NEONDERTHAL DEATH – Neonderthal (Nightmare Begins)

This 2-track vinyl EP by the strangely unsettling ensemble that is Neonderthal Death is a highly original and wonderfully eccentric piece of work. The two compositions that constitute this release are driven by warm and pulsating synthesizers, a rather simple beat, and murky death metal growls. Weird or intriguing? The answer is “Both”. What initially…

EMERALD SABBATH – Ninth Star (A Tribute to Black Sabbath)

Emerald Sabbath is an interesting ensemble consisting of the talented Michael Suilleabhain Bundade and a long line of former members of Black Sabbath including Neil Murray, Bev Bevan, Bobby Rondinelli, Ron Keel, Vinny Appice, Laurence Cottle, Adam Wakeman, and Terry Chimes. "Ninth Star" contains eleven renditions of various Sabbath classics such as "Die Young", "Trashed",…

LAHMIA – Resilience

Lahmia is a ruined city in Nehekhara, located on the eastern side of the Worlds Edge Mountains but the Italian melodic death metal band likely takes the name after the demon from the horror "Drag Me To Hell", which is also the name of the opener on their debut album "Into The Abyss" (2012). The…

HEKSEN – Post-Mortem Psychanalyse Reloaded

The French death/thrash metal act formed in 2008 and their first demo, "Inquisition: The Way Of Suffering", was released a year later. Heksen broke up in 2011 only to reactivate two years later. Their debut album, "Post-Mortem Psychanalyse" was independently released in 2016 and caught attention of Great Dane Records, whereby the idea of releasing…

NEKHRAH – Cosmic Apostasy

This "4-piece nihilistic, anti-carnal, anti-cosmic brutality from Cyprus" as vocalist A, guitarist C, bassist T and drummer M describe the death metal quartet, was first born in 2011 as Impalement, independently released a digital only three track demo "Let There Be Nothing" (2014) to change the name to Nekhrah a year later, although given their…

MOURNING SUN – Último Exhalario

The cleverly and sardonically named Mourning Sun, comprised of four Chilean atmospheric doomsters, female vocalist/lyricist Ana Carolina, guitarist Sebastián Castillo, keyboardist/pianist Eduardo Poblete and drummer Claudio Hernández at the time of the recording of this here LP, was conceived in 2013 and two years later released their first EP "Vaho (Visions And Hidden Oracles)", all…

SYRENCE – Freedom in Fire

Syrence offer pure, no-frills heavy metal with power and bombast to it and it seems to incorporate influences from Dio, Judas Priest, early Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath (the Dio and Tony Martin eras), and even Thin Lizzy and Rainbow at their most aggressive. In fact, this 12-track album of theirs very often brings to mind…

CRYPTIC GRAVE – Cryptic Grave

The French death metallers Cryptic Grave formed in 2015 by former Satanic black metal outfit Torgeist’s vocalist/guitarist Richard, guitarist J-B, bassist Gaby and drummer Etienne and two years later independently released the self-titled EP. In 2018, having signed with Great Dane Records, they re-released their debut EP with an intro "Through Death’s Door" and outro…

CHAOSEUM – First Step To Hell

The Swiss metalcore outfit formed last year when four members of symphonic/power/gothic metal band Elferya, Serbian-born vocalist Lola "Van Loo" Milovanovic, guitarists Loic Duruz and Valery Veings and drummer Greg Turini, desired to change direction to a metalcore territory in the vein of Killswitch Engage and Trivium while incorporating some influences from their past musical…

CALCINED – Discpline

This Swiss brutal death metal band was born in 2008 and, a year later, independently produced a demo "4th Degree Burns", followed by "Thwarted" EP (2009), neither of which secured them a label. Finally, Calcined as Simon Piffeux (bass, backing vocals), Lionel (drums), Florian "Magnus" Jacot-Descombes (vocals) and Jéjé (guitar) signed a deal with Great…

MOONSHADE – Sun Dethroned

The Portuguese melodic death metal outfit was formed in 2010, and rightaway an EP "The Path Of Redemption" was recorded. After four years, another EP "Dream/Oblivion" signified the band preparing for a full length, this here, "Sun Dethroned", which they have recorded with vocalist/lyricist Ricardo Pereira, guitarists/backing vocalists Pedro Quelhas (also keyboards) and Daniel Laureano,…

ALMØST HUMAN – XS2XTC

The Swiss act named Almøst Human is an interesting one in that it mixes and blends progressive metal with something akin to alternative rock and the result is both musically satisfying and surprisingly cohesive on a structural level. I love the way in which totally different parts with atmospheres that are in stark contrast to…

ECTOVOID – Inner Death

US death mongers Ectovoid have released some rather impressive things that reek of all things rotten and vile since the conception of the band back in 2010 and this upcoming 7" EP/tape EP of theirs entitled “Inner Death” is no different. Foul and vicious death metal with nods to Incantation and Autopsy is the order…

DEATHTALE – Origin of Hate

The Austrian death/thrash metal outfit formed in 2009 and is one of the most interesting bands I never heard of before this, their third full lenght. The band consists of vocalist Patrick Pieler, rhythm guitarist Arian Rezaie, lead guitarist Gilli Gehring, bassist Philipp Späth and drummer Tom Kräutner. What fascinates me as much about Deathtale?…

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