Author: Andrew Risch

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BLOODLETTER – A Different Kind of Hell – REVIEW

 

Halloween is officially over for most people, which means it’s time for the general public to start making their Xmas shopping lists and descend into yuletide madness. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Trve Kvlt Coffee. Here we are working on a different kind of list.

The list of the best Metal releases of 2023.

Bloodletter’s newest ripper, A Different Kind of Hell is a definite contender for the coveted number 1 slot. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve spun this banger. It just keeps getting better each and every time I listen to it.  The album is 30+ minutes of some of the new best melodic/thrash I’ve heard in some time. Each and every track is explosive and goes right in for the kill.

One of the things I enjoy most about this recording are the killer harmonized guitars lead and riffs that are plentiful throughout the album. Never have I had such a good time getting my teeth kicked in! Bloodletter’s execution is spot on and perfectly walks the line between traditional thrash and blackened thrash. While the vocals aren’t guttural, they still come across savage and are a perfect match for the sonic blur of sound that is going on here.

From the opening track, “The Howling Dead,” to album closer, “Flesh Turned to Ash,” Bloodletter hardly pause the chaos for a moment. This is an album that grows with each listen. After you survive the initial beating you’ll begin to discover incredible riffs, harmonies and arrangements outside the blast zone.

When Wise Blood Records called this a “Thrasterpiece,” they weren’t kidding!

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HEMPLIFIER – The Stoner Side of Doom – REVIEW

 

Alright friends. Grab a seat. Take off your shoes. Lean back and relax. We are going to take off on a journey through the stars with Hemplifier. The group’s debut album is 6 tracks of weed and riffs worship.

Just as their band name and album title suggest, Hemplifier play slow and heavy riffs filled with plenty of fuzz and bong fumes. The 6 track album starts off with “Headless Chicken,” that features a slow drum march. Their sound goes a few steps further with the next track, “Brujo.” The track sludges along for some time until the haunting and howling vocals kick in. While there is plenty of slow and heavy riffing there isn’t much on the vocal front on this album.

This is pretty much the stage that Hemplifier has set. 7 to 8 minute tracks of sludgy, fuzzy and mellow riffing with the occasional howl or scream. Just like Sleep or Weedeater you can practically smell the ganja in these tracks. Keeping it simple Hemplifier have cooked up a nice little listen for the times you just want to relax and let the music take you.

Or you’re just giving your neck some rest.

 

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KRIGSGRAV – Fires in the Fall _ REVIEW

 

Labor day is the unofficial last day of summer in the states. Many begin look forward to Fall with its longer and colder nights and onslaught of pumpkin spice products. Here a Trve Kvlt, nothing warms our little black hearts more than a fresh serving of Black Metal.

Krigsgrav is from Texas and with the current heat wave the states is experiencing, it might as well be Hell itself. Perhaps just the spark of inspiration that band needs to keep pumping out incredible material. Fires in the Fall, is the group’s 7th album in their 20 year existence.

One of the first things that hits you on your first listen is the outstanding production. Every note and sound is heard and has a larger than life feeling. This is especially felt in many of the Doom elements that are infused into the recording. While production value is often looked as the enemy of Black Metal, Krisgrav expertly use it their advantage.

Krisgrav creates melodic atmosphere throughout the album. Each song feels massive and takes on a life of its own. At one moment you are enjoying a nice slow Doom beat and the next Krisgrav hammers you over the head with some killer thrash riffs and hooks. The band perfectly fuses these elements together with great fluidity.

Closing track, “Alone with the Setting Sun,” is the band at their peak. Krisgrav adds just the perfect touches of Doom, Black and classic Death Metal here to make an absolute banger. There are too many great guitar moments here to count. Stop reading and start listening!

 

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TEITAN – In Oculus Abyss – REVIEW

 

Anyone else remember Oculus Orbus; the giant sickening bloodshot eyeball from the Madballs toyline? I can’t help but to be reminded by looking at this album cover. With nasty song titles like the soon to be a favorite scent at Yankee Candle, “Menstrual Blood and Pommegrenate, ” Teitan has a few more things in common with the gross out 80s property.

