Aborted Fetus - The Ancient Spirits Of Decay

For nearly two decades Aborted Fetus has been chugging away and it shows with this record, The Ancient Spirits Of Decay is quite the consummate death metal album. Sure, you can find bands that are more brutal, more technical, more innovative, more whatever, but sometimes you just want some solid all-around death fuckin' metal. And, that's what you're going to get here.

Ingested - The Level Above Human

With The Level Above Human, Ingested have found just the right balance of brutality and technicality, while also managing to avoid the monotony that plagues most slam bands. Even if brutal death metal isn't your thing, it's worth giving this album a listen as its appeal transcends the subgenre. Of particular interest was the  instrumental piece that closes the record. Check it out.

Cryptworm - Verminosis

Eleven minutes of putrid, mid-paced death metal, these Brits have composed an exceptional EP with Verminosis. A fetid atmosphere permeates the music and Cryptworm didn't have to tack on an intro/outro to the album or movie samples to the songs, the tracks deliver all the gruesome ambiance by themselves. Recommended.

Graveyard - Back To The Mausoleum

An homage to Into The Mausoleum,  Graveyard's first release over a decade ago, Back To The Mausoleum is as gloomy, putrid, and brutal as you hoped it would be. Playing old school death metal with prominent doom elements, they've crafted an unparalleled atmosphere of stygian heaviness. Frequently, an EP of under 20 minutes isn't enough to satisfy, but the quality of the music here more than compensates. Recommended.

Damage Source - Aeons of Nothingness

Combining old school death metal with thrash undertones, Aeons of Nothingness is a heavy, skillfully performed album, but one that suffers from an uninspired sound. Imagine if a studio band was employed to record something you could "mosh and headbang to," that's essentially what this release feels like. Talented as Damage Source is, there's just something generic about their music. If you're fanatic for thrashy death metal, this may be of interest, otherwise...