VINTERSLAV - Obliteration CD Self Released Genre: Black Metal Rating: 3/5
Black Metal from South Africa and for some reason, which I'll not explain, the thought of which gives me a sinister grin.That's correct this band is from Cape Town,South Africa and their name is Swedish for "winter slave". Anyway after blasting this once I had to wonder what MARDUK would think if they heard this. They'd probably say "did we use to sound like that?" Answer, yes you did guys. On this release, which the band considers an EP but has 9 songs coming in at forty two minutes, VINTERSLAV gives us a harsh collection of material that's vicious and necro as it gets. I should also say it's primitive in style and production plus very second wave. I'd like to strap a hipster to a chair and force em to listen to "Into The Void Of Eternity" just for laughs. The singer, Vinter, is no slouch when it comes to the harsh vocal rasps which he let's vomit forth over tremolo fury and the unrelenting blast beats. Other cuts like opener "Revivifying The Whore" and "A Path To Extinction" really eschew the type of pure hate that their Nordic brethren was once known for. Yeah this is pretty good.
TURISAS - Stand Up and Fight CD Century Media Genre: Battle Metal Rating: 1/5
I'll give these Finnish furries one thing and that's their CD covers are cool as fuck. This new one looks like a movie poster from some 60's epic with crusaders. In reality TURISAS are five guys dressed in fur, leather and wearing battle face paint plus they've got a hot looking new accordion player named Netta Skog, which just goes to show that they do have Hot Topic in Finland. Now I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of TURISAS although their past two full lengths, 2007's The Varangian Way and 2004's Battle Metal were enjoyable. This new one has the band going full on symphonic to the point where this is a musical or a film score. Some people will say cool it's Power Metal then again they probably own FAIRYLAND boxsets. You know they're going on tour with CRADLE OF FILTH this year. Stand Up and Fight has too much orchestration and annoying choir vocals. This ranks up there with DIMMU BORGIR's collaboration with the Prague Philharmonic. The fat lady in the Viking helmet has sung, goodbye.
VREID - V CD Indie Recordings Genre: Black Metal Rating: 5/5
Even though I was a fan of the Norwegian Blackened Folk/Viking Metal band WINDIR, (their 1184 release is an essential) who broke up after their vocalist Terje "Valfar" Bakken died of hypothermia in 2004. I didn't get into VREID, who are the former members of WINDIR, until their 2007 release I Krieg. Obviously I was late for the parade since VREID had two previous full lengths both of which were considered good. So now that I've finally caught up to their previous audio greatness as well as 2009's Milorg which ended up in that year's SFM666's end of year favorites list, here they are with a new one. The great thing about VREID is that although they're basically melodic black metal they add so much more into their music which re-writes the template. You'll get touches of Thrash, Black & Roll, NWOBHM and the opening cut "Arche" starts off with some reverb action as if this was the first CULT LP but quickly kicks into a more metal direction. Then Sture's vocals (also on guitar) end all doubts about what you're listening to. "Arche" has a killer riff plus there's an arpeggio solo on here by guitarist Strom which will invoke air guitar antics. Now how many times does a Black Metal band invoke air guitar antics?
Fans of this band know all about how VREID explodes forth on the opening tracks of their releases. Once thoroughly knocked back a few paces then one can be enveloped by the rest of the release. "The Blood Eagle" is a reminder of their past days of blackened Viking Metal anthems in WINDER. There's some slight keyboards added for atmosphere. "Wolverine Bastards" is basic melodic BM with some incredible technical soloing flowing through it where as "The Sound of the River" bounces back and forth from harsh aggressive thrashing to a solemn atmospheric mood which ends with a crescendo. "Fire on the Mountain" throws you a curve as it starts off sounding like some post BM shoegazer band but then kicks into a thrash riff that will send the Neo Thrash kids home crying. Welcome to the black metal slam pit. "The Others and the Look" is the longest cut on here at ten and half minutes plus it's also the most experimental VREID gets on this release. The song starts off with an NWOBHM riff then switches to technical tremolo picking giving way to melodic keyboard passage and clean vocal chorus. Strange yes, interesting a little since it showcases Sture's ability to easily move from harsh shrieks to almost a folk-like clean style of vocals.
The bottom end of the release is also not to be dismised with "Slave" as it carries you along with lite proggy moments which turn to harsh blackened extremes. The variences that VREID delve into keep you on edge throughout. On the cut "Welcome to the Asylum" it starts out pure Norwegian BM, milds out for a second then kicks into that Black n Roll groove. There's some obligatory blastbeats (not the only ones of course) by drummer Steingrim and a decent bass solo by Hvàll, not his only one on this release as well. Yes that's right there's bass on this Black Metal release and you can actually hear it. The final cut "Then We Die" starts off with a haunting keyboard opening then cuts loose reminding you of the greatness of WINDIR and how VREID have grown so far and triumphant. This is one of the best and varied BM releases of 2011.
DESTRUCTION - Day of Reckoning CD Nuclear Blast Records Genre: Thrash Rating: 5/5
Out of all the original big three of Teutonic Thrash this band here has somehow aged better than the other two. All I can say about SODOM is whatafuck? As far as KREATOR is concerned well their last one was decent but still it was supposed to be a return of old and it wasn't close. DESTRUCTION has had some problems over their 25 years of existence (various line-up changes and what the hell was up with that cover of the KNACK's "My Sharona" from 1990's Cracked Brain?) Some how they've actually been consistent in putting out releases which fall under descriptions like good, great and of course essential thrash. Their last one 2008's D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. was surprisingly pretty fuckin good. It was the audio equivalent of a jack boot kick to all the Thrash Revival new jacks. Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer (vocals & bass) and Mike Sifringer (guitars) were literally saying "hey kiddies if you like Thrash well then taste our German Steel". Yeah I know that's the title of MOONBLOOD's classic release but screw you it works here.
So here I'm am with this new one and the opening cut "The Price" starts off with the sound of a timebomb ticking away. DESTRUCTION literally explodes forth with a this humongous power as if your world has been destroyed with a giant head bang. That's followed by "Hate is My Fuel" which will be a great crowd shout along to song, like 70,000 at Wacken. The fact is that every track on here is packed with aggression. The band has literally reached back to recapture alot of that past fury which made Infernal Overkill, Eternal Devastation and Release from Agony essential DESTRUCTION releases. New drummer Vaaver is a perfect fit behind the kit with his skills. The production on here is perfect. The performances are perfection since the band adds so many tempo changes throughout that it's not one continuous thrash zone but one where you need to pay attention to throughout. Biggest highlight is their cover version of DIO's "Stand Up and Shout". As far as Thrash goes in 2011, the old guard is back with a vengeance and Day of Reckoning proves it.
