Amorphis - Privilege of Evil

AMORPHIS - Privilege of Evil (RELAPSE - CD 1993)

I have to be honest, but Amorphis is one of those still active bands, which I completely lost interest in already back in the 90’s. "The Karelian Isthmus" and "Tales from the Thousand Lakes" are godly albums, I love them fully, then “Elegy” is a swansong for me, still pretty good, but just not the same anymore. Anything after that could not exist for me. The earlier Amorphis, the better! So, here’s "Privilege of Evil", their 1993 EP (recorded in 1991!), which rips guts and is a killer primeval death metal effort. 

This short recoding contains everything I love the most from early Amorphis and even if most of this material has later been re-recorded for the debut album (where it sounds better), it also sounds fantastic in this rawer, more obscure version. For me Amorphis were one of the masters of melodic, but epic death metal in those old days. They had a great touch for memorable, epic, dark melodies, like those in "Misery Path", which surely is one of Amorphis' best songs ever. Or "Pilgrimage from Darkness", which is another amazing tune. But the way they combined atmospheric, melodic parts with vicious death metal was – and still is - spectacular. Hardly any other band had similar songwriting quality, even very few Swedish bands were as good. And yes, there’s no mystery that Amorphis sounded a lot like Swedish death metal band. So, it's just absolutely top notch, best among the best, death metal in this style, for me personally. I always liked their sound, their riffs and harsh growls of Tomi Koivusaari. They, together with riffing style, were both very characteristic and recognizable for Amorphis only. Even the production on this EP is something I think is distinctive for this band, despite being recorded at Helsinki's TTT, it's relatively close to Sunlight Studio's sound, (where “The Karelian Isthmus” was recorded). 

If you're fan of early Amorphis, but never had a chance to hear "Privilege of Evil", it's absolutely worth to get this EP. Not only for rawer versions of some well-known songs, but also for two tracks, which didn't appear of the debut LP. "Privilege of Evil" and "Excursing from Existence" are also very good, especially the first track is worth to listen to, with that kind of eerie riffage and keyboard section in the mid-section of this song. But if you’re fan of XXI Century Amorphis, then this EP may sound shocking to you. 

Standout tracks: “Misery Path”, “Pilgrimage from Darkness” 

Verdict: 90/100 

Concilium - The Oblivion of Time in the Dim Light

CONCILIUM - The Oblivion of Time in the Dim Light (PUTRID CULT - CD 2020)

This CD contains very little of any information about Concilium, you won't find here a recording date and place, line up, there are no lyrics or anything else really, except a blurry photograph of person behind Concilium and some graphics. And song titles. What I've found out was that it's a Portuguese project and that members of Necrobode and Summon are involved (both bands recorded their albums for Iron Bonehead, so some of you may be familiar with them). What you'll find on "The Oblivion of Time in the Dim Light" are four tracks closed in forty minutes of utterly obscure, noisy, harsh and morbid black metal. 

Definitely "The Oblivion of Time in the Dim Light" is not an album, which you will enjoy from the very first listen, it's abhorrent, very chaotic and noisy stuff, completely devoid of anything memorable, melodic, easy to listen to or whatever. Every song is contrary to it. Riffs and the metal parts sound insanely cacophonic, primitive and harsh, actually you can barely memorize any riffs, they produce just pure noise and even vocals sound more like sinister, frightening screams thrown here and there without much order and arrangements. These songs have no typical structure, everything is almost experimental and accidental and you just never know what will happen next. And with that malicious atmosphere, obscurity of the sound, chaos and frequent noise / ambient fillings to every song, the whole album is more like an eerie, sick soundtrack to your journey into the deepest and darkest depths of hell. Especially that all songs seem to be connected and be one lengthy piece. 

Now the question is, do I like it? Well, I'm rather hard listener and to be honest, I don't think that Concilium will ever gain my big attention. "The Oblivion of Time in the Dim Light" is not bad, it’s quite interesting piece of black metal, but after three or four listens I felt so tired with this music - probably more mentally than physically - that I really wanted to skip it and play something more "pleasant". As I mentioned, there's nothing entertaining and "normal" about "The Oblivion of Time in the Dim Light". Although I've checked some reviews from fellow webzines and all of them were very positive, but I am not sure if it's because the album is really that good or people who wrote those reviews completely lack criticism and fear it, especially if they get a free CD. Nonetheless, for me this is mediocre at best, to be honest. One thing I can admit, it hardly ever can get as extreme as this. 

