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CROPSY MANIAC - Carnage
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Remember the good old days, yeah like three decades ago. Death Metal was still in it's infancy but people were catching on quickly. You would go out to the local club. There would be some DM act on stage hammering away with some decent yet heavy handed riffs. The singer would be yelling out some gruff vocals, no full on cookie monster ones yet. The front of the stage would be lined up with people headbanging away.
Behind them there would be a huge circle pit of people going crazy. Then behind that would be too older guys, one wearing a SLAYER shirt and the other wearing METALLICA. The guy in the METALLICA shirt leans over to his friend and asks "Ya think they'll kick our asses?" His friend wearing the SLAYER shirt replies "Well not me but" and looks at his friend's shirt then smiles at em. Yeah good times.
CROPSY MANIAC probably know what I'm talking about. On here their eight song EP, this band from Kentucky / Oregon (I don't fuckin know) relives the days of old school death metal in a decent way. Their old school aesthetic as well as their death grind touch is cool. Love the fuckin sick and twisted vocals by Kevin Reece. Their songs are all short forceful attacks. Basically it's beating people up music.
On the not so good side there's a major flaw in that there's not much guitar soloing at points in their songs which would've been exciting. Most of this is simple riffs, average drumming and good vocals. I'll add to that the production is horrible, the soundbites from whatever movies they were pulled from are not memorable. In the end a decent release by a band that obviously could be better.
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/carnage
https://www.facebook.com/cropsymaniacgrind?fref=ts
BOTIS - Grand Abominations
Self Released
Over the past couple of years I've seen the whole blackened thrash genre become very generic. Yeah I know that's a given in some circles but I've always been a huge fan of the genre and to see it become cookie cutter bullshit is fuckin sad. Certainly there are many good acts putting out that style of extreme. But there's also plenty of bullshit out there. Fortunately BOTIS is not one of them.
This four piece act from Philadelphia, PA (aka: Hostile City, USA) takes a different take on the sub genre by adding some eclectic progressive elements to the template. It's all something which will make you go "what the fuck" a lot. My problem with supposed modern "prog metal" is the lack of song writing chops. This band actually knows how to create a song structure as well as differentiate from it to a opposite point and then fall back well. But still leaving you in that "What the fuck was that"status.
With their song writing craft in tact we need to talk about the basics which are impressive. As far as the vocals go the singer here sounds like a harsh raptor. The drum work is fuckin dynamic and fun to follow. The guitar work is key whether it's on par with your basic thrash riffs or the progressive tangents which remind me of some classics of the past. Why hasn't this band been signed?
https://botisevil.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/botisthrashes/
SONS OF FAMINE - As Razors Gnaw like Wolves
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Huge surprise, I seem to remember band names well while doing SFM666. Case in point back in 2017 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions reissued SONS OF FAMINE's Alcohol And Razorblades demo. That demo originally came out in 2013. I had written some decent things about that reissue as well as stating that the band needed a full length because of the seeming greatness.
So here is their debut full length. SONS OF FAMINE is a Chicago, Illinois blackened death metal act with a sound akin to a extreme metal maelstrom. The band, which started out in 2012, might be new but their players are seasoned veterans from various long time local acts. It's because of their shared long time experience which makes their debut a well crafted and planned exercise in the extreme.
The band's brand of blackened death is in a word, bludgeoning. It comes across as a sick mix of Panzer Division era MARDUK meets ABSU and MORBID ANGEL. As Razors Gnaw like Wolves is a fast album with a running time of just over thirty minutes in length. Most of these are fast thrashy face ripping blasters. The band does allow some mid-paced atmospheric touches near the end. But that's if you've survived that long.
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/as-razors-gnaw-like-wolves
https://www.facebook.com/sonsoffamine
DEIPHAGO - I, The Devil
Hells Headbangers Records
Listening to DEIPHAGO's newest and fifth full length is more like an endurance test then a musical experience. These Filipino blackened death mongers really pushed things to the limit on here. The first time I played this one was on a morning after a late night of after work drinking and eating some jalapeno laced homemade burritos. Yeah that's called tenacity and I left this one alone for a while.
So here we are again and oh the pain continues. Usually when I review a release I give a listen. If I like it then the second time around I type up the pertinent information as well as some descriptive words for the review which I'll follow up with later. When I came back to what I had previously written about this release. It looked like a suicide note.
I am familiar with DEIPHAGO. I have their last three full lengths and two EPs. That makes me a fan or a punishment junkie and my safe word is "palomino". But with album it just doesn't work. Imagine if you will an industrial sized abattoir. Yeah and add in some death, black and grind for fun and you have I, The Devil by the tits. The rhythm beats are assaults. The riffs are simply all about punishment. And the vocals, when they do manage to get in, are as if you're listening to a man scream while on fire.
