Before I end this month of April off I knew that some new video was needed. I haven't been keeping up with the vids. Anyway why SAINT VITUS? Well first off this footage was taken at The Summit in Denver, Colorado during their stint on the METALLIANCE Tour with HELMET, CROWBAR as well as a few others.
Saint Vitus "Born Too Late" Live in Denver, CO - March 29th, 2011
Other than it being a great performance but to the left side of the stage you'll see a guitar tech. That's an old friend of mine Chad. He's been doing the guitar tech thing for quite some time now and for a lot of big name bands. Years ago Chad was in a local band who I saw quite a few times. The band was called RISE and their days playing were back during Stoner Rock's last explosion aka: the late 90s. RISE were an instrumental band that did the SABBATH thing to the hilt and sludged it out a rat's ass. They tried to get a vocalist but that never worked out for em. They also had some label curiosity but that never went anywhere so RISE broke up. Yeah well so here's Wino and company with Chad, the guitar tech, doing his job. Enjoy.
PENTAGRAM - Last Rites CD Metal Blade Records Genre: Doom Rating: 3/5
I'm going to start this review by asking a question. When you saw that PENTAGRAM had a brand new release coming out your first thought was? A) Well I'm a Pentafanatic and if Griffin is back in the line-up then this is going to be a long awaited gem. B) Well I'm a Pentafanatic and thought that line-up with Russ Strahan on guitar plus the UNORTHODOX rhythm section was fairly decent live but since Bobby gave em the boot who knows? Hopefully he gets back with Griffin. C) Well I wouldn't call myself a Pentafanatic but I like their early stuff so I'm curious to see if it's cool. or D) Oh yeah, cool, this is the band with the old guy singing with the weird eyes. Their last album is still on my turntable.
Now if you answered "D" then go away. All others and even you people laughing please continue. But just for the record I would've answered "C".
Even your most hardcore Pentafanatic will admit that 1994's Be Forwarned was the band's last high note as far as greatness goes. The three full lengths since then all had some decent moments but the fact is that the band was always at their creative peak when Bobby Liebling and Victor Griffin (PLACE OF SKULLS) were together. Well now it's a reality plus along for the ride is fellow PLACE OF SKULLS' bassist Greg Turley and new drummer Albert Born. Last Rites doesn't seem like the greatest of titles considering how well some of the songs burst from your speakers with huge energy. Strangely enough all the songs on here were written years ago and two were re-recorded. So if you're wondering how well this release sounds "authentic" like from years ago, ah well technically it is. There's plenty of up front rockers on Last Rites for all those with less than a four minute attention span. I considered the more mellow numbers worthy contenders to grip your attention. As far as Bobby Liebling goes, the man sounds pretty damm good on here, considering. He might not have hit it with the opener "Treat Me right" but on "Call the Man" (first recorded back in the 70s) Liebling sounds pretty damm forceful. I'm sure pulling out 1973's "Walk in the Blue Light" will have Pentafanatics nodding in agreement where as newbees will be nodding out. I think Liebling holds out his best vocal performances on "Into the Ground" and "8".
As far as Griffin is concerned I'm sure other people will cite his guitar prowess, which on here is without a doubt top notch, as the reason for this release's greatness. Sure the man knows his doom riffs in and out but when he starts into a solo it's time to forget everything and let him shine. One of his greatest moments here is on "8" which is a completely dark doom cut in which Griffin weaves utter beauty throughout. Another song that will be a winner with fans of old school guitar noodling is "Windmills and Chimes". He even gets to break out a lead vocal on the STEPPENWOLF gone Doom, "American Dream". There's definitely shades of his other band in that one. Frankly I found Griffin's work on here better than on his last PLACE OF SKULLS' release. For anyone who remembers that review they'll understand. As for the rhythm section's job on Last Rites well they made it to the end at least. I think the bottom line here is that for all of you Pentafanatics the wait is over. I still think the title is all wrong. Maybe Redemption would've have been better considering. For all of you newbies I'd say start from the beginning and work your way up to this. You'll find the experience more enjoyable although Metal Blade is banking you won't.
MIASMAL - Self Titled CD Dark Descent Records Genre: Death Metal Rating: 5/5
To those of you going to MDF this year, here is a band you wanna place on your "not to miss" list. Yes I know how some people only go to check out the big names at fests and skip the unknowns because "well I never heard of em so I walked around to schmooze when they played". Well then you would be an idiot to go all the way to a fest and miss one of the best things to come out of Scandinavia in a while as far as cross pollinating of genres goes. MIASMAL are part of the new school of bands from Sweden who incorporate everything extreme (death, doom and crust but mostly death) within their sound. Call em old school Swedish death metal revisited or call it whatever the fuck you want because these guys rock like crazy people and are prepared for planetary annihilation. This is their debut full length and if you get this CD (instead of the eight song vinyl LP version co-released between Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records) then you also get the tracks from their 2008 demo and 7"er from 2010 which the good people at Dark Descent Records decided to tack on the end.
Over a year ago I read about this band, as well as many others, in a piece about all these cool younger bands coming out of Sweden playing OSDM. Remember back in the late 80s when people were asking the question what was in the water over in Sweden (mainly Oslo and Stockholm) to give rise for all of those insanely extreme sounds? This is the result of weaning the children from that first generation on NIHILIST, DISMEMBER and CARNAGE demos plus some ANTI CIMEX bootlegs. Hell if this fucking dink doesn't rip your head off then you're already headless. As I'm typing that last sentence the song "Death Mask" is playing, how perfect. "Chronicles" finishes off with a riff bonanza that should be part of the death throes of the planet. The fact is that I pushed "play" two days ago and now I'm so addicted to this that if I found my livingroom full of friends getting ready for a intervention I'd kill them all. This release has the riffs and the rhythm section plus leads which will slice your throat like getting gorerotted by piano wire. The vocalist sounds like the bastard child of L.G. Petrov. Every damm song on here, including the extra tracks, will have you thrashing about like a maniac suffering from an epiletic fit, like on "We Will Live Forever". The next you're being crushed to pulp. Either way it's all worth it.
PALLBEARER - Carrying the Casket of Doom demo Self Released Genre: Doom Rating: 3/5
Personally I believe they should be carrying the casket of stoner rock/sludge metal since they've both become the new Indie Rock and have been played to death. What this Little Rock, Arkansas band does is treat you to some traditional doom which sounds as if they're transplants from the epicus doomicus shores of England, Spain or Sweden. Not that Arkansas isn't a place to invoke influences of misery in it's own right. Trust me I know since I once spent six months in Hot Springs, Arkansas which is simply a screaming nightmare away from Little Rock and what I still unkindly refer to as Hell Springs, Fuckansas. The heat is abysmal, state bird is a horsefly and the chiggers squat on your body until you dig em out of your skin. They've also got a creature down there called the Boggy Creek monster (yes the thing from the 70's movie) which is something like Bigfoot with a southern drawl. I personally considered the whole experience akin to turning the biblical Book of Revelations into a vacation spot. But enough of my torturous journeys in purgatory since this four piece act some how escaped the trappings of being another blues band (there were a lot of them in Arkansas) or worse another southern fried sludge outfit influenced from their NOLA neighbors. I give em points for that alone.
