DEAD METAL

A compilation of Imprecation's '90s output was featured here . They split up in 1998, but have reformed in recent years and released two albums on Dark Descent. Line-up changes have done absolutely nothing to take away from the quality of their material. ...and time has done nothing to curb their ferocity; or indeed their blasphemy! These guys are one of the best death metal bands that Texas has produced. You can stream both albums below, and order them here . Satanae Tenebris Infinita (2013) Damnatio Ad Bestias (2019) P.S. The split with Black Blood Invocation is also worth picking up.

Torchure ( Germany ) - The Essence ( 1MF, 1993 ): Ceremonium  ‎( US ) –  Into The Autumn Shade  ( Fadeless, 1995 ): Inverted ( Sweden ) ‎– The Shadowland ( Shiver, 1996 ): Scythe ( US ) - Undead Infantry ( Metal Mulisha, 1999 ):

Quest Master has been featured previously, here . Dungeon synth has been crossed with a variety of other genres in recent years. In the case of this Australian artist, it has been combined with '90s computer game music. This 2020 Out Of Season release is very much a continuation of their previously-featured output. If you enjoyed Lost Songs of Distant Realms, you will certainly enjoy this album. You can preview The Twelve Castles below, and buy it here . *edit* The Twelve Temples is also now available.

Dehumanized is a lesser-known New York death metal band. They formed in 1995, and this was their first of three full-lengths. Words like 'brutal' and 'slam' do apply here, but don't let those put you off. Released on Pathos Productions in 1998, Prophecies Foretold is an outstanding offering. Great guitars drums, vocals... do yourself a favour and give it a listen today. You can do that listening below, and purchase a copy  here .

01 Worm - Gloomlord (Iron Bonehead) 02  Old Tower  - Seelenasche /  The Last Eidolon  / Plague Harvest (Various) 03  Beast Of Revelation  -  The Ancient Ritual Of Death  (Iron Bonehead) 04  Sodom  -  Genesis XIX  (Nuclear Blast) 05  Carcass  -  Despicable  (Nuclear Blast) 06  Scour  - Black (Housecore/Nuclear Blast) 07  Transcendence  -  Towards Obscurities Beyond  (Blood Harvest) 08  Soulskinner  -  Seven Bowls of Wrath  (Xtreem) 09  Necrot  -  Mortal  (Tankcrimes) 10  Ringarë - Sorrow Befell  (Iron Bonehead) *edit* Incantation - Sect Of Vile Divinities should have made this list

Infernal Dominon is a death metal band from Houston, Texas. Formed in 1999, this is their one-and-only full-length. As you can probably tell from the cover, Salvation Through Infinite Suffering (Corpse Gristle/TXDM Underground, 2000) has some satanic overtones. Neither underproduced nor overproduced, it's a 'brutal' affair; but it stands head and shoulders above the average brutal death metal offering - excellent chugging riffs, solid guttural vocals... What perhaps stands out about it the most is the superb drumming, courtesy of Charles 'Dobber' Beverly - who now plays in a very similar style for outstanding newcomers  Malignant Altar (and who also plays in  Necrofier, amongst other bands). The 2009 Burning Dogma reissue is particularly recommended, since it boasts all of the non-album recordings as bonus tracks; not to mention a nice red jewel case. You can hear it below, and hunt down a copy here .

Skarpseian ‎ – Skygge Slottet ( GV Sound, 2013 ): Skarpseian ‎ –  Tan Gil   ( GV Sound, 2014 ): Grimrik - Eisreich ( Deivlforst, 2014 ): Grimrik ‎– Die Mauern Der Nac ht ( Deivlforst, 2015 ): Spectral Kingdom ‎– I - III ( Deivlforst, 2018 ): Blood Lord - Unwelcome Guests ( Dungeons Deep, 2019 ): *edit*  The Bloodstained Keep  is also well worth checking Kosmorik ‎– Voyage Of Discovery ( Deivlforst, 2019 ): Forgotten Ghost / Snarling Clearing ‎– Empyreal Sorrow  ( Realm & Ritual, 2020 ): Quest Master - Lost Songs Of Distant Realms, Complete Collection ( Out Of Season, 2020 ):

This post focuses on the four Gorgoroth albums that we feel we can wholeheartedly recommend. These Norwegian black metal titans got together in 1992 and are still active today. There have been plenty of member changes in the band's history, though... Original vocalist Hat only features on the debut (Pentagram) and half of the sophomore effort (Antichrist) - since he was replaced during its recording by Pest. Antichrist is a cohesive work in spite of the division of vocal duties, perhaps even surpassing the debut, but both are outstanding  Bathory -influenced offerings. Pentagram ( Embassy/Wild Rags, 1994 ): Antichrist ( Malicious, 1996 ): Pest later went on to be replaced by controversial figure Gaahl; but returned for 2009's outstanding comeback album, Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt (as well as the impressive 2011 re-recording Of Under The Sign Of Hell ). 2015's Instinctus Bestialis is also well worth picking it up; but you guessed it - it features a different ...

All death metal releases... Immolation ( US ) - Unholy Cult ( Listenable/Olympic, 2002 ): Nocturnal Vomit ( Greece ) - Cursed Relics ( Kill Yourself/Imperium/Terror From Hell/Afterlife, 2012 ): Cavurn ( US ) ‎– Rehearsal ( Blood Harvest, 2017 ): Phobophilic ‎( US ) – Undimensioned Identities ( Rotted Life/Blood Harvest, 2019 ): ...and a bonus recommendation: Humanity Delete ( Sweden ) / Carnal Garden ‎( Greece ) – Anthems Of Doom / Lethal Onslaught  ( Iron Blood And Death Corporation )

This pioneering Swedish band should really need no introduction. Their early work has served as something of a blueprint for Scandinavian black metal. They released material consistently until the untimely death of main main Quorthon in 2004. However, beyond the first four offerings (pictured above) most of their output was of the viking metal variety; which is not the focus of this post. If you are a fan of black metal and are somehow yet to familiarise yourself with Bathory, you should rectify that immediately. You can preview and purchase all of the aforementioned albums below. Bathory ( Black Mark, 1984 ): The Return ( Black Mark, 1985 ): Under The Sign Of The Black Mark ( Under One Flag, 1987 ): Blood Fire Death ( Under One Flag, 1988 ):

30th OCTOBER Autopsy  ( US, death metal ) -  Live In Chicago  ( Peaceville ) 27th NOVEMBER Scour   ( US, black metal )   -  Black  ( Housecore/Nuclear Blast ) 7th DECEMBER Engulfed  ( Turkey, death metal ) -  Vengeance Of The Fallen ( Dark Descent/Me Saco Un Ojo ) 8th DECEMBER Horna  ( Finland, black metal ) -  Kuoleman Kirjo  ( W.T.C. Productions )

Torchure  ( Germany ) - Beyond The Veil  ( 1MF, 1992 ): Sinister ( Holland ) - Cross The Styx ( Nuclear Blast, 1992 ): Hazael ( Poland ) - Thor ( Loud Out, 1994 ): Imprecation  ( US ) -  Theurgia Goetia Summa  ( Repulse, 1995 ):

17th April - Funeral Leech  ( US, death-doom ) - Death Meditation ( Carbonized ) 29th May - Sinister ( US, death metal ) -  Deformation Of The Holy Realm ( Massacre ) 7th August -  Obsecration ( Greece, death metal ) ‎– Onwards The Mystic Paths Of The Dead ( Witching Hour ) 2nd October - Conjureth ( US, death metal ) - The Levitation Manifest ( self-released )

All from European bands that haven't been featured before... Sinister ( Holland ) -  Diabolical Summoning ( Nuclear Blast, 1993 ): Eternal Solstice  ( Holland ) -  The Wish Is Father To The Thought ( De Muziekfabriek, 1994 ): Eternal Solstice ( Holland ) - Horrible Within ( Poseidon, 1995 ): Vomitory  ( Sweden ) - Redemption ( Fadeless/The Plague/Pavement, 1999 ):

Transcendence was recently mentioned in  this  post. Phantasm (guitarist) and Putrefaction (vocalist) answered these questions. 1. Towards Obscurities Beyond is an exceptional album, how has the response been so far? When we were recording this album we had no idea what people would think of it, considering our style seems to be something most people aren’t into these days. But so far we’ve gotten positive reviews and overall people seem to really enjoy it.  2. Your sound is really quite unique, how would you describe it? Towards Obscurities Beyond is a collection of our work from 2015 to 2019. It is our search for an evil yet melodic sound that we could call our own. The metal of death in our vision has been found and is currently being expanded on. 3. It’s a cliched question, but who are your main influences? Well of course we all have our own personal tastes, though as a band we’ve come together for our love of old school Scandinavian death and black metal and hatred f...

Baphomet  ( US ) - Death In The Beginning ( self-released, 1990 ): Mega Slaughter  ( Sweden ) -  Calls From The Beyond   ( Thrash, 1991 ): Ceremony ( Holland ) - Tyranny from Above ( Cyber Music, 1993 ): Autopsy ( US ) - Shitfun ( Peaceville, 1995 ):

9th OCTOBER Dysylumn  - Cosmogonie  ( Signal Rex/Egregor ) We interviewed this French band a couple of years ago, around the time of the release of their exceptional sophmore album (Occultation). More quality progressive black metal with death metal elements here, on this triple CD/vinyl/cassette. For fans of : None, Ov Shadows, Chasma 8th JANUARY Frozen Soul  -  Crypt Of Ice   (Century Media ) We had the pleasure of interviewing Frozen Soul earlier this year, following the release of their outstanding Encased In Ice EP. The band's first full-length coming out on a leading label speaks to the quality of their work; expect death metal excellence. For fans of : Bolt Thrower, Spectral Voice, Morpheus Descends

5th September - The Glorious Dead  ( US, death metal ) - Into Lifeless Shrines ( Bindrune ) 11th September -  Darkened  ( International , death metal ) -  Kingdom Of Decay  ( Edged Circle ) 25th September -  Morta Skuld ( US, death metal ) - Suffer For Nothing ( Peaceville ) 25th September -  Transcendence ( US, black/thrash/death metal ) - Towards Obscurities Beyond ( Blood Harvest )

16th October - Benediction  ( UK, death metal ) - Scriptures ( Nuclear Blast ) 30th October - Carcass ( UK, death metal ) - Despicable ( Nuclear Blast ) 11th November -  Soulskinner ( Greece, death metal ) - Seven Bowls Of Wrath  ( Xtreem ) 27th November - Sodom  ( Germany, thrash metal ) - Genesis XIX ( SPV/Steamhammer )

For previous posts about Necrot (including an interview with drummer Chad Gailey), see  here . Mortal is the Californian band's second full-length, and it was released on Tankcrimes late last month. It very much follows in the footsteps of 2017's excellent Blood Offerings; fans of the debut will not be disappointed. That isn't to say that there hasn't been any progression, but there is certainly a (highly effective) formula afoot. Great riffs, sublime leads, superb musicianship in general, strong vocals, and intelligent song structures. One of the best albums of 2020 so far, from one of the best death metal bands of recent years. You can stream it in full below, and pick up a copy here .

Rotted is an American death metal band that formed in 2016. This is their only full-length to date, but there have also been a couple of demos and a split. Released in 2018 by Dark Blasphemies/Headsplit, Pestilent Tomb is an absolutely crushing release. It boasts a thick, dirty old school sound; some excellent riffs; powerful guttural vocals... The outstanding cover sucks you in, and the contents keep you coming back for more. Rotted has set the bar high with this one, we look forward to their next offering. You can hear the title track below, and purchase it here .

