Anima Damnata - Nefarious Seed Grows to Bring Forth Supremacy of the Beast

ANIMA DAMNATA - Nefarious Seed Grows to Bring Forth Supremacy of the Beast (GODZ OV WAR Productions - CD 2017)

I have to say that I didn't expect Anima Damnata to ever rise from the abyss again. But they did, which is good news, especially since it's been ten long years since the release of "Atrocious Disfigurement of the Redeemer's Corpse at the Graveyard of Humanity" album (yes, you better get used to looong album titles here haha)!! Obviously it's very welcome and impressive return and "Nefarious Seed Grows to Bring Forth Supremacy of the Beast" definitely belongs to the strongest albums spewed this year on the unholy death metal scene. Anima Damnata doesn't waste time on this record, doesn't try to combine their original bestial style with something new or unwanted, but plays the most fierce and brutal form of obscure and depraved death metal one could imagine. And they're damn good at it! From start to finish this album is a severe and an unmerciful attack. And believe me, you're gonna enjoy it. 

There's nothing really revolutionary about "Nefarious Seed Grows to Bring Forth Supremacy of the Beast", but for me this album sounds exactly as I would like Anima Damnata to sound. So, it's brutal, fierce, uncompromising and insanely fast for most part of the album. It's not simplistic and primitive death metal, although it has primitive, vulgar feeling, sometimes almost on the verge of the most bestial and cruel black metal. But just as the likes of Azarath or Embrional, they use some technical patterns, even some more complex arrangements, and the main aim is to get straight forward and powerful, harsh death metal with the old school aura. This music slays with no intention to take prisoners, there's no even small trace of melody or catchy parts, Anima Damnata hardly ever slows down, so you can imagine how savage it all is. But if you give it a more careful listen, then you will find out that "Nefarious Seed Grows to Bring Forth Supremacy of the Beast" is more than just an unstoppable cannonade and mindless guitar-mutilation. There're some fantastic arrangements and ideas, so many great details for drums parts or guitars riffs... and obviously you can recognize Necrosodom's vocals and riffage style. He always does great job - I love the work he also did for Thunderbolt, Azarath or Deus Mortem. And what lovely lyrics he can write like those for "Through Abomination 'Till Ecstasy".  

So... Anima Damnata's return definitely belongs to the worthy events and this new album is just a must to have. If you like their previous records, then you won't be disappointed. Good listen for your Sunday church day hahaha! 

Standout tracks: "Praise the Fall of God", "Uprising Lucifer”, "I Hail His Name" 

Verdict: 80/100 

In Obscurity Revealed - Spell of the Seeker

IN OBSCURITY REVEALED - Spell of the Seeker (CAVERNA ABISMAL Records MC 2015)

This is another completely new band, whose music impressed me a lot and I have to say that I was playing this cassette quite a lot recently. In Obscurity Revealed are from Mexico, so maybe this is why my impression is so big. Bigger than if it was yet another German or Swedish band. But honestly "Spell of the Seeker" demo is fuckin great. It was released in 2015 and I have here the second edition of this tape, released by Caverna Abismal Records limited in 200 copies. Sweet shit it is! 

All In Obscurity Revealed members have played also in other bands, of which I know Hacavitz the most. But In Obscurity Revealed is pure death metal act (maybe with a small blackened aura over everything). And the music on "Spell of the Seeker" reminds me some harsh and vicious European death metal bands, mainly Swedish, I suppose. Generally, it's the same obscure, evil atmosphere with chaos and death all over it and with slashing, ferocious riffs like you can find in bands such as Degial, Vorum, Beyond, Ensnared, Venenum... and old acts like Sadistic Intent, Repugnant or Mortem. And I love it, "Spell of the Seeker" is just as good as any recording from the bands I mentioned. These Mexicans not only composed some fantastic songs, filled with aggression, obscurity and mutilating onslaught of fierce riffs, but also everything has got a proper, powerful, but harsh production, which fits such music just perfectly. There are four tracks and each is a killer, in my opinion. 

More so, "Spell of the Seeker" is fantastically designed, when speaking of the layout, with occult symbols, great band photos, lyrics... I like it all, so for me In Obscurity Revealed was a brilliant discovery. After the demo, they released a 7"EP for Blood Harvest, which I obviously added to my want-list. And yes, I do recommend In Obscurity Revealed!!!! 

