Sacral Rage is a
band out of Greece, who has burst out of the gates, with a hell of a
debut album! They play classic 80s power / heavy metal, with touches
of prog metal and speed metal thrown in for good measure. The vocals
for some, will undoubtedly be an acquired taste, as they splatter
the sound wall to wall, with high pitched whiney siren vocal spikes
like you heard back in the 80s. I like them myself, but I know a lot
of people, even those that are power metal and heavy metal fans, do
not necessarily like that style of vocals. I would say musically as
well, but also vocally, think of the second and third Fates Warning
records, as well as the vocals of John Cyriis of Agent Steel, from
around the same time period springs to mind. Musically speaking,
these are some finely crafted songs, at times technical, at other
times epic in scope, and always heavy and driving. There are some
amazing riffs on here, expertly placed within the song framework,
not to even mention the tasty guitar playing featuring killer fills
and smoking leads. When I think of some possible musical influences,
bands which come to mind are Jag Panzer, Coroner, Helstar,
Watchtower, Iron Maiden, Annihilator etc… As you can see, even their
influences within style vary nicely. I would warmly recommend this,
to fans of old school metal and the bands I mentioned above, you
will love it. - Dale
http://sacralrage.bandcamp.com/
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
Greece is well
known for their dark death and black metal scenes, which have a rich
tradition, but this is one of the first speed / thrash metal bands
that come to mind from that country. The album consists of eight
songs, which includes two instrumentals and the excellent finishing
opus track that clocks in at nearly 15 minutes! Sacral Rage play
extremely energetic and speedy tempo music, which is highly
melodious and technical, yet kinda possessing a prog-y thrash metal
edge to it. There are so many time signatures, change ups that will
have your attention spinning, as you duck the many swift guitar
fills and solos fly around. Soaring over the top of the music are
high pitched, sorta whiney, ultra siren vocals that I like the more
and more I listen to them. They could probably use a little lower
register accents now and then, but fuck it I dig them, though at the
same time I could see them as being an acquired taste for some. I
mentioned John Cyriis of Agent Steel, early Fates Warning as
reference points for these vocals, when I reviewed their record a
few years ago and those are still fair I think. This album kind of
sounds, to me, like a group of musicians coming from a melododeath
style background who later decided to form a thrash band. As opposed
to just die hard thrashers, but maybe some of that is just down to a
production that reminds me more to that style of music? Their style
reminds me of bands like Annihilator, Helstar, Coroner, Queensryche,
Fates Warning but taken further down that melodic path and adding a
little more emotional less heavy finesse flair, to that sound. There
is a futuristic vibe like sort of like a space opera prog vibe,
largely achieved through numerous synth accents and sound effects. I
would say, that is one slight down note for me, but this is more
just my tastes, that they may have went a little too heavy on the
side melody and harmony this time around at the expense of just
heavy riffing. The heavy riffing is there at times (ie – on the
track “Suspended Privileges”), but some of the songs or sections of
songs are begging for them to let loose with a headbang riff and
just ride it a little. The song structuring and pace seem to often
not allow for that to happen or maybe the band just does not want to
rip it up, so to speak. But, if you love melody over all, and
masterfully emotional passages mixed with some heaviness, and with
some adventurous elements that borrows heavily from the past while
making something their own that is also current sounding? Then you
should definitely check this album out now. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SacralRage
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
I think this is
my first run with SS, even though these German metallers have been
at it for over 15 years. I do recognize the name floating around
over the years however. I have heard some people complaining about
the vocalist Gerrit P. Mutz, but for me he might be close to my
favourite part of the Steel’s musical maelstrom. He has a
distinctive voice, the accent is quite present, but I like that, he
seems to have a pretty varied delivery from the mainstay clean power
metal vocals, to gruff thrash yell to growling death metal tinged
vocals and he transitions between them all quite seamlessly. The
vocalist also conveys a variety of emotions really well and at times
reminds me a tad of the vocals of countrymen vocals from the band
Rage, but as said with more varied genre influences. The music kind
of like the vocals, has a heavy power metal base, but mixes things
up with thrash elements and you get epic metal and heavy head bang
metal with some slower emotional material in there which only serves
to highlight the heavy parts and make the music as a whole more
dynamic. I am definitely a Sacred Steel fan now, this is some good
shit, fans of power metal mixed with some thrash elements and
distinctive vocals should really check this album out. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/truesacredsteel
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/ |
Gernany’s Sacred
Steel is getting ready to release their newest full length “Heavy
Metal Sacrifice”. The band does a great job of writing and
performing traditional heavy metal with some power metal influences.
The guitars showcase a lot of creativity and skillfully played
guitars that go from fast heavy metal to a more mid pacing tone. The
drummer does a fine job of writing and playing fast drum passages,
transitioning to fast patterns and back down to a more controlled
style. The vocals are sung with a clean vocal style but there are
some screams and hollering used in a few of the songs. Anyone who is
interested in traditional heavy metal mixed with some power metal
touches then you will want to this up today. - Patrick
http://www.sacredsteel.eu/
http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
I love split
albums now and then and this release from Horror Pain looks to be an
interesting one. First up is Sacrificial Slaughter and they bludgeon
you over the head right out of the gate. SS play brutal death metal
but with a real thrash underpinning. A reference band that
immediately jumped to mind is the great old deathrash band
Demolition Hammer. There are bands out there playing deathtrash, but
I would have heard very few these days playing it this way. It is
sort of a throw back to a time when thrash fans and bands were
getting adrenalized for this new thing called death metal and you
could hear the merging of the two distinct styles, sort of like hey
that thrash band plays some sickening death metal. That is what you
get from Sacrificial Slaughter and I like it. Oklahoma’s
Enfuneration on the other are a more polished and modern sounding
death metal band. They also hit you hard in their own way with razor
riffing and deep rolling growl vocals. The drummer stands out as
well on these tracks, a very controlled, precise and commanding
performance turned in on the kit by drummer Rodney Cochran. All in
all a great pairing and a must have type album for brutal death
fans. I lean a little more towards Sacrificial, but both bands bring
the goods, on five songs a piece and punish your ears. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/championsofmetal
http://hpgd.comoj.com/index.html |
|
After releasing
a demo a few years back this Salt Lake, Utah band have rounded out
their line-up, and now unleash their anticipated debut album.
Sacrilegion show a pretty high level of skill on their instruments,
and some strong proficiency in memorable songwriting ability on this
record. The music on here displays some heavy and driving death
metal, backed with a dark atmosphere yet always possessing a strong
melodic thread running throughout. There is a lot of transitioning
between the catchy melodicism, the heavy brooding pummel and sudden
bursts of breakneck speed. Some of the bands like The Chasm,
Demigod, Shub Niggurath, At The Gates, Cenotaph, Darkness Eternal
and the mighty Edge Of Sanity count among the acts that come to mind
as influences on this release. I really dig the vocals of Connor G.
Carlson, they fit the music perfectly as he puts in a nuanced
performance featuring an array of voices, yells and growls that
accentuate and pull out the darkness and emotive elements of the
music. This is a solid debut album that is worth your attention.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Sacrilegion/
https://www.chaos-records.com/
|
Some speedy
Finnish polished black metal with a strong death metal undercurrent
is what is on tap here. The production is heavy yet slicker than I
generally care for or look for, I have heard worse though mind. The
members of this band are involved in many different Finnish bands,
such as Uncreation’s Dawn, Evil Angel, Satanic Torment, Tuonela
etc... All of which I am mostly unfamiliar with, but might be a
point of interest to those reading this that are fans of said acts.
The vocals are a deep black rasp juxtaposed with a cavernous death
metal base and fit the music well enough. I feel like Sacrilegious
do not manage to create anything of an own sound and come away
sounding like so many other overproduced Scadinavian black death
bands, spewing out one after the other in the last decade or so.
Maybe that is your thing though? So many bands like this get signed
and spread around, so clearly there are many out there who worship
things done in this fashion. – Dale
http://www.hammer-of-hate.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sacrilegiousimpalement |
I actually
thought this was going to be a death metal band based on their name
alone. But what we have here is a Finnish black metal band.
Reminiscent of (Sweden's) Dark Funeral in places, this sounds like
something that would of come out of the late 90's or early 00's. A
four piece on this recording, the songs are unrelenting with enough
studio polish to make them raw but produced. An intro plus eight
tunes. A solid effort but in such an over saturated, been there done
that, market, it's hard for any black metal band to stand out.
Sacrilegious Impalement are a decent band but hardly remarkable. -
Mark Sugiyama
http://www.myspace.com/sacrilegiousimpalement
http://www.hammer-of-hate.com/ |
|
 
You know, Sad
has been around for right around 15 years and somehow they have
managed to escape my attention. That ends now as I sink my audio
claws into no less than their seventh album! When I read the band
name, I automatically had thoughts of them being a Funeral Doom
band, but no, make no mistake Sad conjure up utterly pernicious
black metal in the mighty second wave early ‘90s tradition. This duo
is made up of Nadir on vocals and Ungod who handles all instruments
and is the main songwriter. Both of these men are also in the bm
band Kvele, but Ungod in particular is a busy guy as he is also in
bands like Slaughtered Priest, Steelwitch, Obsecration, Necrohell
plus more! If that is not enough this busy Greek maniac also runs
the Metal Throne Productions record label. Focusing back on the
music here, it is freezing cold black metal cloaked in that old
familiar sinister aura that is a trademark of second wave bm, which
is something I must confess that I worship to no end. The music, as
wintry and aggressive it is, still manages to have an epic feeling,
flowing quality to it that is quite entrancing to me. The vocals of
Nadir are as forcefully acidic and bitter rasping as you will hear
in any black metal horde, it is a tour-de-force performance of
emotional bile and dark rage. I now see that I have a lot of
catching up to do with this excellent bands back catalog of
releases. "Misty Breath Of Ancient Forests" comes highly recommended
from me to fanatics and purists of the early to mid ‘90s black metal
rituals and traditions. - Dale
https://hordeavsad.webs.com/
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com
|
|
Sagenland come
out of the Netherland's pagan black metal scene is Sageland with
their debut release. From what I understand the previously had only
one release way back in 2005, a split album (w/Vargulf), but the
label shuttered it’s doors very soon after the release was pressed
and less than 100 copies were circulated. This album features all
three songs from that split plus seven additional songs and after 15
long years of dormancy their debut album ‘’Oale Groond” sees the
light of day through the veteran Dutch label Heidens Hart. The music
on here is delivered with both skill and showcases some excellent
writing ability. Musically the duo play very aggressive, and fast
black metal, but these musicians do add some slower moody folkish
elements into their aggressive music. The vocals are a mix of
traditional black metal screams and some excellently sung clean
vocal arrangements. Sagenland plays a high class brand of second
wave black metal that is traditional yet very well progressive in
its own way. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/SagenlandTwente/
https://heidenshart.bandcamp.com/
|
After a couple of e.p's and demo's Australia's Sanguinary
Misanthropia release their debut full-length. Loathe Over Will is
nine tracks of traditional satanic black metal. Raw, thin guitar
riffs, aggressive blasting drums with some mid-paced breaks to keep
the music interesting and the listeners attention. The vocals are
demonic screams and screeches and fits nicely with the bands
old-school primitive sound. I know a lot of bands are doing the "old
school" sound way too much these days but Sanguinary Misanthropia do
a great job of creating and playing traditional, raw black metal
without sounding too much like one particular band. Definitely
recommended to old-school fans who enjoy their black metal raw,
primitive and ugly.
- Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/sanguinarymisanthropia
http://shop.supremacy-through-intolerance.org/
|
Cruz Del Sur
just keeps pumping out quality bands, generally of the heavy metal
doom variety, with an emphasis on the doom side of that equation, in
most cases. This is once again the case with Sanhedrin, but they
lean much more in the classic heavy metal (and hard rock) direction,
alongside occasional sprinklings of more modern day sounds than much
of the labels staple roster. The production on here sounds and feels
quite modern and current as well despite their love of old bands.
The band is competent at song crafting / structuring, but they are
not trying to impress at how clever or aggressive they can be in
this area. The band are definitely much more concerned with catchy
hooks, rhythms with songs purely focus on feel in between their
rocking grooves. The seven plus minute opus “Collateral Damage”,
placed at albums mid-point is a rather moody, solidly impressive
song, which shows the band really wearing some influences on their
sleeves with heavy doses of more modern Iron Maiden and classic
Queensryche, bleeding through with touches of class and skill.
Speaking of Queensryche, vocalist Erica Stoltz has a classic ‘80s
heavy metal side to her voice, but I can not shake the Geoff Tate
comparison when listening to her effortlessly belt out those great
vocals of hers backed by high-quality range, control and poise. I am
huge fan and believer in Cruz Del Sur Music, they have superb tastes
in music and find impressive bands consistently. So, while
Sandhedrin for my tastes, is not necessarily the cream of the crop
on their roster, this is nonetheless still a solid record that fans
of the murky emotional stylings of bands like Queensryche and modern
Maiden mixed liberally with NWOBHM (along with American bands in
that style from the mid to late ‘80s) in an updated package should
find this right in their wheelhouse. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/sanhedrinband https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
Not sure if you can
call this an album or just a discography collection. Included are the
bands 2 demos, ‘92’s “In Hate…” and ‘93’s “Dark” tapes. I always
wondered what happened to this band, who play a well balanced
combination of melodious and memorable structuring with a courseness of
harsh speed, all fully steeped with passion and hate. Cult darkness! - Dale
Breath Of Night
Recs., P.O. Box 54, Dekalb, IL. 60115 - 0054, USA Email = akhenaten@niu.edu
|
|
‘Hate’ is
Sarcofago's 1994 album that is getting a re-release through Greyhaze
Records. It features eight tracks of old-school black metal with
some thrash influences, especially noticeable in the guitar tone.
Wagner Antichrist handles the guitar duties for on this recording,
which are played with mid paced structured chunky riffs. The guitars
do speed up to a more aggressive and thrashier pace throughout some
of the songs. Wagner also handles the vocals for this release, which
are a mix of gruff death metal growls and some black metal screams.
Gerald Incubus performs the bass duties and he creates some well
crafted and interesting bass-lines. The drums are programmed, but
are not all blasting beats including some sections that feature
drums with a more controlled slower, mid paced patterns. If you can
get past the drum machine you might like this album from a legendary
UG band. - Patrick
https://www.greyhazerecords.com/
https://greyhazerecords.bandcamp.com/
|
One of my favorite black metal bands from the Finnish black metal
underground. The 'Rebirth Of A Cursed Existence' is seventy two
minutes of raw, vicious Satanic black metal that only the masters
can provide. Fourteen rare tracks from Sargeist's vault originally
released on vinyl's, cassettes, or compilation songs used over the
years. I have been a fan of this great bands music over the years
which has never changed or let me down with their traditional, raw
vicious black metal. The thin guitars are fast and screechy played
with a lot of extreme cold and hateful riffs, but there is also has
a lot of talent mixed in with the hateful blasphemy. The drumming is
precise and chaotic at the same time going from mid-pace to all-out
blasting assaults on the drum kit. Sargeist are one of the best
black metal bands ever to be unleashed into the scene and thanks to
the great W.T.C label you now have a chance to own some of the
bands hardest material to find. Highly Recommended to all Sargeist
fans and anyone into classic raw, hateful black metal.
-
Patrick
https://myspace.com/sargeist
http://www.moribundcult.com/
|
Sarratum is a black metal band featuring Martin Ciappara {Prayer Of
The Dying, Black vulture} who handles the drums and keyboards in the
band. Sarratum seem to stick to the more primitive, raw straight
forward style of black metal and do it well. The guitars are raw,
simplistic yet have some catchy riffs. I'm not sure how long martin
has been drumming for but he seems to be pretty good behind kit
going from mid-to fast beats. And the band does show somewhat of an
"atmospheric" side with their instrumental track Beyond The Helios
before picking up with the demonic harsh blackened vocals and black
metal attack. Fans of early Emperor, or early 90's Norse black metal
in general should check out / enjoy Sarratum.
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/sarratum
http://www.nghproductions.net/index.php?cPath=2
|
|
This release “Of
Atavistic Fury & Visions” is the debut from these Finnish newcomers
Sarvekas, which is being released through Soulseller Records. The
music on here is definitely rooted in the Finnish black metal style,
but the band does add some slower more melodic passages in with the
faster more aggressive style core. The individual members of the
band are skilled with their instrument with skill and show some
songwriting talent. The drums and guitars are played with furious
aggressive patterns. The vocals are traditional black metal screams
and screeches that are done are powerful and feature some
interesting vocal arrangements. I have admit for a debut release
Sarvekas have unleashed a masterpiece of black metal by combing both
the faster more traditional style with some slower interludes. You
should check them out and keep an eye on this new band. -
Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/sarvekas
https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com
|
Well, fuck me,
Satan reforms after only a 26 year absence! Do the old goats still
have it? I had my apprehensions about that. But I am happy to report
that “Life Sentence” is one hell of a comeback album. Satan have
stayed true to their roots and made a great old school ‘80s heavy
metal record that is dark, catchy and rocking as all hell. Vocalist
Brian Ross sounds great as he belts out that proud warrior epic
style voice that is still as smooth as ever and has great range. I
love this. The drum sound on here is really nice and performance on
the kit is energetic and precise. In fact, energy that is a good
word to use for this whole they keep the pace brisk and full of
adrenaline. Yet they manage to create a certain dark emotional
atmosphere that I really enjoyed. It is nice to see a comeback
record that was not just shit out there to get people interested in
the name again and have an excuse to tour. Satan took their time and
created a very good album that upholds the legacy. Check this out!
- Dale
http://www.satanmusic.com/
http://www.listenable.net/
|
The band Satanic
Dystopia comes to us out of the U.K. blackened death metal scene.
This band surely knows how to play violent, vicious and darkened
death metal whirlwind. The heavy and fast guitars rage their way
through the song at break neck speed, mixed in with some mid paced
riffs, though not very many. The drumming is just as good backed
with some violent blast beats galore and some middle paced drumming
as well. The vocals are some disturbing death growls and screams.
This is a good release that should please any metal demons into
sadistic old school metal. (As always with NVS the packaging as
always is amazing – get this and support this fantastic label! -
Dale) - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/SatanicDystopia
http://nvslabel.blogspot.com/ |
This release
covers the entire existence of the band, a flame that burned
brightly, but burned out in a hurry. They released one seven inch ep
(in 2008) by the same name as this release, Satanic Threat then
played one live show before calling it quits. This disc has that 7”
plus the live show, covering the existence of the band. If you like
the first couple songs you will like the entirety of In To Hell.
Because honestly, while good, the songs mostly sound the same, the
vocals sound the same in each song, just with some different lyrics.
That is not really a knock, this is how a lot of ‘80s punk bands did
their thing back in the day. To be fair there is some variation from
song to song to differentiate the songs, just not a whole lot of it.
This is some good punk rock though, those driving rhythms will get
in your head and stay there. If you love straight forward 80s punk
and love Satan you will probably dig the hell out of this shit.
- Dale
https://myspace.com/satanicthreat#
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/ |
|
The man of the
black metal underground known as Werwolf (Grieve, Knife, Krüel
Kömmando, Orlok, Satanist Terrorist, The True Werwolf,
Vritrahn-Werwolf, ex-Horna, ex-White Death and more) returns with
his (solo) band Satanic Warmaster, which he is arguably most known
for. Satanic Warmaster does not release albums very often, as this
is their 6th album in the last twenty-two years, this
time around it was an eight year wait! Though to be fair during this
long existence S.W. has released nearly 30 demos, EPs and splits,
not to even mention a handful of live albums, so this band is never
dormant for too long. But let us move out the bands history and into
the moment at hand here. The opening hymn “Bafomet” is a less frosty
and little more mildly melodic, especially with regards to the
guitars, than I was expecting when I hit play. Yet those deathly and
dangerously acerbic vocals I admire were exactly what I had hoped to
hear from the start. A solid track yes, though not entirely what I
hoped to hear, but my apprehension was quickly erased and never
returned for the remainder of the album. As the hateful, sinister
archetypal second wave Finnish filtered black metal only grows and
strengthens as this strong record progresses. That cold and spiteful
black metal continues to drive hard through this musical snowstorm
and winding through it all like a writhing serpent is a healthy dose
of timely, well placed eerie synth work that brings in some
malevolent arcane atmosphere. Werwolf’s lethal and bitter bm caustic
rasping vocals are some of the best in UG scene in my opinion, a
superb welcome knife to the brain! I worship this stuff and can
never seem to get enough of it, but was it worth the wait? Well is
any release worth waiting eight years for? Probably not, but that
does not mean it is not excellent, because this album is indeed. The
vinyl version of this is not due until later some time in 2023, but
whatever your preferred choice of format, if you love Satanic
Warmaster and good second wave bm then you need to get your mitts on
this. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/satanic.war.terror
https://www.werewolf.fi/
|
Hailing from the
far North come Satanist and their grim low-fi “Sadomasochrist” debut
album. So black metal from Alaska? I already feel an unpleasant cold
chill run down my spine just thinking of that combination. I suppose
I should clarify here that Satanist are a speed metal and black
metal combination. Which for me is just great and I would like to
see more of it. It reminds me to the early days of the second wave
of black metal when bands generally had more of their own sound.
They were definitely black metal but incorporated speed, thrash,
heavy metal and doom type elements into the bm sound. I think to
bands (and their early works) like Mortuary Drape, Necromantia,
Morning Star, Acheron etc… etc… The visuals that this record is
wrapped in are in your face with the cover portraying a crucified
christ flying with bat wings and possessing marks of Satanic
desecration and mutilation upon his skin. Then you get a bonus
poster inside of a naked nun pissing on a holy bible. The vocals on
here are excellent in my opinion. They are kind of more akin to dark
heavy metal or thrash vocals but sung at sort of a mid-pacing and
while they are evil sounding you can certainly make out everything
that is sung. They have ambient synth type interludes here and there
and that reminds me of the classic “Rites of The Black Mass” album
by Acheron. Though here it has a little different feeling to it,
more modern and not quite as classic and creepy as “Rites…”
Apparently these ambient sections have been contributed by the band
Absynth whom I know very little about. The guitars on here are so
speed metal that it almost aches but in a good way for me. It is
well done and despite this (speed guitars) they always manage to
turn in a cold black atmosphere on it all. “Sadomasochrist” is a
good album that I can recommend. For me though the only real
drawback is the drums, which are a programmed drum machine. Now I
have heard them done much worse but in general I detest drum
machines and that was an unfortunate black mark on the album. But do
not let that deter you from giving this a try because it is worth
it. - Dale
http://www.negativityrecords.com/ http://www.myspace.com/satanist666
|
These guys are
still around?! I have their 1986 album “Metal Hell” from my tape
trading days of old. I knew there was a Satan’s Host around, but I
had no clue that this was that same one! I am guessing with the gap
in releases between 1987 and 1999 that they were broken up during
that period. I just paused to read the bio, apparently they broke up
back then because drummer D. Lucifer Steele was murdered. For those
that do not know, this was the band of Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin of
Jag Panzer fame. But, he is no longer with the band, not that that
is a surprise. Yet, they carry onward today, as far as I can tell
guitarist Patrick Evil is the only founding member left. Now of
course they do sound a lot different now than that old debut album.