Wayne Sarantopolous, aka: Elektrokutioner (Guitar, Drums and Keyboards) is the hardest working man in extreme metal as well as prolific. He played on four releases which Scumfeast Metal included in the favorites listings for 2010. This one would've made it in as well if it didn't come out on December 25th. WOODEN STAKE is his latest project which he's joined by Vanessa Nocera (bass and vocals). So I'm familiar with his other bands and now after listening to this one I have to ask, is everything this guy touches incredible? WOODEN STAKE are Doom. Yes people sludge is hip and stoner is groovy but given a choice I'd rather hear some fuckin DOOM! For me real Doom invokes a sense of darkness, fear and horror. This seven inches drips with those three ingredients.
The title track "Invoke the Ageless Witch" starts out with the Barbera Steele speech sample from the beginning of Mario Bava's classic gothic horror flick from 1960, Black Sunday. Alright so not only am I a Barbara Steele fan, a fanatic for classic horror but Black Sunday just happens to be one of my top twenty horror movies of all time. Steele's photo from the movie even appears on the back cover of this slab. Now as far as the music goes well this is absolutely incredible. Vanessa Nocera has this witch vocal style that's bloodcurdling whether she's singing clean which is haunting or screaming which is downright unnerving. She does the same on the flipside with "At the Stroke of Midnight / Howl of the Devil". Musically this duo reminds me of early CANDLEMASS with the songs generally moving at a slow sinister crawl most of the time then pick up some speed at various moments.
Vanessa Nocera's bass playing can actually be heard as opposed to some bands who drown out the bass with the guitars. Speaking of which Wayne Sarantopolous's lets loose with these thick riffs balanced out with his drum beats like you're being beaten with a sledgehammer. He follows that up with sick solos like he's torturing a victim. You listen to this thing and can't help but exclaim "holy shit"! I heard one song last year from their debut EP Vampire Plague Exorcism and thought wow this is pretty good. This is the follow up to that one, holy shit! What's even better is they've got two new split releases that are out now or will be out soon. Holy Shit! Holy Fuckin Shit! Yes you'll be reading about them sometime this year from me. All I can say is that WOODEN STAKE are one of the best Doom bands out today.
Video: METAL VIDEOS THAT DON'T SUCK Feb. 2011 edition
Ok we all know that most Metal videos SUCK. You either have some MTV like crap or just the band playing live. But once in a while you find a good one and that's what this section is about plus This monthly section is dedicated to Metal Music Videos that are halfway decent)
This month's entry is from the band MERRIMACK from France with their uncensored video, In The Halls Of White Death. Frankly if you're going to do a decent Black Metal video then you have to have some porn involved. Now I'm not talking about some XXX actress doing a side job. I'm referring to artistic porn that has a satanic flair. This vid has it and in black & white.
REST IN GORE - Culinary Buffet of Hacked Innards CD Sevared Records Genre: Brutal Death Metal Rating: 2/5
Well since this is from Sevared Records and has cover artwork that would make CANNIBAL CORPSE blush I knew what to expect. Before I even get into the music I just want to point out that Sevared Records is the home of everything brutal. Now I'm not talking about brutal just for the sake of being brutal. Any label can throw a handful of dopes into a studio and record a brutal death metal release, for example OCEANO. What Sevared Records does is search the true under belly of society to find pure filth which is really "brootal" plus they add that cover artwork to their releases which gets banned in some places. The cover art for CESSPOOL OF VERMIN's Beastial Necrophilia is still tops in my demented book of horrors.
REST IN GORE is a three piece who hail from Japan. Their brand of brutality is slow, methodical and missing all technical sophistication. They're just out to insult you in less than thirty minutes and they do with songs like "Splattered Slime", "Rupturing Stomach" and my personal favorite "Gutrectomy". At times the pounding drums sound like an old neighbor of mine from years ago who would bang on the side of my house, he was afraid to come to the door, whenever my music was too loud. Strangely enough it was always in the morning on weekends. But anyway REST IN GORE keep things rather low key with a few grooves thrown in amongst the rotting corpses you'll be penetrating while this plays in the background.
SARGON - In Contempt CD Self Released Genre: Thrash/Death Metal Rating: 4/5
Holy crap, let me repeat that, holy crap and this is a self release? Attention all labels you must go to Phoenix, AZ, and sign this band. They're originally from Panama City, Panama but don't go there because they've relocated and the only thing you'll pick up is a case of VD. Not that I have any personal experience with that of course. But getting back to the subject at hand, SARGON are a three piece Thrash outfit that's not trying to ape the neo early 80's West Coast sound. That should be comforting to anyone who's bored with the Thrash Revival of late. You can count me in on that and on this the band's debut full length there's a certain freshness attained. Sure there's influences within their sound, mostly from the European side of Thrash Death which we've not heard done so well of late. So to the deaf guy in the back of the room it all means SARGON are doing something which is needed nowadays.
Here's a few things which make SARGON so cool in book. First off the vocals are a higher pitch growl/scream as if the guy's throat is on fire. He, aka: Frank, is also responsible for the riff and solo carnage on here. The song "Restless" is so fuckin great in it's variety of riffs be they melodic or headbanging with haunting intro & outro. In between parts are magnificent as in a narely hatefuck bludgeoning. I'd say "The Hunger" has a slight MEGADEATH touch to it but only if grounded out with some melodic death metal pummeling. Speaking of death metal this band features former MALEVOLENT CREATION drummer, Alex Marquez, but there's hardly any influence to speak of. "Drowning In Sorrow" is even more fierce with some MAIDEN like guitar flourishes. My favorite track on here is the closer "Thrash N' Roll" since it carries that slam pit feeling. I can just see the bodies flying around to this cut. It's a fuckin anthem with another sharp solo which will cut the unsuspecting to ribbons. I won't be surprised if some label picks this up and re-releases it. They have to because SARGON are just that good.
