Sunday, April 29, 2018

HATE THEM ALL - Defenders Of The Black Throne review



HATE THEM ALL - Defenders Of The Black Throne 

Old Temple



I said this a few weeks ago that Poland has become the leading nation when it comes to extreme metal. And here we go again. This band, who don't want to expose themselves, are pure blackened thrash/blackened punk/blackened fuckin hate music. After some searching I found out that in studio HATE THEM ALL are a two piece act. One guy is responsible for guitar and vocals while the second member takes on the drum work.


Pure fuckin hate is what HATE THEM ALL is about. Musically the twelve cuts on here are lo-fi raw recordings which the band is very proud of mentioning in the promo info. This is their second full length since starting out in 2010. Makes ya wonder what they put out prior to this. By the way that would be a full length, a bunch of split releases and a few demos. Filthy guttural vocals sung in Polish with concussive riffs from the past as an influence. 


http://www.oldtemple.com/

https://oldtemple.bandcamp.com/album/hate-them-all-defender-of-the-black-throne

https://www.facebook.com/HateThemAll666


DEADLY CARNAGE - Through the Void, Above the Suns review



DEADLY CARNAGE - Through the Void, Above the Suns

Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum




Atmospheric Black Metal and Doom, well the Euro version of Doom to be specific, is a match made in the darkest corners of metal dungeons. Not to be confused with blackened sludge, but blackened doom has a unique character. The various bands who partake in this style are not household names unless you regularly blast GNAW THEIR TONGUES, THE RUINS OF BEVERAST or CULTED. Something else important to note is how these bands are varied in their approach within blackened doom.


DEADLY CARNAGE, from Italy, have their own take on this sub-genre. I've spent plenty of nights being enveloped by Through the Void, Above the Suns. I didn't try to take notes as I usually do. Instead I just listened and enjoyed it. Musically this has a strong post black metal feel to it which I'm not a fan of. But it's the doom essence which straddles traditional Euro style depressive exploration with touches of US sludgey stuff. 


The vocals are either cleanly sung or whispered. They're also held back in the mix allowing the music to be the main focus. That being a very dark and yet heavy handed sounding affair which still invokes the hypnotic atmosphere when listening. 


https://www.atmf.net/

https://deadlycarnage.bandcamp.com/album/through-the-void-above-the-suns

https://www.facebook.com/DeadlyCarnage/?ref=ts


FERVENT HATE - Tales of Hate, Lust and Chaos review



FERVENT HATE - Tales of Hate, Lust and Chaos

Satanath Records



Ladies & Gentlemen (and You Others) it's time to face the facts. Death Metal has reached it's limits as far as sub genres and tweaking to fit in with other music styles. Yes I know there's some progressive types out there waiting for that next big thing but they're lying to themselves.

Now I say this because recently I've been seeing some scribes in the mainstream metal media whine about bands doing the whole "Old School Swede-Deth Thing". Well first of all there's no such thing as "Swede-Deth" ya morons. Secondly if the band doing things in an old school style were your favorites then you wouldn't say shit. But bands from other places doing it, oh you can't have that as you look down your nose at em. Fuck You, I'll break yer fuckin nose.


To which is why we're gonna talk about this here release by FERVENT HATE who are a band you need to know about. This four piece death metal act from Peru started out a decade ago. They put out a full length debut in 2013, some short releases afterwards but on this their sophomore release they've really pulled everything together. 


Imagine the riff intensity of DISMEMBER meets the melodic DM touches of AT THE GATES but still loves straight up classic metal song structures. Toss in an incredible lead guitarist who will peel your facial skin away on one cut. While another one later he'll hit you with some melodious 80's catchy as fuck lead work.


