Chaos Inception--Vengeance Evangel (CD) (2025 Lavadome Productions)

lavadome.org

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I've been a fan of Chaos Inception for a long time, and of their predecessor Fleshtized before that, so when a new Chaos Inception record was released, it went on my rather lengthy review list and I'm just now getting around to reviewing it. Since this site is more of a journal of my listening journeys and adventures and less about promotion, I'll often review things that are a bit older. If you're not familiar with this band, it's ok - it's been thirteen years since their last record graced our ears with its sounds. They're still hyperblasting death metal that reminds me of Hate Eternal and Morbid Angel with a touch of older Krisiun. The occasional weird sludgy riff rears its head like in the beginning of "10,000 Dead by Pincer," which especially reminds me of Morbid Angel. I'm fine with this since Morbid Angel themselves can't be bothered to play good death metal these days. This whole song is like an ode to proper Morbid Angel-style death metal. I like that they wear their influences on their sleeves, these guys always have, and their musicianship is top notch as well, with all the instruments giving us a clinic of proper death metal playing in a classic style. Vocally we get a quality performance that hearkens back to the best of the 1990s, with excellent rhythmic patterns and a good mid-range tone to the growls. This is an album that death metal fans cannot go wrong with, so give this band some support and track this down.

Protrusion--The Last Suppuration (CD) (2026 Sevared Records)

www.sevared.com

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

A new band comprised of scene veterans, Protrusion explodes from the Indiana underground with this new release on Sevared, and it's a mighty release! The band have current members of Human Filleted in its ranks, and other bands they are or have been in include Sarcophagy, Sadichist, Between the Killings, Gorgasm, Emulsified, Found Hanging, and many more, according to the Archives. This album reminds me of the classic Midwest sound, and in the best of ways, from the largely mid-paced approach to the writing of actual songs with catchy riffs. It reminds me of the mid-1990s specificially, and the material coming out of the area then. The album as a whole completely blew me away. The vocals are all guttural but are done using actual discernable vocal patterns that elevate them beyond mere background noise for the sake of having vocals. They are important and are given a proper bit of thought in the writing process. So many bands don't care about the vocals when they're doing gutturals, but this band is a huge exception to that rule. They prove that even gutturals can be expressive and well-planned like any other style of vocal. If you want straight forward and brutal death metal the way it used to be played when all the bands had a different sound, then this is for you. Everything about it is perfectly executed, right down to the production, and I could listen to this over and over again. This is one for the true deathmaniacs and deadbangers! 

One Day in Fukushima--The Shameful Eighteen (CD/LP) (2025 Global Help Records/Jungle Noise Records)

globalhelprecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

One Day in Fukushima play furious grindcore that borders on deathgrind at times. They manage to write in plenty of hooks and catchy moments into these brisk songs. They do have one of the funniest song titles ever, "Conan, Destroyer of Incels," which makes me chuckle every time I read the words. This is grind, so the songs are socially aware lyrically, and critical of our current world order, as they should be. I never took this band seriously before because of the name, but after seeing the awesome cover of this LP, I was tempted into checking them out, and I'm glad I did. My favorite thing that they do is when they drop a Terrorizer-style riff into the midst of their furious punk-based grind, it truly metalizes this material. Vocally, this is about what you'd expect them to sound like, with low growls mixed with high screams, often in the same verse or measure, but the performance is powerful and should be commended for tone and vocal patterns. The blastbeats are steady and precise, as well as energetic, and they focus the intensity of the music. I find often that grind succeeds in being much more intense than death metal due to the urgency with which it's played. Overall, this is a fine record, and one that belongs in every grind freak's collection!

Horrid Mass--Nauseating Ecstatic Degeneration (CD/LP) (2026 Memento Mori Records/Night Terrors Records)

memento-mori.es

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first full length from Milwaukee's death merchants Horrid Mass, following up a demo from three years ago. They sound like a bastard combination of Autopsy and Incantation, but with perhaps some influence from the gasmask metal set with stiff blastbeats and string scrapes. The vocals are cavernous, sounding like they were recorded in an old well after the rest of the band gave up trying to save the singer after he fell down it. I like the raw edge to the recording - it's just this side of noisy, but tempered perfectly with proper levels and a natural drum sound. This is another band that uses textures to add to the songwriting, and it's often the bass guitar adding a layer of grit overtop the rest of it all. I usually don't like this style very much, but there's something about this band that is just a little different, and I can't really pinpoint what it is so that I can tell you dear readers. Suffice it to say that this is a satisfying listen of dark and noisy death metal, and if you like that style, you'll love this record.

