This CD includes all the early demos by the French gods of deathrash, i.e. Agressor. Originally this compilation was released by La Cripta Metal Shop in 2018. The current re-release was issued in cooperation with GrimmDistribution and the aforementioned La Cripta Metal Shop in 2020. It has a massive 20-page booklet with lots of photos, early history and a pit-art CD. A collector's item so to say. The 58-minute compact disc starts with the very first demo "The Merciless Onslaught" from 1986. Its 3 songs ("Bloodfeast", "Lucifer's Spell", "666") were accomplished in Kreator's style, so the purest kind of euro thrash metal will await you there. It is followed by the "Satan's Sodomy" demo from 1987. Its four songs plus intro are displaying better material in terms of originality and sound quality. It is still performed within the strict borders of thrash metal, but with plenty of its own ideas, which will give you an early picture about the formation of Agressor's style. The songs are "Satan's Sodomy (Intro)/Brainstorm", "Uncontrolled Desire", "Black Church" and "It's Pandemonium". Next demo is "Mixed Rehearsal" from 1988. Around this demo we can start to speak about the unique musical approach of Agressor, though it seems Kreator will always be very influential on their music. The 4 tracks of this rehearsal demo are "Bloody Corpse", "Elemental Decay", "Dark Power" & "Neverending Destiny". During these songs we can already feel the coming of the death metal influences. The sound production is ultra-raw, but still enjoyable in my opinion. The disc ends with the 3 songs of "Orbital Distortion" demo from 1989. As you might notice, there's only one new song on this demo, namely "Paralytic Disease". Pretty fast-paced death/thrash metal cut it is. The other two old tracks "Bloody Corpse" and "Elemental Decay" were re-recorded with the same attitude, so you'll experience them in a more brutal and fast way. This demo is pretty awesome! A must for any Agressor fans out there, but I would also recommend listening to these demos for fans of Kreator, Massacra, Loudblast and Mercyless!!!

Ancient Settlers is an international death metal band consisting of six members: Antony Hämäläinen (vocals), Carlos Chiesa-Estomba (lead guitar), Emmy Reyes (rhythm guitar), Miguel Herrera (bass), René González (synths/keyboards) and Hermán Riera (drums). It was formed in 2020. After the 4-song "Autumnus" EP (2021) and a couple of singles the sextet is finally ready to demonstrate their first full-length record – "Our Last Eclipse: The Settlers Saga Pt. 1" – that was issued by Crusader Records on the 1st of April, 2022. The album is almost 54 minutes long. It has 10 superb songs accomplished in the Gothenburg-style. Thus while you listen to them you would definitely perceive the influences of At The Gates, Dark Tranquillity or In Flames. But let me honestly tell you their kind of melodic death metal is not just about the aforementioned influences, because it has elements of prog rock, power metal and modern metalcore too. Plus, the use of synthesizers added some ethereal mood to the whole stuff, which personally I liked the most. Their riffs are pretty melodious, groovy and massive sounding the way they should be for such a genre. The vocalizing manner of Antony is very much executed in the vein of Johan Liiva (ex-Arch Enemy), but that's alright I guess. The material was mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström, so no complains at all. Well, it's a quite promising debut album that has to be checked by fans of melodic and atmospheric death metal!!!

The Czech quintet called Beast Within the Sound is active since 2009. "Resistance" is their newest and third long play to date. The music they perform is some kind of intense groovy thrash metal with elements of deathcore and metalcore. It can be also characterized as a well-balanced combination between the musical arsenals of Slayer, Exodus, Testament and At the Gates. However, you have to imagine the over 38 minutes long repertory with a modern sound production and respectively vocal parts. I would personally reduce these latter elements to zero or at least minimalize them, then the overall result would be more attractive and maximally into-your-face one. Nevertheless, their songs are good enough and very enjoyable. Let's believe they will be going to add some genuineness to their next record! On "Resistance" the band is: Filip Škobis (vocals), Julián Lamas (guitars), Jan Peš (guitars), Jakub Prokop (bass) & Jirka Zajíc (drums). The limited edition CD release has been supported by the awesome cover artwork of Daniela Neumanová, a tasty 12-page booklet including all the lyrics and a laconic slipcase. Nice release!!!

