PULPIT VOMIT - Hospital Lens review

 

PULPIT VOMIT - Hospital Lens

Rottweiler Records

Can I just say that so far this year it's been total shit for Grindcore music. I mean I've been hit with stuff like Atmospheric Grindcore, Post Grindcore and Brutal Death Grind. The latter I can handle but as far as the first two go. What the fuck are you talking about or even playing. Now as far as this release by PULPIT VOMIT goes. Well they're not gonna win any accolades but at least they're a fuckin Grindcore band. 

PULPIT VOMIT hails from California, USA where Grindcore originated from. Now I don't want to hear any bullshit from one of you English twats about where Grindcore started. The REPULSION demo, Slaughter of the Innocent, from 1986 is where Grindcore officially starts. Nuff Said!

This is the debut full length by this three piece Grind act who started out in 2022. You have Seth Metoyer on vocals and guitars, Kris Olson plays bass and Tim Olson is on drums. Prior to this the band had only been releasing singles. Since this is only a eight song release with a sixteen plus minute time structure. Personally I'd call it an EP but I go by what they label says. 

Musically this sounds like old school Grind with hellish screaming. The drum work is solid with plenty of stop / start action. The riff work is simplistic but decent. "Razor Jaw" is a great opener. I also like "The Filth" a lot. "No Place in Power" is pretty psychotic I like that. Everything else is decent. 

In the end this is a straight up real Grindcore release which I like. Give this band some time and room to really go crazy and I'll be back. 

https://www.rottweilerrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://pulpitvomit.bandcamp.com/track/the-filth-single

AND HERE:

https://pulpitvomit.bandcamp.com/track/razor-jaw-single

IMPERIALIST - Prime review

 

IMPERIALIST - Prime

Transcending Obscurity Records

In all honesty being a new Black Metal band in 2025 is a tough sell to older fans. Now if you've been into the genre for the past twenty years then your opinion is worthless to me. But if you remember the days when we didn't know what to call it (aka: the first wave) and then the whole Norwegian explosion of sounds came. Then I'll listen to ya and by the way that's me. 

With that said I had written about IMPERIALIST's debut full length, Cipher, back in 2018 which also came out on Transcending Obscurity Records. Looking back I didn't think it was amazing. In fact I thought they were so heavily influenced by Sweden's DISSECTION that their home town of Monrovia, California is probably not a sunny place.

I did not write about their second full length, Zenith, which came out in 2021 or their Quantum EP which came out in 2023. But here we are with this four piece band's third full length and I can honestly say there's something cool going on with it. Basically it's Melodic Black Metal in an obvious US version. There's some extreme sounding stuff like the opener "Starstorm" as well as the second cut "Beneath the Sands of Titan" which will have concert crowds starting a slam pit. 

Lyrically IMPERIALIST are a Sci-Fi BM act but in all honesty who cares. Look I'm down with the devil and all the way with pagan aspects and national culture when it comes to Black Metal I like. But hey give me some cool sounds to blast and I'll go with it. So IMPERIALIST do on here push a thrashy, semi cold tremolo picked sound with harsh vocals. Their DISSECTION is still there but IMPERIALIST have definitely grown into their own shoes. 

I mean there's some savage yet melodic guitar soloing. Add to that a barrage of drum work. The band lays in some atmosphere with the instrumental "Heavens Sunder" as well as later on with their seven plus minute closer "A Ghost Abandoned". The bottom line is that on this their third full length IMPERIALIST have come into their own as far as modern day Black Metal goes. Yeah this is a winner.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://imperialistus.bandcamp.com/album/prime

NITE - Cult of the Serpent Sun review

 

NITE - Cult of the Serpent Sun

Season of Mist

Here we have the third full length by this four piece Blackened Heavy Metal act from San Francisco, California. I will have more to say about their genre tagline further along. But I just wanna say this release came in for review earlier this year. I thought that I had written a review for it. After checking I found out no I never posted a review. Also I just saw NITE perform last week and I'm still hyped up by em. I've got my physical copy of this release and well I've got a lot to say. 

