John Sykes - DAWNING OF A BRAND NEW DAY video premiere

Well if you grew up with great music from the 70's and 80's then the name John Sykes. The man is an amazing guitarist who's playing in bands like TYGERS OF PAN TANG, THIN LIZZY and of course WHITESNAKE. As well as the band he fronted BLUE MURDER. For years fans have wanted to hear something new by em. Well here ya go new in 2021. It's a damm good song. It's not extreme but damm heavy, great fuckin riffs from Sykes, good vocals and I like the song's theme. 

Ironically my prediction for 2021 in the blog's Best of 2020 listings was "Plenty of songs dedicated to all the crap associated with the Wuhan Corona 19 Virus lockdown/shutdown bullshit. I'm guessing some thrash bands will be covering that topic." Well I was right and here's the first.

EXTREME METAL MANIAC's BEST METAL RELEASES FOR 2020

 

EXTREME METAL MANIAC's BEST METAL RELEASES FOR 2020

2020 can be summed up in four words; Plague, Tyranny, War and Death. Yeah I know it sounds like the title for a death metal album. But seriously as far as a year goes for me personally this one sucked. I'll entertain that theme more later. As for now I must admit because it was such a fucked up year my focus on writing about new music was lacking. I was more concerned with surviving the shutdown, the partial shutdowns and dealing with curfews, mask mandates and stay at home crap. Trust me I'll do better this year.

Now musically it was a decent year in extreme music. The biggest surprise for me at least was how the mainstream metal labels stepped up their game and put out some damm good releases. Normally I see them just putting out cookie cutter stuff. Which is why I find more exciting stuff from the second tier labels. But in 2020 there's a decent mix of mainstream and mid-level label stuff in my end of year favorites. 

Another surprise for 2020 is that Death Metal reigned supreme as far as I was concerned. Usually my favorite releases of the year lists are heavily weighted with Black Metal. Not this year and damm if this stuff is not some of the best of the decade. Yeah I know I'm always guilty of hyperbole but hey enough talking. So here's my Top Releases for 2020, a year we would rather forget.

TOP 40 FULL LENGTH RELEASES

1. NECROT - Mortal 

(Tankcrimes)

The best death metal album you'll hear from 2020, absolute perfection.

2. INCANTATION - Sect of Vile Divinities 

(Relapse Records)

The masters of US death metal return to form and show us how it's done.

3. HORNA - Kuoleman kirjo

(World Terror Committee)

Finland's greatest black metal act returns with a modern genre classic still grounded in their old ways.

4. HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Into the Red 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A death metal super group in a league of their own and paving a new left hand path.

5. BENEDICTION - Scriptures 

(Nuclear Blast)

A flawless death metal comeback with Dave Ingram returning on vocals.

6. OBSEQUIAE - The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings 

(20 Buck Spin)

A medieval melodic  black metal masterpiece from this Minnesota trio.

7. CIRITH UNGOL - Forever Black 

(Metal Blade Records)

A comeback but from their early 1970's hard fuckin rock roots.

8. PARADISE LOST - Obsidian 

(Nuclear Blast)

Another one of their best and a return to their death doom days.

9. GOD DETHRONED – Illuminati 

(Metal Blade Records)

Dutch death metal vets turn in one of the many comeback albums of the year.

10. CULTUS PROFANO - Accursed Possession 

(Debemur Morti Productions)

One of the best USBM bands that you never heard of but should.

11. ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron 

(No Remorse Records)

It's a reminder of why metal fans of yore who liked the mainstream releases at the time also became hounds in the scene's underground treasures.

12. NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned 

(Century Media Records)

The return of classic 90's era Swedish black metal.

13. NOCTU - Gelidae Mortis Imago 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

The funeral doom soundtrack of our time.

14. VADER - Solitude in Madness 

(Nuclear Blast)

Polish Power keeps rolling on via this death metal institution.

15. WARDAEMONIC - Acts of Repentance 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

This is the kind of album that will scorch your soul and break you out of that mundane feeling of present day black metal.