A record where they displayed, as you might have guessed a classic
and dated sound, but still solid darkened power metal. Nowadays you
they play a form of death/thrash metal sounding music still with a
definite old school heavy metal backbone running through it. The
vocals come off sounding the usual current black metal rasp mixed
with some dm growling undertones. Satan’s Host like it heavy, but
also pretty melodic in between the bouts of horrific brutality. The
production is good, really forceful and captures the power and
hateful emotion of the band. All in all, a well crafted record that
has enough dynamic to separate it from the masses in this style. – Dale
www.moribundcult.com
http://www.satanshost.com/
|
I always have
trouble with trying to review Metal dvd’s. I mean generally it is a
live dvd of material that has been released previously over multiple
past releases. So there does not seem to be much point in reviewing
the music. As far as the disc contents go... You do get a 7 song
live show basically. It is all very well done, Moribund should be
commended for their work here, as you get nice quality video shot
with multiple camera angles. The sound is crystal clear with nice
separation so there is no problem there at all. There is a horde of
bonus material present, including a bunch of bootleg videos shot by
fans at live shows. I am not sure the average black metal devotee
will necessarily want this, though I may be wrong about that, but
surely those who are already fans of Satan’s Host will get their
monies worth. A side note of interest for those who did not know
that Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin of Jag Panzer fame was in the band
in the 80s and reportedly recently re-joined! – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/satanshost
http://www.moribundcult.com/
|
Harry "The
Tyrant" Conklin, of Jag Panzer fame's, old side project that has
been resurrected for 2011. Pretty straight forward heavy metal with
Conklin's typical soaring vocals. In some ways it's nice to hear
this type of Maiden/Priest type of metal - brings me back to the
early 80's scene. Solid riffing throughout, time signature changes,
and elements of more modern metal are mixed in for good measure. In
other ways, there's no escaping the dated sound of the style of
metal (with modern production of course). But, having said that, I'd
much rather hear a band like this than metalcore crap any day of the
week and twice on Sunday. - Mark Sugiyama
http://www.myspace.com/satanshost
http://www.moribundcult.com/
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Finland's Saturnian Mist have created an interesting release with
their newest album mixing black metal, industrial, and even some
heavier progressive guitar riffs. All of the members of Saturnian
Mist are good at their instruments and I give the band a lot of
credit for trying to be original and creative {something that is
lacking in music today} but in this case I think Saturnian Mist have
bitten off more than they can chew. Maybe if they only combine two
elements together like prog and black metal or black metal and
industrial it might be more memorable. This might appeal to the
newer fans of black metal but as for me I say pass.
-
Patrick
http://www.ahdistuksenaihio.com/
http://saturnianmist.net/
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Saturnus are a
melancholic doom band with gothic overtones. When I read the description
I was worried, but this is not too bad I actually got into some of it.
It seems obvious to me that Saturnus are very talented and play with
emotion. This disc is produced by Flemming Rasmussen (Morbid Angel,
Blind Guardian, early Metallica), so you know the sound is nice. If
melancholy is your poison, I have a fix for you. – Dale
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Savage are a
storied legendary metal band, hailing out of the U.K., and playing a
mix of hard rock / early heavy metal. The drumming is done with a
lot of precision, and well done drum patterns. The music is going
from heavy, semi-fast sections to more mid paced range. The music is
written with a lot of variety, fine song writing by experienced and
talented musicians. If you are a fan of late seventies and early
eighties rock ‘n roll, mixed with heavy metal, then this is a good
band for you to check out if they new to you. The second disc
contains thirteen live songs, a mix of old and few newer songs. The
songs are presented very well, with good sound quality. So again, if
you are a fan of the band Savage, or a fan of well written rock ‘n
roll / heavy metal, then give this double disc a disc a chance you
won’t regret it. - Patrick
http://www.savageband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/savageuk
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Coming out of
Thailand's brutal death metal scene is Savage Deity with their third
full length release. This is my first encounter with the band, so I
can’t comment on the music of their previous releases. But the music
on ‘Decade Of Savagery’ is well executed and powerfully delivered
old school death metal that is intense and filled with many well
written musicial passages. The guitars are played with skill and
high level writing ability and range from extremely which fluctuate
from fast patterns but does slow to a heavier more controlled guitar
pace. The vocals are powerful old school death metal growls that fit
Savage Deity’s music perfectly. This bands new release is highly
recommended to those who enjoy quality death metal. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/savagedeityofficial/
https://inhumanassault.bandcamp.com/
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It took me a
couple listens, for what this Massachusetts band was doing and
really going for to sink in. Once I settled in though, I was treated
to some extremely brutal mid to late 90s death metal that crushes
and grinds, but in a very controlled fashion as this is a pretty
technical, tight album. As we know, technicality often serves to
impede brutality and ferocity, yet Scalpel seems to have done a
pretty skillful job of wedding the two. Think of early to mid ‘90s
New York and Floridian death metal, mixed more specifically, with
stuff like Suffocation and later day Cannibal Corpse just as a loose
general guide. The vocals are in the classic duality style with the
deeper growling and the slightly higher nasal growling ala old
Carcass / General Surgery or something along those lines. The band
name fits the music, much like a doctor with a scalpel, this band is
very precise, controlled and forceful in its task. If you like
nineties dm and do mind it a little more on the technical side, then
Sorrow and Skin is for you. - Dale
https://myspace.com/scalpel08
http://www.sevared.com/index.htm
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Rising out of
the Boston, Massachusetts UG scene is brutal death metal band
Scaphism. “Unutterable Horrors” is the bands second full length
featuring eight songs of violent old school brutal death metal
music. The vocals are old school growls, as well as, some more gruff
death metal growls mixed into a few of the songs. The drumming on
here is top notch employing some hyper-speed blast beats, but the
drummer also writes and performs some mid paced drum patterns, which
are a high skill level. The guitars are played in the same vein with
some extremely fast guitars and then peppering in some slower middle
paced guitar sections. If you are a fan of well built and solidly
played old style brutal death metal, then be sure to pick up a copy
of “Unutterable Horrors”, when it is released in January. -
Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Scaphism
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/
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This quartet
rises up out of Antwerp, Belgium and despite Schizophrenia only
releasing their first recording (a single track) a few years ago.
They have been around a while starting out as the band Hammerhead,
they put out a couple EPs under that name before changing their name
to Schizophrenia. Since unleashing that single three years ago, it
was followed up with a CD EP two years ago and now comes their debut
full-length. This album features nine tracks of slickly produced
heavy, driving and skilled old school death metal with thrash
touches. A number of influences pop into my mind while listening to
this like earlier works of bands like Sepultura, Demolition Hammer,
Ripping Corpse, Slayer, Malevolent Creation, Pestilence, Sadus,
Morbid Angel, Possessed and the like. The vocals kind of walk the
line between death and thrash metal styles, and also like the music
lean heavier on the dm side of things, but they are good husky
yelled growls that fit the music well. There is some excellent
guitar work on display here with some smoking guitar fills and
solos. All of that is neatly nestled within some thoughtful and
interesting song writing. This is a real solid first album, it has
me looking forward to what comes next as this talented band
continues to come into it’s own. - Dale
https://linktr.ee/schizophrenia.official
https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/
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Delaware’s old
school death metal band Scorched have released their debut full
length cd, featuring ten songs of brutal, heavy old school death
metal. The guitars are played with a lot of skill and good patterns,
going from a mid paced heavy old guitar style, to a crazed fast
speed. The guitarist knows to really write and play, extremely tight
material, whether playing exceedingly fast or at a controlled pace,
he even is great while playing some well crafted and played solos in
a few of the songs. The drums are played with a lot of power and
skill, going from a slow to mid paced range to a faster more brutal
drum style throughout the songs, to give a nice mix of mid paced and
faster music. If you are a fan of mid ‘90s brutal death metal scene,
then be sure to check out and buy a copy Scorched’s debut today.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/scorchedde/
http://www.unspeakableaxerecords.com/
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It has been a
long time since I heard Scorched Earth or since they graced the
pages of Canadian Assault. I was in touch with the band many years
ago for quite some time. If memory serves I even interviewed the
band over a decade ago for Agonia War zine from Poland (ran by
editor Filip Jesion, current owner of Agonia Records). There are two
songs on this cassette. First up is “Thy Kingdom Doomed /
Marauders”, I am digging the lead instrumental part of the song, it
reminds me some of stuff from the great 70s hard rock / doom bands I
worship. After the lead in, we quickly transition into some smoking
‘n thrashing extreme heavy metal music that has great energy. The
gruff, yelling death metal tinged vocals are delivered rapid fire,
matching the adrenaline of the music step for step. I am digging the
frantic, but stylish guitar solo, just before the song changes up to
a slower tempo that I bet gets some heads banging in live shows. A
superb song from start to finish. Track two, entitled “Harken To
Your Allfather”, hits the ground running, no build like
“…Marauders”, you just have to keep up or be left behind with this
one. Scorched Earth is a band that has some flowing catchy hard ’n
heavy riffs and this song has an even more frenetic solo in the
center portion of the tune. Unfortunately this is the final release
from this band, after a 15 year existence, they apparently just
broke up. This tape will not disappoint, check it out. Order the
cassette for $4 USD or an mp3 copy for $2 USD. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/hailscorchedearth
http://nvslabel.blogspot.com/
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So apparently
this release, from the Finnish band Scorpio Doctrine, is a
co-produced release between two record labels. I am sure more bands
would not mind this situation, where you have not one, but two
different labels promoting your record. This debut mini-album,
consisting of four songs, according to the bio the culmination of a
year of writing and rehearsing by the two members. The first thing I
did was read the lyrics, which are thoughtful, striking and well
written. I am afraid that is where the compliments end. Honestly it
is very minimal, stripped down dark wave, gothic, folk dominated by
keyboards. There are some other elements mixed in, but honestly and
probably by design they are completely drown out by the synth which
is very loud in the mix rendering them virtually as a non-entity.
But yes, it is essentially the same synth sequence, largely repeated
over and over with vocals over top. Well the vocals, to be more
descriptive are clean and clear, half spoken word, half sung. They
are voice has certain sincerity to it, but ultimately backed by the
limp boring music, the vocals are not strong enough for me to hold
my attention and take me along with the journey they attempting
create. The bio lists them as darkwave / industrial, I do not hear
the industrial influence whatsoever, but maybe devout fans of
darkwave, goth, folk style moody music will manage to get more out
of this than I did. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/scorpiodoctrine
http://pavitrakunta.org/
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Yet, another fix
of Finnish barbarity, to the tapped vein courtesy of Dynamic Art.
Sear are an interesting band that manage to play some good extreme
death metal. Despite the brutal nature of their music they always
seem to administer a strong air of stark, somber, almost psychotic
atmosphere to their sound. To create this kind of feeling threaded
throughout a severe death metal album is both unique and admirable
to mine ears. I mean seriously when was the last time you could put
on a new album bang your head, punch a fist through the wall all the
while feeling like you are hearing the soundtrack to a graveyard
horror movie?! It has been a long time for me. Finland is really
starting to assert itself as the new UG metal super power in
Scandinavia. – Dale
www.officialsear.com www.dynamicartsrecords.com
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Imagine if you will
a looser, less melancholic and riffier “Bloody Kisses”. Slow to
mid-paced passages with Peter Steele-esque, ‘I’m too sexy’ vocals.
Season, are not the most original, but they do play this style well. Too
bad I hate gothic like it is the plague – Dale!
Website =
www.webmedia.pl/hardgothic/index.htm
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Sectioned
introduce themselves with a solid salvo of old school death metal. I
can not tell for sure if they are based out of England where the
band had its origins. As there are full time members from the US and
Hungary it would seem. They do apparently get together and play live
gigs from time to time as well. Anyway, this album should conjure
influences of old greats (at least in my view) such as Grave,
Morgoth, Dismember mixed with old Floridian bands like Death,
Malevolent Creation, Resurrection and the like. I borrowed from the
bio on a couple of those influences, but they really nailed it so…
The riffing on here is fucking great, straight ahead ripping speedy
riffs that are catchy and memorable. You also get a dose classic,
well suited to the music guitar solos that really add some depth to
the compositions. The vocals alternate fairly evenly between nice
low guttural growling to higher gruff rasping vocals that are more
decipherable. I can see where those gruff vocals might be an
acquired taste for some, but for me they are excellent and really
fit the music. I must say this is some really quality stuff and
especially if you are an old school dm devotee as I am. Sectioned
has to be one of the best bands out of the UK since the almighty
Bolt Thrower and Benediction. – Dale
http://www.paragonrecords.org
http://www.myspace.com/sectionedx
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This is a
veteran band, whose members have been in many other bands, such as
Necromicon, Mork Gryning, Therion, Sobra Nocturne etc… These Swedes,
play brutal technical death metal, with an unorthodox flow and time
signatures. I am convinced these guys, have listened to a ton of one
of my fave late ‘90s albums, entitled “Obscura” by the legendary
Gorguts. This album sounds very similar, in a lot of ways to that
album, it has similar free flowing, non-traditional song
structuring, technical minutiae and off kilter time changes. Even
some of the brief somber moments, remind me to Gorguts and the
vocals, do not seem that dissimilar either to those talented
Canadians of yesteryear. Does that make it bad? No, in fact, there
is some really quality material on here, some very good
performances, that could only be pulled off by talented musicians. I
like this album; it is good thinking mans brutal death metal.
However, I must admit the more I listen to it, which might me being
a little unfair, but all I can hear is good, yet feels like weak
sister of “Obscura”. It just, makes me feel, like I should shut it
off after a while and put on the originators and masters of this
sound. But that is just me, if you like my description of their
sound; you could do a lot worse these days than picking up this
quality album. If you like things like late ‘90s Gorguts or
Immolation even, then you will probably dig this. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/sectu
http://www.vicisolum.com/
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Let me tell you
about an album that I have not been able to quit listening to ever
since I found it at the top of the “best-selling” metal albums
section of Bandcamp a few weeks ago. Seer (a.k.a. Seer BC) released
Vol. III & IV: Cult of the Void on July 7th of this year through the
German label Art of Propaganda. There is an evident divide in the
album between these two volumes with “Volume III” being the first
four doom-laden tracks of the album and “Volume IV” being the last
four, acoustic and more lax, tracks. If you are headbanging while
listening to the album, you are probably still caught in the thick,
captivating webbing of the third volume, which begins with the
nine-and-a-half minute track “Ancient Sands (Rot Preacher) that
moves from riff to riff without a single stutter. That track hooked
me into the album immediately. It shows all that “Volume III” has to
offer like an overture of themes to come: entrancing clean vocals,
blackened harsh vocals to contrast, groovy riffs, and a rhythm
section that plays an integral part in keeping the compositions
tight and moving with forward momentum as well as providing
accenting features that fill the periphery. I must also mention the
literary quality of the lyrics throughout this album—they construct
a story involving the Cult of the Void and its disciples from
another world in a sort of modernist science fiction form. For me,
the lyrics were just as enthralling as the instrumentation, so I
highly suggest following along with them as you listen to the album.
This suggestion is most pertinent to the fourth volume because the
first three tracks of this volume contain lyrics, but they are not
vocalized. The overall effect of the album with its parts combined
takes the shape of a journey, guiding the listener through the
pained experiences of this cult from their pilgrimage to their pyre.
I highly recommend Cult of the Void to any doom metal fan that
enjoys hearing extreme metal qualities in their doom as well as
acoustic cool-downs after the headbang fest. – Aaron
https://seerbc.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/seervancouver
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This is the
third album from Semen Datura, but my first taste of their music.
Good god how does one go about even describing this record? I
suppose the base would have to be undoubtedly residing in the black
metal arena. But there are so many small bits borrowed from other
genres like thrash, traditional metal, industrial (mostly in some of
the vocals) and I swear some crust type stuff. But it is just little
tidbits and it is so seamlessly incorporated that it is kind of a
mind job. I mean when I read back what I just wrote above I would
think that sounds like shit. But truly, believe me, it is so
brilliantly done and integrity of the music and the flow of the
atmosphere is never compromised. It is remarkable how atmospheric
this record is despite some of the intense, caustic heavy (and
*gasp* even catchy) riffing and various elements. Semen Datura stay
in your face, but manage to produce a certain melancholy and
foreboding throughout their expertly crafted compositions. This is
also evident in the vocals which can be coarse and raw and even
going at times with the aforementioned processed industrial style
vocals. You would think this would destroy the atmosphere of the
music, yet somehow it compliments everything wonderfully and the
deep emotion stays intact despite the violence. It is also sung in
pissed off sounding German which sounds extraordinary to my
untrained ears. Sort of in the same way clips on death metal albums
from Spanish horror movies somehow sound that much more frightening.
The variety on “Einsamkeit” is pretty impressive and even more
impressive that Semen made it all work to perfection. You will never
be bored and they will always keep you guessing while blissfully
bathed in pure evil. None of the elements, riffing, vocals or drum
play anything you have not heard before. Yet they take those
unremarkable fundamentals and somehow manage to shape it all into
something exciting, progressive, regressive, organic sounding and
original. – Dale
http://www.atmf.net/
http://www.semendatura.com/
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New Jersey’s
Sentient Horror have unleashed their debut album, featuring twelve
songs of aggressive, well played Swedish inspired death metal.
Though Sentient Horror are heavily influenced by the Swedish dm
scene, the band can write some original and well played death metal
that is not just a clone. The vocals are deep death growls that
really fit the bands sound very well. The guitars are played with a
level of skill and are impressively performed. The guitars range
from an extreme and crazed speed, to a more controlled mid paced
level. If you are a fan of the early Swedish death metal sound,
played by a band with the ability to write and perform a brand of
death metal with their stamp on it. Then be sure to check out this
album ASAP. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/sentienthorrorofficial/
http://testimonyrecords.bigcartel.com/
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Sentient Horror
are from New Jersey and this trio’s individual members have been
around for a minute in the UG scene currently or previously in bands
like Dark Sacrament, Angmar, Sentience, Dark Empire and Beneath The
Red Dawn. Not to even mention this is the bands sophomore release,
having their debut and a couple EP’s already under their belt. The
band from time to time like to just sit down on a catchy riff and
just rock out with it, but never really for long enough that I would
throw the melododeath or death ‘n roll tag on them. No the band
sticks to the raw brutality and scathing nature of this great
sub-genre of metal. There is a guitar solo in pretty much every
song, not entirely uncommon in brutal death metal but close enough
to it, but well done here. Again, like the melody injected in their
music, it is not prominent and this element (solos) are mixed in in
a way that compliments the mainstay extremity of their musical
foundation. The vocals on here remind me a little to one of my fave
dm vocalists of all time which is Dave Ingram of Benediction (who
apparently after a decade away has just rejoined Benediction! Fuck
yes!!), ex-Bolt Thrower and various other bands, which is never a
bad comparison to have in my personal book. I am guessing this New
Jersey band is pretty killer in a live setting, I do not get to live
shows much any more, but this is one band I would I think I would
dig live. I suppose this is where I could put the disclaimer that I
am a fanatic for the Sunlight ‘90s sound and style of death, and can
just never seem to get enough of. So if you are not that into that
style you might not love this as much as me, but fuck who cares when
a tried and true old sound is done this well, this skillfully?! Not
me, this is some sexy old school Swedish brutal death metal madness!
Oh, one last thing before I go, the cover artwork is amazing. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/sentienthorrorofficial
http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
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Septagon come to
us out of the fertile German metal scene that seems to be deep in
talent, and deep in just about every genre and sub-genre of metal.
Septagon throws their hat in the ring of worthy bands from that
country, how do they measure up? Let’s find out. There is really a
lot to like here, honestly from the extremely adroit guitar playing
(some wonderful fill and solo work), which brings to mind some of
the classic bands of the heavy metal and speed metal ala Cyclone
Temple, Annihilator, Sacred Reich, Znowhite, Wrathchild America,
Ludichrist, Anthrax, Toxic Shock etc... I hear those influences, but
Septagon are more often than not, not as heavy as those bands and
rely much more on lighter melodic elements. Another of the bands
strengths are courtesy of vocalist Markus Becker, who has a great
voice that glides and soars around the music wonderfully. I really
like those vocals a lot, not always when they are mixed with a lot
of lower spoken or spoken sung type sections where he mixes things
up, but also gets away from his mainstay vocal style which is his
strength. I am not a fan of mixing politics and metal, but having
said that with the song “P.O.T.U.S.A.” these Germans seem to have a
pretty good grasp at the root of what is so wrong over here. All the
individual elements on display here are of high quality, but all the
same, I am not always the biggest fan of some of the song
structuring and style. They often tend to stick on the wandering,
light end of the scale taking on more of a commercial edge, rather
than turning up the heavier riffing and running with it, like my own
personal tastes want them to do. There is no denying the skill and
talent on exhibit here even if some of the music is not my cup of
tea. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/septagonband/
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
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I didn't really know what to expect to from this Swedish band of
metal fanatics. The band plays a very a chaotic, frenzied style of
death, thrash metal with some punk rock mixed in the insanity. The
guitarist likes to keep the listeners attention with heavy,
mid-paced riffs, to hyper speed whirlwind riffs. Vocals are more in
the black metal realm with raw screams there are some death metal
growls used to keep the listeners attention {but as fast and chaotic
as Septkh play keeping the listeners attention should not be a
problem}. If you enjoy and appreciate chaotic, raw death/thrash with
some punk and even rock influences then Septekh is a band worth
checking out and adding to your collection!
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/septekh
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
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After releasing
a couple demos and an EP, this triumvirate from Spain unleashes
their debut album. They may be a relatively new band, but their
influences are deeply entrenched in old school death metal. Some
ancient bands of inspiration for them in my opinion are the earlier
works of Dismember, Autopsy, Impetigo, Ancient Rites, Pestilence,
Slaughter, Obituary, Entombed and the like are thrown in a fiery
melting pot. They end result comes out with some quality brutal
death metal that is wrapped in a dark and oppressive cloak. Having
said that their music is often a bit of a dichotomy to me, you have
this gloomy morbid aura yet a lot of the music is very upbeat and
energetic, even catchy at times. When I read that back it feels like
those things should not work together, like oil and water, but
somehow Sepulchral mix it together and make it work for them. The
vocals are absolutely killer growls like if you mixed Lemmy with the
vocals from the old days of bands like Autopsy, Impetigo and Bolt
Thrower together – all with an evil whispery undertone. Also there
is a truly killer cover of “Blood Freak” by Necrophagia on this
recording that people need to hear. This album is a solid debut and
I look forward to more from this promising band. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/sepulchraldeathmetal
https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/
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It is always
interesting when a demo is released on a full fledged record label,
then again releasing it on tape, at least to this old metal goat,
with this format it does in fact make it feel more like a demo.
There is three tracks plus an intro for fifteen minutes of dark and
dusty old school death metal. Sépulcre play death metal the way I
love in the traditional Swedish style from the early to mid ‘90s.
They keep things brutal, washing everything in a very gloomy and
sinister audio aura that is very reminiscent of the almighty classic
first releases from Grave from their demos through the early albums.
That necro atmosphere is just so evil and oppressive in the best
possible way; the malevolent bestial growling vocals only further
serve to add to the ominous ambiance. Despite how fucking heavy and
crushing the riffing and music is, there is also a certain level of
memorable hook to each song and there is some really enjoyable
little guitar fills and nuances that keep thing interesting. After
listening to this a half dozen times now, it is easy to see why
Invictus wanted to be involved in this demo release and promotion. I
honestly now find myself waiting in real anticipation for this bands
debut album, whenever that shall be. I must say there has been some
excellent death metal coming out of France in recent years, now you
can add Sépulcre to that growing list. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Sépulcre https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/
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This band was
born out of Demonic Oath, which was the prolific musician Kevin
Desecrator’s solo band whose name changed when he decided to go with
a full line-up and Sépulcre was born in 2020 (only releasing a demo
prior to this release). I wrote musician above because despite Kevin
D. being the guitarist / vocalist in this band, he is also the
drummer of the mighty Destroyer 666 and plays guitar / drums in Iron
Bonehead Productions band Venefixion, not to mention all those
instruments in prior bands. That is what I call a real musician to
do all of those instruments at a high level. But the band now has 3
other members and those guys bring some of their own experience in
prior bands into this line-up. Sépulcre create dark heavy death
metal that gives off an emotive gloom and dank aura that I find
quite an enticing listen. They also keep things driving and
memorable with some good riffs and some strong varied song
construction, which is reminiscent of earlier releases of bands like
Morbid Angel, Incantation or newer bands like Tomb Mold, Funebrarum
and Sedimentium. All of those influences are good thing in my book
and very well done here with some talent and vision behind it. The
shadowy and somewhat obscured shouting growl vocals that possess a
whispering underbelly to them adding to the sinister air of the
music and blend nicely. If you like quality death metal and are fans
of the bands I mentioned above I think you will find much to like
about this album. Also, you can add Sepulchre to the growing number
of quality death metal bands in recent years coming from the French
UG death metal scene. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/sepulcre
https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/
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This mini-album
has three songs, which clock in at about 27 minutes, consisting of
dark and aggressive black death metal horror. This Swiss band turn
the heat up almost immediately and ride that boiling, churning wave
of cutting inflamed tremolo riffs infused with a sinister aura at
all times. There are fleeting moments of melancholy and
introspection, but they are quickly shattered by vitriolic core that
fuels this bands engine. The vocals are a varied mixing of voices,
screams and screeches, but the dominant vocal is a hoarse, yelled
bellowing voice with a hint of a growl that is filled to the brim
with anger and hostility. Some might find the vocals a little
grating, but once I got used to them on repeated listens I enjoyed
them more. The final song “A Wreathed Skull”, which is over 11
minutes long, is quite an effective and even a startling audio
varied emotive experience. This is a pretty solid release. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SerpensLuminis/
https://goathornedprods.bandcamp.com/
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Serocs are back
with their new album, containing eight songs, the band for those
unfamiliar plays a very brutal death metal style. But Serocs are not
afraid to add in their own touches, to the tried and true methods of
old. They roll out fast, chaotic guitar riffs and patterns, yet do
slow down slightly at times, to a more middle controlled pace with
some complex well written guitar secions. The drumming is a mix,
going from blasting drums, to a more slowed down mid range speed.
This is a band for anyone into well written, and performed,
technical brutal death metal to check out soon. - Patrick
https://myspace.com/serocs
http://www.comatosemusic.com/
|
I was pretty
excited, to find out this was the first band of the almighty Stevo,
from the legendary death metal pioneer band Impetigo. I love
everything, with the packaging it looks great, a very nice job done
by the label with the cassette and inlay. I can definitely hear some
influences here like SOD, Misfits and DRI. First up, is their 1987
demo, which is then followed by two rehearsal sessions from the same
year. Honestly, the demo is not that good, the playing is kind of
terrible, the songs sound like they just tried to play fast, without
actually playing much of anything, just let’s make noise. One thing
I liked right from the beginning and throughout is the add ins of
army related songs, drum patterns and sing songs etc… That stuff is
great, done with a party attitude, adding some great atmosphere in
the musical tornado. The rehearsals, for the most part for me sound
much better than the demos, they still lack direction at times, but
they slow down a little bit actually trying to play songs at times,
and rock out on some infectious pit and headbang inducing sections,
filled cool merrymaking teenage angst and energy. Those elements are
fun and saved this release for me, as something I can sit back
listen to and enjoy, as opposed to having it, just for the historic
novelty of this being Stevo’s first band. During the rehearsal
stuff, there are friends there and they are all just having a party
and playing, so yeah just fun. The military theme is well
represented, for people who love that stuff, from the bits of army
culture and lore I mentioned above, to songs with titles like
“Combat Boots”, “Foxhole Blues”, “Rambo”, “Military Time” etc… Also
one of my favourites “My Friend Lost His Face” hehe. I could see
some getting this for the novelty, as I mentioned, but there is
definitely some good times to be had if you look beyond the car
crash moments. This is limited to only 150 copies, I believe
currently there are a few left, but if those run out, you can get
the digital download version for only three bones. So check it out.
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/NoVisibleSacrs
http://novisiblescars.bandcamp.com/
|
The Scandinavian
doom scene just continues to grow and get stronger by the year it
seems. The leader, in proliferating and promoting this fertile
scene, once again and always, is the mighty I Hate Records from
Sweden. This time we have Serpent Warning, spreading its shadow out
across the globe, from the wintry laden soil of Finland. The band
play old school classic doom metal, but more specifically lean
towards a mix of Black Sabbath, Candlemass and a big influence on
them by my ear is St. Vitus. The songs rumble along, like a slow
motion scene of a WWII tank rolling over and crushing everything in
its path, ever inexhaustible, continually rattling teeth and nerves
in its wake. I really like the deep vocals, you can feel them
resonate in your chest, courtesy of Samuli Pesonen. They really fit
the music well, giving it that backing flow, which fills in the
cracks, smoothing out all the spaces left behind by the immense
musical foundation. It may be too bad that I enjoy the vocals so
much, as apparently Serpent Warning, after the recording of this
album, have replaced him with female vocalist Suvi Laaninen. I will
just have to give her a chance, maybe she fits just as well as
Pesonen, time will tell on that. But until then, apparently
Pesonen’s main band is a doom band, called The Mighty Midget, I have
never heard that band, yet now I am intrigued to do so now. Back to
Serpent Warning though, it is just no frills, solid, enjoyable doom
metal that should please devotee’s of the genre. I know it pleased
me. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/serpentwarning4
http://www.ihate.se/
|
Something
different than the norm for me on offer here. Seventy Seven are
basically AC/DC knock offs. Which is okay I suppose, if they at
least do it well, and I think you have to to stand out doing this.
But High Decibels is honestly fairly pedestrian stuff, lacks balls,
and definitely lacks that high voltage energy and emotion that good
AC/DC has in spades. It is just sort of there, meandering its way
around, no really catchy, high energy riffs, sometimes they start to
really rock for a second, then just take their foot off the gas and
go back to sleep. The vocalist follows suit, he just passable, kind
of a thin voice without much range or power and he follows along
with the music and does not put much energy or umph into his
performance. They can play their instruments fine and seem to be
fans of this style, but lack seriously in song writing and need to
learn to bleed of their art a little more. – Dale
http://www.listenable.net/
|
This was originally
released in cassette format on the Russian label Hobgoblin Records.
Sermon play solid and stylish melodic death metal with black overtones.
The music and playing are really smooth and well put together. In the
end though, it is not very memorable.
– Dale |
Imagine, if you
will, a very large and extremely powerful bulldozer, you are deep in
in a dense forest, you can not see the bulldozer yet you already
hear it’s unrelenting deliberate rumbling engines. As it slowly gets
closer, you can feel it in your chest and in your clenched vibrating
teeth, as it approaches you can now hear the rending, snapping of
trees & roots torn asunder everything in it’s path as you are filled
with an immeasurable sense of impending disaster waiting to befall
you. For me, that is an apt description of the music produced on
Sempiternal Dusk’s “Cenotaph Of Defectuous Creation”. It creates an
atmosphere of dense suffocating and obscure sounding death doom
metal, which envelops you in it’s oppressive mental weight, slowly
consuming and pummeling you into submission. I mean this is some
really damn good epic old school death doom that is cold, dark and
heavy, as it lumbers along pulverizing the listener with unrelenting
riffs that keep coming at you like Michael Myers. Alongside this
great music, you have these really murky, gloomy growling vocals
which really compliments the evil aura of the music, sort of
dissolving in and out of the music becoming one with it. I really
liked this album and I think fans of extreme death doom along the
lines of Disembowelment, Rippikoulu ’93 demo, Cenotaph, Adramelech,
early Incantation etc… will want to investigate this quality album
as soon as possible. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SempiternalDusk/
http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/
|
A very nice looking
release visually, by a young committed label. All the elements of a good
black metal band are here. Rapid fire drums, sweeping guitars, venomous
whispers/screams. There are some, synth accompaniment, which I can
usually throw out but it isn’t really forceful here. All on here is well
done and this is a good album but nothing really beyond intense or
really stands out. The album is 3 tracks and 30 minutes and the songs do
tend to drag on. Die hards will want this but anyone else could
probably take or leave it. – Dale
AMSG, Centre MBE 175
- 82, Rue Jeanne D ‘Arc, 76000 Rouen, FRANCE
|
From the Russian underground comes Shadows Host, a thrashy speed
metal band. That has created some very memorable and catchy songs.
The guitars are all over the place, with some very creative riffs
and fast thrashing guitars. The drummer is in top form on
these songs, with some heavy, fast drumming and some creative drum
patterns. The vocalist has a great range mostly singing and
screaming in a thrashy voice. This is my first encounter, with
this band, but hopefully I get to hear more soon. There is some
really good musicianship on display here.
-
Patrick
http://www.shadowhost.ru/
http://www.eldritchlunarmiasma.com/
|
|
 
Wild Rags is a cool
label but shit they have a good share of crappy bands as of late. I put
these two albums together, as they sound pretty much totally alike to
me. In fact, I bet they were both written on the same night. It says in
the bio this preferably listened to “under the influence of LSD…”. I can
where you would have to be under the spell of a hallucinogenic drug to
like this! Mikael formerly of Buried Beneath (a band I liked) and
apparently these 2 CD’s are his 2nd and 3rd albums
(The first to be recorded in a studio). Yes, 2 LP’s of synth music in a
spacey kind of style with a few spoken word vocals whispers and lame
effects. That sound like they are sampled from some cheesy video game
or maybe a tv show like Doctor Who or some shit. I guess this is
supposed to be evil and surrealistic but I don’t get that feeling even
listening to it in the dark! The only synth music I can get into at all
is the first Mortiis album and the original Halloween movie soundtrack,
now that is creepy! – Dale
Shadowcaster, P.O.
Box 174, North Greece, NY. 14515, USA website =
www.frontiernet.net/~mikael
|
This is an
accompaniment to issue # 5 (reviewed in the Fanzine Assault section) of
S.O.M. and is a nice promotional tool for bands the mag likes. So here
is a run down of the good, the bad, and the okay bands as they pertain
to my tastes. Ragin’ bands: Lividity, Morbus, Neuraxis, Disciple and Insatanity. Next are the decent but unspectacular acts: Thorn, Zeus,
Mysophilia, Imperial Foeticide, Godless Truth, Scabmaggot. Last and
certainly least: Epidemic Cause and Undercurrent. As you can see a
pretty solid comp and it comes free with the first 1,000 who order issue
# 5. – Dale.
|
U.S. black metallers Shadows In The Crypt have released their debut
cd Beyond The Grave. You get seven songs of raw, fast uncompromising
black metal that the fans of this genre will either love and beg for
more or totally hate and despise. Starting off with some raw,
blasting drumming and thin screeching guitars the band rarely lets
up with the intensity throughout the songs on this release going
straight for the kill and leaving little for the imagination with
their violent approach and sound. The band does have a few slower
breaks in a few of the songs but that’s probably to let the
musicians and the listener catch their breath. The vocals are
inhuman shrieks and very well done and just as intense sounding as
the other instruments. A lot of people in the black metal scene
don't seem to go for this violent primitive, rough style {not like
they used to anyways}, so it's great to hear band doing this again.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/shadowsinthecrypt
https://www.reverbnation.com/shadowsinthecrypt
|
Wow is this the same Shadows In The Crypt? It surely is the band has
definitely improved a lot from their debut Beyond The Grave. But
before any long time fans write them off as sell-outs or anything
don't worry the band is still as aggressive and violent sounding as
ever. There are nine tracks of cold, vicious black metal with
blasting drums, fast guitars and very well done black metal shrieks.
But this is not just a rehash of the band's debut; no this time
around the band has also added a little more "atmosphere"
within their songs giving the Shadows a little darker sound within
raw, violent sound. There are even a few vocal lines of clean
singing, chanting that really add another layer to Shadow In The
Crypt's great sound. If this band keeps going the way it is I see
great things for them, definitely worth checking out!!
-
Patrick
https://www.reverbnation.com/shadowsinthecrypt
http://hpgd.comoj.com/index.html |
Shatterpoint
are, a Canadian band that are, new to mine ears. I suppose you could
call this a modern thrash core band or something similar. They claim
Slayer and The Haunting as major influence. Yet I hear fast enough
or heavy enough to really justify such a claim. To my ear a fairer
comparison might be a diet version of Skinlab and Machine Head. A
point of interest may be that in addition to this album you get a
2004 ep, tacked on as a bonus. I will give them their due where they
deserve it and that is on track 5, “Torn Apart”, with a really nice
solo / lead guitar fill. For their style the recording on “Dead
Presence”, does the record very little justice. Overall it is just
too weak and not heavy enough and the beefy riffing falls flat. I
believe I would be just fine if Shatterpoint and myself never
crossed paths ever again. – Dale
PP Records, Box
571, New Hampton, NY 10958, USA
www.powerplayrecords.com |
Don’t let the goofy
name fool you! This is the best Black Sabbath inspired act to come along
since the mighty Sabs themselves! Described in their bio as Sabbath
meets Kyuss in a ‘70’s kind of style. Drop the Kyuss tag and add how
blissfully heavy and mind-warping, they are and I am in full agreement.
I didn’t even mention singer Steve Hennessey who sounds almost more like
Ozzy on the first 5 Sab albums than the man himself! In closing I will
tell you they steal nothing directly from Sab like some other groups and
their Canadian so what more do you want!? Put aside your lava lamp, and
go buy this. – Dale
Sheavy, P.O. Box
1262, Station C, St. John’s, New Foundland, A1C 5M9, CANADA website =
www3.nf.sympatico.ca/ren.squires
|
|
I know this is
the bands third album, but it is regrettably my first time hearing
them. Shed The Skin play probably my favourite brand of death metal.
I mean I am absolute fanatic of bands that blend the early to mid
‘90s Swedish death metal sound and style together with some of my
all time fave American death metal bands from the late ‘80s / early
1990s. A couple bands I have in mind on the US side are early
Autopsy and Repulsion (which to be fair especially with Repulsion
were a big influence on the Sunlight Swedish style), and from the
Swedish side some bands that come to mind are the demos and early
albums of bands like Grave, Entombed, Carnage and Dismember. This
band is made up of UG scene legends and long time grizzled vets that
are or have been in bands like Incantation, Acheron, Crucified
Mortals, Ringworm, Beyond Fear, Eustuary Of Calamity and many more.
As you can imagine with that sort of talent and experience that
everything on this album, from top to bottom, is top level quality.
The songs are memorable, possessing a nice mix of melody and heavy
as hell death metal brutality with some doomy undercurrents. They
slow things down from time to time (a brief respite from the speed &
brutality), steeping these sections with a brooding and gloomy
atmosphere, a good example of this is the killer song “Veins Of
Perdition”. They really vary the song structuring with a mind to
keeping the listener engaged, and some of the guitar work with
regards to the fills and succinct solos are pure gold and really
resonate with me. The drumming on here is beyond reproach with a
dynamic and powerful performance put in by Kyle Severn. This style
of death metal, for me, needs to have quality, compelling and
commanding deep death metal vocals and Ash Thomas brings that in
spades! This album comes highly recommended from me. - Dale
https://shed-the-skin.bandcamp.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
|
Shrieking Demons
is a new band rising up out of the Italian old school death metal
scene. This debut EP release contains four songs of heavy, death
metal in the vein of notorious bands as the bio rightly points out
like Autopsy, Dream Death and Decomposed. Each song is displays
intense and skillful songwriting ability that is delivered in the
bands ferocious grimy approach. The musicians do speed things up to
a faster pace throughout the songs, to give the music a nice mix of
extreme speed, which is then countered by a slower, heavier approach
at other times. The vocals are powerful deep death metal growls. If
you are into death metal with an old school style and feel then
definitely pick up a copy of ‘Diabolical Regurgitations’ today.
- Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords/
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/
|
Shroud have
released nothing for the last six years. Now suddenly they release
two new full length albums as well as a live album. When the
inspiration comes, and the iron is hot you have to strike I suppose.
The album opens with a lengthy acoustic track and some sparse, weak
and cleanly sung vocals in the final minute. However do not be
tricked into thinking this is a stripped down folk album throughout
or something of that nature. The first track is quickly followed up
by a dirty and dark metal style played at a brisk pace with
shouted/growled vocals and a nice guitar solo or two. I like the
obscure and organic sound to the guitars on this record. The song
“Parting Of The Way” is interesting, it is some guy telling about
how he felt isolated, had his final walk and cigar. Then went home
and attempted suicide in the Dr. Kovorkian fashion, but at the very
last second as he was drifting off his hand (he makes it sound like
it had a mind of its own) pulled the plastic bag filled with gas off
his head. It is quite creepy and poignant and a little depressing.
An apt description that could probably be applied to this album as a
whole. Dark Meditations… is probably going to be an acquired taste
for some, it is an emotional journey that can come across as a
little unconventional at times. I personally found it to be worth
the patience required to explore this well crafted album. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/shroudofdespondency
|
I think I
listened to these discs in the reverse order of intended
presentation, but it is an album as a whole right, so maybe that
matters not. Now I do not listen to certain kinds of music a lot.
Such as contemplative, hypnotic moody and melancholic folk-y music,
which is stripped down, that has the purpose of taking you away on a
mental journey. A journey, where you are really being carried away
by experience of the album as a whole, and it is constructed and
stretched out to keep you in that head space for the duration. As I
said I do not often listen to that kind of music, but I do from time
to time, I absolutely adore it when a special band can take me there
and lose myself in it. It is not an easy task to do and I am not
always the most susceptible subject. This is a two disc album; each
disc is album length, so I tried to do exactly what I outlined
above. However, it failed fairly miserably for me, it is not
horribly performed or anything of the sort, there is some pretty
good material here comprised of acoustic guitars and organic
traditional percussive sounds. But it never hooked me, even for an
instant, it never goes anywhere and despite each song be very
similar to the one before it, it really falls down with regards
constructing that singular journey, that one piece of hypnotic music
to pull it all together and take you along with the current. No it
is more like you are getting caught on every piece of debris or eddy
in the current, which spins you around and around and you feel like
you have gotten nowhere by the end of the disc. It was with
trepidation that pushed play on disc two. I honestly did not know
that I wanted to sit through another 40-50 minutes of directionless
tedium. Well, thank goodness or maybe thank darkness, that disc two
(which was meant as disc one?) has no resemblance whatsoever to the
failure of the first disc. The second disc while not exactly
amazing, at least has some dynamic to it, some direction to it. We
are treated with harsh black metal rasping vocals, over some
energetic dark guitar riffing and bombastic drumming. Maybe I just
needed a break from the other half of the album. But I immediately
welcomed the harsh metal sounds of black metal with open arms. The
more I examine it, honestly this material feels kind of thin to me
at times, like skeletons of songs that need later care with the
arranging and placing of new pieces of flesh to fill them out. That
probably sounds a little harsher than it should, because at times
their bombastic ‘90s black / death metal sounds really do get
rolling and grind like an audio axe and bring a smile to my face.
The vocals are harsh and forceful, which helps drive home the raw
darkness and hate in the guitars and drumming. Nothing overly stands
out or amazing, but this disc is some pretty good harsh black metal,
in the mid to late 90s Scandinavian vein, that should please some
followers of that era. But the other disc just did nothing for me
and went absolutely nowhere. So a mixed bag, you decide if that
sounds like it is for you or not. It is an ambitious undertaking
attempting a double album like this, maybe a bit too ambitious for
Shroud. - Dale
http://shroudofdespondency.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/shroudofdespondency
|
sup
I have reviewed
and come across my fair share of bands named Sickness, during the
‘90s I was quite into a Greek band by that name. But, this Sickness
is from Malaysia, it is immediately obvious when you read the album
title, see the cover art, the logo… well just everything about them,
unabashedly proclaims their worship of early Carcass. Hey, General
Surgery created quite a following, out of being a Carcass clones and
executed that style and atmosphere very well. Do I see Sickness as a
Carcass clone? Yes, I do. That is not necessarily a bad thing at
all, I appreciate that they are proud of it and do not try feebly to
hide it as some do. I would say these guys are more obsessed with
the first Carcass album, than the later works, at least on the
musical end of things. I mean first off, they do not have the skill
or precision to match that second Carcass album, and have a hard
enough time keeping up with the more primitive first one. This is
okay stuff, but honestly if you are hoping for something as good as
early Carcass, or even as good as General Surgery (who I am a fan
of), you may come away slightly disappointed. This is fairly
sub-par, too simple, thin and one note to really pull off this style
properly, in my opinion. Despite this band being around since 1996,
I am not sure if they were really ready for an album yet, this is
demo level material. It has it’s moments, do not get me wrong, but
overall it is just not there yet, they know what they want to do,
but fall short of being able to realize and pull off their vision. I
would only recommend this, to real diehards of early Carcass, who
can not get enough of that style no matter what the level of
quality. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/gore2sickness
http://www.grundar.com/
|
sup
Sidious is a new band from the U.K featuring two members from the
great death/doom band Eye Of Solitude {also on Kaotoxin}. Well
Sidious are more of a blackened death metal band with a lot of
symphonic and dark atmosphere. The mix in heavy, fast death metal
guitar riffs and pounding drums and occasional blast beats. Sidious
intertwines some very well played and used keyboards into the
heaviness that adds a nice layer of dark atmosphere within the
heaviness. The vocals are raspy, black metal screams and deep, death
growls that mix nicely together. If you are looking for something
original and heavy then look no further, as Sidious has released the
Mcd for you! I am ready for the for the full length from this great
young band now.