First off the Blackened Heavy Metal tagline is kinda interesting. Yeah I know it's a thing nowadays. But the fact is that NITE musically are a full on Metal act. I mean the influences you notice are pure 1980's. You'll hear some MAIDEN -esque stuff along with MERCIFUL FATE / KING DIAMOND influences. All of that is courtisy of guitarist / vocalist Van Labrakis and guitarist / backing vocalist Scott Hoffman. 

These two not only provide some cool as fuck riffs but add in great solos. I'm talking about individual soloing, switch off soloing and combined soloing. Yeah if you're a Metal guitar lover then here ya go. The fuckin rhythm section keeping up with those guitars is also savage as hell. Props to thunderous bassist Avinash Mittur and the damm good drum work by Patrick Crawford. 

As far as the whole Blackened thing goes Van Labrakis vocals come off as something of a blast furnace DEATH METAL style. On the Death Doomish cut "The Mystic" it shows. Of course that's after the three opening songs which are total headbanging rockers. Then again lyrically NITE are all about the occult. So there ya go. 

In the end NITE's third album is a winner in my not so humble opinion. Then again if you're into Metal well here ya go true believers. I'm unfortunately part of some sites where I see people complain that there's no cool new metal. Well hey here's some great new Metal to bang your fuckin head to, along with blasting out of the speakers. 

As much as I like the three opening cuts which define this album: "Cult of the Serpent Sun", "Skull" and "Crow (Fear the Night)". There's "The Last Blade" and "Carry On" which are absolutly amazing on the second half. Basically this is a rocking album for 2025. It's definitely a favorite for me so is it for you?

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

LISTEN HERE:

https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/album/cult-of-the-serpent-sun

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

 

EARLY MOODS - A Sinner's Past review

 

EARLY MOODS - A Sinner's Past

RidingEasy Records

So here we have the long awaited, well for me at least since it came out in March, second album by Los Angeles, California's EARLY MOODS. This is an amazing Doom Metal band that I originally saw in 2022 open up for SAVAGE MASTER at a club in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. That year they released their self titled debut full length also on this label. 

The best way to describe EARLY MOODS' brand of Doom is a band influenced by the old ways but delivered with youthful enthusiasm. As far as the old goes think PENTAGRAM, TROUBLE and CANDLEMASS with an obvious salute to the almighty SABBATH. If you thought their debut album was amazing then A Sinner's Past will have you thinking perfection.

Just listen to the opening cut "Last Hour" and you'll believe it sounds like something from SABBATH's Volume Four. And that's one of many times this album provides a cool new take on classic sounds of Doom's past which we know and enjoy. Now before any naysayer jaded pieces of shit weigh in. Let me make this clear again. The EARLY MOODS are not the usual grave robbers of the past. 

This band not only honors the past with influences but brings it to the modern Doom metal music world with a force that's been lost by so many before them. The title track comes across like PENTAGRAM meets CANDLEMASS with old Ozzy vocals touched with aggressive harsh screams. Add to that the musicianship on this album is full blown exceptional.  

I mean the riffs are melodic and crunch heavy. The rhythm section is fucking dynamic as hell. The guitar soloing is Tony Iomni approved. But hey the vocals are just cool as fuck. The song structures are all about the occult / horror side of themes. But what's cool is that the band are not pushing the campy bullshit. Listen to "Hells Odyssey" which is the most epic track at eight plus minutes in length on here and you'll be in awe.

This second album by EARLY MOODS is also cool because it slightly progressives from their debut. Their love and appreciation of the old shows in their creative trials to come up with great sounds without being a copycat. With that said yeah the are my favorite Doom metal band of late. And this album is the best Doom album of the year. Come on look at the album cover? They look like a Doom version of the MC5. Hey guys Tony Iomni needs to contribute a solo on your next record. I mean he would love your sound.

https://www.ridingeasyrecs.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://earlymoods.bandcamp.com/album/a-sinners-past

NECROT - Lifeless Birth review

 

NECROT - Lifeless Birth

Tankcrimes

NECROT are (in my not so humble opinion) one of the better (if not the best) new school US death metal bands today. The reason is simple and it's not hype. Since their debut Blood Offerings which came out in 2017 they've broken out and created damm good death metal which hearkens to the past but doesn't dwell there as if they're copycats. Their second album, Mortal from 2020, was just fuckin amazing. I mean that was my favorite album of that year. So does this Oakland, California keep it going on their third try? Ah well hell yeah.

