Transcending Obscurity

Down Among the Dead Men – …And You Will Obey Me Review

Down Among the Dead Men – …And You Will Obey Me Review

“Vibrant old school death releases from Lik, Skeletal Remains and Ripped to Shreds have highlighted 2018 so far, and with an upcoming full-length from Extremity on the horizon, things are looking bright for fans of the retro style. That said, can Down Among the Dead Men raise the bar and lay waste to the standout competition?” Old dogs, deadly tricks.

Sadistik Forest – Morbid Majesties Review

Sadistik Forest – Morbid Majesties Review

“Whenever I spot “Finland” lurking at the end of a promo label, I can always rest assured that a brawl is surely brewing, and Sadistik Forest are certainly pugilists to the core, skinning knuckles with their riff-centric death metal, despite their name sounding like every black metal band ever. Three albums in and the Finns’ combination of thrashing rhythms and deathly destruction continues to transcend their obvious OSDM tag, delivering a deceptively genre-fluid assault.” Riffs, man.

Depravity – Evil Upheaval Review

Depravity – Evil Upheaval Review

“Death metal, in all of its fevered furor, tests us with many of life’s most potent questions. Spanning such pleas as ‘why, David Vincent, why?’ to simply ‘why did Chuck never change his surname to Skulldiner?’ Whatever the line of inquiry, we can all agree that one question remains more pressing than all others combined. What happens when the Cannibal Corpse itself is cannibalized, its putrid properties mingled and made stock for only the most sadistic of stews? Such death-ception demands to be acknowledged and Australia’s very own Depravity have the answer — debut, Evil Upheaval.” Meat n’ greet.

Nigredo – Flesh Torn – Spirit Pierced Review

Nigredo – Flesh Torn – Spirit Pierced Review

“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk about you again. Try though I did to abandon my pursuits ov the fabled black dragon, there is only so much one can do to wrest themselves from the hands of their own addictions. There is also only so much one can do when the Madam herself slams the needle directly into your feeble, velvety arm and says “you’re going for a ride, ready or not!” Addiction is an ugly, fearsome thing, and so are Greece’s Nigredo.” While Behemoth Sleeps.

Towards Atlantis Lights – Dust of Aeons Review

Towards Atlantis Lights – Dust of Aeons Review

“If there was a word lately that’s been plaguing my promo-picking (and hence, my review-writing), it would be the word ‘should.’ Everything from the band and sound descriptions, groups featuring members I respect and admire, and comparisons to well-established acts of olde color my judgment to the point that my very enjoyment hinges on the idea that, by and large, satisfaction would be gathered by what I’m reading about. Supergroups are no exception. Yes, that term has been flogged more than dead horsemeat, but when you’ve got a band made up of members of established funeral doom stalwarts such as Pantheist, Aphonic Threnody, and Void of Silence, the end result should (there’s that word) be enticing.” Supergroups, man.

Arkheth – 12 Winter Moons Comes the Witches’ Brew Review

Arkheth – 12 Winter Moons Comes the Witches’ Brew Review

“Time to turn over another rock for yet another black metal garage project! Yet another slice on the Australian Metal Genre Roulette Wheel, Arkheth is a self-described experimental black metal project coming off an eight-year hiatus. “Experimental” as a subgenre label can be vague even at the best of times (that is, when it’s not an outright lie by marketing), but it’s still a head-turner for fans of strange music.” Strange brew.

Djinn and Miskatonic – Even Gods Must Die Review

Djinn and Miskatonic – Even Gods Must Die Review

“Well, this is an interesting completion of the circle. Djinn and Miskatonic’s Forever in the Realm was a number of firsts for me: first impulse-purchase of an album on band name alone, first real exposure to doom metal, first exposure to the burgeoning Indian metal scene, and the subject of a writing sample to This Very Mighty Website! That debut, stuffed to the gills with Sleep and Sabbath-esque riffage, was also unfortunately possessed of spotty songwriting and editing issues. Their sophomore album, Even Gods Must Die, promises a platter of six potent songs, this time with the Sleep influences dialed back to bring more Electric Wizard and Reverend Bizarre into the mix.” Djinn and doom juice.

Marginal – Total Destruction Review

Marginal – Total Destruction Review

“Just in time to ruin your holiday cheer, Belgian quintet Marginal come storming into the party like your drunk Uncle Randy after one too many glasses of rum and eggnog. Formed in 2013 by veterans of other Belgian acts Aguardente, Bark, and Aborted, this unkempt troupe seeks to combine grindcore and crust whilst paying homage to the early days of Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror, and Discharge.” Crust in the wind.

Jupiterian – Terraforming Review

Jupiterian – Terraforming Review

“Atmospheric doom/sludge. Ponder that tag and allow the words and your imagination to create a world, a special place of their design. Personally, there’s no light where those words take me. I see the genre before me and am transported somewhere dark, cold; visions of Errata convulse under Clouds which Swallow the Sun, and I begin to dream of a place that I could call home. Norway, Finland, Russia, Canada… the lands of ice and snow dance behind my eyes.” Weather forecast: Grim.