CUTTHROAT - Invoking Terror EP review

 

CUTTHROAT - Invoking Terror EP

Dying Victims Productions

Well I can't wait till next St. Paddy's Day when someone at the place I work at asks me for some Irish music suggestions. So what we have here is the first official release by Ireland's CUTTHROAT. They are a three piece Blackened Thrash act who first started out in 2023. 

Sound-wise CUTTHROAT are a raw aggressive sounding act who are dedicated fans to this genre. I've said it many times but it bares repeting, my favorite Thrash is Blackened Thrash. But I hate the generic copycats. CUTTHROAT is not that at all. Now sure if ya wanna name drop influences they excibet, sure go for it and be a dick. 

This release is five diabolical deeds of the dammed. An impressive debut and keep an eye out for this band in the future. 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/invoking-terror

SHEWOLFF - We're All Gonna Fukkin' Die EP

 

SHEWOLFF - We're All Gonna Fukkin' Die EP

Dying Victims Productions

As far as the whole sub genre of Blackened Punk goes I've found myself being a staunch critic of it. Personally I think 90% of it sucks. Most of the bands wish they were Blackened Thrash but don't have the talent. But once in a great while I'll hear a band that fits the whole Blackened Punk sound perfectly. Belgium's SHEWOLFF is one of those bands. 

Starting out a few years ago SHEWOLFF was a solo project by singer / guitarist K. Von Shewolff. Afterwards it became a three-piece band with Jeffrey Andreka on bass and Liam Wyns on drums. So musically this trio are all into a more Punk version of HELLHAMMER meets G.G. ALLIN. Which is a given since the HELLHAMMER demos, the first BATHORY album and of course VENOM were favorites by people who were really into Punk & Hardcore back in the day. And of cause we liked G.G. ALLIN.

On here songs like "Fantastik Fukk", the title cut and opener "Eternal Night" are cool as fuck. But then again this whole six song release is a fucking winner in my book. But I wanna hear more by this band. A great start here is my verdict. 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/were-all-gonna-fukkin-die

HELLRIPPER – Coronach review

 

HELLRIPPER – Coronach

Century Media Records

OK so for starters I'm a HELLRIPPER fan but in all honesty I don't go back re-listening to their releases as much as I do with early MIDNIGHT or TOXIC HOLOCAUST. Those two bands need to be mentioned because HELLRIPPER is basically the Scottish version of them. All are one man bands doing Blackened Thrash / Speed Metal. The one man in this case is James McBain who performs everything in the studio.  

I got into HELLRIPPER way back with their The Manifestation of Evil EP from 2015. So sure when James McBain started out the sound was raw aka: low production, etc. Then the full lengths came out and hell yeah this guy was a new leading force from Scotland doing what Americans were doing already (aka: early MIDNIGHT and TOXIC HOLOCAUST). 

I'll say that this release sound wise is a well produced Blackened Thrash album. It's the best thing HELLRIPPER has ever done. When it comes to the riffs as well as guitar soloing this one shines. Of course the added keyboards gives it a cool Symphonic BM feel on a couple of cuts. McBain is mostly in a Blackened screech vocal mode throughout this release.

But all in all after five listens in two days I'm not into returning to it for a while. Still it's a great release. 

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hellripper.bandcamp.com/album/coronach-24-bit-hd-audio

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

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

SCRUDA - Extreme Speed Violence EP review

 

SCRUDA - Extreme Speed Violence EP

Godz ov War Productions

Bias alert, Poland's SCRUDA are a band that I like a lot. Last year I had their split release with GAROTA as a best of pick. Their full length, Fury Among Ruins, was in my top three best Thrash / Speed Metal releases of 2025. Oh yeah by the way not only were my top Thrash / Speed Metal releases of 2025 all Polish Blackened Thrash bands. They all came out on Godz ov War Productions. 

So with that said here we have a damm good six song EP from these Polish extremists. I don't know if these are throwaway tracks from the last album's recording sessions or new stuff. I really don't give a fuck because it's raw sounding Polish Speed Metal hell. Listening to this I know there's a smile on my face. I can just imagine the slam pit at their shows playing these songs.  

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/extreme-speed-violence

DET - Destructive Elite Terror review

 

DET - Destructive Elite Terror

Dying Victims Productions

I have to say that Finland has been the harbinger of great Extreme Metal in 2025. Now sure if you're into the cool and insane stuff like me (which most lame-stream people are not) then you know the great nation of Finland is home to some of the best Extreme sounding Metal regardless of genre out there. And obviously here's another damm good act to check out.

This is the debut full length from Helsinki, Finland’s DET. This is a Blackened Speed Metal / Thrash three piece act who have been around since 2022. Prior to this the band released two demos and a split release with fellow countrymen KRUISFOITU. Last year they put out a compilation, Death Night's Vengeance, which features their first two demos. 

As far as this release goes it's pretty much early BATHORY / VENOM worship rung though a Finnish filter. In the end it's what the title suggests. I like this release because it's got a burning sound to it and begs for destruction. Their next release will probably kick more ass than this one. 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/destructive-elite-terror

SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH - Violence review

 

SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH - Violence

Dying Victims Productions

So for a decade now on or around my birthday I go out to dinner with a bunch of old friends. It's mostly about dinner but there's some drinking involved. OK there's a lot of drinking involved but not by me. I drink a little bit. Anyways one old friend of mine likes to give a toast to me at these gatherings. One time I remember him saying that I was the only person he knew that has a huge music collection with bands that have the words "wolf" or "goat" in their names. 

Yeah that's funny because it's true. So when I see a band called SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH you're damm right I'm gonna check em out. What we have here is the debut full length by this German three piece Blackened Thrash act. Of course it gets better since the band members are Morbid Goatpriest of Lust, Filth and Mayhem on guitar and vocals. Their drummer goes by the name of Goat Primator and their bassist is the Goatess of Fire. Yeah ya gotta love those nom de plumes. 

I had already given this release a listen and was a fan but learning all of the details about em made it better. SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH started out in 2012 but didn't put out stuff until 2019. From then to now the band has put out a bunch of demos and Split releases. Interested parties should check out the band's Evil Witchcraft & Sado Magic compilation from 2024. 

Musically what we have here is a release with more Tom G Warrior grunts then the whole CELTIC FROST full length collection. Now does that mean this is a HELLHAMMER / CELTIC FROST worshiping retro act? Nah not really because I also hear some DARKTHRONE influence as well. 

Actually what I hear on these ten tracks is a newer band taking some old sounds, running em through their own filter and creating something fresh as well as exciting to hear. I mean the vocals are insane to say the least. Lots of drunken shouting and screaming. The riff work is decent. I give props for the bass work being so prominent. And of course the drum work is fuckin damm good.

So yeah it's rude, chaotic sounding Blackened Thrash and Hessian Speed Metal. It's also an exciting listen throughout. In other words it's a perfect fucking album. I admit I'm an old fucker who always looks to find bands like this. As far as my peers go I don't know how they would go for SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH. But for the younger crowd who hate mainstream bullshit and yearn for the chaotic then here ya go.

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/violence

NECROCHAKAL - Golgothian Orgies of Bestial Lust review

 

NECROCHAKAL - Golgothian Orgies of Bestial Lust

Floga Records

First off I like the album cover art. The song titles are funny in a debauchees way. Musically it's blackened thrash and more on that later. But the band photo provided is pretty fuckin bad. And you know what maybe it's bad in a deliberate way. Sure I'll go out on that limb only because I'm crazy sometimes. But in all seriousness you two guys look like a bad Halloween costume picture.

Now with that out of the way here we have the debut full length from NECROCHAKAL. They're actually a three piece Blackened Thrash act from the great nation of Greece who have been around putting their cloven hooves on people's faces since 2012. The early part of their career consisted of various short form releases. If you interested and don't want to search so far then there's a compilation titled The Early Black Sacrifices which came out on CD in 2023 on Tribulacion Productions. 

Now as far as this thing goes the band clearly states that musically they're into Teutonic Thrash and late 80's Brazilian Extreme Metal. So think SODOM, DESTRUCTION, SARCOFAGO and MYSTIFIER all rolled into one savage bestial punch to your fucking face. Plus they're fuckin Greek as well and I do hear a touch of Hellenic BM on a song or two. 

So you have nine tracks that pretty much are all about their ferocious hatred towards well you can figure it out because it's easy by now. With that said NECROCHAKAL are a damm cool sounding band. They're giving an update to a sound which is three decades old. But they're keeping it original while also making it sound somewhat fresh. Seriously why would you ever put in a acoustic piece like "Thanatopsis" trying to be all SABBATH which kinda sucks?  It's because you're Black Fuckin Metal and you follow it up with "Son of Loss Judas Goat". So yeah this full length is a winner.   

http://www.flogarecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://flogarecords.bandcamp.com/album/golgothian-orgies-of-bestial-lust

SEIDHR - Dracanthropy review

 

SEIDHR - Dracanthropy

Witches Brew 

I've said it before buy it bares repeating that my favorite Thrash since the 1990's has been Blackened Thrash. And with that said I've gotta admit that the sub genre carcass has been picked clean. I mean the marrow from the bones has been sucked out. There's nothing left to take which will sound cool and new. So for me I just look / listen for something sick sounding, old school and not totally generic. 

I believe I've found that with this three piece act from Ann Arbor, Michigan / Kansas City, Missouri. Yeah that's a long drive to practice. Anyways before I listened to this I checked out their track list and saw they do an ABSU cover. OK I'm interested and after giving it a few listens I can say these guys are pretty good. Now sure some jaded piece of shit who's been into Thrash for a decade could listen to this nine song release, pick it a part and and be a dick about it. Fine and go back to listening to your crap. 

Influence wise yeah SEIDHR like early SLAYER and SODOM. I'm cool with that. Especially since you've got these sick fucking riffs and insane solos. The drum work is fuckin crazy. All in all this debut album sounds like a hidden treasure from the past. The vocals are of that blackened harsh variety with a few Tom G. Warrior grunts tossed in. 

All in all yeah this debut is damm good for anyone who misses the old ways of Blackened Thrash and really yearns for it to come back in a cool way. I mean there's violin, viola and some synths on here which to me is a cool game changer to the savage attack this band hits you with. Hell yeah this is a great release. 

https://witchesbrew.eu/en

LISTEN HERE:

https://seidhr666.bandcamp.com/album/dracanthropy-2

HEXECUTOR - Where Spirit Withers in Its Flesh Constraint review

 

HEXECUTOR - Where Spirit Withers in Its Flesh Constraint

Dying Victims Productions

Let me just begin this by saying to all of you Extreme Metal musicians in France. For decades your nation has had some great bands and I love the music a lot. But the exchange students you send over to America, especially where I live, to our institutions of higher learning are fuckin assholes. Obviously they don't listen to Extreme Metal. Just saying.

With that said here we have the third full length by this French four piece blackened something or other act. They originally started out in 2011, put out some short form releases and in 2016 released their full length debut Poison, Lust and Damnation. That caught the eyes of the people at Dying Victims Productions so they signed em and their next album, Beyond Any Human Conception of Knowledge, came out in 2020.

So here we are in 2025 with a new album and the question is what took you so long? I say that because over the past five years I've dealt with French exchange students who are rude to restaurant staff, illegally park and want to know the secret of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. Thankfully I didn't divulge the secret. LOL!!!!!

Be that as it may musically HEXECUTOR are sound-wise a Blackened something or other type of band. I mean their opening title track is half instrumental meets SLAYER add to that a love for old SODOM and then classic metal. So yeah this first track won me over. But HEXECUTOR are far more into a broad style which takes the listener into a wild place metal wise. 

Listen to the beauty of the guitar soloing which is part fluid / melodic as well as lighting strikes. Then there's the drum work which is damm good. Finally you've got to give credit to vocalist / guitarist Jey Deflagrator. Sure the songs are all sung in French save for one but he adds that 80's Heavy Metal scream. 

In the end yeah the blackened something or other description for HEXECUTOR works well. Their love of Thrash, Traditional Metal and the realm of hate works well.

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/where-spirit-withers-in-its-flesh-constraint

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

WITCHTRAP - Hungry as the Beast review

 

WITCHTRAP - Hungry as the Beast

Hells Headbangers Records

WITCHTRAP are a three piece blackened thrash act from Colombia who I got into with the split they did with NUNSLAUGHTER in 2014 and their Evil Strikes Again full length from 2020. The band has been around since 1997 and has a ton of releases out be they full lengths, EPs and splits. By the way their last split release with NUNSLAUGHTER from 2014 is probably a collector's item by now.

Hungry as the Beast is their sixth full length and musically it's a throwback to the early days of thrash. When I blast this through the house speakers it's pretty damm cool. Listening to this, as an old schooler, it's totally enjoyable. I mean this was blasting while I was doing the dishes. So if you're an old thrash fan then I highly recommend this one.

https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://witchtrap-official.bandcamp.com/album/hungry-as-the-beast

BUNKER 66 - Portraits of Dismay compilation review

 

BUNKER 66 - Portraits of Dismay compilation

Dying Victims Productions

I've said it before but it needs repeating. When it comes to thrash I like it blackened and raw. Sure early on I loved SLAYER but once I got into DESTRUCTION and a bunch of other acts well the dye was set. BUNKER 66, who hail from Italy, are a band who embody blackened thrash very well. 

