Vaticinal Rites - Vaticinal Rites EP

Labels: Caligari Records/Dry Cough Records/Redefining Darkness Records

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Nov 2021

Tracklist:

1. Dysphoria

2. Telekinetic Blood Ritual

3. Burning Elysium

4. Flesh Portal

It's been a little while since I've championed a Dry Cough Records release here. Dry Cough helped to release the debut EP from UK death metal band Vaticinal Rites, alongside US labels Caligari Record and Redefining Darkness Records last November. Four songs from a three-piece (four including the session drummer) that have been getting plenty of praise from the Youtube community. They're in the process of writing their debut full-length too, so it's the perfect time to get acquainted with their sound.

There’s always been a great history of UK death metal, just like there has been with doom (which is where Dry Cough Records made it’s name, kind of). Bringing another new death metal band to the fore was always going to be on the cards, alongside the awesome Slimelord, Visions From Beyond et al. Vaticinal Rites begin with the suspense inducing opener ‘Dysphoria’, which is a short and ambient-filled intro that leads into ‘Telekinetic Blood Ritual’. It’s a proper dirty death metal song. Not too br00tal and with just enough old-school murkiness to make it stand out in a scene that’s overdone slam breakdowns (at least for now). 

‘Burning Elysium’ is filled with thrash vibes initially, before the gutturals and pinch harmonics take over. Fast-paced unlike your so-called “work environment” and truly groove-laden, Vaticinal Rites know exactly what they’re doing. This really doesn’t sound like a debut at all. It’s way too accomplished. Closing song ‘Flesh Portal’ takes succinct death metal to an eye-watering level. Everything about this EP raises the bar; from the accurate and authoritative percussion, the rumbling low-end bass, the more than skilful rhythm/lead guitar work and the dual-pitched vocals. The production and mixing/mastering is also well worth a mention, especially when you consider that the recording process took place at three different locations. It all sounds so together.

Vaticinal Rites have put together a frankly incredible debut EP here. I can’t want to hear the debut album when it’s released. Once again, the bar of modern day UK death metal is raised. Let’s see what the rest of you have got!

You can stream the debut EP and purchase it digitally, and physically from Vaticinal Rites below:-

Vaticinal Rites - https://www.facebook.com/vaticinalrites

Physical CD/Tape copies can also be purchased from the labels below:-

Caligari Records - https://caligarirecords.storenvy.com/

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/

Redefining Darkness Records - https://redefiningdarkness.8merch.com

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Redefining Darkness Records - https://www.facebook.com/redefiningdarkness

Eyemaster - Charcoaled Remains/Festering Slime EP

Labels: Caligari Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 12 Nov 2021

Tracklist:

1. Charcoaled Remains

2. Festring Slime

I felt like choosing something at random to write about this evening. It was a toss between some US shoegaze/synthwave and German death metal in the end and the death metal won out (I might come back to the former at a later date). Charcoaled Remains/Festering Slime is the debut demo EP from Eyemaster, who formed in 2020. This demo was picked up by Caligari Records for a tape release towards the end of last year, followed by a 7" vinyl release earlier this year. 

It’s quite cold here at the moment (we even had snow yesterday and today) so it didn’t really feel like the right time for shoegaze/synthwave music. Something more extreme was called for and Eyemaster came to the rescue with their debut EP. The current upward trend of death metal shows no sign of plateauing and ‘Charcoaled Remains’ proves why with a murky yet infectious sound. Deeply barked/growled vocals, loud percussion and bass-heavy guitars hidden deeper in the mix make for a pretty solid concoction. The lengthy solos later on show you exactly where Eyemaster is coming from in terms of death metal worship. It’s the old-school or no school.

‘Festering Slime’ is the best descriptor for this demo in my opinion. It hints at the depraved and dismal atmosphere conjured up by Eyemaster. The mid-paced approach is very effective in making the song feel longer, allowing more to fit in instrumentally. Another hefty amount of screeching lead work and a frighteningly grim ending puts the final nail in your coffin. This demo is everything you’ll want a death metal demo to be in 2022. Long live death (metal).