Yeah I always boast about liking excruciating extreme stuff but the fuckin incessant beat-down that this release vomits forth has created some limitations on my part. Imagine if you will a blackened death version of GODFLESH's Streetcleaner album with more intense riffs and a real drummer who's probably wanted for murder. This is a relentless (and sadly repetitive) release of noise mainly suited for the sickest purveyors of the extreme.
My neighbor across the street told me the other day that he was feeling depressed. So I lent him this CD in the hopes of cheering him up. Well after the cops and the ambulance showed up at his house afterwards you would think he'd be a good neighbor and return it then share it with the authorities. But No!
https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/
https://deiphago-philippines.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/deiphago/?_rdc=1&_rdr
MEAN MACHINE - Rock 'n' Roll Up Your Ass
Fighter Records
A little history for ya back in the mid -90's, metal was going through it's own weird times. But so was the whole underground punk/hardcore music scene. Along came a band called The HELLACOPTERS outta Sweden which featured Nicke Andersson of ENTOMBED (not playing drums) on guitar and vocals. They pushed their musical love of THE STOOGES, MC5 and MOTORHEAD to the hilt. It was hard fuckin punk rock n roll and we, my friends as well as a shitload of people in the punk and metal scene, loved it.
Of course a shitload of other bands jumped onto this bandwagon from around the world. It soon became a new genre for us into the extreme and it pissed off the anarcho punk losers. Every time now when I hear a present day band doing the same thing I get excited as fuck. Enter MEAN MACHINE a three piece act from Barcelona, Spain. Listening to this, their third full length, is as if I'm standing in a club in 1998 getting blown away by some cool punk/metal hybrid act that loves to kick your ass.
Guitarist Juan Pedro Quesada worships at the altar of Fast Eddie Clarke. The vocals by bassist Raul Mesa are savage punk snarls. Him and drummer Marc Tapies rappid fire through their rhythms as if there's hookers waiting for em after the recording session. All in all I love the living shit out of this release. I was waiting for them to slow down and when they do they're like MOTORHEAD. When they're fast they're like the HELLACOPTERS. This is fuckin great.
http://www.fighter-records.com/
https://meanmachinernr.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MeanMachineRnR/
PAGANIZER - The Tower of the Morbid
Transcending Obscurity Records
OK bias alert, I am a Rogga Johansson fan. If you're a regular reader of SFM666 (and frankly who isn't?) then you would know that. I first got into his music a decade ago and since then I've pretty much respected everything he's done in the world of extreme metal via all of his various bands/side projects. But I got into his main band, PAGANIZER, first and to me my favorite of all his work.
I got into PAGANIZER's 2009 full length, Scandinavian Warmachine, when it came out. It was/is an incredible release which I still hold in high regard. It came out at a time when old school death metal, especially old school Swedish death metal, was making a revival. But as I learned PAGANIZER were an old band who started out back in 1998. So they were not part of the new wave at all. In fact they were carrying the flag of old school Swedish death metal high long before it became a trend.
OK so I'm a fan so what's with this new album you may ask. Well I liked 2017's Land of Weeping Souls a lot. So we've got this fluid continuation of what if the two points of the Swedish death metal trident (aka: ENTOMBED & DISMEMBER) didn't peter out? Add to that a touch of the more melodic Swede Death on a few cuts.
Rogga's vocals are harsh and heavy as fuck like a bear grunting and hungry after hibernation. The riffs are ripping and the solos, what few their are, seem adequate. The key words here are relentless and dedication. If you liked the last album then you'll enjoy this one too. Great cover artwork as well.
https://tometal.com/
https://paganizer.bandcamp.com/album/the-tower-of-the-morbid-death-metal
https://www.facebook.com/paganizersweden/
VHS - We're Gonna Need Some Bigger Riffs
Horror Pain Gore Death Records
I said some nice things in a review of this Canadian band's last full length, 2018's The New Batch. They're a campy death metal / death grind act who push the offensive horror shtick element to the hilt. Extreme metal is offensive enough to the majority of modern music listeners but there are certain bands within particular genres who just push buttons. To me, I love it and laugh along as I bang my head. VHS are one of those bands.
On this latest release VHS come across as a throwback to Midwest American brutal death metal from years ago. Think something akin to the offspring of IMPETIGO with horror movie fandom and sarcasm. All of which makes We're Gonna Need Some Bigger Riffs into actually a fun concept album. Along with the death metal aesthetics there's plenty of thrash, hardcore and grind touches.
