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Abhorrent is a French band that is playing grimy, raw and gloriously cacophonous blackened death metal. There is a real evil, necro atmosphere wrapped around their music. The vocals are pretty sick gurgling, roiling and rasping growls that rumble right along in sadistic unison with the coarse music. I think diehards of Profanatica, Demoncy, Archgoat, Black Witchery and the early works of Beherit, Blasphemy, and Incantation then you should like this one. - Dale
https://www.instagram.com/abhorrent_execration/
https://nekrassioustapes.bandcamp.com/
The prolific Aborted are back with their 12th album. They continue doing what they do man, a masterful marriage of brutal technical death metal mixed with adrenaline filled grindcore insanity. I feel like the arsenal of growling, nasally vocals have been stepped up to another level with this record. The vox are simply fantastic and wild. There is a lot more refined guitar work going on here than you would imagine with this level of audio devastation. - Dale
https://abortedmetal.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.nuclearblast.com/
The Nashville trio Act of Impalement return with their third full length album. It is a massively morbid, decrepit slab of doom tinged death metal. It suffocates you and smothers you in rumbling brutality and rhythmic pounding. They almost chug along too fast for the doom tag at times, but never for long, as they around circle the downtrodden cavern crawl before long. I think fans of Autopsy, Cianide, Bolt Thrower, Funebrarum, and incantation should be taking notes on how to get this release. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ActOfImpalement
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/
  
It is quite impressive just how much quality black metal, well all metal, but there was a time where Germany was not a prolific black metal country. The last decade or so, though their UG is infested with quality black metal bands. Taking up that torch is Ad Mortem, who produce great freezing cold, hateful rhythmic second wave black metal with superb raspy vocals that are dripping with venom. If you worship early Immortal and Darkthrone you will like this. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/AdMortem666
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com/en/
The Hungarian black metal band Aetherius Obscuritas returns to the pages of CA. The music is very well written and performed mix of fast and mid paced musical passages. The guitars showcase some skillful songwriting. The drummer executes some very intense and fast paced drums. The drummer is not all speed and aggression, as there are some controlled mid paced passages mixed in to the speed. The vocals are grim, raw bm screams that fit the music perfectly. This is for those who love traditional black metal with an own unique vision and sound. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/aetheriusobscuritasofficial
https://www.paragonrecords.org/
Allocer is a four man band coming out Canada's black death UG scene. This new EP features an intro and five songs of brutal blackened death metal at it's best. The guitars are played with fast and furious guitar patterns that are delivered with insanely fast paced riffs. The drums are insanely fast and chaotic. The vocals are a mix of grim & raw black metal screams and some gruff growls that are equally as intense. If you are a fan of mid 90's black death then definitely pick up a copy of 'Ad Nauseam'. - Patrick
https://allocer1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.barbaricfury.shop/
  
This is a split release of two of Puerto Rico's best black metal bands. Up first is Amock with another attack of raw black metal that is played with intensity and aggression. The vocals are traditional black metal screams that are raw in their delivery. Up next is Necronomic who are a new band to me but plays a great style of old school black metal. The guitars range from a mid paced style to more of a thrashier fast paced mode. Both bands play a great style of primitive old school black metal that should please all fans of this genre. - Patrick
theblackwitch056.wixsite.com/mastersofkaos/
plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com
Puerto Rico's solo project Amock return with a brand new release that continues the raw and unholy black metal style that the band has become known for. The music is a combination of mid paced guitar and drum passages that are done with a lot of skill and talent. The music does speed up to a much faster pace throughout the songs to give each song a nice balance on here. The vocals are grim, raw black metal screams and screeches that fit the band's music perfectly. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Amockofficial
www.facebook.com/blasphemouscreationsofhellrecords
Amock’s brand of old school black metal band returns. The music on this new album is a mix of primitive, raw mid paced black metal music that is extremely well performed. The guitars and drums are performed with well played passages and patterns. The music does speed to a faster tempo in a few of the songs to give each song a nice balance. The vocals are a rasping, whispering style of vocals that are done in a very demonic and unique vocal style. ‘Dod Innvendig’ is another masterpiece of raw, unholy sinister music that should not be missed by those who love their bm unpolished. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Amockofficial
https://plaguedemonrecords.bandcamp.com
 
