[Cover artwork by Christopher Diaz] A gust of wind hurls a pocket of dirt into the boiling western air, and a tumbleweed scurries inches behind two boots planted firmly in the ground. The silhouette of a man sits cast upon the front of an old saloon. He reaches for the loaded six string on his ... The post VHS – For A Few Riffs More Review appeared first on Last Rites ..read more

Imagine you are a humble fellow toiling away in a cement factory. You help man the kiln when the prepared mix of various raw materials and gypsum are gathered. Your days are long and arduous, covering your body in an uncomfortable lacquer of sweat. Your joints ache, your muscles are sore and your eyes are ... The post Concrete Winds – Concrete Winds Review appeared first on Last Rites ..read more

[Cover art by Michał “Xaay” Loranc] Nile being Nile, one of the first songs they released was “Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes,” which happens to be the longest title on the album. Naturally, reading that title made me ... The post Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All Review appeared first on Last Rites ..read more

[Cover artwork by Wes Benscoter] If it walks like a duck…quacks like a duck…and riffs(?) like a duck… it’s probably… Fulci! Born June 17, 1927, in Rome, Italy, Lucio Fulci spent 69 years on this Earth but left an eternal blood mark on the spirit of horror cinema. Fulci became synonymous with pushing the boundaries ... The post Fulci – Duck Face Killings Review appeared first on Last Rites ..read more

Friend, has your day been triumphant? If not, might I recommend a wholesome death metal tonic in the form of Crown of Anguish’s debut album, Stalker at the Midian Gate? The UK band whips up such a calamitous racket across these generously melodic 38 minutes that whatever dearth of triumph you might currently be facing ... The post Crown Of Anguish – Stalker At The Midian Gate Review appeared first on Last Rites ..read more

[Cover art by Wes Benscoter] The Danish/Turkish quartet Hyperdontia made a gnarly splash in the metal scene with the one-two punch of the Abhorrence Veil EP, followed promptly by the debut of full-length Nexus of Teeth, which is an absolutely brilliant title to accompany the band name. The latter sported a grotesque cover piece of swirling gums, teeth, skulls and eyeballs pulled straight from the worst stress-induced nightmares about visiting the dentist. Those initial releases straddled the line of brutal death metal with a grittier tone and David Mikkelsen’s lower, more one-dimensional appro ..read more

[Cover art by Pär Olofsson] Despite the fact that this Dutch quintet has been battering skulls for more than two decades, a 14-year absence between full-lengths makes it at least a little fair that perhaps Severe Torture isn’t at the top of your radar (ok, they gave us the delightfully titled Fisting the Sockets three-song EP in 2022, but still). If you’re unfamiliar, Severe Torture hail from the Suffocation school of chopping your head off and making sure the stump is really jagged. But, they also balance that choppiness with slick tremolo riffs that make it easier for the listener to lo ..read more

Is there anything better than superbly written death metal? What else gets the blood pumping or gives you enough adrenaline kick to bite through a chain-link like some good old-fashioned death metal? Weirdly, I also consider death metal to be somewhat of a comfort food for me nowadays. When I don’t know what else to listen to, I typically grab an Autopsy or Bolt Thrower album and just vibbbbeeeee, dude. They always seem to hit the spot. In 2024, I’m probably more fascinated with the genre than ever due to the influx of great bands to choose from—especially in the last 15 years. Among those ban ..read more

[Cover art by Alli Tuttle] Have you ever hung out with a dumb, smart person? You know, the kind of person that will blow your mind by saying one of the most compellingly intelligent things you’ve ever heard and then immediately break your brain because they have no idea how to work a toaster. I’m talking about the kind of person you spend an hour with, and then you go, “How the hell does this person get by on a daily basis? Also, I’m terrified of what they might achieve in certain industries.” Well, Replicant is the music equivalent of that anomalous individual we’ve all met at least once. Lis ..read more

[Cover art by Grindesign] Fans of the grim and foul music we so enjoy will always need the serious side of the tunes. We crave those albums that make our skin crawl, send a cold shiver down our spine or make us rethink our perspective on a vital topic. We also need albums that are ludicrous, allowing us to sit back and temporarily be a drooling mouth breather for a while. Martyrs is a phenomenal film for a horror movie comparison, but it is not made for many repeat viewings, so it’s important to balance that out with a goofy-ass gore fest like Freddy vs. Jason. On album number 10, Benighted i ..read more