Black Mass Pervertor – Phanerosis (Review)

Black Mass Black Mass PervertorPervertor are a Finnish black metal band and this is their debut album.

This is filthy, fast and furious black metal with crust and punk influences. It’s the kind of thing you might expect to come from the black metal underground, appealing to fans of the likes of Impaled Nazarene, Watchmaker and Black Witchery. Phanerosis sees the band carrying on the tradition of short, ugly songs that want to rape and kill you just for fun.

Rooted firmly in the oldest of old schools, Black Mass Pervertor Continue reading “Black Mass Pervertor – Phanerosis (Review)”

Interview with Spellcaster

Spellcaster Logo

Spellcaster’s third album Night Hides the World is a release that I’ve found so very easy to get on with. The high energy delivery, the sterling, soaring melodies, the insanely catchy songs…it all makes for an album that’s got high-repeat value and is just really, really good. Guitarist Bryce VanHoosen gave me a bit more background to the band and what makes them tick…

Tell us a bit about the background of Spellcaster

SPELLCASTER was started in 2009 as a fairly traditional speed metal band and released their debut, Under The Spell, in 2010. I joined in early 2013 after there was a fairly severe lineup shift. Tyler, our vocalist, originally played guitar, but moved to vocals after we parted ways with the original singer. I jumped on second guitar, and Colin took over on drums after the first drummer quit. We released our second album, SPELLCASTER, in 2014 and started a touring cycle for that album. We caught the attention of Prosthetic Records and signed a deal with them for our newest album, Night Hides The World, and are starting a touring cycle for that album now. Continue reading “Interview with Spellcaster”

Cicatrix – Suffocated Faith (Review)

CicatrixCicatrix are a Polish deathgrind band, and this is their second album.

Featuring 10 originals and 2 covers of Dead Infection and Terrorizer songs, Cicatrix wear their influences on their collective sleeves and deliver 29 minutes of utter carnage.

This is a mix of brutal death metal and ugly grindcore. The band know how to play fast, but Continue reading “Cicatrix – Suffocated Faith (Review)”

Impure Consecration – Succumb to Impurity Fire (Review)

Impure ConsecrationThis is the latest EP from this US death metal band.

Here we have a short blast of ancient, occult death metal that reeks of the old-school and decayed corpses.

With a playing time of less than 10 minutes the band waste no time in getting down to business. These songs are mouldy examples of the atavistic art of death metal, played with the fervour of fanatics and the skill of veterans. Continue reading “Impure Consecration – Succumb to Impurity Fire (Review)”

Somnium Nox – Apocrypha (Review)

Somnium NoxThis is the debut release from Somnium Nox, a black metal band from Australia.

Somnium Nox are harbingers of esoteric progressive/atmospheric black metal that plays out over one 16 minute track, revealing an expansive tapestry of music that explores the underground world of black metal with aplomb. Continue reading “Somnium Nox – Apocrypha (Review)”

Jinjer – King of Everything (Review)

JinjerJinjer are a metal band from the Ukraine, and this is their second album.

King of Everything mixes metalcore, hardcore, thrash metal, groove metal, melodic death metal and djent…Okay, that’s a lot of sub-genres. Let’s just say they cover a lot of bases.

That’s putting it too simply, though; in reality, Jinjer have managed to produce a complex and diverse album that has a whole lot more going on than you might expect for a band that’s labelled Continue reading “Jinjer – King of Everything (Review)”

Unmerciful – Ravenous Impulse (Review)

UnmercifulUnmerciful are a brutal death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Here we have a combination of relentlessly savage death metal mixed in with some USDM influences, giving the band some groove to go along with the pounding blast beats. I hear elements of Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Morbid Angel and Hate Eternal in their sound – all upgraded with a thoroughly modern delivery and precision of assault.

However, it’s the speed that is the real thing here. Unmerciful like to play fast, that’s for sure. The drumming is hugely Continue reading “Unmerciful – Ravenous Impulse (Review)”

Wired Anxiety – The Delerium of Negation (Review)

Wired AnxietyThis is the second EP from Wired Anxiety, an Indian death metal band.

Don’t be fooled by the rather thrash metal-esque cover; this is brutal death metal of the most devastating variety.

With crushing rhythms, martial double bass and relentless blast beats, Wired Anxiety hammer their colours to the mast and fly the flag for brutality in no uncertain terms. Continue reading “Wired Anxiety – The Delerium of Negation (Review)”

The Dead Goats – All of Them Witches (Review)

The Dead GoatsThis is the second album from Polish death metallers The Dead Goats.

Yes yes, I’m a sucker for Swedish death metal, we know this. The Dead Goats already impressed me with their last EP, Don’t Go in the Tomb, and now they return with a full 44 minutes of material. Hurrah!

Alright, the band may not be from Sweden, but Continue reading “The Dead Goats – All of Them Witches (Review)”

Abhoth – Abhoth (Review)

AbhothAbhoth are an atmospheric death metal band from Montenegro. This is their debut EP.

Keyboards are pretty much the first thing you hear upon pressing play, alongside some nicely warm-sounding drums. Then the guitars and deep, deep growls come in and you know we’re in business. Continue reading “Abhoth – Abhoth (Review)”