Greetings, Decibel readers!
This week has a lot of death metal. Like, most of it is death metal, so I hope you’re ok with that. I mean, you’re reading Decibel after all, so you really don’t have a right to complain. But in case that’s an issue, we’ve got some classic death metal and crusty hardcore as well.
Enjoy!
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Blazon Rite – Endless Halls of Golden Totem
The march of new-old school heavy metal continues apace with Philly’s Blazon Rite delivering their debut album. Despite the kitschy subject matter, the band’s approach is rather understated. The vocals are more a sustained narrative force than a flashy blade in the air, which helps the listener focus more on the energy delivered by the rest of the band.
Stream: Apple Music
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The Day of the Beast – Indisputably Carnivorous
Corpse-ripping thrashy death metal is back on the menu, boys! Imagine Carcass and Hypocrisy joining forces to make a Kreator tribute band, and you’ll get a feel for what these guys are about. (Oh, and then imagine the band being really good at all of that stuff.)
Stream: Apple Music
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Eye of Purgatory – The Lighthouse
Death metal in the tradition of Hypocrisy, The Crown, with touches of Vader and early Amorphis, this band knows how to deliver the punch and the glory in equal measure. The band’s use of synths is a definite highlight here, as they weave these glittering sounds in at just the right moments. This is the band’s second album, following up on 2018’s The Rotting Enigma.
Stream: Apple Music
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Macabre Decay – Into Oblivion
Macabre Decay is like a cup of black coffee in the morning. No fancy syrups, cinnamon-speckled foam, bougie coconut milk, nothing. The Söderhamn outfit specializes in straightforward 90s-style death metal with strong riffs, grinding rhythms, and deep gutteral vocals. You know what you’re in for, and you know it’s going to do what you need. Drink up.
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Wanderer – Liberation From A Brutalist Existence
I think the lyrics to the song “Mind Leash” express pretty clearly what this band’s all about:
“If you look closely you might see the strings
They tug at our arms and legs
Forced to walk
Control
Terrified“
