Saturday, January 10, 2026
Goatkrieg--Satanic Assault On Holy Lands Digital&Cassette{Rat Covenant}
Superion Tyrant--Demo MMXXV {Digital}{Independent}
Superion Tyrant is a new band that was formed in 2025 and this is a review of the debut demo.Demo MMXXV contains a intro and four songs of Vicious and violent blackdeath metal with some war metal elements added into the mix.The intro is machine gun fire and expolisions then the music hits.The music is played with fast aggressive guitars that are played with skillful writing.Their are some slower mid paced guitar passages to give the guitarist a break from the extreme speeds.The drums are done with some powerful mid paced drums and some fast and crazed drum patterns that are well executed and delievered.For a debut this is a really good start looking forward to hearing more from the band in the future.
Superion Tyrant
https://superiontyrant.bandcamp.com/album/demo-mmxxv https://www.facebook.com/people/Superion-Tyrant/61581349941602/ https://www.instagram.com/superiontyrant/
Friday, January 9, 2026
Infernal Gates--Hell's Reaper (CS) {Independent}
This is the second full length from this Quebecois band. We get black thrash with primitive riffing that straddles the lines of black, thrash, and sometimes even death metal. In fact, there's almost a rock and roll feel to some of the songs and writing, a swagger that not many black/thrash bands have. They even have a song entitles "Caveman Rock 'N Roll." Their solos in particular bleed rock and roll. Much of this is mid-paced, galloping along with a black metal feel. The production is nice and spacious, clear and well engineered, but it's also very natural, especially the drums. They sound almost live. The vocals are largely standard mid-range black metal growls but some low vocals do appear here and there, usually as backing vocals. The break up the album they give us an interlude filled with somber riffing and acoustic guitar, and it was a welcome break from the rest of the record. It was a smart move. A break for the ears can go a long way to making an album memorable. I hope a proper label comes along and puts this out far and wide, but there are cassettes available on their Bandcamp site.
Perditus--Hailing the Coward Moon (Digital) {Independent}
Hailing from Austria, this is the one-man project of Gravedweller. It's black metal in the Nordic style but with it's own distinct identity. There's a technical edge to the guitar playing that doesn't exist in black metal all that often, with the use of little sweeps in the riffs. It's interesting, adding a dynamic that really helps give this a different feel. The vocals are strangled out of Gravedweller's throat, and he employs all sorts of techniques, from standard black metal rasps to screams, yells, growls, wails, and sometimes even clean vocals. The drums appear to be programmed, but you'd never guess it unless you're either very tuned in to the music or you haven't read the Metal Archives page about the band. The record is cleanly produced but retains and element of rawness that stems from the playing and arrangements. This isn't bad stuff at all, and worth checking out.
Graveripper--From Welkin to Tundra (CD/LP/CS) {Wise Blood Records}
From the depths of the Indianapolis scene comes this black/thrash act, a trio that performs with force and power. They play a seamless mixture of black metal and thrash, with black metal taking the place of prominence most of the time, using the thrash to vary the songs and add aggression. The vocals are hard-edged black metal rasps and screams. This is slickly produced stuff - the production is absolutely perfect. I almost want it to be more raw, and I feel like it loses something being this clean. However, I'll be they absolutely kill in a live setting! This is recommended if you prefer your black/thrash with more of a black metal side. It's enjoyable if not earth-shattering.
Wampyric Wrath--Empire of Putrification (Digital) {Breaking the Chains Records}
Here we have a short EP from this German black metal outfit, their third release overall. We get three tracks of cleanly produced black metal that still has an element of rawness to it. It's very much in the old Nordic style. The riffs have a big, epic feel, soaring over the bass and drums with aplomb. Each song is roughly five minutes long but they feel longer for some reason. It's not bad stuff at all, and I'll wait to see what they do next. Hopefully we get a full length soon! I'll have to pay more attention to the label, Breaking the Chains, since this is now the second release of theirs that I have liked.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Scruda--Extreme Speed Violence cassette{Godz Ov War Prod.}
Scruda are a trio coming out of Poland's old school black thrashing speed metal scene.Extreme Speed Violence is the new EP featuring six tracks that are short and straight to the point.The guitars are played with aggressive patterns and a whirlwind.The guitarist does write some extremly fast passages but also adds some well performed solo's throughout the music.The drums are extremely fast paced and chaotic.The vocals are a mix of death metal growls,thrashy screams both vocal styles fit the music perfectly.If you are into old school black thrash and speed metal insanity then do not miss out on Extreme Speed Violence.
Scruda https://scruda.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/scrudabarbarians# https://www.instagram.com/scrudabarbarians/ Godz Ov War Prod.
