HELLRIPPER – Coronach review

 

HELLRIPPER – Coronach

Century Media Records

OK so for starters I'm a HELLRIPPER fan but in all honesty I don't go back re-listening to their releases as much as I do with early MIDNIGHT or TOXIC HOLOCAUST. Those two bands need to be mentioned because HELLRIPPER is basically the Scottish version of them. All are one man bands doing Blackened Thrash / Speed Metal. The one man in this case is James McBain who performs everything in the studio.  

I got into HELLRIPPER way back with their The Manifestation of Evil EP from 2015. So sure when James McBain started out the sound was raw aka: low production, etc. Then the full lengths came out and hell yeah this guy was a new leading force from Scotland doing what Americans were doing already (aka: early MIDNIGHT and TOXIC HOLOCAUST). 

I'll say that this release sound wise is a well produced Blackened Thrash album. It's the best thing HELLRIPPER has ever done. When it comes to the riffs as well as guitar soloing this one shines. Of course the added keyboards gives it a cool Symphonic BM feel on a couple of cuts. McBain is mostly in a Blackened screech vocal mode throughout this release.

But all in all after five listens in two days I'm not into returning to it for a while. Still it's a great release. 

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hellripper.bandcamp.com/album/coronach-24-bit-hd-audio

SKELETAL REMAINS - Fragments Of The Ageless review

 

SKELETAL REMAINS - Fragments Of The Ageless

Century Media Records

If I haven't said it before (?) then I'll state it now. I think SKELETAL REMAINS are one of the best new school death metal act in the US. I became a fan of them back with their second full length, Condemned to Misery, from 2015 and have liked everything they've done since. So here we are with their fifth full length since starting out in 2011. And I've gotta say this California four piece has simply gotten better or at least more diabolical in their DM approach. 

For those of you new to this band we're talking about a musical DM style that remembers the USDM past but doesn't repeat it. Instead they expand on it with diabolical riffs, impressive song structures and some of the best guitar soloing in the genre. I mean opener  "Relentless Appetite" is definitely a kick ass way to start things off. But the guitar solo in "To Conquer the Devout" will melt your face. 

And the band does this throughout Fragments Of The Ageless albeit there's a few subtle parts which are the instrumentals. But hey when they added a HATE ETERNAL cover, "Messiah of Rage", at the end I was like hell yeah Erik Rutan would like SKELETAL REMAINS especially with the maniacal guitar soloing. This is easily one of my favorite DM releases of 2024.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPzCwdJ7DIQ

MAYHEM - Daemonic Rites Live album

 

MAYHEM - Daemonic Rites Live album

Century Media Records

Yes here we have another live MAYHEM record. This one was recorded during the band's Daemon World Tour. Just for the record I do think Daemon, which came out in 2019, is the best thing the band has done since De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas from 1994. 

The first half of their set is all newer songs. I think this shows how proud the band is of their new material to showcase it for half a set. And of course it's damm good. Not many bands who've been around this long would dare trying that. So hats off to MAYHEM for having some balls. 

The latter half is all old stuff which is in part expected and on the other hand a surprise. Of course I expect to here some De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas cuts like "Freezing Moon", "Pagan Fears", "Life Eternal" and "Buried by Time and Dust". Personally I'd like to have heard the title cut from that album. But that was on their last live album. 

What comes next is a surprise since the next bunch of cuts are all pre-Attila Csihar vocals era. I'm talking about "Deathcrush", "Chainsaw Gutsfuck" "Carnage" and "Pure Fucking Armageddon". Yeah to me this is a "Whoa, Holy Shit" moment. It was great to see MAYHEM going into a deep past dive for cuts which the Maniac era use to do.

As far as the band's performance goes Attila Csihar, after all of these years, sounds like a maniac whether it's his tried and true grim goblin singing style or the fuckin hellish screaming. When the De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas cuts are played you can actually hear the bass lines, this time provided by Necrobutcher. Of course Hellhammer is the greatest black metal drummer of all time. But guitarists Teloch and Ghul nail the MAYHEM sound to perfection. 

