Interment (Swe) - Scent of the Buried

Artist: Interment (Swe)
Release Title: Scent of the Buried
Year: 2016
Label: Dark Descent Records
Genre: Swedish Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Death and Decay
2. Sinister Incantation
3. Chalice of Death
4. Repugnant Funeral
5. Scent of the Buried
6. Rise of the Dead
7. Unholy Upheaval
8. Dawn of Blasphemy
9. Skull Crushing Carnage
10. Nailed to the Grave

One of the original bands in the genre, Swedish death metallers Internment have gone through numerous hardships in their near three-decade existence which has seen the group continue to churn out their old-school Swedish sound in the interim. Now, after six years between releases and a few lineup changes that sees Toob Bryndal on guitars and Allan Lundholm on bass, the group finally releases their sophomore release April 1 on Pulverized Records.

From the onset here there’s little change-ups on display other than prime early-90s Swedish death metal with all the usual trappings, and it doesn’t really offer any difference from these rhythms throughout here. This one runs through all the prototypical elements that should get featured in the genre which means it utilizes the same general churning buzzsaw riffing patterns that alternate nicely between ravenous blistering thrashing with pounding drumming and agonized melodies swarming along throughout the tracks. As well, there are all the usual tempo changes from that go from these thrashing rhythms to a more majestic mid-tempo sprawl that utilizes more of a fine mid-tempo chug more than anything here as the speed is dropped in favor of the heavy-set riffing present which changes the style and sound significantly. As those are dropped off in favor of the thrashing-entered material in the second half of the album that significantly adds to the album with the enhanced aggression offering up plenty of ravenous tracks here which make for a rousing, high-energy affair. Now, none of this is anything revolutionary within the genre or even the individual scene where this is yet another in a long line of bands to emerge from the scene playing this exact kind of material, even though the fact that they originally were part of that movement at the very beginning makes that somewhat easy to overlook. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it works more often than not, but it is a determining factor for this one.

Though it’s nowhere near the most original band on this very scene that they were originally involved with at the very beginning, this here is quite the enjoyable and thoroughly enjoyable old-school blast of Swedish-influenced death metal for fans of that scene in particular or those that appreciate the old-school scene as well.

Score: 83/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://interment666.bandcamp.com/album/scent-of-the-buried-cd-lp-2

Sarcasm (Swe) - Within the Sphere of Ethereal Minds

Artist: Sarcasm (Swe)
Release Title: Within the Sphere of Ethereal Minds
Year: 2017
Label: Dark Descent Records
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Bloodsoaked Sunrise
2. From the Crimson Fog, They Emerged
3. Embodiment of Source
4. Scars of a Land Forgotten
5. In the Grip of Awakening Times
6. Silent Waves Summoned Your Inner Being
7. A Black Veil for Earth
8. The Drowning Light at the Edge of the Dawn

Attempting to build on their career success, Swedish death metallers under the name Sarcasm have had plenty of competing resources derailing the launch of the band back in the mid-90s and has resulted in their long-suppressed debut being released just last year. Going further with the additions of new bassist Jonas Söder, returning guitarist Anders Eriksen and drummer extraordinaire Matte Modin, the groups’ true sophomore effort was released April 28, 2017 on Dark Descent Records.

Managing to sound like their old selves, the bands launches a fine assault here featuring plenty of furious melodic rhythms alongside their traditional leanings. The main element here is a rather dynamic outpouring of light, melodic rhythms running along the majority of the tracks here, generating a pleasingly biting tone with the swirling riff-work alongside the melodies. It drives along at a rather solid mid-tempo thrash-style pace as well, featuring plenty of rather stylish and blazing energetic rhythms in a dirty old-school thrash-like setup that it manages to whip together a truly frenzied and frantic nature that still brings out the celebrated melodic leads to run alongside the riff-work and giving the album some rather engaging efforts. While this setup works for the vast majority of the time, it does leave this one with its main flaws easily highlighted. Quite simply, if there’s not a really engaging up-tempo thrash piece for the track to hang its melodies off of, then the album tends to just sound like a rather bland mid-tempo sea of rather bland riffing just plodding the album along rather lazily, making this one feel just rather dull more than anything. This also ends giving this a problem of feeling much longer than it really should because there are tracks that zip by being rather frantic and thrash-driven while the more plodding and overdrawn efforts are so endless they make the album a somewhat chore to sit through which speaks volumes due to its brief running time. Hopefully, this can be ironed out in the future and repaired as there’s some solid work wasted due to these flaws.

Despite some rather troubling work at times here with the rather bland slower sections featured throughout here, there’s more than enough to like here with the melodic output that this one will be of interest to those who enjoy the old-school melodic death metal scene for the most part.

Score: 78/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/within-the-sphere-of-ethereal-minds

Fading Azalea - Maze of Melancholy

Artist: Fading Azalea
Release Title: Maze of Melancholy
Year: 2017
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Rêverie funeste
2. In the Name of Justice
3. Heart of Darkness
4. Flames of Death
5. Surface
6. Time to Realize
7. Dying Paradise
8. Fall of the Mask
9. Here I Am Again
10. I Lost My Way
11. Burning to Ashes
12. L'ombre derrière l'âme
13. Where I Belong

Formed in 2013, Swedish melodic metallers Fading Azalea have set out to merge their hometown of Gothenburg’s famous style of pounding melodic fury alongside plenty of fiery rhythms that made the city renown to begin with over two decades earlier. Overcoming a host of lineup issues that has brought them down to a duo, their self-released debut effort was originally released March 1, 2017.

Attempting to impress immediately, the group manages to get a lot accomplished with their manner of strong symphonics and blazing melodies throughout. The predisposition to using the keyboard-based symphonics is the driving force here, utilizing the bombastic atmosphere and grandiose rhythms to give this one a great base for the rather striking melodic riff-work. These tend to work together rather nicely, going from the gothic-influenced sprawling melodies with full-on keyboards blaring alongside the tighter, more power metal-influenced rhythms that give this one a greater sense of variety here. That comes across rather well with the occasional dips into the frantic, blistering attacks throughout here with the frantic drumming and over-the-top symphonics of the keyboards matching the fiery and frantic rhythms utilized here and making for quite the nice amount of dynamics in the music here. While that does make for a solid time overall here, there’s still one big detrimental issue throughout here in that the softer, more mid-tempo arrangements here aren’t all that impressive, ranging from the light middling riff-work to simply letting lilting piano notes accompany operatic crooning which sounds impressive but leaves a sour taste for those wishing the rest of the music is as good as their up-tempo work. As well, the fact that the album is quite bloated and overlong with a few too many tracks, especially for a debut offering, makes it somewhat of a slough to get through and makes this one feel longer than it really should, although it’s still quite enjoyable overall with the caveat of this being a debut.

With plenty of solid Gothic-styled influences and an overall enjoyable symphonic atmosphere carrying this one along quite nicely, this one has some rather fun positives to overcome a few minor flaws and makes this a nice choice for those into melody-driven symphonic metal or female-fronted metal in general.

Score: 87/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fadingazalea

Gravebreaker - Sacrifice

Artist: Gravebreaker
Release Title: Sacrifice
Year: 2016
Label: Gates of Hell Records
Genre: Traditional Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Overdrive
2. Sacrifice
3. Gravebreaker
4. At the Gates of Hell
5. Violent City
6. Kill and Kill Again
7. Road War 2000
8. Pray for Death
9. Spellbound
10. Messenger of Death

Formed back in 2011, Swedish heavy metallers Gravebreaker has taken their time perfecting and honing a stylistic homage to the classic, blazing old-school heavy metal that makes up their overall approach as they’ve gone about building this love affair to the style. Finally, at the point of getting to their debut release, the power trio originally self-released the effort August 22, 2016 before a vinyl reissue December 16, 2016 on Gates of Hell Records.

Given their pedigree, the bands’ infectious approach to the genres’ old-school tendencies is given quite a prominent display on here. Graced with plenty of tight, chugging riffing swirling around the ravenous melodies driving along throughout the efforts, their mid-tempo charge lets the appropriately simplistic riff-work and clubbing drumming bounce along quite energetically to these rhythms in fine fashion. When they get balanced along by the addition of stellar keyboard melodies, this becomes all the more stylistically and enjoyably more 80s-inspired affairs building that classical level of melody alongside the generally metallic riffing that continually charges throughout here. There’s a few rather noticeable factors against this, though, which namely comes from the albums’ incredibly weak and punchless production which tends to hold this one down to nearly unlistenable levels. The guitars just lifelessly swirl around throughout the mix, getting lost in the rumbling bass-lines, battering drumming and high-pitched, gravelly vocals that drown out the riffing it comes off so light. Likewise, it tends to drain a lot of life from the album during the middle sections where it’s more mid-tempo cruisers in terms of tempo rather than just going for the most energetic and engaging efforts elsewhere, causing this to dip into some bland efforts during that section which holds it up. The fact that it’s so adept at homaging the past that it really doesn’t come off really original at all, and it’s obvious about it, which hold it down.

Despite filling itself up with some rather prominent and noticeable flaws, the fact that there’s some good stuff to enjoy about the reasonably energetic affairs here which does get a pass with this being a debut album that overall makes this one worthwhile only for the most devout fans of old-school classic metal genre only.

Score: 70/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://gravebreaker.bandcamp.com/

Hyperion (Swe) - Seraphical Euphony

Artist: Hyperion (Swe)
Release Title: Seraphical Euphony
Year: 2016
Label: Black Lion Productions
Genre: Melodic Black/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Remnants of the Fallen
2. Novus Ordo Seclorum
3. Flagellum Dei
4. Seraphical Euphony
5. Moral Evasion
6. Primal Cosmic Ascendancy
7. Zephyr of Grace
8. Empyrean Yearning
9. Blood of the Ancients

Formed in late 2007, the Swedish melodic black/death metal outfit utilizing Hyperion have always been quite adept at featuring their old-school black and metal influences carried through their ancestral country-mates that cultivated their sound in the early 90s. With the group rounded out to a sextet with the addition of third guitarist Joel Hagroth, this sophomore album was originally released February 6, 2016 on Black Lion Records.

Once the album gets going, it’s really easy to see where the band has taken its influences from as there’s a rather obvious attack surging throughout here. This one goes for a pronounced and distinctive element of striking tremolo-pitched riffing and deep, swirling chugging, giving this the atmospheric and blistering take founded in the early days of the genre where the sparkling melodic leads over the thumping patterns created a heavy and yet still highly melodic attack. Given that majority of the album utilizes these efforts to oftentimes epic stature here, it’s all nicely balanced out by the fine addition of more relaxed, charging mid-tempo paces which go for a streamlined, swirling tremolo attack and sterling keyboard work which carries this one along into the melodic realm rather than the faster, more frantic efforts which is quite appealing. This dueling approach gives it a fine mixture of both charging, fiery intensity as well as breath-taking melodic interjections featured alongside each other, and the end result is inherently dynamic and well-crafted material. This does result in several tracks where it really feels it’s length and the epic quality does run against it, though since it’s a rare occurrence this isn’t all too detrimental and doesn’t really hold this one back all that much.

