcraft and the supernatural while also deeply rooted in his Scottish origins.

Crowned “Scotland’s king of the arcane mosh” by Metal Hammer magazine, Aberdeen-based Blackened Thrash Metal one-man army Hellripper, the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist James McBain (Lock Howl, Lord Rot, Rats of Reality), aims to invoke the quintessential Black N’ Roll sound by mixing influences from classic 80’s Black Metal records with a more modern edge, heavily inspired by witchcraft and the supernatural while also deeply rooted in his Scottish origins, and always using the landscape and historical events as a backdrop for his lyrics and imagery. Now in 2023 it’s time for Hellripper to kill once again with Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags, the project’s third studio album, establishing a new threshold of excellence and raising the bar further over its 2020 album The Affair of the Poisons. Recorded and mixed by James himself at Coronach Studios, mastered by Damian Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios, and displaying a sick artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, the album is undoubtedly James’ most personal and diverse work to date, bringing the landscapes and legends of the Scottish Highlands to life in a beyond fantastic way.

James wastes no time and begin his sonic massacre in The Nuckelavee, delivering sheer electricity and rage through his riffs and blast beats in a demolishing fusion of Black and Thrash Metal for admirers of the darkest side of music, and the party is just starting as James has endless fuel to burn, bringing to our ears more of his acid roars and riffs in I, The Deceiver, sounding brutal yet very melodic; whereas the title-track Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags, featuring the majestic bagpipes by guest Antonio Rodríguez, blends James’ passion for extreme music with his Scottish roots in a very compelling manner, with his riffs and beats walking hand in hand with his visceral screams. As you all know, a beautiful song name requires an even more beautiful sound, and that’s exactly what James has to offer us all in Goat Vomit Nightmare, being frantic, sulfurous and blasphemous from the very first second, not to mention his thrashing riffs and solos are simply fantastic.

Featuring Joseph Quinlan (Desert Heretic) on lead guitars and additional vocals by Marianne, James takes no prisoners in his quest for violence and blood in The Cursed Carrion Crown, where his vocals get more and more demented as the music progresses, therefore blasting endless aggression for our vulgar delight. Joseph is back in The Hissing Marshes, where it’s impressive how James was able to blend the music by Motörhead and The Exploited to perfection. Moreover, his work on bass and drums is superb throughout the entire song, all spiced up of course by his devilish growling, whereas in Poison Womb (The Curse of the Witch) we face the last guest solo by Joseph, with the music being as fast and infernal as the rest of the album, or in other words an ode to all things 666, or a “lovely” song perfect for a “romantic” moment with your significant other. Last but not least, we’re treated to over eight minutes of pure hell and sulfur titled Mester Stoor Worm, perhaps the most Black Metal of all songs (which is obviously a good thing) where James is yet again spot-on with his screams, riffs and demented beats.

You can enjoy all the fury, speed and energy of the Blackened Thrash Metal played by Hellripper by following James and his Scottish beast on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to his YouTube channel and by streaming his music on Spotify, and above all that, by purchasing the phenomenal Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags from his own BandCamp page, from his official EU store as a CD or an LP, or simply by clicking HERE or HERE. Hellripper is absolutely fast, loud and uncompromising, with Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags being a contemporary masterpiece of extreme music that deserves a listen from any living being that enjoys some good old Black Metal with a powerful Rock N’ Roll attitude. So keep calm, listen to the superb new opus by Hellripper, and all hail the goat!

Best moments of the album: Goat Vomit Nightmare, The Cursed Carrion Crown, The Hissing Marshes and Mester Stoor Worm.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. The Nuckelavee 5:47
2. I, The Deceiver 4:55
3. Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags 7:14
4. Goat Vomit Nightmare 3:15
5. The Cursed Carrion Crown 5:47
6. The Hissing Marshes 3:51
7. Poison Womb (The Curse of the Witch) 3:43
8. Mester Stoor Worm 8:31

Band members
James McBain – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Joseph Quinlan – additional lead guitars on “Poison Womb (The Curse of the Witch)”, “The Cursed Carrion Crown” and “The Hissing Marshes”
Marianne – additional vocals on “The Cursed Carrion Crown”
Antonio Rodríguez – great highland bagpipes on “Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags”

Album Review – Leper Colony / Leper Colony (2023)

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***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

I’m very much of the opinion that Rogga Johansson doesn’t sleep! How can he sleep with a list of bands and projects that would keep a civil servant happy for a decade? His latest endeavour is the Death/Thrash Metal triumvirate Leper Colony, who have chosen Friday the 13th of January as a suitable date to unleash their debut self-titled album through Transcending Obscurity Records.