You can stream and purchase Charcoaled Remains/Festering Slime digitally below, where it's also available on both tape and vinyl formats:-

Eyemaster - https://www.facebook.com/Eyemaster

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords

Descent - Order Of Chaos

Labels: Brilliant Emperor Records/Redefining Darkness Records/Caligari Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 14 Jan 2022

Tracklist:

1. Tempest

2. Dragged

3. Resolve

4. Gathering

5. Fester

6. Filth

7. Safe

8. Despotic

It looks like 2022's gonna be a heavy one, beginning with the newest album from Australia's Descent. The HM2 inspired quintet started life in 2015 with their demo before releasing their first album, Towers Of Grandiosity is 2018. Descent's newest full-length Order Of Chaos now gets a multi-format release, as a means of trying to contain the thirty minutes of death metal madness therein. With members of Descent also lining up in some of Australia's nastiest bands, including Resin Tomb, Necroseptic and Feculent, this should be a ripper!

Descent’s approach to death metal on Order Of Chaos is a heady mix of old-school murkiness and grinding intensity, wrapped up in a blackened veil. Technically it’s very strong, unsurprisingly, with the quintet wasting no time with intros or meandering performances. They go straight for the jugular as demonstrated on opening duo ‘Tempest’ and ‘Dragged’. There’s a hardcore backbone to their sound as well, though breakdowns are hidden away in favour of Cursed-like destruction. 

The low-end provides a bass hit that’s hard to ignore and Descent has an ear for melody, although it’s enshrined in a metallic coffin for the majority of the album. The vocals are made up of raspy shrieks and low register growls, somewhat akin to those of Lorna Shore, especially on ‘Gathering’. As eluded to earlier on in this review, there isn’t too much time to ponder as the album rages from start to finish. The songs rarely go over the four-minute mark during the album’s first half, ‘Fester’ leads you into the second-half by doing just that. It’s filled with atmosphere, with the instrumentation given more space.

There’s a greater attempt at variation towards the end of Order Of Chaos, with the utterly blistering ‘Safe’ leaving you battered and bruised. The band’s instrumental virtuosity is obvious, especially in the guitar work with it’s screeching leads and pinch harmonics. Concluding with the hauntingly disturbing ‘Despotic’, Descent have proven beyond any doubt that Australia’s extreme metal community will be leading the way in 2022.

In summary then, Order Of Chaos is uncomplicated and to the point. Descent don’t just copy what influences them, they weave their own rich version of death metal.

The album will be officially released on January 14th, but until then you can stream three of it's tracks below:-

Descent - https://www.facebook.com/descentmetalbrisbane

You can pre-order it digitally from Descent's bandcamp page above, as well as physically from the labels below:-

Brilliant Emperor Records - https://brilliantemperor.bigcartel.com/category/brilliant-emperor-releases

Redefining Darkness Records - https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com

Caligari Records - https://caligarirecords.storenvy.com/collections/278925-caligari-records-releases

Brilliant Emperor Records - https://www.facebook.com/BrilliantEmperorRecords

Redefining Darkness Records - https://www.facebook.com/redefiningdarkness

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords

Dødskvad - Krønike I

Labels: Caligari Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 20 Feb 2020

Tracklist:

1. Rike I Ruiner

2. Adelrate

3. Pakt Med Dypet

It feels like a Friday evening, but alas it is not for another twenty-four hours. I'm looking forward to having two weeks away from the daily grind, please excuse me. I'm not promising I'll be anymore productive blog-wise, because whenever I say I'm going to be, things never happen that way. Enough of my ramblings though and on to Norwegian heavy/mysterious band Dødskvad. Krønike I is the trio's first release and it's found a home on renowned underground US label Caligari Records after being self-released by the band in February. Not a lot is known about them but a little research shows that they've got a good pedigree. Formalities aside, I'm looking forward to some extreme and dark tones.

