![[Album Reviews]: A ‘Straya-Double - CIRCLE OF BLOOD & BATTLEGRAVE (AU).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1776169063393-3M7MF3L0FS7D7B7L1DQG/%5BAlbum+Reviews%5D+Banner.png)
[Album Reviews]: A ‘Straya-Double - CIRCLE OF BLOOD & BATTLEGRAVE (AU).
[Album Review] ‘A Straya Double’: Circle of Blood (AU) - In Praise of Darkness & Battlegrave (AU) - Enslavement. Check the link for full-album reviews for both beastly Australian extreme-metal releases, artist/label links, album/single streams and more. Oi! Oi! Oi!
![[Album Review]: GRAUFAR - ‘Via Necropolis’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1775533532692-GO6LTJBHE6978FDKR44L/vianecropolis.jpg)
[Album Review]: GRAUFAR - ‘Via Necropolis’ LP.
[Album Review] Graufar (Austria) - Via Necropolis, released independently via the artist 20th March, 2026. Words by Dean Underhill. See within for a review of some ripping Austrian blackened death-metal, as well as single/album streaming links, artist links and more. Dean’s verdict: 8/10 Undead Strudels.
![[Heavy News]: DESPISED ICON (CA), DEAD SLEEP (SWE) & PLINI (AU).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1775018159228-M3DZ4CHK2SMAE8PJ0952/Heavy+News+01.04.26+-+cover.png)
[Heavy News]: DESPISED ICON (CA), DEAD SLEEP (SWE) & PLINI (AU).
Today’s serving of Heavy News comes with a piping hot tray of award-winning Canadian deathcore (via Despised Icon), rapturous Swedish thrash with Dead Sleep’s latest single + album reveal, and an all-Australian dessert with Plini’s delectable new single/upcoming album. Bon appetit!
![[Podcast] Ep. 70: [Interview] w/ FERDI HANDOJO of VANTA (AU) + ‘Perpetual Selection’ [Album Review].](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1774687980154-GGZFRCUIHLMA2JZRI5N3/vantaband.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 70: [Interview] w/ FERDI HANDOJO of VANTA (AU) + ‘Perpetual Selection’ [Album Review].
A double-feature special for you all tonight! Presenting both the Inner-Strength Check Podcast’s 70th episode via our [Interview] with Ferdi Handojo, drummer of Perth-based melodic/tech-death outfit Vanta…. AND a bonus [Album Review] of their debut full-length LP Perpetual Selection! With thanks for both to Ferdi, Vanta and Glenn ‘Dysie’ Dyson of Cult Etiquette PR.
![[Album Review] FORCEFED HORSEHEAD/SHAVING THE WEREWOLF (Split EP) + AGENBITE MISERY (LP).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1771219570540-UCGJJFY196UFAJHBZNUY/doublereviewheader.png)
[Album Review] FORCEFED HORSEHEAD/SHAVING THE WEREWOLF (Split EP) + AGENBITE MISERY (LP).
[Album Review]: This week for Music Mondays at ISC, your podcast host Brady is treating you to a written-review double-dip. See within for reviews of Norwegian grindpunk/mathcore split-EP From Horrid To Worse by Forcefed Horsehead/Shaving The Werewolf, and full-length experimental horror Remorse of Conscience by New Hampshire trio Agenbite Misery. Get your freaky-Monday on.
![[Guest Riff]: JASON GRUBB of GETTING TABLED Discusses Game-Design Process For ‘ENTROPY CITY’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1768533327205-SXR0M3ECXBQY3GYUZY0V/491277013_1498037431537217_8196421286548715935_n.jpg)
[Guest Riff]: JASON GRUBB of GETTING TABLED Discusses Game-Design Process For ‘ENTROPY CITY’.
Our first guest-written article comes to you via none other than Melburnian local and RPG/skirmish game-designer Jason ‘The Bruce’ Grubb of international tabletop/wargaming podcast Getting Tabled. Check out the link to explore the process behind his upcoming Road Rash meets Mad Max product, titled Entropy City.
![[Podcast] Ep. 63: [Interview] w/ BEN GREEN of GRIMLOCK/GYPSY ROAD (AU).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1766385436248-I3WBUBYRECRMFIYSYVN9/Ep.+63+%5BInterview%5D+with+BEN+GREEN+of+GRIMLOCK%2C+GYPSY+ROAD+%28Melbourne%2C+AU%29+%2B+%40iplayguitars0metimes.png)
[Podcast] Ep. 63: [Interview] w/ BEN GREEN of GRIMLOCK/GYPSY ROAD (AU).
[Podcast] Episode 63: Interview with local Melbourne-based Australian musician Ben Green, who reached out to discuss all things songwriting, band-joining, performing, producing and more for his latest projects Grimlock and Gypsy Road. For an interesting dive into local metal, post-hardcore and emo alike, plus sample tracks and artist links - click here!
