The gym-dwelling AMG staffers curated a new playlist for your efforts to get back into shape in 2026. We cannot be held liable for any resulting injuries of deaths.
Cytotoxin
Stillbirth – Survival Protocol
“I take a seat in a cramped, rusted chair. Across from me sits a gorilla in some sort of crown and a man whose face could only be described as Abbathian. It’s time for my first performance review at AMG Headquarters, and things aren’t looking great. “Atmospheric nü metal/free jazz? German dance music? What are we, discount Pitchfork?” Druhm bellows between frustrated simian grunts. I turn towards the head honcho for mercy, but instead, he fixes me with an eldritch stare. The words don’t pass his lips—they appear directly in my skull like a psychic command: “Brutal death metal.” He hands me a grime-encrusted CD which reeks of beer and seaweed. German brutal death metal veterans Stillbirth are responsible for this fetid package, which lies before me. It’s Survival Protocol, their ninth full-length.” Surviving or thriving?
Cytotoxin – Biographyte Review
“It’s been five long years since Nuklearth graced my ears for the first time, followed in quick succession by at least another 800 spins. I snubbed it too, in my year-end list for 2020, where I relegated it to my (ish) spot. Banger after banger after banger led me straight to the bludgeoning wing of my local urgent care. Simultaneously, it led me to 2017’s Gammageddon, German outfit Cytotoxin’s breakout third record of irradiated tech-death craziness. Two completely different records, but both instantly recognizable as Cytotoxin. It’s not easy to achieve this kind of hit-after-hit diversity within the span of two records, let alone in the technical death metal realm. Can they pull off the mad hat trick with Biographyte?” Fun with graphite.
AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Paraphilia – The Memory of Death Given Form
“AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.” Feel the Paraphilia.
Werewolves – From the Cave to the Grave Review
“I’m surprised we never covered Werewolves before on this blog. Their debut record, The Dead are Screaming—picked up by Prosthetic Records one month into the pandemic in 2020—fucking rulez. To my surprise, I somehow missed the follow-up they dropped less than a year later. Thankfully, I had my eye trained closely enough on this band to catch third outing, From the Cave to the Grave, before Werewolves slipped by undetected once more.” Pack attack.
Colossus – Degenesis Review
“The year is in full swing and the flood of metal releases continues to overflow in the AMG promo portal. Of course there’s always an element of risk in blindly plucking albums from the portal. Unless I am feeling in a particularly risky or adventurous mood, I scout for releases that fall into my genre wheelhouse, and death metal tends to attract me like moth to flame. Especially after such a splendid year for the genre in 2020, the hope is for at least a handful of review assignments will throw up something special in 2021. The trio of musicians comprising freshly minted death metal outfit Colossus are equipped with background experience in the metal underground, via acts such as Lividity, Cryptic Fog, and Cereviscera. Despite being a new entity, basically the members are seasoned in the game, unleashing a debut album of brutal, technically proficient death.” The Colossus of Woes.
Dr. Wvrm’s Top Ten(ish) of 2020
Dr. Wvrm delivers his Top Ten(ish) of 2020 to all his patients. It sure as hell ain’t no trve vaccine.
Holdeneye and Cherd of Doom’s Top Ten(ish) of 2020
Holdeneye and Cherd of Doom made these long-winded lists and now they’re your problem. No trade backsies!
TheKenWord’s and Carcharodon’s Top Ten(ish) of 2020
TheKenWord and Carcharodon join the fray with tastes ranging from good, bad, and unfathomable.
Doom_et_Al’s and Dear Hollow’s Top Ten(ish) of 2020
Doom_et_Al and Dear Hollow have their big boy lists. Did they use that great power responsibly?
