Acrid Death "Abominable Presence of Blight" (Review)

Acrid Death Abominable Presence of Blight

2024 Rising Nemesis Records

This one brings the heavy. Full-on Swedish worship in the guitars and riffs, but with an edge of brutality a lot of those bands never really had outside of Grave. The chainsaw guitars are well-done and not too overbearing, and the drums are tight and easy on the ears. The bass growls along underneath it all, and the vocalist delivers highs, lows, and in-betweens. Up-tempo is the name of the game here, with double bass everywhere rumbling the songs to their completion, but not before they take your head right off with some of the most aggressive riffing in this style I've heard in a long time. Sure, the melody is there, but so is unrepentant brutality with riffs to match heaviness with any American-style band out there. Everything about this album is just big, from the production to the flawless performances. Angry riffs, angry vocals, and excellent songwriting are all delivered in a huge way. If you're a fan of chainsaw guitars, this is a can't miss record, and fuck the naysayers who always complain about this style not needing new bands. This is one nasty bastard of a record, and it's good death metal regardless of their sound. If you can't get into this you just don't like death metal as much as you say you do.

Vulvectomy "Aberrant Vaginal Gestation" (Review)

Vulvectomy Aberrant Vaginal Gestation

2025 Comatose Music (CD)

BADASS SONG TITLES: Conceived in Vaginal Sores, Choked with Menstrual Drippings, Greedy Fetal Discharge (yes, the songs are all this goddamn sick and worse - kudos to the band for managing to actually gross me out)

Vulvectomy is a band I steer people toward who ask me what an actual good slam-oriented death metal band sounds like. They're definitely part of the modern template for this style, building on the monstrous grooves of Internal Bleeding and Devourment and older bands that featured killer breakdowns like Malevolent Creation. Along with bands like Analepsy and Kraanium they have moved brutal death metal forward, kept traditional elements that need to be there, like blasts and thrash riffs, but heavied up the slam riffs to their maximum potential without the entire album becoming the same damn riff, which is always a danger with bands that like to slam. The death metal here is top notch, and every bit of it will move your body along with the infectious grooves offered. Technical death metal fans and goregrind fans will find plenty to enjoy here as well, with the top-notch playing on offer, and the sick subject matter that's almost always about something beyond nasty. It doesn't get much better than this for brutal slamming death with musical chops, so seek this out and get your head banged. This is the real brutal stuff. Ignore the trends!

Starvation "A Vast Devouring Infestation"

Starvation A Vast Devouring Infestation

2024 Independent (Digital)

2025 Unholy Domain Records (Cassette)

www.facebook.com/UnholyDomainRecs

I’m not sure what went wrong during the vocal recording session, but they’re far too flat and out front, but I got used to it after about the second song. That’s my only problem with it – stylistically they made me think of very early Sepultura and early Deicide, which is excellent. There’s even well-placed reverb, and there’s quite a bit of echo on them. In fact, this entire record gives off that ancient feel, and it reminded me of the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s for sure. It’s very much influenced by mid-period Death and Cannibal Corpse and very early Suffocation in the riffing department, which is also a plus for me. I’ll want to see what this Italian band does next for sure. This is their debut, and I’m sure they’re capable of a great record.

Ignominious "400 Million Tons of Flesh" (Review)

Ignominious 400 Million Tons of Flesh

2025 Independent (Digital)

ignominious.bandcamp.com

I’ve always liked the word ignominious – in fact I used it prominently in a song or two – and when I saw this band, I had to check them out. I didn’t expect too much since it looked like this effort had some silly song titles, and that’s a fact that it does. Just look at the cover. However, the old adage of not judging a book applies here. The music is very good – a solid death metal effort that’s heavy on the groove but not in a boring-ass slam riff way. They work the grooves into their well-crafted compositions of solid death metal in a way that captures my ear, and they don’t over-do it. They’re also from Ohio, which is my former home state, adding to Ohio’s ever-impressive roster of death metal bands. I’m happy to have stumbled onto their material. It’s worth a listen if you like heavy-ass death metal with groove like Kataklysm, Gutted, or Illdisposed’s groovier material. Here’s hoping they keep it underground and sick for a long time to come.

