No Nonsense Metal Reviews

  CANNIBAL CORPSE: VIOLENCE UNIMAGINED       Violence Unimagined, the fifteenth full length release from renowned Death-Metal pioneers, Cannibal Corpse is precisely what you would expect from a band as experienced and as far into their career as they are. The album is unapologetically fast, furious and formidable, it is also one of their greatest triumphs to date.    Steeped in their signature instantly identifiable sound, Violence Unimagined is a blistering assault of concentrated Death-Metal, beautifully produced and presented by latest recruit, Eric Rutan. If any fans did have any unfounded concerns that having the mastermind from fellow Death-Metal veterans Hate Eternal in the band would somehow force them to deviate from the classic Cannibal Corpse sound that we all know and love, then they can rest assured. Having Eric in the band wielding the guitar and in the producers seat has not significantly impacted the bands style, if anything the addition of ...

  BURNING WITCHES:  BURNING WITCHES + BURNING ALIVE    No, Burning Witches debut album released back in 2017 is not Wheels Of Steel, The Number Of The Beast or Speelbound. No, the album is not going to change the game completely and reshape the music world as we know it. What this fine example of modern Heavy Metal has and will continue to achieve however, is to advance the already catapulting upwards trajectory of this brilliant young band into minds and hearts of Metalheads across the globe.    Flawlessly produced by Destruction frontman and all round Metal legend, Schmier, Burning Witches is a crisp and clean tome of pure Metal. Primarily traditional Heavy Metal in sound and style but with a decent injection of Thrash speed and riffing, this album will easily appease any fan of post 2000 Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as more recent Destruction or Accept.    Burning Witches are armed with the full Heavy Metal arsenal here on their debut....

  PRIMAL FEAR feat TARJA TURUNEN: I WILL BE GONE    Following on from the 2020 release of their thirteenth studio album, Metal Commando, German Power/ Heavy Metal powerhouse Primal Fear have released what is possibly their most interesting yet potentially dangerous material of pure artistic exploration to date.    Of course, such a statement sounds very severe and altogether a touch too serious, but the idea of a highly regarded Heavy Metal band releasing an EP structured around a reworked ballad may not be very well received in some quarters. If on the other hand, you are a fan of the band and aren't too precious about music always being hard and fast then chances are you will find this fine example of musical expression a highly enjoyable listen.     For this very unique endeavour Primal Fear have recruited Finnish angelic vocalist and globally renowned singer, Tarja Turunen for an extremely powerful and tear inducing rendition of the slow numbe...

  Memoriam: To The End     This is  Old-School Death-Metal done the right way. As any fan of the band will be aware of by now, Memoriam is comprised of veteran musicians with such pedigree and experience earned with some of Death-Metal's most renowned acts, but that requires no further explanation here. Within the space of 5 pivotal and turbulent years, Memoriam have displayed a pace of working utterly anomalous in today's musical age. The superb new full length, To The End, marks the bands fourth album to date and is unquestionably their most defining release so far.    Unlike most extreme Metal bands, Memoriam have undeniably become heavier and more serious with each album, meaning that To The End is without a doubt their most crushing album yet. The album showcases a Memoriam far more concise, experimental and with a much grander sound than previously heard. Like 2019's magnificent Requiem For Mankind, To The End is produced by maestro Russ Russell, who ...

KATAPLEXIA: THE RISE OF THE UNKNOWN    If you have been waiting 11 years for another full-length from Finland based bruisers Kataplexia, then every second of that wait has been well worth it.  Stretching to an eye-watering 30 minutes, this album is a roller-coaster of audio brutality.     Introducing the album, " Profanities Of Artificial Incubation " does have a fairly prominent, Disavowed-esque air about it, but that does not overshadow the fact that these riffs are colossal, the gutturals are raw and the low end and bass drops will crush your skull.     If you like your Brutal Death-Metal to have a little more of a classic feel to it, then " The Approaching Of The Aftermath " and " Inverted Telepathy " will make you feel right at home. Both of these tracks shamelessly lean towards the menacing pace and primal punch of more traditional Death-Metal, from the likes of Sinister and Cannibal Corpse.  In fact, " Inverted Telepa...

