Chris Forbes’s Metal Reviews #24
FORESHADOW/Here Down On Earth (Self-Released)
Some decent, hard-hitting, speedy thrash with some good vocals that head off into the death metal direction at times. The band easily remind me of Anthrax, and if you're into them, this will be something up your alley for sure. God, catchy and crunchy thrash metal riffing and I liked the speed factor and none of this Pantera crap. Hate that groove metal shit. Not a bad band here. Info:
https://www.facebook.com/foreshadowmtl
ESHTADUR/In Darkness All Shadows Gone (Self Released)
Solid fast death metal with some really good vocals and production. This band knows the meaning of hooks and memorable tunes. The vocals fit right along with the powerful and fast music, and the riffs just crush. If you're into fast, pounding death metal, played the right way, here is your band. Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP4yoszcOtc
Band info: https://eshtadur.com/
VOLUCRINE/Chapter V” Renewal (Self Released)
Horrible modern metal with vocals that are sung in the death metal style, and then we get lots of clean vocals. Fucking hate bands like this, and the clean death metal-style vocals are the worst. Total garbage. Info:
https://volucrine.bandcamp.com/
HANGING GARDEN/Dream Death (Transcending Obscurity)
This was just generic death metal with putrid vocals. The songs pretty much sucked, as there was nothing memorable about them and they were just there. Nothing memorable about them at all. Vocals were just basic growls of death and nothing to write home about. To me, just another faceless death metal band. Info:
https://hanginggarden-label.bandcamp.com/album/dream-death
THRASH WITHIN THE REALM/Of Systemic Decay (Self-released).
Not much to get excited about with this thrash band. The music was all over the place, as the shouted vocals were buried in the mix and also didn’t do much for me. For thrash, you need to have killer and catchy riffs, and this lacked both. The music was just a mess, and the songs just lacked any quality. Not good at all. Info:
https://www.facebook.com/WithinTheRealmOfMetal
WRITTEN IN BLOOD/The Final War (Self-Released).
Some vicious, razor-sharp riffing, speedy death metal with some solid shouted and intense vocals. Love the guitar sound, and the songs are strong and memorable. Tons of aggression, speed and power are found within these songs too. Love the production, and the guitar sound just owns me. A pure masterpiece of Swedish-style death metal that lays waste to the innocent. Info:
FERAL VERMIN/Harvey In The House (Self Released)
Just ass-kicking straightforward rock/metal with a singer who sounds like Lemmy at times. This is just solid rock/metal with some boogie in it as well. The songs are loud and catchy, and I was into them for sure. The riffs sucked me in, and the singer has a fantastic voice too. Just a pure metal delight to listen to. Check out their Bandcamp page and hear for yourself. Info:
https://feralvermin.bandcamp.com/album/harvey-in-the-house
FEOMATHAR/Atomic Warfare (Nocturna Records)
5 hard-hitting old-school death metal tracks with a touch of black metal in the mix. Love the sick vocals, and they go quite well with the music. The music is old-school, fast-style death metal that I liked a lot, and they also don’t sound like a bunch of other bands. Awesome production and that the guitar sound and just overall feeling the band gets totally rules. I can feel the anger and power the singer is singing as this plays on. Video link and ordering info below.
