Pyre - Where Obscurity Sways

Labels: Kattran Records/Osmose Productions

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 31 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Where Obscurity Sways

2. From The Stygian Depths

3. Domains Of The Nameless Rites

4. Wandering...

5. Murderous Transcendence

6. Writhing Souls

7. Chanting Ancient Incantations

8. Pestilential Fumes

9. Descending...

10. Prognostic Of The Apocalypse

It wasn't my intention to feature two Russian bands back-to-back, but I guess them's the brakes right?!. Unlike Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh; Pyre have existed since 2011 and are more well known in underground circles for their take on death metal. Under the nurturing wing of Osmose Productions (and with help from Kattran Records), they released their third full-length Where Obscurity Sways in January. There's a couple of guest appearances on it too, with vocals from Antti Oinonen (Cadaveric Incubator) and I.K. Winterheart (Ulvdalir).

After a few weeks of listening to tech-death (away from the blog), it’s refreshing to be listening to hear something that’s more deeply rooted in the moody, doom-like depths of old school death metal again. Pyre have the sound nailed on Where Obscurity Sways and after the title-track’s extended intro, out jumps Slayer-esque black-thrash filled death metal. It’s a stellar way to start the record and without so much as a pause for breath, ‘From The Stygian Depths’ takes over with the mid-paced percussive/bass murkiness of Oleg Malleus and Dym Nox respectively, as well as the exquisite guitar work from both Roman Rotten and Fred Obsinner. The addition of guest vocals from Antti Oinonen (of Cadaveric Incubator) drag things to even deeper depths, complementing the already nasty vocals of Dym and Roman.

‘Domains Of The Nameless’ has such a classic sound to it that it’s hard to believe it was released this year. There are so many influences and elements at play, and given the passing of UK heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne recently, it’s hard to ignore how much today’s extreme metal community take inspiration from Black Sabbath. Leaving that thought behind, Pyre choose ‘Wandering…’ as a brooding guitar interlude, which clears the way for ‘Murderous Transcendence’, the album’s longest tome. 

As the night begins to draw in ever closer, the sound of screeching guitar and pummelling kick-drumming fills the speakers. Pyre’s use of feedback coupled with filthy reverb-laden vocals really show that they’re capable of much darker things. The guest vocals from I.K. Winterheart (of Ulvdalir) add an extra dimension too. ‘Writhing Souls’ slowly drags you into the album’s latter half with more enticing doom-like riffs and excellent musicianship all round! The old-school mix of death, black and thrash metal is performed so well that you’ll forget that Pyre’s a product of the 2010’s. 

Faster tempos, blasts and reverb greets you on ‘Chanting Ancient Incantations’, as Pyre lurch forward from ploughed furrows to bleak horizons, that earlier seemed very far away. The shorter songs on Where Obscurity Sways (like this one) have an impact for sure but there’s something about the album’s longer songs that make it feel much more engrossing. ‘Pestilential Fumes’ pulls itself up to that engrossing layer by incorporating both the fast and slow dynamics of Pyre to help produce a truly killer song. 

There are similarities between penultimate interlude ‘Descending…’ and earlier one ‘Wandering…’, which may not come as a surprise. It does slightly ruin the momentum of the album’s closing portion but as it immediately leads into final song ‘Prognostic Of The Apocalypse’, all is soon forgiven as one last black-thrash battering awaits. It’s a punishing way to end things but it also shows the quality that Pyre possess. 

I feel like I’ve slept on this band for too long. They are deserved of praise for their passion for creating music that sounds not only more mature than it should, but also fresh amongst the barrage of brutal/tech-death that assaults us in 2025 (I enjoy both those forms of death metal more than ever but variation is the key).

You can stream and purchase Where Obscurity Sways on all formats from Pyre below:-

 

You can also purchase physical copies from Osmose Productions and Kattran Records below:- 

Osmose Productions -  https://www.osmoseproductions.com/

Kattran Records - https://kattran.ru/

Pyre - https://www.facebook.com/pyredeathmetal

Osmose Productions - https://www.facebook.com/osmoseproductions

Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh - You'll Despise Yourself

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 30 May 2017

Tracklist:

1. Untitled

2. I Hate Your Lifestyle

3. More Than One Hour

4. Possession

5. Two-Tone Snakeskin Boots With Rolled Sleeves

6. Crush On You

7. I'll Ask Her

8. I Listen To A Park Jefferson Song And Go To Bed

9. Even Then You're Weak

Back again with another (and long-awaited, by me at least!) Polar Summer roster review. I sometimes  obsess over specific labels and having collected some of Polar Summer's releases already, I chose to delve into their catalogue. I'm still looking to build up and maybe complete the collection one day but for now digital streams will do.

Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh are (or were) an interesting band. From Kazan in Russia, they played emoviolence and had two releases in 2017 that were three months apart, if that!. The first was their self-titled album in January, which was released via Canadian label Le Blast Records and the second was this album in March, which featured some of the tracks from that S/T album and was released on tape by Polar Summer from Russia. That's all the info I have on them!

It’s very warm here this evening. We’re not used to it in the UK, as I’m sure I’ve said before. As I write this review, I’m melting and I like the heat! The emoviolence of Russian band Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh isn’t going to help me cool down so I might as well dive right in. ‘Untitled’ opens the album in a gentle fashion. It’s instrumentation is calming, though there’s a subtle rawness to it as well. It’s a hint at what’s to come maybe. ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’ is where the band explodes. My first reaction was that the song-titled was a jab at Swedish emo band I Love Your Lifestyle, but I can’t conceive a reason why that would be.

What I can conceive though is just how raw and emotive things get on ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’. It barely lasts over fifty seconds yet it’s authentic rawness and it’s caustic vocals show exactly what Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh are/were about. From here on in I’m going to refer to them as Jackie, Oh for ease. I think people who love acts like The Body will really like this album, especially thanks to the high-pitched vocals. ‘More Than One Hour’ proves exactly why, while also delivering percussion and guitar work that sounds engrossing and uplifting even.

Just like ‘I Hate Your Lifestyle’, ‘Possession’ is another sub one-minute blast of intensity. The vocals are buried further in the mix here as the instrumentation towers over them somewhat, but in doing so it takes away some of the caustic feel. ’Two-Tone Snakeskin Boots With Rolled Sleeves’ explodes after a brief period of slow guitar, only to fall away again thirty-seconds later as Jackie, Oh drop into more of an emo stance with gentler instrumentation and grungier shouts towards the end. Proving that feedback is a key staple of every emoviolence song, Jacki, Oh go a bit more artsy during’ Crush On You’. There’s something about it that comes across differently. I think it’s the tempos they use 

Rolling instantly into ‘I’ll Ask Her’, that artsy flair comes out even more in the riffs along with the switch in pace and mood mid-way through. The way the cleaner guitars and drumming sit alongside the piercing vocals shouldn’t work but does. ‘I Listen To A Park Jefferson Song And Go Back To Bed’ leans more towards hardcore and is very much darker in tone. It’s probably my favourite song on You’ll Despise Yourself. Jackie, Oh close out with ‘Even Then You’re Weak’ and they channel the inner emo band once again, punctuating the violence and creating the best of both worlds.

In a music community where short-lived bands are the norm, I can’t think of many whose life was as brief as Searching The Shores For My Jackie, Oh’s was. Two releases in three months was impressive output though and with them still being available to listen too, what is there to loose. Now, what do I have to do to get my hands on tape copies!

As I mentioned above, their S/T release and this one are still available to stream and purchase as name-your-price downloads via their bandcamp page below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

It's More Like A Message To You - Live Demo'10

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 23 Feb 2017

Tracklist:

1. Кто Тебе Сказал?

2. Наши Имена

3. Фантомы Свободы

I'm trying to use the remainder of 2024 to get through my planned review schedule, as I want to try something a little different come the New Year (though it won't greatly different as that would be a logistical nightmare probably!). I've also got another sweet double song premiere on the way, but more on that later.

Tonight I'm dropping back into my (somewhat) slow going deep-dive into the roster of Russian label Polar Summer because I love em and I'm stubborn. It's More Like A Message To You were a short-live emoviolence band whom released this live demo in 2017 (which, was originally recorded in 2010) and an earlier split with fellow Russian emoviolence band Aspergers in 2013. A couple of things to note about them is that their name is taken from the title of a song by Jeromes Dream and that they went on form Buran, and Ensslin (whom I've featured here before).

