Como me flipa este disco, cuanto tiempo sin escucharlo entero!.
Altars of Madness
#MorbidAngel
Como me flipa este disco, cuanto tiempo sin escucharlo entero!.
Altars of Madness
#MorbidAngel
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#MorbidAngel
Altars of Madness
Immortal Rites
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New year, new beginnings. And just as my resolutions refresh and my word count resets to zero, Chilean quartet Oraculum arrives to break the seal. These connoisseurs of the âtried and trueâ first graced these pages more than ten years ago with their counter-breaking EP, Sorcery of the Damnedâback when EPs still qualified for regular reviews outside of our now annual EP/Split/Single Roundups.1 That initial offering was a grim manifesto on old-school death metal (OSDM), forging deathly Incantations into a sharp, lethal slab of barbaric hostility. After a second EP and years of underground existence, these purveyors of all things old are ready to exhume the classic formula once again. Far from reinventing the wheel, with their first full-length, Hybris Divina, Oraculum is out to prove that while the year is new, death metalâs ancient pulse remains as potent as ever.
Hybris Divina is a primordial love letter to OSDMâs early days. Oraculum leans into the festering rot of early Death and Morbid Angel, anchored by Scourge of Godâs vocalsâa throat-shredding hybrid of Obituary-style barks and classic Motörhead grit. On standouts like âSpiritual Virility,â âMendacious Heroismâ and âThe Great One,â Scourge and Gaius Coronatusâ guitars collide in a cavernous vortex of spiraling mid-tempo riffs, trilling leads, abyssal whammy-dives and violent tremolo churns, punctuated by Conqueror of Fearâs unhinged tribal blasts. Bathed in a thick, suffocating reverb, Hybris Divina floods its own tomb with an opaque production style that demands a period of ear adjustment for Oraculumâs sound to translate into its intended, grim form, but also grants the kit a massive boom and the guitars a meaty, ghastly allure.
Hybris Divina reaches its apex when Oraculum relies on its high-energy, technical merits. âMendacious Heroismâ and âThe Great Oneâ serve as the primary conduits for the albumâs fury, resurrecting the primitive spirit of Scream Bloody Gore with serrated, stair-stepping riffs and a turbulent sense of movement. While the performances embrace a rugged loosenessâresulting in the occasional missed beat or frayed edgeâthese human imperfections ultimately bolster Hybris Divinaâs grit rather than hinder its occult-infused frenzy. Scourgeâs vocals remain Oraculumâs most consistent strength, delivering disgusting viscosity with tons of emotion and a satisfying gruffness to guide even the albumâs weaker tracks (âDolos,â âPosthumous Exultationâ) to completion. But the clear crown jewel here is the late track âSpiritual Virility.â Ushered in by a badass war horn, it represents the group at their most purposeful. Never feeling too long, the song features an attention-grabbing technical riff-set with all the classic OSDM fixins, culminating in Hybris Divinaâs finest moment: a galloping, descending monolithic riff that slices through the cavernous production with genuine hook-driven power.
While the highs are peak OSDM, Hybris Divina frequently loses its way in its own ossurian depths, feeling significantly longer than its 41-minute runtime suggests. Despite consisting of only 8 tracks, the record frequently meanders, revealing a palpable need for tighter editing. âPosthumous Exultation,â âDolosâ and âMendacious Heroism,â for instance, all drift too aimlessly during their closing stretches, relying on repetitive loops and a deluge of frantic shredding that dulls Oraculumâs lethal edge. Even the superior âThe Great Oneâ falls victim to a chaotic shred-fest in its final moments. Making matters worse are the ritualistic intro, âA Monument to Fallen Virtues,â and its mid-album counterpart, âThe Heritage of Our Brotherhood.â These short pieces are difficult to justify; their spoken-word segments and anemic guitar leads feel more like distractions than essential thematic segues. This is particularly frustrating because Oraculum clearly understands the value of a motif, like when âCarnageâ successfully revisits the recordâs opening themes to create a much-needed sense of continuity within the mayhem.
Hybris Divina delivers some solid cuts of old-fashioned death worship that, despite stumbling over its own arcane fervor, remains unapologetically true to its roots. There is plenty of primal substance here for the OSDM faithful to satisfy their cravings for the new year, but inconsistent songwriting and bloat mask Oraculumâs true talent. While this Chilean outfit has already proven they can summon the spirit of the genreâs founding fathers in shorter bursts, future offerings must hone the sacrificial blade and tighten the ritualistic focus.
Rating: Mixed
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Invictus Productions
Websites: invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/hybris-divina | facebook.com/oraculum.chile
Releases Worldwide: January 9th, 2026
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TREY AZAGTHOTH's Thank Yous For MORBID ANGEL's Blessed Are The Sick Resurface Online, Are Outlandish
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TREY AZAGTHOTH's Thank Yous For MORBID ANGEL's Blessed Are The Sick Resurface Online, Are Outlandish
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Iâve always wondered why there arenât more bands that use palindromes as names.1 Think of the perfect symmetry you can get with your logo! While Iâm not sure thatâs what Louisville, Kentuckyâs Redivider (complete with sharp, symmetrical logo!) was aiming for when they were coming up with a name, it does make them stand out in the field of bands with gory overtones, creative combinations of food/pain/sexual positions, or what-have-you. It doesnât hurt that their debut, Sounds of Malice, helps them stand out a little bit more due to the tightness and musicianship on display.
If youâre looking for psychedelic embellishments to channel your inner third eye, or are yearning for creative interpretations of scales and modes in a dizzying array of progressive dalliances, Sounds of Malice is not for you. This is as meat-and-potatoes death metal as it gets, with emphasis on the meat, because hoo-boy, there are riffs aplenty. Guitarists Jake Atha and Paul Nunavath stuff every one of the seven tracks full of chunky riffing and squealy pinch-harmonics that look back to the likes of Immolation and Cannibal Corpse while slamming shit up. Opener âQuartered & Devouredâ and the title track deliver that head-caving one-two punch combo that sets a brutal stage for a rightful trouncing.
That one-two punch, however, reveals all of Redividerâs tools early on. While none of the songs on Sounds of Malice are bad, it does blur with repeated listens as the album continues. âShackled to Existenceâ feels like a continuation of the opening two-song salvo, and the fake-out ending doesnât help matters when the song âendedâ just fine without it. When a song does possess a solo, such as the Morbid Angelic closer âLeft to Rot,â it acts as a breath of fresh air amongst the (cannibal) corpses, a moment you can latch on to and recall. Jacob Spencerâs sub-guttural growls and wretched pig squeals do an effective job at amplifying the brutality, but even they begin to blend into one another with each passing song.
The Dan Swanö mastering helps each instrument to breathe, which is remarkable given the lack of dynamic range. I appreciate being able to hear bass in my death metal, and Xander Farrington is no slouch as a bassist, so hearing his bass among the riffs and James Goetzâs pummeling is a welcome treat. For as heavy as the riffs and production are, however, there needs to be a tightening of the song structure and writing. Even though Sounds of Malice is a brisk sub-thirty-minute album, it does feel like it drags in certain areas. Not enough to kill the vibe, but itâs definitely noticeable.
But donât let this deter you from checking out Sounds of Malice on your own. Itâs not often we get a strong debut in the beginning of the year, but this is a fun romp that respects your time while it plays out. Sometimes, no-frills death metal does the job just fine, and there are far worse bands doing it than Redivider are, and this is only their debut. If they keep at it, things will look bright indeed for these guys, or my name isnât Tacocat. WaitâŠ
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Unsigned/Independent
Websites: redividerdeathmetal.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/redivider.louisville
Releases Worldwide: January 9th, 2026
Weeping Sores â The Convalescence Agonies [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]
By Creeping Ivy
Pleasureâas Judas Priest, sadomasochists, and Flagellants teach usâcan be found in pain. Doug Moore and Stephen Schwegler, the guitar/drum duo behind Weeping Sores, also teach this lesson with The Convalescence Agonies. As its title suggests, the sophomore Weeping Sores album chronicles Mooreâs recovery from a shoulder injury that, quite unfortunately, prevented him from playing guitar.1 Quite fortunately for us, Moore sublimates his agony into the listenerâs ecstasy with The Convalescence Agonies. Debut False Confession received high praise here, making the 2019 lists of Saunders (Honorable Mention), Cherd of Doom (#8), and Ferrous Beuller (#4). On its follow-up, Weeping Sores deliver a leaner, lusher, and eminently listable slab of death-doom.
On The Convalescence Agonies, Weeping Sores level up by scaling back. False Confession established that Moore and Schwegler of Pyrrhon fame could successfully craft a more plodding, brooding death metal, sounding like Morbid Angel making proclamations to My Dying Bride. At 56 minutes with multiple 9- and 10-minute songs, however, the album definitely fatigues. In comparison, The Convalescence Agonies clocks in at 43 minutes, energizing the listener by lurking towards its epic compositions. Mooreâs climbing guitar and anguished screams in âArctic Summerâ segue into âEmpty Vessel Hymn,â a heater showcasing Schweglerâs jazzy hands. The mid-album climax, âSprawl in the City of Sorrow,â spreads chunky, blasty, and militaristic riffs across 9 breezy minutes. âPleading for the Scytheâ mixes delicate chords, lumbering beatdowns, and off-kilter shredding, setting the stage for the title track. âThe Convalescence Agonies,â a 14-minute monster, boasts the stankiest, dumpiest chuggery on the entire album. Without compromising the scope of its songwriting, Weeping Sores have crafted a tighter, better-paced album than the debut.
False Confession stans might weep when learning that the violin of Gina Hendrika Eygenhuysen does not appear on The Convalescence Agonies. In its place is the cello of Annie Blythe, which directs a broader ensemble of ancillary instrumentation. Like Eygenhuysenâs violin, Blytheâs cello often occupies center stage, dramatizing sparse verses (âArctic Summerâ) and blasty tremolos (âThe Convalescence Agoniesâ). Arguably, the deeper tone of the cello better suits the music, feeling like an extension of the scooped guitar tone. Weeping Sores also incorporate keyboards from Brendon Randall-Myers (Scarcity), which add a refined, almost proggy aura to caveman breakdowns and hyperspeed chugging (âPleading for the Scytheâ). Thereâs even banjo in âSprawlâŠ,â commingling with Blytheâs percussive cello to make a demented guitar lead far more unsettling.2 Some listeners will miss the brighter, more melodically commanding presence of the violin. The Convalescence Agonies more than makes up for Eygenhuysenâs absence, however, with its wider array of sonic textures.
As Moore howls on the title track, the bodyâs pain âteaches nothingâŠno gift / But the passion of transfiguration.â3 Pain may not teach anything to the suffering speaker or Moore himself, but The Convalescence Agonies teaches us that Weepings Sores is one of the most promising contemporary death-doom projects. Moore and Schwegler have transfigured False Confession into something more beautiful without sacrificing their disgustingly awesome death metal core. Sadly, this TYMHM treatment may not arrive in time to register during Listurnalia. Consider, then, The Convalescence Agonies an honorary Honorable Mention for me (and several others around here, I suspect).
Tracks to Check Out: âArctic Summer,â âSprawl in the City of Sorrow,â âThe Convalescence Agoniesâ
#2025 #DeathDoom #DeathMetal #DoomMetal #IVoidhangerRecords #MorbidAngel #MyDyingBride #Pyrrhon #Scarcity #TheConvalescenceAgonies #ThingsYouMightHaveMissed2025 #TYMHM #USMetal #WeepingSores
Perdition Temple â Malign Apotheosis Review
By Mark Z.
Since coming to prominence as the guitarist and primary songwriter of Angelcorpse in the 1990s, Gene Palubicki has been tearing a burning warpath through the extreme metal underground, scorching eardrums with projects like his (sadly defunct) death-thrash band Blasphemic Cruelty and his current collaboration with Morbid Angelâs Steve Tucker and Originâs John Longstreth1 in the death metal supergroup Malefic Throne. My favorite of Geneâs post-Angelcorpse projects, however, is Perdition Temple, probably because it sounds the most like Angelcorpse. In fact, as noted by the great Al Kikuras years ago in his review of the bandâs 2015 sophomore album The Tempterâs Victorious, the bandâs 2010 debut Edict of the Antichrist Elect was originally intended to be the fifth Angelcorpse album. Ever since Mr. Kikurasâs evocative prose turned me on to Perdition Temple, Iâve slowly become a salivating fanboy for them, going from trying to make sense of what the fuck I was hearing to scaring soccer moms in my neighborhood by walking around in a hoodie adorned with the album art of The Tempterâs Victorious (with inverted crosses on the sleeves for good measure).
After Tempterâs, Gene stripped the band down to a power trio consisting of himself on vocals and guitar, Alex Blume (Ares Kingdom, ex-Blasphemic Cruelty) on bass, and Ron Parmer (Malevolent Creation, Brutality) behind the kit. This lineup appeared on 2020âs Sacraments of Descension (which was an enjoyable album that I probably underrated at the time) and 2022âs Merciless Upheaval (which was really more of a glorified EP, given that half of its eight songs were covers). Now, this same crew is back with 2025âs Malign Apotheosis, another firestorm of an album with just enough of a different approach to still feel fresh.
Of course, Perdition Temple are the sort of underground band that are never going to stray too far from their signature formula. And indeed, this albumâs scalding blackened death metal approach is largely similar to what Perdition Temple have always done. The opening track, âResurrect Damnation,â shows Geneâs trademark six-string attack leading the charge as well as weâve ever heard it, with the song crammed full of supercharged Morbid Angel riffs, rapidly churning tremolos, lightning-speed solos, a vaguely thrashy midsection, and a quick devilish motif that just barely holds everything together.
