SYPHILIC: “EMPTY NEST”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
May 202020
 

 

(This is Vonlughlio’s review of the new album by Detroit-based Syphilic, which was released on May 15th.)

Today’s subject is a project that in my honest opinion is one of the sickest bands, in terms of of shock value, due to the cover art for their albums throughout the years (we’ll talk more about this in a bit). That band is Syphilic and it was formed back in 2005 in Detroit, Michigan by Brian Forgue, and to this day has released nine albums. We are going to talk about Syphilic’s latest effort Empty Nest, which from the cover to the titles and the lyrics tells a story that is not for the faint of heart. Continue reading »

UNMERCIFUL: “WRATH ENCOMPASSED”

 Album Reviews  1 Response »
May 142020
 

 

(Our friend Vonlughlio returns with this review and recommendation of the new album by the death metal band Unmerciful from Topeka, Kansas. The album is out now via Willowtip Records.)

This time around I have the great opportunity to write about Unmerciful’s third album Wrath Encompassed, released via Willowtip Records on April 28th.  This band from Topeka are well known in the BDM scene due to their 2006 debut album Unmercifully Beaten, which is considered a timeless classic in the genre.

As with many projects, Unmerciful suffered a long time through the hazards of time and life with no new music and lineup changes, until their 2016 sophomore effort Ravenous Impulse saw the light of day.  When it was released I must be honest and say that I had mixed feelings about it. Musically it was good, and yet somewhat different from their debut. In particular, the vocals did not go well with me, not that they were bad, but just did not click with me.  The drums were handled by Origin’s John Longstreth (keep in mind that Origin was also formed in Topeka), through a relationship with some of the members from Unmerciful who used to play in the band in the early years. Continue reading »

VØLUS: “FESTERING ANTI-COSMIC WOUND”

 Album Reviews  No Responses »
May 122020
 

 

(We present Vonlughlio’s review of the debut album by South Carolina’s Vølus, which is out now via Vargheist Records.)

This time around I have the opportunity to do a small review for a project called Vølus who recently released their debut album Festering Anti-Cosmic Wound. The mastermind behind this effort is Justin Vølus (Putrefying Cadaverment, Flesh Configuration, Maggot Crown, Morgue Walker), who is also owner of the underground label Vargheist Records from South Carolina, USA.

I have able to review some of the bands on his label here at NCS and have been following the label since I discovered them last year (late to the party, I guess).  One of the things that I admired from the get-go was his commitment to his vision/art and how it should be brought to reality. The original conversations were about BDM that went into other genres, mainly Death/Black genres. That is how he introduced us to the bands on the label. Continue reading »

ENGUTTURALMENT CEPHALOSLAMECTOMY: “GLAM NOT SLAM”

 Album Reviews  6 Responses »
May 062020
 

 

(This is Vonlughlio’s review of the debut album by Engutturalment Cephaloslamectomy from Evansville, Indiana. The album was released by Gore House Productions on April 24th.)

It’s been a while since I did one of my small reviews for NCS, but due to the current world situation and my work taking most of my time, I haven’t had not a chance to sit and write about my favorites releases in BDM so far.

I would like to take this opportunity to write about a project named Engutturalment Cephaloslamectomy from the USA, which started as a parody of the classic 2007 debut album from Cephalotripsy, considered a Slam classic in the scene. Continue reading »

DERANGED: “DEEDS OF RUTHLESS VIOLENCE”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Apr 082020
 

 

(Here’s Vonlughlio’s review and recommendation of the new album by the Swedish death metal band Deranged, who began life in 1991, and whose latest full-length is out now via Agonia Records.)

I am now here to write about a band I have been a fan of since the late ’90s and believe have always been consistent in their vision of BDM over the years. That band is Sweden’s Deranged and they just released Deeds of Ruthless Violence on March 27th via Agonia Records.

This is one band whose music I have enjoyed and still ask myself why it does not have the recognition it should. I mean, sure, they have fans around the world and are well-respected but I wish more for this project. They have been consistent with their art and vision and have released music that has transcended the test of time. Continue reading »

DEVANGELIC: “ERSETU”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Mar 052020
 

 

(Here’s Vonlughlio’s review of the new album by the Italian death metal band Devangelic. It will be released by Willowtip Records and features cover art by Nick Keller)

This time around I feel fortunate to write about Devangelic’s third opus, Ersetu, to be released via Willowtip this upcoming May 15th.  They are one of my favorite BDM bands from Italy, and this release is their most mature work to date.

