“Brock’s 2 cents” – quick metal reviews!
One way for me to stay sane during this quarantine for these past 2 months has been listening to tons of new music. So here is another huge deluxe version of 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…
Rating: [0 (sucks) to 5 (awesome)]
{Format: Band – album title = rating |label |genre of metal. review}
…AND OCEANS – Cosmic World Mother = 4.5/5 |Season of Mist |Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal
…AND OCEANS debuted as a symphonic/melodic BM band in 1998, with their sophomore album The Symmetry of I, the Circle of O was their best. On their fourth album Cypher they shifted towards a very heavy industrial/techno-ish sound and then disbanded a two years later. Now 18 years later …AND OCEANS delivers their 5th album and I was expecting a continuation of the Cypher album but WOW! …AND OCEANS has returned to their old school glory! This album is amazing! A fantastic display of symphonic/melodic BM! This album is a bit more straightforward BM, the keys/synth are still there but not as heavily focused. I truly love when a band can produce their best or a career topping album years after their debut! …AND OCEANS has just proved why the BM genre is not done by a long shot! This is a must for fans! This is in my top albums of 2020! 11 tracks, 8 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: SAMAEL, LIMBONIC ART, THE KOVENANT, ODIUM, SHADE EMPIRE, PAIN
ULCERATE – Stare Into Death and Be Still = 4.5/5 |Debemur Morti Productions |Technical Death Metal
With their albums Of Fracture and Failure and Vermis being my favorites while the rest not really doing that much for me, I wondered what this new album would bring. HOLY SHIT! I’m blown away, this album is amazing! This is a culmination of everything they have done into an album. The focus of aggression mixed with the dissonant sounds of melody and a great production just creates an absolutely well written masterpiece! This is now my favorite album! This will be in my top albums of 2020! 8 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: [newer]GORGUTS, AD NAUSEAM, MITOCHONDRION, ARTIFICIAL BRAIN
DEFEATED SANITY – The Sanguinary Impetus = 3/5 |Willowtip |Brutal Death Metal
Well, if ya didn’t know Christian Kuhn (guitarist, last 14 years) left the band and Lille Gruber (drummer) played all the riffs on this release. I’m not sure how much input Lille had on previous albums but like usual when the main guitarist leaves, the album is going to sound different. Luckily, this is still DEFEATED SANITY yet you’ll notice a few differences, the main one I picked up was some riffs that reminded me of tech-thrash bands. DEFEATED SANITY has gone back to their BDM roots after their experimental Disposal of the Dead/Dharmata album. The Sanguinary Impetus is a good album but parts kinda irritate me one way or another. Overall DEFEATED SANITY is back but not better than Psalms of the Moribund and Passage into Deformity which are my favorites. 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: WORMED, MALIGNANCY, DISGORGE, GORGASM, SEVERED SAVIOR, WATCHTOWER
CADAVER – D.G.A.F. = 2.5/5 |Nuclear Blast |Death Metal
16 years later, Anders Odden has brought CADAVER back and has enlisted the incredible Dirk Verbeuren to handle the drum duties! Surprisingly still blasting out that OSDM sound with a modern production though. Overall, I think they did a good job bringing that old CADAVER feel and I’m looking forward to a new album. I think most of the old fans will like it but then again some will probably bitch about the good production. 3 tracks on this EP, 2 are good and 1 is OK.
ffo: [old] CARCASS, AUTOPSY, DEMILICH, CORONER
PARADISE LOST – Obsidian = 3/5 |Nuclear Blast |Doom/Death Metal
PARADISE LOST kinda came back to their origins with Faith Divides Us… release and leaving behind the goth rock. A few albums later they released The Plague Within which was fantastic, it was the perfect mix of Gothic & Draconian Times albums! Then we were (well, I was) let down with the album Medusa, now their new release Obsidian is redeeming themselves. Obsidian starts off incredible than kinda fades from there till the end, but it’s a decent album and a second place to The Plague Within. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan or into the last few albums! 11 tracks (Digipack), 4 are killer and 5 are good.
