Tag Archives: thrash metal

Album Review – Glorious Depravity / Death Never Sleeps (2025)

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This deadly supergroup returns with their sophomore beast, showcasing the best elements of Death Metal, even with its roots in the old school sound and the music tinged with Thrash Metal influences.

With an illustrious lineup featuring members of Pyrrhon, Gravesend, Woe, and Scarcity, among others, New York, United States-based Death Metal brigade Glorious Depravity is ready to pulverize us all with their sophomore beast entitled Death Never Sleeps, following up on their 2020 debut Ageless Violence. Recorded and mixed by Joe Cincotta (Suffocation, Obituary) at Full Force Recording, mastered by Ryan Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder), and showcasing a sinister artwork by Dan Seagrave (Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation), the newborn spawn by Doug Moore (Pyrrhon, Scarcity, Seputus) on vocals, Matt Mewton (Woe) and George Paul (Gravesend) on the guitars, John McKinney (Woe) on bass, and Chris Grigg (Woe) on drums is an album that showcases the best elements of Death Metal, even with its roots in the old school sound and the music tinged with Thrash Metal influences, being therefore perfect for fans of Cannibal Corpse, Monstrosity, Vader, Deicide, Sinister, Decapitated, and Power Trip.

Get ready to be pulverized like a putrid insect to the sound of Slaughter the Gerontocrats, kicking off the album on a demented mode to the gruesome roars by Doug, and Chris keeps hammering his drums like a true beast in Stripmined Flesh Extractor, offering more of the band’s trademark fusion of Death and Thrash Metal. Freshkills Poltergeist carries an excellent title for a song that reeks of old school Death Metal, led by the visceral, razor-edged riffs by Matt and George; whereas their Death Metal avalanche continues in full force in Sulphrous Winds (Howling Through Christendom), with Doug growling deeply accompanied by the rhythmic, venomous kitchen by John and Chris. The band then shows no mercy for our necks and bodies in the headbanging feast titled Scourged by the Wings of the Fell Destroyer, with their guitars exhaling absolute hatred.

Chris once again takes the lead with his unrelenting beats and fills in The Devouring Dust, living up to the legacy of bands the likes of Immolation, Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel; while the riffage by Matt and George will penetrate deep inside your skin in Carnage at the Margins, inviting us all to slam inside the pit like true metalmaniacs, all boosted by the inhumane gnarling by Doug. It’s then time to slow things down a bit and break our necks headbanging to the sound of Necrobotic Enslavement, accelerating its pace closer to the end until a true demonic finale, and lastly we’re treated to the title-track Death Never Sleeps, with their Stygian, vile sounds smashing our cranial skulls while Matt and George also fire some sick guitar solos for our absolute delight.

In comparison to their debut, they have refined and upgraded their music and have left no stone unturned in Death Never Sleeps, sounding  more impactful and powerful than ever before as well as having found more of their identity. You can get to know more about this evil supergroup by visiting them on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their demented creations on Spotify, and of course grab your copy of their new album from their own BandCamp, from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ main store, Bandcamp, Europe store or US store, or by clicking HERE. Death Never Sleeps is undoubtedly a significant release in the style, a top-tier, invigorating Death Metal opus, and I’m sure it will inspire them to keep crafting deadly music for years to come, gifting us with album number three in a not-so-distant but surely dark and demonic future.

Best moments of the album: Slaughter the Gerontocrats, Sulphrous Winds (Howling Through Christendom) and Carnage at the Margins.

Worst moments of the album: Necrobotic Enslavement.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Slaughter the Gerontocrats 3:53
2. Stripmined Flesh Extractor 3:09
3. Freshkills Poltergeist 3:17
4. Sulphrous Winds (Howling Through Christendom) 2:26
5. Scourged by the Wings of the Fell Destroyer 4:03
6. The Devouring Dust 3:26
7. Carnage at the Margins 4:39
8. Necrobotic Enslavement 3:25
9. Death Never Sleeps 5:44

Band members
Doug Moore – vocals
Matt Mewton – guitars
George Paul – guitars
John McKinney – bass
Chris Grigg – drums

Metal Chick of the Month – Aleks Radmanovich

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Stygian – Abyss – Call – To me!

The month of November has always been cold, rainy and dark in the northern hemisphere, the perfect type of weather for some ass-kicking Extreme Metal. However, this time The Headbanging Moose will travel all the way to the stunning Australia not only to experience a much better weather, but also to enjoy the Black, Death and Thrash Metal attack by our metal lady of the month. She’s the lead guitarist for an amazing thrash squad from Down Under named Thraxas!, as well as for a ruthless Black Metal horde known as Pestilential Shadows. Her name is Aleks Radmanovich, and she will mercilessly shred you to pieces armed with her unstoppable axe. Having said that, do you think you have what it takes to face one of the most badass guitarists from the current Australian metal scene?

