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Soundoffs 24
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Last Active 08-19-22 8:00 pm
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| Death In The Eras of Excess and Lies
I already covered Death, so you won't find them in here. If you wanna know what I think about them, check my "Death, ranked" list. This'll be my trip through 80's-90's Death Metal and its evolution through those decades.
Without further ado... | | 1 |  | Morbid Saint
Spectrum of Death
I definitely hear the thrash influences throughout here, but man, do the vocals really make it. The vocals sound positively vicious here, lending to the oppressive atmosphere created through the instrumentals and elevating the entire final product. Tone and production were absolutely perfect for this type of album, and by that I mean the raw sound here fit this better than say the clean production of latter-era Death, and the flow was excellent, bar that instrumental interlude. Fuck that. If Morbid Saint left everything at this album and stayed disbanded, this would’ve been perfect.
4.4/5 | | 2 |  | Massacre
From Beyond
This had a fantastic sense of atmosphere about it from the moment you hit 'play' all the way to the end of the album proper; bringing this sense of atmosphere under control and wielding it to effect could've tripped up a lesser band, but Massacre utilize it to solid effect here. I enjoyed this album by and large, with the vocals, tone and flow all being obvious standouts, but my minor quibble would have to go to the soloing in the songs; while I'm all for solos in general, the ones here felt slightly same-y and smacked of technical wankery more than anything, and by the end of the album became the only "boring" element of this album for me. Minor quibble though, really.
4.2/5 | | 3 |  | Gorguts
The Erosion of Sanity
Absolutely fucking rock solid release from Gorguts here, building off an exceptional base death metal foundation here and adding in liberal flourishes of technicality throughout the riffs and flow, leading to an exceptionally satisfying and enjoyable album. Vocals display mild variance and yet are some of the most driving and impactful I’ve heard yet; instrumentality is incredible, mixing in tried and true death metal formulae and then introducing aspects of dissonance and progressive tendencies, and the final result just elevates the album to another level. Tone is exquisite and the flow is absolutely solid, mixing in the more quiet moments assuredly amongst its heavier brothers. This album is the definition of “essential”.
4.5/5 | | 4 |  | Gorguts
Obscura
From “The Erosion of Sanity” to an album that very well may erode one’s sanity if they think about it too hard, Gorguts’ “Obscura” is a very singular album, whiplashing the listener in new artistic directions like Hulk groundpounding Loki into the floor of Avengers Tower. That it does that in such a way and is also unafraid to do so is rather commendable when all is said and done. Vocal performance is as strong as ever, feeling a bit more evocative than before, more raw and strained, intensifying the experience, and once I was able to latch onto the highly progressive and dissonant instrumentality I enjoyed this aspect even more, placing this album in the Atheist strata of albums I was surprised to enjoy. My minor quibbles though would have to go to the tone and flow, with the former placing the guitar and bass too upfront in the mix and making it feel like the other intangibles were fighting for relevancy, and the flow felt rather blasé. This one is gonna be a grower, for sure.
4/5 | | 5 |  | Necrophagia
Season of the Dead
Y'know, this was interesting, I do have to say. Released mere months before Death's "Scream Bloody Gore", Necrophagia's "Season of the Dead" stylistically feels essential towards the genre it helped to establish, even though nothing on the record may sound particularly groundbreaking or fresh. Vocals are solid for the particular mood/atmosphere the album was going for, abrasive and gruesome and filled to the brim with horror movie lyricism, and the instrumentation was commendable, establishing a formula rooted in mid-paced thrash and heavy metal that never disappoints the listener and keeps the album feeling engaging. Tone was enjoyable enough but definitely of its time, and the flow was adequate, keeping things moving in a workmanlike manner and yet not quite spicy enough to make anything stand out and become memorable, encouraging repeat listens. All in all, not a bad release in the least, but in the same breath, only essential for those who want to dig deeper in the genre.
3.6/5 | | 6 |  | Morbid Angel
Blessed Are the Sick
For as much as what Altars of Madness got right with the production and tone, Blessed Are the Sick feels like a half step back and cha-cha slide, with the inconsistencies in tone and production here separating the album in half, which led to a mild disappointment for me. Vocals and instrumentals are solid all the way through, but the first half feels too clean, too “polished” and too “safe” to be really fun, and the second half does what it can by reverting to a more dirty, frantic style ala their debut, but there isn’t enough to save the album overall. Flow is decent for what it is though, and the more melodic interludes, at least in the second half of the album, are a nice touch, contrasting with the more intense moments. Not as essential an album as opposed to Altars of Madness, which is a mild pity, considering I had solid hopes for this based off my enjoyment of their debut.
3.3/5 | | 7 |  | Atheist
Unquestionable Presence
If it weren’t for its standing within the community and legacy, you could have completely fooled me into thinking Atheist’s “Unquestionable Presence” was an avant-grade metal album, let alone a death metal album. Absolutely astounding from a technical standpoint, this was a fantastic example to challenge the limitations set towards death metal as a genre. My favorite aspect through the entire album was the heavy predilections towards jazz and using the more traditional death metal aspects to help flesh out and garnish the remainders of the album; to that end, I love the technicality and professionalism that could be found in the instrumentality, the willingness present to explore and experiment with disparate musical ideas and the like… simply fascinating. The vocal exhibition here was also handled well, choosing to be a supportive member of the whole instead of trying to be singular, and the tone and flow were perfect, absolutely perfect.
4.6/5 | | 8 |  | Killing Addiction
Omega Factor
Rather intriguing, almost lo-fi, outing from Killing Addiction here, sounding massive despite the sonic limitations. Despite being rather unintelligible to the human ear, I appreciated the intelligence displayed in the lyrics as I read along to a few of the songs; it isn't often that one finds such despondently philosophical insights in such a genre as death metal - I'm not saying no one does it, but in my experience at least one doesn't see it prevalently. Vocals are decent, in being a rather monotone bellow for the vast part of the runtime, and the instrumentality was fun, beefy and technical in all the right places. Tone was absolutely delicious, just dripping with atmosphere, and the flow was solid, never taking away from the other intangibles and providing a dependable backbone to the album. While not exactly revelatory when all is said and done, I still had fun with this album, and don't consider it wasted time. Fun shit.
3.7/5 | | 9 |  | Ripping Corpse
Dreaming With the Dead
Fun, thrashy DM that… actually grooves? Not gonna lie, the flow this album has definitely makes one feel as if there’s grooves hidden inside the nasty riffs; might also have to do with the drumming and how natural it feels instead of straight up relentless. Little bit lo-fi sounds on the guitar make this effort even more aurally delicious, and the vocals are solid here, not straining for more and content to accent the whole instead of striving to be a standout. As alluded to before, production here is a plus, and even though the flow is solid, tracks feel like they run together, unintentionally; if the album was meant to be one long track broken up into movements then I’d understand perfectly and more than likely laud it, but the album isn’t one long piece, and it’s like “blink” and we’re on track 5 already. Oh well, small quibble. Definitely a fun album that gets better with each successive listen.
3.8/5 | | 10 |  | Autopsy
Severed Survival
You know, I'm not really feeling this one very much. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot I do appreciate in this album - essentially all the intangibles in their base form - but adding everything up it doesn't quite hit me as other albums on this list has. I dunno; could just be me, but then again, between this and Death's "Scream Bloody Gore", I can honestly say I'm not too big a fan of this style of lyricism. I get that's part of the "charm" of these types of albums, but it just doesn't do it for me. I did like how the vocals maintained an atmosphere all their own throughout, sounding as regurgitory as the cover art; the instrumentals took the cake, mixing in thrash with sludgier mid tempo metal riffs and topping things off with some tasty solos to boot, tone was good and played into the flow of the album in setting up a tremendously vile and repugnant atmosphere, which was appreciated. Maybe in time I'll grow to like this better....
3.6/5 | | 11 |  | Bolt Thrower
Realm of Chaos
All hail the motherfuckin' riff. Like gall damn this album fucks like a fuckin' motherfucker, like no frills, no wankery, Bolt Thrower is fucking content to fucking throw down and pummel you with riff after riff after fuckin' riff. Daaaammmmmnnnn. Fuckin' loved practically everything about this - vocals, instrumentality, tone and flow - and there really isn't much to say when all I have to say is the album pretty much speaks for itself. Throw it on and fuckass believe. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna throw "World Eater" on again for like the 100th time and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed it the first time. Fuck yes.
4.6/5 | | 12 |  | Bolt Thrower
The IVth Crusade
Sounding less like their other album I listened to here, and more like an assured and confident progression in sound than anything, "The IVth Crusade" shouldn't be considered as a lesser album and definitely stands as strong as "Realm of Chaos", if not stronger. Slowing tempos down instead of straight on thrashing definitely helps provide an enjoyable and engaging counterpoint to the tone and flow present, and add on the absolutely reliable interplay between the vocals and instrumentality make this album a clear cut, undeniable winner of a time; I really enjoyed how this album was very distinguishable, very definable, from "Realm of Chaos", and yet the riff worship found on their latter album is still heavily adhered to here. Fun shit right here.
4.5/5 | | 13 |  | Brutality
When the Sky Turns Black
Building off their simplistic yet effective blueprint from their debut, Brutality double down on their namesake with this outing, upping the technicality through the insertion of some progressive inclinations and judicious usage of some emotive interludes while maintaining a punishing and oppressive atmosphere. Vocals here were just as good as on the debut, and the instrumentality is fantastic; I absolutely love the opening to the track “Screams of Anguish” and how it catches one unawares before leading into a massive riff; absolutely prime DM ear candy there. Tone is exceptional, and the flow, especially because of those interludes, is absolutely perfect. An absolute winner of a time with this one, and definitely one I found myself continually coming back to.
4.3/5 | | 14 |  | Pestilence
Consuming Impulse
Now this, this is practically pitch perfect in pretty much every way. I try to refrain from handing out 5’s, but when something hits just right… damn; this just hits ALL the buttons. What makes it even more fun is that Pestilence isn’t from any of the usual death metal hubs of interest like the US’ East coast, Britain, Finland/Sweden, etc.. They’re not even German, which always feels like a massively slept on area of DM interest. No, Pestilence is a Dutch band; everything probably isn’t all wooden shoes and windmills over there. Vocals here are a venomous roar, never needing to flirt with vocal histrionics to bolster the album, instrumentals are death/thrash perfection in every way, and the tone and flow are superb, with no weak links whatsoever. This is the definition of a classic, and is a must-listen no matter what.