ffo: KATATONIA, MY DYING BRIDE, [old] ANATHEMA, NOVEMBERS DOOM, SENTENCED
ABORTED – La Grande Mascarade = 2.5/5 |Century Media |Death Metal
I don’t think there’s another band in the death metal genre that has had so many guitarists rotate through their line-up, also not one of their guitarists be a founding member and most metal-heads would agree that ABORTED consistently puts out solid after solid after solid release! Well, yet again another guitarist gone, Mendel Bij De Leij (in for the last 7 years) has left the band and now enters as a new guitarist from the states whose mostly been in deathcore bands. So, what does that mean for this release? Nothing, really… This sounds like a continuation of Terrorvision which I thought was OK overall. This EP is good and has that focus on a darker sound without sacrificing the brutality. 3 tracks on this EP, 2 are good and 1 is OK.
ffo: CATTLE DECAPITATION, MISERY INDEX, DYING FETUS, BENIGHTED
NAGLFAR – Cerecloth = 3.5/5 |Century Media |Melodic Black Metal
Not many bands throughout their career can be consistent on delivering good albums, NAGLFAR is one of those bands. Now some albums are better than others but they’re not that far apart from each other. With their 7th album NAGLFAR delivers yet again another damn good album and in my opinion one of their better ones! Cerecloth blasts out their melodic brand of BM yet you hear some other influences from other genres creep in here and there and it really adds to this opus. This is definitely one of their top albums and is worth checking out! 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: DARK FUNERAL, OLD MAN’S CHILD, NECROPHOBIC, DAWN, SACRAMENTUM
UNMERCIFUL – Wrath Encompassed = 3/5 |Willowtip |Brutal Death Metal
With their 3rd album UNMERCIFUL continues their brand of chaotic blasting insanity with Wrath Encompassed. The first track started and I didn’t like it at all. It sounds very generic for them and I had a bad notion that this album wasn’t going to be good, but track 2 “Blazing Hatred” kicked me in the face! The album didn’t really let up from there except for one track. Its UNMERCIFUL, if you like the previous albums, you’ll like this one, but I don’t think this one is better than the previous two. A must for DM fans, 9 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: ORIGIN, DEEDS OF FLESH, DISAVOWED, DEFEATED SANITY, INTERNAL SUFFERING
EARTH ROT – Black Tides of Obscurity = 3.5/5 |Season of Mist |Death/Black Metal
With their 3rd album EARTH ROT comes out firing on all cylinders! This is their best album so far! They definitely took the next step in their songwriting and crafted a killer release! There is more of a BM feel than previous albums. If you haven’t heard EARTH ROT yet, it’s OSDM with BM riffs mixed in. This is a must to check out! 10 tracks, 3 are killer and 5 are good.
ffo: ENTOMBED, THE ORDER OF APOLLYON, ASPHYX, BLOODDUSTER, SULPHUR AEON
ABYSMAL DAWN – Phylogenesis = 2.5/5 |Season of Mist |Death Metal
ABYSMAL DAWN released three OK semi-tech DM albums since their creation in 2006 then they dropped Obsolescence in 2014 and I was blown away! They definitely set the bar with that album. Their new album, Phylogenesis, it just didn’t equal, it’s probably their 2nd best album but nowhere near as great as Obsolescence. The album starts off strong then gets boring in the middle with a few OK songs at the end and also a killer DEATH cover. Basically an album I expected more from. 8 tracks, 2 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: DECAPITATED, ALTERBEAST, ANATA, ARSIS, NEURAXIS
DEVANGELIC – Ersetu = 3/5 |Willowtip |Brutal Death Metal
DEVANGELIC continue along their path of blasting uncompromising brutal DM with their new album Ersetu! The production on this album is incredible, you can hear anything. They’ve elevated their sound and abilities a little bit more on this album to deliver over 30 minutes of uninterrupted brutality with an occasional groove riff here and there. This band proves they are top notch Italian DM! Ersetu is very good but Resurrection Denied, their 1st album, is still my favorite. 9 tracks, 3 are killer and 5 are good!
ffo: PUTRIDITY, SEPTYCAL GORGE, CEREBRAL EFFUSION, DISAVOWED, DISGORGE (USA)
AKURION – Come Forth to Me = 2/5 |Redefining Darkness |Death Metal
I’ve listened to this over and over and still kinda not sure what to make of it. At times it’s great then certain parts just annoy the hell outta me. Overall this debut album featuring members from Canadian bands as CRYPTOPSY, NEURAXIS, CONFLUX, VENGEFUL, PHOBOCOSM, etc… is just OK in my book. The heavy parts are great but there’s a little bit too much slower doom-ish parts for my taste. This definitely has a progressive/experimental vibe to this album which is OK, but half the songs are over 8 minutes and parts lose my interest. It might be a ‘grows on you’ album. I’ll pull it back out a few months later and see if it clicks?!? Check it out for yourself. 8 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: NEURAXIS, [newer] CRYPTOPSY, CONFLUX, CATTLE DECAPITATION
DELIQUESCE – Engineered Frailty = 3/5 |Independent |Brutal Death Metal
The guitarist from the incredible grind band LUCID PANACEA brings us his take on Brutal DM. They labeled themselves as ‘NYDM from down under’ and it’s a perfect description. Imagine some groovy brutal DM band from early 2000 mixed with that groove from back in the day NYDM, which is right up my alley. This 7 minute EP delivers something very promising and I’m looking forward to future releases. 4 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: DESPONDENCY, VOMIT FORTH, IMMORTAL SUFFERING, DISFIGURED (NY), TORTURE KRYPT
ANGEROT – The Divine Apostate = 3/5 |Redefining Darkness |Death Metal
The sophomore album from this SOUTH DAKOTA band, yeah-South Dakota (probably the first band I’ve heard from there), metal comes from everywhere! Another offering of HM2 inspired OSDM with grooves and head-banging riffs galore, this band is not recreating the wheel but delivering a solid record to head-bang too that needs to be checked out! This album is way better than their debut! 8 tracks, 4 are good and 3 are OK.
ffo: [old] ENTOMBED, GRAVE, UNLEASHED, BLOODBATH, ENTRAILS
RIPPING FLESH – Conquerors of Cosmos = 2.5/5 |Coyote |Technical Brutal Death Metal
Modern Tech Brutal DM from Colombia, South America delivers their new EP 5 years after their debut album. Their debut album Episodes of Chaotic Extinction was damn good and this EP expands on their sound but doesn’t reach far enough. It’s good for their genre but I think this band needs to focus more on their sound and what they want to do to separate from “the crowd” of Brutal Tech DM. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re into Brutal DM, this band could be a major contender! 6 tracks, 2 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: UNMERCIFUL, ORIGIN, DESECRAVITY, ODIUS MORTEM
TOMBSTONER – Descent To Madness = 2.5/5 |Refining Darkness |Death Metal
The debut EP from this NY band and this is something a little different. It’s death metal infused with NY hardcore/old school crossover and add a touch of thrash from the late 90’s. It’s definitely DM but I hear a lot of influences like the bands listed in the ffo below. This band is on to something and it’s a good debut EP, but I have a feeling that the next release will make or break this band. A very promising release and could possibly see this band in the major spotlight of the metal world soon. Definitely worth checking out. 5 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: ENTOMBED, ALL OUT WAR, DEMENTED TED, MACHINE HEAD, [newer] BENEDICTION
HELION – The Great Fall = 3/5 |Revalve |Technical Death Metal
It may be only me but I’ve said it before many times, any death metal band coming out of the Netherlands or Italy, you need to take a moment and check it out, because 75% of time, it’s gonna be killer! Here’s another Italian band with their debut album and its damn good! A very promising band that delivers Tech DM but also has an almost-neoclassical vibe along with a strong thrash vibe to their songs. Massimiliano Cirelli (HISS FROM THE MOAT) is a very talented guitar player and shows off on this release! If you like Tech DM but not on the brutal side this is the band for you! There’s also a running theme of Egyptian mythology. This is definitely worth checking out! 7 tracks, 2 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: ARSIS, HOUR OF PENANCE, ARCHSPIRE, EQUIPOISE, ANNIHILATOR
CEMETERY FILTH – Dominion = 2.5/5 |Unspeakable Axe |Old School Death Metal
Debut album from this Atlanta band, throwing their hat into the Old School DM craze, with a decent release. This definitely sounds like a bunch of OSDM bands mixed in a blender. With these (“what I call”) revival bands, I’d like to see a more personal touch or something different than just creating new OSDM songs. CEMETERY FILTH does a good job at the genre and is worth checking out but I’d like to see them expand a little more with their sound. I’m looking forward to their next album! 9 tracks, 2 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: [early] MORBID ANGEL, [early] DEATH, AUTOPSY, ASPHYX, EMBALMER
INTRACRANIAL PURULENCY – Interdimensional Escalation of Voracity = 2/5 |Rotten Music |Brutal Slam Death Metal
This new EP is definitely slam but more on the slower, punchy style. It’s a decent release but I’m surprised they slowed it down compared to their debut album Eugenic Post-Coital Self Crucifixion. It kinda scratches my slam itch but it’s not fully what I want from slam. Overall, it’s an OK slam release but I expected more! 5 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: AMPUTATED, DRAGGING ENTRAILS, PARASITIC EJACULATION, KRAANIUM
CORDYCEPS – Betrayal = 2.5/5 |Unique Leader |Brutal Death Metal
Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes about 400 species. The generic name Cordyceps is derived from the Greek word κορδύλη kordýlē, meaning “club”, and the Latin word caput, meaning “head”. So I was expecting this to club me over the head, but it didn’t knock me out. It’s a good debut of Brutal DM with a bit of technical riffs and some slower groovy parts. This is definitely the type of band Unique Leader is signing nowadays (that’s not deathcore). A very promising band, I expect to hear great things on future releases. 10 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: INGESTED, INDECENT EXCISION, PUTRIDITY, PYREXIA
DEFECATE – Beating With Disgust = 2/5 |Independent |Death Metal
Their second EP of mean sounding DM with grooves! Solid production that adds to that toughness. It’s grooving DM with a touch of that Hardcore/Old School Cross Over vibe. Some of the grooves are very punchy but this EP keeps ya head-banging throughout. A decent EP and worth checking out. 5 tracks, 2 are good and 2 are ok. PS: some extra added sound FXs and these pig vocals crack me up hahahaha
ffo: DAWN OF DEMISE, VOMIT FORTH, DISFIGURED (NY), [newer] KONKHRA
PESTIFER – Expanding Oblivion = 1.5/5 |XenoKorp |Technical Death Metal
Sci-fi themed Tech DM from Belgium with their 3rd album and I’m just not feeling it. Their 2nd album Reaching The Void was damn good and I was hoping they would expand on that. Expanding Oblivion, overall, is a lot slower and less aggressive than previous albums. Some of these riffs and songs didn’t catch my attention and I lost interest in the songs. 11 tracks, 2 are good and 5 are OK.
ffo: [mid] PESTILENCE, PAVOR, DUNGORTHEB, BEYOND CREATION, OBSCURA
FOREVER DEAD – Tales From Beyond = 0.5/5 |Independent |Old School Death Metal
A new OSDM band from FRANCE with their debut album, Tales From Beyond is so-so, but it’s another one of those I’ve heard before. It’s OSDM mixed with that late ’90’s DM style. It’s a decent offering but there’s nothing special to this, it’s very generic overall to genre. 13 tracks, 1 is good and 4 are OK.
ffo: OBITUARY, CATASTROPHIC (NY), [later] BENEDICTION
