Spirit Adrift – Chained to Oblivion (Review)

Spirit AdriftThis is the debut album from Spirit Adrift, a one-man doom metal band from the US.

Chained to Oblivion has got some very tasty riffs on it. Oh yes. It’s a right old riff-fest, actually. The fact that these riffs combine to form songs that hit the mark with a lot of accuracy, is even better.

With a warm, heavy sound, these five tracks impress from the start, and seem to go from strength to Continue reading “Spirit Adrift – Chained to Oblivion (Review)”

Unborn Suffer – Nihilist (Review)

Unborn SufferUnborn Suffer are a deathgrind band from Poland, this is their fifth album.

Nihilist is 28 minutes of brutal death metal and grindcore, both mixed together and boiled alive to create a particularly dirty strain of deathgrind. It’s also quite a non-standard release – not because the band do anything wildly original, but because they’ve firmly stamped their music with their own mark.

To expand on this; the band have a rather unusual Continue reading “Unborn Suffer – Nihilist (Review)”

Urobilinemia – Wriggling Chrysalis of Metaphysical Grudge (Review)

UrobilinemiaUrobilinemia are a Japanese brutal death metal/deathgrind band. This is combination of their split with 妖神楽 (Ayakasi Kagura) and their debut EP.

Featuring a hard-to-decipher band logo and some quite striking cover artwork, the band make a good impression before you even listen to them. And once you do, all Hell breaks loose.

The songs on this release are short, brutal and technical, just what the evil doctor Continue reading “Urobilinemia – Wriggling Chrysalis of Metaphysical Grudge (Review)”

Inert – Obliteration of the Self (Review)

InertThis is the debut EP from this international, (Swedish/Spanish), death metal band.

Inert play old-school/Swedish death metal, taking influence from the likes of Dismember, Grave, Bloodbath and Entombed.

Dark growls sound as if something monolithic is being dragged through the earth. The singer Continue reading “Inert – Obliteration of the Self (Review)”

Swamp Witch – The Slithering Bog (Review)

Swamp WitchSwamp Witch are a doom/sludge band from the US. This is their debut album.

Sludge heaviness mixes with psychedelic hypnotic grooves to create slow, torturous music that takes the listener on a tour through forgotten swamps, populated by hideous witches, (do you see what I did there?).

Deep growled vocals act as a guide on this foul journey, paving a path through the murk with sheer force of diseased will. Continue reading “Swamp Witch – The Slithering Bog (Review)”

Forty Winters – Rotting Empire (Review)

Forty WintersThis is the second album from US metalcore band Forty Winters.

This is metalcore in its original, hard-as-nails metallic hardcore incarnation, before the advent of sing-along choruses and radio-friendly unit shifters. Forty Winters mean business, and they’re here to stomp all over your breakfast.

This is angry music for angry people doing angry things. If you get off on bands like Hatebreed, Himsa, Thy Art Is Murder, Suicide Silence, Walls of Jericho, Darkest Hour and the like, then this should be Continue reading “Forty Winters – Rotting Empire (Review)”

Usurpress – The Regal Tribe (Review)

UsurpressHailing form Sweden, this is the third album from Usurpress.

I like Usurpress. Both their split with Bent Sea and their last full-length, Ordained, were very enjoyable, and now they’re back with a new album that features a very good cover.

But what of the music? Usurpress are not a normal death metal band, including elements of crust, sludge and progressive/psychedelic music in their delivery, as they do. Continue reading “Usurpress – The Regal Tribe (Review)”

Ade – Carthago Delenda Est (Review)

AdeThis is the third album from Italy’s death metallers Ade.

Much in the same way that Nile are heavily influenced by ancient Egypt and incorporate musical influences from this into their sound and style, Ade do the same thing only their focus rests on ancient Rome.

These ancient influences come across in the music in a variety of ways, whether that’s incorporated into melodies and lyrics, (some of which are in Latin); layered in added orchestration and instruments; or even in some Continue reading “Ade – Carthago Delenda Est (Review)”

Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation (Review)

NeurogenicThis is the debut album from international death metallers Neurogenic.

Featuring members of Indecent Excision, Derogation, Fleshbomb and Six Feet Under, as well as guests from members of Gutrot, Churchburn, Abnormality, Six Feet Under and Malignancy, you know that this is going to be a professional and capable release before you even listen to it.

When you do, you’re confronted with Continue reading “Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation (Review)”

Seventh Station – Between Life and Dreams (Review)

Seventh StationThis is the debut album from international progressive metal band Seventh Station.

The band clearly know what they’re doing with their instruments, and the high level of quality playing on this album is evident from the very start.

I love music that feels like it’s taking you on a journey, and this is very definitely one such album. Through a blistering display of virtuoso playing, the band navigate all manner of musical soundscapes in an attempt to get across their artistic vision. Continue reading “Seventh Station – Between Life and Dreams (Review)”