DEATH, THRASH, BLACK, HEAVY, DOOM AND ROCK METAL ZINE

- REVIEWS, REPORTS, INTERVIEWS - SUPPORT METAL UNDERGROUND

čtvrtek 12. února 2026

Recenze/review - SLAUGHTERDAY - Dread Emperor (2026)


SLAUGHTERDAY - Dread Emperor
CD 2026, Testimony Records

for english please scroll down

Stal jsem se svým vlastním stínem. Probouzel jsem se z divokých a děsivých nočních můr a musel jsem ven. Bosý jsem se toulal na starých pohřebištích, v jeskyních, ve kterých spávaly krvelačné bestie. Tančil jsem za svitu měsíce mezi náhrobky, užíval si prašivou a temně chladnou atmosféru. Nejraději jsem ale navštěvoval mokvající močály plné mrtvých těl v různém stádiu rozkladu. Tady, v krvavé mlze, s tvářemi utopenců, jsem se cítil nejlépe. SLAUGHTERDAY přicházejí s novým albem a já jsem si na sto procent jistý, že muselo být nahráváno na podobných místech.

Historie kapely je tak trošku i historií našich webových stránek. Sleduji dráhu těchto temných Němců od jejich počátků (recenze na minulé nahrávky i rozhovor jsou odkazovány dole pod dnešním článkem). Pánové i letos pokračují ve své morbidní cestě rovnou do pekla. Inspirováni H. P. Lovercraftem i dalšími mistry hororu, opět přicházejí s deskou, u které tuhne krev v žilách. 


Fanouškem kapely jsem se stal někdy kolem roku 2014, když jsem ji objevil při jedné z mých nekonečných toulek podzemím. Zaujala mě mrtvolná atmosféra, kterou dovede kapela pokaždé vytvořit. Surový, prašivý death metal v tradičním, klasickém provedení, se zde potkává s doomově mrazivou atmosférou. Novinka je stylově vybroušeným drahokamem. Troufám si tvrdit, že všichni, kteří mají rádi smečky jako AUTOPSY, ASPHYX, MASTER, CELTIC FROST, BLACK SABBATH, POSSESSED, se stejně jako já zavřou do svého pokoje, otočí volume až doprava a najednou se budou také procházet mezi náhrobky a užívat si chlad i temnotu, které ze skladeb odkapávají jako černá krev z dlouho neléčeného vředu. Mohu vám to klidně podepsat, ale pořád si stojím za tím, že SLAUGHTERDAY patří mezi jedny z nejlepších současných old  school death metalových kapel na scéně i v podzemí. Nálady jsou tajemně fascinující, uhrančivé, jednotlivé motivy se vám dostanou do žil i hluboko do podvědomí. Vždycky se mi na téhle smečce líbilo, že je opravdová, reálná, surová, nekompromisní, přesto mrtvolně melodická a autentická. "Dread Emperor" je také albem, které má velmi povedený zvuk i motiv na obalu (Pär Olofsson). Zkrátka a dobře, moje srdce starého psa, který hlídá vstup do podzemí skoro už 35 let, tepe ve stejném rytmu. Stal jsem se svým vlastním stínem. Probouzel jsem se z divokých a děsivých nočních můr a musel jsem ven. Bosý jsem se toulal na starých pohřebištích, v jeskyních, ve kterých spávaly krvelačné bestie. Tančil jsem za svitu měsíce mezi náhrobky, užíval si prašivou a temně chladnou atmosféru. Hnilobou nasáklé, staré death metalové močály vydaly další děsivé svědectví! Nahrávka, u které budete pohřbeni zaživa!

Asphyx says:

I became my own shadow. I woke up from wild and terrifying nightmares and had to get outside. Barefoot, I wandered through old burial grounds and caves where bloodthirsty beasts slept. I danced among the gravestones in the moonlight, enjoying the foul and darkly cold atmosphere. But what I liked best was visiting the oozing swamps full of dead bodies in various stages of decomposition. Here, in the bloody mist, with the faces of drowned men, I felt best. SLAUGHTERDAY are coming out with a new album, and I am one hundred percent sure that it must have been recorded in similar places.

The history of the band is also a bit like the history of our website. I have been following the career of these dark Germans since their beginnings (reviews of previous recordings and interviews are linked below today's article). This year, the gentlemen continue on their morbid journey straight to hell. Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft and other masters of horror, they are back with an album that will make your blood run cold. 


I became a fan of the band sometime around 2014, when I discovered them during one of my endless wanderings through the underground. I was captivated by the deathly atmosphere that the band manages to create every time. Raw, mangy death metal in a traditional, classic style meets a doom-laden, chilling atmosphere. The new album is a stylistically polished gem. I dare say that everyone who likes bands such as AUTOPSY, ASPHYX, MASTER, CELTIC FROST, BLACK SABBATH, POSSESSED, will, like me, lock themselves in their rooms, turn the volume all the way up, and suddenly find themselves walking among the gravestones, enjoying the cold and darkness that drips from the songs like black blood from a long-untreated wound. I can easily sign off on that, but I still stand by my opinion that SLAUGHTERDAY is one of the best current old school death metal bands on the scene and in the underground. The moods are mysteriously fascinating, captivating, and the individual motifs get under your skin and deep into your subconscious. I've always liked this band because they are genuine, real, raw, uncompromising, yet deadly melodic and authentic. "Dread Emperor" is also an album with a very well-done sound and cover art (Pär Olofsson). In short, my heart, that of an old dog who has been guarding the entrance to the underground for almost 35 years, beats to the same rhythm. I have become my own shadow. I woke up from wild and terrifying nightmares and had to get out. Barefoot, I wandered through old burial grounds, caves where bloodthirsty beasts slept. I danced in the moonlight among the tombstones, enjoying the mangy and darkly cold atmosphere. The rot-soaked, old death metal swamps have released another terrifying testimony! A recording that will bury you alive!




