Review by Jeger on August 13, 2026.

There's an idealistic view upon writing Extreme Metal; Extreme Metal that people actually want to listen to. The idea is not to reinvent the wheel or to even break fresh ground, but to incorporate classic elements from eras, bands and records past into an album; creating something never-before-heard yet wholly familiar feeling all the same. Chuck Schuldiner (Death) was a Master at this, particularly when considering the Classically-inspired "Individual Thought Patterns" and there are contemporary Artists such as Dave Davidson (Revocation) who also understand the importance of classicism when writing music and the resulting fruit of their pen is not Aborted, Origin or some other abomination, but albums that stir up a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the fundamentals, all the while as they astonish the listener with thoughtfully interjected elements of technicality/progressivism. Enter Italy's Miscreance…

Miscreance is a Technical Thrash / Death Metal band with a penchant for the days of Coroner's "Punishment for Decadence" and Pestilence' "Consvming Impvlse". To experience this band is to take in all of the very elements of Extreme Metal that gave you a hard-on when you were a teenager, except packaged in souped-up engineering, progressive cover art (Mona Shiraz) and truly inspired songwriting of the quasi-futuristic variety. How did these young men acquire such a developed understanding of true Metal? That's easy, when the other kids were eating Hot Pockets and playing Fortnite for 36 hours straight, our boys here were locked in their rooms with their instruments, their stereo and a Universe of albums. Miscreance formed in 2018, in 2022, they signed with the prestigious Season of Mist and they are now set to release their sophomore LP, "Reminiscence" on August 28.

With "Reminiscence", Miscreance explore a conceptual world where the supernatural and the primitive occupy the same space. A Tribal Society whose telepathic abilities are only succeeded by their thirst for blood and ecstasy: scalping, bizarre surgeries and a lust for sacred pleasure. Musically, expect a Martin van Drunen wet dream… A vocal homage to one of the all-time greats, backed by Technical Thrash/Death Metal that draws to mind collectives such as Death, Asphyx, Coroner and perhaps just a touch of Into Eternity - a brilliantly woven, intricate yet cozy sonic tapestry and a little funk never killed anyone...

Following a psychedelic, progressive intro where the guys do a little showing off, "Reminiscence" unfolds with "Trait d'Union" - a Mad Scientist's concoction of a track where the boundaries that separate the most visionary components of Extreme Metal from its most recognizable ones become entangled into a maddening symbiosis of Death and Thrash Metals. Wild solos! Synapses-scrambling riffs and a myriad of superhuman rhythms. The following track, "Vision", falls on the Thrash end of the spectrum. A little sleazier with the progressions, slick like oil and beats pumping along like pistons powering a diesel engine. There's real power and real momentum here - powered by such youthful energy and motivated by nothing more than a genuine passion for creating Scene-dominating Extreme Metal.

"Reminiscence" is a drums and bass-driven record, which is refreshing to hear such magnificent torque as it powers everything forward like a Freight Train; a sonic motor that propels every soaring melody, every ripping lead and every progressive nuance in comprehensive tracks like "Synaptic Cortex Dissection" that stylistically span a seemingly impossible array of influences. And the whole thing is just mixed to perfection. All phases cut through sharply during some parts and blend evenly during others. "Reminiscence" closes in such a way that it will leave a skid mark or two in your Fruit of the Looms: frenetic riffing patterns, Coroner-worshipping rhythms, creepy voices and heavy-as-lead grooves. A clinic in every stylistic formula/innovative composition that has captivated you up until this point before the sound of gentle acoustics set you free from what's been one Hell of an experience.

Not to sound like a dick, but I'm a Black Metal Journalist. I only review albums like "Reminiscence" if there is truly something special going on. All boxes checked. What we have here is innovation, classicism, power and talent unmatched, but above all else, Miscreance is a group of musicians who understand the importance of those good ole days and the impact that they are still and should always be having on today's Scene. Well done.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by Michael on August 28, 2026.

Sardonic Witchery, hailing from Texas, are probably having quite a busy year. After releasing a compilation album called "Under the Sign of the Trident" and welcoming a new permanent member, Gabriel Luis, the band are now ready to lay the world to waste with their fifth full-length, "Hell's Thorns Attack", on September 1st.

My first encounter with the band was at the 2025 Under the Black Sun Festival, where they unleashed a real black/thrash firework on stage. It was very impressive, and I was actually very pleased when I read the announcement of the new album.

So here we are, being heavily attacked by hell's thorns that impale your eardrums. First of all, it is noticeable that the artwork has really improved. Whereas the previous covers were not particularly impressive, this one is a truly dark and sinister affair, with plenty of details to discover. Cool shit! It reminds me a lot of the artwork used by the Finnish/German black metal duo Order of Nosferat.

Second, the music has turned out really cool as well. The previous albums were already straightforward black/thrash, but this one sounds much more mature. Every song is like a hammer smashing down on an anvil, forging pure fury. There are plenty of thrash influences to be found on "Hell's Thorns Attack", especially old Slayer. Many riffs sound like something straight out of "Show No Mercy" or "Hell Awaits", but some more traditional heavy metal also creeps into the songs here and there, as on "Ego Sum Rex Ignis Aeternus." The opening vocals also sound a lot like the beginning of "Christi(ns)anity" from Grave's 1992 album "You'll Never See...."

Kind Demogorgon truly sounds like a maniac when performing the vocals, and I wonder how long he had a sore throat after the recording. This is extreme metal in its purest, wildest form, packed with mayhemic rage. One could simply say: "Fuck yeah, aaaaaarrrrrgh!"

No, but honestly, the eight tracks on this album are probably the best the band have written so far, and I guess the new band member has provided some sort of refreshment for Sardonic Witchery. A song like "Cult Of A Thousand Horns," with its smooth keyboard passages and Judas Priest-like guitar riffs, just fucking kills and could be a real highlight in the live set. "Raped By Horrendous Night" is also a real banger, featuring a catchy mid-tempo section and some sinister laughter. And then there is the closer, "Dark Moon Slaughter," which is simply... wow. The guitars sound fantastic, and the whole track is a wild ride through metal history.

The production has turned out quite well, too. Maybe the drums sound a little muffled, but everything else is punchy and right where it needs to be. Hopefully, the band will find good distribution for the album, since it isn't particularly easy to get hold of their previous releases.

"Hell's Thorns Attack" is a brutal lesson in black/thrash and, compared to the latest Desaster album, to name one of the bigger names in the genre, much more brutal and pure. If you see this release at your local record store or somewhere else, you really can't go wrong by picking it up.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10