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Album Review – Warlung / The Poison Touch (2025)

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This talented Texan foursome is back in action with their fifth full-length album, turning all levels further and bursting with contagious energy through its supercharged eight tracks.

Founded in 2016 when former members of the bands The Dead Revolt and Rivers joined forces to push the limits of song writing and creativity, Houston, Texas-based Occult Rock/Stoner/Doom Metal beast Warlung is back with fifth studio album, titled The Poison Touch, the follow-up to their 2022 album Vulture’s Paradise, delving deeper into atmosphere while maintaining the gritty undertone that defines their sound. Recorded by Andrew Jacob Rodriguez at King Benny’s House of Sound, mixed and mastered by Travis Weatherred, and displaying a classic artwork by Laura Bennett, the new opus by George Baba on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Philip Bennett on vocals and guitar, Chris Tamez on bass, and Ethan Tamez on drums sees the Texan foursome turn all levels further and burst with contagious energy through the album’s supercharged eight tracks, delivering the exact dose of evil and epic stories you need to enter the winter, being therefore recommended for fans of Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Green Lung and Ghost, among other rock and metal heavyweights.

The band comes ripping in full force in the high-octane, rockin’ tune Digital Smoke, led by the striking vocal attack by both George and Philip, therefore starting the album on a majestic note. Then investing in a Southern Rock-infused sonority it’s time for their guitars to strike us hard in White Light Seeker, a classy and smooth composition by those American rockers, followed by the atmospheric interlude Mourning Devils, perfectly warming us up for Spell Speaker, which starts with the metallic bass by Chris inspiring us all for some good old headbanging, supported by the classic beats by Ethan, quickly joined by the melodious riffs and solos by George and Philip, flowing majestically through its almost nine minutes and sounding very Black Sabbath-ish for our vulgar delectation.

They continue to blast our ears with their melodic fusion of Stoner Metal with Occult Rock in Holy Guide, with the background keys by George giving the whole song a welcome haunting vibe in the vein of Ghost. It’s time to hit the road alongside Warlung in the Rock N’ Roll-fueled tune Rat Bastard, again showcasing their passion for heavy music with a sensational performance by George and Philip on the guitars, not to mention how groovy the bass by Chris sounds and feels. The quartet then offers the decent ballad The Sleeping Prophet, overflowing melancholy before we’re treated to 29th Scroll, 6th Verse, bringing forward one last explosion of Occult Rock infused with Sludge Metal nuances, with Ethan pounding his drums mercilessly until the very end.

From start to finish, the listener will be blasted with in-your-face, hard-rocking energy while simultaneously embracing a hauntingly beautiful experience while the band keeps exploring new realms, serving as both a continuation and evolution of their occult-laden style inspired by the 70’s era of rock and psychedelia. Hence, don’t forget to give those talented Texans a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their awesome discography in full on several streaming services like Spotify, and of course to purchase a copy of their newborn rockin’ opus from the Heavy Psych Sounds Records’ BandCamp or webstore (also available in the United States). Warlung bring it throughout their entire new album, paying homage to the past of Rock N’ Roll while at the same time always marching forward, leaving us eager for more of their fusion of rock, doom and the occult in the near future.

Best moments of the album: Digital Smoke, Spell Speaker and Rat Bastard.

Worst moments of the album: The Sleeping Prophet.

Released in 2025 Heavy Psych Sounds Records

Track listing
1. Digital Smoke 4:28
2. White Light Seeker 5:22
3. Mourning Devils 1:36
4. Spell Speaker 8:44
5. Holy Guide 3:48
6. Rat Bastard 4:03
7. The Sleeping Prophet 3:48
8. 29th Scroll, 6th Verse 4:36

Band members
George Baba – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Philip Bennett – vocals, guitar
Chris Tamez – bass
Ethan Tamez – drums

Album Review – Pathogenic / Crowned in Corpses (2025)

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This American Progressive/Technical Death Metal outfit makes their triumphant return to the battlefield with eight tracks of devastating power and haunting warnings of the darkness that lies ahead.

Boston, Massachusetts-based Progressive/Technical Death Metal outfit Pathogenic makes a triumphant return with the release of Crowned in Corpses, a brutal and immersive display of prog and tech death. This marks their first full-length release in over half a decade, promising a bold evolution of their signature brand while retaining the intensity that has defined the band for years. Produced and engineered by Pathogenic, Raymond Marte, and Anthony Lopardo, recorded at Westfall Recording Studio and at Chris Gardino’s Crispy Crackers Audio Emporium, and mixed and mastered by Raymond Marte, the newborn beast by vocalist Jake Burns, guitarists Chris Gardino and Justin Lich, bassist Dan Leahy and drummer Tyler Montaquila is a ferocious musical declaration, offering the listener eight tracks of devastating power and haunting warnings of the darkness that lies ahead.

