Obscure Infinity - Putrefying Illusions

OBSCURE INFINITY - Putrefying Illusions (OBSCURE DOMAIN - CD 2012)

Time goes so quickly… it seems like not so long ago, when I‘ve listened to the first album of Obscure Infinity and soon later I also got a couple of split 7”EPs and their demo. I was quite impressed by this band’s music, as it was different to most of the stuff, which death metal bands are playing nowadays. Sure, their music was also rooted in the old school death metal, but it was just played differently, without so obvious traces of Swedish or American bands. Obscure Infinity has quite specific arrangements, their song structures were more complex, if I can use that word, songs were lengthier… Yeah, definitely “Dawn of Winter” was a unique album, same as Deathevokation for instance. So, I was really eagerly waiting for the second album of Obscure Infinity, hoping that “Putrefying Illusions” will exceed the debut and prove that this German band really belongs to the best underground acts of the present.

Just like “Dawn of Winter”, also “Putrefying Illusions” first caught my attention with its artwork and the whole layout of the booklet. I like what these guys are doing; using some old paintings, which are properly dark and suitable for death metal… This time they’ve used Caspar David Friedrich painting titled "Kreuz und Kathedrale im Gebirge" from 1812 and I must admit it is another good choice for the front artwork, although some of you may feel like it is too colourful at the first look, but for me it is really OK. As for the booklet, what I like about Obscure Infinity booklets is that they have so many things inside, I mean along with the lyrics there’re quite few band photos, etc… that is always nice to look at and definitely is not as boring as when I look at some other bands, which are barely able to have any booklet at all, so primitive layout they chosen to have. I can only imagine how cool would “Putrefying Illusions” look on the vinyl, but I’m afraid I’ve never seen one available to purchase; just as I’ve never seen the debut album on LP. So I must satisfy myself with the CDs, which is OK as well (always better than the soulless mp3 files anyway hehe).

I must say that in many ways I find “Putrefying Illusions” as the most complete and definitely the best recording of Obscure Infinity so far. I can say that the band has developed and their death metal is even better than it was on “Dawn of Winter”, maybe because it seems a bit more relentless and straight forward, while at the same time it also appears to be even more rooted in the old school way of the death metal playing – which is great for me. The first track for instance – “Collecting a Disastrous Sun” – seems to be the most Swedish influenced song from Obscure Infinity, which I have heard so far. It is a great track, really, and I must say that it definitely takes me back to the 90’s. Think of bands like Edge of Sanity, Centinex, Uncanny, Unanimated and Utumno… Some more Swedish traces are noticeable in another songs, but Obscure Infinity is not 100% Swedish death metal influenced band, so I can assure you that you will often be also hit by riffs or parts, which may remind you Morgoth, Asphyx, Pestilence (“Consuming Impulse”), Death (“Spiritual Healing”), Autopsy, Convulse, Purtenance and so on… More melodic patterns are often mixed with those utterly devastating and aggressive ones; slow and doomy parts will appear together with the fast, blasting devastation – although nearer the finish of the album, then I have an impression like that slow playing was taking the dominant role. “Putrefying Illusions” in all its content is well diverse and surely it is not one dimensional death metal album. There’s a lot of dynamics, variety and the atmosphere is just dark and brutal all the time through (except a couple of times, when acoustic interludes have been used – which, to be honest I sometimes find as unnecessary). And it all works very well. Maybe, what I already mentioned, towards the finishing songs the tempo has slowed down maybe a bit too much and the music also became slightly too melodic, lacking a bit of violence and aggression or the feeling from the beginning, but that impression is very small and all in all I can say that Obscure Infinity composed a solid and involving record. I can surely recommend you listening to such songs as the mentioned “Collecting a Disastrous Sun”, as well as “Ascension-Kenosis” (slow, heavy, brutal… beautiful), “Crypts of Damnation” (which may remind you bands like Purtenance or Convulse)… Good listen, definitely.

