Imagine this - you’re piloting a super high-speed biomechanical exosuit fighting hordes of interdimensional adversaries. Hmm, what to listen to, I wonder? Check out three great technical/progressive death metal releases from 2025 that we think will go down a treat for any ADHD-coded exoskeleton!

It’s been an absolutely bonkers month here at Inner-Strength Check - lots and lots of content! I’ve herded all said content-cats together in one handy compendium-post: gig reviews, album reviews, interviews, podcast episodes, news, covers, music/gaming/tabletop-related content, photo galleries and more!

No flak or anti-air needed here. This is a most welcome raid upon our cochleas! First of a few May release-roundups we’ll be doing features a Swedish psych-doom delve (Cavern Deep), a Milwaukee (US) man’s Liminal Spirit, a tango with Belgique sludge-monsters (Growing Horns), chopping frenzied Californian tech-death (Ominous Ruin) and ensuring not to pass the black metal post in Romania (Genune)! Open those hatches, bombs away.

I was NOT expecting many, many things when I took on a regional show from destroyalllines to write up Alpha Wolf’s blitzkrieg-tour of Australia alongside beloved UK ‘core-titans Malevolence. Supported by no less than two knockouts in Zuko and Melting. A gig so fun, frenetic, manic, loveable and earnest that I went pretty damn hard in that direction, too.

Fellow ISC staffer and metal-maniac, Dean Underhill, was asked to enjoy some respite on his sojourn to Europe from Australia. Turns out, Dean’s interpretation of respite is sending in a gargantuan recollection of his experiences at Ragnarok Festival 2025, i.e. the 20th anniversary of this glorious and esteemed Euro-fest! Review includes, damn, nearly the entire lineup - artist links and live footage also included!