8th album from 2011 by this acclaimed Swedish Melodic Death Metal band, once again drawing inspiration from Norse mythology and Viking sagas, themes that have become central to the band's identity. Released after the hugely successful "Twilight of the Thunder God", it further cemented their status as one of the leading names in modern melodic death metal.
Its sound combines powerful riffing, epic melodies and memorable choruses with the band's trademark heaviness. Johan Hegg's unmistakable vocals and a collection of direct yet highly effective songs make this album a gathering of Viking anthems filled with strength, emotion and warrior spirit.
Recommended for fans of: UNLEASHED, ENSIFERUM, WINTERSUN and INSOMNIUM.
5th album from 2001 by this influential Finnish band, marking another step forward in their constant musical evolution. Having gradually moved away from the Death Metal roots of their early releases, the band embraced a more melodic, atmospheric and experimental direction, further expanding the boundaries of their already distinctive sound.
Their music blends Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock and psychedelic elements with the band's trademark melodic sensibility. Rich keyboard arrangements, sophisticated songwriting and the expressive vocals of Pasi Koskinen result in an elegant and highly personal album that represents one of the most creative and adventurous periods of their career.
Recommended for fans of: SENTENCED, THE GATHERING, ANATHEMA and PARADISE LOST.
2nd album from 2017 by this Swedish Thrash Metal band, confirming the huge potential displayed on their acclaimed debut and firmly establishing them as one of the strongest acts of the new European Thrash generation. Remaining faithful to the spirit of the 1980s, the band avoids modern trends and delivers an authentic, aggressive and uncompromising old-school approach.
Their sound is built around fast, violent Thrash Metal packed with razor-sharp riffs, outstanding musicianship and relentless energy from start to finish. Without relying on Black Metal, Crossover or Crust influences, the band focuses on pure, rabid Thrash, constantly evoking the genre's classic era while maintaining a distinct identity of its own.
Recommended for fans of: DESTRUCTION, KREATOR, DARK ANGEL and NEKROMANTHEON.
2nd album from 2014 by this Portuguese Brutal Death Metal band, released eight years after their debut and showcasing a clear progression in both songwriting and musicianship. Without abandoning their extreme roots, the band expanded its approach with stronger technical elements and a more refined production, further establishing itself within the Portuguese extreme metal scene.
Their sound blends Brutal Death Metal, Grind influences and technical touches, alternating crushing passages with more intricate moments while maintaining a relentless level of aggression. Massive riffs, brutal vocals and precise musicianship result in a powerful and intense album that also features a guest appearance by Nocturnus Horrendus of CORPUS CHRISTII.
Recommended for fans of: SUFFOCATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEEDS OF FLESH and MONSTROSITY.
The debut album from 1993 by this Swedish Death/ Thrash band, presented here in a comprehensive 2-CD reissue featuring the "Memento Mori" (1991) and "Domination" (1992) demos as bonus material. Although they never achieved the recognition of some of their Scandinavian peers, this release has gradually earned cult status among fans of technical and sophisticated Death/Thrash.
Their sound combines Thrash aggression with Death Metal heaviness, delivering complex riffing, frequent tempo changes and a strong technical approach that gives the album its own distinctive identity. An intense, dynamic and highly underrated release that showcases an ambitious and forward-thinking take on early 1990s European Death/ Thrash.
Recommended for fans of: DEATH, SEPULTURA, PESTILENCE and ENTOMBED.
Debut album from 1991 by this legendary Norwegian band, and the only release fully rooted in Death Metal before their historic transformation into one of the most influential Black Metal acts of all time. Although often overshadowed by the albums that followed, it has gradually earned recognition as a cornerstone of early Scandinavian Death Metal.
Far removed from the classic Swedish chainsaw sound of ENTOMBED or DISMEMBER, the album delivers technical, dark and atmospheric Death Metal filled with intricate riffing, tempo changes and a distinctive personality of its own. Recorded at the legendary Sunlight Studios with Tomas Skogsberg, it captures a band in transition while standing as one of the most unique and underrated Death Metal releases of its era.
Recommended for fans of: NIHILIST, AUTOPSY, MORBID ANGEL and NOCTURNUS.
2nd album from 2020 by this Swedish Heavy Metal band, built around bassist and songwriter Mattias Reinholdsson and featuring musicians associated with acts such as UNLEASHED, FIRESPAWN, NIFELHEIM, KATATONIA and GRAND MAGUS. Following a promising debut, this release firmly established the band's identity, blending tradition, darkness and a distinctive character within the classic Heavy Metal framework.
