UNLEASHED
«Eastern Blood - Hail To Poland»
Century Media
This is a live LP from, you guessed it, Poland.  Unlike the bulk of other live recordings which I am not too fond of, this recording retains an element of clarity which makes it an enjoyable listen.  Not much else to say but if you are into UNLEASHED this will be a worthy addition to any collection. (Andy Harris)

DESULTORY
«Swallow the Snake»
Metal Blade Records
rating: BULLSHIT
Desultory used to play okay thrash, but now they have all shaved their heads and decided to play this punk / alternative groove shit which fucking sucks the fatty.  This is such a blatant attempt at entering the mainstream that it makes me sick. Somebody do us all a favor and murder these pathetic bastards! (Andy Harris)

KONKHRA
«Live Eraser»
Diehard Records
Recorded live at the Roskildo Festival in '96 for a Finnish radio broadcast, «Live Eraser» just oozes of raw energy, something that isn't always captured using a 24 track machine for recording and the fact that KOKHRA were playing for over 12,000 fellow Danes.  One thing that I'd like to know is why does Diehard keep persisting that there is such a strong showing of rock'n'roll in KOKHRA’s sound, personally I don't really hear it.  Anyway, «Live Eraser» is a worthy purchase for any fan of this band, especially since most of us in North America will never get the chance to see them live. (Dallas Elmhurst)

PAKENI
«Detergent Bubble Bath»
Morbid Records
rating: 4 of 6
Quite a surprise to hear this from Morbid Records, as it has quite a bit more groove orientation than what I had heard previously from this label.  I must say that for a style that which almost always annoys the piss out of me, PAKENI can pull it off quite well, while keeping it somewhat interesting and entertaining.  If you are looking for something close to what Morbid has previously released, however, such as BLOOD or CSSO, you will not find it in this band, but it seems as a worthy purchase for customers of this label. (Andy Harris)

LOS TERRIBLES
«Los Terribles»
self financed
This is a rather interesting MCD portraying a sort of death core that is catchy and moving.  The thing I find most curious about this release is the change in guitar sounds throughout, which at times are a Swedish based heavy sound to a grunge fuzz portrayal expressed upon metal core riffs.  The vocals also seem to linger between a sort of death and hard core stance, which comes out in a fashion guarunteed to keep the listeners attention. Though I do not know how to fully react to this MCD (which is probably a good thing), I must say that this work is very well thought out and expressed.  A fine effort in my opinion. (Mike Riddick)

MOLESTED
«Stormvold»
Effigy Records
This is a rather stale EP but I was asked to review it anyhow.  Well, MOLESTED hail from Norway, which may not be a suprise as most bands these days seem to.  However, MOLESTED are suprisingly different from their Norse counterparts! This band is far from being labeled black metal and rather hold high the expectations for the non existent death metal scene in Norway. When I placed «Stormvold» in my CD player I was expecting some sort of black / death cross over as I was already a bit familiar with their delving into the death metal genre, but instead my ears received a horrific auditory rape of the rawest death metal I've heard in ages! MOLESTED create a grim penetrating sound that I think the Americans would appreciate more than the Europeans, nonetheless the music and potential is astounding. MOLESTED have joined the ranks of Repulse Records as of recent - where they truly belong. We can expect a full length very soon and I can assure you that it will be completely devastating.  (Mark Riddick)

DEAD INFECTION
«Start Human Slaughter / World Full Of Remains»
Morbid Records
rating: 4 of 6 / 5, 5 of 6
Wooooh, almost ninety minutes of pure crushing grindcore... Rotten flesh, dismembered human remains, vomit, sperm and loathsome stench of decay... Hyper-fast, ultra-brutal, mega-aggressive, with grunting «vocals». Sick stuff for the sick people. Just like me. (Herr Stalhammar)

MONSTROSITY
«Millennium»
Conquest Music
Just like with the VADER album, Conquest Music have hit another home run, this time with Millenium by MONSTROCITY.  It's really too bad that George «Corpsegrinder» Fisher left these guys to join CANNIBAL CORPSE because in my opinion «Millenium» is five times the record «Vile» is.  Chalk full of memorable riff and rock solid songwriting, some of the numerous highlights include the slow grind of «Fragments Of Resolution» and the ultra speed «Maniac». (Dallas Elmhurst)

