Cognizance – Phantazein (Review)

Cognizance - PhantazeinCognizance are a death metal band from the UK and this is their third album.

2021’s Upheaval was a quality record, so I have been looking forward to Phantazein. I’ve enjoyed Cognizance since their debut EP Inquisition way back in 2013, and it’s been great to see them develop. Continue reading “Cognizance – Phantazein (Review)”

Mephitic Grave – Dreadful Seizures (Review)

Mephitic Grave - Dreadful SeizuresThis is the second album from Mephitic Grave, a death metal band from Hungary.

Dreadful Seizures contains 34 minutes of old-school death metal. Drawn up into the light from the most ancient of caverns, Mephitic Grave’s music is a rotten and fetid mass of nastiness and gruesome presence. Continue reading “Mephitic Grave – Dreadful Seizures (Review)”

Resin Tomb – Cerebral Purgatory (Review)

Resin Tomb - Cerebral PurgatoryThis is the debut album from Australian death metal band Resin Tomb.

Cerebral Purgatory is brought to us by members of Descent and Siberian Hell Sounds, and assails the listener with 29 minutes of scathing deathgrindsludge mayhem. Continue reading “Resin Tomb – Cerebral Purgatory (Review)”

Ribspreader – Reap Humanity (Review)

Ribspreader - Reap HumanityRibspreader are a Swedish death metal band and this is their tenth album.

Brought to us by the incredibly prolific Rogga Johansson, (Down Among the Dead Men, Echelon, Megascavenger, Paganizer, Those Who Bring the Torture, and a million others), along with current/ex-members of Deicide, Inhuman Condition, Kill Division, Venom Inc., and Wombbath), Reap Humanity boasts 36 minutes of experienced death metal carnage. Continue reading “Ribspreader – Reap Humanity (Review)”

Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon (Review)

Upon Stone - Dead Mother MoonUpon Stone are a melodic death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Upon Stone play melodic death metal in the classic Scandinavian style. The band list influences such as At the Gates, In Flames, and Dissection, so you should have a decent idea of where Dead Mother Moon is coming from. Across a lean 32 minutes Upon Stone demonstrate that they understand the style well. Continue reading “Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon (Review)”

Alluvial – Death Is But a Door (Review)

Alluvial - Death Is But a DoorThis is the latest EP from Alluvial, a modern death metal band from the US.

Following on after 2021’s Sarcoma, Death Is But a Door contains four new songs and has a total duration of 17 minutes. Strap in, it’s gonna get heavy. Continue reading “Alluvial – Death Is But a Door (Review)”

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)”