Skeleton - Skeleton (2020)

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The formula on this self-titled is an easy enough one to pin down, a grab bag influence of first wave black metal riffs and vocals with early thrash and hardcore passages a la Venom and Bulldozer and tempo shifts with a barebones structure of early Entombed death metal and a fraction of the meatiness that Bolt Thrower had with some of the rough around the edges punk of all those bands. I was healthily skeptical of this debut release from Austin, Texas, but the more spins I inevitably cycle through, almost out of compulsion, the more I accept its unavoidable filthy and unrefined charms. it's hard not to be a sucker for an amalgamation like this, and it's done well to boot. Dig in, creeps!

Skeleton (bandcamp)

Jordablod - The Cabinet of Numinous Song (2020)

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Here's a new one I've just landed on from the Iron Bonehead faction, I'll normally scour the new releases found there as the label has earned its way into my trusting arms (ears, whatever) thanks to a plethora of solid releases – How about that Blot & Bod album last year, a real crusher – So when I saw this new album by Jordablod, a motley trio from Sweden hellbent on pulling from sounds across a wide range of sonic landscapes, but still adamant about the bulk of sound being a mixture of doom, death and black metal. It works, and I'm compelled to enjoy the way in which the drums are recorded,  a thick rumbling, and at times plodding, kick drum, that positions itself between a layer of guitar fog which at times seems to float around old rock n' roll and psychedelia riffs. I might be doing a poor job of describing that, to be fair, I'm surviving off the fumes of a few hours of sleep and a undercurrent of a lingering hangover daze. Listen on, my wayward sons.

Jordablod - The Cabinet of Numinous Song (bandcamp)

Void Eater - IIII (2019)

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There's absolutely no surprise that Void Eater's EP IIII is right up my alley, as it's putrid to the bone black/death metal to the point of mummifying in it's own reverb and calcifying under the weight of itself. Too often adjectives are haphazardly thrown around and I am certainly not above it myself, but one would be out of their fucking skull if they were to try and describe Void Eater without using words like; Primeval war-stomp, barbaric body-slam, bestial blood-doner, antediluvian head-kick, troglodytic beat-down, etc, etc.

Everything about this downward spiral of black/death is impressive and far more oppressive than lesser forms mascaraing under the banner of bestial death metal.

Void Eater - IIII (bandcamp)

Maveth & Embrace of Thorns - A Plague Through The Heavens [split] (2014)

I was initially going to challenge myself by reviewing Noia's new album Obstinate Sacrifice while trying not to talk about how much it sounds like a cleaned up version of Venom playing Nuclear Assault songs or how the lyrics should be swapped out for pseudo-human grunts, belches, growls and farts… But I decided against it because I'm already going to be reviewing Midnight's No Mercy For Mayhem for favorite Icelandic human Birkir and his blog Halifax Collect later this week.

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Instead, I give you filth. I give you death. I give to you a split that is actually worth checking out, A Plague Through The Heavens released by Dark Descent Records. Two bands that aren't new to the game, Maveth from Finland and Embrace of Thorns from Greece band together to bludgeon you senseless with their dragged through the muck and fecal decay of the sewers take on black/death metal. I'm sure this is best listened to in the dark, sitting in a pentagram drawn with goats semen but I'm sitting on a park bench withe the sun beaming down on my fucking forehead, and it's still pretty sweet man.

  

A Plague Through The Heavens (Buy + bandcamp)

Coltsblood - Beyond The Lake of Madness demo (2013)

Crushingly sluggish doom that drags on between two lo-fi tracks rife with feedback, crunchy tones and a vocal delivery that strikes me as unique to the particular genre, sometimes sounding more like powerviolence played at half speed inside a distant hollow. Unfortunately I can't get my hands on the demo, cassettes are sold out and I haven't a download link… So it goes, though if any member of Coltsblood stumbles upon this, get in touch, I'd like to give this a proper review.

If the band wishes it, I'll provide a download link for you scoundrels!

Coltsblood (bandcamp)

Napalm Death - Utilitarian (2012)

Alright blokes, here we have deathened grind legends Napalm Death with their 2012 offering Utilitarian, personally I'd rather just spin Heirs to Thievery by Misery Index. Utilitarian however is no slouch, and in fact hoists some rather interesting experimental moments that work out quite well beneath the ensuing mobocracy.

