G.O.T.H.-Glam On Thy Hell

Musicarchy Media
2016

Formed in 2005 by co-vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Ivan Prim, G.O.T.H (Glam On Thy Hell) is a rock-solid hard & heavy gothic metal band whose vast array of influences seem to range from Siouxsie and the Banshees to Slayer*! Originally released back in 2015 in digital format only, "Glam On They Hell" is the first full-length studio recording from this up-and-coming American/Portuguese band and it is a highly-atmospheric walk on the dark side of the moon! Well, it's either that or it is a calm, cool & collected sneak peak at the other side of the life's door. You do know the spooktacular place that I am talking about right? If not then it is where you can expect to find death just sitting there nice and comfortable as he waits to greet you after all of the lights have been turned out!! Given the mysterious narrative that is this album's lyrical content** (mystic metal anyone?) I suppose it could go either way. From that point of view it isn't a easy task pinpointing the exact origin of "Glam On Thy Hell". Mind you it's not as if it actually matters. For you see whichever way you choose to slice it and dice it the end result will always be the same. From it's lyrics to it's actual music "Glam On Thy Hell" is a winner! You don't often get hear that when it comes to a band's first album, but somehow all of the stars were able to line up just right and G.O.T.H. pull it off. Produced by Ivan Prim and João Pereira at Requiem Studios in Wolverhampton UK, G.O.T.H.'s debut outing is truly something special, but then again so are the two people that were involved with it's creation. Yes, you heard that right. Despite it's grand scheme there were only two people at work on "Glam On Thy Hell"!. In addition to G.O.T.H.'s main-man and founder Ivan Prim (lead vocals and backing vocals, drums, guitars, bass, and orchestration!) you have Kate Prim (lead vocals and backing vocals). Working together with co-producer João Pereira the pair of Ivan and Kate created a bang-up goth metal release that musically covers a lot of ground and should help set this band apart from it's peers. Somewhat fittingly "Glam On Thy Hell" includes 13 tracks (one of which is nothing more than an intro but still....) and these different tracks all line up in such way that you can't help but be reminded of a time when albums were just that-actual, honest to goodness albums and not just a collection of random numbers just tossed together. There's a nice even-flow about G.O.T.H.'s debut album and the vintage vibe of this disc's production merely adds to the overall appeal of "Glam On Thy Hell". With this only being their first album there's no doubt that this will be a good band to keep an eye on. And now that they are teamed up with the great folks over at Musicarchy Media the members of G.O.T.H. will finally get a chance to put out their debut album on a physical format***! That's a win-win in my book!!



*Even if it has more in common with heavy glam metal than it does thrash this album's somewhat eerie title track, "Glam On Thy Hell", features the same kind of familiar guitar riffs that Slayer in known for. And to answer your second question, yes, the song "Glam On Thy Hell" is all the more awesome because of these killer riffs!

**Despite the fact that you can take the album's well-written lyrics and interpret them in a variety of ways the end result is always the same. There is a strong sense of unity between the lyrics and the actual music on G.O.T.H.'s first album and it makes for a damn fine listen! 

***While it is technically just for the European market, "Glam On they Hell" will at least see a CD release. And that is all that really matters when it comes to fans of this underrated gothic rock/metal band.

