Altar of Gore "Infinite Visions of Violence & 2018 Demo"

    Altar of Gore doles out a bestial death metal bludgeoning on their new vinyl compilation which combines the band’s 2018 demo and 2022 release, “Infinite Visions of Violence.” The New Jersey based extreme metal act offers listeners one mighty putrid death metal onslaught featuring some savage sounding riffs along with some utterly horrendous fear inducing vocals. 

    Sentient Ruin Laboratories will be responsible for releasing the album on vinyl, which was remastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. Altar of Gore definitely captures the primitive and ruthless bestial death metal sound that focuses on crafting monstrous riffs and ear shattering ritualistic drumming. I can hear influences such as Bestial Warlust, Blasphemy and Archgoat, but then at times I find Altar of Gore throws in some gory inspired old school death metal elements as well which reminded me a bit of Carcass, Impetigo and Exhumed. 

    When listening to the nine track featured on this release, I found myself really taken back by the sheer level of unforgiving brutality that came from the primitive arrangements. This style of extreme music does not demand a great deal of technicality, but the overall production and delivery needs to make an impact, otherwise most people just tune out after hearing the first song. Altar of Gore’s deafening presentation vividly stands out right from the start and the first track, “Infinite Visions of Violence,” drags you down into the depths of hell by unleashing a violent thunderstorm of bone snapping guitar chords and coffin crushing drum parts. However, out of all the abominable sounds on the first track, the vocals are what caught my attention the most and I thought the horrifying growls amplified the track’s malevolent tone. 

    As the album progresses from track to track, you do not hear a lot of sloppy over the top guitar compositions that sound like they were written by some douche who hangs out at the local Guitar Center and randomly runs through scales. A song such as, “Descent Into Charnel Depths,” is a very ominous cut of raw death metal that contains a truly sickening main rhythm. Also, the frantic and agonizing guitar solo provides a perfect touch to the already unfathomably aural defiling composition. The cover of Hellhammer’s, “Aggressor,” is another track that I really enjoyed and I think Altar of Gore did a solid job taking this classic track and injecting even more insidious energy into the song. "Descent into Charnel Depths," is probably the most hellacious sounding track on the album and I question whether or not a human actually recorded the vocal parts, because the low growls sound as though they are coming from some demonic beast.  

    Overall, this album does not disappoint if you are looking for a might helping of sacrilegious sounding bestial death metal. When listening to the album I never felt like the riffs and drumming were poorly executed and if anything the track's are extremely tight sounding. Plus, the vocals sound as though they were recorded within the confines of underground burial chamber by some inhuman force from beyond. To me this album is a no brainer if you are a fan of this more abrasive style of hateful sounding death metal, and I do believe Altar of Gore is an act to keep an eye on. 

Check out the album below: 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-visions-of-violence-2018-demo

Altar of Gore Bandcamp:

https://altarofgore.bandcamp.com/music

Savage Necromancy "Feathers Fall to Flames"

     Savage Necromancy perfectly captures the unapologetic and malevolent extreme metal spirit with their full-length release, “Father Fall to Flames.” These extreme metal maniacs from Phoenix, Arizona, really nail down the basic elements of what is needed to create an undeniably blasphemous album. Their sound combines the straightforward brutality of old school death metal with the pure hostile and vile mindset of sacrilegious black metal. If you are a fan of bands like Blasphemy, Bestial Warlust, Beherit and Archgoat, then you’ll definitely find this album to your liking. 

    The first track on the album, “Milenio De La Crucifixión,” begins with what sounds like a demonic incantation being read over this spine-chilling organ synth arrangement, giving the album a very horrifying cinematic vibe. Eventually the haunting cries fade away and this gruesome sounding riff cuts through the soundscape unleashing an onslaught of hateful distortion. After this first song and hearing the guitar tone, I was instantly sold and looked forward to the coming tracks. Although I’ve heard a decent amount of bands play this style of extreme music, I found the overall production and execution to be very impressive. Songs such as, “Baptized in the Cum of the Goat” and “Conquest of Nazareth,” are written in a very direct and brutal manner, which definitely leaves an impact when listening to the music. 

    Throughout the album I never felt that Savage Necromancy was recycling the same monotonous sounding riffs and the music vividly captures your attention by continuing to deliver that utterly savage sounding approach. When looking at this group, each member of this extreme war machine injects a certain amount of distinct abhorrent talent into songs, thus creating some very monstrous compositions. The vocals throughout the entire album delivered a tremendous amount of raw unapologetic energy with my favorite example being the vocal parts during, “Storming the Gates of Heaven.” As the guitarist frantically hammers out these agonizing bone crushing riffs, the vocals come roaring over the chaos unleashing a massive amount of unholy aggression. 

    Also, the drumming on this album was unfathomably deafening at times to the point where you started to wonder if your speakers might blow out. On the track, “Disgorging Christ’s Kingdom,” the drumming and guitar playing makes you feel like the world around you is collapsing into some black abyss. Again, the band is extremely consistent with their delivery, thus allowing you to become possessed by the primitive and bestial sounding assault. 

    Overall I would describe, “Feathers Fall to Flames,” as an album completely focused on dealing out punishing riffs and down right brutal rhythms. Also, I believe that the album’s strong production along with the band's tight sound, is what ultimately made this such an insidious sounding release. I highly recommend people check out Savage Necromancy if they are into this style of extreme metal music, especially if you are a fiendish headbanger who enjoys terrorizing their community by wearing demonic themed band shirts and playing their music at full volume as they go to the grocery store. 

Check out the entire album below:

Savage Necromancy Bandcamp:

https://savagenecromancy666.bandcamp.com/

Uranium "An Exacting Punishment"

    After another strong year of extreme and punishing releases, Sentient Ruin Laboratories looks to start 2023 off with an unspeakably devastating debut full-length release conjured up from the insidious one-man blackened industrial act known as, Uranium. “An Exacting Punishment,” is a five-track exploration into a nightmare like post-apocalyptic world where all of humanity has perished under a sinister blanket of suffocating radiation. 

    Uranium is a truly unique act that caught my attention right away and definitely fits within the Sentient Ruin roster. I think what makes this album standout is the profound ambient sounds which do not follow any sort of rules, or common musical patterns. The harsh unpredictable soundscapes keep you listening with great interest, while pulling you further into the desolate sounding void. I can pick up a variety of influences ranging from black metal to industrial, but I think the artist behind Uranium is able to really make this album convey a distinct overall sound, which also greatly strengthens the album's conceptual presentation. 

