Monday 31 August 2020

Astarium - Hyperborea


Labels: GrimmDistribution/Gravações Tunguska

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 18 Apr 2020


Tracklist:


1. Mysterious Fog

2. The Wild Hunt

3. Doomed

4. Halls Of Winter Gods

5. When The Proud Die

6. Snow Storm

7. Sign Of Cosmic Might

8. For The King!

9. Battle Glory

10. Daughter Of Imir

11. Red Rose

12. Kill To Survive

13. Carpathian Windspirit

14. Curse From The Past

15. Lucky Bastard

16. Zhothaqquah


Diving back into the review pile revealed this, the 8th (and newest) full-length from Russia's symphonic/ambient black metal band Astarium. A familiar band to those who have been following this blog over the years. Hyperborea was recorded a couple of years ago before being self-released in March 2019. It has since been released on CD via GrimmDistribution (Ukraine) and Gravações Tunguska (Portugal). Astarium has always been an intriguing project for me, as in spite of being very productive, the creativity put into it by sole member SiN has always shone through.


This album contains sixteen songs, of which four are ambient/instrumental numbers like album opener ‘Mysterious Fog’. That may not seem like a positive statement to begin a review with,  but I’ll expand on it later on.


‘The Wild Hunt’ typifies Astarium’s approach to synth-led black metal. To some it may be an acquired taste, but it’s charm is unmistakable and here SiN provides a song that’s certainly more fun and avant-garde than normal thanks to the melodic keys and faster tempo.’ Doomed’ comes at you with a heavy dose of industrial atmosphere and majestic power from the powerful horn/orchestral tones that exist in between the brief guitar passages. 


When Astarium focuses it’s energy on slower songs, it show/s a completely different side to the band. ‘Halls Of Winter Gods’ is one such song and the lengthy opening passage makes you think that something mournful and slow is around the corner, but what it actually reveals and a mid-paced folk/black metal song that’s very well put together.


The mind is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to creatives and that’s definitely the case here. The tracks here follow on from each other well but also seem to be independent of each other, as if they were composed at random points during Astarium’s tenure (they possibly were) and then put together quickly to form this album. ‘When The Proud Die’ is an oddly meandering but short piece of black metal, which leads to ‘Snow Storm’, which provides somewhat of an escape thanks to it’s melody.


There’s a more accessible feeling about ‘Sign Of Cosmic Might’, mainly down to it’s structure and nod towards alternative music as well as just extreme metal. At least that’s how it comes across to me anyway. Feel free to tell me I’m talking rubbish here! Next up is another folk/medieval led song in the form of ‘For The King!’, which is also one the longest present on the album. In parts it’s mystical, while still being a challenging listen in same way that Norway’s Fleurety can be.


The instrumental interlude ‘Battle Glory’ retains the odd momentum that the album has, thanks to the use of upbeat tempos again and an air of fantasy. Brilliant played organ and woven samples make ‘Daughter Of Imir’ an obvious standout on Hyperborea. It sounds more accomplished and well rounded alongside the stirring guitar work and sensitive use of vocals throughout.


The brief chaos of ‘Red Rose’ that follows is a bit of a shock. I say that only because ‘Daughter Of Imir’ was such a complete song. Thankfully, ‘Kill To Survive’ brings that feeling back with whale-song and a cosmic atmosphere that’s as sinister as it is tuneful. The rest of the song is filled with Astarium’s signature ambient black metal.


The percussion on ‘Carpathian Windspirit’ takes centre stage, pulling the interlude through to it’s conclusion before ‘Curse From The Past’ fills the speakers with more upbeat extremity once again, though the constant melody that flows through it really does draw your ear in. Penultimate song ‘Lucky Bastard’ sounds like it could have been conceived during the writing of 2013’’s From The Cleaved Old Coffin, which contained two forty-second songs in very much the same vein.


Closing with ‘Zhothaqquah’, a song that draws in so many elements of Astarium’s creativity, it’s hard to deny that Hyperborea is a worthy album. Going back to my initial statement about those unmentioned songs (which are instrumental interludes), I was going to say that following my look over the album’s booklet, only twelve full songs are listed and therefore; those added instrumental songs may not have been needed; however, now that I’ve listened to the album in full, I really appreciate them. 


Even though at times it feels slightly disjointed, Hyperborea is a fascinating listen and it highlights moments from different parts of Astarium’s recording career, in the same way that compilations do for other bands. I’m not sure whether that was intended but it works all the same. 


