Written by: Blackie Skulless
Canada’s Spell have been around for over a decade at this point, and considering that they play a style of modern heavy metal that I often take to easily, it’s amazing that it took this long for them to hit my radar. Their brand of occult metal often dabbles in the doom, traditional, and gothic pools, but their latest album seems to put heavier emphasis on that latter tag. Titled Wretched Heart, this one may just be a bit divisive in how it cools some of the engines. Fortunately for me, I’m a fan of precisely that. No stoppage of heavy riffs reveal themselves at any point, but melancholic undertones dominate the otherwise straightforward stomps quite consistently. For some tracks, synthesizers are added not simply as a vibe-setter but as a melody driver. Often, this can make or break something, but I truly think it compliments the bigger picture rather than distracting from it. What matters most is that the haunting but clean vocal style fits every mood conducted in Wretched Heart, working as the *ahem* beating heart of the record.
0 Comments
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Taking one look at the second full-length by Spain’s Rave In Fire, I had a gut feeling this would be yet another retro-glazed cyberpunk themed “throwback” heavy metal outfit that we get so many of today. Neon colors, typical titles, and an ‘80s aesthetic gives one of the most predictable vibes we’ve always seen. One could say I didn’t exactly have high hopes going into Square One blindly, having not heard the first record at that point. But as the saying goes, I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, because I’ll be damned if this didn’t absolutely smoke! True, on a stylistic front, things fit that description, but it rises above anything I’d call generic. Elaboration in songwriting as well as taking varied directions that never stray from the retro vibe they’re so clearly going for helps elevate Rave In Fire tremendously. In several spots, melodies with a warm touch reflect earlier glam metal sensibilities that flow so nicely into the harder sections. Layered leads that match the clean and powerful aura of the frontwoman’s equally clean vocals come off nice and sharp, with polished production helping them stand out rather than blend in with their peers. The fact that the songs themselves are so memorable is what truly takes this to greater heights. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
It’s no secret that a couple years ago, Cruel Force rose from the ashes of their former selves and crafted something that truly resonated with many listeners. By tightening up the songwriting and breaking the typical mold of the black/speed predictability, these Germans allowed themselves to stand out far above their peers. This year, Haneda sees a continuation of this evolution, not only on the songwriting front but also in a stylistic way. In many ways, Cruel Force is going the exact direction that they had hinted at with Dawn Of The Axe. A notable feature was that the “blackened” aspect of the last record almost felt like it was being lifted from time to time, matching the injection of melody that didn’t exist as much prior. We see a similar vibe under the misty, echo-tinted production that allows the drums to pop really hard without feeling too raw. In other words, the blackmosphere lingers while other facets that made this fall in that camp fall away. This pairs nicely with the evolved vocals that now avoid anything harsh or raspy so one can more easily call this a full realization of a modern speed or thrash metal record that dodges any generic production nonsense. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
After Midnight Assassin cemented Sadistic Force as a true, *ahem* force to be reckoned with, and not just another decent black/thrash outfit that checks all the boxes, it does make one wonder how much more they can evolve. If sticking to the same dynamic formula is the move, then the truth is not too much. This didn’t stop the Texans from attempting several steps forward, and if anything, their recent EP of last year is a testament to that. Titled Morbid Odyssey, they’ve taken a similar general idea and cleaned it up a bit, all the while injecting some pretty extreme fervor in several ways. Before even noting the differences in execution, the production alone would have felt like a pivot elsewhere, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t make things sound bigger. Sneaking in melodies and nods to more traditional metal influence is still present, but the drums feel far more ferocious this time around, and the riffs far thicker and marshier. Thus, while I’d still call this a black/thrash effort at its core, Sadistic Force made themselves sound heavier, with more might behind the kicks. It’s like what would happen if you asked a death metal artist to play this genre instead. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Upon a simple look, Leatherhead is one of those bands you can almost immediately predict what you’re in for; campy, horror themed traditional metal. By this point, this style is kind of a dime a dozen, but if it only costs a dime then perhaps its worth it. The Greeks’ second record is the one that snagged my attention, titled Violent Horror Stories, in case you needed yet another indicator of the subject at hand. More importantly is the fact that as straightforward as this outfit is, there are some distinguishing features that made me actually want to revisit. For one, there’s a heavy emphasis not only on speed metal construction, but a certain oomph that hearkens back to the USPM movement of the ‘80s, complete with thick layers coating the speedy riffs and a powerful falsetto frontman. Moreover, despite the shorter runtime, there’s a decent ear for hook placement and variation that prevents any stagnance. Thus, as predictable as you were expecting an album that looks like this, and an opening track titled “V.H.S.” to sound, you may be a little surprised yourself. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
