Stillborn - Cultura de la muerte

STILLBORN - Cultura de la muerte (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2022)

This brand-new black vomit from Stillborn is a real feast to my ears. I'm not even gonna pretend it’s any different, this album caught me in some sort of maniacal maelstrom – as a result, I couldn’t take it off the fuckin stereo for days. You can only imagine destruction it caused to my ears and how it pissed off my wife, who really had enough of this album hah! But extreme metal is not a vaniila ice cream, it has to be rough and be hostile hah! 

I have to say that I like that consistency, with which Stillborn records their music, how they stick to the best formulas for their style of death metal, without any compromises – and despite all lineup changes they suffered. But also, how they make the music sound even more dense, more intense and darker. Ohh, more blasphemous too, which is now underlined with the Polish lyrics on this new album. Although you may not understand much from these harsh, possessed screams of Killer, but there’s no doubt that lyrics for such “Gniew diabła” and “Profanacja i bluźnierstwo” are a big fuckin nail in the coffin of christianity, especially in such useless country as Poland. Anyway, going back to the music, there’s one more thing, which I personally like a lot. There are eight songs, compressed in nearly thirty minutes. This really underlines the brutality and ferocious intensity of “Cultura de la muerte” perfectly. Stillborn doesn’t waste time for some unnecessary intros, covers or whatever, but blast and crush with no remorse. With such a short album they don’t even need to diversify these songs much, it all seems to have one aim to fulfill – and Stillborn are there to do it! Total annihilation! 

Yeah, enough of that melodrama and stupidity. “Cultura de la muerte” is really damn great and worthy album, it may be the best Stillborn effort so far – but I would have to check some of their early stuff first, before giving a final verdict (it’s been years since I’ve listened to some of that stuff). But the truth is, I don’t remember any of their albums to have such an intensified and repeatable listening session as “Cultura de la muerte”. Which is why I really, I mean REALLY recommend this album a lot. Don't be a pussy, get it before it’s too late. 

Verdict: 85/100 

R.O.D. - HateSpeech

R.O.D. - HateSpeech (DEFENSE Records - CD 2021)

I'm not big expert on the Polish thrash metal, to be honest. I do know there’s quite a solid number of young bands out there, but I don’t really bother myself to check their albums or whatever they have to offer. There are very exceptions from that rule obviously (Excidium, Warfist and Bloodthirst among others)… but they are very few. And that takes us to R.O.D. and their third album “HateSpeech”. I don’t remember if I’ve ever heard them before, if I did then I completely erased that fact from my memory. I doubt also that “HateSpeech” will help R.O.D. become my favourite band of this year, but this album isn’t that bad. Actually, it is solid and listenable piece of thrash metal.  

There are few things, which I like about “HateSpeech”. One is that aggression and whiplashing riffs they have all the way through their album. R.O.D. doesn’t waste much time and really puts some fuel into the fire, getting that nice, energetic feel. Cool. Obviously, their riffs aren’t the most extraordinary thrash metal you will ever hear, but it’s OK if you want to simply listen to some thrash with a bit of crossover. Another good aspect of the album is that it’s just around 25 minutes long (or short), which helps a lot to avoid irritating feel of thrash overdose. A quick couple of spins are enough, the CD can go back to the shelf and wait for its another turn. Also, the production is pretty damn good. Are there any things I don’t like? Well, some vocal parts probably are not my favourite. But I deliberately decided to avoid reading lyrics, which I heard are quite idiotic here and there. I don’t care. Musically it is not so bad at all. 

Verdict: 70/100

Goatsmegma - Goat Separatist Movement

GOATSMEGMA - Goat Separatist Movement (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2022)

There's something utterly bizarre about bands like Goatsmegma. They have absolutely nothing new to offer, everything about them is typical and has been done to the most boring level already in this genre. Let's check, shall we? A name with the goat in it, check. Chains, gasmasks, balaclavas - they're here too, check. Nicknames like Commander of the Demonic Axe – they are here, checl. Oh, goats with machine guns and impaled nazarene scum - would you expect flowers on the artwork? Check. Music - it is following the path of Blasphemy, Revenge, Proclamation and many more... I'm even too lazy to mention more names, but yes - Goatsmegma music is also very, very typical and predictable. Check. This Estonian band doesn't even try to have at least one original aspect in their music. Someone would ask if there’s anyone who needs them at all? Well, here's what I think - Goatsmegma music is good enough to defend itself.  

First off, I am glad that the production on this album is not making the music sound like a terrible and unbearable wall of noise. You will be able to catch some great riffs there and the music has a good diversity - fast, violent music does dominate, but Goatsmegma includes many slower, more crushing parts too, for better and more interesting result. And it all is here waiting and ready to rape your ears with bloodthirsty perversity. And that’s the second thing, which makes “Goat Separatist Movement” a worthy record. While I am generally tired with this style of music, there are still some bands, which manage to convince me and I can listen to their albums with sadistic pleasure. Goatsmegma belongs to that category of bands. I think they are even better than Barbaric Horde, who’re sort of similar band from the Godz ov War catalogue. The ferocity of the music, pure savagery and blasphemy are what I like to here. If it’s unoriginal, well I can live with it. With songtitles such as “Drowning Into Goat Sperm”, “Sadistically Murdered by Goat Rebels” or “Goat Separatist Movement” you just know it ain’t gonna be a sweet lullaby. 

Verdict: 75/100

Bottlekopf - The Jokes Are Over

BOTTLEKOPF - The Jokes Are Over (WM PSYCHO - CD 2022)

Here’s a Polish band called Bottlekopf, whose debut album "Absolutely Nothing" was released back in 2014 – long time ago, I have to say. But if I can be honest, I always ignored this band and never had a chance to hear even a single song from them. It changed recently, when I got their second album "The Jokes Are Over". But I cannot say that it made me like them even a little. It didn’t. 

At least I tried. Believe me, I did. But this album is just not for me. Of course, I had to listen to it at least a few times, if only because of writing this review. But unfortunately, I did not get any pleasure from this listening session, after a while I was only driven by the need to finish a review... Kind of “listen and forget” thing – worst thing ever. Does this prove that it is so fatal material? It all depends what music you like. Bottlekopf have composed and recorded some simple and solid songs, from the technical point of view there’s nothing wrong with "The Jokes Are Over"… But I just don’t like it. 

I will say more, this is one of the most unbearable and annoying metal genres for me. It's that painfully groovy thrash on one side and death'n'roll or whatever on the other side, with many riffs which take me back to the mid 90's, when a lot of thrash and even death metal bands started to get those groove and hard-core influences with these stupid Pantera or whatever riffs, which have absolutely the most irritating sound. Daaamnnn, I cannot stand it. I can think of how Sepultura started to piss me off at some point, when they turned into such band. And yes, 90's Sepultura are one of the inspirations for Bottlekopf for sure. I could also add Entombed and Gorefest - both when they have dropped their original death metal style for some other crap. Call me narrowminded, but I just don’t care. It was and it still is a disappointment for me. Bottlekopf gives me no reason whatsoever to like their music at least a little bit. 

And as I mentioned, I believe that there's nothing wrong with "The Jokes Are Over" from its technical side. I am sure that the band had a lot of fun recording / playing these songs, as well as I am sure that there will be at least 136 fans, who will like this album - because this is probably how many copies will WM Psycho sell. I will pass though. I just find this style of music too irritating. 

Verdict: 55/100

Anatomia / Druid Lord - Beyond Putrefaction / Horrid Fate

ANATOMIA / DRUID LORD - Beyond Putrefaction / Horrid Fate (7"EP split - ME SACO UN OJO)

There are a few bands that I'm trying to get all vinyl releases, no matter if it’s a seven inch, another split or an album. I need them all. And Anatomia is one such band. This year we’ve seen the coming of two new splits with the Japanese ghouls – a split with Undergang (a 12” vinyl) and with Druid Lord (a 7” vinyl). And “Beyond Putrefaction / Horrid Fate” is what I would like to write couple of words about here, because it’s one of my recent purchases. Actually, I did get the Undergang split too, but I have not listened to it yet.  

And by the way, both these splits come from Me Saco un Ojo Records, which really belongs to my favourite record labels. I am always glad to have something new from them. And just look at that seven inch and its stunning artwork from Riddick... what a beauty! 

But let’s start with “Horrid Face” from Anatomia. It is a crushing doom / death monster – exactly what I expect to get from them. Filthy, cavernous sound, putridity all over it, creepy, heavy as fuck and droning riffs, vomiting vocals... Yeah, it’s all there, done in the good old Anatomia recipe. It always works for me and never disappoints. Even if we’ve heard it a number of times before from Anatomia and it’s not their best song ever – I don’t care. These guys have such a great gift for doing this sort of music in interesting and impressive way. They sound like no other band and maybe this is why I prefer their music from most of other doom / death metal bands around. 

B side brings “Beyond Putrefaction” from Druid Lord... well, I think I have not heard this band in quite few years now, maybe ever since the “Baron Blood” EP. They're a solid band too and I do like this song, no surprise. Their doom / death style is more varied and memorable from Anatomia, “Beyond Putrefaction” is not just about slow and gloomy riffs, there are some mid paced tempos and eerie melodic parts too, even a couple of guitar leads, so the music hasn’t got that “primitive feel” of Anatomia (in a good sense of the word). Druid Lord reminds me Hooded Menace from their recent albums, actually, and that is a compliment, since Hooded Menace are another fantastic band from that genre. Anyway, after hearing “Beyond Putrefaction” I am actually very intrigued to listen Druid Lord’s last albums, I got hungry for more from them! 

Verdict: 80/100

Barbaric Horde - Barbaric Hammer Fist

BARBARIC HORDE - Barbaric Hammer Fist (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2022)

Two years after "Axe of Superior Savagery" poisoned the earth, I am listening to "Barbaric Hammer Fist". And you know what? I wonder if there's anything I could add other than I have already written in the review of the previous album. I honestly don't think so, which will make this review terribly short. It may not even be a review, more like a short opinion. 

But for fuck sake, Barbaric Horde hasn't changed at all, they continue walking the path of the most raw and bestial war black metal, which I have already compared to the likes of Nightwish and Within Tempt.... Tfffu, I meant Blasphemy, Revenge, Proclamation, Bestial Raids, Black Witchery, Diocletian!!! You can imagine the sheer brutality and intensity of this music, its malicious and possessed aura. And the barbarity that comes from every sound. These guys don't waste time for intros or shit like that. From the very first second, you'll be hit with the wall of chaotic total black metal terror (as one of the song titles say). And that should be enough for you to imagine what is this band and this album like. Is it anything worthy? Damn yes, I think so. While not every band from that genre is able to convince me, Barbaric Horde easily captures my attention and everything ends in bloodshed. It isn't a nice music; it isn't something that you will play for entertainment. Yeah, but you should let this hatred and violence hit you hard. One of those “play it loud” bands. 

Verdict: 75/100  

Excoriate - On Pestilent Winds…

EXCORIATE - On Pestilent Winds… (SEPULCHRAL VOICE - LP 2009)

This is one of those reviews, which should have been written ages ago, because it’s about an album released over a decade ago. And maybe I should even shed a tear, because the band has already been dead for few years and nothing seem to determine its resurgence. But better late than never and sometimes it’s good also to remind the readers some excellent albums from the previous years, which maybe not everyone had a chance to hear. And maybe this way they will catch up and get a copy. 

For me this album belongs to the best releases from Sepulchral Voice Records - which should already be a great recommendation, if you know how many amazing albums have been released through this label. Excoriate recorded „On Pestilent Winds…” back in 2006 and it took another three years to have it released. And looking at the time when it was recorded, I cannot think of many bands, which would equally impress me. Obviously, there were some killers, like Repugnant, Invidious, Coffin Texts, Necrovation and Kaamos – they were all fantastic. But it’s still a small number. Only later more great acts appeared, to name Vorum, Ensnared, Vanhelgd, Venenum, Degial, Beyond, Necrocurse as few examples. Which is exactly why Excoriate is such a stand out and remembered band for me. 

Anyway, let's finish the introduction and dig the grave to exhume this pestilent artefact. Excoriate was a fantastic death metal band, which had a touch of that possessed black metal in their music. To me, it sounds like Morbid Angel was mixed with Sadistic Intent, Necrovore, Necrophobic, early Bathory and Nifelheim – to name just few. The result is ama-fuckin-zing. This music is dark, it’s evil and blasphemous, I love that obscure, morbid aura around it, as well as savagery and viciousness which come from every sound. Even when Excoriate brings some more melodic riffs – which they do sometimes – they have that eerie and haunting sound, which perfectly fits some of the more barbaric and aggressive parts. The music is not fast, honestly most of it is mid paced or even slow, but that again works so well for me, because that’s when the atmosphere gets deeper and more infectious. I think that „On Pestilent Winds…” belongs to those albums, which impress with everything, from the production to songwriting, atmosphere, band photographs, layout... It’s all been done properly, without looking or sounding stupid and lame. And I know that most of the people prefer to excite themselves with the 18th album from Cannibal Corpse or Obituary or whatever band. Why not. For me, the best what death metal have seen in the past twenty years came from smaller bands like Excoriate.  

Verdict: 90/100