Engulf – The Dying Planet Weeps (Review)

Engulf - The Dying Planet WeepsThis is the debut album from US solo death metal act Engulf.

Across 36 minutes The Dying Planet Weeps spans a range of influences, from the old-school to the new. The music of Engulf prioritises a non-standard song-based approach that combines sinuous riffs, expressive harsh vocals, and macabre darkness. Continue reading “Engulf – The Dying Planet Weeps (Review)”

Aberration/Diabolic Oath – Divinations – Split (Review)

Aberration Diabolic Oath - Divinations - SplitThis split is between two US bands, Aberration and Diabolic Oath, both of whom play black/death metal.

Each band contributes one song to this split. We start with Aberration, with the six-minute Divinations of Flesh. Aberration contain members of Nothingness, Void Rot, and Suffering Hour, so it’s safe to say expectations are high. Continue reading “Aberration/Diabolic Oath – Divinations – Split (Review)”

Revulsed – Cerebral Contamination (Review)

Revulsed - Cerebral ContaminationThis is the second album from Australian death metal band Revulsed.

Cerebral Contamination is a 36-minute assault of brutal riffs, blasting technical savagery, and guttural vocals. Yes, Revulsed play brutal death metal, and they’re here to rip the skull out of your head by the eye sockets. Continue reading “Revulsed – Cerebral Contamination (Review)”

Devils Reef – The Droste Observer (Review)

Devils Reef - The Droste ObserverThis is the second album from Devils Reef, a death metal band from the US.

Following on from 2021’s Chosen by the Sea, The Droste Observer is an evolved form of this death metal predator. Offering up a lean, mean 36 minutes of new material, Devils Reef demonstrate that they are worth being mentioned in the same breath as bands like Revocation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, Allegaeon, Black Crown Initiate, and the like. Continue reading “Devils Reef – The Droste Observer (Review)”

Phobocosm – Foreordained (Review)

Phobocosm - ForeordainedThis is the third album from Canadian death metal act Phobocosm.

Foreordained contains 41 minutes of cavernous, doom-infused death metal. It’s a journey into the lightless places that are hard to reach, but if you can endure the extreme environments they offer, then there are many potential rewards to be had. Continue reading “Phobocosm – Foreordained (Review)”

Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Review)

Beyond Grace - Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1This is the latest EP from Beyond Grace, a death metal band from the UK.

I always enjoy catching up with Beyond Grace, and have watched their development closely over the years. From the early promise of 2014’s Monstrous, to the debut roar of 2017’s Seekers, to 2021’s crowning achievement so far Our Kingdom Undone, Beyond Grace’s upward trajectory has been a satisfying and rewarding one. Continue reading “Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Review)”

Cruciamentum – Obsidian Refractions (Review)

Cruciamentum - Obsidian RefractionsThis is the second album from international death metallers Cruciamentum.

Featuring current/ex-members of Vacivus and Perdition Temple, Cruciamentum play old-school death metal that fans of acts such as Incantation, Corpsessed, Ritual Necromancy, Fossilization, and Immolation should check out. Continue reading “Cruciamentum – Obsidian Refractions (Review)”

Distention – Nothing Comes from Death (Review)

Distention - Nothing Comes from DeathThis is the debut album from US death metal band Distention.

Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Equipoise, Rivers of Nihil, The Kennedy Veil, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, and Virulent Depravity, you know a lot of experience has gone into the 30 minutes of brutal material on Nothing Comes from Death, and it shows. Continue reading “Distention – Nothing Comes from Death (Review)”

Stortregn – Finitude (Review)

Stortregn - FinitudeStortregn are a black/death metal band from Switzerland and this is their sixth album.

Well, this is an impressive beast. If you’re looking for a feast of riffs, technicality, and melody, then look no further than Finitude. It boasts 43 minutes of the stuff, and it’s a real scorcher. Continue reading “Stortregn – Finitude (Review)”

Omnivortex – Circulate (Review)

Omnivortex - CirculateOmnivortex are a Finnish death metal band and this is their second album.

Circulate is a 44-minute juggernaut of technical death metal, presented as a emotively textured work that bleeds quality and class. Omnivortex reveal themselves to be a distinct cut above the average, and Circulate is extremely enjoyable and satisfying because of this. Continue reading “Omnivortex – Circulate (Review)”