SUSURRANT VOID Ontological Degradation (2025) Putting the pit into Pittsburgh is the first demo from utterly abysmal death-doom act, Susurrant Void. One intro (‘Delusions Of Dreams’) and three tracks (‘Withering Epiphanies’, ‘Multidimensional Permeations’ and ‘Solipsistic Viscera’) with a total duration of 29 minutes is all I can take as I’m dragged against my will into […]

HEDONIST Scapulimancy Southern Lord Recordings (2025) Rating: 8/10 According to the not always reliable Wikipedia, “scapulimancy” is “the practice of divination by use of scapulae or speal bones (shoulder blades)”. A rather obscurely fascinating name for an album then, the first by Canadian death metal act Hedonist. This Victoria, British Columbia-based combo released their debut […]

COROTTED Realm Of Insanity Basement Critter Recordings (2025) Rating: 7/10 Realm Of Insanity is the second full-length from Pennsylvanian thrashers Corotted. It comes after last year’s debut album Kill For Die For, which I somehow missed. However, finding this new offering has been one of the most rewarding experiences of the year, and it’s not […]

BLOOD RAGE Return To Crimson Pines EP Self-released (2025) Rating: 7/10 Like all good horror film sequels (and believe me, there aren’t many), Return To Crimson Pines is the continuation process of Welsh death metal band Blood Rage. With cover art plucked straight from one of my favourite 80s horror movies, The Burning, Return To […]