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Goat Semen from Peru has been spraying poisonous musical loads upon the UG scene for nearly 25 years now! For a veteran South American band they have been quite prolific. They continue to play rough, violent and oh so evil black death metal sickness. The music is a fast and destructive necro whirlwind of blasphemic attacking music. I really enjoyed this release that brings to mind a more bombastic version of Sarcofago, Goatpenis as well as the early works from Blasphemy and Beherit.
- Dale
https://goatsemenofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
France’s Gorgon stretches all the way back to 1992! They existed from back then all the way until 2001. They went through many band members in the ‘90s, but founding member Christophe Chatelet brought Gorgon back in 2017, it has been a solo band since. This is their seventh album. It features evil and hateful second wave black metal that is very high energy with a very gritty metal guitar sound. The classic rasping vocals here are fantastic. Sort of an enjoyable mixing of early works of Bathory, Darkthrone and Impaled Nazerene.
- Dale
https://gorgonblackmetal.bandcamp.com/
https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/
The second release from this two man Norwegian band in the form an EP. It comes on the heels of their debut album last year. Hammerfilosofi create an atmosphere heavy, dark and sinister form of black metal.To me it owes more to the first wave of black metal than the second you usually expect from Norge bands. It is not furious hate, speed (most of the time), but relies heavier on darkness and sombre emotive musical movements with tortured moaning and gritty yelling. Interesting and different.
- Dale
https://hammerfilosofi.bandcamp.com/
https://atmf.net/
 
This is the solo project of drummer Yianni
Tranxidis (GOG, ex-Black Mass, ex-Garroted), he enlisted some
musicians from those bands and the vocalist of Morgued. The result
is 3 songs & 17 minutes of good classic death metal that draws
influences from old bands out of the Canadian, US and Swedish scenes
to my ear. The vocals superbly growl out of some haunting horrific
lyrics over some killer songs and equally matched musicianship.
- Dale
https://grotesqueries.bandcamp.com/
http://www.caligarirecords.com/
I have to admit surprisingly to never having
heard of this French band despite them having been around 16 years
now. From the band name thought they might be a joke band yet to my
surprise they play simple, but enjoyably harsh and evil second wave
(with dashes of the first) black metal. It reminds me of a little of
a raunchier, rougher crazed style similar to mixing Immortal on
“Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism” with early Burzum. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/hatsbarnofficial
https://www.osmoseproductions.com/
  
Hemorrhoid from Oregon features members of cool bands like Nekro Drunkz, Hacksaw, Brain Rot, Cemetery Lust and Witchvomit. These guys play absolutely brutish, bullying and stream rolling dirty sewer death metal grind. I absolutely love this debut album from them. Fans of early Carcass, early Napalm Death, old Autopsy, General Surgery, Impetigo, Pig Destroyer and Terrorizer need to check this one out. - Dale
https://hemorrhoid-us.bandcamp.com/
https://extremelyrottenprod.com/
A Swedish one man band with hidden identity.
At 27 minutes this is a little too short to be called album. I do
kind of love that they made the cover like an old cut ‘n paste UG
flyer. Hinsides play very caustic olden demo tape days style tinny
and low-fi raw black metal. But despite how raw it is there is some
good work in the energetic and creative songwriting with some great
cold rhythms and riffing. The vocals are those of a possessed
demon! - Dale
https://www.shadowrecords.se/
https://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/
This is the third full length release from Washington's Hisemtuks Himi.N. The songs on the new release continue the bands established melodic black metal style. The guitars are played flawlessly with some fast paced skillful passages and songwriting. Usually I am not a fan of keyboards in the newer bands, but Nathen does a great job of creating and executing some well done keyboard passages. ‘Witch Of The Night’ is a masterpiece of melodic black metal, if you are a fan of this genre, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today. - Patrick
https://plaguedemonrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://hisemtukshimin.bandcamp.com/
  
