Friday, August 1, 2025

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.



Thursday, July 31, 2025

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.




Wednesday, July 30, 2025

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.




Tuesday, July 29, 2025

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.




Monday, July 28, 2025

Noxious Mutation "Chunkblower" (Review)

Noxious Mutation Chunkblower
2024 Iron Fortress Records (CS)
www.ironfortressrecords.com
STANDOUT TRACKS: Infectious Revolting Skank, Toxic Waste Regurgitation, Parasitic Pervert, Disfigured Delirium, Shit Eating Ghoul
7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From the mastermind behind the classic horror-inspired band Frightmare comes this goregrind/death metal project called Noxious Mutation. Once I saw it was called Chunkblower, you know I had to cover it here at the Vomit! This is a mix of heavy ass goregrind and death metal that is both effective, authentic, and catchy. The guitars are supremely heavy, chunky, and precise, and the thrash underpinnings that were present in Frightmare are also present here. I hear very early Carcass influence, but also some Mortician (that might be just my ears hearing blastbeats certain ways), but that's where this stops sounding like anything else. It's not often a goregrind band has songs that are readily and easily identifiable, and this is due to the death metal influence, but they've pulled it off here. Obviously, this also reminds me of old Razorback Records releases since that's in the pedigree of the band, both in sound and content. There's excellent horror soundtrack music interspersed with the brutality, little odes to sick little movies that we all love. Iron Fortress continues to impress me with their selections of what to release, and they obviously have their ear close to the beating heart of the death metal underground. Definitely track this one down.



Clairvoyance "Chasm of Immurement" (Review)

Clairvoyance Chasm of Immurement
2025 Carbonized Records (CD/LP/CS)
carbonizedrecords.com
STANDOUT TRACKS: Hymn of the Befouled, Blood Divine, Monument to Dread
6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

After a demo, an EP, and a handful of singles, Clairvoyance from Poland unleashes their first full length. This is dark, vicious, heavy death metal in the Incantation vein, but there are plenty of other influences here as well. I seem to hear nods to Grave and perhaps Autopsy at times. To this dark death metal chassis they weld heavy breakdown riffs that are meant to snap your feeble neck. The songs are kept mid-paced for the most part, but they'll employ a blast when it makes sense for them, and to increase the intensity of the music. The guitar effects on the opening solo of "Hymn of the Befouled" where a nice, interesting touch. The doom parts of this record are heavy, but a little boring for me since slow isn't my thing at all. I liked the vocals best of all, which are guttural, deep, and powerful. The production is perfect without being too clean or digital. Overall, you can do worse than pick this up if you're looking for a new death metal band to check out.



Naked Whipper "Chapel Defilement" (Review)

Naked Whipper Chapel Defilement
2025 Iron Bonehead Records (CD/LP)
www.ironbonehead.de
7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Germany comes this vicious warring black/death/grind crew, some real goat metal for the OV readers this time! This is no Blasphemy or Beherit or Black Witchery sound-a-like band - these guys have monster riffs and great songs with their own twist on the style, employing more grind than either of those bands. The songs come at a breakneck clip, one after the other, with no time to breathe. It has the same intensity that Panzer Division Marduk has, which is saying something. There's a decidedly sadomasochistic bent to the blasphemy offered here, like the humorously titled "Top Notch Slavedriver," or even the band's name. The vocals are more in the Archgoat school than anything, but more insane - it's like a grind band got hold of a Blasphemy album and tried to play it after hearing it once. The riffs, and there are tons of riffs, never stop, and it's all killer with no filler. The drums pound and never let up except for the fills, and then it's back to hell for you. This one's a whirlwind, dear vomitees, and you'd do well to pick it up.




