CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE / NESSERIA Split 12" review

CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE / NESSERIA Split 12"
Throatruiner Records
Genre: Grindcore/Experimental and Post Hardcore
Rating: 3/5

Another Sunday morning hungover another release from Throatruiner Records to review, which in past reviews is akin to being kicked in the head repeatedly by an unruly mob. Hey guys how about some nice safe brutal death metal for a change? But anyway here we have two bands who are prepared to enter your brain and at the precise moment explode into your dream cycle to create the worst noisy nightmares possible. You will wake up screaming in terror and if you don't believe me look at that cover artwork by Sin Eater. That's somewhat nightmarish. For those of you unaware, Throatruiner Records are purveyors in some of the most punishing post apocalyptic acts in the underground today. You might not see these acts on the huge festival stages but you probably would see these bands if you knew of some shows in undisclosed locations where the beverages served are homemade and better left untouched.

The first act on here, CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE, is a three piece who hail from Denver. Colorado. According to the promo material they are Funeral Grind which is strange since they sound like Experimental Grind, there's a joke in there if your conscience. I should also point out that my choice of using the word "experimental" is pushing it a bit. What else is feedback and guitar noodling referred to as, in a non mean spirited way of course? Of the band's four contributed cuts the quick opener "Opaque" followed by the insane racket of "Wrinkled Claws" almost had me running to the bathroom to throw up. No doubt these guys like PIG DESTROYER. Their other two cuts are excursions in dissonance as well as annoyance with "S.I.T.W." being somewhat of a dirge. I guess that's where the funeral part comes into play.

Next up on this platter is NESSERIA from France who push the limits with their brand of post hardcore noise and a heaping helping of sludge. When you have a hangover the last thing you need is something heavy. Once again they add four cuts and by the last one, "1789", I was ready to shut everything down, wrapped my head in a pillow and try to fall back to sleep. Unfortunately the neighbor's dog is barking so the music drowns out the little bastard. I believe if I played this for the dog the animal would keel over and die. Their opener "Freistadt" is slightly blackened hardcore with a caustic vocalist who sounds like he's on fire. Seriously it's as if someone doused the guy with gasoline, threw a match to him, handed him a mic and said "OK now sing before the flames die out. We can only do this in one take." Strangely enough their best cut on here is the instrumental "Mercure". Alright I'm done so pardon me while I go to the bathroom and throw up.

Label: http://throatruinerrecords.tumblr.com/

Here's a vid of CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE

And one by NESSERIA

SATAN'S HOST - By the Hand of the Devil CD review

SATAN'S HOST - By the Hand of the Devil CD
Moribund Cult
Genre: Blackened Heavy Metal
Rating: 5/5

A few years ago SATAN'S HOST played a gig at a local club and unfortunately I had to miss it. Yeah Black Metal gigs are tough for me especially on Wednesday nights. The club also serves as a practice space with various rental rooms in the back. Two friends of mine, whose band was practicing in the back that night, caught SATAN'S HOST's set. I think they were touring in support for their The Great American Scapegoat 666 release which came out in 2008. Anyway my friends told me it was a great set which I missed albeit hardly anyone was there. So listening to this new one, as well as 2009's Power Purity Perfection 999, is a constant reminder of greatness missed. For me the greatness of this band lies in vocalist Harry "Tyrant" Conklin who everyone knows from the Power Metal act JAG PANZER. (He goes by the name Leviathan Thisiren with this band) It's the power and range of Conklin's vocals (like a cross between King Diamond and Bruce Dickenson) joined with the music which makes this sound like MERCYFUL MAIDEN. Personally I'm not a big JAG PANZER fan, OK honestly I don't like em at all which is why I couldn't even review their newest long player this year but I like SATAN'S HOST. To me they're the dark side of the two headed coin and this head has the face of the beast on it.


By the Hand of the Devil is this band's best release by far in their long career which goes back to 1986. The clean arching majestic yet dark vocals laid upon the dark and dirty riffs with a solid rhythm section foundation which excerpts power. Guitarist Patrick Evil rivals Conklin's soaring falsetto vocals with his more cleaner melodic solos which are hot enough to cut steel. Certain cuts add background gang shouts that would be perfect for a crowded club audience to participate in. Yeah as long as it's not on a Wednesday night, right. There are a few newer bands these days who try to conjure up the ghost of MERCYFUL FATE. Some come close while others fail but mask it in their stage costumed theatrics. This is the only act today who are worthy to have their name mentioned in the same sentence with MERCYFUL FATE. Listen to Conklin's screams on the opening title track, "Revival", "Before the Flame" or on "Black Hilted Knife". I promise that you will turn to stare at your copy of MERCYFUL FATE's Black Masses 12", which you have tacked onto your wall (what doesn't everybody have there's up on their wall?) and ask "is it you"? OK that's pushing it .

This release breaks into many parts. The first half being more of a galloping classic metal structure with the second half starting out more heavier with songs like the previous mentioned "Black Hilted Knife" and "Revival". "Fallen Angel" has an almost thrashy URIAH HEEP feel to it. There's no keyboards of course but if they were to slip in some Ken Hensley Hammond organ in there it wouldn't hurt especially since Conklin sounds like he's conjuring up David Byron's best theatrical vocal prowess albeit from the darker side. Just to note Patrick Evil plays much faster than Mick Box ever could. "Inferior Worlds" is another tribute to 70's Heavy Metal cloaked in black. And if that's not enough for your sick twisted minds (think about it you are listening SATAN'S HOST people) there's a bonus track of the band covering "Norwegian Wood". Now I'm really sick of the BEATLES because I've been punished by hearing their music overplayed all of these years. But if memory serves me I do believe the lyrics are not "I once saw a church. Burn to the ground. Smoldering ash. I danced in the flames. Unleashing Hell. Sworn to Satan". What a way to end a record.

Label: http://www.moribundcult.com/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/satan'shost

Here's two videos for ya:

And here's their cover (?) of "Norwegian Wood" and don't forget to sing along to the lyrics.

I once saw a church
Burn to the ground
Smoldering ash
I danced in the flames
Unleashing Hell
Sworn to Satan

Ashes and flames scorched
Into the midnight sky
Flames enraged burning
Within the Demons eyes

I once saw a priest
Burn in the flames
Of Norwegian Wood
The chapel burned to the ground
Flames forever rising
Burning the sky

Each church as they burned
I felt a dark delight
Flames of Hell
Consuming into life

I danced in the ash
Forever the flames
Formed into life
I drank of the blood
Dark Lord Satan

Burn in the flames
Of Norwegian Wood

COUNTERIGNITION - Spit or Swallow CD review

COUNTERIGNITION - Spit or Swallow CD
Self Released
Genre: Thrash/Groove Metal
Rating: 3/5

Although this band hails from Kovin, Serbia they could be from right here in the states. Seriously there's a Thrash/Groove Metal act in every burg around the country that has a live music scene. But I shall not let my own personal stateside experiences and prejudices effect a quality (?) review of this release. Everyone knows I'm objectionable (ha!) I mean as far as my ignorance the Serbian music scene goes these guys could be kings. What has become old here in the states is still thriving in Europe. Look at Thrash and Speed Metal for example. Now I'm probably wrong in classifying this as only Thrash and Groove Metal, not that those styles are not in play here which they are. But the fact is that COUNTERIGNITION play a combination of many variations of those themes which run throughout their songs. They even toss in some folk elements and more melodic passages which really blows away any pre-conceptions. Pigeon holing them would simply be an insult. What I like is how they pile on plenty of sludge into those grooves at times plus they include some edgy solos added to that the vocals are rough sounding. Those three elements alone plus with their variations show that these guys are not playing by the genre template rules.

When I first read the info about em and saw those words "thrash/groove metal" I thought the worst. For those of you who read Scumfeast Metal 666 regularly (and frankly who doesn't) you know that I have no love for that genre of metal. I even consider it mainstream instead of extreme. Listening to this release I can honestly say that this band has progressed ahead of the tired thrash/groove genre to add personal character into it. And they do it with subtlety plus the production on here is slightly raw which makes it an interesting release. You wouldn't think it to be technical but once again that's all in the subtlety. They throw a cool sounding headbanging groove at you and then bend it towards a different direction completely. You listen to this a few times and you can catch so much they are hitting you with. Like I said I'm not a fan of the genre but after listening to this it's obvious that COUNTERIGNITION is pushing the boundaries to meet with their own creativeness.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/counterignition

PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS - Depths CD review

PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS - Depths CD
Adverse Order
Genre: Black Metal
Rating: 5/5

