Album Reviews

By now the Italian symphonic/technical death metal outfit Fleshgod Apocalypse has firmly established itself in the extreme metal arena. With each studio album they have become known for their grand orchestral elements. The word epic may not be right to describe their latest studio album 'Opera' out via Nuclear Blast on August 23rd, 2024, however. After undergoing a major revamp, the new lineup is led by the long-time and original member guitarist, bassist and vocalist Francesco Paoli with Francesco Ferrini composing graceful and ominous orchestrations, Eugene Ryabchenko behind the drum-kit, lead guitarist Fabio Bartoletti and finally the soprano Veronica Bordacchini.
Read More >

It's a horrific chemistry that goes creepy and well between horror movies and brutal death metal. One can cite many examples of bands using horror film samples like Mortician and Necrophagia. Still, the Italian brutal death metal act Fulci have a bizarre tradition that would appeal to many fans of the genre. Just like the Canadian American horror film producer George A. Romero who directed a series of films about a zombie apocalypse, Italy’s Fulci seemingly takes its inspiration from the conception of Lucio Fulci.
Read More >

In Aphelion is the brainchild of guitarist and vocalist Sebastian Ramstedt (Necrophobic) who formed the band in 2020 and released a single EP 'Luciferian Age' and one full-length album 'Moribund'. Their lineup includes guitarist Johan Bergebäck (Necrophobic), bassist Tobias Cristiansson (Necrophobic) and drummer Marco Prij (Cryptosis, ex-Distilator). With individual skills and sonic vision, In Aphelion's new sophomore release 'Reaperdawn' out via Century Media Records on August 9th, 2024, delivers its venomous music in the same vein as bands like Naglfar, Dissection and Dark Funeral.
Read More >

Sweden’s powerhouse Dark Tranquillity has dominated through a series of innovations with the Gothenburg sound centering on them. The new era for the band began with bestselling albums like 'The Gallery', 'Haven', 'Damage Done' and 'Character' offering some of the most fan favorite melodic death metal albums in our modern times. As a result of their re-invention of sound and direction, which used keyboards and aggressive riffs, Dark Tranquillity has had a massive start: their extensive catalog fully linked to their musical evolution.
Read More >

The Omega Swarm is a German death/black metal band founded in 2022 by guitarist, bassist and synthesizer wiz T. (Sulphur Aeon) aka Torsten Horstmann. The band’s lineup also includes drummer Max Scheefeldt and vocalist Christian Schettler. Their debut full-length album 'Crimson Demise' was released on May 31st, 2024, via Ván Records. T. presents some well-written riffs and a dark atmosphere that is overwhelmingly melodic and technical.
Read More >

20 Buck Spin released the sophomore 'I Erode' from the U.S. death metal four-piece Laceration on July 26th, 2024. The new album is a step forward from the 2021 album 'Demise' which was released through Rotted Life Records, Laceration had all the features to sound aggressive and brutal. It is the remark that was shown clearly from Bay Area death thrashers. On the musical aspects 'I Erode' has the right amount of reverb. Each song is pummeling heavy with Eli Small on bass guitar, Donnie Small on lead guitar, Luke Cazares handling both the guitar and vocals and Aerin Johnson on drums.
Read More >

Germany’s Powerwolf has been on a solid run since its inception and for the past two decades the band has become a force in modern metal arena, “Wake Up the Wicked” is yet another energetic release from these lads. Their infectious enthusiasm for mixing symphonic and power metal is captured on each of their albums starting from the classic 2007 'Lupus Dei' album to 'Sacrament of Sin', Powerwolf’s sheer consistency seems to be restored with that kind of zeal, you can hardly find in today’s bands. The dynamic formula of the quintet showcased the most impressive quality, however, Powerwolf hardly strayed from its power metal standards offering the trademark themes of lycanthropes and dark creatures from the gothic myths.
Read More >

The music of the Belore has a palate of epic and rich folk elements that reminds me of bands like Sojourner and Caladan Brood. Though the theme is rather in the same nature as fantasy music, each song is hypnotically mesmerizing and layered with gentle riffing and drums. The third full-length album “Eastern Tales” was released on April 5th, 2024, via Northern Silence Productions, and gives us the latest creativity from the French duo Aleevok (all instruments, vocals) and Charlie Videau (drums). I came late into this band, just two years ago when I became familiar with them through their sophomore release 'Artefacts'.
Read More >

Swedish black death metal band Vanhelgd released its sixth full-length album 'Atropos Doctrina' on July 12, 2024 via Dark Descent Records. The primary inspiration of the quartet is a knack for molding dark death metal with some parts of doom metal. This has carved out some of the best combinations of black and death metal music in the recent years. Throughout the years Vanhelgd has been consistent with its approach and has been one of the strongest acts to rise from Sweden. Now after six years of silence the band unleashes its evil pandemonium with much anticipation from fans of the genre.
Read More >

I've known Orden Ogan for quite a few years, but lost track of them in recent years, so with the release of their new album it's now high time to get back to this band.
Read More >