BENEDICTUM - Dominion CD Frontiers Records Genre: Metal Rating: 5/5
I became an instant fan of BENEDICTUM with their 2006 debut, Uncreation. Now that was metal, powerful traditional metal fronted by a woman, Veronica Freeman, who's vocals were aggressive, not operatic and she didn't wear a prom dress. In 2008 they released their sophomore effort Seasons of Tragedy which proved that they weren't just a novelty but a force to be reckoned with. Since then BENEDICTUM have been very busy, mostly with touring and revamping their line-up. Freeman and guitarist Pete Wells are the only original members now, then again they are the main force behind this band. The roles on bass, drums and keyboards might have changed but the ferocity of the band's overall sound has not. Dominion shows that their time spent touring across Europe had a definite influence on them. Some of the material on here shows a touch of progression and yet still ensconced in their original traditional metal structure. One more thing that never gets old is their inclusion of a classic metal cover at the end but more on that later.
Contrary to previous ones this third release by BENEDICTUM took more listens for me to fully appreciate than before. Obviously the three years since their last one had an effect especially since I keep their past releases close at hand and happen to play them at least once a month. I have to whenever a guest comes over and wants to hear some "real metal", BENEDICTUM is as real as it gets. Now as far as this one goes, the opening title track will throw some older fans for a loop. Musically it's slightly Euro Progressive Metal save for Freeman's vocal prowess were she runs through her total range of screams, growls and singing. "At the Gates" adds some touches of melodic death metal (ironic?) to their repertoire plus Wells adds a face peeling solo. "Seer" falls back to the Euro Progressive Metal style and shows off how Freeman's vocal range can get operatic if she desires. She's just more powerful than prom dress wearing vamps. Songs like "Grind It". "The Shadowlands" and "Bang" are pure headbangin fun. "Prodigal Son" is a very epic metal track and at times has a DIO influence which is something that fans of BENEDICTUM have come to love and appreciate. Once again credit Wells' guitar work on here since he lays down some haunting atmosphere to his solo early on then rips your head off with a lightning fast lick, finally ending with a melodic fluid flourish.
In order for traditional metal to capture one's attention and hold it depends on variety. Dominion has plenty of that if you contrast the sinister sounding "Dark Heart" with Freeman weaving in little girl sounding vocals amidst her powerful chops. The next portion comes in the slightly acoustic ballad "Sanctuary" which showcases Freeman's ability to be soulful as well as powerful in her vocal performance. She's not just one of the best female vocalists in metal today, she's one of the best vocalists period. Yes I'm bias ever since I discovered them in the pages of Classic Rock magazine years ago. Then I heard Uncreation and decided this will be one of my favorite bands for now on. With this new one my early prediction years ago is still true. Oh yeah about that cover song, well before they've done two Dio era SABBATH cuts (on Uncreation) then did ACCEPT and RAINBOW on their last one. On here it's RUSH ala "Overture/The Temples of Syrinx" and all I gotta say is holy shit! Sure I've heard bands cover RUSH before and it's always "Working Man". But BENEDICTUM shows off why they are incredible by tackling a song from 2112 which is in my not so humble opinion RUSH's best album ever and they nail it. I can just imagine crowds going nuts when they do this as an encore. Dominion is simply one of the best releases for 2011. That's not hyperbole either true believers in Metal, it's a fact.
FORESKIN - BITP (demo) Self Released Genre: Punk/Thrash Rating: 3/5
I give this band points for just being a Punk Thrash band from Pakistan. I'm sure it's not easy for them. Now this is a demo and sports the horrible sound quality which was once the mainstay for 80's era bands. What's that out of tune and annoying tapping sound in the opener "The Cuntess Commands Thee" as well as on the title cut? Was this recorded with a boom box? All of the songs on here were recorded at different sessions and yeah it shows. But beyond what's put forth on here FORESKIN show that type of promise that should award them if they were to get a proper recording. The forty seconds of "Raid the Stage" will have some old punks wondering if it's a unearthed Punk Rock cut from some new volume of Killed By Death. "Attack Of the Radioactive Posers" would've been the flipside if this was a 7"er. Sadly though it suffers horribly in sound quality which is too bad because it's a decent song. The earlier mention intro "The Cuntess Commands Thee", despite the tapping, has a great thrash riff as if Gary Holt of EXODUS was playing it. Hey guys make it a real song. The title cut and "Kill the Principal" both sound like West Coast Hardcore circa 1985, that's the low fi production giving it some street cred. This is their third demo so will some kind soul at a label help em out?
ORCHID - Capricorn CD Doom Dealer/The Church Within Records Genre: Doom Rating: 5/5
ORCHID Bloody ORCHID? Right now there's hundreds of guys in SABBATH cover bands scratching their heads and asking themselves "Fuck why didn't we think of this". For those of you who've been blasting this band's Through the Devil's Doorway CDEP for over a year now, I was listening to it again today, the four piece from California are still knee deep in everything 70's era SABBATH. Capricorn, their debut full length, does show some progression from their almighty four song release. How much you ask? Well imagine you're a musician locked in a room for a month with the first six Ozzy era SABBATH LPs being piped in over the sound system twenty four hours a day. What would your music writing be like afterwards? Yeah that's Capricorn essentially without the Geezer and Ward contributions. It's actually funny that a band like this so unashamed in their paint by the numbers influence actually sounds great but has not received any backlash from critics. Actually I think unashamed is putting it lightly especially with song titles like "Eyes Behind the Wall", "Black Funeral", "Masters of It All" and "Electric Father".
I think it's because of Dio's death that the once jaded people are now giving Ozzy a reprieve, not him personally of course but the Ozzy era SABBATH, which has been played to death. In this band's case Theo Mindell sounds like a young Ozzy and Mark Thomas Baker plays like Tony Iomni was his personal guitar teacher. Anyone who says ORCHID are something more than SABBATH clones is a liar. They are clones, copycats and thieves but it just sounds so good. The best part about listening to this is guessing what SABBATH songs the riffs were lifted from. I'll spoil the fun by saying "Black Funeral" is "Behind the Wall of Sleep" and "Down into the Earth" is "Into the Void", cowbell included. The rest I know as well but you'll have to figure it out on your own. It's just fuckin amazing and you really don't wanna pull out the originals. The only difference between this new one and their CDEP is that the songs on here, nine of em, are longer.
The title cut is the shortest song on here and actually the only bad cut. It's weak because for the first time the band strays from the template. The band even adds some mid-song keyboard enhanced interludes on a few cuts. These guys have no scruples what so ever. They even stole their logo style from THE SWORD. You know those Texans are pissed, pissed I tell you because with this full length ORCHID have moved beyond any hipster tags. THE SWORD have three releases out and they're still covered with that hipster tag like it was leprosy. OK now to ORCHID's credit there are times during the longer cuts where they do show some fresh ideas but it's so few that it doesn't ruin the experience. Capricorn is going to be on my year end favorite's list. Nuff Said.
MACABRE - Grim Scary Tales CD Decomposed Records Genre: Murder Metal Rating: 5/5
I have to thank my good friend Big Jon for turning me onto the "kings of murder metal" not too long ago. He presented me with two of the band's releases, Dahmer from 2000 and Murder Metal from 2003. From there I picked up the band's Sinister Slaughter from 1993 and the world has never been the same since. This Chicago band's return here after eight years is a concept album (what else?) with fourteen tracks based around the exploits of the world's most nefarious killers albeit not all household names. I guess that depends on your household. So if you knew that Gilles de Rais was a French aristocrat who cut up children and then masturbated on the body parts, as described in the song "The Black Knight", then you know your legendary sick fucks. Of course MACABRE's way of telling the story on here with an almost Folk Metal style and twisted sing-song vocals really pushes the laughter button. Only MACABRE can make the life of 16th century werewolf and cannibal Gilles Garnier into a metal nursery rhyme "The Big Bad Wolf". Some people might get turned off by the band's use age of more clean vocals then before plus there's a lot of country and folk elements thrown in as opposed to the straight grinding death aka: murder metal from their previous works. Don't disparage since there's a spot on cover of VENOM's "Countess Bathory". There's a few more metal influenced cuts but in all honesty I like the whacked out material because it fits the twisted mindset of the characters.
GHOST TOWER - Curse of the Black Blood CD Evil Coven Records Genre: NWOBHM/Traditional Metal Rating:
Another late December 2010 release which I believe if remastered and re-released this year would have "some people" in modern doom circles screaming "it's the new DEVIL'S BLOOD!" The similarities between the two bands are not uncanny. GHOST TOWER who hail from that hotbed of hip activity, Bellevue, Nebraska (yes I'm joking. I'm sure it's a fine place) play traditional 70's metal with a female vocalist and all of their songs deal in dark fantasy realms of retro. Singer Ameven aka: Evilyn Malus is definitely a throwback to yesteryear with a vocal style that's forceful at times and haunting in others. Musically there's some psychedelic forces tossed in slightly which will give to JEX THOTH comparisons. It's amazing how all these types of bands are popping out of nowhere suddenly. It's as if there was a bandwagon to jump on.
NERO ORDER - The Tower CD Self Released Genre: Doom Rating: 1/5
The debut full length by this San Francisco four piece had some promise but then fell down the hole of collective 90's rehash which "some people" are calling doom of late. This actually came out last year and oh lucky me I'm getting it now. You know there are a variety of reasons why some bands release their stuff on their own. One of them is lack of label interest. I'm not gonna say that's the case here but in all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if some label interns were found dead with self inflicted bullet wounds to the head while this dink was still in the stereo. NERO ORDER are not depressive doom but the four cuts on here are depressive. The band has some traditional doom sounds going for them but the lion's share of their music, four long songs, lies in the realm of nineties post rock abandon. The band's vocalist wails like he's suffering from post graduate drama queen depression. "Six years of college and I can only get a job at the mall, waaaaah!" He might wanna loosen up that diaper. There were hundreds of these types of bands back in the day. Just go to any used record store in a college town and pick up a dozen or more 7"ers for a few bucks. Get em now before they're set off to Africa with all those clothes from Goodwill. You might even find an album or two since this shit was hip for a few years in the late nineties. I'll admit there were a few cool bands I liked in the day but as far as NERO ORDER goes, they're ape-ing the crappy ones. While I was listening to the final cut (how ironic) on here I was hoping for the sound of four gunshots.
EXCAVATED - Ad Libitum CD Self Released Genre: Death Metal Rating: 3/5
I can't wait to read an interview with these guys because I wanna know why a band who started out in 1997 puts their first full length out in 2011. I'm sure they have a decent explanation. EXCAVATED hail from Belgium and their brand of death metal is mid to late 1990's sounding. I was boucing off the guard rails of Old School Death Metal's memory lane last year so this year I'm being cautious. Ad Libitum is a long release coming in a few minutes short of an hour's worth of brutality. No they are not "brootal", actually EXCAVATED take their cues from the great DM bands of the 90s. Technically there's thirteen tracks on here but ones like "Deep in Throat", "Enemies of God" and the closer "Leaving Jesusalem" are short bursts in order to fill time. Of the actual numbers on here there's some cool standouts like the nine minute plus The Red Rebirth which is a death/doom beast. Another long cut "Neglected to Oblivion" follows suit and to me they're the best of the bunch. Listening to songs like "Enslaved in Hatred" and "Blinded by Faith" I'm reminded of VADER or even IMMOLATION as far as the song structures go. There's no reinvention or progression but at least they can fill a dink up with actual songs that will leave a bite mark or two.
PUTRESCENT SECRETANCY - Reconfiguration of Reality CD Self Released Genre: Death Metal Rating: 2/5
What you have here is fairly technical death metal from a Florida act. I'll even go so far to say it's average but then they are just starting out. Ten cuts filled with enough guitar theatrics and hoarse screams (Deathcore?) that you'll be scratching your head wondering where are the songs, as in actual songs. One cut "Lack of Oxygen" sounded like a juggalo got behind the microphone to spew some rap three quarters into the song. OK maybe that was an effect which went along with the song's meaning but still I had to go back a few times to hear if it was a defect. Hell why stop at your head when you could scratch your ass with one hand and drag your other one across the floor. I'm guessing along with knuckle dragging there's spinning kicks and those other Deathcore dance moves as part of their shows. They're probably insulted by that line because they're so "technical". Yes as far as talent goes they've got it but the cuts are indulgences in excess.
