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Oceanlord plays
some really poignant doom metal, but it also has this heavy stoner
metal vibe running through it, but not the usual stoner thing. No,
it is more of an introspective, somber atmospheric rich twist to it.
The vocalist is good and follows the feel of the music really well,
reflecting it back with affecting strong voice. This is not the kind
of doomy music I usually listen to, but it is also quite good and
worth giving a try. - Dale
https://oceanlord.bandcamp.com/
https://en.merhq.net/
Olde hail from
my homeland of Canada and play heavy doomy sludge metal that
resonates in your chest like a locomotive passing by in audio slow
motion. Some influences I hear are bands like The Melvins,
Eyehategod, High on Fire, Crowbar and the like. Speaking of old
goats, I am old enough to remember Doug McLarty of Olde’s band
Catharsis who released a demo tape back in 1993! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SludgelordRecords/
https://olde-ca.bandcamp.com/
 
This is the solo band of Chad Davis, who does a number of mostly one man bands such as The Sabbathian, Anu, Olde etc… I have heard none of those bands, but his other band Hour Of 13, I have a few releases from and very much enjoy. Old Ghoul is some really enjoyable solid psychedelic tinged ‘70s style heavy metal doom, in the vein of early Pentagram or maybe stuff like Pagan Altar, Witchfinder General or Witchcraft. This EP conveys some great emotion and atmosphere along with some nice guitar work. - Dale
https://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.helterskelterproductions.se/
Just imagine, if you will, Celtic Frost in their prime time traveled to the early ‘90s to try their hand at fitting into the death metal scene. The music these two men create is a massive, atmospheric wall of sinister barbarity that you can still bang your head to. This album has an eerie electricity to it, I find quite infectious. The vocals on here are these echo-y, slowed down and undefined cavernous gurgling growls, which produce a deliciously haunting aura. A great different spin on old classic elements. - Dale
https://bloodymountainrecords.bandcamp.com
http://www.bloodymountainrecords.com
  
Perversion hails
from the USA though you could write they are from Australia, Germany
or Brazil. Any uneducated listener on Perversion would not know the
difference. They have the production & influence of those old bands
down to a proverbial ‘T’ with their speedy, grimy and scathing
Death/Thrash/Black Metal sounds. Think of old bands like Sextrash,
Vulcano, Vomitor, Gospel Of The Horns plus the early works of
Destruction, Sodom, Sepultura. That is Perversion & they do this
style very well. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/perversion.is.death
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com
Phantom Fire is
a new band from Norway. They play an interesting mix of old school
traditional heavy metal and thrash, but with an black metal
influenced varnish of black blood covering everything. Basically it
is very first wave of black metal influenced by bands like Venom,
Bathory, early Sodom, Infernal Majesty, Mortuary Drape etc… Only two
killer songs here, but a full length is supposed to be on the way
later this year. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomFireOfficial/
https://edgedcircleproductions.com/
This band
features Chris Black (Professor Black, Superchrist, Dawnbringer)
whose career I have been following and enjoying for a long time.
Pharaoh play power metal in the tradition of Helstar, Jag Panzer,
Iced Earth, early Sanctuary etc… Their sound and style is very old
school, they have a knack for writing catchy and memorable songs all
performed by very talented musicians. Some great vocals too. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/PharaohOfficial
https://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/
  