16. DEATHSTORM - For Dread Shall Reign 

(Dying Victims Productions)

If you want thrash perfection in 2020 well you've got it here.

17. SEPULCHRAL CURSE - Only Ashes Remain 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Finnish Death Metal at it's finest.

18. IRONFLAME - Blood Red Victory 

(Divebomb Records)

Total fantasy metal, epic in a way which makes your metal loving spirit rise. Throw the horns up to this Ohio band people.

19. UNDERGANG - Aldrig i livet

(Dark Descent Records)

An onslaught of Danish death metal.

20. GHOULHOUSE - Rigor Mortis Intermezzo

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

Rogga Johansson's latest side project is a death metal dedication to zombies, gore and some weirdness. 

21. LADY BEAST - The Vulture's Amulet 

(Reaper Metal Productions)

This Pittsburgh, PA band likes popping the top on a can of true metal whip-ass. 

22. IRDORATH - The Final Sin 

(Art Gates Records)

Modern black metal which might be one of your favorite BM albums to pick up this year. 

23. SHED THE SKIN - The Forbidden Arts 

(Hells Headbangers Records)

Another great death metal release with Ash Thomas (guitar and vocals) at the helm.

24. APHONIC THRENODY - The Great Hatred 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

MDB love with roses instead of dirt.

25. HAVOK - V 

(Century Media Records)

The best album of their thrash career.

26. HYPERIA - Insanitorium 

(Sliptrick Records)

Canada's three pronged secret weapon of thrash, death and power metal.

27. ENTARTUNG - Maleficae Artes 

(Dunkelheit Produktionen)

This band has redefined German Black Metal as we once knew it.

28. DEATH COURIER - Necrotic Verses 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A three piece of veteran Greek musicians showing us all how death metal, or death thrash if you prefer, should be performed. 

29. CRYSTAL SPIDERS - Molt 

(Ripple Music)

Doom from North Carolina that's more SAINT VITUS than standard SABBATH worship with amazing female vocals.

30. SOPHIST- Dissolution 

(Niflhel Records)

Probably the first blackened grind act that gets the joint association of genres right.

31. IMIPOLEX - Order of The Epimethean Flame 

(Black Spark Records)

A band from Portland, Maine doing Swedish style black metal and very well.

32. DEPRAVITY  - Grand Malevolence 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A new death metal champion arises from Australia.

33. ULCERATE - Stare into Death and Be Still 

(Debemur Morti Productions)

The epitome of a blackened death hurricane.

34. DOPELORD - Sign Of The Devil 

(Green Plague Records)

One of the few stoner doom acts that keeps things amazing.

35. HERON - Time Immemorial 

(Sludgelord Records)

Sludge metal with some modern touches.

36. ANGEROT - The Divine Apostate 

(Redefining Darkness Records)

Here's the best modern Swedish Death Metal act that's actually from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

37. KVAEN - The Funeral Pyre 

(Black Lion Records)

Melodic black metal beauty as well as an onslaught of brutality.

38. AMBUSH - Infidel 

(High Roller Records)

A cool Swedish band with a fondness for the old NWOBHM and classic power metal sounds. 

39. MIDNIGHT – Rebirth by Blasphemy 

(Metal Blade Records)

Consistency on their part keeps them in the fold

40. WAR DOGS - Die By My Sword

(Fighter Records)

True Metal from Spain

BEST SELF RELEASED OF THE YEAR

BLACK PESTILENCE - Hail the Flesh (Self Released)

Blackened thrash from Canada. BLACK PESTILENCE are cool as fuck. Think of them of sounding like something in-between DESTROYER 666, GOATWHORE and MIDNIGHT. Follow that up with an accessible sound worthy of the general metal listening public. It's blackened thrash all the way and it's (wait for it) not generic sounding. They should be signed by some label in 2021 for their next release.

BEST EXTREME EPs OF 2020

1. BONEHAMMER - Black Crust Invasion EP

(Awakening Records)

 Punk infused Metal from Argentina.