- Patrick
http://sidious.bandcamp.com/
http://www.kaotoxin.com/
|
|
 
This band from
Chile is a serious change of pace that is an interesting and
peculiar yet menacingly sinister musical experience. I believe this
is largely a one man band and had been that until just recently,
when main man Witchfucker (also in the bands Dekapited & Invocation
Spells) after doing their demo by himself has brought in Thoth from
Denying Nazarene to handle the drums for this debut full-length
album. The band is labeled as black speed metal and I think that is
a fairly apt description, but it is all presented through a
psychedelic audio lens. Though not the cool hippy psychedelia trip
with all the colours, bongs, lava lamps and shit – no this is a dark
hallucinogenic musical trip that is disorienting and sadistically
evil. This is going to be hard to review and describe, but fuck it I
will give it a try. Besides the creative and strange off-kilter
rhythms of the riffing, there is also a lot of the time put into
this effect on it where it sequences sounds similar to an old,
stretched out malfunctioning wobbly sounding cassette tape at
strategic times. You might think that sounds annoying and it may to
some, but for me the way they did it and only apply it lightly it
actually cool in this quirky unique way. Then at times things will
switch on the higher toned guitar parts, and then is off on the
heavier secondary riff to bring this mix of traditional metal sounds
and eccentric sounds to create a pretty unique idiosyncratic sound.
This extends in a similar way to the vocals where you have the more
traditional yet crazed yells, screamed and growled vocals with a
range of metal genres employed. Then there is this second set of
warped vocals courtesy of a harmonizer distortion that like a cross
between an evil menacing alien and a demon straight out of hell (the
label bio sites "very early Carcass, Impetigo, or Carnage" to give
you a general idea of the vocal processing used here) - all of this
gives the vocals a wide spectrum of depravity for a really varied
interesting to listen to in my opinion. You are probably wondering
about some influences well they are a huge cauldron mix of some
great first wave black metal, thrash and speed metal bands like
Venom, Mortuary Drape, Hellhammer, Necromantia, Master’s Hammer,
Warfare, Bulldozer, Motorhead, early Bathory, early Destruction and
many more. There are even hints here and there of extreme hardcore /
punk bands like G.I.S.M., Amebix and GBH. If you are looking for
something different, something filled with darkness and evil yet
dripping in traditional metal worship then you really should take a
ride on this bizarre depraved musical trip. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/signofevilchile
https://edgedcircleproductions.com/ |
This is
Silencer, the new age thrash metal band from Denver, Colorado. Not
to be confused with the now split up, and also vastly superior
atmospheric black metal band Silencer from Sweden. I am honestly not
sure how this band got signed, this is some of the most simplistic,
slowed down and ultimately very boring thrash I have heard in quite
some time. The drumming is pretty good, but outside of that the
riffs are uninspired in both creation and performance, they sort of
sound like some guy pulled out his riff cassette tape out of the
closet that was recorded only for himself and decided to make an
album out of it on short notice. The vocals are lame and limp, seems
like they are caught between trying to decide if they wanted to be
heavy metal vocals and/or commercially friendly vocals, there is an
undertone of both, but both lack style or any real emotion, it just
sounds like the vocalist is going through the motions to be honest.
I do not think I have been this hard on an album in a while, might
be getting soft in my old age, but screw it, this is a piece of shit
guys, avoid this like it is going to spend all your drinking money
and give you herpes to top it all off. I even find their logo and
cover artwork to be dull and bland. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/20483365
http://vanitymusicgroup.com/
|
The opening song
kind of threw me off track. It had sort of an epic symphonic heavy
metal feel and pace with the clean female vocals over the top. A
good track actually, but not an indication of what was to come both
in style and quality on the rest of the album. The rest of the album
is more mellow and resides roughly somewhere in the gothic symphonic
category with a heaping helping of Cello if you believe that. I
think the only thing I really liked about the album was vocalist
Riina as her vocals are much deeper and less sappy than most female
fronted bands in this genre. Having said all of that this style of
music is honestly not my thing at all. Silentium do what they do
very well, but I still do not care much for it I am afraid and will
not be listening to it again. Those that like and follow this genre
will likely enjoy it. – Dale
http://www.silentivm.com/
http://www.dynamicartsrecords.com/
|
|
 
Starting off
this split release is France's Silure who deliever four songs of
obscure and well performed old-school death metal. The music is
played at a faster pace with some very well written and skillful
musical passages. The guitarist even adds some well some enjoyable
guitar solo's throughout the songs. Up next is Chile's Feretro who
have released quite a few demo's and EP'S over the last few years.
The musical style of Feretro is a very fast paced old school death
metal with both powerful guitars and commanding drums. The guitarist
does write some memorable guitar parts, even adding some heavier,
slower guitar passages that fit the band's style perfectly. The
vocals are old-school death metal growls that are done with some
power alongside some gruff thrashy screams as well. Both bands
possess a lot of skillful writing ability within the old school
death metal sickness and cruelty. If you are a fan of well executed
90's style death metal then be sure you don't miss out on this
killer split cassette. - Patrick
http://nihilistic-webzine-distro.fr/ https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/music
|
I have been a
Sinister fan for a long time, ever since buying their ’91 split 7” w/
Monestary (side band w/ members from Entombed and Sinister), and shortly
after tape trading for their ’89 demo “Perpetual Beginning”. I totally
missed their debut LP “Cross The Styx” but reveled in their sophomore
effort “Diabolical Summoning” & follow up to it “Hate”. Which brings us
up to speed, I really had visions of a Grave “Hating Life” abomination
due to the loss of their original songwriter/vocalist. “Aggressive
Measures” is a decent affair, with a lot of cool riffs but gone is the
unrelenting juggernaut brutal and technical attack of “Hate”. Now
replaced with a less technical, simpler approach, that while good does
not match the pummel of days of old. New throat Eric keeps things deep
but with a higher degree of decipherable edge that I can take or leave
really. Excuse, me if you will, I’m going to put on “The Diabolical
Summoning” and sit this hand out. I suggest you do the same.
- Dale |
This is my first encounter with Allentown Pennsylvania's Sinister
Realm and what a band! Sinister Realm embody all that is great with
traditional metal and that keep the fires of pure metal alive.
Sinister Realm plays a mixture of melodic heavy metal and
more traditional heavy metal. The guitars are done to perfection
between the whirlwind fast riffs and more galloping heavy
metal riffs with some really well played solos mixed throughout each
song. The drumming is played all over the place going from slower
beats to mid-paced beats and drum solos to the more aggressive heavy
metal. The vocalist is amazing reminds me a little of Ronnie James Dio
but then has more of his own original deeper scream vocal. Fans of
Dio, Judas Priest, Maiden, and original traditional heavy metal are
urged to check out Sinister Realm today.
- Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/sinisterrealm
http://store.shadowkingdomrecords.com/ |
I’ve heard this
bands name in the past, never heard their stuff though, apparently they
have been kicking around since the early ‘80’s! Mainman Matt Sinner is
also in Primal Fear as you will read in that bands interview elsewhere.
Sinner play straight forward, classy heavy metal that is a bit on the
accessible side. There are some great riffs on here sprinkled with some
keys that do spice the music up without holding it back. Sinner’s best
asset is the emotional and richly textured vocals of Mr. Sinner himself.
I really enjoyed the guitar solos on here as well. Beyond that I must
say much of the music falls flat and doesn’t really have the punch and
intensity that is called for here.
- Dale |
|
Sisters Memon
are a duo with members from both the Poland and the U.K black metal
UG scenes. The self titled debut release features eleven tracks of
well crafted songs and shows some amazing musicianship. M.W. Daniels
who lives in the U.K handles the songwriting and performs all the
music on this old school black metal release. The guitars are played
with high intensity and skillful deftness with a mix of mid tempo
guitars and some faster and more extreme passages. There is some
very well executed and performed solo's which in turn create some
memorable sequences that you don't always hear in a black metal
release. Natalia Sara (also vocalist in the band Aura) handles the
vocals for the band and she produces some old school screams and
demonic shrieks that are done in an impressive vocal style. This
bands self titled debut recording is a must have for all fans of
quality black metal. - Patrick
sistersmemon.bandcamp
https://plaguedemon.storenvy.com
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com |
|
I, The Witch is
the second full length from the duo known as Sisters Memon. Natalia
handles the vocal duties; the vocals are a mix of grim old school
screams and some very original gruff growls and screams. Natalia has
some of best vocals I have ever heard and one of the best
performances to be recorded on a release. MW handles all of the
music side things, and once again this is composed and written with
pure musical genius and his experience shines through. The guitars
are performed with a mix of fast paced structuring that is played
with intensity. MW does slow things down to a more controlled mid
pace guitar range at times in the songs. Both the fast and mid paced
passages are played with quality and a skillful writing ability. If
you have never heard Sisters Memon and are a fan of quality and
original sounding black metal I very highly recommend I, The Witch.
- Patrick
sistersmemon.bandcamp
https://plaguedemon.storenvy.com
https://bchrecords.storenvy.com |
Coming out of
Seattle, Washington (after relocating from California at some point)
is Skelator, who play a very unique and original style of epic heavy
metal. They champion the old school metal lifestyle and look,
intertwined with serious lyrical doses of fantasy sword & sorcery,
this release in particular lyrically seems to be influenced a lot by
Japanese Anime. Some the lyrics are a little cheesy, not going lie.
But let’s move on the music. The band in addition to the
aforementioned epic ultra melodic heavy metal, adds in some speed
metal elements into the riffing and guitar work. The vocalist has a
really good, smooth vocal range with some siren level high screams
and hollering within some very well sung clean melodic vocal
patterns. The vocalist Jason Conde-Houston has a distinctive,
impressive voice and singing style, but I do definitely hear some
Rob Halford and Geoff Tate in there especially in their early years.
The music itself is extremely tight and silky with each instrument
shining through with some excellent performances. If you are a fan
of epic, melodious heavy metal with speed metal touches, then do
yourself a favor and pick up a copy of ”Cyber Metal” today. -
Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/TrueSkelator
https://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/
|
I knew the
second I looked at that amazing cover artwork, it just had to be Dan Seagrave, and it was, seems like this great artist is having a bit
of a resurgence with creating extreme metal covers again. Also, I
can hear the skilled mind and fingers of master mixer Dan Swano, who
helped make this recording sound heavy and crushing as fuck!
Skeletal come to us out of the Californian (Whittier to be exact,
was that not the home of Wild Rags! back in the day?) scene, and
they write and perform devastatingly brutal and proficiently
performed death metal. This record is definitely a bit of a
throwback to the old school style, which you know I love, bringing
to mind some of the best of the early to mid ‘90s superb output from
bands like Gorguts, Pestilence, Sinister, Asphyx, Monstrosity,
Brutality, Demolition Hammer, Obituary etc… The band does inject
some melody into the barbarism, at times, but they make sure to keep
things predominantly brutal at all times. They also inject enough
variation in the song structuring to keep things interesting; the
guitar fills and solos are classy and emotive adding that extra
dimension to complete the songs, and make it a real pleasure to my
ears. The vocals are pretty standard mid-range, semi-decipherable
growling, nothing too mind-blowing there, but they get the job done
nicely and fit the music pretty well. This album comes recommended
from me, fellow devotees of the above mentioned bands and old death
time period will love this, as it is top shelf quality, top to
bottom. I have to say before going that Dark Descent Records
continue to prove themselves, as being one of the best labels in the
scene, possessing a real ear for picking through the endless masses
and consistently finding truly quality bands. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SkeletalRemainsDeathMetal
http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/
|
|
When I think of
the French UG scene I don’t think of any one style or sub-genre as a
stand out of the scene in France. If anything for a long time it was
known for black metal. But damn is it just me or has France not been
producing a lot of really good death metal in recent times? I say
yes, even though Skelethal is not a really new band, they are new to
me with this sophomore full-length album. I reviewed an album by
Bütcher earlier this year that I enjoyed, it turns out the drummer
from that Osmose Productions band is also the drummer for Skelethal
as well. He is a busy man. Skelethal compose some memorable brutal
death metal with speedy and crushing riffs that wreck my head and my
neck for that matter! There are some affecting and cool, but brief
guitar fills and little nuances that pop up from time to time, which
flesh things out without detracting from the brutality or blitzkrieg
pacing. The growled vocals on here are classic sounding growls that
enjoyed a lot. Anyone who reads Canadian Assault regularly knows I
am a huge old Swedish death metal fanatic; it may be my fave style
of death metal period to be honest. I just can not seem to get
enough of it. So maybe it is not too surprising that I dig the hell
out of this record, as that is the exact style Skelethal worship and
play. They sound very much like one of my fave bands from that era
of the early to mid ‘90s, which is Dismember and thrown in a dash of
Carnage too for good measure. It may be far from original or
breaking new ground, but when it is this well done and of this
quality, Swede dm fellow worshippers of this sound will surely want
to get their claws on posthaste. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/skelethal/ https://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/
|
Skineater
carefully crafted a meeting of the minds between old school US death
metal and old Swedish extreme death. Think of something like
Cannibal Corpse / Suffocation mixed with At The Gates / Hypocrisy or
some sort of similar mix. As we often come to expect with Swedish
bands, the members of Skineater are members of a bunch of other
bands past and present such as In Thy Dreams, Carnal Forge,
Defleshed, Embalmed etc… This record is brutal, it is catchy at
times marching along and pounding like machine gun fire in battle.
It is the balance struck between the immense brutality and the
catchy melodies that is the strength of Skineater and pulls their
sound together. You even get some really emotive guitar fills during
slower sections, where you can hear some Carcass “Heartwork”
influence, but it does not last long before the avalanche of
crushing riffs wash back over everything, making you use up that
that breath you stole during the interlude. This is a pretty
impressive piece of work with Dermal Harvest. I think fans of olden
Swedish and American death metal will go a little weak in the knees
for this album. All the members past experience aside, this is a
very impressive debut album. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/skineater
http://www.pulverised.net/
|
This is limited (5,
000 copies) and has 5 tracks that go as follows 2 new songs, a demo
tune, a live one, and a Brujeria cover tune “Raza Odiada”, this song is
the best on here, too bad it isn’t even their own. If you will recall I
ripped this band a new one in my debut issue in a review of their first
CD. They still sound like a Machine Head (who also suck!) rip-off with
the deep Alice In Chains styled deep spoken word and slow guitar breaks.
*YAWN* More lame tough guy commercial power thrash crap, still can’t
believe Steev Esquivel (former creative force behind thrash ragers
Defiance) has sunk this low. If you liked Skinlab on “Bound, Gagged And
Blindfolded”, then ‘jump’ up and down to store ‘cause your in for a
treat!
- Dale |
If you read Metal
Maniacs lately this is the new great hope for the scene. HA! Yes, I hate
Skinlab and this is exactly like their old releases rehashed but they
have toned down on the Alice In Chain-isms a bit. Lost Souls, Machine
Head, Korn ect. fans take note ‘cause you’ll love this. For some
unexplainable reason each time I listen to this, the title of that
cheesy ‘80’s tv show “21 Jump Street” springs to mind?
- Dale |
Skoll is the
side project / band, of the mighty M. [The true Endless], among the
other bands he worked or works with currently. M handles the vocals
and guitars for Skoll, here he presents his newest outfit, a more
folk inspired black metal band. The four songs featured here, are
quite a variety metal style, from somber passages with acoustic
guitar, that are done beautifully before the band inevitably picks
up the pace with icy, raw guitars. The drumming is done extremely
well, backed with slow to mid paced drums. M’s vocals show a good
range of emotion, mainly using the black metal shrieks, but there
are also some deeper death growls, used in a few songs and even some
clean vocal patterns and chants. This is definitely worth the price
if you’re a fan of folkish black metal.
-
Patrick
http://www.skoll.altervista.org/
http://www.platten-firma.de/
|
Well a melodic
death band from Sweden. Who would have guessed it? I like this
style, but I find I only ever listen, to the absolute cream of the
crop, in this genre. In other words; I am not just into every band
that comes along and they have to be damn good for me to give them
the time of day. There is some quality material on here, you have
heard it all before, but still some solid stuff nonetheless. It is a
hooky affair and the flow in the guitars is nice. But where I have a
problem is with the peripherals or at least what should be the
peripherals. The synth and orchestral elements are too over the top,
much too busy and too loud in the mix for my liking. If used at all
it should be a compliment, rather an overpowering fight for center
stage or the plot often gets lost. One of the only albums I can
think of, where these elements were this prominent and the album was
good, would be Tad Morose’s “A Mended Rhyme”. When we stack
“Esoteric” up against a high watermark like that, it falls painfully
short. The growling vocals from Joakim Karlsson are excellent though
and guitar solos/fills are quite fantastic and prolific. If I could
recommend this album it would be for those two facets of this
musical piece that grabbed me. It is worth a listen, and for those
who can not get enough of this genre, you will be pleased. But for
the more critical follower of this style, you will lose no sleep by
passing on this one. – Dale
http://label.pivotalalliance.com
www.myspace.com/skyfiremusic
|
Slagmark are a
new black metal band coming out of Germany with their debut
full-length. It may be a new band, but their line-up features
members of Sarkrista and Totenwache. The music is laced with raw and
grim black metal influences. But do not be fooled, as the musicians
can write and execute some well written and performed skillful
melodic patterns within that framework. For the most part the music
is rooted in the mid 90's black metal style, but the band do add
those aforementioned, slower more melodic black metal fluid
passages, which fit the bands musical direction better than you
might think reading my description. As fierce and fast as most of
the music is, they do mix in accents of some slower, somber melodic
passages, which add a wider depth to their overall sound. If you are
looking for a new band that combines extremely fast black metal
aggression with some measured melodic passages then be sure to pick
up a copy of ‘Purging Sacred Soils’, it is worthy of your
attention. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/Purity-Through-Fire
https://shop.purity-through-fire.com
|
This album is one 52
minute long song of stoner doom rock. The band were dropped from their
former label and this almost never came out. I wouldn’t have minded if
it didn’t! “Jerusalem” serves up Sab worship in the form of slow,
undynamic, unheavy, unchanging boredom with no identity, thoroughly
mediocre. Fucking awful. - Dale
|
Apparently this
is a re-mastered and re-released version of the bands 2009 full
length demo CD. Pissed On Ressurectine is a black metal album that
is a low key, heavy and dark record. Every now and then they abandon
that laying in the weeds or creeping mist approach / pacing and hit
you over the head with a dose of grinding blast beat sections. To be
honest those rapid fire interludes for me do not really fit the
music, they are used sparingly however, so I can not complain too
loudly. The vocals of Null I really like, they hover between mean
yells and really obscure sounding whispered growling. Much of this
record is driven by the riffing, which is kind of epic and keeps the
mind wandering in an old Burzum-like fashion. Though Slime do like
to throw in some unconventional parts or jolting bouts of aggression
and song structuring that do keep you guessing a little bit and add
some dynamics to the experience. Not you’re every day mundane black
metal band and this is a good album that is worth a listen. Are UW
Records going get a proper website? They are putting out a nice
roster of releases lately, but still only have this clunky long
address of a facebook page and an Email address to get the album
from. Hopefully they will be a little more accessible in future. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/slimeinthecurrent
uwrecords@cox.net
|
Self-described as
“hardcore mixed w/death/grind”. Their riffing is certainly metal
charged but I hear no death or grind. Just metallized hardcore. The
vox are the usual angst-ridden hardcore shouts but their pretty
good. Could have done without the clean nasal vocals. I reviewed
this bands past two demos and 7” & with each release they have
gotten a bit better. This album is no exception and they have slowly
gone from a band I didn’t care about at all to a band I kind of like
(that is a compliment as I dislike most hardcore). They have nicely
shored up a few areas. The riffing is better, song structure is
better and the songs are much more memorable then their earlier
repertoire. *P.S. – Are hardcore people really good fishermen or
something? They are always wearing fishing caps! – Dale
T.O.F. Recs.,
c/o Todd Caranhan, 1819 Duke Of Norfolk Quay, Virginia Beach, VA.
23454, USA Email = Guitaru@aol.com |
Bill Connolly
from NoVisible Scars never ceases to amaze me with the different,
very cool layouts on his tape releases. This one is no different, I
hope the pictures accompanying this release do it justice, because
the finished product in your hands looks even better than in the
picture. There are 5 songs on here, but they are all long songs and
equal roughly a short full length album. This stuff is different
from what I have been getting for review lately. The write up on
this band compares them to “Filosofem” from Burzum, “Slow Deep And
Hard” from Type O and Mysticum. I can hear a little bit of all of
that. This is some really moody, brooding atmospheric metal,
generally going at a slower blackened harsh metallic pace, then
switching to a meandering introspective clean string plucking
intermingled with piano. The industrial tag is thrown around with
this band too, to be honest I do not hear that much to be honest. I
mean the vocals they use remind me of the some of the 90s industrial
metal bands, you know those pitched kind of vocals, albeit with a
black metal undertone, I guess that is where that comes in,
otherwise I do not really hear it. This album definitely has some
interesting and good elements going for it. But I would be lying if
I said this bowled me over or completely floats my boat. Fans of the
above mentioned bands and albums would probably want to give this
one a listen though. I believe this cassette is still available
(limited to 100 copies, so act very fast) for only $7 or you can
download it for $5. - Dale
http://novisiblescars.bandcamp.com/album/slumber-room-ep
http://nvslabel.blogspot.com/
|
|
At this point I
have listened to this album so many times now; I got the album a
while ago and listened to it many times, then I received a kind of a
late arriving promo disc for this album some months later. So, it
gives me an excuse to re-visit and promote this album and gladly so
for me, as I am a fan of the record. Smoulder perform and produce
old school heavy metal doom that is very traditionally composed,
skillfully building a very emotionally affecting aura wrapped around
their sound, which I enjoy the hell out of. There is some very
tasteful yet subtle guitar work on this album that keeps that
traditional heavy metal moving along slowly, but steadily and
smoothly like a small and forceful creek washing over the listener
like a warm mournful audio blanket. I absolutely adore the way
vocalist Sarah Ann (who I knew of from Banger TV on youtube where
she does a solid job as a reviewer and she is from the same province
of Alberta in Canada and general area I grew up) enunciates certain
words as she sings, emphasizing or elongating certain syllables,
giving the words a distinctly different and cool feel, as opposed to
just vocalizing them all in the normal and expected way. This helps
give the vocals, killer lyrics and the music itself, as a trickle
down effect more character and makes certain areas of songs I enjoy
just stand out for me that much more. The main creative force behind
this band seems to be guitarist Shon Vincent and vocalist Sarah Ann,
but this is/was not entirely a Canadian band or production, as the
duo recruited a couple American members and I believe this was
actually recorded in a studio in Chicago. So, that must have been an
interesting process to sort out, but the final result is very
cohesive and resulted in one hell of a debut album. Fans of quality
archetypical heavy doom metal style along the lines of Spirit
Caravan, Solitude Aeternus, Candlemass, Reverend Bizarre will be
sure to dig this record. Check it out ASAP! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SmoulderDoom
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/
|
|
It says in their
brief bio that these boys have been around for 7 years, in all honesty
the cohesiveness and maturity that should accompany this is sorely
missing. This actually is limp simple rock/metal that is full of groovy
rhythms that sound kind of forced, as the tunes seem to really go
nowhere. The vocals are a little dry and strained sounding. These boys
are trying but it is just not there for them. The bio also says they
have released 5 demos, maybe a 6th before a full album would
have been a good idea. - Dale
Society’s Burden,
5312
Manson Road, Julian, North Carolina 27283, USA
|
I have oft heard
this act compared to At The Gates. I would disagree, what I hear is more
of a Carcass “Heartwork” mixed with some ‘80’s Bay area thrash and
general heavy metal (Accept, Lethal and ect...) of that era as well.