EMBALMER
«There Was Blood Everywhere»
Relapse / Nuclear Blast
rating: 5 of 6
Another great CD from mighty Relapse Records. «There Was Blood Everywhere» represents raw, brutal and hell as fast grind / death metal with vocals, sounding like howl of a pig, being slaughtered. You want originality?! HA! There’s nothing like that! But if you want something that crush your brains and mind with it’s ripping music - this CD is yours! For brutal maniacs only (... I hope there’re left some of you). (Herr Stalhammar)

VADER
«De Profundis»
Conquest Music
rating: 5 of 6
Hats off to Conquest Music for licensing  the latest release from Poland's death metal gods.  Actually, De Profundis, is probably one of the strongest death releasees in a long time.  The brutality of VADER really lies in the quality of their songwriting, it's quite obvious they spend a great deal of time and energy perfecting each song and giving each song a total identity of it's own.  Also included on this release is a cover of  DEPECHE MODE’s «I Feel You» (Dallas Elmhurst)

EXHUMATION
«Seas Of Eternal Silence»
Emanzipation Productions / Diehard Records
This album starts off with a nice keyboard introduction (as do most of the tracks on this album) and then you are completely pulverized by some brutal death metal. EXHUMATION vary in terms of tempo and melody, which is good - it keeps you awake through the album.  The added synth passages are a good touch as it is not often used in death metal but more so in black metal. The vocals aren't the ultra sick kind like DYING FETUS, but more or less in the GODFALL style.  It is hard to catagorize this band as they portray several aspects of extreme metal.  In short, this album should intrest those of you who enjoy heavy death / doom metal (with good production) + a touch of melodic atmosphere. «Seas Of Eternal Silence» is very well done and should not be passed by!!! (Mark Riddick)

OPPRESSOR
«Agony»
Diehard Music
rating: 5 of 6
I must say that the dramatic computer graphics by S.V. Bell featured within the layout of this release are very well done and help to make this release very attractive. OPPRESSOR returns with yet another album, this time appearing on Denmark's Diehard Music.  Surprisingly there are some very light hardcore vocal presentations on this opus, perhaps why Diehard may have taken an interest in this American death act? OPPRESSOR confronts the listener with another slab of brutal sounds and catchy riffs that have a tendency to influence urgencies of motion and spontaneous acts of violence, hence this provides for a powerful album with excellent production.  There are a few subtle experimentations in the music that I think help to separate OPPRESSOR from other basic death genre bands, though this band still tends to maintain that essential MORBID ANGEL meets CANNIBAL CORPSE sound.  An overall decent release for the suppressed death metal scene (maybe OPPRESSOR can help keep it alive). (Mike Riddick)

CORPSEVOMIT
«Bastards Of Foreverfilth»
Wild Rags Records
This MCD is far better than their previous efforts, including the «Gathering Chemical Children» demo, which was marginally good at best.  Here we find CORPSEVOMIT with some seriously sickened death metal, played within the same caliber as the masters.  The best thing about this release is its intense and sick vocal assault, leaving the listener brutalized by its grasping and gut wrenching verbage.  This release should appeal to all fans of the genre. (Andy Harris)

COERCION
"Forever Dead"
Perverted Taste Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
Ultra-brutal and various decent death metal from Sweden. Despite their origin COERCION have nothing to do with so-called "traditional Swedish death metal" circa DISMEMBER, GRAVE, etc. Hail to Perverted taste for releasing such a great piece of ripping death! Don't misunderstand me - "Forever Dead" is not the same with all these grindcorish bands, playing dull, monotonous and soulless music! These Swedes have brains and they know how to use them, heh heh... One more thing, worth mentioning is Dan Swano's personality as producer and Unisound Studio (R.I.P.) as recording place. (Herr Stalhammar)