âQuickâ actually turns out to be apt description for these eight tracks as a whole. While Perdition Temple have always been fast, prior albums often incorporated notable slower moments to add some memorability and variety to the mayhem. Here, only âKingdoms of the Bloodstainedâ really slows down for any decent amount of time, with its abrasive mid-tempo bridge sounding like Immolation reforged in the fires of blackened death metal. Most of these tracks instead take the approach of the follow-up song, âPurging Conflagration,â which maniacally barrels forward on violent, pounding chugs and squawking notes without ever stopping for air. The end result is perhaps the most relentless and vicious album the band have yet released.
Thatâs not to say thereâs nothing memorable or noteworthy here. The title track, for example, strikes especially hard by incorporating its addictive, staccato main riff between bouts of sludgy Morbid Angelisms. Likewise, the closing track, âFell Sorcery,â shows that Geneâs reunion with John Longstreth in Malefic Throne may have caused some Origin influence to bleed over into here, as the song climaxes with an explosive laser beam riff that could have easily been pulled from a tech death album. Through it all, Geneâs raspy vocals sound more biting and scornful than ever, while Ron Parmer proves once again to be the perfect fit for this project. The man wisely refrains from using constant blast beats and instead beats the hell out of his kit in a way that has surprising finesse, matching the momentum and frequently morphing nature of Geneâs riffing. Perhaps this albumâs most notable trait, however, is the production, which is more raw than the bandâs prior work and recalls the unpolished sound of Behemothâs The Apostasy. While this makes the sooty guitars feel a tad subdued, the drums more than make up for this by punching through everything with satisfying clarity.
A lot of bands tire out with age, but Perdition Temple apparently just gets dirtier and more relentless. Malign Apotheosis may not dethrone the bandâs first two albums, but itâs a surefire win for fans of the band, and another reminder of how great blackened death metal can be when itâs written by one of the wildest riff-writers in the business.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Websites: perditiontemple.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/perditiontemple
Releases Worldwide: November 28th, 2025
#2025 #35 #americanMetal #angelcorpse #aresKingdom #behemoth #blackMetal #blasphemicCruelty #brutality #deathMetal #hellsHeadbangersRecords #immolation #maleficThrone #malevolentCreation #malignApotheosis #morbidAngel #nov25 #origin #perditionTemple #review #reviews
Depravity â Bestial Possession Review
By Kenstrosity
Since the release of Evil Upheaval in early 2018, I fell head over heels for Aussie death metal quintet Depravity. Evil Upheaval always going to be a difficult debut to follow, but Grand Malevolence did its very best and largely matched the debutâs sheer heft and vicious energy. Five long years spans the gap between then and now, with third salvo Bestial Possession, threatening to pummel me into dust. Little does Depravity know how badly I want it.
As if in smug answer to my âpummel me harderâ challenge, Bestial Possession penetrates every pore of my body with wild abandon and zero concern for my internal organs. What I knew and loved from the brutal Evil Upheaval and the twisted Grand Malevolence coalesces here, forming a new evolution of Depravityâs sound that is at once devilishly cunning and fabulously infectious. A mangled amalgam of Cannibal Corpse bloodthirst, Immolation muscularity, and early Morbid Angel velocity, Depravityâs sound is familiar but instantly recognizable. The trick there is twofold. Firstly, Jamie Kayâs addicting vocal cadence and tonal attributes1 provide a singular voice that sets Depravity apart from the crowd. Secondly, guitarists Lynton Cessford and Jarrod Curley exhibit an uncanny ability to splice, fold, and connect tightly packed riffs together through kinky time signatures that snap my spine as easily as they trip me up (âEunuch Maker,â âBlinding Oblivionâ).
With these simple, but wildly effective, songwriting techniquesâmassaged by the smoothest transitions Depravityâs penned thus farâBestial Possession quickly becomes a force to be reckoned with. Right off the bat, opening assault âEngulfed in Agonyâ launches the record with a devastating riffset; jaunty, subtly melodic, and bounding with verve. Oodles of arpeggiated scales and wriggling oscillations traversed by the lead guitars cohere beautifully with Louis Randoâs ballistic percussion and Ainsley Watkinsâ clunky bass rumbles (âCall to the Fallen,â âAwful Mangulationâ), forging a complex web of wizardry that stops just short of earning a âtech-deathâ badge but nonetheless ensures maximum stimulation. As a way to create balance and protect songwriting dynamics in every selection, Depravity explore a great variety of tempos and textures around Bestial Possessionâs denser phrases. Grounding those variations to the bandâs core mission of destruction, a palpable sense of groove tailor-made to incite ravenous pit activity also compels heads to bang with great intensity, as evidenced by turbo-bangers âRot in the Pit,â âAligned with Satan,â and âLegacy.â
There may be those who argue that the level of accessibility Depravity achieved with such brutal fare as this works against them, but I argue the opposite is true. Bands like Cannibal Corpse, De Profundis and even younger acts like Atrae Bilis expertly toy the line between accessibility and deadliness, and with Bestial Possession, Depravity earn their place in that elite category of death. This third installment in Depravityâs catalog is dense, brutally fast, and relentless. But itâs also refined, concise, and streamlined compared to their previous works. Itâs loud, too, which holds it back from even higher acclaim, but its meaty guitar tones and well-balanced mix helps recover some ground on the production front. The only other nitpick I can muster against Bestial Possession is that, despite the incredible variety and scalpel-precise execution on hand, sometimes its strongest and most memorable cuts (âEunuch Maker,â âCall to the Fallen,â âRot in the Pit,â âBlinding Oblivionâ) overshadow its album mates a touch too strongly. For some, that might create a minor bump in the road. Still, itâs unlikely to diminish the listening experience in any meaningful way.
As the dust settles and the flames of Depravityâs tear across the death metal landscape recede, Bestial Possession towers above many of 2025âs myriad releases. Even with my analytical eye in high gear, rooting for flaws and scrounging for blemishes, Depravity secured their rightful place as one of my absolute favorite meat-and-potatoes death metal acts active today, with Bestial Possession slotting at the top of their discography. It once more begs the question: how will they follow this up? To that I say, âWho gives a fuck?!â and smash the replay button to smithereens.
Rating: Great!