    The opening composition, “Trinity,” is a really warped sounding piece of music that comes across as almost sadistically hypnotic. As the massive amounts of distortion twist and turn like a serpent slithering over an endless field of bones, the vocals provide an utterly horrifying touch to the already sinister atmosphere. On the second track, “Prison of Flesh,” you can really hear the nerve pounding industrial elements which create a brutal sounding climate of pestilent entropy. Track number three, “Gnawing at the Bones,” is a bit of a departure from the more grueling distorted assault upon the ears which was heavily emphasized on the previous tracks. The song conveys a very eerie and bone chilling atmosphere where the sounds leave you speechless as if you are witnessing some unfathomable evil scenario unfold before your eyes. 

    The final two tracks on the album continue to push that extreme experimental mentality that Uranium seems to utilize with such profound ferocious force. “An Exacting Punishment,” is not only the longest track off of the album, but I also believe that the song is the most dynamic arrangement on the album. At first the music flows and establishes this very mesmerizing structure that somehow morphs into a cataclysmic industrial bludgeoning. On the final song, “No Light,” the drum sounds violently explode across the landscape as the end draws near and the music starts to reach that hopeless oblivion. I thought the climatic conclusion to this album was very well thought out, especially when looking back at how the entire album was arranged. 

    If you are a fan of unorthodox extreme music that combines the deafening nature of industrial metal with the raw savage nature of black metal, then you should definitely check out Uranium’s, “An Exacting Punishment.” This album is extremely well produced and the creativity that went into each track is not to be ignored. Even though Uranium does not show off any technical talent, I personally find that the ability to bring together a plethora of haunting sounds to tell a vivid and surreal sounding tale to be more impressive than some dude randomly shredding for 40 minutes. Once you starting listening to Uranium I can guarantee that you will find it hard to turn away from the utter insanity and malevolent sounding hallucinogenic terror that enters your ears and alters your mind. An album that is truly worth checking out!  

Check out the song "Prison of Flesh" : 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/an-exacting-punishment

Sentient Ruin Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SentientRuin/

Top Ten Albums of 2022 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

Well everyone, another year has gone by and it is now time for me to reflect upon all the releases that helped keep me from completely losing my sanity and turning into Mel Gibson circa 2006. I do believe that this was another solid year for rock and metal music, and although this type of music might not get featured on the TikTok, at least it isn't getting used by braindead bimbos doing moronic dances whose data is being monitored by the Chinese government. I always knew sorority girls would be the reason for America's downfall...Anyway, moving on before I rant any further, I need to thank all the hard working labels out there, especially the independent extreme music labels like Sentient Ruin, Shadow Kingdom Records and Hells Headbangers. Without these labels all of us fans would be struggling to get physical releases from our favorite artists. Gone are the days when you could easily go to a record store and buy albums. Where I live we do not have any record stores and the only place that seems to survive and not get turned into a housing development is the damn In-N-Out Burger! So I would like to thank all the bands and music labels, because without them we would all be suffering and 2022 would have been a complete disaster just like Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen's marriage...Alright then, here it is people, the Top Ten Albums list you all have been waiting for...

10. Low Moments “Picked Dead Last in the Dodgeball Game of Life” 

Some people might be scratching their heads wondering why I am including a synth/new wave band on my top ten list, but those people can just get over it and go throw a tantrum in their momma’s basement while listening to their kvlt black metal albums looking like a mix between Gaahl and a Juggalo. “Picked Dead Last in the Dodgeball Game of Life,” is a very enjoyable album, especially if you like ridiculous song titles and catchy synth wave music. One of the songs off of the album that I really liked was, “Asthmatic Around Ladies,” which is an amazing track and not simply because the title of the song had be laughing on the floor. The band perfectly captures that haunting melancholy like sound which reminded me of of bands like Joy Division, Depeche Mode and Bauhaus. I don’t know why young people spend so much time on that TikTok bullshit when they could be listening to this album.  

Link to my full review of the album :

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/04/low-moments-picked-dead-last-in.html

9. Project Pain “Faster Disaster” 

If you are a thrash metal fanatic then you definitely want to check this album out! Project Pain is a band that I have been covering for a decent amount of time now and the band’s most recent album, “Faster Disaster,” ups the ante in terms of ferocity and sheer brutal force. These metal musicians based out of the Netherlands capture that old school thrash spirit extremely well and the songs never sound gimmicky, or painfully repetitive. I just really enjoy how this band deals out some juggernaut sized riffs with massive amounts of raw energy.

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/10/project-pain-faster-disaster.html

8. Anticreation “From the Dust of Embers”

Anticreation’s debut album is a sinister offering and the band’s blackened death style is unfathomably insidious sounding. No surprise that they teamed up with Sentient Ruin for the release of this album, especially given the band’s devastating overall sound. From the ruthless arrangements to the hellish vocals that sound like a demon roaring from out of the abyss, Anticreation is a truly sadistic band. This is a group that I would definitely wish to see live someday, and I hope they keep releasing more merciless sounding releases.  

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/07/anticreation-from-dust-of-embers.html

7. Woods of Desolation "The Falling Tide"

Usually I start thinking about my top ten list around November, so very rarely will a band enter the list if they release an album in December, unless for some reason an album really catches my attention. Well, such was the case with the new Woods of Desolation album, "The Falling Tide." Over the years I have always respected Woods of Desolation, although I was never a diehard follower of the band. Still, I listened to this new album and was just down right impressed with the quality of the musicianship, the production and the album's haunting yet comforting sound. I've heard a lot of bands try and do this mix of black metal with post-metal elements, but they usually end up failing to really hook me in the end. I really felt that this album conveyed such raw and profound emotion from start to finish, which is why I highly recommend it. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/12/woods-of-desolation-falling-tide.html

6. Moonlight Haze “Animus”

Arguably one of the best new power/symphonic metal bands that I have heard in the last few years, and the band’s third studio album, “Animus,” is a phenomenal release. The songwriting, the production and just the pure rush of epic sounding emotion that the bands delivers on each track is truly exceptional. The band’s singer Chiara Tricarico is an amazing vocalist with an extremely profound devilry. Her vocals matched with the triumphant sounding compositions creates such powerful pieces of music. This is a band that I hope continues to rise with each new release and I do hope they get more recognition for their unbelievably impressive talents. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/02/moonlight-haze-animus.html

5. Black Fucking Cancer “Procreative Inverse”

Black Fucking Cancer is without question one of the most savage and sinister bands around, so I was extremely impressed with their brutal sophomore release, “Procreative Inverse.” Based out of San Jose, CA, the city where I was born, Black Fucking Cancer shows no mercy when pertaining to their hellish black metal sound. The amount of vile raw energy that can be heard throughout the album is astounding. Black Fucking Cancer offers up six blistering tracks of malevolent sounding destruction while also unleashing a blackened onslaught of punishing riffs. The band's dynamic approach to writing such vicious pieces of music makes this album a definite listen for anyone in search of a truly evil sounding release. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/03/black-fucking-cancer-procreate-inverse.html

