Ripped to Shreds – Sanshi (Review)

Ripped to Shreds - SanshiThis is the fourth album from US death metallers Ripped to Shreds.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2022’s 劇變 (Jubian), so have been excited to listen to Sanshi. Containing 41 minutes of new material, Ripped to Shreds are on fire on their new record. Continue reading “Ripped to Shreds – Sanshi (Review)”

Emasculator – The Disfigured and the Divine (Review)

Emasculator - The Disfigured and the DivineThis is the debut EP from international death metallers Emasculator.

Featuring the vocal talents of the singer of Unfathomable Ruination, (also ex-Abnormality), Emasculator are here to bring the death metal carnage. The Disfigured and the Divine contains 21 minutes of brutal death metal caved up into seven bloody chunks. Continue reading “Emasculator – The Disfigured and the Divine (Review)”

Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Review)

Summoning the Lich - Under the Reviled ThroneSummoning the Lich are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Summoning the Lich throw a few different influences into a brutally tasty death metal blender, and shake it with great force. The end result is Under the Reviled Throne, which serves up 40 minutes of music that takes the melodic and technical death metal styles and soaks them in fantasy-soaked flavourings. Continue reading “Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Review)”

Necrot – Lifeless Birth (Review)

Necrot - Lifeless BirthNecrot are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

2020’s Mortal was an enjoyable slab of old-school death metal carnage, and now Necrot are back to reap more limbs with the 40-minute Lifeless Birth. It’s a step up a level for Necrot, one you must listen to if you’re a fan of bands such as Gatecreeper, Bolt Thrower, Undeath, Incantation, Blood Red Throne, Autopsy, Grave, Tomb Mold, Outer Heaven, Genocide Pact, etc. Continue reading “Necrot – Lifeless Birth (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)”

Exocrine – Legend (Review)

Exocrine - LegendThis is the sixth album from French death metallers Exocrine.

A new Exocrine album is always a thing to be celebrated. 2018’s Molten Giant and 2020’s Maelstrom were both notable records, but then 2022’s The Hybrid Suns saw the band shift up a level once more. Now, hot on the heels of that last release, comes Legend, featuring 45 minutes of music, (40 without the bonus track). So what does Legend have to offer the discerning extreme metal fan in 2024? Continue reading “Exocrine – Legend (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)”

Engulf – The Dying Planet Weeps (Review)

Engulf - The Dying Planet WeepsThis is the debut album from US solo death metal act Engulf.

Across 36 minutes The Dying Planet Weeps spans a range of influences, from the old-school to the new. The music of Engulf prioritises a non-standard song-based approach that combines sinuous riffs, expressive harsh vocals, and macabre darkness. Continue reading “Engulf – The Dying Planet Weeps (Review)”

Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Review)

Beyond Grace - Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1This is the latest EP from Beyond Grace, a death metal band from the UK.

I always enjoy catching up with Beyond Grace, and have watched their development closely over the years. From the early promise of 2014’s Monstrous, to the debut roar of 2017’s Seekers, to 2021’s crowning achievement so far Our Kingdom Undone, Beyond Grace’s upward trajectory has been a satisfying and rewarding one. Continue reading “Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Review)”

The Ritual Aura – Heresiarch (Review)

The Ritual Aura - HeresiarchThis is the fourth album from The Ritual Aura, a death metal band from Australia.

I enjoyed 2015’s Laniakea and 2016’s colossal Tæther, but I never realised until recently that they also had a 2019 album, (Velothi), that I’ve never heard. Well, Heresiarch offers a great opportunity to see what The Ritual Aura are up to in 2023. With a new lineup since I last caught up with them, (including a member of Tómarúm), and 56 minutes of new material, what does Heresiarch assail us with? Continue reading “The Ritual Aura – Heresiarch (Review)”