6 New Reviews 5/19/2012
Vesperian Sorrow- Stormwinds of Ages-CD (The Path Less Traveled)
Symphonic Black metal in the style and sound of the days of Yor. I Miss bands like Bal Sagoth, Old Mans Child, Dismal Euphony, Twilight Opera, Mid Period Dimmu Borgir etc this is very much the vibe that Vesperian Sorrow always gave me even back with there days on Displeased Records. They have a vipers bite in he way the vocals are so brutal and epic at the same time with very Symphonic Gothic Black. There are guest from Arcturus, Autumn Tears and Watchtower aiding in one of the Best Epic Black metal bands to ever come out of USA and Texas for that matter. The Synths are the real impressive element in Vesperian Sorrow as many times they sound s fake or cheap but not with this productions. There is a strong viking element in all they do as well so mixed with that help a band that really is DIY for most part get there amazing out to the masses..
Nexhymn- Black Horizon-CD ( Self Released)
Its good to see bands just going on it there own without label support to get there album out and to the masses this is another DIY project of Blistering Blackened Death with a Female Vocalist the could peel the paint off a wall with the power that comes from her guttural speak. There is a complexity you get from Nexhymn music is always Tech Death metal with the cold and hollow blackened melodies thrown in just to un nerve the listener all the more. They are looking for a label but if you can produce an album of this level on your own and get a good PR firm like Clawhammer to promote it you really don't need to deal with a label period just find a good booking agent and get on the road and this album will sell tens of thousands for sure. Check out Nexhymn if you like bands like Marduk, Hypocrisy and Pestilence..
Belakor- Of Breath and Bone-CD (Kolony Records)
Melodic or Swedish Death metal going on I swear if you mix Katatonia, Edge of Sanity and Dark Tranquility all into on force you would have Belakor all wrapped up into a perfect bow. The odd time changes the hints of Goth and Doom metal all mixed in to a Catchy as all hell Twin Melodic Death metal assault. The vocals are Straight out of Dan Swano's Death growls and the music is so Katatonia at time it almost hurts. I could hear a made like this all over Century Media or Listenable records all day long. Some of the songs from Belakor could be full extreme metal anthems. They add that old Ride the lighting Metallica guitar sound from time to time as well. So there love of Thrash is fully in tow as well. Belakor are a band not to miss..
Wolfbrigade-Damned-CD (Southern Lord)
So what happens if Motorhead and Entombed get into a fist fight the night there playing together and have to form a band out the members still standing to perform its fucking called Wolfbrigade. This band has it all to have a circle pit started in 30 seconds.. That punk /crust snarl mixed with Thrashing Death guitar tone and druming of a hardcore maniac all fronted by a booze infused Lemmy from Motorhead.. I was not ready for this when I heard it even the solo kick ass. Southern Lord coming out of wood work with a retro sounding Punk/Death band and making it count for all its worth. I want to see Wolfbrigade live and remember the 80/90's extreme underground days again...
http://southernlord.com/
Ahab- The Giant-CD (Napalm Records)
So when we talk about Ahab the Doom elements are strong with with these Sea fareing gentlemen. Its a mix of full of Complex Jazzy Prog Rock, Earth Shaking Doom and and the elements of Viking metal that makes up the completes storm of this Mammoth sounding release. Ahab most lives bands like My Dying Bride, Early Anathema and Paradise Lost for their verison of the journey of songwriting. Also they encompass sounds of bands like Thergothon, Ras Algethi and Dolorian in how the delicate meets the bombastic low rumbles that are projected from an album like The Giant. If you listen to this but one time your missing out on so many layers and emotions ebb and flowing through the speakers. Ahab have turned me on my head for what I thought and knew what Doom was much like a band Called Giant Squid mmm there are those Nautical names with Doom coming to haunt me again..
http://napalmrecords.com/
Canaan- Of Prisoners, wandering soul and cruel fears- DCD (Eibon/ Aural Music)
As many of you should know for the last decade or so Canaan has been making some the music emotional Darkwave/ Post Gothic Doom I've ever heard these members some of theme spawned out of one of the best Doom bands ever Ras Algethi and you can still hear that influence 20 yrs later. With this there 7th proper album again on there own Eibon Records Distroed by Aural music now. They have gotten a bit more epic and doom in sound just still allowing the Darkwave mastery to shine. There is a gloom and sorrow to this album that I have not heard since the 1st two album mostly there debut " Blue Fire" Canaan are just growing in talent and power with every release some have a more electronic element and then some more rock out like this. The addition of a full time female vocalist really adds to the over all mood. There these is a very Gathering feeling going on here . The 2nd album is ambient reworkings of the proper album and is all the more unsettling. Canaan please never leave us as This band is the closest I'm going to get to one of my fave bands ever that ended way to early " The God Machine"...
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