Ligament "Demo MMXXV" (Review)

Ligament Demo MMXXV

2025 Headsplit Records

headsplitrecords.blogspot.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Hailing from the scummy depths of Ohio's scene comes Ligament, purveyors of vicious grinding death metal and goregrind. The vocals are layered with effects and pitch-shifted to the depths of hell for the most part. Cannibal Corpse is a clear influence, as can be heard from the riffs in "Feast for the Legions," but it has but the slightest bearing on their overall sound. Carcass influence, however, is rife here, in the dirtiness of the production to the way the instruments sound. Catchy-as-fuck riffs make for memorable song amid all the blasting. For some crazy reason some of their riffs and more oddball vocal choices remind me of Schnauzer, Jim Konya's wacky thrash/hardcore project. This makes sense since these guys are from the Cleveland scene (members of Noxis and Inoculation are involved). One of the things I like the most is the super-fast rolls the drummer uses as fills, especially between blasts. He's fun to hear.

Cthonica "Bone Altars of the Vanished Sun" (Review)

Cthonica Bone Altars of the Vanished Sun

2025 Independent (Digital) / Profaner Records (CS)

cthonica777.bandcamp.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third full length from this Venezuelan cult. They play a brutal, grinding black/death hybrid that falls more on the death metal side of the equation. Downtuned, chainsaw-like guitars and fast-as-fuck blast beats pound away relentlessly. The drum sound is full of pop and is super smooth, capturing the frantic work behind the kit flawlessly. The blasts are almost the speed of a band like Brodequin. There's as much evidence to claim Grave influence as there is Conqueror or Revenge here - it lies in both wheelhouses. The vocals are deep and cavernous, sometimes croaking, adding morbid texture to the music. Shorter songs would help this band out a lot. The first track is over nine minutes long and I just don't like long tracks - they do, however, take care to try to keep it interesting. They don't always succeed, but they get close. For instance, one track is nearly thirteen minutes long, but it's split up into sections by adding little interludes. Why not just a separate song? It seems an odd creative decision.

Purging "Demo" (Review)

Purging Demo

2025 Independent (Digital)/Noxious Ruin Records (CS)

purgingdeath.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is incredibly heavy, dark death metal from California with heavy grooves and infectious songwriting. It has a claustrophobic production that really helps to elevate their personality. This is what I want from dark death metal, not another Incantation clone. I want great riffs, groove, and a cloying production, but without sounding like it was recorded in a goddamn cave. There are plenty of great riffs without compromising the dark atmosphere. They have an aspect of brutal death metal to their sound also, which manifests in fast blast beats and unusual arrangements, as well as some guttural vocals. This is powerful stuff, and the vocalist is suitably powerful as well. I loved the little Gorguts-style grunt at the end of "Cymatic Bludgeoning." On "Magnificent Hallucinations," the guitarist gets to show off a bit, adding textures and melody during the slow start of the song, which is nearly nine minutes long, and the meat of the song doesn't start until about the five-minute mark. I would have put a faster song after this, but they chose to keep it slower with "Savage Butchery," although it kicks up a bit as the song progresses.

Death Pulsation "Demo" (Review)

Death Pulsation Demo

2025 Caligari Records (CS)

caligarirecords.storenvy.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Finally we have a real death metal band from Sweden! Death Pulsation play ripping death metal that reminds me of Crucifire (Australia), Angelcorpse, and especially Kaamos (for the rhythm section at least), and perhaps a little bit of Dissection. This is not your run-of-the-mill Swedish chainsaw death metal that everyone and their brother's band seems to play, this is true, gritty, nasty, old-school death metal the way it ought to be played. It hearkens back to a time when bands like Repulsion and Possessed were the main influences on bands. The vocalist reminds me a lot of Pete Helmkamp. There's a black metal edge to their sound at times, too, which helps add more textures to their attack. The three songs here go by quickly, but this is probably the best demo I've heard this year, and I definitely need a fuckin' full length from these guys. I immediately bought this from Caligari after hearing it, that's how good it is.

