DEAD METAL

Following a post about the most recent Darkthrone full-length , this one focuses on the first. And no, you didn't misread - Soulside Journey is a death metal album. After this record the band went on to become an integral part of the Norwegian black metal scene - dropping A Blaze In The Northern Sky in 1992, the first installment in their 'unholy trinity' of early black metal releases. But this album, released in 1991 on Peaceville, was recorded at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm - and that shows. Swedish influences aside, it's a somewhat technical and progressive death metal affair. A far cry from the style which they're best known for, but an excellent release nonetheless. Darkthrone's debut can be previewed below, and acquired  here .

Darkthrone needs no introduction, these Norweigian pioneers have been around for more than thirty years now. 2016's Arctic Thunder, released by Peaceville, is their seventeenth full-length and their strongest for quite some time. It draws from the back catalogue, while also continuing to break new ground; and features some truly great riffs. Darkthrone will never please everyone by pleasing themselves, but long may that continue. Concise and powerful blackened heavy metal, which demands repeated listening. The album can be heard below, and purchased here .

Cryptic Grave is a death metal band with old school leanings from Bordeaux (France). They formed in 2015, and self-released a self-titled demo in 2017. 2018 has seen a CD reissue of that demo, along with new intro and outro tracks, by Great Dane Records. Well-written and well-executed, the EP is a highly enjoyable listen. Hints of  Death ,  Obituary  and  Bolt Thrower ; among others. You can hear a couple of tracks below, and buy it  here .

A 2015 release from Memento Mori here. Austerymn is an English band, with a healthy dose of Swedish influence. Death metal with old school flavours; and particularly strong lead guitar work. This project began in 2007, but its main songwriters also played in bands together during the '90s. Sepulcrum Viventium is their only full-length to date; fingers crossed for another one in the near future. You can listen to a track from it below, and pick up a copy here . These guys are well worth catching live, too.