Born and raised in the charming city of Sydney, the dauntless Aleks began her career in Heavy Metal back in 2018 when she joined the four-piece thrashing machine named Thraxas!. The band was actually formed a few years prior to her becoming their axe lady, more specifically in 2011, by vocalist Chris “Bull” Woods and drummer Izak Easterbrook (of Divine Carnage), and the only release by the band before Aleks joined their ranks, as well as bassist Dan Andrews, was their 2018 debut demo Slave Wages. As their lead guitarist, she released with Thraxas! the single Cthulhu Rising, in 2019, the 2021 EP Planetary Terrorism (under the moniker Aleks Rad), the 2025 single Blast Shadows, and more recently their first full-length opus, titled Violent Vacation. Not only that, Aleks was also responsible for the layout and design of their debut EP Planetary Terrorism. All of those songs and albums are available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and you can also visit their official YouTube channel to enjoy their official videos including Concrete Cowboy and Ecophagy.

In addition, apart from Facebook and Instagram, you can also stay up to date with all things Thraxas! by clicking HERE, and if you want to know even more about the indomitable Aleks and her scorching axe you can find a few interesting videos and interviews on YouTube, including the highlights of her chat with The Horsemen Podcast earlier this year, her guitar playthrough for the song Exemplary Punishment, and a video named 5 Minute Series – Aleks Rad where she talks about her idols and influences like Alex Webster of Cannibal Corse, Iron Maiden, Candlemass, Slayer, Exodus (mentioning her favorite Thrash Metal album of all time is Tempo of the Damned, by the way), plus her own rig rundown. No idea why the video is named “5 Minute Series” as it’s only one minute and a half long, but that doesn’t really matter as Aleks kicks some ass even in such a short period of time.

In 2024, Aleks joined Sydney, Australia’s own Black Metal veterans Pestilential Shadows, spreading her dark wings over humanity under the Stygian moniker Drekavac. A Drekavac, also called drekalo, krekavac, zdrekavac or zrikavac, is a mythical, monstrous creature from South Slavic folklore, known as “the screamer” or “the screecher” from the verb “drečati” (“to screech”). It is often the spirit of an unbaptized child, though sometimes described as an undead man. Let’s say that’s exactly the sound emanating from her fiery riffs and solos in Pestilential Shadows, sounding as dark, menacing and evil as possible, therefore showcasing a more obscure side of our unstoppable Aleks.

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The band was formed way before Aleks joining them, though, more specifically in 2003 by vocalist and guitarist Balam, who had been playing in local Black Metal bands since 1997, with the goal of creating atmospheric and intense Black Metal and cement its reputation as one of the most innovative bands in the scene. Currently formed of Balam on vocals and guitar and Aleks (or Drekavac, as mentioned) also on the guitar, alongside Lithuz on bass and Basilysk on drums, the band had already released the albums Embrace After Death (The Fate of All That Lives II) (2005), Cursed (2006), In Memoriam, Ill Omen (2009), Depths (2011), Ephemeral (2014), Revenant (2021), and Devil’s Hammer (2024) before Aleks became part of the band, but she was still able to play some live shows in Australia with them before the recordings for their ruthless eighth studio album Wretch started.

Released by the uncanny German label Northern Silence Productions in conspiracy with Brilliant Emperor Records this past September, Wretch continues the band’s progression (or regression) toward uglier, gnarlier expanses, offering more of their trademark ruminations on death and the beyond. The album has already led Pestilential Shadows to tour Europe in late August through September, followed by an October tour in their homeland Australia and in New Zealand, allowing fans from different parts of the world to witness the power of the Stygian riffs by Aleks. The band can be found on Facebook and on Instagram, and you can purchase or stream Wretch (or any of their previous albums) from BandCamp or Spotify. You can also enjoy Wretch in all of its glory on YouTube, and also enjoy the official video for the song DeathKnell, with Aleks shredding her axe while displaying her badass Black Metal attire and corpse painting. She also played live back in 2022 with a Sydney, Australia-based Death Metal outfit named Deiformity, formed back in 2016, and although there’s nothing released by the band with Aleks on the guitar for obvious reasons, you can still enjoy their 2018 debut (and only released to date) titled Corpse Stomper on BandCamp.

It looks like Aleks has recently started her life as a digital influencer by launching her own YouTube channel; however, maybe due to her busy life on the road, there’s only one video online so far, a cover version for Joe Satriani’s A Celebration. Well, who knowns, maybe we’ll get more killer videos like that in the not-so-distant future. Anyway, switching topic a bit, Aleks is endorsed by Blackstar Amplification, Schecter Guitars, and D’addario Strings, currently touring with the Blackstar Amped 3, HT Stage MKIII and HT Metal 100, Schecter Evil Twin V and Hellraiser, and playing D’addario NYXL 10-46 and EXL 11-56, and if you’re able to catch her live with either Thraxas!, Pestilential Shadows, or Deiformity, you’ll see how her equipment makes her sound feel extremely powerful onstage, exactly what we all want in extreme music.

Aleks Radmanovich’s Official Facebook page
Aleks Radmanovich’s Official Instagram
Thraxas!’s Official Facebook page
Thraxas!’s Official Instagram
Thraxas!’s Official YouTube channel
Pestilential Shadows’ Official Facebook page
Pestilential Shadows’ Official Instagram

Album Review – Cemican / U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj (2025)

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These unrelenting Mexican metal warriors are back with their breathtaking fourth studio album based on Mayan ideology, worldview, mysticism, and the universe.

Incorporating elements of the legends, mysticism and ideologies of ancient Mexican culture, being compared by Revolver to “Slipknot scoring Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto” by combining the modern instrumentation of a metal band with traditional pre-Hispanic instruments, Guadalajara, Mexico’s own Progressive Power/Thrash/Folk Metal tribe Cemican (or “The Duality of Life and Death” in the Mexican language Nahuatl) brings forth more of their unique music in their fourth studio opus entitled U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj, translated as “the Mayan Resistance”, following up on their 2019 critically acclaimed album In Ohtli Teoyohtica In Miquiztli. Showcasing a stunning artwork by the band’s own Tlipoca (aka Alejandro Guzmán), depicting the great creation of the Mayan universe and the elements of life – water, fire, wind, and earth – by the great supreme Itzamnaaj, raising the great Temple of Kukulkan for the worship of the Mayan people, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Tecuhtli, bassist Ocelotl, drummer Tlipoca, and the tribalistic ensemble of Xaman Ek, Yei Tochtli, Mazatecpatl, and Itzcoatl is based on Mayan ideology, worldview, mysticism, and the universe. It contains various legends and stories of ancestral gods, the duality of life and death, as well as stories based on the band members, transformed with that touch that identifies us.

Kukulkán Wakah Chan (likely combining the Maya deity name Kukulkán, meaning “Plumed Serpent”, with the Nahuatl phrase Wakah Chan, meaning “Sacred Tree” or “Milky Way”) sounds utterly ritualistic and folk from its very first moments, with their wind instruments echoing through the air before exploding into an amalgamation of Thrash, Death and Groove Metal led by Tlipoca’s crushing beats and fills; whereas Tán tí le Xibalba, the second single of the album, speaks of the god of dead in the Mayan culture while keeping their heaviness clashing with the culture of their ancestors in a majestic way, being therefore an excellent choice for their live concerts. In El Niño Que Contemplaba A Las Estrellas (“the boy who gazed at the stars” from Spanish), the guitars by Tecuhtli lean towards classic Heavy Metal, as well as his vocals, followed by Viaje Astral Del Quetzal De Fuego (“astral journey of the fire quetzal”), sounding atmospheric and embracing from start to finish, with the bass by Ocelotl and the drums by Tlipoca being absolutely thunderous. Xaman Ek, Yei Tochtli and Mazatecpatl bring the glory of the past through their wind instruments in the tribal dance Horizonte De Almas (“horizon of souls”), exploding into an epic song that will inspire you to raise your horns for those beyond talented Mexicans, while El Castigo De Los Dioses (“the punishment of the gods”) is another song where the modern, electrified vibe of metal music makes a killer paradox with their cultural and folk sounds.

The howling wind invites us to another journey through Mayan lands in Tak Ti Ulaák Íin, one of the most ritualistic of all songs, where the band delivers their most primeval sounds of the album. Then the massive riffs by Tecuhtli ignite the imposing, multi-layered Los Guardianes De La Tierra (“guardians of the earth”), a lecture in Symphonic and Melodic Death and Black Metal that feels like it was taken from the most climatic moment of a period drama; and the band offers another blast of harsh and pounding sounds in Hun-Came, meaning “One Death”, the name of the senior of the two principal death gods in the Maya underworld Xibalba, with all vocals and backing vocals giving it an extra kick while Tlipoca hammers his drums mercilessly. ¿Donde Estas? (“where are you?) is some sort of power ballad entirely sung in Spanish by a mysterious guest female musician, a bit too generic compared to the other songs; while back to their trademark tribal sonority infused with the power of Heavy Metal we have Yóok’ ol Kaáb Maya, sounding and feeling epic and vibrant until the very end. Lastly, closing the album we’re invited to one final ritual by Cemican entitled Bolom Octé, a stunning sonic voyage back to the glory yet somber days of their ancestors.

Offering a sound that embodies that language of music with ancestral instruments that Cemican have achieved as its own unique and hallucinatory sound, fused with lyrics that blend Spanish with Yucatecan Mayan, U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj is a tribute to their ancestral people, their stories and their customs, giving a valuable message of their language and their ancestral glory. Hence, you can enjoy the dark and aggressive atmosphere found in U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp, from the M-Theory Audio webstore, or by clicking HERE, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and stream their amazing albums on Spotify. Because U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj is a way to revive what their warriors and their Mayan people were, honoring the great Mayan culture and representing the worldview and mysticism of their great ancestral empire.

Best moments of the album: Tán tí le Xibalba, Horizonte De Almas, Los Guardianes De La Tierra and Hun-Came.

Worst moments of the album: ¿Donde Estas?.

Released in 2025 M-Theory Audio

Track listing
1. Kukulkán Wakah Chan 5:45
2. Tán tí le Xibalba 4:01
3. El Niño Que Contemplaba A Las Estrellas 6:44
4. Viaje Astral Del Quetzal De Fuego 8:31
5. Horizonte De Almas 6:31
6. El Castigo De Los Dioses 5:26
7. Tak Ti Ulaák Íin 4:39
8. Los Guardianes De La Tierra 5:13
9. Hun-Came 5:29
10. ¿Donde Estas? 4:23
11. Yóok_ ol Kaáb Maya 5:45
12. Bolom Octé 4:30

Band members
Tecuhtli – vocals, guitars, wind instruments
Ocelotl – bass
Tlipoca – drums, percussion, wind instruments, backing vocals
Xaman Ek – wind instruments, backing vocals
Yei Tochtli – wind instruments, backing vocals
Mazatecpatl – wind instruments
Itzcoatl – choir vocals

Album Review – Centinex / With Guts and Glory (2025)

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These Swedish legends return to their roots with a sound that combines the ferocity of early Death Metal with the urgency of Punk Rock in their new album.