Grab if you like: Nasum, Repulsion, Assück

Utilitarian(s)

Morbid Insulter - Antichrist Blasphemies (2010)

Just ordered this beauty of an EP by Morbid Insulter! Considering it cost me about 20$ CND for 15 minutes of blackened thrash beauty, you can gather it is at least worth your 'free' click. Awaiting the debut LP from these Swedes, I need Swedish friends, Swedish friends that will go to Hönö and bring me back news of their release.

Grab if you like: Nifelheim, Volcanic Slut, Hellhammer

Antichrist Blasphemies

Flourishing - The Sum Of All Fossils (2011)

 

 This can be hard to pin down, so let's not worry too much about that shitty shit.

Grab if you like: Rorschach, Ulcerate, Baring Teeth

A Thimbles Worth

Acid Witch - Stoned (2010)

Hail Satan, hail Acid Witch. Grimy guitar tones and filthy ghoulish laden vocals, rolled up into one fine release. It's catchy and chalked full of odd samples from some type of Satan worship documentary.
Perfect for this time of year, get into it.

Grab if you like: Hooded Menace, Ramesses, Shroud Eater

Trick or Treat

Funerot - And Then You Fucking Die Man (2010)

Once again we have some brilliantly executed Metalpunk-Thrash that would make even Fenriz blush. I have been replaying this album constantly lately, It is near flawless in it's approach and I am starting to think this really should of been on my top 2010.

It's raw, punky, heavy, dirty, catchy and everything else beautiful and morbid. Every instrument can be heard well and yet the production remains uncleaned and genuine. Each song coheres to the motto "live fast die young", and then you fucking die man.


You Fucking Die  (Sorry dudes, this is Megaupload)

Volcanic Slut - Blasphemaster EP (2010)

Blistering Metalpunk-Thrash with a nod to Black/Death Metal, but let's face it, not everything can be perfectly lumped into our cute little genre labels. There are an array of musical elements and influences that can be heard on this EP, but instead of analyzing each and every one of them, you can spend the next 7 minutes listening to the entire EP yourself and interpret the way you hear it. It's good, bang your fucking head!

Blasphemaster

Defeatist - Sixth Extinction (2010)

Listening to this album is like drinking copious amounts of whiskey with Blanka and challenging him to a match of bare-knuckle boxing. The end result? Pure fucking unadulterated pain with a side order of vomit.

What we have here is some noisy, feral sounding grind from these chaps of New York City. A total of 19 tracks running for 27 minutes. Enjoy it.

Headache

Cebren-Khal - A Mass of Despair (2010)

Cebren-Khal concocts a debut album that is quite interesting and convincing, my ears approve. These folks from France were thinking outside the box, as they nod to more than a couple different styles on this debut album. I will let the tags below tell you what to expect. Laziness? Preposterous! Okay, well maybe. But at least I provide to internet scum across the globe.

While listening to A Mass of Despair there seemed to be a lot of times where the song would really grab my attention and get the voice in my head saying "fuck yeah!". The aforementioned is a good thing. I have actually only listened to this album fully through twice, but oh yeah, I acquired it 2 hours ago. The last song on the CD actually has about 5 plays already, only because I had to keep listening to the last 3 minutes of it. Get it.

Click me. (sorry for calling you scum earlier.)

Cormorant - Metazoa (2009)

Look how beautiful that album cover is, I want to eat it. Consumption through the ears will have to suffice. And suffice it does, I bought this album for 6$ at my favorite used CD store in Toronto (Sonic Boom).

When I saw this CD there I definitely yelled something along the lines of "Fucking Right!" and offended some lady behind me combing through the Pop Rock section. Fuck it, if she knew anything she wouldn't be looking through Pop Rock.

Anyways, I have a point. And that point is, Metazoa is the tits! It is a little bit difficult to lump Cormorant into a genre, because they blend so many different styles and constantly change their formula. On Metal Archives they are listed as Progressive Folk/Black Metal, but one listen and you will hear many other influences, and you will love it. If not, your ears aren't working properly.


Consume
Part 1
Part 2