Wailing - barbaric-blasting death metal from New York

Wailing is a new death metal project that brings together instrumentalist/vocalist Tomrair of black metal entity Dawnbreaker (USA) with drummer Shawn Eldridge [Ruinous, ex-Abysmal Gates, ex-Seraphim Lament, ex-Wall of Water, ex-Death Fortress, ex-Funebrarum, ex-Kalopsia, ex-Krukh, ex-The Ciem Show, ex-Woe, ex-Ordeals (live), ex-Tchornobog (live), ex-Shadows of Dawn, ex-Flesh Mantle, ex-Nights Blood]. As of right now (December 9th, 2025), the record label Vision of God Records is streaming the song "A Curse Devours the Earth." The sound of this song, I would say, is in the general field of barbaric-blasting death metal. The vocals are generally low and pretty indecipherable, and the music is classic-style American death metal, maybe with a bit of that early 1990s New York death metal. Of course, this is only one song, so it's not appropriate to make definitive statements. I have not heard the rest of the album, but I like what I'm hearing so far.

Wailing

Oracles of Devastation

Vision of God Records

January 2, 2026

1.Until the Desolation

2.A Curse Devours the Earth

3.Shades That Cannot Rise

4.Celestial Hosts Will Rot

5.Darkness and Woe

6.You Who Immolate

7.Cast Without Burial

8.Crushed by Eons of Inequity

9.Abhorrence to All Flesh

Oracles of Devastation by Wailing

https://visionofgodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oracles-of-devastation

review: Internal Decay - Swedish death metal album from 1993

Internal Decay

A Forgotten Dream

Vic Records

5 December 2025

Vic Records has a knack for finding recordings from the old days, before metal music became "internet metal." Back then, audiences went to shows, and the only way to remember an event was to rely on one's own memory, aside from the occasional picture that you did not take, but that a friend of a friend of yours took because, unbeknownst to you, he was able to find a camera and remembered to bring it to the show. You hadn't actually seen the picture with your own eyes, but you heard from a friend of a friend that he had seen the picture.

I know absolutely nothing about this band! I do not believe that I had ever heard their name before. Vic Records says about this album: "Recorded at Sunlight Studios, Stockholm, Sweden in January 1993 with Thomas Skogsberg and Lars Linden." The information on Metal Archives shows a demo in 1991 and this album, and then nothing else. This is the 1993 album, but it has been "Remastered by Achilleas Kalantzis at Suncord Audiolab (Possessed, Vio Lence, Varathron). Booklet and artwork carefully restored like the original release by Ra Design (Sodom, Asphyx, Destruction)." Metal Archives states that all five members were, are, and continue to be involved with a whole bunch of bands, but mostly names that are lesser known to me.

To my ears, the music is early melodic death metal. The vocals are intense, aggressive growling, similar to the classic death-thrash vocals of Kreator. There are some death-thrash moments, some background keyboards in certain places, slower segments, and plenty of uptempo passages, along with some nice guitar melodies. As I say, this is early melodic death metal, and it is not substantially incorrect to say that, on this album, there is a certain vibe also found during this period in Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates, a certain melodicism, a certain sensation that this is not some type of imitation of Entombed. If anything, by 1993, this band was thinking to make sure they sounded different because of all the Entombed clones at the time. In addition, these lyrics are different from the typical death metal fare. In general, the main point is not gore, zombies, satanism, or graphic violence. The lyrics on Metal Archives generally read like poetry, stories, personal struggles, depression, and loneliness. These lyrics are far better than the typical genre lyrics, while still not totally free in all respects from that typical imagery. Overall, though, they are not embarrassing lyrics, unlike so many bands.

This band, Internal Decay, keeps the music heavy while working in some melody. How does the album sound today? It is the sound of a band that has tons of ideas, and they are working on developing them. This album is the band laying down a general statement of purpose, but they were just getting warmed up. Their next album would have been Internal Decay really bringing to life a much fuller and more complete vision of their sound. Then, the third album would have been their masterpiece. On this debut, there are whispered vocals, a bit of guest female singing, acoustic or clean guitar, atmospheric moments, and piano/keyboard. They were hinting at many things to come. Looking on Metal Archives, it looks like they could not hold it together. Perhaps there was too much musical disagreement between the members wanting to be pure death metal and the members who wanted to be more than just another "Swedish death metal" band. For example, their 1991 demo seems like typical death metal focused on blasphemy, satanism, and that stupid stuff, whereas on the album, as already stated, there is much less of that.

Metal Archives shows the history of the band like this: 1987–1988 (as Misery), 1988–1989 (as Critical State), 1989–1991 (as Subliminal Fear), 1991–1994, 2023–present. Look at that last part! What?! Are they active again? Yes. In fact, their Facebook page says: "The wait is over — The fires of Internal Decay burn again! After 33 years of silence, the storm returns. Internal Decay is back and will release an EP with new material in February, on the mighty Hammerheart Records. Exclusive and limited to 700 ex in total (350 vinyl & 350 CDs). More info to come." We will soon find out where the new music stands in the current era. In the meantime, from Vic Records, we have this gem.

A Forgotten Dream by Internal Decay

https://www.facebook.com/internaldecayofficial/

review: Withering Soul - paranormal-themed black/death metal from Chicago, USA

Withering Soul

Passage of the Arcane

Liminal Dread Productions

14 November 2025

When a new Withering Soul album arrives, it calls for repeated listening. Active since 1999, this American band from the Chicago area consistently delivers quality songwriting that only reveals itself in full over time, a characteristic exemplified by their fifth and latest effort. On this new release, their sound is black and death metal, characterized by speed, intense melody, and subtle progressive elements. The growled vocals are notably enunciated, clear, deep, and sustained, carrying a distinct black metal intensity in the long-lasting screams. This sound could be described as melodic black metal fused with an aggressive American death metal production, for brutality, speed, and melodic depth.

It is clear that black metal is a crucial component, shaping the melodies, the drumming style, and a significant portion of the riffs. However, Withering Soul rejects the "garage" or low-fidelity aesthetic often associated with certain black metal acts. Conversely, they also avoid the "boring" aspects of death metal, such as generic growling, simple chugging, faceless guitar work, and overall minimal-effort songwriting. They take the best elements of both genres, the melodic complexity and intensity of black metal, and the clarity of modern death metal for their unique musical vision.

The album, featuring an intro and seven songs totaling 41 minutes, provides substantial value to the listener. The band has clearly worked hard to deliver songwriting that can withstand the test of time. The combination of American and European characteristics, along with the amalgamation of various time periods (the 1990s and 2000s) within their sound, makes for an engaging and dynamic listen. Listeners can be confident that they are receiving a work put together not just with serious effort, but with demonstrable skill. Two quick clarifications: First, there are no clean, melodic vocals on this album. Second, regarding the lyrics, I have not seen the official text, but my understanding is that the band explores themes related to the paranormal, such as town legends of unexplained disappearances or myths surrounding local spectral sightings.

https://www.facebook.com/witheringsoulband

review: Atavistia - melodic extreme metal from Canada

Atavistia

The Winter Way (Reforged)

Blood Blast Distribution

12 December 2025

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a mighty queen. There, in the land of Mal-ibu-Cal, she possessed an abundance of riches and a multitude of servants, with all the diamonds and crowns, jewels and palaces, and land and rivers that a monarch could desire. Yet, she remained unhappy. Her true poverty was not gold, but the one thing that she could never own for herself: time. She gazed upon the vast oceans and the sailors who served her, who smiled readily upon her sight, and she sang “If I could turn back time, if I could find a way, I’d take back..." her thoughts trailing into the distance of infinity, while the sailors looked at each other glad standing behind the presence of the queen.

Where the mighty queen failed, the band Atavistia succeeds. Atavistia has turned back time. They have found a way. They have taken back their regret. How did they achieve this bending of time? Before addressing that, we need to answer something else: What, or rather, who is Atavistia? This melodic death metal band is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the western side of Canada.

Back to the matter at hand: this album. In a time-warping move that would surely impress the queen of Mal-ibu-Cal in this story, Atavistia traveled back to 2020, took their original work from that year, and brought it forward to 2025 and recorded the entire album again. This is not, the band says, a remaster nor a remix of the 2020 album. They say that it is a total rebuild. "The Winter Way (Reforged) features new recordings, arrangements, modern production, and completely rewritten orchestral and atmosphere elements." It is a new recording of the album of the same name.

The music is a catchy blend of progressive, melodic, and grand death/black metal, which should appeal to fans of both melodic death metal and melodic black metal. Reviewers have often noted the band's epic and neosymphonic feel, drawing comparisons to groups like Wintersun. The vocals integrate traditional black metal and death metal growls with melodic singing. Instrumentally, the guitars and rhythm section work with elements from black metal, epic heavy metal, power metal, and shredding. While the 2020 album was certainly enjoyable, this new interpretation is a strong effort. I would agree with the band: start here. It is such a catchy and melodically compelling album that it serves as a great starting point into their discography.

The Winter Way (Reforged) by Atavistia