None too original but damn this is well done and contains plenty of
quality material. - Dale
Listenable Recs.
USA, 554 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, NY. 10701, USA Website =
www.listenable.com
|
Solace Of
Requiem play very technical death metal and the band have some
talented musicians within its ranks. They keep things very speedy,
maybe a little too much speed at times, but they also always make
sure everything is nice and brutal, which I can surely appreciate.
Sometimes, it feels like they try to play this fast, just make sure
they pack enough elements in a song, enough techno bits, enough time
changes rather than worrying about making a memorable song. Not that
the songs are bad, there is some good material here, but with some
more slightly slowed down sections, with a little more editing they
could go to a whole other level. SOR employ a variety of vocal
styles, the high-ish shriek, deep growling and a growl that is sort
of that of a in between the other two. None of those vocal
particularly stand out for me, but all are more than good enough to
get the job done. The level of brutality is the most enjoyable part
of the album for me, the band gets major points for that, also it is
impressive the speed, time changes and technicality they are able to
perform this material at. But honestly, at the end of the day, I am
not a huge ultra technical death metal fan. All the same, I think
SOR could learn a thing or two about balancing technicality, with
song flow and just good memorable song writing. I think on here, at
times, one suffers from the lack of the other. But if you like
things like great albums, like Gorguts “Obscura”, and especially
Theory In Practice’s “The Armageddon Theories”, then I am sure you
will find something to enjoy in this album. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/sectu
http://www.vicisolum.com/
|
sup
Coming to us,
out of the Canadian crossover scene is, Solanum with their newest cd.
They combine both catchy and fast thrash metal guitars. The guitars,
are played at high speeds, with some well written guitar parts, but
the guitars do slow to a more mid tempo in a few of the songs. The
vocals are a mix raw screams, and some hollering, mixed in to a few
of the tracks. I am not the biggest crossover out there, but Solanum
do write and perform, some catchy and good songs so if you are a fan
of this genre then you definitely should give Solanum a chance.
- Patrick
http://solanum-crossover.bandcamp.com/
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
|
After releasing
a demo and an EP last year, Washington's Solicitor have inked a deal
with Gates Of Hell to release their debut full length. ‘Spectral
Devastation’ contains eight songs of well crafted and composed
intense speed metal, along side some elements of heavy metal
influence sprinkled in. The guitars are played with a lot of skill
and memorable passages. The guitars are played with extremely fast
patterns, but do slow to a heavier and slower pace throughout a few
of the songs on here. The drums are played in the same vein with
some crazed drum arrangements. The drummer can, and does, write some
slower more mid paced drum parts that fit the band's music
perfectly. The vocals are a mix of well sung traditional heavy metal
vocals and some screams that are done with a lot of powerful and
energy. If you are looking for a new band that plays a very
impressive style of speed metal then do yourself a favor and pick up
a copy of ‘Spectral Devastation’ straight away. - Patrick
https://www.facebook.com/solicitor.speedmetal/
http://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/
|
I was looking
forward to this one. I haven’t heard any good classic doom metal for a
while now and this band comes in billed to be just that. What I got from
this (now former) doom act is a couple upbeat heavy rockers (though not
as limp as the last couple Cathederal efforts). Things really go
downhill fast as the album progresses to it’s middle and latter stages
as things degenerate into music that sounds like some European hippies
sittin’ on a hillside playing. If this makes sense it sounds melancholic
and disparate but in a very unsad and uplifting fashion. If you want the
short form review this album is fuckin’ shite! Straight up.
Misanthropy Records,
P.O. Box 9, Hadleigh, Suffolk, 1P7 5AU, ENGLAND Email = amazon@misanthr.demon.co.uk
|
Solus is a name I
have heard kicking around the Canadian scene for years on comps and thru
their ’96 album “Slave Of Mind”, which was sort of a thrash/death with a
hint of the ‘jump metal’ style. Now, gone is the ‘jump’ crap in favor
for a more chunky, brutal melodic death metal style with some very
stylish and well written & executed slower clean sections (reminiscent
of the old Canadian act Disciples Of Power). Vocally they employ a thick
growl, cool nasal scream/rasp and some sparsely used but integral clean
voices. Great improvement from their album and I see them only getting
better.
Solus, Box 271, Stn.
B, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2W1, CANADA website =
www.skinmask.com/solus/ Email = solus@skinmask.com
|
|
This is a one
man band and that one man is Maurice De Jong, who is originally from
South America, but now resides in The Netherlands, and I am sure
that is an interesting story all by itself on how he ended up there.
But De Jong is a really interesting guy and very prolific in the
metal UG scene with bands like Black Mouth of Spite, Caput Mortuum,
Cloak of Altering, De Magia Veterum, Dodenbezweerder, Gnaw Their
Tongues, Golden Ashes, Grand Celestial Nightmare, Hagetisse, Malorum,
Obscuring Veil, Pyriphlegethon, The Black Mysteries and has done
time in many more believe it or not!! The name of this solo project
is a pitch perfect representation of the music it produces, it is
very emotionally somber, cadaverous and melancholic like it is
purposely draining you of all joy and optimism. It is not only the
omnipresent dismal feeling, it is more complex than that, as I also
I find it also invokes in me an feeling of tension and an oppressive
vibe of dread that slow builds and sustains within me for a long
stretches of time. The death doom music on here is also very heavy
yet slow, so yes doom death that is heavily reliant on the doom end
of that dual spectrum. The vocals do feature some relatively
sparsely used spoken word or cleanly sung accents, but the main
vocals are deep, obscured and cryptic whispery growling. I enjoy
those vocals a lot as they manage to convey emotion and mirror the
gloom of the music. I can surely recommend this quality album to
fans of profound and cavernous doom death metal. - Dale
https://gnawtheirtongues.bandcamp.com/
https://www.chaos-records.com/
|
|
Here again I
return to The Sombre, who I have become a fan of thanks to Chaos
records re-releasing the bands 2019 debut album “Into the Beckoning
Wilderness”, around a year ago. This time around it is an album of
all new material released through Chaos Records once again. This is
a solo band of one Maurice de Jong, who is a long time veteran (his
first band released a demo in 1989!!) of the UG scene and an
extremely prolific musician. Some of his current or past bands, the
majority of them one man projects include Black Mouth of Spite,
Caput Mortuum, Cloak of Altering, Coffin Lurker, De Magia Veterum,
Dodenbezweerder, Gnaw Their Tongues, Golden Ashes, Grand Celestial
Nightmare, Hagetisse, ex-Atrocious, ex-Soulwound, ex-The Nefarious
Cult, ex-Cauteror. Those are not even all of them, there are
probably another half dozen or more, most of his projects near as I
can tell are various black metal related mixed with a lot of noise,
experimentation and such. Okay, I am an absolute sucker for band
history related stuff as you probably know by now. Finally working
my way to the music of The Sombre, it is not black metal at all, but
rather we are talking classic doom death metal. The material is of
course very slow, but not in a crushing way, as it is extremely
depressive and sorrowful in a contemplative soul wrenching fashion.
It is utterly joyless music lacking any aggressive qualities, just
an all-encompassing and oppressive blanket of hopelessness. The bio
rightly points out the so-called ‘Peaceville Three’ as a strong
influence, which of course includes Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride
and Anathema. Not to worry though, we are talking their early works
and not after they went all soft and mushy later on Haha. The one
thing that differs here in my opinion is the vocals, Maurice’s
vocals on here are very obscure sounding gruff growls that almost
seem, when I think about it, like they should not work with the deep
emotions of this music yet somehow they really do and do not
distract from what is going on and add to it. If you are a fan of
melancholic, mournful doom death then you should give The Sombre a
try. - Dale
https://gnawtheirtongues.bandcamp.com/
https://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/ |
I think I missed
out on this bands debut album on Metal Blade records. Sonic Reign is
a two piece band from Germany. I can see why Metal Blade gave them a
shot. This is some very cool, addicting thrashing black metal. It
has that black metal base but also has strong hooks and some serious
headbanging riffs that will stick in your head as it bobs around on
that thing you call a neck. It is fairly simplistic music, but as I
said heavy and catchy. So it probably just comes down to whether you
like the thrash and black metal genres and do not mind them being
combined in a rocking or headbanging way. The vocalist has some
nice, very clear raspy bm vocals with a hint of gruff thrash
undertone. The music is dark, but not as dark as most black metal
bands, backed with mid paced, chugging thrash guitars. It does not
blow me away, but damn it is catchy and just heavy, yet dark enough
to appeal to what I like about both genres. Give their myspace a
listen and I think you will get an idea quickly of this quality,
simple straight forward band. - Dale
https://myspace.com/sonicreign
http://www.apostasyrecords.com/
|
The second full
length release from this Swedish atmospheric black metal group. I
hesitantly use the term black metal for this band as they are more
in the vein of a metal band infused with folk metal, progressive
metal, and ambient elements. I'm mixed about this release. Parts of
it work well - bringing the listener along this path of longing.
Other parts of it are just filler. I get the sense the band is
trying to find it's sound but this album is one of the releases that
is caught in both worlds. Not black metal but not a pure atmosphere
album either. The production is lacking as the instrumentation is
all over the place. They really need someone to help them bridge
all their sounds together to create a cohesive piece of music. –
Mark
http://www.nordvis.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sorgeldom
|
|
 
Sorgetid is the
solo band of the well known veteran UG Finnish musician V-Khaoz, who
has done and been in many bands over the years like Vargav, Druadan
Forest, Hellkult, Grieve, Oath, Azaghal and more. As for Sorgetid,
as far as I know this debut album is also the bands first release
period. The music is absolutely freezing cold black metal that is
dripping with a malevolent acid aura. It will remind you immediately
to the, for me, glorious days of the second wave of black metal out
of Scandinavia from the early to middle 1990s. It was surely a time
when most creating this music were coming from a release place of
dedication to darkness and evil rather than just a style. I
immediately have the nostalgia of stir of the early classic releases
bands like Darkthrone, Immortal, Mayhem, Emperor, Enslaved, Marduk
and then bands that soon followed on their heels like Horna,
Graveland, Dark Funeral, Judas Iscariot etc… There is some sound
effects like wind howling, wolves baying and synth interludes, but
for the most part it is icy and biting traditional black metal
greatness with just enough baleful melody to keep dark musical river
flowing. V-Khaoz’ vocals are fantastic archetypal rasping vocals
that will send a chill through you at night. If you worship, as I
do, second wave Scandinavian black metal and again like me just can
not get enough then this album deserves your attention. - Dale
https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/sorgetid
https://www.werewolf.fi/
|
It is small
wonder, why this young band sounds as smooth and mature as they do.
Just looking through info online about the band, the various members
have been or are currently in a whole slew of bands like Armory,
Forced Asphyxiation, Burial, Frozen, Death Ray Vision etc… That past
experience is on display, throughout their vicious brand of death
metal brutality and in the underlying melodic elements and tones.
The melodic aspect, in their sound, is very reminiscent to mine ears
to Carcass “Heartwork” era material, some later era Death in there
as well. The barbarity and brutality side of Soul Remnants, is more
from the Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation school of
death metal. Honestly, the influences are pretty obvious and not
hard to pick out, all the same this is very well done and has a
certain feel and flow of its own. It might not be very original, but
it is extremely well done, solidly constructed album that will both
make you simultaneously headbang and have your emotional heart
strings pulled at. So, I would most definitely recommend this, to
fans of the above mentioned bands. - Dale
https://myspace.com/chopwork
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/index.html
|
|
Boston’s Soul
Remnants come out of the gates like an angry caged bear set free on
a rampage. Yes, what is old is new again, Soul Remnants weave old
school American death metal (Morbid Angel, Suffocation etc…) and
thrash aesthetic and influences into a modern structured stylistic
flow and feeling. A combination which dug it’s claws into me pretty
quickly! The song construction and performances have this dynamic
energy to them that keeps me really interested and engaged. Plus, it
is extremely catchy, while also being extremely brutal, which is a
combination I love and is not often pulled off with the proper
balance for my tastes. By that, I mean I see this more as real
melodic death metal that is brutal dm with some melodic elements
rather than the usual stuff that is called melodic death these days,
where it is heavily melodic music with a little kinda watered down
death metal music mixed in. There always needs to be a level of
brutality in there, for it to even really be dm at all, in my
opinion (think things like At The Gates “Slaughter Of The Soul”,
Dissection “Storm Of The Light’s Bane” etc…). Sorry for that little
sidetrack rant, back to the music at hand. The band speak of
Scandinavian black metal influence in their music, I do hear it a
wee bit, but honestly I think it is more Scandinavian melodic death
elements, so I think anyone buying it for the black metal elements
might be a little miffed. Despite the aforementioned melodic dm
element rant, and slightly contradicting myself here, one of my fave
tracks is a slightly prog-y instrumental, a three plus minute brief
divergent path of a song entitled “Wall City”, which simply bleeds
poignant emotive atmosphere. I loved the great affecting guitar fill
in the middle of this excellent track. The music on here sounds and
feels so fucking tight, I can only imagine the work put in until
they feel they have what they feel is perfect and rehearse the shit
out of music so it is super snug, when it is time to hit the
recording studio. I am not saying it is the most amazing death metal
album I have heard, but I will say this is a really solid, even
excellent dm record, that I can fully recommend. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SoulRemnants/ http://www.lifebloodinc.com/
|
  
This package of
releases from Paul Caravasi (aka my South American UG scene Guru)
from the almighty print fanzine Soulgrinder features four bands from
South America on the Thrashshirts and Gate Of Hell record labels.
Paul really does his part to promote one of the very best
underground scenes, so let’s get on with it.
Blizzard Hunter
- Live At Padova Italy 2018 (Thrashirts Recs.)
So I tried to dig up some info on this label Thrashirts, as I
suspected from the name they started out and still do make metal
shirts, but they also organize the annual Lima Metalfest and now run
a record label as well. Most often bands only release a live album
after they have been around a long time with many releases, no so in
this case as Blizzard Hunter has been around since 2011 and only
released a few eps and one album. Having said that, with how good
the sound is on this live show and with how tight the band was on
this impressive hour long performance, it is hard to blame the band
and label for not wanting to release this! It really is an
impressive listen, as the band navigates their way skillfully
through twelve songs of early to mid-80s old school heavy metal,
which got me going and really into it. The playing is superb, but
also I have to mention Sebastian “Dragon” Palma has that classic
‘80s high vocals that he belts out with authority and range, also
his charisma bleeds through his distinctive voice. I would recommend
this even to people who have never heard this band, it was my first
audio taste of this talented band that have a knack for writing
good, catchy songs that rip shit up. Okay, they do wear their
influences on their sleeves, but when it is done this well, and you
love that style then who cares, right? Fans of American early to
middle ‘80s heavy metal with a healthy dose of Iron Maiden influence
mixed into that sound need to check this out!
The Fallen
Symmetry - Renancer En La Tormenta (Thrashirts Recs.)
This album was originally released in 2016, but only through the
band itself, now the Thrashirts label decided it needed wider
promotion, so they have re-released it on this beautiful look
digipak. I swear one of the opening screams in the first track, it
sounded like a dead ringer for this whiny screech my cat does, when
she is not happy and I was looking around for what was her problem
haha. That is not at all to disparage the vocals on here, because
they are really good. Fallen Symmetry like their label mates above
play heavy / power metal, however, F.S. push the melody to the
forefront and base everything off of that. It is good stuff, though
at times I feel like maybe the melody takes a little too much edge
off the heaviness of the material and dominates too much in the song
construction and flow. I did still enjoy it; the playing on here is
really good and features some thoughtful solos and interesting
songwriting tidbits. It is not that I would say the material is
light, but it does have more of a commercial vibe to me and also
maybe listening to Blizzard Hunter’s wonderful brand of heavy metal
above, which is more to my personal tastes perhaps coloured my mood
and view in this review. I think fans that worship melody to the max
(unlike me), above all else, will really like this band more than I
did.
Aggression -
Metal Hasta Snagrar (Gate Of Horror Prod.)
I believe the album title translates to something like Metal To
Bleed. This Peruvian plays a brand of really heavy, punishing thrash
metal with an old school flavour, but also possesses some modern
touches and a sharp, contemporary sounding production. Just speaking
to the music (not vocals), I get a strong Possessed “Beyond The
Gates” vibe from Aggressions brand of thrashing mayhem, some Slayer
influence is in there too for sure. The vocals, even though they
have that classic gruff thrash yell to them, remind me to somehow
like if a death metal growler tried to change over to thrash vocals
with a touch of growl lingering in there, even some of the drumming
has a death metal style blast beat going on. But, make no mistake,
overall this is thrash metal to the max. The songs in some spots
seem almost a hair too controlled and could use a little more
natural flow, but honestly that is really a nitpick on an otherwise
very enjoyable thrash assault.
Epilepsia /
Necropsya “Involution” Split Album (Gate Of Horror Prod.)
Epilepsia start things off with the first 7 songs on this 14 track
album. Epilepsia produce fast, violent and unrelenting thrash metal
that reminds me a lot of the early German thrash scene with bands
like Sodom, Kreator and Destruction on their first couple albums.
The drums are a powerful whirlwind of disciplined chaos paired with
ripping razor riffing and hyper adrenaline lightning guitar solos
and fills. The vocals remind me of slightly more murky and dirty
version of Kreator’s vocals from those old days. Good stuff that got
my blood pumping! Necropsya grabs the baton from Epilepsia and keep
up the rapid thrash metal pacing of this killer split record. Yes,
Necropsya are thrash maniacs similar to the band they share this
split with, but possibly they have a little cleaner, tighter
performance and sound yet no less lethal. The guitar work and song
structuring is more refined, complex and catchy, but still very high
quality material. Honestly, this has to be the best split I have
heard the last couple years and should be a must have for all old
school thrash metal fanatics out there reading this. You know what
to do and do not waste time doing it! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/thrashirts
https://www.facebook.com/gateofhorror
|
  
Mithlond "Death
for Those Who Worship" CD (Xibalba Productions & Seol Productions)
Hailing from New Jersey is this depressive, ambient black metal
band. Despite there of course being keyboards on here, Mithlond do
not rely on them heavily like a crutch, no they bring out a lot of
their eerie and despondent evil sounds through a lot of traditional
instrumentation (i.e. guitars, bass, drums). The vocals are a series
of obscure echo-y whispers, yells, rasps and anguished screams kept
buried within the music never really standing out, melting in and
out to help create that foreboding, gloomy feel. The playing at
times is a little loose, the recording a little raw (intentionally
so I think and I like it), but both help to make a more richly
organic sound by my ear. It took me a few listens to really get into
this, to grasp what this trio of demons is going for here. But once
I did I grew to enjoy it’s malevolent, morose vibe more and more
with each successive listen.
Soulgrinder Zine
“Assault Volume 3” Compilation CD
The new volume of this great fanzines compilation series is now out
and in my mitts. Much like the ‘zine itself, this features a fairly
even mix of South American and American bands. This volume leans
heavily on thrash bands, alongside a few death / black / heavy metal
& crossover outfits too. A listing of the bands on this 21 song disc
are Krusifire, Cruel Bomb, Necropsya, Natthammer, Morbid Cross,
Sepulcro, Shark Bullet, Vulture, Concussion, Sylent Storm, Final
Judgment, Extinger, Deicidios, Murder Method, Hyena, Father of Sin
plus more. This is a killer comp with quality bands and packaging
including a booklet with all the bands. Get it ASAP!
Soulgrinder
‘Zine “Deadly Mosh Revenge” 6 Way Split CD
This is called a split, but it is just one song from every band,
which makes it feel a little more like a compilation to me, but that
is just me I guess if it had multiple songs it would feel more like
a split. Maybe Paul took his fave songs he had had earmarked for the
compilation above and decided to feature them on more of a showcased
release? The six bands on here are Fatal Agent (USA), The Donner
Party (USA), Distruptor (Peru), Dick Vomit (USA), Paralysis (USA)
and Azotador (Bolivia). All the bands play thrash metal, and
honestly I thought every song on here, at least in my view is truly
good to great. There is a lot of energy in each song and great
headbanging / thrashing songs with lots of old school feel and
attitude. The lyrics to Evil Dead’s “Tree Rape” scene are pretty
hilarious with awesomely delivered vocals. Just like the packaging
on his compilation everything is top notch, also comes with a
booklet (full colour this time) and looks great. Please support Paul
(Soulgrinder main man), who is an ultra dedicated UG metal supporter
that deserves more recognition for all he does. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/soulgrinder.zine/
http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/
https://mithlond.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Mithlondband/
|
|
  
Soulgrinder
‘Zine “4 Way Split” CD
The almighty grinder of souls returns under the commanding direction
of Paul Cravasi, a very dedicated man in the UG scene who puts out
one of the best fanzines in the world. Paul also puts out some
compilation and split CDs under his Soulgrinder banner. This time
around on this split as the title suggest there are four bands which
are Cruel Bomb, Ritual Moon, Concussion and Dark Zodiak.
All of these thrashing bands get four songs a piece. First up is
Cruel Bomb who is from my state of Pennsylvania and these guys
play high octane, crushing riffed thrash metal with a healthy amount
of crossover elements and influences mixed in. It brings to mind the
big four ‘80s thrash metal bands mixed with stuff like Pro-Pain,
early COC, early Prong, Sacred Reich etc… If you like riff heavy
crossover thrash (though not much punk influence here) I think you
would get into this band. Next up is Ritual Moon, who in some
ways while still probably a thrash band is a little different than
the other bands on here with more of a black thrashing style. There
are even some death metal touches that show up now and then, but
they are at their heart a thrash band. They could maybe use a bit
more low end, but still some quality material here for sure. Next up
is Concussion who also much like C.B. above play pounding
thrash with absolutely crushing riffs and booming bass that I
enjoyed here. These guys also have some crossover tendencies like
Cruel Bomb, but maybe not quite as pronounced and they definitely
mix in a little death metal influence in the pounding and grinding
moments. The yelled coarse vocals may be the biggest part of their
crossover influence bringing to mind a less insane vocal style
similar to The Accüsed with some hardcore influence and a little
Macabre thrown in. Holy shit Concussion bring the adrenaline and in
your face brutality yet marry it with technical sequences and
inventive song structuring. I mean the first two bands are good, but
Concussion take things to a whole other level, these guys are the
real deal! I need to keep a close eye on this fucking band let me
tell you, best extreme band I have heard out of New York City in a
long time. Finishing up this so far fantastic release is Dark Zodiak.
