Posthumous Regurgitation--The Coroner's Guide to Cadaverous Cuisine (CD/CS) {2024 Headsplit Records}

headsplitrecords.blogspot.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Since the band name has a reference to vomit in it, you know we're going to cover it here! Headsplit releases are interesting to me nearly every time, and Posthumous Regurgitation is no exception. This album is excellent. These Oregonian madmen have crafted one of the finer death metal/goregrind hybrid sounds I've ever heard. The roots of goregrind can be heard in their sound as well, with tiny nods to Carcass, but they also have some similarities to Haemorrhage and Butcher ABC. The vocals are mostly natural gutturals and screams, but a pitch-shifted vocal makes an appearance once in a while. It's a rather diverse effort vocally, which not a lot of goregrind can claim. I believe this to be their death metal influences at work. The production is clear but not overwrought like so many albums today, and all the instruments have a nice natural sound. It's a quick listen at twenty-two minutes and change, with nine original songs and a cover of General Surgery, but it's a worthwhile one.

Wormlord--Choices (Digital) {2026 Independent}

wormlord.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Wormlord, from Finland, play Swedish-style HM-2 death metal that's quite good, and they bring enough creative riffing to bear to keep from sounding like just more of the same. They remind me quite a bit of the early Bloodbath material, right down to production and vocal sound, even if the vocals are a bit higher in pitch. They put enough of themselves into this to keep it from becoming a "worship" band, however. The songwriting is excellent and memorable, and the hooks are catchy enough to do their job. Most of the songs have at least one completely crushing riff in them (aside from the weird acoustic song that is "Ivory Tower" - that came out of left field, feeling out of place on the album, and should have been last in the track listing). The song "Mania" is a standout favorite for me. The main riff of the song is pulverizing after the extended intro winds up the song. This is a rather inspired example of the Swedish death metal sound, and if you're an HM-2 junkie, this one's for you.

Desolus--Dwellers of the Twilight Void (CD/LP/CS) {2026 Hells Headbangers Records}

hellsheadbangers.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

After reviewing several lackluster records in a row, I needed something to pick me up out of my funk and knock me on my ass, and this album did it. I knew it would since I've seen this band live twice and both times they were world class, and very easy guys to chat with. If you're unfamiliar, they play evil '80s style death metal (at least it's death metal to me), super-fast at all times. They're somewhat similar to Dark Angel and Sadus with their relentless attack, but with a deadlier atmosphere and sicker vocals. They continue with the material that was featured on their first record, System Shock, which I immediately bought after I saw them live for the first time. This time the production seems better than on the first record. They're a perfect band for Hells Headbangers as they bleed the old, evil metal spirit that so many of their bands do. I love the rapid-fire vocal attack and I'm glad to hear they haven't shifted their style at all - they just keep murdering and murdering. Some people wouldn't classify this as death metal, but I sure do, because this sounds like the masters of '80s death metal reincarnated. 

Astriferous--Atavistic Unraveling (CD/LP) {2026 Me Saco Un Ojo Records}

mesacounojo.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Shortly after I reviewed their Costa Rican countrymates Cerecloth, this new effort from Astriferous arrived in my promo feed. Cerecloth even covered them on their most recent album, so I was keen to hear them. They play a similar style of dark death metal that owes much to Demigod, Incantation, and Immolation, but they've molded these influences into something all their own. They also have little nods to Morbid Angel in a few of the songs, which is nice to hear. Dark synths appear at times in some songs to really drive home the evil atmosphere that they're creating. They have little catchy parts in all their songs that hold your attention and keep you looking for the next moment like it. The vocals are all a low cavernous growl, which adds even more darkness to the mixture. They do get a bit monotonous as the vocal patterns are all drawn-out affairs instead of rhythmic. This isn't a bad effort at all, and if you like darker death metal, this may be a new favorite.

Caustic--Inner Deflagration (CD) {2026 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions}

horrorpaingoredeath.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Caustic from Spain return with a new full length eleven years after their last effort. While they still have quite a few Cannibal Corpse-isms in their sound, they've created material here that goes beyond mere mimicry, putting their own stamp on the style and adding their own alchemical mixture to the cauldron of death. The riffs are strong, careening from one to another with speed and power, all held together by the brutal drumming and sturdy bass work. We even get solos from time to time, and they're quite good. The guitar tones are supremely heavy and pleasing to the ear, with a lot of crunch. The vocals are another strong point, fierce growls that are also expressive and powerful, how death metal ought to be sung. It's a stellar performance, and one I could listen to over and over. This is technical enough music to require a few listens to fully appreciate, but that's not to say there are no hooks. No, there are plenty, there's just a lot going on here and it takes some time to fully absorb it. This is top notch death metal by top notch players and a fine album is the result.

Scion of Darkness--Horns of the Apocalypse (Digital) {2026 Independent}

scionofdarkness.bandcamp.com

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This Austrian band brings us absolutely bestial death metal that's packed full of intensity and violence, especially when they perform a blast. The riffs are straight up bulldozers, tempered here and there with little runs, and occasionally backing down during verses to let the music breathe, only to dive right back into a blast at just the right time. There's a lot of thrash influence at work here during their "slower" moments, and it's where they show off their chops a little with interesting leads and little embellishments here and there. They're at their strongest when blasting, and I've not heard too many other bands do it this violently and with this much urgency. The drummer is a fuckin' beast. The vocals duel back and forth between high and low, the high vocals reminding me of Pete Helmkamp and the lows reminding me of Dallas Toller-Wade. This is a perfect record and I highly recommend this to all the true deathmaniacs out there reading this. This needs to get picked up by a label immediately for physical release.

Jungle Rot--Cruel Face of War (CD/LP) {2026 Unique Leader Records}

uniqueleader.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Let me preface this review by saying Jungle Rot is a sleeper favorite of mine and nothing they do will ever capture the utter magic of Skin the Living and Slaughter the Weak. Those are masterpieces and they cannot be topped. However, this eleventh album is one of their strongest newer recordings. It's a perfectly acceptable entry into their discography, and probably one of the best. Their trademark groove is intact, as is their thrash side. They've always known when the album needs a fast thrash song or a slower groove-oriented one. Their albums all have a certain flow and this record is no exception. One trick those older albums didn't have is the amazing guitar leads, which adds to the dynamics of their songs. At least, when solos were present in older material, they didn't quite get to this level. Standout tracks include "Maniacal," with its heavy-as-fuck grooves. It may be one of the heaviest songs they've ever written. It has that patented chugging riffery they're known for and reminds me of their old shit. "When the Elders Rise" also hearkens back to their former masterpieces, and is written for maximum impact. Of course, the rest of the songs are enjoyable as well, and they hold my attention perfectly. The only reason I didn't grade this a 10 is because of those early albums being so special to me. But this album is close to being that good, and it should be on your radar to pick up.

Intrepid Onslaught--Cremated Christ (CS) {2026 Independent}

intrepidonslaught.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

We get three songs and a '70s horror-inspired synth intro from this new Oregon band on their first demo. It's nice to hear a demo that sounds like a demo should, with barebones recording but with all the instruments audible. There are too many pristine recordings these days, and it's nice to hear something dirty. The music reminds me a hell of a lot of older Autopsy, but with a Satanic bent to it rather than gore. It's mostly mid-tempo stuff, content to use simple riffs with repetition to form barbaric songs. Hellhammer comes to mind a little as a possible influence as well due to the simplicity of the songs. The vocals are a low growl that has a lot of throat sound to it, a real throwback vocal style that reminds me of early death metal. I think the first two songs are much too long for the riffs the band uses and they'd benefit from being shorter. The songs are all a bit same-sounding as well, and more diversity in the riffs would help a lot. Overall, not a bad effort, but nothing that floors me.

Razorbreath--El Lenguaje de la Muerte (Digital) {2026 Independent}

razorbreath.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first full length from this Mexican deathmachine, and they bring us some seriously heavy HM-2 death metal that worships the Swedish sound, but has some definite influences from metallic hardcore. The more hardcore-oriented riffs blend seamlessly with the death metal riffs, creating a truly dynamic style of songwriting that mixes and matches influences to get the heaviest result. They never lose that death metal feel, though, which is important. The vocals are mid-range to low growls that sort of remind me of a growlier version of Brujeria, but it might be the Spanish lyrics influencing me. I don't think I'm too off-base with that comparison, though. The production is thick, rich, and guitar-focused, which is great for bands with this guitar sound. Surprisingly, they have a bit of melody in their songs, and it's used sparingly and in strategic places. This is a fairly fresh take on an old and worn-out sound, definitely worth checking out if you're into the chainsaw death metal style.

Fleshsphere--Carnival of Flesh (CD) {2026 Independent}

fleshsphere.bandcamp.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the second full length from this German band. Occasionally they remind me of Vader when the singer goes into a yelled rather than growled passage. I can't really compare them to many other bands, but I do hear some Gorefest in their sound, circa False or Erase. The production is good, a nice-sounding modern death metal production that doesn't favor any instrument over the others. Fleshsphere focuses on groove over speed and have traditional verse-chorus songwriting in a lot of cases. When they do introduce a blast beat it's always violent and intense, and I'd like to see them do more of it, especially with the high vocal they layer underneath the low vocal when they have them over these sections. They have a flash of brilliance in "Imprisoner of Rage," introducing a morbid melody overtop of the main riff, a trick they should use more often. Overall, this is fairly average death metal, but it's enjoyable, and it's worth a listen.

Critical Disaster--Blast of Rebellion Day (CD) {2026 Pathologically Explicit Recordings}

pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we go again - more brutal death metal from Indonesia in the style of Brodequin and Disgorge. There are no catchy riffs, no break from the brutality, and no standard songwriting. It's all brutality, all the time on this record. Honestly, I can't even wrap my head around this. The riffs and drums are such a whirlwind that I can barely tell where one riff ends and the next starts, in part because they're all so similar. This has always been my complaint with some of the ultra brutal stuff. They're obviously tight as fuck, because they often stop on a dime, and there's no slop in their attack. There's a technical aspect to them, of course, there has to be with stuff like this. It's impressive, but I'm completely lost in the madness. The vocals never stop. This guy sings over every riff in every song. At least his ultra-guttural vocals are awesome. There's no pig shit on this one, just solid guttural growls. If you like ultra-brutality, you may be into this, but if you're looking for cohesive songwriting and structures that you don't have to concentrate to understand, this is a pass.

Infected Cells--Betrayed by Obedience (CD) {2026 Independent}

infectedcellsmetal.bandcamp.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Infected Cells hail from Brazil, that most metal of South American countries, and this is their first full length, following up a series of EPs that span the rest of their discography. They play true death metal with a heavy and aggressive thrash influence, always remaining quite intense and angry-sounding. They're no strangers to a good solid groove, especially during a breakdown, and this is a band that can write a serious hook in the process. They also win the award for clever wordplay in a song title as well for the track "And the Reek Shall Inherit the Earth." They know exactly when to use a blastbeat for maximum impact and they're adept songwriters. The vocals are quite strong, with an expressive death growl that's dynamic and powerful. The singer is a beast! The guitar solos, when we get them, are quite good, adding to the songs rather than being a distraction. Overall, this is one to check out, my fellow deathmaniacs!

Funebrarum--Beckoning the Void of Eternal Silence (CD/LP) {2026 Pulverised Records}

pulverised.net

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

New Jersey's death metal masters have returned, this time in conspiracy with Pulverised Records, after ten years of silence since their last EP offering. All the hallmarks of their style remain - the sludgy downtuned guitars, the charnel vocals both low and high, and the top quality songwriting that focuses on dark atmosphere and ill intent. Of particular note on this outing are the excellent guitar solos. The band is constantly compared to other bands like Incantation, Disma, and Dead Congregation, which isn't wrong, but Funebrarum has their own stamp that they put on this dark death metal style, one of pure class. The thing they do that I enjoy most is when they break into a heavy-ass groove in their songs - it makes the darkened death metal more palatable and memorable to me. I'm a sucker for a good groove, especially when it breaks up dense music like this and gives us a catchy moment. This is top notch death metal with a true underground feel and a band you should immediately check out if you are unfamiliar with them.

Corpse Water--...Something in the Water (LP) {2026 Grindscene Records}

corpsewater.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Corpse Water from Northern Ireland plays competent death metal with easily digestible songwriting. The vocals are low growls that don't vary much in tone, but are very powerfully performed. The vocal patterns are decent, very rhythmic, which is a favorite approach of mine. The production is nice and clean and clear with all instruments including the bass being audible and prominent. All that being said, there's nothing that really sticks out about this band. It's just very ok death metal and nothing more. Some of the grooves catch my attention but not much else. It's easy on  the ears but also not terribly challenging material. It's a bit paint-by-numbers, with just a few shining moments. I can take it or leave it.

Bleeding--Dispersed Blood Sustenance (CD) {2026 New Standard Elite Records}

newstandardelite.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

New Standard Elite has definitely cultivated a roster of bands that share much in common sonically - always brutal, always fairly technical, and usually with sub-guttural vocals. The vocals here are definitely in that category, sounding more like goregrind vocals than death growls. They do grow on you after a while, but it's definitely not my preferred vocal style. That said, it fits the music perfectly. The music itself is definitely in the Disgorge camp, with relentless brutality as the sole goal. This isn't catchy stuff, nor it it meant to be I would imagine. However, there are some riffs here that will undoubtedly stick in your head after enough listens. The snare sound is a little pingy, but not too bad, and the drummer is an absolute beast, blasting away behind the kit with zero fucks about your feelings about it. I just wish there was a bit more to distinguish this band from the legions of other bands playing this style, but they honestly do it rather well, so let's not fix what isn't broken.