Obsidian Scapes - Obsidian Scapes EP

Labels: Darkness Shall Rise Productions

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 27 Feb 2025

Tracklist:

1. Endless Sea Of Dead Mirrors

2. At My Funeral (Sigh cover)

After a week away, losing track of time and days, I'm feeling truly refreshed. I pretty much ignored all the usual trappings of modern life (where possible), in favour of walking, fresh air and family time. Having a few more days until reality bites again means that I can get back into writing and as it's the 1st of May (well, it was at the time of writing this) there's no better time to do it!

Coming to the end of my current "loose" review schedule means that I get to shine a light on some newer and more obscure bands beginning with German doom/death act Obsidian Scapes. Their debut EP was released back in February via fellow German label Darkness Shall Rise Productions, acting as a precursor to their first full-length album, which is set for release next month. Consisting of an original track called 'Endless Sea Of Dead Mirrors' (that appears on the aforementioned album) and their own take on the song 'At My Funeral', which was originally released by Japanese avant-garde black metal band Sigh.

As cyclical as extreme music is, death metal continues (for now) to take centre stage. Doom in it’s various forms currently dwells in the background, though that may be about to change. Obsidian Scapes are helping to lead the charge for low and slow bands in 2025 and it’s easy to see why. ‘Endless Sea Of Dead Mirrors’ is teeming with downtempo and downtrodden instrumentation, as well as tortured vocals. While slower tempos command a lot of space throughout this song, there’s also a layer of faster musicianship and even some semi-melodic vocals that might remind you of The Blackening-era Machine Head (apologies if my comparison is off here!).

While that original composition from Obsidian Scapes really hits a high bar musically, their cover of ‘At My Funeral’ by Japanese band Sigh was always going to be a tough one to pull off given their English language preference. It works well, especially with the addition of off-kilter tempos and keyboard-like melodies. Honestly, it’s a welcome escape from the constant blasting death metal that’s filling the underground airwaves at the moment.

Obsidian Scapes have set their stall out early and in doing so, they’ve shown how exciting their music is. This is evidence of what’s to come on their debut album. In a time when bands need to differentiate themselves from others, Obsidian Scapes have given themselves an immediate launchpad. Great stuff.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally via Bandcamp below:-

Obsidian Scapes - https://www.facebook.com/profile

Physical copies can be purchased from Darkness Shall Rise Productions here:- https://darknessshallrise.de/

Darkness Shall Rise Productions - https://www.facebook.com/darknessshallriseproductions

Louse - Small Pleasures EP

Labels: Makeshift Swahili

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: TBA

Tracklist:

1. Small Pleasures

2. Little Jimmy

3. Christian Rat Attack

I nearly got clouted by a giant tree branch on Friday, courtesy of Storm Lilian. Would not recommend. At least I wasn't at Leeds Fest though! Instead, I've been slowly making my way through various new record purchases (from And So I Watch You From Afar, Blind Girls, Blind Monarch, I Haxa, Massa Nera & Quiet Fear, Norna, Piri Reis & Wharflurch) while also trying to keep on top of inbox arrivals, which I'm woefully behind on. One of those arrivals is the brand new EP from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne's Louse.

They were brought to my attention by Fionn who used to run the excellent emo/screamo label Rubaiyat Records and now runs Makeshift Swahili, focusing on DIY punk/hardcore/noise-rock. Small Pleasures is a new release containing three songs, while vinyl copies also include Louse's tracks from their 2023 split with The Shits on the b-side.

This is some dirty, punk-fuelled noise at it’s belligerent best. The EP title-track ‘Small Pleasures’ almost has no order whatsoever, except for the groove-laden guitars. Imagine Bloc Party, Throat and Meth Drinker forming a band together. To my ears, this is what it would sound like. 

‘Little Jimmy’ flits between sleazy grunge and intense noise. Slow in tempo but exhilarating in volume. When you ask somebody if they like punk/heavy music and they say “yes I like Blink-182 and Foo Fighters”, this is what you should play them. 

