GERYON – The Wound and the Bow

Geryon – The Wound and the Bow (2016, Profound Lore)

Death metal duo of bassist Nicholas McMaster and drummer Lev Weinstein and produced by fellow bandmate of Krallice Colin Marston, Geryon is a blend between old school Death metal and the new American metal school of wall of soundesque scopes and experimental metal.

NECRONOMICON – Advent of the Human God

Necronomicon – Advent of the Human God (2016, Season of Mist)

Extreme metal masters from Montréal, QC Necronomicon have released thru the renowned label Season of Mist their most recent attack Advent of the Human God.

THE SHIVA HYPOTHESIS – Demo

The Shiva Hypothesis – Demo (2015, self-released)

Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction and the Shiva Hypothesis is an hypothesis that explains an apparent mass extinction caused by impact events. So the band The Shiva Hypothesis from the Netherlands is a contemporary Black metal outfit that is inspired, as the drummer BN told me, by Behemoth, Emperor, Immortal, Death, Ved Buens Ende, Mayhem, and Gorgoroth .

CARNAC - The Frail Sight [EP]

Carnac - The Frail Sight (2016, Sliptrick Records)

Carnac is a Turkish death metal band from Ankara (Turkey) formed in 2014, their sound is an incendiary blend of eerie, dynamic and modern Death Metal.

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE – King

Fleshgod Apocalypse – King (2016, Nuclear Blast Records)

The label Nuclear Blast has been one of the most important Metal labels since a its induction in the records world. Their productions are highly professional and sound almost too good for Metal records. In the case of many bands it may have cause to shifts in their music into a more accessible approach and a too perfect sound.

GOHOLOR – In Saeculis Obscuris

Goholor – In Saeculis Obscuris (2016, Symbol Of Domination Prod. / Schattenkult Produktionen)

Slovakian Death metallers of Goholor are presenting their first offering In Saeculis Obscuris as a cruel and dark record which its main themes are torture, religion and wars during the dark ages.

SADISM – Alliance [2015 Blindspot]

Sadism – Alliance (2015, Toxic / Mechanix Records)

Coming out of Santiago, Chile the Death metallers of Sadism are carrying the South American tradition of powerful Metal bands. They have been at the forefront of the scene since the late 1980’s.

STILLBORN – Testimonio De Bautismo

Stillborn – Testimonio De Bautismo (2016, Godz ov War Productions)

Formed in 1997 in Poland, Stillborn are the Death/Black metal incarnation of Satanism and/or Anti-Christianity of Mielec. Stuck in the imagery of the 1980’s Thrash and first wave of Black metal, Stillborn makes a Black metal that could easily be compared to Temple of Baal or early Dark Funeral and early Marduk. Back when Death Black metal was furious, dangerous and evil.

CATTLE DECAPITATION – The Anthropocene Extinction [2015 Blindspot]

Cattle Decapitation – The Anthropocene Extinction (2015, Metal Blade)

With their seventh album, the vegan deathgrind act Cattle Decapitation comes back after a much praised album that was Monolith of Inhumanity. Based in San Diego, California, the obvious heirs of Cannibal Corpse and Exhumed are pushing the extreme level of the genre a bit more.

MORTUARY – Nothingless Than Nothingness

Mortuary – Nothingless Than Nothingness (2016, Goregeous Records)

Death / Thrash attack from Mortuary (France) couldn’t be more on top than this. Founded in 1989 in Nancy, France, Mortuary has been apart of the first wave of French Death metal bands alongside Loudblast, Massacra, and Agressor.

FIFTH TO INFINITY – Omnipotent Transdimensional Soulfire

Fifth to Infinity – Omnipotent Transdimensional Soulfire (2016, Avantgarde Music)

Coming out of Sweden, drummer Martin Lopez’s (ex-Opeth, ex-Amon Amarth, ex-Eternal, ex-Vinterkrig) new band is a melodic black metal band that might connect with the recent success of Tribulation’s The Children of the Night in its blend of extreme music and rock grooves. With Fifth tho Infinity we have a Death metal edge and breakdown riffs that could help but makes us headbang to the music.

INSISION – Terminal Reckoning

Insision – Terminal Reckoning (2016, Sevared Records)

In the vein of the Brutal Death metal masters of Suffocation, Dying Fetus, and most notably Cannibal Corpse (probably the band who had the most influence in Death metal and especially for the label Sevared Records’ rosters), Insision from Sweden delivers a straight to the point Brutal Death metal of uncompromising exactitude.

VERRÄTER / SXUPERION [Split] [2015 Blindspot]

Verräter / Sxuperion (2015, Bloody Mountain Records & Sordid Curse Prod.)

On this split album featuring three songs from the American Black metal band Verräter and the five Vibration songs by American Death metal one man band Sxuperion there’s something that fits between both acts and a dark link.

ABYTHIC – A Full Negation of Existence [EP]

Abythic – A Full Negation of Existence [EP] (2015, Metal Inquisition Records)

Coming from Germany, Old School Death metal band, Abythic, has released an interesting EP containing four songs of pure growls à la Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, and Grave. With a melodic guitar riffing accompanying their simple but yet effective pounding sound of a perfect blend between American Death metal and European melodic oriented acts, Abythic represents a little bit of everything every Death metal fan is looking for.

BONE GNAWER – Canale Di Carneficina [EP]

Bone Gnawer – Canale Di Carneficina [EP](2015, Metal Inquisition Records)

This EP of crushing Death metal from Bone Gnawer comes in a time when Rogga Johansson just left the band to form other projects like Echelon’s strong first offering. Here we are in the Incantation, Cannibal Corpse, and Suffocation Death metal territories with Bone Gnawer.

SADIST – Hyena

Sadist – Hyena (2015, Scarlet Records)

Legendary Italian Death metallers of Sadist have done it again with another really tight record that keeps this genre that is mixing early Death metal and Thrash into a progressive territory.

ECHELON - Indulgence over Abstinence Behind the Obsidian Veil

Music Review : Echelon - Indulgence over Abstinence Behind the Obsidian Veil (2015, Metal Inquisition Records)

With frontman Dave Ingram (ex-Bolt Thrower and ex-Benediction) and Rogga Johansson of numerous projects on all instruments, Echelon is an old-school Death metal monolithic band of grand scale. The familiar Bolt Thrower vocals of Englishman Ingram are one thing that helps the familiarity of the sound of Echelon while Johansson pounds on the drums and plays all the instruments just as good as any four piece band.

KRISIUN – Forged In Fury

Krisiun – Forged In Fury (2015, Century Media)

Technical death metal can be brutal and satisfying in its way of tight, fast changes of tempos and aggressive mastery of instruments.

VHOL – Deeper Than Sky

VHOL – Deeper Than Sky (2015, Profound Lore)

The supergroup that is VHOL delivers again the product of a real supergroup and not just a record of big known names making average music that will sell. With Mike Scheidt (YOB) on vocals, two ex-Ludicra of John Cobbett (Hammers of Misfortune) and Aesop Dekker (Agalloch) together with bassist Sigrid Sheie (Hammers of Misfortune, ex-Amber Asylum) we are in for what a metal album should sound like.

THE ORDER OF APOLLYON – The Sword and the Dagger

The Order of Apollyon – The Sword and the Dagger (2015, Listenable Records)

The genre of death metal has been saturated for years with hundred of bands releasing hundreds of records every year. Honestly, it is not my usual cup of tea except for obvious acts like Nile, Cryptopsy, Possessed, Suffocation, and Dying Fetus. Other than that, I have struggled with my allegiance with the genre.