You can’t ask for a more powerful opener than The Human Paradox; a blistering track of intensive Death Metal ferocity and wild thrashing aggression. Deep growled vocals bring to life a very captivating chorus section whilst chugging riffs and frenzied drumming complete with punishing bass and extravagant guitar melodies. ‘Perdition’s End’ is a more direct and hard-hitting track with simpler riffs and in-your face vocals, though the rhythm guitar here has a cold tinge to it that is rather enigmatic.

There is little variation to this opus which spans just over the half an hour mark, save for the odd passage of slower, groovier rhythm such as during tracks like Rapture Addict. However, the ferocious aggression, raging guitar solos and fuck you attitude certainly make up for that! A very listenable album full to the gills with mighty riffs, energetic urgent drumming styles and unadulterated violence.

Best moments of the album: The roaring opener that is The Human Paradox.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 by Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. The Human Paradox 4:22
2. Perdition’s End 3:19
3. The Surgical Undeadvors 3:43
4. Tar and Feathers 3:15
5. Rapture Addict 4:40
6. Leper Colony 4:35
7. A Flow So Greatly Macabre 3:20
8. Flesh Crawl Demise 3:24
9. Gruesome End 2:55

Band members
Marc Grewe – vocals
Rogga Johansson – guitars, bass
Jon Skäre – drums

Links
Leper Colony Facebook | YouTube | BandCamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon

Album Review – Fatalismo / Dominate to Exterminate EP (2023)

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Bang your heads to the debut EP by this Puerto Rican Melodic Death Metal horde, telling the story of how sometimes we feel dominated by dark thoughts or by someone with evil intentions.

Hailing from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, the newborn Melodic Death Metal squad known as Fatalismo is ready to crush our souls with their debut EP, entitled Dominate to Exterminate, highly recommended for fans of The Crown, Hypocrisy, Dark Tranquility and Kataklysm, among others. Recorded at Music Rite Studio, produced by the band’s own vocalist Abraham Baez, mixed and mastered by their own guitarist Joel Rodriguez, and displaying a sick artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, Dominate to Exterminate tells the story of how sometimes we feel dominated by dark thoughts or by someone with evil intentions, showcasing all the talent and passion for extreme music by the aforementioned Abraham and Joel alongside bassist Jose Ortiz and drummer Norman Saez.

Joel (with the help of guest guitarist Rafael Sanchez) ignites the band’s Puerto Rican attack with his infernal riffs in Dominate to Exterminate, while Jose blasts his bass manically. Moreover, although their core sound is rooted in Melodic Death Metal, there’s a lot of classic Death Metal to enjoy in their music, and they continue their infuriated onrush in Undeceased, with Norman crushing his drums and inviting us all to slam our cranial skulls into the circle pit while Abraham roars and screams in the name of extreme music. Then adding elements from traditional Thrash Metal to their core sonority the quartet keeps hammering our heads nonstop with their piercing riffs and rumbling bass lines in Darkest Thoughts, not to mention how demented Abraham sounds on vocals; whereas the melodic riffs by Joel and Rafael will penetrate deep inside your mind in The Devil Came to Play, sounding extremely heavy and groovy thanks to the excellent job done by the band’s kitchen of Jose and Norman. Finally, closing such powerful EP we have Sacred Hills, a vicious, neck-breaking extravaganza led by the classic beats by Norman while Abraham keeps vociferating like a beast for our total delight, ending their metallic feast on a high note.

