Jaundice--Infernal Demise (CS) {2025 Crypt of the Wizard Records}

cryptofthewizard.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is heavy 1990s style death metal from the UK, their first full length. I can hear little bits of Bolt Thrower and Carcass and Autopsy, but also little bits of Cannibal Corpse and Entombed. They're an amalgamation of influences that comes out just sounding like themselves, like Jaundice. There's a looseness to their playing that really makes this recording sound human and organic. The production is big and spacious, with the guitars enveloping everything but not drowning out the other instruments. They have echoing vocals but not nearly to the point some bands take it to these days - it's not recorded in a cave ten thousand feet under the earth, in other words. You can hear the reverb on the vocals but it's not distracting. Jaundice has a truly morbid atmosphere at times, the way death metal like this should have, and this album is as much about atmosphere as it is about heaviness. I think this band is on to something here, and I'll look forward to their next release.

Dipygus "Dipygus" (Review)

Dipygus Dipygus

2024 Headsplit Records (CS) / Memento Mori (CD) / Crypt of the Wizard (LP)

headsplitrecords.blogspot.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the 3rd, and eponymous, full length from this California band. It's dark and primitive death metal that reminds me a little of Pungent Stench and a lot of Autopsy. The bass guitar is truly prominent in the mix, acting almost like a third guitar, adding textures throughout. It just sounds huge. They feature, at times, some truly off-kilter riffing that comes as a surprise every time. They took the chassis of Autopsy and really made something unique of it, especially with the horror-movie inspired synths (or guitar effects, maybe?) throughout the record in key places. The guitar solos are quite talented and we get quite a few of them. The vocals are powerful and deep growls that have a cavernous effect on them, giving them a sense of being bigger and atmospheric. The cover art is quite good - in fact, it's a great visual representation of their sound. I couldn't explain the band better than monolith-worshipping cavemen with a possibly cannibalistic bent. It's accurate. I didn't really need a ten-plus minute long song to finish off the record, but we get one anyway, and it's more like several songs mashed together. That's the only real flaw here. Otherwise, it's a fitting addition to their catalog, and one that I would recommend to anyone that needs more horror-influenced death metal in their collection.

Dipygus "Dipygus" (Review)

Dipygus "Dipygus"

2024 Memento Mori Records (CD) / Crypt of the Wizard Records (LP) / Headsplit Records (Cassette)

www.memento-mori.es

I was vaguely aware that I'd missed a lot of Dipygus' discography over the past few years, but I'm glad this came across the review desk when it did. Dipygus clearly interprets their death metal anti-art through the lens of old Autopsy, which is perfectly fine with me! They don't exactly clone them, which is nice. They also keep it a bit primitive, much like Rademassaker from Germany, who, like these guys, have a prominent bass sound. There seems to be a bit of Massacre in their sound as well, perhaps pre-prog Death in the solo department. 

The artwork is perfect, and it seems the cryptid obsession continues - the last thing I'd heard from this band was the 2018 EP "Long Pig Feast," which also had a tune about a cryptid. I like it. It's an unusual subject for metal to explore, and I would like to see more of this. All of the songs are quite varied, with a ton of killer riffs and some short solos. One thing that stood out to me is the creepy-ass synths that are used in the doomier portions of the record - this is a great idea, as it drives home the horror aspect. They're mixed perfectly, as well, not overpowering the actual songs in which they appear.

I don't have a ton to say about the record otherwise, except that it's excellent, and if you like the more primitive end of death metal, this shit's for you. I love everything about the album, and I look forward to catching up on Dipygus' back catalog, as well as being on the lookout for new material from them. They have the true feel of real death metal!

They also have one of the most badass logos on the planet.