Grave Intentions "Call of the Void" (Review)

Grave Intentions Call of the Void

2025 Independent (Digital)

graveintentionsmetal.bandcamp.com

4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Germany, we have some melodic death/thrash on this release. There are the obvious influences of the legendary thrash metal bands, of course, but also black metal and death metal can be heard weaving their way through these songs. They remind me a bit of old Arch Enemy with a black metal feel. There is no wimpy clean singing here, however, as is the trend with a lot of modern melodic death. The vocals are all growled, but border on shouted and screamed. It moves this band closer to thrash metal than anything, and the vocals at times remind me of modern Tom Angelripper with a tinge of Dani Filth. The songs themselves are distinct and different but almost too clean, and for some reason not terribly remarkable. There are too many nondescript riffs for my taste in the slower parts. It's cleanly produced, with talented playing by true pros, but that doesn't necessarily lead to memorable metal. I was honestly a bit tired of this by the sixth track, since it's just not what I'm looking for in an album.

Melancholy Pessimism "Butchery Is Our Strategy" (Review)

Melancholy Pessimism Butchery Is Our Strategy

2024 Bizarre Leprous Production

www.bizarreleprous.cz

STANDOUT TRACKS: Algorithmic Extinction, Nails of Time, Butchery Is Our Strategy

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I last heard Melancholy Pessimism when their third album Evil Planet came out back in 2000 or 2001. This is now their seventh full length. I missed a lot, it appears! One of the forebears of the Czech death/grind scene, this album sees them polished and capable, skilled with their instruments, and with good songwriting. The blastbeats are incredibly fast and brutal, and the drummer is beyond excellent. I remember not liking the more experimental things the band was doing back when I first heard them, but they keep that to a minimum here and focus on the grind over all. The vocal performance is perfect, from screams to growls to yells, and the patterns and tones are all excellent. These gents exist more on the song-oriented side of the grind spectrum that's more influenced by death metal, but the lyrics are all the social commentary we expect with grindcore. The last track on the record devolves into that experimental aspect of the band I mentioned, with a long techno outro that's really just unnecessary. If it weren't for this, I think I'd like it more, along with some of the more non-traditional riff structures they use that get a little wonky, but other than that this is a fine release.

Ritual Fog "But Merely Flesh" (Review)

Ritual Fog But Merely Flesh

2024 Transcending Obscurity Records (CD/LP/CS)

tometal.com

8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Tennessee comes this crew with rolling, pounding death metal that focuses on heavy over all else, bringing the darkness and horror that a band like this should. The rebirth of true death metal as a more sought-after musical form is something I look at with trepidation sometimes, since a lot of mediocre efforts are being churned out, but then I hear a band like Ritual Fog and I'm on board 100%. Musically, this is reminiscent of 1990s death metal, with morbid solos like old Obituary, and mostly mid-range yelled growls in the vocal department that remind me of Entombed or especially Desultory. The riffs are excellent, crushingly heavy, and the heavy bass and thundering drums (with a good, deep snare sound) back up the guitars perfectly. This band can hold their own with the modern frontrunners of the genre like Molder without batting an eye. Every song is a perfect example of truly heavy fucking death metal. These guys could be big. Side note: the cover is awesome - it fits the music perfectly.

Putrescent "Butchery of Disembowelment" (Review)

Putrescent Butchery of Disembowelment

2025 Trading the Cadavers (CD)

tradingthecadavers.com

STANDOUT TRACKS: Butchery of Disembowelment, Disgusting Full of Pus, The End of Engorgement, Psychopathic Tendencies, Abominable Incision Carvings

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Again we have a quality Indonesian blasting brutal death metal band with tons of blast beats and a furious guttural vocal performance. Indonesia keeps turning out wickedly heavy bands in this style - it never stops, and the death metal scene is better for it. These guys do know how to slow down for a few seconds to give us a hook and a breather in each song. Their sound is reminiscent of their fellow countrymen in Deserter that I reviewed recently, and they also remind me slightly of Fleshgrind and Disgorge (CA). The musicianship is tight and the performances are professional and technically proficient, and all is well-produced. There's a little reverb on the vocals at times that makes them a bit unique and more brutal. If you're a fan of the Indonesian style, you can't go wrong with this one. They will not disappoint you.

New Review Policy

It's time to introduce a new review policy. We will not review "streaming only" records anymore. It must at least be out for download via Bandcamp digitally, or in physical format. Streaming just doesn't cut it for reviews. I've reviewed a few streaming only options in the past, but it feels like wasted effort if a fan can't go out and contact you and buy your record in at least digital format. That's leaving money on the table, and I feel like it's a disservice to fans. I try to buy as much as I can in physical format, and that's going to be the focus on this review site. Physical first, digital second, streaming never.

Tales of Blood "Breath of Repugnance" (Review)

Tales of Blood Breath of Repugnance

2024 Great Dane Records (CD) / Independent (LP)

talesofblood.bandcamp.com

STANDOUT TRACKS: Low Cost Holocaust, Storm of Maggots, Bullet to Mutilate

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is brutal '90s style death metal with heavy-ass riffs, and sounds a bit like a cross between American and European death metal from that period. The production is a bit noisy - clear, just loud as fuck. There is maybe a little Autopsy in their sound, maybe a tiny bit of early Entombed or Grave. The vocals patterns are excellent and don't just follow the guitars. They're great on top of the super-crunchy guitar sound. I love when the band breaks it down into a slower chunky riff, they're massively heavy when they do that, like in "Low Cost Holocaust." The opening riffs of "Storm of Maggots" are also heavy as fuck. I recommend this highly if you want death metal that focuses on heaviness over speed, and quality songwriting over brutality. It will not disappoint.

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.