DEAD METAL

22nd OCTOBER Massacre  ( US, death metal ) -  Resurgence  ( Nuclear Blast ) 22nd OCTOBER 1914 ( Ukraine, blackened death metal ) -  Where Fear And Weapons Meet ( Napalm ) 5th NOVEMBER Mortiferum  ( US, death-doom ) -  Preserved In Torment  ( Profound Lore ) 26th NOVEMBER Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû ( US, black/death metal ) -  Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû ( Agonia )

All of these offerings have been brought to us by Heimat Der Katastrophe - a Milan-based dungeon synth outlet with a retro computer game aesthetic and a focus on soundtrack-type material. Doom Catacomb is one of the label's strongest artists, and you can introduce yourself to their four releases to date below. The Empire Of The Necromancers (2018) HDK 11 † The empire of the necromancers by DOOM CATACOMB The Weaver In The Vault (2019) HDK 34 † The weaver in the vault by DOOM CATACOMB Necromancy In Naat (2020) HDK 59 † Necromancy in Naat by DOOM CATACOMB Polar (2021) HDK 74 † Polar by DOOM CATACOMB

Here we have the first Carcass full-length for eight years. Album number seven was originally scheduled to see the light of day last year, but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Worth the wait? Of course it was. Liverpool's finest can do no wrong, in our books at least. The title is an homage to their original drummer, Ken Owen, who once had a solo project called Torn Arteries. It probably-inevitably has more in common with Surgical Steel than any other release, but it features elements that feel like they have been resurrected from earlier works as well. Carcass has also never been a band to stand still, creatively, and this is no exception - there have been a lot of subtle tweaks/additions to 'the formula' (when it comes to groove, melody, instrumentation, dynamics...) Overall, it is a varied-but-consistent (and, most importantly, a very strong) offering. A definite contender for album of the year, from one of the all-time greats. You can hear one of the singles below,

Můra is a Czechian band, and this is their (outstanding) debut release. Doom Invocations And Narcotic Rituals is a two track EP, which clocks in at just under twenty minutes. Death-doom with some black metal elements here; it could be filed next to Temple Nightside or  Krypts . The only physical release has been a limited edition cassette from Caligari , but you can also download it on  Bandcamp  and stream it below. We very much look forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.

Gnoll - Music For Dungeons ( Heimat Der Katastrophe, 2018 ) Another fantastic release from Gnoll. The synth work is exceptional; the theremin hooks in particular really help this project to stand out from the crowd. Old Sorcery  /  Haxan Dreams  ( Finland, dungeon synth ) -  War Of The Old Kingdom  ( Essential Purification, 2021 ) This is the second time these countrymates have shared a release, and it follows on from the last split very nicely indeed. Old Sorcery is one of the best. War of the Old Kingdom by Old Sorcery

This Danish/international Dark Descent band formed in 2015. They now have two full-lengths and a slew of other releases under their belts. What you can expect from them is frantic, punishing death metal; with some doomier sections. There are very strong  Incantation  influences afoot, so if that is your bag then do be sure to check them out. The full discography can be downloaded  here ; physical copies can be hunted down  here . ...and below are a few choice tracks to whet your appetite: