“What’s your favorite slam album and why? Do you value catchiness in your big bruutz? Clear production? Melodic presence? My favorite slam alternates with my mood between Devourment’s Obscene Majesty and Analepsy’s Quiescence; the former for the excellent execution of such a narrow sound, and the latter for the colors and beauty imbued into the otherwise bone-shattering grooves. Though given a bad rap for its easy-to-emulate smoothbrain caveman stereotypes, slam has shown much evolution in recent years as bands continue to push and redefine the limits of extremity. Hailing from Chile, new outfit Sermon to the Lambs have arrived with their self-titled debut, coming with the usual aggrandizing promises of maximum aural violence and assurances of a downright traumatizing listen for anyone who has ears to hear.” Lambs to the killing floor.
Comatose Music
Cytolysis – Surge of Cruelty Review
“Embracing the brutal death metal staples of extreme violence, mutilation, and gore, Cytolysis is the solo project of drummer Darren Cesca (ex-Arsis, ex-Deeds of Flesh). Temporarily breaking from his duties in Goratory and Eschaton, Cesca uses Cytolysis as an outlet to write, perform, and produce his own horror-filled material. His first offering, Portraits of Malevolence, tipped the scales firmly towards deathcore and was a competent yet unremarkable slab of sonic torture. After a five-year hiatus, Cesca emerges from the depths once more with Surge of Cruelty, hoping to follow Cytolysis’ run-of-the-mill debut with something far more malicious.” Cruelty and the yeast.
Kill Everything – Headless Cum Dumpster Review
“In terms of subtlety and nuance, brutal death represents an oil vs water scenario. Illustrating the point, Texan purveyors of repugnant, stupidly heavy slam-infected brutal death, Kill Everything, return with the charmingly titled Headless Cum Dumpster, the long-gestating follow-up to their well-received 2018 debut, Scorched Earth. Time passed has brought in changes to the band’s line-up since their thumping debut, with ex-Devourment gurgler Mike Majewski leaving the fold, bassist Mike Leach joining, and former bassist Brett Wilson switching to second guitar, teaming up with another ex-Devourment member in guitarist Brian Wynn.” Young, dumb, and full of…drums.
Corpsefucking Art – Tomatized Review
“There are albums that choose you, and Corpsefucking Art chose me. Even for a band known for their comedy, Tomatized surprised me. There are certain subjects you cover for a brutal death/slam/goregrind band, with plenty of gore and torment populating its lyric sheets – even if the pig-squealed “EEEEEEEE” is the only thing you hear. Tomatized has all that and a Lovecraftian vibe: “Earth shall be ruled by a new breed of sentient beings!” the promo proudly proclaims. Okay, sentient beings dethroning humanity isn’t too odd for death metal. “Behold the kingdom of cyclopic tomatoes!” Wait, what?” Face the sauce boss.
Carnivore Diprosopus – Rise of the Insurrection Review
“Ah, brutal death metal. A singularly punishing corner of the extreme metalverse, brutal death commands your every orifice for consumption and then ruination. Or sometimes the other way around. Brutal death metal isn’t picky. Neither am I. Despite my cuddly, terminally delightful disposition in real life, I love this stuff for its cave-brained approach to extreme music, its penchant for irresistible groove unmatched by other styles, and its promise of outlandish compositional WIOLENCE. These are the things Colombian/Spanish brutal death quintet Carnivore Diprosopus pledge with fourth onslaught Rise of the Insurrection.” Nice to meat you.
Necroticgorebeast – Repugnant Review
“Well, here’s one filthy wallow–roll around in this shit and I promise the stench will linger. The brutal death mongers of Necroticgorebeast return with Repugnant, their third blitzkrieg of bletches, blearghs, and blurgles. On their self-titled debut and its followup Human Deviance Galore, these Québecois killers established themselves as the state of the “art” when it comes to IQ-obliterating slammy death metal. They “distinguish” themselves from their peers with a kind of lizard-brain instinct for making slam that sticks.” Pearls before slam.
Whore of Bethlehem – Ritual of Homicide Review
“”Incendiary” is a good word to describe Whore of Bethlehem. I was introduced to the Austin act with sophomore effort Extinguish the Light, which was intense and burning for its time – same with its follow-up. Whether it be the moniker or album title, the cover art, or the fire that the quintet injects into its sound, Ritual of Homicide is incendiary. Fiery blackened death accomplished through the relentless gaze of brutal death, its intensity cannot be understated.” Whores d’oeuvres.
Imperial Execration – Commanding Satan’s Crusades Review
In the midst of a so-so year for brutal death, Imperial Execration is signed with expert purveyors of sewage-caked brutality Comatose Music and armed with a compact debut LP, entitled Commanding Satan’s Crusades. Will this be the brutal death metal album that wakes Saunders from his 2022-induced brutal death stupor?
Stabbing – Extirpated Mortal Process Review
“December falls upon us, each day the sump pumping less, but to my surprise, out flumped Extirpated Mortal Process, a glut of death metal excess. Alas, spit-roasted and splattered, tired and tattered, I no longer urge for any of this expired mess. You see, I tried Stabbing on a plane and Stabbing in a car. I tried Stabbing in my office and Stabbing while afar.” Better to shiv than receive.
Coathanger Abortion – Plan C Review
“I had never heard of Tennessee’s Coathanger Abortion before plugging my nose and taking the plunge of shame into the AMG promo sump. For all I knew they were a bunch of fun-loving Christian fundamentalists with a deep sense of irony. Turns out they’re not. They’re a quartet of southern fried sickos who love classic death and grindcore. Can Coathanger Abortion stand shoulder to decapitated shoulder with the latest batch of death metal heavyweights?” Hangers and bangers.























