If you are reading this then there is probably no doubt you have heard the name Cryptopsy and know that None So Vile is one of THE all-time great death metal records to still be still going strong more than 30 years into their career is a feat in itself and now they have returned to the studio to record their 9th album An Insatiable Violence. So, if you’re in the know we expect big things are we going to get them?
Everything blasts into life with The Nimis Adoration and when I say blasts into life it absolutely does exactly that in a flurry on technical, relentless and frankly ridiculous drumming that is backed with the expertly played tech death you have come to expect from Cryptopsy over the years and there is not single second that this song is not grabbing your attention and going off on different tangents but always managing to sound cohesive and brutally magnificent in every way!
With Until There's Nothing Left you should never really expect anything less that utter madness and precision savagery and this is EXACTLY what you get in glorious swathes of guitars that once again all go off in different directions and seem to meet back in the same place without sounding confusing or messy, the bass also manages to shine through here as well to show that it’s not always the 6 strings that can take the glory, its gloriously over the top and gloriously heavy as well.
Dead Eyes Replete might as well just be a grindcore track because the pace that it is delivered with is just unrelenting and almost threatens to lose itself in the chaos but we get a gathering of senses about a minute in and its back to the more familiar batshit tech death but its not like its to overtly technical so as to miss out on the heaviness everything is executed to absolute perfection and is just breathtakingly good throughout the track.
Fools’ Last Acclaim doesn’t pause for breath or take the foot off the pedal that reads speed and heaviness and it’s just the way that its all structured that is such a joy to listen to, the technicality that mixes with the unbelievable ability of all the musicians is just a piss take really and even when they go more ‘’simple’’ the unreal ability to keep it utterly jaw droppingly heavy is something I can only sit back and appreciate, no song has sounded similar and nothing has ever lacked at any time.
The Art Of Emptiness does for once begin with a more measured approach and slows down the pace slightly for a bit but it’s not long before there back to the business of brutality and showing that even if you do want to slow things down it can be done in an ungodly heavy way and you can incorporate these slower sections into groove sections then throw in some maniacal solos for a laugh and not ever lose one second of momentum and if anything just keep getting better and better!!
Our Great Deception is an altogether different beast and has managed to now incorporate some melodic death metal into the array of different styles we have has so far, its not a left field choice by any means and it’s another welcome addition to the melting pot but I am pleased when they bin this off and get back to smashing my head in again, but it does feel like there is a little hesitation to fully let go on his track, to say this is the weakest track is doing it a disservice but there has to be one and for me it’s this.
Embrace The Nihility though has no issues and is a whirlwind of insane drums and guitars that one minute are stabbing and prodding then next are wrapping you up in a thick groove before disjointed tech death is smashing you around the face again in a dizzying mix of brutality and technique that is once again unbelievable to listen to. I can’t believe there are only 8 tracks on this album but also that might be a blessing as I will finally get to sit and take it all in for a bit.
Malicious Needs is the final track and if you though they might go out with a whimper or have a long drawn out ending you are very wrong, everything is turned up to 10, whether is be the speed, the technique, the savageness, just everything you could wish for is here in the perfect closing track and is just an absolute barnstorming way to finish this mind blowingly perfect record.
I always knew that I was going to enjoy An Insatiable Violence, I just wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it, so now I can tell you that I enjoyed it immensely! To be able to release a record this intense and mental 30 years into your career is unreal, the levels that Cryptopsy reach on their 9th album are unbelievable and to still sound this good is fucking amazing!
Malicious Needs is the final track and if you though they might go out with a whimper or have a long drawn out ending you are very wrong, everything is turned up to 10, whether is be the speed, the technique, the savageness, just everything you could wish for is here in the perfect closing track and is just an absolute barnstorming way to finish this mind blowingly perfect record.
I always knew that I was going to enjoy An Insatiable Violence, I just wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it, so now I can tell you that I enjoyed it immensely! To be able to release a record this intense and mental 30 years into your career is unreal, the levels that Cryptopsy reach on their 9th album are unbelievable and to still sound this good is fucking amazing!
Ravine - Chaos And Catastrophes (Ripple Music) [Rich Piva]
There is something lurking in the woods of Portland, Oregon that is preparing to unleash its wrath upon the world. That wrath, in the form of gigantic killer riffs and some serious heavy, will be delivered upon thee by the five-piece destroyers that make up Ravine, and the five tracks on their debut full length record, Chaos And Catastrophes, with Ripple Music acting as the delivery vehicle for all of the mayhem this record brings.
