Tag Archives: whispers of death

Album Review – Deadwood / Rituals of a Dying Light EP (2026)

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It’s time to make Deathcore angry again with the incendiary new EP by these unstoppable Canadian bruisers.

Make Deathcore Angry Again. That’s the ruthless motto by Montreal, Quebec’s own Deathcore bruisers Deadwood, who uniquely blend elements from Death Metal and Hardcore to create their own blend of modern Deathcore. Aiming to evoke terror and fear through their music, ensuring their performances are unforgettable, the band currently formed of Derek Heynekemp on vocals (note: the vocals in the EP were recorded by Martin Demontigny), Stephane Filion and Fred Element on the guitars, and Charles Etienne Lafrance on drums returns with a new EP entitled Rituals of a Dying Light, following up on their vicious 2023 EP Inhuman. Recorded at EMNT Studio, and produced mixed and mastered by the band’s own guitarist Fred Element, the EP caters to enthusiastic metalheads who crave pure brutality and violence, positioning the band as one of the must-see acts of the current scene.

In Tales of Massacre the band blends Deathcore with Technical Death Metal to give the song an even more insane vibe, with Stephane and Fred sounding ruthless armed with their axes, therefore offering Martin all he needs to growl like a rabid beast. Heretic is an even heavier, more dynamic and bestial tune by the quartet, with the deep guttural by Martin matching perfectly with the rumbling drums by Charles, not to mention the song’s background haunting sounds; whereas another demented roar by Martin kicks things off in Thirst for Blood, offering more of the band’s trademark Deathcore violence. Whispers of Death is a song made for being played live, as it will surely ignite some sick, infernal mosh pits to the metallic, thunderous riffs by Stephane and Fred; and the EP ends just like it started, on a vile and demented mode with Echoes of The Fallen thanks to the hammering drums by Charles in a beyond cryptic instrumental tune.

Drawing from the ferocity of Meshuggah, the brutality of Whitechapel, and the groove-driven power of Pantera, Deadwood deliver crushing riffs and haunting atmospheres steeped in true dark histories, from the Salem witch trials to the reign of Jack the Ripper, translating into a no shenanigans, vicious EP that will surely please all fans of extreme music. You can get to know more about Deadwood on Facebook, including their upcoming tour dates across Canada and Europe, stream their wicked music on Spotify, and purchase the excellent Rituals of a Dying Light from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In other words, it’s time to make Deathcore angry again, and the incendiary new EP by these unstoppable Canadian beasts is exactly what’s needed to achieve such a fun objective.

Best moments of the album: Heretic and Whispers of Death.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Innerstrength Records

Track listing
1. Tales of Massacre 2:48
2. Heretic 4:23
3. Thirst for Blood 2:54
4. Whispers of Death 4:26
5. Echoes of The Fallen 3:36

Band members
Martin Demontigny – vocals
Stephane Filion – lead guitars
Fred Element – guitars
Charles Etienne Lafrance – drums

Guest musician
Derek Heynekemp – vocals (live)

Album Review – Vindicator / Whispers of Death (2025)

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It’s thrash or be thrashed to the sound of the new album by these Cleveland, Ohio-based Thrash Metal torchbearers.

Known for their firebranded approach to songwriting and relentless energy, Cleveland, Ohio-based Thrash Metal torchbearers Vindicator are gearing up for the release of Whispers of Death, the band’s fifth and most destructive full-length album, following up on their 2021 opus Communal Decay. Produced, engineered and mastered by Ben Bennett at Chop Daddy Ranch, and displaying a thrashing artwork by Frank Walls, the new offering by M. Law on vocals, B. Zahn and V. Stown on the guitars, E. Stephens on bass, and G. Monturi on drums is an album that’s definitely true to the band’s roots, being highly recommended for admirers of the violence blasted by bands the likes of Havok, Lich King, Violator, and Megadeth.

The caustic riffs by B. Zahn and V. Stown will drag you to the circle pit in Whispers of Death… Anxiety’s Grip, a pure old school Thrash Metal feast tailored for diehard fans of the genre, and G. Monturi puts the pedal to the metal in Charnel Pastures, turning the song into a hurricane of blast beats, rage and sheer aggression. Then a name like Thirst For Violence demands absolute hatred and animosity, and that’s exactly what the band offers us all, with the demented gnarls by M. Law exhaling Thrash Metal. Then B. Zahn kicks some serious ass with his incendiary riffs and solos in Your World Dies In Flames, another frantic creation by those headbanging bastards, and the band shows no sign of slowing down at all in Exhaustion, with G. Monturi crushing his drums without a single drop of mercy until the very last second.

After that, the instrumental piece Novocain warms us up for Bleed Between The Lines, where the band offers an overdose of pure Thrash Metal led by the venomous gnarls and barks by M. Law. Then in Merry Evenings Make Sad Mournings the entire band is on absolute fire, putting the pedal to the metal and inviting us all to slam like true beasts; whereas M. Law’s vocals sound even more inebriate in Battle Box, while the stringed trio formed of B. Zahn, V. Stown and E. Stephens pound their axes mercilessly. Abominable Intelligence is by far the weakest song of the album, never really taking off nor getting truly heavy or exciting; but they quickly get back on track in style with a fulminating Thrash Metal onrush titled Ripper Attack, spearheaded by M. Law’s devilish roars supported by his bandmates’ spot-on backing vocals, flowing into the apocalyptic and melancholic outro Obsoletion Complete, ending the album on a truly dark vibe.

After all is said and done, you’ll realize Whispers of Death is raw, aggressive thrash – no filler, no compromise and no bullshit – as Vindicator continue to unleash their signature brand of Thrash Metal to diehard fans of the genre and the unsuspecting alike. Hence, you can be caught in their frantic mosh by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their sick creations on Spotify, and of course by purchasing the incendiary Whispers of Death by clicking HERE. It’s thrash or be thrashed, and if you have what it takes to face Vindicator’s newborn beast, I’m sure you’ll thrash majestically.

Best moments of the album: Thirst For Violence, Your World Dies In Flames and Ripper Attack.

Worst moments of the album: Abominable Intelligence.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Whispers of Death… Anxiety’s Grip 5:37
2. Charnel Pastures 3:42
3. Thirst For Violence 6:31
4. Your World Dies In Flames 4:46
5. Exhaustion 3:05
6. Novocain 1:29
7. Bleed Between The Lines 4:59
8. Merry Evenings Make Sad Mournings 4:26
9. Battle Box 2:37
10. Abominable Intelligence 2:45
11. Ripper Attack 4:07
12. Obsoletion Complete 1:07

Band members
M. Law – vocals
B. Zahn – lead guitar, backing vocals
V. Stown – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
E. Stephens – bass
G. Monturi – drums