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Another massive release week featuring virtually every subgenre under the sun, although with an emphasis on dark, doomy and progressive extreme metal.

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Abyssic – Brought Forth In Inquity

Genre: Symphonic death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Adding symphonic elements to death doom might seem like an odd evolution, and I would say that the combination does take a bit of getting used to. You have two extremes – the skybound highs and abyssal, crawling lows, pulling in each direction, and the momentum does suffer. But as a sort of slow motion hymnal to the dark gods, this is quality stuff.

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Antropofagus – Origin

Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5

How about a melding of brutal- and technical death metal that’ll try its best to drill inside your skull purely with the sonic force unleashed by its kick drums? This is all about delivering ripping riffs, low pitched growls and a wickedly evil tone. Sure, that’s more or less what you get on repeat, but it’s a formula that just works so well and is executed with such appreciative understanding for the needs of the death metal fan that it’ll keep you fired up from start to finish. Check out “Origin” and “Oppressed Suffering”.

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Darkthrone – Astral Fortress

Genre: Black/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5

Ahhhhhhh…. Long sigh of relief and appreciation. This effectively sums up the listening experience you get with this album. But let’s use a few more words. Darkthrone’s mantra of a back to basics, raw, primitive approach to black metal is a cold steel dagger that they’ve polished to perfection over the years. And it’s become more than just the flavor of music they put out – it’s the sonic language with which they communicate. It certainly doesn’t seem like they have to try very hard to produce this signature sound, which means they can concentrate on the nuances. Astral Fortress sounds confident, coherent, doomy and with very subtle influxes of folk, stoner and classic metal, but in a very contemporary way. One for when you want to slow it down a little. A couple of highlights would be “The Sea Beneath the Seas of the Sea” and “Eon 2”.

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Deadbody – The Requiem

Genre: Progressive death/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

A wild and raw album blazing with aggression and disregard for traditional structure. It burns out at a little over 20 minutes, but with this intensity you don’t need any more than that. It’s got the brutality of death metal, the roughness of sludge, and some of the groove of… well, groove metal. A little more effort into individual song identity might have paid off, but as a whole this is blistering stuff.

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Dead Cross – II

Genre: Experimental hardcore/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5

Whoa! This is one of those where, upon completion, you wonder what the hell just hit you. When it’s fast it’s thrash, industrial and punky speed metal. When it’s slow it’s avant-garde, poetic hardcore and shock rock. It’s dissonant and reckless, and probably very consciously wants to creep/weird you out. It’s all about that reaction, and you’ll have one or a few for sure. It never feels unnecessarily haphazard though, and most of it’s highly entertaining.

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Defleshed – Grind Over Matter 

Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

There is certainly no ferocity missing from this groove- and thrash-laden death metal. On the attack from the very first note, this is guitar-galloping, straight-rhythm, to-the-point stuff. While it’s all very precise and headbangable, I find myself hearing the same riff and drum approach over and over again across several songs, which says something about the variety you can expect on here.

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Demon Hunter – Exile

Genre: Alternative metal/metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Listenig to Exile is very much like a glimpse into the process of metalcore gradually morphing into alternative metal. There is more on here that reminded me of Five Finger Death Punch than I had expected, but it also feel more mature and complex than that. The other thing I didn’t expect was for it to sound this subdued. It highlights the fact that they can write solid slow melodies, and follow it up with the necessary vocal control and instrumental precision for these calmer songs. There’s some heavy, but it’s not in the driver’s seat this time around.

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Devenial Verdict – Ash Blind

Genre: Progressive death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

This one lures you in with a black magic atmosphere then grabs a hold of you with darkly melodic and inventive death metal. It takes you to the gloomy forest and performs a mix of bewitching harmonies and commanding riffs – plenty incentive to stay. Throw in hints of grim folk and that Finnish love of playful solos, and you’ve got the whole package. There’s quite a lot of dissonance to contrast the melodies, but it’s balanced to the point where it’s distinctive rather than distracting. Set off with “Ash Blind” and “World Breaker”.

