The Great Old Ones - Tekeli-Li

THE GREAT OLD ONES - Tekeli-Li (Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions - CD 2014)

The Great Old Ones’ debut CD titled “Al Azif” was according to me one of the finest debuts on the French extreme metal scene in years and I have really enjoyed this album. I’m guessing that the fact that the band is so heavily influenced by the myths and horrific stories of H.P. Lovecraft have also something to do with it, as I really liked it. Of course there’s also this thing someone called post black metal is something I am really intrigued by and several bands, which play this kind of music are really amazing for me and The Great Old Ones is one of them. “Al Azif” was already released in 2012, but this year (2014) Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions has announced the release of the second album “Tekeli-Li”, what obviously was a great news for me. And one day the album arrived! By the way, there are few versions of this record; including the vinyl and really fantastically looking box, which contains the book with "At the Mountains of Madness" novel… Wow, that must be something fantastic to have!

I must admit that I’m not the biggest expert in the field of the horror stories of Lovecraft. I have read several novels like “The Call of Cthulhu”, “The Dunwich Horror” or “The Shadow Over Innsmouth”. But I think I can say that I like the whole concept, ideas and myths created by Lovecraft more than the actual novels of his – which are cool, but maybe not my favourites. Maybe I also like his mythology and the whole concept so much just because it is so utterly eerie, with great ideas and that it influenced the metal scene so hugely… So, I cannot call myself the biggest fan and expert of Lovecraftian horror, but definitely I am interested in it and have some knowledge and fascination about it. For its uniqueness. The Great Old Ones’ albums are all about Lovecraft. “Tekeli-Li” word is connected with a shoggoth from the Cthulhu myths – which are the creatures created by the Elder Ones. They used to build underwater cities and are known to endlessly repeat "Tekeli-Li", a cry that their old masters used. And they’re described in "At the Mountains of Madness" novel, so now you can see the connection and may have a small idea about the concept of the album.

When describing the musical style of The Great Old Ones on “Tekeli-Li” I would be very careful. Sure, it is an album with music, which is deeply rooted and influenced by all these post-something kind of bands. But I feel like the term black metal, even combined with the word post, can be slightly misleading and dangerous. Sure, there are many moments on “Tekeli-Li”, which are sounding like black metal, but when taken as the whole you may realize that The Great Old Ones has not so much in common with the pure and traditional meaning of black metal. And if any blackened bands have influenced The Great Old Ones and sound similar, then they would not be the classic hordes from Norway like Burzum or Darkthrone, but rather more modern and unconventional bands like Altar of Plagues, Fen, Winterfylleth or Wolves In the Throne Room. I am writing this just to make sure there’s no confusion and more so, if you start to listen to The Great Old Ones thinking it is classic black metal band, then “Tekeli-Li” will strongly disappoint you. But let’s forget about all these categorisations, let’s open the minds and listen to some truly amazing music, as in my opinion this is what the French band has recorded. Something amazing.

There are many, many moments of pure genius on “Tekeli-Li”. Yes. I don’t bother myself with fake promises of something totally original and unheard before, because originality is not a factor, which would make the music sound good. I guess that the real experts of the post (black) metal, post hard-core, rock or whatever may say that The Great Old Ones didn’t come up with anything extraordinary. Well, I couldn’t care less. For me “Tekeli-Li” sounds great just as it is. And when I compare it to the awesome debut CD “Al Azif” then I can only point out the progression in the band’s music and sound, that they’re getting better and better. “Tekeli-Li” with its 55 minutes of music is totally involving and possessing record. It is also not the easiest one, but this challenge is very sought after. The music, with its specific riffs, vocals, instru-mental passages and the whole possessing atmosphere has many textures, many layers, which you discover with each next listen. There are moments of calmness and a lot of ferocious and angry parts. The Great Old Ones can play slow, or bring some broken riffs and rhythms, only to start playing blasts a minute later. And it all works fantastically. And that atmosphere, which I mentioned above is something what is the most intriguing. All in all I feel like “Tekeli-Li” is not an album, which can bore you. I love the way they build the tension, the structures of the songs… and finally I just love the moments – which are quite many, actually – when The Great Old Ones plays fuckin fast. I mean if you listen to the riffing and all arrangements in such song as “The Ascend” – it is perfect! And the over 17 minutes long “Behind the Mountains” feels almost like a journey… a journey into something unknown and menacing. Yes, definitely the whole album is a great experience and I have been spinning this CD several times a day for the past week and I still have not enough. Sadly I will need to take it out of my stereo finally, as there are more albums waiting for their turn. Definitely though I will be coming back to “Tekeli-Li” frequently. A great and very recommended album, indeed.

Standout tracks: “The Elder Thins”, “The Ascend”, “Behind the Mountains”

Final rate: 89/100

Revel In Flesh / Feral - Deathkult

REVEL IN FLESH / FERAL - Deathkult (JOE BLACK - Split 7"EP 2014)

Here is the third and final of the three split 7”EPs, which Revel In Flesh participated in within the last couple of months. Two previous splits – with Puteraeon and Grave Wax – were really good, I think, but this one, titled “Deathkult”, which Revel In Flesh shares with Feral, is I think the best of all three. Really! Already the artwork and layout for this single looks the best; I love the cover art, but also the use of golden logos / letters… just the entire fold out booklet looks fantastic. And as for the music, I was quite curious about Feral, as I haven’t had a chance to listen this band before, but I also wondered what will Revel In Flesh serve us this time, because unlike the two songs from previous split – which were recorded at the same time as “Manifested Darkness” album - this is a completely new, recently recorded track.

But I started with Feral. I have never heard their “Dragged to the Altar” album, sadly, but I will definitely need to try to get a copy, as the song from this split is… KILLER!!!!!! It’s titled “As the Feast Begins” and for me it is just a perfect, classically sounding Swedish death metal tune. First and foremost, I think that the sound of this song is spotless, I literally think that the way these guitars and everything else sounds here is so powerful that it can really blow some heads off. Fuckin neat. And the song is also awesome, it doesn’t lack anything. It has a great riffng, groove, is brutal as fuck and more so, it’s beautifully memorable. Do you need anything else? NO! I dare to say that all maniacs of the Swedish death metal will love this perfect tune. I do and now I am thinking what should I do to get Feral’s debut CD and demos? I am very intrigued.

