Interment - Scent of the Buried

More beautiful Swedeath here from Interment, a Swedish band who were there releasing demo material in the very earliest of the nineteen nineties when everything was exploding in Scandinavia. These guys split for a long time before reforming and beginning to release material again. This is their 2nd official full length album release (released in 2016), and it summons the ghostly entities of early Dismember and Entombed to wreak havok and explode eardrums (naturally). This, is 100% my bag.

Infected Virulence - Music of Melkor

This is the re-issue of this great underground gem on Raw Skull Recordz. Like the original pressing which I believe was self released, this is also limited (the first press was only 300, this is 500 units). A nice slab of early 90s DM, a release which didn't see a lot of distribution or interest before the advent of the internet - so good to have it freely available once again. If you're a death metal fantatic, don't be a dunce, get on this physical copy before it sells out.

Immolation - Atonement

There are certain bands (admittedly, a lot of bands) where I will buy their every release without reading any press or researching, just because basing solely off my love for their previous efforts, I figure that each new album is a no brainer each time. Immolation are 100% one of those bands. Their 1991 debut 'Dawn of Possession' is chalked up as one of the very first death metal albums I bought (and heard, for that matter), and since then, their vision and accomplishments have nary left me wanting. What we have here is Immolation once more giving a masterclass of death metal, with their wonky riffage, weird arrangements, equal mix of blasting and brooding is all accompanied by the usual bags of atmosphere which billow throughout their sound. Yes, I'm a fanboy, but so should you be. Seek and be destroyed!

Invocator - Early Years

A compilation of demo material and cover songs here from Danish tech thrash heroes Invocator. This combines both their 'Genetic Confusion' and 'Alterations' demos, as well as cover tunes from Dark Angel and fellow Dane thrashers Artillery. For demo material it has a very strong sound, with their rabid approach at time broaching a thrashy death metal sound. A must have for fans of the band for sure! Diehard Worldwide release.

Ihsahn - Arktis.

The new album from former Emperor main main Ihsahn, in it's limited edition Digibook format (now deleted). Other than the card book & booklet, the only difference between this and the standard version is that it has a near 10 minute bonus track. Being a huge lover of all stages of Emperor's career, I've always followed both Ihsahn and Samoth's separate projects closely. For me, Ihsahn's have been hit and miss - sometimes a little too proggy/jazzy for my tastes. Arktis. however, hits the spot perfectly. Great twisted riffs, a claustrophobic and at times unwelcoming vibe - overall the sound is hard to classify as anything other than pure 100% Ihsahn.

Internal Decay - A Forgotten Dream

The one and only (well, only so far as they reformed in recent times) album from Swedish death metal crew Internal Decay. This isn't your usual Swedeath a la Dismember and Entombed, instead these guys tried something different with some decent groove and keyboard work to give a more ethereal, creepy atmosphere. Anyhow, this is a really enjoyable album which is highly sought after these days in this original Eurorecords pressing, so check it out.

Infernal Torment - Man's True Nature

Danes Infernal Torment certainly knew how to write some gnarled, growly death metal. This is their debut album from 1995, and it's pretty brutal stuff, nice huge riffs and memorable songs. This is the uncensored version with cartoony "pitchfork up the ass/decapitated woman" artwork (there was another version with just a black cover and writing). Diehard Music, out of print.

Immortalis - Indicium De Mortuis

The one and only album from Germans Immortalis, released on West Virginia Records in 1991. Good early death metal, nothing too outlandish, but a solid enough release to warrant the amount of love it gets when whispered in revered tones amongst many a death metal forum. Plenty of chainsaw riffage, some groove and a nice stack of thrashiness - well worth looking into if you've not heard the name before.

Ildjarn - Det Frysende Nordariket

Here is Ildjarn, the solo project of Norwegian enigma... err.. Ildjarn. Formally also of Sort Vokter, Thou Shalt Suffer - he even has Emperor live work under his belt. This is a compilation of his early material from the "Norse", "Ildjarn" & "Minnesjord" demos. Nice, raw black metal with a real punkish vibe at times. 1997 Digipak pressing on Norse League Productions, an old offshoot of Napalm Records.