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-q23hSjlO8
Ordering info:
https://vianocturna.com/feomathar-atomic-warfare-cd-p-2417.html
SAVAGE/Malignant Reveries (Hammerheart Records)
Raw, tuned-down death metal at its best. Throw in some crushing old school like death metal and you got quite a band. Riffs and music that will tear your head off like the old days. The band mix it up with slow parts, mid-paced parts and some wicked speed. Think Autopsy or early Entombed if I have to think of a band. The crazy thing is this was all done by one guy! He rules. Info:
https://savagedm.lnk.to/malignantreveries
IN PAIN/My Knife Cuts Flesh (Regain Records)
Some prime Swedish-sounding death metal, while not super original, more than gets the job done. Great death metal-style vocals add to this, not subtract. Those riffs just crush me, and I love the speed and intensity the band has as well. If you love Dismember or Entombed, this band is right up your alley. Info:
https://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/my-knife-cuts-flesh
GURKKHAS/Oaths Carved In The Shadow Of The Kukai (Underground Syndicate)
This is a re-issue of 2 of this band's prior releases. Wasn’t into either release. The music was not memorable, and the songs were just terrible, with no catchy riffs or music beyond it. The singer was terrible just growls into the mic with no feeling or power. Not for me at all. To me, this was generic death metal. Info:
https://www.underground-syndicate.com/
SAPROBIONTIC/Of Fire And Bloodshed (Black Lion Records)
Some decent and fast death metal with some rip-roaring riffs along with some solid death metal vocals. His growls are solid, and I could feel the hate as he sang. The band are just all-out speed, as they slow it down at times and let you catch your breath. Fans of Cannibal Corpse will love this, and the speed and intensity the band uses is right on target. Info:
https://music.blacklion.nu/Of-Fire-And-Bloodshed
DEVIL’S HOUR/Hellbound And Hammered (Crawling Chaos Records)
Oh, this is just what the doctor ordered. The rip-roaring chainsaw pounding riffs along with a fantastic singer made me fall in love with this rather quickly. That guitar sounds own me. Then you put out fantastic and catchy riffs and music, and you have an instant fan. The band mixes in punk and speed metal to the max. Catchy as hell too. Love the production and just everything about this. Get it. Info:
https://www.thecrawlingchaos-records.de/
SACCAGE/Chronophage (Caligari Records)
Some decent fast death metal with some wild riffing and wicked fast parts. The band write some catchy tunes, and the singer has a solid death metal voice. The production is solid and not overproduced. The band mix up the mid-paced and speedy parts, which worked for me. Sample track below:
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/chronophage
Label info:
https://www.caligarirecords.com/
NERVOCHAOS/Chaosmongers (Black Lion Records)
This band has been around for over 30 years, and here we are with release # 14. The band still hits hard and hits fast with their brand of death metal. Crushing riffs and a total speed attack at times more than get the job done. Some songs are more mid-paced, and that was ok as I don’t need speed all the time. The vocals are fantastic, and I can hear how the singer really gets into what he is singing. The band also have their own style, and that guitar crunch is fantastic. For a band on release # 14, this band has nothing to be ashamed of, and they more than deliver the goods on this release. Info:
https://linktr.ee/blacklionrecordsswe
ABSOLUTE DARKNESS/Witness To A Dying World (Self Released)
This was a Bay Area thrash band, and I wasn’t too into them. The songs didn’t have that killer crunch and were just kinda there. The band didn’t suck, but there was nothing special about them either. The singer isn’t bad, as he has a Chuck Billy kind of vocal sound. The music, while fast and heavy, just doesn’t have any killer riffing for me, which is a must for me in thrash metal. The music was just kinda there. Nothing more, nothing less. Check out their Bandcamp page; you may like em. Info:
https://absolutedarkness1.bandcamp.com/track/snake-oil
MORGUE/Herald The Dawn (Godz Of War Productions)
Wicked, fast, blasting death metal with great vocals to boot. The band play fast and furious, and I was loving it. Just incredible intensity, and the singer I could feel the hate and power in his voice as this played. Fits right in with the music. Crushing, catchy, and memorable riffs to boot. A fantastic death metal release. Info:
https://godzovwar.com/shop/en/
DETHONATOR/The Last Realm Of Magic (Self Released)
Some honest-to-goodness bone-crunching heavy metal with lots of great hooks and catchy ones and songs that will have your head banging and the air guitar being whipped out as well. Fantastic singer with a great set of pipes, and he really gets into the songs, and I fell in love with his voice by the middle of the 1st tune. Not many of these bands are doing what these guys are doing these days, and this gets a huge double horns up from me. You like Iron Maiden, you’ll love this, trust me. Info:
https://dethonator-uk.bandcamp.com/
ESTERTORE/Evil Black Church (Black Lion Records)
Some fast and furious, rip-roaring death metal on this. The music is fast and furious with solid production, and the band doesn’t sound like every other death metal band out there. Songs with riffs you will remember, as they are catchy and thrown in some fantastic singing, and you get one kick-ass release. Production on this rules too. Well worth checking out for sure. Info:
https://music.blacklion.nu/Evil-Black-Church
NOVA SPEI/Trinitas (Self-released)
Beyond horrible modern metalcore with those generic dual vocals shouting that so many bands use now. They suck and sound so horrible. The music is that groovy Pantera-type thrash that I fuckin hate, and bands like this are a dime a dozen and all sound the same, and all suck too. Avoid. Info:
DROWN IN SULPHUR/Strix (Self Released)
