SIGN OF THE JACKALHeavy Metal Survivors Dying Victims Productions (2024)Rating: 8/10 After a couple of changes in personnel (Dave L. “Dröz” replacing Max Pinkle on guitar and Frederick “Triple F” replacing Nick “DevilDrunk” on bass), Italian rockers Sign Of The Jackal embark upon their third full-length. I was a big fan of the band’s 2013 […]
TOXAEMIARejected Souls Of Kerberus Emanzipation Productions (2024)Rating: 7/10 There may be a different vocalist and lead guitarist but this is still the same Toxaemia some of us enjoyed back in the early 90s. It’s a shame of course that the Swedish death clan split in 1991 without issuing an album, but on a positive note […]
TROLLCAVEAdoration Of The Abyssal Trespasser EP Me Saco Un Ojo / BlackSeed Productions (2024)Rating: 8/10 It appears that the heaviest release of the year has waited until winter is upon us to announce its dismal presence. In reality, Trollcave should have been born within the dust of some abysmal Scandinavian crypt rather than the warmer […]
BEASTAncient Powers Rising Self-released (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 Galloping in traditional metal style, Ancient Powers Rising is the sturdy debut full-length outing from Osnabrück, Germany-based foursome Beast. To be honest, I expected this album to be one of those contemporary soulless creations and yet my frosty scepticism was soon melted by the calming vocals of frontman Philipp […]
GAUNTLET RULEAfter The Kill Fighter (2024)Rating: 6/10 Guitarist Rogga Johansson, alongside fellow journeymen Teddy Möller (vocals) and Peter Svensson (bass), is back in the Gauntlet Rule fold, two years after the Swedish band’s debut full-length outing The Plague Court. I have to confess that I’ve rarely been excited for a majority of Johansson’s projects and […]
IMPELLITTERIWar Machine Frontiers (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 Another album in and American guitar master Chris Impellitteri once again blows speakers and eardrums with his neo-classical shredding. More belligerent than the likes of Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Impellitteri – in whichever form – has channelled fiery power metal aesthetics since the 80s and with War Machine prepare to be […]
MASSACRENecrolution Agonia (2024)Rating: 6.5/10 Massacre. What is there left to say? With the Florida band’s origins in the dusty confines of the mid-80s and an alleged classic debut album, From Beyond, in 1991, Massacre’s reputation and quality has somewhat eluded me over the decades. Eternally led by the fierce Kam Lee, Massacre may deserve its […]
MOLDERCatastrophic Reconfiguration Prosthetic (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 The look and sound of Illinois-based deathsters Molder epitomizes the current death metal scene, from the ghoulishĺy fat guitar sound right down to the track titles, lyrics and cover art. Molder may not be as swampy as some, although embroiled in those garish green textures and that lurid logo is […]
CRYPTIC BROODNecrotic Flesh Bacteria War Anthem / Lycanthropic Chants (2024)Rating: 8/10 A great little piece of trashy artwork accompanies the third full-length studio album from Wolfsburg, Germany based Cryptic Brood. As expected, Necrotic Flesh Bacteria is another weird and wonderful journey into the twisted minds of a trio who fuses slabs of slime-coated doom and […]
