Resin Tomb – Inevitable Putrescence

Metal from down under has been on a roll for quite some time, with newcomers entering the fray on a regular basis. One such who has assembled a sound that’s virulent and shatteringly abrasive is Resin Read more […]

Venues – Transience (Arising Empire)

Venues’ second album, 2021’s Solace, saw the band implement a heavier sonic template that put them more in line with the modern metal groupings of acts like Deadlock or The Unguided. The type of sound Read more […]

Fatal Fire – Arson (MDD Records)

When you have the chance to slowly unveil your art due to a global crisis, the results can pay huge dividends in making an indelible first impression. Case in point, German power metal outfit Fatal Fire Read more […]

The Quill – Wheel of Illusion (Metalville)

With a history that starts in the early 90’s, Swedish act The Quill delivers a potent blend of heavy/stoner metal hard to miss over their discography. Up to the eleventh studio record, Wheel of Illusion Read more […]

Meister Leonhardt – Thanatopoeia (Purity Through Fire)

It’s no secret how much I love black metal. So as a result, I get a ton of this music in my mailbox. There simply isn’t enough time to listen, let alone digest it all. But when I listened to Meister Leonhardt’s Read more […]

Dead Head – Shadow Soul (Hammerheart Records)

35 years together as a group – it’s quite an achievement given all the twists, turns, and turbulence that can happen on a multitude of fronts. Such is the case now for Dutch band Dead Head – a celebratory Read more […]

Thornbridge – Daydream Illusion (Massacre Records)

Previously under this writer’s attention in an older Rapid Fire column for their last album Theatrical Masterpiece back in early 2019, German act Thornbridge lives for a stirring power metal style that Read more […]

Lords of Black – Let’s Be Heroes Again

When it comes to a versatile band willing to put out a mix of traditional, power, and progressive metal material, lately you would be hard pressed to not be smiling when taking in the discography of Lords Read more […]

Hulder / Devil Master / Worm / Necrofier – March 2, 2024 – The Abbey, Orlando, FL

Photos by: Brittany Barkasi The Decibel Magazine Tour has historically boasted a lot of heavy hitters, mixed in with bands currently making a large dent in the underground scene. Recent years have seen Read more […]

Hideous Divinity – Unextinct (Century Media)

Death metal is at times a genre in some state of flux. Plenty of originality around these days, but also a number of less than desirable copycats of yesteryear. There are, however, more than a few bands Read more […]

Attic – Return of the Witchfinder (Ván Records)

The marriage of the occult with metal has been constant since the birth of the movement. German band Attic are an important part of keeping both traditions alive – putting out two strong albums since Read more […]

Leaves’ Eyes – Myths of Fate (AFM Records)

Going strong within the symphonic metal scene for twenty years now, Myths of Fate marks the band’s ninth release. Surprisingly, yet not so surprising due to COVID, this is the band’s first release since Read more […]

Hypoxia – Roaring With Defiance

While the death metal genre has been evolving into multiple sub-categories, there’s nothing like a strong old school sounding act like Hypoxia that remembers to write solid songs beyond the impressive Read more […]

Stormhunter – Best Before: Death (MDD Records)

Germany has always been a steady force in the heavy/power metal category – never wavering for the style when other countries sought out extreme or alternative forms of musical expression. Stormhunter Read more […]

Holler – Reborn (Scarlet Records)

Singer/ songwriter Terence Holler is probably best known through the metal community for his 31-year stint in the outfit he co-founded Eldritch – a power/progressive metal outfit of which classic albums Read more […]

Sylvaine – Eg Er Framand (Season of Mist)

Sylvaine’s Kathrine Shepard has always been one to take listeners on a deep journey with her music. Unafraid to stick to a simply metal formatting, Sylvaine has provided expressive outlets and a multi-faceted Read more […]

Song Premier: Destroyer of Light’s ‘Waiting for the End’

Texas based Destroyer of Light have created an impressive discography since 2012’s self-titled debut, releasing a total of four full-length efforts while making their mark within the landscape of the methodical Read more […]

BRAT – Social Grace (Prosthetic)

Given the vast display of colorful band descriptions, BRAT’s ‘barbiegrind’ and ‘bimboviolence’ still managed to stand out and provide some quick context of what the band is going for. Combine it with a Read more […]

Critical Defiance – The Search Won’t Fall… (Unspeakable Axe Records)

Noteworthy as a South American band who literally push the pedal to the metal when it comes to thrash, Critical Defiance waste no time capitalizing on 2022’s No Life Forms album through this third studio Read more […]

Inner Axis – Midnight Forces (Fastball Music)

Hailing from Kiel, Germany, Inner Axis represents the marriage of classic heavy metal influences channeled through some modern touches. Since their start in 2008, they’ve released two albums Into the Read more […]

BRAT – Welcome to Bimboviolence

Photo: Greta Gerstner A whirlwind of grindcore, powerviolence, and death metal, BRAT hail from the incredible New Orleans heavy music scene – as a result developing a sound that is quite explosive Read more […]

Wounds – Ruin (Everlasting Spew Records)

It’s still pretty early in 2024, but the death metal has been flowing like a fine wine. I for one am not complaining, far from it. As long as I have a steady feeding of this and black metal, all is right Read more […]

Lutharo – Chasing Euphoria (Atomic Fire Records)

Slow, gradual movement in the underground can often pay huge dividends when opportunity strikes to make a major move from DIY, self-released offerings to a burgeoning label deal with well-respected people Read more […]

Miehala – Sons of Alaheim (Inverse Records)

Thrash metal continues to survive due to the influx of veteran bands continually recording/touring as well as a series of newer artists willing to put their own stake in the game. Finnish act Miehala began Read more […]

Leather Lung – Emerging From the Ashes

Photo: Raz Asraai When it comes to gritty stoner doom metal that also takes into account aspects of the DIY punk, hardcore, and heavy music scene, there seems to be no better breeding ground for artists Read more […]

Cave – Out of the Cave (Metalapolis Records)

A newer band consisting of seasoned musicians across Germany and the United States, Cave combines elements of melodic hard rock and dramatic heavy metal influences for this debut album Out of the Cave. Read more […]

Defying – Wadera (These Hands Melt)

Always with an ear to the ground for the unusual, my musical explorations over the years have led down all kinds of wacky rabbit holes. Within those many discoveries, we’ve become more drawn to music Read more […]