Boring, generic death metal songs and vocals that I have heard hundreds of times and the screechy death metal vocals totally suck and make this band even worse. The songs are terrible and are neither catchy nor do they have memorable riffs or songs at all. Tired. Heard it a million times: death metal. Hear it for yourself here:
https://music.nobledemon.com/strix
FROM THE VASTLAND/Servant Of Ahriman (Crawling Chaos Records)
I am not a big fan of black metal, and here is another reason why. All this is fast pick riffing with some screaming vocals and speedy music behind it. It’s not memorable at all and grows old and boring fast. Just another typical black metal band doing nothing new or even exciting. Not good at all. Info:
https://thecrawlingchaosrecords.bandcamp.com/album/servant-of-ahriman
RAHATY/Bestial Lustmord (Sentinel Ruin)
This is some sick and raw death metal with some terrific vocals on this. I love the guitar sound, and the riffs are sick and punishing, with perfect production to it. A pure, sick attack of death metal to punish the weak. The music is mostly fast, which I prefer, with breaks here and there, but for the most part this is non-compromising sick as fuck death metal to dull your brain. Horns up from me. Info:
KEG THROWER/Beczkomiot (Self Released)
This was ok thrash, nothing bad, but nothing that will have you going crazy. It’s up-tempo thrash, but the riffs and sounds have been done to death at least to my 61-year-old ears, and that is probably why I’m not going crazy over this. The band have the chops down, and the thrash riffs are catchy, and it’s played at an uptempo speed, and the vocals are good and all, but I have heard stuff like this over and over, over the decades of reviewing bands. I’m at least glad they play fast cause I hate slow thrash. Check out their Bandcamp page; you might like what you hear. Info:
https://kegthrower.bandcamp.com/album/beczkomiot
ANASARCA/Achlys (SelfMadeGod)
Some straightforward blasting death metal with plenty of wicked chunky riffing and speedy drums and solid death metal vocals. The production is thick and heavy as well. While this might not be super original, it is well played and more than gets the job done. Good death metal is the ticket on this, and I liked it. Info:
https://selfmadegod-store.com/collections/anasarca
OMBRA/Night Terror (Self-Released)
This was groovy, like thrash metal, and I was not a fan of it. The music just didn’t have the killer riffing I love in my thrash metal. I also wasn’t a fan of the gruff vocals either. The music is heavy and powerful, and maybe if you like bands like Pantera and all, you’ll like this, but for me this just didn’t do the trick. Info:
Leadbelcher/Heaven's Bloated Corpse (Apocalyptic Witchcraft)
Some low-tuned, crushing death metal played fast and furious, just the way I like it. Riffs that tear through you, with speed and intensity as well. Sick, low, putrid death metal vocals that fit right in with the music. Production is good, and I love the guitar sound this band uses. Thick, chunky riffs, and they mix up the speed with some slower parts as well. A death metal delight all the way. Info:
https://apocalypticwitchcraft.co.uk/
MINDVILE/Old Continent (Paragon Records/Satanath)
This is a death/black metal band, and they aren’t bad, but nothing blew me away either. The music is a mix of death/black metal, and the vocals are in the black metal vein. The music is fast, and it has that pick riffing that most black metal bands use. The problem for me is the songs didn’t sound much different from the others, and after a bit, I started growing bored. The vocals are also one-sided and are just those annoying black metal screams I am not a big fan of. If you like black metal, I think you’d enjoy this, but it's not my cup of tea. Info:
https://www.paragonrecords.org/
URBAN SPINE/Cruelty by Design (Self-released)
Some cool old-school thrash, with plenty of catchy thrash riffs and plenty of power and speed behind them. Solid vocals that are aggressive and powerful and fit the music perfectly. Love the speed and riffing had me banging my head as I type this. Love the guitar sound and production these guys get on this. Even some of the non-speedy music is quite good and catchy, and this band plays thrash the way it should be played. Info:
HUNTER OMEGA/Lake Of Death (Self Released)
A solid release of pure fist-banging old-school heavy metal with vocals that reminded me of Halford. The tunes are heavy and catchy and take me back to the 80’s right before thrash metal took off. The tunes are big-time catchy and heavy and have NO groove or modern sounds at all. This is fist-banging, wrist-studded heavy metal all the way. Love the singer; he sings with such passion and fury. Production is right on the money as well. Fantastic job these guys did on this. Info:
TOMBSTALKER/Chaos Monolith (Awakening Records)
Sick, crushing old-school death metal with low-tuned guitars, crushing speed and power, and low, putrid vocals that I love, and they fit the music so perfectly. I can hear the hate and sickness in his vocals, and he gets so into singing on this. The music is both powerful and fast and also very catchy at the same time. Love the guitar sound and the production is not over produced and it is just right. A total old-school, mind-blowing affair here. All death metal fans need this, I can tell you that. Info:
https://awakeningrecordscn.bandcamp.com/
DUALISIS/Us (Self Released)
I am not the biggest fan of prog metal, but when it is done right, I can get into it, and this was done right. The songs are heavy and catchy and didn’t go too far over my head and still retain that progressive feel. Love the guitar sound the band uses. They have a female singer, and even though I am not a big fan of female vocals, I like them when they are done right, and these are done right. She totally gets into singing the tunes, and I could feel the power and passion of her voice as this played on. The tunes are solid numbers that I even think non-fans of progressive metal would enjoy.