Carrying the Casket of Doom is just three cuts albeit all very good and long in the Euro tradition of Doom. Their vocalist/guitarist, Brett Campbell, sounds like Ozzy before all the coke and Sharon. The first cut, "The Legend", is a misery layered epic in the vein of MY DYING BRIDE. The riffs are crisp and sound like bacon frying in a pan. A very melancholy solo adds to the sadness. "Devoid of Redemption" is actually more upbeat like comparing the land speed of a turtle with a slug. The last cut is sort of a surprise since it's a cover of "Gloomy Sunday" which is an old number favored by jazz sirens. What PALLBEARER does is give it the Doom treatment to the hilt. After this I expect to see a run on Jazz albums from used record stores by bandwagon jumping wannabe doom musicians. Yeah stealing ideas and riffs from all those early obscure 70's bands was getting old now they've got another avenue to plunder. Well at least PALLBEARER was the first and I wouldn't call what they've done with "Gloomy Sunday" as plundering at all. In fact I think it's just a damm good idea. They'll be coming out with a proper full length this year on Shadow Kingdom Records, which is the label I would've picked if you asked me to guess. I'll be looking forward to that.
THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE - New Thing CD Throatruiner Records Genre: Post Rock/Experimental Rating: 3/5
OK so someone sends me this release to review and my first thought is that it's a prank. A prank review, what a cool concept I mean you can't prank phone call anymore. I thought it was fuckin genius, the prank idea that is, since while I'm listening to this I was expecting it to be one band. Strangely enough it sounds like there's three bands contributing songs on here. One's somewhat touching on Black Metal while another is spazz punk with some impromptu jazz touches and the third is a throwback to New York Post Rock era circa late 80s/early 90s. Did you know there's a revival of that sound in our midst? Seriously you can't swing a dead rat by it's tail in midtown Manhattan without slapping a hipster musician in the face who's listening to the Amphetamine Reptile catalog on his Ipod. And trying to find a way to incorporate that sound with something completely ridiculous or ironic and calling it fresh. Well in all honestly I don't think what is being spewed out of my speakers to be a prank. Secondly I wouldn't be surprised if THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE is being blared from an Ipod connected to the stereo system in some pseudo dank dive which sells cheap Pabst tall boys either.
Aside from their eclectic experimentation's with black metal and spazz, clearly evident in the opening throws of "The Horses Feed Their Birds", what the lion's share of New Thing consists of is New York Post Rock. In fact their foundation is clearly Page Hamilton (with or without corpse paint)worship and they fill in the gaps with whatever else is laying around like putty. Sticking to the Post Rock thing this band isn't bad unless they're on a double bill with PLANKS. In that case you might want to hang out at the bar numbing yourself on the hard stuff from the post Post Rock extravaganza. They've got the caustic vocal sound down plus the staccato riffs as well as eclectic time signatures. They even blacken it up a bit on "The Monument on Hendrick's Hill". I wouldn't be surprised to see em signed to Relapse by the Fall. Hell I wouldn't mind seeing this band play a show to an unsuspecting audience. It would be worth the price of admission just to watch a few heads in the crowd explode when they're cruising through their blackened Helmet-ness and then kick in that jazz punk surprise. Woa, look out for all those cheap Pabst tall boys falling from people's grips. Yeah well I am a sadist.
BODYFARM - Self Titled CDEP Abyss Records Genre: Death Metal Rating: 3/5
The opening intro "Into Battle" sounds like it was lifted from a bad 90's action flick which most likely went straight to DVD after a week in theatres. The rest of this CDEP by this new Dutch band is no nonsense Death Metal. It's a four song taste of a full length which is obviously on the way. Two cuts seem average where as "Heartraped" and "Slaves of War" fall into that classically exceptional category. The band sticks with that purist feel of the genre which many fans felt has been lost with all the "tech" and "core" overwhelming the scene. Personally I never thought the Dutch had anything to worry about especially when you have PESTILENCE and ASPHYX making great comebacks. Add to that the greatness of recent releases by GOD DETHRONED and of course Martin Van Drunen's other powerhouse HAIL OF BULLETS. I wouldn't place BODYFARM in league with those previously name dropped bands just yet or at least with the four cuts represented here. I'm gonna wait for their full length which I'm betting will be fairly kick ass.
STILLIFE - Requiem CD Self Released Genre: Power Metal Rating: 3/5
Great job guys with the total head fuck on the opening intro track. I'm hearing Gregorian chants along with what I though was my clock radio coming on surprisingly early plus I thought the christ police were outside my window about to crash through as if my place was the lair of a vampire. So I can definitely say that this Michigan band has a sense of humor. As far as their music goes they're card carrying members of the U.S. Power Metal club. I've been sent a lot of these types of band releases of late. Obviously some promoter has read my reviews where I castrate the Euro fairytale Power Metal contingent and now wants me to get my metal patriotism on. The irony is that it's kinda tough to wrap yourself in the U.S. Power Metal flag when the music is influenced by past NWOBHM greats. And speaking of fairytale quests, trying to find some info on this band was an exercise to boot. Sure I had their promo material write-up and their Myspace address but like some people I avoid Myspace (aka: Mydisgrace) like I avoid drama, men in white coats and women with cold sores. Getting back to the music at hand, Requiem is the full length debut by this Michigan four piece act who like to slip in and out of lapses of IRON MAIDEN and QUEENSRYCHE flirtations. I don't consider that to be a bad thing.
Now before you get up from your computer to see if the fat guy on VH-1's That Metal Show will have this as his "pick of the week" I'd like to point out a few things. First off this dink is a mix of good and I wanted to fall asleep during the progressive moments. Their take on Heavy Metal might be as original as the paint job on a Detroit cab but it could easily have them hailed as gods after they played a set at Wacken. I didn't read any statements in their promo material which referred to them being big in Germany but give em time. And if they can't do Wacken Open air then there's still the Up The Hammers Fest in Greece. OK my mistake since that already happened in March so they better stick with Wacken. They could open with "A Godless World" which gallops out at you with a not so subtle MAIDEN influence. There's nothing like watching 80,000 people banging their heads to your music. "12 Steps" is another MAIDEN influenced track which ends horribly on some air fart jazzy progressive note. That's my problem with some of this band's material. They devote too much time to the progressive jazz side of the spectrum. Pardon me but I left my ether cylinder in Europe. So many good metal bands have died because of that same flirtation. Big deal you read Guitar Player or Musician magazine in your spare time instead of Terrorizer. Cool for you dude but leave the magazine in the van before you come on stage to rock the fuckin house down.
ILSA - Tutti Il Colori Del Buio CD Dark Descent Records Genre: Just about everything Extreme Rating: 3/5
Washington, DC's ILSA is a rare breed of extreme music indeed. Why just settle down for one genre when you can inject yourselves with rabid dog vomit and play them all which is close to what it sounds like on this their sophomore release. Just for the sake of my lack of having rabid dog vomit on hand I'll just say they're angry, crusty and sludgey for the sake of this review. If you're wondering about the title it translates to All the Colors of the Dark which I found out is also the name of a 1970's exploitation flick. I'll have to add that to my movies to see before I go blind list. I'm betting it's one of those flicks which gets sent to your mailbox wrapped in brown paper. Getting back to the music at hand ILSA work with two distinct settings. Their sound is down tuned destruction and it's paired with a maniac on vocals. The nine tracks on here are insidious boobytraps to anyone foolish enough to walk into thinking something hip is going on. This band has a song on here called "Frostthrower". That's about as cool as firing a stage cannon which shoots tainted blood covered razorblades into a South By Southwest audience.