Their sound sits somewhere between epic, melancholic Heavy Metal and traditional Doom Metal, featuring strong melodies, excellent guitar harmonies and a solemn atmosphere reminiscent of some of the genre's finest bands from the 1980s. An elegant and highly inspired album that proves how musicians from extreme metal backgrounds can pay tribute to classic Heavy Metal with complete authenticity.
Recommended for fans of: CANDLEMASS, SORCERER, SOLITUDE AETURNUS and GRAND MAGUS. [Slipcase]
2020 compilation album by this legendary American Thrash Metal band from Oakland, gathering for the first time their entire pre-album era in a comprehensive 2-CD edition. The release contains all official demos recorded between 1986 and 1994, the previously unreleased "Jackson Street Sessions", live recordings and additional bonus material, providing a complete overview of the evolution of one of the most respected acts from the second wave of Bay Area Thrash.
The material documents the band's progression from aggressive and straightforward Thrash Metal to the more technical and progressive approach that would define their classic studio albums. An essential release for understanding the band's history and discovering early versions, rare tracks and hidden gems that showcase the remarkable talent of a group often overshadowed by some of the bigger names of the California scene.
Recommended for fans of: TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN and VIO-LENCE.
Debut album from 2009 by this American Death Metal band from Illinois. With strong satanic and anti-Christian themes, the group embraced a strictly old-school approach from the very beginning, avoiding modern trends in favour of the dark and blasphemous Death Metal tradition of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Their sound combines crushing riffs, dark atmospheres and relentless aggression rooted in the classic American school, while also incorporating touches of extreme Thrash Metal. A solid and powerful release that clearly reflects the band's devotion to old-school Death Metal, including a cover of SLAYER's "Necrophiliac" as a tribute to one of their key influences.
Recommended for fans of: DEICIDE, VITAL REMAINS, MORBID ANGEL and ANGELCORPSE.
2nd album from 2020 by this Russian Brutal Death Metal band, continuing the extreme and devastating approach already showcased on their 2016 debut. Compact and utterly uncompromising, the album once again demonstrates the band's ability to combine brutality, technique and sheer heaviness within the classic boundaries of the genre.
Their sound is defined by crushing riffs, relentless drumming, deep guttural vocals and highly precise musicianship that keeps the intensity at maximum level throughout. A punishing release that successfully balances aggression and technicality without sacrificing impact, further establishing the band as one of the strongest acts in the contemporary Russian brutal death scene.
Recommended for fans of: DEEDS OF FLESH, SUFFOCATION, DISGORGE and PYREXIA.
Debut album from 2022 by this international Death/ Thrash outfit featuring musicians from France, Greece, Indonesia and Jordan. With members and guests linked to bands such as NILE, MERCYLESS and TROJAN, the group delivered a first full-length firmly rooted in the classic Death/ Thrash tradition of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Their sound blends Thrash Metal aggression with Death Metal power, driven by sharp riffing, frequent tempo changes and top-tier musicianship led by drummer George Kollias (NILE). An intense, technical and exceptionally well-produced album that bridges both the European and American schools while remaining faithful to the roots of classic Death/ Thrash.
Recommended for fans of: PESTILENCE, DEATH, DEMOLITION HAMMER and MERCYLESS.
The debut album from 1993 by this Swedish Death Metal band, one of the most underrated acts to emerge from the flourishing Scandinavian scene of the early 1990s. Although it remained somewhat overshadowed by bigger names of the era, this release has gradually become a genuine cult favourite among fans of dark and atmospheric Swedish Death Metal.
Rooted firmly in the classic Swedish Death Metal tradition, the album combines heavy riffing, dark atmospheres and an excellent balance between aggression and melody. With a distinctive personality and a less straightforward approach than many of its contemporaries, it stands out for the quality of its songwriting and for perfectly capturing the spirit of old-school Swedish Death Metal.
Recommended for fans of: CREMATORY, GOD MACABRE, HETSHEADS, NECROPHOBIC and MORPHEUS.
Debut album from 2022 by this Czech Thrash/ Speed Metal band, one of the most exciting newcomers to emerge from the recent old-school metal revival. Although the band is relatively new, their sound and attitude feel as if they were transported directly from the second half of the 1980s, showing a clear devotion to the genre's roots.
Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, the album delivers aggressive and energetic Thrash/ Speed Metal enriched with touches of Crossover and even Crust, giving the band a distinctive identity within a classic framework. Sharp riffs, relentless speed and a completely unhinged attitude make this release both original and devastatingly effective.
Recommended for fans of: EXCITER, RAZOR, VENOM and AGENT STEEL.
2nd album from 1988 by this veteran American Thrash/ Speed Metal band, presented here in a 2-CD reissue featuring extensive bonus material on the second disc, including demos, rarities and previously unreleased recordings from the era. Regarded by many fans as the peak of their career, this release showcased a remarkable progression from their debut, featuring more sophisticated songwriting and a distinctive identity that helped establish it as a cult classic of late-'80s American technical metal.