Without a whole lot of really big, detrimental issues to be found here, the fact that this one comes out of the gate with such a strong, impressive attack makes this a worthwhile act to follow in the future and is heartily recommended for all fans of the old-school melodic black/death sound or melodic black metal in general.

Score: 92/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://hyperionblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/seraphical-euphony

Mordant (Swe) - Demonic Satanic

Artist: Mordant (Swe)
Release Title: Demonic Satanic
Year: 2016
Label: To the Death Records
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Vengeance from the Dark
2. Devastating Storm... Evil Holocaust
3. Demonic Satanic
4. Evil Impalers
5. Blacking Metal (Sabbat cover)
6. Desecration from Hell
7. Infernal Curse of Evil
8. Screaming Souls
9. Count Lucifer

Still blazing in the underground, the long-running Swedish black/death metallers under the name Mordant continue to utilize the work on their country’s history and heritage in making this one of the most ferocious yet melodic albums in the scene. Finally coming back after a five-year break from releases, the group finally prepares it’s third full-length effort released November 30, 2016 on To the Death Records.

From the outset, the band manages to employ a quite adept and profound usage of old-school death and black metal into this one that’s incredibly appealing. As the vast majority of the tracks showcase, there’s quite a heavy usage of ferocious, brimstone-accented tremolo riffing that tracks through the fiery tempos and thrash-like energies commonly utilized which makes for some ripping, energetic efforts. The dirty thrashing style here comes across quite nicely with the album’s solid shifts into more traditionally-picked tremolo lead-work and straightforward rhythms that tackle the stylistic energies from the death metal scene. When these rhythms are featured alongside the brimming melodies and pounding rhythm section, there’s plenty to like with this one even though it does point out a rather small problem with this one in being so overly reliant on the old-school tone and mindset in how they organize their riffing that it really loses its identity. No matter how energetic or vibrant the material is, there’s always the sense that this has been done before and utilized to better effect as the short, compact writing does tend to take out some of the sting of these tracks to a somewhat more pronounced degree than expected. It’s not enough to totally lower this one but it does affect it enough.

Given that there are some minor flaws here even with a ton of rather impressive elements, this one becomes quite an enjoyable and impressive outing that will really appeal to the less discerning fans of old-school Swedish black/death metal or those that prioritize those enjoyable elements over its minor drawbacks.

Score: 89/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://tothedeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/demonic-satanic

F.O.A.D. - Birth of Extinction

Artist: F.O.A.D.
Release Title: Birth of Extinction
Year: 2016
Label: Defense Records
Genre: Old-School Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Avoid the Smell of Semen
2. Chaos of Reign
3. Legion of the Dead
4. Doomed Rebirth of Christ
5. Deathcamp VIII
6. Bastard Son
7. Holiday in Armenia
8. Among the Living Carcass
9. Bastard Son
10. Doomed Rebirth of Christ
11. Morbid Truth

Initially formed back in the 1980s, Swedish thrashers F.O.A.D. existed in various forms until 2012 when the bands’ line-up solidified and the group was able to finally release their first song before proper demo material arrived several years later. Recorded as a three-piece before being joined by second guitarist Steffan Johansson, the groups’ full-length demo bolstered by their demos was originally released November 25, 2016 on Defense Records.

Being conceived in the original birth of the genre, there’s quite a lot of rather impressive old-school moments on display throughout this one. This readily employs fiery, frantic thrash riffing and charging patterns sweeping along at generous, dynamic patterns full of vicious thrash that rips out tight, energetic rhythms that are full of a dark, decrepit atmosphere straight from the genre’s early days. Keeping the ravenous work in check is a series of more mid-tempo and crunchy style of riffing that enables for a still-intense if slightly more melodic series of rhythm patterns that lets the riff-work breathe a little more and opening up a nice variation for the material to not remain strictly one-dimensional which besets the album’s single biggest qualm. The album isn’t really that distinguished by a great deal of innovative and memorable moments as the vast majority of the album rips through its blend of fiery arrangements that are competently pulled off and executed but don’t have much else going for them. There are points where it dips into the familiar quite too often to dole out the violence, and it doesn’t really handle the kind of impact it really should. Likewise, the fact that this one comes complete with demo recordings that are quite obviously of a lower quality and taken from a different recording session yet is passed off as a full-length makes for a jarring and nonsensical feel which causes this to stick out rather sharply. Overall, though, considering it’s a debut it’s not too much of a detriment.

Overall not all that terrible of a release and certainly one with its fair share of positives, the fact that there’s quite a lot to really like with the influx of old-school rhythms and arrangements, no matter how cliche and familiar they may be, make for a nice addition to any old-school thrash fan in particular.

Score: 79/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://mythrone.8merch.com/services/store

Astrophobos - Enthroned in Flesh EP

Artist: Astrophobos
Release Title; Enthroned in Flesh EP
Year: 2016
Label: Triumvirate Records
Genre: Old-School Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Enthroned in Flesh
2. Tabula Rasa
3. Blood Libation
4. The Cadaver Monarch

Never one to rush through a release, Swedish black metallers Astrophobos have long been built on their willingness to contribute their full will to their work by taking plenty of time to hone and fine-tune their craft without rushing anything out under their name. After a two-year break from their debut full-length that shows Fredrik Widigs as a session drummer, their new EP was released August 26, 2016 on Triumvirate Records.

