Category: Heavy Metal

An infatuated, but deeply calm and resourceful cosmogony amazingly inserted in an overwhelming ocean of clarifying thoughts, S/T by Planetariet, is an amalgamation of underlying vicissitudes brilliantly crafted at the harmonious line of a delicate and sensible planet of sonorous isolation. With a gentle touch of eternity, this interesting and refreshing EP is an intensely reverberating enigma of homogeneous synchronicity, that seems to revolve around the soul of its own reflexive and protuberating sincerity. With a calmer sound that apprehensively feels the underlying eccentricity of its profound and

densely acquiescent serenity, majorly entangled in a human emotional diagram of omnipotent infinity, S/T is a simple, yet complete sonorous conflagration of a melodic universe, whose imponderability is virtually attached to the most restless deliberation of a wonderful and honest expressive moment in time.

Wagner

Dead Neanderthals - Organ Donor

heavy jazz / grindcore

Dutch heavy jazz duo Dead Neanderthals come up with a late Christmas present: a fifteen minutes long improvisation with sax, synths and drums, accompagnied by some delicious looking artwork (unless you're vegan, obviously). Expect brutal sax drones, gloomy soundscapes and René's repetitive, almost ritual drums. I know, those are Dead Neanderthals' usual ingredients but like many bands they're getting better and better at this. So if you're a fan of these two deviant jazzists, you have absolutely no excuse not to download this track. Tip; serve loud !!!

Brosandi - Music For An Unknown Galaxy

ambient / post rock

Canadian one-man project Brosandi comes up with a sweet EP, containing three gentle post-rock tunes (and an intro). The music here is not overly complex. Instead it feels like watching and listening to a guitarist on stage, armed with only a few effects and loop pedals. The result is something gentle, something perfectly suited for these cold winter evenings. The artist claims to be inspired by Sigur Ros, Explosions In The Sky and so on, and yes, those references certainly apply, be it in a minimal, introvert and intimate way. I wonder how this would sound with a full band but this already comes highly recommended.

Boltzmann Brain - Sentences

jazz / noise rock / experimental

This German band has so much fun recording and release their debut in October 2017 ('Sind Die Echt') that they immediately decided to record another EP. What to expect? Well, something between Red Snapper and Add N To (X) or Black Dice getting a go at jazz and rock music. Jazz, noise, rock, soundscapes and psychedelic music come together in a weird but exhilarating orgy of indefinable music, perhaps that is the best way to describe this thing. The second track 'Come Join My Religion' is simply awesome, reminds me of Haus Arafna a bit. Not many jazz rock bands can do that, you know?.

Knight ‎– High on Voodoo

heavy metal

Heavy metal is far from dead and this band from India once again proves that. With flashing guitars, methodical drums and potent vocals, these guys deliver a solid EP. Think Iron Maiden, think Manowar, think Judas Priest think Helloween and you come quite close to what Knight sounds like. Everything about this album sounds and feels vintage, as it if comes directly from the eighties. For old school metalheads, this certainly is a band to keep an eye on, especially since there is still room for improvement, room to grow as musicians and as a band. I curious to where this leads to.

False Flag - EP

crust / hardcore

Here is a pulverizing three-track EP from Indian extreme music horde False Flag. Although the lyrics seem to be philosophical in nature, the music here is a scathing blend of crust punk, hardcore and black metal. Yet, in all their ferocity, they also leave some place for melody and variation, which is a huge plus in this genre. Now, don't get me wrong, this music will still torment you to the point where you can't take it anymore but I'm 100% sure that every fan of extreme punk will adore this. I mean, if both Oathbreaker and Exploited come to mind in only three songs, we're dealing with something promising!

Scarlet Phantom - Singleness

progressive metal

Haiming from Saint Petersburg, Russia, Scarlet Phantom delivers some interesting metal instrumentals. Although the music is based on black and death metal, you can easily classify this as progressive metal. Personally, I'm quite fond of this, partially because of its instrumental approach. It's as if Meshuggah, Opeth and Dream Theater gather in a recording studio and everybody keeping their mouths shut. I like that and I will definitely recommend this album to all you metalheads out there. If you want something refreshing, varied and impressive, you'd want to check this out.

Akadama Bros - Sunshine

hip hop / j-rap

Adaadat

And now for something completely different. We don't often review hip hop albums here but this one is neat. Akadama Bros deliver some decent and well varied J-rap. "J" stands for Japanese, should you not know that. On this 12", you get some well varied tunes, each obviously driving on hip hop beats and raps. Yet, they also seem to throw in some different influences, ranging from classical music over dubstep to indie, dub, noise and post-rock. The result is something intriguing and quite often surprising, reminding me of anything between Manu Chao, Cypress Hill and Xzibit. Hip hop yes, but rather enjoyable.

Build Buildings - Glass EP

electronic

Audiobulb

New York electronic music producer Build Buildings returns with a massively enjoyable EP, containing four new and well varied tracks. Opener 'Hebei Victory' is a brilliant blend of Autechre and Miwon while follower 'Honey Locust' brings Plaid to mind. So yes, downtempo electronics with heaps of microsounds, clicks, soundscapes and poly-rhythms, exactly the way I like my electronic music. 'Glass' is an odd ambient tune which could have been on Aphex Twin's ambient collection. Finally, there's a song called 'Cecilia' which is my favorite here, a slow but immersive piece of old school electronic music. Awesome EP.

Vantablack Warship - Abrasive Pulmonic Speak

black metal / metal / death metal

Back to the extremes where we find a pulverising hybrid between black, thrash, death and hardcore. Vantablack Warship hails from Canada and deliver some in-your-face riffs, some methodically tormenting drums and a bunch of fierce screams. The endresult is an intense and overwhelming album. Fans of bands like Gallows and Everytime I Die can surely find some fingerlicking good tunes on this one, like the brutal headbanger 'Blood On The Mat' for example. With short but abrasive songs, Vantablack Warship are certainly making a name for themselves and soon metalheads from around the globe will be onboard.

Mist of Misery - Fields of Isolation

black metal

Black Lion Productions

Swedish atmospheric black metal act Mist Of Misery has been around for a while and have always delivered high quality music. On this EP that is no different. In fact, with eight songs and over half an hour long, this EP is a sonic blackened adventure on its own. Unfortunately, I don't think I have a lot to say about this EP. It's top level extreme, depressive, atmospheric and somewhat progressive black metal and it would fit perfectly between your Dimmu Borgir, ColdWorld, Summoning and so on. If you're a fan of Mist Of Misery, you should already have gotten this EP. If not, check it out.

Hundred Year Old Man - Rei

doom / post metal

A harsh and somewhat chaotic blend of doom, sludge and post-metal, coming at you with severe intensity, that is what English sextet Hundred Year Old Man delivers. If you are into bands like Isis, AmenRa, Cult Of Luna and so on, this EP would definitely not misstand in your ever growing collection. 'A Year In The North Sea' is probably my favorite here, a dark and noisy piece of music that serves as a breather between the two massive slabs of slow musical aggression. For the record, closer 'Rei' is a brilliant piece of sludge doom, and I don't say that very often. So yeah, this comes highly recommended.

