TEITANBLOODFrom The Visceral Abyss NoEvDia / The Ajna Offensive (2025)Rating: 8.5/10 After six long years dwelling in some pitch black state of silence, Spanish scare-mongers Teitanblood peep out from the cracks and deliver another set of horrible waves to consume the most hardened of souls. Although not blessed with as many ambient segments, From The […]
ASCALONThe Black Library Self-released (2025)Rating: 7/10 The debut full-length album from UK tribe Ascalon is a treasure trove of influences ranging from Blind Guardian and Twisted Tower Dire to Amulet and Iron Maiden. It’s also an album that had me asking, why has it taken 13 years to get round to releasing such a mystical […]
CHAMBER MAGEBy Light Of Emerald Gods Nameless Grave (2025)Rating: 7/10 Draw your swords and take to the fens as these Colorado warriors go into battle with their debut full-length album. “I hope the Gods hear my call,” croons Avery Berg, who I’m sure spends many of his singing days atop a misty mountain wailing to […]
SAVAGE MASTERDark & Dangerous Shadow Kingdom (2025)Rating: 8/10 “Night flight bells are ringing, awaken in the Devil’s domain, Midnight, hear the creatures singing, under the Master’s Reign” – the perfect lyrics to kick off another album from Stacey Savage and her cloaked clan of metal barbarians. Ever reliable, Kentucky’s Savage Master once again tiptoes through […]
STEALTHMetal Force Witches Brew (2025)Rating: 6/10 The album title is certainly fitting for this online magazine and the cover art is better suited to 1984, such is its cheesiness. When I see this sort of art work I wonder if Stealth is attempting to look retro, or simply the illustrator isn’t very good. Whatever the […]
CORPUS OFFALCorpus Offal 20 Buck Spin (2025)Rating: 7.5/10 Finally laying the ghost of Cerebral Rot to rest, former members Ian Schwab (vocals and guitar) and Clyle Lindstrom (guitar) alongside Jason Sachs (bass, ex-Demoncy) and Jesse Shreibman (drums, Bell Witch / Autophagy) embark on the debut full-length Corpus Offal album. For those of you who heard […]
SEVEN DOORSThe Final Gate EP Iron Fortress (2025)Rating: 7.5/10 Keeping the UK death metal flag flying is Ryan Wills, a horror-obsessed musician also responsible for last year’s Freudstein album, Echoes From Beyond, which is cool if you like music akin to horror movie scores. With Seven Doors, this is another excellent release in a long […]
TOWERLet There Be Dark Cruz Del Sur Music (2025)Rating: 9/10 I have to say that the opening track ‘Under The Chapel’ on New York City-based Tower’s third full-length effort is one of the best metal songs I’ve heard this year, if not the last decade! Propelled exquisitely by the vocal prowess of leading lady Sarabeth […]
DEFENDERDying To Live Metalapolis (2025)Rating: 6/10 For fans of this German act this debut full-length outing has been a long time coming. Defender formed in 2016 and an EP, Rising High, emerged two years later, but when a compilation was issued in 2020 I assumed that was it for the Balingen-based band. Fast forward four […]
RANCID CADAVERMortality Denied Cavernous / Iron Fortress (2025)Rating: 7.5/10 With releases his year from Trench Foot, Chestcrush, Caustic Phlegm, Seven Doors and now Rancid Cadaver, it’s looking like the UK death metal juggernaut is showing no signs of slowing down. Mortality Denied is the full-length debut from this impressive Scottish clan who so far has […]
