Gnasch - Low Slow Woe

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 17th May 2023

Tracklist:

1. Low

2. Slow

3. Woe

After an impromptu week off it's time to wind myself back up to a return to the day job and more importantly, the blog. I have tried to get on top of my inbox but as this evening's review demonstrates... I've failed. I must wholeheartedly apologise to Bristolian sludge/doom band Gnasch for that, as Russ (vocalist) took the time to write to me back in the latter half of last year. The band's debut demo Spite At The End Of The Tunnel was released back in August 22; but I've chosen to review their more recent EP Low Slow Woe, which was released in May of this year.

Gnasch formed in 2021 and features drummer Samuel Smith (Woodland Creatures), guitarist Will Turner Duffin (Row of Ashes, ex-Sonance) and vocalist Russel Barron (ex-Body Harvest, Warrior Pope and Vyral). Additionally, this EP features guest vocals from Jörgen Sandström (The Project Hate MCMXCIX, ex-Entombed, Grave and more) on songs 2 and 3 and additional guitar work from Nicklas Rudolfsson (Necrocurse, Runemagick, ex-Sacramentum and more) on all songs.

Gnasch brings out the hatred-of-mankind feeling that’s been festering within me since yesterday (for reasons I won’t go into). EP opener ‘Low’ is sufficiently heavy, reminding me of old Sea Bastard and On Pain Of Death while also being melodic and short enough not to allow things to linger. To my surprise, Gnasch played alongside LockerSludge back in April, a band I fondly featured here many moons ago. It’s great to see that they’re still going.

Anyway with that bit of nostalgia aside, ‘Slow’ is up next and it’s a bit of a beast in both sound and song-length. It’s no big surprise that there’s a nod to slam given Russ’s previous endeavours in death metal band Body Harvest (Comatose Music alumni). That nod is delivered drenched in sludge though, so don’t be fooled. Proper detuned riffing, ringing-feedback, trance-inducing drums and dread-filled vocals all combine to great effect. In the paragraph above I mentioned two bands that were affiliated to the early days of Manchester’s Dry Cough Records. That wasn’t on purpose but I reckon Gnasch would be right up Andy’s street. 

EP closer ‘Woe” is more uptempo, while really benefiting from the added Swe-death vocal and guitar work delivered by both Jörgen Sandström, and Nicklas Rudolfsson respectively (more so than before).The atmosphere that’s created leans towards death metal again, unsurprisingly, yet Gnasch lose none of their authentic sound either.

It’s easier than ever for bands and musicians to collaborate across great distances, and to be honest metal now is better because of it. I’m beginning to feel a bit guilty for not starting with Gnasch’s first demo but  their latest release is still a great place to begin. There’s a new EP on the way apparently, so now’s the time to get acquainted. Top stuff from another really promising addition to the UK underground!.

You can stream and purchase Low Slow Woe as a name-your-price download from Gnasch below:-

Gnasch - https://www.facebook.com/GnaschUK

Visions From Beyond - Eternally Bound, Whipped By Time

Labels: Dry Cough Records/Sodden Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 28 Jan 2021

Tracklist:

1. Sodden Species

2. Psychotic Possession

3. Ancient Dreams

4. Slave To The Reptant Cannibals

If you've been following the blog recently, you'll have seen my reviews of tape releases featuring Engraved, Sewer Fiend and Plague Patrol that were all released via Dry Cough Records last year. Well, there's plenty more where they came from as Dry Cough has been on (and indeed still is on) a pretty stellar run of death/doom releases, which I've been steadily ordering and enjoying over recent months. Bristol based death/doom band Visions From Beyond had it's debut EP Eternally Bound, Whipped By Time released by the label back in June 2021, having already been available digitally via both the band and Sodden Records since January 2021. It proved to be a very popular release with two extra tape runs coming after the initial run (only four copies from the third run are available to pick up directly from Visions From Beyond).

Visions From Beyond is a solo project of mammoth death/funeral doom proportions, which has links to Fetus Christ too. EP opener ‘Sodden Species’ is mired in old-school death metal that contains a heap of murkiness. The instrumentation here is really striking. The drums sound very analog/unfussy, while the bass guitar is very intricate. The melodic lead guitar is haunting and uneasy at times, while the deep growls drag the atmosphere down to funeral doom depths.

