Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Monthly Blast: February 2018


Absu - Tara (2002)

For an album that needs no introduction, or shouldn't need one, one could almost imagine that Tara was released in 1988 or something alongside the German thrash greats, but this  2002 release is an easy choice for me when asked about modern classics, or best album  of the decade from 2000-2010 (maybe one or two others come to mind). In all honesty, what can be said about an album which literally leaves one crawling on the floor trying  to escape it's endless magickal power. With Proscriptor offering one of Metal's best  drum performances ever, it's easy to forget some of the other elements which fall to the side. But one could listen to this album ten times and listen for different  instruments and reasons. For example the combined bass effort of Shaftiel and Equitant  here is unreal, with the bass every bit as vibrant and necessary as the flesh-rending guitars. It would be heresy to ignore the implications which a track such as "Pillars  of Mercy" or "Manannan" would have for the Black Thrash genre moving forward,  epitomizing what the genre could provide but has very rarely acheived. The minutia on  the album are endless; the phasing effects in "A Sheild With An Iron Face", the first  immediate pause and subsequent drum accents in "Pillars of Mercy", "Manannan's" taunting continuous rhythmic undulations, "Four Crossed Wands'" tense pull and push  conflict; the more one scrutinizes Tara, the stronger it becomes, it's riffs  burrowing into corners of one's being to the point that they reappear randomly at  points in life; at family dinners, while shopping, during sex. What also strikes me  about this record is the complexity overall of the songs and lyrical content. Absu's combined trio-crafted lyrical content for this record which is hands down some of the  most ridiculous thematic content when you look at the liner notes, but the songs  themselves flow smoothly like wind over Irish hills. For me, the first track that ended  my life was "Stone of Destiny," which Iron Maiden wish they wrote first, because it's  about as epic as Heavy Metal gets but Absu's style lends it a viciousness and sharpness  which would be difficult to recreate anywhere else. It's the perfect culminating track  for this record. Tara is one of a kind, a landmark album that exists more as a dream to  achieve than the reality of it's being. UltraBoris was wrong. Required listening. (Orion)


Atavisma - On The Ruins Of A Fallen Empire (2017)

Atavisma, the French death metal outfit that first impressed me with their 2014 demo,  Where Wolves Once Dwelled, trickles material out every once in a while, a pace similar  in output to the pace of the two songs on On The Ruins Of A Fallen Empire,  the Horror Pain Gore Death 7" EP recently assembled. Though similar on all fronts to the material from the demo, as well as the single track from their 2015 split with Indonesia's Maur,  Atavisma has added a human drummer on this recording. The natural drums add just ever  slightly a natural aura to the percussion and, hence, the impact is improved. On a local level Atavisma's Death metal style is firmly entrenched stylistically with Ataraxie, switching between slow doom segments and faster Incantation styled tremolo  guitars. The comparisons to Disma or Funebrarum are accurate. Claims of resemblance to  Incantation are more appropriate in this case. Where Ataraxie is content to write  long epic fifteen minute tracks, Atavisma has topped out at the ten minute mark on the  previous split. Here we get song more average in length in the six or seven minute  range. This vastly increases the digestibility of Atavisma's fare. Vocally, L's low  murmuring growls are less varied and emotive than Marquis' from Ataraxie. It's tough to  choose which track deserves more extolling. "The Shapes of Great Nothing" is a beast of  churning death and pummeling molasses-thick wreckage. "Amid the Ruins" is praiseworthy  as well with subtle melodic designs which flavor throughout. I lean towards this second  track because bassist Waldo Losada plays such a key roll in the tracks quickened spiraling mid section. This is a deadly EP and much as I lauded the original demo, On The Ruins  Of A Fallen Empire is Atavisma's darkest and deathliest material yet. (Orion)


Black Bleeding - A Bright Future (2015)

I've listened to this tape so many times over the past year or so, and just simply have  not been able to get into it at all. Black Bleeding changed a huge amount between The Awakening and A Bright Future and I can't for the life of me promote this newer entity.  The sarcastic, thrashy, dare-say-I 'fun' band they've become on A Bright Future is just  not my cup of tea. It's pretty apparent from the first chords of the demo that there is  a definitive change in style, with a big punk influence showing through. The  progressions are upbeat, and, if not downright jovial such as "Three More Beers and the  Truth" or "Habay Cock City / Athus Toxs City" then they are politely non-aggressive in  any way. Also of note is the lack of actual "riffs" and reliance on quickly strummed  chorded progressions. The drums are often simple thrash beats on loop. "Can Food &  Weapons" closes the album as the only song I felt resembled the original style they had  developed earlier but even this is riddled with lackadaisical and bland rhythmic  elements from the new album. The band is essentially the same entity so I don't know  what happened to Black Bleeding on this but they should return to their roots of dark death metal. (Orion)