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Devil’s Witches – In All Her Forms

Genre: Doom/psychedelic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

This is fuzzy and murky to the point where it sounds like it’s coming through soup. It’s a laid back, moody and psychedelic thing that’ll calm you down if you let it. There’s not too much heavy, but when it appears it’s in the form of proper doom crunch and stoner groove.

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Dr. Acula – Dr. Acula

Genre: Deathcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5

An album that, from the presented theme, you’d expect to be of the tongue in cheek spooky kind, 80s synth effects and all, but it’s significantly more serious than that. This is noisy, rather stark, even slightly experimental – sounding like it’d rather demolish the haunted mansion with you in it rather than stalk you down the dark corridors. You’ve got some hardcore stompiness, a bit of djent riffing and some groove metal rhythm going on, but it’s definitely deathcore through to the core. The animalistic howling and breakdowns haven’t gone anywhere. Jump into “The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena” and “Stay out of the Basement”.

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Fire From the Gods – Soul Revolution

Genre: Rap/pop metal/metalcore
Subjective rating: 1/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5

Indisputably a sheep in wolf’s clothing, this one aims for the broad appeal, with pop and r&b firmly asserted at its core, then sharpened with metalcore riffing. Badly clichéd vocals bring down the score.

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Fit For A King – The Hell We Create

Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5

Having transitioned now, I think it’s fair to say, more or less completely from deathcore into metalcore, these guys need to be compared with the likes of We Came as Romans and Oceans Ate Alaska with this current output. While this means that some heaviness has been shed, the distribution of aggression vs softer, emotional melody sounds more balanced this way. It’s modern and energetic, but also lacks the character to really stand out among its peers.

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Forlesen – Black Terrain

Genre: Ambient doom/black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

A mostly very slow moving album that feels like a 28 minute buildup to the third song, which is a sudden outburst of dissonant black metal aggression, and then a subsequent 18 minute cooldown. Which makes it neither particularly relaxing or exhilarating, but a shadowed, melancholic somewhere in between.

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The Gloom In The Corner – Trinity

Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

An interesting, sometimes a bit overwhelming mix of electronica-tinged metalcore, djenty deathcore and a bit of symphony. It anchors it all in big, grandiose choruses, but that in itself is not quite enough to give the whole a good sense of direction. So while it’s made up many expressive parts, the joining is a bit lesser then the sum of these.

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Ground – HABITUAL Self-Abuse

Genre: Grindcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

A runaway train of pummeling drums and choppy riffs from start to finish. The vocal style and rhythm progressions are all recognizably hardcore, but with the intensity an malevolence turned up quite a few notches. While it can get a bit repetitive at times, there is more than enough furious shreddy goodness in here to get you fired up.

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Hell Theater – S’Accabadora

Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5

Speedy, horror-themed heavy metal with a thin production and vocal style emulating that of King Diamond, without reaching the same level. It’s a bit involuntarily comical and janky, but fun for a select audience.

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Hiss From The Moat – The Way Out Of Hell

Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Very rhythmically driven and determined death metal with a dark streak, kind of in the vein of Dissection. It feels fairly straightforward and unified in purpose – very precise and with a coherent tone all the way through. While it lacks the big attention grabbers past the midpoint, there are some truly strong performances on here, with no shortage of speed demon riffs and headbang-ability.

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Hoaxed – Two Shadows

Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Subtle, moody, with a mystical quality and led by forest fairly vocals, this exists on the line between proto-metal and folk rock. The soundscape they conjure is strong and characterful, and while there isn’t much force behind the delivery, there’s enough allure and originality for it to be immersive.

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Lightlorn – These Nameless Worlds

Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5

Besides the fact that everything sounds like the floor fell out at the first sign og aggression and tremolo, this is solid atmospheric black metal with a dreamy quality. It feels contemporary and future-gazing, rather than drizzling with crypt dust.

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MindAhead – 6619 – Part 1

Genre: Progressive/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

While you are in store for some delightfully spooky and mind-bending moments at the most intensive, this band is far too comfortable existing in the near-quiet limbo in between.

