Imperishable – Revelation in Purity (Review)

Imperishable - Revelation in PurityImperishable are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Aurora Borealis, Enthean, Hate Eternal, Malevolent Creation, Nile, and Olkoth, Imperishable have a wealth of experience available to them. What do they do with it? They unleash the 32-minute Revelation in Purity, and you’d better get out of its way, lest you be left a bloody smear on the floor. Continue reading “Imperishable – Revelation in Purity (Review)”

Psycroptic/Ghost Bath/Underdark – Rebellion, Manchester – 02/08/25 (Live Review)

Psycroptic Ghost Bath Underdark - Rebellion, Manchester - 02.08.25

Psycroptic, Ghost Bath, and Underdark were originally part of a larger event, (with a pretty damn sexy lineup), that got cancelled for reasons unknown. In its place is this very enticing show, with only these three bands surviving the cut. It was a relatively late change, with the tickets not transferring, so I was hoping that this new event would have sold enough tickets in its own right to have a decent-sized crowd for the bands. Regardless of the turnout, I’ve been looking forward to this, Psycroptic especially, as I’ve never seen them and they’re one of the best tech death bands in existence. Continue reading “Psycroptic/Ghost Bath/Underdark – Rebellion, Manchester – 02/08/25 (Live Review)”

Offal Fest – Sunday Evening – Defeated Sanity/Wormed/Indecent Excision/Iniquitous Savagery – Manchester Rebellion, 27/07/25 (Live Review)

Offal Fest 25 - Full Poster

Offal Fest is a three-day festival of ultra-brutal death metal carnage. It consists of two main days, with a pre-show. Originally I was meant to attend both the Saturday and the Sunday, but much to my chagrin life got in the way, and instead the final four bands of the Sunday are all that I can manage, (I’m particularly gutted about missing Skinless). It’s time to make the most of it though, as I can still see some cracking bands, and I’ve been looking forward to it. Continue reading “Offal Fest – Sunday Evening – Defeated Sanity/Wormed/Indecent Excision/Iniquitous Savagery – Manchester Rebellion, 27/07/25 (Live Review)”

Ancient Death – Ego Dissolution (Review)

Ancient Death - Ego DissolutionThis is the debut album from US death metal band Ancient Death.

I missed this back in April, but it’s come repeatedly recommended to the point where I had to check it out. I’m glad I did. Ego Dissolution contains 35 minutes of vibrant classic death metal, played so well that I can easily see why Ancient Death have created a bit of a buzz around themselves. Continue reading “Ancient Death – Ego Dissolution (Review)”

Rhizaria – Indulgences (Review)

Rhizaria - IndulgencesThis is the debut album from US black/death metal band Rhizaria.

Rhizaria play a progressive form of black and death metal, delivering a hybrid style that’s irregular, and very compelling. Indulgences contains 40 minutes of material that scratches a very particular itch that sits right in a hard to reach place between atmosphere and dissonance. Continue reading “Rhizaria – Indulgences (Review)”

Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence (Review)

Cryptopsy - An Insatiable ViolenceThis is the ninth album from Canadian death metallers Cryptopsy.

A new Cryptopsy release is always an event to be celebrated. Less than two years after 2023’s very enjoyable As Gomorrah Burns, the band are now back with the 34-minute powerhouse that is An Insatiable Violence. Continue reading “Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence (Review)”

Fallujah – Xenotaph (Review)

Fallujah - XenotaphThis is the fifth album from US death metal band Fallujah.

Fallujah have a storied list of releases at this point, (The Flesh PrevailsDreamlessUndying LightEmpyrean), all worth getting your teeth into. After the slight dip in quality that was Undying Light, Fallujah returned very strong with Empyrean. All of which means I have been interested to see what the 42-minute Xenotaph brings us this time around. Continue reading “Fallujah – Xenotaph (Review)”

Rivers of Nihil – Rivers of Nihil (Review)

Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of NihilThis is the fifth album from US death metal band Rivers of Nihil.

Ah, the eponymously titled album, so far into a band’s career always gives me pause. Does it mark a career-best record, a reinvention, or a lack of identity? The album even carries a song called Rivers of Nihil. What’s going on here then? Which way will the band go with this? Continue reading “Rivers of Nihil – Rivers of Nihil (Review)”

Ominous Ruin – Requiem (Review)

Ominous Ruin - RequiemThis is the second album from US death metallers Ominous Ruin.

Following on from 2021’s enjoyable Amidst Voices That Echo in Stone, Ominous Ruin have returned, now with a new vocalist. Requiem brings us 40 minutes of technical/brutal death metal, and it’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Ominous Ruin – Requiem (Review)”

Changeling – Changeling (Review)

Changeling - ChangelingThis is the debut album from German progressive death metal band Changeling.

Changeling is brought to us by current/ex-members of Alkaloid, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity, Fear Factory, Obscura, Vipassi, and Virvum. It’s supported by an army of guests, who perform everything from guest solos, vocals, and choirs, to cello, flutes, horns, piano, tuba, violins, viola, and much, much more. The music combines progressive and technical death metal, with jazz fusion, progressive rock, and world music. It’s a lot, and it’s all packed into 60 minutes of compelling material. Continue reading “Changeling – Changeling (Review)”