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Cutterred Flesh have evolved to play what’s beginning to resemble a progressive form of brutal death metal. Without reducing the wholesome girth, they are able to pull off amazing feats that will stop the listener in his tracks and have him mentally slot them in a higher category than what he had originally pegged them at. While not as slick as some of their contemporaries skittishly moving about with hardly any impact, Cutterred Flesh’s music carries real weight and boasts of similar diversity if not more and is littered with unpredictable parts. Each of the songs on their sixth full length have a special thing going on and close listens only reveal the intricate structuring and even traces of emotive facets. It’s rare to come across a brutal death metal album that scratches the bludgeoning heaviness itch and also leaves a lasting impact that’s not purely external. Cutterred Flesh have clearly mastered their craft at this stage and come up with an album that is unfathomably heavy yet versatile and engaging which easily stands out from the one-dimensional ones languishing in the narrow confines of the brutal death metal realm.

For fans of: Benighted, Aborted, Cattle Decapitation, Monument of Misanthropy, Devourment, Enragement

US band Felled have created breathtaking music melding black metal with folk elements and lending to it rare depth and warmth. The inclusion of instruments such as violin and viola is masterfully done and is used almost as the main instrument here. The soulful music emanating from them is truly heart-rending and enhances the expression of this kind of black metal without diminishing the intensity. There's not a dull moment on this 40-min record, with there being brilliant interplay between the guitar and the violin and viola, the arrangements being taut and with no section overstaying its welcome. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to call this record a near perfect one in the subgenre, and one that stays with you long after it's over, its lingering tunes beckoning you to give yet another spin. There's unparalleled elegance, remarkable dynamism and above all, the genuine quality of a band that's creating music from the heart without any affectation.

Members of Acausal Intrusion and Dwelling Below conspire amongst themselves to create dissonant/technical death metal that pushes the limits of reality. With music being this intricate, strangely intuitive and visceral, it blurs the point where the magnification of their music ends and the imagination takes over. It's a dark, murky, nightmarish dive into a realm where trajectories from multiple dimensions manifest to intersect and overlap before dissipating, taking different temporal forms. Nothing is permanent in their world; the tunes change every few seconds and so does everything around them - the implications are in real-time and catastrophically mind-melting. It's a downward spiral of your consciousness where the out-of-control thoughts overwhelm and overpower, and take you on a one-way trip to incessant hallucinations and inevitable madness. Innumerable riffs are piled on top of one another first frantically, then slowly to allow for them to be properly seared into memory so that they can haunt you in turns for the rest of your life. Hierarchies have, on only their debut, created a truly frightening album not merely outwardly but one that is also psychologically scarring for the listener, and endlessly fascinating all the same.

SHADOW KINGDOM RECORDS is elated to reissue the seminal sophomore album of Italy’s BULLDOZER, The Final Separation, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

Italy's BULLDOZER is a name that commands respect and awe. In the thrash and black metal underground of the 1980s, they were the uncompromising counterparts to legends like Venom and Motorhead. Known for their raw energy and wild performances, BULLDOZER carved their niche with ferocious anthems and a chaotic aesthetic. Their frontman, AC Wild, epitomized the band's untamed spirit. They were the definition of a cult band before the term became a staple in metal lore. Simply put, there was, and is, only one BULLDOZER.

The BULLDOZER saga continued with unrelenting force with the release of their second album, The Final Separation, in 1986. From the first explosive riffs of the title track, The Final Separation cements itself as a powerhouse of relentless thrash and blackened fury. The album is a maelstrom of aggressive riffs, thunderous drumming, and AC Wild's unmistakable snarls. With tracks like "Ride Hard - Die Fast" and "We are...Italian," BULLDOZER showcased their ability to blend high-speed ferocity with anthemic choruses, creating a sound that is both punishing and infectious.

The Final Separation is a testament to BULLDOZER's ability to evolve while retaining their core essence of unfiltered metal mayhem. The production is sharper, the musicianship tighter, but the spirit remains raw and rebellious. This is an album that captures the essence of 80s metal with its unapologetic attitude and unbridled energy.

And so, The Final Separation stands as a landmark in BULLDOZER's discography, a shining example of their indomitable spirit and musical prowess. SHADOW KINGDOM is honored to resurrect this classic, making it available once more in all its unrelenting glory across all formats.

The grisly 3rd full-length by this Finnish band. Formed in Turku in 2007, Concrete Icon unleashed their debut EP, "Where the Horns Reign", in 2012, quicky followed by their debut full-length, "Perennial Anguish", the year after. After going through numerous lineup changes and taking a short break, the band returned stronger and more determined than ever in 2019, with the release of their widely acclaimed sophomore full-length, "Rancid Harmony", which definitely turned them into a band to keep track of and a force to be reckoned with by diehard deathsters in the underground scene all over the world. Fast forward to late 2021, the band released an EP on tape format, titled "Rebirth", that featured two brand new songs, as some sort of appetizer before diving into the writing process of their third full-length. A few months later, a compilation named "Reign of Anguish MMXXII", featuring remixed versions of both their debut EP and their debut full-length, was released. Not long after, another major change occurred, as half of the band quit in the middle of rehearsals for the third full-length. Replacements were promptly found and the band returned to live action in 2023, finally entering the studio to record their long overdue third full-length later on. Concrete Icon blend the viciousness of classic U.S. Death Metal with the melancholic gloom of their European counterparts, combining leads drenched in despondency and suffering with a more angular and punishing riff barrage, resulting in an atrocious entity that´s as quintessential as old school Death Metal can get, while exuding a personality that´s their very own. For those in need of references, think a neck-breaking mix of Morbid Angel, Paradise Lost, Deicide, Amorphis, Monstrosity, Sentenced, Immolation...

The genesis of “Benediction” can be traced to Hungary. Or more precisely, an encounter with a photography book, weathered by time, depicting rituals of the Christian faith: masses, moments of devotion to the saints, and prayers. These black-and-white photographs – which capture moments of selfless abandonment, ascetic discipline, and obedience – were veritably vibrating with the malefica inherent to Christianity. A markedly sinister presence of old crones, usually considered beacons of benevolence, appeared to make reality crack and reveal the latent image behind Catholic faith and ritual. The album’s title, naturally, should be read ambiguously. 

Trivax, unleash as masterpiece of Eastern Death Black Magick in the form of Eloah Burns Out, the long-awaited second album and their first full-length recording since 2016.

Totalling 50 minutes, this monumental death-themed opus is the band’s most bold, sophisticated and high-quality work yet, showcasing the their monumental sonic evolution as well as a total conviction towards their craft and vision.

Formed by guitarist and vocalist Shayan, TRIVAX began life in the late 2000s in the unlikely location of Iran, a country whose laws regarding music – and especially black metal – have led to punishment, imprisonment and even death. Relocating to the UK, Shayan found a like-minded ally in bassist Sully, who had similarly left Syria due to facing jail for his metal associations. Completing this power trio was talented British native M. Croton, a drummer with many years of experience under his belt.

Following the 2022 EP The Serpent’s Gaze, this is the second Trivax release by Cult Never Dies. Eloah Burns Out features guest appearances from Wraath (Behexen, One Tail One Head, Beyond Man), Naut (Winterfylleth, Necronautical) and J.Wilcox (Funeral Throne, Master’s Call) and was created in the UK, Norway and Iran.

For fans of: Dissection, Bolzer, Watain, Celtic Frost, Melechesh and Behexen.

The full album De Tyfus De Teerling by Dutch Necro-rockers Grafjammer!