In summary, Dominate to Exterminate might be short in duration, but it effectively represents everything Fatalismo are capable of, and if you want to show your utmost support to the Puerto Rican metal scene you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, subscribe to their YouTube channel and stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of Dominate to Exterminate by clicking HERE. The band offers us all in their new album five songs that at the same deal with fictional stories and the state of mind and emotions of humanity these days, and after listening to its intense 18 minutes of music you’ll quickly realize there’s no better music style to perfectly represent our rotten reality than our good old Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: Undeceased and Sacred Hills.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Dominate to Exterminate 4:33
2. Undeceased 2:46
3. Darkest Thoughts 3:16
4. The Devil Came to Play 3:26
5. Sacred Hills 3:49

Band members
Abraham Baez – vocals
Joel Rodriguez – guitars
Jose Ortiz – bass
Norman Saez – drums

Guest musician
Rafael Sanchez – guitars

The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2022

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“Life is funny. If you don’t laugh, you’re in trouble.” – Taylor Hawkins

And just like that, after 880 days of nothing, I was finally able to attend a metal concert this year, just like countless other metalheads who patiently waited for the Canadian government to lift all restrictions due to the pandemic to get back to our normal lives. And it was a busy year concert-wise as you can see HERE, with Judas Priest, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Cannibal Corpse, Trivium, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Behemoth and several others putting a smile back on our faces and the horns back in our hands, because in the end the beauty of heavy music is when it’s played live, right? On the other hand, we unfortunately saw some important names of the global metal scene disbanding such as Nuclear Assault, Tristania and Every Time I Die, plus of course the brave warriors who left us and are now sitting beside the metal gods in Valhalla. Just to name a few, we all mourned the losses of Fredrik Johansson (former guitarist of Dark Tranquillity), Jon Zazula (co-founder of Megaforce Records), Bruce Greig (former guitarist of Misery Index and Dying Fetus), Taylor Hawkins (drummer of Foo Fighters), Ronnie Deo (former bassist of Incantation), Trevor Strnad (vocalist of The Black Dahlia Murder), Alec John Such (former bassist of Bon Jovi), Bob Heathcote (former bassist of Suicidal Tendencies), Steve Grimmett (vocalist of Grim Reaper), Stuart Anstis (former guitarist of Cradle of Filth), David Andersson (guitarist of Soilwork), and Dan McCafferty (former vocalist of Nazareth).

However, one of the biggest losses in the world of heavy music happened right here in Toronto, Canada, as we lost the biggest metalhead of the entire Torontonian scene, Walter Froebrich.  Our super fan Walter, who was a staple in the local scene for over 20 years (and I remember seeing him in every single concert I’ve attended in the past 10 years or more at least), sadly died alone at home last month following three visits to a local hospital due to severe abdominal pain. This is extremely tragic and cannot happen again, as we all have the right to decent healthcare it doesn’t matter who we are. There will be a memorial show for Walter on January 7, 2023 at The Rockpile (details can be found HERE and tickets HERE) with several local independent bands, and we at The Headbanging Moose also want to honor the life of Walter and his undisputed passion for heavy music by dedicating to him The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2022, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums.

1. Kreator – Hate Über Alles (REVIEW)
Let the hate flow through you to the sound of the magnificent new opus by one of the trailblazers of the German Thrash Metal scene.
Best song of the album: Hate Über Alles

2. Lorna Shore – Pain Remains (REVIEW)
The most explosive name of the current Deathcore scene invites us all to dance like flames to the sound of their newborn masterpiece.
Best song of the album: The Pain Remains Trilogy

3. Megadeth – The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! (REVIEW)
The unstoppable Mr. Dave Mustaine strikes again with the sick, the dying… and the Megadeth!
Best song of the album: Life in Hell

4. Rammstein – Zeit (REVIEW)
Germany’s own Neue Deutsche Härte institution wasted no time during the pandemic and is back in action with their fantastic eight opus.
Best song of the album: Angst

5. Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram (REVIEW)
A stunning work against religious oppression by Poland’s most important Extreme Metal institution of all time.
Best song of the album: Malaria Vvlgata