This is this
Japanese bands 2nd album since their formation in 2020 (with a
flurry of split EPs sandwiched in between). Pharmacist plays killer
death metal with grind elements that follow in the tradition of
Pathologist and the first three albums of Carcass. The song
construction like Carcass is powerful and quite varied even within a
single song. The LP is not coming out ‘til late 2022, but the
cassette version is out now. Great album. - Dale
https://pharmacistgore.bandcamp.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
Phenocryst from
Portugal grace us with their debut recording. The band may be new,
but the members are also in bands like Summon, Sepulcros, Concilium
& Necrobode. You get five tracks dirty, brutal & dark death metal
with great suffocating doomy touches. The whispery growling vocals
are massive. OSDM wonderfully influenced by the classic bands from
the Sweden and the US. - Dale
https://phenocryst.bandcamp.com/
https://www.bloodharvest.se/
Coming out of
Germany's ancient black metal scene is a new band with their debut
EP. It features five songs of grim black metal that is devastating
in it's delivery. Lord Noctifier handles the guitars and also
handles the vocals, which are grim demonic gruff growls & screams.
The drums are a mix of hyperspeed blast beats and heavier mid paced
beats. Great debut release that should please fans of early 90's bm.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/TheTruePredictor/
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/
 
Primordial Serpent is a solo project coming out of Canada's black metal scene. This is their newest full length featuring seven songs.The music is rooted in the old school black metal realm. For the most part the music is played with raw and fast guitar intensity. Their is some very well performed guitar passages with a mix fast and some slower mid paced guitar patterns.The vocals are raw gruff grim bm screams and growls, both vocal styles are equally intense. Primordial Serpent plays a great style of old school black metal that worth investigating.
- Patrick
https://primordialserpent.bandcamp.com
https://theblackwitch056.wixsite.com/mastersofkaos/
This is the
Brazilian bands debut EP. It starts off with sounds of a fire
burning and screams, and then the music kicks in with raw fast
guitars played with intensity. The vocals are grim screams and some
demonic growls. “Asmodeus” is up next, it is played with some very
well written mid paced and faster guitar passages. Track three is
raw and nasty, filled with pounding fast drums. The vocals are harsh
and grim screechy bm screams that really fit the song. This is a
great debut of raw, nasty old school style black metal. -
Patrick
https://profanaticlust.bandcamp.com/
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com/
Progoat is a
solo project out of the US black metal scene with his 2nd full
length release. You get 11 tracks of lo-fi bestial black metal. Most
tracks are played in the mid paced range with some samples and
industrial elements mixed into a few songs. The vocals are a mix of
demonic gruff growls and some black metal screams. If you are a fan
of early Beherit and early 90's black metal then pick up a copy
today. - Patrick
progoat.bandcamp.com
bchrecords.storenvy.com
plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com
 
Pustilence is a
new band out of Australia with their first release. They play old
school American style death metal, but they do so with this
incredible energy to the music, which features a lot of twists and
turns in the songwriting. It is interesting and dynamic death metal
music you can easily headbang to! Get it. - Dale
https://pustilenceaus.bandcamp.com/releases
http://www.personal-records.com/
This Oregon band comes from that states hairy armpits and have managed to produce their debut album. Which is filled with some ripping and raging death metal grind insanity. It is also filled with with hints of hardcore tempos and structuring bubbling underneath it’s seedy underbelly. These guys produce monstrous music, fueled by massive waves of violent riffing and some unrelenting, punishing drum work. I was not sure I would like this when I gave it a spin, but it won me over and knocked my ass down. - Dale
https://rankandvile.bandcamp.com/
https://moderngrievance.bandcamp.com/
 
Ravenous Death
produces gargantuan, grimy and crushingly guttural Mexican death
metal that takes no prisoners. The vocals are shadowy evil growls
that sometimes feature a cool croaking underbelly, and other times
screeching demon shrieks – great vocals. I would say fanatics of
brutal, dark death metal in the vein of bands like Grave, Vomitory,
Malevolent Creation, Dismember, Immolation and the like should take
note. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/RavenousDeathOfficial/
http://www.memento-mori.es/
This five song EP is the debut of the Italian
band Reaping Flesh. It consists of five songs of straight forward
death metal. The guitars are fast and frenzied guitar passages
showing skill and intensity. The guitarist does create some very
memorable and well thought out sequences even adding some well
performed solo's. The drumming is lightning fast and feature a
commanding excellent delivery. The vocals are old school powerful
death metal growls that fit their style perfectly. Some great old
school death metal that you should pick up a copy of today. -
Patrick
https://www.instagram.com/reapingfleshdm/
https://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
  
This is main man Rogga Johansson of Paganizer
(among many other bands he is in!) return with one of his longest
running bands Revolting with it’s 7th full-length album.
This is really a great quality album. Think of some of the very best
early Swedish death metal bands (Nihilist, Dismember, Grave etc…)
brutality mixed with the superb melody of early to mid ‘90s Edge of
Sanity. - Dale
https://revoltingdeath.bandcamp.com/ https://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/
Finnish death
metal that is not what you might immediately expect when thinking
about where they come from. They play early to mid ‘90s style
American death metal ala Broken Hope, Baphomet, Suffocation,
Skinless, Dying Fetus etc… It is well done though, brutal and pretty
memorable material. If you like those bands you will probably dig
this. - Dale
https://revulsiondeath.bandcamp.com/
https://tometal.com/
Mexico’s R.T.P. is a relatively new band presenting their debut album. The band features great UG veteran Antimo Buonnano (Disgorge, Demonized etc…) on guitar/vocals. They play a fantastic brand of ugly, crushingly heavy death metal with seriously dark and doomy overtones. It is a deadly cocktail of old school dm influences from the US, UK, and Finland (ala early Autopsy, Incantation, Bolt Thrower, Rippikoulu, Abhorrence etc…). They fit in perfectly next to newer bands like Funebrarum, Undergang, Krypts, Disma, Phrenelith. I love this style. - Dale
www.mesacounojo.com
www.facebook.com/reverencetoparoxysm
www.darkdescentrecords.com
  
This is a one man band from Kyle House (Decrepisy,
Serpents Of Dawn). The music is heavily influenced by the final two
Bathory “Nordaland” albums along with a nearly constant driving &
pounding hypnotically catchy backbone. The vocals are kind of husky
shouted yell / growls that do the job, but are probably the weakest
part of Rökkr’s sound. It is different though and an infectious
listen. - Dale
https://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/
https://www.chaos-records.com/
Rothadás hail from Hungary and this is their
debut album, following a previous demo a couple years back. The
music is a massive wall of overpowering and all encompassing dark
death and heavy on the doom metal. It produces a sickeningly
wonderful rumble that you will feel reverberating through your chest
like a jackhammer set to slow motion. This is a pretty killer
debut. - Dale
https://rothadasdeathdoom.bandcamp.com/
https://www.mesacounojo.com/
Rotheads hail from Romania. I was trying to
think of other Romanian bands I know off the top of the dome, and
the only name that came to mind was Negura Bunget. But Rotheads are
quite different from them, they play dark and grimy death metal
especially in the old Finnish style ala Convulse, Rippikoulu,
Abhorrence and mix it with US death doom like Cianide and for sure
early Autopsy. A lot of bands are playing this style now and I can
never get enough of it – well done here. - Dale
https://rotheads.bandcamp.com/
http://www.memento-mori.es/
 
Ründgard hail from Chile and is a one man band
(Lord Valtgryftåk who is also in the bands 13th Temple, Gryftigæn,
Mantiel, Pyreficativm, Winterstorm). This 24+ minute mini-album is
great integration of the atmospheric bands of the first wave of
black metal with the raw cold evil of the second wave of bm. I would
say the atmospheric side wins out, but not by a lot as it is fairly
even mix. It is an impressive work for one man. - Dale
https://signalrex.bandcamp.com/
https://signalrex.com/store/
If you read a lot of my reviews here on this
site, you know I worship second wave black metal and simply can not
get enough of it. Enter the Canadian band Sacrenoir who produce a
commanding and surprisingly heavy take on this great 2nd
wave bm style, and impressively so. The vocals here are excellent as
well with razor sharp spiting acid rasping alongside and a minor
growled undertone. This is the bands debut album, and it is an
impressive one for those that love early ‘90s Scandinavian black
metal as much as I do. - Dale
https://sepulchralproductions.bandcamp.com/
https://www.sepulchralproductions.com/
  
