Reviews

The Valley of Despair

The Tomb

Italy's Death Metal scene has long nurtured bands that delve deep into the shadows of human suffering, but THE TOMB stands out as one of its most skilled architects of despair. Their latest album, "The Valley of Despair", is a merciless plunge into darkness, seamlessly blending brutal aggression with eerie, atmospheric interludes. The band's mastery lies in their ability to fuse old-school death metal ferocity with modern intricacies, each riff and divebomb solo tearing through a desolate soundscape of torment. Complementing the music, the album’s artwork—a haunting oil painting of a valley lined with skeletal walls and a river of flesh and blood—captures the raw, visceral power of their sound. It's a grotesque reflection of the album’s journey through decay and desolation, where suffering reigns supreme and the living are but faint echoes of anguish.

Beyond Shadows

New York, New York is a scene of high rises, skyscrapers, neighborhoods, and old seedy […]

Close To Complete Darkness

Morgue

MORGUE, hailing from France, is a powerhouse within the Brutal Death Metal scene. Since their formation in the late 1990s, they have relentlessly carved a niche with their intense, guttural ferocity and technical precision. Their 2024 LP, "Close To Complete Darkness", showcases the band at their bleakest, blending raw aggression with profound thematic depth, echoing existential despair. Known for crushing riffs and a meticulously crafted sound, MORGUE channels the visceral ferocity of early Death Metal while embracing modern Brutal Death Metal’s unyielding brutality.

Boszorkányszimfóniák

WitcheR

A collection of music such as the songs chosen for “Boszorkanyszimfoniak” have been recreated with a tasteful perfection that only WITCHER can materialise.

The Reckoning

Saint Diablo

If ever you just want to throw down and go crazy, it will be when listening to bands like Saint Diablo.

Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus

Gigan

This is far from the raw Death Metal of your parents…indeed, it is refined, sterile, and mechanical, yet it also breathes. It’s the closest thing to losing your total existence to utter madness without that final nail strike. In many ways, this is a worse way to live than in chaos…on the fringes of insanity and disease.

Remains Of A Dead World

Nightrage

What is very clear is that you wouldn't notice that they have made a lot of albums when you try to measure the amount of enthusiasm that is apparent on “Remains Of A Dead World”. NIGHTRAGE sound like a pack of very hungry wolves going out for their very first hunt of the season.

Absolute Destruction

Open Surgery

What it does do is make “Absolute Destruction” into a very nice Old School Death Metal album. What I will say is that if this is one of your first encounters with that music gnre, you could do a lot worse than “Absolute Destruction”.

Guardian of the Universe

Oxygen Destroyer

As for the kind of Death Metal they are playing. You have fast, faster and hyperspeed. Well, OXYGEN DESTROYER is set right in between the latter two. Let me rephrase that; if a band like DEATH or MORBID ANGEL would have recorded “Guardian of the Universe”, the album would have lasted some 50 minutes. Now it barely reaches 33 minutes.

Frostbite

Zubzero

If you love a bit of good Heavy music without complications but with a healthy dose of positive energy, you might want to give ZUBZERO a try and listen to “Frostbite”.

Frightmare (Demo 1985)

Burnt Offering

After a few listens i'm starting to wonder why no one picked up and signed BURNT OFFERING. In comparison with some of the releases halfway through the eighties they would have easily come through on top. Not only that, but my ears and brains are telling me that the music on “Frightmare (Demo 1985)” also has stood the test of time.

Live in New York 1982

Americade

What matters most to us as listeners is that all songs have that kind of quality that will have you take notice, will start the goose bumps coming up and make you enjoy the whole live show. All eleven songs are rather pleasing for the ears.

Evil Remains

Castle

All in all, CASTLES “Evil Remains,” is a solid occult doom album with a surprisingly catchy sound and many rifftastic moments. Any fan of doom would be doing themselves a disservice to ignore this.

Ancient Doom Metal

Scald

As I previously stated, I missed out on SCALD the first time they hit the scene (hey I was 13 when it came out, what do you want from me?) but I’m glad they are back and if “Ancient Doom Metal” is any indication of their new found prowess and energy, I hope they stay.

XII: A gyönyörű álmok ezután jönnek

Thy Catafalque

“XII: A gyönyörű álmok ezután jönnek” is a stunning piece of Avante-Gard Metal from Tamás Kátai and his fever dream known as THY CATAFALQUE. He stays true to his vision, bringing into the fold a world of diverse musicians. The result is like a trapdoor to nature’s own subconscious. For some, it will be a nightmare; for the devout denizens of the extreme metal underworld, a delight.

None For All (WormHole Death Reissue)

Comaniac

COMANIAC’s “None For All” has its moments. The bonus tracks, in particular, help to anchor the album to something heavier than the original nine tracks accomplish.

Heretic

Obscurial

Blasting out of Malaysia with the stench of death upon them comes a group that showcases their form of death metal

Draconian Darkness

Wolfheart

This was an excellent album, with a nice combination of Melo Death elements and symphonic ones. The orchestral sounds didn’t take over the music however, but rather were there in support. The music was vital, and powerful, and leaves the listener with a sense of the magnanimous.