Stripping away atmospheric frills and polished production, Swedish Death Metal legends Centinex return to their roots with a sound that combines the ferocity of early Death Metal with the urgency of Punk Rock and elements from Death N’ Roll in the form of their new album, titled With Guts and Glory, their most ferocious and uncompromising offering yet. Following up on their 2020 album Death in Pieces, the new album by Henrik Andersson on vocals, Jörgen Kristensen on the guitars, Martin Schulman on bass, and Florian Rehn on drums is a raw, high-energy album that ditches the excess and focuses on what matters, blasting our faces with unrelenting riffs, d-beats, and thrash-infused aggression.

The album kicks off in full force with the Death and Thrash Metal extravaganza titled Becoming, with Jörgen slashing his axe while Henrik vomits the song’s words like a true beast, and you gotta love the dirty riffs by Jörgen in the excellent fusion of Death and Thrash Metal with Hardcore and Punk Rock elements titled Your Religion Dies Tonight, always supported by the classic beats and fills by Florian. Then the bass by Martin will crush your skull mercilessly in the hard hitting tune Gods Of Guilt, proving extreme music doesn’t need to be played at the speed of light all the time. And back to a more demolishing sonority we face I Am The Way, inspired by old school Death Metal while also presenting hints of the thrash attack by Slayer and Exodus.

A Masterpiece In Flesh is a Motörhead-infused metal onrush by the quartet where once again Florian dictates the pace armed with his unstoppable beats and fills for our absolute delight, whereas they offer a more direct Death Metal sound in In My Dreams, with Jörgen extracting sheer hatred and violence from his guitar while Henrik screams and roars like a demented creature. Symphony Of Screams carries a charming title for a heavy-as-hell, rumbling tune by Centinex, with Martin pounding his bass like there’s no tomorrow; and in order to properly conclude the album the quartet fires another round of aggressiveness and speed titled Sorrowtears, perfect for slamming inside the pit with your good friends.

Forget atmospheric trends, as Centinex keep it raw, fast, and filthy in their newborn spawn, inviting us all to slam into the pit like there’s no tomorrow to the sound of their frantic and caustic creations. You can find more details about the band, their tour dates and their music on Facebook and on Instagram, or simply by clicking HERE, bang your goddamn heads to their wicked discography on Spotify, and obviously support those hardworking guys by purchasing their excellent new album by clicking HERE. With Guts and Glory is not pretty. It’s not supposed to be. It is pure, raw aggression made in Sweden, and it’s exactly what the underground has been craving.

Best moments of the album: I Am The Way, A Masterpiece In Flesh and Sorrowtears.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. Becoming 3:55
2. Your Religion Dies Tonight 3:27
3. Gods Of Guilt 3:44
4. I Am The Way 3:08
5. A Masterpiece In Flesh 3:14
6. In My Dreams 3:47
7. Symphony Of Screams 4:10
8. Sorrowtears 3:32

Band members
Henrik Andersson – vocals
Jörgen Kristensen – guitar
Martin Schulman – bass
Florian Rehn – drums

Album Review – Orbit Culture / Death Above Life (2025)

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Sweden’s own Melodic Death and Groove Metal titans return from the frozen north with their incendiary fifth full-length album.

Beware of the antlers, as Eksjö, Sweden’s own Melodic Death/Groove Metal titans Orbit Culture return from the frozen north with their fifth full-length album aptly titled Death Above Life, following up on their critically acclaimed 2023 opus Descent. Produced, mixed and mastered by Buster Odeholm at Odeholm Audio, and adorned by a Stygian artwork by Miroslav Pecho, the new offering by vocalist and guitarist Niklas Karlsson, guitarist Richard Hansson, bassist Fredrik Lennartsson, and drummer Christopher Wallerstedt offers more of their trademark fusion of Thrash, Death, Groove and Industrial Metal with arresting hooks and a layered atmosphere that invites comparison to Gojira, Metallica and Static-X, while carving out something that is uniquely their own.

The band wastes no time and kick off the album on a violent mode with Inferna, where Niklas and Richard steal the show with their utterly metallic riffage in its almost seven minutes of first-class Swedish melodeath. Christopher then sounds like an out-of-control stone crusher in Bloodhound, adding endless aggressiveness to their sound while also matching perfectly with Niklas demented roars; whereas Inside the Waves offers a more modernized version of American Metalcore, an excellent option for setting fire to their live performances. In The Tales of War we face poetic lyrics declaimed by Niklas (“Chasing a dark storm, no reason to be here / Escaping the temple of fear / I forfeit, the summoning time, the chasing of healing shrines / Through darkness I was led through the lanes”) amidst a pure headbanging extravaganza, and again venturing through contemporary Groove Metal we’re treated to Hydra, while of course staying true to their roots. Furthermore, the bass by Fredrik will hammer your skull mercilessly.