Sacrilega from California play some impressive
harsh black/death metal at lightning speeds. The vocals feature a
good performance that marries the bm rasp and gruff screeching dark
thrash yells. The drums are awesome, blinding speed yet so precise
and commanding courtesy of Paulus Kressman (Rites Of Thy
Degringolade & Warmach), so no surprise at the high quality. Be sure
to check it out. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SacrilegaDeathMetal/
https://www.bloodharvest.se/
The musical style here is hard to pin down, it
is partly rooted in plodding dark death metal, but the style is
vaguely shape shifting, encompassing all metal. Most of all this EP
is more of a flowing musical current, it is metallic yet propelled
along by brooding, obscured atmospherics, seemingly with almost no
beginning or end. It definitely lends itself to repeated loop
listening. This one man band has morphed it’s influences, and
experiences to create something of a unique interesting sound. -
Dale
https://sarpa6.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sarpahorde/
Brazil's Satanic Command’s debut full-length
is 6 songs of old school, hateful black metal that is devastating
and intense. The music is primitive and well executed with a mix of
mid paced and some faster guitar passages that are played with skill
and a great writing ability. The vocals are a mix of grim, raw black
metal screams & shrieks that fit the music perfectly. If you are a
fan of old school satanic black metal then do yourself a favor and
pick up a copy of ‘Cult Of The Beast's Blood’ today. - Patrick
voidofapep.bandcamp.com
https://plaguedemon.storenvy.com
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com
 
This is the debut album of this young Canadian
band. They play a mix of barely controlled chaos war metal ala
Angelcorpse mixed with, and this is my fave part, good yet too
sparsely used doomy death metal sequences ala early Autopsy or
Funebrarum. Good stuff, but for me could be even better if they let
that doomy tinged brutal death side flourish and take over more of
their sound. A promising debut though. - Dale
facebook.com/SEDIMENTUM
mesacounojo.bandcamp.com
https://www.memento-mori.es/
Septage is a new
band from Denmark that plays dirty, grimy, grinding death metal
sickness. There is a lot of indecipherable growling; bullfrog
belching growls and other myriad of sewer vocal emanations. It’s
hard for me not to draw comparisons to the first two Carcass albums,
but also I hear influences like Repulsion, Impetigo, Autopsy, Ghoul,
Exhumed and the like. It is very well done. Me Saco is doing the 7”
and Dark Descent the CD FYI. Check it out kids. - Dale
www.facebook.com/sepdeath
mesacounojo.bandcamp.com
www.darkdescentrecords.com
Regular CA
readers know I am a huge supporter of this prolific Canadian duo
horde. With less than two months since their full-length album they
are back with a 21+ minute EP. It features a deliciously classic
darkly toned deathrash metal style filled with killer riffs and
guitar work, combined with great memorable entirely discernable
sing-a-long lyrics delivered through charismatic gruff hollers and
growls. Highly recommended! - Dale
Shadu Youtube Channel
Shadu Bandcamp
Shadu
Facebook
Shadu Spotify
 
This is already
Shed’s 4th album - time fly’s by! If you do not know by
now this band features members of Incantation, Ringworm, Crucified
Mortals etc… The recording and production on this album kills, a
step up from the last album. Shed just keeps getting better at
crafting crushing death metal songs that are a speedy, memorable
variety of extremity. The succinct & poignant guitar solos are
great. The deep roiling guttural yet understandable growling vocals
of Ash Thomas is a real strength for the band. - Dale
https://shed-the-skin.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hellsheadbangers.com
“Kun Aurinkoni
Kuoli” is the debut ep from Finland's solo act Sieluhaaska,
featuring four songs. Main man Saasta goes more for a cold mid paced
black metal style, instead of the more aggressive Finnish style. The
music is well composed with razor sharp guitars that are played with
intensity. He even adds in some melodic passages into the mix to
keep the listeners attention. The vocals are traditional bm screams
and some shrieks. This is a great release of quality black metal, so
definitely give this a listen. - Patrick
https://sieluhaaska.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com/
 
I am a fan of funeral doom, since the beginning really with the first releases from bands like Skepticism, Thergothon, Shape Of Despair etc… Yet, I would not call myself a diehard follower of this sub-genre. Which may explain why SLOW’s 7th album, is the first time I am hearing them. They play classic, glacial, melancholic, depressive and introspective crushing funeral doom in it’s finest form. If you love or even just like this style, you should get this four song, forty-four minute slab ASAP. - Dale
https://slowdooom.bandcamp.com/
https://www.code666.net/
This is listed
as an EP, you get 2 exclusive songs, but you also get a Manilla Road
cover and three demo versions of previously released songs for a
total of 35+ minutes of music. This release features more of the
great classic heavy metal epic doom Smoulder displayed on their
killer debut album. The vocals of Sarah are fantastic, infectious to
listen to & a perfect fit for the music. - Dale
https://smoulder.bandcamp.com/
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
  
This Portuguese
band is interesting they black metal infused with pissed off punk
rock or punk mixed with bm, whichever way you view it. It is some
really mean aggressive and dark sounding music that raw & loose, but
not too loose. I have to confess being a bit of a purist with both
genres, so I am surprised how much I liked this and well they pulled
off that balance. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/abutrerex/
https://abutrerecords.bandcamp.com/
This is the first
recording/album of this new one man Norwegian black metal band. The
introspective yet ominous element of Solus Grief is strong on here,
yet it is not all synth or that sort of thing, there is a lot of
free flowing, sprawling guitar work and affecting emotive drums. All
of which, delivers grim and potent payload of atmosphere, that
blankets the entirety of the album. This is a strong debut worth
looking into.
- Dale
https://solusgrief.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com
The great
Soulgrinder fanzine returns, celebrating 10 years of existence! Fuck
yes! Every issue looks superb with great horrific artwork, sick
killer page borders and lots of UG support ads. This ish has
interviews (some good questions) with bands like Dissentience,
Gorgon, Paganfire, and Day Of Doom. There is also articles / bios,
tons of music, and even old horror movie stuff. If you still love
printed fanzines, then get this! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/soulgrinder.zine
http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/
 
This band is an
interesting make up of two members from Canada, one from Russia and
one from Scotland. The record labels are from all over the world
too. S.Y.G. produces high energy, violent and caustic in your face
hardcore. I do not listen to a ton of hardcore, I am selective with
hardcore and this is how I
like it fast paint stripping music with lots of attitude. - Dale
spillyourguts.bandcamp.com/
PermaCityPunk https://trepanationrecordings.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/GraboidOfTheGroundRecords/
This is a
compilation release of this cult band from Australia. It features
their ’96 demo & ‘97 7” EP. The demo is very raw & dark, but hints
at the advanced nature of the band musically and lyrically, which
would be further realized in the future. The EP has a cleaner
production but same as the demo. A great tribute release honour a
cornerstone band of the Aussie UG! - Dale
https://stargazeraustralia.bandcamp.com/
http://www.nwnprod.com/
 
This is the debut album from this Canadian
band. They play extremely well done, memorable old school heavy
metal. I am a huge Dio fan, it is clear these Quebecers are also, as
I hear elements of his work musically and vocally from his days in
Rainbow and his awesome Dio band. They have other varied influences
from that classic time period as well for sure. Starlight Ritual is
a talented group of musicians who write good songs. Check them out.
- Dale
https://starlightritual.bandcamp.com/
https://templeofmystery.bandcamp.com/
I raved over
this bands amazing debut album. This duo of course features Chris
Reifert of Autopsy infamy, and noted recording engineer Greg
Wilkinson (who is also now in Autopsy plus Deathgrave etc…). I did
not expect a new album already! Like the first album, there is a lot
of the supreme Autopsy classic “Mental Funeral’ classic style. This
time it is a little more stripped down, extra doomy and emotive, not
as superlative as the debut, but largely much of the same on display
here once again here, still making it a must have by my tastes.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/staticabyss
http://www.peaceville.com
  
