Review by Felix on January 16, 2021.

How many simple but good riffs exist in our galaxy? Nobody knows the exact answer. But Toxic Holocaust alone have fired off so many on their demos, splits and albums that I fear they are running out rather than anyone getting the Corona virus at least halfway under control. Not in Germany, at least, with its collection of selected idiots in government. When they realise that a medicine is not working, they quickly administer a higher dose. That’s very clever, no doubt about it.

Toxic Holocaust is similar, only the other way round. Their medicine works. That’s the simple reason why the dose is basically always the same. Come hell or high water, stringent riffs prepare the ground for vicious neck-snaps. Without much ado, they deliver one scoop of hateful speed after the other. Well, the intro is completely pointless. The epic (and well done) 'Summon the Beast' is over four minutes long and stays in mid-tempo. But presumably these pieces were only conceived in this way so that the album would pass the 30-minute mark.

Representative numbers are angry outbursts like 'Enemy of Jesus', 'Damned to Fire' or '666'. The latter even almost develops earworm qualities due to its catchy three-note refrain. Between these titles lies 'Exxxecutioner'. (The letter X was apparently on special offer at the time of recording.) Unfortunately, this track lags behind the others, partly because of the introduction by a primitive, anaemic drum solo. By the way, the pappy drums could develop considerably more pressure. Guitar-wise, everything is on track. Colleague Grind wrings only mean-sounding tones out of his six strings. That's how it should be with this form of simple, punk-inspired thrash with constantly vile vibrations.

The lone wolf finishes the album with the tranquillity and stubbornness of a passionate woodchopper. Whether you're listening to 'Warfare', 'Dead to the World' or some other ode to filth, he is doing his work with the 'Ignorance Is Bliss' attitude that The Ramones once praised on "Brain Drain". It may also be that some elements of the early Ramones have made an impression on Toxic Holocaust, especially their consistent restriction to the essentials. However, Evil Never Dies is certainly not a genre classic, but there are clearly worse records. Given this situation, let’s hope that the simple riffs never die out.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Review by Alex on January 21, 2021.

From the rotting rear-end of Caligari Records, shat out Canadian death metal band Perihelion Gnosis. The debut demo soon to be released titled Syzygial Suffering has a thick sonic fabric that encompasses death metal, doom and thrash and in some cases takes a cannonball into funereal territory.

Two exceptionally well recorded tracks in the form of 'Syzygial Summoning of His Pale-Skinned Majesty (Sacrifice of the Neverborn)' and 'Nebular Hypothesis (The All-Mother's Cyclical Un-Birth; Genesis of the Swarm)' will snatch you from the comfort of your spongy couch to a planet which can only be identified as fucked. Sacrifice of the Neverborn? is this about abortion? But on a sinister scale? Like snatching the fetus out of the womb, hand in cunt style? I don't know, but what I do know is that this track along with it's partner in crime 'Nebular Hypnosis', muster up a bold spawning of death metal. It's groovy sometimes, fast and pummeling and even catchy in some instances.

Vocals are sort of cavernous but not overly echoed, the riffs sound old school as fuck and the drumming is a showcase of styles. As for the production, it's surprisingly clear but still has a rough organic edge that never dissipates. Both tracks are dynamic as they incorporate a variety of genre transitions and musical maneuvers from death to doom and back with thrash and funeral doom being snuck into the thick of things occasionally. Interesting record, keep your telescope calibrated to Perihelion Gnosis' coordinates.

Rating: 7 out of 10