New Reviews 7/4/2010
Thulcandra- Fallen Angel’s Dominion-CD (Napalm Records)
Full on Balls out Black Death this is something I haven't heard for a while on Napalm they like to go with the more Gothic edged or Doom soaked bands this more a come back to Dismal Euphony and Marduk sound and style I remember for these kind of bands. Thulcandra are one pissed off force of power and position on the Napalm roster. The only think I will say is the production is a bit muddy on this. Thulcandra do sound like early Dimmu Borgir in the arrangement vocal style. I just wish there was a bit more diverse sounds on each track Thulcandra do sound a be samey at times I think it will just take time to grow as a band to remove this one element of the band that will make them from good to great. They are well worth checking out and I'm sure the next will be even better..
CHAOSSWORN- Chalice of Black Flames-CD (Abyss Records)
Oh my dear brilliant sounds in all of metal. Why does this just have to be 3 tracks long this reminds me of all the amazing melodic Black Death that came from Sweden and Germany over the years. Hypocrisy, Dissection, Naglfar, Unanimated and Edge of Sanity.. The guitars are almost perfection to my ears people the vocals are death mixed with that blackened cry.. The bass and drums are just massive and fill the room with sound.. The songs are epic and apocalyptic all at the same time. Chaossworn are masters of there craft. I really miss this sound and am so glad to have a band like this do material on this level. With Chaossworn there is a darkness that is back to the odd tones and ice feel to the rhythms. Abyss Records we need a full length from this band ASAP....
WAN- Wolves of the North-CD (Abyss Records)
Remember the Birth of what the modern age calls black metal this is were Wan takes you mix elements of Bathory, Venom and Celtic Frost and you have a very good Idea of whats going on the vocals are just grim but clear and understood. The thrash elements are there there are fast moments but never to the point of just noise. The guitar have the cold nordic vibe and you can hear the disgust in every moment this band performs there rituals. Wan is the some of all its pieces to make an amazing look back on what made the Black metal sound come to be. Love the huge big open sound that early euro BM bands had and this here in full form.. There are times I think I'm listening to early Polish BM too as there is a strong love of Graveland here too.
Through The Eyes of the Dead-Skepsis-CD (Prosthetic Records)
Death metal is making a move to the more progressive and clearer productions as of late to my ears. With Bands like Through the eyes of the dead. They are reminding me more of what you heard on Roadrunner, Relapse and Century Media in the late 90's . Yes the guttural and brutality is still all there but there is a new found love for the complexity slowed down a bit so it can really be heard and the melodic down tuned tones to be expressed as well. I know some with will call this NU Death metal or Melodic Swedish Death influences but I this this comes more from the Post Hardcore element you can hear in the band. There is a challenging sound going on through out bands like this that actually make you listen and experience the whole album its not 9 tracks of burp metal and this is what I'm looking for in a Death metal release. Nice work Through The Eyes of the Dead.
Early Man- Death Potion-CD (The End Records)
So I'm going to start off with a disclaimer ... Early Man is a band your going to love or hate within the 1st 30 seconds of listening to them. There an old school Thrash/Metal band on the truest of all manners. If you loved the days of late 80's Cali Technical Thrash then this going to kick you in the face and you'll be hooked and this Bay area metal 1989 my friends there really not a lot so say here. The vocals are sung with a bit of an edge, Catchy as hell twin guitars going on here a warm and full bass/ drum connection. Band's like Early man want to make me get my denim vest with the patchs on my high top Nikes and bullet belt on and start up an dirty old school pit before the kicking and hardcore moves came into play. Raise the horns high for the classic sound done to amazing talent. I will point out there is a good strong love of Voivod and Exciter too but they had that sound in them as well.
Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire - Songs of Ill Hope and Desperation-CD (Prosthetic Records)
This was not what I was expecting at all.. If Brutal Truth and Coalesce had a child that was set to destroy the earth with blistering and grinding metallic hardcore then this would be the motherfucker to watch out for. As this one of those sentence bands as all them . That is Brutal, Experimental and Post everything. Clinging to the Trees of a forest fire are as heavy as a jack hammer ripping open the streets of NYC at 2am. Leaving nothing but Chaos and Destruction in its path. The band really shows its talents when they slow down and play there disjointed Virus meets DHG styled alt metal sounds. The vocals are always in the Post Hardcore screamo utterly pained style but it works so well . Welcome to Deadguy or Kiss it goodbye 2.0 . Prosthetic Records has another nightmare force behind them. This band could be massive if given time to grow and expand into what there going to be which should be brilliant...
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