Category: Death Metal

Ogmasun - Into the Void

post rock / post metal

With 'Into The Void', Swiss progressive post metal combo Ogmasun delivers a dark, broody and intense trip. Two tracks, forty minutes, this album one hell of a journey. Perhaps it is not as easy digestible as most post-rock related albums but it's certainly worth the effort. Gloomy ambient tunes alternate with heavy, guitar based pieces of music in which the bass pushes the whole thing forward. Then there are the vocal samples which fit perfectly over the music and elements of indie rock, math rock and progressive rock. The result is something highly narrative, something every fan of elaborate anthems will appreciate.

Bunkr - Schluss

noise rock / jazz / experimental

What starts as a pretty normal post rock album quickly develops into something mind boggling as Swiss band Bunkr opens a box of influences from noise rock to jazz, mathcore and even progressive metal. On 'Schluss' the band comes up with five tracks, mixing dissonance with immersive hooks and sheer intensity. The result is a baffling piece of work, not easy to comprehend but definitely something fans of the unusual will enjoy. Title track 'Schluss' is my personal favorite here, or perhaps the somewhat sludgy 'Truand'. Most fans will prefer the lengthy 'Vautour', but all five of these tracks will overwhelm you, no doubt about that.

Gloson - Mara

doom / sludge

Roaming somewhere between funeral doom and sludge metal, Swiss act Gloson delivered a gut piercing two-track EP. To tell you the truth, I was a bit surprised when I heard it for the first time. Instead of the hazy, stoner version of doom, which I expected, Gloson immediately comes up with massive riffs, pummeling drums and fierce death growls. Needless to say, perhaps, but I was quickly impressed with opener 'Usurper'. 'Equinox' easily walks the same rough and brutal path. Heavy, intense, yet melodic and immersive, this EP is an absolute must-have for the seasoned doom fan, no doubt about that.

Geezer - Spiral Fires

psychedelic / doom / stoner rock

Kozmik Artifactz

Can't get enough of heavy riffing and doomed journeys? Well then, put this in your pipe and smoke it. American trio Geezer throw a massive EP into the mix with 'Spiral Fires'. Opening with a psychedelic space tune, this EP quickly takes us off this planet and into the vast darkness of our galaxy. Then, when the riffs, the bass and the drums appear, Geezer guides you on sonic waves of Sabbathian riffing, something like that. And all of that continues in the other three tracks. As far as psychedelic doom metal is concerned, you rarely get anything more interesting than this. So obviously this comes highly recommended

Lecu - Scented Sonar

ambient

Left Tapes

The facebook page mentions: "Ambient kinda guy // ambient kinda music" and that pretty much covers the load for this three-track EP. Inspired by Frahm, Eno and Aphex Twin, Lecu comes up with three enigmatic ambient tunes, a bit experimental at times but certainly worthy of a spot in your elaborate ambient playlist. My favorite here is 'Blue Desert', which combines gloomy soundscapes with playful elements, which somehow represents a soft summer rain. I think ambient fans will know what to do with this beauty. Check it out and allow Lecu to take you on a beautiful underwater journey...

Aleksei Nikitin - Vesna

house / techno / electronic

Lobster Records

Russian producer Aleksei Nikitin comes up with a pretty exciting 12" which will get many EDM fans on their feet. Opener 'Gruv' immediately sets the tone: repetitive beats, rough sampling and minimal melodies. Yet, my favorite here is the dark dancefloor filler 'Blaze Away' which takes me back to the days of Zen Paradox, Shaolin Wooden Men and so on. Title track 'Vesna' even delves into the dark underground of gothic industrial electro and heavy synthpop. That's three different styles of house music, all on one EP, more than enough to appear on these pages. So check this out and shake your ass. You know you want to...

Druhá Smrt - Incarnatium

dark ambient

Sombre Soniks

I don't think Druhá Smrt need an introduction on these pages. Over the past few years, this Czech duo have become one of my absolute favorites in the dark ambient scene. Their new effort, 'Incarnatium' merely cements that spot. With four tracks, this EP is another brilliant statement for Druhá Smrt. Dark, brooding and immersive as hell, this EP can easily stand next to your favorites by Raison D'Etre, Lustmord or Atrium Carceri, just to name a few. This is a somber album, mystifying and dreary, like only the most seasoned dark ambient acts can produce. Believe me, Druhá Smrt is a force to be reckoned with in this scene. You need this!

Chelidon Frame - NowHere Nowhere NoWhere

ambient / experimental

Sounds Against Humanity

From the bandcamp page: "This music is an attempt to tame all the new sounds you meet when moving to a new house". Composed out of processed field recordings, this album is an outstanding piece of minimal ambient. With nine track, Chelidon Frame attempts to narrate a story, something deeply personal. Now, I can't really say I feel the story on this album but I do enjoy the music. These are unusual and unrecognizable sounds, dressed in layers of soothing ambient, fitting perfectly with the sounds that surround you, like church bells, passing cars or the neighbor's music. In all, this is a highly enjoyable album, one that will pleasantly surprise you.