Unfortunately with their crusted down tuned dependency and monotoned vocals this release becomes a repetitive two trick pony which leaves you settling for distinctive tracks instead of a whole album's worth of excitement. Opener "Blood Rituals" is a monolithic beast which squeezes the life out of your speakers. "Butcher's Castle" is a low-fi D-Beat masterpiece with a rhythm so familiar that you'll not care that it's been recycled a hundred times over. You'll just adorn yourself with kitchen cutlery then start a pit with friends only stopping when everyone has slipped onto the floor from all the spilled blood. Then of course there's the previously mentioned "Frostthrower" which is pure sick twisted Death Doom genius. The utter rawness of the guitar sound on that cut alone is worth the price of admission. "Primrose Paths" is another winner as if CELTIC FROST, ENTOMBED and DISFEAR were all on a bus together as it ran over a cliff, painful screams included. I must admit that after blasting this a few times I need an aspirin or maybe something stronger. Also I find the late night silence a relief. I'm serious this is a extremely painful band to endure and I'm a war vet dammit. Hopefully this band will find a way to add a speck of variety next time around that's if they're not all arrested first for audio murder.
NOISEAR - Subvert the Dominant Paradigm CD Relapse Records Genre: Grindcore Rating: 2/5
Every once in a while I voluntarily subject myself to torture and no I don't get off from it. My torture consists of subjecting myself to reviewing a new grindcore release which is basically a collection of riffs, blastbeats and grunted/shrieked vocals which comprise over two dozen doses which are disguised as songs. Don't get me wrong because I like plenty of Grindcore. OK I take that back actually I like some Grindcore and the rest is lost to me. This New Mexico based act falls under the "lost" part but that doesn't necessarily mean it's crap. NOISEAR has actually been around for fourteen years and medically speaking they're most likely suffering in the throws of ADD. On this the band's debut full length for Relapse they cram thirty tracks together (sorry it's really twenty-nine and twenty minutes of noise aptly titled “Noiseruption”) tighter than a frogs ass (that's water tight).
NOISEAR is the brain child of the one and only Brian Fajardo who also has given his drum talents to such Grind giants which I also find annoying like PHOBIA, KILL THE CLIENT and GRIDLINK. Along for the ride he has guitarists Dorian Rainwater and Thomas Romero who on here sound like they're (choose one: tripping, drunk or dyslexic). The bass (what bass?) is played by Joe Tapia. Finally there's Alex Lucero who believe it or not is classified as a vocalist on here. Note to self; in the future before reviewing another release by an underground Grind band get so fuckin drunk that your senses are numb. With all joking aside (that's a lie) Subvert the Dominant Paradigm is for Grindcore purists who like bouncing off the walls of their bedrooms before they get their bedtime pill. Strangely enough I found myself enjoying this by the midway portion. Now pardon me while head to the kitchen for a tall glass of bourbon to calm my fuckin nerves.
VINTERSORG - Jordpuls CD Napalm Records Genre: Viking/Folk Metal ? Rating: 1/5
Cleanlyness is next boring in my book of hatred. Years ago when vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Andreas Hedlund started out on his blackened folk vision things were halfway decent with 1998's Till Fjalls and then Odemarkens Son from 1999. After all of that things went progressively down hill because he introduced progressive touches to the band, actually a duo with him and guitarist Mattias Marklund. If you've ever read any of my reviews of recent BORKANAGAR releases you would know I consider Hedlund the worst thing to ever happen to that band. I gave up on them last year and now VINTERSORG joins the club. I really don't care if you sprinkle black metal shrieks on a few songs like adding salt for flavor. If your music sounds like folkish pop progressive rock, even including a Roger Dean like cover art work, than I'm out the door running. The only reason this didn't end up a frisbee is from their two back catalog releases sitting in the CD racks. Of course this will win a Nordic Grammy or something close to that effect. I'm just not a happy camper.
INFESTUS - E x | I s t CD Debemur Morti Productions Genre: Black Metal Rating: 3/5
For those of you don't remember my review ramblings from the first Scumfeast Metal website I held the second INFESTUS release, Chroniken des Ablebens, in high regard. That was back in 2008 and now after a few years of silence INFESTUS mainman Andras is back although without vocalist Dagon, who I just discovered had left last year. Now it's clearly a one man one vision project. As the last full length was a concept album this one here is in a way as well if you consider it's the concept born of a mentally depraved mind. Musically E x | I s t leans into the avant garde tradition of Black Metal but not far enough that it goes over the edge and crashes into shoe gazing Indie Rock mimicry. This one sits somewhere within the bracketed realm of DRUDKH. The tones are depressive at some points like on the opener "Akoasma" which draws you into the mind of Andras. It's not a very nice place, mind you, but it's a short ambient number considering most of the songs on here are over the eight minute mark. Once inside you're trapped by barrages of blast beats, traditionally grim riffs which cascade over you and Andras's vocals which sound like those of a tortured beast that lives in the Black Forest of Germany.
At times E x | I s t seems to recycle on itself with sleep inducing track patterns repeating especially in the openings and closings of cuts. "Darkness Blazing in the Flame of Fire" starts out as a repeat of the opener except for the Spanish flavored acoustic guitar interlude. From beauty we turn to a world of darkness and the song becomes one of the releases more engaging tracks that contains an avalanche of sound that comes down upon the listener. Another standout track which breaks from the dark narcotic is "Mirror Mind Reality". The cut comes across as utterly shocking compared to the lion's share of E x | I s t with Andras actually sounding violent even choking on an utterance of a clean vocal wail. "Down Spiral Depersonification" is an early track where you believe things get rolling with a full on barrage of blast beats and traditionally grim riffs. There are moments on "Der Blick hinaus" that actually contain melody which grips you until the eerie ambiance covers everything up again like a shroud. That's part of the downside to this release. At first you're introduced to an agony laden landscape which is exciting to the listener but is quickly covered up in a layer of despair which permeates almost everything on here. Within the dark recesses of Andras's mind exists some space which needs filling.
CONDENADOS - A Painful Journey Into Nihil CD Shadow Kingdom Records Genre: Doom Rating: 3/5
This is the debut full length from this Chilean three piece band. Their name means "doomed" in Spanish and they take their sound from the purely epic realm of the genre. We're talking slow to mid range in speed, methodical and heavier than a giant's nuts. Although I wouldn't call anything these guys are doing as ground breaking and comparisons could be made to everyone from SAINT VITUS to SOLITUDE AETURNUS. At the least they're not just another state side stoner/sludge band recycling SABBATH to the point where full length releases disintegrate into one or two cool songs with the rest being filler. CONDENADOS start this six song affair by singing in Spanish which at least is different and keeping with your homeland tradition. This goes on for just two cuts and the rest are sung in English. Keeping with tradition the vocals are cleanly sung with the added piecing guitar solos that break free from the doomish atmosphere. Of course six songs from a doom metal act is an eternity but from a band who've previously only released a handful of EPs it's a decent teaser for what could come next.
BLUT AUS NORD - 777 Sect(s) CD Debemur Morti Productions Genre: Black Metal Rating: 5/5
As for me when it comes to the French Black Metal scene I'm more of a fan of the bands who exemplified a certain brand of raw vicious perverted-ness like MUTIILATION or MERRIMACK. BLUT AUS NORD is another band that ranks high in my Gaul BM favorites although their darkened perversions are not as raw. Their music is more akin to a nightmare in which you spend eternity tortured in a blackened industrial abattoir. It's not comforting at all in fact it's unnerving to the point where you're lost and at their mercy. Unfortunately BLUT AUS NORD have no mercy for you. If GODFLESH's Streetcleaner release was a factory then BLUT AUS NORD would be the Black Metal wing where many enter in but few come out, at least not in one piece. So here we have a new full length, their eighth, on a new label, their last Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the Stars from 2009 was on Candlelight, and it's a new trilogy being started. Another plus is that Debemur Morti is a favorite label of mine since their BM taste is always exceptional.
Much like previous works 777 - Sect(s) is divided into pieces or "Epitomes". Each Epitome carries some degree of unity keeping this whole release a structured manifest. Epitomes I and III are obviously unsettling blasts as if the maniacal machinery is running at full capacity. While sandwiched in between is Epitome II which is more of atmospheric journey within the bowels of the mechanized horror. Everything is not always what it seems on the outside. Once you're within the eerie sounding synthesizers and tortured guitar chords expose the true beauty. I found myself putting Epitome II on continuous repeat with the volume at it's peak. Great Black Metal has a way of stripping away the flesh and bone leaving just your imagination to run wild with the music. BLUT AUS NORD has always had a way of letting the listener explore that experience and this cut as well as the whole release is a prime example.
As the release continues the machine metaphors give way to the stripping of one's mind and body into tiny morsels. Epitome IV methodically dissects you apart in a dissonant doom dirge melody then scatters the pieces around into a hypnotic yet macabre puzzle. The operation goes on for a long time with various fluctuations in beats and note picked aggression. The surgeons, albeit engrossed in their work, sound like they have no regard for your humanity. Once Epitome V rolls around the music takes on a fast rebuilding tone as if a new being is in the process of creation by this machine in an image unlike what entered. BLUT AUS NORD end with Epitome VI, a rebirth of some primordial yet blackened monster unleashed upon the consumers. What proceeds this will certainly be of significance to fans of this French band's work.
VOLCANIC SLUT - Blasphemaster 7" Vinyl Rites Genre: Thrash/Speed Metal Rating: 4/5
You've gotta love a band who take their name from an old SODOM song, well you do. This slab of wax contains three cuts of Blackened Thrash with a helping of 80's Hardcore. Yeah just three cuts but that's all these guys from Florida need for a hell fueled racket. I love the simplicity of this since it's pure hardcore mayhem. I wanna see this band. The vocals are angry screams. The drummer justs keeps time by pounding the shit out of his kit. The riffs are frantic and the guitarist adds his solos like he's a dive bomber. This is definitely not SODOM worship but if Tom Angelripper heard this he'd be proud.
ANCIENT CREATION – Moonlight Monument CD Heaven and Hell Records Genre: Heavy Metal Rating: 5/5
One of the many great things about America is that on any given night you can drive into some non descript burg, find a local watering hole that still has live music (preferably Hard Rock or Metal) and on it's stage you'll see a band like ANCIENT CREATION. Yes that is a complement because this band represents all of those working class metal musicians who are die hard in their faith to playing great American Metal any time and anywhere. This is straight up Heavy fuckin Metal "dude" like it was played before by bands back in the late 70's/early 80's before all the trends and genres took hold. ANCIENT CREATION hail from Kansas City, Missouri, which is a place hipsters would call "fly over country", but straight up Metal fans and labels like Heaven and Hell Records know that the US heartland is a hotbed of horned fist activity. The band started out eight years ago, went through some line-up changes (don't they all) and have stuck it out to release one helluva release. This is technically their sophomore release. Their debut, Evolution Bound came out in 2007 on Melissa Records and like I said the band made some changes in order to fulfill their vision of putting out an epic release.
If comparisons are needed then this band reminds me in some way like the Michael Schenker Group or even a little Yngwie Malmsteen. Guitarist and band founder Peter Nisenkier has a similar playing style as those two in that his solos are fast, fluid and technical. The songs have that progressive touch which is inviting especially with cool sounding intros to a few cuts which don't sound "obligatory". Steve Bentley is the type of vocalist who sounds like he stepped out of a time tunnel from the late70s/early 80s. His singing on here is simply phenomenal, he's never that over the top power vocal style. In fact he sounds like he could've sang in an early 80's Thrash band. The rest of the band play their musicianship parts to perfection. Moonlight Monument in deed, this is simply a solid release from beginning to end. It's one of those releases where there's no standout tracks that take your attention away from the whole body of work. This is one of those that you put on and enjoy.
TRAP THEM - Darker Handcraft CD Prosthetic Records Genre: Hardcore/Crust & more Rating: 4/5
I have to give credit where it's due and thank Decibel magazine for turning me onto this band. It was from a review I read in 2007(yes I still read reviews other than my own) of their Seance Prime CDEP. In all honesty it wasn't what the reviewer had to say which captured my interest. It was just the fact that a magazine which I consider so far out of touch when it comes to Punk Rock/Hardcore (and at times their Metal credibility comes into question) was writing about a new Hardcore band was worth the chance to actually check out. Since then I've liked what I've heard from TRAP THEM although they're not the return to the 1980's by any chance, which is when HC lived and died. Most everything afterward that was considered Hardcore was too politically bent (hippie punk crap) or became part of the edge or core stupidity. Hey I was around back then so I'm not gonna sugar coat it so trust fund babies can feel better about their fake scenes. But as far as TRAP THEM go, there's definitely some aesthetics about the band which are worth their weight in Punk band buttons. I've seen some people call em Death & Roll and there's a good reason since they do have some DM influence but that's only from guitarist Brian Izzi's employment of the Stockholm sound and mixed with the crust structure. I've also heard some late 90's Hard Rockin Punk n Roll influence in their sound. The best part is how they accent everything with off kilter musicianship which pushes them to the head of the pack.
Their newest member, drummer Chris Maggio (formerly of COLISEUM) treats you to some amazing work behind the kit. A mediocre drummer would just keep time with your average HC/Crust style band. Maggio adds so much more whether it's his fill in action, double bass execution and over the top percussion pace which he runs. The guy turns a good cut into an exceptional one. Singer Ryan McKenney has a pitch perfect caustic vocal style as if every song he sings might be his last. What Maggio does with drum fills, Izzi also does with his guitar work. The songs are not repetitive riff rehearsals but instead very dynamic in speed changes. His guitar tone is pure old school Swedish Death Metal. You'll be banging your head for a while and the cut will breakdown into a doom pace as if the floor dropped out from under you. Some how some way bassist Steve Lacour keeps up with all the insanity. Although I like this whole release, twelve songs in a little over thirty minutes, I find myself repeating plays of certain cuts. "Evictionaries" is pure late 1990's era ZEKE worship. Opener "Damage Prose" crosses lines with a former Northwest HC legend, POISON IDEA, with it's breakneck abandonment. Then there's the doomish "Sordid Earnings" which bleeds into "The Facts" just too perfectly. Look people all the fuckin songs are decent. If there's one thing on here that I don't care for it's the Kurt Ballou production of Darker Handcraft. I know this guy is like their fifth member but it just seems like every band he touches ends up sounding like a CONVERGE-core wannabe. So their sound comes across as over polished instead of rough and angry.
VOLTURE - Shocking it's Prey CDEP Heavy Artillery Records Genre: Heavy Metal Rating: 5/5
I'll file this one under Richmond, Virginia supergroup side project since the band consists of present or former members of PARASYTIC, IMMORTAL AVENGER, CANNABIS CORPSE, TWISTED TOWER DIRE and MUNICIPAL WASTE. Actually this band sounds like where IMMORTAL AVENGER left off since vocalist Brent Hubbard was once their singer and this is Heavy Metal. I'm talking real Heavy Metal, throw up the horns. A year ago I said that Heavy Metal and NWOBHM was making a comeback just like the neo-Thrash revival. VOLTURE are no different than CAULDRON or ENFORCER. This release has that quality where you think the band is actually from the early 80s and stepped into a time machine to bring them to the present in order to rock your world. I can say that with a straight face since I was born in the 60s and grew of age in the late 70s early 80s so that is my generation's metal music.