The only problem I have with this release is that it's not a document of a show. The first two official MAYHEM live albums, I also have some bootlegs, were documents of those shows with banter inbetween songs. This one is simply songs we played live on that tour. Be that as it may I'm a MAYHEM fan so I like it, to  point.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS3M3XWHlXU&list=PLvsYXqtYjMYeo3UQ04R0kI1YG2G6QtgbM&index=2

NIGHT DEMON - Outsider review

 

NIGHT DEMON - Outsider

Century Media Records

I was a NIGHT DEMON fan years ago when they were part of what I considered the new wave of traditional metal. Their second CD, Darkness Remains from 2017, was my introduction to em. I kinda liked that one to a point. But then they were silent for a long time. Well there were those single songs posted. But hey as a fan I was waiting for something cool.

Well after giving this a few plays I'm kind of ashamed I originally liked this band. I mean hey I'm not a lame-stream mainstream metal type of person. Seriously there's some cool sounding 80's metal action going on. The title track as well as "Obsidian" are decent rocking stuff. Then comes "Beyond The Grave" and you just wanna puke. It's like a grunge ballad.

The second half of this album is not that exciting. "Rebirth" is a third rate radio hit by a third tier concert band. "Escape From Beyond" is actually the best song on this album to a point. The weak break down sucks after they're ripping a good riff. Sad fucking stuff altogether even after their wannabe be MAIDEN break down. The rest of it blows as well.

In the end this is not that good.   

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://nightdemon.bandcamp.com/album/outsider

KRISIUN - Mortem Solis review

 

KRISIUN - Mortem Solis

Century Media Records 

Everyone's favorite Brazilian brothers of death metal return with their 12th studio album. I don't know but it seems like yesterday I was listening to 2000's Conquerors of Armageddon or Southern Storm from 2008. Actually it was a few months ago and yeah those are my favorite albums by KRISIUN. 

Over the past bunch of years KRISIUN have put out a handful of full lengths that fit the bill if you're a fan which I am. But they've fell into that signature sound category. It's KRISIUN you either like it or not. Fortunately I'm a fan and have liked every album they've put out. Albeit there are a few that have gathered some dust over the years.

Their last one, Scourge of the Enthroned, from 2018 was damm good. So this year when I saw KRISIUN was coming out with a new one I was excited. So on Mortem Solis the band seems to have taken a step back to the past as far as their sound and song structures. Sure it's fast and heavy but not blasting your head off.

There's some exciting riffs flowing throughout. Plus the lead guitar work is on that tolerable tech death scale. The vocals are still in that deep baritone, angry and filthy. And of course the drum work is amazing. Some cool songs on here are "Serpent Messiah" and "Swords into Flesh", either one would be a great opener when they tour next year with VADER.

Add to them I'd say "Tomb of the Nameless" is a sick blast from the past at times. "War Blood Hammer" fuckin rules. In the end it's not a perfect blast from the past. But it's a great reminder from KRISIUN that hey they still kick ass. Something I've learned over the past few years is that few bands from the past which I liked a lot don't excite me as much with their newer stuff. KRISIUN never disappointing.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkyxfpZABM&t=761s

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

BEWITCHER – Cursed Be Thy Kingdom

 

BEWITCHER – Cursed Be Thy Kingdom

Century Media Records

Third album here by Portland, Oregon's BEWITCHER and some obvious changes have taken place since I first got into em years ago. First off they jumped from Shadow Kingdom Records to big time Century Media. Secondly they've got a new drummer in Aris Wales. After that not much has changed for this three piece blackened speed metal act. OK that last part is bullshit. 