5/5 | | 15 |  | Disincarnate
Dreams of the Carrion Kind
Death metal that has hooks instead of chugs... who'd have thought it would sound so good? Another one of those special DM bands that dropped a single album and promptly disappeared into the foggy night, Disincarnate drop a very catchy album here with "Dreams of the Carrion Kind", littering the album with so many tasty riffs that don't exclusively rely on brute force that one feels almost embarrassed over such musical quality; my only quibbles, however minor, is that the vocals sounds slightly samey and if one isn't paying close enough attention this album can slip right on by in the blink of an eye. Despite my minor quibble, the vocals are really solid and complement the tone, and the instrumentality is quite excellent; it's always a refreshing surprise to hear soloing in a DM album, especially when one isn't really expecting it. The tone is really good, solid and full, and the flow holds up well, although it doesn't help much to aurally distinguish one track from another.
4.2/5 | | 16 |  | Suffocation
Effigy of the Forgotten
Fantastic. Suffocation’s debut LP, tuned for maximum audial devastation, has not only the cojones to blow the doors of the death metal genre off their hinges with this effort, but also the audacity to refashion the doors through their technical precision and acumen into something stronger than before, daring those that would attempt to follow in their footsteps to try and do better. Good gravy, but this things *flows*! Instrumentality is excellent, weaving between thrash and speed with the precision and confidence of a surgeon’s scalpel, all while adding in doses of groove, allowing the flow of the album to accentuate the experience even more confidently. Vocals are excellent, tone is excellent… excellent, excellent, excellent. Yes. Everything is excellent. Can’t get much better than this… or can they?
4.8/5 | | 17 |  | Morbid Angel
Covenant
Demonstrating a quick turnaround in sensibilities, Morbid Angel’s third album here sees the band marry the raw and frantic tonalities and pace of their debut with the more melodic sensibilities of their follow up, allowing me a greater response of satisfaction in return to this album. Vocals are solid, as always, and the instrumentation returns welcomingly to the more frantic pacings and solos that made their music stand out. Tone is done well, and the flow is solid, except it felt like production changed between the front half and the back half, with the latter sounding “cleaner” than its counterpart. Minor quibble aside, I liked this better than “Blessed Are the Sick” and am enjoying this strong initial run from Morbid Angel
4/5 | | 18 |  | Morbid Angel
Altars of Madness
Morbid Angel. Come (in more ways than one) for the technicality and straight brutality of the intangibles, leave because the lyricism is kicking a dead horse. Even if they were meant as a lark or if they were intentional in trying to exalt a Luciferian future, 10 tracks of the same idea gets boring, no matter how good the vocals can be. Yawn. The massive saving grace of the album is the incredible instrumentality, tone and flow. An absolute onslaught from start to finish can only leave one simultaneously overwhelmed and yet hungry for more. Bravo on those fronts. I can understand why this is rightly considered a classic.
4.3/5 | | 19 |  | Morpheus Descends
Ritual of Infinity
Rather solid release overall here, albeit mildly one note in terms of musical direction; this would be a rewarding listen for those who may be looking to dip their toes into the death metal genre though. Vocals are tasty, low and gurgly, but the instrumentation felt basic and uninvigorated; it wasn't terrible, but it could've used some variety in pacing and technicality. Tone was interesting, sounding like the album was recorded 3 different ways and slapped together in the end, and the flow was serviceable, moving the album along from point A to point B professionally and assuredly. Again, not exactly essential of an album, but still a fun listen.
3.6/5 | | 20 |  | Obituary
Slowly We Rot
Fuuuuuck, man. This had some delicious atmosphere that one could really sink their teeth into; I really loved the melodic opening to “Internal Bleeding” before developing some thrash riffing. Everything here felt classic in approach and extremely solid overall. Vocals were strong despite not having a crazy variance, which some may have been expecting, and the instrumentation was fun, keeping things even-keeled regardless if they were thrashing or going mid-tempo. Tone and flow were delicious, and I really enjoyed this. Fuck yeah.
4.2/5 | | 21 |  | Obituary
Cause of Death
Whereas with Obituary’s debut “Slowly We Rot” showcasing a band heavily confident in their death metal vision, their followup, “Cause of Death”, reveal the band to be even stronger than before, tighter in their abilities as songwriters and musicians, and somehow imbuing the album with more hooks than ever before. Vocals still display an unconscious tendency towards aural monotony, but they actually sound stronger here than on the debut. Instrumentation takes a welcome step forward, content to aid and abet the atmosphere with melodicism as opposed to churning out solo after solo, and the tone and flow, along with the production, is aces across the board. If I had to label this album with one word, it would be: stronger.
4.4/5 | | 22 |  | Suffocation
Pierced from Within
Heavier than before. Angrier than before. Eviler than before. Suffocation’s third album, “Pierced From Within”, takes everything that worked well for them on their previous efforts and just raised the bar, doubling down on the technical and groove elements within their songs and creating something incredibly strong. As before, instrumentality and vocals are the absolute strong points to this album, blending their strengths together to meld into an almost unstoppable juggernaut of heavy, moving from one showcase with which to bash your face in to the next; tone is excellent, clean and full, and the flow is unrelenting, giving you no respite despite its 45 minute runtime. In time, this may be as good as their debut, but for now, it sure comes damn close.
4.7/5 | | 23 |  | Possessed
Beyond the Gates
Really not much to say on this one, really. If you’ve heard “Seven Churches” you pretty much know what you’re getting here, albeit with slightly more cleaner production; solid death/thrash that doesn’t stray far from Possessed’s established bag of tricks, the vocals and instrumentation are good and the tone is punchy and works well to complement the other intangibles, but the flow is tolerable at best, and when there’s mild variation between tracks one runs the risk of everything sounding same-ish and that will pull the enjoyability of the experience down. Again, solid, but not a “must-listen”; save that for “Seven Churches” and move on towards what Death was doing for the death metal genre around the same time period.
3.5/5 | | 24 |  | Possessed
Seven Churches
This is it, the progenitor. The granddaddy of them all. The big kahuna that’s started the death metal wave. Possessed’s “Seven Churches”. Early death/thrash that feels indebted more to Slayer and Venom than anything else, because, well, there really wasn’t anything else out there at the time that sounded like Possessed, this album packs a punch from beginning to end and just doesn’t let up, and therein lies the quibble. While I appreciate intensity, this album felt like it was riding a single line all the way through with little to no variation, and while the instrumentality and vocals are fun to hang onto, the flow and lyricism ultimately didn’t do this album much in the way of favors, leading to an enjoyable yet rote time. Tone was solid for a debut album, and I’m keen to hear if Possessed’s followup will move the band forward. Time will tell.
3.6/5 | | 25 |  | Malevolent Creation
Retribution
I’m running out of positive adjectives over here; damn, but this was fun… Florida transplants by way of New York, Malevolent Creation trot out an excellent piece of thrashing death metal with this album, “Retribution”, thereby banishing any notion of a sophomore slump curse. Everything about this album is solidly classic, from the immediate and visceral vocals (that scream to end “Mindlock”!!!), to the raging instrumentation that still finds time within this maelstrom to inject several tasty solos, to the tone which bears the stylistic hallmarks of their DM forebears, and finally to the flow, so crushing and unrelenting. Every time I put this album on I always feel a mixture of excitement and dread, ready and willing to experience the album again as if it were my first time; this is a stone cold classic within the genre, to be sure.
4.2/5 | | 26 |  | Morta Skuld
Dying Remains
Absolutely rock solid, no frills DM here, nothing overtly technical or fancy minus a solo here and there, and HEAVY as all get out. This is the kind of hearty, “meat and potatoes” version of death metal that can keep anyone satisfied for a long time. Vocals are perfect for this, just oozing low gutturals throughout and inducing dread with every bellow, and the instrumentation just marries itself to the vocals so seamlessly that it feels like one couldn’t survive without the other. Tone is aurally delicious and the flow is excellent, and in the end, that’s what you’ll get from this album: excellence, all around.
4.1/5 | | 27 |  | At the Gates
Slaughter of the Soul
Pretty solid outing here, ticking all the stylistic boxes for the genre without upsetting the experience too much; the production though made things sound newer than its release date of 1995 would indicate, which I guess could be a blessing or curse depending on one's viewpoint; I dunno, I didn't really mind it too much.... Vocals weren't bad at all and really helped to drive the intensity of the songs, the instrumentality was really well done and I liked that aspect most of all; tone was solid and agreeable, and the flow was good for the most part; the outro felt like it didn't fit right. Odd. Overall, not a bad album to help signify the new(er) wave of death metal that was on the musical horizon.
3.7/5 | | 28 |  | Dismember
Like an Ever Flowing Stream
Damn, but I love this production style/guitar tone… Dismember trot out an absolute ripper of an album with this, their debut, and one’s enjoyment of this album just grows, well, like an ever-flowing stream. At least that’s how it was for me. Vocals are handled really well, and they reminded me mildly of Demolition Hammer, in that they didn’t feel like true blue DM vox, but it felt like these vocals had a hardcore influence on their range and delivery. Instrumentality was absolute aces across the board, and the tone and flow were excellent as well; this really fed into my enjoyment of production values in DM that sounds mildly underproduced but still lends greatly to the album’s aesthetic. An excellent album, through and through.
4.4/5 | | 29 |  | Entombed
Left Hand Path
Right from the start, the atmosphere thats set by all the intangibles is incredible… a lot of DM I’ve heard strives for this aggressive sense of menace but few actually accomplishes this, and Entombed here make it feel natural. I love it. Vocals are positively fantastic throughout and the instrumentality is aces. Tone is sublime, and I love the HM2 tone, how raw and feral it sounds throughout, and the flow is perfect; I love how the opener has the chutzpah to switch the timing up and opt for something more devastating than straight raging to a fade-out. This is classic stuff.
5/5 | | 30 |  | Asphyx
Last One on Earth
Now this, this was fantastic. Death metal that expertly mixes thrash sensibilities with more mid-paced bangers? Yes please! Fuckin' solid from front to back, Asphyx create a masterpiece with this, their second album, successfully dispelling the curse of the sophomore slump. Vocals I started out not liking very much, as it sounded like a mix between a growl and raspy high, but by the end I could tolerate them for how well they fit the instrumentals and atmosphere of the album. The instrumentals and tone, my goodness! Absolutely raw and vicious, I fucking loved how they kept the whole album sounding fresh and creative, and you can't forget the flow of the album; again, mixing the pace between speed and a more deliberate tempo kept everything fun and enjoyable, leaving me eagerly anticipating every little bit that would happen next. Now this, this is a classic. Fuck yeah.