Talipes Valgus - Sly

electronic / downtempo

With six tracks, Russian electronic act Talipes Valgus comes up with a slow, pulsating and brooding EP where trip hop receives a modern day make-over. According to the biography, the software used for this music is Ableton and in a way you can hear that. The deep bass lines and the typical Ableton sounds are present, but that doesn't mean that this thing is stale and unoriginal. In fact, 'Ravine River' plays with orchestral samples to create something rather overwhelming. Besides, Talipes Valgus doesn't shun the experiment, resulting in a few odd but mesmerizing pieces of music.

Haunt - If Icarus Could Fly

heavy metal

Shadow Kingdom Records

Helter Skelter Productions

And just like that we're catapulted back into the glory days of heavy metal. Haunt digs deep into the world of NWOBHM and comes out with a flashing eight track EP. Each of these tracks could have been written by one of your favorite old school heavy metal bands but hey, they forgot so here is Haunt to make you raise your horned fist and yell along with these infectious tunes. Opener 'Run & Hide' is probably one of the most electrifying metal tunes released this year and most of the others will make your rock dick grow hard, I promise. So yeah, heavy fucking metal. If you like that, you will love the hell out of this EP.

Suffering Hour - Dwell

black metal / death metal

And to plummet in utter darkness, here is 'Dwell' by American horde Suffering Hour, an eighteen minutes lasting anthem of black and death metal torment, destined to erode your sanity. This track is a massive slap in the face of those who have strict guidelines to enjoy their death metal. This is intense, ferocious and suffocating but it also comes with a very high level of atmospheric songwriting. Suffering Hour certainly is a unique entity in the world of death metal, adding plenty of variation to a genre that thrives of violence and brutality. So yeah, this is one for the extremists among us, one you'll cherish or suffer.

Russ Young - Pala

ambient

Audiobulb

I often end my sets of Brieviews with a soothing ambient release. I have a good reason for that. Writing these short reviews can get intense, especially if I write them in one go, which means several hours of listening and writing. This time I picked a wonderful ambient EP by Russ Young. Four tracks, one as blissful and as restful as the next. Opener 'Polaris' is a beautiful piece of music, driving on minimal melodies and flowing soundscapes. 'Cavern' feels somewhat darker but is just as immersive. In all, 'Pala' is one of those releases that you just want to dive into, which is exactly what I would recommend. Press play, close your eyes and escape from the wicked world we live in...

Serge

Brieviews 61

30/4/2019

In Silence - One For All

metal

Spotify

"One for all, all for one, we will stand strong", that's an excellent statement from Swedish melodic metal band In Silence. Their music fits perfectly into the so-called Götheborg scene, even though they reside in Karlstad. Bands like In Flames, Arch Enemy and Soilwork often pop up in my head while I listen to these delicious riffs. Frontwoman Erika ''Rejka'' Jonsson does an excellent job and the men behind her are quite talented as well. Plus, In Silence dare to experiment with electronics, which gives the whole thing something extra. It's as if the nineties have never ended...

Hope Erodes - Rainwalker

metal / death metal

After a few line-up changes, Belgian horde Hope Erodes returns with a dark, aggressive and brutal EP. 'Rainwalker' contains four tracks, each one a fierce slab hardcore infused of death metal. Yet, there is a lot more to be found than gut wrenching riffs and soul destroying drums. At least one of the guitarists is an Iron Maiden fan, which results in brilliant guitar play and the new vocalist, Sam, is a monster with the vocal range of Satan himself. This is the stuff that will undoubtedly demolish stages and venues all over this puny little country. So, if you want music to beat you down into a bleeding pulp, you need this one.

Lacrimae - Entropia

progressive rock / experimental

Hailing from Athens, Greece, Lacrimae delivers highly enjoyable progressive rock with a light avant-garde feel. The EP opens with a beautiful piano intro before 'Necromancer' blasts off. Influenced by bands like Porcupine Tree and Riverside, this act delivers potent pieces of rock music, plus vocalist Annette delivers some interesting vocal lines. My favorite track here is 'Inhale / Exhale', in which Annette seems to experiment with the strangeness of Diamanda Galas for a little while. This is a fun EP to listen to. Progressive and immersive but not too complex. I like it like that.

Kavod - Wheel Of Time

psychedelic rock / doom

Doom metal as a ritual, that is what Italian trio Kavod is all about. Influenced by acts like My Sleeping Karma, Tool, Ufomammut and Om, Kavond comes up with three pieces of musical exorcism. Of these three, 'Absolution' is my personal favorite, a gritty, slow and repetitive piece of psychedelic doom, which might have lasted longer. It makes me wonder about live performances, because, with a good soundman and a minimal but effective light show, this might turn into something utterly overwhelming. Let's see what the future has in stock for Kavod, might something really interesting...

Harbour of Souls - Doomsayer

hard rock

Big Bad Wolf Records

The stunning cover art for this EP alone is worth getting your hands on a copy of this five track EP, and if you're a fan of seventies hard rock and NWOBHM, you might want to start drooling now. Dutch rockers Harbour Of Souls got stuck in the era of old Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy and so on, which results in flashing guitar solos, heavy metal thunder and everything else that made this style of music one of the most popular things on earth. 'Queen On Her Throne' is an instant classic and the others tracks, too, will get you shake your ass and bang your heads. So yeah, hard rockers, you better check this out.

Voldt - Voken

progressive metal

Hyperurl

German three piece Voldt does something odd and unusual with progressive metal. Their sound is unique, laced with elements from black metal, industrial and epic, progressive heavy metal, as if Queensryche and The Kovenant had decided to start a jam. On this EP, the band delivers six tracks, with opener 'To Forge Ahead' immediately confusing the listener. Then again, once you're used to the unusual sound of Voldt, you might start to realize that 'A Tractate Of Doom' is a stunning, genre defining piece of music. In any case, this is different, this is pretty damn awesome. Just give it time to grow on you, alright?

Mount Soma - Origins

psychedelic rock / doom

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Mount Soma launches sludge metal into space. Driving on muddy riffs and psychedelic guitars, this quartet steps into the footsteps of bands like Yob, Black Tundra, Slomatics and so on. 'Origins' is a three-track EP where heavy riffing and chilled out psychedelica seamlessly meet. Opener 'Nebula' is simply outstanding, a trance inducing doom metal track, immersive as fuck. The short tweener 'Origin' is a nice song which functions as a bridge between the two mesmerizing anthems. 'Lazarus' comes very close psych doom perfection. Baffling stuff.

NŪR - Light Emerges

sludge metal / doom

Formed from the ashes of several bands in the Israeli underground, this pummeling quartet comes up with an earth shattering blend of post metal, doom and sludge metal. The three tracks on this EP, 'Trader', 'Water' and 'Wise', are equally destructive, overwhelming and terrifying pieces of music, destined to slowly tear apart your very soul. Sluggish riffs, battering drums and hardcore infused vocals create a cathartic whole, something which fans of bands like Amenra, Neuroris and Cult Of Luna. So, if you want music to resemble a steamroller, this surely is your thing.

Blodskam - Là-Bas

black metal

Suicide Records

Swedish duo Blodskam seem to travel between the madhouse and the graveyard. Their music is rough, primitive and psychotic black metal with lyrical themes of insanity, hallucinations and fear.The whole takes me back to the nineties, when vile and putrid releases by Scandinavian underground bands started flooding the market. Yet, even today, 'Là-Bas' is a consciousness shattering piece of work, where the main theme of psychosis is perfectly illustrated in every aspect of the music. Fierce riffs, pummeling drums and haunted screams. This simply is an obscure gem, no doubt about that.

Kooba Tercu - Kharrüb

alternative rock / psychedelic / noise rock

And we end this heavy, intense and raging version of Brieviews with something... well, heavy, intense and raging. Greek act Kooba Tercu is what would happen if Einstürzende Neubauten meet up with Melvins or The Jesus Lizard. The music on this album is downright bizarre and quite undefinable but that makes it incredibly interesting to undergo. Yes, undergo. You don't just listen to Kooba Tercu. You'll allow yourself to get emerged into their strange, noisy and rattling sound. You will love it, too, I can almost guarantee that. Unless you hate it with all your guts. Those are the only two options you have here.

Serge

Voz de Nenhum - Sublimation

26/4/2019

black metal / death metal

From the crypts of underground label Aesthetic Death comes another unnerving release, this time Voz de Nenhum's Sublimation. This record strikes a nice balance between nasty and clean sounding, thanks to producer Carlos Ribeiro, who incidentally also recorded Belgium's Enthroned upcoming new album.

Voz de Nenhum is based in Portugal, although it looks like members from several bands collaborated in this effort. Among them, for example, is labelmate Alex Dictator, who recently released his own (very fine) record under the moniker Diktator.

The band wastes no time and, from the first notes of opener "Ia'Iaxa" starts summoning demons. I like the fact that all songs are spiced up by synthesisers, and in the case of Ia 'Iaxa this results in a moody droning middle part. Other songs, such as Nails and They, feature a mix tortured screaming and ritual chanting over slow semi-acoustic riffs. It just shows that you don't need hyperspeed riffing to create the right atmosphere...

Closer Voidsworn is an exercise in psychedelic Black Metal, hinting at Oranssi Pazuzu.
But for me, the real highlight of the record is Chains; it has a great, non-black metalish guitar riff is so infectious I could hum it all day long. It's a slow, brooding song, spiced with synth sweeps and anvil hammering. Glorious! All in all a very enjoyable offering from these Portuguese dealers of Blackness.It clearly shows that nowadays the most exciting music doesn't necessarily come from the best known names.

Koen

Brieviews 59

11/3/2019

Tim Linghaus - About B. (Memory Sketches B-Sides Recordings)

ambient / classical

Sound In Silence

A nice gem from the ever expanding Sound In Silence label, containing seventeen short yet playful ambient pieces. With the piano as central instrument and gently synths freely floating, Tim Linghaus delivers something I can only compare to the "nouvelle cuisine" of ambient. The tunes are delicious and highly enjoyable but oh so short. Fans of Olafur and Nils will definitely enjoy this and so will everyone who is need of a little breather once in a while. My advice? Purchase this album and let these tunes become your tiny moment of serenity during your busy day. You deserve it, and so does Tim Linghaus.

Antoine Panaché - Endling

experimental / noise

The bizarre world of Antoine Panaché is as enigmatic as it's uncomfortable. This project has often found a way to be featured on this pages and with its new output, 'Endling', Panaché once again deals in the opposite of normal. Basically driving on noise, the six tracks on this tape are audio experiments in old fashioned musique concrete style, here and there also influenced by everything Cold Meat Industry has ever barked out. My favorite is closer and title track 'Endling', a mysterious and angsty piece of music. On the other hand, if you like angst, you should certainly start with 'Zwarte Agnes'.

Misty Bliss - Misty Bliss

alternative rock / psychedelic rock

Right, time for some good old fashioned rock 'n roll, courtesy of Swiss duo Misty Bliss. Inspired by the extravagance of classic rock and the gloomy overtone of gothic rock, this duo throws four great songs in my speakers. Opener 'Misty Bliss' is a strong, anthemic piece of rock music, something fans of everything between Led Zeppelin and PJ Harvey can appreciate. Blues fans will drool over 'Love Confession', at least if they can also appreciate post punk and garage rock. Then there is the punky closer 'Take On The World', the fastest song on the EP but a trustworthy rock 'n tune. Heel yeah!

Thecodontion - Jurassic

death metal

Xenoglossy Productions

Hailing from Rome, Thecodontion comes up with something they call "prehistoric metal of death". This four track EP, 'Jurassic' contains four tracks, created by bass, drums and vocals only, with lyrics about fossils and prehistoric creatures. Yet, they do manage to create a rough, chaotic and primitive version of death and black metal, not so much old school as well, pre-school. Then again, back in the glorious days of Pangaea, there was no melody, no flashing guitar solos and no professional recording studios. So, if you like your metal obscure and chaotic, Thecodontion definitely deliver the good.

Wang Wen - Endless （theme song for "Space Challenge"）

post rock

Chinese post rock juggernauts Wang Wen surprise their fans with a ten minutes lasting anthem, a genre defining theme song in two sections. Kristian Karlsson (PG Lost) produced the song and Magnus did the mastering. Along with Wang Wen's elaborate crew list, the addition of these seasoned craftsmen turns this music into a baffling group effort, one that every post rock fans will surely appreciate. Balancing on the edge between post rock and score music, 'Endless' is yet another one of those beauties by Wang Wen, a long, anthemic and immersive piece of music that can stand the test of time.

Blair Coron - On The Nature Of Things

ambient / classical

A beautiful and immersive album by Scottish pianist and sound sculptor Blair Coron, 'On The Nature Of Things' narrates the splendor of contemporary classical music. For the most part, this album brings a minimal but soothing listening experience. It's quiet and gentle but is also contains a few dreamy ambient anthems, like 'R/B/G/' or poetry like 'Ode To The Cimmerian' or the folkiish 'Olives and Marzipan'. In all, this is a surprisingly interesting album and quite varied for something that roams in the world of classical music. My advice? Check it out, you'll definitely found something you like here.

A Vintage Death - Acrid Death Fragrance

doom / black metal

Hailing from Italy, one man doom metal band A Vintage Death unleashes a first EP, titled 'Acrid Death Fragrance'. Founded by solo member Carmine, this project combines melodic doom with elements of black and death metal. The result is a rough, harsh version of bands like Saturnus, November's Doom and so on. The four song are decent, excellent at some points but the production value somewhat diminishes the experience, which is too bad. It's obvious that Carmine is a talented musician with good ideas and great songwriting abilities. All he needs now is a professional producer and, why not, a live band. But for now, this EP is an excellent debut.

Ûngrûn - Demo 2019

black metal

Tartarus Records

Dutch/Frisian black metal outfit Ûngrûn (featuring (ex-) members of Verwoed / Dool / Kjeld and Lugubre) comes up with two ferocious, skull battering pieces of black metal. Titled 'It Hiele Brânoffer' and 'De Oanstjit Ta Hjar Ûngerjuchtichheit' these tunes will pierce your eardrums and destroy the the final signs of sanity behind it. Mostly driven of hyperspeed drums and shrieking guitars, these tunes are instant favorites for fans of Dodecahedron and many other avant garde black metal acts. This is simply another one of those brutal forces from the Netherlands, which comes highly recommended.

Anna Havoc - Anna Havoc

hardcore

website

Don't let the band name and the lovely painting on the cover fool you, Russian combo Anna Havoc will rip your eardrums apart and you will love it too. That is, if you're into harsh, intense and chaotic hardcore. In five tracks, Anna Havoc bashes a tremendous amount of stinging riffs, battering drums and fierce vocals through your speakers. The tempos are suffocating and the abrasiveness is pulverizing. Their furious hardcore is infused with elements from sludge metal, noise rock and a hint of black metal or grindcore. The result is one baffling five piece EP with heaps of brutal energy.

Beyond Our Sight - The Void Within

metal / death metal / metalcore

New band from Ghent, Belgium, deals in thick as fuck riffing, serial killing drums and ferocious growls. Plus, here and they doomy clean vocals appear, along with a load of other influences, all brutal, obviously. If you're into bands like Lamb Of God, Gojira, As I Lay Dying and Machine Head, you might want to lend these guys an ear and get your hands on a copy of this seven track EP. Personally, I'm not a fan of this stuff, but I know the genre well enough to consider Beyond Our Sight a force to be reckoned with in the near future. Just listen to the pulverizing single 'Strenuous' and you'll know what I mean.

A God Or An Other - Chaotic Symbiosis

28/11/2018

black metal / death metal

Chaotic Symbiosis is an album released on November 15, by American blackened death metal band A God or an Other. A little more than thirty-five minutes long, the record has six tracks: What Keeps Us Here, Exhaustive Perturbation, Tacit Alarum, Torrent of Failure, Ritualistic Devitalization and Chaotic Symbiosis. With a dense, brutal and very aggressive sound, Chaotic Symbiosis is a characteristic genre album: it has a very sinister premise, revolving around an excruciatingly painful, hostile and visceral sound, displaying occasionally more sensible and surreptitiously slow harmonies. Hunger to prey on the dark vicinities of a fatalist cosmogony, that highlights a permanently obscure universe, lost in the infinite despair of a primordial demise, this album is a mordacious descending into an exasperated reality, infuriatingly immersed in chaos .

The style of the band unfortunately suffers from a severe lack of originality, being neither surprising nor impressing, although they can work also in a more subtle and lugubrious context. A God or an Other definitely knows how to elaborate and to vehemently display very tense and slow-pacing interludes, that normally anticipates the hazardous and horrific doom of excessively tempestuous harmonies, that descends over the listener like a definitive cataclysm, eager to destroy everything that comes on its way. Probably, these macabre, melancholic and gothic serenades are the greatest triumph of their music.

While you can feel a sharp, genuine and brutal ferocity embracing the consistency of a very aggressive, hostile and lancinating style, the most negative aspect of the band is related to the fact that it’s so brutally ferocious, and its melodies are so ostensibly rapid for the most part, that the sound invariably becomes too homogeneous. You inadvertently feel lost in the terrible storm of sameness compelled over its ferocious brutality, and eventually, becomes even incapable of differentiating one song from another. While there is genuine aggressiveness in their abrasive sound, there is little versatility and flexibility, which makes the album too predictable, and monotonous to a degree.

While Chaotic Symbiosis is not a bad album, it’s style is very limited. Definitely, the tempestuous malevolence is genuine, and, to a modest level, interesting. But its creativity is too petrified to a restrictive musical diagram, getting close to brutal death metal for the most part. Resenting itself from stylistic limitations and a severe lack of originality, this album is mostly recommended to passionate enthusiasts of extreme metal. Outside this particular zone, the album will hardly find any appreciation.

Wagner

1914 - The Blind Leading The Blind

28/11/2018

black metal / death metal

The blind leading the blind is an album released on November 11, by independent Ukrainian record label Archaic Sound. Work of a musical project conceived under the alias 1914, this is blackened death metal on its most inventive, pressurized and obscure prominence. With sinister atmospheres, but abrasive guitar lines adorned by imperatively rapid harmonies, The blind leading the blind reunites in graceful cohesion all the fundamental elements of the genre: dense melodies, a guttural voice, pungent but dilacerating musical arrangements, and dubious melancholic sensitivities, that falls between the exhilarating devices of narrow ambiguity and glorious objectivity. Beyond the summary astute easiness of its aggressive downfall, this album satisfies coherently the mostly general qualities of the genre, while being too obvious and generic – almost predictable – by a more oblique perspective. Nevertheless, The blind leading the blind manages to be, more or less, an intense, intelligent and pervasive album, with some satisfactory songs that makes this work worthwhile listening it.

With eleven tracks – War In, Arrival. The Meuse-Argonne, A7V Mephisto, High Wood. 75 Acres of Hell, Beat The Bastards (The Exploited cover), Hanging On The Barbed Wire, Passchenhell, C'est Mon Dernier Pigeon, Stoßtrupp, The Hundred Days Offensive and War Out – this almost one hour long album is a profound, lucid, pertinent and belligerent anthem in preparation for war. With versatile elements that dispatch vividly its musical strength, The blind leading the blind is mostly characterized by powerfully exhilarating and brutal harmonies, that never dares to be condescending with its own ferocious and implacable plausibility.

While there’s nothing on this album that could be regarded as deeply surprising or original, 1914 knows how to elaborate and to execute a solid, proficient, somber and cohesive musical work. With a salutary vividness that embraces its own virulent propensities and archaic glorious dimensions, the sonorous densities of the musical layers are characteristically well elaborated, and respect the boundaries of its own passionate, but effusively dark cosmogonies, that always explode in a tempestuous rebellion of nefarious harmonies.

Like I’ve pointed out some lines above, The blind leading the blind definitely is not a marvelous album, but manages to be modestly good and interesting, all the way through. Its sophisticated enough to captivate an audience, solidify a cohesive sound and redefine intelligently the more discreet elements of its own style, while maintaining intact its general musical premises, and reevaluating this particular genre as a more extreme form of expression.

Wagner

Brieviews 54

25/11/2018

Syrinx - There Is Distance Between Us

drone / ambient

Sombre Soniks

It feels so good to see English trio Syrinx return. Sombre Soniks releases their first album since 2011 and it's a gem. 'There Is A Distance Between Us' is one long sonic meditation, fifty nine minutes long. It opens with slowly meandering drones and soundscapes, quiet, at times impending. Calmly, a whole story develops, carried by mysterious sounds and eerie atmospheres. I guess it's safe to compare this album to artists like Troum, Vidna Obmana or Rapoon: gloomy ambient soundscapes best to be enjoyed with eyes closed and mind open. This certainly is a nice comeback.

Mule Skinner – Airstrike

death metal / grindcore

Formed in 1990, Mule Skinner is a death/grindcore band from New Orleans USA. Airstrike is their comeback album, twenty three years after their debut Abuse. Their heavy neck breaking underground grindcore works addictive. Time has passed but the sound of Mule Skinner is still crushing skulls and bones. Deep venomous vocals and high speed riffs blowing even your wall paper away. The bass tunes have a very important contribution in this recording. Airstrike is an album with evincive grindcore. Thirteen songs of blasting power. Highly recommended to fans of Terrorizer and the early Brutal Truth.

Stone Wired – Habitual Discomfort

death industrial / dark ambient

Exabyss Records

Stone Wired is a project of Mortum (Gyorgy Turoczy), released on his own Underground Death Ambient Label From Hungary, but active in the USA. The sinister deep industrial sounds work like a suffocation machine. Stone Wired explores the boundaries of dark ritual music. Harsh electronics are used to make the listener aware of the habitual discomforts of life. The artist has already released dozens of tapes and cdr’s. He creates sounds and noise with other aliases like Human Vault and Odour Sonour too. If you like dark and obscure underground electronics, Stone Wired will be your perfect guide.

I Am Waiting For You Last Summer - Together

post rock / ambient / electronic

Russian act I Am Waiting For You Last Summer is one of those bands who explore genre boundaries without limitations. Loved and respected by electronic, ambient, downtempo, post-rock and alternative pop communities, these Russians have played over 200 shows allover Europe, including Dunk! Now they come with a sweet and enjoyable three-track EP, 'Together'. The three songs are short but they will warm up your day and bring a smile to your face with their. It's Explosions meets Plaid or Mogwai meets Boards Of Canada but most of all it's gentle, soothing music that deserves a place in your collection.

Brad Couture - Strung - Vol. I

ambient / classical

Brad Couture delivers another beautiful breather in a rough and busy world. For that, he only needs a piano and a tiny bit of electronics. The two songs on 'Strung Vol.1' are short minimalistic piano pieces, 'Pleiades' and 'Radial', coming with a strong feeling of melancholy. It's easy to imagine vast wintry landscapes or scenes with broken-heart people while listening to this music. If you are a fan of cinematic ambient and slow piano melodies, you don't want to miss out on this one. Put these two tunes in your winter-playlist and the darkest of seasons will shine a little brighter this year.

Comatose Vigil A.K. - Evangelium Nihil

funeral doom

Non Serviam Records

Seven years after 'Fuimus, non Sumus...', funeral doom trio Comatose Vigil A.K. return with a new album. 'Evangelium Nihil' contains four tracks, four monolithic pieces of funeral doom metal, containing all the ingredients that make this genre so attractive. Slow, torpid music, driving on droning guitars, sluggish drums and deep growls. Fans of the band and fans of Esoteric, Evoken, Shape Of Despair and so on can easily trust Comatose Vigil A.K. to deliver the sonic burial they crave so much. This album is a walk in the darkest and deadliest labyrinths of the human soul, one which every funeral doomster will adore.

Dxvxdxd Sxlf - Of Wolves & Men

gothic rock / alternative / metal

Dxvxdxd Sxlf (read, Divided Self) is a French band with a lot of symbolism and a lot of influences, from literature about madness and insanity to dark rock bands like Moonspell, IAMX and Deftones. Their first effort is a four track (+ four unplugged versions) EP which is quite hard to comprehend. Opener Under The Gaze Of Christ' seems influenced by gothic metal and melodic black metal but suffers from rather unfitting vocals. These vocals perform better, more powerful on the groovy doom/post track 'Dreamer On Ecstasy' and the gothrocker 'The Path'. In all, this is an interesting EP, not a smasher but a nice introduction to a band that is still finding a solid sound.

Shelther - When Comes The Flee

drone / ambient / folk

Here we go again, a drone/ambient release by a member of one of Belgium's many (sludge) metal bands, something that almost always sounds interesting. Shelter is the solo project from Lethvm's drummer Antoine Matthys. With 'When Comes the Flee' he delivers a one-track EP, lasting over thirty minutes and bathing in atmosphere. Armed with a guitars and a bunch of effects, Shelher steps into the same forest where Ashtoreth, Stratosphere, Syndrome and CHVE wander. Opening with folkish guitar plucks, this track grows, evolves and narrates, beautifully honoring this tradition of Belgian drone ambient. Brilliant piece, highly recommended!

Temple Music - Εποχές Vol. II

dark ambient

Sombre Soniks

Alan Trench returns with two new pieces of sonic meditation, good for a total of over forty minutes of droning soundscapes and cosmic ambient. 'Summer Dominoes' is a lengthy sound exploration, evolving in an almost unstable manner. Minimalism certainly is the keyword here, even the term 'I-Dose' comes to mind. This is music to meditate to, thus perhaps my favorite of the two. Track two, 'Laughing In The Tower' is more complex, darker and also noisier. Here, haunting voices appear, along with vague melodies and eerie soundscapes. Yet, if you want your music to narrate strange adventures, you need this one.

Hey Life - Masquerade

alternative rock / funk rock

What would happen if Jamiroquai and Queens Of The Stone Age crawl into a studio? Well, French rockers Hey Life might come close to that. One part of the band is hooked on alternative rock while the others have the funk floating through their veins. The result is this uplifting five-track EP, loaded with energetic rock songs for the whole family to enjoy. It's not every day that Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pulp, Rage Against The Machine ànd Michael Jackson come to mind when I listen to an album. For some reason, these songs are infectious and sheer fun. Dancing is recommended, smiling is obligatory.

Rosalyn - Single Mother

indie / dreampop

Rosalyn was born right after the release of 'Heiligenstadt', The View Electrical’s sophomore album. Vocalist Frédéric Aellen wanted to create something more intimate and acoustic so he locked himself up with a guitar and a laptop. The result is a four-track EP, moving into the regions of dreampop, slow/sadcore and indie pop. In a way, the songs here are bittersweet pop songs, powerful enough to entertain people in front of a stage but intimate enough to guide emotions in a lonely bedroom. My favorite here is the piano version of 'Rusty' but I'm sure many people will adore these melodies.

I Hate Models - Spreading Plague

industrial / electronic

Perc Trax

Let's finish this set of Brieviews with something completely different. It might look like a death metal album but don't get I Hate Models wrong: this is nutkicking industrial hardcore techno, or something like that. I guess you can compare this to Horrorist meeting Combichrist making it perfect for acid rave-caves and gothic industrial parties alike. Hell, even rhythmic noise freaks can get their much needed shots of electronic aggression. The single comes with a remix and an extra track, 'Martial Order'. So put on your dancing boots and stomp the night away.

Serge (2 & 3 by Patsker)

Súl ad Astral - Oasis

6/11/2018

post black metal / black metal/ death metal/ experimental

Oasis is an album released on November 2, by New Zealand experimental/ atmospheric post black metal duo Súl ad Astral. Almost one hour long, the record has ten tracks: In Dreams Reborn, Float, Pennies Down The Infinity Well, Last Regret, Inaction and Consequence, Hindsight, This Broken Ideal and the title track, Oasis. A beautiful album, impregnated with a formidable level of organic fury, dramatic energy, dynamic synergy and an ostensibly explosive level of creative originality, Oasis is a lucid, expressive and very cohesive work, abundant on rapid harmonies, aggressive tonalities and distinct musical vigor. With a genuine and consistent signature sound, the album – from the beginning until the end –, reveals itself as a primal and whimsical musical work, that displays on the layers of its proficient salutary qualities an excellent and brutal performance.

With the amazing and joyful intertwining of clean and guttural vocals, and discreetly flirting with power metal devices, the style of Súl ad Astral is very fluid, gracefully dynamic, dense and proverbially virtuous. Most of all, is impeccable and sensibly peculiar, with a very distinct grace floating over its very colorful, yet heavy notes. With some latent melodic death metal tonalities being amazingly prevalent over its distinct rapid sequences – nurturing the unlimited atmosphere of its boundless musical glory –, the sound is perfunctorily creative and fearless, and never renounces to its majestic harmonious and composite grandeur, that seems wisely dilapidated over the dimensional tapestry of a dense, but perfectly consecrated melodic expansion.

As a sensational conjuncture of symphonies that departs from an entirely new universe of passionate and sagacious musical possibilities, Súl ad Astral has conceived Oasis as a masterful, rapturous and beautiful mosaic of marvelous splendor, whose wonderful style is definitely singular, and will hardly find a similar parallel in the history of underground music.

Crossing over several distinct genres – post black metal, melodic death metal, post grunge, metalcore and even pop rock – in varying degrees, in a wide and creative range of intricate sonorous possibilities, Súl ad Astral is a fantastic and proverbial musical act, with no boundaries or restrictions whatsoever. Merging altogether the most predominant elements of several apparently disparate genres, this fabulous musical act conceives an entirely different level of greatness very cohesively, without any disruptions nor dysfunctions, whose splendid results can be categorized as a creative statement of talent and authenticity.

With a splendorous shape, and an extending musical diagram, the energetic and powerful creativity of the duo is very compelling and graciously vivacious. They are obviously not bounded or limited to a particular genre, but definitely are fully compromised in developing its own insightful, organic and highly original musical style.

Wagner

Vanhelgd - Deimos Sanktuarium

2/11/2018

death / doom metal

Vanhelgd has a steadfast style, death metal straight from the heart. Deimos Sanktuarium is the fifth full release of this uncompromising band. Their heavy riffs of discomfort and death make them sound so recognisable. A heritage of the legendary Swedish death metal cult has been succeeded.

Mattias Frisk and his collaborators never disappoint. Deimos Sanktuarium is again an interesting piece of death metal violence filled with obscure grunts painted in a horrifying atmosphere. They know as the best to hold the tension over the rolling bass lines and evocative guitar riffs. The doomy slowness in the songs makes Deimos Sanktuarium an album between doom and death metal. Melodic guitar solos create a false glance of hope in the dark ambience.

The mood is increased by several ads of chanting or choirs. Vi Föddes I Samma Grav is a perfect example. The creations of haunting voices fit perfect with the heavy riffs. Four of the seven tracks are in Swedish. Emotions and anger are at their best in the native language.

Profaned Is The Blood Of The Covenant starts very mystic and slow but emerges to haunting savagery. The guitars hail as hunted fearsome animals in the forests. The vocals scream like a grizzly bear in dusk.

Unearthly howls make The Silent Observer one of the best tracks on the album. The speeding of the guitars create an etheric aura. Mattias Frisk screams his lungs out while the vibrations of the guitar strings hypnotize you slowly into slumber. The song ends with doomy medieval voices.

Här Finns Ingen Nåd is the last track and brings old school death metal like the best. Deep frightening grunts kill all the light that is left. Strong berserk choral sounds will only make you to touch the repeat button.

Vanhelgd offers with Deimos Sanktuarium top quality death/doom metal. This release is available on cd/lp and digital formats. Deimos Sanktuarium deserves a place in every death metal collection. The fantastic artwork is by Mattias Frisk. Buy or die.

Patsker

Brieviews 53

30/10/2018

Dizorder - Moon Phases

alternative / metal / metalcore

Although I'm not always content with the term "female fronted metal", I have to say that in this case the presence of Chloé defines the whole identity of Dizorder. While the men behind her deliver a solid modern day metal foundation, Chloé varies from melancholic to firm to brutal several times in a row. This EP contains four tracks, an intro and an outro. It showcases a wide of influences, from Evanescence and Flyleaf to Linkin Park, Deftones, Otep and today's metalcore scene. Furthermorre, there are some excellent tunes to be found, like 'Erinyes' or 'Pick'. Nice work and an excellent business card.

Greyhawk - Ride Out

heavy metal / power metal

Tsss, those Americans, rebooting something everybody in Europe laughs at, except Manowar fans but I don't think they have that much to laugh about anyway. Heading from Seattle, Greyhawk comes up with old school heavy metal, inspired by the greats and breathing the exact same air as Dio, Judas Priest, Blind Guardian, Helloween and so on. The result is this highly enjoyable and perfectly executed power metal EP, named 'Ride Out'. Fans of the old school will undoubtedly eat this up. So check it out, raise your horned fist and join the glory of heavy metal as it should be!

Gramma Vedetta - Proof of Concept

hard rock / stoner rock / alternative rock / grunge

We're not done having an old school party here. Next up is London based Gramma Vedetta and their infectious blend of blues, grunge, psychedelic rock and jam rock. Somehow these guys are stuck between the sixties and the nineties, which results in extravagant party tunes like 'Behind the Blinds', strange punky rockers like '.Taranto Train to Toronto Town' and instant grunge classics like 'She (Has A Plan)'. This EP is loaded with energy, fun and rock 'n roll. If this band can't get your party started, you are throwing the wrong party, that's for sure. So grab a beer and join me in the pit!

Godless - Swarm

thrash / death metal

Right, enough fun, time to torment our eardrums with some vile extremities courtesy of Indian death-thrash combo Godless. After an impending intro all hell breaks loose as we descent into a frenzy of riffs, blast-beats and ferocious screams. Influenced by everything between Kreator, Morbid Angel and Behemoth, Godless rages on with a murderous tempo and mind shattering intensity. This EP is short, but so is a chainsaw into the skull and that is a perfect comparison. Godless are not here to mess around, they are here to demolish, destroy and conquer.

O n s e t - Unstructured Dissemination

doom

Weird Truth

This debut EP by Onset, a collaborative effort of Mirai Kawashima from Sigh and synthwave artist Microchip Terror, is perhaps one of the most surprising doom metal releases this year. With elements from traditional doom, post rock, space rock and extreme metal, Onset delivers something both immersive and unsettling. The riff-heavy approach of funeral doom meets with the soul piercing experimentality of noise to create two epic pieces of dark and heavy music. This is definitely not an easy EP to listen to but it a unique and refreshing entity in the world of doom, which imply means it's awesome.

Ssanahtes - Ssanahtes

doom / sludge / post hardcore

French "not another post metal" act Ssanahtes comes up with a whole lot of noise, surprisingly close related to post metal. This self-titled album is an intense, brutal and abrasive piece of sludge doom and noise rock, coming at you in six psychotic tunes. The band claims to be influenced by bands like Neurosis, Meshuggah, Cult Of Luna and Kickback. You might as well add the deranged sounds of Japanese acts like Skullflower to that list as well. The result is an extremely unsettling album, one that will definitely get on your nerves. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you to decide.

Frenzy Frenzy - Just Another

pop rock

Time for something on the lighter side of the rock music spectrum, which takes us to French trio Frenzy Frenzy. Their six track debut EP is loaded with sweet pop rock tunes, inspired by the pop music of Michael Jackson, INXS and Jamiroquai but also by rockers like Queens Of The Stone Age and The Black Crowes. The result is a fun album that will get many asses shaking, both on rock festivals and wedding receptions. I can't pick a favorite here but 'Into It All' is a potential chart hit. This is a fun EP, no doubt about that.

Charles In The Kitchen & Them Stones - Stones In The Kitchen

pop rock / alternative rock

Charles In The Kitchen

Them Stones

More joyous rock 'n roll from France, this time with a split singe by Charles In The Kitchen & Them Stones. Each band delivered one track beginning with the uptempo 'Arrogant Teenage Rag' by Charles In The Kitchen. This song somehow reminds me of the B52's, which is quite rare these days. Nonetheless, this is a neat tune and a definte dancefloor filler. The other side is for Them Stones, who showcase a more serious approach. Here the grunge scene comes to mind, heavy on riffs and methodical on the drums. Alice In Chains meets Weezer, something like that. In all, this is a enjoyable single, nothing more, nothing less.

Serge