Obscene - Sermon to the Snake

death metal / thrash metal

Indianapolis based quartet Obscene claims to have been influenced by all the greats in the metal scene, including Death, Morbid Angel, Edge Of Sanity and Asphyx and yes, I have to admit, I hear all of them in these four tracks. Not that Obscene does not have their own sound. With thick riffs and deranged vocals, these guys deliver some good old fashioned death metal, something I can only applaud. Songs like 'Shadow Burial' and 'Blood Moon Rats' can easily make you bang your head and scream along. So yeah, this is some sick and twisted stuff, suited only for the seasoned death metal fans and thus recommended.

Nordheim - RapThor

folk metal

Hailing from some ancient forest in Canada, Nordheim simply wants to play folk metal and have fun with it. And there is no better description for this EP. This is a fun folk metal album with titles like 'Boobs And Bacon' or 'I Wish You Were Beer'. I guess all you can do is join the party, grab a beer and scream along with these tunes, just like you do when you listen to bands like Ensiferum, Finntroll or Korpiklaani. Although, I have to say, Nordheim take their black metal influences quite far and quite ferocious too, raging at high speed. So yeah, perhaps you should drink a bit more while listening to this awesomeness.

Project Renegade - Cerebra

alternative metal

Female fronted alternative metal from Greece, and I must admit that the first band that came to mind was Lacuna Coil, even before I actually listened to the songs on this EP. Although that reference still stands, I'm very glad I discovered this band. The music is interesting, laced with some mild electronics and it comes with excellent vocals by frontwoman Marianna. Opener 'Pressure' surely has hit potential, especially in the alternative charts. 'Natural Born Killer' grooves and crawls and 'One Of The Crowd', my personal favorite, is an irresistible headshaker. Buy this, it's awesome.

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Distraught - Locked Forever

13/12/2017

thrash metal

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to play with my experimental music quartet in a psychiatric unit of a hospital. I close my eyes and I remember as if were today: the crowded room, the patients saying that we could stay there if we like, and in the end of all, a man with a high degree of autism looked deeply into my eyes and held out his hand to say goodbye. I didn't sleep well that day, because I spent all night thinking about how many "good citizens" can pretend to be normal in society, but they do very hard perversions, evil things, atrocities, and even more when no one is looking to them, and those kind people that we met stayed locked behind a gigantic steel door that even Lou Ferrigno (as Hulk) couldn't bring down...

You must be thinking: Why is he saying all this??? Just because the album ‘Locked Forever’ is based on the book 'Holocausto Brasileiro' (Brazilian Holocaust, in English), written by Daniela Arbex, which deals with the atrocities that occurred in ‘Hospital Colônia de Barbacena’, the largest """psychiatric hospital””” in Brazil, located in the city of Barbacena, state of Minas Gerais. This book was the inspiration for everything on the album: the sensational lyrics of André Meyer, the guitar riffs and solos of Everton Acosta and Ricardo Silveira, the bass lines (and the beautiful solo with harmonics in the track 'Locked Forever') of Nelson Casagrande, the drum lines of Mauricio Weimar and all the fantastic artwork of Marcelo Vasco (whose lock of freedom is in the mind of the man).

This is an album that shows that in heavy metal there is intelligence, humanity, musicality and awesome lyrics. The entire LP is sensational and shows that the maturity of Distraught veterans - who have been on the road for more than 30 years - has guided them to unite modernity and extreme heaviness in all its tracks. After an intense research to write this review, I think I'll spend another night thinking about the famous "normality", or the behavioral average arbitrated by the time whitch nobody has. Congratulations Distraught!!! As well as making an obligatory album for those who like heavy music, this songs will also help listeners to take a step closer to a more humane life (specially if they are willing to read ‘Holocausto Brasileiro’*).

* Unfortunately, this book has no translation into english, but you could find several pictures, documentaries, and vídeos on the intenet. Just search for "Hospital Colônia de Barbacena"...

Glauber

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Wolf Counsel - Age Of Madness / Reign Of Chaos

4/12/2017

doom metal / heavy metal

Swiss doom metal horde Wolf Counsel return with the follow-up to their brilliant 2016 release 'Ironclad'. The title track of that particular album still often roams through my head and through my speakers. It is as vintage as it it catchy. Most of the album is. So yeah, I was quite curious about this next one.

Still, it took me a while to finally finish this review, mainly because I have been occupied with some other projects lately. To celebrate my return to the core-job of being a music journalist, I could not have chosen a more satisfying album. Wolf Counsel is back and this time they reach high.

The idea for the band already came to life in the nineties but it took the members quite some time to actually dive into the rehearsal studio. Since then, they have been working hard, perfecting their blend of doom metal and heavy metal. Today, that sound is a sonic blast, one in which you might recognize influences from Black Sabbath, Type O Negative, Voivod and Manowar. In a way the album seamlessly follows its predecessor.

Opener 'Wolven Earth' immediately sets the tone. Once again we're in for a ride along majestic riffs, heroic drums and epic atmospheres. 'Semper Occvltvs' slightly raises the tempo and comes with some intreguing melodies. Then, there is the title track, a crawling monster of a doom metal track, the slowest thing to be found on this album I guess. This one harbors a sense of insanity, especially in the vocals. It took me a moment to get use to this mindfucking track but I love it.

On 'O' Death' the band invited Daniela Venegas on guest vocals, which suddenly turns the song into a good old fashioned hard rock duet. You know, like Lita and Ozzy, only heavier. For me personally, I think 'Eternal Solitude' is my favorite song on this album. It alternates between slow and mid tempo and proves excellent headbanging material for people who are no longer in their twenties.

The nineties influences become extremely clear in 'Coffin Nails', which all of a sudden showcases both (mild) grunts and clean vocals. This too thrives in an the occult and dark atmosphere of bands like Paradise Lost, Amorphis and so on. So yeah, Wolf Counsel once again delivered a solid piece of work, loaded with everything you love about doom metal. Of course I will recommend this album to all doomers out there.

Serge

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Brieviews 30

11/11/2017

Hi there

This is already the 30th edition of Brieviews, the review series where we throw an array of short reviews in your faces. I started these in an effort to promote more bands in a shorter amount of time, because time is something none of us have enough of.
That being said, we're still struggling to check out all the stuff that comes in, let alone being able to publish reviews for everything. So, I'd like to use this opening paragraph to do another call for writers. If you'd like to your our awesome team, click here.

Ihä - Esperanza

drone / ambient

Hailing from Chile, and founded in 2011, Ihä delivers three long, gentle and minimal ambient drone pieces. Minimalism certainly is a keyword here, as the music only shows minute variations. While some might find such a thing boring, ambient aficionados will definitely appreciate these lingering soundscapes. In that aspect, the track 'Un salto dichoso hacia la eternidad' might be a surprise. Here we have a melodic and highly immersive piece of ambient music. Stratosphere comes to mind but also Eno, Fripp and so on. In all, this certainly is a nice addition to your ever growing ambient collection, no doubt about that.

Parsons Rocket Project - Parsons Rocket Project

shoegaze / ambient rock

Atlanta-based Parsons Rocket Project worked on their debut EP for two years, and the result is stunning. They launch you into space and take you to planets Noise Rock, New Wave, Shoegaze, Psychedelic, Dream Pop and Post-Rock. Short as the tracks may be, they blend these genres in a wonderful way. The vocals add to the dreamy atmosphere of the whole. I'm reminded mostly of Slowdive, Archive and 65daysofstatic and I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys and girl.

