GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From the Arches of Heaven review

 

GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From the Arches of Heaven 

Metal Blade Records

Here we have the eighth full length by this long time blackened death thrash act from New Orleans, Louisiana. Just for the record I got into GOATWHORE with their third album. That was 2006's A Haunting Curse and to be honest it's still my favorite album by em. But I'm honest enough to admit that Carving Out the Eyes of God from 2009 was their breakthrough album. It put em on the top tier where they've stayed ever since. 

But that was then and afterwards what followed were a decent run of releases. Although I did think their last one, Vengeful Ascension, from 2017 was where the formula of their sound had run it's course. To me it was a beer coaster to say the least. So here we are five years later and have things gotten better? Well yeah actually and I think this album is pretty cool.

Aside from the worthless instrumental opener, "Invocation 3", the album kicks in a ferocious bite with "Born of Satan's Flesh". From that point onward I knew this was a comeback to when GOATWHORE were exciting. And of course it lies with the individuals. 

First and foremost is guitarist Sammy Duet. This guy is one of the best guitarists in extreme metal. It's his songwriting, the jagged riffs and the wild soloing style he creates. He's the main reason why I like GOATWHORE. Next up of course is vocalist Ben Falgoust. With a genre sound which is black, death and thrash metal his vocals reign. 

Drummer Zack Simmons has been with GOATWHORE since I got into em and has always been this powerhouse behind the kit. For a three genre style act he has always provided an amazing background performance. On this album he just has gone to a perfection level. New bass player, since 2017, Robert Coleman finds a few ways to stand out.

All in all GOATWHORE have returned to the exciting category in my opinion. Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven is eleven songs and that opening instro. The majority are hard hitting cuts. It's the return of extreme NOLA.

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://goatwhore.bandcamp.com/album/angels-hung-from-the-arches-of-heaven

CAPRA - In Transmission review

 

CAPRA - In Transmission 

Metal Blade Records

I learned about this band by chance aka a video that popped up on my YouTube feed. CAPRA live in a studio for some fest. Musically CAPRA are a full on noisy attack with anger being the main focus. I'd like to drop em into the grind genre but there's so much going on with their sound that it would do them an injustice. 

CAPRA are a four piece (?) act out of Lafayette, Louisiana. Musically as far as this release goes it's a long way from the live performance I saw as well as their video for the song "Medusa". Sound wise you get some riffs and drum beats from black metal. Add to that there's some sludge metal influence but hey go figure from where they're from. 

The bottom line is that they're part of the post 90's hardcore style with a bunch of metal influences thrown in for good measure. Add to that there's some raging female vocals, well basically screaming, which is cool. Crow's vocals are unfortunately pushed back into the mix on here. Actually she sounds better in the videos. Somebody screwed that one up.

Musically I've heard this all before aka around twenty years ago because the whole metallic hardcore thing is not new. I'm guessing it was something out on Relapse back in the day. Either way this is decent and hopefully next time around they'll come out sounding more like a mix of BLACK BREATH meets PIG DESTROYER. Otherwise being angry without intelligence is stupid.

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://capraband.bandcamp.com/album/in-transmission

WOORMS - Slake review

WOORMS - Slake

Sludgelord Records




I've made my opinion plain in the past that as far as experimentation in extreme metal goes. If the goal is just to be different for the sake of difference then it's lost to me. The whole idea of experimentation is to create something unique, something better and maybe enjoyable. Of course sometimes the experiment doesn't succeed it's perceived goals. Which reminds me of an old joke. How do you say bullshit in French? Avant-Garde.


Case in point here we have the debut release by WOORMS, a three piece sludge band from the great state of Louisiana. I can understand that this band doesn't want to be just like their NOLA neighbors. I'll give em points for that. Don't let your environment define you. WOORMS does a great job at that part mixing up sludgey grooves, pushing out some OM vibes while also visiting the Desert Sessions sound from the late 1990s. I'll even say they toss in some early 90's era sounds of what modern day music historians like to call "post rock". We, who were around back then, just called it a punk fuckin rock influence.


Now with all of that said some of this is cool by my old school standards of enjoyment. But then WOORMS do go off the rails into territory that even the BUTTHOLE SURFERS in their heyday wouldn't touch. I'm talking grungy noise with spoken word sound bites. I'm talking whatafuck is up with the Gregorian chanted opener? Why are there so many samples? This ain't brutal death grind which kinda relies on all of that. In the end look it's their debut release and there is a cool band within all the outer wrapping.


https://thesludgelord.bandcamp.com/album/slake


https://www.facebook.com/WOORMS-820255734812259/