5 Journeys to Darkened Realms ..
Hope Drone- Void Lustre- CD/ Digital / Tape/ LP(Moment of Collapse/Sludgelord Records)
I know this is the 3rd album by this Ozzy force . From previous albums they very much at a sludgy meets Post metal vibe and the drones and drifts were strong as well. They 2nd record was released by Relapse a few years back and had strong love of Neurosis and Early Mastodon if I remember correctly. With Void Lustre is starting on more tribal and minmalist oddly enough reminding me of Trial of the Bow and Tribes of Nuerot or the more somber moments of Neurosis and Jesu . Oh there we go now we have a total Bombastic Post metal vibe going think of Cult of Luna, Isis, The Ocean, Rosetta and East of the wall for sure. Hope Drone are hypontic and driving as they are textural and dark in what is being created . Bands like Hope Drone draw the listens in by building on a tone and the taking that and expanding to a sonic over load. At times there are some Post or Blackgaze vibes being through out from Void Lustre. The have a lot in common with another band Unearthly Trance in over all take away. Bands like Hope Drone can be as punishing as beautiful and I think this is way I'm so drawn to it. Void Lustre is an album not to miss .
Allone- Alone- CD/ Digital (Aesthetic Death )
This is much more Atmospheric then I was ready for in a very spacial and Ambient / Dark and Doomy metal vibe. I would like to say it's haunting in the over tones as well it feels like something Dolorian and Canaan would have done with a bit more of a Blackened Doom overtone through out . I don't know maybe I'm crazy but there is such a catchy left of center melody going on with the vocals and way the music is presented . It digs deep in the back of you head and makes you want to almost hum along. The guitars are so powerful and harmonic in the way the warm deep bass line work with an almost Proggish Drum overtone. There are acoustic guitars here as well as an eastern musical element. I love dark expressive metal like this that not afraid to show many sides and layers on each and every track. If as if Opeth and Ishahn came and help record a Dolorian album this really the best way I can get out what I am hearing from this 4 song over 40 minute event. Proggish Blackened Atmospheric Doom this is were I'm taking the sound and now your turn to adore and cultivate it .
Pando- Negligible Senescence- CD/ Digital (Aesthetic Death)
So this looks like a release from 2016 that never got a physical release so the forward thinking Aesthetic Death from the UK has giving this a new lease on left . It's a mix of Eastern Ambience, Harsh Noise, Black Death and Post Metal all into a stew that is lovely and terrorifying all at that same time. There is a beautiful madness to all of this and the torment and hope I hear at the same time really is making me for an album like this. Pando is not an easy project to listen to I would side with more with bands like Sigh, Happy Days, When and Xasthur. There Spaghetti Western, Dirty Blues, Odd Vocals and Sample arrangements all mixed with in this very very off the wall release. Its Avant Blackened Landscape is really making me fall in love with this album. I will need to hear other releases after this to see if the creativity and adventerous side of the band stays this strong. This is not an easy ride and great artist never are but if you're ready for a challenge Pando will be very very rewarding.
CRIMSON MOON - Mors Vincit Omnia- CD/ Digital ( Debemur Morti Productions )
With almost two decades behind them Crimson Moon are a band with the drive and fury to impress most still I hear so much on this Epic Occult Blackened Death metal Journey. The songs are structured in a way that classical or orchestrial music would be. You hear bands like Dark Funeral, Dissection, Immortal, Night Bringer, Horna and Mutilation. on Mors Vincit Omnia there is a grandious and majestic feel to the sinister darkened sounds that come from the speakers. You know something a foul is going on with art and music like this not to mention the talents of the guest on the album by Proscriptor (Absu), Lord Angelslayer (Archgoat), Ixithra (Demoncy), and Phaesphoros (Kawir) who in addition to mixing the record also performs wooden recorder. Theatrical and Moving while still holding that Black metal bite of days gone by that you need in music and artistry that a band like Crimson Moon presents. I don't want to understate the stellar production of this album as well. You can hear everything and sounds even better on headphones or good speakers. Love that the guitars are not so biting and the melody is left for the background atmospheres. This is one of the Black Death events of 2019 on recording . If this is not on many peoples top albums of 2019 I will be clearly shocked..
Epitaphe-I-CD/ Digital (Aesthetic Death )
Deathly Doom is something that has been impressing an inspiring me as of late there are bands like Krypts, Tomb Mold and Dead Congregation to name a few that come to mind with Epitaphe and then the have the love of bands like Incantation, The Chasm and Esoteric . " I " is a punishing look into the darker and slower side of Death metal that likes to thread the needle between Doom and Black metal but never goes either side of the spectrum fully and keeps you in the mix of the demonic and tormented. At times it feels like you are falling towards the abyss and never reaching the end. Just look at the album cover it tells you more about the tone of the album then anything. I fucking love this album hands down the best of the three I was humbly giving and allowed to review. I'm just glad I got the chance to do so. The albums sound is massive to say the least and and so well done . I'm shocked its a debut album and the maturity and skill level seems to be a band with many years mastering their craft. Will be looking forward to the next endevor from Epitaphe very much so.
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