This live demo contains just three tracks and according to the Internet, makes up the last available recordings from It’s More Like A Message To You. All three are in Russian and I’m not going to attempt to translate them. Opener ‘Кто Тебе Сказал?’ is definitely fitting of the bands that influenced them and the bands they went on to form, even at it’s absolute rawest. From melodically beautiful, to rabidly intense and back again in less than two minutes. 

‘Наши Имена’ epitomises the strength and emotion that can come through on live recordings, with it’s rousing build-up, harsh screams and insanely good percussion. The vocal/drum fusion does drown out the guitars slightly but this is a DIY live take, so it’s to be expected.

Demo closer ‘Фантомы Свободы’ is also it’s most furious, as ringing feedback gives way to instant emoviolence and dramatic instrumentation that explodes even further when the vocals kick in. Angular, imposing and life-affirming all in one. I know this release won’t be for everyone; even some regular readers might shy away from it but give it chance.

Another snapshot in time of a band that was born, shone brightly and then died just like the stars above our heads.

Tape copies are long sold out from Polar Summer but you can grab the demo as a name-your-price download from the band below:-

It's also available digitally for a super cheap price from Polar Summer below:-

Polar Summer Records - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Tarkovsky - Умер

Labels: Polar Summer/Red Truth Productions

Formats: CDr/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 29 Dec 2016

Tracklist:

1. Хаос

2. Гаррота

3. Котлован

4. Орлок

5. Мизери

6. Прощай, Оружие!

It's been quite sometime since my last Polar Summer related review. I don't know why because the previous four write-ups have been really popular. I first discovered the Russian emoviolence band Tarkovsky through an order I placed with Dingleberry Records via Discogs. While I was browsing I noticed Dingleberry had a number of Polar Summer releases for sale, including a CDr copy of Умер. This EP was released in late 2016 and was followed up by an early 2017 tape release via Kazakhstani label Red Truth Productions. It marks the last Tarkovsky release to date.

I haven’t published many reviews of late yet the blog seems to be reaching more people than ever (maybe that’s the key). Whatever the true reason, I’ve more than grateful for the attention and am going to press on. Tarkovsky’s opener ‘Хаос’ is a space-age inspired introduction filled with noise, atmospheric beats/effects and Russian spoken-word samples. It builds suspense, leading into ‘Гаррота’, which is a raw slab of melodic emoviolence. At times the riffs are repetitive but they fit perfectly.

‘Котлован’ is a moody, dissonant song that elevates Tarkovsky’s violent beauty to greater heights. I don’t know what more to say about it. ‘Орлок’ is equally as short as it’s predecessor, though that only really equates to it being heavier in all departments. Even when the closing few bars give way to subtle post-hardcore/metal textures, there’s still no escape.

Penultimate song ‘Мизери’ hits hard initially and reminds of how tired I feel. It’s a banger all the same and it’s intensity matches the sporadic nature of my attention span as I write this. EP closer ‘Прощай, Оружие!’ has the honour of being it’s longest song. It’s an instrumental song where guitar/bass tones could be mistaken for harsh vocals. 

This EP ultimately signalled an extended period of slience or end to Tarkovsky’s musical endeavours. It’s sad given how good this release is. I guess I’m going to have to dive deeper into Tarkovsky’s back catalogue somehow (not sure many of their songs are available online).

You can stream Умер and purchase it as a name-your-price download below:-

Tarkovsky - https://tarkovsky.bandcamp.com

Polar Summer's CDr copies are sold out but you can still grab tape copies from Red Truth Productions here - https://redtruthproduction.bandcamp.com/album/tarkovsky

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/

Red Truth Productions - https://www.facebook.com/REDTRUTHPRODUCTIONS/

Палисад – Истории

Labels: Its You! Records/Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 01 Jun 2016

Tracklist:

1. М-теория

2. Город

3. 8

4. Берегите Тепло

5. Кладовая Солнца

6. Вальс

7. Обещания

Snow has fallen here today for the first time in what seems like ages. I'm the only person at my day job who gets excited about it too! What it's also done is re-ignite my dive into Russian/Eastern European screamo/emo, as released by Polar Summer. This album from Saint Petersburg's Палисад was released by the band in June 01 2016, before both Polar Summer and fellow Russian label Its You! Records collaborated on a limited tape release in August of the same year.