They play a thrash heavy style of death metal. The vocals are half
clean yelled and half growled, but not at all extreme or guttural,
in fact pretty accessible sounding for a wider audience appeal I
suppose. I would not go as far as to say the way the vocals are
delivered and the way the lyrics are crafted are rap style, but it
is not that far off to me, there is call and answer stuff and lot of
rhythmic rhyming lyrics. I have to be honest I disliked pretty much
everything about the vocal arranging, delivery and lyrical style.
The music at times follows along and mimics that and those parts I
was not into either. Having said that there are some heavy, killer
riffs here and there that were good, so a real mixed bag for me.
They should have ended the disc on a high note with Concussion
because those guys fucking kill and are worth the price of this disc
alone. But you do get a lot of music on here and Cruel Bomb + Ritual
Moon deliver quality as well. Check this out ASAP and remember the
name Concussion and that you heard them on this release first. -
Dale
https://cruelbomb570.bandcamp.com/
https://ritualmoon.bandcamp.com/
https://www.stabbyhamlet.com/
http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/
  
Bonus Reviews:
Okay yes I got excited while listening to Concussion above while
writing up the review, so I fired off a message to Paul of
Soulgrinder raving about Concussion. He wrote me back quickly saying
he had released two different releases with Concussion and he is
putting the second one in the mail, that package contained that
release plus more and now grows this review into a robust Round
Up Review!!
Soulgrinder
‘Zine "Ultimate Power Corrupts & Concussion" 2 Way Split CD EP
I was chuffed at that news and here it has arrived. The only slight
downer is I thought the Concussion material would be all different
material, but it is the same four amazing songs on the 4 way split
above, so I have covered that already above and it is extremely
great. This disc is a 2 way split CD and like the 4 way disc above
each band gets four tracks. Ultimate Power Corrupts is from my
current home state of Pennsylvania and these guys play steamroller,
forceful thrash metal to the max. They do have some death metal
touches here and there, but it is straight up thrash for the most
part with some old school crossover tendencies mixed in. These guys
know how to create some massive killer riffs and memorable songs
that you can really headbang hard to! I have to say this is an
amazing, absolutely top shelf thrashing split EP and it may be an
EP, but you probably get close to 30 minutes of utterly great music
from start to finish from both of these bands. Concussion is a
really hard act to follow, but Ultimate Power Corrupts put up a
valiant and commendable effort of holding up their end of the deal.
If you want to discover the best thrash the UG scene has to offer
then you need to follow what Paul and Soulgrinder ‘zine are doing.
You can thank me later.
Soulgrinder
‘Zine "Skin Deep" 5 Way Split CD
I am not sure if I have heard of a release like this before. It is a
five band split and all five are all female bands. If you want to
discover and support women in the underground scene, this is a disc
you need to have. All the bands have 3 songs to showcase their
stuff. First up on the release is Auxiliö from Los Angeles,
California. They play thrash crossover sounding music with heavy
punk and hardcore influences. It is fast and violent and I am sure
pit inducing live. The music is stripped down, rough and kinda
loosely played stuff, but it also has that old style punk / hardcore
delivery and captures that vibe nicely. Next up is Psycotic Scum
(also from the LA scene) who seem to have my kind of attitude from
what I can tell and there is a killer clip of them on their fb page
inducing a hot and sweaty pit live. They have an album out entitled
“Cuntaminated” with great cover artwork that actually reminds me of
some past Canadian Assault artwork I had done. Anyways on to the
music of Psycotic Scum, it is heavy riffed thrash that much like the
first band are a thrash crossover band with strong influences from
the punk and hardcore scenes. When it is this heavy, fast, sadistic
I have no problem whatsoever getting into this and headbanging to
it. I find it interesting how much there seemingly is death metal
inspired vocals sprinkled into these two bands even though their
music is not dm influenced. I like it it adds an extra dimension
over most thrash crossover/punk/hardcore bands. Damn Psycotic Scum
are fucking relentless in a good way and keep bringing that in your
face attitude I love. Band number three is Sepulchral Rites
from Chile. They really stand out from the first two bands as they
play brutal, chunky riffed death metal that definitely brings that
evil sounding South American dm vibe. The music is largely mid-paced
with sped up accents to get your head nodding. S.R. is a trio and
the ladies go by great nicknames like Hellwitch, Speed Blast and
Satanic Lust. Speaking of Satanic Lust she produces great ominous
and dark sounding echo-y growls that will chill you. They keep
things heavy and pounding and I found their darkly emotive aura
infectious. There are some thrash metal touches here and there,
which I guess kind of ties them to the overall theme thread of this
release. Rolling into the fourth spot in the line up is Ritual
Moon, once again from Los Angeles like the first two bands. I am
happy to report unlike the two releases Concussion is on, Ritual
Moon’s three songs on here are different from the ones on the four
way split above. They continue in the same vein as their other
material which is some solid blackened thrash. Their material is
simple yet effective and they are successful in creating a dark,
sinister aura throughout their music that is enjoyable and has a
slight melancholic feel as well. Finishing up this epic five way
split is Harlequin, who hail from, you guessed it Los
Angeles. Who knew the female extreme UG scene was so rich and
diverse in LA, not I. Harlequin produce brutal death metal that
definitely wins the award of the best bottom end in their music out
of the five, it is generally lacking in the others and the bass
guitar is pretty good here. I like the juxtaposition of the vocals
with guttural growls and higher nasally yelled vocals in some spots.
These ladies are also probably the most talented on their
instruments out of all the bands, and there is some interesting and
well done songwriting. A quality and interesting release (including
a fold out digi package with pics & info on the bands) you should
check out ASAP.
Soulgrinder
‘Zine Presents: Empathica Radio “Hail To The Underground” Volume 1
Compilation CD
I was not sure what exactly to expect with this disc, I mean I
figured it was a compilation album. But it is also from some kind of
online radio style podcast, so does it have commentary from a DJ/host(s)
in between tracks? That would have been kinda cool, but no it is a
straight up comp of upcoming bands they play on their show I assume.
There was no bio or explanation included in the package so I am
guessing here. This is put out by Soulgrinder ‘zine, but I don’t
think Paul who runs it is part of the radio podcast just judging by
their facebook page. If you are interested in discovering unsigned
UG bands that play all forms of metal as well as hardcore and punk
then look and listen here as that is what this show and this disc
are all about. You get 19 of those bands here including Gravehuffer,
Macabre Eternal, Basilisk, The Downstrokes, TxBxDx, The TV Dead,
Spit of The Sin, Christ Dismembered, Autumn’s Silence, Ulvkult,
Season of Evil, Haaze and more. - Dale
https://concussionbk666.bandcamp.com
https://ultimatepowercorrupts.bandcamp.com
https://auxilio-la.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/psycoticscum/
https://harlequin1official.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/empathicaradio/
https://www.stabbyhamlet.com/
http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/ |
|
 
Paul Caravasi
from the mighty Soulgrinder fanzine continues his excellent
compilation series. This is a series that really tries to promote
and bring to light UG bands from around the world that deserve more
attention. It is good to see Soulgrinder bringing comps back to the
forefront again. They were very popular in the ‘80s and through most
of the 90s, and then became devalued in my view by labels and
fanzines trying to be commercial to get attention making comps and
just giving them away free – I seen this at big metalfests. This
important showcase stage became throw away items and looked down
upon after a while. But enough of that rant, on to the review haha.
Damn this opens up out of the gate with high energy, high octane to
the maximum with back to back great hardcore tracks from Body Blow
and Ultimate Power Corrupts (UPC may be hardcore but they employ a
killer thrashing crossover metal riff in this tune) that immediately
got my adrenaline pumping. It is a mix from there you get thrash,
death metal and hardcore, it is definitely a running theme that this
compilation leans towards crossover style bands that have elements
of all those styles. But this is some great stuff, a few bands stand
out a bit more than the others yet honestly there are really no bad
bands / songs on here, in my opinion, they range from decent to very
good. Some of the bands which really stood out for me, in addition
to the couple already mentioned, would be Auxilio, Glass Street,
Gravehuffer, Pnuk, Necrosexual, Carrion Curse, Tuol Sleng and the
killer heavy metal band Royal Hell. I could have easily picked more
faves as there are 23 bands and 23 songs on here for you, so it is
packed and you get a lot. Please support the scene by buying a copy
of this compilation and in return you are virtually guaranteed to
discover some great new bands you knew nothing about. They have
literally done the work for you, now reap the benefits! - Dale
https://www.stabbyhamlet.com/
http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/
|
|
 
This comp has 3
songs from each of the five bands. Naitaka (Canada)
starts off with a clear, almost too muted production on their thrash
metal mixed with melododeath style. Their songs feature some solid
musicianship with vocals that are all over the place from a bit of a
gruff thrash voice, a tinge of a death growl and suddenly out of
nowhere clean siren heavy metal vocals. A bit uneven vocal
performance to me, although there is a lot of talent and potential
bubbling under with this band, but they need a more in your face
production IMO. Next up is Narcolepsia (Argentina) and
they have the heavier, grittier production that the previous band
needs. They rip things up with some intense, energetic straight
forward death metal littered with some thrash leanings. They have
short songs like a punk band, but they are not a punk band. I like
the dark growling vocals from this band too. Good stuff. Now comes
Jenner (Serbia) who plays speed / thrash metal and it
is good shit. Some nice galloping riffing, smoking fills and leads
on guitar backed with some pounding drum work. Aleksandra
Stamenković has some great vocals and good voice; she can do the
clean soaring style, then seamlessly transitions to deeper and even
slightly coarse gritty vocals. This is a very strong appearance by
Jenner on this disc and maybe the top highlight in an overall strong
line up. Strujen (Argentina) slides in next and they
are duo that plays death metal grindcore sorta mince style. Maybe it
is because this is coming on the heels of such high end musicianship
and good songwriting by the previous band. But this feels very
rough, raw, simplistic and has it’s brief moments, but otherwise
honestly I found this to be very so-so stuff at best. Finishing up
this interesting compilation is Apofenia (Argentina)
which is another duo that is again raw and simplistic yet much more
effective than the last band in their primitive death metal style.
Maybe a sound that brings to mind a looser version of the early demo
days of Swedish bands like Unleashed, Nihilist and Carnage. I have a
soft spot for this style and enjoyed these songs. Something all of
these bands share in common is all have at least one female member
or as is the case with Jenner, Narcolepsia and Apofenia are all
female bands. So, that may add an extra element of interest for some
out there I suppose? At this point females in extreme metal is now
fairly commonplace, so it is just another band for me. Which is good
thing in my book as the UG metal scene is progressing fast and I am
sure that is what female bands want, to be seen as being no
different for better or worse than any all male band and judged
solely on their music only and not their gender in any way, shape or
form. There is many kick ass dedicated and talented women in the
scene the world over these days for damn certain. As always with
Soulgrinder comps, they do an excellent job with the packaging and
you get a nice looking foldout inlay of band logos, pics, web links.
Check this out and support the great Soulgrinder! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/soulgrinder.zine/
http://soulgrinderzine.blogspot.com/ |
Southwicked are
Floridian death metallers featuring one of the founding members of
the movement in one Allen West. You know that guy from Obituary,
Massacre and Six Feet Under. I seen one review say this album is
super similar to the first Six Feet Under record, I would not really
know as I honestly never tried to get into that band. As for Death’s
Crown it is some solid death metal that is a cross between a muted,
less awesome Obituary sound mixed with the Swedish death metal sound
of old. The combining of those two on paper actually sounds pretty
damn exciting to me. I love Obit and worship old Swedish death and
you know this is a pretty good album, but really that is all it is,
just pretty good. I guess I was just expecting a little more with
that sound mix and having it involve Allen West. Maybe I project
unfair baggage and expectations Mr. West, but that sort of comes
along with him, whether he likes it or not, the price of being a
legend in the genre. If you can keep your expectations out of the
sky where mine were I think you will probably really dig this album.
It is certainly growing on me bit by bit with each new listen.
Still has a ways to go to get to great album status for me though.
- Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/southwicked
http://www.officialabyssrecords.com
|
As soon as you
plug in Infernal Decadence, Spectral Wound teleport you to a
labyrinthine forest crowded with frosty-limbed trees and crispy
autumn mulch. The further you explore, the more frightening the
scenery becomes--twisting and turning into a vision of occult
darkness that will have you losing yourself in its all-encompassing
conceptualization. Spectral Wound conjure sonic imagery in
Infernal Decadence that, for me, will always make up the
defining sounds of black metal at its protean core: cold production
that reinforces the serrated edge of the riffing, which itself often
settles into a whirlwind of tremolo picking that creates a menacing
yet ultimately cathartic atmosphere. Because Spectral Wound focus so
keenly on these characteristic elements of the second wave, complete
with throaty screams that soar like a bird of prey over the
instrumentation, they do two things: (1) they truly hone their
abilities to an impressive degree for this medium and by virtue of
this propensity (2) they place constraints on their sound that
restrict them from taking the genre in an innovative direction. That
second point is not to say that Spectral Wound sound unoriginal--I
would actually argue that I could certainly pick them out from the
crowd in which they situate themselves. I do find Infernal
Decadence to be a truly new album because of its creative
transitions and tonal shifts that grip the listener from start to
finish, but I cannot ignore that the general sound is something that
is more customary than I would hope for it to be considering it was
released on June 1st, 2018, not in the early '90s. Regardless of my
perspective, however, Spectral Wound have produced an album here
that shows their skill with refreshing what some might consider a
tired genre--an album with a familiar atmosphere yet renewed vigor
that is sure to please its target audience. I would call Infernal
Decadence a warm, fuzzy blanket for black metallers, but it
would be more fitting to call it an icy blanket of snow instead.
Give this a listen if you find enjoyment in the side of extreme
metal that revels in frigid blasphemy. – Aaron
https://spectralwound.bandcamp.com
https://vendettarecords.wordpress.com
|
This record is
Spectrum Of Delusion’s (featuring members of Cadaverous and
Hyperconvolutor) sophomore album and my first time encountering this
Dutch band. This appears to be a full concept record lyrically, and
musically obviously, which seems to follow a planet that has a
cataclysmic planet shattering extinction event and the gradual
rebuilding of said planet into something new out of the old world
over a countless number of years. The story is told through the
lyrics sung with a cool myriad of deep death growling that I found
enjoyable. There is also series of daisy chain, what I thought were
possibly samples from a movie, but come to find out are apparently
all clips done by voice actors depicting news reports and other
story telling elements for added dramatic effect. I like the amount
of these clips used, it is just enough to add flesh to the story and
depth to the emotional elements of the music, but the band did not
fall into the trap of over using this device. The band plays brutal
death metal that is both intricate and bludgeoning at the same time.
There are enough roots and foundation building blocks in Spectrum Of
Delusion’s sound to please fans of old school brutal death metal.
While at the same time there is plenty of innovation and progressive
modern construction sensibilities within the bands songwriting to
satisfy devotee’s of current forward-looking death metal modern
approach. The bands music is also extremely technical and that
should appeal to fans of bands like Spawn Of Possession, Death
(later days of the band), Xythlia, Theory In Practice, Suffocation,
Obscura and the like. Spectrum Of Delusion have been labouring on
“Neoconception” for four years and it shows in the level of
intricacy, conceptual connection of lyrics and music in a close
marriage of vibrant technicality and ruthless brutality that stays
true to their musical vision and roots. This is well worth your
attention. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumofDelusion
https://theartisanera.bandcamp.com/
|
 
I can not help
but wonder if the title of this album is homage to a certain
infamous and revered black metal musician, shop and record label
owner. I am immediately taken aback by the sinister electricity and
gutsfuck high energy right from the opening song of this album. The
sound on this album also heavy, gritty and crystal clear and real,
for lack of a better term, something only a top notch analog
recording can sound can achieve. For influences, I hear strong
influence and parallels, to the earlier works from bands Immortal,
Darkthrone, Mayhem, Satyricon, Carpathian Forest, Impaled Nazerene,
Mortuary Drape, Ancient Rites, Root etc… As well as, I even hear
some hints of early on Slayer, stealthily wafting throughout the
evil and hateful maelstrom. The guitar sound, song structuring, and
nearly headbangable melodies take this album to edge of not being
purely black metal. However, Salpsan may be a little more versatile
and dynamic, with regards to incorporating structural influences
into the bm sound, but he always contains it within a harsh,
freezing bestial black metal exterior which encompasses and
exemplifies the time-honored ways of darkness and evil. The lyrics
and concept follow suit, to me Spite are upholding the true black
metal principles, which were set forth by the forefathers in the
first and second wave of this sacrosanct and enshrined grand musical
/ conceptual movement. The vocals on here are fantastic, they are a
semi-clear screams that are wrapped in a traditional black rasp with
an obscure whispering undertone. They feel very much influenced by
the early days of black metal, as the first wave and second wave met
and began merging into an astonishingly ominous spiteful force that
has possessed me and others for many years. This is highly
recommended to old school die hard black metal devotees. Honestly,
this easily has to be one of the best black metal records I have
heard in the last year or so, maybe alongside White Death’s
self-titled album. - Dale
https://spitedesecration.bandcamp.com/ https://invictusproductions.net/
|
This is some of
the better Motorhead worship I have heard since the mighty
Superchrist burst onto the scene like an artillery shell. Speedwolf
seem to like the Motorhead stuff that has the most punk-y type
elements to it and a little of that GBH / Amebix type of flavour.
The song titles should give you a further feel of what you get such
as “I am The Demon”, “Up All Night”, “Out on Bail”, and “I Can’t
Die”. This is total beer swilling, chopper riding hard rock and
metal party music. No nothing remotely ground breaking or bringing
anything new to the table and yes it is full on retro. But I am full
on retro myself and a classic sound is a classic sound for a reason.
But it is also a fun ride and devotees of all things Lemmy Kilmister
like will dig this. – Dale
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
www.myspace.com/speedwolfmetal |
Spektr have created a very interesting but also kind of disturbing
and morbid sounding release at the same time. The French band mixes
elements of experimental black, industrial and even ambient music.
There are some fast, chaotic guitar riffs blended with industrial
noises and sounds that create a very harsh sound but at the same
time the band blends all these elements together for a really good
outcome. The band mixes in some aggressive metal heavier
industrialized soundscapes throughout the entire cd. It's hard to
pick one favorite song as all the songs are really well done and
blend together and it's better if you listen to Cypher from start to
finish. Spektr is definitely not a band for everyone to enjoy but if
your a fan of industrialized, experimental black metal with some
melodic ambient interludes then you might enjoy listening to
Spektr's vision on cd known as Cypher.
- Patrick
http://www.agoniarecords.com/
http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Spektr/18228
|
After a few years I can honestly say this was well worth the wait!
If you are like me and have been lucky enough to hear/follow this
bands earlier e.p's you know the quality {yet equally as violent
sounding} black metal Spellcraft can create. Yersinia Pestis is
Spellcraft's full-length debut and the songs range from 4-7 minutes
but the band has enough creative ideas to give each song their own
identity and life so they don't become boring or repetitive. The
guitarist stays within the mid-to fast pace range for the most part
but are not all about the speed as there as some really well-played
and done obscure, and melodic guitar patterns that give a dark
atmosphere to the overall sound. Midgard's vocals have never sounded
better as he mixes demonic screams and raspy, whispery vocals.
Spellcraft also use keyboards but like so many other bands that let
the keyboards outshine the other instruments. Spellcraft intertwines
the keyboards with the guitars, drums perfectly to make a dark
atmosphere within the violent black metal storm. Spellcraft have
released one of 2012's best black metal releases buy this if you
consider yourself a fan of black metal!
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/spellcrafthell
http://www.xtreemmusic.com/
|
|
It has been some
time since I have heard some real Swedish black metal in the old
traditions. Just when I feared Sweden was getting soft. For the
trivia buffs, Spetalsk is Sverige for “Leprosy” and the band
features members of Terrorama, Satanic Slaughter and few other
bands. Three bands per member, yes it must be Swedish. This self
named platter was recorded at Pure Dechristianizing studios with by
Magnus Devo Andersson (Marduk), so you know it is sick sounding.
Without any doubt in my mind this debut album fits into the Marduk,
Funeral Mist, early Dark Funeral & old Darkthrone classic
Scandinavian mold. For some I know it will seem a little unoriginal
but for a maniac like me that worships it it is absolutely bestial
and great. The music is mainly straight ahead blitzing darkness and
brutality, yet the riffs, are catchy you can actually head bang to
them. Another thing I like about this album is the quick and squealy
guitar solos that act as a counter point to the rushing chaos. The
real highlight though just may be the drumming by Endymion. Who
turns in a forceful and commanding performance that can not go
unnoticed. I feel like I just received a 35 minute beating while
engulfed in darkness. – Dale
http://www.unexplodedrecords.com
|
I have to give a
shout out to Gods Ov War Productions. They are supporting the scene
in their country and surrounding areas, that label is the one that
sent me this album, as well as the Mass Burial, Centurion,
Stillborn, Embrional releases and others from other labels and bands
they support. That is the true underground spirit, I am happy to see
some still remember it and still live it! I have heard some compare
Sphere to their fellow countrymen like Behemoth and Vader and those
are probably pretty fair comparisons. This is some pretty raging
death metal and there is a fair bit going on if you listen closely.
The vocalist is like a bear locked in the cage, attempting to batter
ram his way out. A lot of the music is straight ahead visceral
onslaught but they do change things up and add some interesting
dynamics and tempo variations to keep you from getting bored. I can
definitely headbang to it and that is good thing. I don’t think
there is much to fault with this record, it did not completely blow
me away but it is a damn solid and a strong example of Polish death
metal done right. - Dale
https://www.reverbnation.com/sphereband
http://www.masterful-records.com/
|
|
Being the doom
metal hound I tend to be, it is surprising to me that this is my
first encounter with the long running Finnish band Spiritus Mortis,
which started releasing demos back in 1990!! I am not sure I would
call their style straight up doom, more like traditional doom and
classic heavy metal mixed together to pleasing effect. You get the
slow gallop heavy doom riffs and the skillful, finesse heavy metal
guitar intricacies and melodies under one banner. I could go for
even more of the heavier plodding riffs than are present here, but
they do a pretty good job of mixing it up, they have a penchant for
the moody, even slightly melodramatic emotional moments. Kimmo
Perämäki does an admiral job of conveying the deep introspective
tones of the music through his vocals, as he shape shifts his silky
voice to mimic the poignant musical affectations. As much as I am
digging Kimmo’s vocals on here, it also gets me wondering what their
past two albums sounded like, as they featured the vocalist Albert
Witchfinder of the infamous (now sadly defunct) doom band Reverend
Bizarre. I guess I will have to look into their past works now to
find out, hey? I think I shall. Until then I will keep enjoying the
moody and somber heavy metal doom sounds on this solid album. An
album that I am sure fans of bands like Candlemass, Reverend
Bizarre, Manilla Road, Omen, Solitude Aeturnus, Count Raven, Pagan
Altar and the like will enjoy. Give it a try if that applies to
you. - Dale
https://spiritusmortis.com/
www.svartrecords.com
|
|
This release is
on the newly minted Personal Records, a Mexican label owned / run by
Jacobo Córdova from the long running bands Majestic Downfall &
Zombiefication. So much like their label Sporae Autem Yuggoth from
Chile is a young entity as well, in fact, this EP is their debut
release. The band plays truly gloomy yet brutal and primordial doom
death metal that brings to mind some of the classic doom death bands
from the early to mid 1990s. Despite the tempo of the music being
very slow, it also is steady if that makes sense, like the forward
motion is continual even if it is at a glacial pace. The music is
crushing in it’s own way, but also it feels very ominous yet
introspective and emotionally overcast. The vocals are mainly a slow
moving elongated and obscured sounding whisper growl, the vocals do
occasionally pick up their speed in those rare instances that the
music speeds up, ala sections of the song “Cathedral Of The Abuser”.
