Finally, 2022 has come to an end. One of the hardest years to live in a long time is ending. Hopefully next year things turn around and we can get some normalcy! I saw a bunch of killer shows this year after the lock down ended and hopefully in 2023, I get to see a lot more! Here are my reviews of recently released albums that I think you should know about. Forget about these in-depth reviews, I’m bringing you quick reviews on multiple releases to help you guide your way through the METAL world today!
BASICALLY, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, LIKE IT OR NOT…
Ratings: [0(sucks) to 5(awesome)]
{Format: Band – album title = rating |label |genre of metal. review}
CANDLEMASS – Sweet Evil Sun = 2.75/5 |Napalm |EPIC/DOOM METAL
I’ve been a longtime fan of CANDLEMASS, and I love all the earlier albums, then liked a few in the middle era and I really loved when Johan Langquist came back into the fold with the last album The Door of Doom and EP The Pendulum. Sweet Evil Sun starts off killer then just hits a blah/average block of song writing. Yeah, it has some cool, stand out songs but overall, the punch of this album doesn’t match the last two offerings. Sweet Evil Sun offers up strong heavy doom riffs with grooves while nailing that classic CANDLEMASS sound, but the material sounds too comfortable. CANDLEMASS, being one of the originators, could have delivered something way better to reconfirm they are leaders of the genre but this ends kind of stale. A decent album but not great. 10 tracks, 1 outro, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: TROUBLE, MEMENTO MORI, SOLITUDE AETURNUS, CATHEDRAL, BLACK SABBATH
OBVURT – Triumph Through Adversity = 3.25/5 |Unique Leader |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
Their debut EP, The Beginning, was incredible! A mix of tech, minor-dissonant and jazz-inspired DM that led to a hellish offering as it was with the concept EP about how in 2016, guitarist and vocalist Philippe Drouin was injured in a car accident. This led to him losing his dexterity in his right hand and unable to regain it. Two years later, he started to retrain as a left-hander and now plays left-handed. Triumph through Adversity continues that display of balance between brutality, grooves, melody, and technical/jazzy riffs that makes this band a force to be reckoned with. Just like the debut EP, this debut album is a beast and tech fans you need to take heed! 8 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good!
ffo: CRYPTOPSY, GOROD, BEYOND CREATION, AUGURY, NEURAXIS, FIRST FRAGMENT
MYTHOSPHERE – Pathological = 3.25/5 |Cruz Del Sur |Stoner/Doom/Traditional/Proto Metal
Longtime friend Ron “Fezzy” McGinnis has been a staple in the mid-Atlantic doom scene and I’m usually into whatever he’s involved with. His new venture is with other PALE DIVINE, ex-BEELZEFUZZ and ex-FATE WARNING members bringing a fusion of traditional/classic metal meets stoner/doom. Now normally, this really is not my cup of tea, but I do listen to a rare few and I do like what I’m hearing. MYTHOSPHERE is a mid-pace stoner/doom band that has strong roots in traditional metal but branches over to prog rock and a touch trippy at times, which makes for a nice switch for when I’m burnt out on the extreme end of the metal genre. If you really sit down and listen to this you can hear bits of DEEP PURPLE, RUSH and IRON MAIDEN mixed into this stoner/doom hybrid. Pathological is really something unique and brings a sense of new that is definitely worth a listen but deserves multiple to spins for full appreciation! This definitely has a “grows on you” type feel for me. All this and Victor Arduini one of the founding members of FATES WARNING is on this! This is a must! 8 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: PALE DIVINE, BEELEFUZZ, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, IRON MAIDEN
STABBING – Extirpated Mortal Process = 3/5 |Comatose |BRUTAL DEATH METAL
I absolutely loved their debut EP, Ravenous Psychotic Onslaught, as it sounded like a mix of DEVOURMENT and BRODEQUIN. I got to witness them live and they did not disappoint. That EP was in my top of the year list and I’m hoping this debut album matches that! Basically, you could say that STABBING is a breath of fresh air the brutal DM genre and is the second coming of what the genre should be! Definitely having that strong old school feel of the bands that made this genre, this might not be recreating the wheel but just pure f’n solid kick ass song writing. STABBING brings back what the BDM genre should be, no frills just straight forward brutality with some grooves! Extirpated Mortal Process is honestly a solid debut album offering that has lots of promise with room for improvement that leads to if this band sticks with it, will probably be a major force to be reckoned with very soon! Also, I’m going to minorly note that there’s two females in the band, I don’t want to make that the headline of this release but just acknowledge that’s awesome to have more female participation in the genre! 12 tracks, 4 are killer and 5 are good.