I liked what I heard from this band; I can tell you that. Nothing boring on this, I assure you. Info:
https://dualisis.bandcamp.com/album/us
BESOTTEN/Eye of the Monolithicrypt (Transcending Obscurity)
Some crushing death/doom with great death metal vocals. I can feel the hate and power spew out as he growls out the lyrics. The music is an absolutely crushing mix of death/doom with some fantastic riffs and power to boot. Love the production and guitar sounds, and the band destroys with both slow parts and some destructive fast parts as well. Totally loved this, and if you like doom or death metal, you’ll want and need this. Info:
US Store:
PRODUCT OF NEGLECT/Bleeder Of Dreams (Self Released)
This, music-wise, wasn’t bad, as it was some fast and aggressive death metal with some nice riffing and song structures, but the vocals are another story. I didn’t like the fast talking/growling the singer did very much, but that’s just me. The production is good, and all in all, some of you might like the vocals and more power to you. Nevertheless, give them a try; you might like what you hear in the music as well as the vocals. Info:
https://www.productofneglect.com/
R.O.S.A./No Peace For You (This Charming Man Records)
Chaotic, fast and powerful hardcore is the ticket on this release. Wicked, fast and to-the-point songs. The singer has a great hardcore type of voice, and he fits the music perfectly on this. Love the production and the feeling and emotion that this band uses, and it's awesome. This isn’t some generic wanna-be groove band that pretends to be hardcore. This is vicious, stripped-down hardcore at its best. Info:
https://thischarmingmanrecords.de/
ABYSSAL RIFT/Relics Of Great Ash (Transcending Obscurity Records)
Just bone-crushing death/doom with some wicked slow doom parts and also some awesome fast death metal parts with excellent death metal vocals. The riffs and song structures are big time catchy and memorable, and the power and speed are crushing. Throw in some slow doomy parts, and you've got yourself a fantastic release. A perfect mix of doom and death metal, and the guitar sound rules. This is a must-check out for sure. Info:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8pOxk7O34Q
MAIDENHEAD/Maximum Clonage (Self Released)
Some very cool, speedy thrash metal with some death metal thrown in the mix. Songs are fast, aggressive and catchy as well. Riffing that sticks in your head and will have your neck moving or playing air guitar. Love the guitar sound and this vibe the band gets on this. It also had that old-school sound I love as well. The vocals are more on the death metal side of things, and no, they don’t sound out of place on this, as they fit right in, and I could feel the hate, anger, and overall feeling the singer was singing as this played. They also have their own sound as well, and this just fucking ruled. You need to check these guys out now! Info:
DETH PROVIDER/Same (Hectic Records/Bleeding Priest Records)
Some cool old-school death metal with lots of wicked guitar solos and riffing that had me smiling from ear to ear. This is fast and powerful and big-time heavy. Tons of crushing riffs that will have that head of yours banging in no time. Fantastic death metal vocals, and I could feel the power and feeling in his voice as he spewed out the lyrics. They also don’t sound like every other death metal band, and that was a plus too. Nice, good, solid production allows everything to be heard, and that guitar crunch is second to none. This is just some killer death metal that I think you’d enjoy. Info:
https://dethprovider.bandcamp.com/album/deth-provider
TURBO/Broke And Ugly (Self-Released)
This was released in 2024, and a follow-up to it will be done soon, but it was sent to me to be reviewed, so I’m doing just that. This is speedy and thrashy, and they remind me of Overkill at times, and even the singer sounds like Bobby Blitz at times. The music is fast and up-tempo, like old-school thrash that I enjoyed. No groove or nu metal crap on this. The production is good and solid, and the songs are catchy and memorable as well. Always good to hear a solid old-school thrash metal release, and I look forward to their next release as well. Info:
https://turboasfvck.bandcamp.com/
SORCERY/The Immaculate Sin (Xtreem Music)
A nice piece of Swedish death metal, and it rules. The music is powerful and speedy as well. Crunching riffs that will force that head to bang. Solid death metal vocals that go perfectly with the music. A solid production allows everything to be heard, and if you're a fan of the Swedish death metal scene, this is easily a must-have for your collection. Info:
SONS OF CULT/Revenge (Black Night Productions)