4.7/5 | | 31 |  | Autopsy
Mental Funeral
I must say, I do believe "Mental Funeral" to be a substantial step up from "Severed Survival", both in terms of instrumentality and lyricism ("Robbing the Grave" aside). I think the singular thing is the implementation of more doom-encrusted riffing in here, mixing those sensibilities with the thrashier elements a lot more organically than on their debut. Vocals present are still solid as feck and lend themselves quite well to the overall whole; instrumentality is still the standout on the album, moving back and forth between tempos and timbres with confidence and technicality. Tone was absolutely delicious, simultaneously heavier and more dirty sounding than before, and the flow actually worked better than on their debut, making sure nothing felt out of place or odd. This is the classic shit right here, and a good starting point for anyone looking to dip their toes into the vile pool that is death metal.
4.1/5 | | 32 |  | Pestilence
Testimony of the Ancients
How can one follow up a certified classic? There never is a clear-cut answer except to try the best you can, and Pestilence does try, but while the end result is an enjoyable time with “Testimony of the Ancients”, the heights this album scales doesn’t feel as exhilarating as the ones “Consuming Impulse” conquered. That’s not to say this is a bad album, no, but the reality is is that’s it’s just hard to top or equal a classic. Vocals here are as strong as ever, still wrathful and filled with vengeance, and the instrumentality is solid; I actually really enjoyed the melodic soloing found on “Twisted Truth”, and I appreciate the melodic intent this album had instead of straight raging. Tone was good and the flow could’ve been better if they left out almost all those damn interludes, and overall, I liked this. Just not as much as what came before.
4.2/5 | | 33 |  | Afterlife (USA-IN)
Surreality
Solid death metal across the board here from a band that released this album and then vanished into the fog of nightfall; pitiable shame though, as this featured an intoxicating blend of prog and tech in their version of the death metal stew. As always, I really do enjoy the "lo-fi" aspect of the production and tones of these types of bands/albums, and it may sound like an oxymoron but it's not when I say that although the production is suitably "muddy", the instrumentality was very clear and precise, and that ups the enjoyment factor for me. Vocals were executed well, with it mainly being a low growl throughout punctuated by some occasional highs, and the flow was excellent, moving from one distinct creation to the next. Definitely would be something to check out here.
4.1/5 | | 34 |  | Slaughter (CAN)
Strappado
I’m… not really feeling this one, if I’m being honest. Early death/thrash that kind of owes its sound to Slayer than anything, Slaughter’s “Strappado” is still a fun album to listen to, but it’s more of a lightweight offering more than anything. Instrumentality was solid, tight and punchy, and the vocals were agreeable, bearing the most Slayer influence in that they were shouted but still clean, as opposed to the uncleans that one associates with the genre. Tone was actually really clean and clear, which was nice, and the flow was good, keeping things upbeat and moving quickly with no loss of attention. All in all decent, but mildly forgettable, this is.
3.4/5 | | 35 |  | Opprobrium
Beyond The Unknown
The riffs, man, the riffs… enjoyably mixing the death/thrash formula effectively and polishing it a dangerous sheen, Opprobrium roar back on their sophomore album here, swinging with both fists and critical abandon, and largely connect with… certain accuracy.
Ha.
Vocals are really good here, utilizing a harsh bark that helps sell the songs, and the instrumentality is absolute aces, technical and unrelenting with furious and mildly dissonant soloing scattered throughout like machine gun bursts. Tone is solid and deliciously lo-fi, and the flow is breathtaking at times. Definitely one of the more fun examples of this hybrid of a subgenre, and definitely recommended.
4.3/5 | | 36 |  | Thanatos
Emerging from the Netherworlds
Punchy, raw death thrash from this Netherlands band on display here, galloping from one song to the next. Indeed, the flow of this album helps tremendously in maintaining one’s attention when listening here, ensuring our focus isn’t lost or bogged down in midtempo efforts or interludes; to that end, the instrumentality is efficient and assured, exhibiting a confidence in their technicality that is welcome here. Vocals are solid, utilizing a higher rasp than low gutturals to help sell the anger and despondency in the lyricism, and the tone feels lofi but enjoyable overall. While I feel this is a “B-tier” effort for DM albums, it’s still an enjoyable ride, well worth your time and definitely worth checking out.
3.7/5 | | 37 |  | Merciless
The Awakening
A progenitor, if you will, of Swedeath, Merciless just straight rage from start to stop on this album, their debut LP. A solid outing overall, blending their death and thrash tendencies quite well beneath a delightful production sound that lends that cavernous sense of eerie to the vocals while simultaneously keeping the instrumentation sounding tight. Vocals are decent for the effort here, flirting with a higher black metal register throughout, and the instrumentation is enjoyably furious and aggressive. Tone is aurally delicious and the flow is unrelenting, leading to no complaints, but on the other hand comes close to making the individual songs feel like they could bleed together in sameness. Overall solid, this would definitely be good as “starter” material for anyone interested in dipping their toes into DM.
3.6/5 | | 38 |  | Merciless
The Treasures Within
Y’know, for a follow up to something as vicious and aggressive as their debut was, I kinda dug Merciless’ sophomore effort here a little more. Individual results may very well vary, but I actually enjoyed the effort the band put into injecting some melodic sensibilities in here, freshening up their formula and surprising expectations. Vocals and tone are as solid as their debut, but the instrumentation and flow take things a step up and forward, adding in elements and asides to keep things intriguing and new, and by and large, it works. Solid work here from the band, and really nothing else to add, other than I’m pleased with this entry.
3.9/5 | | 39 |  | Benediction
Transcend the Rubicon
Y’know, Benediction could’ve/would’ve fallen into the subcategory of DM that is very “meat ‘n potatoes” style, content with a singular, familiar style and being cool with it, but on here they kinda infuse a snot-nosed punk attitude to some of the flow and definitely to the drumming, and that actually made me take notice more than I normally would for a “normal” DM entry and it made me enjoy this album more than I did before. Vocals are very much that monotone growl that is kinda ubiquitous to the genre but still very enjoyable, instrumentality and tone is fucking aces across the board, very aurally tasty, and the flow was bouncy and fun, playing into those punk vibes and bringing a sense of fun from the thrash realm. Kind of a fun little foray with this one.
3.7/5 | | 40 |  | Carbonized
Disharmonization
This was… singular, to put it mildly. More of an exercise in a avant-garde than death metal, Carbonized didn’t particularly impress me with their efforts here, and then again they didn’t particularly disappoint either. Mixing in healthy elements of (again) avant-garde into a death metal base and finishing it with Spanish guitar flourishes and almost post-punk vocal leanings, Carbonized present a very technical, musically adept album… I’m at a loss for words; this was odd, but I didn’t hate it. Disappointing for its lack of a more straightforward, recognizable death metal style, maybe in time I’ll be able to appreciate this more. Odd.
3.2/5 | | 41 |  | Mangled Torsos
Drawings of the Dead
It seems as though there have been some common threads weaving their way through my exploration of this genre so far; of how Florida was the musical powder keg that set off the explosion of popularity around this heavier genre, how Finnish DM set the bar for excellence and standards, a bar that few have met, let alone surpassed, and this current thread that I’m beginning to notice, of how German DM has been a consistent dark horse, and this entry here only solidifies that notion. More death/doom than Demilich, Mangled Torsos nonetheless equate and acquit themselves well when measuring up against that yardstick; vocals aren’t that gurgly, but similarly low and dread-inducing, instrumentation is positively flawless, with no weak spots, tone is incredibly delicious and refreshingly clean, and the flow is solid as fuck, even with the minor acoustic forays scattered throughout. German death metal feels slept on; I pray you don’t make the mistake of ignoring this. Check this out!
4.9/5 | | 42 |  | Phlebotomized
Immense, Intense, Suspense
Avant-garde in the sense that they utilize uncommon instrumentation in a death metal album (violin, organ and synths etc.), Phlebotomized really carve out a unique experience with this album, which actually serves the band and album really well. I must say, the more time I spent with this album, the more it grew on me and the more I enjoyed it. Vocals were handled really well, balancing the lows and highs of unclean and throwing in some cleans for good measure (the gang chants/countdown put a smile on my face). Instrumentation was clean and aurally delicious, balancing ferocity with melodicism, and the tone and flow were handled well, leading to no lag. A really fun time with this, and I enjoyed it.
4.3/5 | | 43 |  | Forgotten Silence
Thots
This was... interesting, to say the least. At times feeling like a bastardized version of Opeth, but with female singing sprinkled throughout and more jazz tendencies than they'd allow themselves, Forgotten Silence's album here feels more indebted to prog than death metal; despite all that, I wouldn't call this a wasted time. Primary vocals here were quite well handled, with the growls and coarse screams remaining in that deliciously lower register, and in spite of the plethoric genre tendencies, the instrumentality was enjoyable, with the xylophone inclusion bringing a smile to my face. Tone was good and tasty and the flow was solid, intriguing one enough with a multitude of segues between songs to better navigate the ebbs and flows of the album. In the end, I'd probably lean closer to avant prog than death metal, but I can't fully dismiss this album, because when Forgotten Silence play death metal, they do it rather well.
3.6/5 | | 44 |  | Aeternus
Beyond the Wandering Moon
Honestly more black than death metal if one thinks about this enough, Aeternus still provide an incredibly melodic outing with this album, which (pleasantly) caught me off my guard. I could still appreciate the DM influences present in this album, and buttressing those tendencies with folk and acoustic flourishes was actually a stroke of musical genius. Vocals and instrumentality were excellent throughout, providing that subliminal feeling of emotional ebb and flow, tone was superb and the flow was magnificent. An absolute winner of a time with this album, and I look forward to the next time I'll travel beyond Aeternus' wandering moon...
4.6/5 | | 45 |  | Antropomorphia
Necromantic Love Songs
Fairly solid "meat and potatoes" death metal on display here, content to come in, lay down a mid paced beat with occasional slows to the tempo, throw some gurgling lows atop it all, collect the check and leave. Despite the allusions I've given one towards Antropomorphia sounding "average", the band still is kind of fun to turn on and rock out, especially when that mid-paced beat kicks in and hit you just right. Loved the atmosphere and production quality this had, and I appreciate the fact that this collected the majority of the band's earlier output together in one neat, tidy album package. A must listen? Nah, not terribly, but if you're looking to pad your DM cred out, you can't go wrong with this.
3.5/5 | | 46 |  | Carnage
Dark Recollections
Does this qualify as HM2? Because if this is, I'm gonna love hearing whatever else qualifies as HM2; damn, that tone is the best kind of lo-fi and dirty you can hear in death metal. Carnage's "Dark Recollections" is the embodiment of the band name: evil, vicious, intense and practically feral. Vocals are that classic type of low and unrelenting, instrumentality is fantastic, fast paced and deliciously technical, and the tone and flow is excellent, allowing the other intangibles to complement one another well. As much as I love the entries that sound clean, vast and ambitious, I also love these smaller, dirtier and evil sounding entries like this. Fuck yes.
