THE SHORT STACK
Short reviews by some famous releases that don't need any fanfare from yours truly
BENEDICTION - Scriptures
Nuclear Blast
OK so the big news going on with this one is the return of Dave Ingram on vocals. For me that's cool since I've been digging his recent work with Rogga Johansson in DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN. For me personally I wasn't into the Dave Hunt on vocals years. That last album, 2008's Killing Music, made me think the band was just on automatic. Sure it sounded good but it's suppose to.
Scriptures is not a return to Transcend the Rubicon or even Grind Bastard. Honestly you don't wanna hear that anyway. Basically it's a death metal release by a band who's older members feel hungry again. Ingram has never lost a bit of his deep bellow vocal style. Guitarists Peter Rew and Darren Brookes are damm heavy handed with the riffs. The new guys in the rhythm section are solid. It's a flawless death metal album.
https://www.nuclearblast.de/en/shop/index.html
ENSLAVED - Utgard
Nuclear Blast
It's been ten years since I bothered listening to an ENSLAVED release. I figured after all of that time I'd give em a chance listen to see if they've become interesting again. Well no, they're still a full on prog metal act. Sure they'll insert a kernel of past black metal essence into a song or two. The track "Jettegryta" is as close as it gets. And that one even goes the way of modern day DIMMU BORGIR meets a Nordic version of 90's YES. I'll stick with their first three albums.
https://www.nuclearblast.de/en/shop/index.html
BURZUM - Thulean Mysteries 2xCD
Byelobog Productions
Yeah this double CD release needs a warning sticker and not for what you would think. If you've kept up with Varg over the years, like on his now deleted Youtube channel (he's on Bitchute by the way), or as a fan of BURZUM. Then you know he's not into metal anymore. Varg has been doing the whole dark ambient music style for quite some time. This 23 song release is much less a musical opus (aka: a new BURZUM album) but more of a soundtrack to his MYFAROG role playing game.
Now just the thought of Varg coming up with a D&D style game is enough to bring a sadistic grin as well as an eye roll from me. But I'm dealing with the music here. Varg utilizes plenty of synth, acoustic guitar, tribal instruments, he sings a bit and speaks but this is primarily an instrumental release. And with all of that said, it's horrible unless you need some boring background music to play some fuckin board game.
http://byelobog-productions.burzum.org/
WARBRINGER - Weapons of Tomorrow
Napalm Records
This was one of the promising acts from the mid 2000's thrash revival. I saw em back then, picked up their releases and then gave up on em about a decade ago with their third release. Back then they were on Century Media Records but in 2017 they came out with their fifth full length Woe to the Vanquished on Napalm Records. Weapons of Tomorrow is their sixth full length and second for the label where all bands go to die.
Actually this is not a bad release. The line-up has only two original members, they don't sound like used SLAYER anymore. They're still thrash but with a character of their own and maybe some power metal influence. This is definitely better than all their past stuff.
https://label.napalmrecords.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment