A storm is brewing…trust me. One last bit of Housecleaning and then we can party down/down/down. Like the last couple such posts here and here, this encapsulates an assload of reviews I wrote for Zero Tolerance the past couple years that were never published. Better late than never, right/write?
The difference this time, however, is that I’m doing a roundup of roundups: pretty clever, eh? Not really. Rather, an exercise in brevity, for these ever-hectic times, compounded 666 times. Because that’s a “human number,” after all.
Oh, and things/posts will be less Record Review-y in the future…maybe? Or hopefully. Or whatever. Postmodern ennui, baby.
Open wide for the bite-size…
Abyss Records roundup
MAAX – SIX PACK WITCHCRAFT: Motorcharge tank-rolling through tar (or maybe that’s Anti-Cimex stuck in molasses?) with an incongruously world-eating production quality. Actually, scratch “incongruously” and put “favorably,” as the unholy triumvirate of sex/drugs/rock ‘n’ roll should be apocalyptic…right? Right?! Efficiently destroys in 14 minutes: ace (of spades)! [4/6]
CHAOSSWORN – CHALICE OF BLACK FLAMES: Another EP, this one 15 minutes, and one that ranges a good decade-and-a-half’s worth of various Swedeath developments. I mean, they are Swedish, after all, and they did get Dan Swano to mix, but the relative variety’s spelling out “indecision” or least “lack of focus” to these ears. [2/6]
WAN – WOLVES OF THE NORTH: Fairly standard Celtic Frosty chug ‘n’ gallop crossed with late ‘90s Graveland…you don’t hear that much, eh? A humble/grandiose-enough template depending on your proclivities, and for better or worse, most songs are two-and-half-minutes long, somewhere between elevated-consciousness minimalism and special-needs sketch. Jury’s still out on that one. [3/6]
NOCTIS IMPERIUM – NIHIL: And yet again, almost another EP, as this one nearly tops out at a half-hour but is abetted by two live bonus tracks. Can’t say the length matters all that much because you otherwise get rote, by-the-numbers speedy blackened death whereby the best thing here’s a Morbid Angel cover…twice. [1.5/6]
Halvfabrikat roundup
PERSONKRETS 3:1 – BLODIGT KRIG 2003-2007: Personkrets 3:1 is dead – long live Personkrets 3:1. Pretty much their entire discography contained within, poignantly portraying the sonic development of Swedish HC during the Noughties, from post-Tragedy neo-crust to metallic Motorcharge. Always crushing. [4/6]
AKTIV DÖDSHJÄLP – MEN ALLTING HAR ETT SLUT: Whereby Aktiv Dödshjälp Go Metal. They were pretty metallic before as far as modern D-beating crust goes, but here they factor in straight-up metal elements like blackgrind and even (more so) mournful melodic DM not all that far removed from the ‘90s Gothenburg scene, not to mention some thematic synth running through the whole thing. And they do this all pretty seamlessly: ace! [4.5/6]
MISANTROPIC – INSOMNIA: Holy shit! Next to the more-patiently-destructive After the Bombs, this is the closest I’ve heard anyone lately sound like Sacrilege’s first record. A bit more Motorcharge here, too, but crushing and widescreen. [4.5/6]
PROTESTERA – 01.05.1886: Considerably better or at least much more powerful than their previous album – totally galloping neo-crust, and recorded well, to boot. Still, the we-go-to-great-lengths socialist posturing/pandering in the massive booklet gets on these tits: I DO NOT BELIEVE IT, COMRADE! [2.5/6]
Helvete.ru roundup
BLOOD DEVOTION – DEFILE OF INNOCENCE: Strongly reminding of the occasionally interesting Alghazanth, Russian mob Blood Devotion have a black metal sound that’s too polished for the underground and too raw for BM’s loosely affiliated aboveground. Given the option, I think I’d rather try to figure out whether I dig Alghazanth. [2.5/6]
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- HELVETIN MUSTA PETO: Perhaps THE ultimate Finnish UGBM compilation thus far assembled. All exclusive tracks, and the names should make you salivate enough: Ride for Revenge, Azaghal, Saturnian Mist, Barathrum, Musta Kappeli, and Anal Blasphemy among others. Also worth it for the haunting RFR epic alone. [5/6]
