Necrosexual-Grim 1

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and sporting an image that is half King Diamond and half 90's garage rocker, Necrosexual is a up-and-coming heavy metal artist/entertainer. The full-length "Grim 1" serves as the studio debut for Necrosexual and it features eight original compositions and a cover of "Pain It Black" (The Rolling Stones). In addition to the main man himself (a solid enough bassist/guitarist/vocalist that also works as a video correspondent for Metal Injection and Metal Sucks), "Grim 1" includes the services of guitarist Anthony Vigo Gabriele and two drummers: Mike "The Machine" Churry (Basilysk) and Rob Pallotta (Tragedy: All Metal Tribute To The Bee Gees And Beyond.). Other than some of the high-pitched vocals of Necrosexual himself, "Grim 1" gets a eight out of 10 in terms of overall performances.

Necrosexual live and in blazing color!

In all honestly it took me a couple of spins to get to that grading point. As I type this review up I am on round number four of "Grim 1". While I'm still trying to wrap my head around this artist/band there are several points that I would like to make. As far as the group's sound goes, "Grim 1" falls somewhere between 80's thrash metal and (King Diamond-inspired) black metal. Influenced by the likes of Slayer, Venom, Grim Reaper, Celtic Frost, Gwar, and (early) Sodom, Necrosexual kills it on the thrash metal end. Meanwhile the black metal influences (both old and new) do shine through, but it seems secondary at best. Make no mistake about it though. That part of Necrosexual does work. Blackened thrash can be a really sick thing if done right. It works on "Grim 1". Well, it works so long as the lead singer stays within his range. When Necrosexual tries for those high-pitched wails it is often painful. They nearly ruin what is otherwise a cool metal number. If Necrosexual could lay off of the banshee shrieks next time around he could really be on the run to the top. The only other complaint about this album is minor. As much as I love The Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black" is a terrible cover choice for this group. It feels so out of place on this album that it isn't even funny! Maybe in better hands it might have made for an alright metal tune. Here on "Grim 1" it simply comes across as stupid and unnecessary. Otherwise, "Grim 1" is a interesting debut from a unique metal band. I'm actually curious to see where things go for this entertainer.

Burial Ground-Pain For Pleasure

Independent/Self-Release
2017

Burial Ground is a one-man metal from Russia. The main man in charge of everything goes by the name AlexFromBeyond (Dead Zone, From Beyond, Mass Hypnosis) and this three-track demo is simply the latest in a long list of demos that have been released since 2015. That was the year that this blackened speed metal/thrash project got off the ground. If I'm counting correctly "Pain For Pleasure" would be demo number ten! Toss in the single "Hellraisers" and a compilation entitled "Sounds of Evil" (both from 2016) and you have the complete discography for Russia's Burial Ground. That is a shit ton of work in the past two years!!  Obviously I can't vouch for all of those releases, but here's the wild part friends: "Pain For Pleasure" is fine as fuck!! I mean sure, it is a little strange how this Russian metal band sounds almost German. That's kind of odd, but it's must certainly not a deal-breaker! If anything it's just an observation. Otherwise, "Pain For Pleasure" is a blackened take on wicked speed metal/thrash from the guy pictured below. If that phrase sounds good to you (the whole blackened speed/thrash metal part) then stop what you are doing and mosh your way on over to this one-man band. For more information on Burial Ground there is also this Facebook page.

Böneyard-Below Mediocrity

Witches Brew
2017

Formed back on October 31st of 2015 and featuring two musicians that have ties to the Greek death metal outfit Foul Entry (vocalist Teethsmasher and bassist Defouler), Böneyard is a blackened street metal/punk speed metal band that seems to share my deep affection  for "Welcome To Hell"-era Venom, Israel's Promiscuity and all things Motörhead! What happens when you throw in some mad love for Sweden's Bathory and Gehennah? Obviously enough you end up with "Below Mediocrity". With four original compositions and a cover of  Gehennah's "Decibel Rebel", Böneyard's debut EP can be played several times over before the cops show up to investigate your next-door neighbors noise complaint!! That's right folks. Thanks to the guys in Böneyard (who are not to be confused with the Spanish act that gave us "Fear of a Zombie Planet") you could be kicking out the jams in style while the cops are in the process of kicking down your front door!! Nice. Available as a digital download and on CD, "Below Mediocrity"* is meant to be played as loud as humanly possible! It's a wildly reckless release from a raw and crazy band that also includes guitarist The Witcher and guitarist The Chatterer. And to answer your next question, yes, I do want this CD for my personal collection! I also want to see what else these guys have up their sleeves!!  





*Drums are courtesy of Giorgos Melios (Rapture, ex-Acid Fury)

HexenHammer-Underground

Heaven and Hell Records
2015

Hailing from Columbia, Tennessee, HexenHammer (which is German for ''Malleus Maleficarum'') was a underground speed/thrash band that was active in one form or another from 1987 until at least 1992. "Underground", which is an appropriate enough title for this release given the cult-lie status of this band(!), was originally the title of a 4-track demo recording that this proto-black metal band (or would it be blackened thrash?) released in 1990. This recently-released CD collects that obscure (and highly sought-after by fans and collectors alike!) demo as well as another 4-track recording session that the band made in 1992. Unfortunately my promo copy does not include the two bonus tracks from that session, "Committed" and "The Cutting Edge", but I'm more than happy to report the great news of this re-mastered collection and in the process I'm also going to take a stab at explaining the important place that this archival set holds in the history of extreme heavy metal and proto-black metal. Re-mastered by Jamie King at The Basement Studios in Winston Salem, NC, "Underground" was culled from the best material possible. The album's disclaimer makes note of this and therefore I'm going to make note of it. After all, "Underground" was originally recorded on 4-track and from the sounds of things even that was a very humble experience! Taking that into account the music here is not bad at all and, frankly-speaking folks, I've certainly heard much worse. Hell, I'm heard some supposed modern-day recordings that are not as good as this! My guess is the only people who will complain about the sound of this collection are the sorts who like to find something to complain about anyway! No needs to name names as these people are EVERYWHERE these days and it's not going to get any better anytime soon I fear. But, I digress. We're hear to talk about HexenHammer and this (long thought lost) collection of raw speed/thrash. Lead by lead guitarist/vocalist Ronnie Dean ( a maniacal singer and musician who is the sole original member to appear on both sets of demo recordings on this collection) and (from the looks and sounds of it) originally appearing live under cover of hooded masks, HexanHammer's sound was a lightening streak of metallic frenzy across a blood-red sky! There's no other real way to describe it! While technically more thrash than death metal, HexanHammer nonetheless drew it's strength from the likes of Venom, Slayer, Bathory, (early) Celtic Frost, Death, (early) Voivod, and (early) Sepultura. Those would seem to be the key sources of influence although we can't rule out everyone from Motörhead to Pentagram either! The things is you have to remember when this band first formed and when these recordings first came out. "Underground" was originally released in 1990 after all. That was when the thrash scene was still in full-swing and bands like HexenHammer were starting to come into there own and experiment with elements like death and extreme metal. Tape trading was all the rage so it's no wonder that "Underground" gained the legendary status that it did! At the time I was still in high school and living in the small town of Mantua, Ohio. Even though I was neck deep in tape swapping and devouring anything and everything BRUTAL THRASH  (especially stuff that would have been as seemingly evil and mysterious as this lot was!) I sadly never heard of this band the first time around otherwise I would have hunted this demo down! It was only some years later I heard the rumors. Those rumors proved true as "Underground" fits that era well and for fans of the old (thrash/death metal) tape-trading days this limited-edition CD should bring back the same kind of great memories that I have! For youngsters though this collection should serve as an example of extreme metal's roots and why it's important to gather up these recordings before they are lost to time. While you can pick up the digital copy of "Underground" here I would not settle for anything less than the full-length CD with the bonus tracks. Additionally the CD features new artwork and a expanded booklet with never before seen photos! It's a fitting tribute to this cult band that for whatever reason never made it past the demo stage of it's career.

Free Metal Monday: Inculter - Stygian Deluge 7"EP

Edged Circle Productions
2015

Active since 2012, Inculter are a blackened thrash/death metal trio from Norway whose members range in age from 16-19. This Free Metal Monday offering was originally released back in 2013 and it served as Inculter's first studio piece. Now re-released with the bonus track "Demonic Might", "Stygian Deluge" is a brutal example of raw death thrash done right from musicians who were (and still are!) in their teens! And  seeing as I'm planning to cover Inculter's upcoming debut-album, "Persisting Devolution" either later today or early tomorrow I thought what better way is there to share all this fun than to share with all of you this raging 4-track EP? And yes, you are quite welcome for this metallic Monday pick me up! You can download this one for free right here!

Principality of Hell-Fire & Brimstone

W.T.C.Productions
2014

Between this band's name, the album title and one CD/LP cover that looks strikingly familiar ("Welcome to Hell" anyone?)it's fairly obvious from the start where this one is heading. Blackened thrash metal hollowed be thy name! Featuring The Magus on vocals/bass (Necromantia and Thou Art Lord), El on guitars (Soulskinner, Thou Art Lord) and J. Maelstrom (Ravencult, Thou Art Lord) we have  Principality of Hell and their debut-output "Fire & Brimstone". As a three piece they certainly take a chunk or two from several well-known and notorious power trios of legend and glory (Venom, Sodom and Motörhead) along with the likes of Bathory, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, (early) Voivod and (not surprisingly) Necromantia. Alongside the band's nine tracks of filthy/vile black metal you get a bonus as the the band tackles an early Exodus cover in "Strike of the Beast" (from 1985's awesome "Bonded By Blood"!). Naturally recommended for fans of old school black metal and blacked thrash, "Fire & Brimstone" will drop in August on CD with the LP version slated for some point later on in 2014.

Chapel-Satan's Rock N Roll LP

Invictus Productions
2014

Originally released in August of 2012, with a Japanese CD re-release by Spiritual Beast appearing on February 13th, 2013  (expanding this 10-track release to a 12-track release thanks to the inclusion of  2 bonus tracks in "Gates of Hell" and a cover of Inepsy's "See You in Hell"), Chapel's full-length debut album has just recently been  re-released on vinyl by Invictus Productions. It is the vinyl version of "Satan's Rock N Roll" that I'm covering (or rather the album's MP3s) and, since it's hump day and I'd just like to cut to the chase and try to get more then a few reviews done today, we'll keep things brief. This Canadian act is not treading any new water with this 10-track album of blackened speed/thrash. As long as you realize that and/or expecting that then there's no reason one can't enjoy this album for what it is. Imagine Motörhead as a black metal-inspired outfit and that is more or less what you get with Canada's Chapel. With a few flashes of group's like Tank, Sodom and (of course) Venom sprinkled through-out these 10-tracks this one is what it is-songs about beer drinking, Satan, raising hell and rocking out play out over-top of biker metal and, if one doesn't get all tripped over the fact that it isn't groundbreaking, then an album like this one is at least easy to lift a tall cold one to! If you can look past this one's "influences" then "Satan's Rock N Roll" is a pretty wicked little way to kill a half an hour or so!

https://www.facebook.com/chapelofsatan 

Vornth-Vornth

Iron Tyrant
2014 

Active since the year 2000, with this self-titled, twelve-track release (which runs nearly sixty minutes in length!) serving as their first full-length recording/warning sign that they have arrived, the Swedish band Vornth are the ultimate vehicle of all that is unholy! This mechanism of pure evilness, which incidentally (or at least is this mortal form) is lead by vocalist/guitarist Erik Hartmann, is blackened speed metal/thrash for the modern day metalheads who thrive amongst us who wish that black metal wasn't so....well...shrill. Amongst other things this band's sound seems as if it is derived from the likes of  (in their words) Razor, Destruction, Exciter, Kreator and Sacrifice. A closer examination though suggests other "influences". Take the nearly eight minute long "Grave of the Living" for example. This last cut, which closes the door on an album that also sees the likes of Motörhead, Warfare and (early) Tank being dragged out and put on display like lambs being prepared for the slaughter, sounds like Slayer getting severely violated by Venom! When bookend with opener "2740°" (a track that could represent Metallica overdosing on all things King Diamond/Merciful Fate!) it's nothing if not unsettling!  For those who choose to venture down such a dimly lite path, with tracks like "Rip Rip Rip", "Spit Black Fire", "Devil" and (clocking in at 7:20!) "Axemurder" offering no comfort whatsoever as far as those longing for rest or a reprieve, the warning has been issued. "Vornth" is not for the faint at heart or the weak-willed. It is the embodiment of pure evil all rolled up into one nasty piece of speed metal-tinged, fist-bangin' fifth! Proceed with extreme caution on this one friends....

ForChristSake-Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror

Roxx Records
2014

Belfast-based act ForChristSake, which was formed by drummer/vocalist Ignatios, claim that they are  Northern Ireland’s "only Christian extreme metal band". I'll take these fine, quite talented, four-lads at their word with that one as I'm (honestly) not all that familiar with Northern Ireland’s extreme metal scene, Christian or not. Serving as a follow-up to the group's 2010, self-released (and reportedly, overall, well-received by both critics and fans!) EP "Death Is But A Breath Away", which you can find as a digital-download on places like iTunes and Amazon (or, presumably if you go by the band's official website, which I'll link to below, can be ordered directly from the band members themselves at the following email address: forchristsaketheband@ymail.com), this 16-track collection of pulverizing metal was due to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting metal community back in 2013. But, after some technical difficulties and a few other (unmentioned) misc. delays, it is only now (or rather next week) that fans will finally be treated to everything that this extreme Christian act has to offer with the crushing "Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror". Heavy on the theology, and even heavier in their delivery, ForChristSake combine elements of heavy/power metal, thrash metal, death metal and even black metal into a decidedly deadly, expertly executed,  Molotov cocktail of a release that has to NEEDS to be heard to truly be appreciated! Having lost lead vocalist/keyboardist Guy Taylor along the way, which left many fans wondering how this band would continue on without his contributions, it now appears as if Ben (who also handles rhythm guitar) has stepped up his game and, along with drummer Ignatios, is providing lead vocals. If I'm mistaken in that assumption then I offer up my most humblest of apologies. But, when you think about it friends and fellow purveyors of all things incredibly loud and disruptive to the nervous system, it really is a bit of a moot point as no matter who handles the lead vocal work on which particular track it all ends up with the same result-BRUTAL and CRUSHING extreme metal! Together with lead guitarist Simon and bass player Mark (both of whom are as equally talented as our presumably lead singers!) the pair of Ben and Ignatios toss caution into the wind and just go full-out CRAZY with their full-length debut album! Whether you're a Christian or not is not so much the issue with this upcoming release as it's more about  whether or not you are a fan of extreme, melt your face off and shred your body into a billion tiny pieces, metal at it's finest! If the answer to that second part is yes and you find yourself looking at 2014 and thinking "Where will the next brutal band come from and when will their extreme album drop?" then this soon to be released CD is for you! Besides the (often-times) otherworldly vocals, which actually give this Christian metal release a bit of a dark afterglow, it's the heavy-use of thrashing guitars that gives "Apocalyptic Visions of Divine Terror" much of it's powerful edge. Lead guitarist Simon lays down some simply-sinister solos that bring to mind everyone from Slayer to Death! Meanwhile the rhythm section, which is (thankfully) never buried too deeply in the mix (as you'll want to hear each and every drum beat and bass riff you can on this one folks!), cuts it's teeth on old-school death metal as much as it does the more modern elements of today's extreme metal scene. What sticks out in the end is how each and every part of the equation that is ForChristSake is given equal opportunity on the main-stage and how (collectively) this four-piece feeds off of the energy of each other. No doubt this lot is as dedicated to their craft as they are the album's overall message! Slated for release on January 21st, with a mere 30 CD copies (although likely-less by now) of "Death Is But A breath Away" also available to purchase in a (slightly) more expensive set (which is what I opted for!), you can pre-order this (likely-addition to my "Best of 2014" list) CD right here: http://roxxproductions.storenvy.com/products/1098444-forchristsake-apocalyptic-visions-of-divine-terror. Also be sure to check out the band's Facebook page and give them a "like" while you're at it as I'm sure these Irish rage-rockers would appreciate the love!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ForChristSake/114570038553752 

Official website of ForChristSake:
http://www.forchristsake.co.uk/ 

Legions Of War-Forced to the Ground

Infernö Records
2013

Infernö Records, home to bands like Demona, Lady Beast, Death Rides a Horse and Axecuter (all of whom I've covered in the past), offers up the second full-length release from Sweden's own Legions Of War. As it's been nearly four years since this four-piece band released their debut recording (2009's "Towards Death") what can fans (reasonably) expect to find on an album like this? Good question. For the uninitiated, which actually included yours truly prior to hearing this 9-track affair, the best way to describe this bunch would be "battle-damaged blackened thrash". Or would that be "war-obsessed blackened thrash"? Either or would work if you really think about it. The band, which (per the booklet of this CD) features two lead vocalists in Hellwind (also bass duties) and Zyklon (also guitar duties), is fairly on the aggressive side of things in regards to the thrash metal they choose to play. Words like "gritty", "raw", "violent" and "brutal" would seem to be more than fitting and, if not for the scorched dual vocals present on this album (which translate into raspy black metal vocals of course) this is one release that would lead you to celebrate the glory of thrash metal done up "Swedish-Style"! By the end of "Forced to the Ground" these Swedish metalheads (the band also includes lead guitarist Widowreaper and drummer C. Stalinorgel) prove themselves capable of unleashing all kinds of (Un)Holy Hell upon the listener and if there's every a time to embrace the twisted power of blackened thrash in all of it's filthy nastiness then "Forced to the Ground" would be it!

Possession-His Best Deceit

Iron Bonehead Productions (Tape)
Invictus Productions (CD)
2013

Simultaneously released on both CD and tape (with their being only 666 tapes naturally), "His Best Deceit" is the first studio recording from Belgian's Possession. The band features a couple of former members of blackened thrash outfit Dawn of Crucifixion in guitarist I. Dveikus and bassist/vocalist V. Viriakh (also has his own self-named project) with vocalist Mestema and drummer Pz.Kpfw (Must be his Christian name?) rounding this four-piece out. One look at the artwork above should give you an idea of what you're in for, but if you need a hint as to the band's two genre description then I'll toss one out. What's the "color" that really represents the utter lack of color and what's the opposite of life? Of course the answer is (firstly) black and then (secondly) death so we get black death! Coolness right? Right? Well, I guess that depends upon how cool (or not) you find raw and crusty blackened death metal. Granted, the band does pull off a Sepultura cover in the form of "Necromancer" (which was on the group's 1985 split with Overdose) so there is some "thrash" on display inside this this 4-track demo. But for the most part it's demoniacally-inclined, old-school evil taking the shape and form of a four piece black death band. It's also dramatically dire stuff which makes sense when you learn that the members of Possession tapped Phorgath of Enthroned to help them record this 4-track demo! That's a match made in hell right there! With his (Phorgath) capable hands twisting and tweaking the knobs (so to speak) Possession managed to record a promising demo that A) Gives off a cool underground vibe and B) Sounds like utter evil trapped in a Molotov cocktail and ready to blow! This is a good start for a band with some serious potential!