The last Caligari release I reviewed was the perfect blend of death and doom. I suspect this will be a slightly different affair. Opening with ‘Rike I Ruiner’, Dødskvad’s sound is a cross between rotten death metal and early raw black metal. The bass is right up front on this recording, which gives it a  jazz/blues edge, while the percussion is dominated by cymbal crashes and there’s a subtle folkiness to the guitar melodies. The vocals are pure black aside for some (maybe?) choral tones towards the song’s end. 

Dødskvad have clear musical skill, as demonstrated with the opening wailing solo on ‘Adelrate’. Yes, the overall feel of this demo might be slightly primitive given what some listeners may be used to, but those in question will just have to suck it in. This is a sound that was influenced by much of the first-wave of death/black metal bands and it’s very true to that. There are keyboards present on this recording too, which take centre stage and conclude things here.

Dødskvad call time of their first demo with the lengthier Pakt Med Dypet, which is more of a dirge-like death metal song with oddly upbeat melody and traditional heavy metal leanings. Who would’ve expected twin guitar melodies! That’s what you get though, before you’re whisked once again into the dark depths of demonic hell. That image aside, It’s got an odd sci-fi feel in places, due to the use of synths and that lightens of mood when needed. 

Writing a proper summary of this release would be pointless as the words above should tell you all you need to know. Krønike I is a really strong debut. Dødskvad have their own sound already nailed, so here’s looking onto their next release.

Stream and purchase the demo digitally from the band below:-

Tapes can be purchased from Caligari Records here - http://caligarirecords.storenvy.com.

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords/

Muscipula - Little Chasm Of Horrors

Labels: Caligari Records

Formats: Cassette/Digital

Release Date: 28 Feb 2020

Tracklist:-

1. Descending Into Chasm Dionanea Muscipula

2. Closed Shut (Enzymatic Death By Digestion)

3. Sphagnum Bog Of The Depraved Droseracea

This is a perfect release for a Sunday night, as the weekend's coming to a close and the grim thought of joining the rat race enter your mind once more. This is the debut demo from US death/doom band Muscipula, which has been released on tape by Caligari Records. There isn't much I can tell you about this band, as their identities and history is unknown. The tape is limited to 150.

I really need to step up my death metal demo collecting game! The artwork on this release is so detailed and it matches the nasty tones of Muscipula perfectly. ‘Descending Into Chasm Dionanea Muscipula’ is a sewer water-drenched take on death metal. It’s got an industrial edge to it thanks to it’s tempo and the precise drumming. The vocals are low and terrifying while the guitar/bass work is surrounded by feedback and white noise. The first impressions are really good.

‘Closed Shut (Enzymatic Death By Digestion)’ is equally as disgusting as the demo’s opener but it also seems more slamming in a strange sort of way. The pinch-harmonics and the thick riffs couple together with the slow tempo to make it sound way more claustrophobic in places. Towards the end, the pace changes and the vocals become even more abrasive.

This is unlike any death metal I’ve heard before. Demo closer ’Sphagnum Bog Of The Depraved Droseracea’ contains a more urgent feel. The industrial influence is still there but Muscipula seems to power through this one with a perverse focus. The warm bass tones are the only thing that keep you from going completely insane. 

This demo goes by very quickly and while Muscipula is from the US, the music on Little Chasm Of Horrors definitely reminds me of the murkiness of Finnish death/doom and bands like Profetus and Solothus. Great stuff indeed and hats off to Caligari for unearthing such a decomposing delight.

You can stream Little Chasm Of Horrors and buy it on tape via Caligari Records here:-

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords/

Abysmalist - Reflections Of Horror

Labels: Caligari Records/Self-Released

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 23 Aug 2019

Tracklist:

1. Lascivious Rapture

2. Black Lacquer

3. The Engineer

4. Chain Ripper

Time for some ripping death metal played by dudes who also spend their time playing hardcore, thrash and crossover. In fact, there's a lot of cross-pollination happening right now with the likes of Power Trip, Gatecreeper and Scorched amongst those leading the way. Anyway, Californian duo Abysmalist had only just released their "Reflections Of Horror" demo digitally in August when Caligari Records followed it up with a tape release less than a month later. Let's get into this...