EP closer ‘Christian Rat Attack’ is made up of the reverb and distortion that filled the hallowed pages of Maximum Rock n Roll (if you can imagine such a thing). It’s also the harshest song here vocally, including some epic guitar work and percussion too. 

Ultimately, this EP isn’t going to be for everyone. Louse performs music that’s both dirty and groovy at the same time. They exist on their own plain and that’s absolutely fine.

You can listen to the EP title-track digitally below:-

Louse - https://lousescum.bandcamp.com

Physical copies will soon be available from Makeshift Swahili here - https://makeshiftswahili.bigcartel.com/product/mss007-louse-small-pleasures

Makeshift Swahili - https://makeshiftswahili.bigcartel.com/category/makeshift-swahili

Kurokuma - Of Amber And Sand

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 09 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. I Am Forever

2. Sandglass

3. Death No More

4. Clepsydra

5. Fenjaan

6. Bell Tower

7. Neneh

8, Timekeeper

9. Crux Ansata

10. Awakening

11. Chronoclasm

Reading that a member of a heavy band considers their music to be 'too avant garde to get coverage amongst any blogs or printed magazines' left me quite sad. That sadness was short-lived though as Kurokuma's newest album Of Amber And Sand has recently garnered well-deserved coverage from both Decibel and Kerrang, alongside other platforms dedicated to good music. 

For those who might be stumbling across Kurokuma for the first time; they're a psych/sludge/stoner band from Sheffield (UK) who have released a demo, three EPs, two splits and two full-lengths since their inception in 2014, not to mention a standalone Kraftwerk cover (according to Metal Archives). 

I’m still getting used to having more time in the evenings. I don’t think I’m any more productive because of it but it’s still early days. One thing I do know is that I’m not forever, which may be an odd thing to say but Kurokuma’s music should (and will hopefully) be immortal, as album opener ‘I Am Forever’ proves. It contains probably the heaviest intro I’ve heard from the trio, let alone their most psych-laden/intense musical and vocal delivery. It’s an utterly brilliant first song, containing element of death (and even black) metal as well as an excellent Baglama solo from Babak Sharifimajd, providing a loverly and warm Middle Eastern tone.

The album is made up of six songs or “meditations’ as they’re described by Kurokuma and they’re separated by five interludes that are performed by Empyrean Silence (a mysterious entity that also resides in the Steel City). ‘Sandglass’ is the first interlude and it continues along the Middle Eastern path, leading to ‘Death No More’. By now, you may well notice a theme flowing through this album; one which definitely plays true to the avant garde description. ‘Death No More’ is off-kilter and it majors on the instrumental strengths of the band. It’s mid-paced at first before moving through many different tempos and transitions. The vocals add to the exhilaration even more so.

Following the album’s second longest song with the haunting interlude of ‘Clepsydra’ is a genius move as it briefly settles the mood in time for the groove-laden ‘Fenjaan’, which feature one of the most infectious bass/guitar riff combos I’ve ever heard from Jake and Zakk, whose dual vocals once again shine bright alongside Joe’s epic and controlled drumming. Kurokuma have really matured over recent years and it really feels like this album could truly be their coming of age.

I’m not one for multi-tasking but I am keeping one eye on the football scores this evening. Thankfully, my attention is drawn straight back to this album by atmospheric interlude ‘Bell Tower’, which flows effortlessly into ’Neneh’. It’s an uncharacteristically short song compared to the rest here but it cuts a nice groove once again, pulling you into the album’s second half in solid fashion. 

’Timekeeper’ drifts quietly into ‘Crux Ansata’, which begins oddly in almost mainstream fashion before dispelling any such falsehood thanks to sheer heaviness. It’s a side of Kurokuma that properly hits the spot, especially if you surround yourself with heaviness. Add in the bridge-riff from guest musician Bing snd you can’t really go wrong. At this point I have to mention the ace recording/mixing/mastering of Ian Boult (at Stuck On A Name, Nottingham), as it helps to elevate this record.