If we were to reverse the time machine and send VOLTURE back to when I was a kid then they could easily share a stage with PRIEST or MAIDEN. I'm not ashamed to say that Shocking it's Prey is better than anything the two previous mentioned bands have done since those days. Hyperbole on my part? Just listen to Brent Hubbard's vocals and tell me he can't break glass like in those old Memorex tape commercials. Then there's the twin guitar attack by Nick Poulos and Dave Boyd which is simply ten pages ripped from the Tipton/Downing handbook of cool 80's metal riffs. Finally there's the rhythm section of Ryan Waste on bass and drummer Barry Cover, both of whom provide the beat to bang your head, tap your fingers, stomp your feet and raise up that arm to give em the horned fist salute. Another cool thing about this release is that it's only six cuts with no filler. If there was one sad note about this release it would be that it's being done by a side project. Ryan Waste is not going to leave his day job with MUNICIPAL WASTE and I wouldn't want that to happen no matter how much I enjoy this stuff.
SOUL OF STEEL - Destiny CD Underground Symphony Genre: Power Metal Rating: 3/5
So I'm sitting here drinking my favorite adult beverage Mead and playing the new MANOWAR inspired video game, Hail & Kill, when I decided it's sound effects suck. You can only take so much of Joey DeMaio saying "Congratulations Brother of True Metal. You are worthy to enter the Mountain of Steel." So I decided to turn the sound down on it and check out the debut full length by this Italian band. They're Power Metal so it wouldn't bother me while I continue playing the video game. Besides I'm very close to finding the charactor I have to kill in order to get the Codpiece of Infinite Desire. It kinda sucks that I have to remove it from some demon's crotch but hey it's a game. But getting back to the music at hand, SOUL OF STEEL play a brand of Power Metal that's melodic and would sit well with fans of old NWOBHM.
I'm always surprised when I listen to a new release by a Power Metal band to start with. The big surprise here was that I could stand it long enough to listen to it entirely without taking a break. These Italians got something going for them with their IRON MAIDEN worship (the Bruce era) on a few cuts while vocalist Gianni Valente is a soon to be heralded talent. It's not that Valente over does it in fact it's quite the opposite. He just sings without any over indulgence. The music is the same with decent rhythms that gallop along with a firey solo implanted here and there. Sometimes keeping things simple actually works and you can still do a song about swords and fire without sounding ridiculous.
CORE DEVICE - What I’ve Become CD Heaven and Hell Records Genre: Power Metal Rating: 3/5
I can just imagine what the European Power Metal elites who sit on their neo-classical gothic thrones would say about this one. What is this? A Power Metal band from New Jersey? Hah! Where are you ancient castles, you ice caped mountains or mythological beasts to slay? Well it's true that none of those things exist in Jersey. I should know since I was born and raised there, although I will say I've seen some rats that were absolutely beastly. So here we have CORE DEVICE a Power Metal band from Middletown, New Jersey and of course the question needs to be asked. What would influence a Power Metal band living in the Garden State? Sure all of those European bands of the genre actually have hundreds of years of history and mythology to work with as far as lyrical themes. So I'm here to tell you yes there's alot, quite alot in NJ to influence a Power Metal band. First off you need to use your imagination, for example throwing rocks at rats on the river bed turns into "defending the realm from the vermin beasts". Then there's walking into train tunnels becoming "entering the cave of the cyclops". Finally there's the fending off the advances of your friend's ugly sister which turns into "surviving the witch hag's spell". CORE DEVICE knows all about imagination but I wouldn't say they're all into the fantasy thing to the point I used. If there's one important part about this New Jersey band it's that they're not into painting within the lines of a genre.
While tagged as Power Metal they are not as opera or classical oriented in their sound and style as their European peers. What I’ve Become, their second full length, incorporates elements of progressive thrash which makes perfect sense and at times are fairly heavy and technically precise. What's problematic is that this release has to build up song by song for you to get that final analysis. The first couple of tunes simply give you a slight taste. It's not until "Revelations" when the band reaches into ICED EARTH territory dynamics with guitarists Tony Nocera and Pat Kehoe providing some pyrotechnics as well as a melodic rhythm which at times crushes. The latter half of this release is where we get real aggressive sounding cuts like "Confront the Serpent", "Trail the Vein" and the very impressive "Sixth Sense". It's also where singer Daniel Dunphy really cuts loose with his vocal delivery which most of the time is clean style but he kicks in some decent growls as well as an epic scream. I actually thought the band had two vocalists at first which illustrates Dunphy varied range. His presense on here conveys that of a gallant leader inspiring the troops. He can also sing a ballad, "Remembered as a Name", although I hate ballads. Overall this band's strengths are there technical chops which are never too over the top, their devotion to smooth transitions within their songs plus a medium edge throughout. No mighty warriors, beasts of antiquity or MANOWAR-isms to speak of.
HAVOK- Time is Up CD Candlelight Records Genre: Thrash Rating: 5/5
If you start out as part of a musical fad it's hard work to stay relevant after it is over, in this case the Thrash Revival of the 2000s. When this Denver band released their first demo in 2005 the Thrash Revival aka: the return of old school thrash, waters were merely simmering. By the time they finally got a proper debut full length out, Burn in 2009, the excitement surrounding the genre's revivalist feeling was already in decline. Burn was not a bad release in that it was not any different from every other 80's thrash riff tribute band. The plus side was that the band had one high top sneaker ed foot planted firmly in the punk/speed metal realm, the other was in (choose one: Dave Mustaine's basement, Kerry King's guitar case or Paul Baloff's grave.) So now it's 2011 and with most of the revival bands already boasting a catalog of releases, or have simply disapeared, here we have HAVOK's sophmore effort. Thanks to the production job by James Murphy Time is Up doesn't sound like it was recorded by a bunch of revivalists at all in fact it's more like it came from hardened thrash vets. Although they still lack an identity of their own this release contains every facet of thrash-o-rama that only a jaded hack would not love.
HAVOK send a message early with opener "Prepare for Attack" that this is going to be a no frills and no bullshit release. The song rips through you like a chainsaw. "No Amnesty" is another favorite since it reminds me of the old days when kids actually slam danced. Hell I'm ready to get into a pit because the textbook riffage by Reece Scruggs and David Sanchez is addictive plus the rhythm section pounds you to mince meat. Add to that Sanchez’s vocals are of a classic 80's variety that not only remind you of past greats but also invite you to the future. Speaking of remenising Sanchez pulls off a fairly decent Tom Araya style scream on “D.O.A.” which deserves a salute. Overall Time is Up is a classic Thrash release, period. Anyone who would come out against that fact has an obvious bias towards the genre which should discredit them immediately. People need to be reminded that Metal is recyclible. Sure we can all wipe the dust off of our classic and not so classic 80's Thrash records but in most cases we'll never see those bands again live. Here's another revelation, people like being reminded of the good old times. So here we have HAVOK who were not handed the baton but simply took it and ran.
CELTACHOR - In the Halls of our Ancient Fathers demo Self Released Genre: Celtic Black Metal Rating: 3/5
All I can say is more tin whistle. In the realm of black metal, circa 2011, anything different that can help you stand out from the traditional crowd is worthy of remembrance. This Irish band has all the chops that others do. The vocals by Steven Roche come across as harsh and angry. David Quinn's guitar sound is at certain times filthy and electric like a fuse box overloading with sparks flying in all directions. The song structures come across influenced by NWOBHM with catchy stick in your head melodies. Finally all of this is then fed through the blackened folk grinder. With all of that as a foundation it's fairly decent. But CELTACHOR adds a surprise to the mix and that's the singer, Steven Roche, use of the tin whistle on certain cuts which adds the secret ingredient.
After the obligatory ambient instro opening, "Nemed's Wake", the band kicks in with the rousing "Rise of Lugh". It's the addition of the tin whistle solos that turns CELTACHOR into an Irish version of BATHORY. Give Quinn credit for recreating that first wave black metal guitar tone which is sorely missed by yours truly. It also helps when your songs deal in mythology and folklore which takes you into another plane of existence. Unfortunately the momentum from that one cut doesn't keep building as the release progresses on. The songs that follow are all good on the surface, "A Warning to Balor" being absolutely exceptional. But there's something missing which could make this epic instead of merely decent.
Of course the thing to remember is that In the Halls of our Ancient Fathers is still a demo. Now if you're into the raw sound then this is alright by those standards. But if you listen to a cut like "Riders of the Fomor", the hints at grand fuckin epic quality are there plus I bet they blow audiences away when they play it live. "The Sons of Tuireann and the Blood Fine" also has a great melodic folk quality to it until the black metal breakdown in it's middle section of course. I've never heard demos by PRIMORDIAL or TYR but I would guess they would be of this quality and now look at them. Therefore I won't be surprised to see this band's name at the top of the bill in the near future.
AVA INFERI - Onyx CD Season of Mist Genre: Gothic Doom Rating: 4/5
When Richie Blackmore finally left DEEP PURPLE for good and went onto become a Renaissance minstrel in BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, fans thought it was insane and didn't follow along. What Rune Eriksen did a few years back was very similar in action but the results were far different. Rune aka: Blasphemer was once guitarist for such Norwegian black metal notables as MAYHEM and AURA NOIR. He gave it all up to move to Portugal with girlfriend Carmen Susana Simhes and start AVA INFERI which was far from black metal but still on the extreme side of the musical spectrum. Now with this the fourth AVA INFERI full length Rune has obviously cemented himself into the gothic doom side of metal and with interesting results. For someone like me who thought he did a great job keeping MAYHEM alive and relevant after they reformed I have no problem following him to this dark realm.
Although gothic tinged metal has been criticised over the years by many for it's clicheness in sound, style and prom dress wearing female vocalists. AVA INFERI keeps things more on a respectable side. I thought that back in 2009 when I reviewed their Blood of Bacchus release. Onyx simply turns things up a notch but not so far as to be mistaken for WITHIN TEMPTATION, LEAVES EYES or any other commercially mainstream acceptable female fronted goth metal act. There are some subtle differences from what I heard on Blood of Bacchus and is now being displayed with Onyx. The former was more in the doom realm than this one. Eriksen and Simhes have taken this band to the dark side of gothic. The atmosphere on Onyx is as cold and dark as a typical winter night in Norway. Simhes' operatic vocals are more of the haunting variety and never over done to the point of thinking she's a diva. The keyboards are not overwhelming either but instead balanced out to the point where everything sounds gloomy. Eriksen's guitar work is BM neutral. I tried to catch a little MAYHEM retreading on Blood of Bacchus but found none. On here I never even bothered but instead let his melodic arrangements drift over me like a mist.
PREMONITION 13 - Self Titled 7" Volcom Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 2/5
Volcom records seem to be the new leader in the limited edition 7"er club field which ain't a bad business plan if you think about it. Take some unreleased tracks (aka: throwaway tracks) by established artists who have a somewhat decent following in the underground. Slap them onto 7" colored vinyl, print a thousand or less, then promote it as "unreleased" or "exclusive". Finally sell em for $7.00 a pop or $40.00 for a subscription which gets ya five singles. You can figure that a thousand 7"ers will sell out quickly, like their live SAINT VITUS two songer. Better yet buy a couple of em and then sell em on Ebay once they're sold out.
Speaking of SAINT VITUS this two song rarity here is Wino's latest project which also features his long time friend Jim Karow on guitar. Now with all respect to Wino, I wouldn't call this essential unless you must own everything the man has done. The A-side's "Switchouse" is basic 70's blues rock which could've been on any HYDRA LP back in the day. The flip "Crossthreaded" is kind've like a MOTORHEAD/PRIEST influenced instro jam as well as being the best of the two. Sorry Wino I like your vocals but the instrumental here wins hands down.
Video: METAL VIDEOS THAT DON'T SUCK April 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)
band: CATHEDRAL
song: Hopkins (the witchfinder general
album: The Carnival Bizarre
genre: Doom or NWOBHM
What more could you want? It's got Vincent Price, Lee Dorrian jumping around like a nut. The song itself pays homage to the movie Witchfinder General as well as the band of that name and NWOBHM. OK I'm bullshitting. It's the tan chick dancing in front of the band that makes this great.
SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY - Navaz CD Season of Mist Genre: Folk Metal Rating: 3/5
Well first off I must admit that this band flew under my Folk Metal radar and they've been around for a while to boot. To add salt to the wound they're from the Czech Republic, have seven band members, male and female lead vocals, sing in their native language and the only non metal instruments played are violin and cello. OK I can die now especially since the female vocalist of this band, Hanka Hajdová, has the cords of a Slavonic goddess and clearly takes over more of the lead parts. In a way this band is like a Czech version of LACUNA COIL with a cello player and some touches of Doom. But with all of that much of Navaz is upbeat with plenty of folk structures which are played to a fervor with the metal/hard rock sounding instruments. Once in a while there's a stand out cut like "Samodiva" which is epic doom played under this band's formula. It's a duet between Hanka and her male counterpart Pavel "Hrnec" Hrncir with plenty of cello overlay. Speaking of Pavel his addition to the vocals are mostly death metal gruff style but once in a while he'll break out some clean vocals. The cello and violin playing by Michal "Siki" Sykora takes a standout position amongst the instruments. He's responsible for all the leads where as the guitar is simply held as a riff machine. In a way I find this release to be pure elegance in a metal way of course. One or two of the upbeat folkish numbers tend to be more on the pop side of the aisle. But there's also some death metal influences within that balances things out. In the end I'm thinking they're a real party atmosphere band when they play live.
INFUNERAL - Torn from the Abyss CD Blackcrowned Records Genre: Black Metal Rating: 2/5
I hate to be the bearer of bad blackened news but this release by Sweden's INFUNERAL is fairly average if not forgetable. It's as if someone, presumebly Grave (guitar and vocals) took the BM template from years ago and copied it verbatem. There's nothing on this eight song release which really stands out as having a cent of originality. I know it's black metal and I will admit that original second wave sounding stuff is my favorite music to sacrifice furry woodland creatures to or even a goat if it's in season. But this actually an EP with some filler cuts on here to take up space. What's with the worthless opener "I" and it's brother the fifty four second "II" which comes at the halfway point? One song on here caught my attention and that was the MARDUK influenced "The Plague of Humanity". My guess is that there are now Hot Topic's in Sweden and this is their band. Nuff said.