I was not a fan of this. Terrible heavy metal music with an awful female singer, who, to me, sounds out of place on this. She has a good voice and range, but she would be better off singing with a doom metal band in my book. The music is faceless, straightforward metal with no good hooks or riffs. The music is just there and does nothing to get me excited and was rather boring. Production isn’t bad, but this band need to work on their songs and make them better next time. Info:
https://www.facebook.com/SonsofCult
HOSTILIA/The Curse of Khamun (Hammerheart Records)
This is thrash metal, but I found it pretty boring and nothing special. The riffs and song structures, I felt, were generic and boring and did nothing for me. The singer had a ok voice; again, nothing mind-blowing or special. The songs just felt flat and were just there, and that’s about it. In saying that, the band does play thrash the right way, no Pantera crap, groove or nu metal shit. The songs just didn’t connect with me and my ears. They might with yours, but not for me. Info:
IMPERATHRON/Polemos Pater Panton (Caverna Abismal Records)
While not original by any means, this is some sick, crushing death metal with tons of power, speed, and intensity. Wicked riffs are a highlight, along with some great death metal vocals. The music is mostly fast, with breaks here and there, and I was fine with that. The pounding speed had me really into this. Love the production and guitar sound as well. The tunes are catchy as well, and the crushing riffs will please any fan of real death metal. Well worth checking out. Info:
https://www.cavernaabismal.com/
HELLMETALL/"Mgła (Rock Shot Records)
Boring thrash with some not-so-good vocals. The music didn’t grab me, and I thought the songs weren’t catchy or good; throw in a bad singer and you get a bad band. With thrash, it is always the hooks and song structures, and this lacked good ones, I’m afraid. The singer didn’t do much for me, as I felt his vocals lacked power and conviction. The production was decent, but this band needs to work on its songwriting, in my book. Info:
Video track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqxfiouR51w
Label info:
https://rockshots.eu/products/hellmetall-mgla-cd
DESEASED/2026 Demo (Crawling Chaos Records)
Sick death/doom with a nice mix of faster and slower doomy parts. The vocals are solid in the death metal style, and production is right on the money. The fast parts are crippling and vicious, and I loved them. Great guitar sound too. A great mix of slow and ultra-fast parts to boot. Solid release from these guys. Info:
www.thecrawlingchaos-records.de
OMBRA/Night Terror (Self Released)
This had too much Pantera-like groove for me to get into it much. I hate groove metal in my thrash music, and that is exactly what this was. The vocals are nothing special either. The music was just kinda there and pretty much bored me, to be honest. The production wasn’t bad, but the songs were flat and went nowhere fast. Info:
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7mDZ-4uXrY
Band info:
ABSOLUTE DARKNESS/Witness To A Dying World (Self-Released)
The music on this was solid thrash metal, but I didn’t like the death metal vocals at times. The music is crunchy Bay Area thrash, with plenty of catchy hooks and speed and power. Production is solid and I like the guitar sound the band uses and no nu metal crap. Vocals are a mixed bag with me; they aren’t horrible, but to my ears they sound out of place with a thrash band and belong more with death metal. In saying that, this isn’t bad and again some may like the vocals the way they are. Video link and band info below:
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbh5jvhBQtQ
Band info:
https://absolutedarkness1.bandcamp.com/track/attritional-warfare
MAGIC CROSS/Self-Titled (Caligari Records)
This is a wicked combo of black metal, noise, and punk. I love it. It works, trust me. The raw sounds just easily won me over, and the riffing and song structures were awesome. The vocals are screams and growls from hell and fit the music perfectly. This will hit you like a ton of lead and not let up until it’s done. This will just rip you apart and destroy you. This is some sick music, let me tell you. Sample track and ordering info:
Sample track:
http://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-ep-6
Label info:
SYMETRIA/All Or Nothing (Curtain Call Records)
Some nice solid metal with lots of catchy hooks and good tunes and a fantastic singer to boot. Songs totally rule, with songs that will have your head nodding and air drums playing like me. Production is right on the money, and the guitar sound owns me. Most new metal bands play groove or just don’t have songs with catchy riffs, but these guys go the other way and have perfect catchy tunes, and the music is heavy as well. The best of both worlds. The music crosses over into thrash territory at times, which was fine by me. Info:
DEAD TREE SEES/Push The Button (Self-released)
This originally was released in 2020 and now is seeing a re-release. This is some decent thrash with some nice hooks and catchy riffing, and solid vocals. The music is thrash with a nice edge to it. Solid riffs and speed, which I liked. Production is nice and thick, and I like the guitar sound too. It was heavy, speedy and catchy all at the same time. Have a listen on Bandcamp, and I think you’ll like it. Info:
https://deadtreeseeds.bandcamp.com/album/push-the-button
WODOS/From The Grave (Self Released)
Nothing on this connected with me. It was boring thrash with non-catchy riffs and terrible vocals. The songs were flat, and the singer just didn’t excite me one bit. For me to be into thrash the music has to be catchy and this was not I’m afraid. Info:
https://deadtreeseeds.bandcamp.com/album/push-the-button
NOKTURNAL MORTUM/“Біль | Hurt”(Oriana Music)
Horrible black metal mixed in with some industrial stuff that made me think I was listening to Nine Inch Nails! The music was totally forgettable, and the vocals sucked, and the music was just a big ball of nothing. Nothing to get excited over on this release, I can tell you that. Info:
MUCOSAL/Amalgamated States (H.P.G.D.)
Some wicked, fast, rip-roaring, take-no-prisoners death metal. Vicious and fast in its delivery too. Crushing riffs that will destroy the weak and vocals from hell. The band slow it down to help you catch your breath, but for the most part, this is 100 mph death metal. Solid production as well. Good release. Info:
GAROTA/Straceni W Ciemnosc (Godz Of War Productions)
A crushing mix of thrash and black metal, and it works. These songs are fast, powerful, crushing and will destroy you. A fantastic mix of thrash and black metal, and it works. I fuckin love the speed and power this band gets, and the feeling and power just rule. Fantastic vocals that are a mix of thrash and black metal and sound perfect on this. The production rules too. The band just come up with feeling, intensity, and power in their tunes, and this destroys the weak for sure. Great release. Info:
DIAVOLA/Without Judgement (Self Released)
Wasn’t too into this as it was a groove metal band with death metal vocals. The music rather bored me, as bands like this are a dime a dozen, and this is just another one of the 100s upon 100s I have heard over the past 5 years or so. Nothing stood out or impressed me, I’m afraid. Info:
ELEINE/Water Taste Of Blood (Algoth Records)
Some decent metal with plenty of catchy riffs and power. The singer is a female, and she is really good and has a nice set of pipes. They also have a guy sing some of the lyrics, and he isn’t bad, but I prefer the female, ha ha. She just has a powerful set of pipes and fits in with the music. The production is really good and solid, and I like the guitar sound a lot on this. The songs are strong, and that is what made me like this, along with catchy and memorable tunes to boot. Ordering info:
MINDWORK/Adrift (Self Released)
Nothing special on this, as this, to me, was just boring, groovy thrash metal with a decent singer. The music was just not anything I enjoyed, and they sound like so many groove metal bands, and I could even detect a Pantera sound at times. Production is all good, but when you sound like a million other bands, it can quickly become boring, and that is exactly what this did. Info:
https://mindwork.bandcamp.com/album/adrift
APOCAELYPSE/Fenix (Self Released)
More groove thrash metal that quickly bored me. It is like listening to Pantera again, and those tough-guy vocals I could do without. I am not a fan of the groove metal style, and that is exactly what this band is. I could not get into this at all, and to me they just sound like the 1000s of other groove bands before them, with them also doing nothing different from the rest. Not for me at all. Info:
https://www.youtube.com/@official_apocalypse
MASTER/Among The Seeds Of Death 9Hammerheart Records)
Master and Paul Speckman return with album release # 16, and it packs quite a wallop. Just a pure classic slab of old school death metal that will crush the weak. Sickening riffs and vocals, and just the whole feeling and emotion of the tunes on this is off the charts. Paul and company know what real death metal is, and it shows on this. Just riff after crushing riff that had me on my knees. This also has a mix of some thrash too, and this is just a masterpiece of old-school death metal that any fan of the genre will love. Trust me, get this at all costs. Info:
FUNERAL/Same (Caligari Records)
Cool combo of death and punk rock and hardcore all together. The vocals are a mix of death metal and hardcore as well. The music is rip-roaring, speedy death/punk with lots of catchy riffs and tons of speed, which I love. Production is right on the money as well. This band knows the quality of a good tune and there are lots on this. A very cool and different kind of band that takes several styles and makes them work.