Ctulu - Ctulu (2016)

Ctulu is a Lovecraftian extreme metal trio from Germany formed in 2008 - the self- titled album in question is their third full-length, and also my first experience with  the band. The music mixes elements of black and death metal, although somewhat in the  modern vein. The band shows a impressive level of craftsmanship, as each instrument is  well-played and evident in the mix. The songs also tend to be quite catchy and  memorable, filled with tight rhythms and headbanging riffs. The band's sound isn't  easily categorized, which is where their experimental tendencies kick in. Ctulu have a  knack for neck-breaking thrash riffs as well, combined with hard-hitting drumming and  tasty bass licks. If you could envision an unholy concoction of Behemoth, Slayer and  Satyricon with vocals in German, then you might just have a good idea what to expect  from Ctulu. An enjoyable effort. (Mongrel)




Fates Warning - Chasing Time (1995)

Compilations are rarely useful for bands with such devoted fan bases such as Fates  Warning. While surface dwellers may find a best of useful for a band like Iron Maiden  or Metallica to be informed of the bare-essentials, this is not important for bands even of a stature such as Fates Warning. So the real question, who would really buy this? I have no idea. I found the compilation a nice mix of material spanning the  band's Arch and Alder eras. The Alder era represents more time here, as is to be  expected with the contemporary Alder era albums represented and the three Arch albums.  We get "Damnation" from Night on Brocken, and only a single track from The Spectre Within (The Apparition). From Awaken The Guardian, "Prelude to Ruin" and "Guardian"  were chosen, which I felt to be odd choices. "Silent Cries" and "Quietus" (Pt. IV of Ivory Gate Of Dreams) appears from No Exit and  from Perfect Symmetry "Through Different Eyes" with a reworking of "At Fates Hands"  called "At Fates Fingers." The greatest grouping of tracks is taken from Parallels.  "Eye To Eye", "Point of View", "The Eleventh Hour", and remix of "We Only Say Goodbye"  are chosen. Inside Out donates "Monument." The only truly interesting tracks here would  then be "Circles" and "At Fate's Fingers". "Circles" is the  only truly unique track to this release. In the style of Parallels mostly, it's easy to  see why it was omitted from previous albums as the track sounds unfinished as  presented. The clean guitar that gently glides over everything sounds as if it is  mostly a placeholder for something better that could potentially have been added later  on. Overall, this is a decent collection for a fan of the band that would be interested  in having a mixture of tracks from both early and more modern periods of the band, yet  with the easy ability to create one's own playlist, this style of best-of compilations from the physical era are totally unnecessary. (Orion)


Imprecation / Blaspherian - Imprecation / Blaspherian Split (2014)

Two Texas based death metal bands with big Incantation influence, Imprecation starts  this split with their massive take on death metal. "Unlock The Ancient Portals of the  Faceless Lord" might be a mouthful to say but it's a huge track, owing a lot to Morbid  Angel's Covenant but also is so down-tuned that it's not difficult to see some  similarities to Demilich. The weakest element is the drumming, with not a huge  amount of variety or separation rhythmically and Milton Luna's bass tone is too boomy  for my liking, snuffing out what I feel could be a lot more definition in the overall  mix. It's a mostly blunt and bludgeoning effort. Blaspherian's "The Blesings of  Sanctity Rescinded" is the longer of the two tracks and contains more overall nuance to  appear to me the better of the two tracks. It's not awkward for Blaspherian to juxtapose a faster guitar riff with a crawling drum line, such as halfway through when  the track dissolves into palm muted chugs while Matt Mayhem plays an almost Funeral  Doom drum beat. I felt the decision to end the song by simply fading away with vocals  still grunting and guitars still chugging was an odd choice, leaving me feeling as if  the track was never completed or was culled from something intended to be longer. (Orion)


Invincible Force - Satan Rebellion Metal (2015)