Standout tracks: “Collecting a Disastrous Sun”, “Ascension-Kenosis”

Final rate: 80/100

Infinitum Obscure - Obscuridad Eterna

 

INFINITUM OBSCURE - Obscuridad Eterna (BLOOD HARVEST - 7"EP 2009)

There’s certain uniqueness and viciousness in bands, which come from such countries as Chile, Brazil or Mexico. It appears like they’re often way more uncompromising, obscure and relentless in what they do comparing to the European or American bands. And this is exactly why I really like so many acts from this area of Mid and South Americas. Infinitum Obscure quite quickly became one of my favourite bands from this region and when they invaded me with their music I just couldn’t stop banging my head and listening to it, so devastating it turned out to be. This 7”EP “Obscuridad Eterna”, which Blood Harvest unleashed in 2009, was the first thing, which I have heard from Infinitum Obscure. EPs have that special thing that usually they offer something extra and exclusive comparing them to the full length albums and “Obscuridad Eterna” is exactly like that. It offers a song called “Possessing the Fire”, which originally was already published on “Internal Dark Force” album, but this is a new version of this track, connected with a 1,5 minute long instrumental “Obscurity Rises…”, so it basically sounds almost like a new song. Then side B of the EP contains a Dissection cover “Son of the Mourning”, originally from “Into Infinite Obscurity” EP. And I guess I should also mention that “Obscuridad Eterna” is dedicated to Jon Nodtveidt, so all these things make this EP a truly unique and worthy release.

I guess that the front artwork of “Obscuridad Eterna” may be the only thing, which I don’t like about this EP. It is too colourful for my taste and I also am not so fond on such photoshop made covers. Luckily everything else about “Obscuridad Eterna” is superb. Both tracks on side A are killer. That instrumental one, “Obscurity Rises…”, is an extremely good opener, which is going to put you in the right mood instantly. I like its slow, obscure riffing a lot. “Possessing the Fire” then erupts with much faster riffing and is like a beast unleashed, ready to rip your guts out within seconds. Style wise Infinitum Obscure combines elements of thrash and even black metal into their old school death metal and I can assure you that if you’re looking for utterly dark and evil death metal, then this band will suit your taste perfectly. And what’s more, they have killer riffs, great production… Absolutely great stuff is going on here. When I listen to it I almost have a feeling like Infinitum Obscure had quite few resemblances to Hell-Born, great Polish band. The sound of both bands, as well as the vocals, is very alike. As for the Dissection cover, I must admit that “Son of the Mourning” may not be my favourite track from them, but still Infinitum Obscure nailed it perfectly. This cover is even more ferocious and brutal than the original, so the mission has been accomplished!

“Obscuridad Eterna” has been released in 500 copies, so it is possible that all of them have been sold out long time ago, but despite that I am sure that a copy will appear here and there. If you see one, then make your purchase without hesitate, as really this 7” is great. It introduced me to fantastic Mexican band and afterwards I had no choice, but quickly also bought their second LP “Sub Atris Caelis”. You better do the same, before it’s too late.

Final rate: 85/100

Lucifericon - The Occult Waters

LUCIFERICON - The Occult Waters (Self released CD 2012)

I always liked this feeling, when I get a CD or something else (tape, whatever…) from absolutely unknown band and then having absolutely no expectations whatsoever I get blown away by the music and can happily add yet another band to the collection and have one more moniker on my list of killer underground acts. This is exactly the case of Lucifericon, band which until last month I had absolutely no idea about. At first I didn’t even had much will to listen to their debut CD, probably because I just don’t like the artwork of it and I honestly thought that it may be a dull thrash metal band or something even worse, maybe a crap like tech death in the vein of Cynic… So I putted “The Occult Waters” away and instead started to listen to the new Terrorama album, which turned out to be a real fuckin killer. But finally the time came, when I had to give a listen to Lucifericon… and well, I have no doubts that this newcomer managed to shred me to pieces! This is what I call 666% real metal and this is what I call an effective debut release! It definitely is not yet another quickly forgettable stuff, but one, which will stick with me for longer! Energetic, killer riffs, obscure, dark atmosphere, great feeling... “The Occult Waters” has all these ingredients.

