Unto Others is a pretty spooky band, so it makes sense they have a follow up to their two track EP from a couple years ago, the aptly titled I Believe In Halloween. The second volume of creepy tracks include two (very) obvious covers and three new tracks in the spirit of, you know, Halloween.
The new tracks are unmistakably Unto Other songs musically, but lyrically they go more toward B-movie Si-Fi, which really fits perfectly for their sound. You get the UO trademarked goth metal sound, with the unmistakable vocals, and the grunts you come to expect from the band. On this EP, however, you get that plus an alien invasion in the form of They Came From Space. Fun. Great dual solo on this one.
The new tracks are unmistakably Unto Other songs musically, but lyrically they go more toward B-movie Si-Fi, which really fits perfectly for their sound. You get the UO trademarked goth metal sound, with the unmistakable vocals, and the grunts you come to expect from the band. On this EP, however, you get that plus an alien invasion in the form of They Came From Space. Fun. Great dual solo on this one.
What I Did…has a Misfits vibe to it and is a funny little horror punk track with some dark spoken word vocals, while Robots is pure Unto Others but just about Robots. The covers are a bit too on the nose but still pretty cool. The Misfits classic Halloween, while done well here, may not need to be covered again. Their cover of Ramones classic Pet Sematary is included here, as well as being an extra track on their last full length. It is a great version that takes the catchiness of the original and adds all sorts of gothy spookiness to it.
I Believe In Halloween: II is a fun little EP from Unto Others. I like how they added originals with the covers, making this a much more interesting release than if it was a bunch of already done before songs from old punk bands. Worth a listen, especially on, you know, Halloween. 7/10
Hostilia – Face The Fire (Hammerheart Records) [Spike]
If you needed any evidence that the new wave of Thrash is capable of kicking the door in and stealing your wallet, meet Hostilia. This is Gothenburg thrash metal distilled down to its meanest, most potent essence. There’s no fat, no ballads, and absolutely no time wasted on apologies. This album is a full-throttle assault that respects the classics while sounding viciously, aggressively now.
The album throws its first fist immediately. The title track, Face The Fire, is the perfect opening statement. It’s built on frantic, razor-sharp riffing that sounds like a circular saw blade skipping across concrete, backed by drumming that is pure, high-velocity precision. This is the sound of total, focused commitment.
But the real magic here isn’t just speed; it’s the structural smarts. P.T.D. stands out as a pure, pit-ready anthem, combining a head-snapping groove with vocal venom that lands every syllable like a punch. It manages to feel both immediate and incredibly tight. The band’s biggest statement, however, might be the veteran track Eternal Death. As the band itself confirms, this track has been a live favourite for a reason: it’s built around a massive, satisfying breakdown in the middle that never fails to whip a crowd into total chaos. It’s a track designed to close a set and leave you breathless.
Hostilia understands the essential equation of modern Thrash: aggression plus groove equals damage. Tracks like Shadow People and Bone Collector cement that formula, proving that brothers William and Albert Lindeblad and the rest of the unit are operating at a terrifying level of synchronicity for a debut. It’s hard to remember this band is made up of guys barely out of their teens. The veteran co-signs from the likes of The Halo Effect and Dark Tranquillity aren’t misplaced hype. this band is the real deal.
Face the Fire is the new gold standard for Swedish Thrash. It’s high energy, highly skilled, and shows zero weakness. This is one hell of a debut. 9/10
Bloody Hammers - The Acoustic Halloween Special (Sacrificial Records) [Rich Piva]
I have been a big fan of the spooky husband and wife duo Bloody Hammers for a while now. Their horror punk/doom/goth rock is perfect for this time of year, as you could put on pretty much any of their back catalog for your All Hallow’s Eve party and no one would bat an eye. For this year, we finally get a Halloween specific release, The Acoustic Halloween Special, a title that describes the seven tracks on this EP perfectly.
On the band’s Bandcamp page, the EP is described as “…collection of acoustic songs [that] was inspired by life here in the Appalachian Mountains. Dark folk, gothic blues, whatever you call it.” Yes, yes, it is. These new original songs and one cover are no Halloween gimmick, however. These songs are excellent additions to an already killer catalog, not a fun, holiday inspired throw away. Graveyard Waits is an acoustic stomp that could not be more of a perfect opener for this set of seven tracks. The cover is an “old mountain standard”, O Death, redone Bloody Hammers style and wow is it great. Think Murder By Death as a reference point.
