On July 14th, Blood Harvest Records will release Pukewraith‘s highly anticipated debut album, Banquet of Scum, on vinyl LP format. And today, they stream the reissue in its entirety. Hear Pukewraith‘s Banquet of Scum vinyl reissue in its entirety here:
Sporting one of the best monikers around, Pukewraith is a solo-project of Brendan Dean, erstwhile vocalist/guitarist of Blood Harvest titans Gutvoid as well as a handful of other bands that currently includes Fumes, Soul Devourment, Wexler’s Prime, Alucard, and Simulcra. Obviously, the man is super-busy as well as -talented, and while those talents run the metallic gamut (with an obvious affection for death metal), Pukewraith is naturally his most traditionally gore-soaked work. The last couple years have seen an EP, split, and single, and finally the band’s first full-length, Banquet of Scum.
Released late last year on CD, Pukewraith‘s Banquet of Scum is now finally finding a fitting vinyl release courtesy of Blood Harvest. While there’s undoubtedly some links shared with his stellar work in Gutvoid – namely, the all-consuming sense of devourment, be it physical or spiritual – here does Dean hit with a straightforward pulse ‘n’ crush not unlike early Grave, Hypocrisy, and Sinister, all tempered with well-timed downtempo breakdowns and a bevy of mind-melted solos. And while Gutvoid‘s muse lately has been trending toward the cosmos, Pukewraith fittingly stick to the sewers, plumbing the depths of gore and depravity with relish and, daresay, fun; not for nothing is the album titled Banquet of Scum. Cruise with the Gravesmasher and begin feasting again – or for the first time – with Blood Harvest‘s new vinyl edition, which includes an exclusive bonus track!
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Pukewraith’s Banquet of Scum 1. Grime Fiend 2. 110 Crushed 3. Fleshmaster 4. Mire Stench 5. Cyclone Of Maggots 6. Cruisin With The Gravesmasher 7. Mucklord 8. Sunbound 2097
Today, Danish black/death cult Ascendency stream the entirety of their highly anticipated new mini-album, A Manifest of Imperious Destiny. Set for international release on July 14th via Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records on 12″ vinyl and CD formats, respectively, hear Ascendency‘s A Manifest of Imperious Destiny in its entirety here:
Prepare for the ultimate black/death metal assault by Denmark’s Ascendency… Following a punishing demo in 2019 and their equally merciless 2020 MLP, they now return with another tome of destruction. Four new tracks span an unforgiving half-hour of desecration.
While Denmark has offered some of the best contemporary death metal in the last decade or so, Ascendency are quite a unique beast within this. Their much darker, venomous black metal influences create disquiet with uncomfortable atmospherics that still retain that brutality, just with a much-more-unhinged twist. These new pieces showcase what the band has incubated in the last three years, which is feral and harrowing musical extremity with a sepulchral atmosphere and tremendous musicianship to boot. Reverberating howls and guitars send a chill through the ossuary while drums hammer through remaining skulls with ease.
While Ascendency clearly revel in delivering punishment, they do so with intricate and carefully constructed songs that contain more than enough nuance to really sink your teeth into. Melodic-yet-bestial riffs charge atop devastating percussion with demonic vocals while never straying too far from the cacophony of fury remains the heart of this untamed sound. The subtleties tie in with bludgeoning violence effortlessly and leave us with a truly potent, memorable, and distinguished record. Atmosphere and malice, when they coexist in such a manner, become an unstoppable beast, so prepare for annihilation if you seek out this mystical-yet-malignant gem of underground might. Delve into oblivion with these new offerings of unfaltering triumph and might. [text by Jørgen Sven Kirby, Nattskog webzine]
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ascendency’s A Manifest of Imperious Destiny 1. The Triumph of Draconian Might [7:05] 2. Victory – in all its Ephemeral Glory [5:41] 3. Domitor Invictus [5:50] 4. A Manifest of Imperious Destiny [9:30]
Belgian death metal crushers CARNATION are ready to show us their song ‘Maruta’! The track is a dark take on the Japanese Unit 731, also known as the Manshu Detachment 731. This unit routinely conducted tests on people who were dehumanized and internally referred to as “logs” (or Maruta, in Japanese). The music video can be viewed here:
‘Maruta’ is taken from the band’s newest album “Cursed Mortality”, which will be spread across the globe on the 3rd of November 2023 via Season of Mist.
