Indominus "Burn" Single Review

  Despite different iterations of the band & line up changes throughout the years Northern Ireland's Crushing Death Metal force Indominus still continue to deliver quality material ,they've become a constant within the Northern Ireland metal scene and are known for their ferocious live performances.it has been a good while since the released new music,that's due to change soon with the imminent release of their crushing new single Burn.

   Going straight for the jugglar this absolutely crushing offering leaves no cross unturned and despite it been a short track it ticks all the right boxes even the introduction of some elements of Hardcore which inject a nice level of virtriol combiined with that trademark heaviness.

  Prepare yourself for this monstrous track dropping this Friday 16th May as it will crush like a wrecking ball and is a great way to introduce their new drummer, hopeully we'll be yet again treated to more of the same going forward.

RATING:9/10

 FB: https://www.facebook.com/IndominusNI

 IG: https://www.instagram.com/indominusni/

Higher State "Welcome Me" Single Review

 

  UK Deathcore Merchants Higher State recently released their brilliant second single Welcome Me from their upcoming debut EP, let's delve into the finer details this excellent band have to offer us.

  instantly we're hit with a lethal combo of groove with a crushingly heavy rhytmn section ,once the vocals take centre stage you can start to feel a really dark and unnerving atmosphere designed to create a really dystopian aura, the vocals switch from deep gutturals to a really aggressive beatdown style which adds to the whole dystopian atmopshere, you also get the feeling that there's an element of egocnetric and psychotic thought patterns at play here, the musicianship throughout this is executed brilliantly and is a taste of things to come.

  There's plenty of strong and memrable qualities at play here and would be worth your while to keep a really close watch on Higher State,who for all intense purposes know how to combine all the best elements of Crushing Death Metal with modern Deathcore, if you like groove laden crushing heaviness then look no further then this brilliant single,if this is the standard to expect from their upcoming EP we're definitely in for a proper slab of heaviness.

RATING: 8.5/10

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Higherstateband

 

Death Can Wait " Slowly Sinking" EP Review

 

  After a 4 year Hiatus and a few line up changes the excellent Death Can Wait have returned with an absolutely amazing new EP Slowly Sinking , original members David Moorehouse(Guitars) & Patryk Hadrys(Drums) still remain and in come Thea Moylan(Vocals) & Sam Darlington(Bass) to round off the new line-up, also they've went in a slightly different direction musicially from their excellent debut EP Self Portrait but it's still unique and original sounding as they've become known for,let's dissect the finer details to this phenomenal release.

  

  The insane and deranged vocal delivery unleashed on Obscurity really sets the tone for what madness is about to be unravelled, there's a really sick and nasty guitar tone which adds another quality element to the track, the relentless drumming at the beginning of Empty shows the  levels of variation this band display ,then combine that with the intrciate complexities with the Guitar and Vocals and you have a truly memorable track.

  The Only Way Forward is Through(Me) is an absolute riff fest and a proper mid paced headbanger,this also displays plenty of melodic passages combined with sick gutturals that really pack a punch, Slowly Sinking is a more then fitting way to close out this brilliant release,this is full of emotion and plenty of groove laden hooks that will get stuck in your mind, it's also a nice touch to have their previous vocalist Brian Colfer  of Scrawb doing the clean vocals on this track, it feels like a department from the old into the new and rounds off an absolutely brilliant release.

  Slowly Sinking is an absolutely brillaint offering and is a monstrous progession for a band  going though line up changes and various personal issues, also for those not aware this is the first time their new Vocalist Thea Moylan has been in a band and was in a recording studio further evidence this band are going to get even better,in ending this is a strong potential early contender for EP of the year from a truly unique band not afraid to push the boundaries to new extremes.