Horror Paradise

Black Phantom

The Mediterranean region is a gold mine for classic metal bands; whether in Greece or […]

The Unseen

Klone

What strikes me most about the album’s gentle, synergistic sound is how well things are put together and how well the band plays in unison with each other. It seems to lean towards the fringe of your existence, in your dreams and in long passages of contemplation. Although the melodies are not complex, they are at times dark, reminding you of the dualistic nature of life.

Servitude

The Black Dahlia Murder

Veteran bands like this who are signed to a major label often take the safer path, and that is what THE BLACK DAHLIA have done with “Servitude.” Knowing that their long-time fans were not up for much change with the new singer on board, they delivered an expected sound. I think Eschbach’s vocal performance was excellent on the album, they just need to take a few more chances.

Love

Seeds of Mary

The Alternative elements slightly outweigh the Progressive ones, but there are other more subtle things going on as well, like some Punk influence and Psychedelica. One thing that you can’t fault the band for is their grand sense of adventure. Admittedly, this album is very hard to pigeon hole, therefore it will appeal to a wide variety of music fans.

Endless Winter Nights

Umbersun

This was a very well put together Doom album because the band wasn’t afraid to use some instruments and styles that are not typical for the genre, like keyboards, and other backing elements. They helped to fill in the gaps that long songs tend to have every now and again, and this is a very promising effort.

Jatt

Sabire

Sabires debut album has been 14 years in the making. This project dates make to […]

Scrolls of War

Ottone Pesante

One thing about the album is abundantly clear…their approach to their music is both unique and personal. Their musicianship is strong, but one thing that I always struggle with this type of uncommon sound is being able to find an audience that would appreciate them. With a band this artistically free, that is best left up to each listener.

Endonomos II – Enlightenment

Endonomos

This was an excellent album. The ultra-heavy soundtrack is supported at times with deep gutturals, while other times clean vocals take over, imparting a feeling of a deep depression that you might never crawl out of.

Hermits And Mandrakes

Druidess

A fine and promising Occult Doom Metal name is releasing is first EP.

Key To Your Kingdom

Tezza F

Tezza F is a one man Power Metal band from Verona Italy formed back in […]

Kings & Pawns

Die Entweihung

If you're into Black Metal, this release must be in you list of albums to hear.

Darkness Falls (The Early Years)

Desultory

One of the roots of Swedish Melodic Death Metal can be found on this compilation. RIP DESULTORY...

Matter of a Darker Nature

Carnophage

This Turkish Technical Death Metal band is really very good. Taste it!

The Stench of Eternity

Cardiac Arrest

Old School Death Metal for Old School Death Metal maniacs! That's what this release is about.

Bag Seeker

Borer

Are you a Sludge/Stoner Metal addicted? So you must hear to this band.

Nadir

Groza

The album is a visceral journey through deep, unrelenting aggression that feels like a force of nature. The music is intense and punishing, with heavy riffs and thunderous percussion that create an almost suffocating atmosphere. Just when it feels like the weight of the world might be too much to bear, a sudden shift occurs, and the subtle melodies are not just moments of respite; they are perfectly placed to heighten the drama, amplifying a sense of impending doom. There’s a feeling of chaos that runs through the album, a sense that the world is on the brink of collapse, teetering on the edge of a cataclysm. But within this chaos, there’s a strange, almost beautiful order—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a fragile balance between destruction and creation.

Origins of the Deformed

Embryonic Autopsy

Blasting out of Chicagoland with the brutal stench of death comes a group ready to dominate with their second full-length album

Tyran’s Oath

Tyran

Good traditional Metal from Germany.

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Reviews

The Valley of Despair

The Tomb

Beyond Shadows

Beyond Shadows

Close To Complete Darkness

Morgue

Boszork​á​nyszimf​ó​ni​á​k

WitcheR

The Reckoning

Saint Diablo

Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus

Gigan

Remains Of A Dead World

Nightrage

Absolute Destruction

Open Surgery

Guardian of the Universe

Oxygen Destroyer

Frostbite

Zubzero

Frightmare (Demo 1985)

Burnt Offering

Live in New York 1982

Americade

Evil Remains

Castle

Ancient Doom Metal

Scald

XII: A gyönyörű álmok ezután jönnek

Thy Catafalque

None For All (WormHole Death Reissue)

Comaniac

Heretic

Obscurial

Draconian Darkness

Wolfheart

Horror Paradise

Black Phantom

The Unseen

Klone

Servitude

The Black Dahlia Murder

Love

Seeds of Mary

Endless Winter Nights

Umbersun

Jatt

Sabire

Scrolls of War

Ottone Pesante

Endonomos II – Enlightenment

Endonomos

Hermits And Mandrakes

Druidess

Key To Your Kingdom

Tezza F

Kings & Pawns

Die Entweihung

Darkness Falls (The Early Years)

Desultory

Matter of a Darker Nature

Carnophage

The Stench of Eternity

Cardiac Arrest

Bag Seeker

Borer

Nadir

Groza

Origins of the Deformed

Embryonic Autopsy

Tyran’s Oath

Tyran

Latest Reviews

We Are One (single)

Rozario

Life in Seven Dreams

Boszorkányszimfóniák