I Believe In Halloween: II is a fun little EP from Unto Others. I like how they added originals with the covers, making this a much more interesting release than if it was a bunch of already done before songs from old punk bands. Worth a listen, especially on, you know, Halloween. 7/10
Hostilia – Face The Fire (Hammerheart Records) [Spike]
If you needed any evidence that the new wave of Thrash is capable of kicking the door in and stealing your wallet, meet Hostilia. This is Gothenburg thrash metal distilled down to its meanest, most potent essence. There’s no fat, no ballads, and absolutely no time wasted on apologies. This album is a full-throttle assault that respects the classics while sounding viciously, aggressively now.
The album throws its first fist immediately. The title track, Face The Fire, is the perfect opening statement. It’s built on frantic, razor-sharp riffing that sounds like a circular saw blade skipping across concrete, backed by drumming that is pure, high-velocity precision. This is the sound of total, focused commitment.
But the real magic here isn’t just speed; it’s the structural smarts. P.T.D. stands out as a pure, pit-ready anthem, combining a head-snapping groove with vocal venom that lands every syllable like a punch. It manages to feel both immediate and incredibly tight. The band’s biggest statement, however, might be the veteran track Eternal Death. As the band itself confirms, this track has been a live favourite for a reason: it’s built around a massive, satisfying breakdown in the middle that never fails to whip a crowd into total chaos. It’s a track designed to close a set and leave you breathless.
Hostilia understands the essential equation of modern Thrash: aggression plus groove equals damage. Tracks like Shadow People and Bone Collector cement that formula, proving that brothers William and Albert Lindeblad and the rest of the unit are operating at a terrifying level of synchronicity for a debut. It’s hard to remember this band is made up of guys barely out of their teens. The veteran co-signs from the likes of The Halo Effect and Dark Tranquillity aren’t misplaced hype. this band is the real deal.
Face the Fire is the new gold standard for Swedish Thrash. It’s high energy, highly skilled, and shows zero weakness. This is one hell of a debut. 9/10
Bloody Hammers - The Acoustic Halloween Special (Sacrificial Records) [Rich Piva]
I have been a big fan of the spooky husband and wife duo Bloody Hammers for a while now. Their horror punk/doom/goth rock is perfect for this time of year, as you could put on pretty much any of their back catalog for your All Hallow’s Eve party and no one would bat an eye. For this year, we finally get a Halloween specific release, The Acoustic Halloween Special, a title that describes the seven tracks on this EP perfectly.
On the band’s Bandcamp page, the EP is described as “…collection of acoustic songs [that] was inspired by life here in the Appalachian Mountains. Dark folk, gothic blues, whatever you call it.” Yes, yes, it is. These new original songs and one cover are no Halloween gimmick, however. These songs are excellent additions to an already killer catalog, not a fun, holiday inspired throw away. Graveyard Waits is an acoustic stomp that could not be more of a perfect opener for this set of seven tracks. The cover is an “old mountain standard”, O Death, redone Bloody Hammers style and wow is it great. Think Murder By Death as a reference point.
Who Dares Down Wretched Road is the slowest and lyrically the scariest track on the EP, just a man and his guitar telling a terrifying story to start, and done so well. When the drums and piano kick in you know this one is special. Anders Manga’s voice is in top form on this one and the whole EP. Hounds Of Hades has more of the acoustic stomp, now with handclaps, which really make everything better. There is this second Days Of The New record thing going on musically here, which is a huge complement coming from me. Love the keys from Devallia on this one too.
Hang The Lantern Low sounds like something Lanagan would have recorded on one of his early solo records and has more of Devallia’s killer bass piano work to make it even cooler. Hang The Lantern Low has more stomping and more handclaps, and you can picture the duo singing this around the fire while the spirits dance. The closer, How Far?, is a traditional bluesy folk sounding ode to a terrible world full of pain, which is the perfect way to end this EP.
