DEAD METAL

1987 saw Chris Reifert play drums on Scream Bloody Gore (by  Death ), and then form Autopsy - presumably a good year for him, and certainly a good year for metal. Autopsy are one of the greats without a shadow of a doubt, and their influence has been considerable. The debut full-length (Severed Survival, 1989) is a stone cold classic: 1991's Mental Funeral is widely regarded as their finest hour: Not only did they release Mental Funeral in 1991, but also the mighty Retribution For The Dead single (which is included as a bonus track on some pressings of the album); and an excellent six track EP called Fiend For Blood: Autopsy releases are available from  Peaceville , which has been the band's label since 1989. P.S. 1992's Acts Of The Unspeakable is also well worth picking up. And watch this space for another post/more posts, covering their output since reforming in 2010.

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 )

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 )

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)

Evoken should need no introduction, but if you do need one then see  here . Drummer and founding member Vince Verkay did us the honour of answering these questions. 1. You've announced that you will be releasing a new album this year, what can we expect from it (as compared to your last album, or in general)? That's correct, the release date will be announced in two weeks. Of course it's Evoken, so all the elements you expect to hear are there, but this album is by far our most ambitious.  It's not an album you can listen to once and understand everything.  It's complex, yet it doesn't confuse the listener. People will hear some new ideas added because it serves a purpose within the songs.  2. Everything you’ve released to date has been outstanding, and you've been together more than twenty years, how have you managed to keep the bar so high? I appreciate that, thank you. There's nothing special we do, but we always make sure nothing is ...

If you aren't familiar with Solothus, see here first. This interview is with Kari Kankaanpää, the band's vocalist. 1. No King Reigns Eternal was one of the best albums of 2016, how was the response? The response was immensely positive. Seemed to garner a lot of good feedback from media and listeners alike. It will be released on vinyl early this year too.  2. How would you describe the transition from 2013's Summoned From The Void, to No King Reigns Eternal? Summoned From The Void had some older songs on it. With No King Reigns Eternal we only had new material, with which we more or less found our sound. I think our vision for Solothus was crystallised on our last album, and that it will evolve on our third album. 3. It’s a clichéd question, but who are your main influences (if indeed you feel you have influences)? I would say that our influences are from doom and death metal - bands such as Candlemass, Black Sabbath, Cathedral, Bolt Thrower, Autopsy e...

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

Thrombus is an Oregon band which only ever produced one recording. Active between 1991 and 1996, they self-released Mental Turmoil on cassette in 1993. La Caverna has now reissued the EP/mini-album, which features six tracks and clocks in at around 24 minutes. Old school death metal has seen a big resurgence in recent years, and this is a very solid example of the genre. Raw and heavy, with thrash influences and some doomy moments; it's a highly enjoyable listen. One for fans of early  Autopsy , Demigod , Benediction ,  Unleashed ... You can listen to it below, and purchase 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.

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 ):

If you don't already know Graceless, then see here first. This interview is with Jasper Aptroot, who plays bass for the band. 1. Shadowlands (2017) is an outstanding album, how has the response been to that? The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Everything that has happened since the release has exceeded our expectations and we are very grateful for all the support we have received. 2. You've announced that you will be releasing a new album this year, what can we expect from it (as compared to your debut, or in general)? We really love the Dutch death metal sound and we will always stay true to these roots. The new album is going to be a logical next step following Shadowlands. If you liked our first album then I'm confident you will not be disappointed with the second release. 3. It’s a clichéd question, but who are your main influences (if indeed you feel you have influences)? We play ourselves but most of all we are fans of extreme metal. There...

9th June - Disma ( US, death metal ) – Earthendium ( Necroharmonic ) 1st August - Fleshrot ( US, death metal ) - Unburied Corpse ( Me Saco Un Ojo/Desert Wastelands ) 30th September -  Autopsy  ( US, death metal ) - Morbidity Triumphant ( Peaceville ) 7th October - Old Sorcery ( Finland, dungeon synth ) -  Dragon Citadel Elegies ( Essential Purification/Dungeons Deep )