Buddah-Amyotrophy cd&digital(Godz Ov War Prod.}
Amyotrophy is the debut full length from Poland's death metal band Buddah. The debut consists of nine tracks of well executed and performed death metal.Musically it has a nice mix of fast paced and some c mid paced passages for a nice mix.The vocals are death metal growls and some raw gruff screams are used in a few of the songs.Pretty good death metal for a debut defintly worth a listen!! Buddah https://www.facebook.com/Buddahband/ https://www.instagram.com/cvlt_ov_buddah/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRlMwm7G41eRIdkpAH_BOsw Godz Ov War Prod. https://godzovwar.com/ https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/godzovwarproductions https://www.instagram.com/godz_ov_war_productions/ https://www.youtube.com/rosenstahl3x6
Monday, January 5, 2026
Warlocks of Morgul--Empire of Puritanical Sorrow (Digital) {Independent}
Alberta, Canada brings us this gem of a black metal record, the band's first full length. It's vicious, fast, melodic-when-it-wants-to-be black metal in the Nordic style. It's highly technically proficient, all instruments being played at peak ability. Some of the riffs and drum patterns boggle the mind. While the musicianship is stellar, the songs are never sacrificed because of it. It's simply added value. The vocals remind me of Satyricon, growled through clenched teeth. The guitars are like a winter blizzard with swirling winds and drifting snow. We're given bits of melodic atmosphere every so often to give our brains a break and it's a welcome respite - this is challenging music. This is a masterful performance by a musician that has found his voice and is creating wickedly sharp songs from wonderfully jagged riffs.
Dungeon Keeper--Dungeon Metal Masters (CS) {Breaking the Chains}
This German band follows up last year's full length with this new EP. This is real black metal with punked-up beats and a just-raw-enough production that lets all the instruments shine without being slick. There's a heavy Hellhammer influence at work here, from the riffs to the vocals and even the vocal patterns. In fact, this is a rather pure mix of the old Norwegian style and Hellhammer, giving us nothing but proper black fuckin' metal. There are a few hints of old Sodom, too. Everything about this band oozes black metal, even their image. The singer manages to sound pissed off and aggressive the entire time, and it's wonderful. This is very much worth the price of admission, and I recommend it highly.
Cemetery Moon--Dominion of Ashes (Digital) {Independent}
Ah, the USA to the rescue. After some melancholic and weird records, along with a bunch of shitty forest-worshipping bullshit, I finally stumbled on this album and it's very welcome. Hailing from Connecticut, this is Cemetery Moon's second full length, and it's a great one. This is melodic black metal with an emphasis on metal, with plenty of blasts and aggressive playing, but with constant melodic riffing over the brutality. The drummer, when using blasts, is swift and tight, reminding me a bit of the drummer from Thornspawn for some reason, but with a more varied attack. The singer has a full-throated rasp and rolls overtop the music with perfect diction and a powerful performance. This sounds like proper American black metal, in an intangible way, and isn't trying to be anything but that. It's just good, solid black metal, and it's worth tracking down. A bigger label needs to snatch this up and put this record out properly.
Ergot--Decade (CD/LP) {ATMF}
This second full length from Ergot comes a full ten years after their last effort. It's slower, melodic black metal with soaring melodies and epic structures. The songs are longer, clocking in at five minutes or more with the exception of an interlude. The lyrics appear to be in all Italian as far as I can tell, and I can't offer any information as to what some of the songs are about, but it sounds cool as fuck. The guitar solos weep over top the main riffs in every song, bringing a morose feel. It's not depressive by any means, but it's full of emotion. This is also creepy in ways only black metal can manage with haunting chords and disdainful melody. However, it all sort of blends together for me after a while with no real speed to add intensity, but I'll put that down to my preferences in black metal. It's not a problem if you're looking for this style, I'm just not.
Saturnebula--Cryptic Saturnalia (Digital) {Independent}
This is the first EP from this German band. It's strong black metal with a muddied just-raw-enough production. Strands of melody stand out in their songs, here and there, that made me sit up and listen, creating pockets of real originality. The vocals are rhythmic and have captivating patterns in every song. They use a lot of rhyming lyrics, which is both old-fashioned and interesting. Bulldozing riffage starts the song "Cold Heart Cult," the best song title on the record, and continues all the way through the song until it's time to slow it down with a slightly more melodic riff and some clean vocals. This band shows promise and I want to hear more from them for sure.
Hellbutcher--Alcoholic Ritual Hell (CD) {Rotten Leather Productions}
This is not the famous Hellbutcher from Sweden, but instead a band from Ecuador that predates the larger act. This is their second full length, following up their last record from 2008. We get fairly talented black speed metal with some truly tasty riffs, and they ride them for all they can get out of them in each song, with lots of repetition like much of black metal has. This is not anything new, but what they're doing is higher quality than a lot of bands trying their hand at black thrash. They're tight, not overcomplicated, and can write a great song. The singer's heavy Spanish accent makes the music that much better, giving it an interesting feel. As for standouts, "Lucifer" begins with some truly black riffing that sets to the tone for the song, being bombastic and epic in feel. "Maniak" is probably my favorite track here with its 80s speed metal motifs. It's an album worth tracking down, and I highly recommend it.
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Occultor--The Eucharist (Digital) {Independent}
This is the first full length from this Romanian war metal outfit. This is black/death in the vein of Archgoat, Blasphemy, and Beherit but with a penchant for slower riffs and plodding rhythms. In places, the vocals are far too high in the mix and drown everything else out, and it's extremely hard to overlook since it's shockingly loud. I do like the pitch-shifted vocals that make the singer sound like a goddamn demon. There's an element of intensity missing here that all those other bands have, which makes this pretty mediocre stuff overall. It does succeed in creating dark atmosphere and there are a few good tracks here, just not enough to make me listen repeatedly. It's a crowded genre that's hard to do right, and there's nothing here suggesting anything spectacular.
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