4. Vanishing Amulet “Nocturnal Heritage”

For those of you who follow the blog, you know by now that I am a huge fan of dungeon synth. So when I heard Vanishing Amulet’s, “Nocturnal Heritage,” I was instantly hooked by the magnificent sounding atmospheres and haunting yet tranquil melodies. The album tells a captivating tale without using any lyrics by blending together these soothing ambient noises. The classic dungeon synth sound is prevalent for sure, although the album also features some very tranquil elements that gives the album this fantasy driven cinematic like vibe. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/08/vanishing-amulet-nocturnal-heritage.html

3. Eric Wagner “In the Lonely Light of Mourning”

This is a very special release and one that I appreciate every time I listen to it. Although Eric Wagner passed away last year, this album was able to be completed before his passing and serves as a farewell to all the diehard doom fans who cherished his contributions. The songwriting on this album is extremely deep and Eric’s ability to write such meaningful songs is on full display. Also, the musicians on this album who worked with Eric sound amazing, which is why this album was so refreshing to hear. Although Eric Wagner is no longer with us, I am glad that he was able to record this album as a farewell to all his fans and the music will live on just like all his other musical contritions that fans have come to hold in such high regard. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/02/eric-wagner-in-lonely-light-of-mourning.html

2. Assumption “Hadean Tides” 

Assumption’s, “Hadean Tides,” is a monumental release and one that extreme metal fans should definitely check out if they have not already. From start to finish this album pulls you into this behemoth sounding death/doom realm where you become completely possessed by the devastating riffs. These musicians hammer out some wicked sounding and also experiment with some mesmerizing sounds. Also, the drumming is utterly deafening throughout this release and adds so much to the band's cataclysmic style of songwriting. This album was without doubt the strongest release to be released on Sentient Ruin this year, which is saying something given the amount of great releases I reviewed from the label this year. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/04/assumption-hadean-tides.html

1. Lustre “A Thirst for Summer Rain” 

When I heard the news that Lustre was going to be releasing a new album this year, I was beyond excited and could not wait to hear it. I have been a fan of Lustre for many years, so this album was something that was highly anticipating. Titled, “A Thirst for Summer Rain,” I can honestly say that this album sonically is one of the best sounding Lustre releases. The production is exceptional and the compositions coney such powerful emotion. Nachtzeit, the creative force behind Lustre, is a true atmospheric black metal/ambient music genius and in my opinion he is one of the best modern composers around. When listening to Lustre I have always admired how much effort he puts into the arrangements. The new material from Lustre is simply flawless and I look forward to hearing how Nachtzeit can build off of the momentum from this most recent release. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/09/lustre-thirst-for-summer-rain.html

Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards

EP of the Year: Spectre "Omen" 

Split Release of the Year: Goathammer & Empty Chalice “From the Chalice of the Goat” 

Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Yellowcake 

Album Cover of the Year: Lustre “A Thirst for Summer Rain” 

Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin 

Biggest Douche of the Year: Sam Bankman-Fried that crypto scumbag who deserves to rot in jail

Xenomorph "Nihilistic Rustbelt Black Metal II (Demo)"

    As a fan of the Alien movie franchise as well as a fan of black metal, I never thought that the two worlds would ever cross paths. So when I received this promo for a black metal band called Xenomorph, I was instantly interested in hearing this band. Based out of Cincinnati, OH, Xenomorph is a one-man black metal act that definitely captures the malvotmnt spirit of raw old school 90’s black metal. The band’s demo, “Nihilistic Rustbelt Black Metal II,” is an utterly harsh offering that takes listeners into an abhorrent sounding world where evil lurks around every corner. 

    I must say that the artist behind Xenomorph is fully committed to recording vicious sounding black metal and has a very strong creative vision, which can be heard throughout this demo. The opening track, “Die Kraft Arbeit,” explodes with a vile sounding tone just like a chestburster breaking through human flesh. Right away I could tell that the guitar riffs were going for that barbaric of school black metal style which feverishly hammers away following along to the intense drum rhythms. As the instruments create a landscape of pure chaos, the vocals add an acidic venomous touch to the nightmarish arrangements. 

    The demo’s second track, “Punition Qui Fair Mal,” is another putrid black metal onslaught with more haunting riffs and deafening drum parts. You can definitely catch moments during the song where Xenomorph was influenced by bands such as Emperor, Gorgoroth and Mayhem. Actually, the way that the drums were recorded along with the grim overall atmosphere, I could hear a lot of early Emperor influence, particularly from the “Wrath of the Tyrant” demo. On the third track, “Broken Paradigm of Worth,” I was mainly impressed by the drumming and how the riffs following along to the horrendous sounding rhythms. 

    Even though this style of extreme metal is nothing new and I have heard countless bands pay homage to the old school back metal blueprint, I really liked the execution and compositions on this demo, which made me want to keep listening. Also, the cover Xenomorph did of Gorgoroth’s, “Possessed,” sounded really solid and was a perfect choice since Xenomorph’s sound reminded me a bit of Gorgoroth at times.

    If you are looking for some raw straightforward old school black metal, then you should make sure to check out Xenomorph’s, “Nihilistic Rustbelt Black Metal II.” I have always had respect one-man bands as it takes a lot of dedication to create releases, especially when there is one person handling all the work. For a demo, this does a tremendous job getting people to check out the band and also will give people something to look forward to if they are into this style of black metal. Trust me, compared to what they have done with the Alien movie franchise as of late, this demo will not disappoint and make you feel like you’ve wasted your time. 

Check out the demo below: 

Xenomorph Bandcamp: 

https://xenomorph8472.bandcamp.com/album/nihilistic-rustbelt-black-metal-ii-demo

Woods of Desolation "The Falling Tide"

    The last full-length album from Woods of Desolation came out in 2014, and even though fans had to wait 8 years for a new album it seems like the wait was well worth it. Titled, “The Falling Tide,” the album reunites listeners with Woods of Desolation’s cold and somber atmospheric mixed with post-black metal sounds. 

    The Australian one-man act has garnered a strong following over the years and the band's previous albums have been mostly well received by fans and critics alike. Over the years a fair amount of bands have definitely come across as Woods of Desolation fans, so much that you feel as though what made Woods of Desolation stand out has become suffocated by the endless clones. However, even when dealing with a growing number of post-black metal/atmospheric black metal bands, you can always differentiate between the skilled musicians and the generic sloppy amateurs. 

