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.
Rating: 5/5
Label: http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
Official: http://eternalhelcaraxe.net/
Abyss Records
Genre: Death Metal
The new OSDM (Old School Death Metal) trend has hit Latvia with this debut album from DISEIM. Instead of the slash and burn approach this band has opted for the death doom style made good by past bands like GRAVE and AUTOPSY albeit to less effectiveness. The greatest goal for all of these bands who revive the classic sounds of yesteryear is to not only capture that perfect niche but also to not sound like a retro act just playing by a template. These bands need to inject some original enthusiasm. For as much as DISEIM invokes a dreaded and dank atmosphere on Holy Wrath it just sounds too simplistic. While opener "Black" as well as the second cut "Holy Wrath" displayed promise with their inviting dark atmosphere as well as chugging riffs the rest of the release seemed to fall flat. DISEIM sound like a band trying, which is the key word here, to be old school death doom. They've left out key ingredients like a filthier sounding production which always works. The rhythms sound bored as if no one really cared to be aggressive. Would it kill this band to at least place a few fiery solos into some of these songs? I've rarely gotten drowsy listening to a death doom release but there's always a first time for everything and this was it.
Rating: 2/5
Label: http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diseim/160549820655600
DESULTOR - Masters of Hate CD
Abyss Records
Genre: Thrash
During my so-called vacation I had a chance to hear a song from this Swedish band's debut to get a taste for what was to come. My initial reaction was "ahhh" because of the clean power metal style vocals on that particular song. Musically DESULTOR are an intense modern thrash duo featuring Markus Joha on guitar and vocals plus drummer Ibrahim Strahlman. (There's a guest bassist but you can't hear him) Once I gave Masters of Hate a proper listen I found it to be a thoroughly interesting as well as intensely sounding release. The release starts off slow and proggy with the opening instrumental "Chapter 1: New Era" as if it's the soundtrack for a new outer space flick. After that point on all hell breaks loose with "Black Monday" then this thing sheds it's skin to expose the raw meat. Markus Joha is a virtuoso on guitar and his vocals are pure power metal but in an aggressive style as opposed to operatic. Ibrahim Strahlman relies mainly on triggers but throws enough fills into the mix, combined with the clean production values, to come across sounding like a machine-like octopus behind the kit.
The first part (or Chapter) of this release is incredible. Along with the the previously mentioned "Black Monday" what follows, "Another World" and "Denied', adds a sense of melody within some punishing death metal riffs. After a few listens Markus Joha's higher range vocals / wails / sinister whispers complements the aggressiveness. The greatness continues on after another spacy instrumental "Chapter 2: The Phoenix" designating part two of this infusion of thrash, death and power metal. Songs like "The Luxury of Pain" and "Caged" are superb with the former being a majestic beauty while the later a full on rage. The title track would fit perfect as the closer for their live shows. DESULTOR are two guys with a sound like a five piece act. If they can pull this off in a live setting then the crowds at those European Metal festivals will go apeshit. Masters of Hate is outstanding and definitely fits right into my end of year list as one of the best releases for 2012.
Rating: 5/5
Label: http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/desultorsweden
Abyss Records
Genre: Blackened Death and Doom
As I always point out old bands who reunite after a long hiatus are like ghosts from the past. They can either haunt you or comfort you. In the case of FESTER it's been eighteen years since their last full length. That one was Silence which was aptly titled for what was to come after it's release in 1994. I was not familiar with them in their early 90's heyday so this is an introduction to them for me. This reunited version only contains one original member from their last recording and that's guitarist Bjorn Matisen. Good o'l Bjorn had probably seen a few shows by some newcomers and figured he'd unearth FESTER from it's grave since his other project SINCERA wasn't going anywhere. Along for the ride he's enlisted fellow SINCERA member Thomas Andresen on vocals, Jon Bakker on bass (he replaces former bassist Jorgen Skjoldenwho died in 2000) and on drums there's a guy named Jotho.
This modern version of FESTER relies heavily on the death doom aesthetic leaving plenty of room for ambiance with blackened highlights especially with Andresen's tortured vocal delivery. Their sound overall is like a brooding repetitious march through a burnt out forest. The crunch of charcoaled wood under foot. The acrid smell of soot overwhelming your nose and watering your eyes. Everything around is dead as you trudge along with the faint whispers of ghosts lingering in the air. That's definitely a good description of the title cut as well as half of the material on here. When he's not pounding out the militaristic marching riffs Bjorn toys with melancholy patterns and minor soloing which gives off a grandiose effect. The opening cut "Rites of Ceres" is actually a beautiful sounding number if agony is your pleasure. Much of the rest sounds like a medieval nightmare including the clashing of swords, battle hymns and warrior funerals.
Even with all of that happy go lucky fun stuff previously mentioned FESTER tends to fester (for lack of a better word)on the industrial strength repetition which can get boring. During one particular listening venture for A Celebration of Death I dosed off and dreamt that I was in the dungeon of the black tower being tortured with a hot poker. I suddenly woke up to realize I had fell asleep with a cigarette in my hand and the burning butt was in my lap. Actually that's not as bad as the time when I fell asleep listening to BURZUM and woke up to find the room was on fire with the stereo still playing. But anyway I won't bury Bjorn and company under the ground that so many others have tread over since the last time FESTER put out an album. I'll even forgive him for the goth disco closer "Rites of Mortiis". Next time shorten the songs or at least include a few amphetamines with each release.
Rating: 3/5
Label: http://www.officialabyssrecords.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fester/204292849614033
