Trudger - Void Quest

Labels: Floodlit Recordings

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 29 Aug 2025

Tracklist:

1. Merciless Sabre

2. Occupied Frequency

3. Illusory Path

4. Tethered System

5. God Rest

6. Battle Hardened

7. Wind Cleaver

8. Sleep Purge

9. Bile Elixir

Reading the press release earlier this year confirming that Barnsley's Trudger were retuning with a new album wasn't something I ever expected. The early to mid-2010's saw a continuous wave of excellent heavy bands making their way out of the deepest underground and Trudger were one such band. They released their debut EP Motionless In Dirt (in 2012) and followed it up with their debut full-length Dormiveglia (in 2014), before disappearing. 

Eleven years have passed since that debut album and with the help of rising UK independent label Floodlit Recordings, they have recently released their second full-length Void Quest. Describing their sound as neo-crust sci-fi death-sludge, they conjure up all kinds of genre-splicing sounds. That reminds me; they're not the only heavy band from Yorkshire to return of late but more on that later!

I’ve been eager to listen to this album and while I missed it on release day (29th August), my intention was for it to be the next release I would write about and here we are. Opening with ‘Merciless Sabre’, Trudger’s sound is a more condensed, almost evolutionary step up from their more introspective/post-metal approach on Dormiveglia. Prominent and off-kilter percussion/guitars do the hard yards while the vocals are filled with genuine low-end growling rage. First impressions mean a lot in this overly-stimulated society. That first impression is overwhelmingly good.

From the slightly more progressive opener to the crustier ‘Occupied Frequency’, Trudger move from blasting up-tempo crust-laden passages to much more distilled periods of dissonance and progression. The undercurrent of death and sludge is present here but it’s slightly hidden behind Trudger’s experimentation. As I say that though, ‘Illusory Path’ provokes with it’s early down-tempo approach. Sludge fills the speakers before things take an acute turn, as metallic riffs rule the airwaves alongside crustier textures.

There are occasional ambient/introspective endings to songs that provide moments of calm before the storm. One such moment is the brief few seconds that close out ‘Illusory Path’ and open ‘Tethered System’, which instantly explodes into one of the heaviest songs on Void Quest. It’s Trudger at their most unapologetic, though there are some elements of post-hardcore present as well (to my ears at least), that come as a surprise. 

‘God Rest’ slots itself in as the album’s mid-point and while other bands might have used it as a bridge or interlude, Trudger continue on with their marauding, metallic quest (sorry!). Given the sci-fi/fantasy visuals that adorn the album’s cover art and it’s song-titles, the music is certainly not of that same ilk; especially if you were expecting some sort of folky/pagan/power metal. ‘Battle Hardened’ contains more beefy slabs of off-kilter instrumentation that are really engrossing. Coupled with the consistently strong vocals, this is a joy to listen to if you like your metal heavy and dark.

The fact that Trudger can pull off longer, more progressive songs alongside the urgent shorter numbers like ‘Wind Cleaver’ shows that their time away hasn’t been wasted at all. Often when bands resurface after such a length of time, new releases can feel forced or rushed. It’s not the case with Void Quest at all. The further in you get the more exciting it becomes and before you know you’re deep into penultimate song ‘Sleep Purge’, which grows into it’s heaviest song almost instantly. 

Closing out their triumphant return with ‘Bile Elixir’ (which is an equally triumphant song in it’s own right), Trudger raise the bar for the UK underground. Void Quest is excellent all the way through. Nothing more need be said.

Void Quest is available to stream and purchase digitally below, where you can also grab physical copies on vinyl and tape (CD copies are now sold out):-

Trudger - https://www.facebook.com/trudgeruk

Floodlit Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/floodlitrecordings

Obnoxious Concoction - Obnoxious Concoction

Labels: Dry Cough Records

Formats:Tape/Digital

Release Date: 21 Feb 2025

Tracklist:

1. Painkiller's Steel Chariot

2. The Vampire

3. Dredd Avenging Battalions of 2025 AD

4. Orkish Apotheosis

5. Rangifer Tarandus Disembowelment

6. Carboniferous Copacabana

7. Rage of Augment

It's almost August, like how has that happened! Time bloody flies and bands pop up overnight. Leeds-based death metal band Obnoxious Concoction released their debut self-titled EP in February via Dry Cough Records on full-body printed tapes (yes, I know I'm very late with this review). The quartet features members from Mortuary Spawn, Tormented Imp, Gorgon Vomit and Nepalese death metallers Animality.

This EP is a fast one, so if you haven’t already heard it, prepare yourselves. Opening with ‘Painkiller’s Steel Chariot’, the riffs are the first to hit you as they pave the way for blasting yet technical death-grind and properly ferocious vocals. This is insane from every angle already. ’The Vampire’ flails with subtle thrash metal tendencies, but stomping death metal isn’t far away. It fills the mid-section before the pace goes all the way up. 

Not being too serious is a good trait for any extreme metal band, which usually manifests itself in song-titles. ‘Dredd Avenging Battalions of 2025 AD’ is a fine example as Obnoxious Concoction mix their finest ingredients to produce a blistering recipe of extremity. ‘Orkish Apotheosis’ is both the EP’s mid-way point and also it’s shortest song, picking up where the previous song left off. Much more grind-heavy thanks to the percussion (maybe a hint of powerviolence in there too), while the guitars/vocals add so much heft and vibrancy (if that’s the right descriptor).

I had no idea but apparently Rangifer Tarandus is the scientific name from Reindeer or Caribou. I had to look it up because of ‘Rangifer Tarandus Disembowelment’, which follows. I’m guessing that Obnoxious Concoction don’t approve of animal cruelty so the song-title probably refers to somebody being disembowelled by a Reindeer. As violent an image as that is, it pretty much matches the tone of the song. You’ll understand why when you hear it (if you haven’t already!). I’ve also gotta call out the sick guitar soloing towards the end.

Moving onto the EP’s penultimate song and only example of alliteration ‘Carboniferous Copacabana’; after an initial bar or two of old-school death metal riffs, Obnoxious Concoction explode once again into technical, uptempo grinding death, complete with added grooves. Without any pause at all, you’re slung headfirst into final song ‘Rage of Augment’. It’s the cherry on top of what is a ridiculously good EP from another brilliant UK band.

Obnoxious Concoction seem to have already found a formula that sounds pretty much complete, which is no surprise really given their collective experience. You’ve got another reason to deep dive into UK death metal now.

You can stream the EP digitally and grab it as a name-your-price download from Obnoxious Concoction below:-

I picked up a tape copy as soon as it went on sale; however, 1 copy remains for sale via Dry Cough's bandcamp page here - https://drycough.bandcamp.com/album/obnoxious-concoction. Sell this MF out!

Obnoxious Concoction Instagram - @obnoxiousconcoction

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

INSULT - Reside Infernus

Labels: Metal on Metal Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 25 Apr 2025

Tracklist:

1. Reside Infernus

2. Bloodthirsty

3. 0-60, Death or Glory

4. Holy War (Sea of Tears)

5. This Life We Despise

6. Berserker

7. Broken Mind

8. Power From Hell

When I spotted an e-mail in my inbox about a band that featured two of the original members of UK thrash institution Onslaught, I couldn't believe it. I also didn't realise that said band INSULT actually formed way back in the mid 80's. The duo of drummer Steve Grice and bassist Jase Stallard reformed the band in 2022 and began to write new songs, before being joined by Onslaught's roadie Jase Howell on vocals, as well as guitarists Robbie Harris and Jonny Fifield. Their debut album Reside Infernus was released in April via Metal on Metal Records.

As much as the UK metal scene needs young blood, it also needs metal legends, especially those who laid the bedrock for what we know and love today. Enter INSULT and their debut album Reside infernus. Crafting music through their collective love of thrash and heavy metal, they open with the title-track ‘Reside Infernus’. It’s haunting intro leading into anthemic guitars/bass, sharp drumming and classic thrash vocals. Catchy as hell and paying homage to the early masters, INSULT’s delivery is classy but also layered with raw passion. 

You’ll hear some familiar influences flowing through this record and on ‘Bloodthirsty’ the quintet don’t try to hide from them. Nor should you but remember that there’s much more to this album. When INSULT hit their stride, they’re unstoppable. The rousing title ‘0-60, Death or Glory’ says all that needs to be said about the attitude here, as the band rips through a song that owes as much to Motorhead as it does to Onslaught. 

‘Holy War (Sea of Tears)’ contains Eastern samples during it’s intro and proceeds to be a commentary on current global hostilities, in a way that only thrash metal can. Just like the days when Slayer criticised religion on God Hates Us All, INSULT have done so in a similar vein and that criticism is needed now more than ever. 

The album’s second half kicks off with the raging ‘This Life We Despise’, which is filled with wicked riffs, percussion and vocals that both compete against/complement each other. The chugging guitars that drag you into that lovely solo toward the end add to the ferocity as well. The aptly titled ‘Berserker’ does literally what it says and berserk’s through over four minutes of epic thrash madness. It’s brilliant! 

Penultimate song ‘Broken Mind’ starts in brooding fashion, leading to precision thrash that pulls absolutely no punches. It’s easy to see how a band that originally formed in the 80’s has been able to write and execute such incredible songs. Form is temporary, class in permanent. 

INSULT close out with a re-recorded/cover version of Onslaught classic ‘Power From Hell’ and they’re joined by a very special guest, in Onslaught’s Sy Keeler. Both Jase Howell and Sy together make for a powerful vocal duo as INSULT bring an early thrash anthem to new ears.

Honestly, it’s been way too hot this evening to be headbanging but needs must. It also seems like UK bands of old (no matter what genre) are slowly coming back to life. That can only be a good thing and if you miss the halcyon days of UK thrash, INSULT are here to remind you that it’s alive and well. 

You can stream and purchase the album digitally via bandcamp below:-

To caveat the above; I understand that bandcamp are making some changes to the way bands/labels receive payments. If you're a band/label who're concerned about this change and have read up on it already, I would recommend you look at Ampwall, which is an artist-centric alternative platform that's growing all the time.

Physical CD copies can be purchased from Metal on Metal Records here:-

https://metalonmetalrecords.com/shop/

INSULT - https://www.facebook.com/insultofficial

Metal on Metal Records - https://www.facebook.com/MetalOnMetalRecords

Dromos - Dromos

Labels: Dry Cough Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 13 Dec 2024

Tracklist: 

1. Caveat Emptor

2. Memorial Moss

December last year saw the release of the debut EP from UK funeral doom band Dromos, via Dry Cough Records. Dromos is made up of four experienced musicians with international roots, plying their trade in a corner of the doom metal genre that's synonymous with the UK while also being underrepresented in favour of other forms of extreme music. As festival season kicks off, don't forgot that darker/colder nights are approaching and with them come the likes of Dromos.

This self-titled EP features two songs, one of which is an instrumental. ‘Caveat Emptor’ opens in slow-building fashion with low riffs, feedback, down-tempo percussion and deep vocal bellows. All of those ingredients form the basis for Dromos and their funeral doom, but there’s more to their sound than that. Clean (almost chant-like) vocals present themselves alongside the subtle murmuring of death metal’s influence. Those more up-tempo moments reveal more about their individual experience as musicians but as we know, music constantly shifts, moving in cycles. 

If we didn’t have those shifts and cycles, musicians would just stay in their lane, forever producing the same thing (I could name a few very established bands doing that to this day). Doing so doesn’t harbour creativity and variation though, which is why listening to Dromos excites me as instrumental closer ‘Memorial Moss’ weaves a melodic path through acrid darkness. It’s sound is full of warmth and filled with old-school textures,  though those aforementioned textures are reimagined, not rehashed.

As a debut this EP is outstanding. It’s always great to hear a new band hitting the ground running (or more appropriately, crawling), even if it’s made up of experienced hands. I’m looking forward to what may come from Dromos in the future.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-

Tape copies can be purchased from Dry Cough Records here - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/dromos-dromos-cassette

Dromos - https://www.facebook.com/dromosdoom

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Pariah - Violence Is A Curse

Labels: Cursed Monk Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 28 Feb 2025

Tracklist: 

1. Life/Redemption

2. Parasite's Refrain

3. Within My Skin

4. Endless Circles

5. The Swarm

Fifteen years into this blog and it feels like I've moved further away from what I started. Heavy music in the UK was the backbone and discovering new bands was the purpose. Life gets in the way though and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't long for the connections I had and the visceral emotions I felt at gigs/festivals. 

This all leads me to Pariah. A quartet of musicians that released their debut record in February. A band that both benefits from and adds to the rich history of the UK scene. They released five honest, crushing songs via Cursed Monk Records, who in turn is a proud supporter of UK heavy music.

Pariah’s sound is mired in unnerving noise and heavy metallic hardcore, reminiscent of what used to come out of the CoF stable back in the day. ‘Life/Redemption’ is filled with chunky riffs, shattering percussion/bass and bile-filled vocals. The song’s tone and atmosphere highlights a lot of anger and that emotion spills into ‘Parasite’s Refrain’, which leaves the band’s sludgier/slower tempo behind in favour of faster metallic hardcore. Frantic and brilliant.

‘Within my Skin’ is filled with palpable intensity and energy. Pariah’s metallic sound shines through again here, alongside a gnarlier aggressive edge. The switch between nastier, slower songs and those that are much faster keeps anticipation levels up as ‘Endless Circles’ (despite the name) sees the quartet going about their business in succinct fashion. Closing with ‘The Swarm’, Pariah level everything and everyone with sheer heaviness. It’s sound is in some ways familiar but also refreshing too. 

This EP has been moulded from a blueprint that was forged by Northern England’s heavy music community. A wide network of people, bands and gig promoters that support each other. With the return of revered UK festival Ghostfest this year, Leeds venue Boom rising like a Phoenix out of almost nowhere and of course Pariah (with help of co-conspirators Cursed Monk Records), there’s plenty of reasons to be excited.

You can stream and purchase Violence Is A Curse on physical/digital formats from Pariah below:-

It's also available to buy on vinyl from Cursed Monk Records here:-

https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/merch. 

No news on CD copies (unless I've missed an announcement) but keep an eye on the band/label pages below:-

Pariah Instagram - @pariahnoise

Cursed Monk Records - https://www.facebook.com/cursedmonk

Mutagenic Host - The Diseased Machine

Labels: Dry Cough Records/Gurgling Gore/Memento Mori/Self-Released

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Neurological Necrosis

2. Genestealer

3. The Twisted Helix

4. Artificial Harvest of the Obscene

5. Organometallic Assimilation

6. DIRECTIVE:: [kill_on_sight]

7. Incomprehensible Methods of Slaughter

8. S.W.A.R.M (Systematic War Against Restless Machines)

9. Promethean Dusk

10. Rivers Of Grief

As the world was stumbling bleary-eyed into 2025, London death metallers Mutagenic Host unleashed their debut full-length The Diseased Machine. It arrived almost two years on from their first recording The Genotoxic Demo, which was released via Dry Cough Records. Dry Cough worked alongside Gurgling Gore to release this album on both tape and vinyl, while Memento Mori Records committed it to CD and Mutagenic Host self-released it digitally. Little did they know at the time just how crazy the world would get!

Being one of the newest additions to the UK death metal ranks, Mutagenic Host have garnered quite a lot of excitement with their approach to the genre. ‘Neurological Necrosis’ shows why with it’s heavy percussion/bass, core-laden riffs and blood curdling deep bellows. ‘Genestealer’ doffs it’s hat to slam with it’s riffs but fear not, this song is still firmly rooted in the old-school death metal camp. Who says that bands can’t do both, right?

The sinister guitar melodies and tempos that open ‘The Twisted Helix’ soon give way to reveal a careening, thrash-like verse. Soon after, the instrumentation slows back down for the chorus once again, dragging the vocals down too before a brilliant solo seamlessly seeps into the song’s latter half. Ultimately, what’s offered here is extreme song-writing and musical delivery at it’s best. ‘Artificial Harvest of the Obscene’ delivers a number filled with metallic dissonance and perfect momentum. Coupled with another great lead-guitar solo and extra atmospherics (mainly due to ambient sounds and samples), Mutagenic Host lay their marker down early.

‘Organometallic Assimilation’ marks the near-midway point in the album and it’s where the superior drum production comes to the fore. Honestly, it boosts the song over and above what has come before it (to my ears anyway), not that the song’s other components don’t of course. It just hits differently because of the percussion. As is the norm now, interludes are a popular way of building anticipation and atmosphere, and ‘DIRECTIVE:: [kill_on_sight]’ is one of the better examples I’ve heard for a long time.

If this write-up seems slightly disjointed it’s because I racked up 13 hours in my day job on Tuesday, followed by normal 8 hour shifts yesterday and today. I know that’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things but it’s enough to leave me feeling a bit wiped out (especially with a new work I.T. toy to keep my brain stimulated). Maybe it’s slightly ironic that the next song is called ‘Incomprehensible Methods of Slaughter’ then. The glorious intro led by both bass and percussion leads to a doom/death-inspired monolith. Okay, it’s more OSDM than doom/death but it still hits the same.

The drumming throughout The Diseased Machine sounds massive, but it sounds even more so on ’S.W.A.R.M (Systematic War Against Restless Machines)’. Said drumming also makes the rest of the band rise up to the same level too. For a song so late on in the album to still sound so focused and intense is a joy (if that’s the right word!). Penultimate song ‘Promethean Dusk’ draws from the slam influence again, even if subtly. Mutagenic Host do a great job of settling the slam down alongside both traditional and brutal death metal. 

Closing with the album’s longest song ‘Rivers of Grief’, Mutagenic Host inject sampled-screams and haunting ambient/sci-fi sounds into an intro that heralds a full-bodied, instrumental-led death metal track. It’s actually quite a treat to hear their instruments coming to front as they do and as the volume fades, so does the adrenaline. The spacey, ethereal outro is comforting but it doesn’t hide the fact that the record is over.

From demo to debut album, it feels like the step change for Mutagenic Host has been massive. The recording work done by Boulty at Stuck on a Name Studio in Nottingham and Charlie Wilson at Monolith Studios in London (both great independent recording studios), coupled with the mixing and mastering from Ben Jones (who also worked on their demo), really elevated this release. Ash, Jack, Sami, Dan and George have nailed it here and hopefully there’s much more to come.

You can stream The Diseased Machine and purchase it digitally, as well as on tape and CD from Mutagenic Host below:-

Mutagenic Host - https://www.facebook.com/MutagenicHost

You can also buy physical copies from the labels below:-

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/category/dry-cough-releases

Gurgling Gore - https://www.gurglinggore.com/category/our-releases

Memento Mori - http://www.memento-mori.es/store_search.php?text_search=Mutagenic+Host&genre=0&search_home=store_death

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Memento Mori - https://www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label

Raging Speedhorn - Night Wolf

Labels: Spinefarm Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 06 March 2025

Tracklist:

1. Blood Red Sky

2. Buzz Killa

3. The Blood Code

4. Can't Stop

5. Every Night's Alright For Fighting

6. Night Wolf

7. DOA

8. Comin' In Hard

9. Dead Men Can't Dance

10. Dead Reckoning

UK high-octane sludge royalty Raging Speedhorn have just released their seventh full-length Night Wolf  via Spinefarm Records. The Corby sextet have kept going though line-up changes and hiatuses to reach twenty five years, having released their self-titled debut album at the turn of the Millennium. It's great to have Raging Speedhorn firing on all cylinders again and their return will be another much needed boost for UK heavy music.

After a slightly foreboding intro, ‘Blood Red Sky’ fills the speakers with groove-laden riffs, thunderous bass/percussion and RSH’s familiar dual-vocal onslaught. Musically, their impact over the years has been notable and doesn’t need re-telling. Here, their sound is both mature and revitalised at the same time. A honed take on hardcore and sludge, Night Wolf doesn’t need lengthy songs and ‘Buzz Killa’ shows why. It retains it’s heaviness while being catchy in the right way, which is something RSH have consistently delivered.

The bass that kicks off ‘The Blood Code’ is glorious and as it’s joined by the rest of the band, you’re in for them at their heaviest. There’s a simplicity to it that’s hard to ignore and that’s why it’s so enjoyable. Sounds great at full-volume too! ‘Can’t Stop’ takes the sound of NOLA sludge and RSH inject it with a heap of UK rock n roll flair. Being one of the shorter songs on Night Wolf, it’s gone by before you know it.

With a song-title that’s a play on the famous Elton John song, ‘Every Night’s Alright For Fighting’ is… perfect for just that. Riff-fulled mayhem in the catchiest of ways. At the mid-point of the album you may be thinking that Raging Speedhorn have lost some of their more dangerous/rougher edges over the years. You’d be right, but that doesn’t mean their sound can’t evolve at the same time. 

The album’s title-track drags you into it’s latter half with all the groove you’ll ever need on record. Once again, the dual-vocals provide a lot of colour (despite the harshness), while the instrumentation carries itself perfectly. I think the mixing/mastering captures a slightly more polished version of the band, which is definitely a snapshot in time.

The latter-half of Night Wolf is way more to-the-point and ‘DOA’ proves that in a succinct three-minute blast of sludgy hardcore that has all the tempos covered. Destined to be a live favourite for sure. The sound of feedback during the intro to ‘Comin’ In Hard’ is something that’s been missed so far. It subsides, giving way to yet more Southern drawl and dixie-esque influence. Everything’s definitely “comin’ in fast” here.

Penultimate rager ‘Dead Men Can’t Dance’ dials up both the heaviness and the upbeat nature of RSH’s song-writing just when you thought things might slow down. Absolutely brilliant! Ending with ‘Dead Reckoning, the reckless punk nature of early Speedhorn comes back to roost. The fact that they pack as much music into this final song as they do into all the rest is testament to their love for what they craft.

I needed this tonight but I didn’t appreciate how much until Night Wolf finished. While I’m more familiar with the Speedhorn of old, I can’t ignore what they have become now. Twenty five years into a career that’s helped shape the UK underground, they’re bound to reach new ears with this album. Long may they continue to cause chaos!

You can watch the hilarious video for 'Every Night's Alright For Fighting' via Youtube below:-

Physical copies of the album, as well as merch, can be purchased via Spinefarm Records here:-

https://spinefarm.tmstor.es/products/search

Raging Speedhorn - https://www.facebook.com/ragingspeedhorn

Spinefarm Records - https://www.facebook.com/spinefarm

Sulfur - La démone Premiere

In just over ten days time, Canadian label Tomb Tree will be releasing a brand new split tape featuring UK emoviolence bands Sulfur and Martin Randal Travel (who have sadly called it a day according to their Instagram page). I am thrilled to be able to premiere Sulfur's track 'La démone'. I can't tell you how excited I am about the fact that two new-ish UK bands are being released by a label halfway across the world, who in turn are championing them across the whole damn world!

Before I post the fresh YouTube stream of the song (courtesy of Tomb Tree/ZBR), here are some words about the song from Sulfur:-

'La démone was the first time we'd sat down and written a slow burner of a song so I decided I wanted to make the lyrics hit as much as possible. Written about my struggle with bulimia, it's almost a chronological walk through the most intense part of the disorder that I'd dealt with right up until the point before I really broke out of that cycle. 

Thankfully, a song we'd put that much work into could go on a split with some of the people who helped us get involved in the wider UK emo scene. Kush especially has done so much work to help grow the scene and allow newer bands to make their way around the country.'

Without any more delay, here's 'La démone' in it's violent, radiant glory:-

As for the tapes themselves; here's a picture of the lovely Primary swirl variant /20:-

Sulfur Instagram - @sulfur.hc

Martin Randal Travel Instagram - @martinrandaltravel

Tape copies will be available for purchase on February 24th via Tomb Tree here - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/tomb-tree-tapes and here - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes.

Tomb Tree - https://www.facebook.com/tombtreetapes

Malauriu/Sinoath - Scuru/Symphony of the Scythe Split 7"

Labels: Doomentia Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 20 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Malauriu - Scuru

2. Sinoath - Symphony of the Scythe

Czech extreme metal label Doomentia Records recently gathered together two bands rooted in Sicily (Italy) for a split 7" of epic proportions. Featuring one song from both Malauriu and Sinoath respectively, it's a proper nod to the old-school way of doing things. Split releases like this don't come round very often, what with the current fashion of bands shooting for collaborative albums instead. Malauriu is a duo that has been active for over a decade now (splitting time between Italy and the UK), while quintet Sinoath stretch all the way back to 1990.

Malauriu started out as a black metal band before heading in a more experimental rock/darkwave direction (according to Metal Archives) and it’s their song ‘Scuru’ that opens this split. Their sound contains all kinds of elements from ambience to orchestral organ/synths and the black metal that signalled their formation. As somebody who isn’t a huge fan of the recent dungeon synth explosion, nor symphonic metal in general, the extreme metal that forms the backbone of this song is perfect and I really appreciate the honest approach that Malauriu takes.

Sinoath have many years of recording/performing experience under their belts compared to Malauriu (who haven’t exactly wasted any time themselves) and ’Symphony of the Scythe’ is a hellish soundscape filled with raw black/death metal. It’s very European sounding as you’d expect and the addition of both brass, and classical piano textures add bombast where there was none before. The solo towards the end exhibits their musical prowess even further.

This split is executed brilliantly as it showcases two bands from the same region/country who both have their own unique interpretation of extreme metal. At first Malauriu didn’t hit me properly but their music is catchy here and it soon grew on me, while Sinoath’s old-school rawness was unexpected before being overpowered by classy instrumental layers. Sometimes, it’s easy to form expectations as long as you’re prepared for them to be shattered. Mine were here but in a very good way.

You can stream and download this split digitally below:-

Vinyl copies are also available to purchase from bandcamp above, as well as from Doomentia Records here - https://www.doomentia.com/7/.

Malauriu - https://www.facebook.com/malauriuofficial

Sinoath - https://www.facebook.com/SinoathOfficial/

Doomentia Records - https://www.facebook.com/doomentia

Telepathy - Transmissions

Labels: Pelagic Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 28 Mar 2025

Tracklist:

1. Oath

2. Augury

3. Knife Edge Effect

4. Tears In Fibre

5. A Silent Bridge

6. End Transmission

7. Home

I can't believe that it's already almost the end of January. It seems like a couple of days since I started to plan what I was going to write about this month. I knew early on that I'd be writing about the soon-to-be-released fourth full-length from Polish/English post-metal quartet Telepathy. Transmissions will be released by Pelagic Records in late March and is currently available for pre-order. Residing in the UK, Telepathy have been active as a band since 2011 and have been consistently releasing music ever since. 

I write this review as I eagerly await my first subscription box of the year from Pelagic Records. To be honest, I’ve spent way too much on record this month but let’s gloss over that and get lost in Transmissions, which starts with already available single ‘Oath’. Telepathy’s sound is a beguiling collage of progressive and instrumental post-metal, intertwined with cleverly placed samples and subtle synths. It’s no wonder that Pelagic chose to add them to their roster.

I feel that this year is already shaping up to be a special year for heavy music (I’ve said that a few times already here and I’m sticking by it). Opening with a 9+ minute song in the form of ‘Oath’ shows that Telepathy are here for the long-haul and honestly, it’s the perfect beginning as it effortlessly flows into ‘Augury’, which grows with every bar and note. We need more albums where bands just play constantly and ignore those stupid pauses between songs, as they ruin the flow.

‘Knife Edge Effect’ has a very different feel to it as it’s filled with more samples and elegantly placed synths. It’s not an interlude by any stretch but it relies less on Telepathy’s heavier instrumentation until much later on, where it sounds like they throw in some harsh vocals (that of course may be additional samples). 