Master "40 Years and Still Killing" (Review)

Master 40 Years and Still Killing

2025 Independent (Digital)

master.bandcamp.com

I believe a CD of this exists as a tour-exclusive bit of merch, but I could be mistaken, so I listed this as digital. It is comprised of two studio tracks which I believe appear as bonus tracks on a version of Saints Dispelled, their last studio effort, along with four live tracks recorded in 2011 in Italy. Either way, it’s a new Master release, and I’m paying attention! I have long revered Paul Speckmann’s musical projects, and Master is one of my favorites of all time. In fact, when I met him on the US tour with Solstice in Detroit, I made sure to mention to him that Master’s music has helped me through some hard times. When I get a Master album, I always know what I’m getting and I know I won’t be disappointed. I can trust that he’ll not stray from what the core sound of the band has always been. That’s worth a lot to me. This is by no means an essential release since at least the studio tracks appear elsewhere, but it’s worth supporting the band to pick it up from their Bandcamp site.

Mind Snare "33 Curses at the Nazarene" (Review)

Mind Snare 33 Curses at the Nazarene

2025 The Spew Records

www.punishment18records.com

This is one band that’s been around forever that I’ve always given a once-over and not really paid much attention. Hailing from Italy, their sound is much more like the American bands from Florida in the 1990s. This is not a bad thing! The heavy thrashing death metal on offer here is quite pleasing to these metalized ears, and the blasts are fast and vicious like Malevolent Creation. The vocals are delivered rhythmically with distinct patterns, overtop fine songwriting and hellacious riffs. This is their fifth full length since 2000, with demos going all the way back to 1992, but it’s their first full length since their last one in 2014! That’s a long time to fester, and these rotten compositions were worth the wait. I fully recommend this one to death metalists that want that 1990s sound.

Bodybox "3"

Bodybox 3

2025 Maggot Stomp (CD, LP, Cassette)

maggotstomp.bigcartel.com

I really thought from the song titles that there was going to be more I disliked about this album, but it’s thankfully not the case. In true style for the label, this is brutal death crossed with heavy hardcore. I didn’t like the pingy snare sound at all, but the vocals and most of the riffs are great, outside of the slam riffs. They’re pretty standard for this style, nothing truly surprising. The song “Skimping Fuckin’ Idiots” really caught my attention – if the entire album was in a similar vein I’d be very happy indeed. Alas, it’s not the case, but this album is at least worth a quick listen if you like slamming brutal death metal.

Hellysh "13" (Review)

Hellysh 13

2025 Independent (Digital)

hellysh.bandcamp.com

I don’t like the band name. It’s gimmicky and needs some more thought. That out of the way, this is the third full length for this German unit, which from the pictures I’ve seen might be a dad and his two kids forming the band. That’s admirable. The music itself is serviceable, but not anything that blows me away. I’ve definitely heard dozens of similar bands doing this style of death thrash better – think Master with sections of blast beats – but it’s not terrible by any means. Track it down if only if you can’t hear enough new bands or are a death thrash addict.

Phosgene "...and Hope Disappears" (Review)

Phosgene …and Hope Disappears

2025 Independent (Digital)

phosgene1.bandcamp.com

This is competently played brutal death metal from Chile with a heavy emphasis on groove. There’s nothing here I can’t stand, but nothing really reaches out and grabs me, either. I feel like I’ve heard this record plenty of times before. This is their first full-length after a string of EPs and singles going back to 2020. I’ll definitely wait to see what they do next before I form a true opinion. One thing I didn’t like, though, were all the dissonant riffs. That’s just my taste. I hate dissonant riffs. That said, this isn't something I was rushing to turn off or speed along, so they're doing something right.

