Wow here we are in 2025 and here comes a new set of reviews from yours truly. Trust me back in 1986 when I started doing my print zine Metal Core and doing a few demo reviews that I brought (haha) that I had no idea in 2025 I would still be going strong at 59 years old and I still love it. If I love it, I will tell you why I love and if I’m not a fan I’ll tell you why as well. Some really good releases to sink your teeth into this time around too…
Chris Forbes’s Metal Reviews Episode 18
LEPROSY/Reborn In Yourself (Sangue Frio)
This band was formed in 1989 and returned after a long break in 2019 and this is the band’s new release and with the original line-up to boot. This is my 1st time hearing the band and they aren’t bad I hear a big-time Obituary sound within the songs and that goes for the vocals as well. The production is solid and it is pretty much simple, if you like Obituary you’ll like this, simple as that.
Info: https://www.sanguefrioproducoes.com
DECAYED EXISTENCE/THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS (Rottweiler Records)
Another band that has been around for over 30 years and they deliver ass-kicking death metal with some awesome vocals and he plays drums to boot. Wicked-like riffing and speed and power just had me smiling from ear to ear. Power and riffs that you will latch onto and enjoy. Not a bunch of non-generic crap on this I can tell you that. I am sucked in by this guitar sound big time. Find this and check it out and the 3 live tunes rule too.
Info: https://www.rottweilerrecords.com
PRIME EVIL/Evilution X (CDN Records)
Another long old-time death metal band returns with a new EP. I was always a fan of this band and this EP is no exception. Andy’s vocals are top notch and the music is just crushing death metal with a touch of thrash, but it makes for a killer combo let me tell you. Riffs that hurt and pound with incredible power and intensity show me this band never lost it and continues to show it. The last tune is a scorcher. Prime death metal the Prime Evil way.
Info: https://www.cdnrecords.com
DIE FOR MY SINS/Scream (Sound Pollution)
Oh, you bastards! It’s simply incredible power metal with some powerful riffs and extremely catchy tunes that trust me you won’t forget anytime soon. Powerful and mega-heavy riffing and music along with powerful vocals courtesy of the session singer Ralf Scheepers and he has a set of pipes let me tell you. Powerful and heavy this is and is what power metal needs and should be.
Find this and buy it: https://soundpollution.net/label/vicisolum-productions/
Rezet/Self Titled (Self Released) Whenever
I see a band is speed thrash metal these days or something I have to review, I dread that they are going to sound like Pantera. Nope, not these guys. Look, they are not knocking down new walls, but I don’t care. This is some pretty decent thrash without tough guy Pantera-like vocals to boot. Heavy, chunky riffs and a nice dose of speed in the mix also add up to some thrash metal played the right way. A cool band in my book.
Band info: https://rezet-official.bandcamp.com
DESTRUKTOR/Indomitable (Hells Headbangers)
This band just didn’t connect with me. This is the band’s 3rd release and release number 2 came back in 2015! This to me was just average at best thrashing death metal metal that I have heard by many bands in the past couple of years. This doesn’t suck, but the band didn’t just knock me for a loop like other bands playing this style have over the years. The vocals and production are just fine, but something just didn’t click for me. Maybe it will be for you.
Info: https://www.hellsheadbangers.com
WITCHTRAP/Hungry as the Beast (Hells Headbangers)
Totally old school (1st album) Kreator sound here, which is not a bad thing mind you. This will grow on you and it is a solid release in my book. While the band and the vocals sound like Kreator, it is not a total “Endless Pain” remake ha ha. The thrashing riffs and power will have your necks moving as it did mine. That guitar sound just sucked me in big time. Prepare to thrash when you put this on and fuck that guitar sound just owns me. Info:
Sample track: http://witchtrap.bandcamp.com/album/hungry-as-the-beastInfo: https://www.hellsheadbangers.com
DEAD FLESH STIGMA/Necrocosmic Death Ritual (Werewolf)
Just a bunch of senseless black metal noise with no direction or quality. Same fast pick riffs and screechy vocals as all the others. Nothing at all different from the 1000’s of others before them.
IMMORTAL DEATH/Immortal Death (Werewolf)
Now this is a demo released onto tape and CD formats. This takes me back to the 80’s demo tapes or rehearsal demos I would get to reviews in the early days of Metal Core Fanzine. The band is from Japan and they have a member from the band Sex Messiah within its ranks. I enjoyed this blast of the band’s raw speed-infested death metal attack of this band and you will as well. Punishing riffs and vocals from hell make this a death metal delight all the way.
Info: https://www.werewolf.fi
DECEASED/Children of the Morgue (Hells Headbangers)
Having been around since 1985, when almost every other band has packed it in for one reason or another, King and his boys are back with their 8th full-length release, and what a release it is. You never know what to expect with King and the boys, but you just know it is gonna be fantastic and this one takes you on a rollercoaster ride you don’t want to get off. King’s vocals sound like no other as this is not just a typical death metal release. 3 tracks almost hit the 8-minute mark, but are not in any way boring or bad. This is an album that is more melodic in some ways, but OMG some like “Children of the Morgue” and “The Reaper is Waiting” just totally owned me to name but a few. One of the best albums of the year hands down. Buy or you’re a fraud.
BRED FOR SLAUGHTER/Kill For Satan (H.P.D.P.)
Some pretty fast and crushing death metal here with some solid death metal vocals to boot. Plenty of speed and power on this release too. My wicked death metal guitar crunch along with some speed metal-like solos made this old underground fan smile. Production is not overproduced and I think any death metal fan who likes good, quality death metal would enjoy this for sure,
Info: https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com
LIFE ABUSE/Systemization (Armageddon Label)
Fast and furious pure hardcore is done the old way with short songs, total blasts of speed and power and shouted, but effective hardcore-style vocals. Production is not overproduced as well. This a cool gem of old style 80’s hardcore all the way and I liked it a lot. Think old Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All, and bands of that style. This never got boring as well.
Sample track: https://armageddonlabel.haulix.com/Media/View/126748
POUNDER/Thunderforgerd (Shadow Kingdom Records)
This is this band’s 3rd album and what a crushing album it is. Rip-roaring heavy metal with speed and power metal mixed in. Damn catchy tunes along with great vocals sucked me right in as I was banging my head within 30 seconds. Great riffs I am a big sucker for and this had so many. The singer also doesn’t have that high-pitched singing voice, I am sorry, but it is overdone these days with bands. He has his sound and he sounds great delivering the sounds of the lyrics with feeling and fury. Can’t say enough great things about this except buy it dammit.
Sample track: https://poundercalifornia.bandcamp.com/album/thunderforged
OLD WAINDS/Stormheart (Darkness Shall Rise)
Just a senseless wall of black metal speed with no difference with each song. Listen I love speed and crave it, but when it is just that fast pick riffing shit with throaty vocals, you lose me quickly and you lost me with this. Nothing you haven’t heard a million times before and done better as well. Don’t bother with this bad black metal band.
Info: https://www.darknessshallrise.de
HATCHET/Leave No Soul (M-Theory Audio)
Some ass-kicking thrash metal played as it should be. Razor-sharp riffing and plenty of speed along with some aggressive, not tough guy shit, vocals, made this a thrill to listen to. Riffs and music that you can bang your head to and also play guitar to as well. I love thrash when it is played well and this is for sure. For thrash fans, you’ll love this.
Info: https://www.m-theoryaudio.com
DOUBTING THOMPSON/Lizard Brain Directives (Sliptrick Records)
Now this is a case of some bad thrash metal. All the songs are mid-paced and have no speed at all. Not every song has to have speed, but my god not every song should be mid-paced or slower. He is one person and his singing is ok but with no speed I grew bored rather quickly and the songs weren’t strong and catchy either as well.
FRENZEE/What’s Wrong With Me (Ouga Booga And The Mighty Oug)
A 3 piece punk band with a cool female singer. The band ripped out the short blasts of mid-paced punk rock like it was in the 80’s. The female has a cool voice and fits the music quite well. The tunes are catchy and had my head moving a bit and tapping along to the music. I bet this band would be cool in concert too. Neat band here.
BESTIAL/Hellfuckdominium XXI
(Murder Records A nice mix of death metal and thrash that reminded this old fuck of Destruction. Ripping riffs and speed and power that had me smiling. The vocals are a double mix of thrashy and then break out into death metal at times. Production isn’t overproduced and that is a good thing with all these machine-like drums shit I hear these days. 5 tunes to crush your brain into oblivion.
Info: https://murderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hellfuckdominium-xxi
MERCYLESS/Those Who Reign Below (Osmose Productions)
8th album was released by these long-time death metallers. Well, I can say for one thing, this was not a letdown at all. Blistering speed, tons of power and emotion, and growls of death all the way. A death metal delight from note 1 to the very end. Razor-sharp riffing that I loved and vocals from hell with great production and catchy as-hell riffs as well. One of the best death albums of the year. Period.