4.2/5 | | 47 |  | Cemetary
An Evil Shade of Grey
Utilizing a more gothic melodicism in their instrumentality than straight up death metal or death/thrash hybrid, Cemetary’s “An Evil Shade of Grey” still evolves into an enjoyable entry to the death metal canon due to the atmosphere, tone and flow of the album. Vocals were par for the course but still enjoyable overall, and I really liked the insertion of organs into the instrumental mix, providing extra weight to the proceedings. Tone was handled well, with extra points given to the accents in the guitars that made it sound like a theremin was mixed in, adding to the atmosphere, and the flow was solid, mixing slower moments with faster bouts. All in all a fun aside, albeit not terribly essential.
3.7/5 | | 48 |  | Pan.Thy.Monium
Dawn of Dreams
The more I visit this, the more I vibe with the disparate layers this album has to offer. What may seem odd or “inspired” feels more calculated and purposeful on repeat listens. I loved the coloring the saxophone gave to the songs and also how the tone and flow encouraged experimentation, leading to an overall fresh feeling throughout. Vocals and instrumentation were solid and capable, and there’s not much else to say here. Check this out and enjoy a side of death metal that may get lost amidst the murkiness and gloom.
4.3/5 | | 49 |  | Decomposed (UK)
Hope Finally Died...
The atmosphere in here truly lends credence to the album’s title and helps it come to life… damn, son.
Mixing in equal amounts of doom with death metal, Decomposed drop a stunner of an album with this, their only LP. I really did enjoy the feel this album had, just drawing one inexorably deeper and darker with each passing moment. The vocals were solid all around and the instrumentality was handled well as well. The real stars though was the tone and flow, with the former setting the pace and mood of the whole affair and the latter just decimating the listener with a well balanced mix between heavy, crushing doom and mid-paced thrash found within more “regular” DM offerings. Definitely another album I can see growing on me with time, do not miss out on this album, else my hope for you will die as well…
4.2/5 | | 50 |  | Gladiator
Designation
While most of these entries on this list so far have been sure fire hits, there’s entries like these that are less sure fire hits and more like bloop or broken bat singles, owing more stylistic traits to a separate genre than death metal but retaining juuuuuuust enough death metal influence to be considered in the tangential death metal conversation. And so it is here with Gladiator, sounding more comfortable within the genre of thrash but also adding in a death metal snarl for vocals and just enough variance in the instrumentality that if you squint hard enough you could forgiveably mistake the band for early DM. As it is, the vocals are decent but not outstanding and the instrumentality is fun, going for speed and aggressiveness here. Tone is solid and enjoyable, and the flow keeps everything on an even keel, making the album feel fresh despite it being 45 minutes long. In the end, you aren’t out of anything unless you’re stingy, but this is death metal lite lite lite.
3.6/5 | | 51 |  | Grave
Into the Grave
Not bad Swedeath on display here, not as crunchy as the HM2 worship but still lo-fi enough to have some fun with; if Entombed is like A+ tier Swedeath, then Grave is like A-/B+ on a bad day, solid enough to fill in for your ears in a pinch. Vox are straight guttural, low and gurgly, making for some enjoyment even though there’s little variance. Instrumentality is solid as a rock, never straying far from the tried and true formula of mid-to-fast paced thrashers. Tone is aurally tasty, again Living in that lo-fi world that’s so complementary to DM, and the flow is solid, plain and simple. Overall this wasn’t bad, albeit probably not going to become an immediate go to kind of album unlike Entombed. Not bad.
3.9/5 | | 52 |  | Devastation
Idolatry
I’ve gotta say, Devastation has been probably the first album on this list that I’d feel absolutely comfortable placing either into a DM playlist or thrash playlist, it fits so well between either genre depending on one’s mood. Absolute slam of an album that’s fun to throw on and jam out to, Devastation take care to present each different aspect of the album in its best light possible. Vocals were solid through and through, instrumentality was top notch, and the tone and flow complemented one another and the vox/instruments so excellently that there really isn’t any issue I could possibly take the band to task for. Fun stuff, and I’m glad it clicked for me.
4.4/5 | | 53 |  | Opprobrium
Serpent Temptation
You know, this kinda reminds me a little of early Sepultura, primarily in the vocal stylings, and that’s not exactly bad company to keep in my opinion. Another hella solid outing amongst the death/thrash camps with this album, and I can’t wait to get to their sophomore effort earlier in this list. Vocals are really good, although some may be lightly put off with how (deceptively) simplistic they can sound, instrumentality is fucking tight, alternating between thrash and rage, tone is solid for the most part but there’s parts here and there where it feels a bit rougher than what I find myself enjoying; it feels too “lo-fi” in parts, if that’s easier to understand, and the flow is excellent. Delicious little slab of viciousness from DM’s early era - don’t miss it.
4/5 | | 54 |  | Insanity
Death After Death
I don’t know what it was about this album, but it felt so fucking fun to listen to, like the band and/or the album just didn’t give a fuck about anything and just made everything so easy to mosh/headbang to, and I can’t recall the last time I listened to a DM album that was simply straight up fun. Anyways, Insanity bring the fucking jams on this album right here, infusing a death/thrash energy into a standard DM skeleton and insuring a good time to be had with this. Vocals are really good for this style/album, very strong overall, and the instrumentality was fun, mixing the two genres well and even bringing hints of groove to the proceedings, as evidenced in “Rotten Decay” and a later track whose name escapes me now. Dang. Tone is aurally delicious and raw, and the flow worked wonderfully for all this. Sometimes simple pleasures are better over complexity. Thrash on.
4/5 | | 55 |  | Blood Feast
Kill For Pleasure
Not a whole lot to say on this one; just your standard death metal album constructed around a thrash skeleton. Lyrics are par for the genre as is the instrumentation, bar the solos; those were fun. Vocals weren’t bad, reminding me a little of Slayer’s Tom Araya in delivery and the vocalist of Venom in terms of tone. Tone was standard and the flow served the album well. Not bad, per se, but just on the side of pleasantly forgettable.
3.5/5 | | 56 |  | Num Skull
Future - Our Terror
As a proof of concept, a beginning, or whatever you want to call this, this was solid. Definitely "lighter" overall when compared to "Ritually Abused", the second half of this is really when this album and band come into their creative own and up the excitement, definitely leaving indicators towards the direction they would be leaning towards into their future. Vocals are good here, sounding more confident and stronger the longer the album goes on and the instrumentation follows suit, again sounding better and better as we move from track to track. Tone is good throughout and flow is solid, nothing more and nothing less. If you're a completionist, this is definitely a fun aside in Num Skull's discography, but if you're looking for essentials of death metal, you'd be better served by their first "official" LP; some of the tracks here would work well in a DM playlist though.
3.8/5 | | 57 |  | Num Skull
Ritually Abused
Fuuuuuuck, but this goes like a motherfucker. An absolutely furious assault from the lads in Num Skull here that shouldn’t get overlooked because of its thrashier tendencies within its death metal framework. Vocals are fun, a fierce and harsh high pitched snarl on display that perfectly complements the tone of the album, and the instrumentation is absolute aces, perfectly mixing the atmosphere of death metal with the speed and aggression of thrash. Tone is perfect throughout and the flow is unrelenting, leading to no dips in quality through the whole experience. Definitely recommend this outing, and definitely a must-listen entry for the death metal canon.
4.4/5 | | 58 |  | Poison (DE)
Into the Abyss
Dark, eerie, gritty - this had practically everything I've come to enjoy about old-school death metal; a real shame that this was only 4 tracks long, but man, what a four track run this is! Vocals fit this so fucking perfectly, instrumentality and tone worked so perfectly in tandem, and the production! Very raw, lo-fi and bare bones; it just adds to, for lack of a better term, the "charm" of these early DM albums. Fuck yes, this was fucking fun.
4.3/5 | | 59 |  | Protector
A Shedding of Skin
This album is so much fun once you get down to it, just pure unrelenting aggression and terror packaged in a highly technical 42 minutes. From exploding out of the gates with “Mortuary Nightmare” through the ending track of “Towards Destruction”, Protector doesn’t ease up on their tone or flow, raging from one song to the next. Instrumentality present is excellent, keeping things tight and lean while still allowing for some well placed soloing to punctuate the songs better, and the vocals work well within the structure laid before them. Only quibble I can think of is if you’re not entirely invested, then the album may run a little together, but all in all this album is a rager.
3.9/5 | | 60 |  | Messiah
Rotten Perish
Messiah is an interesting time, sneaking some progressive tendencies underneath all this death/thrash throughout. That it’s essentially a concept album dealing with the uncertainty of life after death and how through multiple viewpoints a plethora of unpleasantries can be visited on the human race makes this certainly an intriguing listen. Vocals are solid throughout, not necessarily “singing” despite the uncleans yet having that same raw insistency that could be found in Cavalera’s vocals in Sepultura. Musicianship is highly competent on a technical level, mixing straight brutality with some tasteful acoustic interludes, and the tone and flow are decently standard. Not bad overall, and not much else to say.
3.8/5 | | 61 |  | Gorement
The Ending Quest
Absolutely crushing from start to finish, Gorement’s “The Ending Quest” feels practically monolithic; outside of dISEMBOWELMENT, this feels like one of the best death/doom albums I’ve heard yet, and with Gorement being a part of the Swedeath scene this album makes me feel a little more appreciative of the Swedes. They still won’t take Finndeath’s crown away, but this is a good effort overall. Vocals are low and powerful and yet feel evocative in the best way; instrumentality is excellent and adept at either raging or melancholia, the tone is aurally delicious and the flow is superb, ranging from standard fast paced thrashing to introspective doom, with acoustic sections strategically placed towards the end to solidify the despair. An incredible time with this, and I’d highly recommend it!
4.6/5 | | 62 |  | Demolition Hammer
Tortured Existence
Solid albeit slightly formulaic, Demolition Hammer still drop a decent entry with this, their debut, into the death/thrash category here. Not gonna lie, this reminded me in an overall sense of Slayer, not so much in the thrashing tempos and tone but more in how the vocal delivery is rather barked out in a harsh clean, similar to early Tom Araya. Despite that similarity, the vocals are competent and consistent across the board, and the instrumentality is actually quite fun, leaning a bit harder into thrash territory than death. Tone and flow are ultimately solid and aid the overall experience instead of hinder it. Overall fun but not necessarily an essential.
