This week’s Heavy Music HQ reviews include releases from Acrolysis, Austere, Bacon Wagon, Bear Mace, Bludgeoned By Deformity, Dissonant Seepage, Gaahls Wyrd, Gruesome, Katatonia, King Parrot, Ophiolatry and Turian.
The ratings are on a 5-star scale.
Acrolysis – Intoxicator (Self)
Intoxicator, the second full-length from the Australian trio Acrolysis has a fresh new sound that is classically inspired and interesting. Although it is bolstered by the brief use of keyboards to make it more dynamic, this is really a classically inspired groove oriented sound and this makes for a unique experience. The band’s sound is melodic and makes good use of a psychedelic element to make for a very powerful presence.
In terms of musical performances, a distorted, but still tuneful use of guitars takes center stage and makes for a crisp display of musical prowess. There are definite hints of a Baroness sound, particularly with the vocalist who has that groove-oriented style. The sound also has that classical doom approach to it that is quite pleasing to listen to. All in all, this was a fun listen, brought down slightly by the lack of innovation.
Rating: 3.5
(Adam McAuley)

Austere – The Stillness Of Dissolution (Prophecy)
I still remember when Austere released To Lay Like Old Ashes in 2009. It was my introduction to atmospheric black metal, and though not perfect, it stuck with me. Nearly two decades later, The Stillness Of Dissolution feels like a different band entirely — leaning into melodic death and post-metal influences with sorrowful, layered arrangements. The minimalist roots remain, but the emotional palette is broader and more intricate. It’s not the same Austere, but that’s not a bad thing.
This new direction trades icy desolation for something wetter and more melodic; more rain than frost. The genre’s usual pitfalls remain, especially in song length, but Austere deliver enough atmosphere and feeling to make it worth the journey. Some fans may miss the past, but for those who embrace evolution, this album is a thoughtful and emotionally rich transformation.
Rating: 3.5
(Carlos Tirado)

Bacon Wagon – Trauma Cake (Reptilian)
Originally formed almost twenty years ago, Swedish brothers Marcus and Kristoffer Kinberg formed Bacon Wagon out of the remnants of their previous band Acid Ape. After twenty years of small EP releases, lineup changes and going on hiatus, they have finally released their debut noise rock album Trauma Cake.
Despite their Swedish origins, Trauma Cake feels like it has the hallmarks of a NWOBHM album with possibly a little dash of early Rob Zombie added in for fun. With a total album runtime of just over thirty minutes, there is no time wasted and tracks like “Love Blister” are filled with gritty and harsh instrumentation and vocals. The one major issue that comes across in this album is that the vocals are drowned out by the instrumentation, and while that is a staple in some aspects, it proves to be more a distraction in the end.
Rating: 3
(Dalton Husher)
Bear Mace – Slaves Of The Wolf (Self)
It has been five years since Bear Mace’s last album, yet that extended period hasn’t done much to placate the group’s titanic death metal on Slaves Of The Wolf. This is a battlefield to the band, one of primitive weapons and lack of resources for the wounded. The bass drums boom like artillery from a gunship, while the riffs pierce the sky with flashes of white and orange. Along the way, they run into compatriots like Massacre’s Kam Lee, who provides guest vocals on “Captured And Consumed.”
Three albums in, Bear Mace have taken stock in how to write invigorating music. With the exception of the furious “The Iceman Cometh” (a sort of spiritual successor to the closer “Brain Rot” from Charred Field Of Slaughter), there’s no one specific tempo they hold tight to for an entire song. From stomping chugs to deafening guitar solos, Slaves Of The Wolf is clear-cut death metal.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)

Bludgeoned By Deformity – Epoch Of Immortality (Iron Fortress)
Bludgeoned By Deformity’s debut EP, Epoch Of Immortality, can be seen as a nod to the slam style of brutal death metal originated by bands like Internal Bleeding and Pyrexia. Their admiration for this destructive side of death metal becomes more evident with an appearance by Pyrexia guitarist Chris Basile on “False Deliverance” and Waking The Cadaver vocalist Don Campan on “Extirpated Human Existence.”
The over-the-top gore effects are kept to just “Intestinal Suspension,” which makes it a cut above some of the genre’s outlandish acts. The drums are super loud in the mix and the breakdowns could tear a wall down brick by brick, as the whole release is packaged into a neat 15 minutes. A few songs go a little long with outro samples, especially opener “Invocation Of Suffering,” but Epoch Of Immortality is a worthy tribute to slam metal.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)

Dissonant Seepage – Dystopian Putrescence (Comatose)
Hailing from Rochester, New York, Dissonant Seepage cemented their status as one of brutal death metal’s most promising newcomers with their crushing 2023 debut; The Darkness Will Swallow You Whole. From the start, they carved a distinct niche—fusing groove-heavy slam influences with a cleaner, more focused intensity, favoring tight breakdowns and infectious rhythms over raw chaos.
Their sophomore effort, Dystopian Putrescence, marks a clear evolution in both songwriting and production. Building on their debut’s foundation, this release feels sharper, more cohesive, and ultimately more impactful. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, its strength lies in how confidently it delivers what fans crave: relentless brutality, technical flair, and slam’s signature weight, all without losing the band’s groovy core. Whether it resonates depends on your affinity for brutal death metal’s mechanics and aesthetics—but for those in its orbit, Dystopian Putrescence hits hard and leaves a mark. It is here that Dissonant Seepage truly triumph, refining their sound without dulling its edge.
Rating: 3.5
(Arash Khosronejad)

