CD

Bleed’s introductory EP ‘Somebody’s Closer’ was initially self-released by the band through digital platforms in 2021. Despite no physical release at the time, the EP, invoking late 90s / early 00’s era alt rock / metal gained the Dallas, Texas-based band a lotta buzz with its gauzy distortion balancing tension and atmosphere, and via several mutual connections came to the attention of 20 Buck Spin. The label issued vinyl and cassette editions in 2022 bringing Bleed’s music to new audiences and wider attention. Since that time the anticipation for the band’s debut full length has built to fever pitch, and at long last it arrives as Spring heads into Summer.  

Bleed’s self-titled LP maintains the melodic heaviness and tight song structures of the EP, while diving headfirst into the oceanic haze, pushing their sound into territory more immersive, relentless and hypnotically lush. Guitars surge and sway in stacked waves of gravitational angst, overdriven rhythms eccentrically pulsing beneath, and guitarist / singer Ryan Hughes’s voice floating in and out, sometimes distant and detached, sometimes cracked open with desperation. Lyrics move in fragments, alluding to themes of deep internal struggle, coping mechanisms and hurting those you love most. It’s music that doesn’t so much demand attention as seeps straight into the bloodstream, the kind of album that endlessly loops in the back of the mind at 3 a.m. 

Bold strides are taken right outta the gate to make the authenticity of Bleed’s universe more expansive in its inspirations and ambitions. There’s a confidence to the way Bleed let’s these songs unfold, they make their impact immediate and have no need to persist longer than necessary. The result is an album that feels massive yet intimate, brutal yet beautiful, familiar yet singular. It doesn’t simply leave an impression, it lingers, reverberating long after the final notes have faded. 

Australian death metal fiends Vile Apparition are back with their second album. Proudly released by Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent records.

Mechanically precise drumming violence and crazed riffs fire you into an onslaught of malevolent extremity with intense, guttural vocals spewing through the mix. The ruthless aggression shown from the very beginning will transport you back to the brutality of the 90s with a modern twist showcasing only the most gruesomely barbaric ideas from the band. Warped ideas contort into truly abysmal visions of gore and depravity with only the most malignant of sounds making the cut. Along with the groove-laden riffing, technical solos fit the unwavering madness to give some impressive shred flair to the monstrous hammering assault.

If pounding madness and malicious technical flourishes is your thing then Vile Apparition have you covered. This is totally cranked brutality and unwavering musicianship taken to its logical and perverse conclusion. A torturous blend of brutal death metal that takes no prisoners and gives no quarter. Find yourself holding your breath from the unending ruthless musical mayhem (or perhaps the stench of offal in the air). “Malignity” delivers what the title promises, and your brain matter will be splattered by the end of a single listen of this record.

Pest returns with one last full length. Big was the shock when co-founder Mrok passed away in 2011, but inspiration was found a decade after his death and rather than searching for a new drummer, founder Scum honoured the legacy of Pest and Mrok and took up drums himself again. Combined with his and Atax’ trademark sounding riffs, as well as input from new member Brandt, the new album “Eternal nightmares” sounds really as if no time has passed since. The maniacal vocals from Mr. Blasphemy and Atax still cuts through your bones. The storm of riffs are trance-inducing yet ultra aggressive. All with the classic medieval weirdness to the sound that was already present on their demo and first albums. For Pest, innovation means retrogression. The new album still fully recorded and mixed by the band themselves in the rehearsal room, just as 25 years ago. It doesn’t get more authentic than this.

While “Viking metal” has largely lost its original meaning in these days of Eurofest silliness, GARDE stride forth across tundra both tangible and spiritual to restore the honour, valour, and pride central to the subgenre. Thusly aptly titled, Harbinger of revenge and war is Viking Berserkr Metal for fans of Scald, Mayhemic Truth, Norden, Countess, and of course the pioneering trilogy of Bathory.

Lead vocals and choirs by Dan Capp. Original cover painting by Wesley Dewanckel. Additional guitar solos by JS.

Zombie Chronicles Vol. 1 is the first full-length chapter of Season of The Dead, a macabre journey into the heart of horror-infused death metal. Conceived as a blood-soaked anthology, the album unfolds like a collection of short horror stories, each track inspired by the grotesque imagery and suffocating atmosphere of cult splatter cinema.

From the suffocating dread of City of the Living Dead to the visceral gore of Zombie 2 and the raw savagery of Cannibal Holocaust, Zombie Chronicles Vol. 1 channels the atmosphere of lost VHS nightmares, translating them into riffs, growls, and pounding rhythms. The result is a record that feels like a horror film soundtrack possessed by the rotten spirit of Necrophagia, Mortician, and Fulci.

Across its running time, the album delivers a relentless assault of death metal brutality, layered with cinematic tension and ritualistic atmospheres. Dual vocal performances, crushing basslines, and necro-sounding guitar work create a soundscape where zombies, decay, and gore come to life in audio form.

Official reissue of the 3 albums by the cult French band NEHEMAH.

Available in a limited six-panel Digipak Cd edition with 8-page booklet.

Official reissue of the 3 albums by the cult French band NEHEMAH.

Available in a limited six-panel Digipak Cd edition with 8-page booklet.

Official reissue of the 3 albums by the cult French band NEHEMAH.
"Shadows From The Past...", their second album, originally released in 2003, returns to haunt the underground. A brutal yet atmospheric black metal offering: biting riffs, raw production, and sparse melodies take you into a cold and impious realm. From furious blasts to slow, meditative passages, this second work delivers the pure essence of Black Metal. Essential for fans of dark, uncompromising music.

Available in a limited six-panel Digipak Cd edition with 8-page booklet.

Archaic Thorn have been active in the German death metal underground since 2010, evolving steadily from their early demo "Hydra Throats" (2013) through the EP "In Desolate Magnificence" (2015) to their acclaimed debut album "Eradication" (2020) - all without losing their original ferocity. Anyone who appreciates the old-school sound of bands like Degial, Necrovore, or Repugnant will also love "Malicious Spears". On their second studio album, the Saxon trio logically continues this path. "From our point of view, it’s more catchy and features more distinctive riffs," says guitarist CL. "The sound hits exactly what we were aiming for - we wanted an organic production that honestly reflects our band’s character and still delivers modern punch." The album was mixed and mastered by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios (Necrophagist, Fragments of Unbecoming, among others). Stylistic consistency and a solid line-up go hand in hand for Archaic Thorn. "Lyrically, nothing has changed since our demo," vocalist/bassist MF emphasizes. The lyrics continue to revolve around "occultism, death, war, and damnation," themes that are also reflected in the eye-catching cover artwork by Sadistik Exekution vocalist Rok. "Malicious Spears" is likely to win Archaic Thorn a host of new fans. Anyone who can combine uncompromising brutality with refined songwriting on this level is capable of standing alongside the heavyweights of the genre.

The project is a new endeavor led by veteran drummer Stefan "Husky" Hüskens (known for his work with Asphyx, Sodom, and Desaster). He formed the band with the specific goal of playing pure thrash metal with a distinct Canadian flair, without losing the individual musical roots of the members