This third full length by BEWITCHER is pretty much perfect. If you've been a fan of their two early releases then you know they were good. Musically they're in the same vein as MIDNIGHT. But on Cursed Be Thy Kingdom their sound is straight up classic 80's metal. A lot of their riffs on here have been ripped from NWOBHM. The soloing is mighty in a hark rockin style. And of course Matt Litton's vocals still carry a venomous appeal. 

For the past decade there's been a ton of cool bands like BEWITCHER who've been scratching at the door of recognition for being the new kings of true metal. Those of us in the underground, for lack of a better title, have been screaming it. Now that BEWITCHER are on a big label then maybe they're become a metal household name. By the way nice PENTAGRAM cover at the end.

https://www.cmdistro.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txDxQO6pJIM

NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned review

 

NECROPHOBIC - Dawn of the Damned

Century Media Records

You know that saying "You Dance With The One That Brought Ya"? It fits the philosophy of anyone who's into extreme music. We tend to collect releases by bands who we liked a long time ago. Even though the bands have changed whether it's in their line-up or musical direction. NECROPHOBIC is one of those bands of course. 

If 2018's Mark of the Necrogram was a somewhat new beginning for the band, considering the circumstances which followed their previous release five years prior. Then this new one, Dawn of the Damned, is definitely cements their future. For a band previously known for it's blackened death pedigree this release, like it's predecessor, has a recipe more akin to second wave black metal from the 90's. 

So yeah I like that as well as original vocalist Anders Storkirk, who returned on their last album. Storkirk's bestial barks and high pitched squeals fit perfectly within this style. Also there's the guitar work, aside from your typical icy tremolo picked rhythms, which on solos has a traditional metal influence. The opening instrumental will have you thinking Yngwie Malmsteen joined the band.

From that point onward this album is a cold throwback to the 90's era of Swedish black metal. Dare I say it reminds me of when DARK FUNERAL were good. Don't laugh you know they were good at one time as well as the obvious relationship between them and NECROPHOBIC. I like the cross section of riff styles within the cuts whether it's orthodox black metal or basic guitar driven melodies. 

Finally this album just has this beefy production which charges out at you. Nothing is subtle or imaginative as far as atmosphere goes. This is a cold fuckin avalanche of sound which crushes. It's just damm good to see drummer Joakim Sterner, the band's last original member, find a way to keep NECROPHOBIC (who he started with David Parland (aka: Blackmoon) thirty years ago) alive and relevant in 2020.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KaqA0sBxdc&list=PLUIOJdJ4UrXVDxuXaOIMcP-0UX96x7h4J&index=1

SKELETAL REMAINS - The Entombment of Chaos review

 

SKELETAL REMAINS - The Entombment of Chaos 

Century Media Records

So it's been a few years since this California death metal act released their last full length, Devouring Mortality, which came out on Dark Descent Records. Just for the record I've been a fan of these guys since their second full length, Condemned to Misery, which was released in 2015. Basically their first three albums pushed this old school death metal sound via influences from great ones like ASPHYX, OBITUARY and DEATH.

 

So here on their four full length, and on their new label, the band has gone through some major changes. First off guitarist/vocalist Chris Monroy is still at the helm and that's the only thing not different. Guitarist Adrian Obregon is gone and is replaced with Mike De La O who supposedly was the band's original six string slayer. Although I never saw em listed on any albums. Also the band's rhythm section has been changed with some guy from WARBRINGER on bass and a drummer who's bounced around a lot.

I noticed a slight difference in sound upon first listening to this. That was before I learned of the band line-up changes. I'm sure fans will notice as well. Sure they're still firmly planted in the realm of old school death metal. But you can throw away their past influences. This new one comes off sounding like a mix of PESTILENCE meets MORBID ANGEL. Mike De La O obviously comes from the Trey Azagthoth school of dive bomb guitar soloing. The new rhythm section is tighter than a frog's ass (aka: water tight). The only constant is Chris Monroy's vocals and basic riff structures. 

