6 New Reviews 7/3/2011
Forest of the Soul- restless in flight-CD (Bindrune Recordings)
This is an interesting beast to say the least it like an acoustic verision of Opeth mix with elements of Porcupine Tree, Yes, Old Genesis, Aerial Ruin, Tantric, Kansas and Steve Von Till solo material. Yes it very prog in nature but that is part of its magic i feel. Love the very complex acoustic guitar and bass elements going on. Forest of the soul have an Americana / Blue Grass sound that is happening . This is very out of place for the Metallic doom and blackened world the Bindrune normally gives us. There is a somber and ritualistic element going on there I thin this about would be so much more at home with Glass throat label or even a label like Inside out or Laser's Edge. The music with Forest of the Soul is so fragile and introspective. Love the harmony vocals there so passionate . I really was not ready for this big thumbs up for a very special release.
http://bindrunerecordings.com/
Whitehorse- Progression-CD ( At a Loss)
This is floor dropping Doom with a drone and industrial element all going on at the same time. If your a fan of bands like Evoken, Thergothon, Mournful Congregation mix with Dolorian and Phobos then you have a very close Idea of what is going on here. Slow, Massive, Low end tones with blackened and deep doomy vocals. This is the kind of music that brings on mental breakdowns to many. They have a love of the Crowbar doom sound at well esp in the guitar tone. There is a strong worship of Khanate as well going on here. Whitehorse is about the pain of the human condition and its work very very well. If your a fan of the extreme noisy doom then run don't walk for this one. No joke these 5 tracks maybe to much for some and its just the wa I like it ....
http://atalossrecordings.com/
Nightbringer- Hierophany of the Open Grave- CD (Season of Mist Underground Activities)
Ah so Nightbringer is back with the Dissident Avant Black metal chaos that I loved so much from there last release. The element of haunting / unnerving sound in the bass and guitar with the vocals of those so close the the gates of sorrow is so brilliant. That with the sickly melodies and post metal riffs and just out right Post black metal that bands like Blut Aus Nord and Negura Bunget have so tastefully mastered here comes Nightbringer to mix it up with bands with Deathspell Omega in the way its presented. There is also an orchestral feeling to the way this album is created and designed just never becomes what bands like Dimmu Borgir or Emperor has done. There is something so different about this Colorado force that just takes them one step above. The have the riffs and the arrangements that makes you want to keep listening over and over again. Horns up for this Blackened experiment gone oh so right for the very very wrong...
http://season-of-mist.com/
Seven Witches- Call upon the Wicked- CD (Candlelight)
Over the top Prog/ Power metal that mixes elements of Nevermore, Iced Earth, Judas Priest, King Diamond and Savatage all mixed it to a beyond talented force from the USA. Jack frost just knows how to make catchy complex heavy power metal . Alan Tecchio (Non fiction/ Hades) is out no and James Rivera (Helstar) is back. This actually add to the more Warrel Dane approach to the operatic caterwauling ... Seven witches is just metal tride and true they blood , sweat and ooze the sound style and lifestyle. I will say this is some of the heaviest riffing I've heard from Jack since his days in Savatage. The classic metal sound is here for all you fans. Love the solos as well as they work with the songs as a layer more then just over the top noodling. If I closed my eyes I swear this could be a lost unreleased Sanctuary album ..Time to get that demin, back patches and lighters out as arena metal is very much back with Seven Witches!!!!
http://candlelightrecordsusa.com/
Pestilence- Doctrine-CD (Mascot )
Prog/ Death fiends are back with a new release yrs after we have last scene them hit a very much prog, jazz avant sound. I feel that Pestilence though they have some really creative idea's really miss the boat with what there doing. These sound like pieces of songs rather the whole sounds. I get there very cutting edge at what they did in 1989-1993 but now there just really living off that past and rehashing albums and songs. Atheist seems to have grown do did Coroner over the yrs but Pestilence has just stay in the 90's and there roadrunner yrs. I was hoping for so much more and it just a collection of jazz metal sounds with odd times and deathish vocals... I wanted to like this and I as just left flat...
Seven Sisters of Sleep- S/T-CD (Southern Lord)
Bring the Mother Fucking Sludgy, Crust filled , Noise monsters of Doom forward and just bow you bastards this is every thing I love about this scene if your into Old Cathderal, Eyehategod, Burning Witch, Noothgrush, Melvins, Cavity, Damad, Buzzoven and His Hero is gone then guess what get that amp to 20 and let the bleeding feedback of this style through your speaker and then the world be set of fire as the rest die in the wonderful rapture of aural bliss. This is music that can just take the hate straight out of you and make you see how mortal you really are. This is for the dark and corrupted side of your mind. Where you need to release its dementia and let me tell you this band is perfect for this . Man I just want to put a head through a wall after listening to this. Power and pain all through a sonic wall of droning noise YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
http://southernlord.com/
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