Jovian Litany-Heroes Leave

Self-Release/Independent
2015

E-mail submissions are the best as you never know exactly what you are in for. Site-founder/main man Metal Mark received this particular submission and promptly sent it my way. I have to admit that the e-mail's title alone peaked my interest. "A Doctor with a Metal Album.... Whaaaat?" found me filled with curiosity so I quickly sprung into action! And as that title goes it is a doozy! Or rather it's background information. For you see Jovian Litany is a one man recording project founded in 2008 by Charlotte, NC's Jeffrey Py and Mr. Py is of all things a Doctor of Audiology! Crazy weirdness all around with that one! But anyway, Jeffrey, who was raised on a strict diet of fried scrapple (Hell yeah! Yum!) and disappointment (Sadly I know the feeling all too well...), has produced a total of four albums under the Jovian Litany name with this particular nine- track album serving as the "band's" latest & great work! Devoted to the concept of loss, "Heroes Leave" is not so much a concept album as it is a themed one. Or so says the main man himself so who are we to argue? And if you are going to tackle the subject of loss then you just know that the music at hand has to help convey the heartache and absolute sorrow associated with a concept right? For Jeffrey Py and Jovian Litany that translates into something quite different (Or flat odd weird if you will!!!) but nonetheless completely satisfying! And that would be extreme metal mixed up with New Age with some Techno tossed in for good measure! Jeffrey Py's e-mail to Heavy Metal Time Machine suggested a release that was a "mish mosh of musical styles, alternating songwriting between a heavy album and an ambient album" and damn right if he didn't make good on that promise! The latest release from one-man band/solo project Jovian Litany offers listeners extreme material that borders on full-fledged death metal, ambient New Age passages and music that combines the two star-crossed lovers into one glorious slab of electronic metal mayhem! And all the while the mood is as dark and depressing as death rock making "Heroes Leave" one of those perfect releases for when all you want to do in life is turn the lights down low, tune out to the world and just get lost in the loneliness that is this bizarre ride we call existence! By moving back and forth between artificial studio creations and harsh/sick guitar work that at times recalls the best of the Floridian death metal scene(!) an album like "Heroes Leave" allows you the opportunity to slip out of this world for awhile. In other words,  "Heroes Leave" should be enjoyed with your headphones on so that there are no distractions other than the sound of your own beating heart and your personal thoughts so that when you slip out of time and space it's a clean and pure trip! As the music of Jovian Litany is as effective clean and focused as it is dirty and chaotic it is a smooth and seamless journey listening experience when it boils right down to it. And with each new spin of this album you're very likely find something new to appreciate. All told this nine-track album is very cool indeed and for the guitarist/vocalist responsible for "Heroes Leave" I say good on you my friend! Take pride in the creation of "Heroes Leave" Jeffrey as this mad cap metallic adventure is nothing short of fantastic! It's a shame that the music of Jovian Litany isn't more well-known, but hopefully this review and of course word of mouth can help change that. Let's hope so as this album is just too good to be kept under wraps! You can pick up a digital copy of "Heroes Leave"over here at CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jovianlitany3 Meanwhile you can find out more about the man, the myth and the legend either here: http://www.jovianlitany.com/ or here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jovian-Litany/144316111801

