INEPSY - No Speed Limit for Destruction reissue review

 

INEPSY - No Speed Limit for Destruction reissue

Tankcrimes

Back in 2008 a good friend of mine turned me onto this Canadian act with their first full length, Rock ‘n’ Roll Babylon, which came out in 2003. To me this is one of the best match ups of DISCHARGE and GBH meets MOTORHEAD and TANK. The band's second album, City Weapons, which came out in 2005 was decent. 

But this album, which originally came out in 2007, is when the band dropped the Hardcore influences and went straight up Hard Fuckin Rock n Roll. I mean the opening track is "Rock 'n' Roll Is the Only Way". And if that wasn't an obvious introduction to where this band was headed then you were an idiot. This was basically MOTORHEAD lite which at the time the band said was a change to a more Rock n Roll style. 

Now I'm not going to get into what people years ago said about this album whether good or bad. To me it just doesn't fuckin matter. If this was the first album by this band I heard I'd be like hell yeah. I mean ya got the gruff real guy vocals sorta Lemmy like. Of course there's plenty of other singers which come to mind. Be that as it may the songs just rock the fuck out. 

Just blast this album and tell me your head doesn't bang a bit. Do you find yourself tapping your hand on your knee? And what about some air guitar moments, do you kick into that as well? Well I do and that's why No Speed Limit for Destruction is a must have release. If you don't own it already then here ya go. 

https://www.tankcrimes.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://tankcrimes.bandcamp.com/album/no-speed-limit-for-destruction

SANDSTORM - Dungeon of Death Mini LP review

 

SANDSTORM - Dungeon of Death Mini LP

Dying Victims Productions

I've listened to this short LP release a few times. But in all honesty when I first heard the opening title cut I was in another world aka: my past. I was young again. I had long hair and banging my head. Yeah this release is nostalgic as white on rice. It's NWOBHN style but not the more popular bands from that 1980's era. No this is what we use to call Underground. You would be in the record store and see a cool looking album cover in the Import's section then buy it. I know, it was a innocent time back them. 

But anyways SANDSTORM, who started out in 2017, is a three piece act featuring two brothers from Sweden on guitar / vocals / bass and a drummer from Canada. Ah yeah I know it's kinda weird but hey it's 2026. The two Swedes are Stevie Whiteless on guitars / vocals and Reptile Anderson on bass / vocals. Their drummer from Canada is PJ “The Butcher” LaGriffe. 

Musically this is very melodic sounding stuff. In fact it does fall into PAGAN ALTAR territory a bit. In all I gotta say a Mini album is cool but not enough. Since starting out this band has released a handful of short form releases prior to this new one. I say put em all together on one CD. That's my suggestion but hey if you're really feeling nostalgic then check this release out. 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/dungeon-of-death

CULTIST - Spiritual Atrophy review

 

CULTIST - Spiritual Atrophy

Awakening Records

Just for the record I'm old. How old you ask? Well I was into Death Metal before people coined the phrase Death Metal. Seriously back in the day when we first heard POSSESSED or MANTAS / DEATH we didn't know what to call it at first. So with that said when I listen to a newer Death Metal band now my attitude towards em is either One: I like it. It's killer as fuck. Two: it's interesting. Or Three: I'm fucking bored by this point. 

CULTIST, who hail from Calgary, Canada, fall into the number two category because sound-wise this band is interesting as fuck.Which by the way is damm good. On this the band's second full length since starting out in 2015. CULTIST you're gonna hear a genuine mix of Death Metal sounds from the old to the early Tech Death days. Which to me is the perfect era of Death Metal.

This album starts of with an atmospheric instro intro and of course I hate that. Once the actual first song "Coursing Between Worlds" kicks into gear then the fun starts. First off lets give props to guitarist Betzi Poitras because this guy is an evil riff master as well as a deliverer of diabolical solos. This guy is just as good and should be named along side some of Florida's elite DM guitarists. 

Next up is the twisted vocal style by bassist / singer Vanessa Grossberndt who can roar like a maniacal beast, scream like a witch and can growl like a bear. Although the rest of the band does add vocals. Add to the that the dynamic drum work of Jim Petigo. 