OBITUARY: DEAD    Aside from a few very rare extraordinary exceptions, there aren't actually that many Death-Metal live albums worth mentioning. In fact, many would argue that actually Death-Metal falls somewhat flat on it's face outside the medium of studio recordings, or a physical live show. However, Obituary's "Dead" is one such exception to the rule.  Recorded in a single night in Boston in 1997, Obituary's first live album is now back from the dead (hilarious pun very much intended) and in top shiny form thanks to a reissue from Listenable Records.     The only downside that some fans may find here is that having been recorded on the "Back From The Dead" tour, an album that a considerable percentage of Obituary's fan base don't hold in the highest of regards, "Dead" contains a sizable six tracks from the respective record. That said, these live renditions are performed with such staggering levels of energy and tight mus...

CADAVERIC INCUBATOR:  SERMONS OF THE DEVOURING DEAD    Finnish purveyors of filthy noise Cadaveric Incubator, have uncovered the age old secrets of managing to be extreme, underground, yet not take themselves too seriously.      Debut full-length Sermons Of The Devouring Dead, is a delightful delicacy of putrid grinding old-school Death-Metal with all the gritty trimmings and is undeniably a lot of fun.     Musically, the album is sup erb yet simplistic, collecting a wide variety of inspirations and influences and wearing them plainly on their sleeves. Put plainly, if you want to hear what the love child of Autopsy, Asphyx and Carcass would sound like, then here is your chance.     " Gravestench Asphyxiation " packs a rotten punch, with virtually Brown Noise low level riffage and prolapse inducing bass tones. Tracks such as " Hideous Premonition " and " The Undead Fiend " focus heavily on the Gore-grind ways of leg...

SINSAENUM:  REPULSION FOR HUMANITY     There is an irresistible appeal to Sinsaenum's second full-length outing. The all-star Death-Metal collective have undergone a few obvious changes since their initial assault, the omission of co-vocalist Attila Csihar for example, but whatever decisions that were made and discussions that were had or ideas that were shared, has resulted in a very mature, humble yet impactful second album.     Sinsaenum play Death-Metal plain and simple and they do it very well, but Repulsion For Humanity does not lack diversity, infact the album is an impressive and encapsulating tour of the extreme end of musical spectrum.     " Repulsion For Humanity " erupts explosively, sounding the commencement of the assault in a way that is almost reminiscent of Slipknot's " People=Shit ", before unloading a battery of monstrous Morbid Angel inspired rhythms. " Final Resolve " reeks of Obituary with it's thick, intoxicating...

JUNGLE ROT:  JUNGLE ROT     Ten full-length albums and over a quarter of a century of total eardrum annihilation and Jungle Rot are still hungry and heavier than ever. Their tenth album, the self-titled titan that is Jungle Rot, is a formidable front and an unrelenting carnival of old-school Death-Metal chuggery.    A far sleeker and streamlined effort than it's excellent 2015 predecessor, Jungle Rot flows flawlessly, maintaining the kind of whiplash thrashing that is guaranteed to get heads banging. Jungle Rot have infact never sounded so mean and refreshing.     With more meaty hooks than an abattoir and an abundance of daringly catchy choruses, Jungle Rot is such an easily infectious listen, you need look no further than opening track " Send Forth Oblivion ", a song overflowing with such furious riffs and monstrous vocals. Jungle Rot's seemingly obvious affinity for the German Teutonic Thrash-Metal sound has left a considerable im...

PYAEMIA: CEREBRAL CEREAL    Picture the scene. It's 2001 and the Metal music world is in considerably bad shape. Nu-Metal and groove-Metal are striding across the lands while many other sub-genres are struggling to get back up on their feet, or appear to have lost interest in being heavy completely. In these desperate times, the world needed a hero. Suddenly and seemingly from out of nowhere, Pyaemia released their first and final full-length album, Cerebral Cereal, an album so outrageously heavy and cutting edge, that it left an enormous impression on the Death-Metal world and helped to steer the sub-genre towards entirely new horizons of heaviness.     Cerebral Cereal is not just a superb and totally timeless album, it is also one of the most important Brutal Death-Metal albums ever released. It could even be argued that Cerebral Cereal was one of the first truly brutal Death-Metal albums, based on today's standards. Technicalities and pernickety detail...

WOMBBATH: DOWNFALL RISING     Downfall rising is the second full-length album from undisputed Swedish old-school Death-Metal Kings, Wombbath. A phenomenal effort, Downfall Rising was the first full-length offered by the band since their timeless and seminal musical gem 22 years previously, Internal Caustic Torments. Like many bands of their ilk, Wombbath experimentally dabbled with the Death 'n' Roll styles also explored by the likes of Entombed and Carcass during the mid to late 1990's. Much to many fans delight, Downfall Rising sees all traces of Death 'n' Roll vanquished, with only the purest and most wholesome Death-Metal in it's stead.    If ever you needed a reminder of what old-school Scandinavian Death-Metal should sound like, then " Under Apokalypsens Svarta Vingar " is the perfect educational material. All the essential characteristics are present; buzzsaw riffs oozing with grimy, Doomy vibes, thundering bass and punishing percussion, ...

GONADECTOMY: REIGN OF DISEASE    As far as Brutal Slamming Death-Metal releases go, Gonadectomy's debut EP, Reign Of Disease, is a genuinely impressive and authentic creation. The Swedish Slamming double act have certainly done a sterling job of ensuring that their debut 6 track EP is both crushing and memorable in equal measure. Although there are actually only 5 tracks of original music on the EP, all 5 of the tracks are undeniably interesting, heavy and saturated with intense grooves.     Musically, Reign Of Disease is a refreshing take on primitive Slam infused with punishing Slamming Deathcore heaviness, attentively and articulately molded into something with a hint of uniqueness and identity. Although Gonadectomy are clearly not going to reinvent the wheel, nor is Reign Of Disease the best thing since sliced bread, they have certainly done a grand job and made a courageous effort in giving a very generic, repetitive style of music an attractive new appeal...

SHURIKEN TORTURE: CADAVERIC DEFILEMENT OF DEPRAVITY    If generic, repetitive, unchallenging Slam is your thing, then this is the release for you. Cadaveric Defilement Of Depravity, the debut EP from Chilean Slam duo Shuriken Torture, is a 6 song stack of primitive, very basic yet well executed and strangely entertaining aggression. The whole EP follows the orthodox Slam path strictly, fitting in comfortably with; Inhuman Entity, Slamophiliac and Sex Murder Art in terms of sound and style. That said, Shuriken Torture's debut release is nothing if not an entertaining and worthy listen.    With drum machines in full swing and sludgy riffs aplenty, opening track " Penetrated And Dissected " is as generic and essentially uninventive as it gets, although it does deliver a handful of solid riffs and blastbeats, which could easily have been lifted straight from an early Kraanium track.    " Necrorgy " has a touch more creativity and a hint of originality about...

KORPSE: NONE SO BRUTAL EDITION   Dutch brutality purveyors Korpse are a household name within the Slam and Brutal Death-Metal world after earning massive credibility and notoriety with their sublime 2016 full-length album, Unethical. Although it was their second album that propelled them into massive scene wide popularity and saw the name Korpse become a noun for all things Brutal and Slamming, it was their first album that really built the career foundations strong and took the Slam world by storm.    Korpse's None So Brutal Edition, originally released as a self-titled effort in 2014, is an honest, unpretentious and unchauvinistic album. Korpse's debut full-length is undeniably Slamming, but is also far closer in style to the bombastic Brutal Death-Metal sounds of bands such as Vomit The Soul and Face Of Oblivion.      Although only a mere 24 minutes long, None So Brutal Edition packs more of a consistent, debilitating punch than most Brutal Slamm...