My Silent Wake-Eye of the Needle

Stone Groove Records
2014

If you are a regular visitor to Heavy Metal Time Machine then chances are you will have likely noticed that UK-based death/doom rockers My Silent Wake Back (MSW) are a new favorite of mine. It was only a few months ago that I first picked up on this band's immense skill-level (thanks to a digital package's worth of prior releases) and back in May of this year I actually interviewed the band's founder, Ian Arkley (link below). At that time he made mention of an upcoming ambient release and now here it is with the calming (make that downright relaxing!), "Eye of the Needle", likely to stick with you long after experiencing it. So far "Eye of the Needle", which is MSW's 9th album overall (including two split CDs), is (sadly) only available as a digital download. Not that such a thing should stop anyone (especially fans of MSW!) from checking out this sublime (and reportedly mostly improvised) hour-plus album. Because really it's all about plugging yourself in and losing yourself anyway right? Music verses physical material should always result in music taking precedence. Or at least one would hope so! And this music can stand perfectly fine without a physical body to hold it up! "Eye of the Needle" is quite rich in it's own way although it's more comforting then anything. Here the music moves over top of your body like a deeply penetrating massage leaving you in a state of peace. I suspect though that words alone will not fully convey the enjoyment of a release like this one. One must listen to it in it's entirety to fully embrace the talent that a band like MSW has. And you can do exactly that (listen to this album in it's entirety) by heading over to the group's bandcamp page right here: http://mysilentwake2.bandcamp.com/album/eye-of-the-needle where (and you can thank me for this later friends!) you too can experience the scope of MSW's latest. Released on June 8th, "Eye of the Needle" features Attrition's Martin Bowes (who actually ended up mixing three of the tracks here as well as mastering the whole album!) on additional keys and electronics (as if Ian Arkley's talents weren't enough reason to pursue an album like this one Bowes adds another element to the mix altogether!) and in the end this one proved to be a sure-fire winner! Truly "Eye of the Needle" adds to My Silent Wake's (http://www.mysilentwake.co.uk/) ever-growing legacy! That legacy will soon enough included a vinyl version of the album "Et Lux Perpetua" with the inclusion of early mixes entitled "And Everlasting Light" as well as a new death/doom album to be recorded in August and September at The Priory Studios near Birmingham. For more information on My Silent Wake be sure to visit any of the links below:

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Silent-Wake/417459134777


http://www.reverbnation.com/mysilentwake?profile_view_source=profile_box

Interview with MSW's Ian Arkley:
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Interview+with+Ian+Arkley+

Otoño-Something Metal This Way Comes

Human Cyborg Productions
2013

The month of May might seem like an odd time to cover a Halloween-themed album, but if we can keep the spirit of Christmas alive in all of us year long then why not a whimsical night when all the little ghouls and goblins come out to play? For sure it isn't always about Halloween for Hollister, California's Otoño (Spanish for "autumn"), even if this trio (first formed in 2003 as Human Cyborg Relations before the name change in 2009) seems to be generally inspired by horror, but here on their latest/second overall full-length release the band does it right by covering tracks like "This is Halloween", "Phantom of the Opera" and "Ghostbusters" and including samples from movies such as "Evil Dead",  "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "The Shining", "The Exorcist" and The Omen"! Oh, and did I mention the fact that Otoño also pays tribute to Peter Steele with a sweet little cover of  Type O Negative's "Black No.1"? I didn't? Well, I am now and I'll tell you what else my friends, there is a lot going on for this group (even if they are off of most peoples radars). For a group whose roots run deep down into the depths of high school (talk about a real hell on Earth for many of us!), when founding members/guitarists/vocalists Eldridge and Bangulo covered their fave groups (Metallica, Slayer and Diamond Head) while looking for that one magical line-up to take them to the top (enter bassist/vocalist Angel in 2008), and one which started off as more of a straight-forward (if slightly enhanced by black metal and thrash elements) melodic death band, "Something Metal This Way Comes" is a real charm, a progressively-enhanced ambient charm! Said to be inspired by "different genres of music ranging from metal to classical… and snippets of everything in between" or, better yet folks, "a fusion of various musical influences" (Opeth, Gwar, Persefone, Metallica, Sepultura, Agalloch, Edge of Sanity, Liquid Tension Experiment, Torchbearer, Machine Head, Buckethead, Katatonia ) Otoño tires on a sore's worth of different hats on "Something Metal This Way Comes". And it's that exact reason why Otoño should be setting off alarms on people's (metal) radar! To be sure a band like Otoño is probably best described as (melodic) death metal first and foremost (so as to offer fair warning to anyone who might be scared off by such an "extreme" format), but this trio doesn't exactly follow any standard set of rules other then say, paying homage to many a great film, book (or, in the case of a number like "Room 237"*, both film and books!) and band. And why not? It's these different forms of media that helped groom the band for what would come about, later on, and it's all done in a manor so that everything just meshes together! Available for free right here: http://otono.bandcamp.com/ this is one of those release which is clever and, yes, plain fun! Sure, Xentrix first did it back in the early nineties, but doing a headbanging version of the theme from "Ghostbusters" is just awesome! As is the band's instrumental take on "Phantom of the Opera". Featuring some killer solo work**, which shows up on just about EVERY track here(!), "Phantom of the Opera" is covered in metallic fashion and while it might not be my fave moment here (I love "The Book of the Dead" which also features stunning lead work!) it's still a nice addition to "Something Metal This Way Comes". Most assuredly this album is worth downloading and for Otoño it's a great addition to an every growing catalog***. Moving forward Otoño could/should deliver on the promise of an album like this one and REALLY make a hell of dent on the melodic death metal scene, but who can say for sure? Today's scene is so fickle and for every worthy (and original/interesting!) band that pops up doesn't it just seem like labels bypass them in order to scoop up and sign a dozen bands who all look and sound alike? Yeah, it sucks. So, like I always say support band's like this! Get up and go! See them live, buy their merch and show them real love! And with that you can follow these guys via these links:
www.otonometal.com 

