BELITH - Hounds of Hell EP review

 

BELITH - Hounds of Hell EP

Godz ov War Productions

So here we have a cool debut EP from a Polish four piece act who are musically a bit of a few things. There's four cuts on this release. Some come over as Thrash while others are in the vein of Black Metal. The weird part is that the two never meet as in true Blackened Thrash.

Obviously this band is searching for an identity. I really like their first song "Shepherd of Wolves" and the fourth cut "War Dogs". Both songs are evil sounding Thrash. Plus the bass is so prominent. The riffs are dark plus the guitar soloing is cool fluid sounds with sparking tones. The two other cuts fall in with a Melodic Black Metal style. But it's damm fuckin Polish all the way. 

What's wild is that BELITH is made up of one guy and three women. That's kind've a twist since it's usually three guys and a woman who's either the vocalist or bassist. But times have changed and a Polish band leads the way.

 

Specifically you've got Andrzej Plaszczyk producing the caustic vocals. The damm cool guitar sounds are provided by Maria Kopciuch. The bass work which I like so much on this release is performed by Kalina Krzemianowska. Finally Milena Dmochowska provides a robust drum sound throughout. 

It's a decent release as I said earlier. Personally I'd like to see what they'd do on a full length with more song writing activity placed at their disposal. 

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/hounds-of-hell

HELLFUCK - 9 Nails Hammered into the Flesh of God review

 

HELLFUCK - 9 Nails Hammered into the Flesh of God 

Godz ov War Productions

The genre tagline on this is Speed Metal / Thrash and they're from Poland. Before I go into that let's explore the line-up. HELLFUCK is a four piece act who started out in 2021. The band is made up of veteran Metal musicians from a few known Polish Extreme Metal acts and some not so. For me a long time fan of Polish Extreme Metal this is like a super group. 

You've got Skullripper (aka: Marcin Sienkiel) on guitar and vocals. He's in one of the greatest Polish Death Metal bands of all time, AZARATH. Next you got guitarist Nelek (aka: Daniel Wojtowicz) who was in the Death Metal band BANISHER. On bass there's Armagog (aka: Michal Samol) who's been in a ton of bands but also was the live bass player for AZARATH. Finally there's Inferno (aka: Zbigniew Robert Promiński) on drums who is also in AZARATH and BEHEMOTH. 

So yeah I said "super group" and yeah in all honesty those type of bands are 50/50 when producing something within their supposed potential. I'll say HELLFUCK is on the high side of supposed greatness. This is the second full length by HELLFUCK. Their debut, Diabolic Slaughter, came out in 2022 and also on Godz ov War Productions. Screw me for missing out on that one. 

As far as 9 Nails Hammered into the Flesh of God goes yeah it's part Speed Metal but there's definitely some early SLAYER influence going on here. Skullripper is doing his best to come across as Tom Araya at times. But his riffs are killer as fuck. I like Nelek's solos a lot and of course you've got a rhythm section from hell.

All in all this is a great Thrash album, obviously better than the big names putting out stuff this year. But this is obviously a side project for the band members of AZARATH to explore more fun and extreme insanity. The last AZARATH album, Saint Desecration, came out in 2020. A year later HELLFUCK started. In my not so humble opinion AZARATH's Blasphemers Maledictions from 2011 is one of the greatest Death Metal albums of all time. If you don't believe me then go listen to it or go fuck yourself. Hey Polish Power rules again!

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/9-nails-hammered-into-the-flesh-of-god

HIGHGATE - Prophecies Of Eternal Horror review

 

HIGHGATE - Prophecies Of Eternal Horror

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Here we have the fourth full length by this three piece act who hail from the great state of Kentucky. It's my first time hearing em. Prior to this release on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions the band's early stuff came out on Totalrust Music which is a label outta Israel. Their last release was a split in 2014. So do the math because it's been a long fuckin time since this band hit the studio. 

Be that as it may the tagline about HIGHGATE is that they're Sludge Metal / Doom. OK I'll give em that but they're not NOLA Sludge. They're definitely not Eastern North Carolina Stoner Sludge. I will say there's an influence of Northeast Sludge since I saw GRIEF five fuckin times. But in the end HIGHGATE might be something of their own twisted accord. 

Listening to this is like being in a hospice room for a week with a dying delusional cancer patient. The vocals are wails of fuckin pain educed insanity. The melodies are slow but not too much crushing. There's a killer solo or two. The drum work on a few cuts comes off as a cadence for a funeral procession. 

