CROWN OF MADNESS - Memories Fragmented review

 

CROWN OF MADNESS - Memories Fragmented

Transcending Obscurity Records

Let's file this one under the banner of "interesting" especially when played during nocturnal hours. Now for me that's somewhere around midnight after work. And this has been my third night in a row checking out this band's debut full length.

CROWN OF MADNESS are a two piece act hailing from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are Sunshine Schneider who's the vocalist, guitarist and bass player. On drums there's Connor Gordon. When I was doing some background info I learned that these two were together in some other bands for instance ARBOREAL and MISYRION. So maybe these two just decided to go it on their own as far as a musical vision. 

CROWN OF MADNESS started out in 2022 and to their credit put out two EPs and a three band Split prior to this debut. So now the fun part kicks in because the genre tagline on this is Dissonant Death Metal. But hey it's not really a new sub-genre of DM since in the past it went by other terms like Atmospheric DM, Avant Garde DM or even Progressive DM. 

Now beyond the genre description craziness musically CROWN OF MADNESS do stand with one foot firmly planted in Death Metal (with some Tech Death style) but the other could be construed as being in Death Doom. There's some cool fast blasting tracks on here. But for the most part there's songs which push the angler riff package and song structures. A lot of the atmosphere is more in sync with depressive Death Doom. 

The key to this album is how the sound is more melancholic and that's despite Sunshine Schneider's combo of bestial vocals as well as harsh screams. As far as her guitar work goes she's over the top with jaw dropping riffs, icy soloing that'll cut your throat. Personally I like the mid section of this album with tracks like "When I Don't Remember You", "Deafening" and "Dreamless Nights No Longer". 

But despite all of this debut by CROWN OF MADNESS is what I said at the beginning. It's an interesting listening experience which might not win fans of straight up Death Metal. But hey if you like your late night sounds partly icy, doomy or eclectic as hell then you'll like this one. It took three times to realize this is a perfect album for what it is. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://crownofmadnessdm.bandcamp.com/album/memories-fragmented

GALLOWER - Vengeance & Wrath review

GALLOWER - Vengeance & Wrath

Dying Victims Productions

What we have here is the second full length by this Polish trio who musically are totally old school speed metal and damm it's cool. From the opening salvo which is "Aftermath/Protector's Militia" you know you're in for a fuckin ride. 

Vengeance & Wrath is nine cuts worth of old school late 80's sounding Speed Fuckin Metal that rips your boring old ass a new exit point. Then again you could be a new school loser into fake modern metal. Be that as it may this release is exciting and it fuckin rules. Yeah I know this is a quick almost print media review. But hey it's great fuckin Speed Metal. 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/vengeance-wrath

 

PUTRID DEFECATION - Tales from the Toilet review

 

PUTRID DEFECATION - Tales from the Toilet

Stadin Rec

In the month of January 2025 a lot of things coming in for review are not my type of thing as far as extreme metal goes. There's way too much Power Metal, boring ass generic thrash and other crap. Last night I was begging the pagan gods of metal to please send me some new Death Metal to check out. And their answer was this sonuvabitch. 

I use to love playing stuff like this to offend people. Sure for years I'd get a kick out of it because it made me laugh. As this full length plays I'm smiling but it's more in the vein that I'm putting up with it without offending anyone. Worse yet if this band was in town for a show I'd probably go see em. Yeah I guess I have an addiction problem with this type of music. Somebody give me a fuckin intervention please. 

But anyways this is the debut full length by PUTRID DEFECATION who are a five piece act from Finland. And if you haven't figured it out by now their sound is Brootal Death Metal. Now when it comes to bands in this sub-genre of Death Metal I put em into three categories. 

The first is the band literally sucks. Second is they're cool and obviously influenced by some past greats. I'd put these Finns in that category. The third category are bands that are just being offensive for a joke and ya know what I like that stuff to. Yeah I'm a sick fuck.

But here PUTRID DEFECATION are damm cool in under nineteen minutes with their slow riff destruction, that singing though a smoke stack vocal style and of course there's some rampaging riffs with a decent rhythm section. This band started out in 2019 and has put out nothing but short form releases. So here ya go with greatness in a BROOTAL style.

LISTEN TO & BUY IT HERE:

https://putriddefecation.bandcamp.com/album/tales-from-the-toilet

BRAINSTORM - Plague of Rats review

 

BRAINSTORM - Plague of Rats

Reigning Phoenix Music

Now regular readers of this blog know I'm not a big time Power Metal fan or collector of that genre's various band's catalogs. But I do own a BRAINSTORM full length from years ago. I picked up their Soul Temptation CD from 2003 years ago at a Used store. Hey I thought the cover was cool and actually it's a damm good album. That one came out on Metal Blade Records. 

Fast forward to now and BRAINSTORM still kicks some Power Metal ass. With the exception of bassist Jim Ramses who joined up last year. This band has the same line-up since 1999. Vocalist Andy B. Franck took over that year. But there's the trio who started this band in 1989 still around like drummer Dieter Bernert and guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld plus Milan Loncaric, both of whom contribute backing vocals. 

