Immolation

Descent – Order of Chaos Review

Descent – Order of Chaos Review

“If Australia is trying to kill you, then Descent is the club with which it bludgeons its victims. The Brisbane five-piece burst onto the scene in 2018 with Towers of Grandiosity, which worshipped at the altar of the most primitive old-school death metal. But Towers rested too heavily on its Neanderthal influences, failing to make a mark amidst stiff competition from down-under brethren like Faceless Burial, The Plague, and Earth Rot. Descent’s latest attack, Order of Chaos aims to outshine the OSDM riffraff by incorporating weapons from neighboring genres into the band’s arsenal, in defiant response to our review (I assume).” Murder Land.

Necrophagous – In Chaos Ascend Review

Necrophagous – In Chaos Ascend Review

“The first dive into the promo sump at the start of a new year is fraught with risk and peril. Somewhat refreshed after the ever-so-brief holiday break, you may be a bit too eager to start the year with a winning find. Anticipation and expectation must be carefully managed as you regird the loins and begin the Sisyphus-esque uphill grind. Thus it was with freshly girded loins that I stumbled upon the debut from Sweden’s Necrophagous.” Death eaters, score beaters.

Malignant Altar – Realms of Exquisite Morbidity Review

Malignant Altar – Realms of Exquisite Morbidity Review

“Like a cesspool creamsicle, Malignant Altar seep out of Texas with their debut full-length, Realms of Exquisite Morbidity. Proud members of the “Morbid Angel coated in shit, sludge and tentacles” mini-genre, they glissade up alongside other poo-encrusted acts like Decrepisy who believe Incantation needed more murk and muck in their formative years. And over the course of 33 minutes, Malignant Altar do their damndest to force-feed you all the medical waste and filth they can as they gleefully cavort through the unspeakably foul gunk of some godforsaken cavern of inequity.” Altars of jaundice.

Order – The Gospel Review

Order – The Gospel Review

“It’s no secret that I like Mayhem. Since Slayer disbanded, they’re my favorite active metal band. Each of their “eras” has offered something unique, special, memorable, and great. I’ve been listening to the legendary Deathcrush a lot lately, and I’ve never found anything quite like it. Imagine my surprise, then, when I learned that Norway’s Order existed and featured Manheim (drums on Deathcrush) and Messiah (some vocals on Deathcrush).” Crushing.

Anthropophagus Depravity – Apocalypto Review

Anthropophagus Depravity – Apocalypto Review

Anthropophagus Depravity is a brutal death metal quintet from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and 2021’s Apocalypto is their debut. While undoubtedly committed to bludgeoning listeners over the head with gore-splattered riffs, tar-thick grooves, and hell-scraping gutturals, Apocalypto is also dedicated to Mayan civilization and its emphasis of human sacrifice.” Sacrifices must be made.

Drawn and Quartered – Congregation Pestilence Review

Drawn and Quartered – Congregation Pestilence Review

Drawn and Quartered plays what many refer to as “cavern-core,” which really means “something that sounds a lot like Incantation.” Oftentimes there’s an echoey “cavernous” production whence this sub-subgenre derives its name. Drawn and Quartered aren’t interested in capturing that aesthetic via production tricks, though; they want to use riffs and songs to get at that Incantation magic. Cemetery Urn took a similar approach on their self-titled record to what’s happening on Congregation Pestilence, which is to focus more on the speedier moments of Incantation and make some barbaric, unrelenting death metal.” Cave sale.

Killing Addiction – Mind of a New God Review

Killing Addiction – Mind of a New God Review

“Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t make your mind up too soon. Things aren’t necessarily always what they seem to be. If you’re about my age and used to watch Thomas the Tank Engine, the above has triggered a flashback and you’ve now got the melody of that song stuck in your head wherein it shall remain for at least twenty-four hours. It’s good advice though, because Killing Addiction’s choice of cover for their second LP Mind of a New God looks like the concept art for a rejected Mortal Kombat boss that you can’t play as in multiplayer. Despite the cover, it shouldn’t be overlooked.” Killing business.

Swampbeast – Seven Evils Spawned of Seven Heads Review

Swampbeast – Seven Evils Spawned of Seven Heads Review

“Tranquility is having one’s swamp to one’s self. Nothing beats the sultry shimmer of swamp silence. But silence is fleeting. Evil lurks in the hazy depths of the swamp. Upward through ancient mud rises Swampbeast, a mangled, tangled death metal creature. The beast is here to stay. Seven Evils Spawned of Seven Heads, Swampbeast’s debut full-length, drags a listener through a 36-minute mire of grinding putridity.” Running bog wild.

Gorephilia – In the Eye of Nothing Review

Gorephilia – In the Eye of Nothing Review

“In 2017 I covered Gorephilia’s Severed Monolith and awarded the album a mixed score. While many disagreed, I couldn’t shake the notion that the gaps in the writing eclipsed the album’s better elements. Although I have found myself returning to Severed Monolith more than expected, I stand by my criticisms. Then, in 2018 vocalist Henri Emil Kuula sadly passed away. As is often the case, the band’s future seemed uncertain. Three years later and Gorephilia have returned with another platter of occult hemophagic horror.” Where the eyes live.