For the most part The Entombment of Chaos is a decent punch to your fuckin face. The first half is delivered with precision and brutality. But for me it's the second half of the album with songs like "Torturous Ways to Obliteration" and "Eternal Hatred" which bring on the weight of hate. Monroy reignites his Martin Van Drunen style caustic vocals better on these cuts. Strangely enough the second half of this release reminds me of their past. While the first part comes across as a newer, streamlined version. In the end it's still a damm good one.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hprr7gRL1d0

HAVOK - V review

HAVOK - V

Century Media Records




Some history to start you off with. HAVOK originally came out during the waning years of the Thrash Revival, circa 2009. They had good enough talent to get signed with Candlelight Records. By that point of the decade all the big labels now had a few new Thrash bands in their rosters to milk the trend. The Colorado act's debut full length Burn was a decent enough re-creation of the genre's past greats. I even got to see em once sometime after that.


But in all honesty the band suffered the same fate as most of the other Thrash Revival acts at that time. Having talent only goes so far especially when you're just repeating another era's sound. I couldn't knock em for producing something enjoyable in the short term. I still have their first two releases although I haven't listened to em until recently. 


After putting three albums out on Candlelight, the last one Unnatural Selection coming out in 2013. The band went on hiatus for a few years until 2017 when they re-emerged on Century Media Records with Conformicide. Musically this was definitely a step up as far the band getting more technical and adding some groove elements. 


The albums real claim to fame was in it's lyrical themes which to me came across on the Libertarian side of the political spectrum. Not that this was anything really new as far as the band's previous albums went. It was just that on Conformicide the lyrics conveyed messages which at the time really burned the faces of some knee-jerk libtards in the metal media. So called HAVOK a MEGADETH Jr. is not a slag at all.


With all of that said this new one caught me by surprise. Gone are most of the funky groove elements as well as the bassist, Nick Schendzielos, responsible for em on their last album. Their new one, Brandon Bruce, is a standout in his own right. How many other new era thrash acts have bass players standing out equally with the guitars? Yeah not many. 


Musically the band has taken what they did best on their first two albums and matured the sound and execution. David Sanchez's vocals seem far more vicious now. Reece Scruggs's lead work tends to be about quality then quantity. Yeah there's a lot of homage to the past on V. But come on, like that's gonna happen these days. All in all I think this is HAVOK's best album of their career.


https://www.centurymedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HavokOfficial

WOLF - Feeding the Machine review

WOLF - Feeding the Machine 


Century Media Records





Can I just say this sucks and be done with it? I guess not. Anyways let me tell ya I am a fan of Sweden's WOLF. Their 2006 release, The Black Flame, is definitely in my all time playlist of fucking true metal. Their early stuff is OK and I did like 2009's Ravenous. But after that they got repetitive since they found their formula and pushed the repeat button. Yeah I understand the theory. If AC/DC and MOTORHEAD can do it why not them?


So I was hoping that this their eighth full length would be better. I mean it's been six years since their last one and ya gotta hope for the best with your fave bands. Unfortunately with the exception of a few catchy tunes, which was their formula. I'm kinda pissed because this mostly blows. Once again it all sounds programmed by a computer. Great cover art at least but the title should've been Created By Machine. At least I still have The Black Flame to blast. 





https://www.centurymedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/officialwolf

LUCIFER - Lucifer III review

LUCIFER - Lucifer III

Century Media Records




They're still on Century Media which makes two for em so far. I wonder how long that record contract goes? Anyways I've never been a fan of LUCIFER for a variety of reasons. But in the hope of understanding why I'll explain. The singer's previous band, THE OATH, was like a wanna-be doom version of ABBA. You had the two guys and two hot women in leather. The music was average but the hiptard hoi-poloi media went apeshit over em.


But then that band broke up and their singer, Johanna Sadonis, was placed in front of another good group of musicians which went by the name LUCIFER. Their first album was on an indie label and had so many borrowed riffs/song ideas that not even the hiptards went along with it. Century Media picked em up after that hoping a female fronted act would sell. The singer's husband Nicke Andersson (HELLACOPTERS, ENTOMBED) got on board and the results of that album were not very good. Once again it was average sounding female fronted hard rock.


So here we have their third album and honestly it's mediocre sounding hard rock/heavy metal. Thirty some years ago a guy with eyeliner would be singing this stuff. But at least they wouldn't be obviously ripping off so many past songs from non metal acts. If you liked their second album then you'll like this as well since it sounds just like it. Although Johanna's vocals sound as if she recorded them on her smart phone. Too bad I can't mock the videos the band did for this album. That would take a paragraph or two.




https://www.centurymedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/luciferofficial

MAYHEM - Daemon review

MAYHEM - Daemon

Century Media Records




Alright a couple things to say before I get into this review of MAYHEM's latest release. First off yes I am a MAYHEM fan. Secondly 2007's Ordo ad Chao is their worst album. Third, 2014's Esoteric Warfare was not much better. I mean seriously why would you emulate the era of Rune "Blasphemer" Eriksen? Not that I despise his releases with MAYHEM on guitar (except for Ordo ad Chao because that sucked). But the simple fact is that we have all of that already, let's move on or move back further.


Strangely enough MAYHEM did in 2016 with the De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive (yeah I know kinda stupid title but...) album/dvd release. That was cool and it's with that in mind that I listened to Daemon with some hope. I'm guessing playing those old songs for a year on tour paid off for guitarists Teloch (aka: Morten Bergeton Iversen) and Ghul (aka: Charles Hedger). Basically Daemon sounds like De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas being dragged kicking and screaming into the present day.


Of course having three people who were part of that era of MAYHEM helps. And just for the record bassist Necrobutcher played most of those songs prior to Varg doing the recording. But with that said this release is fuckin excellent. Both guitarists go for the throat when it comes to some cool fast riffs or majestic touches like opener "The Dying False King". But I actually like the doomy stuff like on "Daemon Spawn". I could go on song for song but no I won't.


As far as Attila Csihar's vocals go, he surpasses what he did on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by leaps and bounds (as well as the last two releases). Granted half the cuts on that album were formerly sung by Dead and Csihar had to reinterpret them into his style. He hasn't sounded this crazed since his days with TORMENTOR. The way many of these cuts weave through fast sections only to be corralled by slower tempos works well with his vocal style.

Daemon is an album of twenty five years in waiting for this band. A perfect release from a hellish start to a doomy yet full blown chaotic finish. Easily one of the best albums of 2019. MAYHEM now has another life. They can include many of these cuts in their live set. Relying on your past in fine to a point. But taking influences from your past and retrofitting em to modern audiences also works well. 


https://www.centurymedia.com/

http://www.thetruemayhem.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial

MALEVOLENT CREATION - The 13th Beast review

MALEVOLENT CREATION - The 13th Beast

Century Media Records




Over the years I can honestly say that my opinion of MALEVOLENT CREATION's musical output has not been stellar. On a high note their first two releases, 1991's The 10 Commandments and Retribution released the following year, are damm good. I highly recommend you find them if you do not own them already. But after that it seemed the magic died and they just coasted along. I once made the analogy that if the big four bands of Florida's death metal legacy were wheels on a car then MALEVOLENT CREATION would be the spare tire.


Now of course after those releases the band had a never ending revolving door band line-up which did not help them one bit. Their sole original member, guitarist Phil Fasciana, just found replacements when needed. Even vocalist Brett Hoffmann, who sadly passed away last year,  left the band twice during their heyday. So for a while (aka: over a decade) they kinda disappeared from the radar. Then in 2010 MALEVOLENT CREATION came out with Invidious Dominion and it was a return to their early death thrash style. I thought it was a fantastic album. I highly recommend it. And then it all went to hell again. Another lackluster release in 2015, Dead Man's Path. And then the death of vocalist Brett Hoffmann last year. 


So here we have The 13th Beast and the band having a restart. Yes other than mainstay, guitarist Phil Fasciana, this is yet another new line-up different from their last full length. Starting off with new vocalist / guitarist Lee Wollenschlaeger, the guy has a good death metal voice. At times he reminds you of Hoffmann minus the hideous snarl or the devilish contempt. Wollenschlaeger, on a whole, sounds monotonous in his delivery. As far as the music goes it's brutal as needed, the riffs are all competent sounding as far as mid to late 90's death metal 101 goes. The rhythm section battles it's way onward. The bottom line is that the new 2019 version of MALEVOLENT CREATION does hit the ground running on The 13th Beast. Unfortunately they're running backwards. 


https://www.centurymedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/malevolentcreation

DEICIDE - Overtures of Blasphemy review

DEICIDE - Overtures of Blasphemy

Century Media Records

DEICIDE - Overtures of Blasphemy


In my not so humble opinion any metal band that has been around for over two decades is enough to at least give a horned fist salute to. Now there are various ways for that to work in their favor. They have to find ways to stay relevant and fresh to gain new fans while at the same time appealing to older fan's nostalgia. 


Now with death metal the previously mentioned rules apply but you walk a fine line between consistence versus complacency. When DEICIDE entered into our extreme metal conscientiousness in 1990 the death metal scene was at it's apex in popularity. Still the band was able to release two albums which today many consider to be classics. I tend to agree they both are. But after that point the band's music followed into consistency and then fell to complacency. 


That went on for a long time until DEICIDE came out in 2006 with The Stench of Redemption. To me that's one of their greatest releases. The riffs were crunchy as well as fierce, Benton's vocals were at his best as far as being a barking blasphemic  beast. The drum work was incredible. And of course you had guitarist Ralph Santolla (R.I.P.) adding mind blowing solos. Not only was this album a redemption for the band  but I believe Santolla truly revitalized em. On a side note a year later Santolla would go on to do the same for OBITUARY with their 2007 release Xecutioner's Return.



Which brings us to this one here, DEICIDE's third full length this decade and their third on Century Media Records (and could be their last on the contract if this ain't a winner). I was not too impressed with their two previous ones. On Overtures Of Blasphemy, Glen Benton and co. have made another restatement except it's not a jump to a modern DM approach. Instead it's a step back to their roots and falls into the OSDM approach. You've got a dozen compact  blasts of patented DEICIDE death. 


The hatred and vile contempt jump right out of the gate with opener "One with Satan" then followed by "Crawled From the Shadows” and “Seal the Tomb Below”. This early assault  captures a spirit which will carry you over some melodic death moments that do come into play later on. There's still that SLAYER worship investment on here in the lead work especially and some borrowing of riffs. That's something which is expected since it took hold of the band some albums back. 


Overall I think Overtures Of Blasphemy shows that Benton and co, even after five years since their last release, are not ready to throw in the towel. They still have some reinvention even if it's still dragging the past to the forefront and giving it a swift kick. SLAYER is gone but we still have DEICIDE to spread the hate.


https://www.centurymedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDeicide/

MARDUK - Viktoria review

MARDUK - Viktoria

Century Media Records




When the label dropped the song "Werwolf" weeks ago I was like "Ah have they gone punk and what's with the kids singing the chorus?" To say I was surprised is an understatement. Of course when I finally picked up my copy of this, the surprise element was gone. It was replaced by complete dissatisfaction. 


I guess the obligatory personal history overview of this band and I needs to be written. Yes I am a long time MARDUK fan. I've stuck with em through each of their eras. I love their old straight up black metal material. The Panzer Division era was fantastic. And when Mortuus of FUNERAL MIST took over on vocals I thought they'd become a lot more interesting. I don't have favorites because I've liked all of it.