The best way I can describe BRAINSTORM is just epic sounding German Power Metal. We all know there's a big three of German Power Metal. I don't have to name them so BRAINSTORM are the number four in that category. Their songs are so majestic, the guitar soloing is exciting and of course the vocals are extraordinary. 

This is their fourteenth full length and it has a focus on Indian culture which is what Soul Temptation from 2003 was all about. Maybe they like curry I know I do. This album lyrically is all about Indian religious themes as well as some mythology. I mean hey look at the album cover. 

In the end this is great Power Metal in the whole German / Euro sound. This is something to blast. Yeah it's Blasting Zone approved throughout your home. This is the kind of music which invokes jerky moves when no one is looking as well as air guitar actions. 

https://reigningphoenixmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giLwrNqQpTQ

DARK REFLECTION - Under the Sign of Vlad Tepes EP review

 

DARK REFLECTION - Under the Sign of Vlad Tepes EP

Pest Records

So before I get into the music here I wanna discuss the title of this release. First off you've got the "Under the Sign of" part which clearly is a BATHORY reference. Then there's VLAD TEPES which is/was a French Black Metal band from the nineties. Now obviously it might be a simple play on words. Vlad Tepes means Vlad the Impaler or Dracula, whatever you prefer. I just wanted to get that out of the way. 

Now here is the debut release by this four piece Italian act. Musically it's old school Death Metal in the totally raw variety. Although I believe their guitarist Riccardo Silla tries hard to introduce some Tech Death style to this beast. It ends up being subtle with vocalist Mauro Mancinelli giving forth some charcoal throated vocals. The rhythm section is adequate. 

It's 2025 and these guys are bringing back, again, another US meets Swedish old school Death Metal sounding release of dedication. It's just four songs in all and I like it. I'd definitely be interested in a full length by DARK REFLECTION in the future.

https://pestrecords.ucoz.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://pestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dark-reflection-under-the-sign-of-vlad-epe

KOSUKE HASHIDA - Outrage review

 

KOSUKE HASHIDA - Outrage 

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

I described this guy's debut album, Justifiable Homicide, from last year as "just short of seventeen minutes of audio Japanese murder mayhem". I'm sure it's still available on HPGD Productions for you to check out which you should for good reason. 

This is Death Grind pure and simple. It's also another great album by Kosuke Hashida from Tokyo Japan , a one man manic when it comes to this type of music. In the past he played guitar for the Death Metal act WORLD END MAN. But nowadays, obviously, he's putting out solo albums where he performs all instruments. 

On Outrage ya got just eleven savage cuts which is really full blown Death Grind with a little Thrash influence. To me it's all about Kosuke Hashida's fuckin guitar riffs which are so evil so crazy diabolical sounding. I mean this is something you wanna hear right before you leave your home to face the world whether it's going to work or to the store. 

All I can say is stick this in my veins! Sick sadistic music is so fuckin cool especially when it sounds so raw. Kosuke Hashida's vocals come across as one pissed off individual who's covered in blood and has a few issues other than the obvious ones you can see.  

So I have to tell ya this. I know I've got a crazy ass smile going on. Then I remember working with this one guy who was telling me about people in the hood who walk around with the "crazy face". Then he would give us this weird facial expresion and me plus the other co-workers would laugh our asses off. So while this album was blasting I went into the bathroom to look in the mirror and holy shit I've got the crazy face. 

So yeah this second full length by Kosuke Hashida rules and it'll give ya the crazy face. 

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/outrage

CRIMSON STORM - Livin' On the Bad Side review

CRIMSON STORM - Livin' On the Bad Side

Fighter Records

For some reason this band's name sounds so familiar. Prior to this release, which is their full length debut, CRIMSON STORM only put out short form releases aka: a handful of singles and an EP. The band is from Italy and has been around since 2009. So hey good for them for finally getting a full length out. But obviously it's taken some line-up changes to get to this point. 

Guitarist Logan Heads started this band in 2009. He's the only original band member. On this album he's with vocalist Pau Correas who joined in 2017. On bass there's Aless Oppossed who also came on board in 2017. Last but not least is drummer Pol Esteban Sanchez their newest band member who joined in 2023. 

So musically CRIMSON STORM is, according to the PR info, a Speed Metal / Traditional Metal band. In other words it's early Power Metal which I don't think is a bad thing to say. I mean the early albums from bands who would later be called Power Metal were full on Speed Metal, Traditional Metal and Thrash all rolled into one. Back in the day I just called it Metal. 

Be that as it may this album by CRIMSON STORM is pretty fuckin killer. First and foremost are the vocals by Pau Correas. I mean he sounds like Graham Bonnet albeit with a higher range. So for an old fuck like me who still loves that cool era of 80's Metal ah yeah he's cool. 

You add to that the amazing guitar work of Logan Heads. Aside from his speedy riffs the guy throws down some insane leads whether they be classic HM style or melodic Thrash style works of intensity. Add to all of that you've got a rhythm section that has enough power to keep a city lite for a month. 

Livin on the Bad Side is nine cuts with the opening track being an instrumental intro. With that said this is a perfect album. I mean there's not one bad track on here. Most of the songs are fast as a shark in for the kill. But "Nightmare Deceiver" is a slower rocking 1980's throwback. It could be a fuckin hit song! All in all I like this album a lot. This is the band you wanna see on the main stage at Wacken. Nuff Said!