Meanwhile Revel In Flesh – as always – pays tribute to the classic death metal scene from the early 90’s… and if you don’t know what are their favourite bands and albums, then I recommend you reading the lyrics for their song titled “Deathkult”. It says everything, I think. Musically I suppose this is one of the most vicious and fast songs of the band and definitely it is way more uncompromising and brutal than the more atmospheric song from the Puteraeon split EP. But yeah, it starts fast, then it slows into more Grave-ish rhythm and as overall I can say that I like this song a lot.

Final rate: 90/100

Puteraeon / Revel In Flesh - Imperial Anthems vol13

PUTERAEON / REVEL IN FLESH - Imperial Anthems VOL 13 (CYCLONE EMPIRE - 7"EP 2014)

Even though I buy / collect many vinyl releases, I somehow didn’t bother myself with most of the stuff from the Imperial Anthems series of split 7”EPsm which Cyclone Empire puts out. Sure, I have some in the collection, but not even a half. But this one, the 13th volume was something that I just had to get... and I did, indeed! This is a golden vinyl shared by two death metal hordes: Revel In Flesh and Puteraeon! And both belong to some of my favourites, speaking of the New Wave of the Old School Death Metal! So, could I miss it? No way. Here we go then.

Starting with Putereon… At the moments we’re just before the release of their third album and I can’t believe it’s already been three years since the release of “The Esoteric Order” and two since “Cult Cthulhu” was unleashed. Time goes so damn quickly… Anyway, I definitely can call myself a fan of the previous Puteraeon records, so it won’t be a surprise if I say that I like these two new songs, which the band has putted here on this 7”. Stylistically nothing really has changed, it is the same sort of traditional take on the Swedish death metal, with the fat, buzzsaw guitars, characteristic rough production and slashing, partially melodic – but always damn aggressive – riffs. I especially like “Rotten Aeon”, which will also be included to the tracklist of the new album; this is a trademark song for Puteraeon, but “To Steal the Flesh” is of the same high quality, which we expect to hear from band like Puteraeon. Yeah, very good addition to the catalogue of this band!

Revel In Flesh attacks with just one, exclusive, song titled “A Chant of Misery”. And damn, for me this is the best part of the whole split EP and definitely also one of the best songs from the German band! This is a true fuckin epic death metal, with some brilliant harmonious parts and really great dark, obscure atmosphere throughout. This song is little bit different to the most of Revel In Flesh material, as it’s slower (but the tempo increases in few moments!), with some keyboards here and there, but the result is awesome. I really think this is one of the best tunes from the band and I can only wonder why the hell such a great song is just a leftover from the recording session of “Manifested Darkness”. Whatever… it is good that we can listen to it on this awesome split EP. This time I think that Revel In Flesh did a better job than Puteraeon, but both bands are cool, anyway. So, this EP may be nothing extraordinary and it won’t match the greatest death metal releases of all time, but it is great enough that the maniacs should be killing themselves of a copy.

Final rate: 80/100

Illness - Trumna

ILLNESS - Trumna (Advance - EP 2014)

Not so long ago I was impressed by the album titled “PsychoPath” of Polish / Norwegian band called Illness and now it’s time for the next recording from this band, which Gulnar Wristslitter has sent me in the advance version. This is a EP titled “Trumna” and damn, I like this material even more than “PsychoPath”. I consider these new songs as just better, more uncompromising and more interesting, speaking of the content and more so, I think that the production of “Trumna” is just fuckin awesome, rough but powerful and way better in my opinion that the sound of “PsychoPath” CD.

There are four new songs on “Trumna” plus Mysticum cover and intro. Starting with “The Kingdom Comes”, I must say that I am a great fan of “In the Streams of Inferno” and this is one of the best tracks from this legendary LP. And damn, Illness played it fuckin brilliantly; I like their version a lot, it is well played and keeps the atmosphere and insanity of the original. Fuckin sick, but amazing – great riffs, keyboards, possessed vocals! Definitely this is the best Mysticum cover I have heard so far. And it is already a great reason to get “Trumna”, but not only, of corpse, as there are five more songs to listen to. And they all shred as well! Such tracks as “Trumna” and furiously fast “Dodskyggen” are fantastic! Obviously the influence from bands like Mysticum, Zyklon B, Diabolicum or Black Lodge can be spotted, but Illness is doing great. Fast, vicious, lunatic piece of industrialized black metal! There are also more sick and less black metal oriented songs titled “Grobowa mgła” and “Cranium”. Their main musical background is played on keyboards, creating sick, eerie and haunted atmosphere, but it is great. Actually “PsychoPath” contained some more such songs, so it is one of the things for which you can recognize Illness. All in all I must say that “Trumna” is a killer EP and I sincerely recommend getting this piece of black metal to all die hard maniacs!

Standout tracks: “Trumna”, “Dodskyggen”, “The Kingdom Comes”

Final rate: 85/100

Revel in Flesh / Grave Wax - Corpus Obscuria

REVEL IN FLESH / GRAVE WAX - Corpus Obscuria (DOOMENTIA - 7"EP 2014)

First off, let me tell you that I really like what is happening nowadays in Germania, with their killer death metal scene. A lot of great bands have emerged there lately and many became some of my favourites. That includes also Revel In Flesh, of corpse! Also I like the idea to release a series of split seven inch vinyls, which Revel In Flesh participate in. It is really cool idea and great thing for the collectors, like myself, especially as I always liked both the idea of split releases and also the whole feeling of playing short, but killer singles (especially when they contain exclusive, unreleased material). I am sure that some people will moan that maybe it would be better to put all three songs, which Revel In Flesh has recorded for these three EPs on just one, maybe 10” or 12” record, but who cares… some people will always find a reason to bitch about, just because this is their nature. Anyway, yes… In 2014 Revel In Flesh has released three split 7”EPs and this is the first one titled “Corpus Obscuria”. It is an alliance with American Grave Wax! Released by Doomentia Records (who as always did just a great job, when taking care of the killer artwork, layout and the quality of their products), it is a fine piece of old styled death metal and a killer piece of black wax to add to the collection!