Frontman Simon Duson comments: “We are back with the second single for our upcoming third album Cursed Mortality. To accentuate the diversity of the album, ‘Maruta’ feels like the perfect single to follow-up ‘Cursed Mortality’. This track is loaded with thrashy hooks, groovy beats, and punishing death metal riffs. Those who desire brutality, look no further. ‘Maruta’ is here to crush your skull!”
CARNATION crushed the stage with their appearance on the mighty Graspop (BE) and delivered a mindblowing performance which can be viewed on the Season of Mist channel HERE
CARNATION previously released their first (and title) track ‘Cursed Mortality’ in the form of an amazing music video.
The album can be pre-saved HERE. Pre-sales for the album will start at a later moment.
The surreal cover art for “Cursed Mortality” was created by the late, great Mariusz Lewandowski, whose dark and surreal vision perfectly captures the feel of this album. Lord of the Logos’ Christophe Szpajdel created a brand new logo and symbol to reflect this new era of CARNATION.
Tracklist: 1.Herald of Demise (04:03) feat. Andy LaRocque) 2.Maruta (04:07) [WATCH HERE] 3.Metropolis (03:24) 4.Replicant (03:49) 5.Dutroux (03:48) 6.Submerged in Deafening Silence (04:26) 7.Cycle of Suffering (04:05) 8.Cursed Mortality (07:30) [WATCH HERE]
CARNATION live: 26-08-2023 Rock am Wehr – Jena (DE) 23-09-2023 STP Metal Weekend – St. Pölten (AU) 03-11-2023 Cultuurcentrum Zwaneberg – Heist-op-den-Berg (BE) 16-12-2023 Death Row – Izegem (BE)
For the last decade, CARNATION has been at the forefront of reviving old school death metal. There’s something to be said about the artfulness of taking something so primitive and walking that fine line between keeping its classic authenticity without sounding tired or dated. CARNATION has always teetered this line, injecting a fresh and contemporary approach without losing the genre’s time-honored traditions. However, the band’s third endeavor sees CARNATION erasing those boundaries entirely and abandoning any and all conventions as they traverse into daring new territory. ‘Cursed Mortality’ pulls the Belgian death dealers deeper into experimental new waters, taking risks as the band steps out of the shadows of its predecessors and comes into its own identity. ‘Cursed Mortality’s’ statement is clear: This is no longer simply a revival; this is CARNATION’s rebirth.
“We still play death metal and we still identify as such” explains frontman Simon Duson. “But we know that this is also our second decade performing it. And while it is very important for us to stay true to the old-school style, we know we had to open things up a bit and reach out to those who might be interested in extreme metal, but aren’t that much into the old aspect of it. It also feels fresher to us because we’ve decided to change our visual approach, with a new logo, a new look on stage and so on. In a way, it really feels like the beginning of a new chapter for CARNATION.”
Album number three is much more than just a new chapter, but rather feels like a sequel to an already storied career, punctuated by press accolades, an impressive history of live performances, and a lauded discography consisting of several EPs, splits, and two critically acclaimed full-length albums.
With the debut of its first EP in 2015, CARNATION quickly garnered the attention of fans, media, and most notably of all, record label Season of Mist, who quickly noticed the band’s potential and picked them up without hesitation. Upon forming this union, the band dropped its first full-length, ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ in 2018. Angry Metal Guy astutely noted that the Belgians’ debut album was “one of the best death metal debuts of the year, and CARNATION have earned their place as one of the most promising new bands in the genre” while Distorted Sound Magazine echoed these remarks, calling ‘Chapel of Abborhance’ “one of most brutalizing, well executed and, above all, fun, death metal releases of 2018” in its 9/10 review of the album.