Just hit play and an avalanche of technical and visceral sounds will hit you hard in Mass Grave Memory, with Chris and Justin showing all their dexterity armed with their stringed axes, followed by The New Rot, a lecture in modern-day Technical Death Metal with enhanced brutality thanks to the venomous drums by Tyler. Then the riffage by the band’s guitar duo revs up their Death Metal engine in Dead But Not At Rest, again offering a high dosage of violence flowing from Jake’s roars, and it’s time to slam into the circle pit to the demolishing Exiled from the Abyss, a beyond metallic, in-your-face, ruthless creation by the quintet, with the thunderous bass by Dan bringing sheer groove to the overall result.

Fragments showcases a more cadenced, atmospheric and sinister side of the band, not as visceral and exciting as the other songs, though, while back to a much more infuriated mode the quintet will hammer our putrid bodies with the title-track Crowned in Corpses, where Jake roars like a beast accompanied by the massive, intricate beats and fills by Tyler. Chris and Justin’s riffs, supported by the ruthless bass lines by Dan, will penetrate deep inside our skin in Drag Your Crosses, a first-class Technical Death Metal onrush perfect for some action inside the circle pit; and last but not least, the band will embrace us with in a Death Metal aura with eight minutes of scorching riffs, damned vociferations and crushing drums in Silicon Regime, properly ending such a great comeback by Pathogenic.

Bringing to our avid ears over 42 punishing minutes, the album offers us all labyrinthine riffs, relentless rhythms, and chilling visions of a decaying world, showcasing a sound that is ferocious, intricate, and unapologetically heavy. Hence, in order to show Pathogeinc how much you missed their sonic savagery, go give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their wicked music on Spotify, and purchase Crowned in Corpses from their own BandCamp page, from Skepsis Records, or by clicking HERE, welcoming the band back to the scene while also beautifully crowning them in corpses.

Best moments of the album: The New Rot, Exiled from the Abyss and Drag Your Crosses.

Worst moments of the album: Fragments.

Released in 2025 Skepsis Records

Track listing
1. Mass Grave Memory 4:30
2. The New Rot 5:32
3. Dead But Not At Rest 4:58
4. Exiled from the Abyss 4:28
5. Fragments 7:14
6. Crowned in Corpses 3:37
7. Drag Your Crosses 4:12
8. Silicon Regime 8:08

Band members
Jake Burns – vocals
Chris Gardino – guitar
Justin Lich – guitar
Dan Leahy – bass
Tyler Montaquila – drums

Album Review – Pyrrhic Salvation / When Society Crumbles EP (2025)

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Richmond, Virginia’s own Technical Death Metal beast strikes again with a caustic new EP, exploring themes of societal collapse, humanity’s potential, and the inevitability of self-destruction.

Two years after their striking 2022 debut EP Manifestum I, Richmond, Virginia’s own Technical Death Metal beast Pyrrhic Salvation returns to action with another vicious and extremely experimental EP, entitled When Society Crumbles. Displaying a sick artwork by Austin Weber of The Lung Swarm Art, the new EP by Michael Altobello on the guitars and Sagar Nadgir on drums and bass, plus newcomer Shawn Ferrell on vocals (who was also responsible for the mixing and mastering of the album), is split into three cohesive movements, each forming a track within the title piece, exploring themes of societal collapse (“Infrastructures”), humanity’s potential (“Insight”), and the inevitability of self-destruction (“Inferiority Complexed”), concluding with a standalone track which ventures into themes of existential dread and humanity’s moral decay, adding an introspective complement to the tripartite title composition.

When Society Crumbles Part I – Infrastructure already starts in full force to the venomous roars by Shawn and the always demented riffage by Michael, sounding and feeling very experimental and progressive, yet exhaling pure Death Metal, making an instant bridge with When Society Crumbles Part II – Insight, continuing their overdose of experimentations and harsh sounds, with Sagar taking the lead with both his sick drums and metallic bass lines, flowing into When Society Crumbles Part III – Inferiority Complexed, where the guitar lines by Michael add an extra dosage of insanity to the overall result, not to mention how rabid Shawn sounds on vocals. Lastly, closing the EP we face Every Last Soul Unmade, a demented Experimental Death Metal attack by the trio where Michael sounds possessed with his riffs and solos, all boosted by the inhumane growls by Shawn.

While When Society Crumbles distances itself from the Black Metal elements of the debut, the group’s affinity for spiraling tenebrous sounds remains evident, churning out songs that are deliberately disorienting and chaotic with a barrage of musical complexity, experimentation, and sporadic strange melodies. Hence, if you want to explore this unique amalgamation of sounds by those talented metallers, you can find them on Facebook, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase their caustic new EP from BandCamp, leaving the fires of experimental music burning bright until Pyrrhic Salvation stun us all once again in the near future with, who knows, maybe their first ever full-length offering.

