06) Tombs, Feral Darkness (Redefining Darkness Records)
Black/Death solicitors Tombs from Brooklyn, New York bust out with Feral Darkness, a dissonant delve into dark blackness with brick like riffs, grinding buzzsaw rhythms, loud foreboding lyrics, and a collective pounding of your senses.
Key Track(s): “Granite Sky”
05) Clandestine Blaze, Consecration of the Blood (Northern Heritage)
Finland’s Clandestine Blaze is Mikko Aspa, and I’ve always pretty much liked everything he does musically. I’ve always had enormous respect for musicians who do it all themselves. I love the blended Dark and Doom elements Clandestine deploys along with trad Black Metal themes, that are arranged throughout the LP. Reminds of Dark Throne, but that’s never a bad thing. Primal drums, Black Metal riffage throughout, Murky vocals you’ve come to know. No surprises here, BM just the way you love it. Raw, and dripping in blood!
Key Track(s): “Illuminated by Deadly Light”
04) Sanguisugabogg, Hideous Aftermath (Century Media Records)
Cleveland based Death Metallers Sanguisugabogg have taken their insanity up a notch or two, as this album shows some very cool evolution musically as there are mid-tempo grooves, thrown together with all-out blast brutality, slam elements emerging and hiding only to come back out again. There was some serious thinking involved in bringing these ingredients together in a way that makes sense, not just slapped about for dissonance’s sake. The best part is their sound hasn’t changed at all. Still the great Sangiusugabogg we all know. Travis Ryan (Cattle Decap) lends his talents on “Semi Automatic Facial Construction,” rounding out a solid set of 10 exacting and satisfying Death Metal tracks.
Key Track(s): “Repulsive Demise”
03) Castrator, Coronation of the Grotesque (Dark Descent Records)
Make no mistake – Castrator is back, and they are out for blood. Their 2nd opus, Coronation of the Grotesque, is calculated, meticulous, mind-bending Death Metal. This album is a full-on assault on the senses that will leave you butchered and mangled, yet wanting more. The band’s abject brutality courses through this record with relentless purpose. Castrator tackles subjects within their severely pummeling music and sinister lyrics that expose the darker side of humanity, apparently the more messed up the better. They spotlight real world issues; War, the death of Masa Amini, the abuse inflicted by Naasón Joaquín García. The perversely twisted evil unleashed by fertility Dr. Donald Klein. More tracks address human suffering, victimization, and injustice (See my full LP Review and Interview via Metal Insider).
Key Track(s): “Blood Bind’s Curse”
02) Mezzrow, Embrace The Awakening (Rock Of Angels Records)
Swedish Thrash Metal Masters since 1987 (before that they were Necromancy/Dark Ripper/R.I.P.) have thrown down a definitive Thrash Metal album with Embrace the Awakening. This record has restored my faith in Thrash Metal – the genre has always been one near and dear to me since I was in that very very early crowd who discovered it, and tried to spread the news like gospel. Not that I had lost faith completely, that would be impossible. But the genre has gotten a little how should we say “widespread,” and therefore somewhat bland. Mezzrow, criminally underrated and often overlooked, restores its brand of Thrash and takes off on this LP with “Sleeping Cataclysm” hitting a high-velocity pace, reaching fever pitch with some melodic surprises puts the genre right back up top where it should remain. The shredding on the guitars is done with purpose, not just to present some random hectic noise for the benefit of the break. This is a must listen on repeat as the almost 40 minutes of unadulterated Thrash will have you revering in its authenticity and proud of it’s downright ferocity.
Key Track(s): “In Shadows Deep” chronicles Jack the Ripper.
