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This is a
re-press of this long sold out 2019 album. Abduction from the UK is
a solo band from A/V (aka Phil Illsley), and is the bands third
album, despite this release being only three short years after the
bands inception. That is an impressive catalog of music A/V built
up, in a short amount of time, all of which was preceded by a demo
tape as the bands debut recording. With all of that in mind, I am a
little taken aback at the quality of the music on here, from a
single man, who was pumping out a full-length album every year. The
music on here is malevolent and frosty black metal, yet everything
on here is coated with a thick, dense aura of flowing sinister
ambiance. The material and the songwriting feel gets me on this
album, you experience the haunting evil yet there is an emotive and
introspective quality, that lulls me into a brooding trance, at
times. The vocals fit the music perfectly as well, with their
obscured slightly growled, and moderately rasped blend, which is all
underpinned with a whispering echo-y disembodied quality. This is an
excellent piece of black metal with an otherworldly, celestial bent
that I very much enjoyed. I can see why Inferna Profundus decided to
re-release this album, after it’s initial run, because I missed out
on it the first time and I am sure I am not the only one with a
second opportunity to get this quality album. - Dale
https://abduction616.bandcamp.com/
https://www.ipr666shop.com/
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Abhor is a
experienced band coming out of the Italian underground scene,
presenting to us here no less than their 8th full-length
album! They stand strong and proud next to Italian legends like
almighty Mortuary Drape. Abhor play ancient black metal, but do not
let your mind automatically go to the second wave of Scandinavian bm,
steer your mind toward the first wave of black metal. You know that
period of the original bands (Venom, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost,
Bathory, Mercyful Fate, early Sodom, early Death SS) and their
passed down strong influences. I speak upon the continuation of the
first wave of bm into the late ‘80s, early ‘90s with bands like
Mortuary Drape, Necromantia, Master’s Hammer, Ancient Rites,
Varathron, Absu, Denial Of God, Necromass and the early works of
Root, Rotting Christ & Samael etc… Okay, history refresher 101 there
for you, I can not help myself sometimes, dear reader. As much as I
adore and worship the second wave of black metal, the first wave is
underappreciated these days in my view and it’s influence went
somewhat dormant for years. That does not include Abhor, who were
one of the few to pick up the mantle in the late 1990s and continued
it’s glorious traditions and cult sounds ever since. Their sinister
black metal music is an audio mist of cold yet heavy devouring
guitars, emotionally charged with crescendo cresting bombastic
songwriting, sharply backed up with haunting and creepy ritualistic
synth. Abhor has a penchant, as most good first wave does for
creating eerie, evil music that can also strike a balance between
freezing malevolence and the ability to induce you into a good old
fashion headbanging. For me, this is a thoroughly enjoyable album
that I can highly recommend to diehards like myself of those classic
influences and that deadly style. Just remember to keep the ancient
flame burning bright as for damn sure Abhor is here doing it with
you. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/abhor666
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/ |
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Coming out of
Canada's death metal scene is the new band Abjection. Godz Ov War
will be releasing the debut EP, which contains five songs of heavy
and crushing death metal. Cole Benoit {Anion, Dead Again} handles
the vocals, which are deep, powerful death metal growls, he also
uses some death metal screams and growls throughout a few of the
songs. The lead guitarist Troy Horton {Sinews, Wiser Fool} does a
great job of creating and executing some well written and performed
guitar patterns, mainly played with fast aggressive guitar
structures and even adding in some solo's. Troy does slow to a
heavier more calm mid paced range in the songs to give the music a
heavier sound. Sergey Jmourovski handles the bass and also plays
guitar in the band, he writes and perform some extremely tight bass
lines that are done with both intensity and tremendously fast pace
patterns. Josh Bueckert {Wake, Sparewife} handles the drums for the
band, which are played with power and showcase some skillful
writing. For the most part the drums are played at a high rate of
speed, though Josh does slow to a heavier mid paced drum patterns
throughout a few of the songs. Abjection plays a relentless style of
death metal that is both well written and shows off some excellent
musicianship and is filled with memorable passages. - Patrick
https://abjection.bandcamp.com/
https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/ |
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The Greek
Abyssus has been around for nearly a decade yet this is my first
encounter with them. Prior ‘Death Revival’, their second album, the
band has released not counting their debut of full-length, no less
than eleven splits and EPs. Abyssus produce deathrash metal that is
absolutely top quality. The musicianship on here is superb, the
songwriting while tight and crisp, still manages to keep that heavy
brutality and produces a nice grimy audio aura. If you made me nail
it down I would call them a death metal band, but ultimately it is a
very even mix with their thrash metal roots holding in strong and
pushing for dominance. They are heavily influenced by late ‘80s US
thrash and most definitely influenced by late ‘80s and early ‘90s
Floridian death metal (ala Death, Malevolent Creation, Massacre,
Monstrosity, Deicide etc..). The biggest stand out influence by far
both musically and vocally (killer Tardy-esque vocals courtesy of
Kostas Analytis who puts in a monster performance behind the mic) is
Obituary. Now I know Abyssus do wear their influences deeply on
their sleeves, and that might turn some off, but honestly when it is
done this well, when the skill level is this high and the
songwriting strong then I am all about it. I really enjoyed this
album a lot if you are a diehard deathrash fanatic and adore
traditional roots and style of the genre, then I am certain you will
dig this album. As always with Transcending Obscurity the variety of
versions of all it’s releases and merchandise is diverse and top
quality. - Dale
https://abyssusgreece.bandcamp.com/ www.facebook.com/transcending
https://tometal.com/
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This is
Abythic’s third full-length album, first for Iron Bonehead, and my
first encounter with them. From what I understand this German band
started out as more of a straight up death metal band, but as the
drummer MDB switched from then his primary instrument (in past bands
as well) to the guitar and primary songwriter, Abythic became a
doom/death band, heavy on the doom. ‘Dominion…’ creeps along at a
decidedly glacial pacing, but they always keep things very dark and
gloomy with a thin yet constant thread that traces back to those
primary death metal roots. I really do have to emphasize just
despite only really using traditional instrumentation this album is
very atmospheric. This is really my favourite method of creating
atmosphere in metal, not to mention the hardest to achieve without
relying upon synth, samples and the like. The result really brings
emotion out in the listener, ominous emotions of desolation and
sinister foreboding alongside whispers of threatening intent that
envelopes you like a suffocating wet blanket. The vocals of Ulrich
are deep, elongated death growls that also do well conveying
emotion, whether that be brooding despondency, potent menace or even
flashes of animus and acrimony. I like those vocals a lot and they
suit the music absolutely. Looking at that cover artwork, even for a
boob hound like me that is a lot of tits! If you are a fan of slow
motion murky doom/death yet not all the way over the funereal doom
precipice, then I think you will enjoy taking in some Abythic. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Abythic
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/ |
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I am a little
late getting on reviewing this album, oh well, anyways as is the
custom with Acid Witch this was a Halloween album release. These
veterans come from Detroit, which being the old goat I am I remember
well the reputation of that city and the surrounding areas (in the
‘80s/early 90s) as being notorious on devil’s night and all the
tricks, destruction and arson that heated up mischief night as we
often called it where I grew up in Canada. The music on “Rot Among
Us” in many ways is the musical and marvelous lyrical manifestation
of devil’s night! This album is quite a death doom metal ride with
killer heavy riffs, catchy twisted songs featuring creepy synth and
some subtle yet sickly sweet underlying guitar work. The story the
band conveys through crafty, diverse song construction is kind of
brilliant and surely highly entertaining to listen to. A strong
component of what makes this album tick is the superb multitude
array of vocals from growling, acidic gurgles, creepy narrator
voice, to whispers and shouts, it goes on and on and all are
excellent. One of my favourite voices on this release is the
distinctive Macabre style vocals, diehards of that band know exactly
what vocal I refer to here and it is a killer vocal style that I am
surprised more bands do not copy and employ. Speaking of Macabre
which I am a huge fan of; in many ways Acid Witch make me think of
what would happen if you combined Macabre and The Accüsed together,
and had their concepts be about Halloween and ‘70s / ‘80s classic or
cult classic horror movies into a death doom style. I am here for it
all fucking day and inky black night long! For many of us metal
demons, Halloween goes on all year, so better late than never on my
review, so with that spirit in mind just get this record
immediately! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/acidwitchofficial/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
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I remember hearing this bands name waaaay back in the day, we are talking early to middle 1990s. When I came across this promo I assumed of course it was a different band with the same name, much to my surprise this is in fact the exact same Long Island, New York band. Though to also be fair to myself, they did break up (after releasing two demos) for nearly 20 years, so it was an easy mistake to make. It is rather impressive after that long away, that three of four members are founding members, and these old veterans have been busy. As this is their third full length album since the reformation, over the last five years. I was not sure what to make of this at first. I can be a bit of purist when it comes to taking brutal death metal in too many different directions, pushing it very far outside of the envelope. But Afterbirth most certainly do just that, not only that but they manage to take tried and true sounds into interestingly adventurous paths yet do so while maintaining the core brutality and heaviness. That is a big part of the key right there in winning someone like me over. It is impressive the fluidity they achieve in the process of writing such soaring and interesting transitions, all the while crushing you in the filthy audio sickness. The music is not a million miles an hour, but it is harsh and boiling, while also being introspective and wrapping the whole thing in a very tasteful spaciously technical package. There is even a couple ripping guitar fills and galloping heavy metal parts, and they do not sound out of place or stupid…at all. Admittedly, a big part of the barbarous and harsh feeling comes courtesy of the impressive vocal work from the only non-founding member Will Smith. Who journey’s through everything from sinewy emotive obscured growling, to superb roiling sewer toad belching and bubbling, to more direct commanding growls and even a little higher pitch nasally screams. It has to be a hell of a challenge to put vocals this music, but I will be damned if Mr. Smith did not pull it off and never backs down a inch on his extremity. A lot of it you could not even call death metal, but it is so seamless and flowing, that it is hard for me to not call them progressive death metal. Which, believe you me is usually a type of tag that makes me roll my eyes and bristle at, but I will be damned if these talented visionaries have not figured out a way to make a skeptic like myself enjoy and accept this. If you want something different yet very much not commercial, heavy and brutal and so much more, then I really think you should do yourself a favour and listen to this superbly constructed musical spider web of an album. - Dale
https://afterbirthnydeathmetal.bandcamp.com/
https://willowtip.com |
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While “Corrupting The Entempled Plane” may be this recently formed British bands debut album, it belies the fact that this band is far from short on experience. These lads have done time, or are still doing time in Abyssal, Úir, Sluagh, Belliciste, Neuroma, Of Spire & Throne, Black Talon, Scordatura and more. Ageless’ features a doomy style of death metal where they place importance equally both on crushing brutality and slowed down dooming ambiance. Ageless Summoning do it well, and invoke thoughts within me when listening to this of bands like Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Monstrosity, mid-era Morbid Angel, Immolation, Funebrarum, Gorguts and the like. They put their own character into these classic sounds though, which I appreciate. I find myself immersed in and swept away in the massive roiling, swirling riffs that occasionally speed up and turn up the brutality before suddenly diving into some all encompassing doom death metal audio suffocation. It is a great and gratifying rollercoaster ride of interesting and skillful songwriting. I love how they make some of the guitar parts howl, scream and moan, and that is not just hyperbole here, it is amazing how the range of emotion and mood they manage to pull out of this music. This results in a very affecting yet somehow upsetting in a very satisfying way. Yes, there is some really good and more nuanced then you would think guitar work that is going on here. The vocals of Ali Lauder here are immense, commanding and spread themselves out with deep elongated classic growls that slither and weave through the music like an imposing serpent. Those vocals definitely remind of some of the great vocalists from the bands mentioned previously. If you worship those bands above and ‘90s British and American death, and also love a little doom mixed in then you definitely need to give this band a try. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/agelesssummoning/
https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/ |
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Anyone who has
read CA for a long time knows I am Aggressive Mutilator fan, so I
was pleased when I found this in my mailbox, courtesy of Mikael Holm
of A.M. But more on them later, as this split starts off with
Poland’s Cadaveric Possession, which is a first time listen for me.
Their five songs feature a wonderfully suffocating and hypnotic
atmosphere that blankets the senses with mordant evil. The music is
a raw, stripped down & primitive mixture of late ‘80s and early ‘90s
first wave black metal, which brings to mind at times the very early
works of Necromantia, Ancient Rites, Mayhem, Mortuary Drape mixed
with a slower paced version of the embryonic sounds of bands like
Necrovore, Beherit and Profanatica. This my first taste of C.M. and
it has left me hungry for more. Taking up the second half of this is
Sweden’s Aggressive Mutilator, who after a short calm and solemn
acoustic style guitar intro, suddenly burst out of the speakers with
the explosive and raucous metal energy one can come to expect from
them. As is the Mutilator way, they keep their songs short and fill
them with order through chaos metallic battering, which is cut
through by old school catchy heavy riffing. Their music tends to be
raw and loose, but generally always littered with runs of memorable
classic sounding metal that you can headbang like a maniac to! They
sound quite different than Cadaveric Possession yet they possess a
lot of the same influences to my ear like the fledgling works of
bands like Ancient Rites, Necromantia, Mayhem, Bathory, Master’s
Hammer & Hellhammer, but mix it with some more traditional metal
influences like early Sodom, Sadus, Possessed, Onslaught, Venom etc…
The band also always has little whispers musically, and definitely
in their playing style and attitude of really raunchy punk rock,
sort of like if GBH played first wave black metal! I love this band,
is it any wonder why, when you read that great melting pot of
influences, all delightfully coalesced into one gratifyingly extreme
and diverse musical entity known as Aggressive Mutalitor. This is
limited to 500 copies, so don’t sleep on picking up a copy ASAP.
