Erupted Evil - Teufel

ERUPTED EVIL - Teufel (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2021)

Erupted Evil's debut album "Ghoul" was excellent. I was listening to it again few weeks ago, and I remember wondering if this band will come up with anyone new anytime soon. And they just did, here is an EP titled "Teufel"! Well, this EP has barely 15 minutes of music, which is very little, sadly. Surely not enough to satisfy my hunger for their music. On the other hand, it is better than nothing, right? 

So, what we get with "Teufel" are three new songs and a Mortician cover. As for the cover, it is great. I may not be big Mortician follower, I don't even have anything they recorded in my collection, but this song sounds cool. As for their Erupted Evil’s own songs, they are good too. I don't think they are as good as some of the stuff from "Ghoul", to be honest with you, but the quality is here for sure. Just expect to hear harsh and very obscure, filthy combination of doom, death and ancient black metal, sounding almost primeval and primitive. Yeah, this stuff is old school to the bone, but at the same time it is not something, what you could easily pick up and compare to one or two obvious bands. Erupted Evil seems to be doing a lot to achieve more individual style and that's interesting for sure. Take "Skin to Skin", great song filled with heavy, crushing riffs and a disturbing, eerie tone of piano hidden behind them... All coming with these ghastly, vicious growls of Sobiech. What a nice job. "Cursed (Dead) Life" is another my favourite here. Damn, it sounds like a combination of Hellhammer, Incantation with a bit of early Samael ha. Kidding or not, Erupted Evil really does good job and every time I listen to their music, I just feel happy that there are bands, which can take some fresh from the old rotten corpses of extreme metal music. Highly recommended. 

And I love the artwork too.

Verdict: 75/100

Gnosis - Omens from the Dead Realm

GNOSIS - Omens from the Dead Realm (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

The number of releases, which recently come from Godz ov War is quite impressive, I have to say. I can't say that I love all the stuff from them equally - as always there are some better and some worse CDs - but mostly I am happy with this label's choices. Gnosis with "Omens from the Dead Realm" is one of the most recent Godz ov War releases... and honestly, I think this album belongs to my favourites from the entire catalogue of that label. Top five for sure. I've started to listen to this album without any expectations at all, since I never had a chance to hear anything from Gnosis before (and "Omens..." are their third album already). But immediately I was hooked with these songs. And most importantly, I was hooked with that ancient, primeval style of black metal, which Gnosis plays. A style, which quickly brings to my mind such names as Mortuary Drape, Rotting Christ, Varathron, Mystifier, Thou Art Lord, even Master's Hammer. 

Somehow Gnosis managed to create an album, which perfectly reflects that old scene. To be fair, t is mainly resembling Hellenic cults from the past. But Gnosis did so without sounding like a lame copycat. Every song on "Omens from the Dead Realm", everything that sets the obscure atmosphere, with every keyboard part, fantastic guitar riffs and melodies and ghastly vocals - it's all been done brilliantly. I love that vicious, aggressive, yet very monumental and mystic character of the music. I like how memorable this music is and instantly catchy, how authentic it sounds, even though it's been recorded in the sunny Florida in 2021, not in Athens in 1994. And yes, the production is just top notch, so perfect, so suitable... All in all, there's something almost enchanting about this music, I really had difficulties to free myself from it. Once I started to listen to this album, it did not leave the stereo for few days. How could I leave it behind with such masterpieces as "Typhlotic Visions" or with "Excite the Tempest", which is probably the fastest and most aggressive song here, but so well combining that faster stuff with melodies and keyboards... Gnosis music doesn’t bring anything new to this style of black metal, but damn, they just ticked all the right boxes and composed a splendid album. I have nothing else to add, really. I am not going to describe each song now, I will not try to find proper metaphors for everything I hear here. But I will strongly advice everyone to get that album and just give it a listen. Epecially if you’re a fan of the bands I mentioned above. 

