Downfall of Mankind – Purgatory (Review)

Downfall of Mankind - PurgatoryThis is the second album from Portuguese deathcore band Downfall of Mankind.

The promo blurb recommends Purgatory for fans of bands such as Distant, Gojira, and Lorna Shore, and calls it a mix of deathcore, progressive metal and atmosphere, which saves me the job of providing a rough overview before we get into the meat of it. Continue reading “Downfall of Mankind – Purgatory (Review)”

Cognitive – Abhorrence (Review)

Cognitive - AbhorrenceThis is the fifth album from US death metallers Cognitive.

I always enjoy a new slab of Cognitive, (check out 2016’s Deformity, 2018’s Matricide, and 2021’s Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction), so Abhorrence is well-received. Across 36 minutes Cognitive deliver the goods. Continue reading “Cognitive – Abhorrence (Review)”

Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things (Review)

Alpha Wolf - Half Living ThingsAlpha Wolf are an Australian metalcore band and this is their third album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2020’s A Quiet Place to Die, as well as 2022’s split with Holding Absence The Lost & the Longing, so more new material from Alpha Wolf is very well-received. I dislike the album art, but ignoring that, what do Alpha Wolf have in store for us this time around? Continue reading “Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things (Review)”

Ingested – The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams (Review)

Ingested - The Tide of Death and Fractured DreamsThis is the seventh album from UK death metallers Ingested.

So, if you’re a fan of deathcore-edged brutal death metal, then you must surely know of Ingested by now, (if not, acquaint yourself with The Level Above Human, Where Only Gods May Tread, Ashes Lie Still, and the rest). Ingested seem to be on a bit of a creative binge over the last few years, pumping out albums like nobody’s business, which brings us to the 45 minutes of heaviness that is The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams. Continue reading “Ingested – The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams (Review)”

Aborted – Vault of Horrors (Review)

Aborted - Vault of HorrorsAborted are a death metal band from Belgium and this is their twelfth album.

I can’t help but love Aborted. Their addictive blast and groove approach to death metal is tried, tested, and brutally efficient. I’ll link my reviews for Retrogore, Bathos, Terrorvision, and Maniacult, and urge you to check them all out, as they’re definitely all worth your time. Which brings us to Vault of Horrors, the new 40-minute Aborted offering. Continue reading “Aborted – Vault of Horrors (Review)”

Apogean – Cyberstrictive (Review)

Apogean - CyberstrictiveThis is the debut album from US death metal band Apogean.

Cyberstrictive contains 44 minutes of modern technical death metal. As a lazy intro, I’m just going to quote the blrub on their Bandcamp page – “Apogean drew their inspiration from such groups as Soreption, The Faceless, Obscura, Necrophagist, The Black Dahlia Murder, Archspire, and The Zenith Passage. It’s a safe bet that fans of those bands will thoroughly enjoy what they have to offer.” Continue reading “Apogean – Cyberstrictive (Review)”

Defocus – There Is a Place for Me on Earth (Review)

Defocus - There Is a Place for Me on EarthDefocus are a German metalcore band and this is their second album.

Following on from 2021’s In the Eye of Death We Are All the Same comes There Is a Place for Me on Earth, bringing us 32 minutes of aggressive new material. Continue reading “Defocus – There Is a Place for Me on Earth (Review)”

Enterprise Earth – Death: An Anthology (Review)

Enterprise Earth - Death An AnthologyThis is the fifth album from US death metal/deathcore band Enterprise Earth.

2020’s EP Foundation of Bones was a solid introduction to the band for me, but I really enjoyed 2022’s The Chosen. Yes it was too long, but I really liked the band’s ability to combine deathcore and death metal with a range of different ideas and influences to create something above the norm for the style. Two years and a new singer later, and Enterprise Earth have returned with Death: An Anthology, which delivers 59 minutes of new material. It has not disappointed. Continue reading “Enterprise Earth – Death: An Anthology (Review)”

Cabal/Viscera/Vexed/Lifesick – Rebellion, Manchester – 16/01/24 (Live Review)

Cabal Viscera Vexed Lifesick - Rebellion, Manchester - 16.01.24 (Live Review)

Here’s a tasty show that I knew I wanted to catch. Both Viscera and Cabal are extremely well-regarded at Wonderbox Metal, so this was one for me to not miss. It was, however, one of the less well-attended gigs I’ve been to in a while. A shame, but it’s other people’s loss, as this was a damn good night out. Continue reading “Cabal/Viscera/Vexed/Lifesick – Rebellion, Manchester – 16/01/24 (Live Review)”

Alluvial – Death Is But a Door (Review)

Alluvial - Death Is But a DoorThis is the latest EP from Alluvial, a modern death metal band from the US.

Following on after 2021’s Sarcoma, Death Is But a Door contains four new songs and has a total duration of 17 minutes. Strap in, it’s gonna get heavy. Continue reading “Alluvial – Death Is But a Door (Review)”