- Dale
https://aggressivemutilator.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mythroneprom |
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Starting off
this split release is Florida's A.K.U. who are a duo that plays
barbaric war metal. The four tracks presented on this release are
primitive in their delivery. The guitars and drums often reside in
the mid paced range. The instruments do speed up to a faster more
violent and destructive pace before long. The vocals are raw black
metal screams and shrieks that fit A.K.U.’s music perfectly. Up next
is Spain's solo project False Faith, which has three songs on their
side of this collaboration. They start things off with a intro, but
the music does not take long before to speeds things up to a more
vicious and violent speed. The guitars are played with razor sharp
slashing passages. The drums are done at hyperspeeding blast beats
and some well played patterns. The vocals are demonic growls with
some deeper growling employed in parts throughout the songs. Both
bands deliver chaotic and bestial war metal at it's best. This is
most definitely not for the weak and timid. - Patrick
facebook.com/A.K.U.
facebook.com/FalseFaithBM
https://plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com |
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This is the
bands second full-length album; having risen from the grave in 2013
they released two demos and their debut long player in back in ’16.
Altered Dead play my kind of metal of death, old school and brutal,
dirty and sinister, and drenched in decaying audio flesh. The
overall sound is extremely heavy yet suffocating, backed with
relentless drum work while showing a knack for interesting and
infectious songwriting that you will bang you head to all night
long. If I had to give you some bands as a general signpost as to
their sound it would be bands like Autopsy (“Mental Funeral” hell
yes!), Grave, Unleashed, Dismember, Bolt Thrower, Repulsion, Asphyx,
Impetigo and other filthy and gloriously depraved death metal bands
along those lines. The album wraps up with an outstanding high
energy cover of Celtic Frost’s iconic “Into The Crypts Of Rays”,
which sounds killer with their grimy, heavy death metal riffing tone
and those evil sewer growls. This is my first time hearing this
Canadian duo and I really hope it is not my last. If you are devotee
of the sound and style I described above, then you need to listen to
this as soon as possible. - Dale
https://altereddead.bandcamp.com/
http://www.memento-mori.es/ |
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Coming out of
Austria's death, doom metal scene is Alvarez, who released their
second full length earlier this year. ‘Digitaria’ is a very unique
blend of death doom metal style with a strong stamp of the bands own
identity. Each instrument is played with both skillful writing and a
creative approach to the song crafting. The guitars are played with
slower and mid paced guitar passages that are creative in their
delivery. The guitarist also does write some memorable guitar parts,
even adding some well played solo's into the mix. The vocals are
death metal growls, which are delivered with power and some
sorrowful emotional growls that fit Alvarez's musical style
perfectly. If you are a fan of well written and performed death doom
metal then be sure to check out the ‘Digitaria’ release you as you
will not be disappointed. - Patrick
https://alvarezband.bandcamp.com/album/digitaria
https://plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com/ |
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This is in some ways difficult to review this
split album, because in so many ways both bands are split from
nearly the exact same piece of cloth. Yet this release is very easy
and enjoyable listening for me as that fabric of influences they
share is made up of some of my most cherished bands and overall
style. That style is a down in the grime of the musical sewer soup.
Which is a mixing of, in my opinion, legend bands of the old school
like Autopsy, Asphyx, Disembowelment, Rippikoulu, early Incantation,
Bolt Thrower, Demilich. I would even include some newer bands in the
same modus operandi of newer vintage which I hold in high regard
like Funebrarum, Hooded Menace, Coffins, Undergang and the like. I
might say one of the slight differences between these two bands
Undergang is slightly more chugging riff sequences and mixes in a
lot more middle speed sections into their sound. While Anatomia
lives a little more on slower, doomier end of thing with their death
metal blueprint. Both bands produce extremely heavy, oppressively
dirty and guttural death metal audio filth. The kind of filth I
revel in mentally rolling around in like a pig in mud on a hot
stinking sun drenched day Haha! Both bands have those nasty puss
filled nausea and inducing gurgle vocals mixed with sinister slow
motion growl croaking dm vocals that are superb and create a real
ominous aura to their bands sound. I confess I may be a little less
discerning with this style because I just can never seem to get
enough of it to seemingly ever quench my thirst. If you worship this
style like I do then you definitely need a copy of this split in
your collection as both bands are killer and two of the prominent
leaders of it in recent years. - Dale
www.darkdescentrecords.com/
mesacounojo.bandcamp.com/
www.facebook.com/anatomia
www.facebook.com/undergangktdm |
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Well I do not know what that intro track is
about, it is feels a little strange and out of place (this clean
sung, sort of emotional thing) within the context of the rest of the
album – at least it is short. I say this considering the rest of the
album is death metal of the extremely brutal and crushing variety.
This is this South Dakota bands third album, I did hear their debut
album, about five years ago, and I liked it. This record I would
definitely posit shows some good progression for the band. I would
say they show a sharper edge now, a tighter overall presentation
with a noticeable up tick in songwriting abilities, also a slight
injection of melody in their battering attack now. The band mix
glorious classic Swedish death metal style with traditional American
death metal of yesteryear, but presented with a more modern
sensibility, in some regards. Despite my opinion of this being death
metal, through and through, there is definitely whispers of black
metal attitude and atmosphere, which occasionally nibble at the
edges. Angerot’s brand of death metal is not just classic; there is
also an air of straight up traditional metal that adds a certain
polish to their sound, elevating it slightly. I was very surprised
by the impressive, and even diverse collection of guest appearances
on this album, which range from guitar god Andy LaRocque of King
Diamond (!!), to Sammy Duet of Goatwhore, and Steve Tucker from
Morbid Angel and more. There is some fine nuanced guitar work on
here, and some short refined solos mixed within the mauling musical
maelstrom. The arsenal of vocals from guitarist/vocalist Chad Petit
is impressive, the man puts on a truly imposing and commanding vocal
performance on this recording. I do not think great, charismatic and
strong vocal performances, such as on display on this album, get as
much attention and respect within the UG scene as they should. My
one very minor complaint is the clean vocals of guest musician
Sebastian Brecht, on the opening and closing track, both short, and
while not a traditional intro/outro, basically do serve that purpose
on this album. For me, those two tracks are the only misstep on
‘’The Profound Recreant, I think this album would only be stronger
if those axed from this otherwise fantastic album. But, never mind
that you really should check out this album, it is a real killer
piece of death metal art. - Dale
https://angerot.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/ |
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‘Necromantic
Grimoire’ is the debut release from Angrbodas Curse, a band which
originally started in Puerto Rico, but has relocated to the U.S.
Things start off with a short intro of whispering and fire sounds at
the end, followed by some rain and thunder sounds, pretty original
for a intro. Musically the band blends a nice mix of mid paced and
extreme fast black metal to create a wicked sound. The guitars are
played with intensity and are always well written and performed
passages. The guitars range from mid paced patterns to a faster more
aggressive style. The vocals are raw, grim black metal screams and
some gruff death metal growls mixed in. Both those vocal styles are
done with powerful and aggressive vocal patterns that fit Angrbodas
Curse's music nicely. - Patrick
https://plaguedemonrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/music |
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I reviewed this Indianapolis, Indiana bands
last album a few years back and quite honestly I simply loved it,
turning me into a fan of the band. So I was happy to see the promo
for this album cross my desk, where I then made sure it wormed it’s
way into my ears and swim around my cerebral cortex. Apparently one
of the members of Apostle has lost not one, but both parents to the
global pandemic that continues to ravage the planet. I can only
imagine how much of that deep residual sorrow and despair has
managed to bleed and seep into the music on ‘When The Darkness
Goes’. I say that because the doom metal music on here is possesses
an extremely emotional, mournful and introspective atmosphere that
was very affecting for me. The vocals of guitarist / vocalist Chuck
Brown (clearly a talented musician who also plays drums in The Gates
Of Slumber) compliment and mirror the music with clean classic style
vocals that feature a bouquet of emotion, often through elongating
lines of lyrics or just certain words to good effect. I can not
imagine most traditional doom metal fans that like a large helping
of the old school mixed with accents of more recent times not
appreciating this quality record. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/apostleofsolitude
https://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/ |
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Arche is a
relatively new band, as far as output is concerned with this being
debut mini-album being only their second release. The first output
for this Finnish band was an EP released way back in 2015 and 2016,
depending upon which physical release (cassette and then CD) we are
talking about. The band plays funeral doom metal that is extremely
sparse and slowing moving, which of course to those in the know on
this style is the hallmarks of this sub-genre. Their music is a true
mental journey as it paints an audio landscape of oppressive
emotional despair and despondency, for you to wallow in and slowly,
patiently be swallowed by if you can manage to endure it. Generally
speaking, I am reticent and apprehensive when I hear any band in
metal, and further so in the more extreme styles, which uses an
acoustic guitar. Hearing this fact left me a little uneasy waiting
for it to show itself, and it certainly does, for example heavily so
in the track “Transition”. I was relieved however that Arche manages
incorporate this instrument quite seamlessly into their music quite
successfully by my measure. It is surprisingly effective, not to
mention reinforces their overall sound nicely. I can not help but
think of bands like Thergothon, Mournful Congregation, Shape Of
Despair and Skepticism (to show how old of a goat I am, I reviewed
that bands “Lead And Aether” album & “Aes” EP in Canadian Assault in
the late ‘90s!) for sure comes through strong. Now that I think
about it Finland really is the home of funeral doom in many ways. I
am a fan of funeral doom, yet I do not listen to it often, and I
seem to need to be in the right headspace for it. I need to be in
this very calm, introspective and solemn mind frame, and when I am
in that mode it becomes very effective and affecting for me. The
bands I like in this style is a short list, but after listening to
this mini-album, you can safely add Arche to that select few I hold
in regard. So if you are like me, I think you will like this album
and if you are a diehard funeral doom devotee then you really need
to add this one to your collection. - Dale
https://archefin.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/transcendingobscurity
https://tometal.com |
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Ascendency is a three man band coming out of Denmark's black and death metal scene. ‘A Manifest Of Imperious Destiny’ is the latest release featuring four songs of well performed and played blackened death.”The Triumph Of Draconian Might” starts off the proceedings. Each musician can play their respective instrument with ability and the band shows some skillful writing abilities.This song is done with mainly fast paced guitar passages that add some very well done solo's and passages in the song. The drums are done with a fast paced drum style that is very well delivered. The next song up is “Victory - In All It's Ephemeral Glory”, which is a fast paced song. The guitarist does some impressive strong work here. The vocals are black metal screams and some gruff imposing growls. “Domitor Invictus” is a fast paced raging song with extremely fast guitar passages that are done with near perfection in their presentation and delivery. The drumming is top notch here with some fast and intense patterns. ‘A Manifest Of Imperious Destiny’ is the final song and is another fast rager with some great guitar passages driving things to towards the finish. The guitarist does write some memorable patterns even adding some slower parts throughout the track before speeding back up. Ascendency has crafted a great release of quality black and death metal that has applied the strength in equal parts of both scenes. The band does a great job in writing some memorable music on this record. - Patrick
https://ascendency.bandcamp.com
www.mesacounojo.com
www.darkdescentrecords.com |
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Greek black
metal band Askalaphos have unleashed their debut full length
release. ‘March Of The Damned’ is eight tracks of old school raw
black metal with high intensity. Dark Invoker Of Chaos once again
handles performing the music here (he also does Born label mate one
man band Woundcult). The music is performed with mid paced guitars
and drum patterns, but on the new release the music does speed up to
a faster tempo at times throughout all the songs. Both the faster
pace and mid paced passages are done with perfection and
proficiency. The vocals are grim black metal screams and along with
some gruff screams and hollering throughout a few of the songs.
‘March Of The Damned’ is a great debut of old school black metal all
those reading this that are into this genre should pick up a copy of
this disc today. - Patrick
https://askalaphos.bandcamp.com/
https://bornforburning.bigcartel.com/ |
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I really like to
see label collaborations on releases, Me Saco Un Ojo may just be the
king of such arrangements. This time around Pulverised is releasing
this album on CD, and Me Saco the vinyl version. Despite Astriferous
being a relatively young band, and this being debut album, I have
been following the band since the start when they released “The
Lower Levels of Sentience” EP a couple years ago. The band brings a
brutalizing, deadly blend of old school influences that include the
classic albums and sounds coming out of Sweden, Finland, the UK, and
America in the ‘90s, in particular. Some of my old hallowed faves
such as Autopsy, Repulsion, Baphomet, Morpheus Descends, Abhorrence,
Convulse, Dismember, Grave, Bolt Thrower, and Benediction are all
running through my mind. It is all mixed together with own touches
to create this Costa Rican bands pulverizing, dark and chunky heavy
death metal sound. The majority of the time they keep the pacing in
the powerful steam rolling middle range, but slow it down at times
to create brooding, gloomy sections that blanket you oppressively as
a listener. It is in that way, which this young band shows, without
needing to go a million miles an hour or be ultra technical, that
they have a good ‘feel’ in their song construction to create a
strong, crushing emotional impact. The vocals are a battery of
slightly differing, yet always effective dark, whisper-y, echo-y
growls that dove tail with the sinister sounds of the music
wonderfully. This is a strong debut, which I would recommend to old
goat diehards, like myself, who worship the early works of the bands
I mentioned above. - Dale
https://astriferous.bandcamp.com
https://www.mesacounojo.com
https://www.pulverised.net |
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Aussichtslos are
a three man band coming out of Austria's black metal scene. Their
band name for those curious translates in English to “forlorn,
futile, hopeless”. The debut release ‘Vollig Aussichtslos’ contains
six songs of traditional black metal with some well performed
passages. Norsk and Garst founded the band in 2014 and some songs
with a drum machine. Now all these years later they have a human
drummer by the name of -Rest- to finish the recordings that result
in this debut full-length. Norsks vocals for the band that are raw
primitive black metal screams and screeches that will chill you.