    Whenever an album hooks you instantly once you start listen to it and causes you to drop everything around you like your work or your first born child, then you know that there is something special going on. Once I heard the first track, “Far From Here,” with its heavenly opening guitar arrangement, I was definitely drawn into the mesmerizing musical landscape. The intense wave of tremolo picking matched with the thunderous drum arrangements washes over you like a monstrous tidal wave. Also, I was impressed by the vocal delivery during song which added to the rollercoaster of raw emotion. 

    Following that first song, the music continues to flow with a profound synergy and even though in the past I have not been the biggest fan of post-black metal, I truly believe that Woods of Desolation’s sound and overall approach to recording is very refreshing to hear. For example, “Beneath a Sea of Stars,” is not overly technical, yet at the same time the music is not painfully repetitive. The instrumental arrangements conjure up this storm of blistering distortion, while also providing comfort in the gloomy shroud of overwhelming darkness. During the track, “Illumination,” I could hear on full display the artist pouring a substantial amount of energy into the composition, thus giving the track a certain surreal feeling as though you are standing upon a cliff gazing out amongst the ocean as the sun begins to rise. 

    In the end, Woods of Desolation proves to be a powerful creative force with the release of, “The Falling Tide.” I would say that this is an album which completely caught me off guard and was probably one of the strongest recordings I have heard this year. Even though I am not a post-black metal fanatic, I cannot ignore the quality and artistic creativity that went into the making of this album. Conceptually this album is a perfect example of how to compose a release which can hook the listener right away and keep them engaged until the very end. To me, a lot of bands can learn something from how this release was recorded, which is why I highly recommend checking it out. 

Check out the song "The Falling Tide" below :

Woods of Desolation Bandcamp:

https://woodsofdesolation.bandcamp.com/album/the-falling-tide

Cryptae "Capsule"

    For their second full-length album Dutch experimental death metal maniacs, Cryptae, return with yet another sanity shredding release. From schizophrenic sounding arrangements to raw inhuman brutality, the band holds nothing back with this new album.

    Titled, “Capsule,” the album is a truly unconventional exploration into the endless possibilities of where extreme metal can go by savagely twisting compositions to construct an unpredictable musical landscape. The band is working with Sentient Ruin yet again, which should come as no surprise given that Sentient Ruin put out Cryptae’s debut album, “Nightmare Traversal.” Actually, I thought that the band’s debut album was a unfathomable sounding release that took death metal into these nightmarish directions with influences ranging from old school death metal to black metal to industrial. One aspect that seems to never change about this band is that they are always willing to take a brutal sounding composition and mess around with different elements to craft an unbelievably surreal and unorthodox sounding piece of music. 

    Out of the nine tracks on this album, I strongly believe listeners will either find themselves bewitched by this albums erratic brutal sound, or they will question how people could compose such agonizing arrangements. I personally like the harsh sounding vocal parts that compliment the punishing riffs and almost otherworldly compositions. On the opening track,”Pearl,” you sort of are introduced to this haunting sounding electronic environment that gets completely decimated by this primitive assault of gruesome brutality. The drums come thunderously crashing down like buildings collapsing after a violent explosion. 

    After surviving the merciless torment from the first track, you’ll find that the music becomes even more sporadic sounding as well as ventures into some very unique directions, especially pertaining to the ominous industrial noises that the band incorporates. “Trench” and “Deluge,” are a couple tracks that feature some extremely blistering guitar parts along with these utterly intense drum parts. You feel caught in this blizzard of sinister distortion and there is just no escaping the hazardous soundscape which begins to take over your mind. 

    Similar to how I felt about Cryptae’s debut album, this release is a solid example of how to experiment with death metal, yet not jump completely off the rails that then ends up spending like train wreck of a release. Yes, there are some moments where the industrial sounds leave me stretching my head wondering where the hell this band is going, but then all of a sudden they come charging back with a monstrous onslaught of savage riffs. The song “Salt,” was a perfect example of how this band was able to experiment with these eerie sounds that reminded me of something straight out of a suspenseful science fiction film, however they were still able to hammer out a killer main riff to keep you fully engaged. 

    There are some modern extreme metal bands that record albums which blatantly mirror previous bands and end up becoming forgettable after one listen. In the case of Cryptae, this band has you listening from start to finish even if you do not full grasp what is happening at the beginning of this album. I will admit that this style and approach is not for everyone, but if you are a fan of extreme metal which pushes the boundaries while maintaining a brutal mindset, then this album is highly worth checking out.

Check out the song "Pearl" below: 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp (Album releases November 18th) :

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/capsule

Apostasy "Death Return"

    Sadistic Chilean thrashers, Apostasy, have proven over the years to be an extremely fearsome force. The band’s third full-length album, “Death Return,” is yet another example of how this band continues to offer listeners utterly sinister thrash riffs, while also capturing that pure evil sounding 80s thrash sound. 

    “Death Return,” is actually the band’s first new full-length album in 35 years, which is why this album perfectly conveys that old school style of raw and merciless sounding thrash metal. If you are a thrash fanatic who desires some bone crushing riffs that conjure up hellish sounding atmospheres, then this album is going to hook you right away. Working with Sentient Ruin on the vinyl release of this album, Apostasy will once again inspire thrash fans across the globe to crank up the volume and begin ritualistically moshing to the band’s wicked sounding tracks. 

    From the ominous sounding introduction, to the face ripping guitar riffs, to the hellish vocals, this album is a true thrash metal beast. The opening song, “Death Return,” has that intense and aggressive sound which reminded me of Slayer, Kreator, Morbid Saint and early Sepultura. Apostasy really unleashes a flurry of adrenaline pumping rhythms and each composition delivers that relentless thrash metal attitude. Songs such as, “Son of Hate”  and “Deceased in Funeral,” contain some monstrous palm muted galloping riffs that sound like horses thunderously charging into battle.

    I think the band’s raw and very straightforward old school thrash sound is extremely well captured on this release. They do not go off course by trying to mess around with complex time signatures, nor do they incorporate jazz influences into their arrangements. For example, “The Great Apostasy - The Night,” is a brutal onslaught where the drums and guitar come bursting through the musical landscape unleashing unholy devastation. There is definitely no shortage when pertaining to the amount of headbanging riffs on this album, and thrash fans will be constantly moshing around when listening to these songs. Put on a song like, “Praise Darkness,” which is not a very long track, but the overall tone is truly diabolical sounding and perfectly sets up anticipation for the final song, “Obey the Antichrist.” Out of all the tracks off of the album, “Obey the Antichrist,” is my favorite with its menacing thrash metal energy as well as the song’s insidious chord progressions. 

