Depravity – Grand Malevolence (Review)

Depravity - Grand MalevolenceThis is the second album from Australian death metallers Depravity.

Depravity’s 2018 album Evil Upheaval was a fearsome slab of devastating death metal, so listening to their new slab of aggression was a must. Continue reading “Depravity – Grand Malevolence (Review)”

Cryptic Shift/Replicant/Inoculation/Astral Tomb – Chasm of Aeons – Split (Review)

Cryptic Shift Replicant Inoculation Astral Tomb - Chasm of AeonsA sci-fi themed 4-way death metal split release? Hell yes! Sign me up! The class artwork sealed the deal, to be honest, never mind the 19 minutes of quality cosmic metal of death on offer.

UK band Cryptic Shift are the only band here I actually know, (due to Visitations from Enceladus), so was expecting good things; I wasn’t disappointed. Cosmic Dreams is an older Continue reading “Cryptic Shift/Replicant/Inoculation/Astral Tomb – Chasm of Aeons – Split (Review)”

Contrarian – Only Time Will Tell (Review)

Contrarian - Only Time Will TellContrarian are a progressive/technical death metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

I wasn’t expecting a follow up to last year’s Their Worm Never Dies so soon, but I’m not complaining. Along with 2015’s Polemic and 2017’s To Perceive Is to Suffer, I’ve really enjoyed all of Contrarian’s material so far. Continue reading “Contrarian – Only Time Will Tell (Review)”

Spectrum of Delusion – Neoconception (Review)

Spectrum of Delusion - NeoconceptionThis is the second album from Spectrum of Delusion, a death metal band from the Netherlands.

Neoconception features 44 minutes of technical/progressive death metal. The promo blurb states that “Neoconception will strongly appeal to fans of groups such as Spawn of Possession, Suffocation, Obscura, Defeated Sanity, The Faceless, Blotted Science, and Nile“. Hard to argue, although I’d also add groups like Gorod, Beyond Creation, and Aronious. Continue reading “Spectrum of Delusion – Neoconception (Review)”

Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)

Cult of Lilith - MaraCult of Lilith are a death metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.

After a decent wait, we finally have the follow up to the early promise of 2016’s Arkanum. Between the two releases the band have picked up a new singer and filled out to an entire band, so that only one member remains from that first EP. Mara is largely the sound of a new entity. Continue reading “Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)”

Cytotoxin – Nuklearth (Review)

Cytotoxin - NuklearthCytotoxin are a German death metal band and this is their fourth album.

This is my first encounter with nuclear disaster-themed death metallers Cytotoxin, and it’s an extremely satisfying one. Across 44 minutes of material, the band demonstrate that they’re very capable purveyors of technical brutality. Imagine a mix of Aborted, Archspire, Omophagia, and The Faceless and you’ll be on the right lines. Continue reading “Cytotoxin – Nuklearth (Review)”

Sensory Amusia – Bereavement (Review)

Sensory Amusia - BereavementSensory Amusia are an Australian death metal band and this is their latest EP.

Prepare for 17 minutes of mayhem and carnage! Sensory Amusia play modern death metal smashed together with crushing deathcore and savage grind. The end result is a very engaging slice of ferocity, and is a tasty treat of technical deathgrind bliss. Continue reading “Sensory Amusia – Bereavement (Review)”

Reconstructed Torso – Varied (Review)

Reconstructed Torso - VariedThis is the debut album from Russian death metallers Reconstructed Torso.

Reconstructed Torso play a sci-fi themed brand of brutal death metal, and it’s damn good stuff. Despite its underground flavour, Varied offers a lot more to fans of the style than many of the band’s peers. Continue reading “Reconstructed Torso – Varied (Review)”

Katalepsy – Terra Mortuus Est (Review)

Katalepsy - Terra Mortuus EstThis is the third album from Katalepsy, a Russian death metal band.

2016’s Gravenous Hour was a superior release, and now Terra Mortuus Est continues the band’s developmental pathway that they are on. Katalepsy play the sort of modern death metal that grabs you by the throat and squeezes hard right before the beating starts. These guys don’t mess around. Continue reading “Katalepsy – Terra Mortuus Est (Review)”

Defeated Sanity – The Sanguinary Impetus (Review)

Defeated Sanity - The Sanguinary ImpetusDefeated Sanity are a German death metal band and this is their sixth album.

Defeated Sanity are a well-known band in technical/brutal death metal circles, and with good reason; they have a history of producing music that’s brutally challenging, and destructively effective. Continue reading “Defeated Sanity – The Sanguinary Impetus (Review)”