The rotten seeds of Abyssus were planted years ago via the "Monarch to the Kingdom of the Dead" EP (2012), the "Summon the Dead" EP (2014) and the splits with Nocturnal Vomit (2013), Morbider (2014) and Slaktgrav (2014), so it was about damn time to see them go the full-length route. The wait is over: "Into the Abyss" has arrived. This hyper-active Greek band formed back in 2011 pay homage to the intense, pounding and energetic Death Metal from the good old late 80´s and early 90´s, drawing their influences from such legendary acts as Obituary, Death, Viogression, Asphyx, Master, Benediction, Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Celtic Frost and Massacre.
The highly anticipated debut full-length of this French band. Hailing from the new breed of exquisite French Death Metal darkness, Atavisma formed in late 2013 and promptly set to work perfecting their assiduously doomed-out craft. Founders G. (guitar) and L. (vocals) wanted to create a band devoted to old school Death Metal, and with the addition of C. (drums) and W. (bass) shortly thereafter, the quartet´s compositions progressively shifted towards a Death/Doom Metal approach with a penchant for lyrics that mainly deal with the relationship between man and nature, ancient cultures and spirituality.
The highly anticipated 6th album from these U.S. Death Metal stalwarts. Formed in the bowels of Chicago way back in 1997, Cardiac Arrest should need no introduction to the ardent fans of rotting and blood-drenched Death Metal, for these grave-dwellers have been carving out aural nightmares of perishing and grime for decades now. Consisting of four individuals with an unearthly interest in all that´s absurd, morbid, gruesome and unhealthy, the band´s been consistently getting heavier and more vile with every album they spat out via previous labels such as Razorback Recordings and Ibex Moon Records, honoring timeless Death Metal of the most grinding and putrid ilk with genuineness and a no-nonsense approach, yet adding enough personality to be in a forever-rotting league of their very own.
The skull-splitting debut full-length from a German band that perpetuate the odor of vintage Death Metal. Hailing from the bowels of Berlin, Carnal Tomb started out as a duo (Corpse Ripper on bass / vocals and Cryptic Tormentor on vocals / guitars / programming) in 2014 and recently turned into a quartet with the addition of Vomitchrist on drums and Lobotomizer on guitars, only to confer more heaviness and tightness upon their slimy, downtuned, putrescent Death Metal that´s buzzsaw-driven and riddled with gruesome melodies in the best tradition of ancient ghouls such as Nihilist / Entombed, Autopsy, Dismember, Funebre, Grave, Crematory, Convulse, Fleshcrawl and Carnage.
The debut full-length of Italy´s Ekpyrosis, "Asphyxiating Devotion". Formed back in 2013 and with their razor-edged claws steadily sunk into the vitriolic and ruthless carnage that Death Metal was meant to be in the late 80´s and early 90´s, this four-headed squad of young deathsters unfold an unquestionable fondness of the ugliness, the malevolence, the decrepitude and the intensity that the early aural blasphemies of acts such as Morbid Angel, Nihilist, Sadistic Intent, Grotesque, Incantation, Necrophobic and Deicide used to be soaked in back in the genre´s heyday. But let it be known that Ekpyrosis in general and "Asphyxiating Devotion" in particular are neither retro nor old school. Rather, the garishness and grime in which both soak ooze from an eternal continuum that never ended in the first place: the Metal of Death is unbending and unyielding, no matter what manner of progression and evolution floats idly by, disregarded by those who revel in timeless filth and fury.
The stunning debut full-length by this Australian band. Hailing from Sydney, Horrisonous formed in late 2015 and comprise a handful of hardened members of the local underground scene, including past or current members of such acts as Temple Nightside, Backyard Mortuary, The Slow Death, Illimitable Dolor and Pestilential Shadows among others. Not surprisingly, Horrisonous deliver aural slime, decay and misery by means of the ageless brand of Death Metal that´s equally ponderous, crushing and fervent, enhanced with slithering tempos and influenced by the likes of Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Autopsy, Death, early Paradise Lost, Celtic Frost, Carcass, Dismember and Incantation. They proved it on their debut EP, "The Plague Doctors", in 2016 and they proved it with the Asphyx and Celtic Frost covers comprising the follow-up "The Plague Doctors B-sides" EP two years later, and they fully prove it with their debut full-length, "A Culinary Cacophony".
In our endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage Death Metal, Memento Mori summons yet another ponderous beast from the crypts and unleashes it upon mankind: the debut album of Poland´s Martyrdoom, "Grievous Psychosis". Conceived in Warsaw back in 2010, the band went through some lineup changes until they established a solid formation in 2014, including Sociak (vocals), Marol (guitar), Mlynar (guitar / vocals), Artur (bass) and Wasyl (drums). Blending complex, blast-beat driven, darkened Death Metal with slow Doom passages, the band draws its main influences from the likes of Obituary, Immolation, Rippikoulu, Autopsy, Demilich, Triptykon, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, Hooded Menace, Grave, Disma and Dead Congregation, but they spew all those influences out with renewed vigor.
... Thus girded with such proud and powerful influences, "Demoniac Paroxysm" thus invokes its very title, whipping the listener into a fury of rotten, sewer-dwelling possession. Rubbed raw and blasted about like a boombox from the bowels of Hell, this is DEATH METAL in all caps, and forever be it so: MORBID MESSIAH are not recommended for trendy ears nor those with weak stomachs. But if the flame burns true within you, by all means, take this torch now! Naturally, for a record so foul and filthy, it's only fitting that "Demoniac Paroxysm" is gracelessly graced with classic cover artwork courtesy of the esteemed Mark Riddick. Bow down and pray to Morbid Messiah!
The loathsome debut full-length from this Greek band. Hailing from Athens, Pile of Excrements was crapped into existence when drummer Shit Eater (Necrovorous, Embrace of Thorns, Chainsaw) joined forces with guitar/bass-player and vocalist Necropervert (Nightbreed, Chainsaw) with the vile intention of delighting the listener with the aural equivalent of the nauseating stench of one hundred drains clogged with foul-smelling turds and urine. And as the title of their debut album promises, "Escatology" is exactly that! Pile of Excrements began clogging sewers last year with the Demo 2016 tape.
The skull-bashing 2nd full-length from this Greek commando. Hailing from Athens, the band was formed in 2012 by a bunch of ridiculously young lads that felt an overwhelming urge to return to the sound of the old Thrash Metal and Thrash/Death Metal acts of the late 80´s / early 90´s. After two demos, the band saw their critically acclaimed debut album, "Crimes Against Humanity", released on Witches Brew in 2015, followed up by the self-financed "Total Madness Reigns" EP in 2016. Both releases allowed them to play a good number of shows and festivals all over Greece, sharing the stage with some of the best bands of the Greek underground scene, as well as opening for some international acts such as Sodom and Vektor.
The long-awaited debut full-length of this U.S. band. Not much is known about the anonymous aural torturers known as Ruin. The small amount of information that we do know is that the band was formed back in 1991, somewhere in the United States. Due to various members of the band being incarcerated and institutionalized, Ruin was disbanded at some point later that year. Rumors have also swirled that the band members were/are part of some sort of cult. Now free from any obstacles, the Ruin Death Metal machine was re-started again in 2015, and work began in earnest for what was to become their debut album (at last!), "Drown in Blood". With roots firmly planted in utter and complete musical devastation, Ruin´s sonic debauchery is mean, vicious, spiteful, raucous, and sickening Death Metal. Shit-heavy and strewn with shit, their long-brewing "Drown in Blood" is pure and utter ugliness enriched with doomed-out passages, crusty tempos, and sudden blasts that are meant to turn your stomach without care.
The long-awaited second album of America´s Ruin. Not much is known about the anonymous aural torturers known as Ruin. At least, that was the case a couple years ago, before the band´s rebirth. The small amount of information that we did know was that the band was formed back in 1991, somewhere in the United States. Due to various members of the band being incarcerated and institutionalized, Ruin was disbanded at some point later that year. Rumors have also swirled that the band members were/are part of some sort of cult.
The jaw-dropping debut album from this U.S. band. Formed back in 2008 as Tenspeed Warlock, Shrine of the Serpent have been going under their current moniker since 2014. Comprised of past and current members of Aldebaran, Graves At Sea, Sod Hauler and Roanoke among others, this three-headed leviathan from Portland, Oregon conjure up visions of utmost ominousness and malodorous dreariness as a celebration of the inevitable, when life ceases to be and there´s nothing but a palpable somberness shrouding your passing to the other, unfathomable side.
The chosen guide for such a cryptic journey is über-heavy, gloomy and miserable Death/Doom Metal. When faced with such a fate, one can only help to prepare to be crushed under the weight of utterly monolithic riffs enhanced by tortured growls, ritualistically pounding drumming and eerie-as-fuck harmonies. Ultimately, this is but the sound of "Entropic Disillusion". Although more fertile now than any time in the past, true Death/Doom Metal is still a field that´s tricky to plow: lumber too long and you arrive at boredom; spice up the formula and you lose the necessary desolation.
The highly anticipated debut full-length from this Greek squad. Hailing from the Black and Death Metal hotbed of Greece, War Possession indeed features a number of scene veterans within their ranks, including current and past members of such bands as Embrace of Thorns, Merciless Crucifixion and Wargoat. Since the band´s beginnings in 2008, they´ve been possessed by an unwavering desire to craft and perform punishing, war-themed Death Metal impervious to trends and modern standards, combining corpulent, ominously slow riffs with blasting brutality soaked in a blackened ambience. References to be made are the olden endeavors of Bolt Thrower, Demigod, Treblinka/Tiamat, Incantation, Therion, Archgoat, Imprecation and Asphyx.