Ram-Page-The Depths Of Rage

Metal Scrap Records
2013

Fancy some death-tinged thrash metal? How about one with vocals (which in this case are provided by Privalov Vlad) that conjurers up images of fist bangin' demons? Sound like a winner in your book? If so then look no further then Ram-Page! This Russian band, whose name (at least for me) makes me reminisce about the good old days when I spent quarter after quarter at the arcade on a game in which you could destroy cities thanks to your mad monster skills, was formed back in 2010 with "The Depths Of Rage", which was just released this past October, serving as their 3rd full-length studio album overall. The band's latest album features 12 brutal tracks with influences mostly falling on all things "older". Picture the likes of Slayer, Hydra Vein, Exodus, Warrant (Germany's of course!), Kreator, Dark Angel, E-X-E, Sepultura, Overkill, Sodom and Death all getting together in one room with nothing being served but great (chilled) vodka. Maybe toss in a little bit of blacked thrash to keep everyone on their toes and that's (more or less) what you're in for when it comes to "The Depths Of Rage". With a current line-up that also features Privalov Sergey (guitar), Dolgov Dmitriy (bass) and Kasatkin Kiril (drums) Ram-Page are a great choice for those that love raw, nasty and sinister death thrash with all of the fixings!

Shitfucker-Suck Cocks In Hell

*Top cover is for the American market while the bottom one is for the European one.

Hells Headbangers
2013


Just when you think you've seen it all along comes this bunch. Next to Washington's Slutvomit, the Detroit 3-piece known as Shitfucker (Really guys?) possess one of the more tasteless names out there. Or at least in regards to band's that I've had the "pleasure" of covering this past week or so. And it doesn't just stop there with the groups chosen moniker either. Duct tape the band's name to the album's title (which is a thinly veiled reference to the movie The Exorcist one would assume) and then the album's "Banned in Germany" art-work* (referred to here as a "Shiswastifa") and you've got a band (seemingly) going all in for the sake of maximum shock value. But, just like the earlier reviewed Slutvomit (who are also a 3-piece), and their tasty or tasteless (that just depends on how you view it) full-length debut-album, "Swarming Darkness", when it comes down to the actual music on this (long-time coming) debut album, well, it's just not all that earth-shaking or even controversial. Formed back in 2005, and with the usual assortment of demos and EPs having lead up to this full-length debut, it's more of the same blackened metal by way of Motörhead, early Sodom and Venom. These guys seem to worship at the same church as Slutvomit, which means various songs about Satan and how he's their school-yard chum and all that, although this Detroit collective is a but more punk about it. Well, there's that and then, and I doubt it's all that intentional, it's hard to take the band's lyrics or their subject matter all that seriously. And wouldn't you know it, but of course these tracks also tend to blur together just like it was with Slutvomit! Maybe these two bands are just one in the same or opposite sides of one coin? Or, maybe I'm just being a total turd about the mess? Who knows. But anyway, the audience for this group seems fairly obvious and even if I can't recommend this album for everyone, and again it's fairly obvious why not, if you are into black n' roll/blackened thrash or just bands who have songs like "Satantisanity" and "Go to Hell / Rock 'n' Roll Freaky Dude" then by all means do whatever it takes to add this 9-track oddity to your personal collection.

Slutvomit-Swarming Darkness

Invictus Productions
2013

Formed in 2006, and possessing one of the more-ahem-"interesting" names out there (What, were the names "Whorelauncher" or "Skankfountain" already taken?) the U.S. 3-piece known as Slutvomit and have already released one demo and one EP ("Satanic Slut Metal" and "Turning the Cross Towards Hell" respectively). Now, on their first full-length album "Swarming Darkness", we find ourselves staring into the empty eyes of this 3-piece band whose sole purpose in life seems to be churning out sick, sleazy and raw, "as blackened as possible" speed-thrash/death metal with overtly blasphemous lyrics. Mission accomplished then. And while there does seem to be a lot of these kind of underground, overly satanic, "early Sodom by way of a more messed-in-the-head Morbid Angel" (A new genre perhaps?) bands (to the point where it's almost self-parody) there are few that take it this level of unholiness. Lead by one M. Larson (vocals and guitars) this Washington-based act does present a bit of a challenge (tolerance-wise) as it does blur together after awhile. With influences like the aforementioned Sodom and Morbid Angel, in addition to bands like Slayer, Possessed, Bathory, Venom and Destroyer 666 this is one underground band that's likely to already have a built-in audience that's just waiting for fast & frantic, unholy metal like this. .

Fukpig-"Bad Fucking Dickhead" (Single Edit)

Devizes Records
2013

When it comes to surprises I've had my fair share of good ones (my two children) and bad ones (the post-divorce realization that I'd be raising those two children, who are now teenagers, alone) especially over the past few years. When it comes to musical surprises though, well, let's just say that those kind of surprises are usually a pretty cool thing. Take this new single from Birmingham, England's Fukpig. I'm fairly certain that I've never covered anything from Devizes Records before and yet for some reason, known only to the mad and the damned perhaps, this new single from grindcore/crust band Fukpig showed up in my email's inbox. Formed in 2001, the band originally existed a mere four years (releasing the 2001 demo, "The Depths of Humanity" in the process) until 2004 rolled along and the members were forced to shelve the project as the needs of their main bands came first. That info is from the Metal Archives which also shared how the band ended up reforming in 2008. In 2009 the group released "Spewings from a Selfish Nation" and from that point on it looks as if Fukpig has been fairly active. This is the first track recorded with a full-line up and it should be noted that this version of "Bad Fucking Dickhead", which is the lead track from their yet to be titled forth album, is different then the one that will be featured on said up coming release. Whether the single that I received to review is different then the one released on the actual 7" vinyl single is a question I can't answer right now. I'm assuming it is though. Either way it smokes.The single edit of "Bad Fucking Dickhead" is a little over 2 minutes in length and delivers crusty grindcore with a simple, and yet damn effective and deliciously killer, blackened thrash vibe. Hopefully this won't be the first and last surprise that I'll receive from a label like Devizes Records or a band like Fukpig as I'd love it if (somehow) their upcoming full-length album were to fall into my hands. In the meantime you can pick up a copy of this sweet single for yourself at the link below.
http://www.ds.bigcartel.com/

