torsdag 31 augusti 2017

Lotus of Darkness - The Naga Disguised as a Human

We all know there is a beauty in the darkness, a shard of black crystal that is so sharp it will slay every being in the most brilliant ways....


From Thailand comes Lotus of Darkness and they (at least on this release) play a beautiful and ethereal black metal. From the start i get strong vibes of early spiritual heavy metal...almost late 70´s style (there is some bands on the tip of my tongue for comparison but i cant seem to remember them now...) but also a rich layer of asian tunes is to be heard through out all three long songs.(between 6 to 14 minutes) So one could say it mixes or flips from the described style here above with the more blasting black metal fury reminiscent of the early European second wave....works like a charm! Vocals reminds also a bit of early Burzum with that complaining howls and screams.


Really enjoyable debut album with strong complete song structures and compositions through out this tape combined with such deep personal atmosphere...exotic is of course a fitting word to use makes this a no brainer to get!

One of this years best releases.

Tracklist:
 1.     Wrath of the Naga    
2.     The Origin of Snakes        
3.     Down by the River



Released by Von Frost Records
link:
https://www.facebook.com/Vonfrostrecords-1589647167970865/?pnref=lhc


Vorus - Chamber of Laments

Time for a new death metal act to crawl into the scorching sunlight!



Vorus play in a mid tempo to a bit faster and it have a atmosphere of horror and dripping sewers, the guitar is headlighting the show with its gnarly and buzzing sound, its riffs are simple but effective and keeps your interest in place. Also quite heavy sometimes besides the death chugging.

 I had a good time slicing through these three tracks over and over and the groove dont lose its appeal fast either which is a good sign.

Drums is a bit lower mixed but but just enough so the backbone rythm is keept intact and the vocals melds great with the overall package with its dry ghastly rasp.

It is just three songs so there is not so much to say besides that it is has an good grab on your neck and after listening to it you get interested for future releases from Vorus! (love the cover art!)

Track list:
1. Chamber of Laments
2. Paradise is Burning
3. Where Misery Crawls


söndag 13 augusti 2017

Moras - Manifest Death

There is always a good reason to linger forever in the shadows...

From Finland this entity Moras comes and with it harrowing skies that succumbs all light, ancient  dark woods are surrounding the sight and the only way left is to embrace it.


To be more technical in my description i would say it is a very melancholic raw mid to slow-temp black metal, a bit like early Drowning the Light. The actual compositions has a nice atmospheric melodic touch to them which is mixed just right in the raw production, vocals are shreiking around like a distressed spectre and underlines the message of death well. These 5 songs that are on this debut demo makes up for a good firm picture of this band has to offer and what its purpose is.


As a whole it has a great sinking feeling to it....like you are deep under the surface of common "normal" life. It is misanthropic and hateful but at the same time it has an almost "romatic" feel (not sound) to the darkness...like "yes i am dead to this world but i also know that this is my true place and therefore i feel at home."  And i can totally hang from that tree myself too so...hehe


Great debut demo that ticks my boxes and i look forward to future material from Moras.

The great Mexican label Svart Hat has the honor to release this tape so head on over there to snap up a copy for your self!

label link:
https://www.facebook.com/SvartHatProds/?ref=br_rs



tisdag 8 augusti 2017

Waldschrat - Metropolis wird fallen

Finally the second full album from this Austrian horde is here! ...well i guess it was already out in May...whatever it is great to take a bite of fallen fruit.

Previous and first album came in 2013 and i remember i liked much and put the band on the Austrian BM-mapp for me, i also did an interview with them back then.


If you dont know about this band they play in a melancholic but grand black metal, the roots from their part of Europe is there as well inspiration from the Norwegian vein is found. What i like most about this release and well the bands musical style in general is their  rich compositions, the atmosphere and feelings run on more then one or two levels which gives it a deeper experience. They mixes cold black metal hate attacks and parts from the DSBM genre without falling into the traps that that genre has an abundance of. All sounds sincere (and quite intimate) and solid.

One thing that is worth mentioning is their intro which sets the focus clarely on todays society...and how it is rotting and decaying. The many reasons for this "state" is evident if you have open/critical eyes and ears. (sidenote but also connected rant: dont buy into this "false news" propaganda that the mainstream media is pooping out, sure be critical towards all "news" and use your own reasoning but  more real truth is found in the alternative media we all know that the mainstream is scripted to mold the people into brainless sheep.)

With this urban-sickness-intro they put their agenda and thoughts in the now which works fine with them..often i am too sick of this modern times i reach for music that lives more in the glorius ancient past but here i dont get turned off....I get engaged.

They describe this releases content like this "Seven stories about the end of Metropolis, the home of decadence and the circle of life and how everything is connected."...so i guess i took it the right way.

Production is clean but organic and well balanced, all the intracte  and well written songs (which has quite much variations in themselves) is brought forward to the listener in a powerfull punch. No doubt a good album.

So if you are looking for something that has both the introspective emotional focus as well as the aggressive extroverte fusion pick this up.



Best song for me is track 5, such a great song!

Released by: Talheim Records
link:
https://www.facebook.com/TalheimRecords

Track list:
1. Intro
 
2. Metropolis
 
3. Augenblick
 
4. Verfall des Seins
 
5. Der Wind hat mir sein Leid geklagt
 
6. Zur letzten Ruh feat. Saruman (Heimdalls Wacht)
 
7. Fährmanns letzte Überfahrt
 
8. Des Sturmes Kind 

lördag 5 augusti 2017

Liturgy of Desecration - And the Goat of Sodomy Commands...

As the great beast open its jaws a even greater ghastly howl is heard around the planet!
Here comes a new powerful beastial black metal band from Greece!


Besides the classical bloodthirsty tropes and tricks from this genere that is in place here this band conjures up some extra effectful dramaturgical atmospheres with its compositions &  intro and outros. Really sucking you in! ...no not a bj from that goat no...

 In other words it has a very complete package and infuses enough personal touches and sentiments.

Its production is swampy & foggy and the guitars are chuggy and crushing like a two handed axe.
Drums is on constant killing mode and the vocals is like it comes from the  demonical goat lord thats on the cover art(art by me hehe)!
The six songs that is presented here is a perfect start for this band as each track shows what they are capable of... devestation that is....but with enough engaging compositions through out... so it wont just become flat and boring that some of bands in this genre can be.



Solid start from Liturgy of Desecration! Get it!

This tape release is released by Von Frost Records. (more reviews on tapes from this label will come soon also!)

Track list:

1. Blapshemous War 03:24
   
2.Integration of the Prophecy 04:03
   
3. The Lament of Virgin Mary 04:13
   
4. Interment of the Abomination Child 01:31
   
5. Sadistic Impalement 07:00
   
6. Outro (Victorious March) 01:55

Band link:
https://www.facebook.com/liturgyofdesecration/

Label link:
https://www.facebook.com/Vonfrostrecords-1589647167970865/