Wharflurch--Mycodeath and Rebirth in the Outer Clusters (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Personal Records/Gurgling Gore Records)

personal-records.com

gurglinggore.com

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

After a remarkably prolific several years (2020-2024), this is the first new Wharflurch material in two years, which seems like an eternity for them. From what I understand an entire lineup left the band, leaving them to rebuild from basically nothing, but rebuild they have, and this album is a resounding success. Their style is largely unchanged, being the same Wharflurch we all know and love (that's a huge assumption on my part, but how could you not like this fungi-obsessed, doomed-out death metal?!).  This is even more musically accomplished than their previous work - this band has become even better somehow. Their use of textures on this album doesn't disappoint. The album itself feels like the cover looks, all technicolor and ugly yet somehow clean and wondrous. The synth interludes are amazing, and they add dimension to the death metal that would otherwise be lacking on this record. This is unique stuff, requiring unique sounds. They're a highly song-focused band, writing catchy ear-worms that you won't easily forget, all the time textured by those evil-sounding synths. It's a masterclass in metal songwriting that transcends subgenre. This is just excellent heavy fucking metal in general and deserves recognition as such. This album is a triumph and a high water mark for the year.

Miscreation--Miscreation (CD) (2026 Independent)

miscreation.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Miscreation hail from Germany and play straightforward death metal with quality. They focus on heaviness and groove over speed, and that is perfectly fine - they're at their best with mid-paced material, and their rhythm section clearly loves that slower speed because they can truly show off what they can do with that much space. The guitars often add a little melody to the madness in a way that reminds me of mid-period Hypocrisy, when they were slower and heavier. Vocally we get primarily deep, chesty growls, but they creep into mid-range when the song calls for it or to emphasize a vocal line. It's a powerful performance, and the vocals truly shine on the album, perfectly offset by the clear and heavy guitar tone. This is better than a great deal of the material coming out on labels these days, and you should at the very least pick this up digitally via their Bandcamp site, if not physically.

Brainbath--Headhunted (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Independent)

brainbathdm.bandcamp.com

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland comes Brainbath, who play death metal firmly grounded in 1990s sensibilities with catchy riffs and rhythmic vocals that reach out and strangle the attention out of you. There are some similarities to Deicide, Bolt Thrower, and Grave, all of which is perfectly fine by me, but this band is more than the sum of its influences. Their songwriting is original and enjoyable. They're not reinventing the goddamn wheel, they're playing damn good death metal. Period. In fact, they have that certain "something" I'm always looking for in death metal bands. It's the catchiness and metal attitude that hearkens back to the bands of old. I really like the use of reverb on the vocals in strategic spots, and the vocals themselves have an interesting unique tone to them, and a forcefulness that most vocalists cannot muster. This band has figured out that death metal vocals aren't an afterthought, but are quite important, as important as any other instrument on the record. I'll be listening to this album over and over, as it has absolutely everything in death metal that I'm hunting for, from speed to breakdowns to thrashing riffs, crushing vocals, and pounding drums, as well as the ever-important good songwriting. I'm settling for the digital edition since I don't trust the tariff situation in the USA yet for ordering from overseas, but if this were to show up in a distro I normally order from, I would be all over getting a physical copy!

Demonic Manifestation--Grimshrine (CD) (2026 Personal Records)

personal-records.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Demonic Manifestation play heavy as fuck death metal from Mexico with a dose of darkness coming from the drawn-out vocal patterns, which are a like a summoned demon draining the light from around it. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the vocals due to the way the patterns are performed, but they grew on me after a few songs and I suddenly understood what the band was attempting to do with them - it's another (horrific) instrument to add a dark heaviness, not just words. It still grates on me a bit. I tend to like catchy, rhythmic vocal performances, and this is neither. There is usually one supremely heavy riff in each of these songs that immediately becomes the focus of the song or at least the most memorable part of it, and the songwriting itself is quite good. The music does a good job of evoking the cover art, with writhing tentacles and a goat demon in the background cavorting in a graveyard, while a phantasmagorical depiction of a screaming man and skull are in the forefront. This is pure nightmare fuel, and the music furthers the artwork. In the end this was just better than average for this style, and it's not something that's on my immediate list to purchase, but if you're an HM-2 junkie, your mileage may vary, especially if you like seriously dark death metal.

Nothingness--Godslaughter (CD/CS) (2026 Everlasting Spew Records)

everlastingspew.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Nothingness has returned with a third full length, but this is my first encounter with the band. Superficially, I can compare them a bit to older Gorguts or Tomb Mold, but only superficially. This band has their own sound, and it's dingy, dark, and full of filth. They're not necessarily worrying about hooks or catchiness even with the significant amount of repetition in their songs. They're just bulldozing you with capable riffs and going where the riffs take them. Not that there are no hooks at all, there are. It's just not the primary focus from what I can gather. This is oppressively heavy and at times experimental, playhing with textures and layers in the riffing. This is challenging death metal for the thinking metalist, and while that's not usually my favorite type of band to listen to, the heaviness this band brings to the fore makes up for that, at least for me. Death doom fans will also find a lot to like here, especially in songs like "Vanquishing Providence," with its doomed-out passages and grooves. Overall, I can take this or leave it, but it's better than the average death metal record these days, so give it a try if you want something a bit more outside the box.

Horror Paradise--Dominio Inhumano (CD) (2026 Concreto Records)

concretorecs.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is very much brutal death metal in the Suffocation style, with playful riffs and tons of technicality. The production is solid and modern sounding without being overdriven or too loud. The engineer did a fine job here. Vocally, this is all low growls, occasionally creeping into mid-range, and it's a powerful performance with excellent tone and diction, although I can't understand all of the Spanish lyrics. I'm mono-lingual, of course, with English being my only language. The band occasionally slows into a catchy groove in many of the songs, adding hooks and dynamics to their material. A lot of bands that play in this style can't write a good song, instead relying on the sheer abundance of riffs they generate, but this band can and does write well. The drummer puts on an absolute clinic and is the star of the show other than the vocalist. He even uses a cowbell here and there in his fills which I thought was highly entertaining and unique. The bass is allowed to shine as well, being higher in the mix than the usual brutal death metal band. The tone and playing are exceptional, like every other instrument on the record. This is definitely one to check out if you crave this style, and it's worth a few listens. 

SInister Void--By Rot and Shrapnel (CD) (2026 Metal Race Records)

metalrace.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Sinister Void play completely heads-down death thrash that reminds me of the best of the late '80s and early '90s death metal scene. They don't focus on speed but on grimace-inducing heavy thrashing riffs with driving rhythms behind them, much like the power that Demolition Hammer showed off in their time but tempered with Massacre-style death metal. This is heavy death thrash with growled vocals, not your typical party thrash masquerading as something more vile. The double bass drumming fires like a machine gun through a lot of this material, which is nice to hear. It adds some serious intensity to the songs. The band inevitably breaks each song down into a heavy-ass death metal groove, and I love when they do it. It makes the songs so much heavier. They also don't piss around with songs that are too long, either, most being around that sweet spot of three minutes or so. I've been looking for a good band in this style and I'm happy to say I've found them.

Neurologic Pathology--Born of Pathology (CD) (2026 Pathologically Explicit Recordings)

pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we have brutal death metal in the vein of Suffocation and Dying Fetus that has some fantastically technical moments from all instruments. They break up the typical chugging riffs with anything but typical sweeps and arpeggios from the guitars, while the drums are an absolute clinic of brutal death metal percussion. There's a lot of talent here, and brutal-heads will want to pay attention. They also have an endearing habit of breakdown their songs down in the middle of a fast part to focus on a killer groove and they ride that motherfucker until it dies. This album is different enough to have caught my attention and held it, not boring me to death like so many other brutal bands do. Each song is also quite different from the previous one, which can be exceedingly difficult to do in this style, trapped as it is in the confines of the genre. This is one you do not want to pass up if you prefer the brutal shit. Well worth it.

Doctrine of Gore--Blood Sacrifice (CS) (2026 Independent)

doctrineofgore.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

After opening with a Goblin-esque intro, we get four tracks of decently crafted and heavy death metal that focuses on groove and heaviness overall. They remind me just a little of 200 Stab Wounds but without that band's superlative songwriting skill. I don't like some of the dissonance in the riffs that appears here and there on this record, that's always been a no-go for me. Otherwise the riffs are serviceable if not always memorable. There are a few bass drops present here as well as some quite typical breakdowns, which is unfortunate, because this has so much potential to have such trendy aspects in it. I think with more refinement of their sound this band could be quite good, as they're on the upside of average at this point. This isn't bad for a first EP at all, and I wish them continued success while they find their own sound.

Dripping Decay--Ripping Remains (CD/LP) (2024 Satanik Royalty Records)

satanikroyaltyrecords.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I thought I'd give this a review even though it appears the band has split up since this was released. I really like the recent trend (I know, a bad word) toward '70s and '80s inspired horror movie intros, and there's a very short one that leads off this record. They just perfectly set up the record's atmosphere when they're present. I think they're perfect for death metal, especially when the band is a bit of a throwback like this one. This band included Neil Smith, one time member of Blood Freak and Frightmare, and there is a bit of that old Razorback sound mixed into this band's effluence. Other than these bands, I can hear a bit of Molder in their sound. The recording is spacious, giving plenty of room to all the instruments, even the bass guitar, which is nice to hear. Not a lot of death metal bands let the bass really perform out front, or at least equally. Vocally we get mid-range to low growls that sound like the singer is on the verge of vomiting occasionally. It's a perfectly nasty performance. Overall, it's not an absolutely astounding record, but it is a decent one, and definitely worth a listen.

Crypts of Golgotha--Disembodied in the Arms of Perdition (LP) (2026 Return Trip Records)

returntriprecords.bandcamp.com

3/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Crypts of Golgotha return with their first full length, but overall it's a pretty uninspired effort. The songs are just average to below average, with a few good riffs sprinkled in. They are part of the new wave of death metal bands that focus a lot on groove over speed, and that's perfectly fine, but there's just not a lot of memorable hooks here. On top of that, this sounds so overproduced, with volumes pushed to the limit, the drums especially close to distortion. There's just no need for brickwalling like this. The vocals are a low growl with some highs tossed in for good measure and emphasis on certain vocal lines. And the biggest travesty of all is the bass drops - this is a trend that needs to go away. They're completely unnecessary and distracting, not to mention they step all over the recording itself. Sorry boys, but this is a hard pass for me.

Lithopaedia--Inferno (Digital) (2026 New Standard Elite)

lithopaedia-ca.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Lithopaedia from LA play a groove-forward style of brutal death metal that I found quite satisfying because it had so many catchy riffs and rhythms, with lots of changes and time shifts. They tend to find a groove in each song that they layer and exploit, and then intersperse blasting sections to really ramp up the intensity. So many brutal death metal bands aren't intense, but that's not the case with these guys. Nor do they mindlessly slam like so many other bands. This is real brutal death metal for the real brutal maniacs. What's more is they're using more traditional song structures than a lot of brutal death metal bands. Their songwriting is actually coherent and can be very hook-laden at times. The vocals are a guttural croaking noise, not really growls. They're fairly unique and they never get into dreaded pig squeal territory, thankfully. They definitely sound ugly as fuck, and it fits the music perfectly. This is truly barbaric shit, really savage and heavy, and real brutal maniacs will find this irresistible. It looks like New Standard Elite has at least released this digitally, although I can find no sign of a CD, but I would assume one is coming.

Venomous Invokation--Diabolic Death Metal (CD) (2026 Crow's Nest Records)

crowsnest22.bigcartel.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Venomous Invokation hail from Nashville, TN, and they arise with a new demo with a title that perfectly describes their sound, Diabolic Death Metal. I can hear some similarities to Grotesque, Sadistic Intent, and Unholy Redeemer, mainly in the darkness and morbid atmosphere that all these bands have in common. Venomous Invokation has that same sickness. The vocals are firmly in the "cavernous" camp, with a rather intense echo effect on  them, making them sound both obscene and obscure, and like they were recorded at the bottom of a well. Musically the band is quite solid, with talented lead guitar work, especially on the solos, and whirlwind drums that are tight as can be. I like the layer of mud this recording has, it really gives it personality in a scene that has been overly concerned with perfect recordings. I wish they'd sprinkle in a bit more of the sinister synths they use to open the first track, that would be quite unique. Overall, not a bad effort, but I'll wait to hear more before I form a verdict.

Hating Life--Revenge from Beyond (CD/LP) (2026 Pulverised Records)

pulverised.net

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Spain comes this Swedish-style death metal band, a band I was interested in because they named themselves after a Grave song. I figured I was in for death metal of this persuasion, and I was correct. The riffs are big, written for maximum heaviness and morbid atmosphere. They're darker than the average HM-2 style band, bringing in doomy influences and a dark vocal tone. If this had a slightly different guitar sound, they might sound closer to Incantation than Grave, but as it stands it's firmly in the Swedish camp. Just when I wonder if they're more doom influenced than I thought, they return with a fast moment, and dash that assumption on the rocks. Usually once per song they'll deliver a massive groove that acts as the heaviest part of the track, and often sets up a return to the main riffs in the song. The singer's cadence is much like that of Jorgen Sandsstrom, his work on You'll Never See... especially. Tone-wise there's not much in common with him as the singer here is less growly and more grunty. Overall this isn't a bad record at all, and worth a quick listen if you get a chance. It's not going to floor you, but you won't shut it off, either.

The Loop of Henle--Obscene Grotesqueries (CS) (2026 Gurgling Gore Records)

Again we have a band that seems to be part of a growing movement in the underground bent on combining goregrind and death metal in gross and memorable ways. I'm intrigued by this because the scenes were somewhat disparate in the past, with goregrind relegated (in many cases) to the grind and noise scenes. But, from my home state of Michigan comes The Loop of Henle, a goregrind/deathgrind hybrid that takes no prisoners and is thoroughly nasty. They have excellent songs, albeit quite short ones, sharp gory shocks that will stick in your head with enough listens, as the rapidfire songwriting sticks with you after a time. The main vocal style is a pitch shifted growl that sounds like what the cover looks like. Dirty, gross, and goresoaked. Occasionally a high vocal makes an appearance for emphasis on a vocal line or two. There's enough of a death metal side to this to keep even death metal purists interested, and grind fans will be similarly entertained. Not much more can be said about a nine minute record, just check this out if you like filthy deathgrind. Bonus points for a song titled "Scalding Vomit," since we like the barf content here at Ominous Vomit!

Endseeker--Coffin Born (CD/LP) (2026 Metal Blade Records)

www.metalblade.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

It's been three years since last we heard from Endseeker, one of the better of the crop of HM-2 style death metal bands in the world today. They give us four new songs and a cover of David Hasselhoff's recent masterpiece, "True Survivor." And, no, I'm not joking, I love that song and I love David Hasselhoff's singing. They do a fine job adapting the track. Their new material has everything you'd expect from them: big open riffs, a little melody, and good solid songwriting. Although they're not the most interesting of all bands playing this style, they're good songwriters and it really helps make this just that much different. "Coffin Born" is easily the best song here, and it's no wonder they named the EP after it. The songwriting and all the time shifts in the song really makes it interesting as well as the heavy-as-fuck chorus riff. It's intense and furious and a perfect song. As a vehicle for the title track this EP works, and has a few other interesting songs besides, including "True Survivor." A worthy EP release. Plus, the cover is gnarly.

Haserot--Advent of Suffering (CD/LP) (2026 Redefining Darkness Records)

www.redefiningdarkness.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Texas has a hell of a scene, and Haserot from Houston are no exception to the quality of the bands found there. Reminding me of peak Necrophobic, they almost have a European sound to them. The primary vocal style is a high scream, but peppered in are low growls, often layered with the highs. The patterns are nice, rhythmic, and catchy. Often in the songs they break down into a killer groove meant to bang heads. I love these moments, they're what good death metal is made from. These sections often act as a bridge back to the main riffs or a prelude to a solo, and the songcraft is masterful. These are songs. Speaking of solos, we get plenty of them, full of melody and emotion, but they're often quite short, which is just fine. They serve their purpose. The band occasionally employs a doomed-out section which really serves to vary the listening experience. They have such a variation of tempos and themes from song to song that it creates quite a dynamic listen. This is quite a good album, and I will be keeping my eye on this band. They've definitely impressed me.

Serpent Corpse--Retaliate (CD/10") (2025 Transcending Obscurity Records)

tometal.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Again I must say it. I really enjoy some of the bands infusing death metal with metallic hardcore, especially when the riffs are as good as Serpent Corpse's. It strips down the death metal to bare bones and adds catchiness and aggression to an already aggressive musical form. Serpent Corpse welds Merauder-style hardcore riffs to a '90s death metal chassis and the net result is a catchy, heavy, solid piece of death metal with aggressive riffs and a ton of attitude. The vocals remind me quite a bit of Entombed in their early days, with that same yelled roar and tone that LG Petrov had. These four songs are well written and a fun listen, and the band even dips their toes into melody here and there for an extra twist, especially during guitar solos. I definitely want to hear more from this band, so I'll probably look into their back catalog, and I'll eagerly await more material.

Vomepotro--Fall Into Decay (CD) (2026 Brutal Mind Records)

brutal-mind.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

It's been seventeen years since Vomepotro graced our ears with a record, and it's a welcome return, I must say. They're still every bit as brutal as they were, and for those that are unfamiliar, their style is reminiscent of Suffocation, Deeds of Flesh, and Severe Torture. The riffing is excellent and can be very catchy, especially when they find a groove they like. It's quite technical stuff, and the interplay between guitars and drums is tight as can be. The vocals are of the "Dr. Claw" variety, low in the throat and deep, but occasionally there are high screams and gutturals. There are hooks everywhere in this, and the songwriting is to be commended. This isn't just brutality for its own sake, it has intent and direction. It helps that the vocals have good rhythmic patterns, it instantly helps the songs become more memorable. This record is absolutely worth repeated listens and I highly recommend it to the brutal maniacs.

Sarcoughagus--Remnants (CD/LP) (2024 Rotted Life Records)

rottedlife.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Coming from my former home state of Ohio is Sarcoughagus, giving us some damn fine death metal. There are five new songs here plus two what I believe to be re-recorded versions of songs from their previous full length. Stylistically they remind me of old Death, old Deicide, and Autopsy. The production certainly gives them some personality - it's clean with a raw edge. Vocally the singer boasts a deep roar and his sound is impressive. He reminds me quite a bit of Glen Benton in the early days, especially in the vocal patterns. When they find a groove they like, they stick with it, which I like. There are tons of hooks in the songwriting, classic death metal tricks of the trade, that draw you in and bang your head. I like these new bands that are throwbacks to the '90s - I can't get enough of it. There are so many good death metal bands these days it's almost unbelievable. This EP is definitely worth the price of admission, so track it down however you can.

No Shelter--Remission/Resolve (LP/CS) (2026 This Charming Man Records)

thischarmingmanrecords.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

No Shelter has mixed a base of Swedish-style death metal with metallic hardcore and it's a vicious concoction that hits like Entombed and Earth Crisis at the same time. I really like the experimentation with mixing death metal and hardcore that's been happening in the underground lately. It always serves to strip down the death metal side into something simpler and catchier, many times improving what would otherwise be ho-hum, more of the same. Vocally, we get hypercharged hardcore vocals like you'd find in a crust or d-beat band, just vicious and pissed off with a metal edge to them. And occasionally he slips into a growl when it suits him, showing he can do both, but I think his primary screaming style is sufficient. This is one of the more unique bands I've ever heard, and no one is mixing these styles quite like this. It's totally original sounding, and they're just playing what they like, and that's great. Now I have to go dig into their back catalog because I now am very interested in seeing if their other records are this good.

Devourment--Pious Impiety (7") (2026 Relapse Records)

relapse.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

The influential Devourment have arisen to give us three songs of their patented brutal death metal on this new 7" from Relapse Records (I hope they do another string of 7" releases like they did in the old days, that would be excellent). I can always trust that this band, who along with Internal Bleeding, turned slam riffs into a style, will do the style justice. I need not worry about all the trendy junk that I would have to with other bands. They are more technical than a lot of people give them credit for, especially where the drums are concerned. There are a lot of changes and time shifts, and the drummer is there keeping track of it all. One thing I hate is the bass drops they use to add emphasis to a stop/start section or a slam. They don't need those. Get rid of them! They're not super egregious, but they're obvious and part of a trend in this style that I hate. Devourment are the masters of this style of metal, even if it's not my favorite. It's not intense enough for me. But respect where it's due. They're doing it better than ninety percent of the other bands out there, and I just don't need other bands who play this style. Internal Bleeding and Devourment are all I need.

Tombal--Grave of the Damned (CD/CS) (2026 Blood Harvest Records/Unholy Domain Records)

bloodharvest.se

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Tombal from Italy give us four songs and a creepy intro on this new release of vicious HM-2 death metal hell. All the typical comparisons for this style apply, but I will say that Tombal is doing things just a little different. They mix some Morbid Angel-style blasts into the HM-2 soup. I love all the big open chords they use as well, it gives the music a sinister feel. These boys have mastered the style and they're easily as good or better than any band playing it today or yesterday. The vocals really stand out, low roars that are performed with piss and vinegar, full-chested and empty-lunged. The vocals are produced well also, with plenty of layering and some cool effects in the right spots. We don't often get guitar solos in this style, but Tombal has them, and they're pretty good, if a bit short, but that suits the music. They also get my award for most badass song titles: "Cemeterial Death Worship," "Funebral Furnace," and "Cathedrals of Rot." This is a good introduction to the band, and I await a full length album.

Nuclear Tomb--Epoch Inhumane (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Rotted Life Records)

rottedlife.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Nuclear Tomb are back and they're firing on all cylinders on this second full length, bringing us more of their trademark progressive death thrash. Again, this is not pretentious technicality, a "look what I can do" stroke-fest, like so many bands try to produce that call themselves technical. No, these are well-written songs, neatly crafted with precision and emotion. The uniqueness of their riffing is astounding, with little runs and sweeps everywhere, and the drums keep pace with fills and rolls galore. And, they repeat these riffs enough times that hooks are created, and that is the key, folks. Hooks. I talk about them a lot, but necessarily so. They're important in good music. Otherwise it's just wankery. If it's even possible, this may be an even more accomplished work of musicianship than their first record, and that's saying a lot. Every song is unique and totally unlike the others, and has its own identity. That's so hard to do in this music, and I commend the band on their inventiveness. I don't think there's an extreme metalist alive who wouldn't like this band, and I think they'll go quite far if they keep turning in massive records like this one.

Goreworm--Miasmic Solitude (CD) (2026 Transcending Obscurity Records)

tometal.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Canada comes this technical death metal juggernaut with this second record, and first for Transcending Obscurity. There is a fucking lot going on here. You have arpeggios, blasts, plenty of melodic playing, and occasionally straight up brutality. These are world-class musicians playing intricate and precise death metal that will boggle you but not lose you while they do. One thing Goreworm does well that not many technical death metal bands do is create actual decent songs with enough repetition to keep you listening rather than just trying to figure out what the fuck is actually going on in the music. Vocally, the singer uses just about every type of growl and scream imaginable, and his style fits the band well. The vocal patterns have to deal with some wild musicianship, so they're not very catchy, but they're more than ok in the long run. Unfortunately, all the technicality takes away from the heaviness, and that's what I want out of death metal. I want it to be heavy, gross, unforgiving, and intense. Goreworm doesn't have the traits I like in death metal bands. That doesn't stop me from recognizing this album as a musical achievement, however, as it most certainly is.

Gangrenated--Demise Profanation (CS) (2026 Iron Corpse Records)

www.ironcorpse.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

There's something weird happening in the underground, and it's formed a wave of death metal bands that incorporate goregrind influences, and Gangrenated is at the speartip of that charge. On this five-song EP we get four originals and a cover of "Zombie Apocalypse" by the mighty Mortician, and it absolutely fits with their nasty-ass style. The guitar sound is of the chainsaw variety and downtuned into hell. The production is clear but with a layer of filth, just how I like it. And the vocals are very low, of the Dr. Claw variety, except the very few times where a gurgle or a higher scream is used. If you crossed very early Amorphis or Grave with Mortician and sprinkled in some early Carcass you'd have a pretty good idea of their overall sound. Yes, it's dirty and gross, and I love it. What I really want next is a full length to see what these pukemongers can do with a bit more time and material. They've left me wanting more.