Song wise they employ some meaty riffs which, although familiar sounding, do feel like kicks to the head. Vocals bounce back and forth from harsh sicking screams to basic deep gruff singing. Like before the band has invited guests appearing on some songs. This time around there's fuckin Matt Harvey of EXHUMED. Yeah I'm a huge EXHUMED fan. Also there's Trevor Strnad from BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, a band I'm not a fan of. Horror Movie death metal fans should eat this one alive.
http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/were-gonna-need-some-bigger-riffs
https://www.facebook.com/vhsthunderbay
WITCH RITUAL - Death Beyond
DHU Records
For the past decade there's been a decent size crop of female fronted doom bands who have an occultist, mystical influenced theme within their sound. Personally I thinks that's a good thing, women in metal, especially when they have talent. As far as those bands go some of em had an added psychedelia touch. Other acts were rooted in the 70's hard rock era. While some bands were basic traditional doom. The stoner rock acts are a dime a dozen.
WITCH RITUAL are a new doom act out of Berlin who follow along in the whole occult themed sub genre. Basically we're talking about witches, demons, Satan and rituals. Musically their sound is CANDLEMASS-lite with a vocalist who reminds me of Jex Thoth. Yeah that's a good thing to me because I use to like her vocals. They're a cool, gutsy witch style which are never airy or wailing.
This release is their debut full length. I never heard their EP, Rising Doom, from 2016 which is my loss. But what we have here is a solid album and with some standout tracks which are kick ass. First off "The Earth Rises Up" is exceptional since the riffs and vocals/screams complement one another. Then there's "Ruins" which is totally reminiscent of JEX THOTH with a better vocal delivery.
All in all WITCH RITUAL's Death Beyond is a solid debut release. But I'll hold out to see and hear what they'll do next. I think the production values missed out. Lacri's vocals could've been more prominent on certain tracks. The guitars, bass and drums could've been more thunderous at times. Instead the subtle-ness is sleep inducing. Next time.
https://witchritual.bandcamp.com/album/death-beyond
https://www.facebook.com/WitchRitual/
CULT OF SORROW - Invocation of the Lucifer
Black Doomba Records
So whenever I here a doom band who go beyond the SABBATH-ian influence and just shoot for homage I think of a Canadian band called DAYGLO ABORTIONS. Many years ago that band did a cool song called "(Acting Like) Black Sabbath". You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrNUlRutnhY
Now with that said yeah CULT OF SORROW are heavily influenced by the early days of the SAB-4. In their case it's a good thing. On this their sophomore full length, the Cincinnati, Ohio four piece display a song writing craft which is widely infectious. The grooves, riffs and vocals all invoke the doom and gloom of old. And yet even with the obvious influence it does come across as fresh as opposed to some other acts who simply run through the numbers. All in all it's an amazing release.
https://cultofsorrow.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cultofsorrow
SAVAGE MASTER - Myth, Magic and Steel
Shadow Kingdom Records
By now everyone into True Metal should know who SAVAGE MASTER are. But for those of you still in the dark I'll throw some light your way. SAVAGE MASTER are a five piece metal act from Louisville, Kentucky. Since starting out in 2013 they've rode the wake of old school metal's revived thunder. Fronted by a curvaceous siren and backed by four masked menacing henchmen. They a combination of WARLOCK, MANOWAR and Mario Bava Italian style horror chic.
Since starting out a few years ago the band has released two solid full lengths and two equally good EPs. With this their third full length you, if you're a naysayer, might think a slump is in order for a band with a shtick. Not so with this one though because Myth, Magic and Steel continues the string of solid sounding release momentum.
From the opening salvo of it's catchy title track getting things moving. You get another crowd chanting chorus style cut tailor made for the hungry metal crowd raising their horned fists. There's even a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6btx8W_z1zA
From that point on you've got fiery follow-ups, reminders of past efforts and some explorations into new territories. My highlights were fast paced rockers like "The Devil's Ecstasy", "Crystal Gazer" and "Lady of Steel" which to me is easily an ode to Stacey Peak.
"The Owl" is a change of pace for the band. It's a slower Hard Rock/Doom style cut which breaks out into some galloping rhythms and dynamic guitar soloing. It invokes memories of CIRITH UNGOL as far as the song goes. Strangely enough the cover artwork of Myth, Magic and Steel also reminds me of CIRITH UNGOL or at least Heavy Metal Magazine covers from the past.
In the end I have to admit my bias. I like SAVAGE MASTER because they've brought back a cool attitude and theatrical sense to metal which does come across as fresh to a point. I think their first two albums are perfect and I saw em earlier this year for the first time. Yeah I was singing along to their songs. They put on a great show so I'm hoping to see em again on their latest tour.
So as far as this one goes I'd say half of it reminds you of what they've done before which is good. Then there's a part where you think those cuts are good but don't reach what they could be capable of. And next come the experimental ventures which are good and welcome because you don't want to have a one trick pony. It's that last part which kinda makes me excited. Just listen to "Warrior vs Dragon" and wonder what could come next.
https://www.shadowkingdomrecords.com/
https://savagemasterofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/savagemasterofficial/
