This is the debut album from Fathomless Ritual, a solo death metal band from Canada.
Brought to us by a member of Gutvoid, Hymns for the Lesser Gods is a 39-minute slab of foul death metal. Old-school and cavernous, it fuses technical skill with brute force, making for an unholy merging of sophistication and simplicity. Continue reading “Fathomless Ritual – Hymns for the Lesser Gods (Review)”
This 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)”
This is the second album from US death metallers Vitriol.
After enjoying Vitriol’s vicious assault live a few years ago I was left with the favourable impression of Hate Eternal/Nile-esque death metal fury, so I’m glad to be finally hearing one of their albums; it’s time to find out if these musical comparisons are appropriate or not. Continue reading “Vitriol – Suffer & Become (Review)”
Cognizance are a death metal band from the UK and this is their third album.
2021’s Upheaval was a quality record, so I have been looking forward to Phantazein. I’ve enjoyed Cognizance since their debut EP Inquisition way back in 2013, and it’s been great to see them develop. Continue reading “Cognizance – Phantazein (Review)”
This 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)”
This 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)”
This is the second album from Devils Reef, a death metal band from the US.
Following on from 2021’s Chosen by the Sea, The Droste Observer is an evolved form of this death metal predator. Offering up a lean, mean 36 minutes of new material, Devils Reef demonstrate that they are worth being mentioned in the same breath as bands like Revocation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, Allegaeon, Black Crown Initiate, and the like. Continue reading “Devils Reef – The Droste Observer (Review)”
This 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)”
This is the debut album from US death metal band Distention.
Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Equipoise, Rivers of Nihil, The Kennedy Veil, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, and Virulent Depravity, you know a lot of experience has gone into the 30 minutes of brutal material on Nothing Comes from Death, and it shows. Continue reading “Distention – Nothing Comes from Death (Review)”
Stortregn are a black/death metal band from Switzerland and this is their sixth album.
Well, this is an impressive beast. If you’re looking for a feast of riffs, technicality, and melody, then look no further than Finitude. It boasts 43 minutes of the stuff, and it’s a real scorcher. Continue reading “Stortregn – Finitude (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 