Album review: Evil Damn - Necronomicon (2021)

Evil Damn - Necronomicon

Peru

Hells Headbangers Records

 
Peruvian maniacs Evil Damn (comprised of members of Goat Semen and Disinter) released this beast of an album back in 2021, entitled “Necronomicon”. Musically, the band plays hellish and blasphemous black/death metal infused with thrash. From beginning to end, this album subjects you to a plethora of sweltering riffs and ripping guitar solos that are masterfully executed, paired with caustic screams and pounding, bestial drums, all back by an excellent production that provides clarity to the performance. Erick Neyra's vocals are top-notch. I loved his vocals in Goat Semen and I love his vocals here. The man sounds possessed, and those falsettos are insane. Every instrument is meticulously played and contributes to the performance. Hands down one of the best black/death albums from 2021. Recommended to fans of Sacrificio, Goat Semen and Sarcofago.

Album review: Church of Disgust - Weakest Is the Flesh (2022)

Church of Disgust - Weakest Is the Flesh

USA

Hells Headbangers Records

 

It’s become increasingly difficult to keep track with Church of Disgust considering the rate at which they bash out quality death metal albums, though it must be emphasized that this is not a band to take lightly. The new album, “Weakest is the Flesh,” hits on all cylinders, offering a malicious assault of chunky old-school filth, with bestial vocals atop tightly-arranged riffs that slaps you harder than a pair of gorilla hands. This is possibly their heaviest work yet, and it absolutely slays. Performance-wise, every instrument is exceptionally well-played and adds to the album’s disgusting odour, including being backed by a production that is (dare I say) perfect for death metal. Indeed, Church of Disgust have once again released a monstrosity of an album that will be a delight for those into grave-desecration, necrophilia, and murder. Stand-out tracks: “That Which Dwells in Gloom” “Humiliated Remains” “Weakest is the Flesh”

Album review: Hunters Moon – The Great Pandemonium (2021)

Hunters Moon – The Great Pandemonium

Australia

Hells Headbangers

Australia’s Hunters Moon will release their debut album, "The Great Pandemonium", through Hells Headbangers on 11th November 2021. It contains eight tracks and 39 minutes of hellish, traditional black metal that slays on all fronts. Although the band has been around since 2006, they have only released a demo, EP, and now this, their debut LP.

“The Great Pandemonium” offers an array of blasphemous black metal reminiscent of Dissection, which is infused with a lethal dose of black/thrash goodness typical of the Aussies. You may also hear some elements that are "familiar." If you know bands like Destroyer 666 and Denouncement Pyre, imagine a deadly mix of Dissection and those bands, and you get an idea of what Hunters Moon sounds like. In contrast to war metal, this is overly-endowed darkness worshipping black metal that favours well-written riffs and clever craftsmanship over chaotic tropes.

Each song is characterized by varied yet outstanding drumming, merciless riffs, and venomous vocal barks that will chew you up and spit you out in fucking chunks. In my opinion, Hunters Moon has released one of the finest albums of the year with "The Great Pandemonium." Another thing that makes the band great is that while the band essentially plays black metal, there is no shortage of traditional metal elements in their sound.

From the war anthem “Storm of Hail And Fire” to the blustery cacophony of “Rebellion” there isn’t one bad track, just track after track of triumphant black metal fury. As a whole, this album is ridiculously enjoyable (and heavy!) and has a lot of replay value, including the fact that it’s packed with absurdly sick riffs and powerful, yet utterly aggressive vocals. It would be an understatement to say that it comes highly recommended. (HT)

Album review: Nunslaughter - Red Is The Color of Ripping Death (2021)

Nunslaughter – Red Is The Color of Ripping Death

USA

Hells Headbangers

Cleveland’s most evil miscreants Nunslaughter return with a brand new full-length, entitled “Red Is The Color of Ripping Death,” which will be released by Hells Headbangers on CD and tape on August 27th while the vinyl version will follow later.

The new album from the devil metal crew is everything you can expect from a Nunslaughter release and more. It is easily one of their best albums yet, featuring 2 new members since the passing of their former drummer, Jim Konya. In fact, “Red Is The Colour of Ripping Death” seems to pay tribute to the aforementioned legend.

From the get-go, there is no shortage of ferocity, as the listener is perpetually molested with an array of savage riffs, and venom-spitting vocals courtesy of Don of the Dead. There is a slight Swedish axetone radiating from the guitars, but not in an overly dominating way. The result is auspicious, as the riffs are sharp and cohesive, coupled with acute and energetic drumming and thunderous bass lines. This is definitely one of Nunslaughter’s heaviest outputs yet. The album contains 14 tracks of unholy death metal with hardcore punk influences. It must be noted that some of these songs were unfinished recordings that Jim and founding frontman Don of the Dead wrote years ago and are now revitalized with the new line-up rendering it a fresh morbid stench. The production is very good and gives a lot of prominence to the guitars and bass. The heavy low-end in particular gives the whole thing an eminently menacing edge.

No Christian shall be spared the wrath of Nunslaughter’s latest opus, as “Red Is The Color of Ripping Death” sounds invigorated with hate, as well as darker and angrier than before! (HT)

Album review: Slaughtbbath - Alchemical Warfare (2019)

Slaughtbbath – Alchemical Warfare (2019)

Chile

Hells Headbangers Records

Slaughtbbath, hailing from the depths of Chile have released numerous demos, splits, EPs, and a debut full-length with a pretty consistent output since their inception in 2002. Their second full-length is fittingly titled “Alchemical Warfare.”

Musically, their style is rooted in the bloody sounds of Blasphemy, Sarcofago, and Bestial Warlust. Having said that, you can expect nothing but a high-octane dosage of supreme darkness from this Chilean horde. The album is a tour de force from beginning to end, featuring 8 tracks and 34 minutes of infernal black/death steeped in vitrioloic poison, which is enough to satiate your need for all things morbid and chaos-driven. Each track is stacked to the brim with blasphemous riffs, savage vocals, hard-hitting drums, and heavy bass lines, including the fact that the whole thing is boosted with an excellent production (at least by black/death standards) which allows all the instruments to be heard and distinguished from one another. Listening to this album will plunge your soul into the very depths of Hell. “Alchemical Warfare” is a more than worthy follow-up to “Hail To Fire” and comes highly recommended to fans of well-executed bestial black/death. (HT)

Review: Skelethal - Unveiling The Threshold (2020)

 

Skelethal - Unveiling The Threshold (2020)

France

Hells Headbangers

French Death Metal heavyweights Skelethal return with second full length, "Unveiling The Threshold," which will see the light of day on the 20th November, 2020, under the banner of Hells Headbangers. There's no doubt these maniacs took a hefty amount of inspiration from the old Swedish scene, but closer analysis will also reveal nuances of styles like thrash and crust incorporated into their sound. The music delivers a myriad of intense, groove-laden riffs interspersed throughout like a whirlwind of blades hurled at the listener. I found the vocals somewhat muted, but well done and decidedly abrasive. The production is clear, but not too polished, which works. A few deadly solos are scattered throughout like chunks of meat. One of the things Skelethal does exceptionally well is their ability to seamlessly weave heaviness with groove. Essentially, this is an death metal album, and if there's one thing paramount about this style, then it's hooks. Having said that, "Unveiling The Threshold" delivers all the hooks; it's heavy, intense, merciless, but somehow lacks a bit in the memorability department. However, it's one of those albums I can always come back to when I'm in the mood for some high-octane, pummeling death metal. Recommended. (HT)

https://skelethal-france.bandcamp.com/

Album review: Communion - At The Announcement (2018)

                                          

Communion - At The Announcement - Full Length (2018)

Chile

Hells Headbangers

Those with a penchant for evil, raw, South American metal ― will no doubt rejoice upon hearing Communion's debut album, "At the Announcement." I remember getting my hands on their demo tape when it came out and being blown away by the sheer intensity and sinister atmosphere, particularly the track 'Black Metal Dagger'. The songs on "At the Announcement" gives me that same vibe, except it's like that with every track. Musically, Communion shares a lot of idiomatic traits with countrymen like Force of Darkness, Hades Archer, Invincible Force, etc., but mainly take cues from older bands like Sodom, Destruction, Bathory, etc. The album opens with 'Impalement to Destroy' ― a three-minute onslaught of throat-slashing riffs and possessed vocals that rage like burning steel, while songs like 'Secret Rites' and 'At The Announcement' batters you into the floor with brutish intensity and thrash-like ferocity. The drums are excellent too, fast and hard-hitting. If I'm not mistaken, the band released two albums around the same time (the other one which is called The Communion), although the tracks on "At The Announcement" was recorded between 2014 - 2017, which makes it the first full-length. Definitely Check it out if you have a fondness for bands like Slaughtbbath, Funeral Winds, and Bestial Warlust. (HT)

https://communion-chile.bandcamp.com/album/at-the-announcement