EXTREME METAL MANIAC's BEST METAL RELEASES FOR 2020

 

EXTREME METAL MANIAC's BEST METAL RELEASES FOR 2020

2020 can be summed up in four words; Plague, Tyranny, War and Death. Yeah I know it sounds like the title for a death metal album. But seriously as far as a year goes for me personally this one sucked. I'll entertain that theme more later. As for now I must admit because it was such a fucked up year my focus on writing about new music was lacking. I was more concerned with surviving the shutdown, the partial shutdowns and dealing with curfews, mask mandates and stay at home crap. Trust me I'll do better this year.

Now musically it was a decent year in extreme music. The biggest surprise for me at least was how the mainstream metal labels stepped up their game and put out some damm good releases. Normally I see them just putting out cookie cutter stuff. Which is why I find more exciting stuff from the second tier labels. But in 2020 there's a decent mix of mainstream and mid-level label stuff in my end of year favorites. 

Another surprise for 2020 is that Death Metal reigned supreme as far as I was concerned. Usually my favorite releases of the year lists are heavily weighted with Black Metal. Not this year and damm if this stuff is not some of the best of the decade. Yeah I know I'm always guilty of hyperbole but hey enough talking. So here's my Top Releases for 2020, a year we would rather forget.

TOP 40 FULL LENGTH RELEASES

1. NECROT - Mortal 

(Tankcrimes)

The best death metal album you'll hear from 2020, absolute perfection.

2. INCANTATION - Sect of Vile Divinities 

(Relapse Records)

The masters of US death metal return to form and show us how it's done.

3. HORNA - Kuoleman kirjo

(World Terror Committee)

Finland's greatest black metal act returns with a modern genre classic still grounded in their old ways.

4. HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Into the Red 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A death metal super group in a league of their own and paving a new left hand path.

5. BENEDICTION - Scriptures 

(Nuclear Blast)

A flawless death metal comeback with Dave Ingram returning on vocals.

6. OBSEQUIAE - The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings 

(20 Buck Spin)

A medieval melodic  black metal masterpiece from this Minnesota trio.

7. CIRITH UNGOL - Forever Black 

(Metal Blade Records)

A comeback but from their early 1970's hard fuckin rock roots.

8. PARADISE LOST - Obsidian 

(Nuclear Blast)

Another one of their best and a return to their death doom days.

9. GOD DETHRONED – Illuminati 

(Metal Blade Records)

Dutch death metal vets turn in one of the many comeback albums of the year.

10. CULTUS PROFANO - Accursed Possession 

(Debemur Morti Productions)

One of the best USBM bands that you never heard of but should.

11. ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron 

(No Remorse Records)

It's a reminder of why metal fans of yore who liked the mainstream releases at the time also became hounds in the scene's underground treasures.

12. NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned 

(Century Media Records)

The return of classic 90's era Swedish black metal.

13. NOCTU - Gelidae Mortis Imago 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

The funeral doom soundtrack of our time.

14. VADER - Solitude in Madness 

(Nuclear Blast)

Polish Power keeps rolling on via this death metal institution.

15. WARDAEMONIC - Acts of Repentance 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

This is the kind of album that will scorch your soul and break you out of that mundane feeling of present day black metal.

16. DEATHSTORM - For Dread Shall Reign 

(Dying Victims Productions)

If you want thrash perfection in 2020 well you've got it here.

17. SEPULCHRAL CURSE - Only Ashes Remain 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Finnish Death Metal at it's finest.

18. IRONFLAME - Blood Red Victory 

(Divebomb Records)

Total fantasy metal, epic in a way which makes your metal loving spirit rise. Throw the horns up to this Ohio band people.

19. UNDERGANG - Aldrig i livet

(Dark Descent Records)

An onslaught of Danish death metal.

20. GHOULHOUSE - Rigor Mortis Intermezzo

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

Rogga Johansson's latest side project is a death metal dedication to zombies, gore and some weirdness. 

21. LADY BEAST - The Vulture's Amulet 

(Reaper Metal Productions)

This Pittsburgh, PA band likes popping the top on a can of true metal whip-ass. 

22. IRDORATH - The Final Sin 

(Art Gates Records)

Modern black metal which might be one of your favorite BM albums to pick up this year. 

