Once again I was feeling like a blast of gorenoise so I made my way to YouTube to see what I could find. The first release I clicked on was “A Retrospective of Abusive Disfigurements” by Cystic Hygroma! I won’t lie—I was drawn to this one by the cover alone—but after listening I can state that this was quite the solid little blast of gurgles and audio warfare!
This EP was released in 2023. The guitars are low in the recording and aren’t much more than a fuzz—so I can say it is the percussion that takes the lead on this one. The drum machine sounds like it could be a machine gun or a well-tuned jack hammer! The fuzz of the guitar paired with the machine blasts and rampant gurgles makes for an intense “anti-musical” onslaught that could be described as “ear torture”—if torture was something that can be solidly enjoyed!
It states in the YouTube bio that this is a one man band hailing from France! Yet again the Gore Grinder account has presented us with something exceptional—so check out Cystic Hygroma and anything else that the Gore Grinder account has to offer! -Devin J. Meaney
I have just been getting into the releases from Headsplit Records! I listened to a few of their offerings recently—and following that habit today I came upon “Bone Pit” by Impest! As soon as I clicked play I knew that it would be well worth it giving these guys a listen. Right from the beginning the guitar tone was eerie and atmospherically exceptional!
This demo only has three tracks that conclude at just over 12 minutes. This is ok though as anyone that checks out my writings knows that I am a fan of shorter releases. There is just enough here to send you into a frenzy of head banging and pure underground revelry and worship!
The guitars are great—crunchy and deep! The drums are pin tight—and the vocals are deep and guttural reminding me of CC’s former vocalist Chris Barnes (but tighter)! Overall everything meshes together to make for a listen that is pleasurable to the eardrums and infectious in the sense that after listening you want to listen again!
This was released on cassette! So snag yourself a copy—or check it out on YouTube like I did! Bands like this need your support…and I’d suggest that you give it to them! -Devin J. Meaney
Once again while hitting up YouTube I came to a pretty decent little gore release! The 2023 self titled EP by Squalor is a fusion of goregrind and death metal and it is definitely one of the better releases I have heard this year!
The vocals remind me of the band CHUD mixed in with a sprinkling of Lymphatic Phlegm and other goregrind acts. The guitar work is a bit more technical than most goregrind shreds though—so I guess this is where the “death metal” comes into play! This EP has blistering leads and crunchy rhythms and overall it all blends together to make for an exquisite listen! The drums have that “ping ping trash can” sound that I love too—so yeah—this is pretty rad!
This was self released in digital format in April of 2023. The tape was released in June via Iron Fortress Records!
Squalor hails from Pennsylvania. I don’t know a lot about the music scenes in this area of the world—but Squalor is something I think could be enjoyed all around the globe!
Note: The fifth track in the YouTube stream is a bonus track that was released as a single in July of 2023! -Devin J. Meaney
After listening to a short demo by Grundle I was linked to a release from the Serbia based gorenoise project “Shitmist!” This demo was less than a minute in length so I figured “What the hell? What could it hurt to listen to it?” After throwing it on I got a solid chuckle at the absolute absurdity of this but honestly it was enjoyable! My only negative comment is that I wish this was longer!
The main thing I have to say is this reminds me highly of the work done by James Tarr (R.I.P.)—his projects Elephant Man Behind The Sun and Submersed Cadaver sometimes had a similar sound and vibe so the biggest inspiration I drew from this demo was the desire to listen to some of James’s work. He passed years back and I kind of wish he was still around. He truly was a gorenoise legend and a king within the underground!
Again—this was under a minute so if you want your eardrums to be violated for literally seconds give this a listen. But I will throw this out there that unless you have interest in the murkier and “dirtier” sounding gorenoise/noisecore this probably isn’t the “release” for you! -Devin J. Meaney
Track list:
1. Rectal Crypt Violation
2. Feasting On The Young Ones
3. Consuming The Remains Of Unrecognizable Fecal Matter (Ft. Arsa On Vocals)
Before sitting down to write this I thought to myself “Hey! Right now would be a good time to listen to some gorenoise!” After a brief search I came to Demo 2023 by “Grundle”! The first thing I have to say is that I am highly reminded of the “more serious” band Lurid Panacea! The drums are almost exactly the same and the production quality is intensely similar!
