Mallephyr - Assailing the Holy

MALLEPHYR - Assailing the Holy (MAD LION - CD 2016)

I am very pleasantly surprised by this album, because I did not expect that Mallephyr - which I have quite rightly heard nothing about so far – would present anything what would be worth of more attention. Meanwhile, what these Czechs recorded on their debut album "Assailing the Holy" is a very decent and solid piece of death / black metal, which surprises with the level of composition, performance and strong production. While listening to "Assailing..." I have the impression that I am listening to rather old folks, because everything sounds mature and there is no way that you can describe this music with words like lame or underdeveloped.  

It is not a long album - it only lasts 35 minutes. And that's good, because this is enough to show your worth and also crush the listener with the intensity of your music. And Mallephyr do not waste time. For example, such "The Service" or the title song with its energy and aggression should move even a deceased. And there are more similar, almost furious moments on "Assailing the Holy". Mallephyr music is not limited to one type of playing, however, there are many changes in tempos, from furious blasts to slow, melodious and almost melancholic parts. You can also hear quite a lot of death metal influences in this whole black metal skeleton, sometimes a bit like Behemoth from their middle period of activity (between albums "Pandemonic Incantations" and say "Demigod")... What does matter is that Mallephyr's music sounds fresh and strong and that these young gentlemen managed to compose interesting material that stands out above the average. Let the track "Anti-Human" prove it - probably my favourite on the whole album and at the same time the longest of the whole set. There is a lot going on in this track, it starts with a furious black metal attack, but after a while the pace drops sharply and the mood becomes a bit darker and monumental, in places even calm. What a great riffage there is!  

However, there are more similar "moments" on the entire disc, so being on the nth listening session of "Assailing the Holy" I think that Mallephyr cannot really fault much. It is not an outstanding album, because it cannot be like that. It is not the first league of death and black metal, but there is something about these sounds that makes the listening to this CD an undisguised pleasure. So, I recommend this album to you without hesitation. Great stuff. 

Standout tracks: “Anti-Human”, “The Service” 

Verdict: 75/100  

Kira - Peccatum et Blasphemia

KIRA - Peccatum et Blasphemia (OSSUARY Records - CD 2020)

A couple of years ago I had a chance to review Kira's debut album "Ancient Lies", which - as far as I remember - was pretty fine piece of death / black metal. OK, I do admit that once my review was finished, that CD ended up on the shelf and is still there, covered in dust. But that doesn't mean I wasn't interested in "Peccatum et Blasphemia", which is Kira's newest album. Oh, I was and I am very happy that I had a chance to hear it so early. 

Now I can write that "Peccatum et Blasphemia" is another interesting effort from Kira. It may not be the best album I've spanned this year, but there's something about "Peccatum..." what definitely stands out. The best aspect of the music is Kira's sense for good and memorable melodies. There are some great songs here, where harmonies lead to the best impressions and really give me a lot of pleasure. Example? "One Gram of Your Soul" - definitely the best track on the album. This is the longest song, but everything that happens in it is just fantastic, especially all guitar lines and additional instrumentation. Obviously that's not the only time when "Peccatum..." impressed me. "Lord of Hallucinations" or "Temple of Suffering" are another great songs here. I like that diversity in the music of Kira, nothing's here one dimensional or obvious, even though black metal dominates over the entire album strongly. But there are slower, more melodic songs, or faster, more aggressive stuff like "Weakness Isn't Breathless"... Personally I prefer all these slower pieces. If I can mention anything what I would really change, then I would say vocals. They sound like they had some sort of distortion over them, which is why I don't like their sound. It's nothing major though and doesn't ruin the overall impression. Also song “Necroscience” sounds a bit weaker. And in case you didn't notice, I deliberately didn't try to compare Kira music to any other band. Why? Because it is not so obvious anymore. Good album. 

Standout tracks: "One Gram of Your Soul", “Lord of Hallucinations” 

Verdict: 70/100  

Koldbrann - Nekrotisk Inkvisition

KOLDBRANN - Nekrotisk Inkvisition (TWILIGHT - CD 2004)

Some months ago, I gave a positive review to Koldbrann's second LP "Moribund", now it is time for the fakkin "Nekrotisk Inkvisition", which sadly I don’t own on vinyl, but on a CD version (Twilight Records version). Last weekend this album was intensely played, now I am about to write some words. And they will be another positive words, because yet again I have to say that Koldbrann's music fits my taste for black metal perfectly. Especially for the Norwegian black metal, because Koldbrann are band, which sounds 666% Norwegian and I do not think there are bands in other countries which would sound so characteristic like bands such as Taake, Djevel or Koldbrann. 

Yeah, Taake, Urgehal, 1349, Djevel, Koldbrann – these are all killer Norwegian black metal bands. On "Nekrotisk Inkvisition" there are ten tracks of that cold, hateful, grim and malicious black metal, that the Norsk scene is famous for. Harsh production is here, obviously, but the music doesn't sound like recorded in dog's ass. Riffs are clear, so is bass and I also like that great drum's sound. The music is raw, but powerful and almost mesmerizing, when speaking of the atmosphere it awakes. The music is aggressive, there are plenty of vicious, fast parts, but Koldbrann nicely diverse their music, so slower or even a bit more melancholic stuff is here also (like in “Phlegetons bredder”). One thing remains unchanged - it always sounds grim and almost eerie, especially with these amazing, cold vocals from Mannevond. Obviously this style of black metal is quite minimalistic, but it surely is not primitive. And they are one of those bands, who are able to create a perfect atmosphere and intriguing music, despite the limitations such style may have. So, anything about this album is for me a perfect representation of Norwegian black metal. You can argue with me, but I do think this is the best what this music has to offer. And Koldbrann is one of the best bands also. 

Standout tracks: “Phlegetons bredder”, “Kaosmanifest” 

Verdict: 80/100

Hell-Born - The Call of Megiddo

HELL-BORN - The Call of Megiddo (CONQUER Records CD 2012)

After the impressive return with "Hellblast" EP, Hell-Born had their hands full, composing the debut album "The Call of Megiddo", which came out in January 2002. Well, for me this is a great record, an album, which I can listen to endlessly and it never bores me. Hell-Born with their characteristic style of thrash, death and black metal mixture really speaks me to and it always sounds impressive.  

On "The Call of Megiddo" the music sounds even more old school and traditional, with plenty of 80's metal influences, but transformed into more extreme and relentless sound. Take the riffage style for instance; they are rather simple, but venomous and vicious, sharp and thrashing and they are always damn memorable and infectious! Sometimes you'll find a more melodic pattern, there are obviously these traditional chorus parts as well - so Hell-Born really goes back into the canons of old school metal with "The Call of Megiddo" fully. You won't find here a song like "Raise the Dead" for instance, which would be such an obvious Bathory or Venom worship, but there’s more to this album to discover. Another important thing for me is how powerful and straight forward "...Megiddo” sounds. It's not always fast, actually I think that most of it is rather mid paced, but it's got that energetic vibe and dark, bestial feel. More so, the music sounds fresh and vital, not dull and repetitive. It's like a quick punch in your face, short but bloody painful.  

Yeah, as you could see, I definitely love this album and I am quite disappointed to see "The Call of Megiddo" so forgotten and underrated nowadays. You better get a copy, this album and this band deserve attention. Only the art for “...Megiddo” is a damn crap haha! 

Standout tracks: "The Call of Megiddo", "Hell-Born", "Legion Is Our Name" 

Verdict: 80/100  

Morbo - Addiction to Musickal Dissection

MORBO - Addiction to Musickal Dissection (MEMENTO MORI - CD 2014)

It's hard to say whether Morbo still exists or not, because "Addiction to Musickal Dissection" was released back in 2014 and apart from the 2016 split with Bunker 66, there's been a silence around this band ever since (that includes their Facebook profile). Damn, it would be a shame if Morbo split up, because "Addiction..." is absolutely fantastic. It is also quite underrated, in my humble opinion, I couldn't remember many people talking about this album and giving it the support, which it deserves to get. Well, at least I can say that I really love what these Italians did here and for me this is one of the best Autopsy tributes (eh, I know it sounds lame to call like that... but what can I do? haha) I've ever heard. 

Obviously this lame tag about Autopsy is not something what a lot of you will find as interesting. There will always be moaning bitches crying that they prefer to listen to the originals than some copies. Sure, it is their right to say so. But in my opinion, there's exists only good music and shit music. And Morbo with "Addiction to Musickal Dissection" easily fits the first of these two. They came up with just excellent death gore metal, which has that lovely Autopsy vibe, audible in many riffs, rhythms, but also in vocals (which are like a bastard child of threesome between Petrov, Reifert and Ingram - and they are fuckin awesome!!!). Morbo has a lot of these doomy parts, which sound heavy and obscure and obviously they also have that horrid, gory atmosphere, which is so mandatory for this style of death metal. Morbo also brings some melodic pieces here and there, a bit of groove, but can also crush with some faster riffs. Generally, all these songs have something great what caught my ears and stack in my head for good. Riffage is awesome, I really enjoyed the album, the vibe it has, its fierceness and carnage it creates. I can only remind you to get it and support Morbo in every possible way. 

Standout tracks: “Decomposmopolitan”, “Dawn of the Dying Living”, “Rending the Ephemeral Veil” 

Verdict: 80/100