Standout tracks: none 

Verdict: 60/100  

Vermisst - Zmierzch stalowej ciemności

VERMISST - Zmierzch stalowej ciemności (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2020)

Vermisst is another band, which I had a pleasure to get to know recently, thanks to Fallen Temple, who released their first EP "Zmierzch stalowej ciemności". It was enough to take one look at the artwork and design of the digipak, to guess what sort of music will Vermisst deliver. But it is not a complaint, as I really like this traditional black metal aesthetics, with a minimalistic layout, black / white colouring and image, which could remind you bands from the 90's. It always looks great. 

Vermisst music also sounds a lot like 90’s second wave of black metal, as it often reminds me older Norwegian bands such as Emperor, Dimmu, Enslaved, Satyricon... but from their very early efforts, like demos or debut albums, when they had the harshest and coldest sound. On the other hand, the music could be easily compared to old Polish black metal efforts from Graveland. And two keyboard tracks have an obvious similarity to Burzum's ambient albums. All in all, you'll find here two ambient tracks and three pure black metal pieces, which I quite liked, to be honest. I like that Vermisst sounds so much like mid 90's band, that they have the same grim, cold atmosphere and the music isn't infected with any modern influences. It all sounds very harsh, riffs are simplistic, but it sounds great when keyboards accompany them all the time, as it even deepens the dark aura of the music. Sure, Vermisst doesn't do anything new nor they are as good as bands from the 90's were. But it doesn't change the fact that this EP sounds absolutely cool and tracks like "W pozagrobowej przestrzeni" are great to hear. Probably the worst part of Vermisst music are vocals, I think that they ruin the final effort a little bit, not only because their sound is not the best, but also because they are little bit too loud to the rest of the music. Other than that, I have no big complains. Good EP, worthy project, definitely worth to check out. Don't expect revelations, but just solid 90's like black metal. 

Standout track: "W pozagrobowej przestrzeni" 

Verdict: 70/100  

At the Gates - Gardens of Grief

AT THE GATES - Gardens of Grief (HAMMERHEART - LP 2015)

"Gardens of Grief" is my favourite At the Gates recording. There's no other release from this band, which I would like so much. But this EP is really great and definitely belongs to the best early 90’s death metal materials from Sweden. I remember that I did have to take some time to convince myself to it, but once it all clicked, "Gardens...” blew my head off. Why such problems with getting into this music? Well, "Gardens of Grief" is not the typical Swedish death metal effort - if typical Swedish death metal means stuff from Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed or Grave. At the Gates went a different path and came up with their more complex song structures, unique and frequent tempo changes within every song and quite technical, almost thrashing riffs. Stylistically it really stands aside to everything! Of corpse there were some other more technical and bizarre sounding bands, like Afflicted, Carbonized, Therion for instance, even early In Flames... but At the Gates were living in their own weird world. 

"Gardens of Grief", unlike the future At the Gates material, isn't really so much melodic. It focuses more on twisted, sick, mindblowing riffs - just listen to what’s going on there, it is just fantastic cacophonous death metal, which can sound aggressive and vicious, dark and evil. And as such, it's just a natural follow up to Grotesque's final recording, which was "Incantation" MLP. Sure, there are some sort of melodic parts here and there, but their feeling is rather uncanny and eerie. Complex song structure and arrangements create a bit difficult and not easy music, it’s hard to memorize (check the song "At the Gates" especially). This is why I think it really requires time to get into all these. But it turns out that it's the strongest aspect of "Gardens of Grief" - that bizarre feel combined with truly dark, morbid aura. It just sounds awesome, I love all these broken rhythms, sonic attack from both guitarist and Tompa’s furious screams. I love how the band sounds here, how unique At the Gates were at the time of this EP. They had crazy ideas and enough freakin’ talent to transform them into killer music. 

All in all, these are some impressive and very important twenty minutes of death metal. For me it's the best At the Gates release. I got the recent vinyl version from Hammerheart and I have to say it's a solid reissue. I like that it's just one sided vinyl, so I don't have to flip sides after two songs. And the sound is damn good also! Very recommended if you don’t want to spend too much money on the old pressing. 

