Nocturnal Corruptor--Obscuring the Hecatomb (CD) (2026 Independent)

This is rather raw black metal with a distinctly US feel to it, and it comes to us from Oklahoma. Mainly big, open riffs are used, with lots of tremolo picking. They're classic black metal fare with plenty of nuances that reveal themselves after multiple listens. The vocals are obscure and buried behind a layer of mud in the production, but the sound works nicely and gives this a proper occult feel. When the blastbeats hit they are steady and fierce, and I can't tell if they're programmed or live drums due to the production. It doesn't matter. What matters is the songs, and these are damn fine for the most part. They occasionally drag a bit when the slower more melodic riffs are doing the heavy lifting instead of the more brutal, faster riffs, but those are my preferences calling the shots. I always like brutal. I rarely like slow. So there it is. This is definitely worth snapping up the limited CD from their Bandcamp site, especially if you prefer your black metal a little bit raw.

nocturnalcorruptor.bandcamp.com

Unholy Redeemer--Journey Beyond Death CD&LP and CS.{Extremely Rotten Productions/Dark Descent Rec.}

 

Unholy Redeemer is a band with members from Australia,Finland and the Netherlands and this is a review of their newest EP.Journey Beyond Death is five tracks of well composed and delievered old school death metal from musicians who were there.The first song presented here is the title track Journey Beyond Death which starts out with crushing heavy drums and guitars.The music is well executed with fast paced guitars that are well played with intensity and speed.The vocals are inhuman death metal growls that are done with power.The drums are a mix of fast paced drums but do slow to heavier mid paced range for a nice mix of the two styles.Up next is  Carrion Of The Gods which is another song that combines the mid paced powerful drums and guitars with some insanely fast paced passages for a nice mix.The drumming is top notch with some memorable drums that are pummeling and aggressive and some slower heavier drums are also used throughout the songs.The vocals are heavy and low death metal growls that fit the music perfectly.Up next is Blazing Grave Cathedrals is another crushing and fast paced song.The music seems a little more fast and extreme throughout this song.This songs shows the band ability to play slow mid paced death metal but also some faster paced death metal the vocals are powerful death metal growls.Up next is The Blades Of  Inversion which is a instrumental showing off the bands ability to perform excellent musical passages.The final song Ever Drifting--They Wait which starts off with heavy guitars and low death metal growls that are powerful.The music picks up a little faster throughout the song but never really gets to extremly fast instead performing a heavy crushing mid paced song.                                                                                                                               Unholy Redeemer has crafted a really well played EP. the music is crafted with power and intensity that should please fans of pure,quality death metal.                                                                                          Unholy Redeemer

https://unholyredeemer.bandcamp.com/merch

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087342811911                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/unholy_redeemer/

Extremely Rotten Productions

https://extremelyrottenprod.com/

https://unholy-redeemer.bandcamp.com/album/journey-beyond-death

https://www.facebook.com/extremelyrottenproductions

https://www.instagram.com/extremelyrottenprod/

Dark  Descent Rec.

https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords

https://www.instagram.com/darkdescentrecords/

https://www.youtube.com/user/darkdescentrecords

Unchurch--Self Titled CD&Digital{Chaos Rec.}

 

Unchurch is a death metal band coming of of Chile and this is a review of the self titled debut.Unlike their label mates Sepulcrum Unchurch seems to go more for a straight forward death metal style and sound.The guitars are performed with some fast and frenzied guitar passages that are well executed.The guitars do slow to a mid pace range with some well played patterns even adding some well performed solo's throughout the songs.The drums are a mix of mid paced heavy drums and some faster more crazed drums.The vocals are brutal death metal growls that are well delievered and powerful.Their are also some gruff growls and screams added into a few songs. Unchurch plays a old school style of brutal death metal that is well delievered if you are a fan of dark death metal defintly give this release a chance and pick up a copy today. 

Unchurch 

https://www.facebook.com/unchurch666                                                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/unchurch.dm                                                                                                     Chaos Rec. 

https://www.chaos-records.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688

https://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/album/unchurch

https://www.facebook.com/chaosrecords

https://www.instagram.com/chaosrecs/

 

Sepulcrum--Lacerator CD&CS.{Chaos Rec.}

 

Lacerator  is the second full length from Chile's Sepulcrum who do a great job of creating memorable death metal.The songs are extremly well written and performed with some memorable guitars and drum passages.The  guitars are a mix of mid paced heavy passages with some well executed patterns.The guitars do speed to a faster more aggressive pace throughout some of the songs for a nice mix of the two styles.The drums are well delievered with some intense mid paced drums that are heavy drm patterns.The drummer does speed up to a faster brutal pace in some of the songs for a nice mix,The vocals are death metal growls that are raw and intense with some gruff growls also used in a few of the songs.Lacerator is a really impressive death metal release that should  please fans of the late 80's and 90's death metal.                                                                                                                                          Sepulcrum                                                                                                                                                  https://www.instagram.com/_.sepulcrum._                                                                                                    Chaos  Rec.                                                                                                                                                    https://www.chaos-records.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688                                                                                  https://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/album/lacerator                                                                                https://www.facebook.com/chaosrecords                                                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/chaosrecs/                                                                                                          

Crypted Hate--Moral Onslaught CD&digital{Independent}

 

Crypted Hate is a trio who come out of India's death metal scene and this is a review of their debut full length.Moral Onslaught contains  a intro and eight tracks of old school death metal.that is performed with some memorable passages.The music is a mix of fast and intense guitars and drums that are played with intensity.The music does slow to a mid paced slower pace,The vocals are a mix of death metal growls that are powerful and some raw gruff growls and screams are also used throughout the songs.Moral Onslaught  is a really well written and performed release if you are looking for a new band that plays  aggressive old school death metal then defintly give Crypted Hate a chance and check em out today.                                                                                                                                                            Crypted Hate                                                                                                                                                https://cryptedhate.bandcamp.com/merch                                                                                                    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552555803000                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/cryptedhate                                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQHjHo6hTckUZt-Znx9_hQ

Anima Mortalis--Relics Of Inhumanity{Digital}{Independent}

 

Anima Mortalis is a brutal death metal band coming out of El Salvador's brutal death metal scene.Relics Of Inhumanity  is the  debut EP. featuring five tracks of solid technical brutality .that is well performed.The guitars are a mix of  fast paced guitars that deliever some impressive guitar patterns.The guitars do slow to a heavier  more brutal sound throughout the songs for a nice mix.Their are some well executed solo's added into the songs that show the guitarist ability to write and perform  so memorable passages.The drums are equally as heavy with some insanely fast blast beats that are intense.As well some heavier mid paced drum are also used throughout the EP. The vocals are brutal death metal growls that are powerful and vicioous in their delievery. Relics Of Inhumanity is a really good debut that has a nice mix of technical guitars and music but also doesn't loose their own brutal death metal sound and style highly recomended.

Anima Mortalis

https://animamortalis.bandcamp.com/album/relics-of-inhumanity                                                            https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574965104620#                                                                     https://www.instagram.com/animamortalis/

https://www.youtube.com/@animamortalissv

Bothrash--Almas Poseidas cd&digital{Grimm Distribution/Sanatorio Rec.}

Coming out of Coata Rica's  old school speed thrassh metal scene is Bothrash with their  latest full length.Almas Poseidas is  eight tracks of fast and frenzied thrashing speed metal that is ntense and insanely well executed.The guitars are played with extremly fast paced guitar passages.The guitarist does add some solo's and some whirlwind guitar patterns.The drums are are crazed with fast blast beats that are chaotic in their delievery.The vocals are raw old school screams and some gruff  screams and growls are also used. Almas Poseidas should please all fans of underground speed,thrash metal so defintly give it a listen today

Bothrash

https://www.facebook.com/bothrashcr

https://www.instagram.com/bothrashcr

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJjysIOEEoKfdoRNCC26aQ/feature                                   Grimm Distribution

https://www.instagram.com/grimmdistribution/

https://grimmdistribution.bandcamp.com/album/091gd-bothrash-almas-pose-das-2026

Inmortui--Undead Suffering EP.{digital}{Independent}

 

Inmortui  is a four man band coming out of Oregon's brutal death metal scene and this is a review of their newest EP.Undead Suffering is six tracks of brutal death metal that is powerful and intense.The band does add some grinding sections throughout the songs for a nice mix.The guitars are played with fast and frenzied guitar passages.The guitarist does add some well performed heavier mid paced guitars even adding in a few solo's in a few of the tracks.The drums are delievered with hyper blast beats that are pummeling to the listener.The vocals are a mix of heavy brutal death metal growls that are powerful in the delievery.Their are also some vicious well delievered screams.Inmortui plays a great style of brutal death metal with a healthy dose of grinding influence entertwined into the music.                          Inmortui                                                                                                                                                        https://inmortui.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                                https://www.instagram.com/inmortui_pdx/                                                                                                    

Gravety--Of Cults and Chaos (CD/LP) (2026 Barhill Records)

Ah, yes, epic heavy metal. It's one of my favorite things on planet Earth, and right up there with death metal as far as satisfying my metal-listening tapeworm. Gravety from Germany have laid upon us their third full length and first in five years. I can't speak to what their earlier releases were like, but the Archives tells us they once referred to their style as "thrash 'n' doom" metal. That's not inaccurate as far as they riffs go at all. They have a definite chug factor like a thrash metal band does, but their vocal melodies push them completely into the epic heavy metal category. The remind me a lot of the band Doomsword, another epic doom band with a distinct heavy metal side to them. While this isn't as musically capable as, say, a band like Khemmis (not much is), the band is quite good at evoking that epic feel I like so much, relying on the bombastic riffs and soaring vocals to give us that feel. The vocal harmonizing is key to this, and it's done often and well, but not outside of the vocalist's range. He stays in his comfort zone for the most part, and that's smart. There's a heavy H.P. Lovecraft influence at work in the lyrics and album concept, which is nice to hear outside of extreme metal. The lyrics seem to tell stories, which I am a fan of ever since when I was young I realized that's what King Diamond was doing with his lyrics - telling us a story. While not knock-me-over incredible, this is highly respectable, and fans of the epic shit should go out of their way to find it. Plus, the cover art is amazing and evocative.

www.barhillrecords.de

Nocturnal Departure--Spiritual Cessation (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Hells Headbangers Records)

I love reviewing black metal bands that appear on Hells Headbangers, because almost every time I can be assured that the band is good, authentic, and not pretentious. Hells has my vote of confidence when it comes to their releases no matter the genre. Nocturnal Departure is no exception. This album has that 1990s hellfire and brimstone feel to it, like some long lost treasure from that era buried by time and dust, but no more! There's just a hint of rawness in the production to make it that much more appealing to me - I love when bands show that they're not, in fact, perfect, and go out of their way to let us know. Digital recording has made it incredibly easy to appear to be perfect, and the human feel of music gets lost in that translation sometimes, but not here! Comparison-wise, I can hear Darkthrone, Satanic Warmaster, Mayhem, Watain, and some Celtic Frost. But as I often say, this band is not a list of influences, but something more than that. They are original and classic-sounding, pitch-black and heavy as fuck. The vocals are interesting, often buried under layers of reverb, and I wonder to myself if they can accomplish that live as well, that would be interesting. Either way, on the record the singer sounds evil and obscure, and that's proper black metal. This album should be of interest to all of you seeking that classic black metal experience, and if you know what I mean, you know what I mean. This band should be on every black metalist's radar.

www.hellsheadbangers.com

Goddess--Ritual of the Cloven Hoof (CD/LP) (2026 Majestic Mountain Records)

Goddess is a recently renamed band from Sweden (they were formerly Goatess and had three full lengths under that name, and I personally think this is a fine name that makes their album title work better, but Goddess will do as well) with a very old take on metal, being firmly in the Black Sabbath camp. I usually don't review doom metal because I'm not as familiar with the nuances and the influence of stoner rock on the genre, which is definitely the case here, but in the case of Goddess the release is so good that I want to review it and get the word out. There's enough traditional doom here for me to sink my teeth into and enjoy this, as well as enabling me to talk about it intelligently. The vocals are what make the record for me. The rich vocal melodies and occult-influenced lyrics really push this into a new territory musically, one where I'll gladly listen to this over and over. It's a powerful performance, and one that deserves multiple listens because it's that damn good. The bottom line is that if you like Sabbath, you'll like Goddess. I perhaps like them more than Sabbath for the vocals (well, at least until Dio takes over for Ozzy). This is top notch stoner doom and has dark enough lyrics for my tastes on top of it all. If all doom had lyrics like this, I would probably listen to more of it! I really do enjoy the darkness of it all.

www.majesticmountainrecords.com

Atronos--Gram (CD) (2026 Purity Through Fire Records)

I can't understand the meaning of the German lyrics, but I can understand how fuckin' metal they sound, and Atronos is as metal as they come. At their heart, they play black metal, but they feature yelled and sung clean vocals in many passages rather than snarled or growled. It's quite diverse, vocally, with all sorts of styles and tones, and it's quite original sounding due to this. They bear some passing similarity to Eisenkult, but only superficially, and this is natural as they do share some members, including the vocalist. Stylistically they mix in epic heavy metal riffing with their brand of black metal, and the melodies soar overtop an aggressive rhythm section. The songs are almost always upbeat and aggressive yet somehow melodic and anthemic, and I imagine the choruses are singalong quality if you know German. Atronos is yet another band that I've recently stumbled upon that reminds me of the obscure English band Forefather, mainly for their epic style of riffing, and some of the vocal arrangements. This is quite a unique black metal record, and it's got a true metal feel to it, so I highly recommend it to you, reader.

www.purity-through-fire.com

Sojourner--Gateways (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Avantgarde Music)

An international project between Sweden and New Zealand, this is the fourth full length from this atmospheric black metal entity. I was expecting something a bit more in the way of epic riffs out of this band for some reason, and there are a few, but they're understated and not necessarily big and bombastic like I was expecting. The clean female vocals are perhaps the best part of this record, breathlessly performed and majestic. It puts the album much more in the vein of gothic metal than black metal. I might actually respect this more if they got rid of the growled vocals and went totally clean. I just feel like stuff like this loses sight of what black metal was meant to be in the first place, a fist in the face of the mainstream and the morality police, and by making it accessible like this, boiling it down to a musical style instead of an accompanying ideology, misses the overall point. But I digress. Note that my above criticism in no way means that the music isn't enjoyable. It is. Very much so. Just not from a traditional black metal perspective, a perspective shared by the underground for decades. There's no ugliness here, only dark beauty, and that runs counter to what I want in the genre, even on the atmospheric and epic side of things. I know, I have complicated thoughts on non-traditional black metal. It is what it is. I'll file this under gothic metal and be satisfied with it.

www.avantgardemusic.com

Witches Hammer--Final Storm (CD/LP) (2026 Nuclear War Now! Productions)

Another one of those bands whose history stretches back into the late 1980s but never put out a proper full length until 2020, Final Storm is the third and purportedly last Witches Hammer full length. The band was, in its early days, instrumental in helping build the Canadian extreme metal scene alongside bands like Blasphemy. The recording has an '80s style rawness to it while also being clear and well-engineered. I like how natural everything sounds and how not modern it is. The songs are polished and well-written and I'm sure some of them have been in the band's repertoire for years. If you're unfamiliar with this band but interested in classic death thrash or black metal, this should be a band you investigate immediately. This definitely isn't a record to miss out on, and it should be added to your collection post haste.

www.nwnwprod.com

Torpor--Dungeon Descent (CD/LP) (2026 Dying Victims Productions)

Torpor from Poland have concocted something quite unique and original, being black metal musically but heavy metal vocally, with epic melodies overtop aggressive drums and expressive riffs. The riffing itself sort of reminds me of Abbath's riffing style in mid-period Immortal, but also of the obscure English band Forefather (who, if you haven't heard, please do). This, however, is totally original and cannot be compared to anything past what I already superficially compared them to, and that's exactly what it is, a superficial comparison. The drums have a quite nice natural sound, especially the ride cymbal, and they're produced perfectly. This is album of the year material, a performance of such power and innovation that every metalist should sit up and a take note. This has that metal magic that hooked us on the genre to begin with, that certain "something" that all classic albums contain. I look forward to even more material from this band, and if this LP is anything to judge by, this will be a very important band to metal in the future. For now, this album should be flying off the shelf and into collections everywhere, as I intend to make it do soon where my own collection is concerned. 

www.dying-victims.de