Gatecreeper – Dark Superstition (Review)

Gatecreeper - Dark SuperstitionThis is the third album from US death metallers Gatecreeper.

Gatecreeper are always a reliable source of crushing old-school death metal carnage. Both 2016’s Sonoran Depravation and 2019’sĀ Deserted were solid slabs of heaviness, (I also really enjoyed their 2018 split with Iron Reagan), so checking out the 37-minuteĀ Dark Superstition was mandatory. Continue reading “Gatecreeper – Dark Superstition (Review)”

Ufomammut – Hidden (Review)

Ufomammut - HiddenUfomammut are an Italian doom band and this is their tenth album.

I always really enjoy catching up with Ufomammut. 2015’sĀ Ectate, 2017’sĀ 8, and 2022’sĀ Fenice were all stonkingly good records, so expectations are high for the 45-minute Hidden. And, as I would have hoped, expectations have been satisfied. Continue reading “Ufomammut – Hidden (Review)”

Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force (Review)

Tzompantli - Beating the Drums of Ancestral ForceThis is the second album from US death/doom band Tzompantli.

2022’s Tlazcaltiliztli was a record that I got a lot of enjoyment out of, so it’s great to see the return of Tzompantli once more. Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force contains 42 minutes of new material, and finds the band taking giant leaps forward in more than one way. Continue reading “Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force (Review)”

Pathology – Unholy Descent (Review)

Pathology - Unholy DescentPathology are a death metal band from the US and this is their twelfth album.

2017’s Pathology, 2019’s Reborn to Kill, and 2021’sĀ The Everlasting Plague all hit like trucks, with Pathology displaying an easy mastery of brutal death metal each time they erupted from the shadows to strike. This made me excited to experience the punishment that Unholy DescentĀ had to offer. Continue reading “Pathology – Unholy Descent (Review)”

Downcross – White Tower (Review)

Downcross - White TowerDowncross are a black metal band from Belarus and this is their sixth album.

White Tower contains 43 minutes of melodic black metal. It’s sharp and well-performed, and Downcross showcase what they’re capable of with attitude and force. Continue reading “Downcross – White Tower (Review)”

Sidus Atrum – Š Š¾Š·Ń–Ń€Š²Š°Š½Šµ ŠŠµŠ±Š¾ (Torn Skyā€‹) (Review)

Sidus Atrum - Torn SkyThis is the third album from Ukrainian black metal band Sidus Atrum.

2022’sĀ Spiral of Life made a strong impression on me, and I really enjoyed it. This makes Š Š¾Š·Ń–Ń€Š²Š°Š½Šµ ŠŠµŠ±Š¾ (Torn Sky) one I’ve definitely been looking forward to. On Torn Sky Sidus Atrum have expanded to a duo, bringing us 37 minutes of new music. Continue reading “Sidus Atrum – Š Š¾Š·Ń–Ń€Š²Š°Š½Šµ ŠŠµŠ±Š¾ (Torn Skyā€‹) (Review)”

Jours PĆ¢les – Dissolution (Review)

Jours PĆ¢les - DissolutionThis is the third album from French black metal act Jours PĆ¢les.

Jours PĆ¢les’ debut album Ɖclosion was a surprise hit of 2021 for me, and while 2022 follow upĀ Tensions was a worthy successor, it was released too late in the year to impact upon list season. So, now we have 46 minutes of new material to work through on Dissolution, how have Jours PĆ¢les fared this time around? Continue reading “Jours PĆ¢les – Dissolution (Review)”

Primitive Warfare – Extinction Protocol (Review)

Primitive Warfare - Extinction ProtocolThis is the debut album from US black/death metallers Primitive Warfare.

Extinction Protocol brims with 31 minutes of violent war metal aggression. Primitive Warfare are here to force the horrors of war right into your face, through your skull, and out the other side. Continue reading “Primitive Warfare – Extinction Protocol (Review)”

Sunnata – Chasing Shadows (Review)

Sunnata - Chasing ShadowsSunnata are a Polish doom metal band and this is their fifth album.

Sunnata hugely impressed me with their 2021 album Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth, which in hindsight I definitely should have included in that year’s best of list. Yes, Chasing Shadows has some big boots to fill, so let’s see what it has to offer. Continue reading “Sunnata – Chasing Shadows (Review)”