Author: Andrew Risch

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CELESTIAL SANCTUARY – Soul Diminished – REVIEW

 

To start off the band bills themselves at the top of the game in  “The New Wave of British Death Metal,” In addition, the group’s name comes from a track off of the legendary Bolt Thrower’s 1992 masterpiece, The IVth Crusade. Before even starting to listen to the album, Celestial Sanctuary come across hard and heavy with some rather boastful claims. Thankfully, the album lives up to the hype. Having formed only recently in 2019, this is a surprisingly solid debut release that is full of killer brutality from start to finish. If you dig skull splitting, knuckle dragging classic Death Metal, make sure not to let this one slip past you. All the songs are killer with absolute no filler. Opening track, “Rid the Gormless,” comes out with  hard old school, mid tempo Death Metal brutality that instantly hooks you in. “Wretched Habits,” is a great showcase in the slower is usually heavier way of thinking and has some immensely  savage riffs. “Mass Extinction,” is perhaps the standout track here that really showcases the band’s strengths with brutal riffs and savage vocals that will leave you wanting crank it up well past 11. It’s refreshing to hear that Celestial Sanctuary still manage to make their sound their own even as they pay heavy tribute to bands like Obituary and Bolt Thrower. If you are still curious if the underground is able carry the torch and continue the sick mission of classic Death Metal, give this one a spin.

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FLOOD PEAK – Fixed Ritual – REVIEW

Fixed Ritual is an epically heavy EP. The songs contained in this release are full of crushing riffs that submerge the listener into their dark, depressive and gloomy world. While this release may not be for everyone, anyone who enjoys their metal drenched in sludge and dread, this makes for a satisfying listen. You want some Doom and Gloom to go along with your first up of Joe as you begin your work week? The boys in Flood Peak are are ready to take you for a ride in a sludgy sonic scape of misery in their sea of despair. The EP barley clocks in at 30 minutes but you’ll swear this musical journey you are taken on with this listen lasts even longer. The vocals have an impressive range going from haunted howl to mid range melodies. The guitars perfectly blend in a world both absolute bleakness and chaos. Just when you think a song is going to hammer a riff right through your skull, the music becomes calms down to a crawl.

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POISON WIND – Virus! – REVIEW

As we inch closer to shows opening back up and the year anniversary of Covid shutting everything thing down in the first place, we actually starting to see new  projects and albums come emerge from this rather bleak period of time. Poison Wind bills itself as a “Quarantine Band.” The group was formed in the earlier stages of the pandemic by Brian Magar (Cultic, The Owls ANWTS) who brought together some of his musician friends from other groups to remotely compose and record 8 tracks which would become “Virus!” Mager laid down the groundwork with the drum tracks then passed the recording off to the rest of the group who supplied the guitars, bass and vocals. The band did not know who or which members they were working with at any time

With such a unique method of recording it has captured an extreme metal album the encompasses many different elements ranging from Doom, Sludge, Black, Death, Grind and even some Thrash elements. The songs themselves riff of the chaos that has been the last year with such titles as, “Branch Covidians,” “Get me out,” and “Wear a Fucking Mask!”

All of this adds up to a satisfying listen full of diversity ,some killer experimentation and good ol’ fashioned cooped up quarantine fury. More than a novelty album, this is proof something good can come out of a lockdown.

 

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HELLRAIZERR- Life After Death – REVIEW

Here is another ass kicking release courtesy of our fine fiendish friends at Reaper Metal Productions. Hellraizerr is the new solo project from Cursed Moon’s Sal Hellraizerr.  “Life After Death,” is full of 80’s soaked speed metal with a touch of blackened thrash resulting in a surprisingly melodic approach to a usual chaotic assault. As the name would suggest, most songs are inspired by horror films such as 1987 classic, Hellraiser.  Does anything go better together than metal and horror? The first half of the album will leave you banging your head to the blistering solos and early thrash inspired vocals. Retro styled thrash and speed metal have been quite popular in recent years but not many bands have added another well loved 80’s element; synth. “Hellbound” is an incredible instrumental that fully feels and sounds like it was pulled from a mid 80’s Italian splatter film. The second half of the album brings back more balls to the wall speed metal with a little more variation. Chris Hellking who laid down much of the drums for this recording, provided some excellent clean vocals on “Seeing Red,” that contrast perfectly with Sal Hellraizer’s gruff vocal delivery. Overall this is a great release that is full of speed laden hooks, blistering solos and some great synth mixed in for a fist pounding journey in nostalgia.

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MOTHER OF GRAVES – In Somber Dreams – Review

Mother of Graves is an Indianapolis based band formed by of extreme metal veterans in 2019. This is the kind of output you get when you have a lifetime of experience between members….Metal Magic! This is Melodic Death/Doom at it’s finest. “In Somber Dreams,” is an incredibly powerful listen with some standout performances throughout. The production is slick with the occasional clean guitars and atmospheric piano and of course, some punishing doom loving riffs. “Nameless Death,” is the prefect track to listen to if you want to get a real feeling for this release. From the opening notes, it is crammed full of heavier than hell doom riffs, while keeping an extreme somber and melancholy feel, then the vocals and piano undertone drive the song home.

If this EP is any indication to where metal is heading in 2021, we are on the right path.
To get your little hands on this ep, head on over to WISE BLOOD RECORDS

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NAV- Necrotic Voices from the Ether – Review

Most of the nation is gearing up for a tumultuous snow storm that may keep us encased in our tombs for the next couple days. Sounds like the prefect time to brew a pot of Trve Kvlt, kick back and turn up the Black Metal. Nav are the prefect soundtrack to a snow filled apocalypse. The vocals are sharp and cold, the guitar tones cut deep into the soul and the drums keep the storm raging. For just a 3 song EP, the duo behind the band put in a tremendous amount of musicianship into their blackened tales of Slavic folklore. With the opening track, “Drowning the Winter Goddess,” Nav start the EP with a blistering and filthy frenzy. “Blood Harvest,” is a real standout with eerily moving guitar beat, echoing vocals and perfectly layered and haunting electronic layers. It comes across as both dark and majestic at the same time “Altar of the Black Flame,” puts a nice cap on the release ending the EP with plenty of power while not sacrificing any quality. The production here is great without feeling “too polished.” This will be a group to keep your eye on to see what they do next.

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GRAVE DESECRATOR – Sign of Doom – REVIEW

Our second review for the month also borrows their sound heavily from Brazilian legends Sarcofago and early Sepultura. Also hailing from Brazil, (whatever is in the water there, is sure doing a great job of producing Metal bands) Grave Desecrator are ready to fuck shit up with their 2008 full length release, “Sign of Doom.”  Nasty and raw are two words that can sum up the sound happening here. There is plenty of sacrilege and chaos going in the music and lyrics to get even the most jaded Metalhead’s dark blood pumping. The pacing of the album is the perfect blend of speed without being too fast that it becomes a wall of noise or treads into Grindcore territory. It plods along with a nasty (and fulfilling) blasphemous fury. Lyrics are barked out in a filthy, venomous fury in the Old School Extreme South American Metal tradition.

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HEXORCIST – Bestiarum Vocabulum – REVIEW

 

If you are into down and dirty old school Metal, Hexorcist have you covered with their debut demo, “Bestiarum Vocabulum.” It’s fitting that the artwork provided for the album is for a cassette release. Listening to this makes you feel like you were a part of the early tape trading days. This recording will bring you back to the beginnings of extreme Metal with a sound that is familiar to early Sarcofago with a hint of pre “Reign in Blood” Slayer.  Even at three tracks Hexocist leaves much to be appreciate on this demo. The vocals have a great Black/Thrash quality to them and the guitar and drum work gels perfectly together. This is a prefect listen for the old school fans and the kids just being introduced to the scene.

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Reaper Metal Productions

 

We are doing things a little different this month at Trve Kvlt Headquarters. Instead of getting your monthly fix as a digital download, we will be sending physical copies of music with your orders thanks to our friends at Reaper Metal Productions. Who you will receive is totally random but with such acts as Lady Beast, Wormit Angel and Faithxtractor, it is safe to say that you are in for something good.

Owned and operated by Crucified Mortals frontman, Reaper, RMP has been a dark force working in various forms releasing several Vinyls, CDs throughout the years. For much more info on what RMP is up to check out there biweekly Podcast, Hellcast.

Comment below on who you received this month and tell us what you think!

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Halftone Horrors: The History of Horror Movie Comic Books! Kickstarter going on NOW!!

Most fans of Metal music are more often than not, fans of horror Movies. It seems like a match made in Hell as horror has been associated with Metal since the early beginnings with bands as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Venom. A great Metal song is much like a great horror flick; it’s exciting, chaotic and liable to rip your face off in a moments notice.

The makers of HorrorHound Magazine, lifelong comic and horror fans (as well as Metal) have gone through the Herculean task of putting together a hardbound, full colored book that is set to be the most comprehensive guide to horror movie based comic books.

 

The book is a 240 page behemoth of horror movies as they are have been told through comics throughout the years from the early days, the slasher and icon filled 80’s until today. Some of the featured films are Dracula, Night of the Living Dead, Hellraiser, Nightmare on Elm Street and Puppet Master. With over 600 different titles, you are sure to discover something new within these pages.

Now this is the part where you come in to save the day and slay the dragon. This project won’t happen without your help. The fine folks from HorrorHound are in their final stretch of their Kickstarter campaign and need just one more push to make this nightmare a reality.

Click Here to go to the Kickstarter.