To hear a Russian band do their best version of midwest/90’s emo is as baffling as it is inspiring, I guess. The way that music can cross the globe and reach corners almost unexpectedly is what makes it great. Палисад (Russian speakers/translators to the front) are a case in point on their 2016 album Истории. Opener ‘М-теория’ immediately shines with jangly guitar melodies and a multi-vocal approach that shows that hearts are worn clearly on sleeves. The percussion and bass work moves sensitively too and it’s not until the song’s closing moments that harsh vocals take hold. ’Город’ uses those harsh vocals to greater effect alongside the band’s fantastic musicianship, which refrains from becoming too dissonant or heavy. It’s a great take on proper emo, over sixteen years after the sub-genres explosion. 

‘8’ is an elegant song that builds instrumentally and while it makes you feel like it’s going to explode, it never does. Instead Палисад uses ‘Берегите Тепло’ to once again express their screamo-side, albeit subtly. The sound on this album is so warm and real, very much in the moment as it was no doubt supposed to be. The band’s art-punk/rock flamboyancy later on in the song shows yet another side to their musical skill. ‘Кладовая Солнца’ is the album’s longest song by a small margin but don’t worry, you’re not getting some obtuse prog-opera or anything. Instead, you’re greeted with a song that’s gentle and oh so soothing. Even toward it’s end when harshness creeps in, it reminds me of the sensitivity of Japanese emo/screamo. It makes sense considering both countries are not that far apart.

Penultimate song ‘Вальс’ is a heady mix of traditional emo and abrasive screamo, with perfect quiet/loud/quiet dynamics that shift effortlessly from one to the other, allowing the instrumentation to take centre stage again. At one point I heard what I thought was a nod to industrial music, but in truth it was just a prolonged guitar note. Album closer ‘Обещания’ sees Палисад delivering one final heavy blow that’s filled with everything that makes their music so great. From hardcore-inspired harsh vocals to twinkling emo guitar melodies and a rhythm section that brings it all together. 

This album (or EP?, I’m not sure now) was exactly what I needed this evening. My head has been so full of rubbish that it’s nice to be able to try and banish some of it to parts of my brain that I’ll never access again. Music doesn’t necessarily do that but this evening it’s really helped.

You can stream and purchase the release digitally via bandcamp below:-

Tape copies are long sold out (maybe someone someday will do a discography release).

Its You! Records - https://vk.com/its_you_its_you_its_you

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/album/--2

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

Howye - No Suffocating

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 09 Dec 2015

Tracklist:

1. Comes And Goes

2. Kamchatka

3. Hide And Fight

4. Unnecessary Sediments

5. Bleeding

6. Blow Sky High

7. No Suffocating

8. Receiving Line (Title Fight Cover)

Not done one of these Polar Summer posts for a little bit. Also, please can you remind me not to start anymore of these label roster review series thingies. I've got enough on with those I'm already committed too, alongside my sporadic schedule. For those who missed my first two reviews in this lil series, I went a bit crazy about Russian DIY label Polar Summer earlier this year. I subsequently started listening to their back catalogue and even ordered quite a few of their physical releases from a European distro (Dingleberry Records). I have 14 Polar Summer releases in my collection currently, which barely scratches the surface but I'm still stoked about them!

Attempting (and failing) to flex aside, I'm trying to write this review series in release number order and this one is ps#3. It features eight tracks by Tomsk, Siberia's Howye, which I think is the band's only release to date. I can't find any others anyway (please reach out of there are more). Howye plays (played) emo/shoegaze and even covered US punk band Title Fight.

Life’s rich tapestry set to music would probably just sound like white noise used as part of sedition or torture, such is the bleak reality that we currently exist in. Looking back seems apt then as this is exactly what I’m doing. No Suffocating was originally released digitally by Howye in December 2015 before Polar Summer committed it to tape the following year. Having not known what to expect from the first two of PS’s back catalogue, this release is no different. Slow, melodic and clean tones greet you on opener ‘Comes And Goes’. It’s song-title also describes the meandering waves of instrumentation and vocals that make it. Introspective but also very enjoyable, with a smattering of dower post-punk thrown in for good measure.