I can understand why this release has proven so popular. The uncluttered recording and production allow each instrument clear space to be heard. ‘Psychotic Possession’ is slightly more minimalist to my ears, with some very subtle similarities to Slimelord’s Moss Contamination in parts, if you’ve listened to that release.

How these songs fit together on the EP has cleary been well thought through, as is demonstrated on ‘Ancient Dreams’. The vocals sit slightly deeper in the mix here and are delivered as semi-whispered growls, letting the low-end driven music to come to the fore. The use of nicely placed atmospheric melody adds an extra element too, lifting the mood.

EP closer ‘Slave To The Reptant Cannibals’ draws on all of the instrumental prowess delivered by Visions From Beyond, wrapping it up in a package that even Cynic would be proud of. The guitar work leads the way one last time and all to quickly it’s over. I’d go as far to say that this debut could go down as a timeless classic within UK death/doom. I can’t wait to write about the band’s second release Drawing Down The Darkness at a later date.

FFO: Cynic, Mortuary Spawn, Slimelord, Solothus & Warning

You can stream and purchase Eternally Bound, Whipped By Time digitally and on tape (but be quick!) below:-

Dry Cough Records have sold out of tape copies.

Visions From Beyond - https://www.facebook.com/visionsfrombeyond.official

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

Fuck-Ushima/Fosforos - Split LP

Labels: Gate Of Deliria/Ramekuukkeli-Levyt

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 05 Jan 2020

Tracklist: 

1. Fuck-Ushima - We Are Doomed

2. Fuck-Ushima - Hervanta Acid Onslaught

3. Fuck-Ushima - Jazz Violence

4. Fuck-Ushima - Give Unto Suffering -

5. Fuck-Ushima - Merridew

6. Fosforos - Still Life

7. Fosforos - Welcome The Beast

8. Fosforos - Into The Horror

9. Fosforos - Let Go

At the same time as receiving the Frogskin/Taser LP that was released last October, Ramekuukkeli-Levyt was also kind enough to send me the 2020 split LP featuring Finnish PV band Fuck-Ushima and death/crust countrymen Fosforos. It's the first time I've come across either band, but you can pretty much put any Finnish heavy music in front of me and the chances are I'll dig it. This is the first vinyl release to feature Fuck-Ushima, as they've previously only released tapes after forming in 2012.  Fosforos formed a few years later in 2015 and prior to this they released a tape and a 7" EP. 

First up is Fuck-Ushima with five quick-fire ragers. ‘We Are Doomed’ is the most aptly titled song to kick things off with as it perfectly harnesses the helplessness and frustration that we’re all feeling right now. The music is crazy, feedback-laden PV/Sludge with growled dual-vocals. It’s all gloriously off-kilter and at times it could be considered anti-music but there’s lots to like about Fuck-Ushima’s racket. ‘Hervanta Acid Onslaught’ is a fast/slow beast that seems to run for longer than it’s actual playing time, as they put so much into it.

I was hoping that ‘Jazz Violence’ would be some really off the wall free-grind but alas it isn’t. It’s still great though and like the rest of the band’s music, it’s full of sludge that makes you feel anxious and occasionally nauseous, especially when the screaming guitar hits the front. You can tell it’s good when feedback is all that’s heard between songs, save for the very brief pauses. ‘Give Unto Suffering’ starts slow but then get’s fast, which is at odds with the rest of Fuck-Ushima’s songs so far. One thing’s for sure, this is intense especially this early in the day. Final song ‘Merridew’ is probably the grooviest, taking their sludge influence to further heights. The riffs are giant as is the overall atmosphere of it all. As first impressions go, these five tracks have left me floored. They’re not an easy listen by any means but that’s the fun of it. Nice one Fuck-Ushima!

Fosforos calls their side of this split The Horror Cycle, which is ominous. Their sound is more crusty and death metal influenced, genres with which Finland has a long and rich history. ’Still Life’ has the now recognisable crust-reverb applied to the deep growls, while the music is pretty melodic. ’Welcome The Beast” is more on the raw side, which is fine because crust was never supposed to over-produced and clean. There’s a lot of snotty punk attitude going on too, which adds to the energy of it. Fosforos slow’s everything down on the lumbering ‘Into The Horror’, which is more deathly and sludgy. It’s delivered in such a tortured way that it’s hard to feel energised when it’s playing, such is the crushing sense of dread that’s portrayed. 