Lucifericon actually hails from The Netherlands, but is sort of mystique band, as there’s no info at all about the line up and the band at all. Only later on I’ve found out that the band features some musicians involved in acts like Malicious Dream, Pentacle, ex-Excision and ex-Destroyer 666. It does sound intriguing, doesn’t it? Having that in mind I can understand why this music sounds so great, as it was performed by experienced musicians, not fuckin rookies hehe. But since I still don’t know who exactly plays in Lucifericon, let’s skip this issue then, I don’t really care, the most important is that “The Occult Waters” is a very good release. If you’re into the old styled, dark and morbid death metal, in the vein of Pentacle, some Australian bands (GOTH, Destroyer 666), maybe some very early Morbid Angel stuff, Vital Remains, etc then you’ll definitely will be interested in getting Lucifericon in your stereo… With those harsh, screaming vocals their music almost has a black metal or thrashing black metal atmosphere here and there, like in this awesome opening song “The Temple of Lucifericon”. The music is savage, raw and aggressive, often quite fast or mid paced, but sometimes it also tends to be slightly more melodic, just give a listen to “Moon Over Fading Statues”. But it never fails to impress, it is constantly great and quality, so I feel really amazed. The only regret, which I have is that the whole material consists just about 20 minutes of music and I would really like to get some more songs. But I can only hope that Lucifericon will soon get some more music released, I’ll definitely keep my eyes open on this band from now on. Totally recommended!

Final rate: 85/100

Haiduk - Spellbook

HAIDUK - Spellbook (Self released CD 2012)

I think that the so called one man bands  - I prefer to call them solo projects – is not something uncommon these days, even if in the 90’s it used to be a black metal thing mainly. But with the possibilities, which people have nowadays – with computers, recording software, etc – it is easy for anybody to get his own album, without even visiting the studio. Haiduk from Canada is such a project, formed by an individual named Luka Milojica. This Calgary, Canada citizen (but of Serbian origin) has done one demo so far, 2010’s “Plagueswept” before he recorded his debut full length album “Spellbook” in 2012. I must warn you, that if you think that all solo projects are utterly primitive and nothing more, but a lousy and unworthy bedroom projects then you may be positively surprised, as Haiduk stuff looks and sounds really professional. “Spellbook” is superbly released – on CD with great artwork and professionally printed booklet – and the music sounds pretty much as good as any studio stuff you may think of.
What I like about the music of Haiduk most is that it is mainly oriented on the long instrumental passages, where the vocals appear quite spontaneously (but not mindlessly) and occasionally. Luka Milojica puts more focus on sharp, aggressive riffing, often filled also with quite melodious parts, but definitely his style is quite original, as he avoids the typical song structures like chorus, verse, chorus, etc… And it actually works well, you won’t really feel that there’s so little vocal parts on the album and definitely you’ll be able to hear many great riffs instead. The guitars create the whole atmosphere, they’re also responsible for keeping the tension and Luka turns out to be quite talented and skilled guitarist. He plays a lot of leads, puts quite a diverse and dynamic, powerful stuff through the whole album, avoiding only some very slow parts, but definitely there’s a lot of fast or at least mid tempo stuff here. I like Luka’s riffs, his ideas and the way he builds the songs. More so, style wise the music of Haiduk may reminds me a bit of the modern Swedish melodic death metal, with bands like Arch Enemy and from the other hand at few times I had a small resemblance to some of the late Emperor works (listen to the opening theme of “Hex”), final Dissection LP or Keep of Kalessin plus some Slayer and recent Kreator can also be spotted here or there…
So there is a fine combination of different metal subgenres – death, thrash, black – all well balanced, but the whole stuff is played in quite new, modern way rather than the old school one. The production of “Spellbook” is also very fine, I like that heavy guitar tone plus I must admit that the use of the drum machine doesn’t disturb at all, which is quite rare thing (I usually get annoyed by the machine drumming without any soul and feeling). I’m not gonna mention any standout tracks, as I think that the whole material from “Spellbook” is on the same high level and none of it really needs a special treat. The whole album is good and with 32 minutes of music I think it is enough to 1. convince that Haiduk is a worthy project and 2. it is to satisfy the listener. Really good debut then.
Final rate: 73/100

Compilation of Death #3 soon.......