Gurgling vocals pair with blistering guitars and frantic percussion to make for a listen than can only be described as “pleasurable ear abuse”!
It states on YouTube that this is a “Two-piece gorenoise band from Dayton, Ohio, USA with members of Moiscus”. This is their second demo and it also states that the drums are not programmed—which is sometimes rare for the blurrier gorenoise releases that usually chill somewhere beneath the moist underbelly of the interwebs!
This demo is less than four minutes long! But god damn is it an earful! Check it out if you dig the noisier stuff! -Devin J. Meaney
Lineup:
Adam: Vocals, guitar, bass
Reegan: Drums
Tracklist:
1. Slurping Blood Off the Floor With My Ass in the Air
2. Son of a Cocksucker
3. Cerebral Ballsack
4. Retired Noisecore Veteran
5. Googled Symptoms
6. Eaten by Two Baby Polar Bears
7. Never Invited to the Goregrind Circlejerk Conference
Strangely enough when listening to gore/noise I was linked to a Norwegian melodic black metal band! The band in question is called “Sworn” and the release I was linked to is called “A Journey Told Through Fire”! I do love me some good gore/noise but it’s not a stretch to say that this is something that is “a bit more”. The production is excellent and the musicianship is absolutely through the roof—reminding me of the newer releases by Stormkeep, Lamp of Murmurr and Vallendusk!
The guitar work is as tight as a pin and the same can be said for the drums. The vocals are your standard black metal rasp—but they are entirely on point and are recorded with a sincere sense of professionalism. The melodic aspect is a real win and the word “powerful” is one that comes to mind! I can say without doubt that a lot of time and effort went into the production of this album and I’d honestly love to hear more! I will for sure be checking into if this band has released anything in the past. They are new to me—but for all I know they could be widely known with an expansive discography!
This CD and digital album is available at the band’s Bandcamp page. You can also check them out on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, The Metal Archives and Sworn’s personal webpage!
Featuring seven tracks in just under 50 minutes this one is an absolutely stellar masterpiece. Visions of quests and journeying run through your mind while listening and the sounds held within inspire genuine catharsis. Without further word vomit I will just state that this is a release worthy of attention—and anyone into the melodic blackened sound should give it a listen or three! -Devin J. Meaney
It goes without saying that Cannibal Corpse have been there from the start. A new, revolutionary sound was born when the first death metal bands developed their sound from eighties thrash. After the emergence of Death and Sepultura, it was a DIY situation in which bands had to make a name for themselves without social media, recording low-fi demos and advertising by word of mouth.
It was difficult for many to take this new genre seriously because only a few producers knew how to handle it in the recording studio. Only a few recognized the passion and latent potential of the bands so they supported it through the adverse circumstances it faced. Through their lyrics and cover art, Cannibal Corpse reflected people's deepest mortal trepidations from the Chris Barnes to George Corpsegrinder eras, and attracted the attention of everyone from Jim Carrey to Joseph Lieberman.
With each album a new approach to brutal music was introduced, and this recommences with "Chaos Horrific" released a few days ago. The band themselves seem surprised by how long they have managed to keep going through more than three decades, but their resourcefulness and resolve as serious musicians has expanded as they explore new musical and lyrical terrain.
Cannibal Corpse maintain their undisguised horror-laden, gore-soaked style without overproducing it; this has been reformulated so often it can't be duplicated. While "Chaos Horrific" is not as reliant on blast beats, the production by guitarist Erik Rutan is impeccable, possibly the best production I've heard on a DM recording in years. Each instrument is spotless, and the counterpoise between them is well maintained. Maybe even a little more than their previous release “Violence Unimagined”.
In succeeding long-time guitarist Pat O'Brien, Rutan brings new energy to their writing working alongside Rob Barrett, fueled by experience with Hate Eternal and Morbid Angel. Customarily intractable and murderous, the songs exhibit impressions of storytelling with calculated patience. The rhythm section of Alex Webster and Paul Mazurkiewicz add much depth to thrash elements reminiscent of Possessed, Kreator, Sodom and Death with the traditional death metal shades of past albums.
There is a maturity manifested in the changes in time, the breakdowns, and the harmonies, while many riffs and guitar solos add a preternatural air of surreality I remember hearing from albums released by Morbid Angel, Nocturnus and Immolation. Refer to “Drain You Empty” to see what I mean. In a way, it reminds me of my experiences as a first-time reviewer.
As for Corpsegrinder, he exhibits a clear ability to articulate while projecting brutal vocals directly from his vitals. The lyrical content is an important example of Cannibal Corpse's refinement. In "Vengeful Invasion," for example, victims of human trafficking retaliate against their captors, depicted in their distinctive phrasing: "Abducted as a child through human trafficking/Innocence defiled throughout captivity/Years of torment, never ending agony/Bringing forth a plan to make an escape/To execute the ultimate reprisal".
To date there are three promotional videos for "Chaos Horrific" and a deluxe box set is available from Metal Blade Records (see Earsplit PR for more information on this). It’s pricey, but not too much so, and I’ve read it’s worth it. –Dave Wolff
Feeling like a blast of the gurgly stuff I came upon “Demo 2023” by Maggotized Vertebrae! This is an exceptionally short and primitive release so I won’t go into too much detail—but it is for sure the kind of gore/noise that I like! Splashing gurgling toilet bowl vocals over a wall of noise and “feedback-esque” guitar work paired with the ambience of a chainsaw splatter party always make for a fun time—or at least it does for those of us that dig the noise! Fans of Elephant Man Behind the Sun and Submersed Cadaver are sure to revel in these offerings!
It states on YouTube that this is a “fresh two-piece gorenoise band from USA with members of Sulfuric Cautery and Necropsy Odor”. It was released on a handful of labels so check it out—and as always—stay gory! -Devin J. Meaney
During my usual musical escapades I happened to come upon “Bogside Sniper Squadron”! They released the demo I found in 2023 and it is simply titled “Demo 2023”. It boasts itself as being a fusion of death metal and black metal and was uploaded and released by Headsplit Records!
First off I need to say the sound is exceedingly “old-school”. It sounds like something that came fresh out of the 80’s or very early 90’s! The guitar tone is very treble (which is common with a lot of black metal). The vocals are tight and on point and the drums are a frenzied mix of forward driving and blasting. I will also add that some of the lead guitar work is exceptional!
Featuring 4 tracks in just under 15 minutes this is a quicker one—but it is long enough to get a full on earful of what is offered by the band. By that I mean that even though it is not lengthy it is just long enough to feel like it is a substantial release!
The cover art is exceedingly simple and “basic”…but honestly I dig it! It gives off an extreme D.I.Y. vibe and that is something that I consider to be a good thing most times. Not overproduced yet not under-done either!
To finish off I will just say that although I have heard of Headsplit Records I don’t know much about them. But if Headsplit is spewing out stuff like this I can make a stab that they probably have a lot of good stuff to offer! So dig in deep and hit up YouTube (or Bandcamp) and give these guys a spin! Or if you want to be a genuine G head on over to Headsplit and order yourself a copy! -Devin J. Meaney
Once again with my habit of looking for new punk bands by typing “Punk demo 2023” into the search bar I have come across Demo 2023 by No Way Out! Unlike the last few bands I found this one is pure hardcore revelry! Even though it is coined as punk it is metallic in parts and in places it even has a grind/power-violence/thrash edge. One band that I can really hear while listening to this is Hatebreed! Jamey Jasta would be down like a clown while listening to No Way Out I’m quite sure!
The musicianship is very tight. The guitars are deep and powerful and the drums pound on with an almost machine-like and well orchestrated vibe. The vocals are pure hardcore—and again this is very much in the same vein as something produced by Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta!
This was released on cassette and features six short tracks. You can check that out on Criminalized’s Store Envy or you can just view the band on YouTube or check them out on Instagram! There is not much info in the YouTube bio but I can make a stab that the coined term “LAHC” stands for Los Angeles Hardcore!
So…without further rambling I will just suggest that fans of visceral hardcore check this one out. The release is only short—but it is very solid and is a great “premonition” of “hopefully” things to come! -Devin J. Meaney
.jpg)