Stadout track: "Law of Thelema" 

Verdict: 85/100 

Necrovation - Ovations to Putrefaction

NECROVATION - Ovations to Putrefaction (SERPENT PULSE Records LP 2012)

This demo brings me some good memories, because I got a copy of "Ovations to Putrefaction" cassette directly from the band, back in 2004, when Necrovation has released it. It was a great surprise, because Necrovation was yet young and completely unknown band then, this was their first recording, but I loved it! I immediately interviewed A. Bünger for my (then printed) fanzine and added their name to the list of my favourite new Swedish death metal bands (which then included such Repugnant, Kaamos, Nominon, Paganizer). Their quality was later even improved on "Chants of Grim Death" and "Breed Deadness Blood". Sadly, I no longer have the tape, it's gone somewhere. But nothing's lost, because Serpent Pulse Records has released vinyl version of "Ovations to Putrefaction", so I got myself a copy instead. 

And I have to say that the quality of this vinyl release is superb, no doubt. I like the quality of print, the whole artwork and layout - it all looks good. And the music - pressed on nice grey vinyl - sounds fantastic, I still love this demo totally. There are four tracks on "Ovations to Putrefaction" and if you worship the old, archaic death metal sound from the demos of Nihilist, Dismember, Grotesque, Morbid or Merciless - and Autopsy of corpse also! - then you must believe me that you're gonna love Necrovation demo also. They have very authentic sound (it's a rehearsal recording, with lots of reverb and harshness, but it just sounds sweet and perfect for me!), maybe slightly messy in the faster parts, but that doesn't disturb me. And the songs, which they came up with back then were super good. Many riffs they had on this demo were equal to the best riffs from older demos for me, for example in "Putrid Evocation", which is probably the best song Necrovation has ever done. But really every song nails, this music has the right feeling, great aura and vocals of Seb Anthrax are perfect also. I cannot recommend it enough then, it's my favourite style and sound of death metal, so I could listen to it over and over again and never have enough. Sadly, that fuckin tape is gone, but this vinyl makes up the lost for me. Very, very good indeed.  

Standout track: "Putrid Evocation" 

Verdict: 90/100 

Pentacle / Sadistic Intent - Invocations of the Death-ridden

SADISTIC INTENT / PENTACLE - Invocations of the Death-ridden (IRON PEGASUS Records LP 2016)

A split LP that I was really looking forward to hear, with two legendary bands! With two true heroes of the ancient death metal!! Here's Sadistic Intent and Pentacle united for this excellent release titled "Invocations of the Death-ridden". Each band comes with two songs and each, I dare to say, does not disappoint, so I've been listening to this record with enormous pleasure.  

Sadistic Intent really proves how amazing band they are. Although the long awaited MLP "Reawakening of Horrid Thoughts" wasn't a peak of their quality, these two new tracks are surely better. I truly love them both and this style of thrashing death metal, so deeply rooted in the 80's. There are moments, when the music reminds me this evil and vicious death metal alike to the early Morbid Angel, without their fast tempos though. But at the same time it's quite strongly thrash influenced also. Anyway, it's pure feast of old school, traditional death metal. I love especially the second track "Numbered with the Dead", with its killer sharp, aggressive riffage, but also with some melodic accents that appear here and there. It's fantastic song! But both songs make a huge impression on me and so yet again I have to say that there are hardly better around than Sadistic Intent or Coffin Texts. I don't even care if Sadistic will record that bloody full length finally or not, I'm not bothered, they can just release mini albums or splits, as long as they do stay active and killer I'm good with it!!! 

And Pentacle is something what goes deeper and deeper into the most archaic forms of ancient death metal. I cannot say that their songs on the splits with Eternal Solstice and Mortem were my favourite tunes from them. They're OK, but I just expect a bit more from people, who wrote such fantastic pieces of music as "Ancient Death" or "...Rides the Moonstorm". Anyway, all these split songs along these two tracks from split with Sadistic Intent have all been released also as "Five Candles Burning Red" EP. I don't know why though, but somehow I like these two songs from "Invocations of the Death-ridden" the most from that Pentacle pile. Style wise they're pretty much the same, but damn, they do crush with some splendid riffage and dark, obscure aura. The music is quite slow, with strong influence from early Celtic Frost or even Hellhammer, to name just the most obvious sources of inspiration. It also sounds very harsh and nasty, but powerful, even if some of you may not like the primitive production so much. Who cares... I don't, I enjoyed these two tracks a lot. And let me say that Wannes' vocals belong to my favourite ever, he's damn great! So, maybe this band did some way better recordings in the past, but I still have a lot of respect for Pentacle and I'm happy every time they release something new. 

And this is yet another vinyl from Iron Pegasus, which is so well released. The layout, graphics... everything is great quality.

Standout track: "Numbered with the Dead" 

Verdict: 80/100