CARNATION’s momentum only seemed to pick up from there. The band kept busy on the road, performing a variety of tours with their death metal brethren in Deserted Fear, Schirenc Plays, Pungent Stench, and Pestilence, while headlining stages in Japan and Brazil. Upon conquering the live circuit and laying waste to audiences across three different continents, the band unleashed its 2020 opus, ‘Where Death Lies,’ which broke them out from the underground with the kind of seismic force that most bands can only dream of. If the critics liked ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ ‘Where Death Lies’ was the moment they fell in love, enamored by Carnation’s relentless brutality and crushing precision.
While touring had been halted that year, CARNATION never stagnated nor waivered. The band’s tenacity paid off with their sophomore effort being named among one of the best records of the year by The Pit, Chicago Music Guide, Pandemonium Metal, and many more, while the single “Iron Discipline” was singled out by Loudwire as one of the best songs of 2020. Legacy outlet Kerrang! also took notice, ranking the band among the “50 Greatest Death Metal Bands Right Now,” cracking the top 20 picks.
While the Belgian slayers still stay true to their roots, they step outside of their comfort zone with more groove, melody, and progression, showcasing their versatility as musicians and clearly defining their own unique sound. ‘Cursed Mortality’ sounds darker, with passages of melancholic melodies that compliment the heaviness.
Most bands might feel anxious about making such dramatic changes, especially to incorporate clean vocals within such extreme music, CARNATION embraces the unknown and does not fall victim to fear or monotony. “As artists, it’s something natural,” explains Verstrepen about why the band has shifted direction. “Doing the same thing over and over again doesn’t inspire us. We love to create and we love to explore new paths. We knew some people wouldn’t like clean vocals in death metal, but we don’t want to think of that too much. We stand 100% behind our music and we really like what we did here. Some people will drop out, but there will definitely be others joining! As Lemmy would say, ‘You win some, you lose some.’”
Indeed, a personal metamorphosis is always a risk, but one that historically has paid off. The first records of bands like Black Sabbath, Carcass, Death, or even Bathory sound nothing like the mid-late era offerings of those very same artists, and yet, those records that strayed off the beaten path are regarded as some of the most seminal albums in the history of metal. Playing it safe sounds easy, but it isn’t always a part of a legend’s origin story. And CARNATION isn’t here to play by the rules; the band is ready to take a leap of faith and redefine an era.
CARNATION Lineup: Simon Duson: Vocals Jonathan Verstrepen: Lead Guitar Bert Vervoort: Rhythm Guitar Yarne Heylen: Bass Guitar Vincent Verstrepen: Drums Recording studio: Project Zero Studio
Today, Hells Headbangers announces the signing of Sweden’s Mutation. The first fruit of this union shall be the band’s highly anticipated debut album, which will see release through the label early next year.
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden’s Mutation were formed around 2019 as an idea between drummer S.N and guitarist K.L due to their mutual worship of the earlier years of raw death metal. Eventually, guitarist S.Q and bassist S.B joined the band in 2022, and Mutation were finally able to create a demo. Released digitally in mid-May, their Demo ’23 absolutely scorches with utterly feral intensity and authentically ancient atmosphere. “The era between ’85-’88 is our key inspiration, and we intend to keep the flame of old burning,” says S.N.
About Mutation‘s signing with Hells Headbangers for their eventual debut album, S.N continues: “We’re really satisfied about signing to HHR, and we’d like to give a big thanks to Gene Palubicki of Perdition Temple, who introduced us. We’re currently working on our debut album filled with unadulterated raw death metal in its purest form.”
More Mutation news to be revealed shortly, but a 7″ vinyl reissue of Demo ’23 is an immediate possibility. For more info, consult the links below.
