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
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
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
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
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”
This Brazilian Death and Thrash Metal squad from the 90’s is finally unleashing their debut offering, an astonishing collection of 11 unrelenting songs.
Originally active in the mid 90’s underground music scene in Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where they quickly established a place for themselves with their fierce live performances, intense, intriguing music and uncompromising attitude, Death/Thrash Metal outfit Vertebra is finally unleashing upon humanity their first ever full-length album, titled The Same. Their long overdue debut is an astonishing collection of 11 unrelenting songs, demonstrating fantastic technical dexterity, but also exquisite songcraft and melodic awareness, all masterfully brought into being by vocalist and guitarist Arildo Leal, guitarist Fernando Luzardo, bassist Tiago Vargas, and drummer Cristiano Hulk.
The band wastes no time and kick off their vicious metal attack with Oblivion, with Arildo sounding ruthless on both vocals and guitar; and Arildo and Fernando show no mercy for their stringed axes in Behavior in the Eyes, inviting us all to slam into the pit in the name of Thrash Metal. Humanity brings forward hints of the galloping rhythm that was made eternal by giants like Iron Maiden, spearheaded by Tiago’s ruthless bass and Cristiano’s hammering drums, whereas Arildo’s caustic vociferations keep penetrating deep inside our psyche in Behind the World, offering a well balanced hybrid of Death and Thrash Metal, followed by Overcoming the Void, another solid display of Death Metal made in Brazil, with their riffage sounding as melodic as it is demonic.
Then after the instrumental interlude 10.000 and One Nights we face the title-track The Same, offering another round of their harsh yet melodic and potent sounds led by Cristiano’s intricate beats and fills. Architecture of Perspective is perhaps the most progressive of all songs while also sounding absolutely heavy and infernal, with the riffs by the band’s guitar duo being boosted by another demented performance by Cristiano on drums; whereas 95 Eyes is not a very exciting tune, albeit still showcasing the band’s trademark fusion of extreme music and more progressive sounds. Then back to a more puissant sonority we face Fanatic and Picturesque, with Tiago’s thunderous bass lines bringing sheer heaviness to their music, also inspiring us to keep slamming into the circle pit like true metalmaniacs; and ending the album the band offers a demented, groovy and sinister tune titled Blessed are the Forgetful, where once again Arildo’s vocals sound utterly devilish.
In a nutshell, The Same will undoubtedly place Vertebra in the place they should have occupied in the mid-90’s, with their melodic and technical blend of Death Metal heavily influenced by Death, with touches of bands like Kreator and Carcass, and of course classic Heavy Metal, appealing to all fans of extreme music. Those guys are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram to share the news about their newborn baby, and you can already find the full album on Spotify. Also, above all that, go grab a copy of The Same from BandCamp, or simply by clicking HERE. Let the first album by Vertebra take you to the glory of the 90’s while also looking into the future, keeping the flames of Death and Thrash Metal burning bright in the always interesting Brazilian underground scene.
Best moments of the album:Behavior in the Eyes, Architecture of Perspective and Fanatic and Picturesque.
Worst moments of the album:95 Eyes.
Released in 2025 Xtreem Music
Track listing 1. Oblivion 5:10
2. Behavior in the Eyes 4:04
3. Humanity 3:53
4. Behind the World 3:34
5. Overcoming the Void 5:28
6. 10.000 and One Nights 1:03
7. The Same 3:57
8. Architecture of Perspective 5:15
9. 95 Eyes 3:41
10. Fanatic and Picturesque 4:20
11. Blessed are the Forgetful 4:56
Band members Arildo Leal – vocals, guitars
Fernando Luzardo – guitars
Tiago Vargas – bass, backing vocals
Cristiano Hulk – drums
Call them heroes or hell-bringers, the torchbearers of modern-day Deathcore are inviting us all to be part of their own movie to the sound of their the declarative and breathtaking fifth album.
Call them heroes or hell-bringers, it doesn’t matter to the men of New Jersey, United States-based Symphonic Deathcore beast Lorna Shore. Produced and engineered by Josh Schroeder, and displaying a sinister artwork by Zac Shiffer, I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me, the declarative fifth album in their career, and the follow-up to their 2022 masterpiece Pain Remains, sees the band currently formed of Will Ramos on vocals, Adam De Micco and Andrew O’Connor on the guitars, Michael Yager on bass, and Austin Archey on drums putting all of metal’s subgenres on notice. Because after one listen, you’ll wonder what motivates them and what took metal so long to evolve. You also might wonder whose truck may have hit you while you were listening to the album.