‘Kamchatka’ begins like an upbeat punk-rock song upon hearing it’s first bars, but it soon retreats, leaving more instrument-heavy emo/shoegaze in it’s wake. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing at all. There’s plenty to dive into here and despite the deeper position of the vocals in the mix, when the guitars let loose they light things up. The more time you spend with the album, the more it’s layers and melodies wash over you. ‘Hide And Fight’ glides along in an early morning haze of bright treble and subtle dissonance, only clearing to bring you back to reality for a second.

The songs on No Suffocating don’t last all that long, leaving their mark succinctly. ‘Unnecessary Sentiments’ is the perfect example of that. It’s hard to accurately describe why but it’s easier-listening sensibilities flourish beyond words. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. As before, the album’s latter half is equally as pensive in places. ‘Bleeding’ eschews any images of gore and instead offers a life-affirming glimpse into a group making music that they believe in, that’s authentic and emotive.

‘Blow Sky High’ is a little more on the art/avant-garde end of the spectrum and I love it! Maybe it’s just how it hits me but I could think of worse songs to draw listeners back in than this one. The album’s penultimate song is the title-tack ‘No Suffocating’ and the double-layered harmonies coupled with the more up-front percussion lays down a real marker for what Howye could have been. To think that a band this good could exist in a corner of the world so cold and bleak is mind-blowing to me. 

Closing it all with their take on Title Fight’s ‘Receiving Line’ gives a subtle clue as to the band’s collective age when writing/recording for this album commenced, but it also shows that they can make a song their own in a beautiful way. Nothing else needs to be said really. What are the chances of scoring this on tape in the wild?.

You can stream and purchase No Suffocating as a name-your-price download from Howye's bandcamp page below:-

Tape copies are long sold out.

Howye - https://vk.com/howye

Polar Summer - https://www.instagram.com/polarxsummer/

More Future Suffering - Stars On The Pillow EP

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 11 Sep 2015

Tracklist:

1. Mn-t. 15.

2. Stars On The Pillow

3. Noyabr'

A few reviews back I said I was gonna go on a Polar Summer deep-dive. Even though I have a schedule written up and a list as long as my arm of submissions, it just feels right to stray from that path and go a voyage of obscure musical discovery before I have to succumb to mundanity again tomorrow (9-5 at least). I'm starting with the very first Polar Summer release by a Russian band called More Future Suffering. Stars On The Pillow was the band's second release back in 2016. Polar Summer put this EP out as a 22 tape run.

I’m definitely moving in a more screamo/emo-adjacent circle right now, listening-wise anyway. Having Spotify on my phone and listening to the latest curated melodic/metallic hardcore playlists has pushed me in that direction simply because I want to enjoy something less polished (if you know what I mean?). To be honest though, I’m not sure what to expect from More Future Suffering, as I think the music is going to be more ambient than I’m used too, but who dares wins and all that. EP opener ‘Mn-t.15.’ is indeed an ambient piece and one that seems to audibly frame the vast unpopulated expanse of the band’s motherland. Slowly building with subtle guitar and crackling noise/effects, It’s utterly beautiful, without a hint of the screamo/emo I mentioned at the top of this review, though when the tempo picks up towards it’s conclusion the heart rate does a bit too.

I mentioned the crackling above but on the title track ’Stars On The Pillow’ it sounds way more like a campfire burning away in the moonlight, alongside the gentle acoustic guitar. It’s both calming and also quite emotional to listen too (especially when re-watching videos of a relative’s puppy). I mean, who doesn’t like puppies right?!. After two very lengthy compositions, it’s left to the very closer ‘Noyabr’’ to provide a slight glimpse into the future (sorry) sound of More Future Suffering.

I guess as we age our taste in music evolves. We still reach for what grabbed us when we were younger but we also seek something different, something more mature. More Future Suffering passed me by, as have so many other artists/bands but thanks to the digital age that we live in, it’s never too late to right those wrongs and enjoy what’s been committed to tape (or other mediums). I’m excited about what’s to come now. Please put aside some time to appreciate More Future Suffering. You won’t regret it.

You can stream Stars On The Pillow and purchase it as a name-your-price download from More Future Suffering below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/album/stars-on-the-pillow

Mrtex/Carl Johnson - Split

Labels: Polar Summer/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 27 Feb 2018

Tracklist:

1. Mrtex - That Plant Gets Me On A Deeply Personal Level

2. Mrtex - Human Is Death Process

3. Mrtex - Our Governing Body Is A Toxic, Rotting Corpse So Let's Dump It In The Fucking Sewer

4. Carl Johnson - Second Wind

5. Carl Johnson - Against You!

6. Carl Johnson - Pull The Trigger

7. Carl Johnson - Enemy/Self

8. Carl Johnson - Hot Kila

This review feels like the end of era, as it's the last one I'll get to write about a Mrtex release. This split with Russian screamo/emoviolence band Carl Johnson was released back in early 2018, on tape (limited to 50 copies) via Russian label Polar Summer and Zegema Beach Records. Mrtex have three songs here while Carl Johnson has five. Also, I feel a Polar Summer deep dive coming!

If you’ve been following my ZBR roster review series or even my random review schedule that came before it, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the emoviolence that made Mrtex what they were. Giving it their absolute all on this last release was the only way to go. Their opener ‘That Plant Gets Me On A Deeply Personal Level’ features the noisy, intense craziness of Mrtex for what seems like the briefest of moments before the movie/tv sample takes over. Itself, making perfect sense on top of the buzzing/atmospheric guitar. 

‘Human Is Death Process’ is vintage Mrtex, where sub one-minute songs are still filled with enough music to get the blood pumping. Closing both their side of the split and their final chapter, ‘Our Governing Body Is A Toxic, Rotting Corpse So Let’s Dump It In The Fucking Sewer’ is like the emoviolence version of a rock-opera (I mean that because of it’s playing time). Off-kilter signatures mixed with pogoing percussion lead into an introspective second half that builds in volume and emotion. What a way to sign off!

Talking of signing off (or maybe not), this split also contains the last recorded output from Carl Johnson to date. The screeching feedback that opens ‘Second Wind’ is downright piercing. It leads to a somewhat heavier, more hardcore influenced sound. CJ’s longest song ‘Against You!’ is also their most dramatic, with it’s anxiety inducing guitar melodies and higher-pitched screams. 

Wrenching you back in a faster and heavier direction, ‘Pull The Trigger’ mixes emoviolence with chunkier hardcore. It’s a sound that really catches the ear, especially if you like things slightly heavier. That sound carries on into ‘Enemy/Self’ with it’s bass-laden tones and mathcore-esque explosiveness. It’s latter half is where the grandeur happens, reminding me a bit of the final track from Totem Skin’s Still Waters Run Deep, albeit condensed.

Carl Johnson close things out with the hot mess that is ‘Hot Killa’. All twenty-four seconds of it. The subtlest of subtle melodic riffs join a final burst of technical, noisy screamo/hardcore. For me to sum up this split, I’d say that both bands fell silent too soon. Granted CanaDave has talked at some length about the break up of Mrtex, it’s still a loss given their complete output. Carl Johnson left behind a briefer discography but one that, especially with this split, really left an impression. The feels are strong on this one.

You can stream and download both sides of this split from Mrtex, and Carl Johnson below:-

Mrtex - https://www.facebook.com/mrtexrebellion

Carl Johnson - https://www.facebook.com/carljohnsonforlife

Tapes copies are still available from ZBR's US store here - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes/products/мятеж-carl-johnson-split-cassette

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Astarium/Fire Messiah - Split + Astarium - Furies Single

Labels: More Hate Productions/Snow Wolf Records

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 01 May 2022

Tracklist:

1. Astarium - Her Winter Majesty

2. Astarium - Echo Of Niflheim

3. Astarium - The Wind Walker

4. Fire Messiah - Cerebral Warfare.

5. Fire Messiah - Flirting With The End

6. Fire Messiah - Misadventures In Creation

2022 was a quiet year for Russian ambient black metal band Astarium, in which only three physical releases saw the light of day. The first was this split with US black metal band Fire Messiah, which was released via Russia's More Hate Productions on CD and digital formats, as well as US label Snow Wolf Records on tape. Fire Messiah is a new name to me and from reading Metal Archives, the band has been releasing music since 2021, starting with a demo and being followed by a split (this one), two singles, three EPs and three full-lengths as of this review.

