Straight outta catacombs: EMIL’S DEEP UNDERGROUND RECOS

As if you actually needed more music recommendations this year. As I’ve mentioned in the past, 2018 is the best year for rock and metal new releases, in the last 25 years. Even with that abundance of new music you’ve got to listen to recently, I felt that this ten most recent – deep underground, mostly overlooked releases deserve further attention. Enjoy the music!

ALTERSELF “Frost”
9/24/2018
Athens, Greece
Outstanding death/thrash power trio! Well conversed brutality. Impeccable riffage throughout. Sophomore effort from the (still) unsigned act. Count Vlad made the parallel with 89-91 era Sepultura!

<a href="http://alterself.bandcamp.com/album/frost-2018">Frost (2018) by Alterself</a>

FATE BREAKS DAWN “Deviate”
9/13/2018
NYC, New York, US
Great debut effort. Well recorded, modern, slightly hardcore tainted, progressive power/trash. Variety of vocal tones (full range), styles and delivery. High energy – bridges very well old school with newer trends.

<a href="http://fatebreaksdawn.bandcamp.com/album/deviate">Deviate by Fate Breaks Dawn</a>

LUCIS ABSENTIA “Gehenna Gate”
8/25/2018
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Formally known as Gomorrah. Blend of modern and old school thrash metal with progressive and death elements. Independently released full-length album w/ over 70 minutes of music.

<a href="http://lucisabsentia.bandcamp.com/album/gehenna-gate">Gehenna Gate by Lucis Absentia</a>

THE JOURNEY “Another Reality”
9/17/2018
Nicaragua
Terrific heavy metal debut effort. Music and Lyrics by Maverick Rosales Sequeira (all instruments). Vocals, production, mixing and mastering by Chris Clancy (frontman of Mutiny Within).

<a href="http://thejourney94.bandcamp.com/album/another-reality">Another Reality by The Journey</a>

UPON RUINS “Legacy Of Desolation”
9/21/2018
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
Fantastic blend of melodic death metal, traditional thrash and heavy metal, on this debut album by the East Coast Canadians. Lyrical themes focused on the conflicts of past civilizations. Euro death and Viking metal fans take note.

<a href="http://uponruins.bandcamp.com/album/legacy-of-desolation">Legacy of Desolation by Upon Ruins</a>

IGNORANCE FLOWS “Rotten Riot”
9/14/2018
Italy
With 10 “in your face” tracks, absolutely rooted in the 80s, Ignorance Flows mixes influences both from the Teutonic and the Bay Area thrash scenes. Debut released by Italian Death Storm Records.

<a href="http://deathstormrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rotten-riot">Rotten Riot by Ignorance Flows</a>

PRAISE THE PLAGUE “Antagonist”
9/13/2018
Berlin, Germany
Über-quality blackened doom metal from the young German outfit. 90s black metal style production and throat-shredding screams. After this approximately 30 minutes of pure desperate, dark depression, you’ll be left wanting more! Re-play!

<a href="http://praisetheplague.bandcamp.com/album/antagonist">Antagonist by Praise the Plague</a>

DISHONOUR THE CROWN “The English Way”
9/10/2018
UK
After a short hiatus the crossover/hardcore/punk/thrash South West Londoners unleashed the fury with the arrival of their debut full-length. Cited influences: Slayer, Pantera, Discharge, The Exploited & Testament. Ringworm fans will truly appreciate this.

<a href="http://dishonourthecrown.bandcamp.com/album/the-english-way">The English Way by Dishonour the Crown</a>

KRIGSGRAV “Leave No Path To Follow”
9/22/2018
Keller, Texas, US
The Texan doom tainted post-black metallers return with a vengeance! Recorded as a duo: David Sikora (bass/drums/clean vocals) and Justin Coleman (guitars/harsh vocals). Krigsgrav means “war grave” in Danish.

<a href="http://krigsgrav.bandcamp.com/album/leave-no-path-to-follow">Leave No Path To Follow by Krigsgrav</a>

ANTIVERSE “Under The Regolith”
10/19/2018
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Wall of guitars! Melodic death/trash executed with talent and precision. Very good songwriting skills on this full-length sophomore effort. The two guitarist are also sharing vocal duties. Fans of the latest Tribulation will find enjoyable.