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MUTILATED BY ZOMBIES – Scenes From the Afterlife – REVIEW

 

This recent heatwave that has been going on for the last month leaves me not wanting to leave this house. Luckily Mutilation by Zombies’s new album melts my face without even having to step one foot out my door.

The dastardly trio pack an inhuman amount of tight riffs, crushing vocals and swirling tempos in one convenient little  package. These group from Iowa can get a lot more sound with less compared to another certain Iowain band with 37 members.

This is everything you ever loving black heart wants in a good ol’ Death Metal album. Disgusting album art on the outside, sick and twisted tales of horror inside. With tracks such as the neck snapping, “Headcount Rising,” to the spooky and hauntingly somber, “Reincarnate,” what’s not to love?

Scenes from the Aftterlife perfectly melds several types of Death Metal to keep from growing stale. There are plenty of grooves alongside some savage technical passages to keep your skull rattling. If you are looking for more breakdowns and beatdowns they got you covered too.

For my money, “Molten,” is a complete banger of a song. Awesome grooves, crunchy riffs and plenty of pissed of energy to share. Crank this one up to 11 and scorch the neighborhood.

 

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WYNDRIDER – Wyndrider – REVIEW

 

With the extra long holiday weekend, it’s a great time to take a moment, reflect and relax. And what better to do just that than to listen to the mellow and raw Doom tunes from Wyndrider’s debut album.

Fans of old school Doom such as Black Sabbath and Budgie are gonna love the thick and juicy Blues flavors that run the course of the album. The fuzzy tones and flowing solos will propel you into another reality while the soothing vocals guide you along the way. Vocalist Chloe Gould’s haunting melodies blend in perfectly with Wydryder’s classic Doon approach.

Sonically this is an incredible showcase of a debut album delivering killer grooves in spades. The fuzzy guitar work throughout the recording leave a haze in the air that dosen’t seem to go away even long after the record has finished playing. WyndRyder aims to take the listener on a sonic journey and succeeds throughout much of the album.

If you are looking for something new with your Doom, you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for that old school classic Doom with a nice dash of Southern Rock and the Blues, this one is for you. Gould’s soothing vocals and the guitar tones are worth the price of admission alone.

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GRAVEHUFFER – Mile High Live – REVIEW

Recorded live from the Mile High City, Denver Colorado on July 9th of 2023,Gravehuffer’s live album perfectly captures the mayhem of one of their live shows. It’s the next best thing to actually seeing the band in person. Plus you probably won’t get any bruises, broken bones or lost shoes jamming to this one at home.

For a live recording this album sounds fantastic. You can actually make out each instrument which is even a challenge for a grind/doom/punk/etc/etc band to achieve under studio conditions. But don’t let that frighten the grindheads out there. There is still plenty of carnage happening here. “Go Murder, Pray and Die,” still comes out savage as fuck. (Just try not to tip over the couch if you are listening at home. Or do. I don’t care. I’m not your Mom)

Vocalist Travis McKenzie even provides some amusing crowd between songs often involving some clever self deprecating humor. Who knew necrophilia could be so funny?

In addition to the live show, Gravehuffer included a few cover songs. “Like Rats,” (Godflesh) “Destroyer,” (Twisted Sister) “Inca Roads,” (Frank Zappa) and “Children of the Grave.” (Black Sabbath) The Frank Zappa cover is…..interesting. However, Gravehuffer some how transitions this into a killer doom crusted cover of “Children of the Grave.”  Don’t ask me how. It just works.

 

 

 

 

 

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MORGUE TERROR- Self Titled -REVIEW

At first glance the cover to Morgue Terror’s debut EP looks like a Dangerous Toys album or a Flea Market grade Art the Clown. The truth is Morgue Terror is an album about Horror’s newest Icon, Art the Clown from the Terrifer films. The band likely had to tweak the image enough to keep everyone’s lawyers happy.

Just like the films the songs are based off, Morgue Terror plays sick and brutal. There is a ton of groove behind the mayhem that gives off impressive early Cannibal Corpse vibes. “Salt the Wound,” is a neck snapper with some sick riffs and even nastier vocals. As the track goes on Morgue Terror turns up the heat and adds some pretty tasty solos.

“Night Stalker,” slows the pace but keeps the groove. The blast beat drums at the mid point pair perfectly with another impressive solo buy guest guitarist Brian Mason. “Broken, Beaten, Beheaded,” brings more intense riffage to the table that hammer the licks into your head. “Morbid Curiosities,” has a nice early thrash feel in the beginning that quickly quicks into high gear making it one of the more faster and brutal tracks on the EP.

“Chopped up Chum,” closes things out with a crawl that quickly amps up it into a wild frenzy of mayhem. Just as the song nears the end, everything slows down to an erries on easy crawl as the sound filters out.  Much like the films the music is based on Morgue Terror are a sick assault on the senses, with stabbing riffs, bludgeoning drums and sickening vocals.

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ALTAR of BETELGEUZE – Echoes – REVIEW

 

Do you love Doom Metal? Hate it? Don’t care for it? Altar of Betlegeuze has you covered with their latest release, Echoes.

The Finnish Doom masters have cleverly melded multiple styles and sounds into something that is accessible to everyone. Every note feels heavy as Altar of Betlegeuze set out to prove slower usually means heavier. Altar of Betlegeuze aren’t playing slow just for the sake of being a “Doom” band. Every note march the songs forward. No fancy fills or strange ambient passages. Throughout the recording you’ll hear harsh and clean vocals, sludgy riffs and even some hints of Groove Metal. “Embrace the Flames,” is a banger that feels a little different than the rest with its’ “speed” Altar of Betelgeuze is able to do all of this while remaining true to their original Doom beginnings, keeping it mean, slow and heavy.

If you are looking for an album to introduce yourself or a friend to Doom Metal without scaring them away, look no further.

 

 

 

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TYRANNUS/Magicide – Tory Punching Music – REVIEW

Tyrannus and Magicide’s newest release may be short but it leaves a mark. The mash up idea of blast beating black metal and hard hitting EDM may sound weird on paper but totally works here

In this under 10 minute EP Tyrannus’s contribution track takes up the majority of the length with it’s 5 minute “Bricks & Flesh”. It’s a brutal assault that is sure to leave you senseless. There is plenty of finesse in their attack however. Between the buzzsaw driven guitars are some killer solos and savage vocals. The drums on this song are simply amazing.

Magicide starts off their contribution with “Madness” that starts off with some odd sounding EDM music mixed with some crushing Death Metal beats. Odd but it works. “Tory Punching Music,” is more of the same. While the track runs only 1:39 feel free to spend more time punching and beating down fascists.

Tory Punching Music is a short and savage EP. The contrast between blast driven metal and EDM beats are enough to keep this release interesting despite its short length.

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HAREMSLUTS – Code Minority – REVIEW

I’m not sure what the Hardcore scene is like in Dhaka, Bangladesh but if HaremSlut’s new EP Code Minority is any indication, it’s thriving and liable to cause internal bleeding.

HarlemSluts is a one man project by Asif Arbar. For live performances HaremSluts play as a four piece. The EP was mixed and mastered by the king of one man noise, Joel Grind. That in itself is reason enough for me to check this release out. Like most hardcore and crossover groups, this EP is covered in political and anti-facist lyrical themes.

While there are only 4 tracks on this EP, Code Minority packs a wallop. The root of HaremSlut’s may be Hardcore but there is plenty of crossover and punk influence melded in. The title track is strongest output here. Arbar screams out his frustrations about racial inequality all the while laying down some catchy melodies.

“False Alarm,” slows the pace down a bit  but still delivers with Arbar lyrics taking center stage. “Take ’em Down,” brings a little more punk to the party with fantastic gang vocals that will leave you screaming along.

 

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ESANGUINATE – Eldritch Anatomy – REVIEW

 

Now that we are settled down in the New Year, it’s time we revisit some filth from years past with Esanguinate’s nasty debut album, Eldritch Anatomy. Not for the faint of heart, this release hits almost as hard as a steaming cup of our Kaffe Storm.

When the record starts, Esanguinate rockets out of the grave. The band leaves not a moment to waste.Starting out you will instantly notice some old school Death Metal sounds and feels that resemble Massacre and Morbid Angel. It has an old school feel but the band adds another layer of murkiness that elevates the atmosphere. Esanguinate songs here mostly draw upon a dark occult theme. The band does a great job including just the right of tremolo picking to drive  that feeling home. Not quite Black Metal here but just enough to bring in the right amount of darkness.

There is a ton to like here. For the most part Esanguinate has a mixed bag tunes here. Some tracks come in hard and thrashy perfectly rattling your spine. Others slow down, taking more of a Doom feeling atmospheric approach. Vocalist Andrej Čuk does an incredible job here switching his sound from style to style.  Plenty of killer thrash and Death Metal riffs to keep your inner head banger happy.  There is enough variety here that this album was made for repeat listens. It would really be interesting to see how the band handles performing these songs alive.

For a debut band this is one hell of a solid release. This will be one to watch.

 

 

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SUFFER, Gristle, Bruised Spots & Trimmed Fat – REVIEW

 

South Dakota’s Suffer was formed way back in 1989. The members were only teenagers at the time but where still able to boast themselves as pioneers of the early Brutal Death Metal movement. Admittedly I had never heard of Suffer prior to checking out this EP. I quickly learned that I need to correct this mistake.

While the band never really enjoyed the attention other extreme bands enjoyed in the 90s, Suffer has plenty left to prove with this EP. Opening track, “Human Primal Cuts,” is a brutal monster. The riffs are hard as hell but they still leave plenty of melody with the guitar solos. The vocals go hard and are right on par with Carcass. That’s a huge plus in my book. Speaking of Carcass, the lyrics are sick, twisted and foul. Suffer may not have released a proper album in over 20 years but they sure haven’t lost any of their brutality in any of that time.

With only 3 new songs on this EP it’s enough to whet your appetite for the next album. Thankfully Suffer isn’t going to make us “Suffer,” (sorry) and wait too long for their next release. Their next full length album, Grand Canvas of Aesthete, is coming out this year. You can preorder the upcoming album at Wise Blood Records  starting 1/29/23.

In the meantime, I’m going to check out the rest of Suffer’s discography.

 

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GOHANGMUSIC – Godless EP – REVIEW

 

And now for something completely different.

When you first inspect the cover to GoHangMusic’s EP Godless, with the bloody figure and black crosses you may think you are about to check out some nasty and savage Black Metal. Once you hit play, you’ll find you initial impressions are wrong. Very Wrong.

The title track “Godless,” sounds like something off a generic rock radio station. It’s not bad by any means. It just not the gut punch we are used to. GoHangMusic bills itself as, “misanthropic industrial folk punk.” The music inside is as interesting as the genre they are a part of.  While nothing included here as as heavy as we are used to here at Trve Kvlt, there are plenty of rocking tunes.  Luckily the Ep really picks up with the second track. “Dust,” is full of killer riffs and clean refrains that become earworms. “Necrotized,” picks up the pace with plenty of punk inspired piss and anger.

“Awash,” sees GoHangMusic go in a different direction. The usual clean vocals are left behind for angry and raspy screams. The tempo slows down to a plodding pace creating the perfect eerie atmosphere.