Today, Canadian death metallers Serpent Corpse stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Blood Sabbath. Set for international release on July 5th via Temple of Mystery Records, hear Serpent Corpse‘s Blood Sabbath in its entirety here:
Hailing from the ever-rising Montreal death metal scene, Serpent Corpse are at once foreign and familiar. Blood Sabbath, their full-length debut following a demo in 2021, on first glance feels resolutely old school: straightforward songwriting, analog production, little flash but full fire. And indeed, Serpent Corpse do show noble influence from the very early ’90s – foremost among them, the world-eating enormity of classic Bolt Thrower and vigorous D-beating of early Entombed – but along with another set of tweaked influences and, more so, a maniacal manner in which to pursue them, the Canadian quartet prove that the idea of traditional all-caps DEATH METAL is undying and infinite. The further one steps into the ichor of Blood Sabbath, the more those tweaks take shape – Darkthrone during their death metal days, Seance skewing death ‘n’ roll, the DM-in-glue of classic Cianide, or especially Autopsy’s transition into Abscess – and the more the exemplary songwriting truly begins to shine…or ROT, as it were! For this nine-song/39-minute album sounds as slimy as it does headbanging – and those singed ‘n’ seared leads are the definition of haunting! Coupled with powerfully clear annunciation from vocalist/guitarist Andrew Haddad and mesmerizing cover art courtesy of Lucas Korte, Serpent Corpse deliver one of the most essential death metal debuts of recent memory. A festering death awaits!
Preorder info can be found further below. Serpent Corpse will be playing an album-release party on July 15th at La Sotterenea in Montreal; event info can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Serpent Corpse’s Blood Sabbath 1. Spell Of The Eternal Serpent 2. Electric Eye 3. Nemesis 4. Let The Rats Feed 5. Land Of Rot And Misfortune 6. Crucifxion Shrine 7. Swallowed Whole By The Abyss 8. Dreams of Crows 9. Blood Sabbath
Today, Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records announce August 31st as the international release date for Reverence to Paroxysm‘s highly anticipated debut album, Lux Morte, on vinyl LP and CD formats, respectively.
Forming in 2020 and with a split and live album already under their belts, Mexico City’s Reverence to Paroxysm are now unveiling their debut album, Lux Morte. Taking a viciously old-school approach with disgusting riffs contorting upon pulverizing drums, this macabre descent into decay shall grip you from the very earliest moments. Gurgling vocals spew eldritch slime upon the meaty instrumentals, with thick bass-lines giving a chunky low end to the sound. Taking all of the most morbidly revolting elements of underground death metal, Reverence to Paroxysm bludgeon their way into your skull with fleshy hammer blows. The talents of frontman Antimo Buonnano, previously from death/grind legends Disgorge among many others, brings a veteran element to the band, injecting their abhorrent legacy into his latest involvements. The slower moments will drag you through the sepulchral dirt while more upbeat assaults thrash the meat from the bone like a bladed whip of sonic poison. The gloomy dynamics, visceral hooks, and brutal execution will mercilessly execute all in their path, and you would be a fool not to submit to Reverence to Paroxysm…
Eerie soundscapes entwine with putrescent primitive pounding, giving a rancid and yet atmospheric listen. The more you delve into this record, the more subtle nuances you will find scattered throughout, which add texture and detail while falling into the monstrously cataclysmic feel of the entire piece very naturally. Although an odiously primal energy is draped across this entire record, there are some very cleverly placed and unusual riffs that give a very unique and interesting feel to things as they cut through thundering bass or the razor-sharp cymbal work. The sparse vocals perfectly play off of the instrumental parts to give the band this dense, foggy, and oppressive sound. If you are of the school of death metal lover who needs subterranean riffing, crackling bass, bone-splintering drums, and disgusting -but-varied vocals, then waste no time in checking out Lux Morte. So proceed with caution and succumb to the fetid, decaying world that is presented and be soaked in the rotten tapestry Reverence to Paroxysm have woven for you and prepare to be crushed by it. [text by Jørgen Sven Kirby, Nattskog webzine]
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Necropacity” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Reverence to Paroxysm’s Lux Morte 1. Astray Descent [8:20] 2. AD Putrefactio [5:55] 3. Burial Absolute [7:07] 4. Necropacity [7:20] 5. Portals To Dark Misery [6:46] 6. Care Data Vermibus [9:22]
Today, Edged Circle Productions announces July 21st as the international release date for Lord of Sickness and Bile, a brand-new EP from international death metal elite Darkened, on 7″ vinyl format.