Streaming track to check out:
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-ep-7
Label info:
www.caligarirecords.com
UNSUNG PROPHECY/Carvern Of Darkness (Self Released)
Some decent death metal with some brutal riffs and chops and a solid singer. The music is a mix of faster and mid-paced stuff, with the riffing winning me over. The singer has a solid death metal voice and doesn’t just growl into the mic. The production is also very good and the guitar sound I like as well. One of the better new death metal bands making the rounds. Info:
https://youtube.com/@unsungprophecy136?si=s_IZUz0cwWXpDXD4
HUNTER OMEGA/Lake of Death (Self-released)
This is a pure heavy metal band with traces of thrash metal at times. The singer reminds me of Blitz from Overkill. Solid songs with no modern metal crap, as this is good old-fashioned 80’s fist-banging metal all the way, and I loved it. Solid production, and the songs are big-time strong and catchy, and when you throw in a great singer to boot, this just kicks major ass. Info:
KORPSESOTURI/Korplish Sedamon (Brutal Records)
This was average at best death metal. Nothing stood out at all to me. The songs didn’t come across as catchy, memorable or strong to my ears. Sure, the band play fast and is heavy, but the songs are just forgettable and nothing special. The singer isn’t bad; he is probably the best thing on this. It is just another case of having heard it all before, and nothing stood out on this. Info:
PROJECTOR/Before The Last Light (NB Extreme Recordings)
Sorry, this is quickly a forgettable death metal band with totally generic vocals. They also use clean vocals, which I hate, and then the alternating growl and low vocals are so overdone it’s not funny. The tunes weren’t strong and are not memorable, as I found no songs on this at all to be good, I’m afraid. Info:
https://linktr.ee/projectorchile
THORNDALE/Spiritual Chains (Self Released)
This band plays a more atmospheric style of metal with some grunge in it. It wasn’t that bad to my ears. The singer has a strong voice, and he really gets into singing the songs, and I could feel the passion in his voice as this played on. I heard a little Alice in Chains in this band. They also grew on me because they were doing something different from what I’m used to, and the songs were strong and catchy too. Good job, guys. Video link and band info below:
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTn_6XuEAc0
Band info:
https://thorndale.bandcamp.com
MUTATION/Esoteric Order Of Debauchery (Hell's Headbangers)
A total rip-roaring display of old-school death metal at its best. This reminds me of the Kreator “Pleasure to Kill” release with its intense Mille-like vocals and just the speed and intensity as well. This will just knock you right out of that chair you're in. I love the speed, the violence, and power this band portrays. Perfect production as well. This is a prime example of the way death metal should be. Info:
BARREN/Verderf (Selfmadegod Records)
A total blast of unrelenting death/grind with some powerful vocals on top. While this is not original, this band do more than get the job done. Quick tunes that will just dull your senses as they did mine. The songs have the force of a Mack truck, and when you combine that with some fantastic vocals, you've got a winner here. The tunes are memorable as well. This is just one blast after one blast of some intense death/grind that will make any fan of either genre smile and put the horns up. Get this. Info:
https://selfmadegod-store.com/products/barren-verderf-cd
MINDVILLE/Old Continent (Paragon Records/Satanath Records)
This was some decent fast death metal. I wasn’t a huge fan of the vocals as it seemed at times all the singer did was growl and not very convincing to my ears. The music is fast, pick-riffing-style death metal, and it doesn’t get too fast, and the production is good on this too. Maybe lay off the pick riffing a bit and have the singer work a bit on his vocals. Info:
https://www.paragonrecords.org/
NASTY INSECTS/Bite Til They Bleed (Grindhead Records)
