FLAMESResurgence No Remorse (2022)Rating: 7/10 These Greek thrashers were responsible for releasing some incredible records in the 80s, my favourite being Summon The Dead (1988). But like a lot of bands, 1992 onwards seemed to affect their journey and 1991 saw the last of their top-notch outings with Nomen Illi Mors, although that album remains […]

SACRAL NIGHTLe diadème d’argent No Remorse (2022)Rating: 8/10 The title of this album translates to English as “The Silver Tiara”, and this is the second outing from this French act which formed out of Grenoble five years ago. If you can’t understand French then you may have trouble with the vocals here, but other than […]

PROTECTORExcessive Outburst Of Depravity High Roller (2022)Rating: 9/10 Arguably better than fellow countrymen Tankard, it was surely Protector that should’ve been considered as part of the Teutonic “Big Four” alongside Kreator, Sodom and Destruction, and those three titans could’ve learnt a lot from these guys. With both Sodom and Destruction becoming a tad generic with […]

MASSACREMythos EP Nuclear Blast (2022)Rating: 6.5/10 I have to admit that Massacre’s 2021 opus Resurgence – the first to feature Kam Lee on vocals since 1996’s Promise – was a tad underwhelming. Having said that, much of what Massacre has released since its inception has been rather average, yet their legend has preceded them in […]

IRONFLAMEWhere Madness Dwells High Roller (2022)Rating: 7.5/10 Whether you like Ironflame or not, you can’t argue the fact that there’s hardly a more metal band out there. Where Madness Dwells is the fourth full-length opus from the Ohio-based quintet and this is a return to form if you will, although the band has remained pretty […]

WHITE TYGËRThis Is The Life Self-released (2022)Rating: 8/10 I was turned on to this UK outfit via the fact they were essentially a covers band that has now evolved after throwing in a few original to their set. I then came across the track ‘Midnight Lovers’ with its struttin’ groove and foot tapping percussion. Admittedly […]

DEVIL CROSSCondemned Self-released (2022)Rating: 7/10 Featuring Jo Steel (vocals and bass, Ice War / Expunged /Aphrodite / Cannibal), Brennan Whitworth (guitar, Aphrodite / Cannibal) and Trevor William Church (drums, Haunt / Beastmaker), North American trio Devil Cross has only been around for a couple of years but they’re not hanging about, with this latest offering […]

BASHEDBashed EP Self-released (2022)Rating: 8/10 Rounding off with a cover rendition of Autopsy’s ‘Ridden With Disease’ is the debut offering from Finland grindcore / death metal act Bashed, and what a joy to behold this 23 minute EP is. Finland is becoming the place to be for producing killer death / grind / thrash and […]

KURSECall Of The Void EP Self-released (2022)Rating: 8/10 Bringing dollops of crust alongside their already deathly approach, Philadelphia’s Kurse slither from their hole to deliver their second EP after last year’s Cursed offering. Although boasting just a brace of tracks, Call Of The Void is an incredible release boasting dark, catchy riffs, a menacing percussive […]