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/livin-on-the-bad-side

THE CIMMERIAN - An Age Undreamed Of review

THE CIMMERIAN - An Age Undreamed Of 

Self Released

This release falls into my category of give it a couple of listens and think ahead as well as the possibilities. This is the debut full length by THE CIMMERIAN a three piece act from Los Angeles, California. Sorry about the wild fires guys and I hope you're alright. 

Musically the genre tagline here is Sludge Metal / Stoner Rock which automatically I'd be bored with from the onset especially if it was your average stuff. But what makes THE CIMMERIAN a cool listen is that their bassist / vocalist Nicolas Rocha and guitarist Dave Gein where both in the Thrash / Crossover band SEPTIK ONSLAUGHT. So their sound has a lot of that going on within it. 

Let's add to that with the fact that on a couple of cuts this band reminds me in a way of some of my Midwest Doom favorites. We're talking epic fantasy stuff. So you've got thunderous bass lines and these gruff vocals. The guitar work is cool as fuck. "Silver and Gold" and "Darkwolf" are probably my favorite tracks on here. But hey with eight tracks altogether, seven of em long epic numbers with the opener an instrumental, it's all damm good. 

If I had a complaint it's that there are times when the drum work gets clicky if you know what I mean. Music like this needs to be totally organic sounding. With that said I won't be surprised if this release is re-pressed on a major Metal label later this year and THE CIMMERIAN are the next big thing. Don't laugh because I'm 50/50 on those types of predictions. Anyways good stuff here so check em out. Although I can't say anything nice about the album cover art. WTF?

LISTEN TO & BUY IT HERE:

https://thecimmerian.bandcamp.com/album/an-age-undreamed-of-2

 

ARMORY - Black Star EP review

 

ARMORY - Black Star EP

Dying Victims Productions

And here we have a actual 7"er from a Swedish Speed Metal band. OK full disclosure I missed out on this band's 2024 full length Mercurion. After listening to these two songs "Black Star" and the flip "Solar Winds" I'm disappointed in myself because ARMORY sound pretty damm cool. 

For those of you also in the un-knowing ARMORY are a five piece act from Gothenburg, Sweden. They've been around since 2012. They've got three full lengths out plus a live album. And here we have their first EP which you could say is for their fanbase which must be huge. 

Sound-wise yes this is Speed Metal in the Euro sense as opposed to the US stuff. The band is also strongly in with Traditional Metal influences. And if ya want to go for a stretch I'd say if you're into the early days of Power Metal then here's a band worth checking out. This EP would make an easy gateway.

Musically ARMORY are all about the cosmos or in other words space phenomenon and sci-fi subject matter. Their music contains the riff worthy speed plus bits of melody. I think vocalist Petrus Andersson has a great singing style. He's got a varied range which is perfect for Speed Metal and anything else. 

What's not to like?

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/black-star

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Transcending Obscurity 2025 label sampler review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Transcending Obscurity 2025 label sampler

Transcending Obscurity Records

Well one of my favorite labels puts out their great stuff for 2025 so everyone to check out. I know last year Transcending Obscurity Records had a handful of 2024 favorites in my end of the year listings. Listening to this sampler gives me some ideas on what bands I really wanna check out in 2025. 

For the record the list on this compilation here is as follows:

1. Floating (Sweden) - I Reached The Mew (Death Metal/Post Punk)

2. Byonoisegenerator (Russia) - Eb(D#) (Jazzgrind)

3. Veilburner (US) - That Which Crypts Howls Grandeur (Avant-garde Death/Black Metal)

4. Serpent Corpse (Canada) - Iron Corpse (Death Metal)

5. Dead Chasm (Italy) - Spectral Tyranny (Death/Doom Metal)

6. Viande (France) - L'homme Brasier (Death Metal)

7. Thorn (US) - Quartersawn Remains (Death Metal)

8. Retching (US) - Shower Curtain Silhouette (Death Metal)

9. Eschaton (US) - Blood of the People (Technical Death Metal)

10. Unaligned (US) - Essence Erased (Technical Blackened Death Metal)

11. Fleshbore (US) - The Ancient Knowledge (Technical Death Metal)

12. Enragement (Finland) - Insectiferous Abomination (Brutal Death Metal)

13. Haxprocess (US) - The Confines of the Flesh (Progressive Death Metal)

14. Xenosis (US) - Altar of the Hound (Progressive Death Metal)

15. Imperialist (US) - Starstorm (Black Metal)

16. Skaphos (France) - Abyssal Tower (Death/Black Metal)

17. Obscureviolence (Russia) - Pulse of Subconscious Cruelty (Death/Black Metal)

18. Shrine of Denial (Turkey) - Climbing Through Nothingness (Death/Black Metal)

19. Crown of Madness (Canada) - Ashes of Mine (Dissonant Death Metal)

20. Mors Verum (Canada) - Bloodied Teeth (Dissonant Death Metal)

21. Hexrot (US) - Heavenward (Avant-Garde Death Metal)

22. Perishing (Costa Rica) - Castle of the Leached Body (Death/Doom Metal)

23. Dwelling Below (US) - Wearisome Guardians (Death/Doom Metal)

24. Felgrave (Norway) - Pale Flowers Under an Empty Sky (Avantgarde Death/Black/Doom Metal)

25. Misanthropæ (US) - Enshrined (Dissonant Death Metal)

26. Pillar of Light (US) - Certain End (Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal)

So the bands I'm interested in from this year's label acts are a FLOATING from Sweden who sound interesting with their Death Metal meets Post Punk sound. Then there's BYONOISEGENERATOR from Russia because they sound like some really insane grindcore. SERPENT CORPSE from Canada is cool old school Death Metal. Add to that there's DEAD CHASM from Italy, VIANDE from France and RETCHING from the US all of whom are old school DM. 