The first of two properly lengthy songs is the mid-point number ‘Tears In Fibre’, which weighs in at over 14 minutes and is one of those songs that grows slowly. It’s layered instrumentally in such a way that it’s movements seem to flow in and out like the tide. At this point we’re not even halfway through yet either. The song’s latter half is much more progressive and also slower in tempo as Telepathy move in a sludgier/doomier direction.

‘A Silent Bridge’ isn’t silent but is a bridge between the lengthiest songs on Transmissions. One filled with samples, crackling noise and synth-laden ambience. It gives way to the oddly titled ‘End Transmission’, which isn’t the final song on the album. It is the album’s longest song though and it benefits from a greater playing time, as Telepathy’s instrumentation really deserves it. The song slides effortlessly between heavier movements and quieter ones that are again filled with subtle samples that add more mystique to both band and record.

Album closer ‘Home’ is much more stripped back and  has that warm embrace about it, the sort you get when you return to somewhere familiar and safe. That feeling is banished at the midway point through as Telepathy throw new layers of sound in. After a sudden break in the music, the album ends in haunting fashion. This album gives you a feeling of hope yet also despair. The instrumentation is breathtakingly good throughout but there’s just something about those samples, I just can’t put my finger on what it is. Either way, I can’t wait for it’s official release in March, It’s gonna be well worth it.

You can stream 'Oath' and pre-order Transmissions on all formats below:-

Telepathy - https://www.facebook.com/telepathyband

Pelagic Records - https://www.facebook.com/pelagicrecords

Disengagement - Formless In A Violent World

Labels: Self-Released/Dry Cough Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 14 Jul 2023

Tracklist:

1. Black Hole Horizon

2. Permafrost

3. Deathdealer

4. Formless In A Violent World

Continuing (and catching-up) with my write-ups about the releases coming from Manchester, UK based doom/sludge turned doom/death label Dry Cough Records moves a step closer this evening as I focus on the 2023 debut EP from North West quintet Disengagement. Formless In A Violent World saw the light of day (if that's the right phrase) in July 2023 on both digital and tape formats. It proved so popular in fact, that Dry Cough Records pressed a second run of tapes, which are now fully sold out.

On reading through the list of bands that Disengagement's members play in/have played in, it's names including The Flex, Violent Reaction, Sectarian Violence and Headroom that jump out at me. Its got me wondering how they went on to form a band rooted in old-school death metal. Maybe that's a question better left unasked. 

I own a copy of this EP on tape and despite having a portable tape/cd combo player, I’m in the market for a proper tape deck (any leads would be greatly appreciated). I need one to fully appreciate the quality encased within the plastic shell of this and all of the other tapes in my collection. Starting with ‘Black Hole Horizon’, Disengagement presents a down and dirty modern take on OSDM, which is something UK bands do pretty damn well. Pummelling yet classy percussion is joined by rumbling bass, thrash-laden death metal riffs and deep, bellowed vocals.

The opening riffs and tempo of ‘Permafrost’ nod towards the many bands that Disengagement’s members also reside in, but don’t let that fool you. Instead of being influenced by raucous/groovy hardcore, the mid-paced death metal approach turns it into a menacing yet subtle march.

‘Deathdealer’ sees the tempo ratchet up a notch thanks to more thrash-like death metal grooves. It’s a really classy take of death metal that will captivate you, if you haven’t already been dragged in by it’s hellish siren song. I appreciate that it’s been nearly eighteen months since this EP was released, but I for one am hoping that the silence from Disengagement since doesn’t spell the end of the band.

Closing with the title-track ‘Formless In A Violent World’, things get decidedly more sludgy and slower in tempo, leaning evermore towards the old-school. I’m not complaining because everything about it is absolutely perfect. The instrumental and eventual vocal delivery is what makes it so.

If you’re looking for a death metal EP that’s free from experimental noodling and resplendent in straight-forward yet disgusting tones, this is for you. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that it’s the best version  of OSDM I’ve listened to since the (new) current wave of UK death metal crawled out of the soil. More please!

You can stream and purchase Formless In A Violent World digitally below for just £2.00 from Disengagement below:-

Disengagement Instagram - @disengagement.death

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords