I have seen this
release listed in some places as a demo and in others as an album. I
personally lean towards demo tag as it is self-released and only has
4 songs but the bands site calls it an album. It is also packaged so
professionally and presented with a DVD so I will give it the
benefit of the doubt calling it an album. H-George travels to our
ears all the way from Italy and call their sound “Alcoholic Thrash
Metal”. Which I am not sure really describes their sound that well.
As it kind of conjures up images (in my mind) of a raunchy, raw,
loose sort of band with party / non-serious lyrics. But the fact of
the matter is they play a really controlled power heavy metal
thrashy type sound with a tight crisp performance and quite serious
thoughtful emotional themes to the lyrics. It is honestly almost a
little too in control and over produced for me. But there is no
denying the talent displayed in George’s writing with some really
solid riffs and well crafted meandering and entertaining guitar
solos. This band is really George’s work and George’s baby and he
has brought in Carlos in to play drums and Trevor in to handle the
vocals. Carlos does a fine job on the kit, solid and professional
and Trevor puts in a pretty gritty late 80s sounding sort of thrashy
gruff performance. The vocals are good but buried in the mix and
less prominent than one would expect for his aggressive style and
performance. I would have liked to see him be brought a little more
up front. In fact the aforementioned intangible raunchiness the
music tag summons up is just what this release could use to put it
over the top. Just a little too controlled and over analyzed. I bet
this material comes off better in a live setting. That all makes it
sound like I do not like this release. Which is far from the truth,
as this is a nice release but it could go to another level, if it
had not been gone over so much with a fine tooth comb and just let
it all hang out a little more? The actual material itself on here is
pretty killer. Now on to the DVD... It is about 30 minutes long and
is pretty well done. It basically has interviews with the guys that
recorded this record as well as studio personnel. They talk about
their history / tastes in metal, their motivation and about the
making this record. There is some various studio footage as well as
some sprinkled stuff of the members out and about in Italy. It is
pretty cool to see and it does give you a respect for what went into
this recording. The DVD is all in Italian but there are English
subtitles so no worries there. – Dale
www.h-george.com
www.myspace.com/hgeorgemetalbeer
|
 
It is a true
pleasure for an old underground metal bastard like me, when I find
bands with young members who worship old metal and old school death
metal in this case! I mean look at these guys they are so young, and
one guy has an Infester shirt on, fuck yeah! This trio play
primitive filthy death metal in the traditional vein on the early
works of bands like Autopsy, Infester, Demilich, Repulsion,
Incantation, Rippikoulu, Funebrarum. Some newer comparisons for them
may be countrymen like Obliteration or Undergang. I hold all of
those bands in high esteem, so it is probably little surprise I like
the pounding, trance inducing audio brutality and suffocating
atmosphere produced by Haalbuaer so much. Those chunky grinding
guitars are so damn barbaric and those hammering drums are wrecking
my neck listening to this, it brings back nostalgia for the early
days when I put on a classic “Mental Funeral” album when it came
out! The vocals of Stian “Masticator” Hjertvik (also editor of the
new print fanzine Black Blood) are such great obscured shadowy
growls, they add an aura all by itself and remind slightly me to
again early Autopsy or maybe early Grave too – excellent. It all
combines into a massive horrifying wall of sound that permeates
everything with it’s darkness. I see this EP (or mini-album) at most
listed in multiple places as an album. I mean call me an old goat,
but 21 minutes is at least ten minutes short of the bare minimum of
what I would class an album. I just wanted throw that out there so
you know what you are getting. But do not let that deter you from
getting this killer release! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/haalbuaer
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/
|
Yes! Killer
grindcore with heavy death metal influence played with immense energy
and conviction - in short it will tear you apart! The compos are to the
point sick, heavy, and brutally catchy with super disgusting and
tortured vomitous vox. All death/grind fanatics feast your ears on this
14 track ball of phlemetic mayhem! - Dale
Morbid Records,
Postfach 3, 03114 Drebkau, GERMANY
|
Hammer King are
a German band, and they play majestic bombastic power metal, in the
tradition of the of old days. There is some great catchy riffing on
here, sweeping passages and melodramatic choruses. It is all good,
but the emotive nuanced guitar playing and soaring silky vocals
really stand out for me. The Hammer King are heavily influenced by
Manowar, with other more mild influences sprinkled in remind of
bands like Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, Bruce Dickinson
solo stuff (“Accident Of Birth”) etc… You know I had the Manowar
comparison in my head upon first listen, it is an obvious one and a
healthy one, but I did not realize until a few listens later, that
the vocalist from this band, is also the vocalist of ex-Manowar
members solo band Ross The Boss. Anyway, this is a damn good power
metal album, a fairly unoriginal and at times slightly predictable
listen, yet it through all of that it is good. Now, I should warn
you, the theme runs through the entirety of the album. You think it
is a little much to have the band name repeated in the album title?
That is only the tip of the iceberg, put it this way, if you made a
drinking game for every time on this record they said the words
“Hammer King”, you would be drunk by the 4th song. If you
drank for every time you, separately or together, heard the words
“Hammer” and “King”, it would then take about 1 ½ songs and you can
pick any two songs on the album! Haha! Oh man, do they over do it!
That may bug some people. But if you don’t mind not having the most
own sounding band, and can not enough killer power metal in your
collection, then you will need to get this record immediately. -
Dale
http://www.hammer-king.com/
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
The German power
metal kings of saying the word king more than any other band, in
that they work it into their name, album title and pretty much all
of their songs! Haha. No, they do not spare the cheese quotient, in
the lyrics and concept. These guys are not resting on their laurels;
it seems like only a couple months ago, I was reviewing their debut
album “Kingdom Of The Hammer King”. This record pretty much picks up
right where the last one left off, which is energetic, uptempo
melodic music that is a little on the lighter more airy side heavy
metal, but still possessing the earmarks of the old traditions. I
still hear influences like Manowar, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall,
Grave Digger etc… The vocals are very good, as you need for this
style; the vocalist has some good range and control over his pipes.
Honestly, like I said just check out my last review, as this is
really is totally a continuation of their last album (though now
with more flute
J),
so if you liked that one you will not be disappointed in this follow
up record. If you have never heard them, I think I have given a
decent idea of what to expect. But in my view, they do everything
very well, it is enjoyable for me, but in the end it is pretty
predictable stuff and not too essential to more discerning or picky
fans of this style. - Dale
http://www.hammer-king.com/
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
Well, if you read
issue # 1 or 2, you know how much I love this band on their early
material. My only knock on their amazing power/heavy metal style is that
they sounded too much like their heroes and not possessing an identity
you could call Hammerfall. Well they have taken a step towards that with
this mighty classic slab “Legacy Of Kings”. Joacim Cans has stepped up
his performance further putting in a superlative, first-rate vocal
display. He makes it seem so easy and effortless as he goes right
through all the ranges with silky finesse. Time honored traditional
metal with class the makes my inner flame rise! Hammerfall have still
not reached their peak potential but they are perilously close with this
album.
- Dale |
Hands start
things out with four of the first five tracks on this album, The
Wandering Midget has, as you would expect, the longest track on the
record, despite that Hands of Orlac’s opening song is no lightweight
clocking in at just over 14 minutes long. The band is originally
from Italy, now residing in Sweden, I can hear some of that Italian
influence in there with certain elements of their sound reminding me
of stuff like Death SS, Paul Chain and even a touch of Mortuary
Drape. Hands of Orlac play pure hard rock & metal classic doom metal
of the ‘70s / early ’80s style. I heard some of their old stuff with
faster, more heavy metal guitar featuring more in your face
production. I must say this more laid-back sound and production
really suits them so much better, in addition to an obvious
self-assured maturity now creeping into their songwriting over the
years. The vocals of frontwoman The Sorceress suit the music very
nicely, they are also in the old style and have a really soothing,
spellbinding quality to them which reflects back and adds to the
depressive trippy atmosphere of the music so well. The vocalist also
plays and the band incorporates the flute (a fair bit yet not to
excess), but in a way I can dig, it is kind of slightly lower and
obscured in the mix (past releases the flute was far too loud/high
in the mix for me) giving off more of a cool ‘70s atmospheric,
hypnotic and melancholy vibe. That first song, “Curse Of The Human
Skull” is a minor masterpiece, in my opinion. They follow up that
fourteen minute marathon beauty, with a six minute song (featuring
some more upbeat rocking sections) and two interlude pieces, all of
which keep the quality level on the up tick. Their side is worth the
price of the record alone! I am now in love with Hands Of Orlac,
here is to hoping this is them finding their stride and window into
the sound they will carry forward into future releases. Next, we
move to The Wandering Midget, who appears with only one song “Where
We March The Vultures Follow”, which features the mammoth running
time of 18 plus minutes!! This is the first release for Wandering
Midget in nearly five years so there is excitement for it. We are
treated to some really good dark classic doom metal, but not as much
rooted in the ‘70s as Hands Of Orlac, no they are modern sounding
and owing more to bands like Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus. The
guitars are more up front, and slightly more biting, but just enough
of the requisite fuzzy doom edge to them. The song starts slow and
melancholic, eventually building tension until the band explodes
with an emotional outburst I found quite poignant and powerful, they
then slowly bring us back down while maintaining their triumphant
depressive gloomy aura all the while. The classic vocals are really
freaking good and are filled with emotion, matching the music in
every way and sometimes, somehow, even surpassing it. This is a
truly a fantastic split album, of which, all classic doom metal
hounds should strive to add to their collection. - Dale
https://handsoforlac.bandcamp.com https://www.facebook.com/TheWanderingMidget
|
Harpoon is a
three piece band hailing from Chicago, Illinoise. I immediately
thought of the band Cavity when I hit play. Though Harpoon are far
more polished sounding, more controlled and their use of feedback on
the guitars is more subtle than those maniacs. The songs are well
crafted and there is actually a lot going on, despite not sounding
cluttered. The vocals of Toney Vast-Binder are harsh, pissed off
sounding yells with a lot of conviction and energy put into the
delivery. The pacing of the music is nice as well, it has some speed
at times, but also is painfully slow and grinding sludge drone at
other times, creating some nice dynamics and emotion. I was
skeptical when I read they used a drum machine, but I must admit
this is one of the finest examples of hiding that fact I have come
across. Deception Among The Birds is the type of album that you will
keep finding new nuances you missed previously upon repeated
listening. The album is not bogged down in a million time changes or
far too busy for its own good. No Harpoon have really mastered a
balance between intricacy and subtlety on here but never forgetting
the emotive quality of their music, which is what gives it its real
personality. Controlled chaos thinking metal is what I would call
it, this is my first experience with the band and I am pretty
impressed. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/harpoonrockin4u
http://www.seventhrule.com/
|
The Hat keep the
old Norwegian classic black metal traditions alive. I never tire of
this sound, style no matter how many times I hear it again and
again. It is probably only fair that you know that about me – I
worship old school black metal. You can tell listening to this that
Hat themselves have listened to and possess great reverence for the
old bands on their early works like Darkthrone, Immortal, Emperor,
Graveland etc… It is just so hateful, cold, cutting you to pieces
with cruel torture. Yes I do not tire of their archetypal obscure bm
rasp vocals, tremolo picking and hypnotic driven drumming. Vortex of
Death is really well done and you can just feel the men behind it
are dedicated to what they are doing. I simply can not resist
recommending this album highly to you. – Dale
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
http://www.myspace.com/Evighat
|
Hath are a band
coming out of New Jersey’s death metal scene with their debut
full-length. This album features nine tracks of complex and well
executed death combining both old school and newer style influences
together for a style all their own. The guitarist plays a good mix
of both extremely fast parts with some slower mid paced patterns.
The guitars on here really keep my attention with interesting and
complex structuring; even adding some well placed solos mixed into
the musical whole. The drumming is done in the same vein as the
guitars with an all out assault on the drum kit with some intense
blasting. The drums do slow down to a heavier, calmer at times
throughout the songs to add little more variety to their sound. The
vocalist however, is all over the map with an array of low, deep
death metal growls and some raw black metal screams are blended in
to some of the tracks. If you are looking for a unique and
interesting band, then do yourself a favor by picking up a copy Of
Rot And Ruin. - Patrick
https://hathnj.bandcamp.com
https://www.willowtip.com
|
Coming out of the Canadian death metal scene, is Hate Division,
playing some great brutal death death metal. On display are some
ultra fast guitars, which are all over the place, with some killer
solos and riffs. The drums are fast as hell blast
beats with some slower mid-paced drumming. The vocalist does a
good job with some excellent death growls.
If you are a fan of brutal death metal then this is a
band you should check out soon.
- Patrick
http://hatedivision.bandcamp.com/
http://www.blastheadrecords.com/
|
 
Hautakammio
comes from the supremely fertile Finnish black metal scene. This
band is a triumvirate made up of guitarist/songwriter Grim666 (Grimirg,
Kalmankantaja, Lathspell, Order of The White Hand, Seal of Beleth),
lyrics & vocals by Vritrahn (White Death, Infernal Darkness,
Vritrahn-Werwolf) and drummer Lima (Amberian Dawn, Azaghal,
Lathspell, Wyrd) and as you can see they are very experienced men in
the UG scene. The band has been in slumber after releasing two
albums in ’13 & ’14 shortly after forming, but now have returned
with their long awaited third full-length. Hautakammio have managed
to skillfully marry old second wave black metal’s raw darkness and
hate with the newer epic sweeping bm style to excellent effect.
There are some really affecting rhythms that are serpentine-like as
they slice through the cold audio fog, and run in between many
sections of put your head down burst forward blazing speed sections.
