No Nonsense Metal Reviews

SPAWNED FROM HATE:  ACCELERATED BUTCHERY EP    The modern Death-Metal underground is currently bursting with bright new talented bands, all trying to bring something new to the table in order to stand out from the crowd. For Birmingham based outfit, Spawned From Hate, their energising take on the heavy stuff does just the job. Oozing with the true old-school Death-Metal grime, their latest release, the crushing Accelerated Butchery EP, is guaranteed to give the band underground notoriety.     From the static, extraterrestrial gargling sounds of the intro alone, you get the feeling that you know what is coming. Soon as the title track kicks in, suspicions are confirmed and heads are banging. Thick, crunchy riffs and traditional growls are the order of the day here, crafted into a sound that carries undeniable tones of classic Death and Obituary. That said, there is an definite freshness about Accelerated Butchery, as well as a strong consistency wit...

NO NONSENSE METAL REVIEWS   5 ESSENTIAL ALBUMS EVERY EXTREME MUSIC FAN NEEDS.     Metal music is not everyones cup of tea, but for those of us who are fans, it is more than just music. Metal is a way of life, filled with CD's, mountains of black T-shirts and usually a lot of alcohol. Metal is such a diverse genre that incorporates so many different styles and sounds, that rivalries and divisions expectedly plague this sacred brotherhood, but whether you're a die-hard "MWOBHM" old-schooler, or a flicky-fringe adorning youngster, we all share a common raging thirst for new music. That said, finding your next favourite album is easier said than done. but if extremity is your thing, then here are 5 albums of the brutal stuff to get stuck into. Enjoy!  PORTAL: VEXOVOID     Other than a corpse-laden, candlelit Church at Midnight on October 31st, very few things are more hauntingly terrifying than this album. Portal, have a very unique sound that is unli...

NAPALM DEATH :  APEX PREDATOR -  EASY MEAT    A lot has changed since the Grindcore pioneering days of Scum . Some would even argue that for Napalm Death, the only constant has been their name, which of course isn't the case. The energy and determination to continually   push to new musical heights that forged their many classic albums, remains as strong as ever here. When coupled with a world plagued by social and political issues, with humanitarian disasters commonplace and worldwide reluctance to dirty hands and fix the problems, you are left with all the fuel that Napalm Death need to dish out another Metallic wake up call.      Apex Predator - Easy Meat, is without a doubt, one of Napalm Death's greatest releases to date. Incorporating every style they have explored over the years, as well as several new angles to keep fans on their toes, this album is a masterpiece of extremity. The title track opens up the album, with a Slipkn...

INGESTED :  The Architect Of Extinction        Brutality is clearly an attribute that gets better with age. With their third full-length release, "The Architect Of Extinction", Ingested showcase their most barbaric capabilities. Death-Metal, Deathcore and Death-Slam, are just a few of the terms used to describe Ingested's sound, but whatever you decide to call it, the title should always be proceded by an adjective such as, "brilliant" or "mercilessly perfect".     Stylistically following on from 2013 EP, "Revered By No One, Feared By All", it becomes clear within the first growls of opening cut, " The Divine Right Of Kings ", that Ingested have finally found their sound. "The Architect Of Extinction" is surprisingly mature in sound and delivery, demonstrated clearly by instrumental piece, " Penance ", which gives you a chance to catch your breath and elitists time to rearrange their raised eyebrows. If tru...

No Nonsense Metal   Top Ten Albums of 2014!        2014 has played host to some of the greatest returns and biggest triumphs of the music business. Pioneers have come back from beyond to once again teach the new generations how it's done, and younger bands have been basking in the glow of mainstream attention. With so many monumental releases this year, 2014 will be remembered in all its Metallic glory. To summarise such a memorable year in just ten albums is almost a disservice, but also a testament to the brilliance of the years releases. In conclusion, here is a run down of the top ten metal albums of 2014. #10: SLIPKNOT   .5: THE GRAY CHAPTER    Following 6 years of uncertainty and mystery, Slipknot finally returned to the front lines of the extreme music world, armed to the teeth with all the guts and groove that they are so loved for. Fitting in perfectly alongside their earlier releases, .5: The Gray Chapter is a hard hitting m...

SABATON Korpiklaani and Tyr    It is testament to the popularity of Scandinavian Metal that The Waterfront is packed for the return of 3 of the finest from the north. The bands on tonight's line up are no strangers to this game or to these shores, but judging by the packed out crowd, it is obvious to see that people are already expecting to have their minds blown by the best.        The venue is certainly in high spirits awaiting a Power-Metal party to remember, with smiling faces and plastic cups being exchanged all around. First up to the stage is the Viking obsessed, Tyr [8]. Hindered from the word go by technical difficulties, Tyr still manage to deliver a solid crowd pleasing set, with songs such as " Blood Of Heroes " and " Hold The Heathen Hammer High " sounding more like headliner material than that of the first band on.    Up next are Korpiklaani [7], a Finnish Folk-Metal band that defy expectation. Taking the party to the ne...