Aussie band Temple Nightside are not very
technical, a bit stripped down, but the band creates an all
encompassing atmosphere that permeates with audio evil, darkness and
ultra heavy fucking death metal goodness. The obscure sounding,
rumbling, roiling growls create this fantastic wake that springs up
then quickly melts into the background. I enjoyed this album an
awful lot. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/templenightsidenecromancy
https://ironbonehead.de/
This Swede band, believe it or not, started out in 1986 as young teenagers, before burning out two years later. Only one member of that original band stayed in the UG metal scene, which is vocalist Heval Bozarslan (long time vocalist of Sarcasm). He decided to revive Third Storm a few years back. They play a first wave bm style with tendrils of heavy metal, thrash and death metal snaking through it all. Heval’s vocals are really cool, they are whispery hissing shouts, evil sounding and cool, also different than most vocalists.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/thirdstorm
https://www.chaos-records.com/
Bursting out of dungeons of Italy is Thulsa
Doom with their debut album. It is pure old school gloomy, primitive
death metal from the early days, when death metal was rearing it’s
grim head with thrash metal remnants of blood trailing behind it.
The bio absolutely nails it when it says this could be the lost
recording Morbid Angel made between ‘Abominations of Desolation’ &
‘Altars of Madness’! Thulsa Doom keeps the old ways alive! -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ThulsaDoomDeath
https://invictusproductions.net/
  
I haven’t had
any releases for a while from Boris Records, good to hear they are
still going strong. Tombstalker from Kentucky has been around since
2009, but the last five or six years has been sparse for the band.
So it is good to have this new twenty minute EP out. Tombstalker
make some tasty thrashy black/death metal with a nice dark necro
atmospheric feel to it. At times, the music has quite memorable
rhythms and interesting songwriting. Give it a go. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/tombstalkerband
https://boris-records.com
Apparently Blood
Blast is a promotional digital music arm of Nuclear Blast helping
out non-label bands from what I can tell. Interesting… Onward to the
band itself, they play brutal death metal that lyrically centers on
old Bigfoot movies and features members of Origin, Unmerciful & Torn
The Fuck Apart. If you dig stuff like Cannibal Corpse, Cattle
Decapitation, Deicide, Suffocation and similar bands, this is a
quality example of that style/sound. - Dale
https://troglodyte.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/troglodyteband
Yes this is the
reformed Tyrant from Los Angeles that formed in the late ‘70s and
put out a two albums on Metal Blade in the mid ‘80s. This is some
very solid classic early to mid ‘80s heavy metal madness. Did I
mention they now have one of metals greatest vocalists Rob Lowe? He
was only in bands like Solitude Aeturnus & Candlemass for a combined
25 years! He is amazing & you should get this posthaste! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/TYRANT-172515856798/
https://www.shadowkingdomrecords.com/
 
Denmark’s
Undergang bring forth through backed up sewers their fifth album of
dirty, soiled and guttural old school US dm like the early works of
Repulsion, Autopsy, Impetigo, Incantation, Rottrevore, Funebrarum
mixed with Finnish dark ‘n grimy dm bands like Rippikoulu, Convulse,
Krypts etc… It is garbled, it is filthy, and it is a brutal gurgling
cesspit of wonderful evil death metal sickness!! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/undergang www.darkdescentrecords.com/
www.mesacounojo.com/
This album
reminds me to the earlier days of the second wave of black metal.
There is a real flow and an underlining melody, but it is evil and
freezing cold. It also reminds me of those days of purposeful raw
recordings which helped as this raw aura helped bm sound more
sinister & dangerous. This Oklahoman band capture this evil well
and some influences I hear are ‘Deathcrush’ era Mayhem, Satanic Warmaster, Horna, Bahimiron, Abazagorath. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/unhumandiseaseofficial/
http://www.moribundcult.com/
 
