Tumba "Blasfemico resplandor" (Review)

Tumba Blasfemico resplandor

2025 Inframetal Records (CD) 

inframetalrecords.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Colombia, this reeks of the old South American sound, and while most would classify this as black metal, I hear plenty of old death metal in their sound, so it gets a review here. This is total 1980s black/death worship - think Sarcofago, Sepultura, Holocausto, Sextrash, Bathory, Hellhammer, and Sodom all chucked into a blender and rendered into a damn fine soup of blasphemy-riddled metal. The riffs are mostly mid-paced affairs played dark and hard, with emphasis on an evil atmosphere. The Spanish lyrics make the record sound all the more evil for some reason, much like how Morbosidad's atmosphere is helped by the same thing. I do hear some Blasphemy influence in the vocals with some of the barks the vocalist performs, which is great. At times, the songs can be overly repetitive, but the riffs are good enough that it doesn't bore me - they just ride the riff until a change makes sense. This is something you should definitely hear if you're a fan of that old sound like I am, and I recommend it for black metal and death metal afficionados alike. Plus there's a badass goat on the cover!

Celestial Emissary "Altar of Despair" (Review)

Celestial Emissary Altar of Despair

2025 Independent (Digital)

celestialemissary.bandcamp.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is brutal death metal crossed over with deathcore, with riffs of both styles incorporated. I like the more death metal moments, but the deathcore grooves start to get on my nerves after a while. There are just too many dissonant riffs, and I really don't like dissonant riffs. The downtuned guitar sound is crushing, though, and the drums are super thick. The guitar solos are nice, too, and these guys are clearly talented musicians. It's just too much of a "modern" sound for me overall, being more aligned with the deathcore camp than true brutal death metal. That said, the cover is awesome.

Scythrow "Blameless Severed Extremities" (Review)

Scythrow Blameless Severed Extremities

2024 Awakening Records (CD) / Futhark Records (LP) / Murder Records (CS)

awakeningrecords.cn

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the third full length from Finland's Scythrow, and a mighty third album it is. It's a mix of the Scandinavian and American styles of 1990s death metal - a refreshing mixture, I must say. It's a seamless blend that winds up being more than the sum of its parts, a unique sound amidst the mediocrity of many other releases today. The album is full of heavy-ass riffing, and the band knows when to turn up the speed and when it break it down. The vocals are well-articulated with a lot of serious power. Each song has at least one devastating riff that strangles your pathetic ass and won't let go. If the band has changed at all, it's because they found their true sound, and I can't wait to hear more from them. This metalist is now a fan.

Deserter "Disfigured Revelation" (Review)

Deserter Disfigured Revelation

2024 New Standard Elite (CD)

www.newstandardelite.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I don't know what it is about Indonesia, but many of the sickest bands in existence hail from this dismal and wondrous land! Yet another sick-ass brutal death metal band surfaces from the rot, and they play with technical proficiency and breakneck speed. They have true guttural vocals, not the pig squeal bullshit, much like Disgorge (CA) or Gorgasm. Honestly, the cover of the record says it all, with a gore-covered bulldozer plowing through offal. It doesn't let up, and takes no prisoners. It would be so easy, if the band weren't tight, for this to all fall apart into chaos, but they hold it together nicely. They know when to break a song down and back off the blasts for a few seconds to introduce something catchy, and they have supremely heavy breakdowns amid all the rampage. The masterful performance musically helps. With a million bands in this style, if you want to be noticed you have to be good, and Deserter succeeds at that. I look forward to hearing more from them, and I'll be flagging this album for repeated listens.

Dying Grotesque "Celestial" (Review)

Dying Grotesque Celestial

2024 Archivist Records

archivist-records.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Dying Grotesque play total fucking chainsaw death metal, loud and obnoxious, which is exactly what it should be. These gentlemen hail from Ukraine, so hopefully they are safe and sound, and this is a step forward for them, at least in presentation. I did not like the cover or title of the last record, and I feel like this represents them much better. Their energy reminds me of Black Breath. The vocals are a mix of Jorgen Sandsstrom and Ola Lindgren from Grave, which is to be expected with this style. They're very well done, though, with deep tones and good diction. The riffs are powerful, overdriven, punked-up, vicious and catchy. Unusual for bands of this style, however, is the presence of blast beats, which is a nice touch. It makes it more extreme-sounding. These guys know how to write a good song, and the hooks are everywhere. Just listen to "Purification" with its violent verse riff and melodic bridges that suddenly kick into high gear at a minute and a half, only to veer into a great solo. "Pneuma" has the heaviest opening riff on the record, and "Burial Fields" will have you thrashing the room instantly. I get a little ear fatigue from the guitar sound, but overall you get used to it. It's and extreme sound for an extreme band. This should be a must-find if you're a fan of this style, which I am. I've flagged this one in my collection for repeated listens.

Toughness "Black Respite of Oblivion" (Review)

Toughness Black Respite of Oblivion

2025 Gods ov War Productions (CD/LP/CS)

godzovwar.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is talented death metal from Poland, their second full length for Godz ov War Productions. I never thought I'd hear a band that does Demilich worship, but this is it. I'm not even sure if it's intentional, but all the hallmarks of that band's sound are here - the technical riffs, complicated arrangements, and good solid death metal. There are some shades of Atheist (the playing) and Immolation (the vocals especially), and it reminds me in places of Ton from Ohio. This is technical death metal without being pretentious about it, which is what I look for in a band like this. There is no masturbatory "look-what-I-can-do" bullshit, but real technical death metal with great playing woven into good songs, on the level with other masters like Hellwitch, Gorguts, or the aforementioned Demilich. The bass player is especially wizard-like, and his playing is extremely impressive, with jazzlike runs behind the riffs, complete with slaps and sweeps. The guitars shred constantly as well, with riffs galore. While the vocals, as I mentioned, reminded me a little of Immolation, they also remind me of Jim Sadist of Nunslaughter or Stevo from Impetigo - the "Dr. Claw" school of death metal vocals. Gravity blasts make the occasional appearance, too, in appropriate places where their intensity really helps the song. They're flawlessly executed, and it sounds absolutely brutal. Every song here is full of hooks and wonderful playing, and I look forward to hearing more from this band. Now I have to go track down each of these albums physically if I can, because I'm a goddamn fan now.

 

Wombbath "Beyond the Abyss" (Review)

Wombbath Beyond the Abyss

2025 Pulverised Records (CD/LP)

www.pulverised.net

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Sometimes when a band comes back, they come back full force, and that was definitely the case with Sweden's Wombbath. This is their sixth full length since they resurrected themselves. Atmospheric and heavy, this is not your typical Swedish death metal unit. The chainsaw guitar sound is downplayed, opting instead for a more normal distortion, yet it's instantly recognizable as Swedish. In some parts of the songs they've chosen to weave in orchestral elements, which was a surprise (if they'd done this prior to this record, I was not aware of it since I am not familiar with their back catalog other than the first album). There's even a goddamn saxophone in "Malevolent," but it actually fits. It's a surprising sound for a death metal record. However, they let the death metal do all the heavy lifting, only adding these elements as atmosphere. The riffing in certain songs also has a black metal element, so they're fusing a lot of stuff to the hull of this beast. I didn't mind the orchestral parts on this album, actually. I normally hate them in death metal but here they seem to add a little something. I would be interested to see how they'd pull it off live, if at all. This isn't the best death metal record in this style, but it's worth a listen if you're a fan of the band or if you're looking for something new to chew on.

Immortal Form "Ashes of a Fallen World" (Review)

Immortal Form Ashes of a Fallen World

2025 Independent (Digital)

immortalform.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Washington, D.C. has turned out some great musical acts in its time, but it's not necessarily known for death metal. In fact, I think this is the only death metal act I've ever heard from there. This is 1990s style death metal with reverbed-out vocals, competent but not spectacular or truly special. The cover art is incredible, and the logo is good, too. The vocals are actually the best part of this record - they're strong, forceful, and deep with good vocal patterns. It really helps the music overall. The music itself is dark like Incantation and heavy like old Monstrosity or Vital Remains. However, nothing amazing really stands out here, and I wasn't impressed by the songs themselves.

Phrenelith "Ashen Womb" (Review)

Phrenelith Ashen Womb

2025 Dark Descent Records (CD/CS) / Me Saco Un Ojo (LP)

www.darkdescentrecords.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the 3rd full length from these Danish death metalists, and from some very respectable labels. This is more Incantation-style death metal (it also reminded me of Dead Congregation and Immolation), very dark and atmospheric, with a militant drum style (almost Krisiun-like) that's stiff and unrelenting. There's also a very European-style sound interwoven into their sound, hearkening back to the classic acts from Scandinavia, using dark melody in just the right ways. The vocals are good and cavernous, which is usual for this style, but the drawn-out patterns are monotonous, very samey-sounding throughout. Overall, this is satanic sounding, warlike, with a ton of morbid atmosphere, but not memorable. The riffs can be bendy and evil-sounding at times, but they don't really stick in the brain. The solos are appropriately nasty. This isn't catchy stuff for the most part, and there's not much in-your-face brutality to it. The anger isn't there. Just the morbidity. I'm sure this will be right in some folks' wheelhouses, but I prefer my death metal with more rage.

Fatal "Apocalypsis" (Review)

Fatal Apocalypsis

2025 Metal Exhumator

www.facebook.com/MetalExhumator

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Hailing from France, this is this death/thrash/grind band's first full length in 17 years. It's full of talented playing with tons of hooks and interesting riffs. It's technical without being stupid about the songwriting. Each song is distinct and unique, every track has its own feel and atmosphere. Fatal is very good at mixing punishing death metal riffs with thrash and blast beats. It makes for an intense, varied listen. It's a perfect mix of styles, and they know when to ratchet up the intensity, and when to bring the breakdowns. I flagged this one for repeated listens in my collection, and it doesn't get old. One of my big pet peeves is addressed, too - the vocal patterns. The vocal patterns here are worth listening to. Too many bands today don't pay much attention to this, and wind up with monotonous, albeit well-performed, vocal patterns, and Fatal avoids that fate. They clearly put some thought into every aspect of each song. I'm not familiar with their previous work so I can't tell if this is a huge step up or a step in a different direction, but I'm satisfied with what they've done. You can pull this album from their Bandcamp site, as well. I recommend it.

Vitalectomy "Anti-Gravitational Annihilation" (Review)

Vitalectomy Anti-Gravitational Annihilation

2025 Independent (Digital)

vitalectomy.bandcamp.com

3/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This sounds like a few dozen other bands that play this sort of very heavy slam-oriented brutal death metal. It's well done, but it's been done a zillion times over. A fresh approach is needed, and this isn't it, if these three tracks are anything to go by. Also, we need another band with "-ectomy" in their name like I need a hole in the head. That said, there are a few interesting riffs here, so hopefully this band churns out something worth hearing next round.

Disfigured Dead "Visions of Death" (Old Review)

Using the Internet Wayback Machine, I was able to cull a few of my old reviews on the old Ominous Vomit site for use here! Enjoy.

Disfigured Dead Visions of Death

2010 Hells Headbangers

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Once in a while an album comes along that embodies all that death metal fans, when we discovered this type of music, latched onto and held dear to our shriveled black fucking hearts.  Hearkening back to the genre's forefathers (Autopsy, Death, Possessed, etc.), Disfigured Dead resemble the late 80s and early 90s version of death metal perfectly.  Everything I love about death metal is here - aggressive and powerful vocals, fast speeds, thrashing riffs, and morbid subject matter.  These gents have embedded honesty in every sick song on this album, and this is easily one of my top albums of the year.  If you remember (and long for, as I do) the feeling that Scream Bloody Gore or The Ten Commandments or Beneath the Remains had, this is something that you should consider a must-hear.  There is no severe digital production, or over-the-top technical prowess, or time signatures that only a calculator can figure out.  It's simple, it's direct, it's in-your-face, and it's true death metal.  Hells Headbangers have a keeper on their hands - and this is saying something considering the incredible bands that are featured on their roster these days (Acid Witch, Speedwolf, Evil Army, NunSlaughter, and Destruktor to name but a few).  Buy or die!