Yes as all readers of this blog (and frankly who isn't a reader by now) know old school Death Metal is my go to sound. But this sampler has plenty of bands pushing the progressive or brutal tech side of the genre. There's also some interesting Black Metal by IMPERIALIST from the US. SKAPHOS from France sounds cool as well. As far as the slow and low sounds of Death Doom go there's a couple of bands on here but PERISHING from Costa Rica is definitely promising. 

All in all this sampler is 26 tracks of extreme metal mayhem that'll please any fan of uncontrolled musical destruction and chaos. That's why I like this label and it's also why a dozen or more of their releases appear on my end of year favorite list. Let me also add that the song sequencing on here is killer. In the beginning the music tortures you, by the mid point you're getting the shit beat out of ya and in the end you're buried alive. How cool is that? That's cool as shit so support this label.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com/album/2025-label-sampler

GAROTA / SCRUDA - Czern P​o​ł​nocy Split review

 

GAROTA / SCRUDA - Czern P​o​ł​nocy Split

Godz ov War Productions

Here you have two Polish bands literally bonded by hate. Now before I go any further I have to admit something. In my not so humble opinion Poland is the most extreme metal nation in Europe. Sure other nations have had their metal scenes in the spotlight for a period. But Poland has been ruling for a long fucking time. And they're not showing signs of giving up the mantle. 

Case in point this split release here which is pretty damm good. Now again in all honesty I've heard the new full lengths by both of these bands. So this is like going back and checking out previous stuff which yeah this is. It's also what I wanted to do anyways. 

So first off you've got the three piece Blackened Thrash act GAROTA. Now compared to the 2025 full length,  Z mieczem na gwiazdy, ah yeah this is raw as far as production goes. But their three song contribution on here musically displays a lo-fi sick twisted blackened hate campaign that hearkens back to years if not decades past. 

This is why I've said it countless times. Blackened Thrash from the states cannot compete with the music produced by bands from Europe, Australia or Central and South America. We cannot come up with that authentic sick fuckin hatred. Now me personally sure I can but the bands here in the states, some of whom I like, do not cut it. And I say that as someone who's a proud American. I'm also a fuckin realist. 

Next up comes four tracks by SCRUDA who are another three piece act but musically, at least on their recent full length Fury Among Ruins, are more Blackened Speed Metal with some Thrash influence. This was kind of a surprise since on here I'm not much enthused as opposed to their full length debut. Sure it's partially Blackened something or other but it's slow compared to their full length which was as fast as a cheetah late for supper. 

As always when I review split releases I treat them as wrestling matches. You Poles do know American professional wrestling? Hell ya had one of the greatest Polish / American wrestlers of all time in Ivan Putski aka: Polish Power! I grew up watching him on TV as a kid in the 70's. Anyways on this split release GAROTA rules, nuff said. 

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/czer-p-nocy

SCRUDA - Fury Among Ruins review

 

SCRUDA - Fury Among Ruins

Godz ov War Productions

Seriously as soon as the opening cut "Philosophy" kicked in I literally said "Holy Fuckin Shit"! Let me tell ya I'm an old SOB (61) but I still love that feeling when you drop the needle on an album or push a play button for a CD (or a tape) and BOOM. It's chaos from the first second. It never gets old for me.

The genre tagline on this is Blackened Thrash / Speed Metal, ah yeah! SCRUDA are a three piece act from Poland and this is their amazing debut album. And yes amazing is the perfect way to set this one up because for around the span of eighteen minutes with ten songs this band just rips like fucken hell has been unleashed. 

First off the vocals by bassist, The Conqueror, come off as a cross between LG Petrov (ENTOMBED), Martin van Drunen (ASPHYX) and a Neanderthal. The backing vocals by guitarist Firecracker are gang Hardcore screams. All of that is topped off with cool headbanging slam pit educing riffs from pretty much every song on here. The guitar tone is all death crunch. And their drummer, Wall of Flesh, gives a wall of pounding thunder. 

When I listen to this album I wish I was thirty years younger in a slam pit at one of this band's shows at a club in Poland. I'm talking about a real pit with circle slam dance action. I'm not talking about that thug push and shove shit. Nor am I talking about that silly metalcore dance crap. I'm talking violence where a PI (Pit Injury) was a sign to be proud of. 

This album just fuckin rules! 