    “Death Return,” is one agonizing assault of old school thrash metal worship and Apostasy is definitely a band that I would highly recommend checking out. With this album you know what you are getting, so do not worry about any experimental surprises coming from these musicians. Their passion for extreme music is undeniable along with their respect for the genre. Over the years some metal bands have fallen victim to horrible trends that have led to some extremely dismal sounding albums. Fortunately Apostasy has not been influenced by any of that nonsense, which is why I highly recommend giving this album a listen. 

Check out the full album below: 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/death-return

Apostasty Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/apostasych/

Rigorous Institution "Cainsmarsh"

    As the world blindly marches towards an abysmal looking future, Rigorous Institution offers listeners a very eye opening and utterly haunting debut full-length release that serves as a warning for the possible dystopian future of which is to come if humanity continues to spiral downwards. Titled, “Cainsmarsh,” the band’s debut album features a plethora of strikingly sinister sounds with its mixture of crust punk, primitive heavy metal and ambient influences. 

    Teaming with Sentient Ruin Laboratories, these Portland, OR based musicians are definitely aiming to make an impact with the release of this album. From top to bottom, the production and the creative approach to how this album was recorded stood out right when I started listening. I will admit that at first I was taken back by the band’s sound, especially when pertaining to the singers spoken word style of delivering the lyrics. However, as I continued to listen to the album I started to really respect how this band's sound goes against what some extreme music fans might expect. You can hear influences likes Killing Joke, Amebix, Motörhead, Hellhammer and Venom, but in the end the band does a tremendous job crafting their own unique sound throughout the album. 

    Instead of opening the album with a massive bludgeoning of riffs, the band instead begins the release with a classical acoustic guitar piece. Yes, I was a bit surprised as well by this moved, but in the end I thought that the composition was executed extremely well and created this calm environment which fades away as the next song brings you into a more frantic sounding realm. Track number two, “Fever (City),” is a whirlwind of chaotic sounds and heart pounding primitive rhythms. The vocalist narrates a nightmarish tale with a gruff vocal delivery that reminded a lot of Lemmy. Also, each word vividly grabs your attention due to the harsh emphasis that is injected into each lyric. Overall, the band is extremely tight in terms of how well the instruments come together to create this overwhelming musical landscape. 

    The album’s title track, "Cainsmarsh," continues with more deafening apocalyptic riffs, although I felt that the music became even more bombastic sounding and started to really intensify at times. One area on this album that stood out was the keyboard arrangements. The band's keyboardist is very creative and I enjoyed the ominous atmospheres that added to music’s surrealistic horror like presentation. For example, “Nuclear Horses,” is one track where the keyboards add that extra layer of spectral sounding malevolence to compliment the tribalistic sounding drums and cataclysmic riffs. As I stated before, the album has a very horrifying surrealistic and ambient presentation at times, which can definitely be heard on a track such as, “The Terror.” Honestly, this is something you’d expect to hear in a psychological horror film, but I also like how the track does not sound gimmicky and maintains that serious level of surrealistic horror. 

    Speaking of horror, the two tracks on this release which I think do an amazing job tackling issues that society deals with currently and really shows the dark side of mankind are, “Laughter” and “Criminal Betrayers.” I believe, “Criminal Betrayers,” captures the thought provoking essence of Killing Joke that I have always admired, while also taking on that fierce crust punk attitude which can be heard from Amebix. Also, the bass playing provides a thunderous amount of raw aggression to fuel the singer’s disgusted tone as he unforgivingly shouts out in anger over the punishing instrumental compositions. In the end though, my favorite song on the album is the second to last track, “Earthride.” If you are a fan of music that takes you on a hellish sounding rollercoaster of distorted devastation with killer sounding bass parts, then you shall find yourself relishing in this track’s fiendish sounding devastation from start to finish.

    There are a lot bands that write albums where the tracks are just sort of thrown together without any purpose and then you forget about them after listening, which is why I think Rigorous Institution left such an impact on me with, “Cainsmarsh.” Once you start listening to this album you cannot pull yourself away from the raw artistic expression. Can mankind correct its failures? Are we doomed to a desolate future? I do not know the answers to those questions, however I hope that Rigorous Institution's prophetic like warnings on this album wake people up to maybe think about the answers to those questions, otherwise humanity will eventually be rendered obsolete. 

Check out the full release below: 

Rigorous Institution Bandcamp: 

https://rigorous-institution.bandcamp.com/

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp: 

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/

Yellowcake "Can You See the Future?"

    From a pandemic to now the threat of nuclear war, the world is completely falling apart and chaos seems to be lurking around every corner. Sometimes you ask yourself, “Is there even going to be a future?” I think that is what caught my attention right away when I came upon this new EP titled, “Can You See the Future,” from the Arizona based hardcore punk outfit Yellowcake. This band comes along at the right time to offer listeners a blistering hardcore punk release.  

    Yellowcake’s sound and presentation is not over the top and the band does not write cryptic dribble to impress scholarly minds. The band’s raw aggression is perfectly recorded on each track, while also maintaining that savagely destructive hardcore punk mindset. On each track you find yourself listening with great interest as the bombastic arrangements come crashing out of your speakers like an explosion from a neutron bomb. 

    Musically, the band plays with a fiendish energy which can be heard on every riff throughout the EP. The band’s drummer adds a massive amount of pulverizing d-beat rhythms, and the first song, “Can You See the Future,” is an unbelievably loud onslaught that hits you right in the face. Along with the tight sounding instrumental arrangements, I really liked the vocal delivery by the band's singer. There is relentless passion, raw anger and honest artistic expression behind every lyric. For example, the screams on the song, “Eradicated Peace,” are extremely haunting and perfectly compliment the frantic guitar riffs. 

    Another track which features some utterly vicious sounding riffs is, “Indiscriminate Shelling.” During the opening of the song the band unleashes a merciless attack by coming up with a hellish galloping style riff. One again, the singer provides simple and straightforward lyrics to emphasize the song’s profound message. On the following track, “Visage of the Flame,” I was extremely impressed by how the band came up with such a scorching piece of music. For some reason the singer’s vocal delivery during the song reminded me of Penelope Houston the singer from classic SF punk rockers, The Avengers. There is this inner ferocity that comes bursting out and infuses itself with the vividly distorted sounding chaos. 

    Although the EP is not very long, which is pretty typical for hardcore punk music, the band proves to be more than capable of getting their point across and laying down some deafening tracks. If you are fan of punishing hardcore punk that strikes without any remorse, then you need to check out this EP. The future does look pretty bleak right now, however, I hope Yellowcake is able to put out another monstrous release before the skies turn to ash and those of us who survive have to walk around wearing hazmat suits. 

