Canadian Metal

Last Retch – Abject Cruelty Review

By Alekhines Gun on September 26, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 39 comments

“Despite the core ingredient being completely the same, not all steaks are created equal. Marbleization, marination, seasonings, sauces, garnishes, lobster tail, and the right type of whiskey to chase it down are all equally important considerations in preparation for the final product, despite the cynics’ argument that you’re dealing with the same slab of beef. So too with death metal. Hailing from Canada, Last Retch are our chophouse today, offering up their second LP Abject Cruelty to appease your palate for all things medium rare.” Looks like meat is back on the menu, boys!

Finnr’s Cane – Finnr’s Cane Review

By Killjoy on September 2, 2025 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 9 comments

“Finnr is an Old Norse name that loosely translates to “wanderer” in English. Whether or not this was the inspiration for Finnr’s Cane, it’s an apt moniker for an atmospheric black metal act. Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, this studio-only group has three prior albums under its belt, the last of which, Elegy, won the overall approval of Ferrous Beuller
in 2018. And now, Finnr’s Cane seems to signal a new era with the release of self-titled album number four.” No cane, no gane.

Burden of Ymir – The Long Winter Review

By Twelve on August 31, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 22 comments

“Joe Caswell of Sudbury, Canada first caught the attention of this blog in 2023, as the sole member of Drowstorm and Burden of Ymir. Both projects released albums in 2023, impressing all who wrote about them. In my case, Heorot was a fantastic introduction to the latter band, a blackened-yet-folky display of Viking metal that appealed to both my appreciation for mythologically-themed metal and my long-held belief that the accordion is the most metal of all the instruments. Now, just over two years later, Burden of Ymir return with its sixth full-length release (in as many years!): The Long Winter, with an album cover that promises just as much blackened goodness as we’ve come to hope for.” Summer’s end.

Visions Unseen – Echoes Through Time Review

By Killjoy on August 21, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 12 comments

“Visions Unseen resides somewhere between technical and melodic death metal without feeling fully like either. Guitarist Rémi Legresley, who creatively spearheads the group, plays vaguely neoclassical leads and solos, though you won’t hear much of the hyperactive shredding commonly found in modern tech death.” Time and tech.

Harvested – Dysthymia Review

By Tyme on August 4, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 46 comments

“Despite a waning stigma, mental illness remains an oft-closeted topic, as those suffering from it struggle not only to cope but to discuss their struggles with others. Here to shed some of their death metal light on the matter are Canadian upstarts Harvested, with their independent debut full-length Dysthymia, which, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, is defined as a long-lasting form of mild depression.” The mind is a terrible thing to harvest.

Völur & Cares – Breathless Spirit Review

By Twelve on August 1, 2025 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Drone, Folk Metal, 17 comments

“”Avant-garde doom metal from Canada. Do I really need to say more to pique your interest?” So said I a little under five years ago, closing out my Things You Might Have Missed feature for Völur’s Death Cult. The Toronto-based project launched itself to the top of my end-of-year list in 2020, owing to their expert fusion of an impressive blend of sounds and genres primarily rooted in doom metal. Wielding the violin like a sledgehammer, Death Cult featured intelligent, clever compositions that really impressed me in 2020. Now, at last, they’re back for their fourth full-length, Breathless Spirit, with one key change: a collaboration with Cares—UK/Canadian producer James Beardmore.” Caring a lot.

Crimson Shadows – Whispers of War Review

By Eldritch Elitist on July 28, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 28 comments

“For the uninitiated, Crimson Shadows’ sound is what would have happened if DragonForce had been mainstays in the late 90’s / early 00’s Finnish melodic death metal scene, but with a North American metalcore-adjacent sense of chunk and polish tailor-made for the 2009 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Their blend of sugary lead guitars and rhythmic violence is peak Dumb Guy Metal, and as The Dumbest Guy, I’m thrilled that this new album recaptures the formula perfectly.” Shadows, dragons, dumb guys.

Disembodiment – Spiral Crypts Review

By Steel Druhm on July 10, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 47 comments

“It’s been a minute since I got my iron claws stuck into some rancid, cesspool-grade death metal, and I was badly jonesing for some. Along comes Quebec-based filth-death crew Disembodiment with their Spiral Crypts debut, and they put Steel right back in the rot pit! Featuring a former member of Serpent Corpse, these canucks bring the seeping offal to the public toilets with nary an ounce of excrement left unsmeared.” Clogged potteries.

Décryptal – Simulacre Review

By El Cuervo on July 7, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 28 comments

“Québec has long been a region synonymous with uncompromising death metal, with stacks of excellent bands bleeding from its fertile cemetery grounds. Débutants Décryptal emerge from said land, unveiling their first full-length entitled Simulacre after just one prior demo. This release arrives with the promise of a sound steeped in French Canada’s murky traditions, plundering tombs and raiding caverns alike. But in a scene so replete with bands treading the same territory, is Simulacre able to carve out its own grave?” Spelurking.

Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence Review

By Alekhines Gun on June 19, 2025 in Reviews, 88 comments

“We all know the score for Cryptopsy by now. It’s been thirteen long years since their apology letter/fan service/throne rebuilding mission statement attempted to right the wrongs in the brutal death stalwart’s camp. But the wounds were too deep, the fanbase’s rage too visceral, and in the end, an otherwise excellent album passed by without much of the fanfare it deserved. In subsequent years, two slabs of incredible EP’s and one monster full-length have worked to regain the graces of death aficionados the world over.” The long road back from sellout.