Heavydeath - Dark Phoenix Rising (2015)

   Heavydeath could have been taken as an alternative, and a bit experimenting version of Runemagick. Or its rehearsal, raw form. The lineup confirms this, since Nicklas Rudolfsson (main man of Runemagick) and two former Runemagick members played in the band.
   Similar to most side projects (if we're looking at Heavydeath as Mr. Rudolfsson's side project), Heavydeath is also not much different from the main project. In fact, after some song polishing their releases could fit into the Runemagick discography as well. The unmistakable and characteristic guitar play of Mr. Rudolfsson (not to mention his also easily identifiable vocal style) made sure of that. The band seemingly cared less about well composed song structures or studio mixing, or picking the most advantageous sound for their music, therefore it had a rehearsal-like touch. The guitar themes are way louder than how they should be, and therefore they completely taking the show with the vocals. Also because of this loudness, the repetitiveness of the themes creating a dense atmosphere that's very gloomy and mystical the same time. This might sound nothing new if we think about Runemagick, but Heavydeath created that feeling with a bit different toolbar, lower distortion and lower theme diversity. And similar to black metal: by the assistance of poor sound quality. For similar reasons this band sounded like a fun made brainstorming project of Runemagick or a recycling project of Runemagick themes that have been cast off. Their music definitely has some catchy, mesmerizing feeling, but it might be able to touch or impress the fans of Runemagick the most. 

Gouge - Beyond Death (2015)

   Gouge debuted with their exclusively Autopsy influenced music in 2012 with an EP "Doomed to Death". The EP's poor sound quality proved to be advantageous for their primitive and filthy approach, and this feeling was brought further and exposed on their full-length album "Beyond Death".
   The only obvious difference between their music and Autopsy is that Gouge strongly relied on thrash beats and tempo, therefore no heavy slow downs and extended sickening themes to find. However, the dirty feeling that came from Autopsy-like themes, sound and vocal style combined with old school thrashing could be similarly effective, since primitiveness is in their focus. Compared to the debut EP, the better and noisier sound quality turned out to be more advantageous from a death metal perspective. In total "Beyond Death" sounds like a faster and wilder version of "Severed Survival". For those who haven't been the fans of slow downs in Autopsy, this album might be an absolute win. But thrash fans who are desiring something heavier, might also find their countings in "Beyond Death", not to mention those who could never get enough of Autopsy and the countless bands they've influenced or copied their style too precisely.

qip - On Ephemeral Substrates (2015)

   Qip was a one man industrial project that intended to mix metal with electronic music. It always have been an unthankful task, especially if the metal part was pushed forward to death metal elements like in this case. Death metal audiences will hate it, while for the fans of electronic music and industrial it will be too noisy, too metal. It's enough to think about the not so many experiments of the '90s, to less successful tryings like Meathook Seed or Soulstorm, or to unique and awesome ones like Dead World, or Skin Chamber. The common thing about all of them is that these names are nearly completely forgotten and even back then they have been barely known.
   However, qip gave another alternative for similar experiments by involving the modern sound and diversity of electronic music of the '10s. In comparison, while most similar projects of the '90s (and even later, like in case of the worthily forgotten The Berzerker from Australia) seemed to have kinda limited knowledge and skills for electronic music. Back then the musical minimalism as a trending direction by industrial could have been a good reason for that, but it's not always convincing by looking at the less metal related industrial projects of the '90s. Meanwhile qip successfully crossed that barrier with ease by a wide range of atmospheric and electronic sound effects. Basically the album is way more diverse than most electronic music projects. The analogy of death metal features becoming strongly restricted for the favour of electronic elements still exists in this form too, and for this even less electronic involvement was enough too back then in the '90s. So as an industrial death metal album "On Ephemeral Substrates" falls into the same trap like its predecessors, though as melodic death it could still work at some point. But as an industrial metal album it's able to give a new, unique perspective, that could be easily distinguished from other similar bands and projects. 