As was apparent on their previous efforts, the band is simply out tackling the same fertile and explosive grounds that was laid down back in mid-90s Norway. Firing off those ever-familiar swirling tremolo-picked rhythms and smoldering, brimstone-accented riffing that packs a punch with fiery, dynamic patterns and galloping up-tempo paces with plenty of fervor and enthusiasm, tackling the expected arrangements and tone effectively throughout here. This is pretty much the main guise of the effort which keeps this running short and to-the-point throughout here until it gets to the epic closer, which nicely switches this up into a far more complex and sweeping series of arrangements with the extra running time allowing for the different variances to be present through here to counteract the more traditional elements. That, in a nutshell, is the album’s main problem in that it’s just way too familiar and similar to most other second-wave black metal elements, as it’s the same general tremolo riffing backed by blasting drum-work that’s become quite commonplace throughout here. It’s really the biggest issue against this as despite the short length there’s not a whole lot really wrong with it.

With a lot of high-quality work and no real down-spots other than the overly-familiar and similar rhythms here as part of their old-school homage, there’s more than enough to really get into this one and makes for quite a worthwhile choice of second-wave aficionados or fans of the bands’ previous works.

Score: 85/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://astrophobos.bandcamp.com/album/enthroned-in-flesh

Echelon - The Brimstone Aggrandizement

Artist: Echelon
Release Title: The Brimstone Aggrandizement
Year: 2016
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Genre: Old-School Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Plague of the Altruistic
2. The Forbidden Industry
3. Lex Talionis
4. Of Warlocks and Wolves
5. The Brimstone Aggrandizement
6. Vital Existence
7. The Feared Religion
8. Monsters in the Gene Pool/Sonic Vortex

Another of his prodigious releases, Swedish/UK  old-school death metal supergroup Echelon continue to further the rabid traditionally-minded old-school sound that Rogga Johansson has made his career on, this project a union between Rogga and legendary vocalist Dave Ingram. Bringing onboard Paganizer collaborator Kjetil Lynghaug on Guitar, Ribspreader bassist Johan Berglund and maniacal drummer Travis Ruvo, the groups’ second full-length album was originally released December 22, 2016 on Transcending Obscurity Records.

Much as could be expected here, the band is quite obviously yet another group that brings about its old-school death metal style to the forefront almost immediately. Filled to the brim with deep, churning riff-work that offers plenty of straightforward mid-tempo paced rhythms that are equally as frantic and intense as well as sharp and bludgeoning in their sprawling tones, it makes for a wholly appealing time. The fact that it’s all recorded at that warm, vibrant tone makes the riffing even more impressive here generating the sort of tactical approaches usually featured in the early days of the scene by switching from the tight, crunchy grooves favored in that scene while also employing slow, sprawling sections that feature wave after wave of heavy riff-work, pounding drumming and dynamic vocals into these dynamic rhythms that propel this one along. As it rages through these varying tempos and rhythm patterns, it really generates that old-school feel here without being cheesy or cloying as there are quite a few sections that trade in the churning riffs for spiraling tremolo-picked riffing or allowing for melodic overtones to the frantic, fiery solo sections and it all captures the old-school vibe exceptionally well. It does come off a little short here at times with the brief running time coming against it with the few tracks here, but it’s nowhere near enough to really hold back this one’s retro-themed fun.

Though it doesn’t really come with the full-on throwback to the old-school days with its brief running time holding it back somewhat, the fact that the vast majority of the album is still raging old-school themed death metal of fine caliber makes this a worthwhile choice for fans of the participants’ other bands or old-school death in general.

Score: 95/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://echelondm.bandcamp.com/album/the-brimstone-aggrandizement-death-metal-supergroup

Wormlight - Bloodfields EP

Artist: Wormlight
Release Title: Bloodfields EP
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent (Black Lion Productions reissue)
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Wormlight
2. Pitch Black Hatred
3. Towards Impious Domination
4. The Bloodfields

Reissue Tracklisting:
1. Wormlight
2. Pitch Black Hatred
3. Towards Impious Domination
4. The Bloodfields
5. Wormlight (Rerecorded Version)
6. The Bloodfields (Rerecorded Version)

Carrying on from Unhallowed, Swedish black metallers Wormlight have charged forth after the name-change into the current moniker as the band continues to explore the same general sound within the new format. With a lineup overhaul that sees founder Deafeathered leave only to be replaced by Tiamat Invictuz who then took up guitar duties from a departing Nordlyst, the group’s new EP was originally self-released April 10, 2015 with a reissue December 3, 2016 on Black Lion Productions that sees bonus tracks with Invictuz on vocals added on.

Despite the name change, what’s on display here is still classic-era melodic black metal featuring all the aggression and intensity normally found within the scene. Full of galloping tremolo riffing that adds that characteristic darkened hellfire sound to the whole overall atmosphere, furious pounding drum work that is simply unrelenting and carrying through a truly explosive series of paces throughout here, the basic unrelenting charge offered here is quite the impressive burst of traditional black metal yet still manages to contain plenty of melodic accents. Churning away with a steady gallop throughout the rhythms by switching up the overall sound away from the raging tempos into a more straightforward attack that’s much more in league with the classic melodic black metal as the bands’ ability to switch-up these styles gives this a strong dynamic and variety that’s quite impressive and enjoyable. On the whole, this doesn’t leave much to dislike here as the band is quite adept at this style for the most part without really employing all that many flaws present.