Cannibal Corpse -  Eaten Back To Life  ( Metal Blade, 1990 ) Suffocation - Effigy Of The Forgotten ( R/C, 1991 ) Vital Remains - Let Us Pray ( Deaf/Grind Core, 1992 ) Vital Remains - Forever Underground ( Osmose, 1997 )

Previous recommendations can be found  here . New recommendations are as follows: Explosive Action Eric Bauer Ken's Death Metal Crypt Analog Archives

7th August - Temple Nightside ( Australia, blackened death metal ) - Pillars Of Damnation ( Iron Bonehead ) 14th August - Ov Shadows  ( Sweden, black metal ) - I Djavulens Avbild ( Hypnotic Dirge ) 21st August - Incantation ( US, death metal ) -  Sect Of Vile Divinities ( Relapse ) 11th September -  Void Rot  ( US, death-doom ) -  Descending Pillars  ( Everlasting Spew/Sentient Ruin )

Medhelan  -  Nocturnal Wanderings  ( self-released, 2015 ): Wayfarer - Gloomwood Forest ( Eldest Gate, 2017 ): Waeltaja  -  A Gathering In The Woods  ( GS/Hammerbund, 2017 ): Old Sorcery -  Realms Of Magickal Sorrow ( Garavluth, 2017 ): Gnoll  ‎–  The Citadel Of Evil  ( Heimat Der Katastrophe, 2018 ): Deorc Weg  -  Compendium of Frost  ( Obscure Dungeon, 2018 ): Old Sorcery - Strange And Eternal ( Garavluth, 2019 ): Old Sorcery  - Clandestine Meditation In Two Chapters ( Essential Purification, 2020 ): Funeral Requiem - Far Beyond The Misty Fog ( self-released, 2020 ):

All from bands that haven't been featured before... Samael ( Switzerland ) - Blood Ritual (Century Media, 1992): Varathron  ( Greece ) - His Majesty At The Swamp ( Cyber Music, 1993 ): Rotting Christ  ( Greece ) -  Thy Mighty Contract   ( Osmose, 1993 ): Thou Art Lord  ( Greece ) - Eosforos   ( Unisound, 1994 ): Rotting Christ ( Greece ) - Non Serviam ( Unisound, 1994 ): Unanimated  ( Sweden ) -  Ancient God Of Evil  ( No Fashion, 1995 ): Rotting Christ ( Greece ) -  Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers ( Century Media, 1996 ): Cardinal Sin ( Sweden ) - Spiteful Intents ( Wrong Again, 1996 ): Mortuary Drape  ( Italy ) -  Secret Sudaria  ( Nazgul's Eyrie, 1997 ):

All from European bands that haven't been featured before; all released in 1992. Impaler ( UK ) - Charnel Deity ( Deaf/Grind Core ): Maceration ( Denmark ) ‎– A Serenade Of Agony ( Progress Red ): Crusher ( France ) - Corporal Punishment ( Noise/Semetery ): Blood  ( Germany ) -  Christbait  ( 1MF Recordz ):

Sepultura has been featured before, here and here . Schizophrenia (Cogumelo, 1987) is the first of the band's unholy trinity of releases - preceding Beneath The Remains (Roadrunner, 1989) and Arise (Roadrunner, 1991). It represents the first of several shifts in Sepultura's sound - away from the blackened death-thrash of Morbid Visions (Cogumelo, 1986), towards more of a straight thrash sound. The production might still be a little rough on this one, but the songwriting is outstanding; as is the execution. If you enjoy classic thrash and you don't have a copy of this one then you should rectify that immediately. You can preview it below, and order yourself a copy here .

29th JUNE Athanatheos  - Prophetic Era  ( Lavadome ) This French band formed in 2012, and Prophetic Era is their second full-length (brought to us by a Czech label). Death metal with black metal influences, interesting time signatures and some unusual vocal patterns/vocal performances. For fans of : Absu, Necrophobic, Shed The Skin 7th AUGUST Angel Morgue  -  In The Morgue Of Angels  ( Redefining Darkness ) Crushing death-doom excellence. American band Angel Morgue balances Disma-style heaviness with more accessible parts extremely effectively. The fact that this album is only preceded by a demo makes it all the more impressive. For fans of : Incantation, Immolation, Cruciamentum

All from bands that haven't been featured before... Ghost ( Poland ) - The Lost Of Mercy ( Loud Out, 1994 ): Groms ( Norway ) - Ascension  ( Arctic Serenades, 1994 ): Abhorrence ( Brazil ) - Ascension ( Wild Rags, 1997 ): Anesthesy ( Belgium ) -  The Fifth Season  ( Midas, 1998 ):

Internal Bleeding formed in 1991 and hail from New York. Still active, and still producing brutal death metal, they are now relatively well-known. This post is about the band's first couple of EPs, which were released on Wild Rags in 1993 and 1994. 'Slam' has become something of a dirty word, but when these guys were starting out it was just being born; and the production made it something quite different to the slam that we know and love/hate today. To be filed next to the likes of  Baphomet , Pyrexia , Carnal Dissection , Suffocation... Both EPs have been reissued a couple of times as part of  compilations . You can listen to Perpetual Degradation (1994) below.

For a review of the latest Worm offering, see here . ...and for a recent interview with the main man behind the project, see here . This post is about the band's first full-length, which was released on Iron Bonehead in 2017. Evocation Of The Black Marsh is less dimensional than Gloomlord, more black metal than anything else; but it is very strong on its own merits nonetheless. If you're a fan of Gloomlord, and you aren't yet familiar with its predecessor, then you should absolutely get hold of a copy. As with the new album, there was sadly no CD release; but records/cassettes/downloads are available  here . The debut can also be streamed in its entirety below.

See here for a number of previous posts about Monstrosity. Rise To Power, released on Conquest Music in 2003, is the fourth of six full-lengths. It is also the second of two full-lengths, recorded between the departure of George 'Corpsegrinder' Fisher in 1996 and the arrival of Mike Hrubovcak in 2006, to feature Jason Avery on vocals. Member changes have never seemed to alter the band's course, and this album sounds just as you might expect the follow-up to In Dark Purity/predecessor to Spiritual Apocalypse to sound. There is no such thing as a bad Monstrosity record, so get this one added to your collection today. You can hear it in full below, and pick up a copy  here .

All from bands that haven't been featured before... Jumpin' Jesus ( Germany ) -  The Art Of Crucifying ( Morbid Music, 1991 ): God Forsaken ( Finland ) - Dismal Gleams Of Desolation ( Adipocere, 1992 ): Infester ( US ) -  To The Depths, In Degradation ( Moribund, 1994 ): Capharnaum ( US ) – Reality Only Fantasized ( self-released, 1997 ):

Iron Bonehead has really been 'hitting it out of the park' this year. Ringarë is a collaboration between an American musician and a Swedish vocalist. This 35 minute 'demo' comes a year after their debut full-length (which was also released on Iron Bonehead). Sorrow Befell is an excellent atmospheric black metal offering, with some  Burzum influences. The whole affair is wreathed in majestic synth, and it concludes with a strong four-part dungeon synth-type instrumental. Alas, there is no CD release; but you can download it here  or order a limited edition vinyl copy  here . You can also preview a choice track from the album below.

This band has been around since 1989, and is still going strong today. Obscenity hail from Germany, but they have a lot of Floridian influences going on. Their first two full-lengths were Suffocated Truth ( West Virginia, 1992 ) and Perversion Mankind ( D&S, 1994 ). Suffocated Truth (which you can listen to at the bottom of this post) was reissued by Vic Records in 2015, but even copies of that edition are now extremely hard to find. Perversion Mankind was a limited edition release to begin with, and has never been repressed, so copies of that are at least as rare and expensive. It is also unavailable to stream anywhere, so here is a short bonus description: It opens and closes with the same Enya sample that went on to be used for Ready Or Not by The Fugees - which might explain the lack of uploads, and indeed reissues. That isn't the only somewhat-unusual sample/interlude present here either, but make no mistake - it is no novelty record. Musically, it very much ...

3rd JULY Convocation - Ashes Coalesce ( Everlasting Spew / Sentient Ruin ) This is the second full-album (and indeed release) from this Finnish duo. Funeral death-doom; it is epic, atmospheric and melodic stuff; but is also crushing. Rich and dimensional, it stands out from the crowd and demands your attention. For fans of : Evoken, diSEMBOWELMENT, Assumption 17th JULY Väki - Kuolleen Maan Omaksi  ( Redefining Darkness Records/Saturnal ) Fierce Finnish black metal. Väki formed in 2016, but this is the band's first full-length; with only a self-released two track EP ('Kirous', 2017) preceding it. Excellent riffs with some technicality to them; these guys are well worth checking. For fans of : Horna, Mgla, Funeral Mist