DAEMON
«Seven Deadly Sins»
Diehard Records
rating: 4 of 6
Based lyrically on the movie «Seven»,  «Seven Deadly Sins» is an awesome workout of Scandinavian death metal power.  Started as a side band between Nicke Andersson (ENTOMBED) and Anders Lundemarke (KOKHRA), the debut from DAEMON was put together and recorded in just a few days, quite an incredible feat for an album that sounds so well thought out and tight.  My only real complaint is that the lyrics can get a bit cheesy at times.  Aside from that, this does a great job of making every song stick out on it's own without severing the common thread that runs through the album.  Sure to quench the thirst of almost any death metal fan. (Dallas Elmhurst)

BLOOD DUSTER
«Yeest»
Relapse Records
I don't know.  I really do not like anything on this label. BLOOD DUSTER is just another meaningless noise-core grind band which bores the piss out of me.  Weak attempts at gore and humor round out this complete waste of space. (Andy Harris)

ADRAMELECH
«Psychostasia»
Repulse Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
To make a long story short, Finland's ADRAMELECH play well executed Scandinavian death metal.  But wait, there's more to this than just straight forward Scandinavian death.  The band's trump card is their ability to initially lure you in with a great bit of unoffensive melody and then have you really sold on it by their heavy and often speed laden groove approach. This also works in a vice versa fashion.  While this album isn't rewriting the history books, it's rather refreshing that ADRAMELECH offer more than grunts and growls from the often overused textbook of generic death metal. (Dallas Elmhurst)

AGONY LORDS
«The Sun Of The Cursed»
Oz  Productions
This band comes from Mexico, though they don't sound anything like the other Mexican bands I've heard, they are still pretty good. AGONY LORDS play very melodic metal music that varies in intensity.  The guitar work is well done, there are layers of riffs consistantly played with melody.  There is almost a progressive feel to the song structures, sometimes almost in an IRON MAIDEN type of way.  The vocals are pretty good, though not extremely brutal - they remind me a bit of the singer from Spain's GOLGOTHA.  This release is really nothing innovative but if you like melodic progressive death metal then you should check them out. (Mark Riddick)

SKELETON OF GOD
«Urine Garden»
Creepo Records
Here is an early label release from the present Napalm Records America. SKELETON OF GOD (whom I believe to be now disbanded) were quite an innovative event for the US scene in the early part of this decade.  Though the release is old, it is still carried by their offices and is still highly worthy of recognition and praise.  This MCD exceeds death metal conventions via use of odd strucures, guitar gymnastics (obscure riffing and lots of harmonics), powerful drums, and original application of vocal and sound samples. At times, SKELETON OF GOD can crush the listener with a Cannibal Corpsish onslaught of brutality while at other times drifting into rhythm jumps reminiscent of HUMAN REMAINS.  The vocals on the MCD are very sick and remind me of the old underground death act EXECRATION (if anyone is familiar with them).  This band also has a major infatuation with hemp, and I wonder if it is this substance that permits this work to come across as so unique and devastating.  The production and sound of this disc is quite intense and very professional.  Though an old item, it is still worth attention and should certainly be added to your musical collection as an American cult death metal release. (Mike Riddick)

AGATHOCLES
«The LPs: 1989-1991»
Morbid Records
rating: 4 of 6 (Dallas)
        BULLSHIT (Herr)
If ever there was a band you could count on for releasing both quality and yet extremely brutal albums, it'd be Belgiums grind gods AGATHOCLES. Actually, they are one of the very few groups that have remained true to the original vision of grind, both musically / lyrically as far as underground ethics go.  «The LPs: 1989-1991» is absoloute proof of that.  Watch for a new release soon through Morbid Records. (Dallas Elmhurst)

DEEDS OF THE FLESH
«Trading Pieces»
Repulse Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
It's nice to see that some bands can remain unaffected by trends.  Case in point, are DEEDS OF THE FLESH, who play gore soaked brutal death, and they don't pretend to be anything else.  Although the songs are somewhat interchangeable, the album is quite solid as a whole.  There's no new ground broken musically or lyricallybut who says that always has to be a bad thing? Fans of CANNIBAL CORPSE inspired death should check this out. (Dallas Elmhurst)

BROKEN HOPE
«Loathing»
Metal Blade Records
rating: 6 of 6
All hail the last good band on Metal Blade Records!  This is a great fucking album and typifies what well produced death metal should sound like. BROKEN HOPE is successful in being one of the few remaining bands of their genre to create something fresh and interesting.  This album is defintely not for fans of obscure and underground death metal, but does not fail in still portraying a feeling of decadence and aggression. (Andy Harris)

