Supremacy - Through Endless Torment

SUPREMACY - Through Endless Torment (EMPIRE Music CD 2004)

I got up this morning and picked up a random CD... It turned out to be "Through Endless Torment" by Supremacy, something I haven't really listened to in ten years at least. If not more. Well, it was a good opportunity to remind myself this album. And you know what? I absolutely loved it. I completely forgot how good it is. So, here's also a reminder review! 

If you never heard of Supremacy, they were a death metal band from Slovenia and "Through Endless Torment" was the only album they did, back in 2004. Later Supremacy split up. Stylistically these guys sounded like a traditional, brutal and fierce death metal in the vein of Deicide, Sinister, Vader, Monstrosity, Cannibal Corpse even... And that should be enough for the description of their music. Yeah, maybe it wasn't anything original or outstanding, but Supremacy definitely knew how to crush some heads with great riffs, brutality and viciousness and honestly, there are some absolutely killer songs here. I love the feeling these riffs have, how often fast it is and generally how powerful and energetic "Through Endless Torment" sounds. It's one of those records, which you simply want to play loud, because then it gives you the best kick. And because Supremacy achieved a perfect production for this album, then listening to "Through Endless Torment" loud is a simple pleasure. And nightmare for neighbours. I really dig this stuff and I think that for its time, this must have been one of the best 2004 death metal albums worldwide. No idea then why Supremacy is so forgotten and not many even remember this album. So, you better go check out internet, maybe you will find a copy, and if you do so, just buy it. Besides, how many great bands you know from Slovenia? 

Standout tracks: "Human Stagnacy", “Burial of Dismembered” 

Verdict: 80/100

Elegis - Kultus

ELEGIS - Kultus (LIBER KHAOS Productions CD 2020)

"Kultus" is Elegis' second album after "Superhuman Syndrome" from 2017. But this is my first encounter with the music of this Polish band, and I have to say that "Kultus" very quickly managed to catch my attention. I like how Elegis merges different genres of extreme metal here, how intense is their music and how, on the other side, atmospheric it always remains. Because it's always a winning formula if you get a brutal, extreme metal effort, but dark and atmospheric at the same time. You can hardly find it as boring; you know? 

Anyway, don't expect from "Kultus" to bring something you've never heard before. Even from the Polish bands you could say that there are elements of that bombastic, semi technical and brutal death / black metal, which bands like Hate, Behemoth or Lost Soul played over the past few years. I'm not saying that Elegis copies these bands, but only suggest that you may find similar elements to these well known acts here. As for bands from abroad, think of Septic Flesh, even the motherfuckin Nile - that's what comes to my mind, when for instance I hear the excellent title song. 

Yeah... So, you know what to find here. Elegis brings that epic, bombastic, powerful and brutal death metal, with a small orchestral touch - which I am glad has not been overdone and overshadowed the crushing power of guitar savagery. There's just a proper balance between that aspect and the straight forward, fast and vicious death metal. It's good to hear also that so much of "Kultus" is so fast that it rips the intestines and use them to strangle you. Elegis music is very precise, when speaking of how intense, yet very detailed it is, with all these nice guitar parts and killer, blasting drumming. And when fast, this music sounds the best for me. Slower fragments, like "Deus Arcana" - even if still very solid and enjoyable - lack a bit of that spark for me. The album slows down towards the end mostly, so I can easily recommend first few songs the most, like that blasting, brute force of “Apollyon Ave” or “Luminous Pantheon”. Generally though, there’s nothing on “Kultus” what would sound weak or unwanted. It's just a solid modern extreme metal album and I can only recommend it. 

Verdict: 75/100

Cancerfaust - Let the Earth Tremble

CANCERFAUST - Let the Earth Tremble (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2020)

It took me some time to get a copy of Cancerfaust’s debut album "Let the Earth Tremble", released by Godz ov War. But there was always something else coming... As they say, it’s better late than never, right? So, I’ve been playing this album quite a lot in the last couple of days and I can definitely say that it wasn’t a wasted time. And knowing previous Cancerfaust releases, I was rather sure that this album will be a good effort. 

