Album Reviews

Bad Omens brings us another full length album titled 'The Death of Peace of Mind' combining metal with electronic and synth-wave elements. Overall this album is fun to listen to. While it may not be a perfect album, it spotlights Noah Sebastian's vocal range and it's definitely got some bangers.
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Crawling out from the putrid catacombs the U.S. death metal act Blasphematory steeps deeper into old school brutality on their sophomore release 'The Lower Catacombs'. Formed in 2018 the New Jersey trio of Joe Aversario (bass, guitar, and vocals), Chris Warhead (drums) and Tom Deceiver (rhythm guitar) has succeeded in defining their sound. Blasphematory molds the grisly and vile essence of cavernous death metal. Like the creeping mist cascading over the swampy waters, the vocals maintain a creepy effect. Thudding bass guitar and the sinister atmosphere of the intense riffing, as well as the crushing drums, take its classic place in the composition.
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12 years after its establishment, the New York-based technical death metal band Artificial Brain launches its third self-titled studio album. During a five years hiatus, they evolved from their sophomore 'Infrared Horizon' in the technical areas. Artificial Brain’s songwriting expertise has taken great twists in a different direction. At the same time, the guitar department that is handled by Oleg Zalman, Jon Locastro and Dan Gargiulo provides a multilayered approach. On drums, Keith Abrami and bassist/synthesizer Samuel Smith spewed out a cacophony of loud dissonant notes, rhythms and blast beats.
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New York-based death metal formation Undeath is back with the highly anticipated sophomore release 'It’s Time… to Rise from the Grave'. Although the band’s first full-length album 'Lesions of a Different Kind' has become an instant classic, the U.S. quintet derives influences from brutal death metal bands like Cannibal Corpse. As a result, the song structure spawned from the groovy riffs. However, the production is propped by a grimy concrete slab of modern brutality.
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For the first time, Iron Bonehead Productions unearth some long unknown side projects known as Trolldom of the Swedish instrumentalist Swartadapuz. The demo 'Av Gudablod Röd…' debuted in 2016 on which the musician grasped the pure inspiration from the classic era of black metal, On the first studio album 'Av Gudars Ätt' Swartadapuz brings an aura of magical enchantment to his trademarks. The album contains four lengthy songs and an instrumental interlude. In its dark mesmerizing nature, it is evident that the merging of the synth and the atmospheric elements serves to create an ancient feeling.
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Along the manifold side project bands of Swedish multi-instrumentalist Swartadauþuz, Iron Bonehead Productions brings forth the most ancient musical creations of Trolldom. The two debut albums 'Av Gudars Ätt' and 'I nattens sken (Genom hemligheternas Dunkel)' are masterfully crafted in the timeless, ageless classical way that can only belong to the realm of 90s black metal. 'I nattens sken (Genom hemligheternas Dunkel)' was written between 2004 and 2008. The recording of this marvelous debut moved forward in 2018 and the mixing took place in 2021.
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Finnish renowned black metal veterans L.L. (all instruments), and M.M. (Vocals and lyrics) present their symphonic oeuvre under the moniker of Pestilent Hex. The debut album “Ashen Abhorrence” finds its way into the magical hallmarks of melodic/symphonic black metal of the early nineties. The Finnish duo delivers an excellent performance of musical work that makes its debut as one of the finest albums of the year 2022. There are plenty of similarities that illustrate the style of Obtained Enslavement albums “Witchcraft” and “Soulblight” which recreates the same magical feel.
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I was very pleased to hear that Dawn of Solace released a EP with some acoustic versions of their new songs. I admittedly just found them a few months ago, through Kaunis Koulematon, where when I first saw them live I immediately fell in love with Mikko's clear vocals. As some of you maybe already know, I absolutely adore acoustic records, so I just new I had to check out this EP.
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In the last few years, the Finnish underground black metal scene has presented a number of promising bands like Mooncitadel, Ymir, Faustian Pact, and Morgal. Moonlight Sorcery is yet another fine example of this sub-genre, formed in 2018 by Ruttomieli (vocals), Haaska (rhythm guitar), and, Loitsumestari Taikakallo (lead guitars and bass). The first thing to thrill you about the band’s debut EP “Piercing Through The Frozen Eternity” is the frozen landscape of ice and medieval castle as if the moon outshines the pine trees on all sides of this beautiful painting which portrays a sense of winter.
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French, atmospheric black metal Avant-Garde collective Blut Aus Nord returns with their 14th opus 'Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses', out via Debemur Morti Productions on May the 20th. Taking the audience beyond the domains of black metal Blut Aus Nord traverses deep into the realm of horror. Much like its predecessor 'Hallucinogen', the music navigates through the dark unearthly harmony. The bizarre cosmic opera comprises supernatural themes where the music utterly transcends, with eldritch screams and dreadful female chants, enhancing the atmosphere.
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