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/fury-among-ruins

GAROTA - Z mieczem na gwiazdy review

 

GAROTA - Z mieczem na gwiazdy

Godz ov War Productions

Well it's early January and we're I live it's cold as in the 30 degree temps. For me that's manageable because all ya do is dress better to deal with the cold. This band here I'm about to talk about is from the great nation of Poland. So just for the hell of it I looked up the weather temps over there. So in various parts of Poland it's in the 20s. Yeah that's cold so what better way to warm up then to blast some Blackened Thrash.

This is the second album by Poland's GAROTA who are a three piece act that started out just a few years back in 2020. Their debut, Czarne wizje, from 2022 also came out on Godz ov War Productions. The title of this one translates into English as With A Sword to the Stars. So yeah you can understand the hate via a knife to the gut of the heavens after a quick listen to this.

Musically GAROTA are straight up Blackened Thrash as in they're not playing games. The riffs are violent, cold and directed to hurt. The rhythm section is all about punishment. And of course the vocals are totally harsh. This is a seven cut album and it's only on the final cut where the band slows things down a bit to acknowledge their obvious BM atmospheric legacy. 

Obviously GAROTA are not breaking any new ground nor are they some generic sounding wanna-be type band. The band is relentless in their attack upon the listener. It's like being set upon by knife welding maniacs bent on ripping victims to shreds. The Poles always do extreme metal right.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/z-mieczem-na-gwiazdy

CRUCIFER - Hell Is for the Hopeful review

CRUCIFER - Hell Is for the Hopeful

Pathologically Explicit Recordings

Every year I'll get a hold of a release by a band who started out decades ago, called it a day but decides to come back for one more shot. Personally I think that's cool and there's been some decent if not great releases by acts who've done the come back route. This is the third full length by CRUCIFER. Their debut album, Festival of Death, came out in 1992. Their second full length, Pictures of Heaven, came out in 1993. So yeah it's been a while for them.

Now in all honesty I don't own anything previously by CRUCIFER as far as official releases go. But back in the day I use to get a ton of demos so maybe I have their Beyond the Realms tape from 1991 in a box out in the shed. And there's a reason for that, well not the shed location thing. CRUCIFER are a Death Thrash act hailing from Virginia. I can't say I remember seeing them at a show. But because bands who are a state away usually come through my area for a show. There's a damm good chance that I've seen em on a bill or maybe they played one of the many past Death Fest shows. I'm not breaking out the old flyers for proof. 

So fast forward to the present and the original line-up of CRUCIFER are back (so that's cool) with this their third full length. Listening to this one I was not shocked to hear that CRUCIFER are still sounding like it's the early 1990's. I mean the sound-bite intros from movies or other people might be different. But musically this is straight up Death Thrash to a point. I like the hate filled vocals. The rhythm section is fairly basic sounding. Some riff packages are savage but hey I can't complain about the soloing which is damm good. 

With that said I do have some problems with this release. First and formost there's way too many sound-bites. I wanna hear Death Thrash not Industrial stuff or kiddy political Thrash bullshit. Be that as it may there's some cool tracks on here like the opening ripper "Soul Within". "Pearls Before Swine" rocks to the point of getting a slam pit going. "Laughing as I Suffer" is a really old school sounding ripper. Other than those cuts I wasn't too enthused about the rest. 

https://www.pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://crucifertheband.bandcamp.com/album/hell-is-for-the-hopeful

TIME RIFT - In Flight review

 

TIME RIFT - In Flight

Dying Victims Productions

Here we have the second full length from this Portland, Oregon trio. Band wise you've got Justin Kaye on guitars and vocals who started this band in 2014 after an earlier act he was in, DOOMSOWER, disbanded. After listening to this album I wanna check out DOOMSOWER as well. Next up you have Terrica Kleinknecht on drums who joined the band in 2017. and finally on vocals there's Domino Monet who became part of this band in 2023.

Now just to get the facts out of the way. Musically this is not Extreme Metal at all. But it's pretty damm great sounding Hard Fuckin Rock. I never heard the band's debut so they're a new find for me. Sound-wise I'm remembering sounds like this from say early 1980s. Hat's off to Justin Kaye who's got a cool catchy package of riffs on here as well as cool soloing. The drum work is just classic sounding. And of course Domino Monet is just an amazing vocalist who adds plenty of soul and rage. 

In Flight is nine cuts in just over 30 minutes length-wise. So that's a classic 80's album time space to say the least. As far as songs go I pretty much like this album from start to finish. But hey as far as outstanding tracks go I'd say opener "I Am (The Spear)" kicks ass. Add to that "Coyote Queen", "Thunder Calling" and "The Hunter" are all cool as fuck. I hope the college radio stations out in Portland, Oregon are having this band's music on rotation. 

Be that as it may if this was the 1980's then TIME RIFT would be one of the coolest bands around. Well hell I remember the 80's so let's make em one of the great bands of 2025.  

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/in-flight

AXETASY - Withering Tides review

 

AXETASY - Withering Tides

Dying Victims Productions

The promo info on this band is that they're Heavy Metal from Germany. There's also mentions of Speed Metal and Thrash. OK sure I'll give em that but in all honesty if you're a Power Metal fan than this should be the first album you pick up in 2025. 

