11 New Reviews 1/25/2014

Shrapnel- The Virus Conspires-CD/ Digital ( Candlelight)

Skull crushing old school thrash that reminds me of Kreator , Destruction or Forbidden in the way its created and Shrapnel is doing one hell of a job presenting it to the world . They love the extreme german thrash way of expressing the riff . This is not for the weak as Shrapnel created a wall of metal in your face. At times I would even say they have element of the Bay area bands like Machine Head or Sadus. If you like this way of making music then run don't walk and get this as what we have is the classic thrash elements in 2014 and well done at that. This U.K. force is a band that must be heard and I hope seen like in North America as I sure the songs live are even more aggressive and powerful. Man I'm a sucker for these Solo's and  sing along thrash anthems...

http://candlelightrecordsusa.com/

Our Last Enemy- Pariah- CD/ Digital ( Eclipse Records)

Well well well Sci-fi meets industrial death metal someone has found there Fear Factory , Prong and Listenable records collections and used this foundation to make a band by the name of Our Last Enemy and you know what it's Damn good and Damn catchy my friends . The Swedish Melodic Death elements are really want bring out the electronic side of the band with for signature d Fear Factory vocal moments. I don't know much about Eclipse records but if they keep it up like this I will be following the label and it's stable of bands much closer..

http://eclipserecords.com/

Towers- II-CD/ Digital ( Eolian Empire)

What the hell have I gotten myself into with Towers this Duo ( Drums and Bass only) make a mix of  Drone, Sludge, Doomy Noise and just plain Punk influenced Brilliance. The vocals are that of a mental inmate on his spiral into madness.  There is a kinship with bands like Black Cobra, Old Earth, Noothgrush and a band called Lighting Bolt here. Towers you are kicking my ass with your fury that is being thrown forward in anything but a careless manner. They have so much in common with bands on Amrep and old SST days in the dark and noisy way this low fi / low end magical adventure has taken me. Towers who ever thinks just  Drums, Bass and a voice will move you so. Clearly you did and I thank you for it.

http://www.eolianempire.com/

Blowsight- Life and Death- CD/Digital ( Eclipse Records)

So we have hit the complete opposite side of the spectrum here . Electro Bluesy Punk Nu metal and I Fucking hate this it's every thing that all this new metal bands are trying to do now. It's like all the crappy My Chemical romance and Escape the Fate riff mixed into Modern Deathcore. Why do band's think this a good mix ever. Blowsight the 1st half of your name is correct. Please we need to stop bands like this enough Hot topic bands already..

http://eclipserecords.com/

Profezia- Oracolo Suicida- CD/Digital ( Moribund Cult)

So what if  Doom Death like My Dying Bride , Saturnus , Avernus or Paradise lost  when full on Black metal with vocals and the cold way that only Blackened Guitars can you would have Profezia this Italian unit is the brilliant mix of  Black , doom and sorrow with one the most powerful Violin players I have heard in years. Moribund pull another band out of the dirty and screaming underground for the world to hear and see the majesty present forth. There is not much more to say other then Think 90's Norwegian Black metal meets  90's Doom Death and you have Profezia in all there wonderful glory...

http://moribundcult.com/

Bleeding Fist- Death's old stench- CD/ Digital ( Moribund Cult)

Nightmares are less graphic then this bands over all sound. If you could digitally harness Chaos, Torture, Agony and Blistering Fast blinding pain and replay it for the world it would be Bleeding Fist. This is Black metal there is nothing else really to say. If you like it so after listening to an album your are scarred and changed from that moment for ever then Bleeding Fist is the band for you. Fast, Grim and Punk as hell you have won me over and pushed my nightmares in to new directions I never thought Possible...

http://moribundcult.com/

Dodsferd- The Parasitic survival of the human race- CD/ Digital ( Moribund Cult)

When in the bloody green hell did Dodsferd become a Crust Punk band with a love of black metal. This is full on Black Crust something I wasn't ready for this is what you hear on Southern Lord these days not Moribund but you know what its just great and so full of noise and passion and so freakin fast that it makes your head spin..  There is a major Motorhead meets Early Voivod thing going on here some with call it Black and Rock but its not there is way to much Crust and Punk going on with Dodsferd latest.  This was a shocker at 1st listen but the more I listen the more this gem grows on me like a Plague takes over its victim and makes them succumb to it this is what Dodsferd will do to you..

http://moribundcult.com/

Incursus- Adaestuo- MLP/ Digital ( Forever Plagued)

Post Black Death with a very futuristic vibe going on is what I get from this Vinyl slab by Incursus. Elements of Profantum, Limbonic Art, Immortal and Dark Funeral all come out of this odd and compelling  journey on to what Dark forces the future have in store for the human race. The vocals are so twisted and sick that they are almost not of this realm. I think this is what Incursus had in mind and has created to a T.  The cover art tells the story for this one bleak , black minimalist and no hope . Welcome to the new dark age....

http://www.foreverplaguedrecords.com/

Murmur- S/t- CD/ Digital ( SOM Underground Activists)

I think I understand why bands like this pull me in so much. I've never been one to keep friends long time and I do there are just a handful as my mind can no see the world as others do and with Murmur it's very much the same there is so much going on to many this is going to sound like a wall of confusing you need to hear it as a whole this is Prog inspired Post Black metal in the same fantastic way bands like  Wolves in the Throne room, Inquistion, Code, Ephel Duath and Virus have been creating forward thinking extreme , genre defying music for yrs. There is 

avat jazz, Black metal, Post rock, ambiance male and female vocal and just wonderful dissidence in all that Murmur creates. I want nothing less and I want a band like this to continue to cross boundaries and make it harder for the few to understand and make us question sound in general. If you like Gorguts you should love this release as well...

http://season-of-mist.com/

Exmortus- Slave to the Sword- CD/ Digital ( Prosthetic Records)

When you mix Classic , Power and Death metal together you can be getting into an area that will either be a major success or a total and utter nightmare of half baked ideas and just unmemorable tracks as in bands like Hammerfall..  Well Exmortus thankfully is of the other elements and is a full on winner imagine for a moment  Nevermore, Dark Tranquility and Mercyful Fate all mixed into something that will make you want to listen to it more and more. There is a very battle / war metal element to this band with its thrash moments but over all. Exmortus is just you think its going to be a great metal release that will keep you coming back and in the end that is all anyone ever needs..

http://prostheticrecords.com/

Miserable Failure- Hope-CD/ Digital (Kaotoxin)

Total Grindcore mastery is what you have here in a grand tradition of bands like  Brutal Truth, Pig Destroyer, Assuck and Extreme Noise terror . It's just a quick 4 song journey and and way to damn short. Miserable Failure you live up to your name as your ep is way to short and your are failure in not giving me a full album now get back to work I need more music now and sooner the better. I love me some grindcore and your make the kind this review loves..

http://kaotoxin.com/