This is listed
as an ep on the vinyl version in some places, but this thing is 31
minutes long roughly, some would argue that places it firmly in the
mini-album or even album category. But never mind that, I dear
readers am in rapture right now listening to this hidden gem! Anyone
who knows me well knows I absolutely worship hard rock and doom from
the 70s like Captain Beyond, Lucifer’s Friend, Deep Purple,
Pentagram and the like. Well I can now add The Time Lord to that
list of albums! This is an amazing collection of demo recordings
from 1978, the recording and atmosphere / feeling of on here just
screams of that found on those 70s recordings from the bands I
mention above. Just amazing, flowing doomy 70s hard rock with that
classic sound that makes my head spin. The vocals of Terry Jones are
pretty killer and just bring me back to that time, a lot of emotion
and sincerity in his delivery and they perfectly compliment these
brooding, rocking tunes. Just have one listen to songs like The
Black Mass and Reincarnation and if you are not hooked than you have
no taste you wretched bastards. Thank you Shadow Kingdom for
releasing this dusty piece of audio gold! If you are into 70s rock &
doom, just get this right now son. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/paganaltar
http://shadowkingdomrecords.com/
|
|
It has always
been a bit of touchy thing with a lot of the metal community when
combining metal music and folk music. I would say more so than not,
as opposed to a lot of other genre mix ups, because by essence,
maybe it is just because bands can not do it successfully. But more
often than not instead of adding folk elements to extreme metal,
they water down the power of the metal to meet the flowery carnival
feel of folk music. Paganland have definitely fallen into this trap,
the heaviness and bite in the metal riffing on Wind Of Freedom has
been stripped away and removed. What is left behind are happy
sounding riffs with fairytale-like rhythms and harmonies, the riffs
join the fairies in dancing through the tulips. You might think with
this style they would find a way to retain some heavy in the riffing
and at least give it an epic feel, sadly none of that here. The
vocals follow suit, a lot of them are just those bold half-spoken,
half sung clear voice vocals, almost like a Shakespeare actor was
told to sing on a rock song, then you have the ever so slightly
growled vocals, but somehow they have stripped all the anger, all
the intensity, all the weight from them and what is left is this
thin, pathetic and powerless imitation. I have failed to mention the
usual florid renaissance fair sounding synth, the bits of flute, the
samples of wind, and the whole nine yards. This album is a fine
example of why folk music and metal just do not mix, you have to
kill the heart of one or the other style or both to combine them,
maybe there is a way but many years down the road, we see it
littered with countless failed attempts, throw Paganland on the
pile. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Paganland.UA
http://www.svarga.eu/
|
I remember I was
at a Spirit Caravan / Place of Skulls gig back in I think it was
early 2002. I was with a buddy John and he introduced to me to a
couple guys, we talked a bit and they seemed cool, he said they have
a doom band called Pale Divine, you should check out their demo. I
always meant to do just that and check out this band, yet I somehow
never got around to or crossed paths with them again. Now finally a
decade later, it took a long damn while, but our paths have indeed
finally crossed once again. I must say I immediately expected a
heavily Black Sabbath influenced crushing doom band, but that is not
quite what I got. They are a heavy metal band with galloping fast
sections but also that doom element is surely present throughout
their sound, just not as much in that really heavy ponderous way.
There are some tasty leads and fills dancing their way in between
the spaces of the riffing that got my attention and received
enjoyment from. I could be off but I get a Corrosion of Conformity
vibe both pre and post that band going in a doom metal direction.
The vocals as well remind me of a mix of both Karl Agell and Pepper
Keenan from C.O.C. on their great Blind album, but with less range
and emotion, also I hear an undertone of newer James Hetfield in the
singers voice. I have to honest the music on here is great but I am
not too big of a fan of the vocals, they are the weak link. I guess
that is possibly why the opening track “Nocturne Dementia”, a nearly
seven minute long instrumental is my fave track on the album. No
vocals to mess it up. There are sections on here musically that lose
my interest or are a little boring, but overall the music on here is
pretty killer. I think if anyone reading this does not think they
will mind my description of what the vocals sound like, then you
will probably find an awful lot to enjoy about Painted Windows
Black. I would say it is well worth giving it a try for the emotive,
classy guitar work alone. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/paledivine
http://shadowkingdomrecords.com/ |
HAHAHA! It is hard
to believe anyone at a label would even skim thru my ‘zine and send this
to me! Imagine Jewel or something blended with The Gathering - fuck this
awful radio shit!! - Dale
|
So apparently
this is a promo disc to promote the upcoming album, which is set to
be released on Pagan Records (on a side note good to see Pagan still
going strong, I remember when the label first started with cassette
tapes). Pandemonium of course is a band I know pretty well, the
mention of their name harkens me back my tape trading days in the
early to mid 90s. I remember trading for dubs of their rehearsal
tape and classic “Devilri” 1992 demo tape etc… Hell yeah! I honestly
had not realized or known that the band had changed their name to
Domain from 1995 to 2004, releasing three albums then changing the
name back to Pandemonium. I thought they had just split up. This
promo also celebrates the fact that Pandemonium has been around for
20 years now; you have to fucking respect that. We get two new
tracks on here plus some vids for the computer to watch old live
tracks. I will stick to the two new audio tracks for this review. As
mentioned there are only two new tracks on here, “Black Forest” and
“God Delusion”, so not a lot to go on. These two fresh hymns I can
tell you are excellent. It is total old school death and black metal
that permeates the skull with malicious yet catchy dark riffing. You
just do not often hear stuff like this these days. I know old school
heretics will enjoy this. The vocals are two different sets, one
sounds like the muted emanations from the rotted vocal chords of a
zombie and the other is a mix of maniacal yells with a hint of black
metal rasp. Both sets of vocals are excellent and add a mood and
atmosphere to the music all on their own. It has been a long wait
for me to hear new Pandemonium material and I must confess it was
worth the wait. Prepare to be devastated! New album entitled
Misanthropy out soon, I can not fucking wait!! – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/pandemonium_pl
http://www.paganrecords.com.pl/ |
Finally after a
huge package of promo discs graciously sent my way by Gods Ov War,
much respect for this label. I have at last arrived at the crown
jewel, which I purposely saved for last, always save the best for
last. I have been anticipating this album for some time. Pandemonium
are not one to disappoint, they prove why they are one of the best
and are leading the way for the Polish metal scene! As some will
remember from my review of their promo, I am long time listener and
fan of the band as I tape traded for their Devilri demo back in the
early 90s and loved it. These Polish maniacs are old school metal
through and through and all I have to say to that is fuck yeah! The
atmosphere on this record is fantastic, very dark, doomy and eerie
death metal that is often mid paced, always placing an emphasis on
emotion and the overall listening experience. They have not set out
to be the heaviest, fastest or most brutal but they do set out to
immerse you in a metallically heavy experience and create a world
that is steeped in evil, in depression, in darkness and despair.
This is some masterful stuff, it is hard to just single out the
riffing or the drums or the vocals as Pandemonium have created this
entire album as a whole, an experience, not just a collection of
cool songs or killer riffs. You can not just pick out one song, the
listener should either listen to the whole album or not at all. I
mean sure the doomy riffs are great, the obscure excellently varied
vocal performance is good, the drumming is well done and crafted in
a minimalist way to make sure the song and not the performance is
what is important, but none stick out above the other and it was
designed that way. I wish more bands were able to achieve something
like this these days. I would not call this music retro but it
always feels like it has an old school vibe to me, maybe that is
more due to the musicians coming out of the old school and it is in
their blood rather than a conscious projection. I am honestly having
a hard time finding words for this album, it is a journey and a
journey I plan to take again and again. I recommend some albums, but
I place this one in the must own category. Pandemonium truly have
out done themselves. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/pandemoniumhorde
http://www.paganrecords.com.pl/ |
|
This release for
me personally is my introduction to this Finnish black metal
collective. Which has been around for a decade now, and this is a
good introduction to the band as it is a compilation album
consisting of their demo, two EPs, a split EP and an unreleased
track. The demo and EPs, span from the bands beginning in 2010 to an
EP from 2018; so a pretty full look at their progression to date (no
full length albums as of yet). Honestly, I could feel the
development from the first song to the second; from the same debut
demo as the band seems to have quickly found the footing of their
sound. Which has a strong second wave black metal base, but they do
like to slow things down by adding some gloomy epic atmospheres (to
the point of sounding creepy King Diamond-ish in some moments) to
the arctic aggression. They also keep some of their riffing a little
heavier with a wee bit of gritty chug, compared to a lot of bm bands
in this style. Pantheon do seem to have some skill and feel in the
song building area on when to transition between these sounds and do
so smoothly. The fifth track off of their split EP (with Creatura)
sees them stretching their reach again by adding new elements to
their guitar style and a dark death metal style growl on top of
their usual raw, caustic rasping seen from the band so far. The
final four songs from their newest EP “Pugatorial Awakening” sees
them taking that raw, catchy riffing and streamlining it a little,
the second wave bm influence is still vaguely present, though fading
a little into the woodwork with the band focusing more on the
emotive atmospheric tones and haunting melody. I have to be honest,
I find myself starting to miss some of the rough, cruel more evil
edge of the earlier material. I feel like the synth and harmonies
are taking over a little too much, for my liking personally, so I
would pass on this one myself. But, maybe that is more your cup of
tea? Either way, this is a release for the completist Pantheon fans
and/or certainly a good way to thoroughly introduce yourself to this
band if they have piqued your curiosity at some point. - Dale
https://pantheonofblood.bandcamp.com/
https://signalrex.bandcamp.com/
|
Coming to us by
way of Germany is Paradox. I have to admit it took me a couple
listens to get acclimated to the vocals of Charley Steinhauer. At
first I really did not care for them but they continue to really
grow on me. They sort of have a raspy and ballsy quality to them.
Though you can hear Charley trying to be a power metal style clean
singer and most of the time he hits his mark. Just going on face
value and not scratching the surface this band appears to have it
all. They are talented, skilled on their instruments and write some
great riffs, along side some nice solos. So what is the problem?
They just seem to lack the natural feeling and instinctual flow of
what makes a good song. They need an architect in the band to flesh
things out and that appears to be missing. There are times when they
go too fast or not fast enough when the song is begging for the
opposite. Then there are times when they have a good thing going.
Then cut it short and get in a big rush to cram in an unnecessary or
out of place section / transition. Some of the really clunky lyrics
contained on this album do the songs no favours either. I would say
all of this will come with time if it were a young band that got
signed too quickly. But Paradox has been in existence for 20 fucking
years!! Ouch…
– Dale
www.paradox-bangers.de
www.afm-records.de
|
Brazil’s
Pathologic Noise have released their second full length, to date,
through the great label GreyHaze Records. Pathological play a mix of
mid ninties brutal death metal, with touches of today’s brutal death
metal sound, and even some slam parts within the guitars and
drumming. The guitars are played with a lot of speed, and there are
some very well written guitar patterns on display, as well as some
nice solos mixed in. The drumming is done, with a lot of crazed and
complex drum arrangements, but the drummer is not afraid to let
loose and use some blast beats in a few sections. Give it a listen.
- Patrick
https://myspace.com/pathologicnoiseband
http://greyhazerecords.com/
|
|
 
Pazuzu rise up
out of the mountainous and often picturesque country of Costa Rica
and have been plying their trade as a band in the UG metal scene
with releases since 2017. This tape is a compilation of sorts, it
includes all of the bands tracks from their various split EPs over
the last few years (plus a bonus live cover of Nihilist’s “Carnal
Leftovers”) for a total of just over 30 minutes. Pazuzu produce a
very morbid and macabre death doom metal style of music. Their sound
while extremely brutal is also produces a really suffocating and
oppressive atmosphere that is both punishing and compelling to
listen to I find. The doomy parts are crushing and steam roll the
listener slowly into dust, but when they do speed things up you can
really headbang to it too and just bleed with it. The recording and
the music is extremely raw and primeval, which really suits the
music and helps create a gloomy aura. That aura calls back to some
of the early classic bands and albums of the genre (Autopsy, Grave,
Immolation, Rippikoulu, Disembowelment, Abhorrence etc…). They
definitely wear their hearts on their sleeves with some of their
influences, but I am okay with it when it is done this damn well.
Considering these tracks came from three different releases that
came out over a period of a few years, it all comes off feeling very
cohesive and I enjoyed it a lot. It makes me want to pull out some
of those classic to listen to some more. This is a really good
looking release, it comes on silver cassette with a beautiful fold
out (like a mini-poster size) 12 page booklet. But I believe it has
been limited to only 201 copies, so you better get on your horse and
ride quickly to make sure you can secure a copy of this excellent
release. You can thank me later. - Dale
https://pazuzu.bandcamp
https://nihilistic-webzine-distro.fr
https://nholocaustrecs.bandcamp
|
This album was a
nice surprise and threw me off guard a bit. This Aussie outfit play a
very clean classic ‘80’s heavy metal in which I hear influences of bands
like Warrior, Iron Maiden, Manowar, Savatage (“Hall Of The Mountain
King” era), Halloween and maybe a slight mixing in of Demon, Thin Lizzy
or something in that range. Pegazus love epic riffing and up tempo, epic
sounding songs with flavorful, classy guitar solos. The vocals are great
piercing, siren like as they glide across the air with a silkiness.
Vocalist Danny Cerati brings vocally bands like Manowar, Iron Maiden,
Saxon, Gothic Knights and Lethal, not gruff just clean textured vocals.
Pegazus are great musicians who have put together a great album that all
heavy metal maniacs of old can shake their studded fist to as they sing
along with the catchy choruses. Nice... - Dale |
I was a very happy
puppy to receive this, I love this band (as evidenced with their
positive review in issue # 1 and interview in # 2)! The only way I could
be happier would have been if Damnation, would have sent me the double
vinyl version. Beggars cannot be choosers as they say! Before even
listening to this I rate Pentacle as one of the best ever out of
Holland, among such bands as Asphyx, Achrostichon, & Sinister /
Monestary. Pentacle have altered their sound slightly and have come out
(production wise) with a sound very close to early Celtic Frost without
ripping anything off. This band is made up of metallers that were around
when metal exploded and started Pentacle itself in the last part of the
‘80’s. They start things off in fine fashion with a killer intro, it is
an excerpt from an audio bootleg from the 1985 World War III festival in
Montreal, Canada where Tom Warrior yell’s “Let’s go crazy!” Then the
music kicks in, pure cult thrash/death metal from the heart, played with
utmost conviction. This is what Celtic Frost may have sounded like had
they carried on with the style of their first couple releases! The
production compliments the music beautifully, clear and raw. Due to the
heavy suffocating & distinctive guitar tone from start to finish the
songs have to work that much harder to identify themselves from one
another, luckily Pentacle is up to the challenge. God, I can’t believe
this still, I am getting some of the same feelings I had when I first
listened to stuff like “Morbid Tales”, “In The Sign Of Evil”, and “Fear
No Evil”. Only one listen is needed to “Yielding The Scepter Of Flesh”,
“For I am Chaos!” and “Scythes” to feel the excitement lit by this
album! I cannot end this without mentioning the cover of cult Chilean
undergrounders Pentagram on their “Spell Of The Pentagram”. If you can
listen to this song and not headbang then don’t look at me and call
yourself a metalhead!! - Dale
|
Perdition Temple
have released their second album here on the mighty Hells Headbangers. The band play a very solid form of violent blackened
death metal. The guitars are handled by Gene Palubicki (ex
Angelcorpse) and Bill Taylor, who really know how to play extremely
fast black death metal, with some crazy riffs and solos mixed in.
The vocals are performed by Impurath (Black Witchery) with some
excellent raw black metal screams and deeper growls. If you are a
fan of mid-nineties black / death metal scene, then you should give
this band a listen today. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/perditiontemple
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
|
Gene Palubicki (Blasphemic
Cruelty, ex-Angelcorpse) is the mastermind behind this band that was
started back in 2009. ‘Sacraments Of Desolation’ is the bands third
full-length, which contains eight songs of uncompromising and
intense blackened death metal at it's best. The guitars are played
with both an abundance of skill and the experience behind it showing
through. The guitarist does write some well executed guitar
passages, even adding some well accomplished guitar solo's. The
drums are played at a hyper fast speed with some very well executed
drum patterns. The drummer does slow to a more mid paced range in a
few of the tracks, before going back to the non stop explosive blast
beats. The vocals are grim death metal growls with some gruff growls
and screams used in some of the songs. If you are familiar with
Perdition Temple’s past work, and liked it, then do yourself a favor
and pick up a copy of this new album you will not be disappointed.
- Patrick
https://perditiontemple.bandcamp.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
I like the look
of this band in their pics, the song titles and lyrics etc… they
just remind me of the mid to late 90s black death metal. Back when
when the bands wore their sound and philosophies on their sleeve.
They did not give a fuck and did not feel a need to attempt to
present themselves as more pseudo-intellectual, cultured elitists.
No this is a big fuck you, fist to the face type attitude. Permanent
Midnight come more from the dark death metal side of blackened metal
like if you mixed old Autopsy with Blasphemy and Acheron or
something equally diabolical. I want to say that I might hear a
slight epoch of Grand Belial’s Key in their demo days on here too,
but I am going back and forth on that comparison. The music is
rhythmic, it is haunting and hypnotic, yet disgusting and sick at
the same time. There is synth on here, to be honest I am not sure
this album really needed the synth, but much of the time is not that
in your face and other times it does compliment the necrotic raw
music in a simplistic yet very catchy and cryptic way. Yes okay it
is kind of rough and raw around the edges, which is something I
rather like both in my music and my women. I definitely recommend
this for fans of the bands I mentioned above. This recording is
actually old and the material was written from the late 90s through
the early ‘00s but never released until now, even though
unfortunately the band is no more we are left this little legacy to
enjoy. I recommend you to checking this one out. I was surprised after writing most of this review to
realize these guys are from roughly the same area of Pennsylvania
that constitutes my current stomping ground. Which is cool. Also one last note you can
watch videos of one of the members of this band on youtube drunkenly
reviewing specialty craft beers, while black metal plays in the
background, they are pretty awesome, just search pabrewnews and then
order this disc. - Dale
https://myspace.com/truepermanentmidnight
http://www.themetalunderground.com/
|
This Chilean
horde are probably best known for their 2008 full length Cult of
Destruction. Perversor have returned with this five song EP of
blackened death metal released on Hells Headbangers (US). The South
Americans seem to have a knack for coming up with metal in that old
school, down and dirty vein. The recording is dirty enough to retain
that underground vibe but clean enough to make out all the
instruments. The vocals remind me of that talk/whisper/heavily
effected black metal style. The guitars harken back to more of a
thrash style - reminiscent of Slayer mixed with early death metal.
This is good shit. \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ (4 out of 5)
– Mark Sugiyama
http://armour.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
Pestifer have
unleashed their debut album of barbaric and brutal South American
death metal with some thrash elements intertwined in the guitar
sound. The guitars are played at a high rate of speed with some well
written and played patterns. The guitars are mainly played with
non-stop riffs, but the guitarist does slow up to a mid paced range
in a few songs. The drums are played with fierce and violent drum
beats that are mainly blast beats with some slower drums mixed into
the music. The vocals are raw screams and some deeper growls here
and there. If you are a fan of well played, barbaric death metal
with some thrash elements mixed in, then be sure to pick up
Pestifer’s debut cd today. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/pestiferofficial
http://www.lavadome.org/
|
|
I like when
record labels band together to produce, release and promote a single
band together, it is great for all involved in my view. Just to
clear up who is doing what you have Nuclear Winter releasing the CD,
Sentient Ruin is co-releasing the vinyl and Goat Throne will unleash
the cassette version of this album. The riffing and rhythms on this
release while always staying heavy and brutal have this
infectiousness to them, it is done in quite an alluring and
interesting way without crossing over to what I would call melodic
territory. I can not remember hearing very many bands do this, at
least in this way and maintain such an ominous and morbid atmosphere
to their sound. The overall music tends to operate at a temperate
speed with rhythmic pounding drums that are hypnotic especially in
concert with the winding serpentine structure of the riffing. The
drumming is a more prominent and driving force on ‘Bason Gryphos’
than you will find with the majority of their contemporaries. It is
interesting to me that Pestilength can create music that is somehow
so driving and intense yet the pacing is largely slow to middling
with just the occasional speedy outbursts, which often come from the
percussive portion of this horde. The vocal performance on here is
pretty impressive as well, the amount of gloomy and creepy emotion
put into those growls is notable keeping them that obscure and
severe yet having more range than you would ever expect. This is
some superb vocal work in my view on this recording. If I had to
describe their music it would be dark and evil death doom metal and
it comes highly recommended from me. I do not get to review a lot of
bands from Spain these days, but Pestilength is doing that UG scene
proud and representing well. - Dale
https://pestilength.bandcamp.com/
http://sentientruin.com/
https://nuclearwinterrecords.com
|
Here is the
remastered and re-issued (originally released in 2002) of
“Slaughtering The Faithful”, from Baltimore’s Pessimist. The band
plays a very heavy, and aggressive style of death metal. The guitars
are played with a lot of speed, and aggressive riffing that is well
constructed, as well as some nice solos mixed in a few tracks. The
vocals are heavy death growls. For the readers who may have this on
cd or cassette, may still want to buy this disc, as there are some
bonus tracks including the “Summon To Suffer” demo, and a few “live”
tracks, which are very good quality. If you are a fan of Pessimist,
you will definitely want to get a copy of this cd today. -
Patrick
https://www.reverbnation.com/pessimist
http://www.obscuremusick.com/
|
|
Chapters of
Depravity is this Los Angeles, California band’s second full-length
album featuring eight songs uncompromising crushing death metal. The
guitars are done with a lot of skill showing some well written and
performed guitar arrangements. The guitars are mainly played with
fast pacing, but the guitarist does slow down to a more controlled
mid-paced always possessing relentless brutality. The vocals are low
death metal growls that further highlight the extremity of the
music. I would say if you are a fan of primitive, filthy old school
death metal degeneracy with some creative writing skills mixed in
then do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of Pestilent Death’s
newest attack. - Patrick
https://pestilentdeathofficial.bandcamp.com/
http://www.bloodharvest.se/
|
Wow, what a bio,
evil as fuck, but let’s face it. 4 pages isn’t gonna score you any
additional acclaim here, you may actually lose some over it! We’re
busting our asses and we sure as shit don’t want them kissed! Let’s
stick to the meat and potatoes; meaning the music. PS are
Australians gone Scandinavian as EAD contains 3 releases, put into
one, all recorded in MMIII with Balam, Wraith, and Merrim. The
ungodly ‘The fate of all that Lives’ opening this CD up. This is
true ‘necro’ in sound as was Emperor’s ‘Wrath of the Tyrant’ (low
production, loud percussion, etc…) creating pure, early ‘90s BM
which is talented, melodic, hateful and most of all unique. Ever
hear that low-produced BM kick’s ass compared to high end
production? It’s true. Not too fast nor slow, this definitely
showcases some of the rawest, acidic infected vocals in BM,
separating PS from the pack of sound ~ alikes and trendies. This is
the shit, unlike “Part II: Embrace After Death”, and I may note that
although it’s a full length, we only have 3 songs here. EAD see’s PS
straying from their sound with higher, yet still infectious vocals,
yet more faster, like many other bands doing the same today. No it’s
not a repeat release of another band as they manage to be lost
somewhat beyond the perimeter spoke of in Pt I. The longitude of
each track is 7 to 9 minutes, so it sits fairly well, I’m not
complaining like a bitch still dominates the second entry. Fuckin’
“A” on the intros as well! The drawback is the bonus EP, “Putrify”,
done in MMIV. This is when Pestilential threw themselves in the same
sound as everyone else. It’s likeable because it’s included with 1
and 2, and yes, this trio’s headed downhill, especially when the
vocals lose their meaning. Buy this for the ‘cult’ worthy
recordings, because it’ll be gone next time around. Goatwarex shall
release tape editions and a full length as this CD is limited to as
many copies as they see fit, and such fans need only apply. Dying
and PS discography have much in common. Sight is the first, followed
by taste, then smell and you can hear everything up too the end;
catch my drift?