This is the debut full length by AXETASY a four piece act hailing from Stuttgart, Germany. Now for a band who just started out in 2020 you'll be surprised in how accomplished they sound on their nine tracks. I mean these guys should be on the main stage at Wacken. Sure let's start off the year with some hyperbole. 

But I'm serious here people so let's review. AXETASY have a kick ass guitar attack which combines some speed metal / thrash riffage, plenty of galloping melody and frantic Power Metal style soloing. Next the vocals vary from high end Heavy Metal vocals, screams and then just real guy vocals with gang chorus' added. 

Next up you've got a relentless rhythm section that carries through the accelerated song paces as well as all of the crazy breaks and shifts in the song structures. Finally the song writing on here is so catchy and furious. It's like being grabbed by the collar and screamed to listen. And it's their fuckin debut. I'll go out on a limb and say if you're still into the early days of HELLOWEEN or ICED EARTH then Hell Yeah this is for you.

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/withering-tides

EXTREME METAL MANIAC's BEST RELEASES OF 2024

 

EXTREME METAL MANIAC's BEST RELEASES OF 2024

The Best of 2024? Well in my not so humble opinion that is. But hey people it's all about taste as far as I'm concerned. I've decided to go back to my old school way of saying fuck the top 40 concept and give credit to many releases via in their genres.

By the way 2024 was  typical year for Extreme Metal. I mean if you wanted to find music which made your blood boil and blast it loud enough for your neighbors to call the police on ya. Well then yeah you had a huge selection of extreme metal releases to blast. Just for the record I only had the police come to my home twice this year for playing loud disturbing music which my neighbors found offensive and fell into the noise ordnance laws. 

As always to anyone reading this and thinking "why wasn't (place band name here) in my lists?" Well one I might've heard it and didn't care for it. Secondly I might've heard / bought it and was disappointed with it. I probably reviewed it. And finally hey I probably missed out on it. That happens all the time and I honestly admit it sometimes in the reviews. Now with all of that said here we go.

FAVORITE BLACK METAL RELEASES OF 2024

Yes as always it was a good year for Black Metal although my tastes have made me restrictive as far as liking things that in the past I'd give a shot. But now I'm like "this is boring" or "this is hipster shit". For this year there was one great release which I thought was amazing and from a band that I've been a long time fan of. But then Fall came with more BM releases and things changed. Which is why I don't understand these people who come out with their "Best Of Lists" in early or the middle of December. I'm not talking about print media because they have their reasons. But it's these people who have Youtube channels. You're so fuckin desperate to get your content out that you fuckin miss some killer releases. I'm writing this at 11:15 on the 29th of December. I probably won't be done until New Years Fuckin Eve. But hey at least I waited till the last minute because "Every Release Counts". So here ya go.

1. SATANIC WARMASTER - Exultation of Cruelty

Werewolf Records / Hells Headbangers Records

Classic Finnish Black Metal piss and vineger meets fine wine. Werwolf has just gotten better over all of these years. I know there will be "some people" all butt-hurt over this choice. But hey my answer to them is just listen to it or go fuck off.

2. WHOREDOM RIFE - Den vrede makt 

Terratur Possessions

The best Black Metal act from Norway in a long while.

3. SERPENTS OATH - Revelation

Odium Records

An amazing Belgian Black Metal attack.

4. PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS - Devil’s Hammer

Northern Silence Productions

Australian Black Metal that leaves you numb.

5. PESTILENT HEX - Sorceries Of Sanguine and Shadow 

Debemur Morti Productions

A return of Symphonic Black Metal that's grandiose, hypnotic and harsh as fuck. 

6. HENRY KANE - Circle of Pain

Selfmadegod Records

A return of classic sounding Swedish Black Metal.

7. MASTER OF BLASPHEMY - Bloodred Realm

Kvlt und Kaos Productions

German Black Metal revives heritage.

8. MERRIMACK - Of Grace and Gravity

Season of Mist

French BM stalwarts still creepy after all these years.

9. LUCIFERIAN RITES - Oath of Midnight Ashes

Moribund Records

Very cool late 90's style Black Metal from Mexico.

10. VORGA - Beyond the Palest Star

Transcending Obscurity Records

Modern day BM that's actually good.

FAVORITE DEATH METAL RELEASES OF 2024

My close friends and maybe a few online people know I'm infamous for the line "This Is Why I Listen To Death Metal". It's a phrase I use in rebuttal to all of the crap music I endure listening to mainly at work. My last job wasn't so bad until afterwards sitting at the bar and hearing hip hop crap. But now at my new job I hear just total bad classic AOR shit. And you can just imagine how I felt for the past two months listening to holiday music five fuckin days a week.

 

Anyways I'm not gonna give just ten favorites because that would be totally wrong. Years ago I also said that "Death Metal was my saving grace." I say a lot of things. But anyways here's a bunch of releases that if you say you're into Death Metal than you should own at least ten on this list. If you don't then what the fuck is wrong with you? Here ya go. 

1. DEIVOS - Apophenia

Selfmadegod Records

For so many years I've said that VADER were my favorite Polish Death Metal band. The torch has been passed because DEIVOS over the past few years has taken the mantle of true brutal sounding Polish DM to the hilt. I've liked this band for years and this new album just proves my point. They fuckin reign supreme.

