Category Archives: 2022 New Releases

Album Review – Imha Tarikat / Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World (2022)

Posted on by
1

Vicious and vitriolic, full of raw anger and burning hatred, the new album by this German Black Metal entity will pulverize your senses mercilessly.

Vicious and vitriolic, full of raw anger and burning hatred, yet at the same time bursting with live and lingering on moments of astonishing beauty, Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World, the third full-length opus by German Black Metal entity Imha Tarikat (Turkish for “extermination sect”), announces its inherent contradictions and struggles already in the title. Recorded and produced by the band’s mastermind Kerem Yilmaz (aka Ruhsuz Cellât), mixed by Michael Zech, mastered by Victor Santura (of Triptykon) at Woodshed Studio, and displaying a sinister cover and illustration by Artem Grigoryev (with sigil and additional illustration by Next Gate Art, and additional illustration by Raul CJ Peña), Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World is essentially a Black Metal album in the crackling dry and humorless German style that renounces all bombast and often folk-ish undertones of its Nordic counterparts, with Kerem Yilmaz creating new layers and expanding the dimensions of his unique compositions, supported by session drummer Melvin Cieslar (of Hexer).

Absolutely atmospheric and sinister, Intro – Deeper Within will drag your soul to the Stygian lair of Imha Tarikat before all hell breaks loose in Radical Righteousness, a song that deals with the detachment from addiction to emotional suffering, with Kerem screaming in anger nonstop accompanied by his own scorching riffs and the demented but very intricate drumming by Melvin. Touch Of Mercy starts in a serene, melodic manner to the beautiful guitar lines by Kerem, blending elements from the most primeval form of Black Metal with Progressive and Experimental Metal, whereas Brute Majesty is another song that exhales chaos, insanity and fury, with Melvin sounding bestial on drums while Kerem’s vocals get more and more rabid as the music evolves. And Flood Of Love (The Beast Trigger) will grab you by your throat and choke the life out of your body, sounding massive, sharp and caustic from start to finish, with Kerem stealing the show with his wicked riffs and vile roars.

The phantasmagorical (and a bit lengthy) Interlude – Birth Of Grandeur breaks the album in two, setting the tone for the second half starting with Dominator Proselytism Tactics, offering our ears a very dynamic, straightforward Black Metal sonority led by Melvin’s wicked beats. Put differently, it’s a truly infernal creation by Imha Tarikat, which can also be said about Streams Of Power – Canavar, presenting an incendiary Punk Rock/Hardcore vibe the likes of Misfits. It’s the less Black Metal of all songs, yet still acid and thrilling, not to mention the rumbling bass by Kerem is a thing of beauty; while Stardust Wisdom (Manifest Of The Deity To The Unkeen) is another strident, heavy-as-hell tune where Kerem’s anguished vocals walk hand in hand with the pounding drums by Melvin. And last but not least, it’s time for another obscure extravaganza entitled Beast Of Sovereignty, showcasing Kerem’s trademark vocals and riffs always supported by Melvin and his demented drums.

Kerem Yilmaz and his alter-ego Imha Tarikat are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates, plans for the future and so on, and if you want to show your full support to such talented musician from Germany you can purchase Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless by clicking HERE and by streaming the album in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify. In summary, Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World is not an album for anyone, while at the same time it is for everyone, showing how dynamic and multi-layered the music crafted by Imha Tarikat is, turning Kerem’s anger and hatred into amazing music that will keep the fires of Black Metal burning for centuries to come.

Best moments of the album: Flood Of Love (The Beast Trigger), Dominator Proselytism Tactics and Streams Of Power – Canavar.

Worst moments of the album: Interlude – Birth Of Grandeur.

Released in 2022 Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Productions

Track listing
1. Intro – Deeper Within 1:27
2. Radical Righteousness 5:57
3. Touch Of Mercy 5:04
4. Brute Majesty 5:19
5. Flood Of Love (The Beast Trigger) 5:32
6. Interlude – Birth Of Grandeur 2:31
7. Dominator Proselytism Tactics 5:51
8. Streams Of Power – Canavar 4:50
9. Stardust Wisdom (Manifest Of The Deity To The Unkeen) 6:44
10. Beast Of Sovereignty 5:48

Band members
Kerem Yilmaz – vocals, guitars, bass

Guest musician
Melvin Cieslar – drums (session)

Album Review – Fifth Ring / Masochist (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

This ruthless trio based in Taiwan and the United States will break your bones with their debut full-length monstrosity, a maelstrom where Blackened Deathcore, Progressive Death Metal and sheer bloody brutality collide and explode.

With the soul focus on creating the heaviest riffs, the sickest slams and the filthiest breakdowns, the members of Tainan, Taiwan/Atlanta, Georgia, United States-based Blackened Deathcore horde Fifth Ring have been creatively active with other musical projects for over ten years now and have come together once again to create a whole new monstrosity, entitled Masochist. Following on directly from their 2022 three-track EP Dawn, Masochist is a huge leap forward for Fifth Ring in every department, a maelstrom where Blackened Deathcore, Progressive Death Metal and sheer bloody brutality collide and explode, therefore showcasing all the talent and fury by Zachary Kepley on vocals, bass and drum programming, Christopher Williamson on the guitar and Q. Keith Brown Jr. on drums, and being highly recommended for fans of Cattle Decapitation, Bog Wraith, Sun Speaker and Katabasis, among others.

The opening tune Ten Horns is noisy, vile and brutal from the very first second, with the infernal vociferations by Zachary walking hand in hand with his own demonic bass punches in an awesome fusion of Brutal Death Metal and Deathcore where the riffs by Zachary and Christopher will pierce your skull mercilessly. The Snake is just as demonic as its predecessor, with Q. Keith crushing his drums in the name of Blackened Deathcore, exhaling groove and rage for our total delight; whereas in Crimson Mask we face sick words barked by Zachary (“Stretch out the spine / Broken neck / Barbed wire / Guillotine / Now the wound has opened up”) amidst a hurricane of metallic sounds perfect for slamming into the circle pit. Then bringing forward elements from classic Thrash and Death Metal we have Head on a Pike, where Q. Keith once again does a great job behind his drums; and switching gears to a more melodic, pensive sonority, get ready for six intense minutes in Dust to Dust, which loses its grip after a while, consequently sounding a bit tiresome in the end.

Back to a more Hardcore sound, the trio drinks form the same fountain as renowned acts the likes of Lorna Shore and Whitechapel in Maggot King, showcasing a violent riff attack by Zachary and Christopher, whereas in Waste we’re treated to another round of their acid lyrics (“Dead in the waste / By the time I was saved / I never / Prayed to a god / Who forsakes / Everyone who’s praises / Dead on cross / With no head / Upside down and rancid”) while the music brings to our ears endless savagery and heaviness. The Pit is a brutal, neck-breaking creation by the trio that will please all fans of the darkest side of Deathcore, with Zachary sounding inhumane on vocals while Q. Keith continues to kick ass on drums, resulting in the heaviest of all songs hands down. Lastly, ending the album on a demonic mode, more of the trio’s trademark aggressiveness is offered to us all in Lurking in the Open Wound, while also presenting some cryptic, somber passages until its melancholic finale.

You can enjoy Masochist and all of its heaviness and gore on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show your support to the underground extreme scene you should buy the album from their own BandCamp page, from Apple Music, or by clicking HERE, proving you’re indeed a circle pit connoisseur. In addition, go check what the trio is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their demented music. Listen to Masochist and feel your mind forcibly expanded while your bones are remorselessly broken, and may Fifth Ring keep destroying everything and everyone that crosses their path with more first-class releases such as their new album in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Ten Horns, Crimson Mask and The Pit.

Worst moments of the album: Dust to Dust.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Ten Horns 4:16
2. The Snake 4:05
3. Crimson Mask 3:20
4. Head on a Pike 4:59
5. Dust to Dust 6:02
6. Maggot King 3:39
7. Waste 3:47
8. The Pit 4:12
9. Lurking in the Open Wound 6:12

Band members
Zachary Kepley – vocals, bass, drum programming
Christopher Williamson – guitar
Q. Keith Brown Jr. – drums

Album Review – Orphique / Consécration Cadavérique (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

Quebecois one man Black Metal project Orphique has unveiled a debut album entitled Consécration Cadavérique, which has been independently released on cassette, but has also seen a CD release via Sepulchral Productions.

The first of five tracks, Onirique has a steady, composed feeling to it; a methodical sound that breaks into blast beating fury in a mature and controlled way. Vocally, Monsieur Potter has a powerful snarling style, whilst his song-writing technique leans towards the intricate and thought provoking. He’s also a very talented guitarist and some of his guitar based melodies are extremely beautiful to behold, as are his stark, cold undertones. As for his bass playing technique, it is again deliberate, strong and pronounced, and each instrument has been given its time to shine on this opening track, which just like the whole album is recorded and mastered smoothly.

Whilst this album is technically very sound, there is a spark missing in my opinion. So, whilst the album is more than listenable, it also fails to set the blood pumping in a way that a truly great album would. If anything, Consécration Cadavérique feels very much like a paint by numbers album, right down to the subtle use of synth and the obligatory tremolo picking. So whilst everything fits well together, the album flows nicely and there is plenty of bleak melody involved, it still feels a little formulaic.

With all of that being said, Consécration Cadavérique is still a very enjoyable album, just not an exciting one.

Best moments of the album: The overall fluency and technicality of the musicianship.

Worst moments of the album: There are no worst moments especially.

Released in 2022 by Sepulchral Productions

Track listing
1. Onirique 10:15
2. Vampirique 8:31
3. Chromatique 6:04
4. Chimérique 5:23
5. Sporadique 8:43

Band members
David Potter – vocals

Guest musicians
Marc-Antoine Lizotte – guitars
Arnaud Fillion – bass
Michel Bélanger – drums
Cyril Tousignant – acoustic guitars, additional vocals
Conor Campbell – additional vocals

Links
Orphique Facebook | BandCamp

Album Review – Eskhaton / Horracle EP (2022)

Posted on by
1

***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

Australian horde Eskhaton had a lot of momentum on the run up to the end of the decade, and then the pandemic hit. Now though, the band has returned with a Hell’s Headbangers Records released, a five track EP entitled Horracle.

Eskhaton perform with a frenetic, urgent energy, and they aren’t averse to dabbling in unorthodox time signatures which break up the flow of their blistering brutality. Horracle is a combination of ruthless, menacing growled vocals, intensive cavernous sounding drum tones, as well as thundering bass play and maniacal, scorching guitar leads and riffs.

When Eskhaton aren’t ploughing a deep groove of bleak Death Metal savagery, their guitarists engage in frequent bouts of technical barbarity in the form of colossal guitar solos that sound out at will and rise from the gloom and up into the toxic atmosphere created by this malevolent and crushing release.

I think the artwork for this release really hits the spot, for just like the album art there is a shocking current of damaging energy that runs through this release, whether it be from the controlled pummelling from the man behind the drum kit, the unstoppable ferocity of the vocalist or the marauding aggression from the guitarists.

With only five tracks to play with, Eskhaton do keep things pretty similar throughout, so you could say a lack of variety in their play is a downside, however this is picking fault when there is very little to be had. This EP makes up for this shortcoming with stunning brutality and technical wizardry, and the end result is a very solid slab of Aussie Death Metal.

Best moments of the album: The vocals. Utterly ruthless growling fury. Also the guitar tones, furious and bleak.

Worst moments of the album: None

Released in 2022 by Hells Headbangers Records

Track listing
1. Omnicidol 7:54
2. Khaossuary 6:33
3. Vortexecution 3:31
4. Aftermathemagician 3:03
5. Nethereal 8:19

Band members
Invokocide – vocals, guitars
Whirlwindead – guitars
Sublimorkunt – bass
Militiarkh – drums

Links
Eskhaton Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | BandCamp

Album Review – Faustus / Memoriam (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

One of the most interesting names of the current Swedish scene will crush your skull with their new album, blending their trademark Deathcore with tons of progressiveness and groove.

Hailing from Bollnäs, a Swedish locality and the seat of Bollnäs Municipality in Gävleborg County, Sweden, the up-and-coming Deathcore outfit known as Faustus plays what they like to call “a freight-train-full-of-sledgehammers-headed-straight-towards-your-whole-family” sound, adding elements from Death Metal, Progressive Metal and Djent, among others, to their vicious core sonority. Now in 2022 the band comprised of Ludvig Setterlind on vocals, Anton Pärlenskog and Mattias Lövhaga on the guitars, Nils Hedberg on bass and Oskar Pärlenskog on drums is ready to attack armed with their sophomore effort, entitled Memoriam, following up on their 2018 debut album Laments of an Obscure Mind. Produced, mixed and mastered by Robert Kukla at Obsidian Recording Studios, and displaying a classic artwork by Jani Stefanovic of Dreamdecipher Productions, “this album can be regarded as a tribute/homage to what has been. Both in regards to people from our past as well as things in life that have had a big impact on us. We felt that we needed an outlet for these feelings and took to our trade of choice to fulfil that need, and here we are. The music in itself is fuelled by these feelings and brings a sort of anger and sorrow. Not a gloomy one mind you, but more something that represents honour. With that said, we didn’t skimp out on the groove or heaviness of the music, no it’s quite the contrary. It’s our best and most complete album yet,” commented the band.