Yeah I guess the term people use for this is Death & Roll, which is a whole helluva lot better than Swede-Deth. Either way FERVENT HATE will keep you fixed on their music. It's fierce and ferocious with massive vocals, perfection on drums and of course a song craft which keeps you glued. This is just fuckin GREAT!

http://www.satanath.com/

https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat191-fervent-hate-tales-of-hate-lust-and-chaos-2018

https://www.facebook.com/ferventhate



Sunday, April 22, 2018

ILSA - Corpse Fortress review


ILSA - Corpse Fortress


Relapse Records




ILSA's latest release has not changed my mind on them over the years we last met. Back in 2011 I said their Tutti il colori del buio release on Dark Descent Records sounded like a band who injected themselves with rabid dog vomit but it only lasted enough for them to produce the usual angry, crusty and sludgey stuff which in the end was boring. Yeah that's a collective paraphrase of it all.



Corpse Fortress now is as boring as the politicians who come from this band's Washington. DC home. It's as slow as Congress and I really wanna impeach this act but hey they're part of the metal swamp. In all honesty you really can't drain that one. Endure the torture if you care to but for me I'm outta here.


https://store.relapse.com/

https://ilsa.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ILSADC




WINDHAND / SATAN'S SATYRS - Split review



WINDHAND / SATAN'S SATYRS - Split 

Relapse Records




OK full disclosure time, I love WINDHAND. How much you ask? Well back in 2010 it was the now defunct website Doomantia and SFM666 who were the first two music sites to write about their 2 song demo. I'm kinda proud of that as well as when Walter of Roadburn borrowed my review for his website. I appreciated that and it gave SFM666 a lot of traffic. Moving on I loved their debut full length, I liked the follow-up Soma, I liked the split releases they did as well. Then Grief's Infernal Flower came out in 2015 and I was bored with em. 


So here we have a split with WINDHAND and fellow Virginian's SATAN'S SATYRS. As far as the WINDHAND cuts go, two of em, the first one "Old Evil" sounds like a throwaway from Grief's Infernal Flower. But the second cut, "Three Sisters" is absolutely fantastic. Dorthia's vocals are more up front, thanks to her solo career, plus there's keyboards which make everything sound more haunting then just the massive doomy riffs. Unfortunately I have written about half a dozen bands last year who took this same path to greatness.


Which brings us to SATAN'S SATYRS, here's a four piece act who put forth three cuts and after listening to this it makes me wanna put on my BLUE CHEER "Vincebus Eruptum" t-shirt. Yeah it's dark blue so touch me I'm cool. But anyways this is some cool hard fuckin rock with a retro late 60's / early 70's thunderous blues rock touch. They even do a LINK WRAY cover "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby". So basically you'll buy this split for WINDHAND but you'll love it for SATAN'S SATYRS.


https://store.relapse.com/

https://windhand.bandcamp.com/



IRON REAGAN / GATECREEPER split review



IRON REAGAN / GATECREEPER split 

Relapse Records




Here we have the traditional idea of split releases. You have a well known band, in this case IRON REAGAN one of the many side projects from the boys in MUNICIPAL WASTE. And of course they team up with label mates Arizona's GATECREEPER. They fit into the team up part as being the not so well known act. Sure GATECREEPER did put out their Relapse debut full length, Sonoran Depravation, in 2016. But the only people who gave a shit were those on the payroll. Ooops I meant to say received advertising money from the label.


Be that as it may IRON REAGAN takes up most of this release then again their songs are shorter. Five short cuts from them all in that wanna-be DRI style of crossover. Look IRON REAGAN are good at what they do. For people who can't hold a conversation without saying "dude", they're looked upon as great. Personally I'm kinda bored with the whole retro-crossover thing. 


Now as far as this release goes I was looking forward to hearing GATECREEPER. They're a five piece death metal act who've been around for a few years now, five years to be exact. Their style owes much if not all to old school Swedish death metal. Now yeah I know not another retro DM act. Well fuck ya all! I like em. On this split the band delivers two cuts and an intro all in that ENTOMBED / DISMEMBER style. Frankly I was hoping they'd break out from their influences more. But hey they deliver the goods. 


https://store.relapse.com/

https://ironreagan.bandcamp.com/album/split-with-gatecreeper


FUZZ LORD - Self Titled review



FUZZ LORD - Self Titled

Fuzzdoom Records




Some bands have a name which needs no introduction or explanation to who they are. Case in point, according to their promo info FUZZ LORD are the heaviest band out of Chillicothe, Ohio. Far be it for me to doubt that. In fact if you're ever driving through Ohio sometime look for that on the city's entrance sign next to the words "designated Tree City USA" or "Ohio's First and Third Capital". Other than that this band's signature is not covered in a haze of smoke.


Basically you have two guys involved with a blog-site and podcast (Core of Destruction Radio). Them being Steve 'The Fuzz Lord' on guitar, Lawrence 'Lord Buzz' on drums & vocals plus last edition 'Stoner Dan Riley' on bass & vocals. With the introductions set the idea behind the band was inspired from what they played a lot of on their podcast.


With that said and my lack of knowledge to what they play on their podcast I'd give this a notification of a late 60's early 70's vibe as opposed to modern day metal or SABBATH-ian stoner rock. I'd also toss in some Punk Rock attitude or Garage Punk but hey that's been done as far as revival status for twenty years. Yeah this sounds like something cool from the garage punk days from the 90s with some metal touches tossed in.


http://coreofdestructionradio.com/

https://fuzzdoomrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/fuzzlordslays/


CONFESSOR A.D - Too Late To Pray review



CONFESSOR A.D - Too Late To Pray

Nihilistic Holocaust




Imagine if you will, back in the early 90s AMON AMARTH decided to ditch the whole Viking shtick and concentrated on just something sounding more thrash oriented as well as having melodic death metal traces. Well here you go What If-ers. CONFESSOR A.D. is a band hailing from France that fits that scenario.


On this their debut EP the band puts forth five cuts of unashamed early 90's influenced death thrash with a vocalist who could be a stand in for Johan Hegg. Although according to their promo info the band states that black metal is within the mix I say no. 

The only thing I can say bad about this release is that at times the drummer sounds like he's banging on Tupperware. Other than that the riffs are sinister at most times, happy and melodic at others. Song structures grab a hold of you and wanna induce slam pit action. All in all a cool sounding start plus they do a hipster hate song which is huge points in my book.

http://nihilistic.shost.ca/

https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/album/too-late-to-pray


Saturday, April 21, 2018

HUMAN COMPOST - Exhumations Of Death And Horror review



HUMAN COMPOST - Exhumations Of Death And Horror

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




As I've admitted a few times, I have a sick fascination for brutal death metal, gore grind or whatever you wanna call it. I'm not an avid collector of those types of band releases. OK I've got a couple dozen of some real classics. But seriously I just get a kick out of hearing the music which at times is just flat out repulsive. Add to that the song titles and lyrical themes that would make Joe Blow Metalhead in a SLAYER shirt say "Dude that's not right." 


Which brings us to HUMAN COMPOST from Canada. Here's a band who I know a little about. They had an EP years ago with a G.G. ALLIN cover on it. The cover version blew but their originals were decent. They also did an AUTOPSY cover on that EP as well. That sucked as well. But anyways HUMAN COMPOST are like the depraved incestrial conceived third cousins of CARCASS. A really deformed looking relative with an attitude.


HUMAN COMPOST started out in 2013 and over a couple of years put out three classic EPs, a CDR demo in 2015 and appeared on a comp I think. But in 2016 they released a full length, From the Grave They Crawl, which came out on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. So what we have here is basically a compilation of everything (pretty much) prior to their full length.


We're talking about their Degradation of a Virgin Corpse EP from 2013, The Cold Flesh EP (which I mentioned before) from 2014, the Reduced to Human Sludge EP which also came out in 2014 and contains tortured covers of MAYHEM as well as POSSESSED. Also there's two cuts from a 2015 demo/CDR promo (a true rarity). To cap it all off there's a new cut, a cover of "Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue" from the sub genre godfathers IMPETIGO.


If brutal death metal/gore grind were a huge pile of rotting human corpses then HUMAN COMPOST stands on top of that stinking heap. Since metal is not a cohesive scene and more like a mixed bag of nuts then genre purists should go apeshit over this one.

