MASTER OF BLASPHEMY - Bloodred Realm review

 

MASTER OF BLASPHEMY - Bloodred Realm

Kvlt und Kaos Productions

And the gates of Hell were opened and a thing was released which erupted out of the German nation. And black metal fans rejoiced by saying "well it's about fuckin time". Ah yeah since I'm a huge fan of German BM bands like ENDSTILLE, KATHARSIS, NAGELFAR, THE RUINS OF BEVERAST and MOONBLOOD then yes it's about time for some great German black fuckin metal. 

I mean over the years there's been a few decent BM bands out of Germany but they tend to show homage and influences towards either Norway or Sweden. Now I'm not saying MASTER OF BLASPHEMY are perfect as far as BM heritage goes but this their debut is one of the best BM releases from a German band that I've heard in a while. 

I mean when you listen to a song like "Flame of Frenzy" or "Cult of Black Light" you think they're demons surrounding your house. Hey forget about that whole atmosphere shit. If I've got demons trying to break into the house then I've got the shotgun waiting for em. So yes this, the band's full length debut is a stand out to say the least. MASTER OF BLASPHEMY is a two piece act consisting of Atrox who performs all of the instruments and the vocals are performed by Apostat.

Musically the way I look at this is imagine KATHARSIS and MOONBLOOD were parents and had children who combined the influences to meat in the middle. I'm talking not a lot of atmosphere and subtle on the brutality. Plus it's not overly influenced by foreign sources. Well OK I'll toss in maybe MARDUK. But as everyone knows Germany's ENDSTILLE was their nation's MARDUK. 

I like the sound throughout this full length. Each cut has a twisted riff style that captures the listener into various modes. Atrox is an amazing musician and song writer. Sure it's black metal and you're gonna hear some familiar touches throughout Bloodred Realm. But if you're a fan then it's like a moth drawn to a flame. Or like bats flying over my neighbor's house tonight going after the mosquitoes. 

As far as the vocals go Apostat gives a quality performance. Once again he sounds like someone I know in another band(s). He mixes up the harsh screams with sinister vomit spilling guttural hate. You get the feeling that he means what he's singing. Also he knows how to enhance his position vocally while Atrox is providing an amazing catchy riff structure. 

All in all this debut album by Germany's MASTER OF BLASPHEMY is a standout. I mean it's a quality listen. It holds the listener, makes for repeated listens in a sitting and of course ends in sick psychotic as well as horror-esque way. In an era when we have great black metal, crappy still wanna-be hipster black metal and the OK stuff. I think this is one of the best releases you should get your hands on in 2024. 

 

https://www.kvltundkaosproductions.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://kvltundkaosproductions.bandcamp.com/album/bloodred-realm

KRVSADE - Wolves of the Black Star review

 

KRVSADE - Wolves of the Black Star

Kvlt und Kaos Productions

Since North Carolina is my home state I try to give local bands a shout out when they're good of course. What we have here is the debut full length by a three piece blackened death act from Charlotte, North Carolina. Their dink has ten songs total but it's actually eight since there's an intro and outro.

Be that as it may KRVSADE sound pretty good as far as their brand of blackened death goes. But hey it's as original as wearing a black t-shirt to a metal show. Then again I like stuff which I'm familiar with as opposed to wacked out bull shit. Now there are times listening to this one where it reminded me a bit of BELPHEGOR from Austria. No surprise that this band is on an Austrian label. But anyways they do add some cool parts to a style of music older then them. And yeah that's a good thing.

The guitar work on here is damm good. Guitarist Javonte Evans knows his blackened atmospheric riffs and tremolo picked soloing. But on other cuts he's tearing out these prime death metal solos that'll rip your face off. He's also the vocalist and employs a deep aggro singing style that varies from demonic to harsh screams. The rhythm section of KRVSADE is equally great with drummer Keegan Dennis doing a solid workout which is perfect for these song structures. Bassist Jeb Laird keeps in with a back thunder. 

Sonic-ally speaking this debut is filled with enough intensity to peak your interest into a purchase. Actually KRVSADE has been around since 2017 and to their credit they've put out a demo and a handful of short form releases. And after listening to this one I'm kind of curious what their other stuff sounds like especially their single "Satanic Speed Metal". 

Be that as it may the world knows North Carolina gave extreme metal DARKMOON and now you've got KRVSADE. Blackened Hails Ya'll.

https://www.kvltundkaosproductions.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://krvsade.bandcamp.com/album/wolves-of-the-black-star

KROD / CRUCIATUS INFERNALIS - Storming the Gates of Heaven Split EP review

 

KROD / CRUCIATUS INFERNALIS - Storming the Gates of Heaven Split EP

Kvlt und Kaos Productions

Underground black metal ain't what it use to be. I mean the quality is much better while the sentiment is still the same. Case in point here we have a split release from a fairly new label out of Austria. Just looking at some of their other releases I can see they must believe "if it ain't kvlt it's crap."

So on this split you've got for starters KROD, a one man BM act that hails from Santiago, Chile. That one man being Zabulus Valtakunta who sings and plays everything. Sound-wise this is disturbing jangled melodic yet doom tinged black metal. It's main feature happens to be Zabulus' torturous screaming. Three songs of raw and murderous sounding stuff. 

Next up to the sacrificial altar is CRUCIATUS INFERNALIS, a two piece act that hails from Austria. The genre tag line on em is also black metal with added synths. Musically it's primitive icy riffs mixed in speed with eerie synthesizers. Albeit I liked the Vincent Price voice-over soundbite from the movie The Pit and the Pendulum on one song. there's three cuts in all.

As always with split releases I treat em like a wrestling match to see who wins out. This was a tough one to decide. Although KROD come off as sheer fuckin terror. CRUCIATUS INFERNALIS give off more of a creepy sound, especially on the vocals. And the synth use works perfect. 

Plus the third song by CRUCIATUS INFERNALIS, "Auferstehung" comes off like a blackened surf song. So both bands are decent but I'd rather hear more from the Austrians.   

http://www.kvltundkaos.at/

LISTEN HERE:

https://kvltundkaosproductions.bandcamp.com/album/storming-the-gates-of-heaven