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VESICATION - Total Fecall
Horror Pain Gore Death
I was in the mood for something else tonight but this gem of a release came my way so what the hell. Earlier this year I said some good things about a compilation of older material put out by these Canadian filth mongers who are in total worship of IMPETIGO.
Total Fecall, this band's second full length makes me wanna vomit. The pig squealed vocals by new singer (?) Matt Hilden, killer fuckin bass lines and groove by Kimio Hatashita, trudging riffs by original guitarist Eddie Pharoah and the rock n roll plus pure metal drumming by Geoff Hodsman make this one pure puke ready.
Seriously I'm vomit ready by a band who are in total death grind mode to invoke an eruption of my stomach. Seriously (now there's a joke) the songs relating to tits were rocking. But my biggest laugh comes when the thought of the face of some loser listens to "Crouching Pink Hidden Stink". After than it's slam pit central with this old fucker giving you the fore-arm sandwich in the pit. Hell Fuckin Yeah!
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/total-fecall
ABBATH - Outstrider
Season of Mist
So where do I start? Alright back in 2016 Abbath, formerly of IMMORTAL, came out with a new band under his name and the eponymous titled debut full length ABBATH. It even had his fuckin face on the cover. Now aside from everything offensive to me about that release's packaging and rock star aura, I actually liked it a lot.
I've been an IMMORTAL fan forever and I saw that ABBATH debut as a follow-up of IMMORTAL's All Shall Fall release from 2009. It was great and continued the IMMORTAL legacy. But then in 2018 Demonaz and Horgh got IMMORTAL back and released the amazing Northern Chaos Gods. Personally I thought it blew Abbath's release away as far as being true to Norwegian black metal.
So now we have ABBATH's second release and he starts by having a completely new line-up. As far as the sound and direction on Outstrider go, it was a good move. Sure it's practically impossible to remove Abbath's past legacy as far as the basic song structures he uses. But these new members do give him some added help in changing lanes.
In that regard you've got veteran guitarist Ole Andre Farstad who brings aboard lead work with a varying awry of styles. Whether we're talking thrashy leads (he use to be in a proggy thrash band ILLTI MITA) to some blues as well as some hard rockin metal. It's evident that Farstad frees Abbath from trying to come up solos that sound rehashed.
Next up comes the new rhythm section of drummer Ukri Suvilehto and bassist Mia Wallace. As far as Suvilehto goes, this guy is a young Finnish drummer who is phenomenal. A great modern metal style of drumming that cuts within death metal as well as black metal. Personally I think he's as good as Kevin Foley (aka: Creature) from the debut.
As far as the Italian bassist Mia Wallace goes she's no King ov Hell as far as playing and song writing goes and that's a good thing. she fills the bass role just like Ole Jorgen Moe (aka: Apollyon) did in IMMORTAL's final days.
Which brings us finally to the music portion. During ABBATH's first tour they were doing some original stuff, some obscure IMMORTAL cuts as well as an I (as in the band) song, "Warriors". So basically this release comes across like a mix of past efforts by I as well as a less BATHORY influenced IMMORTAL and some grim & frosty hard fuckin rock.
In the end yeah I like this release but after so many plays my bias can't stand up to the truth. Abbath's best effort on here is when he reverts back to I influenced blackened rock. But then he goes back to recycled riffs from IMMORTAL's All Shall Fall and even At the Heart of the Winter stuff. Personally I rather listen to those old albums after playing this.
http://www.season-of-mist.com/
https://abbath.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/abbathband/
COME BACK FROM THE DEAD - The Rise of the Blind Ones
Transcending Obscurity Records
The first time I listened to this second full length by Spain's COME BACK FROM THE DEAD I was in full deja vu mode. Basically yeah I've heard the whole old school death thrash with early 80's hardcore influence many times. But once the first part of this release blew by the meat in the middle caught me by surprise. From that point on this five piece act had my attention.
