Descend – The Deviant (Review)

Descend - The DeviantThis is the third album from Swedish death metallers Descend.

Descend give us 49 minutes of progressive death metal on The Deviant. I picked this to listen to on a whim, based purely on the artwork, (which, in the promo, didn’t have the band logo and album title on it; I prefer the logo-less version), and I’m amazed at what I had the good luck to stumble upon. Continue reading “Descend – The Deviant (Review)”

Exocrine – Maelstrom (Review)

Exocrine - MaelstromThis is the fourth album from French death metallers Exocrine.

Here we have a 42-minute blast of technical death metal. Modern in style and feel, with various progressive and melodic elements, Maelstrom makes a good impression. A very, very good impression. Repeated spins only cements this. I enjoyed 2018’s Molten Giant, but this is superior. Continue reading “Exocrine – Maelstrom (Review)”

Pyrrhon – Abscess Time (Review)

Pyrrhon - Abscess TimeThis is the fourth album from Pyrrhon, an extreme metal band from the US.

Over the years Pyrrhon have built up a very well-respected discography, including 2014’s The Mother of Virtues and 2017’s What Passes for Survival. Now, on Abscess Time, the the band have returned with 57 minutes of music to challenge and terrify. Continue reading “Pyrrhon – Abscess Time (Review)”

Enterprise Earth – Foundation of Bones (Review)

Enterprise Earth - Foundation of BonesThis is the latest EP from US death metal/deathcore band Enterprise Earth.

This EP contains a new song, (the title track), two covers, an acoustic version of an older song, and an instrumental version of the title track; 22 minutes of material in total. Continue reading “Enterprise Earth – Foundation of Bones (Review)”

Ulthar – Providence (Review)

Ulthar - ProvidenceUlthar are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Brought to us by current and ex-members of bands such as Vale, Void Omnia, Tombs, and Vastum, (and others), there’s a wealth of experience in this band. They also have a well-regarded debut album, which I somehow overlooked. On Continue reading “Ulthar – Providence (Review)”

Tombstoner – Descent to Madness (Review)

Tombstoner - Descent to MadnessThis is the debut EP by US death metallers Tombstoner.

Oh my, what do we have here? This is some very tasty old-school death metal, played with modern flair. It’s not just death metal that we have here, however, as Tombstoner incorporate elements of grind, hardcore, and thrash into their Continue reading “Tombstoner – Descent to Madness (Review)”

Living Gate – Deathlust (Review)

Living Gate - DeathlustLiving Gate are an international death metal band and this is their debut EP.

Featuring members of bands such as Yob, Wiegedood, and Amenra, they bombard us with 18 minutes of old-school death metal. Continue reading “Living Gate – Deathlust (Review)”

Obscene – The Inhabitable Dark (Review)

Obscene - The Inhabitable DarkObscene are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Obscene play Floridian USDM, spiced up with aspects of the UK and European styles. There’s a touch of thrash here too. Imagine a mix of Obituary, Death, Cancer, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Slayer, and Master, and then get quite excited by how good The Inhabitable Dark is. Continue reading “Obscene – The Inhabitable Dark (Review)”

Aversions Crown – Hell Will Come for Us All (Review)

Aversions Crown - Hell Will Come for Us AllThis is the fourth album from Aversions Crown, a death metal/deathcore band from Australia.

2016’s Xenocide was an exemplar of modern brutality, with its alien melodies and extraterrestrial themes. Hell Will Come for Us All is a different beast; although still recognisably the same band in some respects, the Aversions Crown of 2020 is more grounded in the present, with a corresponding increase in brutally destructive heaviness, and a sound more reminiscent of some of their peers. Continue reading “Aversions Crown – Hell Will Come for Us All (Review)”

Exhumed/Gruesome – Twisted Horror – Split (Review)

Exhumed Gruesome - Twisted Horror - SplitExhumed and Gruesome are both US death metal bands, and they’ve teamed up for this split release.

We start with the bloody Exhumed, a band that are quite legendary in gore metal circles. Continue reading “Exhumed/Gruesome – Twisted Horror – Split (Review)”