No worries there is no folk-y or progressive shit here, it is raw,
forceful and hate filled black metal all the way. The vocals of
Vritrahn are very much like his vocals in the band White Death. They
are absolutely freezing cold classic black metal rasps that are so
powerful and as smooth as a sharp dagger across flesh. If you are
into relentless, icy black metal that also has a real depth and
scope to it then you should give ‘Pimeyden Kosketus’ a listen
immediately, if not sooner. - Dale
https://hautakammio.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com/
|
|
So Havoc Unit
hail from the mighty lands of Finland. They recently changed their
name from …And Oceans. Now I do remember …And Oceans but it was from
their early days in the late 90s. Back then, they played solid, yet,
pretty forgettable symphonic black metal. So these days they are
playing industrial death metal hey? Interesting… Well it is good to
see a band change their name when this sort of about face happens –
more bands should follow this example. I would not call myself a
huge industrial death fan. But I do like some of the bands and have
followed it virtually from its inception as a genre. Early stuff
like Skinny Puppy to Malhovoc to Pitchshifter to old Fear Factory
and others have all graced my collection over the years. Havoc Unit
is a pretty straight forward band. To be honest they are sort of
monotone and lacking any real punch or diversity in their song
writing. Under their previous moniker they played average but pretty
good sympho black metal and now 10 years later they are still
pumping out the same quality level. Just in another genre these
days. They do little to stand out or have much staying power to my
ears and instead just blend in with the pack. It is worth a listen
if you worship this style and if not then your money is best spent
elsewhere.
– Dale
www.vendlusrecords.com
www.myspace.com/havocunit
|
This is the
third album for Heads For The Dead, which for those who do not know
is one of those international bands with four members spreading
across the globe from the US to the UK, Germany and Sweden. Their
ranks feature members of well known UG bands like Sentient Horror,
Just Before Dawn, Wombbath, Revel In Flesh, Massacre, Gore Brigade,
Human Harvest and a bunch more actually! Their music is very active
and high energy yet always with a mind towards horror movie
soundtrack dramatics (almost like a death metal version of King
Diamond, minus those diverse high pitched vocals of course) woven
into the heavy brutality of their malevolent style. It is a real
balance between those emotive creepy elements and the crushing
barbarity/speed and the band seem to have really struck that balance
very well on the majority of this album. I should probably mention
the guitar work as well, as there is some excellent fills and some
short smoking guitar solos along the way. The vocals of Ralf Hauber
is another feature of this band I enjoy from his excellent deep
mainstay growling vocals, to the cool array of accent vocals
flourishes that include rasping screeches and disturbing
spine-chilling howls. Despite them being in different countries and
I am sure sending files back and forth, the music while not perfect
in this area is more cohesive and flows better than you would think.
This is for death metal fans that are really into bands like
Entombed, Grave, Dismember, Bolt Thrower and similar sounding bands
mixed with a love of horror movie soundtracks atmospherics and
histrionics. It is a smooth ride until the last couple songs where
they go off script and suddenly throw in some punky thrash crossover
bits, which in my opinion stunts the flow of the good momentum they
had built up on this album to that point. If you are more into just
straight up death metal, you should still find plenty to like here,
but things may get a little dramatic with a bit too much going on
for your liking. It is a mixed bag at times, but still definitely
worth checking out. - Dale
https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/transcendingobscurityrecords
|
If you want the
cliff notes version this is basically the French version of
Halloween mixed with Gamma Ray. I hate to over paint them with that
brush. Yet the fact of the matter is they wear their influences on
their sleeve to the point it is hard to say they have much of a
sound of their own. Coupled with the fact they play a style where
you kind of need some sort of unique identity to stick out from the
crowd. It is not like they are death metal and just make sure they
are brutal to make up for the fact they are unoriginal. By deduction
I do suppose the next question would be is it well done at least?
For my liking it is a touch too clean, synth heavy and over produced
but on the whole it is well done, yes. Some engaging riffs and sweet
guitar leads. Vocalist Ben Sotto just bleeds Halloween vocals but he
sounds excellent doing so, hitting all kinds ranges and high
registers along the way. That is something Heavenly really has going
for them, in this genre you need to have a strong vocalist and they
have that part covered. If you are a fanatic of this style and can
never get enough then by all means pick this up but otherwise just
break out your “Keeper…” records instead. – Dale |
Well some years
back we had the re-formation of the classic thrash band Destruction.
During his hiatus from Destruction, mainman, Schmier formed a band
called Headhunter. A band which spat out a demo tape and 3 albums
from the early 90s to the middle 1990s. Now he has come back full
circle and both bands are going full steam at the same time for
once. The other two members of Headhunter are Uwe Hoffman (Talon)
and Jorg Michael (Rage, Running Wild, Grave Digger, Mekong Delta and
a bunch more bands) whom many or most will know about. They play
classic heavy metal. Schmier definitely has that clean and classic
80s sort of vocal style down pretty well and it is kind of cool
hearing him do this style. The music is traditional heavy metal and
it is pretty catchy and memorable. The song “Silverskull” is
tattoo’d on my brain now and is a good example of catchiness and
staying power I mentioned. It is pretty simplistic stuff overall but
sometimes that is for the best in this style. There are some solid
emotional guitar solos / fills that really grabbed my attention and
unlike some bands they do not come off as forced or out of place.
Headhunter like to mix up the dynamics every couple of songs
(energetic and fast to brooding and etc…) and it makes for a pretty
good, interesting listen. I can recommend this album. But I must
mention that the Skid Row cover kind of sticks out like a strange
sore thumb. Placing it right in middle of album (rather than the
end) amongst the rest of the tracks seems unnecessarily disruptive
to the overall flow and it is too. I could see that really annoying
some people.
– Dale
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
www.official-headhunter.com/en/ |
We have some
dense churning black metal heaviness from France. The vocals kind of
sound an evil husky growling biker that crashed his hog a couple
times and does not believe in helmets. For me the album starts off
decently and creates a heavy brooding sort of mood. Before long it
becomes unraveled and disjointed and progressively worse. This is
not a good thing when it was not that amazing to begin with. I am a
huge GG Allin fan, despite what some say, he did made some great
music and was not all shit and piss. So without looking at the song
titles first, it surprised me hear a GG cover coming out of my
headphones. I suppose they do an alright job on the cover, though it
could have been better. But in the context of the whole album it
stands out as a sore thumb and does not help the flow one bit. This
is further highlighted by the fact that this cover is in the middle
rather than a bookend to the record. I will be honest and cut to the
chase. This is just not that good and definitely not up to the usual
Debemur Morti caliber of release. It seems all of the members of
this French band are in about half a dozen other bands as well.
Which leads one to think it is hard to do all of them right and that
appears to be the case here. Especially considering most of their
other bands are of much better quality (such as Antaeus, Mutiilation,
Arkhon Infaustus etc…). The most creative or stand out thing about
this release is the album title that kind of tells the whole story
right there.
– Dale
http://www.myspace.com/hell_militia
http://www.debemur-morti.com/
|
We have more
Polish metal goodness courtesy of Godz Ov War! Hell United are
motherfucking bruuutaaal death metal that will batter, beat and
brutalize you into submission. Yes, Hell United continues to prove
Poland has one of the best death metal scenes on the planet. I love
that so many of these bands champion the old great death metal ways
and sound. The band does slow it down briefly, at times to add a
brooding dynamic, but most of the time they attack with heavy
vicious riffing and high intensity speedy tremolo riffing. The
vocals are very well done traditional dm growling with some higher
end nasal growling accents and the combination works well. The
production on here is excellent and if you like death metal in the
old glorious way, hell has indeed united to give you want you want
to hear. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/hellunitedofficial
http://www.hellthrasher-distribution6.home.pl/
|
This album is
nearly 2 years old and unfortunately, for the band the label, which
released it is now defunct. Yet the band must live on and keep
fighting. Hellacaust is doing just that and sent “Inevitable
Dementia” in for review to keep their name out there, while they
brew some new material. Hellacaust residing often quiet metal east
coast of Canada. They play a really interesting mix of black, death
and thrash metal. I can hear influences from everything from early
Mayhem & Immortal to Exhumed, Angelcorpse & Napalm Death to Kreator,
Slayer and Megadeth. One large melting pot but they know how to
smelt it all together into a solid and cohesive whole which is not
an easy feat by any means. I think we have all heard a band or ten
who attempted this sort thing, only to fall flat on their collective
faces. Hellacaust keep it evil sounding but never afraid to rumble
forward with some sick militaristic head banging sections in most
songs, not to mention some smoking guitar solos brief but regular
appearances. The vocals alternate between death metal bellows and
black metal rasps and are well done. This is a flat out a very good
album. I do not see Hellacaust being label-less for very long. –
Dale
http://welcome.to/hellacaust
http://www.myspace.com/hellacaust
|
 
This is the new
band of vocalist Dave Ingram of the mighty Benediction. Something
you may know already about me is that I am a big Benediction fan and
I consider Dave Ingram to be one of the very elite vocalists in the
history of death metal! So you might say I am coming into this
review on a brand new band more than a little biased. Because of
Ingram’s vocals it is hard for me at times not to think of
Benediction. But besides the fact Hellfrost And Fire also play old
school death metal, the music on here is fairly different than his
main band. The music here is a little more groove oriented, a little
more lively and energetic in the song construction yet still heavy
and hard hitting. There are some great, tasty guitar solos on here
courtesy of guest musician Scott Fairfax (Memoriam UK, As The World
Dies) that add some depth to the proceedings. Then there is the
vocals and they are as you might expect absolutely magnificent, such
deep growling with good range and dripping with supreme charisma. It
is a joy for me to repeatedly listen to a master applying his craft
with such skill and conviction. I like the music, not nearly to the
level of Benediction, but it is still really solid enough and
enjoyable death metal. The vocals alone are worth the price of
admission my friend – come for the music and stay for the vox. -
Dale
hellfrostandfire.bandcamp.com/
transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/
https://tometal.com/
|
Well we have
some German thrash and yes, in case you were wondering, it is of the
classic old style of their homeland. There are so many influences
you could throw out there, but a few that come to mind, which are
influences for HC are Poison (yeah you know which one I mean), Iron
Angel, Kreator, Sodom, and especially Slayer and even a newer band
like Desaster. You can just feel how much these guys love thrash
metal through they’re playing. Bloodrust is a really excellent
record, not a lame retro attempt, but all the same very clearly
rooted in the days of old and they do manage to bring something
substantial to the genre. You can even hear some little nuances
going on at times that remind me of classic Priest or Maiden. This
is pretty unrelenting stuff with a plethora of memorable riffs and
headbanging parts to get your blood boiling. I dig those frantic
Slayer-esque guitar leads that pop up now and then. Hellish
Crossfire is not all full speed ahead all the time though. There are
slower moody moments, sort of like a brooding tank slowly creeping
along, barrel simmering with smoke, searching for victims of their
next assault. Those brooding ominous moments definitely add a little
more depth and personality to flesh out the bands sound. The vocals
complement the music nicely with their classic early Slayer and
Kreator tendencies. All that is left to say is, if you like to
thrash, then you will love Bloodrust Scythe, it is as simple as
that. –
Dale
http://www.ihate.se
http://www.myspace.com/hellishcrossfirethrash
|
More metal,
sludge-core from the fine people at Rhetoric. Hellchild are cool crusty
metal with bludgeoning riffs, clear/growly vocals. This band is tops in
my books for doing the dirtiest Venom cover of “Witching Hour” ever -
Yeah bitch!! I reviewed Kilara last issue and here we have more of the
same grungy, Sabbathy metal with a hardcore flavor. These new tracks are
a bit more catchy in a laid-back sorta way - Rockin’ stuff. $8US/$12
World for the vinyl version & $10 US/$12 World for the CD.
- Dale
Rhetoric Records,
P.O. Box 82, Madison, WI. 53701, USA
|
For those not in
the know, Unspeakable Acts is an imprint label, under the mighty
Dark Descent Records. It is where they indulge mainly in their love
of old thrash and thrash mixed with black and death metal. Hellish
are from Chile and thrash to the fucking hilt they are! These guys put
their foot on the gas and rip shit up, in an extreme ‘80s thrash
metal manner flaying your skin and peeling the paint off the walls,
with their vicious sonic attack! I can definitely hear some early
influences from bands like Exodus, Razor, early Death Angel,
Destruction, Kreator, Sodom etc… They have some great killer
melodies injected into the speedy riffing, and it is an exclamation
point, when they hit one of those blazing short frantic guitar
solos. The vocals are classic thrash screams, but they possess
influences of the gruff classic mainstay style, with hints dripping
down the edges of black metal rasping and a slight death metal
growl. Yet, those vocals in the sub-genre’s tradition always stay
very decipherable, where you can make out everything being sung just
fine. Now comes my only nitpick, and I am usually not that picky
with regards to the recording, I mean the production overall is
decent, but everything could be a little beefier and heavier, but it
is the drums I have an issue with most. Do you know when you hear a
song that has been ripped into mp3 at terrible quality setting like
112 or 128 kbps? Where everything gets really tinny and has slight
high pitched whine sound, thankfully that is not present on
everything here but when the drummer hits the cymbals, which is
often, it sounds like that big time. That is the only nitpicky thing
I can say about an otherwise great old school thrash metal album!
South America proves once again to me at least, it possesses
probably one of the top 5 best extreme UG scenes in the world in
recent years!! Get this if you love thrash metal done the ancient
way. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Hellishchile
http://www.unspeakableaxerecords.com
|
|
Despite this
British band having been around for a long time, a decade in fact
since releasing their first demo and despite releasing an EP and a
couple split EPs, this release marks their debut album. The five
members of this band have not been dormant during those years
however, no, they have been creating audio darkness in many bands
like Morte Lune, Nefarious Dusk, Skiddaw, Thy Dying Light, Torver,
Úlfarr, Volition, Whinlatter, Absinthropy and yes even more! The
music is hateful and cold second wave black metal that gives off a
snarling and caustic sound. The guitars have a slightly grittier and
maybe metallic edge than some of the earlier second wave traditional
bm music, but that great archetypical sinister aura is burning ever
so bright here. Their songwriting has that creeping evil atmosphere,
but often resides in the central pacing then speeding up and running
headlong into the night for short bursts to strong effect. I do not
often notice the drumming in a standout way within this old style of
black metal yet I must say J.D. puts in a strong performance here.
As does vocalist Damien Fowler who is a rasping and howling demon
and really commands things with his acidic vocal emanations. If you
are like me and hold great reverence for traditional second wave
black metal, as much of it as you can get your claws upon, then I am
certain you will like this strong debut album from Helvellyn. I do
hope the long periods of silence from this band shorten, as I look
forward to hearing more from this band sooner than later. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/helvellyn666
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com
|
This is a new band to my ears, and it's not a bad listen at all.
Hellvetron play a very dark, heavy mix of early 90's death/doom with
slow pounding drums, crushing guitar chords. Hellvetron kind of
remind of skepticism, disembowelment etc. To give you an idea of
their sound, it is a very dark atmosphere intertwined within the
death/doom to kind of give it a black, dark metal atmopshere. Vocals
are deep, slow almost talking like vocals that fit perfect with the
slow, bleak music. Hellvetron are definitely not for every metal fan
out there but if you enjoy bands like Skepticism, Disembowelment, or
slow death/doom in general, they might be your cup your of tea. -
Patrick
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/hellvetron/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
Hellvetron is
set to release “Trident Of Tartarean”, the bands second full-length
next month in mid August. The music on this release is a mix of
blackened death metal with some doom elements woven into some of the
tracks. The music is played with skill and some powerful guitar
work, which is matched step for step with an excellent drum
performance as well. For the most part the guitar pacing is done
with slow to mid pacing, but they do speed up to a more rapid tempo
in a few of the songs. The vocals are heavy, deep, death growls and
some clean singing and hollering type of vocals are used at times.
Hellvetron play an interesting mix of black death doom metal, so if
you are a fan of the band or a fan of the genre then do yourself a
favor and check out “Trident Of Tartarean” as soon as it is
released. - Patrick
https://hellvetron.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions
|
It seems like
very little is known about The Heretics Fork, something that seems
to be very much by design. Which often makes one wonder if it is
members from bigger bands that do not want to be officially
affiliated with the style this side band plays or they could just be
extremely private guys I suppose, I could understand it if that was
the case. So let’s get on to the music, which is what they want us
to focus on here. ‘Tormentore’ is the bands debut record featuring
eight songs of intense and brutal metal, with influences from both
the ‘90s US brutal scene and newer brutal dm bands. The vocals are
low, guttural growls that fit the bands style very nicely. The
guitar work is done with a mix of both slower and heavier guitar
patterns, but there is plenty of extremely fast and vicious guitar
chords. If you are a fan of bands like Mortician, Devourment,
Brodequin etc… then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of
‘Tormentore’ as soon as it is released. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/p2loggia
http://p2omerta.blogspot.com/
|
This is a side
band of Mark “The Shark” Shelton, the singer of the mighty Manilla
Road. Hellwell is definitely different than Manilla Road, much more
punchy and dramatic. In fact, to be quite honest for my tastes it is
overly dramatic. It sort of feels like Shelton wanted to write an
exaggerated musical stage play, that is the feeling I get listening
to Beyond The Boundries Of Sin. I mean do not get me wrong there are
some fantastic sections and some quality music on here. Just the
style and direction he took that material does not tickle my fancy,
so to speak. The vocals follow suit with the music, they are pretty
animated with real emphasis certain parts of each sentence, coming
off sounding very staged and theatrical dialogue influenced to me.
Think of a metal soundtrack to Phantom of The Opera or something
like that. Also there is a lot of punctuated for maximum flair
keyboards (and some Hammond organ) use which also contributes that
feelin. I don’t know some parts of tracks I really kind of dig here
and there, but as a whole it is just not working for me. There is no
doubting the talent that is behind this album though. I think
Shelton was going for a real horror vibe, but missed the mark a
little bit if this is supposed to sound really evil or creepy, it is
more of a Dark Shadows tv show melodrama atmosphere, rather than
being bone chilling and malevolent. The production and everything is
top notch, nothing to complain about technically or with regards to
execution. I guess it is all boils down to do you like stuff like
dark and over the top stage plays and metal mixed float your boat?
Not mine it is sinking rapidly, time to push stop and move on to the
next review. - Dale
http://shadowkingdomrecords.com/
|
Well it is odd
to me at least that these guys have been around for 15 years and
this is the first I had recall hearing of them. Praising Satan is
apparently some sort of best of / compilation release that
apparently is celebrating “15 Years Of Ultimate Satanic Sleaze”. I
can not seem get a handle on whether this is supposed to be a joke
band or something serious. Obviously the logo is a homage or simply
mocking the logo of Beherit. I seen an interview online and the guy
in the interview acted serious in it and said he was a devotee of
Beherit, Barathrum, Mayhem, Root, Darkthrone. So I guess I will give
the benefit of the doubt there is supposed to be some sort of
serious intent behind the band. The whole presentation of the band,
album and song titles such as Horns of Hell, Thunderbelial, Pure
Goat Glorification, Black Metal Overlords had me wondering though.
The music itself is decent for what is, and is simple sloppy punk
rock with a metal undertone and some definite Venom worship. Which
is always a good thing in my books, being a Venom maniac myself.
Nothing amazing here, but I could still appreciate it. Obviously any
black metal fans who pick it up that are looking for pure bm or
sympho type crap and do not care for punk, will be easily and
quickly disappointed. They are certainly unique that is for sure. I
would say fans of raunchy punk, Venom and Piledriver type stuff will
like this.
– Dale
http://www.myspace.com/hereticmaniacs
http://www.soulsellerrecords.com/
|
|
It seems like
very little is known about The Heretics Fork, something that seems
to be very much by design. Which often makes one wonder if it is
members from bigger bands that do not want to be officially
affiliated with the style this side band plays or they could just be
extremely private guys I suppose, I could understand it if that was
the case. So let’s get on to the music, which is what they want us
to focus on here. ‘Tormentore’ is the bands debut record featuring
eight songs of intense and brutal metal, with influences from both
the ‘90s US brutal scene and newer brutal dm bands. The vocals are
low, guttural growls that fit the bands style very nicely. The
guitar work is done with a mix of both slower and heavier guitar
patterns, but there is plenty of extremely fast and vicious guitar
chords. If you are a fan of bands like Mortician, Devourment,
Brodequin etc… then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of
‘Tormentore’ as soon as it is released. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/p2loggia
http://p2omerta.blogspot.com/
|
|
Wow Paragon strikes again with another great band from Italy.
Heretical {formerly Immolator} play a very interesting style, of
brutal black metal, with some atmospheric black metal mixed in some
of the songs. The guitars are fast and extremely well played, with
some slower parts mixed in, so it's not all speed riffs. The
drumming is done with a lot of fast blasting, but they do slow
it down, to a mid-pace on some tracks. The vocalist does a good job
of black metal screams, mixed with some clean vocals and even some
chanting on one song. Heretical are one of the best black metal
bands I've heard in awhile.
-
Patrick
http://hereticalofficial.bandcamp.com/
http://www.themetalunderground.com/
|
Surprisingly, to
me at least, this is the first time I am listening to this Swedish
one man band. As this Rafn since 2012 has released no less than
seven full-length’s and over twenty ep’s, splits and a demo! I mean
talk about having a seemingly inexhaustible well of creativity, not
to even mention time invested recording and releasing it all. This
release represents two ep’s Hermóðr have released this year,
combined into this one disc, previously only available digitally.
There are only two songs on this release, yet the total run time is
around the 35 minute mark! As you can tell they are both very epic
tracks. Hermóðr play a very flowing, long form style of black metal
that is both extremely atmospheric and depressive, but in a longing
somber fashion, not in the wallowing in suicidal depression sense of
depressive black metal term. The music is pretty sparse with one
long gracefully flowing riff played continuously in a very
monotonous style. Which sounds like a negative, but it is quite the
opposite for me, as it is a majestic quality somewhat melodic riff
in each song that mentally carries you on a journey. There are some
slight change ups, used sparsely, as well as some secondary guitar
or synth accents also quite meagerly employed strictly as accent
support for the main riff. The drumming is also very low key, again
subtle, but a well timed counterpoint for the winding stream that is
the great main riff. These two releases are nearly instrumentals,
though there are some excellent obscure yelling rasps in “Northern
Might”, which may remind you of a more subdued version of the vocals
on early Burzum releases. Actually, I think you could say a lot of
the music on here is like the early Burzum, especially the longer
epic sections with a little more emphasis on atmosphere. Everything
here is well done, but I do suppose you may have to be in the right
sort of reflective, meditative mindset to truly enjoy this release
as I was and did. The cover artwork is very fitting, the music on
here makes me think of one of my pleasures, which is standing and
staring or strolling through mysterious misty mountain landscapes.
This is not hard for me to imagine personally, as I live on in the
valley on a mountain with multiple mountain peaks closely
surrounding my home and are often covered in mist and fog. But the
great music on this disc makes me mentally feel like I am the mist
caressing and flowing around this magnificent darkly imposing
creation of mother earth. Since I have only heard these two epic
songs from Hermóðr, I have a hard time imagining this man creating
an album full of short songs. But, that is apparently exactly what
he does on his albums, so I am very much looking forward to finding
out what that is like very soon as I have some catching up to do!
- Dale
https://hermodr.bandcamp.com/
https://www.wolfspellrex.com/
|
Herxheim is a
relatively new one man band from Texas unleashing their first
full-length album. The band may be new, but the one man who behind
it all for Herxheim is not new to the UG scene, nor is he new to me.
I have never been in direct contact with Brungard (aka Patrick
Brown), but I have a long history of listening to one of his old
bands Nepenthe, which later changed names to Ligea, which formed in
1992 and was around with different line-ups well into the 2000s. In
fact, one my greatest and oldest friends in the UG scene Keith Dempe
released recordings under both names on his Eternal Darkness
Creations record label. During the time in between Mr. Brown was
active with a band named Howls of Ebb (whose work I have not heard),
which released an EP, a split and two full-length albums, also on I.
Voidhanger before calling quits in 2017. He apparently has decided
to go it alone now with this new band. Herxheim produce a brand of
very of menacing yet very eerie black death metal that has a really
sinister sounding aura to it. The music is not ultra brutal or
lightning quick, rather the pacing stride fluctuates, always serving
that gloomy noxious atmosphere that blankets everything. There is
some pretty killer vocals on here with ominous yells, kind of gruff,
kind of raspy vocal mix with some well timed and placed doubling up
of vocals giving off a necho-y, punctuated effect that really adds
to the evil air the music gives off. Also, Brungard throws in some
really tortured screams that I enjoyed very much. I am pleased to
see this fellow old UG metal goat keeping the ancient flame burning
bright, and showing his musical appreciation of the first wave of
black metal / early days dark death metal whilst creating a quality
record he can call his own. I now see NWN! has picked up this album
for the vinyl version. - Dale
https://herxheim.bandcamp.com/
https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/
|
This is an
interesting find for Red Stream. With a choice production backing them,
Himinbjorg present some of the best emotional and blazing metal in
recent memory! Similar in sound to acts like (early) Ulver, Immortal,
Dark Funeral, and a bit of Marduk. They posses a flair for creating
brooding yet uplifting atmospheres of sound that will soon release
itself from your grey matter. There are acoustics and keys in spots but
are utilized in such a way not to force themselves ahead of the
structure or beyond the materials general intent. I can fully recommend
this to fans of brutal atmospheric black metal that will inspire visions
of battlefields filled with pagan pride.
- Dale |
I possess
nothing but respect for Katon W. De Pena and Hirax. They continue to
just rage after all of these years. I mean to stick to your roots,
for literally decades, is amazing and a mean feat all of its own.
What we have here is a mini-album. I am sure this is just a stop-gap
to keep the die hards from dying of thirst until the next full
length brew comes out. So yes “Chaos and Brutality” is short but
still a fine piece of work and worth owning. With the 4 tracks here
Hirax explode out of the gates right off the first note and do not
let up with their face ripping thrash attack until the disc stops
spinning. Hirax pack punch after punch of fast headbanging riffs
rhythms backed with De Pena’s wails sounding off like a siren of
successive growls. ARGH! Once it is over though you have to hit the
repeat button as this is just too short to hear just once. We need a
new full album now and the sooner the better.
– Dale
www.selfmadegod.com
www.hirax.org
|
|
Hirudinea
– Are one frenetic death metal band. On these 4 tracks they employ a
set of dual vocals. The main set of pipes, sort of remind me to the
vox on the “Clandestine” album. The other set of vocals are harder
to pinpoint and are more frantic, angst filled volleys that remind
me a bit of old Ministry, of all things. I do not hear a lot of
bands playing this style lately. That is to Hirudinea’s benefit.
Watchmaker
– The Boston, Mass clusterfuck. If you are searching for some catchy
head bang riffs, actual song structuring and depth. Then look
somewhere else. It is no surprise, keeping with these comments that
Watchmaker used to have an Anal Cunt member. Because the 7 tracks on
this split are nothing short of a chaotic wall of thrashing white
noise. Their only purpose seems to be to play as fast and in as in
your face as they can, from a dead run, start to finish. They
destroy everything in their path. It is actually pretty good stuff
but you really have to be in the right mood for it, if you know what
I mean?
– Dale
www.bestialonslaught.com |
The new Hobos album brings the violence full force and in your face!
The music is a sturdy mix of dirty-ass old school death metal and
Motörhead-fueled crust/hardcore with no-nonsense arrangements and
occasionally some bluesy guitar work to keep the hooks flowing. I
always tell interested people that they sound like Motörhead playing
old Entombed with Venom writing the songs and a demon on vocals
singing in Italian (Damn I need to check this band out after reading
that description! - Dale). This band is as loud as loud can be, and
they make no apologies for who they are. It’s a perfect example of
what is old being new again, taking these old styles and mashing
them into a new form. The whole album is fresh-sounding and killer.
It’s head and shoulders above their previous work in both intent and
execution, and I can’t wait for the next round of ammunition. It’s
music that bangs your fuckin’ head for you whether you like it or
not!
– Andrew Parrish
https://www.facebook.com/hobosband
https://www.spikerot.com/
|
My deep and
lasting obsession with Horna began somewhere around the beginning of
1997. I received their first masterpiece of a record “Hiidentorni”
from their then label Solistitium records out Germany. Incidentally
this lead to an interview I did with them way back in issue # 2 of
Canadian Assault (I have put in a request for a new interview in
this issue, no word whether it is happening or not, as of yet). It
was during this period, the second wave after the rise of Darkthrone,
Immortal, Burzum etc… came to be and they have stood the test of
time as the best black metal band from this mid-90s era. This band
has never let me down, releasing album after album, seven inches, LP
and split vinyls at an alarming rate and each and every release has
been a quality work, a new splash of darkness across the UG scene.
Over the years the horde have managed to evolve and devolve in
interesting ways but never betraying their roots, never scarring
their devoted followers and never having to look themselves in the
mirror with anything but pride and dignity. They may make your head
bang with some devilish catchy riffs but they shall never stray far
from the epic melancholy longing and cold, evil sorrow that is the
foundation of their profound heartless cruelty. A very select few, a
diabolic elite, if you will, have the ability to create so many
emotions within the black metal realm, whilst relying upon on
traditional instrumentation. That includes Horna, they have the
uncanny ability to channel simultaneously through their music
emotions such as disgust, hate, sorrow, melancholy, introspection,
elation, adrenalized odium all while sweeping you away on a
journey. A vast journey outside of this pathetic existence, an epic
walk through fields of pain blanketed by black night. Horna have
always had some of the sickest rasps in black metal bar none and
nothing has changed in this respect with “Envaatnags…”, despite
member changes, the cold heart of Horna, Mr. Shatraug lives on, in
the infamous black metal conjurer. Almost a decade later and Horna
continues to haunt me! – Dale
www.woodcutrecords.com
|
I am wondering
if Satan himself is looking out for me, he found a way to get the
new Horna album in my hands and by an interesting route too. WTC
Productions as near as I can tell are run by an Absurd member and
are based out of Germany, yet this package of WTC releases was sent
to me from Portugal? I am not one to look a gift demon in the mouth.
It is no secret I worship this band, as can be evidenced not only by
the many glowing reviews I have given the band over the years, but
also by the fact I interviewed them twice (once in 1998 & again in
2006) for Canadian Assault. Simply put Horna belong to the elite of
the second wave of black metal from the early 90s. Horna have been
creating cryptic, freezing evil black metal hate consistently year
after year, for nearly two decades now!! For me they are the crown
jewel of the Finnish black metal scene along with old Impaled
Nazerene and early Beherit. Askel Lahempana Saatanaa continues their
tradition of harsh black metal holocaust, it changes slightly from
album to album, but at the core it is always the same sound, a rare
band that has been around for a long time and always stayed true to
their roots. I have a ton of respect for that, nearly everyone else
falters, crumbles and stumbles, but Horna stands triumphant. I would
not call this album one of Horna’s best, but it is still very good
and very much quality Horna as usual. - Dale
http://horna666.com/
http://www.w-t-c.org/
|
The mighty Horna
return with their ninth album to date entitled “Hengen Tulet”. Horna
really know how to create and execute their signature style of
chaotic and fast black metal darkness. The guitars are played with
fast crazed cold riffs, but do know when to slow down the pace to a
more controlled middle pace range. The drumming is done, with a lot
of great drum patterns, going from heavy medium speed beats, to a
more vicious blast beat attack. The vocals are raw black metal
screams and shrieks, with some whispering voices put in a few of the
songs. If you are a long time fan of Horna’s music, then don’t let
this pass you by, and if you are new to the band, and enjoy violent
raw black metal then get this masterpiece today! - Patrick
http://horna666.com/Abyss/
http://www.w-t-c.org/
|
It is always a
pleasure to get my hands on a new release from one of the true
legend bands in the black metal scene! This Finnish horde regale us
with their 10th full-length album (plus of course demos
and countless splits and EPs in their 25+ year history) of musical
majesty, which clocks in at over one hour of music. I got into Horna
fairly early on in their existence with their second demo “Hiidentori”,
and then I did my first of two interviews with the band shortly
after their debut album was released in 1998. I am a bit of a bm
purist at times and think bands should stick to their roots (or
change their name if they want veer off in a completely different
direction), and you can point to a band like Horna as a shining
example of this. I mean sure they vary their patented second wave bm
sound from time to time, from release to release, but they always
keep that evil core as their anchor point. "Kuoleman Kirjo" while
still the cold hateful black metal they have always been known for,
it has a bit more of an epic feeling to it with free flowing
melodious riffs that sweep across your mental landscape like a
rapidly creeping fog. The main vocals are classic bm rasps with a
slight ominous sounding husky undertone to them, vocalist Spellgoth
does pull from his arsenal at times to accent that main vocal with a
myriad of yells, hollers and the like. There are often some subtle
guitar nuances going on here, if you are paying close enough
attention that are quite enjoyable for me. Second quick one is while
I enjoy the drumming on Horna releases, I rarely focus upon them or
truly notice them specifically, but the drums and performance from
LRH on here is a strong element on this album. This release is a bit
less aggressive than some of their past material; it instead focuses
on taking you on an all-encompassing melancholic and crepuscular
cerebral journey. The main man, only founding member and chief
songwriter & lyricist Shatraug just keeps endlessly marching along,
prolifically creating great freezing black metal for Horna (among
other bands he is involved with) for going on three decades! He has
my utmost respect and admiration, hail Horna! - Dale
www.facebook.com/HornaOfficial/
https://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com http://www.w-t-c.org
|
Coming out of
the Russian death metal scene is Horror God, who supply three brand
new songs here, as well as a cover of Purulence’s “Sinking Into
Transparency”. This is my first experience listening to the band,
they play a solid form of death metal, but they are not afraid to
explore and add other genres of metal within the mid paced death
metal mainstay they create. The musicianship features a lot of
creativity, and well written and played performances on their
instruments. Horror God play their own style of death metal and do a
very good job of it. Techne are up next, they play a progressive
death metal style of music. The band does add in some excellent
progressive metal elements and early rock influences within their
music. This is a band that plays a very good brand of progressive
death metal, yet I still just can not get into this, but if you like
the idea of a split with two quite different sounding bands you
might want to pick this one up. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/horrorgod
http://lavadome.org/
|
I believe Hour
of 13 are now based out of California, but the band has a storied
past and were from various areas of the US in the past (North
Carolina and Virginia). They have also at various times been a duo
and even expanded to a full band briefly. But the band has always
really been baby of main man Chad Davis (Anu, Obscurae, Olde, Stench
of Evil, The Crooked Whispers, The Sabbathian etc…), who at this
point is a one man operation with Chad writing all the music and
playing all instruments. I always like to say a good one man band
makes you forget it is a one man band, and that applies in spades to
Hour of 13. I could play it for someone cold that knows nothing of
the band and they would never guess that it is a one man band. At
this point Hour of 13 is well known; at least for sure they are in
traditional doom metal circles having released a demo, a handful of
EPs and two previous albums. ‘Black Magick Rites’ is quality classic
doom music in the traditions of the early years of the genre, the
music is very poignant and mournful sounding yet has this slight
‘70s epic hard rock edge that shows itself here and there. Some of
the riffing and rhythms on this thing are really infectious and
hypnotic which makes my head and feet tap along, while at the same
time getting drawn into an introspective trance-like state. I
believe this album is the first by the band where Chad Davis is not
only the chief vocalist, but handles all vocal duties unlike the
past when Phil Swanson (B.C:A.D., Briton Rites, Lords of Triumph,
Seamount, Vestal Claret, ex-Earthlord, ex-Nightbitch etc...) handled
the lead vocals. That might be a red flag for some fans of the band,
but let me assure you Mr. Davis has developed his voice and his
confidence in it to the point that the vocals are one of the strong
points of the band, they fit wonderfully to the classic Hour music.
Some influences I hear for those that have not heard Hour of 13
before are bands like Pagan Altar, Black Sabbath, Witchfinder
General, Cirith Ungol, Pentagram, Solitude Aeturnus etc… I think
those bands give you a general idea of their sound and if you are
big fan of most of those bands then you can not go wrong with this
quality, affecting old school doom heavy metal album. - Dale
https://hourof13official.bandcamp.com/
https://www.shadowkingdomrecords.com/
|
Ohio's one man
black metal band Howling returns with their debut full-length
release. ‘Altar Of Depravity’ contains eight tracks of brutal and
hateful black metal at it's finest. Musically the band mixes both
extremely fast black metal and some slower more controlled musicial
passages into it’s songwriting. The guitars are played with some
memorable patterns and feature skillful writing. The drumming is
played with hyperspeed blast beats that are forceful, intense and
violent in it’s delivery. The vocals are harsh, demonic black metal
screams and stabbing screeches. Their are some gruff growls and
screams also mixed in throughout some of the songs. If you are a fan
of Howling's previous releases (demos or EP) then do not miss out on
this massive debut album. - Patrick
https://plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com/
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com/
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Hudler is a one
woman band from Oregon, but that woman who also goes by the same
name as the band Hudler (aka Marz Riesterer) is originally from
Belgium. She conjures up evil tremolo picked black metal that has
that raw metal edge to it, which for me, puts it’s influences in the
early ‘90s second wave of black metal. But it is more akin to the
other side of the coin from that era, which means it is not the
Scandinavian second wave, but rather the bm movement and sounds
brought forth in the early works by bands like her countrymen
Ancient Rites, as well as Varathron, Master’s Hammer, Kawir, Root,
Mortuary Drape, Grand Belial’s Key, Kampfar etc… There are brief
passages and an entire song like “Purgations of Bodily Corruptions”
where there is more prominent melody mixed in than you would
normally except from a band playing this sort of harsh style. I must
admit that is my least favourite aspect of the Hudler sound, but it
is not overused, so it is not a real problem either. The music as
mentioned while raw and caustic, also mixes in a healthy amount of
eerie synth as an adjunct whispering in the darkness throughout the
album. Hudler’s vocals are most often a coarse yelled growling hiss
mix, but is almost always accompanied with a freezing undercurrent
of classic black metal rasp. I quite enjoy those vocals. This is a
really impressive piece of work to come from one person, and I can
see / hear clearly what enticed a great label like Iron Bonehead
into wanting to release this enjoyable piece of dark musical art.
- Dale
https://www.hulder-official.com/
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/
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|
Hmm I am not really sure what direction Italy's Humangled are
taking {or wanting to take for that matter} on the new EP. The band
seems to be mixing in technical death metal, thrash and some varied
guitar patterns. I will give the band credit for attempting to try
something different and combing the different metal elements but it
just doesn’t seem to be working. Because by the end of the four
tracks there really isn’t anything that sticks out that is that
memorable on Odd Ethics.
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/humangled
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com
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Humanity Delete is the band formed by none other then Rogga Johanson
{Paganizer, Revolting,among many others}. The band was started
originally in 2003 but put on hold until 2012 when Rogga began
writing music for the debut Never Ending Nightmares. The lyrics were
handled by Rogga's friend and underground legend Jill Girardi.
Musically Humanity Delete and Rogga plays fast,
aggressive death metal. Whirlwind, insane guitar riffs with some
really good solo's. The drums are blast beats before slowing down to
a mid paced beats. This is a impressive death metal release and
worth checking out if you enjoy straight forward, no frills death
metal.
- Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/humanitydelete
http://deadbeatshop.tripod.com/
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First I just
wanted to send out a greeting to Bear Bee, the vocalist of
Humiliation for sending this in personally. It is always good to get
a release from Malaysia. I used to have a tape trader in Malaysia,
he turned me on to a lot of great old dedicated Malaysian UG bands
like Sil-Khannaz, Brain Dead, Langsuyr, and Suffercation. There is
some straight forward but solid death metal to be found here. The
riffing is often mid paced and heavy with the odd speedy bursts that
I am sure induce some nice headbanging live. I can maybe hear some
old Bolt Thrower or Malevolent Creation type stuff, the bands is
keeping it old school, which is just fine by me. The vocals are deep
dark shouted growls with a little bit of an obscure texture to them.
Those vocals again remind me a lot to the very early 90s death metal
approach. A pretty good first release from a young band and I think
there is room for some improvement. I am left wondering why no demos
or anything were released before the mini disc? Either way this
short player leaves me wanting to hear something more. And I am in
luck as Bear Bee has sent me the follow full length album as well!