Closing with ‘Let Go’, Fosforos demonstrates how they’re able to create varied songs with ease. It sounds almost funky at the beginning and it’s only the harsh vocals that remind you of what you’re listening to. It may sound like the vocalist is throwing up towards the end, but they’re not. It’s just annunciation and it fits perfectly. Again, first impressions are really good. Fosforos don’t seem to have a specific remit when it comes to their filthy noise, instead they just keep throwing different things into the mix. Great stuff for an unholy Sunday morning!

You can stream and purchase he Fuck-Ushima side of this split digitally below:-

The Fosforos side can be found here:-

Fuck-Ushima - https://www.facebook.com/sludgeordie/

Fosforos - https://www.facebook.com/fosforosheavymetal/

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Gate Of Deliria - http://gateofdeliria.blogspot.com

Ramekuukkeli-Levyt - https://www.discogs.com/Rämekuukkeli

Gate Of Deliria - https://www.facebook.com/gateofdeliria/

Ramekuukkeli-Levyt - https://www.facebook.com/Rämekuukkeli-levyt

Somaesthesia - Recidivist EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 14 Feb 2020

Tracklist:

1. Trepanation

2. -

3. The Great Illusion

4. Contrition

I have been looking forward to this long weekend for so long now! I'm using it as a chance to catch up on a lot of music I've missed and to get some much needed writing done. I have a rough schedule but am kicking things off with this new EP from Scottish progressive death/sludge band Somaesthesia. The Edinburgh quintet released their debut EP Path Of Lest Resistance back in 2017 and since then, they've played shows alongside Under, Kurokuma and Cryptopsy amongst many others. Recidivist was self-released digitally by the band in February.

Somaesthesia is very much from the same school as bands like Meshuggah and Mastodon. Those comparisons are listed in the band’s own social media bio but they’re pretty accurate,. EP opener ‘Trepanation’ is brimming with off-kilter tempos, sludge-like grooviness and even a hint of Swe-death (maybe?). There’s an eagerness to obliterate all in their path but Somaesthesia do slow things down mid-way through and let their progressive influences take further hold. It’s strangely psychedelic at times. The song solely named as ‘Dash’ that follows is an instrumental interlude but one that builds plenty of intrigue when moving into the second half of the EP.

From here the song’s get longer. ‘The Great Illusion’ is nearly eight-minutes of groovy sludge and post-metal. There’s subtle melody within the roared vocals that is matched by the instrumentation. The occasional bursts of kick drumming pick the pace up, but don’t detract from the impressive song-writing and musicianship here. Final song ‘Contrition’ steamrolls it’s way into your ears almost immediately after and pretty much doesn’t stop. One thing that hits you on Recidivist is the aggressiveness. It’s not always obvious but it is constant, especially in the vocals, though that point is totally broadsided by the clean singing used briefly in the song’s latter half. 

Somaesthesia has a nostalgic quality to them, one that I can’t quite put my finger on. if you like heavy but tuneful and well-thought out metal that’s not just brutish noise then look no further than this EP. Scotland is famous for a lot of things and a unique underground metal scene is one of them. 

You can stream and purchase Recidivist digitally below:-

Somaesthesia - https://www.facebook.com/somaesthesia.band/

Necropsy - Exitus (Xtreem Music)

Labels: Xtreem Music

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 21 Jan 2020

Tracklist:

1. Meat Ceremony

2. Fucking Dead

3. 206 Motives

4. Butcherado

This is likely going to be the last review of my little series focusing on Finnish extreme metal. I say likely because I may do one more today, as long as my hi-fi plays ball (the other review didn't happen, sorry). Exitus is the newest EP from death metallers Necropsy. They've been releasing music since way back in 1989, with several demos and a split coming before an eighteen year break between 1993 and 2011, when their first full-length Bloodwork saw the light of day. Now and following their 2015 full-length Buried In The Woods, the quintet returns to show newer bands how it's done.

Here we go. The review I tried to write this morning before writer’s block hit. Now I don’t know if I’m correct here but is this Necropsy (there are quite a few bands with the same name according to Metal Archives!) the same band that made Noisem change to their current name? Let me know in the comments. Anyway, forgetting that for a minute, this is death/doom of the highest order in a form that only the Finn’s can achieve. Opener ‘Meat Ceremony’ is mid-paced but still nasty enough to sit within the death metal sphere. The instrumentation is super clear on this recording (especially the guitars) and the vocals are deep in tone, which is exactly what you want. 