Holycide hail from Spain and contain two members of the great death metal band Avulsed. However this is not death metal. These maniacs play classic, razor sharp riffed thrash metal that will shred your flesh. It is so good, every song is well crafted, filled amazing heavy riffs and you will headbang your ass off. The vocalist has a great vicious classic thrash gruff style, but with a little bit more evil, acidic edge that have slight hints death and black metal, but only slight. If you live for thrash metal you need to have this album. - Dale
https://holycide.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.xtreemmusic.com/
I reviewed a record from this one man band (from California’s Andrew Lee) a couple years back. It was quite an experience. The concept of this band is the lyrics / clips focus on quirky Japanese Anime cartoons. This is mixed into this bands Grindcore insanity. It is that relentless, brutal grind style with hit & run 1-2 minutes songs that bruise and batter you. It is good stuff and might remind you of killer bands like Agathocles, Repulsion, Brutal Truth, Terrorizer, Regurgitate or the early releases Extreme Noise Terror and Napalm Death. Get it! - Dale
https://houkagogrindtime2.bandcamp.com/
http://www.obliteration.jp/
Howling's second album features an intro and six tracks of brutal and uncompromising black metal. The music is extremely fast and chaotic like the past releases. Each of the songs are done with a crazed and chaotic musical style, but the music does add a cold atmosphere. The drums are blasting drum beats that are a fast and relentless assault on the listener. The vocals are brutal and harsh black metal screams that are intense in their delivery. This is a masterpiece of brutal, raw black metal that should not be missed. - Patrick
https://howling1.bandcamp.com/
https://howlingbchr.bandcamp.com/
  
This band features two members that are
currently or previously were in the Australian bands Nocturnal
Graves and Denouncement Pyre. Hunters Moon produces a mix of old
Scandinavian second wave black metal and harsh darkened Aussie death
metal. The riffing on here is massive and the songwriting and
playing are smooth and impressive. - Dale
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
Well, far out doom metal from fucking
Malaysia, sweet! These two songs were recorded live, and it sounds
like it, I mean that in a good way, it has a raw edge & it is heavy
as lead. There is almost no vocals on these songs, the music is
stripped down and simple, but the crushing classic doom rumble (with
a small tinge of stoner fuzz) is satisfying for me. It is a cool mix
of Saint Vitus, Electric Wizard, Sleep and lots of Black Sabbath.
Only for real diehard doom fans IMO. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/iblissband666
https://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/unholy
The Costa Rican band Insepulto has been releasing material (even if sparsely so) since 2010. This album is their third album, and the first release in the last eight years. This is a duo band and two those men are also in bands like Lacerate, Inanimate Flesh, Necrogod and Morbid Stench. The music on here is straight forward, not remarkable yet very enjoyable old school (1990s) heavy death metal some great slightly gurgled, acid tinged growls that I really like. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/insepultocr/
https://ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com/
 
You get eight tracks of heavy mid paced death
metal that is crushing and intense. The musicians do speed to a
faster pace at times and show off their aggressive side. The vocals
are deep death metal growls that are powerful in their delivery and
some gruff growls and screams are used in a few of the songs. This
is a really promising debut that features some excellent
musicianship in both the performance and delivery. - Patrick
intolerancedeathmetal.bandcamp.com/
https://godzovwar.com/
http://www.memento-mori.es/
Irae is a one man band that is a prolific band
deeply entrenched in Portugal’s UG black metal scene. That man
Vulturius is also in a number of other bands like Decayed, Morte
Incandescente, Cunnilingus + more. Irae tends to stay in the
mid-tempo range and this only enhances the gloomy and brooding evil
aura that encompasses their music. There are bouts where they speed
and his 2nd wave black metal side comes to violently
play. The emotive & distinctive rasping vocals on here are great.
Recommended. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/IRAE666/
https://signalrex.bandcamp.com/
  
Just finished reviewing a split of Greek bm
bands, by random coincidence up next is Karma Violens is also from
Greece. These guys are very different though, playing more modern
really riff-y dark deathrash metal. I like some of the haunting
background accents. If I am being honest this is a little over
produced for my tastes, and the riffing at times borders on
metalcore, which I dislike. These guys are talented and the music
well put together in it’s own clean, antiseptic and non-organic way.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/karmaviolens/
https://karmaviolens.bandcamp.com/
Coming out of Oregon's black metal scene is
the solo project playing raw, satanic black metal. This is the debut
album featuring nine tracks of cold and destructive black metal. For
the most part the music is in mid paced range, and that is played
with a lot of talent. Things do speed up for a faster more
aggressive pace throughout. The vocals are a mix of a whispering
type of vocals with some harsh black metal screams and chants on
this recording. Kirth Roth plays an interesting and original style
of black metal. - Patrick
https://kirthroth.bandcamp.com/
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com/
Oregon's one woman black metal project returns with her second full length. ‘A Witches Last Hour’ is seven tracks of satanic, raw mid paced black metal with a cold atmosphere. The guitars do speed up to a faster pace in a few of the songs. Both the fast and mid pace guitar passages are done with intensity and skillful writing. The vocals are whispering type of clean vocals and some raw raspy black metal screams. Both vocal styles fit the music perfectly. If you are a of fan intense, raw bm then I highly recommend this release. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/KirthRoth
https://plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com/
 
