News

Me Saco Un Ojo Records, in conspiracy with Headsplit Records, is proud to present Carcinoid’s highly anticipated second album, ‘Encomium to Extinction’. Me Saco Un Ojo will release the vinyl LP version while Headsplit will handle the CD and cassette tape versions.

Those of you who lurk in the most fetid, deep crypts of the Death Metal underground may be aware of a rancid entity known as Carcinoid, from Australia. Well, following a demo, an album, and two splits, they return with a new full-length recording to be presented by Me Saco Un Ojo and Headsplit.

Grave-splitting grooves and cacophonous putrescence merge into a convulsing carcass of Death Metal excellence, gripping you from the off with the sheer brutality of their new material. Carcinoid do not hide behind any gimmicks or pretense, instead dropping us headfirst into the sepulchral stench of their heaviest music to date. Absolutely monstrous bass guitars and revolting riffs spew atop seamlessly savage drumming, with unsavory and indigestible vocals offering just as much revulsion to the mix. Those who are new to this band will be met with a treat of bludgeoning ferocity as their introduction, while existing fans can hear how much they developed their disdainful soundscapes in the last three years to unbearably heavy new territories.

Mulching all in their path, Carcinoid demand you listen to their new opus of obliteration – unless you are afraid of truly crushing Death Metal. Those willing to revel in the abhorrent slime that this spectre casts forth, prepare for some of the most grotesque Death Metal you will have heard in a long time as it hammers its way through your mortal skull with ease. Seeking out such a vile record might be seen as an act of self-destruction, but when the music is this gorgeously gruesome and violent, one simply cannot resist being punished for themselves by the spectral spectacle. The all-devastating decay will decimate you, that is for certain.

Alchemy of Flesh is a Death Metal band who worship at the altar of the legendary Florida scene. Consciously side-stepping the overwhelming Swede-death aping or primitive caveman worship of many of the modern death metal bands, Alchemy Of Flesh have crafted a sound that is exciting, devastating and deliciously over the top.

The solo project of multi-instrumentalist Tim Rowland (Hole Dweller, Lothric, Woccon), Alchemy Of Flesh is dedicated to the sort of full on Death Metal assault that makes the genre so worthwhile. While the band’s sound pays tribute to Morbid Angel above all, discerning listeners will also hear the influence of classic acts like Monstrosity, Angelcorpse, and Hate Eternal.

Regarding the making of By Will Alone, Tim shared: “This new record was written and recorded during a really tough time in my life. Major and unexpected changes hit me and I used this creative process as a way to work through the tides of emotions. I named the album ‘By Will Alone’ because that’s how I felt it came about; an act of pure will pushing through the biggest of life’s challenges. It was a way to prove to myself that I can be resilient no matter what may arise. 

In comparison to the debut album, this one is a lot more intense and demanding. It’s all 6-string this time around, tuned to D-standard, so it’s a lot more riff-y and quick compared to the low tuned and mid-tempo pace of the first album. The drumming was significantly more of challenge to perform this time around too and I made a point to put it front and center. A lot of the lyrical content is based on Eastern spiritually and mythology, along with some video game themes just like the first album – Amnesia and Doom specifically. “

Amor Fati Productions, in conspiracy with Babylon Doom Cult, is proud to present Oerheks’ third demo, ‘Valkengebed’. Amor Fati will handle the 12′ vinyl version while Babylon Doom Cult will handle the tape version.

In seemingly swift succession, Belgium’s Oerheks have invigorated ancient Flemish Black Metal – pagan in approach, recalling stories as olde as the Hageland – across two demos, 2022’s ‘Cagghenvinna’ and ‘Landschapsanachronismen’ earlier this year. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that this newcomer has displayed so much mastery early on: Oerheks is another, keenly focused creative guise of the ever-prolific Hans Cools, renowned for labelmates Silver Knife as well as Hypothermia among many others. But, on evidence of the forthcoming ‘Valkengebed’ demo, the band is very much set to be held in as high regard as Cools’ myriad other works.

Set to be released on October 28th – the night of the Hunting Moon, as an ode to the two hunters on which its lyrics focus – ‘Valkengebed’ is a startling expansion of the Oerheks sound. Impossibly ethereal, almost sensually so, ‘Valkengebed’ is an epic, two-song/27-minute work of dynamic songwriting and dense-yet-spacious layers. ‘Valkengebed’ translates to ‘Falcon’s prayer,’ the Dutch word for the moment falcons/kestrels hover in the air, searching for prey on the fields below, which is an apt metaphor for the sonic approach of the demo as a whole and its opening title track. Second track ‘Blauwe Vleugels’ translates to ‘Blue Wings,’ referring to the blue herons roaming the fields and marshes of Kaggevinne. Both birds serve as silent witnesses of the Kaggevinne area throughout the ages; their hegemony over the skies, the grandeur of their flight, and the inner peace they bring over the fields and forests of Kaggevinne are encapsulated by Oerheks’ continually cresting Black Metal here, indeed imparting a levitational aspect that’s liberating despite the deeply traditional approach. The synth work alone is staggering, but the manner in which Cools incorporates it into the whole of the demo makes ‘Valkengebed’ the band’s most awe-inspiring recording yet.