WIDOWLAND - Widowland CD Self Released Genre: Stoner Rock Rating: 0/5
Imagine SAINT VITUS (ok that's a stretch) without Wino behind the mic but instead has an Indie Rock f****t who whines like a baby. This is a three piece "act" from Saint Petersburg, Russia but they could just as well come from Athens, Georgia or Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This guy's voice is fuckin horrible. He (that's questionable) has that nasal whine of a voice which was exclusive to Indie Rock shit bands across the "fruited" plains back in the 1990s. You wanna punch the guy in the nose just to help him out. Their music is generic stoner rock which makes THE SWORD sound original. If I ever read one sentence written about this band that's favorable then that person's credibility is garbage. Do you understand me? It's fuckin garbage because you would expose yourself as a liar, a pretentious phony and a pussy. I could go out in my back yard and find a rock that knows more about stoner doom than YOU! This release is boring drawn out rehash of material from the past bands. It's cut and paste by the numbers with a ball less geek on vocals. Even the cover artwork is pretentious bullshit. Fuck You!
ZERSTORER - Panzerfaust Justice CD Ashen Productions Genre: Black Metal Rating: 4/5
It's only Febuary and my stereo has been overwelmed with so much "kvlt" sounding German Black Metal that I believe a blitzkrieg is upon us. Break out the Kaiser helmets and bullet belts because we're in for some bazooka justice. What we have here is some blackened punk/crust with DARKTHRONE and MARDUK along for the ride. ZERSTORER hail from Germany and are winners of the song title of the month with "Goatworship Kommando". I envision t-shirts with that song title as a logo, certainly a must have for yours truly.That's just one of many great cuts on here. "Sociopathic Killer" could've been the theme music for movie, Dead Snow. "Of War, Hate, Eternal Death" adds some thrash and hesher vocals to the onslaught. Panzerfaust Justice is their second full length. Their first was the ironically titled Declaration of War. That makes this the war or at least a thirty five minute battle that alternates in speeds. Their name translates into English as Destroyer, need I say more? They're not going to win over any snobs but they will run over them. You need to keep those tank treads lubricated with the blood and guts of your enemies. All I've gotta say is taste this German steel, fuck face.
BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEP - Dark as Light CD Catch the Soap Genre: Doom/Drone/Psych Rating: 3/5
This is what I usually call Sunday morning music. Every once in a while I'll pull out a CD of similar style and play it while getting ready for the day. It's good for the senses since its instrumental Doom, there's no emotions involved and it still scares away the unwanted. Yes it's true that extreme music can be easy listening without being pretentious. Strangely enough BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEP hail from Athens, Greece a place not known for the simplistic. This three piece (guitar, bass and drums) plays non technical experimental jam band style psych doom. They're not about stoner jams but instead put forth a peaceful atmosphere with four songs all lasting over 10 minutes in length. I look at them as a cross between OM, PELICAN and a 'neur-isis band" to be named later. I like the way these guys keep things steady without the labyrinthine style arrangements. The songs start out simple and slowly build up an atmosphere that is repetitive to the climatic end. If you are jazz intolerant then you won't find this appealing since the band, especially the style of drumming, run that gambit. In all honesty I just can't imagine these sounds echoing off the ancient stone structures of their homeland. On the other hand I can hear this coming out of the windows of some farmhouse down a country road in my state.
NEURAXIS - Asylon CD Prosthetic Records Genre: Tech Death Metal Rating: 4/5
Welcome to the wonderful world of regional metal genres. Florida has their Death Metal, San Francisco has Thrash and of course New Orleans has the Sludge. The list could go on if I included Europe but I'll stick with North America for this one. As far as Montreal, Quebec goes they've got the title when it comes to Technical Death Metal. Although I find a lot of their musical exports to be headache inducing, NEURAXIS are exceptions to the rule. They're sound is more melodic compared to the jazzy, progressive and over the top tech death formula used by their peers. I've always found them to be the underdogs of their scene since they've been around for some fifteen years with only six full lengths to their credit. Their main problem has always been keeping a consistent line-up. To say they haven't had hurdles to jump is an understatement and their most recent one has been for fans to accept vocalist Alex LeBlanc the latest in a revolving door of band members.
LeBlanc replaced Ian Campbell in 2006 which was not an easy feat since Campbell was part of the magic behind the band's 2005 breakout release Trilateral Progression. LeBlanc had to cut his teeth with the band's 2007 live album Live Progression and then his studio debut came in 2008 with The Thin Line Between which was a decent release. Asylon marks a point where he is totally comfortable although the revolving band member door has given NEURAXIS a new rhythm section in drummer Olivier Beaudoin and Olivier Pinard on bass. It seems keeping up with the names of this band's members is as tough as keeping up with the roster of your favorite sports team year after year. Whatever the case it has brought on some true magic to the formula. From the opening moments of "Reptile" you get the feeling of entering an asylum which the title literally means and is kinda ironic considering this band's history. Once the band really kicks into gear you notice a stylistic change has come about. It just adds to the insanity which is this band's unofficial trademark.
The Thin Line Between was a far more brutal sounding tech death release which was typical of the many other acts from the band's homeland. That's one of the reasons I thought it was decent as far as quality but I was no huge fan of it. On here they've reverted back to the more melodic and diverse sound which was indicative of Trilateral Progression. Asylon is a much better listening experience which draws you into the environment instead of assaulting your senses. Cuts like "Savior and Destroyer", "By the Flesh" and "Trauma" display a cohesive balance between the extreme and melodic arrangements. If you have ADD then you'll find Asylon disappointing but anyone else will enjoy the staccato flourishes which intermingle with the melodic passages. LeBlanc's guttural bark vocals are in tune with the style performed here. The band has found that niche between the worlds of tech and mello death which to me is pure enjoyment since the formulas of both genres simply bore the fuck out of me. In the final analysis NEURAXIS shows there's a method to their madness.
