DEAD METAL

Here we have the only full-length from an obscure Ohio band. Self-released in 1996, Indulge In The Macabre is absolutely a diamond in the rough. Groovy, brutal, mid-paced death metal with a lot of character and charm. On which note, special mention has to go to the glorious artwork! To be filed next to the likes of  Baphomet / Banished  and  Embalm . You can preview the album below, and purchase it here .

Dying Of Everything is the eleventh full-length from these Floridian legends. Out this Friday on Relapse, it is their first offering for six years. ...and it has been worth the wait. From the healthy variety of tempos, to the strong songwriting/performances/production, to the experimental touches, it has selling points aplenty. Thirty-five years deep, Obituary is still a force to be reckoned with. You can stream one of the singles below, and order a copy  here .

Rothadás ( Hungary ) - Rothadás ( Pulverised/Me Saco Un Ojo/Life After Death, 2019 ) Vacuous ( UK ) - Katabasis ( FHED, 2020 ) Apparition  ( US ) -  Granular Transformation  ( Profound Lore, 2020 ) Gosudar ( Russia ) / Malignant Altar ( US ) - split ( Me Saco Un Ojo/Rotted Life, 2022 )

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 )