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Morbikon – Ov Mournful Twilight

Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5

These guys dive into a little bit of everything within black metal – the chaotic blastbeat-y side, the black ‘n roll, the atmosphere and the gothic melody. It’s fun, and sounds almost like a tribute to the genre, and although some of the performances get a little clunky mixed together it’s still a good time throughout.

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Munroe’s Thunder – The Black Watch

Genre: Power/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2/5

Trying to cover up not-quite-up-to-snuff performances with effects unfortunately does not bring this outfit into contention for anything particularly worthy of your attention.

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Necromutilator – Oath Of Abhorrence

Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

Fully embracing the low-fi in a barge-through-the-door old school death metal kind of way, this is filthy, unholy blackened death metal that seems a bit more preoccupied with fitting into an image than trying to make something original.

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Noctem – Credo Certe Ne Cras

Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Sounding a bit like mid-career Behemoth with a much greater emphasis on symphony, this is grand and melodic blackened death metal with obvious conviction behind the performances. There is theater, but also pure aggression and moments of solemn reverie. They get a bit too comfortable with some of the same rhythm progressions and riff attacks, but aside from the slight lack of variation, this is quality.

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Nocturnis – Unsegen

Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5

Someone’s clearly trying to set some sort of tremolo picking speed record. This is fast and extremely tight, dare I say technical, black metal that offers up both atmosphere, aggression and melody is spades. It’s set to a tragic and slightly outraged tone that, with the forcefulness of the delivery, sets a rather grand scene, even though this is clearly not a symphonic or even folk-heavy project. While not desperately innovative, each song has a strong identity, and ties into a consistent whole. Give it a go with “Unsegen II” and “Zerissenheit”.

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Nostromo – Bucephale

Genre: Progressive death/industrial metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5

Attacking with electric speed and robotic precision, this is a slightly artificial but none the less gripping sonic assault. Utilizing a bleak, non-melodic tone, slight groove, a light layer of noise, the ferocity of grindcore, the harshness of hardcore and a portion of the complexity of extreme prog, describing it can make it see utterly overwhelming. But the delivery is impressively controlled, and for the most part you’re left with something surprisingly approachable. Check out “IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder)” and “A Sun Rising West”.

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Obsidious – Iconic

Genre: Progressive/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5

This one feels like both a declaration of intent and demonstration of skill. Which makes sense, this being the first release of the newly formed project by no less than three former Obscura members. It’s a vibrant release, existing within both the lighter and more extreme spaces of prog metal and showcasing the players’ talents for mixing playful melody with catchy aggression. And playing really, really fast, of course. Sometimes the instrumental tangents jump a little out at you, slamming the brakes on the momentum, but overall this is a lot of fun. Give “Sense of Lust” and “I Am” a try.

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October Ends – Phases

Genre: Alternative/pop metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5

Dripping with cosmetic edginess and resounding with feigned emotion, this is very much an all-glamor-little-substance kind of thing, offering a decent level of heaviness to the overly synthetic melody.

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Polyphia – Remember That You Will Die

Genre: Progressive metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5

On an objective level this is nothing short of exquisite. The things these guys do with rhythm and guitar acrobatics is a mesmerizing display of effortless intricacy. Mostly thanks to a variety of collabs though, this becomes a cross-genre project, incorporating as much pop, hip-hop and r&b as rock and metal. For a band as fluid as this, it’s probably the most natural thing in the world, but it might be too much to expect that everyone on the receiving end will have an equally expansive palate.

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Psychonaut – Violate Consensus REality 

Genre: Progressive/experimental metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

A band that operated very comfortably moving from the inventive and exploratory to the mellow and atmospheric. They sound equally strong in both modes, inviting you to get lost in the immersion either way. There is a certain lack of energy on this one that leaves it a bit too understated for bigger parts of the album, but if you get completely in sync with their vibe you’ll probably be very content to go with the flow.

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Royal Hunt – Dystopia Part 2

Genre: Heavy/power metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

A slightly larger than life classic metal output that leans into the classical and symphonic. It’s fairly straightforward, but well executed, although slightly marred by a compressed-sounding mix.

