Tag: Progressive Death Metal

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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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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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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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Barús set release date for debut full-length, first track reveal.


Barús set release date for debut full-length, first track reveal.

In their endless quest to push and support underground acts that deliver the goods, unaware and unmindful of trends and hype, on October 22nd, Memento Mori is proud to present Barús‘ striking debut album, Drowned.Hailing from Grenoble, France, Barús formed in 2015 and soon released their self-titled debut EP through Emanations (a division of Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions). Since mid-2016, work has been focused on their debut full-length album. Bearing the ominous title Drowned, this is a bolt-from-the-blue work of unimaginable vision and towering might.

Indeed, the term “βαρύς” evokes a weight, an overbearing burden. Through Barús, this takes musical form through a complex and utterly atmospheric – but, above all, completely and totally visceral – approach to death metal. Call it an alchemy of sorts, but Drowned presents a moltenly monolithic, ceaselessly churning sound merged with palpably progressive structures, frequently stretching into black metal and doom territories – and effortlessly, at that – all compellingly completed by bowels-of-Hell deep vociferations and vocalizations spanning semi-clean moans, spoken word, chants, and everything in between. Truly, it’s a nightmare made flesh, its dissonance instilling an unshakable tension and terror, and yet Barús manage to make it sound so alluring, so tempting…to literally DROWN in the enormity they lay bare for the helpless listener. Drownedindeed!

Memento Mori doesn’t usually dip its toes into “progressive” or “post” waters, favoring the musty odor of vintage death metal. However, when presented with Barús‘ Drowned, the label couldn’t help but submit to their visionary onslaught on the senses. So, while we could describe them as “Autopsy reinterpreted by Meshuggah” or “Gojira and Gorguts jamming out to an old Demilich tune with Ulcerate’s instruments,” we’re confident Barús should definitely appeal to fans of such daring bands Gorguts, Triptykon, Ulcerate, Emptiness, Meshuggah, Portal, Diskord, Akercocke, Gojira, Sumac, Deathspell Omega, Altars, and Chaos Echoes.

Featuring nine songs in a vast yet time-evaporating 56 minutes, the production on Drowned is absolutely stellar; it was recorded between 2016 and 2017 at Plastic Lobster Studios & Eptagon, with drum recording & additional reamping done at Octavox Studio, while mixing & mastering were done by James Leonard at Plastic Lobster Studios. Completed by cover art courtesy of the masterful Timo Ketola, with inner artwork by Stephen Wilson, Barús‘ Drowned is this year’s dark-horse classic in the making!

Hear for yourself the first hint of such with the new track “Descry”

Tracklisting for Barús’ Drowned
1. Descry
2. Graze
3. Engorge
4. Amass
5. Dissever
6. Vitiate
7. Benumb
8. Perpetrate
9. Forsake