Check out the full EP below: 

Link to Yellowcake's Bandcamp:

https://yellowcakephx.bandcamp.com/releases

Project Pain "Faster Disaster"

    Project Pain deals out a maniacal thrash metal onslaught with the release of their fourth full-length album, “Faster Disaster.” Hailing from the Netherlands, these metal musicians really capture the true unapologetic nature of 80’s thrash metal. 

    I have reviewed every single full-length album from Project Pain to date, so for me this fourth album was definitely something I wanted to listen to right away. Ever since their first album, "I Have Sinned," the band’s passion for thrash metal and extreme music has always stood out. Over the years the band continues to improve and refine their skills with each new release, and “Faster Disaster” is without question another step forwarded into a more aggressive and fearsome sounding direction. 

    The album starts out with an utterly intense shockwave of distorted destruction and aggressively pulls you into the band’s chaotic sounding world of extreme sounding punishment. On the first song, “Val Kapot,” the band unleashes a barbaric beatdown by hammering out some savage riffs which reminded me a lot of old school thrash bands like Exodus, Testament, Heathen and Vio-lence. The second track,”Mean Metal Machine,” is also very intense, but takes on more of a classic speed metal sound at times by coming up with some very catchy riffs. I think the start of this album is extremely impressive and hooks you right away. Tracks like, “Army From Hell” and “Submerged,” are pure hellacious pieces of thrash metal with massive amounts of brutal sounding energy. 

    One track that really stands out on this album is, “Presto vs Metal,” which is an instrumental track. The Neo-classical meets thrash metal style is amazing and the song features some exceptional guitar work. I really like the overall arrangement, especially how the music confidently flows from beginning to end. This is a song that I can see appealing to a wide range of metal fans, and the track really shows how talented these musicians are in terms of skill level. 

    After, “Presto vs Metal,” the band sort of plays it safe by sticking with their old school thrash approach. I would not say that the music becomes painfully repetitive, however, the band definitely does not stray away from the old school thrash metal formula very often. For me though, I still believe that the fierce guitar riffs and pulverizing drum parts do a great job injecting raw energy into the songs, thus you cannot simply ignore this band’s feverish thrash metal passion. For example, “Fields of Death,” is one track that I felt had some thunderous guitar riffs to grab your attention and whip you up into a constant headbanging frenzy. You can definitely count on this band to keep firing on all cylinders until the very end of the album. 

    In the end, I would say that Project Pain’s, “Faster Disaster,” is another step forward for this band in terms of sound quality and overall brutal aggression. The band is not trying to reinvent the heavy metal wheel and they tend to not experiment with the traditional thrash metal formula, so if you are looking for a band that honors and stays true to the thrash metal ethos, then this band is highly recommended for you. Honestly, as the world becomes one massive disaster of completely insanity, we’ll need band’s like Project Pain to help get us through all the chaos.

Check out the video for the song "Mean Metal Machine" below: 

Project Pain Bandcamp:

https://projectpain.bandcamp.com/album/faster-disaster

Sonic Flower "Me and My Bellbottom Blues"

   Turn up the volume and kick out the jams motherfuckers! Sonic Flower’s new full-length album, “Me and My Bellbottom Blues,” is one HEAVY psychedelic doom experience featuring plenty of tasty sounding riffs and killer bluesy 70’s hard rock inspired jams. 

   Based out of Japan, the band formed around 2001 as a Church of Misery side project. One can definitely hear the similarities between this band and Church of Misery, however, I would say that Sonic Flower's sound incorporates more bluesy hard rock elements. In my opinion, this new album really captures that groovy hard rock attitude, which takes you back to when bands would turn up the volume on their amps and crank out some hard rocking riffs. Throughout the entire album the band seems truly locked into these solid sounding compositions that flow with a very confident heavy and groovy energy. 

   Out of the seven tracks on the album, I find that thanks in large part to the strong production and really catchy sounding arrangements, listeners will not be disappointed when listening to this release. The first song, “Swineherd,” is one hard hitting psychedelic hard rock experience containing some really addictive guitar parts. The lead guitar playing reminds me of something straight out of the 60’s/70’s hard rock scene with that killer tone which makes the notes come vibrantly flowing out of the speakers. Other tracks like, “Love Like Rubber” and “Black Sheep,” are also very powerful sounding songs, especially when pertaining to the bass and drum playing. If you are fan of mighty sounding rhythms that allow for the guitar to explore these trippy thunderous landscape with an endless amount of distorted freedom, then you will find yourself really digging the songs on this album. 

   One song that I really liked which took on a very old school bluesy rock sound by coming up with a very clever blues rock inspired guitar intro was, “Quicksand Planet.” I believe the band did an excellent job arranging the song, and the vocal performance really caught my attention. I thought throughout the entire album the singer did a tremendous job in terms of his delivery and how his vocals complimented the compositions. Overall, the musicianship is so tight that the album may not come across as something new to the world of rock and metal, but the band's passion and fearsome drive definitely wins you over from start to finish. 

   For anyone looking for a groovy hard rock release with some mesmerizing bluesy riffs, then “Me and My Bellbottom Blues,” is an album that I highly recommend. I need to give a huge shoutout to Yukito Okazaki for mixing this album, because he did such an amazing job capturing the band’s profound heavy rocking energy on each track. With so many bands complicating their releases by doing way too much and losing sight of what makes a killer hard rock album, I really hope people take the time to check out what Sonic Flower is doing, because this style of music perfectly captures the true raw essence of rock and roll. 

Check out the full release below : 

Heavy Psych Sounds Records :

https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sonic-flower-me-and-my-bellbottom-blues

Sonic Flower Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064023401214

Hedonist "Sepulchral Lacerations”

    Partnering with Dawnbreed Records, savage Canadian death metal maniacs, Hedonist, shall be releasing their sadistic debut demo, “Sepulchral Lacerations,” on CD format through the label. The band’s debut demo is without question a blistering release that dives deep into the abhorrent sounding abyss of soul-crushing old school death metal. 

    I think what impressed me right away about this band was their ability to deliver an utterly merciless sounding demo. The band’s sound perfectly captures the pure destructive essence similar to that of bands like Bolt Thrower, Master, Morbid Angel and Benediction. There is no nonsense when listening to their songs and the band does a great job steering away from the traps which can make some modern death metal bands end up sounding like a flaming pile of sloppy dog shit. From the monstrous guitar riffs to the purely hellacious sounding vocals, this demo is all about handing out a brutal beatdown of old school torment. 

