APHRODITE - Orgasmic Glory review

 

APHRODITE - Orgasmic Glory

Fighter Records

Well for starters you gotta love the cover artwork. To me it's out of Greek Mythology and depicts the Athenian hero Theseus when he meets up with the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Theseus does kill the Minotaur by the way, hope I didn't ruin it for ya. But anyways if you were thinking this was some Greek band doing the whole mythology trip you would be only half right.

Yes APHRODITE are into the whole Greek Mythology trip but they're from Canada. They're also a speed metal three piece which started out a few years back and this is their second full length. The band is led by Jo Steel who's in charge of the guitars, bass and drums. Those of you in Canada might also know Jo from his one man project ICE WAR, as well as a few other acts.

The second member of this act is lead guitarist Yan Turbo. Let me tell ya this guy is a shredder to say the least. The third member here is sort of familiar to me since I know of her other band DEMONA and that is vocalist Tanza Speed. She's originally from Vaparaíso, Chile but moved to Canada some years ago and now lives in the US. 

Musically this is definitely a throwback to the 1980's. Speed Metal rose it's ugly head out of the underground hardcore scene back in the mid-80's. The bands then liked punk/hardcore but also liked some metal and leaned more to the latter. But talent wise many of em didn't have the style or chops to go full on thrash. So Speed Metal was their avenue and in the past decade or more the genre has resurfaced as being stronger than before.

So with that said let's start out with Tanza's vocals. She sounds like a perfect punk band singer from the late 80's. Her vocal style is the whole sing/speak thing with some howls thrown in. Jo Steel's riffs are catchy and a mix of melodic punk and some speed. Yeah if this came out in 1988 and the band were writing social/political songs then they would've been huge in the underground.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/orgasmic-glory

GRUNT - Discipline review

 

GRUNT - Discipline

Larvae Productions 

So when I read in the promo info that "GRUNT are undoubtedly one of the most controversial acts from the modern days, famous for their infamous shows, during which women and men are sexually tortured and exploited, the band delivers a bizarre, cold and explicit live experience." I'm like so what's the point? GWAR was a cool act to watch but their albums sucked. Oh yeah and I've seen the MENTORS. So controversial in 2021 as far as extreme music goes is in the eye of the beholder. 

Be that as it may I have a hard time not laughing at some vocalist wearing a goth SMBDM mask and probably singing with it it on. Actually he reminds me of the really bad Bane character from the 2012 movie The Dark Knight Rises. Dude didn't the whole Covid mask mandate piss you off or what? Well anyways regardless what this band does on stage I'll say listening to this their third full length is a treat to say the least. 

GRUNT hail from Portugal and combine death metal, grindcore and techno into a musical acid bath. Once I got the visuals out of my imagination I started to really enjoy this. It has it's chaotic and thunderous moments similar to symphonic death metal. The techno synth parts ain't annoying. And of course the grind is good. If you're jaded then you'll take a walk from it. But given a chance and it'll kick your ass. 

https://www.larvae.pt/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6xUlRSa8BA

HEAVY SENTENCE - Bang to Rights review

 

HEAVY SENTENCE - Bang to Rights

Dying Victims Productions

I was thinking of saying that this release answers the question what if Lemmy decided to sing for a total NWOBHM band. But this English band's vocalist, Gaz Howells, has a slightly better reach. But damm he's close which is why this debut album to me is damm great. 

Yeah HEAVY SENTENCE hail from England and this is their amazing debut full length. They started out a few years ago and released two EPs prior to this one. No great bass lines but damm this sounds like an unearthed gem from 1981. You've got cool twin guitar harmonies and leads worth their weight in Fast Eddie Clark's sweat. 

The only problem I have with this release is that I hate the album cover artwork. Otherwise this is probably the best thing you're gonna hear in 2021 as far as a homage to music from thirty years ago. Ten songs in over thirty five minutes. That's a perfect time line. HEAVY SENTENCE rules, horns up!

https://www.dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/heavy-sentence-bang-to-rights

ANGRRSTH - Donikad review

 

ANGRRSTH - Donikad 

Godz Ov War Productions

Melody, epic grandeur and power bursting out at the seems. That's what Poland's ANGRRSTH puts forth on this their debut full length. The band doesn't lure you in with atmospheric intros. Nor do they drag you in kicking and screaming. ANGRRSTH simply jumps out at you. 

From the opening sounds of the first track on here, "Ciało me wyklęte", we're talking about a modern black metal sound with vocals a touch psychotic, horrific and whispered. It's melodic yet fierce and the band makes good use of some duel riff patterns. There's plenty of tremolo packed riffage plus some solid rhythms. Call it their own wall of sound. 

The album is seven songs with a running time of just over thirty-five minutes. Musically I have to say this release had me enthralled. I would love to see this band live. Yeah I should be so lucky but I'd be that one guy in the crowd staring as the music engulfed every fiber of my being. In my not so humble opinion 2021 has not been a banner year for black metal. Leave it to this Polish band to put out one of the more memorable releases of the year.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/donik-d-2

WILCZYCA - DrakoNequissime review

 

WILCZYCA - DrakoNequissime

Godz Ov War Productions

This album is so raw, MAYHEM could use it as a stage prop. While listening to this, the band's third full length, descriptive words like blackened thrash or blackened punk come to mind. This Polish band is actually a two piece act. You've got the mainman Louve who handles the instruments (guitars and drums). While on vocals you've got Nidhogg who's into high pitched screaming.

Musically the band does mix up their momentum with the tempos. It's not all head ripping. Last song on here, "Nema", is an eight minute instrumental and their only track which contains some atmosphere (aka: silence). Overall this release is basement black metal at it's core. Which is not a bad thing since they'd probably kill the audience afterwards.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/drakonequissime

SZNUR - Dom Cztowieka review

 

SZNUR - Dom Cztowieka

Godz Ov War Productions

What we have here is some misanthropic black metal that's as disturbing as the album cover it dwells in. While listening to the release the first time. I kept staring at the cover art wondering if that's the band's home, a party house or just a dwelling of someone from parts unknown. Either way it's kinda cool. 

SZNUR, which means rope in Polish I mean hey look at their logo, has been around for a few years now. This is the third full length by the band. Actually I believe SZNUR started out in 2017 as a one man project. That one man being Seth who's responsible for the everything which is guitars, vocals and drum programming. There's no bass on here but hey it's raw black metal so who cares? By the way there are two other musicians on here, a drummer and a vocalist.

Be that as it may musically this is pretty cool. The tremolo picked melodies are old school harsh and give way to a brisk atmosphere that's unsettling to say the least. I love the riffs on these songs. Sometimes the missing bass lines is a disadvantage. But overall as a late night black metal listen this works well.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/dom-cz-owieka

ZGARD - Place of Power review

 

ZGARD - Place of Power

Schwarzdorn Production

Like I always say, black metal music can be harsh as well as brutal but it can also be beautiful. That pretty much says it all about this latest release by Ukraine's ZGARD. From the info I got this has been a one man band for a while with some session players, on drums, added on. The one man here is Yaromisl. As well as being the vocalist and composer he's also responsible for the guitars, bass, some drumming,  keyboards, flutes and Jews Harp.

ZGARD have been around for a while to say the least. The discography starts out in 2012. Of that Yaromisl has come out with six full length releases prior to this one. Unfortunately this is my introduction to his band but I'm liking this one. I'd say musically this release carries that Eastern European black metal rawness with the added symphonic elements. It's not far off from what some of his contemporaries have been pushing of late. 

On Place of Power has a great melodic feel to a good portion of it's cuts. The harshness comes from the vocals which are more like cries of anguish from the wilderness. Sound wise the tempos move from violent to grandiose movements. I'd say there is more than a little latter day BATHORY influence going on with a touch of GRAVELAND. All in all a great listening experience. 

http://www.schwarzdorn.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://schwarzdornproduction.bandcamp.com/album/place-of-power-sd56cd