Hellripper – Complete and Total Fucking Mayhem (Review)

HellripperHellripper is a one-man black/speed metal band from the UK.

Complete and Total Fucking Mayhem is a compilation of all of the Hellripper work so far. This includes The Manifestation of Evil, a split with Batsheva, a three-way split with Acid Cross and Kreigg, and finally a split with Fetid Zombie called Prophecies of Ruin. All tracks have been remastered for this release. Continue reading “Hellripper – Complete and Total Fucking Mayhem (Review)”

Mesarthim – .- -… … . -. -.-. . (Review)

MesarthimThis is the second album by Mesarthim, an Australian atmospheric black metal band.

Mesarthim create cosmic-themed black metal that’s spacious and rich in atmospheric attack.

This is a very striking release. The album layers cosmic Continue reading “Mesarthim – .- -… … . -. -.-. . (Review)”

Ulcerate – Shrines of Paralysis (Review)

UlcerateUlcerate are a death metal band from New Zealand and this is their fifth album.

Ulcerate personify atypical progressive/technical death metal. They incorporate enough other styles and influences to be termed post-death metal in some respects, although they still have the requisite amount of aggression Continue reading “Ulcerate – Shrines of Paralysis (Review)”

Hammerfall – Built to Last (Review)

HammerfallHammerfall are a Swedish heavy/power metal band and this is their tenth album.

Since forming in 1993 and developing into one of the bigger names in heavy/power metal, the title of their tenth album is quite aptly named.

It pleases me that the first song starts right into the action, rather than having any faffing around. It’s a small thing really, but it immediately endears me to the music. Continue reading “Hammerfall – Built to Last (Review)”

Year of the Cobra – …in the Shadows Below (Review)

Year of the CobraYear of the Cobra are a US doom metal band. This is their debut album.

Here we find just drums, bass and vocals, but what a combination. Just a duo, the band nonetheless have a large presence with the near 44 minutes of music on …in the Shadows Below. Continue reading “Year of the Cobra – …in the Shadows Below (Review)”

Headless Kross – Projections 1 (Review)

Headless KrossHeadless Kross are a doom band from the UK.

Headless Kross don’t play nice music. They do, however, play heavy music, and this is what we like.

The vocals are unhinged screams. They seem Continue reading “Headless Kross – Projections 1 (Review)”

Arkona – Lunaris (Review)

ArkonaHailing from Poland, Arkona are a veteran black metal band and this is their sixth album.

Lunaris boasts 48 minutes of the kind of second wave black metal that would be right at home had it actually been released in the 90s, probably about the time that Arkona actually formed.

This is an album based on the classic black metal template of the time, forged through experience and the hands of people that have been doing this long enough to know how to write good black metal. And it is very, very good.

Blackened riffs of frosted hate seep Continue reading “Arkona – Lunaris (Review)”

Cognitive – Deformity (Review)

CognitiveCognitive are from the US and play technical death metal. This is their second album.

30 minutes, no messing around; Cognitive play their death metal with brutal efficiency and technical charm.

Sitting on the modern end of the scale, here we have Continue reading “Cognitive – Deformity (Review)”

Witchery – In His Infernal Majesty’s Service (Review)

WitcheryThis is the sixth album from Witchery, a thrash metal band from Sweden.

Witchery have been around for some time at this point, with this album celebrating two decades of existence. Now, six years after their last album and with a revamped lineup, they return.

With a production that’s nicely rough and ready, Witchery Continue reading “Witchery – In His Infernal Majesty’s Service (Review)”

Sepulchral Curse – At the Onset of Extinction (Review)

Sepulchral CurseSepulchral Curse are a blackened death metal band from Finland. This is their second EP.

Do you fancy a bit of old-school death metal that’s been infested with a Scandinavian black metal influence? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

With a firm, strong sound that avoids Continue reading “Sepulchral Curse – At the Onset of Extinction (Review)”