Nephren-Ka – From Agony to Transcendence (Review)

Nephren-Ka - From Agony to TranscendenceNephren-Ka are a French death metal band and this is their third album.

The return of Nephren-Ka sees them bring us a new lineup, (including a new singer), and a few more blackened influences. Other than that, we’re once again in for a brutal ride of Dune-flavoured death metal. I loved 2013’s The Fall of Omnius and 2017’s La Grande Guerre de L’Epice, and now From Agony to Transcendence looks set to inflate my already high impressions of this superlative band. Continue reading “Nephren-Ka – From Agony to Transcendence (Review)”

Cerebral Rot – Excretion of Mortality (Review)

Cerebral Rot - Excretion of MortalityThis is the second album from US death metallers Cerebral Rot.

Sometimes all you need in order to feel a bit better about life is a slab of good, old-fashioned death metal, the sort that reeks of disgusting foulness and rotting ugliness. 2019’s Odious Descent into Decay was exactly ones such record. Now we have the 47 minutes of horror that is Excretion of Mortality, and it hits the spot very well indeed. Continue reading “Cerebral Rot – Excretion of Mortality (Review)”

Alustrium – A Monument to Silence (Review)

Alustrium - A Monument to SilenceThis is the third album from US death metal band Alustrium.

Here we have 65 minutes of progressive technical death metal. Reading that statement you may be expecting a certain version of that style, but it’s likely that Alustrium will surprise; A Monument to Silence is much more melodic and emotionally resonant than many technical bands achieve or even aspire to. Continue reading “Alustrium – A Monument to Silence (Review)”

Thy Darkened Shade/Amestigon/Inconcessus Lux Lucis/Shaarimoth – SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn – Split (Review)

Thy Darkened Shade Amestigon Inconcessus Lux Lucis Shaarimoth - SamaeLilith A Conjunction of the Fireborn - SplitThis is a gargantuan four-way split, consisting of 15 tracks across a total duration of 96 minutes. Continue reading “Thy Darkened Shade/Amestigon/Inconcessus Lux Lucis/Shaarimoth – SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn – Split (Review)”

Worm Shepherd – In the Wake ov Sòl (Review)

Worm Shepherd - In the Wake ov SòlWorm Shepherd are a blackened deathcore band and this is their debut album.

Blackened melodies expand with fiery grace and keyboards swell with malevolent doom, only to be cruelly cast aside by cold, merciless slams when the moment is right. Worm Shepherd play a form of blackened deathcore that combines Continue reading “Worm Shepherd – In the Wake ov Sòl (Review)”

Seputus – Phantom Indigo (Review)

Seputus - Phantom IndigoThis is the second album from US death metallers Seputus.

Here we have 48 minutes of psychedelic extreme metal. Combining elements of black metal, death metal, and grindcore into meaty, substantial tracks, this album is not your standard extreme metal album. Continue reading “Seputus – Phantom Indigo (Review)”

Killing Addiction – Mind of a New God (Review)

Killing Addiction - Mind of a New GodThis is the second album from US death metallers Killing Addiction.

Here comes the album I’ve been interested in hearing after 2014’s When Death Becomes Art and 2016’s Shores of Oblivion. It hasn’t disappointed. Continue reading “Killing Addiction – Mind of a New God (Review)”

Sadistik Forest – Obscure Old Remains (Review)

Sadistik Forest - Obscure Old RemainsThis is the latest EP from Finnish death metallers Sadistik Forest.

Morbid Majesties was a highlight of 2018, so it’s great to have Sadistik Forest back with some new material. Obscure Old Remains contains four songs, with a total duration of 19 minutes. Continue reading “Sadistik Forest – Obscure Old Remains (Review)”

Unfathomable Ruination – Decennium Ruinae (Review)

Unfathomable Ruination - Decennium RuinaeThis is the latest EP from UK death metallers Unfathomable Ruination.

After the tight ball of fury that was 2019’s Enraged and Unbound, it’s good to hear from Unfathomable Ruination once more. This new EP contains 20 minutes of material – three new songs, and a rerecorded version of an old one. Continue reading “Unfathomable Ruination – Decennium Ruinae (Review)”