 

Lifeless Birth is a notch up (or below if you prefer) in the diabolical sound of this band's progression from starting out with hardcore influences (listen to their demos) to pure old school death metal with cool soloing by Sonny Reinhardt that's more rhythm at times but does attack from above slices. Luca Indrio's bass playing is solid and his vocals are a standout as far as being deep sounding and hateful. Add in Chad Gailey as an damm good drummer with his work on here, to much triggers aside. 

On Lifeless Birth the band shows some obvious progression without losing what was great about in the past. The song structures on here display a varied guitar riff pattern with bass line accompaniment that deviates from standard groove. It's like the early days of tech death minus the insanity. I mean sure you can bang your head and start a slam pit to the sounds of this one. But for me this is an intense sounding piece of work that grabs for solid attention.

I've listened to Lifeless Birth around a dozen times in the past couple of weeks. Each listen I find something more cool about it. They're coming to my town in a month or so which will be my first time seeing em. I'm psyched about that and prepared to blow some cash on merch. Be that as it may NECROT newest album is obviously their best. It's an all out captivating listen. 

https://www.tankcrimes.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://tankcrimes.bandcamp.com/album/lifeless-birth

MINENWERFER - Feuerwalze review

 

MINENWERFER - Feuerwalze

Osmose Productions

Over the past bunch of years MINENWERFER have become my favorite US black metal band. Oddly enough this is the first time I've ever written about em because I had gotten their releases always a year or more after they came out. The band, who are a two piece act hailing from California (yeah I know go figure?) started out in 2007. I first learned about em in 2015 when I bought a six song EP by em, Kriegserklarung, which came out the year before. Since then I've been a huge fan for many reasons. 

MINENWERFER (which means mortar) is a black metal act whose music is dedicated / inspired by the horrors of World War One. Now look you can be a kvlt type who screams Satan, be anti religious and swear by the Nordic battles of the north lands which you've never been to. But I'm a military veteran and I'll just say that the inhumanity towards your fellow human beings in a combat situation is far worse than listening to a BM album. 

Be that as it may, long before I was into black metal I was reading books about World War One and it wasn't a great war. The reading material I was checking out were more first person accounts which makes MINENWERFER's music, on here or past releases, come across as a soundtrack to a human death sentence. 

As the whistle blows on the opening track "Cemetery Fields" you know men climbed out of trenches and charged into which was pretty much a fire-ring squad. Add to that if they found cover it was in an artillery shell crater filled with muddy water and maybe the rotted body of a fallen friend. Harsh vocals provided with the horrific bombastic beats by this band is probably nothing compared to the real shrieks of horror given forth by grown men back then.

As I listen to this album I cannot think of anything other than artillery bombardments, machine gun fire and death. That's a pure homage to the riffs, blastbeats and guitar soloing. I always thought one of my favorite death metal bands, GOD DETHROWNED did a great job with their trilogy of WW1 as far as war metal goes years ago. But that was death metal. 

On this album you can actually envision the rats feasting on the dead body of a fallen comrade. MINENWERFER push the at-tee' with realization on "Eternal Attrition". Harsh reality with pure blackened sadness, you're gonna die and nothing is going to stop it. I thought 2019's Alpenpasse was an amazing piece of work. This new one has be in a shock and awe state. The vocals are not just screams of war but also like the angel of death conveying it's love over the battlefield. While the guitars, bass and drum work push the savagery of war without regards. This album is a brilliant piece of black metal work. 

https://www.osmoseproductions.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/feuerwalze

SARCOPTES - Prayers To Oblivion review

 

SARCOPTES - Prayers To Oblivion

Transcending Obscurity Records

A few decades ago it was one man black metal acts being touted for creating amazing arrangements. But after a while their limitations started to show. Nowadays it's the two piece acts which are the real mind blowing phenomenon. Case in point here we have this two piece black metal act from California. 

The band is made up of Sean Zimmerman who handles guitar, bass and keyboards. Then you have Garrett Garvey who is drummer and vocalist. Together this duo creates some ferocious sounding thrashy black metal with subtle symphonic touches. Now if I had to guess just from the releases' overall sound. I would've thought this was a five piece act. So it just goes to show never doubt the abilities to dedicated musicians.

