MAUL - Gallery of Torment Compilation review

 

MAUL - Gallery of Torment Compilation

Corrupted Flesh Records

Normally when a band's promo release info goes onto explain to me how to think, I'm headed for the DELETE. As for this one when I read the words "Many fans regard modern Death Metal as drained of inspiration and creativity.". I was so close. But hey to explain to this band and the author of their promo info. It's not the fans who have problems with present day death metal. It's the mainstream music scribes who are paid by labels to promote their lame-stream stuff while overlooking cool stuff. 

I was thinking about that above paragraph while listening to the first part of this release. As I got through the whole comp I was wondering which big label was going to sign em up first in 2022. MAUL have everything going for em as far as their mixed bag of old/new/tranquil sound goes. Of course that's over quite a few years of dedication on their craft. This Fargo, North Dakota act (no movie jokes because I've heard some killer extreme metal from there over the years) started out in 2017.

Their path starts in 2018 with some demos and from there it goes forward to official short form releases and even a live album. Wow how audacious is that? Which brings us to this compilation which contains the band's choices from their previous releases. They're all cool to say the least but hey they're not breaking new ground. 

First off the rhythm section, even with the tupper-ware snare sound, is very good. The song structures rang from cool Swedish death metal to basic US brutal stuff. The guitar work is always coming across with the rough riffs and damm good. Unfortunately there's no cool or menacing solo work. As far as vocals go they definitely stand out whether it's sore throat or filth ridden.

In the end, hey this band might get signed next year to a big fuckin label. They've got it all to be there as far as sound and style goes. Plus they've got a cool logo. Who knows they just might get onto a tour with their not so loved much peers. Hey be careful what you wish for. 

https://www.corrupted-flesh.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://corruptedfleshrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gallery-of-torment

FROSTHELM - Pyrrhic review

FROSTHELM - Pyrrhic

Revenger Records




The tagline in the promo info for this band was blackened thrash. Immediately I checked out who produced this release. Regular readers of SFM666 (and frankly who isn't) will note that over the past couple of years I've mocked the present age of blackened thrash because it has become assembly line generic because one guy, as producer, is always placing his sound onto bands. The result is always boring crap. Thankfully FROSTHELM is free from that taint.


This is the sophomore full length by FROSTHELM, a five piece act who hail from the great state of North Dakota. Years ago during my time in the military I served with a guy from North Dakota. We were in Alaska then and he use to say it was colder at home. So where else in the US would you likely find a black metal act that is truly grim and frosty? Well not Brooklyn, I know that. After one play of this release I can tell you that the blackened thrash tagline is totally wrong. This is great USBM.


From the opening notes of this release it's obvious FROSTHELM's influences lay over thousands of miles away to the fjords of Norway. But then they take on what is past USBM's greatest attributes. They fire off on the aggressiveness plus add the cool shit. That being some fiery leads which fall into old school metal territory or death metal note bending surgery with melody and bite. Of course there's plenty of tremolo picked melodies. The vocals are full on harsh meets caustic quality. In the end I find this more enjoyable then what the coasts produce.



https://revengerrecords.com/

https://frosthelm.bandcamp.com/album/pyrrhic

https://www.facebook.com/frosthelm