On the current
time frame, in the midst of my horrid and abhorrent life, I’ve
always believed death metal was based on evil. “Narrow minded shit
with nothing significant to show besides our cocks”, they say. Oh-fuckin-kay,
these fuckers are a few bricks shy of a load. “This is Satanic punk
‘till bestial death!” Uh, umm, hmm, alright then, let’s pop this
fucker in. Whoa, this is fuckin’ “A” DM! Think vocally of 1991,
early Necrophobic “Unholy Prophecies” demo ’90 and their debut, let
alone Macabre End “Consumed by Darkness” 7” ep and though the
production is mediocre, it fits with the killer vox and instruments,
perfectly. Melodic, yet in your face, laced with killing leads,
pounding drums are displayed in a way they are really adding to this
sickening mess! On “Side Chaos”, Goat Devil is an evil pleasure as
the Sacred Spear is an instant favorite. Crucitatus on grrr and drrr,
Johan on vrrr and brrr and Necrophiliac Bonegrinder on drrr as 2nd
grrr. Vocallly on “Side Desecration”, Vital Remains Jeff Gruslin
comes to mind on “Worship The Demon”. At times it’s like Impetigo
meets Carnage and check out the solo on WTD. Musically, “Witchcraft
Bloodbaths” reminds me of very early Incantation meets Acheron (USA)
riffage with hints of “Dawn of Possession” Immolation ~ fuck me!
Alas, “Death Metal or Die” is just what the title indicates,
memorable, to end an album I could play all night. Buy this for the
true DM feel alone, Cacodaemon rule!! Now what do you say, Mika Akim?
Long live the pigs of Sadistik Impurity, Slaughter the rest!! –
Clayton
http://cacodaemon.dy.fi
cruciatus@hotmail.com |
|
Woo hoo! A gothic /
dance / industrial compilation. Just what I need, geez this blows! The
bands included are: Mandanus Imperium, Autumn, London After Midnight,
Type O Negative, Therion, Moonspell, Left Hand Path, Ever Eve, Lacrimosa,
Switchblade Symphony, Love Like Blood, The Gathering, Tiamat, Dreams Of
Sanity, Clan Of Equinox & Christian Death. One thing I will give NBA is
they have stuff on here from other labels to give people who like this a
good selection of bands. Let me see the song/band I like on here is…ummm…The
Gathering track is OK, but that is it! The packaging and layout are
stunning (yes, I found something good!). Chant after me G.I.L.!, (Goth
is lame!). –
Dale
Nuclear Blast
America,
P.O. Box 43618, Philadelphia, PA. 19106, USA
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Generally I am
happy to see a release by a Canadian band show up in my mail box.
Despite where they are from I often wonder how releases like this
even manage to find their way to me. Seriously. We are a mix of
commercial radio rock and poppy ska-raggae emo type shit, let’s send
it to Canadian Assault they might love it! Lots of energy and a good
recording that is about all I can think of to say positive about
this feces. Hey get this out of the cd player quick, it is starting
to draw flies. – Dale
www.capdown.net
www.fiercepanda.ca
|
This is a WAR Music,
release who have now inked a distribution deal with Relapse. C.F. hails
from Sweden and it shows as they thoroughly rape early ‘90’s Swedish
death metal w/ the late ‘90’s Gothenburg melodic sound topped with a
little dose of American aggression. Other than the vocals this is a
indistinctive, unoriginal act. However, having said that, C.F. puts
together some amazing melodically harsh material that still smokes and I
verily enjoyed. –
Dale
Relapse Records,
P.O. Box 251, Millersville, PA. 17551, USA website = www.relapse.com
|
The Carnival
– Three tracks from each band. The Carnival play crazy and violent
old school speed / thrash metal. We should expect nothing less from
Bestial Burst. The music kind of reminds me of some sort of twisted
take off on the classic Sacred Reich stuff. I do not come across
many bands playing this sort of style so this is a breath of fresh
air.
Enormity
– Extremely sadistic thrashing metal with catchy as fuck riffing.
