Death

Ritual Chamber – The Pits of Tentacled Screams [US, Death] (2014)

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Nuclear War Now Productions | 3 - 24-14

Nuclear War Now Productions | 3 – 24-14

Yeah, turn that shit up. No, seriously. Turn it up. I can’t hear what is going on. What sort of horrors can come from a mysterious project whose demo has been slung to the far corners of hell by Nuclear War Now? Well, once the volume is properly adjusted, the audience can get acquainted with The Pits of Tentacled Screams, the debut demo from Ritual Chamber. I am unaware whether it is the tentacles screaming or screams are emanating from the pit of tentacles. Whatever the answer, it sounds horrifying.

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Dead Congregation – Promulgation of the Fall [Greece, Death] (2014)

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Martyrdoom Productions | 5-9-14

Martyrdoom Productions | 5-9-14

Let us get something out of the way. Dead Congregation is really good as well as sort of important. 2008’s Graves of the Archangels was a giant leap for death metal in its slow climb up to contemporary prominence. I am not saying anything at this moment but Dead Congregation was one of the first newer bands to receive its high profile in the contemporary death metal scene. 2008 was a long time ago and 6 years later, death metal has shaped out to be something of fanatic interest. Promulgation of the Fall comes at a different time as there are brilliant death metal records coming out on a more consistent basis. If Dead Congregation can secure another fantastic release, it would do wonders for their reputation. It would also cast the world in further gloom.

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Qrixkuor – Consecration of the Temple [UK, Death] (2014)

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Self Released | 4-26-14

Self Released | 4-26-14

Oh man, here comes a flood of occult death. Qrixkuor is the name of a bird from a philosophical magic text written by Kenneth Grant. Grant’s work on the Thelemite religion continues the tradition popularized by Aleister Crowley. All of this is pretext to Qrixkuor, who may or may not have gone one step further in their image of obscured occultism. Ancient orders and mystic cults may now come with the cavernous sounds of echoing death.

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Triumvir Foul – An Oath of Blood and Fire [US, Death] (2014)

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Self Released |4-13-14

Self Released |4-13-14

Yes. Alright who is ready for some West Coast American death? I just hope you do not want too much information about this group as I have very little. I can promise little aside from menacing joy. From what I can gather, Triumvir Foul is a Portland two piece who has made it their goal in life to worship at the church of OSDM. Armed with influences and a penchant for shredding, this band plans to make its mark with the blood of whoever just got run over by the bulldozer. When madness and destruction are the sermons, devotion becomes a hellish experience.

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Gravehill – Death Curse [US, Death / Thrash / Black] (2014)

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Dark Descent Records | 4-1-14

Dark Descent Records | 4-1-14

Despite Gravehill’s rotting exterior, the band seems to be made up of musicians who are having a blast doing exactly what they are doing. This attitude adds to a fun atmosphere when a band seems be laughing louder than the screams of its audience. From sunny California comes Gravehill, bastard metal who seem to have no primary loyalty aside from playing as fast and menacing as possible. It is the sound of evil and it rips like a motorcycle engine.

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Shroud Of The Heretic – Revelations In Alchemy [US, Death] (2014)

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Blood Harvest | 3-10-14

Blood Harvest | 3-10-14

Jesus, almighty, this is some cavernous death. Shroud of the Heretic is a Portland based death metal act who has yet to see proper representation from a label. I know I mentioned this before but I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of some unsigned metal. By all intents and purposes, the production and presentation of Revelations In Alchemy, the band’s debut, is to the caliber of some of death metal’s most profiled acts. There is no need for comparisons save for Shroud Of The Heretic being a fantastic plummet into the depths of occult death with an odd choice in color choice for their cover. Greys, blacks, browns? Fuck you, how about white and green?

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Skelethal – Deathmanicvs Revelation [France, Death] (2014)

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Iron Bonehead | 3-4-14

Iron Bonehead | 3-4-14

Hooray French death! It should be noted that this band has two releases in 2014. One is this EP and the other is a reissue of the band’s 2012 demos packaged together with Swedish death act Inisans. That other release is being handled by Caligari Records while Deathmanicvs Revelation is headed up by our trustworthy friend Iron Bonehead. Enough time spent hopping around lesser known labels will reveal a network of filth, evil, and interconnected madness. By Hook or crook, Skelethal is entering in through your front door.

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Heresiarch – Wælwulf [New Zealand, Black / Death] (2014)

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Iron Bonehead | 3-14-14

Iron Bonehead | 3-14-14

From the arms of Dark Descent Records to the equally loving hands of Iron Bonehead comes the maelstrom called Heresiarch and their second EP Wælwulf. Heresiarch was loosely related to follow New Zealand acts Diocletian and Witchchrist but since then their lineup possesses no connections. The band is free of ties and responsibility and possess a freedom to make primitive black noise. I understand sometimes people use the term “madness” and “barbaric” to describe metal music but it is important to realize what near lawlessness would sound like. It certainly would have the atmosphere yet be entirely without grooves or points for orientation.

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Cemetery Fog – Shadows from the Cemetery [Finland, Black / Death / Doom] (2013)

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Iron Bonehead | 3-31-14

Iron Bonehead | 3-31-14

I usually like to focus on music from the current calendar year but then again, cassette demos are usually timeless. Back in the early days of 2013, there was this Finnish band, who couldn’t decide on whether or not they wanted to be death metal, or doom metal, or black metal. So this Finnish band, whose name is Cemetery Fog, decided to be all three. Back in 2013, the band released their third demo Shadows from the Cemetery which probably stayed in the hands of friends, family, and websites who stumbled on it by accident. Today in 2014, Iron Bonehead re releases this treasured gem for a greater audience. Who knew that while we slept, the sounds of death and doom where being played with gloomy grandeur.

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Lie in Ruins – Towards Divine Death [Finland, Death] (2014)

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Dark Descent | 2-4-14

Dark Descent | 2-4-14

This is an exercse in precision. Lie in Ruins is a Finnish death metal act with a release on Dark Descent Records. This is similar to Corpsessed, which is another Finnish death metal act also with a recent release from Dark Descent. In fact these two bands live less than an hour away from each other. If there were not so much good European death being released, then things wouldn’t become a problem. in fact if Corpsessed and Lie in Ruins released their records years apart, it would be cause for note. the fact that it came out within the same month is sending me to struggle to keep track.

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