Archives of the Dead part IV… Bloodstone – Hour of the Gate

Archives of the Dead part IV… Bloodstone – Hour of the Gate (demo 1995)

Line up: Svante Friberg (bass), Mats Wikberg (drums), Michael Samuelsson (guitars), Damien Hess (vocals)

Recorded and mixed at Sunlight Studio by Tomas Skogsberg, Fred Estby and Anders Lindström, in October 1995.

I must admit that until recently I only knew Bloodstone by the name, but never had a chance to hear any music. And everything I knew about this Swedish band was what I could find either on Metal Archives or what I have read about them in books “Swedish Death Metal” and “Encyclopedia of Svensk Döds Metal”. So, yeah, my knowledge was not too impressive, but luckily recently I got a chance to listen to one demo of Bloodstone (on mp3, yeah, what a poser I am!) and I must say that I feel so impressed that I just need to share my feelings with you all, who are reading these words. Definitely I must say that Bloodstone and their “Hour of the Gate” demo belongs to the best Swedish demos from the early 90’s, but unfortunately it seems like at the same time Bloodstone belongs also to the most underestimated and unknown bands from this scene – what fuckin sucks, especially if you consider how awesome was their music!

I’m not gonna bore you with historical details about Bloodstone; the most important is that the band is from Sweden, formed in 1990, it shared a member with Cauterizer (Michael Samuelsson), while Mats Wikberg later has been a member of Face of Evil (awesome, but very forgotten black / thrash metal band!)... and that Bloodstone, before splitting up in 1996 released only two demos: “Branded at the Threshold of the Damned” in 1994 and “Hour of the Gate” in 1995. Now, talking about the second of these two recordings; it contains four songs, with 22 minutes of music. And style wise it is something what just hooked me up and crushed instantly. Imagine if Bloodstone was a band hugely influenced by the early Slayer, from “Hell Awaits” and “Show No Mercy” – and you can hear that in many riffs, with the difference that Bloodstone plays way faster, more brutal and has harsh, screaming vocals. Then imagine if Bloodstone had also been very similar to the great trio of Swedish bands: Dissection, Unanimated and Necrophobic; but again with the difference that Bloodstone seems to be less melodic, sometimes again faster and again even more straight forward. Take all these bands together and you’ll have “Hour of the Gate”. And I swear that this demo is just damn excellent. I love every aspect of it – starting with the killer riffs and great vocals, plus totally fantastic arrangements and lengthy songs, which keep you interested all the way through to their ending part… And finishing off with just flawless production; the sound is not too clean, but slightly raw, what suits the music perfectly and definitely it doesn’t weaken it with any soft elements. The whole “Hour of the Gate” is just like a maelstrom of aggression and pure death / thrash / black metal ferocity. And I love it.

None of the songs on “Hour of the Gate” are weak; what’s more, there’s not even a single moment, which I wouldn’t like. The whole demo is just perfect for me and I keep listening to it with maniacal frequency. Again I can only guess why didn’t this band go anywhere further with their music and split up so early? And why haven’t I heard their music before? Ufff… “Hour of the Gate” demo has been re-released with “Branded at the Threshold of the Damned” on both CD and LP and this vinyl version (released by Blood Harvest) is now on top of my want list. I must have it. And I am sure I’ll be back with another review of Bloodstone, once I put my hands on this piece of black wax.

Final rate: 95/100

Sarcoma Inc. - Torment Rides Forever

SARCOMA INC. - Torment Rides Forever (Epidemic Music Norway - CD 2002)

I think I can consider myself to be a great Limbonic Art fan; and I am one ever since the year they’ve released their essential and absolutely phenomenal debut LP “Moon in the Scorpio” – and that was sooo many years ago already. Time flies and through this time Limbonic Art had its ups and downs – but mainly ups. At some point they’ve split up for a while and at that time both Limbonic members went into divergent directions, creating two very different musical projects, what only confirmed how different were their musical tastes (what also had a reflection on the Limbonic Art albums of that time, especially on “Ad Noctum - Dynasty of Death”). Morfeus has formed Dimension F3H; band filled with electronics, melodies, clean vocals and basically quite easily listenable, a bit avant-garde, music, described maybe as a more melodic version of Arcturus. Meanwhile Deamon (joined by an individual named Arghamon) went in a completely different direction, forming Sarcoma Inc. – the intention of this band was to play something utterly aggressive, fast and old school, what would combine the elements of thrash and black metal into one furious and relentless form. Through the years Sarcoma Inc. released three albums, but I only know one of them; the first one “Torment Rides Forever” from 2002 released by the band under their own label called Epidemic Music Norway.