It’s not often at all that I come across the “melodic black metal” tag, as the more melody oriented variants often fall into their own sub-categories around the likes of folk, thrash, etc. However, much like with its death metal counterpart, black metal utilizing this might have more to do with production, tone, and vibe more than anything. New Zealand’s Miasmata basically have been running with those characteristics since 2020. Just this year, they’d release their second record titled Subterrania, the one that was brought to my attention. As you might expect, Miasmata make their stand by mixing in a subtle blend of high and bright leads and the occasional cleaner singing into an otherwise monstrous formula. Noisy execution of blast beats and tremolos maintain a darkened window to work this into, topped with comprehensive yet hoarse shrieks that aren’t afraid to also tap into that melody. Avoiding overproduction while still casting a cleaner cloud that lets even bassy rumbles pop through enhances the experience, preventing things from getting generic. Finally, machine precision lets the harsher delivery fall into the more accessible bits without coming off awkward. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
A few years ago, the Polish blackened speed metallers Gallower caught my attention with their short EP entitled Eastern Witchcraft. While it was nothing bad, it wasn’t impressive enough for me to work backwards and look towards their first full-length, feeling somewhat underwhelming. This year, the same label brought a follow-up to both, changing my entire perception. You might say they’re back for a vengeance due to my initial reaction, considering the aptly titled Vengeance & Wrath. One should note, Gallower is still rather familiar in their style and execution, but this time around feels far more complete as an idea, with an emphasis on the metal end of things. Punkier attitudes are now traded for focused leads that don’t let go of the grit but absolutely step up their game in terms of hooks. Moreover, emphasis on witchcraft and spookiness is let up a bit, allowing room for some looks at historical and mythical tints that definitely impacted and matched the sound. Thus, there’s far less in the blackened overlays that came before, maintaining a really gruff presence, especially in the vocals, but ultimately falling out of that camp save for the occasional blast-beat frenzy. It was already faint on former releases as is, and the emphasis on a touch more melody brought things to a steadier apex. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Ohio’s Vindicator have been around the block a few times since their formation in the mid-2000s, staying relatively consistent in releases. As they approach the beginning of their third decade of existence, 2025 saw the return of frontman Marshall Law, allowing former replacement Vic Stown to return to full-focus on the axe. It’s been four years since the last full-length and fifteen since this vocal-guitar duo, leaving plenty of room for anticipation. The outcome would be the fresh and refined Whispers Of Death, seemingly reflecting the earlier days under a tighter complexion. With a tighter complexion comes a cleaner approach and slightly more elaborate songwriting, neither of which dip into technical wankery or overly shiny surfaces. Despite these changes, I’d argue that Vindicator has crafted even heavier cladding, with vocal approaches feeling harsher and rhythms raking in thicker trembles. “Charnel Pastures” is the obvious example, dropping a payload of blast beats and aggressive artillery on the guitar, while the shorter “Exhaustion” deals this deck emphasizing breakneck speeds and fret-happy solos. We also get a taste of that in “Ripper Attack” near the end, pairing well with a bouncy chorus. Such approaches could potentially appeal to the death metal crowd, especially with the growling snarl in the vocals. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Bütcher are a Belgian act that has been around for decades, despite the first full-length record not hitting until 2017. They may not have sold me right away, but their second album titled 666 Goats Carry My Chariot absolutely blew me away (I mean really, how can a title like that not?) Considering their borderline parody-meets-evil speed metal with a blackened hue, I figured there was enough room for strong continuity. Enter the latest release, On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing, which does exactly that. From a foundational standpoint, Bütcher retained the exact same attitude that cemented their identity before this time around. Obvious odes to classic metal bands with tongue-in-cheek themes that you can still take a little seriously are very present. The frontman’s notable shriek-singing is still here, kicking out harsh passages that have a burning atmosphere without getting too raspy, and an emphasis on strong leads still takes precedence. Interestingly, what’s different now is that the band lays off the blackened tropes a bit. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Cruel Force has touched my radar a few times over the past couple of years. The German black/thrashers dropped two albums nearly fifteen years ago before splitting up, and while they made a serviceable enough take on the genre, it really never stuck to me. Fast-forward to over a decade later, and they came back with a vengeance, dropping Dawn Of The Axe, changing my mind about everything I just said. What was a nice soil that grew few worthwhile fruits now harvests an entire garden. Stylistically, they wouldn’t veer too far away from this initial idea, but any sharp edges get deburred and the thrashy attitude feels refined into something reminiscent of an ‘80 speed metal foundation. Similarly, vocals with a deeper snarl but a far more concise delivery are tacked on, almost feeling similar to Zetro from Exodus. Echoed production helps everything, giving a reverberated tone to the drum kicks pairing wonderfully with the vocals. Meanwhile, the bass licks are rather bouncy, providing extra kick beside the sharp riffing. Oftentimes, overdoing this can ruin a solid record, but that’s not the case here. The end product is a far more mature outing that almost lifts the “blackened” element away as well, leaving only remnants, but still holding onto their aggressive oomph. |
WELCOME!We provide thoughtful reviews of the music that wakes us from slumber. Archives
August 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed