In this feature, we look back at a number of reviews from the previous month, focusing on albums that were released in that month, or are yet to be released. We perform this retrospective with several members of the staff, who were also given the opportunity to have their say. This can confirm the judgement of the original review, or perhaps offer a slightly different perspective. Above all, it is intended to bring a few more albums to light in these fleeting modern times: you never know if something might have flown under the radar.
Yes, I know..June, late, deadline etc. You would say I would learn from my mistakes…
June turned out to be a bit of a mixture of everything. Black Metal and Death Metal in all their forms, featuring bands that have been around for years alongside relative newcomers. Basically, exactly what you can expect from VM-Underground on a daily basis, one might say. Those who prefer a bit more technicality in their Death Metal can indulge themselves with Scordatura and Defiled, whereas Rotten Tomb and Astriferous represent the more old school and darker side of Death Metal. Morgal is Black Metal in its purest form, while Nachtheem explores the more atmospheric side instead. Last but not least, Gangrenated is anything but subtle with their Goregrind-infected Death Metal.
Scordatura – Led into Oblivion
Everlasting Spew Records
Just a random line from the PR text: “Backed by nearly two decades of experience, the band refines its brutality into a precise, sense‑shattering assault!”. It shows that Scordatura is aiming high within Brutal Death Metal with ‘Led into Oblivion’. X gave it a number of listens and was quickly convinced, according to his review: “Scordatura’s style of Brutal Death Metal is technical and rabid, and thanks to a crisp modern production akin to many of their peers, all of the instruments cut through with clarity, even in the “stop and go” style of their songs. I found myself making comparisons stylistically to modern era Cryptopsy throughout the listen, especially vocally.”
It was not only X who was convinced, as Will “Bones” Lee is also quite clear: “An outstanding release full of vim and vigor. I am just taken aback by the intensity and the musicianship. This may make my 2026 year end list.” Rocky echoes that sentiment: “Scottish Death Metal extremity delivered with surgical precision! After six years away, Scordatura returns to strip away all their and yours fats gained at home with their 4th full-length. This comes with nine tracks of dense and claustrophobic violence, which filled with razor sharp riffs and throughout brutality. Wrapped in incredible Paolo Girardi art, this is a shattering provocation for hungry Death Metal fans.”
Stijn offers a more balanced perspective: “Full on hyper assault of whirling riffs, pounding drum and bass with guttural vocals. Nothing too amazing, but well executed and they have a knack for combining melody and brutality.”
X concludes with: “Overall not disappointed by this release in the slightest. I’d argue it’s one of the stronger technical-leaning Brutal Death releases of the year thus far that I have heard.”
Morgal – The Seventh Circle
Werewolf Records
Ah! The fine Finns and their Black Metal. Sublime in the past, sublime in the present.
VincentP, a great admirer of the previous album ‘Nightmare Lord’, started ‘The Seventh Circle’ skeptically, but was quickly won over: “I had some reservations about how the newest Morgal would turn out. But those fears turn out to be totally unjustified, as ‘The Seventh Circle’ is another ripper of a record… Even though Morgal infuses their Black Metal with Thrash, Speed and Heavy Metal elements, they do not sound like the likes of Deströyer 666, Nifelheim, Cruel Force or Deathhammer. This is truly a Black Metal band in intensity, aesthetics and conviction.”
Will “Bones” Lee follows: “There is a certain primitive-ism on this release that just captures me. You can almost be forgiven for thinking this was released in the late 90’s alongside the greats such has Nifelheim, Nocturnal and Cruel Force. Old school lives!”
Stijn certainly appreciates the record, but does not share all the superlatives of VincentP: “I have a weak spot for Finnish Black Metal. Although Morgal certainly does not belong to the aces of the genre, I do dig their fury and zeal. Not an album to spin all too often, but a nice slide into the nearing winter.”
With Huw, one thing is certain, he is definitely going to play the record more often: “I especially like how this album has no chill. It’s furious from the outset and I’m all for the wild ride it offers!”
Rocky concludes with: “This is Finnish Black Metal mayhem that burns straight through the skull. This new record of Morgal didn’t do any restraints and dives headlong into an abyssal storm of intoxicating, speedy, and blistering Heavy Metal attack. It’s wild, possessed, and blitzed to be damned, exactly how this style was meant to be forged. Total fire from start to finish.”
Nachtheem – Waan van de Leegte
Terratur Possessions
Terratur Possessions described the album as “testimony to a sleeping world and its inherent emptiness that has beckoned those avoidant of a deeper truth… a unique recording of a sound that is solely their own.”
VincentP was quick to seize the chance to listen to Nachtheem’s latest offering, just as he did with the previous releases. Safe to say it landed with the right person: “I think we can conclude that ‘Waan van de Leegte’ is again one step further from ‘Venter på Stormene’. As on the debut EP, ‘Waan van de Leegte’ feels deeply inspired by Ulver’s ‘Bergtatt’ and Emperor’s ‘In the Nightside Eclipse’, alongside the early Burzum and Borknagar records and similar albums from that era that set the benchmark for atmospheric Black Metal.”
Rocky was quite surprised after hearing ‘Waan van de Leegte’: “Dutch Black Metal underground always delivers surprises. And, Terratur Possessions is always a reliable source to find out about them. In their maiden full length, Nachtheem weaves spectral melodies with cold and underlying aggression that can draw you right into the void. It’s mysterious, immersive, and refined atmospheric Dark Metal that carves out its own distinct space.”
Stijn was also impressed: “Lingering and melancholic Black Metal that manages to hit all the right buttons. The nihilistic production, sorrowful guitar and intense screams, laced with incidental clear vocals, drags you in and holds you by the throat.”
VincentP has the final word: “‘Waan van de Leegte’ feels familiar yet expands the band’s atmospheric Black Metal into more of their own direction.”
Defiled – Altered State
Season of Mist
Just as we reviewed their first album back in 1999, we have now reviewed Defiled’s latest release as well. We’ve been around for a while, as they say, although I must immediately admit that we let a good few full-lengths slip past us over the years.
X took on the album and ‘charm’ was a word that came to his mind: “Charm isn’t normally the first thing that comes to mind when describing the positive traits of any Death Metal band, but Japan’s long standing act Defiled somehow manage to keep a strong level of it present around their latest full length ‘Altered State’. This is a very fun listen, and sure to be a favorite for fans of acts like Atheist, Vektor, and Pestilence.”
Huw decided to bring a Polish juggernaut into the mix: “‘Altered State”s jackhammer-like eardrum fornicating sound reminds me of Vader, and I mean that with great appraisal. The exploding lively playing all over this record is fun as hell.”
Stijn certainly appreciates the Japanese scene and Defiled: “Just leave it to the Japanese to create music that sounds recognizable, but with an odd twist. Death Metal is the base, but they intertwine it with creative rhythmic variation, plus the thrashy vocals and interesting song structures.”
Rocky could only agree: “Decades into their career, the Tokyo Death Metal legends prove once again that they answer to no scene or trend. Their ninth album ‘Altered State’ is a dizzying and wildly disorienting assault of technical Thrash riffs and Orwellian paranoia, that defies any generalizations and tradition. Delivering such uncompromising madness since 1992, their inherent desire and capability to record after record of off kilter, incredibly sharp, and utterly unique Death Metal establish again that, these neon monsters continues to operate in a league of their own. Just look deeply at the impressively ingenious artwork and keep listening until gets totally defiled from inside.”
Nirriti – Dhrupad Anutpada (ধ্রুপদ অনুৎপাদ): Apophatic Ragas of Non-Origination
Iron Bonehead Productions
Bands from the Kolkata Inner Order Propaganda have appeared on our pages before, and Nirriti’s ‘Dhrupad Anutpada (ধ্রুপদ অনুৎপাদ): Apophatic Ragas of Non-Origination’ is the latest addition. Once again, it is a wall of noise that certainly won’t appeal to all.
Huw couldn’t sign up fast enough to review this album, yet it was not entirely convincing: “…Nirriti sounds like the equivalent of you being forced to serve a great many eons within the terrifying Hindu hell realm of Naraka… There are lots of malicious and esoteric ideas brought to the table here by some bouts of creative soundplay and the band’s anti-music guitar abstractions. However, those facets alone are not quite enough to warrant my front to back excitement from the album’s overall linearity.”
Stijn was surprised, but ultimately convinced: “Certainly not something I have heard before. The intensity of this Blackened Death Metal makes you almost feel uneasy. An unhinged production, weird vocal effects, rancid melodies make this quite an intense experience. Requires the right state of mind, but quite convincing.”
Rocky found plenty to enjoy here as well: “Iron Bonehead Productions always dug such things out of nowhere. This is some maelstrom of uncompromising Black Death noise on esotericism. Nirriti pulverizes primitive Black Metal, some Grindcore, and outlandish harsh noise into a swirling vortex of total negation. Terrifying, hypnotic, and enchanting this is, should lure those who crave the extreme fringe of underground extremity.”