OK, starting with Revel In Flesh… Their song is titled “Corpus Vermis” and it’s something exactly what I was expecting to hear from this band. They carry on playing their rough and obscure death metal, which is so heavily infected by the classic Swedish sound and style that some may think it was recorded in Stockholm back in the early 90’s. So there’re many of those harmonic riffs on “Corpus Vermis” present, which will remind you of Desultory, Goddefied, Dismember, Edge of Sanity and so on and on… And obviously Revel In Flesh has also that aggression and roughness of the classic Swedish demos and albums. So yeah, generally again nothing new, nothing what would not be heard before, but just cool and solidly composed / performed Swedish infected death metal. If you worship this style, then I bet you’ll love this song again. I also like these riffs a lot, but maybe have some second thoughts on the sound of this song, which could maybe be more powerful, drums especially. In the first listen I also could not find myself in the order of these riffs, as the song structure is quite weird and messy, but I got used to it after a while. “Corpus Vermis” may not be the best thing, which Revel In Flesh has recorded so far, but it is good and solid. And generally I real enjoyed it… as always!

And now Grave Wax. I have their split with Claws somewhere in my collection, but haven’t listen to it for couple of years already, so I kind of forgot what was Grave Wax like. But it certainly is a promising project, seeing the line up with Kam Lee and Riddick brothers. They present two songs actually; “Obscuria Darkness Enraptured” and Impetigo cover “Dis-Organ-Ized”. For the second, I was never a fan of the grindcore gods, so I wasn’t too excited about the cover, but it is OK; reminds me the old Carcass actually, especially with these dual vocals. “Obscuria Darkness Enraptured” is the more important song and damn; it is really cool and definitely something what I would not expect to hear. I mean, I rather expected more filthy and fast sort of grinding death metal maybe, but meanwhile Grave Wax also shows their Swedish infection, with some harmonic and even quasi acoustic playing here and there. Not really a playing, which would be focused on sheer brutality and guts ripping, but more on creating the dark, maybe slightly eerie atmosphere (compare the production of Grave Wax song to Revel In Flesh – two very different kinds of death metal sounds!). The music is slow, kind of simple, but effective, the sound is really “grim”… and the vocals a great!

Final rate: 75/100

Besatt - Hail Lucifer

BESATT - Hail Lucifer (UNDERCOVER - CD 1999)

I must honestly admit that I am not a big fan of Besatt. This band somehow annoys me a little, for few reasons like not always the best music (which on most of their albums is just boring or mediocre for me) or often ridiculous imagery (oh, that video they did... shit!). I know that such statement can be a bullshit to some die hard black metal maniacs, but I don’t care. This is just what I feel. Besatt is not a band for me. This is also a reason why from their vast discography I have in my collection only one album with the Besatt logo on it. It is their second full length CD “Hail Lucifer”, released back in 1999. This is actually the material, which introduced me to this band, when they sent me a promo copy of it 15 years ago. I remember that I liked it quite a lot back in those days… and well, when I listen to it nowadays I also must admit that surprisingly I still like this album a lot and from all Besatt materials, which I have heard, this is the only one which I really, really like.

The songs on “Hail Lucifer” are classic, straight forward, rough, evil and sinister black metal. Besatt definitely captured the right atmosphere and essence of the music, but did so playing it in their own way, with their own style, sound and feeling. Really, even if someone will compare “Hail Lucifer” to the Norwegian black metal or whatever, it is undeniable that the music on this album simply sounds original. These riffs are very characteristic, so are the song structures and arrangements, of the vocals especially… And when taking everything and putting these things together you receive a pure black metal record, but with a unique sound and style. And speaking of the production, I like it a lot. It is harsh and you can really smell the sulphur here, but at the same time the whole album sounds clean, each instrument is powerful and strong… the drums are great, it is also fantastic that the bass is so loud and audible. It brings something extra to the whole music, something what almost reminds me Necromantia, even if the riffing style in both bands is rather different.

So, we have powerful, rough production, but the songs are also excellent. It is quite simple music, but not in the primitive meaning. There are many furiously fast and violent songs, where the tempo is just neckbreaking and such moments are something what the maniacs will love. At the same time this album is filled with some more melodic moments, some which are even epic... and that diversity is fantastic! Sure, the album is hateful, is sadistic and vicious, every song prays Satan and his legions, but Besatt didn’t forget to compose great and memorable songs. You’ll be surprised how almost catchy these songs are, even when the band plays so furiously. Songs like “Antichrist”, “Black Banner”, “Hail Lucifer”, “Mad Minds” and the excellent “War” (which is basically a total black metal instrumental with the sounds of battle – swords, axes, horses, warriors, etc – in the background... great idea, great effect!). So, really… as much as I am not a fan of some other Besatt albums, this is the one, which I like a lot. And if I was going to recommend you any album of this Polish band, then look no further but here. “Hail Lucifer”!

Standout tracks: “Antichrist”, “Black Banner”, “Hail Lucifer”, “Mad Minds”, “War”

Final rate: 85/100

Pyre / Entrapment - Split

PYRE / ENTRAPMENT - Split (Soulseller Records - LP 2013)

I was trying to hunt a copy of this split 12”MLP for few months, but finally I got one! Hell yeah, here’s yet another really fuckin awesome piece of old styled, filthy and creepy death metal! And on this black wax we have joined forces of two bands: Pyre from Russia and Entrapment from The Netherlands! I’m a fan of both for some time, so I just had to put my hands on this vinyl. And I am damn happy to have it, as both bands did not disappoint and delivered exactly what I expected to find.

First comes Pyre. This band is a phenomenon to me. Russia – despite being such a huge country – is a shit, speaking of their metal scene and really there’s not even one single band from there, which I would like. Come one, all this pagan shit like Arkona or Alkonost is completely useless. There are also no death metal bands, which would be good… except of Pyre. This band is the first Russian band, which I truly liked and I will definitely keep to support them and have my eyes and ears open for all their future offerings. The debut MLP “Ravenous Decease” was incredibly good and now I can listen to their two new songs… And damn, they do not disappoint and I can only speak about them in superlatives. I love the production, which Pyre managed to get… A sound, which fits this kind of rough, aggressive and obscure death metal perfectly. It instantly awakes the feeling of something dark and utterly horrendous. Like some indescribable creature was hiding in the dark, lurking at you and freezing your blood, devouring your fear… Anyway… Hehe…Two excellent songs, stylistically between some Swedish acts like Repugnant, Maim, Degial, Bastard Priest and the always influential Autopsy. I love “Into the Chains” especially, oh, just listen to this opening riff in it… what a killer tune! But really, absolutely everything here sounds just right for me; it kicks ass, it is vicious and dark, it is violent but has a great feeling and is sort of memorable. Pyre rules, that’s it!