Like the soundtrack to a horror movie, the opening track Prison of Flesh grows in intensity until all hell breaks loose to the visceral beats and fills by Austin in a demented display of brutal and vile Deathcore, while Oblivion follows a similar pattern, with Will’s deep, inhumane growls and screeches sounding like a creature form the abyss, being therefore perfect for some insane action inside the circle pit to the wicked riffs by Adam and Andrew. In the infuriated In Darkness, the background orchestrations and choir elevate the song’s epicness to a whole new level, with once again Will growling manically while the sound of their guitars exhales harmony and electricity; and they continue to fill every single space in the air with their striking fusion of Deathcore and symphonic elements in Unbreakable, leaning towards the sound from Pain Remains. Then a serene start ignites Glenwood, another epic and atmospheric creation by the band overflowing melancholy and darkness, albeit a bit generic in the end.
Will keeps roaring like a true lion in Lionheart, where Austin makes sure his beats and fills are not only heavy-as-hell, but also complex enough to keep the music as vibrant and fresh as possible, followed by Death Can Take Me, another pulverizing display of Symphonic Deathcore where the crushing drums by Austin walk hand in hand with Will’s desperate screams. Then presenting elements from traditional metal styles like Heavy and Thrash Metal we have War Machine, with its background keys elevating its punch, not to mention the excellent job done by Adam and Andrew armed with their axes. Their second to last metallic attack is offered in the form of A Nameless Hymn, with Michael and Austin sounding ruthless with their heavy-as-hell kitchen; and last but definitely not least, Lorna Shore bring forth a masterpiece of darkness entitled Forevermore, starting in an almost Atmospheric Black Metal manner before morphing into a grandiose feast of symphonic elements intertwined with the sheer heaviness of Deathcore, or in other words, it’s definitely a beautiful conclusion to such an epic album.
Lorna Shore are neither dire misery goats, nor flower-picking pollyannas and definitely not lapdogs currying favor from those who would exalt the ordinary, inviting us all to embrace I Feel The Everblack Festering Inside Of Me and, therefore, become part of the band’s own movie. “I think a lot of bands – especially in deathcore – they write stuff that they think is cool, but they’re not necessarily writing stuff that’s true to them,” commented Will Ramos. “I think between everything that we’ve been through over the last couple years, those things have helped push the band to think bigger. We’re putting our heart and soul into it. I think it’s those little experiences that we’ve been through that help shape that. It doesn’t necessarily work for everybody, but it works for us.” Furthermore, you can get in touch with one of the torchbearers of modern-day Deathcore via Facebook and Instagram, stream their vicious, down-tempo creations on Spotify, and of course grab your copy of the poetically titled I Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me by clicking HERE or HERE. When heroes are hard to find, try looking inside yourself first. and when good heavy music is hard to find, simply enjoy the phenomenal new album by Lorna Shore.
Best moments of the album:Prison of Flesh, Unbreakable, Lionheart and Forevermore.
Worst moments of the album:Glenwood.
Released in 2025 Century Media Records
Track listing 1. Prison of Flesh 7:00
2. Oblivion 8:19
3. In Darkness 6:43
4. Unbreakable 4:49
5. Glenwood 6:43
6. Lionheart 5:44
7. Death Can Take Me 7:16
8. War Machine 4:53
9. A Nameless Hymn 5:14
10. Forevermore 9:47
Band members
Will Ramos – vocals
Adam De Micco – guitar
Andrew O’Connor – guitar
Michael Yager – bass
Austin Archey – drums
Demons from the war now lives… Rain down explosions upon us… Terror in the air!
As we’re heading to the end of another hot and humid summer, let’s keep the temperatures as warm as possible with our metal lady of this month of September, and you better be prepared as she will breathe fire into your damned soul with her scorching guttural. She’s the unrelenting frontwoman for an amazing Italian Technical Death Metal band named Mechanical God Creation, and since mid-2024 she has also become a vocalist for a ruthless Italian Black Metal band named Stormcrow. As you can see, she takes no prisoners in her quest for extreme music, and I’m sure you’ll have an absolute blast listening to the amazing music crafted by her bands. Her name is Luciana Catananti, a talented she-wolf that will kick your ass mercilessly, keeping the fires of Death and Black Metal burning brighter than a thousand suns in her beautiful homeland.