23. SHED THE SKIN - The Forbidden Arts 

(Hells Headbangers Records)

Another great death metal release with Ash Thomas (guitar and vocals) at the helm.

24. APHONIC THRENODY - The Great Hatred 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

MDB love with roses instead of dirt.

25. HAVOK - V 

(Century Media Records)

The best album of their thrash career.

26. HYPERIA - Insanitorium 

(Sliptrick Records)

Canada's three pronged secret weapon of thrash, death and power metal.

27. ENTARTUNG - Maleficae Artes 

(Dunkelheit Produktionen)

This band has redefined German Black Metal as we once knew it.

28. DEATH COURIER - Necrotic Verses 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A three piece of veteran Greek musicians showing us all how death metal, or death thrash if you prefer, should be performed. 

29. CRYSTAL SPIDERS - Molt 

(Ripple Music)

Doom from North Carolina that's more SAINT VITUS than standard SABBATH worship with amazing female vocals.

30. SOPHIST- Dissolution 

(Niflhel Records)

Probably the first blackened grind act that gets the joint association of genres right.

31. IMIPOLEX - Order of The Epimethean Flame 

(Black Spark Records)

A band from Portland, Maine doing Swedish style black metal and very well.

32. DEPRAVITY  - Grand Malevolence 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A new death metal champion arises from Australia.

33. ULCERATE - Stare into Death and Be Still 

(Debemur Morti Productions)

The epitome of a blackened death hurricane.

34. DOPELORD - Sign Of The Devil 

(Green Plague Records)

One of the few stoner doom acts that keeps things amazing.

35. HERON - Time Immemorial 

(Sludgelord Records)

Sludge metal with some modern touches.

36. ANGEROT - The Divine Apostate 

(Redefining Darkness Records)

Here's the best modern Swedish Death Metal act that's actually from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

37. KVAEN - The Funeral Pyre 

(Black Lion Records)

Melodic black metal beauty as well as an onslaught of brutality.

38. AMBUSH - Infidel 

(High Roller Records)

A cool Swedish band with a fondness for the old NWOBHM and classic power metal sounds. 

39. MIDNIGHT – Rebirth by Blasphemy 

(Metal Blade Records)

Consistency on their part keeps them in the fold

40. WAR DOGS - Die By My Sword

(Fighter Records)

True Metal from Spain

BEST SELF RELEASED OF THE YEAR

BLACK PESTILENCE - Hail the Flesh (Self Released)

Blackened thrash from Canada. BLACK PESTILENCE are cool as fuck. Think of them of sounding like something in-between DESTROYER 666, GOATWHORE and MIDNIGHT. Follow that up with an accessible sound worthy of the general metal listening public. It's blackened thrash all the way and it's (wait for it) not generic sounding. They should be signed by some label in 2021 for their next release.

BEST EXTREME EPs OF 2020

1. BONEHAMMER - Black Crust Invasion EP

(Awakening Records)

 Punk infused Metal from Argentina.

2. TORN IN HALF - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth EP

(Redefining Darkness Records)

Boston death doom which is perfect to piss off your neighbors.

3. MASSEMORD - Ekstremist EP

(This Winter Will Last Forever)

Still blackened fuckin necro after all of these years.

 BEST SPLIT RELEASES FOR 2020

1. HEINOUS / FLUIDS - Snuffed / Torture Euphoric Split EP

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

2. BLACK ALTAR / KIRKEBRANN - Split EP

(Odium Records)

3. SILURE / FERETRO Split cassette

(Nihilistic Holocaust)

BEST COMPILATIONS FOR 2020

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Kill Them All and Let SHLAK Sort Them Out: Killer Cuts Vol. 1

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

VARIOUS ARTISTS: Coronavirus / COVID​-​19 compilation

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

VIOGRESSION - Perception Blur compilation

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

HORRIBLE EARTH - Discography 2013 - 2019 compilation

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Maywood Mayhem Vol. 11

(Self Released)

BEST LIVE ALBUM FOR 2020

KREATOR – London Apocalypticon – Live At The Roundhouse 

(Nuclear Blast)

FAVORITE REISSUE OF 2020

OBSEQUIAE - Suspended in the Brume of Eos

(20 Buck Spin)

FAVORITE LABELS OF 2020

(Based on the number of releases in the Best of Listings)

1. Transcending Obscurity Records

2. Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

3. Nuclear Blast Records

HOTTEST THING IN METAL FOR 2020

Well there wasn't much to even consider toasty in 2020. I guess the hottest thing going was the constant debate between me and my good friend Andy from the punk/metal band KIFF (aka: KNOWLEDGE IS FOR FOOLS) pictured above over whether or not JUDAS PRIEST's Painkiller is a great album or not. I say yes it is while he says no it's false metal. 

