Tag: Death Metal

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MYRDOD – The Mourning Hollow – REVIEW

The Pennsylvania duo unleash a portal into a dank a swampy void of Hell with their latest release, ” The Mourning Hollow.” Myrod provide plenty of thick Black Metal atmospheric chaos that warps the mind as they take you with them beyond this realm. The recording is just as thick and murky as any good ol’ classic Black Metal sound should be with echoing rasps and tortured screams oozing through each track. “Orb Weaver,” starts the album with a somber and eerie tone that gradually adds in blast beats drums and guitars like a rolling storm. “Drom,” is the standout song here with sick guitar riffs that make you want to put your fist through a wall, inhuman garbage disposal sounding lyrics  It’s a brutal assault on the senses that will leave you scrambling to pick your brains off of the floor. (Naturally, in a good way.)  “Diabolical Ancient Blessing,” closes things out with enough adrenaline and speed to leave you thirsty enough for another spin.

Myrod’s blending style of raw Black and touch of Death Metal is a brutal and spiritual assault that is as melancholy as it is savage. A must listen for this Holiday season.

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VHS – I Heard They Suck…Blood! – REVIEW

Canadian horror monsters, VHS are back from the crypt once again with more thrashy, trashy and blood splattered tracks based on films from the great video store era of the 80’s and 90’s. This time the band focuses its  theme on the most rocking creature of the night; vampires. VHS plays a killer style of death and roll that is part thrash, part death metal, part grind and so on. If you are a fan of Carcass, Midnight and Ghoul this is a can’t miss. Being a band of each of them, this album has already received heavy rotation in my collection. VHS even managed to snag a few guests on this album as well. Trevor Strnad and Dave Ingram lend their unholy howls to tracks, “Horror of Dracula,” and “Immortality Comes with a Price,” Not only is music here top notch the sound bites included are worth the price of admission alone. If you are a horror film fanatic, you’ll be impressed with some of the films that VHS include in their undying homage to bloodsuckers. From classics like “The Lost Boys” and “Near Dark” to cult classics “Martin” and “Monster Squad,” this release will make you want to go back in time and visit your local video store.

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HATEMONGER – The Vile Maxim – REVIEW

Hatemonger’s “The Vile Maxim” is simple, short and savage as fuck. The Chicago based group performs a killer style of no frills, no fads, no holds barred Death Metal that is set to stomp your skull into the soil. Their sound is fresh and familiar without the “retro” Death Metal sound that many bands are trying to emulate these days. Vocals are are vicious, the guitar work has plenty of thick and heavy riffs and the drums are filled with great blast beats, all the ingredients you need in your Death Metal stew. If you listen carefully enough, you’ll notice a hint of some early Swedish Death Metal style amongst the carnage. The songs within are both brutal and on topic with such titles as, “Plague for Days,” and “Disinformation Campaign.” If there is at least one good thing to come from the Pandemic, it has provided plenty of material to keep bands busy for years to come.

 

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SON OF SAM – And the Monster Awoke… – REVIEW

Son of Sam are our second band out of Sweden to release a debut album this month. “And the Monster Awoke..” takes on different musical direction then what are subscribers are used to hearing. Call it Power Metal or Death n Roll if you will, though one fact that remains undisputed, this album is much more….cheerful…than we are accustomed to.

The vocals here are mostly clean with enough Power Metal elements to slay even the mightiest of dragons. The music, however, has plenty of the old Gothenburg feel with catchy hooks and some excellent harmonies. It almost has a Children of Bodom feel. This combination actually works well for Son of Sam and keeps the album fresh and full of variety. No song here is the same. Opening track,”Son of Sam,” starts the album off with retro styled synth keyboards and haunting vocals. “I am,” opens a wall of classic Swedish Melodic harmonies with Power Metal vocals, while a little different upon first listen, this combination works well and is what helps set Son of Sam apart. “In Darkness and Dismay,” adds somewhat raspy vocals with some killer thrash riffs. Finally, “Space Rider,” sounds like it came straight from Amon Amarth’s playbook.

Son of Sam may be on the opposite side of the spectrum than what we are used to here at Trve Kvlt but they are worthy of listen and have enough variety to have you coming back for more.