This is some horrible thrash with some of the worst vocals I have heard this year. The guy sounds like an old man on his last breaths trying to talk. The music is generic thrash metal that is not good at all. Terrible riffs and songs that are as flat as a pancake. There is not one good thing I can say about this. Info:
https://linktr.ee/grindheadrecords
HERETICS/Of Poets And Prophets (Self Released)
Terrible death metal with screechy singing and then the dreaded clean vocals too. The songs aren’t catchy or memorable, and it was just like that. The triggered drums were horrible sounding too. Another faceless death metal band doing nothing new or exciting, I’m afraid. Info:
INVULTATION/Inferno Descends (Sentient Ruin)
Some wicked and crushing old-school death metal with tons of crushing riffs, fantastic death metal vocals, and plenty of speed in the mix too. This is a 1 man band, and he does a fantastic job on this. Songs that are catchy and memorable and not just throwaway generic crap. This is the way death metal should be. Raw and uncompromising. Get this. Info:
https://sentientruin.com/releases
GAMMACIDE/Toxic Mercenaries (No Life Til Metal Records)
Some of you might remember this thrash band from way back on Wild Rags Records. Well, they are back with a new release and man, it shreds. Wicked old-school thrash that slays down the weak, and man, do those riffs crush. You would think this was recorded in 1989 the way it sounds. Fantastic singer with a great set of pipes and songs that are catchy, crunchy, powerful and fast too. This is the way thrash should and needs to be, not that Pantera-like crap or nu metal shit that passes itself off as thrash metal. One of the best releases of the year, easily. Info:
MORBID INTENT/Marionettes (Self-released)
Some not-so-good death metal, but it just sounds like so many other bands and the vocals I wasn’t a fan of, as all he does is scream without much emotion. The music is just faceless death metal that is quickly forgotten after you hear it. The production is solid, but that is about the only good thing I can say about this. Info:
https://morbidintent.bandcamp.com/album/marionettes
ABSOLUTE DARKNESS/Witness To A Dying World (Self Released)
Some decent thrash metal, but I am not a fan of the vocals at all. They also butcher Violence’s “World In A World” as well. The music is all-out thrash, but the vocals are more in a death metal vein, and they do not fit the music at all. The tunes just don’t have that killer sound or killer crunch of, say, Exodus, Havok, Testament, etc. The songs are just kind of there and don’t do much for me. Thank god it’s not nu metal crap, but hopefully this band will get better with age. Info:
https://www.facebook.com/BandAbsoluteDarkness
HELHEIM/Yersinia Pestis (Nomad Snakepit Productions)
This is a re-release of something that came out in 2003. This is a mix of death and black metal, and it’s not bad. The vocals are more in the black metal vein, while the music is death metal with some background keyboard parts that don’t take away from the band. Normally I’m a big black metal fan, but his vocals are good and strong and fit the music. The music is fast and furious and has a mood and sucks you in. A nice combo of both styles, and I liked this. Solid production too. Info:
https://nomadsnakepit.bandcamp.com/merch
KORPESOTURI/Korplish Sedamon (Brutal Records)
While this is far from original, this is some damn solid death metal with plenty of speed, great vocals and plenty of power to boot. Just powerful and fast and straightforward death metal with riffs to crunch the weak. Love the production, and the riffs are catchy and memorable, and this is a pure death metal delight. Think Incantation, Morbid Angel and bands of that nature. Info:
www.brutalrecords.com
Chris Forbes
WriterChris Forbes has been covering the underground metal scene since the late 80s and runs the Metal Reviews column at Extreminal.
Damnare
EditorEditor, writer, YouTube presenter, content creator. He scours the metal music scene for up-and-coming bands, listens to the promotional material sent to him, and keeps his finger on the pulse of the bands through his YouTube podcasts. And he does it all fo…
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