This band was formed back in 2012 by Mario Di Giambattista and Paolo Chiti, and they released a two-song promo that just blew everyone away and made me a fan on the spot.  Two years passed and they grace us with their debut album Resurrection Denie”, that is one of my top 10 debut albums from any BDM bands out there. The cover, music, and lyrics represented the full scope of this project with songs that were raw, fast, and in-your-face — 30 minutes of pure madness. Continue reading »

BLASPHEMER: “THE SIXTH HOUR”

 Album Reviews  7 Responses »
Feb 132020
 

 

(This is Vonlughlio’s review of the latest album by Italy’s Blasphemer.)

This time around I have the opportunity to do a small write-up about the Italian band Blasphemer’s third album, The Sixth Hour, which was released on January 24th via Candlelight Records.

This project was given birth in 1998 by Simone Brigo (Guitars) and Paolo Maniezzo (vocalist up to 2017) with the intention to express their artistic vision, and their thoughts and views of organized religion, hate, and death, in a Brutal Death Metal setting.

It was not until 2002 that they released their debut demo, Life Kills, and subsequently they did some splits in 2003 and 2006, but it was when they released their debut album On the Inexistence of God that I found out about them. Continue reading »

HORROR GOD: “CURSED SEEDS”

 Album Reviews  2 Responses »
Feb 032020
 

 

(In this post Vonlughlio gives a strong recommendation for the latest album by the Russian black/death metal band Horror God, released last fall by Lavadome Productions.)

Cursed Seeds, the third album by the Russian band Horror God, was released last September by Lavadome Productions. I should confess that I have been following the label for years and become friends with the owner Jan, conversing about Death Metal, likes and dislikes, not seeing eye to eye, all the good stuff friends talk about.

Having said that, it is the music alone on Cursed Seeds that prompted this write-up. I have enjoyed each second from start to finish, because it is a perfect blend of Death/Black influences put into 7 songs totalling 36 minutes of pure fury, desperation, loss, and hope. My first listen turned into three listens in a row, and I found myself enjoying the overall effort from this group more and more each time. Continue reading »

SLAVE ONE: “OMEGA DISCIPLES”

 Album Reviews  1 Response »
Jan 232020
 

 

(This is Vonlughlio’s review of the new album by the French progressive technical death metal band Slave One, which will be released by Dolorem Records on January 24th.)

It’s been a while since I have done a small review, and this time around I’m taking the time to write about the band Slave One and their sophomore effort Omega Disciples, to be released via Dolorem Records. To be honest, I was not aware of this French band’s existence until I heard a single from this album, and was hooked. So, I decided to check out their previous work.

There, this Death Metal outfit incorporate various elements within their song structures, displaying both brutal and tech elements as well as melodic inputs in some of the sections that create a dark atmosphere that is quite appealing. But when I heard the the promo of the new record I was blown away with the musicianship on display within the 8 chapters of this current offering.  The continuous growth from their first EP to now is evident, and that is something I always look for in a band. Continue reading »

LISTMANIA 2019: A TOP 25 LIST FROM VONLUGHLIO

 LISTMANIA 2019  5 Responses »
Dec 312019
 

 

(For the 8th year in a row, here’s our friend Vonlughlio’s list of the best brutal death metal albums of the year that’s about to end.)

So it’s that time of year, at which I am lucky enough to share the top Brutal Death Metal albums of 2019, and what a great year for the genre it has been. As usual, the list-making process has been nothing but a clusterfuck, because it has been difficult to compile my favorite 25 albums released this year. But it must be done, and I can say for this year that I am content with the end result.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Islander for letting me do some write-ups and year-end lists since 2012 for this genre, which is one of my favorites in the Death Metal Universe. I also thank the writers and other contributors of NCS; because of them I can discover great bands each day.

With no further ado, below are my favorite 25 BDM albums of 2019. Later on this will become part of the Blast Family Top 50 BDM albums of the year. So for now, here is the list: Continue reading »

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