The Dutch label WolfKult Religion has a habit of dropping multiple new releases at once — nothing wrong with that, of course. And once again, our friend from Zeeland comes storming in with a fresh batch of tapes and vinyl. Five new releases hitting all at once, so let’s dive in and see what’s in this latest haul.
Review: Dismorfia – Sexual Mutilations And Paralytic Sorrows
Sex sells — whether this Peruvian death metal/grindcore duo consciously leaned into that idea or not, I honestly don’t know. But on this new tape, released through WolfKult Religion, it certainly seems like they’re willing to embrace it. The band started back in 2019, though their first demo didn’t emerge until 2021, and since then they’ve managed to blast out a respectable underground discography.
What immediately came to mind when listening to this tape was that classic early-’90s split LP from Axegrinder and Prophecy of Doom. The vocals especially reminded me of Chris Traumatic’s harsh growls, and the raw, pounding drum sound and thick, filthy bass tone also echo that era. It has that gritty, chaotic, almost mechanical heaviness that only the early extreme underground could deliver.
Now, I should point out that I am not deeply rooted in the grindcore world. The bands I just mentioned basically form my entire reference frame for the genre — aside from the few more popular grind acts everyone is aware of, of course. So what do I think of this, and am I even qualified to have an opinion? Honestly, yeah — and I think it’s pretty fun. It takes me right back to the ’90s, when I made a few tentative baby steps into this scene before deciding to leave it at that.
This one will definitely appeal to fans of old-school goregrind. Raw, uncompromising, filthy and unapologetic. If you’re into classic blood-soaked underground noise, give this a spin.
80/100
Dismorfia:
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Review: Pillagery/Goatscrote – Hails… To The Coming Age Of Barbarism
A split featuring two Canadian bands firmly rooted in the classic Ross Bay Cult tradition — filthy, raw, fast, violent, and utterly chaotic.
Pillagergy, a duo hailing from Victoria, deliver exactly what you would expect from that description: war metal in the vein of early Blasphemy and Revenge.
The production is exactly what you’d imagine as well — sounding more like a rehearsal recording than a proper studio session, perfectly in line with the aesthetics of this subgenre. Across five ferocious tracks, they tear through your speakers with a grind-infected black-war onslaught, pulverizing everything into a fine mangled pulp. Essential listening for fans of the aforementioned legends.
The B-side is handled by Goatscrote, from Guelph, Ontario. They open with an eerie electronic intro complete with reversed vocals before unleashing absolute sonic hell. Operating in similar territory as Pillagergy, Goatscrote bring slightly more thrashy riffing to the table and clearly take strong cues from Blasphemy, particularly in their frantic, short burst guitar solos scattered throughout the tracks.
The vocal effects can be a little grating at first, but the choice makes sense in the context. This duo has been spreading their message for roughly a decade now, with two full-length releases behind them. In digging for more information I even came across claims suggesting the project originally existed in the ’90s before material was lost due to band member conflicts — travel to Finland, strange animal-related rumors… who knows what’s true.
The use of synths and peculiar effects adds a strong Finnish influence to their sound as well. Alongside their Canadian roots, clear echoes of Beherit can be heard — and this side of the split ends up being my preferred one, largely thanks to the greater variation in the songwriting.
Pillargy: 75/100
Goatscrote: 80/100
Pillargy:
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Goatscrote:
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Review: Goat Semen/Bestial Rites – Sacrificial Rites
For the final release in this two-day barrage, we head back to South America — Lima, Peru to be exact — for a split 7” between Goat Semen and Bestial Rites. Goats, seed, and ritualistic fury clearly still sell well in the deeper underground.
Goat Semen have been blasting away for roughly 25 years now, and for this split they deliver a live version of Prophets of Hell, originally featured on their 2024 Fuck Christ EP. Their death metal with a blackened edge hits hard, and you can immediately tell these guys have been at it for decades — tight musicianship, relentless energy, and a song that absolutely rips.
Side B is reserved for Bestial Rites, who, despite forming back in 2010, are only now delivering their second release with this split. They too operate in the realm of old-school death metal with a black aura, and the drummer in particular stands out — sharp precision, heavy fills, and driving momentum throughout.
Production-wise, this one is more than solid for the style — grim and raw in spirit, yet clear enough to hear that both bands know exactly what they’re doing. No amateurs here.
A split well worth checking out for fans of the South American extreme metal sound — chaotic, violent, and absolutely unholy.
Goatsemen:
80/100
Bestial Rites:
85/100