PHANTOMTransylvanian Nightmare EP Inframetal (2024)Rating: 7/10 With cool cover art from Sebastian Frigerio, Transylvanian Nightmare is a ripping heap of black thrash from a Mexican foursome that has been prolific since forming in 2021. After a batch of demos, singles and a debut full-length outing (Handed To Execution) last year, Phantom continues its violent assault […]

TOMBSTONERRot Stink Rip Redefining Darkness (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 I saw the band name and prayed that this wasn’t going to be a stoner “doom” record, and thankfully my prayers were answered. I hadn’t been familiar with this Staten Island, New York-based death metal act even though this is their second full-length album; I missed their Victims […]

ACCEPTHumanoid Napalm (2024)Rating: 8/10 With their 17th full-length studio outing metal legends Accept keeps things on the level with another solid, balls to the wall opus. With no real surprises, Humanoid dishes out great dollops of steel, memorable choruses, sharp riffs, and decent lyrics. Let’s also not forget that Accept can still rattle off waves […]

KILL CITYDarker Days Doc Gator (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 These Ecuadorian rockers are one of the most prolific acts on the scene having just issued their third full-length experience since forming on 2019. With Kill City you get straight up, high energy, heavy metal that’s fluid, crisp, melodic and memorable. Vocalist Chemel Neme has a very clear […]

DARKTHRONEIt Beckons Us All Peaceville (2024)Rating: 7/10 After the comedy capers on the cover of 2022’s Astral Fortress, the Norwegian duo of Ted “Nocturno Culto” Skejellum and Gylve “Fenriz” Nagell return, rather quickly, with their more serious looking It Beckons Us All. As I expected this is another foray in Celtic Frost-inspired landscapes as the […]

DEICIDEBanished By Sin Reigning Phoenix Music (2024)Rating: 7/10 Florida-based death metallers Deicide unleashes its latest heap of satanic cheese and boy, is it fun! Sure, after their first two trailblazing albums – Deicide (1990) and Legion (1992) – the novelty of Deicide quickly wore off for me, but I’ve always jumped into subsequent releases and […]

MORGUL BLADEHeavy Metal Wraiths No Remorse (2024)Rating: 8/10 Following on from their 2021 full-length debut Fell Sorcery Abounds, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based sorcerers Morgul Blade return with Heavy Metal Wraiths, a dazzling record wrapped in cool artwork. Morgul Blade is somewhat clever in their musical structures due to the faint waft of blackened essence that hovers around […]

BRONZEIn Chains And Shadows Self-released (2024)Rating: 6.5/10 Don your armour and grab your sword because this Spanish / Swedish combo are ready to rumble. In Chains And Shadows is the debut full-length album from Bronze who began life in 2010 as Kramp but decided on the name change in August 2023. As Kramp they were […]

ASTRAL GATEWAYSpectral Dimensions Unraveled EP Iron Fortress (2024)Rating: 8/10 This is the debut EP from Astral Gateway, the solo project of Tennessee native Arian Mauk who has leant his talent to various projects including Chunked and Pissrot. Spectral Dimensions Unraveled is a three track unearthly death metal platter dripping with wild, chaotic menace. Vocally it’s […]

CADAVERIC MUTATIONSexual Devouring And Transmutation EP Self-released (2024)Rating: 7/10 Not so long ago I reviewed Cadaveric Mutation’s debut demo and the Brazilian death metal dudes have slithered back for some more unhealthy slop. As expected with this release the band continues to wallow in the depths of stinking gore, so prepare yourself for 11 minutes […]