Best moments of the album: When Society Crumbles Part I – Infrastructure and Every Last Soul Unmade.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. When Society Crumbles Part I – Infrastructure 4:50
2. When Society Crumbles Part II – Insight 4:43
3. When Society Crumbles Part III – Inferiority Complexed 4:23
4. Every Last Soul Unmade 5:43

Band members
Shawn Ferrell – vocals
Michael Altobello – guitars
Sagar Nadgir – drums, fretless bass

Album Review – Weed Demon / The Doom Scroll (2025)

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A Columbus, Ohio-based trio returns heavier than ever with their vicious new album, revamping their sludged-out stoner doom with death/thrashing atrocity.

The audio equivalent of bong water spilled on a Ouija board, Columbus, Ohio-based Weed Demon are a 4-piece Sludge/Stoner/Doom Metal beast who continues to push the boundaries of their sound, captivating audiences with relentless creativity and a crushing cosmic vision. Now in 2025 the band formed of Jordan Holland on vocals and bass, Andy Center and Brian Buckley on the guitars, and Nick Carter on drums returns with their third installment, titled The Doom Scroll, following up on their 2020 album Crater Maker. Engineered at StoneRipper Studios, and displaying a stunning artwork by Mont Doom, the album sees the band revamping their sludged-out stoner doom with death/thrashing atrocity, often weaving through hallucinatory dungeon synth passages.

Just hit play and Acid Dungeon will hit us like the soundtrack to a horror movie from the 80’s, sending shivers down our spines before all hell breaks loose in Tower of Smoke, where Andy and Brian begin their riff attack in great fashion supported by the massive, headbanging drums by Nick, with the only problem for me being that it’s an instrumental song (it’s quite decent overall, though). Then we have Coma Dose, featuring guest vocalist Shy Kennedy of Funerals (PGH) and Horehound, sounding a lot stronger and overflowing groove thanks to the striking riffage by the band’s guitar duo, while the vocals by Jordan and Shy sound enraged and mesmerizing at the same time. Roasting the Sacred Bones brings forward more of the band’s acid, visceral Doom and Sludge Metal, with Jordan once again roaring manically supported by the hammering beats by Nick, flowing into the acoustic outro Dead Planet Blues, which puts a cinematic ending to the album. But wait, as there’s a secret track in the vinyl edition of the album, their cover version for Frank Zappa’s Willy The Pimp, originally recorded back in 1969 in the album Hot Rats, with Weed Demon’s rendition being as impactful and vibrant as the original.

The guys from Weed Demon are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, more of their music, their tour dates and so on, and of course you can stream their sludgy and visceral creations on Spotify, as well as purchase a copy of the excellent The Doom Scroll from their own BandCamp, from the Electric Valley Records’ BandCamp or webstore, from the Glory or Death Records webstore, or click HERE for all things Weed Demon. As already mentioned, Weed Demon continue to experiment with different sounds including Thrash and Death Metal in The Doom Scroll without forgetting their core Sludge and Doom Metal essence, resulting in a very dynamic and fresh album while at the same time sounding old school, and based on the quality of their new opus I bet we’ll hear a lot from those Ohio guys in the coming years, always in the name of weed, heaviness and doom.

Best moments of the album: Coma Dose and Roasting the Sacred Bones.

Worst moments of the album: Tower of Smoke.

Released in 2025 Electric Valley Records

Track listing
1. Acid Dungeon 2:42
2. Tower of Smoke 7:33
3. Coma Dose 9:33
4. Roasting the Sacred Bones 6:17
5. Dead Planet Blues 4:49

Vinyl Edition secret bonus track
6. Willy The Pimp (Frank Zappa cover) 6:14

Band members
Jordan Holland – lead vocals, bass
Andy Center – guitars, backing vocals
Brian Buckley – guitars, backing vocals
Nick Carter – drums

Guest musician
Shy Kennedy – vocals on “Coma Dose”

Album Review – Hierarchies / Hierarchies (2025)

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Let’s all embark on a one-way trip to incessant and inevitable hallucinations to the sound of the debut opus by this Dissonant Death Metal creature.

Members of Acausal Intrusion and Dwelling Below conspired amongst themselves to create Dissonant and Technical Death Metal that pushes the limits of reality under a newborn beast named Hierarchies, labelling their own music as “low gain high energy aggressive jazzy tech death with lots of weird timing and insane riffage,” which is exactly what they have to offer in their self-titled debut album. Mixed by Nick Turner at Malevolent Sound Studios, mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios, and displaying a deadly artwork by Belial NecroArts, the album showcases vocalist and drummer Jared Moran (Dwelling Below, Acausal Intrusion), guitarist Nicholas Turner (Dwelling Below, Acausal Intrusion) and bassist Anthony Wheeler (Dwelling Below, Hollowed Idols) bringing into being a truly frightening experience not merely outwardly but one that is also psychologically scarring for the listener, and endlessly fascinating all the same.

The guitar lines by Nicholas sound utterly dissonant from the very first second in Entity, accompanied by the pounding drums and demonic gnarls by Jared, being full of breaks, variations, demented moments and grim passages. Consecrate Phenomenon is another experimental beast by the trio where Anthony hammers his bass nonstop while Nicholas keeps firing strident, piercing riffs for our total delight; and the band shows no mercy for our souls in Dimension, blasting an amalgamation of the visceral sounds of Death Metal with progressive and experimental nuances, with Jared roaring like a demonic entity. Then adding elements from Doom Metal to their already evil sonority we have Twilight Tradition, turning the song into a blackened, sluggish creature.

Abstract brings forward an ever-evolving, maniacal feast of harsh gnarls and cryptic riffs, all boosted by another hammering performance by Anthony on bass, followed by Complexity Parallels, perhaps the craziest of all tracks of the album, with the visceral guitar riffs by Nicholas sounding absolutely disturbing for our vulgar delectation. Subtraction presents their second to last display of insanity and heaviness compressed into five minutes of a truly unique sonic experience led by the intricate drumming by Jared, sounding as perturbing and experimental as it can be, and Vultures displays a more than proper name for a song to end such a wicked, vile album of Dissonant Death Metal, with all band members simply crushing their instruments with endless dexterity, madness and rage.

The debut album by Hierarchies is a dark, murky, nightmarish dive into a realm where trajectories from multiple dimensions manifest to intersect and overlap before dissipating, taking different temporal forms. Nothing is permanent in their world; the tunes change every few seconds and so does everything around them – the implications are in real-time and catastrophically mind-melting. Hence, if you want to experience all that and more, you can find the band on Facebook and purchase a copy of their caustic album from their own BandCamp, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, Europe store, or US store, joining the band on a downward spiral of your consciousness where the out-of-control thoughts overwhelm and overpower, taking you on a one-way trip to incessant and inevitable hallucinations.

Best moments of the album: Entity, Dimension and Complexity Parallels.

Worst moments of the album: Abstract.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Entity 7:30
2. Consecrate Phenomenon 5:02
3. Dimension 6:04
4. Twilight Tradition 6:43
5. Abstract 6:03
6. Complexity Parallels 5:07
7. Subtraction 4:56
8. Vultures 4:46

Band members
Jared Moran – vocals, drums
Nicholas Turner – guitars
Anthony Wheeler – bass

Album Review – Misanthropy / The Ever-Crushing Weight of Stagnance (2024)

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Offering a refreshing raw, frantic and visceral approach to the tech death style, the new album by this Chicago outfit proves why they’re an ever-evolving band in the best way possible.

Offering a refreshing raw, frantic and visceral approach to the tech death style, Chicago, Illinois-based Progressive Death Metal entity Misanthropy is carving their own path and going about the style in their own unconventional manner in their new album The Ever-Crushing Weight of Stagnance, the follow-up to their 2018 album Abhorrent Metamorphosis, skittering off without prior warning, swerving violently and just doing things seemingly at random but mostly at break-neck speed. Displaying a sick artwork by Pedro Sena aka Lordigan (Analepsy, Cognitive, Extermination Dismemberment), the new album by Kevin Kovalsky on vocals and guitar, José Valles also on the guitar, Mark Bojkewycz on fretless bass and Paul Reszczynski on drums is perfect for fans of Origin, Archspire, Ulcerate and Fleshbore, among others, proving Misanthropy Misanthropy are an ever-evolving band, imbibing the influences around them and freely recreating them in their own unique manner which may not be too straightforward but it definitely makes for a thrilling listen.

It’s truly impressive how their tech and progressive vein already explodes in the very first seconds of Of Sulking And The Wrathful, with Mark and Paul sounding ruthless with their bass and beats, respectively, not to mention how deep, evil the guttural by Kevin sounds and feels; and it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated The All-Devouring, where Kevin and José give a lecture in Death Metal riffage supported by the crushing drums by Paul and the always thunderous bass by Mark, resulting in one of the best songs of the album hands down. The band continues their path of savagery and intricacy in A Cure For The Pestilence, where their riffs and fretless bass will pierce our minds in the name of Technical Death Metal, offering us all nonstop action and, therefore, calling us all to slam into the circle pit.

The quartet keeps embellishing the airwaves with their fusion of Death Metal and complex, progressive sounds and tones in the form of Condemned To A Nameless Tomb, with Paul stealing the show with another ass-kicking performance behind his drums. Descent sounds just as wicked, experimental, whimsical and furious as its predecessors, a neck-breaking tune where the sick roars by Kevin will haunt your putrid souls forever; whereas investing in a more direct, in-your-face Death Metal sonority the band will hammer our heads mercilessly in Sepulcher, with the riffage by Kevin and José exhaling sheer heaviness and animosity until the very end. Last but definitely not least, a beyond somber, eerie start gradually evolves into the massive Consumed By The Abyss, with Mark’s fretless bass punching us hard in the face in the best progressive way imaginable.

The guys from Misanthropy are eager to know what you think of their music and their new album, and you can get in touch with them via Facebook or Instagram, and of course stream all of their wild creation on any streaming platform like Spotify. And above all that, let’s support those talented metallers by purchasing their bestial new album from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, Europe store, or US store, and you can also click HERE for all things Misanthropy. Those guys are dead serious about the quality of their music and absolutely sharp and focused on their new album, inviting us all for a wild Death Metal ride that might be too complex for some, but extremely awesome for most of us metalheads.

Best moments of the album: The All-Devouring, A Cure For The Pestilence and Sepulcher.

Worst moments of the album: Descent.

Released in 2024 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Of Sulking And The Wrathful 6:05
2. The All-Devouring 4:43
3. A Cure For The Pestilence 6:39
4. Condemned To A Nameless Tomb 6:24
5. Descent 6:44
6. Sepulcher 7:18
7. Consumed By The Abyss 6:37

Band members
Kevin Kovalsky – vocals, guitar
José Valles – guitar
Mark Bojkewycz – fretless bass
Paul Reszczynski – drums

Album Review – Blood Incantation / Absolute Elsewhere (2024)

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At roughly 45 minutes, the new beast by Blood Incantation offers us all two sensational compositions that are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope.

At roughly 45 minutes, Absolute Elsewhere, the breathtaking, diverse new opus by Denver, Colorado-based Progressive Death Metal outfit Blood Incantation, is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Recorded at Hansa Studios, produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk at Redwood Studios, displaying a cryptic artwork by Steve R Dodd, and featuring guest musicians Thorsten Quaeschning (Tangerine Dream), Nicklas Malmqvist (Hällas) and Malte Gericke (Sijjin), the new album by Paul Riedl, Morris Kolontyrsky, Jeff Barrett and Isaac Faulk offers us all two compositions that are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope, melding the 70’s prog leanings of Tangerine Dream with the deathly intent of Morbid Angel.

In “The Stargate”, a violent storm invokes the familiar before a grand cosmic key turns for a hint of sweeping scope to come with spiritual acknowledgement and accompaniment, as their wicked experimentations mixed with the harshness of Death Metal begin in full force in The Stargate [Tablet I], showcasing mystic lyrics roared by Paul (“Chamber echoing with dust / Drifting through beams of Light / Shadows cast upon the stones / Temple doors reveal the Night”) while his bandmates craft a beyond imposing ambience. Not only that, the balance between their undisputed aggression and the ethereal, soothing moments of the song is a thing of beauty, connecting flawlessly with The Stargate [Tablet II], starting in a futuristic, whimsical manner to the sound of their keyboards and synths, and flowing smoothly until an explosion of experimentations in its final part. And that aura of madness continues in The Stargate [Tablet III], with the cryptic vocals by Paul walking hand in hand with the superb guitar work dome by the same Paul alongside Morris and Isaac, not to mention the eerie narrations by guest Malte Gerick.

“The Message” is a step through doorways of unearthly beauty, playfulness, quirk and horror, and it’s indeed a visceral Progressive Death Metal attack that we get in The Message [Tablet I], with its enigmatic, pensive lyrics (“What does it mean to be human? / And the nature of Consciousness? / The mystery has been revealed… / By the dance of Nature’s quiet songs of the birds…”) also complementing their complex, thrilling and enfolding sounds. Then just like what happened in The Stargate, the second act of The Message, entitled The Message [Tablet II], also kicks off in a more experimental way but quickly evolves into a Progressive Metal hurricane, alternating between more primeval, savage moments and soothing, atmospheric passages. Lastly, the band offers the multi-layered, detailed and otherworldly The Message [Tablet III] as the icing on the cake in their new album, with Isaac sounding sensational on drums while his bandmates continue to deliver intricacy and energy through their vocals, riffs and bass lines, ending in a climatic yet mysterious way just the way we like it in the music by Blood Incantation.

Blood Incantation’s new album Absolute Elsewhere is the sound of a star born, and you should definitely listen to that beautiful sound in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, as it will undoubtedly feature among the best albums of 2024 in pretty much all lists out there. Hence, don’t forget to also check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, especially because there’s an upcoming North American tour that’s just about to start, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and to purchase the mesmerizing Absolute Elsewhere by clicking HERE or HERE, as you witness the defining of a new musical epoch for one of the most important bands of the current extreme music scene worldwide.

Best moments of the album: The Stargate [Tablet I], The Message [Tablet I] and The Message [Tablet III].

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. The Stargate [Tablet I] 8:20
2. The Stargate [Tablet II] 5:08
3. The Stargate [Tablet III] 6:50
4. The Message [Tablet I] 5:56
5. The Message [Tablet II] 5:58
6. The Message [Tablet III] 11:27

Band members
Paul Riedl – vocals, guitars, mellotron, additional synthesizers
Morris Kolontyrsky – guitars, additional synthesizers
Jeff Barrett – bass, additional synthesizers
Isaac Faulk – drums, gong, additional guitars, mellotron, percussion

Guest musicians
Thorsten Quaeschning – synthesizers and organs on “The Stargate [Tablet II]”
Nicklas Malmqvist – piano, synthesizers, mellotron, organ
Malte Gericke – vocals and narration on “The Stargate [Tablet III]”, “The Message [Tablet I]” and “The Message [Tablet II]”

Album Review – Nachtmystium / Blight Privilege (2024)

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Behold the caustic new album by this iconic Black Metal musician who has clawed himself back from the abyss of a most extreme life imaginable.