There are five cuts on this release. I think the first three are amazing. The last two are OK in my mind. It's 2026 and if ya wanna hear something insane then here ya go. This band is from Kentucky a state that has Bigfoot, Dogman and UFO sightings. Whatafuck? Of course ya gonna like it if you're tired of generic bullshit. Yeah this band rules!

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/prophecies-of-eternal-horror

WINTER ETERNAL - Unveiled Nightsky review

 

WINTER ETERNAL - Unveiled Nightsky

Hells Headbangers Records

So there's a lot to unpack here. WINTER ETERNAL, cool name by the way, is a one man Black Metal band. The one man is Soulreaper (aka: Stelios Makris) who is responsible for the vocals, guitars and bass. The drum work is performed by session player V. Nuctemeron. Just for the record WINTER ETERNAL started out back in 2011. Originally this band was from Athens, Greece but relocated to Glasgow, Scotland. 

This is WINTER ETERNAL's fifth full length and third released on Hells Headbangers Records. Now for someone who does buy stuff from HHR over many years. This band has escaped my notice and I don't have an answer to why. Be that as it may musically this is not anywhere close to what you know sound-wise by any Greek or Scotish BM acts. 

If anything this release comes across as something similar to the more obscure Swedish Melodic BM acts of the past. But with a definite revamp to the style which it's fuckin needed for a while. And look it took a fuckin Greek to do it. So hey Scotland some immigrants to your nation are cool as opposed to those other ones who are assholes. Which lead to young girls having to carry knives and hatchets to defend themselves. 

But anyways if ya like Black Metal (ah duh?) then get this release, turn the sound up to a comfortable listening level, then kick back and relax. Let the waves of cold tremolo picked riffs cascade over you. The vocals will stagger you to be awake. Yeah I like this a lot. The cover artwork is cool as well.

https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://winter-eternal.bandcamp.com/album/unveiled-nightsky

DEVENIAL VERDICT - Old Blood Fresh Wounds compilation review

 

DEVENIAL VERDICT - Old Blood  Fresh Wounds

Transcending Obscurity Records

I've been a fan of Finland's DEVENIAL VERDICT for a few years now. I consider their 2022 debut full length, Ash Blind and their sophomore album Blessing of Despair from 2024 to be amazing. But it must be noted that DEVENIAL VERDICT are not a typical wake and bake Death Metal band. I've always called em Death Metal for late night listeners.

So when this came in for review I was shocked that they came out with a new album that quick. Thankfully I was wrong because this is actually early material per say. Since the band has been around for twenty years they decided to come out with a release which was part old songs given a revamp plus their Soulthirst EP which came out in 2016. 

In all honesty this release is for DEVENIAL VERDICT fans new and old. I think it's cool. Listening to their early stuff you realize they were your average modern Death Metal act with some Tech Death style thrown in. I mean it was the late 2000s / early 2010s. If I heard this stuff back in the day I'd say it was OK. Although "The Unborn God" is damm good.

Now the important portion is the inclusion of their Soulthirst EP from 2016 because it's on this release where you can hear the band progressing to where they are now. I really like this part because what came next six years later was their debut Ash Blind. It's not a perfect graduation because the band is still sound-wise in their early phase but still it's cool. 

I guess I'll have to file this one under the term "compilation" and a damm good one for fans only. Then again "reissue" works just as well.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://devenialverdictband.bandcamp.com/album/old-blood-fresh-wounds

IRON SLUG - Deceit and Misery review

 

IRON SLUG - Deceit and Misery

Road to Masochist Records

I've said it before but it bares repeating. Regardless if a new band sounds like something you've heard in the past. If they're good at what they do then that's all it matters. Case in point if you played me this and asked where this band came from. I'd say somewhere in the Midwest USA maybe Indiana or Illinois. And I'd be really fuckin wrong.

 

IRON SLUG, great band name by the way, are a two piece Sludgey Doom act from Kent, England, Hey let's give it up for Kent! They originally started out in 2022. Since then they've released a demo plus a handful of short form releases. Deceit and Misery is their five song full length debut. Which means there's a few long cuts which trudge along. 

So what's cool about this album / band, well everything. The line-up consists of Will Rayner on guitars & vocals and Will Bond who plays bass, drums and gives backing vocals. Now like I mentioned earlier musically this is classic sounding Sludgey Doom which is as American as apple pie. and it's done so fuckin well. 

Not only are the riffs bone crushing but the overall atmosphere with the rhythm section gives off this mournful atmosphere. Will Rayner is a damm cool vocalist. He keeps things sounding clean but painful. Remember people it's Doom therefore we're not happy. 

Yeah this is a great debut album by IRON SLUG. Keep an eye on this band because I predict they'll be huge and not just because of their mammoth sized riffs.     

https://roadtomasochist.co.uk/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_wGNoC6lGs

WITCHING HOUR - Descending Where Time Has Ceased to Exist review

 

WITCHING HOUR - Descending Where Time Has Ceased to Exist

Dying Victims Productions

So it's some time since Germany's WITCHING HOUR graced us with a new release. When this came in for review I was like hey I know this band. And yeah because I have their And Silent Grief Shadows the Passing Moon CD from 2018 which came out on Hells Headbangers Records. After giving this new one a listen I played the CD I have and then thought yeah I've got a few things to say. 

But first off a little history. WITCHING HOUR started back in 2006. This three piece, who are all original members today, released their debut full length, Rise of the Desecrated, in 2009. What we have here is their fourth studio album. What's cool about WITCHING HOUR at least in the past was that they had one foot in their nation's traditional Blackened Thrash template and the other in NWOBHM. 

On this new eight song full length WITCHING HOUR have accepted their role as being the new standard bearers of great traditional Teutonic Blackened Thrash for the most part. I mean who does not like evil sounding German music which reminds ya of early DESTRUCTION? Now sure they're on the raw side of production values but hey just turn up the volume. 

I'll just say that this new one from WITCHING HOUR is damm good. I'll take this over what the original Teutonic Thrash three are doing today easily. Nuff Said! 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/descending-where-time-has-ceased-to-exist

GREYHAWK - Warriors of Greyhawk review

 

GREYHAWK - Warriors of Greyhawk

Cruz del Sur Music

When you come to this site that last thing you expect is some Extreme Metal maniac talking about Power Metal. But hey I do know what sounds cool regardless. With that said I've been following this Seattle, Washington five piece act for a few years now. They started out in 2016.Their debut full length, Keepers of the Flame, came out in 2020. They followed that up with the great Call of the Hawk EP in 2022. But 2024's Thunderheart was decent. 

With all of that said I still figured GREYHAWK would become the premier US Power Metal band of the 2000's. Duh, so listen to this one.This album equals or better outs what the Germans have been doing of late. I mean like hey HELLOWEEN, listen to this US steel.

So what's great about GREYHAWK? Well lets start with vocalist Anthony Corso. This guy does the whole Power Metal vocal style as well as belt out some 80's style Hard Rock singing. Next up you've got the guitar duo of Jesse Berlin, the riff master, and Rob Steinway, the soloist. This pair nail it throughout this album. The drum work and bass duties are flawless.

 

GREYHAWK's third full length is a masterpiece of Power Metal combined with some 80's Melodic Hard Rock. I knew this band was gonna be great. 

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://greyhawkmetal.bandcamp.com/album/warriors-of-greyhawk

NECROGORE - Ectoplasmic Rape Phenomena review

 

NECROGORE - Ectoplasmic Rape Phenomena

Awakening Records

Well with a name like NECROGORE how could I not resist checking it out. Of course after a boring instro intro it didn't take long for me to figure out what's up with this band. Ya know there was a time when the Old School Swedish trident of Death Metal (aka: ENTOMBED, GRAVE and DISMEMBER) were merely considered influences. Nowadays they're being heralded to a position similar to H.P. Lovecraft's elder gods. Yeah this isn't respect anymore it's fuckin worship.

Now sure I'd expect a newer band from Sweden to follow along with their roots. But this is a three piece act from Italy who are totally killing it sound-wise. To put it bluntly this is damm better than a recent Swedish DM album I heard earlier this year. Musically it's obvious this trio likes DISMEMBER with that furious wall of HM-2 Boss pedal sound. I mean the fuckin riffs are there plus that thunderous bass which was the clincher when blasting Like an Ever Flowing Stream and Indecent and Obscene. 

But lyrically these guys are like VOMITORY who are number four to me as far as Old School Swedish DM goes. I mean with a song like "Raptured, Tortured and Chained". that's very close to Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize. And let's not forget VOMITORY's debut full length Raped in Their Own Blood. But as far as these guys you've got "Forced to Eat Shit" as well as "Leeches on My Dick" which is not a love song. 

All in all yeah this album hails with only one complaint. There are times when the snare drum comes off as sounding like beating upon Tupperware (nowadays for you young people we'll just say a plastic container). Other then that oh yeah this rules. I'll also say by looking at the cover artwork. I'm surprised this release did not come out on two other labels which I am a regular fan of.  

