Suffering can make you all the more creative and today this is the truth...
Witches Hammer -Damnation Is My Salvation - Digital/LP/CD (Nuclear War Now! Productions)
So band out of Canada makes some Impressive demos and one LP in 80's and 90's then in 00's see a retro love and well here we are in 2020 and 1st proper album comes to us from the buzz the reissues and love shows Witches Hammer is that mix of ugly dirty thrash metal with touches of proto Black/Death metal and and Heavy punk that worked so well with all the Thrash from the early 90's . They are fast and raw with a catchy side to all the create. There is a very lo fi overtone to all of this but works in the bands favor for sure. There is a lot in common with Possessed, Early Testament and Kreator from what I'm listening to through the record. I love that is still have the Demo/90's Thrash sound. This is a band I can really get behind and sink my teeth into. Damnation is my Salvation is just want the Thrash world needs now ..
Cénotaphe- Monte Verità -Digital/LP (Nuclear War Now! Productions)
2nd review from Nuclear War now must be a thing in my musical world. These French Atmospheric Black metallers have a love for Nature and Pagan elements that is for sure. There is a Brutal and Majestic at the same times with a band like Cenotaphe. I do prefer that a band sing in their own native tongue and with this we are getting just that. Black metal also always is better when you can hear the bass and layers of drums and with this album again I get to check off that important box. There is a very Thrashy over tone to all of this too and I think that is what mixes well with the Pagan/Folky tones that are coming from the record at all corners. The Shouts and Cries vocally add all the more complexity to the album. I will now go and revisit the early material to see where it takes me emotional and mentally. Black metal needs to have a voice all its own and have something that makes it stand out and with Monte Verita we have an interesting mix of Old and New and Viking/Folk sing along moments with those blistering raw Black metal hymns.
DØDSKVAD- Krønike I- Digital/Tape ( Caligari Records)
Though we only get three tracks on this Demo pressed by label I will say they are mixing elements of Early NWOBHM, Death Metal, Blackened themes all into something that could make the fans of Obituary, Slayer, Hellhammer, Bolt Thrower and Celtic Frost come up and see the magic and fury in what is being created here. These gentlemen from Norway know how to Thrash out as well and play with a complexity and death rattle that again give the elements of the old ways of metal and some very modern overtones. I hear moments of Bathory, Early Grave and Entombed at times as well. I don't want to love this but the swampy production and power that is coming from the speakers is making we feel very much like this is cool as shit. Love those dungeon synth elements the album as well. Dodskvad you have one this reviewer over and will be waiting on a proper full length to see where the next travels take us .
Sarpa- Solivagus- Digital/ CD ( Self-Release)
This unit out of Texas have some very interesting tones and ideas going on here . At 1st listen I here Progressive, Black/Death with Avant and very odd Rhythms to say the least. There are even symphonic , noise rock and Doomy over tones as we go through the tracks its almost like And Oceans, Triptykon, Beherit and Opeth came together and had a love of Bands like Bethlehem, Ihsahn and Novembers Doom and said ya lets just do all of it. Sarpa is fucking weird and wonderful at the same time . Post, Avant, Experimental, Jazzy , Outsider and Original are all things that come to mind when listening to this. There are hooks in the very dissident sounds going on here. The vocals are very Black/Doom in the way presented . I even get Dolorian or Shape of Despair vibes from this. Yea I know I'm all over the place here but that is what Sarpa is and makes me total want to listen over and over again. Unsigned how the fuck is this not on a label it must be their own choice or at least I damn well hope so.
Zero Fire- The Attic Sessions- Digital ( Self Released)
What did I just get myself into with this two track event. This is Post Rock, Post Hardcore, Heavy Blues Rock Indie Rock and Metalcore all at once . If Deftones, Sunny Day Real estate, Quicksand, Shudder to think, Crowbar, Isis and Incubus came together you would have something here. Calling this Post metal is just too simple. I know this just two songs but Really there is so much going on here and I want more to see what I'm getting here . You know who else they really pull sonically too Cave in's and Sense Field. Those Emo clean vocals and the Drummer minimal but powerful Growls in that background really make this Post Hardcore meets Metalcore more then anything else I can say. I would even say bands like Texas is the Reason have a lot in common this could be A Jade Tree or Revelation records band easy. Very very impressed and so glad to a risk on this .
DRONNY DARKO- ORIGIN- Digital/CD ( Cryo Chamber )
When you come to a third album things either gel or we goto a weird place where a lot of experimentation happens. Though when you are an electronic, experimental, dark ambient project to begin with what does that mean. With DRONNY DARKO it is more of the same odd soundscapes, Alien and other worldly tones and layers and challenging the listener to the best you can with this blackened minimalist meet demonic electronics. Four tracks close to 50 mins of almost Aquatic feeling sounds from an abyss many will never witness on there own. There is a suffocating element to all of this that is very much what DRONNY DARKO always creates. Sinister and Fragile at the same time but do not allow it to fool you as when it get angry you will not escape and you will become part of the nightmare without fail. The Darkness is real but with this album it fools you into embracing it before it engulfs you for it's bidding.
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