Interview with Gutter Instinct

Gutter Instinct Logo

Gutter Instinct just keep getting better and better. There, I said it. From the rumbling Swedish death metal monstrosity of The Insurrection, to the blackened death metal of Age of the Fanatics, and now the band’s latest grim opus Heirs of Sisyphus, Gutter Instinct are like an unstoppable juggernaut of carnage and mayhem.

Heirs of Sisyphus sees the band travel even further down the blackened path, while still retaining their core brutality. It’s a real ugly joy to listen to, and lets the listener completely wallow in aggression and darkness for an immersive 46 minutes of total morbid atmosphere and guttural destruction.

Rhythm guitarist Hannes Hellman talked to us about his band, how the new album came to be, and what lies ahead for Gutter instinct… Continue reading “Interview with Gutter Instinct”

Demonic Obedience – Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation (Review)

Demonic ObedienceThis is the third album from Greek/UK blackened death metal band Demonic Obedience.

On Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation Demonic Obedience offer up 33 minutes of malignant blackened death metal. Merging brutality with no small amount of mood and atmosphere, this is a very gratifying album. Continue reading “Demonic Obedience – Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation (Review)”

Lago – Sea of Duress (Review)

LagoLago are a US death metal band and this is their second album.

I greatly enjoyed both 2014’s Tyranny and 2016’s split with Calm Hatchery, so I’m pleased to be able to catch up with Lago for their newest album Sea of Duress. Continue reading “Lago – Sea of Duress (Review)”

Gutter Instinct – Heirs of Sisyphus (Review)

Gutter InstinctThis is the second album from Gutter Instinct, a Swedish death metal band.

Ahh, I love the sound of Swedish death metal crushing its enemies in the morning, (what’s left of it at least – see later). This is especially the case when the style has a malignant blackened sheen to it, as it does with Gutter Instinct’s malevolent output. Having said that, with every release Gutter Instinct change and refine their sound, and this is true of this latest release, as we’ll see. Continue reading “Gutter Instinct – Heirs of Sisyphus (Review)”

Agrona – Realm of the Fallen (Review)

AgronaAgrona are a UK black metal band and this is their debut album.

Containing 47 minutes of black metal that effectively combines both scathing brutality and grim atmosphere, this as a well-rounded and well-written album that demonstrates a talented and passionate band who are clearly doing what they love. Continue reading “Agrona – Realm of the Fallen (Review)”

Apocrophex – Æternalis (Review)

ApocrophexApocrophex are a US death metal band and this is their second album.

Now here’s a band I really like. Their debut EP Wheels Within Wheels showed great promise, which they then followed up with a year or so later with the stunning Suspended from the Cosmic Altaar. Continue reading “Apocrophex – Æternalis (Review)”

Carcinoma/Abyssal – Apanthropinization – Split (Review)

Carcinoma AbyssalCarcinoma and Abyssal are both blackened death metal bands from the UK that have teamed up for this split.

Carcinoma open the split, with four tracks lasting 15 minutes in duration. Continue reading “Carcinoma/Abyssal – Apanthropinization – Split (Review)”

Precaria/Deathspiral of Inherited Suffering/Dominus Ira – Metamorphosphoros – Split (Review)

Precaria Deathspiral of Inherited Suffering Dominus IraThis is a split between three black metal bands, Precaria from Mexico, Deathspiral of Inherited Suffering from the US, and Dominus Ira from Russia.

This is a split based around a single concept, (the concept of Theion, the divine fire that burns but never consumes), with each band contributing their individual vision of occult black metal to the overarching whole. A lot of time and effort has obviously gone into this release, which is reflected in the lengthy playing time of 68 minutes. Continue reading “Precaria/Deathspiral of Inherited Suffering/Dominus Ira – Metamorphosphoros – Split (Review)”

Vorus – The Wretched Path (Review)

VorusThis is the debut album from Romanian death metal band Vorus.

We’ve encountered Vorus before with the very solid Chamber of Laments demo from last year. Since then, what was once a solo project has now doubled its band members, and birthed a full eight tracks of old-school death metal devastation. Continue reading “Vorus – The Wretched Path (Review)”

Bleeding Gods – Dodekathlon (Review)

Bleeding GodsBleeding Gods are from the Netherlands and this is their second album. They play symphonic blackened death metal.

With a suitably epic album concept based around the twelve labours of Hercules, this is epic blackened death metal replete with some thrash metal elements and a strong symphonic backbone. Continue reading “Bleeding Gods – Dodekathlon (Review)”