Gospel of the Horns

Urn – Iron Will of Power Review

Urn – Iron Will of Power Review

By Mark Z. on September 16, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 38 comments

“Nothing in this world is as good as blackened thrash metal. In the book of Z, it is the pinnacle of not just metal, but music in general. While Australian acts like Gospel of the Horns and the fukkin almighty Deströyer 666 do it best, that doesn’t mean the rest of the world has nothing to offer. Finland’s Urn are one such band who have been reliable in keeping my head banging over the years, even if their straightforward take on blackened thrash was never enough to bring them to the big leagues.” Boo-Urn?

Verwüstung – Gospel ov Fury Review

Verwüstung – Gospel ov Fury Review

By Mark Z. on May 3, 2019 in 2019, Belarusian Metal, Black Metal, Handful of Hate Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 26 comments

“Nothing gets me going like blackened thrash metal. The mere sight of a promising promo that places the words “black” and “thrash” together is enough to manifest a throbbing pillar of flesh in my britches, the magnitude of which is rivaled only by the tower of Isengard. Belarus quartet Verwüstung take things a step further by describing their second album Gospel ov Fury as “a fucking firestorm of blackthrashing metal.” Jesus. Suddenly I need a cold shower.” Rage-gasms.

Vomitor – Pestilent Death Review

Vomitor – Pestilent Death Review

By Mark Z. on April 25, 2018 in 2018, Australian Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 55 comments

“What’s that? You’re tired of the progressive melodoom or whatever foofoo bullshit we’re giving Record o’ the Month to these days? Of course, you are. You want something heavier. Faster. Rawer. Something that feels like eating stale Chinese food out of a back alley garbage can while a stray cat gives birth in the background. We’ve all been there, and the solution is simple: Vomitor.” Vomitor, repeat as needed.

Bloodlust – At the Devil’s Left Hand Review

Bloodlust – At the Devil’s Left Hand Review

By Mark Z. on August 22, 2017 in 2017, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Caverna Abismal Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 34 comments

“In the entire English language, no three words get me more excited than “Australian blackened thrash” (maybe “double bacon cheeseburger,” but that’s a different article). Deströyer 666, Gospel of the Horns, Nocturnal Graves — all great stuff, and Bloodlust is just as savage. This Perth-based trio formed in 2011 and consist of current and former members of Impiety, The Furor, and Mhorgl, among others. Somehow debut Cultus Diaboli slipped by me in 2015, but no matter — sophomore full-length At the Devil’s Left Hand is here, and it provides all the Satan, hellfire riffs, and Satan that your pathetic little ears can handle. Did I mention Satan?” Satan.

Phylactery – Necromancy Enthroned Review

Phylactery – Necromancy Enthroned Review

By Mark Z. on August 16, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Unspeakable Axe Records, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 41 comments

“I won’t mince words: Necromancy Enthroned is the riffiest album I’ve ever heard. This album makes Master of Puppets look like Music for Airports. This album makes Sodom look like Sunn O))). This album is the reason why my socks remain unfolded while I stand over my bed playing air guitar.” The socks have been rocked.

Sloth Herder – No Pity, No Sunrise Review

Sloth Herder – No Pity, No Sunrise Review

By Mark Z. on March 31, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Grimoire Records, Grind, Reviews, Sludge, Black Metal, Sludge Metal, 20 comments

“If you’ve never heard of Frederick, Maryland, then you’re amongst 99.9% of the U.S. population. It’s a Podunk settlement in the western part of the state, composed of little more than a quaint downtown, rolling hills, a few cookie-cutter suburbs, and some scattered golf courses. It also happens to be where yours truly grew up. One dark night years after I moved away, I randomly scoured the web for bands from my musically barren hometown, only to come across Sloth Herder and their Abandon Pop Sensibility EP. Treading the foul line between black metal and grindcore, the record was a lot like Thomas Hobbes’ description of life before society: nasty, brutish, and short.” Hobbs-core has arrived,

Denouncement Pyre – Black Sun Unbound Review

Denouncement Pyre – Black Sun Unbound Review

By Mark Z. on July 13, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 21 comments

“For an American who’s never visited, Australia seems like the coolest place on Earth. I get emissions testing done on my Toyota and listen to an old Army veteran reminisce about the beachy weather and beautiful women he met during his R&R travel there. I talk to a co-worker and hear stories about young women writing their phone numbers on tennis balls and tossing them onto the deck of his ship as it pulled into Sydney. I shotgun a Fosters while riding a kangaroo, wearing Globes, and blasting Deströyer 666 loud enough to crush my balls. I may have made one of those up. Point is, I love Australian metal, and Denouncement Pyre is no exception.” Disparaging the Boot is a bootable offense, Mark!

Decrepit Soul – The Coming of War!! Review

Decrepit Soul – The Coming of War!! Review

By Mark Z. on March 14, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 14 comments

“I’ve always found the crude, no-fucks-given approach of Australian blackened death band Sadistik Exekution quite endearing. With their sloppy live performances, reports that their founding guitarist lived in a Sydney dungeon, and insistence on spelling ‘fuck’ with two ‘k’s (a tendency I’ve often found myself adopting in drunken text messages), everything about the band is appealing in the same way as a B-grade 80s horror movie: extremity for the sake of extremity, with an underlying camp nurtured by splatter-happy nastiness and an utter lack of technical aptitude. It was in search of other groups with this aesthetic that I decided to check out Aussie duo Decrepit Soul’s sophomore LP The Coming of War!!” Fuckks were given about this here review.