SARFAUST

Rise Of The Coffin Witch” 2015 CD

(Death Zone Productions)

Sarfaust are a death thrash metal band coming out of Australia’s metal scene and this is their debut album featuring eleven songs of aggressive, semi-violent thrashing death metal. The guitars are a fast, whirlwind style played with skill and experience. The vocals are raw, thrashy screams that fit the bands music perfectly. This is an excellent release worth checking out.  - Patrick

https://sarfaust.bandcamp.com/    https://www.facebook.com/Death-Zone-Prod/    

 

SCAR SYMMETRY

“Symmetric In Design” 2005

(Nuclear Blast America)

Keybored laden lightweight Goteborg style melodic death metal. This is just too lightweight for me, glad this scene is dwindling.  - Dale

 

SCID

“Fucked Beyond Recognition” 2005 CD

(Unmatched Brutality)

Unmatched Brutality continue to impress me with their stellar commitment to promoting their bands. Scid is what you come to expect from U.M., pure unadulterated steamrolling death metal grinding at it’s finest. If you love speed, brutality and riffs you can bang to, then contract a case of Scids.  - Dale

 U.M. Records, PO Box 1869, Powell, TN.37849, USA   www.unmatchedbrutality.com

 

SECRET’S SHE KEPT

“Requiems To Midnight, Woe” 2005

(Morbid Souls Music)

Excellent recording. Floridian black death that sounds a tad too much like new Dark Funeral and old Cradle of Filth for my liking. Some solid riffs and ideas here but it did not come together for me.  - Dale 

M.S. Music, c/o Andrew Parrish, Louisville, OH. 44641, USA  www.geocities.com/morbidsoulsmusic

 

SEPULCHRAL CURSE

Only Ashes Remain" 2020 CD

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

This Finnish bands debut album carries on in the rich tradition of that countries storied death metal history. I hear influences like Adramelech, Demilich, Abhorrence, Amorphis (1st album) & Convulse mixed with some Dismember and a dash of American influence dm influence. This is a really good album of nasty, aggressive and crushing death metal goodness. It is well worth your time and money.  - Dale

https://sepulchralcurse.bandcamp.com/    https://transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com/   

 

SHADE EMPIRE

“Intoxicate O.S.” 2006 CD

(Dynamic Arts Records)

Melodo metal drowned like an unwanted puppy dog, in tons of electronica. It is one wimpy soup of junk.  - Dale

www.dynamicartsrecords.com

 

 

SHADOWBREED

“The Light Of The Shadow” 1999 CD (Unveiling The Wicked)

This is on a new sub-label of Hammerheart records. Mix a little Unleashed / Bolt Thrower with ‘80s heavy metal (Iron Maiden) and you have Shadowbreed. Killer stuff  - Dale.

 

SHAKRA

“Fall” 2005 CD

(AFM Records)

1980s hard rock like a mix of the The Cult with all the glam bands of the era. Yuck, this sucks!  - Dale

www.afm-records-de

 

SKULLFUCK

“The Supreme Ugliness” 2006 CD

(Bestial Burst)

Brutish thrash and old school death mix that owes much to Canadian legends Slaughter! Not as good as the originators but decent nonetheless if you love this style.  - Dale

http://bestialburst.blackmetal.fi

 

SKUMSTRIKE

Execution Void” 2020 Cassette EP

(Caligari Records)

This is an interesting band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is hard to describe exactly, but it is equal parts of black metal & ultra fast, relentless thrash riffing with small chunks of hardcore and punk mixed into the riffs and song structuring. It is fucking brutal and heavy though, incited an adrenaline through my veins that got me headbanging. Different, good, extreme. Give it a try.  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/SKUMSTRIKE    https://www.caligarirecords.bandcamp.com  

 

SLAUGHTER LORD

“Thrash ‘Til Death” CD

(Invictus Productions)

I reviewed this like 6 or 7 years ago when Invictus released it the first time! Here it is again, Slaughter Lord are old Oz thrash legends and if you do not know that, then get this already.  - Dale

www.invictusproductions.net

 

SOULGRINDER ZINE

Assault Volume 2” 2019 Compilation CD

(Self Released)