In the opening tune Deprived of Liberty we’re treated to a groovy riff attack by Anton and Mattias accompanied by the thunderous bass by Nils, kicking off the album on a high note and flowing into the also visceral Psychogenic, with Ludvig roaring and screaming in anger nonstop while Oskar dictates the pace with his pounding drums, sounding as heavy as it is intricate and melodic. Let’s keep banging our heads to the sound of Anhedonia, where Nils and Oskar sound like an earthquake together, therefore providing Ludvig with all he needs to scream manically, whereas Existence, Death? begins in the most Progressive Metal way possible, morphing into another solid tune where all instruments sound sharp, caustic and detailed. And following such pulverizing tune, The Creation of What’s Called Hell is an infernal Deathcore and Death Metal creation spiced up by its sinister lyrics (“In utter darkness / Death is my only friend / Corrupting everything / Tearing the soul apart / In the silence I scream / Rots with the corpses / No incoming sources / Creating what’s called hell”).

Ludvig continues to growl like a beast in Architect of Ruin, more modern than its predecessors with the guitars by Anton and Mattias piercing our ears mercilessly; and blending elements from the Melodic Death Metal by bands such as Arch Enemy and Soilwork in their sonority Faustus offer us all Sleep, once again hammering our heads with their venomous drums and bass. Then leaning towards contemporary Groove Metal we have Tempus, sounding darker and more demonic than the rest of the album and with Ludvig stealing the spotlight with his devilish roars; while Obscurity is slightly generic compared to the other songs albeit still presenting the band’s core sonority, with the guitars by Anton and Mattias sounding incendiary. Back to a more obscure sound, it’s time for the band to blast the multi-layered From the Beginning to the End where Nils is as usual fantastic on bass while Oskar keeps the energy level truly high with his beats, morphing into the atmospheric outro XI, putting a serene and pensive ending to Memoriam.

If you want to enjoy all the fury and melody blasted by Faustus in Memoriam you can stream the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course purchase it by clicking HERE or HERE. Also, don’t forget to give the guys a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their visceral music. The Swedish metallers from Faustus did a very good job with Memoriam, blending a vast array of styles into their trademark Deathcore without losing their essence and without sounding confusing; as a matter of fact, I would love to see more of their experimentations and progressiveness in their upcoming albums as those elements brought a very welcome touch to their music, placing them among the most interesting names of the modern metal scene without a shadow of a doubt.

Best moments of the album: Psychogenic, The Creation of What’s Called Hell and Tempus.

Worst moments of the album: Obscurity.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Deprived of Liberty 3:56
2. Psychogenic 5:01
3. Anhedonia 3:29
4. Existence, Death? 4:41
5. The Creation of What’s Called Hell 5:58
6. Architect of Ruin 4:15
7. Sleep 3:57
8. Tempus 4:06
9. Obscurity 3:19
10. From the Beginning to the End 5:43
11. XI 2:44

Band members
Ludvig Setterlind – vocals
Anton Pärlenskog – guitar
Mattias Lövhaga – guitar
Nils Hedberg – bass
Oskar Pärlenskog – drums

Album Review – Ryth / Deceptor Creator (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

Raise your horns to this four-piece Death Metal act from Bahrain, bringing to our ears their unique and brutal blend of extreme music in their debut album.

