Repulse "Carnal Bliss" (Review)

Repulse Carnal Bliss

2025 Independent (Digital)

repulse-death.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is excellent death metal with crust punk elements. It reminds me slightly of Nuclear Death Terror or Extinction of Mankind mixed with hard-charging death metal of a simpler variety. Overdriven production distorts the drums and adds a filthy layer of noise like a lot of crust productions do. This punk-fueled mixture really helps the intensity of the record, never relenting once in this EP's short duration, 6 songs in under 15 minutes. The breakdowns are crushingly heavy, and they're hard-hitting with big, tough riffs. I want to hear a full-length from this band to see what else they can do. I can even hear hints of Nunslaughter in their sound, but this may be from the punk influence. They have great songs and atmosphere, and this is the sort of death metal I prefer.

Bulwarg "Cognitive Dissidence" (Review)

Bulwarg Cognitive Dissidence

2025 Independent (LP)

bulwargmusic.bandcamp.com

STANDOUT TRACKS: Oath of the Abyss, Chapel Perilous

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Comprised of a bunch of young metalists from Cincinnati, this first full length comes after a spate of EPs and singles. This is brutal, chugging, finely recorded death metal that shows proficiency far beyond the band's years and a clear dedication to craft. They use simple arrangements and more than a handful of memorable riffs that chug along violently. It's midway between what we can call old school brutal death metal like earlier Cannibal Corpse (of which there is an influence evident here) and the new wave of bands that are focusing a bit more on groove like Sanguisugabogg and 200 Stab Wounds. It's solid death metal, either way, and dark at times. The vocals are strong and the lyrics are thoughtful, and clear effort has been put into the patterns. The band remains mid-paced for a lot of the record, which ups the heaviness factor. I want to hear a little more variation in the riffs, but I am sure that will come with experience. 

Podridao "Coffin of the Corrupted Dead" (Review)

Podridao Coffin of the Corrupted Dead

2025 Kill Again Records (CD)

killagainrec.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Brazil we have some Autopsy-style death metal on their fourth full length. Outfitted with some thrashing death metal riffs on top of the Autopsy-like sound, they have some intensity. The vocals are good growls with decent vocal patterns that aren't just throw away lines to make things more brutal. Some thought went into them. The vocal style sort of reminds me of Brainstorm (CA) on the Heralds of Oblivion compilation. I think it has to do with the use of reverb in similar places, but it definitely reminded me of that band. I wish the songs themselves were more intense than they are, but they stay in the pocket for the most part and there's nothing really wrong with that. Just my personal taste. The songs blend together after a while for me, and by halfway through I was only sort of listening any more. If you're into 1990s-sounding death metal, you could give it a whirl, but there are better bands out there doing similar things.

Morgue "Close to Complete Darkness" (Review)

Morgue Close to Complete Darkness

2024 Godz ov War (CD/LP/CS)

godzovwar.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From the same metalists that brought us Artgore, we have a fifth studio album. Now, my last point of reference with this band was in fact the debut album, so I missed a lot of progression in between, so this review is more like a comparison of how their sound has progressed and what I think of it. They've matured, but the focus is still on good songs, good riffs, and a morbid atmosphere, just not as focused on gore. They're darker, with more of an evil feel than in the past. Although the gore is mostly gone, they're still nasty and heavy, and the core of the music still resembles the band on that debut album. I can hear similar themes in the riffs from album to album. Musically, this is a near-perfect outing, with fast and precise drumming, imaginative riffs, and a claustrophobic atmosphere. They've gone from a goregrind influenced sound to a dark beast of death metal, but the carcass is still recognizable. I recommend this one for any fan of the band, past or present.

Gravered "Classic Cult to Death" (Review)

Gravered Classic Cult to Death

2025 Iron Blood and Death Corporation

ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first full length from this Chilean outfit. They have a chainsaw guitar sound, Swedish style, but super dirty, and play a slow, dark sort of death metal almost like Incantation if it weren't for the guitar sound. The vocals are strong and brutal, but lack diversity in pattern. The compositions are loose, and they don't sound comfortable playing fast. They're very at home in slow- to mid-paced tempos, however. A fine line separates this band from death/doom - as such I found it boring, since it is indeed so slow all the time. "Procession in Rigor Mortis" is easily the standout track here, with the best vocal patterns on the album and the catchiest up-tempo riffs. I do like the chunkier riffs they progress into occasionally, like at the beginning of "Lugubrious Macabre and Sepulchral," but they lose me immediately heading into those doom parts. One thing of note - the drums are extremely well recorded. They constantly pan back and forth with where the drummer is on his kit, and it makes the album much more interesting.

Brutally Deceased "Chasms" (Review)

Brutally Deceased Chasms

2024 Doomentia Records

www.doomentia.com

STANDOUT TRACKS: Deus Mundi, Vacant Orb, Nether Realms, Black Chalice

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the fourth full length from this Czech death metal band. This album is full-on intensity from start to finish with the perfect use of blasts under just the right riffs. They have a good sense of melody when it's called for, and they could show today's so-called melodic death metal bands how to do it right. These melodic riffs creep into the mix and diversifies the band's attack considerably without wimping out their sound. And that's what this album is, an attack - a constant, brutal, singular attack. In fact, the guitar work reminds me slightly of Cleveland's From the Depths at the height of their melodicism. The singer uses full-throated deep, brutal growls. I could listen to his vocals for hours. They're so heavy and thick, and his patterns truly inspired. I think he's one of the greatest vocalists of our time in the underground today. There is also an element of black metal in the riffs here and there that adds a cold-as-fuck edge to some songs like at the end of "Chasm Born." This is a strong record, and one that is definitely worth tracking down.