Born on May 2, 1985 in Bergamo, an Italian city northeast of Milan, in the Lombardy region, Luciana was part of a band named Art of Mutilation when she lived in the UK, and also a member of a band called The Anger back then, but there isn’t much information about The Anger anywhere. Well, at least we know that Art of Mutilation was a Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band based in Birkenhead, England in its early days, then moving to Wrexham, Wales, and the band lasted between 2002 and 2011 before splitting up. Luciana was only part of the band in the year of 2005, having recorded with them the demo Mortality that same year. The demo had only three songs, those being Eviscerated, Blackened Sculpture, and Cabal, and as you can see by the only two songs available on YouTube, Luciana and the boys were a really promising band (which unfortunately is no more), and her vocals were already ruthless.
It was then in 2006 in the charming Italian city of Milan when Luciana founded Mechanical God Creation alongside guitarist Simo, and quickly adding bassist Andrea “Veon” Marini, guitarist Andrea “Runza” Galdi, and drummer Mattia Jay “Jambra” Giambini to their lineup; however, as all four already left the band after a few years, she remains as the only member of the original lineup. Their music also morphed from Melodic Death Metal the likes of Arch Enemy in their early days, hence the name of the band (taken from their 2005 masterpiece Doomsday Machine), to a more visceral, brutal and infernal form of Technical Death Metal, even adding hints of modern-day Death Metal and Progressive Death Metal to their core sound, as you can se in the evolution of their music from their 2007 demo …and the Battle Becomes War, to their 2010 debut Cell XIII, followed by their 2013 sophomore Artifact of Annihilation, and finally their 2019 album The New Chapter, all available for streaming in most streaming services like BandCamp, YouTube and Spotify, except for their demo, and you can also enjoy a lot of official videos like Terror In The Air and I Am The Godless Man, and lots of cool live footage including Walking Dead live in Russia in 2014, on their official YouTube channel.
Although Mechanical God Creation haven’t released any new material since 2019, we can also enjoy our dauntless growler as the new frontwoman for an Italian Black Metal band named Stormcrow since July 2024, under the moniker Vexa (maybe taken from a half-troll from Dungeons & Dragons, who knows). Playing what they like to label as “Alpine Black Metal”, the band currently formed of our beloved Luciana, or if you prefer, Vexa on vocals alongside Vastis also on vocals, Astaroth and Tohrus on the guitars, Zedar on bass, and Wraith on drums has been making a name for themselves since 1997, having already released the demo Hell on Earth (2000), the EP Wounded Skies (2004), and the full-length albums Disposition to Tyranny (2012), Face the Giant (2019), and more recently Path to Ascension (2024), all available on BandCamp and on Spotify. Furthermore, although Luciana has only been playing live with the band for now, with no participation in any of the band’s albums, not only you should still listen to all of their discography as their music is awesome, but it will also give you a very good taste of what Luciana has to offer when hitting the stages together with her new horde (and stay tuned as their 2026 European dates are coming soon).
Apart from Mechanical God Creation, Stormcrow, The Anger, and Art of Mutilation, you can also find Luciana as a guest vocalist for the song Urban Massacre, from the 2019 album 1996, by an Italian Death Metal/Grindcore band named Abbinormal. It’s a one-minute song, which might be very short for us metalheads eager for more of Luciana’s vocals, but enough already to show how violent she can sound. She has also recently contributed with her powerful vocals to a track titled Portals, on the new album by legendary Dutch Death Metal band Pestilence that should see the light of day sometime still in 2025 (or maybe only in 2026). In addition, you can also find on YouTube a cover version for Lamb of God’s Walk With Me In Hell by Luciana alongside Italian guitarist and bassist Francesca Mancini, of bands like Chaos Rising, Necrosy, and Sudden Death, and let me tell you that such an incredible female duo kicked some serious ass with their rendition of one of the best songs by Randy Blythe and his crew.
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Highly influenced by bands the likes of Morbid Angel, Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse and Deicide, just to name a few, Luciana enjoys writing caustic, harsh lyrics that reflect the daily reality and the problems we all face in the time we’re living that is so full of very important and sudden changes from the cultural, political and technological point of view. Moreover, apart from heavy music, Luciana also enjoys listening to bands and artists like David Bowie, Adele, Coldplay, and Amy Winehouse, showing her eclectic music taste, and when asked which was her first ever live concert and the very first album she bought, she mentioned the always controversial Marilyn Manson (saying it was a great show and that he is a good frontman, but also pointing out she doesn’t listen to him anymore), and probably a Metallica album as far as she remembers.