Helevorn-Compassion Forlorn

Solitude Productions/BadMoodMan Music
2014

Due to be released on September 22nd, "Compassion Forlorn" is Helevorn's third full-length album since forming way back in 1991. As the (long-overdue) follow-up to "Forthcoming Displeasures" this eight-track album also holds the distinction of being the first sign of new material from this Spanish band in four years! Last time around (or if you will when the group unearthed "Forthcoming Displeasures" for the good of the doom metal community!) Helevorn had the distinction of coming in second place in the Metal Storm Awards category "The Best Doom Metal Album of 2010". Along the way the group also appeared on "December Songs", a Katatonia tribute compilation, with the song "12" and performed at festivals like Wave Gotik Treffen XX in Germany (with October Tide, Katatonia, The Foreshadowing...), Devilstone Open Air in Lithuania (with Grave, Tankard, Mayhem...) and the Dutch Doom Days in the Netherlands (with Shattered Hope, The 11th Hour, A Dream of Poe...)! All of which begs one question. How exactly do you go about one-upping your last (highly adored!) work? How do you build upon what you had (in this case a near-perfect blend of doom metal, melodic death metal goth metal) while simultaneously pushing your band in a new direction? On "Compassion Forlorn" it helps to look at the whole picture. First Helevorn (in what proved to be an inspired move on the part six-piece band!) went and signed up a male choir for several numbers. Next thing you know the band went about securing the services of Irish female singer/songwriter Lisa Cuthbert and the guitar player Pedro Zubiri (ex-Golgotha and ex-Blind Panic) for the song "Els dies tranquills". In both situations it paid for the band to seek some outside out as these small additions only add to the powerful presence of album number three. And speaking of powerful presences, Josep Brunet (the group's all encompassing front-man since day one!) is a master on the mic! Brunet's voice, which has equally been described as majestic and menacing, does much more then just compliment the often-times atmospheric nature of Helevorn's sound. As the captain of the ship this superb lead singer navigates the group through tranquil and treacherous water. Granted it does help when you find yourself in the company of -a fabulous crew that includes lead guitarist/long-time member Samuel Morales (Desmodus), guitarist Sandro Vizcaíno (ex-Movement, ex-Elemento.6, ex-Hedshock, ex-ShockWave, ex-Toxic Waste, ex-Virus), bass guitarist Guillem Calderón (Ancient Realm, ex-Desmodus, ex-Decomposed Torso, ex-Thrownaway), keyboardist Enrique Sierra and drummer/additional long-time member Xavier Gil! Still, front-man Josep Brunet breaths life into "Compassion Forlorn" as much as he gives these eight tracks a gothic undertone! As good as the band sounds here musically it must be noted how fantastic the album sounds as a whole! Recorded and mixed at Psychosomatic Studios in Mallorca (Spain) by Miguel Ángel Riutort "Mega" and mastered once again by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Arch Enemy, Kreator...) at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, "Compassion Forlorn" sounds great on every front! From the actual performances of the band members and guest to the the overall direction that Miguel Ángel Riutort "Mega" and Jens Bogren took the album in everything just has that perfect feeling....likes puzzle pieces fitting smoothly together to create a beautiful portrait! Fans of gothic metal/doom metal couldn't ask for a better album to sink their teeth into as "Compassion Forlorn" is dark, foreboding and ghastly (the use of keys helps see to that!). Then again it's also one album where melodic moments, tremendous lead solos and sweeping passages all tie together nicely with slowed down death metal so there's a little bit of everything for everyone! For Helevorn an album like "Compassion Forlorn" is the perfect addition to their body of work as a whole while it also brilliantly showcases the growth and maturity of this long-standing Spanish doom act. "Compassion Forlorn" might just be long-overdue, but it is one album that is well-worth the wait for fans!

Tor Marrock-Destroy The Soul

Black Vulture Records
2013

Cellar Metal? That's a new one. But, that is exactly how West Wales' one and only Tor Marrock refers to their sound and on "Destroy The Soul" (their second full-length LP since first forming in 2005) it's sort of hard to argue against such an apt description! By combining modern metal with eighties rock and a fist-full of heavy metal's greatest hits (Doom, Black Metal, Thrash, Death Metal, Gothic Metal, Dark Metal and even Traditional Metal) this UK-based power trio gives off a ghoulish, almost otherworldly vibe and then seals the deal with strong songwriting and (even better) a devilish vocal delivery! Said deadly vocals come courtesy of Tor Marrock himself and with the front-man also handling guitars (with bass and drum duties falling on Tarran and Forseen respectively) "Destroy The Soul" is arguably one of the better UK underground gems to emerge from the darkness in some while! Tor Marrock captures the essence of utter despair while drawing the listener ever closer with it's respective spin! "Destroy The Soul" is at times a bit of an oddity while still remaining fairly consistent and (strangely) familiar. How any band can simultaneously bring to mind Samhain, Pentagram, Christian Death, Paradise Lost, Slayer, The Cure and Depeche Mode in one song is beyond me. What's even more of a mystery is how they managed to do all of that and make it sound so fucking fantastic! Tor (the man and myth!) and his cohorts pull it all off like a beast! "Destroy The Soul' was one of the best albums of 2013 and let it seems as if it passed just about everyone by like a thief in the night! If you can track this sleeper down then by all means necessary do it!