They say the most the powerful forces in nature, are the invincible forces. That  sentiment could very well apply to the band I'm reviewing, since Invincible Force is  another hellish entry from the fathomless depths of the Chilean underground. The  release under review, Satan Rebellion Metal, is their debut full-length summoned  under the cloak of Dark Descent Records. The album features eight impure hymns of  caustic black/death/thrash reminiscent of bands like Slaughtbbath, Communion, and Force  of Darkness. If you can envision a thrashier Bestial Warlust, then you might have a  good grasp of what awaits you on Satan Rebellion Metal. The music is absolutely  scornful and performed with malicious fury, as if though the members were all possessed  by malignant spirits during the recording of this album. The production is powerful and  brings out the best in each performance. There really is no shortage of savage riffs  and merciless aggression, this is about as menacing as South American  black/death/thrash gets. This album only gets more enjoyable with each spin and  delivers just the right amount of tracks and length that prevents it from becoming  tedious. If you enjoy your metal bestial and thrashy, I guarantee you, you will love  Invincible Force. (Mongrel)


Lantern - Below (2016)

Lantern's Below and it's gargantuan moss shrouded Incantation-esque riffs are sure to  drip directly into the gut of most listeners. Lantern don't hesitate, with opener  "Rites of Descent" immediately lashing out at everything in it's vicinity with a stream  of twisting deathly riffs. The first listen should be adequate for songs such as  "Manifesting Shambolic Aura" to be immediately on the cusp of one's inner-jukebox, but  after two or three heady listens it's clear there are a well of ideas presented here.  "Revenant" shows variety in the drums as the song breaks into a doomy chord progression  underneath a slick lead. Speaking of the guitar leads, Below abounds with them and with  only Cruciatus handling the instruments including the bass and drums, it's surprising  how deep that well of ideas goes. He proves himself capable on every instrument as  well. Though the bass is audible throughout, and follows the guitars mostly, it adds a  huge amount of low rumble to the mix to offset and fill in gaps when the guitars echo  Immolation-style tremolo moments which would otherwise be empty. The drums are set back  in the mix slightly compared to other elements, particularly the echoing cavernous  vocals, yet sound as if that distance is necessary to add to the subterranean eminence  which the album conveys. "Manifesting Shambolic Aura" is my favorite here, Death metal  legions should by now have engaged with Lantern. If not, Below is a good point of  departure into their lair. (Orion)


Mandragora - Steel Metal Attack (2017)

Peru's Mandragora put out one of my favorite recent demos with 2010's Steel Metal.  They've been idle in terms of new releases other than their First Attack 7" This  compilation includes both and is a good addition to any Heavy Metal loving fan's  collection. Mandragora are very much a top tier band performance wise mixing mostly  Priest and Maiden with some speed metal elements topped with Fatima Natthammer's  powerful vocals. The tracks from the 7" are much more professionally produced, with  clear, classic-sounding metal guitars and leads by Herman Gers and Paulo Rockett. Of  the two tracks from First Attack, I prefer "Lady In Black," which is less 'jumpy' than  the more rock-and-roll crowd-raising "Snakebite." The true worth of the compilation,  however, are the demo tracks which have received some production updates fixing issues  with playback on the original demo tapes and some slight volume adjustment. The demo is  still a far cry audibly from the two new tracks. Hearing what, in my opinions, is a  modern classic such as "Steel Metal" in a better quality is worth the import. With  three video files attached to the disc viewable on PC or DVD player, live videos  of performances of "Steel Metal", "Snakebite", and "Lady In Black" the compilation  really offers a nice overall package with some new material added on. I'm stoked to  finally get their full length, Waves of Steel, in the mail soon, because this is truly  no more than an appetizer. (Orion)


Master's Hammer - Ritual (1991)

Master's Hammer's debut, Ritual, is still one of the more bizarre recordings from this  early era of death metal and black metal compression. What I like most about it is  ironically what I hate most in classical music, which this is easily compared to. When  big grandiose timpani sections burst in to accent notes and transitions, chills sweep  over me and I shudder in visceral elation. The sharpness against the otherwise pitter- pattering drums of Mirek Valenta and Necrocock's (Tomas Kohout) sodden guitars is so  bright and charmingly elemental in tonality. Beyond this, riffwise, the highly unusual  movements would be easily castigated in other bands for being too syncopated to flow  well but sound as liquid as water behind Franta Storm's raspy grumbled Czech dialect.  Highlights are many but the three key tracks here are "Pad Modly", "Cerna Svatozar",  and "Ritual". Though it would be easy to include others, these three tracks exemplify  Master's Hammer in every regard; the isolated bursts of weirdly syncopated riffs,  strange and unusual melodic movements, and bombastic timpani accents. To explain how  important the timpani is for Master's Hammer, it's listed as a main instrument. Not  even Geoff Nichols was listed as a main musician on the albums he added keyboards for  in Sabbath. "Cerna Svatozar" is my favorite here for the indelible scar left on my  brain with the opening riff, the heavy timpani usage early on, and the perfect tension  built in the verse. (Orion)