I should mention only the vinyl is coming out via Secret Swarm, the other formats are coming soon, check the bands page. This is my first go around with the Canadian band Apes. These guys create some massively crushing blackened death metal that is infused heavily with grindcore and hardcore elements. The result is pretty fantastic, it is brutal, it is atmospheric and it combines some of my favourite facets from all those styles and spits them back out in one highly deadly concoction of musical venom. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/apesqc
https://secretswarmrecords.com/
Norway’s Aptorian Demon return 12 years (!!) after their debut with their follow up album. As near as I can tell vocalist/guitarist S. Mester is the only founding member and has recruited two members of Gjendod to fill things out. They produce freezing, hateful second wave black metal with a sweeping, ethereal atmosphere. The vocals are a superb arsenal of traditional bm rasping, shadowy spoken voices and haunting screams / moans. I am not sure it was worth the long wait, but that does not change the fact this is a good black metal record. - Dale
https://aptoriandemon.bandcamp.com/
https://en.kyrck.spkr.media/
 
“Mustamaa” was the debut album originally released in 1999 from the legendary Azaghal. Thanks to the mighty Moribund Rec., it is getting a reissue. Musically the band plays a mix of fast and furious guitars and drum passages that are done with skillful writing and execution. The music does slow to a more controlled pace yet still keeping the intensity. The vocals are traditional black metal screams and some demonic sounding growls. If you are a fan of Azaghal's and missed their debut the first time, now is your chance to pick up this classic black metal release. - Patrick
https://azaghal.bandcamp.com/album/mustamaa
http://www.moribundcult.com/
Two of the legendary originating godfathers of
the genre of death metal unite on this split seven inch! I have been
a fan of both of these bands for a very, very long time; as I got
into both of these great bands around 1991-ish if memory serves.
Both bands have stayed absolutely true to their roots for all these
decades and deserve your support and respect. Oh yes, I forgot to
mention that renowned UG veteran artist Chris Moyen does the cover
artwork too. This is a must get in my book! - Dale
http://www.bloood.de/
https://www.incantation.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
 
Bloodrust is a solo project that originally started out in the Falkland Islands, but has relocated to the U.K. 'Jackals' is a new two song 7 Inch that is well done old school death metal that features flawless musicianship played with powerful intensity. Things start off with war sounds and samples. It doesn't take long for the music to kick up to a fast pace with some impressive guitar and drum patterns. The vocals are raw death metal growls that fit this style perfectly. This is my first encounter with Bloodrust but I must say this is some impressive classic sounding death metal. - Patrick
https://bloodrust-osdm.bandcamp.com/
https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/
Blodulv was a short lived, but burned bright entity that was around from 2002-05, releasing 3 albums (all now being re-released). This Swedish band created some really freezing cold, evil 2nd wave black metal that is sort of an amalgamation stylistically of early works of Bathory & Darkthrone with Burzum accents. The caustic rasping raw vocals seeped with malevolence are great. I assume this is the label from someone in the band? As so far, these Blodulv albums are the only thing they have released and the only thing available in their store. If you missed out on them the first time around, don’t make that mistake twice. - Dale
https://www.ophidian-sun.com/news/store/
https://www.ophidian-sun.com/
  
Germany’s Carnal Tomb hit us with their third album and it is a monster. They play all encompassing, thick and fucking heavy death metal that has a lot going on. There is some excellent songwriting on display, with solid waves pathos, some killer guitar fills and sick chunky bass lines. The growling vocals are superb, and classic sounding. Think of a killer mixing of Grave, Dismember, Cannibal Corpse, and Vomitory. - Dale
http://lnk.spkr.media/carnal-tomb
https://en.testimonyrecords.de/
Bloody hell! Why am I punishing my ears and brain so badly today?! I just finished reviewing violent insanity of Kouristus, now I move right on to Cartliage! This California band are just as violent, battering and explosive as those Finns. Cartilage play heavy as fuck, disgusting and savage death that is a high octane headbang inducing festival. Their style of death grind is very much along the lines of early Carcass, Impaled, General Surgery and Haemorrhage. The vocals are so great, in same vein as those bands, but so well done and wild. If you love those bands you will love this! - Dale
https://cartilagegore.bandcamp.com/
https://everlastingspew.com/
Caustic Phlegm is a solo project coming out of England. "Retch Of Death" starts off with a short intro and then the music hits with a mix of mid paced heavy guitars and some gurgling death growls. "Septic Stomp" is up next, another heavy song with faster paced guitars, the vocals are a mix of death metal growls and some newer modern gurgling style. The title track finishes things off with slow guitars and some gurgling vocals, before the guitars kick into high gear to keep things interesting. Caustic Phlegm is a interesting blending the 90's raw dm with some elements from the current more brutal slam style of death metal. - Patrick
https://causticphlegm.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
  
