RAW POWER - Live CBGB's NYC 1998 review

 

RAW POWER - Live CBGB's NYC 1998 

Time To Kill Records

Honestly I saw RAW POWER on this tour. They played the club I worked at here in North Carolina. It was a decent show but turnout could've been better. It was a 80's Hardcore band, and yeah legendary if you were into Hardcore, playing in the late 1990's. So it was tough to get kids who got into Hardcore in the 1990's to come out. Also those crusty political punks didn't wanna pay to see the show. They rather have bands play their "punk house" and get paid in Ramon noodles and Bean soup.

The band had a new album out at the time titled Reptile House. Personally I didn't think much of that album. As far as RAW POWER goes their debut LP Screams from the Gutter from 1984 is their best. Their second album, After Your Brain, from 1986 is good along with their Wop Hour EP also from 1986 which was the first release I owned by em. 

Now as far as this live album goes it is pretty much what I heard / saw when they played the club I worked at. The set list is a mix of their tunes off of Reptile House as well as old 80's cuts. The crowd sound seems the same as well. They probably had the old crowd in the back while the new metal-core baldies were up front doing the whole push and shove wanna-be slam pit. Sound-wise it's a decent enough recording.

https://timetokillrecords.com/en-us

LISTEN HERE:

https://rawpowercbgb.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-cbgb

NECROMORBID - Ceremonial Demonslaught review

 

NECROMORBID - Ceremonial Demonslaught

Godz ov War Productions

So to all of you who read this blog (and frankly who doesn't). You know of late I've been pissing on modern day Blackened Death Metal because it's become generic. Certain labels just put out a new band's release which just sounds like an album I bought a year before. Now without trashing the whole sub-genre it's made me look for bands who forgo the generic sound and maybe push the intensity to another better level. 

So far this year I've found one Blackened Death Metal act who has risen to my expectations. This new one by NECROMORBID joins the ranks as well. Now forget the opening intro cut because it sucks. The second cut "Perverted Abhorrence Domain" really introduces what this band is all about. I mean let's check the fuckin boxes. 

You've got cavern style bestial vocals which grow on a hot take on later cuts. Amazing dive bomb guitar solos abound throughout. The drum work is a diabolical punishing style which I just love. The song structure riffs are in the backdrop and are like the belly of the beast. 

In the end who would've thought that Italy's NECROMORBID, with their third full length since starting out in 2015, would be monsters of Blackened Death Metal in 2026. Let this be a lesson which will put a sadistic smile on your face.   

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ceremonial-demonslaught

BAPHOMET'S BLOOD - Satanic Metal Attack Reissue

 

BAPHOMET'S BLOOD - Satanic Metal Attack Reissue

Dying Victims Productions

So if you read this blog, and frankly who doesn't, then you know of the Italian Thrash band BULLDOZER. They came out in the mid-1980's with a sound that was Euro Thrash meets MOTORHEAD. Their first album, The Day of Wrath, is a must own full length release. Everything after that is up to you. I finally saw BULLDOZER a few years ago and it was a bucket list moment for me. 

Which brings us to BAPHOMET'S BLOOD, who I've said in a review of their last full length release, are the children of BULLDOZER. That release was 2016's In Satan We Trust. They're not influenced by Teutonic Thrash or VENOM like BULLDOZER was. But they have the Speed Metal attitude and the whole satanic aura. 

This debut album of their's from 2006 originally came out on Dies Irae Records. Iron Bonehead Productions reissued it in 2016. So here we are a decade later with Dying Victims Productions giving it another chance. And all I can say is hell fuckin yeah. I mean with songs like "Blood, Vomit and Satan", "Satanic Beerdrinkers", "Speed Metal Warriors" and onward. Yeah this is a cool sounding Extreme Metal release. And it's from a band I like in the modern era.

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/satanic-metal-attack

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO - De Venom Natura review

 

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO - De Venom Natura

Self Released

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO is an Italian band I learned about in 2024 with their debut full length Fire Blades from the Tomb. That one came out on Season of Mist records. This new one is a self release which to me seems crazy because this band is killer. Musically PONTE DEL DIAVOLO answer the question as in what if Siouxsie Soux from the old English Post Punk band SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES fronted a Blackened Doom / Post Punk act. 

I liked their debut album a lot. They also have a compilation of their three early EPs which came out in late 2024 on Time to Kill Records. That's something I really wanna pick up but for now we have this seven song full length. You've got six originals and a cover of BAUHAUS's "In the Flat Field". Ah hell yeah on the BAUHAUS cover. 

