Tag: metal

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SVEDERNA – Hard – REVIEW

SVDERNA are a Black Metal band out of the frozen bleak depths of Sweden. On their third full length release, “Hard”, the band focuses their maniacal might to make a mark in the already crowded Scandinivian Metal scene. The first track ,”Den Arkaiska Rotan,” hits hard with blast beats and some blood pumping grooves that does a good job of setting the tone for the rest of the album. For the most part, this album is traditional, tried and true Black Metal. For those of you looking for something fresh and new, you won’t find it here. Which isn’t a band thing. While this may not be something “new,” this is still something good. SVDERNA fly the traditional Black Metal flag high and proud. There are some incredible riffs included throughout this release. The guitar work here is ‘Hard’s” strongpoint and will have you come back for more.The vocals work well here ranging from to tortured screams to angry shouts all fiendishly delivered in their darkened native Swedish tongue. Throughout the ten tracks here the band remains consistent and tightly knit. Perhaps the only thing that doesn’t follow the Black Metal playbook is the album’s production. It does not sound like it was recorded in leaky basement with a tape recorder. The production is very clean by traditional Black Metal standards and really brings out those killer riffs more.

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CRISISACT – Turn It Off – REVIEW

It’s refreshing to see that we are getting some good things out of this never ending pandemic. Since no one is touring for the time being, many of our beloved musicians have been able to make the most out of a shitty situation and focus their time and talent on side projects that may have otherwise never seen the light of day. 

 

Crisisact was formed by members of Psycroptic, Revocation and King Parrot, so going in you know the level of musicianship is going to be top notch. Although Crisisact is a little more stripped down than the founders’ fulltime gigs, this album still manages to stand firmly on it’s own merits. Crisisact’s debut release pulls no punches, coming in strong, fast and dirty. With 11 tracks and only about 10 minutes of playtime, this ferocious fury of old school grind/death metal hits hard and leaves a mark. 

 

While the hooks and grooves are rather simple considering the guys playing them, they are catchy as hell. This album is equally groovy as it is grindy. The title track, “Turn It Off,” is an excellent opener that perfectly showcases Crisisact’s sound. The band even managed to make a music video for “The Dog in me Unleashed,” which is definitely worthy of a 1 minute trip to Youtube.

 

“Turn It Off,” is pure crusty chaos peppered with elements of grindcore, hardcore and some good old fashioned tried and true punk rock for an intense listen that may lead to permanent neck damage. 

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INTOXICATED – Walled – REVIEW

Florida is brutal. Brutal heat, brutal storms, brutal people and brutal death metal. Intoxicated are adding another element of brutality to that list with their thrash infused debut release, “Walled.” This album has been a long time coming for the group with almost 30 years in the making as the band worked on other projects touring and playing with such acts as Obituary and Andrew W.K. The Trio never gave up on their original dream of playing killer no holds barred thrash metal . With that in mind, the tracks on this album feel like they bridge that early 90’s thrash and death metal gap. 

 

The album cover immediately gives off a Municipal Waste feel and for me that’s a sign of some killer thrash. The vocals are clean but have a certain dirty quality to them. The guitars are loaded with plenty of banging riffs and are tight. It’s clear this band has been together for quite some time. Openers “Smash the Line,” and “Get the Rope” are total thrashers that will make you want to fuck shit up in the pit. The second half of the album is where the bands musicianship really shines with tight riffs and grooves and some nasty vocals. 

 

This album lives up to the hype. Let’s just hope they do not make us wait another 30 years before giving us more. 

 

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AWENDEN – Golden Hour – REVIEW

Awenden comes to you from Olympia, Washington with their second release, “Golden Hour.” This album is an incredibly atmospheric Black Metal experience from start to finish. Mostly a somber and reflective listen with bits of familiar Black Metal concepts of tremolo picking, blast beats and torchered vocals spread throughout the album. It’s enough to be relaxing and Metal as fuck at the same time. Metalheads can take some time to chill and reflect too. 

Awenden has often been described as Cascadian Black Metal which is noted for its lengthy atmospheric compositions, which are awesomely abundant on this release. Most tracks on “Golden Hour” extend the 10 minute mark, but the songs flow well and before you know it, you have listened to the album in its entirety. Even those of us who may have a shorter attention span by listening to entirely too much Grindcore will find this a thought provoking and intriguing listen.

The production on this album is incredible which is important to note as many Black Metal bands have the recording quality of a Casio keyboard in someone’s parents’ basement. The record sounds full from start finish and captures the fierce flows of chaotic guitars and vocals into melancholy synth and murky and sinister arrangements. 

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SHEZMU – A Travers Les Lambeaux – REVIEW

 

Shezmu is basically the Egyptian demon god of wine, oils, blood and slaughter, which makes for a fucking epic band name. The band lives up to the expectations of their namesake by delivering an absolutely crushing debut album.

 

The lower end guttural vocals are perfectly blended into the sonicscape of maniacal musicship that goes from lurches along one moment to fast and frenzied burst the next. Shemzu perfectly blends the best elements of extreme Metals like Doom, Death, Black and even some atmospheric bits like some sort of twisted alchemist. With thick and meaty groove riffs that quickly change tempo alongside some solid drumming, pounding bass and wild variety of vocal effects, Shemzu are putting something out that is both fresh and familiar. 

“Les Secrets des Ziggourats,” has an amazing mid song groove, alongside some incredible blackened thrash and some additional haunting vocals to great effect. The interlude ,”La Rage,” is haunting and eerily relaxing instrumental that perfectly breaks up an otherwise rather intense album. 

With plenty of unrelenting brutality expertly mixed with intense and almost hallucinogenic atmospheric vibes,” A Travers Les Lambeaux” is a truly unique take on tried and true Extreme Metal components while remaining faithful to the source material. 

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CHRONICLES – War Machine – REVIEW

 

Hailing from Dhaka, Bangladesh, ChroninicleS formed in 2015. After honing their craft for a few years the band independently released their debut EP, War Machine, in November 15th 2019. Bangladesh may not be well known for extreme Metal but the dudes in ChronicleS have sure done thier homework.

With plenty of fresh and evil energy with a hint of the old school Death Metal vibe, War Machine has plenty to like. The EP starts of with Call Your God. This track sets the tone with evil guttural  and screaching vocals, pounding bass and some impressive riffing. Add in some killer drum work with some intense blast beats and you have great intro track.  The next song, কসাই বধ (your guess is as good a mine) is a shorter track with a nice ambient feel midway through the song. The title track, War Machine, is the stand out on this EP with some great guitar work from the fiendish riffs that will have you banging your fists to th blast beats that will tear down walls. The screaching vocal style is extremely effective hear. Anubis the Perserver of Osiris nicely finishes the EP. The track starts of with a burst of speed and nasty agression and slows down with some great guitar solo trade offs before ending.

With only 4 tracks and a little over 15 minutes of music, War Machine was made for multiple listens as you drink your morning Kaffe Storm Coffee and finish your brutal drive to work.

 

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DAWN OF OUROBOROS – The Art of Morphology – REVIEW

 

The San Francisco Bay Area has always been a hot spot for Metal from the early 80’s Thrash scene to today. Dawn of Ouroboros proudly carry on the tradition of bringing fresh and exciting new exteme music to the masses with their debut release, “The Art of Morphology.”

This album is somewhat difficult to review but I do not mean that in any bad way whatsoever. In fact it is quite the opposite as this is an extemely great listen. Let’s start off by taking everything you know about Black Metal and toss it aside. Yes, I know that is a cliche thing to say but that principle completely applies here. From the gentle opening chords of “Revivied Spirits,” the album sets an deep atmospheric tone then hits hard into blast beats, harsh vocals and buzzsaw guitars for the second half of the song. The next song, “Pinnacle Induced Vertigo” also starts in the same kind of matter but this track has a more melodic feel. The clean vocals are really effective here as well. Vocalist Chelsea Murphy has some incredible range and talent. Normally I hate when bands mix vocal styles with a  passion but somehow it the folks in Dawn pull it off.

“Gateway to Tenebrosity” is a short piano instrumental that leads perfectly into “Lunar Cathexis.” Here Murphy blends vocals styles again, going from sweet to demonic on a more Black Metal sounding track. This is the theme throughout the entire album and what leads into it’s difficulty to review. Dawn of Ouroboros are constantly changing their sound and style. The change, however, is never jarring and flows well with the rest of the song. This is a highly recommneded listen as it takes all of your preconceived notions and flips them on their head. I am sure after a few more listens, I will pick up on more subtleties and complexities.

I’ll just close this by saying, “Go forth and listen now!”

 

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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.