Category: Death Metal

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A LA CARTE – Born to Entertain – REVIEW

 

I’m not a big turkey guy when it comes to Thanksgiving. Sure, I’ll savory some on the day but for me the real stars of the meal are the abundant offering of side dishes available. Among my favorites are mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce (but only if it retains its traditional dog food can shape.)

If A La Carte’s new album is any indication, I will be trying a few new sides this year. “Ashtray Souffle,” “Chamber Pot Pie,” and “Maxi Pad Thai,” are just a few of the scrumptious options available on their latest release, Born to Entertain. 

A La Carte out of Lima, Ohio accurately describes itself as “Brutal gruesome food porn with a beat.” Beyond the humorous gimmick is an incredible band that has already upped their game from their debut album, Soup Dejour. Opening with the title track, A La Carte waste no time with thunderous beats, devilish dual vocals, some killer riffs.

The sound bites are the perfect palate cleanser as you move on to the next dish (or track). While the song titles and lyrics are goofy and fun don’t let that cause you to sleep on the band’s incredible musicianship as the songs are incredibly technical and savage. The dual vocals really up the game from their previous release. “Chamber Pot Pie “is one of the best offerings from this meal.

There are also plenty of good ol’ monster and caveman riffs to keep even the most jaded Death Metal fans happy. These cannibalistic cooks certainly know their way around a recording studio just as well as they know their way around a kitchen. Born to Entertain does just that and you will find yourself going back for seconds (and thirds).

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MORGUE TERROR – Violent and Murderous Thoughts – Review

 

Fuck this holiday shit. Let’s get Nasty. Morgue Teror is back with again with their second EP of 2024, Violent and Murderous Thoughts. The band, fitting from Buffalo New York, with their down and dirty, murky as fuck old school Death Metal are here to chase away any of those pesky Xmas Carols or Karens.

From the moment the needle drops on this EP, you are punched square in the jaw and kicked in the bread basket for good measure. The addition of drummer Dustin Klimek (ex Full of Hell) Morgue Terror is already showing significant growth since their debut EP earlier this year. Klimek’s aggressive assault adds plenty of power to an already violent sound.

The vocals are super guttural and savage. I can’t understand a thing he’s going on about. He could be singing about his recent trip to the grocery store for all I care. The album tracks are mostly about murders committed by serial killers and other tales to tell your children before sending them off to bed.

While this EP is filled with plenty of break neck brutality there are plenty of groove elements as well. “Poisonous Prayer,” starts out with funky filling bass line before settling into some nice infectious and nasty grooves.

Morgue Terror has shown some impressive growth from their last EP which was just released earlier this year. With their uncompromising brutality of classic Death Metal that is raw and nasty with a touch of more modern production.

Turn this one up!

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MUTILATED BY ZOMBIES – Scenes From the Afterlife – REVIEW

 

This recent heatwave that has been going on for the last month leaves me not wanting to leave this house. Luckily Mutilation by Zombies’s new album melts my face without even having to step one foot out my door.

The dastardly trio pack an inhuman amount of tight riffs, crushing vocals and swirling tempos in one convenient little  package. These group from Iowa can get a lot more sound with less compared to another certain Iowain band with 37 members.

This is everything you ever loving black heart wants in a good ol’ Death Metal album. Disgusting album art on the outside, sick and twisted tales of horror inside. With tracks such as the neck snapping, “Headcount Rising,” to the spooky and hauntingly somber, “Reincarnate,” what’s not to love?

Scenes from the Aftterlife perfectly melds several types of Death Metal to keep from growing stale. There are plenty of grooves alongside some savage technical passages to keep your skull rattling. If you are looking for more breakdowns and beatdowns they got you covered too.

For my money, “Molten,” is a complete banger of a song. Awesome grooves, crunchy riffs and plenty of pissed of energy to share. Crank this one up to 11 and scorch the neighborhood.

 

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MORGUE TERROR- Self Titled -REVIEW

At first glance the cover to Morgue Terror’s debut EP looks like a Dangerous Toys album or a Flea Market grade Art the Clown. The truth is Morgue Terror is an album about Horror’s newest Icon, Art the Clown from the Terrifer films. The band likely had to tweak the image enough to keep everyone’s lawyers happy.