I think one time I called BUNKER 66 the bastard sons of BULLDOZER. Now personally I believe BULLDOZER is the best thrash band of all time from Italy and if you disagree I'll probably punch you in the face. BUNKER 66 are basically continuing a great legacy of blackened thrash from the great nation of Italy period end of story. 

Now as far as blackened thrash goes yeah there's a modern day generic take whether it's from England, Japan, South America or Mexico. There's really generic stuff coming from other places which sound boring. And sure as shit I've mentioned em. But ya gotta love this release. Sound-wise it's got that speed metal / punk vibe. Add in some influences like MOTORHEAD, DESTROYER 666 and obviously BULLDOZER. 

As mentioned in the title this is a compilation of the band's short form released songs. Yeah screw the Ebay collector scum. Fans really love these types of releases. Because it's all about the music and not the selfish attitude. So here's another mandatory release by BUNKER 66, period end of story.  

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/portraits-of-dismay

GRAVERIPPER - Seasons Dreaming Death review

 

GRAVERIPPER - Seasons Dreaming Death

Wise Blood Records

A few years back I was giving the thumbs down to various blackened thrash acts. The main reason was that the majority of the acts were generic sounding. It was like standing in the grocery store staring at ten different brands of white bread. So nowadays a band who's playing in this style has to bring something unique to a genre that's been run through the ringer. 

This Indianapolis four piece act are not re-inventing the genre. But at least on this their full length debut they're giving it a shot. First off I like vocalist/guitarist Corey Parks' singing style. He doesn't do the generic black metal shrieking vocals. His vocal style comes off like a caustic bark similar to pre-cookie monster death metal. Add to that the song structures this band creates are not generic at all. 

The riffs rum the gambit of death & roll, black metal and of course standard old school thrash. Opener "To the Grave” is the type of song that'll get a pit started even at a home for geriatric heshers. "And I Curse Reality" is a Teutonic thrash influenced cut you wished DESTRUCTION would do nowadays. "Ripped and Torn Apart" plus "Divine Incantations" have a slight MAYHEM vibe going on. That's a nice way of saying they borrowed.

Another cool thing about GRAVERIPPER's sound is that the two guitarists don't bury the bass player. I mean in almost every song here, there's ten, bassist Chris Pilotte's playing is standing together with the guitar riffage. Hell I think he does a solo or two. Yes that is very cool. Some of the guitar solos are decent and the drum work is satisfactory. 

By the way it took me a good four listens to this release before I became a fan of this band. Anyways yeah this is a cool debut full length. GRAVERIPPER wins the award for putting out the most non generic blackened thrash album of 2023. That's nothing to scoff at either. 

https://wisebloodrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://graveripper.bandcamp.com/album/seasons-dreaming-death

ALL HELL - All Hail the Night EP review

 

ALL HELL - All Hail the Night EP

Terminus Hate City Records

It's always good to see a local band do well especially one I've followed for a while. ALL HELL are a three piece blackened speed metal / black n roll act from the western part of my home state of North Carolina. If you're into bands like MIDNIGHT, HOT GRAVES or TOXIC HOLOCAUST then their music is definitely up your alley. ALL HELL have been around for a decade now and have four full length releases to their credit. I highly recommend you check out their 2017 release The Grave Alchemist as well as 2019's The Witch's Grail. 

There's only been one change to the band since I last heard em. That would be the new addition of Cameron Micham on drums. Cameron also played in a local blackened thrash band from my town called SUPPRESSIVE FIRE from 2017 to 2019. ALL HELL is still helmed by Jacob Curwen (vocals/guitar) and Erik Ballantyne on bass. Since I'm a fan (yeah bias alert) this new one has some cool highlights.

All Hail the Night is a six track EP. Three cuts are new and the other three are re-makes of songs from their debut full length The Devil's Work. As far as the new songs go the opener "Black Leather Wings" includes a guest solo and additional vocals by guitarist Nate Garnette of SKELETONWITCH. There's a band name I haven't heard in a while. The next two cut's; "Neon Babylon" and "Let the Night Run Red" are standard fair for the band. I think "Let the Night Run Red" is the better of the three. 

