GROND - The Temple (2026)

Ten years passing between this new album and the previous one probably didn't help (that and maybe also being Russian), but I feel GROND don't get the recognition they deserve. I think they are among the best old school death metal bands around and The Temple is another proof. They kept their cool concept of mixing monstrous sea creatures, old warships and Lovecraft for the lyrics and art. The music is still grounded in mid tempo old school death, but I'd say it's now a bit more polished, with more attention to details, melodic elements and atmosphere, losing a bit the primitive rawness and moving slightly towards death doom. They still reminds Obituary, but now maybe Incantation and Immolation even more. But that being said I think they really managed to craft their own style. Anyone into more old-school and slower death metal should worship (or warship maybe!) The Themple.. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Innumerable Forms - Pain Effulgence (2025)

Pain Effulgence is the third album from Innumerable Forms, and I think their best since their first EP. Slow and old-school death metal, with a cavernous feel, an epic heaviness that can remind Immolation at times, but their main influence is early UK death/doom. And they are great at doing that. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

GIST - Preservation of Decomposing Tissues via Adipocere Formation (2025)

Which music could be better suited for Christmas than pathological goregrind? Right, then Preservation of Decomposing Tissues via Adipocere Formation from one-man-band GIST is what you need. Even if, actually, if you except the vocals and the drum machine it would be closer to death-doom, with it's quite melodic riffs (but Carcass fans know that melodic guitar parts are no stranger to goregrind isn't it?). In any case, it's cool stuff, I especially recommend the last track. Have a good time!

 

The BC page. 

Primitive Man - Observance (2025)

Last time I reviewed a Primitive Man album was when they released their first one, like twelve or thirteen years ago. I listened to each of their albums, but I felt the next ones were ok, but a bit too samey and monotonous (except the collab with Full of Hell that was bringing different elements). So why reviewing this new one, Observance? Maybe it's just because I paid more attention, but I feel they managed to make those new songs a bit more "catchy" while keeping their trademark sound, that is sludge/death/doom that is especially heavy, raw and bleak. In any case, I enjoy it!

 

The BC page. 

 

FANGE - Purulences (2025)

With Purulences I feel it's the first time the French band from Brittany FANGE release an album so similar to the previous one. It seems they have completed their evolution, in a direction at the same time more industrial and more melodic. Stabilisation before a new evolution? Maybe, time will tell... Anyway, their Godflesh meets Paradise Lost, Morbid Angel and beatdown hardcore thing is really their own and is excellent, so I don't mind a repeat, really. Purulences is an awesome album, with songs that are bound to become classics in their live set and is highly recommended for people who enjoyed their previous albums and also a great entry point for discovering the band. 

 

The BC page. 

 

Gateway - Galgendood (2023)

Is Galgendood, first album from Gateway, dirty death-doom or just funeral paced rotting old school death metal? In any case it's closer to a slower Autopsy, or to Undergang, than to Amorphis. But what actually really matters is that it's an excellent album.

The BC page.

 

UNDERGANG - De Syv stadier af ford​æ​rv (EP 2023)

If you like your death metal very raw and disgusting, you're probably already familiar with Danish band  UNDERGANG, if not then I urge you to listen to them, you won't regret, for example with their latest release the De Syv stadier af ford​æ​rv EP from last year. 7 tracks mixing guttural grindgore (Carcass school) and death doom for the slower parts. 100% filthy raw groove 100% UNDERGANG. 100% recommended!

The BC page.

 

Cruciamentum - Obsidian Refractions (2023)

In this second album, Obsidian Refractions, Cruciamentum's songs are longer and slower, maybe not death-doom all the way, but in an old school death-metal vein reminding bands like Immolation and Incantation. Their style is evolving a bit, but quality remains and they confirms they are among the new death metal bands we'll want to follow. I especially like the guitar work in this album, very nice.

The BC page.

 

Deathgrave - It's Only Midnight (2023)

Second album from Californians Deathgrave. It's Only Midnight keeps the old school death and grind elements but this time they focused more on their slower death-doom side (note that their guitarist plays bass in Autopsy, and used to play in Graves at sea), and the hardcore meets heavy and slow riffing also gives it a somewhat Black Flag feel at times. Keeps being good in any case.

The BC page.

 

Autopsy - Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts (2023)

Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts is the tenth album from death metal pionneers (their demo was released in 1987!) Autopsy. And its name says it all. Disgusting old school thrashy death metal with the usual doomy twists à la Autopsy. And still Chris Reifert on vocals. When death refuses to die (and t's a good thing because we want some more!). 

The BC page.

 

Incantation - Unholy Deification (2023)

Unholy Deification has the slower doomier parts for which Incantation are known for, but it seems to me that overall this album is faster than their usual. But one thing doesn't change : they deliver top quality old-school death metal, with excellent songwriting, catchy riffs and nice leads. Being so consistent at being so good for such a long time (13th album!) is no small achievement. Another great album by an awesome band. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

Fange - Privation (2023)

Privation is another excellent album from Fange, keeping on developing their new industrial direction, this time with a slightly melodic feel, in a somewhat doomy post-punk vein, with melodies reminding Paradise Lost or maybe Hangman's Chair. Still with bits of NIN / Author and Punisher, and the Godfleshian beat. But my favourite moments in the album are when Morbid Angel style riffs (from Domination to Gateways) crawls in. memorable also is the singing in French that works really fine. Heavily recommended!

The BC page.

 

 

Autopsy - Morbidity Triumphant (2022)

Morbidity Triumphant is the ninth album from Autopsy, seven years after the previous one (and like 35 years after the bands beginnings!). Still their usual mix of old-school death metal (which of course was new when they started), Slayer and Black Sabbath. And Chris Reifert is still an instantly recognisable and awesome death metal vocalist. 

They're not reinveinting the scalpel but sure are still slicing sharp and deep.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Father Befouled - Crowned in Veneficum (2022)

Crowned in Veneficum is the fifth album from Father Befouled, and, while they were already good, with this new album they elevated their dark art to a higher level. They mix US old school death metal with death-doom and cavernous murky death metal, somewhere between Incantation, Immolation and Impetuous Ritual. And this is done with excellent riffing and nice maniacal leads. Recommended!

The Bandcamp page.

Fange - Pantocrator (2021)

This new album from Fange is a bit less overtly industrial than their EP Poigne, but on the two long, bleak and atmospheric songs that make up Pantocrator we hear Fange at their most Godfleshian. And the result is really fine. Excellent stuff again from the sludge-death-industrial French band.

The BC page.

 

Mortiferum - Preserved in Torment (2021)

Preserved in Torment is the second album from Mortiferum (with guys from Caustic Wound and Bone Sickness), again with Profound Lore Records. They have some fine melodic leads and mourning riffs, but overall they are mostly on the more death metal side of death doom, of an old-school, raw and putrid kind, some blast-beats included (and the drumming, the sound and the playing, whether in the slow or the faster part, is something I enjoy especially on this album). Maybe the best death-doom album this year, but also among the best death metal albums of the year. Heavily recommended!

The BC page.

 

Asphyx - Necroceros (2021)

Asphyx was formed in 1987, and in 2021 they'ere still here, releasing their tenth album Necroceros. Respect. They keep on delivering quality old school death metal, with elements of thrash and also some heavier doomy parts. Ok, it won't stay as most memorable album of the year, but pleasing anyway.

Official website.

 

Blood Spore - Fungal Warfare Upon All Life (EP 2019)

Blood Spore is an American death-doom band singing about evil fungus. I really enjoy their EP Fungal Warfare Upon All Life released in 2019 (3 tracks in about 20 minutes). Their music is on the aggressive side of death-doom, with a raw delivery that can remind Autopsy. Good riffs, good vocals, good grooves. And fungus. Cool. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

Altarage - Succumb (2021)

Another great album from Altarage, maybe not as good as the previous one (the songs are less memorable), but still likely to make it to my "best of death metal" in the end of the year. They stil sound like somewhere between modern bands like Ulcerate/Portal and Morbid Angel (especially the atmosphere of crawling heaviness of the Gateway album), but went a step further into death/doom territory, culminating in a drone/doom long track in the end. They also included a bit of noise/industrial sound, which works well within their music. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

 

Gatecreeper - An Unexpected Reality (EP 2020)

With this EP called An Unexpected Reality, Gatecreeper don't go for their usual old school swedeath/hardcore crossover and on side A they delivers shorter and faster songs getting closer to deathgrind, while on side B they get slower and more melodic for a classical death/doom song. I really enjoy side A, but side B is good as well. Wasn't that much into their previous albums but really like this EP. Good stuff.

The Bandcamp page.