FETOR: ABANDONED HOPE    Abandoned Hope, the debut album from Polish Brutal Death-Metal newcomers, Fetor, is a delightfully simplistic yet barbaric embodiment of modern musical brutality. Refined and streamlined this album is one of the strongest Death-Metal debuts to strike the scene in years.     Fetor's sound may not be anything exactly new or completely unheard of before, but it is certainly a marvelous and admirable reinterpretation of the Brutal Slamming Death-Metal sound. With all the combined flair and heaviness of; Broken Hope, Mortal Decay and Fleshless, Abandoned Hope is guaranteed to please anyone with a taste for total musical savagery.    The title track, " Abandoned Hope ", gives the first taste and first impression of what Fetor is all about, which is apparently ultra low gutturals, thick dirty riffs and smashing drums, all fairly standard stuff, right? " At The Cradle Of Judas " keeps up the assault, infused with mild technicali...

PUTRID WOMB: PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE    Considering how utterly saturated with new bands and releases the Brutal Slamming Death-Metal scene is today, it is unsurprising that bands are beginning to look elsewhere for inspiration and diversifying in order to stand out in the maddening, bustling brutal music crowd. In Putrid Womb's case, for their debut full-length they have delved back in time, to a simpler time when Brutal Death-Metal wasn't entirely obsessed with speed, blastbeats and breakdowns. The product of this creative tactic, Propensity For Violence, is a strong and highly refined album, enjoyable to say the least, yet also noticeably lacking a certain charm and depth that chastens the album from being something more than just "good".    Propensity For Violence is definitely not your average Brutal Slamming Death-Metal release, far from it. Taking the place of the massively overused crushing breakdowns and bass drops, Putrid Womb have loaded their ar...

DIPHENYLCHLOROARSINE: POST APOCALYPTIC HUMAN ANNIHILATION    Post Apocalyptic Human Annihilation is one of the most sophisticated, articulately composed and thoroughly enjoyable Brutal Slamming Death-Metal albums ever to grace mortal ears. Putting it plainly, Diphenylchloroarsine's second offering is barbarically brilliant. Spanning a monstrous 55 minutes total running time, Post Apocalyptic Human Annihilation is a prolong torrent of filthy, sludgy Brutal Slamming savagery.     Diphenylchloroarsine have clearly come a long way and evolved massively since their previous release The 6 Level Purge, developing an even sludgier, almost doom infused Slam sound. The album is exceptionally well produced and constructed for a Brutal Slamming Death-Metal release, showcasing some of the most inhuman gutturals and unbelievable musical extremity around.     Upon listening to the album, you cannot help but be completely blown away my Slam virtuoso ...

HOMOPHOBIC FECALPHELIAC:    SADISTIC THOUGHTS OF A SERIAL KILLER     Is this Brutal Slamming Death-Metal, Deathcore, or Slamming Deathcore? Do these labels really matter anyway? We will have to leave the Metal elitists to quibble and ponder such matters until the end of days, but for now suffice to say that Homophobic Fecalpheliac's first full-length album is a brutish barrage of punishing extremity, very much in the vein of Acranius, Within Destruction and Korpse.     Californian Brutal Slam newcomers, Homophobic Fecalpheliac offer up an interesting array of barbaric workings on their debut full-length. Aside from the pigeon-holing complication, the album also carries the all too frequent issue of repetition, as apart from a few standout moments, the tracks seem to blend into one another all too easily. As a whole the album is saturated with breakdowns and stomping Slams which are masterfully executed but highly generic in nature. That s...