The first edition leaned more in the black, death, thrash direction largely from South America. This 2nd edition leans more heavily towards heavy metal, speed, death, thrash metal crossover arenas. This time around it is more of an international line-up featuring good to great songs from bands like Fondlecorpse, Eternal Breath, Teratos, Paralysis, Hatchet, Blizzard Hunter, Oblivion, Tormented, MX, Paganfire, Ruin, Gravered, Metal Crucifier and lots more! Great sound, top notch packaging. Get it!  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/soulgrinder.zine/    http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/  

 

 

SOULROT

“Victims Of Spiritual Warfare" 2020 CD

(Memento Mori Records)

Coming out of the prolific UG scene of Chile is Soulrot with their second album. These guys play gut churning metal of death taking the earliest works of bands like Nihilist, Dismember, Slaughter, Carnage, Repulsion, Autopsy, Grave and speeding them up whilst throwing in dirty South American classic grinding chaos. This was a fun headbanging listen for me.  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/soulrotchile    http://www.memento-mori.es/   

 

SPEARHEAD

“Deathless Steel Command” 2006 CD

(Invictus Productions)

War metal with heavy thrash roots, the riffing is fucking awesome!! It makes me want to crush something. A really sick atmosphere to the music. Oh how I like this, unstoppable.  - Dale

www.spearhead.cjb.net 

 

SPELLBOOK

“Magick & Mischief" CD & LP

(Cruz Del Sur Music)

Pennsylvania’s SpellBook (formerly Witch Hazel) chiefly play hard rock with a heavy metal doom undercurrent of the very old school ‘70s variety. I find myself enjoying their memorable & catchy songs as they chug along filling me with some intoxicating nostalgia. The ambitious epic length closer is creative but my least favourite part of an otherwise pretty damn good album. - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/spellbookband/    https://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/  

 

STOMACHAL CORROSION

“Self-TItled” 2019 CD

(Greyhaze Records)

This is the Brazilian grinding death metal bands first new music released in 13 years and features twenty-two tracks of insane blasting grindcore that attacks both the eardrums and the senses. If you are a fan of Agathocles and early Napalm Death then definitely do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this as soon as possible.  - Patrick

https://www.facebook.com/Stomachalcorrosion   https://www.greyhazerecords.com/  

 

STUCK MOJO

“Hvy 1” 1999 Live CD (Century Media)

Trendy start and stop chugga ‘jump metal’ with rap vocals.  Live no less. This is so awful. I feel nauseated!  - Dale

 

SUFISM

“Republik Rakyat Jelata" 2020 CD

(Brutal Mind Records)

This Indonesian band plays fucking brutal death metal in the ‘90s US tradition. It is really heavy death metal with some solid songwriting that had me rapid-fire headbanging at times. The drumming on here is fantastic, but I wish the drums had a fuller, more powerful sound on the recording. If you love old school brutal dm then get this!  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/sufism666    https://brutalmind.bandcamp.com/  

 

 

SUNN

“Black One” 2005 CD

(Southern Lord)

I have always wanted to like Sunn. However, like Boris their brand of tedious do nothing doom was just boring. Here it is not miles better but they have added a bunch of black metal collaborators which has added a sick Beherit-ish crusty feel.  - Dale

 www.southernlord.com 

 

SYNTELEIA

“Ending Of The Unknown Path” 2019 CD

(Hells Headbangers Records)

This is Synteleia’s debut album featuring nine tracks of atmospheric, mid paced black metal. The listener will hear the influence of Greece’s elder gods of the bm scene ala early Rotting Christ, Necromantia & Varathron in their sound. The band does put their own touches to this classic revered style to great a good record.  - Patrick

https://www.facebook.com/synteleia    https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/

 

TEMPLE OV PERVERSION

“Self-Titled” 2019 12” EP

(Clavis Secretorvm Records)

This Swiss band play raw, dirty, filthy blackened deathrash metal insanity. They pay homage to many of the great South American bands from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s! It is evil and grimy and captures that old vintage energy reminds me of the time when the scene was so new and dangerous.  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/Temple-Ov-Perversion-153157598752317    https://www.clavisecretorvm.com   

 