It’s pedal to the metal in the high-octane melodeath feast entitled Nerve, led by the striking vocals by Niklas and the band’s spot-on backing vocals, all spiced up by the killer guitar solos by Richard. Death Above Life brings forward another round of their pensive yet acid words (“Alternation / Stuck in a war / No path to follow / Through chaos made up / My mind is done / In this cave of black dust, kill / It aims for the heart”), a neck-breaking tune that flirts with modern Death Metal at times; and get ready to be caught in a mosh pit storm to the sound of The Storm, where their riffs sound brutally awesome supported by the pounding drums by Christopher. More of their ass-kicking guitar lines will penetrate your mind in Neural Collapse, all boosted by Niklas’ vicious guttural, whereas lastly we have The Path I Walk, and I have no idea what their goal was with this tune. They sound like the more modern version of Metallica, which is never a good choice to be fair.

“The album represents change, a new beginning,” says guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Niklas Karlsson. “It brings up a lot of good and bad emotions but it’s a big change for the better. It feels like a rebirth.” Hence, if just like the guys from Orbit Culture you also want to experience such a metallic rebirth you can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with their news and tour dates, stream their already dense discography on Spotify, and of course grab your copy of the excellent Death Above Life from their own BandCamp, as well as from the album’s special website, or by clicking HERE or HERE. There’s a thin line between life and death, but in the end death always prevail, in special when the soundtrack to it is as exciting and heavy as the new album by one of the torchbearers of the new Swedish melodeath scene.

Best moments of the album: Bloodhound, The Tales of War and The Storm.

Worst moments of the album: The Path I Walk.

Released in 2025 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Inferna 6:45
2. Bloodhound 5:04
3. Inside the Waves 4:39
4. The Tales of War 5:10
5. Hydra 4:49
6. Nerve 5:54
7. Death Above Life 5:31
8. The Storm 4:16
9. Neural Collapse 6:21
10. The Path I Walk 4:55

Band members
Niklas Karlsson – vocals, guitars
Richard Hansson – lead guitars
Fredrik Lennartsson – bass
Christopher Wallerstedt – drums

Album Review – Ültra Raptör / Fossilized (2025)

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The fast and furious Cadillac driving dinosaurs hailing from Canada will rock your world to the sound of their incendiary sophomore full-length album.

Formed in 2015 in the charming Quebec City, and having already released their self-titled debut EP in 2018 and their first ever full-length album Tyrants in 2021, Heavy/Speed Metal antediluvian creatures Ültra Raptör are back with album number two, the incendiary Fossilized. Recorded, mixed and mastered by David Lizotte, and displaying an insane artwork by Mario López, the new beast by Phil T. Lung on vocals, Criss Raptör and Zoltan Saurus on the guitars, Dick Van Heuß on bass, and Tony Bronco on drums offers another round of the band’s blend of primeval speed and savagery with meticulous, precision playing, or in other words, everything a metal hungry headbanger could ask for and more.

Those prehistorical Québécois warriors already put the pedal to the metal in the title-track Fossilized, with the frantic, sharp riffs by Criss and Zoltan bringing even more adrenaline to their striking Speed Metal sound. Then the glory of the 80’s, or maybe I should say from “metal’s prehistoric age”, comes in full force in Spinosaurus, led by the hammering drums by Tony in a headbanging feast of heavy music. In Hard ‘N Fast that’s exactly what you’ll get, with Phil T. Lung stealing the show with his old school, passionate vocals, sounding perfect for some action on the dance floor; and Criss and Zoltan show no mercy for their stringed axes in Livin’ for the Riff, delivering nonstop incendiary riffs and solos just the way we love it in Thrash Metal, followed by Bitter Leaf, which starts in a weird way before morphing into a decent thrashing tune, despite still lacking an extra kick.

They get back on track with an 80’s-inspired rock and metal train titled X-Celerator, offering more of the band’s trademark riffs and the raspy vocals by Phil T. Lung, and the band keeps speeding things up and invading our senses with their Thrash Metal-infused sounds in Pterö-Ranger, living up to the legacy of the genre. Those Canadian bastards will invite us to slam into the circle pit once again and shake our bodies to the sound of Down the Drain, where Criss and Zoltan will cut your skin deep with their caustic riffage. Then in the interlude Le voyageur d’Oort, melodious guitar lines will transport you to the whimsical world ruled by Ültra Raptör before facing the closing tune Face the Challenge, a pure Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll feast inspired by giants the likes of Scorpions, perfect for heading out to the highway with your beloved ones.

In summary, the impact of the new opus by the Cadillac driving dinosaurs from Canada on the metal scene will be seismic. Fossilized is the epitome of energized, exhilarating metal, and you can join the band in their quest for fast and heavy music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their thrilling creations on Spotify, and of course by purchasing Fossilized from the Fighter Records’ BandCamp or from the Xtreem Music’s webstore. The Raptör is back, baby! And if you don’t want to be fossilized as a dull and prehistorical being, you better jump inside your Cadillac and rock to the sound of this newborn beast made in the icy cold Great White North.

Best moments of the album: Fossilized, Hard ‘N Fast and X-Celerator.

Worst moments of the album: Bitter Leaf.

