ATROPHYAsylum Massacre (2024)Rating: 8/10 As if by magic one of my favourite US thrash acts of the 80s has returned, albeit with only one original member in the form of vocalist Brian Zimmerman. The rest of the Atrophy line-up for this latest album consists of Nathan Moltavo (lead guitar), Mark Coglan (rhythm guitar), Josh Gibbs […]
DELIVER THE SUFFERINGUnleash The Chaos EP Self-released (2024)Rating: 8/10 Here’s a snarling French thrash five-piece hell-bent on delivering fatal airstrikes alongside pulverising ground n’ pound. Led by the sneering vocals of Manu Dal-Grande, the Toulouse act takes no prisoners with its weaponry as five hostile nukes are prepared in the form of ‘The Devil In […]
DECIMATOR’Til The Enemies Are Gone Self-released (2024)Rating: 5.5/10 These Australian metallers should have realised that the moniker Decimator has been taken several times over, but it hasn’t stopped the Sydney-based combo from releasing a half-decent debut full-length album. Solid is the word I’d use to describe this offering; a steely affair that at any time […]
HAMARRBloodthirst EP Iron Fortress (2024)Rating: 7/10 Indianapolis death metal is on the blood-spattered menu with this grisly EP. This Indiana-based quartet keeps things pretty simple with their brand of brain ravaging savagery. Four songs are offered – ‘Buried’, ‘Immolation’, ‘Draugr’ and ‘Bezerk’ – and they all flit by in a blur, which is no surprise […]
RAZOR ATTACKRazor Attack Self-released (2024)Rating: 8.5/10 If you’re looking for a new favourite metal band then Sweden’s Razor Attack should fit the bill. With an album cover that suggests a dose of thrash metal, these guys are actually responsible for playing some of the most sweetly melodic heavy metal I’ve heard for some time. Nine […]
EARLY MOODSA Sinner’s Past RidingEasy (2024)Rating: 8/10 It’s good to see Los Angeles, California-based doomsters Early Moods back in the old routine of channelling traditional, heavyweight Candlemass, Pentagram, Witchfinder General and the more syrupy aspects of Soundgarden. Those with a penchant for the stripped back late 70s and early 80s mustiness will really enjoy this […]
MIDNIGHTHellish Expectations Metal Blade (2024)Rating: 7/10 With their sixth full-length studio album, Cleveland, Ohio’s Midnight (aka one-man satanic chief Athenar) brings us more of the same hellish, frothing aggression that drips rawness from every orifice. The cracks leak with an old school speed as Midnight embraces the usual influences like Motörhead and Venom, but with […]
SLIMELORDChytridiomycosis Relinquished 20 Buck Spin (2024)Rating: 8.5/10 Spin Slimelord, just like fellow Brit deathsters Coffin Mulch, has opted for a semi-Lovecraftian splat of psychedelic death metal beginning with a kaleidoscopic splodge of cover art that echoes Tomb Mold’s latest output. And just like Tomb Mold, Coffin Mulch et al, Slimelord continues to perplex with its […]
SKELETAL REMAINSFragments Of The Ageless Century Media (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 I love Skeletal Remains but I don’t like the cover artwork for this, their fifth full-length studio album. So, now I’ve got that out of the way let’s move on to what is essentially a solid follow-up to 2020’s The Entombment Of Chaos. The production, thanks […]
EXHORDERDefectum Omnium Nuclear Blast (2024)Rating: 7/10 With their second album since returning to the fray in 2017, cult band Exhorder have added former Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien to their ranks who joins vocalist / guitarist Kyle Thomas, bassist Jason Viebrooks (ex-Grip Inc.) and drummer Sasha Horn. The formula remains the same from the New […]