Just like the films the songs are based off, Morgue Terror plays sick and brutal. There is a ton of groove behind the mayhem that gives off impressive early Cannibal Corpse vibes. “Salt the Wound,” is a neck snapper with some sick riffs and even nastier vocals. As the track goes on Morgue Terror turns up the heat and adds some pretty tasty solos.

“Night Stalker,” slows the pace but keeps the groove. The blast beat drums at the mid point pair perfectly with another impressive solo buy guest guitarist Brian Mason. “Broken, Beaten, Beheaded,” brings more intense riffage to the table that hammer the licks into your head. “Morbid Curiosities,” has a nice early thrash feel in the beginning that quickly quicks into high gear making it one of the more faster and brutal tracks on the EP.

“Chopped up Chum,” closes things out with a crawl that quickly amps up it into a wild frenzy of mayhem. Just as the song nears the end, everything slows down to an erries on easy crawl as the sound filters out.  Much like the films the music is based on Morgue Terror are a sick assault on the senses, with stabbing riffs, bludgeoning drums and sickening vocals.

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ESANGUINATE – Eldritch Anatomy – REVIEW

 

Now that we are settled down in the New Year, it’s time we revisit some filth from years past with Esanguinate’s nasty debut album, Eldritch Anatomy. Not for the faint of heart, this release hits almost as hard as a steaming cup of our Kaffe Storm.

When the record starts, Esanguinate rockets out of the grave. The band leaves not a moment to waste.Starting out you will instantly notice some old school Death Metal sounds and feels that resemble Massacre and Morbid Angel. It has an old school feel but the band adds another layer of murkiness that elevates the atmosphere. Esanguinate songs here mostly draw upon a dark occult theme. The band does a great job including just the right of tremolo picking to drive  that feeling home. Not quite Black Metal here but just enough to bring in the right amount of darkness.

There is a ton to like here. For the most part Esanguinate has a mixed bag tunes here. Some tracks come in hard and thrashy perfectly rattling your spine. Others slow down, taking more of a Doom feeling atmospheric approach. Vocalist Andrej Čuk does an incredible job here switching his sound from style to style.  Plenty of killer thrash and Death Metal riffs to keep your inner head banger happy.  There is enough variety here that this album was made for repeat listens. It would really be interesting to see how the band handles performing these songs alive.

For a debut band this is one hell of a solid release. This will be one to watch.

 

 

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SUFFER, Gristle, Bruised Spots & Trimmed Fat – REVIEW

 

South Dakota’s Suffer was formed way back in 1989. The members were only teenagers at the time but where still able to boast themselves as pioneers of the early Brutal Death Metal movement. Admittedly I had never heard of Suffer prior to checking out this EP. I quickly learned that I need to correct this mistake.

While the band never really enjoyed the attention other extreme bands enjoyed in the 90s, Suffer has plenty left to prove with this EP. Opening track, “Human Primal Cuts,” is a brutal monster. The riffs are hard as hell but they still leave plenty of melody with the guitar solos. The vocals go hard and are right on par with Carcass. That’s a huge plus in my book. Speaking of Carcass, the lyrics are sick, twisted and foul. Suffer may not have released a proper album in over 20 years but they sure haven’t lost any of their brutality in any of that time.

With only 3 new songs on this EP it’s enough to whet your appetite for the next album. Thankfully Suffer isn’t going to make us “Suffer,” (sorry) and wait too long for their next release. Their next full length album, Grand Canvas of Aesthete, is coming out this year. You can preorder the upcoming album at Wise Blood Records  starting 1/29/23.

In the meantime, I’m going to check out the rest of Suffer’s discography.

 

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VHS – Quest for the Mighty Riff – REVIEW

 

You gotta hand it to VHS. Death Metal hasn’t been this fun in ages. Not only that, but their music simply rips and consistently gets better with each release. Each album also follows a different theme usually having to do with some sort of movie or television show. Past themes include Vampires, Italian horror and killer sharks. This time VHS ventures slightly outside of horror and into the realm of fantasy. Quest for the Mighty Riff is one awesome journey that you’ll want to be part of. ( *SPOILER ALERT* There are plenty of mighty riffs to be found here)

VHS plays tribute to some of the best there is in Sci-Fi and Fantasy films suchs as Excalibur, Highlander, He-Man and Beastmaster.  As a product of the 80s I wholeheartedly approve.