Standout tracks: "Excite the Tempest", "Typhlotic Visions" 

Verdict: 85/100

Nidsang - Into the Womb of Dissolving Flames

NIDSANG - Into the Womb of Dissolving Flames (PULVERISED - LP 2014)

There are bands and albums, which I feel really deserved a bit more recognition and were not talked about enough. Take such "Into the Womb of Dissolving Flames" as an example - this album is a fuckin blast, with great quality black metal, full of killer riffs and damn ferocity. But how many times have you heard people mentioning Nidsang and "Into the Womb..." as one of their personal favourites? Sure, it may not be the most thrilling album of all time, but quality stuff it is and personally, I enjoy it fully. 

I suppose that many people will see Nidsang as just another Swedish black metal band in the vein of Watain, Marduk or Ofermod and nothing more than that. Their perception is closed on these three bands and anything what can sound alike is immediately rubbish and uninteresting. Which is a wrong attitude. "Into the Womb of Dissolving Flames" has obviously that strong resemblance to the unholy trinity I mentioned above. It has that dark, malicious melodic aspect of Watain, it has the intensity and aggression of Marduk or Funeral Mist (sure) and yes, it also has that raw, possessed feel of Ofermod. But that sense of familiarity doesn't stop me from loving the music.  

Nidsang simply came up with killer black metal black and whether they blast with rage and ferocity or slow down for more atmospheric and murky sound, the result is always great. As a matter of fact, to me "Into the Womb of Dissolving Flames" almost sound like an easy, memorable album. From the first spin, I was completely into it and the listening session was just a great experience. But you know, Nidsang does everything properly - their songs have that strength and energy so well combined with total darkness and mordacity. And every here and there, riffs or melodies come, which hook you up completely. Also, the production is as good as it should - crisp, yet harsh... Everything has that depth, it's not a monotonous bullshit, which you forget about as soon as the music stops. Even if some parts can sound a bit repetitive and Nidsang doesn’t use symphonic or acoustic parts to diverse their long songs, it doesn't disturb me at all. Besides, if they do come up with something a bit different, then it is something like an obvious Bathory worship in “Abysmal Origins”, so I am fully happy with everything I have heard on this album. What am I not happy with? Lack of lyrics is the most unpleasant surprise. And the artwork sucks. Everything else is sweeeet. 

Standout tracks: “Abysmal Origins” 

Verdict: 80/100

Black Ceremonial Kult - Crowned in Chaos

BLACK CEREMONIAL KULT - Crowned in Chaos (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

Do not expect to hear old school, traditional death metal riffage here. Also do not expect to find memorable leads and harmonies on this album. Black Ceremonial Kult music is brutal and vicious, it’s dense as a tar, bleak as the deepest darkness and its aura is almost suffocating and claustrophobic. There's just nothing pleasant here, if people consider music as sort of entertainment then this album will deny such opinion. Black Ceremonial Kult on "Crowned in Chaos" is savage and bestial, the music is mostly incredibly fast, creating an unbreakable wall of noise and chaos. There are some almost black metal patterns here as well, which is why I bet many will call this album a war metal or bestial metal onslaught... but such labels do not really matter, right? 

The atmosphere is the main aspect, which constitutes this album. With its savagery of morbid metal of death and its thick, crushing wall of sound, "Crowned in Chaos" brings an insane amount of truly dark, obscure and evil feelings. Which are so well underlined by killer ghoulish vocals and especially by all these intros that connect all songs together. With them, the music has a strong ritualistic aura, which is very cool. So, it's obvious that "Crowned in Chaos" is one of those albums, which you need to listen to in the proper conditions - this is when it will work the best. Damn, these guys really did a fine job here. Sure, this sort of music can sound one dimensional, noisy and unbearable for some, especially for its complete lack of something memorable and "musical"... But with that atmosphere, Black Ceremonial Kult also brings a fierce energy, viciousness and aggression, which are so important as well. Besides, it's not like you won’t be able to pick up some killer riffs from that chaos. Listen to such "Under the Khaos" or "K.K.K." for that matter. Also, the band is from Chile... Did I mention my love for bands from this country? I did many times in the past, so I do that again. 

