Infamy - The Blood Shall Flow

INFAMY - The Blood Shall Flow (QUABALAH Records CD 1998)

If I can be honest with you, I cannot say many positive things about this album. I don't want to say that it's worthless shit, I’m not gonna go that far. But the problem is that even though it’s fairly listenable piece of old school brutal death metal, it’s so mediocre that it starts to bore me way too fast to really enjoy it. I actually bought this CD without knowing much about the band, but I was tempted by the fact that it's an old US death metal band, formed in 1995. And it had Coffin Texts guitarist Richard Gonzalez in the line-up. "The Blood Shall Flow" was released back in 1998 (I think I bought it around 2009). At that time death metal scene was in pretty bad conditions. There weren’t that many killer death metal records released at that time and this Infamy’s debut also isn’t among them. 

"The Blood Shall Flow" offers low tuned, brutal death metal, in very typical US vein (alike to such Deteriorot, Morpheus Descent, Suffocation, etc), with some small hints of grind (especially in the song "Putrid Infestation", where a lot of old Carcass vibes can be heard). Sadly, the music is pretty standard and hardly impressive, don’t expect your guts to be ripped out. But also the production is not powerful enough to cause a blood massacre. Maybe if the sound was more vicious it would help, but I doubt that. The songwriting is just too mediocre. Infamy had some good ideas, some solid riffs… And both vocalists had a decent deep growl that fitted this sort of death metal pretty well. Technically it’s all fine. But damn, every song seems to sound the same as the previous one and there's just nothing about "The Blood Shall Flow" what would really stand out and make this album exceptional. Blasting brutal death metal, filled with chunky riffs and sick grunts but without a hint of something, what would make you scream "arrrgghhh, what a great effort, what a killer shit that is!!!". They play the safe game, with overused formulas and predictable schemes... and I 'm afraid that also without emotions and bigger creativity.  

I liked when the music slowed down a bit, like in "The Maggots Are in Me", which is definitely the best song on the album, also "Lacerations" has some great stuff. But there's more songs, which pass me by with no harm done. 

Standout tracks: "The Maggots Are in Me", "Bodily Disembowelment"  

Verdict: 65/100

Stench - Venture

STENCH - Venture (AGONIA Records - LP 2013)

I really like what Jonathan Hultén and Johannes Andersson do, whether in Tribulation or in their (now sadly defunct) side project Stench. And I don't really care if some moaners say that this is trendy and hugely overrated hipster shit. I don't agree and my answer is that "The Formulas of Death" is one of the best albums in recent years. But in case you're not so much fond of that "gothic / horror" vibe of Tribulation, maybe you should check Stench, whose music is much more vicious and aggressive. Obviously there are some similarities between both bands, like some riffs and especially that tendency to use eerie, creepy melodies is something that both bands share. I don't think you can mistake it with anything else, because Hultén / Andersson have such a characteristic style. But as I already mentioned, if you think that Tribulation is too progressive or even too mellow sometimes, maybe you'll like Stench. The first album "In Putrescence" was really damn good, striking ferocious, but dark and morbid death / black metal. With the second album "Venture", released by Agonia Records in 2014, Stench continued the style from the previous record, again blending the harshness of black metal, aggression of death metal with some razor sharp thrashing riffs. But it's even more effectively complemented with the melodic parts that bring truly uncanny atmosphere of horror.   

Everything works great here, I think. "Venture" is diverse enough to keep you interested and filled with as many great and catchy riffs that it certainly won't be forgotten easily. There's nice balance between faster parts (take a notice to that pounding, heavy drumming) and some doomier fragments, also between more aggressive and melodic riffs. Mikael Pettersson's vocals are constantly screaming, with no effort to make them more various, but that's OK, I don't mind, because it adds more vicious character to this music. Anyway, I can hear many splendid moments of "Venture" and my definite favourite on the album is the longest track here called "Celebration" - fantastic and so capturing with its emotions, atmosphere and great songwriting. The opening pieces "Archways" and "The Vast" are also noteworthy. But generally I like everything about "Venture" and could listen to this album over and over again.  

Hold on! I need to compliment also that incredibly warm, natural sound of this record and great artwork (although I liked the graphics for "In Putrescence" more). The vinyl looks fantastic, sounds brilliant, so it's a must to have in collection, not only for Tribulation fans I think.  

Standout tracks: "Celebration", "Archways"  

Verdict: 80/100

Acheron - Those Who Have Risen

ACHERON - Those Who Have Risen (SECRET DOCTRINES - LP 2013)

I have to say that like Acheron a lot, their music always gives me a great kick in the head and I seriously think that they belong to the best US death / black metal bands ever. There are two important things, which you should always remember about concerning Acheron: firstly, it is their satanic concept, which Vincent Crowley (Acheron leader) has been faithful to ever since the inception of his legendary act. Secondly, Acheron music is exceptional. From their very first demo (“Messe Noir”), 7”EP (“Alla Xul”) and debut LP (“Rites of the Black Mass” from 1992) you could hear that they created unique and recognizable death / black metal style and sound. And have kept it alive for nearly three decades now. "Those Who Have Risen” is Acheron’s fifth full length album. And obviously from the very first seconds of the opening anthem “Lifeforce (The Blood)” you recognize that it is THIS band, not something else. There's the characteristic riffage, vocals of Crowley and the eerie, evil atmosphere, which is present on every Acheron record.   

"Those Who Have Risen” is a natural follower to all previous Acheron recordings, but to previous album “Antigod - Antichrist” especially. There's similar approach on these two albums, with music strongly based on slow paced, heavy, almost hypnotizing riffage, which is accompanied by the always-present keyboards. But while “Antigod...” had few more up-tempo parts, "Those Who Have Risen” is solely focused on that slower playing. Which is good, because when you hear these memorable riffs with dark, vicious sound of keyboard, it quickly gives cold, eerie feeling. More sinister than ever before. Because the music is quite simplistic, speaking of the song structure and riffage, the music is even more memorable and heavy, so it should hook you up pretty fast. Especially the beginning of the record, with such glorious tracks as “Lifeforce (The Blood)”, “Hekal Tiamat” and “Necromanteion Communion”. OK, I do admit that towards its end "Those Who Have Risen” may seem a bit monotonous, because the tempo never changes, so songs are pretty similar to each other. But I still like it a lot. I think that Crowley has great gift to compose great, vicious riffs and his vocals are always great. Besides, it seems like from the musical point of view "Those Who Have Risen” is one of the better, if not the best, recorded material from this band. Great musicianship, with killer drumming of Tony Laureano and two skilled guitarists, who played some very good leads like in “Hekal Tiamat”. So, for me personally "Those Who Have Risen” is definitely better album that “Antigod - Antichrist”. It may even be Acheron’s best, but that’s a hard choice, especially when confronted with “Rites of the Black Mass” or “Lex Talionis”.  

These two albums sounded harsher, more obscure. And had all these intros, to increase the evil, satanic, blasphemous aura of the music. "Those Who Have Risen” has no intros between songs (which is maybe due to different concept of the record, which here is based on the vampirism) and is better produced. But that’s natural progression, I guess, to try something different. So, even if it can get a bit monotonous and too long, it is just super good record.  

I am happy that Secret Doctrines released a fantastic vinyl version of this album – definitely the best looking Acheron LP I have! Great gatefold cover, lots of photographs (tits, yes!), poster, very, very good quality of both artwork and the music... The only minus is that it’s not a complete album, as for some reason they decided to skip the intro “Intro: Nosferatu Prelude” and the spoken backwards outro. That’s a fuckin shame, I hate, when they cut the record! But it’s great quality vinyl anyway, so it’s a must to have in collection.  

Standout tracks: “Lifeforce (The Blood)”, “Hekal Tiamat”, “Necromanteion Communion”  

Verdict: 80/100  

Uhrilahja - En fördärvad värld

UHRILAHJA - En fördärvad värld (WOLFSPELL Records CD 2018)

Wolfspell Records' obsession for Finnish black metal continues with another representative of this scene, band called Uhrilahja. "En fördärvad värld" is their debut album and I can honestly say that it's a solid and enjoyable piece of black metal. I've listened to it dozens of times recently and really liked their music, despite its predictable and typical sound. But Uhrilahja proved to be a worthy band and their music should interest black metal fans for sure.  