Norsk handles the guitars that are played with a mix of fast guitar
passages and some creative well performed mid paced guitars that are
used throughout the recording. Garst handles the bass duties and
also plays some guitar on this album, Garst plays a balance of fast
and a more controlled black metal style that is done with skill and
proficiency. -Rest- handles the drumming that is executed with a mix
of extremely fast drum patterns and some slower more controlled drum
passages, The members of Aussichtslos have crafted a great debut
full of cold and majestic black metal that is highly recommended to
all fans of black metal. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Purity-Through-Fire
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com/en/ |
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After a six year
absence the mighty UG legends Autopsy return with a new album!! If
you have known me for a long time, you know I am huge diehard for
this band. You probably also know I consider their 1991 album
“Mental Funeral” (which I actually did buy on cassette shortly after
it’s release) one of the very best metal albums ever released, in
any metal sub-genre. Now, I like and often love all of Autopsy’s
releases despite their sound from that classic album morphing into
something a little different, though still always an extreme audio
fist in your face at all times. So does ‘Morbidity Triumphant’ sound
more like that early glorious “Mental Funeral” sound than some later
releases? I would say yes, it certainly sounds more along those
lines, but this new material still draws as you might expect from
all periods of their existence. We are getting spoiled here, in the
regard as drummer/vocalist demon god Chris Reifert has released a
debut album with his new band Static Abyss just earlier this year.
That album from Static Abyss features Reifert and Greg Wilkinson, it
is probably even more in the early Autopsy vein and is a must have
for all diehard fans of Autopsy in my view. Just imagine getting two
albums in one year with the old sounds and featuring the distinctive
drums and vocals of Reifert! This where I also tell you this album
features all of the classic line up of Autopsy (Cutler, Coralles &
Reifert) plus the addition of the aforementioned Greg Wilkinson, who
is the owner and engineer of Earhammer Studios as well as a musician
in bands like Brainoil, Leather Glove and Deathgrave. That doom
death style is strong here yet the pace is often more in the middle
range with speeds hastening things, only briefly, before eventually
skillfully sliding back into that warm decomposing dead skin that is
like a cerebral weighted blanket on my mind. The classic patented
guitar crushing putrescent covers everything with a glorious murky
metallic aura, which I can not seem to get enough of. Something else
that is infectious is the amazing feel and timing of Reifert’s every
drum beat, sounding off like the deliberate foot falls of a wolfpack
horde on the hunt. It would not be Autopsy without the magnetic
tortured and tormented vocals of Reifert, whose vocals are death
growls and emotive howls at their pinnacle and is venerated for its
influence throughout the scene. Those vocals are simply amazing in
my view. As I probably mentioned in the Static Abyss review, this is
a perfect time for Autopsy to bust back out on the scene, as their
musical and stylistic influence on the underground metal scene has
never been more keenly felt than it has been in the last few years.
It is almost like a new sub-genre of death metal, or at the very
least a new movement that has developed with Autopsy prominently at
it’s nucleus. That however was the past and this the present. I am
extremely happy to report that in my view this is the probably the
bands best album post ‘90s, that is not praise I heap on lightly
with the respect I have for this band. - Dale
https://www.instagram.com/autopsyofficial/
http://www.peaceville.com/ |
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Avadryn is a
solo project coming out of West Virgina's black metal scene.
‘Guardians Of The Aethyric Shadow’ is the their debut full length,
featuring five songs along with a intro and outro. “Watcher Of The
North” is the first song and is played with a mix of mid paced and
faster musical passages. The vocals on this track are powerful grim
black metal screams. ‘Isle Of The Flame’ is up next, this song is a
much faster and more aggressive song. The guitars and drums are
played with lightning fast paced drums and guitars that are played
with intensity and skill. The vocals are harsh and raw black metal
screams and some screechy vocal passages are used in the song.
‘Horns Of The Moon’ is next and is the longest track on this debut
album (previously only available on digital download), weighing in
at just over nine minutes in length. The guitar and drums on this
song are very well performed with slow to mid paced passages, the
music does speed to a faster pace, but seems to be more at home in
the mid paced realm. ‘Watcher Of The South’ is comes next and
continues the faster, more fierce style in the previous songs. The
guitars here are played with extremely well written and performed
passages. ‘Dragon Of The Under Light’ is the final song and is
played with semi fast guitars, and drums that are done with some
powerful arrangements. There is some slower, more mid paced sections
that are done with skillfully played with interesting arrangements.
Main man Dalton L. has crafted a great debut of second wave black
metal that should please all fans of this musical style. -
Patrick
https://ulfrinn.bandcamp.com/music
https://planetarykingrecords.bigcartel.com |
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I am probably not going to have enough room,
but I plan to include as many of the awesome old horror flick
take-off posters, which they mocked up for this album. I hope you
enjoy as much I did manage to fit Haha! This band features on guitar
and vocals Borys Crossburn of the great crossover band Children Of
Technology. I have reviewed a few of C.O.T. releases on this site if
you wish to look for them. Despite what those hilariously great
posters would lead you to believe, and despite this band being a
little loose, a little raw and musically raunchy they are not as
awful as they would like you to believe. They mainly draw on a lot
of old school classic metal influences from the early days of heavy
metal, thrash, crossover and speed metal, along with subtle (if
anything with this band could be called subtle) first and second
wave elements of black metal wafts of mist that blow through their
sound at times. I have even seen some compare them to Running Wild,
not sure how they came up with that shit though lol. The bio calls
it blackened traditional metal, not sure that covers it all, but not
a terrible description. Yet if you mix the blackened traditional
metal with the band calling themselves Absolute Metal, Obtuse Metal
and my favourite Regressive Metal - throw that all in the melting
pot and that is a pretty good description! Despite all the old metal
worship these guys do have a penchant for writing heavy, catchy and
memorable songs that rip ‘n tear at your audio wounds like a school
of blood thirsty piranha. The vocals of Crossburn are great
whispery, hoarse and gruff sung shouting that follow along with the
music and drip ancient metal acid that comes out of your speakers
and headphones to burrow into your brain with wicked accuracy. The
album closer “Regressive Metal” is soo fucking Hellhammer / Celtic
Frost flattery that Tom G. Warrior and company must be blushing like
their asses are on fire! If you love retro bands that sound like a
killer headbanging flurry of 52 pick up of classic metal influences,
and plenty of attitude to back it up, well then son have I got a
band for you! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetal
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/ |
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I could
literally write an essay probably on this band and various
connections to it that mean something to me. I will try to write a
somewhat brief version here. But I have been a diehard follower of
the band Ungod whose debut 1992 demo tape I tape traded for around
that time, and then I ordered a copy of their first album in 1994
and became possessed by this band ever since, so only around 30
years now. Why am I talking about Ungod so much? That would be
because Baxaxaxa also released a demo in ’92 and two of the original
members were also in Ungod. There was also one member in the band
Fulgor, whose demo I ordered in ’93, but that is getting too far
sidetracked to talk about Fulgor. So Baxaxaxa went dormant and
ceased the same year they released that demo, and stayed that way
until they were asked to reform for the well respected Destroying
Texas Fest in 2018 and they decided to actually revive the band and
released the excellent “The Old Evil” demo cassette, which was
re-released the next year by Iron Bonehead Productions, which I
reviewed elsewhere. They then released a seven Inch entitled
“Devoted To Him” last year which I have a copy but never reviewed in
CA. So, more connections to Ungod, I really got into Baxaxaxa a
decade ago when they released a split album (which contained both
bands ’92 demos) which I got a copy of to no surprise by anyone
reading this still. Okay, fine one last thing and that is the Ungod
connection is still strong as now instead of two Ungod members like
the original line up, this current one features three members of
Ungod. So, essentially the whole band plus a different vocalist in
Baxaxaxa, who is an old long time contact of mine named Patrick
Kremer, who also owns the great record label Iron Bonehead. The
music on ‘Catacomb Cult’ is gloriously and unapologetically a spiked
fist to the face, and unapologetically old school, first and early
second wave black metal to the maximum. It is like their demo tape
all those decades ago was just released recently, and this is the
follow up to it without missing a beat. Those slow burning riffs,
that godless bewitching drum work and sinister, haunting funeral
synth accents are in the classic Baxaxaxa style. The music mostly
middle paced with slight tempo variation in both directions, but
stays in that middle ground a lot and for me is very hypnotic, like
I would imagine as a soundtrack to an occult ritual in some deep
torch lit cave. The atmosphere and air the music creates permeates
everything with a crawling freezing mist that chills the listener to
the bone. I love this album it brings back so many great old
feelings. At very long last after nearly 30 years the band releases
their debut album and it is a triumph of the ancient UG ways and
traditions! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/baxaxaxa
https://sinisterflame.bandcamp.com/ |
|
 
I went on quite extensively on my long 30 year (!!) history as a listener to Baxaxaxa, and by clear extension, also the band Ungod. A band which counts three of their members as being in both bands. Baxaxaxa and Ungod both date back to the very start of the 1990s, so do keep this in mind if I mention bands they share similarities with, they have been around as long as those bands and in some cases longer! I would say you could even count them within the secondary movement of bands that came along in the first wave of eighties black metal. I speak of bands which started at the end of the ‘80s or the very start of the 1990s, and are quite separated in my mind from the second wave of Scandinavian black metal (with a scant couple of exceptions ala early Bathory) stylistically. I hear in Baxaxaxa’s sound influences from the aforementioned Bathory, Hellhammer, early Samael, early Sodom and a dash of the origins of it all - the mighty Venom. The secondary wave I spoke of that came along after those bands, you could count Samael in there, but also some others coming to mind are Mortuary Drape, Fulgor, Xantotol and the early works of Root, Master’s Hammer, Rotting Christ, Mystifier and so on. There was a long period of time, and inactivity, when these guys concentrated on more on Ungod before thankfully reviving Baxaxaxa once again. I was very pleased when they returned, about five years ago, by releasing a demo and an EP. I reviewed their long awaited first album a couple years ago, which I loved, but I must confess that this new album takes everything they are so good and deadly at, and turns it all up to another level. The old school black acid on this album is supreme, every song is a mini work of musical art, as each hymn is burning an imprint on my brain. Where as I worship second wave black metal, it is a more an encompassing experience, where the whole is a freezing singular dagger to my black heart. But with ‘De Vermis Mysteriis’, as is the case with first wave black metal in general, each song while clearly connected to the whole is an individual experience of evil darkness and sinister horror. Another thing I enjoy about this release is the vocals of Traumatic (aka Patrick Kremer owner of Iron Bonehead Prod.), who truly understands this style of music, he feels it coursing through his veins, and conjures those dark impulses perfectly in his vocals.Patrick really have his own style and his vocals has a unique feel. This album for me really does re-capture those old times of the late eighties and early nineties, it is like the members of this band were frozen and removed from the UG metal scene, then awoken and asked to create a new album in this day and age. The middle tempo riffing feels like an eerie ritual music, literally the music is dripping with haunting atmosphere and crafted within songs that stay in your mind long after you finish listening. Which, I think in black metal is truly a sign of ultimate quality, at least in my book it is. I honestly can not recommend this album enough, it feels like a record that will be considered a classic in the future. If you love the old ways of those bands then you simply need this in your collection. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/baxaxaxa
https://sinisterflame.bandcamp.com/ |
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Beyond Man is an
old band that made one official recording nearly fifteen years ago
and then went largely dormant it would seem. I wonder looking at
some of the members past if one door closing, re-opened another, as
two of the four members recently laid to rest a long running band
(One Tail, One Head) and decided to stick together to revive another
in Beyond Man? Whatever the case this Norwegian band has been awoken
from it’s slumber, now reworking the two songs from their 2008 demo
and conjuring up four more to comprise at long last their debut
album. The music on here is very atmospheric, created largely
through traditional instrumentation, which is my personal preferred
method and takes more talent and creativity in my view. That
aforementioned baleful evil aura is like a demon whispering in your
brain and permeates everything from start to finish. Their sound to
me is classic second wave black metal that stays extremely true to
those roots, while branching out and incorporating more pernicious
metal sounds more often associated with the first wave of black
metal (ala the early works Venom, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Mercyful
Fate, Master’s Hammer, Mortuary Drape etc…). The vocals on here are
fucking fantastic and incorporate a myriad of voices and vocal
styles, all are kept very ominously chilling, acidic and sinister
despite the wide arsenal. The more I listen the more admire what
this group of musicians has managed to craft. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/beyondmanband
https://www.thesinisterflame.com/ |
|
I must admit I did a bit of a double take, when I seen the name of the drummer of this German band. His name is Patrick Schroeder, which also happens to be the exact same first/last name of my decades long partner in crime with Canadian Assault. So, unless our Patrick is traveling back and forth between Missouri and Germany, then I am pretty sure they are not one in the same haha! Okay, sorry for the side bar, it is a happy coincidence though. Beyondition is a triumvirate of musicians that play an ancient form of black death metal on this, their debut album. When I say ancient, I mean the music on here reminds me of a mixing of late ‘80s / early ‘90s embryonic death metal bands, which are intermingled with some first wave black metal bands. I am sure after reading that you might want a few general examples of such. So, from the death metal category I will go with the earlier works of Pestilence, Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Asphyx, and Cianide. The black metal side I would go again with (in most cases) the earlier works of the mighty Mortuary Drape, Denial Of God, Master’s Hammer, Rotting Christ, Root and Varathron. I mean even the production on here sounds like it could have been recorded in that 1988 to 1994 time period. Which, for me, being the old goat I am, that is not a bad thing at all! The music on here sounds very clear yet has that raw and unrefined feel that gives it of an organic feel to me, when comparing modern recordings. The songs, much like a lot of that music back then have a more straight forward, stripped down quality. Which, in some respects strips away the modern style side noise, and makes you focus more on writing good, memorable songs. The memorable, infectious songwriting is something Beyondition have managed to do on “Abysmal Night”, to some real success. This music is heavy, it is evil, it has an aura to it and the songs will stand out and stick in your head. They often have choruses, and hooks, but also they bring the heaviness, as well as that glorious darkness and evil feel. The classic sounds became classic for a reason, because it is a great style, and when presented by the hands of dedicated diehards, like these three men in Beyondition it can spark that ancient flame so it burns bright. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/beyondition
https://www.chaos-records.com/ |
|
 
This Spanish death metal band presents their
debut album after previously releasing a demo and a pair of EPs
prior. They start things off with a brief foreboding intro and then
launch into some excellent brutal old school death metal that has an
enjoyable murky and macabre aura permeating through it all. The bio
mentions Lovecraftian works and that is a good touch point, as I can
imagine this being the soundtrack while you read some amazing works
of H.P. Lovecraft. Musically speaking though it is some really
driving stuff, and the songwriting overall is just really solid and
interesting to me. The bio also mentions old Finnish death metal and
I can definitely hear some of that in their sound from the early
works of Fin bands like Adramelech, Demigod, Sentenced, Convulse,
Abhorrence etc… But there are other influences from around the world
I hear in there like early Morbid Angel, Asphyx, Imprecation,
Incantation and the like. That is just a lot of great influences
from the early years of the rise of death metal in the early 90’s.