Inferia - Masterpiece

Here is the debut album from Finnish noise-merchants Inferia. These guys bash out some gnarled grindcore with touches of death metal thrown in to bulk up the recipe. The artwork is pretty apt when taken into consideration the music here - someone drilling a hole into someone elses skull (trepanation, my dear Watson!). Turn the volume up, certainly feels like that doesn't it? Hahaha. Anyhow, this is the original pressing on Streetrock Records - definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Ildjarn - Forest Poetry

Ildjarn's possibly best known album, Forest Poetry showcases his fizzing, harsh black metal (as opposed to their more ambient, synth efforts). Ildjarn are the antithesis of Dimmu Borgir - this isn't about fancy bells and whistles, it's about repeatedly smashing your face into mush with the thick end of a tree trunk - and it does that perfectly. An almost impenetrable wave of hissing distortion and hateful vocals. An original 1996 pressing on Norse League Productions.

Incantation - Upon The Throne Of Apocalypse

If you don't like Incantation, you've really come to the wrong website. You must've been looking for a blog about Barbie dolls or disco huh? This is one of the (if not 'the') hardest to find Incantation CDs to come across these days. Musically it's as feral and raw as the band ever got, due to the music being a rough mix of their 2nd album 'Mortal Throne of Nazarene' played in reverse order. It was released as a 'fan only' release by Relapse in 1995 as a part of their great 'Underground Series' limited to a 1,000 copies.

Invocator - Excursion Demise / Weave The Apocalypse

The first two albums from Danish thrash/death crew Invocator. I much prefer the thrashing debut to the more groove oriented 'Weave..', but both albums are worth sticking on when you're in the mood. Love the artwork on these too. Both original pressings on Black Mark Records.

In Battle - In Battle

Let's not beat around the bush, the debut album from Sweden's In Battle is about as generic as you can get. It was released in 1997 by Napalm Records, the late nineties being a particular saturated time for this style of blasting black metal. Still, I guess it's worth throwing on once in a while for a change to clear out your head. Not often though.

Isengard - Vinterskugge

The debut album from Fenriz' side project Isengard. His vocals can be off a little at times, but you can fault its heart. The tracks were originally spread over 3 separate demos, but here they are compiled into one full length album. Original first press on Deaf Records, the Peaceville offshoot.

Intense Mutilation - Safe Sex

This is the debut album from deathly/grindy/weirdos Intense Mutilation. Pretty had to categorize with ease, almost like a cross between a grinding Gwar/S.O.D combo - these guys have a weird sense of humour that is abundant in their non-PC lyrics (see 'Raghead' and understand). I don't love it as things go, but hey - I saw it and thought it was worth a blind purchase from the 2nd hand store. An original press on New Renaissance Records.

Incubus - Serpent Temptation / Beyond the Unknown

If you're a death/thrash maniac, you're likely to have come across Incubus. These guys had to change their name to Opprobrium after the rise of the wimpy indie-rock band who basically stole their name (this Incubus were around way before the rubbish one). This is the bands first two albums on Nuclear Blast records, original pressings on CD.

Infernö - Utter Hell

Infernö are great, simple as that. Excellent drunken, unholy thrash metal (with touches of black/death) right here, courtesy of Osmose Records.

Impaled Nazarene - Ugra Karma

This is the infamous early pressing of Impaled Nazarene's second album, with the original artwork which had to be changed for later pressings due to the fact that the original art wasn't used with permission from the artist. As for the music, it's what you'd expect from Impaled Nazarene, christ-raping infernal blasphemy! Great stuff.

Intruder - A Higher Form of Killing / Psycho Savant

Intruder were a great US technical thrash band, and here are their 2nd and 3rd albums released on Metal Blade, and Metal Blade/Music For Nations respectively. I just wish I could find an original pressing of their debut for less than an arm and a leg in cost.