(review by Eline)

The Mayhem Lecture Series - Structures And Behaviors EPv1

ambient / experimental

More ambient music some from a different perspective. The Mayhem Lecture Series is a project by Dave Wesley, a dub techno and ambient producer. On this EP, he comes up with crackling, rhythmic but beatless music, field recordings and several spoken word samples. The result is something between Autechre and Cordell Klier or Squarepusher and Biosphere. While opener 'Intrepid' is still my favorite, the whole EP can easily satisfy my weird-ambient-needs, and believe me, I have a lot of those. So if you like a stroll into the strange and odd, this is your chance and it comes highly recommended.

Jupiter Zeus - Eyes on the Prize

hard rock / heavy metal

Australian quartet Jupiter Zeus come up with a bunch of groovy heavy metal songs, inspired by the good old days of doom and hard rock. I sense some influences from bands like Black Sabbath, Iced Earth and Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, plus a shitload of other metal bands. Yet, Jupiter Zeus easily managed to create their own sound, which give this EP a coherent sound. It's a rather doomish sound, even if the tempo goes up, and it quite often does. For real, this things is pleasantly entertaining and solid enough to become a strong mid carter on festival bills. Check it out, bang your head, go nuts!

Haema - Insurrection

industrial metal / alternative metal

Sliptrick

Hailing from Northamptonshire, UK, Haema does something interesting with industrial and alternative metal. Influenced by acts like Fear Factory and American Head Charge, this band can easily entertain fans from everything between Limp Bizkit and Machine Head. Yet, using similar vocals, Haema can also add a bit of variation to the metalcore scene. One way or another, these guys seem to constantly cross the lines between nu-metal, industrial metal and everything core-related. The result is a fascinating piece of work, one that grooves your arse and rocks your sock off. Yeah, you'll be naked after two songs...

H2SO4 - British Bangla Testament

thrash metal

Transcending Obscurity

The chemistry nerds amongst will have immediately found out where the name from this Bangladeshi band stands for: sulphuric acid. Perhaps in a way, their music is that too, as it is harsh, corrosive and biting. In fact, what we are dealing with here is a fierce blast of old school thrash metal, influenced by the lords of thrash, including Slayer, Testament, Kreator, Exodus and so on. The result is an ep that will scratch your eyes out and do something Cannibal Corpse cover-ish to your festering body. You have been warned. For brutal metallic beatdowns, look no further.

Asylum 8 - Repressed

death metal

Spotify

If you are one of those people who think melodic death metal and techno synths do not mix, you might want to check out this debut by Finnish sextet Asylum 8. One of the members is a synth wizard while the others stay loyal to the Scandinavian melodic death metal scene. That cooperation results in something fresh, something incredibly enjoyable. You can brutally band your head or just dance your butt off to this music. Bands that come to mind include Pain and Waltari, who have also done interesting things with the combination between these two arch enemies. No, for real, this is a great album, certainly an original one.

Jinthra - Transitæon

dark ambient

One half of one of my favorite contemporary dark ambient acts Druhá Smrt comes up with a solo effort, and it's already one for the ages. With gloomy and introvert soundscapes, eerie whispers and angsty percussion, Jinthra immediately showcases his skills and talent. This is a ritual ambient performance at a very high ànd a deeply personal level. There are four tracks to be found here, and it's hard to pick a favorite. Opener 'Oath Of The Edge' is brilliant and the others seem to build on that, sometimes tending towards the noise scene. Fans of everything between Raison D'Etre and MZ412 really should check this out.

Insanity Cult / Isolert - Towards the Great Dissolution

black metal

facebook Isolert

facebook Insanity Cult

Back to the extreme corners of the metal scene where we find this harsh and relentless split by Isolert and Insanity Cult. Each band delivered two gnawing tracks with Insanity Cult showcasing some of the most intense blackened vocals I've heard in awhile. Isolert follows a similar path of old school black metal. Here, the vocals seem less prominent and screeching. Yet, that does not affect the intensity of the whole thing. In fact, 'Dreams Of Emptiness' is my favorite track on this split, a fierce true black metal blaster that will haunt your dreams. In all, this is an excellent split to add to your obscure collection.

Akoustik Timbre Frekuency - Thee Essence Of Existence

dark ambient

For his seventeenth (!) release, dark ambient ritualist Akoustik Timbre Frekuency delivered one massive drone piece, created with singing bowls, gongs, bells and synthesised sounds. I could say that this is a great album, and I wouldn't even be lying about it, but it's more than that. This release invites you to calm down, to step away from the hectic and performance-oriented society for a while. Sit down, comfortably. Close your eyes and just listen. Ignore all other stimuli. Meditate. Focus on your breathing. This is one of those albums that can help you relax and set your mind at ease. Believe me, it works.

The Reed Effect - A Strange Curiosity

stoner rock / grunge

It's nice to see how the psychedelic stoner rock scene openly invites the world of grunge to join its ranks. Take this EP by Ontario, Canada rockers The Reed Effect for example. In six tracks they remind me of everything between Stone Temple Pilots, Kyuss, Soundgarden and Colour Haze, just to name a few. Obviously, the groove is big in this one as the thick riffs flow out of my speakers like a massive pile of green, smokey mud. I like it that way, and I'm quite sure that an entire Desert-scene is waiting for some pounding rock tunes like 'Down In Here' and 'No Way Outta Here'. Neat stuff...

Fotocrime - Always Night

post punk / dark wave

Golden Antenna

And suddenly my living room reeks of the dark eighties, where creatures dressed in black danced to Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus, Killing Joke and many others. R. Pattern (ex-Coliseum) clearly shares the dark visions of that era. With his new band, Fotocrime, he digs deep into the world of gothic rock, EBM and darkwave. The result is a remarkable EP with a bunch of dark dancefloor fillers. Some rock, some bring out the beats and synths, but all of them are massively convincing examples of their respective genres. My favorite is 'Always Hell', a brilliant goth rock tune. Now, this is a retro-trend I would like to see a lot more of in the near future...

Disco-Nected - Vision Division

metal

Hailing from Paris, France, this power trio comes up with five damned infectious metal songs. This is sheer energy, dressed in groovy basslines, ripping riffing and pounding drums. That, ànd these guys know a thing or two about the melodic aspect in the metal scene. Opener 'Here To Stay' is an absolute blast. My favorite track is 'Unity', an uptempo rocker that somehow reminds me of acts like Therapy? or Foo Fighters. Other bands that come to mind include Channel Zero, Incubus and Biffy Clyro. I don't think that is a bad set of names to be compared with. So yeah, this surely is one for a good headbanging session.

Morphine Social Club - Monolithic Gospel

stoner rock / psychedelic rock

On to Greece where we find a band named Morphine Social Club. They call their music "monolithic rock 'n' roll" and I'm perfectly fine with that. On this EP they deliver four groovy tracks with heaps of psychedelic riffs and solos. Opener 'Your Sun Is So Toxic' is a highly danceable track, one where even krautrock is welcome. 'Chaos Lover' nudges towards the punk scene and comes with a nice array of noise. I also love the industrial touch of the drums on this one. 'Swansong' seems to go a bit more post-punk/shoegaze on our asses and the closer 'Starship Of Perception' is a fuzzed-out psych tune. Wow, I'd say.

