BLADECRUSHERTempest EP Big Bad Wolf / Headbangers (2022)Rating: 5/10 It’s always cool to stumble across bands you know nothing about and Bladecrusher is one of them. This Dutch quintet has a thrashy aesthetic mixed with punky vibes and hardcore. From the off this is an energetic and aggressive record, but it is one let down […]
IMMORTAL BLADERegicide EP Self-released (2022)Rating: 8/10 Here’s a nifty five-track EP from an American act featuring Josh LaFayette (vocals), Chris Lloyd (guitar, bass, programming) and Taylor Nichols (drums, programming), with guest axe leads from Jacob Henderson. Immortal Blade is the perfect example of the emerging talent within the metal genre, and I’m putting this one […]
CALDERUMMystical Fortress Of Iberian Lands Death Prayer (2022)Rating: 8/10 This one takes me back to the early 90s wave of black metal releases, particularly with that cover image. Calderum is a Spanish project, the brainchild of Lord Mortuorum, who is clearly still reliant on wearing corpse-paint and his grandmother’s old velvet cloak for effect. I’m […]
INSTIGATEUnheeded Warnings Of Decay Everlasting Spew (2022)Rating: 8/10 Although I find the percussion on this record a little too mechanical, the debut full-length opus from this international (Italy / USA) combo is the sort of chaotic outburst required to wake you up of a morning. Imagine living next door to a building site where the […]
SERPENT SPAWNCrypt Of Torment EP Iron Bonehead Productions (2022)Rating: 8/10 Serpent Spawn is a brutal German act that is heavily influenced by the 90s era, with heavy dollops of Deicide, Sinister, Malevolent Creation and the likes thrown in for good measure. When I first saw the cover design I though this might be one of […]
DIAMOND DUSTTen Years In Dust Self-released (2022)Rating: 4/10 Diamond Dust is a Croatian act that has apparently been in existence since 2007, although they are a new name on my radar. To be honest, I haven’t missed much… Ten Years In Dust has that generic thrash metal sound with tinny drums, standard axe work and […]
GUILLOTINE A.D.Born To Fall M-Theory Audio (2022)Rating: 7/10 In 2021 this Athens, Georgia-based death metal act decided to add the A.D. onto their name, a wise moved considering the generic nature of the moniker. Born To Fall is the second full-length from this trio, and comes five years after the Guillotine debut. Admittedly, this sort […]
PISSROTPiss.Vile.Gunk EP Self-released (2022)Rating: 7.5/10 I was shocked to find that this trio formed in 2015 as Dethocolypse and then renamed themselves Sabotage in 2019. And the reason I was so surprised is because they each look like they are about 15-years-old! But I take my scalp off to A.M. (vocals and guitar), C.M.T. (vocals […]
BLACK ROSE Release Fourth Studio Album ‘WTF’ June 24th, 2022 Middlesbrough, England-based heavy metal band Black Rose issued fourth full-length studio album WTF on June 24th, 2022 through Pure Steel Records. Regarding the new album, the band commented: “This album is without doubt the heaviest we have ever done and has been great fun to […]
PARISHParish Crypt Of The Wizard (2022)Rating: 9/10 The London heavy metal shop Crypt Of The Wizard is starting to become a record label to contend with now, especially after the delights of Riders Of Rohan’s self-titled debut and this new Parish release. This London-based trio impressed with 2020’s God’s Right Hand EP, and their talents […]
