Album Reviews

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.
Read More >

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.
Read More >

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.
Read More >

'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.
Read More >

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.
Read More >

After releasing their first studio album 'Revelations of the Ethereal' and sophomore outing 'Where All Hope Fades' Zaragoza's death metal-based outfit Ataraxy takes a darker and atmospheric approach to death metal. Now nearly fifteen years after its formation the Spanish quartet conveys a gloomy requiem for the dead. Undoubtedly, the funereal, sepulchral tone seems quite prevailing on the band’s third album 'The Last Mirror'. Once you start contemplating the dismal painting of the album cover, the music slowly drags you out from the mortal realm.
Read More >

Australian band Stand Atlantic released their third album F.E.A.R. on 6th May 2022. Vocalist Bonnie Fraser describes the album as “anti concept” and the title of the album is an abbreviation of Fuck Everything And Run.
It are Fraser's vocals and lyrics that loom large throughout this album. She has stated that the album provided a means of expressing all of her frustrations without limitation. The album is a reflection of her feelings over the past two years. These feelings inevitably seem to have been mostly negative, which is hardly surprising given what has been happening in the world over the past couple of years. The pandemic certainly seems to have fueled people’s creativity.
Read More >

Unspeakable Axe Records presents the first studio album 'The Sorrow of Soul Through Flesh' of the Chilean death metal band Suppression. Since debuting their 2019 EP 'Repugnant Remains' the quartet of Pablo Cortés (bass), Daniele Poblete (guitars), Cristopher Zapata (drums) and Alejandro Cruz (vocals) saw a major shift in the technical/old school death metal. Throughout the album Suppression displays a powerful technique that is honed by the likes of Morgoth, Death, Sadist and Cynic. Apart from having a fine ear for death metal perfection, the Chilean quartet shows the ability to such robust levels.
Read More >

The year 2022 marks the third decade of the Mexican occult death metal band The Chasm. The duo of Daniel Corchado (bass, guitars, and vocals) and Antonio León (drums) reaps their achievement that took thirty years of crafting their uncanny craft in the genre of death metal. Being one the most prominent bands in the Latin American scence, the duo reigned most supremely atop the crown, alongside bands like Cenotaph, Shub Niggurath and Brujeria. In 1994 The Chasm attained great status when they launched their debut album 'Procreation of the Inner Temple'.
Read More >

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Michigan death/doom quintet Temple of Void forges the hammer of doom in the classic authentic way that brings flashbacks of early Paradise Lost. With its heavy hammer and anvil, the fourth album 'Summoning the Slayer' wields power and might. The lineup features Mike Erdody (vocals), Jason Pearce (drums), Brent Satterly (bass guitar), Alex Awn (guitars) and Don Durr (guitars). Temple of Void has persistently built a solid cavernous sound, yet they still managed to keep the influences of the early 90s within the core of the songwriting.
Read More >