Like every year, when I do these reviews, January is mostly albums that I missed from last year. No exception this year either. I reviewed one new album, a few albums that came out in December and some from earlier of last year. So, here are my reviews of 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 |style of metal. review}
ASPHYX – Necroceros = 3/5 |Century Media |Death Metal
5 years since their last album, ASPHYX is back with a new album. Necroceros is a solid album and has all the normal ASPHYX elements but this time around they focused more on a mid-paced, doomy vibe similar to albums from the middle of their discography. It has the driving head-banging riffs, the ugly atmosphere and strong OSDM testament. I personally would love a bit more aggression and speed but at 30+ years in, I’m glad we at least get a new album! I don’t think this album will hit like their classics but definitely worth owning for fans. I like the last two albums, Deathhammer and Incoming Death, more than this but it’s still a solid album.
10 tracks, 3 are killer and 5 are OK.
ffo: BOLT THROWER, HAIL OF BULLETS, AUTOPSY, GRAVE, BENEDICTION
KVAEN – The Funeral Pyre = 4/5 |Black Lion |Melodic Black Metal
Prime example of a January review, an absolute killer album I missed and this would’ve been in my top albums list and definitely my top 10 BM list! A one man band, Jakob Bjornfot, brings forth one hell of a melodic BM album! His debut album The Funeral Pyre, released back in February, is f’n great from start to finish! This album has all the feels of a throwback melodic BM album with enough ferociousness of lightning speed riffs and a touch of folk/paganish vibes. Now it’s not recreating the wheel (as I like to use this statement a lot) but it’s still kind of refreshing in a very memorable way! When it comes to Melodic BM this is a no-brainer…must have! 8 tracks, 1 instrumental, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: DISSECTION, NAGLFAR, MITHOTYN, SACRAMENTUM, VINTERLAND
DEPRAVITY – Grand Malevolence = 3.75/5 |Transcending Obscurity |Death Metal
Yet again, another release/band I wish I found out about last year but this album did come out in December! A newer band from Australia, their debut album Evil Upheaval from 2018 was a damn good debut and got a lot of praise from everyone. Grand Malevolence is no sophomore slump, it’s right on par with their debut album. DEPRAVITY has a niche of creating some tasty head-banging riffs! DEPRAVITY reminds me of Australian/Tasmanian bands mixed with that brutal Italian DM sound. There are a few elements of experimentation but they seem to work nicely and are not over done. I Only have two tiny gripes; 1. This album is about 50 minutes, which is long for the Brutal stuff. I prefer more of ‘come in, smash your face and then get out’, creating more of an impact to me than the hour long opus of DM. 2. The track order, the second half of this album is incredible! Some metal heads may bail out a few songs when their greatness is near the end! This could’ve been in my top DM albums of last year. DM heads DEPRAVITY demands your attention and you should take heed! This band could be the next big thing in the DM genre! 11 tracks, 5 are killer and 4 are good!
ffo: AEON, PSYCROTPIC, HOUR OF PENANCE, ABRAMELIN, HIDEOUS DIVINITY
VREDEHAMMER – Viperous = 3.75/5 |Indie |Black/Death Metal
Another example of me getting mad that I just now discovered this band. This album was on a lot of top albums of 2020 lists and I saw promotions for this album earlier last year but just didn’t give it a chance, now I want to kick my own ass. This band is f’n awesome! Just killer headbanging blackened DM! Started in 2009, Viperous is their 3rd album and this is VREDEHAMMER performing at their peak! Their last album Violator was kind of a sophomore slump in my book. Viperous has ascended to a whole new level and adding a new balance between electronics and their extreme metal takes the intensity to a higher level. To sum up the new album they showcase their compositional skills through maturity while creating a start to finish damn good album! 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: BELPHEGOR, KEEP OF KALESSIN, HATE, NORDJEVEL, ALLFADER
UNDEATH – Lesions of a Different Kind = 3/5 |Prosthetic |Old School Death Metal
This was on a lot of peoples list for top albums of the year so I had to check it out. The debut album, released back in October, from Rochester NY, UNDEATH made their mark in this OSDM revival trend that’s been happening in the past decade. Lesions of a Different Kind is catchy and well executed, but not recreating the wheel or anything. Out of all these new younger bands playing OSDM, UNDEATH is battling with the rest to put their flag at the top of hill and they’re getting there.! This is a good debut for what it is. One thing I really appreciate about this album is their uncanny tempo changes, transitions and riffs galore to keep things unexpectedly interesting. If you dig this wave of DM that reminiscent of the early ’90s, you need to check this band out! 10 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: DEMILICH, MORBID ANGEL, TOMB MOLD, BLOOD INCANTATION, NECROT
GJENDØD – Angrep = 4/5 |Hellthrasher |Black Metal
Third album from this Norwegian band. Their first two albums were good, solid BM releases. Angrep has shifted gears as they’ve picked up the pace and intensity! Angrep, released at the end of November, is a merciless blast-fest that showcases GJENDØD at their most vicious and nasty state! Striped away are the atmospheric aspects and replaced with harsh blackened barbarity! I liked their earlier albums but this is what I want! Fast, vicious, nasty, brutal and straight to the point since this album is about 28 minutes long. Angrep has a more natural-sounding production and an organic feel of hostility to their blackened craft. I’m pissed I missed this. This would’ve been in my top 10 BM list for last year! If fast and chaotic BM is your thing, this is a must! 8 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: [early] SVARTTJERN, MARDUK, KOLDBRANN, ENDSTILLE
PERSUADER – Necromancy = 3/5 |Frontiers |Power/Thrash Metal
The 5th album from this Swedish band that came out last December. PERSUADER brings a more heavier version of Power Metal, not this happy, campy, sorta joking image/music that has come forth from a lot of PM bands lately. They feature more of a thrash-ier and sometimes a DM vibe to their music. They are a band that seems like every album has been getting better since the last. 6 years later their new album Necromancy wastes no time and smacks you right in the face, blending that modern heaviness, with massive hooks and setting the atmosphere to fit each song perfectly! Only gripe I have about the band is the singer sounds a lot like Hansi Kursch from BLIND GUARDIAN, so at times this feels like a heavier BLIND GUARDIAN. Other than that, this might be their best album yet! 7 tracks, 3 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: DARK EMPIRE, NOCTURNAL RITES, BLIND GUARDIAN, SYMPHORCE, HYPOCRISY
MARRASMIELI – Between Land and Sky = 3.75/5 |Naturmacht |Melodic Black Metal
Uh, yeah…no clue how you pronounce this Finnish band name, but they’re killer! Another band I saw on a lot of people’s best of BM list for last year. MARRASMIELI is more on the epic/pagan side of BM and I found out that “Marras” is an old Finnish word for “death” and “mieli” means “mind/mood”, so, MARRASMIELI means “death of the mind/mood”. They’re basically the perfect blend Scandinavian rawness and energetic folkish metal with a modern vibe! MARRASMIELI brings a new sound to the genre that mixes the best of old to the modern. This is a band that is on the up and coming and you better pay attention! 6 tracks, 1 instrumental, 3 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: MOONSORROW, [later] BATHORY, WODENSTHRONE, HIMINBJORG, AGALLOCH, SKOGEN
CAUSTIC WOUND – Death Posture = 3.25/5 |Profound Lore |Death/Grind Metal
I saw two of my friends that know their grind post about this band last year and I didn’t take notice…damn, I messed up. CAUSTIC WOUND is damn good. Formed by members of MORTIFERUM and CEREBRAL ROT, bring their take on death/grind. This ‘caveman’ style death grind blasts you right in the face and doesn’t let up. It has a bit of the old school grind feel to it that brings that raw, filthy, ugly, blasting grind! Yet again, another band ‘not recreating the wheel’, but just delivering a solid, head-banging album. 26 minutes of relentless bludgeoning! A must for grind fans! 14 tracks, 6 are killer and 6 are good!
ffo: DEAD INFECTION, [early] CARCASS, INCANTATION, HEMDALE, PHRENELITH
CYTOPARASITIC – In The Domain of Misery = 3/5 |Ungodly Ruins |Brutal Slam Death Metal
Well, this was released a few days before 2020 ended and I ask why? Hold it for a few more days and release it in the new year. CYTOPARASITIC delivers that guttural brutal slam but more old school slam vibes. In the Domain of Misery has good song writing, slams are timed right, no-cookie cutter patterns, no over the top brutal to be the most brutal, just a damn good brutal slam release! Most of these new brutal slam bands are all the same and nothing special, glad to hear one taking time to write a good album. ‘It’s not recreating the wheel’ (the phrase I love to use) but it’s solid and I’m looking forward to their future releases! Another good release on Ungodly Ruins Productions, that label is putting out some good quality! 9 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: ABOMINABLE PUTRIDITY, VULVECTOMY, AMPUTATED, DEVOUR THE UNBORN
PAGANIZER – Bullets Reign = 2.5/5 |Metal Bastard Enterprises |Old School Death Metal
PAGANIZER has been around since 1998 blasting us with their brand of OSDM. Their last two albums The Tower of the Morbid and Land of Weeping Souls are probably their best out of their lengthy discography. Yet again, hats off to Rogga Johansson who’s literally in 20+ active bands and still to be able to create such damn good shit! This new EP, released in November ’20, is right along their last few releases yet this one has a strong sense of groove throughout! A solid release. 5 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: GRAVE, OBITUARY, REVOLTING, VOMITORY, DISMEMBER
AFTERBIRTH – Four Dimensional Flesh = 1.75/5 |Unique Leader |Progressive Death Metal
Another album I missed last year that a lot of people praised… I liked their demo Psychopathic Embryotomy that came out in ’94 then the band evolved into more progressive DM. Their debut album The Time Traveler’s Dilemma was ok but not really my thing. Now their new album Four Dimensional Flesh, released back in March, is better than the debut but still really not my thing. I’ve tried a bunch of times listening to them but I guess its not for me. I’ve heard a few describe they as a brutal DM version of VOIVOD and I’m not a huge fan of them either. I’ll check out their next album and see if something finally clicks. 11 tracks, 3 instrumentals, 3 are killer and 3 are OK.
ffo: ARTIFICIAL BRAIN, VOIVOD, CRYPTOPSY, BARING TEETH, GIGAN
The DEVIANT – Rotting Dreams of Carrion – 1.5/5 |Soulseller |Black/Death Metal
I really enjoyed their debut album Ravenous Deathworship that came out in 2005 and thought it was one of the strongest albums in the Blackened DM genre. After reading a bunch of best of 2020 lists I found out they’re not only back but with a new album, I had no clue they even reformed. Their sophomore album, Lighting Bolts, came out in 2018, it was a very good album but not better than the debut. Last year they released their 3rd album Rotting Dreams of Carrion. We’ve heard of the sophomore slump, when a band’s second album is nowhere near as good as their first, but this is a junior slump. I expected this album to be way better than this. The DEVIANT added a lot of more doomy elements to this new album and it took away from what I thought was the essence of the band. If you’re new to the band check out their debut album. 8 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: ANGELCORPSE, VREDEHAMMER, BELPHEGOR, 122 STAB WOUNDS
ELRITH – The Time Has Come = 1.5/5 |Independent |Technical Death Metal
One man band from Turkey has released his debut album The Time has Come which is a blend of modern tech DM mixed with the jazzy vibes of CYNIC. It’s a so-so debut, I like the basics of what’s going on here but I think he needs to hone in on his style a bit more, personally, I’d like it a little more heavier, but that’s me. Orhan Yircali is a very talented musician and it’s displayed here. I’m definitely keeping an eye out for future releases from this guy! Tech DM heads should check this out! 7 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: CYNIC, OBSCURA, DEATH, The FACELESS, CONTROL DENIED