MOONCHAPEL - Three Faced Trinity For A Two-Faced World review

 

MOONCHAPEL - Three Faced Trinity For A Two-Faced World 

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

This is the third full length release by Maryland's MOONCHAPEL who are also a one man act. The one man being Kyle Shuman who obviously performs all instruments along with vocals. He's also the mainman behind the band EMBERS OF OUROBOROS. That act had an album out also on this label last year titled The Autumnal Decline and Hermetic Maturation. 

This is my introduction to MOONCHAPEL and in all honesty musically this is nothing I haven't heard before. But that doesn't mean it's not intriguing. The genre tagline is Blackened Death Metal and yeah it has that going for it. Then again this release has a certain strong cryptic Black Metal quality. I like the subdued vocals as if they're coming out from walls by hidden faces all while the music is blasting a relentless assault. 

There's that old school raw quality in the overall sound which a lot of modern bands just don't do anymore. This is brutal horror that anyone into H.P. Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe will enjoy. This is an eight cut album and the first seven cuts convey an intense suspenseful agony that wants the listener to be in fear as well as hopelessness. The final and title cut comes across as a meaningful yet welcome to hell type of situation. 

Like I said earlier I've heard music like this before. MOONCHAPEL, on this release, definitely provide a far more believable evil atmosphere than what I've been hearing of late. To me this is Black Metal and it's only January. This release is something you need to play in October during Halloween. Fuck the pumpkins! Fuck the candy! Just blast this one because it's really fuckin scary. 

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/three-faced-trinity-for-a-two-faced-world

CRUSHUMAN - Besides EP review

 

CRUSHUMAN - Besides EP

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

The maniacs from Upper Marlboro, Maryland are back and they're angry as fuck. I first learned about this extreme sounding three piece in 2024 via their self titled full length which came out on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

Musically that album had a lot of variety as in Death Metal, Grindcore and post 90's Hardcore. Looking back I actually liked their aggro-grind and Hardcore stuff. In the end I thought this band has a way of creating apocalyptic sounding metal.

So as far as this nine song EP goes it starts out great but then goes into territory which I don't know what to say. The first two cuts "Select Sacrifice" and "Waiting for a Savior" are cool as in a Hardcore band playing Death Metal. Hell yeah start a slam pit in your basement when your parents are away. "Dead End Suffering" ain't too bad of a cut. 

But when "Apeasement to the Frauds" kicks in then it's really not a cool time. That goes with what follows afterwards. There's way too much not so cool HC style modern riffs which makes me hate to think these guys wear backwards baseball caps and shorts on stage.  Their first album was better but the HC crowd will like this one either way.   

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

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

PENTAGRAM - Lightning In A Bottle review

 

PENTAGRAM - Lightning In A Bottle

Heavy Psych Sounds

So it's been a decade since PENTAGRAM has released a full length. Their last one was Curious Volume which came out in 2015 on Peaceville Records. I have that one and in all honesty I cannot tell ya the last time I've listened to it. Hey look when it comes to PENTAGRAM I still blast their 70's and 80's stuff religiously. 

So when this new one came out I was like OK at first. Second time listening to it I wondered what their old time fans are gonna think of it. Now I'm in for a fifth listen and yeah I've got a whole helluva lot to say. For starters Bobby Liebling sounds damm good on here. I mean really fucking good. For all of you people who gave him shit years ago well go fuck yourselves.

Now this line up which backs him up was started in 2024. First off long-time guitarist Victor Griffin is gone. He's replaced by Tony Reed who I'm not familiar with as far as his past bands. On bass there's Scooter Haslip another unknown to me. But on drums there's the one and only Henry Vasquez from SAINT VITUS as well as more recently the super group LEGIONS OF DOOM. 

So musically this album is one part classic PENTAGRAM somewhat  sounding and the other half a bit up tempo. Opener "Live Again" sounds like something a NOLA band would do. The second cut "In The Panic Room" follows the same style. So this is not what a long time fan of the band would expect. Then again their last album tried to go the whole stoner doom route. "Solve the Puzzle" is another harder edge cut so is "Thundercrest". 