As a fully explosive and generally appealing mixture of furious black metal rhythms with choice melodic accents interwoven throughout here and not really generating a lot of dislikes, this is quite the appealing package for those looking for quality melodic black metal or those appreciate high-quality extreme metal.

Score: 90/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://wormlightsweblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/bloodfields

Anata - The Infernal Depths of Hatred

Artist: Anata
Release Title: The Infernal Depths of Hatred
Year: 1998 (2016 reissue)
Label: Season of Mist (KaosKvlt 2016 reissue)
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Released When You Are Dead
2. Let the Heavens Hate
3. Under Azure Skies
4. Vast Lands/Infernal Gates
5. Slain upon His Altar
6. Those Who Lick the Wounds of Christ
7. Dethrone the Hypocrites
8. Aim Not at the Kingdom High
9. Day of Suffering [Morbid Angel cover]

Having formed in 1993, Swedish technical death metal powerhouse Anata have taken their name from an Egyptian goddess of war and secured people from animal attacks and was brought to Egypt from Syria by Hyksos in the beginning of 17. century B.C., which matches the intensity and power of the bands’ attack. Following up a pair of highly-acclaimed demos, the bands’ debut full-length was originally released October 4, 1998 on Season of Mist before a vinyl re-issue October 21, 2016 on KaosKvlt.

From the outset, this here is patently dynamic and charging death metal of the highest caliber as it focuses quite heavily on its genre leanings to generate plenty of enjoyable elements. This mostly focuses on bringing along the challenging traditional death metal patterns and furious rhythms that inject copious amounts of speed and energy into the works while offering spindly leads and driving chunks of meaty riffing to great effect. That these here generate the kind of complex, utterly schizoid brand of technical death is the greatest virtue for the record, offering that kind of material with remarkable skill yet still featuring a rather heavy charge that grounds the whole album in a great weight that’s more in keeping with the traditional varieties on display throughout here. This really makes for a dynamic and impressive effort alone of the fact that there’s the added bonus of enhanced melodic elements interspersed alongside many of these driving rhythms. Though it’s quite predominantly rooted in the frenzied side of the genre, this one can place lighter riffing into extended sections and even introduce twinkling rhythms all mashed together into a strong, stylish whirlwind that’s immensely pleasurable and creates a strong, cohesive attack throughout here. The melodies on display shore up the savage, driving rhythms even better while focusing on the technical skillset needed to wrap these disparate elements together so as not to let any part of the album overwhelm the other, which makes this one of the finest to accomplish this and works so well for the album as a whole.

On the whole this here is one of the genre’s most revered and enjoyable albums for a reason as there’s a little of something for every part of the genre’s fans to enjoy about it, whether it be the technical showmanship, the driving energetic rhythms or the sparkling melodies and leaves this a solid purchase for fans of the style in general.

Score: 96/100

Does it sound good? Order the reissue here:
http://shop.season-of-mist.com/anata-the-infernal-depths-of-hatred-lp

Defiatory - Extinct

Artist: Defiatory
Release Title: Extinct
Year: 2016
Label: Black Lion Productions
Genre: Retro Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. The Final Conflict
2. Reaper
3. Aeons End
4. Dogs of War
5. Extinct
6. Destiny
7. The Black Vortex
8. Furor Unleashed

Coming together in 2015, Swedish thrashers Defiatory have quickly settled into a groove of old-school thrash worship that has taken the bands’ love of the genre to it’s fullest with the group quickly finding their full material quickly enough in their career. With the group appearing as a supergroup of the Swedish death metal scene, the group’s debut release was originally released June 3, 2016 on Black Lion Records.

Almost immediately here it becomes apparent that the band is clearly adept at displaying the kind of old school-fueled burst of Bay Area-styled revivalist thrash in grand order. The tight, crunchy patterns and full-throttle riff-work at the center of the music here gives this a generously furious up-tempo thrash-inspired blast of fiery thrash, and with the album going for the generally dexterous leads and straightforward energy there’s plenty of old-school nods throughout the album. Though the album doesn’t generate the kind of variety in their rhythms that effectively recalls that scene to it’s fullest, the riffing patterns utilized here are much more in league with that and really manages to  employ the distinctive crunch barreling along throughout here which is mostly due to the far more vicious and intense patterns featured which give this a far more modern and dynamic effort here which makes the rampaging material quite enjoyable and intense. Though this works quite nicely in generating fiery, frantic material it also causes this to slip into one-dimensional thrashing for the most part here, never really offering up much of anything beyond just admittedly-crushing material without really changing it around and providing any kind of variety. There’s a few spots scattered here but for the most part that lack of real dynamic or varied material does come across here, and although there’s some leeway given here due to being a debut it’s the one issue to be found here.

With only a few minor quibbles to be found here due to being a debut album which doesn’t really hold it back all too much, this here comes off as absolutely enjoyable and vicious modern-sounding revival thrash that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of that side of the spectrum or simply intense thrash in general.

Score: 91/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://defiatoryblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/extinct

Heavydeath - In Circles We Die

Artist: Heavydeath
Release Title: In Circles We Die
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent (Aftermath Music)
Genre: Old-School Doom/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. As We Foretold
2. Slumbering Monolith
3. Bleak Future
4. In Circles We Die
5. The Few Remains
6. Rope of Emptiness
7. Into Death's Black Void
8. The Fallen One

Continuing to expand on their sound, Swedish doom/death metal supergroup Heavydeath have taken their years of experience and brought about a rather pronounced and highly effective ode to the old-school sounds of their homeland. With the power-trio wasting no time in ushering a slew of releases, their second full-length effort was digitally-released independently November 1, 2016 before a CD reissue November 4, 2016 on Aftermath Music.

