Chris Forbes's Metal Reviews #19

Well, here we are in the middle of 2025 and my latest set of reviews. Some really good releases this time round too. Some ass kickin thrash and death metal to fill your ears big time. A lot of different bands stepped up to the plate and released some damn fine underground metal that will make your ears bleed. So, please feel free to read my reviews and seek some of these bands out. You will be glad you did...

SEPULKHRAL BAPTISM/Self Titled (Death in Pieces Records/ Muchik Records)
While far from original, this is a crushing release of death metal in the vein of Incantation. Just skull crushing riffs and vocals from hell and the speed and power to match with parts of slower, doomy parts mixed in. A fantastic production as well, and that guitar sound just owns me.

AVULSED/Phoenix Cryptobiosis (Xtreem Music) Long-time death metal band returns after a 13-year absence. The band still brings the goods, and Dave’s vocals still sound strong as the band churn out their brand of death metal. Music is strong, catchy and memorable as the whirlwin riffing just sucked me in and didn’t let me go. The tunes are mid paced and fast as well and this is a A plus release and Dave welcome back this kicked my ass.

TERMINAL VIOLENCE/Moshocalypse (Self-Released)
This is a happy style of thrash with a sort of clean-like vocals with fast, ripping thrash music. The band just generic for me after a few tunes in as this has been done before and didn’t hold my interest and each tune sounded like the previous one as their was no difference in the songs and each tune sounded like the previous one. I’ll pass.

Just a brutal slab of crust, doom, and death metal that had me smiling from ear to ear. Bone-crushing riffing and just enough speed in spots that kept me happy, as I am not the biggest doom metal fan. This stuff was a ton when it came to heavy, and the haunting vocals even made this that much better. A complete onslaught of power that will drain that lifeless body of yours. This crushes.

The Horde of Torment were sadly one of the many thrash bands from back in the 80s that didn’t get signed to a record label. This was one of the most requested represses, so the label decided to do just that, as this originally came out in 2015. Live and rehearsal tracks have been replaced by a new remix of the band’s 1991 demo. The music is classic Bay Area, like thrash, with crunchy riffing and power, and fantastic vocals. The songs are memorable, and I was nodding right along as this played on. Hell, I remember reviewing these guys for my print zine Metal Core way, way back when ha ha. This is brilliant classic thrash that any fan of 80s thrash will love, trust me. 17 songs strong, with a booklet, photos, flyers, etc. This is a reissue done right.

Punishing death metal that will slice right through you. While this band breaks no new ground, this is just some wicked and crushing death metal. It’s the riffs, the power and those insane death metal vocals that will drag you in deep and deep you go. Chunky, slow parts mixed in with pulverising speed made for a fantastic combo. That guitar sound owns me.

Some decent raw death metal is your ticket here. A good job by them, not sounding like every generic death metal band out there. Music is raw, low-tuned death metal with growl vocals, which aren’t bad either. Production is good, and I like the guitar sound as well. Good to hear a band not sounding like every other band out there.

Some nice chunky, speedy/thrash with scream vocals that I didn’t mind at all. Riffs I immediately was into and nodding my head, and the speed had me playing air drums as well. The band mix up the speed and slower parts great and this was a just a wicked ass kicking release from start to finish.

This came out in 2020, and now this is seeing a re-release via vinyl by Iron Shiek Records. A total onslaught of speed that fans of Municipal Waste will love, as did I. That crunching guitar sound and that wicked speed along with some damn good vocals had me smiling and head banging. This is a damn good release no doubt about it.

I was sent this to review as the band is working on a new album to come out later this year called “Deafening”. This release came out in 2021, and it isn’t bad, just thrash metal with a groove edge to it at times, which obviously I’m not a huge fan of, but it wasn’t overbearing. The singer sounded like Phil from Pantera at times, which again doesn’t work for me. They are more trash than Pantera ever was. In saying all this, let’s see what they come up with in 2025.

Oh, such an amazing band. This band play heavy metal with a progressive mood to it, and they get the job done. Amazing songs and melodies, and the vocals are outstanding as well. This just sucked me in and never let me out. The riffing and song structures won’t go over your head, and the vocals of Zoran Cunjack didn’t let me go, even after the band wasn’t playing. A completely flawless release that you or I won’t soon forget.