Completed by stunningly sympathetic artwork courtesy of Business for Satan, ‘Valkengebed’ marks an undeniable apex for Oerheks. To commemorate this ascent, Amor Fati and Babylon Doom Cult will concurrently compile all three Oerheks demos onto a double-CD set titled ‘Grondslagen’.

After Wurgilnõ’s great and unexpected debut album ‘De Doden Rusten Niet In Vrede’ from earlier this year, the band will already return with a new EP. ‘Angst’ will be released on cassette tape in a limited run of 50 copies in a collaboration between Merg&Been Records and WolfKult Religion. Expected time of arrival: October/November 2023.

In our review of we described Wurgilnõ’s ‘De Doden Rusten Niet In Vrede’ as followed: “In the nearly forty-minute ride, multi-instrumentalist C. dishes out just about every aspect of the Black Metal genre to us at breakneck speed – as if it were a crash course in Black Metal. It sounds dark and deeply vicious, the music drags you into a dizzying dynamic from the very first chords. The tempo changes jump out at you and you, as a listener, are regularly surprised by creative and challenging songwriting…When the tempo slows down a bit, almost a kind of 80’s Death Rock-like feel emerges or it gets all into dreamlike territories that seem to last forever, but when the pace is just picked up we hear those mean and contrarian song structures that are not very far removed from the French and Icelandic Black Metal scenes of recent years, but also Mayhem’s last few albums seem to have been of some influence on the music C. feeds us here.”

Dutch Black Metal entity Kjeld and former vocalist Skier posted the following statement:

“Because I want to have space to be able to concentrate on plans I have for the future, I have decided to step down as the frontman of Kjeld. I wish Kjeld al the best!”

The rest of us want to thank Skier for his all his dedication and energy within Kjeld for the last twelve years. We wish you all the best for the future!

We would like to announce that the original vocalist of Kjeld, Asega (who’s also active in Lugubre, Ûngrûn), has returned to the fold. Together with him we are working on a third full-length and preparing for future live activities.

Last year we have described Kjeld’s last effort ‘Ôfstân’ as followed: “Vocalist Skier also sounds just a bit more intense than on the previous recordings, he seems to be using his range in a freer and more confident way, where in addition to the fairly standard Black Metal rasp there is also room for some dark growls and even some semi-clean epics…The comparison with Scandinavian bands still holds true, but Kjeld thus increasingly grants itself its own musical identity. It still contains the melody of the Norwegian bands from the Second Wave Black of Black Metal, think of the early records of such bands as Gehenna and Dimmu Borgir, but pieces of Pagan Metal and Folk are also expertly added to its musical palette.”

In our endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage Death Metal, we’re extremely thrilled to announce a new signing: Morbus Grave, from Italy.

Morbus Grave was spawned by A. Th and Erman in 2010 with the goal to exhume rotting, ancient Death Metal influenced by primordial bands such as Death, Possessed, Carnage, Sadistic Intent, Incubus, Malevolent Creation, Celtic Frost, Morbid Angel and Slayer. Due to lack of time, A. Th left the band and Erman was left to continue the path by himself. In early 2015, Erman found the right replacement in Maso on guitars/bass and Pide Guts on drums.

This lineup recorded the band’s debut demo, ‘Throne of Disgust’, which was released in early 2016. Although the lineup was completed with Eros and Edy later in the year, the band seemed to vanish in thin air. After a couple of years of lethargy and many a lineup change, the grave was dug up once again and the band put out some more minor releases on a number of estimable underground labels over the years, steadily getting their craft honed in preparation for their debut full-length, which was ultimately released in 2021. Now a five-headed abomination consisting of Erman (vocals), Edy (guitar), Magiko (guitar), Danny (drums) and Eros (bass), Morbus Grave are working hard on writing new horrid songs for their second, deadly strike.

Memento Mori will unleash the CD version of their sophomore full-length in the first half of 2024.

From the fertile Death Metal lands of Denmark, emerges a terrifying new entity conjured up by the sacrificial spilling of blood from members of reputable tribes such as Baest, Bloodgutter, Dawn of Demise, Exmortem, Invocator and more, holding the collective promise of becoming a new legend in the region.

Imbibing ancient knowledge from the best in their fields, Temple of Scorn have mastered the dark arts of both Death and Doom Metal and have carved a sound that takes the best aspects from those styles and turns it lethal. Shrouded in darkness and afflicted with rot, the songs both lumber and rampage at will, using the most suitable tactic for maximum aural destruction, always remaining effective. With unbeatable single-minded intent and possessing everything they need to get the work done, it’s almost with effortless ease that Temple of Scorn deliver an album of greatness, that too on only their debut full length called ‘Funeral Altar Epiphanies’.

