Homicidal Funeral "Gates of Doom" (Review)

Homicidal Funeral Gates of Doom

2025 Independent (Digital)

homicidalfuneral.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the second EP from these Spanish death merchants. They play competent death thrash that isn't the most intense, but instead relies on killer grooves and heaviness. There is some very unique riff work in some of these songs, with little flourishes that a lot of bands wouldn't think to include. The vocals are a bit like Asphyx with the same mid-range growl that has an element of anguish. I hear a lot of promise in this young band, and I hope they keep making music. If they would focus more on making songs like "Dawn of Desolation," I think they'd be truly interesting. This is their best song by far and it has it all - hooks, grooves, and a compelling solo to start the song. It's quite a dynamic effort and one that instantly stand out among the other songs here. This isn't bad for an EP, and I want to see what this band can do with a full length. The artwork is absolutely fantastic as well.

Frigid "Contempt of Decay" (Review)

Frigid Contempt of Decay

2026 Iron Fortress Records (CD)

ironfortressrecords.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

With this release, Frigid give us heavy as fuck death thrash from Chicago. The vocals are powerful growls that match perfectly with the heavy ass riffs. It definitely reminds me of something that would have come out in the early 1990s. They rely on groove quite a lot, and with riffs as good as this, that's a huge plus. If I had to compare this to anything, I would say imagine Demolition Hammer mixed with 200 Stab Wounds and you've got a hell of an idea of their sound. I love this new wave of death metal and its focus on the sounds of the '90s, when the bands were focused on writing good songs. This is infectiously catchy song-focused death metal that consistently has top-notch musicianship and riffs in each song and an energetic delivery. It has "it." I repeatedly found myself air-guitaring to the songs, and wanted to hear the record again as soon as it was over. I don't do that very often, and it should be taken as a definite endorsement of the metal on offer here.

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.

Vastness "Entire Mortal Race" (Review)

Vastness "Entire Mortal Race"

2024 Mad Lion Records (CD)

www.madlion.eu

BADASS SONG TITLE: Worship Demons

BADASS TRACK: Poisoned Tongues

Vastness plays what could be termed death thrash, but is typically a bit slower than the average band playing this style. While other bands lean on speed, Vastness leans on heaviness and their musical chops. The record opens with a doomy melodic intro, but descends into pounding mid-paced death metal with a blackened edge, and this shit is made for headbanging. It's not too fast, so your neck can keep up! The next track shows us the band's thrashier side, opening with an aggressive thrash riff before descending once more into mid-paced death metal stomp. 

The recording is perfect. It's clear, clean, but not overdone and brickwalled all to hell like some bands. It has an almost analog warmth, and it's very easy on the ears. Why more bands don't approach their recording this way I'll never know. Loud is popular out there in the scene, I guess. These guys did it differently, and they achieved the perfect production for their sound. The songwriting is also quite competent, and features a lot of verse-chorus-verse songwriting that helps the songs stick in your head a little.

The album got just a bit boring for me as the tracks kept coming, and the songs blend together a bit due to a bit of a lack of variation in speed, but it's by no means bad stuff. I'd recommend it to those into this style, for sure. They really don't sound like other bands at all, either, which is nice. They seem to have their own identity already. 

Idolatry "Terminal Devastation" (Review)

Idolatry "Terminal Devastation"

2024 Independent (Digital) (Cassette forthcoming on a label)

idolatry.bandcamp.com

BADASS SHORT DESCRIPTION: Thrash with fuckin' SACK!

This is what Justin from Hells Headbangers would tell us is "thrash with sack," and I could think of no better description for this demo! They tag themselves first on Bandcamp with the term "brutal thrash metal," and that aptly describes this blistering piece of death thrash madness. Their style is reminiscent of Devastation (Texas), and you can see the worship in the logo and the name of the demo. I love that they're wearing this influence loud, proud, and obvious. Someone has to carry the torch for serious death thrash, and I'm happy it's this bunch of Australians, because they do it right! And, of course, Idolatry is the name of my favorite Devastation record of all time, a record that both stands the test of time and has inspired so many over the years. 

They differ from other (slower and weaker) death thrash bands due to their proficient, tight playing, and they bring the death growls and blast beats to add some extra badass to the mix. I like what they did, leaning into the death metal side of things, and it makes them stand out from the pack. The recording itself is good, but not over-polished, which I wouldn't want for this band, even though they'd be fine either way. I just prefer a little mud in the mix with this style, which this has in the best possible way. The riffs they wield on this demo are fuckin' aggressive, vicious things, made to snap necks and smash heads on the stage, and all the rest of the band follow suit, bringing total aggression to the performance. They've done a killer job here for a group of young guys, and I can't wait to see what's next. I'll be buying the tape when it comes out!

Phantrum "Call of Mortuorum" (Review)

Phantrum "Call of Mortuorum"

2024 Independent

phantrum.bandcamp.com

I say it all the time, and I'll say it once more: bands, please put out a physical copy of your record in some format. 100 tapes only costs about 400 bucks all in. Sell 'em for 10 plus postage. I'd have bought one from this band for sure. The digital version is just 5 bucks, so it's a deal at any rate, but I prefer physical.

Anyway, let's move on to the music. This is competent death thrash that reminds me just a little of maybe Sadus, but overall they have a pretty original sound that doesn't really conjure other bands right away for me. That's a good thing, of course. The vocals are also unique, and I can't really say the vocalist sounds like anyone specifically. My only complaint is the vocal patterns could be a bit more varied, but they're not boring by any means. The rhythm section really shines, and the interplay between drums and bass really stands out. The guitar sound might be a little more at home on a strictly thrash record, but it's not bad, and the riffs are varied, and the songwriting is excellent. Each song is quite varied, structurally, and from the other songs on the album.

They use melody when it counts, and brutality when appropriate. One of my favorite things they do is drop into a Forced Entry-style groove when they slow down every now and then, and since that's one of my favorite thrash acts of all time, I was pleased to hear this approach being used. This is good death thrash that isn't rewriting the genre or smashing expectations, but it's right on the nose for what it is. I like it. Now get that tape out, fellas!