![[Heavy News] Music Monday 08.12.25: KAKIHARA (UK), BURIED SOULS (SWI), VERILEHTO (FIN) & BLACK MAGIC TREE (GER).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1765178063047-7W03A90ZSKTO0PAPIUEE/musicmondaybanner.png)
[Heavy News] Music Monday 08.12.25: KAKIHARA (UK), BURIED SOULS (SWI), VERILEHTO (FIN) & BLACK MAGIC TREE (GER).
[Heavy News/Music Monday 08.12.25]: We might be nearing the end of 2025, but there’s no end in sight where great recent releases are concerned! Check the link for the latest from Scottish mathcore enthusiasts Kakihara, Swiss blackened death metallers Buried Souls, Suomi black metal wizards Verihelto and German heavy psych-rockers Black Magic Tree.
![[Podcast] Inner-Strength Check Radio: Pilot Broadcast, 27.11.2026.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1764246077995-OEHUC0NYNXGRE1OZPDT3/Inner-Strength+Check+Radio+Pilot+Broadcast%2C+25th+Nov+2025..png)
[Podcast] Inner-Strength Check Radio: Pilot Broadcast, 27.11.2026.
HUGE! Welcome to an exciting new development for the Inner-Strength Check Podcast - a double-feature and our first ever broad of Inner-Strength Check Radio online. Featuring footage of Lofi Games’ indie-game hit Kenshi, with singles from recent/upcoming albums by: Deadwood, Redivider, AndrewKN, HyperioN, Phobocosm, El Muerto & Kostnatění!
![[#MusicMonday 17.11.25] 3 Tasty 2026 Treats: ABISSI (IT), DEADWOOD (CA) & AGENBITE MISERY (US).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1763373209881-ZES7CJJQWZ1ZEGYIRNZ8/775853.jpg)
[#MusicMonday 17.11.25] 3 Tasty 2026 Treats: ABISSI (IT), DEADWOOD (CA) & AGENBITE MISERY (US).
[Music Mondays, 17th Nov ‘25]: No need to ask if these are indeed tasty treats - they’ve been sampled in advance by the ISC team for quality. Check out latest singles, album/artist bio, preorders and more for 2026 albums from: Italian psych-rockers Abissi, Canadian deathcore mongrels Deadwood & US avant-garde extreme-metal boffins Agenbite Misery!
![[Review] CONDITION CRITICAL (US) - ‘Degeneration Chamber’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1756727114789-G3WTTOT9PZRUBSQZZD2C/conditioncritical.jpeg)
[Review] CONDITION CRITICAL (US) - ‘Degeneration Chamber’ LP.
[Album Review: Condition Critical - Degeneration Chamber]. Nope, not even inclement weather, power outages or a dead first draft can keep this thrasher down! See here for latest review from ISC host Brady, exploring a ripping, technical affair via these independent New Jersey modern-thrash upstarts. One for the thrashers and mosh-fiends, Degeneration Chamber drops Sept 5th, 2025.
![[Heavy News] On The Motion Tracker - Recent/Upcoming Release Info + Mini-Reviews.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1756464891394-B6B9Z5OWMPEHTCT2KS36/484327412_1055271216626365_6033654490345650488_n.jpg)
[Heavy News] On The Motion Tracker - Recent/Upcoming Release Info + Mini-Reviews.
[Heavy News, 29.08.25]: Having admittedly been lacking in energy for doing full album reviews of late, I’ve nonetheless been scoping out what’s pinging the motion-tracker on the endless xeno-hunt that is new and upcoming releases. See within for press releases and some mini-review synopses for No Apologies (Aus hardcore), Hexrot (US experimental black/death), The Mansters (Norwegian fast-punk) & Now I’ve Done It (US… WTF-metal)!
![[#MusicMonday 25.08.25] A Curious Trio of Upcoming Albums.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1756126968805-OA1XIEMVAGDVJ94ECJ9D/%23MusicMondays%2C+25th+Aug+Crop+%28USA%29+-.png)
[#MusicMonday 25.08.25] A Curious Trio of Upcoming Albums.
[Music Monday/ Heavy News - 25.08.25]: Join me in my ongoing spelunking through the immeasurably steep ascent up New Release Mountain with three particularly curious underground LP’s: US-based grunge-doom (CROP - S.S.R.I.) and self-style ‘Castle Metal’ (medieval black metal!) via Morke’s upcoming To Carry On and finally, sludge-laden, raw atmospheric black metal from Wales of all places in incognito-solo-artist The Sorrow Of Being Immaculate’s Suicide Forest. Most curious indeed, old bean!