– Dale
nebiulaprod@gmail.com
humiliationband@gmail.com
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Humiliation pick
right up where they left off the year before on their mcd. They were
only in year one as a band as I understand it with that first
release. Now year two sees them already storming back with their
debut full length. Despite that short period between releases and
their infancy as a band, one can already hear a little maturity
creeping into their songwriting. They are still brutal and heavy,
their riffing and general song flow are smoother and pack more punch
this time around. I have seen the Bolt Thrower comparisons and it is
hard to deny that. They sound a lot like them and it is in a good
way. I think I can detect some early Death influence on the music as
well as the vocals and maybe a touch of Benediction (one of my fave
dm bands, quite underrated). I am not sure if I can add much more
than I have in this review and the one above. Some killer death
metal for fans of Bolt Thrower and the great 90s British death metal
bands. The one question I do have is why neither the label (which
has been around a long time) nor the band seems to have a website? I
remember my old friend from Malaysia some years back said the
Malaysian government was harassing labels that distributed any metal
music that was related to gore or satanic / occult themes etc… Some
of them seemed to be keeping a real low profile. I am not sure if
that is the reason or not?
– Dale
nebiulaprod@gmail.com
humiliationband@gmail.com
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The prolific
Malaysian death metallers return to the pages of Canadian Assault!
It was a welcome sight to see this disc in my mailbox. For me the
Malaysian scene in recent years seemed to go down a bit, but
Humiliation is helping to breathe life back into the scene. Like a
fine wine Humiliation, a relatively young band, keep getting better
with age. You see the development in their song structuring and feel
for the emotion needed. They are not afraid to have some brooding
moments more often that create a great atmosphere and lend that much
more power to the speed and brutality. Yes this is early to mid 90s
brutal death metal done the way fans of the genre love. You can hear
homage in their music to all the great dm scenes of the day back
then, from the Florida (Malevolent Creation, Death) sound to the
British sound (Bolt Thrower, Benediction). I am starting to hear the
Holland scene creeping in like Asphyx or Sinister. Yes I think
Humiliation is still searching a bit for their own sound with this
album, but also on Seek To Survive they are showing signs of finding
it and creating something of their own. The vocals range from eerie
whispers in the gloomy parts to piercing growling screams that
always feel old school and I like them. The sound on this album is
fantastic and everything is professional, while never forgetting the
UG spirit. This album made me bang my fucking head! Hail Malaysia! –
Dale
http://www.humiliation.my/
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These guys keep
an impressive pace and are always releasing new and quality
material. I mean they have only been around since 2009 and in those
three years they have released 3 albums and 2 eps. I think that is
the definition of hitting the ground running! The album title these
Malaysians chose is a great one, as it really does describe what
they have been doing, which is continually improving and churning
out quality year after year, from strength to strength indeed. This
album is no different as Humiliation roll out menacing song after
menacing song, similar to tanks rolling in formation as they head
into battle. The band has a penchant for writing classic sounding,
catchy yet heavy and brutal riffs. Yes they strive for a sound of
their own, but will still give you nostalgic feelings of classic
days of dm genre. I still hear influences from old bands like
Malevolent Creation, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx etc… They keep it extreme
but also give you some rhythm you rock with and bang your head. The
vocalist Bear Bee has a nice raw, sort of yelled growl that reminds
me to the early days when thrash was developing into death metal. I
seen a review mention Martin Van Drunen and that is probably not a
bad comparison. Those vocals suit the music very well. I could not
find a website to list for Ultra Hingax, who are a label that has
been around for a long time, still no website? The exciting news for
some will be that Humiliation have just signed with American label
Deepsend Records (see their site below) – congrats to vocalist Bear
Bee and the rest of band on the signing. Definitely recommended. -
Dale
http://www.humiliation.my/
http://www.deepsend.com
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The Malaysian death metal war horde returns for their fourth attack.
It is heavy, mid paced guitar riffs with a thick bass crush. The
drumming is excellent and equally as heavy with some mid-paced and
faster aggressive parts. The vocals are deep death growls and fit
perfectly well with Humiliation's style of crushing straight forward
death metal. Fans of early to mid-nineties death metal will want to
pick this brutal slab of death as soon as possible.
-
Patrick
http://www.humiliation.my/
http://www.deepsend.com/
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The mini-bio
nails it when they mention Bathory as an influence. I can hear a lot
of “Blood Fire Death” on this short player (clocking in at barely 21
minutes). I admit I have a bit of a soft spot for Aussie bands and
their filthy, dirty, wicked old school ways. Hunters Moon is a
little rough around the edges, but they know how to create a strong
atmosphere with their music, that provokes emotion in the listener.
The music manages to be both epic and flowing while juxtaposed with
a certain cruelty and barbaric thrashing (especially evident on the
Angel Witch cover of the song Baphomet). I like the vocals from
Lust, yet at times they seem not to always fit the music and tend to
fade into the background of the mix. Not entirely certain if that
was intentional or not? Upon repeated listens though, I find myself
not noticing or caring as much about the vocals, which originally
struck me as a problem. All in all, I enjoyed this platter and find
myself curious to hear their full length debut. Assuming of course
that is in the plans.
– Dale
http://www.huntersmoon.cjb.net/ http://huntersmoon.hellsheadbangers.com/
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Spain’s Hybrid
waste no time clobbering you over the head with their high energy
brutality. There are some clean sung & deep death metal vocal
accents, but the mainstay vocals are the hyper, insane yelled
variety that some extreme hardcore type bands have. I like them
though. The music is going to be a little harder to pin down, but I
will try to simplify it a bit, if I can. Okay think of the heavy
sounds of something like the old Sludge band Cavity, mix it
technical death metal ala Cynic and the spastic oomph grinders Nasum,
then add nuanced, emotional break downs that incorporate things from
all the spectrum from Jazz bits to ambient to acoustic guitar to a
bit of piano or reed music or something and all in between. You see
what I mean? I think that is about as much as I can simplify their
sound while avoiding pompous poetic waxing. Everything is
masterfully pulled off though, there is great musicianship on
display and also some talented song arranging. The death metal
purist will probably be turned off, but everyone else that
appreciates innovation, brutality, speed and adventure in their
death metal, if you can limit it to that term, then you need to get
this album now. - Dale
https://myspace.com/hybridmetal
http://www.deepsend.com/
|
I had a surprise
when I hit play on this disc, I am so used to I Hate focusing on
doom metal lately, that the violent thrash metal that exploded out
my headphones was a shock to the system, a pleasant shock. Another
pleasant surprise was seeing the old classic “Speed Metal” symbol
made legendary by the great old Canadian label Banzai Records, who
released all the classics back in the day from Venom and many other
classic bands for Canada. Surprising since this a Swedish bands
album but I loved that, would love to hear the origins of that.
Hypnosia are sadly split up these days and as you may have guessed
this a compilation album, which features tracks from the bands
‘96/97 demos, ’99 Mini-album and a couple bonus tracks to round
things off. As I said this is ripping, dirty and violent thrash
metal that would probably turn on fans of the classic thrash/death
band Demolition Hammer. I guess I could call Hypnosia thrash/death
as well, as they do have partially yelled thrash vocals mixed with a
dm type growl and the guitars have some dm influence as well. But
overall this is just a mean and brutal thrash metal album and it is
fantastic! Horror Infernal is 16 songs and 50 minutes of head bang
inducing metal you should check out. –
Dale
http://www.myspace.com/hypnosiathrash
http://www.ihate.se/
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A B C D
E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Just like every
other reviewer out there I throw the nothing new or you have heard
this before tags around. Well I really can not pin that tail on this
donkey, this is not something I have rarely heard before, it is
pretty original and eclectic, to say the least. This day and age
original is rare, but original on it’s own does not necessarily make
it good. But in this particular case Menthell (lame album title
though haha) case it is good and it is well done. Unlike most bands
that try to sew a big patchwork quilt of different influences and
genres, it does not sound forced and most importantly the album does
have a semblance of flow to it. I see the black metal label put on
this band at times, there are certainly elements from that genre but
I would not call that their base sound. They mix in everything
thrash, death, progressive rock, jazz, funk (I know I think lame
when I see that but it is well done and as an accent). The vocals
follow the music and are all over the place with whispers, growls,
strained clean vocals, yelling etc… there is enough emotion in the
delivery to pull it off. This is not one for the purists that like
their metal straight ahead. Even I admit some of it a little outside
of my taste range, but it is so well executed, it is hard not to
like it. If you like inventiveness, talented playing, and genre
variations in your extreme metal then you can do much worse than
Poland’s Iblis. –
Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/ibliskrk
http://www.deathtomusic.com/
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Coming out of
Italy's black metal scene is Idolatria with their second full-length
album. ‘Tetrabestiarchy’ contains four long songs, plus an intro and
outro. The band blends and creates a mix of crazed, furious black
metal, but can also write and execute some very well written and
performed mid paced passages that stand out as well. The vocals are
a mix of grim and gruff growls and there are some raspy screams used
throughout a few songs. There is no denying that Idolatria play
black metal, but the band does plays an original and quality black
metal with an own sound that is both furious at times, but also has
al ot of mid tempo song structures to make a great memorable
release. - Patrick
https://idolatria.bandcamp.com https://signalrex.bandcamp.com
https://signalrex.com
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Ifrinn are
apparently from Scotland and for all I know a one man band even, it
is one of those deals where we are not allowed to know anything
about the band member(s). I am not a fan of this practice, but it is
their choice. So this is the bands second EP and second release
overall, the first self-titled EP came out five years ago. This
extended player at hand consists of three songs and runs about
twenty-five minutes. The music on here is hateful and aggressive yet
woven throughout that odious emotion is a concurrence of majestic
and memorable rhythms and sweeping riffs. It would seem those two
things would be like oil and water, but here they melt together very
well into one freezing conglomerate of black metal musical ceremony.
The vocals themselves are one of the biggest elements of the enmity;
as they are coarse rasping yells with a growling undertone that also
occasionally reflect the more emotive side of the musical sorcery. I
am not sure if we will wait another five years, but you can
contemplate that while you enjoy listening hypnotically to
‘Caledonian Black Magick’ repeatedly. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/IfrinnOfficial/
https://sinisterflame.bandcamp.com/
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I am new to
Ignitor here. I was a little surprised to see that this is no less
than their sixth full length record, since they hit the scene in
2004, with a self-released full length recording. Also of interest
to me, this EMP Label Group, which upon a little digging I came to
find out this is the record label run by Dave Ellefson from Megadeth!
Dave has quite an extensive roster of heavy metal, thrash, black,
death etc… bands, he is also in the process of reviving Combat
Records, as a sub-label to EMP. Anyway, sorry back to business at
hand, Ignitor I was interested to find out features a member of
Witches Mark and two members of Agony Column. Anyone remember Agony
Column? They made noise and some name recognition, as a Metal Blade
Records band, at the end of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Agony played
heavy metal mixed with southern rock, the music was pretty good I
thought, though the southern rock thing (visual and musically) came
off a bit gimmicky to me at the time. I would say Ignitor for the
most part, does not sound like Agony Column, it only really rears
it’s head for a moment or two on tracks like “Leather Forever” and
“No Sanctuary”. Ignitor is a different style of heavy metal and/or
old school power metal compared to A.C. To me, they are more akin to
the classic period of bands like Grave Digger (I hear them a lot as
an influence), Accept, Mercyful Fate and Judas Priest etc… The band
writes and performs, some very good catchy and weighty riffed heavy
metal, which is backed up with plenty of experience and maturity. I
really dug some of the stylish, tasty solos and guitar fills, which
are sprinkled throughout these emotive ripping songs. What really
pulls the whole album together is the stellar work by Jason McMaster
(original Watchtower vocalist), who gives a lively, soaring
tour-de-force classic heavy metal as fuck performance, bringing to
mind the vocals of bands like classic Grave Digger, Dio, Raven and
the like. The band wraps up the album with a very faithful and
energetic cover of Raven’s “Hung, Drawn & Quartered” which I found
quite enjoyable. This is a good album made for die hards of early to
mid 1980s classic heavy metal, nothing new here, but it is not meant
to be, it is designed to hold up the old traditional metal ways and
kick some ass while they do it. - Dale
https://www.emplabelgroup.com/
https://www.ignitorband.com/
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Ignivomous are
an Australian death metal band that has been around for over a
decade. But some of their members have been around a lot longer than
that playing previously or currently in infamous bands like
Abominator, Denouncement Pyre, Voidchrist, Inverloch, Accursed etc…
“Hieroglossia” is the bands third full length, which features eight
tracks of pure bone crushing death metal at it’s finest. The vocals
are heavy, guttural death metal growls that fit to the brutal and
vile aura of the music perfectly. The guitars are done with a mix of
slow, weighty guitar riffs alongside some faster bitingly aggressive
patterns. If you are looking for a band that plays a devastating and
intense unrelenting death metal style then do yourself a favor and
pick up a copy of this Aussie bands album when it is released in
November. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Ignivomous
http://www.nwnprod.com/
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The return of
Impaled Nazerene! My experience with this legendary UG band goes
back to almost to their very beginning. Impaled started out by
releasing demo tapes way back in 1991. I had my first encounter with
them when in late 1992 I purchased their “Goat Perversion” 7” EP,
which believe it or not still resides in my collection all these
decades later! That EP is one of my fave EP’s all time, it is so
amazing and showed the band turning up their audio sickness,
extremity and darkness to whole new levels that would be continued
with their debut album the next year on Osmose Productions. Around
this time frame I also tape traded for both of their ’91 demo tapes
as well and bought their first album straight away. So you can see
how much I am invested in this band since the early days. Yes okay,
stop reminiscing and move on to more recent times now. ‘Eight Headed
Serpent’ is the bands thirteenth full-length album, a new record
from Impaled has become more of an event in the more modern history
of the band, as this is just their second album in the last ten
years. While other veteran bands of the scene have matured or
expanded horizons or spread their wings and shit, or even got more
progressive and/or sold out for a period of time or for all time.
That is not Impaled Nazerene, not even for a minute, they only go
one direction and that is fucking intense, dark and diabolical! They
still play their patented brand of lightning speed black metal with
some of the most severe accents of raunchy punk and dark death
metal. It is an audio cacophony / tsunami if you will of violence,
and caustic sadism that dismantles, destroys and brutalizes
everything in it’s path! You know despite how barbarous their
musical blitzkrieg is, it has this memorable and infectious quality
to it still. This aspect is furthered through the main man and main
force behind I.N., which is Mika Luttinen (aka Slutti666) through
his amazing throat ripping and shredding vocals. Those vox manage to
convey unforgettable yet lecherous debauched cruel lyrics that
tattoo themselves to your brain like a creeping virus. He even still
employs (much to my delight) some of those same screeches and
bellowing beast growls I fell in love with in 1992 when I bought
that seven inch. As an extreme metal devotee going way back, how can
you ask for anything more than a band 30 years later that has stayed
so true to their roots and still deliver that fatal musical stab to
your heart?!! I say you can not ask or expect nothing more from this
legend band. I stand in reverence of Impaled Nazerene and worship at
their altar of darkness and evil. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ImpaledNazareneOfficial
https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/
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Impetuous
Ritual’s recent release Blight Upon Martyred Sentience begins like a
storm: the drums and guitar are thunder claps that ominously
resonate overhead as the atmosphere approaches like a noisy curtain
of rain tumbling into the composition. The ambiance is all
encompassing, enveloping you into a murky reality that will be your
home for the 43-minute duration of this album. Cavernous production
quality is a mainstay here, similar to the assembly of Teitanblood
and Grave Upheaval, although Impetuous Ritual utilize this aesthetic
in a way that is very much their own. They allow their instruments
and deep, intimidating vocals to seep through the mesh as the
listener gets to feeling more and more acclimated to the album’s
environment. The further the album progresses, the more the
listener’s eyes adjust to seeing the figures in the surrounding
darkness: shrieking guitar leads that are composed in such a way as
to feel tumultuous while still being tightly executed, for example.
In the track “Apoptosis”, this element occurs overtop the tenacious
drumming from Necros Craigos, which provides an extra layer of
dimension to sink into past the outer layer of the overbearing
production quality. Then comes one of my favorite tracks on the
album, “Synchronous Convergence”, which bears similar attributes,
but arrives at a point where the listener feels completely oriented
to the established setting of the album. Vocals come through clearer
on this track, the guitar work is slightly more distinguishable from
the mixing, and the drumming feels slightly more methodical.
“Sullen” winds the album down to its near closing with a slower
approach to the familiar characteristics of the album, and rings a
foreboding bell to cue the finale. Overall, Blight Upon Martyred
Sentience is a fantastic album from the Australian atmospheric death
metal band that has been consistently unleashing exceptional albums
onto the scene since their conception. – Aaron
https://www.facebook.com/ImpetuousRitual/ https://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com
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My history as an
Imprecation listener goes back a long, long way. It stretches back
to the early/mid ‘90s, when I was an avid tape trader (I had regular
traders all over the globe) I traded for the bands “Ceremony Of The
Nine Angles” 1992 demo tape. I was getting so much stuff back in
those times, it took a really good band to stand out for me, which
Imprecation did with their distinctive brand of blackened death
metal just dripping with atmosphere. I have been a fan of
Imprecation’s early works ever since. Imprecation was active from
’91 to ‘95ish(?) I want to say, and then as many old bands do they
reformed around 2009. I must confess having said all of that, I have
not followed the re-incarnation of the band as closely as the
original incarnation, of which two original members remain, that
being the vocalist and drummer / keyboardist yet the band sounds
very much today like they did back then. So, also not to worry when
you see keyboards, they are no where near wall to wall and are used
as a sparsely, used as an accent for added atmosphere which, in my
opinion, this is the only way they should be used in extreme metal.
The music on this release is damn good, dark & sinister death metal
that drips with a gloomy, necro aura alternating with speedy tempos
and gloomy slower sections. The vocals of this band courtesy of Dave
Herrera (Christ Dismembered, ex-Bahimiron) are that evil roiling ‘n
broiling growl with that certain tonal charisma underneath, which
only a small percentage of death metal vocalists just naturally
possess in their voice. Yeah, the vocals fucking kill…period! Which,
then in turn helps result in a tremendous record that I am proud to
place in collection, alongside their now classic compilation album
Theurgia Goetia Summa. Die hards that love dark death metal done in
the ancient tradition need to get this as soon as possible. -
Dale
https://imprecation666.bandcamp.com/
http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/
|
 
I was and am a
big fan of this veteran bands demo tape “Ceremony Of The Nine
Angles”, which was released in 1992, which I tape traded for not
long afterwards. The Texas band went on to release another demo and
an EP, before calling it quits in the late 1990s. However, you can
not keep true metal demons down forever as they reformed in 2009,
and have been terrorizing the UG scene ever since. The news on this
band is not all good, as “In Nomine Diaboli” is the final recording
of founding member and drummer / keyboardist Ruben Elizondo, as he
unfortunately passed away in 2021. Imprecation continues to stay
true to the mighty and strong roots they set down at the start of
the ‘90s this album. They still produce primitive, dark and gloomy
death metal with that great old feeling that hits me with
headbanging pangs of wistfulness and fury. They have always used
keyboards as an accent, like a horror movie soundtrack for added
effect in the background and they do it well. The drumming on here
is a strong backbone for the band often transitioning back and forth
with the music, transitioning from a brooding beat to flurries of
ripping whiplash. Which also reflects their songwriting as a whole;
it has a very ominous aura running through mid-paced simmering that
eventually always gives way to short yet powerful bursts of neck
wrecking speed. Another strong trademark of the bands patented sound
is the shadowy, obscured and darkly emotive growling vocals of Dave
Herrera. If you are an old fan of Imprecation or just a worshipper
in general of ancient styled primal and sinister death metal then
this will no disappoint. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/imprecationtx666/
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/
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Australia's Impious Baptism is a one-man band consisting of J. Who
is no stranger to creating and playing in quality metal bands. In
the past, J. Has performed with the legendary Destroyer 666 and Destruktor
before creating Impious Baptism. Impious Baptism is filthy, raw old
school blackened metal with some death metal influences in the
guitars. The music features uncompromising whirlwind fast guitar
riffs with some really well played riffs and solo's that stay in
the fast/mid paced range. The drumming is in the same vein as the
guitars, fast pummeling with some mid-pace breaks. J's vocals
are raw, deep growls and screams. Fans of early Beherit, Sarcofago,
and filthy raw old-school black metal should check out Impious
Baptism today you won't find another band/musician playing the
style better then J. and Impious Baptism.
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/impiousbaptism
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
|
Brazil’s
Impurity were one of the first black metal bands from this great
countries scene. “Into The Ritual Chamber” was originally released
in 1996, but if you have the original cd or cassette, do yourself a
favour and get this one as well, as Greyhaze and the band have
included 7 bonus songs on here. If you are new to Impurity, like
myself and you are a fan of the early days of black metal then you
definitely need to get on this now. The songs are played with mid to
fast paced guitars that are all over the place, in terms of both
skill and intensity. The drumming is in top form, going from fast
and chaotic patterns, to more controlled middle paced beats. It is
no surprise this classic early material has gotten once again. -
Patrick
http://impurity.bandcamp.com/
http://greyhazerecords.com/
|
“Ritual Chamber”
was Impurity's second full length that was originally released in
1996, now Greyhaze Recs. will re-release it on vinyl LP and
cassette formats (this same label re-released this album on cd about
five years ago).The music is played with tremendous skill and
ability. The guitars are done with semi fast guitar passages and
some slower mid paced patterns. The guitarist does write and perform
some memorable guitar passages, they even add in some well done
solo's throughout the album. The vocals are gruff, raw screams and
some whispery talking type of vocals are used in a few of the songs.
This release was remastered from the original recording to give it a
more clear sound without loosing any of the bands classic raw evil
style. If you are or were a fan of Impurity, one of Brazil’s first
black metal bands, then be sure to pick up a copy of this classic
album Greyhaze. - Patrick
https://greyhazerecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.greyhazerecords.com/
|
Billed by the
label as death/black metal, In Hell sounds like a band coming into
its own sound by fits and starts. At times they remind me of
Diabolic or Monstrosity, especially in the blast-beaten,
Floridian-inspired sections of their songs. Vader comes to mind as
well, with the amount of super-fast alternate picking they do over
certain rhythms. They add a bit of melody here and there with a few
freezing black metal riffs that do not detract from the heaviness -
this is essentially a death metal band playing with diverse
influences. The vocals excel at being monstrous, and weirdly enough
remind me a little of Abhorrence/old Amorphis vocals - sick, low,
gurgly, yet with good diction, with a more hurried and spastic
delivery. Occasionally an impressive (because that shit ain’t easy
to do, trust me) super-high scream is added, along the lines of the
singer from Razor - a shriek which Dani Filth from CoF has emulated
time and again, just so you know what sound I’m describing. Often
the band plays what I affectionately call “circular riffs,” which
means you can easily windmill-headbang to them, hair whipping like
fuckin’ crazy! Or in my case, just my head. I’m fuckin’ bald. While
France may be more notable for its contributions to black metal
overall, there are quite a few excellent death metal bands active
there right now, and this is one of them. – Andrew Parrish
https://www.facebook.com/inhellofficialband
http://www.mystykprod.com/
|
While not all
things created by or out of the pandemic, and the ensuing lockdowns
(which Italy was well known for early on) are necessarily bad. As in
this case with In Grief, that sudden shutting out of the world and
lack of movement helped create this interesting band. They are a
trio that is very active in the UG scene as their ranks features
members currently or formerly of bands like Necro, Congenital
Deformity, Yakisoba, Vulfehrie, Profanal, Black Oath and more. In
Grief produce some excellent, emotive and heavy death doom metal
straight out of the early to middle ‘90s. The guitar work and
songwriting is extremely poignant and they get that classic guitar
sound down perfectly, not just sound but tuneful intonation of it
all. The vocals are excellent and just reek of early nineties Nick
Holmes, and that is good thing because I love his vocals from that
period. In fact, I was just listening to the “Gothic” album while
grocery shopping yesterday by timely coincidence. There is no
denying the heavy influence of The Peaceville Three (Paradise Lost,
My Dying Bride & Anathema), especially the early works of all three
bands, with Paradise Lost’s first few releases weighing in the
heaviest. The bio also mentions the classic “Clouds” album by Tiamat
and that is spot on reference as well with a lot of the emotional
notes and cadence of the music and vocals. On the song “Demons” they
suddenly employ clean vocals throughout the majority of the song,
and they are decent but... Now I know this is just my personal taste
and hang ups, as I love doom death and I also worship classic clean
doom metal with clean vocals (you know ala Sabbath, Candlemass,
Solitude Aeturnus etc…). But, I am not a fan of either style mixing
in growled vocals or clean vocals outside of a maybe a line or two,
once in a while. As once you start doing that you move more into the
category of the later works of Katatonia, Novembre or hell once
again the Peaceville Three, but the later albums, it starts to feel
like doom goth, ‘and I don’t like that’ as the Grandpa said in Lost
Boys about his TV guide labels ripping the cover hehe. Okay I got
that little nitpick out of the way, it did not however manage to
affect how much I enjoyed this album. If you enjoy or even
borderline worship like me, those classic death doom bands mentioned
then you will love this, it is so well done and dripping with
talent. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ingrief/
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com
|
Should be “Lame In
Stereo”. I liked this once (as in formerly) black metal bands demo “Isle
Of Men” back in the day. Now they are no black metal, hell they are not
even metal anymore! This sounds like the new Ulver disc minus the
industrial parts. Maybe the two bands are incestuous lovers!? Would
explain a few things.
- Dale |
One of the longest running and most respected death metal acts
returns after a six year silence. Wasting little time the members of
Incantation start the assault on Vanquish In Vengeance with their
trademark heavy, fast guitars that will leave you breathless and
begging for more. John McEntee's death metal growls/vocals sound
amazing and fit Incantation's brutal style perfectly. The production
is done really well, not as raw/primitive as early Incantation
releases but also not over-polished/produced like so many. If you
are a long time of these death legends well take a sigh of relief
Vanquish In Vegeance is pure Incantation in all their death metal
glory!! it's great to see bands staying true to their roots.
-
Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/incantation
http://www.listenable.net/
|
After the demise
of his previous band Sadistik Goathammer, H.O.E.V. vocals / bass (Interitvm,
ex-Henosis, ex-Hellbutcher) decided to put that war metal band to
rest and move forward to create a this new entity as a trio with
Grunenwald (Henosis) on guitar & C.R. (Cannon Fodder, Qebeth) on
drums. Indoctrinate was started in 2019, then ran into problems as
apparently they recorded the material on this album three times over
before getting the desired result, which of course caught the
attention of Unholy Prophecies who signed the band straight away and
released the recording as the bands debut full-length. I have never
heard Sadistik Goathammer, who released a couple demos and a few
split releases, S.G. was purported to play war metal, but obviously
I can no compare the two bands styles. But Indoctrinate do play a
very primitive and bestial death metal style with hints of black
metal intertwined throughout. The guitars are a mix of crushing
heavier mid paced riffing and some crazed chaotic faster sections.
The guitars are extremely fast and aggressive. The vocals are
old-school death metal growls that possess some real power, along
with well done vocal arrangements. The vocalist does use some gruff
screams in a few tracks. If you enjoy chaotic and primitive South
American death metal then definitely be sure to pick up a copy of
this Chilean bands debut release. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/UnholyProphecies666/ http://www.unholyprophecies.com/
|
We have the
newest album, from this Floridian band, which has been around since
the mid ‘90s. Inferion play a brutal, yet tuneful brand of black
death metal, they never forget the dominating brutality. But also, a
large part of their sound is elements of melodic death metal, which
as it was taking shape in the middle 1990s, which of course was when
the band was born. As far as the melodious side of things goes,
think of stuff from the early days of Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy,
Carcass “Heartwork”. But all mixed, with a lot of biting riffs and
speed, the Polish band Behemoth comes to mind quite often with this
element of their sound. There are moments, of slower brooding music,
but it is usually surrounded by high velocity violence, the same
could be said about the more melodic elements, which rarely dominate
things, and are used as more of a prominent accent, an approach I
appreciated. As I am not the biggest melodo dm fan, generally (with
some notable exceptions), so the fact that they use it to add
dynamic and depth, to the greater aggressive whole, pleases my
sensibilities. There is some cool guitar solo / fills, peppered in
here and there, the drumming is epic, and the vocals are a classic
mixing of black and death growl and rasp. If you can not tell, I
quite like this album; my only complaint is it is nearly an hour
long, it does tend to drag in the middle, heading towards the
finish. That would be my only gripe that, they could have easily
shortened tightened things up, cut some material here and there,
maybe eight to ten minutes worth, and had a more focused, sharpened
album. But honestly, that is a nitpick; otherwise this is an
excellent album most black death fans would get into. Check it out.
- Dale
http://inferion.bandcamp.com/
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
|
Well then try
saying that labels name three times in a row quickly. I am guessing
it sounds a little smoother if you actually speak Polish. We have
some more American styled death metal from Poland here. Infernal
Death play in the tradition of Incantation, old Death, Resurrection
type death metal, but I also hear hints of countrymen Vader in that
sound. All the lyrics are sung in the bands native language, the
growling vocals are very deep, so I am not sure a lot of the time,
that it would make that much difference. I am sure it is smoother
and more natural for the band to write and perform though. This was
originally released in 2011 by the band itself, but WMP Records
re-released it with their demo tacked on the end, the sound
discrepancy between the album and demo recording is huge and jarring
at first. But the demo tracks are really pretty cool. Nothing to
amazing or special here, just some good solid death metal for the
fanatics, who can not get enough of this genre. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/infernaldeathpl
http://www.wydawnictwopsycho.com/
|
The first thing
that springs to mind is for a one man band, just how full and
fleshed out the sound is. As well as how competent that one man must
be at all of his instruments. It definitely takes some vision for
one person to map all of this out and execute it. I guess technology
these days helps you do this sort of thing more easily than in the
past. Infestus play slick black metal in the newer way, generally
speaking that is not something that interests me overly much. When
they are so overproduced like most modern black metal and melodic
death style bands, it just seems to lose much of its originality and
feeling and starts to feel more like a product mass produced rather
than being built on emotion and feeling (see a Famine for an example
for the opposite of Infestus). As I said I can really appreciate
that one man managed to put this all together, but that alone does
not necessarily make this a great album. It is just an okay album
for me and that is all. – Dale
http://www.infestus.com/
http://www.debemur-morti.com/ |
Grindcore with death
influences from the Czech Republic. This is a cool album of straight on,
head down grind with maniacal vocals. The production on here is very
solid and fits to the music. 18 tracks (12 on the cassette version) of
music that is not thrilling but solid and enjoyable nonetheless. See
Shindy address elsewhere. - Dale
Tentamen Records,
P.O. Box 61, 67801 Blansko, CZECH REPUBLIC
|
Innana is yet
another band from the plentiful South American UG metal scene and as
with the band Suppression I just reviewed originates specifically
Chile. They present to us their third full-length album, and I
believe their first release with Memento Mori. The band produces
some top shelf death metal that displays superb musicianship and
well seasoned songwriting. The lyrical content seems often center
around the great writer H.P. Lovecraft and his intricate fascinating
lore, which seems to rightly provide a fertile breeding ground for
metal lyrical inspiration. It feels like this album has some of just
about everything and it all is done with a high skill level and a
true penchant for strong, memorable musical composition /
construction. I mean do you want breakneck speed brutality, do you
want headbang riffs, do you slower moody sections, do you
technicality and creative songs, do you want smoking guitar solos?!!
If any or all of that is what you crave then in the immortal words
of a infamous rock band ‘if you want blood, you got it’ with this
album. It will make your ears and your mind bleed! It is no mean
feat to include all those stylistic elements and not come across as
convoluted, too cluttered or just be a musicians wankfest. Yet
Innana has an ability to bring you all of these things without it
sounding too busy and impressively everything has good flow to it,
which is kind of everything to me, when attempting to combine a
seeming dichotomy of elements. I am honestly kind of blown away at
how good this album is, this band deserves more attention, so buy a
copy and I am confident you will be singing the bands praises just
as I am. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/inannametal
http://www.memento-mori.es/
|
Scotland’s
Iniquitous Savagery have released their debut cd, filled with a
cacophonous brutal metal assault. The guitars are extremely well
played and written, with both heavier riffs and some semi-technical
faster parts. The drumming is done with a lot of fast, speedy drum
patterns, but the drummer does know how to slow it down to a more
midpaced range, before going into hyper blasting speeds. The
vocalist employs some nice deep death metal growls. If you are a fan
of brutal death metal, then you will definitely want to give
Iniquitous Savagery a listen today. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/iniquitoussavagery
http://www.grindethic.co.uk/
|
Inquisition
probably are a band you will totally fall in love with or you will
hate with every fiber of your being. I don't think their will be
that much in between. The music is in the vein of early to mid 90's
european black metal and is not horrible but I have heard much
better and the vocals are annoying and don't really fit the music. I
personally would say pass on this band as Hells Headbangers have a
lot more great bands worth checking out. This is a re-release of
their 1998 debut album. Also Hells Headbangers have out the US
version of their new album Ominous Doctrine… – Patrick Schroeder
http://www.myspace.com/inquisitionusa
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
The South
American band that has changed locations, changed musical styles,
and has survived amongst the sea of underground black metal
artists. This newest release from Inquisition reminds me of late
90's black metal. A solid production really helps this album. While
I don't like to compare bands in reviews, the vocals and many of the
music aspects remind me of latter day Immortal. Froggy vocal
delivery, time changes, memorable riffs, etc. At the end of the day,
I always ask myself, would I listen to this again? In Inquisition's
case, the answer would be yes! - Mark Sugiyama
http://www.myspace.com/inquisitionusa
http://www.moribundcult.com/
|
A dual debut,
the first album of the band and the initial release of Forgotten
Path, with both entities hailing from Lithuania. Despite this being
the labels start up release, they have not gone the cheap route, you
get a beautiful looking digi-pak with a sixteen page booklet inside.
Inquisitor are billed as progressive black metal and they have a
penchant for epic length songs, all but one clock in at over 9
minutes long. I think I would call them more of a straight symphonic
metal band, as honestly there is not much in the way of black metal
elements and the music is not that dark. I would say only the vocals
which are dark whispers with a hint of the bm croak underneath would
be your only link to that style of music. Inquisitor employ a lot of
piano and keyboards, but I will at least say this much for them,
they do not fall into the trap of so many bands of letting the synth
dominate the mix and drown out the other instruments. The song
structures as you might guess from the self professed progressive
moniker, are quite avant-garde and free flowing. It is no secret I
am not the biggest fan of keyboards, but I will give Inquisitor
credit for employing them in a tasteful way that furthers the song
development. They do not come across as forced, in the old we need
to be atmospheric so we will insert and force them in in unnatural
ways even if they do not fit the song structure or mood. I suppose
the only thing I can fault the band for is with the length of the
songs. It almost seems like in order to keep it all free flowing at
times, they let some of the songs meander on a little longer than
necessary. Not normally my cup of tea very often, but The Quantum
Theory of Id managed to win me over to an extent, it can be an
enchanting and addictive listen. I think fans of things like
Arcturus and the like might find this of interest. The bio states
“The CD is released under ‘Creative Commons’ license – you are free
to copy and share the music without any commercial purposes”. So
apparently, if I understand correctly, if you find this review of
the band interesting, as long as you use for personal use, you have
permission to go find it and download or copy it. –
Dale
http://www.myspace.com/inquisitorlt
http://www.forgotten-path.lt/
|
Hells Headbangers have done it again and found another lost gem
within death/thrash scene from years past. This time it is
California's Insanity 1994 debut Death After Death, the band could
not have picked a better band name with their sound. They mix in
crazed thrashing guitars and drumming that is chaotic but also well
played and written patterns. The band do change it up with some very
somber, slow instrumentals that are really well done and show that
this band is not all about the brutal and speed aspects of metal
playing. The vocalist is gruff with more cleaner screams that fit
very well with both the music and the gruff vocals. Fans of late
80's, early 90's U.S thrash/death metal should definitely like this
release a lot if you missed it the first time around.
-
Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/oldschoolinsanity
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
California's
Isataii return with their second full length release, one of two
this year alone for this prolific band. The album features nine
songs of savage and brutal black metal at it's finest. Wvlfgar
handles all the composing and writing the music for the band. For
the most part the music is played with extremely fast and raw
guitars that are done with a skillful writing ability. There are
some slower, mid paced guitar passages intertwined within the songs.
The drumming is done with hyperspeed blast beats that are performed
with real intensity and some violent patterns. Lord T handles the
vocals which are a mix of harsh and evil black metal screams and
screeches. There are some gruff screams and growls used in a few of
the songs as well. Isataii with “Invoking In Darkness” have
unleashed a great full length release that should please all fans of
chaotic and brutal black metal. - Patrick
www.facebook.com/Isataii/
https://plaguedemon.storenvy.com
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com
|
‘Garden Of Rot’
is the prolific Isataii’s third full length release (and second
album this year!), which features seven songs and a run time of 36
minutes. The music on this new release is still traditional black
metal that Isataii is known for. But the music seems more controlled
and mid paced in the delivery than their last album. Each song is
crafted and composed with a great writing ability. The guitars are
played with some extremely well performed mid paced gloomy passages.
The guitars do speed to a faster pace throughout some tracks, which
helps to give each a song it's own identity. The vocals are raw,
grim black metal screams and deadly screeches. Isataii has released
another masterpiece of black metal showcasing the bands ability to
create traditional, straightforward yet ominous black metal music.
- Patrick
www.facebook.com/Isataii/
https://plaguedemon.storenvy.com
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com
|
Insatanity is a
band that started out in Philadelphia in 1992, where they released a
series of demos and their debut album, eventually the main man Chris
Lytle moved down to Florida and filled out the band with a new line
up. That line up is a veteran one featuring current or former
members of bands like Amon, Brutality, Catalysis, Malevolent
Creation, Perdition Temple, Inhumanity, Protogenoi, Dark Disciple,
Polterchrist, Pyrexia and Bloodmessiah. I remember hearing
Insatanity's 1995 “Unholiness Rising” demo tape and their debut
full-length 1996 “Divine Decomposition”. After that release I lost
contact with the band, but it is great to see the band still
releasing quality blackened death metal. “Hymns Of The Gods Before”
is the newest release contains seven original songs and a cover of
Deicide's “When Satan Rules His World” (which is interesting since
they have a member of Amon in the band). These musicians play a good
mix of black and death metal extremity. For the most part the
guitars and drums are played with extremely fast patterns, but they
do add some injections of slower, mid paced structures mixed into
the music. The vocals are really demonic black metal screams and
death growls that fit Insatanity's music perfectly. The cover of
“When Satan Rules His World” is played extremely tight and is good
with a powerful sound. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/insatanityofficial/
https://cdnrecords.com/
|
Insidious Omen
are from Canada and more specifically from the area I grew up and
spent the first 25 years of my life. So immediately the band peek my
interest. As near as I can tell this release was released as a 7
inch vinyl a couple years ago and there has been nothing added on
here as bonus. The recording definitely reminds to me to some of the
old low-fi recordings from the late 80s and early 90s before
everyone could record on their computer and use that pro tools shit.
Those that love a crisp, full sound on their releases will
immediately want to avoid. Think of Blasphemy on their Fallen Angel
of Doom record, where it sounds like they are in a cave and someone
is holding a microphone in the air outside the cave. I like it and
some of my fave old releases sounded much like this. I mean who does
not love early Beherit and the like?! There are only 3 songs on here
but they are long songs ranging from the 8 to 10 minute mark. I
think I have also thrown out some comparables to give you an idea of
their sound. Like I mentioned early Beherit, Blasphemy, Conqueror
possibly mixed with a little more ambient sounds and interludes ala
Acheron on Rites of The Black Mass, though without the incantations
and evocations. They also employ some more somber, reflective
sections in between the bombardment. I enjoyed this and I am sure
ardent fans of the warring metal style will also, but at the same
time this is far from essential stuff.