This is another
one man band from my long time contact Mikael Holm (Aggressive
Mutilator, Hang The Lord & Blixtnedslag). Urtiden is a darkened
heavy metal band that is old school metal with some catchy hook
laden, middle paced songs. The singing is a clear voice with
shadowy, whispered undertones, great vocals that fit the music
superbly. I find this three track demo to be a very infectious and
satisfying listen. - Dale
https://urtiden.bandcamp.com/releases
mikael-holm@hotmail.com
Black metal from Ohio, though they sound more like a Euro band to me, I thought they were until I checked the bio. This is my introduction to them, but they are not a new band, this is Valdrin’s fourth album already. This is good black metal that is well crafted, quite heavy on introspective, atmospheric moods, all crafted in a black metal style. It can be aggressive at times. I like this quite a bit, but for my tastes they rely a little too much on synth, it is too high in the mix. The vocals are great rasping bm yells with interesting phrasing / timing. - Dale
hhttps://www.facebook.com/valdrinausadjur
https://www.bloodharvest.se/
 
This is the Finnish bands second full-length album. It sees them playing harsh yet musical black metal. Which draws upon their homeland’s deeply storied bm UG scene, while injecting their own nuances in the songwriting. It is coarse, but also has a lot of harmonic threads and emotive stirring within the icy evil hatred. I have not heard their debut album, but this sophomore effort shows a lot of promise and skill that belies their level of experience. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ValravnFin/
https://www.primitivereaction.com/
This may be a new band from France, but their music goes straight to the granite foundation of their style. Vayron play brutal, punishing death metal that is quite active & teeming with cruel energy. The vocals are classic growls that ride the line nicely between garbled/clear-ish, striking an enjoyable balance. They mix up the songwriting well and managed to inject some emotion into their sound. This should please fans of Floridian dm like the early works of Morbid Angel, Deicide, Monstrosity, Brutality and the like. Good debut demo. - Dale
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083192049526
https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com
  
The veteran one
man band from Ireland returns with his 38th release!! As
I have said before, what David lacks in talent on his instruments /
songwriting, he makes up for with perseverance & dedication to UG
metal. This disc seems to have more distortion & feedback than usual
and honestly it helps fill in the songs a bit more. I have always
dug David’s voice and vocals. If you love super raw, primitive and
DIY (in every aspect) bands you may want to give VDC a try. -
Dale
https://youtu.be/u4_1kJDSY6k
davidvora10@hotmail.com
A good one man
band makes you forget it is a one man band. Spectre (also one half
of the duo behind the band Minenwerfer) from Sacramento, California
does just that. He combines raw second wave black metal with more
epic flowing bm style and spouts out some good evil rasping vocals
with lyrics about medieval history. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/vermineux
http://www.purity-through-fire.com/
Vivisektio is a
band from Finland that formed in 1983! They reformed about a decade
ago and these old bastards have been going strong since. They play
extremely fast, ripping and pissed off hardcore punk music. This is
some great stuff with good songs and a wicked attitude. This chick
on vocals is great, damn she shreds it up!! Check these fuckers out
if you love harsh, lightning fast, spiked fist to the face punk
rock. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/svartrecords
http://www.svartrecords.com/en
Having just
started in 2019, Vivisect is a relatively new band coming out of New
Jersey and this 4 song, 20+ minute EP is essentially their
discography so far across a few releases. Their music is not new
though, it is old school stripped down dank, heavy and obscure
sounding death metal that tends to keep things in the mid-pace and
got my head nodding with solid brutish songwriting. Love the
whispery growling vocals too. This is recommended for OSDM
fanatics. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/VivisectNJ
https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/music
  
