Torture Killer - For Maggots To Devour / Swarm! / Sewers / Phobia

Starting out as a Six Feet Under covers band (with their name taken from a song from SFU's 'Maximum Carnage'), these Finns started out sounding very similar too. However later into their career they found their own path (even with Chris Barnes himself guesting on multiple tracks of their album 'Swarm!'). Out of these four, I actually prefer their most recent album 'Phobia' - it's pretty deadly. Fans of SFU need to check these guys out, and for those who aren't - check out 'Phobia'  & 'Sewers'.

Visceral Evisceration - Incessant Desire For Palatable Flesh

More doomy death metal here from Austrians Visceral Evisceration. These guys didn't hang around for long, with this being their sole full length album from 1994. The music on offer is actually fairly melodious (considering the artwork would perhaps point to a gore grind styled approach), these guys had something more in common with earlier Paradise Lost than early Carcass. One of the earlier releases on a then budding Napalm Records (this being the very first pressing), these guys changed their name to As I Lay Dying (no, that THAT As I Lay Dying), and released a demo before disbanding completely. A small, but perfectly formed piece of the massive jigsaw that is European metal.

Novembers Doom - Bled White

I always seem to be about an album behind with Novembers Doom, picking up each of their 'most recent' albums just as the next one is about to drop. This is their 2014 album 'Bled White' (album number 9, in fact) which features more of their downbeat, growly death/doom, packed with sorrow, aching melodies and when the feeling requires, a bit of head down crushery. Can't really fault these guys, as they've consistently released quality music album after album. The End Records.

Sortilège - Sortilege EP / Metamorphose

The early EP and debut album from French trad/heavy metal band Sortilège here, both in numbered limited copies (5,000 for each) on Axe Killer Records. A real gem from the underground here, these guys are exactly what you'd expect to hear when the words 'heavy metal' are uttered. Blazing solos, twin leads, melodic sections, soaring falsetto vocals and a pounding rhythm section - all in a days work for these boys. Surprising these guys never made their name the likes of ADX or Blaspheme did - they're every bit as good.

Winterfylleth ‎– The Divination Of Antiquity (Digipak)

The fourth album from Winterfylleth here, bursting with Saxon pride and generally being in awe of beautiful untouched landscapes and nature. This is the limited digipak pressing that they did which was actually very limited - I'm not sure the amount but it's become quite a collectors piece these days. If you're a fan of the genre, this is definitely worth a listen if you've not come across the band already, one of the bands doing their bit to make Britain great again.

Chakal - Abominable Anno Domini

Classic is a word bandied around far too easily in music. But Chakal's debut album 'Abominable Anno Domini' is a bone fide Brazilian thrash metal classic if ever there was one. It was available only on vinyl for a long time (from its original release of 1987 through until the first standalone CD issue in 2005). Here it is featured in both its CD forms, pictured at the top the re-issue from Cogumelo (licensed through Greyhaze Records), and below the original Cogumelo digipak pressing - both sadly out of print. Both come with the 'Living With The Pigs' EP as bonus tracks. The band went on to play much more groove-oriented metal later in their careers, but their debut was a fiery blast of tropical heat from the depths of the Brazilian jungles. Oh, and if you recognise the cover art, it's because it's 'The Triumph of Death', painted by Pieter Bruegel - also used in many other metal cover artworks (Angelcorpse's 'Hammer of Gods' to name but one).

Storm - Nordavind

The pagan/viking metal supergroup from Norway here, Storm. For those who are unaware, this featured Satyr (Satyricon), Fenriz (Darkthrone) and Kari (The Third & The Mortal) playing an approximation of folsky viking metal. It's actually really good, and having owned it for years and years, I'm surprised I've not featured it on this site before. Original pressing on Satyr's own Moonfog Productions.