Rotten Tomb – Vestiges of Tortured Souls
Nuclear Winter Records
Chile and Death Metal is a combination that is highly appreciated by many within VM-Underground. Albums, EPs, and demos originating from that part of the world are regularly met with enthusiasm, as was the case for Rotten Tomb’s ‘Vestiges of Tortured Souls’ reviewed by Dzor: “If you already enjoyed the two previous albums from Rotten Tomb, there is no reason for your experience with ‘Vestiges’ to be any different… The Southern Cone country has offered us such an amplitude of great bands in the past and present, with Rotten Tomb being a great representative of why that is.”
Huw keeps it short and sweet: “Hypnotising, pounding and ritualisticly cavernous. Rotten Tomb is on fire!” Will “Bones” Lee is also certain that this record will be added to his collection: “You cannot go wrong with this release and also (almost) anything from the South American scene. The power and intensity with this release makes this more than just a one spinner for me.”
Anyone expecting a harsh word will be disappointed by Rocky’s take: “Chilean Death Metal executed in great standard. ‘Rotten Tomb’ delivers solidly in combining crushing heaviness with mournful and doom laden atmospheres, and not the least the infectious lead works. It’s dark, sorrowful, and decaying, yet sounds effortless. This have the quality to solidifying their place at the forefront of the current South American scene”.
Stijn sums up the whole enthusiastic mood with:“Urgh urgh uuuurgghhh… take no prisones kill on sight South American Death Metal. Feed me this sort of sonic filth every day of the week. Bonus points for the gorgeous guitar solos.”
Astriferous – Atavistic Unraveling
Me Saco un Ojo Records, Pulverised Records
If dark Death Metal appeals to you, then checking out Astriferous might be a good idea. Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Pulverised Records promoted ‘Atavistic Unraveling’ as follows: “Thankfully, Astriferous‘ foundation has changed little, the swarming morbidity of early ’90s Finnish Death Metal fused with classic South American madness, but there are (dread) developments that prove the band are just now hitting their stride.”
Huw described the album as follows: “Whilst the band aren’t necessarily attempting to reinvent the core ideals of this genre, they’re simply an outfit that has a clear identity and a particular sound that they do with an obvious, unrelenting confidence. This is a very good Death Metal record, with exciting compositions that are often eyebrow-raisingly brutal.”
Will “Bones” Lee covers his bases with his comparison: “I may get some comments on this….but damn! This is Costa Rica’s version of Engulfed. Plus they are on the same label too!…..coincidence?!”
Rocky was certainly captivated by ‘Atavistic Unraveling’: “Costa Rica’s death metal torchbearers return with a malformed beast of an album. With recalling and infusing early 90s Finnish styled gloom with bestial South American madness, ‘Atavistic Unraveling’ sounds engrossing and brutally precise. Modern OSDM listeners and ardent explores should find it alluring.”
The final word goes to Stijn: “Relentless, these Costa Ricans slumber through the cosmos, through aeons of dead slumber… the slithering death metal creates an ideal environment for the Lovecraftian themes.”
Gangrenated – Demise Profanation [EP]
Iron Corpse, Iron Fortress Records
One of the reasons we do what we do, and perhaps the most important of all, is shining a light on up-and-coming bands when they offer genuine quality. This is certainly the case with Gangrenated from Estonia. Having started out as a side project, it caught the attention of Huw: “A debut EP from Gangrenated, a new gore applauding Death Metal trio from Tallinn, Estonia, has arisen from within a reeky swamp of liquified rotting rat carcasses… Rather than being just another uninspired offering of typical HM2-style distorted murk, Gangrenated has delivered a very fun little EP here… For fans of Undergang, Mortician, Coffin Mulch, and Corpus Offal.”
Convinced by Huw’s review, Rocky decided to give the EP a proper go: “Total subterranean sewer dwellings from the Estonian crypts. Gangrenated serves up an deadly slab of Mortician styled gore, adding with filth of old Xysma and the their own blunt force grind. No glossy output and merciless it is from Gangrenated. With skull crushing riffs and rotten vocals, these Estonian monsters rules!”
And if that wasn’t appreciation enough, Stijn chimes in to give it his approval: “An atavistic cesspool of death and grind from the Baltic, how could this ever disappoint. A delicious unga bunga of growls, screams, buzz saw guitars and bass vomited over militant drums. Life isn’t always complicated.”
Even though Huw had already written the review, he still wanted to leave us with a final word at the end: “A tape of squelching, reeky vomit. If you want to indulge in something disgusting then have a taste of Gangrenated”
