BRAINWASHED - Wrecked CD
Self Released
Genre: Thrash
Obviously the Thrash Revival, which has ceased to exist here in the states, would get around to other parts of the world. In this case it's Poland with BRAINWASHED who obviously heard a few METALLICA albums, the good ones. You could also throw in some TESTAMENT and MEGADETH influence as well. Actually it's kind of a change of pace since the stateside revival acts were mostly conjuring EXODUS and SLAYER. One slight difference would be that this band's singer carries an air of punk / hardcore snarl in his voice especially on the opener "Bringing out of Dead". But once the eight plus minute "I, Leader" kicks in it's hello Lars and James. BRAINWASHED add a few more extended thrashers like "Give Me Your Blood" and "The Battle / Back to the War" to fill the time. Personally I think a thrash song shouldn't go over five minutes unless you're going to expand your riff pool in the song or add a decent enough break three quarters of the way through (hello Lars and James, again). But hey I'm older now and even though I first supported the Thrash Revival when it started, after three years of retro I got burned out which is kinda like when Thrash started. Anyways BRAINWASHED do sound kinda cool with familiar riffs and tech savvy solos that'll slit your throat. As a few words from the title cut suggest, "Can You Feel It?" Yeah.
WOLF SPIDER - Wilczy Pająk CD reissue WOLF SPIDER - Hue Of Evil CD reissue WOLF SPIDER - Kingdom Of Paranoia CD reissue WOLF SPIDER - Drifting In The Sullen Sea CD reissue Metal Mind Productions Genre: Thrash
Attention all thrash devotees, old schoolers as well as new jacks, here are four releases from a band who if they had been from the US as opposed to Eastern Europe then I really wouldn't have to tell you about them. Back in the late 80's / early 90's Poland's WOLF SPIDER were the most acclaimed thrash metal band in the entire history of the Polish scene. Their four full length releases became legendary and their status as Polish thrash metal heroes still remains unbroken to this day which is probably why they've reunited and Metal Mind Productions has reissued their material. Now for those of you who frequent metal forum sites, think you're Thrash as Fuck and have the mental capacity of a rock, you're probably wondering "well if their so legendary how come I haven't heard of em?" Well you see back in their day there was this little old thing called the Iron Curtain. I'll assume even a person with a U.S. public school education might have overheard the term while you were picking your nose in World History class. If not then Google it, I know you can do that. Anyway not only was it tough to get metal releases through the Iron Curtain but also people. From my own tape trading recollection even after Eastern Europe was free from Soviet domination it was still tough to get info as well as releases from that part of the continent.
I'm also just now learning about WOLF SPIDER and I'm not Thrash as Fuck either. Doing SFM666 is an ongoing learning experience and I need to thank Vlad Nowajczyk the editor-in-chief of ROCKER (formerly known as HARDROCKER) the best metal magazine from Poland, according to him of course. Vlad sent all four of these releases in for review and as most readers of SFM666 know, I already do a decent job at exposing Eastern European metal to the masses. Of course more is always necessary and learning about histories of various nation's metal scenes is always a great learning experience for me. Which brings us back to WOLF SPIDER who started out back in 1985. Their first release, technically, was Wilczy Pająk which was completed in 1987 but wasn't released until 1989. Musically the album is a collision of 80's NWOBHM and Thrash with a singer who sounds like Klaus Meine from the SCORPIANS. The production is fairly clean with songs that are worthy headbangers. The lyrics are sung in their native language which makes no difference in the long run as long as the music is rough which it is. Their following full length release (after doing two split releases in 1987) was Hue Of Evil which was done in 1988 but wasn't released until 1991. The band's music is still in the same vein as their debut but with more emphasis on the thrash elements and hints of East Coast USA influences. The vocals are more high pitched like someone trying to channel Halford.
Kingdom Of Paranoia is the band's official third release which came out in 1990. Kingdom Of Paranoia finds the band further changed. The lead vocals on here are a little higher pitched than their previous release. Also the band now has moved into a more technical thrash style while still holding onto the catchy melodic elements of their two earlier releases. The band's fourth and final full length, Drifting In The Sullen Sea, is by far their best. While the genre in the rest of the world was pretty much dead, WOLF SPIDER created an album worthy of any one's best of Thrash releases listings if they had known about em of course. All of the elements are here like the perfect higher pitched yet aggressive sounding vocals, catchy headbanging riffs, technical song structures which keep things interesting throughout. The hardest time I had reviewing these releases is that I couldn't think of any other band name to drop down as a comparison. I'm not saying this Polish act are completely original but I'll just point out that WOLF SPIDER were not copying any of the big four of thrash nor were they following in the footsteps of their Teutonic neighbors. In the end if you are still looking for that obscure thrash band which doesn't sound like a typical second tier act then you should check these out. Rating 4/5
ANHEDONIST - Netherwards CD
Dark Descent Records
Genre: Death / Doom
I always find it amazing how bands of certain music genre's can create a sound which not only invokes a trance like state to your mind but also helps transcend time and space. The first time I listened to Netherwards was on a Monday night at around eight O'clock. I turned on the music, set it for continuous play and kicked back in the office chair to absorb everything. The next thing I knew it was Tuesday morning and I was laying on the floor with my clothing all ripped and partially covered in blood. Luckily for me I have a place in the country now where one's unique nocturnal habits (and music tastes as well as how loud you can play it) are not a problem. Speaking of which ANHEDONIST hails from Seattle which is far from being an out of the way place unlike Australia which is where this band takes their death doom influences from. I'm sure Seattle is a dismal place with all the rain and people still living off of Kurt Cobain's memory et all but their record stores must sell releases by PORTAL and diSEMBOWELMENT which this combo sounds similar to.
Those two name dropped acts are only the tip of what ANHEDONIST channels as far as band names go but with death doom redundancy is a given especially if it crawls slower than a snail with a fifty pound boulder tied to it's rear end. Don't take my harsh criticism for harsh criticism. I actually think this is pretty good. It's funeral doom from the point of view of the corpse who's already in the ground and being covered with earth. The riffs are like shovel's full of dirt plopping on top of the coffin at least on the opener "Saturnine" which does add some speedy riffs in between the sludge. "Estrangement" is monstrously brutal at first but ends like a procesion through a dark cathedral with ashen faced mourners. "Carne Liberatus" sounds like PORTAL if you got em out of their cave. The final cut, yes there's only four, "Inherent Opprobrium" starts off with one guitar drawing single notes in a introspective way while the second guitar crushes melons with the riff. This is probably the saddest cut or at least trying to be sad, because I'm actually smiling while listening to this, on Netherwards.
What benefits this release from it's genre style predecessors is the production. Even though ANHEDONIST have the down tuned distorted riffs with enough reverb to topple over the Space Needle (which is in Seattle by the way) and the cave beast awakening from hibernation vocals, there's still this rich atmosphere that sets this into clean sounding epic metal territory. Guitarist / Vocalist, V.B. (Very Bad?) even lets loose with some painful screams as if his foot is caught in a bear trap. Netherwards is a little over forty minutes of Australian sounding death doom not made in Australia.
ETERNAL HELCARAX - Against All Odds CD
Abyss Records
Genre: Black Metal
What is lost on all those who say things like "Black Metal needs to progress in order for it to stay relevant" is that the genre already has innovative and creative individuals (past & present) who have added so much diversity. The genre is already vibrant without having to progress it out of existence. This Irish band is a perfect example since they take the influences of ENSLAVED's progressiveness and BATHORY's Viking era stylings to modern heights of epicness. Against All Odds is ETERNAL HELCARAX's debut release, they also have two short form releases as well (the To Whatever End EP from 2010 and the Palest Kingdom EP from 2008). On here the seven songs, and one lush instrumental intro, represent a perfect meeting between blackened pagan folk with washes of progressive elements via occasional use of synthesizers to add atmosphere. The cuts are melodic but carrying enough raw emotion as well as complex song structures to invoke visions of battles of old. Yeah I really like this release.
It's rare when a band can sound brutal as well as beautiful. The opening intro will fool most people into believing nothing harsh is going to happen but once through it then ETERNAL HELCARAX (who are Praetorian - guitars/vocals/keyboards, Maulgrim - guitars/vocals, Thule - bass and Tyrith - drums) blasts out like an army charging into battle. While the early parts of Against All Odds showcase more of this band's epic side like on the amazing BATHORY-esque "Claim Your Place With The Gods". The latter half exposes true war like wrath with "Shadow Of The Wolf" (an obvious favorite of mine) and admonishment to the true warrior spirit on "Echoes Through Our Blood" and the closing title cut. Everything about Against All Odds is amazing from Praetorian's harsh battle cries, the coldness of the riffs as well as the amazing drum work by Tyrith. It's a dynamic scale of harsh and atmospheric music which in the end had me wanting more. This will definitely find itself in my end of year favorites list as well as being played throughout the year.