Sarke-Aruagint

 

Indie Recordings
2013

Never mind the dull album art on this one my friends as this Oslo-based act is anything but dull! Formed in 2008, at which point it sounds as if  the group was intended to be a mere one-man project and not necessarily a full-time band, Sarke is now on album number three with "Aruagint". It might be their third album but it's my first go-round with this Norwegian band so I wasn't sure what exactly to expect. I initially went into this 9-track album blind-folded so as to have no preconceived notions. It was only after the fact that I went back and pulled down the curtains so I could get a quick peak at the actual wizard who was pulling, or rather viciously attacking, all the strings. As it turned out the "wizard" was backed up by some serious metallic veterans as we'll soon enough see. First things first though. At the heart of this intense band is founding member/bassist Thomas Bergli (aka "Sarke"). When he first formed the band back in 2008, with the first album, "Vorunah", appearing the next year, it appears as if  Thomas Bergli (Khold, Tulus, ex-Old Man’s Child) initially went out looking for a band that would combine the delightful sounds of  bands like Mayhem, Slayer, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Death, Motorhead and Kreator into one compelling act. From doing a little bit of research it sure does sounds as if that mission was quite successful. But, that was then and this is now. When it came time to record "Aruagint", which was yet again laid to tape at H-10 productions studios in Oslo with producer Lars ErikWestby sitting at the helm,  Sarke himself approached the new album with this in mind- "Our music is inspired by the great 70`s rock bands, 80`s speed metal bands and 90`s black metal bands. Put this together with the creative mind of the band and your get pure dark rock music sounding is clear, raw and honest". So, with that in mind, we come to a band that, in addition to all the various thrash, doom and heavy metal influences listed above, also features quite a bit of straight-up rock influences as well as (not mentioned, but definitely there all the same) a keen desire to showcase their love for old-school punk! As for the veteran musicians who help out on album number three? You've got vocalist Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone), guitarist Steinar Gundersen (Satyricon, Spiral Architect), keyboardist Anders Hunstad (El Caco, Autopulver) and drummer Asgeir Mickelson (Spiral Architect, ex-Borknagar). Combined these musicians, along with Bergli, set out to make a record that would follow the original game plan of this band, which was to make it always make their music "dark, epic and groovy", while also stepping out of their own comfort zone a little more with each new recording. What has it all meant then? When it comes to this 9-track album I'd say you're looking at a cool and talented group that plays 70's rock-inspired death n' roll that has been thrashed and trashed thanks to the scorched and blackened remains that result form this band having with their fazers set to kill! Sure, that's a mouth full but after-all we are talking about a band that isn't afraid to rock on down the yellow brick road while proudly dressed entirely in black except for some tattered and well-loved punk rock shirts. So yes, sometimes you do need to string together a long, but essential title when you're talking about bands like this and their must-own albums.

Scythe-Subterranean Steel (North American version)

R.I.P. Records
2013

Chicago, Illinois' act Scythe (who are, yet again, another band which shares a similar name with crap-loads of other acts) was formed in 2009. Featuring former Usurper front-man Rick Scythe (Nightshade, ex-The Dead Youth) on lead vocals and guitars, Scythe, in a way I suppose, could just be seen as the next step for Scythe's former band. But, while Usurper ended up being viewed as one of  Chicago's most legendary bands (and justly so!) when it comes to Scythe we're talking about a band that is fighting for name recognition. Or is it their just fighting to become known as THE ONE and ONLY Scythe? Who bloody knows? Another album or two like this one though and it won't matter if there were hundreds (if not thousands) of other Scythes as these guys will be standing on-top victorious! They'll most likely get there soon enough as "Subterranean Steel" shows. In much the same way Usurper forged their own nasty sound out of the better parts of black metal and thrash (somewhere around here I have a copy of their cool as fuck debut-album, "Diabolosis") the three members of Scythe tear the lid off of blackened thrash and bath in it's bloody after-birth! The only real bit of difference between the two acts is that while Usurper stuck rather close to that sinister combination (black metal + thrash) the guys in Scythe tap into some old-school speed metal as well as straight-up, kick you in the teeth, traditionally heavy metal! Joined by bassist/vocalist Dan Geist and drummer Joey Contreras (who both do much more then just provide the other two pieces of  Scythe) our former Usurper front-man is free to take things in whatever direction he wants with his new band. On his second album that means that even if Rick Scythe and his band-mates have a release on their hands that is 100% fueled by full-out rage (it's every bit an ugly, hate-infested album kiddies) somehow, and yeah it does sound odd I realize, the group is able to do an experiment or two and stretch their sound out to include some rock and roll! True, black n' roll isn't some new, just discovered, creature of the night. It's been around in various shapes and forms for some time so "Subterranean Steel" is not some kind of groundbreaking album. What it is though is one bad-ass album that initially offered up the appealing combination of raw thrash and primitive black metal, but ended up delivering so much more then it promised! When was the last time that happened? As it is coming at you with ugly thrash and demonic black metal, which is made all the better thanks to the album's unassuming production job, this Chicago group's sophomore release is not meant for the casual metal fan. "Subterranean Steel" will be more appealing to the metal fans out there who always wished that Slayer was more like Venom and that Venom was more like Deströyer 666. If you're the kind of person that laid awake at night pondering those kinds of extreme musical car-wrecks then this might just be the kind of band to answer your prayers. Look for "Subterranean Steel" to drop in mid-September.

Dissension-Of Time And Chronic Disease

BLK COQ MUSIK
2013

There's a fair bit of history behind Montreal, Quebec's Dissension. From 2007-2011 the band was known as Set To Kill and it was during this time that they ended up releasing a 2008 demo called "Dawn of Despair". Back then gothic metal was combined with black metal and death metal to create the key sound of Set To Kill, but with the name change came an apparent change in direction as well. Now we find that the group, which started going by the name of Dissension in 2011 and never looked back, is going for a more blackened form of power/thrash metal. Mind you it's more on the European power metal side of things, what with it's heavy use of keyboards, but the band does adapt some US power metal for inclusion here and there. That description (at least the blackened power metal part) might very well have you asking "Hey, that means they must sound an awful lot like Children Of Bodom right?". Well, to a point yes that's fair enough. Black metal and power metal merged together is Children Of Bodom's calling card so this band's combination of black metal and power metal/thrash might not seem to be all that unique. They (Children Of Bodom) popularized that sort of style and any band that comes on the scene now playing that sort of hybrid metal will inevitably draw comparisons to Children Of Bodom (from here on out refereed to as C.O.B). Then again, this 5-piece does switch things up and, in their own way, they end up sounding a bit more thrash-inspired then a band with keyboards might initially suggest. That's thrash along the lines of Kreater and, a bit more subtly perhaps, Coroner. Plus, when it comes to flashy keyboard power metal, these guys pack a bit more punch  (and not to mention mojo!) then C.O.B does as we'll soon enough see. Prior to this full-length album the band released a 3-track, self-titled EP. That was back in September of 2011. Here it is 2013 and now the group looks to build upon all of their various experiences since the name change and (somewhat) change in musical direction. To that end we find a group that has shared the stage with some well-known acts which has no doubt helped to boast their confidence and likely, at least on a subconscious level, fueled their creativity. I have little doubt that Dissension has sharpened their sound since the name change in 2011 and sharing the stage with the likes of  Slaves on Dope, Disturbed, Godsmack, Suicide Silence, Machine Head, In Flames, Unearth, Death Angel, and Trivium has only helped this Canadian act out. The new album was produced by Kevin Jardine of Uplift Productions (Slaves on Dope, What Comes To Life, One) and mastered by Ryan Morey (Arcade Fire, Priestess, Half Moon Run) with the end result being a more then solid full-length undertaking. What really sticks out about the guys in Dissension is how well their songs are constructed. They prove that they are more then capable of writing metal tunes that stick around in your head even after you've walked away from this album. And it's not just Children Of Bodom fans that might appreciate this album as there are reminders of bands as diverse as Protest the Hero and Slayer! There's also some hints of Death behind the scenes and Amon Amarth, Dimmu Borg and At the Gates come out of the woodwork for a play-date. Interestingly enough this Canadian band also reminds me of Ohio's The Approach and The Execution. Weird. Anyway, as for the musicians behind "Of Time And Chronic Disease"? Well, Nathan Afilalo handles rhythm guitar and lead vocals and quite honestly I find his vocal delivery to be more to my liking then those of C.O.B.'s Alexi Laiho (Alexi's voice sounds like nails on the chalkboard to me!) as his gruff style leans more towards the thrash metal side of things. Additional lead guitar comes from Matteo Conti, whose solos are rather sweet all around, while Anthony Pulcini handles the drum kit like a pro. Keyboards on the album were done by Andrew Proppe (who also played guitar in Venomenon) while bass was played by Oli Aveline (who has since been replaced by Giancarlo Cininni). Overall this group of musicians has issued a cool album that sets the stage for Dissension to become much more well-known and appreciated. Another album or two like this and Dissension might just end up being a household name and a "must-catch live" kind of band!