In the end you've got a nine song album albeit with two instrumentals. Still it's a kick ass listening experience to say the least. I'm not gonna say it's one the best but it's close to the top and worth checking out.

https://awakeningrecords.cn/

LISTEN HERE:

https://awakeningrecordscn.bandcamp.com/album/spiritual-atrophy

GRAVE INFESTATION - Carnage Gathers review

 

GRAVE INFESTATION - Carnage Gathers

Dark Descent Records / Invictus Productions

I learned about GRAVE INFESTATION last year with their split EP with NOROTH. That release came out on Carbonized Records. I liked the band so much that I got their debut full length, Persecution of the Living, which came out in 2022. While I'm still keeping that one in the frequent play stack, out now is their second full length. And I have to say this one is even better. 

GRAVE INFESTATION are a Canadian four piece act who's whole reason for existing is to create old school sounding Death Metal. Sound-wise it's four knuckle dragging Neanderthals with instruments recording in their cave. It's first generation sounding Death Metal meaning you're gonna hear some thrash parts. 

For an old fuck like me this is like old fashioned candy. This release is a perfect throwback to 1987/88 when the first era of Death Metal really got going. The riffs are morbid as fuck. The rhythm section is pure diabolical. The guitar soloing is so sick sounding it would make a new school kid puke. And of course the vocals are ghastly. 

Now some lame ass piece of shit would thumb their nose at something like this. Not me because I don't care if there's a song that sounds like it could've been on the Scream Bloody Gore demos. Or that they're Canadians but sound like early USDM. Fuck that shit! GRAVE INFESTATION's second album is hate that's their handshake to the world. It's an amazing album. 

https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/

LISTEN HERE:

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/carnage-gathers

THE SLIME - Crab-Walk to Oblivion review

 

THE SLIME - Crab-Walk to Oblivion

Self Released

Listening to this is like being at a club decades ago during a DRI show. I should know because I was there. As far as DRI goes yes Violent Pacification was good. Dealing With It was better but their Crossover album sucked. So when I was reading the promo info on this band. The PR person describes this band as being "hardcore/crossover". WTF?

OK I get it your young. But if you were around in the late 80's HC scene then you would know that the term "crossover" is a bad word. The term was created by major label hacks to describe bands who they signed as being liked by the HC crowd and metal heads. Alright but what about the punk fans who liked SABBATH or PRIEST? Would you call them "crossover"? 

Basically it, crossover, started because DRI was playing shows with SLAYER. Next thing you know the major labels started signing all of these Hardcore bands. At first it was called "crossover" but then a year or two afterwards it was called Metalcore. You had HC bands trying to sound Metal and it pretty much sucked. Sorry for the history lesson buy hey I had to. 

Anyways this is the debut full length by THE SLIME a four piece act who hail from Toronto, Ontario. That's in Canada for all of you punks. I think there was an old early 1980's Punk band called The SLIME as well. Be that as it may this band started out in 2020 and so far has released a handful of short form releases prior to this full length. 

As far as Crab-Walk to Oblivion goes well for starters the album cover artwork has a guy with a BAD BRAINS T-shirt on. At least that's cool. Musically as far as these eleven songs go, in slightly over fifteen minutes, I like it. Ah yeah I'd say they're influenced by DRI as well as maybe a few other HC bands from the late 1980's. 

But I give these guys credit. They've taken a sound from fuckin decades ago and actually put a cool original spin to it. There's a few cuts on here that sound more diabolical then their ancestors could've produced. The musicianship is very wild with caustic vocals careening over wild ride riffs. The rhythm section is on fire. 

I think in 2025 and you're into Hardcore Punk then THE SLIME should be one of your favorite bands. I mean back in the day my favorite Canadian Punk bands were DOA and the DAYGLO ABORTIONS. And that's just off the top of my memory as I write this review. There's plenty more but for now yeah THE SLIME fuckin rule.  

LISTEN TO & BUY IT HERE:

https://theslimehardcore.bandcamp.com/album/crab-walk-to-oblivion

CROWN OF MADNESS - Memories Fragmented review

 

CROWN OF MADNESS - Memories Fragmented

Transcending Obscurity Records

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

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

ADVERSARIAL - Solitude with the Eternal review

 

ADVERSARIAL - Solitude with the Eternal

Dark Descent Records

Here we have the third full length by this Canadian three piece Blackened Death act. I first got into this band with their second full length Death, Endless Nothing and the Black Knife of Nihilism. That originally came out in 2015 and on Dark Descent Records. In all honesty I got that release in 2017 and immediately became a fan. I'm pretty sure it was a year later when I got their debut full length, All Idols Fall Before the Hammer, which came out in 2010. 

Now what makes ADVERSARIAL so cool is that they're part of the whole modern take on the Blackened Death genre sound. There's brutality and melody woven together with destructive drumming. Add to that the guitar work crosses into hypnotic territory and still kicks into some violent rage. The vocals are bestial as it gets. Add to that you've got great production which just leaves the listener in a captive gaze. 

And that's also what I thought about em years ago. So here we are now almost a decade between releases. This style of modern Blackened Death still packs a hell of a punch. But it's not so kick ass as it once was. Nowadays it's just damm good.

https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/

LISTEN HERE:

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/solitude-with-the-eternal

IMMORTAL FORCE - Mystic Seance Unrealities review

 

IMMORTAL FORCE  - Mystic Seance Unrealities 

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

In all honesty this label for over a decade now has been my go to place for extreme music that would leave a mainstream lame-stream music fan offended and puking. By the way that's a good thing in my not so humble opinion. But in recent times they've released some stuff which any real death metal fan will like. This year it's the full length by HUMAN INFECTION which is killer as fuck. But then they revert back to the fuckin sickness and I'm all smiles, well a sick sinister grin. 

Here we have the debut full length by IMMORTAL FORCE who are a four piece Death Metal act from Canada more specifically Vancouver, British Columbia or Calgary, Alberta. Whatever and you've got an asshole as a PM. But anyways listening to this is like hearing the Canadian cousins of MORTICIAN to a point. How could you not appreciate cuts like "Hospice Carnage", "Midnight Bloodsplatter", "Mass Murder Meat Market", "Lycanthropic Miscreant" and of course "Open-Casket Gangbang". 

Now it ain't all death doom and sado insanity. These Canadians like some grind as in their cover song choices. On here they do their versions of NAPALM DEATH's "Suffer the Children" and "Ruptured in Purulence" by CARCASS. Both of which are decent to say the least. For me the bottom line is that just being old school influenced ain't enough anymore. 

Honestly you've got to make the old school sound exciting again instead of just copying it. These recent years yeah it's been done. This debut by IMMORTAL FORCE is good but I'm thinking their second full length will be better and with out cover songs. Nuff Said.   

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/mystic-seance-unrealities

GRAVE INFESTATION / NOROTH Split EP review

 

GRAVE INFESTATION / NOROTH Split EP

Carbonized Records

Hey I love split releases but on here we just get one song a piece from each band. Wow how punk rock of ya. Back decades ago when I was all into collecting vinyl I had tons of 7"er split releases with just one song per band. The stuff I liked ended up on cassette compilations. Worse yet was when one of the band's songs was from their new album. So the label was basically pairing a hit song from one band while adding it with a band you did not know or might of cared for.

Be that as it may on here we've got a song from NOROTH "Trepanation Ritual" which is not a song from their last album or a throwaway track. Actually this could've appeared on their last album. Yes it's cool sounding old school diabolical death metal. Ya gotta love the bass lines at the end of this track. Now as far as GRAVE INFESTATION goes they're a four piece Death Metal band out of Canada. They've been around since 2018 and have one full length to their credit, Persecution of the Living, which came out in 2022. They're brand new to me. 

GRAVE INFESTATION's one song contribution to this EP is " Necroslaughterhouse". First off that should be an album title. just saying. But musically these Canadians are more into an onslaught of the Death Metal style. Obviously on this cut they're influenced by early DEATH. It's a great sounding cut which reminds me of the early days when extreme bands morphed from Thrash to what we now recognize as DM. Not only do I like this song a lot but I've gotta get a copy of their full length. 

So it's a fuckin tough call here on who's better. But sure I think NOROTH are amazing and have an excellent full length which came out this year. But GRAVE INFESTATION are a band who are doing something which I've been wanting to hear for years. That being taking that DEATH influence and showing what that band could've done if Chuck didn't go off the deep end. So yeah GRAVE INFESTATION wins this bout. Furthermore this should be a 7" picture disc. Hey look at the cover. Nuff Said!  

https://carbonizedrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/noroth-grave-infestation

MITOCHONDRION - Vitriseptome review

 

MITOCHONDRION - Vitriseptome

Profound Lore Records

A few years back when I learned about this Canadian blackened death four piece it was via their second full length Parasignosis from 2011. In all honesty I thought the band's sound channeled the early days of PORTAL, VASAELETH, and HOODED MENACE. There's probably a few more obscure bands included in their influence but I should let it go. So here we are thirteen years later with their third full length release. 

