Pighead--Relapse Into Obscurity (CD) (2026 Rising Nemesis Records)

risingnemesisrecords.de

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I love when I can hear the guitarist's fingers and pick on the strings. I've loved that ever since I heard Kill Em All. Pighead has a lot of that surface noise on this EP, and it makes me like it even more. This is brutal death metal I can really get into - sure, it has modern elements of slam to it, but Pighead is first and foremost a good death metal band. I can even forgive the bass drops because they're not especially egregious like with some bands. The blastbeats are sick, being truly steady and fast, and all the little fills from the drums make the songs way more interesting. There's a level of technicality here that not many brutal death metal bands can pull off, riding the line between being barbaric and being too technical. It's a restrained sort of technicality. The slam parts are reminiscent of Abominable Putridity, and the faster parts sort of remind me of Dying Fetus. They have the same sort of playing style when it comes to the riffing. Vocally we have a guttural growl that's actually powerful (a rare thing) and fun to listen to, and isn't trapped in a toilet all the time. Overall, this is a good effort, and I want to hear more from this band in the future.

Acrid Death "Abominable Presence of Blight" (Review)

Acrid Death Abominable Presence of Blight

2024 Rising Nemesis

risingnemesisrecords.de

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Chainsaw Swedish style death metal from Germany is what's on order with this release, and a mighty release it is. This is fist-pounding and hair-whipping violent death metal! I'm instantly interested from the very first notes of the first song, and the riffs that follow are violent and crushing. The entire record is fresh take on an old style, and breathes some life into the form, a lot like Black Breath did when they hit the scene. This is better even, since a multitude of attacks are mixed in, from melodic lines to blast beats to furious double bass, along with the standard almost punk feel of the style. Higher vocals also make an appearance, and mix it up in an interesting way. The entire record sounds warm and is easy on the ears, almost enveloping in its fuzzy heaviness. The drums are especially well done, having a bit of a "wet" sound. A lot of galloping pace here, too, which is what I always want in this style, with big riffs over top and tons of double bass. Any serious fan of this style needs this record. It's a modern classic, mark my words. Hopefully the band can follow up this monster of a record with another of the same!

Acrid Death "Abominable Presence of Blight" (Review)

Acrid Death Abominable Presence of Blight

2024 Rising Nemesis Records

This one brings the heavy. Full-on Swedish worship in the guitars and riffs, but with an edge of brutality a lot of those bands never really had outside of Grave. The chainsaw guitars are well-done and not too overbearing, and the drums are tight and easy on the ears. The bass growls along underneath it all, and the vocalist delivers highs, lows, and in-betweens. Up-tempo is the name of the game here, with double bass everywhere rumbling the songs to their completion, but not before they take your head right off with some of the most aggressive riffing in this style I've heard in a long time. Sure, the melody is there, but so is unrepentant brutality with riffs to match heaviness with any American-style band out there. Everything about this album is just big, from the production to the flawless performances. Angry riffs, angry vocals, and excellent songwriting are all delivered in a huge way. If you're a fan of chainsaw guitars, this is a can't miss record, and fuck the naysayers who always complain about this style not needing new bands. This is one nasty bastard of a record, and it's good death metal regardless of their sound. If you can't get into this you just don't like death metal as much as you say you do.