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/exhumations-of-death-and-horror

https://www.facebook.com/humancompostcanada/


Monday, April 16, 2018

FETO IN FETUS - From Blessing to Violence review



FETO IN FETUS - From Blessing to Violence

Selfmadegod Records




So the other night after work coming home from what we in the industry call a "Motherfucker" and I checked this release out. Ah thank you Polish grind merchants for making my after work routine kinda fun. Listening to this is how I felt tonight and the bloodletting which went on for hours afterward. This is a mental cleansing.


FETO IN FETUS are another great Polish extreme act who started out years ago (2004 to be exact), trudged along for years putting out various releases (2 full lengths and a bunch of small format stuff). From Blessing to Violence is their third full length and first release since they appeared on a compilation in 2015. I haven't heard their older stuff but hey this one is a winner.


Musically on this release FETO IN FETUS are not out to kill you out right. There's plenty of subtitles before the pain and chaos ensues but when things kick into ferociousness look the fuck out. Gutteral pig vocals mixed with harsh screams and welcomed cavernous howls. Guitar riffs that at most times are bludgeoning but at other times siphon the life out of you. With sound bites that come more as a warning than an intro.


I'm loving every second of it. Cold and calculated but quick to the punch leaving no room for boredom or repeated riffs. When was the last time you heard a grind band inject atmosphere into their cauldron of chaos? Simply put From Blessing to Violence is definitely one of my favorite extreme releases for 2018. Nuff Said!


https://selfmadegod.com/

https://fetoinfetus.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FetoInFetus




AFGRUND - The Dystopian review



AFGRUND - The Dystopian 

Selfmadegod Records




I'm not what you would call a morning person. As I've said many times I work nights. I come home from a tough job and blast extreme music which calms me into the early morning hours. So my morning wake up is around noon. Any time before noon and I'm not a happy person. On the day I first checked out the Sweden / Finland death grind act it was on one of those mornings. Yeah we're talking punishment here and the release was over before my coffee was ready. 


AFGRUND is a three piece act that started out in 2006, released a bunch of stuff (three full lengths, some short form releases and a fuckin live album). For a decade the band made a name for themselves in the whole Scandinavian extreme metal scene in particular being compared to the likes of NASUM as well as ROTTEN SOUND. Yeah those are two favorites of mine.


The Dystopian is the fourth full length by AFGRUND and something of a comeback release considering the bands hiatus over the past couple of years. Musically this is a tour de force of Swedish style hardcore (yeah what the kiddies call D-Beat) with the typical caustic vocals. That template is dragged kicking and screaming (literally) through a jagged forest of death metal bombast and grind insanity. Great stuff and it makes you wonder what were they doing during their time off to get this fuckin angry and intense.


https://selfmadegod.com/

https://afgrundofficial.bandcamp.com/album/the-dystopian-2

https://www.facebook.com/afgrundgrindcoreofficial/


Friday, April 13, 2018

NORTHERN - Desolate Ways to Ultima Thule review



NORTHERN - Desolate Ways to Ultima Thule

Moribund Records



From the cold northern reaches of New Hampshire, don't laugh it's cold up there. Now if ya wanna laugh then think about this: Black Metal from New York City, Los Angeles or San Francisco? Yeah now that's funny. But anyway this band started out in 2002 under the name COLD NORTHERN VENGEANCE and in 2016 they just shortened it to NORTHERN. Frankly it's a good choice to shorten your name. 

On the whole this is four Americans on a pagan, viking, black metal trip to Scandinavia. They've probably listened to copious amounts of BATHORY's Nordland Volumes 1 & 2. (Which I don't see a problem with.) Be that as it may it's a pretty cool sounding effort. I already pointed out that they've been around as a band for a while and this is their second full length. They have demos, split releases and compilation albums out as well. 