Jenn Vix - Unlocked

alternative rock / post punk

And back to the eighties and the gloomy sound of that era's pop music. Jenn Vix has worked with members from The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, De Veldt, with the guitarist for Bowie and with Dirk Ivens. On this EP she showcases her experience with five highly enjoyable pop songs. There is a bit of post punk, some synth pop and the touch of the alternative rock by Garbage. There is a nice sense of minimalism here too. None of these songs are too complex or over-dramatized. They're just nice tunes to listen to. In all, this is another excellent invitation to the dark dancefloors, one which I will obviously recommend.

Pylon Reenactment Society - Part Time Punks Session

punk / alternative rock

Chunklet

Athens, Georgia based alternative rockers Pylon Reenactment Society crawled out of the ashes of Pylon in 2014. With the raw power of early punk and the in-your-face vocals of Vanessa Briscoe Hay, the band is on an interesting and infectious course. It's like a harsher version of B52's. There are Blondie references, Bikini Kill comes to mind. Yet, most of all, I think this is a band that clearly enjoys making music together. They seem to have fun and they easily manage to pass that fun to their audience. Undoubtedly, they have the right attitude, the right sound and the right playfulness to entertain you. Check it out.

Dreamgrave - Monuments

progressive metal

This EP by Hungarian progressive rock act Dreamgrave is one from a stunningly high level. Opener 'Drop The Curtain' is an epic piece of work which fans of Within Temptation or Nightwish will certainly appreciate. From there, things take on a more progressive approach, more progressive than metal actually. 'Monuments' is a complex and bombastic piece of music that will shock and awe you multiple times. These people know how to play, that's for sure. Closer 'The Passing Faith in Others' is my favorite, a huge whirlpool of musical ingenuity. If you like your music complex, technical, narrative and masterfully played, you need this EP.

Mortum - Eheieh Chaos

black metal

Time to throw a vile and putrid slab of primitive black metal through the speakers. For such an occasion, American du Mortum seems to be a perfect candidate. Lo-fi production, the aggression of a rhino stampede and the ice cold atmosphere of old school black metal, those are the elements. Plus, somehow Mortum managed to push a sense of melody into the whole thing, not too much. With seven fierce tracks, Mortum delivers an excellent album which quite often goes to hyperspeed but also contains highly immersive mid tempo passages. If you want old school, this one comes highly recommended.

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Long Claw - Disastrophe

7/11/2017

hard rock / stoner rock

With eleven tracks – (The Battle Of) Blair Mountain, March Of The Trolls, The Land Of Bilk And Money, Razor Blade Tears, Disastrophe, Unicorn Stew, Data And Goliath, Agnostisized, The Winds Of Winter, The Mooseknuckle Brigade and Blue-Collar Mother Fucker – Disastrophe is the debut album of Atlanta, Georgia based hard rock group Long Claw. Within the basic principles of a more old school metal, that arrives between the circles of heavy and stoner, Long Claw has released a very interesting and unconventional album, despite relying on traditional genre formulas to a certain degree. With an intriguing, organized and sophisticated sonorous approach, their sound is elegant and brutal at the same time, and definitely rescues the more effective sideline of wild and heavier rock’n’roll.

With an authentic sonorous identity, and a somewhat irreverent musical prerogative, Long Claw has strong harmonies and aggressively rude and striking, but precisely modest guitar lines, which are, in my opinion, their greatest qualities. With particularly enchanting beautiful songs – with a poetically primordial nature of sensibility and serenity, like the fourth track, Razor Blade Tears, that brings in the everlasting sincerity of its harmoniously human conjuncture a significant influence from southern rock, that in this case I would personally describe as a bizarrely eccentric mixture of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Blind Guardian –, Disastrophe is a preciously singular, uniquely fascinating, beautifully executed work, that has on the strength of its formidable creativity its greatest triumph.

With an eclectic and versatile style, that swims mostly on heavier and wider oceans of rock, Long Claw has presented on Disastrophe a fantastic new version of old school rock’n’roll. Without any moments of monotonous or generic harmonies, this great band has introduced into the underground scenery a virulent and audacious degree of energy that certainly has everything to increase not only a more genuine potential for the genre as a whole, but to awake a more lethargic fan base to a real authentic revival of old school rock’n’roll.

Although Disastrophe has its share of common and ordinary songs as well, nevertheless, it is a great and thoroughly intriguing album, that rescues entirely, with a somewhat charismatic easiness, the soul and the essence of wild rock’n’roll. Definitely, it is worthwhile listening to it! Be sure about that!

Wagner

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Egonaut - The Omega

3/11/2017

heavy metal / doom

Formed in 2006, Swedish doom rock clan Egonaut has gone through a heap of genres. At first, the band combined punk, stoner rock and hard rock but somewhere along the line, they evolved into the quite impressive doom rock vehicle they are now.

I did not really expect that. First of all, I did not know the band until today and second, the brilliant cover art (by Adrian Baxter) made me expect something black metal-ish. The new logo, created by Costin Chioreanu obviously helped in creating that first impression.But then I pressed play.

The album opens with 'Initium', which immediately showcases a great blend between old school hard rock, doom and heavy metal. For a moment, I'm not sure in what age we're living. There is indeed something stoner rocky and certainly some doom influences but Egonaut goes way further than that. The synths even bring The Vision Bleak to mind. In 'Offerings', they remind me of some old school occult rock acts.

Of course, roaming in the doom metal regions, Black Sabbath comes to mind here and there. Yet, not the Black Sabbath with Ozzy. I'm talking about the more complex and progressive version. There are some awesome guitar solos and leads to be found here, and the vocals contain heaps of power. I mean, throughout the first half of the record, acts like Dio, Uncle Acid, Warlock, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple have crossed my mind. I don't think that those are bad references.

The band likes to call their music 'Doom 'n Roll', and yeah, sure, why not. , The whole thing reeks of seventies and eighties and fits perfectly on any Desertfest/Roadburn/Up In Smoke stage. Besides, I am damn sure that you will often be pleasantly surprised as Egonaut has a flair for coming up with both catchy and unexpected hooks. And again, those synths!!! They really finish the job. Just listen to 'The Pledge' and you'll know what I mean.

In all, 'The Omega' is an excellent album and a convincing tribute to hard rock music, regardless of the subgenres. It's varied, technically perfect and it contains some brilliant songwriting skills. Personally, I'm glad that this kind of hard rock masterpieces can still be made today. So obviously I will recommend this album. Check it out and allow Egonaut to give you a rock 'n roll eargasm.

Serge

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Brieviews 29

11/10/2017

Order Serge's debut novel 'Cecilia's World' now.

Pie Are Squared - Co(a)sts

ambient / electronic

This EP by Italian based, Egyptian born multi-instrumentalist Mohammed Ashraf is entirely composed with the Make Noise 0-Coast synthesizer. I'm not really familiar with the technical specifications, but judging from the sounds produced, it must be a wet dream for synth fans. Pie Are Squared delivers five minimal and dreamy ambient tracks that remind me of some of the electronics pioneers of the sixties. The overall sound seems somewhat cold and gloomy, especially in 'Three And A Half'. If you're a synth based ambient fanatic, this EP will surely fit in your collection, right next to old Kraftwerk and Eno.

Interface Type Seven - Devices

ambient / electronic

Another beautiful piece of electronic ambient comes from Las Vegas based Interface Type Seven. Here too, minimalistic soundscapes and gloomy drones create gentle and dreamy tracks. In most of these rather short tunes , a sense of rhythm can be found, adding a lot to the immersive nature of the whole thing. Somehow, a very minimalistic version of Boards Of Canada comes to mind, along with Aphex Twin's pure ambient works and - of course - Biosphere. So, obviously, even though I don't have much to add to this review, this album comes extremely recommended for ambient fans.

30.000 Monkies - Starrrrrrrrring

sludge / noise rock

Wolves And Vibrancy

Belgian noise makers 30.000 Monkies have been called the bastard sons of Sleep, Melvins and Lightning Bolt. Yet, most of all, this is just an intensely noisy combo with an odd sense of humor. The four tracks here are titled 'Orlando Doom', 'Keanu Riffs', 'Sharon Drone' and 'Tom Wanxxx'. So I guess I can compare this EP to watching these actors crawling through rivers of mud and faeces in a post apocalyptic world, only to end up on a vile orgy of grinding guitars, pounding drums and sheer brutality. Nope, going to the movies will never be the same from now on. Weird, noisy fucking Belgians... Buy this.

Horse Head - Terminal

doom / sludge

A while ago, the mayor of Antwerp found a horse head on his driveway. I can imagine his mother's reaction. She must have sounded somewhat like this brutal quartet from Arizona. In four tracks, Horse Head pounds and pummels you into a bloody mash and you will absolutely enjoy the abuse. That is, if you're into harsh, intense and murderous sludge doom. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it. Thick, Conan/Yob like riffs form the foundation on which the vocalist can throw his lungs into an unexpecting audience. Musically, this is nothing new or original, but is executed to perfection. So yeah. Buy it.

Arkhon Infaustus - Passing The Nekromanteion

black metal / death metal

Les Acteurs de L'Ombre

French extreme metal duo Arkhon Infaustus returns with a pummeling and disturbing EP. Of course, them being in this business for twenty years, you can expect nothing less than harsh and intense old school blackened perfection. Chaotic at first, the four songs on this EP gradually showcase the band's talent and thier excellent flair for the avant garde approach. Still, within all this chaos and turmoil, Arkhon Infaustus manages to come up with great melodic passages. In fact, it took me four minutes to really get into this EP but now, after listening carefully, I consider this a highlight in today's blackened scene.

Brørby / Clausen - Mannen Faller

ambient / experimental / noise

A harsh and relentless ambient album, quite often crossing the line between dark ambient and noise. 'Mannen Faller' by Norwegian artists Anders Brørby and Rune Clausen is probably one of the most surprising and stunning releases I have heard in awhile. It contains sounds of nature, like the lovely sounds of birds, but also the harsh, intense reality of it, represented by haunting noises and overwhelming soundscapes. It's like Biosphere and Haus Arafna suddenly decided to do something together. Perhaps the term 'brutalist ambient' really fits here, but in any way, this is a highly recommended work.

LaColpa - Mea Maxima Culpa

doom / black metal

Well, since we decided to dig into the darker sides of the musical spectrum, we might as well plunge right into the void of the occult and the obscure. There we find Italian band LaColpa and their 'Mea Maxima Culpa' EP. These three long tracks are massive anthems of despair and hopelessness, blending dark ambient, sludge doom and black metal. They come with gigantic walls of sound, fearsome screams and soul piercing riffs. This is extreme music at its blackest, no doubt about that. If you're into acts like Rorcal or Celeste, LaColpa comes intensely recommended. This is a brilliant piece of aural darkness.

Nervcast - Locked And Loaded

thrash metal

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Nervcast might be one of the most convincing old school thrash metal bands in today's era. This EP contains four tracks, which are clearly inspired by the first efforts of bands like Metallica and Megadeth. In fact, 'Chemical Solution' might as well be a track from the 'Ride the Lightning' album. 'Fallen Angels' is slower, nudging towards arena rock while 'Moonstruck' has an Iron Maiden meets Nevermore feel. Closer 'Locked and Loaded' turns back to Metallica for inspiration and brilliantly assaults your neck muscles. These tracks are great, old school and bloody catchy, thus highly recommended.

Terra IncΩgnita - Sign with Blood

heavy metal

Greek heavy metal combo Terra IncΩgnita want to drag old school metal into the present day, and I must say, they're doing quite well too. These four tracks are firmly rooted in the epicness of bands like Manowar or Gravedigger but there is a tendency to experiment with progressive and atmospheric metal. The result is pretty damn good headbanging material that is also perfectly suited for fans of technical dissipation. With some crushing guitars and very strong choruses, these Greeks might be on their way to the bigger festival podia allover Europe. Rock on!!!

House Of Broken Promises - Twisted

hard rock

Heavy Psych Sounds

Heavy Psych Sounds have been releasing plenty of electrifying releases in the past few years and it doesn't look like this tendency will end soon. Take this seven track EP for example, which contains two covers (Black Sabbath and Billy Squire) plus live tracks and outtakes. The whole thing is good for thirty minutes of old school rock 'n roll bliss and to party like it's 1969. With potent songs and heaps of energy, this record is definitely a welcome addition to your ever expanding hard/psychedelic/stoner rock collection. So check it out and get that rock 'n roll party started. You know you want to...

Rites of Daath - Hexing Graves

death metal

Godz Ov War

Polish newcomers Rites Of Daath come up with quite a fascinating mini album. The first few minutes are slow, haunting and gnawing pieces of doom inspired death metal but then suddenly, all hell breaks loose. The tempo goes up - severely - and elements from melodic Scandinavian death metal start blasting through the thick, downtune wall of sound. From then on, Rites Of Daath seem to maintain a firm grasp on the listener with a short but well varied effort. Death metal fans, rejoice, this might as well become one of your new favorites. This is brutal, harsh, relentless and vile, exactly the things you like.

Prostitution - Egyptian Blue

black metal

I know, from looking at the cover, you might expect a psychedelic rock album. I mean, this one looks like it fits perfectly between your grandfather's Pink Floyd, Yes and Camel albums. However, this three track EP kicks of with fierce and intense black metal, driving on pummeling drums and gut piercing riffs. Little later, Brooklyn based horde Prostitution deliver some progressive elements but the growls and screams never make place for something calm. Obviously, that is not a bad thing, on the very contrary. I think Prostitution are on their way to find their own sound in a genre that is seemingly limitless. Excellent stuff.

Andy K Leland - Happy Daze

folk / lo-fi

Right, after all that violence, I need something to ease my nerves. That is where the playful ballads of Andy K Leland come in. On 'Happy Daze' you can find six short tunes that could have been either shoegaze or rock songs if there was a whole band, but since Leland is doing this on his own, the songs seem stripped down to campfire capacity. Yet, even in their minimal approach, this are quite catchy and immersive pieces of music which might as well put a large smile on your face. Opener 'The Kingdom' is probably my favorite but I enjoy every second of this EP. Recommended for fans of Luka Bloom and colleagues...