2. TORN IN HALF - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth EP

(Redefining Darkness Records)

Boston death doom which is perfect to piss off your neighbors.

3. MASSEMORD - Ekstremist EP

(This Winter Will Last Forever)

Still blackened fuckin necro after all of these years.

 BEST SPLIT RELEASES FOR 2020

1. HEINOUS / FLUIDS - Snuffed / Torture Euphoric Split EP

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

2. BLACK ALTAR / KIRKEBRANN - Split EP

(Odium Records)

3. SILURE / FERETRO Split cassette

(Nihilistic Holocaust)

BEST COMPILATIONS FOR 2020

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Kill Them All and Let SHLAK Sort Them Out: Killer Cuts Vol. 1

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

VARIOUS ARTISTS: Coronavirus / COVID​-​19 compilation

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

VIOGRESSION - Perception Blur compilation

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

HORRIBLE EARTH - Discography 2013 - 2019 compilation

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Maywood Mayhem Vol. 11

(Self Released)

BEST LIVE ALBUM FOR 2020

KREATOR – London Apocalypticon – Live At The Roundhouse 

(Nuclear Blast)

FAVORITE REISSUE OF 2020

OBSEQUIAE - Suspended in the Brume of Eos

(20 Buck Spin)

FAVORITE LABELS OF 2020

(Based on the number of releases in the Best of Listings)

1. Transcending Obscurity Records

2. Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

3. Nuclear Blast Records

HOTTEST THING IN METAL FOR 2020

Well there wasn't much to even consider toasty in 2020. I guess the hottest thing going was the constant debate between me and my good friend Andy from the punk/metal band KIFF (aka: KNOWLEDGE IS FOR FOOLS) pictured above over whether or not JUDAS PRIEST's Painkiller is a great album or not. I say yes it is while he says no it's false metal. 

 WORST THING IN METAL FOR 2020

Well obviously because of the lock-downs over the Wuhan Corona 19 Virus all shows/tours were shut down. Now sure for fans that was a total bummer. Of course it fucked the bands over royally. Add to that the labels took a financial hit. Then again just think about all of the lost revenue of the venues and their employees, especially the small ones who barely break even on their weekly shows.

 

A second big fucking shit was having to change the name of the blog from SCUMFEAST METAL 666 to EXTREME METAL MANIAC. Last January some individual or individuals had a problem with something I reposted on Facebook from this blog. Trust me it didn't have anything to do with BURZUM. In fact I believe it had to do with an obituary I had written about a local musician. It was a good obituary. I was very nice in my praise of the guy. 

But a week after I reposted it on Facebook. I was notified by the platform that two other posts including the obituary were flagged via complaints. Also I couldn't post anything anymore under the SCUMFEAST METAL 666 link. So that screwed me up for a bit and I had to make the name change as well as explain what the fuck happened. 

The only reason which I suspect to why I was screwed with is probably for my non-music related opinions which in all honesty are pretty mainstream. I never really share my non-music related opinions on the blog. But just for the record I'm a Libertarian who's very into freedom of speech, freedom of expression, small government and anti-censorship. I cannot see anyone who's especially into extreme music to be against those ideas. I mean whatafuck, just look at history.

But unfortunately we're now in a bizzaro world where a small minority of people have the power to decide what opinions are correct and which ones are not especially on social media. Ironically last year I said the worst thing in music for 2019 was these woke/sjw types ruining the music scene. And a few weeks into 2020 I became a victim of those losers. Whatever, I'm better then those people because being a fan of music is better than being a hater. And I surround myself with people who have a passion for this type of music along with other stuff. No haters allowed. 

and finally......

PREDICTION FOR 2021

Plenty of songs dedicated to all the crap associated with the Wuhan Corona 19 Virus lock-down/shutdown bullshit. I'm guessing some thrash bands will be covering that topic.

So onward to 2021, AHGGGG!