 WORST THING IN METAL FOR 2020

Well obviously because of the lock-downs over the Wuhan Corona 19 Virus all shows/tours were shut down. Now sure for fans that was a total bummer. Of course it fucked the bands over royally. Add to that the labels took a financial hit. Then again just think about all of the lost revenue of the venues and their employees, especially the small ones who barely break even on their weekly shows.

 

A second big fucking shit was having to change the name of the blog from SCUMFEAST METAL 666 to EXTREME METAL MANIAC. Last January some individual or individuals had a problem with something I reposted on Facebook from this blog. Trust me it didn't have anything to do with BURZUM. In fact I believe it had to do with an obituary I had written about a local musician. It was a good obituary. I was very nice in my praise of the guy. 

But a week after I reposted it on Facebook. I was notified by the platform that two other posts including the obituary were flagged via complaints. Also I couldn't post anything anymore under the SCUMFEAST METAL 666 link. So that screwed me up for a bit and I had to make the name change as well as explain what the fuck happened. 

The only reason which I suspect to why I was screwed with is probably for my non-music related opinions which in all honesty are pretty mainstream. I never really share my non-music related opinions on the blog. But just for the record I'm a Libertarian who's very into freedom of speech, freedom of expression, small government and anti-censorship. I cannot see anyone who's especially into extreme music to be against those ideas. I mean whatafuck, just look at history.

But unfortunately we're now in a bizzaro world where a small minority of people have the power to decide what opinions are correct and which ones are not especially on social media. Ironically last year I said the worst thing in music for 2019 was these woke/sjw types ruining the music scene. And a few weeks into 2020 I became a victim of those losers. Whatever, I'm better then those people because being a fan of music is better than being a hater. And I surround myself with people who have a passion for this type of music along with other stuff. No haters allowed. 

and finally......

PREDICTION FOR 2021

Plenty of songs dedicated to all the crap associated with the Wuhan Corona 19 Virus lock-down/shutdown bullshit. I'm guessing some thrash bands will be covering that topic.

So onward to 2021, AHGGGG!

HORNA - Kuoleman kirjo review

 

HORNA - Kuoleman kirjo

World Terror Committee

Well a bias alert for ya. HORNA is probably my favorite black metal act from Finland. Of course with that said I'm also a huge fan of their band member family (aka: BEHEXEN and SARGEIST). It was the label Moribund Records which turned me onto them years ago. After getting a few of their releases, full lengths and short form releases, I became a collector of their stuff. So now I have all of their full lengths and close to half of their short form releases (EPs and Splits). As far as the latter ones there's just too many.

So it's been a few years since HORNA has release a full length. Their last one, Hengen tulet, came out in 2015. But in the between they've put out a few short form releases (an EP and a Split in 2018) which were also fuckin incredible. So when I checked this latest one out my expectations were already high and without bias. So for starters Kuolema Kirjo (aka: The Spectrum of Death) is a double album just like 2009's Sanojesi aarelle. Now I thought that one was their greatest. So does this one show lightning striking twice?

If there's one thing I learned from their previous album and their susequent short form releases is that HORNA are slightly progressing away from their early necro blasphemy sound. Their newer direction is more epic sounding with a better emphasis on the technical side as far as riffs, drum work and basic advancing in song structures. Even the vocal styles show a roughness which is more Finnish then necro BM. 

Now don't get fuckin worried because HORNA has not ventured into territory held presently by ENSLAVED as far as progression goes, thankfully. Basically the band is taking their patented style into a modern realm with dare I say atmosphere and thunderous sound quality. So even in that there's slightly over an hour's worth of music here there's never one spot of boredom. Oh yeah and you'll be shocked to hear some clean vocals on a cut or two. 