Ummagma - LCD

shoegaze / dreampop

Dreampop combo Ummagma return with a new EP and it contains some big names. Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Dean Garcia (Curve) offered their remixing talents, and then you pretty much know what to expect. The song 'LCD' is a delightful and somewhat experimental mid tempo trip hop tune. While the original is highly enjoyable, I prefer the long dreamy remix by Garcia, who also remixed 'Back To Do' in a similar - brilliant - manner. So is the Guthrie remix for 'Lama': immersive, dreamy and almost otherworldly. Yeps, this EP is definitely worth the effort

The Kahless Clone - Our Never-Ending Loneliness

post metal / progressive metal

Hailing from Chicago, The Kahless Clone plays instrumental rock, inspired by Mogwai, This Patch Of Sky and so on. But wait, there is more. If you know that this band features Novembers Doom guitarist Vito Marchese, you can also expect plenty of dark, melodic metal influences. And the combination between the two makes this EP a brilliant one. Immersive melodies, gloomy rock passages and emotional post-whatever landscapes create something breathtaking. These are excellent narrative pieces of music, enhanced by stunning keyboard and electronics. Or: this is psychedelic progressive post dark metal at its very best...

Encyrcle - Burning Child

thrash metal / heavy metal

Unspeakable Axe

Danish horde Encyrcle delves deep into the history of thrash metal with their latest effort 'Burning Child'. This EP contains two brand new songs, a short instrumental and a cover version of 'Strange Days' (The Doors). Opener 'Delight Of Evil' seems to be exactly what the title predicts, since metal is the most evil of genres and this is a delightful piece technical skills and songwriting. Title track 'Burning Child' brings back the epic glory of heavy metal. Manowar, Celtic Frost and Venom come to mind, which I guess are not bad references. Recommended only for stubborn metalheads...

Caesaria - Come On & Dance

electronic / indie

Soundcloud

And now for something completely different. French quartet Caesaria intivte you to the dancefloor with two uplifting and playful tunes. 'Take It Out On Me' is a modern day disco tune, mixed with sweet and innocent indie rock. The other track 'Come On & Dance' does things a bit slower and contains a rap passage. Personally, I like both tracks, even though this isn't necessarily the stuff I usually listen to. If you want your pop music to be a little rough on the edges but danceable and friendly, Caesaria certainly is a band to keep an eye on, and two ears, obviously, and put your dancing shoes on.

Mint Narcosis - Obtrusive Tunes For Obtrusive People

electronic / industrial / drum & bass

Once in awhile, Belgian ambient engineer Misantronics turns into his EDM alter ego Mint Narcosis and unleashes a bunch of quirky dance tunes. For this six track EP, Mint Narcosis was seemingly inspired by The Prodigy's breakbeats ('Prodigo') but also by industrial electornics ('Klotekloten') and drum & bass ('Wodan', 'Fear and Loathing' & 'Laika'). Of course, the Misantronics touch is never far away so there are some (dark) ambient passages to be found here as well, be it in a rhythmic, danceable way. In all, this is a fun album from an artist that stubbornly does whatever he likes to.

Vvon Dogma I - Communion

metal / djent / industrial

What would happen if you lock Daft Punk, Meshuggah, Apoptygma Berzerk and Scorn into a rehearsal studio? Well, I have no idea but this fascinating EP by Vvon Dogma I might give you an idea. To say that this EP is quite varied would be a tremendous understatement. Elements from industrial (techno ànd metal), progressive rock, trap, funk, house, djent and metal pummel you down until have no idea where you are or what musical age you're living in. Of course, there is ChaotH at his 9-string bass, but that is just one aspect of the unique and eventful sound of this band. Or in one word: Wow !

Kult Mogil - Portentaque

death metal / black metal

Pagan Records

Almost two years ago, I reviewed an album by Polish horde Kult Mogil. Now, they return with another disturbing and chaotic piece of extreme metal. This three track ep mercilessly blends death metal, black metal, pagan metal and grindcore into one huge, vile and dissonant piece of noise. These guys have clearly found their own niche within the world of extreme music and they're not going to stop releasing their strange and unique sound any time soon. Not that they have to, this EP proves that extremes can still be unique, self-willed and bloody intense. Recommended? Only if you are experienced!

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Brieviews 28

20/9/2017

I'm telling you, this hobby is seriously running out of hand. Not long now before they start delivering the albums by truck. There's so much coming in, so many amazing pieces of music and here I am, being human and thus bound to details like "time", "sleep" and "writing my books" (like "Cecilia's World --->).
I'm not complaining, not at all. I just feel bad for all those great bands and artists who I simply can't recommend anymore.My solution is to write more brieviews, make it short and firm. So here are twenty short reviews. I hope you find something you like in there. I know I have...

NevBorn - Daidalos

progressive / post metal

Craz Of Bullets

Swiss progressive/post metal band NevBorn comes up with a one-track EP, lasting eighteen minutes, inspired by the death of Icarus. In that time, they blasts elements from post rock, progressive metal, hardcore, nineties Scandinavian metal, arena rock and ambient through your speakers in a pretty epic manner. I know, all those elements combined might sound somewhat confusing, but somehow these guys have managed to create a coherent and narrative modern day opera (without the opera vocals, obviously). This is heavy songwriting at a very high level, that's for sure.

Funeral Mourning - Left Seething Yet Unspoken & Veneration of Broken Worlds

black metal / doom

Nihilistische KlangKunst

Another one-track EP comes from Australian act Funeral Mourning and this one is dark, impending and intense. The massive track contains heaps of funeral doom inspired awesomeness, thriving on a sluggish tempo and deep growls. I love this, but I love nearly all funeral doom acts. Evoken, Shape Of Despair, Esoteric... You name it and you'll find their influences on this fantastic EP. Even more so, the lingering guitar solos give the whole thing a stunning psychedelic effect. So, obviously, I will recommend this EP to all funeral doom fans out there. This is a perfect example of how brilliant this genre can be.

Grace Meer - Your King

electronic / coldwave

Fans of acts like Austra and Zola Jesus should start paying attention to Grace Meer. On this EP, she delivers four epic songs with overwhelming symphonic and cinematic elements. 'Vortex' might be the exception on that recipe by coming up with an 'Army Of Me' (Björk) like rhythm but those cinematic elements are always present and always breathtaking. 'Heal' and closer 'Your King' are my absolute favorites on this EP but I'm very sure that all these songs will often appear on my day-to-day playlist. Grace Meer is dragging darkwave into the modern day electronic music scene, which is a good thing..

Moonlight Desires - Just The Hits: 1981-1985

heavy metal versions of eighties hits

Armed by guitars, drums, bass and a strong affinity with the heavy and power metal scene, Moonlight Desires reworked a bunch of eighties songs. Songs by Duran Duran, Rod Stewart, Simply Red, Level 42, Frankie Goes to Hollywood.and others are being "metallized", which quite often results in pleasant surprises. I mean, you can bang your head to 'Holding Back The Years' now, who would have thought. In all, this is a fun album, well executed and stubborn but respectful to the originals. I can only applaud that and advise you to check this album out.

Khohd - Mea Culpa

progressive / psychedelic rock

Hailing from Liège, Belgium and formed in 2011, Khohd deliver their own take on psychedelic and progressive rock. Seemingly influenced by bands like Russian Circles, Tool and Hawkwind, the three songs on this EP are immersive rock anthems, often nudging towards the metal scene. And even then they can come up with some surprising riffs and electronics. Let me put it this way, I'm already responsible for getting one Walloon band on Dunk! Festival (Wyatt. E). So let's try that again. I'm sure that these guys will play an interesting gig if they're booked. Definitely recommended stuff...

