Mesnada--Forgotten Pathways EP.{digital}{Independant}

 

Mesnada is a band that plays raw black metal with some atmospheric passages used throughout a few of the songs.Forgotten Pathways  is the newest EP. with four tracks of well delievered black metal the music is a nice mix of fast paced passages and some slower more controlled mid paced patterns.Not much is said about the band on their bandcamp but the music is really well executed and performed.The vocals are raw black metal screams.If you are a fan of raw,atmospheric black metal then be sure to check this release out today. 

Mesnada

https://tuireann.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mesnada.bm/

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

Lord Of Horns--Beneath A Broken Cross Demo{digital}{independent}

 

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Coming out of New Jersey's  black metal scene is the solo band Lord Of Horns.Beneath A Broken Cross is the newest demo. featuring three tracks of traditional black metal.Up first  is the title track Beneath A Broken Cross is a fast paced song with fast guitars and programmed fast paced drums.Their are some slower mid paced guitar passages.The vocals are grim black metal screams and almost talking type of vocals.The second song is I conjured The Devil starts off with a dark mid paced musicial passage.The music does speed up with some blast beats amd guitars that are played with intensity.The vocals are high pitched black metal screams.The final song Exorcism Denied is another fast and furious song with extremely fast paced guitars and blasting drums.The vocals are raw black metal screams that fit the old school style of the band perfectly.If you are a fan of well delievered and performed old school black metal then i  defintly recomend checking out Lord Of Horns today.                                                          Lord Of Horns                                                                                                                                            https://lordofhorns.bandcamp.com/album/beneath-a-broken-cross-3                                                          https://www.facebook.com/lordofhorns                                                                                                         https://www.instagram.com/lordofhorns/                                                                                                      

Demon Spell--Blessed Be the Dark (CD/LP) {2026 Dying Victims Productions}

One band that deserves to have more worship bands is Mercyful Fate, and that's what Demon Spell from Italy are doing, and they're delivering quite excellent heavy metal while doing it. The lyrics are blissfully Satanic, as they should be, and they're delivered in an uncannily similar style to King Diamond. There's even plenty of reverb on the vocals to give it that old Mercyful Fate feel. I place this band on the pedestal with Attic as quality King Diamond and Mercyful Fate worship. The production is clear but has a raw edge to it, just as it should for this style, which is something I felt was lacking from the later Mercyful Fate records and King Diamond's output. This just bleeds old metal atmosphere and aesthetic, and I'm glad to have stumbled upon it while hunting for new things to review. There's really no more to say about this. If you're a Fate devotee, like me, you'll love this record. 

www.dying-victims.de

Powerrage--Beast (CD/LP) {2026 High Roller Records}

Powerrage includes two members of the mighty Exciter, John Ricci and Jacques Belanger, so you can imagine the dose of Exciter-esque music found here. They play a solid mixture of heavy metal, speed metal, and thrash metal, and it's completely unique, just as Exciter was. The vocals are completely off the chain - they alternate between a gruff growl or snarl that almost creeps into black metal territory, and a high, piercing falsetto. It's totally different and I can imagine it's an acquired taste for some, as it's not a standard traditional metal type of vocal at times. The production is wonderfully old-sounding, with some reverb on the drums, and guitars that aren't burying everything else. The riffs tend to be fairly repetitive, which is quite an interesting choice for this style, and it really gives some of the songs an epic feel, as they should with the pedigree of this band. It really lets the riffs breathe, becoming something more. The guitar solos are impeccable, obviously. There's a very '80s feel to all of this, even with the extreme vocals, and it should be seen as a continuation of the legacy of Exciter, at least in my eyes.

www.hrrecords.de

Massacred--Infernal Blazing Carnage{digital}{Independent}

 

