Misanthropic Rage - Igne Natura Renovatur Integra

MISANTHROPIC RAGE - Igne Natura Renovatur Integra (GODZ OV WAR CD 2018)

Misanthropic Rage's first album "Gates No Longer Shut" didn't manage to convince me. Rather forgettable album, which hardly ever captured my attention - that's how I could describe it. 2018 welcomes the release of "Igne Natura Renovatur Integra", which is Misanthropic Rage's second album... and well, I can sincerely admit that this one is better. Still too fuckin weird in some fragments, but the balance between all that bizarre stuff or parts, which I didn't like so much and really fantastic and impressive moments is in favour for the latter. Good! Now I can say that "Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" is worthy of my recommendation. 

First off, it's important to point out that Misanthropic Rage doesn't play common and traditional black metal. Nope, they blend black with death, doom, post-metal, even doom and spice it all with strong progressive sort of style. I can admit that the sound they achieved is very original and probably intriguing enough to win many supporters. At least those, who like to hear untypical song structures, guitar work, which is not limited to three chords and vocals, which are more varied than just monotonous scream, will like it. Without a doubt, "Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" is an album, which offers music on very high level and quality, which is unreachable for many bands. Give a listen to any song - doesn't matter which one you'll choose - and find a proof. Find out also how diverse the music is, never sticking to one formula, but always switching styles and finding new ways of expression. Such "Call All Your Angels" is a fine example - this song offers whole palette of styles and is a good representative for the whole album. Peaceful, calm parts are mixed with a bit more progressive stuff, but there's also plenty of harsh and aggressive blasting black metal to get even stronger result. What do you think? 

I will not hide that I like the vicious and aggressive part of "Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" the most... and I'm glad that they appear more than just once. 'Become a God-Man" is definitely a good example, part of "Call All your Angels" as well. But I also like how Misanthropic Rage incorporates some sort of post rock'ish type of drilling melodies (like those in "I.N.R.I." and "The Agony of Breath"), which surprisingly correspondent perfectly with the entire mixture of styles, which "Igne Natura Renovatur Integra" presents. Sometimes it all sounds like going from extreme to extreme, with two completely opposite types of metal clenching and trying to prevail. Yet neither succeeds and the balance is intact. I quite like this diversity, but I have to admit that the only thing, which pisses me off in Misanthropic Rage music are clean vocals. I don't like them at all, they sound weak and rather disturb me than give a good impression. Sorry. 

I also need to mention a totally flawless, perfect production, which the band achieved here, I really like how it all sounds, how heavy it is. Couple of songs with Polish lyrics also stand out on the album, with a bit more vicious and intense character. Even the fact that the album is 50 minutes long doesn't disturb, because there's so much going on here that you don't realize how the time flies. 

Standout tracks: "I.N.R.I.", "The Agony of Breath", "Call All Your Angels", "Abstrakt"  

Verdict: 75/100 

Moloch Letalis - Krwawy sztorm

MOLOCH LETALIS - Krwawy sztorm (OLD TEMPLE Records CD 2018)

Finally this new album from Moloch Letalis arrived and I can blast the fucker at the full volume! Damn, I just love how vicious and nasty, aggressive and malicious this music is. It's one of those albums, which you will describe with words such as "killer" and "crusher" and it's never an exaggeration - because it really slays with no mercy and after the maniacal headbanging you feel like all your bones were broken. General idea for the music is rather simple – straight forward, uncompromising, violent and savage death / black metal, but played with almost punkish simplicity. You won't find here any technical parts; these songs aren't complex. They're usually based on two or three riffs, with the classic chorus / verse type of structure. But the ferocity and savage, blasphemous feel they bring will surely rip your guts. It's unpleasant, it's vulgar... It also insanely fast and hardly ever slows down, what only adds fuel to the fire. And I like it that way! 

There's not even much else left to comment, but not because the music is weak – because it's not! It's damn awesome. But because these nine songs all are quite alike and Moloch Letalis doesn't stray from the path they have chosen. But because the album is only 30 minutes long, it really feels like a quick outburst of uncontrolled, powerful energy. It captured my attention immediately and I enjoyed it a lot. Let me say also that I like that blasphemous feeling of "Krwawy sztorm", which is even bettered with killer Polish lyrics. They're all very brutal and hateful, but the lyrics for "Zatańczysz ze mną kurwa w piekle?" are almost humoristic in some way. Just like Kingdom, Moloch Letalis are another band, where Polish lyrics actually work perfectly and I cannot imagine this band without them. I also have to say that I feel like these songs are insanely memorable. Maybe it's due to their simplistic, straight forward nature, but they really are catchy as hell. Every riff and vocals stick in the head and do not let you forget them. Cool! Unleash the bloodstorm!

Standout tracks: "Sztorm", "Zatańczysz ze mną kurwa w piekle?", "Palownik" 

Verdict: 80/100 

Sickening Gore - Destructive Reality

SICKENING GORE - Destructive Reality (MASSACRE Records CD 1993)

Sickening Gore is another band, which I would like to introduce to you. This Swiss band started as Reactor in 1991 and released "The Tribunal Above" demo, which I never had a chance to hear. In 1992 they changed their name for something more suitable to brutal death metal, for Sickening Gore and in 1993 released the only album "Destructive Reality". Don't be surprised then, if you've never heard it before. Sickening Gore wasn't a band, which would ever be popular. I'm not even sure, if they managed to play any gigs, not to mention small tours in their short career. Probably not. So, "Destructive Reality" never had a chance to shine, even at the time of glorious golden death metal era of early 90's. Which is a shame, but on the other hand, I can't say that Sickening Gore music was anything special. It's good, but nothing more than that. 

When I listened to this CD for the first time, I was quite surprised to hear such a good production on "Destructive Reality". It's relatively clean, very old styled, with great guitar tone and great, brutal, gory feel. The music is also damn savage and aggressive, with some similarities to bands like Vader, Sinister, Krabathor, Obscenity. Quite often the riffage has also big Slayer-esque vibe, just listen to "Obscene Existence" - it screams SLAYER out loud! Fast pace, which dominates on the album, definitely gives a good dose of energy and proper kick in face, what I like a lot. These songs have a nice feel. So, what's wrong then with "Destructive Reality"?!! Well, I don't know, but even though it all sounds OK, I cannot say that this album was able to impress me with anything special. All songs are solid, riffs are pretty cool as well, good vocals... I play it loud and it definitely is fun to listen to it, but no walls get crushed. After a while I even get bored, even though this album is just 30 minutes long. I don't know... It's way better than many other albums from early 90's like Sororicide's "The Entity" or Desecrator's "Subconscious Release". But something's missing here, something what would really take this album above the average death metal record.  

But who cares... it's recommendable old death metal relic, one of these little known bands, which are good to listen to. The original CD of "Destructive Reality" is quite easy to find, not too expensive, so grab a copy. I don't think there're any reissue plans for it, but the old Reactor demo has been released on CD recently! 

Standout tracks: "Ancestral Hate" 

Verdict: 68/100