INCANTATION - Tricennial of Blasphemy review

 

INCANTATION - Tricennial of Blasphemy

Relapse Records

So what we have here true believers is a compilation which is not only cool for death metal purists. But it's also a huge thank you to us dedicated INCANTATION fans. Tricennial of Blasphemy is a 2xCD (3 LPs if ya want it on vinyl) 30th anniversary collection of rarities, demos, previously unreleased tracks and live stuff. 

Now if you have all of this stuff (I doubt it) then good for you. Here it is all in one package. But if you don't, hello me, then this is gold. I won't expose all of what you get on here, bullshit I will. For starters I'll just say that the unreleased stuff is cool as fuck. Add to that I've heard their version of SLAYER's "Hell Awaits" before as well as the REVENANT cover “Degeneration” which was on a Decibal magazine flexi. All good stuff.

Plus there's the tracks from INCANTATION's 7"ers Entrantment of Evil which I have on a Relapse comp CD as well as the two cuts from their Deliverance of Horrific Prophecies 7"er which I have on another Relapse comp CD. But for me the really cool stuff are the demo cuts of Impending Diabolical Conquest songs sung by Will Rahmer of MORTICIAN. Yes I'm a MORTICIAN fan, and frankly who isn't. 

After all of that death doom and gloom greatness there's the various live tracks seven in all. In the end I just wanna shake John McEntee's hand and say thanks. I'll be blasting this for months to come. Most likely before work to get me in the mood. This could or should be my favorite album of the year but it's a compilation of old and rare stuff. Still it's of the best. 

https://store.relapse.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://incantation666.bandcamp.com/album/tricennial-of-blasphemy

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Faster Than the Fucking Devil review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Faster Than the Fucking Devil

Wise Blood Records

So this year hasn't been great for compilation releases except for the typical label comps. But when I saw this one come in for review and recognized one band that I liked well why not give it a chance. And I'm glad I did. 

First off Faster Than the Fucking Devil is a four band compilation of blackened thrash. The first band on here is WRAITH from Indiana. They're the band I knew about and have been a fan of since their Absolute Power full length from 2019. Since then they've also released a full length, Undo the Chains, last year which was damm good. 

As far as their three song contribution here it's pure blackened thrash in the same vein as many past blasphemers. "Seven Serpents" is a real ripper and their best cut of the three. Next up are BLACK KNIFE from Lexington, Kentucky. This band was a cool surprise. They've been around since 2016 and have a bunch of releases out. Musically they're blackened thrash with a punk edge to em. I like their three cuts on here a lot. 

Third on this comp is GRAVERIPPER from Indiana and are a fairly new band. Musically their three song contribution is more of a tough guy vocals with some decent traditional thrash attack. And finally there's UNHOLY NIGHT from Russia. Musically, and production wise, this is low fi blackened punk. Their contribution here is two songs worthy of an old cassette demo. 

As always when it comes to split releases, whether it's two bands or in this case four, I treat it like a wrestling match. There has to be a winner. Now overall I think Faster Than the Fucking Devil is a damm good comp for people into blackened thrash. To me the best of this bunch is BLACK KNIFE.

https://wisebloodrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://wisebloodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/faster-than-the-fucking-devil

COFFINS - Defilements 2xCD Compilation review

 

COFFINS - Defilements  2xCD Compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

So can I just say this is going to be the best compilation of 2021? I mean instead of watching some depressing ball drop at midnight of December 31st, 2020. I was blasting this while taking sips of West Virginia moonshine that a friend gave me the other day for a Christmas present. Yeah I'm easy to buy gifts for. Strangely enough here I am listening to this latest COFFINS release. And yet I still haven't received my copy of the COFFINS/DEPRESSION Split CD which I was hoping would come before today. Oh well maybe next week / next year unless some prick stole it while it was sitting on the front porch.

