Death Metal

  • Necrovation – Necrovation (2012)

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    Delivering one of the darkest and most evil sounding releases of 2012, today we have Necrovation and their self-titled sophomore release. With nine tracks and around 45 minutes of crushing brutality, each of the tracks in this release features a very dark and cavernous atmosphere that is rarely matched by anything we have heard this year and reminds us of the crazy atmospheres created by bands like Shinning (Sweden) and Bethlehem.

    Delivering the first blast full of hate with “Necrovorous Insurrection”, this release opens with a bang. Featuring an old-school raw Death Metal vibe, the Swedish influences are extremely clear in this epic track. The quality riffing makes this song even more enjoyable, and the crystal clear production makes brings the full experience to your speakers. The intoxicating rhythms of “Dark Lead Dead” make this very weird song extremely intoxicating indeed.

  • Antagonism – Digging Past Sounds (2012)

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    Delivering 11 tracks of hard-chugging Death Metal, today we have Italy’s Antagonism and their debut full-length “Digging Past Sounds”. In this release, the band uses traditional Death Metal structures with a few hints of more modern grooves thrown into the mix. While release drags a bit after a while, the songs presented here are a nice tribute to some of the crushing DM tracks we loved from the 90’s.

    “Skinhunter Kill(ing)” delivers a very cool Dissmember-like opener and provides high hopes for this already entertaining release. The riffing is relentless and the drumming is superb, the growls are very typical and nicely fit into the vibe. “Sick AIDS” keeps things rolling with some more chugging riffs and very well crafted drum patterns, but “No More” is a song that nicely breaks the monotony with some nice tempo changes and even tighter drumming.

  • Devilish Impressions – Simulacra (2012)

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    Making quite an impact since the first song, today we have Poland’s Devilish Impressions latest release titled “Simulacra”. Being properly released through Lifeforce records this July, this is one of those albums that combines so many different elements in a very cohesive and successful way, making it super diverse and extremely exciting.

    “Icaros” opens with release with a mixture of Vintersorg meets Dimmu Borgir atmosphere, thanks to the hefty use of synths and the awesome clean vocals. Setting the bar this high, the band also delivers pretty solid melodic Black/Death-ish music that is very direct and well crafted. The atmospheric side of things keeps making this album very appealing in “Legion of Chaos”, but it is the massive drumming and heavy riffing that ultimately makes this song super catchy and effective.

  • Miseration – Tragedy Has Spoken (2012)

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    The man with the 20 (or so) different bands Christian Älvestam, delivers yet another excellent release in the Death Metal category. Mixing elements of Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and the rawness of pure Death Metal, “Tragedy Has Spoken” is a very brutal release that has many different facets to it, making it quite an enjoyable release to dissect over a few dozen spins (or more).

    Ripping through the opener “Stepping Stone Agenda”, we immediately know we are in for a devastating release since the guitars deliver waves of aggressive riffs and the vocals are extremely brutal. Christian’s vocal talents are undeniable, and when it comes to do extreme screaming, there are only a handful of people that can be as aggressive and versatile as he is. The drumming is also pretty well crafted and hyper fast, truly crushing indeed.

  • D.E.R – Quando A Esperanca Desaba (reissue) (2012)

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    The brutal reissue of D.E.R’s 2008 “Quando A Esperanca Desaba” comes to us through Polish label EveryDayHate. Featuring 16 tracks of head crushing Gore/Death Metal this is one of those heavy has hell releases that should be in everybody’s collection when you want to get the party started (and the neighbors extremely pissed at you).

    Pummeling across tracks that are less average around one minute a piece, this album blows you away since the punishing opener “O Que Foi Escrito eu Apaguei”. Thankfully the booklet comes with English translation of the lyrics, just to know what exactly is being spewed through the band’s brutal vocalist pipes. The songs are heavy and brutal with some nice melodic elements that keeps them separate and provide nice pacing between tracks.

  • Haemorrhage – Loathesongs (reissue) (2012)

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    Originally released back in 2000 through Morbid Records, today we have EveryDayHate’s reissue of the incredible “Loathesongs” of the legendary Haemorrhage. Hailing from Spain, this Goregrind band has made a name for themselves through violent music and sick blood-drenched live performances. In this re-release we also get a few extra songs that weren’t available on the original “Loathesongs”, but come from the band’s vast early catalogue.

    The opener is Defecation’s “Megaton” blended with “Vestige of Earthly Remains” allowing the band quickly sets the bar very high in terms of crushing pace and aggressive growls. While not all covers in this release are ‘extremely’ good, the band does a nice job in keeping some of the essential elements in the tracks, such as in Carcass’s “Pyosisified” and its relentless riffing.

  • Alter self – Promo (2012)

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    Delivering three excellent Death/Thrash Metal tracks, today we have Alter self and their 2012 promo. In this short but sweet release, we are treated to nearly 12 minutes of very well composed music that will have you headbanging since the first minute. With a well-balanced mixture of old-school Thrash and aggressive Death Metal elements, this band has a very clear and direct sound that many others can only dream about.

    Opening with a bang, “My Sober Reflection” delivers very powerful riffs and a very nice bass guitar line that is pulsating in the background. With a very aggressive sound, this track delivers a hefty balance between Melodic Thrash Metal and hard-hitting Death Metal. The band’s musical abilities are pretty solid and all elements of this song work very well together.

  • Martyrdöd – Paranoia (2012)

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    Delivering a wall of crusty guitars and a very decadent (but effective) mixture of Punk and D-beat with Death and Black Metal influences, today we have Sweden’s Martyrdöd and their full-length release “Paranoia”. While we usually don’t like this type of music, Martyrdöd does a great job in making it engaging, brutal, and well sounding, enough for us to be fully immersed in the 11 tracks presented in this release.

    Opening with some sick riffs, “Nog Är Nog” fully delivers the unexpected: a five minute song (not 2 minutes like other bands) with excellent melodic elements as well as the traditional crusty sound and punkish edge of these kinds of releases. The band’s focus on the catchiness of the riffing is excellent perfectly contrasting the more aggressive sections. With a more Black Metal influences tracks like “Överkom Er Rädsla” and “Hör Världens Rop” feel like a punkish version of Immortal with some of Satyricon’s edge from the 90’s. These two songs are the perfect example of why Martyrdöd is beyond your typical one-dimensional crust band and can delivers in many different fronts while maintaining their identity.

  • Legacy of Brutality – Ad Bellum (2012)

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    Our favorite Spanish Death Metal band returns with their latest release titled “Ad Bellum”. Being a double CD release, the first CD contains four brand new tracks, a cover of Gorefest’s “The Glorious Dead” and a video track. The second CD contains a crushing 46 minute live show they recorded last year. Nicely illustrated and well presented, this release continues the crushing path the band set in their previous release “Path of Forgotten Souls”.

    Opening with crushing riffs, “Masacrado” delivers waves of punishing guitars, massive drumming, and very powerful growls. The band’s ability to craft catchiness into brutality is as good as always, making this song very entertaining. On then four minute chug fest “Para la das paredes do cliseu”, the band crafts very meaty hooks and a nice older DM vibe with a few upgrades in the guitar department. If you like traditional Death Metal, but also enjoy the clarity and guitar work of modern bands, this will surely catch your attention.

  • Antigama – Stop the Chaos (2012)

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    Featuring one of the nastiest and most chaotic sounds we have ever heard (in a good way), today we have Antigama and their latest EP titled “Stop the Chaos”. Going over 15 minutes of music in six tracks, this Death Metal/Grindcore will blow you away with their super rich and equally devastating sound.

    Immediately blasting away with “E Conspectu”, Antigama reminds us of a Death Metal version of Anaal Nathrakh. The sheer brutality behind this track, and all the others in this album, is just outstanding if you are looking for a ‘quick and brutal’ kind of release. The riffing is super hectic and deranged, the drumming is super intense and sometimes it even sounds too random to be true. The growls are just the icing on top of this already excellent cake.

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