Final interlude and penultimate track ‘Awakening’ is brief yet startling, leading into album closer ‘Chronoclasm’, which is the album’s longest song. It harnesses everything that’s great about Kurokuma’s psychedelic sound thanks to the instrumentation and it’s quality. Nearly four minutes pass by before the vocals kick in and when they do, they add an even greater layer to the song, as does the breakdown that was written specially by Thomas Wesley Pentz.

The thing I love above all else about the music and bands I’m lucky enough to cover here is that they’re always looking to push themselves, and their boundaries. The UK music community (away from what’s considered to be mainstream) is a shining example and Kurokuma deserve to be at it’s forefront with Of Amber And Sand.

You can stream and purchase Of Amber And Sand digitally below, where it's also available on cd and vinyl formats:-

Kurokuma - https://www.facebook.com/kurokumauk

Orme - No Serpents, No Saviours EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 23 Aug 2024

Tracklist:

1. No Serpents, No Saviours

There's a hell of a lot of discourse and misinformation doing the rounds right now, especially here in the UK. I'm all for peaceful protest but when it becomes violent, I switch off because said violence dilutes and illegitimises any such "legitimate" cause. Obviously, my small rant means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things but given what's going on across the globe right now, being aware is important. 

I'm kicking off my latest review schedule with drone/doom band Orme and their newest release single track EP (due for official release on August 23rd) called No Serpents, No Saviours, that stretches beyond twenty-four minutes. With their roots in the county that I called home for the first four years of my life, Hertfordshire (I lived in Bishop's Stortford), Orme released their debut self-titled EP in April 2023. They've since followed it up with this new EP and a split release with Wreaths (released earlier this year via Inverted Grim-Mill Recordings and the sadly departed Trepanation Recordings).

It isn’t often that I review single tracks, mainly because I feel that they don’t last long enough for me to formulate any sort of reasonable commentary. This release from Orme is different due to it’s sheer length. No Serpents, No Saviours spans just over twenty-four minutes and is made up of some of the finest drone/doom the UK has produced in a long time. When I think of similar bands; Ommadon and Bismuth spring to mind. Sadly Ommadon are no longer active, but Orme fill the void left brilliantly. 

This is just the perfect combination of epic percussion, rumbling bass, sloth-like riffs and deathly vocals. Psych influences manage to slide their way in at times, but ultimately there’s nothing bright about the sound produced here. That’s fine though because it should only herald darkness. In the case of the latter-half; beautiful yet crushing calmness, stark spoken-word samples and soaring musicianship take over. The lead-guitar work/solos encapsulate what I was just trying to convey in a much better way.

A couple of paragraphs don’t do Orme and their music justice. Merely giving a verbal taste of what’s on offer is enough for me. This is a blisteringly good EP. If you like heavy and/or really well written and performed music in general, you won’t go wrong here.

The EP isn't available to stream yet for obvious reasons but you can pre-order it both on CD or digital formats here - https://ormedroneuk.bandcamp.com/album/no-serpents-no-saviours.

Orme - https://www.facebook.com/ormedroneuk

Devil's Gateway - Promised Land / No Escape

Labels: Iron Corpse

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 May 2024

Tracklist:

1. Promised Land

2. No Escape

After a day of work frustrations and a massively lacklustre performance from England at the Euros this evening, only something truly heavy will suffice. Finland's Devil's Gateway fulfils that need with their latest EP Promised Land / No Escape. Containing two songs and coming off the back of their September 2023 full-length Eternal Grind, it was released on tape through Iron Corpse Records alongside a digital release. It's well worth mentioning that this is the duo's third offering in just over twelve months. Productivity like that deserves much closer attention!

Crusty, hellish death/doom with tones of rawness is what’s on offer here. Devil’s Gateway sound just like their name on ‘Promised Land’. Dual-vocals, bass-heavy guitar, crashing cymbals and all manner of murk take you on a ride that goes deeper than you would have anticipated. The overriding sound is that of death/doom but the crust is there later on, adding extra dystopian gloom.

Second song ‘No Escape’ is even more dank and heavy, if that were possible! The sludgy bass threatens to drag it in a powerviolence-esque direction but instead Devil’s Gateway continue on their slow, downtempo trajectory. It’s absolutely perfect in it’s chaotic, distorted droning beauty. It’s a fine way to end this little EP and the yearning for what’s to come is real.

Once again Iron Corpse manages to help unearth another Finnish band that builds on the insanity that the country already delivers musically. I’m a massive fan of Finland’s heavy music community and If you’re reading this review, you probably will be too. If you’re new to it, dive right in. You won’t regret it.

You can stream and purchase the EP on both digital and limited tape formats from Devil's Gateway below:-

You can grab tape copies from Iron Corpse here too - https://www.ironcorpse.com/?product_cat=ironcorpsereleases

Devil's Gateway - https://devilsgateway.bandcamp.com

Iron Corpse - https://www.facebook.com/cultoftheironcorpse

Liquid Shit - Repulsive Bodies

Labels: Dry Cough Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 07 Apr 2023

Tracklist:

1. Anxious Wretch

2. Encrusted In Eschar

3. Untethered

4. Foul Occurrence

5. Mentally Dissected

6. Bound Forever To This Body

Less than twelve months after their last EP Untold Horrors in May 2022, London's Liquid Shit returned with their latest EP Repulsive Bodies. Self-released by the band in April 2023 while at the same time getting a tape pressing via Dry Cough Records, it sees Liquid Shit delving deeper into the world of noise and sludge, while also keeping their feet rooted in death metal. 

I absolutely loved Untold Horrors when it was released in 2022. I don’t know, there was just something so warming about it. So much so that I ordered a tape copy of Repulsive Bodies as soon as I could. I’m just sorry that it’s taken me a year to write about it. Today’s muggy atmosphere (coupled with the obligatory allergy flair-up) seems the like the perfect conditions to finally put my thoughts about this EP into print and as opener ‘Anxious Wretch’ lurches into life with slow/sludgy death metal, it makes me wonder if Liquid Shit will be the band that genuinely finds that elusive brown note. 

It’s not a fast song by any means but ‘Anxious Wretch’ acts as a precursor for what’s to come. What does come next is ‘Encrusted In Eschar’, which begins with a whole heap of proper doom/sludge-laden bass, leading to similarly downbeat instrumental all round. The vocals don’t give off any light either, in case you were wondering.

There’s a heavy psych influence in the riffs on ‘Untethered’, which might take you by surprise slightly but have no fear, they’re in absolutely the right place and add a huge amount to the song given how minimalist it is in places. I’m not saying that being minimalist is a bad thing (because it’s not) but I always felt like Liquid Shit had psych vibes in them when listening to Untold Horrors. 

Having said all that though, you couldn’t get a more apt song than Foul Occurrence. What you get here is another slow number that drags death metal into the deepest of places. It comes across as the bastard love child born of Cynic and Primitive Man. Picture that if you will. Slightly progressive/psychedelic death metal mixed with the nastiest sludge/doom.

Penultimate song ‘Mentally Dissected’ dials up the off-kilter musicianship and general noisiness even more, but manages to retain a healthy dose of what made old-school death/doom so engrossing during the song’s first half, before it descends into chaos later on. Closing with ‘Bound Forever To This Body’, unnerving samples lead to a cacophony of deep growls, screeching feedback and minimal yet crushing instrumentation.  

I really like the path that Liquid Shit have chosen to go down with their extreme sound. It would have been easy for them to just follow what others are doing but their music has a more experimental edge to it. This EP follows on from Untold Horrors perfectly and gives the slightest of glimpses into what may be coming next.

You can stream and purchase Repulsive Bodies digitally from Liquid Shit below, as well as the last few white/black long sleeve t-shirts too:-

Dry Cough tapes are sold out.

Liquid Shit - @liquidshitsludge Instagram

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

The Oldest House - A Worm Through Time

Labels: I, Voidhanger Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 26 Jan 2024

Tracklist:

1. Objects Of Power

2. The Oldest House

3. A Worm Through Time

4. Interdimensional Mold

5. The Painting On The Wall

It's been a pretty sobering start to the year if I'm being honest, hence the sporadic nature of things here. The focus of this review will do nothing to brighten the mood but sometimes it's better to sink to the lowest depths, so you can rise up at the other end. Spanish sludge/doom band The Oldest House is the brainchild of A.M. of Aversio Humanitatis (Debemur Morti Productions) fame amongst others, with drums provided by J.H. You may be familiar with that band's black metal, but The Oldest House promises something altogether different. I'm excited so let's jump in.

A Worm Through Time is described as being a sludge/doom EP but I’m not sure what to expect. It has drawn some (very tangible) comparisons musically and as opener ‘Objects Of Power’ begins, it takes away every last breath you have thanks to it’s sheer wall of heaviness. An initial lumbering, bass-heavy tempo takes the lead alongside deep growls that build in ferocity as the music does. It’s not without it’s technicality though thanks to the percussive skill later on, highlighting why the band found a home on I, Voidhanger Records for it’s debut release.

A.M.’s black metal roots aren’t too far away here, as the spine-tingling vocal delivery on ‘The Oldest House’ shows. Extreme metal is extreme metal, whatever sub-genre you categorise it into, so it’s best to just enjoy it in whatever form it comes. Here, that form is unwaveringly heavy and satisfyingly groovy. Yes, there’s some psych going on here!

Talking of psych, title song ‘A Worm Through Time’ takes you on a journey thanks to it’s spellbinding bass performance and shaman-like singing/chanting that almost throws you off, before everything shifts in a grind/PV direction. I have to say that this uptempo approach to sludge and doom isn’t usually my thing (I like it slow and drawn out most of the time) but The Older House completely changes my orientation here.

‘Interdimensional Mold’ is the EP’s shortest song and it provides a bit of respite from the extremity of previous songs thanks to the addition of ambient sounds that are almost cosmic. It’s fully instrumental and leads perfectly into closer ‘The Painting On The Wall’, which provides one final opportunity to appreciate everything that The Oldest House has to offer musically. The band offers so much!

I haven’t covered a great deal of 2024 releases up to now; however, what I have heard and featured has been extremely strong so far. This EP is no different. It’s given me an appetite to dive into sludge and doom again, though that temptation is never far away!. Great stuff. Let’s hope and hold our breath for more from The Oldest House in the future.

You can stream and purchase the EP on both CD and digital formats below:-

The Oldest House - https://www.instagram.com/theoldesthouseofficial/

You can also buy CD copies from I, Voidhanger Records here - 

https://metalodyssey.8merch.com/product/the-oldest-house-a-worm-through-time-cd/

https://metalodyssey.8merch.us/product/the-oldest-house-a-worm-through-time-cd/

I, Voidhanger Records - https://www.facebook.com/i.voidhanger.records

Sewer Fiend/Plague Patrol - Split

Labels: Behind The Mountain/Calvos 73 Records/Dry Cough Records/Headsplit Records/Psychocontrol Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 16 Dec 2022

Tracklist:

1. Sewer Fiend - Through Gurgling Rivers Of Sickness

2. Sewer Fiend - Into Bottomless Blight-Filled Pools

3. Plague Patrol - God From The Nameless Mist

4. Plague Patrol - Gates Of Void

5. Plague Patrol - Hidden Side Of Galaxy

After both releasing stellar demos/EPs in 2021, UK death/doom act Sewer Fiend and Czechia's OSDM  trio Plague Patrol joined forces for a split release in late 2022. It was pressed on all conceivable physical formats (excluding floppy disk and minidisc of course!) by the labels above at the time of release and while the vinyl pressing took a long time to appear, like the whole of the split, it was well worth the wait. To date it contains the latest recordings by both bands.

