EXILIUM NOCTIS - Fragments Of Apocalypse review

 

EXILIUM NOCTIS - Fragments Of Apocalypse 

Sleaszy Rider Records

I've been missing some good black metal from the nation of Greece of late. Hey where's DODSFERD these days? Actually I've been passing on many bands from this nation that simply are not up to the legacy Greece has displayed in the past. Of course that's when it comes to extreme metal. Then I heard this band, EXILIUM NOCTIS, and things changed.

EXILIUM NOCTIS are a black metal act that have one foot firmly planted in the 90's era of the genre but have the other kicking butt in the modern era. There's a touch of what we use to call Hellenic BM. Add in some death metal aesthetics and then counter it all with some keys and cello. Yeah this is kinda familiar and different.

The basics are covered well, on this their full length debut, in an almost symphonic style. Case in point, "Devouring the Carcass ov God" and closer "Wrath Eternal" are rituals of blackened death. Where as "Night Witches" pushes punishment as well as marching black metal pain. All seven cuts on here are good. 

This is a four piece act with Alpha on bass & vocals. Omega has the guitar work down pat. Then the fun begins with Kayra who plays cello. Can you say tremolo cello riffs? Finally there's the keyboards by Sigma which keeps the songs flowing. There's also a guest vocalist on "Wrath Eternal", aka: Jens Ryden from THYRFING. All in all an amazing debut from this Greek act.

https://sleaszyrider.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://exiliumnoctis.bandcamp.com/album/fragments-of-apocalypse

DEATHHAMMER - Electric Warfare review

 

DEATHHAMMER - Electric Warfare

Hells Headbangers Records

When you need Metal, go to Hell (aka: Hells Headbangers Records). When you want old school sounding blackened thrash, check out DEATHHAMMER. I've been a fan of this Norwegian duo since hearing their Phantom Knights full length back in 2010. And of course I've stayed a fan ever since. 

This is album number five for these guys. And as always these guys never disappoint nor do they deviate from their blackened thrash pedigree. Harsh riffs, psycho solos, pounding drum work and vocals which are cursed out or screamed is what you get here. There's no one else better at it than these guys. 

https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://deathhammer.bandcamp.com/

ARCH ENEMY - Deceivers reviews

 

ARCH ENEMY - Deceivers

Century Media Records

It's been a while since I actually took some interest in an ARCH ENEMY release. Don't get me wrong I was a fan of the band for a long time. But I have to say 2007's Rise of the Tyrant was the last full length of theirs I thought was decent. And yes the key word for ARCH ENEMY has always been decent. Whether it was the early days with Johan Liiva singing or his replacement Angela Gossow. The band never put out a perfect album. But they sure put out some decent ones. 

But after Rise of the Tyrant it was pretty much shit. So in 2014 Angela Gossow decided to leave but did pick her successor. That would be present singer/blue haired Pilates instructor Alissa White-Gluz. I have to say that when word got out on Alissa White-Gluz being the band's new vocalist I figured they're going metal-core for the kiddies. I mean seriously her previous band THE AGONIST was a metal-core act. Just listen to their 2007 debut Once Only Imagined.

So be that as it may I gave that ARCH ENEMY release, War Eternal from 2014, a chance and was disappointed. I mean nothing against the singer. She basically was a CREEM Dream front woman told to growl along to Michael Amott crappy songs. The same goes for 2017's Will to Power. Once again crappy songs but Alissa White-Gluz got to stand out more with her vocals by adding those cleans.

So here we are in 2022, post pandemic and plenty of time to create something better. Is the third time the charm? Well actually it is. Deceivers is a decent album because of a couple of obvious reasons. First off Michael Amott brings in some past riffs, from the Angela era, and more of the same from what he's been writing of late. But they're more melodic death metal than metal-core influenced. 

Secondly I think the rhythm section of drummer Daniel Erlandsson and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo are doing more than keeping time as with past crap releases. As far as Jeff Loomis' leads go well he's better than Nick Cordle but hey Christopher Amott was the best. Finally they let the blue haired Pilates instructor Alissa White-Gluz sing and show some distinct ability. I mean her growled vocals are kinda generic at this point (metal-core). But when I heard her cleans on opener "Handshake with Hell" I was impressed. Add to that her witch vocals on "The Watcher". 

All in all with a diversity of song structures, reminiscent of old, letting the rest of the band shine and giving your singer room to show off some of her talent. Yeah this is a good album. FINALLY!!!!!

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTmo0JRpKDA

AMON AMARTH - The Great Heathen Army review

 

AMON AMARTH - The Great Heathen Army

Metal Blade Records

This is album number twelve for everyone's favorite Swedish viking metal band. Yeah I bet Quorthon is spinning in his grave on that one. But hey I became an AMON AMARTH fan years ago. My first album by them was With Oden on Our Side from 2006. For me that's their best album in my not so humble opinion. I finally did get to see em on their 2009 US tour. 