First of all, there's a massive sound quality improvement, if you compare "Let the Earth Tremble" to the previous Cancerfaust recordings. Everything here sounds more massive and brutal, more powerful and crushing - just as such death metal should really. It doesn’t mean that I didn't like how such "Killing Spree" sounded, because I still do like this demo a lot. But for a debut album Cancerfaust really took more care to achieve that meaty, dense production, which would make every riff and drum pattern sound like a hammer. Good stuff. And as for the music, "Let the Earth Tremble" continues the previous Cancerfaust materials, delivering a nasty, brutal old school death metal, alike to Vomitory, Aborted, Sinister, Deicide and... you name them. Sinister feels the closest comparison, in my opinion, maybe because vocals do remind me what Aad Kloosterwaard does in this band a lot. 

Obviously Cancerfaust doesn't reinvent the wheel and their music is far from original. But I like such young bands with that traditional sound and style, so listening to "Let the Earth Tremble" is just a pure pleasure. This music is very intense, mostly fast, it’s savage and brutal to the bone, but with that straight forward, relentless attitude comes ability to incorporate some nice, sometimes slightly more melodic bits or leads. Oh, such “Into the Void” with its solo section is something absolutely fantastic, especially when they come with all these ferocious riffs. “To the Pyre” even has a small Swedish death metal influence, which is also something I always greed with a big smile on my face. So, there's nothing really what would sound bad or what I would change, "Let the Earth Tremble" is just a very solid, neckbreaking death metal album, which should speak to all fans of the traditional brutal styles of this music. Howhg! 

Standout tracks: “Into the Void”, “To the Pyre” 

Verdict: 75/100

Mercyless / Avulsed - Split EP

MERCYLESS / AVULSED - Split (XENOCORP - 7'EP 2017)

Here's cool 7" piece of wax, which is a split between two legendary European death metal acts Avulsed and Mercyless. I couldn't let myself miss it, so a copy joined my collection. And I have to say that it is really nice split, even if you won't hear new songs from both bands. But re-recorded old tracks, which sometimes is also a nice idea, if we speak of some very old songs and when their re-recorded versions do actually refresh the old riffs and arrangements. 

That's definitely the case of Mercyless' "Without Christ", which originally appeared on one of my most favourite old death metal records, "Abject Offerings". I love this song, these technical, yet so sick and brutal sounding riffs... The re-recorded version sounds awesome, in my opinion, sound wise it's obviously more updated, which made the song lose a bit of its harshness slightly. But it's powerful and damn ferocious anyway and just excellent piece of old school death / thrash metal. Mercyless kills. 

As for Avulsed, I honestly don't know the original version of "Hidden Perversions", because I kind of missed many albums from this band and hardly know any of their stuff. Don't ask me why, it's just what happened and let's leave it. But I like this song also, it's brutal, slightly melodic here and there, but old school, or let’s say traditional death metal. Good riffs, Dave’s vocals are great and this song also is a savage and crushing piece of metal. Makes me want to catch up on their old albums. I should. 

Verdict: 80/100 

Renunciation - The Terminal Archetype

RENUNCIATION - The Terminal Archetype (BRUTAL CAVE Productions - CD 2020)

Here is "The Terminal Archetype" by the Russian band Renunciation. According to Metal Archives the same EP can be also obtained in the instrumental version, which is quite interesting idea... But here's the proper version, released on CD by Brutal Cave. 

Renunciation, let's make it simple, plays melodic black / death metal. And honestly, I am far from loving it. But it’s more due to the fact that it’s not a musical style I would like, not because the music is so worthless or something like that. I can definitely say that these guys have good musical skills, that the music has many hooks, well listenable melodies, plenty of leads or whatever. I can add that the production is also pretty clean and modern. And I am sure that there will be many, who will enjoy this CD. Not me though, because as I mentioned, it’s not my style. 

