The ‘Bogg is back in action with an ass-kicking record as gore-obsessed and violence-inclined as their prior works, but with a career-defining command over their ugly art.
Known for being THAT band with the unpronounceable name and unreadable logos, Columbus, Ohio-based Brutal Death Metal/Deathcore entity Sanguisugabogg returns to action with Hideous Aftermath, a record as gore-obsessed and violence-inclined as their prior works Tortured Whole (2021) and Homicidal Ecstasy (2023), but with a career-defining command over their ugly art. Recorded by Zach Weeks, produced by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Recording Studio, and mastered by Mike Kalajian at Rogue Planet Mastering, the newborn beast by frontman Devin Swank, guitarist Drew Arnold, bassist Ced Davis, and drummer Cody Davidson is the work of a band who has already cut a bloody swath into the underground and beyond, leaving any “Caveman Death Metal” tags in the dust while also flexing every muscle they have.
It’s pedal to the metal right from the beginning in Rotted Entanglement, led by the vicious drumming by Cody, almost sounding like old school, primeval Death Metal. In Felony Abuse of a Corpse we face guest vocals by the one and only Damonteal Harris (of Brutal Death Metal beast PeelingFlesh), and of course such an awesome partnership with Devin would result in pure sonic madness, with the riffs by Drew exhaling hatred; followed by Ritual Autophagia, featuring guest vocals by Todd Jones (of Nails), another slamming extravaganza by the quartet with the bass and drums by Ced and Cody, respectively, transpiring heaviness. They show no mercy for our souls in Heinous Testimony, offering an avalanche of unyielding Death Metal, with Devin’s Neanderthal vocals bringing pure hatred to their music; whereas the roars by guest Josh Welshman (of Defeated Sanity) add even more insanity to Abhorrent Contraception, with its lyrics reeking of evil (“Don’t run away, let’s play house, just stay / I’ll send them to their room, just ignore them for one day / And while they’re there, it’s just you and me right here / I’ll do what it takes for us forever”).
The second half of the album kicks off in an ominous manner, with a cryptic tune titled Repulsive Demise, led by the rumbling bass by Ced and setting the stage for the band to kill us all in Erotic Beheading, with Drew setting fire to the atmosphere with his scathing riffage. In other words, its putrid, vile sound will please all fans of the most demented form of Brutal Death Metal, and needless to say, it will work brilliantly live. The quartet keeps hammering their sonic weapons in great fashion in Sanctified Defilement, with the deep, gargantuan vociferations by Devin sending shivers down our spines; and in Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction we’re treated to the more-than-special guest vocals by Travis Ryan (of the unparalleled metal commando Cattle Decapitation), obviously turning it into one of the top moments of the album, with the instrumental chaos blasted by Drew, Ced and Cody providing such a phenomenal vocal duet with exactly what they need to crack the skies with their visceral roars. Lastly, featuring guest vocals by Dylan Walker (of Full of Hell), Paid in Flesh offers almost eight minutes of the most demonic form of the band’s blend of Death Metal, showcasing lots of break, variations, and of course, endless violence flowing from their riffs, beats, and the gruesome gnarls by Devin.
With Hideous Aftermath, Sanguisugabogg have proven themselves more than just an eccentric death crew on an acid-addled hateroll. They’re both champions of the underground and a musical force unto themselves. “It’s definitely our most death metal record, our most personal record, our most focused and brutal record to date,” commented Devin Swank, who’s waiting for you alongside his bandmates on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and so on. Don’t forget to also stream their undisputed brutality on Spotify, and of course to grab a copy of their excellent new album from their own BandCamp or webstore, from Century Media Records, or by clicking HERE or HERE. Hideous Aftermath showcases a band that’s not just out for blood, but out for YOUR blood, and once you find yourself in the hands of the ‘Bogg, there’s no escape.
Best moments of the album:Felony Abuse of a Corpse, Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction and Paid in Flesh.