Formed in 2008 in Bahrain (a country not known for its metal scene for many reasons), the four-piece Death Metal act that goes by the name of Ryth is unleashing upon us their debut full-length album, entitled Deceptor Creator, offering our ears 44 minutes of what can be described as Blackened Death Metal with a technical and progressive edge. Mixed by Hani Taqi at Studio 77, mastered by legendary mastering engineer Alan Douches at West West Side Music, and displaying a Stygian artwork designed by Lucas Ruggieri, Deceptor Creator beautifully represents all the hard work and passion by vocalist and bassist Mohammed AlMeshkhas, guitarists Abdulrahman Rashed and Hisham AlAnsari, and drummer Mahmood AlAnsari, who despite all the struggles faced by any metal band in the Middle East never gave up their dream and were finally able to release their debut effort, forging their unique and brutal blend of extreme music.

The atmospheric, cryptic intro Firmament sets the stage for Ryth to crush our souls in Auto-Autonomous, with the guitars by Abdulrahman and Hisham exhaling hatred and animosity while Mohammed roars manically form the bottom of his devilish heart. Put differently, it’s in-your-face Death Metal the likes of Unleashed, flowing into Self Destruct, which begins in a somber manner to the minimalist riffage by the band’s guitar duo and the rhythmic beats by Mahmood while Mohammed continues to vociferate the song’s lyrics in great fashion. White Portrait is even more detailed and progressive than its predecessors, with Mahmood sounding fantastic behind his drums in a lecture in modern-day Progressive Death Metal; whereas Spiral Flood is more direct and infernal, with the riffage by Abdulrahman and Hisham cutting your skin deep while Mahmood keeps hammering his drums nonstop.

The second part of the album begins with the futuristic, eerie interlude Spectre, showcasing an obscure background voice and growing in intensity until exploding into Facade, another puissant, heavy-as-hell tune that brings to our ears more of the gruesome vociferations by Mohammed. Moreover, although the band’s trademark brutality is present, the song loses a bit of its punch after a while. Then sinister and atmospheric from the very first second, the multi-layered The Rise of Erebus will embrace you in pitch black darkness to the venomous growls by Mohammed and the puissant drums by Mahmood; and lastly, Explicit Name is another solid hybrid of classic Death Metal with more modern and progressive nuances, with their guitars walking hand in hand with both their wicked growls and anguished clean vocals.

In summary, if you’re a fan of bands such as Gojira, Dark Fortress, Shining and Opeth you must take a listen at Deceptor Creator, as the album will bring to your avid ears a massive dose of heaviness, groove and progressiveness altogether. Hence, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for all things Ryth, to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their music, to stream their creations on Spotify, and above all that, to purchase Deceptor Creator by clicking HERE. It’s always a pleasure seeing metalheads from the Middle East going against all odds and delivering first-class metal even with all the hassles and prohibitions imposed by their authoritarian governments, and the band simply nailed it with Deceptor Creator, proving once again the Middle East could be an excellent source of metal music if only there was a little bit more freedom for talented musicians like the guys from Ryth.

Best moments of the album: Self Destruct, White Portrait and The Rise of Erebus.

Worst moments of the album: Facade.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. Firmament 0:35
2. Auto-Autonomous 5:23
3. Self Destruct 5:20
4. White Portrait 6:41
5. Spiral Flood 5:48
6. Spectre 1:51
7. Facade 8:31
8. The Rise of Erebus 5:15
9. Explicit Name 4:51

Band members
Mohammed AlMeshkhas – vocals, bass
Abdulrahman Rashed – guitars
Hisham AlAnsari – guitars
Mahmood AlAnsari – drums

Album Review – Detherous / Unrelenting Malevolence (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

Following on from their debut album Hacked to Death in 2019, Calgary, Alberta based Death Thrashers Detherous have returned with an all new bout of sickness in the form of their Redefining Darkness Records released second opus entitled Unrelenting Malevolence.

Opening with the rampaging Interminable Mutilation, Detherous are quick to show off their savage chops, spewing forth with an undiluted barrage of feral old school Thrash vocals, maniacally sadistic and engaging riffs and guitar leads and punishing, inhospitable drum tones. It may be lazy to liken Detherous to early Slayer but the comparison nevertheless holds true, in both the bands relentless violence and forthright vocal delivery.

Where Detherous differs from Slayer can be heard as soon as Suspended in Agony kicks in. With a far more groove laden Death Metal vibe, as well as the odd plunge back into gnarly skull rattling Thrash, Detherous mould and crush their two main influences together brilliantly.

Unrelenting Malevolence is a truly savage sophomoric album, displaying a band who are at home delivering brutalizing force as well as technical wizardry. This is also an album that burrows deep to extract the very best qualities of both Thrash and Death Metal in order to create the best sound they possibly can, and the album is powerful and absorbing as a result.

