Korgüll the Exterminator, named after a song from legendary Canadian progressive thrash metal quartet Voivod, is a Spanish quintet that has been around for nearly two decades and has just released its sixth regular full length effort Built to Kill. This album offers ten blistering thrash metal tracks for a total running time of forty-one minutes.

Opening tune ''The Devil's Sea'' has an intriguing atmospheric overture evoking dystopian, creepy and menacing vibes. Soon enough, the instruments kick in as guitars perform aggressive, fast and simple riffs, the bass guitar plays along angrily and the vivid drum play takes no prisoners. The female lead vocals are performed so brutally that they almost sound alien as they are sending shivers down the listener's spine. This magnificent start to the record sets the tone straight for the entire output and qualifies as this release's greatest tune.

The only other track that comes very close in terms of quality is similarly constructed closing epic ''Count Estruch'' that clocks in at six minutes. This track also opens with a gloomy, mysterious and otherworldly section before guitar riffs kick in like angry bumble bees, followed by ruthlessly galloping bass guitar sounds and thrashing drum rhythms. The vocals once more push the limits without any restraints.

The reasons why the songs in between the excellent opener and strong closer leave less of an impression are the lack of atmospheric sections counterbalancing the band's relentless blackened thrash metal sound and overall somewhat repetitive songwriting that fails to captivate the audience.

Korgüll the Exterminator's Built to Kill nonetheless offers a coherent blackened thrash metal ride with two outstanding tracks and eight good average tunes that should please genre enthusiasts. The dirty, loud and raw production blends in perfectly. The wonderfully detailed cover artwork in black and white should be pointed out as one of the most fascinating ones of the year. Still, the band doesn't exploit its full potential yet and should aim for more atmospheric sections and experimental songwriting on the next output to progress to the next stage.

Final Rating: 70%

Three Inches of Blood was a Canadian heavy metal quartet that has achieved critical acclaim with its five regular studio albums, three extended plays and numerous concert and festival appearances before calling it quits eight years ago. The band has recently been announcing its return as a quintet with two concerts in Vancouver along with American gothic metal masterminds Unto Others being schedule for next year. This is an excellent occasion to revisit the band's material that has energetically, firmly and proudly managed to stand the test of time.

The confident album title, memorable cover artwork and organic production of the band's last studio album to date underline the band's energy, spirit and strength. Long Live Heavy Metal offers two instrumental tracks as well as ten regular heavy metal tunes clocking in at a satisfactory fifty-three minutes. Several editions include many bonus tracks such as three additional heavy metal anthems, a cover version of Blue Öyster Cult and a live cut from Japan. If you are able to get your hands on such a limited edition, don't hesitate to purchase it to get the ultimate experience for seventy-three minutes of thunderous heavy metal.

There are numerous elements that have made Three Inches of Blood stand out among its peers. This already starts with the brutal band name that is quite memorable. It continues with the creative cover artworks that show room for artistry, creativity and diversity. The productions are organic, timeless and vibrant. The musicianship fluidly meanders from folk rock and hard rock to heavy metal, power metal and thrash metal. The band finds an excellent balance between impressive technical skills and emotional melodies. The guitar play is particularly playful, the bass guitar sounds are accurately interwoven, the drum play is thunderous and the melodic vocals make listeners desire to go to war.

Several highlights can be found on fifth studio record Long Live Heavy Metal. ''Metal Woman'' is an anthemic opener with grit, passion and speed that goes out to all female heavy metal fans.

''My Sword Will Not Sleep'' is a bloody battle anthem with an irresistible dose of liberating energy combined with catchy vocal melodies.

''Leather Lord'' is a heavy metal party anthem with classic trademarks that can still be sung along to after having consumed a dozen cans of beer at two o'clock in the morning.

''Leave It on the Ice'' honours Canada's most popular sport ice hockey in an energetic way and should be played in arenas all across the nation.

''Men of Fortune'' is this release's epic track with several fluid changes in genre and pace that make for an entertaining aural voyage clocking in at nearly eight minutes.

Once the wild ride is over, any fan of energetic heavy metal music should have a big smile upon the face and feel like blasting this record all over again. It's great that everyone who wasn't able to discover Three Inches of Blood might now have the opportunity to attend some concerts, purchase some merchandise and explore wonderful records such as Long Live Heavy Metal. This band hasn't lost any of its charm as its music has stood the test of time. Gather some friends, grab some cold beers and blast this release at its loudest. Long Live Heavy Metal!

Final Rating: 85%

Owlbear is a brand-new American quartet that combines heroic heavy metal of classic European inspiration with energetic power metal of American origin. The lyrical topics revolve around fantasy topics such as the universe of Dungeons and Dragons. The catchy band name, memorable cover artwork and inspired song titles blend in wonderfully. Owlbear's debut full length effort Chaos to the Realm comes around with ten songs and a perfect total running time of forty-six minutes.

The four musicians involved in this band have excellent chemistry and here's hope that this is only the start of a promising career. Estee Slaughter's drum play is dynamic, playful and versatile as it provides the solid backbone for the band's energetic heavy and power metal soundscapes. Leona Hayward has been involved in numerous bands and projects for more than a decade and this experience shows in a confident, dominating and vibrant bass guitar play throughout the entire album. Jeff Taft provides particularly diversified guitar play, coming along with tight riffs, melodic sequences and heartfelt solos. Katy Scary has been involved in the new wave of heavy metal for more than a decade and a half by now and has always put much brain, heart and soul into every single release. The vocals on this output make a great heavy metal record excellent as they sound powerful, memorable and enthusiastic from start to finish. This style that finds the perfect balance between technical skills and genuine emotions should also work splendidly in concert.