“Reflections Of Horror” kicks off with chugging riffs immediately on opener Lascivious Rapture, where the hardcore influence is there but subtle. There’s also that dirty and grimy undertone created by the bass and vocals, which add seemingly endless amounts of nightmarish low-end torture. The drumming is a mix of blasts and mid-tempo rhythms that certainly help to build on there already dark atmosphere. Both Jeremy Meier and Fred Avila are really skilled musicians. They switch tack on Black Lacquer, which sounds like it was written in the 90s when death metal was in it’s hay-day thanks to the likes of Grave and Incantation etc. The solo within is glorious and accentuates that earlier point even more.

The brooding clean guitar of The Engineer could possibly be a nod to their thrash forefathers, but whatever, it’s a great bit of relief from the extremity. For those that enjoy a bit of melody, this is stellar and it leads into closing song Chain Ripper, which fights back with pace aplenty. Loads of old-school hair-whipping madness and mosh parts are present. The pair that make it happen are seasoned veterans now (it feels like) but that just makes this demo even better. Caligari has knocked it out of the park again with the tape release, while Abysmalist themselves will have you begging for more. Get on this.

Stream and download "Reflections of Horror" below:-

For tape copies head to Caligari Records here - http://caligarirecords.storenvy.com/.

Abysmalist - https://www.instagram.com/abysmalist_/

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords/

If you want to support the blog, please go to - https://www.patreon.com/thisnoiseisours. Thank you.

Hexenbrett - Erste Beschwörung EP

Labels: Self-Released/Caligari Records

Formats: Digital/Tape

Release Date: 01 Jan 2019/31 May 2019

Tracklist:

1. Hexen (Bis Aufs Blut Gequält)

2. Toter Schrei

3. Farben Der Nacht

4. Sie Fliegen!

Being ill sucks but thankfully I'm pretty much over it now and I have more energy, which I want to put to good use. It's being channelled this evening into writing about a brand new German black/heavy metal band, whose self-released 2018 EP has just been reissued via Caligari Records. "Erste Beschwörung" was originally released digitally on tape via Hexenbrett last December, before being picked up by Caligari and re-released on tape at the end of May. Little is known about the band beyond the above.

Into the rabbit hole I go again. Mysterious, lesser heard black metal seems to be everywhere at the moment but solely calling this a black metal release would be doing it a huge disservice. Hexenbrett’s sound is heavily rooted in classic heavy metal, with German language growls adding harshness. The melodic riffs and choral singing stop proceedings from turning too extreme on opening song Hexen (Bis Aufs Blut Gequält). So far this is great!

Hexenbrett may still be a little bit wet-behind-the-ears to some,  but their traditional sound is one to behold and instrumentally, they’re really impressive. Toter Schrei shows off their musical creativity again with horror film-like soundscapes and effects. The lead work is solid too! They’re not just pushing the same old musical envelope here. 

The tempo on “Erste Beschwörung” seems to increase as the EP continues and with Farben Der Nacht, you’re treated to a black/thrash frenzy with a quintessential German twist. Elements of twisted post-punk, goth and rock make themselves heard here. I told you this wasn’t just another black metal release!

Closing song Sie Fliegen! is off-kilter and very much avant-garde in it’s delivery (sorry for sounding pretentious!). Slow/fast tempos and added urgency help to create a proper rousing finish. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and while you could never describe Hexenbrett’s music as beautiful, you can’t ignore it either. Hopefully, this won’t be the only music we hear from the band. Their progression will be something to truly behold.

You can stream the full EP and purchase it as a name-your-price download from Hexenbrett below:-

It's available to buy on tape from Caligari Records here -
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/erste-beschw-rung

Caligari Records - https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords/