Unique Leader Records

Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly Review

Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly Review

By Grin Reaper on January 15, 2026 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 65 comments

“Carrion Vael has cultivated an admirably consistent release schedule since dropping Resurrection of the Doomed in 2017. After unleashing follow-up God Killer in 2020, the Richmond, Indiana quintet has delivered big, veiny doses of muscular, technical melodeath every other year. Slay Utterly is Carrion Vael’s fifth load of unfettered aggression, slinging riffs that sparkle and crush in whiplashing frenzies. Though not explicitly billed as a concept album, Slay Utterly delves into tales morbid and macabre.” Carrion, my wayward son.

Extortionist – Stare into the Seething Wounds Review

Extortionist – Stare into the Seething Wounds Review

By Dear Hollow on October 10, 2025 in Reviews, Deathcore, Metalcore, Nu Metal, 29 comments

“Although my love for metal has its origins in the -core movement, it’s largely passed me by in the years since. New artists come and go, and the next thing I know, my favorite metalcore songs were all released in 2015 or earlier. Extortionist is also one of those bands I neglected, but when I first heard them, I immediately clocked it was not The Contortionist. With no prog in sight, Extortionist is known for their blend of deathcore, metalcore, and nu-metal, which has me running for the Tums right away.” Nice core you got there. Be a shame if something…happened to it.

Cordyceps – Hell Inside Review

Cordyceps – Hell Inside Review

By Andy-War-Hall on July 31, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 22 comments

“Artists don’t necessarily need to draw deep from their inner lives to make enjoyable art, but they do to make great art. Denver, Colorado’s Cordyceps—whose debut EP drew acclaim from the late, great Trevor Strnad—have dug deep on their sophomore album Hell Inside and dredged up something nasty.” Oo, what’s it gonna be?

Humanity’s Last Breath – Ashen Review

Humanity’s Last Breath – Ashen Review

By Holdeneye on August 8, 2023 in Reviews, Deathcore, 54 comments

“My time reviewing music by Sweden’s Humanity’s Last Breath has been a rewarding, yet frustrating experience. I liked a lot of what they did on both 2019’s Abyssal and 2021’s Välde, but the former lacked a killer focus, and the latter needed a bit of pruning. I’ve been intrigued by this band ever since the first time I heard their world-crushing track “Abyssal Mouth,” and I keep waiting for them to deliver a full album that captures that same level of energy and unbridled heaviness. As we prepared to enter into the second half of 2023, I heard a familiar, deep rumbling, a rumbling that could only foretell one thing: a new Humanity’s Last Breath album was on the way.” Fresh breath or hateitosis?