There's some cool things and not so good things to say about Vitriseptome. Let's start with the cool stuff. If you blast this release on your back deck speakers after midnight your neighbors will call the cops on ya. You're left standing there at the front door smiling to the officer and explaining that you were in the bathroom and didn't know the outside speakers were on. It was my second complaint this year so I got a pass. 

But hey MITOCHONDRION continue where they left off in 2011. You've got the sickening bestial cavernous vocals. Their song structures are one part riff roaring death metal and the other a type of sick metallic opera of diabolic proportions. I love how it all blends into chaos. Yes this is an album where you let the musical destructive forces over take your senses. Yeah this is late night music, fierce and obscene, only to be heard by a shared few who are of the extreme music kind.

The not so good things are that MITOCHONDRION did all of that in 2011 with their second album. This one here is a good album but it doesn't push the boundaries of the band's they're influenced by. I mean the influential acts named above kinda blow these days. So these Canadians have the torch handed to em in order to keep the flow of this blackened death style going or progressing. In the end it's a cool album.   

https://profoundlorerecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://mitochondrion.bandcamp.com/album/vitriseptome

CASTLE - Evil Remains review

 

CASTLE - Evil Remains

Hammerheart Records

Here we have the sixth full length by CASTLE and it's been a six year wait. Bias alert, I'm a huge fan of CASTLE. I got into em with their debut full length, In Witch Order, from 2011. And from that point on I was hooked. Their debut and their next two albums are amazing. We're talking cool ass Doom that rocks. Their last two albums I thought were decent.

So after a long wait they're back and this album is better than the last two. First off guitarist Mat Davis is probably one of the best Doom guitarists around. If Tony Iomni is the king of riffs Then Mat Davis is in line for knighthood because he creates his own SABBATH-IAN style riffs and rarely copies. 

Next up is one of the best vocalists and bassists in Doom or just Metal aka: Elizabeth Blackwell. She just has that perfect vocal range as in not over the top, not subtle or airy. Elizabeth Blackwell is a rocker and her vocal performance is exceptional especially on this new one. 

CASTLE are technically a two piece act but they do enlist drum work from people. This time around they've enlisted Mike Cotton a Canadian who balances out the sound with some great work. 

With that all said I think Evil Remains is the threshold where their past two albums were pushing towards. CASTLE on here kick out a damm good sounding album that rocks in their own way. They've reached the summit and this is the CASTLE sound period, not a band influenced by. Then again I always thought they were pushing for their own voice.  

https://www.hammerheart.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hammerheart.bandcamp.com/album/evil-remains

SMOULDER - Violent Creed Of Vengeance review

 

SMOULDER - Violent Creed Of Vengeance

Cruz del Sur Music

Here we have the second album by Canada's SMOULDER. I really liked their debut, Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring, from 2019. After listening to this new one a few times it's obvious the sophomore jinx does not apply. SMOULDER are, or should be, looked upon as true greatness as far as true metal goes in these modern times. 

So there are a lot of things going on here to that greatness. First and foremost are the vocals by Sarah Ann Vincent. This woman has a powerful vocal style that oozes true metal. She sings from the heart which you've gotta love. She's got a powerful  gutsy style going on. And she's the perfect singer for this style of music. 

SMOULDER are a touch MAIDEN-esque (aka: galloping rhythms, twin guitar harmonies and of course some amazing leads). Add to that they love some doom as well as the whole old ways of MANILLA ROAD and a touch of CIRITH UNGOL with better vocals of course. Yes it's old school metal worship with no hits or MTV videos. Sarah Ann Vincent and company come off doing sagas on all of the seven cuts here. 

Violent Creed Of Vengeance is an amazing album and something that I'll be listening to for a long time. SMOULDER did not just put out a second album. They put out a masterpiece. The tag line for them is epic metal (whatever that means) but hey the close to ten minute opus "Dragonslayer's Doom" is pretty fuckin epic.   

