Tag Archives: blood harvest

Album Review – Gutvoid / Breathing Obelisk EP (2024)

Posted on by
1

One of the best still-young Death Metal entities from Canada challenges you to stand before their Breathing Obelisk.

Since their formation in 2019, the ascent of Toronto, Canada’s Death Metal entity Gutvoid has been nothing if not meteoric. From their 2019 debut EP Astral Bestiary to their 2022 full-length opus Durance of Lightless Horizons, the band churned forth a world-eating metal of death that duly devoured the listener whole. Currently formed of Brendan Dean on vocals and guitars, Daniel Bonofiglio also on the guitars, Justin Boehm on bass, and D.W. Lee on drums, the band is unleashing upon us their brand new 31-minute EP Breathing Obelisk, a grim and visceral creature embraced by the otherworldly artwork by Marcio Blasphemator that will surely cement their status as one of the best still-young Death Metal entities around.

Those four demented metallers transport us to their Stygian realm with their minimalist notes in Swamp Consumed, gradually evolving into a darkened Death Metal entity to the visceral roars by Brendan and the hammering drums by D.W. Lee, presenting elements from Doom Metal and Blackened Doom embedded in their core (and evil) essence, whereas For We Are Many, the first single of the album (which they played live with Tomb Mold and Horrendous in Toronto), is a lecture in Progressive Death Metal sounding dissonant, intricate and disturbing, with Brendan and Daniel making an amazing guitar duo while Justin supports them with his menacing bass (not to mention it’s easy to sense elements from Brendan’s Fathomless Ritual in the riffs). Let’s then embark on one more cryptic, grim voyage together with Gutvoid in When The Living Dome Opens, again presenting their trademark vociferations, low-tuned, groovy bass lines and pounding drums, sounding dark and evil until the very end; and the last song of the EP, entitled Shodar, offers us all seven minutes of solid, melodic and visceral Death Metal led by the strident riffs by Brendan and Daniel, an awesome headbanging feast by the quartet where Brendan continues to deeply gnarl like a demonic entity.

After all is said and done, Gutvoid challenge you to stand before their Breathing Obelisk, and you can do that by following them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, by listening to their wicked music on Spotify, and by purchasing a copy of their new EP from Blood Harvest’s BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, a MLP or a cassette. In other words, do you think you have what it takes to face Gutvoid’s menacing and caustic Breathing Obelisk?

Best moments of the album: For We Are Many and Shodar.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Blood Harvest

Track listing
1. Swamp Consumed 9:50
2. For We Are Many 5:51
3. When The Living Dome Opens 7:20
4. Shodar 7:03

Band members
Brendan Dean – vocals, guitars
Daniel Bonofiglio – guitars
Justin Boehm – bass
D.W. Lee – drums

Album Review – Phenocryst / Cremation Pyre (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

A ruthless Death Metal entity from Portugal will attack us all with their debut opus, illustrating soundscapes of disastrous, catastrophic, and annihilating volcanic and natural events.

Based on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal, the infuriated Death Metal beast Phenocryst is releasing their highly anticipated debut album, titled Cremation Pyre, a worthy follow-up to their 2021 debut EP Explosions. Produced, mixed and mastered by Fernando Matias at The Pentagon Audio Manufacturers, and displaying a front cover oil painting by English artist James Campbell (with artwork concept by the band’s own vocalist and guitarist D.S., inspired by Polish painter and photographer Zdzisław Beksiński), the new opus by D.S. on vocals and guitars, Santana also on the guitars, V.M. on bass, and Artur on drums showcases the foundation of a Death Metal act crossing other influences like Doom Metal and some psychedelic vibes, beautifully illustrating soundscapes of disastrous, catastrophic, and annihilating volcanic and natural events.

Absolute darkness and despair flows from all instruments in the opening tune Pinnacle Of Death, with Artur crushing his drums while D.S. vociferates like a creature arising from the abyss, resulting in a demolishing Death Metal feast to kick off the album, whereas sinister notes explode into a putrid Death Metal onrush titled Astonishing Devastation, where the guitars by D.S. and Santana sound evil and grim until the very end. Then featuring guest vocals by Jorge Santos, Belathauzer and Fernando Matias, their evil invocations continue to burn our damned souls in Pyres Of The Altar, offering almost five minutes of caustic riffs and blast beats not recommended for the lighthearted; while Incandescent Debris is a devilish instrumental aria by Phenocryst that has all elements form classic Death Metal, except of course for the guttural vocal lines.

The second half of the album begins in full force with Embers Of An Ancient Fire, a song that couldn’t have sounded more infernal nor heavier, presenting another great job done by D.S. and Santana on the guitars supported by the Doom Metal-inspired drums by Artur, followed by Volcanic Winter, a song perfect for headbanging like an evil entity to the massive beats by Artur while D.S., Santana and V.M. show no mercy for their stringed axes, exhaling endless sulfur and hatred. Fogo Nas Entranhas, or “fire in the entrails”, is one of the most pulverizing songs of the album where D.S.’s infernal roars walk hand in hand with the crushing drums by Artur in a lecture in Death Metal made in Portugal, not to mention the cryptic riffs blasted by D.S. and Santana, flowing into the atmospheric outro Burial Swamps, darkening the skies and dragging us to burn in scorching lava together with the band for all eternity.

Forward-thinking traditionalism? Perhaps, but the real beauty of Cremation Pyre is that it’s open to myriad interpretations; with just one single step needed into its lava. After all is said and done, Phenocryst prove, once again, that “Only Death is Realer!”, and if you agree with the band and want to feel their Death Metal fires burning your soul until the end of times you can find them on Facebook and on Instagram, where you can stay updated with all things Phenocryst including their tour dates, and grab your copy of their incendiary new album from their own BandCamp page, or from Blood Harvest’s BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, LP, or cassette. Phenocryst are among us to spread fire and evil, and may their flammable Death Metal sounds continue to incinerate our avid ears with all of their upcoming releases, hopefully all just as great as Cremation Pyre.

Best moments of the album: Astonishing Devastation, Pyres Of The Altar and Fogo Nas Entranhas.

Worst moments of the album: Incandescent Debris.

Released in 2024 Blood Harvest

Track listing
1. Pinnacle Of Death 4:58
2. Astonishing Devastation 6:05
3. Pyres Of The Altar 4:48
4. Incandescent Debris 3:51
5. Embers Of An Ancient Fire 6:31
6. Volcanic Winter 6:05
7. Fogo Nas Entranhas 4:41
8. Burial Swamps 2:05

Band members
D.S. – vocals, guitars
Santana – guitars
V.M. – bass
Artur – drums

Guest musicians
Belathauzer – additional vocals on “Pyres Of The Altar”
Fernando Matias – additional vocals on “Pyres Of The Altar”, fx and synthesizers on “Fogo Nas Entranhas”
Jorge Santos – additional vocals on “Pyres Of The Altar” and “Fogo Nas Entranhas”