Balcanes - Decrépita / Decadencia

noise rock / industrial

Spanish bulldozer Balcanes return with a two track 7" single. In the past, they pleasantly surprised me with their in-your-face blend of noise rock, industrial and hardcore and now they seem to take their sound to the next level. The two songs drive on a repetitive, almost Godflesh like tempo, intense Melvins guitars and The Jesus and Mary Chain noise and feedback. This stuff is harsh and makes me repeat my previously uttered wish for a European tour. This will blast the roof of many underground venues on this continent, I'm 100% sure of that.

Big ‡ Brave - Ardor

noise rock / sludge

When I listened to this Montreal based three-piece for the first time, my initial thoughts were "putting Babes In Toyland in today's sludge metal scene". In a way, I like to stick to that thought since we're dealing with sluggish noise rock tunes and grungy female vocals. Fact remains, Big ‡ Brave make a lot of noise, including guitar feedback, thundering drums and excellent vocals. My favorite track is 'Lull', which seems to be a bit calmer and more gentle than the other two, who mostly resemble steamrollers. In all, this is a brilliant album with forty minutes of overwhelming noise rock which comes highly recommended.

Brant Bjork - Europe '16

stoner rock / psychedelic rock

Napalm Records

Brant Bjork drops his first live album and it's an acid trip from the get-go. These twelve tracks were recording during his 2016 tour and simply contain everything Brant Bjork is known for. Expect sneering riffs, hypnotic guitar solos and a drugged out Woodstock atmosphere. For fans, this obviously is an absolute must have. Besides, these are excellent recordings, perfectly representing the live atmosphere of this seasoned and talented band. So nope, there is actually no reason not to purchase this album if you're a fan of Brant Bjork, period.

Purtenance - Paradox of Existence

death metal

Xtreem Music

Finnish death metal horde Purtenance has been around since 1989, so it's probably no surprise that this EP contains four skull crushing old school death metal tunes. Accompanied by deep growls, the intense riffs and thunderous drums beat the listener into a bleeding pulp, just like bands like Hypocrisy, Morbid Angel, Avulsed, Immolation and so on have been doing over the years. For fans of traditional death metal, this EP is an absolute must-have. 'Vicious Seeds Of Mortality' is my personal favorite here, but I'm damn positive that each and every one of these tracks will cause a whiplash here and there.

Killing Volts - Why Should I Say Yes

alternative rock

Hailing from Switzerland, power rock combo The Killing Volts ask an interesting question on "Why Should I Say Yes". Well, these four songs might be a good reason to say "yes". to this band. With electrifying rock 'n roll songs and the powerful vocals of Tania, The Killing Volt certainly convince. If you're into Bikini Kill, PJ Harvey, Babes In Toyland, The Breeders and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, these rockers are something right up your alley. The cover version of 'Tainted Love' is very enjoyable and the others can easily rock your socks off. So yeah, better check this out before answering the question.

Tulipomania - On the Outside / Don't Be So Sure - Seahawks Remix

alternative rock / dream pop

Gloomy pop rock songs, balancing on the edge between alternative rock and dream pop, that is what Philadelphia's Tulipomania delivers. The music feels like a blend of Radiohead, Tindersticks and Talk Talk. It's fragile, but potent enough to maintain the listener's attention. 'Don't Be So Sure' comes off their 2016 album 'This Gilded Age' and received an hypnotic downtempo remix by Seahawks. This single is definitely worth checking out and makes me curious about upcoming projects.

Sketchquiet - Novos Sketches

indie rock / alternative

Brazilian one man act Sketchquiet returns with seven brand new tunes. Armed with an acoustic guitar and electronics and influenced by post rock, alternative rock, drone folk and indie rock, this act comes up with minimal but enjoyable songs that somehow remind me of acts like Manu Chao meets Ween. The immersive 'Sobrou Alma' is my favorite on this EP but I can add that all songs carry this introvert, somewhat gloomy atmosphere. In a way, this is a quite unique piece of work, perhaps one you will either love or dislike, but I urge you to check it out anyway.

Zephyra - The Darkest Black

death metal

Swedish melodic death metal band Zephyra return with a new single, a so-called bridge between their previous album 'As the World Collapses' and their next one. This song, 'The Darkest Black' is an excellent piece of death metal, laced with a few symphonic elements. To me it sounds like something between Dark Tranquility, Children Of Bodom and Arch Enemy. Fans can easily trust these Swedes to deliver the goods. If this single serves as the appetizer for the upcoming album, the melodic death metal future looks a bit brighter again.

Nekrohowl - Epitome of Morbid

death metal

After a long - and great - intro, this death metal horde from Dhaka, Bangladesh drags us right down into the old school of death metal. The songs are brutal, mostly fast paced and drive of fierce riffs. Obviously, grunts and growls appear when needed. Ancient Sepultura comes to mind, along with Obituary and Bolt Thrower. What strikes me the most, is the often slapping sound of the bass. It's a cool way to play it and it doesn't sound like it does not belong in these songs. Nope, if you ask me, Nekrohowl know a thing or two about creating decent old school death metal and we should treasure that. Great job.

Tombstalker - Chaotic Devotion

death metal / black metal

The last two death metal tracks for today come from American evildoers Tombstalker. and their latest 7" single 'Chaotic Deviation'. They couldn't have chosen a more suitable title for this thing. With their pummeling, chaotic blend of death and black metal, Tombstalker drag us along on an extreme - but well executed - trip through hell. Somehow, Dismember comes to mind but these Americans seem to go a bit deeper, a bit heavier on the harsh and abrasive sound. I like that and I definitely like these two pieces of extreme music. Be sure to check it out if you want to beaten to death by music.

Existente - Theta Series EPv1

ambient

After all that death metal, it's time for something to set my mind at ease. That something is this soothing EP by American composer David Wesley under his Existente moniker. While Wesley's output usually consists of dub and techno, Existente delivers peaceful drones and dreamy ambient sound-scapes. The five tracks are based on the principles of sacred geometry, which might explain the repetitive and immersive nature of the whole thing. Fans of Biosphere and Brian Eno will undoubtedly appreciate this music, and so will I for the foreseeable future. This is an excellent ambient EP, period.

Indeed - Sinecure

alternative rock / grunge / stoner rock

Hailing from Budapest, Hungary, Indeed comes up with a great mix of rock styles. They seem influenced by everything between The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Tool and Nirvana and they translate those influences in a bunch of excellent rock songs. Besides, these guys are skilled musicians with decent songwriting abilities and a flair for variation. I can absolutely recommend this album to all fans of nineties rock music. It's nothing earth shattering, nothing renewing but simply a well attuned and talented band having fun writing and performing thier songs. That's what's rock 'n roll is all about, no?

Exsom - Roundtrip

heavy metal

Swiss five piece Exsom pay homage to the golden age of heavy metal with this new EP. The band has been around since 2011 and seem inspired by bands like Helloween, Edguy and Iced Earth. With excellent guitars, plenty of tempo changes and flashing solos, Exsom certainly convinces, even though sometimes the music gets a bit too complex for me, but that's a personal matter. It's clear that these guys can handle their instruments very well. The vocalist has enough power to convince and the whole thing is immersive, certainly for seasoned metalheads. So yups, one to check out, that's for sure.