As far as the re-done cuts aka: "Suffer for Me", "Breaker" and "Devilwolf" go. Jacob Curwen adds better blackened serpentine style vocals. The riffs and bass work are the same as the originals. But you can feel that the drum work is better recorded. All in all I like it and I'm looking forward to what comes next. I always thought ALL HELL were one of those bands that should've, could've been better known to fans of blackened speed metal, black n roll, etc. I'm still hoping. I'm also seeing em in Aug.

https://www.terminushatecity.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://allhell.bandcamp.com/album/all-hail-the-night

DESTROYER 666 - Never Surrender review

 

DESTROYER 666 - Never Surrender

Season of Mist

A good friend of mine turned me onto DESTROYER 666 many years ago with their debut full length Unchain the Wolves. That was back in 1997 and I've been a constant fan of these extreme metal Aussie's ever since. Now while my appreciation for this band has not changed over the decades. Much about DESTROYER 666 has, with one exception and that's mainman/guitarist/vocalist K.K. Warslut. 

K.K. Warslut has guided this act for almost three decades now and that's with a revolving door line-up of band members. He's weather all of that as well as subtle changes in style. DESTROYER 666 is still a blackened thrash act. But a few years ago they got, pardon me, accessible in their sound. Wildfire from 2016 became the band's new template to continue onward with. 

On that album K.K. and his new line-up dropped a bit of the satanic shtick and went with a more catchy thrash attack with melody and memorable gang vocal choruses. Add to that you got better production. Fast forward six years later and K.K. is still following the Wildfire formula with a semi newer line-up. And I think this is damm good.

Joining K.K. on this the band's sixth full length is new drummer Kev Desecrator who joined in 2020. Add on bassist Felipe Plaza Kutzbach who has remained since Wildfire. So musically this is still hard hitting yet rough around the edges thrash. Of course the riffs are solid. The soloing flows to an almost NWOBHM tone. 

On one song there's a death thrash feel "Grave Raiders" which reminds me of early DECEASED. Opener "Never Surrender" is a fist in the air heavy metal anthem for 2022. "Guillotine" is another strong cut with political / social references towards some of the crazy shit going on in Australia since the pandemic. With the chorus lyric "What's Happened to My Country" ah yeah I totally fuckin agree.

Most of the other tracks on here are mid-paced thrashers with plenty of shouted vocals plus gang backing shouts. Two of the tracks on this album do take you back a ways to the band's early more blackened days. Those cuts being "Pitch Black Night" and "Batavia's Graveyard". 

So all in all K.K. Warslut, who's vocals are phenomenal on here, has once again breathed new life into something which was originally a side project decades ago. Of late whenever I'm in the mood for some DESTROYER 666 I've been playing Wildfire plus the 2018 Call of the Wild EP. This album surpasses those two releases. Never Surrender might be a late comer to 2022 but it is one of the best releases of the year. 

https://www.season-of-mist.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQJEDR2G9M4

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Faster Than the Fucking Devil review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Faster Than the Fucking Devil

Wise Blood Records

So this year hasn't been great for compilation releases except for the typical label comps. But when I saw this one come in for review and recognized one band that I liked well why not give it a chance. And I'm glad I did. 

First off Faster Than the Fucking Devil is a four band compilation of blackened thrash. The first band on here is WRAITH from Indiana. They're the band I knew about and have been a fan of since their Absolute Power full length from 2019. Since then they've also released a full length, Undo the Chains, last year which was damm good. 

As far as their three song contribution here it's pure blackened thrash in the same vein as many past blasphemers. "Seven Serpents" is a real ripper and their best cut of the three. Next up are BLACK KNIFE from Lexington, Kentucky. This band was a cool surprise. They've been around since 2016 and have a bunch of releases out. Musically they're blackened thrash with a punk edge to em. I like their three cuts on here a lot. 

Third on this comp is GRAVERIPPER from Indiana and are a fairly new band. Musically their three song contribution is more of a tough guy vocals with some decent traditional thrash attack. And finally there's UNHOLY NIGHT from Russia. Musically, and production wise, this is low fi blackened punk. Their contribution here is two songs worthy of an old cassette demo. 

As always when it comes to split releases, whether it's two bands or in this case four, I treat it like a wrestling match. There has to be a winner. Now overall I think Faster Than the Fucking Devil is a damm good comp for people into blackened thrash. To me the best of this bunch is BLACK KNIFE.

https://wisebloodrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://wisebloodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/faster-than-the-fucking-devil