Also intermingled with the thrash base is some chunky death metal
influence and the balance they find is a good one. The vocals are
diabolical, following suit with the music. This release is just
chock full of mayhem and it is a good time listening to it. –
Dale
www.bestialburst.blackmetal.fi/
bestialburst@blackmetal.fi
|
A large
smattering of blackened death metal is offered up this time,
straight out of the swamps of Louisiana. It would be rather
difficult to list the influences here. Due to the fact Catholicon
sound like a mix of just about everything out there. It is task to
detect anything of their own within the 13 tracks presented. That
does not necessarily make “Treatise on The Abyss” a bad album. Quite
the opposite and is a really solid piece of hate and malicious
aggression. Standing out in this scene is going to be a problem for
them as there just is nothing here to say “hey check this out,
despite having no sound of our own, you have never heard it done
this way before”. So I would unfortunately expect Catholicon to end
up one of those bands who put out some good albums but slipped
through the cracks largely unknown. I would only recommend this to
die hard freaks that have to have just about everything that comes
out (I have met and have been friends with some of you and I am
always amazed you come up with the money for this haha) in the black
/ death scene. –
Dale
www.negativityrecords.com
www.fuckyourgod.com
|
It has been a
while for me since I have heard any Celestia stuff. I think the last
thing I got my hands on may have been their 2001 promo tape. Which I
quite enjoyed thoroughly. Despite that 8 year gap, I see, looking
through their discography that they only released an album, ep and
demo during that period of time. Though of course let us not forget
the band leader is quite busy with his label Drakkar Productions.
One thing I always liked about Celestia is they play black metal but
somehow always managed to imprint a touch of their own sound and
identity into the style. Something that is much easier said than
done these days. I would have to confess these days they are
probably less black metal than in the past but all of those elements
are still here in smaller doses. Celestia is very atmospheric and
melancholy in an epic emotional sort of way. They also thankfully do
not solely rely on synth to attempt cheat and create cheap
atmosphere. There is some real thought put into the compositions and
playing. A fact that is certainly not lost on me and adds another
layer of enjoyment to my appreciation of this release. I can
definitely recommend this album and it comes out on an excellent
dedicated label as well. Check this out. – Dale
http://membres.lycos.fr/celestia/
http://paragonrecords.org/
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'Only Death...is Real!', (A slogan
that has survived till this day) from the days I spinned Hellhammer
and Frost and Tom Warrior (despite using the Fischer name
replacement) will always be my metallic icon despite my departure in
disgust of what once predominated Frost after 'Into The
Pandemonium'. Naturally as most of you, as my 19 year stalemate done
away with and the 'Warrior/Ain' comeback had me skeptical, and who
wouldn't be but those that just were not there (unlike myself) when
they began their legacy?I must exonerate all my critique as the true
CF is alive again as sure as shit like white on rice! Indeed I spin
and shall remain spinning 'Apocalyptic Raids/Morbid Tales' unto my
dying day, but now comes the moment of truth. Many of you expected a
'Morbid Tales, Part the Second' leaving me bewildered. It simply is
unintelligible to expect another 'Dethroned Emperor', 'Procreation
(of The Wicked' or 'Circle Of The Tyants' (nearly all near 14 years
old) and CF would have failed direly attempting so. The Frosties are
notorious via expansion from one album to the next unlike the
abomination of 'Cold Lake', Momotheist offers much of the greatness
of 'Morbid Tales' yet are heavier than ever with outstanding vocals
laced in a thick melancholy and emotion which pales anything
remotely sullen on 'Into The Pandemonium'. Here the heavier is
heavier, the morbid more morbid all laced with a genuine depressive
sadness, sorrow, apathy, hatred and a darkside yet unexplored
previously. The newbies shall by ignorance disregard this statement
and you can simply lick the shit off my dick when I'm done with your
petty disagreements! Just spin this near 70 minute affair and feel.
Seriously, has ever The Morbid Ones once repeat an album twice? No.
Did they fail in doing so? Yes in 1988(Tiny Tim admitted to
this)...on Monotheist there is beauty in darkness with a handful of
softer songs as cunning(and at times more so) than 'Danse Macabre'
that only Monotheist and said band can only do justice to; unlike
your doom and gloom band of the month of BM elevator music of the
day cannot near compared to the Godfathers of a morbid darkness as
heard on monotheist. In truth the frost bites harsher than ever, who
humbly began it all in 1982 and yet have not lost the midas touch
still in 2006.Take fucking heed of Monotheist and remain morbid in
the dark. In end after so many passing years Monotheist is CF before
the fucking lake and the vanity that lacked nemesis! Remember,don't
piss in my helmut as it truly Frost's my Celtic, so buy or I'll make
you cry if you don't support this album! It's Celtic Frost at 666%
and the Emperor's have returned to reclaim the Jewel Throne!I am
honoured to have done this special review and so should you of a
cult band that still stands the test of time...Are You Morbid? -
Clayton
|
This is a new band
for me and released by a new label as well, I am sure we can expect to
hear a lot from this label in the years to come. Centuries of Deception
play atmospheric black metal, that I got into but in the wide spectrum
of the scene this is pretty average. Still a worthy addition to the,
extreme black metal devotee's that must have it all. Available through
Deathcult Distribution...
