From nothing, an abomination
ANZILLU: Ex Nihilo Release year: 2023Label: M-Theory Audio Those of you who frequent this site – all two of you – have probably noticed that we cover thrash metal relatively rarely. The obvious reason for that is that out of … Continue reading From nothing, an abomination
Nine yards of aggravation
THE AGGRAVATED: Whole 9 Yards Release year: 2022Label: D-Fens Records When a band from the US approaches us by describing their music as hardcore “on the old school side of things”, they’ve got my interest. As far as punk rock … Continue reading Nine yards of aggravation
Death in Juno
DEATH IN JUNE: Nada-ized! Release year: 2022Label: New European Recordings I don’t remember exactly when, but it was already a couple of years ago that I stumbled upon Miro Snejdr’s retrosynth-style remixes of older Death In June tracks online. I … Continue reading Death in Juno
A year in summation: 2022
It’s been a while since we did one of these. In fact, looks like in all of Only Death Is Real’s history, we’ve only done one year round-up. High time for a second one, don’t you think? So, here are … Continue reading A year in summation: 2022
A love letter to cassette culture
ADRIANO VINCENTI & PAOLO BANDERA: Ossido Di Cromo (Anamnesi Mediatica Ricostruttiva) Release year: 2022Label: Steinklang Industries As the liner notes of the thick booklet that accompanies this CD highlights, the cassette tape was a revolutionary musical format. On one hand … Continue reading A love letter to cassette culture
Origins of eastern darkness
SIGH: Eastern Darkness Release year: 2022Label: Peaceville Sigh from Japan are one of the original weirdos of black metal, who pretty much from the onset went left-field in their expression. Personally, I’ve mostly listened to their second album Infidel Art … Continue reading Origins of eastern darkness
Paramilitant vomit-inducing spears
PARAMILITANT: Emetic Spear Of Intolerance Release year: 2022Label: self-released What’s short, sweet and to the point? An emetic spear of intolerance, of course. Har har, geddit? No? Sorry. Abortive attempts at stupid jokes aside, Emetic Spear Of Intolerance is short, … Continue reading Paramilitant vomit-inducing spears
Kissing creatures of the night
KISS: Creatures Of The Night Release year: 1982/2022Label: Mercury Records I saw Kiss live on their Psycho Circus tour in the late 90’s, probably at the time in my life most suitable for witnessing the spectacle that a Kiss concert … Continue reading Kissing creatures of the night
Mourn and angels of all evil
MOURN: Mastema Release year: 2022Label: Steinklang Industries/999 Cuts The back cover of this CD proclaims that “Mourn is Destruktionsanstalt, Kadaver and Ideal Father“ – in other words, a collaboration between three established names in the industrial noise underground. Therefore, it … Continue reading Mourn and angels of all evil
Slava Ukraini!
V/A: Unio Solidarium Release year: 2022Label: Old Captain This year it will be nine years since terrorist state Russia attacked Ukraine without any provocation or justification, and occupied parts of the Eastern European nation. Soon it will be a year … Continue reading Slava Ukraini!
Only Death Is Real 