-
Clayton
www.antilife-plague.cjb.net
www.asphyxiaterecordings.com
info@asphyxiaterecordings.com
|
|
Denmark has been
such a sparsely populated country in the UG metal scene over the
past couple decades or so. I mean there are notable exceptions (ala
the mighty veterans Denial Of God), a fact which always surprised me
with their neighbor Scandinavian countries of Norway, Finland and
Sweden being unstoppable hotbeds for UG metal. But I have noticed
recently, like just in last couple or few years Denmark is making up
for lost time and seem to be exploding on to the scene with many
good bands like Deus Otiosis, Sulphurous, Undergang, Ascendency,
Deiquisitor, Konvent, Tongues, Septage, Shamash, Solbrud, Taphos and
more. Now I would like to add Phrenelith to that list, even though
they have been around for about five years as a band, it is more
recently they have begun to really make their mark and their second
album ‘Chimaera’ is here to really plant their flag. This band
conjures up some monolithic old school death metal with that great
‘ole suffocating necro atmosphere permeating everything, like so
many of the classic bands in this genre reveled in. Some influences
that immediately jump to mind for me are the early works especially
of Immolation, Incantation, Disciples Of Mockery, Autopsy,
Funebrarum, Banished, Morpheus Descends and the one lone Euro band
Grave. It is a great list of influences from bands I loved back in
the day and still love now. Phrenelith put all those influences in a
melting pot, sprinkle in some eyes of bat and tongue of demon to
brew their own doomy brutal death metal concoction that will burn
your ears, fry your brain and wreck your neck. Followers and
worshippers of the ancient death metal ways you need to check into
this band. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/phrenelith
https://nuclearwinterrecords.bandcamp.com/
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|
Make no mistake,
this band of ghouls from Greece have a deep affinity for very late
‘80s and early ‘90s Floridian death metal, and on “Portraits Of
Mind” it shows big time. I always find it interesting when overseas
bands adopt an American style of music. There is, much like the
earlier Death albums a classy, very musical guitar solo in every
song, generally worked in skillfully and seamlessly. As tasteful as
those solos are, and yes, as catchy and melodious as some of the
riffing is on here, they do try hard to strike a balance of making
sure heaviness and brutality remain a prime foundation of this
record. I say that, while admittedly still finding myself every now
and again saying no turn up the brutality and not the other way
around hehe. That is how I am wired. Plague also, especially in the
second half of the record slow things down a bit and focus a little
more dark, moody tones creating a bit of a somber atmosphere at
times. The vocals I enjoyed, as they are kind of obscure sounding
whispery dm growls with fluctuating aggression and dark brooding
pitch and tenor when the music calls for it. There is a strong
melodious aspect to possibly attract some melodo death fans, but by
and large, this album should really satisfy die hards of the old
Floridian death metal scene and we know there are many of those out
there. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/plaguegreece
http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
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Porta Nigra are
a German black metal band who will return in 2020 with their third
full length release. “Schöpfungswut” is six songs of well crafted
and composed music, which is rooted in Avant-Garde black metal, but
does add some of the bands own musical style to the sound. The
guitars are played with a high caliber of skill and experience
through past bands and Porta Nigra’s near decade of existence serves
them well here. The music goes from a fast pace to a more controlled
mid paced guitar style that fits the musical style perfectly. The
guitarist does perform some memorable guitar passages into each of
the songs on here. The vocals are a mix of death metal growls and
some black metal screams that are used throughout the release. I am
not the biggest fan of Avant-Garde black metal music fan, but Porta
Nigra has crafted a memorable and quality album here. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/PortaNigraBand
http://www.soulsellerrecords.com/
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My interest in
reviewing this release was based on how much I admired Spite’s
recent debut album. So, you could say Spite introduced me to
Possession and I now know that is a good thing. After a sullen
intro, we get two lengthy songs from Possession, which radiates an
extremely sinister and eerie atmosphere that is dripping with audio
sacrilege. The music is a black death mixture with median pacing,
and despite how extreme and dirty the music is, it also has a
beguiling quality to the memorable riffing that is an obscured dark
growling personification of evil! Good shit. Now on to the Spite
portion of this split, they take up roughly ten minutes of the 27
minutes on release with two songs, one of which is a 1995 demo track
cover of “Cruel Creator” from the band Manitú. Spite on their
original track (and title for their side of the split) for this
release continue along their strong path of mixing first wave black
metal ala Venom, Bathory with heavy doses of the early second wave
along the lines of the early works of Immortal, Root, Darkthrone,
Satyricon, Mayhem, Ancient Rites etc… I just worship this sound and
mix of influences, and as professed I am a big supporter of this
bands works, which continue in fine form here. I have been in the UG
scene for what seems like forever (early ‘90s onward), so I do not
miss a lot of bands, but I have missed the mark on Manitú, so I have
never heard this song they cover, but either Spite have put their
deliciously wicked spin on this song or Manitú’s material is similar
as this is a fucking killer track and fits in perfectly with Spite
malevolent sound.
A side note here for completists out
there and/or Possession die hards, this split is being released
simultaneously with a split with Venefixion on Iron Bonehead
Records, which continues this release from Possession with “Passio
Christi Part II”. I need to go listen to that one now myself, in the
meantime, this split is well recommended!
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/hisbestdeceit
https://invictusproductions.net/
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This is
interesting in that this band has been around since 1986! I have
never heard of them before though. Maybe part of that is due to the
fact they must have stopped doing the band or went dormant for long
periods of time. As in the last 27 (!!!!) odd years they have only
released 4 demos, one ep and one album, not including this one. Well
my hat is off to them for sticking to it all these years and
continuing to live metal obviously purely for the love of it. There
are some really solid driving riffs on here, they will get the head
nodding and the foot tapping. The vocalist is the classic thrash
gruff yeller type and he gets the job done pretty well. The pacing,
is a little slower than some of the thrash people might immediately
conjure up when reading this, it is not at break neck speed most of
the time. Some might even label it speed metal. There are some tasty
guitar fills on here and you get some cool old school gang sung
choruses here and there. I can hear similarities or possibly
influence in here of bands like old Testament, Sacred Reich, Prong,
later era Nuclear Assault and that sort of thing to give you an idea
of their sound. You know what I am saying that late 80s / early 90s
thrash sound when things slowed down a tad and maybe got a slightly
more accessible sound. It is not amazing, but all the same some
really good speed thrash metal from some metal motherfuckers that
have paid their dues and then some while never giving up on what
they love. - Dale
https://myspace.com/potentialthreatsf
http://www.osmrecords.net/
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Brazil has
always been hotbed, for extreme metal, and Power From Hell carries
on that tradition with their new release. They play a mix of raw
thrash metal, with early black metal influences, mixed into some of
the tracks. The guitars are done with a lot of raw energy, and
power, from mid-paced speeds to all out lightning assault. The
vocals are done, with a mix of early gruff death metal growls, and
some well placed screams. If you are familiar with Power From Hell’s
previous releases, then you know what to expect here. But if you are
new to the band, and are a fanatic for early 80s speed metal, with
early black metal influences, then this band you will want to hear
today. - Patrick
http://powerfromhell.bandcamp.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
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Greece has always had a strong black metal scene going back all the
way to the early nineties.
Principality Of Hell have delivered a mix of late eighties thrashy
black metal and some early nineties blackness to their style.
The guitaris are very catchy with a lot of great riffs
and solo's mixed together,
for the most part “Principality Of Hell” stay in the mid
paced range, but do speed up in a few of the songs.
The drums are well executed with some fast
drumming, but are mostly in the mid paced range, definitely some
great drumming on here. If you are a fan of the early days of black
metal, with some
influences intertwined, then you definitely want to check out “Principality Of Hell” today.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/PrincipalityOfHell
http://www.w-t-c.org/
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|
This is my
second review of an album released through Blood Blast, which is
connected to Nuclear Blast Records, where they help bands I guess
that they like (or is it just a straight hire out thing?) with
advice, PR and digital distribution. I would think there is going to
be some physical format releases as well, but I have not been able
to find any definite confirmation of that so far. This band features
members of Through The Eyes Of The Dead, Cognitive, We Are The
Romans, and Aronious (spread out across various points in the United
States). It is striking immediately how much skill we have going on
with the members of this band, and their years of playing and
extensive recording experience is immediately apparent. The band
plays extremely technical death metal that features some
exceptionally slick and skillful songwriting and song construction.
The fear I always have with bands like this, are they so fucking
techno oriented that the plot is lost with song flow, thus devolving
into a dick measuring wank competition. I am happy to say POYWTO
adeptly avoid falling into this trap, despite the massive
technicality on here, the songs have a strong musical current, they
are heavy and brutal and you can headbang to this shit for sure!
That last statement is one of the best compliments I can give a
techno death metal band in my view. There is a lot of cool variation
in the songwriting as well, they keep things really entertaining,
whilst being a total crush fest in the barbarity department. The
vocals of Shane Jost follow suit with the music, he brings a superb
and highly entertaining arsenal of deep brutish imaginative
growling, husky shouts, high pitched voices, squeals and lengthy
screeches that will pierce your ear drums and drop you on the spot.
He even sings all about Dungeons & Dragons, so that is a definite
plus too. This album is an extremely impressive debut that diehard
fans of bands Gorguts, Suffocation, Origin, Cryptopsy, Theory In
Practice, Nile, Necrophagist, Obscura and the like need to get
posthaste. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/POYWTO
https://poywto.com/product/ceremorphosis/
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This review in
some ways, for me at least is a foregone conclusion. As I am a
pretty die hard devotee going way back. In fact, it brings back some
feelings of nostalgia when thinking about ordering a cassette copy
of Weeping in Heaven with the live bonus tracks, back in 1992. What
an amazing release that was, it was just so sick, so evil and
drenched in black semen. Weeping… is still one of my all time
favourite releases to this day. So here we are almost 20 years
later! Holy shit I am old and so are these disgusting bastards.
Surely anyone reading this who has been in the UG scene for any
length of time already knows Profanatica and has a release by them.
Well let me tell you twenty years later nothing has changed, they
still sound more or less the same, and I am still loving it. It is
amazing after all these years that Paul and his minions keep going
and have not lost that sickness and still possess the same musical
putrid stench. I mean I have not seen any videos of Ledney jacking
off on the bible in a long time (my friend John actually filmed
that!). But I did see Profanatica live, I guess it was 5 or 6 years
ago now, and that was more than suitably vile to keep me under their
decrepit thumb for another couple decades at least. Keep on
Scourging and Crowning Profanatica! – Dale
http://profanatica.hellsheadbangers.com/
http://www.myspace.com/profanatica
|
I meant to
review this in a previous update, but it got lost in the shuffle
somehow. I am honestly not certain after looking at the Hells
Headbangers site if this disc has both of these releases only on the
promo version or if this a promo for these two separate vinyl
exclusive releases and not for sale on cd? If it is only on the
promo CD, then I feel fortunate to have received this gem of a disc!
Sickened By The Holy Host is a new 2012 double 12” vinyl release,
which clocks in at 39 minutes. We are treated to more twisted,
violent black metal ejaculate similar to what we heard on their
great Blasphemies…album. It is just a true whirlwind of hate and raw
music that all fans of the band come to expect and simply worship.
The Grand Master Sessions were released a couple years ago and only
available as a 3 vinyl (custom 8” eps – how sweet is that?) wooden
box set released back in 2010. This was actually recorded in 2008 as
they say live in the studio, it is archetypical Profanatica, coarse
vomit drenched and semen dripping classics, alongside some newer
songs and a really killer medley / conglomerate of 5 old hallowed
hymns that you have to hear to believe how sick and violent this
antichristian melding is. This release is billed as a perfect
supplement to the old Profanatica rehearsal demos from the early
90s. That sums it up well. If you are a big fan of Profanatica as I
am, you will love this, it celebrates the rawness and total black
metal blasphemy that made this band a legend in the scene. You need
these fucking things, must have for all scourging and crowning die
hards of the band! – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/profanatica
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
Very boring, slow
moving and symphonic light metal. The band are relatively talented but
could not write a good song to save their lives. 7 songs included and as
always with R.I.P. everything is nicely package and presented. - Dale
Promontory, c/o
Eugen Biryukov, Malo-Zavalskaya 2-2, 241008 Bryansk, RUSSIA
|
Great, great
death/grind band with brutality brimming out of every pore! Mostly fast
balls out death with blasting that kills but they also like to mix shit
up. Like on a extreme & brooding track like “Assembled By Death” or the
epic baseball bat to the head that is known as “Prophecy”. Excellent
start for this young label as the packaging and production is on par
with the music. Plus there is no denying the name Corpse Gristle Records
rules and just rolls off the tongue with style. - Dale
Corpse Gristle
Records, 3521 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 666, Dallas, TX. 75219, USA
website = www.corpsegristle.com
Email = hound@corpsegristle.com
|
Well that album
title is a mouthful. I bet they were patting themselves on the back
when they came up with it. From what I am just now reading
apparently this is a one man band from a guy that plays in Black
Funeral (I remember ordering their demo back in ’94, I did not
realize they were still active though). My initial reaction on the
first few tracks was some of this reminds me of Profanatica. Sure
enough the bio says the band are moving away from their past
Profanatica worship. I wondered if I just thought I was hearing that
since I had just finished reviewing the new Profanatica record.
Prosanctus Inferi definitely have that sound, but more of a
traditional death metal tone underneath the black blood affinity. I
think I hear a little early Morbid Angel influence going on in the
metal storm as well. It is a fairly monotone, one speed full ahead
type of affair, not that that is a bad thing. There is a certain
necro atmosphere on here that I like, reminds me a little of the
aura given off from the early works of Blasphemy or Incantation. You
know that sort of dark obscure hiss and suffocating feeling that
envelops you. The vocals are a rolling vomit unintelligible
murmuring and growl combination that melts into the background. Not
a lot of dynamics compositionally speaking on here, none too
original either yet somehow I quite like it. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/prosanctusinferi
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
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Psychomancer
stands for an individual who can communicate with the spirit world
and control the dead. This band of Psychomancer’s have controlled
the forces of the dead and channeled these forces into audio form as
“Shards Of The Hourglass”, their third full-length release. It
contains ten songs of well composed and written nimble yet brutal
death metal. The guitars are comprised of some interesting and
memorable patterns and the music itself has a mid tempo, but also
mixed some faster, more heavy fast guitars. The drum work on here is
really precise, controlled and extremely tight. The growling vocals
are very intelligible to pick out lyrics and have a really
commanding presence within the extreme music. If you are looking for
some really quality death metal with conviction then check out this
album as soon as possible and keep an eye on this record label that
seems to be starting to build up a solid résumé. - Patrick
https://psychomancer.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/orchestrated.recordings
|
Damn, Psychopathia
are a hell of a wicked slap to the face! Yes, my attention is at full
swing now! It is vicious, lightning speed, techno death/grind from the Czech
Republic. Hyper is a good word to use for this band and especially the
drummer who is a human whirlwind! They rip, tear and bulldoze thru 9
songs of nutsy material. I’m kind of speechless, I can’t seem to string
together any coherent sentences so here are a few more words that aptly
apply: heavy, brutal, catchy, technical, fast, guttural and top quality.
I DEMAND you order this by sending $5 US (for this pro-packaged album)
to:
Psychopathia, c/o
Ivo “Sam” Kapoun, Sladorni 1185, Kojetin 75201, CZECH REPUBLIC
|
Pulver rise out
of the German metal scene producing a really old, classic style of
hard rock and heavy metal hybrid, which will likely bring to mind
some of the earlier New Wave of British Heavy metal and hard rock
bands like Demon, Uriah Heep, Tank, Holocaust, Diamond Head,
Scorpions, Saxon, Witchfynde, Angelwitch etc… There is a dash of
Iron Maiden now and then, but generally the music here is not quite
as ripping and energetic as those bands I’ve mentioned above. The
singer, who is very prominent has this really laidback, lazy vocal
style that spreads across the guitars that are already chill and
routine sounding in their own right, creating sort of a sleepy sound
to my ears. The vocalist especially it feels like if you took a
regular heavy metal frontman, gave him a handful of Xanax half an
hour before the show and then shoved him out on stage. Dave Fröhlich
is a good vocalist, but I guess those vocals are just an acquired
taste, which I am having a hard time acquiring. Pulver are a
talented band, they write some very solid yet kind of generic songs
that I enjoyed, just not enough to really recommend this young bands
debut album. But I will keep an eye on them and die hards of NWOBHM
style that just want to get everything decent might still want to
check into this one. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/PulverHeavyMetal
https://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/
|
Fuck yes! An album
full of crushing, chunky thrash metal from the Bay area. No Bay area,
rehash tho’. Punisher take things in their own direction and spit out
some lethal catchy, ripping thrash w/ knockout punch drumming. Pat Toms’
vocals are deep and powerful and a little scratchy as they switch into
different tones and ranges. Now I will finish this with a apt quote from
their bio “Not interested in trends, Punisher offers up a potent brew of
musicality and brutality”. – Dale
Check or money order
for $10.93 US made out to Confusion Records at the following address:
4 Meyer Place,
Kentfield, CA. 94904, USA Label website =
www.confusion-records.com
Band
Email = punisher@flash.net
|
I am not sure
that I was even aware, that Putrid Offal was active once again, but
it does appear they are back together and on the scene. This release
however, is not new material, but rather a compilation of old songs
off of ‘90s releases. They are all tracks from old split releases,
which are probably not that easy to find these days. These songs
come from three separate split releases, one from a six way split
disc, the other two sets of songs are from 1991 split vinyls, one an
ep with Agathocles, the other a split 12” vinyl with Exulceration.
Which amounts to more songs than you might think, as there are 33
songs on here, including a couple cd bonus track covers of Nerve and
SOD songs. Most of you reading this, should know Putrid Offal,
assuming you have been around the scene for very long. But for those
that do not know, the band plays grimy, grinding, gurgling brutal
death metal. Which I personally find pretty fucking awesome and
brings back some good memories of listening to Putrid over 20 years
ago! It is a shame this band did not make more of a name for
themselves back in the day. Because they were around early on, and
were killing it, at a time when bands like Suffocation, Dismember,
Sinister, Entombed, Malevolent Creation, Immolation, Unleashed,
Grave… were just cutting their teeth and starting out to make a mark
on the scene. Honestly, Putrid Offal should belong, among those
names and it is surprising, in some ways they did not break out
bigger. I suspect, a few reasons for that, unlike most of their
brethren the band may not have been seeking record deals with the
many death metal labels out there at the time. Also, they were not
really that prolific, choosing it seemed to stick mainly with
releasing vinyl, and split releases, not to mention some of the few
releases coming out at the same time, had a couple of the same
tracks repeated on them. So maybe, the material was not there fast
enough, to consider making multiple albums and touring like their
contemporaries. Because these songs are really good on par with many
of the signed bands at the time. So as you can see, when thinking of
influences some that come to mind, were either just starting at the
time or came later on, so it is pretty hard to call them influences.
However, there were a few bands already making some noise in that
time period, which clearly had some influence here, with Putrid
Offal like Morbid Angel, Terrorizer and especially early (first two
late 80s albums) Carcass all come to mind. Either way, if you like
to get all the early classic death metal bands in your collection,
and have not yet discovered Putrid Offal, then do yourself a favour
and get this fucking thing posthaste! - Dale
http://www.putrid-offal.com/
http://www.kaotoxin.com/
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|
Baltimore seems
to have a thriving death metal scene these days and Putrisect are no
exception, adding that quality scene with their debut release.
‘Cascading Inferno’ is six tracks of heavy and dark death metal
largely played in the mid paced realm, but the musicians do speed it
up at times throughout the songs. The guitars follow along in the
middle pace territory while even adding some well written and
performed solo’s in some of the tracks. When the guitarist does cut
loose and rip along with some faster, chaotic patterns sprinkled
throughout the release. The drumming tight and strong with a mix of
crushing heavy beats that do speed up to a more intense hyper-speed
drumming patterns. The vocals are a mix of low death growls and some
screams used throughout a few of the songs. It is a good brutal
death metal album that fiends of the genre will enjoy. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/putrisect
https://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/
|
|
Disjointed
pieces of a formless whole punch you from all sides during the
initial moments of this album, immediately introducing the feral
nature of Pyrrhon’s approach to technical death metal. Now, when I
think of popular technical death metal, immediately what jumps to my
mind are cleanly executed complex guitar passages,
quicker-than-a-sudden-avalanche drumming, absurdly convoluted yet
controlled bass playing, and vocals that span variable ranges. I
find that many contemporary bands will be tech for tech’s sake,
though, kind of like as if these bands use this subgenre to produce
metal’s take on aestheticism. Pyrrhon does not construct their music
in so superficial a manner—quite the opposite. For example, one of
the most noticeable facets of What Passes For Survival is the depth
of the production quality—sonic hierarchies permeate the waters of
this album, at times punching you from all sides like I mentioned
occurs at the outset of the introductory track, and at times
sustaining a caliginous atmosphere into which you can dive and get
cathartically lost like in “Tennessee” and “Empty Tenement Spirit.”
My favorite track at the moment is “Trash Talk Landfill,” however,
because of how audible yet densely produced the composition is. Give
it a listen, and you’ll hear all of the complexities that you wish
to hear in a technical death metal album played with a formidable,
tangled, and determined momentum. This momentum does not rest for
several tracks either. You’ll think you get a moment to breathe, but
then Pyrrhon undermine that instance of peace by tossing you
straight back into the fray. What Passes For Survival quarrels with
itself and its listener if he/she does not succumb to its oftentimes
erratic, but always-vigorous and spirited energy. It’s a
challenging, yet very much so rewarding listen. I highly recommend
this album for anyone that enjoys technical and progressive
constructions of extreme metal, but also relishes a heavy fucking
dose of ruthless brutality. – Aaron
https://pyrrhonband.bandcamp.com/ http://www.willowtip.com
|
|
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
|
Hailing from
Sweden this band has been dormant for 16 years since the release of
their debut album “Aelin”. What have the band members of this trio
been up to all these years you ask? Well, two of the members carried
on with another more prolific band, by the name Mortalicum who have
released four albums in the meantime. I seen an interview which said
some of the material on here is from many years ago just after the
debut album. Anyway, enough background, on to the music which I
would probably call epic heavy metal or maybe even dipping into the
epic hard rock territory (ala Queensryche “Operation Mindcrime”
vibe) with slight doom touches. I would say their sound is a very
niche one, even among heavy metal fans, it is focused into the
smaller dedicated cult following that worship bands like Cirith
Ungol and especially Manilla Road. Which, for some heavy metal fans
might be a little too laid-back, chill and introspective for what
they normally go for. But for those of you that can get into that
this, it takes you down a reflective emotional path, where you can
enjoy just getting lost in the flow and letting the currents gently
guide you down this musical journey. I mean there are brief moments
of get up and go, such as the opener “Daughters Of Eve”, where the
tempo is turned up a little and there is a cool brief energetic
solo. But make no mistake, the mainstay pacing and atmosphere is
definitely even keel and unhurried, just easy going. I mentioned
Queensryche on “Operation Mindcrime” earlier; I would also throw in
the moodier sections of Fates Warning “A Pleasant Shade Of Grey”,
now I am referring to those records vocally here. The performance of
vocalist Goran Jacobson reminds me at times of those records, not
that I would put his range as a singer on the level of Geoff Tate or
Ray Alder, but those mid-range, spoken/sung parts and feel from
those guys. Anyway, probably not getting my point across here very
well and rambling, the vocals are good, how about that? Haha. The
record itself is good too, nothing mind-blowing by any means, maybe
even a bit of an acquired taste too but I enjoyed it. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/quicksanddream
www.cruzdelsurmusic.com
|
|
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
|
After I read the
label bio, though I read those with a grain of salt, I really thought I
would dig this record. Radakka play hard rock w/ slight metal touches
with a very commercial flavor. I don’t like the pretty melodies and
harmonies, despite their claims in the bio, they are going for
accessibility. Most of the songs are close to radio friendly. They have
the odd cool riff and are good musicians but it is wasted on here and I
don’t think too many, Canadian Assault readers would appreciate this, so
I won’t waste any more space on it. – Dale
|
Radiation originally split up in 92, but performed a reunion show in
October 2010, after a great response and the band had a blast they
decided to reform. After twenty plus years Radiation Sickness
release Reflections Of A Psychotic Past, which is comprised of 19
songs of metal/punk crossover style music. Personally I'm not a huge
fan of this style {it's not bad just never really got into it} but I
do respect bands that they do their genre justice and Radiation
Sickness definitely know how to write and perform catchy, memorable,
aggressive songs. They keep their songs short and to the point
ranging from a minute and a half to three minutes in length. So if
you’re a fan of cross-over style music definitely check out
Radiation Sickness.
- Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/radiationdoug
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com
|
This is a little
different from most of the Swedish stuff these days. However, they do
owe a slight bit to the Gothenburg scene but are far too vicious and
heavy to placed there. They are not death/grind either, Raise Hell are
too up-tuned and thrashy for that. This release sticks out like a
welcome sore Scandinavian thumb. No virtuoso playing or noodling, just
break ups of catchy rhythmic guitar riffs in between blitzkrieg speed
blasts, it is this contrast and the great execution which prevail and
impress for me. The only thing is the band photos are nearly exact
copies of Dismember’s “Pieces” ep photo session (i.e. - black pants,
bullet belts, spiked wrist bands, no shirts & dripping blood down their
torso’s). A highly recommended, thrashing metal platter. – Dale
|
Ravencult wastes no time going straight for the attack with their
brand of barbaric blackened thrash whirlwind guitars intertwined
with a barrage of non-stop drumming. The band does slow down
throughout a few of the songs to give both the band and listener a
chance to catch their breath before attacking again with a barrage
of brutal riffs and beats. If you miss the sound of the early days
of black metal when the bands kept their sound simplistic yet
effective and evil then Ravencult is a band that should impress all
old-school maniacs.
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/ravencultbm
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
This is my first encounter with Portugal’s Ravensire who play an
epic, traditional style of heavy metal. ‘A Stone Engraved In Red’
consists of seven songs of very well crafted and performed heavy
metal greatness including a very well written and performed
instrumental song. The vocals are sung with a lot of powerful
screams that fit to the bands style to perfection. The vocalist does
also blend in some stylish more melodic, clean vocals at times
throughout the songs. The guitars really displays a level of
experience and skill in this mid paced range mainstay, but also
showing their range while skillfully transitioning to some faster
tempo guitar patterning at times throughout the album. If you are a
fan of classy epic, traditional heavy metal then get yourself a copy
of this excellent release ASAP. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Ravensire
https://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/
|
You got to love
how the UG scene works its magic. It takes a Swedish label to turn
me on to a band from New York City, only a couple hours drive down
the road. I am just now finding out as well that the main man behind
this band by the name of Czar, is actually S. Craig Zahler. I
remember this guy handing me a copy of his fanzine, at a metalfest
in New Jersey, many years ago. Then of course he went on to be one
the better writers for Metal Maniacs magazine. Anyway, Craig plays
drums and sings on Summon… His vocal delivery is sort of half spoken
/ half sung, not many bands do vocals like but I enjoy them. I have
a feeling they might be considered an acquired taste for some. Some
might find them a tad cheesy, but who cares about those people. He
has a sound of his own to his vocals, which in this day and age is a
big compliment. The band delves into the fantasy world with their
imagery and lyrics. I think lovers of things like J.R.R. Tolkein,
Dungeons & Dragons, Robert Jordan novels / imagery and similar
things will dig that. Realmbuilder have that sort of dry, epic and
laid back style maybe a little like early Candlemass or Manilla
Road. The bio lists Morningstar as an influence. I could definitely
see that, I am a huge fan of their old demo tape Inside the Circle
of Pentagram. They are in a hurry to do nothing with their stripped
down and hypnotic sort of style. I have to be honest I am kind of
excited to see more and more of this style of classic NWOBHM and
classic epic doom, coming from America. It may be a nod to the past
in many ways, but I would argue that it also adds a fresh air our
scene needs and could use more of these days. With each and every
listen I find Realmbuilder draw me in just a little further than
before. I am quite addicted to their sound at this point. You should
be too. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/realmbuilder
http://www.ihate.se/
|
I am pleased to
see New York’s Realmbuilder return to the pages of Canadian Assault.
I reviewed their debut album a couple of years ago, it was excellent
and they made me a fan of the band. Realmbuilder definitely still
have that classic doom feel and pacing. Yet at times the music comes
off more as slow and epic heavy metal, damn good epic heavy metal
mind you. They have a very hypnotic atmosphere to their music, it
relaxes me and sends my mind wandering. The music is relatively
simple, but effective with some great meandering riffs and vocals
care of Czar that are half spoken/half sung. Those vocals for some
are probably an acquired taste but I find them mesmerizing, during
sections they are absent I find myself waiting for them to start up
again. There are some good, subtle guitar fills / leads on here that
really add a some flavour to the song, but the band are careful not
to over use this tool. I could see fans of bands like Manilla Road,
Cirith Ungol, Saint Vitus, Morningstar, Brocas Helm, Ironsword, Paul
Chain (more in vibe than sound) etc… I think you will absolutely
like and probably even love Realmbuilder. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/realmbuilder
http://www.ihate.se/
|
sup
Realmbuilder are
back to gallop, across the pages of Canadian Assault. I always want
to, just straight out call them classic doom metal, whenever I
review one of their albums. They definitely have that pacing, at
times and the sound in there, but a more apt description, would
probably be epic heavy metal with doomy elements. I really enjoyed
their first two albums, “Blue Flame Cavalry”, has done nothing to
change my mind on the band. The lyrical themes, will remind you of
something out of Conan or Dungeons & Dragons, medieval type of lore,
continue to be on full display here. Something else that has not
changed are the marathon trotting riffs, that will sweep you away in
a hypnotic journey, across flowing mental landscapes, which are
created hand in hand by the music and the lyrics. Speaking of which,
the vocals while admittedly, not the strongest out there and
possibly a slightly acquired taste, still manage to have a unique
character and tone to them. Those vocals really help you march you
across this ride and enhance that magnetic, emotive atmosphere, the
music slowly builds up in you. I love the juxtaposition, of some of
the sparingly used, smartly placed, and highly effective guitar
solos, which are a little more exuberant than the majority of the
music, they are set upon which adds such a wonderful dynamic to the
songs. I think this album is just fantastic. I have to recommend
this, as I have in the past, to fans of bands like Manilla Road,
Cirith Ungol, Brocas Helm and to a lesser extent bands like
Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Paul Chain… I think this is an
excellent album, simple yet tasteful and expertly crafted. -
Dale
https://myspace.com/realmbuilder
http://www.ihate.se/
|
I was excited
when I learned about this release from what appeared to be a
long-running German death metal band. The cover looked like
something from the early 1990s, the logo is great, and the song
titles were awesome. The music, however, did not hold up to my
expectations. The sound is top notch, the vocals are powerful but
monotone (along the lines of Chris Barnes), the guitars are heavy
and decently played, so on the surface this seems like something
that I would enjoy. However, there is a certain monotony in the
songwriting that just leads me down the path to boredom. It’s like
paint-by-numbers death metal – it’s creative, but it’s not outside
the box at all. It sounds like an average mid-90s Floridian death
metal band created this while they had nothing better to do. I could
not get over the sheer averageness of this record and this is a band
with several albums in their back catalog. It’s just uninspired
overall. For a band that’s been around since 2010, I expected
something much more mature. I’m not eagerly anticipating their next
release, but if they release another, I’ll give it a spin in hopes
that the bare bones of what they laid out on this record get some
brand new rotted flesh on them. - Andrew
https://recklessmanslaughter.bandcamp.com/
https://fda-records.com/en/
|
Angst-ridden
industrial metal in the vein of (new) Fear Factory, Machine Head, Meshuggah
etc... Yes, you got it, this is awful - come on and jump! JUMP! – Dale
|
Reign In Blood
announced itself to the underground scene back in 2006 with their
debut demo tape entitled “Black Metal Madness Till Death”, followed
by a split 7” ep (w/Infernal Regency) & a second full 7”ep, then in
2009 their debut album and then abruptly the band settled down in
complete slumbering silence. This year marks a decade since that
first album, so this sinister German black metal entity has finally
woken up and returned back to life with their sophomore album “Missa
Pro Disfunctis”. Reign In Blood are not your usual black metal band
playing the 2nd wave Scandinavian style bm, no the band
is more akin to the first wave of influences that includes Czech
bands like Root (a lot in their second & third albums), Master’s
Hammer and other bands such as the Italian legends Mortuary Drape,
alongside some Greek bands ala Thou Art Lord and early works by the
bands Zemial, Necromantia and Varathron. Yes, it is that old sound
of the late ‘80s / early ‘90s black metal bands that were starting
to tread their own paths, yet still rooted in the first wave of
black metal. I worship both the first and second wave, but the
second wave is so common that it is a good change of pace to my ears
to hear this early evil and eerie dangerous sound being employed in
a way that keeps that ancient flame burning bright, all the while
with Reign putting their own malevolent stamp upon it. The music has
a very sinister freezing atmosphere, while still maintaining a level
of melody within the bombastic audio sadism, which makes for an
appealing dark listen that you can thoughtfully get lost in while
still nursing a slow headbang. There is also some subtle, but very
nicely done guitar work that does not stand out, but adds great
depth and supports to the principle riff and musical flow. I am not
the biggest fan of drum machines, but they hide it well, so fuck it
I guess haha. The vocals definitely set Reign Of Blood apart as they
are a maniacal sounding blend of hysterical out of control yells &
shrieks, intertwined with a cleaner yet still gruff voice that is
seemingly on purpose a fluctuating warbling in and out of deeper /
higher tones and going out of key. It is hard to explain, but those
vocals are so distinctive, tortured and different sounding that I
love the fuck out of them! This release is highly recommended for
those really old school black metal disciples who remember and
admire the deeper roots of old bm, not just the hallowed
Scandinavian later wave we all worship. - Dale
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com
https://shop.ironbonehead.de/en/
|
There is a first
for everything and listening to a doom metal band from Peru is a
first for me. A welcome and exotic first at that and the band
surfaces on what is probably the best doom metal record label on the
planet. The thing that struck me off the start was just how
unprocessed, raw and organic the production on Veneracion… feels.
Upon reading the bio after a couple of listens, I see they recorded
this album the old fashion way through analogue recording equipment.
It sounds fantastic, you get this guttural sort of vibe you can feel
in your chest from the music, I miss that sort of sound so much on
newer albums these days. Some sections of songs they have a very
weird timing and feel to their riffs, it is almost like a thrash
metal band decided they wanted to write a doom metal album, very
interesting. The rest of the time the music is very free flowing,
melancholic and introspective with a distinctive 70s vibe to their
sound. The vocalist Tania Duarte has a great hypnotic and
spellbinding voice that just melts into the music and fits in just
perfectly complimenting the music. You most definitely get your
monies worth with this album too, there are ten songs and nearly
half of them clock in at almost 10 minutes in length each. I like
it. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/reinoermitano
http://www.ihate.se/ |
I received a
promo sampler disc, from this brand new label, via my friend Paul of
Soulgrinder fanzine. I enjoyed all three bands on that release and
none more than Relentless, my thanks Paul for turning me on to this.
I was surprised when I hit play though, as I believe the main man
who writes all the music & lyrics Tim Pearson did the vocals on the
sampler tracks. But I quickly realized seconds into the opening song
that the vocals are no longer male, as the band has secured a new
full time singer Carlee Jackson. I liked the old vocals, truth be
told I liked them slightly better, it took me a little while to get
used to the new vocals but I have now warmed up to Carlee’s haunting
silky vocal sound. I would assume most doom fans will recognize
right away the band took their name from the legendary doom band
Pentagram. Despite that actually much of the material on here does
not sound as heavily Pentagram influenced as the earlier material
suggested. This is some good stuff though; a lot of the music is
free flowing melodious heavy metal with doom undertones presented in
a bit of a slow burn fashion, not so much in pace most of the time
but rather in overall feel. This is a solid heavy metal record that
has some of that doomy ‘70s hard rock feel going on. The general
direction seems to have shifted slightly from the heavily Pentagram
influence, which I worship and was done very well on the promo. It
now sounds like more of an early ‘80s heavy metal vibe has creeping
in to the newer material. My favourite songs on here are “United By
Darkness” and the title track “Souls Of Charon”. A good album for
heavy metal and classic doom metal fans to check out. Support
this cool new label as well! - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/relentlesschicago
http://www.doordierecords.org/
|
|
 
After some seven
years since their last album, this filthy drunken horde have once
again crawled up out of the grimy sewers surrounding Stockholm
Sweden, much like the old classic horror film C.H.U.D. to terrorize
the city and worldwide UG scene beyond! Their audio pestilence is in
fine form on “Dawn Of Reintoxication”, producing some truly dark and
depraved music. Their brand of crushing death metal lovingly pays
tribute to great bands from their homeland and from the United
States. The bands I speak of are the early works of their Swedish
brothers like Carnage, Dismember, Grave, Nihilist / Entombed mixed
US bands like Repulsion, Impetigo, Eat My Fuk and especially the
almighty Autopsy / Abscess. The lyrics and general concept of this
band are wonderfully depraved and severely perverted, one only needs
to look at the bands cover art and visuals for evidence. That is not
to even mention the wonderful song titles such as “Vodka Til the
Grave” & “Repulsive Erected and Anally Infected” Hahaha! The vocals
on here remind me again of a mix of Matti Kärki of Dismember and
Chris Reifert of Autopsy and the combination is pretty glorious, I
must say. I enjoyed the hell out of this album, I am a little biased
towards their sound as any long time reader will know, the early
‘90s Swedish death metal bands and style is my fave brand of death
metal and Autopsy are one of my all-time fave bands from this period
in the history of all metal music. If you agree and share that
opinion then you need to get this thing right now dirtbag! -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Repuked https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/
|
Repulsive
Dissection return, with their second album to date, “Church Of The
Five Precious Wounds”. The music is decent, but nothing that has not
been done already. The guitars are about the only thing that really
sticks out on this cd, with some complicated patterns mixed with a
few sections of catchy riffs. The vocals are your average death
metal growls. So, unless you are a real collector, or fan of
everything death metal, then definitely pass on this one and spend
your money on something better. - Patrick
https://www.reverbnation.com/repulsivedissection
http://www.sevared.com/
|
|
I have to admit
I was surprised this band has such a long history behind it, since
this is my first time listening to their music. I mean despite this
being their fourth album since then started using the name
Resistance in 2002. Their history reaches much further back (all the
way to the late ‘80s!!) than that, when they used band names like
Heathen (no not that one, but they probably caused the first name
change), Caustic Visage, and Anarchy Divine. So are they yet another
retro heavy band? Well yes, they are but that matters not to me when
music is this good, the songwriting this quality, and the songs this
strong and memorable. The band tears through 40 minutes of ripping
classic heavy metal, which features hook-y yet heavy riffs and some
great smoking guitar work nuance in between those catchy riffs and
infectious song construction. I really dig vocalist Robert Hett, he
has that archetypal ancient heavy metal style ala like a molten mix
of Udo Dirkschneider of Accept on the gritty end mixed Chris
Boltendahl of Grave Digger and Eric Adams of Manowar. There is
another, what should be an obvious vocal influence there that I am
having trouble putting my finger on. I guess my only small pet peeve
is the recording is almost too clean, and these songs would go up
yet another half notch if the production was a little heavier and
dirtier. Yet, having said that I have heard other albums that have
even cleaner, more pristine computer plastic coating on the
production, so do take that as a very minor complaint. Otherwise,
this is a really solid traditional heavy metal record that old
diehard fans will enjoy. - Dale
http://www.resistanceusa.com/
https://www.puresteel-shop.com/
|
Damn the owner
of FDA Rekotz must be as big or bigger devoted maniac to the old
Swedish sound as I am. Shit I had no idea so many German bands were
picking up this mantle. This promo pack alone from the label has no
less than three bands out of four that play this ancient cult style.
Manifested Darkness got the classic Swede sound down pat via Swedish
musician god and superb engineer Dan Swano. I am sure you guys are
tired of reading how much I like this style. Though I must admit
after three straight reviews of it with Tormented, Lifeless and now
Revel In Flesh, even I am ready for something a little different,
then again I am just on a listening / reviewing binge and am getting
a little burnt out from constant reviewing. Revel do this style some
justice and definitely ape a lot of old Grave style stuff and do it
well. So if you dig that style and do not mind a little cloning
action going then you should check this out, if you do mind then
move along. By the by, the band finish off the record with a
spirited cool cover of the almighty Autopsy’s “Twisted Mass Of Burnt
Decay”. Hail Autopsy!! - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/revelinflesh
http://www.fda-rekotz.com/gx/
|
Well upon
picking up this album, the cover artwork immediately assaults the
senses with an upright headless nude corpse holding large knives in
each hand and a half naked horrified woman being strangled as she
holds the child’s decapitated head in her hands. Some really extreme
and disturbing stuff, hopefully the music evokes similar emotions in
me, in a good way. Well the music is solid, not sure it quite
matches the sickness of the cover though, but I suppose few bands
do. Having said that this is some pretty clean, yet heavy and
driving old school Swedish death metal with a bit of the new school
melodo Swede dm mixed in. Maybe you could say this bands sort of
sounds like the transition Sverge death metal took from the early
days to the late 90s / early 2000s, which for me was not a turn for
the better. That melodic mix definitely takes the rough edges off a
little bit, but it still retains some of that old school harsh
aggression to at least keep things worth listening. Not one of my
fave Swedish dm releases, but there is enough good stuff and that
old feeling in there to at least be worth a listen on their Reverb
Nation page at least, to see if you want investigate any further.
- Dale
https://www.reverbnation.com/revolting
http://www.fda-rekotz.com/gx/
|
|
Rig Time is a
hardcore metal band coming out of the Wisconsin UG scene. The music
on here is a mixture of middle tempo heavy material, but does speed
up to a faster pace in a few of the songs on “War”. The guitar work
is a combination well written and performed mid tempo riffing. The
vocals are a mix of the tried and true hardcore hollering along with
some rawer screams to spice things up. I should admit that I am not
the biggest fan of the metallic hardcore style, but if you enjoy
this type of music, then you should definitely give Rig Time a
listen as they are pretty solid at doing what they do. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/RIGTIME/ https://innerstrengthrecords.bandcamp.com/
|
Andrew Lee (ex-Disincarnation
& Draghkar) is the mastermind behind this Californian one man band,
who is set to release his new bands debut album. “Mai-Zang” features
eight well written songs of old school death metal and some thrash
elements are blended throughout this recording. Ripped To Shreds
play a nice mix of mid paced death metal, but Andrew does let loose
and kick the speed up in some of the tracks. Andrew’s guitar work is
amazing; fluctuating between some well written middle paced guitar
patterns and some extremely fast patterning. The vocals are gruff
growls and some screams combined throughout the music. This album is
a very good release of solid old school death metal, if you are a
fan of early Bolt Thrower, Entombed and the like then do yourself a
favor and pick this up today. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/rippedtoshredsband
https://www.facebook.com/ixcraneonegroxi
|
 
We are presented
with some classic doom metal / rock coming out of the fertile lands
of Sweden. I have to admit straight off the start, that upon first
listening, vocalist Josabeth Leidi got on my nerves and I did not
like her vocals. But I am finding upon each and every successive
listen, her vocals are growing on me more and more. They are very
unique sounding and really remind me of no other singer. It sort of
reminds me many years ago when I first heard Candlemass, I did not
like the vocals, but they also grew on me and eventually I grew to
love Messiah Marcolin’s vocals. I am getting the feeling that
Josabeth is beginning to have the same effect on me. As I mentioned
her vocals are so different sounding they add a lot of depth and
emotion to the music, it is like the lamp in a lighthouse cutting
through the veil of darkness leading in all the lost souls at sea.
The music itself is great as well, very classic sounding doom and
metal with each instrument played from the heart. There are some
fantastic guitar fills that help drive the song and just stick in my
head. I am truly enjoying this album more than I ever thought I
would upon first listen. Maybe that is something I should pass on to
potential listeners give it a chance, a few good listens before you
make up your mind on this band. I am surprised I have not heard of
Rise and Shine before, they have been pumping out demos, eps and
albums since 1993! On the other hand, this is their first new
recording in some five years, here is to hoping I can gather up some
of their back material one day. Until then I highly recommend this
to all classic hippie doom rock followers, such as fans of Trouble,
Spirit Caravan, Sabbath, Witchcraft... – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/flowerpowermetal
http://www.ihate.se/
|
This release was
originally put out last year on cassette only (limited to 100
copies) and now, cult label Iron Bonehead has picked it up for
release on disc and vinyl. It may be a new band, but the members are
old goat veterans of the UG metal scene in the form of Ustumallagum
(from the old legend band Denial Of God from Denmark) and A.th (of
Italian Occultic doom master Black Oath), who seem to be the driving
forces behind the band that also includes drummer P. Guts (from the
bands Krossburst & Necro). The music has a very ancient old school
black metal feel, like it was before the second wave with
Scandinavian bm style. This is first wave black metal with strong
and mighty undercurrents of doom swirling through the music in
between the more speedy and evil yet catchy back bone of their
sound. The bio names some of the bands influences as Mercyful Fate,
Death SS, Samael, Celtic Frost, Goatlord and Ripper. I can hear bits
of all of those, but especially the Goatlord, Celtic Frost, Death SS
and old Samael influences – so I will add a few of my own that I
heard similarities to, such as the demos of Dream Death, plus a
little sprinkle of Bulldozer and Mortuary Drape. Ustumallagam vocals
are a sinister rasp that is very clearly annunciated and so it is
easy to understand the lyrics, but that voice and rasp are coated in
a dark and acidic undertone of a vocal equivalent of a continuously
rotating saw that is cutting through bloody soft tissue and bone.
For me, this is one of Ustumallagum’s finest vocal performances,
which is saying a lot considering his extensive, quality work over
these many (only about 30!!) years of spewing his deadly audio
venom. I have even been around this scene long enough to remember
his work in Gigum Xul, when that was first released. Speaking of the
man…Did I ever tell you about that time, a couple decades ago, when
Ustumallagum sent me a print fanzine trade package that included
bloody animal teeth with bits of flesh and hairs attached? He really
did, but never mind, that is probably a story for another time, so
until then get this great fucking release right now! Expect their
debut album around the end of the year – hell yes!! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/The-Rite-band-page-219647875291113
https://ironbonehead.de
|
I was pleased to
see that Rites Of Thy Degringolade were returning with a new
recording. I have been following the main man drummer / vocalist
Paulus and his musical exploits for a very long time. In fact, I
interviewed him twice for Canadian Assault, once back in 1997 in
person (with his old band Sacramentary Abolishment) and then later
again in 1999 during the early days of Rites. It is great to know
Paulus is still going strong 20 years later! This release is this
western Canadian bands fourth full length album and second for the
ultra dedicated NWN! Productions. I would say there is less
blitzkrieg speed and war metal style, nowadays, in the bands sound
and structure. They instead focus more on an ominously heavy and
moody atmosphere, with a more introspective vibe than the old stuff.
Having said that, the band is keeping to their roots and musical
integrity intact, there is still a cruel, violent edge to the
proceedings. They have taken things in more of a superbly crafted
dark death metal direction, with less of the black war metal
approach, though as I said, some hints still remain. I feel like
they are getting even more out of less now, and the continued
maturity of Paulus, as a songwriter, and a musician in general is on
full display with this album. There is some really nuanced guitar
work going on on this record; they keep the main thread of each
song, but add layers of depth through a healthy dose of refined
guitar fills, as well as interestingly succinct and smooth diverse
structural detours. Oh yes, I should not forget to also mention the
often brief, but alternating classy and frenzied guitar solos,
something I quite enjoyed. I really like Paulus’ darkened raspy &
harsh vocals, which also somehow possess a hypnotic quality to them,
achieved through tone and phrasing that I find quite addictive to
listen to. Just focus on the infectious commanding choruses of
tracks like “Above The Highest”, and the title track, or the vocal
patterns utilized throughout the song “The Final Laceration”, if you
do, I think you will understand where I am coming from with that
description of the vocals. For me, as a listener, “The Blade
Philosophical” is the successful realization of a powerful album,
which is a satisfying, multi-faceted piece of musical art that will
take you on an affecting mental journey. - Dale
https://ritesofthydegringolade.bandcamp.com/
http://www.nwnprod.com/
|
 
I gave this
Aussie band a listen, and I was immediately taken by the bands
stylish classic heavy metal sounds blasting out of my speakers! It
immediately took me back to the mid ‘80s (yes I am old metal goat!),
when this style ruled the roost and was laying waste to all in it’s
path. I had already listened to this a couple times, and I was
already headbanging and singing along to some of the lyrics. Then,
after I hit play for a third round, I look at the line up and fuck
me the leader of this band is an old contact of mine! None other
than Denny of the eccentric and legendary black death metal band
Stargazer (not to even mention his other bands like Cauldron Black
Ram, Misery’s Omen, Martire etc…)! I had not kept up with Denny
recently, but what a fucking pleasant surprise! Denny is one
talented motherfucker, he plays drums, bass and does the vocals on
here. Speaking of the vocals, they are clean, smooth and powerfully
resolute, occasionally accompanied by some high screams or deeper
gritty brusque emotional accents. This trio produce such quality
vintage heavy metal that it blew me away, I mean this rivals some of
those classic albums from back then, while at the same time having
an own flavour to their sound. They keep things at a middling pace
much of the time which suits the songs and their style perfectly.
These tunes are slightly stripped down, but all are quite memorable,
catchy and metal as hell filled with archetypal superb riffs. There
are of course some nice guitar fills and solos sprinkled into
metallic musical tapestry, which I enjoyed. There are no filler
songs on this killer record; it is consistent in sound and quality,
from start to finish. You also have got to love finally seeing an
Australian band giving ultimate praise to the great Mad Max / Road
Warrior movies, mixed with manly lyrical bravado to match! So, grab
a brew, don your denim vest covered in band patches and thrust your
spiked fist in the air as you headbang to some real heavy metal!!
This is a must for fans of the NWOBHM and the middle ‘80s gruff &
gritty American heavy metal that like it a little sleazy too. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/RoadWarrior1986
https://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/
|
There was a time
from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s that I pretty would have shit
on an album like this on principle. *Shakes fist* Do not pollute my
beloved death metal with rock ‘n roll you stunned cunts! I guess I
have softened somewhat in my old age as it were. That is not to say
rocking dm is something I go searching for and about half of the
time the result is a mess of train wreck proportions. I must admit
that is the feeling I was having a couple songs in on my first
listen. But honestly upon repeated listens Rock ‘N Rott is beginning
to win me over. Yeah like usual those pesky Finns have a way of
working they way underneath your skin like bamboo shoots in a sweaty
jungle torture movie scene. Rocking Corpses are a little different
than some death rock bands, they really mix the two genres up, with
rock coming out on top, but it is heavy. Also the vocals on some
songs are growled vocals, some have entirely clean sung vocals and
yet other songs have almost a duet mixing of the two. As you may
guess much of the lyrics are horror and zombie related, which suits
me just fine as saturated as they are I never tire of zombies! Yeah
Rock ‘N Rott is some whack shit, but it is some good whacked shit
that will have you rocking in the aisles and knocking down bowling
pins with severed heads. This is some unique shit, check it out
ghouls. - Dale
http://rockingcorpses.com/
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com
|
Ride For
Revenge
– Kind of remind of the slow / middle paced crawl through the
darkness that some of the early Greek black metal bands, such as
Necromantia churned out. Maybe you could even call them Beherit
played in slow motion. There are not many bands that cross my path
these days play this sort of vein, it makes me really appreciate
those precious few which do. Slow, atmospheric (nope no synth laden
rubbish) and yet simplistic dark blackened metal, with great
obscure, murky vocals. I need to keep my eye on this band.
Torturium
– Imagine, if you will a rawer and loose version of Immortal on
their 1st LP. Toss in some old school thrash influences
and mix in insane screaming vocals ala early Burzum. I must say they
have great energy, dark energy. I believe they have a full length
album out on Aura Mystique now that might be worth checking out!
– Dale
www.bestialburst.blackmetal.fi/
bestialburst@blackmetal.fi
|
Thergothon,
Winter, Disembowelment nor anything considered as death / doom, my
Satanic ass! Damn bios. Just because this NY outfit is colder than a
witches tit, let alone a whore’s heart, it seems all hate this 1999
re-issue. I shan't ever follow my fellow opinionated writers for the
sake of it, I have my own ears. Remember 78 records? (I do – Dale)
Take a 78, play it on 33 1/3 and that’s how the vocals sound like,
which I enjoy as it fits with thee most doomiest, damnable and
darkest music ever made. There is no wrong with change in metal less
it be rap, jazz, hip hop etc… This is testimony of how you will be
deprived of a ‘better’ life in death, because it ain’t true as our
‘After lives’ will have this horrid life lack beautiful and Rigor
joins me in telling you all that we are fucked for infinity. So
enjoy what pathetic life you have left you miserable fucks, because
when it’s gone, so are we! What the fuck, my critics? I wasn’t aware
of impute rules that every had to be exactly alike. Rigor do not go
against general rules, nor the band wagon, nor does it go against
the grain. Negative in all nocturnal intense hatred for all things
laced with pleasurable pain is what this is all about, fuckin’ “A”!
The new wave of positive thinking has taken over, indeed. Don’t
disappoint me all of you underground clowns ~ this is what it’s all
about, now buy or die! – Clayton
www.paragonrecords.net
info@paragonrecords.net
|
Rigor do play or
in their case a better word might be encompass your traditional doom
metal. You will not hear the classic Sabbath sounds or the slick
synth infusion of later day My Dying Bride for one example. No
Sardonicous have a style that does not really sound a lot like
anyone else but it is slow and suffocating and it is immense doom in
every sense of the word. It is plodding and apocalyptic and the dark
snails pace actually manages to accentuate and make you forget that
they use a drum machine (as drum machines generally sound awful in
fast bands IMO). The vocals are extremely obscure and so much so
they almost melt into the background like they are part of the
scenery rather than meant to be a focal point of the musical whole.
I guess my only complaint and it is a minor one would be the
recording could be a little fuller and richer to take full effect of
their permeating style. The recording is just a tad thin but having
said that it is not always easy to achieve on a budget. A lot of
bands claim the title graveyard metal but Rigor Sardonicous actually
achieve it in their unique doom-y way.
– Dale
http://www.smilingdeath.com
rigor@smilingdeath.com
http://paragonrecords.org/ |
This would in
point of fact be my first encounter with Riphead but surely not my
first crossing of paths with it’s members. Two of Rip’s founders are
from the respected old death metal band Ton and their singer is an
old acquaintance of mine in the form of Andrew Parrish, formerly of
the band Halomachine, not to mention editor of such print fanzines
as Metal Union & Cult ‘zine and if that is not enough to occupy this
die hard’s time, he runs the UG record label Morbid Souls. Riphead
keep things on the simple side but that does not stop them from
taking you places, they paint portraits of societal decline with a
deft brush dipped in hatred. A little rough around the edges but
these monsters from the land of the Blue Jackets show plenty of
promise, I will keep my eye upon them. Drogheda on the other hand is
something I know like the back of my hand or at least I used to. I
was way into these grind animals for years, hence my interview with
them in issue 3 of Canadian Assault, however I had heard nothing new
from them in years and was uncertain whether they were still in
existence really. The more things change, the more they stay the
same and Drogheda have done just that, it is like traveling away
from home for a long period and knowing that recliner in front of
the stereo that has your body impressed into it from years of use
providing intangible comfort, the pocket on the side has your
fanzines, porno mags, tissues and vibration remote and it is like
you never left. The same can be said about Drogheda, they sound
exactly the same after all these years and I am okay with that, who
fuck wants a blasting semi-catchy monster grind band to progress?!
Not me and when it is continually delivered with this sort of
ferocity, memorability and cantankerous crusty dirt that is all that
matters! Hails to Drogheda the pigheaded bastards from Ohio’s
armpit, they play grind the way it was meant to be – pissed off with
every song taking about long as you do with your girlfriend, 2 ½
minutes or less! – Dale
Riphead =
cultfanzine@yahoo.com
www.riphead.cjb.net www.extrememilleniumentertainment.com
|
Sloppy, talent less,
black metal with repetitive drumming and fairly passable vocals. The
keyboard playing is worst of all, very amateurish performed by Grimace
the grand blackened wizard of the golden arches. “Demonic Winter Metal”
from sunny and happy, winterless California.
This Canadian is unimpressed.
– Dale |
It seems as if
it has been an eternity since I have heard a new Rites of Thy
Degringolade release. I have been guilty of not keeping as close an
eye as I could have upon them. Long time readers of the Assault will
recall I interviewed this band, on the strength of their great demo
tape, back in issue 4. A quick history lesson for those not in the
know, Rites rose from the ashes of a great old Canadian band named
Sacramentary Abolishment (interview in issue 1!) and the other half
of that band went on to form Axis of Advance. I would posit Rites
have gotten more technical over the years, I am not sure you could
call them a black metal sounding band any longer. Oh yes, it is dark
music and yes it has an occult feel but to me it is much more rooted
in death metal and old extreme thrash on “Totality”. I would say
think if newer Gorguts had reproduced with Order From Chaos and the
child was hopped up on speed and was exposed to occult themed
violent horror films at much too young an age. It is surprising to
me with the amount of things that are going on, the sheer cacophony
of sounds and ideas, swirling in the music that mainman Paulus
somehow manages to leave enough room for heavy slowed riffs and
other quirky guitar derangement to breathe, to flow but the counter
point of it all casts off a brilliant effect. Order injected into
chaos indeed and one is feeling cold and exhilarated all at once.
Though Paulus spews the vocals and plays all instruments, I have
always thought of him as a drummer first and his frantic yet
tasteful performance throughout the album are impressive and have
done nothing to change my pre-conceived notion. Another highlight on
the album, that should incite Canadian die hards, is a guest vocal
appearance by one of the great, under appreciated and visionary
Canadian musicians of our time, Hart Bachmier of the legendary
Disciples of Power. A fine, fine way to off a master work of an
album that should please aggression junkies who like a bit of
atmosphere in their surroundings, as well techno-philes, who will
revel in the many off-kilter and memorable twists, turns and time
changes that riddle “Totality”. A must have and Western Canada
proves once again it is the king of North American metal! – Dale
Realms… Prod.,
Box 69, Washington, NJ. 07882 USA
www.realmsofdarkness.com
Rites…, 11311 96
St., Edmonton, Alberta, T5G 1T2 CANADA
www.angelfire.com/music3/degringolade
|
If I am
following correctly this project was started in 1997 as a three song
demo, but it was never released. Yet the tracks were eventually
posted on a myspace site and Obsidian caught wind of them. Then, the
label convinced the one man behind this band to write more songs for
an album release. So five more tracks were penned over the last 2
years, added to the demo material and the result is “You Worship
Shit”. This is some pretty good stuff. It is hard to say what they
sound like, but maybe something like Judas Iscariot mixed with the
more fast upbeat Carpathian Forest type style. The vocals are
definitely classic black metal rasping, but clear enough and with a
deep enough tone to make out most of the lyrics. I just looked at
the bio and it describes it as “black thrash ‘n roll” and I guess
that fits though they definitely are rooted solidly enough in old
black metal not to sound as corny as that title sounds. I think it
is worth checking out. – Dale
www.obsidianrecords.com
info@obsidianrecords.com
|
One has to
mention off of the top that is a re-release and in this case the
original album first surfaced in 1992. Anyone who has read Canadian
Assault for a long time, knows that I love Root and I am devout
follower especially of their debut album “Zjeveni” which was a true
masterpiece of black metal. I was lucky enough to get a copy of
“Zjeveni” on the original limited vinyl pressing. It still to this
day is one of my most prized vinyls. “Hell Symphony” is the 2nd
record from Root and is kind of a transition record while it still
retains the harsh speedy black metal sounds of the debut. It begins
the slow march towards more of a heavy metal tinged blackened style.
Root had such a gift for writing atmospheric sounding sinister dark
riffs and they never worry about being technical or brutal just for
the sake of it. They are all about the feeling and atmosphere much
like the old works of Mortuary Drape for example. “Hell Symphony” is
almost ritualistic in some ways. One of the true gems and charisma
of Root’s sound has to be the awesome and distinctive vocals of Big
Boss. If you have heard Root before you know what I mean and you
will never forget and always immediately know it is Big Boss when
someone randomly plays a Root record. No need to ask who it is on
the stereo. The bio states that Big Boss is also the founder of the
Church of Satan in the Czech Republic. I did not know that
previously. This album definitely harkens back to the beginning of
the second wave of black metal and is an example of how bands had
their own sound and style much more in those days as opposed to more
recent times. As a bonus this version of “Hell Symphony” comes with
3 bonus live tracks recorded in Germany and the Czech Republic. If
you have never heard them before then you need to get this right
now. I hear they are re-releasing “Zjeveni” as well and I absolutely
command all reading this to make sure you obtain that one upon
re-release at all costs! – Dale
http://www.ihate.se/
http://rootan.net/
|
This is another
addition to the wonderful re-releasing series, of the early Root
back catalog. Which is an undertaking that is being lovingly and
professionally handled by the I Hate Records. “The Temple In The
Underworld” has always been an immersive journey for me, much more
than just another good album, it is like a favourite book or movie,
it takes you to places few other albums could even hope to do. Root
continues their progression from adrenaline infused cryptic black
metal speed to epic and supremely emotional heavy metal that always
keeps that dark edge. They start things on a light note with the
opening amazing intro and track “Casilda’s Song”. It is a rocking
song that loosens you up to prepare you for you’re ambitious voyage
ahead. The speed has been further slowed, but it really gives the
music room to breathe, it also provides the room for Big Boss to
truly stretch out and test the limits of his distinctive and
fantastic vocals. It never ceases to amaze me, the range of emotion
he is able to express with his voice, it truly is a superb
instrument all on its own and the Boss is learning to harness the
power in it. Once this album gets in your head, you get infected,
you can never forget it and will always long to return to its
embrace. I simply dare you to deny this. As with all Root
re-releases you get some bonus tracks tacked on as well. This time
you get the following tracks: “Poselstvo & Temnot (Messengers from
darkness version 1993)”, “My Name… (2001 version)” & “The Old Ones
(live at Praha)”. It would be impossible for me not to recommend
this master work to you. Now I just wait with baited breath for the
“Zejveni” re-release!! - Dale
www.ihate.se http://rootan.net/
|
We
have another re-release from the Root catalog and this time it is
“The Book” which originally was released in 1999. I am a little
confused why the re-releases are not coming out in chronological
order but I am sure the band and/or label has their reasons for
this? With this being the bands 5th full length record.
You can hear a progression in their sound. Starting with the vocals
of Big Boss, as distinctive as ever, here he stretches his lungs and
his range turning in a deep well rounded and charismatic
performance. I guess one could state they are less black metal
sounding than in the past. I mean I still find “The Book” to be a
dark and hypnotic record but I think it is fair to say Root are more
of a shadowy atmospheric heavy metal band in these days. It is
impressive to see a band changing directions and doing it so
seamlessly while keeping their dignity and quality largely intact.
Now if you really nail me down and ask which is better. I have to be
honest for me the early albums are better but the quality still
displayed here is undeniable and Big Boss pulls the album through.
They have taken things in a much more epic direction and feel. It is
even a little quirky (folk type influence – check out the track
“Corabeu” for confirmation) at times and can take a little getting
used to. You will need to invest some time into this album to fully
take in the art of sound woven into this release. Once again I Hate
records leaves no stone unturned and we get as a bonus the
pre-production demo versions of songs like “The Curse”, “Lykorian”,
and “Corabeu”. I have just read on the Root website that they plan
to record and release a new album entitled “Heritage of Satan” this
year, so keep an eye out for that. They released their first demo in
1988 and here they are still going strong in 2009! – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/ihate666
http://www.myspace.com/rootcze |
The Root
re-releases continue, it was not long ago I was reviewing a series
of re-releases done by I Hate Records. I could be wrong but I think
this may be the third time this album has been released since it
first saw the dark of night back in 1996. I have immense respect for
this band, obviously many labels have the same reverence and worship
I do for Root. I became obsessed with this band I think it was some
time around 1991/1992 when I managed get my hands on the original
vinyl release of their debut Zejeveni album out on Zeras records
from a distro. It is close to my most prized vinyl to this day and a
masterpiece album of raw, hateful, distinctive black metal. Which
brings us forward as the band slowly moved away from that black
metal sound and the extremity, bit by bit over the next few albums
bringing us up to Kargeras. The bands 4th album sees them
further along this path as the band create their first concept album
of a land, a time, a people entirely from the mind of mainman and UG
scene legend Big Boss. The immense amount of work and pouring over
every detail to make this record as perfect as possible is evident,
I believe the band worked the longest on this record than on any
other. As mentioned this album is no longer black metal, it is like
some dark emotional epic heavy metal music. It is truly a poignant
and moving album that creates an atmosphere, a mental musical
landscape for you mind to wander through. As always is the case with
each Root album, the vocals of Big Boss are as important and
probably more important than any other instrument or musical element
on a Root record. His vocals are so unique and wonderfully
charismatic, they always reach into my brain and massage it into
ecstasy with a powerful and deft touch. Just simply amazing. I do
not know that I could put many more words to this review that would
do this record justice. I just do not think Root are even capable of
making anything short of a superb album time after time. This is
simply a must own as are all Root full lengths. I almost forgot to
mention there is an 11 minute bonus track simply entitled ‘Demos’ so
there is that treat for the Root die hards! - Dale
https://myspace.com/rootcze
http://www.themetalunderground.com/ |
I fucking love that
that, record label name! If you read my 1st issue you will
remember the interview I did with this band. Rotting flat out hit you
with some of the most rambling, punishing and juggernaut like brutal
death metal your likely to hear. They do like make things varied and
catchy with a slight groove (no not that gay groove hippity-hoppity
‘jump metal’) but always heavy. They don’t grind things up instead
opting for a straight on in-your-face attack with deep and
understandable growls. This is an album all self-respecting death metal
fans should own. – Dale
United Guttural,
P.O. Box 752, Grayslake, IL. 60030, USA or band contact:
Rotting, c/o Korey
Arnold, 58 Roxborough Road, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 3K9, CANADA
|
N. Imperial (Krieg,
et al) returns with this musical collaboration with John Gelso (Profanatica).
Released on Hell's Headbangers, this is a mix of old necro black
metal with a bit of early death metal mixed in. The songs have the
song structures that could only come from veteran's of the
scene. Too much musicality to be rookies. Songs played with
conviction. I'd like to see this become an ongoing band. The only
knock? Spelling Blasphemy with an E at the end. Leave that to the
metalcore bands. \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ (4 out of 5) - Mark
Sugiyama
http://theroyalarchblaspheme.hellsheadbangers.com/
http://armour.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
With Gelso of
Profanatica and Krieg's Imperial in the line up this couldn't be
anything but a barbaric mash of stubbornly primitive, ill-natured
and mean sounding black fuckin metal. Two new wandering souls have
joined the band since the release of the debut album, other than
that welcome addition there's no further surprises or
disappointments - make no bones about it: if you love the agonizing
scornful sounds and atmosphere of Profanatica, you'd be for a treat
here. Fans of technical playing, soaring keyboards and avantgarde
ideas need no entry, The Royal Arch Blaspheme is the complete
opposite of your musical preferences - this is the kind of stripped
down rawness the genuine underground scene needs in these days of
confusion and misinformed marketing. 'II' is kick ass, to put it
bluntly. - Vladimir Petrov
http://theroyalarchblaspheme.hellsheadbangers.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
Rubufaso –
I
had not heard of this band before. But it is made up of current and
past members of a band I have known for a long, long time. Which is
Cerebral Turbulency, who is still going strong. I reviewed a
Cerebral Turbulency split tape 10 fucking years ago in the pages of
Canadian Assault! But I digress and onward to Rubufaso Mukufo. Quite
unsurprisingly they spew some grind with bouts of death metal. What
else do you expect from the great grind scene in the Czech Republic?
This is a pretty energetic affair going at light speed and sporting
a really great full sound in the recording. Rubufaso just destroy
everything and anything in their path with audio brutality. Some
really fine grind. Maybe I should not have said that, I want, some
coffee now.
Opitz –
This is another Czech band made up of members from an old band
called Contrastic. But honestly I have not heard this band before so
no special meaning for me. As far as Opitz is concerned, this is my
first taste. They definitely have a grind foundation, but wrapped
around, a hardcore influenced style, with even some jazzy type bits
now and again. It is really heavy and the drums grind wickedly. I
like some good hardcore when it is good. But honestly here it is not
that good and Opitz for me is not on the same level of Rubfaso. That
is not to say that Opitz is no good. They are a solid band and their
drumming alone will ground you to dust. The vocals and samples are
in Czech, which is actually kind of adds an extra level interest for
me. It kind of reminds me of greats like Master’s Hammer and Root in
their early days. The language has a sick and evil nature to it when
sung with anger, hate, darkness, depression behind the tone. But
leaving the vocals aside, I find Opitz to have an American, sort of
style to their sound. It just does not have the right mix of
hardcore, death and grind to satisfy me. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/rubufasomukufo
www.myspace.com/opitz1
www.khaaranus.wz.cz
|
I totally love
the design of the physical disc itself. It is actually a 3” disc,
but it is full size. The outer ring is transparent with see thru
artwork on top. That is a damn cool idea. The artwork is simple, but
still somehow reflects the audio horror within nicely. I will be
honest that it is easy to get confused where one band ends and the
other begins. There is nothing wrong with that though when both are
excellent and intense. Both bands play explosive diarrhea grindcore
that will make you want to dance around your house in a spazztic
blur punching the air and headbanging. I do not think I have had a
more intense 16 minutes in my life! The music is a blizzard of
amazing pounding drum work, steamrolling fast guitars and a rolling
amalgamation of growling, frog ribbiting vomit gurgles. It is
impressive how they can keep all of this lunacy controlled and all
headed in the same direction. But they do and it sounds fantastic.
It did not matter to me that it was only sixteen minutes and change
because I hit the repeat feature and just continued to rage over and
over for close to an hour and never once got tired of it. Though
when I was done, my body was destroyed from the beating. This is
really must own grind. – Dale
http://www.myspace/khaaranus
http://www.myspace.com/rubufasomukufo
|
This band from
the Czech Republic has released two splits before this full length.
Elements of grind are the order of the day here with some hardcore
mixed underneath as well. Short and to the point tunes, this is hard
to take seriously. The guitars are thick and heavy but the overall
presentation of the songs is just mediocre. Why bother putting time
and effort into a band only to come up with this? Next. –
Mark
http://www.myspace.com/rubufasomukufo
http://www.myspace.com/khaaranus |
Ruins come
running at us hard from the land of Tasmania in OZ. I must say the
vocals threw me for a loop at first and not what I had expected. I
would call them a cross between Tom Warrior of Celtic Frost and
Roger Miret of Agnostic Front. The first impression was the vocals
do not fit the music, but after some repeated listens, it is all
starting to mesh together for me and sounding more like a fit.
Speaking of the music think of a straight thrashy, less rocking
Carpathian Forest & newer Satyricon mixed with Celtic Frost and a
stop at the Goatwhore station. I see everyone calling them black
metal and there are bm elements to be sure. Yet, to me it is also
filled with a lot of thrash and death metal elements and far from
being a straight black metal band. The riffing is pretty simple, but
catchy enough and driving with a nice flow. The drums are pretty
sick, precise and slick. The production on this recording is pretty
much top drawer. “Front The Final Foes” is nothing mind-blowing and
nothing approach original or innovative. But it is still a good
album, if you like this sort of style, I am sure you will like it,
even if it likely replicates other albums already in your
collection. – Dale
www.debemur-morti.com
www.ruinsband.com
|
I have always liked Ruins style of metal and Place Of No Pity is the
fourth metal masterpiece by the Australian veterans and is no
different. You get powerful yet catchy death metal. There are some
thrash and even black metal influences mixed in to the
bands guitar riffs and overall structures. The drumming is precise,
well executed and flawless which is pretty impressive in it's self
considering how fast and heavy some of the songs get. The vocals are
a mix of brutal death growls and screams. I think Ruins have found a
good home on Listenable Rec.'s roster. This is definitely the bands
strongest material to date and shouldn't be missed by anyone old
fans or new.
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/ruinsblackmetal
http://www.listenable.net/
|
Not to be
confused with Australia's Ruins. This is a one-man band from
Germany. Ruins play a great mix of old-school speed metal and early
venom style black metal. Thrashy fast guitars, mid-paced drums that
switch over to hyper speed before calming back to a more mid-pace
sound. The vocals are gruff screams. Ruins are not creating anything
new on Chambers of Perversion but the songs on this release are
played with a lot of metal-aggression and passion for this style. If
you enjoy old-school blackened speed-metal then definitely check out
Chambers of Perversion. - Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/ruins666
http://negative-existence.com/
|
Nightwolf is the
mastermind behind Runsespell, who play mystical black metal and are
set to release this, their third full-length in September. The album
features six songs of ’90 black metal with mid paced and some faster
parts intertwined together skillfully to make a very interesting
sound throughout. Nightwolf at some points composes and interjects
some slower parts, which gives the music more depth and feel. The
guitars feature both acoustic and electric guitars blended together
seamlessly for a nice smooth mixture of tones. The drums follow
along in the same vein, with some aggressive fast drum patterns and
some slower to middle velocity drum arrangements. The vocals, when
used are traditional black metal raspy screams. I must say Runespell
play a very mesmerizing black metal style that reminds me of the
early Greek and Polish black metal legends. - Patrick
https://runespell.bandcamp.com/
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com
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