It’s midweek and I’ve survived the UK’s gloomiest, most depressing month. The only way is up from here! To celebrate, I’m re-immersing myself in a split record that features two of death metal’s best underground newcomers. First up it’s Sewer Fiend who contribute two songs on their side, starting with ‘Through Gurgling Rivers Of Sickness’. The duo’s musical pedigree in UK circles in second to none and as with their demo ‘Echoes From The Cistern’, they waste no time in providing killer death/doom with a cosmic, etherial sound. At times atmospheric but murkily so.

Their second song ‘Into Bottomless Blight-Filled Pools’ is equally as expansive, foregoing the brutality that often befits death metal in favour of a slower, more open approach. Coupled with the fact that this song surpasses eight minutes, it’s no surprise as to how engrossing it is. Definitely doomier than deathly, it shows just why UK death metal and it’s old-school resurgence has garnered so much attention over the last couple of years.

Czechia’s Plague Patrol produced one of my favourite demos of 2021 and here they continue with the same momentum on their opening song ‘God From The Nameless Mist’, which hits top gear straight away thanks to it’s intense tempo and sheer wall of sound that’s accentuated by those low, bellowed vocals. I guess where Sewer Fiend’s vocal delivery was more subtle, Plague Patrol’s is anything but.

‘Gates of Void’ follows after what seems like a needless pause and precedes to unleash yet more OSDM madness with added lead/twin guitar flair. It’s amazing how much music Plague Patrol can shoehorn into such a (seemingly) short song. They do slow things down later on, providing their own death/doom take. Closing with ‘Hidden Side Of Galaxy’, Plague Patrol goes all out with pummelling drums and wailing guitar leads. It’s at this point that it hits just how cohesive this trio of songs are when played in succession. As if that was any surprise though right?.

Having lived with and played this split countless times over the last couple of years, it’s still amazing that with each listen something else leaps out of the speakers. Both Sewer Fiend and Plague Patrol provide such pleasure to the listener with their unique ideals and their excellent interpretations of death metal in the modern era. I sincerely hope that they both continue what they started. Extreme music needs them.

You can stream and purchase the full split digitally below:-

Sewer Fiend - https://www.instagram.com/sewer_fiend_dm/ / 

https://sewerfienduk.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-from-the-cistern

Plague Patrol - https://plaguepatrol.bandcamp.com/album/split-2022

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Behind The Mountain Records - https://behindthemountain.net/en/produkt/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-cd-split-2/

Calvos 73 Records - https://calvos73records.bandcamp.com/album/split

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/sewer-fiend-plague-patrol-split-lp-dc65

Headsplit Records - https://headsplitrecords.storenvy.com/products/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-lp / https://headsplitrecords.storenvy.com/products/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-split

Psychocontrol Records - https://psychocontrol.com/produkt/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-split-lp

Behind The Mountain Records - https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheMountainRecs

Calvos 73 Records - https://calvos73records.bandcamp.com

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

Headsplit Records - https://www.facebook.com/headsplitrecords

Psychocontrol Records - https://www.facebook.com/PsychocontrolRecords

Ethir Anduin - Холод

Labels: Atra Anduin Records

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 17 Feb 2023

Tracklist:

1. Вепсский лес

2. Север

3. Холод внутри

4. Залив чудовищ

5. Пространство

The temperatures are due to drop below freezing in the UK next week, so to prepare myself I'm sitting down to a lovely barrel-aged imperial stout and the newest album from Russian black/doom metal band Ethir Anduin. I first found out about them thanks to Alexander (of both Atra Haeresis and Atra Anduin Records). Contact between the two of us was initially made via Telegram (due to more conventional means of communication being unavailable) and then by e-mail. Ethir Anduin has been active since 2006 and up to now, they've notched up many releases including a demo, 6 EPs, 2 splits, 9 full-length albums (including this one) and countless singles. 

Холод contains five songs that stretch to over fifty minutes and is entirely in Russian. Opener ‘Вепсский лес’ is a sprawling, melodic doom song that seems to be very much influenced by Scandinavia’s own death/doom explosion. Even the vocals, while delivered with the coldness of black metal, nestle perfectly amongst the instrumentation. This is surprising as I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at first. It could have been super raw and lo-fi but on listening it’s anything but those things. It’s really well performed, produced and so enjoyable.

‘Север’ is a grand mix of atmospheric doom and more straightforward black metal, except for a couple of surprises. Firstly, more folk-like clean chants are used as they were in the album’s opener and secondly, the mid-section is filled with glorious woodwind/brass tones that add real warmth to the music. Used in more of a traditional way as opposed to being avant-garde, Ethir Anduin craft something really impressive and euphoric.

On ‘Холод внутри’ (apologies, I can’t translate Russian and refuse to use Google Translate as it’s not always accurate), you’re treated to a song that’s on a more traditional black metal trajectory, albeit one that’s never too far away from Ethir Anduin’s sensitive atmospheric/melodic guitar work. Another thing that you’ll be familiar with if you listen to extreme Russian bands is the use of midi/synths within their music and the band uses said accompaniments sparingly so as not to affect their organic sound. 

The album’s folk-influences peaks during ‘Залив чудовищ’, which is very much a folk-black metal song. It’s very rhythmic and engrossing, giving an insight into the band’s roots and the traditions of the people that reside in their region. I really appreciate bands that stay true to their nationalities, instead of trying to sound too much like other nations when it comes to musical styles. For example, if you’re trying to sound like an American band and you’re not from America.

This is exactly what I needed today and listening to this album feels almost meditative, especially with a potentially difficult working week to come. Album closer ‘Пространство’ is a thing of instrumental beauty, showing that there’s much more to Ethir Anduin than first meets the eye and ear. Overall, I’ve been blown away by this album. After not knowing what to expect, the individuals that make up Ethir Anduin have put on a fantastic musical display that is worth your time and then some. 

You can stream and download this album (name-your-price) from Ethir Anduin below:-

You can connect with the band via Bandcamp above or via VK.com below (if you're on that platform):-

https://vk.com/ethiranduin_doom

Atra Anduin Records - https://vk.com/atra_anduin

Bolt Gun - The Warren 7"

Labels: Avantgarde Music/Starved Light

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 14 Jul 2023

Tracklist:

1. The Warren Part I

2. The Warren Part II

It's the first day of a new month. The month that will also see us into a new year. It's a chance to gain fresh momentum, at least for me anyway. That's why I'm dedicating this day to writing and listening, and first up is the two-song 7" called The Warren by Australian ambient/black/doom metal band Bolt Gun. It was released in July via Avantgarde Music and Starved Light. It was billed as the precursor to Bolt Gun's newest album The Tower, which was released in October and it features the percussive might of Iggor Cavalera on drums.

Bolt Gun is made up of guitarist/synth/orchestral arranger Jon Vayla, vocalist A.T., bassist Val Macukat and saxophonist Claire Keet on this release.

The Warren is split into two parts, both being the same length. ‘The Warren Part I’ is immediately bleak but also bold thanks to the atmospheric instrumentation performed by Bolt Gun. Iggor Cavalera’s drumming compliments the sound perfectly, adding a slightly industrial tinge to the doom-laden tempo used. On hearing the synths and saxophone, I can understand how this came to be released under the Avantgarde Records banner. It’s heavy but also intelligent at the same time.