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://smoulder.bandcamp.com/album/violent-creed-of-vengeance

BLOOD CEREMONY - The Old Ways Remain review

 

BLOOD CEREMONY - The Old Ways Remain

Rise Above Records

After a seven year hiatus Canada's BLOOD CEREMONY return with their fifth full length since starting out in the late 2000's. Now in all honesty I am a fan of their first three albums. The band were part of that whole occult retro doom trend (that never existed in the 70's at all) from a decade or so ago. They basically took a touch of 70's hard rock, added in some psych as well as folk melodies and took off.

The game changer was Alia O'Brien's amazing wispy, sultry, bluesy vocals. Toss in her use of keyboards and the flute. It was some damm good sounding music at a time when we needed a break from the norm. But of course you had to listen to it with open and experienced ears. The comparisons to SABBATH meets JETHRO TULL as a way to describe em were all over the place. I must admit that every time I listen to BLOOD CEREMONY I wanna pull out JETHRO TULL's Stand Up album. Which is a more hard rock / blues sounding album then Prog. 

Now as far as their last one goes, 2016's Lord of Misrule, was a decent release if you put aside the fact that they pretty much ripped off a lot of riffs and melodies from PINK FLOYD, The BEATLES, SABBATH and some one hit wonders from the past. Hey you can fool those ignorant hipster clowns. But I grew up back then and remember stuff. So when I listen to this one it's more about who are they ripping off then how good the song sounds. 

So with that said, after listening to this new one I can say they got the title correct. The Old Ways Remain is a throwback to this band's early days to a point. There's some great songs and a few stinkers. Now the good stuff features the cool riffs by Sean Kennedy who's been the iron man behind this band since inception. Yes good riffs and solos reminiscent of the past that are never over indulgent. Opener "The Hellfire Club" and "Ipsissimus" are impressive. The third cut "Eugenie" actually reminded me of 70's era TRAFFIC with it's R&B beat plus that Hammond organ run with the saxophone solo by guest Joseph Shabason. Of course Alia O'Brien's flute work is key to the opening to the song she does give way to everyone else in the end. 

"Lolly Willows" is a decent melodic rocker cut with a cool guitar / drum interplay reminiscent of SABBATH and JETHRO TULL. From this point on as far as this release goes it's hit or miss. The band ventures more into wannabe Prog territory on this album's second half and it's not well done. The bottom line is that this album is packed with good stuff on the front end. The latter half is boring to me. Nuff Said.

https://riseaboverecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltFmQqmi4PE&list=PLQzhhluNlimr66my6CO9_9NkhwX9X-os2

GATEKEEPER - From Western Shores review

 

GATEKEEPER - From Western Shores

Cruz Del Sur Music

So a few years ago (2018 to be exact) this Canadian band came out with their full length debut, East of Sun. Musically it was in the vein of that past epic heavy metal sound. Yeah I'd also say they were leaning into power metal. Toss in some MANOWAR influence as well as some others, yeah too many to name, and you had a decent album. Yeah it was cool and had plenty of variety in the song writing style. 

The band's mainman, guitarist Jeff Black, had started GATEKEEPER in 2013. Their debut EP, Prophecy and Judgement, from that year is still highly praised to this day. So when I saw that this new album was coming out I was seriously interested. Then I started listening to the release and thought hey this is different. Yeah in the interim between albums Jeff Black made some line-up changes. 

For starters you've got new vocalist Tyler Anderson who I'll say is better suited for the whole power metal sound then previous singer Jean-Pierre Abboud. Also there's a new guitar slinger in Adam Bergen who replaces Kenny Kroecher. The rhythm section of bassist David Messier and drummer Tommy Tro are still in the fold. 

Listening to this album I'm automatically reminded of how ICED EARTH and HELLOWEEN started out but made subtle changes in their progression soon afterward. GATEKEEPER is in that vein of moving forward from just being a cool sounding throwback act to full on power metal greatness. OK sure I'm pushing the hyperbole again so they're not in that camp of major greatness yet. But From Western Shores puts them in the fight for 2023 at least.

There's eight cuts on here. The album opens with the title track. It's a powerful one and when the chorus hit I was like hey that's a different singer. Of course musically it's great with a solid guitar solo. What follows is a mix of melodic numbers with a slice of viciousness here and there. Jeff Black delivers on some solid riffs throughout. But I got to give it to the additions of vocalist Tyler Anderson and guitarist Adam Bergen. They've made this band better.   

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://gatekeeper.bandcamp.com/album/from-western-shores

RIOT CITY - Electric Elite review

 

RIOT CITY - Electric Elite

No Remorse Records

This is the second full length by Canada's RIOT CITY. A few years ago they came out with their fiery debut, Burn the Night. That one proved they loved original NWOBHM music. This time around the band made some changes and it definitely shows progress. 

First off you've got guitarist Cale Savy handing over lead vocal duties to newcomer Jordan Jacobs. This guy is a heavy metal screamer reminiscent of the old days. Actually he's an amazing vocalist with a wide range. You could consider him a Geoff Tate devotee. That not only adds to the song craft but lets Savy and fellow guitarist Roldan Reimer more freedom to go crazy.

Electric Elite is eight cuts of pure NWOBHM worship done right. Their debut had plenty of MAIDEN-isms. This time around they've come into their own. Good powerful melodies, damm good riffs with some strong sounding bass lines. Cale Savy gets to show off more with his guitar soloing. 

I'm old enough to remember when NWOBHM was fresh and wild as fuck. Since then, especially in the past decade, there's been a ton of young acts who love the music but cannot put their own stamp onto it. On this sophomore album RIOT CITY has done so.

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://riotcityofficial.bandcamp.com/album/electric-elite

BEGRIME EXEMIOUS - Rotting in the Aftermath review

 

BEGRIME EXEMIOUS - Rotting in the Aftermath

Dark Descent Records

Look I like many facets of death metal but the bottom line is always give me good meat and potatoes. By that I mean killer guitar riffs, an amazing rhythm section plus guitar solos galore and some damm good vocals. Add to all of that I want some songs that are down right diabolical. This new album by BEGRIME EXEMIOUS has all of that. In other words this is some damm good meat and potatoes.

BEGRIME EXEMIOUS is a death metal act from Canada. They've been around since 2005. In that time they've put out slew of releases which range from a handful of full lengths to a bunch of short form releases. By the way all of their full lengths were released by Dark Descent Records. So I've been following this act for a while now. One thing I can say for a fact is that this band is consistent in their sound and style.

What you have here is old school blackened death with a touch of thrash. Why is it better than most? Because the band executes it to perfection. Their nine cuts on here are amazing. If I were to see this band live I'd be happy to hear this album played in it's entirely. Now that's something I have never said about a newer death metal release. 

So what's so great about this one? Well first off the band covers all the bases. The vocals come off in a wide range of extreme styles. The riffs/song structures are more about grabbing you by the collar and dragging you in. Their thrash influence adds that slight bit of groove. Plus the dynamic drum work can easily entertain some slam pit action. There's plenty of molten leads and hey this band can doom out as well. 

Simplicity is the second factor on why this album is perfection. They don't try to out do the originators nor are they simple copycats. Sure I can hear some specific sounds that remind me of a few classics. But BEGRIME EXEMIOUS bring so much of their own design into the recipe that it makes it all sound damm good. 

https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/

LISTEN HERE:

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rotting-in-the-aftermath

BESIEGED - Violence Beyond All Reason review

 

BESIEGED - Violence Beyond All Reason

Unspeakable Axe Records

So when I saw that this band was from Canada and played thrash I was like cool. Much to the dismay and non-belief by some of my thrash fan friends. When I ever make a list of some top 10 favorite thrash albums. I always include two of Canada's best aka: SACRIFICE's Forward To Termination and DEAD BRAIN CELLS' self titled album. Yeah it pisses off the heshers but so fuckin what. Sorry people but for me VOIVOD were OK.

Anyways this is the second album by Winnipeg, Canada's BESIEGED. What's interesting is that the band's debut full length, Victims Beyond All Help, came out in 2010. Yeah well that was then and this is now. Musically this band sounds old school thrash as fuck and is firing on all cylinders on this frantic release. 

The basic foundation here is maniac riffs, savage drum work, impressive bass playing plus caustic vocals and off kilter soloing. Their key component is speed and great technical ability. I wouldn't toss em into a revivalist category. Frankly they remind me of RAZOR after 3 Red Bulls and an Eight Ball. In the end this is major fuckin great plus it has that cool cover artwork.

http://www.unspeakableaxerecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://unspeakableaxerecords.bandcamp.com/album/violence-beyond-all-reason

MISCREATION - Miscreation MMXXI EP review

 

MISCREATION - Miscreation MMXXI EP

Self Released

Well frankly I kinda like a promo that comes in with the words; "Hi Mr. Wolf. Prepare to have your face melted, your skull crushed, and whatever else can happen to the human body over the course of three, extremely brutal songs." Ah yeah well after three listens I've still still gotta shave and I've still got a head on my shoulders. But don't take that in the wrong way because if I hated this then after one listen I'd be gone. 

