There’s a certain kind of heaviness that doesn’t just slam your body — it reaches into memory. It hits the part of you that stood outside small venues in the cold, hoodie soaked in sweat, waiting for that one riff to drop. It takes you back to the pits that split open like rituals, to burned CD-Rs with Sharpie tracklists, to broken-down MySpace profiles playing the soundtrack of our youth on autoplay.

That’s the feeling I got when I heard Beheading the Icon for the first time. Not just a band — a portal.

Hailing from South Chicago, BTI isn't just influenced by the MySpace-era deathcore sound — they come from it. But this isn’t some nostalgia act, trying to mimic the past. This is something leaner, meaner, smarter. It's the same rage we remember, now grown up, sharpened, and aimed with purpose. With every release, they walk a tightrope between unfiltered chaos and thoughtful brutality — like if As Blood Runs Black and The Black Dahlia Murder had a child raised on basement shows.

From their early self-titled EP — rough, raw, honest — to their 2024 offering VITRIOL, you hear the evolution. And you feel it. This is a band that remembers the war — and still chooses to fight it. Their sound is a storm of blast beats, gutturals, and riffs that stab rather than slice. Their lyrics go deeper than anger — touching on addiction, corruption, cosmic dread, and personal hauntings that feel mythic and intimate at the same time.

What makes Beheading the Icon feel different is that they’re not chasing a scene — they’re restoring one. They come from the roots, and yet everything about them feels forward-thinking. Their singles show it best — tracks like “Pay to Pray” and “Las Moscas” aren’t just heavy — they’re intentional. You don’t just mosh to these songs. You think about them later. You feel them when you’re alone. This is music for people who understand that brutality and meaning aren’t enemies — they’re soulmates. And that is why we’re proud to name Beheading the Icon our Artist of the Week.

This time let´s talk about PACTO is a melodic black metal band born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2007. Founded by brothers John Sabogal (guitar) and Manuel Sabogal (keyboards), PACTO began as an instrumental project—just two minds creating mystical soundscapes. But over time, it evolved into something much deeper: a band with a message, a sound, and a vision. Their music blends melodic black metal with doom-laced atmospheres and even elements of IDM, giving each album its own unique identity.

Lyrically, PACTO doesn’t hold back. Their songs dive into the harsh realities of the modern world—religious and political dogma, environmental collapse, psychological torment, and the erosion of humanity in the face of greed and fear. It’s raw, it’s poetic, and it hits where it hurts.

The band’s evolution can be felt across their three albums. El Reino de los Hechiceros (2014) was a mystical, lo-fi beginning. Sagrada Victoria (2017) brought sharper production and a more aggressive message. Then Lamento de Gaia (2024) elevated everything—emotional depth, vocal dynamics, and sonic power. It’s a concept album forged during the pandemic, where even the limitations of isolation couldn’t stop the vision.

With Giovani Cantor on lead vocals and Lennys Garzón adding a haunting melodic contrast, PACTO has found its full voice. Together, they create music that moves between blast beats and melancholic ambiance—taking the listener on a journey through sound, sorrow, and rebellion.

So I’ve been on a bit of a Luciferian kick lately — and honestly, I think you’d vibe with them more than you expect. They’re a black metal band from Armenia, Colombia, been around since 1996, and there’s just… something about their sound that hits on another level. It’s heavy, yeah — but not just “loud for the sake of it.” It’s spiritual, intense, and kind of hypnotic. Feels like they’re pulling their music from some ancient, buried current And somehow, they turn all that weight, all that energy, into fire.

They started during a time when Colombia was in serious political and social chaos — guerrilla warfare, cartels, corruption, all of it. And instead of backing down, Héctor Carmona (the founder and frontman) basically said “nope” and formed a band that would channel all that rage and spiritual resistance into black metal. That origin? You can feel it in everything they do. Their music doesn’t sound “inspired by darkness” — it sounds like it survived it.

And lyrically? Yeah, there’s satanic imagery, but not in a cheesy or empty way. It's more symbolic — about rebellion, inner power, questioning dogma, and facing everything people are taught to fear. It’s not about “evil,” it’s about freedom. About turning chaos into clarity. And they do it without being preachy or theatrical — it’s more like a liturgy than a performance.

They’ve done five South American tours, shared stages with Behemoth, Mayhem, Marduk, and even played in Norway at Trondheim Metal Fest. They were part of the Blackhearts documentary too — one of the few bands outside Europe to be featured. And right now? They’re recording a new album. So, kind of the perfect time to dive in.

Anyway — if you ever want music that’s raw but meaningful, dark but full of purpose, Luciferian is it. Just don’t play it passively. Turn it up, let it hit, and maybe light a candle and do a ritual or something. You’ll see what I mean.