Good to see Cemetery Urn still going strong. This Aussie band features some grizzled veterans of bands like Abominator, Bestial Warlust, Vahrzaw etc… This horde play suffocating, brutal and sulphurous death metal with a slight doomy edge. The vocals of Damon Bloodstorm are fantastic wraith like growls with some nice boiling & gurgling undertones from time to time. Yes, great vocals, and the music to match. - Dale
https://cemeteryurn.bandcamp.com/
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/
Slovenia’s Challenger produce a lethal cocktail of heavy metal and speed metal. These guys have some serious talent, not only on their individual instruments, but also songwriting chops. They have a feel and ability to write really catchy, memorable songs that are an infectious listen. You can hear some old British and US metal influences like everything from Saxon, Satan and Judas Priest to Helstar, Savage Grace, Agent Steel, Liege Lord and Abbattoir. If that sounds like your cup of tea, like it is mine then you should get this. - Dale
https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/
https://dyingvictims.com/
Clairvoyance from Poland is a new band with
only a demo under their belts prior to this EP. The band plays, for
me, an enjoyable brand of OSDM that is grimy, gloomy and brutal
melding of things like early Grave with some of the classic Finnish
dm sound and injecting a little New York ancient death into the mix
from time to time. This is some solid stuff worth checking out.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/clairvoyancedeathmetal
https://www.bloodharvest.se/
  
This is the debut album from Chile’s duo known
as Convilivm. They produce blackened death metal with a truly
oppressive & suffocating evil aura that wraps itself around their
mid paced brutality. There is a great balance struck between raw
primitive simplicity and refined guitar work and songwriting. This
is a quality record worth your time. - Dale
https://concilivm.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions
Coming out of New Orleans is a relatively new
band that brings some really chunky, thick grinding death metal of
the old school persuasion. The vocalist brings it too with a killer
fuzzy and oppressively vile main growling voice, which is augmented
at times with some cool clearer contrasting maniacal screams and
yells I enjoyed. The bio nails it when they say this is a mix of
traditional early to mid ‘90s New York & Finnish style death metal.
- Dale
https://congealedputrescence.bandcamp.com/
http://www.caligarirecords.com/
The Finnish band Concrete Winds are a musical wall of chaos flying towards you at a million miles per hour! It is extremely heavy and lightning quick warring black death metal. The production on here is fantastic too. If you love order from chaos metallic violence in the vein of Revenge, Angelcorpse, Impiety along side hints of Necrovore and Profanatica. Then you should probably give this evil adrenaline ride of musical venom a chance.
- Dale
https://concretewinds.bandcamp.com/
http://www.sepulchralvoice.de/
 
This Finnish
band keeps chugging along, this is their 3rd album and I
think all of them have been released by the well respected Dark
Descent Records. Corpsessed features members of Tyranny & Lie In
Ruins and play excellent dark and brutal death metal with a dank
aura that fits nicely alongside great bands like Incantation, Dead
Congregation, Disma, Funebrarum and the like. I enjoyed this one.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Corpsessed
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/
Coming out of Kentucky's black metal scene is the solo project Cruel Spirit. ‘Demo III Ascension’ is the newest demo that starts off with a intro that is stripped down fast guitars and some screams. The music picks up where his previous demo left off with some fast paced guitars that are razor sharp and well executed passages. The guitars do slow to a mid paced style throughout a few of the songs to give each song a nice balance. The vocals are grim and raw black metal screeches and screams that fit the music perfectly. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this Demo today.
- Patrick
https://bornforburning.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bloodfiredeath1975
 
Me Saco An Ojo may be the kings of cross pollination in the UG, by working on seemingly every release with other labels. I love it. I also dig the hell out of Cryptworm, too. They play guttural, heavy, grimy yet slightly catchy & memorable brutal death metal with a nice coating of death doom. Think Demilich mixed with some Autopsy “Mental Funeral” for reference. Those boiling, roiling, croaking growl vocals are killer too. Fans of newer bands like Stenched, Cerebral Rot or Undergang will like this.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/cryptworm
https://mesacounojo.bandcamp.com/
Do you long for the great old classic black
metal from Greece? Because I have an interesting shadowy and evil
black metal band from Brazil for you. They have captured that
hollowed sound and style in near perfect fashion. You will listen to
this album and it will transport you back to the glory days of the
almighty Necromantia and their amazing early to mid ‘90s output.
- Dale
https://tranceoftheundead.bandcamp.com/
https://ironbonehead.de/
  
Musically, this is the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Maik Jegszenties of the notable speed thrash band Messerschmitt. Deadly Magic on the other hand is a wonderful heavy metal mix of Fates Warning, Sanctuary, Tad Morose and classic Iron Maiden. The music is so skilled and the songwriting is top shelf level memorable! Maik brought in vocalist Alex Roy-Petit, and let me tell you, this guy is beyond amazing!! What a performance and what a remarkable singing talent! A superb find. If you love the bands mentioned then you simply need to have this in your collection immediately. - Dale
https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/
https://dyingvictims.com/
Deathcult
returns with their 2nd album proving through their high octane OSDM
roots that this metal horde from Switzerland is anything but
neutral, they pick sides & go for the throat. The band takes early
Swedish death metal (Dismember & Unleashed) and mix it liberally
with early ‘90s US death metal ala Possessed, Autopsy, early Death
plus Brits Bolt Thrower. Has a crisp production that also manages a
dark & dirty atmosphere. Good shit. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/DeathMetalCult/
https://invictusproductions.net/
Deathhammer is a
Norwegian band, who is the epitome of relentless and lightning quick
thrash metal. There are a million wall to wall riffs and all of them
are killers and I dig when they mix in the manic guitar fills. The
vocals are so ‘80s with gruff vocals mixed with screeching siren
banshee yells. This is for diehard fans of old mid to late ‘80s
thrash ala Slayer, Destruction, Kreator and the like fit in with
newer whorshippers of that time period like Aura Noir, Nifelheim,
Nekromantheon, Antichrist. - Dale
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
 
The Netherland's three man band's features nine tracks of brutal and uncompromising blackened death metal at it's finest. The guitars are played with a whirlwind of fast and frenzied guitar passages with some well played solo's in a few of the songs. The drumming is a fast and relentless barrage that pummels the listener. The vocals are a mix of grim and gruff screams and growls with some added demonic screams in a few of the songs. If you are a fan of violent and brutal black and death metal then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Deathless Void's debut today. - Patrick
https://deathlessvoid.bandcamp.com/
https://ironbonehead.de/
This is a four man band coming out of the Chilean UG scene. Their debut album features an intro and five songs of heavy chaotic death metal. The guitars are performed with a whirlwind of fast paced guitar passages that are done with skill. The drums are also intensely performed with insanely fast patterns. Both the guitarist and drummer even add some slower more mid tempoed passages. The vocals are performed with powerful and ferocious death growls. This is a must have for all those who love their dm powerful and dark. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/deconsekrated
https://ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com/
 
The title of this album translates to
something close to “No More Gods No Demons”. Hailing from Peru, this
is the bands fourth album since 1999! It is a pretty slickly
produced and clean but heavy recording. They mix crisp late
‘80s/early ‘90s thrash metal with a rawer middle ‘80s crossover
style. It is an interesting and intense result. The songs rip with
high energy and the vocalist Pocho López is a beast on the mic!
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/demenciatrujillo/
https://www.facebook.com/impulsoruin
I just finished reviewing their album, released less than a year ago, directly before listening to this to review. If that tells you how much I like it, I simply can not get enough of their bestial, sinister and utterly evil brand of old school ritualistic black/death metal. The echo-y whispered vocals with an undercurrent of acid black metal rasp are fantastic. These guys have been around since 1989 (!!!) and are still killing it. This 23 minute release is so fucking good and infectious that it possesses me to put it on repeat endlessly. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Demoncy1/
https://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
 
Demonist is a trio from France that are only a couple years into their existence. This four song demo (I guess it is just being called an EP) is filled with middle to late ‘90s American style brutal death metal. The music is heavy, quick and punchy stuff that features some solid and memorable songwriting with some solid guitar work. The vocals are really good deep and lively growling that you can understand the lyrics clearly. This is a good new band that you should keep an eye on. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/demonistdeathmetal
https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com
This one was really a surprise for me. I had heard nothing about this band and did not go into this expecting anything amazing. But that is what I got nonetheless, an amazing deep, brutal and emotive ride of a death metal album. This Polish band has been around for some time, but I only hear of them now. This is impressive and great death metal, some of the best around today and should excite fans of old Decapitated, Behemoth, Nile, Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel (“Formulas Fatal To The Flesh” era). Give it a listen. - Dale
https://dormantordeal.bandcamp.com/
https://willowtip.com/
  