San Clemente, California-based Experimental/Psychedelic Black Metal outfit Nachtmystium has returned, and after all that was said and done, mastermind Blake Judd (aka Azentrius) is still standing. Not only that, but he has clawed himself back from the abyss of a most extreme life imaginable to a much more quiet, observant, and matured artist and person. In case you know nothing about him, Blake was a prolific scammer who collected money for Nachtmystium merchandise and other goods which he did not send, being arrested and retained on grounds of theft in October 2013, but those dark days seem to be dead and gone as Blake and his Nachtmystium are back in action with their ninth studio album, titled Blight Privilege. Recorded and engineered by Blake himself with assistance by Andrew Markuszewski, with drums engineered and recorded by Jacopo Pettini at Virus Studio, mixed and mastered by Ken Sorceron at Sorceron Sound, and displaying a demonic artwork and layout by Alex Trinkl of Irrwisch Artdesign, the new album by Blake on vocals, guitars and keyboards alongside Matt Thomas also on the guitars, Ken Sorceron on bass and Francesco Miatto on drums offers everything fans have learned to love (or hate) in the music by Nachtmystium, from its harsh, rasping vocals to the fierce hum and whirr of guitars burning with an ice cold fire, and of course moments of ecstatic and exalted beauty in hellish soundscapes, like what’s found in the project’s (in)famous trilogy formed of Instinct: Decay (2006), Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. I (2008), and Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II (2010).

And one of those sinister, cryptic spoken excepts kicks off the opening tune, entitled Survivor’s Remorse, being gradually joined by the crisp riffs by Blake and Matt, therefore resulting in a song perfect for darkening your putrid souls for all eternity; followed by Predator Phoenix, an exciting, thrilling and vibrant Black Metal extravaganza by Blake and his horde where his harsh vocals sound fantastic, not to mention the fierce but intricate beats by Francesco, and of course the fact Blake simply exposes his dark past in the song’s official video. Then investing in a more melodic, cadenced sonority, it’s time for the Melodic Black Metal aria A Slow Decay, with their strident riffs penetrating deep inside our minds, whereas Conquistador is another straightforward Black Metal song with melodic and atmospheric nuances, with Blake roaring with tons of anger until the very end. Moreover, its imposing background also brings an extra touch of obscurity to the overall result.

There’s no time to breathe as Blake continues to haunt our souls in Blind Spot, supported by the rumbling kitchen by Ken and Francesco. In other words, it’s a great song for some vigorous headbanging or for some decent circle pit action during their live shows, no doubt about that. The Arduous March is an eerie, phantasmagorical creation by Nachtmystium, overflowing anguish and darkness to the melodious riffs by Blake and Matt, sounding doomed at times and flowing majestically until its climatic finale; and last but definitely not least, Blake will melt our faces with his Melodic Black Metal in the title-track Blight Privilege, with Francesco enhancing the song’s punch considerably with his classy beats and fills, turning it into a superb way to close the album and welcome Blake back to the world of metal (even if a lot of people don’t wanted it to happen).

Blake and his alter-ego Nachtmystium can only be found on X (or Twitter) of all social media, maybe due to all of his past issues, but you can surely enjoy his music on YouTube and on Spotify. Also, you can purchase a copy of the excellent Blight Privilege from the project’s own BandCamp, from the Prophecy Productions webstore, or by clicking HERE or HERE, and as Blake seems to be a new person now let’s say nobody expects him to not deliver his album to whoever purchases it. A troubled past, an undeniable talent, a deep passion for Black Metal, and the courage to start again. That’s what makes the new album by Nachtmystium so compelling, therefore representing just the first step (towards the right direction) in this new phase of his controversial but striking career.

Best moments of the album: Predator Phoenix, Conquistador and Blight Privilege.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Lupus Lounge

Track listing
1. Survivor’s Remorse 7:35
2. Predator Phoenix 4:32
3. A Slow Decay 6:33
4. Conquistador 5:11
5. Blind Spot 6:35
6. The Arduous March 7:30
7. Blight Privilege 6:26

Band members
Blake Judd – vocals, guitars, keyboards

Guest musicians
Matt Thomas – guitars
Ken Sorceron – bass
Francesco Miatto – drums

Concert Review – Carnifex (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 10/22/2024)

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Metalheads from all parts of Toronto enjoyed a killer Tuesday night in the city, celebrating the brutality and energy of Death Metal and Deathcore blasted by five incredible bands.

