Saunders

Unleashing Hell from Down Under: Blood, sweat, venom & beers

The Absence – The Absence Review

By Saunders on April 13, 2024 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 11 comments

“Florida’s The Absence have carved out a tidy career of dependable material across two separate career arcs since forming way back in 2002. Their first few albums were thrashy, slightly blackened melodeath bangers with killer riffs, striking melodies and catchy hooks in tow. Hardly groundbreaking stuff but solidly entertaining, nonetheless. Following an eight-year recording hiatus, The Absence kicked back into gear in 2018 and now we arrive at the third album of their recharged second era, and sixth overall, following on from 2021’s reliably solid Coffinized release. On this occasion, the veteran act decided to go the self-titled route, which often translates to a stylistic reinvention, or assertive back-to-basics approach.” Absence makes the heart do something.

Benighted – Ekbom Review

By Saunders on April 10, 2024 in Reviews, Slam, 13 comments

“Springing to life some twenty-five years ago, France’s Benighted have carved a legacy of quality output. From rougher beginnings, the deathgrind powerhouse developed and honed their potently addictive formula to a fine point, throwing down technically proficient, slammy deathgrind fireballs with plenty of gusto, a deliciously unhinged bent, and a pig squealing, asylum rioting sense of fun.” BREEE careful!

Idiot Robot – Anti Pop Culture Review

By Saunders on March 14, 2024 in Reviews, 32 comments

“Perusing the promo sump, I stumbled across Idiot Robot, intrigued by the grunge tag they were saddled with. Being an avid fan of the ’80’s/’90’s grunge scene, Seattle rock movement and ’90’s alt-rock in general, I’m a sucker for this shit. Hell, even 2023’s Somnuri album, which kicked endless arse, sealed my love with its earwormy grunge hooks and melodies. Under closer investigation, I realized our resident spongey friend Kenstrosity reviewed the Floridian duo’s self-titled debut album in 2020, where despite endearing elements of nostalgia, the end result was something akin to a dumpster fire. Nearly four years have passed, and everyone has room for improvement, right?” Robot problems.

Decryptor – Imminent Ruin Review

By Saunders on March 3, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 15 comments

“Part of the enduring thrill of this here reviewing game, is dipping into the toxic gunk of the promo sump to pull out a freshly untapped talent or obscure underground gem that knocks your socks off and gives reason to share the love with anyone who will listen. Of course, shit can go pear-shaped pretty quickly in a densely populated modern metal scene, where carving an impression and standing out from the overcrowded pack offers a stern challenge. Hailing from British Colombia, Decryptor formed as recently as 2020, plying their trade through underground dedication and refining their skills via a few demo releases. Imminent Ruin signals the band’s first foray into full-length territory. With minimal profile or web presence, let us see if these young upstarts have the songwriting goods and talents to stoke deeper interest.” Ambition and ruin.

Job for a Cowboy – Moon Healer Review

By Saunders on February 21, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, 69 comments

“Arizona’s Job for a Cowboy garnered significant buzz and division within the metal realms when they dropped their 2005 debut EP, Doom. The brawny slab of deathcore impressed those inclined, before gradually transitioning into a modern death metal act with tech leanings, largely dispensing with the core influences. Fairly nonplussed by the band’s earlier material, Job for a Cowboy’s pivoting career trajectory blindsided me on fourth LP, Sun Eater, released nearly a decade ago. Signature technical proficiency, testosterone-charged aggression, and bludgeoning, slickly produced modern death remained, however, the unexpected integration of progressive structures and complex compositions, offering a hefty thump of aggression and brutality, largely impressed.” Cow tipping, gun slinging.

Tanin’iver – Dark Evils Desecrate Review

By Saunders on February 4, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 18 comments

“Immersing myself in the twisted, feral cauldron of Dark Evils Desecrate and its relentless assault, Tanin’iver appear hellbent on writing the most ugly, evil, and uncompromising anthems as possible to soundtrack a fiery apocalypse. Bells, whistles, and gimmicks are jettisoned for an old school underground sound converging in the dankest underground corners where raw black metal brawls with death and thrash influences.” Dark for darkness sake.

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]

By Saunders on January 27, 2024 in Things You Might Have Missed 2023, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 75 comments

“It wouldn’t be Things You Might Have Missed season without some controversy. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, prolific, chameleon-like alchemists King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have garnered a powerful cult following since forming in 2010. Incredibly during that time, they released a scarcely believable 25 LPs. My own experience with the band is limited in comparison to their exhausting, hyperactive output. Sure, I’ve heard songs here and there and enjoyed the odd isolated jam, however, perhaps due to the overwhelming body of work, and skepticism over the quantity vs quality ratio, I have never given a full LP of theirs a good shake. That changed with their 24th LP.” Lizard Kings can do…anything.

The Willowtip Files: The Dying Light – The Killing Plan

By Saunders on January 20, 2024 in Blog Posts, The Willowtip Files, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“Pennsylvanian-based independent label Willowtip Records was established by Jason Tipton in the late ’90s. From humble beginnings, the label has stood the test of time, becoming one of the most respected and highly regarded record labels in the extreme metal scene. It takes something special to create a label with a consistently unfuckwithable roster of quality, innovative artists while retaining long-term integrity and durability. Willowtip is the self-proclaimed forward-thinking label, releasing a slew of modern classics and top-shelf albums that may have a lower profile but are more than worth your while. ” Rage against The Dying Light.

Begravement – Horrific Illusions Beckon [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]

By Saunders on January 11, 2024 in Things You Might Have Missed 2023, Death Metal, Progressive Death, 24 comments

“Amidst the slew of mighty fine death metal releases in 2023, there were some killer debuts and plenty of albums well worth your attention, even if they didn’t feature heavily, or at all, during another epic Listurnalia campaign. One such album was the debut LP from up-and-coming Minnesota death dealers Begravement and their potential packed Horrific Illusions Beckon album.” Grave developments.