All of the four songs on here are not surprisingly epic in length,
averaging 7-8 minutes a piece. This release may not have blown my
doors off metaphorically speaking, but I also can not deny that this
is some strong doom death, which fans who like the old school sounds
of this sub-genre will likely really enjoy. - Dale
https://sporaeautemyuggoth.bandcamp.com/releases
http://www.personal-records.com/
|
Upon hearing
Manifest of Refusal the most lasting impression I come away with is
their anvil destroying brutal backbone. Yes these Russians are not
quite your usual death metal band, they mix in some minor influences
from time to time from the industrial genre and goth sounding bits
and weird synth. The goth type tidbits are few and far between,
which is a good thing because they are out of place, sound a little
forced and are distracting. When Stalwart hit straight on, albeit in
a technical fashion, they are at their best and this is the mainstay
of the album. Just fucking raging death metal that brings to mind
things like old Napalm Death, Strapping Young Lad, Carcass,
Meshuggah, Theory in Practice – though these guys may be slightly
more brutal and not quite as technical as some of those influences I
mention. All in all this is a pretty impressive record, some of the
material might not be the freshest sounding stuff you heard, but the
way it is presented does sound fresh to these ears. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/stalwartmetal
http://www.prcmusic.com
|
|
These Australian
avant-garde occult black/death metallers have been doing this for a
very long time, so I do not lump them in with the current trend of
progressive extreme metal bands the last few years. I would instead
claim them as one of the fathers and originators of this sub-genre,
as they started doing this in the mid-90s when very few if anyone
else was. So full disclosure, I go into this release as a long time
StarGazer devotee, I even ordered a band tshirt that had, if memory
serves, the cover artwork from their ’99 split album with
Invocation. The two original members of this trio are The Great
Righteous Destroyer on bass/vocals & The Grand Inquisitor on
guitars/vocals are currently or have been in a ton of bands you
should have heard of like Misery’s Omen, Cauldron Black Ram,
Mournful Congregation, Martire, Road Warrior and more. The music of
StarGazer is always cloaked in a dark and sinister aura, but the
music and the playing is always so smooth, precise and as classic
metal sounding as one can imagine. They do have a lot of inventive
songwriting, but one of the things I love about this band is they
never let things get out of hand by splicing flowery melodies, or
just silly sound effects and samples to let those do the work for
them at being avant-garde. StarGazer makes everything sound very
shadowy and do as much as possible with traditional instrumentation.
They stay as true to the evil sound and intentions of the pioneering
days of black/death as a central thread, while pushing envelope in
dynamic ways that I find infinitely entertaining. The talent and
song crafting vision is thing to behold on “Psychic Secretions”, as
it invokes in the listener feelings and emotions of malevolence and
introspection thusly taking you on one hell of a mental journey. Pay
your respects to one of the inventors and masters of this musical
concept / sub-grenre by ordering a copy of this excellent album
posthaste, if not sooner. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/StarGazer-292821067421712
http://www.nwnprod.com/
|
The production
on this album is so clear and loud, it is almost too much for me.
But I can see why this Russian band wanted it so crisp, because they
are fantastic musicians and pull off some high level stuff, as they
wind their way through this progressive metal album. Some sections
of this album were very enjoyable for me, other sections, I found a
tad pretentious sounding and purposely so. I think the band might
have gotten carried away, with inviting literally ten or twelve
guest musicians, probably from their university music courses, or
some such, to play on it looks like 9 of the 12 songs on this album.
I wonder if a collaborative effort that wide spread, may make the
flow of the songs and album as whole, a little less cohesive. The
vocalist is excellent, not that much of an accent can be detected
and he reminds me a little to Ray Adler, whom I am a fan of. The
more I listen to this record, it is growing on me. I think Starsoup
(I do not like that band name much at all), to give you a better
mental picture, probably reside somewhere between newer Fates
Warning and Dream Theater (a little less intricate / more
accessible) mixed with a touch of the Metallica “Black” album
influence. Some of the speedy guitar solos, which flow in and out of
the mix, are fantastic and really add a dynamic punch to the emotive
material. I must admit a couple songs in; I did not think I would
like this album as much as I do. Definitely something I can
recommend to progressive metal fans. I have to throw out a caveat to
this whole thing, there are two tracks, thankfully short, “Rumors Of
A Better Life” & “Road To Sunset”, that quite honestly border on top
40 radio pap. I can do without that shit and I am slightly insulted,
that they tried to slip those in, muddying the waters, among an
otherwise wonderful progressive metal album. I think when I put this
on my mp3 player; those two songs will be deleted and my listening
experience benefit greatly for it. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Starsoup
http://sublimity.bandcamp.com/
|
|
 
If you have read
Canadian Assault for any length of time you know Autopsy is one of
my all-time favourite bands in any genre. You say but there are a
lot of bands these days influenced by them, well this is different
because this new band features Chris Reifert, the drummer / vocalist
of that same said legendary band! Okay, but does it sound anything
like early Autopsy and the answer is a resounding YES!! I mean there
are differences here, but musically, stylistically and sound wise it
is probably 70% classic doomy Autopsy, and Reifert’s amazing
growling vocals are one hundred fucking percent early Autopsy! Oh it
is glorious my friends, those vocals are in such fine form, it is
almost unbelievable how good that man’s vocals still sound – I have
chills literally. His vocals added to that music are like some sort
of arcane musical rite that only Chris can master with that
charisma, perfect inflection and brutal yet clear enough to
understand growl. I do apologize that I have yet to mention the
other half of this two man band, which is Greg Wilkinson (owner /
operator of Earhammer Studios as well as being in bands such as
Deathgrave, Brainoil & Leather Glove) on guitar / bass. The
production on this album is clear yet not clean, everything is
incredibly heavy and powerful. Static Abyss create death doom metal
at it’s finest, at it’s most grimy and necro with that
quintessential old ‘Mental Funeral’ (also known by me as the
masterpiece album) sinister aura wrapped around everything. As
mentioned there are differences like the pounding sections like in
the song “Jawbone”, which will compel you to headbang on command
before it transitions into this extensive gloomy emotive section
that is wonderfully hypnotic, then snapping you out of it once again
to briefly to finish with another neck wrecking fury. Yes different
and not so much old Autopsy sounding touches, but also very good and
welcome sounds that are seamlessly transitioned in and out of with
aplomb. This is honestly a great album in it’s own right, and in my
opinion an absolute must have for fellow Autopsy diehards like
myself. This is not even mentioning that I am sure many fans of
bands that are heavily influenced by them like Incantation,
Immolation, Funebrarum, Undergang, Disma, Dead Congregation and
similar bands will love this. Speaking of which, like I have not
mentioned Autopsy enough in this review, they also added this same
Greg Wilkinson to their classic line-up and are working on new music
as we speak! Will it sound more like Autopsy than Static Abyss?! I
am not sure, but I can not wait to find out!! Until then get this
ASAP. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/staticabyss/
https://peaceville.com/
|
There is not
much to go on here, just one single song from both bands, so about
12 minutes of music total. But I will give it a good try here. The
Static Of Masses track starts off with a distorted sci-fi pulsing
mixed with like an old tv white noise type of sound with distorted,
slowed down voices filtering in and out, in a trippy sort They Live
tv transmission interruption signal. It is tough to make out the
spoken word, likely taken from a movie or tv show, it is
understandable at times and difficult to discern at others, but it
is some sort of recount of a messed up traumatic event or something.
It eerily repeats the song title “Just A Dream”, again and again and
that is it, other than the background effects slightly changing up
now and again. Next up, Zogthorgven with their single track that
kind of picks up just like the above song, with wavy distorted
sci-fi type pulsing, this time with some real vocals that are more
sung and slightly growled, but more malevolent sounding than the
Static song. Again, like the other bands track with the repeating,
slightly different sounding white noise bits along with old sci-fi
beeps and sound effects. There is actually more a of rhythmic music
that comes in like a very stripped down version of an industrial
bands drum beats. This is not really my kind of music, neither band
tracks are really for the most part, but this one had a sci-fi
feeling mixed with a slight Ministry moody vibe. As well, as I
mentioned at times there is a little more musicality and was a
little more enjoyable for me. Check it out if you like this sort of
thing or think you might, traditional UG metal fans that read this
might not like it much as there is no metal to found on this here.
Feel free to send orders of physical copies of this tape to either
of the following: Doomsday Today Records, Eternal Darkness
Creations, c/o Keith Dempe, PO Box 268,
Coraopolis, PA.
15108 and also thru Ralph's Records, c/o Doug Stapp, 3322 82nd St.,
Lubbock, TX.
79423, USA
http://www.RalphsRecordsTX.com
- Dale
https://www.facebook.com/staticovmasses/
https://www.facebook.com/zogthorgven/
|
I like the
energy and often manic pace on this record. The Stench is emanating
from Sweden and play rancid death metal. Maybe the first thing you
think of when reading that is classic early to mid 90s Swedish death
metal. Especially after reading band name, knowing they are Swede’s
and hearing the opening riff of the song “The Blackness”, it quickly
became clear that such assumptions were quite valid. Those lovely
oceans of rolling chainsaw riffs fans of this style love so much are
present here. The band I think of most when listening to them is
Dismember, but I am sure you could throw a number of others from
back in the day in the pot as well. The vocals themselves are not
too far many of the old Swede bands with that raspy shouted growl.
Stench know the value of a catchy heavy riff and slow down the pace
from time to time just enough to add some extra depth to their
sound. I have to say personally I enjoyed this record, but should
probably throw in the caveat that I am a massive die hard fan of
this style. I would say for those that like old style Swedish dm,
but are picky with it; you could probably pass on this. I just can
not get enough of it myself. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/swedenstench
http://www.agoniarecords.com/ |
I have never
been much of a follower or a fan of guitar shred or guitar virtuoso
albums. I might have two that fall into this category, which I
actually listen to once in a blue moon. I was all ready to dislike
this and crap on it. But Stephan Forte has managed to capture my
imagination and attention with The Shadow Compendium. I think upon
listening to this one would call Stephan a guitar virtuoso, yet this
is no shred or guitar wank fest. No every guitar riff, every
sweeping guitar sequence fill and noodle, actually means something,
it actually propels the song along and most importantly for me, it
conveys immense emotion and atmosphere. I find myself mesmerized one
moment by the playing and the next I forget all about the playing
completely and am whisked away on cerebral journey.
This is one of the few albums I have ever listened to that I was
glad there are no vocals on it, quite honestly that would ruin the
experience. What a fantastic work of art this album is, one that I
can wholeheartedly recommend to metalheads that are fans across many
sub-genres. Please check this out. – Dale
https://www.facebook.com/stephanforte
http://www.listenable.net/
|
I am not going
to lie when I heard this French bands name. I thought what a lousy
band name, it sounds like the title of a man on man porno movie.
Either that or they are big, big fans of sticky cinnamon buns. I am
happy to say either way that they managed to clean off those sticky
hands and use them to play some good rock ‘n roll son. I mean this
is no frills, non-technical just rocking music that might bring to
mind influences from bands like AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and the like. I
can not call them AC/DC clones, but they really take on that style
and it is the best way to get across to you what you will hear. They
have a good vocalist, which is really important to trying to pull
off this type of music, he has a slight accent but also has a
certain charisma that pulls it off. It just goes to show you once
again you can not judge a book by it’s cover, just on the band name
alone I fully expected to hate this and rip it a new one, instead it
ripped me a new one. It’s not metal but if you old school rock in
the AC/DC tradition then give this one a try. - Dale
http://stickyboys.bandcamp.com/
http://www.listenable.net/
|
Yet another
piece of heavy Polish darkened Death metal, what an intensely
stuffed package of goodies Gods ov War Productions sent to me.
Stillborn play some really heavy, chugging metal and the production
is crystal clear and sharp, almost riding the line of over produced
but never quite sticking their toe across that line. If you like
good, clean ‘n crisp as the morning air in the dead of a cold
winter, I have an album for you. Los Asesinso Del Sur has some
interesting things going, they play at as expedited pace and I do
not think anyone can accuse them of not keeping the song structures
fresh and constantly moving. About the only thing I could say is at
times they try to do a little too much and could sit down on a cool
section and milk it a bit, get a little bit of headbang reaction
going. But that is a small gripe; this is generally a very finely
constructed and produced death metal album. I had no idea the Polish
dm scene was this diverse or had this much depth, it is surely a
scene to be reckoned with. Check this album out for all fans of
stuff by countrymen Vader, Behemoth and the like. I could not find a
website for this label, but apparently the excellent veteran label
Pagan Records are their official distributor. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/naturalborndestroyers
http://www.pagan-records.com
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One of Serbia's
most well respected and known bands return with their best release
to date!. Golet is the latest release from the stone and shows the
band still creating complex, uncompromising and above all original
black metal. The bands sound is firmly set in the roots of black
metal but is very hard to pin point a certain band they sound
similar to. The songs are mid-paced range but do speed up but
usually move back and forth between mid-range and fast as hell black
metal keeping the listener interested as to what the band will do
next. The band keeps their production somewhere in the middle not
the most crystal clear sounding band {personally black metal should
never sound like this to me} but it also does not have a real
primitive, rehearsal type of sound like so many of the early bands
of the genre had. The Stone has been going strong since the mid 90's
and one listen to their latest release Golet you will understand
why. All hail the stone and Serbian metal!!
- Patrick
http://www.myspace.com/thestonehorde
http://www.myspace.com/folter666
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The second Stone Magnum release From Time To Eternity was a nice
surprise to my ears why? Because usually traditional doom bands bore
me and I loose interest after a few songs, but this isn't the case
with stone Magnum. Heavy Sabbath like riffs roll over you like a
tank, slow pounding drums and new vocalist Nick Hernandez has
amazing vox that have awesome vocal range / tone. Magnum are
definitely a doom band by sound and heart but the guys are not
afraid to use more uptempo, bluesy riffs and some classic rock
influences. I haven't heard Stone Magnum's previous release so I
can't compare the two in sound but I can say that From Time To
Eternity is flawless in all it's doomish glory. - Patrick
http://www.reverbnation.com/stonemagnum
http://www.restinpeacerecords.us/
|
This is a bit of
departure for Paragon, who seem to be primarily a black and death
metal label. Storm Breeder, yet another one man band, I suppose
could labeled at times experimental (mainly due to the odd
unconventional accent here and there not common to this genre such
as synth, clean female vocal bits, sound effects) speed / thrash
metal. The playing on here is pretty impressive, some amazing
riffing and ultra precise time changes often executed at galloping
speeds. I am not sure what is that wavy sound over and around the
chorus sections of the opening song but it is quite distracting, not
in a good way on an otherwise impressive opener. There are some
somber, slower moments but the mainstay is a heavy metal gallop or
marching thrash riff speeds with some well done but not always as
imaginative (as the rest of the music) drum patterns as the song
could really use, but they surely do get the job done. This is some
really good music and it is impressive that one man managed all of
this at such a high quality level overall and with such superb
execution. The production is fine, quite clear but for me could have
used a little more bottom end to bring out the heavy. But I think
honestly the biggest let down for the band is the vocals, they have
little to no range, virtually no power and the base voice is a
little bit limp sounding. That is something this style needs much
more than say death metal or black metal etc… is a strong,
distinctive and power vocalist of which you will not find on The
Knave. I guess the main man could not find a vocalist and was just
forced to do it himself, with that in mind they are not terrible,
just not would they need to be to match the level of everything
else. I really look forward to hearing more from this band,
especially if they can secure a full time vocalist that suits this
style. - Dale
https://myspace.com/stormbreeder
http://www.themetalunderground.com/ |
|
 
This is
surprisingly, to me, this Danish bands debut full-length album. I
say surprisingly because the band has been around since 1997. Though
as you might imagine there are huge gaps of silence between
releases, as during the last 25 years they have only released 2 demo
tapes, one 7” EP and a CD EP. This trio of musicians that make up
this band have many other bands past and present bands that kept
them busy, some of which include Undergang, Cerekloth, Procession Of
Headless Angels, The Cleansing, and Usipian. The music on here
features some nice guitar fills in there, a little melody too, but
just enough to add depth and keep things interesting to augment the
brutality of it all, which stays firmly in the driver’s seat of this
album. The vocals of Martin Leth Andersen is something I enjoy very
much about Strychnos and this album, he has an extremely magnetic
traditional growl that bends and shape shifts around the underlying
music like a serpent. I also like the epic length strident, boiling
yell near the start of the song “Regiments Of The Betrayed”, and
this song is a fine example of Andersen’s ability elongate his vocal
chords and convey good emotion. Speaking of emotion, the music is
always extreme yet showcases a real talent for building deeply
emotive sequences into satisfying crescendos and mental journey’s. I
am not saying Strychnos sounds overly like them, but their talent in
this area is very reminiscent to me of the magnificence of the
middle ‘90s Edge Of Sanity albums. That is high praise coming from
me, as a diehard fan of that period of E.O.S., and in turn speaks to
Strychnos’ strong songwriting abilities and feel for song flow. The
artwork and lyrics are about a famous story of a Danish author
written in 1847 and the music wonderfully conveys the range of
despair, sadness and tragedy of the woman the story focuses upon. As
debut albums go, even despite the long wait for this one, it remains
one hell of a debut record that I would recommend. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/strychnosterror
https://www.darkdescentrecords.com
|
An amusing album
title, which received a smirk from me. Then the music hit and it
wiped that grin right off of my face. I mean it is really simple
stuff if you strip it down, but holy shit is it ever angry and heavy
like a spiked fist to the face. The vocals are fuming with hatred
and are coarse, gruff sort of yelled growling, you can make out
everything said yet is still extreme sounding. The vocals are
honestly great and big part of the Styggelse sound and effect. The
first few songs on the record had me kind of jacked up on the energy
and fury. I must admit though it starts to wear thin after that
initial gut reaction. As I mentioned it is very simplistic stuff, it
all goes at one middle to fast paced speed, it never changes up,
never really adds much dynamic. Which as the album winds on makes it
sound quite repetitive and seems to have a hard time maintaining my
interest. Styggelse for me are a one trick pony, they do that one
trick pretty well, but when you are listening to that same
unchanging thing over and over for more than half an hour. Well it
grows stale. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/styggelse
http://www.unexplodedrecords.com/ |
|
Well, this band
lists their influences as Cryptopsy, Katakylsm, and Suffocation. Though
I don’t hear any of those here and their skills are not on par with them
either. Having said that I loved the first 3 songs of heavy but not
brutal death metal and they know how to work a good memorable rhythm
with some decent leads and cool echo style death growls. The last 2 cuts
are where things break down and while the fourth song is cool it is
ruined by an awful sounding instrumental intro, but if you can get past
that it is a solid enough tune. The final track “Anoxibiosis” features a
acoustic intro with birds chirping in the background that is pretty lame
and makes it hard to like the song that follows. Guys tighten things up
a bit and forget those intros they are embarrassingly bad. – Dale
Wild Rags Records,
2207 W. Whittier Blvd., P.O. Box 3302, Montebello, CA. 90640 - 8602,
USA. Band contact: Subverator, Casilla 158, La Pax -
Bolivia, SOUTH
AMERICA
|
It was good to
find this in my mailbox, and it is always great to be in touch UG
maniacs from France. This band however is from Chile and this
twenty-two minute tape is the European version of this release,
which first came out in 2019. The music on ‘Existential Realism’
good ancient darkened death metal with thrash roots, like taking
Possessed and Morbid Angel then mixing them with classics from their
homeland like the early works of Sepultura, Sarcofago, Mutilator,
Pentagram, Atomic Aggressor, Vulcano etc… That should give you a
good idea of what you have in store when listening to this release.
