Like most of you I’ve been self-quarantined during this COVID-19 bullsh*t, during this time I’ve been jamming to a lot (I mean A LOT) of music and watching TV shows/movies. So, here a super deluxe version for this month. No non-sense, straight to the point 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…
Rating: [0 (sucks) to 5 (awesome)]
{Format: Band – album title = rating |label |genre of metal. review}
PERDITION TEMPLE – Sacraments of Descension = 4.25/5 |Hells Headbangers |Death Metal
The third album from ex-ANGELCORPSE member/songwriter Gene Palubicki. If you haven’t heard this band before it’s basically the second coming of ANGELCORPSE. With two great records already Sacraments of Descension comes out blasting chaotic venom in your ears! Like usual there’s a MORBID ANGEL vibe to the releases, this one is similar to Covenant album especially on the track “Desolation Usurper”. Don’t let that deter you because this is the best PERDITION TEMPLE album yet! Its aggressive, chaotic and keeps you head-banging through out! This is a must and it will be in my top albums of 2020! 8 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: ANGELCORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, IMPIETY, IMMOLATION, REBAELLIUN
THANATOS – Violent Death Ritual = 3.75/5 |Listenable |Death/Thrash Metal
I’ve been an casual fan of THANATOS for a long time and would randomly listened to their albums until Global Purification came out 5 years ago and which was damn good! Now the follow up album Violent Death Ritual just demolishes it! Make sure you stretch your neck before listening to this! This album is an incredible blend of OSDM with the thrash vibes! THANATOS is like a fine wine they are getting better with age and quite possibly their best album! A must for fans and definitely worth checking it out for OSDM heads! This will be in my CD rotating for a while! 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 4 are good!
ffo: MASTER, HAIL OF BULLETS, KRABATHOR, ASPHYX, MORGOTH
MY DYING BRIDE – The Ghost of Orion = 2.5/5 |Nuclear Blast |Doom Death Metal
So the pioneers return with a new album five years after their last and still deliver that traditional MDB doomy gloom. Right off the back, I believe this is an album that will probably grow on you. This album starts off fantastic with songs like “Your Broken Soul” and “To Outlive the Gods” are what I expect to hear from MY DYING BRIDE, but after the third track the album just goes downhill and sounds like they mixed DEAD CAN DANCE into it. I know there’s only one instrumental but two other tracks feel like their one also. I wish the album followed the path of the first three songs but didn’t. MY DYING BRIDE fans will probably love it but fare weather fans probably won’t. It’s an average MDB release in my book. 8 tracks, 3 are damn good and 1 is ok.
ffo: PARADISE LOST, [old] ANATHEMA, [old] CELESTIAL SEASON, NOVEMBERS DOOM
FORETOKEN – Ruin = 3.5/5 |Lost Apparitions |Symphonic Death Metal
A new band from VA featuring members of CYAEGHA and THE DAY OF THE BEAST delivers an opus of Symphonic Blackened DM that’s refreshing and a delightful change to hear from bands coming out of this state! Their songs definitely are a mix of early works from melodic Scandinavian bands but also has equal parts of more extreme BM and DM. Also adding to this they went out and hired the one of the best drummers in the metal world today Hannes Grossman (NECROPHAGIST, HATE ETERNAL, ALKALOID, etc) which he doesn’t disappoint with this showmanship of work on this album and enlisted James Malone (ARSIS) to rip a solo on one of the tracks too! The production on this is killer, you can hear every instrument and nothing is drowned out. Only fault I have with this debut is the orchestration on track 6 is a little bit over the top IMO. Overall, killer piece of Symphonic DM and it’ll have riffs and melodies stuck in your head for days after! 6 tracks, 3 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: [mid] EMPEROR, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, SEPTICFLESH, [early] CHILDREN OF BODOM, HOLLENTHON
SERPENT COLUMN – Endless Detainment = 2.5/5 |Mystiskaos |Avant-garde Black Metal/Mathcore
Wow, this band is out there! I do love a band going nuts, pushing the boundaries and experimenting but also keeping a rhythm, a flow, a head-banging vibe to their creation. SERPENT COLUMN is one of those bands, its kinda hard to describe but it’s black metal with a touch of early MASTODON, a touch of grind and a touch of Mathcore. This is definitely experimental and in a good way. The debut album Ornuthi Thalassa was a great mixture of experimental melodic BM with grind/power violence and MASTODON vibes, but their next EP and 2nd album didn’t really match on the same level. This latest EP Endless Detainment is a great experimental piece, but gone is the melodic BM parts that would blend perfectly as their first album did. I do recommend that metal-heads check this craziness out! 9 tracks, 3 are killer and 3 are OK.