By now, the name Darkened should require no introduction. From their formation in 2018 featuring a veritable “who’s who” of death metal royalty and the auspicious Into the Blackness debut EP on to their even-more-widely-celebrated debut album, Kingdom of Darkness, that royalty – drummer Andy Whale (Memoriam, ex-Bolt Thrower), vocalist Gord Olson (Ye Goat-Herd Gods / Demisery), guitarists Linus Nirbrant (A Canorous Quintet / This Ending) and Hempa Brynolfsson (Excruciate / Ordo Infernus), and new bassist Tobias Cristiansson (Grave / ex-Dismember) – proved that they weren’t ready to rest on their all-too-considerable laurels.
While doubtlessly a summation of their combined histories in death metal, Darkened continued to finesse that sound into something all their own last year, first with the Mourn the Dying Light EP and then successive second album The Black Winter. World-eating all-caps DEATH METAL with atmosphere to spare? You bet!
And so the tank rolls on with Darkened‘s new two-song EP, Lord of Sickness and Bile, with Whale departing and veteran Perra Karlsson (AngelBlast, In Aeternum, Nominom) coming in to the drum-throne. Featuring two exclusive songs and an 11-minute runtime, Lord of Sickness and Bile gets the job done with startling, throttling efficiency. Both songs carry forward the evolutionary steps made last year – spaciousness and suffocation in equal measure, a seamless integration of haunting melody, an utterly dense onslaught of sound either way – and again does everything sound HUGE, even when racing forward with palpitating propulsion. Drums were recorded and engineered by Pontus Ekwall at Studio Cave, and Gord Olson handled the mixing & mastering: more DIY this time, but an utterly massive result given the EP’s brevity. Capped by characteristic artwork by Juanjo Castellano, Lord of Sickness and Bile is another gem in the Darkened discography!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Archaic Wounds” here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Darkened (International)’s Lord of Sickness and Bile 1. Steal-Kill-Destroy 2. Archaic Wounds
Today, Helter Skelter Productions (distributed & marketed by Regain Records) announces August 25th as the international release date for the entire discography of Necrony in a five-LP vinyl boxset, titled Corrupted Crescendos.
One of the most cult bands in an already-cult scene, Necrony hail from the mythical Swedish death metal scene of the early ’90s. Formed in 1990 in Örebro, during their four years together, Necrony left behind a small-but-scathing body of work that included an album, a mini-album, a 7″ EP, and two demos as well as a handful of unreleased rehearsals. The band also had the unique distinction of releasing three of those recordings on the super-cult Poserslaughter Records label. Necrony posthumously further earned their cult status with their connection to successive grindcore legends Nasum: vocalist / bassist / guitarist Anders Jakobson would play with the latter during the entirety of their career, while drummer Rikard Alriksson would play with them during their first three years of existence. Both men would also have distinct musical careers with the likes of Coldworker and Genocide Superstars, respectively.
Necrony would make their public debut with 1991’s eight-song Severe Malignant Pustule. As colorfully suggested by its title, the band’s first demo doubtlessly was indebted to Carcass – as were hundreds of bands back then, or arguably more! – but Necrony nevertheless had a clear grasp of twisted songwriting and uniquely relied on slimy downtempo segments instead of the usual ultra-grinding tropes of the time. They’d further perfect this sound later that year on the two-track Mucu-Purulent Miscarriage EP, one of the very first records released by the aforementioned Poserslaughter.
