New Reviews 11/15/2009 (Metal Edition)
Ruins- Front the Final Foes-CD (Debemur Morti Productions)
So I had to review their last CD "Cauldon" from Moribund a few months back now I have some newer material to see where the band is now . This duo has a huge love and respect for Celtic Frost and Satyricon big time on this release as I think Mr Warrior is singing at times. And the music lies between Satyricon and Immortal. The sound and production is top notch this isn't overly extreme just very talented well presented Black metal . At times this release has a stronger melody then the last but still have the strong ties to the Black Death scene they so proudly hold the flag for. I understand there is nothing ground breaking here but does it need to be for an album so simply kick ass within the genre they are so clearly perfect to be in. Ruins is melodic epic Black metal and I need no more.
http://www.debemur-morti.com/
TENEBRAE IN PERPETUUM -L'Eterno Maligno Silenzioc-CD (Debemur Morti Productions)
This is a much clearer example of Occult Black metal metal while still in a melodic side the raw elements come out in a much more regular fashion. The guitars and vocals are far rawer at times though we do get the clean chanting vocals that mix in to make Tenebrae In Perpetuum have a very haunting side as well. There is just something sinster about this release as it goes from blistering to a slow plodding black metal ambience that bands like Burzum and Marduk use to use but is really missing in today's BM movement. I think if you a fan of Absu and Mid period Emperor you will be very pleased with this release.
http://www.debemur-morti.com/
VETUS OBSCURUM -Blood Revelations-CD (Debemur Morti Productions)
Much like the band Twilight this is a Black metal supergroup and very similar in sound to Twilight is Vetus Obscurum . We have members from (Krohm, Abazagorath and Drawn and Quartered) . I really feel groups like this love to mix in the avant and dissident sounds with the cold , raw sounds of early black metal assaults. The buzzsaw guitars and very under effected drums work well with the very verbed cleaner guitars, rumbling bass and bleak and tortured vocal style going on with this EP and this another issue I have you put together 4 songs of this level and you just offer an Ep not a full length release. I would have rather waited for a full release and suffered a bit longer. Vetus Obscurum is just one of the best examples of 3 bands styles and sounds coming together and creating a brilliant Black metal release ..
http://www.debemur-morti.com/
WAY TO END -Desecrated Internal Journey-CD (Debemur Morti Productions)
What the fuck is going on here Progressive, Avant Black Noise. I think has fractured my very thoughts of where style lines are draw in extreme music. If Dream Theater, Voivod and Mayhem all formed one group I would be Way To End. With each moment I listen to this I think this band has more in common with later Pestilence, Cynic and Atheist then any other artists just add the black metal vocal arrangements. Debemur Morti is one of these extreme music labels that likes to keep you thinking over and over again. Way to End I hope will allow these digital halls to interview them as I have some very off the wall questions to ask them as there are very jazzy and freeform musical elements going on here. All I can say in closing is if your musical adventurous then this is mandatory need to own period.
http://www.debemur-morti.com/
The Beast of the Apocalypse - A Voice from the Four Horns of the Golden Altar (CD) (Transcendental Creations)
Wow this one of the most barbaric and brutal black metal releases I've heard in a very long time. There is a very noise low fi feeling to this release as a whole. You can hear the most primitive elements of this monster coming out to attack your senses. The Beast of the Apocalypse is very epic in other moments but more in a bombastic nature as they almost hit a punk/industrial/ symphonic feeling like some Beherit/ Samael releases have at their later periods. The vocals are some of the most Tortured Black metal style I've heard in many many years. There is a very strong Pagan/Occult signal being shined here my friends. I will take many listens to understand fully what The Beast of the Apocalypse war cry really is and why its been created. You do get that wow factor often now but in 2009 Transcendental Creation as done it twice 1st with A Forest of Stars and now with this.
http://transcendentalcreations.com/
TOWARDS GLOBAL HOLOCAUST / CHRIST DISMEMBERED – Upon Firmaments of Sacrilege and Genocide-CD (Disease Foundry)
1st off I must just remind you how underratedly amazing Towards global Holocaust is. This is one pissed off Black Industrial Death force. There are few that play this fast, angry and allow the occult and experimental sounds meld within there style so mindnumbly strong. The vocal lines are those of a mental patient off of there meds for who know how long. Again with many bands that are so far out there there is a strong hardcore punk vibe to all that TGH do. Along with Sodom and Kreator my friends. This band should be ruling the top selling artists for labels like Osmose or Drakkar as this is where they would just be perfect for the sickness level they create. This is controlled chaos. 4 songs are just not enough from them. Now on to Christ Dismembered I don't know if I would feel the same about them the 1st track is just recorded so poorly and bassy you can hear almost nothing but bass, drums and vocals. Christ Dismembered are going more for the low end Black Death approach just is such a demo tape in sound and feeling it leaves me wanting so much more. With a better recorded product I could tell you more but if this is what they want and this is the production values that make them happy after 3 songs I'm going to have to pass.
http://www.diseasefoundry.com/
So this maybe the 1st time I just don't like a 20 buck spin release it has nothing to do with the production at all its just I can not get into stoner music and this is fully want Megasus is . They would fit perfect on Rise Above or Meteor City for a release. Just to groove based and drenched in Ozzy period sabbath sounds. I just do like the trippy nature of it all were bands like Samothrace just don't go so hippee in sound and still try to stay noisy sludge doom. The vocal i just fucking hate so much here I can't make it past 2 tracks.
http://20buckspin.com/
Walken-S/t-CD (Self Released)
This seems to be a self promotional machine in the ways of Heavy Hard rock/ Metallic realm. Walken has 2 members of Grayceon who have releases out on Vendlus label. What this band plays is something very similar to bands like Giant Squid and slough feg in they way they arrange classic metal, doom/ death metal , rock and bluesy hard rock into a very catchy over all sound. The band is minimal on the vocals at times but this seem to work well with the building up of tempo and sounds through out each track. Then they go to what I would call a gothenburg Metal sound that very melodic death metal over tone. Looks like Walken have been playing over 10 yrs as well so they have really mastered there craft. You can hear it in the heavy then delicate guitar riffs. the warm bass lines and the druming that goes from powerhouse to similar and subtle when and were its needed. The vocals are melodic and full on death vox sometimes within the same verse. Walken is the real deal its that simple. If they want a label I'm sure they can have many but I sure they chose to be independent and proud to be so. A true San Fran Rock legend from these ears I really want to hear more and you should as well.
http://walkenroll.com/
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