Its sound combines Thrash Metal aggression with progressive structures, excellent arrangements and outstanding musicianship, particularly the vocals of Alan Tecchio and the songwriting skills of Dan Lorenzo. An unjustly overlooked album that deserves to stand alongside some of the finest technical Thrash Metal releases of its era.
Recommended for fans of: TOXIK, HEATHEN, FORBIDDEN and AGENT STEEL.
The debut album from 1987 by this Californian Thrash Metal/Speed Metal band, formed by former AGENT STEEL guitarist Kurt Kilfelt. Regarded as one of the great cult classics of 1980s American Thrash Metal, it marked the beginning of a short but brilliant career that would culminate a year later with the equally acclaimed "Mind Wars".
Far removed from the genre's usual clichés, the band crafted a highly technical, aggressive and distinctive sound, blending Speed Metal intensity with Thrash Metal power through intricate songwriting, memorable melodies and the outstanding vocal performance of Keith Deen. An underrated classic that remains remarkably fresh and original decades after its release.
Recommended for fans of: AGENT STEEL, DARK ANGEL, FORBIDDEN and HEATHEN.
3rd album from 2017 by this veteran American Death Metal band, originally recorded in 2010 but left unreleased for several years before finally receiving an official release. Following a long history in the underground scene, the album captures the band's most aggressive and darkest side. The band also featured Aantar, best known for his work with DIABOLIC and EXMORTIS.
Their approach is based on fast, intense, technical and brutal Death Metal, packed with sharp riffing, constant tempo changes and flawless execution. The presence of musicians such as Kevin Talley (DYING FETUS, SUFFOCATION, MISERY INDEX) and Kelly McLauchlin (PESSIMIST, DIABOLIC, POSSESSED) further strengthens a devastating release deeply rooted in the finest traditions of extreme American Death Metal.
Recommended for fans of: MORBID ANGEL, DIABOLIC, MONSTROSITY and MALEVOLENT CREATION.
2nd album recorded in 2002 by this veteran German Death Metal band, although it remained unreleased for a full decade before finally seeing an official release in 2012. Later reissued in several formats, it captures an important stage in the band's evolution following their 1997 debut.
The album delivers classic, brutal and straightforward Death Metal with a strong influence from the early Canadian school of the genre. Crushing riffs, aggressive vocals and a raw production result in a compact and powerful release that illustrates why the band maintained a dedicated cult following within the European underground for so many years.
Recommended for fans of: KATAKLYSM, CRYPTOPSY, SINISTER and VADER.
Debut album from 1991 by this German Progressive Thrash Metal band, widely regarded as one of the hidden gems of early 1990s European technical metal. Released at a time when Thrash Metal was increasingly exploring more sophisticated and progressive territory, the band developed a highly distinctive approach that remained unfairly overlooked outside underground circles.
Their sound combines the aggression of German Thrash Metal with intricate song structures, frequent tempo changes, carefully crafted melodies and an outstanding vocal performance by Melanie Bock. Technical and sophisticated without sacrificing power, this album stands as one of the most interesting and underrated examples of European Progressive Thrash from its era.
Recommended for fans of: TARGET, LIVING DEATH, HOLY MOSES, MEKONG DELTA and DEATHROW.
The sole release from 1989 by this Dutch Death/ Doom band, compiling the complete recordings of an extremely short-lived yet highly influential underground act. Regarded as a genuine cult artifact, it gathers the legendary "Erupted Evil" demo together with live material recorded between 1989 and 1990, including 7 live bonus tracks that complete the legacy of one of the earliest and most extreme expressions of European Death/ Doom.
Their sound is painfully slow, oppressive and sickening even by the standards of the era. Strongly influenced by HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST, they developed a primitive, crushing and funereal style that anticipated many of the bands that would later define the Death/ Doom genre. A true underground relic and an essential release for understanding the origins of extreme doom metal.
Recommended for fans of: HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, WINTER and THERGOTHON.
Debut album from 2022 by this American Brutal Death Metal band from Mississippi. Following several years in the underground and a previous EP released in 2015, the band finally delivered its first full-length effort, reaffirming its dedication to the most classic and devastating forms of the genre.
Its sound is rooted in compact and straightforward Brutal Death Metal, driven by crushing riffs, punishing drumming and deep guttural vocals, with no unnecessary embellishments or modern trends. An intense and hard-hitting release that packs all its power into less than thirty minutes, showcasing a clear devotion to the most brutal side of American Death Metal.
Recommended for fans of: DEEDS OF FLESH, PYREXIA, DISGORGE and INTERNAL BLEEDING.