For me this is better than their debut. The songs come across as more intricate whether they be Blackened Doom or the Gothic Post Punk stuff. They even throw in a trombone player on one song. There's also a duet on "Silence Walk With Me" featuring Gionata Potenti from the Italian Black Metal band NUBIVAGANT. Of course for me it's the amazing vocals by Erba del Diavolo which wins me over along with the overall sound and atmosphere the whole band produces. 

In the end yeah this is a winner. Of course I'm shocked this release is not on a label whether small or large. I mean what the fuck is going on here?  

LISTEN AND BUY IT HERE:

https://pontedeldiavolo666.bandcamp.com/album/de-venom-natura

NECROGORE - Ectoplasmic Rape Phenomena review

 

NECROGORE - Ectoplasmic Rape Phenomena

Awakening Records

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

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

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

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

 

https://awakeningrecords.cn/

LISTEN HERE:

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

HYPERION - Cybergenesis review

 HYPERION - Cybergenesis

Fighter Records

Just for the record back in 2020 this Italian Power Metal band put out a killer album titled Into the Maelstrom which I liked a lot. And like I always state honestly I'm not a Power Metal fan. But I like good music. So here we are six years later and HYPERION has just released the best album of their career as well as being a contending powerhouse to their German Power Metal peers. 

First off a lot of things have changed in this band in the years. Starting with new vocalist Max Morelli who joined in 2023. This guy has a better vocal style than his predecessor. He's a great Power Metal vocalist minus the heavy metal screams. Next up you've got new guitarist Francis Di Pasquale who is responsible for the exceptional lead work which runs throughout this album. I mean this guy can shred, create melodic leads and is also into guitar pyrotechnics like a English Power Metal band that I'm not very fond of to say the least. 

Anyways this eight song release should be manna from a Power Metal heaven for fans. I've gotta say "Yet We Still Fight" is my favorite cut on here. There's others like "The Shackles of Chronitus" which is Max Morelli's best vocal performance on this album. Mainman, guitarist and original member Davide Cotti is keeping this band alive and over the past few years has done well. If his vision was to create an amazing sounding Power Metal band that had an old school touch along with a tech sense on the guitars then he did it.

Don't be surprised to see this one in my end of year favorites.

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

LISTEN HERE:

https://hyperionbandheavy.bandcamp.com/album/cybergenesis

MESSA - The Spin review

 

MESSA - The Spin

Metal Blade Records

Back in 2024 I got into this cool band from Italy called PONTE DEL DIAVOLO. Their full length debut, Fire Blades from the Tomb, came out on Season of Mist Records. They've got a second album coming out in February which I'm looking forward to. Basically I described em as a Doom / Black Metal version of SOUIXIE & THE BANSHEES. So here we are a year later and this fourth release by Italy's MESSA came recommended to me because supposedly they're a similar sounding band and I would like em. 

Well they're no PONTE DEL DIAVOLO by a long stretch. In fact I will say a lot of things to boot. But let's get the basics down. Years ago MESSA started out as a Sludge Metal act with a sultry yet airy vocalist named Sara Bianchin. That was in 2016 with their debut full length, Belfry. All in all it was basically a continuation of late 2000's US hipster Sludge Metal with some female vocals. They were a decade late and a hundred Euros short. 

Fast forward to 2025 and MESSA are still about as original as spaghetti in Italy. On this album they're straight up influenced by SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES to a point. Now their vocalist, Sara Bianchin, is no Siouxie Sioux but she's a good singer. I do like her vocals on this release. As far as the song structures / melodies go they're mostly part jangly post punk and hard rock. Their lead guitarist, Alberto Piccolo, comes from a Stoner Rock background. His guitar work is the standout part throughout this album. In other words he can be and yeah is over indulgent like a 80's Heavy Metal guitar hero. His lead work overwhelms on every cut. 

There's plenty of Goth pop style going on with songs like "At Races" and "Immolation". The final cut on here, "Thicker Blood" reminds me of France's AMESOEURS. This band's last full length came out on Svart Records. Then they jumped to Metal Blade obviously because of better distribution and notice. But there's something I learned a few weeks ago that really didn't shock me but since I'm not part of their scene it was interesting to hear about. According from insiders, the whole new Goth and Industrial music scene has been invaded by hipsters / woke people. Yeah that's funny, they've ruined another underground scene. 

MESSA's The Spin is a decent wannabe Doom / Post Punk revival album. It's actually more Hard Rock than Metal. I believe if you're into Goth then yeah you'll like this release. Although I have to laugh at the thought of woke hiptards getting into Goth and Industrial music. I mean there's so much of that early music which is so politically incorrect. Even the late 80's / early 90's politically correct Punk crowd got offended. Losers!

 

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://messa.bandcamp.com/album/the-spin

DEMIURGON - Miasmatic Deathless Chamber review

 

DEMIURGON - Miasmatic Deathless Chamber

Transcending Obscurity Records

When I saw this was Death Metal from Italy it peaked my interest. In all honesty when it comes to Death Metal the great nation of Italy is not a genre mecca. I mean hey Italian metal is known for Doom and some Black Metal. I think the most famous Death Metal act from Italy is FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE and I'm not a fan of theirs. 

So after a few listens to this their third full length since starting out in 2014 I have quite a lot to say. Musically DEMIURGON are about as original as spaghetti. Now that's not really a slag because influence wise this five piece act has a sound that hearkens back to late 1990s / early 2000's USDM. 

Now as always I don't mind bands who repeat the past as long as they include something of themselves instead of just copying the past. DEMIURGON actually nail all of that by refreshing a DM sound from over twenty years ago. 

Just to cover the bases, The vocals are fucking amazing as in brutal and violent. The riffs are heavy as in feeling em in your chest when played loud. The soloing is damm good as in not Tech crazy. The rhythm section is a fucking master class in performance. 

This is a seven song release and I have to say it's perfect from start to finish. DEMIURGON are the new kings of Italian Death Metal. You'd be a fool not to pick this fucker up because it's just one of the best DM releases you're gonna hear in 2025. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://demiurgon-label.bandcamp.com/album/miasmatic-deathless-chamber

PUTRIDITY - Morbid Ataraxia review

 

PUTRIDITY - Morbid Ataraxia

Willowtip Records

There are two sides of extreme sounding Brutal Death Metal in my not so humble opinion. The first is the raw, lo-fi and at times comical side. I'm talking about the brutal pounding sound, pig squeals and offensive song titles. I like that stuff simply because it makes me smile. I also view the bands as having more of a Punk Rock spirit of spitting in the face of culture. 

The other side of Brutal Death Metal is the respected one. That's where Italy's PUTRIDITY stand as far as this fourth full length by them is concerned. And yeah there are plenty of acts who are part of this side. But the latest release by this Italian five piece act really has something cool going for it. 

First and foremost the drum work on here is savage and technical. So when you add in the song structures as in slash riffs then there's a slight Tech Death Metal quality that's not overbearing. The songs are not out for laughs. In fact they're more intense psych punishment. The vocals are classic cookie monster but not in a cheap copy cat way. 

Song wise and style the majority of these eight cuts are fast punishing numbers which will have ya twisting in the wind. There's only one song on here that'll remind ya of CANNIBAL CORPSE. And the final track "Immersed in the Spell of Death", which is 12 plus minutes in length will have you thinking the album is over. But no it's not even if you think it sounds like a frog infested pond for a few minutes. The band eventually kicks in with their BDM finale. All in all a great album.

http://www.willowtip.com/home.aspx

LISTEN HERE:

https://putriditydeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/morbid-ataraxia

HELLCRASH - Inferno Crematorio review

 

HELLCRASH - Inferno Crematorio

Dying Victims Productions

This is the second full length I've checked out from Italy's HELLCRASH. The last time around was a few years ago with their second full length Demonic Assassination which came out in 2023 on Dying Victims Productions. If I remember correctly I called HELLCRASH the spawns of fellow countrymen BULLDOZER. For me that's a compliment.

Now as much as I liked their previous album which was heavily influenced by their love of VENOM, SLAYER and yeah BULLDOZER. This new album definitely sees HELLCRASH coming into their own way. Sure it's Blackened Speed Metal and the influences are there. But on Inferno Crematorio this three piece makes it sound fresh and cool as fuck. 

I give props to songs on the second half of this album like "Oathbreaker" , "Mark of the Beast" and the closer "Templar's Curse". I mean the song writing is cool. The vocals still sound like Cronos. And the the overall feeling is let's hear this again and again but a bit louder please. HELLCRASH's new one is a winner in my book. 

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/inferno-cremat-rio

MALUMMORTEM - Volume I review

 

MALUMMORTEM - Volume I

Black Mass Prayers

While I was first checking out this release it dawned on me that I've been listening to Black Metal, especially off the beaten path Black Metal, for a very very long fuckin time. Now obviously the genre has grown over the decades and shout out limbs all over the place. Two limbs or sub genres of Black Metal which I've always found fun / interesting are the Suicidal and Depressive BM sub-genres. Now when I say "fun" let me explain. 

Obviously I'm not the target audience for anything suicidal or depressive. Hey I'm a happy guy and yeah hate is the handshake I give to the world. The thing with me is how can you be a suicidal BM artist and still be around for twenty years? Next as far as the depressive BM stuff goes after listening to two of a artist's full lengths I get depressed. Thankfully these people are not on anti-depressants or they'd be involved in mass shootings. So yes stay off the meds and just play Black Metal.

Be that as it may there's some blackened beauty in these BM sub-genres which you cannot deny if your a fan. Case in point here we have the second full length from Italy's MALUMMORTEM. This is a one man band (ain't they all) with Valentino Aragues performing everything (as usual) which is electric & acoustic guitars, drums, maybe bass but I can't really determine that on listening to this. 

Valentino Aragues started this act back in 2023. His first full length came out the following year. Since then he's released some short form releases. From what I see most of them appear on this release like "Hate God and Kill Yourself", "Awaiting for my Death" and "You Were My Angel". 

With that all said yeah musically it's the usual I love BURZUM effect with the cold riffage sound structures and pain filled vocals. But I give Valentino Aragues credit for introducing some of his own cultural touches especially with the acoustic passages. BM music like this these days needs a twist to be inviting. Along with the before mentioned acoustic stuff there's good straight up guitar solos. Obviously there's a melancholy vibe once in a while. 

In the end it's been a while since I've blasted something like this other than a few Moribund Records favorites from years ago. But on the good side it's been a while since I've heard a decent artist do DSBM well enough to enjoy. MALUMMORTEM's Volume I full length should be a modern day start for all DSBM fans. Also we can all look forward to Volume Two unless he offs himself.

LISTEN TO & BUY IT HERE:

https://blackmassprayers.bandcamp.com/album/volume-i

DEAD CHASM - Spectral Tyranny EP review

 

DEAD CHASM - Spectral Tyranny EP

Transcending Obscurity Records

So a week ago I had another birthday and I'm 62 now. I'm cool with that since it's after midnight and I'm blasting Death Metal. I'm pretty sure my peers are not doing the same. What's really funny is how some people I know who are younger don't get into new Extreme Metal. They have their excuses which I don't agree with. Either way I am still excited when I hear a cool new band. 

Case in point here we have a three song EP by DEAD CHASM who hail from Italy and are into the whole old school Death Metal & Doom package. Now any jaded and bored piece of shit would slag on this release. But not me because this band takes an old style and makes it exciting again. 

DEAD CHASM started out in 2020. Their band members are Lorenza De Rossi on guitar & vocals, Luigi Corinto on bass and Davide Bacchetta on drums. All three of these musicians have been part of Italy's Extreme Metal scene for a while in prior bands. Their first release was a four song EP from 2022 on F.D.A. Records. They followed it up in 2023 with their full length debut Sublimis Ignotum Omni also on F.D.A. Records. 

Frankly I'm glad they're now on Transcending Obscurity Records for many reasons. But to look upon the music going on here. DEAD CHASM remind of early GRAVE and maybe a few other early Death Doom sounding bands. Remember in the beginning of this review I said yeah I'm old and with that there's a sound in Extreme Metal which never gets old. 

DEAD CHASM are the next act that will execute Death Metal & Doom sounds upon the unworthy audiences of lame stream Metal. I mean you've got these raw powerful / heavy riffs. The vocals are just a maul of hatred. The rhythm section is dependable. There's no really cool soloing which is a disappointment. But as far as the diabolical sound this band comes away with I'm like hell yeah. 

In the end this is a great EP which should be recognized.  

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://deadchasm-label.bandcamp.com/album/spectral-tyranny

VULVECTOMY - Aberrant Vaginal Gestation review

 

VULVECTOMY - Aberrant Vaginal Gestation

Comatose Music

Well obviously anyone who reads this blog will not be shocked that not only do I know who they are but I own their two previous releases. VULVECTOMY are a four piece Brootal Death Metal band from Italy. Their second and third full lengths, the ones I got, came out on Sevared Records years ago. Now this full length, their fourth, is out on Comatose Music which is a label from my home state. They also specialize in lo-fi, heavy as fuck, filthy brootal sounding metal. 

