That logo? Dave Ingram on vocals? Nuclear Blast Records? It just feels right, doesn’t it? 5 years after their return from a 12-year hiatus with 2020’s solid Scriptures, UK death metal veterans Benediction is back with album number 9. And while the band’s middle and later catalog isn’t quite the stuff of legend, there is […]

You’ll read no disrespect from me to Riley McShane because his albums with Allegaeon are incredible. That’s especially true for their most recent, which was my album of the year in 2022, Damnum. However, Ezra Haynes has always been the true voice of Allegaeon. When Riley left after the last album, I was bummed, but […]

A good friend of mine, from the local scene where I live, Kevin from Unholy Anarchy Records, sent me the promo for this Baltimore-based melodic death metal band, Chiaroscuro.  He’s trying to help this up-and-coming act and figured, let me see if Frank would like it.  Quite honestly he got me in the Iron Sheik’s […]

After two fine albums on FDA Records (including 2022’s fucking outstanding Feldwärts), Germany’s war mongering death metal act Scalpture have made the jump to a different German label, Testimony Records for their 4th album, though it comes with mixed results. Saying Landkreig is a step back from Feldwärts is probably a bit over an overstatement, […]

I don’t need to tell you all the ways that the isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic left marks on the world that, to this day, we’re still recovering from. In a lot of ways, I think most of us are still coming to grips with what we learned about ourselves and the people surrounding […]

The debut album from the Scotlands’s solo artist Evangelos Vasilakos (also of equally fittingly named black/death act Chestcrush– who have a long in the upcoming Deathgasm 2 movie) has the most fitting band and album name ever, as this album is Caustic, Phlegm-y , Purulent, and Apocalyptic all at once Ladies and gentlemen, what we […]

Legendary is a word reserved for the elite. The bands that have endured throughout the many transformations that have run through Black Metal since It’s vile birth so many years ago. If you don’t know the history of Rotting Christ, go read a book. Seriously, there’s an official book written about them. I’ll wait. Okay, […]

Bands have been releasing B-side album collections for years, and they’re always cleverly titled so you know what you’re getting. We’ll, CrusHuman have done that with Besides… my stupid ass didn’t realize it was a B-side album until I read the presser. Holy hell, it’s songs that didn’t make it onto their amazing self-titled debut. […]

I once saw progressive black metallers, Dawn of Ouroboros shortly after their debut, The Art of Morphology was released at one of my favorite Pittsburgh area venues, Black Forge Coffee House. I had reviewed it, enjoyed it, and went to the show thinking it would be sparsely attended. Unfortunately, I was right, but they still put on a […]

Norway’s Kryptograf came under my radar in 2022 with their sophomore release The Eldorado Spell.  I loved it so much that I reviewed it, it was in my top 10 that year and I obtained their killer s/t debut. The band plays a very heavy stoner doom/ psychedelic metal and with album number three – […]

After two excellent, reinvigorated albums in Hammer of the Witches and Crytoriana, Dani Filth and his hired gang of ever-changing musical mercenaries, took a step back with 2021, Existence is Futile, where the constant line-up changes, appeared to have taken its toll, mainly Lindsey Schoolcraft, who was settling into her role as the new Sara […]

Press release 2025-03-21 Precipice of Stone The time has come to offer a glimpse of “spelewithiipi”, Nechochwen’s upcoming album, set for release on May 9, 2025. The first single, “Precipice of Stone”, is now available for streaming.   Nechochwen commented:   “Precipice of Stone” is a tribute to medicine songs that have helped me through difficult […]

Colorado’s deathcore kings are here to beat your fucking face in. Right the fuck in. No theatrics, no choirs, no sweeping symphonics (ok, maybe just a smidge in 2 songs), just 4 songs in 18 minutes to remind you they arguably sit atop or near the top of the current pure deathcore heap. After delivering […]

It’s pretty crazy to think Dave Rotten’s Avulsed has been around for over 30+ years.  Phoenix Cryptobiosis is the band’s 8th full-length album and the band shows no sign of slowing down.  Avulsed still plays a filthy style of death metal, that is quite a bit reminiscent of early Cannibal Corpse. When I listen to […]

The first time I heard the song “Balls to the Wall” by Accept was on one of those compilation Metal albums that were put out by K-Tel in the 80s.  I still have the record, it’s called Slave to the Metal and I bought it in 1986. It’s one of those songs and albums that […]

Are you ready for some quality Power-Metal??  Indiana’s Prehistoria released a very good debut ep, in 2022, Cursed Lands.  It fell under the radar, but it showcased some excellent songwriting and lots of noodly guitar moments. Armed with a label, Stormspell Records, known for their high quality output of classic and power metal bands, Cryptic […]

Per the band’s Facebook: “We are extremely proud to announce the upcoming release of the 4th UNMERCIFUL album. “DEVOURING DARKNESS” will be available on May 23rd through Willowtip Records!! The first single “Infernal Conquering” will be unleashed this Friday, March 21st on all platforms. This album marks a new era of sonic violence and ferocious […]

BLOOD MONOLITH: New Band Formed By Nails, Ulthar, Undeath, Genocide Pact Members To Release The Calling Of Fire Debut LP On Profound Lore Records May 16th; “Prayer To Crom” Single And Preorders Posted photos by Melissa Petisa Stream BLOOD MONOLITH’s “Prayer To Crom” HERE. Profound Lore Records unveils BLOOD MONOLITH, an emerging death metal juggernaut featuring members of Nails, […]

I was late to the Istapp (‘icicle’) party, only discovering them on 2019’s stellar, The Insidious Star, but subsequently going back and listening to prior albums from the mid-10’s like Blekinge and Frostbiten. Honestly, though I had kind of forgotten about them, but 6 years after The Insidious Star a revamped Istapp is back. There […]

DISEMBODIED TYRANT JOINS NUCLEAR BLAST + NEW SINGLE ‘8.6 BLACKOUT’ OUT NOW + NORTH AMERICAN TOUR KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK Photo Credit: Chris Klumpp Nuclear Blast Records is proud to welcome Missouri’s burgeoning extreme metal wrecking crew DISEMBODIED TYRANT to the label’s thriving roster. With one of the most distinct new sounds in heavy music, the volatile four-piece […]

From the promotional email: FFO: Mental Cruelty, Worm Shepherd, Lorna Shore Yep, I’m in. How these Brits haven’t been on my radar before this EP is a mystery to me. They play my favorite genre of music right now and reside on one of the better independent labels doing said genre. But trust me after […]

So like, listen, I’m an American. I fucking LOVE a hot dog. I’m not gonna pretend like I’d prefer anything but a pissy American lager to wash that loaded glizzy down with (give me a ‘Gansett any day of the week). I like going outside and fucking around with an animal’s day. (Pictured: An American […]

There’s a scourge festering on the skin of this country. Without getting stuck in the weeds of politics that noxious odor of corruption is  sneaking it’s way into every fabric and nook and cranny. It’s time for angry music again, we need to release our frustrations and what better way than with blast beats? The […]

Alabama’s Chaos Inception released two cool albums years ago.  Collision with Oblivion in 2009 and The Abrogation in 2012.  Both albums were heavily influenced by the first three Tucker lead Morbid Angel albums.  Stick with me, since this is like six degrees of Chaos Inception! Well, Vengeance Evangel is the long-awaited third album after line-up […]

After bursting on the scene with their 2007 debut, The Somatic Defilement, Tennessee’s Whitechapel quickly rose to the top of deathcore hierarchy with the follow-up, This Is Exile, in 2008, still a classic in the genre all these years later. However, subsequent albums like Our Endless War, Whitechapel, Mark of the Blade, and A New […]