Having already played at some of the biggest festivals in Europe with heavy music giants including Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Megadeth, Graveworm, Meshuggah, and Amon Amarth, just to name a few, Luciana also mentioned in one of her interviews that she really enjoys a festival in Slovenia named Metalcamp, saying that although it’s not as big as Wacken Open Air, it’s a very nice festival in the midst of nature. I really wish both Mechanical God Creation and Stormcrow would cross the pond and come play a few shows in Canada and in the United States, but I understand it’s not easy nowadays to tour the world due to the high touring costs. Well, maybe I can catch them at an European festival next year, right?
Despite being a proud Italian, while at the same time of course having her own constructive feedback about the current political and social landscapes in her homeland, Luciana is not very involved with the Italian underground scene. She mentioned in one of her interviews that she obviously knows bands like Fleshgod Apocalypse are proudly carrying the Italian flag everywhere they go, and she feels very happy for them despite not being a true fan of their music.
Currently working in the A&R (Artists and Repertoire) department of WormHoleDeath and Epictronic, Luciana mentioned in an interview that one of her biggest mistakes in music was having stopped to play the piano after years playing it, as it certainly helped her to feel calm. However, if you think she enjoys movies that would also make her calm down and relax, you’ve got another thing coming as her favorite flicks are horror movies with zombies or exorcisms, with her favorite one being the classic Dawn of the Dead. Maybe one day we’ll see Luciana joining the cast of a horror movie, playing some sort of she-demon, screaming at our faces, and sending shivers down the spines of the lighthearted. Because she’s a true extreme music diva, and she will show no mercy for your soul armed with her phenomenal vocals and badass attitude.
Sounding tighter and more intricate than ever before, this American Sci-Fi Black Metal beast will take you on a journey to outer space to the sound of their breathtaking new album.
Having spent the years honing their craft while keeping their Death Metal-touched Sci-Fi Black Metal sound intact, Monrovia, California’s own beast Imperialist returns with their long awaited third studio album Prime, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2021 sophomore offering Zenit and their 2023 EP Quantum. Recorded by Charles Elliott at Tastemaker Audio, mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound, and displaying a stylish artwork by Eliran Kantor, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Sergio Soto, guitarist Bryant Quinones, bassist Joshua Alvarez, and drummer Rod Quinones sounds tighter and more intricate than ever before, reinforced further with Thrash Metal elements while also showcasing the darkness and menace displayed on the previous EP but also the maturity in songwriting, being highly recommended for fans of Dissection, Emperor, Valdrin, Vektor, Frozen Dawn, Abigor, and Immortal.
The album kicks off in full force with Starstorm, a demonic display of Technical Black Metal where the guitars by Sergio and Bryant sound as heavy and electrified as imaginable, followed by Beneath The Sands Of Titan, and as a poetic song name deserves a true metallic, no shenanigans sound, that’s exactly what the band delivers, with Rod crushing his drums in great fashion. Their flammable riffs, accompanied by the pure Black Metal bass by Joshua, will darken the skies in Depravity Beheld, while Sergio continues to gnarl like an evil creature; and in I A.M. the dauntless Sergio darkly gnarls the song’s devilish words (“They were naive to think / I would be the one / The prevent their world’s decay / I think therefore I am / Artificially intellegant / Disdain for flesh and blood / Now dominates my world”) amidst a furious Melodic Black Metal sonority for our total delight.
Then after such an insane metal attack we’re treated to the ethereal interlude Heavens Sunder, setting the tone for Final Hours, a ruthless and extremely vile Black Metal extravaganza where Sergio and Bryant deliver some of their most melodic riffs of the whole album, while Rod makes sure the humongous level of heaviness in the song remains intact. Union Of The Swarm sounds as strident and piercing as its predecessors thanks to the caustic riffage by the band’s guitar duo once again, while Rod’s drums sound at the same time rhythmic and apocalyptic, whereas the same Rod speeds things up in the sulfurous Nocturnal Eon, a lesson in contemporary Black Metal where Sergio’s vocals live up to the glory of such an important music genre created in Norway in the 90’s. Last but definitely not least, let’s enjoy seven minutes of first-class Melodic Black Metal in A Ghost Abandoned, led by the rhythmic drums by Rod and the always venomous growls by Sergio.
The music found in Prime oozes passion and dedication at every level, and every listen will prove to be a testament to that. This could very well be the best Imperialist album to date and given their faultless discography to date, that is saying something. You can experience all that by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ main store, Bandcamp, Europe store or US store, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, or click HERE for all things Imperialist. In other words, as their sci-fi obsession has been taken to the next level in Prime, Imperialist are inciting us all to a wild and thrilling metal journey to outer space to the sound of their breathtaking new album, a one-way trip that will surely crush your minds and thoughts in the name of heavy music.
Best moments of the album:Beneath The Sands Of Titan, Final Hours and Nocturnal Eon.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records
Track listing 1. Starstorm 5:09
2. Beneath The Sands Of Titan 5:47
3. Depravity Beheld 5:14
4. I A.M. 4:30
5. Heavens Sunder 1:56
6. Final Hours 4:46
7. Union Of The Swarm 5:27
8. Nocturnal Eon 4:39
9. A Ghost Abandoned 7:22
Band members Sergio Soto – vocals, guitar
Bryant Quinones – guitar
Joshua Alvarez – bass
Rod Quinones – drums
The first full-length opus by this American duo flows continuously across seven tracks, maintaining a constant tension between the harmony and dissonance of its ever-shifting web of musical ideas.
Combining a dense stylistic mélange of Death, Black, and Thrash Metal with inventive electronic experimentation and a keen sense of structure, Formless Ruin of Oblivion is the brand new offering by Massachusetts, United States-based Avantgarde Death/Black/Thrash Metal duo Hexrot, following up on their 2022 debut EP Gloomwrought. Mastered by Colin Marston at Menegroth – The Thousand Caves, and displaying a stunning artwork from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymous Bosch, with logo by Nat Lacuna, the 35-minute first full-length opus by Arkain on vocals, guitars and bass, and Melmoth on vocals, drums and electronics flows continuously across seven tracks, maintaining a constant tension between the harmony and dissonance of its ever-shifting web of musical ideas. Seamlessly interwoven, a bed of modular synthesizer and other digital flourishes run the gamut from clangorous and industrial to warm and ethereal, being therefore recommended for fans of Felgrave, Construct of Lethe, Deathspell Omega, Blut aus Nord, Death, Ulcerate, and Veilburner.
What Lies Veiled is simply ethereal and enigmatic from the very first second, gradually morphing into an experimental beast led by the intricate drumming by Melmoth while Arkain shreds his axe in the name of insanity, flowing into Heavenward, a lecture in Avantgarde and Progressive Death Metal where their experimentations reach a whole new level, all boosted by the the duo’s demented vociferations; again seamlessly connecting with Consecrating Luminous Conflagration, where they keep blasting their demented sounds led by the wicked riffage by Arkain. Then we have the otherworldly interlude Ghostly Retrograde I, setting the stage for Hexrot to crush our souls and dreams with Clandestine Haunt, with Arkain’s caustic guitars matching perfectly with Melmoth’s frantic beats and fills in another explosion of demented Death Metal, once again changing its shape and form into the interlude Ghostly Retrograde II, another atmospheric and embracing instrumental piece that works perfectly as the warmup for the title-track Formless Ruin of Oblivion, a 15-minute creature from the abyss of extreme music, starting in the most phantasmagorical manner before the duo begins peeling our flesh mercilessly with their chaotic and visceral sounds, exhaling madness to their wicked riffs, bass lines and cryptic drums, as if there were three or four songs clashing in great fashion inside of it, consequently setting fire to the ambience until its climatic yet vile finale.
In addition to all that, the immediacy of a live studio recording gives Formless Ruin of Oblivion a high level of authenticity and power, but careful production ensures you’ll still be discovering new things multiple listens in. Hence, you can get to know more about such a promising duo hailing from the United States through their official Facebook and Instagram, stream their debut EP and soon their newborn opus on Spotify or any other streaming service, and purchase a copy of the album from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. It’s truly impressive how only two musicians were capable of putting together such a detailed, bold and complex album, sounding like a multi-headed beast of extreme music while remaining loyal to their foundations and absolutely humble, working hard to keep crafting high quality music for us avid metalheads. No idea what’s next for those two beyond talented guys, but if their next album is just as half as good as Formless Ruin of Oblivion, we’ll have a very good reason to keep a huge smile on our faces while headbanging manically.
Best moments of the album:Heavenward, Clandestine Haunt and Formless Ruin of Oblivion.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records
Track listing 1. What Lies Veiled 3:49
2. Heavenward 5:26
3. Consecrating Luminous Conflagration 4:05
4. Ghostly Retrograde I 1:10
5. Clandestine Haunt 3:06
6. Ghostly Retrograde II 1:52
7. Formless Ruin of Oblivion 15:53
Band members Arkain – vocals, guitars, bass
Melmoth – vocals, drums, electronics
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.
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.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 