TIAMAT

“Skeleton Skeletron” 1999 CD (Century Media)

HAHAHAHA…What is this? They should at least change the name for the respect of the old fans!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh my dark lord is this bad.  - Dale

 

TESTSWITCH ISOLATOR

“Let’s Dance” 2005 CD

(Casket Music)

Commercial tinged grindcore mixed heavily with jazz and off the wall goofiness. They do it well but it is also fuggin mess at the same time. Great one minute and shite the next, though thankfully more that former than the latter.  - Dale

www.coprorecords.co.uk   www.testswitchisolator.co.uk

 

TIR

“Metal Shock” 2019 CD

(Gates Of Hell Records)

TIR were formed in 1980 (!!!), managing to release just one demo tape from ’80-86, reformed ’89-’97, before finally reforming again in 2005 for the long haul & amazingly releasing their debut album in 2011! This is their second album of absolutely fantastic old school heavy metal with great songs, superb guitar work and ace vocals sung in their native Italian!  - Dale

https://tirheavymetal.bandcamp.com/    https://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/   

 

 

THE TRACEELORDS

“The Ali of Rock” 2006 CD

(AFM Records)

Rock music, the kind you could easily turn the radio on and hear. I just do not listen to commercial shit like this – sorry.  - Dale

 

TRAGEDY IN HOPE

“Smile At Death” 2019 Digital Release & Digipak CD

(Self Released)

Russian symphonic black metal with dark metal & gothic music mixed in. The music is well written and performed with both a fast and a more controlled pace. The vocals are raw black metal screams & screeches that fit the music perfectly. TIH do a good job of creating quality music with a variety of genres and influences.  - Patrick

https://tragedyinhope.bandcamp.com    https://www.facebook.com/tragedyinhope

 

TRAUMASPHERE

“Voidcall” 2018 Promo CDR

(Visceral Circuitry Records)

This promo is for the re-release of this ‘01 demo disc, now out for the first time on pro-pressed cassette tape. The band play old school early ‘90s North American style death metal and are great at it. They also have some interesting & adventurous technical, trippy song structuring elements that set them apart from the pack. This over looked gem deserves to be heard!  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/visceralcircuitryrecs    https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/music 

 

TREASONIST / Y-INCISION

“Mechanical Perdition” 2019 Split CD

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

There are 6 songs from Y-Incision & 7 songs from Treasonist, both bands do one cover song of each others material – cool idea. Y-Incision plays a brutal and vile mix of death metal & grindcore with smaller touches of punk & hardcore influence. Treasonist plays super barbarous, nasty semi-technical early ‘90s death metal with heavy doses of grindcore from the same time period. Recommended.  - Dale

https://treasonistgrind.bandcamp.com    http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com   

 

TULUS

“Old Old Death” 2020 CD & LP

(Soulseller Records Records)

I enjoyed Tulus’ early works in the late ‘90s, callous evil black metal with a level of charisma. I have not heard them for a decade. Some of their core sound remains, which is what I like most about this LP. But now, I guess over time they have so called progressed, by adding fun and sweet catchy sections I did not enjoy. Maybe they are just keeping up with the times, but I miss the harshness & evil.  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/TULUSband/    http://www.soulsellerrecords.com/

 

UNFOUNDED

“Corrode” 1999 MCD

(Copro Records)

Total trend carbon copy ‘jump metal’ band in the vein of Machine Head, Skinlab, Fear Factory ect…I hate this happy-skippy hop up and down crap!  - Dale

 

 

VARATHRON

"The Lament Of Gods" 1999 MCD

(Pagan Records)

Overall this is a kind of boring release in the symphonic death vein. Includes a cover of Mercyful Fates "Nuns Have No Fun" but it is also just about as exciting as the rest of this album is.   – Jeffrey Kusbel

 

VOMIT ANGEL

“Imprint Of Extinction” 2019 CD & LP

(Iron Bonehead Records)

Vomit Angel unleash their debut this month through Iron Bonhead Records. This album features 20 songs of total death grind madness, with some black metal influences used in a few of the tracks. The vocals are guttural growls and some gruff old school growls. If you are a fan of grind metal with both death and black metal influences be sure to pick up a copy of this record soon.  - Patrick

https://www.facebook.com/VomitAngelDK    https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com 

