Hell-Born - Hellblast

HELL-BORN - Hellblast (PAGAN Records / CONQUER - CD 2011)

Hell-Born was spawned in the mid 90's as a side project of Les and Baal, from Damnation and Behemoth. Soon after the debut EP “Hell-Born” (1996) was released the project was over, but it was resurrected five years later, now as a normal band and with new material. "Hellblast" contained five new tracks, but CD contains also the first EP, all together containing ten tracks and 45 minutes of music. And for me, this is a real gem of Polish extreme metal scene and one of the best releases for me. 

Especially the "Hellblast" EP is something great. With its black / thrash / death metal mixture, it is a fury unleashed with no remorse, pure savagery and great, beastly metal. The music lurks strongly into the 80's and 90's old school metal, but has something unique, which makes Hell-Born sound unlike any other band, to be honest. I love these vicious riffs, great aggressive feel and relentless sound. Music is quite memorable, it really sticks in your head, drilling holes with these razor sharp thrashing riffs, yet it is all soaked in the obscurity, with a straight forward, uncompromising feel and often fast paced sonic attack. Demonic vocals are especially something what stands out and I think that they're one of the main reasons why Hell-Born music really sounds so original. 

The 1996 "Hell-Born" EP may be slightly more challenging to some of you, as the production is rawer, more noisy and harsh. The music has that same attitude though, maybe it's even more old school oriented, more death metal like... You know, some riffs, like those in "Those are Dead but Shall Rise" do remind me Damnation - think what you want. The production is also quite alike to "Rebel Souls". But vocals can be something what will make the biggest controversy, as they do not sound like your typical growls or screams. They're more like very deeply speaking voice, which really has an eerie effect. I quite like it, there are some killer, memorable riffs on this EP... but “Hellblast” is my more preferred material on this CD and it’s also one of Hell-Born's best recordings. 

Standout tracks: “Raise the Dead”, “Hellraiser” 

Verdict: 75/100

Vengeance Sorcery - In Oath to Torment, Unrelenting...

VENGEANCE SORCERY - In Oath to Torment, Unrelenting... (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2020)

This time Fallen Temple decided to torture my soul with a compilation CD from the band called Vengeance Sorcery, whose four demos have been featured here. Four demos, so it’s quite a lot of music, I am afraid. This is my first encounter with this project, but judging by the content of this CD, I don't hope for more. It is just so terribly boring, sooo forgettable and miserable that I don't really wish to hear "In Oath to Torment, Unrelenting..." any more than I already did. You'll find here utterly primitive, simplistic, harsh and slow black metal filled with the dark and obscure atmosphere alike to some Finnish acts (no wonder they did three Barathrum covers here) for instance. But I am sorry to say but Vengeance Sorcery has very little to offer me, their music has hardly anything interesting or worthy at all, and it is just filled with a bunch of same sounding, similarly dull and irritating songs, with constantly the same tempo, riffage style and everything else. After listening to it, I am even too tired and lazy to describe it more deeply. There are just better bands around to care for. 

I'm trying to think if there's anything what would make me come back to this album soon. And it is just hardly possible. Sure, the atmosphere is bleak and obscure, occasionally Vengeance Sorcery comes with a bit different stuff like in "Shade of Darkness Casting...", and sure there are some cool riffs here and there. But as whole, "In Oath to Torment, Unrelenting..." is forgettable and not even mediocre, in my opinion. It shall be covered in dust and time soon. 

Verdict:40/100 

1349 - The Infernal Pathway

1349 - The Infernal Pathway (SEASON OF MIST - LP 2019)

There's five years gap since "Massive Cauldron of Chaos" was released, but 1349 didn't lose any fire from their music and "The Infernal Pathway" is just a proper continuation of what this band was doing on albums like "Hellfire" or "Massive...". Obviously, some people will say that it all sounds too repetitive for this band and their quite unique, yet narrow take on the ferocious and insanely vicious black metal is boring. On the other hand, why change the formula if it proved to be right? When 1349 came up with a much different album "Revelations of the Black Flame", I didn't like the result, so personally I just prefer if they stick to what they do the best. 

Obviously "The Infernal Pathway" can be seen as a small step forward, anyway. First of all, the production seems to be even more clean and less harsh and chaotic when compared to some of their older albums. And that is good, because such intense and often fast black metal needs a better sound, if you want to actually hear what the band is playing and feel the powerful vibe of the music. Especially if 1349 likes to come up with some disharmonic riffs or just more technical and structured patterns. Which they do often. It definitely is not your average simplistic black metal. Also, the music seems to be much more diverse and less monotonous from what 1349 was doing on some previous records. It's not a constant blastbeat and one dimensional guitar shredding. There're surprisingly quite many slower parts and sometimes almost thrashing riffs appear. And yes, there's still a lot of fast paced, cannonading black metal with the intensity of machine gun. But every song has some nice varied patterns, great combination of different tempos or riff styles, and Frost did hell of a good job behind his drum kit. 

It does sound like 1349 still, do not worry. If you liked their previous albums, "The Infernal Pathway" won't disappoint you. Their characteristic style, especially Ravn's characteristic ghastly voice are all here, no compromises have been taken. But I think that the band reached a new quality with their songwriting. It's aggressive as hell, savage and brutal black metal record. And certainly one of 1349's best. 

Standout tracks: “Abyssos Antithesis”, “Enter Cold Void Dreaming”, “Stand Tall in Fire” 

Verdict: 80/100 

Goat Tyrant - Into the Greater Chasm

GOAT TYRANT - Into the Greater Chasm (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2020)

Among all Polish death metal bands, Goat Tyrant had to wait the longest to get their debut album done. They did release some demos (first one in 2004), as well as a couple of splits (one with Cultes des Ghoules and other with Doombringer), but it took them twenty years to bring a real full length debut to our crypts. Album, which is called "Into the Greater Chasm". Well, better late than never. They're much faster than Sadistic Intent anyway ha! 

Well, for a band with twenty years of history, some may say that "Into the Greater Chasm" doesn't have much to offer. The thing is, death metal by Goat Tyrant belongs to the most archaic, primitive and raw styles you could imagine. As such, it would be fair to say that it sounds like something recorded in the late 80's or very early 90's, on an obscure demo, such is the overall feeling of this music, as well as the production. Nowadays it has a right to sound insanely outdated. And it does. It's not just the sound quality, but the general style of riffage or vocals – just everything sounds archaic as fuck. But does it sound good? Well, to be honest, I am not so much impressed. The music is quite listenable, I can agree that there’s sort of charm in this morbid, utterly primitive death metal. But so what, if I feel simply bored and there’s nothing about this album what would make my blood run faster? Too often it all sounds terribly sloppy (umpa – umpa drumming? Ehhh), really not effective. I miss a powerful and truly vicious aspect of old school death metal here, I miss some killer riffs, which would nail me to the ground... I am tired after playing this album three or four times only.  

Don't get me wrong, it’s not a terrible album and I am sure it will find some supporters (some, who will really like it and some who will say that they like it because it’s always “cool” to say that you like an old school death metal album). Whatever... If I was going to play the ancient death metal, my heart goes towards Ares Kingdom, Pentacle, Sadistic Intent... "Into the Greater Chasm" only disappointed me. Sorry to say that. 

Verdict: 60/100 

Nyctophilia / Hellmoon - Under the Darkest Sign of Ancient Evil

NYCTOPHILIA / HELLMOON - Under the Darkest Sign of Ancient Evil (UNDER THE SIGN OF GARAZEL - Split CD 2020)

Nyctophilia / Hellmoon split titled "Under the Darkest Sign of Ancient Evil" came out through Under the Sign of Garazel Productions. This album was quite a mystery for me, because I’ve never heard any of the two bands participating on the split before. But this is why I like splits, as this is a way, where you could find out about new bands, even if there's always uncertainty if they will be worthy anything at all. 

This time I can say that this is rather mediocre stuff and I am not so much impressed with these two bands. Starting with Polish Nyctophilia - who, as I can see in their Metal Archives profile, shit out a zillion of recordings within five or six years... I am not sure if it is a new contest "who will do more recordings in such a short time", for me it doesn't matter. Most often it ends up like conveyor belt, where you produce the same, forgettable songs. If it’s the case with Nyctophilia, I don’t know. Here on "Under the Darkest Sign of Ancient Evil" Nyctophilia brought four tracks of raw, obscure black metal, which failed to make a bigger impression. This material is not bad, it's just boring and repetitive, as we've all heard that stuff dozen times before and much too often better written and performed. The music is mostly fast, so the monotonous riffing can give you that mesmerizing feel, while harsh, croaky vocals sound loud over the music spitting out the words in rather dull manner. The overall performance and songwriting is decent and typical for the genre, but really Nyctophilia has nothing what would stand out with something great. Listenable, forgettable. 

Hellmoon are from Canada and at first I was quite sceptical, as the noisy production is even more harsh than on the Nyctophilia's side. But then the music seems to be more interesting, I like how Hellmoon dude (whatever his name is) incorporates melodic riffs within this primitive and noisy black metal cacophony... And there are some really nice pieces here and there. Sadly, the vocals sometimes ruin the effect, they're again a bit too loud in the mix, although I do realize they probably wanted to achieve the "Transilvanian Hunger" effect here. But no way it's even tiny bit close to the greatness of this classic record nor it can create the same dark and hateful feel. Anyway, as I mentioned Hellmoon do have its moments, I like "Unto Unholy Spirits, The Raven Call" for instance, despite some annoying vocals parts there. Listenable. 