Sunday, July 27, 2025

Crimson Butchery "Stalker" (Review)

Crimson Butchery Stalker
2025 Iron Fortress Records (CD/CS)
www.ironfortressrecords.com
10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I didn't think it would happen this fast, but we have our second perfect rating here at Ominous Vomit for a record in 2025. Crimson Butchery has done it with their forthcoming effort! I remembered really liking this band's last record, so I jumped at the chance to review their brand new album for Iron Fortress Records, a label that I think has some of the strongest up-and-coming death metal bands today. This is yet another masterful musical performance from Crimson Butchery, I dare say even better than the prior record. Gone are the super obvious bass drops I disliked last time, which is good.. Still present are the sick-as-fuck solos, vicious pounding thrash metal riffs, and the hard-ass grooves that made their last record so special. I still hear a lot of Cannibal Corpse influence, from the more death metal-style riffs to the vocal patterns, which is just fine by me - wear those influences on your sleeves! They seem to lean even more into the thrash on this record, which really works when they toss a blast beat underneath it all, amplifying the intensity off the scales. Their formula really works for them, and they've really found their voice with this album.  The breakdowns, when they come in either the form of a thrash riff or a slam riff, hit as hard as a Dying Fetus breakdown. Somehow the monster grooves are even more monstrous this time around, and the constant little fills and rolls the drummer employs really makes things shine, just like the consistent variation on riffs does by the guitarist. I finally figured out that these guys remind me of the bands coming out on Razorback Records in the 2000s, like Ghoul or Frightmare. Thrash-oriented death metal was and is still the name of the game with those two cults, and even the artwork, being almost comic-book in nature, reminds me of those bands. This is no knock - those are some of my favorite bands, and Crimson Butchery fits well right in between them, and outshines them musically. This is one seriously strong record, and it should be making waves in the death metal scene. If it doesn't then death metal has to catch up. Buy this shit or die having inferior taste in music.



Saturday, July 26, 2025

Storm Death "Chaos Will Reign!"

Storm Death Chaos Will Reign!
2025 Suicide Records (CD)
facebook.com/SuicideRecords
10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I don't often hand out a perfect 10/10, and I have a lot to say about this record. This is vicious death/thrash with excellent vocals, but let's not stop at death/thrash as an explanation of their sound. They employ so many more influences than that. The guitar solos are fantastic and they feature prominently due to the long songs. This Chilean band absolutely blew me away from the first, epic, ballsy 10-minute track. Beginning with a song that long is a move not many bands would make, and these guys pulled it off. It's heavy, memorable, filled with killer hooks, and they really know how to ramp the intensity up and down to keep the listener interested. There's even an acoustic interlude that builds back up to an explosion quite spectacularly. I instantly became a fan after just this first song. Every song afterward is also perfect, and they consistently explore sonically with their instruments. I even hear little tinges of Emperor when they shift into a more black metal style of riffing during the record's frostier moments, and the deeper vocals the singer employs reminds me of Archgoat. He uses these for emphasis - his normal voice is a mid-range growl. They're always doing little fills and things throughout the record that really set the music apart. No one else sounds like this. Each track, from first to last, is a monument to death metal majesty with epic riffs and a brutal assault on the senses. This is a record you absolutely have to go track down and get, even if it's digitally, if you want to hear a modern death metal record that's perfect in every way. I even went and tracked down their first album as well. I suggest you do the same.




Omnicidal Instinct "Cathasis in Blight" (Review)

Omnicidal Instinct Catharsis in Blight
2025 P2 Records (CD/LP/CS)
p2omerta.blogspot.com
STANDOUT TRACKS: The Incandescent Odium, Anthropocene Knell Beckons
6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This German outfit cranks out strong brutal death metal that avoids the trendy pitfalls of much of today's scene. This is very much in the vein of old Suffocation, but with more guttural vocals. Comparisons could be drawn also to a dozen others, of course. I do hear little nods to other bands in their sound, like the little Nile guitar parts in "Catharsis in Blight." They wear their influences on their sleeves, and that's not an issue. It lets me know they're fans of what they play. Musically, they alternate between fast blasts under ripping, hair-windmilling riffs and slow slam parts that amplify the heaviness. The thick, fuzzy guitar sound reminds me not only of old Suffocation, but also of Tomb of the Mutilated-era Cannibal Corpse. This is definitely one to pick up if you like the brutal shit like I do.