EMPTINESS - Error CD
Dark Descent Records
Genre: Blackened Death / Doom
In all honesty this thing comes off sounding like the house band of R'lyeh with Cthulhu on vocals. That should be expected since this Belgium act contains Phorgath and Nerath Daemon of the great ENTHRONED (who also have a new release this year which I'll be getting soon enough). This is my introduction to EMPTINESS which has been around for quite a few years and has two previous full lengths. Error comes off of a five year hiatus for this side project since their 2007 release Oblivion. After listening to this I'll be purchasing their previous releases because music like this is what nightmares are made of. This is the type of blackened poison which will erode the minds of the weak. The band, which is Phorgath - bass & vocals, Nerath Daemon - lead guitar & backing vocals, Jonas Sanders - drums and Phil P. aka: Philippe Angelo Pieters on rhythm guitar, has created a musical malevolent entity of horrific proportions. Any clean spots left on your soul will be covered in black after you listen to this a few times.
Welcome to a realm of grotesque horror as the death doomish atmosphere envelopes you while being taunted by Phorgath's inhuman guttural proclamations. The eight tracks on here combine to leave the listener disoriented amidst chaotic melodies strung out through monstrous riffs and tremolo picked harmonies which ice your bones. This is far from being another old school retread or even an off-kilter version of ENTHRONED. Musically Error is far more experimental in that grandiose rhythms are slammed headlong into bombastic post rock riffs. That's the case with cuts like "Not Enough" and on "Worst". Hypnotically textured intro sequences flow like rain water into a culvert only to exit poisoned and with extreme currents like on "Low" and the opener "Deafer". In the end Error is as varied and disharmonious as the subterranean realm which spawned it. Whether that's literally or subconsciously is up to you to decide. I for one know that this is blackened death doom taken to it's most progressive as well as nightmarish level.
WOODEN STAKE - At The Stroke Of Midnight CD Compilation Razorback Records Genre: Doom
I predicted last year that WOODEN STAKE would put out a compilation of all of their EPs, actually I was hoping they would since most releases were out of print about the time I found out about em. So now one of the best Doom bands around, especially if you're into occult themes, has given fans as well as new comers a second chance. This release starts off with a new cut "Night of the Banshee" and from there contains the two tracks from 2011's Black Caped Carnivore” 7” EP ("Black Caped Carnivore" and "Curse of the Funeral Mistress"), their "In the Godless Moonlight" from their split release with DRUID LORD which also came out in 2011. Then there's the two cuts ( "Death Reads the Black Tarot" and "The Legend of Blood Castle") off of another split release from 2011 with BLIZARO. Then there's the two cuts ("Invoke the Ageless Witch" and "At the Stroke of Midnight / Howl of the Devil") off of 2010's Invoke the Ageless Witch 7” EP which was the release that really got me into this band as well as becoming a huge fan. This dink ends with the five cuts ("Sepulchral Awakening", "Stalking in the Shadowlands", "Condemned", "Forbidden Oath" and "A Passing Lament") from their debut Vampire Plague Exorcism. Now all you need, if you don't have it already, is their incredible full length from last year and you'll be squared away.
HUNTRESS - Spell Eater CD
Napalm Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
I learned about this act back in February, via a Napalm Records email update, promoting their "Eight of Swords" video. Obviously having a former Playboy model, Jill Janus, as a front woman didn't hurt this band at getting out of the clubs and onto a label, as well as getting features in major metal print publications. (check out the spread, pardon the pun, in Metal Hammer) But to be fair Jill Janus is a classically trained vocalist with a huge range so the eye candy factor really doesn't follow the cliche. Secondly HUNTRESS is a thrash meets power metal five piece from California who started out a few years back. They have a three song self released EP from 2010, Off With Her Head, under their belts. On this debut their two guitar attack by Blake Meahl and Ian Alden is reminiscent of many Teutonic acts of the power metal genre minus the orchestra leanings. Spell Eater combines a little of everything from galloping riff thrash to classic NWOBHM and melodic death to create a catchy batch of somewhat memorable cuts. Of course some out weigh the others and those are the ones which Janus really utilizes her vox. The opening title cut along with the video number "Eight of Swords" mentioned above plus "Children" and the closing number "The Tower" are all noteworthy. There are no ballads on here which is another cliche destroyed.