https://www.facebook.com/pages/TOR-MARROCK/161843921361

Psychotic Gardening-Hymnosis

Self-Release/Independent Recording
2014

Due to be released tomorrow (May 13th, 2014), "Hymnosis" makes it four full-length albums for Winnipeg, Manitoba's Psychotic Gardening. Having first been assembled in the mid-nineties by vocalist/guitarist Chuck Labossiere (at the time a member of Immortal Possession) this one-time solo project has slowly grown into it's own. A unrelenting side-effect of heavy metal that has run amok, unrestricted by the barriers that are meant to keep everything in check (whether, as in the case of Psychotic Gardening, it's doom or death, groove or goth) this metallic freak of nature is pure, unfiltered fury and we, the heavy metal community at large, are all the better for it! Currently featuring a superb line-up of Labossiere (guitars, vocals and keyboards), (second) vocalist Chris "Gillshammer" Gillis (Mnemonic Void, Reign of Terror), guitarist Andrew Wiens (Aberration, ex-Children of Tragedy), bassist Mike "Junior" Jannsen (Eyam, Kaluza, ex-Damascus) and drummer Matt Penner this uncompromising (Canadian) monster of metal fury is as extreme as they come! And no, we're not even talking about the lyrical content* of "Hymnosis" here!  Joined by a couple of guests like Will "Willishammer" Janssen (additional keyboards on "Journey to the Sun"), Into Eternity's Tim Roth and Broken Hope's Chuck Wepfer (two guitarists, both of whom play on the band's choice Death cover, "Open Casket"), Manitoba's Psychotic Gardening manhandles their instruments, striking the listener with deadly blows to the head via the eardrums! With roots that seemingly point to not only old-school death metal, post-Pentagram doom metal and hardened thrash, but traditional heavy metal and the previously mentioned groove and goth (yes, truly all of that morphs together here on "Hymnosis" in a killer way!) Psychotic Gardening have a real raging vibe about them and any attempt to downplay the utter brute-force of this 41 minute platter would be ill-advised! This could prove to be one of 2014's most dangerous releases as it has mean look at it and it's bark is as dangerous as it's trap-jaw bite! It would be disastrous if this album was overlooked by the metal community at large as Psychotic Gardening's "Hymnosis" is METAL
and it strikes all the right cords! For Chuck Labossiere a release like this one has to be rewarding as it's build upon a solid foundation of THICK metal riffs and SICK solos that will stand tall against the inevitable wave of piss-poor imitators! Get on board with this lot while you still can folks as this (fully-armed battle) ship is going to be causing some major waves soon enough as they bring the hammer down on the competition !

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Psychotic-Gardening/8376017862

*This band's fierily attack on religion, or more specifically Christianity, is boldly spelled out make no mistake of that!

My Silent Wake-Silver Under Midnight

Bombworks Records
2013

Released on Bombworks Records (a subsidiarity of Retroactive Records, both of which specialize in Christian metal) last summer, "Silver Under Midnight", which was produced by Greg Chandler of Esoteric fame over the course of (only) four days(!), was the fifth full-length from the UK's My Silent Wake. Having just recently reviewed their sixth full-length release (the independently-released acoustic album, "Preservation Restoration Reconstruction" which you can read about here:http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-silent-wake-preservation-restoration.html) my curiosity was peaked for an electrified interpretation of this doom/death outfit with goth-rock overtones. Of course the electrified version of My Silent Wake is the day to day version/key operations of this band which resides on the South West side of England. And with June's "Silver Under Midnight" it's quite obvious that this doom/death has their "normal" sound down pat and man alive if it isn't on the lethal side of the spectrum! Opening with the brief instrumental number "Midnight", "Silver Under Midnight" finds My Silent Wake working with guests like the above mentioned Greg Chandler (also with Lychgate and formerly of ex-Pantheist (live) the album's producer does WONDERS here given the fact that he only had four days to record everything!) and Martin Bowes (Attrition) with their fifth full-length album running the gamut from a track like (album single) "The Last Man" (80's goth rock as interpreted by a nineties (heavy rock) doom band!) to doom thrasher "Wars" with numbers such as "Destroyer", "Oblivion" and "My Killer" showing off the ease in which band-founder Ian Arkley (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion) and companions Kate Hamilton (bass, dulcimer) and drummer Mark Henry are able to lay down FANTASTIC doom/death! After closing with the EPIC 14-minute plus "Third Season" My Silent Wake's "Silver Under Midnight" leaves you more then just satisfied. Rather this full-length studio album leaves you breathless! How an album like this one, which was recorded in only four, turned out this spectacular is mysterious. We're talking mere days here when album's which have taken years  to record pale in comparison, doom/death or not! How it is that My Silent Wake isn't more well-known is also a question, make that even larger mystery, in need of explanation. Especially as there is little here to suggest that My Silent Wake couldn't easily overtake the more talked about/marketed names in the doom/death scene! The natural ability of bandleader Ian Markey (as both a musician and a songwriter!) is evident as this album unfolds and if these seven tracks alone don't speak volumes as to unmistakeably strength that is at the core of this English band the clearly people need to check their hearing (and credentials!) at the door as this trio SLAYED with "Silver Under Midnight"! This my friends is everything I love about doom metal and death metal as performed by a highly creative and constructive metal act and had I covered this last year it would have been hard not to justify it making my top-ten list of album's of the year! Sure as it always rains in Ohio no matter the month or time of year I WILL be revisiting this album again and again in the weeks to come!

Undecimber-Dead Inside

Downfall Records
2014

According to Wikipedia, which I do realize is not always a legitimate source of information but in this case will have to do, Undecimber is a name given for a thirteenth month in a calendar that traditionally has only twelve months. Additionally, some sources claim that the word has comical interpretations while others point towards drearier connections to the underworld. For Sweden's Undecimber, whose dark goth roots can be traced all the way back to 2001 when they were known as the industrial-leaning act Reactor, the choice of moniker (adopted in 2007) perfectly reflects a band that is of a more unknown origin. Hailing from Stockholm the band, which is lead by the chilling vocals of (no doubt) vampire-in-training/guitarist Patrik "Snakes" Ransäter, first made their mark on goth rock/goth metal scene with the well-received, 2011 album "Seven Nights Of Sin". On the upcoming "Dead Inside", which was mastered at Fascination Streets Studios (Opeth, Katatonia, Amon Amarth and Soilwork), the band looks to build on the momentum of their full-length debut album while also expanding both their sound and their (also no doubt at all about it!) ever-growing legion of the damned (aka: Undecimber fans)! With 10-tracks in all and a haunting sound that seems to have been inspired as much by the gods of old (The Damned, The Sister Of Mercy, Bauhaus, Joy Division, Killing Joke, Concrete Blond, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Cult, Depeche Mode, N.I.N. and Alice Cooper) as the gods of new (H.I.M., later day Linkin Park and to a lesser extent both Danzig and Type O' Negative) this is a chilling release and one that goth fans should greatly appreciate! Now, while Snake's oddly cool voice seems to be the main focal point of this Swedish band there is more to the picture then just the one man. Additional guitars come courtesy of Emma "Lash" Kronborg while bass and drum duties fall on Michael "Mizzy" Carling and Peter "Zkipper" Jansson respectively. As no other details have been made available in regards to "Dead Inside" it's currently unknown (at least on my end) who else might be physically involved with the album. Still special mention should still be made of the keyboard and synthesizer elements that are present throughout this very cool album as it greatly enhances the overall chilling atmosphere of "Dead Inside". Along with heavy rock guitar solos these electronic effects create a darkly-tinged backdrop over which Snake can easy paint his cool and collected "Come closer my sweet so I can swallow your soul!" delivery.  And speaking of the electronic elements, it does seem as it some of Reactor's sound trickled down into Undecimber. In the mist of  melodic goth metal one can certainly pick up the afterglow of industrial rock. Whether it's the effective use of synths (which first come into play on the album's cool opener, "Three  Pages From  Hell", and then run all the way through until the it closes with the eery "Beyond  The  Grave") or some (sinister) post-industrial harsh guitar riffs ("Fatal  Kiss", "Tears From  The Past", "Scars Of Pleasure") an album like "Dead Inside" often reflects the thin line that separates the worlds of industrial rock/electronic rock and alternative rock/goth rock. Given all of that it still should be duly noted that above all else this is still very much a heavy release from a heavy band. Of course the line between heavy rock and heavy metal might get blurred somewhat with the goth outfit Undecimber, but the guitars on "Dead Inside" seem as if they are focused on relaying crushing riffs 99.9% of the time! Of these tracks there are some real wicked moments such as "Fatal Kiss" and "Scars  Of  Pleasure" (both of which have foundations built out of HUGE heavy metal riffs!) as well as the cuts "Three  Pages  From  Hell", "Solitude", "War Hero" and "Wait  In  The  Dark". Really though there isn't a bad cut to be found on this sophomore release and, as stated, fans of all things goth should appreciate all of the effort that has obviously been put into the follow-up of "Seven Nights Of Sin". Due for release this upcoming January, "Dead Inside" should be an early favorite to make my "Best of 2014" list!

