New Reviews 6/1/2009

Old Mans Child - Slaves of the World-CD (Century Media)

Galder has always been someone musically I have been a fan of . Old Mans Child is a great epic black metal force. I was a bit shocked when he joined Dimmu Borgir a bit as Old Mans Child was so powerful on its own and I thought doing very well. There is a more progressive and darker black metal side to Old Mans Child I was hoping would not get lost as well with two full time projects. There is an atmosphere in the bleak and sorrow that fills the stories on Slaves of the World. OMC is still a real black metal force where I really think Dimmu Borgir are full blown rockstars in the metal world now. I like the raw and thrashy approach to the vocals and guitars most of the time . Century Media has always been a strong home for Black metal esp in the Century Black days and even though they seem to feel my zine is not worthy of promos I am here reviewing this CD as Galder deserve the hype and acclaim. Not to leave out Peter from Pestilence on Drums adds a new complexity to the percussion that works very well. Long live Old Mans Child...

http://centurymedia.com/


Grim Pig-This, Then, Is Paradise? -CD (PAEAN ABUSSOS RECORDS )

The minimalist Bleak and floating ambient structures of Grim Pig on this release are just down right frightening. If you like projects like Kerovnian, Nordvardrs Sleep series or even Aube then grim pig is project you must own this hypnotic gem. This, Then , Is Paradise is a very spacial sounding album as well. The tubular bells, the distant drones and the very fragile nature of it all. At times I want to call it a mechinical orchestra. Grim Pig likes the old school tape delay and real to real industrial soundscapse of the 70's and 80's as well its almost like an In the nursey release gone very mellow. I think what sticks in my mind most about this release is the slowed down cello and strings that make the darkness even more sinister. This at the moment seems to be a digital release only so pick it up from Paean Abussos records if you can and support and very strong up and coming artist.

http://www.songcastmusic.com/profiles/PaeanAbussos


sunn 0)))-”Monoliths & Dimensions-CD (Southern Lord)

If you have not heard of sunn0))) by now and are into extreme underground sounds. You must have been living in a tiger cage as a P.O.W for the last 10 yrs. This is Mr Anderson and O malley of Khanate, Goatsnake, Enginekid and Burning Witch fame. Creating Droning Ambient Doom the way bands like Earth , Thergothon and Skepticism have been doing for decades. The vocals have just come into focus over the last few releases but add even more a funeral doom/ avant jazz element to the over all picture are they are spoke deep, choirs and chanting at different times. These 4 tracks are of a slow syrup like style that create a suffocation and hypnotic soundscape image in ones mind. There is very much a post rock element to the over all sound and at time an almost noisy industrial side. I think sunn0))) musically relates to John Zorn's Tzadik label artist as well as they do to bands like Neurosis and Godspeed your black emperor. sunn0))) has become the ultimate cross genre project and I think there is no better compliment then this. The packaging must be spoken on all its own merit as Southern Lord is never cheap in that dept. With this there is stenciled film/paper and lovely sliver, blue and grey tones and a slip cover intercately designed as well. Thank you for more Sunn0))) as I humbly welcome it.

http://southernlord.com/

Impiety- Terroreign-CD (Agonia Records)

Impiety is a fist in the clogged colon of a world that is at the end of its days. I didn't know bands were still this fast, noisy , chaotic and just pissed off in Black/Death these days. With Impiety you can just feel the disgust flow there them with ever moment of the thrashy black death guitar tones, rumbling bass and lighting fast drumming. The vocalist misses the late 80's early 90's heavy verbed thrash vocal styles of Kreator, Sodom and Exciter... Albums like this make my once very long haired now shaved head want to whiplish around until the metal gods pull the long hair back into place for me. With this I end the review with horns held high and say Impiety is as metal as any band can be....

http://agoniarecords.com/



Saros- Acrid Plains- CD (Profound Lore)

Progressive Arty Black metal is nothing new from the Bay area but add in classic metal and atmospheric passages into the mix and your getting more into the Agalloch terrority of sounds there is a lot of Hammers of Misfortunes in style and textures here as well. Saros vocals are so grim and throaty they mix well with the more melodic and epic melancoly on the musical side. The solo from the guitars are majestic and soaring. The Bass and Drums has a more lazy and avant dissidence in structure. The crawling black metal sounds the interwine between the cold icy tones really works to make Saros a complete picture. I hear alot of Satyricon and Opeth more early Opeth but Opeth none the less. Profound Lore always seems to find the more interesting metal acts now that The End is going more in to Post Hardcore and Melodic Rock elements. Saros is a very interesting force indeed.

http://profoundlorerecords.com/




Amber Asylum- Bitter River-CD (Profound Lore)

The moment Amber Asylum starts you know who it is as there are 3 brilliant elements that they have made thier own. Kris Force Chanting/ Haunting vocals. The Neoclassical strings arrangements and the the wonderful warm acoustics of the guitar and bass. I know this is an odd critic buy Amber Asylum as always reminded me of Neurosis if they when fully acoustic and after I heard Steve von till solo I know I was correct. Amber Asylum have a passion to what they play that most lose in translation over the yrs and time the record new material. Bitter River is just the opposite as with time Amber Asylum become more expressive and rely less on bombastic and more on the delicate tones of each piece and layer of the complete picture. There is not a band on this earth that can put so much beauty in the sounds of sorrow and loss. Someday Amber Asylum main composer Kris Force will be the next Danny Elfman as soundtracks are just the next step of the journey as her studio/ engineering work is world reknown now as well. Leila Abdul Rauf of Saros fame the band I just reviewed before is also in Amber Asylum and plays a major role in songwriting on Bitter River as well so props must be given. I still really want to know why Relapse or Neurot didnt push this project to higher levels as Amber Asylum in the new classical or darker adult contemporary scene can and will be the sounds of legends. Profound Lore with there 2nd Amber Asylum release are poised to make them bigger then even Kris and Co can see. Bitter River is there best work to date.

http://profoundlorerecords.com/