Spectral Souls "Conspirachronicles" (Review)

Spectral Souls Conspirachronicles

2025 Black Legion Records (CD)

facebook.com/blacklegionrecs

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the second full length from this Peruvian death cult. We get brutal Morbid Angel-style death metal with some clear Death influence as well. This blows away anything Morbid Angel themselves have done since Formulas..., and it's nice to see a band take this style and make it their own. The guitarist is a shredder, with talented solos all though these songs, using melodies and harmonies. The vocalist uses a yelled growl, mid-range, and has good vocal patterns, quite memorable. He has a very distinct tone and doesn't sound like anyone else that I know. The riffs are infectious and nicely arranged for maximum impact and intensity. This is firmly in the camp of late '80s, early '90s death metal, and even the production reeks of it. The drummer's double bass skills are on full display on this record, and he seems to revel in the rolls and fills he performs - he has personality behind that kit. This is fully recommended for all the death-maniacs reading this!

Final Error "Daemonium in Nobis" (Review)

Final Error Daemonium in Nobis

2025 Kernkraftritter Records (CD)

kernkraftritter-records.de

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third full length from this German band. It's fairly average death/thrash - nothing bad about it, but nothing truly spectacular, either. It's much more toward the thrash end of the spectrum than the death metal end. In fact, it rather reminds me of later Sodom records. Adding some blastbeats would go a long way toward making this more intense during the fast parts. It's not as interesting as it could be if the intensity was cranked up a bit in the compositions. I don't know if these guys are trend-hopping, either, because apparently they used to be more of a thrash/crossover act and then somewhere along the line they added death metal to their sound. Hopefully they just finally found their real sound. My verdict on the record is that I could take it or leave it, but I wouldn't turn it off if it was being played. I'll wait on the next record from them to see if it's any better, if they record one. The cover art and logo are fantastic, though.

Genocider "Buried Alive" (Review)

Genocider Buried Alive

2025 Independent (Digital)

genocider.bandcamp.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first demo from this Polish band. The recording is a bit rough, but that is to be expected with a demo, and it gives the music character. They've managed to concoct some good heavy riffs and capable songs. The vocalist uses deep, powerful growls that sound evil as fuck. There's almost a d-beat feel to this demo with its punked-up rhythm section. In the first track the bass is either strangely high in the mix, or just off-balance with the guitars, I haven't decided which. This seems to be fixed on the second track. In fact, each song on this demo (4 in all) have different recording qualities, like it was done in four completely different sessions and never mastered. I vastly preferred the mix on the second track, so hopefully when this band records again we get something more like this.

Hellgrav "Dehumanized" (Review)

Hellgrav Dehumanized

2025 Independent (Digital) / Rat Covenant Records (CS)

hellgravdm.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

9/10 for the song Chainsaw Crew

This German band has given us their first full length, following up just one EP prior. This is Swedish-style death metal with a more aggressive approach than usual for bands of this style. They key things I look for in this style are all there - big riffs, a punked-up drummer, that nasty growling chainsaw guitar. However, this doesn't get past the "it's pretty good" stage and into blowing my mind. It's very ok stuff. I'm picky with this style since so many bands sound the damn same that play it. The best song here by a mile is "Chainsaw Crew," which might as well be d-beat crust punk. I like the singer's rapid-fire delivery on the verses, and the crescendo the song builds until the blastbeats hit. It's a perfect song and I wish there were more of this on the album. 

Lacrimorphosis "Chronosphere" (Review)

Lacrimorphosis Chronosphere

2025 Independent (Digital)

lacrimorphosis.bandcamp.com

1/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

It's wild that this is the eleventh full length from this band, but I have an issue with that. This might as well be three different bands contributing to that total. It looks as if they were originally a dark, suicidal black metal band, then dungeon synth, and now death metal. I can't figure that out. Why? Is this a case of trend-hopping? Death metal is popular now, just as DSBM and dungeon synth were in the past few years. Are we just trying stuff to see what sticks? Anyhow, on to the music. This is a later-era Death clone band, right down to vocal patterns and riffing style. It lacks the originality and inspiration and musical genius of someone like Chuck Schuldiner, however. The fact that it's a Death worship band doesn't bother me (I listen to plenty of clone bands), it's the fact that it's just not passionate like the material Chuck originally penned (even thought I don't like his later material, I will readily admit how talented it was). This just isn't done well enough to be worth the listen. The cover is pretty cool, though, I'll give it that, and the logo is fantastic.

Infernal Thorns "Christus Venari" (Review)

Infernal Thorns Christus Venari

2025 Personal Records (CD)

personal-records.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Infernal Thorns comes from Chile, and they've given us their third full length of fast, blasting death metal that attacks remorselessly and constantly. It sort of reminds me of a cross between Krisiun and Destroyer 666, perhaps with some Pentagram (Chile) influence. There are tons of intense and memorable riffs as well as proper versus and choruses, making the songs stick in your head, as well as earworm vocal patterns. The dueling growls at the beginning of "Desde el infierno" are a good example of this, even though no lyrics are involved. You will remember that part. The musical performances are pristine and the arrangements are intense. The guitar solos are mad, chaotic, divebombing affairs that don't slow the songs down. They're full of sweeps and even melody at times. The pedal never comes off the floor with this band except to toss a monster groove at us here and there at strategic points. Deicide is also clearly an influence and you can hear it in the vocal pattern at the beginning of "Implore Me." This record is total fistbanging mania from start to finish, and worth picking up. Buy or die!

Ritual Mass "Cascading Misery" (Review)

Ritual Mass Cascading Misery

2025 20 Buck Spin

20buckspin.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we have dark death metal with few grooves, just gloomy cavernous passages, very much in the vein of Incantation. Reverbed out vocals add a unique texture but they leave me feeling a bit unfulfilled by the performance. It's not catchy at all, and that's probably the point. They have a lot of doomed-out passages that bore me more than entertain. This style of death metal is easily one of my least favorite since it doesn't focus on heaviness, but rather darkness. It doesn't leave a lot of room for a different approach. I understand people will probably take umbrage with that statement, but that's how I feel. There just isn't much to sink your teeth into here if you want something a little interesting.

Hedonist "Scapulimancy" (Review)

Hedonist Scapulimancy

2025 Southern Lord Recordings

southernlord.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Southern Lord finds another gem with this Hedonist release. This is solid death metal in the ancient Scandinavian style, from Canada, but without the chainsaw guitar sound. Fronted by the most brutal female vocalist I've heard in a long time, with guttural vocals being her go-to style, deep and nasty, this will remind anyone of old Amorphis, Entombed, or faster Grave. This isn't an issue. The riffs are good, the playing is tight, and the songs are catchy as fuck. I bought this based on Southern Lord's previous success with Black Breath, hoping for more of the same, and I was pleasantly surprised. I can't say much more than just go check this out, and if you like your death metal old, decayed, and dirty, this is the album you want.

Bone Fetish "Bone Fetish" (Review)

Bone Fetish Bone Fetish

2025 Sentient Ruin Laboratories (CD/LP/CS)

sentientruin.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Canada's Bone Fetish we have the equivalent of a full length, which is cobbled together from past releases. I found the newest material the most interesting, so I spent most of my time reviewing that, but the entire record is worth a listen, as this is some of the finest goregrind I've heard in a while, especially since it's melded with ancient gory death metal. On the first several tracks we actually get normal growled vocals instead of the low pitch shifted stuff we normally get with goregrind, but that is present later on from earlier material. This material is very much in the vein of early Carcass (and even more so as the record progresses to older material), but cleanly produced with natural drums and a fuzzed out bass guitar. It's not exactly Carcass worship, but it's close, and it's mixed with early '90s death metal. In fact, their sound reminds me a lot of the Privilege of Evil EP from Amorphis, right down to the gaspy and raspy vocals. The blastbeats are fierce when they appear, and they're used to maximum effect, creating intensity where it's needed. The rest of the material isn't as awesome as the first several songs, but it's good in its own right, I just think they finally found their sound. Here's hoping they continue in this direction and give us more killer gore!

