EMIL'S DEEP UNDERGROUND RECOS (part VIII)
Death Metal Edition
A couple of weeks have gone by since the last published chapter from the world of underground metal recommendations. Lately I found myself focusing almost exclusively on the albums that have heavy metal at their common core, findings published as part of the new(er) column, New Wave Of Underground Heavy Metal. Well, that is about to change! In this eighth edition of Straight Outta Catacombs, exclusively dedicated to death metal, we have ten, mostly recent titles, all different from one another, that aptly illustrate the current state of affairs in the world of underground death metal ...
EMBRACE YOUR PUNISHMENT
Nameless King
5/30/2019
Valenciennes, France
Sophomore effort by the French slamming brutal death metal/hardcore outfit, influenced by Dying Fetus & Misery Index for the technical brutality of death metal, Sworn enemy & Burning Skies for the energy of the hardcore, and Pantera & Crowbar for the groove metal side. Embrace Your Punishment formed in 2009 and released their debut album, "Honor Before Glory", in 2014. The band traveled the roads of Europe, performing over 150 shows throughout the years, conquering new audiences.
THE OCCULT
Necropolis
6/14/2019
Moscow, Russia
Originally released in February 2018, "Necropolis", The Occult's sophomore full-length album is being reissued worldwide on physical format. While still maintaining some of their hardcore roots, the band moves closer to death metal with the release of the new album. Listeners will be delighted to hear a band strongly anchored in the sound of Swedish death metal with enough crust punk thrown into the mix of brutality. A formula that works!
ENCOFFINED
Casket Citadel
1/24/2019
Córdoba, Argentina
Yet another sophomore effort, "Casket Citadel", an offering by the Argentinian band Encoffined, formed in 2014, is from start to finish a great example of 2019 old-school death metal. Soaked in the buzzsaw sound of the HM2 guitar pedal, streamlined drumming and a vocal delivery with strong affiliation to John Tardy's style, "Casket Citadel" is one headbanger of an album.
SOBRE TUS CENIZAS
Sin Perdón
5/29/2019
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The second Argentinean entry on this edition: 800 kilometers away, in the capital city of Buenos Aires, we find the progressive/melodic death metallers, Sobre Tus Cenizas. Celebrating their 10 years anniversary, the band released their second full-length album, "Sin Perdón", a body of music with varied influences ranging from Tango (in lyrics and feelings) to extreme, hardcore and progressive metal. Sung entirely in the band's native language, Spanish. Tango metal, anyone?
FULCI
Tropical Sun
5/31/2019
Caserta, Campania, Italy
Named after Lucio Fulci, an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor, best known for his horror films, the Italian band incorporates proper elements of gore and horror into their sophomore effort, "Tropical Sun", a brutal death metal album inspired by the cult horror flick, "Zombi 2", driving the listener in a death metal cinematic experience of almost 34 minutes. FFO: Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, (early) Nile, Devourment and Mortician.
CRYPT CRAWLER
To the Grave
4/12/2019
Perth, Australia
Hailing from Perth, in the western Australia, Crypt Crawler formed in 2017. With influences such as Death, Obituary and Morbid Angel, the band's independent debut album, "To the Grave", brings back the sound of the old school whilst incorporating the undertones of today's modern death metal. Lyrically, the band remains close to their horror thematic core.
REGICIDE
As Skin Turns To Flesh (EP)
1/27/2019
Bangalore, India
Regicide is an old-school death metal band formed in 2017 in Bangalore, India. Their debut EP, "As Skin Turns To Flesh", was released via Metal Media Productions (Mexico) in January 2019. Bands like Bolt Thrower, Massacre, Unleashed, Malevolent Creation, etc, are cited as influences to their sound. Regicide's sound incorporates the aggression of the Floridian style of DM with the more melodic approach of the Swedish Death metal.
SANSKERTA
Dramaturgi
4/27/2019
Bekasi, Indonesia
Hailing from Indonesia in southeast Asia, Sanskerta formed in 2013. After releasing a demo and a split, the band released their debut technical death metal effort, "Dramaturgi", earlier this year. The album contains tracks sung in English and Indonesian. Musically, a very high level of technicality is on display here, and not only via execution but also composition wise. The talented young band has a bright future ahead of them.
KOLOSS
Reborn
5/15/2019
Prague, Czechia
Formed in 2013, the Czech band, Koloss spent the few years since inception, perfecting their sound before offering their debut album, "Reborn", earlier this month. Koloss blends well their signature thrash/death craft with other extreme metal elements. The five scene veterans delivered eight tracks of sheer brutality, aptly layered technical instrumentation, dense riffs and imposing vocals, completed with powerful lyrics, all summed up for the common theme of this conceptual release.
CALL OF THE CROWS
A New Demise
5/23/2019
Bristol, UK
Call of the Crows is a one-man melodic death metal project. The man behind the moniker, Ali Anderson, formed the project back in 2013. Three years in the making, "A New Demise", is the project's debut effort. The creator and only member of Call of the Crows delivers a well written and executed, technically fine-tuned album, excelling both instrumentally and vocally. A release that should satisfy all fans of the death metal genre.
© 2019 by Emil Chiru