Band members Devin Swank – vocals
Drew Arnold – guitars
Ced Davis – bass
Cody Davidson – drums
Guest musicians Josh Welshman – vocals on “Abhorrent Contraception”
Travis Ryan – vocals on “Semi Automatic Facial Reconstruction”
Dylan Walker – vocals on “Paid in Flesh”
Todd Jones – vocals on “Ritual Autophagia”
Damonteal Harris – vocals on “Felony Abuse of a Corpse”
This Minneapolis, Minnesota-based one-man project returns with his excellent sophomore opus based on loss, grief, and a longing to bring back connection via spiritual or even metaphysical reach.
After the dissolution of Feral Light, Minneapolis, Minnesota-based frontman and songwriter A.S. (aka Andy Schoengrund) wasted no time in channeling his artistic flair into a new project, the Experimental Black/Death Metal creature known as Unsouling. The project’s 2024 debut, Vampiric Spiritual Drain, laid the foundation for a new stylistic approach that is now fully realized on Outward Streams of Devotional Woe, its sophomore release. Conceived and recorded by A.S. at The Crypt, mixed by Sanford Parker at Hypercube Studios, mastered by Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recording, and displaying an eerie artwork by Luciana Nedelea (with layout by Francesco Gemelli, known as Unexpected Specter), Outward Streams Of Devotional Woe is based on loss, grief, and a longing to bring back connection via spiritual or even metaphysical reach, and how this can bring great comfort.
The album starts with the cryptic, obscure Immaterial Entrance, where A.S. delivers minimalist riffs, bass lines and beats before morphing into an Atmospheric Black Metal beast, with its second half turning into sheer chaos and violence. Then investing in a more Doom Metal-inspired sonority it’s time for Your Momentary Passing, showcasing his harsh, anguished roars and sluggish drums, as well as a wall of experimentations. And presenting nuances of the Melodic Death Metal played by bands like Insomnium we have To Come Unbound, sounding utterly chilling and obscure until the end; whereas Grief Reconfigured is a lecture in Black Metal where A.S. puts the pedal to the metal and delivers his heaviest and most demonic side while also bringing forward pensive and visceral Blackened Doom moments. His metallic bass sets the tone in Towering Black Wave, another hybrid of Doom Metal with atmospheric and melodic passages, and it’s then time for the two-minute introspective interlude Passages, where his stylish sounds permeate the air until all comes to an end with Dissolved in Spiritus, crushing our minds and souls to A.S.’s vile gnarls and Post-Black Metal riffs, with its countless layers and tempo changes giving the whole song a hypnotizing vibe.
“The album differs from its predecessor in that the meandering exploration of Vampiric Spiritual Drain has been replaced with a more sure-footed and focused journey,” explained A.S. “The anchor of black metal with its bleed into gothic, dark wave, and death metal influences is still very much present, but it is more reigned in and pointed.” In terms of the themes covered, Unsouling remain faithful to the poetics of its debut, but, if possible, accentuate its existentialist vein, being therefore highly recommended for admirers of Sacramentum, Grave, Morgion, and Feral Light, just to name a few. You can also connect with A.S. and his Unsouling via Instagram, stream his unique music on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of Outward Streams of Devotional Woe from the project’s own BandCamp, from the I, Voidhanger Records’ BandCamp, or from Metal Odissey (in the US or in the EU/UK), or simply click HERE for all thing Unsouling. In the end, loss and grief are always extremely difficult to process inside our minds and hearts, and the music blasted by Unsouling in Outward Streams of Devotional Woe perfectly depicts that excruciating challenge, always supported by the dark beauty of extreme music.
Best moments of the album:Immaterial Entrance and Dissolved in Spiritus.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 I, Voidhanger Records
Track listing 1. Immaterial Entrance 6:02
2. Your Momentary Passing 4:58
3. To Come Unbound 5:22
4. Grief Reconfigured 5:18
5. Towering Black Wave 6:23
6. Passages 2:04
7. Dissolved in Spiritus 5:35
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
Internally, I feel like a cosmic explosion. It’s where the stars are born. It’s where stars die.
