BERGSVRIDEN - Gastkramad review

 

BERGSVRIDEN - Gastkramad

Northern Fog Records

A few years ago I checked out this Swedish folk metal act called MIDVINTERBLOT. Yeah I'm one "those people" meaning I like folk metal. Anyways they had a cool album from 2016 called Skymning which I thought was decent as far as genre standards go. But the band had just that one album and then nothing. 

So here we BERGSVRIDEN which has three members of MIDVINTERBLOT. Both bands existed in the same time but BERGSVRIDEN has three previous full lengths to their credit. BERGSVRIDEN really don't sound similar to their other band. There's no violin, woodwinds or a female vocalist. Now they are not just a stripped down version of MIDVINTERBLOT. This is blackened folk and damm good. 

Now the mixing of folk and black metal has been done so often that I'd have to go to the archives to name every band. But let me just say there are bands who are black metal and add in some folk. And then there are bands who weave the two styles together into a beautiful tapestry. BERGSVRIDEN is obviously in the latter category. 

Musically this is on the melodic black metal side with some screechy vocals. There's cool song structures with those folk inspired galloping rhythms. Some of the tremolo picked solos come off like 60's surf influenced. Plus the drum work is exceptional. From beginning to end this is a perfect album.

https://northernfogrecords.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://bergsvriden.bandcamp.com/

HELLEVAERDER - In de nevel van afgunst review

 

HELLEVAERDER - In de nevel van afgunst

Zwaertgevegt

Female vocalists in black metal are a rare commodity. I've always thought that was unfortunate since the vocal possibilities are amazing. Case in point here we have the debut full length by this Dutch black metal act HELLEVAERDER. Their vocalist, Miranda Visser, conveys the pure essence of harsh vocals. Then she'll tweak in low gutturals and even higher pitched witch shrieks. 

Musically HELLEVAERDER are unapologetic-ally raw sounding second wave black metal in style. I mean sound-wise this comes across as early 90's all the way. The twin guitar attack adds plenty of cold tremolo picked harmonies as well as biting riffs. The drum work is standard old school sounding blast beating. And of course the bass is there but hardly representative. 

On a whole this seven cut release starts off on an average note. I wasn't too thrilled by the first couple of songs. So it was on their fourth cut, "In de nevel van afgunst", were the band's strength came to bare. In fact it's the latter four cuts on this full length where the band defines themselves. I'm talking about well done song structures, subtle formula breaking as well as sonic textures which draw you in as opposed to repulsing you. 

Like I mentioned earlier this is the band's debut since starting out in 2017. They also have some short form previously released stuff, a single and a split with another Dutch BM act PERFIDE. Plus there's a compilation release containing their first two demos which to me sounds interesting to check out. As far as this debut goes it's a good start.

https://www.zwaertgevegt.nl/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hellevaerder.bandcamp.com/

THE BLACK DISORDER - The Acceptance of Humiliation review

 

THE BLACK DISORDER - The Acceptance of Humiliation

Iron, Blood and Death Corporation

I love when a band from a certain country doesn't follow the cliche style of what you're use to. Case in point here we have the debut full length this Polish black metal act. Prior to this they put out a three cut EP, Monuments of Spiritual Atrocities, which came out in 2019.

First non cliche point is that this band is a three piece aka: two guitarists with one singing plus a bassist who also handles the drum work. Then again it might be programmed drums. Hey come on, Poland has amazing metal drummers. Plus the drum work on here sounds like Hellhammer of MAYHEM.

Second non cliche point is that THE BLACK DISORDER kinda have a major MAYHEM influence. The vocalist sounds like Attila Csihar a bit. I have no problem with that at all. And that's about all the non cliche points I can find. On other more familiar fronts this band likes their death metal. There's a punishing element on a few cuts which is pure Polish DM. 

Add to that the guitar lead work is wildly eclectic as well as at certain times melodic. All the songs here, seven real ones with a two plus minute intro, are a mixture of inviting horror to total fucking mayhem. All in all this is a damm good debut album. Hell they're from Poland, of course they're great. 

LISTEN TO & BUY IT HERE:

https://theblackdisorder.bandcamp.com/album/the-acceptance-of-humiliation

PANZERKRIEG 666 - Self Titled EP review

 

PANZERKRIEG 666 - Self Titled EP

Human Noise Records

So what we have here is the debut EP by this German two piece BM act. The two individuals are HvS (aka: Christian Neumann) who performs all the instruments. And then there's MvM (aka: Daniel Sebastian Meisen) who is the vocalist. Just for the record both of these guys are also in the German tech death band PHOBIATIC. So this is obviously a side project. 

Musically this duo is highly influenced by MARDUK which ain't a bad thing. Honestly I wished MARDUK sounded this good of late. The song structures are good on this five song release. Actually it's four songs with the cut "Hiding Assassins" done twice. But all in all this is a pretty good sounding EP.

I give props to HvS for his savage as well as melodic guitar work on here. The man creates a wall of sound that obliterates your senses. I had to go out on my back deck to relax from being pummeled. As for that there's no bass obviously and the drum work is decent. 

Now MvM's vocals are kinda cool in a gutsy harsh type of way. In all this is a damm good EP and I'd like to hear a full length by em or just keep these amazing blackened EPs coming. 

https://www.human-noise-records.com/Home/

LISTEN HERE:

https://panzerkrieg666.bandcamp.com/

ANCIENT NORTH - The Gates review

 

 

ANCIENT NORTH - The Gates

Self Released 

ANCIENT NORTH is a one man US black metal act hailing from Oregon. The one man in question goes by the name Forlorn. That's good enough for me. So after giving this a listen I came to one obvious conclusion. If Forlorn's goal was to create an album that sounded like pure early second wave black metal circa 1991 then he did it with The Gates. 

Musically you've got your standard tremolo picked riffage. sometimes it's pure ripping harsh but certain times Forlorn allows in some melody. The guitar tone is pure pissed off hornet's nest sound-wise. The drum work is also standard blast beats with adjustments. The vocals are venomous plus creepy as they should be and there's no bass. 

So the corpse painted elephant in the corner of this wannabe dungeon is why? Yeah why should you be interested in something that's retro black metal? Seriously I had to ask myself the same question since I've got a hundred or more releases behind me on the shelves of early BM. 

My answer is why the fuck not. Like I've said this is perfection to a craft sound-wise. If I told you this was a demo from 1991 you kvlt fuckers would believe it. So yeah if you want some old school BM perfection done in 2022 then here you go. Plus the cover art is reminiscent of early GORGOROTH. 

LISTEN TO & BUY HERE:

https://ancientnorth.bandcamp.com/album/the-gates

CARTILAGE - The Deader the Better review

 

CARTILAGE - The Deader the Better

Creator Destructor Records

Well the West Coast already has one premiere death grind act in EXHUMED. So I guess you can say that CARTILAGE are part of the extended family. This is the second album by this San Fran five piece act. There's eleven cuts on here. Personally I could've done without the techno intro. But they end the release with an IMPETIGO cover "Boneyard". So there you go.

Now with that said CARTILAGE do bring a raw savage style to the sub genre, aka: old school sounding. Sure the EXHUMED and CARCASS influences are here but they're not applying them completely. Instead of going for your throat this band wants to appeal to your sick senses. I like that kind of stuff.

So when you get songs like "Mallet Wielding Maniac", "Axe Scratcher" and "Slaughter Day at the Chopping Mall" ya wonder if they're laughing their asses off when recording. Musically the songs are all sick short sharp shockers with a mix of gruff and venomous vocals. So it's a fun sounding release for your typical sick minded dark humor loving maniac.

http://creator-destructor.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://cartilagegore.bandcamp.com/album/the-deader-the-better

ERNIA - How To Deal With Life And Fail review

 

ERNIA - How To Deal With Life And Fail 

Transcending Obscurity Records

Ya know I gotta say 2022 has been a good year for grindcore. For example here we have the second full length by this Spanish act. ERNIA are cool, to me at least, because they are a full on grind act that let's loose with many other musical styles. 

The thirteen tracks on here all unique in style as well as performance. There's nothing really repetitive as the album flows. Like I said this is fuckin grind but there are times when the band zips into death grind mode. Next they'll add some jazz fusion to the mix. Add to that they're all into tech death. 

Musically this is part spasm inducing riffs, plenty of bass in your face, a drummer who should be saluted for keeping up with it all and then there's the vocalist. This guy sounds like he's high on a helium and on fire. The talent displayed here is amazing. This is avant-grind gone to the hilt. Totally fuckin amazing. Hell they even delve into some prog bits. One more time, this is totally fuckin amazing!

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://ernia.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-deal-with-life-and-fail-grindcore