– Dale
http://insidiousomen.blogspot.com/
http://www.ahdistuksenaihio.com/
|
These boys hail
out of The Netherlands, offering us up their debut ep, it is called
an ep, but all the same it clocks in at 27 minutes which is nearly a
Deicide album haha. I guess their local label really believes in the
band, to be releasing something by them as their first ever official
release of any kind. There are apparently no demos or anything to
speak of prior to “Catatonic”. I will give them this, for a band
just releasing their debut there is clearly some talent and skill on
display here, which kind of belies the bands age. Insurrection play
melodic death metal with some thrash underpinnings. The band write
some good riffs and melodies, the drumming is spot on, and the
vocalist I really enjoyed, he reminds of the some of the great
distinct growling vocals of the early to mid 90s. I must admit,
there are times listening to this, where I find myself thinking damn
that is really good there, and then it fades too soon. I think they
probably could use a little more of something to get more yield out
of this section or that section. Maybe this speaks to them still
having some room to improve in the writing and arranging department
and that should hopefully come as they mature as a unit. Because the
talent is most certainly there, the quality raw material and ideas
are there, it just needs a little refining and tweaking at times by
my ear. My only other complaint is I think I would have enjoyed this
even more, if the production was not so clean and sanitary, their
sound and style would really benefit from a little grimier, slightly
obscured, slightly dirtier sound. Having said all of that, this is a
good debut, and I am sure like a fine wine, the band is only going
to get better with age. - Dale
https://www.reverbnation.com/insurrectionofficial
http://www.bigbadwolfrecords.nl/
|
I dig the
Vincent Price movie clip intro, following that with we are hit with
some raw blasting guitars. If you want to know what Intoxicated are
all about lyrically and as a band, it is simply all about
fornication, alcohol and Satan! So turn your crosses upside down,
swig from a bottle of Jack in between puffs on your cigarette and
keep on fucking your bitch in the ass. The music is an amalgamation
of straight up ripping metal (at times reminding me of the riffing
on Kill ‘Em All melted together with early Motorhead) mixed with
raunchy and loose punk rock chaos. It is really just a good time
listening to this album, kicking back and just have fun headbanging.
So check it out if that sort of thing does it for you. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/intoexicated
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
|
I had heard this
Florida bands name many moons ago, but I figured this is probably a
different, newer band now under this name as well. You can imagine
my surprise when I found out this is the same band! Intoxicated
started out in 1992 (!!!) yet did not put out any recordings until
their 1996 demo tape, followed by a full-length self-released
recording in 1997. I have not been able to find anything on them of
them ever breaking up, but all the same they did not release any new
recordings for 23 years! Most of the members were in a band called
Pain Principle during this time who were somewhat active during that
period, so that likely had something to do with it. Yes, if you read
my reviews very often, you know I am really into band histories and
cross pollinations and the like. Another bit of my endless trivia is
this album was recorded in Morbid Angel’s old rehearsal studio,
which was “rehabbed and converted into a state-of-the-art studio” to
record this great sounding album. I know, finally on to the music,
Intoxicated manufacture old school deathrash with a smattering of
crossover thrash tendrils that weave in and out of their music at
times. With the experience level of it’s members it is no surprise
that the well thought out songwriting sounds very mature and smooth.
It is catchy and memorable times yet always keeping it’s eye on the
chugging heaviness of it all. Despite my talk above of maturity,
adept song construction and skillful playing, make no mistake this
album at times just flat out rages and you can headbang like a
maniac to it! Being from Florida that is where I hear a lot of
influences from with bands like Death, Malevolent Creation,
Obituary, Monstrosity, Brutality with hints of the aforementioned
crossover stuff like early Nuclear Assault, early COC, DRI, Cryptic
Slaughter and the like. Vocalist Erik Payne puts in a whirlwind
performance on the mic, with a fiery and forceful display of classic
death and thrash vocals of the storied days gone by. I am not sure
if all readers know the man behind Seeing Red Records is also behind
the great Redefining Darkness label, but he has been hitting it out
of the park lately and has great taste in music, as evidenced by
this killer record. Check it. - Dale
https://intoxicatedflorida.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.seeingredrecords.com/
|
 
It was a nice
surprise to receive this disc in the mail. I was a fan of the band’s
first two records, especially the second one “Berserk Artillery
Barrage”. So much so, on the strength of that record, we interviewed
them in Canadian Assault back in the print days, believe it was
issue 6 or 7. Despite it being about 15 years since then, the band
has picked right up where that second record left off, continuing
with that style / sound that made me like them. Invasion has melds a
large dose of catchy melodicism within death metal extremity, but it
feels like they may have turned said ingredient up even further on
“Destroyer Of Mankind”, as this record is as catchy as all fuck. I
still hear that early ‘90s Swedish death metal guitar sound and
style I love so much, however I feel like they toned that element
down a tad, with other influences from the same time period via
other parts of Europe (ala Bolt Thrower, Benediction, early
Sinister) and the US have asserted themselves more prominently.
There is a little more refinement in the material, aside from the
high tunefulness mentioned above; there are some great underlying
guitar fills and patterns that are pure class. I can hear an example
of it right now, as I write this, on the killer song “A Satisfying
Death”. Main man of the band bassist / vocalist Peter Clemens has
his death growling pipes in fine form, as he puts on a commanding
performance consisting of mostly decipherable bestial growling,
which is sure to frighten even a raging bear into turning tail. I
see Peter is still obsessed with World War II, as with past albums,
it is largely or even solely based upon that epic war. I can not
blame him there is a ton of material to be mined (no pun intendec)
from that war, and as a bit of a classic war buff myself, it is the
war I probably find the most fascinating as well, not sure if my
grandfather fighting in that war and on D-Day might have something
to do with my personal interest in the subject. But Invasion do it
justice, the lyrics on WWII are passionate and visceral (with
various audio clip samples to aide in setting the scene), even
rather moving and has me reaching for my Band Of Brothers dvd set,
since it now has an alternate soundtrack courtesy of Invasion. Well
done boys. - Dale
https://invasion2.bandcamp.com/ http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
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Invertia are a
two man band out of the New England metal scene. The music is a
blend of metal riffs and industrial music .The
guitars are heavy, with some mid paced riffs in their own style. I
hear a little black metal influence, but mostly death and industrial
as the mainstay. The guitars are fast with some breaks in there at
times. The vocalist has some raspy screams, with some deeper death
growls, personally I wouldn't listen to this all
that much, but there are some good songs and great riffs to be
found. If you’re a fan of death metal, mixed with
industrial, you should check this one out. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/invertiamusic
http://www.ohmresistance.com/
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I have not
listened to bands like Immortal Fate, Morbid Saint, Onslaught, early
Sadus, Necrovore, Death Hammer, Morbid Angel “Abomination Of
Desolation” or early Incubus in a good while. However, all of those
bands are old staples in my collection that I played the shit out of
back in the day. Invincible Force out of Chile brings me right back
to those great days (late ‘80s thru early ‘90s), when fast, violent
thrash bands were just starting to incorporate this new thing called
death metal into their sound. Now, some just went full death metal,
but bands like I mentioned above kept their in-your-face fierce
thrash as their foundation, while incorporating some dm brutality
and slight growling into their musical and vocal repertoire. I was
making this same transition as a speed, heavy metal & thrash fan
myself and this was an exciting and exhilarating time for me, like I
know it was for many other now old metal goats in the scene today.
Invincible Force obviously also worship those times and bring them
back in perfect reproduction here and do so with skill and a boiling
passion! This is a style not a lot of bands are doing these days, so
I can see old fans of that time period loving the hell out of
"Decomposed Sacramentum", it will wreck your neck, that is for
certain. - Dale
https://invincibleforce.bandcamp.com/ http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/
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Chile's
Invocation return with a brand new six song EP that is filled with
classic and well performed death metal. The drums are done with
powerful and heavy mid paced patterns, which display a lot of skill
within the playing. The drummer does speed to a faster more extreme
style at times in contrast to that middle pacing mainstay. The
guitars are done with some well composed and executed guitar
passages that follow suit with both heavy mid paced guitar parts,
but also do speed to a more faster, chaotic realm at times. The
vocals are mainly old school weighty death metal growls, as well as
some vicious black metal screams are used in a few of the tracks.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/INVOCATIONChile
https://ironbonehead.de/
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Due to line up
changes and obvious stretches of inactivity, this is actually their
first album, to be released in just over ten years! Ion Vein plays
really pounding, heavy power metal style music, with some prog
elements. For me, a prerequisite for this style is to have a very
good singer; I will just say I think Ion Vein chose well with their
new vocalist. He is not a siren exactly, but is smooth and clear,
has decent range and has that intangible, un-teachable charisma to
his vocal style. This band is about song flow and driving energy,
which I think is why the progressive sounding elements and technical
bits are spread out and used judiciously. As when bands go heavy, in
those areas, it inevitably interrupts the flow in song writing and
the ability to just rock. Which, as I stated, are clearly important
elements for Ion Vein disseminate. The songs rock, but are varied,
possessing emotional segues and hot nuanced guitar fills, that
really give you something to grab on to when not just nodding in
headbang. This is a fantastic record, which I really enjoyed; I
would recommend it to fans of things like Queenryche “Operation
Mindcrime” or Fates Warning. - Dale
http://www.ionvein.com/
http://ionvein.bandcamp.com/
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Are you a fan of
crazy noise (or as sometimes referred to as noise core) in the vein
of Agathocles, Unholy Grave or Anal Cunt? If yes, then you will
probably like IPV then because they are right up that up the same
anal cavity, maybe a touch sloppier and looser though, but still
very similar. There are a few other bands that I am tempted to cite
as influences to give you a better idea of their sound, but I
hesitate, as outside the first song on here those other bands have
heavier death metal sounding guitars and mix in bigger doses of dm
and grindcore into their noise. I do like listening to stuff like
this once and while, but not often, it can definitely be an acquired
taste, even for extreme UG metal fans to get into. But, if you do
like powerviolence and noise with some grind thrown in to the
musical tornado you might want to check out this tape. The packaging
and everything, as always with Doomsday’s Today is top notch and
professional looking. Feel free to send orders of physical copies of
this tape to either of the following: Doomsday Today Records,
Eternal Darkness Creations, c/o Keith Dempe, PO Box 268,
Coraopolis, PA.
15108 and also thru Ralph's Records, c/o Doug Stapp, 3322 82nd St.,
Lubbock, TX.
79423, USA
http://www.RalphsRecordsTX.com - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ipvgrind/
https://ipvgrind.bandcamp.com/
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Iron Fire are
back, with their eighth full length to date, featuring twelve songs
of power metal mixed with traditional heavy metal. The guitars are
written and performed with a lot of skill and maturity, presenting a
lot of class and interesting patterns. The guitars range between
faster and more controlled mid paced ranges, with some very well
composed and great sounding solos mixed into the music. The drumming
as well is top notch, with a varied drum style going from a
semi-fast drum style and sound, to a more mid tempo style. The
vocals are a mix of screams and hollering, to a more well sung,
heavier power metal vocal fashion. This album is a really good power
/ heavy metal band, so if you are a fan of this genre, then be sure
to pick up a copy of this album today. - Patrick
http://www.ironfire.dk/
https://shop.crimerecords.no/
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I did not
realize just how long this Danish band has been around, not to even
mention how prolific they have been as well. The band started out at
the very end of the ‘90s releasing a demo, and then released two
albums on Noise Records, followed by no less than five more albums
on Napalm Records. Which brings us up to the current day with
‘Beyond The Void’ being the bands 9th full-length and
second album on Norway’s Crime Records. I have say this heavy /
power metal band has a lot of tools that are of very high quality,
from the excellent raw material, to the superb song crafting, to the
individual members skill and on down to the actual performances on
this album. There is very little that I can critique here, I mean
even the vocalist is fantastic and his smooth vocals are performed
with very good control and impressive range. This album has just
about everything you hope for in a power metal record with catchy
songs, memorable lyrics, some great riffs, brief smoking guitar
solos and powerful drums. The only even slightly negative thing I
could say, and is this even negative when it is just personal taste?
I wish at some points they kept things ripping along on the heavier
side of things and did not include some of those slightly commercial
hard rock touches here and there. Beyond that, I can not say
anything besides this is an impressive record that should please the
hell out of die hards of German heavy / power metal ala the best
material from bands like Halloween, Grave Digger, Running Wild etc…
- Dale
https://ironfire.bandcamp.com/
https://shop.crimerecords.no/
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Shadow Kingdom
Records has a very track record with me, we seem to be on the same
wavelength much of the time with regards to old school heavy metal,
thrash and doom in particular. So, this time around they introduce
me to the United Kingdom’s Iron Void, by presenting us with their
third full-length album. Iron Void come more from the epic late ‘70s
/ early ‘80s heavy metal and doom marriage side of things, along the
lines of bands like Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, Pagan Altar, Realm
Builder type of style. As opposed to the more crushing, heavy
classic doom sounds of stuff like Black Sabbath (not that every doom
band on the planet doesn’t possesses a little Sabbath because they
do), Trouble, The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Solitude Aeturnus approach.
Within the doomy, somewhat downtrodden and musically triumphant
context, I.V. manages to write some very memorable and infectious
melodies that enchanted my ears. I also love it when, every now and
then, for a brief spark like in the song “The Grail Quest”, they
just let their hair down and fucking rock out with a headbang riff
and ride it for a little stretch. That element, when worked into the
valiant yet laidback mainstay vibe really stands out and adds, like
I said, a certain spark or dynamic; I would not mind them doing that
a little more often. There is some really classy and thoughtful song
crafting here, all pulled together into an emotional and flowing
musical collective. As I am sure you guessed from the album title,
this is essentially a concept album that is re-telling the King
Arthur legend. It is up to you whether you like historical
re-telling albums lyrically or not. For me, it is a fair enough
backdrop to write your music around, but I am more into the music
itself and not the lyrics (maybe the intricate and expertly woven
stories in Game of Thrones have spoiled me on quality levels of
medieval tales), but they have done an impressive job of attempting
to write a soundtrack to that old legend. Because, musically
speaking the album succeeds by transporting you, on a flowing epical
journey of doomy heavy metal goodness. If you are a fan of style I
described above you should definitely give this classy piece of
artwork a listen. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/ironvoid/
https://www.shadowkingdomrecords.com/
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