Cast the Stone – Empyrean Atrophy (Review)

Cast the StoneCast the Stone are a death metal band from the US and this is their latest EP.

An EP this may be, but we still get a meaty 27 minutes of material to tear into. Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Scour, Cattle Decapitation, and Misery Index, (among others), this release draws on the individual band members’ experience, but easily stands as its own distinct entity. Continue reading “Cast the Stone – Empyrean Atrophy (Review)”

Exocrine – Molten Giant (Review)

ExocrineThis is the third album from French death metallers Exocrine.

Playing modern technical death metal, Molten Giant gives us 35 minutes of material, as well as some pretty damn monstrous cover art. Continue reading “Exocrine – Molten Giant (Review)”

Zombiefication – Below the Grief (Review)

ZombieficationThis is the fourth album from Mexican death metallers Zombiefication.

Zombiefication play death metal that’s dark, covered in underground filth, and delivered in an atypical fashion that speaks highly of the band’s talents as artists. Their music is atypical in the sense that they may take influence from several of the old-school masters, but at heart they’re firmly their own creation, and their songs are filled with interesting and unexpected nuances and subtleties. Continue reading “Zombiefication – Below the Grief (Review)”

Gravewards – Ruinous Ensoulment (Review)

GravewardsThis is the debut album from Gravewards, a Greek death metal band.

I have fond recollections of 2017’s Subconscious Lobotomy, so was pleased to see this band’s debut album appear. It’s 43 minutes of old-school death metal that’s influenced by the death metal greats from the 90s, while Continue reading “Gravewards – Ruinous Ensoulment (Review)”

Mutilate – Tormentium (Review)

MutilateMutilate are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

After enjoying All Life Ends so much I simply had to hear Tormentium. Another 38 minutes of old-school death metal that sounds so authentically 80s it could have been buried in a tomb until now? Count me in. Continue reading “Mutilate – Tormentium (Review)”

Mouth of Sauron – Hearken the Echo of Music (Review)

Mouth of SauronThis is the debut album from US death metallers Mouth of Sauron.

Hearken the Echo of Music contains 39 minutes of music, and exists at the nexus of where brutal, technical, and progressive death metal collide. Continue reading “Mouth of Sauron – Hearken the Echo of Music (Review)”

Interview with Draghkar

Draghkar Logo

Ever since I first heard the band’s debut demo I’ve been a big fan of Draghkar. In a wide ocean of faceless death metal here is a band that stands out, and seem to be improving with every release. Draghkar’s latest is a full EP named The Endless Howling Abyss. Make sure you grab a copy when it’s released on July 27th, as it’s pretty damn killer.

Guitarist/vocalist BW was kind enough to give us a lot more information on the band and its history, so have a read of his thoughtful and comprehensive replies to my queries below… Continue reading “Interview with Draghkar”

Obscura – Diluvium (Review)

ObscuraObscura are a progressive/technical death metal band from Germany and this is their fifth album.

As I’ve said frequently in the past, I like an album that feels like a journey, and this is definitely one such album. With a depth of songwriting and skill that many bands aspire to and few achieve, Diluvium is a masterclass in what a progressive/technical death metal band can achieve. Continue reading “Obscura – Diluvium (Review)”

Depths of Hatred – Bloodguilt (Review)

Depths of HatredDepths of Hatred are a Canadian death metal band and this is their latest EP.

Here we have 22 minutes of Depths of Hatred’s brand of punishing intensity. Mixing together multiple strains of death metal with some decent character and a professional recording, the band’s modern attack is easy to recommend. Continue reading “Depths of Hatred – Bloodguilt (Review)”

Jungle Rot – Jungle Rot (Review)

Jungle RotThis is the tenth album from US death metal veterans Jungle Rot.

Although Jungle Rot aren’t a band I’m intimately familiar with, I do know, (and enjoy), some of their previous work, so it’s with great interest that I listen to this self-titled album as it’s a bit different from what I’ve heard from the band before. Continue reading “Jungle Rot – Jungle Rot (Review)”