Witches Hammer are an obscure band of Canadian origin formed in 1984. Playing a type of Speed Metal that often crosses over into Black, Death and Thrash territories too, they are the epitome of extremity. Below I talk to frontman Rayy Crude about the band’s history, present and future for you sick maniacs to read! Hey Rayy, how’s things over there? Can you give us bangers a brief introduction and history of Witches Hammer? Hey Jørgen, all is well here! Spring is here and soon the sun will scorch us dry. Witches Hammer started out as Oblivion originally but I joined when Marco Banco (the ..read more

War Metal masters ANTICHRIST SIEGE MACHINE return with their 3rd album of vitriolic hellfire. Out via Profound Lore Records on April 19th. Bursting into life with a bestial vengeance, the raw savagery of the guitars and bludgeoning drums meet a thunderous roar of vocal malevolence. Grinding and grooving, the hostile soundscape will instantly either grip you, or scare you away. There is a truly tangible malice from the onset, which as a lover of their entire body of work is a most welcome return to form. Gut-wrenching hooks and a sense of dread creep into the record while momentum never dips, a ..read more

After adoring their debut full length, I am pleased to see MORGUL BLADE are back with a sophomore of epic Blackened Heavy Metal. Out via No Remorse Records on April 26th. Glacial leads and crisp guitars atop rolling drum fills instantly kick in that vibrantly battle-ready feeling that makes Morgul Blade recognisable. Galloping grooves and roaring thunderous kicks bring up the ferocity with those ever-mean blackened vocals and soaring melodies giving equal feelings of USPM might and unforgiving Black Metal savagery. These elements are combined in a way very much belonging to the band, not sound ..read more

Norwegian Doom Metal extremists COFFIN STORM promise a cult banger in the form of their debut album. Out via Peaceville Records on March 29th. Hitting hard from the onset with meaty riffing and primitive drums, Coffin Storm introduce their morbid cacophony violently. The estranged vocals and classically Fenriz-esque delivery atop the mountainous guitars feels sort of like later Darkthrone, but with some of the more enchanting elements from Candlemass heightened. There is also a thrashiness coming through, which feels natural from members of Aura Noir and Infernö being involved. Overall, the cu ..read more

Ohio one man Speed Metal wrecking crew MIDNIGHT is back with a sixth studio album. This devilish opus will be released by Metal Blade Records on March 8th Punching right in with venomous riffing and bestial vocals, Midnight ride straight into the night ablaze with metallic lust. Their catchy, seductive and salivating ferocity is razor sharp and vicious as ever. Every record by this band feels like a record by them, and “Hellish Expectations” is no different in that regard, setting the scene for a tormenting and merciless vision of raging music to come. The sounds here remind me of a strange, u ..read more

The third edition of Subterranean Manifestation festival takes over London for a day of Extreme Metal barbarity. Below are some of my highlights from this savage gathering. Decrepid was a grand example of old school Death Metal played with strength. The technicality proficient but straight up crushing delivery was a great set to give some 90s Death Metal madness to the more bestial-oriented day without taking away from the aggression of things. Taking brutality and twisting it with their musical competence into a new blend of old school inspiration, I found their set to be very tastefully exec ..read more

Czechia blackened Thrash/Speed Metal youngsters MÖRGHUUL give us their debut full length, out via Doomentia Records on February 2nd. Introducing themselves with a short couple moments of samples leading into eerie guitars, Mörghuul brings the intimidating spirit of darkness straight to life. The chiming of cymbals and otherworldly feel to this starting track should already have you gripped. Stomping out pure thrashing mania with ferocious grooves and a tight production, these young bangers really hammer in the old school Thrash Metal attack. Ultimately fast, raging craziness blisters from the ..read more

NECROMANIAC have given the underground a scorching demo and 7″ of true morbid Death Metal. Now they return with a demo, featuring three songs from the upcoming debut album. Necrotising guitars feedback into a seething cacophony of unpleasantness as ruthless drumming fires on all cylinders. The profane and combustible sounds of true morbid ecstasy fill their air with a remorseless and unforgiving metallic din. Thrashing melodies and abyssal bass lines crack the heavens with their blasphemous warfare. Instrumentally there is nothing short of total darkness. Thankfully the vocals keep that grueso ..read more

Napoleonic Black Metal project DEPARTURE CHANDELIER returns with a second album of exquisite evil. Out via Nuclear War Now Productions on February 23rd. Enchanting synths begin this album with that bewitching feeling that has enshrouded this projects entire journey. In equally bombastic fashion the glaring riffs cut into the air with an intense sharpness alongside furious percussion, still soaked in the reverberate ambience of the synths. The equally frantic vocal delivery scornfully penetrates the vicious instrumental attack with all forming something both gorgeous and abrasive. Alongside the ..read more

HAUNTER, a band whose mysterious first EP of Black Speed Metal mayhem caught my attention, are back with a vengeance. Their new EP is out via Fiadh Productions. An appropriately gloomy introduction begins our descent into horror, invoking a feeling like one has broken down the door of an abandoned chapel. Heavily modulated guitars kick in, following on from the utterly insane tone created on EP number one. Cymbals crash and relentless vocals soon go berserk as the cacophony of spooked Heavy Metal hellfire is unleashed. Their rabid songwriting and unique production feels very DIY but full of ch ..read more