Weekly Digest, Week 44 / 2025

This week sees a rush of "just want to have fun" genre pleasers, with a bit of a solemn upset, with releases from  Scorching Tomb, Bonginator, Nine Treasures, Psychonaut and Hostilia.

The same sort of struggle takes place among the elite, with the gloomy side winning: 

The Acacia Strain – You Are Safe From God Here

Conjurer – Unself

Doro – Warriors Of The Sea

Downswing – And Everything Was Dark

Soulfly – Chama

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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK

Scorching Tomb – Ossuary

Genre: Death metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: Canada

Get ready to form the most savage stank face you've pulled in weeks. This thing was designed to detach your skull from the spinal cord by way of excessively forceful headbanging. What you're in for is crisp, bloodthirsty death metal in the vein of Cannibal Corpse, but with a massive focus on meaty grooves. None of it is particularly original, but instead of digging themselves a deep, impenetrable and indistinguishable OSDM grave in a cemetery of hundreds just like them, they prioritize vocal and tonal definition, and modern production values that offer building-leveling power and translate the energy behind the performances brilliantly. As a bonus, if you wondered what the album title "Ossuary" actually means, the band has helpfully left the explanation in the title track.

Highlights: "Diminished to Ashes" and "Sanctum of Bones (Ossuary)"

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Bonginator – Retrodeath

Genre: Death/industrial metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

This is death metal that you can imagine being played at the arcade - the one that's real lax about the "smoking" restrictions. It's a real ode to the 80s, with plenty of audial references to movies in particular, but the actual metal part feels much more modern, at least if you don't consider the murky, bass-heavy production. There's hardcore all over this thing, a fair bit of catchy industrial rigidity and also some modern slam and brutality, but the heart of the matter is still those killer riffs. It's too bad they're a bit muffled under all the layers, but the force of them still comes through. It's a retro blast that does away with most of the OSDM tropes, and injects life and character in their place.  

Highlights: "All Cops Are Biomechs" and "Pizza Time"

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Nine Treasures – Seeking The Absolute

Genre: Folk metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: China (Mongolia)

Are The Hu not quite metal enough for you, but you enjoy the traditional Mongolian style? I'd give Nine Treasures a go if I were you. This is lively stuff, with acoustic instruments and folk melodies led by Mongolian vocals forming the core, then dressed with riffs and a bit of modern groove. It doesn't "conform", per se, to any sort of easily identifiable metal formula, nor does it feel particularly "wild" or "tribal". There's a good bit of rock 'n' roll, but also heaviness, and an organic progression highlighting the group's songwriting talents. It's the best of both worlds, really, with each track standing on its own and telling a different story.

Highlights: "Seeking the Absolute" and "Real Dream"

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Psychonaut – World Maker

Genre: Progressive/psychedelic metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: Belgium

Psychonaut's third full-length flows steadily and constantly like an ocean current in the dead of night, carrying you along on a never-ceasing journey of sensory impressions you take in with your eyes closed and leaned back, floating under the stars. It is deeply immersive and gorgeously smooth, even when it builds to intense peaks. Therein also lies my biggest complaint, which is that it's understated to the point where you're left with blanks in your memory of the experience, simply because it doesn't give you enough to pay attention to. It's moderately complex and dreamily psychedelic, sacrificing some heaviness for the sake of said flow. It's a pleasant and rewarding experience, if not the most memorable.

Highlight: "And You Came With Searing Light" and "Endless Currents"

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Hostilia – Face the Fire

Genre: Thrash metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Sweden

Compared to the Testament album a couple of weeks ago, this is very far from "mature" thrash metal. But is that really what you want out of your thrash? Those treasuring the youthful exuberance of the early pioneers of the genre will have plenty to appreciate on Swedish band Hostilia's debut. This is all about badass riffs, solos, and barking vocals. The production's a bit shabby and it doesn't exactly hit like a wrecking ball, but it's fast, mean and focused, with plenty of groove, a good bit of aggression, and just the kind of mischievous feel you'd hope for.  

Highlight: "P.T.D."

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HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Elettra Storm – Evertale 

Genre: Power metal

Country of origin: Italy

Phaeton – Neurogenesis

Genre: Progressive metal

Country of origin: Canada