 

VORACIOUS GANGRENE

“Hooked To Death” 1999 Demo / CD

V.G. play death metal that bring to mind the styles of Dying Fetus, Cryptopsy, Fleshgrind ect... Not original but fucking great barbarity anyway!  - Dale 

c/o Stephane Morillon, 40 Rue Frere, 33000 Bordeaux, FRANCE Email = voracegang@aol.com

 

VORTEX

“Them Witches” 2019 CD

(Gates Of Hell Records)

This Dutch metal band was around from 1979-1990, but reformed in ‘98 for the long haul. They uncovered old 1987 demo songs for a never released 2nd album & re-recorded those songs to release now! The result is classy NOWBHM style music replete w/those crazy ‘80s screams ‘n screeches a lot of modern fans hate but I dig.  - Dale

https://www.facebook.com/VortexHeavyMetal    https://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/ 

 

TWILIGHT

“Twilight” 2005 CD

(Southern Lord)

American black metal supergroup featuring members of Nachtmystium, Xasthur, Krieg & Leviathan. This has to be one of the better bm albums I have gotten for a while. Nothing fancy just a visceral / melancholy dichotomy drown in evil.  - Dale

S.L. Recordings, Box 291967, Los Angeles, CA. 90029, USA  www.southernlord.com

 

TYRANNY

“Tides of Awakening” 2005 CD

(Firedoom Records)

Minimalistic slooow funeral doom where the vocals are as much a main instrument as the guitar and drums. Extremely simple but also effective.  - Dale

www.firedoom.fi

 

 

TZUN TZU

“Without Zen” 2006 MCD

(Dissident Records)

Brutal ‘ancient’ death metal that actually smokes mixed with oriental interludes played on traditional instruments like Koto Harps, Taiko drums. Very interesting and punishing.  - Dale

D. Records, Box 46554, London N1 2WW, U.K. dissident@dissident.plus.com

 

VENUSIAN DEATH CELL

Holycaust” 2019 Demo CDR EP

(Self Released)

David Vora has been wreaking UG metal havoc with his one man Irish band for 25 years now! David has a rudimentary command of the guitar and uses a drum machine that is not great sounding, but serves his purpose I suppose. My fave part of VDC is still David’s distinctive voice as he belts out gruff, emotion filled half sung, half spoken vox dripping with ehco-y venom. The songs are extremely stripped down & simplistic, lacking song structuring vision, but the man gives it his best and that is admirable. Who cares what anyone else thinks, keep it going David!  - Dale

https://youtu.be/u4_1kJDSY6k    davidvora10@hotmail.com 

 

VENUSIAN DEATH CELL

“The Cross” 2019 CDR EP

(Self Released)

David Vora is back. You will get an idea of what he does with this one man project in the review above (and in the demo section). I must say all has stayed the same, except this time it feels like he put more thought and work in the song structuring, a little more creative with it and there’s threadbare Dismember cover, believe it or not. It is bad, but so filled with dedication that it is so bad that it is good. Soldier on David!  - Dale

https://youtu.be/u4_1kJDSY6k    davidvora10@hotmail.com

 

VENUSIAN DEATH CELL

“Decay Within” 2019 CDR EP

(Self Released)

David Vora’s Irish one man band returns! I have covered it many times before, V.D.C. is like the musical version of a so bad that it is good movie, he can hardly play the instruments and everything is loose and unrefined. But David puts so much heart and dedication (over so many years) into it; I can not help but to appreciate him. There is a “A Skull Full Of Maggots” C.C. cover which is cool & entertaining. There is an interview with David on here as a bonus! Rock on David!  - Dale

https://youtu.be/u4_1kJDSY6k    davidvora10@hotmail.com

 

VENUSIAN DEATH CELL

“The Rose” 2020 CDR EP

(Self Release)

I have done quite a number of VDC reviews by now; please read those for more background. This long running one man Irish band does his best to make up for an acute lack of instrumental talent with passion, dogged dedication & perseverance to express his love for metal music regardless. There is a cover of Slayer’s “Postmortem” and a number of re-recorded songs that reach back into the ‘90s I believe. The title track is my fave on this release.  - Dale

https://youtu.be/u4_1kJDSY6k    davidvora10@hotmail.com   

 