Of Spire & Throne - Sanctum in the Light (2015)

   Of Spire & Throne was formed in 2009, and before their first full-length album "Sanctum in the Light" they had 3 EP releases "The Trial of Failure", "Vagary" and "Toll of the Wound" (the first and the third ones having nearly full-length duration - not really surprising in this style).
   Their first two EPs were both excellent, and by being pretty grim and obscure, describing them as death/doom or funeral doom would be probably more accurate. The band's sludgy doom style first appeared on their third EP "Toll of the Wound", where on the side of less rough sound, truly sludgy themes showed up as well. On "Sanctum in the Light" stronger atmosphere was added and the album sounds like an extensive trial of capabilities by the band. Like if they were trying to expose their very depths of self-expression in the most various way possible. Mainly the contrast between the soft, simple melancholic melodies and the noisy, down-pulling heaviness creates these depths by leaving enough time for the listener to merge into both. Expressing such things effectively by the toolbar of musical minimalism is definitely the evidence of skillfulness in this style. At one hand the more sophisticated sound was an advantageous step to let the sludgy sound to prevail, but for the denser atmosphere and the melancholic melodies it was essential. However, it still wouldn't be incorrect to call their music as death/doom or funeral doom, since the features of both styles are still actively responsible for turning the music extremely obscure. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to state that by Of Spire & Throne only masterpieces came out so far, and "Sanctum in the Light" is no exception. Long term potential favorite for the fans of sludge/doom, funeral doom and death/doom. 

Shrine of the Serpent - Shrine of the Serpent (2015)

   Shrine of the Serpent debuted with a stunning EP (the basically could be a full-length album by its nearly 30 mins of duration if it wasn't death/doom), that served as an accurate introduction for the band's (unfortunately) short career. 
   While the music definitely reflects the traditional aspect of the style, that focuses on absolute hopelessness, strongly demoralizing tone, and completely lacks aesthetic or romantic features; the crystal clear sound that was picked is usual at the more popular form of death/doom. At one hand it's advantageous, cause it's also a way to highlight the music's rumbling heaviness, and to show the endless depths of desperation, but a noisier, dirtier sound could have been more effective if that was the goal. Anyways, the EP includes everything why death/doom could be preferred. It's ominous, down-pulling and includes such a dark atmosphere, that would be difficult to compete with in any other styles. During the 3 extended songs the band did a great job by keep building up the songs slowly step by step and avoiding monotony meanwhile. The compositions are simple, nothing unexpected happens, it's high quality death/doom in its raw simplicity. Could be a potential favorite for the fans of the genre.

Ravens Creed - Ravens Krieg (2015)

   Ravens Creed had an interesting journey since its formation in the late '00s. The band started to play crossover/thrash, and according to the that time actual tendencies in the main metal scene, their full-length debut "Albion Thunder" sounded pretty vintage and refreshing the same time. 
   By their second album the band took a confident step into a more aggressive thrash/death direction, and the third record "Ravens Krieg" was like a fulfillment of this style switch. The great sound quality had advantageous role by highlighting the pure wild aggressiveness, that still relied on intense thrashing. The band also had a new frontman since 2011 (Al Osta), and his death metal fitting vocal style also increased the more savage main impression. In fact, "Ravens Krieg" isn't far from becoming a death metal album, only the strongly old school oriented thrash metal basics keeping the music on the border of the two styles. The compromise-less spirit and limitless anger based approach makes the album comparable to "Pray" by Solstice, that's probably one of the wildest and most aggressive thrash/death albums until this day. And to reach or earn a similar status is no small thing after decades of extreme metal history. By the final song of the album the band also made clear, that even in case of extended song length (over 13 mins long), they're able to thrash till death and to do it without turning monotonous or unifacial. It's probably the most challenging and most enjoyable song on the album, and it's pretty sure that not many fellow thrash metal bands could do this after them. In total, "Ravens Krieg" is an excellent record, strongly recommended for both the fans of thrash and death metal.

Invocation Spells - Descendent the Black Throne (2015)

   When it's about thrash/black metal, Invocation Spells should be definitely among the first names that comes to mind. Not because they would be an old or classic name for the genre. But because simply they're among the few top bands who are able to catch the feeling of the style in the rawest, dirtiest and most vile way.
   The band of course didn't figure out the whole thing by themselves, their music relies on the traditional basics of South American extreme metal, and when it comes to thrash/black, there are simply no better basics for that. What Invocation Spells did the best is mastering their influences and focusing on the core essence of the style. This of course also means a strongly vintage/old school approach, with the inevitable touch of '80s-like sound and spirit. But since lots of bands (mainly from Sweden) have shown up since the late '00s to restore the feeling of the '80s by a very familiar sounding, but in truth never existed direct transition from pioneer bands like Celtic Frost and Venom to black metal, this counts as an alternative (probably a better alternative) for the same endeavours. But while Northern and other European bands involving speed and heavy metal influences, mainly inspired by the British heavy metal scene (and meanwhile others, mainly in Eastern Europe desire to play black metal, but they're simply not enough skilled for that, therefore they ending up as thrash/black), in South America the rawest, more aggressive form persevered and rules still. In total Invocation Spells is strongly recommended for thrash/black fans.