Best moments of the album: You can’t ask for a stronger opener than Interminable Mutilation, nor a stronger follow up in Suspended in Agony.

Worst moments of the album: I’m hard pressed to find any!

Released in 2022 by Redefining Darkness Records

Track listing
1. Interminable Mutilation 4:27
2. Suspended in Agony 5:10
3. Gruesome Tools of Torture 4:01
4. Encased in Gore 4:30
5. Wretched Formations of Flesh 4:05
6. Reek of the Decayed 5:44
7. Erosion of Reality 3:10
8. Tormented by the Dead 5:02
9. Cataclysmic Devastation 3:48
10. Skull Fracturing Nightmare (Demolition Hammer cover) 5:26

Band members
Damon MacDonald – vocals, guitar
Ryan Hunter – lead guitar
Scott Cressman – bass
Dimitri LaRose – drums

Guest musician
Chris Monroy – additional vocals, guitar solos on “Skull Fracturing Nightmare”

Links
Detherous Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Spotify | BandCamp | YouTube

Album Review – Stratovarius / Survive (2022)

Posted on by
2

One of the pillars of Finnish heavy music returns with a fantastic album of first-class Melodic Power Metal, proving they’re still standing strong after almost 40 years on the road.

At long last, after several years waiting for new material from the one and only Finnish Melodic Power Metal institution Stratovarius, the band has finally unleashed their new album, the excellent Survive, following up on their also great 2015 effort Eternal. Produced by the band’s own guitarist Matias Kupiainen, mixed also by Matias at 5 by 5 Studio and Estúdio Eiffel, mastered by Ermin Hamidovic at Systematic Productions, and displaying a classy artwork by Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák, Survive has all elements we learned to love in the music by Stratovarius without sounding cheesy or outdated, showcasing vocalist Timo Kotipelto, guitarist Matias Kupiainen, keyboardinst Jens Johansson, bassist Lauri Porra and drummer Rolf Pilve on absolute fire from start to finish and, therefore, placing the album as one of the best of 2022 hands down.

Matias wastes no time and begin his riff attack in the title-track Survive, kicking off the album on a very high note while also displaying a fantastic vocal performance by Timo and the unstoppable Power Metal drums by Rolf, and more of their striking Melodic Power Metal comes in the form of Demand, presenting their always inspiring lyrics (“Feel the fury / And demonstrate the pain / Show them your anger and despair / Fear the future / For fighting is in vain / It comes for you, unbearable, unthinkable”); whereas the unrelenting Jens adds a touch of magic to the music in Broken, while Timo declaims the song’s powerful words flawlessly. Firefly, one of the first singles of the album, exhales classic Stratovarius with Lauri delivering sheer groove from his bass accompanied by the pounding beats by Rolf, and keeping the album at a very pleasant level of energy we have We Are Not Alone, where once again Matias and Jens are in absolute sync with their respective riffs and keys. Then in Frozen in Time we face a less “power” and more rhythmic, melodic tune by Stratovarius, presenting a great job done by Rolf on drums while overflowing intricacy and groove.

It’s then time for the first single of the album, the absolute banger World on Fire, where Timo is the one on fire with his soaring vocals while Matias delivers an amazing dosage of stamina through his riffs and solos; followed by Glory Days, where Timo beautifully sings the song’s powerful words (“We are the war / We are the storm / A lightning that lights up the sky / We are the wind / We are the rain / We are the howl in the night”) while the music is a fusion of the band’s past and present sound, feeling absolutely thrilling until the very last second. They tried to be more symphonic than usual in the power ballad Breakaway, which is not bad, but it lacks the same punch as the rest of the album; then raise your fists to the imposing Before the Fall, with its background vocals bringing even more electricity to the overall result while Matias kicks ass on the guitars and Rolf doesn’t stop crushing his drums. Lastly, get ready for 11 minutes of serene passages, melodic riffs and blasting drums as the icing on the cake with Voice of Thunder, where Jens takes the lead with his futuristic keys while his bandmates enfold us all in a Melodic Power Metal voyage, flowing smoothly and majestically until it’s classy finale.