 

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KRIGSGRAV – The Sundering – REVIEW

 

Wise Blood Records are killing it with releases this year. Dallas, Texas based Krisgrave have released their sixth full length album, “The Sundering,” on the label and it is an absolute monster. Their latest effort includes a new lineup featuring sole returning member David Sikora on the bass and drums and new members,Cody Daniels on lead guitar and Justin Coleman on vocals and rhythm guitar. Krisgrave takes some of the best elements of Doom and Black Metal and combines it with an impressive amount of Melodic Death Metal vibes. There is also plenty of atmospheric tones throughout this release that keep it from getting stale. Vocals alternate between deep bellows and high, raspy shrieks. The rhythm sections provides the familiar blast beats which blend in well with the impressive twin guitar attack of ferocious harmonies and head banging riffs. That is what sets this album apart from the many different bands that have developed a similar style of Black/Melo Death Metal. Krisgrav excels in blending both styles without sounding forced or sterile. The Doom elements are haunting and covered in a thick haze with plenty of different layers of instrumentation woven in. The Melodic parts will leaving you pumping your fist to the catchy riffs and incredible hooks.

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VHS – Gore From Beyond the Stars – REVIEW

If you are a fan of cheesy B-movies horror, then VHS has you more than covered. With song titles such as, “From Crystal Lake to Space,” “Earth Girls are Easy,” and “Space Jam,” (yes, you read that correctly, it is not a typo.) “Gore from the Stars,” is oozing with plenty of film references to your favorite interstellar horror and science fiction films.

Have you ever noticed once a franchise starts to become a little stale, setting the next movie in space always seems to be the next option? Jason, Pinhead and even the nasty little Leprechaun have all taken the trip beyond the stars for better or worse. (mostly worse) So, how does VHS fair on their 4th album? Are things starting to go stale? Have they run out of any fresh ideas?

Thankfully Gore From Beyond the Stars delivers all of the maniacal and brutal fun that we have come to expect from VHS while still remaining fresh and memorable. For those unfamiliar with their insanity, VHS sound like a blended version of old school punk, Grind, Thrash and Death Metal with deep guttural vocals and an infectious sense of humor.  Most of this release is hostile and brutal but VHS also delivers some diversity on this album to keep things interesting. The somber synth filled intro track, “Blast Off,” starts the album off with a nostalgic nod to 80s Sci Fi.  The tracks only intensify from here as VHS stomps your skull in with a blitzkreig of horror mayhem with most tracks well under the 1:30 mark. “Earth Girls are Easy,” breaks this mold with an extremely Glam Metal feel compete with some ridiculously funny falsetto vocals and almost power ballad feeling solos. Another highlight are the movie samples that proceed most of the songs giving you a little break in their blood soaked audio onslaught. “Space Jam,” is an instrumental track that takes a moment to slow things down with some incredible grooves and solos that may leave you asking yourself, is the same band? If you are a fan of the humor of the legendary Macabre but need something a little more hard hitting, this CHUD is for you.

 

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SIX OF SWORDS – Regime Decay – REVIEW

 

 

Ontario’s Six of Swords bring some heavy, groovy and brutal punishment with their latest beast, “Regime Decay – Polar Vortex.,” which is a pairing of their first two EPs. While playing old school Death Metal has become popular in the extreme metal scene in recent years, Six of Swords manages to retain the old school vibe while still managing to include plenty of modern Death Metal elements. Think Morbid Angel meets Gatecreeper and you’ll get a good idea of what Six of Swords is trying (and succeeding) to accomplish.

What makes this a great listen is the amount of variety with each track. With that being said, there is not anything fancy or over the top to be found here. No blast beats, no break downs and no overly complicated or technical guitar riffs. No. This is just some down and dirty Death Metal. Sometimes, simpler is better. Some songs are full of complete brutality, while others chug along with some fantastic grooves. This is where Six of Swords excels. When they slow things down, they lay down some incredibly heavy stuff with great riffs and sick vocals. Vocalist Josh Gordon kills it on this release.  If you dig on Doom Metal, you are gonna love some of this serious sick and sludgy material. If you aren’t a fan of Doo, there is still plenty of Thrashy and speed to keep you raging here and sending you straight into the pit.

 

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STENCH COLLECTOR – Effluviatorium – REVEIW

The selection of music in this month’s coffee subscription is full of incredible and brutal and ripping bands. I have heard nothing about Stench Collector prior to this review but I was already loving the band by their name alone, add the gross and gruesome cover art and I’m sure I would have pick this up to satisfy my morbid curiosity alone.

The EP starts off with an eerie narration of a young child talking about boiling a cat followed by some realistic (and nauseating) chewing sounds. Now that’s a start! Adding thick and meaty grooves with sick and twisted lyrics belched out with some impressively deep guttural vocals, you have a band that has clearly earned the right to call themselves Stench Collector.

“Effluviatorium Du Jour “serves up a full meal with their debut EP. Riffs and grooves rip through each track while the drums perfectly hammer in the chaos and deliver a well balanced debut EP. For those who like like their Death Metal raw, gory and dripping with power, this gross out group out of Rhode Island deliver the goods. While most of their material here is sludgy and mid tempo, Stench Collector is not afraid to put in a few bursts of speed as well, which can be  heard most notably on the track, “Eye Socket Maggots. Production is slick and is reminiscent of the Scott Burns days at Morrisound. Redefining Darkness Recordsare bringing old school Gore Metal to the next generation.

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GRAVERIPPER – Radiated Remains – Review

Indiana’s Blackened Thrashers, Graveripper’s latest effort, “Radiated Remains”, is going to spend a lot of time on your favorite streaming services, record player, tape deck or anyway else you may happen to enjoy music. It’s that good. While 80’s inspired Thrash and Speed Metal crossing with Extreme Metal is nothing new, Graveripper manages to feel fluid and fresh as well as sick and savage on “Radiated Remains.”  Fans of Midnight and Toxic Holocaust are sure to find themselves loving this release. In fact, the EP itself was produced by non other than Joel Grind! The band has only been around since 2018 and is already riding some impressive waves.

One thing that all Thrash fans can agree on, is that nothing compares to a killer riff and this EP throws more riffs out than the listener knows what to do with. This EP was bred for multiple listens as you will discover and fall in with something new with each spin. (or stream) The vocals are another strong selling point that Graveripper have going for them. Lead vocalist Corey Parks does a tremendous job of straddling the lines of Thrash and Death Metal, melding together perfectly.

While Graveripper certainly aren’t offering anything innovative or new here, their sound feels much fresher and more organic and natural than many other bands that attempt to capture the beloved early 80’s Thrash sound. If you have around 20 minutes to spare and just feel like banging your head to some raw and angry Metal crammed with some amazing riffs, this one’s for you.

 

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INHUMAN CONDITION – Rat God – REVIEW

 

 

It is often said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I can’t help myself with this one. I would pick this album up based on its artwork alone. With one quick glance at this retro throwback looking cover it looks and feels like it came out of the 1988-1991 golden era of Death Metal where Death, Obituary and Deicide were kings. But holy fuck! Rat God have nailed the old school Death Metal sound. Riffs are filled with hooks, heavy grooves and mid tempo to skull crushing beats. If you are in any way a fan of Death, specifically the “Spiritual Healing era”, this is a must for your collection.  The opening to Gravebound sounds like Schuldiner himself some how appeared on this album. Hell, if you are just a casual fan of Death Metal, this is required listening for the nostalgic factor alone. Hundreds of Metal bands have been riding the retro wagon for years, but Inhuman Condition not only excels well above others but their sound feels true and genuine and not forced.

“Rat God” was originally intended to be a new Massacre album (Notice that logo font?) that was conceived by Jearmie Kling and Taylor Nordberg.  Death Metal god, Terry Butler whom has been a part of more Death Metal bands than I have room to include, teamed up with the duo to help finish the album.  Rat God will pull you in from the opening screams of “Euphoriphobia” and leave you savagely salivating for more by the time you hear the last notes of “Fait Accompli.” Man. What do they put in the (swamp) water in Florida? If you enjoy meat and potatoes, tried and true, classic Death Metal, this one is for you. Highly recommended.