Constipation from Slovakia opens this split CD with 11 songs into a pretty funny and partying kind of grindcore and death metal alloy. This project was formed back in 1999, but split up rather shortly afterwards. At the time, they've had on their account only one live show plus a rehearsal tape. Well, but twenty years later the decision was made to reform it, so here they are again and conquering. The Constipation team combines the black humorous forces of Fetus (vocals), Dodi (guitars, bass & vocals), Necronymous (drums, guitars, bass on "Ein kilogramm" & backing vocals on "Migréna") and two special guests, namely Janka (female vocals on "Migréna") and Samo (bass on "Migréna" & "Cisársky rez"). Their over 15 minutes long stuff sounds sick, disgusting yet terrific. If you prefer porn, gore and other sick forms of grind, then you'll surely have to check Constipation!!! The other band of the split is also coming from Slovakia. It is Necrotomb, a one-man horror, gore death/grind project by Jánek Lovás (all instruments and vocals). Musically, it was totally inspired by Mortician. So you can expect some ultra-fast grinding blasts spiced up by chainsaw guitar sound and hell of a deep growling vocalizing manner. The whole musical conception is targeted to shit your pants as fast as possible. It was created most likely not for weak-minded pussies, so bear that in mind!!! This monster CD has been attached with a laconic booklet (four pages in total), where all the necessary info is included about both Slovakian projects. Hurry up to get in time your copy from the mighty Immortal Souls Productions!!!

"From Hell for Hate" is the second full-length album by Dead Carnage. The Czech death metal quintet firmly delivers to us eight songs of their old-school brand plus a cover of Hierophant. Their riffs are pretty simple in general, one would admit nothing new or intriguing can be found there, but still the tandem of guitar players managed to pack them with quite a lot of dynamism and crude energy. To this you have to add a solid rhythm section and the sullen voice of Bendík. At times they reminded me the vibe of Death's "Leprosy", Morgoth's first two EPs and Cancer's "Death Shall Rise", of course, you have to extract the originality from their material. Despite the lack of uniqueness, I can warmly recommend Dead Carnage to those who music-wise successfully stuck in the past and sincerely admire the death metal movement of late 80s and early 90s. This stuff has been written for you! Personally I wish them to focus on creating more memorable and catchy tunes in the future! The nearly 35 minutes long CD comes along with an 8-page booklet that has all the lyrics included there.

Dominion of Suffering started its existence in 2008 as a nameless project. Its first release was the "Served to the Worms" demo in 2011. Then it was followed by a long hiatus and finally in 2020 their debut album "The Birth of Hateful Existence" is arrived. The 5-song release displays a hateful black metal approach in nearly 27 minutes. If you ask me, music-wise this is a totally average stuff. I mean, this is the kind of record that never gets a second spin. Lame and boring. On this record the members are: Quasar (vocals), Dr. Channard (guitars), Odia (guitars) and Neptun (drums). The material was recorded in Martin Barla Studio (Slovakia) and Osa Crypt (Switzerland). It sounds pretty decent, by the way. This formerly Slovakian formation now partly relocated to Switzerland. Is it for the better, I don't know yet, but let's see what their second album will be like. Until then, only fans of Dominion of Suffering are encouraged to have this CD. It was also released on cassettes by Hexencave Productions and Davao Hellbangers Productions, plus on 12" vinyls by the band's label Necroeucharist Productions. That's all.

"Sunflower Tide" is the debut album of Dying Grotesque from Ukraine. It was originally premiered in 2020 in digital format. In 2021 thanks to Surrogate Rec. the album got a physical, burnt CD-R version as well. There are 8 songs on the disc with half an hour playing time. The death metal the band performs there is rather primitive and it has been strongly influenced by the Swedish scene. For me it's pretty hard even to listen to their songs as everything sounds totally cliché there. Don't get me wrong the album was recorded and performed on a good level, but there are no "real" ideas, "real" riffs or "real" songs there, just stealing. The prize for the most boring death metal album of the 21st century is definitely going to them. Tasteless and faceless material it is. I really do hope they will finally start thinking and creating better stuff in the future. The CD-R comes in a jewel case with a pro-printed full-color 12-page booklet. Don't know how many pieces were pressed in total, but there are a few copies left on Surrogate Rec.'s bandcamp page. Dying Grotesque on this record was in the following line-up: Silvan (vocals, lead guitar), Andron (rhythm guitar) and Nordwind (drums, drymba).