Coincidentally last week I was discussing online with a friend from Europe about what Black Metal releases came out this year which were great. I gave him my list of thirteen and that was that. Now this drops in my lap so now it's time to reconfigure my list. I first learned about PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS in 2009 when I was checking out another Austrailian band, NAZXUL. You see both bands share members, Balam, Desolate and Wraith are from NAZXUL plus on drums it's Basilysk. Back in 2009 NAZXUL release Iconoclast which in my not so humble opinion was one of that years best Black Metal releases. That same year PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS came out with In Memoriam Ill Omen which was pretty damm good as well. So here's their latest and I'm still impressed. Depths is a mixture of epic tremolo picked savagery and haunting atmosphere which simply draws you in till it's completion. It works that way because the harder edges drive you along with the melodic elements keeping things interesting. The opener "Lost Geists Of The Sunlight Sphere" held me in a trance but not a sleep induced one. Seriously I could be drinking coffee while sitting in my office chair (which had to have been designed by an ancestor of an inquisitor from the Spanish Inquisition) and still doze off to some atmospheric black metal. Not with PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS because not only are they welcoming you into this corridor of sound but you find yourself asking to be taken deeper. You want to find out what's around the next dark corner no matter what. "Tribulations Of Man" with it's moaned vocals are calling to you and at it's ending the haunted choir vocals answer.

Although PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS stays with the parameters of the Black Metal template (thank you very much) as far as musically the vocal exercises do not. Along with the previous mentioned examples another stands with "Choirs Beyond The Blackened Stars". The vocals are merely spoken words from an off worldly presence which switch to harsher tones all while the guitar and drum beats drive you further along. It's akin to being on a carnival ride where you get in the cart, the doors open and inside you go to another dimension. From the dark depths of despair from which you've just went though you get shocked by "Architects Of The Spear" with it's horrific anger and sadistic image inducing aura. "Shrine" is almost comforting in it's early ambient stage until giving way to the releases most grandiose cut. I mistakenly turned the volume up a few notches to bask in the songs ambiance only to be blasted out of my comfort zone as hostility ensued. "Poisoner" has a melodic rhythm quality that borders on a deranged dark psych vibe until the final volley which pounds everything to death. "Putrid Earth" is a more depressive even though it drenches you with intensity. Finally the title track is a sense shattering climax full of tempo changes, variation of structures, whispered and aggressive harsh vocal cries. This ends incredibly to the point of your mind being drained after close to an hour of music manipulating your imagination. The variety of techniques PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS uses pulls apart your psyche. I'm clueless as to this being a conceptual piece or not. All I can say is that Depths is a Black Metal release which must be listened to from start to finish to allow it's grip to take hold of your senses. Once that's been done reality fades away to reveal a realm of grays and blacks. Seriously I did not want this thing to end.


Label: http://www.adverseordermusic.com/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pestilentialshadows

AZARATH - Blasphemers Malediction CD review

AZARATH - Blasphemers Malediction CD
Witching Hour Productions
Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 5/5

Now this is how an obligatory opening intro track on a Death Metal release should be, if you have to have one. "Arising the Black Flame" is just four seconds long. That's right just four seconds and then the blasphemy commences. For those of you who don't know, AZARATH has always been the outsiders of Poland's more famous (or infamous) Death Metal trident of evil aka: VADER, HATE and BEHEMOTH. Strangely enough AZARATH's drummer, Inferno, is also in BEHEMOTH. Even with all of that AZARATH has released four incredible long players since 2001 and that's with multiple lineup changes. Still this new one follows in that great tradition. Simply put Blasphemers Malediction is bestial blackened death rampaging up from the nether regions because they were giving the horned one the frights. While men use powerful equipment to drill deep inside the earth AZARATH uses heavy pulverizing riffs and intense drumming to tunnel their way up from the depths. Pardon my use of "underground" metaphors but hell in their case it works. Yeah well but anyway I've been a fan of these guys for a while so pardon my bias but these guys can do no wrong in my book. I know 2011 has been the year were every "highly anticipated" extreme metal band's release has left fans with their jaws dropping to the floors in disbelief in how shitty they turned out to be. Thankfully I knew AZARATH would not be releasing an industrial record. Industrial strength yes like a fifty story abattoir running on overtime. After that previously mentioned four second opening Blasphemers Malediction lets loose with ten full cuts of diabolical destruction. Every one is a blistering full on assault of technically proficient blasphemy and going through every song title would be an insult to you evilness. Just order it now.


