Posted by Anonymous

New Reviews 3/12/2011




Virus- The Agent that shapes the Desert-CD (Virulent Music label/ Duplicate Records)

I will start off by saying I'm so glad this turned out to be a Virus release and not an Ved Buen Ende release (there is far to much baggage and hype over that project to ever allow a new release to breathe on its own). As we all know this is members of VBE and Beyond Dawn and many other projects from the Norway Post Black metal scene . hat Virus has done on their 3rd release is broke the band into a sound and experience all there own. Were the last album " The Black Flux" was too unfocused and sounded rushed to me . Virus as created what that did with VBE and Carheart there debut and then added Avant indie rock sounds of bands like Polvo and Slint into a stew of not only sonic but Poetic brilliance. Virus will alway have a fantastic off kilter Jazz/Spoke word element to the music tornado of dissident and left field harmonic tones. With " The Agent" it all comes full circle for them. There is such a outsider catchy vibe going on here. At times I even hear moments of love of bands like The Police, Genesis, early Pink Floyd as well. Virus is a band that you need to take time with and understand the massive undertaking is each note created. This band is as complex as any modern composer or symphony..  Virus give me hope with bands like Code , Ihsahn, Ava Inferi that complex music can be something that is as inspiring as wonderful to listening to. Virus self funded this gem so support them with tens of thousands of copies sold so they can tour and release more music majesty..





Amon Amarth- Surtur Rising - CD (Metal Blade)

Amon Amarth as always reminded me of a more Thrash and Melodic metal verison of Bal Sagoth with their Viking and Death metal elements always being a major focus here. There is a major melody going on with Surtur Rising . Where this band use to be more about going at the throat for the guitar and vocals. I think this is a major plus or any fan of the Swedish death metal sound. The complexity and layers that go on with Surtur Rising seem to so much more then in past releases. You can hear the guitars, bass, under lying effects/harmonics and drums were it used to be more a sonic wall of power and fury. The vocals while still vicious as ever. its the guitars that go from acoustic in nature to full on Melodic Death metal. Lets make it clear they are on a conquest for the heathen realms and Amon Amarth have not let us down on this journey for sure...



Thinning the Herd- Oceans Rise- CD (St Marks Records)

So what we have here is a Classic Doom Rock band with one of the truly worst out of tune vocalists I've heard in years. The band is really good musically and rather impressive in that Cathedral, Kyuss, Monster Magnet sound  and when the vocalist isn't doing that horrible worbling / whining vocal. You can really get into the heavy thick grooves of it all. I've now listened to 3 songs and they remind me a lot of the Band Trouble too just without any vocal power yet again. I just can't take it any longer. I'm Done.




Lekamen Illusionen Kallet-The Second Wind-CD (Nordvis)
So this is one of the oddest releases I've had to review in some time . Is there a such thing as Southern Country Black metal with a Goth over tone??? Yes in deed and we have it right here right now . Imagine Johnny Cash mixed with Nick Cave singing and mixing there musical heritage to a black metal band and you have just what Lekamen IIusionen Kellet have spawned on this world. Its beyond unsettling as they love that Diamond head guitar sound as well so its almost as its Classic Blackened thrash with the Country element through out. I just can not wrap my head around this . I know I like it but I'm not sure why or if I really even should. Its just so damn out there I think they are were post black metal are venturing to. This will be way to much for the avg music listener. So take it in steps and see if it kick your creativity in music open as well..
http://nordvis.com/ 

Endstille-Infektion1913-CD (Season of Mist)

These kind of releases just make me smile with that sadistic grim. What Endstille is very clear that are a War Metal band with  PostBlackened, Thrash and Punk elements in the say way bands like Marduk, Bloodstorm and Panzerchrist vomit there sounds of sickness on there where. Endstille just add the element of Hypnotic and Old school Northern European Black metal into the mix of it all. The vocals are in vein of Shining (Sweden) or Watain .. Infektion 1913 is a cry out to the torment and pain that 2011 is seeing all over again its the new Industrial revolution this time its Tech and Science that is making the human race come to the brink. This is music for the feeling the world is currently having.  a must hear extreme metal release..


Nader Sadek- In the Flesh-CD (Season of Mist)

So what happens when an artist or sculptures and masks starts to make and create music on his own. He joins forces with ex members of Morbid Angel , Mayhem  and current Drummer of Cryptopsy . To many a very futurist sound Post Black/Death metal release that sound similar to what Mayhem did on " Grand Declaration of War" with heavy bombastic elements of bands like Nile and Bolt Thrower. Nader seems to be the mastermind behind this . Not sure what he does as it say Conceptual Artist???. Regardless of this its a damn find over the top Metallic event all on its own. I really hope another release comes out of this as this really fucking promising to say the least..


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