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Websites: depravityaustralia.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Depravitydestroy
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025
#2025 #40 #atraeBilis #australianMetal #bestialPossession #brutalDeathMetal #cannibalCorpse #deProfundis #deathMetal #depravity #immolation #morbidAngel #nov25 #review #reviews #transcendingObscurityRecords
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MALEFIC THRONE Feat. MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN, ANGELCORPSE Members Release New Track And Lyric Video
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Terror Corpse â Ash Eclipses Flesh Review
By Saunders
Already boasting a killer debut EP to their name in 2025, courtesy of the sick, old school deathgrind mayhem comprising Systems of Apocalypse, Texan wrecking crew Terror Corpse hit the ground running in their short time together. The newly minted outfit come seasoned with underground cred, featuring members that have logged time in the likes of Malignant Altar, Oceans of Slumber, Necrofier and Insect Warfare. Recording the EP as a five-piece, debut full-length Ash Eclipses Flesh finds Terror Corpse stripping back to a trio and shifting tact musically. While remnants of the heavily grind-influenced charge of Systems of Apocalypse remains intact, Terror Corpse mine the fetid soil of vintage death metal, citing the likes of Celtic Frost, Incantation and pre-2000s Morbid Angel as key influences. Throw in shades of Immolation, Terrorizer, early Carcass and Exhumed, and you have a recipe for a good old-fashioned beatdown. However, donât be fooled into thinking Terror Corpse is a run-of-the-mill act riding the decaying coattails of legacy acts of the past. Ash Eclipses Flesh respects the past, while paving its own twisted path through grisly killing fields and dank caverns of grotesqueries.
Terror Corpse merge old timey underground aesthetics with a vital injection of their own character and modern appeal. Presenting a grimy and wickedly brutal collection of grind-encrusted old-school death, Terror Corpse both encompasses and deviates from the deathgrind formula of the EP, pivoting into deathlier, guttural realms. Any disappointment of the sound shift is swiftly bludgeoned on opening track âPyre of Ash and Bone.â The song makes a hellish statement, hammering down violent, riffy death marches through menacing atmospheres, as uber low guttural vox, squealing leads, and livewire drumming seal the deal. Dobber Beverly again cements his status as a cult legend in extreme metal drumming. Also handling guitar duties with main vocalist Mat V, the duo reinforces the albumâs retro, brutish charms, primitive clubbings, and ominous atmosphere with a vital collection of top-shelf riffs, mangled leads, and headbangable delights.
Ash Eclipses Flesh revels in shifting gears from dense, noisy chaos and relentless blasts to knuckle-dragging grooves, and monstrous, caverncore-esque swarms, Terror Corpse also incorporate infectious bursts of thrashy death and gnarled, punkish grind into the fray. After a solid, respectable beginning, Ash Eclipses Flesh really hits stride on third cut âWomb of the Hollow Earth,â and itâs a ripping, high-potency ride from here on in. Elsewhere, they delve into death-doom slogs, inflicted upon the devastating âFallout Obliteration,â and punishing mid-section on the lurching, vicious stomp of âSons of Perdition.â Refusing to neglect their classic grindcore and splattery deathgrind roots, Terror Corpse bring the filth and dual vox, including shrieky highs, to the thrashing intensity of âNuclear Winter.â Meanwhile, the tremendous âThe Hollow That Devoursâ intersperses cavernous double bass rumbles and thrashy bursts with immense mid-paced chuggery and thick, insidious grooves.
Versatile tinkering of their songwriting formula ensures the songs chart diverse territories, while remaining uncompromisingly brutal and wickedly infectious. Even the closing cover of Celtic Frostâs âInto the Crypts of Raysâ doesnât feel wasteful or tacked on. Terror Corpse inject the songâs anthemic, punky edge with their own beefed-up deathgrind spark. Beverlyâs energetic, nuanced drumming proves essential as the albumâs beating heart, driving the fluctuating pulse rate and need for speed, slick tempo shifts, and rambunctious, sewage-coated grooves. The power of the riff compels, not through technical wizardry, but courtesy of a firm understanding of the genreâs classic origins and grimy, atmospheric underpinnings. Infectious and rancidly beefy riffs, wildly unhinged leads, and sinister melodic currents define the excellent axework. There are no glaring flaws or major drawbacks preventing a strong recommendation. Perhaps you could argue Terror Corpse arenât doing anything especially new or innovative, while the dominant, incomprehensible gutturals might be a tough sell for some listeners.
Twenty-twenty-five has delivered diverse treats across the metalverse, including top-notch death metal releases of varied persuasions within the genre. Ash Eclipses Flesh is another not to be missed. What they lack in bells, whistles, techy flair or innovation, Terror Corpse more than compensate through their authentic and fresh spin on a vintage sound. A tightly performed, superbly produced, and invigorating slab of riffy old school death, armed with gnarled deathgrind and grisly brutal death ammunition, Ash Eclipses Flesh is a surefire corker and end-of-year list disruptor.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Dark Descent Records
Websites: Facebook | Bandcamp
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025
#2025 #40 #americanMetal #ashEclipsesFlesh #carcass #celticFrost #darkDescentRecords #deathMetal #deathgrind #exhumed #incantation #insectWarfare #malignantAltar #morbidAngel #necrofier #oceansOfSlumber #oldSchoolDeathMetal #review #reviews #terrorCorpse #terrorizer
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MALEFIC THRONE (MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN) Streams Destructive New Single 'The Voice Of My Ghost'
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MALEFIC THRONE (MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN) Streams Destructive New Single 'The Voice Of My Ghost'
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MALEFIC THRONE, Featuring Members Of MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN And ANGELCORPSE, Releases 'The Voice Of My Ghost' Single
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Glorious Depravity â Death Never Sleeps Review
By Steel Druhm
Death metal from New York City is usually plenty ugly enough, but in the strange case of Glorious Depravity, things get even more grotesque due to the band membersâ connection to acts like Pyrrhon and Woe. Their 2020 debut Ageless Violence was a solid if non-essential homage to the Godz of Floridan Death with plenty of Morbid Angel and Deicide DNA in its unnatural makeup. Five years later, they serve up Death Never Sleeps with a sound profile still wearing Orlando-friendly cargo shorts, and hidden in those oversized pockets are elements of grindcore. This is ugly, slimy death for fugly, unwashed folks who throw empty beer cans at meth heads for cheap thrills. The only thing remotely classy about it is the badass cover art from Dan Seagrave, and thatâs just fine by me. Iâm not here to attend Finishing School or my court-mandated Anger Management workshop. Iâm here to blast death metal and scare the normies, and so is Glorious Depravity. Twinsies!
The Depravity Boys come out hard on opener âSlaughter the Gerontocratsâ with feverish riffs ripping skin and pasting bones as Pyrrhonâs Doug Moore vomits a world full of hate and venom on the listener. Some of the leads reek of vintage Mordid Angel, but this is more unhinged and closer to grind and even slam at times. Moore uncorks some truly rancid garbage disposal voKILLS and piercing shrieks, making this like an insane asylum in a hobo wine bottle. Things go a bit wonky on follow-up âStripmined Flesh Extractorâ with an awkward shuffling tempo that doesnât fully work, thus squandering some of the crucial momentum created by the opener. From there, itâs a back and forth between well-executed death that hammer smashes your face and lesser cuts that have good moments but donât disembowel you as they should. âSulfurous Winds (Howling Through Christendom)â is a wild ride through the tombs where Morbid Angel buried their unused (and well-used) riffs, and Mooreâs repeated roars about âSCIENCEâ are fun in an old school Thomas Dolby way.1 âScourged by the Wings of the Fell Destroyerâ is also fine and dandy, hitting in that 1990 Floridan death way but with overtones of Kataklysm due to the screeching vocals.
My favorite moment arrives with âNecrobiotic Enslavement,â where the Morbid influence is especially notable in the heaving, lurching riffs that reek of overflowing ash Treys. While the good parts of Death Never Sleeps are respectable and entertaining, nothing here will completely blow your mind, and the lesser bits are Debbie Downers. âFreshkills Poltergeistâ shoehorns in pinch harmonics that are more annoying than interesting, and âCarnage at the Marginsâ gets very screamy and ends up grating the nerves instead of power drilling the Medusa Oblongata. You end up with an album of mostly solid death with generic and underwhelming additions tacked on, which is disappointing for a band with the pedigree Glorious Depravity bring to the Geneology Council.
Iâll give Doug Moore props for his batshit crazy vocal performance. The guy is all over the lot with screams, shrieks, sub-basement gurgles, and standard death barks. He can do it all and proves it on every track, whether itâs needed or not. Sometimes heâs a dead ringer for Kataklysmâs Maurizio Iacono, and occasionally he sounds like young Mille of Kreator infamy. George Paul (Gravesend) and Matt Mewton (Woe) resurrect many riffs from the place where the slime live, and though itâs easy to spot their inspirations, I canât fault much of what they throw down on the slab. There are a goodly number of face-melting leads and some completely insane solo pieces, too. Chris Grigg (Woe) brings a technical yet brutal force to the kit, pounding away like his life depends on it. The band is talented, but the writing sometimes lacks staying power and leans generic. At a tight 34 minutes, a lot of that can be forgiven as the good replaces the okay in short and savage order, but the lesser additions do drag the overall enjoyment factor down a few pegs.
Glorious Depravity gives a bunch of New York low-life bastards a chance to do things outside the lines of what their main gigs allow, and you can tell theyâre having fun throwing shit against the subway wall. Thereâs nothing essential or âmust hearâ present, but itâs solid ratmeat and scumtaters for the diseased, and that may be enough for those fiends.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Websites: facebook.com/gloriousdepravity | instagram.com/gloriousdepravity
Releases Worldwide: November 7th, 2025
#2025 #30 #AgelessViolence #AmericanMetal #DeathMetal #DeathNeverSleeps #Deicide #GloriousDepravity #Gravesend #MorbidAngel #Nov25 #Pyrrhon #Review #Reviews #TranscendingObscurityRecords #Woe
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MALEFIC THRONE Feat. MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN, ANGELCORPSE Members Premiere New Single âThe Voice Of My Ghostâ; Official Track Stream
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Stuck in the Filter: August 2025âs Angry Misses
By Kenstrosity
The heat persists, but now the humidity comes in full force as storm systems wreak havoc upon the coasts. I hide in my cramped closet of an office, lest I be washed out once again by an unsuspecting deluge. However, I still send my minions out into the facility, bound by duty to search for those metallic scraps on which we feast.
Fortuitously, most all of those imps I sent out came back alive, and with wares! BEHOLD!
Kenstrosityâs Galactic Gremlin
Silent Millenia // Celestial Twilight: Beyond the Crimson Veil [August 26th, 2025 â Self-Release]
Have you ever seen such a delightfully cheesy cover? Probably, but itâs been a while for me. I bought Celestial Twilight: Beyond the Crimson Veil, the second raw symphonic black metal opus from Finnish one-man act Silent Millenia, on the strength of the artwork alone. Little did I know that what lay beyond this crimson veil was some of the most fun melodic black metal this side of Moonlight Sorcery. The same low-fi roughness that personifies Old Nickâs work grounds Silent Milleniaâs starbound songwriting as it traverses the universe with an energetic punch reminiscent of Emperor or Stormkeep (âAwaken the Celestial Spell,â âDaemonic Masteryâ). To help differentiate Silent Milleniaâs sound from that of their peers, a gothic atmosphere ensorcells much of this material to great effect, merging eerie Victorian melodies with galactic adventurism in an unlikely pair (âEnthrone the Spectralâ). Swirling synths and sparkling twinkles abound as well, creating blissful moments of interest as frosty tremolos and piercing blasts take full advantage of the false sense of security those entrancing clouds of synthetic instrumentation create (âBenighted Path to Darkness Mysterium,â âReign in Cosmic Majestyâ). Simply put, Celestial Twilight is an unexpected gem of a symphonic black metal record, bursting with killer ideas and infinite levels of raw, unabashed fun. You should hear it!
Kronosâ Unexpected Unearthments
Street Sects // Dry Drunk [August 15th, 2025 â Self Release]
Dry Drunk sticks to your inner surfaces, draining down like cigarette tar along paralyzed cilia to pool in your lungs until the cells themselves foment rebellion. Once itâs in you, you feel paranoid, wretched, and alone. So itâs the proper follow-up to Street Sectsâ visionary debut, End Position. Like that record, Dry Drunk plumbs the most mundane and unsavory gutters of America for a cast of protagonists that it dwells in or dispatches with a mixture of pity and disgust, with vocalist Leo Ashline narrating their violent crimes and self-hatred in a mixture of croons, shrieks, and snarls that cook the air before the speakers into the scent of booze and rotten teeth. And like that record, Shaun Ringsmuth (Glassing) dresses the sets with a fractal litter of snaps, squeals, crashes, gunshots, and grinding electronics, caked in tar and collapsing just as soon as it is swept into a structure. And like End Position, Dry Drunk is a masterpiece. The impeccable six-song stretch from âLove Makes You Fatâ through âRiding the Clockâ ties you to the bumper and drags you along some of the duoâs most creative side-roads, through the simmering, straightjacketed sludge of âBaker Actâ to the chopped-up, smirking electronica of âEject Button.â Swerving between addled, unintelligible agony and unforgettable anthems, Dry Drunk, like End Position before it is nothing less than the life of a junkie scraped together, heated on a spoon, and injected into your head. Once youâve taken a hit, you will never be quite the same.
Thus Spokeâs Frightening Fragments
Defacement // Doomed [August 22nd, 2025 â Self Release]
Thereâs music for every vibe.1 The one Defacement fits is an exclusively extreme metal flavor of moody that is only appreciable by genre fans, made tangibly more eerie by their persistent idiosyncratic use of dark ambient interludes amidst the viciously distorted blackened death. Audiencesâand reviewersâtend to disparage these electronic segments, but Iâve always felt their crackling presence increases the analog horror of it all, and rather than being a breather from the intensity, they prolong the nausea, the sense of emptiness, and the abject fearfulness of head-based trauma. This latter concept grows more metaphorical still on Doomed, where the violence is inside the mind, purpose-erasing, and emotionally-detaching. The ambience might be the most sadly beautiful so far (âMournful,â and âCloudedâ especially), and the transitions into nightmarish heaviness arguably the most fluid. And the metal is undoubtedly the most ambitious, dynamic, and magnificent of Defacementâs career, combining their most gruesome dissonance (âPortraitâ) with their most bizarrely exuberant guitar melodies (âUnexplainable,â âUnrecognisedâ). Solos drip tangibly with (emotional) resonance (âUnexplainable,â âAbsentâ) and thereâs not a breath or a moment of wasted space. Yes, the bandâs heavier side can suffer from a nagging sense of homogeneous mass, but it remains transporting. While I can appreciate why others do not appreciate Defacement, this is the first of their outings I can truthfully say mesmerised me on first listen.