Standout track: “K.K.K.” 

Verdict: 75/100

Fossilization - He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten

FOSSILIZATION - He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten (EVERLASTING SPEW - CD 2021)

Fossilization hails from Brazil and "He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten" is their debut EP. I have to confess that I bought this CD after some strong recommendations that I had about it... and damn, I can sincerely say that they were all true. This material is excellent and for me such releases are the best proof for insanity of the current death metal, with so many killer young bands around. This stuff is sick and absolutely awesome. The best thing about Fossilization is that this band doesn’t even sound like most of the Brazilian bands, which I know from the past. I mean all these brutal and blasting bands like Abhorrence or Krisiun - Fossilization is far from this style. Actually, I think that "He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten" has a strong similarity to such acts like Spectral Voice, Phrenelith, Dead Congregation, Blood Incantation... To give you only the most thrilling names of the moment. 

Fossilization sounds equally powerful and bestial, their riffage have that same crushing, overwhelming sound and everything is soaked in the smell of decay. And more so, while listening to this music, you almost feel like drowning in the deep, dark abyss, where is no light nor hope to see any soon. "He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten" sounds absolutely fantastic. This is death metal evolving from the Incantation worship to something new, a bit technical here and there, with some of these killer guitar harmonies and dissonance, which strongly differs such bands from the old classic stuff. This is a brilliant combination of crushing, utterly heavy parts and fast, brutal passages. They both equally make me bang my head and they both truly turn my place into ruin. I can assure that the intensity of this material will not give much hope to take a longer breath... You will suffocate, with no chance of surviving it. Such “A Deplorable Epoch” is one of the best things I have heard, especially the second part of this song. The doom menace of “Neanderthal Tombs” also doesn’t let me forget about it too soon. 

Without doubt, Fossilization blew my mind off. I am close to saying that it's one of the best debuts of the recent months or years even. And definitely this is the most noteworthy death metal from Brazil, which I have heard in a long time. Anyway, I am really looking forward to hear more from Fossilization. Whatever they will do next, it is going to be a must to have. 

Standout tracks: “A Deplorable Epoch” 

Verdict: 85/100

Throneum / Kingdom - ThronDom des Bösen

THRONEUM / KINGDOM - ThronDom des Bösen (GODZ OV WAR - Split LP 2021)

I am not really sure why I decided to buy this split LP. Both bands may have a solid position in my collection with quite few releases on LP and CD, but I cannot say that they belong to my top favourites. I lost interest in Throneum ever since they did “Death Throne Entities” LP. Some of their later albums were just unlistenable to me. But it was their 2020’s “Oh Death... Oh Death... Determinate, Preach and Lead Us Astray...” album, which kind of threw me back to Throneum music. It’s a surprising album – both with the quality of the music, but also with its sound and style. On the other hand, Kingdom can seem to be a safer choice, their albums are mostly solid... But the last effort “Rotting Carcass Arise upon the Burial Mound” didn’t return to my playlist for some time now, because I felt that it’s more mediocre and not as good as some of their earlier recordings. With this split I hoped for something great and special from both bands... and well, I am afraid that it did not fill this expectation. 

Starting with Throneum... Four songs on this 12” are quite a good continuation of the recent album. Obviously, the main style of their music is a malicious, chaotic and insanely noisy death / black metal, with its very raw, primitive production and inhuman screams of Tom, which sometimes feel like were completely out of tune and incidentally glued to the music. You need to get used to it, to be honest, but once you do, then it can turn out that Throneum has a lot of great shit to offer. This poisonous, sinister metal of death has something unique and I really need to admit that Tom has a lot of my support and admiration for how consequent and loyal to his root he is. Damn, it’s been twenty years now since his band Throne debuted and since I got their debut demo cassette. Time flies... and he’s still there, playing his own lunatic shit. On this particular split two songs do stand out. “Affirmation” for all its psychedelic and weird arrangements and keyboards, which are something new in Throneum music. And Unholy’s cover “Neverending Day” - absolute killer and best song here, with a truly dark, malicious atmosphere and awesome female vocals, which have almost a mesmerizing influence. And remind me some sort of witching yells during the ritual. Really damn cool, although I can realize that Throneum music is not easy and not for everyone. It may take few spins, before you will get used to its chaotic nature. But give it a chance. 