The aptly titled ‘Fucking Dead’ is straight-to-the-point in death/doom terms at least. It proves that experience means more than enthusiasm and Necropsy has more experience than most within the genre. The riffs are huge and thick with atmosphere, while the whole band is cohesive, as if they’re glued together physically.  

The groove is real on ‘206 Motives’ and it starts right from the off. It’s the longest song on the EP and therefore it’s the doomeist. It’s a dirge-laden slab of death metal with some awesome traditional/heavy metal influences and at times it reminds of Insomnium (a band that may or may not have been influenced by Necropsy themselves). Like the rest of the EP, it’s an engaging listen that really draws you in. 

Final song ‘Butcherado’ is at odds with the other songs on the EP. It’s a raging and fast death metal song that barely lasts beyond three minutes and shows off Necropsy’s more brutal side. Musically, it’s still more than solid and it makes use of their collective writing/recording nouse as well as their instrumental skill. It’s over all too quickly, as is this EP.

It’s going to be hard for other bands playing death/doom to match this release in 2020. Necropsy just seem to have the aura and the musicality to nail it from start to finish. This is a great release and Xtreem Music has done a great job sticking by the band and helping them to flourish. 

Stream and purchase Exitus digitally below:-

CD copies can be ordered from Xtreem Music here - http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/.

Necropsy - https://www.facebook.com/NECROPSY

Xtreem Music - https://www.facebook.com/xtreemmusic666/

Gutlocker - Cry Havoc! EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 20 Apr 2018

Tracklist:

1. Bitter Memory

2. No Burden

3. Stuck

4. Welcome To Fucktown

Here's some new music straight from the UK's seedy metal underbelly or... Woking to exact! I don't know too many metal bands that come from that part of England, so I think this is a first for the blog. "Cry Havoc!" is Gutlocker's latest release. I'm unsure if it's their debut or not as I can't seem to find much of their music online, apart from on their Soundcloud page and on Youtube. They played Bloodstock in 2016 and since then, they've supported Raging Speedhorn and Abhorrent Decimation amongst others. "Cry Havoc!" is officially released on April 20th and while I've surmised above that it's going to be a digital release, you'll just have to wait and see.

Gutlocker plays the kind of metal that would’ve made eighteen-year old me very happy. That’s not doing them a disservice though as EP opener Bitter Memory is heavy, groovy and the vocals bring to mind UK death/thrash in it’s rawest form. The guitars are buried by the drums ever so slightly on “Cry Havoc!” , which loses a little bit of momentum in place but they are still audible and delivered with class. No Burden is more of a progressive song, being slower and more off-kilter. 

Stuck features great drum work and fully backs up the comparisons to the likes of Pantera and Lamb Of God. The song is as groove-laden as their sound gets, with elements of doom and sludge mixed into the thrash. It’s great fun and isn’t too obscure sounding, so should appeal to a large chunk of metal fans. The EP closer and latest single Welcome To Fucktown is the perfect straight-to-the-point number to end on. It features a subtle dirge that makes it hard to turn off.

Gutlocker is a true band for the metalhead. They’ve got plenty of live experience and while they’re still figuring out their true sound, they’re still really enjoyable to listen too. Onwards and upwards for them then. 

You can stream Welcome To Fucktown and a couple of their earlier songs via Soundcloud here:-

The a live video for EP opener Bitter Memory is up on Youtube here:-

Keep your eyes peeled on social media for news on the EP release too - https://www.facebook.com/gutlockeruk/

Murder Hollow - The Adept

Labels: Self-Released/Ramekuukkeli-Levyt

Formats: Digital/Tape

Release Date: 16 Feb 2018

Tracklist:

1. The Lover

2. The Alchemist

3. The Adept

March has been a bit slower than I'd hoped up to this point, but I've been sent some cool new releases in tape form so I'm going to take the opportunity to write about them (and some other releases) over the next week, starting tonight with this new release from Finnish doom/death band Murder Hollow. "The Adept" is the Tampere quartet's third release since their formation in 2013. It feature three songs and released digitally by the band and on tape by Finnish label Ramekuukkeli-Levyt last month. 