Astarium has always been about big, bombastic ambient/symphonic black metal and that approach is none more obvious than on this split, starting with ‘Her Winter Majesty’. It’s very melodic thanks to the synths/keys employed; but the percussion, guitars and vocals add an iciness to the song. There appear to be a couple of skips in the recording during the first track, but that could either be down to duplication/manufacturing or because I ripped the cd to MP3 before reviewing it. 

Part of me would love to hear Astarium’s music performed by a full band, just to hear what it would sound like. With that being said, it would take away the individuality of the project. Individuality that’s brought to life on the catchy, bouncing ‘Echo Of Niflheim’. The orchestral melodies are great here and there’s a backing element that could be gang-vocals or the wind gusting (on further listening it’s definitely the wind!).

The breakneck delivery of Astarium’s side concludes with ‘The Wind Walker’, which is both the split’s shortest song and the band’s most blackened. The effects nestled within it make you think that there’s some ungodly being in your vicinity as the vocals swirl around you, amongst the blasting percussion and hypnotic synth performance.

The second half of the split is reserved for Fire Messiah and there’s a much more mechanised, industrial sound on their opener ‘Cerebral Warfare’, though you’re not too far away from organs and hellish black metal. As with Astarium before them, Fire Messiah’s creativity is obvious straight away, as is the urgency that’s been the bedrock of this release so far.

There’s an unnerving yet touching romanticism about Fire Messiah’s music, that reminds me a bit of Blooming Carrions for some reason (totally different facet of extreme metal, but whatever). There’s more rawness here though, governed by the punk-influence flowing through the song, even if the strings try their best to banish that sentiment.

Split closer ‘Misadventures In Creation’ greets you with full-on electronica vibes. The opposing sounds make it a very odd listen, when held up alongside Fire Messiah’s more extreme tones, yet it doesn’t take long to become engrossed in it. That electronic soundscape works brilliantly well and injects some proper adrenaline into the release as a whole.

As splits go, this provides a bit of a surprise. On the one hand, I’m used to Astarium’s music being slightly slower in tempo but here it’s bright and punchy in it’s delivery. Fire Messiah stands out as a band that is finally making me appreciate the use of electronica in extreme metal. Call me a dinosaur, a purist or whatever you want but I’m starting to really get it. Maybe I’ll broaden my horizons! In conclusion, this is a really well put together split.

You can stream both sides of the split on bandcamp below:-

Physical/Digital copies can be purchased from the labels below (as well as via the bands above):-

More Hate Productions - https://morehate.bandcamp.com/album/split-4

Snow Wolf Records - https://snowwolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fire-messiah-astarium-split

Labels: Masters Of Kaos Productions

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 15 August 2022

Tracklist:

1. Furies

Now it's onto another release from Astarium and one that's on a medium that seems to have died out, the  cd single. Calling Furies a single may be a bit misleading, given that it's over sixteen minutes long, but it is merely one song after all. It was released on cd via Colombian label Masters of Kaos Productions last August, with a limitation of 100 copies.

‘Furies’ is a different proposition to the music contained on Astarium’s split with Fire Messiah. It has a greater ambient approach, with SiN’s black metal providing a darker atmosphere, especially with the added orchestration and symphonic elements. It’s very bombastic during the mid-section, bringing to mind earlier Dimmu Borgir. 

SiN manages to make it sound very cohesive despite it’s lengthy playing time, where other songs often sound like shorter songs stitched together. That’s a skill in itself when it comes to song-writing. ‘Furies’ is a song you can get lost in. Another stellar release from a prolific artist.

You can stream 'Furies' below, where it's also available to purchase on cd:-

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

Fire Messiah - https://www.instagram.com/firemessiah666/

More Hate Productions - http://www.morehate.com/

Snow Wolf Records - https://www.facebook.com/SnowWolfRecords

Masters of Kaos Productions - https://www.facebook.com/MastersOfKaos