Riptor: Symphonic Thrash Metal Rises from Cali

In a city globally known for its salsa roots, an unexpected metal force has been growing in the shadows. Riptor, a thrash metal band from Cali, Colombia, is redefining what Latin American metal can be — both musically and culturally.

With sonic influences ranging from Metallica and Kraken to Gojira and Annihilator, Riptor blends technical aggression with emotional depth and a passion for complex, genre-bending compositions. What started as a home-produced EP in 2012 has evolved into a daring artistic vision that now includes full orchestras, choral arrangements, and large-scale collaborations rarely seen in Colombia’s underground scene.

But Riptor’s journey goes far beyond music. Their latest project brings together Grammy-winning engineers, the Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, and students from some of the city's most vulnerable communities. These young musicians, many of them recording in a professional studio for the very first time, became part of something bigger: a production born as a university thesis and transformed into a powerful tribute and cultural alliance.

This is not just about creating an album — it’s about building bridges between metal and classical, education and street, underground and academic. Riptor has dared to dream where few others have, turning a local project into a movement that’s challenging stereotypes and inspiring a new generation of musicians.

Curious how a thrash band managed to merge its sound with the grandeur of a philharmonic orchestra — all in the salsa capital of the world?

Don’t miss our latest blog post, where we dive into Riptor’s incredible evolution and the bold project that’s shaking the foundations of Colombian metal.

Soul Disease is a Blackened Technical Death Metal band from Bogotá, Colombia, formed in 2018. The lineup includes musicians from renowned local acts such as Cancerbero, Awaken, Nonsense Premonition, and Ripping Flesh. With razor-sharp guitars, relentless drumming, and guttural vocals, they bring a precise and immersive sound that blends brutality with artistic depth.

Their lyrical themes explore existentialism and inner chaos, enhanced by the theatrical vocal presence of frontman Alejandro González. Soul Disease has released music videos and playthroughs for tracks like Beating the End, Downfall, and Paralyzed, captivating audiences with both technical skill and storytelling.

Now, the band is preparing to release their debut full-length album Dreamscape, recorded at Red Spot Studio and mastered by Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation). The album has already received attention through its singles and visual content featured in international film and music festivals.

With a growing fanbase and intense live shows, including performances alongside Obscura, Cradle of Filth, Carnifex, and Leprous, Soul Disease is becoming one of the most exciting names in South American metal. Dreamscape marks just the beginning of a band that’s here not to follow trends—but to lead a new wave of extreme music.

This tale dates back to 2005, on a hangover Sunday morning Gato con Zorras while watching the animated series “Grimms' Fairy Tales” (Cuentos de Los Hermanos Grimm in Spanish), his perverted mind pictured the idea of assembling a Grindcore/Death Metal/Comedy band., inspired by "Grimms' Fairy Tales," and under a haze of a hangover, Gato con Zorras formed a band fusing Grindcore, Death Metal, and Comedy. He partnered with Bizarrio and met an cannibal drummer, Bruja Heroina. Gato also recruited childhood friend Lobo Culion, fresh from prison. Despite their colorful pasts, they united with a shared vision. In Bogotá’s dungeons, they created a unique sound that would impact the underground metal scene.

Get to know the captivating and intriguing stories that lie behind the remarkable band Cuentos de los Hermanos Grind, hailing from the vibrant and culturally rich city of Bogotá, Colombia. This talented group is not only known for their electrifying and dynamic performances but also for their active and enthusiastic participation in various festivals, including the notable Bogotá Grind Death Metal Fest. Throughout their artistic journey, they delve deeply into a rich exploration of their diverse influences, fascinating musical side projects, and intriguing collaborations, all of which collectively contribute to their unique sound, innovative style, and compelling artistic expression. It is precisely for these reasons that we are thrilled to make them our band of the week.

ORFIN is the solo project of a multi-instrumentalist from New York City, blending atmospheric metal with influences from both New England metalcore and European melodic metal. While ORFIN handles all the instrumentation, the project collaborates with talented vocalists to bring each song to life, having worked with Björn Strid of Soilwork and Tyler Lyon of Evalyn Awake. Produced and engineered by Jamie King, ORFIN’s music weaves intricate, powerful soundscapes that capture the essence of both aggression and melody, creating a distinctive sonic journey for metal fans.

Kraisler, an iconic Colombian metal band, has garnered a loyal following due to their unique sound and powerful performances. Known for their energetic music and thought-provoking lyrics, they continue to push the boundaries of the melodic metal genre. Their evolution not only reflects impressive musical growth but also an artistic maturation that continues to delve into introspection, misanthropy, and darkness in their passionate lyrics and compositions.