–
Dale |
|
England and
death doom go together like leather and spikes and Centurion’s Ghost
are one hellbent incendiary bulldozer of creeping metal. I was
struck immediately by the quality of this band, the fluidity and
nose for knowing when to keep the songs simple to increase the skull
crush factor, call it the Asphyx principle. There are a lot of great
influences wrapped up in this record, in the biography they list
Venom as a big influence, I can hear it but not in a strong way in
my opinion. They also list Cathedral, Candlemass & Celtic Frost and
all those are fair but I also hear traces of Benediction (way
underrated band!) alongside traces of early Afflicted or Disharmonic
Orchestra. For that matter very early Paradise Lost or My Dying
Bride, you know before they went all commercial and keybored-y , may
not be completely out of line. The guitar work going on in the
background is actually more involved then one would notice upon
first listen but really accents the uplifting moments and keeps our
eyes filled with gray during the emotional melancholy passages. The
vocals of Mr. Begley are utterly fantastic and are some magical
doomy mix of early Kreator Mille, Martin Van Drunen, Goatlord and
others I cannot even explain, my ear knows it but my tongue and
finger tips get confused. I just dig these vocals a whole lot! I can
sense the confusion? Why all the thrash references and doom, it is
because their sound is rooted in dark thrash but make no mistake
this is a doom metal band, first, second and third but they have
denim filled with stitched on patches, in their minds and know how
to induce a headbang fury. One other thing that strikes me, is for a
young band they have mastered flow to their songwriting and
incorporate fleshy nuances and vision that is beyond the bands
paltry few years existence would suggest. I am finding myself
increasingly more enthralled with each listen, I am beginning to
think an interview might not be out of the question here. Is there
any better recommendation for a band then that? – Dale
I Hate Records,
Box 13023, S-60013, Norrkoping, SWEDEN http://www.ihate.se/
www.centurionsghost.com
|
It has been a
long, long time since I have heard any new Cerebral Turbulency. For
those keeping score, I reviewed their split tape with Gride and
Malignant Tumour, in Canadian Assault. That was a 10 years ago! I
guess both myself and the band are turning into old bastards in this
scene. The layout of the booklet is very interesting. The lyrics
come on a smaller, separate book, it is strange but cool. Part way
into this album on the first listen I found myself saying what
happened to Cerebral Turbulency? Where did the all out grind attack
go? There are still some small signs of it but it is mixed with a
lot of American sounding metalcore and some hardcore vibes and even
some industrial overtones. It almost feels a little bit so called
lousy ‘nu-metal’ like at times (but no rap vocals, thanks to hades
for some small favours). You know I really hate this sort of thing.
To be quite honest I find myself rather disappointed with this
album. I wish if bands are going to change this much they would do
their fans a favour and change their name. It is the respectful
thing to do for their fans and their own legacy. I suppose some
might consider this an expanding of their horizons but to me it is
like they erased the horizon completely and painted over in the
colour of blank boredom. There are some small and short decent bits
on here but they are too far and few between to enjoy. Do you like
groovy, dance-y music that you can jump up down to on an imaginary
pogo stick? If yes, then “Crash Test”, might just be for you. I am
hoping on the next album of Cerebral Turbulency, which I will review
soon, will be much different and closer to the old grinding days. –
Dale
http://www.khaaranus.wz.cz
http://bandzone.cz/cerebralturbulency |
I’ve never liked
hardcore but I’ve always dug what Coalese, were doing. Their
bludgeoning, pissed off style always seemed to me, beyond the limits of
music. This is pure aggression, no weak bones in this body. The title of
this album seems to fit their music and lyrics perfectly. Impatient?, No
argument here. - Jeffrey Kusbel |
Voices Of Wonder
have a great promotional dept. and their packaging are some of the best
out there! It’s a pity almost all of their bands are awful! Here we have
another trendy ‘jump metal’ styled band but w/ a bit more of a crushing
doomy quality than most of their counterparts. The vocals are extremely
lame. The singer, if you can imagine sounds like the guy from Crowbar
with a heavy European accent spiting out cheesy lyrics. So if you enjoy
that Skinlab / Machine Head style better fire a letter off to V.O.W. for
a catalog, after all it’s only a hop, skip and ‘jump’ away.
–
Dale |
Ever commit
brain-death, coma-inducing suicide without heart palpitation? I have
(yes, seriously!) and if I had a mic in my valediction, this is what
it would have been. Following “Tormented Belief”, both main man
Horrendous and Necromorbus have unleashed their second opus into a
conceptual 2nd of trilogy album affair. A vinyl version
of this album is available in a limit of 500 copies, which are
pragmatically sold out by now. “All Hail (Master Satan)” from the
“Saeculum Domini” CD is present on this disc. The vocals sound like
a homicidal dying mortal gone insane while having suicidal mental
breakdowns rarely captured in BM, no matter how many times you
repeat this; it don’t let up. This consists of such atrociousness
and sorrowful emanating that one may point at “Salvation”-era
Funeral Mist, yet you can not. The neurotic higher pitched vocals
sound savage, rabid, coldly and hatefully unto anyone that bears
human flesh, it detrimental to your life! Add this to with musical
moments from 1990-94 Nordic-era true BM and Satanic metal on their
behest of black-heartfelt riffage and we’re getting there! The
grievance of many fallen angles, the extraordinary torture of
existence, the hatred upon all mankind, the exiled dementia-precox’
souls, unavenged Demoniacs, that now have increased a ten-fold more
than that and you fathom what CC sounds as the more it molests you.
I am certain these two travel amidst their native Portugal with
razor blades deeply embedded through their ‘skin suits’. I’d partake
razor raping my own pelt with this release, but Corpus Christii has
already done a fine job of that! Satanist myself, their name in the
Roman Catholic church, CC is a festival in honor of Eucharist (the
fucking Messiah!) on the first Thursday of the trinity; the eight
Sunday after Easter. Posers beware, this isn’t the Funderground,
this is pure Satanic BM formed from the scorned souls of Hell in
earthly form. Professional, well produced and one of the best out
there today, question is, have you got the guts? - Clayton
www.undercover-records.de
www.corpuschristii.com |
At times is an
unfortunate statement that black metal has become a watered down,
caricature of itself. There is an absolute grey mass of bands
littering the landscape like some beaten down, demoralized war torn
country about to surrender. The problem for me is too many bands and
not only that but too many bands who do not even really care about
black metal, who do not truly believe in black metal but do it for
fun and do not take seriously. In addition, the influx of fruity
synth heavy “atmospheric soundscapes”, goth infusion, and fancy
studio recordings via pro tools etc… have sapped black metal of all
the reasons we worship it in the first place. Raw feeling, utter
darkness and evil strangled out of traditional instruments and the
depths on one’s own wicked soul. Clean productions / recordings is
like stoking a huge bonfire and when it is really blazing reaching
for water instead of more wood and throwing it on the fire. The
result is a pathetic smoldering glow. Enter Cryfemal, not overly
talented, they keep things simple and straight forward attacking you
head on. “Perpetua Funebre…” blasts forth with a certain diabolic
energy and Satanic ritualistic atmosphere, striking at the heart of
my discontent with determined ferocity. I really like the drumming
too, it has an off kilter, loose charm that brings back early Judas
Iscariot memories. The guitars have a hint of the “Deathcrush” gut
fuck to them and wind their way through the material like a snake
being charmed by a piercing yet melodic musician. The vocals are
decidedly for me a twisted mix of early Burzum and present day Lust
with a touch of something else I just cannot put my finger on. Yes,
those black rasps really stand out and accentuate a fine malicious
record. Cryfemal stock the coals and keep a bit of the igniting fuel
missing in so much of our scene and no I am not referring to the
rumours that certain past & present Cryfemal members are facing
incarceration for various crimes. – Dale
Oniric Records,
c/o David Prado, C/Olmo N. 1, 7 I, 06400 Don Bento (Badajoz), SPAIN www.oniric-distro.com
oniricrec@yahoo.es
www.cryfemal.cjb.net
|
CWAF
– Play a simplistic and stripped down but very heavy metallic style.