As is to be expected here from the sound of the album, the main focus here is on the crushing doom atmosphere throughout here which makes for quite a fun time. Featuring plenty of monolithic rhythms, loaded with that filthy sludgy sprawl typically associated with the style with the low-slung, barely-moving rhythms keeping this one locked tight in the rhythms throughout here as this one tends to opt for the classic dredging tempos without any real change in the matter which lets the deep, churning riff-work come to a nice head here that lets this one adopt a more ferocious atmosphere during these sections with the lurching tempos letting the riffing come to a more deep and churning centerpiece. This results in some rather fun and engaging pieces at times and is certainly a major part of the album’s success while also managing to highlight one of it’s few minor flaws in the fact that it really does feel it’s weighty presence at times. The slow, dragging tempos are rife with atmosphere, but at the same time completely opening up the album’s running time with the fact that this one really contains quite lengthy tracks that simply plod along lifelessly with barely any energy or weight behind them as the riffing descends into dull noodling as the drumming becomes limp and lifeless doling out the tracks as this is so prominent in the later half there’s little about it that remains as effective as the first half. That part is what makes the album as good as it is.

Though it runs afoul of itself slightly in the later half, there’s still more than enough quality and consistent material to be found throughout here that this one becomes quite a fine and worthwhile release for fans of the musicians involved in the project or appreciate this style of slow, plodding old-school death-influenced doom metal.

Score: 85/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://heavydeath.bandcamp.com/album/in-circles-we-die

Across the Burning Sky - The End is Near

Artist: Across the Burning Sky
Release Title: The End is Near
Year: 2016
Label: MDD Records
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. The Death March
2. Demons Rising
3. Towards The Sky
4. Sacrifice
5. Call of the Ancient Gods
6. The Fourth Deadly Sin
7. Shadows Embrace
8. Ashes to Ashes
9. Bloodlines
10. The End
11. The Final March

Formed just in 2014, Swedish melodic death metallers Across the Burning Sky have come together from a collective of scene veterans with nearly two decades of experience in the genre that have manifested themselves into the claim of old-school influences. With the group finally coming together to their first release, the debut full-length was originally released October 28, 2016 on MDD Records.

From the outset this here is pretty apparent and forceful about the old-school influences in their melodic death metal stylings by offering a charging variant on the style. There’s a strong simplicity inherent in this one by going for the generally energetic mid-tempo pacing while letting the more furious and pounding rhythms lead along into the more frantic sections that add a nice balance and energy to this one. Though it’s mostly simplistic, there’s a driving energy by meshing that within the melodic firepower of the main riff-work featured here which creates a wholly melodic and blistering sections here with the sweeping patterns firing off the melodic prowess in these frantic sections. That is a perfect display of their professionalism in their seasoned experience which comes off well here, but does manage to draw up the one small facet on display here in that the tracks are so straightforward and simplistic that it never offers up any kind of variation to enable the tracks to generate any kind of length here as this one is so short and over so quick that there’s the very likely possibility that this one turns into a shortened burst of material but then is just over and it really seems as though the tracks could’ve been expanded a bit more beyond just three-minute blasts of effective melodic death metal. Still, it’s the only real issue to have with this one.

With the fact that it’s just so quick and over so soon due to a real lack of variation within itself which makes this come off so short, there’s not much else really wrong here that really drops this one down as the main problematic issue here so that all fans of melodic death metal are encouraged to check this out.

Score: 85/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://acrosstheburningsky.bandcamp.com/releases

Division Vansinne - Dimension Darkness

Artist: Division Vansinne
Release Title: Dimension Darkness
Year: 2016
Label: Black Lion Productions
Genre: Death/Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Första terror pergamentet
3. Goathorns Rising
4. Helt åt helvete med allt
5. Sadistic Love Session
6. Ändlöst jävla galenskap i blod
7. Ritual
8. Flyende under solens pest
9. När allt har brunnit ner
10. Dimension Darkness
11. Outro

Originally formed in 2008, Swedish black/death metallers Division Vansinne have come together with the idea to keep the old spirit of early 90’s black/death metal alive through their desire to build their work around those old-school aesthetics. With their line-up finally being solidified around mainmanTortureXvidian on vocals and guitars, a returning Likh on bass and Ljusebring Terrorblaster on drums, the groups’ debut album was released September 20, 2016 on Black Lion Productions.

Once the group gets going, there’s a highly prominent and devastating old-school tone throughout here that’s quite prevalent in the different attempts to display their riffing prowess. This is mostly evident in the fact that there’s quite a feverish and prominent outpouring of traditionally deep, churning riffing present that adds a nice selection of tempo variation throughout here, ranging from a series of tight blasting patterns to majestic, sprawling rides. This not only allows for the album to deftly switch styles here but also manages to include the darkened swirling tremolo patterns to the rhythms which is quite impressive and wholly dynamic as a whole that gives this the ability to mesh those styles together into a strong whole so that the darkened, crawling old-school atmosphere gets a chance to be more prominent and present in the overall album’s feel. While there’s a lot to enjoy about this one, there’s the one lone factor here in that the album’s rather overlong length here stemming from way too many tracks dwelling in the  mid-tempo range when it really could’ve stayed more in the faster blasting sections that are far more lively and energetic here. Due to the tracklisting that enables more of these to be featured in order to reach that length, it highlights those even more and leads to a tide of rhythms throughout here rather than a consistent tone, though being a debut offering this is somewhat less of an issue than expected.