HORNA - Kuoleman kirjo review

 

HORNA - Kuoleman kirjo

World Terror Committee

Well a bias alert for ya. HORNA is probably my favorite black metal act from Finland. Of course with that said I'm also a huge fan of their band member family (aka: BEHEXEN and SARGEIST). It was the label Moribund Records which turned me onto them years ago. After getting a few of their releases, full lengths and short form releases, I became a collector of their stuff. So now I have all of their full lengths and close to half of their short form releases (EPs and Splits). As far as the latter ones there's just too many.

So it's been a few years since HORNA has release a full length. Their last one, Hengen tulet, came out in 2015. But in the between they've put out a few short form releases (an EP and a Split in 2018) which were also fuckin incredible. So when I checked this latest one out my expectations were already high and without bias. So for starters Kuolema Kirjo (aka: The Spectrum of Death) is a double album just like 2009's Sanojesi aarelle. Now I thought that one was their greatest. So does this one show lightning striking twice?

If there's one thing I learned from their previous album and their susequent short form releases is that HORNA are slightly progressing away from their early necro blasphemy sound. Their newer direction is more epic sounding with a better emphasis on the technical side as far as riffs, drum work and basic advancing in song structures. Even the vocal styles show a roughness which is more Finnish then necro BM. 

Now don't get fuckin worried because HORNA has not ventured into territory held presently by ENSLAVED as far as progression goes, thankfully. Basically the band is taking their patented style into a modern realm with dare I say atmosphere and thunderous sound quality. So even in that there's slightly over an hour's worth of music here there's never one spot of boredom. Oh yeah and you'll be shocked to hear some clean vocals on a cut or two. 

The highlights on here, which I haven't mentioned prior, for starters are the old school tremolo picked riffs mixed with modern day blackend harmonies. Spellgoth's vocals which are a combination of harsh BM screams, angst ridden pain and a hint of Attila Csihar style. Hell there are times listening to this and I'm thinking MAYHEM. And yeah the pounding rhythms meets harmonic guitars which is totally modern sounding as well as awesome. Add to that the flow with each cut enters it's other.

Years ago some hiptard scribe told me that black metal needed to progress in order to be accepted. My answer was "accepted by who, you? Well fuck you indie rock metal hating hiptards?" Since then the genre's best have progressed but not by the standards laid out by a bunch of hiptard dictators. It was the artists who laid out the ground rules. I was right because what you have here is a perfect example. 

https://www.facebook.com/W.T.C.Productions

LISTEN HERE:

https://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com/album/kuoleman-kirjo

UNDERGANG - Aldrig i livet review

 

UNDERGANG - Aldrig i livet

Dark Descent Records

Just some quick history for ya. UNDERGANG were part of the old school death metal revival from a decade ago. And as anyone who knows me well. I went apeshit over a ton of releases which came out back then. Seriously 2010 was a great year for death metal in my not so humble opinion. Basically the genre took a giant shit upon all the fuckin hiptard garbage which was being peddled in the mainstream metal media. 

UNDERGANG who are from Denmark put out their debut album, Indhentet af doden, in 2010. Unfortunately it didn't raise the hairs on people's necks enough to get some significant recognition at that time. And in all honestly I did not get into em until 2015 when they were on Dark Descent Records who put out their third full length Doden laeger alle sar. 

Now since then I have acquired their debut which to me is their best release of all time. Also as far as their other full lengths go I wasn't too thrilled with em as much after listening to their debut. But that was then because here's their fifth full length and it's damm good. UNDERGANG as I said are Danish but musically they remind me of some classic death metal sounds from Finland crossed with some early USDM. I'm refrain from name dropping. 

Aldrig i livet sounds like it was recorded in a mine shaft. Which is not a bad thing at all in fact it's typical sounding for them. The vocals are of the monstrous cave dweller type. Imagine the beast you least want to meet up with in the darkness. Sound wise it's this creepy trudging death doom sound which is pummeling. This release is just a little over thirty minutes in length. So the band doesn't waste precious time crush your skull. 

http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/aldrig-i-livet

NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned review

 

NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned

Century Media Records

You know that saying "You Dance With The One That Brought Ya"? It fits the philosophy of anyone who's into extreme music. We tend to collect releases by bands who we liked a long time ago. Even though the bands have changed whether it's in their line-up or musical direction. NECROPHOBIC is one of those bands of course. 

If 2018's Mark of the Necrogram was a somewhat new beginning for the band, considering the circumstances which followed their previous release five years prior. Then this new one, Dawn of the Damned, is definitely cements their future. For a band previously known for it's blackened death pedigree this release, like it's predecessor, has a recipe more akin to second wave black metal from the 90's. 

So yeah I like that as well as original vocalist Anders Storkirk, who returned on their last album. Storkirk's bestial barks and high pitched squeals fit perfectly within this style. Also there's the guitar work, aside from your typical icy tremolo picked rhythms, which on solos has a traditional metal influence. The opening instrumental will have you thinking Yngwie Malmsteen joined the band.

From that point onward this album is a cold throwback to the 90's era of Swedish black metal. Dare I say it reminds me of when DARK FUNERAL were good. Don't laugh you know they were good at one time as well as the obvious relationship between them and NECROPHOBIC. I like the cross section of riff styles within the cuts whether it's orthodox black metal or basic guitar driven melodies. 

Finally this album just has this beefy production which charges out at you. Nothing is subtle or imaginative as far as atmosphere goes. This is a cold fuckin avalanche of sound which crushes. It's just damm good to see drummer Joakim Sterner, the band's last original member, find a way to keep NECROPHOBIC (who he started with David Parland (aka: Blackmoon) thirty years ago) alive and relevant in 2020.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KaqA0sBxdc&list=PLUIOJdJ4UrXVDxuXaOIMcP-0UX96x7h4J&index=1

ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron review

 

ETERNAL CHAMPION - Ravening Iron

No Remorse Records

Here we have the second album by US traditional metal stalwarts ETERNAL CHAMPION. I gotta say that their debut, The Armor of Ire, from 2016 was a favorite of mine. Back then they were following in the footsteps of MANILLA ROAD and CIRITH UNGOL. Basically with this new one they're still on the same path. 

There's been a few decent US bands in the past two decades whom I like that have also walked this same influence road. So it's being familiar with the sound which gives ETERNAL CHAMPION a standing in my good graces. Plus there's some really cool songs with riffs that gallop along in the mighty MAIDEN way. I do like the monotone style vocals and the guitar solos on here are true metal amazing. The atmospheric parts I can handle to a point. 

I tried comparing this to their debut from a few years ago. Basically I see this as a cool follow-up which doesn't stray away from their original vision. It took me a few listens to fully appreciate Ravening Iron. In the end it's a reminder of why metal fans of yore who liked the mainstream releases at the time also became hounds in the scene's underground treasures.

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://eternalchampion.bandcamp.com/album/ravening-iron

REVOLTING - The Shadow At The World's End review

 

REVOLTING - The Shadow At The World's End

Transcending Obscurity Records

Well it wouldn't be a normal year in death metal music if Sweden's Rogga Johansson didn't release at least a half dozen of his many musical projects. It's late in the year but I think he's been involved in more than six in 2020. Here we have the seventh full length by REVOLTING a band he's been doing since 2008. If his band PAGANIZER are the epitome of old school Swedish death metal than REVOLTING is it's slightly melodic brother. The key word is 'slightly' here folks. 

The first half of The Shadow At The World's End has a few melodic touches. But it's the latter half which Rogga and company break into a tutoral on correct sounding OSSDM. Think about GRAVE, DISMEMBER and ENTOMBED all in one package. There's a few times where I think this could be AMON AMARTH from their early days as well. You can toss in some VOMITORY as well.

The bottom line here is that whatever was done before, Rogga Johansson takes it and then gives it an enhancement which anyone into this style of music should go nuts for. Why wait for a band to come back when you have a band here just doing it well with cool as fuck riffs, soloing and a damm good pounding. Nuff Said. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://revoltingdeath.bandcamp.com/album/the-shadow-at-the-worlds-end-death-metal