Earthling-Dark Path

Forcefield
2013

 
After releasing two demos and a split split 7" with Valkyrie (guitarist Alan Fary actually plays in both Valkyrie and Earthling) we are now looking at a full-length debut album in the form of "Dark Path". Calling Virginia home the band, which first came together in early 2009, started out as a project by Alan Fary (guitar/vocals) and Brently Hilliard (drums). Soon enough the project turned into a full-on band and the Harrisonburg natives would find a solid lineup with the addition of Praveen Chhetri (guitar) and Jordan Brunk (bass). Recorded by Garret Morris (Windhand, Cough, Parasytic, Bastard Sapling) and mastered by Mikey Allred (Inter Arma, Hellbender, Across Tundras) this six-track release runs a little over 30 minutes, but that's more then enough time for this group to shake things up and get down. And down they do go towards a doom-encrusted hell inhabited by a race of Slayer-worshiping demons who live and die on all things blackened thrash! Earthling takes the left hand path as they move forward and down inhaling the smoke of the bands Death and Possessed while chipping away at the crusty outer edges of  early Venom and Cronos' idea of black metal. Earthling's debut-album doesn't exactly hide it's influences and it can't be called brilliant release, but seeing as it is blinding when it comes to the band's obvious love for what they're doing there's no way I could ever complain about how real they are! At the end of the day "Dark Path" is the result of a young band doing their own thing and not giving a crap about how it's perceived. Somewhere down the road we'll hopefully see Earthling emerge as a legitimate band to be reckoned with, but for now "Dark Path" is worth the investment and attention as it's a raw and rampaging collection of home-grown metal tunes from a home-grown group of fanatic metal musicians.
 
 

The Inferna Sea-The Crypt Sessions

Self-Release/Independent
2013

Whatever hope that I had of covering this EP sooner was crushed when my computer flipped out and went all psycho on me. Could it be that it was scared of what awaited it when I wrote about The Infernal Sea's new 6-track EP? Quite possibly. Or maybe I just need to face the facts that's it's time that I finally look at getting a new computer. I think the answer is to be found somewhere in between. For you see it's all rather sinister how things went down when I first tried to do a write-up for "The Crypt Sessions". Here it was that "Into The Unknown" (the EP's last track which runs over 15 minutes long!) had just wrapped up and, before doing the write-up, I took a break to go refill my wine glass. When I returned to my computer I went to log on to my Google blogger account. Not so fast. First it went and froze up on me like it had been hit with a cold blast of winter's chill and the next thing I know every thing's going to hell! When I tried to do a write-up of the EP my computer reacted like it was possessed! An hour or so later I gave up, powered down the computer and decided to return to this EP another time. The whole ordeal was rather odd. If anything though it did mean that I would get to put aside time listen to the EP a second time to refresh my memory for this write-up. That was a good thing as I'm almost thinking that I prefer this 6-track EP over the band's full-length release (which I happened to really like!). It's a close race though kind of neck and neck. If you couldn't figure it out from the EP's title then this 6-track release was recorded at the Crypt rehearsal studios (hence the title!) in England. Simple enough. Or is it? As it is noted on The Infernal Sea's bandcamp page (link below) the recording took place "on a cold winters eve in Jan 2013".  That could have a lot to do with the overall chilly vibe this EP gives off (not to mention the way in which my computer froze up all to hell the first time around). Anyway, the band hit the studio with Christopher Majewicz handling production for this new release. Or, if you will, he just hit "record" as this EP was (essentially) recorded live with only a few overdubs taking place afterwards. That was "in order to capture the true sound of the group". The beautiful thing is that you do get the feeling that this is how The Infernal Seas sounds like when you see them life, but with benefit of a fairly smooth and clean recording and some extra "sound effects". It should be said then that if this is what the band sounds like live then don't walk, but RUN to their next show as these guys know how to throw down some simply nasty metal!  Of the six cuts presented here three tracks are pretty much sound effects tacked on to help with the overall feeling of dread. Otherwise the other three "real" songs are sick and nasty metal! They are more then effective at putting a chill down your spine. "Into The Unknown" is by far the longest, the most sinister and the most epic of the three "real" cuts. "Skinwalker" opens the EP up and is 5:00 minutes of almost raw, blackened thrash. As is "The Circle Closes". Both of these cuts flow out almost seamlessly, but give off this bone-chilling vibe. While the last album was somewhat black/death in nature there seems to be even more of this emphasis on chilling out while at the same time beating the crap out of their instruments! For you see with some primitive thrash riffs sandwiched between the overall death/black vibe of these songs you get this raw, gritty blast of mean metal. At the Crypt rehearsal studio it almost sounds as if the guys let down their hair (so to speak) and took aim at crafting simple, yet clearly well-thought out, old-school death/thrash. Somehow they pulled off a sound that is laid back and yet perfectly lethal. Its mid-paced metal, but there's plenty of crunchy riffs and gritty vocals to give this a ghoulish polishing.  It's different then their debut, but different can be good and this EP sure is good. Check out the links below for details.

Get the EP here:
http://theinfernalsea.bandcamp.com/album/the-crypt-sessions

 Review of "Call of the Augur", the band's 2012 debut album
 http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-infernal-sea-call-of-augur.html