MORS PRINCIPIUM EST – Seven

Having been a reviewer for over 13 years I am aware of how one’s ability to objectively assess a given album increases with time, including the ability to look back on past scores and wince in disbelief. It’s easy to pick those moments when we have overrated an album, harder, when we’ve underrated it. For…

HATEBREED – Weight Of The False Self

James Vincent "Jamey Jasta" Shanahan is an interesting if a controversial figure in American metalcore. Much like Philip Hansen Anselmo, over the course of his musical career, because he is a bald screaming white hardcore right-winger, he has been accused of homophobia and xenophobia, and is supposed to be easily prone to violence. However, while…

SCATTERFACE – 2020

The German-based Scatterface dabbles in a mixture of synth wave, electro pop/rock, and industrial rock/metal, and this record of his, which is simply entitled ”2020”, is essentially a solo output albeit one that features several appearances by musicians and singers from around the world. How does the project fare then? Honestly, not that well. The…

SODOM – Genesis XIX

As of 2022, Germany’s Sodom will officially be 40 years old, with legendary frontman Tom Angelripper a year shy of his 60th birthday. This information, whilst a testament to the band’s longevity, is also mind-boggling when listening to their new album, the absolutely devastating ‘Genesis XIX’, because it has the energy of a band 30…

DARK TRANQUILLITY – Moment

"There comes a point in life – a moment – when your mind outlives its desires, its obsessions, when your habits survive your dreams, and when your losses… Maybe death is a gift" – says Kevin Spacey as David Gale in "The Life Of David Gale" (2003). The Swedish melodic death metallers Dark Tranquillity (DT)…

THANATEROS – Insomnia

The German act named Thanateros is an intriguing and interesting one. With a strong and prevalent emphasis on atmosphere and gloom, these guys draw on a myriad of different musical influences and this 17-track effort (the special edition contains four bonus cuts) of theirs is damn-near impossible to pigeonhole or classify. How about dark hard…

CELESTIAL SEASON – The Secret Teachings

When discussing my review of Thurisaz’ excellent "Re-Incentive" album, Viral Propaganda PR’s David recommended the new Celestial Season’s release "The Secret Teachings". Now, I had never heard about these Nijmegen, Gelderland, Dutchmen before so I happily took advantage of the opportunity to familiarize myself with the recording. The occasion turned out to be threefold as…

BESTIAL WARFARE – Desecrating Goat Assault

The German sickos Bestial Warfare churn out raw and fierce black/death metal from the vilest pit of the hellish underground and this upcoming 5-track EP of theirs is as insane as they come. The sound and style of this cursed thing is not altogether that different to what acts such as Blasphemy, Conqueror, Impiety, Revenge,…

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