But anyways here we have something that any COFFINS fan should go apeshit over. Personally I'm an average fan of this Japanese death doom act. I think a couple of their full lengths are cool as fuck. They've been around for over twenty years, with a few line-up changes, banging out their Japanese brand of guttural down-tuned death. But in all honesty they're more into short form releases. I have a few of those but there's just too many out there to keep up with. That's why Defilements is a must have if you're just into the music as opposed to having the product for collecting purposes. I'm one of those types too. I love compilations and reissues with extra tracks. 

So what you have here on Defilements is around two hours of COFFINS' death doom on two CDs. Basically it's all previously released EP material. Supposedly these EPs are all out of print. The first batch of songs are from the band's Craving To Eternal Slumber EP which originally came out on Hammerheart Records five, whoops I mean six years ago. I forgot it's 2021. I'll be screwing up dates a lot now. But what's cool on here for me is that there's a song called "Tyrant" which is also on a COFFINS/ILSA split 12"er I have which came out on Relapse Records in 2016. Trust me "Tyrant" is an OK cut but the rest of the songs are fuckin killer especially "Stairway to Torment" and "An Obscure Pain". It's total CIANIDE worship as in filth ridden death doom.  

Next up you got the cuts from their Noise Room Sessions 2014 7"er which came out in 2016 on the Heavy Metal Vomit Party label. Yeah they're two raw recorded songs and it sounds like it was recorded at someone's basement. It's definitely more of a scum punk style going on here. No wonder it's fuckin rare. After that it's time to head back a few years to their March Of Despair EP from 2012 which was another Hammerheart Records release. These songs are cool because it's like COFFINS are re-invoking CELTIC FROST with a hell of a lot of distortion and a good head banging sludgey feel. One huge highlight is their cover of DEATH's "Corpsegrinder" which is really a destruction of the song. I kinda like it.  

From there it's the band's Sewage Sludgecore Treatment EP from 2012 and originally came out on Bones Brigade Records. This one is an all covers EP although I think in this case butchering is a better term to use then cover. Basically COFFINS stomps the fuck out of songs originally recorded by BUZZOVEN, EYEHATEGOD twice and one's a live version, NOOTHGRUSH (I got the 12" split COFFINS did with them), GRIEF and IRON MONKEY. Personally I look at this as hey let's beat the shit out of our influences. But hey I'm cool with that.

Finally it's their part in the four band compilation Live At Asakusa Deathfest 2016 EP. It's OK stuff but I'd want this since the original EP also has SKELETAL REMAINS on it as well as two other bands. Either way it's a cool sounding set of four familiar tracks (ie: "Here Comes Perdition", "Under the Stench" "Decapitated Crawl" and "Tyrant".) Decent stuff and you wish you were there. In the end like I said opening this write up. Best compilation of 2021, well maybe, it's January and we don't know what's coming next. Like I said earlier if your a COFFINS  fan then you need this one. Uchino, the last original member of the band, has approved of this compilation so there you go.

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/defilements

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WHIPSTRIKER / TERRORHAMMER / VULCAN TYRANT / SPEEDWHORE Four Way Split review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS -  WHIPSTRIKER / TERRORHAMMER / VULCAN TYRANT / SPEEDWHORE Four Way Split

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Here's something that reminds me of the bygone days (well at least mine) of record buying. Back in the day split releases were fairly common but a four band split was a rarity. It was a mini-compilation with four bands contributing one song a piece. Chances were you might know one or two of the bands and the other ones where a bonus. That idea kinda works here as well.

 

WHIPSTRIKER is a band from Brazil, I know them from their 2018 full length Merciless Artillery. They've got a ton of releases out as well. Many of which are also short form releases like split EPs. I've always thought of em as a more punk version of VENOM and their song on here "Forged in Cruelty" hasn't changed my opinion. 

Next up is TERRORHAMMER a three piece act from Serbia. The band is new to me although they've been around for a decade. I like the living hell out of their song  "Breath of Fire". It's pretty much textbook European blackened thrash. Nothing wrong with that. VULCAN TYRANT are a two piece act from Holland. Their contribution is something almost sounding like black & roll. The most primitive stuff on this split.

Finally there's SPEEDWHORE a band from Germany who I've known about for a few years now. Once again they're blackened thrash with an emphasis on the filth variant. So all in all you've got a decent little blackened thrash comp here. They're definitely on the low-fi side of the genre which I tend to like. Considering all the generic crap produced from the states over the past few years this is what you want.

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/split-10

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Maywood Mayhem Vol. 11 review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Maywood Mayhem Vol. 11

Self Released

The Chinese virus lock downs have made a devastating impact upon all small businesses. One of the worst hit has been on live music venues. Extreme metal people are more likely to go out to see a band at a venue than your typical mainstream music fan. The lock downs have prevented these venues from opening to make a living and the ramifications have been horrible. I saw one article about how two long time music venues on the East Coast (USA) have announced their doors are closed forever. Unless something changes soon then we'll see many more. 

So what we have here is something which I hope other people around the country and the world will do as well. This is a benefit compilation dedicated to The Maywood, a long time local music venue here in Raleigh, North Carolina. It use to be called Volume 11 years ago but changed the name not too long ago. I have seen many great shows there over time. The proceeds from it's sale will go to the club in order to help out a little during the shutdown. Remember people most of your local music venues are a labor of love as opposed to a big money maker business. 

Not only is The Maywood a great club, because it's primarily a place for extreme music, but it also has a bunch of practice spaces in the back. Over the years there's been a ton of bands who've called it a sanctuary to perfect their craft. So on this compilation you've got twenty five extreme music bands from the Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina area. They all contribute one song each and run the table as far as genres go. You've got bands doing black metal, death metal, doom, thrash and a whole lot inbetween. To be honest I've previously seen/listened to about half of these bands, as well as writing about their past releases and there's definitely a few favorites of mine on here. 

As far as those familiar acts to me go for starters you've got BEDOWYN who have an doomish edge to themselves and the band they share some members with CHAOSMIC. They take that edge and pour in some progressive metal elements which kicks their sound to epic levels. For the heshers there's some long time thrash demons BLATANT DISARRAY (think US thrash meets Euro power metal) and GROSS REALITY (harsh slam pit invoking thrash with a technical drive). Then there's the local death metal institution of ELDRITCH HORROR. Listening to them is akin to unearthing some ancient tomb only to unleash a Lovecraftian nightmare. 

A few more familiar acts on here consist of the punk/metal sounds of KNOWLEDGE IS FOR FOOLS (aka: KIFF). Their contribution here is a cover tune, “Most Likely to Succeed”, by scum punk legends RANCID VAT. For classic sounding power metal fans you've got one of America's best on here with KNIGHTMARE and their cut “The Gods Are with Us Tonight". There's a triple band threat on here as well whose common thread is the amazing vocals of Brenna Leath. For starters you've got the melodic metal sounds of her mainstay act THE HELL NO. Add to that two other doom laden side projects like CRYSTAL SPIDERS and LIGHTNING BORN. Finally for a black metal fix there's MO'YNOQ whose sound makes you wanna scream Norway 1992 without being retro rehash. Yeah they're a great band with two former members of a local BM act from years ago that I thought was cool, FAITH IN ASHES.

Now as far as the acts new to me or I know in name only there's quite a few standouts. CROWLEY'S INQUISITION are standard death doom but I kinda like that stuff. Then there's three bands whose common thread is that they've all got a connection to / band member from the local blackened thrash act SUPPRESSIVE FIRE. You've got the really cool sounding WITCHTIT (traditional doom with female vocals), NOCTOMB who are basic blackened sludge and one man (Scott Schopler) depressive black metal act SARDONIC SMILES. His song contribution "Zaux" is from the debut 2018 full length Wraith. 

Last but not least are some cool tracks by EYN which delves out cryptic depressive black metal with a touch melody/atmosphere in their arrangement. The band FEW GOOD THINGS are a throwback to 80's punk/hardcore. GOATCHOKER are raging blackened death and then there's NIGHTQUILL who are some decent black metal. So to me that's the absolute best on here. But on a whole this release shows some damm good extreme music diversity within a local music scene. I'm thankful that I don't live in a place where the bands sound as if they're all enclosed within one music genre. So no matter if this is a benefit release. It's one of the best extreme music compilations you'll hear in 2020. 