Nothing out of the ordinary, death metal with generic, tired riffing with John Tardy-like vocals. Nothing excited me, and I grew rather bored with this band. They need to work on their riffing skills and write more songs that are memorable and not just forgotten when the song is over. Nothing this band did or does stands out from the pack, I’m afraid.

A pure old school lovers' death metal dream. I’m talking old Morbid Angel, Necrovore, etc. Just gut-pounding riffs that will rip your guts out and the speed and power you love and crave. Vocals from hell, and this just never lets u,p and I loved it. The riffing and speed just sucked me in and this never let up until the last note. Sample track link below and prepare for it:

A nice band here who combine a nice mix of death metal along with some melodic death metal. The singer has a nice set of pipes, and the music is fast, melodic at times and most of all memorable. Thick chunky riffing that will have your head moving, trust me, and fast parts as well. This band has the best of both worlds and this just kicked ass.

This is a straightforward heavy metal band with a female singer. The music is good and catchy as well as heavy and none of the new sounds of today, just plain ass kicking metal. Singer Jenea has a great set of pipes, and they sound good on this. This reminded me of Priest at times, and I mean that in a good way. Solid riffing and playing, and a good solid production backs this up. Solid effort.

This is a sludge, doomy type of band, and even though I’m not the biggest fan of this style, this was pretty good. It didn’t bore me to tears like some doom or sludge bands would. The production is solid, and if you're into this sort of thing, I think you’ll like this band.

I kind of knew off the bat the band was going to sound like Exodus, and yes, they do, with the singer sounding like Steve Souza a lot, which was fine by me. I hate Rob Dukes. This band plays classic Bay Area thrash that doesn’t let up. Crushing, thrashing, speedy riffs and no nu metal crap. Just a pure old-school thrash metal attack that brought a big smile to my face. Great job on this, guys. That guitar crunch rules.

Raw, down and dirty death/black metal with death-like vocals. The chainsaw pounding riffs just tore through me, and this band just had that feeling right where it needed to be. Not a wall of noise either. This band and its music just offer up a feeling that is what a combo of death and black metal needs. Raw as fuck too. Nice and fast, too, the way I like it. Check these guys out.

This is a comp from 2 7” from this band and a demo back from 2003. The demo tracks and both tracks from each 7” total crush with a blasting taste of fast as fuck death metal along with some hell like vocals. Production is strong and not garbage. Killer guitar sound, a nice mix of speed and slow, too. Get it.

Brand new 4-track demo from these black/death/thrashers. Chainsaw pounding riffs will bring back days of Necrovore, Hadez and the like. Wicked speed and power and awesome death metal vocals made this a treat to listen to and review. Not just a wall of senseless noise, neither. Riffs that jam and stick and stay in your head. Feel free to stream the release at the link below and prepare to be crushed.

This band was formed by original Onslaught drummer Jess Grice, and this is just a wicked thrash metal attack with riffs that will have your neck moving and air guitar galore. They even do a cover of Onslaught’s “Power From Hell” with guest singer Sy Keeler. The singer on this has a total ass kicking voice and this band blows away most of the thrash bands of today! This band knows how to write riffs, and the power of them is unmatched. A classic.

Another band that holds the real thrash metal banner high. Riffs that just knocked me over and had me nodding along, and powerful vocals just made this the perfect 1- 2 punch. Glad to see bands like this doing thrash metal right and not that Pantera crap.

Some decent hardcore, yes, hardcore on this. No modern groove crap, this is hard hitting hardcore like early Agnostic Front, The Cromags, etc. This would be a great live band to see, as I bet the pit would explode. Just violent to the heart, hardcore with power, speed, and feeling. Singer has a good pissed off voice too. Great release.

This was a nice mix of sludge, grunge, and, oh, I love the bass sound, along with growl vocals that worked. The music sucked me in as it was something different as well and not some generic crap. Production works and the heavy guitar sound work as well. I am very open-minded about music and bands, and while some I laugh at, this one stayed right with me, and I liked it till the end. Cool, a bit different and heavy as fuck.