Then again there are great classic PENTAGRAM sounding cuts like "I Spoke To Death" or "Lady Heroin" which I think is one of the best cuts on here. "I'll Certainly See You In Hell" sounds like a 1970's relic. All in all it's fuckin 2025 and this new album has some variety on it which I like. Bobby and company are trying to stay relevant in an era which doesn't give a rat's ass.I think this album is damm great, period end of story. 

https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pentagram-lightning-in-a-bottle

THE OBSESSED - Gilded Sorrow review

 

THE OBSESSED - Gilded Sorrow

Ripple Music

The last time I saw The OBSESSED was a few years back when they played with ANTISEEN and EYEHATEGOD in Chapel Hill, NC. Wino and company played a decent set but it wasn't much different then the time I saw em a year before. I think that the Sacred album from 2017 was out at the time. Back then I thought Sacred was a decent album but it was missing some sort of spirit as in the original OBSESSED mode. 

Now giving this new one a few listens I'm like yeah Wino is back as a guy who knew 70's hard rock, played it, rocked it and then got doomy. So yeah this new album rocks with plenty of 70's groove, a slight bit of doom and a whole lot of fuckin Wino killing it. Along with Wino for the ride in this new version of The OBSESSED is returning drummer Brian Costantin who is from the Sacred days. Next up is Jason Taylor on guitar and Chris Angleberger on bass.  

Favorite tracks on here well there's the opener "Daughter of an Echo" which is a cool ass groove laden rocker reminiscent of certain cuts from 1994's The Church Within. "It's Not OK" is also in that same vein. "Realize a Dream" and "Jailine" come across like 70's Southern Rock cuts. Both songs are a full on blast. 

As far as the more doom laden cuts go "Stoned Back to the Bomb Age" is a fuzz laden-ed head banger. While "Yen Sleep" reminds me of SPIRIT CARAVAN which is cool. Be that as it may I'll always say my favorite OBSESSED album is their debut. With that said I believe that opinion has changed after listening to this multiple times. I think this album blows away everything Wino has done in the past under The OBSESSED banner. 

https://ripple-music.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/gilded-sorrow

VERMORD - Nostalgic Predictions review

 

VERMORD - Nostalgic Predictions

Self Released

The sub genre of blackened death metal has over the past couple of decades been twisted into knots. What I mean is that bands from the sub genre can be melodic or crushing. I've heard proggy stuff in recent years along with adventures in tech death territory. All of what I've just described applies to this release. 

This is the debut album by Maryland's VERMORD. What you'll get here is blackened death metal which is without a doubt ferocious, melodic at certain times, full on tech death and there's some actual prog moments. To be honest with ya I've had a disturbing feeling about this release over the past week and a half. 

First off I like the fact that this band can draw from all of those styles and create song structures that meld well together. On the other hand there's some overdone madness which deters from the bludgeoning quality. After a short intro the torment enters in and for a few cuts it's hang onto your soul. But from that point onward the questions start to enfold.

Overall this release reminds me of an extreme metal mulligan stew. Everything goes into the pot. Sure it's edible but other than some stand out chunks the rest is an after thought. VERMORD hit perfection on many cuts like "Nostalgic Predictions", "Blessed by Wolves" and "Odyssey". We're talking great instrument execution with a combo of vocal styles, gruff or harsh in your face. As far as everything else goes well it keeps this engine moving. 

LISTEN HERE & PURCHASE HERE:

https://officialvermord.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgic-predictions

TORVUS - The Innate Disease review

 

TORVUS - The Innate Disease

Self Released

They're from Maryland, they play doom and they're damm good. Someone tell all of their peers that they need to retire. I'm joking about that latter part of course especially if you check out this album. I mean there's some really cool things going on with this release that would make a Wino fan or a Bobby fan (aka: PENTAGRAM) sit back and go "cool". Add to that their modern touches and extreme mechanics will grab the rest of you as well.

The first time I listened to this release I thought it was the musical equivalent to Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five. The tagline to this band is death doom but let's throw that one away. There are times when this band sounds like 70's hard rock (or what hipsters call proto-doom). Then they'll kick into the 80's thrash era only to be surpassed by some touches of black metal, death metal, hardcore, sludge rock and if I missed something then my sincerest apologies. But the bottom line is that you get the feeling you're bouncing around through the decades.

By the way TORVUS are a three piece band from the a-fore mentioned state of Maryland and why aren't then signed yet? This is their second full length after being around since 2014. So yeah musically they're all over the place which to me adds to some excitement. While they do pummel the listener for the early part of this release. It's when "Stone Bearer", the fifth cut, gives you some atmospheric break although just for a few minutes. After an instrumental the latter half of the release just gets heavier. 

I will say that the production on here sounds like a live record as if it was recorded in a club minus the crowd of course. So with that said I wanna see TORVUS perform at a local club. At times there's some savage riffs being laid upon you. The song structures toss in some uncanny moments like on "Pallor Eyes" which is almost a twelve minute epic. The vocals are a mix of harsh screams of agony to full bore death doom howls. The rhythm section is exceptional and the added but subtle use of keyboards gives some cuts that Euro death doom feel. 

I'll repeat what I said earlier. Why isn't TORVUS signed to a decent label? 

LISTEN & BUY HERE:

https://torvus.bandcamp.com/album/the-innate-disease

BURNING SHADOWS - Beneath the Ruins EP review

BURNING SHADOWS - Beneath the Ruins EP

Rafchild Records




It's good to see and hear that this band from Maryland is still keeping it true. I first learned about BURNING SHADOWS not long ago via their third full length, Truth in Legend. I thought that was a pretty amazing release. And if you're into US bands performing European style power metal then get off your ass and go search out that release. 


Since that last full length of theirs was self released it's also good to see that this new one is on a label. Not surprisingly it's a German label that deals in power metal and other similar genres. Frankly I figured Shadow Kingdom or Heaven and Hell records would've been a good fit as well. Either way it's a new EP from a very cool band. 

Obviously the stand out from BURNING SHADOWS in my not so humble opinion is their vocalist Tom Davy. Once again it's real guy vocals in which he emotes powerful strengths or dangerous spoken threats. Musically you've got the trio of melo-deth riffs and song structures. Add to that the galloping MAIDEN riffs which carry the melodic style. And a slight bite of the CIRITH UNGOL apple throughout as in wild vocals and cool as fuck rhythms with melodic lead work. 


There's five originals and two live tracks "The Last One to Fall" from their last album and "Oathbreaker" from their self titled EP. All great stuff for all of you power metal or true metal fans out there.


https://www.facebook.com/rafchild.records/

https://burningshadows.bandcamp.com/album/beneath-the-ruins

https://www.facebook.com/bsmetal

YATRA - Death Ritual review

YATRA - Death Ritual

Sludgelord Records




For those of you who don't know it, Sludgelord Records has an incredible record in finding quality doom genre bands from all over the globe. This time around we have something close to my home, well I can drive there. YATRA is a three piece act hailing from the holy land of US Doom (that's Maryland for you ignorant hipster types. I know you wanna say Brooklyn but no you would be wrong.)


While I was first listening to this my thoughts were well they'll never ever open up for SLEEP. I say that not as being negative towards this band. It's just that they sound a lot like SLEEP. That's not a bad thing these days for me. Personally I look at SLEEP as a nostalgia band. They got back together, well two thirds of em, for the money. So now they play for hipsters at fests who need their famous band cards punched and to sell some merch.


But as far as this release goes, musically it's SABBATH-ian stoner doom. What makes it stand out the most is guitarist Dana Helmuth’s vocals which come across as a drunk reptilian. Plus I like the savage wah wah pedal leads he cuts loose every once in a while. All in all I think this is a top notch release. We fans need a forerunner and here it is. Besides this is cheaper to buy then that last SLEEP release.


https://thesludgelord.bandcamp.com/merch/yatra-death-ritual-limited-edition-12-vinyl-pre-order

https://grimoirerecords.bandcamp.com/album/death-ritual

https://www.facebook.com/yatradoom/

UNENDLICH - Thanatophobia review

UNENDLICH - Thanatophobia

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions




Actually it was just a few weeks ago in December when I did a write up for this band's EP, Misanthropic Sedition. I liked their music and distinctly remember writing that I was looking forward to a new full length by them in 2019. Well all I can say is that was quick. By the way UNENDLICH is a two piece act out from Baltimore, Maryland. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Michael Connors and drummer Anthony Rouse.


Musically, this is pretty much where their last release left off.  UNENDLICH have a kinship with one part of their sound Swedish melodic blackened death meets Norway's symphonic black metal pedigree. Along with that they toss in plenty of atmospherics, acoustic elements, varied styles of vocalizations and strangely some doom laden melodies as well as full on thrash. 


Ya know I have to say Jon Nodtveidt's legacy is alive and well played in Baltimore, Maryland. By no means are UNENDLICH a DISSECTION copycat band. We already have plenty of those out there. Basically what this duo has done is take a legacy of influence and make it their own in 2019. Very few bands circulating amongst blackened circles are capable of pulling this dynamic off. If there is one downfall to this release it's that there's not enough depth to the production. It's not explosive enough but other than that it's a fantastic release.


http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

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

https://www.facebook.com/Unendlich.us

UNENDLICH - Misanthropic Sedition EP review

UNENDLICH - Misanthropic Sedition EP

Self Released




Black metal hailing from the cold wasteland of Baltimore, Maryland? I wouldn't of guessed but anyway UNENDLICH is the creation of multi-instrumentalist Michael Connors. Prior to this release UNENDLICH was strictly a one man BM project. On this EP Michael handles the vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards and has enlisted the drumming talents of Anthony Rouse who also plays in the blackened death act GRETHOR from Virginia.


UNENDLICH first came to be in 2014 and immediately self released the Monarch of the Damned full length. In 2016 came the second full length Scales of Existence which was released on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. There's a new full length scheduled for early next year which will also be out on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. After listening to this one I'm looking forward to it.


UNENDLICH has a glacial sound that will have you mistake their Maryland roots. Part melodic black metal and part symphonic with second wave influences abound. But Connors does break the ice by adding some modern essence to the song structures. Whether it's a atmospheric break amidst the chaos, a clean vocal chorus tucked in-between his usual raspy vocals or just the eloquent use of the keys it all speaks of not copying the past but adding to it. Of the six cuts on here the four originals are a mix of brutality, melody and elegance.


In a way this reminds me of a joining of early DIMMU BORGIR and DISSECTION. That latter reference to influences is no shocker since there's a cover of "Where Dead Angels Lie" which closes the release. Damm good one too. Prior to that Conners takes the blackened theme to a CURE song. I only know one CURE song and you never hear it played anymore. But yes this is damm good USBM.


https://unendlich.us/

https://www.facebook.com/Unendlich.us

BURNING SHADOWS - Truth in Legend review

BURNING SHADOWS - Truth in Legend

Self Released




Alright I must admit that I'm not a power metal fan especially the epic stuff. Years ago, back in the past SFM666 days, some obscure German label sent in a release by a just as obscure power metal act. I gave it a decent review and then the floodgates were open. The next thing ya know I was getting flooded with power metal releases. So when I re-booted SFM666 I promised myself I would refrain from accepting everything sent in especially power metal and especially the epic stuff. But hey if you're a Maryland band who have been likened to the likes of ICED EARTH, HELLOWEEN and BLIND GUARDIAN then how can ya refuse.


This is BURNING SHADOWS, a band who have been around for seventeen years, have three full lengths and a bunch of EPs to their credit and they're still not signed to a label. Musically they have all the chops that make for a great band in this genre. Those being for starters a great vocalist which they have in Tom Davy who has that real guy full throat-ed vocal style. Secondly ya need guitar playing that can carry out catchy but crunchy riffs as well as some powerful lead work. On this release that is all evident especially when the band breaks into galloping riffage. Oh yeah and third, it must all come together as interesting. 


On Truth in Legend the band carries you through with eight tales that speak of fantasy as well as history. That's pretty much all you want from a good power metal band as well as everything I previously mentioned. BURNING SHADOWS are keeping it true.

https://burningshadows.bandcamp.com/album/truth-in-legend

https://www.facebook.com/bsmetal

http://burningshadows.com/