The music is filled with punishing, weighty riffs that will force
you into a headbanging fury whilst violently stomping you into the
ground. The production on here is perfect; it is heavy and gritty
while still being clear enough to hear everything well, especially
the killer guitar work on here. The arsenal of caustic growls, gruff
yells and gritty screams all delivered with a nice creepy whispery,
echo-y undertone courtesy of vocalist Impetigo. This is some pretty
killer stuff I must say. I believe Suffering Sights have just
released debut album just recently, but a little birdie told they
think the music on this EP is even better than the new stuff. I will
let you decide on that. The cassette from Nekrassious is very
limited, so hurry up if you want a copy, and if you really love old
school deathrash metal and can not get enough of it then you should
own this. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/sufferingsights
https://nekrassioustapes.bandcamp.com/music
|
|
Sulphurous hail
from Denmark, despite only being a duo they produce a very big and
full death metal sound. M.F. handles the Guitars, bass & vocals (he
is also in the bands Ascendency, Had, Hyperdontia, Sort Sind and
Taphos), while the drums are handled by Tuna (Apparatus, Eldjudnir,
Eternich, Hyperdontia, Redivivus and Witchburn). As you can see both
men have been very active in the UG scene for many years. Sulphurous’
songwriting is sort of a structure within a structure, by that I
mean they have that old school brutal death metal foundation as the
skeleton and flesh it out with a lot of newer death metal
creativity. That flesh and those organs musically speaking are
vibrant and at times almost busy, there is a lot going on with the
individual instruments that is interesting and presents a real
energetic drive that keeps things compelling. Yes, there are a lot
of sub textures, interesting fills and patterns whilst never losing
sight of that dark crushing brutality. I like all of that and you
will not get bored whatsoever listening to this band. In addition to
a very strong performance on the drum kit by Tuna, I also very much
enjoyed M.F.’s somewhat obscured evil, commanding and aggressive yet
not too aggressive growling that fits the music well and adds that
touch of cruelty and audio depravity to the aura of darkness their
music is enveloped within. For me, the band delivers well on their
sophomore album and it is worth your attention. - Dale
https://sulphurous.bandcamp.com/
www.darkdescentrecs.com/
https://www.mesacounojo.com/
https://desiccatedproductions.com/
|
|
Sunless hail
from the not so sunny, heavily forested and often snow covered
landscapes of Minnesota. This sophomore full-length shows itself as
very technical, often creative and sometimes quirkily structured
rhythmic death metal music. I think to give you a general audio
picture of their sound you can reference influences like later day
Gorguts, Gigan or maybe a little less brutal / aggressive version of
the music on recent albums from Deathspell Omega, Ulcerate and
Pyrrhon. You can tell at times the band want the instruments and
their songwriting to do the talking, so to speak. I say that as
there are growling vocals on here, which are a dual layer mixing of
deep growls and slightly higher pitched cleaner growling, though
good they are sparsely used for long sequences to allow the
underlying music ample breathing room. I feel like I should mention
the drum work on here as well, it is superb in it’s own technical
yet nuanced fashion. Despite the level of technicality, much like
say Gorguts there is an emphasis put on an oft times moody, emotive
and introspective atmosphere through the album. It is a bit of an
onion type of album, not always immediately accessible yet the more
you listen and the more you absorb I think the more you will get out
of ‘Ylem’. If you like the bands mentioned above and imaginative and
busy technical death metal with a slight lean toward pensive tonal
touches then you should really give Sunless a chance. - Dale
https://sunless.bandcamp.com/
https://www.willowtip.com
https://willowtip.bandcamp.com/
|
The band sells
themselves with some lofty and ambitious expectations. And I quote
“Intriguing, thought-provoking and memorable, Super Massive Black
Holes (aka SMBH) plays a mix of genres that will make you scratch
your head and tap your foot, all while banging your head into solid
objects. Seamlessly blending Death Metal, Rock, Jazz-Fusion, Prog,
Blues, and “Other”, SMBH will expand your mind and prove that new
and interesting music is alive and well.” For me, to even attempt
what they set forth in that description, you need to not just be
good, but be superb in two areas. First, being simply or not so
simply, the technical skill and wide ranging musical knowledge, in
applying that skill. Secondly, a natural talent for song flow, song
arranging and transitioning, from one thing to the next, constantly
changing style, as the band has set forth to do. I think SMBH have
the first area covered off pretty well, they obviously are well
learned in a variety of contrasting styles / genres, as well as just
being very skilled in their instrument(s) of choice. So so far, so
good. Then, we enter in the second area, of expertise needed I
covered above. This is where, in my opinion, SMBH fall flat on their
faces, not all of the time, but well most of the time. Their song
flow, more often than not, is abysmal, their transition between time
changes and stylistic changes, that are constantly happening are
clunky, stilted and disjointed. It is almost, like they took some
cool jam cassettes, chopped up the tape inside the cassettes into a
hundred pieces, then mixed them all together, and piece by piece
pulled out each section, scotch taped them together and said let’s
see what this shit sounds like. That description is a too harsh,
granted, but all the same it is a mental example of what I am
talking about, taken to the extreme, yet at the end of it I think it
gives you a picture of what I mean. Catchy or meaningful song
structure, which really makes it a piece of music, tends to get
thrown by the wayside, in favour of just getting all our parts in,
all our influences crammed in there. I am not sure, if it is just
that that they got greedy, about a packing all of this stuff in and
damn the result, or these talented musicians just lack vision and
talent, when it comes to the task of actual song writing and song
arranging. The vocals, on top of this discordant music, are pretty
thin and weak sounding, not really bad, they are passable, but all
the same they do the already lacking music no real favours. There is
a lot of talent here though, if only it could be focused in a more
productive and refined direction. I really wanted to like this
record a lot too. I mean it is released by a veteran label, which I
have a lot of respect for (did I mention the packaging on this album
is absolutely superb?); not to even mention I have a soft spot for
the band immediately, because they are from my old stomping grounds,
where I was born and raised, in Alberta, Canada. I gave it a good
try boys, a lot listens went into this review, but sorry I have to
be honest on how I feel about it. - Dale
http://www.smbhmusic.com/
http://www.minotaurorecords.com/
|
I am a
Superchrist fan I can tell you that up front. It should be no secret
though; as with Autopsy Kitchen Records, the label I co-founded with
Jeffrey Kusbel, we released a Superchrist album haha. Superchrist
has changed up their sound a little since those days though, back
then they were more of a really killer, talented punk-y Motorhead
mixed with Iron Maiden clone. They also had quite the raunchy, fuck
you I will spit beer in your face attitude. The attitude is subdued
but pretty similar, the sound on the other hand has taken more of a
melodic metal, hard rock and punk (well the punk was there before
but different influences now) directional turn. I mean you can still
hear small hints of Maiden and Motorhead, but I also am hearing
influences like Bad Religion, The Ramones along with maybe stuff
like Saxon, The Rods, Thin Lizzy and Diamond Head. Definitely
musically they have gone in a friendlier, less raucous direction. I
gotta admit it really does work for them and I enjoy what I hear. I
might like their old sound a little better, but this is good too.
There is definitely more of a light melody driven punchy air to
their sound and pacing now. I mean the closing track “Beer Metal”
reminds me a little more of their old sound and that is a cool
track. Yes it is a new direction but if you like the influences I
mentioned (I realize some of the extreme metal fans reading this are
cringing right now haha) about then you can always be sure
Superchrist will deliver it all with quality and conviction. Check
it out. - Dale
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
http://www.hellsheadbangers.com/
|
|
Suppression
hails from South America, the absolute hotbed for extreme UG metal,
more specifically in this case the country of Chile. Their debut
album (even though they released a demo in 2012 and have been going
ever since!) features some excellent death metal music that
possesses a decided undercurrent of thrash metal darkness. Their
influences clearly originate in the early to mid 1990s death metal
scene and you can hear influences from that time period like Death,
Pestilence, Obituary, Sadus, Gorguts, Skeletal Remains etc… I might
even throw Pungent Stench in there for those little off-kilter
guitar fills which rears it’s head from time to time. The old school
death metal description is a very apt one here, not only do they
have those old school influences, but the songwriting and structure
itself is very early nineties, and I for one dig it. There are some
little inventive yet quirky underlying guitar nuances like in the
song “Unperpetual Misery” that are kept subtle yet they really add
an extra dimension and make things interesting. I mean really some
the guitar work on here in general may not jump out at you upon
first listen, but with repeated listening you can really start to
appreciate the thought and skill put into a lot of those impressive
passages that dot the landscape. The good growling vocals on here,
also like the music are death metal yet have that dark yelling gruff
air of thrash style vocals. This is of particular note for diehards
of that classic deathrash metal of early days of extreme metal. -
Dale
https://www.facebook.com/Suppression
https://unspeakableaxerecords.bandcamp.com/ |
I see terms like
experimental and avant-garde death metal thrown around often while
describing this French band. Those are fairly lofty terms for me at
least and you better be good, damn good to pull off this style well
enough to impress me with it. So has Supuration managed this mean
feat? Every now and then I would say yes, but the answer for the
bulk of the material on Cube 3, is a fairly firm no. I am not saying
this is a bad band. They take a lot of influences from good bands in
the heavy metal and death metal arenas, and while it is good, they
tend to present some of the more generic parts of those influences
or at least they are fairly generic in re-producing those sounds.
The kinds of bands I mean are things like Edge Of Sanity, later
Carcass, late ‘90s Voivod. All of which I like, but well as I
already explained above, it is about how they present those
influences to the listener. The avant-garde or experimental parts
are where I guess you could say they admirably tried to dress them
up with some off-beat timing, slowing things down or punch it up in
a happier way. They add some, not so much experimental as much as
just different elements, it helps spice things up a little bit, but
it has rather limited effect for me. I think the thing I like best
about this band are the cool deep, yet very discipherable growling
vocals that remind me again to Edge Of Sanity or maybe slightly to
Grave or something. It was a nice try, I like what they were trying
to go for, but it is a bit of a miss, a listenable miss mind you,
but a miss all the same. - Dale
http://www.reverbnation.com/supsupuration
http://www.listenable.net/
|
|
I think this is
my first review of a Metalville Records release. The label
interestingly, to me at least, happens to be owned and ran by Holger
Koch (manager of Doro Pesch) and Chris Boltendahl (vocalist /
songwriter of the mighty metal legends Grave Digger!). This is also
my first encounter with Surgical Strike who play a high octane brand
of power metal and thrash, which is decidedly polished precise, both
in performance and album production. It is impressive how seamlessly
they meld those power and thrash metal influences together, it just
switches back and forth with perfect flow like two large creeks
converging into one smooth river current. The guitar playing on here
is superb, whether it is the briskly paced melodic heavy chug or the
lightning blitz of the aggressive thrash riffing it is sure to
induce headbanging and sore necks. Surgical Strike also has an
infectious, fuck you sort of raucous attitude that comes through
their music and lyrics including includes some memorable choruses
and gang sung sections. The vocalist Jens Albert, while singing in
English throughout does not really try to totally lose his accent,
as many Euro bands heavy metal and thrash bands do. So, I suppose
that might be an acquired taste for some, but for me it is totally
fine and he is a pretty killer singer for this style. I think “Part
Of A Sick World” can be recommended to old school (late ‘80s, early
‘90s era) heavy metal / thrash fans, who do not mind a bit of a
modern coating on their classic metal and an ultra clean (possibly
too clean?) production job. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/surgicalstrikemetal
http://www.metalville.de
|
There is an
interesting story behind this release as well as the main man behind
what is a now a full band (see the review of one of their newer
release). This was written and recorded, during a period of time
that he was not only recovering from a car accident, but also just
as he was about to be sentenced to go to jail. It is kind of a long
story on the jail thing, needless to say his previous band kicked
him out in a under handed way, then he alleges had security keep him
out of live shows and continued to release/use material, he had
written for the band. Subsequently, he showed up at the main
offenders place of work, and apparently beat the shit out of him
with a bike lock. So with that back story, it really gets you
intrigued, no? I have to say this sounds very different from the
bands current direction. I am not even sure what to call the style
on this release, which was recorded back in 2012, it is a
hodge-podge of dark emotional atmospheric hard rock/heavy metal
(like stripped down, watered down influences from things like old
Queensryche “Operation Mindcrime” or Voivod “Astronomy Domine” type
of stuff), but mixed with little snippets of hardcore and thrash,
plus half spoken/half sung vocals. I don’t know, there are some good
parts, here and there, which I enjoyed plus overall I like how much
emotional hate, pain, regret, melancholy that shines through the
music. But honestly, overall I did not like it, it feels pretty
disjointed, it feels sort of like main man Nick Noro is just
vomiting all the emotion he can, all over the listener. But his
thoughts, much like his feelings are scattered and fleeting and
confused. I mean, even though it must have been a cathartic process
for Nick, which is good for him, yet not necessarily good for the
listener. Which is probably why, he never released it until now, who
knows maybe people have heard about it and asked for it, it is not
bad, just not that good either. Maybe some die hard fans of the
band, would like to have it regardless, as it documents an important
time in the birth of Survival, and what would help shape it later
on. Apparently, they want to keep this very underground, to that aim
they have made this limited and charging high prices for it (unless
you think $100 is not too high for a tape), so you definitely need
to want it very badly to buy it. If that interests you, then go for
it, it is an unique experience. However, if that is not your cup of
tea, and love thrash metal, I would encourage you to check out their
new releases, like their “Shayda” album. Because that is good bay
area crossover thrash metal, and much superior this release, they
only got better and better with time, after “No Grief”, I am pleased
to say. - Dale
https://www.reverbnation.com/survivaloakland
http://merdumgiriz.org/
|
|
Svabhavat are a
duo rising out of the dark forests (not the ones recently ablaze one
would hope) pacific northwest of the United States. As far as I know
this full-length is not only their debut album, but also their debut
recording. Svabhavat play cold, harsh black metal that does have a
slight or not so slight epic tone in their style. But they mainly
produce cruel black metal, devoid of the sugary rhythms and riffs,
and/or adventurous song structuring that has crept into a lot of
modern black metal. Some of the influences I hear in the bands music
are Judas Iscariot and Horna mixed with some early Darkthrone &
Immortal, maybe to a lesser extent also bands like Black Funeral,
early Mayhem, early Marduk, Nargaroth, Moonblood, Graveland etc… The
vocals follow suit on of the influences I mentioned above. There is
also some secondary tortured, lunacy filled screams and yells that
remind me a little of Lust from Canada or the early Burzum releases.
Both of those styles of vocal emanations are tremendous and add to
the menacing evil atmosphere. This will probably not please newer
black metal fans that love the incorporation of heavy flowery
melodies, folk influence and “progressive” song structuring. I
suspect the band is none too worried their music does not appeal to
that crowd. No this is fucking black metal of old; it is sodden with
freezing malice, always threatening darkness and evil around every
dim corner. Fellow devotees and worshippers of the second wave of
black metal, like myself, should take note of Svabhavat and "Black
Mirror Reflection". - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/MalumInSe/ https://www.facebook.com/Eisenwaldofficial/
|
|
We have some
Norwegian black metal on the block. It is always a pleasure to get a
bm band from ground that was so fertile and important in the second
wave of black metal in the early to mid ‘90s. After a bombastic
build up intro, we get hit with some harsh and straight forward bm
that possesses that cold feel mixed with a lot of energy and a
little keyboards. I never tire of this sound and you can definitely
hear some influence from early albums of Darkthrone, Immortal,
Marduk, Horna, Graveland type sound. I guess you could say the
guitars have a hint of a more heavy metal tone than some of those
bands. The vocals have that harsh classic bm rasp but I would say
Svartahrid’s singer annunciates his words a little more slowly and
clearly and you can plainly make out most of the lyrics. It is quite
an excellent job on vocalist Finn Tore’s part. The recording is good
it rides the line between having a touch of that old raw sound and
the newer era clarity, without going too far that way. It is good to
see some Norwegian bands keeping the old flame burning bright,
despite the freezing winds. – Dale
http://www.myspace.com/svartahrid
http://www.soulsellerrecords.com/
|
I will give
them this much, this is different than the usual fair that comes
across my plate. There are some black metal style elements or
sections here, though sparsely used much of the time. The main
body of the Svarti Loghin sound is emotive flowing indie rock (some
might even cite british shoegaze influence). A style which is not
something I generally care to listen to or enjoy. Yet I can at least
admit they do what they do well. Svarti do have a poignant dreamy feel
or atmosphere that draws you in. There are times this mix works well
and others where it comes off awkward, and they seem to be trying too
hard to mix the vastly differing styles. The vocals on the title
track I found annoying and it sounded like they were trying
extremely hard to
be Pearl Jam. In fact that whole title track, you could throw out
the window and the album would be all the better off for the
subtraction. That song is just all over the place and even feels a
little country in some spots. I mean how, do you have softened Burzum like sections on the same album as that? It just should not
work and it does not work. The “Spirit Caravan”, Black Sabbath
cover, they use to end the album was a nice touch and a fitting way
to end. On
the one hand I want to recommend this for the originality and
atmosphere. But on the other hand, I expect most reading this will
find the annoying elements too hard to overcome. It is a mixed bag
for sure. – Dale
http://www.atmf.net
http://www.myspace.com/svartiloghin
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You know, it
seems like most if not all Scadinavian black metal bands that have
been around since the early days of the second wave of black metal
(early ‘90s onward), seem have a strong cult following and are held
in very high regard around the UG scene. Then you have a rare bm
band like the Swedish Svartsyn, whom I became a devotee of in the
mid ‘90s, which has been around even longer than that as Chalice
(1991-1993 releasing a demo & a killer split Demo EP w/Illska)
before changing their name to Svartsyn in 1994 and releasing their
first demo tape under that moniker. That is why I am a little
perplexed that Svartsyn is not uttered in the same breath as
Darkthrone, Burzum, Immortal, Dark Funeral, Emperor, Graveland,
Root, Ulver, Horna, Impaled Nazerene, Satyricon, Enslaved, Marduk
etc… etc… I mean this band have never went away and have been
releasing great second wave Scandinavian black metal all these
years! They have released 9 demos, EPs & splits over those years, in
addition to no less than 10 full-length albums!! Yeah I don’t get it
honestly, they are surely criminally underrated in my view. But
enough of that, how are they sounding these days, nearly 30 years
after they arrived in the UG scene? Well, I will tell you with
“Requiem” they (well Ornias for many years has essentially has run
Svartsyn as a one man band with long time session drummer Ignace "Hammerman"
Verstrate) are staying absolutely true to their roots! Svartsyn
still conjures and performs potent black metal that is freezing cold
and emanates an evil aura at all times. Their form of wintry black
metal features flowing riffs dripping with hate, darkness and
sinister malevolence. The drumming on here is extremely powerful and
commanding. The traditional (yet unique in their own fashion) black
rasps that emanate from Ornias’ tortured throat and spirit are among
some of the best in the history of black metal in my opinion.
Svartsyn unlike some of these black metal bands that have been
around since the early days, have always stayed true to their black
metal (and it’s) roots. Possibly another reason they have always
stayed on smaller cult record labels to stay true to their path,
Ornias has utter respect from me. This comes highly recommended from
me. Support these Swedish UG legends! - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/svartsyn666 http://www.carnalrecords.com/
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Norway’s
Svarttjern return with, is it already their 5th album?!
The band was originally formed by brothers HaaN and Hansfyrste,
including HaaN there is now 3 members of Carpathian Forest in this
band. Interesting album title aside, Svarttjern play what is these
days a razor sharpened, battle tested style of hateful and vigorous
thrashing black metal that can get you headbanging pretty hard. They
keep their audio damnation at a high energy level, that does not
always mean at maximum speed though as they often slow things down
to a mid to semi-fast pacing, where they let their wicked riffing
run free at times. It was not listed as such in any of my promo
material or promo track listing, but I realized pretty quickly
towards the end of the album there is even a “Bonded By Blood”
Exodus cover, which has them showing their appreciation for their
thrash roots in a literal sense. The band construct songs that are
solid, but also straight forward in a formula that follows very much
along the lines of song structuring from late ‘80s / early ‘90s
cleaner, highly produced thrash metal bands. If you took a few of
the musical touches and the black metal rasping vocals (and general
imagery) away, replacing them with cleaner, gruff traditional thrash
metal vocals then this really would be a straight up thrash metal
record. But those black metal style elements are there; those bm
rasps are there and are good with a pretty nimble delivery to keep
up with the somewhat stylistically divergent music they are overlaid
upon. I have to confess, I went into this looking forward to and
expecting a full on black metal record, yet somewhere along the way
I found blacked up thrash metal album, but it is a pretty good one
so alls well that ends well with my listening experience. - Dale
https://www.facebook.com/svarttjern
http://www.soulsellerrecords.com/
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It is a really
is a treat for me to get some very quality looking releases from a
Ukranian label like Svarga music. I think this is the first time I
recall getting anything from a label in that country and it is clear
looking at everything, that they are a serious label that puts a lot
of attention into promoting their bands. Wow this album is all over
the fucking place and more often than not that can be annoying and
clunky. But Svyatogor seem to pull off this patch work quilt
spanning many genres off with aplomb. I suppose you could call the
base of their sound black/death metal, but the progressive heavy
metal, saxophone jazz elements and folk stylings are strong and also
fight for their place on center stage. Before you imagine that this
is super technical math metal or something, it is not, the elements
are intricate but the palate they paint is actually uncluttered and
not technical. I mean I think that is one of the things that makes
me like this release, when there is a progressive metal bit they go
for that, yet they always come back the brutal and heavy backbone,
as mentioned that is the thread that holds Doctor Veritas together
and prevents it from unraveling. I know when you read this you will
probably think how is the that so with the jazz elements and folk
elements, but they are not done in a wimpy or fruity way and as I
say aggression and the weight of the metal is not forgotten or swept
under the rug for long periods. Another thing I must mention is the
vocalist Master Alafern (who is also in Thunderkraft), who sings
mainly in a raspy, mean and cold black metal vocal gives a great
emotionally harsh performance and puts the whole album over the top.
This comes recommended from me. - Dale
http://www.myspace.com/svyatogorband
http://www.svarga.eu/
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Sxuperion is a
one man band (who is also a member of Valdur, Weverin, Oreamnos &
Garden Of Hesperides) from California. That one man has produced
some really dark shadowy black death metal that has an evil aura to
it at all times has a hypnotic tremolo picked rhythmic quality, yet
always stays brutal as well. That obscured fog of an atmosphere is
omnipresent, but is quite often accented in both subtle and not so
subtle ways by a plethora of sound effects alternating haunting and
creepy, or in other instances have a cosmic space effects like the
sound of lasers, klaxon siren and the like. When I write that I read
it back and say that does not sound like a good combination, but
somehow Sxuperion make it work and make it sound natural and at
times even mildly unique. Speaking of obscure earlier, that term
also applies nicely to the various sinister voices and growling
vocals employed on here, they are all very murky and ethereal
sounding like they are coming from nowhere and everywhere at the
same time. I am not sure if this will be everyone’s cup of tea, but
it definitely is taking an old great style and doing it well,
staying true to it’s roots and still making something different and
distinctive sounding. - Dale
https://bloodymountainrecords.bandcamp.com/
http://www.bloodymountainrecords.com/
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I have had no
prior contact with the Swiss Sybreed. I must confess coming from a
long-standing traditionally extreme label like Listenable records.
It was a surprise to hear them release a record this commercial and
mainstream sounding. There are (nu)metal like rudiments from time to
time. That is about as heavy as “The Pulse Of Awakening” gets I’m
afraid. But mainly it is pop-ish, modern sounding rock with some
industrial sensibilities. There are minor and sparsely used slight
growls and filter effect vocals. But the main ones are very radio
poppy with the exception that they are quite annoyingly and heavily
nasal sounding. It is distracting in its awfulness. I mean do not
record an album when you have a severe head cold mate. Think of the
more commercial clean material from Fear Factory mixed with radio
rock bands, the kind that fall all over each to suck up to MTV.
Then, you will start getting a picture of what Sybreed are all
about. Personally if I never hear this album again it will sit just
fine with me. – Dale
http://www.listenable.net
http://www.myspace.com/sybreed
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This secretive
Polish band apparently take their musical witchcraft seriously, not
to even mention their pagan roots, and the roots of the great early
days of black metal terror that spawned in their country in the
early 1990s. There were some great bands in those days that I can
say I was actually into back then, such as the earlier works of
countrymen Graveland, Veles, Infernum, Behemoth (no not the later
days of the band, the early days were different, I ordered their
“The Return of the Northern Moon” demo cassette from Pagan Records
in 1993, it is to this day still one of my most cherished bm
releases). Szary Wilk play harsh second wave bm and mix in heavy
doses of flowing epic riffing that glide across the darkness like a
silky and sinister spirit. Actually, considering how harsh and evil
some of the nucleus elements of their music is, there is a higher
level of memorable melody than you might expect. I could actually go
for the freezing callous side to their music to take on an even more
prominent grip on things, but that is just my personal tastes.
Having said that, there is enough there for me to enjoy and the more
melodic side is well done and enjoyable in it’s own right. They
certainly do create an atmosphere that is interesting. I still think
the hatred and cold rawness could be turned up a notch or two on
this album. But if you like that old black metal severity mixed with
some free flowing melodic melodies and moody epic style then you
will probably get into this album even more than I did. - Dale
https://putridcultproductions.bandcamp.com/
https://www.putridcult.pl/
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