Obviously VULVECTOMY has found a new home since being silent for the past twelve years. The only difference over time has been a switch on drums with Marco Coghe (from DEVANGELIC) taking charge. No more drum machine shit. The new guy is damm good and adds a better dynamic to the band's sound / style. Guitarist Mario Di Giambattista is also in DEVANGELIC. 

Musically this is their best album overall. Instead of treading along as just another BDM band. VULVECTOMY now come across as a Death Metal band which is slow, trudging and heavy as fuck with a mutated beast from some abandoned mine-shaft on vocals. Speaking of which Diego Fanelli's vocals are way better on here. No full blown pig squealing this time around although he comes very close. Giorgio Cavaliere's bass sound still seems buried in the mix. But Mario Di Giambattista's guitar riffs are fuckin incredible. 

Years ago VULVECTOMY were like a little fish swimming in a huge Brootal Death Metal pond dominated by sick fucking US bands. With this album I'm not gonna say they're the shark eating everything in sight. But I will say this is damm good. The album artwork might be tame as far as what they put out in the past. But their song titles and lyrics are still sick as fuck which would make CARCASS blush and MORTICIAN proud. 

https://www.comatosemusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://comatosemusic.bandcamp.com/album/aberrant-vaginal-gestation

SHRIEKING DEMONS - The Festering Dwellers review

 

SHRIEKING DEMONS - The Festering Dwellers

Transcending Obscurity Records

So here we have the debut full length by this Italian Death Metal act. Prior to this they put out an EP in 2021. Now just to be honest the first time I listened to this one my impression was not high. Here I am a second time around and I'm willing to give em their due. 

Musically SHRIEKING DEMONS are into old school sounding Death Metal which I listen to every morning with my coffee. What you don't do that? They have a female vocalist which is cool since I'm all for women in Extreme Metal especially if they throw a twist or two in the vocals. 

Unfortunately there's plenty of guttural vocals by Gabriele Rossi but not much shrieking. Still she's a good vocalist and not into melo-deth singing. As far as the music goes it runs the gambit of say the early days of USDM circa DEATH and AUTOPSY sounding material. 

That shouldn't be surprising since lead guitarist Giorgio Trombino and drummer David Lucido have worked together in other bands and are Extreme Metal veterans of the Italian scene. Giorgio Trombino adds some very cool guitar work and David Lucido is damm good with his drum work. 

In the end yeah this is a good album in that early evolution stage of the DM genre (the late 1980's) when there were hints of thrash in the sound. Personally I think their next album (plus some more original inspiration) will be better. The talent is there. I mean just look at em. 

  

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://shriekingdemons-label.bandcamp.com/album/the-festering-dwellers

DARK REFLECTION - Under the Sign of Vlad Tepes EP review

 

DARK REFLECTION - Under the Sign of Vlad Tepes EP

Pest Records

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

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

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

https://pestrecords.ucoz.com/

LISTEN HERE:

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

CRIMSON STORM - Livin' On the Bad Side review

CRIMSON STORM - Livin' On the Bad Side

Fighter Records

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LISTEN HERE:

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

SIGN OF THE JACKAL - Heavy Metal Survivors review

 

SIGN OF THE JACKAL - Heavy Metal Survivors

Dying Victims Productions

So imagine if you will ENFORCER, who are a NWOBHM revival act, also influenced by early MOTLEY CRUE (pre Shout at the Devil) and with a female vocalist. Does that sound fuckin cool or am I crazy? Alright just for the record I've been called crazy multiple times in my life. And a lot of that came from people I consider close friends, work colleagues and veterans I've served with in the military. I'm not going to get into that latter part.  

But anyways this is the third full length by Italy's SIGN OF THE JACKAL a five piece true heavy metal act that's been around since 2008. The first time I blasted this album my thoughts were that these people love it all metal from both sides of the pond. And they have found a way to combine two totally different styles of classic 80's metal into one strong sound. 

There's plenty of NWOBHM influences as well as 80's US metal signature sounds. Almost every song on here has this opening where you're guessing what's gonna hit ya. Historically that's what we loved back in the 80's and it's cool now in the 2000's. I mean good rockin stuff with cool guitar soloing. The lead vocals are falsetto with gang vocal chorus's, hello 1980's. 

