Grieve – Funeral (2021)

Black metal established a template, with the original bands knowing that they were the last gasp of sanity before the egomania of humanism took over, but some have carried on. Grieve knowingly works with variations of the template but makes a compelling, carefully-crafted release.

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Imperishable – Deathspawn (2021)

Approaching Swedish death metal as a hybrid of Dismember and Dissection, Imperishable begin songs with tightly-socketed riffs that correspond directly to each other, then build up to melodic riffs that are equal parts Iron Maiden and classic death metal, adding an air of mystery and a shifting ambience of emotion to their songs.

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Savage Deity – Decade of Savagery (2021)


by Ton Basileion

Working within the flutterstrum-tremolo tradition of early death metal, Savage Deity rip and tear through several anthems to violence on their latest release. Songs follow the “skeleton” of death metal established by Slayer, with an introduction followed by alternating verse and chorus riffs, then give way to variations in the second half of each piece before returning to the initial themes. This in turn creates the kaleidoscopic effect that the best of death metal is (in)famous for.

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