This is how you do a Halloween release. No gimmicky covers that have been done before, just killer, mostly new and original acoustic tracks that have a vibe only Bloody Hammers can bring. A worthy addition to whatever your plans are on Oct. 31. 8/10
Devastrosity – Eviscerating Desolation (Comatose Music) [Spike]
This is not an album that eases you in. Devastrosity is an Indonesian brutal death metal project that exists purely to flatten things, and Eviscerating Desolation feels like standing too close to a controlled demolition. It is relentless, chaotic, and utterly committed to maximum punishment.
But what truly sells the dread is the calculated opening. That first half-minute is a stroke of genius: the odd, almost piano-like chords and chime are the sound of the countdown clock ticking in an empty room, a moment of unsettling calm where you know the bomb is about to go off. It’s gothic horror spliced with extreme violence. Once that chime rings out, the album delivers on its title, unleashing a gravity-blasted, slam-infused assault that doesn't just hit hard, it actively tries to peel the paint off your ceiling.
Devastrosity’s sound is built on two pillars: speed and texture. The drumming is a constant, inhuman barrage of blast beats and constant tempo shifting, perfectly complementing the grinding, chainsaw-thick riffs. Tracks like Human Depravation and Cadaveric Feast are surgical in their brutality. There is no fat here, only dense, crushing technicality that sounds like watching a perfectly synchronized machine break down a fortress.
What sets this band apart from the endless stream of brutal death metal copycats is that unsettling undercurrent, that hint of something cosmic and demented beneath the surface gore. The pinch harmonics and complex rhythmic shifts keep the music from collapsing into a monotone of speed, providing enough structural intrigue to hook the listener. You don't get many guitar solos here, and honestly, who needs them? As the band themselves have said, why bother with a solo when you have these insane riffs?
The vocal work is pure, guttural savagery. It's less singing and more the sound of a beast dragged from a deep pit, spewing venom and absolute despair. This isn't just about gore; it’s about the sheer, unbridled fury of existential rot. Eviscerating Desolation is a high-speed lesson in chaos, delivered with the technical skill and aggression required to keep its momentum for the entire runtime. It's uncompromising brutality and that makes me happy. 8/10
This is how you do a Halloween release. No gimmicky covers that have been done before, just killer, mostly new and original acoustic tracks that have a vibe only Bloody Hammers can bring. A worthy addition to whatever your plans are on Oct. 31. 8/10
Devastrosity – Eviscerating Desolation (Comatose Music) [Spike]
This is not an album that eases you in. Devastrosity is an Indonesian brutal death metal project that exists purely to flatten things, and Eviscerating Desolation feels like standing too close to a controlled demolition. It is relentless, chaotic, and utterly committed to maximum punishment.
But what truly sells the dread is the calculated opening. That first half-minute is a stroke of genius: the odd, almost piano-like chords and chime are the sound of the countdown clock ticking in an empty room, a moment of unsettling calm where you know the bomb is about to go off. It’s gothic horror spliced with extreme violence. Once that chime rings out, the album delivers on its title, unleashing a gravity-blasted, slam-infused assault that doesn't just hit hard, it actively tries to peel the paint off your ceiling.
Devastrosity’s sound is built on two pillars: speed and texture. The drumming is a constant, inhuman barrage of blast beats and constant tempo shifting, perfectly complementing the grinding, chainsaw-thick riffs. Tracks like Human Depravation and Cadaveric Feast are surgical in their brutality. There is no fat here, only dense, crushing technicality that sounds like watching a perfectly synchronized machine break down a fortress.
What sets this band apart from the endless stream of brutal death metal copycats is that unsettling undercurrent, that hint of something cosmic and demented beneath the surface gore. The pinch harmonics and complex rhythmic shifts keep the music from collapsing into a monotone of speed, providing enough structural intrigue to hook the listener. You don't get many guitar solos here, and honestly, who needs them? As the band themselves have said, why bother with a solo when you have these insane riffs?
The vocal work is pure, guttural savagery. It's less singing and more the sound of a beast dragged from a deep pit, spewing venom and absolute despair. This isn't just about gore; it’s about the sheer, unbridled fury of existential rot. Eviscerating Desolation is a high-speed lesson in chaos, delivered with the technical skill and aggression required to keep its momentum for the entire runtime. It's uncompromising brutality and that makes me happy. 8/10
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