They like to keep things rhythmic and unchanging for long periods.
Which when they do change things up, it has a much larger impact
than technical bands, who stop on a dime, a dozen riffs and time
changes in each song. I love the Police State intro on here, check
that shit out. Cwaf is a little hard to pigeon hole, they have some
connection to death metal yet also are owing of their origin to
sludge bands like Cavity or Eyehategod. The drumming on here is
massive, a great performance. I would say this disc is worth picking
up just for the 4 Cwaf tracks.
Noosebomb
– is a band I had not heard of either. Noose, are purveyors of
Sludge metal as well, so the pairing is a natural one. Though, they
have a very different take, on the style than Cwaf. Noosebomb are
more active and have a much more traditional heavy metal base. The
last song on here entitled “What is the World Coming To” is an epic
doom influenced masterpiece. It is probably worth mention that Noose
features members of Disrupt and Grief in their line-up. – Dale
http://noosebomb.com/
www.bestialonslaught.com
|
Cryptic Tales
are quite an old band from Poland, and was formed back in 1989!!
They are existing for some years, then stopped doing music, and now,
7 years of silence the band is again upon metal throne. I didn't
hear the music they played early in its path, but I hear music now
which they created, and I'm totally satisfied with this record! The
music CT plays is amazing yet original death-doom metal mix, with
keyboards as well. The whole stuff consists of fast killing guitar
riffs, as well as drumming, and great keyboards together with good
growl vocals are here. Lots of fast and slow parts, really unearthly
atmosphere of despair and depression… I was really killed by this
CD, I listened to it many times, and I can't stop to listening to
this CD. The death-doom metal scene nowadays isn't the best, and our
guests decided not to play in a modern way, but in that truly
obscure old one! Music is really "live", catching and just amazing!
Each chord, each tune is totally filled with ALL means which should
be in such music as death-doom metal. And I think soon this band
will get high level here in the UG! So let's support them!
-
Aleksandr Maksymov
cryptictales@interia.pl
www.cryptictales.pl |
Well, my Canadian
brethern have come back with their 3rd album and first for
Century Media. The bio mentions the departure of vocalist Lord Worm but
fails to mention that after the material to the second album was written
guitarist Steve Thibault (one of the main songwriters and now manager)
also departed the fold. Wonder if Steve still writes with them? I
wouldn’t know as I have a promo copy with no liner notes. First off, I
don’t think Cryptopsy can ever top their amazing debut album “Blasphemy
Made Flesh”. New vocalist Mike Disalvo (ex-Infestation) is very good
with his deep, heavy death growls. I miss Lord Worm, I imagine Cryptopsy
is really gonna miss him live as he really commanded a crowd and it was
fun watching him eat earth worms. But, I must move on as Cryptopsy did.
The boys come back with another great technical and intricate and
lightning fast tempo changing death metal mindfuck! Did I mention the
drums yet? They are as per usual phenomenal and the best in the
death/grind genre. Flo is a human whirlwind, go see them live and
experience first hand what a I mean - God!! This will please all extreme
brutal death/grind fans. Cryptopsy show again why they are considered
one of the best there is in the genre.
–
Dale |
|
CWAF
– Play a simplistic and stripped down but very heavy metallic style.
They like to keep things rhythmic and unchanging for long periods.
Which when they do change things up, it has a much larger impact
than technical bands, who stop on a dime, a dozen riffs and time
changes in each song. I love the Police State intro on here, check
that shit out. Cwaf is a little hard to pigeon hole, they have some
connection to death metal yet also are owing of their origin to
sludge bands like Cavity or Eyehategod. The drumming on here is
massive, a great performance. I would say this disc is worth picking
up just for the 4 Cwaf tracks.
Noosebomb
– is a band I had not heard of either. Noose, are purveyors of
Sludge metal as well, so the pairing is a natural one. Though, they
have a very different take, on the style than Cwaf. Noosebomb are
more active and have a much more traditional heavy metal base. The
last song on here entitled “What is the World Coming To” is an epic
doom influenced masterpiece. It is probably worth mention that Noose
features members of Disrupt and Grief in their line-up. – Dale
http://noosebomb.com/
www.bestialonslaught.com
|
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