    The demo features six gruesome offerings of fiendish sounding death metal that violently hammer out some sickening riffs. For example the opening track, “Intrepid Repulsion,” is a profoundly adrenaline pumping assault upon the ears. The band plays with such raw and fearsome focus, while also creating this thunderous sounding landscape which heightens the band’s brutal creative vision. Also, I really liked the drum parts throughout the song and thought that the recording of the drums was extremely well executed. The band’s drummer provides a truly monumental rhythmic attack from behind the kit and really serves as the solid foundation on each of the demo’s deafening tracks. Songs such as, “Lunar Bathysphere” and “Cephalic Rot,” contain these cataclysmic like sounding compositions that vividly stand out in large part due to the bludgeoning drum and guitar parts. 

    Overall, this release is a purely sinister creation that was recorded with a strong old school death metal mindset. The last two tracks, “Parodic War” and “Fatidic Dread (Thanatophobic Ritual),” do a tremendous job fueling the inhumane musical onslaught moving forward until the very end. Probably my favorite song off of the demo was, "Fatidic Dread (Thanatophobic Ritual),” which once again displays some pulverizing drum work, as well as some scorching lead guitar parts. Plus, I liked how the band ended the track by coming up with this very haunting sounding guitar riff that fades out and after it comes a brief sound bite from the movie Blade Runner to end the demo. 

    If you are fan of old school death metal and unapologetic extreme music, then I highly recommend checking out Hedonist and giving this demo a listen. Although some critics might say that the extreme metal world is becoming saturated with bands playing “old school death metal worship,” I always enjoy discovering bands that demonstrate those solid old school death metal songwriting qualities, and are also willing to put in that extra brutal effort into each recording. For a demo, I'd have to say that this release was very impressive and is a great first introduction. I cannot wait to hear what the band can come up with on future recordings, because the amount of sheer brutal energy was down right astonishing! 

Check out the full demo below : 

Hedonist Bandcamp: 

https://hedonistdeathmetal.com/releases

Dawnbreed Records:

https://www.dawnbreed.com/

Lustre "A Thirst for Summer Rain"

    In the world of atmospheric black metal and ambient music, there is one artist who has become almost synonymous when referencing this particular style of music. Lustre’s impact and influence amongst the atmospheric black metal community is truly astonishing. Nachtzeit, the musical mastermind behind Lustre, has continued to display exceptional creativity with each release. This new Lustre release titled, “A Thirst for Summer Rain,” is yet another majestic and captivating offering of atmospheric black metal, yet ascends to even greater sounding heights. 

    Ever since the early days of Lustre, people have come to respect Nachzeit’s passionate drive and brilliant work ethic. I think what makes this new album so unique and profound is due to the collaboration between Nachtzeit and Buster Odeholm. In my opinion, Buster’s mixing and mastering skills perfectly capture Nachtzeit’s vision and the arrangements flow with such mesmerizing elegance. The melodies are almost bewitching at times as the notes guide you across this monumental sounding lush musical realm. 

    Even though the album on features four tracks, one must realize that Lustre is more about quality than quantity. Also, each song averages around eight minutes, so within that amount of time you are presented with a plethora of breathtaking arrangements. On the first track, “Quiescence,” the sounds of the opening melody are very vibrant and move with a graceful synergy. Just like with past Lustre releases, the triumphant nature of the music creates an unbelievable tale without using any lyrics. Each note, each melody and each burst of distortion, all comes together to allow the listener the opportunity to let their imagination wonder amongst the epic atmospheric landscape. 

    Track number two, “Faith,” is yet another splendid sounding piece of music featuring spectacular examples of how to incorporate dynamic structures and a variety of tempos. A specific example would be the ending piano part which I felt did a great job wrapping up the track by bringing you down after the more grandiose sounding arrangements during the beginning of the song. Actually, track number three, “Thirst,” might be one of the more bombastic sounding pieces on the album, especially the way the drum and guitar parts build up this tidal wave of thunderous noise that eventually fades away to setup some more harmonious keyboard melodies. 

    On the final song off of the album, “Alleviation,” I thought Nachtzeit did very impressive job wrapping up the album, while also finding a way to bring back and tie together some of the instrumental themes heard on the pervious tracks. What stood out the most to me during the song was when I heard the sounds of rain coming down, because the way that the noises were woven into the music was perfectly executed. Lustre’s music has always drawn influence from the world of nature, which is why at times the music makes you feel as though you are traveling across a world untouched by modern construction and mass development. 

    As much as I have enjoyed past releases from Lustre, I have to admit that the approach and overall sound on this release was without question taken to an even greater level. “Wonder,” is still my favorite album from Lustre and probably one of my all-time favorite releases, however, in time I believe, “A Thirst For Summer Rain,” might be an album that fans hold in high regard as well. If you are looking for an amazing atmospheric black metal album to check out, then this album is a must listen. Just like refreshing rain after months of abysmal heat, Lustre provides us with some atmospheric black metal salvation to relax our minds and escape the harsh confines of this hectic modern world. 

Check out the full album below:

Lustre Bandcamp:

https://lustre.bandcamp.com/album/a-thirst-for-summer-rain

Nordvis Records Website:

https://www.nordvis.com/

Diabolic Oath "Aischrolatreia"

    The intense mind altering apocalyptic sounds that Diabolic Oath delivers with the release of their brand new mini-LP titled, “Aischrolatreia,” will leave you drifting away into a void unfathomable terror. These extreme metal musicians have proven to be a fearsome act by crafting some utterly tormenting death metal arrangements that feverishly shred away at your sanity. 

    Based out of Portland, OR, I am rather familiar with Diabolic Oath having reviewed their debut full-length album, “Profane Death Exodus,” which just like with this new mini-LP is being released through Sentient Ruin. The amount of sickening guitar riffs and unconventional chord progressions makes this band vividly standout when listening to their music. On their debut release the band offer up a plethora of hellacious creativity, so I was extremely pleased to hear the band continue to write such terrifying pieces of morbid aggression on this new release. 

    Sonically, “Aischrolatreia,” is a monumental sounding release with a very chaotic, yet profound presentation. The first track wastes little time conjuring up some purely putrid sounding riffs as well as some pulverizing drum parts. I think the drumming instantly caught my attention, because the flurry of blast beats provided by the band’s drummer creates this massive sounding thunderous assault. You really feel as if some malevolent force is rushing towards you and all your can do is watch as the landscape around you crumbles into oblivion. 

    Tracks like, “Grand Atrocities through Foul Miscreations” and “Swathed in Aberrant Flesh,” are purely sinister pieces of music featuring arrangements that seek to go beyond what listeners have come to hear from most modern death metal artists. Diabolic Oath is able to construct these dissonant guitar riffs which violently pull you in a variety of directions. Even though the musical landscape is mercilessly getting swallowed up by what seems like a massive sounding cloud of hellish distorted entropy, you become almost entranced by the inhuman chaos and you just cannot stop listening. 