Phil Collins - No Jacket Required (1985)

Phil Collins' third album, No Jacket Required, a title inspired by not being allowed  into a restaurant, is Collins' least personally representative record and most  commercially influenced output. I wouldn't quite call the album cold, because the  synths and vocals are very warm and inviting across songs such as "Long Long Way To Go"  or the ephemeral "One More Night". Either "Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore" or  "Who Said I Would" are the toughest offerings. I think the later is the 'hardest' track  here with a rough and sci-fi sounding bass behind the whole track and steel drums acting  as the main structural cue. At times when Collins and co. speed up the material lacks  the personality which Phil Collins had brought to his previous solo albums. "Sussudio,"  while being an awesome comic book character, is just too repetitive, effectively  jamming it's two main hooks into you instead of gently placing them, "Only You Know and  I Know," a track that reminds me of ZZ Top's Afterburner, and which I keep munching on,  has a similar plunkiness even if the keychange to the chorus hits the ears hard. There  is little of the progressive elements here which I look for in Collins' music. One fast  track which bucks this trend is b-side opener "Don't Lose My Number," where the beat  drives forward a track with almost atonal guitar licks. Structurally, the song, though  sticking to the pop formula, amends just enough to retain a sense of Collins' past  history as we're guided through a bridge, transitional section, and extended solo. My  larger gripe with the record is simply the choice production wise for this to be so  electronic. It dates the record. Without some of these elements, it would lose some of  it's charm, however. (Orion)


Queensryche - Silent Lucidity (1991)

This single contains a mere two songs. Opening with "Silent Lucidity," this single  merely formulates thoughts in the mid as to how Queensryche went from The Warning a  mere six years earlier to this Pink Floyd-esque prog rock / easy listening crud. The  lack of metalness, out-of-place samples, orchestration, and Tate's feminine vocals on  the track are confounding. The b-side is more rewarding but ultimately still tripe. It  is a single-specific live recording of "The Mission" recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon  in November 1990. It's a whatever track, exemplifying the Empire-era style of the band  with too much focus on hooks and not enough focus on attack and riffs. I did enjoy  listening to Eddie Jackson's bass playing which is clear and driving. It's actually a  good example of the importance of the instrument in progressive metal. As far as I  know, this version of the track is not available anywhere else. It also doesn't need to  be. The CD version has a live recording of "Eyes of a Stranger" which isn't present on  the my tape. Since I picked up this tape for a mere fifty cents, I don't care at all  and it's an odd relic, but totally not worth spending any significant cash on unless  you would like to pay me for my own copy. Completists are the only group I could  conceive of actually searching for this release. I could also imagine Tate himself  putting it on a pedestal simply becuase he sings on it. (Orion)


Signatura Rerum - In Sfarsit (2013)

For symphonic black metal, often the keyboards can be a major detriment to the overall  sound of the band. Romanians Signatura Rerum, on their debut album In Sfarsit, prove  they can be used to truly propel the emotional pinnings of a record. Best categorized,  Signatura Rerum takes the sound of Negura Bunget, particularly on Om, and strips out  the more avant-garde elements. Melodically, there are similarities as well as in pacing  and movement. "Blestem Soptit" is best evidence of this, but where Negura Bunget use  guitars melodically, Signatura Rerum use the keyboards, creating a symphonic background  to the riffs in the front of the mix, which occasionally touch into death metal  territory. Vocalist Echivoc is a highlight for me, excellent in his harsh screams which  fit perfectly into the expansive arrangements' natural flow. Occasionally, Echivoc also  adds clean and layered chanted vocals which add an ethereal component to their sections  and act as ear candy to offset a powerfully intense record. The drums are also a  highlight, with extremely natural rhythms and fills throughout the record, I was duped  into thinking drummer Morgul actually performed the material here when it was in fact a  drum machine. For a first album, this comes across as very masterfully done, and while  there could be some attention paid to add clarity in the overall mix, the overall  impression this leaves is very positive. This will likely appeal to anyone that enjoys  Emperor or Borknagar or similar symphonic Norwegian bands from the second wave, just  with that special Romanian mysticism nestled deep within. (Orion)

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