MAYHEM - Liturgy Of Death review

 

MAYHEM - Liturgy Of Death 

Century Media

So let me get some things out here which you'll understand. I am a MAYHEM fan in that I own 99.9% of all of their releases whether they're official or bootleg. Crazy enough my bootlegs have gone on to be official releases later on. Not only is MAYHEM one of my all time favorite Black Metal bands. But I still say their De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas full length from 1994 is the greatest Black Metal album of all time. But before someone screams "Bias"! Let me be honest by saying not all of their releases are that great in my not so humble opinion. And two of em are stinkers. 

Now with that said back in 2019 when the band released the Daemon full length I called it the real follow up of De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Along with Necrobutcher on bass, Attila Csihar on vocals and Hellhammer on drums. You had two cool guitarists Teloch (aka: Morten Bergeton Iversen) and Ghul (aka: Charles Edward Alexander Hedger). These guitarists recreated the sound which Euronymous and Snorre Westvold Ruch did back in 1993. I mean the sound on Daemon was perfect. 

And here we are seven years later with the follow-up / seventh studio full length. The term "follow-up" fits this one perfectly because it's in the same vein as Daemon. The opener here, "Ephemeral Eternity", is definitely a great horrific way to start things off. From there onward it's either great or decent tracks. "Despair" and "Weep for Nothing" are damm good and worthy of being included in their new live set.

One thing I have to mention is that Attila Csihar has become iconic with his vocal style. There's no one like him and he proves it once again on Liturgy Of Death. Also huge props to Teloch and Ghul for their guitar work which is basically icy dark melodies and a barrage of cruel riffs. A perfect example is "Aeon's End". I like the twisted atmosphere of "Funeral of Existence". The rest of the tracks are good as well. 

MAYHEM are on a roll here especially being the last Norwegian Black Metal band from the early days that actually puts out great albums of late of course. Liturgy Of Death is a quality follow-up from Daemon. If I had the band's ear I'd say your next live set should just include songs from those two albums plus a few cuts from De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Because they all fall together. Hey I can hope but the bottom line is that Liturgy Of Death is great.  

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAidgwVV3VI&t=921s

MARDUK - Memento Mori review

 

MARDUK - Memento Mori

Century Media

As a MARDUK fan from their early days I can honestly say that the Mortuus era of the band has been a tough sell. Personally I like his work when he's doing FUNERAL MIST. And if you're a Black Metal fan you should as well. Now I'm not saying the albums he's been on starting with 2004's Plague Angel have been bad. In fact I think his tenure as vocalist/songwriter have helped the band move into these modern days of the genre without sounding like an oldies band. 

Be that as it may the Mortuus era albums, this new one being the seventh, have been hit or miss for me. I'd say the first three are good and the two afterwards have a handful of decent songs on em. But their last one, 2018's Viktoria, is by far their worst. So I come into this one feeling that I have nothing to lose. Oddly enough I'd say this is an improvement but not by much.

Look as far as the singing and musicianship go then yeah MARDUK are doing well. As far as the songs go, they've ditched the war themes of the past two albums and embraced death. I mean you've got songs like "Heart of the Funeral" followed up by "Blood of the Funeral" and of course "Shovel Beats Sceptre". There's a couple of others involving a dirt nap as well. Are they trying to say the band is dead?

Musically I think the more memorable cuts are the ones where the band really cuts loose for example "Year of the Maggot". The riff and drum work are from the past but the bass is thick and Mortuus has that blood dripping vocal going. I'd say the same for "Heart of the Funeral" and it's companion "Blood of the Funeral". Like I said earlier it's better than their last one. But they're still on cruise control. I hate the album cover as well.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

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

ASPHYX – Necroceros review

ASPHYX – Necroceros 

Century Media

This is the tenth album by these Dutch death metal veterans. You've gotta give credit to a an extreme metal band with that type of accomplishment on their resume. Especially one which has gone through some major changes over the years. But still has consistently put out great music. Oh yeah and they're one of my favorite death metal bands. So yeah the bias alert is in effect.

Necroceros starts off in similar fashion as they've done over the past dozen years as far as their newer full lengths go. The recipe follows as in open with a speedy death thrash type of cut, on here it's "The Sole Cure is Death". Then follow that one with an uptempo death doom number, "Molten Black Earth". Next up it's something with a little of both. On here it's "Mount Skull" which is a fuckin amazing track. Keep that style while also peppering in a few long epics.

Yeah if you're a long time fan you know the formula well and it works. But not so much for their last album, 2016's Incoming Death. I liked it even though it sounded like the band were just going through the motions. Necroceros is like a comeback album of sorts that reminds you of the band's whole career. We're talking some cool odes to the early days as well as some points to the future. 

The two long songs on here, "Three Years of Famine" and the title cut, are amazing. Then again I think every song on here is great. The guitar tone and riffs by Paul Baayens are super crunchy. He even tosses in some halfway decent lead work. Martin van Drunen's vocals are still caustic as ever. The rhythm section keeps the heaviness flowing. I'm finally appreciating Stefan Huskens's drum work since taking over for Bob Bagchus in 2014.

All in all not only is this one of my favorite albums so far this year but it's the absolute best ASPHYX has sounded in a long time. I mean everything just clicks on here. Baayens and bassist Alwin Zuur are keeping the riffs thunderous. Huskens, from Germany, has found a new home with the Dutch. And Martin van Drunen sounds just as good as he did in the nineties.

https://www.centurymedia.com/