The album starts with some perfectly epic narration as VHS begins their Quest for the Mighty Riff. “Cleve ’em and Leave ’em,” starts things out fast with some nice and fierce punk fueled mayhem. It’s the perfect blend of Death and punk. In true punk fashion it barely last 90 seconds but still leaves a mark.

VHS keeps the party going buy continuously melding genres. You’ll hear plenty of Death Metal mixed with grind, thrash, punk and even some old school traditional metal (“Hail King Arthur,” I’m looking at you.) No two songs sound the same as VHS throws more killer riffs and styles than you know what to do with.

For me, “Eternia Needs a Hero,” is the standout track. Not just because the world needs more songs about Skelator. I’m a sucker for anything in the vein of Black Thrash and this song fucking delivers that and more. The riffs are punchy, the vocals are sicks and twisted and the lyrics are funny as hell.

dea does what many albums hope to do; provide a little something for everyone. No matter what genre of Metal you dig, you are gonna find something to love here.

 

 

 

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CORPSESSED – Skeletal Grotesquery – REVIEW

If it wasn’t for the few moments of crowd interactions between songs and the band introduction towards the end of the album, I would not have pegged this for a live album. Corpsessed are just that tight live. Not to mention fucking brutal.

Skeletal Grotesquery was recorded live just last year at the Braincrusher in Hell Festival that took place in Germany. Corpsessed must have taken the festival name to heart as this is a totally savage performance. If you are one that finds themselves on the fence regarding live albums, this may the one that sways your outlook.

If you are new to the band, this performance highlights 9 of groups best tracks. The vocals are awesomely savage and guttural  matching perfectly with the mid tempo and murky guitars. There is plenty of complexity to their sound. The fact that they can pull this sound off so efficiently makes for such a satisfying listen. You can literally feel the brutality coming off this recording.

Judging from what is heard here, Corpsessed are a fucking ferocious live.

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DEMONSTEALER – The Propaganda Machine – REVIEW

 

Coming to us from India is Demonstealer. The man behind Demonic Resurrection has put together 8 tracks that are the collective vision of 4 drummers, 4 bassists, 3 lead guitarists and one keyboardist from all across the planet.

While that’s a lot of cooks working on the same meal, the results here are for the most part pretty damn impressive. “The Fear Campaign,” starts off the album with a huge jolt and barley lets up in it’s 6 minute playtime. Everything sounds larger than life from the thunderous bass and drums, sick vocals and some really catchy synth tones. Is it Melodic Death Metal or is it Symphonic? I dont give a shit, all I know this is one helluva a banger and it perfectly starts the album.

As you listen to the following tracks, you can hear the different flavors that each artist brings to the table. Some parts are more brutal, some are more technical but it all feels like it is coming from the same band. That’s a big plus in my book as often times collaborative efforts feel like a different band with each song.

The only parts I can’t deal with are the Metalcore clean chorus parts. They are too monotonous and take me completely out of the song. Maybe I’m just an old man and don’t understand the genre. The Death Metal vocals however are brutal as fuck and thoroughly make up for it.

While the album seems to loose a little steam at the midpoint, the first 2 tracks on this recording are so intoxicating, you’ll find yourself wanting to listen to more.

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ARDENT NOVA – Self Titled – REVIEW

Upon playing the opening into track, I was prepared for a heavy handed dose of Power Metal. While I quite enjoy the style and sound in the intro the rest of the album’s sound is vastly different.  Once the second track, “Rise from the Ashes,” kicks in Ardent Nova quickly change gears to a Heavy Thrash and Melodic Death style. There are still plenty of epic Power Metal elements here. Only without the operatic and often times chessey over the top vocals. The vocals on the this album are harsh,callous and out for blood.

The band was originally known as Pagan Thunder when they first formed over 20 years ago, now going Ardent Nova, they have released an amazing self titled release. If you are a fan of Melodic Death Metal, you’ll find yourself enjoying the abundant harmonies and groves. Thrashers will enjoy the speed and fans of Power Metal will be ready to ride into battle.

Some may want to label the band “Viking Metal,” as most of the songs are written about epic battles and Pagan beliefs. Which may be fair but it would be an injustice to Ardent Nova to compare them to other well known “Viking Bands.”  I love Amon Amarth but Ardent Nova just hit on a whole new level.

Make sure to give this one a listen, you won’t be disappointed.