‘The Warren Part II’ begins with synthesised strings and subtle ambience that draws you away from Bolt Gun’s heaviness. Beyond that initial opening section, the song’s first half is a mix of improv noise and off-kilter guitar. The latter half sees that band’s more structured black/doom metal appearing again, as if out of thick fog. Their cinematic post-metal influences become more prominent and temper the piercing vocals, which sit deeper in the mix.

7” EPs like this are used to build suspense and excitement, both of which Bolt Gun successfully achieve here. As the music falls aways to silence, the calm it leaves behind gives a sense of euphoria. It forms part of a larger musical journey for the band yet as a singular entity, The Warren deserves a place of it’s own. Great release.

You can stream and purchase The Warren digitally from Bolt Gun below:-

Bolt Gun - https://www.facebook.com/BoltGun

Physical 7" copies can be purchased via the links below:-

Avantgarde Music - https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-warren

Starved Light - https://starved-light.com/products/bolt-gun-the-warren

Avantgarde Music - https://www.facebook.com/avantgardemusiclabel

Starved Light - https://www.facebook.com/starvedlight

Infinity Ritual - II EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 03 Nov 2023

Tracklist:

1. FCG (Intro)

2. Succession

3. Earthdriver

4. Deceivers

5. Stones

I decided to pick something at random this evening and it just so happens that it's due to be released tomorrow (or today if you're in New Zealand and other Southern Hemisphere nations), which Infinity Ritual are. They're from New Plymouth, NZ to be exact and II is their latest EP, which follows their 2022 debut EP. II will be/is available on vinyl, CD and digital formats. All self-released!

After a day that started with me thinking it was Wednesday (thanks alarm clock!), it feels nice to be sat here digging into some good old groove-laden stoner rock. EP opener ‘FCG (Intro)’ is described as an extended introduction to second track ‘Succession’ and is only available on the vinyl version. It’s a nice psych/cosmic intro that sets the scene. I still don’t get the reasoning behind putting extra songs or music on some formats but not others. Maybe I never will.

Onto first song proper ‘Succession’ though, which is filled with top-drawer doom/stoner riffs, classy percussion and dual clean/harsh vocals that all add significant volume to this trio. Infinity Ritual’s sound so far has a nostalgic element to it, at times taking cues from early UK doom pioneers and gothic influences as well. There are similarities to the likes of Electric Wizard and Orange Goblin, but also Anathema and Paradise Lost too. 

‘Earthdriver’ dials up the stoner rock vibes with semi-clean vocals, all-encompassing drum work and a downright dirty guitar solo that seems to last for almost half the song, leading you into hallucinatory territory. New Zealand had always been great at producing bands in a similar vein to Infinity Ritual, with 8 Foot Sativa and Beastwars springing to mind immediately. The thing that catches me off guard here though is the nu-metal/grunge undertones that are present during ‘Deceivers’ (think Mad At Gravity, Spineshank, early-Hoobastank). 

I’ve mentioned way too many other bands in this review already so I’m gonna stop, because I’m not trying to pigeonhole Infinity Ritual, instead I’m trying (badly) to paint a picture of how varied and strong their music is. Talking of strong music, ending with a near twenty minute song that takes up an entire side of vinyl is a perfect example of that. ‘Stones’ is that song and it’s the slowest, darkest number on II, which is unsurprising. It’s largely instrumental and shows even more of Infinity Ritual’s musical, song-writing skill. Things get a bit weird for a short time before one final short blast of the band’s full-throttle stoner.

Listening to this EP has awakened something inside me (without sounding twee). It reminded me why I truly connected with heavy music in my mid-late teens even before I started writing about it online. There aren’t many bands that can genuinely do that! Infinity Ritual haven’t just released another record destined for the ether, they’ve released something special.

You can currently (at the time of writing) stream 'Earthdriver' on bandcamp below, as well as on other streaming services:-

Keep an eye out for vinyl/cd/merch drops here - https://www.infinityritual.com

Infinity Ritual - https://www.facebook.com/InfinityRitual