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Sickrecy – Salvation Through Tyranny

Genre: Atmospheric black/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

There’s enough angle grinder-riffs on here to put your neck out of commission for weeks. The drums and guitars both sound like they’re trying to catch up with the other. You get a fair amount of that Misery Index rawness and control, although chunks of it can sound pretty similar upon casual inspection.

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Slaughter The Giant – Depravity

Genre: Melodic/symphonic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5

With a tone and approach bringing to mind both Black Dahlia Murder and Shadow of Intent, we have ourselves quite the prospect. But, while the instrumental performances are technically highly competent, there is a significant lack of groove throughout the album, the consequence of which being that it just doesn’t pull you along very well.

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Spell – Tragic Magic

Genre: Heavy/doom metal/prog rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

With a tone and style very reminiscent of mid-era Ghost, you know you’re in for some light-hearted, mock-cult-y doom and gloom, propelled by peppy old school prog- and hard rock. While the melodies are solid and the atmosphere dreamy, there is a certain apprehension towards steady momentum going on, that keeps things just a bit complacent.

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Sxokondo – Altered Ego

Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5

Don’t-give-a-fuck, hot-tempered and dissonant hardcore served with a charred crust, or slightly blackened if you will. It’s a bit too harsh and slightly too experimental to get a firm grip on if you’re just looking for aggression, and not deep enough to be rewarding if you’re looking for something more cerebral.

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Them – Fear City

Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5

Energetic, Halloween-occult, slightly alternative-sounding heavy metal that brings to mind Avatar at certain moments. Unfortunately it’s all brought down a little by a messy, jumbled mix.

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Theotoxin – Fragment: Totenruhe

Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Snarly, jaw-snapping black metal with the claws of its meatier brother, death. At it’s core it’s a turbulent-yet -potent mix of death metal rhythmic pummeling and the wail of black metal melody. It leans into folk at appropriate moments, but mostly remains a slightly chaotic thing, building up or down from more steady, melancholic riffs.

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Thotcrime – D1G1T4L_DR1FT

Genre: Experimental/electronic grindcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

Take a second to consider what musical insanity might sound like, and chances are you’re imagining something pretty close to this. What we have here is electronic effects-laden grind/metalcore that should be the soundtrack to a contemporary art exhibition. When it’s not raging or glitching, you get served some very candid punk-at-heart pop that, depending on your point of view, might feel a little preachy.

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Throwing Bricks – The Burden

Genre: Hardcore/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5

This is one of those hardcore releases that sound very sincere. Like what is being communicated can only be shouted at the top of your lungs if it is to honor the emotion behind it. In between this you get lulls of melancholic doom – slow, longing and heavy melody. These get to dominate the overall experience, which does lessen the impact, but secures a very well-defined mood.

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Triskelyon – Downfall

Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2/5

This is thrash meets classic metal that works reasonably well on a technical level but composition wise is unfortunately a bit of a mess.

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Joe Lynn Turner – Belly Of The Beast

Genre: Heavy/power metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5

This is classic, hard rock-y metal to get you moving on the dance floor in a sort of weird mix of wild hip swaying and headbanging. It’s pretty straightforward, but sounds grand, and incorporated both heavier riffing and power metal catchiness.

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Universally Estranged – Dimension Of Deviant Clusters

Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5

This is death metal you’ll find emanating from a cave on some distant moon. It’s dirty, musty and growly, but… in space! While it’s definitely novel enough among its peers that fans of low-fi death should check it out, it also doesn’t get too far beyond its gimmick as far as standout quality is concerned.

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Worm – Bluenothing (EP)

Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5

Who knew that death doom could be this soothing? On their follow-up to last year’s stellar Foreverglade, Worm keeps the excellence rolling with this EP. Somehow they’ve taken the atmosphere of up to several full-lengths and compacted it down to four (long) songs. It sounds intriguingly mystical, darkly majestic, epically expansive, but in no way overstated. It’s slow, but still mesmerizingly vibrant, and so smooth that you just want to use it to lubricate your neural pathways. With 2-3 more songs like these on it, it would have been legendary. As for highlights, just play the whole thing, dammit.

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As always, if you think I’m completely off on an observation, unfairly dissed your favorite band or need to give an album another shot, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.