Album Reviews

International black metal outfit RUÏM is a collaboration of one of the genre’s underrated musicians Blasphemer AKA Rune Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, Vltimas, Aura Noir), and the French drummer CSR (Thagirion, Agressor). There is no doubt that guitarist Blasphemer played an important role as a songwriter when he joined Mayhem in 1994 and left his marks on albums like 'Wolf’s Lair Abyss', 'Grand Declaration of War', 'Chimera' and 'Ordo AD Chao'. While the debut album 'Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja' has some similarities to Mayhem’s past work, the flawless songwriting defines the spectacular talent of Blasphemer.
Read More >

You might know Dorthia Cottrell as the enigmatic lead singer of Windhand. Now while the latter is a psychedelic riff juggernaut in the vein of doom lords Electric Wizard, her solo work takes you on an altogether different kind of journey that leads you down a perhaps even more dismal path, but far less doom. In fact, this is as far removed from anything resembling metal as you can find.
Read More >

Hailing from Norway, Ekrom is a newly formed band whose lineup consists of drummer Thomas Ødegaard (Nocturnal Breed) and vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and keyboards Kharon (ex-Covenant). On their first full-length album “Uten Nådigst Formildelse” released on June 6th, 2023 via Edged Circle Productions, the duo focuses on the mid-90s heyday style of black metal bringing the classic flair of the second wave. The expert songwriting and inspiration makes the album so appealing, especially that the music evokes the dark, foggy atmosphere.
Read More >

Portland-based death metal four-piece Torture Rack released its third full-length album titled “Primeval Onslaught” on June 9th via 20 Buck Spin. Since its inception in 2012, Torture Rack cited as an inspiration the forefathers of death metal such as Cannibal Corpse, Autopsy, and Mortician. The band plays some barbaric slow-paced style, their primitive sound conjures levels of brutality that often comes in the vein of Autopsy. Having a five-year gap Torture Rack breaks its chains and will have your skull bludgeoned with rusty bones.
Read More >

Everlasting Spew Records is a boon for signing new death metal bands, as they have repeatedly managed to introduce an impressive number of new acts in the last couple of years. With the latest signing of South Carolina’s blasphemous death metal act Olkoth, the Italian label has dropped another bombshell. The debut “At The Eyes of Chaos” which was released on May 26th, is instantly brutal and technical, in fact, the songwriting ticks all the boxes. The heavier sound production, the guttural bellows, the pummeling drums, and the technicality of the guitar department is spot-on throughout.
Read More >

On June 2nd, Gloryhammer has come at us with ‘Return to the Kingdom of Fife’, the first album with new singer Sozos Michael. In their previous album, Angus McFife died in the Terrorvortex. Now, he is reclaiming the lost kingdom in a war with evil wizard Zargothrax once again. Be ready for holy flaming hammers, nuclear motorbikes and fighting goblins!
Read More >

Reunited Swedish death metal four-piece Vomitory return with their tenth album “All Heads Are Gonna Roll” out via Metal Blade Records on May 26th, 2023. Almost twelve years after the band’s retirement which merely seemed like rather a break, the veterans Erik Rundqvist (vocals, bass), Urban Gustafsson (guitars), Peter Östlund (lead guitars), and Tobias Gustafsson (drums) offer their most ferociously and blistering album. In the nineteen nineties Vomitory unleashed nine blistering records that defined the quality of its expertise, the brutal character of the band emerged to become the mainstay of Swedish raw death metal sound.
Read More >

'Okemah Rising' is the second volume of the Dropkick Murphys versions of Woody Guthrie lyrics set to their own music.
Read More >

Bavarian blackened death metal four-piece Thulcandra is back with the fourth album 'Hail The Abyss' out on May 19th, 2023, via Napalm Records. Through intricate years of evolution, Steffen Kummerer (guitar and vocals) instilled the melodic characteristics of Scandinavian melodies that would remind many of bands like Dissection. 'Hail The Abyss' blooms with vivid melodies that have become the trademark for the band. With the same members Alessandro Delastik (drummer), Mariano Delastik (lead guitars) and Carsten Schorn (bass) who also appeared on the third album, 'A Dying Wish' has ripened the quality of the song-craft.
Read More >

Six years ago, the U.S. death metal act Ascended Dead made a clear impression on the fans with their first studio album “Abhorrent Manifestation”. Considering the long gap between the band’s second album “Evenfall of the Apocalypse” out now since May 12th, 2023 via 20 Buck Spin, they return with a strong offering. Ascended Dead wastes no time and fires up the cylinders of constant brutality, however, there are some great remarks regarding the fiery riffing and the savagery that the quartet brings.
Read More >