New Reviews August 18th 2012
Cocks Arquette- S/t- CD (OSCL Records)
Way over the top trip out Noise Grind with a very avantgarde element going on. Cocks Arquette remind me of the way far left stuff you would get as 7 inch releases on labels like Slap a ham, Amrep and Bovine records back in the day. This would be perfect for a label like Ipecac or Web of Minicry.. I want to call this Industrial at times too but its industrial in the same way bands like Swans, Cop Shoot Cop or Godflesh are in the presentation and background effects make them have this flavor. With Cocks Arquette you get a lot of Ambient and Musique Konkret movements that always leads back to full on Noise rock of bands like Hammerheads, Sonic Youth and Jesus Lizard.. The self titled platter that they present to us is just 3 songs and an 1 minute intro but those 3 tracks are over 10 mins long. I would call it an EP in the number of tracks on in the way it was layered and arranged. This band has something that makes them crazy, nightmarish and addicting all at the same time. If you have hear of Wolf eyes then you know were this band is come from they also have a very Green Magnet School vibe going on check them out you will be surprised.. Just as a final note the album is live with no overdubs so all the more impressive.
Echoes of Yul- Cold Ground- CD (Avantgarde Music)
Drone music with a heavy Doom and Electronic element is what is going on with the 1st things I'm hearing from the latest release from Long Running Italian label Avantgarde. If you like bands like Earth, Jesu and Mandible Chatter this is going to be something brilliant to you. At times I swear they are in love with a Aussie band called Halo as well they release a few very underground releases on relapse years ago but were way beyond there time. Echoes of your always have the trip hop / No wave sound going on that bands like Caanan or Ulver and When.. I was not ready for this from Avantgarde they were much more a doom, Black or Death metal label with moments in to Neoclassical or Dark Ambient music. Post rock , Avantgarde, Drone and Drift rock is whats going on here. I almost this I'm listening to something on Jester Records or Matador records in out Echoes of Yul give us the sounds for us to digest. I really love this album with the quirky samples, guitar loops , low end riffs, spacial drumming. As we go deeper it reminds me a lot few Neurot bands as well like (Sabers, US Christmas and Tarentel). Do not miss this for a breathe of fresh air in a crowded indie music scene.
Nuclear Death Terror- Chaos Reigns-CD (Southern Lord)
Good old Death/ Grind with a health dose of Thrashing Punk for good measure do you love Napalm Death, Carcass, Discharge and the mighty Slayer and Exodus all in one sloppy, dirty low down stew then you my friends have created Nuclear Death Terror. I know people like to call this retro or Crust but is more then that as they have the melodic elements come in and out and the songs are not all 2 mins or less. Earache, Combat or Roadrunner would have love to have this band in they hey day. I know that goes back to the retro thing I say they are not but there are those flavors just so much more. Get your bands patches out its time to get you hoodie ready for the next show...
http://southernlord.com/
Vintersorg- Orkan-CD (Napalm Records)
If you don't know what your getting with a Vintersorg your either living off the grid or never heard Viking metal then. As Vintersorg is equal parts Viking, Folk and Black metal always be and will never change or the band will clearly have to change the name due to the backlash they will receive. They for all purpose of the ideal are one of the Forefather of The Viking/ Folk metal sound. The clean almost classical sung vocals mixed with the grim blacked vocals. Epic guitar, synth and string and woodwind tools. The Prog Bass and Drumming all together is almost an instant hit. Vintersorg never disappointing with this project. I can not say the same with Borknagar . I always look forward to is next release and with Orkan nothing has changed. Raise the Ale horn high and praise Wotan!!!!
http://napalmrecords.com/
Enthrallment- People from the land of vit-CD (United Guttural)
Low end face smashing Death metal with a bit of that Grind thing going on. Its fast , Its Angry , Its Complex and its just plain good. As I say often it doesn't have to be ground breaking or original to be Kick ass. Enthrallment mix moments of bands like Incantation, Immolation and Morbid Angel and just make it there own. They never copy that add to a formula that already works but throwing in a bit of that blackened style that Hypocrisy and Old Mans Child does at times. United Guttural has one hell of a metal release going on here and you would be a fool not to check it out as the playing is razor sharp and keeps your attention and with Death metal that is what is needed most.
Cultfinder- Black Thrashing Terror- 7" vinyl ( Eldritch Lunar Miasma)
THIS IS FUCKING BLACK THRASHING PERFECTION . NOTHING LESS AND NOTHING MORE. THREE SONGS SHORT AND NOT SO SWEET. CULTFINDER IS UGLY AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS BRILLIANT IN ALL WAYS. THIS REVIEW IS DONE !!!!!!!
Ensiferum- Unsung heroes-CD (Spinefarm)
Ahhhh Power metal with all its grandious glory and classical massive intro. Just with the Raspy vocals. Listen to those synths and guitars cry out the Maiden and Priest riffs or if your a Power metal fan. Rhapsody, Angra and Blind Guardian styles (HAHAHAHA). Ensiferum makes me want to get my armor and lance and dual for the honor of my fair lady. Ensiferum even has those sing along choruses were it sound like 20 men are singing at once. What more can you really want this is D&D
or Magic the gathering music and I would not want it to be any other way. World of Warcraft are all metal head and Ensiferum knows this.. Congrads my friends on your next quest!!
Daylight Dies- A Frail Becoming-CD (Candlelight)
Melancholy Doom is that I want to call this and if I was to be true that would hit the nail on the head but there is an underlying beauty that took me years to see with Daylight Dies. Yes they write from the same play book as Katatonia, Anathema and Canaan. Though they have the elements of The Cure, The God Machine and Jesu all in the mix to take them to yet a whole different layer and level. At the core those we have a Goth Doom band with indie rock loves and when these two are mixed together something somber and wonderful comes all at the same time. Daylight Dies is a fabulous band don't let anyone tell you different and are great live as I've seen them a few times once even opening to Katatonia... They Gentlemen make truly haunting and breathtaking metal music .
Comments