THE CROWN - Crown Of Thorns review

 

THE CROWN - Crown Of Thorns 

Metal Blade Records

I got into THE CROWN with their second album Deathrace King from 2000. I liked that album so much that I hit the record store a week later and got their debut full length Hell Is Here which came out in 1998. Back then the band was thrown into the whole Swedish Melo-Deth scene. But musically they were a great death thrash band. I still love those two releases. Unfortunately everything that came out afterward was questionable to me. 

I've had or heard every release THE CROWN has released in the past twenty four years. In all honesty I just don't care for em and I especially hate 2002's Crowned in Terror. You bring in Tomas Lindberg from AT THE GATES to completely fuck up your sound and style. Since then and even with the return of original vocalist Johan Lindstrand they've become melo-deth boredom. 

But hey I gave this new album a chance, three listens, and it's generic and boring. Now sure if you're into the whole generic melo-death stuff then you'll love this album. There's a couple cool tracks on here but for me that's not good enough. They've taken back their original name with the album title but not the early death thrash style. To me it's just boring.

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

LISTEN HERE:

https://thecrownofficial.bandcamp.com/album/crown-of-thorns

DEAD SUN - Soul Diseased review

DEAD SUN - Soul Diseased

Xtreem Music

For those of you who are regular readers of this blog (and frankly who isn't) you know for years now I've touted the greatness of Sweden's Rogga Johansson. In my not so humble opinion he is the most prolific death metal artist from that nation. You know him from bands like PAGANIZER, REVOLTING, RIBSPREADER, DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN as well as a whole bunch of other bands & side projects. In the mid 90's Rogga started DEAD SUN which was a side project where Rogga (guitars, bass, keyboards and vocals) took a side step away from the traditional old school Swedish DM mold. I've got a couple of those releases and they're damm good. 

Fast forward to the present and here we have the eigth studio album by DEAD SUN and it's pretty damm amazing. Sure I'm bias but fuck it. On this one Rogga pairs up with drummer Jon Rudin from HEADS FOR THE DEAD. On Soul Diseased the duo create a tour de force of melodic death metal which is catchy, adds atmospheric touches and even hints at some power metal bravado.

 

Every song on here, from the opening track "Sjuk Sjal" to closer "Premature Burial" is damm good. With a running time of just over thirty six minutes there's no wasted moment with these ten songs. Rogga has that rough baritone vocal which is cool as fuck. Add to that his amazing solo work whether he's ripping it or generating a melodic rhythmic tone that carries on in an epic fashion. The keys of course add that symphonic touch here and there. Great job Rogga!

http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.main.index.php

LISTEN HERE:

https://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/album/soul-diseased

 

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

AMON AMARTH - The Great Heathen Army review

 

AMON AMARTH - The Great Heathen Army

Metal Blade Records

This is album number twelve for everyone's favorite Swedish viking metal band. Yeah I bet Quorthon is spinning in his grave on that one. But hey I became an AMON AMARTH fan years ago. My first album by them was With Oden on Our Side from 2006. For me that's their best album in my not so humble opinion. I finally did get to see em on their 2009 US tour. 

Now over the years I've picked up the releases from their early years as well as every new one. But I have to say from 2008's Twilight of the Thunder God to this release here this band has fell into a repetitive formula mode. Think about AC/DC or MOTORHEAD as far as a recognizable sound. That's AMON AMARTH these days. What's funny is that Twilight of the Thunder God is the album that broke them into the mainstream of metal. I still think that album was a generic over produced piece of wax worthy of mainstream losers. 

So since then every one of their releases has the basics. You've got Johan Hegg's roar like death growl vocals matched up with the classic sound of Swedish melodic death metal. And of course the viking themes which after thirty years the band hasn't run out of Norse mythology song ideas, yet. And in the end you get a bunch of releases with two or three cool songs with the rest being boring crap. 

So with The Great Heathen Army you've got some decent cuts like opener "Get in the Ring" which is classic Swede Melo-Deth with a damm good guitar solo. It's a good pounding tune. "Saxons and Vikings" is actually a crap song musically. But you've got three people from SAXON performing on it. We're talking about Biff Byford doing split vocals with Johan Hegg plus guitar soloing by Doug Scarratt and Paul Quinn. 