Prayers to Oblivion is the second full length by SARCOPTES. They do have two EPs as well. The key to this dynamic duo's music is savage guitar riffs, maniacal precision drum work and violent raspy vocals. The added synths bring on the symphonic touches but as I mentioned earlier it's subtle in a timely manner. It all comes across well arranged and with some superior production.

 

This album contains five cuts with three of em going over the thirteen minute mark. When was the last time you heard a blackened thrash act do a thirteen minute opus? Next up is that all five cuts on here deal in the subject of war and tragedy in specific ways. Opener "Trenches" deals with World War 1. "Spanish Flu" obviously deals in the subject of that early 20th century disease outbreak. "Tet" and "Massacre at My Lai" both deal in Viet Nam War history. I haven't figured out what "Dead Silence" is about except for forgetfulness of those who perished under these tragedy's. It also contains the one great stand out guitar solo on the album.

All in all Prayers To Oblivion is a pretty amazing release. While listening to this multiple times I couldn't help but think of ABSU. Maybe I see them as an influence because of the drummer / vocalist thing as well as having a running theme to shape the album. And their previous releases also fall into that perspective. Add to that the overall impact of the song writing and the power in conveys upon the listener. I can't imagine how they can recreate this in a live setting. But either way it's a great listen.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://sarcoptesblack.bandcamp.com/album/prayers-to-oblivion-black-metal

DEEDS OF FLESH - Trading Pieces Reissue review

 

DEEDS OF FLESH - Trading Pieces Reissue

Horror Pain Gore Death

So my history with DEEDS OF FLESH started out late in their career. The first full length I got of their's was Portals to Canaan from 2013. I picked it up a year or two later at a local show where this guy I know had his distro set up in the club. I saw the band name, pulled it out to look and the guy says "Oh man that's a great CD. You need to get that." Oddly enough he said the same thing to me about the other four CDs I pulled out to look at. So he got me for $50 and I left the show sober.

But hey the guy was right because that was a damm good release of brutal tech death that wasn't ADD inducing headache stuff. Unfortunately a few years later their guitarist/vocalist Erik Lindmark passed away. But fortunately the band continued on and in 2020 came out with Nucleus. Once again another great album in that same modern brutal tech death vibe.

Unfortunately, which is the usual case for me, I never invested/investigated the band's back catalog which is extensive. DEEDS OF FLESH, who hail from California, originally started out in the mid-90's. Their debut release was an four song EP from 1995 titled Gradually Melted. So what we have here is the reissue of their debut full length from 1996.

Now if you're a modern day fan of the band, like me, then hearing this is gonna be slightly off. When DEEDS OF FLESH started out they were straight up brutal death metal. In fact there are probably a ton of BDM bands today who are influenced by DEEDS OF FLESH whether they admit it or not. They seeded the West Coast while their Midwest peers (you know who I'm talking about) did the rest.

Musically it's straight up brutal death metal with a surprisingly diverse riff package. Plus Erik Lindmark's varied vocal style of deep growls, high pitch screeching and bestial sounds emanating from hell. In the end this sounds fresh today, obviously because of copycats. I'll admit to liking their more modern tech death and still brutal style over this. But this just makes me smile in a sick way and that's a good thing.

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/trading-pieces-reissue

KNIGHT & GALLOW - For Honor And Bloodshed review

 

KNIGHT & GALLOW - For Honor And Bloodshed

No Remorse Records

Here's a new band from California who are part of something which I like to call making America metal again. Now don't get me wrong. Here in the states we're metal as fuck. But hey I'm an older fan and as much as I like the various genres. I really like to hear something old school and traditional. 

So this is the debut album by KNIGHT & GALLOW, a five piece act from Sacramento, California. Who on here pretty much nail the whole fantasy Heavy Metal magazine meets the music scenario. The vocals, by Nick Chambers, are clean, decent and not generic. The song craft by this band with it's innovative style versus the traditional pace is damm cool.

While listening to this the first time I wondered if it was a long lost act from the 80's. Yeah the production is 80's all the way. And musically it all reminds me of a cross between CIRITH UNGOL and MANILLA ROAD with better vocals of course. 