about SLAUGHTERDAY on DEADLY STORM ZINE:











TRACKLIST
01. Enthroned
02. Obliteration Crusade
03. Rapture of Rot
04. Astral Carnage
05. Subconscious Pandemonium
06. Dread Emperor
07. The Forsaken Ones
08. Necrocide
09. Dethroned
10. Golem (Protector cover)

LINE-UP
Jens Finger – Guitars, Bass
Bernd Reiners – Vocals, Drums

LIVE LINE-UP
Jens Finger – Guitars
Bernd Reiners – Vocals
Tobias Koops – Guitar
Ulf Imwiehe – Bass
Tom Hoffmann – Drums


Recenze/review - EVIL DAMN - Eons of Horror (2026)


EVIL DAMN - Eons of Horror
12" MLP, Hells Headbangers Records

for english please scroll down

Sedával u starého hrobu a proséval mezi prsty prach. Přemýšlel o tom, kolikrát se vlastně vydal na lov. Vždycky čekal, až se setmí a potom se toulal ulicemi. Oběti si vybíral náhodně, neměl žádný řád, ani předsudky. Koneckonců, ve smrti jsme si všichni rovni. Přes den se na všechny usmíval a působil jako milý chlápek ze sousedství. Uvnitř něj ale spalo absolutní zlo a temnota. Jsou kapely, které je dokáží vytáhnout na povrch a vypálit na hudební nosič. EVIL DAWN z Peru ctí bezezbytku všechny staré, prokleté postupy. I letos nastavují zrcadlo našim hnusným činům.

Mraky se skoro dotýkají země a kněz v nedalekém kostele opět káže své lži. Hrdina našeho příběhu se znovu vydává na lov. Atmosféra je velmi ponurá, chladná a bolestivá. Z krvavé mlhy vystupují přízraky nemrtvých obětí. Touží se pomstít. Nálady na novém EP jsou velmi podobné. Death metal  je zde ušpiněný starodávnými blackovými postupy a nová nahrávka je tak na povrchu velmi chladná a surová. Hoří zevnitř. Vítejte na rituálu smrti!


Skoro devatenáct minut morbidních melodií, ostrých riffů, bestiálního vokálu a zabijáckých bicích. To vše zabalené do pavučin a masivního, divokého zvuku. S obalem, který připomíná ty nejděsivější noční můry. Vše tu sedí perfektně na svých místech. Skladby v sobě mají potřebný drive, takovou tu pradávnou sílu a jsou ušpiněné sírou. Připomínají kusy zahnívajícího masa, které kapela hází do ksichtu všech padlým kněžím, všem prokletým, všem, kteří zradili. Osobně se mi nejvíc líbí, že jsou EVIL DAMN opravdoví, reální, nespoutaní, divocí, reální a autentičtí. Věřím jim každý tón, každou notu. Připadám si jako by mě peruánští tmáři pokaždé zavřeli do staré kobky se sériovým vrahem z úvodu dnešní recenze. Dali mi do rukou nůž a nechali mě vykonat spravedlnost. Stanu se také obětí nenávisti? Vyvolají moji duši jednou při nějakém okultním rituálu? Kolik zlých lidí je kolem nás pohřbeno? "Eons of Horror" považuji za velmi povedenou záležitost, kterou ocení nejvíce všichni pravověrní fanoušci. Je to vlastně jednoduché. Sedl jsem si do svého pokoje, zapnul play na přehrávači a najednou jsem nebyl doma, ale na jednom starém hřbitově. Naproti mě seděl  u starého hrobu muž s podivným úsměvem na tváři a proséval mezi prsty prach. Přemýšlel o tom, kolikrát se vlastně vydal na lov. Vždycky čekal, až se setmí a potom se toulal ulicemi. Oběti si vybíral náhodně, neměl žádný řád, ani předsudky. Koneckonců, ve smrti jsme si všichni rovni. Surové, okultní death metalové album, u kterého se probouzejí ty nejděsivější démoni! Budete navěky prokleti! 

Asphyx says:

He sat by an old grave and sifted dust through his fingers. He wondered how many times he had actually gone hunting. He always waited until dark and then wandered the streets. He chose his victims at random, with no order or prejudice. After all, we are all equal in death. During the day, he smiled at everyone and acted like a nice guy from the neighborhood. But inside him lay absolute evil and darkness. There are bands that can bring it to the surface and burn it onto a music carrier. EVIL DAWN from Peru honors all the old, cursed practices to the letter. This year, they are once again holding up a mirror to our ugly deeds.

The clouds are almost touching the ground, and the priest in the nearby church is preaching his lies again. The hero of our story sets out on the hunt once more. The atmosphere is very gloomy, cold, and painful. The ghosts of undead victims emerge from the bloody fog. They long for revenge. The mood on the new EP is very similar. Death metal is tainted here with ancient black metal techniques, and the new recording is thus very cold and raw on the surface. It burns from within. Welcome to the ritual of death!


Almost nineteen minutes of morbid melodies, sharp riffs, beastly vocals, and killer drums. All wrapped up in cobwebs and a massive, wild sound. With cover art reminiscent of the most terrifying nightmares. Everything fits perfectly in its place here. The songs have the necessary drive, that ancient power, and are stained with sulfur. They resemble pieces of rotting meat that the band throws in the faces of all fallen priests, all the damned, all those who have betrayed. Personally, what I like most is that EVIL DAMN are real, unrestrained, wild, genuine, and authentic. I believe every tone, every note. I feel like the Peruvian obscurantists have locked me in an old dungeon with the serial killer from the beginning of today's review. They put a knife in my hands and let me carry out justice. Will I also become a victim of hatred? Will my soul be summoned during some occult ritual? How many evil people are buried around us? I consider "Eons of Horror" to be a very successful project that will be most appreciated by all true fans. It's actually quite simple. I sat down in my room, pressed play on the player, and suddenly I was no longer at home, but in an old cemetery. Opposite me, sitting by an old grave, was a man with a strange smile on his face, sifting dust through his fingers. He was thinking about how many times he had actually gone hunting. He always waited until dark and then wandered the streets. He chose his victims at random, with no order or prejudice. After all, in death we are all equal. A raw, occult death metal album that awakens the most terrifying demons! You will be cursed forever!



Recenze/review - EVIL DAMN - Necronomicon (2021):


tracklist:
1. Eons of Horror 
2. God of Chaos 
3. Summon Thy Presence 
4. Evil Dwells Out There 
5. Guerreros de Satan



středa 11. února 2026

TRIČKA DEADLY STORM ZINE - výročí 10 let v podzemí! / DEADLY STORM ZINE T-SHIRTS - 10 years underground anniversary!







TRIČKA DEADLY STORM ZINE - výročí 10 let v podzemí! / DEADLY STORM ZINE T-SHIRTS - 10 years underground anniversary!

for english please scroll down

Uteklo to jako voda v řece Styx. S DEADLY STORM ZINE jsme v listopadu 2025 oslavili 10 let v podzemí. K této příležitosti jsme vydali nová trička.

Autorem mrtvolného motivu je Jakub Rusek: https://www.facebook.com/jakubnrusek/

Výrobcem triček jsou: PROMO WORKS: https://www.promoworks.cz/  


Značka trička:

Trička jsou od značky Ascolour, což je prémiová značka z Nového Zélandu. Tkanina: Gramáž 220 g/m² ,100% česaná bavlna

Konstrukce: Žebrovaný výstřih, boční švy, páska od ramene k rameni, dvojité švy, předem vysrážená tkanina pro minimalizaci srážlivosti.

UPF hodnocení: 50+

(UPF 50+ => látka propustí méně než 2 % ultrafialového záření – tedy blokuje přibližně 98 % škodlivých UVA i UVB paprsků. Je to nejvyšší standard ochrany, který se u textilií běžně používá.)

Vydáno ve velikostech: S - 3XL (případné další velikosti na objednávku)



Barvy: černá a bílá

Trička lze objednal u NEONARCIS zde: 

Děkujeme vám všem za přízeň a podporu. Moc si toho vážíme! Extrémní metal nesmí nikdy zemřít!

Old school death metal až za hrob!


english:

DEADLY STORM ZINE T-SHIRTS - 10 years underground anniversary!

It flew by like water in the River Styx. In November 2025, DEADLY STORM ZINE celebrated 10 years underground. To mark the occasion, we released new T-shirts.

The author of the corpse motif is Jakub Rusek: https://www.facebook.com/jakubnrusek/

The T-shirts are manufactured by: PROMO WORKS: https://www.promoworks.cz/  

T-shirt brand:

The T-shirts are from Ascolour, a premium brand from New Zealand. Fabric: Weight 220 g/m², 100% combed cotton

Construction: Ribbed neckline, side seams, shoulder-to-shoulder tape, double seams, pre-shrunk fabric to minimize shrinkage.

UPF rating: 50+

(UPF 50+ => the fabric allows less than 2% of ultraviolet radiation to pass through, blocking approximately 98% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. This is the highest standard of protection commonly used in textiles.)

Available sizes: S - 3XL (other sizes available to order)




Colors: black and white

T-shirts can be ordered from NEONARCIS here/ trička můžete objednávat zde: 

ČERNÉ TRIKO/ BLACK T-SHIRT:

BÍLÉ TRIKO/ WHITE T-SHIRT:


Thank you all for your loyalty and support. We really appreciate it! Extreme metal must never die!

Old school death metal to the grave!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recenze/review - DEATHMARCH - Violent Retaliation (2026)


DEATHMARCH - Violent Retaliation
CD 2026, vlastní vydání

for english please scroll down

Úkol zněl jasně. Rozdrtit všechny staré rakve, které jsme během několika posledních měsíců exhumovali. Hřbitov hluboko v lesích, na které byli kdysi dávno pohřbeni prokletí. Jakmile se setmí, tak beru do rukou kladivo a v chladné márnici mlátím do prašivých kostí a smějících se lebek. Naslouchám šepotu nemrtvých, připadám si, jako bych byl svíraný pevnými pavučinami děsivých snů. Umírám a znovu se rodím. Nejdříve jsem nové album holandských maniaků DEATHMARCH poslouchal jako kulisu. Po několika společných seancích se mi dostala pod kůži i do podvědomí.

Je to nářez přesně podle mého gusta. Valící se death metal, nahrubo nasekané kousky crustu, sem tam na povrch vylezou i punkové a black metalové pasáže. Novinka na mě působí jako řev bestie, která dlouhé roky spala v záhrobí. Letos se probudila a touží po čerstvé krvi. Nezbývá mi nic jiného, než opět přidat volume na svém přehrávači a znovu vzít do rukou kladivo. Čeká mě další rakev, další plesnivé prokleté tělo. 