And now Entrapment. I am afraid that I still didn’t manage to put my hands on the band’s first album “The Obscurity Within​.​.​.”, because I am stubborn and want to get this album only on vinyl… and the first press LP was criminally limited to barely 300 copies and not even one was left for me. Fuck, so year and a half after its release I still have not heard it. But I will, Michael promised me that “The Obscurity Within​.​.​.” shall get a vinyl repress soon. I am fuckin ready for it! What is all this fuzz about? Well, Entrapment is awesome. I first got their “Crawling Morbidity” 7”EP, which was just killer and later I also bought “Irreligeous Abominations”, which turned out to be one of the best Dutch death metal releases in years. And I love many Dutch bands. So, it’s finally time to listen to some new slabs of putrid death metal. And damn, this word putrid fits this music perfectly. The sound is even more rough and filthy that on Pyre side and the same can be said about the music. It feels more messy and almost primitive, even though it probably is a bad word to be used here. But that’s mainly due to this harsh production, which gives Entrapment music almost kind of the demo / rehearsal feeling. I am not totally sure whether I like this sound in 100%, maybe the whole material feels slightly too much underdeveloped, if you know what I mean. Which doesn’t mean it is bad. The music of Entrapment has a strong Swedish death metal touch, like the melodic theme, which opens “Graves Disease” – damn, I just know this melody for years, maybe it sounds so much like old Tiamat? I like when these harmonious parts mix with more aggressive and severe riffs. Yeah, this is almost like a classic Swedish death metal demo!

So, two great bands are here. I personally liked Pyre songs this time more, they really do fuckin shred here and I give them 90/100, while Entrapment would get 70/100. The average for the whole is 80/100 then.

Final rate: 80/100

Into Darkness - Transmigration of Cosmic Creatures into the Unknown

INTO DARKNESS - Transmigration of Cosmic Creatures into the Unknown (DOOMENTIA - 7"EP 2014)

Last year I had a chance to hear and review the excellent debut release from Italian death metal ghouls called Into Darkness… and this CD had some of the most impressive tunes that I have heard that year. So I was very eager to hear some more music from the band… but it took them a while, before next offering was ready. First Into Darkness witnessed some line up changes (leaving only Doomed Warrior left from the previous line up), then recorded “Cosmic Chaos” demo cassette – which I am afraid I did not hear and finally the time came for the 7”EP “Transmigration of Cosmic Creatures into the Unknown”. This single contains two brand new songs – the title track and “Dreadful Omen of a Dark Millennium” and let me tell you – if you liked the first Into Darkness MCD and also like all these obscure, punishing old styled death metal bands then I sure that “Transmigration of Cosmic Creatures into the Unknown” will be perfect for your taste!

When I compare “Transmigration of Cosmic Creatures into the Unknown” to “Into Darkness” then I can say that this new EP is just equally strong and solid effort. It is again very good, killer death metal, born in the fuckin pits of hell, filled with brutal, massacring riffs, ghoulish vocals of Doomed Warrior (she is awesome!) and more so, it has this dark, eerie atmosphere of horror. Into Darkness clearly knows how to compose some killer tunes and yes, they did succeed, delivering pure slaughter again! I think that the material on this EP is faster than on the debut CD, but style wise it is still pretty much the same kind of morbid and obscure death metal a’la early Asphyx and Derketa. I especially loved “Dreadful Omen of a Dark Millennium”, which is just absolutely perfect for me; it has some fast, neckbreaking parts, but also some slower, doomy moments, there’s even a nice melodic theme in one part… but in its entirety, it is just fuckin killer track, a total traditional (Dutch like) death metal worship. Fantastic! But the title song is also great, so I really have enjoyed this single a lot, both the band and Doomentia Records did splendid job when releasing this. It is a must to have… But now I wait for the full length album!

Final rate: 85/100

Putrevore / Putrefact - Funebre Plague into Darkness

PUTREVORE / PUTREFACT - Funebre Plague into Darkness (UNHOLY PROPHECIES - 7"EP 2014)

“Funebre Plague into Darkness” is the split 7”EP, which a new label on the scene has just unleashed. The label is called Unholy Prophecies and I can say that they already on the start have some great bands in the roster (like Morbid Flesh, Insulters plus they also released three killer 7”EPs). “Funebre Plague into Darkness” joins the unholy forces of Putrevore (yeah, Rogga again!!!!! In this band he’s in collaboration with Dave Rotten from Avulsed) and Putrefact.

I started to listen to this 7” with the Putrefact side, because I have never heard of those Mexicans before and I really wondered what are they like. This is rather new band, having only a couple of releases prior to this split, but I was very eager to hear them, as some Mexicans bands are really fuckin awesome – like Infinitum Obscure, Omision, Denial and Ominous Crucifix. And definitely this one song titled “Morbido Obscuro” did not disappoint, so I can add yet another killer band to this list! It shreds like a fuckin bulldozer! It is harsh as hell, obscure and morbid (hehe) death metal, based on vicious riffing, severe vocals and frenzy, relentless fast pace. Great, great song, really, I actually like it even more than Putrevore side of the split, as there’s something truly ferocious in it, with great atmosphere and it’s that kind of death metal, which I can compare to such Throneum or Sadistic Intent and which I always liked so much. Killer stuff!

Putrevore offers a song titled “A Cold Grasp in the Night”. And I guess that if you’ve liked this band’s two previous albums, especially the killer “Macabre Kingdom”, then I think you won’t be disappointed with their song. Putrevore’s death metal is quite different to Putrefact, it may not be so vicious and possessed, but surely it is more brutal and heavy, with some truly crushing riffs and deep growling parts of Dave Rotten. The production on this song is maybe not 100% what I like, but it is not bad either. Definitely this is another cool song and in total I must say that the whole “Funebre Plague into Darkness” is just a brilliant 7 inch piece of red vinyl. I like it a lot, so I recommend you getting yourself a copy. There are barely 300 units released, so you better be quick!

Final rate: 80/100

Hooded Menace - Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze

HOODED MENACE - Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze (DOOMENTIA - MLP 2014)

It’s damn hard to keep track on what Hooded Menace is releasing. They have quite impressive number of split MLPs, split EPs or whatever else, plus there are three killer full length albums behind them. So, one need to really invest big money to get everything, especially when such releases like the split 7” with Asphyx goes for ridiculous money. This is why my collection of Hooded Menace recordings is still poor. But when I saw the newest MLP “Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze” is getting released, I got a copy immediately, before it’s too late. All in all, the last LP “Effigies of Evil” was simply amazing, so I hoped that this 12” MLP will continue this and be also damn impressive.

And definitely the signs of genius can be found in these two songs of “Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze”. I dare to say that all fans of the utterly mournful, dark, sorrowful and fuckin doomy death metal will love it to the bone. Hooded Menace hasn’t changed much, if comparing this MLP to the previous efforts, maybe their music is even more obscure and terrifying, bringing the atmosphere of eerie, ghastly horror in every sound. The first song for that matter, “Chasm of the Wraith” is based upon the old horror movie “Cry of the Banshee” (based on Edgar Alan Poe novel)… Arrghhh, just listen to the intro from the movie, when the head of the coven curses lord Whitman... it sounds so creepy! The band sets a perfect mood for it, basing this song on very slow, massive, heavy riff, with some more harmonious patterns used here and there to make it sound more interesting. The result is brilliant. Nothing innovative, sure, but I like it a lot! And “The Creeping Flesh” (based on the British horror movie of the same title) is even better! It has moments, when the music reminds me the good old Paradise Lost… just listen to these harmonious guitar parts, with slow, doomy background riff... And Lasse Pyykkö’s vocals are utterly deep, abyssal growls all the time. So, everything here is  just as it should be, really.

Ah, I really have listened to this MLP with a great pleasure. I did so several times during last night and damn, what a killer atmosphere it created! Meanwhile I received an info about yet another release of Hooded Menace; a split with Loss. Anyone has some spare money, so I can get myself a copy??

Final rate: 80/100

Paganizer - Dead Unburied

PAGANIZER - Dead Unburied (FOREVER UNDERGROUND - CD 2002)

Rogga Johansson and his Paganizer belongs to the most active and prolific death metal bands of the recent years. Basically every year brings us some new recordings! OK, to be honest, not all of them are totally great, some are little bit boring, some clearly have just material of fillers and mediocrity (like the split with Depression). But most of the full length albums of Paganizer are really awesome. Especially in the early 00’s the band has spawned several great albums and every next year another killer came. 2001 was a year of “Promoting Total Death”, then 2002 was the year of “Dead Unburied” (and then next year “Murder Death Kill” arrived and in 2004 “Divine Rapture”, another two fantastic albums!). “Dead Unburied” was again released by Forever Underground, what makes it quite hard to get nowadays (but it was re-released on a compilation with first three Paganizer albums)… But believe me, it is worth getting.

When listening of “Dead Unburied” there’s one thing, which strikes you from the beginning and which when compared to the “Promoting Total Death” album is a great advantage and improvement… and that is the production of “Dead Unburied”. The album was recorded in the Sunlight Studio with Tomas Skogsberg. More so, the mastering was fixed by Dan Swano… So, two masters of the Swedish death metal sound are responsible for this record! And you can hear it; the sound on “Dead Unburied” is fantastic. It is brutal, the guitar tone is low, fat and heavy, the whole music is like a bulldozer of Swedish death metal. And finally, also Rogga’s growl is kind of deeper and better. So, in this aspect I think that “Dead Unburied” is a great improvement when comparing to the previous album.

Musically maybe the difference is not as big, because both albums walk the same path of brutal, crushing mid tempo death metal in the vein of Grave (who else hehe!). Paganizer didn’t really change much when comparing to the previous album, but maybe the one, but quite important modification, is the fact that on “Dead Unburied” there are many more faster, blasting parts, what only makes the whole album even more aggressive and massive. Really, quite many songs on this album have the tempo increased, so imagine how the whole music sounds, with this crushing production! It is just a death metal slaughter! Just listen to such killer songs as “Even In Hell”, “Napalm Burial”, “Flesh Supremacy”… So, with such fast songs, in many ways, this album is better than its predecessor, more ultimate, devastating piece of old styled death metal. I also must mention such slower masterpieces as “Beyond Redemption”… and yes, what a killer stuff is here! It is just a shame that Forever Underground Records didn’t do much to promote the album at the time of its release...

Standout tracks: “Even In Hell”, “Landscape Made of Human Flesh”, “Flesh Supremacy”, “Beyond Redemption”

Final rate: 75/100

Paganizer - Promoting Total Death

PAGANIZER - Promoting Total Death (FOREVER UNDERGROUND - CD 2001)

First time I have heard of Paganizer was when I received the promo copy of their fourth album “Murder Death kill”. I instantly liked the band a lot, their old styled, brutal death metal was like a light in the darkness for this style of music, as back in these days – which was around 2003 – the number of such bands and such albums was not as big as it is nowadays. Paganizer really shred and instantly, along such Kaamos, Repugnant, Necrovation, Verminous and Nominon, they became my favourite death metal act from Sverige in these times. Obviously I wanted to get more Paganizer music, so this is how I finally also got their other CDs (and nowadays, when Rogga Johansson is so well known death metal dude and plays in quite few bands I think that the number of CD/LP of his in my collection is well over 30 pieces hehe). And at some point, around 2006, I managed to buy the first pressing of “Promoting Total Death” CD. It was released by Forever Underground Records, US label, which does not exist anymore, but which specialised in death metal. But Paganizer is the only band, which I am familiar with from their old roster.

