Human Cull – To Weep for Unconquered Worlds (Review)

Human Cull - To Weep for Unconquered WorldsThis is the third album from UK grindcore band Human Cull.

Somehow I missed this when it came out in January, so the fact that it’s now had a vinyl release seems the perfect opportunity to see what Human Cull’s third album has to offer. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, make sure you check out 2014’s Stillborn Nation and 2018’s Revenant for some great grinding fun. Continue reading “Human Cull – To Weep for Unconquered Worlds (Review)”

Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Nicolas Cage Fighter (Interview)

Although I’d ideally love to be able to conduct hard-hitting, in-depth interviews, who has the time these days? In lieu of this, I’ve thrown together the below question template, hopefully to gather some interesting and informative results, without taking up too much of anyone’s time.

Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

I’m Justin and I play guitar for Metallic Hardcore band – Nicolas Cage Fighter. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Nicolas Cage Fighter (Interview)”

False Gods – Neurotopia (Review)

False Gods - NeurotopiaFalse Gods are a doom/sludge metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Neurotopia contains eight tracks, (seven originals and a doomified Integrity cover), for a total of 50 minutes of material. False Gods play a compelling brand of doom and sludge metal that also benefits from elements of hardcore. Continue reading “False Gods – Neurotopia (Review)”

Nicolas Cage Fighter – The Bones That Grew from Pain (Review)

Nicolas Cage Fighter - The Bones That Grew from PainThis is the debut album from Nicolas Cage Fighter, a metallic hardcore band from Australia.

The promo blurb states that Nicholas Cage Fighter combine “ruthless hardcore, late 90s metal and death metal influences”, which sets the scene nicely for the 37 minutes of material on The Bones That Grew from Pain.

Imagine a mixture of Hatebreed, Pantera, and the groovy aspect of bands like Thy Art Is Murder and Decapitated, and you’ll have a rough idea of where Nicolas Cage Fighter are coming from. They specialise is music that takes the metallic hardcore style from the 2000s and adds in more contemporary influences.

The music is full of energy and muscular heaviness. These songs are designed for the live arena, but are well-written enough to survive outside of their natural environment. Crushing breakdowns, heavy riffs, and roared vocals are the main order of business, and Nicolas Cage Fighter know their trade well. The songs are heavy, angry, are catchier than you might expect, and are just plain fun to listen to.

I like the inclusion of ambient, melodic, and atmospheric elements into the band’s brutal sound. These are only small enhancements to the songs and only appear at select moments, but they add value nonetheless. I also really like the singer’s vocals. They’re well-performed and varied enough to hold interest.

The Bones That Grew from Pain sits nicely next to recent records by Malevolence and Cage Fight. If you are looking for an album to hit the gym to, or just something to go and break stuff to, then this is for you.

A highly recommended slab of crushing heaviness.

Outright – Keep You Warm (Review)

Outright - Keep You WarmThis is the second album from metallic hardcore band Outright.

Described in the promo blurb as a mix of Walls of Jericho and Slayer, this is as good an introduction as any to Outright’s sound, (I’d also throw in a bit of Capra too, as a more recent reference point). Continue reading “Outright – Keep You Warm (Review)”

Antigama – Whiteout (Review)

Antigama - WhiteoutThis is the eighth album from Polish grindcore band Antigama.

I always enjoy hearing Antigama, as no matter what they’re doing you know you’re going to at least get a good base level of quality (see MeteorThe Insolent, and Depressant as good examples). Continue reading “Antigama – Whiteout (Review)”

Mantar – Pain Is Forever and This Is the End (Review)

Mantar - Pain Is Forever and This Is the EndThis is the fourth album from German blackened metal act Mantar.

This is the follow up to 2018’s The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze, (if you ignore the band’s cover album from 2020), and contains 41 minutes of new material. Pain Is Forever and This Is the End is the next logical evolution of Mantar’s sound, bringing a more direct song-focused approach to the music, while Continue reading “Mantar – Pain Is Forever and This Is the End (Review)”

Vomit Forth – Seething Malevolence (Review)

Vomit Forth - Seething MalevolenceThis is the debut album from Vomit Forth, a death metal band from the US.

Vomit Forth play brutal death metal that’s punishing and unforgiving. Across a very compact and lean 29 minutes the band deal out death and carnage to all that come before them. Continue reading “Vomit Forth – Seething Malevolence (Review)”

Candy – Heaven Is Here (Review)

Candy - Heaven Is HereCandy are a hardcore band from the US and this is their second album.

I do so enjoy music that’s violent and punishing, and Candy’s scathing mix of industrial, metal, and hardcore is exactly that. Across 30 minutes the band demonstrate that they’re very capable in all of these arenas. Continue reading “Candy – Heaven Is Here (Review)”