Je mi jasné, že všichni pohřbení se setkali s krutou a hnusnou nespravedlností našeho podivného světa. Šeptají slova o hnusných násilných činech, o zbytečných válkách, o bolesti a utrpení. Jakoby se do těch starých rakví promítlo absolutní zlo a temnota. Líbí se mi, že DEATHMARCH řežou do živého, i co se týká textů. Osobně musím pochválit špinavý, masivní, zcela zničující zvuk. Líbí se mi i motiv na obalu. Po formální stránce je vše v absolutním pořádku. V hospodě řeknu svým kamarádům: "Hej brácho, posloucháš pořád staré ENTOMBED, CENTINEX, ASPHYX? Líbí se ti klasická švédská škola, ale třeba i nespoutaný punk a crust? Tak to si potom narvi pod tlakem do hlavy i nové album "Violent Retaliation"!" Troufám si tvrdit, že tahle nahrávka zůstane ještě dlouho v mém přehrávači. Pokaždé, když budu vzteklý ze sledování večerních zpráv, pokaždé, když půjdu kolem kostela, pokaždé, když uvidím někde nějakou nespravedlnost, tak se rád a znovu nechám strhnout od téhle smečky do hlubiny. Jsem možná starý pes, šedivý a někdy pěkně unavený, ale dobrou hudbu dokážu stále poznat. To vám klidně podepíšu vlastní krví. Deska je velmi dobře napsaná, má v sobě potřebný drive, sílu, takový ten nakumulovaný zdravý vztek, který musí zkrátka někdy ven, abychom se z toho, co se kolem nás děje, nezbláznili. Je to vlastně jednoduché. Jakmile se setmí a ve městě nastane konečně klid, beru do rukou kladivo a vydávám se na hřbitov, do staré márnice. Zde, mezi mrtvými je mi stejně nejlépe. Zapínám znovu play a beru do rukou kladivo. Úkol zní jasně. Rozdrtit všechny staré rakve. Starý, prašivý, surový death metal ušpiněný crustem, který vám vyrve všechny vnitřnosti z těla! Album, které vás rozemele na prach! 


Asphyx says:

The task was clear. Crush all the old coffins we had exhumed over the past few months. A cemetery deep in the woods, where the cursed were once buried long ago. As soon as it gets dark, I pick up a hammer and smash the rotten bones and laughing skulls in the cold morgue. I listen to the whispers of the undead, feeling as if I were trapped in the tight cobwebs of terrifying dreams. I die and am reborn. At first, I listened to the new album by Dutch maniacs DEATHMARCH as background music. After several joint sessions, it got under my skin and into my subconscious.

It's exactly my kind of thrashing. Rolling death metal, roughly chopped pieces of crust, with punk and black metal passages popping up here and there. The new album strikes me as the roar of a beast that has been sleeping in the underworld for many years. This year, it woke up and is craving fresh blood. I have no choice but to turn up the volume on my player and pick up my hammer again. Another coffin awaits me, another moldy, cursed body. 


It is clear to me that all those buried here have encountered the cruel and hideous injustice of our strange world. They whisper words about heinous acts of violence, pointless wars, pain, and suffering. It is as if absolute evil and darkness have been projected onto those old coffins. I like that DEATHMARCH cuts to the quick, even when it comes to lyrics. Personally, I have to praise the dirty, massive, completely devastating sound. I also like the cover art. Formally, everything is absolutely fine. At the pub, I'll say to my friends: "Hey bro, are you still listening to old ENTOMBED, CENTINEX, ASPHYX? Do you like the classic Swedish school, but also unrestrained punk and crust? Then get the new album "Violent Retaliation" into your head!" I dare say that this recording will remain in my player for a long time to come. Every time I get angry watching the evening news, every time I walk past a church, every time I see some injustice somewhere, I will gladly let myself be dragged into the depths by this pack again. I may be an old dog, gray and sometimes pretty tired, but I can still recognize good music. I'll gladly sign that with my own blood. The album is very well written, it has the necessary drive, power, that kind of accumulated healthy anger that just has to come out sometimes so we don't go crazy from what's going on around us. It's actually quite simple. As soon as it gets dark and the city finally calms down, I pick up a hammer and head to the cemetery, to the old morgue. Here, among the dead, I feel most at home. I press play again and pick up the hammer. The task is clear. Smash all the old coffins. Old, mangy, raw death metal stained with crust that will rip your insides out! An album that will grind you to dust!


tracklist:
1. Intro 
2. Experience My Hate 
3. Revenge of an Outcast 
4. Lying Scum 
5. I Am Your Nightmare 
6. Riot
7. Sick, Battered and Bruised 
8. Environment in Decay 
9. Defile the Pure 

DEATHMARCH is
Olav Bus - Vocals
Sebastiaan Limburg - Guitar
Olle Olle - Drums
Walter van Kalsbeek - Bass


Recenze/review - BONE WEAPON - Chaos Marked by Death of Sun (2026)


BONE WEAPON - Chaos Marked by Death of Sun
CD 2026, Transylvanian Recordings, Morbid Chapel Records

for english please scroll down

Stará jeskyně hluboko v lesích. Ve skalách, kam raději nikdo nechodí. Pradávné legendy vyprávějí o děsivých činech, které se zde staly. O démonech, bestiích, o symbolech, které když spatříte, tak budete navěky prokletí. Stejně mě to přitahovalo. Budil jsem se z nočních můr a byl jsem neklidný. Nějaká vyšší síla mi řekla, abych šel. Neměl jsem na výběr. Už u vchodu mě začalo mrazit v kostech. Nemohl jsem dýchat a měl jsem pocit, že umírám. Kolem mě se válely vybělené lebky, mrtvoly v různém stádiu rozkladu. Hniloba, špína, nahrubo nasekaná tma a nekonečné zlo, tak by se dala popsat atmosféra místa. 

BONE WEAPON jsou kapela z Pensylvánie, která svojí hudbou dokáže vytvořit úplně stejné nálady, které jsem vám právě popsal v úvodu dnešní morbidní recenze. Hnilobný, surový, prašivý death metal ze staré školy se zde potkává s doomově krvavým chladem. Jsem při poslechu opravdu ve staré jeskyni v lesích, ze které není návratu. Novinka těchto tmářů mě zcela pohltila. Toulal jsem se krvavou mlhou a ztrácel se zase jednou ve věčnosti. 