As you know I don’t review a ton of hardcore punk stuff. But when it is good, fast and/or heavy I am there for it. Kings play speedy and memorable hardcore with infectious mean sounding choruses. There is even some ripping metal riffs and brief guitar fills. The vocals are fucking top shelf hc vocals from hell. I think fans of the metal parts of earlier Biohazard mixed with stuff like Madball, Cro-Mags, DRI, Sick Of It All etc… will dig this. - Dale
https://kingsneverdieofficial.com/
http://metalville-shop.de/
I had never heard of this Finnish band before, but it appears they have been releasing music for a decade now. The music on here is a wild, violent, high energy and pissed off sounding hardcore punk music that is mixed hints of grindcore. The songs are good, always fast and driving with some catchy tempo variations. The vocals are classic hardcore punk with some crazy screeching and inflections that remind me slightly to The Accüsed vox. Check it out if that sort of thing is for you. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/kouristus/
https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/
 
Kratti is a young band from Finland that is now presenting their debut album. They are moving quickly, having made their first demo last year and now straight to this. The debut is raw and evil as fuck black metal in the early ‘90s second wave tradition. It is so well done though, they really capture that old freezing spirit of early Darkthrone and Immortal, but with a strong rhythmic foundation. The rasping vocals are hateful and remind to to the first works from vocalists like Varg Vikernes & Abbath. I enjoyed this. - Dale
https://kratti.bandcamp.com/
https://signalrex.com/store/
Coming out of Spain is Krypticy who play old school brutal death metal with some extremely on this bands second full length that contains 8 tracks of well composed and written music. The guitars are played with a fast furious guitar pace that does slow to a heavier mid paced style in a few of the songs. The vocals are powerful death growls and some screams.The drumming will pummel the listener with their brutal blasting approach. If you are a fan of brutal vintage death metal then do yourself and pick up you won't be disappointed. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Krypticy/
http://www.memento-mori.es/
  
This Slovakian band is made up of members of
Malokarpatan, Remmirath and Algor. If you worship early ‘90s black
metal that was a mix of first and second wave bm and the earlier
works of bands like Necromantia, Mortuary Drape, Root, Master’s
Hammer (especially them!) and can not get enough then you need to
get your claws on this album as soon as possible. - Dale
https://krolok.bandcamp.com/
https://www.osmoseproductions.com/
Coming from Estonia's old school black metal scene is a new band Lein. This debut demo was self released, but is now getting a CD pressing through Masters Of Kaos. The music takes off with fast paced guitars that are intense and powerful. They do slow to a slower mid paced range throughout, which gives each song a nice balance. The vocals are a mix of raw black metal screams and deeper growls, both vocal styles are aggressive and powerful. This is some traditional old school black metal that doesn't follow any trends, just pure black metal. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/leinkvlt
https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/
I reviewed this bands first album a couple years ago in CA and dug it. This band features the prolific Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Revolting + literally dozens more!!) and Mark Grewe (ex-Morgoth). The music on here is fantastic old school death metal mixed with thrash. The songs are memorable, emotive, heavy and masterfully crafted. The vocals from Grewe are absolutely awesome, just as they always were in Morgoth. Highly recommended. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/lepercolonyband
http://lnk.spkr.media/leper-colony-morbid
 
I am a long time admirer of the Swedish band
Sorhin who date back to 1993 and still exist today apparently
despite lying dormant for many years. I mention them because one
half of that duo Mikael Österberg is behind this one man band. The
sweeping black metal music of Lifvsleda invokes the feelings in me
as a listener of an alternating duality of seething evil & gloomy
melancholy. Österberg’s rasping vocals are in superbly malicious,
dripping with black metal supremacy! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/lifvsleda
https://www.noevdia.com/
This is really the first official release of California’s Lurking Terror after releasing a few digital download singles previously. This band will be of note for old diehard metal goats like me. As this band has no less than 3 longtime former members of the legend band Sadistic Intent (during their classic period). They have gathered together to bang out some killer old school death metal with some thrash influences in the high paced guitars. Vocalist Enrique Chavez sounds as awesome today as did on those great Sadistic releases. Go and get it! - Dale
https://lurkingterrorusa.bandcamp.com/
https://www.m-theoryaudio.com/
 
Malformed is a young new Finnish band with a demo under their belts, they’ve gotten the attention of Denmark’s Rotten Productions, to spread their filth further into the UG scene. They produce extremely heavy & brutal death metal with some technical flourishes, and the odd tasty yet slightly manic guitar solos. The vocals are obscured and shady death growling with gurgling accents, and the combination works well. I think fans of Cryptopsy, Demilich, Gorguts and the like will dig this. A good young band to keep an eye upon. - Dale
https://malformeddm.bandcamp.com/
https://extremelyrottenprod.com/
'Merciless Storm' is the latest EP from this Finnish band. This release contains four tracks of violent, uncompromising, and chaotic blackened death metal. The music is straight forward and effective. These guys have been releasing music since 2012, but they only had one demo and an EP in their first 8 years. They seem to be picking up steam as of late with a mini-album three years ago and now this EP. Fans of filthy old school death with bm touches should check this out. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/MaliciousFin
https://invictusproductions.net/
 
Mantiel create brooding, dismal and evil black
metal drenched in a freezing atmosphere. I enjoy the ominously
sinister toad croaking bm rasping vocals, they are really good and
morbid sounding. The music reminds me of a mix of the early works of
Burzum & Immortal. Despite the gloomy and creeping extended intro to
start their side of the split. Wampyric Rites turn up the raucous
speed & aggression with a cold bm assault, before returning on the
following track with another slower atmospheric piece, and a lengthy
cold synth outro. Solid split vinyl. - Dale
https://infernaprofundusrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.ipr666shop.com/
I often say I am not a big fan of melododeath, I find it waters down the dm & melodic metal equally. So, I have oft said if I want to listen to metal with lots of melody, I will just listen to heavy metal music instead. That is where bands like Mega Colossus come in, bursting at the seams with catchy melodic heavy metal and memorable songs with unforgettable choruses. If that is how you roll too, and dig bands like Manilla Road, Heavy Load, Riot, Brocas Helm etc… then you will likely dig this too. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/colossusmetal
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
  
The lyrics throughout all their releases, this
Californian band focuses on the horrors, gas attacks, death and
destruction wrought across the entrenched battlefields of World War
I. This is the WWI metallic soundtrack that is a wall of audio
barbarity, and annihilation. Which should please fans of bands like
Order From Chaos, Impiety, Marduk (“Panzer Division Marduk”), War,
Axis Of Advance. Four albums already and I have only discovered them
now, somehow. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/minenwerfer
https://www.osmoseproductions.com/
This one man band from Spain has been around a long time, yet this is the first time I recall listening to Mirror. The music is really dirty, raw and heavy as fuck death metal that is mostly mid-paced with doomy sections. The songs are straight forward, but have a great dark atmosphere. The riffing and guitar fills I found very addictive, and almost hypnotic. The part hoarse growled, part whispered talking vocals I found very weird. I did not like them at first, but with each new listen they got better and better for me. Some interesting and different / distinctive music. - Dale
https://mirror1.bandcamp.com/
https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/
Poland’s Monasterium on their 3rd album
present some solid classic doom metal in the vein of Solitude
Aeturnus, Solstice & Candlemass. Some old school heavy metal
sequences pop up reminding me of Iron Maiden or old King Diamond
musically. The vocals must be good for this style and they are here
too, also reflecting the style / bands above. Recommended for doom
hounds like me, but if you only dabble or like a few bands in this
sub-genre you can find better. - Dale
https://ninerecords.bandcamp.com/
http://shop.nine-records.com/
 
This is a two label release of this Finnish
bands second album. The triumvirate mix old black metal, more akin
to the later end of the first wave of black metal, with doom
elements. The sinister atmosphere Moon Oracle creates is very
immersive; you can feel the evil and impending kismet close in on
you. For me, this stripped down ritualistic music is fantastic. This
will appeal to devotees of the early to mid ‘90s works of Mortuary
Drape, Necromantia, Ancient Rites, Master’s Hammer, Root, Mystifier
and the like. - Dale
https://moonoracle.bandcamp.com/
http://www.bestialburst.com/
https://signalrex.com/
The Italian horde Morbus Grave plays
primordial death metal. Like the early days when death metal bands
had some thrash remnants yet were clearly doing something new &
different. The excellent stripped down, but driving heavy material
on here really brings feelings of reminiscence and enjoyment to an
old tape trading goat like me. Wroshippers of Possessed, Slaughter,
Repulsion, Impetigo, Autopsy, Massacre, Nunslaughter and the like.
This is for you. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/MorbusGrave
https://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/
 