 

https://awakeningrecords.cn/

LISTEN HERE:

https://awakeningrecordscn.bandcamp.com/album/ectoplasmic-rape-phenomena

ROTTEN BLASPHEMY - Worshippers of Chaos review

 

ROTTEN BLASPHEMY - Worshippers of Chaos

Witches Brew

Ya know twenty years ago I would've thought this was cool as fuck. Mainly because I was buying every South American Extreme Metal release, original or reissue, I could find. I mean I was on a tear and a bank account to cope with payments. I mean I've got a ton of South American Extreme Metal. I don't have to name names and yeah I've got some from Columbia. 

By the way ROTTEN BLASPHEMY hail from Columbia. They're a three piece act who started out in 2011. Since then they've put out some short form releases. But here we have their full length debut. I give this band some props because they're not a straight up Black Metal act. 

They try to be on a few cuts from this eight track album. but the bottom line is that this band is all into Blackened Thrash and Black n Roll. Personally I think that's cool and if I was at one of their shows I'd be enjoying the slam pit action taking place. Sound-wise this is raw as fuck which is understandable. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

In the end yeah this is decent. I really like the cuts "Rise and Sin", "Violence" and the title track the most. Give this band another year and a newer album and we'll see what happens then. Nuff Said!    

https://witchesbrew.eu/en

LISTEN HERE:

https://witchesbrewthrashes.bandcamp.com/album/worshippers-of-cha-s

KREATOR - Krushers Of The World review

 

KREATOR - Krushers Of The World

Nuclear Blast Records

So as someone who is an early fan of this band as well as Tuetonic Thrash in general I have to say the following. KREATOR's last two albums sucked. Prior to them I'd say 2012's Phantom Antichrist was decent. With that said I think Krushers Of The World sucks as well. 

This is Thrash for fuckin posers which is funny because it's not even Thrash. This album sounds more like Power Metal than anything else. So KREATOR is a Power Metal band now. Well they're pretty cheesy at that as well. I knew I was gonna hate this and wasted an hour. Fuck You!

https://www.nuclearblast.com/de/#gbaid74159

LISTEN HERE:

https://kreator.bandcamp.com/album/krushers-of-the-world

CHUFFED - Demo 2025 review

 

CHUFFED - Demo 2025

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

So this is pretty cool and it's because the band shows promise in a style of music I really like. Basically it's Old School Death Metal in the Swedish vein crashing head long into 1980's Hardcore ala England's DISCHARGE. Now there are a few older bands, yeah from Sweden, who have done it all before. But in recent years I discovered two cool new bands from Sweden, CRAWL and FERAL, who nail the sound to perfection. 

Sorry but they're not on this label. This act here hails from the mountains of Pennsylvania. OK like where? Are we talking the Catskills, the Poconos or the fucking Allegheny Mountains which is Bigfoot country. I mean maybe those mountain towns are an influence in like boredom. 

Which brings us back to this five track release. CHUFFED is actually a one man band. The one man being Deron Christman who performs all the instruments and vocals. Supposedly he'll have a full band the next time we hear from em. I hope so because this is raw sounding killer fucking Extreme Metal. I like Deron's guttural vocals. The riffs on here are crunchy as sin. And of course the drum work is hardcore as fuck. 

I'll be waiting for CHUFFED's full length debut in the future but for now damm pick this fucker up. 

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2025

GORE MACHINE - Congealed and Foaming review

 

GORE MACHINE - Congealed and Foaming

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Here's the second full length by this one man Brutal Death Metal / Goregrind act hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Yeah that place is also known as the city of brotherly love. Your opinion will change once you give this one a listen. Then you'll know why I call Philly "Hostile City, USA." The one man involved here is named Druesome and is responsible for the usual aka: all instruments, vocals, and sampling duties.

On the band's debut, Macerated & Liquified from 2024, Druesome pretty much created a concept album dedicated to The Darwin Awards. Basically it was all about individuals who did totally fucked up things which not only defy common sense. But end up having the people either dying or totally fucking themselves up. 

This new one follows the same vein to a point. The Ten songs on here are all dedicated to people fucking them selves up. I'll give Druesome some credit because he does do research into all of these grizzly tragedies. That's better than your generic wannabe goregrind BDM act these days. 

Of course the one problem I have with this album as well as the debut is the production. I can only imagine what this would sound like if everything was amped up a touch. So for me I can just blast this in the music room till the windows shake. Hopefully the neighbors don't call the cops on me, again. 

Yeah this is another winner from Druesome. I like his altered vocal intros to each song. The hellish screams, pig squeals and grunting which pass for vocals are cool. The guitar riffs have that sick tone. The drums sound like someone beating on a plastic pickle bucket. I mean this is the real deal.   

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/congealed-and-foaming