6. Arch Enemy – Deceivers (REVIEW)
One of the most important names in metal is back in action with their most solid and detailed album with Alissa White-Gluz on vocals.
Best song of the album: The Watcher

7. Lamb of God – Omens (REVIEW)
Ignore the omens and listen to the pulverizing new album by one of the best and most dynamic metal bands of the past two decades.
Best song of the album: Ditch

8. Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army (REVIEW)
Join the great heathen army spearheaded by one of the most respected bands of the current metal scene.
Best song of the album: Saxons and Vikings

9. Hiss From The Moat – The Way Out Of Hell (REVIEW)
There’s only one way out of hell, and that’s to the sound of the incendiary Blackened Death Metal by this Italian horde.
Best song of the album: Generation Of Cowardice

10. Diabolical Raw – Elegy of Fire Dusk (REVIEW)
Behold this grandiose album of Symphonic Black and Death Metal inspired by ancient Central Asian Turkish mythology.
Best song of the album: Face the Judgement

And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:

11. Abaddon Incarnate – The Wretched Sermon (REVIEW)
12. Cage Fight – Cage Fight (REVIEW)
13. Dark Funeral – We Are The Apocalypse (REVIEW)
14. Stratovarius – Survive (REVIEW)
15. Konvent – Call Down the Sun (REVIEW)
16. Scorpions – Rock Believer (REVIEW)
17. Disturbed – Divisive (REVIEW)
18. Thundermother – Black and Gold (REVIEW)
19. Blind Guardian – The God Machine (REVIEW)
20. Ferum – Asunder / Erode (REVIEW)

In addition to all that, let’s bang our heads with our Top 10 EP’s of 2022 to prove once and for all that not all great albums of the year have to be so long. The EP’s from this list are simply awesome, showcasing the band’s talent and their ability to sound epic even if the music lasts for only a few minutes.

1. Eskhaton – Horracle (REVIEW)
2. Headfist – This New World…. (REVIEW)
3. Sullen Guest – Phase (REVIEW)
4. Pyrrhic Salvation – Manifestum I (REVIEW)
5. Klendathu – Avarist: The Beginning & The End at Once (REVIEW)
6. Through The Noise – Tragedies (REVIEW)
7. Rotten Casket – First Nail in the Casket (REVIEW)
8. Circa Arcana – Bridget Viginti (REVIEW)
9. All Else Fails – The Incident at Black Lake (REVIEW)
10. Haunted By Silhouettes – No Man Isle (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2022? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show! And if you lost some or most of our special editions of The Headbanging Moose Show, including our Top 20 Underground Albums of 2022 – Parts I and II, go to our Mixcloud page and there you have hours and hours of the best of the independent scene, sounds good?

Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2023!

And before I go, I’ll leave you with what’s in my humble opinion not only the best song of 2022, but it also carries a very inspiring message to us all… ROW! ROW! ROW!

Album Review – Absolute Darkness / Failure Of State (2022)

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***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

Failure of State is the third full length instalment from San Franciscan Death/Thrash quartet Absolute Darkness. Part album, part call to arms, Absolute Darkness’s first opus since 2018’s Disaster Awaits is a rabble rousing affair as well as a slamming indictment of modern day society and those that pretend to govern us.

Opening tracks Rounded Up and Mob Rules are anger fueled slabs of hatred that talk of sparking rebellion and standing for what’s right, and those messages are delivered through fast paced riffs and drumming on top of a bass heavy rhythm and powerful growling vocal work. This is not a band calling for a peaceful resolution, that’s for damn sure.

Some tracks despair at the state of the world, such as Sanity Is Gone whilst others come at things from a different perspective, as is the case during My Forever Rule in which the band put themselves into the shoes of a dictator and ask the question; why do the people oppose me?

A very interesting album and thematically engaging and varied. Musically the fare is direct and well performed though a little unspectacular. Absolute Darkness create music with a mainly Thrash mentality (And a few hardcore sensibilities) and then thrown in more Death Metal style vocals, as well as some meatier DM riffs. Certainly anyone of a political leaning should check this out; it will stoke the fires of your anger.

Best moments of the album: The rabble rousing stomp and ceremony of Mob Rules.

Worst moments of the album: No bad moments though the album is a little samey.

Released in 2022 by Sliptrick Records

Track listing
1. Rounded Up 4:13
2. Mob Rule 4:49
3. Sanity Is Gone 4:28
4. My Forever Rule 4:00
5. Failure Of State 4:42
6. My Assassination 4:00
7. The Republic 3:59
8. Unite! 3:37

Bonus tracks
9. Chaos Unleashed 4:33
10. Mad King 5:35
11. On My Way To Death 4:55

Band members
Ron Dorn – vocals, guitars
Douglas Vetter II – lead guitars, backing vocals
Orson Sojo – bass
Emad Dajani – drums

Links
Absolute Darkness Facebook | Instagram | YouTube  | BandCamp | Spotify

Album Review – Headfist / This New World…. EP (2022)

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A talented and hardworking musician from Chile channels all his anger in his debut EP, overflowing Thrash and Speed Metal for our total delight.

Formed by guitarist Cristóbal Perez in Chile’s capital Santiago earlier this year as a four-piece act, but currently having Cristóbal as its sole member (with the support of session vocalist Michel Hoogervorst of Dutch Heavy/Thrash Metal band KFFR), the newborn Thrash/Speed Metal entity Headfist has just released their debut EP This New World…., following up on their 2022 two-track self-titled demo. Comprised of six songs clocking at 20 minutes of pure speed and insanity, the EP is according to Cristóbal himself highly influenced by Motörhead, Overkill, Exodus, Anvil, Anthrax, Testament and Iron Maiden, among others, allowing him to channel all his anger while the lyrics deal with the adversities most musicians face in life when trying to create new music.

Uncertainty is a very melodic intro inspired by renowned acts such as Megadeth and Testament, exploding into the high-octane and rebellious This World, with Cristóbal slashing his guitar in great fashion, firing caustic riffs and solos while Michel roars manically in the name of 80’s Thrash Metal. Then pounding drums and endless heaviness are the main ingredients in What a Nice Way to Live…, another incendiary tune by Headfist with nuances of Hardcore and Punk Rock added to its already violent core; whereas the soaring vocals by Michel add an extra touch of insanity to the music in Instinct to Kill, where once again the Speed Metal riffage by Cristóbal lives up to the legacy of the genre. It’s time to put the pedal to the metal as Headfist invites us all to slam into the pit to the sound of Reign of Treason, sounding like a Chilean version of Anthrax with Cristóbal’s sharp riffs and solos bringing that welcome dirt to the overall result. Lastly, the song that carries the name of the band, Headfist, overflows electricity and rage, with Michel and Cristóbal being in perfect sync and, therefore, offering us all another hurricane of Thrash and Speed Metal.

While the EP can be heard in full on YouTube and on Spotify, the talented Cristóbal is currently looking for musicians who nurture the same passion as he does for heavy music, and who are also willing to embark on the hard and difficult (but exciting) path to create high-quality metal music. Hence, if you think you have what it takes to be part of Headfist, or if you just love Speed Metal and want to show Cristóbal all your support, go check what he’s up to on Facebook and purchase a copy of This New World…. from Apple Music. Hopefully, Cristóbal will quickly find some skillful metallers to join Headfist and become once again a full-bodied band, because the music found in his debut EP is excellent, it perfectly represents what the underground is all about, and above all that, it exhales Heavy Metal. We need more of the music by Headfist, no doubt about that.

Best moments of the album: This World and Reign of Treason.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Uncertainty 1:06
2. This World 2:38
3. What a Nice Way to Live… 3:28
4. Instinct to Kill 4:10
5. Reign of Treason 5:02
6. Headfist 3:54

Band members
Cristóbal Perez – guitars, bass, drums

Guest musician
Michel Hoogervorst – vocals (session)

Album Review – Atrocia / Contamination (2022)

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It’s time to slam into the pit to the vicious Death Metal spawned by this incendiary French band, dealing with a dystopian universe inspired by science-fiction literature.

The vicious Death Metal spawned by Saint-Nazaire, Pays de la Loire, France-based act Atrocia correlates with diversity and energy, being inspired by the major figures from the 90’s scene in the United States such as Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse and Death with elements of Thrash Metal and a nuance of Grindcore added to their trademark sound. Dealing with a dystopian universe in their lyrics since their inception in 2003, particularly inspired by science-fiction literature, Atrocia are back in action now in 2022 with their third full-length album, entitled Contamination, with the crisp recording and mixing by Arthur Lauth at Brown Bear Recording, the mastering by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate Productions, and the futuristic artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design turning it into a must-listen for fans of the genre while also showcasing all the talent by vocalist and guitarist Julien Lésébos, guitarist Sebastian Fuentes, bassist Arnaud Beilvert, and drummer Pierre Garcia.

The fulminating riffs by Julien and Sebastian kick off the brutal Unleashing The Insurgency, with Pierre’s crushing beats adding even more fuel to the band’s Death Metal machine without showing a single second of peace, whereas more of the band’s vile Death Metal comes in the form of Corridors Of The Living Dead, with Julien barking deeply à la Chris Barnes while Arnaud’s bass and Pierre’s drums fill out every empty space in the atmosphere. In Incorporeal Killer the unrelenting Julien keeps vomiting the song’s bloodthirsty words while Pierre dictates the song’s pace, also bringing forward sick, strident guitar solos; and a beyond sinister intro gradually morphs into a putrid sonority in Monolith, an old school Death Metal extravaganza where the whole band will demolish our senses with their heavy-as-hell artillery.

The second half of the album begins in full force with Iron Corps Icy Stalk, presenting truly melodic riffs and solos by Julien and Sebastian while Arnaud and Pierre show no mercy for our damned souls with their wicked kitchen (despite its second part getting a bit repetitive), whereas Lies brings to our avid ears more of their old school Death Metal for our total delight, with Pierre once again stealing the spotlight with his infernal blast beats. Then a cinematic, cryptic start permeates the air until the band returns with their hellish wall of sounds in Curse Of The Two-Headed Queen Cobra, where their riffs will pierce our minds mercilessly, sounding and feeling absolutely pulverizing in an ode to all things Death Metal. Lastly, the band brings forth over seven minutes of pure savagery titled Embrace The Venom, perfect for headbanging like a beast while Pierre hammers his drums with tons of groove, supported by the diabolical riffs and bass by his bandmates.

In summary, Atrocia more than nailed it with Contamination, which is by the way available in full on Spotify, perfectly adding their dystopian lyrics into their core (and extremely brutal) Death Metal, and if you want to show those French metallers how much you love their music you can buy their new album from their own BandCamp page, from the Great Dane Records’ BandCamp page, from Season of Mist, from Apple Music, or from Amazon, as well as by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and by subscribing to their YouTube channel. It might have taken a few years after the band’s inception before they could release their first full-length effort, but now we can say such French brigade has been on a roll since their 2012 album Inward Chaos, with Contamination cementing their name in the French underground extreme music scene.

Best moments of the album: Unleashing The Insurgency, Incorporeal Killer and Curse Of The Two-Headed Queen Cobra.

Worst moments of the album: Iron Corps Icy Stalk.

Released in 2022 Great Dane Records

Track listing
1. Unleashing The Insurgency 4:59
2. Corridors Of The Living Dead 3:42
3. Incorporeal Killer 4:49
4. Monolith 7:09
5. Iron Corps Icy Stalk 4:50
6. Lies 4:51
7. Curse Of The Two-Headed Queen Cobra 5:34
8. Embrace The Venom 7:25

Band members
Julien Lésébos – vocals, guitar
Sebastian Fuentes – guitar
Arnaud Beilvert – bass
Pierre Garcia – drums

Album Review – My Own Fear / Violence Made History (2022)

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Let’s all have a lesson in violence to the sound of the awesome first full-length album by this ruthless Death and Thrash Metal band from France.