And for sure Sarcoma Inc. sounds poles apart to Dimension F3H. But it is very interesting to notice that while the original aim of Sarcoma was to combine some classic thrash and black metal influences – which they pretty much did – then from the very beginning the music of this project sounded very, very original. And to me it is almost like if Limbonic Art had two children: Dimension F3H was that nice and well behaving kid, while Sarcoma Inc. was an unwanted bastard child, which is rude and problematic and which is not possible to compromise. I mention Limbonic Art again, because for me the music of Sarcoma Inc. has a lot of similarities to this band. I mean, if you take all the keyboards away, as well as all those epic passages and clean vocals from their music, but keep only the fast, uncompromising black metal from such LPs as “Ad Noctum - Dynasty of Death” and “The Ultimate Death Worship”, and then if you add the old school flavour and rawness, then the final effect will be what you can find on “Torment Rides Forever”.

You can notice the involvement of Deamon in Sarcoma Inc. straight away, as his vocals have always been so unique and characteristic… This guy has a killer voice; he screams, howls; he’s furious, but also sometimes quite majestic… If I mentioned that the music of Sarcoma Inc. sounds quite original, then his voice is one of those things, which makes it to be unique. Maybe sometimes, like in “Dreams of Vengeance”, he interestingly reminds me Mille Petroza, but that is just a small impression, as mostly he operates with his ghastly, furious scream. But all in all his voice gives the music a new dimension. You shouldn’t be expecting a traditional, old styled thrash metal riffing from this album; it certainly doesn’t sound at all like Aura Noir or Nocturnal Breed. As I already said, the music inclines towards Limbonic Art’s more furious and relentless, ultra fast or mid paced playing, but somehow the whole music has also this old school vibe, what results in something truly original and awesome. Interestingly even the production is quite close to Limbonic Art’s two albums I mentioned above – if you only deprive them of all symphonic sounds and add a real drumming… Just listen to the guitar tone, for that sake, and such songs as “Paranoid Schizophrenia”, “Dreams of Vengreance” (heavily influenced by KREATOR!!!), “Psychopathic Dominator” and especially the killer “Well of Damnation” and “Necrowhore”, which are two my favourite songs of the album (check out the lyrics for “Necrowhore” especially… hmm, so tasty hehe!) – I just worship this music and its cold, inhuman atmosphere, filled with ferocity and madness. And they really do have many similarities to Limbonic Art, at the same time such “Carnivorous Aggressor” and “Dreams of Vengeance” may be the most old styled and most thrashing songs of all from the album.

I must admit that on the first listen I was slightly sceptical towards “Torment Rides Forever”, but the album grew on me very quickly and soon just shredded to pieces. And now I just love it, it is damn awesome. This week, when I decided to do this review, I’ve listened to it about 20 times and I would still do some more spins, if there wasn’t that huge queue of more metal recordings next to it. Anyway, I honestly and strongly advise you to get Sarcoma Inc, and personally I’ll start chasing the other two albums of the band, as I just need to have them in my collection! Oh, and check out those lyrics, filled with violence, sadism, sex, torture, torments and unholy lust!

Standout tracks: “Necrowhore”, “Paranoid Schizophrenia”, “Psychopathic Dominator”, “Well of Damnation”

Final rate: 90/100

Immolation - Dawn of Possession

 

IMMOLATION - Dawn of Possession (R/C - LP 1991)

“…Enthroned upon their praise, dethroned with my disgust, unworthy of your glory you turn your back on me…”

The sky is burning, when the red mixes with the yellow in the horizon, but the closer it is, the blacker and darker it becomes. Divine, white and majestic figures descent from the skies in the great number, beautiful in their long white robes and wings... But from the below an equal number of something more sinister and evil comes with a great speed. The fallen angels; demons, with red eyes, black skin and wings attack the divine mercilessly… none of the sides flee… the war is on.