There are quite a few highlights that can be found throughout this record. ''Bastard Sons'' has an energetic vibe driven by melodic guitar riffs, tight rhythm section and catchy vocals culminating in a memorable chorus that qualifies this song as potential band anthem for years to come.

''Iuz the Old'' however is a much more creative, detailed and epic song clocking in at six and a half minutes. The song's mysterious atmosphere completes its swaggering heavy metal stylistics in a balanced way. This is the type of song that pioneers and veterans such as Manowar have been attempting and failing to write for three decades and counting by now.

Title track ''Chaos to the Realm'' does its title justice and will blow listeners away right from the start. This anthem has gritty vocals that make listeners want to go to war, a swaggering rhythm that will keep your feet moving, fists raising and head bobbling and excellent guitar tone infusing memorable melodies into the steady energy.

However, there is still some room for improvement in Owlbear's young career. The songwriting could become even more diversified as it should value experiments over traditions. The band should also try to sign a stable deal with a label to get an even better production for its next output, some clever marketing putting this wonderful band on the map and a tour with bands of similar age, ambition and genre.

At the end of the day, Owlbear's Chaos to the Realm is worth your attention if you appreciate high-quality releases of the new wave of heavy metal. Anyone who appreciates a balanced mixture of traditional heavy metal and American power metal should check this record out on a streaming platform and encourage the band directly by purchasing its merchandise. The combination of youthful energy and old-school trademarks makes for a timeless final result that has the potential to stand the test of time. It's now up to Owlbear to spread its chaos beyond its realm.

Final Rating: 80%

Ação Libertária is a Brazilian quintet that combines dynamic thrash metal with vibrant hardcore punk. The band constructively, directly and honestly criticizes, describes and inspires change regarding economical, ideological and political issues in Brazil and around the world. Regarding the band's third regular studio album Nazileiros, it's obvious right from the start that the sincere album title, the gruesome cover artwork and the poignant lyrics complete one another perfectly. This quintet stands and speaks up for equality, inclusivity and justice. Inspired musicians like these are more important in times like these than ever before.

Nazileiros offers a generous fifteen songs with an excellent total running time of forty-one minutes. Other than inspiring lyrics for people from Brazil and anyone else understanding Portuguese, the quintet's third record is also its greatest from an instrumental perspective. Remarkable opener ''Servos da Morte'' oozes with an oppressive atmosphere that sets the tone right from the start. Perfectly chosen title track ''Nazileiros'' sounds aggressive, fast and liberating and should work splendidly in concert. Short songs like ''Juventude Fastfood'' get to the point in one minute and a half and offer blistering relentlessness without any compromises. Closing anthem ''A Violência das Leis'' makes you feel as if you were participating in a political demonstration and encourages listeners to support the causes of this empathic band on the pulse of time.

To keep it short, Ação Libertária's Nazileiros is an excellent record for anyone interested in economical, ideological and political issues. The fusion of hardcore punk and thrash metal sounds authentic, energetic and timeless. The raw production, inspired lyrics and bleak cover artwork blend in perfectly. This record might not reinvent its genre and a few songs in the middle section of the album might rush by without leaving a particularly lasting impression but anyone who appreciates the grit of metal combined with the attitude of punk should give this release a spin.

Final Rating: 75%

Despite its gruesome image and imagery, American death metal pioneers Cannibal Corpse have been spreading creativity, energy and joy with their amusing, dynamic and entertaining live shows that should not be missed. However, the legendary quintet has been firmly establishing its trademark style for three and a half decades and counting which has logically lead to a certain stagnation in quality. Chaos Horrific is nonetheless one of the band's greatest most recent releases but it can't compete with the groundbreaking early records of yore.

''Overlords of Violence'' kicks the record off on a high note. The guitar riffs are fast, fierce and technically skilled, the bass guitar is dominant, energetic and vibrant, the drum play is precise, quick and rhythmic and the vocals are brutal, charismatic and low. The organic production adds some welcome additional oomph. The song gets to the point in just three minutes and doesn't take any prisoners.

''Blood Bind'' slows things down a little bit without losing any intensity. It's quite the opposite actually as the smoother parts sound brooding, menacing and sinister while the faster passages feel brutal, sudden and violent. The balance of these two sides is particularly excellent on this album highlight.

Title song ''Chaos Horrific'' goes for a different approach and sounds like an overwhelming sensory overload at first contact. Once you have digested the fittingly chaotic approach, there is some excellent technical musicianship to be discovered. The guitar riffs for instance are employed with clockwork precision and the drum play is so accurate that it almost sounds robotic. This is certainly a song that needs a few spins to unfold and grow on most listeners.

While this record includes no stinkers and has a perfect length of thirty-nine minutes, Cannibal Corpse obviously doesn't reinvent technical death metal here. The group keeps recalling its own back catalogue as well as influences from genre pioneers such as Malevolent Creation, Morbid Angel and Suffocation throughout the record. This is why this release as a whole can have a few moments that feel dragging, formulaic and repetitive. Genre enthusiasts certainly won't mind but occasional listeners might have a valid point when bringing up said issue.

In the end, Cannibal Corpse's Chaos Horrific is a very good release for anyone craving contemporary high-quality death metal. If you are however more interested in influential genre records, going back to the band's first five full length efforts and early extended play shall certainly prove to be more entertaining than discovering this somewhat formulaic new release. Cannibal Corpse's Chaos Horrific is good for what it is but won't leave much of a lasting impression to be honest.

Final Rating: 70%