The highlights on here, which I haven't mentioned prior, for starters are the old school tremolo picked riffs mixed with modern day blackend harmonies. Spellgoth's vocals which are a combination of harsh BM screams, angst ridden pain and a hint of Attila Csihar style. Hell there are times listening to this and I'm thinking MAYHEM. And yeah the pounding rhythms meets harmonic guitars which is totally modern sounding as well as awesome. Add to that the flow with each cut enters it's other.

Years ago some hiptard scribe told me that black metal needed to progress in order to be accepted. My answer was "accepted by who, you? Well fuck you indie rock metal hating hiptards?" Since then the genre's best have progressed but not by the standards laid out by a bunch of hiptard dictators. It was the artists who laid out the ground rules. I was right because what you have here is a perfect example. 

https://www.facebook.com/W.T.C.Productions

LISTEN HERE:

https://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com/album/kuoleman-kirjo

UNDERGANG - Aldrig i livet review

 

UNDERGANG - Aldrig i livet

Dark Descent Records

Just some quick history for ya. UNDERGANG were part of the old school death metal revival from a decade ago. And as anyone who knows me well. I went apeshit over a ton of releases which came out back then. Seriously 2010 was a great year for death metal in my not so humble opinion. Basically the genre took a giant shit upon all the fuckin hiptard garbage which was being peddled in the mainstream metal media. 

UNDERGANG who are from Denmark put out their debut album, Indhentet af doden, in 2010. Unfortunately it didn't raise the hairs on people's necks enough to get some significant recognition at that time. And in all honestly I did not get into em until 2015 when they were on Dark Descent Records who put out their third full length Doden laeger alle sar. 

Now since then I have acquired their debut which to me is their best release of all time. Also as far as their other full lengths go I wasn't too thrilled with em as much after listening to their debut. But that was then because here's their fifth full length and it's damm good. UNDERGANG as I said are Danish but musically they remind me of some classic death metal sounds from Finland crossed with some early USDM. I'm refrain from name dropping. 

Aldrig i livet sounds like it was recorded in a mine shaft. Which is not a bad thing at all in fact it's typical sounding for them. The vocals are of the monstrous cave dweller type. Imagine the beast you least want to meet up with in the darkness. Sound wise it's this creepy trudging death doom sound which is pummeling. This release is just a little over thirty minutes in length. So the band doesn't waste precious time crush your skull. 

http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/aldrig-i-livet

NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned review

 

NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned

Century Media Records

You know that saying "You Dance With The One That Brought Ya"? It fits the philosophy of anyone who's into extreme music. We tend to collect releases by bands who we liked a long time ago. Even though the bands have changed whether it's in their line-up or musical direction. NECROPHOBIC is one of those bands of course. 

If 2018's Mark of the Necrogram was a somewhat new beginning for the band, considering the circumstances which followed their previous release five years prior. Then this new one, Dawn of the Damned, is definitely cements their future. For a band previously known for it's blackened death pedigree this release, like it's predecessor, has a recipe more akin to second wave black metal from the 90's. 

So yeah I like that as well as original vocalist Anders Storkirk, who returned on their last album. Storkirk's bestial barks and high pitched squeals fit perfectly within this style. Also there's the guitar work, aside from your typical icy tremolo picked rhythms, which on solos has a traditional metal influence. The opening instrumental will have you thinking Yngwie Malmsteen joined the band.

From that point onward this album is a cold throwback to the 90's era of Swedish black metal. Dare I say it reminds me of when DARK FUNERAL were good. Don't laugh you know they were good at one time as well as the obvious relationship between them and NECROPHOBIC. I like the cross section of riff styles within the cuts whether it's orthodox black metal or basic guitar driven melodies. 