DODSFERD - Spitting with Hatred The Insignificance of Life CD Moribund Records Genre: Black Metal Rating: 2/5
Every nine to ten months I am greated by a new release from my good friend Nikos Spanakis aka: Wrath, the mainman behind DODSFERD. Now seriously Nikos and I have never met but we do go back a long way, back to his second full length Fucking Your Creation from 2007. It's an unrecognized classic for misanthropic black metal fanatics plus it has some good blackened Punk n Roll on it. Since then I haven't missed one of his releases. Another thing about Nikos is that he's exactly like an old roomate of mine named Joseph, except Joseph wasn't Greek or in a seminal one man black metal band. Although their attitude toward the world was exactly the same. Hatred for mankind wasn't just a fun line and attitude for shock value in order to get attention. He really hated humanity just like Nikos, still does from what I gather. To make matters worse is that Joseph lives in a poor section of Pittsburgh which is like self flagellation to a hater of everything human. Nikos on the other hand stays in Greece and hates the world. In fact last time I heard from him, through his 2010 EP release Another Two of Your Scars and the World is Dead, I thought he was on suicide watch. Obviously someone was just grasping a little.
All I needed was one spin of Spitting with Hatred The Insignificance of Life to realize Nikos ain't ready to leave us just yet. He's still one of the best purveyor's of melodic blackened Punk n Roll exemplified on here by "Your Kingdom Was Built in a Lie". Another soon to be classic is the haunting "A Pile of Shit; the Only Hope of Your World". Although I think it's about time that I tell Nikos that his song ideas are getting a bit self recycled. About time? Yeah I know that some true believers left a few releases back but I've gotta stick around. Besides if it's on Moribund Records I pick it up without question. I have better control of bodily functions like sweating than I do with Moribund Records purchases. But getting back to this release, which is close to an hour's worth of pain and degradation, it reminds me of 2009's Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow. That was a great release but it was also number two in DODSFERD's suicide trilogy. I've already pulled this CD out of the stereo and it didn't blow up. Another point of contention is that a few cuts on here sound as if they were dragged out in order to fill space for lack of creativity. If that's going to be the case than DODSFERD is the one to worry about insignificance.
WOODEN STAKE - Dungeon Prayers and Tomb Yard Serenades CD Razorback Records Genre: Doom Rating: 5/5
For the past six months I've been harping on about the greatness of this band so much that I forgot to tell people I've discovered a cure for cancer. OK my bad but still that can wait because here we have the band's debut full length. I wouldn't necessarily call this long awaited as it's really on demand. After releasing a couple of EPs and split releases, which are all in limited quantities mind you, the voices from the underground got excited with them in the short form format but were curious and wanted a full length. Not one for hyperbole myself, unless it's my own hyperbole that is, I proclaimed "WOODEN STAKE are one of the best Doom bands out today" a few weeks back after reviewing their Invoke the Ageless Witch 7". I'm sure you all remember that one since I practically threatened to conjure up the spirits of my dead family members to haunt anyone who refused to pick it up. Since it only came out as 300 copies that fell in line with the website's readership, but I digress. After hearing just those two songs plus a few from their debut EP Vampire Plague Exorcism, which I still don't have but am willing to sacrifice a finger from my annoying neighbor's hand to get, I became an instant fan of this duo who are Wayne Sarantopolous, aka: Elektrokutioner (Guitar, Drums and Keyboards) and Vanessa Nocera (bass and vocals). I've discussed the point many times that some bands can put out fantastic short form releases but it's their full lengths which hold the true surprises for better or worse. In this case I'd say Dungeon Prayers and Tomb Yard Serenades is of the better variety.
The first time I played this I thought holy crap it's the soundtrack to a documentary on Mario Bava. Either that or WOODEN STAKE has been invited to Moldavia, which is a real hot spot for Spring Break in Romania, for a Bava film festival. Just like the gothic horror atmosphere Bava's film classics evoke upon the viewer this band does the same in audio form. Vanessa and Wayne are transformed into Asa Vajda and her paramour Javuto but instead of enacting revenge they're playing eerie fuckin doom. To some people, myself included, that's one in the same. Throughout this release Vanessa's vocals jump around from clean spoken harmonics to the witch vocals and finally the demonic growls which will have a hipster's dick retreat inward out of fright. She sounds like a combination of immortal high priestess, a blood thirsty witch and Barbara Steele on a bad acid and vodka bender. Either way it's fine with me because if I ever get to see em perform I'm standing right up front ready to die for art. I've had a good life, at least that's what I've been told and this band is worth it. Check out opener "Cadaverum Caecorum Liber" with it's surreal occult beauty for a perfect example followed by "Salem, 1692". Another favorite cut on here is "Die Rache der Hexen" which sounds like BLACK SABBATH and the VELVET UNDERGROUND getting into a car crash in front of the cemetery gates while on tour in Germany. There they meet Jinx Dawson who says "wanna start a band I've got acid?" The first tune they write next is "Six Feet of Earth... And All that it Contains".
Musically speaking this whole release is full on bizarre. You have to play this a few times in a row to catch each hypnotic nuance being put forth. My excuse of course is that I started drinking an hour before I pushed play and now I can't find the stop button. But anyway Wayne's drum pounding, accompanied by Vanessa's bass work, is something outta the summoners who marched through villages during the Black Plague. As far as his guitar work goes I'll have to repeat something similar to what I said in the 7"er review. He comes out with a tone that's sounds like a freakin torture device. Think of a broken dentist's drill that's shooting out sparks as it enters your mouth. Another incredible cut on here that brings every fatal facet of this band to bear is "Skullcoven". It's epicus doomicus meets 70's nostalgia then wait till the end when Vanessa let's loose a banshee wail that'll freak out your neighbors if you blast this loud enough. If they ever perform "Skullcoven" live (can they do live gigs?) they need WITHERED's strobe light rig setup as a backdrop. Then have someone walk around the room to grab people unsuspectingly, "aaaahhh". Just watch those hipster infused drinks fly. The two closing cuts on here are phenomenal. "Anguished Atonement" feels like you're in the last death throws after demonic possession. "Bleeding Coffin" is probably the least radical of all the nine cuts on here for around two minutes then it bows out into psych doom territory. It finally ends by rocking out with it's serpentine tongue which leaves you hypnotised.
Dungeon Prayers and Tomb Yard Serenades is far better than most of what goes under the term Doom of late and frankly I believe it's needed. I find more originality and well thought out attention to detail plus a few eclectic touches, like the instrumental piece "Cemetery Closes at Sundown", within their music than a whole lot of other bands today who merely recycle riffs from 70's hard rock unknowns or blatantly hump the SABBATH corpse. Strangely enough SABBATH killed the summer of love and nowadays you have wannabe hippies stealing from Tony Iommi's riff cookbook. WOODEN STAKE's inclusion of a gothic horror motif is also essential since hippies and candles never mix. Everyone's stoned then someone knocks over a candle and next thing you know you've got a house fire. The only this worse than the smell of a crispy hippie is the burnt couch that they've had unwashed people crash out on for years. This full length really sets fire to the chafe which is all of the average sounding sludge and stoner retreads which have cropped up like weeds of late in the extreme music scene. I believe the only thing better than this release would be to see them at a club packed with a noob hipster metal crowd. Except that instead of coming out and playing their own material they switch it to songs from SCAREMAKER, a more Death Metal influence band both Vanessa and Wayne are also in. Then again doing a few BEYOND HELL songs would scare some scencester turds away as well. Look simply put, because I'm drunk, this is the most exciting and interesting release as far Doom metal goes to come out in years.