Barad-Dur "Baptized in Bile" (Review)

Barad-Dur Bapitized in Bile

2025 Independent (Digital)

baraddurdeathmetal.bandcamp.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Barad-Dur play brutal groove/death metal with a penchant for big breakdowns. This US act must know I'm a sucker for groove (thus my love for competent slam and bands like Kataklysm and Dying Fetus), so this really does it for me and got me moving immediately. They also have technical chops, with the guitarist especially showing off some skill with sweeps and melodic solos. The vocalist is a powerhouse and uses his whole range of growled expression, from low to high to guttural. The drummer is all over his kit, which is expected with this brand of death, but fantastic nonetheless. Fans of Dying Fetus and Kataklysm would do worse than checking this band out, since they exist in the wheelhouse of that style. I'll be looking forward to hearing more from this act, since their is just their debut EP.

Impending Rot "Anatomical Discorporated Aberration" (Review)

Impending Rot Anatomical Discorporated Aberration

2025 Blood Harvest Records (LP)

bloodharvest.de

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This Mexican band originally released this record in 2023, and it has seen a few formats on a few different labels, but until now it has not been released on LP. Blood Harvest gave it that honor. They play a sick amalgam of Carcass, Grave, and dark underground death metal. The drum sound is perfect and clean. The vocals are pitchshifted to toilet, but they sound incredible and truly otherworldly. The guitars have a bit of that Swedish sound, but the riffs are more akin to Carcass, as I mentioned. It's a good mix. Catchy and hook-laden riffs abound with great vocal patterns and personality. The whole thing is just morbid and pathological, and something goregrind and death metal fans will enjoy equally. They truly have their own sound, even if they do wear their influences on their sleeves, so definitely find this in any format you can!

Habitual Slaughter "Bloody Mess" (Review)

Habitual Slaughter Bloody Mess

2025 Independent (Digital)

nestofscum.bandcamp.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third EP of this one-man project from England. This is pure Cannibal Corpse worship with a heap of awesome thrash riffs added to the early Cannibal sound. Even the vocals remind me of Cannibal Corpse, clearly channeling Chris Barnes' early vocals, and are performed perfectly with rhythmic patterns and pure power. This is all fine with me, I enjoy a good worship band once in a while, and this is good shit. Enough originality in the songs is injected here to keep it fresh and different enough. The riffs are truly magnificent, moving from Eaten Back to Life-style death metal riffs to brutal Slayer-esque thrash breakdowns. If you can't get enough of that early Cannibal sound, this is for you. This isn't original in sound or approach, but is great metal made for fans of death metal. It's truly enjoyable.

Hypoxia "Defiance" (Review)

Hypoxia Defiance

2024 Selfmadegod Records

selfmadegod.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third full length from this New York wrecking crew. It's straight up American death metal with a focus on technicality without being overly so, with solid songs and plenty of hooks. It reminds me a little of Monstrosity and Suffocation, a melding of the NY and FL styles. The bass sounds like DD Verni's on W.F.O., a solid, growling sound that is easily audible under the guitars, and the bassist is one monster of a player. The guitars and riffs are everything you'd expect from classic death metal from the '90s. I hear some nods to Morbid Angel in "Correlated Embolism," but nods are all it is, quickly returning to their own style. The singer has a powerful growl that comes from deep in his chest, and has a drawn-out lyrical delivery rather than rhythmic all the time. He has some good patterns, however. He also uses some higher-register growls for emphasis. Suffocation gets a nod on the track "Drowning in Darkness," in the blast style and breakdown riff. I bought this one shortly after it came out after hearing a track or two, and there's no such thing as buyer's remorse where Hypoxia is concerned. This band should not be passed over by the maniacs.