Friday, July 25, 2025

Trench Foot "Cavernous Necrophagy" (Review)

Trench Foot Cavernous Necrophagy
2025 Iron Fortress Records (CS)
ironfortressrecords.com
6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third EP from this UK outfit, and it's a fairly strong outing. Heavy death metal that reeks of the 1990s spews forth from the speakers, with brutal barked vocals that have power and conviction, and are quite understandable with the lyrics. The first song is about some underground cave-dwelling motherfuckers that will eat you. The lyrics are actually quite good, and it's a fun song. "Gradually Torn in Two" is the second track, which starts with a slower Cannibal Corpse-style riff, which makes total sense because it's about being gradually torn in two. Not quickly. In "Cutaneous Myiasis" the first breakdown verse riff is heavy, catchy, and vicious, and they lean back into it a few times, which is awesome. The bass playing, to my ears, is very Cannibal Corpse inspired with running bass lines and frequent changes. "Canine Mutilation" is probably the strongest song here other than the opener, and it's a great choice to close out the EP. I'll be looking for a full-length from this crew for sure - I want to see what they can do with a longer format.




Consumption "Catharsis" (Review)

Consumption Catharsis
2025 Dusktone Records
www.dusktone.eu
STANDOUT TRACKS: Butchery Catharsis, The Cleaver Falls
6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Sweden comes this death metal outfit with their third full length. This is not your typical Swedish stuff - this is more '90s Florida than anything, but the solos and melodies do seem to hearken back to the Swedish scene of old. There's clearly some Death influence in the guitar playing, and a few echoes of Exhumed or Carcass (especially in "Butchery Catharsis").  The musicianship is wonderful, and these fine gents have plenty of bands to their credit, and the experience shows. The vocals are absolutely reptilian, and they're perfectly performed. I just found it a little hard to get into this, because even though it's musically fine, the intensity just isn't there, at least for me. That said, there are a few standout tracks that I mention above. It's very ok death metal. If you're a true fiend like me and want to hear every band you can because it might be the one that trips your trigger, then definitely check it out. 




Thursday, July 24, 2025

Cannibal Abortion "Carnivorous Metamorphosis" (Review)

Cannibal Abortion Carnivorous Metamorphosis
2025 Rotten Music
rottenmusic.net
5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Let's get the bad out of the way first for this Chicago-area brutal death metal band. First, the stupid fucking bass drops. Get rid of that crap. It's on every slam record now, and this stuff is better than many of the slam bands, so it ruins it a bit. Second, using the word Cannibal in your name when Cannibal Corpse exists. Not sure that's a great idea. Anyhow, on to the mostly good. This is of course very heavy slamming brutal death metal with the obvious comparisons to the forerunners of the genre, but these guys focus a bit more on the actual death metal in their sound than the slam parts, which is refreshing. I even hear a tiny bit of Fleshgrind in their sound, which makes sense. This is much more along the lines of classic brutal death metal, complete with guitar solos. If all bands that liked to slam approached their craft like this, I'd be a happy metalist. All that said, this record doesn't truly stand out from the pack from a song perspective, although with some more time I think they're on to something with this sound. I'll keep my eyes on them.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Sarkasm "Carnival of Atrocities" (Review)

Sarkasm Carnival of Atrocities
2025 Xtreem Music
xtreemmusic.com
STANDOUT TRACK: Murmurs from the Void
5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This band comes from Canada with their second full length after returning to action after a spate of demos in the 1990s. Their style is almost thrash-like, more like some death metal from the 1980s, which is a nice change of pace for my ears. The vocals themselves are very much like the late 80's death metal vocalists, with an almost yelled delivery, with a tinge of a growl. It reminds me overall of the more mid-paced offerings from Sodom with a death metal edge. The structures of the songs are fine, but the music lacks some intensity, except on the one standout song I mentioned, and sections of others. It's just not consistent. I just had a hard time getting into this even though it sounds quite different from the recent wave of death metal releases I've checked out. It's just a bit too soft-pedaled for me in the death metal department. Thrashers take note, though, you might dig it.