DEMENTOR
«Kill The Thought On Christ»
Immortal Souls Productions
rating: 5 of 6 (Mike)
        3, 5 of 6 (Herr)
This is brutal and technical death metal at its finest!  Oddly, this release hails from a Slovakian label, making it quite exotic in my opinion.  And I am highly impressed by the quality and sound of this work. DEMENTOR compose bludgeoning riffs that are certain to display a sense of hatred and anger. This is absoloute brutality!  One thing that does humour me is the broken English title of this album, showing a discrepency in English grammar... but which in turn points to the underground nature of this release.  The promo version also says you are a stupid asshole if you purchase the promo edition ignorantly... quite funny.  Anyhow, this is a damn intense release!  Buy or die. (Mike Riddick)

NYCTOPHOBIC
«War Criminal Views»
Morbid Records
rating: 5 of 6
This is blasting grind.  Very well played and sick, but yet not my cup of tea.  The instruments are downtuned to the lowest extreme and the vocalls are guttural and fierce, yet this style has always been something I have been personally hard to relate to, as it bases its appeal on total and extreme aggression alone.  Overall, I believe that NYCTOPHOBIC play very effectively, but a mark within me is hard to find. (Andy Harris)

OBSCENITY
«The Third Chapter»
Morbid Records
rating: 5 of 6
Finally, some releases on Morbid that I like! OBSCENITY is a band that plays brutal death like no other!  These German masters will crush all! This album has everything: brutallity, atmosphere, feeling, all nonstop! This album is a clear definition of what brutal death metal is supposed to be, and crushes most of what the American scene has produced in this genre. Do not pass this release up. (Andy Harris)

WICKED INNOCENCE
«Omnipotence»
Napalm Records America
This is absoloute brutality! WICKED INNOCENCE own a very heavy and extremely powerful musical front with the sound of this release.  For the most part, they carry the usual qualities of a standard death metal band, though there is an exception on ocassion regarding the vocals.  A few experimentations take place within the vocal content, though for the most part they are very guttural (adding to the pulverising nature of this release).  Overall, this is a fine death metal construction for the American scene. (Mike Riddick)

MORTICIAN
«Hacked Up For Barbeque»
Relapse Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6 (Herr)
        4 of 6 (Dallas)
There seems to be two basic public opinions of MORTICIAN, either they're one of the most brutal bands around or they're the biggest fuckin'  joke.  My opinion falls somewhere in between.  On one hand they've got one of the best bass guitar tones, but on the other hand the use of the drum machine makes the music almost laughable, plus the samples get a bit stale after multiple listens.  For myself this is a take it or leave it release. (Dallas Elmhurst)

VOMITORY
«Raped In Their Own Blood»
Fadeless Records
Together since '89, VOMITORY play boot to the face straight ahead, no frills classic Swedish death metal.  If you're looking for such trends as female vocals, keyboards, etc., keep looking pal because you won't find it here. Air raid sirens ring in the album and for the next 40 minutes the listener is bombarded with an unrelenting musical fist fuck.  Features vocalist Ronnie Olsen also of GEHENNAH.  «Raped In Their Own Blood» is a must for any sadistic DM fan. (Dallas Elmhurst)

POST MORTEM
«The Age Of Massmurder»
Morbid Records
rating: 6 of 6
This is an incredible death / ambient (?) release coming from the offices of Morbid Records!  The first thirteen tracks are very innovative low frequency ambient soundscapes, which I thought to be quite unique and oddly setting for a death metal album.  Finally, when we are introduced to the death metal aspect of POST MORTEM we encounter catchy structures and riffs that drive you through intense emotions and provacative thoughts.  Though the production is not as heavy as it could be, it still provides for a brutal and raw sound that fits well with their technique and approach.  The vocal range of the singer is also quite impressive and keeps the listener entertained throughout (in accordance with the occasional melodic and heavy guitar patterns).  I think this is probably one of the few death bands that still progress in a positive fashion and may help to keep the scene alive for as long as possible.  An excellent selection from Morbid Records!  This is an artistic masterpiece!  (Mike Riddick)