Let’s get this out of the way immediately: Last Retch is a “meat and potatoes” death metal band who plays “meat and potatoes” death metal. Abject Cruelty is 8 songs, 28 minutes rounded up, and will hit you with literally zero surprises, except perhaps how badass it is. It’s very easy to get things rolling […]

It took 6 years, but we finally have a new ADE album, their 5th, titled Supplicium (‘Punishment’) on a new label, Time To Kill records, and with yet another new lineup. Entering the fray is Hideous Divinity Drummer Edoardo Di Santo (as ‘Atticvs’ here), and Eyeconoclast bassist Gabriele Vellucci. What hasn’t changed is that ADE […]

Occasionally I get sent some pretty obscure, late stuff in the mail, and one such release is the second effort from Italy’s female fronted act 5Rand (grand? five rand?), released earlier this Autumn. It’s clearly marketed to ride Jinjer’s current wave of popularity, but actually stands on its own as a pretty solid release, largely […]