Black Magnet - Body Prophecy (2022)

Black Magnet released an excellent first album two years ago (Hallucination Scene), with strong NIN and Godflesh influences. Now James Hammontree (the man behind Black Magnet) is back with a second album called Body Prophecy, also excellent, also influenced by NIN and Godflesh (there's even a  good Justin K. Broderick remix of one of the song). What's new is that there's also definitely a Marilyn Manson influence (think Antichrist Superstar and Holy Wood) in a few songs, and why not?  Black Magnet doesn't score much on the originality, but as long as the albums are this good, that's fine for me...

The BC page.

 

Ulthar - Providence (2020)

I preferred Ulthar's first album "Cosmovore", with its weird somewhat voivodian atmospheres, but Providence, with its evolution towards more epic feels (a few songs even reminds Immortal!) is also an interesting and solid piece of old school but personal death metal. Quality stuff.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Black Magnet - Hallucination Scene (2020)

Really impressive first album from Black Magnet (James Hammontree from Oklahoma), Hallucination Scene reminds industrial metal rooted int he 90', maybe especially NIN (Pretty Hate Machine as well as The Downward Spiral), but also Killing Joke. The album is so good that I'm adding it to my list of favourite industrial music released in 2020.

The BC page.

 

Ruin Lust - Choir of Babel (2020)

With their third album, Choir of Babel, the New Yorkers of Ruin Lust found a nice balance/mix of components : a bit of old school USDM of a heavy crushing kind (think Immolation and Incantation), a bit of modern suffocating death metal (Impetuous Ritual, Ulcerate) and a large dose of war metal (Revenge, etc.). Raw, savage and merciless. Good stuff!

The Bandcamp page.

Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance (2019)

Tomb Mold are back with this third album called Planetary Clairvoyance, as any good old school death metal band they have the nice riffs and the groove, but that also have some good songwriting twist bringing something more interesting in every song. Like in their previous album they get a bit less raw and develops a slightly "progressive" element to their songs, and more melodic lead guitar parts, while staying in the old school DM territory. Not my favourite album from them I'd say to be honest (time will tell if that change later), but still really good stuff, easily above your average DM band.

The BC page.

Ulthar - Cosmovore (2018)

Cosmovore, released last yera by 20 Buck Spin is Ulthar's first album the band from California (featuring Vastum guitarist) delivers a death metal firmly rooted in the old school but with also a weirdness that remind sme Voivod, fitting well the lovecraftian inspiration. I you like OSDM but want something different this album will be a good pick. I would have liked a stronger dose of bizarre, but it's good like it is anyway.

The Bandcamp page.

Tomb Mold - Manor of Infinite Forms (2018)

Tomb Mold are confirming with this second album Manor of Infinite Forms all the good that people (including me) said about them after their first album and demos. They now are clearly among the best and more reliable old school death metal purveyors. This new album see them turning from duo to quartet and getting a less raw but best sound with the Arthur Rizk production. They indeed have everything that is needed : still raw enough, technical enough while staying in good ol' school territory, the excellent cavernous vocals, the riffs, the groove. That sure makes one of the best death metal album of the year.

On the 20 Buck Spin Bandcamp page.

Scorched - Ecliptic Butchery (2018)

Second release this year (Here's my review of their first) but first album for Scorched. Ecliptic Butchery is confirming how good they are for doing the old school death metal thing (with a strong slayeresque trashy feel). If you're in need of blast beats, sick solos, and headbanging inducing putrid riffing look no further. Really cool album.

The BC page.