ffo: KRALLICE, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, MASTODON, HUMAN REMAINS, IMPIETY
CANDLEMASS – The Pendulum = 2/5 |Napalm |Doom Metal
This new EP is one new song and demo tracks that were left off the The Door To Doom album that came out last year. The new song “The Pendulum” is great and keeps me in happy spirits that their next album should be really good too. Only 2 of the demo tracks are songs and both are OK, one sounds little too BLACK SABBATH and the other is just an average CANDLEMASS song. The rest of the tracks are instrumentals. This is really for die-hard fans only. 6 tracks, 3 are instrumentals, 1 is killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: TROUBLE, CATHEDRAL, BLACK SABBATH, SOLITUDE AETURNUS, MEMENTO MORI
DERANGED – Deeds of Ruthless Violence = 3.5/5 |Agonia |Brutal Death Metal
DERANGED was one of those bands I stumbled across early on in my discovery of DM back in the mid ’90s and I’ve been a fan ever since. Now, truthfully, I do love earlier DERANGED better compared to the last 4 or 5 albums but I still do like their latest albums. I’ve just noticed that earlier DERANGED had more of a blasting grind aspect and their later albums are more mid-paced chunky DM. This new album just sounds MEAN, it fits the album title perfectly! Its a bit faster and more blasting than the last few albums but also has that heavy meaty chunky parts to get you head-banging. This is best DERANGED has been in years! This is a must check out! 8 tracks 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: VOMITORY, AVULSED, GENERAL SURGERY, CANNIBAL CORPSE
WOLFHEART – Wolves of Karelia = 3.75/5 |Napalm |Melodic Death Metal
I’ve stated this before but Tuomas Saukkonen is a brilliant mastermind when it comes to melodic DM! Through a few different bands he has fine tuned his style in 2014 by disbanding all his projects to focus in on WOLFHEART and it has payed off! WOLFHEART is one of the most amazing displays of melodic DM in the world today! There’s a lot of bands trying but WOLFHEART is paving the way! The debut album Winterborn and last album Constellation of the Black Light are the best albums yet and this new album Wolves of Karelia is right there, its amazing! Not sure if I’m gonna call it their best yet, I need to listen to it more but it’s incredible! WOLFHEART seems to be like fine wine, they’re aging awesomely! This is must for melodic DM fans! 8 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: INSOMNIUM, DAWN OF SOLACE, MORS PRINCIPIUM EST, DAWN OF DISEASE, KALMAH
TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE – A Resting Place for the Wrathful = 3.75/5 |Comatose Music |Brutal Death Metal
One of my favorite Brutal DM bands that has came out in the last decade, their debut album A New Code of Morality, which came out 6 years ago, was a dominate album from start to finish, so how would the follow up fare? A very strong second place! No sophomore slump here! This is a great display of Brutal DM. The brutality, the aggression, the blasting, the head-banging grooves, the chaotic pit inducing parts, this album has it all! A must for fans and anyone into Brutal DM! 8 tracks, 5 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: DEFEATED SANITY, CONDEMNED, LITURGY, BRODEQUIN, CEREBRAL BORE
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER – Verminous = 1.5/5 |Metal Blade |Modern Melodic Death Metal
Honestly, not really a big fan of this band but hosting a college metal radio show during their debut and popularity boom, I’ve grown to like them a little bit. Usually each album has 2 or 3 killer songs, the rest of the album is blah. The albums Deflorate, Ritual, and Everblack are more my favs of them. Verminous is their 9th album and basically I’m not a fan of it. I think they can write better songs than whats here. I’m probably not your best reference for this band but this is my opinion. 10 tracks, 2 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: ARSIS, SKELETONWITCH, [mid]CARCASS, INFERI, ALL SHALL PERISH, TESTAMENT
MOLESTED DIVINITY – Unearthing the Void = 3.5/5 |New Standard Elite |Brutal Death Metal
Total blasting Brutal DM is what MOLESTED DIVINITY‘s second album Unearthing the Void is offering! Their debut, Desolated Realms Through Iniquity was a damn good solid piece of Brutal DM! Unearthing the Void is no sophomore slump here, they continue their blasting groovy brutality ways that shows this band is not slowing down at all but taking up to the next level! There’s a lot of bands busting out Brutal DM but MOLESTED DIVINITY is one that shows you how its done right! This is their best album yet! Fans of Brutal DM need to check this out! 8 tracks, 5 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: MALIGNANCY, BRODEQUIN, PUTRIDITY, DEFEATED SANITY
BENIGHTED – Obscene Repressed = 2/5 |Season of Mist |Brutal Deathgrind
The last 2 releases Dogs Always Bite Harder… and Necrobreed is the best work coming from BENIGHTED and the new album Obscene Repressed kinda delivers but I’m a little disappointed with it. I’ve noticed some tracks have a bit of a hardcore vibe within the grinding DM. The songwriting just doesn’t seem as intense and good as the past 2 releases. Some songs start off great then kinda throws a wrench in the gears during the song. I guess I was expecting this album to push on being more extreme/intense. Overall, an average release from them. 14 tracks (limited edition) 5 are good and 4 are OK.