You can stream and purchase Hyperborea digitally below:-



Astarium - https://www.facebook.com/astariumofficial/


Physical copies can be purchased via the link below:-


GrimmDistribution - https://grimmdistribution.bandcamp.com/


Grimmdistribution - https://www.facebook.com/grimmdistribution/

Gravações Tunguska - https://tunguskarec.blogspot.com

Thursday 27 August 2020

Amid The Old Wounds - Vignette 7"


Labels: Time As A Color

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 07 Aug 2020


Tracklist:


1. Vignette

2. Great Expectations

3 Instant Stars (Demo)


I have a ton of new music in physical formats to listen to and this 7" EP from Amid The Old Wounds is just one. Long time friend and awesomely creative musician/human being Daniel (also of Duct Hearts and Wishes On A Plane) sent me this a little while ago. The EP was released in early August by Time As A Color Records and was pressed onto 200 copies, 150 on black and 50 on clear purple vinyl, and was housed in a screen-printed card sleeve with a folder insert and centre labels featuring the heart above. The music contained within the grooves is acoustic emo. 


It’s been a strange day and I found no rhythm whatsoever while at work, so relaxation was well and truly needed. No heavy music this evening, instead the soothing melodic tones of Amid The Old Wounds and EP opening song ‘Vignette’, which is a quietly played and very moving. It allows for plenty of reflection, which is sometimes lost during the pace of modern life.


As this period of 2020 has taught many of us, life is fragile and sometimes slowing down is good. We’re all stuck in routine and taking a step back can be a great thing. It struck me while listening to ‘Great Expectations’ that there’s an element of that within the recording and it perhaps helped to shape the artistic process that Daniel went through.


EP closer ‘Instant Stars’ is a demo version and it’s short but sweet. Both the layered acoustic guitar and the gentle vocals bring a swathe a calm across you when listening and leaves you blissfully wanting more. People’s ingenuity and creativity has come to the fore during the recent uncertainty and none more so than here. Amid The Old Wounds warms the coldest of corners.


You can stream Vignette and buy it as a name-your-price download below:-



Physical copies can be purchased here - https://timeasacolor.com/amid-the-old-wounds-vignette-7/


Also, if that wasn't enough of a reason to visit Time As A Color, the label is also selling skateboarding accessories and shoes too.


Time As A Color - https://www.facebook.com/timeasacolor/

Thursday 20 August 2020

Wicked Sisters - wired_backwards

 


Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 13 Aug 2020


Tracklist:


1. D.O.G

2. straightrazor

3. Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia (withvoluntarynarcissisticrage)


It still blows my mind when bands from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia get in touch. Sydney's Wicked Sisters contacted me a little while ago, via bassist/vocalist Sam, whom I've known for a while. He told me that the band was due to release a new EP and wanted me to check it out. Wicked Sisters play some kind of doom/industrial/metal hybrid, so here's the 411.


If the cover art with it’s darkness bathed in blue light tells you anything, it’s that Wicked Sisters don’t take the usual approach to their music and EP opener ‘D.O.G’ is a proper mix of heavy doom and clinical industrial. Guitar/bass riffs that make you stop dead, precise drumming that’s both heavy and catchy, vocals that register amongst the deepest darkest depths and sci-fi inspired samples all add up, 


It’s followed by the bizarre ‘straightrazor’, which uses more electronics and ambient noise. The vocals seem to repeat over and over, and before you know it you’re lost in some kind of hellish waking nightmare.


EP closer ‘Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia (withinvoluntarynarcissisticrage)’ is really upbeat and would suit any basement goth/dance club, at least during the opening bars anyway. Following that initial flourish is an introspective piano-led section before Wicked Sisters once again more towards twisted, psychedelic doom. It’s unlike any type of doom I’ve heard before, which I guess in the whole point. 


Wicked Sisters present something out of left field, while being catchy and heavy. wired_backwards is a really good EP that’s well worth a listen. If you’re stuck in a rut with the same old bands then look no further.


You can stream and purchase wired_backwards digitally below:-



Wicked Sisters - https://www.facebook.com/wickedsistersmusic/

Monday 17 August 2020

Beggar - Compelled To Repeat


Labels: APF Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Apr 2020


Tracklist:


1. Blood Moon

2. Anaesthete

3. The Cadaver Speaks

4. Black Cloud

5. Trepanned Head Stares At The Sun

6. Custody Of The Eyes

7. Tenantless The Graves

8. Matryoshka Brain

9. Compelled To Repeat


London's sludge metal quartet Beggar is one band that I've followed for some time and have written about a few times. Getting the opportunity to review multiple EPs by the band, include Beggar II, Shingles + House Of Man, Caramel Cigarette and Chainscraper over the years underlined how much talent this band has, so getting the chance to review the band's debut album is a treat (apologies for the delay). It was released back in April on multiple formats by the ever growing and flourishing APF Records.


I don’t think I’ve ever heard Beggar sounding this heavy before. Compelled To Repeat is their debut album and they’ve put everything into it. Opener ‘Blood Moon’ is a mixture of outright heaviness and. Impressive musicality. Extreme in the vocal department, like a cross between Crowbar and Scour but at the same time so much more, while the instrumentation seems to have it’s own agenda and doesn’t just back-up the vocals. The volume of the recording and the mastering of Jame Plotkin really brings everything to life.


Groove and blues are woven into ‘Anaesthete’, making it sound very hypnotic, at least until the downright evil shrieks take hold. At times, black metal and avant-garde influences seep in and that’s no bad thing at all. It’s little wonder this album has already garnered so much positive press following it’s release. Even so early into this album, there’s so much to get lost in and ‘The Cadaver Speaks’ flies by in no time at all. It’s so hard to explain why the song hits the spot so well without repeating myself, so I’m not going to. So far, Beggar seems to have got the song-writing and lengths right, without needing to be overblown and in doing so, they gain more impact.


Nothing’s too fast but neither is it too slow. ‘Black Cloud’ is probably one of the sludgiest numbers but it’s also one of the most rocking, and you’ll understand why when you listen to it. The guitars take the lead throughout while the vocals sit deeper in the mix, jostling for position alongside the considerable low-end and percussive battery. So fucking good so far! There’s room for a cinematic intro on ‘Trepanned Head Stares At The Sun’ but if you were expecting some meandering post-rock, you’re gonna be a little disappointed when the melodic riffs disappear to reveal bursts of blasting extremity that’s more akin to grind. Thankfully, Beggar has the skill to temper that ferocity with said melody to create one of the highlights of the album so far.


The second half of Compelled To Repeat begins with the short interlude ‘Custody Of The Eyes’, which breaks up the intensity for a moment before leading you into ‘Tenantless The Graves’, which does completely the opposite. Back comes the heaviness and with it, no hiding place. Stop/start off-kilter vibes follow on penultimate slugger ‘Matryoshka Brain’, which includes a really great guitar solo very early on. It’s an excellent example of sludge taken to it’s more experimental reaches. It’s epic throughout.


Ending with the title track ‘Compelled To Repeat’, Beggar goes for the jugular one final time and it’s a glorious demise for anyone listening. It underlines how disturbing yet articulate this album is and how far Beggar has come in a relatively short space of time. The sound is even more extreme here and yet so fulfilling musically. If for some crazy reason you still haven’t listened to this record yet, do yourself a favour and do it now. 


You can stream Compelled To Repeat as well as purchase it on vinyl, cd and digital formats (tapes have sold out) below:-



Beggar - https://www.facebook.com/beggarband/


Copies are also available from APF Records here:- https://www.apfrecords.co.uk/


APF Records - https://www.facebook.com/apfrecords/

Saturday 15 August 2020

Serpent Eater - Vanitas


Labels: Alerta Antifascista Records//Wooaaargh Records/7 Degrees Records

Formats: Vinyl/Download

Release Date: 25 Jan 2020


Tracklist:


1. Echo Chamber

2. Hook Blind

3. Ten Floors Down

4. Hypnos

5. Dead Spiritualist Silent

6. Dunkelziffer

7. Lurking Fear


Well, we've all made it to the end of another week. In spite of everything the world is throwing at us right now, we are resilient. That's why the subject of tonight's review is so fitting. Enter Cologne (Germany's) Serpent Eater, who released their third full-length Vanitas in January of this year, via Alerta Antifascista Records, Wooaaargh Record and 7 Degrees Records respectively. Serpent Eater stands for all that is good in the world and is here to crush everything that threatens the creation of a more harmonious society.


It seems my neighbours are shouting at each other again, which is always great! Let’s see if I can drown them out with some more intelligent sounds. Serpent Eater call themselves black punk and I think that’s pretty apt, though opening song ‘Echo Chamber’ is very much more black than punk. Shrieked and low-growled vocals exist alongside black metal instrumentation, including melodic but menacing guitars, pummelling drums and choral synths. All good so far!