OPENING ACTS: Heavy//Hitter, Organectomy, Mental Cruelty and Cryptopsy

What a wild night of love, friendship and collective tree hugs brought to the city of Toronto by HEAVY/HITTER, ORGANECTOMY, MENTAL CRUELTY, CRYPTOPSY and CARNIFEX during their Necromanteum Part II USA and Canada Tour 2024 at The Opera House, setting the circle pits on fire throughout the entire event. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to witness such a moshing party blasted by those five amazing bands, and although I had to miss Orlando, Florida’s own Deathcore unit HEAVY//HITTER due to work, as the whole show was a very early one with doors opening at 5pm and Heavy//Hitter hitting the stage already at 6pm, I highly recommend you go after their music as it’s freakin’ heavy and hits you in the face mercilessly, just like what the name of the band says. You can find their music on Spotify and BandCamp, and get ready for their brand new EP Moments of Misery out this November 8.

Setlist
(Unknown) (unreleased)
Paved in Blood
(Unknown) (unreleased)
Waste Of Life
No Mercy, No Remorse
Heaven’s Gate
Wall of Wax

Band members
Austin Hayes – vocals
Dane Loeprich – guitar
Chris Perez – bass
Josh Archeval – drums

However, I was lucky enough to get to The Opera House just in time for New Zealand’s heaviest band of all time, the demented Christchurch-based Brutal Death Metal squad ORGANECTOMY, who led by the infuriated, unstoppable frontman Alex Paul (and sporting shirts of their idols Cryptopsy, by the way) put on a fantastic show, crushing our damned souls and demanding us all to slam into the pit like there’s no tomorrow. I’m a fan of all of their albums, I had seen them live once, but I must say their new songs Plague Mouth, Corpsethrone and Tracheal Hanging (all available on Spotify, by the way) sounded absolutely insane live, and I can’t wait for their next full-length album whenever they’re thinking about releasing it. After their show I went to their merch booth and got a very cool, high-quality beanie for a very decent price, and had a chance to chat a little with Alex about his music and his stunning country (as I was there recently on my Maiden quest in Australia and New Zealand). He’s a really nice guy, an extremely talented growler, and a hardworking musician, putting his heart and soul into his onstage performance. Having said that, don’t waste a single second and go check the music by one of the best bands ever hailing from New Zealand, and get ready to be smashed like an insect if you have a chance to see those ruthless metallers live.

Setlist
Concrete
The Third Mutation
Corpsethrone
Plague Mouth
Tracheal Hanging
Terror Form
Entropic Decay

Band members
Alex Paul – vocals
Sam McRobert – guitars
Matthew Bolch – guitars
Tyler Jordan – bass, backing vocals
Levi Sheehan – drums

The other band that I was utterly eager to see live again was Karlsruhe, Germany-based Symphonic Deathcore beasts  MENTAL CRUELTY, and let’s say their show this Tuesday night was way more explosive and fun than the first time I saw them at Hard Luck Bar, despite the fact the setlist was pretty much the same based on their most recent opus, the masterpiece Zwielicht (available on Spotify and on BandCamp). The band kicked some serious ass during their entire set, with their frontman Lukas Nicolai stealing the show with not only a flawless vocal performance, but his interaction with the crowd was amazing as well, with him getting on top of the barricade to sing together with the crowd and with a nice show of flashlights during Zwielicht, right before they blasted our minds with their best song to date, Symphony of a Dying Star. I also had a chance to talk to Lukas about Mental Cruelty, about the fact I keep trying to convince my German friends to listen to their music, and got a nice patch from those guys. Needless to say, the next time Mental Cruelty takes the city of Toronto by storm, I’ll certainly be there.

Setlist
Midtvinter
Obsessis a Daemonio
King ov Fire
Forgotten Kings
Nordlys
Zwielicht
Symphony of a Dying Star

Band members
Lukas Nicolai – vocals
Nahuel Lozano – guitars
Marvin Kessler – guitars
Viktor Dick – bass
Danny Straßer – drums

After a very quick intermission, it was time for the iconic Montreal, Quebec-based  Brutal/Technical Death Metal institution CRYPTOPSY (aka the “Kings of Hallmark Romantic Christmas Movies”) to simply destroy anyone who dared to face them inside the circle pit. What a bestial show by Matt McGachy, Christian Donaldson, Olivier Pinard and Flo Mounier, sounding one hundred percent heavy, enraged and evil from start to finish, with songs like Slit Your Guts, Crown of Horns, Open Face Surgery and Flayed the Swine (this one from their amazing 2023 album As Gomorrah Burns, available on Spotify and on BandCamp) demolishing our souls and melting our faces, all while Matt kept roaring like a demonic creature and headbanging in the best Corpsegrinder stile. Hell yeah, Canada has its own Corpsegrinder, ladies and gentlemen! Flo was also infernal behind his drums, proving why he’s one of the best of the entire genre, and his dexterity, fury and passion for heavy music inspired the fans to keep the circle pit moving absurdly fast. I honestly don’t know how I was able to catch one of the guitar pics thrown by Christian because the floor section was nonstop madness, but I can’t wait to see them again live and, who knows, grab something else like a drumstick next time.