VERGE – TO REST THE LAST TIME IN OUR FILTH: Unsung Finn-filthbangers who are getting increasingly mystical and (more so) adventurous. This EP’s from 2008 and was their turning point toward those more mystical ends. An emotional rollercoaster which holds up well today. [4/6]
GRAMARY – SUFFOCATION: Never heard these Finns before, but they remind of Solistitium’s heyday: old-school Norse BM, fairly mystical, vaguely medieval in a swords-drawn-then-clanging-in-the-night-sky way. Does the trick wonderfully if you utilize those parameters. [3.5/6]
VIDHARR – ECLIPSE: These Italians go a similar route, but faster and grimmer and also less satisfyingly. Pretty well-written and -played, but could be a thousand other BM records currently making the rounds. [2.5/6]
FOURTH MONARCHY – AMPHILOCHIA: This is more like it: Italian BM that’s surging and mystical and more or less sounds like it’s coming straight from the middle of a blizzard. Again, can’t help but think of the Solistitium reference – maybe 1998’s alive after all? [4/6]
DIAMATREGON – THE SATANIC DEVOTION: Fuck yeah, this is what I like to see. Way-overlooked (not to mention long-OOP) debut LP from these French nasties, wobbling between their off-the-rails filth and fractured downer-rock. Not quite masters at this point, but they were on their way: wild, at the very least. [3.5/6]
PATRIA – SOVEREIGN MISANTHROPY + GLORIA NOX AETERNA: Weird…for being Brazilian, Patria sure sound Finnish. That’s not a bad thing, mind: rubbed raw yet clearly played, reminding of transitional Horna (i.e., Nazgul passing the mic to Corvus) and/or millennial Azaghal, either way pure BM with strong songwriting. First-named record’s the real ass-kicker. [4/6 + 3.5/6]
Sun & Moon Records roundup
BEYOND LIGHT – ECLIPSED SUN PATH : Sad that this sounds like so much one-manned BMyspace pitter-patter, because there’s actually a few compelling melodic/textural ideas to be found amongst the heard-it-all-before hiss. Get this dude some better equipment and we could be in business. [2/6]
A WINTER LOST – WELTENENDE: …And a summer gained? Harhar… Now this is how down-tempo BM should be done: Burzumic flow, textured like a blizzard, but blessed with tasteful touches like acoustic guitar and ethereal female vox. Not groundbreaking by any means, but very solid for the form. [4/6]
ANNIVERSARY CIRCLE – SATURATED FEATHERS: Holy shit – this has got my name all over it. NADA!-era Death in June, mid-‘90s Mephisto Walz (which sounds like the mid ‘80s, anyway), early Sol Invictus, early Lycia
SICULICIDIUM - UTOLSÓ VÁGTA AZ UNIVERZUMBAN: Say what? Oh, that’s Romanian. Anyway, Siculicidium play a pagan metal that reminds these ears of early Noughties Graveland but with a bouncier, even “playful” flair. You know already if you want this. [3/6]
Ajna Offensive/Unseen Forces roundup
DEATHCHARGE – LOVE WAS BORN TO AN EARLY DEATH LP: What began as meta-commentary on D-beat has, over the course of a teasingly sparse discography, blossomed into a deathrock powerhouse equal parts austere and assured. Compared to the scrappier The Hangman 7” six years previous, Deathcharge’s debut LP is a confident(ly throbbing) work, interstellarly recalling The Flesheaters fused with Ignorance-era Discharge or TSOL’s Revenge played by Killing Joke revisionists Charge. In other words, fucking GREAT. [4.5/6]
THE LAW – NONE ESCAPE LP: Indeed, none do (get it?). Funny thing is, the band’s moniker is actually an acronym for “Love And Wisdom” – not all that surprising considering all three members hailed from the Source Family cult. Anyway, not much to get worked up over on this archival release: turn-of-‘80s American metal like late ‘70s KISS and very early Virgin Steele, not without its lunkheaded charm, but mostly tepid and unexciting. Sweet look, though. [2/6]
ASTAROTH – SATANSPIRITUS 7”: Another archival release here, judging by its (authentically) early ‘70s hard rock sound, not unlike Cream getting their occult on. A-side’s an aquatic elegy to the titular Astaroth while the B-side vamps on how “Satan is coming to take us away.” Altogether kinda cool, but unfortunately a tad short: each track tops out at three minutes, when the (presumably) evil portent could’ve been more effective at double that. [3/6]
