Bütcher - On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing (2024)

On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing, like Bütcher previous album, is a fine piece of old school speed/black/thrash heavy metal. With a first half of the album more focused speed and aggression, and a second half, the last three songs, being longer epic songs channeling a nice Bathory vibe. Suitably released by Osmose Productions. Recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

 

Intöxicated - Sadistic Nightmare (2023)

Ten years after their first album Intöxicated, from Germany, are back with Sadistic Nightmare, which is a very well crafted and enjoyable piece of thrash /speed metal. Not far from Metallica's Kill'em All, Mötorhead or more recently Midnight, agressive, rocking and traditionnal speed metal the way it should be done. Easy to get why they are Intöxicated, their music is addïctïve! 

The BC page.

 

Siberian Meat Grinder - Join the Bear Cult (2022)

Like any crossover hardcore/thrash band, Siberian Meat Grinder is mostly a live band (saw they on their tour with Napalm Death and Dropdead and they were excellent). But the albums, like Join the Bear Cult released last year, are good enough to be also enjoyable, they know to write plenty of catchy and highly dynamic songs and their vocalist have a very effective flow.

Ranger - Yl​ö​s raunioista / Risen From The Ruins (2022)

 

Yl​ö​s raunioista / Risen From The Ruins is the third album from speed metal duo from Finland, Ranger. 16 songs, but it's two versions of the same 8 ones, first in Finnish, then in English. Why not? But what matters most is that it's excellent speed metal, with a big Slayer vibe but also more heavy/speed elements. Somewhere between Reign in blood, Kill'em All and Painkiller. Among more recent bands, they could be compared to the also awesome Evil Invaders. Fast and aggressive as it should be, but also catchy just enough. Recommended for everyone, especially if you're into old-school metal.

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.

 

Exordium Mors - As Legends Fade and Gods Dies (2022)

As Legends Fade and Gods Dies, the second album from Exordium Mors may be not as awesome as their first one (I urge you to listen to The Apotheosis of Death), but it's another excellent one anyway, among the best recent metal releases. They polished a bit their sound, and I'm not sure it really makes it better, but it's ok, I suppose some will prefer it this way. Othersiwe they are back with another assault of epic black/death/thrash/speed, with high level songwriting skills, and old school in spirit but modern and quite technical in execution. Highly recommended!

The BC page.

 

Jungle Rot - A Call to Arms (2022)

A Call to Arms is released by Unique Leader Records, but this is definitely an old-school album, the eleventh from Jungle Rot, an American band formed in 1992. They play a death/thrash/hardcore crossover (no, not metalcore nor deathcore, more like Obituary meets Agnostic Front and Kreator). It's all about raw mid-tempo grooves. Done with a lifelong mastery. A solid, enjoyable, and again, old-school album. 

 

The BC page

 

MIDNIGHT - Let There Be Witchery (2022)

Let There Be Witchery is the fifth album from MIDNIGHT, and as usual they deliver a nice dose of speed metal (think a mix of Venom, Sodom, and Motörhead). Not really different from their previous albums, but they play a very traditional kind of metal anyway, and as long as it's so good and pleasing, that's totally fine.

The BC page.

 

Evil Invaders - Shattering Reflection (2022)

In 2015 I wrote that Evil Invaders first album Pulses of Pleasures would be hard to surpass. And indeed, like previously Feed Me Violence, Shattering Reflection is not as impressive. But in all fairness, Pulses of Pleasures is probably the best speed metal album of the XXIth century so far and Evil Invaders are still an excellent band, and Shattering Reflection is a great album to listen to. On Shattering Reflection, maybe even more than on Feed Me Violence, the Belgian band kept the speed metal/thrash intensity but overall are less fast and aggressive, evolving more in a traditional heavy metal direction. The good thing is that they also are very good at that, and with Shattering Reflection they produced another old school metal classic.  

The BC page.

 

 

Voivod - Synchro Anarchy (2022)

I don't know Voivod enough to say precisely how their new albums Synchro Anarchy differs from their previous works, but I can tell you it is another fine piece of their weird and futuristic progressive thrash metal, full of memorable songs. It's a pleasure to listen to such a unique band keeping on crafting strong and interesting music.

 

Their website.

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.

 

Bewitcher - Cursed Be Thy Kingdom (2021)

Cursed Be Thy Kingdom is the third album (previous ones are good as well) from the black/speed/trash demons from Portland Bewitcher. They still sound like early Metallica (I mean Kill and Ride) meets Venom, while also reminding the Swedish band that has nearly the same name, Bewitched, but this time it's slightly more polished and melodic. But they keep on rocking hard and fast anyway and the more traditionnal heavy metal inclined ones will approve the (slight) change. Cool stuff. 

Their Website.