ffo: BRODEQUIN, DEVOURMENT, DISGORGE, PUTRIDITY, SEPTICAL GORGE, CEREBRAL INCUBATION
WOODS OF DESOLATION – The Falling Tide = 3.75/5 |Season of Mist |ATMOSPHERIC/EPIC BLACK METAL
WOODS OF DESOLATION started out as one of the best depressive BM bands I ever heard with their first two albums Toward the Depths and Torn Beyond Reason. Then in 2014 on the third album As the Stars, the sound shifted towards atmospheric/epic type vibe, and it was one the best BM albums from start to finish. The song writing being melodic but containing that depressive feel, yet it’ll make you head-bang throughout was just something really amazing! Now eight years later the new album The Falling Tide is here and it’s on the same level, really good but yet it’s nothing new. So, it really depends on how you look at it, do you want something familiar and great because of that or something new/different but still good?!? WOODS OF DESOLATION is a one-man band and solo member D has crafted something really special here in my opinion, but it may be too much of a continuation of the last album and not experimenting or doing anything new. The Falling Tide is very heavy with its atmospheric sound along with its catchy song writing. I feel, that As the Stars is a better album but this is a close second and does have that grows on you feeling too. Definitely one of the best in this sub-genre. 6 tracks, 3 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: REMETE, AUSTERE, DRUDKH, GHOST BATH, HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY, GAEREA, GREY WATERS
CRIMINAL ELEMENT – Abuse of Power = 3.25/5 |Coyote |DEATH METAL
Created by Vince Matthews, who’s a veteran of the Maryland DM scene, back in 2001 featuring rotating members of SUFFOCATION, DYING FETUS, CATASTROPHIC, MISERY INDEX and more. CRIMINAL ELEMENT has always been a middle of the pack type DM band for me. They definitely have a strong east coast/mid-Atlantic DM feel and at times sounding like a watered-down DYING FETUS. Don’t let that deter you as they are good just not great. Modus Operandi and Maiden Brooklyn are my favs and Abuse of Power could be thrown in there too. I think after more listening’s within the next year it’ll grow on me even more and be one of my favs. This also features a killer cover of SADISTIC TORMENT, which Vince and other members of DYING FETUS, MISERY INDEX, GARDEN OF SHADOWS put out a demo compilation on the might Wild Rags label back in the mid-90s. 11 tracks, 1 cover, 4 are killer and 3 are OK.
ffo: MISERY INDEX, INSTIGATE, ASPHALT GRAVES, DYING FETUS, CATASTROPHIC, SUFFOCATION
MARRASMIELI – Martaiden Mailta = 3/5 |Naturmacht Productions |PAGAN BLACK METAL
Here is a band I found out a year after its debut album because it was on a lot of peoples’ best of year album list. Their debut album Between Land and Sky floored me, I wasn’t ready for the mix of epic/pagan BM meets the rawness of Norwegian BM. MARRASMIELI is from Finland and “Marras” is an old Finnish word for “death” and “mieli” means “mind/mood”, so, Marrasmieli means “death of the mind/mood”. You could easily say take BATHORY in their heyday and mix in a strong pagan/folk instrumental vibe with a good production and that’s the core of this band. Even with a lot of folk-ish instrumentals throughout Martaiden Mailta it still maintains the aggressiveness of BM. If pagan/folk BM is your thing, then this is a must. I like the debut album a bit more, but this is a strong sophomore release! The only bad thing is there’s only a few tracks with long song times and one or more bad track really takes away more than it should from the overall album. This definitely scratches my folk BM itch. 5 tracks, 1 instrumental, 2 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: MOONSORROW, MANEGARM, BATHORY, SAOR, GALLOWBRAID, AGALLOCH
APPALLING – Sacrilege = 3.5/5 |Personal |BLACKENED DEATH METAL
Hailing from Richmond, VA, APPALLING brings us some top-notch blackened DM. Their first album, Secrets of the Adept, had more of a strong sludge feel to it and the sophomore album, Inverted Realm, lessened that vibe with a stronger focus on fast blasting BDM. Sacrilege is their third album and is the deadliest yet! I’m highly surprised by this as it definitely matches what you’d hear from ANGELCORPSE, IMPIETY, etc… Sacrilege offers a raw aggressive style with grinding blasting DM but includes intense melodic European BM that mixes down into some catchy songwriting that keeps you head-banging throughout. This is a must to check out if you like this sub-genre! Being a longtime fan and avid listener of the eastern VA metal scene from Richmond down to the Hampton Roads area, this is a band I wouldn’t expect to come from here but here they are and they’re fucking killing it! 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: ANGELCORPSE, GOATWHORE, PERDITION TEMPLE, IMPIETY, ORDER FROM CHAOS
MISþYRMING – Með Hamri = 3/5 |Norma Evangelium Diaboli |BLACK METAL
In the past few years, I’ve discovered a few BM bands from Iceland and Iceland definitely puts out a different sound of this genre. I wasn’t a fan of their first album, Songvar elds og oreidu, but their sophomore album, Algleymi, was f’n fantastic as it seriously turned things around as the bands’ sound became more focused, tighter and mixed more melodic riffs to their style. Með Hamri offers up a lot of what you heard on the last album and still maintains an overall atmosphere that is relentless, a bit symphonic that makes it feel dark and giving it a raw BM vibe. MISþYRMING have effortlessly blends the old and new in the genre that’s raw and fiery making it a great listen. This album is very solid but doesn’t top their last album Algleymi. This is a band that you differently need to check out if you’re into BM! They are worth your attention, and you’ll probably have another favorite BM band to listen too! 6 tracks, 2 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: ASCENSION, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, AOSOTH, SWALLOW THE SUN, UADA, MGLA
CATALYST – A Different Painting for a New World = 3/5 |Non Serviam |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
Coming out of France, CATALYST has taken the tech/prog DM genre and blended it with a strong European/Gothenburg melodic style with enough grooves and technical precision to make a great band.
With an EP, Dawn of a Dreadful Fate and full length, The Great Purpose of the Lords, this sophomore album the band is getting better and fine tuning their sound. With clean and brutal vocals, they remind me of a more brutal version SCAR SYMMETRY and the music reminds of what EXOCRINE is doing nowadays. If you want to hear tech death but with strong melodic vibes, then this is worth checking out. Overall, CATALYST are top notch musicians that has crafted an album with superb songwriting skills into a journey of a listening experience.
ffo: OMOPHAGIA, SCAR SYMMETRY, PERSEFONE, ATROCITY, EXOCRINE
ETERNALITY – Deaþwyrd = 3/5 |Unsigned |EPIC BLACK METAL
This new one-man band from Norway has definitely offered us a prime of example of something old is new again with his debut album Deaþwyrd. This sounds like a mix of all the early melodic/symphonic BM bands from Norway in the mid-90s. The production is more on the raw side which adds to that old school feel. Deaþwyrd ranges from slower brooding riffs to faster paced ones that is overall majestic and chaotic that’ll have you head-bang throughout. The album starts off amazing then kind of limps in toward the finish but definitely an impressive debut album which OSBM fans need to take notice! 6 tracks, 3 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: SATYRICON, EMPEROR, TAAKE, TSJUDER, BATHORY
REVOLTING – Born to be Dead = 2.75/5 |Xtreem |DEATH METAL
If you haven’t been following these reviews for the past few years, I’ve been stating the hardest working man in DM is Rogga Johansson, dude is literally in 20+ active bands and putting out 10+ albums each year. Now, that is an awesome feat but can bite ya in the ass as in bands’ sound start to run into each other and become too similar. I really like REVOLTING but it’s barely a stone throw away from the sound of PAGANIZER and RIBSPREADER, his other main bands. Now, push all that negative to the side because REVOLTING is top notch OSDM! So, if you like PAGANIZER/RIBSPREADER that’s what you’re getting here. Aggressive mid-paced, catchy grooves, a pinch of melody and overall good song writing in that European OSDM vibe. Albums Dreadful Pleasures and Moonlight of Madness are my favs but Born to be Dead is really solid, not recreating the wheel, just solid. OSDM fans check it out! 10 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER, EDGE OF SANITY, DEAD SUN, HYPOCRISY
ALDAARON – Arcane Mountain Cult = 3/5 |Paragon |PAGAN/MELODIC BLACK METAL
Discovered this band through Black Metal Promotion about the new album and really liked what I heard so I had to backtrack and listen to their previous albums. Now, I’m not a big fan of BM that comes out of France since a lot of it is weird or very experimental, but I do like a very slim few and I can add ALDAARON to the list. Apparently ALDAARON are major veterans of the France scene, and I can firmly say I’m mad I didn’t know about them early. Arcane Mountain Cult has a strong Swedish melodic feel but definitely has an identity of its own. With a theme of journeying through the snow-covered wilderness during a snow fall to blizzard the music delivers a cold melodic head-banging experience. If you like melodic BM with a faster pace, then this is a must to check out! 5 tracks, 1 intro, 2 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: AD INFERNUM OMNIA, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, DAWN, AORLHAC
COFFIN FEEDER – Over the Top = 2/5 |Unsigned |DEATHCORE
Do you like ABORTED but want to hear the deathcore version? That’s COFFIN FEEDER, who’s fronted by ABORTED‘s own Sven de Caluwe. COFFIN FEEER is more on the DM side but is deathcore at heart. Over the Top continues vibes of the first EP of hard hitting, semi-tech but groovy riffs that bludgeon your ear drums. This is not for everyone as diehard ABORTED fans might say this sounds like a water-down version of the band, but I think the deathcore comes through thick enough to please those fans. Honestly, me not being the biggest fan of deathcore, COFFIN FEEDER is OK, it brings enough DM for my liking. 4 tracks, 2 are killer and 1 is OK.
ffo: ABORTED, INGESTED, VULVODYNIA, ACRANIUS, CARNIFEX
IZTHMI – Leaving This World, Leaving it All Behind = 2.25/5 |Satanik Royalty |ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL
If you want to hear a progressive form of atmospheric BM then this is a must! Leaving This World, Leaving it All Behind is more consistent with a strong emphasis on the melodic side but blends the prog/atmospheric/BM together perfectly. The production is clean but more of a raw/natural feel which helps add to the progressive journey of the album. Only downside is I feel IZTHMI is a thinking man’s band which a lot of focus and attention to truly appreciate what’s going on and also this is a grows on you type album too. Overall, probably not my cup ‘o tea, but along the line of their debut album but I like the debut a bit more. 8 tracks, 3 instrumentals, 2 are good and 3 are OK.
ffo: AGALLOCH, DRUDKH, WOODS OF YPRES, SAOR, PANOPTICON