Intro this, preface that, let’s get to the reviews. There’s only so many ways I can tell you that I went to a used record shop and found shit to talk about, amirite?

Sinoath – Forged in Blood (CD, 1991/2004, Elegy Music)
A relatively unknown band that’s been lurking in the Italian underground since 1990, this compilation documents their first spasms of life. Comprising their 1991 demo (titled “Forged in Blood,” obviously) and supplemented by a recording of their first live gig from the same year, Sinoath’s embryonic years are a wonderful excursion into the roots of Italian second wave black metal. Sinoath have the death/doom aesthetic that Necro Schizma espoused, but with ethereal keyboards lending a mystical aura, similar to Baxaxaxa. The live show is good, containing the three demo tracks plus an otherwise unreleased track, ‘Kingdom of Desolation.’ It’s raw, but listenable, and if you got through the “Forged in Fire” demo’s rough sound, then you’ll do just fine with the live tracks. Very cool release that will appeal to those into the old Mediterranean scene.

Coffins – Sewage Sludgecore Treatment (CD, 2012, Bones Brigade Records)
I’ve never been a huge fan of albums full of covers, which begs the question why I bothered picking this one up, but Hell, I did, so here we are. This EP runs a quick 23 minutes with Coffined-up versions of tracks by Buzzoven, EyeHateGod, Noothgrush, Grief and Iron Monkey. Then, just to make sure you get the point, a live version of the same EyeHateGod song. All things said not a terrible collection of covers, but only entertaining in passing and with no real lasting power.

Antediluvian – λόγος (CD, 2012, Nuclear War Now! Productions)
Antediluvian have always had a singularly primitive sound to them, and “λόγος” is no different. Although they share a similar chaotic sound to other bands from Western Canada like Mitochondrion, Auroch or Dire Omen, Antediluvian have a particularly primal nature, lurking in the murky depths of the black / death spectrum with low vocals that gurgle out of the Earth’s primordial ooze. A type of music you’ve heard before for sure, but with a unique atmosphere.

Magnanimus – Storms of Chaotic Revelations (CD, 2006/2011, Mushantufe Productions)
Delivering a fine slab of bludgeoning pandemonium, Chile’s Magnanimus hold little back in their 2006 debut. It’s far from the most distinctive album I’ve ever heard, but it gets the job done, and done well at that. If you have a need for some particularly furious, Morbid Angel-inspired death metal, look no further.

Nexul – Paradigm of Chaos (CD, 2017, Hells Headbangers)
Although it suffers somewhat from an oddly quiet production job, Nexul’s debut “Paradigm of Chaos” is a cyclonic descent into blackened death metal Hell. Despite the low mix, it does sound good, a relatively clean production job that still retains bite and rawness to it. While the first half is fairly standard fare, the latter portion of the album includes some interesting choices, like ‘Chaosifer Tower,’ a blistering instrumental track with caustic solos, and ‘Paradigm of Chaos,’ a twenty second blast of entropic fury. Meanwhile, the “full” tracks (you know what I mean) are excellent, laced with contorting passages that lend proper credence to the album’s title. Chaos indeed; a worthy listen.

Goatpenis – Biochemterrorism (CD, 2010/2013, Deathangle Absolution Records)
Always doomed to be the band people shy away from because of their name, it’s safe to say they’re missing out. To skeptics, it’s worth noting the band has roots dating back to the late eighties and have been around the extreme metal block a few times. “Biochemterrorism” puts that experience to good use with a powerful display of warlike blackened death metal madness. Martial in its delivery and subject matter, “Biochemterrorism” is supreme bestial madness. While this is an excellent entry in their discography, I found the follow-up “Depleted Ammunition” to be an even more impressive accomplishment, with a razor-sharp sound that gave it more gravitas.

– Voidhanger

**********************************
You can find Voidhanger on twitter.

Send us some shmeckles on our Patreon.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and like us on facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter.

You can find our podcast on iTunes, be sure to leave us a review if you are so inclined.