Finally this album just has this beefy production which charges out at you. Nothing is subtle or imaginative as far as atmosphere goes. This is a cold fuckin avalanche of sound which crushes. It's just damm good to see drummer Joakim Sterner, the band's last original member, find a way to keep NECROPHOBIC (who he started with David Parland (aka: Blackmoon) thirty years ago) alive and relevant in 2020.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KaqA0sBxdc&list=PLUIOJdJ4UrXVDxuXaOIMcP-0UX96x7h4J&index=1

ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron review

 

ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron

No Remorse Records

Here we have the second album by US traditional metal stalwarts ETERNAL CHAMPION. I gotta say that their debut, The Armor of Ire, from 2016 was a favorite of mine. Back then they were following in the footsteps of MANILLA ROAD and CIRITH UNGOL. Basically with this new one they're still on the same path. 

There's been a few decent US bands in the past two decades whom I like that have also walked this same influence road. So it's being familiar with the sound which gives ETERNAL CHAMPION a standing in my good graces. Plus there's some really cool songs with riffs that gallop along in the mighty MAIDEN way. I do like the monotone style vocals and the guitar solos on here are true metal amazing. The atmospheric parts I can handle to a point. 

I tried comparing this to their debut from a few years ago. Basically I see this as a cool follow-up which doesn't stray away from their original vision. It took me a few listens to fully appreciate Ravening Iron. In the end it's a reminder of why metal fans of yore who liked the mainstream releases at the time also became hounds in the scene's underground treasures.

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://eternalchampion.bandcamp.com/album/ravening-iron

REVOLTING - The Shadow At The World's End review

 

REVOLTING - The Shadow At The World's End

Transcending Obscurity Records

Well it wouldn't be a normal year in death metal music if Sweden's Rogga Johansson didn't release at least a half dozen of his many musical projects. It's late in the year but I think he's been involved in more than six in 2020. Here we have the seventh full length by REVOLTING a band he's been doing since 2008. If his band PAGANIZER are the epitome of old school Swedish death metal than REVOLTING is it's slightly melodic brother. The key word is 'slightly' here folks. 

The first half of The Shadow At The World's End has a few melodic touches. But it's the latter half which Rogga and company break into a tutoral on correct sounding OSSDM. Think about GRAVE, DISMEMBER and ENTOMBED all in one package. There's a few times where I think this could be AMON AMARTH from their early days as well. You can toss in some VOMITORY as well.

The bottom line here is that whatever was done before, Rogga Johansson takes it and then gives it an enhancement which anyone into this style of music should go nuts for. Why wait for a band to come back when you have a band here just doing it well with cool as fuck riffs, soloing and a damm good pounding. Nuff Said. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://revoltingdeath.bandcamp.com/album/the-shadow-at-the-worlds-end-death-metal

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Kill Them All and Let SHLAK Sort Them Out: Killer Cuts Vol. 1 review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Kill Them All and Let SHLAK Sort Them Out: Killer Cuts Vol. 1

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Who's SHLAK you ask? Well he's a professional wrestler / musician who's been a member in a slew of raunchy extreme metal acts from in and around the Philadelphia, PA area. Need a few name's dropped, OK then I'm talking about EAT THE TURNBUCKLE, CRACK HOUSE, CALL THE PARAMEDICS, BOTTOMLESS PIT as well as a few others.

So what we have here is a compilation featuring a bunch of tracks by those above mentioned bands. All the cuts, 32 in all, were chosen by SHLAK. Personally I'm a fan of the stuff by EAT THE TURNBUCKLE.  It's a mix of death thrash and hardcore with a wrestling theme. Best of all they cover "Invader #1 Must Die" by COCKNOOSE. Obviously this band is familiar with the Confederacy of Scum. They also played my town, see below.

Next favorite band here is CRACK HOUSE mainly because I had written about a few of their previous releases and liked em. they mix old hardcore with grind and some thrash into what they call Crack Rock n Roll. Basically it's metallic punk fuckin rock which is fun stuff for anyone who loves offensive material.

CALL THE PARAMEDICS is basically hate fueled death grind with some hardcore influences thrown in which is cool. They open this comp as well as having the most tracks. BOTTOMLESS PIT were a huge fuckin surprise. We're talking some heavy as fuck metal tinged hardcore. Along with all of that there's around a half dozen live/unreleased tracks by a few of the bands. Surprise extra track by the band STORM OF ENTRAILS is somewhat interesting. All in all a great comp of sick fuckin shit. 

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/kill-them-all-and-let-shlak-sort-them-out-killer-cuts-vol-1

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WHIPSTRIKER / TERRORHAMMER / VULCAN TYRANT / SPEEDWHORE Four Way Split review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS -  WHIPSTRIKER / TERRORHAMMER / VULCAN TYRANT / SPEEDWHORE Four Way Split

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Here's something that reminds me of the bygone days (well at least mine) of record buying. Back in the day split releases were fairly common but a four band split was a rarity. It was a mini-compilation with four bands contributing one song a piece. Chances were you might know one or two of the bands and the other ones where a bonus. That idea kinda works here as well.

 

WHIPSTRIKER is a band from Brazil, I know them from their 2018 full length Merciless Artillery. They've got a ton of releases out as well. Many of which are also short form releases like split EPs. I've always thought of em as a more punk version of VENOM and their song on here "Forged in Cruelty" hasn't changed my opinion. 

Next up is TERRORHAMMER a three piece act from Serbia. The band is new to me although they've been around for a decade. I like the living hell out of their song  "Breath of Fire". It's pretty much textbook European blackened thrash. Nothing wrong with that. VULCAN TYRANT are a two piece act from Holland. Their contribution is something almost sounding like black & roll. The most primitive stuff on this split.

Finally there's SPEEDWHORE a band from Germany who I've known about for a few years now. Once again they're blackened thrash with an emphasis on the filth variant. So all in all you've got a decent little blackened thrash comp here. They're definitely on the low-fi side of the genre which I tend to like. Considering all the generic crap produced from the states over the past few years this is what you want.

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/split-10

NECROT - Mortal review

 

NECROT - Mortal

Tankcrimes

Here's the second full length by California's vintage death metal worshiping NECROT. I learned about these guys a few years ago via their debut, 2017's Blood Offerings. Two of their members are also in a cool West Coast DM act called VASTUM who I got into a while back. Nowadays any band, well almost, playing something sinister sounding as far as OSDM goes will get my attention. NECROT's debut just had a better edge to it for me to consider it great. 

So here we are with the all important sophomore album and obviously this three piece act was no fluke early on. First off Mortal not only continues the greatness of their debut album but it packs an even heavier punch. From the opener " Your Hell" to the eight minute plus album titled closer, this release is a perfect example of OSDM 101. In their case the band invites you in, ranks you over the coals and finally sacrifices you. It's all done in just slightly over thirty eight minutes.

Everything about Mortal is a highlight whether it's Luca Indrio's deep cavernous vocals, the filth ridden distorted riffs and choice solos by Sonny Reinhardt or the pummeling drum work by Chad Gailey. The songs on here are a mixed bag of militaristic death cadence, furious assaults as well as a slight technical complexity to the song arrangements. Something else of importance is how NECROT does not waste time on here with unnecessary intros or instro interludes of atmosphere to bulk up the run time. One of the best DM albums you'll hear this year.

http://www.tankcrimes.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://downloads.tankcrimes.com/album/mortal

DEPRAVITY - Grand Malevolence review

 

DEPRAVITY  - Grand Malevolence 

Transcending Obscurity Records

On Friday nights at work I get to turn the radio off from the "hits" station and onto the local college station which plays metal. The first hour is always extreme sounding stuff which totally grates the nerves off certain co-workers. Yeah it always makes me smile especially when they're playing the heavy stuff. This band would sit nicely on that station's Chainsaw Rock format. But there's a important reason why.

This is the second full length by DEPRAVITY, a five piece death metal act from Australia. They're a fairly new band, starting out a few years ago. I can honestly say I never heard their debut full length. And strangely enough I've actually heard this album before albeit by a dozen different artists. DEPRAVITY have a sound/style which is extremely familiar to me albeit a crushing touch better.

Sound-wise the band's brand of death metal is on the brutal side of things with a healthy dose of tech death that's not boring. They also toss in some moments which one might consider progressive. So basically we're talking about playing by a modern death metal template. Which is why I used the radio station analogy because half of what they play in the first hour is similar to this. You've got your punishing and bludgeoning riffs with drum work like an artillery battery working overtime. The vocals are your average guttural variety with some harsh screams added. 

For me I'd say the soloing work on here has a tech savvy element which pushes things beyond the ordinary. Personally I think there's a lot of NYDM meets Polish influence going on here. Both are good on their own but spliced together by this band makes it all sound more vicious. Songs like "Cantankerous Butcher", "Castrate the Perpetrators" and "The Coming of the Hammering" are definite favorites for me. But in the end this whole album is a great take on modern death metal.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://depravitydeath.bandcamp.com/album/grand-malevolence-death-metal

CIRITH UNGOL - Forever Black review

 

CIRITH UNGOL - Forever Black

Metal Blade Records

As far as this old band's history with me goes, musically I loved em. I thought their album covers were cool to look at, except for One Foot in Hell. As far as the much talked about vocals go yeah they were hard to handle. But worse they were out of sync with the music which made em harder to handle.

So here we are some 19 years since their last album, Paradise Lost, which was not up to snuff as far as their three previous releases were. Forever Black is far better than a lot of things this band has done in the past. Yeah I know you're shocked to read that line but bare with me.

CIRITH UNGOL started out in the late 70's and this album is a throwback to that era. A lot of the song structures on Forever Black are reminisant of 70's era PRIEST. The solos are a mix of Blackmore, Schenker and of course Tipton. And finally Tim Baker's vocals are in sync and cool as fuck.

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://cirithungol.bandcamp.com/

WOMBBATH - Tales of Madness review

 

WOMBBATH - Tales of Madness 

Transcending Obscurity Records

The album cover here reminds me of the poster for the movie 'A Haunting in Connecticut' from years ago. I really don't talk about cover art much but in this case it's warranted. Which you will learn about shortly because there's a haunting from the past reference. By the way that movie came out in 2009. Sweden's WOMBBATH have been around since the early 90's.

Now that was a different band, albeit a death metal act, and only bassist Hakan Stuvemark is the last remaining member from those days. By 1994, after releasing one full length and a few short form releases the band stopped. I don't have any of those old recordings. Nor have I tried to find them as a collector or look to social media / Youtube / download sites for that material.

The band, Hakan Stuvemark and some new members including Jonny Pettersson on vocals and guitar, got back together in 2014. I got into WOMBBATH with their 2015 full length Downfall Rising on Dark Descent Records. Since then I've been a fan especially with their last two full lengths which came out on Soulseller Records.  

Now what we have here on this release is the modern day line-up of the band re-recording some of those old 90's era cuts plus some new ones. I just wanna say "Hell Fuckin Yeah" to that. There's a couple of songs from their 1992 demo Brutal Mights. From what I believe are new cuts well they match up well. 

If you just wished bands like ENTOMBED, GRAVE (the original line-up) and DISMEMBER kept going strong after say 1995 (instead of what really happened) then you'll love this. This is totally devastating Swede death, heavy on the Boss HM-2 rhythms with some melodic soloing. Vocals by Pettersson are barked, growled and bestial delicious. The modern day rhythm section delivers things lite hearted as the original sound was done. Slice and dice on the soloing.

All in all WOMBBATH's Tales of Madness is a reminder of Swede death greatness brought to you nowadays. Look people I'm in my late 50's and remember this music originally with fondness and anger. Sure any piece of shit can blast an older album and act like they care about a past when they were still in their dad's balls. For me I'm telling ya it's a well worthy fuckin tale of hate. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://wombbathdeath.bandcamp.com/album/tales-of-madness-death-metal

INCANTATION - Sect of Vile Divinities review

 

INCANTATION - Sect of Vile Divinities

Relapse Records

If you were to ask me what my favorite INCANTATION album is I'd say "well that last one they put out was pretty damm good". Yeah I'm a fan and to me when comparing past releases by INCANTATION they're either damm good or fucking great. Of course I have my favorites, Diabolical Conquest from 1998 would be my number one pick. The three before that I'd also count as being damm good as well as 2006's Primordial Domination. Not only was that one fuckin great but Vanquish in Vengeance from 2012 was even better.

So Sect of Vile Divinities is the band's second full length release since returning to Relapse Records a few years ago. 2017's Profane Nexus was a good release in my not so humble biased opinion. For the life of me I just can't remember that one getting as much marketing hype as this one has received. Never saw that when they were on Listenable Records. But anyways what you have here is another good release by the band. If that sounds lackluster praise then I'll explain.

Remember when around a decade ago you had a slew of new bands all influenced by old school death metal. One camp went the route of old school Swede death while the others went total early INCANTATION worship. You can take a guess to which ones I liked the most. Anyways in 2012 these guys, well basically John McEntee and whoever was with him at the time, came out with Vanquish in Vengeance and literally blew away the young ones in the room. 

The thing was that John McEntee didn't go back in time to repeat himself, which he couldn't do anyway. Instead he just showed that INCANTATION is still heavy as fuck and a part of the modern era of death metal. Now with that said, the past two albums along with this one haven't changed much from that pattern. There's some amazing stuff on those and this album but it's not perfect from start to finish. And on here this one finishes better than it starts. 

"Ritual Impurity" is a good enough opener but it's a dirge up until new lead guitarist, Luke Shively, dives in with a solo worthy of ripping your face to pieces. "Propitiation" is murky death doom reminiscent of past efforts but lacking in that bestial filth. And that's pretty much how this album flows in pattern. The heavy, wannabe suffocating cuts are fine and ironically what this band is known for but the real meat comes in on the faster or mid tempo ones. 

Some of this album's best moments are on songs like "Black Fathom’s Fire", "Chant of Formless Dread", "Shadow-Blade Masters of Tempest and Maelstrom" and pretty much the last four songs especially "Fury’s Manifesto" which closes this release out. John's vocals are the epitome of death doom dirge. His riffs run from painful to aggressive. Long time drummer Kyle Severn still has a militaristic pounding style going for him. Bass work by another long time member, Chuck Sherwood, just keeps things heavy. Newest guitarist, Luke Shively, is as good as his predecessor. But then to play lead guitar in INCANTATION you must remember the revolving door.

The bottom line, and probably the shortest paragraph, is that Sect of Vile Divinities is definitely (bias point) a good album as far as the last batch of albums by this band go (bias point). I've listened to this album so many fucking times and I just have to repeat the obvious. The latter half is better than the beginning. Actually it's better than some other band's whole full lengths.

https://store.relapse.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://incantation666.bandcamp.com/

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Into the Red review

 

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Into the Red

Transcending Obscurity Records

Back in 2018 I sang the praises of the debut full length by HEADS FOR THE DEAD and for good reasons. The band featured multi instrumentalist Jonny Pettersson of Sweden's WOMBBATH as well as many other acts. Also there's vocalist Ralf Hauber who fronts Germany's long running REVEL IN FLESH. So if you're into worldwide death metal then you'd be chomping at the bit to get a hold of that release. Which in my not so humble opinion you should. It is just great fuckin death metal.

So two years later we have their follow up and added to the line-up this time around is drummer Ed Warby formerly of GOREFEST and HAIL OF BULLETS. OK so go ahead and toss around the term 'supergroup'. Personally I think the term has worn out it's relevancy in the grand scheme of metal. I believe that to be especially true in genre circles where musicians ordinarily perform in multiple bands.

With that said this band's second album here has a different feel from their debut. Yeah it's still full on death metal with atmospheric doom touches, more now than before. But the twelve cuts on here show HEADS FOR THE DEAD expanding their extreme metal plate. The band adds touches of black metal, grind as well as classic metal. All of which makes for a very interesting listen. 

Ralf Hauber's vocals are absolutely sick whether it's his fire breath maul or maniacal screams. Combined with Jonny Pettersson's insane off the cuff riffing. I mean this guy is all over the place. Twelve cuts and not a repeated riff sequence. He also splices in some melodic solos as well as a throat cutter or two. Plus I gotta say Ed Warby is a far better drummer than the previous one on their debut. It's just the way he fills in with the more twisted cuts as well as insanely pounds away when needed. 

If I was gonna push a negative towards this release I'd place it on their cover of DARKTHRONE's "Transilvanian Hunger". Just to be honest the song is played to perfection. I like Ralf Hauber's vocal style on it. But personally I don't care to hear classic black metal acts being covered. Sure you can make it sound better but then that takes away from the original which did have a fascination all it's own. Plus HEADS FOR THE DEAD don't need to upgrade someone else's music when they're already in a league of their own greatness.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com/