You all know how I hate the brown word but since this is on Tankcrimes, a label known for not putting out any weak shit, then I'll just have to adjust. Yeah I'm kidding about that one. This is the debut EP release from SHITTY FUCKER a four piece California band who like their grindcore mixed with fornication, crusty breaks and plenty of movie soundbites. I'm not a movie buff but I did recognize something which sounded like it came from the Exorcist at the opening of "Jesus Fucks You". In fact that opening "brown word" line I used comes from a movie sample which opens the thirty four second ditty "Fallopian Warfare". I don't know the movie. Although I do know that this seven songs in nine minutes opus from SHITTY FUCKER is unadulterated punk fuckin rock. I mean punks don't have time anymore to listen to a forty five minute album anymore. They've got better things to do like bum money from their mothers so they can go out and score meth then hang out in the parking lot of a club and yell at chicks. They rather spend time breaking into cars to steal stuff which will pay for their other habits like drinking fortys, smoking cheap cigarettes and buying studs for their leather jackets. Back in the day we only needed the clothes on our backs but today things are tough for your average punk rocker, dude. Be that as it may Diarrheality is probably this generation's Nevermind and in all honesty I'm glad. My old friend Joe Christ (RIP) would've loved this band. Satan is boring, kill the pigs, listen to SHITTY FUCKER.
DESTROYING DIVINITY - Dark Future CD Brutal Bands Genre: Death Metal Rating: 4/5
I've been listening to a lot of Death Metal this month because it's Death Metal March, get it? Yeah well if you think that's bad then send me suggestions for April because I'm stumped. Anyway receiving this for review in March turned out to be perfect. Like I mentioned, I've been listening to a lot of DM lately especially old school stuff. So not only does this CD sound like most of what I've been rotting my brain to of late but the band name sounds very familiar. In all honesty I've never heard this Czech four piece before although they've been together for a decade and have two previous full lengths under their belts. What's also amazingly criminal is that this was recorded back in 2008, was finally released last year but their label supposedly didn't do a good job promoting it. Now if you're a huge old school death metal fan like myself (and frankly who isn't) then you would feel some empathy towards DESTROYING DIVINITY after a spin or two of this. On second thought empathy might not be what first comes to mind once you blast Dark Future. I'm leaning towards evil vile hatred. The band sent this to me in the hopes that their own promotional efforts could do them some justice. Frankly I should be thanking them because after spinning this all night and all the following morning I'm now on a DM buzz which might last till June.
Since DESTROYING DIVINITY has been around for a decade now it would be foolish to place em in that New Old School Death Metal catagory. (NOSDM for short I'm sure you've heard about it) Although their sound is pure old school filth with influences which crept out of Florida and New York back in the day. Ok sure they're standing on a secure plataau by emulating classic USDM but playing by the numbers rehash this is not and calling it homage is easy but to who since the band's sound is not so easy to peg overall. If I were pushed to it I'd say if you're still burning a candle in your window for that new MORBID ANGEL release (yeah when is that fucker gonna come out) then forget it and go for this CD instead. Also if you can't wait for something new from INCANTATION (I actually shoved a guy out of my way in the store just so I could grab the last copy of their last release) then try this on for size. Speaking of Jon McEntee he should re-release this in the states since it's right up Ibex Moon Records' alley. I'll give him a call tommorrow, yeah right. Either way Dark Future is not something to overwelm the senses but there's an inviting atmosphere about it that just drags you in. Also at a running time of just thirty six minutes they band doesn't waste any time.
"To Live in Gloom of the Beyond" is a perfect opening cut and allows you to hear every facet of this band on death metal display. Name your poison here folks because you get trudging rhythms, grind parts, growled vocals and electric shock solo flourishes. The only thing missing is a fresh cadavor delivered to your front door. "At War with Two Worlds" and "Birth of Faceless Killer" is where the heavy influences of past giants crush you with the former being doom ladened and the latter a grinding machine splattering blood and guts everywhere. I thought "Putrid Stench of Past" was a few firey Trey Azagthoth solos away from old MORBID ANGEL and as if on cue the following cut "Undead in the Darkness" provided em. "Cult" is just flat out epic for DM standards with it's war like battle hardened atmosphere just mowing over you like a tank being operated by a maniac. "Prophecy" and "Name Written with Blood" is where DESTROYING DIVINITY actually switch into a higher gear like from second to third but obviously they use human body parts for transmission fluid because breakneck speed is not of the essence. And on their final cut "Face to Face to Destiny" the only thing in ample supply on here is slowly crushing death doom. If you like everything I've just written (and frankly who wouldn't) then not only does this need to be playing at your miserable place of residence but this band needs an apology from someone. Having this lay out there in the weeds for someone to trip over is a travesty. There are multitudes of bloodthirsty freaks, some of whom I call friends, who crave bands like this more than food. If you're hungry for it then contact the band. I'm sure they'll supply you with this DM feast.
KAMPFAR - Mare CD Napalm Records Genre: Black Metal/Pagan Rating: 5/5
When it came for me getting into this band I was late for the battle but once I arrived I joined in and have enjoyed the war ever since. My introduction to KAMPFAR came with their 2008 release Heimgang, which was one of my top ten favorite releases for that year and since then I've picked up two other of their previous full length releases. The draw for me was that KAMPFAR were not your typical Norwegian Black Metal nor are they Viking wannabes. Their sound is pagan Norse and epic as if you're standing in a valley in Norway starring up at woodlands that line a mountainside which eventually turns into snow and ice covered rocky terrain. We're talking about a majestic site to behold. I've always envisioned that the members of KAMPFAR actually resided in those forests, coming out every once in a while to record and tour. They do take plenty of time between releases so it's not a stretch to imagine them hanging out with nature in order to gather influences and experiences which will later become songs for a new release. In a musical realm where bandwagon jumping is the norm and adorning yourself in Halloween garb to promote a fantasy is laughable it's a pleasure to hear a band that's real. KAMPFAR are as real as it gets to the whole pagan Norse attitude.
Those of you who are long time fans might be surprised by this new one since it's, for lack of a better term, their most metal release by far. Part of that reason falls on the shoulders of producer Peter Tägtgren, who not only is the long time mastermind of his own band HYPOCRISY but has over fifteen years of extreme metal production credits that'll make your head spin. I know I have at least twenty five releases where he's responsible for twisting the knobs, you might have more. Obviously the other part of the reasoning for the band's more aggressive sound falls on to the band themselves. Thomas, whose guitar sound and style were rooted in classical and folk roots, is out of the band. Vocalist Dolk is the only original member now and since he's responsible for the band's blackened side it's obvious why things sound far more aggressive this time out. You won't read any complaints from me on that note since to me KAMPFAR can do now wrong unless of course they turned into a deathcore band which is unlikely. Listen to the opening title cut which sounds like an army of norsemen marching out from those afore mentioned woods into the field of battle. This is epic!
Mare is full of surprises one of which comes quickly is their heavy reliance on background keyboards to fill up their sound. Although I wouldn't say they're treading into symphonic black metal territory. There are a few times when I'm reminded of EMPEROR like on the second cut "Ildstemmer". Still all the cuts on here will give you frost blisters. Like I mentioned before the opening and title cut simply rushes out at you like warriors charging into battle. "Huldreland" is very subdued with it's epic yet atmospheric approach. It has this militaristic cadence which slowly builds while Dolk lets out these deep foreboding clean vocals at first and then lets fly his harsh battle cry screams. Clearly "Huldreland" is one of the best cuts on here but then this whole release is exceptional. Now although I mentioned surprises were in store for long time fans there's also plenty of old reminders of past greatness. Songs like the exceptional "Bergtatt' plus "Nattgang", which comes near the end of the release, remind you of where this band came from. This is epic Norse fueled black metal which Peter Tägtgren thankfully did not drown out. Another incredible cut is "Blitzwitch" which also holds true to their past musical heritage and with added background keyboards. In the end it's simply another great release from KAMPFAR.