Now I may just be a nostalgic sucker at times, but I don’t care,
this is really well done and crafted homage and continuation of an
amazingly time in the extreme metal scene. I love it and can seem to
never get enough of it. If you are the same way you will want to
check this debut full-length out sooner than later. - Dale
https://bizarre.bandcamp.com/ https://transcendingobscurity.merch.com/
https://tometal.com/
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This is the
debut album from this triumvirate of musical demons, which features
in it’s ranks members of Demiser, Blood Ouroboros, Primitive Warfare
and Impest. The band churns out harsh, grating black metal full of
energy and seething with hatefulness. The music is ever driving
forward with a blitzing speed yet does have a slight edge of
rhythmic ritual atmosphere and a feeling of freezing darkness. The
vocals are great throat shredding, coarsely yelled rasping that
still manages to be commanding in their own livid emotive way. I can
not help agreeing with the bands influences sited in the bio, which
are Profanatica, Demoncy, VON, and Masochist. I am a long time fan
of all of those bands, possibly with Masochist and Profanatica
especially strongly for me. I can hear both those bands clearly
here, and I must admit to feeling some familiar nostalgia pangs when
listening to this album. This brings me back to 1992, when I
purchased the cassette version of “Weeping In Heaven” (that included
two killing live tracks not on the seven inch release), this is when
I became obsessed with Profanatica and listened to that cassette
endlessly. A side note, if I may, I later unknowingly at first
became good friends with the guy who filmed the infamous pissing and
ejaculating on the bible Profanatica videos! Haha. While clearly
borrowing heavily from those bands above, it matters not to me, as I
thoroughly enjoyed ‘Inn Of The Vaticide’ and can not get enough of
this distinct black metal style, when it is done this well with
clearly this level of conviction. So, if you worship blasphemy,
spit, piss and cum on christ (in audio form), and love the bands
above. Then I have a new soundtrack of profanity and humiliation of
christianity for you revel in! - Dale
https://stygianblackhand.bandcamp.com/
https://www.stygianblackhand.com/ |
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This is my first encounter with this band,
which does surprise me a little especially with them being from
California and being around for nearly a decade now. I mean I do
tend to get around so to speak in the UG scene yet we were still
like gloomy ships passing unnoticed in the foggy night. ‘Procreate
Inverse’ is the bands second album clocking in at a robust 54
minutes, some fucking bands these days try to pass off some really
thin and paltry run times as albums, this is like three or four
‘albums’ for them. Black Fucking Cancer play extremely hateful black
metal and to my ear does not really belong to one time period
necessarily. I mean the base of their sound is second wave
Scandinavian black metal, but I hear influences from the first wave
of bm with elusive whispery hints of things like speed metal and war
metal at times making their presence briefly known. The majority of
the time things go at a breakneck blitzkrieg pace of audio darkness
and evil with a go for the throat cruelty. It may be difficult at
times to hear through the unrelenting barbarity and violence, but
there is a real level of musicality going on here with some strong
guitar work. The drumming on here is a powerfully inhuman whirlwind
of drum kit torture and destruction, which is technically precise
and clear. You would think the vocals in the sound I have described
would have a difficult time keeping up or standing out yet that is
not the case at all. The vocal performance is supreme and commanding
with an imposing mix again of all ages of the black metal past, from
early days of the first wave through the rasping acid of the second
and beyond up until today. I think some influences that stand out
for me would be Bathory, early Darkthrone, Marduk ala “Panzer
Division Marduk”, Craft, Gorgoroth, Funeral Mist, Watain, Antaeus,
Katharsis. That should give you more of a clearer impression of
their sound. It is well worth your attention as Black Fucking Cancer
carry on the tradition of those black metal hordes in an impressive
way while still carving out a sound of their own stamp along the
way. - Dale
https://blackfuckingcancer.bandcamp.com/music
http://sentientruin.com/
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Coming out of
Poland's thrash metal scene is Black Hosts. So far the band has
released two demo's in 2018 and 2019, and the bands debut full
length "Times Of Eternal Torture", which was self-released by the
band in 2019. ‘Onward Into The Abyss’ is the newest EP that features
four songs of aggressive and memorable thrash metal insanity. The
guitars are delivered in a fast whirlwind and are played with skill
and a high intensity. The guitarist does write some memorable
passages, even adding some well written and played guitar solo's
into the mix. The drums are played with a mix of fast drum patterns
that are performed with furious power, the drummer does slow to a
more calm, mid paced range in a few of the songs smoothly
transitioning between both styles with intensity and forcefulness.
The vocals are high pitched screams and some clean hollering vocals.
If you are a fan of aggressive thrash metal with hints of heavy
metal influence, especially in the guitar work then be sure to pick
up a copy of this EP. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/BlackHosts666/
https://hellprod.bandcamp.com/music |
|
 
It seems like
Helter Skelter is really getting into the satanic and occult classic
doom metal style and aesthetic, possibly even partially cornering
the market with Mephistofeles, Demonio and now Italy’s Black Spell.
I am here for it. As is the case with those two aforementioned
bands, Black Spell also mixes in touches of psychadelia and stoner
sound elements into their potent and sinister musical mix. This is a
new-ish band having been around for less than 3 years at this point,
yet this already is this creatively fertile groups third full-length
album. They draw upon all the archetypal influences like of course
Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Trouble, Candlemass as well
as more recent notable bands like Electric Wizard, Spirit Caravan,
Kyuss, Orange Goblin and the like. Also, I have to mention not too
surprisingly you have to point to the early works of their great
countryman Paul Chain as a strong influence. Despite the stoner
style having a strong weight on Black Spell’s sound, they are not
all rocking and all grooving though as much of the time they place
importance on the seriousness, and on the heaviness of those older
bands I mentioned above. They also always keep a vague aura of
darkness throughout, which I like. This album is equal parts catchy
and rocking yet there is always this pounding, heavy gritty doom
metal thread running through it all providing a rock salt foundation
for this sound. I also like how these fellows at times keep it
simple, when they find a killer rhythm and groove they milk it and
sit down on it. So much so, that they often spread it out so it
transitions between that infectious pulse in to a introspective,
creeping mental journey before working their way back to rocking you
out of your leather boots and ceremonial ritual robes. I found
myself really enjoying this album and connecting with it’s
atmosphere and approach, if you are into the mix of influences I
mentioned then I think you will dig how this band blend them all
together and put their own stamp on it. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/black.spell.doom
https://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/ |
|
Black Winged Goat Messiah is a solo project from Nunslayer (he also has other one man projects like Shrine ov Absurd, Skjult, M.O.S.S.), which comes out of Cuba's bestial black metal scene. Starting off with a intro that is mixed with chants and thunder storm effects. It doesn't take long before the music goes for the throat with an intense and fast attacking style. The drums on this album are insanely chaotic in their delivery.There is some slower parts used throughout a few of the tracks, before going back to that grinding lightning fast drumming style.The guitars are a whirlwind of fast-paced and crazed guitar passages. The guitarist does play some heavier mid paced patterns in a few of the tracks that are played very well and interesting. The vocals on this release are grim black metal screams mixed with some gruff growls. I would say brutal, ferocious and bestial are a few words that can describe this bands sound and style. So, if this sounds like your kind of black metal then I highly recommend picking up a copy of “Satanic Morbid Lust” today. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/bwgoatmessiah
https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/ |
|
Blasfema Estigia is a two man band coming out of Colombia South America. The band will unleash their debut demo through the mighty Masters Of Kaos. Blasfema plays ancient death metal with some black metal elements mixed into the music. The demo starts off with a short intro and wastes little time going for the kill with uncompromising death metal. The second song is “Lujuria” is a bestial and primitive assault, that wastes very little time getting into the fury and goes straight into pounding drums. The guitars are played with fast and chaotic passages. The vocals are raw death metal growls that are heavy and commanding in their delivery. “Clavicula” is up next and is a primal and brutal attack on the senses. The drums on this track are insanely fast blasting drums that pummel the listener into pulp. The vocals are raw and powerful death metal growls. The fourth and final song is “Nekromantik” starts off with church bells and crackling fire sounds, before the music speeds up to a fast and destructive pace.The guitars are played with fast paced passages and some mid paced heavier guitar parts are used in the song. The drumming is aggressive and unrelenting forceful beats that are played with real intensity. If you are a fan of unpolished raw death metal that does not follow any trends, then be sure to pick up a copy of ‘Blasphemous Sickness Of Lust’ today as you will not be disappointed. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Blasfema.Estigia/
https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/ |
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New Jersey’s Blasphematory may only have been
releasing music for a relatively short amount of time (that would be
since 2019). But this aggregate of musicians is long in the tooth in
the UG scene with the members of this three piece band currently or
previously having done time in many bands like (the mighty)
Abazagorath, Mausoleum, Altar Of Gore, Death Fortress, Disma, Jaws
Of Hades and more. “The Lower Catacombs” is a crushing yet
shambling, oppressively suffocating doomy death metal style done
just the way I like it. It is thick heavy death metal with a gloomy,
almost frightening atmosphere, that slowly and steadily stalks it’s
prey like a tireless all-encompassing creeping black audio fog. The
obscure sounding growling vocals of Joe Aversario twist and melt
through the music seamlessly, reflecting the music with it’s own
contribution to this ominous yet brutalizing musical collective.
This album is highly recommended for fans of raw and filthy old
school death metal along the lines of Autopsy, early Grave, old
Incantation, Convulse, Abhorrence, Demigod, Disma, Funebrarum,
Rippikoulu and the like. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/blasphematory
https://nuclearwinterrecords.bandcamp.com/ |
|
These fellows
are a new band from Philadelphia, PA with only a previous EP on
record; we now have their debut album courtesy of Gates Of Hell (an
imprint of parent label Cruz Del Sur Music). Blazon Rite play epic
heavy metal that reaches back to the earlier days of the genre
incorporating a lot of the NWOBHM traditions, alongside the emergent
bands on these shores from the same time period of the late
seventies through the middle eighties. I feel like there is also
always this emotive and sullen thread whispering through the music,
which nods towards a classic doom sensibility yet I would still
firmly call them heavy metal. Some bands that come to mind when
listening to this album are early Iron Maiden, Brocas Helm, Manilla
Road, Cirith Ungol, Omen, Cloven Hoof, Liege Lord – it is a great
list to be sure. I have to admit the first listen through, I thought
this is solid but just is not grabbing me, now it feels like almost
every repeat listen it sinks it hooks in me a little deeper. It is
like each layer I peel back is more affecting than the last. The
passion and emotion is reflected and matched by the great triumphant
and dulcet tones of vocalist Johnny Halladay. If you like the
classic early days of heavy metal then Blazon Rite will remind you
once again why those great bands and albums became classics in the
first place. - Dale
https://blazonrite.bandcamp.com/
http://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/ |
|
This
Philadelphia, PA band has wasted little time following up their
quality debut album “Endless Halls of Golden Totem”, with a new long
player for me to feast my ears upon. Blazon Rite just keep riding
high with their energetic, and triumphant heavy metal that champions
the old days of yore, with their spin on the NWOBHM sound and style.
There is a heavy dose of Iron Maiden influence on here mixed with a
large measure of classic American power metal ala Manilla Road,
Omen, Heavy Load, Riot, Helstar, Liege Lord etc… There is some fun
interplay with the guitars, great galloping riffs, all accented with
some lively guitar fills and solos. The band has a real penchant for
writing songs that are memorable, and stick in your head, along side
some superb lyrics that fit the feel of the music perfectly. I have
always loved the quality of European heavy metal singers, who often
are kind of forced to phrase things differently with their accents
being applied to a second language. So, it is interesting in that
way with the vocals of Johnny Halladay, there is some points he has
a similar style and phrasing, clearly on purpose here, but I dig
this choice. Halladay’s vocals and his voice has this great classy
quality, intoned with a strong triumphant and epic quality that I
enjoy very much. I bet this band is great live, I rarely ever go to
live gigs anymore, but this band is from my state, so you never
know. But, in the meantime, and in between time, if you love
traditional late 70’s through to the later ‘80s power / heavy metal,
and can not get enough of it, then you need to hear Blazon Rite.
- Dale
https://blazonrite.bandcamp.com/
http://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/ |
|
Upon completing
just one listen to this album, the bands third full-length, I find
myself lamenting for the time lost in never having heard this
British band sooner. At this point I am several listens in, and I am
no less impressed, maybe even more so by the absolutely blistering
and intense deathrash metal on this impressive release. These guys
bring a little bit of everything you could possibly ask for in this
style. I mean it, they bring the intensity, the speed, the razor
sharp playing and technical yet still as catchy as the common cold
songwriting. Despite the rapid pacing, they do still manage to dial
that quotient back a cunt hair at times, to add some emotive flow to
their music. There is a ton of heavy, headbang inducing ripping
riffs, and neck wrecking fury at a high level. It is not just wall
to wall riffs though, as there are some brief and tasteful guitar
fills and solos. At all times the crushing heaviness, blitzkrieg
velocity, audio fist to the face forward flow is the king of their
stylistic approach. The vocals of Jamie Stungo are superb, they are
a near perfect marriage of the gruff / screeching / squealing
classic thrash vocals mixed with just enough of a dose of death
metal growl to give his layered, charismatic voice histrionics a
nice brutal edge. If you love the early releases of old school
legend bands of thrash and death metal genres such as Overkill,
Demolition Hammer, Ripping Corpse, Morbid Angel, Kreator, Possessed,
Death, Morbid Saint, Sadus, Dark Angel mixed into one kick ass,
explosive package then you need to get your claws on this album!
- Dale
https://thebleeding.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/
|
|
Blessed Curse hails from California, and they have been going for about a decade now. Though, it appears there was a fairly long period of very little activity, after releasing their debut album way back in 2012. This album is out on M-Theory Audio, at least in the USA (overseas it is on Cyclone Empire). Which is the label of Marco Barbieri (Metal Blade, and later Century Media), who I used to be in contact with in the early to mid ‘90s, buying issues of Marco’s fanzine and compilation tapes. These fellows worship old school thrash metal (and who could blame them?!), it bleeds out of every musical pore on this album. It clearly became evident to me just how much dedication and care went into this album, as they live and breathe thrash metal to the maximum. Luckily, for us they also have talent and skill to go along with it, they know how to write memorable songs to go along with those attributes. In addition to songwriting abilities, Blessed Curse also know how to write razor sharp, ripping riffs that will wreck your neck. The music may be brimming with nostalgia for me, but these fellows do put their own stamp on these tried and true sounds, which makes it all the better for me. So, beyond the unforgettable heavy as hell, catchy riffs, there is also some cool tasty guitar fills and solos to spice up the pounding melodic barrage. I can definitely feel the influential ghosts of classic Annihilator, Exodus, Kreator, Vio-lence, Testament, Sodom, Razor and Dark Angel walking through the graveyard outside. The vocals of Tyler Satterlee have that traditional gruff thrash yell, but there is a real gurgling, and pissed off snarl with little hints of a death metal growl occasionally. Those vocals are familiar yet those extra touches kind of set his style apart a little bit. Tyler puts his own touches to the style, and it gives this bands music an added dimension from the usual thrash vocals, good stuff. If you love thrash metal of old, executed at a high level, then I suggest you get your mitts on this album sooner than later.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/BlessedCurseOfficial/
https://m-theoryaudio.bandcamp.com/
|
|
 
Svart Records digs up a classic ‘80s heavy metal band, which is fairly, if not entirely unknown over here on North American shores outside of few hardcore maniacs. As this British band only had their albums (Red, Raw and Bleeding! & Battlescarred both remastered here) released exclusively in England, on two different Brit record labels. Their two albums were released in 1986 and 1987, both of which are present here with a boat load of extras, as the title suggests this is their complete history, which includes their demo material and some live tracks. Listening to this it is a shame this band did make more of a mark, as this is some fucking fine meaty and ripping heavy metal that nestles into so many of the bands from America and Europe, which we hail as must hear classics. I have to say I am surprised, at least in Canada, that Banzai Records never got wind of this band to release it there, like they did with other lesser known Euro bands like Tokyo Blade, Warfare, Axewitch and Overdrive etc… Blood Money wrote good songs, they displayed a high skill level, and the music is fast in your face stuff. Among the many speedy riffs there is a lot of brief high speed solos that are a lot of fun. You can hear the NWOBHM influences, but these fellows definitely sped things up and went heavy compared to some counterparts. I could possibly see that maybe their vocalist could hold them back a bit, he does not have as much siren style range or a lower grit register. Despite that I enjoy his rapid fire vocal delivery, and despite the slight one dimensional middle range, he performs said range fantastically and I like his vocals a bunch. If you have yet to hear of Blood Money, as was the case with me, and I like to think I know my shit with classic heavy metal then you really need to get your claws on this release. I mean you get everything from the band beginning to end, and all in between and it is all good stuff in my opinion. P.S. - Sorry, I realized I forgot to add in the review the demo and live material is apparently only available in the box set version. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Blood.Money.NWoBHM
http://www.svartrecords.com |
|
I must admit
looking at this Dutch bands discography, that I am surprised I have
not listened to any Bodyfarm releases, before now. I mean their
first release, an EP, came out in 2010 and this release is their
fifth full-length album. I keep my ear to the UG pretty strong yet
this is still my first encounter with them. Be that as it may, the
old saying goes better late than never. There has been quite a lot
of turn over with this band though; it appears there is only one
original member left these days. I have no idea what their past
material is like, but it only took a few songs into ‘Ultimate
Abomination’ to realize that I have been missing out. Something that
comes quickly when listening to this, is the musicians that make up
this band are quite polished and skilled. It shows up in the
playing, as well as the fine songwriting that showcases some really
emotive elements that feature some interesting builds and
crescendos, which keep the music balanced and interesting for the
listener. The music itself is brutal as fuck, crushing riffing yet
also slick with a lot of fine guitar work, showcasing some
interesting fills and cool solos. The emotive part comes in between
the brutish riffing, with some deft song construction that manages
to inject some small hints of catchy rhythms, and melody in between
the vicious clubbing barbarity. The vocals of Ralph de Boer are
severe, commanding growls though still decipherable enough to still
make out the lyrics, pretty much throughout the album. I mean, those
are just great vocals, in my view. I am quite certain this album
will impress and capture fans of classic releases from bands like
Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Dismember, Grave, Unleashed, Sinister and
Benediction. - Dale
https://bodyfarm.bigcartel.com/
https://edgedcircleproductions.com/ |
|
 
This veteran
band from Greece has been putting out demos starting in 2001, and
working through a series of subsequent demos, EPs, splits, and now
“Ruins” marks the bands fifth album. Despite Burial Hordes being
around for such a long time, I mean I know them by name, but I am
not that familiar with their releases (though I may have reviewed
one of their demos a couple decades ago, fuzzy memory Hehe). The
band features a seasoned line up consisting of on guitars with
founding member Dionysis Dimitrakos (also the main man of Enshadowed),
on guitars K.T. (Dead Congregation, Cursed Blood), on drums F.V. (Necrovorous,
Paroxysm, Sacral Rage). I keep seeing them listed as a black metal
band, but if you ask me they are definitely a death metal band,
maybe with some small bm touches here and there. The music on here
highlights this bands experience, both with their individual
instruments, as well as their smooth and refined songwriting. The
result is some brutal, driving death metal, wrapped in a sinister
dark atmosphere, which permeates everything in a satisfying way. I
really like T.D.’s growling vocals, they remind me kind of a mix of
L-G Petrov of Entombed and Dave Ingram of Benediction. So obviously
two of the greats in death metal, what is not to like? Nothing, that
is what. Though at the same time, for my liking those vocals blend
into the background of the mix, a little too much. A small
criticism, yes, it is just I want to clearly, and powerfully hear
those killer vox. The quality of this album should not be
understated, nor should it be a surprise with the bands lengthy
history, and pedigree, for me it is better late than never to really
get into this worthy band. - Dale
https://burialhordesdm.bandcamp.com/
https://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/ |
|
Buried is a new
band featuring Joel Sta on vocals, Mark Wormmeester on bass and
Robbe Vrijenhoek on the drums, all three men started out in the long
running, but now defunct death metal band Pyaemia who made their
mark on the UG scene. Further that history, the duo of Sta and
Vrijenhoek have been together in bands dating all the way back to
the middle 1990s in the band Nocturnal Silence, which later changed
it’s name to Disavowed (who are still going strong today and are
label mates of Buried as a matter of fact). The music on “Oculus
Rot” is definitely rooted in the old school death metal style, but
does add some newer elements of more modern day death metal ways,
which results in a very interesting style and mix. The guitars are
well played and showcase some great writing abilities, going from a
mid paced style, to a much faster pacing highlighted with a heavy
guitar tone. The songs are very well put together and executed with
those featured guitar passages that are both complex and memorable.
The vocals are a mix of old school death metal growls and some
deeper more modern day growls, both styles are done with power and
great range. If you are a fan of solid death metal produced veteran
members of the UG that are not afraid to add different elements into
a sound that helps Buried stand out then you should check this out.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/buriedmetal
https://brutalmind.bandcamp.com/ |
|
 
This is the solo
project of the talented and prolific Lord Sxuperion aka Matthew
Schott (Garden of Hesperides, Sxuperion, Oreamnos, Valdur, ex-Weverin).
This album is a maelstrom of chugging, rumbling, discordant guitar
mixed with much white noise and sound effects dissonance and topped
with brooding ugly atmospherics. There are fleeting moments of
beauty and finesse, but you have to search attentively through the
audio file folders to detect them. The music in a lot of ways is
more of an overall experience than individual compositions, it is
less defined and formless than that yet still a real journey. I mean
everything about this release is pretty unconventional in all ways,
right down to the roiling obscure growling yet not truly growled
vocals. It is all well-known, but when all of these elements are
combined the way they are here it is also something very unfamiliar.
You will have sections with great brutal death metal riffs and then
transition into detuned and untuned clean guitar that keeps you
off-kilter, then suddenly a profound emotive bleak bombast sequence
and that is just the opening track “Claustrophobic Dysentery
Excreted from the Chiffonier”. Oh, did I mention the song titles
alone are a confusing trippy and disturbing ride all of it’s own?
For example how about “Lilliputian Flicker of Fasciollasis”, which I
believe means a very small flicker of a liver parasite. There is
plenty more of that lyrical subject style to delve into if that
interests you in any way Haha! I was not sure I liked it at first,
it took a while but it continued to grow on me like a liver fungus
with repeated listens. “Claustrophobic Dysentery” is an interesting
listen and it surely goes to show you can be experimental without
softening your music. You do not need pretty melodies and musically
cultured influences, it is very much the opposite here, it is
progressive in the uttermost and evil and ugly with it’s boundary
pushing of extremity. This is for those who complain it all sounds
overdone and tired, this is something different and challenging in
the severe. - Dale
https://bloodymountainrecords.bandcamp.com/
http://www.bloodymountainrecords.com/ |
|
This band marks
yet another collaboration between Chaos Records and Maurice de Jong,
with another of this man’s solo band projects. I have reviewed this
labels two previous releases of his other band The Sombre, which is
excellent, and you should check out. Some of the other bands Maurice
or ‘Mories’ as he is also known include (this is a partial list!)
Black Mouth of Spite, Caput Mortuum, Cloak of Altering, De Magia
Veterum, Dodenbezweerder, Gnaw Their Tongues, Golden Ashes, Grand
Celestial Nightmare, Hagetisse, Malorum, The Black Mysteries. Most
of his bands are some variation of black metal, but like The Sombre,
this band is in the doom death metal realm. Though, I think Cadaver
Shrine may lean a little more in the death metal direction, if only
slightly more than the aforementioned band. The death element on
here may be more omnipresent, in it’s own suffocating and marching
way. The doom aspect is still strong though, and brings along with
it a darkly dismal aura, that closes in on you on all sides and
weighs you down, as a listener. I feel like this music is more about
the feeling and atmosphere, but that does not discount that there
are some killer heavy tremolo riffs, and some enjoyable fills with
some tasteful guitar work on display amongst the audio murk. Mories
also has the very obscure, shadowy, murmur slow roll growling down
nicely, and it only adds to the overall ambiance and gloomy tone of
the musical experience. I have not listened to a lot of this fellows
black metal projects, but damn he has some strong talent in the
death doom realm that you should look in to, and focus some of your
attention. - Dale
https://gnawtheirtongues.bandcamp.com/
https://www.chaos-records.com/ |
|
This Czechia band is one I have been wanting to check out for a long time. The reason being in large part due to this being the band of main man Blackosh, who was a key member of the great band Root for the first 15ish years of their existence. I am a diehard fan of the early works of Root, especially their first album “Zejeveni” in 1990, which I was lucky to buy the first pressing of the vinyl a year or so later on an obscure distro. There is even a guest appearance from the mighty Big Boss of Root on here. Well, anyways, I get sidetracked, but from what I am listening to now, and what I read about Cales earlier releases, I am assuming their sound/style has evolved since earlier years of the band. Because I see a lot of mention of goth-y hard rock/metal and folk mixed into the music, but thankfully I hear none of that on “Chants Of Steel”. Maybe that is what kept me from going too far out of my way to check Cales out sooner. I also seen the odd mention of traditional doom and heavy metal, now that I do hear on this album alongside a slightly more modern pagan metal style. It seems to me that emotion is key to the bands songwriting, it is heavy, it is triumphant, it is atmospheric, but above all everything is done evoke emotion in the listener. It is sometimes haunting, it is sometimes poignant, it is introspective and at other times injects some anger and exultant evil energy. I do not want to push the doom element too hard here, it is there in the classic sense of that style, but it is a background fixture with dark heavy metal and blackened pagan/viking metal in the forefront. When it comes to the building feeling of the music, that crescendos and morphs while always keeping things straight forward and memorable, it all speaks to Blackosh’s talent and mature songwriting abilities. I should also mention here Blackosh’s vocals, they are phenomenal in my opinion. Much like the music, his is filled with emotive electricity, and charisma drips from his voice and helps you feel the music so much more. Blackosh also has a distinctive, interesting voice and vocal style that makes me think of an interesting mixture of viking-era Quorthon, older Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, and a small sprinkle of Messiah Marcolin of Candlemass for good measure. There is just something very infectious to me about his voice, which I am addicted to. This is a good album, if you tend to like the styles and influences I have listed above then you will want to give this record a try my friends. - Dale
https://blackosh.bandcamp.com/
https://edgedcircleproductions.com/ |
|
 
Castrator is an all female band based out of
New York City, presenting us with their debut album that comes on
the heels of a previous demo and EP. The band features Carolina
Perez of Hypoxia on drums, Kimberly Orellana ex-Harlequin on guitar,
Clarissa Badini of Hypoxia & Tartarus on vocals. Plus on bass you
have a real veteran of the UG scene in Robin Mazen of Gruesome,
Derketa and ex-Demonomacy (whose demos I tape traded for in the
early to mid ‘90s! Yes, I am an old goat haha). Castrator play real
old school US style death metal that harkens back to those embryonic
days of the genre in a pretty glorious way. I really dig the guitar
sound, so heavy it just fucking punishes the listeners under it’s
considerable weight and ferocity. I like the traditional structures
where the song is king, not how fast you can play, how many riffs
you can stuff in a song or being ultra technical. The songs have
flow, they almost force you to headbang to them and the drumming
just pounds the listener into pulp. There is some memorable
songwriting on here that keeps things interesting and features some
interesting refined guitar work, which gives these chugging, audio
catacomb songs an extra dimension. The growling vocals with their
acidic, boiling undercurrent fit the music so well, adding their
considerable weight to the bands style. To top off the proceedings
Castrator do a killer cover of possibly my all-time fave band Venom
(my ‘zine is named after one of their releases!) with “Countess
Bathory”! This album is a damn good addition to any classic early to
middle ‘90s death metal fanatic that can not get enough of those
great old sounds. - Dale
https://castrator.bandcamp.com/
https://www.darkdescentrecords.com |
|
Ceremonial
Worship is the sole creation of one High Priest C.W. (ex-Skogen,
ex-Violator) who handles everything for this Greek band. The four
tracks featured on this release are exclusive to this split. The
music is performed with heavy and fast guitars that are delivered
with experience and showcases skillful writing ability. The music
does slow to a more controlled mid tempo pace throughout the bands
songs on here. Alright so up next on this split release is the
Philippines OmenFilth, who also deliver four exclusive tracks to
this split release to round things out to nearly thirty-three
minutes of music overall. OmenFilth's style is rooted in the old
school, traditional style black metal. Their music is more
aggressive with fast paced guitars and drums that are performed with
skill and a great writing ability. Both bands on this split deliver
a solid release of black metal intensity that should please all fans
of this genre.
- Patrick
https://ceremonialworship.bandcamp.com
https://omenfilth.bandcamp.com
eternal-death.com
|
|
This is the
debut album from this relatively new band (having previously
released a couple demos and an EP) coming out of Denmark, and they
share a member with the excellent band Phrenelith. ‘Effigies Of
Obsolescence’ comes off sounding quite refined and mature in the
songwriting department for a young band. I would say they belong to
this movement of mixing some old American death metal with healthy
helpings of classic Finnish dm along with smatterings of UK death of
yore. Though it is decidedly death metal music, there are also
elements of doom death going on here for sure with Chaotian. Their
music is so densely pounding and crushing with a lot going on
musically with the guitar work, which features flourishes of
skillful refinement of tunefulness despite the utter brutality of it
all. It makes for an interesting mix in the song construction
department and really piqued my interest with rapt attention as I
listened. The deep brutish whispery growling vocals on here is very
enjoyable for me and compliments the bands oppressive all engrossing
dark atmosphere perfectly. A few bands older and newer that come to
mind to give you an audio compass point are Rippikoulu, Convulse,
Incantation, Bolt Thrower, Immolation, Funebrarum, early Autopsy,
Tomb Mold, Deiquisitor, Undergang and the like. I love it when
record labels work together on releases as I often mention. Dark
Descent and Me Saco have been doing it a lot lately, it is great for
the bands and fans, especially having one label in North America and
one in Europe. As usual with their partnership Dark Descent is
handling the CD, and Me Saco Un Ojo the vinyl. If you are a diehard
follower of the bands styles I mentioned above, you should check out
this album, it is another fine example of this killer musical form.
- Dale
facebook.com/ChaotianOfficial
www.mesacounojo.com
darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com |
|
Coming out of
Colorado's black metal UG scene is Charon Kruk who combines harsh
and experimental black metal with some ambient elements to create a
unique style and sound. ‘Wrapped In The Morning Red’ is the debut
full-length featuring seven tracks of well composed musical
passages. The guitars are played with a heavier mid paced range, but
do speed up to a faster more aggressive pace throughout some of the
songs. There is some very well played guitar sequences on this
album, even adding in some solo's throughout. The vocals are all
over the place with harsh raspy screams and some deeper death metal
growls. Both of the vocal styles fit the music perfectly and give
each song it's own identity. If you are looking for a band that
combines harsh black metal and adds some ambient and even death
metal influences then be sure to check out Charon Kruk’s debut album
today. - Patrick
charonkruk.bandcamp.com/
bchrecords.storenvy.com/
plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com/ |
|
I have been on
such a heater of listening to only dark, dingy and oppressive death
metal the last month or so. As you may be able to tell from the
bands line-up of bands I chose for the monthly update this time
around haha. Church of Digust from Texas is not going to change this
trend I am afraid with their third full-length album ‘Weakest Is The
Flesh’. Which is their first for Hells Headbangers after putting out
their previous two records on Memento Mori, talk about going from
strength to even greater strength. The music is a nice mix of medium
to speedy death metal pacing yet there is clearly death doom
elements as well, which adds another layer of depth to their sound
and creates cool alternating currents of differing atmosphere. There
is often the main brutal super heavy riff, but also frequently
backed up with secondary guitar fill parts keeps the music varied
and interesting. This is some tremendous old school death metal with
some creative songwriting that manages to keep things mildly upbeat
and memorable, yet never sacrifices that repressive aura or its
crushing barbarity. Some bands that come to mind when I listen to
this album are Funebrarum, Gorefest, Autopsy, Cianide, Undergang,
Benediction, Bolt Thrower mixed with a dash of Deicide and
Malevolent Creation. Being that I am big fan of H.P. Lovecraft,
something which figures into creative process quite richly with this
bands lyrical history and imagery. I am also now interested in
checking out some works by author Brian Keene, a fellow who
apparently is quite influenced by Lovecraft and in turn also possess
a similar level of influence on the Disgust. Speaking of the vocals
they are classic deep growls that fit in quite nicely with the
influences I mentioned above, complimenting their murky sounds of
extreme metal sickness to near perfection. I just can not seem to
get enough of this style of death metal and if you are the same way
you need to check this out. FYI the vinyl version is set for later
this year, but the other formats are a go as of now. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/churchofdisgust
https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/ |
|
 
I have heard
rumblings of this relatively new Scottish band, on the back of their
first label release with the “Septic Funeral” EP. Which was
unleashed initially through the vocalists label and then coming on
to my radar with that EP’s re-release, on the great Redefining
Darkness Records. Those positive rumblings were well warranted, in
my view. The first thing that struck me is the music has this morbid
graveyard atmosphere to it, which casts a stygian inky coating all
over their crushing metal sound. The songwriting often fluctuates
between a medium to moderately fast pacing with real gutfuck
riffing, but they also manage to mix in with some regularity
delicious necro doomy elements (that remind me to almighty classic
Autopsy album "Mental Funeral"). I fucking love it when they do
this, it also, in my opinion really gives a depth and a superb
emotional juxtaposition against the speedy core of their sound, with
epic results. Having said that, when they do decide to sit back and
pound, they pound a hole in your chest that a jackhammer would be
proud of. Their music is a wonderful mix of influences from the
hallowed earlier days of death metal with bands like Entombed,
Dismember, Grave, Benediction, Bolt Thrower, Massacre, early Death,
and the aforementioned Autopsy. The one slight difference in style I
feel is Coffin Mulch has a little bit more of a thrash edge than
some of those tectonic bands. This extends to the killer vocals,
courtesy of Alastair Mabon (who also runs the aforementioned record
label At War With False Noise), who puts in a hell of a monstrous
performance on the mic, which much like the music is an amalgamation
of the vocalists of those influential bands above. Also like above
there is a minor yet noticeable and effective hint of a gruff thrash
metal style yell mixed into these SUPERB sounds coming from this
mans vocal chords. Admittedly, there are a lot of bands these days
combining these influences and styles, or similar variations of the
described influences, but I honestly do not care because it is death
metal perfection by my personal tastes. So I am here for it all day
and night! Beyond that though Coffin Mulch really does this sound
with their own little spin and they do it really fucking well. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/coffinmulch
http://www.memento-mori.es/ |
|
This devilish
triumvirate hail from San Diego, California and even though this is
Conjureth’s debut album these three musicians have done time
currently or previously in bands like Encoffination, Messial,
Sarcosium, Ghoulgotha, Gloomed, VoidCeremony, Father Befouled,
Eternal Suffering, Wooden Stake and more. Conjureth produce enticing
(at least to me haha) old school brutal death metal that very much
brings me back to the late ‘80s and very early ‘90s death metal. I
hear a lot of influence from bands in that time frame from the
northeast US and definitely Floridian dm, but maybe also some
occasional spicing of Scandinavian influence as well. During that
era you still had stronger remnants of ‘80s thrash metal in the
roots of most death metal bands, and I do hear some small hints of
that here both in the riffing and song structures on ‘Majestic
Dissolve’. I can most definitely headbang along to this and imagine
a pretty big churning pit down front when this band plays live. The
music on here besides always keeping the pace brisk, the meat of the
sound is always brutal, possesses a certain dark and evil aura that
I enjoyed. The growling vocals courtesy of Wayne Sarantopoulos are
perfect for the music and again remind me so much of those old days,
with a mix of the aforementioned northern and southern US
influences. They really top off a damn good listen in my view, so if
you love those old sounds from the embryonic days of this amazing
sub-genre of metal then be sure to check this out. Momento Mori will
be handing the CD for this album, while Rotted Life are putting out
the vinyl and tape versions for those wondering. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/conjureth
http://www.memento-mori.es
https://www.rottedlife.com |
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After this
Californian band released two demos in 2020, and subsequently their
debut full length in 2021. Conjureth is back with their second full
length ‘The Parasitic Chambers’ contains ten tracks of heavy pure
death metal music. The members of these bands have plenty of
experience in the UG scene and are also in bands like Gravespell,
Encoffination, Messial, in addition to three of the four members of
Cojureth also currently in the death doom band Tumulation together.
This group of musicians on this release play their instruments
display some skillful writing ability. The guitarist showcases a
nice mix of mid paced heavier guitar passages, then will go into an
all out assault with fast paced frenzied guitar patterns. The
guitars are both feature both heavier and faster parts with equal
intensity, and even adding some well performed solo's throughout the
songs. The vocals are performed with traditional death metal growls
that are powerful and commanding in their delivery. This album sees
the band taking a clear step forward and in my view a must have for
all of the death metal fanatics out there. - Patrick
https://conjureth.bandcamp.com/
http://www.memento-mori.es/ |
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This is my first
foray as a listener of this UK bands music here with their third
album, and first for the well respected Redefining Darkness label.
Consecration produces an interesting brand of doom death that is
pretty nuanced drawing from old school death metal sounds ala Bolt
Thrower, Benediction, early Autopsy, Obituary, Immolation and Grave.
Their doomy side is a mix of more traditional doom death like
Disembowelment, Winter, Thergothon. This, with hints of funereal
doom alongside a healthy doses of classic melancholy doom style, I
am thinking of the embryonic early days / releases of bands like
Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Novembers Doom, Mourning
Beloveth and the like. I can not really express enough how strongly
the dark despair and hopelessly gloomy aura deeply saturates itself
across the entire landscape of this album. It is to the point of
oppressive, but in a good way, just stay away from all the sharp
objects in your lair. The simmering growling courtesy of vocalist
Daniel Bollans have a wrathful acid edge to them yet are always
filled with emotive brooding and cavernous despondency. The
production and mix on here is absolutely perfect for this bands
sound. Speaking of the vocal work on this album, the song ‘Ground To
Ashes (A Cremulation)’ features a superb guest performance from one
of my all-time fave dm vocalists, the great Dave Ingram from
Benediction! Which was a real treat for me to top off a death doom
album that has to be one of the very best I have heard in this
style, maybe in the last decade! It is that fucking good. - Dale
https://consecration-uk.bandcamp.com/
http://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/ |
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Coronary very
proudly throw goat horns in the air, while headbanging and playing
their brand of classic heavy metal with all the traditional
trappings that come along with it. Yes, this Finnish band revel in
it, and I can dig that, it is where I got my start in metal too way
back in the early to mid 1980s. There is one thing for sure for me
with this band, they know how to write heavy catchy metal songs that
are infectious and stick in your head. There are plenty of hooks and
good flow to the songs, alongside some really memorable lyrics and
unforgettable choruses (ala the song I am listening to now “Fight
Street 666”) with the odd gang vocals to add some good energy. There
is some real tasty guitar playing on here with some sweet fills and
the odd smoking solo. I think fans of Accept, Riot, Saxon, Grave
Digger, Rage, Running Wild etc… will appreciate this record. The
vocalist is pretty perfect for this music; he has that early ‘80s
combination of smooth middle range mixed with some grit and higher
soaring accents as well. If I had to make one critical comment about
this album, and this is probably down to just my personal tastes,
that being for me the recording feels a little over produced, a
little too controlled feeling and it would their sound to another
level if there was a little more raw punch, and less reserved
individual performances. I am not sure if it sounds like it, but
that is honestly a minor criticism, because this is an extremely
impressive debut album from Coronary that deserves attention. I will
look forward to what is next from this talented band. - Dale
https://coronaryfin.bandcamp.com/
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com |
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This British
band has released demos, an EP and two albums, and now their third
full-length ‘Forked Tongues’, surprisingly for me as deep as my
tentacles are in the scene this is my first encounter with the band.
Before even hitting play, just knowing it is on the well respected
Dark Descent Records usually previews the quality to come. It is
apparent quite quickly that one of bands calling cards is intensity,
in spades, as they race and rip along with their brand of explosive
black deathrash metal. I hear influences from American and Aussie
greats like Destroyer 666, Ares Kingdom, Gospel Of The Horns, Absu
feel like core influences to me. But you can also hear other things
in there for sure like Bathory, early Sodom, Bestial Mockery,
Desaster and the like. But what might surprise some is they sprinkle
and splice in classic dark and evil heavy metal band accents ala
Mercyful Fate, Satan, Angel Witch, Brocas Helm, Manilla Road, Cirith
Ungol Altar and other archetypal legends. It is impressive how
smoothly they weave and intertwine those very old school accents
into their lightning quick and punishing extreme metal foundation.
They even mix it through the vocals as well as you will have the
excellent growled, yelled, acidic screamed mainstay vocal, then all
the sudden you will get an injection of early to mid ‘80s siren
screams or screeches and it sounds flawless. They never sacrifice
the black, the darkness and evil if you will in their sound, nor the
power and punishment in their attack to meld these seemingly
conflicting influences. This is a testament to the detail and vision
that went into the song construction of this album. I am a fan of
both worlds so this hits a real sweet spot for me, but it is still
more than pummeling enough to satisfy the more modern extreme metal
UG maniac in my view. This album comes very highly recommended from
me. You will not regret this purchase. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/cravenidol
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/ |
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The old UG scene
legends Crucifier still live on and are battling after all of these
years! For the uninitiated and unwashed those years of history
stretch back to the bands formation in 1990 and the release of their
first demo tape "Humans Are Such Easy Prey" in 1991(!!). The band
since the beginning has been the demonic hoofed baby of Cazz Grant
(Hearse, Abhomine, ex-Grand Belial's Key). I guess the second
longest serving member off and on would be Spencer Murphy (ex-Goreaphobia),
who I used hang out with years ago in my Philadelphia days, get in
touch Spencer! Crucifier has always trafficked in a primeval brand
of driving old school black death metal insanity that always
possesses an evil, rotting necro atmosphere. I like semi-regular
interesting guitar fills, which at times drive the song as opposed
to a more singular riff largely driving the entire song. The
excellent vocals from Cazz Grant are dripping with a classic
shadowy, echo-y malevolence and those growls are always clear enough
and enunciated well enough to follow the lyrics clearly. The vocals
really remind me at times to one of my favourite Canadian bands
these days and that is Shadu-Nar-Mattaru (formerly Morbid Darkness
from the late '80s to mid '90s). Another thing I like about the
music on here, it is stripped down and a little more on the simpler
side of things. I mean that as a compliment as they are not about
maximum brutality, or lightning speed, a million riffs or ultra
technicality. No, Crucifier are all about just serving the song,
striving for what is memorable and stirs emotion and it really
works. This is a definite case of less is more, with a tried and
true style this band has exemplified and honed to a sharp cutting
edge through years of experience. The band finish things off with a
pretty spirited Carnivore cover of “Jesus Hitler” that fucking
kills, I enjoyed this cover a lot and they brought something new to
it. This is a great mini-album for old school fans of debauchery and
blasphemy from the early embryonic days of death metal madness. Get
this! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/theblacklourde666
https://ironbonehead.de/ |
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I actually have a very peripheral history with this band. I was clued into Cryptopsy very early on, by my great old friend / tape trader Alex Gagnon. Who sent me their demo tape, as well as a number of their live shows (audio & VHS) he recorded or obtained in 1993/94 of the band. I became a huge fan of the band immediately, talked to them by letter back then, shortly afterward as fate would have it another old friend / tape trader Mike Campbell (The Sepulchral Voice fanzine) became their manager for a brief time. During this period Mike gave my phone number to then guitarist Steve Thibault (original member who wrote music on the demo and first two albums, even though he left the band before the recording of the second album “None So Vile” for a high paying job apparently). Sorry for my side tangent, anyways Steve told me he was setting up their first tour outside of their province (at the time in 1994 their first and for me the best album “Blasphemy Made Flesh” was only out on cassette tape), and the tour was falling apart because they could not find anyone to set up shows through the middle of Canada. So, to make a long story less long, haha, I helped them with contacts to organize the shows they needed to make the tour happen. I attended some of those shows and they were amazing! The band got signed and kind of exploded not too long after that, and became a hugely influential band in the UG scene, as most reading this will know. For me, after those first two classic amazing albums that seen the departure of Steve Thibault, and shortly afterward also the almighty Lord Worm, despite the amazing talents of Flo Mournier the band went dishearteningly downhill. So much so, that I have to admit as big of a Cryptopsy fan as I am/was, I found myself so turned off by the Mike Disalvo on vocals era (somewhat musically and most definitely vocally) that I largely stopped following the band for a long time. I have purposely kept them at arms length since then, maybe not fair, but it was my choice. That was until I decided to give “The Book of Suffering - Tome I & II” EPs a listen, which sparked some interest for me back in the band. I was even looking forward to this album. It does not hurt that Disalvo is long gone, and while vocalist Matt McGachy is no Lord Worm, in my opinion, he is miles better than Disalvo and fits the reinvigorated music pretty well with a more classic rapid fire death growl and alternating high nasal screeching. Musically this album fully returns to all the signature earmarks that made them great, from the manic hyper busy pace, to the speedy ultra techno structuring, to the crushing intensity and stylish guitar musicianship, it is all here. You never mention a release by this band without mentioning the tour-de-force drum work of Flo Mournier, who in a lot of ways changed drumming in death metal with his influential and signature style. I do not think Cryptopsy will be able to once again reach the heights of their first two albums. Yet, I think the band is truly back on the track of creating and releasing very good to great material again, for me this is easily the best work from them I have heard since those early days. It has been over a decade since their last full-length album, that is a long wait, but despite that Cryptopsy do not disappoint on “As Gomorrah Burns”, and have delivered a hell of a record showing they have plenty left in the tank. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/cryptopsyofficial/ https://www.nuclearblast.com
|
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This is my first
encounter with these Lithuanians and this only their second release
as a band. Their first was a self release full-length that got the
attention Transcending Obscurity, who snapped them right up and I
can hear why they did. The material on here is some top notch dark
and brutal death metal, which is largely reminiscent of the early to
middle ‘90s American death metal style. Despite the crushing nature
of Crypts brand of death metal, they do manage to inject a good
amount of memorability to the riffing. They also project level of
emotive and gloomy atmosphere intermingled into a healthy portion of
the songwriting. The vocals are deep growls with a morose and
shadowy edge to them with accents of more guttural or higher /
clearer registers. The vocals are really enjoyable for me. They (the
band and engineer) have managed to strike a good balance of a crisp,
highly produced recording yet unlike many recordings that do this
with extreme music, they have managed not to throw a toned down wet
blanket upon the acute barbarity and crushing meat of the music.
‘All Light Swallowed’ is a really solid album that will satisfy fans
who truly appreciate the foundation and traditional sounds of death
metal. - Dale
cryptsofdespairdeath.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/transcending
https://tometal.com/
|
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Cult Of Eibon from Greece presents their debut
album after previously releasing two EPs and a split EP. The band
may have only been in existence for five years, but the members have
done time previously or currently in bands like Kawir, Black Blood
Invocation, Lykaionas, Nergal, Walpurgia, Hate Manifesto, Funeral
Dusk, Wargrinder and more. It is no secret I am die hard follower of
the amazing early to mid ‘90s Greek black metal scene with it’s
diabolic blend of the first wave and second wave black metal that
also incorporated hints of dark heavy and death metal. Cult Of Eibon
also worship this period of their countries UG metal scene and their
music carries on that tradition superbly. They create sinister
sounding evil black metal that is mostly middle paced, but
absolutely permeated with that gloomy atmosphere and aura that
seemed to be a trademark of those old great bands. I mean the music
is filled with those foreboding and ceremonial drums and hypnotic
guitar rhythms. It all brings me back to those nostalgic times for
me being possessed by listening to the early works Varathron,
Necromantia, Rotting Christ, Thou Art Lord and the like. Also yes, I
know they are not from Greece, but they also a little of Mortuary
Drape which is a musical cousin to that scene in many ways. If you
adore the old days of classic Hellas black metal and simply can not
get enough of it, as I do, then you should get a copy of this album
posthaste. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/TheCultOfEibon
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/ |
|
If you have been
reading Canadian Assault for a long time, then you might know I am a
big fan of the band Dead from way fucking back. I tape traded for
some of their early demos, EPs and their split album with
Regurgitate in the early to mid 1990s and have followed them, on and
off ever since. I am sure at least a couple of their releases from
past decades are reviewed somewhere on this site. This as you can
tell above is a re-release of their first album “You'll Never Know
Pleasure... Until You’ve Tasted Pain” released originally by
Poserslaughter Records way back in 1995. This album is a minor
masterpiece of death metal, porn and grindcore. I love this quote
from the bio and it is so true, I am paraphrasing a bit but it goes
something like ‘Napalm Death created Grindcore, Carcass created
Goregrind and Dead created Porngrind’. It is so true these guys were
degenerates from the start creating this filthy and depraved
sub-genre (The Meat Shits may rightly so argue that point, but never
mind that) and perfected it, setting a blueprint for extreme metal
sexual sickos to go by for decades to come. It is amazing to think
these brutal and sleazy Germans have been going strong and never
split up since they first formed in 1990!! I have nothing but
absolute mad respect for that fact. I must give kudos to Xenokorp
for christening their new Kvlt Series sub-label by making Dead’s
debut album one of their first releases. If you worship this band
then you need this album, and if you are new to them then this is a
damn fine place to start making up for lost time. - Dale
https://deadxxx.bandcamp.com/
https://xenokorp.bandcamp.com/
https://www.xenokorp.com/ |
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This is the solo band of New Jersey’s Evan Daniele, and this bands third full-length album in as many years. Which, before we get much further, to me that is impressive all by itself, no? There is one guy writing all the music, practicing and recording all the parts himself and releasing three albums (all real albums too, not this passing off 20-25 minute recordings as an album) in three years. This dude does not rest on his laurels, I mean that is not even counting his other band Sentient Horror, in which he is the drummer, has also released an album during that time frame. The music on here is pretty massive too; it is some brutalizing, crushing and technical death metal. The song construction is often a duality of speedy and heavy death metal (that you can really headbang to), along with intermittent bouts of slightly slower guttural audio gut munching sections.Good luck having any hopes of catching ones breath, and resign yourself to enjoy wallowing in it all like a fat pig in mud on a hot day. Something else to savour along the way is the chunky sounding bass and skillful technical guitar nuances, which slither and swim in between a severe speeding pummel. Those bits, which are a staple remind me a little of techno elements of Gorguts “Obscura” album, if you placed them in the middle of a classic mixture of albums from Suffocation and Disgorge. There is also no denying, at least for me, the influence of Demilich, not just in the music alone, also in some of those fantastic gurgling toad growling vocals that band became known for, I should probably throw early Carcass in there too somewhere. I have to admit I am really enjoying listening to the otherworldly death metal devastation on this record. It also makes me realize I need to catch up on this young bands back catalog. You know what to do, and soon. - Dale
https://deadanddrippingus.bandcamp.com/
https://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/ |
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This is a long awaited return for Demonized,
who released put out a demo, a split, and their debut album 20 years
ago! The only member of the band that is still around is founding
member and Mexican UG scene legend Antimo Buonnano, who is known for
a number of bands like Profanator, Hacavitz currently, as well as in
the past Impiety, Ravager and some very influential (these days)
releases with Disgorge. Antimo has went out and replaced the old
members with some real veterans of the scene like César Sánchez (Hacavitz,
Xiat, Profanator) on drums, and Gene Palubicki (Perdition Temple,
Hexorcist, Malefic Throne, ex-Angelcorpse) on guitar. This five
song, twenty-one minute release explodes immediately out of the gate
with a raging, warring death metal attacking blitzkrieg and it
really never let’s up from start to end. It just keeps coming, and
coming with biting, driving guitars that pummel forward like audio
lightning yet also manages to inject small amounts of headbang
rhythms into the maelstrom. Hell, there is even some short frantic
guitar solos that strike in, and out, like a venomous cobra. The
hammering drums is utterly relentless battering upside your skull.