Released in 2025 Fighter Records

Track listing
1. Fossilized 4:08
2. Spinosaurus 3:55
3. Hard ‘N Fast 4:19
4. Livin’ for the Riff 4:14
5. Bitter Leaf 4:40
6. X-Celerator 3:58
7. Pterö-Ranger 4:09
8. Down the Drain 4:54
9. Le voyageur d’Oort 1:10
10. Face the Challenge 5:11

Band members
Phil T. Lung – vocals
Criss Raptör – lead guitar
Zoltan Saurus – rhythm guitar
Dick Van Heuß – bass
Tony Bronco – drums

Album Review – Testament / Para Bellum (2025)

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Let’s prepare for war to the sound of the breathtaking fourteenth studio album by Oakland, California’s own masters of old school, crushing Thrash Metal.

“Parabellum” is the second half of the Latin phrase “si vis pacem, para bellum”, which translates to “if you want peace, prepare for war”. That’s exactly what Oakland, California’s own Thrash Metal masters Testament are offering us all now in 2025 with their infernal fourteenth studio album, titled Para Bellum, a worthy follow-up to their 2020 beast Titans of Creation. Produced by Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson alongside Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios, who also recorded vocals, bass, drums, and acoustic guitars, with guitars recorded at Dragon Lair Studio and Skol Productions Studio, mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, and showcasing an apocalyptic artwork by the majestic Eliran Kantor, the new opus by the iconic  frontman Chuck Billy, the unparalleled guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, the ruthless bassist Steve Di Giorgio, and the beyond talented newcomer Chris Dovas (Evulsion, Unflesh, Aversed) on drums is a lecture in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal, sounding as heavy, infuriated, intricate and explosive as a real war, leaving us absolutely disoriented after all is said and done.

Chris already showcases his welcome card in the opening beast titled For the Love of Pain while Eric and Alex hypnotized us all as expected with their undisputed riff attack, with Chuck’s ruthless roars being the icing on their thrashing cake. Their sonic devastation goes on in full force in Infanticide A.I., where Chuck’s deep, enraged gnarls walk hand in hand with the striking riffs and solos by the band’s guitar duo in a lesson in Thrash Metal, followed by Shadow People, utterly tribal, dark and heavy, a more melodic display of the band’s core sonority led once again by Eric’s and Alex’s flawless guitar work. Meant to Be follows a similar pattern as their own song “Dark Roots of Earth”, a somber, pensive ballad including some acoustic moments; whereas back to a much more ferocious, progressive and ruthless sonority we have High Noon, perfect for breaking our necks headbanging to Chris’ intricate beats and fills.

It’s time to go hunt some witches in the name of old school Thrash Metal with Witch Hunt, another avalanche of metallic riffs and blast beats for our total delight where Chuck sounds inhumane as usual on vocals; and I also love when he sounds less demented like in Nature of the Beast, delivering those raspy, deep and almost “clean” vocal lines that give the whole song an even edgier vibe, as melodic as it is groovy. Room 117 offers the band’s more contemporary sonority from their latest decade, with Steve hammering his bass mercilessly accompanied by the pounding drums by Chris; whereas Eric and Alex will crush your damned minds and souls with their electrifying axes in Havana Syndrome, an explosion of first-class Testament for the masses. Finally, ending the album we face the Stygian, imposing title-track Para Bellum, one of their most detailed, multi-layered songs of the past few years, with Chuck’s demonic growls sounding phenomenal from start to finish in an ode to war before all fades into the void.

Readiness to fight is necessary to maintain peace and defend oneself or one’s country, and the undisputed Thrash Metal blasted by Testament in Para Bellum is also necessary in the life of any decent human being. You can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about one of the torchbearers of classic thrash, stream their demonic creations on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of their incendiary newborn spawn from Nuclear Blast or by clicking HERE. In other words, it’s time to prepare for war, and there’s nothing better than Testament’s new album to inspire us all to head into the battlefield alongside one of the most important bands in the history of heavy music.

Best moments of the album: For the Love of Pain, Infanticide A.I., Witch Hunt, Nature of the Beast and Para Bellum.

Worst moments of the album: Meant to Be.

Released in 2020 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. For the Love of Pain 5:35
2. Infanticide A.I. 3:27
3. Shadow People 5:45
4. Meant to Be 7:33
5. High Noon 3:52
6. Witch Hunt 4:16
7. Nature of the Beast 4:28
8. Room 117 4:18
9. Havana Syndrome 4:40
10. Para Bellum 6:30

Band members
Chuck Billy – vocals
Eric Peterson – guitar
Alex Skolnick – guitar
Steve Di Giorgio – bass
Chris Dovas – drums

Guest musicians
Dave Eggar – cello, violin, viola, orchestrations, strings arrangements
Chuck Palmer – orchestrations, strings arrangements
Xavi Morató – violin

Album Review – Arson Charge / A Dying Light (2025)

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Rising up from Denver, Colorado, this Hardcore outfit is unleashing their debut opus, a bludgeoning and brutal dive into the feelings of pain, disconnection, and loss that arise from abuse and self-sabotage.