Gaahls Wyrd – Braiding The Stories (Season Of Mist)
There will be those that hold their fandom of vocalist Gaahl’s previous association with Gorgoroth so tightly that they will look at an inventive album like Braiding The Stories and wish it was more like Twilight Of The Idols. That isn’t Gaahls Wyrd’s agenda though, even with flashes of black metal on “Root The Will” and “Time And Timeless Timeline.” This is more gothic in tone, a proper mood as the group becomes stuck in the dream world.
What happens while we fall asleep is where they search for answers, as these songs seem pulled from another reality. Gaahl drops his raspy bark to become a folksy storyteller with the fire tongue of a motivational speaker. Braiding The Stories may even befuddle those all in on Gaahls Wyrd, but within that lies a fantastic sophomore album.
Rating: 4
(Dan Marsicano)

Gruesome – Silent Echoes (Relapse)
Continuing their homage to all things Death, Gruesome return with an ode to the album Human called Silent Echoes. Adding in a layer of originality to the sounds of these different Death eras is quite an inspired idea, and Gruesome are already up to the task by treading ground they had done on 2017’s Fragments Of Psyche EP, the single from that has understandably made the cut for the new album. Matt Harvey, Gus Rios and Dan Gonzalez all contribute in equal amounts to create an air of authenticity around the album considered to be the genesis of progressive death metal.
“A Darkened Window” chugs along until an absolute barnburner of a solo get unleashed, making it feel as though Chuck Schuldiner is in the room with you. The attention to detail that has gone into making this album is staggering, as it becomes a sonic mirror to the source material without being a carbon copy. Silent Echoes is some of Gruesome’s best material to date, as they take Death’s Human from 1991 and give it the proper 2025 glow that the album deserves.
Rating: 4
(Tom Campagna)

Katatonia – Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State (Napalm)
The headline for Katatonia‘s latest album Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State is that it’s the first without founding member Anders Nystrom. While his guitar abilities will certainly be missed, when comes to songwriting, it’s status quo as frontman Jonas Renske handled those duties, just like their last few albums.
Katatonia’s style is well-established, and they continue down that path. The albums gets off to a heavy start with “Thrice” and “The Liquid Eye.” The band’s hallmarks of dynamic songs and emotional vocals keep the listener fully engaged from beginning to end, and the impact grows with each listen. From the proggy “Lilac” to the mellow “Warden” to the majestic closer “In The Event Of,” Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State is a master class in songwriting and musicianship, another triumphant Katatonia release.
Rating: 4.5
(Chad Bowar)

King Parrot – A Young Person’s Guide To (Housecore)
A burst of high energy is the defining characteristic of King Parrot whose fourth album A Young Person’s Guide To marks their first full length since 2017’s Ugly Produce. The album’s opening salvo “Get What Ya Given” does its job admirably setting the stage for the raucousness to follow. Ten songs in 26 minutes is the name of the game with this Australian five piece; uncompromising in their approach which could best be described as hit and run, plus some righteous grooves thrown in the mix for good measure.
You could call this powerviolence but that would take away from the major punk aesthetics that the band displays on “It’s a Rort,” but the vocals would certainly push it back into the extreme metal vein of things on “Punish the Runt.” It’s clear why King Parrot get the praise that they do, they are able to adjust their sound song to song where needed. A Young Person’s Guide To is the band’s most consistent one ye,t putting a jolt into a young person’s day one sonic sledgehammer at a time.
Rating: 4
(Tom Campagna)

Ophiolatry – Serpent’s Verdict (Wormholedeath)
Serpent’s Verdict is the first album from Brazil’s Ophiolatry since their return after a decade-plus hiatus. Their origin story goes way back to the late 1990’s when they were in full death/grind mode. This record eschews the grind for standard brutal death metal, mixing their anti-religious acidity with social commentary. Drummer Jhorge “Dog” Duarte is the lone original member still around, with a whole new line-up supporting him.
Unlike the overcaffeinated surge of their previous music, Serpent’s Verdict exerts more control over the pacing. They still know when to strike fast, but use ominous interludes to theoretically engage a tired audience. The key word is theoretically, as this album suffers as a drawn-out 47 minutes. There’s a reason their previous albums were barely 30 minutes long, as that’s the right spot for Ophiolatry to be.
Rating: 2.5
(Dan Marsicano)

Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Wise Blood)
With Blood Quantum Blues, Turian have made a shift in their sound away from grindy hardcore to a shapeshifting unification of metalcore, hardcore and industrial. The addition of electronics to their sound allows for a danceable interlude in “Mache” and an airy lift to the outro of closer “Mutiny.” They aren’t overused either, enhancing any appearance they pop in.
For a band used to writing songs that were comfortable being one or two minutes long, Blood Quantum Blues has tunes with double the length for the majority of the album. It lets the acoustic jam at the end of “Divine Child (No One’s Daughter),” or the occasional guitar solo, not feel rushed. This album can be seen as a wager for their future, one that should pay off.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)