Musically they've got the whole blackened template sound down. The vocals sound like they're coming from a meaded up viking. There's some cool folk inspired elements worked in. I can't say much for their reasoning behind doing a cover of BURZUM's "Spell of Destruction". Not that I'm against bands doing covers but if ya wanna do atmospheric black metal then write your own material. Other than all of that I'd also drop from the band's promo material "North America’s #1 Pagan Occultist Blackened Metal band". Blatant self promotion won't get ya into Valhalla.   

http://www.moribundcult.com/

https://moribundrecords.bandcamp.com/album/desolate-ways-to-ultima-thule

https://www.facebook.com/UltimaThule666/



PROVOCATOR - Satan, Chaos, Blood and Terror review



PROVOCATOR - Satan, Chaos, Blood and Terror

Moribund Records




PROVOCATOR is the solo project of BLEEDING FIST founder Hellscream. Since I probably was one of the few who praised BLEEDING FIST's Bestial Krusifix666ion full length (I said it's like a flaming middle finger salute) in January 2010. I was also very nice to their Devils Ferox EP which came out in August of that same year. So why not give this one some time.

While BLEEDING FIST was Slovenia's blackened homage to the ways of the genre's old school, Hellscream takes this vehicle even further. Originally starting out in 2012 as a solo project which put out the full length Antikristus in 2014 plus a few short form releases prior to and afterward. PROVOCATOR is now a two piece act with Lord Astaroth of the Italian black metal act KURGAALL on lead vocals. Hellscream is still responsible for the instruments and background screams. 


Satan, Chaos, Blood and Terror is the second full length by PROVOCATOR. Musically it's everything described in it's title. There's eight cuts of raw sounding old school filth owing much to HELLHAMMER as far as simplicity and BEHERIT as far as being lo-fi. So yeah it sounds like an old demo from the early 90s.

http://www.moribundcult.com/

https://moribundrecords.bandcamp.com/album/satan-chaos-blood-and-terror

https://www.facebook.com/Provocator.Cult



ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH - The Inhuman Condition review



ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH - The Inhuman Condition

Unholy Anarchy Records


Ya know when I first listened to this and the opening song was playing my thoughts were OK meat & potatoes death metal. As the release continued on my opinion shifted in a whole other direction. Actually this is fantastic death metal steeped in the American traditional brutal style. But there's plenty of influences embedded inside plus it's packed with shifting song structures that'll knock you back.

First off a little history for ya. The main man behind this Texas band is Ramon Cazares who's responsible for vocals, guitar (live) bass and drums (in the studio). The second guitarist is Izaak Chavez and I'm guessing he provides the lead work. Still this is basically Cazares' project. Years ago he was in the band ABOLISHMENT. But then that band pretty much split up leaving Cazares to continue on but now going by the name ABOLISHMENT OF FLESH.

On The Inhuman Condition, Cazares uses the basic brutal old school death metal template then builds upon it with some tech death and melodic touches. All of which leaves you feeling oppressed and plowed over but still a sense to carry onward. To me it's all about the song craft which builds with each of the eleven tracks. Either way it's modern death metal done right. 


https://unholyanarchy.aisamerch.com/

https://www.facebook.com/abolishmentoffleshofficial/


Sorry don't have access to any new material to post so here's something older:



Monday, April 9, 2018

JUDASWIEGE - Ashes of the Heretic review



JUDASWIEGE - Ashes of the Heretic

Godz Ov War Productions




This is the debut EP from a Spanish duo who fall under the genre moniker of Black Speed Thrash Metal. Strangely enough I have seen that tagline before by a writer years ago trying to describe what MAYHEM's Deathcrush EP was all about. Now except for the vocals on here having a minor Maniac quality that's where the comparisons stop.


JUDASWIEGE, made up of vocalist Dis and multi-instrumentalist Obszen, definitely bring about that raw old school style a bit. There's plenty of thrashing about, savage drumwork and cymbal crashing to the point where anger management may need to be called in. Once in a while there will be a death metal break tossed in along with a solo.
  

Ashes of the Heretic is basically five cuts bookend by an intro and outro. Grim yet angry blackened thrash hostility sitting between some doom and gloom for your listening pleasure. Or for the displeasure of those you don't like.

http://godzovwar.com/

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ashes-of-the-heretic



Sunday, April 8, 2018

HELL'S CORONATION - Unholy Blades of the Devil review



HELL'S CORONATION - Unholy Blades of the Devil

Godz Ov War Productions




Old school sounding black metal, in fact these guys blacken their blacks and dot things with doom. I use the word "guys" because Poland's HELL'S CORONATION are a duo consisting of Zepar on guitars &vocals plus Coffincrusher who takes on bass duties as well as drums and backing vocals. I'm gonna guess and say it's the spoken word parts. So does the genre need another old school influenced duo? Yeah why not.


