MASTICATED CADAVERProgression Towards Total Maceration Self-released (2024)Rating: 7/10 Now, I’ve never spent time in the depths of a sewer system and neither have I ever eaten pond algae, but after listening to Masticated Cadaver I feel like I’ve experienced both. Despite having reviewed the band’s debut 2023 demo Necrotic Mutation, I still know very little […]

IRON FRONTHooked Creator-Destructor (2024)Rating: 7/10 It’s good to see that these Oakland, California-based youngsters have crafted a second album in the form of Hooked, and comes after the decent 2022 debut Left Out To Rot. The five-piece started out in 2016 as Dire Wolves, before morphing into Iron Front in 2019. I do think the […]

SACRILATORMaximum Execution Self-released (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 If you missed the two demos – Infernal Old Force (2009) and From Hell (2011) – from this cult Chilean thrash act then I’d advise you pick up this compilation. I’m glad someone has put this out because Sacrilator were such a cool, old school styled act, as many Chilean […]

NITHENight Of The Ghoul EP Self-released (2024)Rating: 8/10 Just how many more quality extreme metal bands can Norway keep vomiting out! Kristiansand-based Nithe is the latest dank and dismal metal act to crawl from the pits with a debut EP that writhes in its own organic waste. Steeped in atmosphere, this four-song release channels old […]

MORGUE TERRORMorgue Terror EP Self-released (2024)Rating: 6.5/10 Here is a new gruesome twosome which hails from Buffalo, New York. The splattery spidery logo and the cartoon horror track titles like ‘Broken, Beaten, Beheaded’ and ‘Chopped Up Chum’ suggested to me a rather slammy vibe, but what you get is a horror-obsessed (particularly with the Terrifier […]

TORTURED CORPSEBurial Mounds EP Self-released (2024)Rating: 7/10 Why not start the New Year with some simple, raging death metal to blow away the blues. This Polish outfit was busy in 2023 releasing two EPs and a live opus and now they have returned with this four-track outing that comes equipped with a standard but enjoyable […]

DUNWICH RITUALThe Weird Tapes Sessions Jawbreaker (2024)Rating: 7.5/10 When I first saw the cover and band name I thought this might be another of those dull sludge stoner fests, but imagine my surprise when I pushed play and was introduced to a zipping French speed metal act. The vocals of fiery femme fatale Věga are […]

DECONSEKRATEDAscension In The Altar Of Condemned Iron, Blood And Death Corporation (2024)Rating: 8/10 The Chilean scene has another worthy addition to its roster as four-piece Deconsekrated unleashes its rather short (28 minutes) debut album. The effect here is something akin to a glut of howling winds as the combo rattles windows, bows doors and snaps […]

PHOSPHOROUSFossilized Remains EP Self-released (2024)Rating: 7/10 Aah, the sweet n’ sickly stench of death metal consumes us once again, this time from Phosphorous, who, as their name suggests are not here to feed us tales of love and light. With its primitive cover art, Fossilized Remains boasts that sepulchral air, a thick waft of humid […]