COME BACK FROM THE DEAD are devotes, as far as musically, to old school death metal riff sounds circa late 80's Sweden. Whenever the lead guitar kicks in with a sweet lick you'll think ENTOMBED. That's as far as the influences go. The vocals by some guy named Paul are of the hardcore harshly shouted variety.
Don't even consider this death-core or metal core because that shit is for kids. This band's music is for adult killers who go into pits to be bloodied but unbowed. I'd say half of this release is truly a fest of rage which I kinda liked. The other half of the cuts were pushing a generic style which lost me. All in all a good album by a band that probably leaves beaten down bodies after every performance.
https://tometal.com/
https://comebackfromthedead.bandcamp.com/album/the-rise-of-the-blind-ones-death-metal
https://www.facebook.com/COMEBACKFROMTHEDEAD/
BONES - Diseased
Transcending Obscurity Records
There are places in the mainstream metal media where they come out with lists of most anticipated releases of the year. Most of them are bullshit because of advertising dollars. But when I saw that Transcending Obscurity Records was putting out the newest BONES release. I was like yeah this is my most anticipated release choice for 2019 and here is why.
First off I was a huge USURPER fan back in the day. To me they were the US version of CELTIC FROST. But by the late 2000's they died. Then instead of rising from the ashes you had ex-band members rise up on their own. It's like that ending scene from the movie Jason and the Argonauts where the teeth of the hydra help raise the bones as warriors.
That's what BONES were all about. In 2011 they (Jon Woodring - vocals/bass, Joe Schaeffer - drums and on guitar Chris Svoboda) came out with a debut release that was a death thrash masterpiece. Better yet they followed it up a few years later with Sons of Sleaze. And then the quiet set in which for a fan sucks.
Earlier this year the reformed USURPER released the comeback release Lords of the Permafrost which was pretty good so what will this new BONES release combat it with? Well starting out your new one with a song titled "Blood, Diarrhea and Tears" is a good start if not scary for older folks like myself who are worried about rectal cancer. That's alright since I'm OK.
As far as this new BONES release goes musically this is their most cornucopia type release so far. This trio drag various genres of extreme music through the filth. I mean there's times when BONES actually gets sludgey and doomish. Personally I was shocked but it always ended in a death thrash or even old hardcore style. Jon Woodring's vocals are maniacal in an old hardcore sounding way. There's good sounding albeit familiar riffs.
On a whole it took me some time to get into this one. Personally I'm always going to like the first two so this comes in at third place. I'd say a few decades ago sound-wise this would've been called crossover. This is definitely a metal and hardcore hybrid style which is a reminder of cool times from many years ago.
https://tometal.com/
https://bonesdeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/diseased-death-metal-crust
https://www.facebook.com/Bones-Chicago-113666132032091/
CURSE OF DENIAL - Coming For Your Soul
Redefining Darkness Records
It's releases like this as to why I take my sweet time reviewing stuff sent in to SFM666. Then there's the fact that I work fifty hours a week and somewhere in-between I have a life. Be that as it may it took quite a few listens to this particular release to even get me to type a fuckin word. Sure I liked it but why I didn't know at first. Then the whole idea of Fall and Halloween coming up kicked in so there you go.
CURSE OF DENIAL are a cool as fuck band from the great state of Ohio. We're talking of the Midwest mecca of fuckin metal there people. What this five piece act is all about is strictly extreme metal. The genre tagline on them is blackened death metal but they are so much more and yes that makes them cool as fuck.
The vocals vary from blast furnace throat-ed deeply growled vocals to harsh blackened screams. Musically we're ravaged by powerful riffs burgeoning on thrash or in other cases death doom as well as tried and true death metal. The one constant is the lead guitar work which slices it's way into every facet of this album. You get buzz-saw leads and fluid solos as if you're headed in tech death territory.
With a title like Coming For Your Soul, ah yeah and it's not a suggestion. The song structures on here simply twist and progress in ways to keep you off balance. It's like being engrossed in a creepy novel. Turn the page and a new freaky development happens. From start to finish on this their second full length CURSE OF DENIAL have created perfection.
http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
https://curse-of-denial.bandcamp.com/album/curse-of-denial-coming-for-your-soul
https://www.facebook.com/curseofdenial/
CRYPT SERMON - The Ruins of Fading Light
Dark Descent Records
When it comes to epic doom Sweden's CANDLEMASS will always be the standard bearer. As far as US bands go over the decades there's been a few who have captured the Swede's essence. But none have really pushed the peg a notch forward until now that is.
Enter CRYPT SERMON, a five piece act from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (of all places wow Hostile City does Doom) who have done so. The band gained notice in 2015 with their debut full length, Out of the Garden also out on Dark Descent Records. I remember listening to it and was like ok it's cool. But here we have their second release and it's the rubber hitting the road as far as bursting out.
Starting off with the vocals which are impassioned and amazing in an epic sense. Follow that up with the music which comes across like taking the platform of CANDLEMASS'S Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and SOLITUDE AETERNUS' Beyond the Crimson Horizon. Then retro-fitting it to modern times and audiences. Look anyone can be a copycat but it takes a bit of balls to push the genre style forward without losing one bit of it's significance. CRYPT SERMON has done that and that's why this is one of my favorite doom releases of 2019.
http://www.darkdescentrecords.com/
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-ruins-of-fading-light
https://www.facebook.com/CryptSermon
EFFIGY - MCMXCII Darkest Day reissue
Redefining Darkness Records
What we have here people is a cool concept and one I wanted to do with various demos by extreme metal North Carolina bands from way back when. Basically Redefining Darkness Records has teamed up with Raw Skull Recordz (Europe) to put out the series called Forever Underground. The idea is to re-release obscure demos from bands that never got their due when first released.
Now any of you readers familiar with bands on Deathgasm Records? Well I am and have a nice collection of CDs from them. Some of the members (the rhythm section) from EFFIGY moved on to form ABOMINANT which has had a decent enough career for themselves since the mid-90s. I have a few of their CDs and saw em once. As far as EFFIGY goes, they were from Kentucky as well as ABOMINANT and put out this demo in 1992.
Now prior to writing about this release I pulled out two ABOMINANT CDs to compare. And of course there's a huge difference for example EFFIGY saw the future and it wasn't looking backwards as far as death metal goes. This release showcases a band that jumped on board the melody train with a tech death scene in mind. Remember this came out in 1992 and we all remember what changes were happening.
The four cuts on here showcase a band that was very cool with prog standards, neck breaking song structure twists and punishing crescendos. The vocals have a mix of deathly snarls and barks. Leads are very fluid like. The rhythm section has a touch and go jazz influence paired with your typical beat the shit out of everything mentality. In the end I think this is an amazing find.
http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
https://effigy.bandcamp.com/album/effigy-mcmxcii-darkest-day
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEffigy/
FUNERAL STORM - Arcane Mysteries
Hells Headbangers Records
Just to be honest I was never overly impressed with the Greek black metal scene (aka: Hellenic Black Metal). Sure there's a couple of decent bands who put out some decent albums back in the day. But either those bands would later call it quits or go into territories like goth, symphonic or worse.
Which brings us to this one here. FUNERAL STORM's claim to fame is that it features Stefan Necroabyssious of VARATHRON on vocals. But that was not always the case. FUNERAL STORM started out as a solo project way back when by multi-instrumentalist Wampyrion (aka: Sakis Axiotis). That act started under a different name entirely. But this modern act started around seven years ago. Necroabyssious came on board in 2015 and a second guitarist, Aliki Arcania Sarakatsanou, jumped on in 2017.
Musically this is Sakis Axiotis' baby and since he has a band background in electronic and industrial music those influences are slightly touched on here. Add Necroabyssious and you've got some what of a throwback to VARATHRON's early days with enhancements. I wouldn't call this actual black metal at all. It's actually more in line with doom riffs plus a few sped up drum portions. Yeah there's some speedy riffs but hey. At least the keys are kept low in the mix to just add a subtle atmospheric melody.
In the end I'd say hand this over to the goths or some VARATHRON devotees, who they are I don't know. But to be honest this release will satisfy em. Obviously I was never much of a VARATHRON fan to begin with. I have one early album and one later from the fuckin mid-90's. I don't know what people see in em but hey I was at a ROTTING CHRIST show not too long ago and they sucked. But the venue was packed and kids were buying $40 hoodies so there you go.
https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/
https://funeralstormgreece.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/funeralstorm666
SKUZ - Death Mince Discography Compilation
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
I've said this before and I know it needs repeating. Writing about music on a blog or website does not make you an expert. In fact for me personally doing this blog is always a great learning experience. For example here we have the full output by this band from New Jersey who I never heard of before but damm I'm glad I did because it's good.
SKUZ are a duo consisting of Trevor Pason (guitar & vocals) and Josh Walton (drums & vocals). They originally started out in New Jersey which is from where I was born and raised. But from what I gather they now live in Portland, Oregon. Wow that's a fuckin culture shock. I wonder how long it's going to take them to stop peppering their language with words like Fuck, Fuckin, Motherfucker, Cocksucker, Douchebag, Sonovabitch and Asshole in order to appease the Portland PC crowd.
But anyways this is a complete discography of what this band has released since starting out in 2014. The thirty one songs here are from their output of demos, split releases (3) and their Endless Grief EP. Why so many songs? Well that's because SKUZ is musically a fuckin death doom and grind act. As far as influences go there's a litany I could mention. But better yet SKUZ could easily stand toe to toe with em. Plus if you do an anti hipster song, in their case it's "Total Hipster Extermination", you're automatically a winner in my book.
But for the sake of some of you questioning types. SKUZ falls in line with the likes of CIANIDE and MORTICIAN for the most part. Once in a while they're kick it into high gear with some headbanging and slam pit inducing death groove. Strangely enough it always ends in a doom dirge. But then again people don't slam dance like they use to when I was young. All in all this compilation is a MUST HAVE for sick fucks who crave this kinda stuff.
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/death-mince-discography
https://www.facebook.com/SKUZNJ/
WRAITH - Absolute Power
Redefining Darkness Records
As the saying goes "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". In this Indiana band's case it's their blackened speed metal style. A style made notable by bands like MIDNIGHT and TOXIC HOLOCAUST. We're talking about that old school speed metal sound matched up with blackened deep harsh vocals.
There are plenty of other acts out there doing similar things but this band on this their second full length have nailed it. WRAITH, who are a three piece act, use the slash and burn short song attack, titles are chorus' for crowd educing shouts. There's some punk rock ethos as with their inclusion of a very obscure MISFITS' cover "Death Comes Ripping". In the end it's enjoyable.
http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
https://wraith-us.bandcamp.com/album/absolute-power
https://www.facebook.com/wraiththrash/
DETHEROUS - Hacked to Death
Redefining Darkness Records
For the past few months I've been narrowing the scope of releases I wanna write about. Yes the parameters are getting smaller because of so little free time and too many releases. So on first listen I wasn't too thrilled about this Canadian death thrash band's debut full length. Then two more listens later and I'm saying this is cool as fuck.
DETHEROUS, who are a four piece act, have both of their feet planted firmly in the past and that's a damm good thing. Their lead guitarist is a Chuck Schuldiner influenced devotee as in the early DEATH stuff. Vocals are kinda caustic 80's hardcore in style. And these songs, eight of em, are total throwbacks. I mean this sounds like it could've come out on Combat Records back in the late 80s. This is what death thrash is supposed to be.
http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/
https://detherous-ca.bandcamp.com/album/detherous-hacked-to-death
https://www.facebook.com/detherous/