Ursula "Lords of Impermanence" (Review)

Ursula Lords of Impermanence

2025 Iron Blood and Death Corporation (CD / Cassette)

ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com

I was intrigued by this one for some reason, when it hit my promo "pile" (meaning: digital file hoard awaiting review). The name of the band was curious, and I was thinking maybe it was some sort of sludge or doom metal band, but based on the label I thought perhaps not. And indeed, I was right - it was not. This is serious death metal from Singapore with plenty of originality yet enough nods to the styles of the past so that it's rooted in tradition. Think of Repulsion, Impetigo, Master, fast Autopsy, early Death, Celtic Frost, Slayer, Angelcorpse, Nunslaughter, and any other band that frequently gets lumped in with them. You'll be reminded of the styles they represent, but Ursula holds their own with originality, and is easily one of the best albums so far this year. Every song stands apart from the others, and nothing blends together. All the riffs are great, and the guitar solos are nicely structured and enjoyable, and there's one in almost every song. Their songwriting is traditional verse/chorus/verse songwriting for the most part, using the traditional metal approach (and it makes sense since two members of the band played in a thrash metal band prior to this one). The song that stood out the most for me, and is my favorite, is "Slave Driver," with its almost Dream Death style main riff. It's slower, pounding, and evil-sounding. I'll be buying this one at some point in the near future, for sure. If this album is the benchmark of how this year in death metal will go, we're in for a great year. The true death metalists reading this should take note, and take a listen.

Rapid Fire Reviews (Morgue, Disrupting, Cranial Disorder, Blast Agony, Brutally Deceased, General Fibrosis) (Review)

Morgue Close to Complete Darkness

2024 Godz ovWar Productions (CD / LP / Cassette)

godzovwar.com

BADASS TRACKS: Doorways in Crimson Red, Disobedience

BADASS SONG TITLES: Sacrificial Blood, Speculative Fall of the Human Race, Death in Communion

From the same French unit that brought us the almighty Artgore comes this newest effort. This is intense grinding death metal that is quite musical, with lots of repetition in the riffs and good songwriting. The vocals are almost a gurgling growl and remind me a lot of early Amorphis. There are quick changes, good riffs, and excellent drumming throughout this record. They somehow manage to be atmospheric while they blast away, I think due to some of the riffs that would normally be presented with a slower drum pattern by other bands. Their sound remains unique all these years later, especially the warm and well-recorded way it's presented.

Disrupting Conceive to Obliteration

2024 Coyote Records (CD)

www.coyoterecords.ru

From Brazil come Disrupting, and they're technical, brutal death metal with a lot of musicality. The vocals for some reason remind me of Disavowed - perhaps it's a tonality thing. It's not bad, but nothing that blew me completely away. I felt the songs could be a little bit more well-defined, but it may be just the style that is turning me off. There are a lot of dissonant riffs, and we all know how much I like those. It's almost an instant turn-off for me. Perhaps the tech-heads might disagree with me on this record, but that's just my tastes. I wouldn't turn the record off for any reason, but I won't be spinning it often. The cover art is badass, though. I love it.

Cranial Disorder Congenital Depravity

2024 Lethal Scissor Records (CD)

www.lethalscissor.com

This is sold brutal death metal in the tried and true Indonesian style, with plenty of blasting and staccato riffs. The vocalist is excellent. His tones are quality, and his diction (read: understandability) is good. The songs don't stand out as much here, as they blend together a bit due to the style, but the brutal-heads will like this, I'm sure of it, since I am one, and I liked it. I just thought it could be just slightly better in the songwriting department - give me something to make the songs a bit more different from one another. I'll be on the lookout for what this band does next.

Blast Agony Cradle of Brutality

2023 Rapture Records

rapturerecords.com.br

BADASS SONG TITLES: Blood of the Inhuman Torture, Resurrection Absurd, Devourer of Flesh in Spirit

Brazil belches forth another brutal band! There is clearly some Krisiun influence here, and that is understandable. Not only are they death metal gods, but they hail from the same country. For some reason the vocals remind me of some of Severe Torture's material. I hear some Gorgasm in the riffing as well. This is pretty good stuff with decent song structure. The vocal performance is unique and unhinged, almost stream of consciousness in its delivery at times. The music is relentless and intense, and there are some great hooks hiding in these songs.

Brutally Deceased Chasms

2024 Doomentia Records (CD)

doomentia.com

This is Czech death metal that sounds a bit Swedish, but encompasses a lot of different styles of death metal all at once, shifting from violent blasts to ripping melodic death thrash and back again. The musicianship is excellent, with great guitar solos and memorable riffs all throughout these songs. The vocals are very deep, sinister, and rhythmic in their delivery, just how I like them. Every song has great parts, and each is distinct. This is an excellent record and should be getting massive praise!

General Fibrosis Crossbreed Generation

2024 Coyote Records (CD / Cassette)

From Russia comes this band of brutal metalists, with an impeccably recorded, slam-heavy record of death metal. I wouldn't qualify them as a slam band, but a straight death metal band that uses quite a few slam riffs. The slam breakdowns on this record are inventive and emphasize the violence of the music above all else. Comparisons to Kraanium or Analepsy might be made, but they have much more focus on evil-sounding riffs than those bands. This is a seriously heavy record with memorable songs, and it just well-written death metal all around. I recommend it!

Rapid Fire Reviews (Rat Torture Victim, Christ Denied, Defeated Sanity, Repuked) (Review)

Rat Torture Victim Chewed Through

2024 Independent (Digital)

rattorturevictim.bandcamp.com

God DAMN it, I wanted this to be good. The cover is awesome, the name is cool, all that good stuff. The are at least FIVE FUCKING BASS DROPS in the first song along. WHY?! Dead simple lackluster slam riffs abound, interspersed with stupid samples and even saxophone at one point. This is the furthest thing from jazz-infused metal, believe me. It's much more like beatdown hardcore than true slamming death metal. Oh yeah - pingy snare? Check. Nonstop pig squeal vocals? Check. Ugh. Moving on.

Christ Denied Christopsy

2024 Xtreem Music

shop.xtreemmusic.com

Christ Denied are back with this sick fuckin' record of satanic brutal death metal. Total Tomb of the Mutilated and old Cryptopsy worship abounds, but they of course do this so well that you won't even worry about it. Dave's vocals on this are completely badass, bringing several styles of gutturals to bear, and they're all SICK AS FUCK, especially the lowest pitch he uses. Good songwriting, good musicianship, good recording. It should keep brutalists and technical death-heads happy equally. The riffs are especially interesting to me, and they know how to break stuff down before it gets too complicated. The super fast rapid-fire vocals Dave pulls off all throughout the record are incredible. I lost my mind laughing at it until I realized just how fuckin' brutal that really is and how difficult it is to do. I would be hard pressed to imitate any of his styles here. He's that good. This one turned me into a fan for sure, since I hadn't heard their previous records, and I'll be hunting all that stuff down, for sure.

Defeated Sanity Chronicles of Lunacy

2024 Season of Mist

www.season-of-mist.com

Guttural blasting technical sickness abounds on this record, the new effort from Defeated Sanity. Everyone should know this band by now, although I feel they're still quite underrated. This is a band that I know I'm always going to dig when a new record arrives, and is one of the few bands playing at this level of technicality that I consistently enjoy. Their signature "sounds like everything is about to come apart but is tight as fuck" sound is still present. There are lots of stop-on-a-dime moments and excellent heavy-ass breakdowns, as well as jazzy interludes where their virtuosic playing can shine. They always know when to throw us a bone with a simple riff to keep it heavy and interesting. There is a ton of incredible playing on this record, but the drummer in particular shines. I have called them "the Hellwitch of brutal death metal," and I think that moniker stands to this day. They don't sound like them, but they're pushing the same envelope of speed and technicality that Hellwitch does. Standout tracks: Accelerating the Rot, A Patriarchy Perverse, Condemned to Vascular Famine.

Repuked Club Squirting Blood

2024 Soulseller Records

www.soulsellerrecords.com

Bands that immediately spring to mind: the mighty Autopsy, Death Breath, GG Allin, Eat My Fuk, Abscess. With that in mind, you know what you're getting here, but keep in mind it comes melded with the ancient Swedish style that we all love so much, right in between the two camps. I love it. I have to, don't I? I mean, this is Ominous Vomit, and they're called Repuked, and they even have a track (a standout, mind you) called "Rebel of Vomit." Hell yeah. VOMIT METAL. The fuzzy and buzzy production on the guitars and bass, and live-sounding drums, is quite nice, as is the reverb on the vocals to give it that extra-sleazy feel. Filthy headbanging riffs with a true death metal style with punk trimmings. I can't think of much that's better.

Rapid Fire Reviews (Corpse Worship, Monumental Discharge, Retching) (Review)

Corpse Worship Cemetery Anthems

2024 Coyote Records (CD)

These Russians are back with their third release and full length, and it's a solid effort. It's very much a European sounding record, instantly making me think of the Swedish masters of the early 1990's, but also a bit of Bolt Thrower. Some of the solos are quite musical and melodic, and that's a nice change from this style and how it's typically performed. There are some good riffs that will get your air guitar revved up. Get this if you're into this style, for sure.

Monumental Discharge Cesspit Earth

2024 Barbaric Brutality (Cassette)

This is slamming brutal death metal with a real fecal fetish, which makes me laugh, so points to them. Songs like Code Brown, Number 2 (the 2nd track no less), Fecal Apocalypse Response Team (F.A.R.T.), and Sentient Hemorrhoid tell you all you need to know about the lyrical content. The music has some seriously heavy slam riffs, with enough blasting sections to be not completely boring. These songs are short, which helps their case a lot. A handful of riffs and out. That's at least the way slam ought to be done. These songs have enough different riffs, so they hold my interest more than most slam-oriented bands. Some real death metal riffs are interspersed and make the songs different.

Retching Charming the Decomposed

2024 Independent (Digital)

This is some killer, badass death metal that blends styles into something interesting. I hear some Autopsy influence, as well as the early Swedish bands, but also the driving riffs of early Massacre, perhaps. I could be wrong, but that's what I'm hearing. This is evil-sounding, gore-fueled death metal that instantly grabs your attention and bangs your head with excellent riffs. There are quite a few sick samples relating to the songs, but they're not overly silly or off-topic, which is something that grates on me. The vocals are sick, a mix of raw-throated grunts and brutal death growls. This is really good shit, and if you're a death metal fan, you will not be disappointed. Go get this if you dig the sounds of the 1990's and even late 1980's.

Sadistic Christ "Carnal Desecration" (Review)

Sadistic Christ Carnal Desecration

2024 Independent (Digital)

sadisticchrist.bandcamp.com

BADASS TRACKS: Carnal Desecration, Mother of Demons, Evil Crucifix, Stigmatic Slave

BADASS SONG TITLES: Evil Crucifix, Sadisfaction, When Your Bowels Fall

This Spanish band often sounds to me like a blend of Deicide and Incantation, and heavy on the Deicide. I have zero problems with this! They're a young band that shows real promise and can write some excellent songs with intense, violent riffs and forceful presentation. They're clearly talented, and the clean recording on this album showcases both their ability and their craft. Every song is good, well-written, and evil as fuck. The singer increases the evil feel of the music on his own, especially with the dual-layered Glen Benton style vocals, which are perfectly executed. I definitely want to hear more from this band, so here's hoping they carry on! The cover art is also quite good, and showcases the feel of the music accurately.

Tzompantli "Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force" (Review)

Tzompantli Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force

2024 20 Buck Spin (CD / LP / Cassette)

Well, I thought I would enjoy this more, and I probably would have if it hadn't leaned so hard into the doom aspect as the album wore on. The album opens with a hell of a song, with blasts, heavy-ass riffs, and deep vocals reminiscent of Catacombs-era Nile. It's dark, heavy, and hellish. But as the album continued, I grew bored with the constant doom riffs and the sparse up-tempo sections didn't save it. If you like doom/death with a melodic flourish here and there, this is an album for you, but it's not for me. I did like the interspersed tribal music flourishes. It sets the record apart from its peers. But that's about all I can say. Just not for me. I do dig the band's image, and the fact that they lean into their heritage. I respect that immensely.

Cystic Embalmment "Bardassage Auditif" (Review)

Cystic Embalmment Bardassage Auditif

2024 CDN Records (CD)

Here we have a goregrind outfit from Canada (Quebec, specifically), and they're a formidable group. My first impression was perhaps Cock and Ball Torture mixed with Nunslaughter in some tracks, and more of a grind influence on other tracks, leaning toward the more punk side of that spectrum. The vocals are primarily the toilet-zombie vocals of most goregrind, but they mix in some grunts and growls that really set this band apart. And I cannot say enough about their ability to write a song. We all know goregrind is not known for good songs, but these guys do songwriting very well. They have hooks, catchy riffs, and extremely brutal parts that set the slower riffs up just perfectly. The drum sound is quite live-sounding, and I liked that a lot. The guitars and bass are nicely mixed with good tone, and the growling bass is especially nice. I enjoyed this release, and I definitely want to see what they're up to next. This is just the perfect mix of goregrind and primitive death metal, and I want more.

Deconsekrated "Ascension in the Altar of Condemned" (Review)

Deconsekrated Ascension in the Altar of Condemned

2024 Iron Blood and Death Corporation (CD)

ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com

2024 Alkolik Holocaust Records (CD, Argentina)

2024 Ancient Sounds of Madness Productions (Cassette)

ancientsoundsofmadnessproductions.bandcamp.com

2024 Futhark Records (LP)

www.futharkrecords.com

BADASS SONG TITLES: Spectral Rites, Litany of the Blasphemous

From Chile we have this excellent death metal band who plays fairly original material in the vein of some of the greats like Incantation, Morbid Angel, and Sadistic Intent! They add their own twists to the formula, with incredibly evil-sounding vocals with a Spanish accent that really sets the music apart from the clones. And I know that's just the accent the singer has when he uses English, but man, it adds something special. I always loved metal performed in Spanish or where singers have a Spanish accent - it's a tough-sounding language for a tough-sounding music. The vocalist also has a catchy, nasty growling style, and his vocals are thick with reverb, helping them sound even more evil. The songs are all good, with riffs that really caught my interest, and they're varied enough to maintain it, which seems like it's always the trouble with bands these days. This band does not have that problem. They're good songwriters. The playing is also excellent overall, and I can tell these gentlemen are accomplished musicians. The guitar sound is thick and well-recorded and fat with nastiness. The drummer stood out to me, he seems impressive. I hope to see more from these fine metalists!

Enfrenzied "Banishment of Sentient Miscreations" (Review)

Enfrenzied Banishment of Sentient Miscreations

2025 Pathologically Explicit Recordings (CD)

www.pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

BADASS SONG TITLE: Monolithic Decay

This is well-recorded, extremely well-performed US technical death metal. Some parts are reminiscent of Malevolent Creation's more technical moments, and some of the bass playing is reminiscent of the mighty Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse. The bass is actually quite prominent in the mix, which is unusual in death metal, in the same way it's prominent on Overkill's W.F.O., meaning loud, clear, and talented. The guitar players can also write a hook in amongst all the advanced playing and technique, which is a welcome relief from most technical death metal. Other bands should take note, this is how it's done. Just because you're playing advanced material does not preclude the ability to write good, memorable songs with hooks! There are actually some surprisingly violent riffs as well. The singer has crystal clear diction and has clearly worked on his pronunciation. I recognized that a mile away since I myself did the same thing when I was singing for the most part. I always tried to remain understandable. His rhythmic delivery really helps the band stand out. The four tracks and interlude here are great, but I want to hear more and see if they can deliver this level of intensity and songwriting on a full-length. I'll be paying attention! The cover is excellent, too, with a distorted creature working its way down some nasty arcane steps, and it reminds me of the covers of the '90s.