KORPIKLAANI - Ukon Wacka CD Nuclear Blast Records Genre: Folk Metal Rating: 5/5
Everyone's favorite Finnish folk-metal band returns after a two year hiatus with their most rockin humppa release since 2007's Tervaskanto. Normally, at least from 2005 to 2009, the band has kept a tight release schedule by putting out five full lengths in a row. This is their seventh overall and obviously they took some time with Ukon Wacka. Whether it had anything to do with it's greatness I don't know. I'll tell ya this, after I played the first track I skipped all the way to the bonus track (digipak version) which was a cover of MOTORHEAD's "Iron Fist". Wouldn't you? Anyway KORPIKLAANI has been using it recently in their live set as an encore. They do a good job with it on here adding their own style, a fiddle solo. As far as the obligatory "booze" songs there's two on here. The first, "Tuoppi Oltta" (A Pint of Beer) is as rocking as previous crowd pleasers like "Beer Beer" and "Happy Little Boozer". Their second addition is "Tequila" and no it's not a cover, actually it's kinda weird for a Finnish band trying to add some Mexican flavor. You can all vote on what their next choice booze song will be next time around. As far as the other cuts on here it's as if the band went back to their raw roots and yet the non-metal instruments (flute, fiddle and accordion) sound full and clear. Opener "Louhen Yhdeksäs Poika" (Louhi's Ninth Son) will have long time fans stepping back in astonishment and it continues from there. The release 's lone instrumental "Vaarinpolkka" (Grandfather's Polka) is a rousing danceable number featuring an accordion solo. The rest is metal riff party music for a good time. All the songs this time around are sung in their native tongue with vocalist/guitarist Jonne Jarvela's gruff singing style adding to the greatness. KORPIKLAANI might not be the most accessible band in the metal realm. But for their fans this new one will have them bouncing off walls with glee.
FEN - Epoch CD Code666 Genre: Post Black Metal Rating: 1/5
Back in 2009 this English band put out a fairly decent release, The Malediction Fields. It had a good balance between the metal and the depressive shoegazer elements. So now we have this new one and of course it's horrible. I want to point out that adding some harsh vocals over an air fart keyboard soundtrack with some jangly guitars tossed in is not metal. I'm sure some Indie Rock clowns on the Internet will love this one which they should because it's safe, sedate and totally boring. The sad reality of post black metal is that once you start injecting some shoegazer stuff into your sound. The next thing you know you're sleeping with the COCTEAU TWINS. In this band's case, they're ready for the wedding. I'll leave it at that before I say something negative about Epoch. Now if you excuse me while I go out to find someone who uses the term "grey metal" and beat em profusely.
DEICIDE - To Hell With God CD Century Media Records Genre: Death Metal Rating: 5/5
Even though he's been doing this for over twenty years Glen Benton, vocalist, bassist and scourge of Christian groups and animal rights wackos, will not shy away from tossing some controversy into every new release. That would be like retirement and after a few listens to this one on new label Century Media you get the impression of renewed fire down below. Benton is still in good company with the same line-up from 2006's The Stench of Redemption with Ralph Santolla and Jack Owen on guitars along with longtime original drummer Steve Asheim. The opening track on here is (guess?) yep it's the title track. That's going to scare off the losers who call DEICIDE predictable and hold up the band's classic debut and Legion as benchmarks never to be revisited although they wish they would. What the losers, who whine like Catholic school boys after being butt raped by Father Schlong, don't comprehend is that the past cannot be recreated. That's a totally different line-up as well as a creative hunger. 2006 marked a new beginning for the band and they proved to be a still formidable Death Metal institution. I do believe that 2008's Till Death Do Us Part was something of a misstep even though it was decent. To Hell With God is the great release that this DEICIDE line-up was destined to create.
To Hell With God has everything you fuckin want from this band which makes it an achievement. Benton is still USDM's voice of hate, the leads on here are fluid as well as technical plus chunky riffs, Asheim's drum work is consistent with previous works and the thing clocks in at a little over thirty five minutes. As far as the songs go I'd say "Servant of the Enemy" feels like a back hand slap to your face (by Satan). "Into the Darkness You Go" is a head banging hate-fuck. "Witness of Death" and "Angels in Hell" remind ya of days gone by in fact the whole of this release is a reminder of their early days without going there. Benton and company are simply back to their evil mean and nasty selves. It's definitely recommended if you like true death metal and killing god.
NEGATIVE PLANE - Stained Glass Revelations CD Ajna Offensive Genre: Black Metal Rating: 5/5
This is my first time listening to this three piece from New York although this is their second full length. Their debut, Et in Saecula Saeculorum, came out in 2006 also on Ajna Offensive. After listening to this once I knew I'd have to get their first one as well. What I like about NEGATIVE PLANE is that they incorporate early first wave black metal, proto-thrash and classic doom to create their sound. In this era of experimentation and stretching of boundaries it's good to hear a band keep things in the Metal extreme. Stained Glass Revelations is haunting as well as brutal to the senses. The opening instrumental, "The Fall" welcomes you like a Gothic version of something Quorthorn would have come up with given the chance. It's very nocturnal, very eerie and an incredible way to open this release up. You get this feeling that you're standing in front of two massive doors in some dark subterranean realm and they are opening. What lurks inside is this BATHORY/POSSESSED/HELLHAMMER hybrid. "Lamentations & Ashes" bursts out like it wants to rip you to shreds. The low fi production on here makes it just the more menacing and sounding like it came out in the late 1980's.
"Angels Veiled of Bone" opens with tremolo picked (or tapped?) surf style intro as if the VENTURES put out a Gothic Doom covers album, after a minute we're into the plodding filth. Even with the obvious influences from the past, guitarist/vocalist Nameless Void is not beholden to the mere simplicity when it comes to guitar talent and style. Amidst these long epics of dark atmospheric fog he opens up a bag of six string skills that would have your average Tech Death guitar god bow in defeat. As far as vocals go his throat must be a burning cauldron. Drummer Bestial Devotion also adds backing vocals which at times are almost medieval choir-like. As far as his drumming goes it's adequate and he doesn't use triggers. D.G.'s bass playing is barely audible most of the time but we are talking Black Metal here folks. Most of the audio onslaught comes from Nameless Void' vocals and guitar work and most of the tracks on here are long dark passages with some exceptions. "The Third Hour" is a short Bach inspired piano piece which cements the Gothic tone of Doom to this release a third of the way in. "Charnel Spirit" is a little over a minute's worth of dark guitar ambiance and makes a great segue for "All Souls" which is Quorthorn worship with staccatos running amok. The other short piece is the church organ opening, another Bach inspired piece, to the epic title track.
