Moss upon the Skull – The Scourge of Ages (Review)

Moss upon the SkullMoss upon the Skull are a death metal band from Belgium and this is their debut EP.

This is atypical progressive death metal. This is the type of band that are great to hear.

Rather than sticking to the standard genre tropes, they have decided to play death metal their own way on their own terms. Continue reading “Moss upon the Skull – The Scourge of Ages (Review)”

Iapetus – The Long Road Home (Review)

IapetusThis is the debut album from Iapetus, a progressive death metal band from the US.

Okay, here we have – deep breath – atmospheric, progressive, melodic death metal. Well, that wasn’t so bad, actually. Continue reading “Iapetus – The Long Road Home (Review)”

Replacire – Do Not Deviate (Review)

ReplacireThis is the second album by US technical death metallers Replacire.

I always enjoy a new techdeath release, especially when you never really know what you’re going to get when you press play.

In its dark heart this is a highly aggressive and Continue reading “Replacire – Do Not Deviate (Review)”

Virulent Depravity – Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (Review)

Virulent DepravityVirulent Depravity are a technical death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Who doesn’t love some head-turning dizzying techdeath now and again?

Although the album cover Continue reading “Virulent Depravity – Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (Review)”

Reaping Asmodeia – Impuritize (Review)

Reaping AsmodeiaThis is the second album from Reaping Asmodeia, a technical death metal band from the US.

I find it so easy to like this kind of thing. It’s hyper-modern, with withering technicality, hard-as-nails brutality and enough progressive depth to keep things interesting…Reaping Asmodeia have delivered a monster of an album. Continue reading “Reaping Asmodeia – Impuritize (Review)”

Sunless – Urraca (Review)

SunlessSunless are a progressive death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Well, if this isn’t a twisting mass of complex nastiness. Urraca is 44 minutes of progressive/technical death metal full of dissonant, experimental and avant-garde stylings. Continue reading “Sunless – Urraca (Review)”

The Ritual Aura – Tæther (Review)

The Ritual AuraThis is The Ritual Aura’s second album. They are an Australian technical death metal band.

Well, hold on to your hat, because you won’t be expecting this.

The Ritual Aura’s 2015 debut album Laniakea was a favourite of mine. At only 26 minutes in length it was a supremely enjoyable blast of cutting-edge death metal. Tæther is, to say the least, a lot more ambitious, lasting over 70 minutes in length. In many ways this seems like a different band altogether. Continue reading “The Ritual Aura – Tæther (Review)”

Wormhole – Genesis (Review)

WormholeWormhole are a US/international death metal band and this is their debut album.

Featuring two singers, (from Vulvodynia and Engorging the Autopsy), and containing 27 minutes of cutting edge extremity, this is sure to be a hit with any fan of brutal, slamming death metal, especially if you’re looking for more depth than you usually find on such releases. Continue reading “Wormhole – Genesis (Review)”

Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)

Ophidian SpellOphidian Spell are a symphonic/melodic death metal band from France and this is their debut album.

Combining aspects of melodic, progressive and symphonic death metal into their delivery, Ophidian Spell offer up the listener a modern blend of these various influences. I can hear aspects of The Faceless, Devin Townsend, In Flames, Emperor/Ihsahn, Ne Obliviscaris, Delain and Septic Flesh in the mix, along with some others. Continue reading “Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)”