RATING:8.5/10

FB: https://www.facebook.com/deathcanwaitband

IG: https://www.instagram.com/deathcanwaitband/

Asylum Road "The Fear" EP Review

 

  Derry is a City full of History and Tradition and has seen alot of bands/artists cut their trade throughout the years,although there has been a slight decline with regard to rock or Metal bands,the absolutely brilliant Asylum Road  are here to spearhead a revival of quality bands in the North West region of Ireland and are on the cusp of releasing their brilliant debut EP  The Fear.

 

    

 Straight away the heft is unleashed with the meaty riff infused Malignant, this ones a mid paced ultra heavy offering from start to finish, the vocal delivery is full of aggression and angst ridden vitriol. the best possible way to open up proceedings, Hyperfixated is full of technical riffing and is possibly the fastest track on the EP ,there's a lot more aggression in the vocal delivery .the rhytmn section of bass and drum are executed with razor sharp precision on this track.

  What was the launch single when the band started promoting the EP the absolutely brilliant The Fear touching on the theme of going out drinking for the night and getting nightmarish thoughts and anxiety from drinking too much; it's no secret the bands vocalist Darryn McCartney is a massive Pantera fan and that influence is extremely prevelent on this track(Dimebag would be proud) ,plenty of groove,riffs and heft going on here, Changing of The Tide is another groove laden monster full of extremely passionate vocal passages a nice new element which shows a more emotional element to their overall sound.

  The closing track Requiem is possibly the most emotional and heartfelt track on this phenomenal release.it's almost like a ballad with subtle hints and an ode to Cemetary Gates this track is an accumalation of everything touched upon in this release,emotion,quality musicianship,heaviness and aggression,i wouldn't usually say this about a release but the order of the songs are perfectly sequenced to the point that the band gradually build an atmosphere with each songs making it like a complete storyboard of emotions and real life scenarios.

  The Fear is a release worth your undivided attention and Asylum Road have struck gold with this one even if the band are in their infancy of their career.this needs mutiple listens before it really sinks in ,a proper slow burner of an EP, this may only be the beginning with these but it's a really fantastic offering and is a taste of things to come from a band ready to unleash some more memorable releases.

RATING:9/10

FB: https://www.facebook.com/asylumroadband

IG: https://www.instagram.com/asylum_road/

Sickened "Sickened" EP Review

 

   Let This serve as a bit introduction/recommendation piece and a short analogy from the excellent One Man Deathcore/Brutal Death Metal Project Sickened,unbeknowst to a lot of people within the Irish Scene there's something special about to explode from the county of Wexford with a few artist/bands working dilligently and under the radar included is the aforementioned Sickened who recently released their debut S/T EP.

    Although it is noticable that there's a rawness and a lo-fi approach to the production there is a certain charm to it albeit with a lethal dose of Brutality and Heaviness,the Intro is a quick instrumental track designed to create an atmosphere of what's to come, We Are Not The First plenty of crushing grooves with some lo-fi vocals that at times remind me of Viral Load or Putrid Pile, Fucked Up is possibly my favourite track on this release it's filled with crushing and visceral riffage combined with some guest vocals courtesy of Kris of Dead Memories, with better all round production the tecnicality would be alot more noticable on this track.

   Infernal Feast continues with some fantastic technical ability,there's also a larger amount of Groove prevelent throughout this one which adds another positive element to the overall product, final track You Got Nothing From It was one of the first tracks to be released by this project and suffice to say is an absolute banger,visceral and crushing riffage combined with the lo-fi vocals give this a brutality and sickness that is so addictive to listen to.

  Overall there's plenty of potential on offer with this project,yes the production may not be to everyone's liking but hell the musicianship,technical ability and amount of work put in deserves to be lauded and praised to the hilt, this is a really enjoyable and worthwhile listen and with further releases this project will definitely improve.

RATING:7.5/10

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/65ZTWTT9yhLwYwp4MYkyoS?si=jRbszgRXRR6Y0gCtlkZsXA

BANDCAMP: https://sickened.bandcamp.com/album/sickened

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@cal669/featured

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sickened_official/