This German horde (featuring three members of the band Kommando) return with their first new release in six years and it is a great one. Dysangelium play haunting and sinister black metal. Achieved through errie atmosphere and epic black metal bombast rather than raging speed and chaos. The bellowing yelled voice with accents of growling are so commanding and produce this crackling evil energy across the music. This is my first taste of this band, clearly I have been missing out and now desire larger feast, for my mind and my ears! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/dysangeliumofficial
http://www.w-t-c.org/
This is the debut album of the all female band Emasculator featuring an American / Czechia line up. The members are also in bands like Unfathomable Ruination, Nidorous, Cartilage, Poon Tickler (haha!) and more. These ladies play some stripped down, straight forward ultra brutal traditional death metal in the American style (think Disgorge or a less technical Suffocation, Deeds Of Flesh & Defeated Sanity). The vocals from Mallika are nice deep as fuck and barbaric growls. Damn good stuff! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Emasculator
https://www.newstandardelite.com/
Embrace hail from Greece featuring members of
bands like Thou Art Lord, Dephosphorus, Caedes Cruenta, Necrovorous,
Serpent Noir & War Possession. They are longtime vets of the UG,
having released their first demo in 1999, and “Entropy Dynamics”
marks their 6th full-length album. Embrace produce
sickeningly necrotic and evil black death metal with sudden
explosive bouts of war metal injections from time to time. It is
some really intense, good shit. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/EmbraceOfThorns
https://nuclearwinterrecords.bandcamp.com
 
This is some
rhythmic, hypnotically dark and heavy doom metal from Brazil. I find
their music an extremely addictive listen. The vocalist Mistress
Wournous puts in a wonderful performance on the mic, that is an
interesting, if not melodramatic and a more feminine mix of Messiah
Marcolin, Eric Wagner & Peter Steele. Yes, great music and great
vocals. Fans of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Electric Wizard,
Black Sabbath and Sleep take note. - Dale
https://theevildm.bandcamp.com/
https://www.osmoseproductions.com/
It is evident off the hop, both listening to this and looking up the history of the band, that Entierro are talented and experienced. I mean they have members of Nightbitch & guitarist Victor Andruini of Fates Warning (classic early albums). They have their roots in classic heavy metal, but have fashioned an interesting sound of their own to create some really moody, varied & smooth heavy metal. The vocals of Chris Taylor Beaudette are so rich and fantastic, giving the band much extra character to go along with the great music. - Dale
https://entierro.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/entierrometal
  
Fangs Of Erebus’ Demo 2024 is their debut featuring six songs of brutal, chaotic black death metal at it's best. The music is a mix of extremely fast paced guitars and drum patterns that are played with intense passages. The music does slow to a more heavier mid pace in a few of the songs before going back to the blasting style. The vocals are demonic death metal growls that are powerful in their delivery. This is a great debut demo and recommended to all those who love barbaric and relentless black death you will not be disappointed. - Patrick
https://fangsoferebus.bandcamp.com/
https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/
I have heard the name Feral for years, but I think if memory serves, their split EP with the band Crawl was the first time I listened to them. These Swede’s play high energy and ultra brutal death metal with that classic sound that will spring to mind Dismember, early Entombed, Grave or newer bands ala Entrails and the aforementioned Crawl. They are not afraid to mix in a good neck wrecking headbang section from time to time. These guys absolutely break bones and leave a swath of destruction in their wake. Good shit. - Dale
https://feralsweden.bandcamp.com/
https://transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com/
Festergore is a new band formed in 2021 and so far has released one demo and a split EP. This is authentic and classic death metal at it's best. The musicians know how to create and execute memorable songs. The guitars are played with some powerful guitar passages. The drummer follows suit cutting loose with some insanely fast drum runs at times. The vocals are heavy growls that are delivered with power. Festergore have crafted a great debut that should please fans of Autopsy, but the band is no way a clone as they add their own idea's and skills to the debut. - Patrick
https://festergore.bandcamp.com/
https://www.personal-records.com/
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