For me personally, it's too melodic, too soft, there's too much of that "friendly" and potentially Nuclear Blast wannabie type of metal - something I just loath. It reminds me Children of Bodom for instance, and that's the band I simply hate. Renunciation has similar style of guitar harmonies, screaming vocals, etc., with slight heavy metal like influence. Even when they speed up, like in the title song, the music just feels like a weak slap, instead of crushing, ferocious punch. Renunciation tries to create that dark, melancholic (sometimes) atmosphere, but that’s not how you do it, according to my book. 

But whatever. As I said - I don't like it, it's too mediocre for me and I rather feel bored by such music.. I doubt then that I will want to play it again any time soon. 

Verdict: 50/100

Tenebre - Breath of Living Dead

TENEBRE - Breath of Living Dead (BRUTAL CAVE Productions CD 2020)

Here is Tenebre from Chile with their debut demo "Breath of Living Dead", released upon the mankind by Brutal Cave Productions. Well, not once I was writing about my adoration for some of these Chilean death metal bands and the strength of the underground scene in that country, so I am always happy to find out about new bands from there. Tenebre certainly deserves attention also, even if I am far from saying that this is the best demo ever. But it is a solid effort and as a debut, it surely gives hopes for the future. 

Stylistically Tenebre intensely looks into the Swedish death metal scene, as they even achieved that characteristic HM-2 fat guitar sound. Riff wise there are some Dismember-esque parts here and there, a bit of Unleashed or Grave also... Generally, the music is pretty savage and brutal, yet it keeps the groove to have that hooky, old school death metal vibe. I can definitely say that Tenebre came up with some cool songs, I like that kind of stuff, it always quickly gets into my head, doing some damage to my brain cells. Songs like "Lugus Cotrol" are absolutely enough to convince me. The production of the demo is also not bad at all... And if I had to complain about anything, then I would only say that I don't like vocals so much. Sometimes they remind me David Ingram, other time they are a bit like Kam Lee or van Drunen... But I just cannot say that I always like how they sound, especially since they are quite loud in the music. Well, there's always room for improvement, Tenebre has a lot of work to do, before they will attack with a full album. But I am looking forward to hear more from them for sure. Cool demo for sure here! 

Verdict: 70/100

Atavisma - On the Ruins of a Fallen Empire

ATAVISMA - On the Ruins of a Fallen Empire (BLOOD HARVEST - 7"EP 2017)

I've known this fantastic band already since their "Where Wolves Once Dwelled" demo and later from "Buried in the Ethereal" split tape with Maur. So, buying "On the Ruins of a Fallen Empire" 7"EP was unquestionable. I had to have it. And I can sincerely say that Atavisma doesn't disappoint and this is a killer effort from them. 

Although hailing from France, you could say that Atavisma music sounds like a killer mixture of Swedish and Finnish death metal, with all their melodic and obscure characteristics, but all spiced with the crushing heaviness and overwhelming brutality of Incantation and the bands similar, like Disma or Morpheus Descends. Just imagine how such mixture could sound. For me, it is just awesome. Side A song called "The Shapes of Great Nothing" is a monolith of old school death metal, I just love the riffage, vicious savagery and intensity of this song, it's ruthless stuff, with beastly growls and morbid atmosphere. I can literally see the walls crackling, when this song is played loud. And I only play Atavisma music loud. These blast beats in the middle of the song do the job perfectly. Obviously "Amid the Ruins" from side B is equally great, although this song is slower, so even more heavy and crushing.  
All in all, I am very happy with this material and how Atavisma sounds. They improved a lot from the times of the “Where Wolves...” demo and with this 7” and more recent “The Chthonic Rituals“ album and split with Void Rot they immediately joined the ranking of my favourite European death metal bands. 
Verdict: 85/100