Určitě nesmím zapomenou na formální věci, bez kterých se dobré nahrávky neobejdou. Nové album má velmi povedený, morbidní, špinavý a přesto velmi dobře čitelný zvuk. Mám při poslechu opravdu pocit, jako bych měl své ruce po lokty ponořené do vnitřností čerstvě exhumované mrtvoly. Rudě černý obal vás nenechá v klidu a za sebe mohu napsat, že se k předkládané hudbě opravdu velmi dobře hodí a perfektně ji doplňuje. Pokud se vám líbí kapely typu COFFINS, CIANIDE, DISMA, ANATOMIA, INCANTATION, potom jste zde správně. BONE WEAPON samozřejmě promítlo do své hudby velkou spoustu svých nápadů a invence. Novinka je kusem mokvajícího masa, které vám hodí pánové přímo do obličeje. Riffy jsou ohlodané na kost, vokál připomíná bestii ze starých časů a bicí zabíjejí. Ale hlavně, u tohoto alba praskají víka od rakví tlakem. Je totiž velmi dobře napsané a složené. Má v sobě pradávný drive, sílu, tlak i energii. A také velkou spoustu zkažené krve. "Chaos Marked by Death of Sun" jsem si nejvíc užíval velmi brzy ráno, když byly ulice prázdné a potkával jsem jenom přízraky. Chodívám kolem jednoho místa, na kterém se před několika lety stala brutální a nechutná vražda. Jakoby se vše odehrávalo znovu a znovu. Pokaždé, když zapnu play, zase se objeví noční můry. Stará jeskyně hluboko v lesích. Ve skalách, kam raději nikdo nechodí. Pradávné legendy vyprávějí o děsivých činech, které se zde staly. O démonech, bestiích, o symbolech, které když spatříte, ta budete navěky prokletí. Jsem ztracený! Děsivé ozvěny ze starých temných jeskyní! Hnilobný, syrový death doom metal, u kterého se ztratíte v krvavé mlze! 

Asphyx says:

An old cave deep in the woods. In the rocks, where no one likes to go. Ancient legends tell of terrifying deeds that took place here. Of demons, beasts, symbols that, if you see them, will curse you forever. Still, it drew me in. I woke up from nightmares and was restless. Some higher power told me to go. I had no choice. Already at the entrance, I began to feel cold to the bone. I couldn't breathe and felt like I was dying. Bleached skulls and corpses in various stages of decomposition lay around me. Rot, filth, thick darkness, and endless evil—that's how I would describe the atmosphere of the place. 

BONE WEAPON is a band from Pennsylvania whose music creates the exact same mood I just described in the introduction to today's morbid review. Rotten, raw, mangy old-school death metal meets the bloody coldness of doom. Listening to it, I really feel like I'm in an old cave in the woods from which there is no return. The new release from these dark lords completely engrossed me. I wandered through the bloody fog and lost myself once again in eternity. 


I mustn't forget the formal aspects that are essential to a good recording. The new album has a very well-done, morbid, dirty, yet very clear sound. When I listen to it, I really feel as if my hands were submerged up to my elbows in the entrails of a freshly exhumed corpse. The red and black cover will not leave you indifferent, and I can say for myself that it really suits the music very well and complements it perfectly. If you like bands such as COFFINS, CIANIDE, DISMA, ANATOMIA, INCANTATION, then you've come to the right place. BONE WEAPON has obviously put a lot of their ideas and inventiveness into their music. The new album is a piece of rotting flesh that the gentlemen throw right in your face. The riffs are stripped down to the bone, the vocals resemble a beast from ancient times, and the drums are killer. But most importantly, the pressure from this album makes coffin lids burst open. It is very well written and composed. It has an ancient drive, power, pressure, and energy. And also a lot of rotten blood. I enjoyed "Chaos Marked by Death of Sun" most early in the morning when the streets were empty and I only encountered ghosts. I often walk past a place where a brutal and disgusting murder took place a few years ago. It's as if everything is happening over and over again. Every time I press play, the nightmares return. An old cave deep in the woods. In the rocks, where no one likes to go. Ancient legends tell of terrifying deeds that took place here. Of demons, beasts, symbols that, if you see them, you will be cursed forever. I am lost! Terrifying echoes from old dark caves! Putrid, raw death doom metal that will make you lose yourself in a bloody fog!


tracklist:
01. Blood War 
02. Death Of The Sun 
03. Blood Rock: Ritual Of Katash Amun 
04. Retching Poison: Divide And Purge 
05. Dawn Of The New Blood Sun

úterý 10. února 2026

Recenze/review - SKULLHAMMER - Where Skulls Pile High (2026)


SKULLHAMMER - Where Skulls Pile High
EP 2026, vlastní vydání

for english please scroll down

Strávil jsem zase jednou několik nocí ve staré kostnici. Rozmlouval jsem s mrtvými, nasával zkažený pach rozkládajících se těl. Přemýšlel jsem, co se stane jednou, až zemřeme. Přejdeme do jiného světa, zažijeme peklo nebo ráj? Těžko říct, třeba jen shnijeme v chladné zemi a sežerou nás červi. Možná ale naše ostatky také zavřou do starých katakomb a staneme se děsivým svědectvím. Zrovna poslouchám nové EP německých SKULLHAMMER a zde, ve staré kostnici, vynikne jejich hudba nejlépe.

Kapelu jsem objevil víceméně náhodou, při jedné ze svých toulek podzemím. Zaujal mě motiv na obalu a potom jsem k jejich hudbě přistupoval úplně stejně, jako kdysi, když jsem v devadesátých letech s touto muzikou začínal. Jen jsem si sedl k reproduktorům a nechal na sebe jejich nové EP působit. Najednou jsem neseděl v pokoji, ale byl jsem již několikátý den zavřený ve staré kostnici. Ano, jsme stejné krve, to vám klidně podepíšu. 