This band is from New York City and this EP release consists of four songs and an intro for around 25 minutes of music. Mortiferoth is a trio and features of note bassist Brian Hobbie (ex-Internal Bleeding, ex-Broken Hope). They play driving and furious old school death metal that has a enjoyable atmosphere across the whole warm sounding killer production. The vocal attack is a distinct dual vocals style, for me the growling voice is a bit so-so but still decent, the higher gurgling vocal style on the other hand is excellent. You really should check this out. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Mortiferoth/
https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/
This is a relatively new band, they only have an EP previous to this debut album. I suppose you could say this band is an extension of the now defunct, long running former Profound Lore recording artists Monarch (3 members of that band in Mortuaire). These French maniacs play massive, dark and gloomy atmospheric doomy death metal on high. This really surprised me on how good it was, after not knowing anything about them. Fanatics of early Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Convulse, Disembowelment, Demigod need to get this. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/mortuairebdx
https://worldeaterrecords.bandcamp.com/music
  
Nar is a brand new band band from Indonesia. They may be new, but their style of brutalizing death metal is anything but. This band produces punishing, barbaric and crushing fast music intended to grind you into the dirt. The vocalist has some killer, dominating death growls that roil and churn with the anger of a caged beast. This EP has four songs of old school, embryonic dm that harkens back to the classic earlier days of Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation. - Dale
https://nekrassioustapes.bandcamp.com/
When hardcore is fast, when it is vicious, has attitude, and goes for the throat, and even throws in a little metal. That is when I am a hardcore fan. Night Fever from Denmark bring all of the above in spades. They write high octane, rip ‘n tear, catchy but pissed off music. There is some old school heavy metal guitar leads that pop up now and then too. The vocalist also is a monster on the mic. You should give this a listen. - Dale
https://nightfeverhc.bandcamp.com/
http://www.svartrecords.com/en
This is interesting, as Nightside from Finland
were around from 1996 to 2001ish. They released a demo, a couple EPs
and an album in that last year, and then disbanded shortly
afterward. Now they return 20 years later! This new 3 song demo, now
released by PTF is harsh. The music is cold and hateful sounding 2nd
wave black metal backed with haunting synth, picking up where their
album left off all those years ago. Second wave bm diehards who can
not get enough will like this. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Nightsideblackmetal/
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com/
  
The music on this release is delivered with
fast frenzied guitars that are primitive and aggressive attacking
pace. They do slow to a more mid pace range at times, which results
in each song giving a nice mix of an extreme and more controlled
pace. The vocals are grim raw bm screams with some good demonic
growls. Niohoggr with this recording has crafted a release of dark
atmospheres and destructive black metal hymns which is sure to
please all fans of extreme black metal. - Patrick
https://niohoggr.bandcamp.com/music
https://plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com/
I must confess I am a little confused. The band lists this as an EP, it says there is 4 tracks. But the release they sent me is 7 tracks, and it is a total of nearly 50 minutes?! Anyways, it is the music that counts and that is freezing, evil and sinister second wave black metal. It is also very good in the vein of Horna, Sargeist, Judas Iscariot, Behexen, and the great Bekhira (Malkira from this band was my tape trader for years, long ago in the 1990s). Rhythmic, hateful and ominous black metal. Get it! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/noirsuaire
https://noirsuaire.bandcamp.com/
This Seattle band composes really heavy &
pulverizing riffed (think Bolt Thrower or Grave) dark death metal
that is slow to mid paced and very doom influenced. The vocals are
deep, obscured kinda whispery growls that further their gloomy
suffocating aura well. I will keep an eye on these guys, damn good
shit. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/norothovcascadia
https://www.caligarirecords.com/
Northern Crown
presents their third album of epic heavy metal doom. The music is
classy and skillfully performed, the highlights for me being moody
guitar & top notch smooth vocals from F. Serafine. Some influences I
hear are Candlemass, Isole, Spirit Adrift, While Heaven Wept, My
Dying Bride, Mirror Of Deception. There could be a little less synth
and more heavy parts, by my tastes, otherwise a quality album. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/NorthernCrownDoom/
https://music.northerncrownband.com/
What an absolute killer split line-up here! It
is well known how much I worship Nunslaughter and think they are
Satan’s gift to death metal. The Nun 3 tracks on here superb classic
Nunslaughter! Now Blood I tape traded for their stuff in the early
‘90s and liked them a lot back then. Blood is also a veteran UG band
that has stuck to their roots and still play excellent gut wrenching
metal of death, the way it is supposed to be done! Get this!! -
Dale
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/
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