It’s destined to be remembered as a monumental, inviolable slab of dark and doomy Death Metal which will appeal fans of Incantation, Viande, Cruciamentum, Mortiferum and Krypts.

Italian Death/Doom flag bearers Into Darkness to release ‘First Encounters’ on 7″ EP for the first time through the WolfKult Religion label. The two-tracker will be released on Saturday September 9th 2023 at their show with Dutch Ancient Death Metal stalwarts Pentacle and Spanish deathsters Apparition at Centrale Rock Pub located in Erba, Italy.

Other news from Into Darkness: the 12″ vinyl edition of the bands’ ‘Cassini – Huygens’ EP will see the light of day later this year through Invictus Productions.

We already reviewed the ‘Cassini – Huygens’ EP, which was released by Unholy Domain Records on CD and Cassette formats earlier this year, and described it as : “Under her direction, Doomed Warrior has always steered a more slow Doom Metal-like course in the land of relatively simpler Old School Death Metal. She did once say that Asphyx is one of her biggest inspirations, and that is definitely audible… The riff-driven Death Metal is still on the slow side but has some forays into mid-tempo here and there with her shrill grunts further completing the Asphyx comparison. Incidentally in the vocal department, when she seems to shake off her Asphyx fascination a bit, she sounds remarkably like Cadaveria in her heyday in Opera IX.”

In our last interview with Into Darkness, main woman Doomed Warrior mentioned her, mainly Dutch, influences: “I was inspired by Sinister, Thanatos, Acrostichon, Beyond Belief, and something also by the German scene – early Morgoth, to say one.”

Other news from WolfKult Religion: the label will release a 7″ vinyl version of the 2021 2-track demo from Dutch seafarers Stormbreker later this year.

Iron Bonehead Productions is proud to present Goatkraft’s highly anticipated second album, ‘Prophet of Eternal Damnation’, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

It’s been four years since Goatkraft’s celebrated debut album for Iron Bonehead, Sulphurous Northern Bestiality, and nothing has changed for the Norwegian power-trio: their monochromatic muse is as locked-in and lascivious as ever. Just one look at the cover of their second album, ‘Prophet of Eternal Damnation’, and you should know EXACTLY what you’re getting into. If you are a false, do not entry.

Still, Goatkraft are superlative for the bestial metal style, and prove it across the 30 thundering minutes of ‘Prophet of Eternal Damnation’. While the Ross Bay Cult doubtlessly provided the foundation for the bestial arts, it was the likes of progeny Black Witchery and Proclamation who made those arts more murderous and uncompromising. Likewise uncompromising, Goatkraft carry that sulfurous torch with their second full-length, delivering detonating screeds of grinding, expulsive black filth. If anything, their attack is even more unhinged than ever – bringing out the grindcore roots of the form, as it were – and solos and FX explode from nearly every direction, whipping forth a fury both punishing and possessing. The full-figure production only makes the experience that much more overwhelming.

No progression, no compromise, no hope: Goatkraft herald the ‘Prophet of Eternal Damnation’.

In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage Death Metal, on October 23rd, Memento Mori is proud to present Martyrdoom’s highly anticipated second album, ‘As Torment Prevails’.

Conceived in Warsaw back in 2010, Poland’s Martyrdoom went through some lineup changes until they established a solid formation in 2014, consisting of Sociak (vocals), Marol (guitar), Młynar (guitar / vocals), Artur (bass), and Wasyl (drums). With this lineup, in 2017 did they release their debut album, ‘Grievous Psychosis’, through Memento Mori. Blending complex, blastbeat-driven, darkened Death Metal with slow Doom passages, the band drew their main influences from the likes of Obituary, Immolation, Rippikoulu, Autopsy, Demilich, Triptykon, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, Hooded Menace, Grave, Disma, and Dead Congregation, but they spewed all those influences out with renewed vigor. As far as non-musical inspirations go, their lyrics mostly revolved around old-school horror/gore movies, personal struggles, and the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

Bloodthirsty and dripping with menace, Martyrdoom are armed with a thorough knowledge of ancient Death Metal – still! – and they return to create something vile and unearthly with second album ‘As Torment Prevails’. Though six years might’ve passed between full-lengths, these Poles pick up exactly where they left off: eschewing all trends, trudging defiantly, and blasting their noxious blend of Death Metal and Doom. If anything, ‘As Torment Prevails’ dives deeper into the ancient past, sounding like a lost relic from 1992, including the striking cover art courtesy of Ryszard Wojtyński. And while Doom no doubt forms a foundation for their sound, never do Martyrdoom sound sluggish here; their guitar sound alone is GUTTED, and the Doom is definitely all in the feeling, for there’s plenty of off-the-charts energy here no matter what the tempo is. Those especially enamored with the ’90s works of Asphyx and Benediction will find tons to love here ‘As Torment Prevails’, as well as the early (and equally essential) records of Sinister and Hypocrisy.

Concluding with a cover of Autopsy’s “In the Grip of Winter,” Martyrdoom don’t so much as turn back the clock as CRUSH it!