Pretty cool thrash band here as they play thrash the right way and not that groovy Pantera way. The tunes on this EP are powerful and riffs that will have your head banging ala Exodus or older Overkill. A pure thrash delight that is for sure from this band. Solid job all around.

Powerful, speedy and ripping thrash is your ticket here, and I loved it. Riffs that had me playing air guitar or headbanging. Great screamy thrash vocals at times, like Mille at times, made this one great release. If you like thrash and real thrash that is, you’ll love this.

 https://open.spotify.com/artist/60NAXs0CcsvercGhZW2eye

A total onslaught of power metal with catchy riffs, plenty of power and the soaring vocals of Kostas Tokas (who blew me away) made this a winner and then some. The music will suck you in and never let you go. Tokas’s vocals fit the music like a glove, too. Production is fantastic as well. Get it.

The great thrash continued, and this was another with mighty speed and power and great catchy riffing that had me smiling from ear to ear. Powerful vocals fit right in with the music, and I felt like I was back in the '80s. Fuckin riffs blew me away and when you mix speed and power, you won me over in no time. This is a pure thrash metal delight, I can assure you of that.

Some cool prog metal with haunting vocals that suck you in and don’t let up and these are from a female and I love em. Her voice is exactly with the band and what they are doing. They have more than 1 singer, and each brings their style to the table. The music didn’t fly over my head, and Dream Theatre came to mind at times, but this band nails it on this release.

Yes this is the same Darkness from the mid 80’s and they are still kicking ass. This release is a bone-crushing slab of crushing and speedy thrash with some strong vocals to boot. Fast as fuck riffing with have your neck moving and air guitars as well. This will take you back to the mid-80s when thrash was king. No new thrash sounds, this is a pure German thrash metal delight.

This is some ass kicking thrash metal with some solid vocals to boot. No nu metal crap neither. Bone-crunching riffs played with speed had me smiling all the way. Love the guitar sound on this, and the songs are memorable big time. This is just banging your head to the sounds of classic thrash all the way. Fantastic release.

This NJ-based band have been around a long time, dishing out their brand of thrash and here comes a new one, and it is another goodie. Bone-crushing riffs and vocals, and memorable songs kept me grinning from ear to ear. This band has been around for a long time and still can deliver the goods in 2025. I am a sucker for a good riff and this had plenty of them. If you're into thrash, this is a must-have.

Terrible generic death metal with those annoying shrieks in between low growls of nothingness, and the trigger drum sounds didn’t help either. Just another faceless death metal band, I’m afraid.

Some cool death metal here that doesn’t sound like every other death metal band out there. Dark and brutal riffs fill the air as this plays. The band mixes up speed and some doomy parts with a bit of technical sounds here and there. Vocals are powerful slabs that sound good and convincing and fit right in with the music. Solid production too. Good release from these guys.

An EP here from this death metal band. It is ok, nothing ground-breaking and nothing that blew me away, but it also wasn’t some generic piece of trash music. The music is low-tuned and speedy at times, death metal with growl vocals. This was something that just didn’t blow me away, and as I was listening, I was waiting for that moment, and it didn’t happen. I liked the vocals, and the band need to work on creating more memorable music next time.

Some tip-top crushing thrash, I thought it was the 80s again. This band has a bit of a technical edge to them, like Toxik or Realm and this just plain rules. This is chock-full of catchy and rememorable riffs and songs, it isn’t funny. Fantastic vocals round this out. Love the guitar sound on this as well. This will have your head moving in no time, and this is all out old school classic thrash. All info on hearing and ordering is below:

A nice mix of death and black metal is found here. The vocals are deep growls of death, which sounded good to me and fit in with the music. The band blends in death metal with traces of black metal and hints of doom. This is cool and different, and memorable tunes add to it as the feeling is great.

 https://avantgardemusic.com/

This was at best ok thrash, but ruined by tough guy vocals. I don’t like that style in my thrash metal. The music is fast, but too much in the groove style to make me love it. The production is good and everything shines through, but the vocals just ruined it for me.