Hemorrhoid – Raw Materials of Decay Review

With an album cover consisting of somewhat medically accurate gore and a band pic taken on a venue toilet, we know that Hemorrhoid have no aspirations to do anything high brow or distinguished: Hemorrhoid play goregrind. Goregrind can be tough to review, as often, the genre is not made with the intent to deliver quality. Our Goat knows his brutal, underground scenes, so what sort of extreme pain have Hemorrhoid inflicted?

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Botanist – Paleobotany Review

Hey look, it’s Botanist, the band with the hammered dulcimer! A consequence of a world filled brimful of good metal bands is that bands become known by their unique thing. Paleobotany, though, is a concept album dedicated to the marvels of the gigantic plants that existed before the Chicxulub asteroid so rudely interrupted their existence. Come on in and see if this release is as big a hit as that!

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Thanatotherion – Alien Manifesto Review

Thanatotherion may be an unknown band, but the main brain power behind this project, Ominous Droning, has also made a name as Shelby Lermo of Ulthar. But it was clear from the start that Alien Manifesto wasn’t going to be a journey through space, but rather a direct confrontation with a monster. Lions and tigers and Bobo bears and one man black metal, oh my! Ok, ok, it’s blackened thrash. Trust us, it makes a difference.

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Vale of Pnath – Between the Worlds of Life and Death Review

The band that pops your metaphorical cherry on a genre and introduces you to the pleasures it can offer is a special one. Vale of Pnath is that band for me, being the ones to get me into technical death metal. Now they return with their third album Between the Worlds of Life and Death. Has the cherry stayed sweet, or have Vale of Pnath fallen into the pits of mediocrity?

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