I also like "Heidrun" with it's folk metal groove style. Hey pass the mead I think I'm Baldur. And that's about it for me. Like I said earlier I'm a fan and always hope for the best. But as for now, again, their best is behind them. 

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

LISTEN HERE:

https://amonamarth.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-heathen-army

DE PROFUNDIS - The Corruption of Virtue review

 

DE PROFUNDIS - The Corruption of Virtue

Transcending Obscurity Records

DE PROFUNDIS are a cool death metal act from England who I learned about over a decade ago. Back then they were all into the whole English death doom scene theme. Then I heard their 2018 full length, The Blinding Light of Faith and was knocked down a few paces especially with my attitude towards genre cross pollination. 

On that album DE PROFUNDIS created song structures which worked in tech and melodic death metal style without being overwhelming or annoying. Plus they kept the old DM ways intact. I believe at the time I called that album "modern death metal done right".

So fast forward to 2022 and this new DE PROFUNDIS album. The Corruption of Virtue is basically an extension of their last album. The only change is the added emphasis on some bass soloing provided by newest member Steve Woodcock. But everything else is the same as before. 

Craig Land still sings in that deep dark harsh throat-ed style. The guitar duo of Soikot Sengupta and Paul Nazarkardeh still provide the chunky melodic riffs. While still contributing slice and dice prog style soloing. Finally Tom Atherton keeps the drum work diverse as well as pounding. 

All of these players combine to create nine cuts of devilishly good melodic tech death with plenty of proggy bits. Another decent album that's a must listen without interruption. 

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://deprofundisband.bandcamp.com/album/the-corruption-of-virtue-death-metal

SEPULCHRAL CURSE - Only Ashes Remain review

SEPULCHRAL CURSE - Only Ashes Remain 

Transcending Obscurity Records





Ya know what, I knew this was coming sooner or later. At first I noticed it with some smaller label band releases which were cool as fuck. Then I saw it growing all across the board as well as the world. I tried to ignore it like I do with tech death. But I know sooner or later the second and first tier labels were going to be putting this out. Yes people it's the return of old school melodic death metal. 


Did you hear that loud crash? Yeah that was me falling out of my chair. Look people I'm not against some melody in my death metal. Plus I always wanna hear some guitar solos ripping through the death doom like lightning in a cloudy sky. My beef is when it all becomes generic and boring which with every revival happens.


As far as Finland's SEPULCHRAL CURSE and this their debut full length go. It's fuckin fantastic and that's even putting it mildly. It reminds ya of those times when your favorite heavy as fuck band from back in the day started to tweak their sound a bit. Sure the old ways are respected here as in death, doom and a touch of blackened seasoning. But add in the melodic guitar harmonies, the saturating lead work and captivating song structures. It's like you never want this release to end. 


There's two vocal styles going on here as well. You've got the one traditional deep throat-ed awakened from hibernation bear vocal and a more higher pitched caustic one. The PR info on this one pushes the idea of this being influenced by some classic Finnish death metal acts. No name drops from me but there are a few names who's influence is on here slightly. But from the opener to the closer on this release, SEPULCHRAL CURSE have created something worthwhile and re-imagined to make it exciting as fuck. You know a release is one of the best fuckin releases of 2020 when you never want it to end. Which is why you've got repeat.


https://tometal.com/

https://sepulchralcurse.bandcamp.com/album/only-ashes-remain-death-metal

https://www.facebook.com/SepulchralCurseDM

MACHINATIONS OF FATE - Self Titled review

MACHINATIONS OF FATE - Self Titled

Redefining Darkness Records





What we have here is something completely out of the box and exciting as fuck. MACHINATIONS OF FATE are a three piece act out of Kentucky, USA. Musically this is Euro style melodic death metal with so many twists it would make a Swede feel like he's been slapped twice in the face.


First off this is an Ash Thomas project, he's on drums and vocals. I've written about a number of bands he's been in like ESTUARY, SURGIKILL and CRUCIFIED MORTALS. The guitarist Brian Henn is one of those "formerly of " Ohio metal band types but works incredibly here. Finally there's bassist Jason Pate an Ohio metal scene alumni as well. Yeah Ohio is one of the most METAL of states in the union.

  

Musically the band's sound is similar to early HYPOCRISY with a good kick in the nuts. I'd also toss in the blackened grandiose of DISSECTION. Thankfully Peter Tagtgren didn't get his hands on the production or he would have fucked up the raw feeling this album has. Ash Thomas has for a few years now brought a new perspective to melodic death metal that defies the Swedish generic norm. 


To me this is where metal becomes aggressive and beautiful. Break out the soft instro intros then follow it up with a violent death metal saga with great riffs, dynamic drumming and traditional scorched vocals. Add to that some sweet guitar soloing. That describes the whole album to a point. Plus I love how the album ends with a quiet instro piece.



Obviously I'm bias here because I have previous respect for the performers. But even with that said anyone into death metal with a melodic touch but with teeth and originality will or should gravitate towards this release.


http://www.redefiningdarkness.com/

https://machinationsoffate.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/machinationsoffate/

ENEMY AWAKE - The Enemy review

ENEMY AWAKE  - The Enemy

Self-Released




So this one here falls under the category of it's OK, it has some faults but it's interesting enough to write about. ENEMY AWAKE is a two piece death metal act from Sweden. The two people involved are multi-instrumentalist Ivan Castro and vocalist Melin Torne. 


First off I'm always glad to see women involved in the more extreme genres of metal. I say that not because I'm some pussy whipped feminist liberal dude who's looking to get laid. The fact is that I like variety and metal has become an equal opportunity area of music of late. So when a woman comes along with talent and the vocal chops then I'm into it. But in all honesty I am a male lesbian. Hey I like women.


Be that as it may Melin Torne's vocals remind me of Angela Gossow when she first started with ARCH ENEMY. Of course that's when she's singing in a bestial harsh voice along with kicking in some witch vocal screams. Then again on the album's third cut, "Melody of Death", Torne turns to beautiful clean vocal style. 

As far as the music goes it's a mixed bag. They're at times pushing the latter day DISMEMBER crunch. Then things slow down to a melodic sound reminiscent of ARCH ENEMY. There's even some traditional metal sounds and dare I say thrashy bits perminating through out. With all of that said I like the chunky riffs of "Smashing Your Face". Torne adds some great concert style harsh screams as a chorus.


The previously mentioned "Melody of Death" with it's mix of clean sounding vocals mixed with the harsh gruff style is a melodic rocker. "Expose of a Psychopath" is a pretty decent melo-deth number. "Dreamer" is surprisingly bluesy with Castro finally breaking out with some guitar theatrics. And of course "Behold the Fallen Light" is heavy as fuck. So out of the nine cuts on this their debut full length there's some cool stuff.


The low points here are far starters the programmed drums. They're adequate but a human behind a drum kit could add so much more. Secondly production wise this sounds like a demo with very little if any real bass. Also since Torne is the high point then she's being held back in the mix somewhat. So even with that all said I think if ENEMY AWAKE became a real band, instead of a two piece studio project, then they could fill the void left behind after certain acts went bogus.


https://enemyawakesweden.bandcamp.com/album/the-enemy

https://www.facebook.com/Enemyawakesweden/

ROGGA JOHANSSON - Entrance to the Otherwhere review

ROGGA JOHANSSON - Entrance to the Otherwhere 

Transcending Obscurity Records





Here on Rogga Johansson’s second solo release he seems to have changed gears a bit. Fans know of his many bands which totally follow the old school Swedish death metal theme. Then there's his more crust/hardcore influenced acts which you could say are experiments. Entrance to the Otherwhere shows him still waving the Swedish DM flag proudly but in a melodic sense.


Now a few things I need to admit. The first is that I'm a fan of a lot of Rogga Johansson’s bands. Seriously the guy is prolific and musically he's damm good. But I never heard his first solo album Garpedans from 2017. Secondly I've never been a huge fan of melodic death metal. Sure I've got some releases which some people call classics. I've also got some new stuff that's cool. But dammit I still don't understand why people go apeshit over IRON MAIDEN meets death metal. If that's bad well then I still don't get AT THE GATES. 


But as far as this release goes, OK it's infectious as fuck because I like the guy. But then you think "well this song sounds like (place band name here)" and so on. And I'm not holding it to just Swede Death because there's times when I'd hear PARADISE LOST or early AMORPHIS. But hey when you're a guy who can deliver some chunk and groove riffs as well as great vocals then you can't complain about that.
  

https://tometal.com/

https://roggadeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/entrance-to-the-otherwhere-death-metal

https://www.facebook.com/roggaofficial

MORKAST - Deadlands review

MORKAST - Deadlands

Self Released




Here's an act that took a few listens in order to fully get what's going on with them. Honestly many acts are easy to pigeonhole and then there's the ones with plenty of baggage to open. First off this band comes from my nation's heartland aka: Ohio. Before I move on I'd like to point out that when certain people look upon American Metal and it's scene they see places like New York, Florida, NOLA or the whole Western Coast as it's meccas. Ah no, if you look at it all as a body then those are it's limbs. The heart and soul of American Metal is in the Midwest with it's bastions of working class burgs. Remember British Metal didn't come from London. It came from Birmingham. Remember that.


The second thing to mention is that the band self describe their sound as progressive death metal. Personally I don't think so. If anything it's basically great American metal. MORKAST draw upon a slew of influences in order to forge an impressive sound albeit not totally original. First off you've got good death thrash styled riffs and galloping rhythms. Vocals are a combination of basic death metal deep throat and harsh screams. We're talking something out of the melodic death metal handbook here but they're not taking the Swede-deth train.


What sets this band apart as far as I'm concerned is their guitar lead work. There's a combination of blues based leads as well as classical styled ones (someone likes Yngwie) which all scream 80's fuckin metal. Also give some props to the drumming on here because this guy goes effortlessly from basic rhythm to dynamic fills to blastbeats to trigger stationary beats with some jazz tom work. Basically he's keeping thing exciting. A second thing this band incorporates well is some eclectic song tempo sequences. It's something that straight up melo deth bands lack if it's not obvious. If ya wanna use the term "progressive" than that's probably where it applies. 


Earlier I said that musically what MORKAST is doing on here is not original. That's not meant as a slight against them at all. In fact they remind me of a band, also from Ohio, who came out a little over a decade ago. I'm talking about SKELETONWITCH who are playing nearby in the coming weeks. I won't say what MORKAST do on here is copying. Actually it's more like following in another's footsteps and enhancing a sound which in 2019 is all their own. I look at this as a great demo for a band who should have this release put forth to the masses. Hey kid, you like Metal? Then kiss the boot, nuff said.



https://morkast.bandcamp.com/?


fbclid=IwAR0AuM_ADp75dBmJr_0p5L4694UcpDvuUvzpFonnJ8IEC7HUYBbZE9L5dM8

https://www.facebook.com/morkast

PENETRUM - Instrument Of Delusion review

PENETRUM - Instrument Of Delusion

Metal Scrap Records




Full disclosure on my part, most of the time when I see a release come in for review tagged as melodic death metal I pass on it. My reasons are simple, I know some will laugh (considering what I do like) but I see melo-deth as very generic. Over twenty years have passed and I still hear bands trying to be the next IN FLAMES, HAUNTED or worse SOILWORK.


So what interested me to check out this release was first and foremost they're Ukrainian. That great nation just happens to always produce cool stuff in my not so humble opinion. Secondly is what I read in their bio that their sound leans towards Finnish melodic death metal. But even with that, one listen to this their debut full length and you won't call em CHILDREN OF BODOM clones.


Along with the usual galloping rhythms, rough throated harsh vocals and melodic song structures there's a homespun folk influence which I like a lot. Toss in some hallowed vocals here and there plus incredible guitar work throughout and you've got a winner. I thought the cover song by a band I do not know was a throwaway track. But the final cut, an instrumental, was absolutely beautiful as well as a powerful ending statement.


If there are negatives then the album cover, which depicts an evil looking composer, throws you off on what to expect musically. This could've been power metal for all the eyes see. Another thing is the production which had me wondering. If say Peter Tagtgren got hold of this band's reigns would they sound generic as hell? Good question but for now this is an intimate play that will take any jaded melodic death metal person to the side and say wow.


https://metalscraprecords.com/

https://metalscraprecords.bandcamp.com/album/penetrum-instrument-of-delusion

https://www.facebook.com/groups/penetrum/about/

SINAYA - Maze of Madness review

SINAYA - Maze of Madness

Brutal Records




I have a few rose bushes in the back yard. When they're in bloom they're beautiful. But if you don't handle em carefully their thorns will tear your hands apart. Much like this band that hails from Sao Paulo, Brazil. After a few listens to this their full length debut I believe they're be leading a change in attitudes.


SINAYA play melodic death metal with thrash influences and are a four piece all female extreme metal act. Women in metal bands is a normal thing these days. But all women extreme metal acts are not yet part of our collected consciences. There's a few out there. Right now I'm enjoying the hell out of this one.


Musically SINAYA remind me of early Angela Gossow era ARCH ENEMY. That's a complement by the way. Guitarist / vocalist Mylena Monaco has that perfect craven witch vocal style which I fuckin love. The songs carry a low fi head banging groove for the most part but there are times when it's thrash pit time. The lead guitar soloing is tight, flawless without being flashy.


Which brings me to this point, Maze of Madness is a true metal masterpiece. If I'm in the mood to hear something just to make my mood cool then this is it. There are times people when genre extremes just don't cut your mood. This release kinda does it. Hello one of of the best releases of 2018.


http://brutalrecords.us/

https://www.facebook.com/sinayaofficial

http://sinayaofficial.com/

CONFESSOR A.D - Too Late To Pray review

CONFESSOR A.D - Too Late To Pray

Nihilistic Holocaust




Imagine if you will, back in the early 90s AMON AMARTH decided to ditch the whole Viking shtick and concentrated on just something sounding more thrash oriented as well as having melodic death metal traces. Well here you go What If-ers. CONFESSOR A.D. is a band hailing from France that fits that scenario.


On this their debut EP the band puts forth five cuts of unashamed early 90's influenced death thrash with a vocalist who could be a stand in for Johan Hegg. Although according to their promo info the band states that black metal is within the mix I say no. 

The only thing I can say bad about this release is that at times the drummer sounds like he's banging on Tupperware. Other than that the riffs are sinister at most times, happy and melodic at others. Song structures grab a hold of you and wanna induce slam pit action. All in all a cool sounding start plus they do a hipster hate song which is huge points in my book.

http://nihilistic.shost.ca/

https://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.com/album/too-late-to-pray

ASPHODELOS - The Five Rivers Of Erebos review

ASPHODELOS - The Five Rivers Of Erebos

MDD Records




Let's play a game and it's real simple. Name five German death metal bands in ten seconds, GO! Ah yeah you were lost. Sure you can name some great bands that play in other genres but as far as death metal goes you're at a loss. ASPHODELOS, a German five piece act, are at a loss on this their first full length. The main loss is that they sound like melodic death metal circa 1995.

The Five Rivers Of Erebos is just six cuts and that includes an intro. More on that later. The band originally started out as HATRED WITHIN in 2008 but changed their name in 2010. Since then they've put out two EPs some time ago. If anything this act needs Peter Tagtgren, of HYPOCRISY fame, to work with em since that's who they sound like.

ASPHODELOS do have their moments of greatness on here. They've got the fury of riffs down, growled vocal patterns which at times sound agonist. Drum work is done in a pattern reminding one of past melodic DM structures. I think the down side is the melodic death metal genre in itself. It's tough as nails to follow on something which was done to death over a decade ago. But hey since the field is wide open this band could easily become the biggest German Death Metal act in no time.

http://mdd-records.de/

https://asphodelos.bandcamp.com/album/the-five-rivers-of-erebos

https://www.facebook.com/AsphodelosBand/

IN MY EMBRACE - Black Waters Deep review

IN MY EMBRACE - Black Waters Deep

Label: Sliptrick Records

Released: 2016


Seriously I left the whole melodic death metal bandwagon years ago. I still keep a few cds but that genre just got too generic. Yeah I know that's funny since I still listen to a lot of black metal. Well be that as it may when I saw this band was from Sweden and supposedly had some blackness to em then I fell out of my chair laughing after which I figured I'd check em out. It's 2016 so who knows maybe they add something to a worn out style of metal. I'm glad I did since IN MY EMBRACE might not be bringing anything new to the party. What they do is decent enough to give em props. 


Black Waters Deep is their debut full length although they've previously released an EP, Dead to Dust Descend, in 2014. Basically it's melodic blackened death metal in speeds of slow sorrowful dirge and fast with medium paced blasting. Vocalist, Kenneth Larsson, has a great emotional guttural voice for this style. The songs on here all (except for the opening intro) have a dark and melodic feel to them, kinda like my ex-wife minus the lawyers of course. It's a good listen.

Rating: 3/5 


https://www.facebook.com/InMyEmbrace

http://sliptrickrecords.com/