Stained Glass Revelations is a blackened doom and gloom composition. It's black metal meets the film score for a 1960's Edgar Allan Poe inspired AIP horror flick by Roger Corman. It's the type of release that fans of black metal (the real ones and not hipsters) will immerse themselves into. It conjures up a dark and foreboding atmosphere with a Gothic dose of grandiose with the defining influences being strictly in the metal realm. I'm sure there will be those in the clueless section that will exalt some modern day progressiveness about Stained Glass Revelations. They will be wrong since this sounds like it came from some long forgotten catacomb underneath the cathedral of dread. Only those with the willingness to entertain the thought of actually dying after listening to this need apply.
ABYSMAL DAWN - Leveling the Plane of Existence CD Relapse Records Genre: Death Metal Rating: 5/5
I could have easily just cut & paste the promo material write up for this and used it as a review. Don't laugh, I've seen press releases posted as reviews on other music blogs, usually on the hipster sites ha ha. Fortunately I have some standards, what little they are of course. Besides I like ABYSMAL DAWN ever since I reviewed their 2008 release Programmed to Consume, also on Relapse. This is their third full length and as I suspected it's just as good as it's predecessor. What makes ABYSMAL DAWN so good in my not so humble opinion is that they can write decent songs that you can get in to. They throw a lot of intensity at you plus wild speed change ups and still carry some melody. They are one of the better US Death Metal bands around who straddle the fence between old school and tech death.
There's a few differences this time around. Chris Elliot, guitar/vocals, has changed his vocal style a bit. Along with his formidable growls he adds some higher pitched screams which still sounds sick. They have a new drummer in Scott Fuller. The guest guitarists on here are also surprising. Moyses Kolesne of KRISIUN adds a sick solo to “Pixilated Ignorance" which is one of the best cuts on here. It has a machine gun like pace that infiltrates your mind like a sickness. Also Kragen Lum of HEATHEN plays on two cuts, the first cut, after the opening intro, “In Service Of Time” and on “Rapture Renowned.” There's a few down moments on Leveling the Plane of Existence but not enough to bother the whole. The production is rough which gives it that old school feel. Erik Rutan of HATE ETERNAL did the mixing on this so you know it's going to be brutal and not bullshit.
HAARP - The Filth CD Housecore Records Genre: Sludge Rating: 4/5
I saw HAARP last year when they were on tour with EYEHATEGOD. To say I was impressed with their performance is an understatement. The best part of their set came when singer Shaun Emmons jumped off the stage and was literally screaming the lyrics in people's faces. I talked with Shaun afterwards at his band's merch table and thanked him for illustrating what "in yer face" really means. I should have bought their EP that night but I was watching the budget, beer budget that is. Anyway this is the New Orleans band's debut full length release on Phil Anselmo's label, he also produced it. In a time when Sludge/Stoner Rock has become the new Indie Rock with hipster losers jumping on this bus faster then any previous superficial musical genre I've seen in a long time. It's good to hear something by a band in this genre that's real and has some credibility.
Musically HAARP are not reinventing the wheel here. They're NOLA Sludge which everyone can identify with. What makes them stand apart from the phonies is their attention to detail when it comes to the pain and frustration sweating from their material. Shaun Emmons is, simply put, an incredible vocalist. When he lets loose with a gut wrenching growl it lasts longer then that battery bunny. You listen to his voice and wonder if he was raised by alligators. The guy is a maniac and he can whip out a higher pitched scream as well. Then comes the music on here which is not completely paint by the numbers sludge in fact they color outside the lines quite a few times on here. They add some psych damage (not stoner) on a few cuts plus a lot of traditional Doom to the mix. Guitarist Grant Tom has this keen sense of keeping the brutality dynamic steady. The Filth is not a release for hipsters to groove to. It's long drawn out punishment obviously because most of the songs on here are long drawn out affairs.
SEVENTH VOID - Heaven is Gone CD Napalm Records Genre: Modern Rock Rating: 0/5
No, Pete Steele is gone and this is a re-package from 2009 with a different cover. Oh yeah it sucks balls. The original version of this came out on Big Vin Records which is Vinnie Paul's label, I'm sure you've all heard of it. Napalm has re-released it with the doom looking cover and it's being marketed as Doom. It's not. SEVENTH VOID was originally the side project of Johnny Kelly and Kenny Hickey of TYPE O NEGATIVE. They got together with two other guys a few years ago to do this thing on the side while their day job was on hiatus and Pete Steele was doing whatever Pete Steele did when not recording or touring. So when Pete Steele took a dirtnap Kelly and Hickey at least had this band and now they're trying to get it going. Yeah technically it's still their debut albeit a three year old one. Secondly this is more in line with the likes of ALICE IN CHAINS and later era SOUNDGARDEN. If you were expecting some post TYPE O NEGATIVE type of thing, you're shit out of luck. Go listen to newer TIAMAT for that. SEVENTH VOID are full on mainstream pop metal or what I like to call cable channel metal. While they borrow a few SABBATH riffs it's still not Doom and may boils cover the body of the first faceless pussy on the Internet who calls it such. What the Fuck is going on with all of these indie rock losers claiming every fuckin thing they like is now Doom? I actually read where some indie rock loser called NIRVANA's first album, Bleach, a Doom record. I wish I knew where that fucker lived because I'd kick the living shit out of him just for ignorance alone. As for this well Pete's probably laughing at ya from the grave and I'm not even a TYPE O fan. This is music for losers!
CANDLEMASS - Don't Fear the Reaper 12" EP High Roller Records Genre: Doom Rating: 4/5
There is no cowbell on here but what you do get is the CANDLEMASS magic on two covers. The first is a slowed down version of the BLUE OYSTER CULT classic. Another Swedish band, WOLF, covered this song years ago albeit in a NWOBHM fashion. This version here is pure Doom and a damm fine guitar solo by Lars Johansson. Robert Lowe's vocal on here is haunting to say the least. The flip has "All Along the Watchtower" which is a Dylan song but only the Hendrix version ever got airplay and it became known as his song. CANDLEMASS take it to a NWOBHM level rocking it out. Once again great vocal by Lowe and Johansson adds a great guitar solo. Yeah you can't take away from the originals but the band does make these songs their own on here. Both cuts are excellent and a must for CANDLEMASS fans. If you can't get a hold of a copy of this one don't worry. I'm sure some future CANDLEMASS release will have these two cuts added on in some special edition digipak release.