First off MISCREATION are a new four piece tech death band hailing from Canada. Actually the four band members have past experience in other bands so there's experience here. Musically this is what I'd call stuff I hear on the local college radio station on the Friday night program Chainsaw Rock. It's modern day tech death without the wankery or core thrown in for stupid reasons. 

This was recorded, mixed, and mastered by CRYPTOPSY guitarist Christian Donaldson. Yeah well he has plenty of time on his hands nowadays. But anyways this is pretty much a three song demo by a band who could fall in with all of the generic sounding stuff out there. But with a keen ear and knowledge then you know they're better than that. 

MISCREATION has some major strengths going for em. Their guitarist, Jack Lascelles, is not only a fast and frenzied riff master. But he knows when to toss in lead tweaks as well as a formative solo break. Reminds me of another great Canadian guitarist of old. The rhythm section is in a perfect blend with the guitar work. It's not just keeping a beat. It's playing ala one side and adding a touch of it's own. 

Finally there's the vocals which are deep screamed / barked. Sure it's generic but combined with the music it becomes far more savage. Imagine some lunatic jumping into a slam dance pit wearing brass knuckles. That's MISCREATION in a nutshell. Three songs of aggressive maniac metal are cool. Interesting to hear a full LP's worth.

LISTEN TO & PURCHASE HERE:

https://miscreationofficial.bandcamp.com/

AZOTHYST - Blood of Dead God EP review

 

AZOTHYST - Blood of Dead God EP

Godz Ov War Productions

This EP originally came out last October on the Vault of Dried Bones label. I'll guess and say the good people (well they do put out evil sounding good music) at Godz Ov War Productions decided hey let's give it more exposure. Hmmm? 

Anyways this is the debut release by Canada's AZOTHYST. The band is a four piece act pushing back the extremities of blackend death metal. Yeah there's nothing new under the floor in the basement here. Musically this is a six song release. BUT two of the cuts are basically studio dungeon sounds. Both slightly over a minute cuts and would've been better as bookends.Not that I'm a fan of misused recorded time on a release.

Anyways AZOTHYST are generic purists sound-wise when it comes to blackened death metal. But they do it well. The riffs and rhythms are on par with a savage onslaught. "Eradication Altar" is definitely worthy of ripping heads off and shitting down necks. Their vocalist makes well with a haunting maul of a voice. But three good songs by these Canadians isn't enough. We need a full length.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/blood-of-dead-god

VHS - I Heard They Suck... Blood review

 

VHS - I Heard They Suck... Blood

Wise Blood Records

Canada's VHS are a band I'm familiar with since being a fan of  two previous full lengths. Those releases were 2018's The New Batch and We're Gonna Need Some Bigger Riffs from 2019. Both of those releases came out on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. The band put out a 2020 full length, Gore from Beyond the Stars, but I'm not familiar with it. 

So here we have this three piece act's latest release. Now if you're not familiar with VHS then let me explain. They're a gore obsessed punk/grind act with some death metal influence. Their releases, whether full lengths or short form ones, almost always follow some sort of horror movie genre theme. This time around it's all about vampires because well they suck.

Unfortunately for me who's heard their previous stuff I can say these guys love recycling old riffs and song structures. Also on here you've got guest vocalists Trevor Strnad from BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and Dave Ingram from BENEDICTION. Now I'd swear both of them guested on a previous release as well. 

Now be that as it may VHS are a fun band. Musically they break the ice of seriousness within extreme metal. Their use of movie soundbites in between songs always reminds me of IMPETIGO. The vocals vary from higher pitched screams to DM monster vox. They intertwine extreme metal styles with straight up rock at times. 

In the end they're just one of the best bands around these days doing this crazy shit. I don't wanna say this is the best record I've heard from em. But it's damm close to being it. Consider me bias alright. VHS are the type of extreme metal act who'll make you smile, bang yer fuckin head, stand back and say Wow This Is Cool or they'll make that bug up your ass really hurt. Nuff Said!

https://wisebloodrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://vhshorror.bandcamp.com/releases