I do not know much about either of these Norwegian bands. Well, save for both are one man bands, and Unholy Craft is Peregrinus, who also does the band Solus Grief I reviewed recently. Vorgfang is good raw, freezing cold and hateful (at times tuneful) 2nd wave bm with great biting acidic rasp vocals. U.C. play a more atmospheric Burzum-ish style with echo-y yelled vocals, that are intense in their own way, other than that quite similar in some ways to Vorgfang. It is a perfect match for this 8 song, 43 minute split album. I thought this would be good, but it exceeded my expectations. - Dale
https://1unholycraft.bandcamp.com/
https://www.purity-through-fire.com
I am by no means
a huge hardcore guy, who follows that scene really closely. But I
have generally been into hardcore for a very long time, since the
late ‘80s, really. I like aggressive, in-your-face hardcore with
attitude. Which is exactly what War Orphan brings in spades! I would
say fans of bands like Sick Of It All, Agnostic Front, Madball,
Earth Crisis, Strife, Cro-Mags, Slapshot and bands like of that
style, should give War Orphan a listen for certain. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/warorphanmusic
https://warorphan.bandcamp.com/
This is the
debut album of this Italian triumvirate, and Helter Skelter just
keeps finding classic doom metal gems, left and right. Warcoe is
doom of the oldest school variety, Black Sabbath worship and let me
tell you they do it well. This is heavy, emotive music with
atmosphere, which I find a real joy to listen to. The bio
refreshingly just straight up admits this is Sab worship, and you
should hear the killer vocals of Stefano Fiorelli, as the bio states
he is ‘70s Ozzy reborn! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/warcoeband
https://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/
  
This Finnish one
man band has only been around for a just over two years now. Yet
they have already released two demos, two splits and now five EPs.
The recording on here is great for such hateful, 2nd wave black
metal, it is clear yet has this far off sound to it that only makes
it sound more evil and sinister. There is a lot of background synth,
but it never over powers the music. This EP definitely takes me back
to a lot of great bm from the early to mid ‘90s that possessed me
then, and possesses me now. - Dale
https://www.ipr666shop.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ipr666
Baltimore’s
Wormhole combines brutality with extreme technicality to create an
explosive, intricately crafted & played slamming death metal grind
LP. The vocals in contrast to the pin point finesse of the playing
are indecipherable vomitous, guttural growls that I honestly loved.
Great new band, check them out! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/wormholemetal/
https://laceratedenemy.bigcartel.com
Wraith play
straight up ripping thrash metal in the early to mid ‘80s tradition
and they do it to the fucking hilt! The songs are really heavy yet
have a catchy hook element to them and you can headbang to the
roaring riffs. The music and vocals have a slight shadowy dark edge
to them, adding a little touch of danger to the proceedings. If you
love old classic thrash from the eighties and can not get enough
then have I got a band for you. - Dale
https://wraith-us.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/
 
This Indiana
band is a trio of veteran UG musicians having done time in bands
like Invasion, Skullview, Sea Of Tranquility & Chronic Disorder.
They play an unconventional mix of heavy metal with large doses of
sludge and doom and a southern groove vibe. Some influences coming
to mind are later COC, Orange Goblin, Kyuss, Down along with
traditional heavy metal. It is interesting and well done; if you dig
the styles above you should check this out. - Dale
https://yellowtooth.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OrchestratedMiseryRecordings
Out on Duplicate
Records (ran by Einar from Inferno, ex-Beyond Dawn, Dawnrazor
fanzine), this is this Turkish bands 4th album now. The
music is very good early ‘90s freezing black metal with some
atmospheric and ceremonial hypnotic elements mixed in. An evil
duality of wintry violence & gloomy ambience. - Dale
https://www.zifirofficial.com
http://www.duplicate-records.com/
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