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/
Mater Tenebrarum Records
Genre: Black Metal
In an era when you have some people wanting black metal to progress itself out of existence it's always good to hear something that hearkens to the genre's more primal past. ATER ERA hails from Slovenia and this debut release fits that prescription. In Autumn's Solitary Decline originally came out last Fall but you know how slow the Post Office is of late so I'm checking it out now. Yes that's a joke. Originally starting off as a solo project (I think they're a band now) the main architect behind ATER ERA is named S.S. The man's responsible for vocals, guitar and songwriting. Hopefully he was not involved with the drums which on here sound as if they were recorded in a cavern. Everything else sounds fairly good in a melodic yet still raw black metal way. The guitars have that crispy sound quality somewhere in-between bacon frying and a broken electrical cable sparking. Either way it's a menacing sound that greats you on opener "Vest". S.S.'s vocals have that ghastly horror quality that pairs well with the seminal epicness which is like a door that this act is banging upon. "Exanimus" displays that explanation perfectly with some variety in it's structure albeit a little eclectic. The final cut "Red Thorah" adds a little change from the monotony with surprise ambient passages within the crash and tremolo blasts. You could also consider it's closing somewhat psychedelic.
Rating: 3/5
Label: http://www.matertenebrarum.org/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/aterera
Hellthrasher Productions
Genre: Black Metal
DEMONIC SLAUGHTER are definitely one of the more prolific acts from the Polish black metal scene. Since starting out back in 2006 they've managed to unleash two EPs and three full lengths prior to this latest EP. On Dark Essence the band sounds like they're on a second wave Norwegian black metal trip. Imagine, if you will, mid period DARKTHRONE being fronted by a younger Atilla Csihar. One listen to “Inner-Self Transfiguration" will freak you out since the resemblance in sound and vocal style is uncanny. The rawness of the track will have you thinking this is actually from the early nineties instead of today. The same can be said for other tracks like “Descending Towards Oblivion” and "Blades of Decay" but that's not all of what Dark Essence showcases. Other tracks like “Vampyr” and “Black Storm Invocation" add haunting ambiance with slithering vocal invocations to this platter. It's not far away from what 1349 has done with their last two releases and it adds a break from the old school thrashing. Be that as it may this release is fairly simplistic. There's nothing really impressive enough to make this stand out amongst so many other BM artists.
Rating: 3/5
Label: http://www.hellthrasher.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/demonicslaughter
