Album Reviews

While being at Metaldays in Slovenia, I got to know Slovenian metalcore band Inmate. After an energetic performance where lead singer Marko Duplišak jumped from the stage, over the steel fences and into the crowd, Then ran one lap in the circle pit, jumped back over the fence and jumped on stage and still had enough breath to sing, I was curious to find out more about this band. Drummer Jure Grudnik gave me their CD. Let’s check it out.
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Hailing from New York and New Jersey, Reeking Aura is a death metal band comprised of six veterans who are well known in the underground death metal scene. The project band was formed by the guitarist Ryan Lipynsky (Altered State, The Howling Wind) and guitarist Rick Habeeb (Grey Skies Fallen). The line-up also features additional guitarist Terrell Grannum (Buckshot Facelift), vocalist Will Smith (ex-Artificial Brain), drummer Sam Shereck (Exsanguinated) and bassist Tom Anderer (Buckshot Facelift, ex-Artificial Brain). 'Blood and Bonemeal' is their first studio album centering on the concept story of a person who is struggling with morbid psychosis.
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US death doom metal act Void Rot is back to follow up their 2020 studio album 'Descending Pillars'. The latest EP 'Telluric Dismemberment' features one brand new track, a cover song and three live songs. Since its inception in 2017 Void Rot has become one of the rising entities in the sub-genre along with bands like Spectral Voice, Worm, Mortiferum and Krypts. The current lineup includes Craig Clemons (bass guitar), John Hancock (guitars, vocals), Will Bell (drums) and, Kent Sklarow (guitars).
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Hailing from Fargo North Dakota USA, Redefining Darkness Records presents Maul’s first full-length album 'Seraphic Punishment', comprising 9 bludgeoning death metal tracks in the vein of the Swedish and American bands. Maul was formed in 2017 by the guitarist Anthony Lamb with the intention to expose the stream-rolling brutality of bands like Dismember, Tomb Mold, and Outer Heaven. Although it took them almost 5 years to release their first studio album, Maul released several demos, singles, one compilation and a live album before they found the optimum style.
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Floridian death metal trio Inhuman Condition strikeS back with theIR sophomore release 4Fearsick4 featuring veterans Terry Butler on bass (Obituary, ex-Massacre, ex-Six Feet Under, ex-Death) Jeramie Kling on vocals and drums (Goregäng, Ribspreader, ex-Wombbath) and Taylor Nordberg on guitars (Deicide, Goregäng, Ribspreader). The debut effort 'Rat King', which showcases the old-school roots of death metal, landed on my top list of 2021 albums. Inhuman Condition managed to write some sick death metal riffs, packed full of raw aggression. The 9 tracks on the album will make you experience the strong musicianship that is inherently flawless, for fans of Death, Obituary, and Massacre,
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It’s been quite a long time since the U.S. death metal act Disma released new material. Their latest EP 'Earthendium' grasps the magnitude of their first studio album, 'Towards The Megalith'. Despite the long absence Craig Pillard (vocals, guitars), Bill Venner (guitars), Randi Stokes (bass) and Chris Demydenko (drums) conjure a classic impression of down-tuned death metal. Straight from the ancient catacombs where the musty charnel weaves a morbid atmosphere, the guitars deliver proverbial riffs. The true principle of 'Earthendium' is how the quartet manifests a brutal concoction of slow and fast paces.
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For its brutal and relentless extremity, Seattle’s black/death metal act Hissing aspires for the ideal modus operandi on their sophomore 'Hypervirulence Architecture' out via Profound Lore Records since July 15th, 2022. Formed in 2014 Hissing saw the rise of its sonic standards on the first full-length album 'Permanent Destitution' which already demonstrated the trio's tight musicianship.
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Aussie death metal three-piece Altars have finally returned after nine years of hiatus. 'Ascetic Reflection' is the follow-up album to 2013's 'Paramnesia'. Although they had already acquired a reputation for becoming intensely brutal, the sophomore builds on a dissonant crescendo. In terms of composition Altars have exceeded many bands by creating their own sound, thus reaching high levels of accuracy. The long years of effort seem to have paid off rather nicely for this Aussie band. The new album is one gigantic, brutal slab of technical death metal that you shouldn't miss.
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'An Eternal Time of Decay' is the seventh album of the Swedish death metal quartet Entrails. Being around for three decades already, they have become pioneers in their game. Among other acts like Bloodbath, LIK and Demonical, Entrails tackle brutality and catchy melodic lead guitars. While the songwriting follows the same formula; the newest effort yields out a defining quality. The seventh album is somehow similar to what the band has presented on 'The Tomb Awaits' and 'Raging Death'. The production and the songwriting are composed in the authentic Swedish death metal sound à la Entombed.
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Simple Plan is a band you most likely have heard before. Maybe you know it, maybe you don't. But this band is so diverse, chances are high that you've heard about Tik Tok sensation 'I'm Just a Kid', the recognizable 'Welcome to My Life' or 2011's big summer hit 'Summer Paradise'. Let's see if we can add any songs from their latest album 'Harder Than it Looks' to this hit list.
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