This past month has been incredible as I’ve gotten to seen IRON MAIDEN, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DARK FUNERAL, MERCYFUL FATE, KREATOR live in concert! Some absolute killer shows! Coming up the ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY reunion show, hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT and 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}
EXHUMED – To the Dead – 3.5/5 |Relapse |DEATH METAL/GRINDCORE
Seriously, if you don’t know who EXHUMED are, then do you really need to be listening to extreme metal? Starting off as a pioneer in the U.S. goregrind genre then maturing into an elite Death Grind band, EXHUMED oozes everything that the grind genre can and will be. With their last few albums, Death Revenge was paying homage to CARCASS and Horror was a return to straight grind but To the Dead has a strong return to Gore Metal vibes. Straight to the point, To the Dead is not recreating the wheel but is possibly one of their strongest albums out there. If you liked what they’ve been doing in the last decade then this doesn’t disappoint. Basically, EXHUMED is the prime example of modern death grind and shows no signs of stopping! 10 tracks, 5 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: CARCASS, IMPALED, GENERAL SURGERY, REGURGITATE, HAEMORRHAGE
AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant = 3/5 |Peaceville |OLD SCHOOL DEATH METAL
AUTOPSY is still out here slaughtering us with their raw OSDM! Morbidity Triumphant continues that classic AUTOPSY sound producing raw, disgusting, brute-ish, DM riffs that started the whole genre but also adding in some stoner/doom-ish style riffs here and there in the mix to makes things a bit different this time around. This album sounds like it could of came out a decade or two ago with its familiar raw style production and the song writing is what you’d expect! With the oversaturating of OSDM going on this past decade, AUTOPSY proves they are at the top of the mountain and everyone else needs to be taking lessons. Morbidity Triumphant is just 100% classic AUTOPSY, plain and simple, even with a new wrinkle. If you appreciate AUTOPSY, you’ll appreciate this, if you love AUTOPSY, you’ll love this. 11 tracks, 4 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: REPULSION, NECROPHAGIA, MASSACRE, ABSCESS, PUNGENT STENCH, IMPETIGO
DRUDKH – All Belong to the Night = 3/5 |Season of Mist |BLACK METAL
DRUDKH is finally back with a new album, which is their twelfth since starting in 2003, containing only 4 tracks but stretches over 45 minutes. First, thing I noticed was more an emotionally feel. The overall theme on this new melancholic album is dealing with inspiration and hope as we all know what’s going on in Ukraine right now. All Belong to the Night is a perfect mix of dark atmosphere full of emotions but doesn’t detergent from their aggressiveness. You don’t have to worry about DRUDKH experimenting as they’ve stayed true to their core sound but what’s amazing is you can hear the passion of putting an emotional atmosphere to this album. The only bad thing about albums like with few tracks and long song times is that one bad track really takes away more than it should from an album than if it had multiple tracks. This is a must for fans of the band! 4 tracks, 2 are killer and 1 is OK.
ffo: WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, KRODA, AGALLOCH, SAOR, WINDSWEPT
OBSIDIOUS – Iconic = 4/5 |Season of Mist |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
Following in the long line of tech bands since NECROPHAGIST unleashed a new uber Tech DM style, OBSIDIOUS features ex-members of OBSCURA as they continue the sound but a stronger progressive feeling. Iconic sounds like a tech DM band have finally figured out the right way to push into the prog/power metal genre. Their debut album is full of hooks and grooves with enough technical precision but with strong prog atmosphere. Basically, if you want something different to the uber tech DM genre, OBSIDIOUS offer up their version and it’s definitely worth checking out! As Iconic has pushed the boundaries of tech DM, rather than the same ole same ole but enough creativity in progressive metal that’s not too far out there experimentally that leaves the song writing bland or boring. This is the perfect blend of Tech DM and Prog to create one hell of a killer album! The more I listen to it, the more it grows on me! 10 tracks, 4 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: OBSCURA, NECROPHAGIST, ALKALOID, ETERNITY’S END, AUGURY, EXOCRINE
HATRIOT – The Vale of Shadows = 3/5 |Massacre |THRASH METAL
Steve Souza from EXODUS fame created this band with his two sons and produced some decent thrash here. Steve sang on the first 2 albums but due to his commitment with EXODUS, left and his sons have been at the helm for these past 2 albums. His son Cody Souza continues the same style of vocals for past albums. First thing I noticed was a shift towards melodic metal compared to the normal thrash which adds a mainstream feel to this album but not taking away or compromising HATRIOT‘s sound. The band definitely kept their roots in 80s thrash but pushed the boundaries as the album keeps you guessing where it’ll go next. A top-notch production adds to this album as The Vale of Shadows might be their best yet! HATRIOT proves they can hang with the top tier of the genre and fans of newer thrash should definitely check this out! 11 tracks, 1 instrumental, 4 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: EXODUS, VIO-LENCE, REVOCATION, HAVOK, WARBRINGER
AURORA BOREALIS – Prophecy is the Mold in Which History is Poured = 3/5 |Hammerheart |BLACK/DEATH METAL
Just like EPOCH OF UNLIGHT, AURORA BOREALIS offers up a different take on blackened DM from the USA. Their first 2 albums Praise the Archaic Lights Embrace, and Northern Lights are killer albums and definitely showed off their unique sound of mixing Florida style DM mixed European BM with a technical approach but catchy enough to create some well-rounded songs. AURORA BOREALIS‘s last 2 albums Worldshapers and Apokalupsis are incredible and definitely raised the bar for blackened DM. Unfortunately, Prophecy is the Mold in Which History is Poured is more a middle of the pack type album from AURORA BOREALIS but longtime fans will definitely love this album. Definitely worth checking out if you’re new to the band start with their earlier albums or last two. 11 tracks, 2 instrumentals, 4 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: EPOCH OF UNLIGHT, MALEVOLENT CREATION, BELPHEGOR, AKERCOCKE, ANGELCORPSE
ANTROPOFAGUS – Origin = 3.25/5 |Agonia |BRUTAL DEATH METAL
Starting off more of a raw/gore style DM band then following a long break of over a decade they return offering a new style of BDM with a lot of technicalities. ANTROPOFAGUS now offers up intense BDM with a dark atmosphere that is uncompromising with its musical bludgeoning. Their last album, M.O.R.T.E., was their best and a beast of an album. Origin is strong but doesn’t top the last one. It hits quick with heaviness then smacks you with some mid-paced grooves here and there but overall is just savage with its technical precision of BDM. Origin is their second-best album and definitely worth checking out! ANTROPOFAGUS is another example that Italy puts out top notch DM! 10 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: HOUR OF PENANCE, NILE, SEPTYCAL GORGE, MORBID ANGEL, KRISIUN
COATHANGER ABORTION – Plan C = 3.5/5 |Comatose |BRUTAL DEATH METAL
COATHANGER ABORTION has been offering up BDM since the mid-2000s and have finally delivered their 3rd album Plan C. Their sound reminds me of the first wave of BDM but mixed with enough grooves and technicality to keep things interesting as DM pushes further along with time. If you really want to dive deep there’s a strong mid-west BDM feel to their sound. I’ve followed this band since their debut, Dying Breed, and that being a decent album along with their sophomore album Observations of Humanity being a step further, but Plan C is their best album yet! COATHANGER ABORTION has finally crafted their own sound and has come out with a Gatlin gun just mowing down everyone in listening distance! Plan C is that perfect example of old meets new and can still compete with anything out there! 8 tracks, BROKEN HOPE cover, 4 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: WACO JESUS, DEADEN, BROKEN HOPE, NECROTIC DISGORGEMENT, BEING KILLED
YMIR – Aeons of Sorrow = 4/5 |Werewolf |PAGAN BLACK METAL
YMIR started off as a three piece, the self-titled debut album was amazing with delivering those old school BM vibes with a modern production. Aeons of Sorrow, sophomore album, now has a full band and a raw production continues that old school sound with some very catchy song writing that is equally aggressive and melodic. This is definitely a head-banging adventure as this album will definitely have you waking up the next day with a sore neck. The atmosphere delivers that cold, frigid feeling as this album brings back positive memories of yesteryear BM bands from Norway without sacrificing its Finnish roots. Aeons of Sorrow also grows on you the more you listen as I find more enjoyment each time. If you’re longing for something new that is reminiscent of the glorious mid 90s sound of Norwegian & Finnish BM, basically making the old new again, this is mandatory! This will definitely be in my top of year list for BM and might be for overall metal albums! 7 tracks, 1 instrumental, 4 are killer and 1 is good.
ffo: TAAKE, THY SERPENT, HORNA, VINTERLAND, DIMMU BORGIR, EMPEROR
INGESTED – Ashes Still Lie = 0.5/5 |Metal Blade |SLAM DEATH METAL/DEATHCORE
I’ve been a Slam DM fan since the mid/late 90s and even a fan of a few Deathcore bands. When these two genres finally merged, one of the bands I really liked is INGESTED. Their earlier releases were strong examples of modern slam with a touch of Deathcore but lately they’ve faded towards a blackened approach along with a more prominent deathcore sound. I wasn’t a much of a fan of their last EP and album so I was curious how this album would be. INGESTED has become too mainstream and follows the path of less resistance and made something more trend accessible. Ashes Still Lie is lame, predictable and boring compared to earlier releases. It seems they’ve followed the new trend of mixing BM and a darker sound that in my opinion messes up what INGESTED does best. They’ve replaced the grooves/slams for a blackened/dark atmosphere. Very disappointing. This is really unlistenable compared to earlier albums. 11 tracks, 1 is good and 3 are so-so.
ffo: ABORTED, WITHIN DESTRUCTION, ANGELWITHIN, ARCANIAS
NOCTURNIS – Unsegen = 2.5/5 |Black Sunset |BLACK METAL
A new band from Germany with a debut EP out, delivers their first full length album that displays melancholy, dark atmosphere and a strong sense of brutality. Unsegen starts out going straight for the jugular with violent riffs and sharp melodic atmosphere then expands into more of a rich atmosphere feeling. The theme is based on historical conflicts of the First World War as it “tells the story of a young soldier in World War I, who is driven by his conscience into a no less harrowing inner struggle due to the atrocities he has experienced, which he ultimately loses”. Unsegen is a solid debut album, that matches a lot of similar German BM bands but also has a familiar Finnish vibe. I’m definitely looking forward to more material from them. 6 tracks, 2 are killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT, 1349, GRIMA, GLEICHMACHER
VAGUS – Sulfurous = 2.5/5 |Unsigned |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
A new band from Sweden featuring members of VISCERAL BLEEDING, INSISION, MP5K, so I’m definitely excited for this! You can definitely hear that European non-Swedish DM sound, typical from the bands in the ffo section, but VAGUS displays mid-tempo BDM but with a more complex riff style. This new EP, Sulfurous, is a solid debut offering. I would like to hear a bit more and also maybe fine tune their natural sound to separate themselves from others in the genre. If you want to check out something new in the BDM genre with some tech-riffs and a groove here and there, give VAGUS a try. Definitely looking forward to hearing more material from them. 4 tracks, 1 is killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: SUFFOCATION, INSISION, VISCERAL BLEEDING, DISAVOWED, SEVERE TORTURE
