Death Metal

Hideous Divinity – Adveniens Review

By Ferrous Beuller on May 1, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Unique Leader, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 126 comments

“Few could argue that the current Italian extreme metal scene is in poor health. Synthesizing a mixture of brutality and technicality to topple all manner of Renaissance genius, a cornucopia of bands have thundered from the woodwork in the last decade or so to propagate their brand of air-tight demolition. That said, as much as I love a good aural beating, I also require a pinch of musicality to help differentiate from the faceless hordes. Hideous Divinity, a band whose lineup includes current and former members of Aborted and Hour of Penance, have occasionally toed a fine line for me.” Tech-death from the old country.

Firespawn – The Reprobate Review

By Ferrous Beuller on April 30, 2017 in 2017, Century Media, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 27 comments

“Entombed,progenitors of Swedish death metal, went on to create – for better or worse – death ‘n’ roll, and continued down a path of their own paving. Apparently eager to once again try his hand at a little heavy lifting, the legendary L-G Petrov gathered up contemporaries from such little known bands as Necrophobic, Unleashed, Defleshed and Dark Funeral to create the destructive Firespawn.” Super group of Swe-death.

Aborted Fetus – The Art of Violent Torture Review

By Saunders on April 28, 2017 in 2017, Comatose Music, Death Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Slam, Death Metal, Slam, 25 comments

“Among an exciting breed of young talent and up and comers, long running acts such as Immolation and Suffocation continue releasing top-notch material, keeping the younger folk on their toes and creating a healthy link between past and present. Meanwhile certain bands admirably plug away through lengthy careers, causing modest waves in the deepest corners of the underground without ever really exploding or setting the scene on fire. Case in point being long running Russian act Aborted Fetus.” Nasty name, nasty music.

Soulrot – Nameless Hideous Manifestations Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on April 24, 2017 in 2017, Chilean Metal, Death Metal, Memento Mori, Reviews, Death Metal, 38 comments

“Which brings us to Chile’s Soulrot and their debut Nameless Hideous Manifestations. The honeymoon phase of Swe-death, in its prime with Left Hand Path and Like an Everflowing Stream, still brings back those memories of the excitement we long for and want to rekindle. So, like asking her to wear that red dress from that party a few years ago to give you the same gut-punch feeling, we seem to ask little more of our Swe-death than that it remind us of what it once was.” Swe-don’t bring me flowers anymore.

Noumena – Myrrys Review

By Steel Druhm on April 24, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Haunted Zoo Productions, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 59 comments

“Noumena is the little Finnish melo-death band that never says die. After cranking out three quality albums in relatively quick succession from 2002 to 2006 (including the awesome Anatomy of Life), they went into cryo-limbo for six years, finally emerging with 2013s Death Walks With Me. The long layoff didn’t derail their charming approach to melancholic death metal, and I welcomed them back with open arms and hearse while hoping for another extended bout of regular releases. Well, I had to wait some 3 years and change to get the next installment, but they’re finally back with Myrrys.” Hibernate then eradicate.

Pale King – Monolith of the Malign Review

By Grymm on April 24, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 17 comments

“Assumptions. No matter how hard we try not to make them, we always end up drawing conclusions about something without checking it out beforehand. In this case, with a description in our promo list as “melodic death metal,” and seeing that they hail from Sweden, I grabbed >i>Monolith of the Malign, the debut album from Pale King, expecting some twin-guitar Gothenburg melodies. And man, was I off. After much investigation, Pale King is a side-project of Jonny Pettersson and Håkan Stuvemark of long-running death-dealers Wombbath, aiming to capture an old-school melodic death metal feel, but with modern-day songwriting chops.” Olde school, new school, so many educational options!

Ruin – Drown in Blood Review

By Lokasenna on April 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Memento Mori, Reviews, Death Metal, 24 comments

“Hailing from Who-the-hell-knows-where, USA, the generically named Ruin originally formed in 1991, only to have its membership swallowed by time in the slammer and/or sanitarium. Reformed in 2015, they’ve sluiced out a swampy sort of old-school death metal their label promises will be reminiscent of early Abhorrence and Bolt Thrower.” Out of the penal league, into the venal league.

Vampire – With Primeval Force Review

By Grymm on April 22, 2017 in 2017, Century Media, Death Metal, Retro Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Retro Metal, 81 comments

“For their second full-length, With Primeval Force, Sweden’s Vampire rattles off the usual suspects when it comes to their throwback sound, citing Bathory, Mercyful Fate, and Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, you can’t help but… wait, fucking Castlevania?! And a criminally underrated game in that series to boot? Really?” What is a man??

Tehom – The Merciless Light Review

By El Cuervo on April 21, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Blood Harvest Records, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 40 comments

“According to a totally legit Wikipedia search, the word ‘tehom”‘ refers to the deep ocean which once existed and from which Biblical Creation began. The dark but somewhat aquatic artwork adorning the front of Tehom’s The Merciless Light fits this story and these Swedes attempt to document these primordial times through the medium of blackened death metal.” Dead on the Dead Sea.

Artificial Brain – Infrared Horizon Review

By Kronos on April 20, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Profound Lore Records, Progressive Death, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 82 comments

“With the release of Labyrinth Constellation in 2014, New York’s Artificial Brain won themselves an immediate following of fans and critics alike, myself included. With a shudder and a scream, Labyrinth Constellation pulled me by the throat out into a borderless realm of cavernous sci-fi horror as bizarre as it was enticing. The album managed to feel vast without losing the down-to-earth grit of death metal, and even among other Gorguts-influenced groups, Artificial Brain had created a unique sound and a fantastic debut. Following that up will be difficult.” Upgrade or system error?