Dark Zodiak - Ophiuchus (2021)

Dark Zodiak's "Ophiuchus" certainly gets the job done. At some points it suffers from too many quiet or soft parts, but the overall makes up for it. Passionately crushing solos, the melodies are mostly heavy and straight to the point. The production leaves the instruments somewhat clean, sheer and powerful. The drumming kicks ass when are given the main stage. The instrumental bits  are  headbangable as most of the album, they are fine pieces of music. As far as solos are concerned, I have no complaints. They deliver the goods in the style only Dark Zodiak has. They don't go cheap on them, yet don't go wild with ultra-fast virtuoso solos which show talent and feel and the riffs are pummeling throughout almost the entire album, not too fast, but heavy enough. My personal favorites: Invisible Apocalypse , Destroy Destruction and Total Freedom. At overall look, the album is pretty good, highly recommended!!

facebook.com/darkzodiakmusik

darkzodiak.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Troops Of Doom - The Rise Of Heresy (2020)

Well, what can I say about this Southamerican masterpiece? This band execute pure savageThrash Metal, well done and lacking downsides. The guitar work is insane. The solos are tremendous. This is the true essence of underground metal. A lot of metal fans will remember this in years to come. Naturally, you hear the very early Sepultura vibes and influence since the legendary Jairo is on this brutal line up. The sound is Dirty, gritty, and true to the Brazilian sound. We all know that traditional Swedish sound and American sound, well, bands from Brazil also have that trademark guitar sound that you will find on such releases as Sepultura “Bestial Devastation” and Sarcofago “Rotting. This is massive and old school as its best. It is a godly monstrosity that speaks for itself. This release deserves to be owned by every metal fan in the world. Yeah it's mandatory!!

riseofheresycassetterepulsiveecho.bandcamp.com

repulsiveecho.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Gutted - Bleed For Us To Live (2019)

The guitar work here is killer. Flowing riffs and out-of-control solos, although in keeping with the atmosphere of the album. Vocals are a raspy, articulate roar and adds to the thick heaviness of the album. Highlights are incredibly difficult to pick, as Gutted do not fall into the fault of so many death metal bands in making all their songs sound overly similar. Every song here is given its own identity and voice. "Bleed for us to Live"  is a testament to creativity and brutality. A good album with no set backs!!

guttedohiodm.bandcamp.com

repulsiveecho.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Misanthropy Apotheosis - Against Your Filthy Kind (2020)

Some muddy production and tons of Christ hating blasphemy. As a collective, Misanthropy Apotheosis work to blend instruments. It works well within the brutal Death Metal that these guys spawn. The band also plays with tempo. All tracks have sections where the band slows it down, and the transitions are good. Vocalist convey emotion to the listener as he screams, but he stamp his voice into your mind. To death metal fan: stop reading and go get this !!

against-your-filthy-kind.bandcamp.com/

repulsiveecho.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Create a Kill - Summoned to Rise (2018)

Gus Rios (Gruesome/Malevolent Creation) Guitars/Bass/Drums, Alex Marquez (Solstice/Resurrection) Vocals/Drums,  Dirk Verbueren (Megadeth/Soilwork) Drums, Tobias Gustafsson (Cut Up/Vomitory) Drums, Matt Harvey (Exhumed) Vocals, and Daniel Gonzalez (Possessed) Guitars. What else can i say about this powerful record?

The intensity on this record is absolute, they didn't lack any of the catchiness or violent energy to be at the top of the Metal scene;  This band can be on the death metal bandwagon and at the same time the're the most savage thrash ever. Listening to these 10 tracks will almost guarantee a headbanging marathon. From the insane opener "Create a Kill" to the closing monster "Show of Force" there will be several moments throughout that will make you want to awaken your inner neanderthal and fuck everything in sight up. The ferocious thrash riffage is beyond fast with heavy, crushing passages for maximum chaos to ensue. In addition to being speed freaks, the band also provides plenty of music that simply destroys. Every song has plenty of back and forth solos, and they add just a little more awesome to each track. The vocals on this album are also done very competently as well with extreme hatred and passion throughout the entire album. Now onto the drums. This is the one instrument that does in fact stand out, played with savagery and ferocity throughout the entire album. Extremely technical but these guys can slam on the drums so fast that it sounds like a machine gun chopping next to your ear. Again this is nothing more than brutal and brutish death/thrash metal at its best. If you’re looking for something fancy look else where, but if you’re looking to break your neck doing some serious headbanging then this is right up you’re alley!