In order to properly celebrate 13 years of The Headbanging Moose, our metal lady chosen for this month of October is the ultimate definition of the underground, and I’m sure that after knowing more about her, you’ll get addicted to her ass-kicking music. She’s the frontwoman for a phenomenal new supergroup named Visitant, as well as the vocalist for the also excellent band Voraath, not to mention she’s also an extremely talented voice actress. Call her by her real name Chelsea Strickland, or by her artistic moniker Chelsea Marrow, she will kick your ass with her undisputed Extreme Metal growls, undeniable charisma, and a deep passion for the darkest and most extreme side of music. Having said all that, do you think you have what it takes to enter in the realm of fire and flames ruled by one of the most talented female growlers of the current heavy music scene? Or in other words, get ready to be pulverized by Chelsea’s scathing vocals in our humble tribute to such a multi-talented woman.
Born on February 2, 1988 in Pensacola, Florida, in the United States, Chelsea started her career in heavy music as the vocalist for a Florida-based Blackened/Melodic Death Metal band named Accursed Creator, with whom she recorded the singles All Will Suffer (2016), Prelude of Worms (2016), and Scourge of Tested Flesh (2018), as well as the three-track EP Sins of the Father in 2016, which includes one of the singles, Prelude of Worms, before departing from the band in 2020. Their new vocalist is a guy named Kodiac Jackson, who joined the band in 2023, but they haven’t released any new material yet with him on vocals. You can enjoy their songs with Chelsea on vocals on both BandCamp and Spotify, and enjoy their official videos for songs like Throne of Iron and Scourge of Tested Flesh on YouTube.
A few years after leaving Accursed Creator, our talented she-wolf joined Asheville, North Carolina-based Technical/Experimental Death Metal band Voraath, alongside Daniel Presnell and Tylor Kohl on the guitars, Paul McBride on bass, and Joshua Nassaru Ward on drums, replacing their previous vocalist Brad Parris, having recorded with the band the excellent Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters back in 2024, available on BandCamp, Spotify or any other streaming service. In one of her interviews when she joined the band, she explained how everything happened. “I’ve been friends with Joshua Ward, who’s the current drummer for Voraath, for a couple of years, now. In the past, we’ve discussed the possibility of having me feature on a Voraath song. I believe it paved the way to where we are now. There were some recent lineup changes, and Josh reached out to me. He offered the opportunity to be a permanent member of Voraath and I happily accepted with no hesitation.”
Chelsea likes to describe Voraath’s sound as an auditory odyssey both extreme and emotional. “We wanted to keep our roots and extreme metal while still exploring storytelling,” she commented, also explaining what’s behind their masks and costumes. “We built our own multiverse with cosmic entities who have propagated life throughout a biocentric universe. It’s a complex story but we are in a post-apocalyptic future ruled by corporations and interdimensional entities, and we are just a group of hired retrieval experts trying to support our families in this dismal reality when we are hired to retrieve something that’s beyond our understanding, unearthing the body of a otherworldly being which in the lore is how we get our armor and mask, infused with technology not of this world.”
Unfortunately, the ultra talented Joshua Nassaru Ward, of bands like Rapheumets Well, Olkoth and Xael, sadly passed away on December 31, 2024, and that might have been the end of Voraath as well. Joshua, along with his fiancée and two other people, was killed in a car accident when a drunk driver crashed into their car on New Year’s Eve. Not only Chelsea lost a good friend, but her passion for Voraath and the future of the band together with her bandmates was beautiful, and I’m sure her heart and soul might be broken into tiny pieces after what happened with Joshua based on her previous comments about the band. “Everyone in the band is so fucking talented. I love the depth and storyline behind the music. There is a whole visual experience, in addition to the epic soundscape that Voraath creates. Envisioning myself as an outsider, I see this band as something truly to behold. Memorable.”