COMPILATION OF DEATH issue #3 to be out soon...... more info here: http://www.compilationofdeath.cl/

Taake - The Box

 

 

 

 

TAAKE - The Box (PERVERTED TASTE - 3 picLP boxset 2004)

I guess everybody, who collects records, have some special releases in his collection, some true jewels, which are nowadays as hard to find as the Amber Room and maybe not quite as expensive, but surely not cheap. My collection also has some such rare items; I’m not gonna mention them all now, as I’m not really a type of braggart, but since I write this review then I must mention at least one title – and it is Taake’s cherished and sought after box set from 2004. Released by Perverted Taste it contains three picture LPs: “Helnorsk Svartmetall”, “Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik” and “Nattestid Ser Porten Vid” – everything comes in the cardboard box and includes a t-shirt (which I am afraid I have started to wear year ago and now it has been washed several times, so it is far from looking new and unused! What have I done???). So, the content of this boxset must sound fantastic, doesn’t it? Yeah!! Of corpse nowadays all those early Taake releases are easily available, also on vinyl, as they’ve been repressed on LP a couple of years ago, but that hasn’t changed the fact that this boxset is a true treasure. Nowadays it comes for ridiculous prices of 200-300 euros and I remember that when I purchased it back in 2004 (from Ledo Takas!) it cost me around 20-30 euros hehe! Someone may say that I should have bought two copies and now sell the other one, but I hate when people do that, buying two or three copies and later asking for ridiculous money for it. This is a fuckin jewish behavior, which should not have place in the metal community, if you ask me! Fuck that and people who do that, anyway.
Boxset looks really impressive. The cardboard box is all black, with the silver logo of Taake in the front… fuck, it looks really grim. Also each of the three pictures LPs looks fantastic. Many people don’t like picture discs, as they sound slightly worse than the classic black wax, but I like them, as they look truly fantastic. The image of Høst on the disc always looks impressive… and each of the albums is really beautiful, with their dark artwork, etc. This is the one and only advantage of picture LPs over the standard black LP.
I don’t actually know if it’s necessary to describe the musical content of each of the albums, which this boxset contains. They are all probably well known to those, who read this. If not, let me just say that personally my favourite LP is “Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik”. This is absolutely amazing album, filled with amazing songs, great composing and truly cold and dark atmosphere. I also have a lot of good memories and love the first album; I cannot believe it’s already been so long I have listened to “Nattestid…” for the first time and have read the first interview with the band (in Thrash’em All Magazine). And from the other hand the content of “Helnorsk Svartmetall” is probably least interesting, but mainly due to the fact that this collection of early Taake and Thule demos has mostly very bad production, which takes sometimes the pleasure from listening to them (mainly the "Manndaudsvinter" demo)… But from the other hand I must admit I really like "Koldbrann i Jesu Marg" EP. Thule stuff also is very good, but I don’t like the vocals in it, as they’ve been terribly screamed. Honestly it is not so easy to go through the whole “Helnorsk Svartmetall”. If you’re not so much into the most obscure, badly recorded and amateurish black metal demos then this may almost sound like a torture to your ears. Luckily the content of the other two albums will be easier to listen to. But what the hell am I writing?! These demos are a part of the history of Taake and as such they definitely deserve their place on this boxset, so no more words. I must add though that it’s impossible not to notice how much the music of Taake has matured between the demo days and the first album. The difference is huge. Listen to all those textures, these quite complicates riffs and layers of each song from the first and the second full length LP… This is not primitive black metal anymore, but something way more original and ambitious.
Anyway, it is always a real pleasure to my ears and feast for the soul, a great experience to listen to Taake and this boxset. If there is any other boxset, which I would like to have as much as I do Taake then it probably is only Ulver’s equally pricy “The Trilogie - Three Journeyes through the Norwegian Netherworlde”. Since this Ulver’s box of three picture LPs is out of my range at the moment (sorry, too expensive!) then at least I am very, very happy that I had a chance to get Taake back in the day. And I’m sure I’ll never get rid of this! This stuff will stay with me until my last day! Get it also, if you’re lucky and play it loud!
Final rate: 100/100

Chapel of Disease - Summoning Black Gods

CHAPEL OF DISEASE - Summoning Black Gods (F.D.A. Rekotz - CD 2012)

