A Wilhelm Scream |Cheap Heat |Creator-Destructor Records

Release Date February 27^th, 2026
Format CD/Vinyl/Cassette/Digital
Genre Melodic Hardcore, Hardcore Punk
Country United States

A Wilhelm Scream crawled out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, over twenty-five years ago, throwing down a vicious collision of punk, metal, and hardcore. Over the decades, they survived breakups and endless touring, operating entirely on their own terms as underdogs of the scene. Now, three years after "Lose Your Delusion", the quintet drops their sixth studio full-length, "Cheap Heat", through Creator-Destructor Records. Bringing new second guitarist Ben Murray into the fold alongside Nuno Pereira, Trevor Reilly, Nicholas Angelini, and Brian Robinson, the boys are back spreading their specific brand of fast, aggressive noise.

"Cheap Heat" acts as a heel turn in a wrestling ring. The guys abandoned the poetic musings of past releases and dove straight into the gutter. The ten songs here deal with sociopathy, evil, and the twisted perspective of a sore winner. It throws out hyper-fast riffs, shredding guitars, and an aggressive vocal delivery that snarls and spits right in your face. The production, handled at Anchor End Studio, keeps the instruments striking with maximum impact. The speed rarely drops, delivering pure adrenaline fueled by a sinister, cynical worldview.

The album flies by at breakneck speed. "Somebody's Gonna Die" and "The Scumbag Grift" launch the assault with reckless abandon. The musicianship is incredibly technical. Fast-paced bass lines sync up flawlessly with relentless drumming, giving the twin guitars space to rip solos and trade furious rhythms. Sometimes the sheer velocity blurs the lines between songs. You get a massive dose of aggression, and occasionally a chorus or riff gets swallowed up in the chaotic frenzy. Even so, the hostility driving tracks like "Fell Off" and "Poison II" keeps the momentum rolling forward.

The chaotic energy is the defining trait of A Wilhelm Scream. They thrive in the fast lane, ignoring what the rest of the scene is doing. The guitar work from Reilly and Murray constantly battles for dominance against the frantic rhythm section. It creates a massive wall of sound. Sometimes it can be slightly overwhelming on the first listen, as the relentless pacing merges the songs into one giant sonic assault.

A Wilhelm Scream delivers what their loyal followers want with "Cheap Heat". It brings serious speed, hostile lyrics, and furious musicianship to the table. Some extra variation in the tempos might have elevated the whole package, making the individual tracks strike with more force. Regardless, the boys from New Beige unleashed a fast, angry, and highly technical hardcore banger. They operate with total disregard for trends, smashing through ten tracks of pure aggression.

Score: 7.5

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Auditory Anguish | AFA | Creator-Destructor Records

Release Date: November 14th, 2025

Format: Digital, 12” Vinyl

Genre: Death Metal, Hardcore, Metalcore

Country: USA

Hailing from Southern California, Auditory Anguish has steadily built a name for themselves in the underground hardcore and death metal scene. With previous releases like “Tragedies Of Western Existence” and “Crime Rituals”, the band has toured extensively across the West Coast, blending hardcore energy with death metal heaviness. Their latest EP, “AFA”, marks their first release under Creator-Destructor Records, bringing their raw, intense sound to a wider audience.

Auditory Anguish’s “AFA” is a concentrated burst of aggressive music, moving quickly from one track to the next without any filler. The EP leans on short, impactful songs, delivering unrelenting energy that shifts between crushing breakdowns, dark grooves, and intense vocal assaults. There’s a clear sense of urgency throughout, with each track striking hard and leaving little space for respite. Guest appearances, like those from Tzompantli on “Tierra Santa”, add subtle layers without distracting from the main force of the band.

The production, handled by Taylor Young and Nick Townsend, keeps the sound dense yet controlled. Vocals sit prominently over the guitars and drums, giving the songs a raw edge that fits the aggressive style. Despite the brevity of each track, “AFA” manages to present a complete snapshot of the band’s sound, mixing metallic hardcore rhythms with death metal heaviness in a way that’s straightforward and engaging. For fans of bands like Xibalba, Deftones, Trash Talk, the EP delivers on expectation with tracks that hit hard and maintain momentum. It doesn’t overstay its welcome; instead, it condenses everything the band does into a short, sharp collection of songs.

Overall, “AFA” is like a strong, direct statement from Auditory Anguish, combining intensity, aggression, and precise execution in a compact format. It’s a solid addition to their discography, offering a focused experience for listeners who appreciate hardcore-infused death metal.