Finland and doom/death, two familiar bedfellows to this blog. Murder Hollow though is a new band to these ears and the sub-genre tag above isn’t necessarily as accurate as you;d think. EP opener The Lover starts with a drawn-out sampled noise intro that gives way to incredibly groovy bass and drum work. Both provide a funky tempo that carries on throughout the heavy verses, where the harsh vocals and driving guitars take centre stage. It’s really hard to describe adequately but imaging if (the instrumental section of) Rage Against The Machine suddenly decided to play doom metal and you’re about there. 

The Alchemist takes things in a more traditional direction with some cracking riffs that conjure images of both Grand Magus and Reverend Bizarre jamming at the same time. It’s got that despondent yet catchy dynamic that stops the listener from switching off, while Heikki’s vocals are suitably deathly. Murder Hollow strikes me as a very adept (excuse the pun) band with excellent song-writing skill. They close out with the EP’s title-track and just like the previous two songs, they’ve managed to make it sound different. It’s got a stoner/psych feel to it and yet it still fits into the EP without any continuation worries. It’s a great song to end on and there’s no let up in musicality or momentum. This is definitely a release that’ll hit you from nowhere and grab you attention instantly. If you doom/death with a different then Murder Hollow is your band.

You can stream and download "The Adept" via Murder Hollow's bandcamp page below:-

Murder Hollow - https://www.facebook.com/MH.fairytales/

Physical tapes can be purchased from Ramekuukkeli-Levyt here - http://ramekuukkeli.nettisivu.org

Ramekuukkeli-Levyt - https://www.facebook.com/Rämekuukkeli-levyt

Nekroholocaust - Hymns Of Ruthless Pestilence

Labels: Brutal Mind Productions

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 13th Oct 2017

Tracklist:

1. Glorification Of Barbarity (Intro)

2. Self-Inflicted Genital Mutilation

3. Excruciating Savage Butchery

4. Hideous Atrocities

5. Seeds Of Nihilism (Instrumental)

6. Interlude

7. Pseudocommando

8. Hymns Of Ruthless Pestilence

9. Psychopathic Hallucinations Of Morbid Perversities

Nekroholocaust is the first band from The Philippines to appear on this blog. They're probably also the slammiest, deathiest band in the country (that I know of anyway). Their debut full-length "Hymns Of Ruthless Pestilence" was released via Indonesian slam/death label Brutal Mind Productions last October and it was the band themselves that got in touch with me. It just goes to show the power of Social Media when it's used right. The trio from Bacalod City has been spewing out gruesome blasts since 2004, releasing a demo, a single, a few splits and two live albums in the process. If you need any more persuading to read on, just feast your eyes on the cover art that adorns this beast.

“Hymns Of Ruthless Pestilence” begins with the intro Glorification Of Barbarity and the familiar sound of the “O Fortuna”. It’s a pity they didn’t re-imagine it in brutal death metal form (and it begs the questions as to whether they’re even bothered about copyright law!). They get down on dirty for real on Self-Inflicted Genital Mutilation, with filthy bass riffs, blasting toms and pig-squeals. The breakdowns are peppered with pinch-harmonics and they use sampled screams to further add to the horror. Talking of screams, there are some disturbing vocals on Excruciating Savage Butchery, as well as automatic gun fire. The riffs are tight though and occasionally they venture away from stomach churning brutality and into the safer waters of classic death metal. I can’t think of a better name for a song of this ilk than Hideous Atrocities, though it is both one of the grooviest and most off-kilter songs on the record. 

Seeds Of Nihilism is a really solid instrumental song that’s got plenty of hardcore riffs in it, while the Interlude that follows breaks up the momentum of the album. which is kind of sad really. More slams!!! Nekroholocaust get back on it with Pseudocommando and it’s bangtastic. The way the trio transitions mid-way through from fast to mid-tempo is great and they sound really tight. It’s all the on the right side of goregrind as well, which is a bit of a relief. The title-track sees the return of the tom that’s somewhat overpowering, as it drowns out the cymbals and the bass. That said, it’s still a fun listen. The absurdity of Psychopathic Hallucinations Of Morbid Perversities is more than matched by it’s title. It brings to an end an album that may be an acquired taste to some, but that’s also genuine and fun. The recording and production may take some getting used to, but it shows great promise and Nekroholocaust are great at writing catchy songs (believe it or not). Good work.

You can stream "Hymns Of Ruthless Pestilence" in full and buy on digital or on CD below:-

Nekroholocaust - https://www.facebook.com/nhbdm/

Brutal Mind Productions - https://www.facebook.com/brutalmindjakarta/