Following those two recordings, guitarist Dan Wall would depart the band, and it wouldn’t be until 1993 when Necrony released their next recording. However, when they did, it was quite literally titanic: Pathological Performances, the band’s debut album. Pared down to a duo of Jakobson and Alriksson did little to hamper the band’s creativity, as Pathological Performances saw Necrony hit their peak: the songwriting was supremely twisted yet somehow catchy, the recording was their clearest yet without losing their original crushing sliminess, and like their heroes Carcass, the lyrics were witty in their gore. Nevertheless, they’d release a promo tape the next year that featured two songs of even sharper and more crushing creativity, suggesting that Necrony were only getting started.
And so it seemed, as their next recording, Necronycism: Distorting the Originals – recorded prior to the promo tape, but released after it – was a mini-album of covers which included the likes of Carcass (of course!), Napalm Death, Repulsion, Impetigo, Bolt Thrower, and Carnage, all done the Necrony way. Generally, such covers records served as a stopgap between album releases, and such was the hope for Necrony. But another studio recording never came, and the duo’s focus seemingly shifted to the then-young Nasum. Necrony, ultimately, was RIP by 1994.
Thankfully, time has done nothing to dull the pus-filled power of Necrony‘s body of work – in fact, it sounds more powerful (and pus-filled!) than ever. While an unauthorized “collection” surfaced in 2005, with the band’s full approval does Helter Skelter hereby collect all those recordings plus bonus tracks from the covers record as well as unreleased rehearsal sessions and one live track. Titled Corrupted Crescendos, this nearly-three-hour boxset is the definitive word on one of Swedish death metal’s great “What Ifs” and a unique-yet-unsung entry into that hallowed canon. This boxset will include an extensive 24-page booklet, three stickers, and a patch, making it the ultimate Necrony statement: long live Necronycism!
See & hear a special trailer video HERE at Regain Records‘ official YouTube channel. Also stream almost the entire boxset HERE at Regain‘s Bandcamp, where the vinyl box can also be preordered. Cover and detailed tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Necrony’s Corrupted Crescendos *LP 1* Side A features debut demo Severe Malignant Pustule Side B features 1992 7” Mucu-Purulent Miscarriage
Tracklisting: Side A 1. Intro: Ortuo 2. Masticator of a Swollen Carcass 3. Hill of Cadavers 4. Consuming Cartilage 5. Decomposed Genitals 6. Pus-bonum-et-lauda-bile 7. Severe Malignant Pustule 8. Outro: Ortni
Side B 1. Mucu-purulent Miscarriage 2. Multilocular Morphea-Sarkoblasters
*LP 2* Side C & D: Includes the 1993 album on both side C & D Pathological Performances
Tracklisting: Side C 1. Rigor Mortis Sets In 2. Dexterous Embryectomy 3. Submassive Necrosis Disgorgement 4. Gynopathological Excav-Eater
Side D 1. Accumulation of Exudate 2. Ocular Obliteration 3. Pro-Rectal Carnage 4. Excavated, Eviscerated and Emaciated
*LP 3* Side E features the 4 last songs from album Pathological Performances Side F features ’93/’94 cassette promo tape
Tracklisting: Side E 1. Effervescing Discharge of Putrescent Corpulence 2. The Squirming Worms 3. Acute Pyencephalus and Cerebral Decomposure 4. Funeral Ferocity
Side F 1. Under the Black Soil 2. Forensickness
*LP 4* Features the 1994 cover mini-album Necronycism plus unreleased bonus tracks on both side G & H
Tracklisting: Side G 1. Fermenting Innards 2. Swarming Vulgar Mass of Infected Virulency 3. Die in Pain 4. Mucupurulence Excretor 5. Dis-Organ-Ized 6. Bodily Dismemberment 7. Festering Boils
Side H 1. Cenotaph 2. Lucid Fairytale 3. The Kill 4. Deceiver 5. The Day Man Lost 6. Protest and Survive 7. Pungent Excruciation
*LP 5* Side I: includes unreleased rehearsals and live
NOTE: NO DIGITALS for side I, only available on physical format.