As for Kingdom, I am a little bit confused. On one hand they prepared something special, because there’s just one song titled “Ścieżka Nicości” and it is over eleven minutes long, which is something we haven’t experienced yet in this band. I can say that there are some good riffs again (I like that slow, opening theme the most) and that there’s a great, obscure aura of primitive death metal, which always characterized Kingdom music. On the other hand, the production could be better. Guitars sound a bit weak, but I especially don’t like that damn snare drum, which in fast parts basically kills all other instruments and give more chaotic and even more primitive sound. I have nothing against harsh production, don’t get me wrong... but in this case, I feel like it wasn’t done properly. I lack a bit of that heaviness and death metal morbidity, which was on such “Sepulchral Psalms from the Abyss of Torment” album. So, my impression is that Kingdom did better stuff in the past and this song is simply mediocre. Forgettable too. Oh, there’s also a Sisters of Mercy cover, but I do not like it at all... Which is kind of normal for me, because I tend to dislike all covers, which Kingdom features on their albums haha. Sooo, this side of the split did disappoint me truly. 

Standout tracks: “The Death Like Silence”, “Neverending Day” 

Verdict: 70/100

Necrochaos - Mortal Angels Descent

NECROCHAOS - Mortal Angels Descent (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

I didn't have a chance to hear "Crawling Through Cadavers", which was Necrochaos' debut EP. But I remember some people were recommending me that CD. I did get "Mortal Angels Descent" though, and it is a first full album of this German one-man project. A quick check of the booklet - where everything is dark and blurry... Nahhh, I won't ruin my eyes in attempt to read anything... And let's play this shit! What you can expect from Necrochaos is a very brutal, sort of cavernous and murky death metal, which on one hand may take a bit of the Incantation stench into necrochaotic coffin, but on the other it also has a bit of the Finnish shadow over the atmosphere of the music. That overwhelming brutality and heaviness do speak for themselves, creating almost a claustrophobic feel, burying you in the pitch-black darkness. 

The album is not bad. But not brilliant also. I think that the main problem for me is that too much of the album just fades away after you stop listening to it. Necrochaos can blast like crazy with full speed on and crush your ears with some brutal riffs, but sometimes there’s nothing behind that monstrous and insanely heavy wall of death metal noise. Some parts of that album are simply mediocre and forgettable, especially if sometimes I feel like Necrochaos had very limited number of ideas for these songs. Things get more repetitive and they start to explore the same abyss of death metal over and over again with the same monotonous grunts to accompany them. With songs like “Mortal Angels Descent” I even think that there was no point in making it an over six minutes long piece, if there’s nothing really interesting behind it and that song just bores me. Unfortunately, there are few more fragments like that – just blurry, forgettable, unimpressive... 

Luckily, there are parts, which I did enjoy too, so I am not going to be too rough on Necrochaos. “Last Prayer” is definitely the best song here, I think, especially with that doomy part, which opens it. Hah, that’s what I always like to hear. Interestingly, also that instrumental monster titled “Hell Arisen” really caught my attention, there are some brilliant riffs in it, especially that Asphyx-esque melody near the end, which definitely is the best part of the whole album. All in all, "Mortal Angels Descent" is a decent album, I did play it a fair number of times and I cannot say that this time was wasted or something. But on a scale of so many insanely brilliant death metal albums, which hit us nowadays, this one feels too mediocre and much less inspiring. 

Standout track: "Last Prayer", "Hell Arisen" 

Verdict: 68/100