VENUSIAN DEATH CELL

“Serpent” 2020 Demo CDR EP

(Self Release)

I can not lie to my readers this one man band release is bad; it lacks any real skill on the instruments and next to no cohesive songwriting abilities. I have always liked David’s voice and vocals, as well as his dedication to keep the faith and keep making music his way for nearly 30 years! David pours himself into his lyrics too, which is great. But yes, the overall presentation is sub-par yet has some train wreck charm to it.  - Dale

https://youtu.be/u4_1kJDSY6k    davidvora10@hotmail.com   

 

 

VINTERRIKET

“Der Ewigkeit Entgegen” 2005 CD

(Flood The Earth Records)

There actually appears to be a bit of actual music and vocals among the sappy nature CD sound effects. One of the most boring bands on this planet!  - Dale

Flood… Records, Box 402, Pinole, CA. 94564, USA www.floodtheearth.com

 

VISCERAL BLEEDING

“Remnants Revived” 2005 digi CD

(Neurotic Records)

Raging, fast and rhythmic like the old days, think Suffocation, Sinister, Cannibal Corpse etc… I enjoyed it.  - Dale

Neurotic Recs., Stratinghpad 23, 5025 DS Tilburg, NETHERLANDS www.neurotic-records.com

 

THE VISION BLEAK

“Carpathia” 2005 CD

(Prophecy Productions)

Gothy slick light ‘metal’ with those poofy, I’m really sexy husky clean male goth vocals. Total crap… Surprise it is on Prophecy!  - Dale

www.prophecy.cd

 

VOICES OF THE STYX

“Compilation” 2006 CD

(Terranis Productions)

Always hard to review compilations but if you love guttural death metal with indecipherable vocals and black metal, you will love this release. Some bands are: Thy Funeral, Ahriman, Age of Agony, Warkult, Blood Rainbow, Gutted, Funebre…  - Dale

www.terranisproductions.hu 

 

WHEN

"Psychedelic Wunderbaum" 1999 CD

(Jester Recs)

I could not even begin to guess why this was sent to Canadian Assault for review but it is extremely gay in my opinion. I cannot even believe I am listening to it right now! Die!!  – Jeffrey Kusbel

 

 

WITCHBONES

“The Seas Of Draugen” 2019 CD & LP

(Iron Bonhead Records)

Vardlokker is the mastermind behind this Oregon one man band. Whose music is violent, devastating and eerie blackened death metal. The vocals are nice low, deep opaque shadowy growls. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this killer release.  - Patrick

https://www.facebook.com/witchbones    https://ironbonehead.de   

 

WILLOW WISP

“Delusions Of Grandeur (A Gathering Of Heretics)” 1999 CD

(Fullmoon Productions)

Black / gothic ambient music. These trendy Americans try really hard to be the next Cradle Of Filth. I guess Fullmoon has now jumped on the goth bandwagon too!  - Dale

 

WARFIST

“Pure Fucking Hell” Demo / Rehearsal CDR 2005

Super raunchy ‘n raw Satanic warring thrash in the old Canadian ‘80s spirit. Their intense old school spirit and energy is infectious.  - Dale

c/o Alkoholic Wraht, Ul. Francuska 4/20, 65-941 Zielona Gora, POLAND

 

WOLFSLAIR

“Odin” 2005 digi-pak CD

(Ancient Darkness Prod.)

This is interesting, a Danish band playing North American style caustic war metal ala Conqueror, Blasphemy with Deicide, old Monstrosity and so on. I really grasped it.  - Dale

impaler@ancientdarkness.dk   www.ancientdarkness.dk   

 

ZARATHUSTRA

“Contempt” 2006 MCD

(Undercover Records)

Evil sounding but very slickly executed black metal with a melodic undercurrent. Really this band is better than 80% of all bands in this genre today. Must have.  - Dale  

U. Records, Stockhauserstr. 3a, 35638 Leun, GERMANY alex@undercover-records.de   www.undercover-records.de