READY FOR DEATH Pay With Your Face Translation Loss (2025) Rating: 8/10 Pay With Your Face is the second full-length album from Chicago, Illinois-based death thrashers Ready For Death. Housed in cover art illustrated by Ed Repka which depicts a droid soldier having his face ripped apart by ravenous rats, the combo bring a degree […]

WANTED Cutting Edge Eönian (2025) Rating: 8/10 Since their debut full-length album Chain Reaction in 2022, Detroit, Michigan-based combo Wanted have been one of my favourite heavy rock bands. And with this latest outing, Wanted have once again delivered a sumptuous display of sizzling rock that successfully bridges the gap between Dokken, White Lion and […]

INHUMAN CONDITION Mind Trap High Roller / Listenable Insanity (2025) Rating: 8/10 I like Inhuman Condition, a Floridian death thrash act that has somehow managed to issue three albums and an EP since forming just five years ago. Same line-up, same sound, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Mind Trap, with cool cover art depicting […]

SODOM The Arsonist Steamhammer / SPV (2025) Rating: 8/10 With their latest full-length studio outing, German thrash veterans Sodom reel off another volatile yet somewhat predictable batch of heavily armed and armoured songs. Like fellow countrymen Destruction, Sodom has remained unflinching with their catalogue, gradually over time shifting from a primitive thrash streaked with blackness […]

HELMS DEEP Chasing The Dragon Nameless Grave (2025) Rating: 8.5/10 Very much steeped in the mists of metal lore, sophomore full-length outing Chasing The Dragon is Florida’s Helms Deep once again nodding to the 80s. However, there’s so much more to this opus than just cheesy homage. Instead, this foursome frazzles the ears with some […]

ANGEL OF DAMNATION Ethereal Blasphemy Dying Victims Productions (2025) Rating: 8/10 With only their third full-length in just over 20 years, this German combo, who go by the names Doomcult Messiah (vocals), Avenger (guitar, bass and keyboards), Forcas (bass) and Neudi (drums), are a well travelled bunch. Between them they have been in at least […]

METAL DETEKTOR Violence And Pride Rude Awakening (2025) Rating: 6.5/10 I didn’t realise that this Italian bunch has been around for 25 years. I’m not sure where they’ve been hiding but this is their third full-length release, although it’s been five years since the last effort, The Battle Of Daytona, while debut album, H.O.T. (Hold […]

SMOULDERING TOMB Maledictions Upon The Wretched EP Self-released (2025) Rating: 7.5/10 Another UK independent release has emerged from the death metal underground, this time in the form of Smouldering Tomb. I used to live in Kent, in the south-east of England and would regularly take trips to Brighton. Little did I realise that something was […]

LUCILLE Dawn Of Destruction Dying Victims Productions (2025) Rating: 7/10 Now here’s a band that has taken its time releasing a full-length debut. Eight years into their career and with just a sole EP (Too Proud To Beg For Mercy, 2021) under their leather belts, this Polish thrash combo unleashes Dawn Of Destruction. The musical […]

CRYPTOPSY An Insatiable Violence Season Of Mist (2025) Rating: 8/10 Grinding their gears for another slab of hostility, Montréal’s Cryptopsy unleashes its latest full-length opus as if time on Earth is running out. The blitz is expected, a full on tirade of battering rhythms and intricate structures which nod towards all previous records while maintaining […]