Euphrasia/Woeful Silence - Split MC

doom / drone / black metal

Two one-man projects have teamed up to create a haunting split EP. One is an atmospheric black metal act while the other nudges more towards the drone and doom metal scene. Yet, in a way, certainly by atmosphere, these two acts seem to complement each other.
On his side of the tape Euphrasia blends drones and soundscapes with eerie black metal, highlighting in the fierce and chaotic 'Flächenbrand'. Side B. is for the depressive and haunting version of Woeful Silence with two gnawing and intense pieces of blackened music. This is a nice split, one I certainly recommend.

Audiolepsia - Muses

post rock / progressive rock

Oh wow, how could I have missed this? This album by Spanish post rock act Audiolepsia is simply amazing. I'm almost sorry for adding them to "brieviews" instead of writing a longer review. With seven exquisite post rock anthems, reminding me of God Is An Astronaut, PG Lost and This Will Destroy You, these Barcelonians have certainly convinced me. The tracks are well built, well varied and immersive enough to take the listener on a long journey. I can imagine these guys playing these songs on Dunk! Festival and easily becoming a highlight. For post rock fans, this comes as recommended as breathing.

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Brieviews 25

15/8/2017

When I started these Brieviews series over a year ago, the initial idea is to empty my inbox by writing shorter reviews for EP's, reissues, singles and a few full length albums. Back then, I was talking about 900 unread emails. That amount has tripled since then and we're already at part 25. That's a lot of short reviews if you ask me. Anyway, here are some more Brieviews for your reading and listening enjoyment.

Vacuum Aeterna - Project:Darkscapes

dark ambient

Italian newcomers Vacuum Aeterna deliver a deep, ritual and industrial debut, drenched in both ancient occult rituals and modern day soundscapism. The album title is clear, it tells you exactly what to expect from the whole thing: dark, atmospheric ambient, sometimes nudging towards the noise scene. In a way this album sounds like a mix between Raison D'Etre, Predominance and Tho-So-Aa. Obviously, this is stuff for the die-hard dark ambient fans among us. They will find a highly promising debut with nine deeply droning tracks and a haunting atmosphere. Recommended stuff...

Power Theory - Something Old, Something New & Something LIVE!!! From Europe

heavy metal

Speaking about titles that perfectly cover the load, here is the new EP by American heavy metal combo Power Theory. The EP consists of new single 'Brace for Impact', re-recorded versions of 'Axe to Grind' and 'Colossus', and live versions of 'Dark Eagle' and 'The Truth Shall Set You Free'. Inspired by bands like Accept, Saxon and Judas Priest, Power Theory delivers some good old fashioned heavy metal and they do it in a highly convincing way. This EP proves that heavy metal is far from dead and that exciting headbanging tunes are still being made today.

Bewitcher - Bewitcher

black metal / thrash metal

American horde Bewitcher take heavy metal a bit further into the extreme. Formed in 2013, Bewitcher blends old school heavy metal with old school thrash metal and old school black metal. So yes, in all aspects, this band takes you back to the very beginning of the most evil of all musical styles. You can find influences from Judas Priest, Venom, Celtic Frost and Bathory. But most of all, you can find nine irresistible metal songs, created for the soul intention of corrupting your soul and banging your head. This stuff surely is not suited for the weak, but comes highly recommend to anyone else.

Gravita Silente - EP

post rock

This album came to me with the message "I'm a person trying to make nice music" and basically, that was all I needed to know. That person is right too, this music is nice. It's a blend of vintage psychedelic rock and post rock, created with loops, soundscapes, guitars, bass and some great solos. This EP contains five tracks, each one being an excellent composition and simply a joy to discover. Perhaps I can compare the music with something between Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd and God Is An Astronaut. I think a lot of nostalgic music lovers will appreciate these tunes. So check 'm out...

Sp3ct3rs - Sigils

drone / dark ambient

Canadian drone ambient act Sp3ct3rs returns with 'Sigils', a four track EP that delves deep into the dark minimalistic scene. These four tracks are electronic, almost industrial soundscapes. They showcase feelings of isolation, despair and angst, even though they almost continuously remain on a subdued, slowly lingering level. 'Sigil 7', the second track, is my favorite on this EP but I enjoy the entire EP. I guess I can safely recommend this album best to all seasoned dark ambient and drone fans out there. They will undoubtedly appreciate these immersive audio journeys.

The Fre3 Bastards - In Our World Of Bastards

stoner rock / hard rock

Here is yet another excellent example of excellent vintage hard rock meets stoner rock from France. I have no idea what's in the waters in "la douce France" but somehow it makes people rock their asses off. The The Fre3 Bastards are no exception. They delivered a solid five-track EP, inspired by Queens Of The Stone Age, Fu Manchu and Led Zeppelin. With groovy guitar riffs, energetic drums and raw, raspy vocals, this trio can definitely rock. My favorite remains opener 'You Don't Know Me' but I think all the songs here can easily satisfy your rock 'n roll needs.

Sinners Moon - Far Beyond The Stars

gothic metal / symphonic metal

Slovakian gothic metal prodigies Sinners Moon return with an exciting new EP and for fans of the genre, that is an excellent reason to celebrate. With four new tracks, a 2009 demo track ('Dawn Of War') and a beautiful piano version of 'Far Beyond The Stars', this band recorded a mighty fine follow-up for their 'Atlantis' album. The music is mostly uptempo, laced with symphonic elements and strong female vocals, alternative with deep grunts. Fans of bands like Epica, After Forever, and Nightwish. So if you're nostalgic for the nineties goth-metal scene, mourn no more, Sinners Moon did an extremely good job with this EP.

Satanize - Death Mass Execution

black metal

Larval Productions

There is a monster lurking in the Portuguese underground scene and it's name is Satanize. This EP is most chaotic, vile and tormenting one on this edition of Brieviews. The 7" contains three exclusive songs, each one out for nothing less than assaulting your senses and devouring your very soul. This is raw, obscure and intense black metal which even some true black metal adepts rather categorize as barbaric noise. So yes, I think this is one for the chosen few, the ones who crawl in the thick, muddy underground of the metal scene. For them, this is an absolute must-have.

New Zero God - Under the Influence of Captain Pan Ikatac

post punk / gothic rock

Greek dark rock combo New Zero God have been roaming in the gothic underground since 2006. Their music breathes the same gloomy air as bands like Killing Joke, The Ramones, Misfits, Virgin Prunes and Fields Of The Nephilim. At least, so do the first two songs, 'Hell Bet on Me to Lose' and my favorite here, 'Under the Radar'. The awesome 'Shadow of Wealth (Dark En Ciel mix)' then drags you to the gothic dancefloor. The last song, 'Shadow of Wealth' is a weird avant garde goth rock anthem, the most experimental one on this EP. In all, this is clearly a must have for nostalgic goth rockers.

Grid - Human Collapse Syndrome

grindcore

Formed in 2014, Swedish grindcore horde Grid demolishes venues and eardums far and wide. This EP, aptly named 'Human Collapse Syndrome' contains eight shorts but brutal d-beat driven grindcore tunes. Everything about this release is extreme, from the tempo to the growls. So obviously, this is perfect Tuesday evening music for fans of Napalm Death, Nasum, Rotten Sound and so on. My favorite track? I have no idea. After listening to the EP, I only feel like throwing massive rocks on passersby. So yeah, this is fierce, aggressive and brutal stuff. You'll love it...

Serge

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Nekromant - Snakes & Liars

20/6/2017

hard rock / heavy metal