Survive is available in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you should purchase a copy of such amazing album by clicking HERE or HERE. The unparalleled Stratovarius, who are waiting for you on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube, might have taken seven years to release a new album, but the wait was absolutely worth it as Survive not only brings forward everything we love in their music, but it also presents a band that’s sharper, tighter and more focused than ever, brilliantly surviving in a genre that’s considered oversaturated by most people. Are Stratovarius the best band to ever arise from Finland? In my humble opinion, yes, no doubt about that, but even the ones who don’t agree with me have to admit that they’re indeed one of the most solid bands of the current metal scene, and Survive is another clear example of how strong and relevant the band still is and will forever be.

Best moments of the album: Survive, Demand, World on Fire and Glory Days.

Worst moments of the album: Breakaway.

Released in 2022 earMusic

Track listing
1. Survive 4:39
2. Demand 4:03
3. Broken 4:57
4. Firefly 3:38
5. We Are Not Alone 4:34
6. Frozen in Time 6:43
7. World on Fire 4:26
8. Glory Days 5:06
9. Breakaway 4:28
10. Before the Fall 4:15
11. Voice of Thunder 11:10

Band members
Timo Kotipelto – vocals
Matias Kupiainen – guitars
Jens Johansson – keyboards
Lauri Porra – bass
Rolf Pilve – drums

Guest musicians
Ari Sievälä, Petri Aho, Hepa Waara, Mikko Herranen, Anssi Stenberg, Viljami Holopainen, Mikael Salo, Heikki Mäkäräinen, Antti Lappalainen & Jani Liimatainen – vocals (choirs)

Album Review – Cabal / Magno Interitus (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

***Review by Luke Hayhurst, writer for Morbid Wings (Print) Zine, VM Underground Fanzine and Doom-Metal.com***

This is my first experience of Danish band Cabal and I can only describe the sound they create as weaponized music. This their third album to date, entitled Magno Interitus and released through Nuclear Blast Records, is a sort of conglomeration of Blackened Deathcore, Djent, Dubstep, Doom and Hardcore.

What the band strive to achieve is a sort of gloomy, doom laden atmosphere, and this they achieve. Underneath that atmosphere however is something far more sinister. Whilst this kind of music isn’t my thing, I can certainly appreciate what has been pieced together here. So instead of banging on about what bands this reminds me of, (None, I have very little knowledge of this style) I’ll instead try to describe how this album makes me feel and what it brings to mind.

If I were a film maker engaged in creating a movie about two warring factions, one a desperate bedraggled remnant of humanity and the other a sleek, mechanical army of robots, (Yes, I am aware I’m essentially talking about the later Terminator films) then this would be my soundtrack. For this album sounds like mechanized Armageddon, and its unstoppable unwavering post-industrial style that fuses the disjointed nature of Djent with a more scattergun Dubstep element, as well as hostile crushing Deathcore, would be the perfect fit for my soundtrack.

In my opinion, a band like Cabal defies genre boundaries. If a band can take someone like me who has no real appreciation for Deathcore and make me think about what I’m experiencing, then they have to be a very talented and creative band indeed. So whilst a true Deathcore fan would give this a higher grade, a novice to the style like me to give it a seven I think says even more about why you should listen to Magno Interitus.

Best moments of the album: The album ends very strongly with Exsanguination and Plague Bringer.

Worst moments of the album: Nothing to massively complain about.

Released in 2022 by Nuclear Blast Records

Track listing
1. If I Hang, Let Me Swing 3:14
2. Insidious 2:09
3. Magno Interitus 3:27
4. Existence Ensnared 3:25
5. Insatiable 3:26
6. Blod af Mit 4:17
7. Exit Wound 2:43
8. Violent Ends 2:41
9. Like Vultures 3:05
10. Exsanguination 3:20
11. Plague Bringer 3:45

Band members
Andreas Bjulver Paarup – vocals
Christian Hammer Mattesen – guitars
Chris Kreutzfeldt – guitars
Malthe Strøyer Sørensen – bass
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk – drums

Guest musicians
Simon Olsen – vocals on “Insidious”
Joe Bad – vocals on “Magno Interitus”
John Cxnnor – industrial noises on “Blod af Mit”

Links
Cabal Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Spotify | BandCamp | YouTube

Album Review – Reanimator / Commotion (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

This unrelenting Canadian Thrash N’ Roll beast returns to action after seven years with their strongest effort to date, offering us all an overdose of heaviness, rage and rebelliousness.

