Vonulfsreich - Ylfsreälm Inguz

VONULFSREICH - Ylfsreälm Inguz (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2019)

Vonülfsrëich is a Finnish black metal duo, which so far released seven EPs and only one full length album. Here I have the last recording they did, which is "Ylfsreälm Inguz", putted out on CD by Fallen Temple. And since I have never heard anything from Vonülfsrëich before, I had absolutely no idea what is this band about or if any of their earlier recordings were good. As for "Ylfsreälm Inguz" I have to say that it's pretty solid onslaught of pure, cold and hateful black metal. Vonülfsrëich sounds a lot like an early Darkthrone here - of course I could mention also dozens of other similar bands, but let's be honest; they all are influenced by Darkthrone anyway. So, if I mention Darkthrone only - from their earlier albums, let's say up to "Total Death" - then it is enough. And for black metal there couldn’t be a better source of influence, in my opinion. 

But, if you want to play this harsh and sort of simplistic, primitive black metal and be good at it, then it requires something more than just knowing three chords, one rhythm and have the most obscure, chaotic production on earth. I'm glad then that Vonülfsrëich does that fuckin well. I mean, there's absolutely nothing what a fan of black metal grimness would not like. Songwriting is solid, there are some damn great riffs, good variation in the playing - with that whipping fast black metal to almost melancholic, but cold and grim sounding slower stuff. It all sounds exactly as you would expect it from such band, with the only difference that for me "Ylfsreälm Inguz" is a bit better than your average primitive hateful black metal. I actually am surprised that I like it so much, because I don't listen to such music often anymore (at least not as much as I did 10-15 years ago). But those Finns are worth of my recommendation, check Vonülfsrëich out then. 

Verdict: 70/100 

Mordbrand - Unmake

MORDBRAND - Unmake (DOOMENTIA Records MLP 2013)

Recently I've learned that Doomentia Records stopped its activity, which is a shame, because I had a lot of respect for this label and amazing job they've been doing with their vinyl releases. Which I have few in my collection and all are top quality stuff. Among them there's "Unmake" EP from Mordbrand. And as you may already remember from my previous reviews, Mordbrand is a band, which I'm big fan of. Their debut CD "Necropsychotic" may not be so fantastic yet, but from the Bombs of Hades / Mordbrand split the music only gets better and better. And "Unmake" belongs to my favourite releases along with "Kolumbarium" EP and "Imago" LP. 

"Unmake" is a 12" MLP, containing three exclusive songs and an Exciter cover. The latter is nothing what I would particularly love - but I'm hardly impressed with covers made by death metal bands, especially if they make death metal versions of heavy or speed metal songs. I'm more Mordbrand’s own, straight to the point, traditional death metal offering. And this is great stuff, even if hardly original or definitely not unimaginable in its quality. But Mordbrand, with songs like "Spew Forth Anti-life", simply ticks all the boxes for what awesome old school death metal should be like, especially if it's from a Swedish band. They do not exaggerate with melodic parts, while concentrate more on aggression, heaviness, dark atmosphere and even groove sometimes. But that suits me fine. “Spew Forth...” with all these blasts and viciousness delivers such an enormous dose of energy that this song can only be played loud and heavy. This is what I call a fantastic death metal music. 

As I mentioned, Mordbrand do not reinvent the wheel on this EP, but for me it all sounds just very, very good. I don’t think you’ll find this material on a CD, it’s vinyl only release. But that may be a good excuse to get yourself a turntable haha. Recommended! 

Standout track: "Spew Forth Anti-life" 

Verdict: 80/100 

Ekpyrosis - Primordial Chaos Restored

EKPYROSIS - Primordial Chaos Restored (TERROR FROM HELL Records CD 2018)

There are only very, very few Italian death metal bands, which I like to listen to (like Undead Creep, Profanal, Into Darkness, and few more). And Ekpyrosis with their "Asphyxiating Devotion" album definitely got a lot my attention and support. That’s exactly a kind of death metal I like to listen to. So, with Ekpyrosis’ new EP "Primordial Chaos Restored" there was no doubt that I have to get a copy of this material. There're twenty minutes of music in it. Five songs, with Incantation cover among them... And I can quickly say that I am not disappointed. What a killer death metal it is, what a quality recording! They tick all the right boxes, which describe the proper, powerful and guts ripping death metal, and I mean the so-called old-school death metal, where Incantation - since we have their cover - definitely is a good point of reference, among others.  

Expect a good dose of brutality, but songs, which are fairly memorable, instead of being a useless and mindless wall of noise. Expect a whole lot of killer, crushing riffs, with good balance between fast paced, blasting death metal and monstrous, heavy slower stuff.  Occasionally you'll find a small dose of melody (like in the doomy opener "Abyssal Convergence"), so Ekpyrosis' style is not limited to just one style, which is obviously very good and proves that they have many interesting ideas. And the quality is definitely much above the average of what you can hear in the current OSDM scene, so do I need to tell more? I don't think so. This is just bloody excellent band and a real feast to listen to. I can only wish to get more similar stuff from them in the future. And I also want to see "Primordial Chaos Restored" released as a 12" or 10" vinyl. 

Standout track: "Instigation of Entropy" 

Verdict: 85/100 

Necrosadist / Witchfuck - Blasphemous Hell's Legions

NECROSADIST / WITCHFUCK - Blasphemous Hell's Legions (FALLEN TEMPLE - Split 7"EP 2019)

Splits such as "Blasphemous Hell's Legions" is a good opportunity to learn about two bands, which so far I only knew by names, but never had a chance to actually hear even a second of their music. Here is an evil congregation by Necrosadist and Witchfuck. Hah, bands with such nice and polite names must play catchy melo-death, right? No. This shit is just as ugly, vicious and aggressive, as sick and nasty as the names can tell. Sadistic, slut-fuckin' (ha!) necro thrashing black metal. Or whatever you're gonna call it. Who cares. Just think of Witchmaster as their nearest similarity point (not sure if influence also) and here you go. 

There are two songs from each band and they both really did great job here. I started with Necrosadist, fantastic band. I love that type of razor sharp, relentless riffage, thrashing black metal, which doesn't waste time, but hits as hard as possible, is harsh, fairly fast... but it's also surprisingly memorable. Oh, it's also old school to the bone, and more thrash than black, to be honest - vocals are that only thing, which you can tell is black metal, really. But that's normal in this sort of bands, I guess. From Aura Noir, through Witchmaster, Empheris... And you know what's funny about all these bands? Their music is unoriginal, it's predictable... but I just enjoy it a fuckin lot. It's always fantastic feel to play it, drink a cheap whisky (with coke, I am poser, so...) and bang skull in frenzy passion. 

Witchfuck... This band is a project from members of such acts as Offence and Poisoned. I missed their debut EP "Disgusting Rock’n’Roll" (on Old Temple), but I need to get it one day. These two songs on this 7” are maybe not as good as Necrosadist's stuff, but it's killer anyway. It sounds even harsher, more simplistic and primitive. Actually, you can spot that punkish feel in their music fairly easily. This music, with all its disgusting, loathsome sound and primitiveness, is just fun to listen to. As trivial as it can sound,AGAIN,  you just feel like it's a proper soundtrack for your alcoholocaust. You play it, get wasted and just band head until you collapse. It even says in the gatefold “ugly & drunk, black metal punk!”. Best description for this band. Awesome, again! 

Verdict: 80/100