This is the second EP from HELL'S CORONATION. Their first, Antichristian Devotion, came out last year. Hey they're keeping a steady pace since forming in 2016. Soundwise this is somewhere between CELTIC FROST and DARKTHRONE although I could name drop plenty of others, maybe SAMAEL. This is a five song release by the way. The cuts are slow, methodical with vocals like an acid tinged raspy throat. 


More blackened doom? Yeah sure why not in fact the first time I listened to this was very late at night after work. When I went outback onto the deck for a smoke I could hear the music playing from behind the window. It was past 3 AM, a slight chill in the air so yeah it gave everything a touch of gloom. Plus the darkness in the wooded areas got a lot more mysterious. The more you strain your eyes to see what's lurking out in the dark. The more you wonder what's looking back at you. Works for me.


http://godzovwar.com/

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/unholy-blades-of-the-devil

https://www.facebook.com/hellscoronation/


STILLBORN - Crave for Killing review



STILLBORN - Crave for Killing

Godz Ov War Productions




For a guy who hasn't a drop of Polish blood in his body and whose earliest thought of being a Polish fan came from watching the wrestler Ivan Putski (Polish Power) kick ass in the ring, I just don't know why I am a huge fan. Of course there were a lot of extreme metal bands that I grew to like from the nation's scene. And then comes STILLBORN.


Back in January I reviewed a reissue of a compilation of STILLBORN's first two demos aka: Mirrormaze & Die In Torment 666. Also I think I went through why I like them. But I'll reiterate. STILLBORN are the bottom of the barrel blackened death filth of the Polish metal scene. Obviously it's a place where I frequent. So when I saw that STILLBORN were coming out with a new release this year my first thought was "It better not have any covers on it."


Crave for Killing is a a five song EP but when it comes to this band that's all you need or can stand. Pure blackened death filth with raging riffs that vary from tremolo picked insanity to chunkier DM riffs. The organic drum work is exceptional as well as appreciated. They toss in some thrash dynamics as well as varied vocals (traditional DM style as well as blackened rasps.) Bottom line it'll rip your face off and scream at the leftover skull.


http://godzovwar.com/

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/crave-for-killing

https://www.facebook.com/stillborn.pol


KINGDOM - Putrescent Remains of the Dead Ground review



KINGDOM - Putrescent Remains of the Dead Ground

Godz Ov War Productions



If there was such a thing as The Death Metal Olympics I'd put my money on a Polish band taking the gold and just maybe the other medals as well. Ya know there once was another European nation famous for producing quality death metal. But that was a long time ago. Now I know Poland has a history of greatness when it comes to death metal bands (and black metal). But it just seems that recently they've become leaders of the genre on the European continent. 


Case in point here we have KINGDOM a DM three piece who have been around since 2003 and have been pumping out releases (full lengths and short form) for over a decade. This one here, Putrescent Remains of the Dead Ground, is their fourth full length (second one on Godz Ov War Productions). You've got three individuals here who sound like a mob bent on destruction.


Musically this is not typical death metal that has been produced by their great nation's acts of the past. First off the drumming is flat out insane with frantic blast beats and double bass mania. As far as the guitars, the gambit is toss out since you've got solid chunky riffage plus thrashy runs and even some tremolo picked madness. The bass runs lurch in like impending doom. Then there's the flaming sword like solos that cut through steel at times then pelt you like hypnotic hammers.