3.6/5 | | 63 |  | Demolition Hammer
Epidemic of Violence
Damn, but this slaps. Advances to production and flow make the sophomore effort here from Demolition Hammer such a step up from their debut. Doubling down on the thrash/death hybrid model, Demolition Hammer absolutely let fly from beginning to end with little regard or remorse for the listener. Because of the better production, the vocals and instrumentality sound so much better, sharper and heavier than before, and the tone and flow are absolute aces. Unlike their debut, this is essential for death metal fans.
4.6/5 | | 64 |  | Atrocity
Hallucinations
This... was actually a little hard to get through, reading along with the lyrics and getting an understanding of the subject matter. Like, legit depressing; but that's a sign of any good band, causing the listener to feel organically through their music and lyrics, and "Hallucinations" isn't glorifying the subject matter or trivializing it, like the DM bands that utilize gore and killing for shits and giggles. No, this is more a sad, cautionary tale, and I commend them for bringing something different to the table. Vocals were very solid and had that low rasp that's very quality for death metal bands. Instrumentality was vigorous and atmospheric, another plus, and the tone and flow were very complementary towards the first two intangibles, leading to a positive listening experience with me. Definitely recommended, but brace yourself a little before plunging in.
4.2/5 | | 65 |  | Obliveon
From This Day Forward
Now I know why Cas was waiting for me to get to this. Death metal by way of a hearty detour through progressive thrash territory, Obliveon’s “From This Day Forward” certainly co-mingles both genres to an enjoyable degree, playing each one off the other to create an engaging experience. Vocals were solid, providing a nice contrasting grit to the experience and was the biggest DM indicator in the whole album, and the instrumentals were delightfully proficient, never lagging and always adding little twists and colors to the album. Tone was solid and clear, and flow was seamless, but if there’s one minor quibble, it’s that this felt more prog thrash than death metal, almost as if the DM elements were more of an afterthought than anything. Like I said, it’s a minor quibble more than anything; nothing to worry about though, and I liked this.
4.1/5 | | 66 |  | Kreator
Pleasure to Kill
Is this thrash? Yes, yes it is. But nestled within this thrash cocoon that Kreator built with this album are the seeds of tone and style that many a death metal band will cite as influence on their work, so it shouldn't be wrong to think of "Pleasure to Kill" as akin to proto-death metal, if you will. Vocals and instrumentality feel very much in the vein of Slayer or Venom, very speed-oriented and thrash in their sensibilities, but both feel more visceral and aggressive than regular thrash, and that's where the proto-death feel comes into play. Tone is solid overall, very clear and distinct, and the flow is relentless, never stopping or slowing down for one moment and daring the listener to keep up with them. Damn, but this was solid. If one ever were to do a "roots of death metal" list or blog post or something, this would definitely have to be included in the conversation. I dunno man, Teutonic metal, thrash or death, feels kinda slept on. Damn...
4.1/5 | | 67 |  | Jumpin' Jesus
The Art of Crucifying
Another slice off the Teutonic pie of thrash/DM bands who released one album and vanished afterwards, Jumpin’ Jesus nevertheless trot out a magnificent debut with this entry; definitely feeling like an underrated pleasure within the DM realm, this was a fantastic effort that seamlessly mixed ferocity with melody throughout. Vocals were terribly solid, strong and confident in their range and yet throwing in some high screams here and there for enjoyable effect; instrumentality was fuckin’ aces across the board, and the tone and flow cooperate seamlessly, leaving the listener breathless with anticipation for the duration of the album, hungry for more from this band. As said before, this felt like an underrated pleasure, so don’t sleep on this album.
4.2/5 | | 68 |  | Massacra
Final Holocaust
Fairly solid and technically stout death/thrash album we got here. The production job on here is kind of a double-edged sword; on the one hand, I’m finding that the rawer the production, the more I’m inclined to like a DM album, but on the other hand, the production here seemed a little thin, with the bass being almost entirely inaudible throughout. Drums had a nasty tone though, guitars were solid, and the vocals it quite nicely. Not a bad effort at all, but really not much else to say on this one...
3.7/5 | | 69 |  | Cadaver
...In Pains
In an overall sense, this felt something akin to what Atheist was doing around the same timeframe as this album, but whereas Atheist leaned hard into the more jazzier side of prog as a primary embellishment for their take on death metal, Cadaver here go more straightforwardly into the prog realms to supply garnishings with which to hang on their brand of death metal; the end result is actually quite satisfying, as Cadaver mix in enough stylistic deviations that end up refreshing the DM formula and actually complements their own sound and flow of the album. Vocals were handled quite well here, living on that thin borderline that separates death from black metal, and the instrumentals were aurally delicious; adding in flute and cello to the mix was delightful. Tone was solid and the flow was greatly enjoyable, and I actually really liked this album.
4/5 | | 70 |  | Depravity (FIN)
Silence of the Centuries
Now this, this sounds very much like what one thinks a “classic” should sound: slightly raw production, solid tone and a nice flow not only between songs but also between the more regular death metal tendencies and the mild doom metal atmosphere I get from this overall, and top this off with a singular, low gurgle for vocals and simplistic yet highly competent instrumentality. This was fucking fun, and at under 30 minutes simply begs for repeat listens.
4.1/5 | | 71 |  | Monstrosity
Imperial Doom
When bands don’t bring something immediately recognizable or memorable to the genre of music they deign to play in, it’s hard to judge them fairly. Doing so though would dismiss legit good bands who were more than happy to help build the foundation that the genre sits on today, and so it is with Monstrosity. Boasting a pre-CC Chris Barnes, Monstrosity provide a solid, no-frills DM album. Solid vox, solid instrumentality and solid tone and flow is all that is advertised and all that you get here - nothing flashy and therefore this album becomes highly entertaining without worrying all the time about being engaging enough. Sometimes it’s nice to step back and enjoy the simplicities.
3.7/5 | | 72 |  | Pyrexia
Sermon of Mockery
Doing minor research for this revealed to me that this was a slam band, mixing the groove and flow of hardcore with the intensity of death metal, and indeed I can definitely hear the groove and bounce throughout, which actually makes this fun, and even with the speed and intensity in here this album dips its toes almost into tech-death waters here, another factor that lends the album an amount of enjoyability. Vocals are decent here, but like with several other entries on this list, my quibble is with the lyrics; even if they were meant for pure shock value, I really didn’t care for them. Bleh. Instrumentality is excellent however, vicious and unrelenting yet precise and fun. Tone is solid and flow is delicious, and in the end, this was alright. Nothing I’d remember to revisit down the road, but still an interesting aside.
3.5./5 | | 73 |  | Unleashed
Where No Life Dwells
Evil, heavy, unrelenting Swedish DM on display here, giving me hope there’s actual gems still to be found from the Swedeath scene. I kid, I kid, Finndeath bias be darned, but honestly, this was an extremely solid entry into the DM canon, while there’s no HM-2 worship here, this album did remind me of times of a cleaner sounding cross between Entombed and Dismember, and to that end, instrumentality and tone on here were fabulous, clean, clear, full-throated and warm in sound, maintaining a thrash sensibility while also letting flecks of melodicism in at points. Vocals were tasteful and flow was steady, giving the album an appreciable sense of completion. I enjoyed this overall, and definitely should be a recommended, essential album in the Swedeath canon.
4.1/5 | | 74 |  | Demigod
Slumber of Sullen Eyes
Demigod don’t do anything terribly different from what their peers were releasing around the same time, but damn, Demigod seems to have that elusive “it” factor that makes this album feel fresh and exciting every single time I’ve put it on. Everything here - vocals, instrumentality, tone and flow - sounds so outstanding, so polished, one can’t help but be impressed with the final product. I love the fact that nothing here sounds like the band were trying to reinvent the DM wheel with this release, but everything just sounds… *chef’s kiss*. Absolutely outstanding.
4.6/5 | | 75 |  | Fleshcrawl
Descend Into the Absurd
This really nails down an oppressive, gloomy atmosphere, doesn’t it? While not particularly bringing anything new to the DM table, Fleshcrawl’s effort here is still tasty enough to sate anyone’s appetite for the genre. Vocals were solid throughout and I liked how some variance was introduced into the growls to invigorate them, instrumentality was solidly formidable across the board, and the tone and flow worked seamlessly to ensure that nothing else was lacking while making sure the experience felt inescapably immersive. A fun time to be had with this one.
3.8/5 | | 76 |  | Cenotaph (MX)
The Gloomy Reflection of Our Hidden Sorrows
There’s nothing readily definable when recalling Cenotaph’s “The Gloomy Reflections Of Our Hidden Sorrows”, initially chalking the experience ultimately up to an enjoyable hybrid of thrash and doom within a death metal framework, but when one sits and ponders the album, the thing that becomes powerfully evident is how these disparate elements all combine to create an impressive atmosphere within this construct, and then the album as a whole becomes more and more appreciable; that dread-inducing amalgamation of death-thrash-doom becomes undeniable because of that atmosphere, it’s astounding. Vocals add to this experience, and the instrumentality, tone and flow enhance it all, flittering between pulse pounding passages of speed, and then slowing things down to a disgusting crawl, leaving one off-balance and unsuspecting of when the next aural assault will begin. This is probably one of the best “slow burn” death metal albums I’ve heard yet, and overall I’m very impressed by it.
4.2/5 | | 77 |  | Burial (NL)
Relinquished Souls
There are times when one wishes for, and delights in, some death metal with a concept and/or purpose, and there are other times when one just wishes for the simpler things in life and just wants a band or album to go dummy hard and heavy and sate their more primal desires, and Burial certainly fall into that latter category. Not necessarily winning in the “high concept” subsection of the lyrical department, Burial nonetheless provide a delightful time, raging heavily within their instrumental and atmospheric wheelhouse. Vocals are solid and dependable, instrumentals and tone fit some of that “classic” sound ala early Death or Massacre, and the flow performed competently. Can’t go wrong when everything sounds juuuuust right, right?
3.8/5 | | 78 |  | Brutality
Screams of Anguish
They say it’s not what you have, but what you make of it, and gall damn do Brutality really make something out of this album! In ways this reminded me of how simplistic but crushingly heavy Benediction got on their album “Transcend the Rubicon”, but Brutality takes things up a notch or two with more varied instrumentality and flow across this album. Vocals present fit that “basic” mold for death metal, what with the constant lows, and the instrumentality and tone was perfect; like absolutely fantastic. Flow just paired perfectly with everything else, and this was an excellent outing.