While the foundation of this album is rooted firmly in shocking Black Metal foundations there is plenty more to be heard at its core. At many points the sounds within feel experimental at first but develop for as you listen. It’s a moody listen with plenty of shifts and changes. There are plenty of shrieking vocals and savage guitar tones to keep the purists happy.

  Teitan does seem to like to experiment in how far and hard they can take the vocals. In times the vocals feel like they are made to be jarring just for the sake of jarring. While this is definitely isn’t for everyone, it’s this kind of experimentation that make Teitan interesting,

The instrumental  arrangements are were this album really shines. Unlike the vocals the synths seem to made for a different audience. Its weird, it’s strange but it is accessible.  Synth tones go from dronning to haunting to catchy.

Teitan is out there trying something different and for that reason alone it’s worth checking out.

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VHS – Quest for the Mighty Riff – REVIEW

 

You gotta hand it to VHS. Death Metal hasn’t been this fun in ages. Not only that, but their music simply rips and consistently gets better with each release. Each album also follows a different theme usually having to do with some sort of movie or television show. Past themes include Vampires, Italian horror and killer sharks. This time VHS ventures slightly outside of horror and into the realm of fantasy. Quest for the Mighty Riff is one awesome journey that you’ll want to be part of. ( *SPOILER ALERT* There are plenty of mighty riffs to be found here)

VHS plays tribute to some of the best there is in Sci-Fi and Fantasy films suchs as Excalibur, Highlander, He-Man and Beastmaster.  As a product of the 80s I wholeheartedly approve.

The album starts with some perfectly epic narration as VHS begins their Quest for the Mighty Riff. “Cleve ’em and Leave ’em,” starts things out fast with some nice and fierce punk fueled mayhem. It’s the perfect blend of Death and punk. In true punk fashion it barely last 90 seconds but still leaves a mark.

VHS keeps the party going buy continuously melding genres. You’ll hear plenty of Death Metal mixed with grind, thrash, punk and even some old school traditional metal (“Hail King Arthur,” I’m looking at you.) No two songs sound the same as VHS throws more killer riffs and styles than you know what to do with.

For me, “Eternia Needs a Hero,” is the standout track. Not just because the world needs more songs about Skelator. I’m a sucker for anything in the vein of Black Thrash and this song fucking delivers that and more. The riffs are punchy, the vocals are sicks and twisted and the lyrics are funny as hell.

dea does what many albums hope to do; provide a little something for everyone. No matter what genre of Metal you dig, you are gonna find something to love here.

 

 

 

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CORPSESSED – Skeletal Grotesquery – REVIEW

If it wasn’t for the few moments of crowd interactions between songs and the band introduction towards the end of the album, I would not have pegged this for a live album. Corpsessed are just that tight live. Not to mention fucking brutal.

Skeletal Grotesquery was recorded live just last year at the Braincrusher in Hell Festival that took place in Germany. Corpsessed must have taken the festival name to heart as this is a totally savage performance. If you are one that finds themselves on the fence regarding live albums, this may the one that sways your outlook.

If you are new to the band, this performance highlights 9 of groups best tracks. The vocals are awesomely savage and guttural  matching perfectly with the mid tempo and murky guitars. There is plenty of complexity to their sound. The fact that they can pull this sound off so efficiently makes for such a satisfying listen. You can literally feel the brutality coming off this recording.

Judging from what is heard here, Corpsessed are a fucking ferocious live.

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DEMONSTEALER – The Propaganda Machine – REVIEW

 

Coming to us from India is Demonstealer. The man behind Demonic Resurrection has put together 8 tracks that are the collective vision of 4 drummers, 4 bassists, 3 lead guitarists and one keyboardist from all across the planet.

While that’s a lot of cooks working on the same meal, the results here are for the most part pretty damn impressive. “The Fear Campaign,” starts off the album with a huge jolt and barley lets up in it’s 6 minute playtime. Everything sounds larger than life from the thunderous bass and drums, sick vocals and some really catchy synth tones. Is it Melodic Death Metal or is it Symphonic? I dont give a shit, all I know this is one helluva a banger and it perfectly starts the album.

As you listen to the following tracks, you can hear the different flavors that each artist brings to the table. Some parts are more brutal, some are more technical but it all feels like it is coming from the same band. That’s a big plus in my book as often times collaborative efforts feel like a different band with each song.