Formed in 2011 in Val d’Oise, a department in the Île-de-France region in Northern France, Death/Thrash Metal troopers My Own Fear have just unleashed upon humanity their first full-length opus, titled Violence Made History, enhancing the heaviness, rage and fury from their 2014 debut EP Rise to a whole new level. Currently formed of Nicolas Benloulou on vocals, Stéphane Neraud and Fabrice Darmon on the guitars, Gilles Sala on bass, and Sébastien Geley on drums, My Own Fear will inspire you to slam into the circle pit to the sound of their newborn spawn dealing with controversial topics like death, inner struggles and the horrors of historical events the likes of the Spanish Inquisition, being highly recommended for admirers of the vicious and intricate music blasted by renowned acts such as Death, Sepultura and The Haunted, among several others.

The atmospheric, cinematic intro Once Upon a Fall works as the calm before the storm, as the band comes crushing our senses in 6:1 – 8, a frantic thrashing feast where Sébastien sounds demonic behind his drums accompanied by the dirty and piercing riffs by Stéphane and Fabrice, being perfect for some sick headbanging. The quintet keeps delivering sheer animosity and rage through their infernal music in Dux Bellarum, with Nicolas roaring manically in the name of Thrash Metal; and deadly and sinister from the very first second, the demolishing Hell Fire Club (H.F.C.) brings to our ears the pounding beats by Sébastien while Gilles hammers his bass nonstop, resulting in an excellent option for their live concerts. Then we have Torquemada, which starts in a cryptic manner to the sound of acoustic guitars before exploding into the band’s vicious fusion of Death and Thrash Metal, or in other words, it’s another neck-breaking tune by those French metallers that also presents exciting and melodic breaks and passages.

Ghosts on the Warpath is a lot more obscure and groovier than its predecessors, with the bass by Gilles sounding thunderous in a lesson in modern-day Death Metal with Hardcore nuances, and it looks like the band will keep firing their most vicious form of Death Metal in Salem, where Nicolas is bestial on vocals, roaring the song’s lyrics from the bottom of his blackened heart (not to mention the song’s wicked guitar solos). After that, the “Era of the Rats Trilogy” begins with 1349 – Era of the Rats, Pt. 1, an instrumental interlude that sounds as if the band is getting ready for war, evolving into the ass-kicking Devoured by Pestilence – Era of the Rats, Pt. 2, blending the best elements from Death and Thrash Metal with European Hardcore where Stéphane and Fabrice are once again demented with their riffage and solos, and finally ending the album the band brings forward five minutes of Death Metal darkness entitled Empire of the Rats – Era of the Rats, Pt. 3, with Gilles and Sébastien being in perfect sync by adding endless groove to the overall result.

In a nutshell, the excellent Violence Made History, which is available in full on Spotify, definitely sets the bar high for My Own Fear regarding their upcoming releases, but I’m sure those talented French musicians will find a way to sound even heavier and more compelling in the future. Hence, go check what My Own Fear are up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course grab your copy of Violence Made History from Rock Metal Market, iMusician, Best Buy, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Record Store Day. My Own Fear are opening up our eyes to the undeniable truth that violence indeed made what we know today as History, and violence is what will keep fueling not only the future of humanity, but also the first-class music crafted by such skillful and focused band from France.

Best moments of the album: Hell Fire Club (H.F.C.), Ghosts on the Warpath and Salem.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 M.U.S.I.C. Records

Track listing
1. Once Upon a Fall 1:09
2. 6:1 – 8 5:41
3. Dux Bellarum 4:13
4. Hell Fire Club (H.F.C.) 4:08
5. Torquemada 4:20
6. Ghosts on the Warpath 4:04
7. Salem 5:09
8. 1349 – Era of the Rats, Pt. 1 1:36
9. Devoured by Pestilence – Era of the Rats, Pt. 2 3:51
10. Empire of the Rats – Era of the Rats, Pt. 3 5:02

Band members
Nicolas Benloulou – vocals
Stéphane Neraud – guitars, backing vocals
Fabrice Darmon – guitars
Gilles Sala – bass
Sébastien Geley – drums

Album Review – Fifth Ring / Masochist (2022)

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This ruthless trio based in Taiwan and the United States will break your bones with their debut full-length monstrosity, a maelstrom where Blackened Deathcore, Progressive Death Metal and sheer bloody brutality collide and explode.

With the soul focus on creating the heaviest riffs, the sickest slams and the filthiest breakdowns, the members of Tainan, Taiwan/Atlanta, Georgia, United States-based Blackened Deathcore horde Fifth Ring have been creatively active with other musical projects for over ten years now and have come together once again to create a whole new monstrosity, entitled Masochist. Following on directly from their 2022 three-track EP Dawn, Masochist is a huge leap forward for Fifth Ring in every department, a maelstrom where Blackened Deathcore, Progressive Death Metal and sheer bloody brutality collide and explode, therefore showcasing all the talent and fury by Zachary Kepley on vocals, bass and drum programming, Christopher Williamson on the guitar and Q. Keith Brown Jr. on drums, and being highly recommended for fans of Cattle Decapitation, Bog Wraith, Sun Speaker and Katabasis, among others.

The opening tune Ten Horns is noisy, vile and brutal from the very first second, with the infernal vociferations by Zachary walking hand in hand with his own demonic bass punches in an awesome fusion of Brutal Death Metal and Deathcore where the riffs by Zachary and Christopher will pierce your skull mercilessly. The Snake is just as demonic as its predecessor, with Q. Keith crushing his drums in the name of Blackened Deathcore, exhaling groove and rage for our total delight; whereas in Crimson Mask we face sick words barked by Zachary (“Stretch out the spine / Broken neck / Barbed wire / Guillotine / Now the wound has opened up”) amidst a hurricane of metallic sounds perfect for slamming into the circle pit. Then bringing forward elements from classic Thrash and Death Metal we have Head on a Pike, where Q. Keith once again does a great job behind his drums; and switching gears to a more melodic, pensive sonority, get ready for six intense minutes in Dust to Dust, which loses its grip after a while, consequently sounding a bit tiresome in the end.

Back to a more Hardcore sound, the trio drinks form the same fountain as renowned acts the likes of Lorna Shore and Whitechapel in Maggot King, showcasing a violent riff attack by Zachary and Christopher, whereas in Waste we’re treated to another round of their acid lyrics (“Dead in the waste / By the time I was saved / I never / Prayed to a god / Who forsakes / Everyone who’s praises / Dead on cross / With no head / Upside down and rancid”) while the music brings to our ears endless savagery and heaviness. The Pit is a brutal, neck-breaking creation by the trio that will please all fans of the darkest side of Deathcore, with Zachary sounding inhumane on vocals while Q. Keith continues to kick ass on drums, resulting in the heaviest of all songs hands down. Lastly, ending the album on a demonic mode, more of the trio’s trademark aggressiveness is offered to us all in Lurking in the Open Wound, while also presenting some cryptic, somber passages until its melancholic finale.

You can enjoy Masochist and all of its heaviness and gore on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show your support to the underground extreme scene you should buy the album from their own BandCamp page, from Apple Music, or by clicking HERE, proving you’re indeed a circle pit connoisseur. In addition, go check what the trio is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their demented music. Listen to Masochist and feel your mind forcibly expanded while your bones are remorselessly broken, and may Fifth Ring keep destroying everything and everyone that crosses their path with more first-class releases such as their new album in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Ten Horns, Crimson Mask and The Pit.

Worst moments of the album: Dust to Dust.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Ten Horns 4:16
2. The Snake 4:05
3. Crimson Mask 3:20
4. Head on a Pike 4:59
5. Dust to Dust 6:02
6. Maggot King 3:39
7. Waste 3:47
8. The Pit 4:12
9. Lurking in the Open Wound 6:12

Band members
Zachary Kepley – vocals, bass, drum programming
Christopher Williamson – guitar
Q. Keith Brown Jr. – drums