Now I'm not saying bias is in effect when listening the various MARDUK releases. They have some superb releases and plenty of decent ones. Viktoria definitely falls into that latter category. I'm also being nice about it since it took plenty of listens to win me over since there's a lot of problems with it.

Let's start with the obvious, it's a short release at a running time around thirty-three minutes. Of course their more recent albums have been much longer. So this is definitely a step back for them. The opening track / single "Werwolf" is a throwaway cut for me. It sticks out like a sore thumb and could've been part of an EP. MARDUK are very familiar with putting out EPs. Out of the nine songs on here most are of the fast mode ala Panzer Division Marduk style. There's plenty of recycling of riffs.




As far as the slower tracks that are supposed break from the monotony, they seem to be incomplete as if this recording was rushed. And that's the rub I get from this. It's as if hey they're on tour and need a full length out to sell along with all their other merch. Throw some suggestive cover art on the release as well to go with their latest jaunt with infamy from their naysayers. It all seems more of a corporate ploy than true black metal. 

http://www.centurymedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Mardukofficial

WATAIN - Trident Wolf Eclipse review

WATAIN - Trident Wolf Eclipse

Century Media Records


OK bias alert, yes I'm a fan of WATAIN, have been for a while. Although a few months ago when I heard this was coming out in January I really wasn't excited unlike many in the mainstream metal media. Then again the label paid them to be excited. Yeah well just to overview their career; I thought their early releases were brutally cruel and cold black metal. Probably some of the best as far as the genre had at the time. Then came Sworn to the Dark which put them into the top tier. An absolutely great album. I saw the band on that tour. They had the club smelling like an abattoir but hey it was a great performance. Strangely enough it was not a well attended show. I credit that to 1) it was a weeknight show so plenty of die-hards stayed home. 2) Ticket price was steep. And 3) the local hiptard crowd wasn't into black metal yet.

Moving on I thought 2010's Lawless Darkness was a bone tossed out to the mainstream types who jumped on the black metal bandwagon and 2013’s The Wild Hunt was an experiment gone wrong. Now I'm not one of the many voices in the BM underground who screamed "sellout" after their last two releases. I just lost interest. So here we have Trident Wolf Eclipse and after listening to it on and off for a week I'll say it is a step back from their last two full lengths. Hell it's even a step back from Sworn to the Dark. 

I'm thinking the boys in WATAIN sat down and had a discussion as in "Hey we're a Swedish black metal band in the vein of DISSECTION and MARDUK. Why the fuck are we putting out crap just to appease a bunch of losers. Let's do a fuckin black metal album." So yeah Trident Wolf Eclipse is the band going back a ways from their most recent material but this ain't Casus Luciferi. Still it's a good release and it seems WATAIN are not out to please music snob critics. Instead they're just trying to make their brand of black metal great again.

The release starts off well with the blistering “Nuclear Alchemy” as a tone setting welcome back to the fray. What follows are a few bombastic blackened cuts that carry a cool and almost symphonic style melody. For most of this I listen to it and think it's Lawless Darkness toned down a lot. "Sacred Damnation" being mediocre while "Teufelsreich" brings back memories of DISSECTION worship. Then there's songs like “Furor Diabolicus”, "A Throne Below" and “Ultra (Pandemoniac)” which to me is the best part of the release. The band cuts loose with fury via riffs and tempo changes to remind you why they became a standout black metal act in the first place.

As for the rest of the album it's standard WATAIN fair which we're use to by now. I think Erik Danielsson's vocals on here come across as vengeful in the way he delivers em. It's as if he has a point to prove. In the end I gotta say Trident Wolf Eclipse is a decent release for WATAIN. It's a stripped down version of what they've been pushing for the past couple of years. For those of you out there who are sworn to the dark but thought WATAIN stood in the limelight for too long. Here ya go, try it you'll like it.

https://www.cmdistro.de/

https://www.facebook.com/watainofficial



Also if they come by don't forget to check em out with DESTROYER 666.