Massacred is a  solo project coming out of Argentina's brutal death grind metal scene and this is a review of his latest release.Infernal Blazing Carnage is eleven tracks of brutal and intense death grinding madness.The music is performed with some extremly fast paced guitar passages that are insanely fast.Their are some heavier mid paced guitar parts added into a few of the songs for a nice balance.The drums are programmed and are blast beats their are also some heavier mid paced drums used in a few of the tracks.The vocals are brutal,inhuman death metal growls.Fans of Mortician and likeminded bands should like this release.I wouldn't call Massacred   a total copycat band as he tries to add some heavier passages into the music.                                                                                              Massacred                                                                                                                                                      https://massacred.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                              https://www.instagram.com/massacred.death/                                                                                               

Whirlwind--1640 (CD/LP) {2026 Dying Victims Productions}

Whirlwind, from Spain with their second full length, play an excellent mixture of heavy metal and speed metal that reminds me of the masters of the genre like Priest or Primal Fear with a bit of Manowar and Helloween injected for good measure, as well as a heavy dose of Running Wild. Vocally the singer moves between a dynamic clean sound and a grittier heavy metal style, more like Running Wild or Gravedigger. He's never pitchy and sows a real mastery of his style - he never pushes harder than what his voice will allow. The choruses tend toward the big and bombastic, power metal style, with layers of vocals and soaring melodies, often with group shouted vocals for emphasis. The guitar solos are masterful and wonderful and they add to the music instead of distract from it like some bands have a habit of doing just to show off what they can do. This is very easy to listen to, and it flows from song to song easily. If you're a traditional heavy metal fan, this is one album to keep an eye out for, as it should not disappoint. It's not knock-me-down awesome, but it's very, very good.

www.dying-victims.de

Mental Autopsy--Introspective Insanity{Digital}{Independant}

 

Mental Autopsy is a solo project that was started this year and plays a good mix of death thrash metal.The debut full length Introspective Insanity starts off with a short intro that is some very impressive guitar playing.The musi is played with some extremly well executed and delievered guitar passages that are complex yet catchy throughout the songs.The music does slow to a more mid paced range throughout a few of the songs.The vocals are raw gruff growls and screams.The music is played with intensity but the vocals could be better but over all it's not a bad debut. If you are a fan of well executed thrashy old school metal with hints of death metal then check the release out today.                Mental Autopsy                                                                                                                                               https://mentalautopsy.bandcamp.com/album/introspective-insanity                                                             https://www.instagram.com/mentalautopsydeaththrash?igsh=c3BveGI5dzJhbmpk                                    

Embalmed Innocence--Rehearsal Demo April 2026{digital}{Independent}

 

Embalmed Innocence is a  three piece band that comes out of Bulgaria's  brutal old school death metal scene.And this is a review of the bands debut release   Rehearsal Demo April 2026 with a short intro and two full length songs.The intro is just over a minute long and is a dark and creepy music that sets the mood for this band.The second track is  Burnt Sexual Offering and is a fast and chaotic song.The guitars and drums are played at hyper fast speeds and the vocals are a mix of death metal growls and some raw screams.Into The Putrid Cofin is the final song and is another raw,fast paced song.The guitars and drums are played with insanely fast chaotic patterns.The vocals are raw death metal growls that are done with power.As the title suggests this is a Rehearsel demo so the production is decent but not over the top clean and crisp.So if you like your death metal raw,primitve old school sounding then get this today.                                                                                                                                                          Embalmed Innocence                                                                                                                                  https://embalmedinnocence.bandcamp.com/album/rehearsal-demo-april-2026                                          https://www.facebook.com/people/Embalmed-Innocence/61589197193602/                                          https://www.instagram.com/embalmedinnocenceband?igsh=cXV0bmN3NGs2M2xx

Crimson Glory--Chasing the Hydra (CD/LP) {2026 Brave Words Records/No Remorse Records}

