Tag: trve kvlt

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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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GrimDad – “Hi Trve Kvlt. I’m Dad.”

Just by checking out GrimDad’s logo you can tell that this is not a band that takes itself in a serious matter. Grill spatulas, golf clubs and a wrench hang from a legible logo reminding most listeners to the least metal person they know…their fathers.

With “Hi Trve Kvlt. I’m Dad,” GrimDad takes the concept of dad jokes and pushes it to it’s extreme limits. With song titles such as Welcome to Chili’s, Kickstart my Heartburn and Dungeons and Drag-Dads, GrimDad takes a humorous approach to music genre that is not often depicted this way. The lyrics, like most dad jokes, will either give you a little laugh or cause you to let out a groan. I was surprised by the music itself. For a band that bills itself more or less a parody, they sound and feel like traditional black metal with it’s low fi production, blast beats and shrieking vocals. For me, Welcome to Chilis is the stand out track here and if happen to be a father that has ever attempted to take the family out to dinner, you know how brutal that can be.

If you are looking for something that is different and outside the norm and maybe something to give yourself a little laugh, GrimDad is what you have been waiting for.