DEAD METAL

Embalm is a Wisconsin band that only ever released two demos. Here we have a remastered reissue of those demos, along with a couple of live tracks. The main attraction is very much 1997's Prelude To Obscurity - a highly enjoyable offering. Groovy, brutal, mostly-mid-paced death metal with the occasional flash of black metal. Thanks to 20 Buck Spin and Hospital Productions for unearthing it. You can hear the full release below, and buy it here .

01  Worm  -  Bluenothing  (20 Buck Spin) 02  Immolation  -  Acts Of God  (Nuclear Blast) 03  The Chasm  -  The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow  (Luxinframundis/VIC) 04  Hearse - Traipse Across The Empty Graves  (Sinistrari) 05  Old Sorcery  -  Dragon Citadel Elegies  (Essential Purification/Dungeons Deep) 06  Autopsy  -  Morbidity Triumphant  (Peaceville) 07  Megadeth  -  The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!  (Universal/Tradecraft) 08  Corpsegrinder  -  Corpsegrinder  (Perseverance) 09  Spectrum Mortis – Bit Meseri - The Incantation  (Listenable) 10  Vacuous – Dreams Of Dysphoria  (Me Saco Un Ojo/Dark Descent)

Here we have the first full-length from a seven-year-old Spanish band. Brought to us by Listenable Records, this is blackened death-doom goodness. According to Spectrum Mortis, Bit Meseri "revolves around the vision of life and death that existed in ancient Mesopotamia." Heavy on the "ceremonial occult" vibes, it is highly atmospheric stuff. It is also very well-written, well-executed and well-produced. You can listen to the album below, and purchase it here .

20th May -  Assumption  ( Italy, death-doom ) –  Hadean Tides  ( Everlasting Spew/Sentient Ruin ) 27th May -  The Chasm  ( Mexico, death metal ) –  The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow  ( Luxinframundis/VIC ) 14th October - Imprecation ( US, death metal ) -  In Nomine Diaboli ( Dark Descent ) 28th October - Darkthrone ( Norway, black metal ) - Astral Fortress ( Peaceville )

Sargeist, which roughly translates to "coffin ghost", is a side project from Horna ’s Shatraug. ...and as with Horna, the back catalogue is quite extensive and of a consistently high standard. This is a post to highlight two particularly choice releases, for anyone that is new to the band to dip their toes. First up is 2005’s Disciple Of The Heinous Path . The second of five full-lengths, in our view this is the strongest offering to date. Next up is 2013’s The Rebirth Of A Cursed Existence . A compilation of split/compilation/7" material and album bonus tracks. If you like Horna/are a fan of Finnish black metal then this is essential stuff.

9th June - Disma ( US, death metal ) – Earthendium ( Necroharmonic ) 1st August - Fleshrot ( US, death metal ) - Unburied Corpse ( Me Saco Un Ojo/Desert Wastelands ) 30th September -  Autopsy  ( US, death metal ) - Morbidity Triumphant ( Peaceville ) 7th October - Old Sorcery ( Finland, dungeon synth ) -  Dragon Citadel Elegies ( Essential Purification/Dungeons Deep )

Previous posts about these thrash metal titans can be found here . "40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom" is a best-of with a difference - it isn't a best-of! Firstly, it is a collection of re-recordings; and secondly, the band already re-recorded a couple of their biggest 'hits' for the last couple of EPs, and have thankfully opted against reusing/re-recording those again here. It features material from throughout their history, including some tracks that were crying out to be recorded to a higher standard and some that really weren't. ...but whatever these guys might choose to record/re-record is more than fine with us. Their output in recent years has been first-rate, and this 17 track offering certainly continues that trend. Long live Sodom, and long may this tight procession of solid releases continue. The album drops on 28th October, and you can pre-order a copy  here .

Worm has been featured quite heavily in the past . Aside from anything else, the last two full-lengths topped our 2020 and 2021 end-of-year lists. So hopes are high going into this one; and judging by the preview track (which can be found below) those hopes are not misplaced. Bluenothing is a four track EP/mini-album, which apparently clocks in at twenty-six minutes. Out 28th October, on 20 Buck Spin, it can be pre-ordered here .

Sororicide  ( Iceland ) - The Entity  ( Platonic, 1991 ): Purtenance  ( Finland ) -  Member Of Immortal Damnation ( Drowned, 1992 ): Benediction ( UK ) - Dark Is The Season ( Nuclear Blast, 1992 ): Gutted ( US ) - Gutted ( Loud N Local/New Millennium Vibrations, 1997 ):

Hailing from the UK, Vaticinal Rites is a brand new band. This self-titled debut offering only has four tracks, and clocks in at under 12 minutes, but it demands several listens every time you put it in the player. Flawless death metal; it would have made our 2021 end-of-year list if we had discovered it sooner. Redefining Darkness/Caligari have released it on CD (and a very cool slimline jewel case CD it is too); and cassettes are available from Dry Cough. You can stream this exceptional EP below, and pick up a copy here . Hopes are very high indeed for the forthcoming full-length.

Judas Iscariot was an American one man black metal band. The project was active for ten years (1992-2002), and made a big impression on the scene. The output from 1997 onwards is particularly worthy of your time. ...and if we were to recommend just two albums, it would most definitely be 1997's Heaven in Flames and 2002's  To Embrace The Corpses Bleeding . You can familiarise yourself with both of those releases below.

Megadeth   – Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! ( Combat, 1985 ) Nuclear Assault  – Survive ( Under One Flag, 1988 ) Morbid Saint - Spectrum Of Death ( Avanzada Metalica, 1990 ) Nuclear Assault – Out Of Order (Under One Flag, 1991 ) Morbid Saint – Destruction System   (self-released, 1992 ) Megadeth  - The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead! (Universal/Tradecraft, 2022 )

10th DECEMBER  ( ok, this one isn't actually forthcoming ) Malignant Altar  ( US, death metal ) -  Realms of Exquisite Morbidity ( Dark Descent ) 4th FEBRUARY Corpsegrinder ( US, death metal ) - Corpsegrinder ( Perseverance ) 18th FEBRUARY Immolation ( US, death metal ) - Acts Of God ( Nuclear Blast ) 25th FEBRUARY Blood Incantation ( US, dark ambient ) - Timewave Zero ( Century Media )