Author: Andrew Risch

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ASSIMILATION – Tainting the Purity – REVIEW

Unrelenting Death Metal that sounds like it came straight from the early nineties AND a King Diamond cover?! Who said 2020 had to be a total shit show? With the first glance of the album art, you get a pretty good feeling on what you are getting yourself into. Fucking brutal chaos is what. Assimilation are back with their second album with plenty of blood thirsty, ripping and technical Death Metal. With pummeling blast beats, frenzied guitar work and some great vocals to tie it all together, this is a pure tumultuous Death Metal bliss.

This album is stuffed full with incredible musicianship. The technical guitar riffs and screaming solos stand out amidst the general chaos created here. Even though Assimilation are striving for a well established old and familiar sound, they still manage to feel “fresh” and that may be one of the album’s strongest points. Well, aside from an incredible King Diamond Cover. (don’t worry they keep plenty of falsettos in) 

“Tainting The Purity,” feels much like a long lost discovery from Death Metal’s classic and humble beginnings with plenty of high speed thrash intensity and brutality. Don’t expect any world changing or politically themed lyrics here either. With song titles like, “Immortality Through Consumption,” “Open Hospitality,” and Deformed Musculature,” this is an unapologetic classic old school Death Metal album. Breakdowns need not apply. 

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HANGING FORTRESS – Darkness Devours – REVIEW

If there is at least one great thing that has come out of Ohio (besides Trve Kvlt of course) is some damn fine quality Metal. Hanging Fortress formed in the city of Toledo in 2018. They play mostly traditional Death Metal for the most part with heavily Doom influenced guitar riffs and hardcore chuggs.

The band has been pretty busy during their relatively short existence already releasing two EPs before their first full length album here with “Darkness Devours.” While most of the musical output is in the slow to mid range with plenty of doom soaked guitars and coming across rather sludgy, this is not necessarily a Doom Metal album.  There is still plenty of rage and Death Metal influenced aggression here. The vocals are oozing, sick and guttural blending in perfectly with Hanging Fortress’ Overall sound. No high speeds here, but plenty of brutality. 

“Burned Alive,” serves as a great opening track as it starts things off slow and dark with pounding drums, a powerful rhythm section and ugly, unhuman vocals. “Blood Mountain,” does manage to bring the tempo up a bit into blast beat territory leading into a fantastic groove that was made to get heads banging. 

If you like your Death Metal well produced, heavy AS FUCK with plenty of Doom to spare, be sure to give this one a spin. 

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SVEDERNA – Hard – REVIEW

SVDERNA are a Black Metal band out of the frozen bleak depths of Sweden. On their third full length release, “Hard”, the band focuses their maniacal might to make a mark in the already crowded Scandinivian Metal scene. The first track ,”Den Arkaiska Rotan,” hits hard with blast beats and some blood pumping grooves that does a good job of setting the tone for the rest of the album. For the most part, this album is traditional, tried and true Black Metal. For those of you looking for something fresh and new, you won’t find it here. Which isn’t a band thing. While this may not be something “new,” this is still something good. SVDERNA fly the traditional Black Metal flag high and proud. There are some incredible riffs included throughout this release. The guitar work here is ‘Hard’s” strongpoint and will have you come back for more.The vocals work well here ranging from to tortured screams to angry shouts all fiendishly delivered in their darkened native Swedish tongue. Throughout the ten tracks here the band remains consistent and tightly knit. Perhaps the only thing that doesn’t follow the Black Metal playbook is the album’s production. It does not sound like it was recorded in leaky basement with a tape recorder. The production is very clean by traditional Black Metal standards and really brings out those killer riffs more.

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CRISISACT – Turn It Off – REVIEW

It’s refreshing to see that we are getting some good things out of this never ending pandemic. Since no one is touring for the time being, many of our beloved musicians have been able to make the most out of a shitty situation and focus their time and talent on side projects that may have otherwise never seen the light of day. 

