New Reviews 5/14/2011
Panzerchrist- Regiment Ragnarok-CD ( Listenable )
Yes bring on the war metal sounds that this review oh so loves. If your into a mix of Marduk, Bolt Thrower and Dark Funeral you will come close to this Blackened Battle of metallic sounds. Panzerchrist is never an easy listen and if it was what would be the point. They have a melodic side but there real talent and power come from the blistering percussion, guitars and vocals that are just this side of the final apocalypse. The guttural cries are full of so much pain and nightmares. War is a relief to this mans mind. There are some that try to come close to what Panzerchrist does but none really do . As the Black, Death and Melodic all meld into one with that amazing martial element tying it all together.. HORNS UP !!!!!
http://listenable.net/
The Crevices Below- Below the Crevices-CD ( Nordvis )
This is so ethereal and haunting in its presentation of what Blackened Gloom I hear from this one man project. It reminds me so much of earlier limbonic art from the 1st few track I can tell and The Crevices Below have the Darkthrone production with is very open and airy in the guitars and primitive drumming. I don't normally call music Suicidal but to me The Crevices Below really give that feeling in the way bands like Ancient Wisdom, Bethlehem and Shining (Sweden) do. In the Guitars there is a Katatonia vibe I hear as well but just the guitars in the very verbed out guitar sound. The Vocals are very creepy to say the least from the whisper to the shrieks of torment and madness. This is a test of ones very mental stability in the way the tones and songs are created. Fantastic release.
Xerath-II-CD (Candlelight)
Wow is the way I would start on what I would call a visionary album as its mixes Prog, Black , Death , Hard rock and Movie soundtracks all at once. Just from my 1st listen I hear Devin Townsend, Oxiplegatz, Bal Sagoth and Ayreon all into a Dimmu Borgir vibe. This is epic on all levels. The strings, guitars, horns, synths and massive sung vs grim vocals is makes my ears get crazy with excitement . There is a very futurist and complex prog element. There is even an underlying Industrial element to all of this as a whole. The modern elements in production and writing just add to what Xerath is . Xerath really does cross boundaries in musical creation and So very honored to have heard this . Candlelight has a major album and band in the making here.
http://candlelightrecordsusa.com/
Drainland- ... And so our troubles began-CD (Southern Lord)
Oh Brothers and Sister get on top of the altars of all things dirty, sludge like and full of the crust and scum that all us bottom feeds look for. Drainland is all this and more . If Cavity, Noothgrush, Deadguy and Buzzoven had a child in the filthiest of manners it would be Drainland. It reminds me so much of all things Doom and punk like that the 90's had to offer. They would fit with Eyehategod was well as Born Against in the same show. The Post Hardcore factions will love this as much as the eco anarchist punks . Bands like Drainland were what I grew up with at Abc No Rio and Cbgb's Sunday afternoon shows. Ah let the feedback and indie though and lo fi sounds fill the room with passion, sweat and frustration all at the same time ... It's limited to 1000 copies so don't miss out on this ..
http://southernlord.com/
Ogen- Black Metal Unbound- CD (Kolony Records)
I would have to say this is more epic black metal in the style that bands like Emperor, Dimmu Borgir or even more modern Mayhem in what they create. Love the Strings going on here it symphonic black metal with a very bomastic as well so it gives all sides of the very classic Norwegian Black metal sound . Ogen arranges there music in many many layers with the clean and fuzzed out guitars, prog drum and bass lines . Ogen's vocals are in that very throaty Black metal sound you have come to love and know as well. Then out of no where those clean Emperor or Borknagar like vocals come in and make it all the more massive in sound. Ogen are complex and flowing all at once in a few tracks. I will be watching this project as it grows.
http://Kolonyrecords.com/
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