Obituary

Oraculum – Hybris Divina Review

Oraculum – Hybris Divina Review

By Owlswald on January 12, 2026 in Reviews, Death Metal, 23 comments

“New year, new beginnings. And just as my resolutions refresh and my word count resets to zero, Chilean quartet Oraculum arrives to break the seal. These connoisseurs of the “tried and true” first graced these pages more than ten years ago with their counter-breaking EP, Sorcery of the Damned—back when EPs still qualified for regular reviews outside of our now annual EP/Split/Single Roundups. That initial offering was a grim manifesto on old-school death metal (OSDM), forging deathly Incantations into a sharp, lethal slab of barbaric hostility.” Olde but still bolde?

Viogression – Thaumaturgic Veil Review

Viogression – Thaumaturgic Veil Review

By Spicie Forrest on August 10, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 17 comments

“One of the original but unsung stalwarts of death metal’s earliest days, Viogression formed in 1988 and released a well-received debut, Expound & Exhort, in 1991. The 1992 follow-up, Passage, failed to meet expectations, leading the band to take a three-decade hiatus. Their third full-length, 2022’s 3rd Stage of Decay, was praised for its old-school core and modern flair. Three years and a major lineup shuffle later, they return with their fourth full-length and first self-release, Thaumaturgic Veil.” Are you massive aggressive?

Clairvoyance – Chasm of Immurement Review

Clairvoyance – Chasm of Immurement Review

By Maddog on July 27, 2025 in Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Progressive Death, 26 comments

“Yes, I picked this up entirely because of its cover. Girardi’s gorgeous spiral of tombstones and skeletons conjures vintage highbrow death metal of the likes of Death. The title Chasm of Immurement grasps at brutal badassery in the vein of Suffocation’s Effigy of the Forgotten. Clairvoyance’s logo remains indecipherable even if you know the band’s name, suggesting kvltness galore. The promo materials describe lyrics that address the isolating effects of depression, foreshadowing a harrowing listen. In isolation, each of these judgments strikes at the truth but glances off. Chasm of Immurement is the debut album from Poland’s Clairvoyance, an unknown band comprising unknown musicians. Lying at the intersection of brainless death-doom and brainiac digressions, Chasm of Immurement is a powerful foray into death metal.” Are you not immured?

Unbounded Terror – Something Is Rotten in Humanity Review

Unbounded Terror – Something Is Rotten in Humanity Review

By Mark Z. on April 7, 2025 in Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Unlike other major European countries, Spain has never been much of a hotbed for death metal, presumably because they’ve been too busy perfecting their paella (holy shit is that stuff good). That hasn’t stopped Spanish death metal bands from trying to make their mark, however, and possibly the first to make such an attempt was Unbounded Terror. Led by guitarist Vicente Payá, the group initially only managed to release one album, 1992’s Nest of Affliction, before going kaput. Vincente went on to be more prolific with his doom/death band Golgotha before eventually resurrecting Unbounded Terror for 2020’s Faith in Chaos.” Terror tales.

Mutagenic Host – The Diseased Machine Review

Mutagenic Host – The Diseased Machine Review

By Tyme on January 10, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 44 comments

“Cooked up like the T-Virus in some underground UK lab and now stalking the streets of London, is Mutagenic Host, a newcomer to the British death metal scene. After the release of The Genotoxic Demo in 2023, Mutagenic Host signed on with Dry Cough Records, as well as Gurgling Gore and Memento Mori, to release their debut album, The Diseased Machine.” Host with the grosst.

Molder – Catastrophic Reconfiguration Review

Molder – Catastrophic Reconfiguration Review

By Mark Z. on November 7, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Welcome to the modern age of death metal, where it seems half the newer bands people are hyping up staggered into existence via Maggot Stomp before their chuggy chuggy unga bunga riffage started eliciting enough precum from the hardcore kiddos to catch the attention of bigger labels, ultimately resulting in even more unwarranted hype and overcrowded tours with Jesus Piece and Dying Fetus. Of course, there are exceptions. Like Skeletal Remains, Molder are loyal pupils of death metal’s old school, the kind of band that’s influenced by many but isn’t copying anyone in particular.” Olde is the Molder.

Obscene – Agony & Wounds Review

Obscene – Agony & Wounds Review

By Steel Druhm on July 11, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, 29 comments

“When first I heard Indianapolis OSDM fiends Obscene on their 2020 The Inhabitable Dark debut, I was quite impressed by the raw, nasty sound they wielded like a blood-soaked cudgel. It was like the best bits of early Pestilence, Asphyx, and Obituary distilled into something extra gruesome and then leaked into the beer supply. It offered nothing I hadn’t heard prior, but it kicked much ass and took many a name. I was considerably less enamored with the 2022s From Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon, which felt less impactful and memorable, although the basic template and style remained the same. It seemed like the band rushed a second album out before it was ready for prime time and I was left wanting more. Now, we get Agony & Wounds, their third release in 4 short years.” Indecent and Obscene.

Bloodgutter – Death Mountain Review

Bloodgutter – Death Mountain Review

By Kenstrosity on May 3, 2023 in Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, 43 comments

“Last month, Steel Druhm graced us with the absolutely filthy and chunky Rotpit. Since that day, Let There Be Rot hasn’t yet left my almost daily rotation. Grimy, thick riffage met with gonzo groove to form this mountainous, ugly thing that stomps my skull flat, and I love every second of it. Without a doubt, I was sure I wouldn’t see the likes of it again for some time. And yet, fate allowed me no rest, as it unceremoniously plopped an equally massive Bloodgutter upon my already overburdened back.” Blood for the Blood God!