This is what you can see on the front cover of Immolation’s classic debut album “Dawn of Possession”. I am writing this review, but I believe that everybody, who claims to be a death metal maniac, has this LP in his collection, as in my honest opinion this album belongs to the most mandatory death metal releases of all time. If you’re into this music you just MUST HAVE such LPs as “Altars of Madness” and “Blessed Are the Sick”, “Scream Bloody Gore” and “Leprosy”, “Left Hand Path” and “Like an Every Flowing Stream”, “Deicide” and “Cause of Death”, plus a couple dozens of albums more, which I consider to be eternal, obligatory classics. And “Dawn of Possession” is certainly among them. This LP, released back in 1991, shows a band, which managed to distinguish themselves from the rest of scene, but at the same time stayed faithful to its roots and created a 100% pure death metal album. How have they achieved this? Well, I guess a lot of credit must go to Robert Vigna, who turned out to be one of the most talented and skilled death metal guitarists of all time. He has an incredible gift to compose and play riffs, which are almost hypnotising and possessing (he!) and which may be quite complex and technical, with some twisted solos here and there, but still the effect is beyond imagination and definitely allows me to say that thanks to this guitar maestro Immolation had a characteristic, unique sound and style since the inception of the band. And this is something not so common… It is enough to watch this man play on the stage, how he behaves and performs to know he’s not a typical death metal guitar player. And “Dawn of Possession” for sure has some of the best material, which he has composed in his career. Those riffs, which you’ll find on this album, are just gigantic. This is a monolith death metal, a powerful and majestic record. And then you have a great drumming from Craig Smilowski, who plays some unique and complicated patterns. His technique is just fantastic… And finally we have Ross Dolan. Well, his bass playing may be totally overshadowed by the Vigna’s (and Wilkinson’s) powerful guitar riffing, but if he isn’t one of the most characteristic and vicious death growlers ever, then I will eat my shoes. Damn, he sounds like a beast from the underworld, screaming some unreadable words in the pits, so netherworldly his voice sounds.

I know that the musicians will always say that their new album is the best, etc, but fans will always have different opinion and quite often (in 99% of cases hehe??) they’ll say that the first couple of albums are the best. I am the same and even if I have all Immolation releases and like them all, I will always say that “Dawn of Possession” is their best LP and one, which has some of the best songs, which this band recorded and composed. Starting with excellent “Into Everlasting Fire” – a song, which can be played on my funeral, if my family will decide to cremate me and which has some utterly excellent riffs, through such anthems as “Those Left Behind” (oh, that amazing opening theme… fuckin love it!) to the final seconds of “Immolation - “Dawn of Possession” is a complete record, filled with amazing songs, killer riffs and ideas and amazing feeling. It’s also filled with fury and blasphemous, evil atmosphere. I guess not everyone will be instantly hooked by the progressiveness of this album, as in many ways “Dawn of Possession” is not an easy listen. This music is not as straight forward and “catchy” as “Altars of Madness”; those riffs and song structures will sound bizarre in the first impression, because of their complexity and frequent rhythm changes (oh, that Smilowski!), but once you listen to it again and again – and you’ll give it repetitive listens, as this music is just possessing –I bet this will all make sense to you and you’ll start catching every part, every riff and phrase without any problems. All in all “Dawn of Possession” is probably the catchiest and easiest to listen to of all Immolation albums anyway hehe! For example I think that “Here In After” requires much more attention than the debut and that’s because it is not only based on the complex structures, but Immolation also have more easier and straight forward, more memorable moments, like that opening theme of “Those Left Behind”, which is just incredibly great!

And maybe it is a good thing that this album has to grown on you. I mean I don’t think that I liked it as much back in the early 90’s as I do nowadays. Obviously I had it in my collection (on a pirate Polish tape hehe) and have listened to it, but there were albums, which I listened and liked more like “Leprosy” for instance. And nowadays I think I can say that I like “Dawn of Possession” more than “Leprosy” (which on the other hand nowadays is slightly boring to me… I guess I just know it too well and I’ve listened to it too many times hehe!). So, if you’ve never heard “Dawn of Possession” and want to hear one of the most significant death metal records of all time, then just give it a go, don’t hesitate.

“You are Jesus, you are lord. Imperfect god, you are nothing to me. For this you say I'll burn for all eternity...”

Standout tracks: “Those Left Behind”, “Into Everlasting Fire”, “No Forgiveness”, “Dawn of Possession”, “After My Prayers”

Final rate: 95/100

Ignivomous - Death Transmutation

IGNIVOMOUS - Death Transmutation (NUCLEAR WAR NOW! - CD 2009)

Nowadays many bands suffer for the malignant sickness called “I-tion-ism”. I’m not even gonna mention any names now, as there’s no point, besides I believe that every death metal maniac, who dwells in the underground and is familiar with the current wave of old school death metal will be able to name many of them. In this review I’m going to recommend you one more such band, whose “I-tion-ism” is very evident, but in this case this disease turned into something truly great. Ladies and gentlemen, here is Ignivomous from Australia! I again strongly believe that this band will be known to the diehard death maniacs, as Ignivomous has already been ripping our souls for few years and through this time they’ve delivered quite few recordings. Personally I knew the name for a couple of years, but only few months ago I finally managed to get some recordings of those Aussie maniacs and well… if I kept saying in other reviews that Disma made an enormous impression on me, then Ignivomous pretty much repeats that impact. To put is as simply as I can: “Death Transmutation” is a fuckin great record and it just shreds to pieces!

Hmm, I bet some of you will ask what the hell is that “I-tion-ism” for fuck sake? Well, the answer is very simple – it is when the band takes a huge influence from a couple of legendary New York troops of death: Incantation and Immolation. If their influence is audible in every sound and every riff of the music, then it certainly is an incurable disease called “I-tion-ism”, right? In my opinion Ignivomous has been infected by this virus also, but this is not a disadvantage, but a strong point and great value of their music, as in many ways “Death Transmutation” – just like the mentioned “People of the Monolith” of Disma – outdo what the “I-tion” bands did in the past decade or more. I feel utterly smashed by the heaviness, intensity and the whole incredibly dark and blasphemous mood of their music and it just really feels like a bulldozer run over my body and crushed every bone in it, leaving just a pile of rotten flesh and blood. Great advantage of Ignivomous’ “Death Transmutation” is that the music on is not really so focused on slow, almost doomy playing, what usually Incantation is famous for. It is actually the opposite and I can say that the enormous dose of “Death Transmutation” is fast or mid paced, what – if you add to this that brutal and powerful production – only increases the feeling of dealing with something uncompromising, extreme, massive and gigantic. There are of corpse some slower moments on the album, like in “Alchemy of Suffering”, which for sure belongs to the best songs, as well as “The World upon Nihil”, which also is more mid paced oriented, speaking of the tempo… but whether we speak of fast or slower tunes, for me the whole album is just incredibly strong and powerful, with nothing really what would bother me or what I wouldn’t like. When I’ve been listening to “Death Transmutation” I just felt totally amazed and astonished by the quality of Ignivomous’ music and well… I know that nowadays the death metal scene may be filled with similar kind of bands and that the real, traditional death metal is in good health once more, but you can trust me – not many bands have been able to capture that essence and power of this music in such a great way as it is on “Death Transmutation”.

In the end I must add that I like that quite untypical way of releasing “Death Transmutation”, which comes not in the standard jewel case, but in the bigger booklet, suitable for the 7”EP singles… It surely looks cool. Obviously I’ll also try to chase the vinyl version of this album, which I think came on picture LP, but for now I am just very happy to have this CD. Limited to 1000 copies, so you better try to add it to your collection, before it is too late.

Standout tracks: “Alchemy of Suffering”, “Beckoned to a Global Tomb”, “Hedonistic Pain Ritual”, “The World upon Nihil”

Final rate: 90/100