Since the creation of the band in 2005 in the beautiful city of Montreal by Patrick Martin and Maxime Cormier, the unrelenting Thrash N’ Roll beast Reanimator dug an important place in the Quebec metal scene, offering incendiary Thrash Metal dotted with old school and more contemporary elements, kicking some asses wherever they go. Now in 2022 the band currently comprised of Patrick Martin on vocals, Philippe Lemire and Joël Racine on the guitars, Frédérik Bizier on bass and Francis Labelle on drums strikes again with their third full-length opus, entitled Commotion, the follow-up to their excellent 2015 album Horns Up. Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Jef Fortin at Badass Studio, produced by Carlos Ponte and Dany Soucy at Bam&Co-Heavy, and displaying a sick artwork by the band’s own bassist Frédérik Bizier, Commotion will certainly please all diehard fans of thrashing masters the likes of Exodus, Megadeth and Municipal Waste, bringing to our ears an overdose of heaviness, rage and rebelliousness with a vibrant Québécois twist.

The strident guitars by Philipe and Joël ignite the title-track Commotion, exploding into ass-kicking Thrash Metal to the demented screams by Patrick while sounding very classy and violent at the same time, also presenting some electrifying guitar solos. The Ditch is another song perfect for slamming into the mosh pit, with the metallic bass by Frédérik walking hand in hand with the rhythmic beats by Francis in a nonstop thrashing extravaganza for lovers of the genre; whereas instead of burning the witch, it’s time to be Burnt By The Witch, drinking form the same fountain as Bay Area monsters such as Exodus and Anthrax. Moreover, simply bang your head nonstop to the razor-edged riffs by Philippe and Joël. Then putting the pedal to the metal the band offers the infernal Terry Fire, a play word with “terrifier” as you might have noticed, where Patrick sounds utterly enraged on vocals accompanied by the massive bass punches by Frédérik; and L’Appel Du Vide (or “the call of the void” from French) is a great song entirely sung in French with Patrick being nicely supported by his bandmates’ backing vocals, sounding frantic, dirty and visceral as expected.

Necronomicunt carries a beautiful name for another explosion of old school Thrash Metal by Reanimator where the band’s guitar duo is on fire from start to finish, slashing our ears mercilessly while Francis dictates the pace with his unstoppable drums; and grab a cold beer and head into the circle pit to the sound of Anti-Sobriety, offering us all more of their thrilling riffage, bestial drums and deranged vocals. After such high level of insanity, the band slows things down a bit and brings forward Wretched Affliction, presenting some interesting breaks and variations while Patrick keeps roaring like a beast (despite being a bit below the rest of the album). Back to a more direct, venomous sonority it’s time for the crushing Heads Or Tails, with Philippe and Joël once again stealing the spotlight with their refined riffs and solos; and lastly, let’s bang our heads and raise our horns together with such talented Canadian squad in Out For Justice, with Francis hammering his drums in great fashion while the roaring by Patrick sounds more insane than ever.

If you have what it takes to face this Canadian raging bull of Thrash Metal, you can enjoy Commotion in full on Spotify, and of course purchase the album by clicking HERE or from Boiteamusique.ca. Don’t forget to also check what those metallers are up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their inebriate, thrashing music. As aforementioned, Horns Up was already an amazing effort by Reanimator, but the evolution in their music from then to Commotion is beyond awesome, therefore placing them among the best metal bands of the current Canadian scene. And may the heaviness of the Thrash Metal blasted by Reanimator keep hammering us all for many years to come, always fierce and dauntless like the “abominautors” they are.

Best moments of the album: The Ditch, Terry Fire and Necronomicunt.

Worst moments of the album: Wretched Affliction.

Released in 2022 Bam&Co-Heavy

Track listing
1. Commotion 5:36
2. The Ditch 3:26
3. Burnt By The Witch 4:49
4. Terry Fire 3:32
5. L’Appel Du Vide 4:05
6. Necronomicunt 3:22
7. Anti-Sobriety 5:14
8. Wretched Affliction 3:58
9. Heads Or Tails 3:20
10. Out For Justice 4:56

Band members
Patrick Martin – vocals
Philippe Lemire – guitars
Joël Racine – guitars
Frédérik Bizier – bass, backing vocals
Francis Labelle – drums