Human Barbecue "Decimated by Barbarity" (Review)

Human Barbecue Decimated by Barbarity

2024 Reality Fade Records (CD)

realityfade.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Hailing from Belgium, this is the band's fourth full length. It's a two man project with programmed drums. First, let's get the bad out of the way - the fucking bass drops. This has become a trend in brutal death metal, and an annoying one. I counted four of them in the first track. The shit needs banned from death metal, period. I'm sick of it. Otherwise, this is a heavy, if basic, brutal death metal band with good guttural vocals and lots of big slam riffs. The problem they have is that they're doing nothing to differentiate themselves from the pack. The slam scene is absolutely swamped, mostly with shitty bands, but some rise above. Human Barbecue doesn't rise above, they just simmer on the top. The riffs are mostly just run-of-the-mill slam riffs over a groove or over a blast. "Terror on the Waves" sees them vary their approach a bit, giving us different riffs and something more death metal oriented. More like this and they'd be interesting. "Stained in Decay" also has some varied riffs, and it was a welcome relief. For being four full lengths in, I'm just not impressed, however, and I wish they hadn't fallen into every brutal death metal and slam trope in existence today.

Mortal Rites "Death in Heaven, Life in Hell" (Review)

Mortal Rites Death in Heaven, Life in Hell

2024 Iron Blood and Death Corporation (CD)

ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first EP from this Quebecois band, with just one demo coming before. This is fairly run-of-the-mill death/thrash with a blackened edge that hearkens back to Dissection and bands of that era. Nothing truly spectacular jumps out, but it's at least solid stuff, just not terribly memorable. They do have a pronounced sense of melody and use it well within their songs, whether as a solo or a blackened riff to add dimension to their sound. This isn't something I'm going to actively track down and buy, but I wouldn't be upset if it wound up in my collection at some point. 

Emaciated "Death from the Southwest" (Review)

Emaciated Death from the Southwest

2025 Independent (Digital)

emaciated.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I'm not sure how many bands I've ever heard that come from New Mexico. Not many. If this is anything to go by, they may have a great sound over there. This is simple but very effective death metal that reeks of the 1990s American scene but is infused with thrash and some hardcore riffs. They employ very effective songwriting with clear verses and choruses. The guitar solos are especially good and well-structured to fit the atmosphere of the music. The vocal patterns are rhythmic and powerful, adding layers to each song. A fine job. There are some nods to Bolt Thrower style melodies in the song "Yawning Corridors of Gehenna," which was a nice touch. Lots of furious thrash riffs exist in these songs as well, from Slayer-like breakdowns to Demolition Hammer style speed. They have big headbanging breakdowns, when they employ them, and the room almost got thrashed a few times. This band would fit right in with the current 1990s-worshipping death metal bands that have a slight hardcore edge. No boundaries are being pushed here, but that's not the point. The point is just solid fuckin' death metal, full stop, and that's what they deliver.

Pandemic Outbreak "Torment Beyond Comprehension" (Review)

Pandemic Outbreak Torment Beyond Comprehension

2025 Godz ov War Productions (CD/LP/CS)

godzovwar.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Pandemic Outbreak give us a mix of Bay Area style thrash while adding death metal of the highest order to the mix. This mixture of material gives them a fresh sound among all the mediocre death metal bands of the day, and I think it will serve them well. At times they remind me of Death, at other times Demolition Hammer, and yet others of the German thrash masters. The vocalist has clearly focused on his delivery. His growls are rhythmic and well-placed. There isn't a lot of power behind the vocals, though, it's more of a spoken growl. It fits, though, and allows the singer greater pronunciation overall. This band can really write a song, with each track distinct and different, yet forming a whole that's clearly the same band. One moment that immediately stood out to me was the absolutely brilliant dueling vocal section in "Consumed by Flames." I can still hear it in my head. Just a monster hook. Some maniacs might be put off by the lighter sounds the thrash side of the band brings, but I am perfectly fine with it. Track it down and worship it!