LISTEN & ORDER IT HERE:

https://maywoodmayhem.bandcamp.com/releases?fbclid=IwAR0YiqtXexkQgS5NWPDRYcwnW28DrFIl2PCB6DjVoCxOklqSiumFVJgN1_Q

VIOGRESSION - Perception Blur compilation review

VIOGRESSION - Perception Blur compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




For anyone out there going, who? Let me explain in my not so humble opinion. VIOGRESSION were a USDM act from the Midwest. To be more accurate they were from Milwaukee, Wisconsin which was and still is a hot-bed when it comes to metal. Remember people, before the Maryland Death Fest it was the Milwaukee Metal Fest which reigned supreme for quite a few years.


Now VIOGRESSION should not be seen as a connoisseur's type of act. Honestly if you've been into USDM from the nineties, especially bands from the Midwest which were many, then they should come to mind easily. I have a copy of their debut album, Expound And Exhort, from 1991. I have a reissued CD, yeah oh well. VIOGRESSION had a follow-up full length but I never checked that one out.


Musically VIOGRESSION were a death metal act heavily influenced by OBITUARY. But they added some flair in the guitars, some atmospheric passages as well as soundbites. Now when this compilation came in for review I pulled out their debut and blasted it for o'l time's sake. I think it still holds up today. So what we have here on this release is a how did they get there type of release. Perception Blur contains a bunch of tracks from the band's demo days circa 1989 - 1990.


If there's one gripe I have about this release it's that the cuts on here are not in chronological order. Particularly VIOGRESSION was originally a thrash band but this release opens with the four tracks from their Execution demo from 1990. This was when the band was totally into death metal as well as heavily influenced by OBITUARY. These tracks are damm good and hold up well over the ages. 


After which comes their Perception Blur when the band was still in their thrash mode. Once again these five tracks hold up well. There's a definite West Coast thrash influence going on. I'm thinking METALLICA obviously and maybe some EXODUS. Honestly I hear bands today doing similar material. But ya know this originally came out in 1989 at a time when thrash was old hat and death metal was in bloom. 


The final tracks consist of demo cuts when they were still calling themselves APOCALYPSE. It's more primitive sounding and a couple of these tracks would find themselves re-done on the Perception Blur demo. The release ends with two rehearsal cuts. But overall it's their tracks from the Execution and Perception Blur demos which are worth the price of admission here.



http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/perception-blur

https://www.facebook.com/Viogression

MIDAS - The Demos review

MIDAS - The Demos

Dying Victims Productions




If you are a friend of the SFM666 Facebook page then you know this month I've been posting album pictures and videos of my 80's metal favorites. Hey why not since it was that particular decade when the genre literally exploded. You had incredible new bands who we still talk about today. You also had some 70's acts make incredible comebacks. 


So it's no wonder so many new bands of this era look back to the 80's for inspiration. Which brings us to this band from Detroit, Michigan. MIDAS is a four piece act who live and breath 80's metal. They're the type of band you'd expect to see on stage at a Keep It True fest. They started out in 2018 and last year put out a demo and an EP. What we have here are those releases combined for I guess you could call it their album.


Musically overall this is a good mix of decent hard hitting as well as epic metal material. There's also a good touch of the melodic hard rock. Imagine playing THIN LIZZY and early IRON MAIDEN back to back. There's lots of great guitar lead work. The bass stands out well. Plus the vocals are not too far off from Paul Di'Anno's style but alas no heavy metal screams. Maybe they'll put out a real full length soon and take the world by storm.


https://shop.dying-victims.de/en/

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/midas-the-demos

https://www.facebook.com/MidasDetroit/

FUNERAL WINDS - The Unheavenly Saviour review

FUNERAL WINDS - The Unheavenly Saviour

Necromanteion




Just to paraphrase something I had written last year about this Dutch band. FUNERAL WINDS are unapologetic about being old school black metal. That's something from a review I did for their 2018 full length Sinister Creed. Just like all genres of extreme music you're going to have certain fan bases that are dedicated to the early sounds. Now sure there's plenty of newer acts recreating the past. But as far as actual recordings from originators, well the numbers of those undiscovered filth covered gems is dwindling. 


So for you connoisseurs/collectors of black metal's bygone days this is for you. The Unheavenly Saviour is a compilation of FUNERAL WINDS' first couple of demo’s from the early nineties plus two more songs added on the end to, and I'm guessing, fill up space. One cut is live by the way. Just to calm your fears there's absolutely no symphonic or progressive moments on here. This is old school black metal in all it's underground raw demo quality beauty.


What's cool is that the music here holds up well against similar demo releases from that time period. Of course you can imagine what this would sound like with some better production. Then you would be hearing the later acts that copied from the original. There's a couple of songs like "Crypts of the Black Fog" and the title cut which appear on here more than once. Pick your favorite version. The songs themselves are mid-pace as far as aggression. The vocals have that bestial quality. The only downside is the drum work as far as sound quality. 

As we all know, Dutch black metal has never made a huge impact outside of their nation, something which their artists are proud of. Fact is it's always been overshadowed. Be that as it may it's always had a fierce attitude. So this compilation would probably be vital to anyone out their still seeking out the old ways.


https://www.necromanteion.eu/

https://funeralwinds.bandcamp.com/album/the-unheavenly-saviour

https://www.facebook.com/FuneralWindsBM

DRAGHKAR - Eternal Abyss review

DRAGHKAR - Eternal Abyss

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




I really do like compilations. I've got a shitload of em. I'm talking about comps by record labels, zines, burned CDs from friends and of course band comps. As far as band comps go I like ones that have a bunch of previously released small format releases (EPs and Splits) on em. Sometimes you really don't want to go on a collector spree. Besides you know you're gonna put all the tracks on one format anyway.


What we have here is that last part I was talking about. DRAGHKAR is a death metal act from California. Eternal Abyss is a compilation of their previously recorded material. This consists of their tracks from their World Unraveled demo from 2017, various cuts from splits they've done as well as their The Endless Howling Abyss EP. Add to that are some live tracks which end the release.


Musically DRAGHKAR are the incartnate of old school death metal. You've got cavernous emanating bestial vocals. Most of their riff package deals in simplistic yet in that low end bludgeoning style. Personally I actually like the World Unraveled demo tracks from 2017 better than their newer stuff. But hey I'm hoping they do rip out some newer stuff this year or the next. The band has the tools and direction now create something better. Great album cover by the way. 


http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-abysst's

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Doombanomicon review

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Doombanomicon

Black Doomba Records



So who doesn't want a cool doom metal double LP compilation that's gonna be limited to 300 copies? Ah yeah I know what you're thinking, single genre compilations tend to be boring. A good comp needs variety. So I can say that yeah this one has plenty of that. Secondly it needs familiarity to make you comfortable. The sound cannot be so experimental that it drives you to the off button. And finally the artist talent needs to be consistent. Remember label samplers which would have the top tier artists paired with lower tier acts? Not on here, this is even handed.


Doombanomicon consists of thirteen act all adding one track a piece. I've heard some of these acts like DOOMSTRESS, STONEMAN, WITCHCROSS, BLUDY GYRES, ORDER OF THE OWL and COFFIN TORTURE. The other acts all do good as well especially the label founder's TOMMT STEWART'S DYERWULF. 


https://blackdoombarecords.bandcamp.com/

https://blackdoombarecords.bandcamp.com/album/doombanomicon

VESICATION - A Decade of Damage review

VESICATION - A Decade of Damage

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




What we have here is a compilation by Canadian filth mongers who worship at the altar of IMPETIGO as well as a few other less then glorious brutal death metal acts. VESICATION started out in 2008 but really hasn't produced much over that time. They've put out a couple of EPs and a full length since 2012. So this is an eight song compilation which is more a sampler than a best of package. 


First off I'm kinda surprised that their cover version of (one of my all time favorite Canadian hardcore bands) the DAYGLO ABORTIONS' "Proud to be Canadian" is not on here. Be that as it may there is a WADGE cover which is not a big surprise since they're a fairly known Canadian grindcore act. I have that deju vu feeling right now. A band puts out a compilation of old material. So maybe they're gearing up for a new full length. I've seen it before. But anyways for a welcome mat into VESICATION as well as a avenue into the more brutal side of Canadian death metal then this is a good place to start.


http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/a-decade-of-damage

https://www.facebook.com/vesication

HUMAN COMPOST - Exhumations Of Death And Horror review

HUMAN COMPOST - Exhumations Of Death And Horror

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




As I've admitted a few times, I have a sick fascination for brutal death metal, gore grind or whatever you wanna call it. I'm not an avid collector of those types of band releases. OK I've got a couple dozen of some real classics. But seriously I just get a kick out of hearing the music which at times is just flat out repulsive. Add to that the song titles and lyrical themes that would make Joe Blow Metalhead in a SLAYER shirt say "Dude that's not right." 


Which brings us to HUMAN COMPOST from Canada. Here's a band who I know a little about. They had an EP years ago with a G.G. ALLIN cover on it. The cover version blew but their originals were decent. They also did an AUTOPSY cover on that EP as well. That sucked as well. But anyways HUMAN COMPOST are like the depraved incestrial conceived third cousins of CARCASS. A really deformed looking relative with an attitude.


HUMAN COMPOST started out in 2013 and over a couple of years put out three classic EPs, a CDR demo in 2015 and appeared on a comp I think. But in 2016 they released a full length, From the Grave They Crawl, which came out on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. So what we have here is basically a compilation of everything (pretty much) prior to their full length.


We're talking about their Degradation of a Virgin Corpse EP from 2013, The Cold Flesh EP (which I mentioned before) from 2014, the Reduced to Human Sludge EP which also came out in 2014 and contains tortured covers of MAYHEM as well as POSSESSED. Also there's two cuts from a 2015 demo/CDR promo (a true rarity). To cap it all off there's a new cut, a cover of "Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue" from the sub genre godfathers IMPETIGO.


If brutal death metal/gore grind were a huge pile of rotting human corpses then HUMAN COMPOST stands on top of that stinking heap. Since metal is not a cohesive scene and more like a mixed bag of nuts then genre purists should go apeshit over this one.

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/exhumations-of-death-and-horror

https://www.facebook.com/humancompostcanada/

MAUSOLEUM - Cadaveric Displays From The Funeral review

MAUSOLEUM - Cadaveric Displays From The Funeral

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




I reviewed this band's second full length, Back from the Funeral, on Razorback Recording in 2011. It was at the time of a old school death metal revival and many of the cooler sounding bands were from Sweden, go figure. But these Pennsylvania graveyard loving stiffs were just cool enough as well as disgusting in their death/doom sound to give em a thumbs up. 

And now they've got this compilation out containing the Back from the Funeral full length plus their 2003 debut full length Cadaveric Displays of Ghoulish Ghastliness. That's not all fiends, also there's some tracks which appeared on small format release like "Pile and Burn" from their 7" split with OFFAL on Goatgrind Records. That's one rare sonovabitch right there. Then their cover of IMPETIGO's "Intense Mortification" from the split they did with HAEMOPHAGUS. 

That's still not all since included are nine live tracks, some I'm guessing are from their Eating Your Fucking Brains live album which came out in 2014. Now with that you get a lopping 31 tracks that clocks in at over 2 fuckin hours of punishing death doom from a band that lives in a burg in PA. Obviously a burg with nothing to do but hang out in the local cemetery and come up with song ideas. Hell Yeah!

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/cadaveric-displays-from-the-funeral

NUNSLAUGHTER - The Devil's Congeries Vol. 2 review

NUNSLAUGHTER - The Devil's Congeries Vol. 2

Hells Headbangers Records




You know it's a fuckin holiday when a new NUNSLAUGHTER comes out. Well actually this ain't new but it is special. If you are a NUNSLAUGHTER fan, and frankly who isn't, then you know that over their career they've released a ton of material most of which in small format releases (aka: EPs and Split releases). I am a fan and a collector but mostly of their full length releases. I have a few EPs as well but to those of us fans we know collecting every little release by this band can be an expensive endeavor. 