Standout track: "All Life Ends" 

Verdict: 95/100  

Necroven - Primordial Subjugation

NECROVEN - Primordial Subjugation (MEMENTO MORI - CD 2016)

Memento Mori is a great label, I can sincerely say that from all current death metal labels they have one of the strongest and most interesting catalogues. They have many fantastic releases I'm big fan of and Necroven's "Primordial Subjugation" belongs to my top favourites. This Spanish duo from Canary Islands is rather little known, which absolutely sucks, but both of their albums and a 7"EP are killer, in my opinion, and I can sincerely recommend them, if you're into this music. They're must to have for sure! 

And what music is it? Death fuckin metal, of corpse! Well, "Primordial Subjugation" is an album, which very quickly won my full appreciation and support. I already knew Necroven from "Worship of Humiliation" and "Descent into the Cryptic Chasm", so I knew what to expect, but this album is even better than two previous recordings. Despite its dark, sepulchral aura and dense, brutal sound, "Primordial Subjugation" is for me a very memorable album, which is why it so quickly bought me. Necroven's death metal is an impressive combination of Morbid Angel, Immolation, but more so of Incantation and newer bands such as Dead Congregation and Unaussprechlichen Kulten. Especially from the last two bands I mentioned you could easily imagine what "Primordial Subjugation" is like. Necroven has absolutely killer, thick as tar, bestial riffs that simply crush with its massive sound and bloodthirst. They also perfectly balance fast parts with slow, withering stuff, which is why the music is very dynamic and interesting. And more so, here and there you'll get captured by some mesmerizing melodic pieces, like in "The Ethereal", which to me gives even a slightly Swedish (and partly also Finnish) death metal feel. This music obviously is very atmospheric; it is brutal, but the horror, eerie atmosphere is there always. That's enough to give me a boner. And win my appreciation completely. 

From start to finish, I think "Primordial Subjugation" is a spectacular album, which is almost perfect, in this style of death metal. I absolutely love it and it’s one of those cases, when I can easily say why the current death metal scene makes me so hungry for more such bands. Because they are fuckin bestial. And I so wish to see this album in vinyl format also!

Standout tracks: “Sacrificial Deliverance”, “The Pyre Cycle (Burn in Solitude)”, "The Ethereal" 

Verdict: 90/100 

Ruho - The Devout Thrum

RUHO - The Devout Thrum (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2020)

A pack of CDs came from Fallen Temple and Ruho is one of the latest releases of this label. This band is from Finland and was formed back in 2009, but I honestly have never heard of them before. But they have a bunch of demos, splits and now two full length albums in discography, which is quite a solid set. I don't know any of them, so forgive me if I won't compare "The Devout Thrum" to anything Ruho has done before. 

This new album is fairly solid dose of harsh black metal, which certainly will speak to all purists and most orthodox fans of this genre. Ruho doesn't really try to do anything extraordinary or uncommon, but they rip through with typical, fast, vicious and aggressive raw black metal, so characteristic for some other Finnish bands also. There's nothing really spectacular about it, but I think it's quite solid piece of black metal, for sure. First of all, I really like some riffs and ideas they show, like in "Unpure Shibboleth", where there's this quite infectious, mesmerizing melodic riff going through the mid part that I think sounds awesome. But I especially mean the whole "Devoured to Dust", which not only is the best song here, but it is also based on the most melodic and memorable riffs and harmonies. Which is also why it is the most interesting piece of the album. So, Ruho definitely knows how to capture the attention and their music if far from being useless and forgettable. 

I definitely like also that cold, hateful atmosphere of Ruho music, I think the production is not bad at all, especially for that sort of raw and simplistic black metal. A real challenge may come from the fact that the album contains only four tracks, but each is ten to fourteen minutes long. Ruho doesn't use any ambiental intros, acoustics, keyboards or whatever, everything is based on the standard harsh black metal playing with all its characteristics. So, you could imagine that after a while this album may start to sound a bit monotonous and you don't really know at what part of the song you are, because there are hardly any parts, which would let you distinguish it from the other. But it isn't that bad and especially thelast song shows that there’s a lot to expect from Ruho also in the future. 

Standout track: "Devoured to Dust" 

Verdict: 65/100