    The album’s overall sadistic sounding production quality definitely helps to strengthen each composition on the album, and the band never gives off that vibe of where you feel like they are settling for a cheap ritualistic death metal sound. For example, “Malefic Pathways,” is one song where the riffs are down right savage sounding, yet don’t fall off the rails by throwing in unnecessary extra guitar parts to muddy up the arrangement. On the last track, “Poisoned Bodies of Swine Imbuing,” the music builds toward this pestilent sounding climax where the guitar playing leads you on a brutal hallucinogenic journey into the depths of hell. 

    If this album is a prelude of what is to come on the next Diabolic Oath full-length release, well then people better start preparing for the upcoming onslaught, because this band does not mess around. I will point out that at first some listeners might be overwhelmed by the constant chaotic sounding landscapes, but in the end the band does such a great job bring everything together and the overall sound definitely can hook listeners looking for something that transcends the basic death metal formula. We already have too many new death metal bands sounding like Dollar Store versions of Suffocation and Morbid Angel, so I always respect band's like Diabolic Oath for creating unique and dynamic sounding extreme metal releases. 

Check out the song "Swathed in Aberrant Flesh" below : 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/

Diabolic Oath Bandcamp:

https://diabolicoath.bandcamp.com/

Spectre "Omen (EP)"

    Back in 2019 I went to a show at an auto repair shop of some sorts in Castro Valley, CA and watched four up and coming extreme metal bands perform. One of those bands was Spectre and that show was actually their first live performance. Overall, I thought that they played a solid set, especially considering that it was their first live show. Fast-forward to now and this Bay Area death metal act has finally released their debut EP titled, “Omen,” which in the end was well worth the wait if you ask me. 

    Spectre is a band that does not settle for that simple old school death metal worship tag, but they also do not go overboard with obnoxious technical arrangements that eventually end up sounding like a beehive of utter horse shit. Their sound reminds of old school death metal bands that thoughtfully experimented with ambient elements and atypical compositions, thus creating very haunting atmospheres to accompany the harsh death metal arrangements. If you are a fan of bands like Pestilence, Nocturnus, Morbid Angel, Death and Gorguts, then you are definitely going to find that Spectre draws influence from some of the bands I just mentioned. Also, the band’s lyrics are not painfully gimmicky to the point you start to wonder if they stole them from the back of a hipster metal cereal box which they probably sell at Hot Topic. 

    The first song on the EP is, “Assemblage,” which serves more as an introduction piece for the next track, “A Scream With Blood In Its Teeth.” I noticed when listening to the beginning of the EP that even though there is a flurry of technicality throw at you right away, the band is able to create cohesive and well structured arrangements. There is a massive amount of brutality injected into each composition, but the execution is precise and the transitions sound extremely tight. Songs like, “Trail of Wax” and “Symbiote,” feature some ferocious guitar and bass playing, as well as some punishing rhythms from the band’s drummer. Every just really comes together, so when the vocals start screaming over pestilent sounding landscape with a fearsome confidence, you just cannot tear yourself away from the band’s hellacious energy. 

    The final track on the album, “Omen,” is without question the strongest track on the release, and without a doubt my favorite. During the beginning of the track you feel this ominous presence which eventually fades away once the fiendish guitar riff comes bursting out from some inhuman abyss. About midway through the track the band decides to deviate from the monstrous death metal onslaught by exploring this very haunting celestial like sounding atmosphere. The guitar playing conjures up a breathtaking landscape that seem to guide you towards some unspeakable force hidden deep within the confines of a pitch black portal from another dimension. 

    In all, “Omen,” is definitely a great first glimpse into what Spectre is capable of creating and I think old school death metal fans will really want to check this release out. Also, I can definitely see this appealing to a wide variety of extreme metal fans, because the band's sound is very dynamic and the musicianship definitely catches your attention. My main recommendation for them is to keep pushing themselves as songwriters, which in the end will allow them to compose some even more profound pieces of music. Too many bands settle for the simplistic route and fail to really put forth the effort in their recordings, thus the metal world becomes saturated with constant copycats. 

Check out the EP below:

Spectre Bandcamp:

https://spectreovdeath.bandcamp.com/releases

Sahmaataha "Harvesting Worlds (2022 Demo)"

    Pure cataclysmic sounding devastation is what Sahmaataha conjures up from the unholy depths with the release of their debut demo, “Harvesting Worlds.” These abhorrent extreme metal musicians do not hold anything back as they unleash an unbelievably barbaric extreme metal beatdown. 

    On each of the three tracks listeners will notice instantly that this band does not wish to reinvent the extreme music world, yet they also do not set out to write regurgitated and forgettable sounding riffs. The band’s sound is a morbidly sinister blend of bone crushing old school death metal, haunting black metal and merciless sounding thrash metal. In the end, these musicians are able to combine all their extreme metal skills in order to create one gruesome sounding assault. 

    The overall sound and production creates a very raw and abrasive environment, which I felt strengthened this band’s unforgiving creative musical vision. Take for example the opening track, “Absolute Enslavement,” where instead of giving listeners a chance to be prepared for the upcoming destruction, the band decides to instantly open up the apocalyptic gates by hammering out a fearsome sounding riff. Also, the drumming provided a monumental rush of hellish aggression to push the music into an even more terrifying direction. Adding to the overwhelming malevolent aural carnage, the band’s vocalist unleashes some profound demonic like growls to compliment the pulverizing riffs. 

    Whereas I felt the band did a great job balancing a variety of extreme metals elements on the first track, I noticed that on the second track, “That Which Once Was,” you could definitely hear more old school death metal influences during the song. Actually, I thought that during this song the band did a tremendous job capturing certain aspects of 90’s death metal, especially in terms of how they went about recording the instruments. I find that too many modern death metal bands sound down right atrocious due to the fact that the recording of the instruments ends up sounding completely cheap and lacks that vicious old school edge. The third track, “Harvesting Worlds,” is another nightmarish offering upon the extreme metal altar by throwing down more sickening riffs. During this track I felt that the guitar playing started to really catch my attention, and the lead parts were perfectly woven into the arrangements. 

    For only three tracks, “Harvesting Worlds,” is a very solid sounding demo release and Sahmaataha demonstrated that they are a band not trying to throw out generic sounding recordings. On future releases I definitely want to hear this band go furthering with their dynamic blend of extreme metal, while maintaining that insidious mindset which allows them to write such decimating pieces of music. I highly recommend people check out Sahmaataha and keep an eye out for what they having coming out in the future, because if this is just their demo, then I sure as hell cannot wait to hear what they will summon forth on their debut full-length. 

Check out the full demo below:

Sahmaataha Bandcamp:

https://sahmaataha.bandcamp.com/releases

Sahmaataha Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Sahmaataha