DOWNCROSS - Hexapoda Triumph review

 

DOWNCROSS - Hexapoda Triumph

Cavum Atrum Rex

Well whether you file this one under blackened thrash or black & roll, either way this band makes a helluva racket. What we have here is the fourth full length by Belarus duo DOWNCROSS. I'm just now learning about em. After blasting this release a few times I can say that even the two genre terms I've used starting out could be considered merely suggestions.

First off don't let the over two minute eerie synth laden intro fool you into thinking you're gonna be hit with techno experimental BM. The release gets into gear on the second track "Trumpets Salute the Demise of Death". From that point on you're either in for the ride or dragged kicking and screaming. Personally I like the former.

DOWNCROSS are just one of many Eastern European BM acts I've heard over the past five years who keep the genre interesting by injecting more traditional metal into their sound. But it doesn't take anything away from the whole BM formula. To me that's the most important part. On the whole this album is savage sounding BM but then the craziness gets added.

Musically the basics here are vocals, guitars and drums. The latter consists of some basic pounding, cool rolls and finding a way to keep up with the riffs. The vocals vary from caustic singing to violent screaming. In-between all of that the guitar work is all over the place. You get the savage BM riffs mixed with straight up rock riffs. Add to that there's tremolo picked soloing, harmonic melodies and yeah some thrashing. 

All in all Hexapoda Triumph is a pleasure to listen to. There's just so much going on in this band's songs that you really have to digest it all or go for just letting it blast in the background while you do horrible things. Either way this is excellent.

LISTEN HERE:

https://downcross.bandcamp.com/

LJOSAZABOJSTWA - Gloryja Smierci review

LJOSAZABOJSTWA - Gloryja Smierci

Godz ov War Productions




The return of old school death metal crosses all borders including the confines of Belarus. Here we have the debut full length by LJOSAZABOJSTWA. Don't even ask me about pronunciation. All I do know is that in Belarusian it means "murder of fate". After listening to their release I can say it sounds about right. 


For the record LJOSAZABOJSTWA like their death metal dressed in blackness and doom. There's five cuts altogether on here and all over seven minutes each. Despite the genre tags this band's sound is intricate whether it's the amazing solo work or the drum fill textures. The band does the genre basics to perfection aka: crushing fast riffs, blast beat drumming, death doom vocals. But yeah it's everything else added in-between that makes for a damm good release.


http://godzovwar.com/

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/g-oryja-mierci

https://lszb.bandcamp.com/

VISTERY - Death Is Dead review

VISTERY - Death Is Dead

Satanath Records




Over the years or actually decades I've learned that Eastern European metal acts are not only behind the times of trends but even when years come close to confrontation they don't care. To them it's like Oh that's the flavor of the month well then fuck you here's OUR WAY. That's why I go apeshit over hearing music from their area of the world. It's always a middle finger to the faces of the western world of conformity. Oh yeah and why I do this blog.


Which is why VISTERY are a band worth checking out since they're pounding out GRAVE style filth with some touches of early 90's prog death. Add to that some melo-death touches which are not so boring. Basically VISTERY are a five piece act from Belarus, Minsk to be exact, who push the mid-tempo death metal formula to cool areas without losing any visceral punch. 

http://www.satanath.com/

https://www.facebook.com/visteryband/