I still, up to this day, have never had a chance to hear Paganizer’s debut CD “Deadbanger”. I’ve read some opinions, also from Rogga himself, that it was more like thrash / death metal oriented music, but somehow I never managed to buy a copy of this CD. But if it‘s true about Paganizer thrash metal influence in it, then on “Promoting Total Death” they are all gone for good, as this album is just classic, straight to the point, relentless, brutal, pure death metal record. There is no toying with any other styles, no will to bring something extraordinary or original to the table… death metal is the only law on “Promoting Total Death”. And I like it a lot. The album breaths with the classic Swedish patters, but unlike bands, which sickeningly try to copy Entombed, Dismember, God Macabre, etc., and have the so called Sunlight sound, Paganizer for me personally sounds more like a bastard son of Grave and Seance from their first LP. So, their music is rather devoid of the Swedish melody and harmonies (I think there’s one melodic theme on the album, with the harmonious guitar lead in the beginning of “Life Slips Away”… and very few more) and focused almost entirely on simple, gut ripping, kind of groovy maybe, but brutal death metal riff. The tempo is almost entirely mid paced, with some slower parts here and there and barely any fast parts at all (“Only Ashes Remain”)... It is just that kind of great death metal, perfect for headbanging and obviously quite catchy as well, if we can only speak of any catchiness in bands like Grave and Paganizer. But definitely the atmosphere of this music is gruesome, is violent… The whole stuff is quite simple, but effective as hell. And this is it! I can say that the title of this album fits the music perfectly. And I would also add the title of the debut, as it really is deadbanger! Also, I must say that musically it is something what can remind you also what later has been done in such bands like Bone Gnawer (also vocal wise)! All in all “Promoting Total Death” may not be the most massacring death metal album ever, but I still like it a lot. It is damn awesome.

Standout tracks: “Promoting Total Death”, “Brutal Way to Die”, “At War”, “Life Slips Away”

Final rate: 70/100

Berserk - Rites of Supremacy

BERSERK - Rites of Supremacy (OAKEN SHIELD - CD 2003)

I think that Spain has never really been known for great black metal bands… Actually, I don’t think that generally Spanish extreme metal scene has ever been known because of any more famous and spectacular bands. We can mention obviously some older death metal bands like Necrophiliac, Unbounded Terror, Sacrophobia, etc… and yes, they were all good, but not quite as good to be in the major death metal league. They were just one of many, second rate bands. Isn’t it weird? All in all, it is a big country located in Europe. So, we can mention some cool death metal bands, but black metal? I was never a fan of Cryfemal, Balmog, Ouija… I remember I liked Lux Divina, but I have heard only their one demo and it was over ten years ago. Same for Foscor. But here is a band, which I was quite surprised, when I played their album recently. They’re called Berserk and the album is “Rites of Supremacy”. I think I got this CD for review around 2003, but after completing my first review I just forgot about its existence. A coincidence made me play it few days ago again after 10 years and well, I can honestly admit that it is a pretty decent and worthy piece of black metal. Probably the best black metal I can think of now from this country.

OK, “Rites of Supremacy” will not be your most precious, innovative and killer piece of black metal. Berserk walks the paths, which were walked many times before, mainly by some classic Scandinavian bands. But somehow their music is interesting and good enough to raise my interest and enjoy it; especially as I just like the cold and harsh feeling it invokes and more so, I also like the epic and atmospheric sides of it. To get the things right, Berserk called themselves pagan black metal. I honestly don’t know what ancient gods they summoned or what were their lyrics about (Celts???), except that they were definitely antichristian. The name itself will obviously remind you Viking themed bands from Scandinavia, but I feel like here it may be a misleading trace. So, forgetting about the conceptual side of Berserk, I would rather focus just on the music.

And that is really OK. There is a good mixture of harsh, often fast, kind of primeval and barbaric heathen black metal, with an epic side, for which Berserk incorporates more atmospheric and melodic parts, some with keyboards, some with acoustics and even with few clean vocals. It is deeply rooted mainly in the old Norwegian scene, if you think of such albums as “For All Tid” for example, as well as such bands as Kampfar, Enslaved (to some point at least) and so on and on. There is some resemblance also to the early / mid 90’s Polish bands like Graveland, Sacrilegium, Abusiveness, Iuveness...with the difference that “Rites of Supremacy” is way better recorded. I’m far from praising Berserk for recording the best album ever, but I also won’t moan here at all. It is just decent and solid piece of music, with such great songs as “Rites of Supremacy”, “Berserker’s Blood”, „De Este a Oeste” (instrumental acoustic song, with kind of tribal drumming, flutes, etc), “Gaze at the Sky”. Sometimes the arrangements on the album could have been better, in stronger fashion, maybe there’s some lack of truly impressive and memorable ideas... And somewhere near its end, the album may feel more and more repetitive, but despite that I still think it is not so bad. And enjoyed listening to it. And while it is the only Berserk album I know, then I am quite curious what their last album “Cries of Blood and Hate” is like.

Standout tracks: “Rites of Supremacy”, “Berserker’s Blood”, „De Este a Oeste”, “Gaze at the Sky”

Final rate: 70/100

Fleshcrawl - Impurity

FLESHCRAWL - Impurity (BLACK MARK - CD 1994)

I feel a great respect for bands such as Fleshcrawl. If you look at what was going on in the death metal scene around 1993-94 then you can see that the majority of old bands has started to suffer for the annoying lack of ideas or the need to change their musical style and thus started to walk away drastically from their original style and sound. Than can especially be noticed among some fellow German bands, such as Morgoth and Atrocity, both of which have destroyed themselves when recorded some utter, pure shit after a couple of truly classics records. Meanwhile Fleshcrawl never disgusted us with such crap. They didn’t give a shit about the trends or the fact that death metal is not as popular anymore and just played this music with passion and enthusiasm. And this is why they managed to record several truly killer albums. After a phenomenal debut “Descend Into the Absurd” they came out with a second CD “Impurity” and well, the slaughter carries on! I guess there is only one thing, which I don’t like about “Impurity” and it is the artwork for this album. And the fact that they didn’t use their original logo (which obviously wouldn’t fit the artwork… but that should be a good reason not to use it and find a better picture to have on the front cover hehe!). Other than that, “Impurity” is an essential, pure death metal record and a real must have for every maniac’s collection.