Verdict: 65/100 

Hell Trepanner - Macabre Smell of Rot

HELL TREPANNER - Macabre Smell of Rot (FALLEN TEMPLE - CD 2020)

Morbid, rotten death metal from Peru here, with "Macabre Smell of Rot" CD compilation (by Fallen Temple), which collects two Hell Trepanner's recordings "Promo Rehearsal MMXVII" and part of the "Towards the Diabolical Domains" split (with Deshumanized). Well, not once have I described my support for the South American death metal scene and the uncompromising, obscure feel it so often has. Hell Trepanner perfectly fits there, I can truly say that it's been a pleasure to listen to this album. And so what if Hell Trepanner hasn't got the best production in the world, so what that their music is not original nor it has the best songs ever. I've enjoyed it anyway. 

I am just a fan of such morbid death metal, with that harsh and truly vicious sound, I like how savage and merciless these songs are, but not only when Hell Trepanner plays faster, sometimes a bit thrashier stuff, but also when they slow things down. There's a similar feel to Nihilist or some very, very early Asphyx (demos and "Embrace the Death"), obviously we could also put it next to Mortem or Hadez - all in all, these are death metal legends from Peru. Generally, you could feel like it was another relict from the ancient death metal times, like an old demo or something, so similar is the feeling and sound in here, especially in the awesome "Promo Rehearsal MMXVII". But the thing is, Hell Trepanner came up with just crazy and merciless stuff here. Songs like "Sadistic Experiments in the Morgue" are a pure feast for the maniacs of such music. So yeah, it may not be the biggest revelation of the year, some fragments may sound a bit sloppy, especially in “Rotten Flesh Sacrifice”... but damn it, I don’t care, I just like it as it is. 

Standout track: “Into the Abysmal Depths”, "Sadistic Experiments in the Morgue", “Morbid Under the Spell” 

Verdict: 75/100

Gorefest - La Muerte

GOREFEST - La Muerte (NUCLEAR BLAST - CD 2005)

When Gorefest called their comeback, I have to say I was very sceptical. In the 90's they belonged to my favourite death metal bands, all thanks to "False", which to this day is one of my all-time favourite death metal albums. I am also big fan of "Mindless", and in the 90's I also liked "Erase" a lot, even though this album is more melodic, less brutal and just more "listener - friendly". But the biggest problem with Gorefest is what they started to play later on. I just don't like their last two 90's albums; I think they are useless and boring and the style change was dramatic. Why then I should expect anything worthy from their comeback record, especially if the band members declared that they don't even like death metal anymore? If they record death metal album - which they did - does it mean they are posers? Well, why care with all this childish rumbling. What matter is whether "La Muerte" is any good or not. To my BIG surprise, it turned out that Gorefest came up with a great, great album. I really couldn't believe how good it is, when I first heard it. It made a huge impression on me and I was just happy to hear this band back in such a great form, with one of their best records. If they don't like death metal anymore - who cares, they certainly know how to play it! 

I think that the only problem with "La Muerte" is that it's a tiny bit too long. An hour of music can be a bit too much, not whole material is equally great, so maybe it they skipped two or three songs (like “Rogue State”) then "La Murte" would sound better as a whole. On the other hand, it is still way better than such "Soul Survivor"! Damn, I think it's even better than "Erase". Stylistically "La Murte" sounds like a mixture of "False" and "Erase", but closer to the latter. You could basically hear that it is Gorefest from the very first second, so characteristic is the style of their death metal. The production is obviously more modern, but the riffage is unmistakable, so are Jan-Chris de Koeijer's deep vocals. Riffs have a lot of that groove and aggression Gorefest had in the old days, luckily there's not much of that shitty death'n'roll or however you call it that they played at some point. "La Muerte" is less melodic and faster than "Erase", more powerful also. I was really surprised when I heard some blasts - have they ever had any blasts and real fast songs before? Obviously, majority of the album is mid paced or slow, so you could feel that heaviness of the music. Mostly these songs are also insanely memorable, which is always a weird aspect in a death metal music, but quite nice to hear anyway. The production is clear, modern, powerful - play this album loud and you will really feel like it crushes you relentlessly. 

Arrghhh, I could really speak in positive words about "La Muerte" only. There's a fantastic dose of killer death metal here, many great songs... OK, there are some fragments I like a bit less, but overall it is a damn good record. And it's just great to hear Gorefest back in form again. When I listen to songs like "For the Masses", it's just an instant headbanger and great feeling of hearing the right sound of Gorefest. it's memorable song, these riffs stick in your head and you just want more of that. All songs have something great to offer, some riffs or whatever... I love the drumming, Jan-Chris' vocals, guitar solos are amazing (as always in Gorefest)... You know, even slower and more melodic songs like “You Could Make Me Kill” are great, because Gorefest really thrashes here with no mercy and the quality is there also. So, this is a highly recommended album; a great surprise and a worthy addition to the Gorefest catalogue. Even the artwork is in “False” style, what else do you need then haha? 

Standout tracks: "For the Masses", “When the Dead Walk the Earth”, “The Call” 

Verdict: 80/100