Vindicator - There Will Be Blood / The Antique Witcheries

The first two albums from US thrashers Vindicator here, featuring some of the finest 'new' thrash you could possibly wish for. Not that it sounds new (the best stuff doesn't in my opinion), but seeing as these were released in 2008 and 2010 respectively, I guess they aren't exactly of the old school. Anyhow, old, new, whatever - this digs deep and thrashes your head against the stage exactly as you'd expect. Well worth picking these up if you can find them nestling in 2nd hand shop shelves (it'd be a struggle to buy 'em new these days as their debut was self released, and their sophomore album was on the now defunct Heavy Artillery Records - thus both are out of print).

Woods of Ypres / Necramyth - IV: The Green Album / Slaughter of the Seoul

The 4th album from the late, great Woods of Ypres here, in it's original first pressing on Practical Art Records.  This was the version which came with a bonus album of material from Necramyth, a South Korean black/death metal band which David Gold played drums for at the time. 'IV: The Green Album' wasn't Woods of Ypres finest hour, but still an enjoyable album of material - the Necramyth stuff is also not to be sniffed at.

Heathen - Breaking The Silence

The original pressing of the debut album from US speed/thrash crew Heathen here, released on Combat Records. This is pretty renowned as it is, with Heathen garnering a good following for good reason. However, I personally prefer their 2nd album 'Victims of Deception' which came in 1991. Not particularly aggressive, with a lot of speed/power metal influence in their sound (particularly something like 'Goblin's Blade'). Anyhow, still a strong effort and a powerful start from a well loved band.

Deceiver - Tales of Time

Maximum obscurity from the depths of Germany's early 90s trad metal scene here. Deceiver formed in the mid-80s, releasing a single full length album 'Tales of Time'. Originally released on vinyl in 1991, this was the CD pressing which came a few years later in 1994. Nothing to lose your mind over, but and interesting piece of work non-the-less, hitting all the usual tropes you'd expect from classic/traditional heavy metal.

Believer - Extraction from Mortality

The debut album from Believer, the tech/prog thrash band who  - along with the likes of Deliverance and Sacrament - used to espouse Christianity back in the late 80s. Later in their career, they moved more into a more philosophical & scientific mindset for their lyrical inspiration, which I can't complain about. For me, along with their sophomore album 'Sanity Obscure' this is some of their best material however, so this is well worth picking up for the fans of forward thinking, progressive thrash metal. Original pressing on Rex Records.

Abyssal - Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius

This is the equally out of print re-issue (limited to 1,000 copies) of Abyssal's 2nd album on Profound Lore. The original press was self released by the band on CD-r only. For the uninitiated, this is a project from the UK which combines gnarly death, black and doom into a maelstrom of an album which recalls the likes of Portal & Antediluvian amongst other noise makers which share a similar outlook. Completely devastating - check this band out.

Taake - Striden Hus

Taake's most recent album here (from 2014 - they have been quiet of late) This is one that frankly I'd been slow to pick up (being a tight wad, I was merely waiting for the right price). As always with Taake the music is yet more great Norwegian black metal, with Hoest and co. shrouding things in a foggy cold atmosphere that pervades the darkness. Digipak pressing on Dark Essence.

Silent Death - Stone Cold EP

Another little gem from the depths of the mid-nineties underground here, with the only major release from the Swiss Death Metal band Silent Death. With a guitar tone that sounds like it's tearing the space time continuum, ferocious drumming and vocals courtesy of Brett Hoffman of Malevolent Creation, this is one feral motherfucker of an EP. At a short 23 minutes in length, it's here and gone before you know it. The good thing is, it has you reaching for the play button for another crack at it instantly after finishing. Great shit right here, so check it out. Massacre Records.

Vader - The Empire

The most recent album from the ever-present beast that is Vader. More excellent death thrash here, with spiraling riffage, chugging choruses and Peter's throaty roar continuing to plough their musical mindset of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. After so many years, they've nary released what could be classed as a duffer; and this is another great piece added to their legacy.