You like Down? Eyehategod? You like your heavy rock filthy and dirty? Well, here we go then. This is sludgy doom for those who are not faint of heart. But I also get some serious Sabbath vibes as well as this Motorhead thing that makes Ravine stand out. Take the second song on the record, Conjure, which has all of these elements, including some really cool oohs that add an even more evil atmosphere to the track, while the middle of the song sounds like a hardcore band who has spent too much time with Vol. 4, this ten-minute track has so many cool twists and turns but never quits being heavy and very, very cool.
There is something lurking in the woods of Portland, Oregon that is preparing to unleash its wrath upon the world. That wrath, in the form of gigantic killer riffs and some serious heavy, will be delivered upon thee by the five-piece destroyers that make up Ravine, and the five tracks on their debut full length record, Chaos And Catastrophes, with Ripple Music acting as the delivery vehicle for all of the mayhem this record brings.
You like Down? Eyehategod? You like your heavy rock filthy and dirty? Well, here we go then. This is sludgy doom for those who are not faint of heart. But I also get some serious Sabbath vibes as well as this Motorhead thing that makes Ravine stand out. Take the second song on the record, Conjure, which has all of these elements, including some really cool oohs that add an even more evil atmosphere to the track, while the middle of the song sounds like a hardcore band who has spent too much time with Vol. 4, this ten-minute track has so many cool twists and turns but never quits being heavy and very, very cool.
The title track is straight up Down worship, executed perfectly. Ennui is almost eleven minutes and has a very slow and Sabbath opening riff and is certainly where some of the Eyehategod comparisons come from, sounding like they are from the swamps of Louisiana and not the forests of Portland. I am sure the guys have the Acid Bath records too. This one is sloooooow…until about half way, until the pace picks up a bit, and destroys you with some mid-tempo sludge goodness.
Prophecy is the equivalent of this Portland born monsters slowly traversing the earth destroying everything in its wake, only to stop occasionally for a nice bluey guitar interlude. The ten-minute Contagion is just that; a track gets in your bloodstream and literally rips you apart via riffs and some very angry vocals.
Chaos And Catastrophes is not for the faint of heart, or for those who do not like long songs. Five tracks, with the shortest one at seven-plus and the rest all above nine, this is a heavy and epic journey song to song. Ravine delivers the most punishing sludgy doom their side of the Mississippi. Crushingly heavy and flat-out killer stuff. 8/10
1968 - Royal Bastards (No Profit Recordings) [Matt Bladen]
1968 emerge from a comfortable chrysalis of late 60's psychedelic rock with their third album Royal Bastards, after their second album Salvation If You Need came during the pandemic, there's been quite a bit of silence from 1968, but with with Flamebearer/ex-Oak man Andrew Valiant behind the mic taking over from founding vocalist Jim Coppack, the peace and love of their acid trip is punctured by a gruff new voice and a heavier approach.
Again joined by Simon Jones as an engineer and mixed/mastered by the master of heavy himself Chris Fielding these Royal Bastards have notched up the fuzz, as Standby has groove akin to Monster Magnet, the woozy verse, hooked on the single reverbed guitar of founder Sam Orr before Bear's bass joins in when they press the distortion pedal and shift into a faster second half, Dan Amati's drumming getting all primal as Valiant grunts "huh" down the mic with animalistic intent.
Just on Standby, 1968 change their game, emerging from the multicoloured 60's into the harder edged 70's the summer of love is dead and the likes of Sabbath (Endgame/Scorched Earth) have darkened the mood. Though locked in as a riff slinging four piece they bring some guests to the album too with organ permeating through the fuzz on the swirling Softly Spoken as flute parps up on the closing Merlin, which harks back to the days of vinyl with a secret track at it's end.
Valiant is expressive in his performance, adding new depth to the band on the savage Jawmelter, continuing those Monster Magnet comparisons. Royal Bastards then is like an auditory Bad Trip, the song of the same name showcasing the rougher sound perfectly! Play it loud as 1968 increase the volume with their third album. 8/10
Patristic - Catechesis (Willowtip) [Joe Guatieri]
Patristic are a Blackened Death Metal band from Italy that formed in 2022. They put out an EP in the same year called Apologetica and now in 2025 they mark their return by releasing their debut full-length effort, Catechesis.
I’ve been slowly getting into Death Metal recently and at Bristol’s weirdo festival Monochrome back in April, both my mind and ears were opened up to the possibilities of how good Blackened Death Metal could be. Seeing how much punishment bands like Obnoxious Concoction, Gorgon Vomit and Black Curse could deliver was really striking to me. It actively made me want to seek out more delights within this genre and this leads me to this Patristic album here.
Catechesis is a tornado that sweeps you off your feet in its savagery and throws you from one side of the earth to the other. It's full of headache inducing blast beats, gritty vocals and all-encompassing guitars, you are rarely left with a second to breathe.
Some highlights for me include Catechesis I, which starts off with an intense orchestra that sounds like a wasp with bad intentions in mind. It’s paired with these stunning hits from the drums and guitars which ring out so loudly, its force could knock down a building. Also, with my favourite song on the record in the latter stages of track four, it swiftly transitions from a smooth Atmospheric Black Metal chord progression into utter Groove Metal bombardment. It hits me in all the right ways, making my head bang ferociously, such a satisfying moment.
1968 emerge from a comfortable chrysalis of late 60's psychedelic rock with their third album Royal Bastards, after their second album Salvation If You Need came during the pandemic, there's been quite a bit of silence from 1968, but with with Flamebearer/ex-Oak man Andrew Valiant behind the mic taking over from founding vocalist Jim Coppack, the peace and love of their acid trip is punctured by a gruff new voice and a heavier approach.
Again joined by Simon Jones as an engineer and mixed/mastered by the master of heavy himself Chris Fielding these Royal Bastards have notched up the fuzz, as Standby has groove akin to Monster Magnet, the woozy verse, hooked on the single reverbed guitar of founder Sam Orr before Bear's bass joins in when they press the distortion pedal and shift into a faster second half, Dan Amati's drumming getting all primal as Valiant grunts "huh" down the mic with animalistic intent.
Just on Standby, 1968 change their game, emerging from the multicoloured 60's into the harder edged 70's the summer of love is dead and the likes of Sabbath (Endgame/Scorched Earth) have darkened the mood. Though locked in as a riff slinging four piece they bring some guests to the album too with organ permeating through the fuzz on the swirling Softly Spoken as flute parps up on the closing Merlin, which harks back to the days of vinyl with a secret track at it's end.
Valiant is expressive in his performance, adding new depth to the band on the savage Jawmelter, continuing those Monster Magnet comparisons. Royal Bastards then is like an auditory Bad Trip, the song of the same name showcasing the rougher sound perfectly! Play it loud as 1968 increase the volume with their third album. 8/10
Patristic - Catechesis (Willowtip) [Joe Guatieri]
Patristic are a Blackened Death Metal band from Italy that formed in 2022. They put out an EP in the same year called Apologetica and now in 2025 they mark their return by releasing their debut full-length effort, Catechesis.
I’ve been slowly getting into Death Metal recently and at Bristol’s weirdo festival Monochrome back in April, both my mind and ears were opened up to the possibilities of how good Blackened Death Metal could be. Seeing how much punishment bands like Obnoxious Concoction, Gorgon Vomit and Black Curse could deliver was really striking to me. It actively made me want to seek out more delights within this genre and this leads me to this Patristic album here.
Catechesis is a tornado that sweeps you off your feet in its savagery and throws you from one side of the earth to the other. It's full of headache inducing blast beats, gritty vocals and all-encompassing guitars, you are rarely left with a second to breathe.
Some highlights for me include Catechesis I, which starts off with an intense orchestra that sounds like a wasp with bad intentions in mind. It’s paired with these stunning hits from the drums and guitars which ring out so loudly, its force could knock down a building. Also, with my favourite song on the record in the latter stages of track four, it swiftly transitions from a smooth Atmospheric Black Metal chord progression into utter Groove Metal bombardment. It hits me in all the right ways, making my head bang ferociously, such a satisfying moment.
Overall, Patristic have constructed a fabulous album which brings out a storybook experience in its sequencing with well crafted, connected tracks. It sets a high bar showcasing great potential, making me very excited to see where they go next. 8/10
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