The strongest aspect of "En fördärvad värld" is the easiness, with which Uhrilahja is able to combine ferocious, harsh black metal with plenty of memorable, ever-present melodies. They immediately evoke dark, mysterious aura but keep that cold and grim character of old school black metal. Partly it all reminds me some early Gorgoroth records ("Antichrist"), especially because the vocals sound a lot like Pest (so, I could add Obtained Enslavement here also, if you only get rid of their symphonic parts). But then you could add Finnish acts like Thy Serpent, Azaghal, Calvarium or even Goatmoon. Anyway, comparisons aside, I truly think that "En fördärvad värld" has a lot to offer and is a strong, interesting album. Vicious yet melodic black metal, with plenty of killer and catchy riffs, great production and performance... and awesome vocals! I feel like especially the first part of the album contains the best Uhrilahja songs, for example the slowest and most epic, very melancholic "Cold White Mantle" is just superb, but also "Flesh Hook Rituals" is very good also, I just love that atmosphere in it and combination of aggressive, fast black metal with harmony and keyboard fillings. And these are not the only songs, which caught my attention, Uhrilahja has many great ideas for their songs, arrangements, etc. So, I can assure you that if you’re a fan of good sounding, but not pointlessly primitive and simplistic black metal, then this album may interest you. I do recommend it, yes! 

Standout tracks: "Svarta själar", "Cold White Mantle", "Flesh Hook Rituals"  

Verdict: 70/100

Foedus - Foul of Bethlehem

FOEDUS - Foul of Bethlehem (WOLFSPELL Records CD 2018)

Once again Wolfspell Records searched through the Finnish woods and brought us yet another black metal project from there. That's an obsession almost! But when I listen to some of these absolutely killer Finnish bands like Kalmankantaja or Iku Turso, which you can also find in the catalogue of this excellent label, I think that it's an absolutely justified kind of obsession. Well, Foedus is another newcomer from Suomi, but to be honest, their debut is much more mediocre than I expected. It's solid piece of black metal, sure, there are some great aspects about it, but overall it just isn't anything what would really impress me a lot.  

But if you like your Finnish black metal to sound nasty, vicious and raw, then this stuff is for you. Because most of the content of this short album is exactly as such. There's plenty of fast paced type of black metal, very aggressive and ferocious sounding, with good dose of good riffage and dark, obscure atmosphere. But Foedus adds some melodic accents here and there, with some almost folky sounding type of harmonies, which gives a bit more varied result. It sounds pretty much typical for the Finnish black metal scene, to be honest, but there isn't anything wrong about it, I think. Do not expect them to sound to bloody harsh and evil as Horna or Sargeist though. Anyway, the first few songs sound not bad at all, after a while I started to get a little bored with "Foul of Bethlehem". I feel like they play the same type of riffs over and over again and none of the next songs brings anything more interesting than the previous ones. It all becomes too predictable, infantile and just mediocre. So, I don't think I will be returning to Foedus music too often. And I doubt this album will bring high interest in this band neither.  

Standout track: "Foul of Bethlehem"  

Verdict: 60/100  

Gyre of Incandescents - s/t

GYRE OF INCANDESCENTS - s/f (WOLFSPELL Records CD 2018)

My first reaction and comment, after hearing first few minutes of "Gyre of Incandescents", was noticing the poor and very, very lo-fi production of this album. It literally sounds like you were listening to an album played from another room and through the walls. Or you had all the speakers placed in the boxes, so the sound was quite muffled. My second reaction was "fuck, these female vocals suck a lot". I truly do not like all singing parts from this chick, who calls herself Mia Raven and I would really delete them if I only could. Her voice is absolutely rubbish and why on earth did anyone think it would sound cool to include them on a harsh, simplistic black metal? No idea, but Gyre of Incandescents – please reconsider this and maybe do not use them again.  

OK then. It was pretty tough start for me, luckily though after a while I got used to the production of "Gyre of Incandescents" and actually managed to find some good music on this album. Gyre of Incandescents plays very atmospheric, melancholic kind of black metal and I have to admit that this project easily creates great dark and cold aura, which is perfect for this type of black metal. There are some great mesmerizing riffs here, some pretty melodic parts ("Source of Strength - Destruction"), so the music is mostly memorable and easy to listen to. But it was interesting to find “Final Hours”, which is utterly vicious and fast song, which release a lot of anger, so emotionally it is quite different to the rest of the album. 

Simplistic song structures are typical, even for such lengthy songs, but that repetitive riffage helps to create a proper feel, which is so damn intriguing in such bands. I can also admit that this buzzy guitar tone fits this music very well, so the album turned out to be a good listening experience. This album has its faults, female vox being the biggest problem, in my opinion. It’s far from being exceptional, but I think I could give it a spin every now and then, if I only feel a mood for such sorrowful, almost depressive black metal.  

Standout track: “Final Hours” 

Verdict: 60/100