Label: http://www.witchinghour.pl/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/azarath666

NAILGUN MASSACRE - Backyard Butchery CD review

NAILGUN MASSACRE - Backyard Butchery CD
Slowrunner Records
Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 4/5

Over the years I've had plenty of friends who were carpenters and framers. All of em had a nailgun mishap story and of course a few had some sadistic ideas for alternative uses of nailguns. I've used one myself a few times and I always worried about accidentally shooting myself in the leg or kneecap. (Which is usually the main injuries) Now without going into any more job site accident stories (Although I do have a great one about a guy getting pulled into a wood chipper) this band has two great things going for em from the start. They're from Holland and they've got a great band name. As regular readers of Scumfeast Metal 666 know I'm bias when it comes to bands from the country of my family's heritage. But when it comes to Death Metal, while other nations had to get into the revival mode as far as Old School Death Metal goes, the Dutch didn't have to. They've always done Old School Death Metal right. Am I bias? Yeah. Hyperbolic? Not really. Is this good music? You're damm right!


NAILGUN MASSACRE comes at you with the brutality of AUTOPSY and the insanity of IMPETIGO with a zombie-fied Martin Van Drunen on vocals. Just listen to "Albert The Geek" and you will know I'm right. Face ripping guitar solos are a rarity on Backyard Butchery. Although there are plenty of extended leads, the meatier ones appearing on "Cadaverous Lay", "Mortuary Meathouse" as well as "Spanish Spider". The band makes up for it by packing their songs with enough bludgeoning intensity that you really don't care. This five piece could be the house band for a weekend zombie movie fest. Trust me, the band would be more horrifying then the flicks. This thing is gore, death and more gore with an old school production value that will make your late 80's Death Metal demo collection jealous. Eight songs total and no really fast blasts to speak of. Most of the cuts creep along at the speed of a zombie (that's right people zombies don't run). Since I got absolutely no info on this band I can't tell ya if these are young guys out to continue the great Dutch Death Metal legacy or older veterans having a blast. Either way zombie themed movies might be getting too cliche but music like this never will as long as sick minded individuals create it for hungry fans. They're not out to re-invent the genre but they will keep the beast in you fed.

Bandcamp: http://nailgunmassacre.bandcamp.com/album/backyard-butchery

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/nailgunmassacre666

DECAPITATED - Carnival is Forever CD review

DECAPITATED - Carnival is Forever CD
Nuclear Blast
Genre: Death Metal (?)
Rating: 1/5

This is the fifth full length by the newly resurrected DECAPITATED. Just to recap past events, back in 2007 the band's tour bus collided with a truck while they were on their way to a gig in Belarus. Their drummer Vitek would later die a few days later from the injuries sustained in the accident. Their singer Covan still recovering from his head injuries. That left guitarist Vogg to continue on in whatever capacity he felt worthy. He chose to keep the band name and recruit new members. Now obviously with the type of circumstances involved here one should expect some differences. For the past decade they've been Poland's premiere Tech Death act with some decent albums under their belts. I liked two out of the four they've released but now things are different. You wouldn't think a dramatic change was in store since it's still Vogg's riffs, solos and songwriting. But yeah this is pretty mainstream metal here which will probably appear up on the local cable TV metal channel. That's right I'm calling the new DECAPITATED CD the dreaded "Cable Metal". This is the type of stuff for people with no attention span whatsoever who wear baggy shorts, over sized t-shirts and baseball caps worn backwards of course.

Yes I know it's sad but true and you can't escape it especially when this thing opens up with the power chugged vibes and "core" style vocals. Some of the cuts have that groove structure while others sound industrial except for the last cut which is acoustic. It's not a total loss since there are a few choice cuts that veer away from the formulated stuff. Unfortunately this thing has rotted my brain to the point where I just can't put my finger on it. Next thing you know I'll start liking MESHUGGAH or any similar crap retread copycat of theirs. Some people might take what I've written as being harsh. Well frankly yes I am being harsh for a good reason. Normally I wouldn't touch a band like this because it's mainstream sounding metal. Sure Vogg slips in a few cool solos but as far as these songs go they're forgettable, boring and annoying. Mainstream people like things forgettable, boring and annoying. Well DECAPITATED were at one time an exciting band who were part of that great Polish Death Metal tradition. Unfortunately they're now moving into another direction. Mainstream people will probably go nuts for this as they should.

Label: http://www.nuclearblast.de/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/decapitated