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.

Critical Disaster--Blast of Rebellion Day (CD) {2026 Pathologically Explicit Recordings}

pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we go again - more brutal death metal from Indonesia in the style of Brodequin and Disgorge. There are no catchy riffs, no break from the brutality, and no standard songwriting. It's all brutality, all the time on this record. Honestly, I can't even wrap my head around this. The riffs and drums are such a whirlwind that I can barely tell where one riff ends and the next starts, in part because they're all so similar. This has always been my complaint with some of the ultra brutal stuff. They're obviously tight as fuck, because they often stop on a dime, and there's no slop in their attack. There's a technical aspect to them, of course, there has to be with stuff like this. It's impressive, but I'm completely lost in the madness. The vocals never stop. This guy sings over every riff in every song. At least his ultra-guttural vocals are awesome. There's no pig shit on this one, just solid guttural growls. If you like ultra-brutality, you may be into this, but if you're looking for cohesive songwriting and structures that you don't have to concentrate to understand, this is a pass.

Murdered--The Brutal Gore Grotesque (CD) {2025 Pathologically Explicit Recordings}

www.pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS (10/10 for the vocals)

Murdered is the one-man project of Justin McNeil, playing brutal death metal that for once isn't trying desperately to be Devourment or Disgorge. Sure, elements of these bands are present, but that's because the entire brutal death metal scene is built on their backs. There are plenty of other influences at work here, which is nice, even some nods to the older bands. I dislike the dissonant riffs that are occasionally used, but that's my taste, and I've never been a fan of dissonant guitar riffs. The vocals are the real standout performance here (although all the instruments are very skillfully played). Justin's tones are impeccable and powerful, with a guttural roar that most singers can't muster. It's a death metal vocal clinic. While I didn't enjoy the songs as much, I could listen to his vocals all day, and that truly saves the record for me. A good vocal performance always does, since I am first and foremost a singer guy.

Drift of Genes--Room (CD) {2024 Pathologically Explicit Recordings}

www.pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the fourth full length from these Ukrainian deathmongers! Drift of Genes play brutal death metal that reminds me quite a lot of Dying Fetus, especially their early material, with a bit more of an underground feel to it. The songs are quite good, with blasting brutality sandwiching killer grooves all throughout the songs, and there's never too much of one thing going on. Everything is well-balanced and catchy with lots of hooks. The vocals are all in the guttural Dying Fetus style, with low grunts and growls, and all the patterns are quite nicely composed. There's no half-assing here! There's quite a bit of technicality when it comes to the music itself, and these musicians are masters of their respective instruments. My description of this does not do it justice, and do not think that since this is so close in style to Dying Fetus that it is unworthy of your attention - that would be incorrect. This is an excellent brutal death metal record, and one that deserves a place in your collection!

Parasitic Engorgement "Epoch of the Engorged Plague" (Review)

Parasitic Engorgement Epoch of the Engorged Plague

2025 Pathologically Explicit Recordings (CD)

pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

2/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is below average brutal death metal that sounds like a weaker version of so many of the other bands in the scene. It reminds me a lot of Insidious Decrepancy and Disgorge slammed into a blender. I can't decide if the drums are programmed (which I suspect) or if they're just wildly triggered. The pingy snare cuts once in a while in the slower parts like it's either programmed or they clipped the sound file in the studio to get rid of the ring, which is a weird decision if that's the case. I'm just bored by this and it's just not good enough to make me sit up and really listen.

Gore Animal "In the Name of Brutality" (Review)

Gore Animal In the Name of Brutality

2025 Pathologically Explicit Records (CD)

www.pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the second full length from this Indonesian band. I always pay attention to new bands coming from Indonesia because they usually operate at peak brutality. This one, however, misses the mark a bit. The vocals are mid-range death growls that occasionally dip into guttural territory. The drums pound away like a more wacky version of Krisiun, all over the kit at all times, although the band does settle into a groove here and there in each song even if it isn't for long. I feel like the riffs are perhaps a bit underdeveloped for what this band is trying to do and it results in the songs blending together after a while. There's also a looseness in their playing that seems spastic, causing me to think maybe they're not as tight as they could be. This one is a pass for me, but your mileage may vary.

Enfrenzied "Banishment of Sentient Miscreations" (Review)

Enfrenzied Banishment of Sentient Miscreations

2025 Pathologically Explicit Recordings (CD)

www.pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

BADASS SONG TITLE: Monolithic Decay

This is well-recorded, extremely well-performed US technical death metal. Some parts are reminiscent of Malevolent Creation's more technical moments, and some of the bass playing is reminiscent of the mighty Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse. The bass is actually quite prominent in the mix, which is unusual in death metal, in the same way it's prominent on Overkill's W.F.O., meaning loud, clear, and talented. The guitar players can also write a hook in amongst all the advanced playing and technique, which is a welcome relief from most technical death metal. Other bands should take note, this is how it's done. Just because you're playing advanced material does not preclude the ability to write good, memorable songs with hooks! There are actually some surprisingly violent riffs as well. The singer has crystal clear diction and has clearly worked on his pronunciation. I recognized that a mile away since I myself did the same thing when I was singing for the most part. I always tried to remain understandable. His rhythmic delivery really helps the band stand out. The four tracks and interlude here are great, but I want to hear more and see if they can deliver this level of intensity and songwriting on a full-length. I'll be paying attention! The cover is excellent, too, with a distorted creature working its way down some nasty arcane steps, and it reminds me of the covers of the '90s.

Fleshmauler "A Gargantuan Structure of Mutilated Bodies" (Review)

Fleshmauler "A Gargantuan Structure of Mutilated Bodies"

2024 Pathologically Explicit Recordings (CD)

God damn it. I knew this would happen eventually. In my pile of things to review, I knew a record I absolutely detest would come up. First the good - the cover art is awesome and the label has released some good brutal shit before. Now for the rest.

This is boring-ass slam. And it's not just that that I have a problem with, although it's the primary thing. The largely minute-and-a-half to two-minute songs have the same formula. Slam riffs form the basis of every song, and sometimes it's the same goddamn riff, to my ears anyway. There are blasts but they exist to separate the slams. The vocals are typical gutturals, with the ever-annoying pig squeals making an appearance. So it's boring as fuck with no variation and basically no songwriting of any real effort.

Here's my other problem - this is hip-hop with guitars. I have nothing against hip-hop and I love 1980s and 1990s rap music (especially the forebears of gangsta rap like Ice-T, N.W.A, and on through Wu-Tang Clan). But this crossover bullshit needs to stop, and it's always slam bands with dumbass bass drops and stupid-ass vocals bringing it in. It's not fucking death metal, and will never be. If all you want is slam and don't care that it's serious, I guess it can be a thing, but this isn't serious music to me at all. Don't market it to death metal fans because the real ones don't give a fuck about it. Market it to horrorcore rap fans, hardcore fans (who will probably hate it too) or something. When people think this is death metal, we have a problem in the scene itself. Fortunately, most of these bands stick to their separate scene since they don't listen to the same shit we do. They don't listen to or play real metal at all in my estimation. It's an outgrowth of nu-metal. Call me a gatekeeper, whatever. But this music is important, and so is the culture around it, and stuff like this makes it feel less important.

The thing that really pushed me over the edge from writing this off as "just another slam record," and deciding to really write a bad review was the fucking "DJ horn" effect in the very first real song, as well as the horror intro that basically turns into a rap beat. Fuck this album. I don't even know why stuff like this and Peeling Flesh exist, but apparently there's a market for it like there's a market for beatdown hardcore that's all the fucking same. I'll let that scene have these bands, because they don't play death metal at all, and I'm pretty damn liberal in my interpretation of what death metal is. I love slam riffs. I like a lot of bands that use them. This just isn't good and it isn't real death metal. I promised to always tell bands why I hate something they do, and I think I did that here.