 

Crisisact was formed by members of Psycroptic, Revocation and King Parrot, so going in you know the level of musicianship is going to be top notch. Although Crisisact is a little more stripped down than the founders’ fulltime gigs, this album still manages to stand firmly on it’s own merits. Crisisact’s debut release pulls no punches, coming in strong, fast and dirty. With 11 tracks and only about 10 minutes of playtime, this ferocious fury of old school grind/death metal hits hard and leaves a mark. 

 

While the hooks and grooves are rather simple considering the guys playing them, they are catchy as hell. This album is equally groovy as it is grindy. The title track, “Turn It Off,” is an excellent opener that perfectly showcases Crisisact’s sound. The band even managed to make a music video for “The Dog in me Unleashed,” which is definitely worthy of a 1 minute trip to Youtube.

 

“Turn It Off,” is pure crusty chaos peppered with elements of grindcore, hardcore and some good old fashioned tried and true punk rock for an intense listen that may lead to permanent neck damage. 

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INTOXICATED – Walled – REVIEW

Florida is brutal. Brutal heat, brutal storms, brutal people and brutal death metal. Intoxicated are adding another element of brutality to that list with their thrash infused debut release, “Walled.” This album has been a long time coming for the group with almost 30 years in the making as the band worked on other projects touring and playing with such acts as Obituary and Andrew W.K. The Trio never gave up on their original dream of playing killer no holds barred thrash metal . With that in mind, the tracks on this album feel like they bridge that early 90’s thrash and death metal gap. 

 

The album cover immediately gives off a Municipal Waste feel and for me that’s a sign of some killer thrash. The vocals are clean but have a certain dirty quality to them. The guitars are loaded with plenty of banging riffs and are tight. It’s clear this band has been together for quite some time. Openers “Smash the Line,” and “Get the Rope” are total thrashers that will make you want to fuck shit up in the pit. The second half of the album is where the bands musicianship really shines with tight riffs and grooves and some nasty vocals. 

 

This album lives up to the hype. Let’s just hope they do not make us wait another 30 years before giving us more. 

 

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LETULARIUS – Parasitic Subjugation – REVIEW

 

Lectularius bills itself as a “Brutal parasitic Death Metal from Dayton, Ohio.” This is a pretty apt description. When you stop to think about, bed bugs are fucking brutal and metal as hell. They feast on your blood as you sleep, multiply alarmingly fast, are seemingly impossible to kill and always return just like any good movie villain. It’s a surprise metal bands don’t sing about parasites as much. The name of the album, “Parasitic Subjugation,” is the perfect title to describe the type of music that’s in store with plenty of horrific tales of disgusting and terrifying minute blood suckers. The voice overs that introduce the songs are a nice touch and just as horrifying as the songs themselves. 

 

Parasitic Subjugation is a treat for fans of old school brutal Death Metal. Plenty of crunchy, heavy riffs, deep guttural vocals and screams pound their sound into your skull. The group also manages to add a touch of Grindcore to mix things up. There are only 5 songs on this release, but each song varies enough to warrant several replays. Hopefully the world gets it’s shit together as this would be a cool act to catch live. This a classic no frills unapologetic Brutal Death Metal album that may leave double checking your bed for unexpected visitors before turning off the lights 

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AWENDEN – Golden Hour – REVIEW

Awenden comes to you from Olympia, Washington with their second release, “Golden Hour.” This album is an incredibly atmospheric Black Metal experience from start to finish. Mostly a somber and reflective listen with bits of familiar Black Metal concepts of tremolo picking, blast beats and torchered vocals spread throughout the album. It’s enough to be relaxing and Metal as fuck at the same time. Metalheads can take some time to chill and reflect too. 