Fleshcrawl’s first album was a great piece of kind of doomy death metal. “Impurity” brings some changes. First off, I think that the production is more similar to the classic Swedish sound, especially the guitar tone. Musically it also has some similarities to few bands from Sverige, mainly the mighty Grave, but not only. I can spot also a resemblance to the British monsters from Bolt Thrower, Benediction and such. Finally I cannot forget that there are way more faster parts on “Impurity” with less slow and doomy fragments, so the album feels just more brutal. Generally though it is just a pure fuckin death metal beast with several excellent songs! There are some tracks here, which I just love, like “From the Dead to the Living” (for being so damn fast and relentless, but also so well arranged, with some diversity as well), “Stiffen Souls” (maybe the best song here?), “Center of Hate” (with very Swedish like doomy theme in the beginning… which I just love!) and “Inevitable End” (total Bolt Thrower / Benediction worship!). So yeah, there is just a killer death metal on “Impurity” and I am afraid that for me personally it sounds like almost impossible to resist to these truly fantastic riffs and great brutality. Fleshcrawl did not come up with anything new, this music was already quite explored at this moment… but somehow they managed to compose just excellent songs and so this is why “Impurity” sounds so damn awesome, nowadays maybe even more than in the past.

Many years have passed, but the time was merciful to “Impurity”. Oh, I didn’t mention also that Fleshcrawl have a cover of Demigod’s “Resurrection” on this album… and it also is just fuckin amazing! I actually am quite surprised that they have covered a band like Demigod already back in those old days… but I guess this is to honour the great Finnish band, which I think was already split up in the time of the recording of “Impurity”. Anyway, “Reincarnation” (which originally was on Demigod’s demo / split with Necropsy) sounds awesome. And is a perfect addition to already an excellent album. Very recommended.

Standout tracks: “From the Dead to the Living”, “Reincarnation”, “Stiffen Souls”, “Inevitable End”

Final rate: 85/100

Bloodthirst - Let Him Die

BLOODTHIRST - Let Him Die (PAGAN Records - CD 2007)

Poland is not really famous for their thrash metal bands. Actually I must say that personally there are barely two or three bands from this style in here, which I like; the rest may not exist for me. And Bloodthirst is one of these very few exceptional bands. I remember that first time I have heard their music in the radio show “Mroczna strefa”, when they aired band’s very first demo “End is the Beginning”. Since then I was interested in this Bloodthirst’s music and tried to get all their recordings. And trust me; some of these releases are truly fuckin awesome. My favourites are probably split with Ebola, “Żądza krwi” EP and split with Exordium. But obviously I cannot forget about both full length albums of Bloodthirst… and the first one “Let Him Die” is a true thrash metal devastation! Damn, I just love this album!

When reviewing it, I would want to try to avoid the comparisons to another legendary thrash metal bands / albums, as I really don’t care about it. Besides, such band as Bloodthirst, even if is so deeply rooted in the classic, old school traditions of the genre, somehow manages to bring something fresh and more personal into the style, which is great of corpse! Firstly, I just love the production of “Let Him Die”. It is truly powerful, aggressive, energetic and every riff, every drum part sounds just right and so the music kicks ass. I like the guitar tone, also the bass is well audible, what is very important for such music! Speaking of which, the music is damn ferocious, harsh… it’s sharp as a knife thrash metal, with a lot of great, memorable riffs and hooks. Each song has something characteristic and recognisable, so I bet you’ll scream the chorus lyrics every time you’ll hear such “Excommunion (Sacrifice for Hell)”, “Desecrate the Life” or “Let Him Die” – if only you’ll have enough time between the maniacal headbanging, which must be practised while listening to “Let Him Die”. Yeah, Bloodthirst doesn’t come with anything innovative, but their music is just brilliant, it has everything what one would want to find on aggressive thrash metal record… And I really mean aggressive, not a wimpy Exodus clone crap with bad vocals. Speaking of the vocals, Rambo screams like crazy with almost blackish scream, what fits the whole music perfectly. So, is there anything more to add? Not really. “Let Him Die” is a pure antichristian thrashing madness and that’s it!

Standout tracks: “Excommunion (Sacrifice for Hell)”, “Desecrate the Life”

Final rate: 80/100

Interview with Heiden

And now maybe not the most usual band for this blog, even if originally rooted in black metal... but Heiden music has developed and evolved strongly. Into what? Dark, melancholia. I like their all albums anyway, so I wanted to get this interview... which my friend Karel did for www.nbc.art.pl. This here is nothing else, but an English version of the same interview, to support the great Czech band. Heiden!

Hi, Same guys as on previous record, brand new album and totally different music. What pushed you to make such radical changes of genre? Was it a fact that black metal at some point was holding you down or maybe you feel that you have much more to offer to the world?

Einsk: Hello, you're right. Every each album is little bit different from the previous albums. The reason is our own entertainment. The main cause why we still do the music, is that we love to try new things and discover unknown places in our music. It would be very boring to play the same music for years. We need to push our work forward. It is very important for us. We don't think about our music like about the genre. It is just our music and the fact that black metal disappeared was not planned before.

Those changes weren't violent, but really smooth, just step by step. Can you mark on your timeline that particular moment when you seriously started to think about doing something different with your music? Could it be the split CD with Trollech, where we can hear Heiden as a (still black metal) mature band versus more typical harsh & a little bit folkish black metal by Trollech? Or maybe it was a time when next album („Obsidian“) appeared?

Einsk: In early years we have been playing pagan black metal. But all what we wanted to show was done and we felt empty since “Tinne” album. Also our minds moved forward and we started to compose more rock influenced music as well as more melancholic lyrics. This album was „Era 2“. However more progress could be found on the split with Trollech. It was our symbolic „goodbye“ to pagan black metal act. “Obsidian” was very grim album. We have taken all of our personal darkness and putted it into the music of “Obsidian”.

„Dolores“ came out two years after „Obsidian“ and it's clearly obvious from the first note that the music was different this time. Less brutal, more diverse and simple at the same time with some remarkable melodies. There was no black metal at all on this record. It was a time when melancholy just dominated everything: the atmosphere, the lyrics, even the sound of the guitars… I really enjoy this album because it was very fresh at the moment. What are your thoughts about it after couple years?

Einsk: “Dolores” is very special album for us. With lots of personal feeling and memories. These times weren't easy for all of band members. Kverd's serious hand injury in job has changed everything. We decided to delete all already finished songs and start with the new ones. More atmospheric, more eerie and spiritual. When you listen to this record maybe you feel really compact mood. This album was very successful here in Czech Republic and won Anděl (Czech Grammy for best Hard&Heavy album) and Břitva award for best metal album. Our career 's highlight moments.

