Celestial Scourge – Observers of the Inevitable (Review)

Celestial Scourge - Observers of the InevitableCelestial Scourge are a Norwegian death metal band and this is their debut album.

Featuring members of Blood Red Throne and Deception, Celestial Scourge are here to destroy. Observers of the Inevitable contains 30 minutes of brutal technical death metal, and it’s a raging mass of controlled savagery. Continue reading “Celestial Scourge – Observers of the Inevitable (Review)”

Pissgrave – Malignant Worthlessness (Review)

Pissgrave - Malignant WorthlessnessThis is the third album from US death metallers Pissgrave.

Malignant Worthlessness contains 31 minutes of foul death metal extremity. It’s intense and brutal, but not delivered without skill. For all the rampant aggression and disgusting brutality on display, Pissgrave also know how to write a death metal song that hits the spot. Continue reading “Pissgrave – Malignant Worthlessness (Review)”

Necronomicon ex Mortis/Bloodfeast Ritual – You’ve Got Red on You – Split (Review)

Necronomicon ex Mortis Bloodfeast Ritual - You've Got Red on You - SplitNecronomicon ex Mortis and Bloodfeast Ritual are both US death metal bands, and they have teamed up for this split release.

Bloodfeast Ritual share a guitarist with Necronomicon ex Mortis, and deliver two songs to start off the split, with a total duration of 14 minutes. Continue reading “Necronomicon ex Mortis/Bloodfeast Ritual – You’ve Got Red on You – Split (Review)”

Old Skin – Wails of Ten Thousand (Review)

Old Skin - Wails of Ten ThousandThis is the debut album from US sludge band Old Skin.

Wails of Ten Thousand is a 28-minute beast of crushingly filthy sludge metal nastiness. The promo blurb states that it is for fans of bans like Eyehategod, Fistula, and Coffins, and that it contains noise and death metal elements. Sold! At least in theory. In practice, is it actually any good? Continue reading “Old Skin – Wails of Ten Thousand (Review)”

Retromorphosis – Psalmus Mortis (Review)

Retromorphosis - Psalmus MortisThis is the debut album from Swedish death metallers Retromorphosis.

Well, this was an instantly enticing proposition. It’s death metal brought to us by ex-members of Spawn of Possession, (four out of five of Retromorphosis’ members), and an ex-member of Decrepit Birth, which is enough to get anyone’s notice. However, when you look at their collective history though, you realise just how much experience they bring to the table – Alkaloid, Blood Red Throne, Deeds of Flesh, Defeated Sanity, Eschaton, Obscura, Necrophagist, Visceral Bleeding, and many others. What a list! Considering this, expectations are high for Psalmus Mortis, perhaps unfairly so. Continue reading “Retromorphosis – Psalmus Mortis (Review)”

Serpents of Pakhangba – Air and Fire (Review)

Serpents of Pakhangba - Air and FireThis is the second album from Indian avant-garde metal band Serpents of Pakhangba.

Air and Fire is an ambitious album, in more ways than one. Across 54 minutes you’ll find a wealth of creativity and ideas, all delivered with skilled performances and detailed songwriting. Serpents of Pakhangba are resolutely not your average band. Continue reading “Serpents of Pakhangba – Air and Fire (Review)”

Obscura – A Sonication (Review)

Obscura - A SonicationObscura are a death metal band from Germany and this is their seventh album.

2018’s Diluvium was a feast of modern technicality, while 2021’s A Valediction offered a melodic refresh of the Obscura sound that so many had come to love. So what does A Sonication bring us in 2025? Continue reading “Obscura – A Sonication (Review)”

Phrenelith – Ashen Womb (Review)

Phrenelith - Ashen WombThis is the third album from Phrenelith, a death metal band from Denmark.

Following on from 2021’s Chimaera comes the 39-minute monstrosity Ashen Womb. This is absolutely hideous stuff, from a band that apparently just keep on improving. Phrenelith have unleashed something truly malefic here. Continue reading “Phrenelith – Ashen Womb (Review)”

Relics of Humanity – Absolute Dismal Domain (Review)

Relics of Humanity - Absolute Dismal DomainThis is the third album from Belarus death metallers Relics of Humanity.

It’s been a while since 2019’s Obscuration came out; a devastating EP that left me hungry for more. Alas, there was no more to be had, at least not until now. So, after six years, and with a change in singer, can the 2025 version of Relics of Humanity still hold their own in the death metal killing arenas? Continue reading “Relics of Humanity – Absolute Dismal Domain (Review)”