9 New Reviews 3/2/2013
Inset- Last Breath Ep- CD/ Digital (Badgod)
So remember when Death metal matter and it was full of killer riffs, guttural vocals that weren't buried in the mix you know what I mean Bolt thrower, Carcass, Entombed, Dismember and Incantation . Well this is were Inset comes from there is a strong groove to the way this is presented and a very Tech Death metal element like Pestilence, Death and Atheist had as well so if you want Death metal to impress you again this EP from the fine folks at badGod have really stepped up the game for the traditional Death metal movement. The complexity and just flowing manner of the track is what keeps me wanting to hear more and its way to damn short at that. Inset we need more asap you hear me.
Nails-Abandon All Life-CD/Digital (Southern Lord)
Crust/ Hardcore/ Grind/Noisecore brilliance is what we have here folks nothing more and nothing less. All the damn tracks are under 2 mins so far and I would want it no other way. The Blistering riffs, Strep throat vocals and blast beats could me no more perfect to these ears. With Nails there is even a Dirge/Doom element that goes on if Brutal Truth and Buzzoven had a child of sickness at a Slap a ham release party Nails would have been born for sure. The Two longer tracks and by longer I mean over 3 minutes show a more Early Neurosis meets Eyehategod vibe going on....This the kind of band you need to see live and let out all your aggression's too. Crust/ Sludge/ Hardcore fans unit and make Nails get their rightful places in the current disposable music scene!!!!!
http://southernlord.com/
Wormed- Exodromos- CD/Digital (Willowtip)
This one is a beast to explain but I'm going to try . We can start off with that this is for a fact a Death metal band at the heart of the matter but from there the influence and styles are all over the place. I want to say that if Voivod and Dream Theater Play Death metal as one unit it may begin to sound like what Wormed is creating but you would still need the composer like elemens of Dan Swano to arrange it then then the over the top vocals of bands like Pig Destroyer or Abscessed to mix in with the Tech metal elements of so many Listenable Records bands I would not know where to begin again. Wormed is Sci fi, Tech, Futurist, Grind, Prog Death metal and with that mouthful I'm sure I've either confused of drove straight to getting the album and I can tell you Willowtip is a label that is always reaching for the left of center and with Wormed that got one of the best Experimental Death metal bands I've heard in a while...
http://willowtip.com/
Cnoc An Tursa- The Giants of Auld-CD/Digital (Candlelight Cult Series)
Ah All Father we have another to give praise to the Gods of Old. This is purest of Pagan / Folk Metal in the highest of regards . If you like bands like Arkonia, Thryfing, Vintersorg, Tyr, Suidakra and Einherjer then you will feel at home with the furs, skins filled with ale and mead, Swords, and folk stories of old this is based on some of the ways of the Celtic tribes so honour the ways of the Ancients and feel the heritage of your hording tribes spreading across and unknown landscape of Europe before there were nations and cities. I'm looking forward to many more Cult Series releases if this is the direction that Candlelight want to go for there more fringe artists..
http://candlelightrecordingsusa.com/
Oceans of Slumber- Aetherial- CD (Self Released)
What we have here is a brand new force out of Houston TX making some very innovative experimental metal. Just from the 1st listen there are elements of Jazz, Prog, Doom, Black, Death and Post Metal all at the same time. You hear styling's of bands like Opeth, Old Dead Tree, Katatonia, Emperor, Neurosis, Down, Cancer, Crowbar, Amorphis, And Oceans and even Testament at times. There really are so many things going on with Oceans of Slumber this is no one style or ideal happening here . Oceans of slumber going from full on wall of Death metal sonic destruction to being a melodic gothic post metal band with harmonic movements and classical arrangements all in the same track. All this band needs is good P.R. and word of mouth and they will take off like few band can and with Clawhammer behind for the press push they are in the right direction without a doubt. Oceans of Slumber are a band beyond definition. The mix of Sung, Scream and Growled of vocals are really just wow. There are moments I swear this is even going over my head and I love some of the most challenging music out there. We need to make this band succeed all if they don't it will be a travesty to music period...
October Falls- The Plague of a Coming Age-CD/Digital (D.M.P)
Over the years October Falls has gone from a very fragile acoustic folk/heathen unit with nature and minimalist moments to a full of Folk / Heathen inspired band with Post Black metal sounds coming into the forefront of their music expression and with each release they have become more and more interesting and creative with the sonic tools at hand. October falls today is some something close to were Katatonia, Early Ulver and Mid Period Enslaved have come to sound. The haunting sounds of a landscape that few ever truly understand or see. Not everything is wonderful there is sorrow and hope at all times from both sides of the spectrum and that is the feeling I get from listening to October falls always. There is a very Avant/ Prog movement going on with in the structure of the songs created here and that is where I think there Enslaved sound is focused around. This band or project how ever you want to see it is so music more then one idea or story there are many many layers of October Falls music and one just has to open up and take the chance to hear it..
In the Silence- A Fair Dream Gone Mad- CD/ Digital (Sensory)
This is hands down one of my favorite labels of all time so I hold music in high regards for the music and albums that Sensory sends me and wow all I can say is this maybe one of those albums that just hit me like a ton of bricks and I loved from moment one. Its Dark, Ethereal Metal in the vein of bands like Katatonia, Devin Townsend solo material and bands like Pain of Salvation mix with all the Prog and Post rock of bands like Porcupine Tree, Tenhi, Ayreon, Antimatter, Anathema and Caspian. The Power and Beauty all at the same time with In the Silence is just beyond words my friends. The vocals are all over that Katatonia/ Anathema/ Canaan vibe that would be the three bands that seem to play the largest elements into what I love about this album. Give it a moment it may take a few listens to understand the beauty for you. I don't want to say there are heavy goth rock moments but it does play a strong role in the way A Fair Dream Gone Mad is presented thought. Thank you Sensory for another gem for my collection.
October Tide- Tunnel of no light-CD/ Digital (Pulverised)
As most of us know this was the band that became what Katatonia members did after their break in the 90's Well there are still 2 Ex Katatonia members here and if you like the more melancholy Doom side of Katatonia or Daylight Dies then this will be an album you need to own. If I had to call this style of music something it would be Gothic influence Gloom metal with a strong dose of Shoegazing going on as well. These kind of sounds are sorrow filled and bleak but work so well. October Tide are heavy as hell and just as eerily melodic all at the same time . Tunnel of no light is really a fantastic release and one of the better Doomy albums I've heard in a while its like a stripped down revision of My Dying Bride or a band called Saturnus to me . Both have a similar feeling to what is going on here . At times I even hear a heavy Paradise Lost tone going on through out some of the tracks. October Tide I look forward to seeing you live someday as your music does inspire me to out to see music again.
http://www.pulverised.net/
Aosoth- IV- An Arrow in Heart- CD/ Digital (Agonia)
Just so were all caught up this is the 4th release of Mkm the founder of Antaeus one of the best most original black metal bands out of France for this reviewer. With Aosoth he has gone into a music of ritualistic/ Occult Post Black metal world and with each release has expanded what you think Black metal should be and sound like . Kindred spirits to a band like Aosoth are Deathspell Omega, Code and Watain just to name a few. There are few different ideal going on here in the Doom, Black and Avantgarde styling's and that is what makes Aosoth all the more interesting to listen to. There is a great bass heavy production to this release and last where I feel that Aosoth is really becoming a band all into their own. With four releases behind the band the Satanic / Occult elements really play strong into what is going on in the over all themes of the music and lyrics as well. Aosoth is one of those bands that every release music on to a new realm of textures and song writing. I just look forward to the next as well.
http://www.agoniarecords.com/
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