Phobocosm – Gateway (Review)

Phobocosm - GatewayThis is the fourth album from Canadian death metal act Phobocosm.

2023’s Foreordained made a good impression on me, so when ominous portents heralded the arrival of Gateway, I was ready. Across 35 minutes Phobocosm unleash a dark and dismal death metal dénouement that apparently closes their current chapter, making ready for a future one. Continue reading “Phobocosm – Gateway (Review)”

Voidceremony – Abditum (Review)

Voidceremony - AbditumThis is the second album from US death metallers Voidceremony.

Following on 2023’s enjoyable Threads of UnknowingAbditum contains 30 minutes of complex technical death metal wizardry. As much as I liked that last record, this new one is a step up for Voidceremony. Continue reading “Voidceremony – Abditum (Review)”

Depravity – Bestial Possession (Review)

Depravity - Bestial PossessionDepravity are an Australian death metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been a while since 2018’s Evil Upheaval and 2020’s Grand Malevolence, but both records made their mark. Well, 2025 marks the return of the mighty Depravity, so can Bestial Possession clear the high bar set by its two predecessors? Continue reading “Depravity – Bestial Possession (Review)”

1914 – Viribus Unitis (Review)

1914 - Viribus Unitis1914 are a Ukrainian blackened death/doom band and this is their fourth album.

It’s great to have a new album from this well-regarded band, (check out some of their past work here, here, and here). Containing 57 minutes of new material, Veribus Unitis is 1914’s most absorbing work yet. Continue reading “1914 – Viribus Unitis (Review)”

Qrixkuor – The Womb of the World (Review)

Qrixkuor - The Womb of the WorldThis is the second album from Qrixkuor, a death metal band from the UK.

Following on from 2021’s monstrous Poisoning Palinopsia comes The Womb of the World. Qrixkuor’s new record contains four songs, totalling a full duration of 50 minutes. It’s punishing, but also terrifyingly beautiful. Continue reading “Qrixkuor – The Womb of the World (Review)”

Scorching Tomb – Ossuary (Review)

Scorching Tomb - OssuaryThis is the debut album from Canadian death metal band Scorching Tomb.

Ossuary contains 30 minutes of crushing death metal, and it offers a real treat for fans of the modern old-school, (if you know what I mean). Scorching Tomb have created a cracking record. Let’s get to it. Continue reading “Scorching Tomb – Ossuary (Review)”

Tribal Gaze – Inveighing Brilliance (Review)

Tribal Gaze - Inveighing BrillianceTribal Gaze are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Inveighing Brilliance is the 32-minute follow up to 2022’s well-received The Nine Choirs. Tribal Gaze are back, and they have brought with them enough riffs and breakdowns to fuel mosh pits for years to come. Continue reading “Tribal Gaze – Inveighing Brilliance (Review)”

Werewolves – The Ugliest of All (Review)

Werewolves - The Ugliest of AllThis is the sixth album from Australian death metallers Werewolves.

Another year, another Werewolves album. Whether it’s 2022’s From the Cave to the Grave, 2023’s My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me, or 2024’s Die for Us, you basically know what you’re getting yourself into, and in my humble opinion it’s always gonna be good. If ferocious, unforgiving death metal, with a blackened bite and a technical edge is your thing, (along with some thrashy and grindy goodness), then The Ugliest of All is definitely for you. Continue reading “Werewolves – The Ugliest of All (Review)”

An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)

An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping CityThis is the third album from Swedish atmospheric death metal band An Abstract Illusion.

Now here’s a very highly anticipated album. The Sleeping City is An Abstract Illusion’s follow up to their highly acclaimed 2022 album Woe, which was so good it made it onto my year end list. Yes, expectations are high for this record, but there’s also trepidation too – how can An Abstract Illusion possibly meet the high standards they have now set for themselves? Continue reading “An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)”

Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath (Review)

Sanguisugabogg - Hideous AftermathSanguisugabogg are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Following on from 2023’s Homicidal Ecstasy comes the 48-minute Hideous Aftermath. Sanguisugabogg have created a limbering death metal monster. Laying bloody waste to all around it, it’s ridiculously enjoyable and well-crafted. Yep, this beats Homicidal Ecstasy to death and revels in its destruction. As much as I liked that record, this is superior in every way that counts. Continue reading “Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath (Review)”