Few weeks ago I was lucky to purchase a copy of killer split 7”EP of two German death metal bands: Lifeless and Chapel of Disease. On that particular release I liked Lifeless music slightly more, their song was just amazingly good, but Chapel of Disease – who at that time was announcing the release of the debut album – also caught my attention, so I knew that I’ll have to check their first LP, as soon as it’s released. “Summoning Black Gods” has already been released and it’s an album, which I was listening to A LOT (REALLY! :)) for the past two or three weeks. My hunch was right – this is damn amazing LP!
Once I’ve listened to “Summoning Black Gods” for the first time I was just blown away by this extremely great and crushing music. It seems like Chapel of Disease took some of my favourite albums from the early 90’s and compiling them together just recorded something very similar. Yeah, I know that it’s still just a copy, which will probably never get the same cult status as the originals and many will say that they don’t see a point in listening to something like this as they will always prefer the old stuff more. But think twice, when you say so, because really (REALLY) Chapel of Disease composed a number of awesome songs. I love the riffing, that dark and obscure, sinister atmosphere of their music and honestly I can say that I just cannot see anything what would be done wrong on “Summoning Black Gods”. OK, there’s one thing, which I don’t like here, I’ll mention that later, but it’s just a minor thing, so it definitely did not spoil the listening and I can really say that together with Coffin Texts’ amazing “The Tomb of Infinite Ritual”, “Summoning Black Gods” is my favourite album of the recent months and definitely one of the best ones of the whole year.
When I was a kid I loved Pestilence and early Death. I still do of corpse, but back then Mamelli’s band was my very favourite band of all. Nowadays I don’t have something like favourite band, because there’re too many of them and instead I have something like favourite 179 or something bands  hehe. But to this day I love the feeling, when I play the early Pestilence and early Death. I mention this, because “Summoning Black Gods” reminds me this feeling a lot. Chapel of Disease style is sort of combination of the “Malleus Maleficarum” and “Consuming Impulse” combined together with some very old Asphyx (“The Rack”), Death’s “Scream Bloody Gore” and “Leprosy”, Sarcofago’s “Rotting” and with few more albums and bands, like Possessed’s “Seven Churches”, Massacra and Entombed from their “Left Hand Path” masterpiece. I love the production of “Summoning Black Gods” as it actually is as harsh and energetic as that early Pestilence, Death and Sarcofago LPs (listen to that fantastic guitar tone!) – I seriously think that while most of the current bands want to sound either like Incantation or some Swedish bands from Sunlight, Chapel of Disease along with Horrendous for instance went for something different and that makes their albums more special. Another thing, which I like are Laurent Teubl’s vocals… Man, doesn’t he sound like Martin van Drunen, but Martin from 20 years ago? There’s very similar expression of his voice, both spit their lungs out when screaming like possessed… but how great it sounds! Fuckin excellent.
Basically all songs from “Summoning Black Gods” are excellent and I really don’t wish for anything more, when I listen to this album, so perfectly it sounds to my ears. There’s everything I like… A killer archaic death metal, which has almost some harsh thrash metal influence – check! Just listen to “Hymns of the New Land“, a great tribute to old Death and Pestilence. Crushing, dark and obscure slow, doomy riffing? Check, there’s song called “The Loved Dead”, which definitely belongs to my favourite tracks from the album. It is beautifully epic, dark and obscure and sounds very much in the vein of the early Asphyx! And the same can be said about “Evocation of the Father”. Some very fast death metal, which is able to break the walls and crush your skulls? Fuck, of course there’s a lot of that also! “Summoning Black Gods” has everything I love about the old styled death metal and all the songs are amazing.
I said that I have only one complain on this album. Yes, it is not huge, but one, which always comes to my mind, when I listen to “Summoning Black Gods”. A song called “Dead Spheres”… a good one, if you ask me, but why the hell did they decide to clearly RIP OFF this amazing old Sarcofago song called “Nightmare”???? This similarity is so obvious that it cannot be called an inspiration, as really what Chapel of Disease did in that opening fragment of this track is almost a complete copy, a rip off of “Nightmare”. At first I hoped it will just be that first riff and then they’ll change it, but even the part, which follows it, sounds very similar… Oh come on guys! You shouldn’t have done that! I’m not accusing the band for deliberate stealing of Sarcofago’s riffs, maybe they have done it unintentionally, but the effect is clear and it really pisses me off. What’s more, even the guitar tone on that fragment sounds like production of the “Rotting” album. It’s good that Chapel of Disease after a couple of minutes takes the song into a different direction and luckily they didn’t include a similar chorus like in “Nightmare”, but this feeling of going a step too far in imitating the old death metal albums is always there, when I listen to “Dead Spheres”. Something like this only will assure people, who say that all those new old styled death metal bands do nothing more, but steal the riffs, instead of making something own. I was never saying that so far and I’m not gonna say that about Chapel of Disease also, but in this particular fragment they definitely went a bit too far. Luckily, the rest of the album is just a fuckin crusher, I have no doubt it will become a classic release of the current wave of old school death metal. A real must have in your collection!
Standout tracks: “The Loved Dead”, “Summoning Black Gods”, “Evocation of the Father” and all the rest! 
Final rate: 93/100