ClarkKentâs Heated Hymns
Phantom Fire // Phantom Fire [August 8th, 2025 â Edged Circle Productions]
While I waded through the murky depths of the August promo sump, Steel implored me to take the eponymous third album from Phantom Fire. âThe AMG commentariat love blackened heavy metal,â he said. I disregarded his advice at my peril, and while I ended up enjoying what I grabbed, it turns out this would have been solid too. Featuring members from Enslaved, KrakĂłw. Hellbutcher, and Aeternus, Phantom Fire play old school speed metal that harks back to the likes of Motörhead and Iron Maidenâs Killers. Thanks to healthy doses of bass and production values that allow the instruments to shine, each song is infused with energetic grooves. The music sounds fresh, crisp, and clear, from the booming drums to Eldâs âblackenedâ snarls. Early tracks âEternal Voidâ and âAll For Noneâ show off the catchy blend of simple guitar riffs and a hoppinâ bass accompanied by energetic kit work. While placing a somewhat lengthy instrumental track in the middle of a record usually slows it down, âFatal Attractionâ turns out to be a highlight. It tells a tragic love story involving a motorcycle with nothing but instruments, an engine revving, and some police sirens. The second half of Phantom Fire gets a bit on the weirder side, turning to some stoner and psychedelia. Thereâs a push and pull between the stoner and Motörhead speed stuff on songs like âMalphasâ and âSubmersible Pt. 2,â and this blend actually works pretty well. It turns out that they arenât phantom after allâthese guys are truly fire.
Burning Witches // Inquisition [August 22nd, 2025 â Napalm Records]
With six albums in eight years, Swiss quintet Burning Witches has really been burning rubber. While such prolific output in such a short time frame generally spells trouble, Inquisition is a solid piece of heavy/power metal. Burning Witches dabbles in a mix of speedy power metal and mid-tempo heavy metal, often sounding like â80s stalwarts Judas Priest and Def Leppard. With Laura Guldemondâs gruff voice, they produce a more weighty, less happy version of power metal than the likes of Fellowship or Frozen Crown. While the songs stick to formulaic structures, tempo shifts from song to song help keep things from growing stale. We see this variety right from the get-go, where âSoul Eaterâ takes a high-energy approach before moving into the more mellow âShame.â Thereâs even a pretty solid ballad, âRelease Me,â that grounds the back half of the record. Songs of the sort that Burning Witches write need catchy choruses, and fortunately, they deliver. âHigh Priestess of the Nightâ is a particular standout, delivering a knock-out punch in its delivery. It helps that the instrumental parts are well-executed, from crunchy riffs to subdued solos to booming blast beats. Anyone looking for a solid bit of power metal thatâs not too heavy on the cheese will find this worth a listen.
Deathhammer // Crimson Dawn [August 29th, 2025 â Hells Headbangers Records]
Celebrating 20 years of blackened speed, Deathhammer drop LP number six with the kind of energy that exhausted parents dread to see in their children at bedtime. This is my first foray with the band, and I am in awe of the relentless level of manic energy they keep throughout Crimson Dawnâs 39 minutes. If science could learn how to harness their energy, weâd have an endless source of renewables. The two-piece out of Norway channels classic Slayer on crack and even has moments reminiscent of Painkiller-era Judas Priest. They play non-stop thrash cranked to 11, with persistent blast beats and some dual guitar parts that leave your head spinning from the rapid-fire directions the riffs fire off in. The heart of the mania is singer Sergeant Salsten. His crazed vocals are amazingâsnarling, shouting, and shrieking in a way that took me back to the manic pitch Judge Doom could reach in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? He sings so fast that on the chorus of âCrimson Dawn,â it sounds like he says âGriffindor,â which had me searching confusedly for the Harry Potter tag. This was probably my favorite song, not just because of the Griffindor thing, but because that chorus is so catchy. Either way, itâs tough to pick a standout track because they all grip you by the throat and donât let go. Crimson Dawn is a ton of fun and a must listen if you like your music fast.
Grin Reaperâs Bountiful Blight
Kallias // Digital Plague [August 14th, 2025 â Self Release]
Machine gun drumming, spacey synths, Morbid Angel-meets-Meshuggah riffing, Turian-esque barking and Voyager-reminiscent vocal melodiesâŠwhat the fuck is going on here? The only thing more surprising than someone having the moxie to blend all these things together is how well they work in concert. Kallias doesnât hold back on sophomore album Digital Plague, and the result is a rocket-fueled blast through forty-four minutes of eclectic, addictive prog. The mishmash of styles keeps the album fresh and unpredictable while never dipping its toes in inconsistent waters, and staccato rhythms propel listeners through eight tracks without losing steam. As with any prog metal worth its salt, Kallias brandishes technical prowess, and their cohesion belies the relatively short time theyâve been putting out music.2 The mix is well-suited to spotlight whoever needs it at a given time, whether the bass is purring (âExogĂini KyriarchĂaâ), the drums are being annihilated (âPyrrhic Victoryâ), or a guitar solo nears Pettrucian wankery (âPhenomenal in Theoryâ). The end result is three-quarters of an hour filled with myriad influences that fuse into a sound all Kalliasâs own, and itâs one Iâve returned to several times since discovering (also, credit to MontDoom for his stunning artwork, which helped initially draw my attention). Check it outâyouâll be sick if you avoid this one like the Plague.
Lukeâs Kaleidoscopic Kicks
Giant Haze // Cosmic Mother [August 22nd, 2025 â Tonzonen Records]
Whereas many of my colleagues are bracing themselves for cooler conditions and harsh winters to come, in my neck of the woods, things are warming up. While my own wintry August filter proved scarce, there was one particular summery gem to lift moods with burly riffs and fat stoner grooves. Unheralded German act Giant Haze seemingly emerged out of nowhere during a random Bandcamp deep dive. Debut LP Cosmic Mother channels the good old days of â90s-inspired desert rock, featuring grungy, doomy vibes via a groovy batch of riff-centric, hard-rocking and uplifting jams, evoking the nostalgic spirit of Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Clutch and perhaps even a dash of Danzig. Punching out raucous, groove-soaked hard rockers with skyscraping hooks (âGeographic Gardens Suck,â âKing of Tomorrow,â âPanic to Rideâ), summery, funkâpsych jams (âSunriseâ), and bluesy, punk-infused fireballs (âCrank in Public,â âShrink Ageâ) Giant Haze get a lot of things right on this assured debut. The songwriting is deceptively diverse and punchy, bolstered by solid production, tight musicianship, and the swaggering, ever so slightly goofy vocal charms and powerful hooks of frontman Christoph Wollmann. Inevitably, a few rough spots appear, but overall Cosmic Mother showcases oodles of budding potential, an impactful delivery, cheeky sense of humor, and infectious, feel-good songcraft.
Spicie Forrestâs Foraged Fruit
Bask // The Turning [August 22nd, 2025 â Season of Mist]
Last seen in 2019, Bask returns with fourth LP, The Turning, a concept album following The Rider as she and The Traveler traverse the stars. They still peddle the unique blend of stoner rock and Americana Kenstrosity reviewed favorably in 2019, but 2025 sees them looking up for inspiration. The Turning incorporates a distinct cosmic bent (âThe Traveler,â âThe Turningâ) and post-rock structures (âDig My Heels,â âUnwoundâ). These augmentations to Baskâs core sound are enhanced by the masterful pedal steel of new official member Jed Willis. Whether floating through the firmament or tilling earthly pastures, Willis creates textures both fresh and intensely nostalgic. The infinite shifting vistas of The Turningâs front half coalesce into singular timeless visions on the back half, supporting its conceptual nature in both content and form. Like a combination of Huntsmen and Somali Yacht Club, Bask weaves riffs and melodies heard across the plains and through the void above with an unguarded authenticity felt in your soul.
Dolphin Whispererâs Disseminating Discharge
Plasmodulated // An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell [August 1st, 2025 â Personal Records]
Stinky, sticky, slimyâall adjectives that define the ideal death metal platter. Myk Colby has been trying to chase this perfect balance in a reverb-wonky package with projects like the d-beaten Hot Graves and extra hazy Wharflurch, but vile death metal balance is hard to achieve. However, An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell contains a recklessly pinched Demilichian riffage, classic piercing whammy bombs, and spook-minded synth ambience that places Plasmodulated with an odor more pungent than its peers. With an infected ear that festers equally with doom-loaded, Incantation-indebted drags (âGelatinous Mutation ov Brewed Origin,â âTrapped in the Plasmovoidâ) and Voivod-on-jenkem cutaways to foul-throated extravagence (âThe Final Fuckeningâ). An air of intelligent tempo design keeps An Ocean from never feeling trapped in a maze of its own fumes, with Colbyâs lush and bubbling synth design seguing tumbles into hammering deathly tremolo runs (âSuch Rapid Sphacelationâ) and Celtic Frosted riff tumbles (âDrowning in Sputumâ) alike, all before swirling about his own tattered, trailing vocal sputters. Steady but slippery, elegant yet effluvial, An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell provides the necessary noxious pressure to corrode death metal-loving denizens into pure gloops of stained-denim pit worship. Delivered as labeled, Plasmodulated earns its hazardous declaration. We here at AMG are not liable for any OSHA violations that occur as a result of Plasmodulated consumption on the job, though.
#2025 #Aeternus #AmericanMetal #Americana #AnOceanOvPutridStinkyVileDisgustingHell #Aug25 #Bask #BlackMetal #BlackenedDeathMetal #BurningWitches #CelestialTwilightBeyondTheCrimsonVeil #CelticFrost #Clutch #CosmicMother #CrimsonDawn #Danzig #DarkAmbient #DeathMetal #Deathhammer #DefLeppard #Defacement #Demilich #DigitalPlague #Doomed #DryDrunk #DutchMetal #EdgedCircleProductions #Emperor #Enslaved #Fellship #FinnishMetal #FrozenCrown #FuManchu #GermanMetal #GiantHaze #Glassing #Hardcore #HeavyMetal #Hellbutcher #HellsHeadbangersRecords #HotGraves #Huntsmen #Incantation #Inquisition #IronMaiden #JudasPriest #Kallias #Kraków #Kyuss #MelodicBlackMetal #Meshuggah #MoonlightSorcery #MorbidAngel #Motörhead #NapalmRecords #NorwegianMetal #OldNick #PersonalRecords #PhantomFire #Plasmodulated #PowerMetal #ProgressiveDeathMetal #RawBlackMetal #Review #Reviews #SelfRelease #SilentMillenia #Slayer #Sludge #SludgeMetal #SomaliYachtClub #SpeedMetal #StonerRock #Stormkeep #StreetSects #StuckInTheFilter #StuckInTheFilter2025 #SwissMetal #SymphonicBlackMetal #TechnicalDeathMetal #TheTurning #TonzonenRecords #Turian #Voivod #Voyager #Wharflurch
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Members Of MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN And ANGELCORPSE Announce Debut MALEFIC THRONE Album 'The Conquering Darkness'
#MORBIDANGEL #ORIGIN #MembersOf #album #newrelease #announcement #drummer #guitarist #vocalist #bassist #Blabbermouth #metal
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MALEFIC THRONE Feat. MORBID ANGEL, ORIGIN, ANGELCORPSE Members Reveal Debut Album Details
#MALEFICTHRONE #MORBIDANGEL #Feat #MembersRevealDebutAlbumDetails #album #newrelease #drummer #guitarist #vocalist #bassist #BraveWords #metal
AMGâs Unsigned Band Rodeö: Acrid Rot â Where Flesh Transcends⊠Man Stands Tall
By Killjoy
âAMGâs Unsigned Band Rodeöâ is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the undergroundâthe unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.â
Surprise! You probably noticed that I am not, in fact, Dolph. Welcome to a special edition of the Unsigned Band Rodeö exclusively featuring all five members of the Freezer Crew.1 Originally admitted as part of the 2021 casting call, our n00b class was summarily put on ice for a few years until management remembered us the Internet was ready to receive our correct opinions. Due to these unorthodox circumstances, we of the Crew are firm believers in the âbetter late than neverâ philosophy. This proved fortunate for the death/doom/sludge group Acrid Rot, who sent us their debut album Where Flesh Transcends⊠Man Stands Tall on the very day of its release. Normally, this is a good way to not get a review, but in this case they get five! Without further ado, letâs examine how well this young spitfire band from Pennsylvania capitalizes on the second chance theyâve been given. â Killjoy
Acrid Rot // Where Flesh Transcends⊠Man Stands Tall [July 21st, 2025]
Alekhines Gun: âWiser, Older, Still Hates Sludgeâ is one of our many banner themes in these hallowed halls. And yet, for every subgenre we hate2 there comes such a well-constructed illustration of the idea that it defies the sn00tiness of even such âabove it allâ outfits as us, The Freezer Crew. Acrid Rot classify themselves as doom/death/sludge, and while there isnât really all that much doom, thereâs definitely some well-crafted sludgy death. Where Flesh Transcends⊠is a moody beast, littered in modern The Acacia Strain gloom and an approach to emotive riff-craft adjacent to Terminal Nation and Fuming Mouth. âWhere Fangs Supplant Teethâ is as clear of an album mission statement as any, with a chug-centric, lead-slathered construction seemingly showing the whole albumâs hand. And yet, the deeper you go, the more Acrid Rot unfurl tendrils in other directions, with âThe Torment of Mendingâ recalling the years of metalcore before that was a dirty word. Surprisingly, acoustic interludes (âA Night Upon the Mireâ, âBlood Upon the Cabin Floorâ) donât come across as filler, instead adding more to the mood pervasive through the album in a vein similar to Morbid Angelâs âDesolate Ways.â Some switched-up track sequencing might help Where Flesh TranscendsâŠfeel less like an album with two sides (particularly the back half featuring cleans which, while not bad, definitely sound dated and out of place). Otherwise, Acrid Rot have dropped a debut to redeem the honor of deathly sludge in these halls and is worthy of your time. 3.5/5.0
Killjoy: Acrid Rotâs identity seems to be in a constant state of flux, even for a new band. Where Flesh Transcends⊠Man Stands Tall initially struck me as a post-ier Warcrab, ricocheting between death, doom, sludge, and post metal with reckless abandon. The common denominator is lots of grimy yet groovy riffs which, when coupled with Matt Weisbergâs venomous growls yields a pleasurably abrasive result. Acrid Rot makes a positive first impression with opener âWhere Fangs Supplant Teeth,â successfully navigating nearly 8 minutes with a feral statement of intent before transitioning to a crushing doom section midway through. There are still some good times to follow, but after this point the pacing becomes choppy and a bit puzzling at times. âTo Wallow in Infirmityâ is a coarse death metal-leaning track with a slightly underdeveloped outro. âDesidariumâ and âThe Torment of Mendingâ both mine similar veins of weighty death-doom, the latter experimenting with clean vocals to middling effect. The two acoustic guitar-picked interludes, âA Night Upon the Mireâ and âBlood Upon the Cabin Floor,â donât add a whole lot, and just one (or none) of them would have sufficed. Where Flesh Transcends⊠Man Stands Tall is worthy of at least a few spins but the overall quality isnât quite consistent enough to have much staying power for me. 2.5/5.0
Owlswald: Formed in 2022, Pennsylvania-based death/sludge quintet Acrid Rot is a young band and it shows on their debut album, Where Flesh TranscendsâŠMan Stands Tall. Although the record shows glimmers of potential, its consistency and execution are frustratingly uneven. Acrid Rot is at its best when the group finds its focus. Tracks like âDesidariumâ and the title track are highlights, featuring tight arrangements, quality songwriting and potent, hooky Edge of Sanity-esque riffing that hint at a promising future once the fivesome fully hones its voice. Unfortunately, these standout moments are too few and far between and, as a whole, the album feels more like a rough draft than a final product. While the riffs and vocals lay a raw, powerful foundation, the drumming holds back the songwriting. It feels loose and lacks the precision and energy needed on tracks like âSalvationâs Pointed Knife,â âTo Wallow in Infinityâ and âThe Torment of Meaning.â Other songs, like âWhere Fangs Supplant Teethâ and âThe Weight of Impermanence,â overstay their welcome without offering enough originality, leaning on repetitive riffs and breakdowns that occasionally stray into generic groove and nu-metal territory. In the end, Where Flesh TranscendsâŠMan Stands Tall is a disappointing effort that lacks the polish and creativity for lasting appeal, leaving me to hope that this debut is a mere stepping stone for Acrid Rot and not a sign of whatâs to come. Disappointing.
Thyme: Come now, all ye listeners of other things, and prepare to have thy face stanked and thy neck destroyed via vigorous whipped lashings. Pennsylvaniaâs new sludge act, Acrid Rot, dropped their big ugly Crowbar of a debut album, Where Flesh TranscendsâŠMan Stands Tall in July. Flush with enough fat, meaty riffs to keep even the snobbiest of sludge-esieurs satiated, thereâs tons oâ melody in them thar hills as well (âWhere Fangs Supplant Teeth,â âThe Weight of Impermanenceâ). Once the two-man project of multi-instrumentalist Dax Giglio and vocalist Matt Weisberg, Acrid Rot has expanded into a full-fledged five-piece with enough chops to suggest a group that has been together for way longer. My nod to Crowbar stands as the best comparison, as Acrid Rot execute perfectly on the template that those Nola-ns established with â91âs Obedience Through Suffering. Weisberg matches Kirk Windstein blow for blow, his gruff, sludgy grunts and gravelly tones (âThe Torment of Mendingâ) a dead ringer for Crowbarâs front man, but with the ace of some absolutely guttural, deathly growls up his sleeve (âDesidariumâ) to slide out and win the hand. Where Flesh TranscendsâŠMan Stands Tall is one monstrous riff-fest of a debut, and aside from a couple of much-needed acoustic interludes that I enjoyed as well, there wasnât a moment of this forty-three-minute monster that didnât have me testing the boundaries of my cervical spine. Why Acrid Rot arenât signed yet is a mystery, but Iâll guarantee you they wonât stay unsigned for long. 3.5/5.0
ClarkKent: That stench pervading Pennsylvania is none other than Acrid Rot, a group of young upstarts unleashing their debut album on the unwitting masses. Where Flesh Transcends⊠contains a set of rancid sludge that seamlessly alternates between the creep of doom to more up-tempo death metal. The musicians have a restrained discipline in their approach to the music, allowing ideas to fester develop organically without feeling overlong. It helps that the riffs are a cut above average, and thereâs a fair amount of variety. Speaking of variety, vocalist Matt Weisberg is all over the place, and I donât mean that in a bad way. He alternates between punky shouts and powerful doom growls, but he also manages to surprise with some old school Beastie Boys-like yells (âTo Wallow in Infinityâ) and slam gurgles (âWhere Flesh TranscendsâŠMan Stands Tallâ). This variety helps prevent the record from growing stale. With a DR 9, Where Flesh Transcends⊠is well-produced and sounds appropriately putrid, but for something that leans doom I found the drums to be a bit on the weak side. The compositions are the work of mature musiciansâa little more bite to the instruments would have elevated the whole package. Nonetheless, Acrid Rot prove themselves a promising new face in the sludge scene. 3.0/5.0
#2025 #AcridRot #AmericanMetal #AngryMetalGuySUnsignedBandRodeo #AngryMetalGuySUnsignedBandRodeo2025 #BeastieBoys #Crowbar #DeathMetal #DoomMetal #EdgeOfSanity #FumingMouth #Jul25 #MorbidAngel #Review #Reviews #SelfRelease #SludgeMetal #TerminalNation #TheAcaciaStrain #Warcrab #WhereFleshTranscendsManStandsTall