Death Keepers: "Rock This World"

Corner-cutting heavy/power mixture

As far as Judas Priest and general late 70s/early 80s heavy metal worship goes, this Spanish leather-clad outfit are pretty good. If you aim to stay true to the roots, there's only so much you can do, and with the limited possibilities of the style, Death Keepers make just a little more than the most of it.

Fathomhell: "Non Pietatem Erit"

Somewhat accomplished black metal meanderings

Enveloping their core of black metal in a burdening cloak of cold atmosphere, Fathomhell from Spain at first seem pretty average. Starting out in 2010, it wasn't before 2012 that the release of their first demo EP - Non Pietatem Erit - would see the light of day. Where the Spanish trio awaken curiosity is with their tasteful but sparse use of synths and carefully programmed drums.

Amnion & Balmog: "Grim Repulse of the Southern Lodge"

Spanish duo in collaboratory split release

In 2013, two Spanish black metal bands - Both with a history exceeding a decade of active music making - got together to create the split Grim Repulse of the Southern Lodge. The bands Amnion from Zaragoza and Balmog from Galicia aren't exactly polar opposites of each other, but at the same time they are quite different. 

Dèigh: "Nothingness"

Blatant disregard for quality or musicianship

Having started out some time in 2012 in Madrid, Spain, Dèigh as an entity works its way towards the term abrasive black metal with a demo in 2012 and the Nothingness EP in 2013. Precious little is know about the project, however, by the time Nothingness is released, pertaining to the traditional atmosphere of mystique surrounding many branches of black metal.

Skjaersild: "Skjaersild" & "Damned Roots"

Unfulfilling and incoherent idolatry

Black metal is mostly inherently abrasive in nature, and to most outsiders most bands sound alike. And true, some (read: most) bands don't exactly contribute with anything worthwhile. Skjaersild from Spain are one of those groups that in their quest to sound as much like their Scandinavian idols - their Norwegian name gives them away - as possible they become entirely bland, contributing instead to the wrongful notion that all black metal bands do, in fact, sound the same.

Digging Your Tomb: "Demo(lition)"

It ain't easy listening, but it's rewarding brutality in ample amounts

Digging Your Tomb goes into detail with every aspect of slamming brutal death metal, while also exhibiting the vast reach of the style. The Spanish trio's fourth offering, the demo titled "Demo(lition)", is in many ways a culmination of efforts, portraying a band whos internal dynamic is by now well-establish and thorough in their approach.