Album Reviews

Ripped To Shreds is the brainchild of the Taiwanese-American multi-instrumentalist Andrew Lee who has returned with the third album "劇變 (Jubian)". The new album adds another remarkable output to the band’s discography, marking a significant refinement from the 2020 sophomore release “亂 (Luan)”. The new album embodies the same elements that provide extreme contrast between Swedish death metal and 80’s grindcore being bolstered by insane drums and HM-2 guitar distortion.
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Four decades long and the Swedish doom metal masters Candlemass have been touted as the originators of epic doom metal. Since their groundbreaking debut album “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” established itself in the canons of epic doom invoking dark and medieval tales of sorcery, the sophomore “Nightfall” was another well-defined record highlighted by the excellent vocal performances of Messiah Marcolin. With the 13th album “Sweet Evil Sun” we see the legendary band once again including the original vocalist Johan Langquist, bringing back his ominous vocals as he conveys effectively powerful anthems. Candlemass wields mighty riffs pledging a solemn oath to the fans and displaying strong performances in an enthralling mastery that beckons the band’s classic era.
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London’s based death metal quintet Vacuous has brought forth its highly anticipated first full-length studio album 'Dreams of Dysphoria' via Me Saco Un Ojo Records (Vinyl) and Dark Descent Records (CD) on October 14th, 2022. Being one of the most promising acts in the sub-genre of cavernous death metal in recent years, Vacuous succeeded in laying its sound with its 2020 debut EP 'Katabasis'. Their lineup consists of vocalist Jo Chen, guitarists Michael Brodsky, Ezra Harkin, drummer Max Southall and bassist Damiano S.
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Australian death metal act Faceless Burial returns with their newest full-length album “At the Foothills of Deliration”. After a two-year hiatus, the Melbourne trio has finely honed its craft where the third album shows how the band can push boundaries while giving each instrument a fair space and the music bears a multi-mosaic sound. Faceless Burial never repeats itself, in each studio album they showed how death metal can be achieved with fine skills. Therefore “At the Foothills of Deliration” stands on its own footing on the level of technicality and brutality.
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The sophomore release “Sacred Rites & Black Magick” from St. Louis Missouri-based black metal duo Stormruler imbues an epic quality that captures the majestic Scandinavian style of black metal. The splendid musicianship between Jason Asberry (guitars, vocals), and Jesse Schobel (drums) takes the melodic side of Swedish black metal and combines them with the aspects of stylish virtuoso showpieces. Stormruler’s triumphant entry into the vast fantasy realms vindicates its melodic compositions, there is a superb emphasis on conjuring a melodic atmosphere. Following the archetype of the masters of Scandinavian black metal like Dawn and Vinterland, they achieve songwriting with flawless performance.
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It’s finally here, the album with the longest name ever. Let’s not forget that the creator behind these masterpieces, Tobias Sammet, had me rating his previous album Moonglow 10/10. The first time I ever did that. That might have had something to do with me literally dreaming about the album and living the story of it. So, in short, I have very high expectations and pretty much no doubt that this album is going to match it or even excess it. Let's check it out.

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For two decades long, mastermind Roman Saenko (Blood of Kingu, Hate Forest, and Astrofaes) has been crafting some of his best works with Drudkh that have become the very soul of the Ukrainian black metal. “All Belong To the Night” is a deeply atmospheric and melodic piece of emotive art that stands as a paragon to Roman Saenko’s method of crafting epic songs. As in their previous albums, Drudkh aptly delivers emotive peaks and solid aggression with a plethora of sweeping melodies blending atmosphere and harsh vocals creating beautiful moments.
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Death metal forefathers Autopsy have finally returned from the dead with a brand new album 'Morbidity Triumphant', out via Peaceville Records since September 30th. Carving its unspeakable name in the realm of death metal since 1987, Autopsy pioneered the U.S. underground scene along with bands like Death and Possessed. While most fans are familiar with Chris Reifert’s frenetic barks and hammering drums, the veterans deliver a sadistic reinvention of a classic raw death/doom metal sound, hence suiting the tone of Autopsy’s early albums.
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Quite some weeks after release I finally get my hands on a copy of this to review. Was it worth the wait? Hell Yes!

Having been a long-time fan of the Dropkick Murphys, I consider this to be their finest album in a long time. The Murphys really have done justice to the words of Woody Guthrie, quite simply, each track on this album is a masterpiece. Not that they are complete strangers to Guthrie’s work of course, having used his lyrics to 'Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight' on the 'blackout' album and 'I’m Shipping Up To Boston' on 'The Warriors Code'. Apart from having the entire lyrics written by Woody Guthrie the album is also predominantly acoustic and sounds unlike any other Dropkick Murphys album. There is a definite country aspect to the album but crossed with a punk attitude and feel.

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'Ho Ho Ho.... Xmas comes early this year for thrash-metal fans!' says Santa in November 2022. On November 11th, 2022 the fifth studio longplayer album 'Emperor Of The Weak' by Fateful Finality will be released. The southern Germany based 4-head combo is keeping it's tradition to serve you the finest skull splitting thrash metal. After teasing the appetite with their 'Finish 'Em' EP which was released on vinyl only in 2021 now it's time for their next masterpiece.
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