Score: 6.5

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Denial Of Life | Witness The Power | Creator-Destructor Records

Release Date: November 7th

Format: 12” Vinyl, CD, Digital

Genre: Crossover, Thrash Metal

Country: United States

Denial Of Life comes from Tacoma, Washington, a region that has a long tradition of creating bands that thrive on chaos. Formed in 2019, they built their name with a take on crossover that is soaked in hardcore aggression and classic thrash speed. Their sound pulls from Slayer, Sepultura and Entombed, with Brenna Gowin driving the whole storm through her scorching vocals. Logan Miller and Dante Zickler attack with fast, serrated riffs, Brian Bernard adds weight through his low end, and Nick Cody keeps everything in constant motion through his relentless drumming. After the 2022 full length “No Reason” and heavy touring across the United States and Europe, the band now steps forward with a new EP that marks another violent strike in their growing catalog.

“Witness The Power” arrives with zero tolerance, moving straight into the kind of aggression Denial Of Life has sharpened through their previous releases and tours. The band sounds fired up, as if they recorded these songs in the middle of a street fight. Everything is raw, fast, and delivered with absolute intent. Brenna’s voice cuts through the mix with a rasp that has genuine spite, while the guitars run wild in constant attack mode. There is no attempt at smoothing anything out, no pause for breath, only forward motion.

The production hits that sweet spot where the grit of hardcore blends with the bite of thrash. Taylor Young’s mix keeps the whole thing hostile, while Jason Brooks and Brad Boatright ensure the recording comes across as heavy and immediate. The riffs swing between thrash speed and darker, Swedish death metal inspired churn, which gives the songs a nasty character that suits them perfectly. You can practically imagine the circle pits forming on the spot.

Even with its short running time, the EP leaves a bruised impression. The writing is straightforward, fast, and packed with rage, and the performances match that approach without any hesitation. It is the kind of release that will land hard with fans of Power Trip, Nuclear Assault, Dead Heat, Excel, Fugitive, Enforced or Havok. Nothing here tries to soften the impact, and the band sounds entirely committed to the chaos they create.

“Witness The Power” stands as a tough, violent burst of crossover energy from a group that keeps moving upward. As a snapshot of where Denial Of Life stands in 2025, it hits its target directly and promises even harsher things ahead. Anyone into savage thrash and hardcore fusion will have an easy time locking into this.

Score: 7.5

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Torture Hammer | Torture Hammer | Creator-Destructor Records

Release Date: October 24th, 2025

Format: 12” Vinyl, CD, Digital

Genre: Death Metal

Country: USA

Born in Santa Cruz, California, Torture Hammer emerged in 2024 with their debut EP “Dormant Horror”, a savage introduction that combined the energy of raw death metal with street-level aggression. Initially a duo formed by vocalist Peter Pawlak and guitarist Sean Collins, the project has now evolved into a full unit with drummer Max Mahmood (Iron Front, Manos De Fierro) and bassist Amir Sahabi (Caveman). This new lineup gives the band extra punch and cohesion, pushing their sound to new levels of brutality on their self-titled second EP, “Torture Hammer.”

This release is a direct hit to the skull, six tracks of pit-ready death metal that show zero hesitation. The production, handled by Charles Toshio at Panda Studios, captures the band’s ferocity with a raw and physical sound. Every riff lands like a strike, drums pound with relentless speed, and Pawlak’s growls command the attack with rabid intensity. It’s the kind of record that feels made for small venues drenched in sweat and chaos.

“Torture Hammer” stands firmly within the tradition of American death metal, echoing the ugliness and street brawl spirit of bands like Cannibal Corpse and Skinless, while keeping its own rough-edged identity. The songwriting is compact and savage, giving no time for hesitation or filler. Each track hits, rages, and exits before you can catch your breath. The title track acts as the center of this storm, with crushing riffs and breakdowns that could flatten a live audience.

What makes this EP effective is its honesty. Torture Hammer doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a death metal band driven by aggression and adrenaline. There’s no pretension, no wasted motion, just straight violence in musical form. It’s not an EP designed for innovation, but for impact, and in that regard, it fully succeeds. If you’re into death metal that drips with old-school hostility and modern muscle, “Torture Hammer” deserves a spin at maximum volume. It’s the sound of a young band sharpening their tools and proving they belong among the heavy hitters.

Score: 7.5

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