DEAD METAL

Benediction  ( UK ) -  The Grand Leveller  ( Nuclear Blast, 1991 ): Seance  ( Sweden ) –  Fornever Laid To Rest  ( Black Mark, 1992 ): Deteriorate  ( US ) –  Rotting In Hell  ( JL America, 1993 ): Funebrarum  ( US ) –  Beneath The Columns Of Abandoned Gods  ( Necroharmonic, 2001 ):

The Black is a Swedish band that formed in 1991. It wasn't until 1994 that their one-and-only album was released. It's raw and aggressive stuff, but is also very atmospheric ...and creepy. There are selling points aplenty here, but the keyboards are a particular highlight. It's hard to see why this one doesn't get more attention and praise. The Priest Of Satan  can be streamed in full below.

01  Hell's Coronation  ‎–  Transgression Of A Necromantical Darkness  (Godz Ov War) 02  Static Abyss - Aborted From Reality  (Peaceville) 03  Incantation  -  Unholy Deification  (Relapse) 04  Autopsy  -  Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts  (Peaceville) 05  Metallica  -  72 Seasons  (Blackened) 06  Worm  -  Starpath  (20 Buck Spin) 07  Old Tower  -  Draconic Synthesis  (Hospital) 08  Blood Incantation  -  Luminescent Bridge  (Century Media) 09  None  -  Inevitable  (Hypnotic Dirge) 10  Obituary  -  Dying Of Everything  (Relapse) *edit*  Malformed - Uncontrollable Malformity should have made this list

This Marlyand band formed in 1990, and recorded a series of demos and a full-length over the course of the decade. The album, pictured above, was  The Seven Deadly Sins  (Last World, 1994). ...which has since been re-released alongside seven tracks from 1995-96, under the title of Vomiting The Trinity  (Open Grave, 2007). But the remastering job on that CD unfortunately leaves much to be desired. As you will hear below, this is primitive, borderline-brutal material; but it is also quite groovy. To be filed next to Baphomet , Carnal Dissection  and early Cannibal Corpse .

30th June - Static Abyss ( US, death-doom ) - Aborted From Reality ( Peaceville ) 15th September -   Blood Incantation  ( US, death metal ) -  Luminescent Bridge  ( Century Media ) 6th October - Old Tower ( Netherlands, dungeon synth ) - Draconic Synthesis ( Hospital ) 20th October -  Dream Unending /   Worm  ( US, doom-death ) - Starpath ( 20 Buck Spin )

Doom-laden black metal from Poland here. ...and an early album-of-the-year contender. Released on Godz Ov War, this sophomore effort really is quite sublime. Intense and powerful, eerie and atmospheric, cadaverous goodness. You can preview/download it below, and pick up a copy here . The band's earlier offerings are also well worth checking. Transgression of a Necromantical Darkness by HELL'S CORONATION

Following the  Tricennial Of Blasphemy  compilation late last year, Incantation are back. This time with their twelfth full-length, Unholy Deification. This band doesn't have a bad album, and the bar is particularly high going into this one - following 2020's excellent Sect Of Vile Divinities, and other modern classics such as 2014's Dirges Of Elysium. ...and it doesn't disappoint. If anything, it surpasses expectations. Aggressive-but-accessible; well-written, well-executed; and it flows very well indeed. Just the right amount of dirt in the production, and also just the right amount of sheen. It's great to see a band still making inspired music more than three decades into their career. You can stream the release below, and purchase a copy here .

22nd SEPTEMBER Cannibal Corpse  ( US, death metal ) -  Chaos Horrific ( Metal Blade ) 27th OCTOBER Autopsy  ( US, death metal ) -  Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts ( Peaceville ) 10th NOVEMBER Sodom ( Germany, thrash metal ) - 1982 ( SPV/Steamhammer ) 24th NOVEMBER Cruciamentum  ( UK, death metal ) - Obsidian Refractions ( Profound Lore )

Ominous Seep Of Putridity is the debut full-length from this Finnish band. Released in 2021 on Headsplit Records, it's a very fine offering indeed. Filthy, groovy death metal with doomy parts and creepy samples. Very much old school, both in terms of its style and delivery. Most definitely one that calls you back for further listening. You can hear the album in full below, and buy a copy  here .

Blasphemy are originators of war metal, a sub-genre of blackened death metal. This Canadian band started out in the mid-80s, but despite still being active today they have never released much material. All of their three main offerings (a demo from 1989 and two albums from the early '90s) would fit comfortably on a blank CD. On which note, digital (and indeed physical) copies of those releases (which you can listen to below) are available from Nuclear War Now . An extremely influential band, in spite of its limited output. Not for untrained ears, or the faint of heart, but otherwise highly recommended.

Mercyless  ( France ) –  Abject Offerings  ( World In Flames/Smash It Up/Restless, 1991 ): Accidental Suicide  ( US ) –  Deceased  ( Deaf, 1992 ): Eternal Solstice  ( Holland ) - At The Dawn Of... ( Midian, 1992 ): Cianide  ( US ) -  A Descent Into Hell  ( Red Light/Bullet Proof, 1994) :

None 's eagerly-anticipated fourth album drops 31st June. Hypnotic Dirge are doing the honours again, and have described Inevitable as the band's "longest and darkest work... the culmination of their musical legacy, evoking the signature depressive atmosphere that has struck listeners across the globe." The closing track can be previewed below, and pre-orders are  now on sale . Hopes are (somewhat ironically) very high indeed going into this one.

People are too quick to judge Metallica. No Metallica, no thrash; and no thrash, no death.  No, they have never quite returned to the glory of their early efforts; but nor could they hope to, and (aside from the abomination that is St Anger) every album has had its merits.  …and the singles from 72 Seasons (out 14th April) bode very well. There is a real immediacy to this material, and the extra layer of production sheen is working for it. A couple of the aforementioned singles can be streamed below.

Beherit is a Finnish band that formed in 1989. ...but their first full-length, Drawing Down The Moon, didn't land until 1993. It boasts death, doom and ambient elements aplenty, but is fundamentally a black metal release. A unique offering - messy and thoroughly lo-fi, and all the more charming for it. Special mention has to go to the vocals, which really are quite bizarre! The album can be heard below, and you can pick up a copy here .

Previous Quest Master material can be found here . The latest release from this Australian dungeon synth-adjacent/ 'fantasy synthesizer' artist is out on 17th March. Judging by the lead single (Cloudy Gateways, which you can listen to at the bottom of this post), it could well be the best yet. Urge Records is producing the vinyl release this time around, with Out Of Season handling other formats as usual. You can pre-order a copy of Sword & Circuitry  here .

Sodom - In The Sign Of Evil ( Devil's Game, 1984 ) Anthrax - Spreading The Disease ( Megaforce, 1985 ) Sodom - Obsessed By Cruelty ( Steamhammer, 1986 ) Megadeth  -  Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?   ( Capitol, 1986 ) Megadeth  -  So Far, So Good... So What!  ( Capitol, 1988 ) Forbidden - Twisted Into Form ( Combat/Under One Flag, 1990)

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 Baphomet , Embalm ,  early Internal Bleeding ... 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 )