REVERORUM IB MALACHT – URKAOS LP: From former Dödfödd mainman Atum comes this beguiling entity, its debut full-length spread across two LPs (and a bonus CD of the same material). Huge booklet of script, too, which goes some ways in explaining the expansive black (metallish) sounds here, ranging Leviathan-esque vortexes to VON-esque retardo-drone to clanging dark ambient and plenty in between, all of it buried in a mile of murk. Pretty fascinating stuff – especially considering Atum’s conversion to Christianity, inexplicable as that may be – but also pretty exhausting. [3.5/6]
DOLORVOTRE – S/T CD: Arguably the most underrated of the justifiably hot Black Twilight Circle, Dolorvotre embody many of the key characteristics of that micro-scene – spiraling surge, subtly virtuostic playing, a sort of flailing mysticism – but instead, the duo douse their frequently skronking riff-attack with a slashing melancholy that really gnaws into your psyche. As some lyrics to the rather explanatory “Worship Black Twlight” corroborate, “Secrecy, ritual / THC , alcohol.” Crucial album here, folks. [5/6]
Adverse Order Music roundup
ILL OMEN – DIVINITY THROUGH UN-CREATION: A crystal geyser of grim splendor and sumptuous(ly hazy) dissonance. Tension soon becomes soothing, and within its murky depths lies beautiful ugliness/ugly beauty. And yes: it’s black metal! Absolutely masterful stuff. Australian BM’s gonna get you…and I’m gonna get gone. [5/6]
ATRA – IN REVERENCE OF DECAY: Next to Drowning the Light, the one-manned Atra is the most emblematic of this rising, reigning paradigm; not surprisingly, mainman Blackheart also moonlights in DTL . Anyway, second full-length here amidst a flurry of demos and EPs, and prolly the dude’s best stuff: just total blackout metal. [4.5/6]
ATRA – UP-TURNING THE CURSE: Atra’s thing, at least in (drowning the) light of his native contemporaries, is largely eschewing mysticism in favor of misery – not too shabby a tradeoff, eh? As the title suggests, a concerted (down)turn toward downtimes, although with some obvious nods toward old Polish BM…or maybe you can’t shake the mysticism, after all? [4/6]
Heidens Hart Records roundup
ANCESTORS BLOOD – WHEN THE FOREST CALLS: Indeed, when it does! Strictly late ‘90s-styled black metal, but done with power and panache. The atmosphere could either be medieval or woodland depending on your destination – and old Abigor’s a touchstone for both – but rest assured that you’ll reach for the stars here. [4.5/6]
HEIMDALLS WACHT – NICHTORTE: Reissue of these Germans’ 2010 album. For pagan BM, these dudes palatably think outside the box, safely avoiding gawky hey-nonny-nonny-isms and instead driving closer to debut-era Kampfar. Nowhere near as supreme, of course, but you get the idea…. [4/6]
HEIMDALLS WACHT – UT DE GRAUTE OLLE TIED: Another reissue, this one from ’08. A bit more blood/fire/death here and also a bit more centrist/idiomatic, but the songs are just as stout(ly hypnotic). Gets the job done regardless. [4/6]
LUGUBRE – CHAOSKULT: Odds ‘n’ sods collection from these perennial underachievers…really, who’s the market for this? A few gems to be found here, like the stiflingly Transilvanian Hungry “Nuclear Counterstrike,” but otherwise the epitome of mediocre. [2/6]
ZWARTPLAAG – HAATSTORM: More workmanlike Dutch BM here, only slightly less mediocre…which isn’t saying much. Or anything. Is underachieving BM a national epidemic? Their name translates to “Black Plague,” after all. [2/6]
GESTALTE – GESTALTE: Then again, Gestalte hail from the Netherlands
KJELD – DE TIID HÂLDT GJIN SKOFT: Kjeld also hail from the Netherlands MCD . Their songs are longer, but they forego hypnosis for a more hyperactive-yet-melancholic BM. Not as much to my taste, but solid nevertheless. [3/6]
MURW – KANKER: Oddball here – amongst this bunch, anyway – as we’ve got winding ‘n’ wandering doom-death inna old Opeth stylee. Kinda cool since Opeth really no longer sound like Opeth, but the mind also wanders… [3/6]
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