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)”

Helfró – Tálgröf (Review)

Helfró - TálgröfHelfró are a black/death metal band from Iceland and this is their second album.

Following on from 2020’s enjoyable Helfró comes Tálgröf, which boasts 36 minutes of new material. Marginally shorter than its predecessor, despite having one track more, what does this mean for the Helfró of 2023? Continue reading “Helfró – Tálgröf (Review)”

Owdwyr – Receptor (Review)

Owdwyr - ReceptorThis is the debut album from US extreme metal band Owdwyr.

Receptor is an interesting beast. Blurring the boundaries between technical death metal, grindcore, and progressive metal, Owdwyr’s music is a riot of violence and exploratory brutality. It’s a 44-minute sophisticated wrecking ball. Continue reading “Owdwyr – Receptor (Review)”

Disguised Malignance – Entering the Gateways (Review)

Disguised Malignance - Entering the GatewaysDisguised Malignance are a Finnish death metal band and this is their debut album.

Disguised Malignance serve up 34 minutes of disgusting old-school death metal, and they do so with undisguised talent. Entering the Gateways is shockingly good fun. Continue reading “Disguised Malignance – Entering the Gateways (Review)”

Cvinger – Doctrines by the Figures of Črnobog (Review)

Cvinger - Doctrines by the Figures of ČrnobogCvinger are a Slovakian black metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been ten years since Cvinger’s debut EP Monastery of Fallen, so now seems like a good time to see what they’re up to on their third album. With a promo blurb that mentions bands like 1349, Marduk, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, and Morbid Angel, you have a pretty good starting point for Cvinger’s hostile, yet mood-rich assault. Continue reading “Cvinger – Doctrines by the Figures of Črnobog (Review)”

Unblessed Divine – Portal to Darkness (Review)

Unblessed Divine - Portal to DarknessThis is the debut album from international death metal band Unblessed Divine.

Featuring ex-members of Malevolent Creation, Sinister, and Decapitated, Portal to Darkness contains 45 minutes of expressive and atmospheric death metal. Continue reading “Unblessed Divine – Portal to Darkness (Review)”

Ageless Summoning – Corrupting the Entempled Plane (Review)

Ageless Summoning - Corrupting the Entempled PlaneAgeless Summoning are a death metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Featuring members of Abyssal, Inculcator, and Of Spire and Throne, Corrupting the Entempled Plane contains 49 minutes of ancient death metal that’s baleful and absolutely packed with evil riffs. Continue reading “Ageless Summoning – Corrupting the Entempled Plane (Review)”

Outer Heaven – Infinite Psychic Depths (Review)

Outer Heaven - Infinite Psychic DepthsThis is the second album from US death metallers Outer Heaven.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2018’s Realms of Decay, and I can’t quite believe that it came out so long ago. Regardless, Outer Heaven are now back, and they have brought 46 minutes of shockingly good death metal with them. Continue reading “Outer Heaven – Infinite Psychic Depths (Review)”

Phlebotomized – Clouds of Confusion (Review)

Phlebotomized - Clouds of ConfusionPhlebotomized are a progressive death metal band from the Netherlands and this is their fourth album.

Phlebotomized play a creative form of death metal that combines progressive structuring and ideas with melodic grace, technical skills, and moments of outright brutality. Across 47 minutes they craft a journey of texture and detail on an unconventional death metal canvas. Continue reading “Phlebotomized – Clouds of Confusion (Review)”

Voidceremony – Threads of Unknowing (Review)

Voidceremony - Threads of UnknowingThis is the second album from US death metallers Voidceremony.

Featuring members of Decrepisy, Cauldron Black Ram, Mournful CongregationAtramentus, Worm, and First Fragment, it’s clear a lot of talent and experience has gone into Threads of Unknowing, and this is reason enough to check out Voidceremony. Then the promo blurb goes and tells me Continue reading “Voidceremony – Threads of Unknowing (Review)”