Pissrot--Absolute Form (CD/CS/LP) {2026 Iron Fortress Records}

ironfortressrecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Tennessee has birthed an unholy crew in Pissrot, who play a decidedly vile form of death metal that reminds me of a darker version of 200 Stab Wounds with perhaps a little Torture Rack in there for the twenty ton powerlifting riffs. They focus on groove and heaviness over speed, and it fuckin' works. They have a tinge of Incantation's darkness to them with downtuned guitars and cavernous vocals, as well as the occasional doomed-out passage in the songs. The songs themselves are fairly catchy, especially when the grooves hit, which is always my favorite part of any good death metal - without a bit of groove there's not as much in the way of hooks. Pissrot have figured this out with their bulldozer style and fuzzed out rhythms. The mix is claustrophobic, sludgy, and gives the record its own identity. I like that they didn't go for a super clean sound, it would dilute what they're doing. It hearkens back to the great records of the 1990s in this way. I highly recommend this for fans of the new wave of death metal, and anyone who just wants a record that kills.

Invictus--Nocturnal Visions (CD/LP/CS) {2026 Me Saco Un Ojo/Memento Mori/Iron Fortress Records}

www.mesacounojo.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Three venerable labels have come together to release this monster, a straight-forward death metal record that's heavy on the real metal feel. These guys are true maniacs, I can tell. They keep the intensity fairly high from song to song, which is nice to hear, but occasionally they lay back in the pocket to facilitate a lead or chorus. We get plenty of talented lead guitar work, which is truly unusual in death metal today, and honestly it's a breath of fresh air to hear a band do it. The vocals aren't super powerful, but what they lack there they make up for with their guttural tone. They're smooth and evil-sounding, reminding me a bit of Dying Fetus' low growls with a more old school flavor. These guys remind the listener at some point in each song that they can both play and write a good song, as well. They're truly gifted musicians. This was very enjoyable overall, and a worth purchase for the deathmaniacs in the scene.

Hamarr--Necrotic Rituals (CD/CS) {2026 Iron Fortress Records}

ironfortressrecords.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

We finally get a full length from the heavy-as-fuck Hamarr. They once again weld hardcore-inspired songwriting to monstrously heavy death metal and come out on top of the heap. The hard-driving riffs are my favorite part of this, and they lend themselves to violent expression in the pit and by banging heads against the stage. For all the hardcore influence, this out-heavies pretty much any brutal death metal band, and that's a feat of which to be proud. Don't worry, there are plenty of classic death metal riffs here also, and powerful fuckin' vocals that sound like hell belching forth the sins of humanity. The breakdowns these guys have are crushingly heavy, and they don't overstay their welcome in the songs. If hardcore was what it took to breathe life back into death metal's rotting carcass, then I am here for it, bring it on.

Seeping Protoplasm--Repugnant Entanglement (CD/LP/CS) {2026 Iron Fortress/Headsplit/Sewer Stench}

ironfortressrecords.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I'm not sure how to even describe this one, which is a challenge I rarely get. Maybe one part Demilich, one part Autopsy, one part Cryptopsy, and one part prog rock? It's dirty, filthy, disgusting death metal but with a clear penchant for experimentation, and not to the detriment of the metal at hand. Off-kilter beats combine with deviously simple riffs. The drummer is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, and the bass guitarist is no slouch either, widdling away behind the guitars like a madman. Of course, just when I mention deceptively simple riffs, they hit me with the song "Temporarily Beheaded" with its Cryptopsy-eque arrangements. All the songs are definitely quite distinct from one another, that's for goddamn sure, as no two of them are even close to sounding alike. This is truly unique, and no band sounds like this in today's scene whatsoever. This one's for you sick metalists that require something a bit unusual, and this will definitely fit that bill. 

Tymvos--World of Abominations (CD/CS) {2024 Iron Fortress Records}

www.ironfortressrecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Hailing from Scotland, this is the first full length and only release from this band other than a demo in 2021. They play a bastard cross of styles, between Morbid Angel and Benediction. I mention Benediction specifically because of a few of the riffs and the vocals, which call them to mind. The production is nice and warm and really gets that '90s death metal sound right. The bass guitar is especially audible on this record and his sound reminds me of DD Verni a little bit. They've masters the rolling tremolo picked riff and the songs have a great flow to them because of this and the double bass technique used. The vocals patterns are especially noteworthy, the singer's breathy, chesty style bringing the lyrics to life, accentuating the music perfectly. He also knows when the shut the fuck up and let the music do the work! This is not a skill that some vocalists have, and must be learned. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm sorry I was late to the game on it! 