2. VEILBURNER - The Duality of Decapitation and Wisdom

Transcending Obscurity Records

An American Blackened Death Metal band that knows how to create extreme cosmic horror. They're a late night DM essential.

3. PAGANIZER - Flesh Requiem

Transcending Obscurity Records

The only Swedish Death Metal band that matters in my not so humble opinion.

4. ADORIOR - Bleed on My Teeth

Dark Descent Records

This is extreme metal insanity which will blow you away and demand multiple listens. I just love Jaded Lungs (aka: Melissa Gray) singing over deathly musical chaos. A great comeback album.

5. REVOLTING - Night of the Horrid

Xtreem Music

My second favorite Rogga Johansson related album of the year. Death Metal like handing a loaded pistol to a drunk.

6. CRAWL - Altar of Disgust

Transcending Obscurity Records

Old School Swedish DM with added Hardcore grooves and a touch of grind. Listen to this and get bent.

7. NOROTH - Sacrificial Solace

Carbonized Records

From Seattle, Washington sound-wise these guys come across as if GRAVE meets INCANTATION with the vocalist from HOODED MENACE. Ah yeah that's cool. 

8. CHRIST DENIED - Christopsy 

Xtreem Music

Spain's most brutal Death Metal band returns with a new album after a decade of silence. 

9. PRIMITIVE WARFARE - Extinction Protocol

Godz ov War Productions

A band who are damm good at producing a sound that's all about ripping your head off and shitting down your neck. They are "Brootal" in every cliche way with eight cuts that'll kick your fuckin ass. 

10. FERAL - To Usurp The Thrones

Transcending Obscurity Records

Musically a brutal and ferocious beast of modern day Swedish DM.

11. HUMAN INFECTION - Gravesight 

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

USDM but like VADER meets CANNIBAL CORPSE in a back alley, has a fight and then decides to drink a few beers afterward. This is a great death metal album. 

12. MORGUE - Close To Complete Darkness

Godz ov War Productions

A filthy stew of hate, filth and gore from this French duo.

13. RIBSPREADER - Reap Humanity

Xtreem Music

Just a damm good release packed full of crunchy Swede Death riffs from another Rogga Johansson project.

14. NILE - The Underworld Awaits Us All

Napalm Records

New line-up, slightly newer direction and still brutal tech death.

15. NECROT - Lifeless Birth

Tankcrimes

Second album by this California DM trio who graduated from OSDM 101.

16. SKELETAL REMAINS - Fragments Of The Ageless

Century Media Records

More California DM from a cool band that never disapoints.

17. SUFFER - Grand Canvas of the Aesthete

Wise Blood Records

A death metal act from Sioux Falls, South Dakota who started out in 1989 but never gave up. Second favorite album cover of the year.

18. CARNAL SAVAGERY - Into the Abysmal Void

Moribund Records

New Swede Death from a band that's been consistent for a few years now.

19. ROGGA JOHANSSON - Otherworld

Iron Blood and Death Corporation

Another great solo effort by Rogga. 

20. NECROWRETCH - Swords of Dajjal

Season of Mist 

Great French Blackened Death metal.

FAVORITE THRASH & SPEED METAL RELEASES OF 2024

Yeah when it comes to bands in this or these genres you've just gotta be over the top. With that said here's my five.

1. OXYGEN DESTROYER - Guardian of the Universe

Redefining Darkness Records

This absolutely the best band today doing the whole blackened death thrash style of extreme. Definitely one of the best albums of 2024

2. BLOOD FEAST - Infinite Evolution

Hells Headbangers Records

New Jersey's old school thrashers never disapoint.

3. PANDEMIC - Phantoms

Dying Victims Productions

Great thrash from Poland and a huge surprise.

4. CRITICAL DEFIANCE - The Search Won't Fall​

Unspeakable Axe Records

Yep it's violent thrash from Chile.

5. SAHON - Blood Shall Be Paid

Brutal Records

Old school sounding Thrash from South Korea.

FAVORITE DOOM RELEASES OF 2024

Well ya'll know I love my Doom and this year real doom ruled. I've got a top 10 which means I had to skip out on three or four other decent releases which I liked and own but oh well. 

1. EARLY MOODS - A Sinner's Past

RidingEasy Records

Yeah this band just rules.

2. GATES OF SLUMBER - Self Titled

Svart Records

Comeback album of the year as far as I'm concerned.

3. CRYPT SERMON - The Stygian Rose

Dark Descent Records

Great third album by this Philadelphia, PA epic Doom metal act.  

4. CASTLE - Evil Remains

Hammerheart Records

After some cool releases CASTLE comes back after a break with one of their best albums ever. 

5. DEVENIAL VERDICT - Blessing of Despair

Transcending Obscurity Records

Death Doom for night owls like me.

6. PONTE DEL DIAVOLO - Fire Blades from the Tomb

Season of Mist

From Italy, imagine SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES as a gothic doom act. 

7. LEGIONS OF DOOM - The Skull 3

Tee Pee Records

Great super group which surprised the hell out of me. 

8. OFFICIUM TRISTE - Hortus Venenum

Transcending Obscurity Records

Dutch Death Doom, the beast and beauty meet perfectly on here.