Despite featuring a few moments here and there that aren’t all that enjoyable, there’s more than enough elements at work here that is impressive and exciting that it manages to overcome a lot of it regardless of this being a debut that gives this a great appeal for fans of old-school death and black metal as well as fans of Scandinavian extreme metal in general.

Score: 89/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://divisonvansinneblp.bandcamp.com/album/dimension-darkness

Ribspreader - Suicide Gate - A Bridge to Death

Artist: Ribspreader
Release Title: Suicide Gate - A Bridge to Death
Year: 2016
Label: Xtreem Music
Genre: Old-School Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Descent of the Morbid
2. Centuries of Filth
3. Eligi
4. The Suffering Earth
5. A Worthless Breed
6. World Dismemberment
7. In Mankind's Rotting Grip
8. The Remains in the Wall
9. Under Ash-Filled Skies

One of his never-ending projects, Swedish death metallers Ribspreader are another in the large crop of bands from Rogga Johansson which he uses to spread his passion of old-school death metal as this one is one of the longest lasting efforts. With drummer Brynjar Helgetun and guitarist Andreas Carlsson being replaced by Jeramie Kling and Taylor Nordberg respectively, the groups’ sixth full-length is released June 15, 2016 on new-label Xtreem Music.

Whereas the majority of the bands are more of a straightforward old-school act, this particular entity of Rogga’s centers around a stylish worship of the Swedish scene in general. This one manages to take on that typically grinding buzzsaw riffing style complete with the swirling thrash melodies to offer up the kind of speed-drenched efforts that reek of that atmosphere and power that come from the album’s near-continuous onslaught of ravenous riff-work in this dynamic style. Working in that presence of dread and doom here in which they add in a slightly more pronounced galloping pace that acts as a melodic sprawl against the ravenous actions elsewhere while bringing about plenty of tight rhythms and atmosphere here to counteract the driving intensity displayed here. This attack is quite impressive and enjoyable for the most part with the album going between the ravenous and the more reserved sections in a rather fine variety, even if the album isn’t really all that original or creative for the most part. It steals from the playbook of so many other acts from this time-period and style that there’s not much about it that really stands out beyond the energy and enthusiasm from the tracks, and for the most part is what really holds this one back.

Generating plenty of ravenous Swedish-styled influences together for one rather fine project that doesn’t really do much interesting or original work here which harms this one somewhat enough in order to really leave this for the most devout followers of Swedish death metal, Rogga aficionados or old-school death fans in general while others should heed caution here due to its issues.

Score: 89/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/album/suicide-gate-a-bridge-to-death

Paganizer - On the Outskirts of Hades EP

Artist: Paganizer
Release Title: On the Outskirts of Hades EP
Year: 2016
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Genre; Swedish Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Angry All the Time
2. Adjacent to Purgatory
3. The Netherworld Carnivale
4. On the Outskirts of Hades

Part of Rogga Johansson’s never-ending cycle of bands, Swedish death metallers Paganizer are his main band and one of the oldest of his projects dedicated to his passion and love for Swedish-sounding death metal that runs through his dozens of projects. The third of three EPs released by the project during the calendar year, this new release of ravenous death metal was issued August 1, 2016 on Transcending Obscurity Records.

As is to be expected here, this one is pretty simple to determine it’s old-school Swedish-influenced death metal sound with a rather furious and vicious blast of charging up-tempo death metal. The material is wholly simplistic and take on the swirling buzzsaw grooves popularized by the bands first coming out of Sweden in the early-90s though warped through a more Floridian tone that adds varied sense of dynamics and cutting tone rather than the infamous chainsaw-laced charge that completes the traditional Swedish model. Likewise, the ability to shift gears into a more straightforward doom-like charge that adds a sprawling urgency to it that completes the old-school feel. This is a truly enjoyable burst of old-school death metal and is really only undone by the fact that only has four tracks which ends this one so early that it just ends up being quite abrupt and just quite quickly, leaving this one with a weird ending rush. Otherwise, this one has a score of positive material to like here.

Being just a touch too short to really get the most bang out of it’s attack, this one still manages to offer up such a solid, overall blistering account of Swedish-influenced death metal here that this one really should work well for all fans of this kind of death metal or Rogga’s projects in general.

Score: 93/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://paganizer.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-outskirts-of-hades-death-metal

Eufori - Humörsvängningar

Artist: Eufori
Release Title: Humörsvängningar
Year: 2016
Label: Black Lion Productions
Genre: Depressive Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Avgrund
2. Det är fan inte värt
3. Humörsvängningar
4. Inget mer
5. Höstdepressioner
6. Insikt
7. Låt snön falla (Vanhelga cover)
8. Eufori

Formed in early 2016 in Stockholm, Swedish depressive black metallers Eufori came together when members of the band Mist of Misery found out that ideas written originally for that band didn’t fit within the context of that sound and formed a separate band to share those releases. Following an EP release earlier in the year, the duo’s full-length debut was released September 30, 2016 on Black Lion Productions.