Then you have Antimo’s vocals which are scathing, caustic cheese
grater to the vocal chords yelling / growling that are definitely
reminiscent to me of Pete Helmkamp, and I am not just saying that
because Gene is in this band. I mean Antimo here sounds more like
Helmkamp than he does like Antimo, for example, going back into his
Ravager or classick Disgorge days Haha! If you like some of the past
works of these fellows bands (especially the ones that shared their
current record label in the past hehe) you should look into the
warfare death metal madness on here. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/demonized666/
https://www.osmoseproductions.com/ |
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Australia's
Denouncement Pyre has returned (to Canadian Assault see archives for
some past album reviews) with their fourth full length release
‘Forever Burning’. The band features members from well known bands
like Hunters Moon & Nocturnal Graves, The new release contains eight
songs of well executed and delivered black and death metal at it's
finest. The guitars are played with some very well written and
performed passages that range from aggressive to a more controlled
mid paced range. The guitarist does show is ability to create some
memorable guitar patterns with both the extremely fast and more
controlling paces I spoke of above. The drummer also showcases his
ability to perform a variety of styles with skill. He goes from a
heavy fast and chaotic drum style to a more restrained material
smoothly showcasing his experience on the kit. Denouncement Pyre has
created a masterpiece of well delivered blackened death metal that
should please all fans of this style. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/DENOUNCEMENTPYRE
https://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/ |
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I find the Finnish Desolate Shrine has quite a
unique line up in some ways, a line up that has stayed the same
since their inception in 2010. By that I mean this three man band is
made up of Lauri Laaksonen who writes most, if not all of the music
and he plays all the instruments. The other two members Markus
Tuonenjoki & Roni Sahari are both full time co-vocalists and play no
instruments. The other thing with this is it is not like Markus and
Roni are just vocalists as musicians. I mean Roni is the vocalist of
Lie In Ruins yet he is the drummer in Sargeist and Perdition Winds.
Then on the other hand Markus is the vocalist in Sargeist and The
Crescent yet Markus is the drummer in two other current bands (not
to even mention the drummer in the past in bands like Uncreation’s
Dawn & Urn). So yeah, this is why I find this line up fascinating
because of that and it has lasted over a decade and across five
albums, so clearly this unique roster make up works very well. Sorry
I really like digging into interconnected band histories and find
guys who play various roles in each extremely fascinating. But let’s
finally move to the music on here, it is really interesting and
multi-layered dark death metal with decided influences rearing their
heads from the second wave black metal style and even more
prominently so from the doom metal arena. This all originates from
Laaksonen’s sole mind, so I guess I should not be a surprised as his
other two bands are Convocation who play funeral death/doom and
Ordinance which is a black metal band. I find it very appealing that
while the music is oppressively gloomy yet always brutal, also has
more layers, as I mentioned it still manages to convey a lot of
dynamic emotion. The music also possesses an underlying sense of
melody that makes it very memorable and even can even make you want
to headbang from time to time. I find this impressive that Laaksonen
was able to strike such a strong balance of all those elements. I
would be highly remiss not to talk about the strong dual vocal
performances, which feature a high quality myriad of styles from
deep rousing magnetic growling vocals, rasping evil acidic bm
vocals, caustic visceral shouts and so much more that I probably can
not do justice in describing. It may have ended up being a five year
wait between albums, but I can assure you ‘Fires Of The Dying World’
has made that wait well worth your while by delivering a masterful
album indeed. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/desolateshrine
https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/store/ |
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Detherous is a
Canadian band that hails from my general stomping grounds where I
grew up in the province of Alberta. The band has put out a demo, a
few single digital download songs, a split cassette EP and then
their debut album (also on the awesome Redefining Darkness label) on
limited disc and vinyl. ‘Unrelenting Malevolence’ is their sophomore
record and despite not having heard any of their previous material I
am confident these guys have managed to shake up off the sophomore
jinx, so to speak. Detherous has two speeds only and those are
moderately rapid and fast forward heading headlong into the fire! I
mean these guys are fucking relentless and never let up for more
than a second. There is some nice guitar work on this album
including those sudden brief hit and run crazed guitar fills that
border on blitzkrieg soloing. The vocalist Damon MacDonald has that
marriage of the classic raspy thrash yell mixed with highly
decipherable death growl down to a model fucking T – damn good
stuff! The drum sound here is really good as well highlighting a
really solid and spirited performance on the kit, they avoid over
producing and neutering the grit and character of the drum sound.
This band style wise is the demon child of Demolition Hammer cross
bred with the first Death album “Scream Bloody Gore”, early Kreator,
Possessed and Dark Angel alongside dashes of Obituary and fellow
Alberta band and local legends Disciples Of Power. If you love old
school deathrash metal then I have a band you need to check out.
- Dale
https://detherous-ca.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/ |
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Dipygus may come
from California, but they play dirty, grimy and depraved jungle
cannibal loving sewer death metal with touches of doom conjured up
straight from the depths of hell itself. They sound like a vile
mixing pot of bands like Impetigo, Autopsy, Repulsion and the like
that is as potent and powerful, as it is ingenious in it’s pure
degeneracy. The music is just so heavy, guttural and rough
possessing this great suffocating heinous aura across it all. I mean
not to drive a point into the ground, but talk about chainsaw
guttfuck, just listen the song “Long-Pig Feast”, and that riff in
there is the audio equivalent of sawing through flesh and bone, it
is damn thick and heavy as an anvil. I love it. The vocals are like
a throaty whispery version of the great classic Autopsy style gutter
growls that I worshi. The doomy sequences really throw some
emotional weight upon the listener, which then adds even more of an
expressive dynamic when they start to turn up the tempo and the
pummeling brutality. I really enjoyed this album quite a bit, I
think diehards of the bands and their sound I mentioned above will
probably love basking in this blood spray afterglow long after
hitting stop, assuming you still have the strength to do so. -
Dale
https://dipygus.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label |
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The first time I
read that album title I swear my brain saw it as Blood Red Testicle
ha ha. The music however on this French bands debut album is no
fucking joke let me tell you. I mean this is my kind of shit! By
that I mean old school death metal that takes some of the best parts
of the American and Swedish death metal scenes of the days of yore.
The band produces grimy, brutal and high energy musical depravity
that punishes and pummels you with delight through indiscriminate
audio violence. I am also a big fan of author H.P. Lovecraft and
their lyrics are inspired by his works, which are brought to life
here by the maniacal and superb growling vocalist Renaud Mann who
puts in a tour de force performance here. The music is really heavy
and al is permeated with this oppressive gloomy atmosphere that I
find very inciting and infectious. My only minor complaint on here
is the drums as they are a little too tinny sounding at times with
the oft used cymbals. When I mention influences above from the US
side of things think Repulsion, Autopsy, early Death and from Sweden
bands like Nihilist, Carnage, Grave and Dismember. It is also
cyclical in some ways as even though Swedes put a different spin and
sound on it, the bands I mentioned were all very much influenced
first by the above mentioned American bands especially Repulsion and
Autopsy. So maybe Disfuneral are not doing anything new, but as
mentioned I am diehard devotee of this style and when a band like
Disfuneral does it this well I just can not help myself but love it
to death. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Disfuneral/
https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/ |
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I have to admit when I did a preview listen to
this album to decide whether or not to review it, I was not sure I
could adequately describe and convey what ‘Degenerations’ is all
about. But I decided to take up the challenge and hopefully I can at
least somewhat succeed in my goal, here we go. A lot of what you
hear on here is familiar bones with bits of sinew and tissue
sporadically attached, yet you have likely never heard the base
music old school brutal death metal, techno death, grinding death
and just extreme metal twisted into a Frankenstein form quite like
this. Some might call this progressive or avant-garde, but for me
Diskord is heavier, more vicious and dark in a grimy way than most
bands that use or are pinned with that tag. The songwriting is
masterfully twisted and quirky, it is surgically reordered into
something that sounds quite unique and creates an atmosphere for the
listener while gratifying on one hand by being heavy and brutal and
familiar, it is also disorienting, foreign and exigent on the other
hand. It is easy in some cases to pick out influences and difficult
in others, it sounds like what I have heard before and nothing like
I have heard before yet some influences that come to mind are
Gorguts, Demilich, Atheist, Pungent Stench, early Cadaver, Cynic,
Afflicted, Disharmonic Orchestra and Atrocity. Some of the
off-kilter timing signatures and rhythms of the music is taken to
almost demented and eccentric levels, there are times when it is in
danger of snuffing out the song flow entirely, but they just manage
to always just keep it on the rails and not go completely against
the current, so to speak. An extra little content warning (warning
for some haha) there is plenty of little weird yet infectious sound
samples and effects that proliferate throughout this release. The
vocals remind me a bit to some of the above mentioned bands as well,
they are growled vocals, but also clear and have a strong edge of
gruff thrash style vocal. There is also this murky edge to vox with
that echo-y effect, they are mainly aggressive in delivery yet do
convey emotion quite well. I will not sugar coat it for you, this
may not be for a lot of extreme metal fans, as it is a particularly
challenging listen to be sure. Yet I think there is enough crushing
heaviness to keep many from refraining from hitting stop, as they
let the layers of this impressively constructed, technical and
highly unconventional music get its hooks into you and work it’s way
into your brain and your good graces. For those always complaining
it all sounds the same, you need to get this album and I dare you to
say that with what Diskord have created. - Dale
https://diskordband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/torecords
https://tometal.com/
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I have to admit
I am slightly surprised to have a new Druid Lord album a little over
3 years after their last album “Grotesque Offerings”. I say that as
it was eight years between that and their debut full-length “Hymns
For The Wicked”. It almost felt like a comeback album even though I
do not think they ever split up or anything. “Grotesque…” was a
massive comeback / follow up effort in my books, one that I would
think is hard to match. Druid Lord features two (Tony Blakk & Pete
Slate) ex-members of Acheron from their great period of the early to
mid ‘90s. Pete in particular you can hear his distinct guitar
playing / writing was a big part of one of my all-time favourite
album 1992’s “Rites Of The Black Mass”. That duos seasoned playing
truly shines through, as does guitarist Chris Wicklein who brings a
boatload of experience and skill from his 25 years in his other band
Killing Addiction. It is showcased with some massive crawling heavy
riffing, as well some excellent emotive fills and classy classic
metal sounding solos, which often have a creepy dark vibe instilled
into them. Maybe I just need to go back and give the last album
another listen, but it feels like to me a little more traditional
heavy metal influence has crept into this album yet fear not that
trademark Druid Lord doom death metal sound is still alive and
kicking. Tony Blakk’s growling vocals are very much to my liking,
they remind me somewhat to Mike Perun’s vocals from the mighty
Cianide, they fit the music so well. Through the stream rolling doom
death the band mix in slight elements of melody and catchiness now
and then, just enough for you get a headbang going as you are slowly
egulfed by the oppressive doom at a bit more than a snail’s pace.
This record is great listening experience throughout produced by a
skilled group of talented veterans. I did not think they could top
the last album, I am not sure I can say this album has managed that
feat, but it is damn close! This is an excellent release. - Dale
https://druidlord.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
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