Ekron Cult - Queen of the Luxury

Death metal from the depths of the Paraguayan underground here, with the sole full length album from Ekron Cult. This isn't particularly rare or hard to find, but I figured it was worth a feature more for its packaging, which is a digi sleeve the size of a 7" with a regular sized CD tray glued to the card. Limited to 1000 units on Proselytism Records, this darkly rumbles quite nicely for the occasional spin.

Drephjard - Sorgsvart

The 2006 EP from young Norwegian black metal crew Drephjard here, again on Northern Silence, and in it's original hand numbered original pressing (limited to 100 copies). This features yet more excellent Norwegian black metal, painfully stubborn in its stern orthodoxy, and unrelentingly furious and waspish; just the way it's played best in my opinion. I'm surprised these guys aren't mentioned more often, but I guess the glut of blackness that flows so inexorably from Norway can only allow praise to be spread so far. Good shit anyway, check them out below.

Perisynti - Hiilenmusta Lammas

Finnish black metal here from Perisynti, shown here in it's hand numbered original digipak version, limited to 100 copies. Furiously lo-fi, piercingly howling and frosty, it hits all the right notes, with spite-filled tremolo picked riffage that leaves you figuratively having your flesh removed from bones a la Sarah Connor's dream in Terminator 2. I love discovering bands like this, even though these guys seem to have been pretty short lived. Northern Silence release.

Darkspace - Dark Space -I

The final piece I needed to complete my Darkspace discography on CD, here is the re-recorded demo of the band on Digisleeve CD. This version was released in 2013, but the music was originally available in 2002, the first compositions under the band's name. These Italians have been incredible over the years, consistently releasing spacey, atmospheric black metal which seeps into ones psyche like alien spores infecting a host.

Misery - Revel In Blasphemy

Not the first time Misery have featured on this site, with the original pressing of their debut 'A Necessary Evil' being one of my favourite rarities in my collection. This is the bands 2nd album 'Revel in Blasphemy', featuring another dose of abrasive death metal which gets the fists clenching and the neck snapping. Original pressing on Warhead Records, one to track down for the death metal heads. One weird quirk this album has, after the final track ends, the album plays through backwards for its entirety. INVERTED ALBUM ATTACK!

Mysto Dysto - The Rules Have Been Disturbed / No AIDS in Hell

Another fine re-issue from the wonderful people at Dark Symphonies, this time from dutch speed/thrash crew Mysto Dysto (the band that went on to become Mandator). This compiles the bands only album 'The Rules Have Been Disturbed' and their later demo 'No Aids In Hell'. Truly great stuff here; music which captured the fire which burned in the 80s - a time when ears were free of all the clutter of 2017 and their purity shines through.

Heresy - Voice of Fear

An unofficial two disc compilation of... erm... two other unofficial compilations here from Lost & Found Records. This compiles 'Voice Your Opinion' and 'Visions of Fear', two previous comps which together pretty much makes up the discography of the band. Included is 'Never Healed', 'Face Up To It', 'Whose Generation', '13 Rockin Anthems' & a stack of live tracks. Musically, obviously the band are one of the big names from the British hardcore punk scene, with politically themed anarcho crustiness abound. Good stuff if it fits your tastes.

Agony - Apocalyptic Dawning

Canadian death metallers Agony here, with their debut album from 1995. This was originally self released on cassette only in '95, but finally got this CD release on Disconcert Records in 2006, which comes with songs from their '93 demo as bonus tracks. Although brutal and technical, this is reassuringly mid-90s sounding brutality - so this would probably go down very nicely with the OSDM lovers amongst you. Well worth tracking down, a pretty damn tasty morsel of metal goodness.

Angmar - Metamorphosis

This is the debut album from French black metal crew Angmar, in it's hand numbered & limited to 100 copies digipak version. Whilst the band has had moderate success over the years, many will best know them from their split release with Alcest (which I featured here recently). This is good stuff to throw on when the mood occurs, and yet another one for the 'Tolkien inspired band name' file!