Setlist
Slit Your Guts
Crown of Horns
Graves of the Fathers
Sire of Sin
Open Face Surgery
In Abeyance
Flayed the Swine
Phobophile

Band members
Matt McGachy – vocals
Christian Donaldson – guitars
Olivier Pinard – bass
Flo Mounier – drums

CARNIFEX

The last attraction of the night was also the one most fans at The Opera House (a mix of very young fans and way older metalheads, but still young at heart) were waiting for, and they didn’t disappoint the crowd at all, bringing forth a massive display of heaviness and hatred on stage. I’m talking about San Diego, California-based Deathcore masters CARNIFEX, who armed with their pulverizing 2023 album Necromanteum, available on Spotify, sounded insane on stage and, therefore, fueled some of the sickest mosh pits of the night. Vocalist Scott Ian Lewis didn’t stop screaming, barking and roaring, and I honestly don’t know how he can do that night in, night out without losing his voice, bringing even more fury to already furious songs the likes of Torn in Two, Graveside Confessions, Hell Chose Me and Heaven and Hell All at Once. It was total chaos until the very last second of Drown Me in Blood, and I must say I was very happy the show ended before 10:30pm as I had enough time to get back home and have a decent night of sleep. To be fair, if their show had been longer I wouldn’t have complained at all, because you know, first comes heavy music, then the superficial stuff like sleeping, eating and working, right?

Setlist
Torn in Two
Graveside Confessions
Dark Days
Necromanteum
Slit Wrist Savior
Crowned in Everblack
Lie to My Face
Hell Chose Me
Heaven and Hell All at Once
Dark Heart Ceremony
Hatred and Slaughter
Drown Me in Blood

Band members
Scott Ian Lewis – vocals
Cory Arford – guitars
Neal Tiemann – guitars
Fred Calderon – bass
Shawn Cameron – drums

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Album Review – Enforced / A Leap Into The Dark EP (2024)

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Building on the momentum of their previous albums, this Crossover Thrash brigade returns with a blistering six-song EP journeying into new levels of ferocity.

Building on the momentum of their previous full-length albums War Remains (2023) and Kill-Grid (2021), Richmond, Virginia’s own Thrash Metal/Crossover brigade Enforced returns with A Leap Into The Dark, a blistering six-song EP journeying into new levels of ferocity that showcases the band’s relentless evolution through the years. Produced and mixed by the iconic Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Power Trip, Kreator, Code Orange), A Leap Into The Dark delivers three brand new tracks alongside three B-sides, including a newly remastered version of “Casket” and powerful cover versions of “The Chase Is On” by English Dogs, and “Deadly Intentions” by Obituary, all masterfully crafted by Knox Colby on vocals, Will Wagstaff and Zach Monahan on the guitars, Ethan Gensurowsky on bass and Alex Bishop on drums.

Razor-edged riffs in the vein of Obituary and Slayer will pierce your damn ears in Betting on the End, a pure Crossover Thrash extravaganza where Knox barks rabidly supported by the classic beats and fills by Alex, whereas the title-track A Leap into the Dark sees Will and Zach delivering sheer electricity and heaviness through their riffs, translating into another excellent option for some sick headbanging. Deafening Heartbeats is undoubtedly a demented slab of brutality by those thrashers, offering nonstop action blasted by the quintet with Alex stealing the spotlight with his massive beats and fills; followed by Casket, bringing forward two minutes of pure American Thrash Metal where Knox vociferates nonstop, demanding us all to crush our skulls into the circle pit. In their cover for Deadly Intentions, by Obituary (check the original version HERE, from their 1989 cult album Slowly We Rot), they kept the visceral essence of the original song intact while also adding their personal touch to it, and the final result is simply insane, and the same is valid for their cover for The Chase Is On, by English Dogs (check the original version HERE, from their 1984 EP To the Ends of the Earth), showcasing their passion for classic Punk Rock and Hardcore.

In a nutshell, the fast and furious A Leap Into The Dark captures the band at the peak of their powers, delivering a sonic assault that pushes the boundaries of their genre, and you can let those talented thrashers know how much you love their music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, an of course by purchasing a copy of their hammering new EP from BandCamp, or by clicking HERE or HERE. While Enforced are taking a leap into the dark in their new EP, all of us metalheads should join them and simply slam into the circle pit, because if there’s one thing those guys certainly know how to do, that’s to craft a beautiful and fulminating fusion of Thrash Metal and Hardcore perfect for some intense moshing.

Best moments of the album: A Leap into the Dark and Deafening Heartbeats.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Betting on the End 3:42
2. A Leap into the Dark 4:16
3. Deafening Heartbeats 3:11
4. Casket 1:53
5. Deadly Intentions (Obituary cover) 2:09
6. The Chase Is On (English Dogs cover) 3:49

Band members
Knox Colby – vocals
Will Wagstaff – guitars
Zach Monahan – guitars
Ethan Gensurowsky – bass
Alex Bishop – drums