createakill.bandcamp.com

repulsiveecho.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Compendium of Metal Vol. 13 - Compilation CD (2020)

I sit here with beer in hand listening to this compilation, writing a review for Soulgrinder Zine. I know i am not the only 45 year old metalhead lunatic that gets drunk, and plays underground CD's from all over the world. All bands are pretty good here, Heavy, Thrash, Doom, Black/Thrash. This is the new volume of this great compilation series, features a fairly even mix of European bands. This volume leans heavily on thrash and heavy Metal bands, alongside a few Doom outfits too. The bands on this 14 song disc are Ignitor, Chainbreaker, Hellspike, Legionem, Vomit Division, Albert Bell's Sacro Sanctus, Midnight Priest, Sacral Night, In Aevum Agere, Risen Prophecy, Kommand, Space God Ritual, Eternal Thirst and Toxikull. This is a killer comp with quality bands and packaging including a booklet with all the bands. Overall, if you are looking to see what real metal sound like, pick this CD up ASAP. Long Live Metal On Metal Records !!

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Legionem - Sator Omnia Noctem (2020)

For people into metal, it’s normal for certain bands to pop into your head when you hear the “Doom Metal.” The first band is usually Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Saint Vitus, and for the sake of this review, I hope Legionem jumps into your head as well. For those (unfortunate) few not familiar with this Italians, they are a band characterized by their thick sludgy epic sound. I think this kind of music founded their very own genre within a genre.This full length release, titled "Sator Omnia Noctem" is a stronghold within the doom community. This is still a very strong album. All of the elements that fans of doom have come to expect  are of course present in this release. You have the slow crawling to mid-paced tempo, the sweeping arcs of melody laden riffs arranged beautifully to create a very epic appeal to the presentation of the album and a man with a powerful voice and emotions across. Even though this album is pure doom, it excels in variety. Not only do they play in slow motion, most songs are peppered with brutal riffs, keeping the listener’s attention, which is fine. Not that they need to do that here. If the music isn’t enough to keep your attention, Legionem definitely capture the imagination and ears of those listening. All in all, this is definitely a good dose of doom. If you’re into this style at all, you’ll be into this album.

facebook.com/legionemdoom

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Vomit Division - Hell in a Bottle (2020)

This is an album that remains on heavy rotation in my stereo and it's among my favorite albums of 2020. I was skeptical when i looked at the cover, but holy hell, this album is catchier, aggressive, speeding, black/thrash metal.  "Hell in a Bottle" offers eight tracks of energetic, black/thrash with a dash of punkened simplicity, while the rhyhtm section thunders along merging from D-beat mayhem to rollicking rhythms. It provides some pretty cool fills, yet it mostly seems to stick to the basics, which fits the album's style quite well. The riffs are insane, the barked growls, which, like the album title suggests, offer tales of hell in a bottle. It would seem that Vomit Division is on fire at this point. This one is the filthiest and downright catchiest album of 2020 in my opinion!

facebook.com/vomitdivision

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Chainbreaker - Relentless Night (2020)

This album is a metalheads dream, loud pounding drums, brutal bass lines, riffs and solos with screeching vocals. It's simple - Chainbreaker just know how to thrash and they get right to the point. No bullshit interludes, no ballads, no intros or outros, no flirting with other genres, nothing. They simply went into the studio and punched out a short, sweet, and to the point album of ballsy, gritty, thrashing insanity without even looking back to make sure they were doing everything perfectly. If you're a fan of metal as I am, then you should be able to easily understand this sort of concept. Standout tracks? The whole album is great as it more or less all sounds the same, being thoroughly consistent all the way through. It will get you headbanging straight away, exactly like any metal album should do. This is the essence of metal, and I can't see why someone who likes thrash metal or heavy metal in general in the slightest would object to this band. The 80s may have been great for metal, but let's not pretend there isn't a ton of high-quality metal around today. Chainbreaker is dirty, thrashy and in-your-face, it's also pretty brilliant!

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

HellSpike - Lords of War (2020)

I have found HellSpike to be a band that is indeed incendiary among their genre. Perhaps one of the most fiery of all Speed metal these days, they have produced a sound that while being melodic and obscure, as Speed metal is, but also has a sound which contends with much more brutal forms of metal. Their incendiary, concussive sound is toned down a bit with melody. I would say that this album is essential for any fans of classic obscure traditional metal. And those who do not like Speed metal may like this band for it's fiery and skull shattering sound. A superb album !

facebook.com/hellspikespeed

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Ignitor - The Golden Age of Black Magic (2020)

This album is a mix between power, speed, and a heavy metal. Most songs are mid-tempo power metal riffs though some songs like "Hell Shall Be Your Home" fall much more into the category of Speed metal with fast riffs and solos. The songs are either good or bad, fortunately many are solid songs. The vocals are just the typical power metal high pitch falsettos for the choruses and mid-range for everything else. The guitar work is solid focusing more on the riffs then the leads which is definitely not unusual for power metal. The drumming is solid as well. The bass is audible for the most part which is quite unusual for this genre. Overall "The Golden Age of Black Magic" is mainly a solid affair, the arrangements are very clever and thought-out. I recommend this release to any fan of German Power or Speed Metal, especially if you’re one of those people who prefer no keyboards in their Power Metal.

facebook.com/IGNITOR.METAL

metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com

Review by Paul Caravasi

Satanic Priest - Demo 2020

It doesn't matter what style of music you're talking about, nothing beats a good tune or Demo. For example, some could said most of bands sound "generic" while others could say they're fast. Now certainly in 2021 i say Satanic Priest fkn rules!!They are pretty damn fast and should certainly be considered extreme for this time. As for the comment that some bands are "generic", I'll simply never understand those who feel that way.These guys execute thrash/speed metal very much their own. Stylistically for me, Satanic Priest has similarities to bands like Exciter, early Anthrax, Hallow's Eve, a bit of Nasty Savage, etc. They play a nasty style of thrash Metal which i fkn love. A badass vocal deliveries a punch in the face. Very punked out and delivered with tons of attitude, raspy, spitfire style growl is timeless and inimitable. I couldn't imagine anyone who is a thrash fanatic not having this demo. It’s hard to choose highlights, but "Lust and Alcohol" is probably my favorite. There’s really no particular reason, as all the songs take the same approach, but the riffs and melodies are sick. This kind of stuff should appeal to you if you’re into aggressive speed metal like Exciter or Tank, but keep in mind that this is much more unique and full of its own quirks (oh yeah, and it’s faster too). If you like your music fast fast fast - get this demo NOW!

satanicpriest.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi

Hell Priest - Demo 2019

Okay, the vocals are borderline thrash, but this is just about as SPEED METAL as it gets. And it is very good speed metal indeed. This is pretty much a 'fun' demo, though fun here is defined to be smashing skulls and drinking blood at 900 miles an hour. The guitar tone is more classic-metal than anything else, and there are a lot of punching moments too. At times the songs kinda sound the same (a problem for a lot of speed metal bands, really), and then when they slow down a bit do they really get character. Then throw in a very well-constructed solo that is fast and shredding without tempting God to kill a kitten. If you like classic metal with an edge, you'll like this. When all is said and done, this demo doesn't quite sound like anyone else. So I'll simply end with this, if you want relentless speed/thrash with an aggressive rough vocals, with crazy razor sharp fast guitars, and don't mind simplicity, get The hell priest Demo immediately !

facebook.com/hellpriestvt

hellpriestvt.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi

Ejaculator - Whore Of Hell (2020)

Muddy production values to create a misted blood-storm of metal that few have been able to execute.  Ejaculator brings violence and set a standard for raw black/thrash metal. I am not a big fan of BM But i respect when a band tries not to imitate and follow their own path.This band bring dark emotions to build a haze of despair, anger and violence that few bands could match. This isn't  not only extreme, but shows musical talents as well if you pay attention to it. The patterns are deadly, powerful and hypnotic enough that they catch your ear anyway. Own this, or suffer the consequences of your own, miserable, tasteless purgatory.

ejaculatorvt.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi

Shitangel - Demo XXX (2020)

This demo is a very simple, yet effective style of black/death metal. A decent production and mix, with some "primitive" songs, similar to early Bathory, hellhammer musicwise. There are some mixed influences, but you can hear that these guys are really into their music. There are no highlights or stand out elements here, like i said before , it's effective, just a very good old school metal with some ultra evil lyrics. These maniacs play good metal with lots of attitude. Looking for some good old school raw stuff in the Bathory/hellhammer vein? Get this demo!

facebook.com/shitangel666

facebook.com/bloodfiredeath666

Review by Paul Caravasi