Oh yeah the vocals are nothing short of exceptional since there's this varied style thrown in be it the guttural growls or harsh blackened style. Overall KINGDOM's sound, style and fury incorporate the rawness of the past with some contemporary technical prowess but not to the annoyance levels. For me the fuckin icing on this DM cake comes at the end when they break out a cover of IMMORTAL's "Blashyrkh (Mighty Ravendark)". There's eight tracks in all. Now I just got to hear their older stuff. 



http://godzovwar.com/

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/putrescent-remains-of-the-dead-ground

https://www.facebook.com/kingdomtempleofdeath/timeline




NEMERE - Vermezo review



NEMERE - Vermezo

Neverheard Distro




Oh to be in Transylvania in the Fall, yeah that would be cool. Of course I'm reminiscing about what I watched in old 60's Hammer Horror flicks. But actually I did review a death metal band from Transylvania years ago. They were cool, loved my review of their EP and probably turned out to be the biggest thing in Transylvania. NEMERE are a Hungarian black metal act who are not from Transylvania but their name comes from a mountain range in (what for it) Transylvania. Otherwise that's all there is to say anymore about (one more time) Transylvania.


This the debut release from NEMERE who have actually been around since 2007. Prior to this the band released a few demos. Now as far this release goes I would not pigeon-hole this four piece into the genre of black metal. On the contrary they have so much going on here that makes them pretty fuckin cool. Many of their songs are themed in war, battle and loss. A lot of the song structures are blackened death but the band kicks in some thrash, a bit of traditional folk and once in a while there's some straight up old school metal riffs.


The tops of course are the vocals. First off they're sung in a harsh tone of Hungarian. But NEMERE hail from Sátoraljaújhely, a northern town in their great nation. So in their native tongue/accent the vocals are truly filthy sounding with visions of spit, blood and bile emitting with each chorus. The offensiveness of that just makes me smile even more. All of that put together makes this a tremendous release that has a unique quality as well as being extreme and of course founded in old school tradition. Wanna know why I do this blog? It's because of cool bands like NEMERE.


http://neverhearddistro.tictail.com/

http://nemere.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nemereband



Saturday, April 7, 2018

DRUDKH - They Often See Dreams About the Spring review



DRUDKH - They Often See Dreams About the Spring

Season of Mist




Many times I will immediately let out "Bias Alert" in order to let the readers know that I'm friends with the band whose release I'm reviewing, I'm a long time fan of the band or I'm not. In DRUDKH's case it's a two fold bias alert. First off I gotta say their first four releases are incredible. They're some of the best black metal that came out during the early 2000s. Of course it's easy for me to say that because I was also a fan of HATE FOREST which preceded DRUDKH. And it was cool to see and hear the natural progression from one band to the other. I'm also a fan of BLOOD OF KINGU as well.


Now the releases they put out in the latter half of the decade were in my not so humble opinion moving off the blackened template. 2007's Estrangement was OK but I thought 2009's Microcosmos was moving towards experimenting in musical areas favored by hipster losers. Then it all went to shit with Handful of Stars in 2010. That one was some post metal shoe gazing indie rock crap. I as well as the fan base looked upon that one as a slap. Luckily there was Sun in the House of the Scorpion which came out the same year by BLOOD OF KINGU which was far superior. But for me I was done.


So after all of these years I'm here checking out the newest release by DRUDKH. Their eleventh by the way. I've skipped two previous ones obviously. First off it took me plenty of listens to this one in order to get a good perspective. I think the big issue here is no it's not some hipster post something or other SONIC YOUTH meets black metal crap experiment. Secondly it's not a complete return to the old which would be boring rehash and seriously we really don't want that.


They Often See Dreams About the Spring is a good release that does hearken back to the past but more like what should have come out after their fourth album. It's better than Estrangement to say the least. This five song, just short of forty five minute, release is a comeback, for me yeah but for fans who have waited a while. In the past you'd put on one of the band's first four releases and let the atmospheric black metal take you away to another plane of existence. This album does that.


Although I wouldn't go so far as to say it's perfect. The songs on here are filled with aggression, texture and at times melancholy. Basically it's everything you want and liked from DRUDKH. They also tend to linger on too much which gets redundant after six minutes which all of these songs are over in length. You can only take so much cascading of repetitive riffs and melodies before you say "Hey stop!"  

http://www.season-of-mist.com/

https://drudkh.bandcamp.com/album/they-often-see-dreams-about-the-spring

https://www.facebook.com/Drudkh.Official