Rising up from Denver, Colorado’s prolific metal scene, Arson Charge are a five-piece behemoth made up of former members from mile-high area stalwarts Native Daughters, Chieftain, and Love Me Destroyer, playing a unique blend of Hardcore, Thrash Metal and Punk Rock, with elements from Thrashcore and Metalcore, tailored for fans of Mastodon, In Flames, Sepultura, Gojira and Black Flag. Now in 2025 the band formed of Ben Roy on vocals, Justin Hackl and Dave Sandoval on the guitars, Kris Hodgell on bass, and Cody Hull on drums is set to release their debut album, titled A Dying Light, recorded at Green Door Recordings and produced by Felipe Patino, Justin Hackl and Arson Charge, offering a bludgeoning and brutal dive into the feelings of pain, disconnection, and loss that arise from abuse and self-sabotage.

The intro The Feeding Grounds sets the stage for the band to kick some serious ass in For The Damned, with the harsh vocals by Ben penetrating deep inside our minds accompanied by the pounding beats by Cody, who then shows no mercy for his drums in Cleanup On Aisle 10, while Justin and Dave make a dynamic guitar duo in an explosion of modern-day Thrash and Groove Metal in the vein of Lamb of God. It’s pedal to the metal in the Hardcore beast titled One by One, with its rebellious backing vocals walking hand in hand with Cody’s sick drumming, whereas investing in a more modern sound we have A New Throne, without forgetting to add their share of heaviness to the sound, followed by There Was No Dog, sounding inspired by classic Punk Rock and led by the raspy vocals by Ben and the pounding drums by Cody.

666 BC stands strong with a foot on the heaviness of Gojira and the other on the progressiveness of Mastodon, with Justin and Dave delivering some of their best riffs of the entire album, followed by The Aftermath, again investing in the power of the riff, with Ben’s harsh vocals being boosted by the thunderous kitchen crafted by Kris and Cody. The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit is another song with a strong Mastodon vibe, and that means sheer awesomeness flowing from all instruments, of course; and then back to a more straightforward Groove Metal sound we face Build a Fire, with the band’s guitar duo firing sheer heaviness from their axes. Bloodstains offers a nice blend of Thrash Metal and Punk Rock led by Ben and his unrelenting screams, not to mention its hypnotizing riffs and solos, while lastly the title-track A Dying Light closes the album on a Sludge Rock and Metal vibe thanks to the ruthless beats by Cody and the scorching riffs by Justin and Dave.

Arson Charge know exactly how to fuel their metal machine with the feelings of anger and pain in a compelling way, and their debut A Dying Light is a more-than-excellent example of how heavy music will always be a recommended way to channel all that darkness inside us. Hence, you can get in touch with those hardworking and talented boys via Facebook and Instagram, enjoy their caustic music on any streaming services like Spotify, and purchase A Dying Light from BandCamp or from the Anxious & Angry webstore. Arson Charge are beginning to spread their wings over their own country and everywhere else where good Hardcore music is appreciated with their striking debut, leaving us eager for more in the near future while we keep dealing with our inner demons.

Best moments of the album: One by One, 666 BC and The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit.

Worst moments of the album: A New Throne.

Released in 2025 Anxious & Angry

Track listing
1. The Feeding Grounds 1:16
2. For The Damned 4:18
3. Cleanup On Aisle 10 2:44
4. One by One 4:27
5. A New Throne 4:43
6. There Was No Dog 1:57
7. 666 BC 3:42
8. The Aftermath 4:10
9. The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit 2:13
10. Build a Fire 3:23
11. Bloodstains 1:50
12. A Dying Light 5:27

Band members
Ben Roy – vocals
Justin Hackl – guitar
Dave Sandoval – guitar
Kris Hodgell – bass
Cody Hull – drums

Album Review – Blood and Brutality / Wrath Upon EP (2025)

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This three-piece Death and Thrash Metal outfit attacks again with a brand new EP, offering six tracks that are fast, heavy and sharply executed, with a sound that stays true to their roots while pushing into fresher ground.

A three-piece band known for their uncompromising live performances and raw intensity formed in 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama, Death/Thrash Metal outfit Blood and Brutality is raising hell once again with their brand new EP, entitled Wrath Upon, the follow-up to their 2023 EP Evil Dead (and their third EP in a row). Recorded at B&B Records Studios, mixed by Bryan Arant, and mastered by Andreas Westholm at Dark Prod, the new EP by Bryan Arant on vocals and drums, Tim Boykin on the guitars, and Max Rains on bass offers six tracks that are fast, heavy and sharply executed, with a sound that stays true to their roots while pushing into fresher ground.

Wrath Upon Thee already blasts our ears with their trademark Death Metal with an edgy Hardcore vibe, with Bryan sounding demented both on drums and with his visceral screams while Tim delivers pure, unfiltered Punk Rock-infused riffs. Chaos to Silence, the first single of the EP, offers more of the trio’s undisputed attitude and violence, with both Tim and Max hammering their stringed axes; then a sinister, cinematic interlude titled March Towards Destiny sets the tone for Never Surrender, a no shenanigans display of aggression in the vein of the early days of Slayer, which is obviously a great thing, led by Bryan’s nonstop beats and fills. Fuck You brings forward one minute of a beautiful message by the band presenting hints of Rockabilly in their core sound, whereas lastly they fire a heavier neck-breaking tune titled Life is Pain, with the riffage by Tim sounding beyond caustic while Bryan barks like a demented creature nonstop until the song’s ethereal finale.