In the end this is a surprise release which makes the metal head in you go holy shit! I wanna see this band live. I mean fuck all of their early  releases. I wanna see em on stage now. Be that as it may on this album SIGN OF THE JACKAL just fuckin rules.    

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/heavy-metal-survivors

BOTTOMLESS / WITCHING ALTAR - Graveyard Thunder Split review

BOTTOMLESS / WITCHING ALTAR - Graveyard Thunder Split

Dying Victims Productions

Well this is a cool release to blast in October to say the least. Obviously the title of this split speaks for itself. So what we have here are two doom bands, one from Italy and the other from Brazil. I've never heard Brazil's WITCHING ALTAR but I do know about Italy's BOTTOMLESS. They had a cool full length from 2023 called The Banishing. 

So starting with the three BOTTOMLESS tracks this three piece act, who started out in 2021, continues on with their love of 70's not so hard rock but yeah early PENTAGRAM is in their doom influence along with some psych. I like this band a lot. The guitar soloing is fantastic. "Shadows Call" is my favorite track of their three. As I said in my last review they need to put out a new full length which would be killer. The vocals are so subtle as well as hypnotic. 

Next up from Brazil we've got a two piece act WITCHING ALTAR who've been around since 2013. So their three song contribution on here is kinda rocking and upbeat as far as Doom goes. Ya got some chugging riffs, clean (and psycho) vocals plus a stoner rock and crushing doom approach which definitely screams SAINT VITUS. "Silence at the Cross" is my favorite track by em on here. 

As always when it come to a split release it's like a wrestling match to me. This time it was so close because WITCHING ALTAR's epic sundown sound is so inviting. I have to say BOTTOMLESS wins in my not so humble opinion. They just have this cool sound which reminds me of better things from my past. So there you go.  

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/graveyard-thunder

 

DEMON SPELL - Evil Nights EP review

 

DEMON SPELL - Evil Nights EP

Dying Victims Productions

Let me explain something to ya. Years ago when you had underground bands doing the whole classic heavy 80's metal revival thing. The singers of those bands would do the whole heavy metal scream style which was either an influence of Halford, Dickenson or somewhere in between. No one would ever touch King Diamond because well he's fuckin King Diamond. 

Now in the past decade because things have changed. These days you've got some great bands channeling old MERCYFUL FATE. For example you've got ATTIC from Germany, MIDNIGHT PRIEST from Portugal and now you have DEMON SPELL from Italy. I mean while listening to this I felt it was a MERCYFUL FATE demo. 

Now DEMON SPELL are a four piece act. Vocalist Federico Fano sounds like 80's era King Diamond. Guitarist Francesco Bauso is damm good with the catchy riff action. Plus the rhythm section of drummer Dario Casabona (this guy is damm good) and the bass thunder of Riccardo Liberti (this guy is also damm good) keep these songs interesting and powerful. 

When I first checked out this four song EP, the opening cut / title track didn't win me over all the way. But next up was "Black Wings" followed up by "Dark Deceiver (Woman of the black Oath)" and these two cuts are the best of the four. The last track "Evil Nights" is a decent rocker. But the two inbetween tracks rule the most. So this Italian band needs a full length. But until then this one rules!

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/evil-nights

UFOMAMMUT - Hidden review

 

UFOMAMMUT - Hidden

Neurot Recordings

Nowadays there's only two stoner rock bands I like. One is from Poland who just fuckin rule and unless you're a regular reader of this blog you should know who they are. But if not then go look up DOPELORD. My second favorite over the past few of years is Italy's UFOMAMMUT. They just take the whole SABBATH-ian stoner trip style and go to other places. I'm not into drugs anymore, I don't need em to enjoy good music and still this is cool shit. 

I've not been a fan of everything UFOMAMMUT has done. In fact it wasn't till their 8 album from 2017 that I really became a real huge fan. I mean in the past I saw em as a HAWKWIND meets a NEUROSIS act. For me those early releases were hit and miss for me as a listener. But these days I think they're actually surpassing both of those acts of late. I mean Hidden is a total late night musical affair. We're looking at a few minutes short of a 45 time stream. Turn up the volume and let yourself be saturated by some hypnotic sludgy, stoner, psych type vibes which are thunderous as well as tranquil. 

I think Hidden is better than their past couple of releases simply because the band has found it's modern day sound which their past two releases were experimenting with. In other words they grew to this point and it's great. 

https://www.neurotrecordings.com/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://ufomammut.bandcamp.com/album/hidden