The songs on here, all nine of em, have decent rhythms and fiery solos. A few times there's some soaring rocking style cuts like "Stormbringer's Call". And then there's numbers which hold you in balance like "Men Of The West". All in all a great debut album and hey raise that horned fist for metal and this band.  

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://knightandgallow.bandcamp.com/album/for-honor-and-bloodshed

NECROT - Mortal review

 

NECROT - Mortal

Tankcrimes

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

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

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

http://www.tankcrimes.com/

LISTEN HERE:

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

CULTUS PROFANO - Accursed Possession review

CULTUS PROFANO - Accursed Possession

Debemur Morti Productions

It wasn't that long ago when if someone said "Black Metal from California" it would be followed up with screams of "FALSE" all across Metal social media websites. CULTUS PROFANO are a black metal duo act from Los Angeles, California. Since they're on Debemur Morti Productions you could be sure the "F-Word" does not apply if anyone still harbors anti California BM feelings. 

This is my first time checking out CULTUS PROFANO. They've been around since 2016 and this is their second full length. Now let's be honest here. Over the past 25 years here US black metal acts, I'll say 75%, take their influences from Scandinavian BM. This band does not nor are the one of those unique sounding brutal acts from the early days of the scene. If anything this band reminds me of old school Hellenic BM. 

For starters the whole album has this putrid ambiance as if recorded in an ancient cemetery of unworthy souls. With the guitars providing a tremolo picked eerie atmosphere. Add to that the sick tortured vocals which are unsettling. What you've got here is something which sounds like an unearthed item of the past to be worshiped. Completely traditional BM which I think is one of the best I've listened to in 2020. 

https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/

LISTEN HERE:

https://cultusprofano.bandcamp.com/releases

 

SICARIUS - God of Dead Roots review

SICARIUS - God of Dead Roots

M-Theory Audio




This is the second full length by California black metal act SICARIUS. Their debut, Serenade of Slitting Throats, came out in 2017 to from what I've read were rave reviews. Obviously the days when black metal acts matured from album to album are over. I've noticed it over the past decade. On here this five piece sound like they've been at it for a while. Well they started out in 2014 so I guess that's considered a while now.


As far as their brand of USBM goes, with the exception of maybe a minute's worth of ambiance on the opening track. They literally fly out at you with violent ferocity. To me it's like MARDUK and say blackened grind-sters ANAAL NATHRAKH getting into a back alley brawl. There's plenty of break-neck speed coupled with grinding rhythms and insane drum work.


But it's more than slash and burn your face off theatrics. There's actual times of melodies, quick atmospheric touches, a subtle nod to death metal plus the symphonic black metal style song structures minus the keyboards. Of course the vocals on here are the corpse paint icing on this blackened cake. We're talking insanely violent and tortured. It's as if the guy is on fire. Truly amazing vocals on here people which will sink their teeth into you.


I've gotta be honest here, for the past decade my appreciation for new black metal acts has waned a bit. Sure there's been some memorable releases but compared to years before it's totally different. With all of the post genre over-hyped horseshit experimentation, the paint by numbers copycat drivel and beggars of mainstream appeal acts it's no wonder on my part to why I've gotten bored.


Obviously I'm being nice since I know some people who believe black metal ceased to be exciting by 2000. Be that as it may I consider SICARIUS to be a definite breath of fresh corpse paint on an old face. I mean come on how can a knock a band that places a secret BATHORY cover track on the end of their release. Better yet it's an ironic choice of covers since here's a band that'll raise your blackened spirits.


https://www.m-theoryaudio.com/

https://sicariusblackmetal.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/sicariusblackmetal?ref=hl

DRAGHKAR - Beyond Despair, the Dawn of Rebirth demo review

DRAGHKAR - Beyond Despair, the Dawn of Rebirth demo

Nameless Grave Records



You reap what you sow. In my case it was a review of DRAGHKAR's Eternal Abyss compilation which came out earlier this year on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. In my subtle praise of that release said "hoping they do rip out some newer stuff this year or the next. The band has the tools and direction now create something better." And so here we have it and I kinda feel nostalgic for my old print zine days since I'm writing about two song metal demos again.


