DEAD METAL

Mirror Reaper is one long track, split onto two CDs. "As Above" and "So Below" are the names of the two 'sides', which total almost 84 minutes. Released on Profound Lore in 2017, it is the third full-length from this now-decade-old Seattle three-piece. Even if sludgy epic funeral doom isn't your 'thing' on paper, you would do well to at least give it a try. And then another try, if necessary. ...and if you need any motivation to do so, the incredible artwork from Mariusz Lewandowski should help you out. It is absolutely an album worth getting to know, anyway - a rich and compelling journey. You can listen to an excerpt below, and order a copy here .

27th MARCH Graceless   - Where Vultures Know Your Name  (Raw Skull Recordz) Graceless have been featured a number of times previously . Here we have the band's second full-length, following 2017's Shadowlands (and last year's split with Grond). If you enjoyed either of those releases you will not be disappointed. For fans of : Vader, Bolt Thrower, Obituary 27th MARCH Angerot   - The Divine Apostate   (Redefining Darkness) This blackened death metal band released their debut album (The Splendid Iniquity) in 2018 (on the also-excellent  Black Market Metal Label ). Pre-order for their sophomore effort goes live 30th January, so the link won't work until then. For fans of : Morbid Angel, Entombed, Behemoth

Encased In Ice is another excellent  Maggot Stomp release. More authentic-sounding old school-style death metal from the up-and-coming label. Frozen Soul is a five-piece from Texas (that formed in 2018), and this is their first output. The demo EP features three original tracks, along with a Mortician cover; and it is a very fine debut. It spends the majority of its fifteen-minute running time at the lower, and slower, end of the spectrum. Good reference points would probably be  Morpheus Descends  and  Spectral Voice . Impressive riffing, powerful vocals, strong drumming, solid production... You can stream a track below, and acquire a copy  here . *edit* The Japanese reissue  includes FOUR bonus tracks, which is great... but the remaster sadly doesn't really do the material justice.

Gojira had death metal beginnings. ...but have grown into more of a progressive rock/metal act. A Grammy award-nominated act, no less, having captured a significant audience (at least in part) with their environmental themes. The French band formed in 1996, under the name Godzilla, and recorded four demos. They changed their name to Gojira in 2001, and have since released six full-lengths (the last two of which having been for Roadrunner). There is talk of a new one this year. It is unlikely to be 'metal' enough for a review on here, but it is eagerly-anticipated nonetheless. Either way, five tracks from five of the albums to-date be can heard below. Indians (from  The Link , 2003): Where Dragons Dwell (from From Mars To Sirius , 2005): Oroborus  (from  The Way Of All Flesh , 2008): L'Enfant Sauvage (from L'Enfant Sauvage , 2012): Magma (from Magma , 2016)

Tales From Eternal Dusk is a highly underrated black metal offering. Dark Fortress hail from Germany, and this is their first full-length (from 2001). The band has been active since 1994, however; and is still active today - their latest album drops on Century Media next month, in fact. It is also Century Media that swept the cobwebs off their debut (which was originally released on Red Stream), in 2017. Melodic and catchy; fast and furious; really good fun. It's surprising that more people aren't familiar with it. The reissue features a bonus CD of demo material, which adds to the package nicely. You can listen to a choice track below, and pick up a copy  here .

See here for previous posts about Slayer. This one is about the band's earliest output, for Metal Blade. Specifically -  Show No Mercy (1983), Haunting The Chapel (1984) and Live Undead (1985) - all of which can be heard below. Show No Mercy does boast Slayer's trademark sound, but it also carries unmistakable new-wave-of-British-heavy-metal influences. Haunting The Chapel (EP) carries less of those, but still very much represents an act (and indeed genre) in development. Live Undead is a live six-tracker, featuring tracks from both of the aforementioned offerings. These releases include Chemical Warfare, Black Magic, Die By The Sword... Classic material, from one of the most important bands in metal history.

This somewhat-underrated old school death metal band has been active since 1987. Like Cannibal Corpse , these guys formed in Buffalo (New York); and then moved to Florida. Rob Barrett from Cannibal Corpse actually played in Malevolent Creation for a couple of spells. The first three (Roadrunner) full-lengths (released in 1991, 1992 and 1993) are widely considered to be their best. If you are unfamiliar with their material, a good place to start would be the  best of  - because it principally comprises tracks from those first three albums. Or, pick up the debut, because it’s particularly great. In spite of countless line-up changes they are still recording, and touring. Start digging into Malevolent Creation's  discography today.

We interviewed Andy Whale (of Bolt Thrower fame)  previously , with his Memoriam hat on. This time we caught up with the legendary drummer to ask a few questions about his latest project,  Darkened . 1. Darkened is something of a 'supergroup', how did you guys get together? Darkened started as an idea between myself and Daryl (Kahan) . We've known each other for quite a few years. We grew up liking and playing the same kind of music (punk, hardcore, death metal) but on different sides of the Atlantic.  We'd talked about doing a band together for a while, but never got around to doing  anything. When we started the ball rolling, it all sort of fell into place. Daryl suggested Hempa (Brynolfsson) , who had some amazing ideas for songs.  Hempa in turn suggested Linus (Nirbrant) , who is amazing at structuring songs.  Hempa and Linus also work together on the mixing side of things.  The hard person to find was the vocalist. We got a few people to demo some

Cryptic Brood ( Germany ) -   Outcome Of Obnoxious Science   ( War Anthem ) Darkthrone ( Norway ) -   Old Star   ( Peaceville ) Dawn Of Demise ( Denmark ) -   Into The Depths Of Veracity   ( Unique Leader ) Exoto ( Belgium ) -   Absolution In Death   ( Dead By Dawn ) Graceless ( Netherlands ) / Grond  ( Russia ) -   Endless Spiral Of Terror   ( Raw Skull Recordz) Ingested  ( UK ) -   Call Of The Void   ( Unique Leader ) Nile ( US ) -   Vile Nilotic Rites   ( Nuclear Blast ) Oltretomba ( Italy ) -   The Horror: Figure Del Terrore   ( Moribund ) Sempiternal Dusk ( US ) -   Cenotaph Of Defectuous Creation   ( Dark Descent ) Sentient Horror ( US ) -   Morbid Realms   ( Redefining Darkness/Testimony)

If you are unfamiliar with Void Rot, see here first. This interview is with vocalist and guitarist John Hancock. 1. Your debut EP (Consumed By Oblivion) is outstanding, how has the response to that been? We've been really happy with the response! Consumed was the first time any of us recorded something for real so I'm just happy a couple of people don't think it's total garbage! We were so excited to show up on several people's year-end EP lists as well as Cvlt Nation's top 15 death/doom albums. A highlight for sure. 2. Your forthcoming split with Atavisma is also excellent, how did that release come about? After we put out Consumed we knew that we wanted to get going on a full-length right away, so by the end of 2018/beginning of 2019 we had "Necrotic Deity" and "Accursed Earth" written with that in mind. Then Giorgio and Tito from Everlasting Spew told us they were bringing Atavisma over (awesome!) and thought it would be a go

Decrepit Birth play melodic, progressive, technical, brutal death metal. ...and even if that doesn't sound like your 'thing', you should give this album a chance... The Californian band has been active since 2001, and this is their third full-length (of four to date). Originally brought to us by Nuclear Blast/Massacre, in 2010, it has since been reissued by the likes of Metal Mind (2015) and Agonia (2019). Ambitious and captivating, Polarity is loaded with hooks; and is definitely a cut above most releases of this nature. You can preview it below, and purchase a copy  here .

7th FEBRUARY A tavisma  /  Void Rot  split  (Everlasting Spew) Void Rot's first EP was  featured in 2018 . Another three track instalment here, this time alongside three tracks from French death-doom band Atavisma. It is a very solid release in general, but Necrotic Deity by Void Rot is a definite stand-out. For fans of : Krypts, Spectral Voice, Sempiternal Dusk 14th FEBRUARY Plague  -  Portraits Of Mind  (Redefining Darkness/Nuclear Winter) Portraits Of Mind is the first full-length from this Greek old school-style death metal four-piece. The seven-tracker features some particularly strong lead guitar work, but nothing about it falls short. A highly impressive debut, and absolutely a band to watch. For fans of : Death, Brutality, Skeletal Remains