Thankfully a few years back, 2013 actually, Hells Headbangers Records released The Devil's Congeries Vol. 1 a double album which was basically a compilation (yeah another NUNSLAUGHTER comp.) that contained all the songs from thirteen NUNSLAUGHTER 7" EPs. The promise by the label was that this was just the first of many more such comps that would compile every one of the band's short form releases. And now we have Volume 2, another double album (or if you prefer a DOUBLE CD package).


Just to get it out of the way the second album contains the Hell on Holland 7"er and the Hell on Austria LP. But of course the first LP has the meat. I'm just gonna mention things out of order but of significance to me. Ya got the band's The Supreme Beast 7"er from 2004. This is a cool one because one of the four songs on it is a BLACK TASK cover "Kill Your Enemies". A great fuckin song by a filthy sounding thrash band from Philly in the mid-80s. Quick look em up you hiptard cocksuckers. 


Other NUNSLAUGHTER 7"ers on here are The Bog People and Cerebus, both fairly known and easy to find. The big surprise was seeing the Tasting the Blood of Your Savior 7"er tacked on. That's a rare and raw one. As far as songs from splits there's the three songs from the split they did with DERKETA in 1999. That release is probably the biggest seller DERKETA ever had. Jim Sadist (RIP) was also their drummer at the time. 


Other cool stuff, there's the three cuts from the split they did with GRAND BELIALS KEY, which went by the title Satan Is Metal's Master / Sperm of the Antichrist. The band covers VENOM's "Hellchild". Also you get the songs from the splits they did with DR. SHRINKER, CIANIDE, NOCTURNAL and CENTINEX which are also not too obscure releases. But the bottom line here is that this release is for fans. ALL HAIL DEVIL METAL! Nuff Said.


http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NUNSLAUGHTER/

https://nunslaughter.bandcamp.com/album/the-devils-congeries-volume-2

MIDNIGHT - Shox of Violence review

MIDNIGHT - Shox of Violence

Hell's Headbangers Records




Not one but two VENOM covers? What is it, my birthday? Actually it was when this landed on me. Shox of Violence is the latest compilation by Cleveland's favorite punk/metal hybrid act MIDNIGHT. Yes it is a compilation (Complete and Total MIDNIGHT three?) containing the four tracks from last years Shox of Violence 12"er for starters and follows up with tracks from splits, a bunch of covers (GIRLSCHOOL, PAGANS, THE SPITS, SCARAB, CRUCIFIXION, TAIPAN, MISTREATER and QUIET RIOT plus the earlier mentioned VENOM and an uncredited cover of the SONICS) and some kinda funny live tracks and demos. 

This is a collection suited for long time fans of the band of which I am. Also for people who don't/can't buy every short format release the band puts out because we know sooner or later it'll be on a CD comp. So as far as highlights go; "Sadist Sodomystic Seducer" an original track which appeared on a split MIDNIGHT did with Detroit's own sick bastards SHITFUCKER. I saw them together on that tour a while back. Then of course there's the VENOM covers, "Too Loud for the Crowd" which is from a Decibal magazine flexi and "In League With Satan". Add to that the uncredited cover of the SONICS' "The Witch" which is like the fortith cover version I've heard. 

Big surprise was four SPITS covers which come from MIDNIGHT's Slay the Spits 7"er from 2007. And speaking on punk fuckin rock there's the two PAGANS' covers, hometown heroes to MIDNIGHT. There's also the covers of TAIPAN and MISTREATER from the USA Violates Australia 2013 7"er. As far as the live tracks go, probably the best cut on here is their live version of "Unholy and Rotten" for only what ensues during the performance. I don't wanna give anything away. All in all another great must have comp by MIDNIGHT.

http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/

https://midnight-ohio.bandcamp.com/album/shox-of-violence