Category: Death Metal

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SHROUD OF VULTURE – Upon a Throne of Jackals – REVIEW

Indy’s Shroud of Vulture’s debut release, “Upon a Throne of Jackals,”  overflows with plenty of oozing, sludgy, thick monstrous Doom/Death Metal. Starting things off with the dark and plodding instrumental, “Final Spasms of the Drowned” The faint screams heard in the background of this song really give it a haunting pulse and perfectly set up the mood and feel for the rest of the album. “The Altar,” has an incredible groove that you’d have to be dead not to bang your head to. (even then, that’s not much of an excuse.)”Perverted Reflection,” starts of with a creeping crawl before changing things up and adding some Black Metal influenced blast beats. Clearly the guys in Shroud of Vultures are comfortable in experimenting by adding many different styles and elements to their Doom fueled rage. “Invert Every Throne,” includes some elements of Thrash with its sickened and nasty riffs. “Stone Coffin of Existence,” finds the band at their sickest and darkest. There are still plenty of heavy, plodding caveman riffs to found out throughout this release that keep the album thick heavy and nasty. The vocals are deep, haunting and full of unhuman anger that pair up perfectly with the songs on this album. Perfect listening to pair with a nice black cup of Trve Kvlt Coffee.

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HUMANITY IS CANCER – Humanity is Cancer – REVIEW

Maybe we are a little biased here at Trve Kvlt Coffee but some of best and nastiest extreme metal music is coming out from our home state of Ohio. Straight out of Cleveland, Humanity is Cancer have just released their incredibly hard hitting debut self titled EP. It took a few years for this project to be released as all band members are involved in various different projects. If there ever was a time to make a statement that “Humanity is Cancer,”with the pandemic, social injustice and environmental worries, now is the perfect time to remind people that humans for the most part suck.

With so much talent and experience in this group, it comes as little surprise that this is a well polished recording. It hits, rips and shreds where it needs to, it’s simple no nonsense, take no prisoners death metal. Guitars are plentiful and powerful packing tons of heavy riffs and down and dirty rhythms. The bass is right there down in trenches delivering a murky beat and blends in perfectly with some incredible drum work on “The Punishment Due.” Now, let’s not forget the vocals. Vocalist Noah Buchanan’s (Nunslaughter/From the Hellmouth) screams and growls create an intense performance on this release that varies enough to keep things moving, exciting and fresh. With a run time of roughly 17 minutes, this is worth a couple of spins at a time. 

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CELESTIAL SANCTUARY – Soul Diminished – REVIEW

 

To start off the band bills themselves at the top of the game in  “The New Wave of British Death Metal,” In addition, the group’s name comes from a track off of the legendary Bolt Thrower’s 1992 masterpiece, The IVth Crusade. Before even starting to listen to the album, Celestial Sanctuary come across hard and heavy with some rather boastful claims. Thankfully, the album lives up to the hype. Having formed only recently in 2019, this is a surprisingly solid debut release that is full of killer brutality from start to finish. If you dig skull splitting, knuckle dragging classic Death Metal, make sure not to let this one slip past you. All the songs are killer with absolute no filler. Opening track, “Rid the Gormless,” comes out with  hard old school, mid tempo Death Metal brutality that instantly hooks you in. “Wretched Habits,” is a great showcase in the slower is usually heavier way of thinking and has some immensely  savage riffs. “Mass Extinction,” is perhaps the standout track here that really showcases the band’s strengths with brutal riffs and savage vocals that will leave you wanting crank it up well past 11. It’s refreshing to hear that Celestial Sanctuary still manage to make their sound their own even as they pay heavy tribute to bands like Obituary and Bolt Thrower. If you are still curious if the underground is able carry the torch and continue the sick mission of classic Death Metal, give this one a spin.

