Unsigned and Unholy: Thoren, Skinslip, Tyranny Enthroned

Thoren strike the perfect mix between what I affectionately call “big, fat dumb guy death metal” (Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Obituary, etc) and cerebral, skronky metal, ala Gorguts, Dysrhythmia, Ulcerate, etc. Does that mean we average the difference and call them average IQ death metal? Not really; the way they deftly combine those big, downtuned riffs with proggy interludes and embellishments perhaps makes them even smarter than any of the above. Check out their self-titled 2014 release below:

Oh, Skinslip, you give me those delicious, most vicious riffs that I so badly need! There’s nothing particular complicated about this kind of metal, but it’s so visceral and intense and it hits me in that sweet spot. Would love to drink a lot of beer and headbang through a live set by these guys.

Tyranny Enthroned are signed to Metal Music Austria for Europe, but they’re still unsigned in their U.S. homeland so we’ll give ’em a pass for Unsigned and Unholy. They should appeal to fans of Behemoth, and they certainly share some sonic similarities with the latter, but they’ve also got their own thing going on. Check out their December 2014 release Born of Hate below; I especially dig the plodding, grueling riff that comprises the verse of album-closer “Ritual of algol.”