BUTCHER/On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing (Osmose Productions)
This is just what the doctor ordered. A blistering old-school speed metal attack with those catchy and classic-sounding riffs that I love so well. The vocals are more in the death metal rein, but not deep growls, but when you hear them you’ll understand. Now on side 2 (the last 3 tunes) are like a concept story and the songs at least to me are in the vein of old Judas Priest with even a few Halford shreiks, so these songs are obviously slower, but are still awesome nevertheless. A total kiss-ass release here for sure.
FORGED IN BLACK/Forged In Black MMXXIV (Fighter Records)
This is a remastered release of this release by the label. To me, this is beyond bad. Terrible heavy metal music with no catchy tunes and just as bad vocals. The singer can sing and has a set of pipes, but I guess when you have bad songs, it makes for bad vocals. These tunes are not catchy at all and go downhill rather quickly. Now the above bad has quality kick-ass memorable tunes not like this. The cheezy Pantera-like crap stinks too.
Info: https://www.fighter-records.com
IMMORTAL FORCE/Mystic Seance Unrealities (H.P.G.D.)
Damn fine death/thrash metal with some cool vocals on top. Music has that early 90’s death metal vibe to it. A mix of slower and speedy parts on here as well as a Carcass and Napalm Death cover tunes thrown in the deadly mix. Mike finds so cool band and this is another one for sure.
Info: https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com
CRUCIFIXION RITUAL/Desecration Of The Archangels (Invictus Productions)
4 tracks of crushing death metal that wouldn’t be out of place coming out in 1986. Wicked guitar crunch and speed and power to match the vocals from hell. Just a full frontal and furious attack on your souls you underground bastards. Check out the sample track below:
https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/desecration-of-the-archangels-2
GHOULHOUSE/Fresh Out Of Flesh (H.P.G.D.)
A decent and solid death metal band playing Swedish-style death metal. The singer has a good, and solid death metal vocal style and the production has that killer guitar crunch as well. The band mix up the speedy parts into mid-tempo parts. This was a solid release.
MUTANK/Think Before You Think (Boonsdale Records)
Some good ole honest thrash without nu metal riffs or Pantera crap as well. Just speedy like and catchy riffs with cool, thank god no tough guy sounding vocals to boot as well. The band doesn’t have the Bay Area crunch sound to them as either. Their last release was 7 years ago, and here are 10 pounding thrash tracks that will have your head banging I assure you. Give them a listen as they are not your average thrash band. Spotify link:
SATAN’S SIGH/Impaled Nazareno (Murder Records)
A cool wicked death metal band here. A furious vicious attack of your skull and body lays to waste the weak. I love it when the music goes into all-out speed mode and the music will tear you up. The vocals are a mix of black and death metal vocals as well at times, but the black metal style didn’t bother me. Some cool stuff here no doubt.
Info: https://www.murder-records.eu
WOLF HEX/Profane Heresies (Armageddon Label)
A pure speedy school thrash lover dream. This could have popped out in 1987 or 1988 as an unreleased album and nobody would be none the wiser. Catchy as hell riffs and music that had me smiling from ear to ear. Thrash the way it should and was meant to be. Throaty and scratchy vocals work for this style of band. Production is also right out of 1987. Think Bloodfeast’s “Kill For Pleasure” production and style, but this is not a damn clone band and more than stands on its own. Sample track and info at the below link:
https://armageddonlabel.bandcamp.com/album/profane-heresies
RISE OF TYRANTS/The Chronicles Of Cardinal Pablo Mendoza (Brutal Records)
This had some good to great things about it and one thing I was not a fan of and this is just me. I am not a fan of death metal bands that use those annoying screechy vocals and this band used a lot and that I wasn’t a fan of. Now when he sang in a death metal growly voice, yes, that I liked. The music was also fine, a mix of slower and faster parts with some good and great at times riffs and song structures. Again keep in mind the vocal thing is my opinion only. Other than that this is some good death metal.
Info: https://linktr.ee/brutalrecords.official
THE BROOD/For The Dark ((Armageddon Label)
Great short blasts of speedy hardcore punk with pissed-off vocals and the band is local to me in Phila, PA. Razor sharp total school 80’s angry hardcore that I loved back then and this band nails it perfectly. The singer is great in his delivery and the music is fast and catchy as well, not just a bunch of noise. No metal on this and who cares when it is this good? Yes, all the way.
Info: https://armageddonlabel.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-dark
BLASPHEMOUS/To Lay Siege And Conquer (Adirondack Black Mass)
Oh, this is just a crushing display of a mix of powerful death metal and black and you wrap it into a ball and out comes this. Powerful vocals by Ron Kaiser are a highlight as well and the pain and anger just flow out as this plays on. The great thing is this isn’t just a wall of black metal noise as the riffing will take you on a ride you won’t soon forget. Devastating, powerful speedy and fast will be a ticket on this ride you will want to get off neither. Great production and wicked guitar sound had me playing air guitar as well. This just rules period.
Info: https://www.blasphemousphilly.bandcamp.com
EVIL INCARNATE/Dominate (Self-Released)
Mike from the band was kind enough to send me over the band’s latest music and what we have here is a brutal all-out assault on your ears, you bastards. These are 2 tracks of some furious and fast old-school death metal that knocks down and lays down the pretenders of death metal. This is how it should be played and how I love my death metal dammit. This is not all and our speed, which is fine by me because it doesn’t have to be a million miles an hour all the time. Mike’s vocals are spot on as he delivers and spits out the lyrics. Hopefully, there will be more new music to come because these 2 tracks are great death metal period.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/EvilIncarnateOfficial
SARKASM/Carnival of Atrocities (Xtreem Music)
Oh yes, this is what the doctor ordered and a great way to start 2025. Great, bone-crushing, speedy thrash just the way I like. This band has released 4 previous demos and their debut in 2023 and here we have a new one. The guitar crunch is massive, the drums pound away and the singing of Bruno Bernier is right on the money. This is a pure thrash lover’s delight I will tell you that.
Info: https://www.xtreemmusic.com
ACT OF IMPALEMENT/Profane Altar (Caligari Records)
Sick, low-tuned like death metal and I smiled from ear to ear. This is the band’s 3rd album and what a 3rd album it is. The band mix up the slower stuff with fast tunes such as “Piercing The Heavens” and the slower doomy parts mix in great within such tunes as “Sanguine Rites”. It’s the perfect blend of slow and fast I can tell you that. A fantastic production and vocals set this on fire. What a way to start the year off.
Sample track: https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/profane-altar
NECROMANIAC/Sciomancy, Malediction & Rites Abominable (Invictus Productions/The Ajna Offensive)
A pretty nasty attack of old-school 80s-like razor-sharp riffing. Vocals from hell which, when a band is playing like this, is exactly what they should sound like. The mid-80s like Attack Early Destruction, Razor, Kreator and bands of that style. This brought me back to days of tape trading, letter writing and print fanzines. Good stuff.
Sample track: https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/sciomancy-malediction-rites-abominable
CRUCIAL VELOCITY/Controller (Self-Released)
This band features the drummer from King Diamond and members from other bands and this is the band’s 2nd release. They are sort of a prog band and not a good one, but a damn good one and this is easily a 10 out of 10. OMG do the songs just rip and are so catchy and heavy as well the last prog album to make me feel like this was Dream Theatre’s “Images and Words” all those years ago. Singer/Keyboard player Androo O’Hearn sucked me and didn’t let go of me with his amazing voice. This is how prog needs to be heavy, but still catchy with amazing vocals. This just knocked me out of my bed while listening to it. Amazing job guys.
Info: https://crucial-velocity.com
HIRAX/Faster Than Death (Armageddon Label)
Katon has been around longer than me (40 years), yet he is still going strong with his brand of speedy old-school thrash. Now Hirax did break up at times, but Katon formed other bands, but Hirax reformed a few years back and here they are with a new line-up and Katon doing an excellent job on vocals. A total kick-ass, lay to waste the wimps with this brand of speedy Bay Area crunch I can assure you of that. Riffs that will have that neck moving and pits going crazy when you see this band live. Katon still sounds great on vocals and the production is fantastic damn that guitar crunch just destroys me. Hirax forever!!!
Sample track:
https://armageddonlabel.bandcamp.com/album/faster-than-death
KOSUKE HASHIDA/Outrage (H.P.D.P.)
A rip-roaring attack of speedy, crushing thrash that will bash you in the head like it did me. This is just rips and tears with speed and aggression and doesn’t let up and I loved it. Riffing that is also catchy and memorable and will just pour through your body. A pure thrash metal delight with it played the real way thrash should be played.
Info: https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/outrage
SAVAGE MASTER/Dark & Dangerous (Shadow Kingdom Records)
Oh, this is just a total ass kickin pure heavy metal fans’ dream. Get the spikes out and raise those fists high because metal is back to attack your souls. Riffing by guitar player Adam Neal is so damn catchy and you throw in the fantastic vocals of Stacey Savage you got quite a combo let me tell you. The production is spot on and this just is metal and then some.