4.2/5 | | 79 |  | Amboss
Those Who Have Lost The Right To Exist
Another casualty of the “one and done” subsection of early death metal, Germany’s Amboss nevertheless made themselves heard with their only release here, providing a structurally solid DM album that didn’t stray far from the folds of familiarity but still managed to engage and excite the listener. Vocals were solid and provided a nice contrast not only between guttural lows and harsh highs but also between uncleans and cleans, punctuating several songs dynamically with their usage; instrumentals were also commendable, very sturdy and yet ready to explode into vicious fury at a moments notice, and the tone and flow were aurally tasty, providing that breath of familiarity I’m finding I enjoy in early DM production. At the end of the day, “Those Who Have Lost the Right to Exist” doesn’t exactly reinvent the (early) DM wheel, but it does help to provide a sturdy foundation on which later generations of death metal bands would stand proudly on.
3.7/5 | | 80 |  | Funebre
Children of the Scorn
Have I ever said before that I’m finding Finndeath to be the superior version of DM throughout my trek through the genre so far? No? Ok… death metal from Finland is practically without equal. Sure there’s an album here and an album there that pops I to challenge it, but consistently, pound for pound, nothing comes close to Finndeath. With that being said, I fucking enjoyed this. Vox are that low gurgling roar which is fun to hear, instrumentality is aggressively feral in all the right ways, tone and production are deliciously lo-fi and the flow is rock solid. Unbeatable combo here, all around.
4.3/5 | | 81 |  | Edge of Sanity
Crimson
Could this be considered melodeath? Because I'm hearing a lot of melodious constructs running throughout this album, and I'm digging it. Proggy death metal by way of Sweden, Edge of Sanity present... a concept album with this entry here, and it's actually paced and plotted rather nicely. I really dug how well placed the cleans were in here, bringing a nice sense of balance to the brutality, and the vocals overall were exceptionally solid; NGL, I did have the thought of how this reminded me of Opeth in places, and then when I was reading some background information on this album I found out that Mikael Åkerfeldt actually provided backup vox to this. Small world. Instrumentality was delicious all throughout, and the tone and the flow were solid when all is said and done. A real nice counterpoint in my march through DM, and a good album to boot.
4.1/5 | | 82 |  | Cynic
Focus
Going into this, I’d totally believe this would’ve/could’ve been a prog metal classic were it not for the prevalent uncleans, and even talking about prog metal albums today that’s a grey line of demarcation, but Cynic’s “Focus” is a death metal album, and what an incredibly realized and perfectly executed album it is at that; rare is the album that can appeal to both fans and foes of death metal, and I believe this album to be one of those rarities. Vocals are solid throughout and the instrumentals are perfect in their technicality, tone is delicious and pairs off so well with the flow of the album along with the instrumentals, and yeah, if production were a smidge friendlier, especially to the drum tone, this would be perfect. Maybe it is. Maybe it will be.
4.7/5 | | 83 |  | Carcass
Heartwork
Hot damn, but this was fuckin' good. Definitely more melodic than some of the other, thrashier entries on this list, Carcass still know when to minimize those instincts and just go all out on the intensity, leading to an album of all killer and NO filler. Vocals were really well done even though they weren't what I was expecting at all; definitely something I know I'll warm up to with subsequent listens, and the instrumentality, tone and flow was perfect, seamlessly intertwining themselves with one another that that's the only word one can use to describe it: perfect. An absolute classic.
4.7/5 | | 84 |  | In Flames
The Jester Race
You know, as much as this is a fairly solid melodeath effort from In Flames… it was kinda boring, where if you didn’t pay strict attention the whole thing just glides by, and even if you were paying attention you could still fall into that same trap. I’m not trying to knock the band, no, but when there’s nothing dynamic enough to latch on to, then this just slips into white noise. Anyhoo… vocals were solid for what they were, but very one-note across the board, instrumentality was handled well, but again, lacked dynamism, tone was delicious, including the acoustic interludes, and the flow was somewhat detrimental, holding the album back into too safe territory. Fairly forgettable, this is for melodeath completionists only.
3.1/5 | | 85 |  | Misery (AUS)
A Necessary Evil
Had an absolutely mental time with this, Misery’s “A Necessary Evil”, an Australian entry into the DM canon. Crazy good album, man. Damn. Vocals are rock solid, riding that singular vocal tone to nasty effect, and the instrumentation is incredible. Nothing will blow you away, but it’s the little touches here and there that set this apart. That relentless chug at the end of Body Farm. That crazy solo in Social Cancer, playing higher than the other instruments just to set it apart and add to the evil, crazed timbre. It’s these little touches that really set this album apart from what could’ve been a rather formulaic entry into the DM canon. Tone is absolutely delicious and everything flows well. Only quibble I had was I wasn’t exactly crazy about some of the lyrical jabs - even if they may not truly mean what they’re singing, some of the anti-religious lines didn’t sit comfy with me, but that’s just me. The album as a whole though is definitely a necessary evil for DM fans.
4.1/5 | | 86 |  | Morgoth
Cursed
Another entry into the German side of the death metal canon, Morgoth create a rather one-sided, albeit very satisfying, slice of mid-tempo death/thrash with this effort here. One-sided in the fact that Morgoth have a blueprint for this album that they very rarely deviate from, where each song usually goes from thrashing rage to half speed doom and then back to thrash for the solo and outro, but satisfying because all the intangibles present here work so well together that everything is aurally delicious. Vocals are handled well, alternating between shrieks and growls to punctuate the songs well, and the instrumentality is excellent, just rising to the occasion and surpassing it at times. Tone is delicious and hits well, and the flow wasn't detrimental, despite my acknowledgments before about how singular the album can sound. Just a solid effort all around, and I enjoyed this.
3.8/5 | | 87 |  | Morgue
Eroded Thoughts
Incredible. Blending doom-like passages with a death/thrash approach that's heavily predicated on furious technicality, Morgue's only effort as a band should rightly be celebrated as a hidden (re: underrated) gem of the death metal canon. Even though this only runs for a little over a half an hour, there was absolutely no slumps throughout; the death/thrash mix is always a welcome sound, and the implementation of the more doom-like moments help break things up and keep the sound fresh. Vocals are workmanllke but effortlessly solid, quickly becoming a positive of this album, and the instrumentality is off the charts; I was just blown away by all the technicality in the lead playing, accenting the riffing throughout or ripping off an exceptional solo when needed, and the drumming, despite having two drummers play on here, is top-notch. Tone is fantastic and the flow is perfect, never letting up for a second. Absolutely excellent effort here, and I fuckin' loved it.
4.2/5 | | 88 |  | Moribund
Oracular Eyes
Delving into more avant-garde territory than opting for a standard thrash backbone, Swiss DM band Moribund actually maintain an interesting experience with their only album here. Indeed, while there are thrashy moments to be had here, Moribund’s propensity to inject more classical influences into their flow of the album pays off in all the right ways as they provide a melodic counterpart to all the raging heaviness within. Vocals are handled well here, although for some the higher tonal placement may be an acquired taste, and the instrumentality is a solid plus, peppering the album with atmosphere and personality. Tone is aurally tasteful, and the flow is solid, leading to no drops in quality. Not necessarily a hidden “gem”, if you will, but definitely an underrated delight. Check it.
3.7/5 | | 89 |  | Mortuary (MEX)
Blackened Images
Mortuary’s “Blackened Images”. Damn. Just taking a minute here, I can really appreciate this for what it was, that despite sounding slightly one-note in places, this was actually a kickass album, fun for throwing on and headbanging the fuck out. For a debut, this really leans into the ferocity and aggression that the death metal genre is known for, and I agree with the sentiment I’ve seen that like to equate the band and album here with early Sepultura. Vocals are strong and punishing, never relenting once during the entire runtime, and the instrumentality is solid, veering confidently between straight thrash rage and some surprisingly melodic midtempo moments, such as the opening track, “Abyss Angel”; the only drawback for me is that with such speed some of the album flirts with the danger of sounding samey, but then we launch into a technical solo and all is forgiven. Tone sounds good, nice and punchy in all the right places, and the flow is aggressively furious. Fuck yes.
3.6/5 | | 90 |  | Napalm Death
Scum
Lean, vicious and absolutely visceral, Napalm Death’s seminal debut “Scum” is a musical hydra that may be impossible to defy. Throughout its runtime I can hear the influence in it that many in the DM genre will identify with, I can hear a strong punk backbone supporting many of the tracks, and I can understand how many cite this as a defining force for the genre known as grindcore, and the more I listen to the album the more I enjoy it. Vocals are strong, with the front half leaning into the punk areas and the back half sounding closer to the death metal side of things, instrumentation is a positive as well despite a lot of the guitar work in the latter half sounding very basic and samey, tone and production has that familiar “DIY” sound to it all that makes these recordings aurally enjoyable, and the flow is good, utilizing a “no frills, take no prisoners” approach to it all. Excellent stuff that I wouldn’t have a problem recommending to the punk crowd and the DM crowd.
4.3/5 | | 91 |  | Demilich
Nespithe
What the fuck did I just listen to? Demilich sound like me when I was younger and would chug a soda so as to try and talk within one long burp. This album toes that faint line of demarcation between death and avant-garde metal, with the end result being nothing short of fascinating, genre biases be damned; even if you don’t like it, you can’t deny being intrigued by at least one of the intangibles within “Nespithe”. Vocals are so batshit unexpected, it takes some time to get used to, but when you do, they’re actually really solid; instrumentals are perfect here, expertly marrying such disparate genres together in such a aurally tasty and more importantly cohesive way that the effort is a masterstroke. Tone is actually really good and clean, which was a pleasant surprise, and the flow between the vocals and instruments that’s so crucial in creating an enjoyable whole is captured excellently here, neither overstepping one another and in fact complementing each other. Classic.
4.8/5 | | 92 |  | Wicked Innocence
Omnipotence
While not as good as Demilich, I honestly had to smile when I heard the gurgling lows on here, as they reminded me of them. Yeeeesssssssss. Mixing in elements of prog and avant-garde, Wicked Innocence brew an extremely potent death metal concoction here, with their sophomore release here. While I appreciate the straightforward approach within death metal, this album completely surprised me and subverted any expectations I had towards it, and because of that I enjoyed it all the more. Vocals were varied between unclean highs and lows, cleans and even a spoken word section, yet they all fit the moments they were needed, and the instrumentality was excellent, balancing the differing genres with confidence. Tone was absolutely delicious throughout, and the flow guaranteed no loss in interest, excitement or amazement. Truly a DM masterwork here, and one I cannot recommend enough.