Many of the songs have been tested live over the past few years, giving them a natural energy in the studio. Not only that, the band describe their new EP as the best representation so far of what they sound like on stage, delivered with a clean and high-quality production that will certainly please fans of Slayer, Pantera, Metallica, Death, and Morbid Angel, just to name a few. Hence, you can get in touch with those hardworking metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their sonic brutality on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of their new EP from BandCamp. Those guys are not named Blood and Brutality in vain, because that’s exactly what you’ll get in Wrath Upon. Pure blood and brutality in the form of ass-kicking Death and Thrash Metal.

Best moments of the album: Wrath Upon Thee and Never Surrender.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Blood and Brutality Records

Track listing
1. Wrath Upon Thee 2:12
2. Chaos to Silence 3:12
3. March Towards Destiny 1:31
4. Never Surrender 1:49
5. Fuck You 1:00
6. Life is Pain 4:37

Band members
Bryan Arant – vocals, drums
Tim Boykin – guitars
Max Rains – bass

Album Review – Overt Enemy / Insurrection (2025)

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These Texan thrashers are ready to attack armed with their debut album, touching on themes ranging from personal struggle and mental health to global political unrest and conceptual sci-fi narratives.

After two successful EPs and a live album, Mission, Texas-based Thrash Metal DIY powerhouse Overt Enemy is finally unleashing upon us their first ever full-length offering, entitled Insurrection. Recorded, produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by Joshua Lopez (Immortal Guardian), Leo “Lizard” Ortiz and Robert Hahn at Widowmaker Studios, and displaying an apocalyptic and futuristic artwork by Santiago Yanez, the album reflects the growth of a band currently formed of Leo “Lizard” Ortiz on vocals and guitars, Robert Hahn also on the guitars, Laura “Slayerella” Ortiz on bass, and Saul Castillo on drums both musically and personally, touching on themes ranging from personal struggle and mental health to global political unrest and conceptual sci-fi narratives, with every track offering something unique, showing the band’s ability to experiment with diverse sounds and ideas without losing their aggressive edge, while at the same time paying homage to their biggest influences including Slayer, Pantera, Fear Factory, and Sepultura.

The opener Resinated is very epic and imposing, a lot more than your usual Thrash Metal song, with Leo’s visceral vocals matching perfectly with that wall of sounds; and the striking guitars by Leo and Robert ignite the Lamb of God-inspired tune No One Left to Die, while Laura and Saul bring their Groove Metal vibe to the overall result. The quartet continues to blast their blend of Thrash and Groove Metal in The Truth, hitting us hard in the head with their heavy riffs and poundings beats, whereas featuring guest vocals by Marcos Leal (Swim the Current, Shattered Sun, Ill Niño), Bleed like I Do is a track for anyone who has ever dealt with haters or doubters, offering a menacing atmosphere before all hell breaks loose to their vicious thrashing sounds. And in Psychotic Episode the name of the song says it all, an overdose of unrelenting Thrash Metal where Saul sounds like a stone crushing machine on drums, all boosted by the demonic vocal attack by Leo, Robert and Laura.

Go Hard or Go Home brings forward three minutes of pulverizing Thrash Metal spearheaded by the piercing, metallic riffage by Leo and Robert, which will certainly provide their fans with endless fuel for some real fun inside the mosh pit. Then we have the heart of the album, the three-part saga of alien invasion, starting with Eradication, with their striking, futuristic riffs and solos cutting our skin deep, followed by Fire in the Skies, with Saul taking the lead armed with his brutal beats and fills, offering his bandmates the perfect ambience for an overdose of demented vociferations and razor-edged riffs, and their alien invasion saga ends with the title-track Insurrection, where the entire band sounds even more infuriated while Laura’s bass lines bring the thunder to their music. Lastly, the album ends as it started, with a sonic attack entitled Even Murder, where Leo and Laura make a dynamic vocal duet in the name of heavy music.

Despite personal challenges, including Leo’s battle with chronic back issues, and Laura’s triumph over cancer, the band has refined their sound with their new album, evolving into a band that draws on the energy of the past while pushing the boundaries of modern metal, marking the culmination of years of hard work, personal sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to their craft. As Laura puts it, “this album made me grow as a musician, and you can hear it in my playing and in my vocals. It challenged all of us, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved.” Hence, you can get to know more about those Texan thrashers on Facebook and on Instagram, including their live concerts, stream their music on YouTube, Spotify and any other streaming platform, and of course purchase Insurrection from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In summary, Overt Enemy are marching towards the future without forgetting the past in Insurrection, offering a dynamic and detailed album of our beloved Thrash Metal that will surely help them go places. Who knows, maybe even the outer space.

Best moments of the album: No One Left to Die, Psychotic Episode and Fire in the Skies.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Resinated 4:51
2. No One Left to Die 1:56
3. The Truth 3:50
4. Bleed like I Do 3:53
5. Psychotic Episode 4:32
6. Go Hard or Go Home 3:05
7. Eradication 3:59
8. Fire in the Skies 2:57
9. Insurrection 3:49
10. Even Murder 3:38

Band members
Leo “Lizard” Ortiz – vocals, guitars
Robert Hahn – guitars, backing vocals
Laura “Slayerella” Ortiz – bass, backing vocals
Saul Castillo – drums

Guest musician
Marcos Leal – vocals on “Bleed Like I Do”