Weekly Digest, Week 42 / 2025

Don't care if you've been naughty or nice - this week is here to punish you with releases from Blindfolded And Led To The Woods, Dead Heat, Extortionist and Katakomba.

You could head overground for some respite, but there's abuse to be had here too: 

Frayle – Heretics & Lullabies

Greyhaven – Keep It Quiet

John 5 – Ghost

Perturbator – Age of Aquarius

Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath

Testament – Para Bellum

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Dead Heat – Process Of Elimination

Genre: Thrash metal/hardcore

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

This thing screams Power Trip, but not in a derivative way. What I mean is that it takes some of the best aspects of that band as examples for its own way of performing, which comes through in the unfiltered attitude and raw energy that very clearly fuels it. This is a thrash-forward variant of southern Californian crossover, carrying elements of Slayer and Anthrax, among others. It delivers mid-and high tempo serrated-edge riffing with deadly accuracy, and to equally murderous levels of effect, which is a feat in itself. It doesn't get repetitive or unimaginative, always pushing forward and, aside from a mid-experience interlude, never running out of steam. A pure banger with a killer instinct.

Highlight: "Hidebound" and " By My Will"

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Extortionist – Stare Into The Seething Wounds

Genre: Deathcore/hardcore

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: USA

Extortionist make deathcore with a mind for other things than just breakdowns. The foremost of the split personalities are stompy hardcore and gritty grunge, but there are also fragments of Deftones-esque alternative, and a bit of Slipknot-y nu metal. In that regard their sound reminds me of a (much) less experimental version of Tallah. It's got much of the same raw-throat, beat-heavy aggression, and alternates it with reluctant-melodic, grungy semi-clean parts that bring to mind the calmer side of Machine Head. Lots of stylistic elements to speak of, but it results in a very cohesive sound.

Highlight: "Cycle Of Sin"

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Katakomba – The Second Death

Genre: Death metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Sweden

Imposing Swedish death metal that comes roaring out of the gutter-drains, hungry for living flesh. It's an old-school-leaning thing, but doesn't get lost in style-adulation, bringing a dark edge, with traces of hardcore, lots of grim energy and plenty of low-end firepower. It feels ferocious, with a hunting predator's demeanor, always advancing, be it prowling or bounding along. There's plenty of raw groove, and some really strong choruses, with a more than decent level of variation in rhythm, tempo and playfulness between songs.  

Highlight: "Atropos"