Disrupted - Morbid Death

DISRUPTED - Morbid Death (MEMENTO MORI - CD 2015)

Swedish death metal with its characteristic buzzsaw HM-2 guitar sound and infectious riffs is one of the best things I would imagine to listen to. I have very soft spot in my musical taste for that style and whether we speak of old classic bands or some young, fresh blood - there's always a lot of exciting stuff to listen to. And yes, I don't care if the music sounds "too much like Entombed" or whatever, as soon as it has killer riffs and the production makes the music sound powerful and nasty. Just as it is in case of Disrupted. Already their demo CD "Heavy Death" was killer, but the debut album "Morbid Death" belongs to my favourite Swedish sounding death metal releases of recent years. 

Disrupted music is obviously plain straight forward death metal, it doesn't bring any innovations nor revolutions to this style. From the very first seconds of the album opener "Rotten" you know what you will deal with and you cannot mistake it with anything else, but Swedish death metal. But Disrupted has a great gift for making this music sound fresh and insanely infectious. I am immediately caught in the rotten grave of Disrupted music and take sadistic pleasure from its every component. Because "Morbid Death" sounds almost perfectly for what it is. Sure, you can make all these boring comparisons to Entombed or even more so, to the younger bands such as Bloodbath, Facebreaker or Tormented... But none of these comparisons will work against Disrupted, considering the fact that their debut album is just as brilliant as such "Nightmares Made Flesh". A brave statement, someone would say? Maybe, but that is exactly what I feel when I listen to Disrupted. From the technical point of view, "Morbid Death" doesn't need anything else and is a perfect Swedish death metal album. The album is filled with vicious, yet catchy riffs, it easily makes you bang the skull with no remorse and vocals sound just awesome. Lyrics are about zombies, death and all that nasty stuff too - so Disrupted clicked all the right boxes. The production is aggressive, it is powerful and has that nice, raw edge too - again, it has everything I want to hear. Top album for me, I like it even more than their second CD. 

Verdict: 85/100

Cień - Redemption

CIEŃ - Redemption (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

Honestly, this album was a tough nut to crack for me. I gave it two or three listens, but I didn’t get any pleasure from the music at all. So, I putted it away. I came back to “Redemption” after couple of days, but it wasn’t much better, even if I tried. And writing a review was just impossible, I couldn’t put two constructive sentences together, I just wasn’t ready at all. It is all because the album seems so mediocre to me and so forgettable that I became completely careless about the band and their music. But the review needs to be done... 

So, here it is. I must admit that "Redemption" kind of reminded me of the existence of Cień, as I have not followed their activities for a long time now. Few years ago I had their demo "Time of Desolation" and I remember that it was good material. But I think that I did not give any of their full albums a chance. Probably I just didn't feel like it, or there were hundred other albums that I preferred to listen to. No regrets there! If "Redemption" was released by a label other than Godz ov War, it would probably be the same and I would have ignored them again. But somehow the album found its way to me. Is it good or bad ... I am not sure. On one hand, it is quite an interesting album, a lot of nice "moments" are there... but metal is not porn that you watch for "moments" (hah)! 

But yes, I think there is some solid guitar work here and there, Cień has quite a good sense of melody and how to combine it with a bit harsh black metal sound and more melancholic atmosphere. Musically, it may not be my favourite thing, but I can live with it. It is OK. But taking the entire “Redemption” together, as it is, it feels terribly boring and forgettable to me. There’s more here what I don’t like than what I do like... So, you can find a conclusion quite easily. 

Mostly, this album can irritate with lame screaming or cryful vocals with all that “pity over your shitty existence” garbage and stuff like that. I don’t like them, I never have been fan of that type of hipster or whatever vocals and especially in black metal, they sound like crap and too often I felt like the vocalist will shit himself in a minute. Someone may say that they underline the whole depressive and melancholic character of the music... maybe they do, but I don’t care. It is not what I seek for in black metal. I need to say also that the production of “Redemption” is just too sterile. Plastic drums, weak guitar tone and most importantly, these damn vocals are too loud. Yeah, I am trying to find more positive aspects in this tormenting album, but I cannot. It is boring, it is irritating, almost annoying... it is just forgettable, so I don’t really care for Cień at all. I don’t even want to spend more time typing these words, it is better to move to some music that I enjoy. 60 is top what I could give, but I am generous.

Verdict: 60/100

Incarceration - Empiricism

INCARCERATION - Empiricism (DAWNBREED - 12"MLP 2021)

It's been some time now since Incarceration released their album titled "Catharsis", I was really glad then when I've read news about the coming of "Empiricism" - a four song EP, released on vinyl by Dawnbreed Records. Let me just remind you that this is not the first time these two cooperate, as "Sacrifice" EP - which was a debut release for Incarceration - was presented by no other label, but Dawnbreed too. And as for myself, I've been Incarceration follower since that old EP (I remember doing interview with Daniel at that time), obviously I also liked "Catharsis" too, don’t be surprised if I say that "Empiricism" was a must have for me. And here it is in my hands. 

Honesty, at first when you start to listen to "Empiricism" you may need to get used to its harsh production. It feels sadistic and merciless. And your ears need to adopt to that dose of fury and chaos, even pissed off screams of Daniel will drill into your mind with madness. Obviously, the more I have been playing this EP, the more it started to speak to me, almost feeling like a sadomasochistic pleasure. I suppose that the production will be a subject to discussion for many, but do not expect this music to sound pleasant and polite. Incarceration is vicious, brutal and bleak through all these four songs. With such "Beneath the Chains of Existences" they increase the speed, blasting like crazy, destroying everything on its way, while with the likes of "Chasms of Metaflesh" you could be surprised how catchy and headbanger-friendly riffs are, with almost old Morbid Angel-esque frenzy and feeling. For me, it is brilliant, also best song on the entire vinyl. Other time Incarceration has no problem with delivering haunting melodic lines, which bring some ancient Swedish death metal like early Entombed / Nihilist to mind... So, it is old school to the bone with the right influences and more so, with honesty and enthusiasm. Dare I say, it is exactly I really do prefer to listen to such bands as Incarceration nowadays from the boring new albums of old crews. This EP is brilliant. 

Verdict: 85/100

Cadaveric Fumes / Skelethal - Heirs of Hideous Secrecies

CADAVERIC FUMES / SKELETHAL - Heirs of Hideous Secrecies (HELLS HEADBANGERS - Split 7" 2018)

French death metal has been ruining my hearing a lot recently. I was listening to Loudblast for few days like crazy – and I did listen to them loud, just as the name obligates! Now time came for a young blood and two bands, which I have tried to follow ever since they did their first vinyl releases. Here are Cadaveric Fumes and Skelethal with a splendid seven inch split. And yes, it was one of the “must have” titles for me. 

The cryptic odour first comes from the Cadaveric Fumes two hideous anthems. This band is absolutely brilliant, I think, their music has slightly Swedish influence, especially from such acts as Repugnant or (early) Morbus Chron, with similar vicious, morbid riffage and obscure, sinister atmosphere. This death metal is raw and savage, it has a great feeling and I simply love the riffage, as well as that harsh growl, which comes from the throat of Romain Gibet. I guess the best thing is that their music has also a small progressive touch too, which is something quite uncommon in this sort of death metal savagery. Both songs on this 7" are just fantastic, in my opinion. 

Skelethal are no pussies neither. And guess what, their death metal is also strongly in the Swedish vein, but more in its classic style of the old Entombed for instance. And I mean not just the riffage, but even that fat, ugly production, which can be so alike to the old shit from Sunlight. As a fan of the Swedish death metal, I can only jump in excitement. Or excrements – whatever pleases me at the moment. When compared to Cadaveric Fumes, you could hear much more aggressive and straight forward approach to death metal, with that characteristic D-beat, played in faster, more ferocious way. Skelethal sounds great, this is again that kind of death metal, which quickly hits my attention and perfectly suits my musical taste. I don't really need more than that, just as I don't need the band to be super original.  

And my final word is: I just love such split releases, whether they are on vinyl or on CD. Two bands, which play my most favourite genre of metal. Great riffs, great songs, lovely artwork... Fantastic addition to my collection.

Verdict: 85/100

Isolated - The Enemy of Reason

ISOLATED - The Enemy of Reason (GODZ OV WAR - CD 2021)

Well, this CD is a nice reminder of a very little-known Polish death metal band, which was active for nearly two decades, but never really managed to spread its name outside the small circle of maniacs. The band is called Isolated - and I actually know them from "Descent on the Cross" album, which I got for the review many years ago (back in 2001 exactly!). This album wasn't something extraordinary, it especially suffered for a weak production... so I have not played it for ages and basically forgot about Isolated. Until now, when Godz ov War exhumed an album recorded in 2012 and called "The Enemy of Reason". It was never released on CD until now. Well, after giving this album a dozen of listens today, I need to say that it would be a great waste if it remained unreleased. Isolated really recorded a solid and crushing piece of death metal, I am sure maniacs will love it...  

I do like it too. Over the whole album there's a nice Immolation influence floating, which you could hear not only in the riffs and characteristic arrangements, but even in some vocal patterns and lyrics ("Kill the god, he must be dead" brings rather obvious resemblance... but there's nothing wrong about it). You could hear also a lot of the classic Morbid Angel-esque fierceness and generally, Isolated really have that same vicious and almost hypnotizing riffage style to these two classic bands. What matters the most is that "The Enemy of Reason" is not a lame copy, but all seven songs really sound great and strong. Riffs are awesome, the whole performance and arrangements are super tight too... OK, I may admit that I am not a big fan of the vocals - I prefer more natural, deeper growl, because it sounds more powerful. I suppose that on "The Enemy of Reason" it was supposed to sound a bit demonic or something, but I am not entirely convinced. Other than that, everything is great. The production, the music - quality of "The Enemy of Reason" is fantastic, which is why I am so surprised that this album had to wait to be released for so long. Better late than never, as they say though. 

Standout tracks: “The God Must be Dead”, “Possessed Invocations” 

Verdict: 80/100