Awenden has often been described as Cascadian Black Metal which is noted for its lengthy atmospheric compositions, which are awesomely abundant on this release. Most tracks on “Golden Hour” extend the 10 minute mark, but the songs flow well and before you know it, you have listened to the album in its entirety. Even those of us who may have a shorter attention span by listening to entirely too much Grindcore will find this a thought provoking and intriguing listen.

The production on this album is incredible which is important to note as many Black Metal bands have the recording quality of a Casio keyboard in someone’s parents’ basement. The record sounds full from start finish and captures the fierce flows of chaotic guitars and vocals into melancholy synth and murky and sinister arrangements. 

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SHEZMU – A Travers Les Lambeaux – REVIEW

 

Shezmu is basically the Egyptian demon god of wine, oils, blood and slaughter, which makes for a fucking epic band name. The band lives up to the expectations of their namesake by delivering an absolutely crushing debut album.

 

The lower end guttural vocals are perfectly blended into the sonicscape of maniacal musicship that goes from lurches along one moment to fast and frenzied burst the next. Shemzu perfectly blends the best elements of extreme Metals like Doom, Death, Black and even some atmospheric bits like some sort of twisted alchemist. With thick and meaty groove riffs that quickly change tempo alongside some solid drumming, pounding bass and wild variety of vocal effects, Shemzu are putting something out that is both fresh and familiar. 

“Les Secrets des Ziggourats,” has an amazing mid song groove, alongside some incredible blackened thrash and some additional haunting vocals to great effect. The interlude ,”La Rage,” is haunting and eerily relaxing instrumental that perfectly breaks up an otherwise rather intense album. 

With plenty of unrelenting brutality expertly mixed with intense and almost hallucinogenic atmospheric vibes,” A Travers Les Lambeaux” is a truly unique take on tried and true Extreme Metal components while remaining faithful to the source material. 

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CURSEWIELDER – Arma Christi – REVIEW

 

Not much is known about the mysterious Cursewielder. The group hailing from South Ireland, released their debut demo EP, Arma Christ via Fomorian Hate Recordings earlier this year. With only 3 songs, it’s a short but powerful listen. The recording is extremly raw, dark and murky as fuck. Just the way we like it!  This demo is covered in plenty of harsh vocals, crushing riffs and an enveloping and ever present darkness. Orifice Mysticism brings the speed and fury mixed in with some evil ambience for good measure. Hordes starts off with a sludgy doom like pace before killing it with the blast beats and going back to the sludgy style. Cursewielder does a great job transitioning smoothly between styles. Evulsion Spectre closes out the demo with some killer some classic thrashy and old school sounding Black Metal.

Cursewielder has already gone into a second printing of this release at the time of this review as they are already begining to cause a stir in the extreme underground. It will be interesting to see what they have in store for us when the release a full album.

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CHRONICLES – War Machine – REVIEW

 

Hailing from Dhaka, Bangladesh, ChroninicleS formed in 2015. After honing their craft for a few years the band independently released their debut EP, War Machine, in November 15th 2019. Bangladesh may not be well known for extreme Metal but the dudes in ChronicleS have sure done thier homework.

With plenty of fresh and evil energy with a hint of the old school Death Metal vibe, War Machine has plenty to like. The EP starts of with Call Your God. This track sets the tone with evil guttural  and screaching vocals, pounding bass and some impressive riffing. Add in some killer drum work with some intense blast beats and you have great intro track.  The next song, কসাই বধ (your guess is as good a mine) is a shorter track with a nice ambient feel midway through the song. The title track, War Machine, is the stand out on this EP with some great guitar work from the fiendish riffs that will have you banging your fists to th blast beats that will tear down walls. The screaching vocal style is extremely effective hear. Anubis the Perserver of Osiris nicely finishes the EP. The track starts of with a burst of speed and nasty agression and slows down with some great guitar solo trade offs before ending.

With only 4 tracks and a little over 15 minutes of music, War Machine was made for multiple listens as you drink your morning Kaffe Storm Coffee and finish your brutal drive to work.