Fit for an Autopsy/Thy Art Is Murder/Malevolence – The Aggression Sessions – Split (Review)

Fit for an Autopsy Thy Art Is Murder Malevolence - The Aggression SessionsThis is a split between Fit for an Autopsy, Thy Art Is Murder, and Malevolence, who are from the US, Australia, and the UK respectively. It’s the successor of sorts to 2016’s The Depression Sessions. Each band contributes one original and one cover track to this release, which lasts 23 minutes in total. Continue reading “Fit for an Autopsy/Thy Art Is Murder/Malevolence – The Aggression Sessions – Split (Review)”

Viscera – Carcinogenesis (Review)

Viscera - CarcinogenesisViscera are a death/metalcore band from the UK and this is their second album.

Carcinogenesis follows on from 2020’s Obsidian, which was a record I loved, so I have been really looking forward to hearing this new one. It has not disappointed. Continue reading “Viscera – Carcinogenesis (Review)”

Cabal – Magno Interitus (Review)

Cabal - Magno InteritusThis is the third album from Danish blackened deathcore band Cabal.

A new Cabal album is very welcome. 2020’s Drag Me Down was murderously good fun, so it’s great to greet Magno Interitus‘ 36 minutes with big expectations. But have Cabal once again delivered the goods? Continue reading “Cabal – Magno Interitus (Review)”

Warforged – The Grove | Sundial (Review)

Warforged - The Grove SundialWarforged are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Warforged bring us a death metal hybrid that mixes technical, progressive, experimental, and atmospheric elements into a 46-minute ever-changing monster. Continue reading “Warforged – The Grove | Sundial (Review)”

Nicolas Cage Fighter – The Bones That Grew from Pain (Review)

Nicolas Cage Fighter - The Bones That Grew from PainThis is the debut album from Nicolas Cage Fighter, a metallic hardcore band from Australia.

The promo blurb states that Nicholas Cage Fighter combine “ruthless hardcore, late 90s metal and death metal influences”, which sets the scene nicely for the 37 minutes of material on The Bones That Grew from Pain.

Imagine a mixture of Hatebreed, Pantera, and the groovy aspect of bands like Thy Art Is Murder and Decapitated, and you’ll have a rough idea of where Nicolas Cage Fighter are coming from. They specialise is music that takes the metallic hardcore style from the 2000s and adds in more contemporary influences.

The music is full of energy and muscular heaviness. These songs are designed for the live arena, but are well-written enough to survive outside of their natural environment. Crushing breakdowns, heavy riffs, and roared vocals are the main order of business, and Nicolas Cage Fighter know their trade well. The songs are heavy, angry, are catchier than you might expect, and are just plain fun to listen to.

I like the inclusion of ambient, melodic, and atmospheric elements into the band’s brutal sound. These are only small enhancements to the songs and only appear at select moments, but they add value nonetheless. I also really like the singer’s vocals. They’re well-performed and varied enough to hold interest.

The Bones That Grew from Pain sits nicely next to recent records by Malevolence and Cage Fight. If you are looking for an album to hit the gym to, or just something to go and break stuff to, then this is for you.

A highly recommended slab of crushing heaviness.

Ghost Bath – Self Loather (Review)

Ghost Bath - Self LoatherGhost Bath are a depressive black metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

I’m a big fan of Ghost Bath‘s work. Although somewhat divisive and an acquired taste for some, 2017’s Starmourner was so unusual and charismatic with its over-the-top histrionics and charged melodic atmosphere, that I couldn’t help but fall for it completely. As such, I’ve been looking forward to Self Loather. Continue reading “Ghost Bath – Self Loather (Review)”

Rivers of Nihil – The Work (Review)

Rivers of Nihil - The WorkThis is the fourth album from US progressive metallers Rivers of Nihil.

The Work is a 64-minute journey into the increasingly ambitious world of Rivers of Nihil. 2018’s very well-regarded Where Only Owls Know My Name introduced more progressive elements then the previous album did, and the end result of this same evolution is showcased on The Work. Continue reading “Rivers of Nihil – The Work (Review)”

Alluvial – Sarcoma (Review)

Alluvial - SarcomaThis is the second album from Alluvial, a modern death metal band from the US.

Sarcoma contains 38 minutes of progressive death metal. Alluvial fuse their modern approach to the style with technical, progressive, and atmospheric flourishes, yet do so in a restrained song-based way. This results in songs that are atypical expressions of Continue reading “Alluvial – Sarcoma (Review)”

Landmvrks – Lost in the Waves (Review)

Landmvrks - Lost in the WavesLandmvrks are a French metalcore band and this is their third album.

After their solid 2018 effort Fantasy, Landmvrks are now back with another 33 minutes of material. Lost in the Waves is heavier than its predecessor, but without losing its melodic edge. Shorter than the album that preceded it, it’s also more diverse. Continue reading “Landmvrks – Lost in the Waves (Review)”