From the beginning this one makes it pretty clear how much it takes on the depressive nature of this chosen style by really working the simplicity of the structures quite well. The droning, chilling tremolo riffing here and the hauntingly slow, simple arrangements here alongside the one-note drumming makes for a loose, solitary experience wherein the cold nature of the material makes for a fine atmospheric vibe within here. That atmosphere, aided alongside with the swirling riff-work in massive, sprawling methods with plenty of endless simple-minded acoustic strumming or just straightforward simplistic riffing here repeating the same rhythm on repeat for long stretches of time gives this more of an atmospheric feel here that goes well in hand with the hoarse, shrieking vocals which further tie this one into the depressive realm as they mesh perfectly with the cold, isolated riff-work. While there’s an outburst of somewhat lighter and less depressive riffing throughout here, this is only done on several occasions and really sticks out here as being too out-of-tune with what’s being attempted here as this bouncy material goes against the solitary, lonely atmosphere of the rest of the tracks. The overly simplistic vibe throughout here might be quite troubling for some here as there’s just not all that much variation here beyond a wholly simple-minded approach which generates quite a one-note feeling in here in regards to plenty of others out there which show some slightly more dynamic approaches against this one.

Though the simple-minded approach found here does give this one a rather rudimentary feel in the genre, there’s more than enough solid points of interest here that it remains quite a worthwhile listen for fans of the members’ other project or the depressive/suicidal genre in general though those looking for something more dynamic in the genre should heed caution.

Score: 78/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://euforilblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/hum-rsv-ngningar

Johansson and Speckmann - Edge of the Abyss

Artist: Johansson and Speckmann
Release Title: Edge of the Abyss
Year: 2016
Label: Soulseller Records
Genre: Old-School Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Perpetuate the Lie
2. You've Stepped on a Dime
3. Misanthropy
4. Turn It Around
5. The Last Witness Is Barely Alive
6. The One They All Despised
7. The Edge of the Abyss
8. A Concept
9. Already in Disguise

Wasting no time in between recording for each members’ other groups, International death metal collaboration Johansson and Speckmann have quickly come together to offer what might be the crowning opus for each member in the calendar year. This time joined by monster drummer Brynjar Helgetun and also presenting lead guitarist Kjetil Lynghaug, the group’s third full-length effort was released September 16, 2016 through Soulseller Records.

As was prominently featured in the last album, this one here comes from the utterly dominating old-school attack that manages to feature the qualities of their two bands together in a fine mix. This one goes from the typical churning, swirling riff-patterns and the frenzied blasting tempos featured here that are mixed alongside the furious simplistic thrashing sections that create a palpable surge of energy and intensity throughout here while allowing for some strong agonized sprawling that gives it a strong touch of the old-school throughout here. When it gets to the mid-tempo rhythms become far more prominent and the album becomes far more straightforward and simplistic which is what drops this in favor of these plodding efforts which play far more in line with what occurs in both members’ other projects. That variety here is quite prominent within the confines of the album with it making a concerted effort to appeal to both fan-bases quite readily without much difficulty and the release makes for a great time for fans of both members by featuring the kind of work mostly familiar to each other. This tends to make the album come off like simply one of them is guesting on the others’ work which is the sign of a true collaboration between them yet doesn’t really pack any kind of surprises overall by simply providing more of the same here. While that is indeed quite a package, the lack of creativity and uniqueness about this project does become noticeable.

Though it really lacks much in the way of creativity or really any surprises of any kind, the fact that this one really seems honest about working to the strengths of both members here who come from a similar background that this is a no-doubt interest to fans of both members as well as any fanatic of old-school death metal.

Score: 93/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:

https://www.discogs.com/Johansson-Speckmann-Edge-Of-The-Abyss/release/9014116

Johansson and Speckmann - Mask of the Treacherous

Artist: Johansson and Speckmann
Release Title: Mask of the Treacherous
Year: 2015
Label: Vic Records
Genre: Old-School Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Mask of the Treacherous
2. Inhuman Lust
3. Through the Filth and Riddled Ages
4. The Wicked Marches On
5. The Bringer of Pain
6. I'll End Your Rotten Life
7. Within Reach
8. Enslaved in Filth
9. A Grave for This World

Furthering their success from the previous album, International death metal collaboration Johansson and Speckmann are certainly putting their collective might together in this project that brings the two luminaries together once again for a spectacular assault of old-school death metal. Gaining in their abilities from the previous release, the project’s second full-length record was released February 23, 2015 on Vic Records.

As befits the status of the men involved here, this is their usually simplistic and overly primitive-styled mixture of straightforward death metal augmented with strong thrashing overtones. This utterly simplistic and not all that varied music within here allows it either to be a rather tight and ferocious charge swirling with mid-tempo agonized riffing and plodding paces or generates a crunchy thrash-laden series of rhythms that offer up some rather frantic and blistering efforts. It works quite well in keeping that nicely mixed with the attacks getting balanced incredibly well between the churning old-school riffing with the thrashing energy, and it really sounds like a full-on mixture of both artists’ main groups. Going for the mix of tight, churning thrash with the agonized sprawling rhythms really gives this the album’s greatest strength as there’s a slight variance between the styles in terms of the different approaches reaching a rather strong approach for the old-school tactics that are featured within here. While there’s plenty of rather enjoyable work here because of that, it tends to run itself into quite predictable realms because it’s all about letting their main bands come together in one area without much deviation and it does crop up as something within this one. The tracks really fall into either category and it does have a really simplistic attack that does really affect this one slightly. Still, it’s got plenty to really like here in other regards.

Though it does find itself losing a little bit in the overall set-up with the approach running itself too close to each other at times, this one still manages to effectively capture the old-school feeling from both members that this overcomes the flaws for the most part and becomes a wholly appealing choice for fans of either members’ projects or old-school death metal in general.

Score: 93/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://vicrecords.com/shop/index.php?id_product=50&controller=product&search_query=johansson&results=7