Eucharist - A Velvet Creation

EUCHARIST - A Velvet Creation (WOLFSBANE Records LP 2018)

Eucharist has never actually belonged to my favourite death metal bands from Sweden and I admit that I've been listening to their two CDs very, very rarely. They never represented my most favourite sound of Swedish death metal. But I'm quite glad that I recently had a chance to refresh "A Velvet Creation", which is Eucharist's 1993 debut album. It's been years since I have listened to it last time, but it actually stood the test of time pretty well and I sincerely enjoyed this album after all these years. No idea why I liked it now more than before. 

But the reason why I even had a chance to refresh "A Velvet Creation" to myself is the newest vinyl edition of this album, which recently has been unleashed by Wolfsbane Records from The Netherlands. I have to say they did splendid job. OK, there's new front artwork, which is something what some of you may not like. I too often don't like when they change covers of old albums on their newest reissues. But in this case, I like this new artwork, so I have no problem with it. The vinyl quality is awesome. Heavy record, solid cover, great layout, with few huge old band photos, a 4-page booklet with the lyrics... It all looks great and absolutely proper for such reissue. It is definitely more interesting to your eye than the previous LP version from Regain, which was rather poor (but it had the original artwork and band photo haha). 

Musically, I was kind of sceptical if "A Velvet Creation" had survived the test of time, if it sounds a bit outdated... But it doesn't! I actually enjoy it now more than few years ago (maybe I should blame the vinyl charm for it... nothing better to spin a black wax, right?!). Stylistically we have here melodic death metal from Sweden; one, which you can easily put right next to "Lunar Strain", "The Red in the Sky Is Ours", "Skydancer" and other early melodic albums from Sverige. I think we can all agree that it's been quite characteristic style of death metal, but it's awesome that each of these bands sounded a bit different - despite similarities they shared. It's no other with Eucharist. For instance, one of the things, which I think extinguish Eucharist is the fact that their music was a bit harsher, more aggressive, with quite few fast parts through the whole record. And their type of melodies was not so catchy and enchanting as In Flames' for instance. They sounded darker, more sinister - which is something I obviously like a lot. Maybe sometimes it sounds a bit sloppy, but damn, "A Velvet Creation" does have its great moments. Especially in songs like “March of Insurrection”, when they combine that dark harmony with solid, aggressive and fast to mid paced death metal, perfectly corresponding with the vicious, screaming type of vocals from Markus Johnsson. And there are many more great parts on the album. It's not necessarily easily memorable, but vicious and harsh, yet melodic stuff. 

One thing, which works against "A Velvet Creation" the most is probably the production of the album, which really could have been better. There's no real heaviness and power to it, guitars sound a bit thin, more bass would be nice to hear as well. When compared to the tight production of "Lunar Strain" you can really hear the difference. But let’s be honest – this album was recorded by kids! You shouldn’t expect so much from them. How old were they, when “A Velvet Creation” was recorded?! Seventeen, I think?! But if you listen to the quality of instrumentation, songwriting, the ideas they had for the song structures, arrangements and everything else – wow, that’s something absolutely fantastic for such age. so, let’s just take “A Velvet Creation” for what it is – pretty solid and fine early example for Swedish melodic death metal. Check then this newest vinyl edition, I think it is absolutely worth it. Recommended. 

Standout tracks: “March of Insurrection”, “Floating” 

Verdict: 80/100 

Mortuous - Through Wilderness

MORTUOUS - Through Wilderness (DAWNBREED Records LP 2018)

A calm, beautiful tone of acoustic guitar opens this album... but do not let it fool you, as this calmness in Mortuous music will not last for long and soon a proper carnage of old school genuine death metal shall begin. Although Mortuous do allow themselves to incorporate few more melodic fragments, most of their music is focused on massively heavy, vicious death metal riffage with good balance between blasting, crushing stuff and more doomy, slow paced bulldozers. And it sounds absolutely fantastic. Already their previous effort "Among the Lost" made a huge impression on me, I allowed myself to give it a very high score in the review I did back in 2015. "Through Wilderness" basically extends everything into "better" and "more impressive", to become one of my favourite albums of recent months. And if you call yourself a death metal worshipper, you should know you cannot miss this record! 

Firstly, you will get hit by a savagery of "Beyond Flesh", which is one of the fastest and most relentless songs on the album. But already this song will show you that Mortuous music is far from being one dimensional, as together with blasting parts there are slow paced crushing riffs and very melodic, memorable lead. And the whole album is as such... Incantation-esque brutality with faster and slower songs, mixed up with the Autopsy filthiness, Asphyx and Bolt Thrower majesty, doom / death metal and Swedish death metal harmonies. I value highly the songwriting of "Through Wilderness", filled killer riffs, great arrangements, very good vocals and instrumentation. This album is utterly old school and sounds like an early 90's masterpiece, in my opinion. If was released back then, you all would praise it as much as you praise "Dreams of the Carrion Kind", "Cause of Death" or "Mortal Throne of Nazarene". These guys just know exactly how to use their influences properly and have enough ideas and talent to turn them into something exceptional. And fresh, because it may be old school, traditional death metal, but it doesn't sound tired or repetitive. It's fresh and passionate.  It doesn't re-discover the genre's rules and whatever, but everything is done here in best possible way. I love the brutality, the heaviness - like for instance when "Bitterness" hits you with these doomy riffs, which could easily crush the walls in your apartment, if you play the music loud. Obviously, I already mentioned that Mortuous never stays on one side of the road, so in this song they will also grind you with neckbreaking speed and ferocious aggression. And melody is there as well! Soooo goood!!! Speaking of the melody and doom / death metal, for me "Chrysalis of Sorrow" is the best song on the album, just because it delivers the classic doom / death in the vein of Decomposed or Ceremonium in such a brilliant way. Also, the ending part of "Subjugation of Will" is something I have to mention, as it's absolutely fantastic.  

Fuck, they even got two Autopsy members to get more interesting effect – so good to hear Chris Reifert's vomits! Yeah, it seems like anything Mortuous touches, it turns into rotten fuckin gold. I absolutely love this band. 

This vinyl was released through Dawnbreed Records, in nice gatefold with all the stunning, obscure artwork. This is European LP version, there’s also slightly different US LP version from Tankcrimes Records (released on my B-day... coincidence?!)... choose whichever you please, but do not hesitate to buy this amazing album. 

Standout tracks: "Chrysalis of Sorrow", "Bitterness", "Subjugation of Will" 

Verdict: 90/100 

Supreme Carnage - Morbid Ways to Die

SUPREME CARNAGE - Morbid Ways to Die (RAW SKULL Rekordza - CD 2018)

Supreme Carnage's "Morbid Ways to Die" CD came directly from Raw Skull Rekordz and I'm quite surprised to see that it's already third full length album of this German band. Sadly, I never had a chance to hear or see any of their previous releases, but I definitely would like to get them one day. This newest effort sounds good and left an appetite for more. I never have enough of great death metal, you know?! 

And if you like old school, vicious, yet strongly melodic death metal, then check Supreme Carnage also! This is one of those bands, which put more attention to the atmosphere of their music rather than focus on the sheer brutality. So, their sound is very heavy, yes, but it's also quite groovy, monumental and epic. And melodic, definitely! In many aspects it all sounds like a combination of Swedish death metal (similar to Just Before Dawn for instance) with Bolt Thrower, and it's a good mixture. There's plenty of great and insanely memorable riffage, basically every song is catchy as fuck, but heavy and perfectly suitable if you would like to bang your skull a little. Sure, I sometimes would wish to hear a bit more of fast, savage death metal - which Supreme Carnage delivers very little, because majority of "Morbid Ways to Die" is slow or mid paced. "1008 Pints of Death" is probably the only song, where you could find some blasting fragments. Luckily, that slower music doesn't disturb or bore me at all. Because as I mentioned, Supreme Carnage came up with many killer riffs, the songwriting is excellent, I also like the production of this album a lot - which is very powerful and ass kicking. And Jorge’s vocals are absolutely awesome. This is why I spent these 40 minutes of "Morbid Ways to Die" with honest pleasure. And played it quite a lot recently. 

Standout tracks: "The Fire Prevails", "Morbid Ways to Die", "The War of Ages to Come", "1008 Pints of Death" 

Verdict: 75/100 

Vallenfyre - Splinters

VALLENFYRE - Splinters (CENTURY MEDIA - LP 2014)

Only couple of weeks ago I learned that Vallenfyre split up mid 2018, which is such a bloody shame in my opinion, because I considered them to be one of the best bands around these days. Well, one day everything will end, but this end came far too early in my opinion, especially that "Fear Those Who Fear Him" was released only few months earlier. Anyway, Vallenfyre left three fantastic records behind and their second LP "Splinters" is the one I like the most. This album is simply amazing and close to perfection, it definitely is my favourite work from Gregor Mackintosh, whether we speak of Vallenfyre or any Paradise Lost album he ever composed. 

And speaking of Paradise Lost, one just cannot ignore the fact that some songs on "Splinters" have a very strong influence from the early Paradise Lost albums. Basically every slower song, where you can hear a melodic line to accompany slow paced, doomy riff will immediately remind you about albums such as "Gothic". Which is fuckin awesome to hear, of corpse! Listen to "Bereft" as the best example for that. It's also my favourite song on "Splinters", a pure perfection of old school doomy death metal, in my opinion. The riffs in it, melodic lines, vocal parts – everything sounds absolutely fantastic and there's only one song from Mackintosh, which is equally amazing and that's "Beneath Broken Earth" (best Paradise Lost song ever!). I have to say that the melodic side of "Splinters" is something I’m especially happy to hear. And the way Vallenfyre balanced this album between this with heavy, doomy style of death metal and faster, crusty, dirty style of metal is great too. This way the album is very dynamic, diverse and it contains many, many insanely good riffs. Vallenfyre may be taking influences from Paradise Lost, Autopsy, crust, punk and Swedish death metal (with the guitar tone insanely similar to the best Swedish sound)… They even lurk into the traditions of British grindcore with “Thirst for Extinction” and “Instinct Slaughter”! But the result is always absolutely wonderful. There’s no single song or fragment, which I wouldn’t like, or which would sound boring or like a filler to me . My favourite are these slower tracks, I love their heaviness, dark, sorrowful feel and memorable riffs. "Bereft", “Scabs” and “Aghast” are three master-fuckin-pieces. 

I also have to say how much I like Greg's growls, he sounds like a beast, and not a happy one for sure! But it's amazing how he found his passion to play such old school death metal, especially when you compare it to what Paradise Lost has been playing for so many years now. “Splinters” sounds already like a classic record and to be fair, it probably is the best thing to come from British death metal scene ever since the early 90’s. Fuckin mandatory album! 

Standout tracks: "Bereft", “Scabs”, “Aghast” 

Verdict: 95/100