ffo: ABORTED, CATTLE DECAPITATION, CEREBRAL BORE, MISERY INDEX
DIABOLIC – Mausoleum of the Unholy Ghost = 3.5/5 |Witchhunter |Death Metal
Out of nowhere 10 years later DIABOLIC return with a new album that is damn good! Their 6th album is definitely a culmination of everything they’ve brought forth before into a well written album! Their best albums IMO were Vengeance Ascending and Infinity Through Purification! This new album is right there. I’ll definitely have to give this some more spins, I really like this album, just not sure if it’s their best yet. It’s definitely a must to check out! 8 tracks, 5 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: MORBID ANGEL, KRISIUN, ANGELCORPSE, IMMOLATION, VITAL REMAINS
SUTRAH – Aletheia = 2.5/5 |The Artisan Era |Progressive Death Metal
New EP from this band that is bringing something different to the genre. It’s a mix of the more melodic side of technical DM, the dissonant sound from later GORGUTS and a touch of what LYKATHEA AFLAME’s did on their amazing debut album. This EP is good but it’s only 2 songs and 2 instrumentals, I want more songs from this band! If your into tech-DM you should check their debut Dunes and this new EP. These dudes are very talented and can’t wait for more from them! 4 tracks, 1 is killer and 1 is good.
ffo: LYKATHEA AFLAME, GORGUTS, AUGURY, BEYOND CREATION, MARTYR
DECAYING PURITY – Mass Extinction of the Providential Ones = 3.5/5 |Sevared |Brutal Death Metal
Yet another band that has always delivered in the Brutal DM genre and there’s no difference now! Their 4th album, 14 years of existence and Mass Extinction of the Providential Ones is their best! Just an incredible display of Brutal DM that keeps your attention and head-banging through out the 30+ minutes! Not too many band from Turkey that absolute pummel your ear drums but this is probably the countries’ best representation! A good example that DM is worldwide and killer bands come from everywhere! 9 tracks, 5 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: CENOTAPH (TK), MASS INFECTION, INSISION, DESPONDENCY, CARNOPHAGE
ERGODIC – Ergodic = 2.5/5 |Independent |Technical Death Metal
A new band from Raleigh, NC that’s throwing their hat into the technical DM scene. These dudes are definitely talented and some serious shredders. Their debut EP is really strong and they have a sound that seems it’d fit along nicely with other bands on the Unique Leader Label. It’s more modern Tech-DM but doesn’t have any of the annoying deathcore parts in it. This band is promising and I’m looking forward to hearing more. 3 tracks, 1 is killer and 2 are good.
ffo: ALTERBEAST, SPAWN OF POSSESSION, THE ZENITH PASSAGE, COGNITIVE
NOMAD – Transmogrification (Partus) / Tetramorph II = 2/5 |Witching Hour Productions |Death Metal
NOMAD from Poland was a band I got introduced through my college metal radio show and really dug their earlier albums, but recently they got a little weird and out of my enjoyment. Their last 3 offerings (2 albums and 1 EP) were not that great at all, basically barely listened to albums. Transmogrification is an OK album, better than their last few, but nothing special. The Tetramorph II EP added onto the deluxe version of this release is an OK EP. Overall, this release is very average for this band and DM in general. 11 tracks (limited edition version), 3 are killer and 3 are OK.
ffo: CHRIST AGONY, [early] LOST SOUL, HATE, NECRONOMICON, SVART CROWN
DIABOLVS – Rites of Consecration = 2.5/5 |Independent |Death Metal
A new DM band from Chile, South America brings forth a solid debut EP! Delivering a DM sound that’s a mix of early to mid 90’s Florida DM and European DM (not the HM2 type). The songs are straight forward head-banging displays that remind you of back in the day! Definitely promising for more good stuff in the future! 6 tracks 2 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: MONSTROSITY, BRUTALITY, SEANCE, [early]VITAL REMAINS, SINISTER
ARCHITECTURAL GENOCIDE – Cordyceptic Anthropomorph = 2/5 |Comatose Music |Brutal Death Metal
Debut album from this Houston, TX band. A decent brutal DM offering that reminds me of bands coming out this last decade in the genre. Its brutal, a bit of groove and blasting non-stop its what you’d expect from this genre but doesn’t really take the next step to separate themselves from everyone else. I feel like there’s a promising vibe that this band should be better on the next release. Like, I’ve stated before, there’s nothing bad about this band, it’s just I’ve heard better within the genre. Brutal DM fans give it a listen and judge for yourself and I’ll definitely check out the next release. 8 tracks, 3 are good and 2 are OK.
ffo: PROPHECY(TX), INFURIATE, GORGASM, DISGORGE(USA), EXECRATION
STAGNATER – The Guillotine Demo = 3/5 |Independent |Grindcore
A new grind band from Boston that brings the heaviness! This a really good debut demo that tops out at 11 minutes! In those 11 minutes is blasting in your face grinding heaviness with a touch of groove. I can only imagine how heavy this would sound live! I’m definitely looking forward to more! Grind fans need to check this out! 8 tracks, 3 killer and 4 good!
ffo: SPAZZ, INSECT WARFARE, PHOBIA, BRUTAL TRUTH, EXHALE
NEXORUM – Death Unchained = 2/5 |Non Serviam |Black/Death Metal
A new band from Sweden featuring members of KEEP OF KALESSIN, VREDEHAMMER, KHONSU, ETERNAL SILENCE. NEXORUM are a mid-paced, chunky sounding Blackened DM with a few blasting parts here and there. Basically this is one of those albums you hear a track and really dig it and then listen to the album and realize is just an OK band. I mean there’s actually nothing bad about them, they are talented, but there’s just other bands that deliver this style of metal better. This is one of those band that their 2nd album maybe way better than their debut. 10 tracks, 3 are good and 3 are OK.
ffo: SVART CROWN, [early] BEHEMOTH, HATE
SCHIZOGEN – Spawn of Almighty Essence = 1.5/5 |Willowtip |Brutal Death Metal
Brutal DM from Ukraine with some grooves releases their sophomore album. Their debut album was a decent release of a little bit above average Brutal DM and this album didn’t follows suit. Not sure if it’s a sophomore slump or just a little bit of direction change with the sound. Spawn of Almighty Essence is tighter and more focus than the debut but it’s not as good. The band isn’t bad its just another case of I heard this before. 8 tracks, 1 is killer and 3 are good.
ffo: UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION, DISENTOMB, BLASPHEMER, SUFFOCATION, ULCERATE
GORETRADE – Repressive Entities = 4/5 |Green Revolution |Brutal Death Metal
This came out last year and how if the f*&k did I not hear about it. GORETRADE is an awesome Brutal DM band from Colombia, South America that has put solid release after solid release but now their 5th album just crushes everything they’ve ever done! This is one of the most spectacular accessible pieces of Brutal DM ever. It’s got the blasting intensity, the grooves/mosh parts, and the head-banging riffs! I’m blown away by this release, it’s great to hear a well written album from start to finish nowadays! This is a must for all DM fans! Definitely check this out! 14 tracks, 8 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: BEHEADED, PATHOLOGY, DISAVOWED, KONKHRA, CARNIVORE DIPROSOPUS
WHITE STONES – Kuarahy = 0.5/5 |Nuclear Blast |Progressive Death Metal
WHITE STONES is a side project of Martin Mendez from OPETH which includes members from VIDRES A LA SANG. This is what I totally expected it to be, some prog-metal heads trying to play DM but it’s actually turned out to be just really heavy prog-metal with some DM influences. I was not expecting hear to OPETH, but was expecting something better than this. There are sorta half-ass riffs similar to OPETH on here and also some tracks kinda have a funky CLUTCH type vibe. Basically this is not my cup o’ tea sorta speak, its too laid back, not enough aggression/brutality, it’s progressive but not really doing anything special. I might not be your best reference for this album but I wanted to hear what it offered. 10 tracks, 4 are OK and rest is blah.
ffo: PHLEBOTOMIZED, OPETH, NOVEMBRE, CLUTCH
SKYFOREST – A New Dawn = 1/5 |Northern Silence Productions |Atmospheric Black Metal
I came across this band on Youtube a few years back while listening to other bands in the genre and was blown away because it was that Depressive/Atmospheric BM but it sounded like a soundtrack to a film, it had an epic factor to it. The first 2 albums Aftermath & Unity are good and something different to the genre. 4 years later a third album A New Dawn is here and something is not right, its still the same genre but it sounds too happy. Well, I was correct, gone is melancholy/loneliness/etc and now its about hope/nature/optimism. Not a direction I like with this. 6 tracks, 1 is good and 3 are och.
ffo: WOODS OF DESOLATION, ELDERWIND, AGALLOCH