 

Miasmal - Miasmal

MIASMAL - Miasmal (DETEST Records - LP 2011)

I wonder if Miasmal will ever call their new release different than “Miasmal”? They already have the selftitled demo, EP and now they also called their debut album like that! Not very smart, if you ask me, because surely it will cause some problems and confusion, like “hey, I wanna buy “Miasmal”… yeah, but which one???”. Fuck that, I already have the demo on vinyl in my collection and when the debut full length was released back in 2011 by the great Detest Records (ROT IN FILTH!!!!!!!) I also quickly purchased a copy of this black tar. Such releases are just necessary to have and I definitely do not regret spending some money on it, as I’m happy to announce that Miasmal kept the quality from their demo also on their first album. Sure, some will probably moan that Miasmal is not bringing anything new or special to the genre and really they’re not different to some other Swedish bands, but who would give a fuckin’ fuck about such opinions, as they don’t matter if the music is as good as the one on “Miasmal” LP? If you don’t like it, then please jump into that fuckin black hole on the front cover of the album and kill yourself.
I did enjoy “Miasmal” (both demo and the LP actually) a lot. I mean this is one of those albums, which will stick with you without any problems, right from the first listen and it doesn’t require vaseline or soap to get to your ass and seriously fuck and kick it hard. Having in my mind what bands like Death Breath, Maim or Bastard Priest did before I can honestly say that Miasmal is equally killer and easily fits the same category of bands. And when I listen to “Miasmal” I have a feeling like those bands actually managed to create something different… sure, their music is based on the good, old Swedish death metal scene with bands like Entombed, Nihilist, Carnage and Dismember, but when I hear “Miasmal” I feel like there’s something more to it than just a brainless copy of “Left Hand Path”. The songwriting is excellent, obviously, but Miasmal used so much D-beat that sometimes it may appear like crust punk / hardcore has influenced the band just as much as the death metal sound. And listen to the guitar leads on this album! I mean they’re nowhere like the melodic playing from “Like an Ever Flowing Stream”! They almost have sort of rock’n’roll / punky feeling. Of corpse the whole stuff has been played in the death metal way, don’t get me wrong; it is obscure, morbid and filthy, old school death metal, but it doesn’t limit the influence just to the certain one or two bands. Here Wolfpack is equally important as Entombed!
It’s impossible to find really any mistakes or anything wrong about “Miasmal”. The songwriting is excellent, I like the way Miasmal structured their songs and how they add some extras into them, like more melodic leads (yeah, those also appear) in songs like the excellent “Blissful Cannonades”. And “Mists” will remind you that all in all Miasmal is a Swedish death metal band – I totally love the beginning of this song; a short acoustic theme, then the melodic riff alike the good old Entombed… Well, I’m in hell! This is also why “Mists” is my favorite song from the whole LP. And in the final part of the last song, “Chronicles”, they even dared to use some keyboards as the background fill up for the killer doomy riff. Love it! But really, as I already written, there’s no bad song on the album and I devoured the whole LP easily. Definitely this stuff belongs to the best albums, which have been released during this old school death metal plague, which has been infecting us since a couple of years. Live to rot!
Standout tracks: “Mesmerized”, “Blissful Cannonades”, “Mists”
Final rate: 83/100