Na "Where Skulls Pile High" se bezezbytku uctívají staré, klasické a tradiční death metalové pořádky. Vše je předkládáno velmi elegantně, zkušeně, je slyšet, že pod hudbou jsou podepsáni muzikanti, kteří moc dobře ví, co a jak chtějí hrát. Temnota se zde potkává s chladem. Riffy jsou ostré, melodie naléhavé a prašivé jako ruka staré mrtvoly. Připadám si, jako bych právě exhumoval nějaký starý hrob. V rakvi leží prokletý, který nejen, že má ve tváři děs, ale také svírá v rukou tohle EP: Pánové na to jsou ostře, nekompromisně, hudba je zde opředena pevnými prašivými pavučinami, ale nezapomíná se ani na melodie. Každý riff, motiv, melodie, nejen, že perfektně sedí na svých místech, ale je také ostrým hřebem, který jednou bude zatlučen i do vaší rakve. Přesně takovou odrůdu smrtícího kovu mám nejraději. Ožívají přede mnou brutální, staré, děsivé příběhy, jsem najednou součástí hudby. Užívám si nejen zvuk, ale i zmiňovaný motiv na obalu. Agresivita, uvěřitelnost, opravdovost, sázka na spíše tradiční postupy, zároveň vlastní invence a spousta zajímavých nápadů. Tak by mohla znít definice SKULLHAMMER. Jako starý, prašivý pes, který hlídá vstup do podsvětí již skoro 35 let, dávám téhle smečce vysokou známku kvality. Pro poslech doporučuji zhasnout všechna světla a volume úplně doprava. Teprve potom vyniknou naplno jednotlivé morbidní nuance. Strávil jsem zase jednou několik nocí ve staré kostnici. Rozmlouval jsem s mrtvými, nasával zkažený pach rozkládajících se těl. Přemýšlel jsem, co se stane jednou, až zemřeme. Těžko říct, třeba jen shnijeme v chladné zemi a sežerou nás červi. Starý, prašivý, surový death metal, který vám rozdrtí všechny kosti v těle! Temnota a chlad! 

Asphyx says:

I spent several nights in an old ossuary again. I talked to the dead, inhaled the rotten smell of decomposing bodies. I wondered what would happen when we die. Will we go to another world, experience hell or paradise? It's hard to say, maybe we'll just rot in the cold ground and be eaten by worms. But maybe our remains will also be locked away in old catacombs and we will become a terrifying testimony. I'm listening to the new EP by German band SKULLHAMMER right now, and here, in the old ossuary, their music stands out the most.

I discovered the band more or less by accident during one of my wanderings underground. I was intrigued by the cover art, and then I approached their music in exactly the same way as I did when I first started listening to this kind of music in the nineties. I just sat down by the speakers and let their new EP wash over me. Suddenly, I wasn't sitting in my room, but had been locked in an old ossuary for several days. Yes, we are of the same blood, I can assure you of that. 


"Where Skulls Pile High" pays homage to the old, classic, and traditional death metal order. Everything is presented very elegantly and skillfully, and it is clear that the musicians behind the music know exactly what they want to play and how they want to play it. Darkness meets coldness here. The riffs are sharp, the melodies urgent and rotten like the hand of an old corpse. I feel like I've just exhumed an old grave. In the coffin lies a cursed man who not only has terror on his face, but also clutches this EP in his hands: The gentlemen are sharp and uncompromising, the music is shrouded in solid, rotten cobwebs, but the melodies are not forgotten either. Every riff, motif, and melody not only fits perfectly in its place, but is also a sharp nail that will one day be hammered into your coffin. This is exactly the kind of deadly metal I like best. Brutal, old, terrifying stories come to life before me, and I suddenly become part of the music. I enjoy not only the sound, but also the aforementioned motif on the cover. Aggression, credibility, authenticity, a focus on traditional methods, combined with originality and lots of interesting ideas. That could be the definition of SKULLHAMMER. Like an old, mangy dog that has been guarding the entrance to the underworld for almost 35 years, I give this pack high marks for quality. To listen to them, I recommend turning off all the lights and turning the volume all the way up. Only then will the individual morbid nuances come into their own. Once again, I spent several nights in an old ossuary. I talked to the dead, inhaled the rotten smell of decomposing bodies. I wondered what would happen once we died. It's hard to say, maybe we'll just rot in the cold ground and be eaten by worms. Old, mangy, raw death metal that will crush every bone in your body! Darkness and cold!



tracklist:
01. Intro 02. Principium 
03. Where Skulls Pile High 
04. Unstoppable March 
05. Berzerker Fury 
06. Abysmal 
07. Slaves To Despair 
08. Hammered


A few questions - interview with death metal band from Germany - SKULLHAMMER.


A few questions - interview with death metal band from Germany - SKULLHAMMER.

Answered Kevin, thank you!

Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?

Greetings ;-) This is Kevin.Thank you very much for the interview! We are Skullhammer from Germany. Specifically from Bottrop — a city in the Ruhr area. Skullhammer has existed since mid-2024, and we play straightforward but brutal old-school death metal.

Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?

We did the majority of the production in-house. In other words: we recorded the drums, guitars, bass, and vocals by ourselves. We programmed the drums and the bass — that may not be exactly old-school, but at the moment we don’t have a drummer or a bassist.

The mixing and mastering were done by Andy Posdziech, an old friend of our guitarists Dennis and Stefan. Andy might be known to some for his collaboration with Kreator.


How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?

We had 500 CDs pressed, which we sell via our website. Additionally, on April 10, “Where skulls pile high” will be released on vinyl via Fucking Kill, initially in a run of 200 copies. Tapes of the EP have also been released. Death Farm Records had 50 copies produced. Of course, the EP is already available on all major platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and more.

Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?