www.facebook.com/otonometal 

 https://twitter.com/OtonoMetal



*Audio sample on "Room 237" were taken from 1980's "The Shining" and the track also features excerpts taken from the novel. "The red death held sway over all" (originally in Edgar Allan Poe "The Masque of the Red Death") was used by Stephen King in the novel. 

** Solo on "Phantom of the Opera" by virtuoso guitarist Allen "Robot" Van Wert.

***The band also appears on Sinister Path Promotion's "Unsigned Metal Band Compilation Volume 1" https://sinisterpathpromotions.bandcamp.com/album/sinister-path-promotions-unsigned-metal-band-compilation-volume-1

Sadgiqacea-False Prism

Candlelight Records
2013

Can a four-track release really be a full-length album? When you see that "True Darkness" is over 14 minutes long then I guess the answer is yes, a four-track release can be considered a full-length album! This four-track release is the work of  the two-man group Sadgiqacea. The band, which you would expect to reside somewhere south of hell but in reality reside in Philadelphia, play some of the most foul metal you could dare to imagine! Picture the blackest, most sludgiest, psychedelic doom noise act out there and then turn the whole thing upside down and inside out. That is the essence of Sadgiqacea who cut a nice and jagged path straight through your flesh and soul. Formed in 2010, with the ambient "False Prism" serving as their first full-length release, the group is made up of Evan Schaefer (vocals/guitar) and Fred Grabosky (vocals/drums). What about the bass guitar though? Sadgiqacea doesn't need it and (frankly speaking folks) it's not as though you're likely to miss out on it when this post-metal sludge-feast get's rolling along. When it comes to breaking down this nearly 40 minute-long avalanche of  blackened doom, which is most definitely a mood massacre waiting to happen, you're likely to find tiny pieces of poisoned metal that has been sharpened so it can deliver maximum carnage as only ambient material like this can. Some will likely call "False Prism" a divine work of post-metallic wonder while others would shutter at it's uneasy assault on the senses. I find that I'm falling somewhere in the middle of all of that, but the more I listen to this one (and I've been through the mirror with this one three times now) the more I feel inclined to embrace it's madness. It certainly grows on you with repeated listens folks. That's for sure.....

Brujas del Sol- Moonliner

Devouter Records
2013

And now for something completely different. Spaced-out, surf-infused, psychedelic drone anyone? Brujas del Sol are the sound of a band born out of improvisation and imagination. "Moonliner" doesn't really remind me of anyone or anything as it's like this crashing wave of fuzzy psychedelic garage rock wrecking glorious havoc on a collation of ambient, drone-loving hipsters while a bunch of old hippies have a sit in where "everyone  must get stoned!". Oddly weird and yet rather refreshing. This one must be heard to be appreciated and absorbed, but I can say/will say that this release, as odd as this sounds, sounds like home to me. And yes, I am looking for home these days so thank you "Moonliner" for providing a map.

Buy the album here:http://devouterrecords.bigcartel.com/

Australasia- Sin4tr4

Golden Morning Sounds
2012

When I started writing for Heavy Metal time Machine there was no way for me to foresee the unusually  large assortment of instrumental demos and albums I'd be asked to review. For someone like me (who didn't really appreciate instrumental rock or metal for a huge chunk of my life) it's been this enlightening moment where I've come to not only appreciate rock and metal sans vocals, but actually embrace numerous acts within the field. Australasia are one such act in that I truly appreciate what they are going for on "Sin4tr4" (the bands debut-album) and the way in which it unfolds (even if this 7-track EP is not perfect per say). This Italian group features two musicians (Gian handles guitars, bass and synths while Rico handles the drums) and musically it's a tale of two cities. Half of this is heavy (incorporating a hodge podge of extreme styles from post-metal to black metal) while the other half is heavenly (blissful alternative rock/shoegaze). You see this is in the album's opening numbers as "Antenna" is this melodic and beautiful power rock/alt rock track while "Spine" is just HEAVY post-metal with an emphasis on heavy. On some tracks (such as the unholy/death-tinged "Retina") the band digs deep within to create a true sense of unease. This gothic number stands in stark contrast to songs like "Apnea", "Satellite" and "Fragile" which are all so innocent and happy. As such there is enough here to entertain whatever mood you might find yourself in. Of the 7 cuts my favorites would have to be the post-metal, twisted stomp of "Spine" and (even if it does stand out a bit from the EP's other tracks) the dreamy, pop-like "Apnea". These two numbers are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but each resonated with me. As the EP flows back and forth, the heavy to the heartfelt, you'll discover that Australasia are equally adapt at utilizing modern electronics as well as vintage synths (and even organs!). Also, in what most certainly was a case of  choosing atmosphere over something overly glossy, shinny and glossy, the band's debut-EP has this almost subtle production job. It isn't raw of rough by any means. No, its more like the band kept things simple as far as the production went so that the music never gets all fanciful. Since I previously mentioned how this wasn't a perfect recording it should be noted that it takes a few listens to get to a point where you appreciate all the subtle differences between a few songs. On my first run-through I noticed that some of the tracks blurred together, but repeated listens cleared this up. As technically savvy as the pair are there is still this simple elegance to "Sin4tr4" to be appreciated and, with time, there's no telling what wondrous creations this post-rock/post-metal duo could give us. Find out more below.


Website: http://www.australasiamusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/australasiamusic
Bandcamp: http://australasia.bandcamp.com
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/australasia
Last FM: http://www.lastfm.it/music/Australasia?ac=australasia
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Australasi4
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/sin4tr4/id542593421


Videos:

“Spine”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seZgDPCBdLU

The Pod-Assassins in the Mirrored Hall

Black Iron Records
2013

The Pod is a solo adventure (or project if you will) by Make guitarist Scott Endres. If you know about Make then you'll understand when I say that there has always been something about that band that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Make always felt to me like they stood somewhere between the light and the dark, tip toeing between both. It was almost as if there was this equal pull in their music, in the energy flow, that Make couldn't fight. It moved the band back and forth in all of these directions and the same could be said of  "Assassins in the Mirrored Hall". If you already know of (and appreciate) that contrast, and the overtly experimental nature of the Chapel Hill, N.C.act that is called Make, then you need read no further. The Pod should fit comfortably alongside your collection of Make material. Even though you don't have to like Make to like The Pod it's almost as if they are one in the same while being slightly different in their own "interesting" ways. The short of it is that just like how Make is an experimental band so is The Pod. It's both a continuation of Make and a vehicle in and off itself. While the all-encompassing "experimental music" tag would certainly apply to The Pod terms like ambient, noise, psychedelic and drone, along with "soundtrack recording", all pop up. These different creatures come out of the shadows and play in the moonlight. The Pod's music has a dreamy quality to it (or is it dreadful?) that makes you stop what you're doing and, as odd as it sounds, dares you to engage the music in serious discussion. This album is structure in a way as if it were meant to be the soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist. How else do I describe the true nature of this project? How about another example. If you live in the Northern States you'll understand what I mean by this next statement. As you look out your window at the snow piling up it's with both a sense of despair and awe. For as much as the snow represents the cold, darkness of winter there is also something almost mesmerizing about all of this white snow that suddenly has been carved into what was once this beautiful background. You might be fighting the urge to give into your seasonal depression, and failing miserably, and yet there is a blissful peace to be found as the snow flakes swirl about and fall slowly to the ground. It's the balance of everything good and everything that is washed over in despair. That is The Pod. The music isn't really sorrowful or joyful. It's what the grey area looks like in between as translated into musical expression. The Pod requires that openness and honesty be your guide as you take that first step into this new world. If you have that on your side you'll find an adventure of your own.

http://thebandthepod.bandcamp.com/

French Metal Friday: Spekt-Cypher

Agonia Records
2013




Maybe it's cheating a little to review an album for a French Metal Friday piece, but it's been one of those weeks so I hope all can be forgiven. This is actually the 3rd release by the experimental black entity known as Spekt and it's an odd thing all around. I mean it's odd even by the standard definition of odd things that I hear regularly. There's no vocals for one thing. Instead of creepy black metal growls you get samples. It's ambient noise/industrial metal and all, but it's almost got this psychedelic air to it. There's feedback and a free-flowing exchange of ideas and textures. Really it just needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. Thankfully Braveworlds is streaming it live at the link below. Spekt remind me of what I like most about metal and that is that things never get dull. that is unless you allow things to get dull for you (as far as metal goes) which would be somewhat sad in my mind. Explore different bands and different genres. Leave yourself open to new ideas and don't be scared off by words like "experimental" or "different" as sometimes those are the best kind of bands/releases. "Cypher" is definitely experimental and different. It's also a nice change of pace and a sign that metal never really grows old.



http://www.bravewords.com/news/197028


For more news on SPEKTR visit: http://agoniarecords.com/

Cypher can be pre-ordered at: http://www.agoniarecords.com/index.php?pos=shop&lang=en

Above The Earth-Above The Earth

Arsafes Records
2012

Above The Earth is a project featuring Serbian vocalist Aleksandra Radosavljevic (ex-Destiny Potato) and Russian guitarist/vocalist Arsafes (Kartikeya). In January of 2012 the pair decide to collaborate on a new project. This self-titled EP (released in December of 2012) is the result of that collaboration. To say that Above The Earth is a unique project is an understatement. Aided by bassist Aleksander and drummer Alex Smirnov (and a few guests) the pair's recorded material falls somewhere between ambient pop/noise and atmospheric progressive metal. As oddly as this EP presents itself it's also one of the those warm and inviting sounds that showcases a real commitment to the art of texture. After the very brief intro "Unmasked" you get into the heart of the matter with "Trapeze". Featuring Jakub Zytecki (a talented 17 year old guitarist from Przeworsk, Poland) the number is close to six minutes in length and features a wonderful balance between epic solo work and the enduring vocals of Aleksandra Radosavljevic. In reality there is not much to set the number apart from the next cut, "You". Both feature ambient/atmospheric rock with heavy guitar solos. The difference though lays within the more metal crunch of "You". "Eden" features another Serbian musician in vocalist/songwriter Aleksandra Djelmash and is a strangely beautiful ambient pop/progressive metal/noise track that serves as a guided tour of a night's worth of dreams. Speaking of dreams, the album's closing cut is the excellent "All Our Dreams" featuring musician Adam Nolly Getgood. Again we see the balance between beauty (Aleksandra Radosavljevic) and ugliness (fuzzed out/distorted guitars) work in such a way as to complement each other rather than react in such a fashion as to offer a clash of styles . Whatever you might choose to call Above The Earth (A project? A band?) there is no denying that this self-titled EP has a underlying charm all it's own. Be sure to check this one out for yourselves.

 http://abovetheearth.bandcamp.com/album/above-the-earth