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. 

 

Immolation - Descent (2026)

Bands able to consistently release excellent music without a single failure for nearly 40 years aren't so many. Immolation is one of them. They don't release albums so often, but when they do they make sur it doesn't disappoint. Descent is their twelth one, and another masterpice in mid-tempo death-metal, with a strong feel of dark majesty and inexorable evil. Nothing new for them, but they found their own unmistakable sound long ago and they stick to it. And the results are there to show they are right.

 

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. 

 

Ophiolatry - Serpent's Verdict (2025)

Serpent's Verdict is a new album from Brazilian band Ophiolatry, seventeen years after their previous one! They combine modern brutal death with old school US influences, especially Morbid Angel, with also a touch of Nile, and they do it well. Good stuff.

Their Website. 

 

Malefic Throne - The Conquering Darkness (2025)

Malefic Throne is a trio comprising Gene Palubicki (Angelcorpse, Perdition Temple), vocalist & bassist Steve Tucker (Morbid Angel) and drummer John Longstreth (Origin, Hate Eternal, ex-Angelcorpse). The Conquering Darkness is their first album (following an EP). As you can expect, we're talking about old-school US Death metal, rooted in traditions (some moments not only reminds, Angelcorpse and Morbid Angel, but also early Slayer!), but with an intensity that always has characterized the musicians past and present bands and that totally can look modern death metal in the eyes. Good stuff!

 

The BC page. 

 

Grave Infestation - Carnage Gathers (2025)

Carnage Gathers (a joint release by Invictus Productions and Dark Descent Records) is the second album Canadian Grave Infestation and will be a feast for anyone into old school death metal. Think a mix of old shool US DM, bits from early Slayer (circa Hell Awaits / Reign in Blood), and a touch of war metal for the additional chaos and aggression. Good stuff!

 

The BC page. 

 

Drawn And Quartered - Lord of Two Horns (2025)

Last time I reviewed a Drawn And Quartered album was thirteen years ago, and it was already their sixth album... Who would have believed then that they would turn into a k-pop band? Nah, just joking :). Of course they still play some excellent old-school US death metal! Lord of Two Horns is full of cavernous growls, ominous grooves, blast beats, vicious riffing and devilishly twisted lead guitar parts. Good to know you always can rely on bands like Drawn And Quartered to keep the underground strong! Death is forever, isn't it? Recommended.

 

The BC page. 

 

 

Vacuous - In His Blood (2025)

After a promising first album in 2022, Vacuous (from London, UK) is confirming with their second album and Relapse debut, In His Blood, that they are among the best new bands in the old school death metal scene, with a sound evoking Incantation, Autopsy and Immolation. I'm pleased to see that Relapse records are still sometimes releasing stuff as out of fashion and underground as old school death metal, but it's not so surprising, Vacuous quality is obvious, and it's fully deserved.

 

The BC page. 

 

Hyperdontia - Harvest of Malevolence (2024)

Harvest of Malevolence, the third album from Hyperdontia will easily find its way among the best old school death metal release of the year. I discovered them with the excellent EP they released last year, and this album is totally up to my expectations. Perfect old school feel and atmosphere (taking from both the US and Swedish schools) with especially good guitar work (and the bass & drums are doing a good job as well). Recommended!

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.

 

Skeletal Remains - Fragments Of The Ageless (2024)

Fragments Of The Ageless is the Fifth album from Skeletal Remains. Their old school death metal (old school but with a technical twist) has always sounded Floridian, but this time it sounds more precisely very MorbidAngelic (B, C and D albums). And since it's done so well, in great songs with excellent guitarworks, who will complain? No me!

The BC page.

 

Hyperdontia - Deranged (EP 2023)

Deranged is the latest release from Hyperdontia, four tracks of excellent and nicely old-school death metal, with a primitive feel reminding a bit the early works of Cannibal Corpse. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

Serpent Corpse - Blood Sabbath (2023)

Blood Sabbath, released last summer, is the excellent first album by Serpent Corpse, from Montréal. Death metal that is firmly old school, and on its more slow and heavy side, somewhere between Bolt Thrower and death-doom. Good enough to be also enjoyed outside the old-school aficionados circles. 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.

 

Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific (2023)

Pionneers of death metal are having a great year, does death keeps alive after all? We had Suffocation, Incantation, Cryptopsy, all good albums (probably also the Autopsy one...). And now a very nice Cannibal Corpse! This time it seems they focused more on writing memorable songs, and it worked really well. And at the same time level of technicality and brutality is still very high. Is Chaos Horrific their best one since Kill or Evisceration Plague? Time will tell, but maybe...

The BC page.

Outre-Tombe - Abysse Mortifère (2021)

Outre-Tombe is an old-school death metal band from Québec and Abysse Mortifère is their third album. The vocals in French are excellent, and so are the riffs, the leads and the thick ugly atmosphere and the heavy grooves. Reminding bands like Autopsy, Bolt Thrower or Entombed Abysse Mortifère have everything that makes a very enjoyable old school death metal album. Recommended!

Excellent album de death metal à l'ancienne de la part des Québécois de Outre-Tombe. Mention spéciale pour le chant en français, mais tout le reste est vraiment excellent aussi. Abysse Mortifère ravira tous les amateurs de bon vieux death metal. Je recommande chaudement !

The Bandcamp page.

 

Cryptworm - Oozing Radioactive Vomition (2023)

Happy to say that death metallers from Bristol (UK) Cryptworm are passing with success the test of the second album (after a first excellent one) with Oozing Radioactive Vomition (out in mid december). The menu is still old school death metal mixed with slam / Mortician / goregrind for additional groove and putridity. Very tasty!

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.