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POISON WIND – Virus! – REVIEW

As we inch closer to shows opening back up and the year anniversary of Covid shutting everything thing down in the first place, we actually starting to see new  projects and albums come emerge from this rather bleak period of time. Poison Wind bills itself as a “Quarantine Band.” The group was formed in the earlier stages of the pandemic by Brian Magar (Cultic, The Owls ANWTS) who brought together some of his musician friends from other groups to remotely compose and record 8 tracks which would become “Virus!” Mager laid down the groundwork with the drum tracks then passed the recording off to the rest of the group who supplied the guitars, bass and vocals. The band did not know who or which members they were working with at any time

With such a unique method of recording it has captured an extreme metal album the encompasses many different elements ranging from Doom, Sludge, Black, Death, Grind and even some Thrash elements. The songs themselves riff of the chaos that has been the last year with such titles as, “Branch Covidians,” “Get me out,” and “Wear a Fucking Mask!”

All of this adds up to a satisfying listen full of diversity ,some killer experimentation and good ol’ fashioned cooped up quarantine fury. More than a novelty album, this is proof something good can come out of a lockdown.

 

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ASSIMILATION – Tainting the Purity – REVIEW

Unrelenting Death Metal that sounds like it came straight from the early nineties AND a King Diamond cover?! Who said 2020 had to be a total shit show? With the first glance of the album art, you get a pretty good feeling on what you are getting yourself into. Fucking brutal chaos is what. Assimilation are back with their second album with plenty of blood thirsty, ripping and technical Death Metal. With pummeling blast beats, frenzied guitar work and some great vocals to tie it all together, this is a pure tumultuous Death Metal bliss.

This album is stuffed full with incredible musicianship. The technical guitar riffs and screaming solos stand out amidst the general chaos created here. Even though Assimilation are striving for a well established old and familiar sound, they still manage to feel “fresh” and that may be one of the album’s strongest points. Well, aside from an incredible King Diamond Cover. (don’t worry they keep plenty of falsettos in) 

“Tainting The Purity,” feels much like a long lost discovery from Death Metal’s classic and humble beginnings with plenty of high speed thrash intensity and brutality. Don’t expect any world changing or politically themed lyrics here either. With song titles like, “Immortality Through Consumption,” “Open Hospitality,” and Deformed Musculature,” this is an unapologetic classic old school Death Metal album. Breakdowns need not apply. 

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CRISISACT – Turn It Off – REVIEW

It’s refreshing to see that we are getting some good things out of this never ending pandemic. Since no one is touring for the time being, many of our beloved musicians have been able to make the most out of a shitty situation and focus their time and talent on side projects that may have otherwise never seen the light of day. 

 

Crisisact was formed by members of Psycroptic, Revocation and King Parrot, so going in you know the level of musicianship is going to be top notch. Although Crisisact is a little more stripped down than the founders’ fulltime gigs, this album still manages to stand firmly on it’s own merits. Crisisact’s debut release pulls no punches, coming in strong, fast and dirty. With 11 tracks and only about 10 minutes of playtime, this ferocious fury of old school grind/death metal hits hard and leaves a mark. 

 

While the hooks and grooves are rather simple considering the guys playing them, they are catchy as hell. This album is equally groovy as it is grindy. The title track, “Turn It Off,” is an excellent opener that perfectly showcases Crisisact’s sound. The band even managed to make a music video for “The Dog in me Unleashed,” which is definitely worthy of a 1 minute trip to Youtube.

 

“Turn It Off,” is pure crusty chaos peppered with elements of grindcore, hardcore and some good old fashioned tried and true punk rock for an intense listen that may lead to permanent neck damage. 

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INTOXICATED – Walled – REVIEW

Florida is brutal. Brutal heat, brutal storms, brutal people and brutal death metal. Intoxicated are adding another element of brutality to that list with their thrash infused debut release, “Walled.” This album has been a long time coming for the group with almost 30 years in the making as the band worked on other projects touring and playing with such acts as Obituary and Andrew W.K. The Trio never gave up on their original dream of playing killer no holds barred thrash metal . With that in mind, the tracks on this album feel like they bridge that early 90’s thrash and death metal gap. 

 

The album cover immediately gives off a Municipal Waste feel and for me that’s a sign of some killer thrash. The vocals are clean but have a certain dirty quality to them. The guitars are loaded with plenty of banging riffs and are tight. It’s clear this band has been together for quite some time. Openers “Smash the Line,” and “Get the Rope” are total thrashers that will make you want to fuck shit up in the pit. The second half of the album is where the bands musicianship really shines with tight riffs and grooves and some nasty vocals. 

 

This album lives up to the hype. Let’s just hope they do not make us wait another 30 years before giving us more. 

 

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LETULARIUS – Parasitic Subjugation – REVIEW

 

Lectularius bills itself as a “Brutal parasitic Death Metal from Dayton, Ohio.” This is a pretty apt description. When you stop to think about, bed bugs are fucking brutal and metal as hell. They feast on your blood as you sleep, multiply alarmingly fast, are seemingly impossible to kill and always return just like any good movie villain. It’s a surprise metal bands don’t sing about parasites as much. The name of the album, “Parasitic Subjugation,” is the perfect title to describe the type of music that’s in store with plenty of horrific tales of disgusting and terrifying minute blood suckers. The voice overs that introduce the songs are a nice touch and just as horrifying as the songs themselves. 

 

Parasitic Subjugation is a treat for fans of old school brutal Death Metal. Plenty of crunchy, heavy riffs, deep guttural vocals and screams pound their sound into your skull. The group also manages to add a touch of Grindcore to mix things up. There are only 5 songs on this release, but each song varies enough to warrant several replays. Hopefully the world gets it’s shit together as this would be a cool act to catch live. This a classic no frills unapologetic Brutal Death Metal album that may leave double checking your bed for unexpected visitors before turning off the lights 

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SHEZMU – A Travers Les Lambeaux – REVIEW

 

Shezmu is basically the Egyptian demon god of wine, oils, blood and slaughter, which makes for a fucking epic band name. The band lives up to the expectations of their namesake by delivering an absolutely crushing debut album.

 

The lower end guttural vocals are perfectly blended into the sonicscape of maniacal musicship that goes from lurches along one moment to fast and frenzied burst the next. Shemzu perfectly blends the best elements of extreme Metals like Doom, Death, Black and even some atmospheric bits like some sort of twisted alchemist. With thick and meaty groove riffs that quickly change tempo alongside some solid drumming, pounding bass and wild variety of vocal effects, Shemzu are putting something out that is both fresh and familiar. 

“Les Secrets des Ziggourats,” has an amazing mid song groove, alongside some incredible blackened thrash and some additional haunting vocals to great effect. The interlude ,”La Rage,” is haunting and eerily relaxing instrumental that perfectly breaks up an otherwise rather intense album. 

With plenty of unrelenting brutality expertly mixed with intense and almost hallucinogenic atmospheric vibes,” A Travers Les Lambeaux” is a truly unique take on tried and true Extreme Metal components while remaining faithful to the source material. 

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CHRONICLES – War Machine – REVIEW

 

Hailing from Dhaka, Bangladesh, ChroninicleS formed in 2015. After honing their craft for a few years the band independently released their debut EP, War Machine, in November 15th 2019. Bangladesh may not be well known for extreme Metal but the dudes in ChronicleS have sure done thier homework.

With plenty of fresh and evil energy with a hint of the old school Death Metal vibe, War Machine has plenty to like. The EP starts of with Call Your God. This track sets the tone with evil guttural  and screaching vocals, pounding bass and some impressive riffing. Add in some killer drum work with some intense blast beats and you have great intro track.  The next song, কসাই বধ (your guess is as good a mine) is a shorter track with a nice ambient feel midway through the song. The title track, War Machine, is the stand out on this EP with some great guitar work from the fiendish riffs that will have you banging your fists to th blast beats that will tear down walls. The screaching vocal style is extremely effective hear. Anubis the Perserver of Osiris nicely finishes the EP. The track starts of with a burst of speed and nasty agression and slows down with some great guitar solo trade offs before ending.

With only 4 tracks and a little over 15 minutes of music, War Machine was made for multiple listens as you drink your morning Kaffe Storm Coffee and finish your brutal drive to work.