The only parts I can’t deal with are the Metalcore clean chorus parts. They are too monotonous and take me completely out of the song. Maybe I’m just an old man and don’t understand the genre. The Death Metal vocals however are brutal as fuck and thoroughly make up for it.

While the album seems to loose a little steam at the midpoint, the first 2 tracks on this recording are so intoxicating, you’ll find yourself wanting to listen to more.

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GYRDLEAH – Spellbinder – Review

Often I stream albums for review during my day job. It’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone and makes the work day much more enjoyable. However this album gave me pause. Spellbinder does not work well with the exciting world of Excel Spreadsheets.

That’s not a dig in the slightest. Gyrdleah’s long awaited debut album is meant to be savored and digested with minimal distractions. The band was formed in the UK back in 2005 and took until just this year to release what is considered their “debut” album. While the group did manage to release an EP back in 2011, this is their first full length.

Grydleah perfectly deliver plenty of Black Metal staples with their sound from the low-fi production, eerie treble and savage shrieks. Most of the album has a slow and somber feel as the songs lurch and lumber from track to track. The band includes a good amount of clean vocals in their attack. While many extreme metal fans balk at even the mention of clean vocals, Grydleah make great use of them. Often their tracks are darker even more bleak with them.

Another reason why it was difficult to work and review this album was that it took a few spins for the sound to sink in. There is a lot going on here as the music often easily goes from savage to somber and vice versa. There is a lot to unpack here. The more you listen, the more you pick up the next time.

Opening track, “Stab the Lamb,” starts with a crawl and soon sees the band at their fastest towards the middle of the song.It is also the perfect song to open to as it gives you an idea of what is in store. All in all, if you are looking for some depressive black doom that dosen’t get old after several spins, be sure to check this one out!

 

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LAST LEGION – Metall, Blod & Aska- REVIEW

You know that feeling when you hear the first few notes of an album and you instantly realize that you are going to love it? That’s the exact same feeling I had when I heard the opening and title track, “Metall, Blod & Aska.”

Last Legion is a Swedish band that formed in 2009. After releasing an EP in 2021 the band return with their debut full length album. And it’s a helluva debut too. It’s equally savage as it is thrashing; Black ‘n Roll madness. If you are a fan of Midnight, Hellripper or Cloak this is definitely worth your time checking out.

After the first neck snapping track Last Legion changes gears a bit with “Dodens Falang.” With it’s somber and atmospheric beginning it helps showcase that the band is not just your average Black Thrash band. The violins add the perfect uneasy touch. The band quickly blasts the speed back up towards the midpoint of the track. Last Legion blends in plenty of classic Black Metal eerines and savagery to keep it compelling.

All of the lyrics are sung in the groups native Nordic language. Although many English speaking Metalheads may not understand the lyrics, they are delivered perfectly savage here. Something about the lyrics being sung in their native language ups the brutality for me.

This album contains tons of hooks, groovy riffs and plenty of blast beats. At some times it feels Black N Roll or Black Thrash and at other times it feels like classic tried and true Black Metal. However at all times, they are savage as fuck. While they aren’t offering anything we havent’t heard before, they are giving us one hell of a ride.

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ARDENT NOVA – Self Titled – REVIEW

Upon playing the opening into track, I was prepared for a heavy handed dose of Power Metal. While I quite enjoy the style and sound in the intro the rest of the album’s sound is vastly different.  Once the second track, “Rise from the Ashes,” kicks in Ardent Nova quickly change gears to a Heavy Thrash and Melodic Death style. There are still plenty of epic Power Metal elements here. Only without the operatic and often times chessey over the top vocals. The vocals on the this album are harsh,callous and out for blood.

The band was originally known as Pagan Thunder when they first formed over 20 years ago, now going Ardent Nova, they have released an amazing self titled release. If you are a fan of Melodic Death Metal, you’ll find yourself enjoying the abundant harmonies and groves. Thrashers will enjoy the speed and fans of Power Metal will be ready to ride into battle.

Some may want to label the band “Viking Metal,” as most of the songs are written about epic battles and Pagan beliefs. Which may be fair but it would be an injustice to Ardent Nova to compare them to other well known “Viking Bands.”  I love Amon Amarth but Ardent Nova just hit on a whole new level.

Make sure to give this one a listen, you won’t be disappointed.