DRAGHKAR, from California, are finally coming out with a full length this year. It's title is At the Crossroads of Infinity and at the moment they're shopping around for a label. These two cuts are demo versions of what will be on that release. It's definitely a step up from the material of there's I heard before. Sound wise this comes across like old Finnish death metal with some melody and a minor DEATH influence. They still have the cavernous bestial vocals. On these two cuts the riffs have a galloping melodic style moving for em which the rhythm section backs up well. There's more fluid lead guitar soloing then before. Looking forward to hear the whole album.


https://draghkar.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-despair-the-dawn-of-rebirth

https://www.facebook.com/DraghkarBand/

SWAMP WITCH - Dead Rituals review

SWAMP WITCH - Dead Rituals

Transylvanian Tapes




You know that feeling you get when you're at the dentist and the guy or gal is drilling deep into one of your cavities while they're blasting old SABBATH in the background. Yeah that's what this reminds me of except this has a blast furnace for vocals instead of Ozzy. Dead Rituals is the second full length by this Oakland, CA, based sludge act. The skinny on them is that they're old school sludge ritualists. Well sound-wise it leans more towards death doom.


It's there's a ritual at hand it's the band's use of heaping low end distortion, straight up heavy riffs and long monotonous cuts. This release has four of em. All of which are good and stick with the formula which fans enjoy. Punish me with your demonic sounding crushing noise because I'm drunk, wearing an EYEHATEGOD shirt and I'm gonna slam that hipster looking motherfucker into a wall. I bet that happens a lot at their shows. I heard NEUROSIS likes em also. Well they should.


https://www.facebook.com/TransylvanianTapes/

https://swampwitch.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CosmicSludge

SKULLSMASHER - Rocket Hammer Brian Surgery review

SKULLSMASHER - Rocket Hammer Brian Surgery 

Selfmadegod Records




I had this playing, actually blasting, outside while I was working on my garden one Saturday morning. What, you don't listen to extreme music while gardening? Anyway the neighbor's granny was on their back deck watering her plants then I heard their back door slam shut. A week later they went on vacation at least that's what I'm guessing. Then again they could be over in the house dead and rotting because of the power of SKULLSMASHER blaring from my speakers. 


As I always say when it comes to grind core or death grind, I'm always gonna be a fan of the old ways. The music has to be totally destructive and threatening. So here have the debut full length by this California act. Basically it's Andrew Lee of RIPPED TO SHREDS and a drum machine. What's cool here is that Andrew creates short songs with skin shredding riffs. His vocals are either burning cauldron of hell low and gruff or higher pitched wails of pain. Oh yeah the drum machine has been programmed well.


Rocket Hammer Brian Surgery is sixteen tracks in around fifteen minutes. It's sound and style, which is amazing, leans towards the classics of the past but not that good. Sure Andrew Lee probably loves early NAPALM DEATH and REPULSION but then again who the fuck does'n't? Oh you? Then why are you here? I love listening to this release and so glad it pissed off my neighbors.



https://selfmadegod.com/shop/en_US/index

https://selfmadegod.bandcamp.com/album/rocket-hammer-brain-surgery

https://www.facebook.com/Skullsmashergrind/ 

DRAGHKAR - Eternal Abyss review

DRAGHKAR - Eternal Abyss

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




I really do like compilations. I've got a shitload of em. I'm talking about comps by record labels, zines, burned CDs from friends and of course band comps. As far as band comps go I like ones that have a bunch of previously released small format releases (EPs and Splits) on em. Sometimes you really don't want to go on a collector spree. Besides you know you're gonna put all the tracks on one format anyway.


What we have here is that last part I was talking about. DRAGHKAR is a death metal act from California. Eternal Abyss is a compilation of their previously recorded material. This consists of their tracks from their World Unraveled demo from 2017, various cuts from splits they've done as well as their The Endless Howling Abyss EP. Add to that are some live tracks which end the release.


Musically DRAGHKAR are the incartnate of old school death metal. You've got cavernous emanating bestial vocals. Most of their riff package deals in simplistic yet in that low end bludgeoning style. Personally I actually like the World Unraveled demo tracks from 2017 better than their newer stuff. But hey I'm hoping they do rip out some newer stuff this year or the next. The band has the tools and direction now create something better. Great album cover by the way. 


http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-abysst's

SKELETAL REMAINS - Devouring Mortality review

SKELETAL REMAINS - Devouring Mortality

Dark Descent Records




So this originally came out in April but I have it now. Oh well right? Unfortunately I looked at some opinions of this, the California band's third full length, prior to getting it. Obviously some people forget that a decade ago old school death metal made a comeback and was widely accepted by fans. The key word is "fans" because it was small labels who were promoting that old school death metal revival.


Fast forward a decade and now it's just an accepted genre style. If you don't like it then oh well go listen to prog rock. As for me when I listen to Devouring Mortality I'm imagining being at a show with ASPHYX, OBITUARY and DEATH on the bill. Now obviously that ain't gonna happen today but if one band can combine all of that greatness in one package I'll take it.


As I had written earlier this is SKELETAL REMAINS third full length. They started out in California in 2011. Their first full length, Beyond the Flesh, came out in 2012. I didn't get into em until their second album, Condemned to Misery, was released in 2015. So while this release blasts through my speakers I won't deny that these guys from Whittier wear their influences loud and proud on their sleeves or vests. In fact after a few listens I could add to the three I've already listed.


The bottom line here is whether or not it fuckin rules. As far as I'm concerned hell yes it does. You've got these caustic vocals which are a mixture of John Tardy and Martin Van Drunen. By the way they're two of the greatest DM vocalists of all time. Next you can toss in heavy, angry as well as filthy riffs. That's their bread and butter. Finally there's the Chuck Schuldiner style face peeling lead work. That sets the candles afire on this DM cake.


Now if you have a problem with all of that then you either hate death metal. Or you're a pissed off hipster who just blew a few hundred bucks on your credit card for classic death metal reissued vinyl on Ebay when you could've picked this one up for $12 plus postage. Then again you could be some loser who was at a show and saw SKELETAL REMAINS kick fuckin ass while your friend's tech/jazz/death metal act bored the crowd enough that they all went outside for a smoke while you stood there like the loser you are. Alright you're a dedicated loser. But hey this album rules so go fuck yourselves you fuckin jaded haters.


http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/devouring-mortality

https://www.facebook.com/SkeletalRemainsDeathMetal

IMPERIALIST - Cipher review

IMPERIALIST - Cipher 

Transcending Obscurity Records




After listening to the first couple of cuts I wanted to take this California band and give em the third degree. OK boys which city in Sweden are you really from? Oddly enough this is the second time in the past few weeks I've heard a band that invokes influences from DISSECTION. Trust me that's rare. Some come close but few nail it. I don't know where Monrovia, California is but it's probably not sunny.


Now I'm not going to drag this deep into the blackened death genre. Sure the riff style is there but something darker lies within this band's overall sound. Amidst the thrash and ripping rhythms is full blown heavy handed atmosphere which carries you along. Dare I say it's got a grim and frosty feel to it? Yeah I will.


On this debut full length by IMPERIALIST the band comes up with ways to keep your interest by handing the listener variety. At times it's straight up melodic blackened death. Other times it's a violent black metal invocation. Is it perfect? No but we'll see what they come with next time. Hopefully they're inject more of themselves into their sound. But hey look at the bright side. At least now you can say black metal from California without bursting into laughter.


https://tometal.com/

https://imperialistus.bandcamp.com/album/cipher-black-metal

https://www.facebook.com/Imperialistofficial

NIGHTMARE - Self Titled EP (reissue) review

NIGHTMARE - Self Titled EP (reissue)

Dying Victims Productions

Not to be confused with two dozen or more bands named NIGHTMARE. Here we have four guys from Whittier, California playing straight up true 80's metal. This is a reissue of their demo from 2016. These guys love PRIEST, RIOT and horror. There's some classic heavy metal screams, very cool soloing and damm good riffs.

As always I'm honest as the day is long and with that said I like this a lot. The simple reason why is because I'm old school. This sounds like it could've been on an old Metal Massacre compilation. In an age where there are a ton of bands out trying to be old school metal sounding, these guys don't have to try that hard.

  

https://www.dying-victims.de/

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/nightmare-nightmare

https://www.facebook.com/NightmareOfficial2016