ISKALD - The Sun I Carried Alone CD Indie Recordings Genre: Black Metal Rating: 5/5
In English the band's name means ice cold and that's exactly what I thought of their 2008 release Revelations of Reckoning Day. It was one of my favorite black metal releases that year and for the past two I thought it was the last I'd hear from them. Well ISKALD is back and on The Sun I Carried Alone the ice has melted slightly. I'm not saying the band has lighted up actually they're more vicious sounding then ever. Technically the band's sound is melodic BM but with various staccato riffs and varying the degrees of melody which give it that strong brutal feeling. A perfect example is on the actual opening track, "Under the Black Moon". There is an ambient symphonic style opener but we'll dispense with that one. "Under the Black Moon" is a fierce cut which bursts out of the wilderness and into your face. With the intensity of the music plus harsh vocals you scream "Norwegian Black Metal" because that's what it is. They're also a two piece with Simon Larson on guitar, bass, vocals and the hardly heard keyboards plus there's Aage Andre Krekling on drums and vocals.
The band dials back a bit on the speed as the release moves along but not the intensity. "Forged by Wolves" draws on epic power that was once reserved for Symphonic Black Metal. I once saw a reviewer years ago compare ISKALD with early DIMMU BORGIR. I was like what's the guy trying to do, scare people away? ISKALD are by no means original sounding and do have influences which span most of the Norwegian BM scene. What they do is channel the best aspects of it, run it through with great production values and modern touches to create this ferocious sound. "I Lys av Morket" has a little of IMMORTAL's influence running through it's melodies and the added thrash element. The title cut alternates from face ripping speed to bludgeoning slabs of riff power. "Rigor Mortis" is the big surprise track with it's frost coated doom atmosphere taking the place of all other effects on here. Add to that the long and epic "Burning Bridges" which closes this masterpiece. This is only the band's third full length and it's also their best.
BURZUM - Fallen CD Byelobog Productions Genre: Black Metal Rating: 3/5
Some times things just work themselves out the way you want them to. Case in point, last year after the release of Belus, Varg Vikernes first post prison BURZUM release, I read a few surprised views of it. It seemed like some people believed in the pre-release rumors or conjured up ones of their own imagination and were disappointed that they came out to be untrue. I understand no one believes press releases, I don't put much stock in them, but still the pre-release info all turned out to be true. Some of the better rumors were that Varg was going to do House/Techno music, another one was that he had given up on Metal and was going totally ambient. Obviously none of that was the case and Belus was a pretty good release, although some people still expected more. I use the words "some people" but I should be more specific and say people who are clueless about BURZUM. I mean people who learned everything they know about Varg Vikernes from the book, Lords of Chaos. Sure long time fans of Vikernes were not overly blown away by Belus but still they had good things to say about it. It was those "other people" who were totally disappointed. They were expecting hell fire, church burnings, white supremacism and scene drama. They were expecting anything that could be construed as faux evil in order for them say "hey I got the new BURZUM CD, touch me I'm hip."
Well if the style crowd hated Belus, and are now running to the next hip culture flavor of the month artist, then they would certainly despise Fallen. As for me well after half a dozen plays I say it lives up to all of the pre-release info which was put out a few weeks ago by Plastic Head the distributor of Byelobog Productions. After the obligatory ambient intro "Fra Verdenstreet" the meat of Fallen gets busy with "Jeg Faller". The pre-release press mentioned that Fallen was some what inspired by Varg's early BURZUM material. After listening to "Jeg Faller" you might want to re-define "inspired" as recycled riffs. After two minutes of frantic tremolo picking the melodic chorus kicks in which gives it that pagan folk Nordic feel. Afterwards Varg starts whispering around the repetitive riff with the chorus returning till the end then Black Metal Varg introduces himself but not long enough. "Valen" is what I'd call an epic track and once again sounding more like pagan folk than black metal. Varg utilizes everything in his singing style's bag whether it's clean vocals, his aged harsh rasp and the whispers. The song progresses along with a machine like quality riff for a little over nine minutes. In the past the thought of pulling out some match sticks while listening to BURZUM had a totally different meaning. Nowadays you need them to hold your eyelids open. Thankfully the next cut "Vanvidd" does conjure up memories of old school Varg with some raw BM riffs that sound as if they could have come from Det Som Engan Var.
"Enhver Til Sitt" is another great track which carries this eerie doom sound. It's not depressive or scary but it just has a haunting feel to it which unsettles especially if you were to listen to it in the dark. This song represents the different dynamic from the more progressive sounding Belus. The vocals are harsh and sound vengeful with the added whispers foreboding. After listening to this I wanna hand Varg a Dr. Seuss book and see what he could do with it. It would probably turn a classroom of kids pale white with fear. I admit my sick twisted fantasies are worse then the music I listen to but what the hell. "Budstikken" sounds like something which could have appeared on Belus. It starts out rockin (Varg n Roll?) and then moves into a more ambient structure. The pattern repeats itself throughout but it's not boring at all. I chalk that up to the guitar tone of the strummed and picked riffs along with the variety of speeds. It's a great fuckin song which just holds you in it's grasp. The last cut "Til Hel Og Tilbake Igjen" is another ambient/experimental track with Varg as shaman percussionist/folk instrumentalist and ghostly voice from beyond. I found it to be a sad way to end it all since the momentum of the previous tracks was so forceful.
Fallen starts off slowly but a quarter of the way in is where the excitement starts and I kinda like that. It's not the type of release for the superficial hip or hot (topic) crowd. Instead it's perfect for anyone who has followed this man's music career, not the other exploits, and has watched the mild progression from raw black metal to an pagan musical artist who still holds some intrigue. Translate the lyrics on some of these songs and you'll find them to be his personal outlook transcended to the philosophical. I started this review by saying some times things just work themselves out the way you want them to. I personally can't stand the the thrill seeking throng of sheeple who have jumped onto the black metal bandwagon. It's one thing to get into some decent music and assimilate into the scene as a whole. The sheeple don't but instead try to re-shape it into their own superficial fantasy which they will later toss away once their fascination subsides. Obviously Fallen wasn't created to chase them away but it will facilitate their exit sooner than later. For the rest of us, this eighth full length from BURZUM illustrates that the creative musical journey of Varg Vikernes is going to be a long and interesting one. Fallen is not a great release overall but it does have some incredibly good tracks on it which fans will gravitate to.