Conjuration "Sepulchral Incantations" (Review)

Conjuration Sepulchral Incantations

2024 WolfKult Religion (Cassette)

wolfkultreligion.com

This is slower death metal with a real doom-like feel, but also primitive, but not without heavy-ass riffs! Once we get past the doom of the opening of the first track, we're greeted with a chunk-filled beating, which morphs into blasts at the right spot. These guys can clearly write a song. In fact, they have some seriously memorable riffage. The vocals shine as well, being sung from a deep, cavernous throat with reverb and puke drenched all over them. They're ugly, grand, obscure, and well-sung all at the same time. The EP continues this trajectory the entire way through, and I didn't lose interest with it like I do some modern releases in this doomed-up style. It just proves that Incantation was so far ahead of their time when they started this style of death metal, and I can hear their influence on this band as well as so many others. Make no mistake, this band isn't a copy. There's also a clear influence from the Swedish camp here, but not how you would normally think (meaning the guitar sound). The ultra-sick downtuned guitars, heavy-as-fuck guitar sound and cavern-uttered vocals help make it different and unique, as well as when they hit an up tempo and get heads banging. Conjuration is evil as fuck, and I really want to see what they do in the future.

 

Pourriture "Asap Hitam Konsorsium"

Pourriture Asap Hitam Konsorsium

2024 Brutal Mind (CD)

brutal-mind.com

Man, do I love Indonesia. The country cranks out so many good death metal bands, and this is no exception. I've never been there, but I can only imagine a country that has this many good bands also has plenty of awesome things to do otherwise. Usually bands from there are relentlessly brutal, but Pourriture brings a technical edge. It's brutal but also focused on craft. I can hear some influence from Suffocation, Dying Fetus, and Brodequin. The playing is absolutely perfect, and the riffs are immense. The production is perfect if a bit loud. It has a lot of the sonic trappings of modern brutal death metal, but that's ok. I love that the drummer is constantly doing little fills here and there, filling out the riffs and making some solid decisions with the instrument to keep things interesting. This is an album that would normally run the risk of heard-it-all-before technical death metal, but the innovation in playing from all these gentlemen keeps it out of that particular sand trap, especially the drummer. I like the decision to sing in their native language as well. I never understood why bands thought they had to use English. Most of the English world understands that they don't have the only language in the world (at least, in 2025, this is now true). Vocally we have the usual guttural vocals, but a twist gets thrown our way once or twice, like in the song "Protagon Analisis" where some shouted vocals are mixed in, I'm assuming from the guest singer on the track. Nevertheless, it adds something special.

Rotten Entrails "As the Slurry Consumes"

Rotten Entrails As the Slurry Consumes

2024 Rotten Tomb Records (CD)

www.facebook.com/rottentombrecords

2024 Iron Fortress Records (Cassette)

www.ironfortressrecords.com

BADASS SONG TITLES: Embryonic Fetish, Chronic Anemic, Spreading Evil

Here we have solid death metal with a cavernous production, with reverb dripping from the vocals and a dirty-ass guitar sound, fuzzed out bass and pounding drums. This is a great way for death metal to sound. Stylistically the band reminds me slightly of the older European bands, perhaps also some Slugathor, Incantation, or Soulless-era Grave. It's just straight ahead wimp-annihilating death metal, with an atmospheric feel. I'd have never guessed the band comes from Brazil at all. I like the looseness in the execution of the music, it gives the album a really organic feel. My only issue is that the songs don't seem to stick in my head, and I've listened to this record three times. It's not bad, in fact it's good death metal, but the riffs just don't stick with me for some reason. However, the song "Consumed" has come the closest to this, with its incredibly heavy chorus riff. I mightily enjoy that track. We also like albums with "slurry" in the title over here at OV, what a great word! Demonic-ass sewer demons on the cover. It's vomitastic.