Grave Infestation "Carnage Gathers" (Review)

Grave Infestation Carnage Gathers
2025 Invictus Productions (CD) / Dark Descent (CS)
invictusproductions.net
7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Canada comes this death metal behemoth, with their second full length. This is dark, almost Incantation-styled death metal but more up-tempo for the most part, with cavernous mid-range vocals and thick-sounding natural drums with thunderous toms. This has the morbid atmosphere of true death metal, evil-sounding and rough. The twisting, diving, dueling guitar solos in opener "Living Inhumation" made me think of Slayer's best moments. At times the dark vibe of this record veers into Autopsy-like riffs, and the vocals accentuate this, being of similar sound to that band at times. This is not to say they are a worship band - they are not. They simply wear their influences on the sleeves of their patched up jackets. This whole record is almost like a portal back to the 1990s in terms of riffs, production, and style. It's top notch, quality stuff that I'll now need to track down and buy.




Order of the Dead "Captives" (Review)

Order of the Dead Captives
2025 Independent (CD)
orderofthedead322.bandcamp.com
7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This band gets it. They didn't stop at putting their record on streaming services. They got it onto Bandcamp for purchase and released it on CD so there's a physical format available. They're also playing plenty of shows, which are advertised in their Bandcamp header. That's how it's done! Other bands should take note. Musically, this is competent death/thrash with a melodic tinge, and it reminds me a lot of the stuff coming out in the late '90s melodic death metal wave. The musicianship here is highly professional and the album is well-produced. The vocals are mid- to high-range growls. The riffs have plenty of variety, and influences can be heard from across the entire metal spectrum. "A Black Curse Comes" is truly an outstanding track, to get specific. Everything from black metal elements in the riffs to all the tempo changes, to the headbanging rhythms. That's followed up by the song "Ritual Magick," which is the heaviest song on the record, chunky and fierce. If you're a death/thrash fanatic, this is an album to track down. Don't skimp - get the physical version!

Gutcake "Candle Gore Dinner" (Review)

Gutcake Candle Gore Dinner
2025 RabidWorks (Digital)
rabidworksprod.bandcamp.com
7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Gutcake plays a sick-ass combination of death metal and goregrind. Heavy death metal riffs abound with a flurry of different vocal styles, some of which start out annoying but quickly grow on you. They all form into a cohesive whole as you become acclimated to them. The weirder high-pitched (inhaled?) vocals are at first off-putting, but you get used to them. The vocals are switched up so much that it just becomes a part of the music. The riffs are the true strong point here - every riff is brutal, well-crafted, and meant to inflict maximum heaviness. This heaviness and speed never let up, and this intensity is kept up for the entire record. The guitar sound is thick, heavy, and relentless, wall-like in its sonic palette. Every song is memorable, with lots of energy and inertia. I rarely commend a goregrind album with this level of applause, but this is a truly unique record with a ton of talent evident. I recommend this highly for all the brutal-heads out there.

Behold the Slitted Carcass "Callous" (Review)

Behold the Slitted Carcass Callous
2025 Independent (Digital)
beholdtheslittedcarcass.bandcamp.com
2/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is below average brutal death metal from Texas, and it's the second full length they've put out. It's all slams and pig squeals, with all the typical riffs, the typical programmed drums, the typical overuse of samples, and really dumb bass drops scattered all over the place. It's like a poor man's version of Putrid Pile without the great songwriting or killer riffs. Skip it, and find another band that does this style better. The best thing about it is the cover art.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Organ Failure "Assisted Anatomical Butchery" (Review)

Organ Failure Assisted Anatomical Butchery
2025 Inherited Production (CD/CS)
www.facebook.com/Inherited.Production
7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we have goregrind, downtuned and filthy as fuck. The obvious genre comparisons can be made here, but this is far more song-oriented and more death metal-oriented material than the average goregrind band. With ten tracks in under ten minutes there's not a ton of material to review here, but it's a satisfying listen. In the lyrics and song titles we have some medical gore topics, but none of the pseudo-terminology that a lot of bands use. These are understandable words and not culled from a medical dictionary. The songs, short as they are, blend together a bit due to the brevity and speed, but they have enough different riffs to make them stand out better than the average goregrind effort. After repeated listens the songs stand out on their own even more, as the nuances of the tracks fall on more trained ears. There are pitch-shifted vocals of course, plenty of blasts, and a nice warm production and a solid snare sound, which really helps this record out. This is definitely worth tracking down if you want it brutal and sick!