And after I heard it there was no way you can run away from similarities to early Katatonia („Brave Murder Day“ or „Discouraged Ones“ era) and on the other hand Agalloch – that was easy hearable, but in a good way. What do you think about latest album of Swedes? Because I think they had their best time and now it's just ride with the same ticket…

Einsk: We don't know Agalloch so much but Katatonia is really great band for years. However I think their music is more melodic on these records than ours. Somewhere behind our tunes there is a little touch of black metal still to hear.

Latest Katatonia albums are great and we always look forward to another one and never miss. I can find the differences between their last albums. So here I must to disagree with you :-)

„Dolores“ it's pretty good album, with up and downs, but after I heard „AKUNVST“ my first thought was: damn, it's so delicious! Best spent 10 euros lately! Really, congratulations on your latest effort – this album turned my top list of 2013 upside down! How was the writing process look like? Was it different is some way than the previous?

Einsk: The writing process of “AKUNVST” was little bit different, more focused on details and more than before we worked with atmosphere. Also we felt that harsh vocals are not enough for this upcoming record. This is the most complex Heiden record. The recording works in the studio were also harder than before.

Call me annoying, but still I hear mid-Katatonia influence on the new record. That just my impression, but I think your arrangements are pretty solid, natural, I don't know – even less complex maybe? One of the coolest things about this album is that I can say that it sounds like a… Heiden album! Do you think you found your own sound this time?

Einsk: I think we have found the Heiden sound completely on “Dolores” album. “AKUNVST” needed clearer sound but to keep the atmosphere. Sound is natural and real. It was hard to mix it together but it worked out well, I think.

Plus of course Czech language – one of your biggest advantage in my opinion – it just fits your music very well. What is the main reason you are holding to your native language from the beginning? Some people may perceive it as some exotic thing since Czech language isn't popular in Europe. Are you not afraid that this one particular thing could close many doors to your music?

Einsk: We need to use Czech lyrics, because themes are very personal and we can't translate these thoughts in English without loss of sense. Maybe someone has a problem with the Czech language and Czech can sounds unusual, but we don't care about that. I know lot of Russian, Swedish, Finnish bands, which use the native language also and no doors seems to be closed for them.

Can you explain those who don't know a single world in Czech language what is „AKUNVST“ about? Some titles are clear for me, but I'm curious what's behind those words of yours. I'm pretty sure you don't sing about positive things at all. Or maybe you do, but in a very sad way :)

Einsk: “AKUNVST” (“A kdybys už nebyla, vymyslím si tě”) means “If you won't exist anymore, I'll imagine you”. This album is about the fact when you have lost your closest person and you don't want to accept it and feel you'll never forget. Whole album is conceptual in lyric theme. Some tracks are about the reunion, lost, lies, disappointment and loneliness. We also use lot of allegories in Czech.

How fans / critics react to your new album? Did you met haters and alikes on your way? Hypothetical situation. Someone said: „they sold out“, „their latest CD is so soft I can use it as a sponge in the shower“ :D What do you have to say all those, let's not afraid of this word: losers? Yeah, I know, world is brutal and some people are stupid, but hey, everyone may say and think whatever the hell they want…

Einsk: Critics are very good , I must say. We are grateful that people welcome the progress in our performance. Sure we hear some opinions that it's too soft. You know, we do what we do and it's your choice and taste if you'll enjoy our tunes. We have lost some black metal fans and got lots of new rock fans. We are very attentive to critics but they can't affect us.

What was the reason to change your previous label? You didn't fit to Naga Records anymore? Or you want to try something new? Correct me if I'm wrong but Epidemie Records is much bigger label, is that true? Any expectations you have with your new management? What's your opinion about them so far?

Einsk: Naga Productions was my own label, but I was tired with that work and have no energy to lead that anymore. So the label split up and we wanted to self-release “AKUNVST”. But 3 months before recording Martin from Epidemie Records offered the deal for the CD release. We are glad to cooperate because Epidemie is steady label at Czech scene and we like lots of his releases. Epidemie isn't bigger than Naga was, I think. The level is the same, but Martin is very cool guy with lot of energy and ideas about music. We have also released limited “AKUNVST” vinyl version with THE AARDVARK music zine.

There are two important people with whom you continue cooperation. First one is an author of your cover Ludek Rezac. I like this picture, even if it’s much quite opposite to previous one. Was it a painting on demand or you choose it from his portfolio?

Einsk: The painting was on demand because we had a complete idea about the cover. We chose the swan because they live their life with the only mate. And when the mate dies they live alone for the rest of their life. Very sad... Luděk is very skilful guy and helps us so much. And another great thing is exclusivity, because Luděk is our friend and don't work with any other bands :-)

The second person I have on my mind is your keyboard player aka Werlinga. This guy fits very well to your style and even if I'm not a big fan of this instrument (OK, Hammonds are great) this time I think he did an awesome job. Is he a friend of the band? I see he also take pictures of you this time?

Einsk: Yes, SHE has made great job and now I can't imagine “AKUNVST” without keyboard. This instrument help us with creating the atmosphere. We don't like the orchestrations so much, but these hammond sound fits to us great. Werlinga plays with Morgue Son band and she is very closed person for us. And of course she helps to take photos when we need new band photo to do :-)

You have played couple gigs in Czech with bands such as Morgue Son and Et Moriemur. Are they your friends? What can you tell us about them? How the newest music was receive by people at concert?

Einsk: Yes, we know some of these guys for years and we always support each other. Morgue Son plays atmospheric progressive metal with lot of very cool influences and Et Moriemur plays true funeral doom. Very devastating old school act. All the gigs we played with “AKUNVST” were great and people were amazing. Hope we will play more live shows in future.

Is Heiden a popular band in your country? What is the condition of rock / metel scene behind our south border? I know Six Degrees o Separation or Brutally Deceased and Draco Hypnalis. Do you have bands (beside Heiden of course;) that can seriously conquer the Europe or World? Some recommendations from you would be appreciated.

Einsk: No, we are not so popular here. We are underground band and lot of our activities we organize by ourselves. We are very satisfied with the responses but still we are more unknown than popular, I think. Yes, we have really great bands here. Try experimental electro Floex or indie rock band Sunshine. Great acts. And if you like some metal bands try Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy or Dying Passion.

Thanks a lot for your time! Wish you all a great year!

Einsk: Thanks a lot for all your support! Great work!