Although we might not know what’s going to be of Voraath, Chelsea can also be found now as the frontwoman for a newborn Blackened Death Metal beast named Visitant, and let me tell you such an up-and-coming underground supergroup will crush you like a putrid insect so heavy, dark, emotional and visceral they sound. Formed in February 2022 in Pensacola, Florida by our ruthless diva Chelsea on vocals alongside guitarist Taylor Tidwell (Accursed Creator, Unaligned, Withered Throne), bassist Kilian Duarte (Abiotic, Lattermath, Mimesis, Scale the Summit), and drummer Anthony Lusk-Simone (Abiotic, Lattermath, Pathogenic, Shroud of Bereavement, Your Pain Is Endearing, among many others), this powerhouse of a band brings endless savage energy to the metal community armed with their debut offering, entitled Rubidium, a monster of Blackened Death Metal displaying a stunning yet suffocating artwork crafted by Chelsea herself.
All tracks in Rubidium are fantastic, which each one having a special meaning for Chelsea and the boys. For instance, she had a few words to say about the idea and video for the killer single Fodder. “In the dream, I attempted to bring my friend back from the dead against the warnings of my ancestors – and everything went wrong. It felt like a horror short from my subconscious, and the video captures that eerie, ritualistic atmosphere.” Furthermore, in a recent interview to the excellent The Zach Moonshine Show, Chelsea opened up about the band’s journey, the personal grief behind Fodder, and channeling pain into power through music. “I’m just putting every bit of my spirit into it,” she commented, reflecting on the band’s rise and her transition from Voraath to Visitant. She also discussed the haunting inspiration behind Starless, describing it as “the embodiment of shadow work,” and explained the dreamlike vision that drives her lyricism and visuals. “I like to take personal experiences and turn them into ghost stories.” If you’re eager to know more about Visitant and put your hands on Rubidium, you can find the band on Spotify, purchase the album by clicking HERE, or simply access this link for all things Visitant.
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Chelsea can also be found as a guest vocalist for some amazing metal bands from the underground scene. Her first contributions happened back in 2019, when she recorded guest vocals for the songs Black Annis, from the album Fear In Fiction, by American Metalcore/Rap Metal musician and audio engineer Sammy SlamDance, and Ancient of Days, from the album Dead Gods, by the now defunct American Progressive/Brutal Death Metal band Nekroí Theoí; followed by the song Entity 6, from the 2023 EP Wounded, by American Technical Deathcore piece Fleshbound; and more recently the female vocals for the single Ascended Deliverance, released earlier this year by UK’s Sludge Metal outfit Tigguo Cobauc. She also sang with an American Death Metal band named Seditious Deceit back in 2020, although there isn’t much information about how she contributed to the band’s music at that time. In addition, Chelsea was also responsible for the artwork for the split album Ashes of Dagoth, by American Melodic Death/Black Metal band Ob Nixilis and American Post-Metal act To Keep the Wolves Away, once again showcasing her passion for the darkest side of arts.
When asked about her idols and influences in one of her interviews about Voraath, Chelsea mentioned Sci-Fi movies and video game soundtracks as her main references, while also drawing inspiration from bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septicflesh, Cattle Decapitation, Acid Bath, Alkaloid, and Igorr, mentioning in special Fleshgod Apocalypse and Cattle Decapitation as their biggest influences and the top bands she would like to collaborate with either by herself or together with Voraath (and I’m sure with Visitant as well). Moreover, speaking of collaborating with other bands, which leads to also touring with her own band plus other bands, Chelsea also had a few words to say about how anyone can better manage their time and relationships with all band members. “Have a pliable and comprimisable attitude. You’re stuck in a vehicle with four to five other people so developing good coping strategies and having solid communication with each other is important.”