Hex-Hex

Logic(il)Logic Records
2013

There has been numerous bands, both past and present, that have gone by the moniker Hex and/or had the word Hex as part of their name. These range from alternative rock to black metal and from underground and indie acts to the more established ones. So, before we even crack this self-titled album open, here's hoping that this particular Hex doesn't slip through the cracks simply because their name doesn't do enough to differentiate them from so many, heck, make that TOO many, bands with similar identities! As for this Hex let's just say that given the dark nature of this act it does seem kind of fitting that they were formed during the month of October! That was back in 2011 and now, some two years later on, this 5-piece Swedish act are looking to make a name for themselves with this, their 13-track debut-album. Did I just say 13 tracks? Yes, even that seems to fit the very nature of this act that features (among their pool of players) seasoned musician Micke Backelin (ex Lord Belial). On "Hex" he handles the drum duties so it's not too shabby that the band was able to rope in this well-traveled veteran musician who has also played in Vassago, Hellgoat (which is a sweet name for a band, black metal or not!), Latex, Them and more. So yeah, he does add another layer to this band, but it's not as if the rest of this bunch doesn't hold their own or anything! Lead vocalist Jonas Hygren (who wrote all the songs for this album) comes across like a poor man's Rob Zombie which, despite how that might sound, actually helps highlight the (somewhat) ghoulish vibe that Hex rolls with. As you are looking at a lead singer who sounds a bit like the former White Zombie front-man then it's easy enough to get a real Rob Zombie/White Zombie feeling on the band's debut-release. There's also been comparisons made to the like's of N.I.N. and Ministry which should give the listener a fair enough idea about what these guys bring to the party. With horror-inspired lyrics and this creepy and mysterious vibe it all plays into the band's strengths. Mixing the sounds of hard rock and modern metal (as well as a touch of goth rock) together like it's a witch's brew, which isn't so far-fetched given the band's lyrical themes of voodoo and the occult, everything comes to a boil and it's at that point that the band utilizes industrial touches to push the music's boundaries. In the end the music here brings to mind not only the previous acts mentioned, but also everyone from Alice Cooper to Mushroomhead! There were a few occasions as well where I picked up on Gwar (or rather their form of heavy metal) and Lordi (same things-their music not singing) as well as some form of Marilyn Manson and his creepy brand of rock. Although (for fear that I might just be making this album sound as if it is more of a novelty than the true notorious slice of hard & heavy metal that it is) it must be mentioned that Hex leans closer to Rob Zombie then Marilyn Manson (thank the heavens for that!) and how lead guitarist Jörgen Svärd adds an extra sharp edge to "Hex". Together with Jonas Hygren you have a set of musicians with not only chemistry, but also this calculating ability to pen songs that will stay with you long after the record stops! Both Hex the band and "Hex" the album are well-worth looking into if the darker side of heavy metal intrigues you. And, despite how it sounds, the fact that you might hear bits and pieces of all these different acts (one of which I just remembered was Filter) does not detract at all from the appeal of this 13-track album. This is a band that is just getting their feet wet in this kind of sample-infused, heavy rocking, dark metal so it doesn't really bother me that much if they are still shaking off their influences. This is a great start for what will be a longer career for this Swedish act! To that I have no doubt!

Twitching Tongues-In Love There Is No Law

Closed Casket Activities
2013

Having enjoyed the last Twitching Tongues release, 2012's "Sleep Therapy", I was knee-deep in enthusiasm and anticipation when I came across their new album's promo. The band, which hails from Los Angeles of all places, has only been around since 2010 or so, but in that short time frame they have made quite an impression. At the heart of Twitching Tongues distinct sound you'll discover elements of hardcore, metal, doom, stoner rock, goth metal ( the kind that made Type O Negative so much fun), death metal and even some black metal (think Celtic Frost). Of course you'll also discover how melancholy the whole affair is. Even though that might sound weird on paper, especially as this dread-inducing 5-piece draws some of their sound from early hardcore bands (Cro-Mags, Warzone, Sheer Terror and Agnostic Front), in reality the band pulls it off and the whole thing settles in quite nicely.  Lead vocals come from Colin Young whose somewhat raw delivery makes the material on hand all the more impactful. On lead guitar is Leo Orozco while Taylor Young handles rhythm guitars and provides additional vocals. Together the two guitarists spend their time ripping through riffs that are equal parts death metal (Obituary and Pestilence) and crossover (S.O.D.and Carnivore) while also not that far off from what Life Of Agony is all about. Bass guitar comes from the capable hands of Kyle Thomas while Mike Cesario hammers away on the drums. Both of these musicians do their proper-duty of keeping things nailed down while simultaneously they seem to be keeping themselves occupied with the notion that it's up to them to be the heaviest rhythm section in the land! All in all "In Love There Is No Law" is a step up and step forward for this L.A.-based band. It still shows a band that can pull in everything from hardcore to death metal and yet still maintain this overall sense of dread and despair. All of that makes Twitching Tongues a little bit different, but different is good.
 

Vadikan-Hydrargyrum

Metal Scrap Records
2013

The roots of Moscow's Vadikan can be traced back to 2004 when, as nothing more then a studio-project really, guitarist and sound producer Vadim Pashutin (formerly of  Gross Grolland) first recorded a handful of tracks. It would take until 2007 (and the addition of vocalist Julia Tikhomirova) before all the pieces would start to fall into place though. Even then, as two demos were recorded and released before this full-length debut album, the band (and it's style) was in a slight state of chaos as they tried to hit on that one winning formula needed to keep the dream alive. It would take a few years, but in 2011 everything would change. Enter bassist Ilya Filipyev. In Ilya Filipyev the band found the one musician who would prove to be the last missing piece of the puzzle. Once fully assembled the puzzles artwork would look something like this: Gothic heavy metal with colorful shades of traditional heavy metal, melodic metal/melodic rock and doom rock. This combination, along with pleasantly strange pop and psychedelic undertones (not to mention blues rock!), proves to be more then a little effective. There is even sprinklings of electronic and symphonic rock hidden within the album's 9 tracks as well as some European power metal and neoclassical guitar. Whew! Despite all that it's actually vocalist Julia Tikhomirova, who is as lovely in real life as her pop-sweetened vocals would suggest, that ends up being the first thing you notice as "Hydrargyrum" kicks into gear. Even with the lyrics being in Russian you'll find yourself drawn into the music thanks to her alluring voice and her keen ability to convey the different emotional feelings that this album conveys. In her you begin to appreciate just what it is that Vadikan strives for. She remains the highlight of this album even after repeated listens. Close behind her though is guitarist Vadim Pashutin whose lead work is just spectacular. Whether the music is slow and dreamy and upbeat and intense his guitar playing fits the vibe perfectly like well-loved pair of gloves. With the pair of Vadim Pashutin and Julia Tikhomirova so easily able to feed off of each others strengths, and bassist Ilya Filipyev keeping everything in check (as his bass playing remains a steady point of reference within the album's landscape) the music within this debut-album takes on a life of it's own. The material on hand swirls about in this almost dance-like routine. Is it possible for metal to be both dreamy and doom-laden? With this talented bunch the answer is yes. While no credit is given as to who played drums (or for that matter who contributed the keys) on this album, which is a shame, credit still must be given to both instrumental endeavors. The overall effectiveness of these contributing instruments can not be overstated. Dreamy keys and a rock-steady beat only add to the overall appeal of this multicolored undertaking. As for the sound? Amazingly recordings for this 9-track album took place at several different studios in Moscow ( including Vadikan's home studio) and yet everything flows together perfectly and every aspect of this group (from the vocals to the drums) is right where it should be. The album, which was mastered by Finnish producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Apocalyptica, Sentenced, Theatre Of Tragedy, Entwine, The 69 Eyes) features artwork by artist Alla Bobyleva and a 12 pages booklet by Polish designer Marek "Ptys" Jastrzebski (Helloween, Hell:On, Quo Vadis). Those elements only serve to add to the overall appeal of this praise-worthy full-length debut album.

Death Trip-Pain is Pain - The Complete Death Trip 1988-1994

Ektro
2013

 
There's a better then average chance that the name Death Trip brings up nothing but shrugs or looks of confusion. Truth be told even I had no idea who these guys were or what they'd be on about when I clicked on the link for this promo. Surprises like that can obviously be both good and bad. Whatever mystery that I had allowed to build up inside of me (in regards to what sort of sonic sensation I would lay witness to) simply washed away as the music kicked in. Any expectations I had about this compilation just didn't matter as the music had swallowed me whole. What Death Trip did was quite simply and yet completely complex. Built upon a solid foundation of fuzzed over and wonderfully distorted guitars (courtesy of influences like The Stooges, The Birthday Party, and Spacemen 3) is a top level that splits time between gothic metal and the early stages of dark metal. This Finnish group helped pave the way for many underground groups in the homeland as well as being a sensation all there own. This compilation gathers Death Trip's three 7" singles (originally released on the legendary Finnish indie label Bad Vugum) and rare demos in order to create a set of explosive, post-punk in nature, violent rants/tracks. Within music that is dark, disturbing and dangerous you find a band that had set out to destroy rock and roll and rebuild it in their own graven image. At it's very core these tracks offer up revolutionary punk-tinged metal that is hostile while also offering up hope for a generation that often felt hopeless. It's not for the faint though as this LP is track after track of built-up frustration and pain so when you listen in to the despair at hand it's all too real. Still, there's something very therapeutic about music that spills it's heart and guts all over the floor. So yeah, any expectations I had about this compilation simply didn't matter in the end. For you see, what laid behind me was music that achieved so much in such a little amount of time. It had made me feel like I was drowning in a sea of darkness and yet, in a very surreal fashion, it had made me feel free as if it were ministering to me. This one is indeed dark and yet it has it's own inert power.
www.ektrorecords.com 
www.facebook.com/ektrorecords 

Locus Titanic Funus-Castus Lacrima

Metal Scrap Records
2013

Having just recently reviewed an album from Ukraine's Metal Scrap Records (EDVIAN'S rather stellar release,"2012") I was pleasantly surprised to find a new e-mail from them in my inbox that contained a huge assortment of promos of various genres. This oddly named lot was sitting atop the bundle so, faced with an open afternoon, I decided to do a little exploring, at least music-wise, and see what this Moscow-based band was all about. From the looks of it we're talking about a pair of musicians in guitarist Alexey Mikhaylov and vocalist Mila Ionova (Mea Vita) who, bound together by a shared love of darker music, made the most out of what was, by all intensive purposes, a studio-only project. Or at least for now as rumor has it they would very much like to pull it all off live. With that "Castus Lacrima" is the pair's debut-release and it's a fine thing indeed! Alright, so there's both female and male vocals. That works well in conjunction with the softer, more subtle passages, and the more gruff (and frankly bleak) black metal moments/movements. Joined by studio enhancements (ie: electronic elements such as synthesizers and drum machines), our pair of  musicians set their sights on provocative (or is that pervasive and punishing?) goth-tinged, occultist metal. While the group's name reportedly has to do with disaster of one sort or another what comes roaring out is anything but a disaster. Instead we have before us what, previously (in another life-time) at least, would have just been dubbed "alternative" music, but here it's like black metal with a twist. As hinted that's a goth twist and, when some sorrowful doom is unleashed upon the mix as well, it's quite the challenge to just say that Locus Titanic Funus sound like so and so when the reality is, as warped and bloodstained as it is with this type of morbid metal, this guy and girl combo is onto something decidedly different. It's not a release for everyone in you're household (unless you live in a hellish haunted house!) as it's dark and does bear some of the tell-tale trademarks of traditional black metal (usually a love it or loathe it genre to begin with), but as I step back and look at "Castus Lacrima" I'm quite glad that I reviewed this one particular release from Metal Scrap Records first as it's likely to stay with me for awhile!

A Pale Horse Named Death-Lay My Soul To Waste

Steamhammer / SPV
2013

Brooklyn's A Pale Horse Named Death is a project turned real-band that came together in 2010 when Sal Abruscato (Life Of Agony, Type O Negative) and Matt Brown (Seventh Void,Uranium) decided to work together. The pair first released "And Hell Will Follow Me" which was, per articles found online, produced and engineered by Matt Brown. With their sophomore release it looks as if the two of them have been joined by Eric Morgan (bass) and Eddie Heedles (guitars). If that isn't the case then someone feel free to correct me as the promo that came with this is rather vague. What isn't vague though is the pairs appreciation for doom and gloom. A Pale Horse Named Death could best be summed up as Type O Negative (without the keys and Peter Steele's eery vocals) served cold with a side of post-Black Sabbath grunge. Sal Abruscato's vocals are every bit as chilling and dreadful as the band's name would imply while musically it's quite fair to say the group haunts the listener with the ghosts of Type O Negative. That's to be expected I suppose considering Sal's involvement with Type O Negative, but it's not as if this is a badly faded copy of the late Steele's band. Really A Pale Horse Named Death are much more "grunge" then Type O Negative with justifiable comparisons having been made to Alice In Chains. Again though A Pale Horse Named Death only take these influences and shift them through a distinct (and very creative!) process that results in a darkly-tinted goth/doom/grunge hybrid. There's not enough words to describe how effective the band's sophomore release is at conveying one's nightmares in a musical form so let's just leave it where it is. Fans of Type O Negative and Alice In Chains should track this one down of course as should fans of doomish metal. "Lay My Soul To Waste" is wonderfully dark and depressing and oh so enjoyable!

 

Silentlie-Blood Under Snow

Self-Release/Independent
2013

As they so often say "don't judge a book by it's cover". The artwork of "Blood Under Snow" might be one of those cases where I get lost wondering about the who/what/where and why (especially as it gives off this bad black metal vibe), but the music hidden inside this 5-track EP, which is a simplistic and yet charming blend of gothic rock and dark/traditional heavy metal, is anything but a head scratcher. Hailing from Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia we find this Italian band who, after having been formed in 2008 by lead singer Giorgia Sacco Taz and guitarist Luigi Pressacco, found quite the positive reception to their first recording. That release, the demo EP "Behind My Face", had one song that ended up on two different compilations and another that was used in a movie soundtrack. "Silence Of Your Mind" ended up appearing on two compilations :"The Funeral Vol. 2" (272 Records) and "Maximum Rock Attack" (for the magazine Maximum Rock) while the demo's one other track, "River Of Torments", was used on the soundtrack for the movie "Blood Sisters". Listening to this band's new debut-EP, which was recorded and mixed at Palo Alto Studios (Trieste) and mastered at Finnvox Studios (Hesinki, Finland), was a pleasure seeing as SilentLie never over-think the process or become too fancy for their own good. David Sportiello, who was the founder of SinHeresy, handles bass and keyboard duties while Andrew Piergianni (formerly of Fuel From Hell) sits behind the drum kit. Together the pair allow Giorgia and Luigi to create atmospheric heavy rock/dark metal. In fact it's partly Giorgia, whose voice is as striking as she is, that helps SilentLie perfectly balance a style that should be equally appealing to goth rock and dark metal fans. That is not necessarily an easy task, but while Giorgia pulls the listener in with her haunting voice the rest of the band is busy keeping a steady eye on the fact that they can be all things to all people while truly forging their own identity. Kudos to them for crafting such an intriguing sound that is light on the ears and yet deeper then it might lead listeners to at first believe. And, because I truly believe that we can never have enough good female-fronted rock/metal bands, I'll be rooting for this young band from Italy to find greater success.Find out more from the band's Facebook page below.

https://www.facebook.com/silentlieband

Nightbitch-Chaimaker EP

Ear One Productions
2013

As I went to listen to this 3-track EP my first thought was "Why didn't anyone tell me that Glenn Danzig had a side-project? "Chainmaker" opens up this short EP and right off the bat Chris Taylor (Kingdom of Sorrow) does his best to make this heavy metal outfit sound like a Samhain/Danzig cover band. "Disrober" rides a similar path although there's one little difference here. With it's over the top "Satan is my gym partner" lyrics it sounds more like the group went to the Cronos school of songwriting. Talk about cheese! "Into the Fire" closes things off. This Deep Purple cover is actually the one cut I enjoyed the most as it sounded like Danzig and Deep Purple getting into a head on collision and then their zombiefied corpses rising up and rocking out! As this is a side-project/love-letter to all things "doom and gloom", or as the promo put's it "sleazy 70's occult / exploitation films and plagiarized Danzig riffs", Nightbitch is more of a tongue in cheek/tribute then something to be taken dead serious. In that regard there's a certain degree of charm to these 3 tracks even if I did struggle to keep a straight face during the first two cuts.

Tiamat-The Scarred People

Napalm Records Handels GmbH
2012



For those of you not familiar with Tiamat the band was formed in Täby, Sweden in 1988. More or less the driving force of the band is Johan Edlund. What started out as death metal eventually underwent multiple changes until you have what could best be called goth metal. This is all the more interesting if you consider the fact that Tiamat formed out of the ashes of the black metal outfit Treblinka. Regardless of that, on their new album, "The Scarred People", the band opts for goth metal with atmospheric rock overtones. The whole affair is one of those albums where it's more about the feeling/vibe then the actual music. The album is rich in admiration for Pink Floyd as well as old school/80's goth/alternative rock. While it is still somewhat of a culture shock to hear Tiamat playing this type of metal/rock (as I remember hearing this band back in high school playing blackened death metal) one has to admit the skill involved with pulling off an album like this.As such it is one of those albums where credit must be given and any accolades are more then warranted.