Category: Album Review

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TOMBTOKER / HAZE MAGE – Split – REVIEW

 

My first impression of this album based on the psychedelic looking Dungeons and Dragons inspired artwork, is that it looks like a cross between Eddie from Iron Maiden and Rita Repulsa from The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. That may sound like an offbeat and strange comparison but it somehow works. Tombtoker and Haze Mage are a strange combination that also somehow just works. Both bands come from a very Doom and Sludge background and can lay out some heavy and thick grooves.

Tombtoker is the heavier of the 2 with guttural vocals and sludgy guitars tones. Braise the Dead is a catchy opener with some great riffing and killer grooves. Botched Bastard (which is a great song title) slows things down but keeps the heaviness.

Haze Mage is on the other side of the spectrum here with their Sabbath meets Sleep style of hazy guitars and Doom and Groove sound. Sleepers takes you on a trip back in time of thick smoke covered venues and 70’s stoner jam bands. Pit Fighter is more upbeat with some great tempo changes and crawling solos.

Splits are a great way to introduce yourself to a band you may have never heard or heard of before. This split does an incredible job of taking 2 different types of bands with the same sound that go great together.

Find this EP in this month’s Coffee Subscriptions!

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AKURION – Come Forth to Me – Album Review

 

From Montreal, Canada comes Akurion and they are here to kick your ass with some brtual Death Metal. No matter how you like your Death Metal; technical, melodic, blackened, etc, this debut album is worth a listen for any fan of exteme music. It come as no surprise here as Akurion features members of Cattle Decapitation and Cryptopsy, you know you are in for a treat of killer riffs and brutal melodies.

From the opening track, Leave them Scars, Akurion, comes off with a vengeance with growling vocals courtsy of Mike DiSalvo and the pounding bass of Oli Pinard. Pedals from a Rose… slows things down a bit but does not skimp on the brutality. Souvenir Gardens is an epic piece clocking in at a little over 11 minutes. It begings with an incredible atmospheric piece that has classical feel to it that is rounded out quite well with some acoustic guitar work. Year of the Long Pig is an unapologetic crushing piece that comes off as raw and chaotic and one of the best tracks featured here.

Come Forth to Me is an enjoyable debut from a Death Metal, “super group” that does not feel it was just piece together as a side project as most of these types of collaborations can often feel. This album was made for multiple listens with it’s raw, gritty, melodic and atmospheric riffs ,pouding and grooving bass lines and crushing vocals. This is a well crafted album that will perfectly fit in your library.

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ETERNAL ARMAGEDDON – In Light In Dark In Hate – Album Review

 

Black Thrash Bastards is the perfect opening track for this debut album from the Bangladesh trio Eternal Armageddon. It kicks you hard in the teeth from the get go with thrashy guitars, raspy vocals and punishing drumming. They sound and feel like a bunch of Black Thrash Bastards. Seriously. This is pure trashy classic Bay Area inspired Thrash sprinkled with heavy does of Black Metal and cooked to perfection. Fans of Midnight, Venom and Sodom will want to pick this one up quick. Hell, fans of Metal should check these guys out.

Vocals are filthy, guitars are buzzing and drums are blasting, yet this is an extemely captive listen with plenty of octane to keep you coming back for more. Hazam the Black Reaper manages to slow things down for just a moment before going for an early NWOBM sound. It is just as awesome as it sounds. The guitar work for the rest of the album is very heavily Thrash influenced but works oh so well. Once the plague of COVID-19 is over, I can see huge circle pits forming anytime this band takes the stage.

In Light In Dark In Hate is a solid listen from start to finish. Incredible hooks, slick production and enough raw energy to put them at the top of their tier.

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THRONE OF MALEDICTION – Perfect Tragedy – Album Review

If watching Mountain Men has taught me anything, Montana can have some brutal and unrelenting winters that takes a total bad ass to survive. Throne of Malediction are a Blackened Doom Metal band from the Metal as fuck state of Montana fronted by Eric Sartana Horner. Horner is a musical beast who performed Guitars/Bass/Keys and Vocals on all tracks. This EP is a little something old and a little something new. The first three songs are brand new recordings while reminding tracks are demos and covers the group recorded throughout their history.

Legacy of Sorrow is outstanding track with some crunchy riffs, melodic shifts, growling vocals as well as some epic sounding keys. Horner even manages to lay out some clean vocals here that work well and do not feel forced or out of place. The title track, Perfect Tragedy, clocks in at nearly ten minutes that really showcases Throne of Malediction’s Blackened Doom flavor. Horner leads the listener on a darkened path of crooning guitars, melodic riffs and some impressive solos. The vocals are gruesome and on point bringing this epic saga together.

The demos included on this release are also worth checking out for their dirty and raw feeling alone. The covers included are pretty damn good as well. Nailbomb’s Cockroaches has new feel with Horner’s vocals. And speaking of vocals….Horner included a haunting acoustic cover Danzig’s I Don’t Mind the Pain. Danzig is a tough act to follow in the vocal department but not only did Horner nail the cover (with clean vocals!) here he managed to make it his own

 

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ULVKULT – Lupus Occultus – Album Review

Lupus Occultus, like the title suggests is centered around Werewolves. Luckily, this EP is really something you can sink your hungry fangs into. This release is the band’s debut demo which is hard to believe as it feels like anything but. The tracks here feel and sound like they have been laid down by a well seasoned band that has already released a few albums. They guys in UlvKult are clearly well established musicians. The production value on this recording is tight and professional and sounds like they clearly know what they are doing in the studio. Don’t worry, it’s not over produced, this is some killer sounding Trve Black Metal. 

Carpathian War Bells is a great track to start off with it’s crushing guitars, killer bass-lines and intense vocals. The song is relentless and full of classic Black Metal intensity and fury. This three piece stay true to their word of “no trends, no gimmicks, just trve Black Metal.” Full Moon Necrmancy is a killer song with plenty of shattering riffs, blast beats and incredible vocals that will have you screaming along. Wyrd of the Wolves is a great choice for a closing track. It starts of crushing only to slow down into heavy groove with some impressive guitar solos that fade into another fury of intense old school Black Metal. 

If this is their first effort, UlvKult are definitely a band to watch.

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SALLOW MOTH – The Larval Hope – Album Review

 

The Larval Hope is an excellent science fiction/B-Movie themed concept album composed by sole member Garry Brents. Get your popcorn ready as you prepare to listen to a brutal tales of celestial humanoid nature preserving moths as they battle an evil human army bent on total space colonization. Think Avatar but actually well worth listening to and fucking metal! There are plenty of bands that write about demons, vikings and dragons, it’s refreshing to see such an original concept here. It is also interesting to note that 90% of digital proceeds of this album’s sales will be donated to animal sanctuaries.

We have some great classic sounding Death Metal here that is reminiscent of the earlier works of Morbid Angel and even Death. While you can hear the old school influence, the album does not rely heavily on the sounds from those classic acts. There are plenty of great hooks (“Death Mutation Vs. Metallurgic Summonings” being a great example) sludgy riffs and plenty of atmosphere that keeps The Larval Hope fresh and original and not just carbon copy of tried and true Death Metal.

This is an album that is best experienced from start to finish as is the case with most concept albums. “Glimpse the Unthinkable” clocking in around 9 minutes is an excellent closer bringing in several Death Metal elements and tying it perfectly fit the The Larval Hope saga. While this album is short, you will want to spin it a few times as there is plenty of high quality material here to interest even the most elitist of metal listeners.

 

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IAPETUS – The Body Cosmic – Album Review

 

Most of the time, I like my Death Metal fast, aggressive and unrelenting. But sometimes I need to change the pace a little. With The Body Cosmic, Iapetus add plenty of atmosphere and progressive and technical touches to make this album a complex and satisfying listen. Don’t worry fans of extreme metal. This isn’t a snobbish prog record. There is plenty essential Death Metal aggression to spare.

What works best here is the seemingly easy fusion of both Death Metal and Black Metal to a Progressive background. The Body Cosmic is the first track and runs over 10 minutes. Most Grind fans can listen to entire discographies in this time, but don’t let the run time scare you away. The track blasts off with harsh vocals and heavy guitars. About halfway through the song takes an atmospheric turn. This change doesn’t feel jarring or abrupt. It just works. Many reviewers have this release near the top of their lists for 2019, not for nothing, this is dynamic and different release that has little something for everyone. Just when you think a part of a song is starting to feel tired, they change it up with a different style or a different pace.

And this where The Body Cosmic really shines, in it’s instrumental structures. Progressive music often gets a bad wrap for it’s complex and longer songs. Iapetus have mastered the prefect balance to keep both fans of Progressive and Extreme Metal happy. The Body Cosmic is so full of atmospheric energy it sets itself up for multiple listens.

Be sure to give this album and do not let the 70 minute run time intimidate you. This is an epic, almost spiritual and reflective piece to listen to. Sometimes it’s good to slow down. Pure yourself a nice cup of (Black!) coffee and give this a spin.

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CRUCIFIED MORTALS – Converted by Decapitation Album Review

Crucified Mortals brings old school thrash from Cleveland, Ohio. Playing 80’s inspired thrash has been popular with many new metal groups over the last few years with no slow down of the trend in sight. Luckily, Crucified Mortals are not a band that relies heavily on a gimmick or genre.

Most of this EP sounds like a cross between early death metal and thrash. Craig “Reaper” Horval lays down some seriously angry vocals here that are strong and howling, sounding somewhere in between classic Venom and even the more modern black thrashers Midnight. The layered riffs on this release are sure to have many banging their heads along with their darkened and dedicated thrash melodies. Sentenced to Extermination starts off with a haunting voice over regarding Nazi gas chambers only to be brutally followed by sick lyrics, pounding drums and intense leads. If this song dosen’t get you into the pit, nothing will.

Converted to Decapitation does an excellent job of flying the flag of well revered “Bay Area Thrash” scene and is definitely worth checking out even if you are not a die hard thrash fan with a denim vest covered in patches, blood and piss.

 

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POWER FROM HELL: Devil’s Whorehouse REVIEW

POWER FROM HELL: Devil’s Whorehouse

Reviewed by Andrew Risch

 

Power From Hell’s fifth album is another trip down memory lane with strong influences from the
early 80’s heavy hitters such as Slayer, Venom and Bathory. For over 15 years now these
Brazillian thrashers have had a cult following in underground metal. Not without reason as
Devil’s Whorehouse is a simple yet satisfying album full of headbanging mini anthems and dark
and dreary atmosphere.

The album hits with the track, “Old Metal,” which immediately gives off a Venom vibe with it’s
hybrid feeling of Black/Thrash Metal riffs. Most tracks follow suite with plenty of filthy riffs and
croaking vocals that aren’t meant to be understood. The band also manages to slow things
down with their some atmospheric offerings on the track “Black Forest.” Nodding heavily to the
early Norwegian scene that first made Black Metal so intoxicating. “Long Road to Hell,” closing
the album out perfectly with it’s surprisingly groovy and bluesy feel.

Power From Hell’s Devil’s Whorehouse manages to be a great listen and one that fans for Blackened Thrash Metal will be sure to add
to their collections.

 

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BOTIS – Grand Abominations Review

BOTIS – Grand Abominations Review

Reviewed by Andrew Risch
Philly based quartet Botis, unleash a plague of slick as hell Black Metal that sounds almost too good to be a self produced debut album. Mind you, this isn’t your traditional type of Black Metal either with plenty of Thrash and Melodic Death Metal thrown in for a satisfying and complex listen.

 The opening track fires off with a technical ferocity of killer riffs, pulverizing blast beats and inhuman screams before slowing things down for a brutal midsection piece with some great bass work added to the mix. Taking bits and pieces from across the entire metal spectrum, Botis showcase incredible musicianship on this release. The second track, “Rodente,” is a real standout with it’s trashy almost punk like riffs showcasing how Botis seamlessly blends many different styles into a great and even catchy song. And the eerie chorus at the end of the track? Perfection! “Gullet,” is the longest track here clocking in at a little over 8 minutes, this is an epic track  with a unique piano outro that bears repeated listens. The albums closer, “The Nobel King,” finishes the album up perfectly, not too heavy, not too soft, but enough to leave you wanting more.

 

If this is their first attempt at a recording, Botis proves that they are a band that needs to be on your radar in the years to come.

Catch Botis in this month’s coffee subscriptions, here
Be sure to sign up by midnight (EST) tonight!

 

Botis is:
Erik Levitsky – Guitar
Graham Noël – Bass
Greg Bogart – Drums
Peter Hraur – Vocals

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