As aforementioned, our she-wolf is also a respectable voice actress, working in the “monster sounds” division of The Monster Factory (or La Fabrique de Monstres), having the ability to craft sounds that resemble zombies, undead creatures, ghouls, vampires, trolls, orcs, goblins, demons, aliens, wizards, humans, animals in general, small creatures, insects, ghosts, whispers, dragons, and robots. For instance, as part of The Monster Factory team, she provided choir vocals for the soundtrack of the 2020 video game Doom Eternal. Not only that, apart from her career as a musician, a voice actress and a visual artist, Chelsea also works as a social media marketing manager and barista at Pacific Kava Bar in Florida, as one of the sponsored artists by CAD Audio, and as a photographer at Metal Purgatory Media and at Chelsea Marrow Photography, proving how relentless and focused she can be.
After all is said and done, I’m sure you perfectly understand now why Chelsea was chosen as our beyond talented metal lady to celebrate another year in the life (and death) of The Headbanging Moose. She lives and breathes heavy music, she never gives up no matter what, and she will keep delivering first-class extreme music for us avid metalheads for many decades to come without a shadow of a doubt. Keep an eye on her social media because we’ll probably see Visitant paying a dark and ruthless visit to several cities and towns in North America anytime soon, hopefully also spreading their blackened wings over Canada, Europe and all other parts of the world, giving us mere mortals the chance to witness live onstage one of the must-see names of the current extreme music scene worldwide. Needless to say, Chelsea will love to see you in the crowd headbanging to her infernal vocals.
This Texas-based Progressive Metal and Metalcore outfit is back with their second EP, continuing to challenge norms and expressing the full spectrum of feminine experience.
Bringing a distinctly feminine perspective to the heavy music scene since the band’s inception back in 2023, Houston, Texas-based Progressive Metal/Metalcore outfit Gore. makes waves with their emotionally raw and unapologetically vulnerable sound. Currently formed of Haley Roughton on vocals, Alex Reyes on the guitars, Devin Birchfield on bass, and Wills Weller on drums, the band strikes back with their second EP, titled If You Do Not Fear Me…, following up on their 2024 debut EP A Bud That Never Blooms, continuing to challenge norms and expressing the full spectrum of feminine experience through their powerful sound while combining elements of Metalcore with personal and introspective lyrics.
Wrath, the first song of the EP, offers an amalgamation of styles that perfectly depicts the band’s approach, starting in an almost pop manner to the clean vocals by Haley while also presenting heavy, caustic moments where their Djent vein pulses hard. Then investing in a more direct Metalcore sound we have Sepsis, reminding me of some of the creations by Infected Rain, with the bass by Devin sounding utterly metallic and thunderous; followed by Orbiting, again modern and visceral, with Alex firing some piercing riffs while Haley alternates between clean vocals and her screaming madness, clearly inspired by the music by the Butcher Babies. And their last blast of Metalcore infused with Groove, Alternative and Nu Metal, entitled Like You Meant it, will captivate your senses mercilessly, with Wills dictating the pace with his classic beats supported by the rumbling bass by Devin.
Thematically exploring identity, emotional vulnerability, and interpersonal relationships in their lyrics, the band has received support from well-known acts such as Motionless in White, Flyleaf, and Papa Roach, and based on the quality of the music found in If You Do Not Fear Me… I’m sure their fanbase will keep growing in the coming years. Hence, you can also join the band in their quest for heavy music with a delicate touch via Facebook and Instagram, stream their distinct creations on Spotify, and of course add If You Do Not Fear Me… to your respectable collection by clicking HERE or HERE. Gore. will definitely go places after the release of their two excellent EPs, paving their path for an upcoming full-length album for our total delight and, therefore, embracing us with their undisputed progressiveness, passion and darkness.
Best moments of the album:Sepsis and Orbiting.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Spinefarm Records
Track listing 1. Wrath 4:33
2. Sepsis 3:28
3. Orbiting 3:04
4. Like You Meant it 4:13
Band members Haley Roughton – vocals
Alex Reyes – guitar
Devin Birchfield – bass
Wills Weller – drums
The newborn spawn by this American beast sees the band pushing deeper into filth, spewing slime-drenched Deathgrind, balancing frenetic blasting, grooves, grime, and putrefaction with unadulterated passion.
Formed in the festering underground of Cleveland, Ohio in 2018, the ruthless Death Metal/Grindcore entity Abraded delivers raw, repulsive Death Metal rooted in the old school traditions of the genre’s most grotesque pioneers. Drawing influence from legends like Napalm Death, Assück, Agathocles, Repulsion, Autopsy, and Carcass, the band is back in action with Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries, following up on their 2023 offering Unadulterated Perversions. Originally recorded in 2017, mixed by Patric Pariano at Aggressively Uninterested Studios, mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios, with additional drum programming by Black Art Audio, an infernal cover art by Mihály Zichy, and layout by Nestor Carrera, the new album by the band’s mastermind Patric Pariano on guitars and drums alongside vocalist Mark Gallon and bassist David Kirsch sees the band pushing deeper into filth, spewing slime-drenched Deathgrind, balancing frenetic blasting, grooves, grime, and putrefaction with unadulterated passion.
It’s pedal to the metal from the very first second in the demented Ethereal Emanations, with Mark’s gurgling, deranged vocals matching perfectly with the song’s violent vibe, and with Patric kicking some serious ass on drums. Their depraved, gory party goes on in full force in Menticide, perfect for slamming like a wild beast inside the pit, followed by Uroboric Incest, presenting hints of Progressive Death Metal added to its core essence, with their guitars, bass and drums hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly, not to mention all inhumane screeches and gnarls by Mark. And Collectivized Enmeshment is another song where Patric’s riffage will cut your skin deep, supported by David’s thunderous bass punches in a hurricane of first-class, no shenanigans Grindcore.
Compensatory Contrarianism is highly recommended for some vigorous headbanging while Abraded keep firing their trademark riffs and evil vociferations, keeping the album’s aura burning, whereas Theonemesis should sound absolutely amazing and devastating if played live. It’s Grindcore at its finest, with no filters, no fillers, only our good old savagery and hatred, and the band still has a lot of fuel to burn starting with Mass Formation Psychosis, a bludgeoning tune that lives up to the legacy of the style. Chthonic Caries, the second composition to “form” the name of the album, is a bit generic compared to all other songs; while the album ends with its most intricate and demonic tune of all, entitled Theodicy, where Patric distills his Grindcore riff-fueled venom until the very last second like a true beast.
Executed with a relentless DIY ethos that was undoubtable carried over from founding member Patric Pariano, Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries cements Abraded’s status as one of the most promising acts in the resurgence of the American Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore scene, and you can show your total support to such a vicious beast by following it on Instagram, by streaming its gory creations on Spotify, and of course by grabbing a copy of the album from the Redefining Darkness Records’ Bandcamp or webstore (in the United States or the EU / rest of the world), or by clicking HERE. Ethereal Emanations from Chthonic Caries transpires gore, violence, insanity and heaviness just the way we like it in extreme music, and you better brace for impact as once Abraded’s music embraces your darkened soul, there’s no way out.
Best moments of the album:Ethereal Emanations, Theonemesis and Theodicy.
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”
A storm is brewing in the form of the eight studio album by this phenomenal Blackened Doom band hailing from the United States.
A storm is brewing. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, the unrelenting Black/Death/Doom Metal cult known as Krigsgrav returns two years after their critically acclaimed album Fires in the Fall with a brand new offering of absolute doom titled Stormcaller, the eight studio album in their solid career. Mixed and mastered by Owe Inborr at Wolfthrone Studios, with drums recorded by Sam Paquette at S.A.M. Studios, additional engineering by Cody Daniels, a Stygian cover art by the beyond talented Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, and album layout and design by Randi Matejowsky, the new opus by vocalist and guitarist Justin Coleman, guitarist Cody Daniels, bassist Wes Radvansky, and drummer and vocalist David Sikora is another lecture in Blackened Doom by one of the most prominent names of the scene worldwide, bringing sheer darkness and heaviness to our obscure hearts and souls.
Huntress of the Fire Moon, featuring guest vocals by Jens Rydén (of Swedish Viking/Black Metal band Thyrfing), is a very detailed and complex composition from the very first second, with the guitars by Justin and Cody exhaling epicness, whereas the harsh vociferations by Justin sound even darker in Stormcaller, while David keeps blasting his drums in great fashion. The quartet lets their Viking and Folk Metal vein pulse harder than ever in Twilight Fell, spearheaded by the pounding drums by David, and the final result is as epic as it is inspiring. And get ready for over seven minutes of harsh and obscure sounds in None Shall Remember Your Name, led by the always grim roars by Justin while their guitars exhale absolute darkness.
The second half of the album begins with more of their trademark fusion of Black, Death and Doom Metal with epic elements in the form of Bay of the Barghest, where their guitars sound striking and vibrant until the very end; and Cody fires a thrilling solo to kick off the excellent The Tonic of Wilderness, once again morphing into a bestial tune of Blackened Death and Doom Metal supported by the classic beats and fills by David. Ghosts is another six-minute beast of absolute doom, with their riffs and beats walking hand in hand, overflowing epicness and heaviness, and flowing into the grand finale entitled Womb-Death-Dawn, an explosion of Death and Doom Metal where Justin barks and roars like a creature from the abyss, resulting in a sinister, harsh conclusion to such a powerful and compelling album.
“When we started writing the songs that would make up Stormcaller, our intention was to create the most complete Krigsgrav album that took something from every era of the band, while still pushing our sound forward. A culmination of the blackest hues, doomiest of dirges, and most soaring of lead guitars. We think we achieved that, but we also wrote the best album of our career thus far. We trust that when you hear it, you’ll agree,” commented the band, and you can start following those amazing musicians on Facebook and on Instagram, enjoy their fantastic discography in full on Spotify, and of course purchase Stormcaller from BandCamp or from the Willowtip Records webstore, or simply click HERE for all things Krigsgrav. The band’s storm of absolute doom found in their new album is upon us, and once you’re embraced by their heavy sounds, there’s no way out.
Best moments of the album:Huntress of the Fire Moon, Twilight Fell and The Tonic of Wilderness.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Willowtip Records
Track listing 1. Huntress of the Fire Moon 5:44
2. Stormcaller 5:37
3. Twilight Fell 5:38
4. None Shall Remember Your Name 7:33
5. Bay of the Barghest 6:21
6. The Tonic of Wilderness 6:19
7. Ghosts 6:10
8. Womb-Death-Dawn 8:33
Band members Justin Coleman – harsh vocals, guitar
Cody Daniels – lead guitar
Wes Radvansky – bass
David Sikora – clean vocals, drums
Guest musician
Jens Rydén – additional vocals on “Huntress of the Fire Moon”
Known for being THAT band with the unpronounceable name and unreadable logos, Columbus, Ohio-based Brutal Death Metal/Deathcore entity Sanguisugabogg returns to action with Hideous Aftermath, a record as gore-obsessed and violence-inclined as their prior works Tortured Whole (2021) and Homicidal Ecstasy (2023), but with a career-defining command over their ugly art. Recorded by Zach Weeks, produced by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Recording Studio, and mastered by Mike Kalajian at Rogue Planet Mastering, the newborn beast by frontman Devin Swank, guitarist Drew Arnold, bassist Ced Davis, and drummer Cody Davidson is the work of a band who has already cut a bloody swath into the underground and beyond, leaving any “Caveman Death Metal” tags in the dust while also flexing every muscle they have.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 