5/5 | | 93 |  | Revenant
Prophecies of a Dying World
Death goes prog! Now with understandable lyricism! I kid, I kid, but honestly, this was fun. While there is some uncleans here peppering the runtime, it’s never to the point where one can’t understand a thing, and that was actually nice. Likewise, the more progressive elements scattered throughout really elevated what could’ve been another rote death/thrash outing here, slowing things down without making the experience uninteresting and providing zest when needed. Tone is really clean, which provided an easy foothold for the album’s atmosphere to take hold, and that was pleasantly surprising, and the flow is rock solid. Really not much else to say about this one, other than an exhortation to you to check this out.
4.3/5 | | 94 |  | Repulsion
Horrified
Fuuuuuuuck, this style of death and grind that Repulsion and Napalm Death is so much fun to listen to, not necessarily turning one’s brain off, but latching onto the flow and letting it run away with you, letting it carry you wherever it will for the length of the runtime and then depositing you, breathless, at the end of it all. Fantastic. Instrumentality here is actually really tight, never sacrificing competency for speed or atmosphere, and I liked catching the bits of punk and d-beat sprinkled throughout to spruce things up; vocals are serviceable overall, but they fit the tone and direction here like a glove, and the flow and intangibles are deliciously raw. Fucking winner of an album here. Absolutely essential.
5/5 | | 95 |  | Terrorizer
World Downfall
Another pioneer into the world of grindcore, Terrorizer serve up a vicious concoction of blazing fast death metal and punk, demolishing your defenses right from the start and bash one over the head with the lyrical sledgehammer of the ills of modern man before leaving in a whirlwind, and all within 40 minutes. Fantastic. If Napalm Death is on one end of the spectrum with its dirty production and atmosphere, Terrorizer is on the other end with their focus on a cleaner production and focus on the riffing. Blistering fast instrumentation takes center stage here, all without sacrificing technicality, and the vocals are suitably strained, punky and pissed off. Tone is delicious, warm, full and punchy, and the flow is unstoppable, launching you into the next onslaught right after the current song is over. While I may prefer Napalm Death and Repulsion over this (personal preferences), one shouldn’t overlook the importance this album holds within the death metal scene.
4.3/5 | | 96 |  | Dark Tranquillity
The Gallery
Largely an entry into the melodic death metal side of the spectrum, Dark Tranquillity’s “The Gallery” re-tooled some more traditional metal aspects into their sound here that sounded surprisingly refreshing when all was said and done. Vocals were solid all around, with an occasional clean thrown into the mix to help solidify the melodicism of the song, and I really appreciated the female cleans interjected throughout the album. The instrumentality was professionally capable, and the tone and flow were seamless, and these are the two areas where the more traditional elements were felt most overtly; instead of straight thrashing, a more power/trad metal sensibility was implemented, leading to a reinforcement of the melodic side of the album and helped to keep the album sounding fresh. A winner in my book, this is a good definition for the term “grower”.
4.3/5 | | 97 |  | Amorphis
Tales from the Thousand Lakes
I can honestly get down with this bit of melodic death metal here. Similar to Aeternus in the fact that Amorphis used melodic elements and acoustic instrumentation to enhance their respective efforts, Amorphis took things a step further by focusing this album around a national folk tale, and I can appreciate the intent to utilize a more "high brow" direction with their music than succumb to the more popular "low brow" influences that death metal is more often associated with. Vocals present were a fabulously solid low throughout and occasionally interspersed with some cleans for added effect; instrumentality was quite good, professional and assured without sounding overbearing and quite progressive in its flow, tone was handled really well and the overall flow of the album was natural and distinct, providing a clear cut aural path from beginning to end which was enjoyable to follow, taking its time and flowing organically.
3.9/5 | | 98 |  | Nocturnus
The Key
The synths are strong with this one. Nocturnus’ debut is a tremendous effort, utilizing a balanced attack in the instrumentation with the aforementioned synths to create a unique (for the time) entry within the DM canon. Vocals are solid here, aiding and amplifying the final product, and the lyrics, while I’m not a fan of the content, are actually quite original, I’ll give them that. Instrumentation is fantastic, maintaining a breakneck pace without sacrificing technicality, and the tone and flow are both excellent, leading to no lag throughout the runtime. Definitely a must-listen type of album if you’re beginning to explore the DM canon, and despite my minor reservations, I’d recommend this.
4.2/5 | | 99 |  | Rippikoulu
Musta Seremonia
Ahhh, sweet Finland. Don’t ever change your death metal formula. Death/doom hybrid in tone and style, Rippikoulu’s “Musta Ceremonia” has the AUDACITY of calling itself a simple demo. For shame. FOR SHAME. This is simply incredible. Another example of why Finndeath reigns supreme over other death metal scenes, “Musta Ceremonia” is practically perfect, from the low, gurgly uncleans of the vocals to the massively downtuned guitars and bass that lend the demo such a delightfully sinister quality in sound; even the drums, with their tight and punchy sound, absolutely delivers here, a perfect counterpart to the other instruments. Tone is appropriately lo-fi and dirty sounding, lending greatly to the enjoyability factor, and the flow is deliciousssssss, alternating smoothly between the slow and despondent style of doom and the anger and rage of death metal. An absolute classic, front to back, I cannot like this enough; don’t sleep on this!
5/5 | | 100 |  | diSEMBOWELMENT
Transcendence into the Peripheral
This feels like it hits different than a "normal" DM album, and I think that's mainly because of the flow and production of this album... I don't know how to explain it better. Cavernous in sound and yet engaging due to the slower, doom-laden sections, diSEMBOWELMENT drop quite an interesting album with this, their sole LP release in their discography. Vocals are very solid and fit quite well into the DM mold, and the instrumentality is excellent across the board; I loved the cleaner, slower sections, most notably "Nightside in Eden" and what that did for the flow of the album. The tone is aurally delicious, and the flow makes this album feel unique amongst their peers, alternating between thrashing ragers and doom-besmirched moments to provide an effort that feels simply CRUSHING. This is another one of those albums that define the term "slow burn", and I look forward to revisiting this over time.
4.3/5 | | 101 |  | Sinister
Diabolical Summoning
Another day, another kickass band from the Netherlands rears their collective head and lays waste to their respective death metal horizon; damn, but this album is hella relentless! Utilizing a strong thrash backbone in their sound and marrying enough progressive tendencies in the bass work and flow to keep things fresh, Sinister unleash one hell of an album. I absolutely love how the album kicks off with a small bass run that soon gets matched by the drums and guitars and then is followed by a short instance of melodic DM before succumbing to the inevitable thrash onslaught. Love it. Vocals are strong here, nothing flashy and yet always dependable and tasteful, and the instrumentality is absolutely top-notch, leaving no room with which the listener can stop and catch their breath. Tone is aurally delicious and the flow is solid as well, minimizing any instances of sameness and keeping things progressing quickly from A to B. A fantastic time with this one.
4/5 | |
Uzumaki
09.06.20 | All right, opening this list up for commenting and for a little relevancy. I'll be trying to catch up to 2020, so this list isn't going to be as regular as my homework lists, but I'm still going to work through this. Follow along if you'd like! | Dewinged
09.06.20 | I'd swear were called Incubus originally. Did they change the cover?
Following! I still gotta finish my black metal odyssey lol | Uzumaki
09.06.20 | I think Opprobrium were originally Incubus; I could be wrong tho.
Thanks for the follow, Dewi. | Dewinged
09.06.20 | Yeah I didn't know they changed the name. Not surprised though. | Morningrise767
09.06.20 | Lots of cool shit I've never heard for me to check out! Awesome list dude \m/ | Uzumaki
09.22.20 | Thanks Morningrise! | Uzumaki
09.23.20 | And the first two are up! | Uzumaki
05.05.21 | Damn, my intentions here aged well lol.
Gotta get back into this list, and fucking soon. | SteakByrnes
05.05.21 | I forgot you made this list lol | Uzumaki
05.05.21 | *sigh* yeah, and sadist that I am, I created a companion list to it as well. Locked comments on it, but knowing you I know you can get around that lol. | SteakByrnes
05.05.21 | :smuggo: :point_right: | Uzumaki
05.05.21 | lol | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | For those late to the party, this is my next deep-ish dive, although I think I'll restrain myself from doing 7+ lists of DM lol; but here we go: 1,2, 33, 44, 58 and 68 are alive and shambling. Have at it. | parksungjoon
09.22.21 | death in my fucking ass | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | Can never tell when you're joking with comments like that, and it makes me sad, either way. | parksungjoon
09.22.21 | why | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | On the one hand it feels like I did something wrong to incur that type of response, and I can't put my finger on why I feel that way, and on the other hand the response sounds terribly nihilistic in a sense, which I guess is kind of par for the course for you, but I really don't want you to feel that way... :[ | parksungjoon
09.22.21 | list has a lot of good things on it
but 67 is absolutely in no way shape or form death metal | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | Duly noted; what would you recommend I should replace it with? | parksungjoon
09.22.21 | thormenthor if you want something weird
jumpin' jesus if you want something marginally less weird | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | I'll look into both and be surprised which one will make it! | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | I'll pick one and the other will make it onto #3, how's that sound?
I do have excess that didn't make it onto the second list, so I'll probably top this deep dive off at 3, and when this one is done and I go onto the second I'll hit you up for more recs to flesh it out. Deal? | parksungjoon
09.22.21 | any time | Uzumaki
09.22.21 | Sounds cool! | Casavir
09.23.21 | "my minor quibble would have to go to the soloing in the songs; while I'm all for solos in general, the ones here felt slightly same-y and smacked of technical wankery more than anything"
The leads on From Beyond are pretty solid stuff, really it's the riffs themselves that are the bigger problem. It's, at best, death/thrash and it's less intense than Revenant or Ripping Corpse on top of not being as compelling in terms of writing. | parksungjoon
09.23.21 | Tbf it predates that stuff a bit but yeah | Uzumaki
09.25.21 | Got some more done for you all. 27 and 30 are up! | Uzumaki
09.25.21 | Worked my way through some more, and maybe have my first hot take of the list?
7, 10 and 35 have been re-animated! | parksungjoon
09.25.21 | i recommend atheist's debut too, not quite as remarkable (then again how many things are?) but it was still a massive leap forward for 1989 dm in terms of complexity and technicality | Uzumaki
09.25.21 | After my experience with Unquestionable Presence, I very much am interested in checking it out now, thanks Park! | parksungjoon
09.25.21 | it doesnt have tony cho on fretless bass, but it is pretty much the first tech death album, taking after underground tech thrash bands like watchtower and nasty savage, and kinda predicting (or inspiring, heh) the direction bands like death and pestilence would pursue in the 90s | Uzumaki
09.28.21 | Fuckin’ solid weekend in the books, ladies and gentlemen, and I had some fun spending time with the latest additions to the list here: 31, 45, 64, 79 and 97 are all up and this list is cooking! | Casavir
10.05.21 | Glad you liked Hallucinations that much. | Uzumaki
10.09.21 | I swear I haven’t forgotten you guys. Spent the past week and a half spinning these multiple times, and in the case of Bolt Thrower, vibing the fuck out; some really good stuff this time around. 11, 12, 39, 55 and 78 are aliiiiiiiive!!! | Uzumaki
10.09.21 | Thanks Cas! | Casavir
10.09.21 | Screams of Anguish is def one of my favorite death metal albums. | Uzumaki
10.09.21 | It’s a gem, that’s for sure. | Casavir
10.09.21 | Interested in what your take on Insanity will be. One of the best death/thrash acts out there with Ripping Corpse imo | Uzumaki
10.30.21 | And we’re back folks! Took a mild break from this list and caught up with some other interests, but I promise I haven’t forgot about y’all. 13, 69 (nice), and 77 are up!!! | Casavir
11.06.21 | ...in Pains has to be one of my favorite death metal albums. | Uzumaki
11.08.21 | Sweet deal Cas; it definitely was a good album. Another day and more fall prey; sitting on a few others as I finalize my thoughts on them, and 40, 46 and 83 are aliiiiiiiiive!!!! | Casavir
11.08.21 | Dark Recollections is an album I have to revisit. | combustion07
11.08.21 | Dope list! Got some good takes on here for sure. Agreed on In Pains being an awesome album | Uzumaki
11.08.21 | @Cas - yes, please do.
@Comb07 - thanks man. I’d be happy if you stuck around and followed along, and yes, In Pains was dope. | SteakByrnes
11.08.21 | meath detal | Uzumaki
11.08.21 | Dearth mertulz. | SteakByrnes
11.08.21 | soon you will become the death metal | Uzumaki
11.08.21 | And become crusty and jaded towards any and all deathcore. Elitist gatekeeping scum I will be. | Uzumaki
11.20.21 | It took a while, but I feel good about where my thoughts landed on them; 47 and 76 are up! | Casavir
11.20.21 | I have to listen to both of those more, honestly. | Uzumaki
12.01.21 | Alright, it’s been longer than I should’ve allowed but I’ve got another one down and posted to this list, which would be #82, and for now I’m gonna slide this homework onto the back burner and try to knuckle down and focus on compiling and completing my years end list(s), because, ‘Tis the season and all that. However! this doesn’t mean I’m giving up on this list, or the second one; it just means as soon as 2022 rolls around I’ll be back on the grind and working through these. Stay tuned, and thanks for riding along with me so far with this… | Uzumaki
02.09.22 | Kinda took an extended break from this to decompress and wrap up my 2021, but I’m back at it and spent the better part of a week and a half with these. Hope you like it, and 49, 74, 91 and 96 are up! | Uzumaki
02.16.22 | Another week in, and 62, 63 and 70 are up!!! | Casavir
02.17.22 | I'd say I prefer Tortured Existence over Epidemic of Violence. Both are quite good though. | evilford
02.17.22 | Agreed on both counts | Uzumaki
02.17.22 | @Cas, what, in your opinion, makes Tortured a better preference than Epidemic? And I mean that with all respect, no sarcasm.
@ford, agreed as well. | Uzumaki
03.07.22 | A new week brings new reviewing opportunities! 15, 52 and 100 are up!
Can't believe I'm almost 2/5 done with this already! | Casavir
03.07.22 | Dreams of a Carrion Kind is awesome. Overlooked album nowadays if anything. Also, when it comes to my preference for Tortured, it just comes down to the writing being fairly better. | Uzumaki
03.07.22 | Fair enough. And Disincarnate would be an excellent album to rec someone just getting into the genre. | Casavir
03.07.22 | Do Obliveon and Gorguts already | Uzumaki
03.07.22 | All in good time, my dear Cas, all in good time… | Uzumaki
04.16.22 | Got some more done, and we're almost on to the G's! Which means...
... Gorguts.
29, 43, 75 and 81 are up! | combustion07
04.17.22 | I am digging that Forgotten Silence! Loving the updates on this list also. Been going through quite a few with you. | Uzumaki
04.17.22 | Thanks, man. Happy to hear you're digging some selections here as well, and yeah, that Forgotten Silence feels kinda unique. | Casavir
04.17.22 | I need to revisit Fleshcrawl, it's been ages. Good to see you continuing this. | Uzumaki
04.17.22 | Thanks Cas. That means a lot to me to hear it from you. | Uzumaki
04.22.22 | Alright people, a new week is just about over, and new blurbs are up for six more; catch ‘em while they’re hot.
3, 4, 50, 51, 61 and 80 are all live for your perusal, and I honestly feel like Obscura is gonna be the Dillinger Escape Plan album of this list, where even though I’ve listened to it 3 times, I need to continually hear it to fully digest and dissect it. | Casavir
04.23.22 | Based Gorguts ratings | combustion07
04.23.22 | Great additions! Couldn't agree more on Finnish dm being amazingly awesome. That Funebre in particular is one of my favorites also. Gorement- The Ending Quest is hands down my favorite full length from the Swedish scene too. Both those albums are classics imo. And Gorguts is just Gorguts. Amazing as always.
Not gonna lie, I might steal your list idea at some point. This seems like a fun task to take on | evilford
04.23.22 | Good reads here. Nespithe 4 lyfe | Uzumaki
04.23.22 | @Cas, Combust and Ford, thanks guys
@combust I’d be first in line to read what you’d have to say, man.
@Ford I appreciate the words | Uzumaki
05.07.22 | Another week is in the books, and we crawl on rotted limbs ever closer to 100% on this list; NGL, there was some real fun to be had with these ones, and 53, 54 and 84 are up! | Casavir
05.07.22 | Glad we agree on Jester Race and that you liked Insanity. :) | Uzumaki
05.07.22 | Dude, “Fire Death Fate” off of the Insanity album is such a ripper. | Casavir
05.08.22 | Yeah, it's killer. | parksungjoon
05.18.22 | glad you liked m/ | Uzumaki
05.19.22 | Glad you recommended it m/ | parksungjoon
05.20.22 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1os1fBqyqQ | Uzumaki
05.21.22 | Will check when I get home from work, thanks!!! | Uzumaki
06.02.22 | A bit more time has passed than I was intending for, but hopefully the entries below make up for it. Marching ever onward, I’m still enjoying the heck out of this, and 8, 25, 37, 38 and 41 are up!!! | Casavir
06.02.22 | Glad you loved Mangled Torsoes, it's great stuff. I would generally agree with German DM's scene being slept on at this time. | FR33L0RD
06.02.22 | Holy Hell! Such a massive HQ death metal material list. Lots of great LP already dug but others added to jam later. Bookmarked | Uzumaki
06.02.22 | @cas thanks man! I’m happy you’re still following!
@FR33 thank you as well! Hope you enjoy this enough to follow along on the second list as well!!! | combustion07
06.02.22 | Couldn't agree more on Mangled Torsos and German DM in general! Also that Killing Addiction is one I discovered more recently but it is a damn fine album. Also first two Malevolent albums own | Uzumaki
06.02.22 | Sweet damn. Mangled Torsos went on the list of albums I need to find/buy the next time I’m in a record shop. | Uzumaki
06.18.22 | For those who may be interested, Dark Descent Records has a preorder up for Cenotaph's "The Gloomy Reflections of Our Hidden Sorrows" combined with their "Tenebrous Apparitions" and "Eternal Disgrace" EP's, their "Rise of Excruciation" demo and a bonus track called "Evoked Doom" off of the Pantalgia compilation from 1992 on vinyl in limited variants, 500 in total. Nipped a copy myself, and if anyone else is a fan, this may be your chance! | Casavir
06.18.22 | Dang, that's cool news. | Uzumaki
06.18.22 | https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/product/cenotaph-the-gloomy-reflection-of-our-hidden-sorrows-eps-demo-2lp/ | combustion07
06.18.22 | Damn! If my transmission hadn't just went out on my car I would be alllll over the violet press of that bad boy | Uzumaki
06.18.22 | Sorry to hear that, combust! Hope it gets fixed soon and that it doesn’t cost as much as you fear! | Uzumaki
07.26.22 | I apologize for the long down time over here between entries, but late last month I hit a musical wall of sorts, where I’d zone out of anything I put on and just had a massive disconnect, so much so to the point where I was craving literal silence. Suffice to say though, I’m back and easing back into listening to music, and further that mentality I worked through some entries here. 60, 71 and 85 are up, and thanks for your patience! | combustion07
07.26.22 | Always thought Misery was pretty underrated. Definitely a fun album | Uzumaki
08.24.22 | It’s been awhile, yeah? Still working dutifully through this and I would’ve had an entry sooner, but Sput decided to take a dump and here we are. Fret not though, for I bring goodies, and 6, 17, 18, 86, 87 and 88 are all (finally!!!) up. Enjoy! | Uzumaki
10.13.22 | We're well into spooky season, and this list is creeping and crawling on rotted limbs towards completion! 5, 19, 26, 90 and 98 are all up and live, and we're about 3/4ths of the way done here. 26 more entries to go!!! | Uzumaki
01.13.23 | 17 more to go. Pestilence is up | SteakByrnes
01.27.23 | gaming | Casavir
01.27.23 | Really glad you loved Immense Intense Suspense. One of my favorite death metal records. The vocal variety really does make it in some ways. | combustion07
01.27.23 | I'm glad you dug Morgue! One of my favorite dm albums of all time for sure. I read the vocals part as woman-like at first and was like huh?!? Lol
Agreed on Blessed also | Uzumaki
03.19.24 | Seeing Hawks do his own version of a deep dive in this (and related subgenres) genre has given me some motivation towards working on these lists again, and so over the past several days we sunk some quality time into this, with the results being 59, 93 and 94 are up. | Uzumaki
03.21.24 | 3 left here, and I’ll open comments on the second list when this one is done. Suffocation, Slaughter and Terrorizer are all up. | evilford
03.22.24 | Wow great list. Huge props | parksungjoon
03.22.24 | death in my ass [2] | SomeCallMeTim
03.22.24 | surprised Celtic Frost isn't mentioned but yeah great list | Uzumaki
03.22.24 | Thanks Ford
Luv u too, Park bby. Happy to see you around again.
Tim, I consider Celtic Frost to be more BM than DM, but if I decide to check more of that particular genre, I’ll more than likely check them. | Uzumaki
03.23.24 | That does it. This list is finished; Thanatos, Unleashed and Wicked Innocence blurbs are up, and I’ll be opening the comments for the second list. Hope y’all enjoyed this foray and I’m looking forward to more. | Uzumaki
03.23.24 | Sorry this list took too long to complete. |
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