During the night of April 26th in 1986, a world-changing accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Inspired by this catastrophe and its consequences, a highly radiated German band called CYTOTOXIN pulverized the death metal world in 2010. In 2011, the band released their self produced full-length album PLUTONIUM HEAVEN. Only one year later they entered KOHLEKELLER STUDIOS (Aborted, Benighted) to forge their highly appreciated second record. Since the release of RADIOPHOBIA via UNIQUE LEADER RECORDS in 2012, CYTOTOXIN played Europe-wide club and festival shows. In January 2017, the band recorded their extremely anticipated third album GAMMAGEDDON. After several European tours, the nuclear quintet strikes back with their most versatile yet straight and brutal fourth album NUKLEARTH. Better keep your gasmask at hand as the radiation finds its way over planet earth.

Technical death metal troupe Cognitive are back with Abhorrence, their fifth full length album and a tremendously worthy successor to 2021’s Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction. This is the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at its brutal best – unrelenting riffs leave the listener stunned, while a wave of thoughtful, devastating lyrics washes over. The album is a turbulent, draining but ultimately fulfilling experience.

Cognitive started work on Abhorrence while touring Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction, sending tracks back and forth to each other while trekking from one intense gig to another.

2024 promises to be a big year for Cognitive, as they take Abhorrence on the road and bring more people into their vile new world. 13 years after the release of their debut EP, the band’s fifth full-lengther sees them continue to make giant strides forward while retaining the elements of their past efforts that got them this far.

Abhorrence may provide therapeutic commentary about how messed up the world currently is, but also, ironically, provides a breath of fresh air. We’re all in this together, so catch Cognitive on the road this year.

Alien Caveman Shit

Two years on from their acclaimed third studio album, Nightmare Withdrawals, Christchurch, New Zealand’s BLINDFOLDED AND LED TO THE WOODS have returned and intend to leave an indelible mark on the landscape of extreme music in 2023. The quintet will be releasing their fourth full-length, and Prosthetic Records debut, Rejecting Obliteration on May 19.

Navigating cycles of abuse and trauma, whilst actively reaching for resolution through resilience, the aptly titled Rejecting Obliteration is a testament to and declaration of endurance through hardships and loss. Lyrically conceived by Stace Fifield (vocals) and Stuart Henley-Minchington (guitars and vocals), Rejecting Obliteration’s ten tracks share a common narrative thread of finding identity and light outside of personal hurt and psychological harm. The pair’s primary focus on inner strength and resilience serves as an unwavering foundation of who BLINDFOLDED AND LED TO THE WOODS are in essence.

Whilst despairing in its subject matter Rejecting Obliteration refuses to concede to a predestination of further anguish, opting instead to shun all notions of defeat, which in and of itself is vital to BLINDFOLDED AND LED TO THE WOODS’ long fought for and claimed identity.

Formerly “Wounds of Ruin” formed in 2006. A four piece death metal band from Chicago. Songwriting is based on having groove, tech and hooks that’ll please all types of metal listeners. EP out now and working on playing more shows.