‘Hook Blind’ comes at you almost instantly after the close of ‘Echo Chamber’ and it’s sub two-minute length means that there’s no time for messing around. Dissonance, crust and feedback all lay waste to any chance of a mental and physical rest. In fact, there isn’t much of a gap between any of the songs on Vanitas and that’s certainly a good thing when it comes to the momentum of the album. ‘Ten Floors Down’ begins with a post-rock/metal intro that suddenly bursts into more doom-filled black metal. It’s another uncomfortably warm evening here and this record isn’t making it any more bearable (in a good way). 


One thing’s for sure, the sound on here is certainly engrossing and ‘Hypnos’ is a stunning piece of mid-paced extreme metal with plenty of majestic lead-work, it’s not especially long but that doesn’t matter, because it’s full of atmosphere and genuine musical craft. Following like the proverbial mammal out of hell, ‘Dead Spiritualist Silent’ once again grows wings and flies forth with bucket loads of low-end. It’s the perfect precursor to the album’s final two songs, both of which are long players. ‘Dunkelziffer’ is just a more drawn-out version of what’s come before but it’s worthy of a lot more praise for being as progressive as it is.


Album closer ‘Lurking Fear’ initially heralds a more death/doom-like sound with slow riffs and wailing feedback, but you know something colder is around the corner and sure enough Serpent Eater’s cavernous black metal adds to the already dank atmosphere of the song. As finisher’s go, this is damn solid and reminds my of the horrible sounds that emanated from the likes of Meth Drinker (RIP) and Leechfeast, more than any black metal band I can think of at this point. The latter half of ‘Lurking Fear’ picks up the pace and rolls forth with a more black ’n roll vibe, albeit without being as cheesy.


This is a really good album from a band that favours song-writing and atmosphere over gimmicks and fashion. They sit perfectly amongst the Alerta Antifascista roster too. While 2020 continues to throw up challenges and disarray, Vanitas provides not only the soundtrack but also a moment of clarity where you remember that you can’t control everything, so you might as well just roll with it.


You can stream and grab Vanitas as a name-your-price download from Serpent Eater below:-



Serpent Eater - https://www.facebook.com/SerpentEater/


Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-


Alerta Antifascista Records - https://doomrock.com/alerta-antifascista-records

Wooaaargh Records - http://www.wooaaargh.com

7 Degrees Records - https://www.7degrees-records.de/shop/7degrees-releases/


Alerta Antifascista Records - https://www.facebook.com/Alerta-Antifascista-Records-official

Wooaaargh Records - https://www.facebook.com/WOOAAARGH/

7 Degrees Records - https://www.facebook.com/7DegreesRecords/

Wednesday 12 August 2020

An Uneasy Peace - An Uneasy Peace 7"


Labels: Dirt Cult Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 01 May 2020


Tracklist:


1. Speaking In Tongues

2. Huey P. Newton Was A Poet

3. Fighting Sleep

4. A Thousand Pretty Mannequins


This review feels hard to write on two levels. One because it's dedicated to a member of An Uneasy Peace who sadly passed away before this EP was released and two because pressing of the physical record was halted, due to the Covid shutdown in the USA, meaning that only a portion of copies got pressed before things went crazy. I guess on the other hand this typifies the punk spirit. This US punk/hardcore release, limited to 300 copies, is the first release to come from the band. It may be their last as well, but I don't want to say for sure. 


It still feels incredibly poignant listening to a release like this, even if you didn’t know a great deal about the band’s members or the backstory that goes along with it. The words on the Dirt Cult bandcamp page say enough. An Uneasy Peace played a fast yet melodic form of hardcore-punk. It’s certainly along the lines of the hardcore-punk that Dirt Cult takes pride in preserving and releasing. ‘Speaking In Tongues’ goes by very fast and gives you such a good feeling. It makes me long for local punk gigs again, oh how I miss them.


‘Huey P. Newton Was A Poet’ is more melancholic and is influenced by post-punk in it’s tempos and general demeanour. There’s also a subtle amount of snottiness in the vox that reminds you of the band’s hardcore roots. It’s over very quickly but nothing good lasts long does it.


As with every good punk song, ‘Fighting Sleep’ begins with screeching feedback and morphs into an epic old-school hardcore song, where breakdowns (in the modern sense) don’t exist and the lyrics are audible. Again, it’s not one that sticks around but it is memorable. 


EP closer ‘A Thousand Pretty Mannequins’ is an ode to anarcho punk, or at least that’s how it seems. Along with the rest of the EP, it has a timeless quality about it that fills you with energy and empathy. Times are tough right now and people all over the world are struggling to get by. Bands like An Uneasy Peace remind you of life’s fragility and why you need to be the best person you can be to those around you.


You can stream and purchase the EP digitally below:-



You can order a copy of the physical vinyl record here - https://dirt-cult-records.myshopify.com.


Updates on pressing and shipping of the remaining copies of the EP can be found via the link below, as they're released:-


Dirt Cult Records - https://www.facebook.com/dirtcultrecords/

Monday 10 August 2020

Helioss - Devenir Le Soleil



Labels: Mourning Light Records/Satanath Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 23 Apr 2020


Tracklist:


1. ...Et Dieu Se Tut

2. A Wall Of Certainty

3. The End Of The Empire

4. Let The World Forget Me

5. Singularity

6. An Endless Stream

7. La Lepre Des Hommes

8. Devenir Le Soleil

9. Now...Shine!


One thing I'm really fascinated with is how bands and labels strike up relationships that lead them to collaborating on releases. Helioss are a case in point. The French symphonic black/death metal band released their fourth full-length Devenir Le Soleil via Russian label Satanath Records and UK label Mourning Light Records in April. I heard about this releasee through my contact with Satanath Records, hence this review. The CD has been limited to 500 copies worldwide and the album is also available digitally. 


There are so many images that could be conjured up when staring at the artwork that adorns Devenir Le Soleil. Musically, you might think this album is made up of progressive/shoegaze-like black metal or doom but you’d be a bit wide of the mark if you did. Helioss delivers a rabidly infectious take on symphonic black/death metal with album opener ‘…Et Dieu Se Tut’, which is made more engrossing by the French lyrics and the relentless drumming, which has been programmed excellently. 


Not all of their songs are delivered on French, as ‘A Wall Of Certainty’ demonstrates. It’s filled to the brim with industrial tempos and technical guitar work that fights with the bursts of melodic synths to keep you guessing as to exactly what genre or sub-genre this duo fits into. Thankfully there are plenty well-placed tempo changes that don’t allow you to pigeonhole Helioss. Each one of their full-length’s have been getting longer but that’s fine given the quality of their instrumentation. ’The End Of The Empire’ seems to pick up where ‘A Wall Of Certainty’ left off with cracking lead-work and lower than low vocal growls. When they slow things down, those growls are replaced by higher-pitched screams/shrieks and plenty of atmosphere, even if in short bursts. The pace is so frenetic that it’s hard to keep up.


The melancholic ‘Let The World Forget Me’ is the song that bridges the gap towards both doom and more accessible metal, oddly. That’s not to say that this is accessible. It just has something about it that seems strangely comforting and familiar for some reason. Following on is the somewhat brief number ’Singularity’. It only seems brief because it just about breaches the three-minute mark. It makes up for that though with musical influences that range from industrial music (once again), to traditional strings and virtuoso guitar work. I could name bands that follow those three parts but that would be cheating.


Helioss returns to more familiar pastures on ‘An Endless Stream’ and it’s artistically driven piano seems to lord over the music, at least during the opening two-and-a-half minutes anyway. What follows it is another extremely engaging tome of melody and up-tempo black/death metal that’s hard to ignore. ‘La Lepre Des Hommes’ is very much a more avant-garde proposition with an intro of organ melodies and choral chanting before Helioss launches into a mid-paced progressive beast of a song. It regains it’s trademark pace towards the end to help keep the heart racing.


It’s only right that the penultimate song should be a twenty-four minute mammoth and it just so happens to be the title-track ‘Devenir Le Soleil’. If you were thinking it would be slow to build then you were wrong, as it continues the albums wild trajectory. It’s the first song on the album that contains melodic vocals. At least, they’re the first I’ve heard here and I could be wrong. It’s so easy to become mesmerised by it all. The term ‘progressive’ does get thrown around a lot but this song epitomises the term in my opinion. 


It almost seems pointless following that title-track but Helioss decides to do it anyway with album closer ‘Now…Shine!’. From the ridiculous comes the sublime with an instrumental post-metal/doom/death song that rounds things out perfectly. I was in no way expecting Devenir Le Soleil to be this good but I guess should stop expecting the unexpected. This is phenomenal from beginning to end. Chances are this will have passed you by so far this year but now is the time to remedy that.


You can stream and purchase Devenir Le Soleil on CD or digitally below:-



Helioss - https://www.facebook.com/Heliossband/


It's also available for purchase via the below links:-


Mourning Light Records - https://mourninglightrecords.bandcamp.com/merch

Satanath Records - http://satanath.com/shop.html


Mourning Light Records - https://www.facebook.com/MourningLightRecords/

Satanath Records - https://www.facebook.com/satanath666/

Sunday 9 August 2020

Mental Health In Music: My Perspective

I was going to write a review this evening but then I decided to take a slightly different approach. Last year I curated (in a loose sense) an interview series that focused on mental health in music. In the series, I was able to get perspectives from friends and those who would later become friends, that are involved in heavy music of one form or another. With the blog approaching a major milestone this year, I've been reflecting on what that series of interviews meant to me and also on how the last 6-12 months have affected me as an individual.


At this point I want to caveat this post by saying that what I've experienced over the last twelve months pale's in comparison to what my interviewees experienced, so I'm not trying to jump on any bandwagon. I've not been as active in terms of writing, on a regular basis especially, over the first half of this year and I've attributed that to stress I've felt in my day-job. The last few months of 2019 and the first half of 2020 were pretty tough, especially given the changes brought about by the current global pandemic.


It's taken me until now to recognise the stress that I felt and thankfully, now that I have a much clearer head, I feel that I can talk about it and in doing so, can push forward with the blog with renewed energy. I've got some ideas that I hope will start to come to fruition over the remainder of 2020 and I certainly feel more inspired. Looking back, I'm also extremely proud of the amount of traction the 'Mental Health In Music' series gained last year. 


I've never really seen myself as a proper music "journalist" (mainly because I'm not that self-absorbed) but that doesn't mean that I can't feel a sense of ambition. I'm not content with writing clickbait articles or stirring up muck through sensationalist stories (I'll leave that to the bigger sites), instead I want to write about more positive things and about the success stories of underground punk and heavy music. Here's to a renewed sense of self and self-believe. 

Thursday 6 August 2020

Living Gate - Deathlust



Labels: Relapse Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 12 Jun 2020


Tracklist:


1. The Delusion Of Consciousness

2. Roped

3. Deathlust

4. Heaven Ablaze

5. Living Gate


Here's an exciting release from a band that's rooted in both Europe (Belgium to be exact) and the United States. Sharing members with some of the modern greats of extreme metal and hardcore, Living Gate released their debut EP in June via Relapse Records. The detailed cover art that adorns this record dragged me in and hopefully, I'll get spat out at the other end!.


I get asked all the time about why I hammer my keyboard so hard at work. It’s because I imagine that I’m writing about music like this! Given the other bands in which these guys call home, their death metal is totally nasty. It’s definitely more on the old-school side. Opener ‘The Delusion Of Consciousness’ mixes doom/death with grind and thrash. That’s a heavy list of sub-genres and while not inaccurate, Living Gate surpasses mere pigeonholing through sheer skill.


The technicality is real without being overpowering and ‘Roped” is a song that straddles time-signatures and tempos, becoming a beast with many legs in the process. The multi-vocal approach is truly devastating, while the riffs are both melodic and razor-sharp when they meed to be. The percussion and bass offer plenty of rhythmic battery that’s perfect for the music.


There’s no rest in between songs and the title-track ‘Deathlust’ is filled to the brim with brutal urgency thanks to some manic blasting. It’s shorter in length but there’s still plenty of gloomy death metal to keep you interested, as well as a sick guitar solo towards the end. Breathtaking!


‘Heaven Ablaze’ comes out of nowhere with the sole aim of flattening you and leaving no trace. Again, it’s fast and heavy but there’s also a nod to bands like Cynic and Atheist within Living Gate’s technical musicianship and occasional jazz/blues-like guitar work. Before you know it, you’re heading face first into the final song on a release that goes by all too quickly.


The final song is question is the band’s namesake ‘Living Gate’ and it embodies exactly what they’re about. A heady mix of everything that makes extreme metal great rolled into one sub five-minute song. It’s the final blow on what is a superb debut record. There’s no messing around here. Living Gate are in it for the long-haul (hopefully).


You can stream Deathlust and buy it on all formats below:-



Living Gate - https://www.facebook.com/LivingGate666/

Relapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/RelapseRecords/