Often mentioned in the same breath as luminaries like Queensryche, Fates Warning, and Savatage, Crimson Glory brings us their patented progressive metal on this new record, their first since 1999! That's a very long time in the metal world - hell, it's the year I graduated high school. The riffs and arrangements are precise and powerful, and they've not lost their edge after all these years (3 original members remain at the core of the band, so that helps). They craft distinct and wonderful music with a true metal feel all the while working in their incredible musical talent. The vocalist is one of the newer members, but he does a hell of a job and I was a fan of his work in Millennial Reign. He sounds a little like Geoff Tate and that is perfect for this band. There's so much going on musically that you'll want to sit back and concentrate on this one, and truly absorb the awesomeness they bring to bear here. There are some little quiet moments, as well, often at the beginning of the song, that juxtapose the heavier parts, and the album flows like water. Crimson Glory fans should rejoice that this album is as good as it is, and it fits right in with their back catalog. This one's a triumph for the old guard.

www.bravewordsrecords.com

Gorencephalic--Gore Of The Forgotten CD&Digital{Nihilistic Holcaust}

 

Gorencephalic is a four man band coming out of Brazil's death metal scene.Gore Of The Forgotten is the bands debut EP.featuring six songs of impressive old school death metal with some old school brutal death metal influences added into the sound.The guitars are performed with some memorable mid paced patterns.The guitarist does speed to a faster more brutal style throughout a few of the songs.The drums are done with a mix of powerful mid paced drums and some faster more chaotic drum patterns.The vocals are old school brutal death metal growls that are powerful in their delievery.Gorencephalic performs memorable and impressive death metal all those looking for straight forward death metal should check this band out today.                                                                                          Gorencephalic                                                                                                                                                https://gorencephalic.bandcamp.com/music                                                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/gorencephalic                                                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/gorencephalic/                                                                                                  https://www.youtube.com/@gorencephalic                                                                                              Nihilistic Holcaust                                                                                                                                          https://nihilistic-webzine-distro.fr/                                                                                                               https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/album/gore-of-the-forgotten                                                   https://www.facebook.com/nihilisticzinedistro                                                                                           https://www.instagram.com/gabriel_nihilistic_distro/                                                                                  

                                                                                                                     

Azerothul--In The Halls Of The Dead{digital}{Independent}

 

Netherland's   solo project  Azerothul return with their third  EP. titled  In The Halls Of The Dead.Starting off with a short intro that is dark and creepy in the delievery.The music kicks in with some extreme fast paced musicial passages.The guitars are perfromed with some very well performed passages for the most part the guitars are played with intense fast paced patterns.Their are some slower mid paced guitars also used throughout the recording.The vocals are black metal screams and screeches that are raw in their delievery.In The Halls Of The Dead is a really good EP. for those who love their black metal raw and intense. 

Azerothul

https://azerothul.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-halls-of-the-dead

https://www.facebook.com/people/Azerothul/61586372789874/

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

Necromorbid--Ceremonial Demonslaught cd&LP&CS{Godz Ov War Prod.}

 

Coming out of Italy's black and death metal scene is Necromorbid  with their third full length Ceremonial Demonslaught.The new release is done with some memorable and powerful passages.The guitars are played with a mix of heavy mid paced parts that are played with intenisty and power.The guitars do speed to a faster more aggressive pace throughout the songs for a nice  balance.The drums are played in the same vein with some well excuted fast paced drum parts that are well executed.The drummer does slow to a heavier mid paced style in a few of the songs. The vocals are powerful death metal growls and some raw black metal screams are also used in a few tracks.Necromorbid plays a great mixture of black and death metal and if you are a fan of this style then defintly pick this up when it is released.                                                                                                    Necromorbid                                                                                                                                              https://necromorbid.bandcamp.com/merch                                                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/Necromorbid/                                                                                                https://www.instagram.com/necromorbid_official                                                                                      Godz Ov War Prod.                                                                                                                                    https://godzovwar.com/                                                                                                                                https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ceremonial-demonslaught                                      https://www.facebook.com/godzovwarproductions                                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/godz_ov_war_productions/                                                                            https://www.youtube.com/rosenstahl3x6