DEAD METAL

1914 is a WWI-themed band from Ukraine, that formed in 2014 - on the hundredth anniversary of the start of the war. The Blind Leading The Blind is a compelling hour-long blackened, sludgy, doom-laden death metal journey. The songwriting is extremely strong, as is the execution; and the release is laced with some highly effective samples. It drops 11th November; or more specifically, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month (Central European Time) - the hundredth anniversary of the end of the war. A track from the album, which features a guest performance from David Ingram (of  Benediction  and  Bolt Thrower  fame), can be heard below. ...and it can be pre-ordered now, from  Redefining Darkness  (America) or  Archaic  (Europe).

Intense, brutal-but-melodic old school-style death metal. These guys might have something of a Swedish sound, but don't be fooled - they're from Stockholm... New York. Special mention has to go to their production values, which really help to set them apart from the crowd. The guitar work is also particularly noteworthy - catchy riffs, and sublime solos. Both of the band's offerings to date have been brought to us by Testimony/Redefining Darkness. The first is 2016's outstanding Ungodly Forms album: The second is an EP called  The Crypts Below , which came out earlier this year: Don't sleep on Sentient Horror.

A previous post about Obituary can be found here . Don't Care, taken from 1994's World Demise album, is something of a death metal anthem. It isn't hard to see why "I don't care, I'll do what I want" was a sentiment which appealed to the teenagers of the time; and the support from MTV's Headbanger's Ball didn't hurt, either. This three track Roadrunner Records release is quite hard to find, and doesn't feature any exclusives - what you're buying is a piece of death metal history. It's also a very good listen, an extremely solid offering in itself. You can stream the EP below, and invest in a copy here .

Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones is a lesser-known classic. Hints of Bolt Thrower ,  Autopsy and Baphomet ; to name a few bands. Morpheus Descends formed in 1992 and is still active today, following a couple of breaks. What stands out the most about the release is probably the drumming, which is impressive and original in equal measure. Thanks in no small part to that drumming, the New Yorkers shift between their doomier sections and faster parts exceptionally well. The EP was self-released on CD and cassette in 1994, and reissued on vinyl by The Crypt in 2015. You can track down a physical copy here , or download it  here . P.S. These guys have released  several other EPs  that are also worth checking.

Necrophobic's debut is blackened death metal gold. One of the best albums to come out of the Swedish scene. To be filed next to the debuts from  Unleashed  and  Eucharist . Melodic guitar work, as you might expect from a Sunlight Studios production, but it ventures further into black metal territory than its contemporaries. Some Slayer influence, which isn't surprising given that the band is named after a Slayer song; and also some hints of Morbid Angel. Originally released on Black Mark in 1993, it has subsequently been reissued by Hammerheart. The Nocturnal Silence can be heard below, and purchased  here .

Unleashed are Swedish death metal legends. They rose from the ashes of Nihilist, a band which also gave birth to Entombed. Where No Life Dwells is their first full-length, and their finest hour. Released in 1991, on Century Media, it's a truly exceptional debut. Intense and brutal, but with seriously catchy riffing and enough tempo changes to keep things interesting throughout. Thrash influences, doomy sections, plenty of groove... You can listen to the album below, and buy it here .

Both of these American bands have been active since 2014. Each brings two death-doom tracks to the table for this album-length volume. Shrine Of The Serpent's contributions are weighty, crushing affairs with a lot of sludge influence. Black Urn also has some sludge going on, as well as black metal elements and a dose of funeral doom. It's a highly cohesive split, and Black Urn's cover of Junkhead by Alice In Chains is an interesting inclusion. Black Market have handled the CD release, with vinyl and cassette treatments coming from Godz Ov War and Calgari. You can preview it below, and pick up a copy  here .

Loss is a funeral death-doom band from Nashville, Tennessee. Life Without Hope... Death Without Reason is their debut offering. As the cover/title/band name would suggest this is bleak, sorrowful stuff. It is also extremely enjoyable; and the production is very strong for a demo, too. Self-released in 2004, it has gone on to be reissued on CD by Deathgasm; as well as on vinyl by Parasitic, and on cassette by Weird Truth. The Deathgasm version includes a couple of live tracks as a bonus. The EP can be heard below, and purchased  here .

Embrace of Thorns have been featured before,  here . They hail from Athens, and have been active since 1999. This is their 2014 album, on Nuclear War Now! Productions. A highly satisfying slab of brutal-but-catchy blackened death metal. It's transcendent, thundering, abyssal stuff; immersive and atmospheric. Most formats are available here , but for a CD you will need to look  elsewhere . Darkness Impenetrable can also be heard, in its entirety, below.