The answer to this question will take a little more time ;-) The lyrics deal with a mighty artifact—the Skullhammer—and a young barbarian named Vrakh Zornbringer. We tell the story of his hard life, filled with horrific cruelties, from Vrakh’s childhood to the great finale... All of this unfolds on the "Fallen World," a miserable place, an ancient and raw world where twisted powers fight over the souls of the living. Our songs build on each other musically and lyrically. In every song, a new chapter of the protagonist and the Skullhammer is told. This is flanked by the "Chronicles of Vrakh Zornbringer." These are short stories, reports, and chronicles about the Skullhammer and Vrakh Zornbringer. At the time of the interview, they are being turned into a kind of audiobook, which we will gradually upload to YouTube and on our site. We have invested a lot of time in writing these short stories and are excited for them to be released. For everyone who enjoys Warhammer 40k, Warhammer Fantasy, Age of Sigmar, Trench Crusade, Hero Quest, or Conan the Barbarian—listen to our stuff. You might like it ;-)

Here are the links to our stories:

https://lore.skullhammer.de



Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?

Our logo, the hammer, and the cover artwork were created by the mighty Mangsiart. We are very grateful for his work! Check out his Instagram profile and subscribe to him. Here you’ll find the link to his profile: https://www.instagram.com/mangsiart

As for the website: Our guitarist Stefan designed and maintains it. He has no friends and sits at the computer 24/7, or paints Warhammer miniatures ;-) To answer your question conclusively, I have to say that today you probably can’t get by without social media. Whether we like it or not, a certain online presence is certainly helpful. But every band has to decide that for itself.

Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?

We, after some exchanges with a somewhat larger underground label, decided to release the EP “Where skulls pile high” ourselves. We only released the tape in collaboration with Death Farm Records. We want to keep as much control as possible and do what we want, when, how, and where we want. Shortly after the CD was released on 16.01.26, Chris from Fucking Kill Records contacted us and made a great offer to release “Where skulls pile high” on vinyl. In exchange, it became clear that we would still have all creative freedom and additionally have an established and passionate partner by our side. Fucking Kill has been a staple in the underground for years and has released many good records.


Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?

I think Skullhammer represents the product of our teenage heroes. The classics clearly to mention are: Bolt Thrower, early Obituary, Dying Fetus, Morbid Angel, and a bit of Paradise Lost. But many hardcore bands have also significantly influenced us and reflect the aggression in our music. Of course, there is a wide range of new stuff that we listen to with great joy.

How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?

We played Skullhammer’s first show in the summer of 2025 and we’re now at six gigs. On Saturday, February 7, 2026, we’ll continue with the Knüppel aus dem Sack Fest in Aachen. In general, we enjoy small, packed club shows, but of course we don’t shy away from bigger festivals. We take what comes ;-). Our best performance? Always when we leave the stage again. ;-)


What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?

We would like to play as many concerts as our everyday life allows. We also want to record and release songs again quickly, and at the same time work on the stories and turn them into an audiobook.

How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?

You can best reach us via our website or on Instagram at the following links:


Thanx for the interview.

We also thank you for the interview! Keep up the good work an GET HAMMERED DOWN!!!!





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pondělí 9. února 2026

Interview - CONCRETE - Wild, destructive, massacring death metal that will tear you to pieces!

Recenze/review - CONCRETE - Absent Mortality (2026):

Interview with death metal band from Bulgaria - CONCRETE.

Answered Kalin Kolev (guitars, vocals), thank you!

Ave CONCRETE! Greetings to the Bulgarian underground. I hope everything is going well for you. It should be, since you have released the fifth great album of your career this year. I must admit that it literally pinned me to the wall. It's dark, energetic, and cuts like a sharp knife. It's clear that you've done a great job and that you have a lot of talent. How do you perceive the new album in relation to your previous work? Where did you want to go with it, and how do you think the recordings are different?

Kalin: Hello! Thanks for having me! Everything is going well with the album release, so far it’s getting hot attention and scores high. I think “Absent Mortality” picks exactly where “Ethereal Atrocities” left off. It is the natural step forward from the previous album. We try to push ourselves and top each album with the new one. I think we managed to do that with “Absent Mortality”. It was certainly a challenge to write down and record the material, which means we really did push it. I’m really happy with how it all laid out.


"Absent Mortality" has all the attributes of good death metal. For me personally, it's an album I love to come back to. How did it come about? How does CONCRETE compose new material?

Kalin: The writing process was not so different than what we usually do. I’d usually gather some riffs and put them to a song, then take it to the rehearsal room and fine polish it. Sometimes things get cut away, sometimes we add stuff, right until we are happy with how the song goes. Sometimes I’d start a song based on a title that I like, then build riffs and lyric patterns gradually. Peter would come up with cool ideas too, we string those together. Maybe add some fitting riffs and before you know it the song’s skeleton is done. I stopped trying to sit down and force myself into writing, because it never works out. I just jam whenever I can and ideas start flowing themselves.

I found out that Todor Voynski is responsible for the mastering and mixing. I have to say that the sound is literally killer. It still makes me turn up the volume on my hi-fi system. Todor Voynski created a sound that is cruel, raw, dark, and animalistic. How was it working with him, and why did you choose him? In which studio did you record, and how did everything go?

Kalin: Todor is a long-time friend of the band. He really knows his way around death metal – a fact that eases the work process profoundly. He has this chill way of work that really makes the artist feel secure and in great hands. I can’t be happier with the album production – it really pumps up the band’s name and adds to the album’s energy. The drums and vocals were recorded in Varna’s Playground Studio with Atanas Matchev but under constant guidance of Todor, cause he wanted to make sure we capture the best of the kit and my voice. We did all guitars and bass tracks in my home studio, then Voynski reamped and mixed the whole thing over at his Seaborne Studios in Sofia. It was a seamless recording process in a really relaxed, friendly and professional environment.


An integral part and a kind of bonus for fans today is the CD. You released it on Rebirth the Metal Productions and it has a macabre cover. Who is its author? How did you choose the motif and how does it relate to the music on the new album?

Kalin: I’m really picky with the album covers. In fact as picky as when I listen to how the album is turning out in the early stages. I’ve always considered the artwork as equally important part to an album as the music itself. It’s the first thing people notice prior to listening to the piece. All classic death metal albums adore killer front covers, you know. That being said – I knew we’re in good hands when commissioning Angel Ivanov to do the cover for „Absent Mortality“ because we‘ve worked with him ever since our second album „Chambers Of Afterlife“. As the band progresses, so do the artworks and this time it’s no different. My jaw dropped to the ground when I received the finished work for „Absent Mortality“. I think it fits perfectly with the album’s dark and macabre nature. It’s an oil painting on canvas – just the way it should be. All I did was share the structural idea I had in mind and Angel put it on canvas in such a great way.

I've been wandering around the underworld for over thirty years and I only know a few death metal bands from Bulgaria (I really like ENTHRALLMENT). Still, I think we have a similar nature and taste when it comes to metal. I really like your bands and follow your scene closely. How are extreme metal styles doing in your country? How do you perceive your scene, fans, labels, as a musician?

Kalin: It’s a small but really tight scene! It’s even flourishing because I see a lot of younger bands currently gaining speed. I’d recommend checking Unbaptised and Certain Demise. Those kids are vely talented with their instruments and already have the right mindset on things. Old-timers are still around and holding ground – bands like Past Redemption and Mortal Remains. We’re happy to have a strong and solid fanbase that really make each live show a hell of an experience.


You play old-school-influenced death metal. Today, bands can't avoid comparisons, but I'd be interested to know how the idea to form CONCRETE came about, who your role models were and are, and where you want to take your band. Are you attracted to big international festivals, are you willing to go on tour with a more famous band?

Kalin: We’re still handling Concrete the way we started from the beginning. I just gathered friends in 2011 and we wanted to play death metal much like the bands we enjoyed listening. The US death scene has tremendous impact on my song writing and attitude to the genre. If I had to pick a few, I’d say Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Morbid Angel... Suffocation and Malevolent Creation, etc. As far as gigs go, we enjoy the small crowded venues better than the bigger open air festivals, simply because it’s a more tight ambience and the crowd interaction is there. Bigger festivals are cool too. They have something that smaller venues can’t offer – bigger audience and sound projection. We love playing both, but venue shows will be in our hearts forever. Through the years we’ve had the privillege to share stages with lots of favorite bands like Asphyx, Incantation or Malevolent Creation. It’s always awesome to be up there with the people that nurtured you into the scene.

When I started my website ten years ago, I had a vision that I would try to support bands that I thought weren't so visible. To let the world know about them. I think I'm doing pretty well, at least according to the feedback. How do you approach promotion? Do you leave it to the label, or do you send CDs out for reviews yourself? For example, I buy albums that I really enjoy. How about you? Are you also fans who like to support your colleagues often? Do you go to concerts? Do you party?

Kalin: You’re doing a great job! Keep up the good work! As far as Concrete and promotion goes – it’s a mutual effort between the RTM Productions and the band. Andreas is really great with the bands on his roster and takes good care for us. I’m also a CD collector and always try to get whatever catches my ear and support local bands – be it by going to gigs or buying merch. Concrete is a pretty party-loving band. Afterparties are always on the go when we finish a gig.


On the one hand, bands starting out today have lots of opportunities to make themselves known, but on the other hand, there are so many bands that fans get lost in the crowd. Lots of people just download MP3s from the internet and instead of going to concerts, they prefer to spit venom on Facebook. How does modern technology affect you as CONCRETE? What do you think about downloading music, Google metalheads, streaming music, etc.?

Kalin: Internet is a wonderfull tool for bands to promote their music. It just happens so fast. A couple of clicks bring your stuff to huge audiences and you’re ready to go. If the music is cool, you’ll make it. If not, you’ll get lost in the noise. Stronger bands will endure, while incosistent ones will weed themselves out. I guess we’re doing allright, because we’ve been on the road for 15 years now. Tape trading and analog zines are cool. I really loved those times and I still get some through mail, but times are changing and digital now takes hold over the most of the promotion.

I like to ask musicians what death metal means to them. How would they define it, whether it is more of a philosophy and lifestyle for them or "just" relaxation. What does it mean to you? How do you perceive and experience it?

Kalin: Death metal is a huge part of my personal life too. I've really embraced it as my lifestyle and look at it that way. I’m always at shows, I love getting home and putting something appropriate on the stereo. I love digging up obscure stuff on YouTube, those hidden gems of bands. I love band trivia. So my passion for the genre doesn’t end with me being in a band. I’ve seen a lot of people that just do the rehearsals and play the gigs, but listen to little to none death metal in their spare time.


Finally, a classic but important question. What does CONCRETE have planned for the coming months? Where can we see you in concert and when will you visit the Czech Republic? If you have something on your mind and would like to say something to your fans, promoters, or labels, here's your chance...

Kalin: We’ll do our best to do as many shows as we can for „Absent Mortality“. We are already working on some gig shows. One of those will be Romania. If we can visit Czech Republic, that would be awesome. We’re always open for opportunities and try to set up things so it would work for everyone. All of us have everyday jobs which sometimes gets in the way of plans, but so far we’ve managed to work things out. If any zines or promoters want to get in touch – feel free to do so. I’d like to thank all the fans we’ve gained through the years and all the people that have been there for us in any form – zines, venue owners and even soundguys. Thanks to Deadly Storm Zine for this interview. See you on the road!

Thank you very much for the interview. I wish you a lot of success with your new album and hope that your fan base grows as much as possible. I look forward to seeing you live somewhere and wish you success both musically and personally. I'm going to stuff "Absent Mortality" into my head again!

Kalin: Glad you like the album! Blast the hell out of it loud!






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