9. IRON MONKEY - Spleen & Goad

Relapse Records

I'd call this another great comeback album.

10. ORANGE GOBLIN - Science, Not Fiction

Peaceville Records

Stoner Rock ah yeah but this one is Hard Fuckin Rock as hell.

FAVORITE GRINDCORE RELEASES OF 2024

As all of you readers know I like my grindcore old style, filthy and ready to take names in order to kill. Here's my top five and unfortunately I could've included a few more but in my not so humble opinion they sounded more Brutal DM than pure Grind.

1. FACHE - Violent au volant

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

FACHE (which in French means "angry") are a three piece Grindcore band who are totally into the angry maniacal style of the genre that has for the past decade needed a kick in the fuckin ass. And in 2024 they fuckin did it. This band rules!

2. KNOLL - As Spoken

Self Released

This is grindcore drilled through the lens of a Mario Bava film festival. Biggest surprise in grind of the year. I'll keep my eyes on this band.

3. SULLY - Self Titled 

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

SULLY are the future for any old BRUTAL TRUTH fan.

4. ASS TO MOUTH - Enemy of the Human Race

Selfmadegod Records

A three piece Grind / Brutal Death Metal act hailing from the great nation of Poland. Ah Hell Yeah.

5. NAILS - Every Bridge Burning

Nuclear Blast

I never reviewed this. I picked it up because I'm a NAILS fan from the past. It's more mainstream sounding death grind with more death metal meets hardcore crunch sound. I like it.

FAVORITE POWER METAL RELEASE OF 2024

Ah what? OK Power Metal is not Extreme Metal but ya know I like some of that stuff. With that said I've actually listened to four or five actual Power Metal releases this year. I liked two and had written about em. So here was my favorite.

DEMONBITCH - Master of the Games

Gates of Hell Records / Cruz del Sur Music

Great sounding Metal, eclectic vocals so of course I've gotta like it.

FAVORITE METAL RELEASES OF 2024

So I had a favorite album for a long time versus a bias pick plus a lot of cool other releases. I had to go with all honesty for my favorite pick. 

1. ATTIC - Return of the Witchfinder

Van Records

ATTIC are a German five piece act who are literally the reincarnation of early MERCYFUL FATE. And they're not copying it. Instead they're taking that sound / style and making it relevant. 

2. DECEASED - Children of the Morgue

Hells Headbangers Records

A bias pick for sure but DECEASED are still sounding cool as fuck after all of these years.

3. IRON CURTAIN -  Savage Dawn

Dying Victims Productions

This Spanish band are defenders of the cool 80's Metal faith.

4. TOXIKULL - Under The Southern Light

Dying Victims Productions

This third album by TOXIKULL fuckin rules. It's a modern throwback to a time I certainly loved. Musically it's more original than some older bands trying to keep going. 

5. COLTRE - To Watch with Hands to Touch with Eyes

Dying Victims Productions

English heshers who love the old are winners.

FAVORITE PAGAN FOLK VIKING METAL

Hails to that

TYR - Battle Ballads

Metal Blade Records

Well of course they're great.

ALKONOST - Dar Salamandry

Self Released

After all of these years yeah this one rules.

ENSIFERUM - Winter Storm

Metal Blade Records

All hail Finland.

FAVORITE EPs OF 2024

1. PERSECUTORY - The Glorious Persecution EP

Godz ov War Productions

Black Metal in the Thrash style which kinda rules.

2. DEMON SPELL - Evil Nights EP

Dying Victims Productions

Italian band influenced by MERCIFUL FATE / KING DIAMOND and it's so fuckin good.

3. BRED FOR SLAUGHTER - Kill for Satan EP

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

This is old school death grind, period end of story.

4. DRUNK THRASHER - Raining Vomit EP

Godz ov War Productions

Blackened Speed Metal from Poland oh hell yeah.

5. ONSLAUGHT KOMMAND - Visions of Blood and Gore EP

Godz ov War Productions

The latest export from the Chilean death metal scene.

THE BEST SPLIT EPs OF 2024

1. ENCOFFINATION / SHAMBLES split release

Selfmadegod Records

2. BOTTOMLESS / WITCHING ALTAR - Graveyard Thunder Split

Dying Victims Productions

3. GRAVE INFESTATION / NOROTH Split EP

Carbonized Records

BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2024

1. VARIOUS ARTISTS - SVN - King Of The Deatmatches 2024

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

2. NUNSLAUGHTER - Devils Congeries Vol. 5 Compilation 3 CDs & DVD

Hells Headbangers Records

3. VARIOUS ARTISTS - 25 Anniversary of Odium Records Compilation

Odium Records

BEST REISSUES OF 2024

JIM JONES AND THE KOOL-ADE KIDS - Trust Me 

Dark Descent Records

LADY BEAST - Lady Beast II 

Dying Victims Productions

HAIL OF BULLETS - Self Titled EP 

Agonia Records

BEST ALBUM COVER OF THE YEAR

REVOLTING - Night of the Horrid

Xtreem Music

FAVORITE LABELS OF 2024

1. Transcending Obscurity Records 

2. Dying Victims Productions

3. Horror Pain Gore Death Productions