Escarnium - Rex Verminorum (2011)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Brazil

It appears this slab of filth slipped through the cracks of my 2011 listened-to list, well no longer. Escarnium offer up some top-notch Finnish death metal worship here with all the fix-ends that should be listened to by anyone who is into the style (Think Convulse, Stench of Decay, Cruciamentum, Venenum, Dead Congregation, Blessed Offal, etc). They also have full length scheduled for release by the end of the this month that I am eagerly awaiting.

Download

Torture Chain - Time Is But A Doorway To The Incinerator (2012)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: United States

Had absolutely no idea this was coming out but fucking hell what a surprise. This is probably the best thing Torture Chain has released to date, and is one track and 23 minutes of excellence.

Download

Inverloch - Dusk | Subside (2012)

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Country: Australia

Featuring two members of the superb diSEMBOWELMENT, this Australian death/doom act create what is quite possibly the closest thing you will find in both quality and substance to that now defunct band. And I, for one, am not complaining at all.

Download

As Serenity Fades - Lowering Sunset (1993)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Finland

Slower, wandering death metal from the Finnish scene. This demo was released back in the early 90's but was kind of lost because the band never really went anywhere, and split up after a few other demos and an EP. This album is actually kind of melodic but not in such a way that I would classify this as melodic death metal. The production is shoddy and the atmosphere is murky but the riffs often alternate between soaring melodies and crunchy death metal. Fans of Hypocrite, Dismember, Garden of Shadows, and other bands in that vein will dig this hard.

Download