Dysmorphia--Morbid Atrocities (CD/CS) {2025 Iron Fortress Records}

www.ironfortressrecords.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third EP from this heavy-ass band, who as of yet have no full lengths in their catalog of releases. We get five songs of serious nastiness on the EP. Dysmorphia plays relentlessly heavy death metal infused with some influence from hardcore, mainly in the big breakdowns they use in their songs. It's not an off-putting amount of hardcore influence, and it seems to make the music more song-oriented and catchy. Punk sensibility, in other words. They're definitely a part of the new wave of death metal bands with their focus on groove and stomp over straight-up brutality, and honestly it makes them heavier than most brutal death metal bands. Brutal bands too often get trapped by speed and can't be as heavy as they truly ought to be. I happen to prefer death metal with powerful vocals and riffs and we get that here, and tons of it. If adding hardcore to our revered death metal means bands get heavier, then I'm all for it. This EP is heavy as fuck, and I loved every minute of it. Speed can only go so far, and Dysmorphia has figured that out. Plus, the cover is fucking amazing, and it caught my attention immediately. 

Ritual Fog / Chaos Relic--Split (CS) {2025 Iron Fortress Records}

www.ironfortressrecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Ritual Fog delivers two more tracks of their heavy-as-fuck death metal, and as usual they destroy all in their path. I can't wait for a new full length! I could be wrong, but their vocalist sounds even more pissed off on this release than usual. This is my introduction to Chaos Relic, as I've not heard them before, and their two tracks are solid, heavy death metal with big fuckin' chunky riffs in the vein of older Cannibal Corpse, but with a bit more of a focus on groove. Their vocals are very understandable mid-range growls, and it's a refreshing change from the vocals I get to hear on a daily basis from other bands. It sort of reminds me of David Vincent on the Covenant record. This split is worth your time - it's two top-notch death metal acts united in gory glory, and their styles are distinct enough that you won't mistake one for the other. A great split overall.

Glassbone--Ruthless Savagery (CD/CS) {2026 Iron Fortress Records}

www.ironfortressrecords.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I've seen a lot of hype online about this band's newest EP, so I went out of my way to hear it. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same reaction a lot of folks reacting to it have had. Glassbone play death metal infused with metallic hardcore (or vice versa?), and it's just got too much of a hardcore feel for me. First, it's mostly mid-paced, which is a turnoff for me most of the time with both death metal and hardcore, and they rely on slamming breakdowns for too much of their sound. Some songs almost seem to lack dynamics because of it - but I'm sure the moshers among us love that. The slightly pingy snare also grates on me a bit, and it just doesn't seem to mesh right with how heavy the toms sound. One thing I will say is that it is relentlessly heavy, and that aspect of it is very cool. I'm just not the right audience for this, I think, being as I mostly enjoy old-school sounds and I'm always looking for the most metal bands out there. But, your mileage obviously may vary, so check it out and decide for yourself. They do have one amazing logo, though.

Phlegmesis--The New Wave of Rotten Fornication (CS) {2024 Iron Fortress Records}

www.ironfortressrecords.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

When I saw this band had a song called "Puke Your Guts Out" I had to review it. We love our fellow vomitfiends here at Ominous Vomit! This is heavy, simple death metal with one goal - to stomp the life out of the listener. The vocals are echo-filled, sounding like they're recorded in a cave in the fashion that's so in vogue right now. I love all the little synth accents and passages in "Viagra Overdose," it fits the music and rather reminds me of the way Acid Witch adds synths to their shit. They continue to add these throughout the album, and it really provides atmosphere, and is a unique take on death metal. I thought the title of the album was apropos, this band is definitely part of the new wave of death metal in the scene and they do share some sonic qualities with the big bands like Sanguisugabogg and 200 Stab Wounds. The song titles are absolutely badass, like "Septic Euphoria," "Filthspeak," and "The Excremental." This is filthy stuff, and I highly recommend it to those metalists searching for the most dirty underground bands they can find.

Decedent "For Those in Shallow Graves" (Review)

Decedent For Those in Shallow Graves

2025 Iron Fortress Records (CD/CS)

ironfortressrecords.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This record fits nicely in the current crop of up-and-coming death metal bands in the US, melding both the sounds of old and newer sounds like slam. You could put them on a tour with Sanguisugabogg with no problems. They're downtuned and dirty, and don't truly remind me of anyone specific. Sure, there are passages that remind me of Cannibal Corpse, and the vocals have a hint of the gruffness of 200 Stab Wounds, but that's where the similarities stop. They have a penchant for doomy riffs, slowing their tempo considerably at times during many of their songs. They may rely on slam riffs a bit too much, but they get in and out of them quickly enough that they're not terribly monotonous. This isn't an album I'm likely to revisit any time soon, but it's a tolerable listen overall.

Cancer Void "First Metastasis" (Review)

Cancer Void First Metastasis

2025 Iron Fortress Records

ironfortressrecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we have solid 1990s style death metal with a penchant for big doomy riffs in some of their songs. I hear Death influence at work as well as Incantation and possibly Asphyx and Entombed. The synth intro sets the morbid mood mighty fine, and going back to this on the fourth track, "Interlude," was a wise choice - they cave up the four studio tracks here nicely into two halves. I can just imagine all the nasty alien creatures visiting horrors upon any who witness them with these intros. It's a perfect fit with the album cover. I normally hate intros, so this is a triumph in itself. There are catchy hooks all throughout the songs to accentuate the monolithic riffage, and they consistently kept my attention with their songwriting. Cancer Void is as much about atmosphere and feeling as it is brutality, and I think that's why I like it so much. It reminds me of the early Swedish death metal bands, even though their sound is not similar. This is absolutely worth picking up, and I intend to do so.

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.

Infinite Misery "Altar of Extracted Teeth" (Review)

Infinite Misery Altar of Extracted Teeth

2026 Iron Fortress Records (CD/CS)

ironfortressrecords.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Let me be clear - the only reason this didn't get a 10/10 rating is because it's a mini-LP. I want that full length! This band worships at the altar of Corpsegrinder-era Cannibal Corpse, and they have done a hell of a job. It's absolutely bonkers how much they sound and play like Cannibal. It's completely uncanny, even the guitar tuning and bass guitar sound like they should. They nail this target, writing not just in the style of Cannibal Corpse, but writing incredibly good songs on top of that. The vocals sound exactly like Corpsegrinder, right down to the excellent and tight vocal patterns, with just minor differences. If you played this for a casual fan of Cannibal (is there such a thing?), they would be hard pressed to tell it's a different band. They play this material with the greatest affection for a great band. But let's ask ourselves - why do we need a "worship" or "clone" band in this style? Well, it's goddamn fun, that's why. It's interesting to see how this group of gentlemen have interpreted Cannibal Corpse, and how they chose to write, versus how the object of their worship writes. We accept so many Sodom and Destruction and especially Hellhammer black thrash clone bands, so why not Cannibal worship bands? Their sound is as distinct as those bands, for sure, being almost its own style of death metal. This material, however, stands on its own and doesn't need the association to be good. Sure, it creates interest from the fans of Cannibal Corpse, but that does not take away the ability and power on display here. It's a damn fine record, and one that I'll be buying soon. 

Macabra "Etsaman" (Review)

Macabra Etsaman

2025 Iron Fortress Records (CD/CS)

ironfortressrecords.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

If you didn't already know, this is the project of Mark Riddick, a name you should know if you've been around this music for a while. As it turns out, he's not only a gifted artist, but also a gifted musician, having played all the instruments on this record aside from the vocals. This is fairly unique death metal - I do hear some nods to perhaps Edge of Sanity's early material, or Demigod, and maybe Incantation in the slower passages. The vocals are cloying and cavernous and they're way out in front of the instruments, so much so they distort at times. There's also a lot of atmosphere here, with synths (I think, perhaps it's guitar effects) and atmospheric guitar textures making an appearance in several songs. If your tastes run to the more macabre end of the death metal spectrum, you could do worse than grabbing this.

Chorus of Demons "Dimension of Pure Suffering" (Review)

Chorus of Demons Dimension of Pure Suffering

2024 Iron Fortress Records (CD/CS)

ironfortressrecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Now this is brutal death metal that I can easily digest. It's merged with a lot of hardcore influence, but that helps simplify the songwriting and avoid all the arcane aspects of normal brutal death metal. It sounds like Dying Fetus could be a primary influence, as could Skinless. The vocals consist of fierce death growls with power, anger, and understandability. These are proper death metal vocals. The band focuses as a whole on good songwriting and they truly pull it off, not dwelling in the slam riffs too long, but rather getting back to the death metal quickly. The riffs a big, chunky, and heavy, being very momorable overall. They could get rid of the bass drops that appear occasionally to emphasize a breakdown, but they're not egregious examples of the practice, fortunately. If you don't mind a bit of hardcore influence in your brutal death metal, this is the perfect band, like a mix of Merauder and Dying Fetus, and I'm a fan.

Vultures "Divine Retribution Unleashed" (Review)

Vultures Divine Retribution Unleashed

2024 Iron Fortress Records (CS) / Death In Pieces Records (CD)

ironfortressrecords.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Finally we have a band from Indonesia that isn't all-out brutality, but rather fairly strong, slower death metal firmly in the Incantation-influenced camp, with cavernous vocals and a doomy atmosphere. The drums are huge-sounding, and even the snare is deep. This band is all about atmosphere over intensity, and while there's nothing wrong with that, it's not my preference. It's a little slow for me most of the time, although there are a few up-tempo moments (thankfully). I'll put this in the "very ok" category of death metal that is true and that I respect but that will likely not end up in my collection.

Coagulating "Deciphering My Scalded Creation" (Review)

Coagulating Deciphering My Scalded Creation

2026 Iron Fortress Records (CD/CS)

ironfortressrecords.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Iron Fortress has a history of releasing some of the best death metal on the planet recently, and although this isn't as mind-blowing as a few of their other recent releases, it's still good. This is brutal death metal that focuses on groove over all, with a raw production, making it sound like some of the brutal releases of old, setting it apart from the rest of the genre that's so focused on production these days. The guitars chug along nicely with a good, thick sound, and they're not afraid to speed it up once in a while. The drums are a little thinner in the mix, which is ok, and it actually serves to mitigate the pingy snare, which is good. The vocals are guttural but thankfully steer clear of the pig squeal stuff that's so common today for the most part. I just wish there were more blastbeats here, but that's down to preference on my part. While the band hasn't completely blown me away, they are doing things a bit differently, and that's a good thing. I'll wait to see what a full length will look like, and mark these guys down as having quite a bit of potential.

Madara "Gorephiliac" (Review)

Madara Gorephiliac

2024 Iron Fortress Records (CS)

ironfortressrecords.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the second EP from this Quebecois death squad. Iron Fortress just does it over and over - they show me their taste in death metal is damn close to mine. This is 1990s style death metal with a little Carcass influence and possibly some Gorguts influence in the riffing. The vocals are deep and guttural and wet sounding, and absolutely perfect performance of totally inhuman nature. A full blown morbid-as-fuck solo happens in the middle of the second track, "Fetid Fume from the Rotting Carcass," and it's very well done. The name of that song is badass, by the way. There's a distinct grindcore influence at work here in the midst of the death metal, with tight blasts and dissonant, short riffs rearing their ugly heads. The third track is a morbid synth piece and it breaks up the EP perfectly with its lurid sonic imagery. This is a must-buy for me, and it will be in my collection soon - I highly recommend it for all the true deathmaniacs.

Tombseeker "Tombseeker" (Review)

Tombseeker Tombseeker

2026 Iron Fortress Records (CD)

ironfortressrecords.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I'm always wary of bands that proclaim themselves devotees of the HM-2 sound, since it's been done to death, but I should have had no qualms here. As I should have expected, the folks at Iron Fortress seem to have the same ear for death metal that I do - I find most of their releases exceptional, and this is...well... no exception. Tombseeker takes the sound of the old gods of Sweden and injects originality, brutality, and quality songwriting into the mix, to devastating results. Big chunky riffs made of lead and murder abound. Heavy-ass breakdowns are added to the time-honored sound for an ultra-heavy take on the style. When they slow things down this way they rely on heaviness and groove, which they employ masterfully. They're not afraid of blastbeats, either, which serves to set them apart from the legions of bands playing this style in lesser forms, and the quality of their songwriting shines in every track as well as having a multitude of hooks in every song. At the risk of being superficial, I wanted to remark that this band even looks the part, dressed in full on denim and leather in their promo photo, which is nice to see. This is a very refreshing take on an old style, and an excellent effort overall, and I expect I'll be plunking down some cash for this one eventually to add it to my collection. It's truly a fine record.

Dawn of Ash "Descend into Violence" (Review)

Dawn of Ash Descend into Violence

2025 Independent (Digital) / Iron Fortress (CS)

dawnofash.bandcamp.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first release, an EP, from this San Antonio death squad. It's a seamless mixture of brutal death metal and hardcore - the hardcore in their sound tempers the songwriting and anchors it with catchy breakdowns. The vocals remind me a lot of Frank Mullen, but with a bit of "tough guy" in the sound. This is yet another band that reminds me of Catalepsy from the Heralds of Oblivion compilation from 1993, and I don't mind. They're one of my favorites from that release, so when bands carry on a sound, whether intentional or not, I like it. The drums specifically are perfectly recorded for this style, with a nice natural sound and a lot of pop on the snare. This won't be every deathmaniac's cup of tea, but it sure is mine. I say this because they're geared quite a bit toward hardcore in their sound. I just wish the songs were slightly more intense with some faster tempos occasionally, since they spend most of their time mid-paced. Overall, not bad for a first release, and I look forward to more from them.