 

Mammoth Grinder - Cosmic Crypt (2018)

If you're in need of your dose of old school metal/punk then Mammoth Grinder's Cosmic Crypt is exactly what you need. The trio with two Iron Reagan and a Power Trip delivers what sounds very very close to a mix of Entombed, Slayer and Discharge. If you like those bands you'll like Cosmic Crypt because Mammoth Grinde ris really good at playing this mix and they crafted a very well done and enjoyable album. They keep it short, straight to the point and pertfectly efficient, with no dull moments.

The BC page.

Trenchgrinder - Peace is Forfeit (2017)

Trenchgrinder got the power of old school metal and you will love it. Peace is Forfeit is their first album (firs demo in 2011), they are from New York, BK, their singer sings also in Anicon (so yes black metal style vocals) and their drummer is also in Skullshiter and Mutant Supremacy. What they do is old school Thrash/death with a Bolt Thrower / war metal groove. And they are really good at it. Epic riffing and powerfull drumming. Good stuff.

The BC page.

Power Trip - Nightmare Logic (2017)

Manifest Decimation in 2013 was a very strong first album and now its follow-up Nightmare Logic (also with Southern Lord Records), end establishing firmly Power Trip as one of the very best recent thrash metal band. The basic formula is still the same, a lot of aggressive old school thrash metal (Slayer, Exodus, Testament) and a bit of Cro-Mags style hardcore. In Nightmare Logic I also hear more groove (Pantera comes to mind more often this time) and in general a more concise and focused songwriting with a more personnal style. Exactly what is needed for a second album actually. I'm more into grind or noise than traditionnal metal these days but an album like Nightmare Logic manages to get me exited and reminds me why I get into metal in the first place. Very cool stuff!

The BC page. 

Triage - Power Beat (2016)

Triage is a young band from Toronto , they released a good EP last year called Power Beat. Five short songs that sounds a bit like if early Slayer (I mean Show no Mercy and Hell Awaits) would have gone hardcore. And with a girl singing. If you wonder if it sounds like Undisputed Attitude (when Slayer actually recorded covers of hardcore songs) the answer is yes, a bit. Anyway it's a very good first release (after a demo) and despite it's influences still manage to sound "fresh".

The BC page.

Ragehammer - The Hammer Doctrine (2016)

Ok, this time something more primal and less sophisticated : the old-school black / speed metal of Ragehammer. The Hammer Doctrine is their first album and it is a really good one. With black metal vocals, blast beats and d-beats on the drums, speed / thrash riffing, with the bass loud in the mix, it evokes stuff like Impaled Nazarene, or maybe Venom. It's badass and very well done. If you're into this kind of old-school metal don't hesitate one second and go for it!

The Bandcamp page.

Gouge - Beyond Death (2015)

If you like old school death metal and thrash metal this one is not to be missed. Gouge is a Norwegian band playing some thrash / death that sounds like when thrash was turning into death metal. So it's between early death metal (like stuff from Paul Speckman for exemple) and early Slayer (Reign in Blood) or even early Sepultura as well. Fast, raw, death metal vocals, some blast beats and an aggressive thrash metal vibe. All that makes their album, Beyond Death, released last year on Hells Headbanger, a very enjoyable album, especially if you're fond of the early extreme metal era it evokes (I am!).


The Bandcamp page.

Deathblow - The Other Side of Darkness (2015)

This cover art screams "old school metal!!" and that's indeed what the music is. Deathblow is a new trash metal band from salt lake city that are playing very classical but very cool and well done trash metal (in a Slayer / Kreator vein). They released an album that was good but a bit "demoish" but this EP called The Other Side of Darkness, released last year is absolutely sharp an efficient. With the Evil Invaders album last year (that was less classical trash with it's heavy / speed elements) this one is my favourite recent trash metal stuff. All I like in trash metal, the speed, the raw aggression, the straight forward "no bullshit" attitude, the memorable riffing and vocal lines, all is here, delivered with the conviction and energy needed. Traditionnal, but enjoyable anyway. If you're into trash metal no doubt you'll like it.

The Bandcamp page.

Khtoniiks cerviiks - SeroLogiikal Scars (Vertex of Dementiia) (2016)

SeroLogiikal Scars (Vertex of Dementiia) is the first album of the german trio Khtoniiks cerviiks. Their excellent demo Heptaedrone (that I reviewed HERE) set the expectations on a high level and, even if I miss the raw, barbaric and chaotic feel more present on the demo, I can say I'm not disappointed by the album. Their old school death metal kept it's weird and original character, putting a bit the brutality aside (while staying clearly on the black / death side of metal) helped them pushing their weird sound forward, with a clear techno-thrash flavour (reminding bands like Voivod and Coroner) combined with a bit of more contemporary dissonant elements (evoking the "occult" death metal scene and avant-garde french black metal). We need more bands like them, taking the old school death / thrash metal further onto paths less travelled.

The Bandcamp page.