CARCASS:  SURGICAL REMISSION/ SURPLUS STEEL    You would be forgiven for assuming that the reason five tracks didn't quite make the cut to be included on a full length album was because they simply weren't good enough. However, with the five tracks that comprise Carcass' new EP, Surgical Remission/ Surplus Steel, that couldn't be further from the truth.    Accompanying Carcass' 2013 full length come back, Surgical Steel, this collection of bonus and sessions material more than lives up to the heavyweight melodic Death-Metal legacy of its creators. Although Surplus Steel doesn't contain any typically "heavy", or particularly fast songs, such as " Captive Bolt Pistol ", this is still a genuinely crushing selection of material.    " A Wraith In The Apparatus " gets proceedings started the right way, filled to rupturing point with Bill Steer's huge iconic riffs and Jeff Walker's instantly recognisable snarl. The stompin...

VADER: TIBI ET IGNI     Vader are a band with absolutely nothing to prove. After 3 decades of creating heavy music, expectations on new material will always be high. However, this would be a foolish approach to take when regarding Vader. The fact that creating solid extreme music is clearly encoded in Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek's DNA, as well as Vader's reputation as one of Poland's greatest Metal exports, and not forgetting the impressive existing array of underground classics to their name, it is a safe bet that any new material is probably going to crack skulls and pump fists in the same way that Vader always have.    The ear assault begins after a huge sound-scaping intro to opening track " Go To Hell ", which raises pulses with distinctive Vader style. Following this is the double blow of " Where Angels Weep " and " Armada On Fire ", a blastbeat boasting display of muscular Death-Metal, both tracks carry a hint of the "Lit...

AUTOPSY   TOURNIQUETS, HACKSAWS AND GRAVES    After tearing back onto the scene in 2011 with the sadistically stunning, "Macabre Eternal", Autopsy have been dropping spectacular albums faster than a body decomposes in a desert. Following up 2013's "The Headless Ritual", Autopsy's latest and greatest offering, "Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves", is a die-hard pleasing lesson in old-school Death-Metal, oozing with all the grotesque lyrics and filthy riffs you would expect from these legendary pioneers, and more.    Musically, "Tourniquets,..." is very much a continuation of its full-length predecessor, although slightly more refined and direct. As is the Autopsy tradition, a wide spectrum of tempos and pace changes gives these songs a distinct memorability. Opening track " Savagery ", is a short sharp shock to the system, bringing the speed and introducing the album like a hatchet to the face. Again, the Autopsy tempo chan...

INGESTED REVERED BY NO ONE, FEARED BY ALL [EP]   Ingested are back with a brain liquidising new EP that makes it perfectly clear the UK's greatest slam experts mean business. With a mature and refined sound, "Revered By No One, Feared By All" creates a lingering taste that will leave you ravenously hungry for more. Importantly, RBNOFBA has all the key components that any good Death-Slam effort needs.     Within seconds of the opening track, " Titanomachy ", the trademark slam elements have all made their presence known, ready to create the following 15 minuets of barbaric butchery that the EP accounts for. Taking the blast-beat and chugging proceedings to another level, " Regicide ", truly hammers home the sheer fury and aggression that Ingested pour into every moment of their material. The most impressive feature of RBNOFBA is the diversity of sound and style that allows each song to stand out on their own merits. " Uncrowned " brin...

No Nonsense Metal  Top 10 Albums Of 2013!    2013 has proven to be a monumental year for extreme music. We have witnessed the return of some of the greatest pioneering acts Metal music has ever seen, as well as a succession of future legends solidifying their place within our realms. It is fair to say that 2013 holds some of the best Metal releases of all time, but within it also resides some of the most spectacular misfires ever to insult mortal eardrums. Focusing on the positive aspects of the years releases, here is a round up of 10 albums that 2013 shall truly be remembered for. Undoubtedly, this list of albums will (and should) be fairly predictable, reminding you of the incredible strides extreme music has made within the last year. However, it should also highlight just how much can change within a 365 day stretch, and just how much Metal music can terraform within that time. So lets hope 2014 lives up to the achievements of 2013. Bring on the...

                INTRODUCING: CROCELL    Lets face it, the buzz of discovering a kick-ass new band is something that every Metal-Heads lives for. After all, you discover your favorite bands and your favorite songs by listening to them for a first time. If you happen to be in the mood for discovering some serious spine-shiver inducing Death-Metal, by one of the most brutal bands to ascend upon the European Metal underground in a decade, then let Crocell blow both your mind and your speakers.    Emerging from Denmark and embodying the very foulest aspects of Scandinavian Death-Metal, Crocell play a very unique form of true, honest and entirely brutal music. For proof of this, just check out their new full-length album, Come Forth Plague. Armed to the teeth with pulverizing slabs of heaviness, Come Forth Plague is not an album for the faint hearted. Tracks such as " The Dark I Will Inhale " and " My Path Of Heresy ", s...

CARCASS  SURGICAL STEEL    When news first broke that the twice sub-genre pioneering Metal titans, Carcass, would be returning with their first brand new album in 17 years, expectation and anticipation was running understandably high. After all, 17 years is a long time to be away from anything. In the case of the music industry, 17 years away could see you landing in an entirely different world from the one you previously experienced. As for actually making music, 17 years is plenty of time to forget how to do the very thing thing that you once knew so well. Its lucky for the Metal community then that Carcass haven't forgotten a thing about how to create life affirming music. If anything, it seems that Carcass have only gotten better with time.     Surgical Steel incorporates far more Metallic styles than any individual previous Carcass album. For example, the appropriately named, " Thrasher's Abattoir ", carries a hammering Grind-entwined sound, l...