Artist: Rito Profanatorio / Dethroner
Country: Peru / Italy
Label: Destruktion Records / Morbid Oath Records / Evil Prevailz / Hell Awaits / Sacrifice Records / Nuclear Winter Zine / Ocstanian Noise
Formats: Split 7″ EP
Year: 2026
This split 7” EP between Peruvian Rito Profanatorio and Italian Dethroner is a joint effort with no less than seven labels/dedicated individuals, with the infectious enthusiasm of Destruktion Records seemingly taking the lead. Just like all of his work, whether it’s his label or his Bestial Desecration fanzine, this is yet another fine example of underground activism. Although this approach reminds me a lot of the countless Hardcore/Punk/Grindcore singles I collected in the late ’90s and the 2000s, the grooves of this single are jam-packed with a unmistakable mix of Black-, Death-, and Thrash Metal.
The Peruvian band Rito Profanatorio may already sound familiar to some. Although most of their releases have come out on smaller underground labels, the band has been working for over fifteen years to establish their take on the famed South American chaos. With numerous lineup changes and some confusing or even contradictory information, it’s not entirely clear who exactly is responsible for the tracks on the A-side of this split 7″ EP. It seems plausible to me that the first track (apart from the short intro) was sung by Spectro (also in Antropomancia) and the second by the new and current singer Milo Possessor (ex-Anal Vomit) – although it is hard to hear a difference, if there is any. But, ultimately, for the listener, this might just be a rather trivial detail; what matters is the overall picture, and that fits perfectly into the musical evolution that the band is undergoing. Both tracks feature a brisk tempo, and the typical South American aggression is effectively conveyed through chaotic song structures and ferocious vocals, including high-pitched screams reminiscent of classic Slayer. It goes without saying that this band isn’t in it for the award for originality, but rather seeks fulfilment in capturing a sound that is as authentic as possible to what makes this continent so musically compelling for Extreme Metal fans.
Formed in 2019, the Italian band Dethroner is much newer, and it wasn’t until 2024 that they first made their mark with a debut demo/EP released on cassette by Unholy Domain. But the fact that these guys have only recently become truly active doesn’t take anything away from the fact that their musical antics hark back to the mid-to-late 1980s, a time when Extreme Metal was still being called all sorts of wild names. In that regard, the matchmaker did an excellent job; Dethroner is a perfect fit for Rito Profanatorio. With a virtually identical set of ingredients, these Italians also manage to impress with their old-school black/thrash metal, featuring a strong edge of proto-death metal. That means that if bands like Possessed, Slayer, Necrovore, Nunslaughter, Sarcófago, Sodom, Mercyless, Hobb’s Angel Of Death, Vulcano, Mortal Sin, Aggressor, and Violent Force are among your favorites, you should definitely give Dethroner a chance.