Tracklisting: Side I 1. Under the Black Soil 2. Spawn of the Infested 3. Forensickness 4. In the Dark Closets of Secrecy 5. Torn Apart
Side J: No audio, silk-screen printed motive by Ola Larsson!
Today, Chaos Records announces August 11th as the international release date for Cystic‘s highly anticipated debut album, Palace of Shadows, on CD format.
Formed in 2018, Seattle’s Cystic have remained an underground fixture in the contemporary death metal scene. In only a five-year span, the band have produced a great deal – from their debut demo, The Last Days, in 2018 to two EPs, Sworn Enemy of Life and Incineration Rites, in 2020 as well as tours and festival appearances. Now in 2023, the band is set to release their first full-length, Palace of Shadows.
For those who’ve been following Cystic so far, Palace of Shadows unmistakably sounds like the same band, but there’s a distinct evolution in their songwriting and style here. Effortlessly and unselfconsciously, Cystic stay true to their punk roots and retain their characteristic murkiness, but wade deeper into the murk of Palace of Shadows and one will hear clear and palpable growth from their no-less-considerable past. The album comprises nine songs in 36 minutes and actually feels far vaster than that, largely in part to its fully cohesive concept. But even so, Cystic keep proceedings urgent, displaying energy even when these songs start feeling “epic.” Likewise, their melodicism has taken on a darker and more emotional edge, supported by nuanced rhythms and flowing grooves, altogether combining for a battering (and mildly blackened) death metal assault that feels classic and fresh in equal measure. To celebrate the release of Palace of Shadows, Cystic will perform at this year’s Killtown Deathfest in Copenhagen in September.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Core of the Maelstrom” here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Cystic’s Palace of Shadows
1. Vista 2. Pestilential Throne 3. Palace of Shadows and Blood 4. Duly Drowned 5. Stygian Deeps 6. XIII (A Reprise in Blood) 7. Core of the Maelstrom 9. Afterglow 8. Nebulous Legion (of the Sombre Sea)
Today, Canadian death metallers Serpent Corpse premiere the new track “Let the Rats Feed”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Blood Sabbath, set for international release on July 5th via Temple of Mystery Records. Hear Serpent Corpse‘s “Let the Rats Feed” in its entirety here:
Hailing from the ever-rising Montreal death metal scene, Serpent Corpse are at once foreign and familiar. Blood Sabbath, their full-length debut following a demo in 2021, on first glance feels resolutely old school: straightforward songwriting, analog production, little flash but full fire. And indeed, Serpent Corpse do show noble influence from the very early ’90s – foremost among them, the world-eating enormity of classic Bolt Thrower and vigorous D-beating of early Entombed – but along with another set of tweaked influences and, more so, a maniacal manner in which to pursue them, the Canadian quartet prove that the idea of traditional all-caps DEATH METAL is undying and infinite. The further one steps into the ichor of Blood Sabbath, the more those tweaks take shape – Darkthrone during their death metal days, Seance skewing death ‘n’ roll, the DM-in-glue of classic Cianide, or especially Autopsy’s transition into Abscess – and the more the exemplary songwriting truly begins to shine…or ROT, as it were! For this nine-song/39-minute album sounds as slimy as it does headbanging – and those singed ‘n’ seared leads are the definition of haunting! Coupled with powerfully clear annunciation from vocalist/guitarist Andrew Haddad and mesmerizing cover art courtesy of Lucas Korte, Serpent Corpse deliver one of the most essential death metal debuts of recent memory. A festering death awaits!
Also hear the previously revealed “Nemesis” HERE at Temple of Mystery‘s Bandcamp. Preorder info can be found further below. Serpent Corpse will be playing an album-release party on July 15th at La Sotterenea in Montreal; event info can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Serpent Corpse’s Blood Sabbath 1. Spell Of The Eternal Serpent 2. Electric Eye 3. Nemesis 4. Let The Rats Feed 5. Land Of Rot And Misfortune 6. Crucifxion Shrine 7. Swallowed Whole By The Abyss 8. Dreams of Crows 9. Blood Sabbath
