Goatlord - Reflections of the Solstice [1991] + demo 1987

This is perhaps one of the most underrated extreme metal albums ever. Not because it's drenched in obscurity - it's not - but because it's one of the best extreme metal albums ever, something which is rarely recognised. This is a vicious blackened doom album with hints of death metal here and there, but more importantly, it's an album which features fantastic songwriting. A lot of these songs are perhaps more famous for having been covered - both Coffins and Necros Christos have covered 'Acid Orgy', Gospel of the Horns and Nunslaughter have both covered 'The Fog', etc. However, the originals are wonderful in their own right - the above two are brilliantly written slow burners, while the pace is picked up a little in 'Chicken Dance' and brilliant closer 'Sacrifice'. If you don't like choruses in extreme metal, this isn't for you, otherwise, if you haven't heard this, fill a void in your soul.

Sample (Sacrifice)

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Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide (2013)

German cultists Sulphur Aeon released their debut album, Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide, earlier this year. And man, does this thing rule. The album opens with Lovecraftian chanting, and fans of his works will recognise the eldritch abominations spewed throughout this record. Plunging us beneath the waves of the sea, the album drags us right into the heart of R'lyeh with horrid, dissonant riffs, punishing drums, and beastly vocals. The solos are atypically melodic in this album, but this is not a complaint. This is a pleasure for any fan of black/death metal, and doubly so for any Lovecraft fan (although the two are usually intertwined). Not one to miss for those looking to complete their 2013 collections.

"I'a, Cthulhu! I'a, Yog-Sothoth! I'a, Hastur! I'a, Shub-Niggurath!"

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Archagathus/Death Toll 80k split [2009]

This split, between the already legendary Canadian mincecore band Archagathus and the extremely competent Finnish death/grind band Death Toll 80k, shows quite how finely honed both have their respective crafts. At just eight minutes long, it passes by in a flash, but within those eight minutes, there are so many points at which the music does exactly the right thing (when you feel like you need a blastbeat, there's a blast, when it's a slower groovy part that's needed, that's included, and when an awesome Unholy Grave cover, well, Death Toll 80k take a crack at 'Confession'). Not an introductory record to grindcore, but certainly worthwhile for fans of the genre.

Sample (Archagathus - Dance Hall Derelict)

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Black Dethe - Demos [1985, 1988]

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Black Dethe was an American proto-death metal band. Formed in 1985, there's no good reason why anyone should have heard of these guys - they have no 'members of' bigger bands, and they released just three demos (one in 1985, two in 1988) before falling into oblivion. Perhaps it was just the quality of these demos which saved them from fading from memory. The first of the three, Evil Prayer from 1985, is perhaps the most death metal-oriented of them. Naturally, given the year of release, it's not pure death metal, building on a firm basis of thrash, but it's certainly reminiscent of a slightly more primitive version of Seven Churches. After a two-year hiatus, the band was reformed, apparently having listened to some thrash in the interim. The single-track on Iron Cross brings to mind The Ultra-Violence written by Schuldiner when he was still 'Evil Chuck', and the entire Mary's Blood demo is pretty much a slightly deathened version of Reign in Blood. In truth, there isn't a whole load of diversity across these demos, and I wouldn't slap you for saying that Evil Prayer sounded like Slayer (especially given the pleasing rhyme), but the three are definitely worth a listen for those who like their thrash a little rougher around the edges.

Sample (Evil Prayer)

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Altars - Paramnesia (2013)

Altars has been making quite a name for itself with the release of their debut record, Paramnesia. The Australian death metal outfit makes death metal with an old school vibe and hearkens to sounds of Immolation and Gorguts of old, whilst holding themselves on par with current death metal titans Ulcerate and Flourishing. Not much more can be said.


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Zuul - Promo 2011

You know how these days we find old, obscure death metal bands from the early 90s with a demo or two and like to think they boost our hipster cred? Well, in another fifteen years, Zuul is going to be that band. Zuul plays quite a unique style of old school influenced death metal. Oftentimes the band's riffing and song structure is incredibly weird and interesting to listen to. Changing tempo rapidly, playing anything from crunchy, classic riffs to playing more atonal and experimental riffs, with some punk-influenced drumming occasionally and some of the worst demo production to boot, Zuul is no doubt gonna be a kvlt gem in a few years' time. This 2011 promo is their most recent release before the band disintegrated, but it's also their best.

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Slutvomit - Swarming Darkness (2013)

Do you like your death metal lean? All the fat trimmed, all the gimmicks thrown out the window, all the bullshit out of sight? Then Slutvomit's debut, Swarming Darkness, is for you! The band plays a style of deathrash laced with black metal and I'll be damned if this doesn't make you want to bang your head and punch shit. This album doesn't fvkk around, it gets right down to brass tacks. With a slew of unstoppable riffs and shredding solos that just keep. on. coming., this album is for any extreme metal fan.

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