Now over the years I've picked up the releases from their early years as well as every new one. But I have to say from 2008's Twilight of the Thunder God to this release here this band has fell into a repetitive formula mode. Think about AC/DC or MOTORHEAD as far as a recognizable sound. That's AMON AMARTH these days. What's funny is that Twilight of the Thunder God is the album that broke them into the mainstream of metal. I still think that album was a generic over produced piece of wax worthy of mainstream losers. 

So since then every one of their releases has the basics. You've got Johan Hegg's roar like death growl vocals matched up with the classic sound of Swedish melodic death metal. And of course the viking themes which after thirty years the band hasn't run out of Norse mythology song ideas, yet. And in the end you get a bunch of releases with two or three cool songs with the rest being boring crap. 

So with The Great Heathen Army you've got some decent cuts like opener "Get in the Ring" which is classic Swede Melo-Deth with a damm good guitar solo. It's a good pounding tune. "Saxons and Vikings" is actually a crap song musically. But you've got three people from SAXON performing on it. We're talking about Biff Byford doing split vocals with Johan Hegg plus guitar soloing by Doug Scarratt and Paul Quinn. 

I also like "Heidrun" with it's folk metal groove style. Hey pass the mead I think I'm Baldur. And that's about it for me. Like I said earlier I'm a fan and always hope for the best. But as for now, again, their best is behind them. 

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://amonamarth.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-heathen-army

DE PROFUNDIS - The Corruption of Virtue review

 

DE PROFUNDIS - The Corruption of Virtue

Transcending Obscurity Records

DE PROFUNDIS are a cool death metal act from England who I learned about over a decade ago. Back then they were all into the whole English death doom scene theme. Then I heard their 2018 full length, The Blinding Light of Faith and was knocked down a few paces especially with my attitude towards genre cross pollination. 

On that album DE PROFUNDIS created song structures which worked in tech and melodic death metal style without being overwhelming or annoying. Plus they kept the old DM ways intact. I believe at the time I called that album "modern death metal done right".

So fast forward to 2022 and this new DE PROFUNDIS album. The Corruption of Virtue is basically an extension of their last album. The only change is the added emphasis on some bass soloing provided by newest member Steve Woodcock. But everything else is the same as before. 

Craig Land still sings in that deep dark harsh throat-ed style. The guitar duo of Soikot Sengupta and Paul Nazarkardeh still provide the chunky melodic riffs. While still contributing slice and dice prog style soloing. Finally Tom Atherton keeps the drum work diverse as well as pounding. 

All of these players combine to create nine cuts of devilishly good melodic tech death with plenty of proggy bits. Another decent album that's a must listen without interruption. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://deprofundisband.bandcamp.com/album/the-corruption-of-virtue-death-metal

SAVAGE MASTER - Those Who Hunt at Night review

 

SAVAGE MASTER - Those Who Hunt at Night

Shadow Kingdom Records

I became a SAVAGE MASTER fan after hearing their second album, With Whips and Chains, from 2016. Some of my friends had seen em and turned me onto em quickly. From there of course I played catch up to get all of their releases be they full lengths or EPs. Finally got to see em and of course was blown away. SAVAGE MASTER are a must see live act. I also got to see em a few months ago and yeah that was great.

Next up came their third album, Myth, Magic and Steel which I had written about. The band was already great at creating fun old school sounding traditional metal with their previous releases. Basically their sound was a combination of WARLOCK, RIOT, EXCITER and Mario Bava Italian style horror chic. But on that third album the band had one foot in their traditional stalking sound. But the other was moving towards something better. I don't wanna say they were progressing. Instead they were on the verge of coming into their own.

On this their fourth full length yeah this is it. SAVAGE MASTER does pay homage to their 80's metal influences. But this time around they are the modern metal act rocking out stuff we like in their own way. Opener "Hunt at Night" has a cool Glenn Tipton / K. K. Downing rhythm riff style. It's catchy and cool like openers on their other albums. From that point onward the album is just amazing. We're talking classic metal sounds for the modern age.

Those Who Hunt at Night is nine cuts worth of horned fist raised in the air, headbanging greatness. Stacey Savage is an amazing vocalist. Thankfully she's not trying to be a female Halford. Instead she's more of an evil sounding witch and I mean that in a good way. She's got that inbetween range where her vocals are like a dagger to your heart. Add to that the song structures on this album vary to the point where every song is an introduction to something cooler. 

Musically yeah as I said before the riffs are cool as fuck. The guitar solos jump in with a clean old school style. The rhythm section is powerful as fuck. I just have to say it. This is a perfect album. Not only that but it's accessible to anyone who is into metal. 

Add to that you've got overwhelming powerful classic songs like the previously mentioned opener plus "The Hangman's Tree", "Rain of Tears" and of course the majestic "Queen Satan". All in all yeah this is the band's best album to date. And I've got to say that this is one of the best albums of 2022. Actually fuck the bullshit, this is the best metal album of the year.

https://www.shadowkingdomrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://staceysavagemaster.bandcamp.com/album/those-who-hunt-at-night

DEEDS OF FLESH - Trading Pieces Reissue review

 

DEEDS OF FLESH - Trading Pieces Reissue

Horror Pain Gore Death

So my history with DEEDS OF FLESH started out late in their career. The first full length I got of their's was Portals to Canaan from 2013. I picked it up a year or two later at a local show where this guy I know had his distro set up in the club. I saw the band name, pulled it out to look and the guy says "Oh man that's a great CD. You need to get that." Oddly enough he said the same thing to me about the other four CDs I pulled out to look at. So he got me for $50 and I left the show sober.

But hey the guy was right because that was a damm good release of brutal tech death that wasn't ADD inducing headache stuff. Unfortunately a few years later their guitarist/vocalist Erik Lindmark passed away. But fortunately the band continued on and in 2020 came out with Nucleus. Once again another great album in that same modern brutal tech death vibe.

Unfortunately, which is the usual case for me, I never invested/investigated the band's back catalog which is extensive. DEEDS OF FLESH, who hail from California, originally started out in the mid-90's. Their debut release was an four song EP from 1995 titled Gradually Melted. So what we have here is the reissue of their debut full length from 1996.

Now if you're a modern day fan of the band, like me, then hearing this is gonna be slightly off. When DEEDS OF FLESH started out they were straight up brutal death metal. In fact there are probably a ton of BDM bands today who are influenced by DEEDS OF FLESH whether they admit it or not. They seeded the West Coast while their Midwest peers (you know who I'm talking about) did the rest.

Musically it's straight up brutal death metal with a surprisingly diverse riff package. Plus Erik Lindmark's varied vocal style of deep growls, high pitch screeching and bestial sounds emanating from hell. In the end this sounds fresh today, obviously because of copycats. I'll admit to liking their more modern tech death and still brutal style over this. But this just makes me smile in a sick way and that's a good thing.

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/trading-pieces-reissue

KNIGHT & GALLOW - For Honor And Bloodshed review

 

KNIGHT & GALLOW - For Honor And Bloodshed

No Remorse Records

Here's a new band from California who are part of something which I like to call making America metal again. Now don't get me wrong. Here in the states we're metal as fuck. But hey I'm an older fan and as much as I like the various genres. I really like to hear something old school and traditional. 

So this is the debut album by KNIGHT & GALLOW, a five piece act from Sacramento, California. Who on here pretty much nail the whole fantasy Heavy Metal magazine meets the music scenario. The vocals, by Nick Chambers, are clean, decent and not generic. The song craft by this band with it's innovative style versus the traditional pace is damm cool.

While listening to this the first time I wondered if it was a long lost act from the 80's. Yeah the production is 80's all the way. And musically it all reminds me of a cross between CIRITH UNGOL and MANILLA ROAD with better vocals of course. 

The songs on here, all nine of em, have decent rhythms and fiery solos. A few times there's some soaring rocking style cuts like "Stormbringer's Call". And then there's numbers which hold you in balance like "Men Of The West". All in all a great debut album and hey raise that horned fist for metal and this band.  

https://www.noremorse.gr/

LISTEN HERE:

https://knightandgallow.bandcamp.com/album/for-honor-and-bloodshed

SENTIENT HORROR - Rites of Gore review

 

SENTIENT HORROR - Rites of Gore

Redefining Darkness Records

I was gonna make some New Jersey jokes to start things off since this band is from the Garden state as I once was. But the music is too good to fuck around with. This is the third full length by this four piece death metal act. I got into em years ago with their debut full length Ungodly Forms from 2016. Their second one, Morbid Realms, from 2019 was damm good. But this new one I think is their best.

SENTIENT HORROR are full on 90's style old school death metal. And on Rites of Gore this band displays DM perfection. Musically there's a touch of early Swede DM with an aggressive Polish DM punch to the head. Yeah I know they're from Jersey and there's no NYDM influence. But hey that's the way us Jersey people are, fuck New York. 

Right from the opening you've got great riffs via HM2 Boss pedal and in that diabolical style. It's just fierce sounding. The vocals are the same way, fierce low end caustic. The guitar solos are dive bombing slices that could cut solid steel. And of course the rhythm section just bludgeons along to a sick grin delight. 

I don't care what year it is. This is the way death metal is supposed to be played. Ten cuts on this opus of hate and the final song is an ENTOMBED cover "Supposed to Rot". Yeah I think that's appropriate. By my third listen this album just shot to my favorite DM album of 2022. 

http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://sentienthorror.bandcamp.com/album/rites-of-gore