Corrupt Leaders - S/T 7" + Dogma/Corrupt Leaders - Split 7"

It's mid-week and I already feel whacked. Now seems as good a time as any then, to check out some fast stuff I've not had chance to write about yet. I'm starting with a 7" that came out right at the start of the year and was the first physical release to come from Moshpit Tragedy Records, in 7 years! It's a four-track EP by Canadian crust band Corrupt Leaders.

Since forming in late 2013, Corrupt Leaders have released this and a split with Dogma, which I'm also reviewing here. In August, they played Don't Call It A Fest (which was headlined by Magrudergind and Young And In The Way).

Tracklist:-

1. Dig Their Own Graves
2. Breathe
3. Backward To Death
4. Traditions Of Abuse

Yeah, this hits the spot! It’s groovy, d-beat filled crust with huge guitars. The vocals are raspy, angry screams and opener Dig Their Own Graves has immediate impact, much like a kick in the face!

The punk influence is also strong. Breathe spins CL’s crust out and features riffs that could (loosely) be described as danceable, at least until the sludge kicks in anyway. The sludgy riffs actually give this an extra dimension.

I’m not leaving the bass out of this either. To match the big sound and Audiosiege mastering, the bass is turned right up. It hits hardest during Backward To Death, where it juxtaposes the metallic lead guitar. The mid-section is full of more mid-paced sludge groove and a menacing introspective instrumental passage, which features distant birdsong to quell the mood. CL close out with one final fast blast. Traditions Of Abuse takes you back to their crusty beginnings but distills some Southern groove into the mix for good measure. 

Stream and grab it as a name-your-price-download below:-

Fast-forward to September and Corrupt Leaders released this split 7" with US cohorts Dogma, whom they toured with the previous year. It was again released through Moshpit Tragedy and features two tracks from Dogma and three from CL. Dogma are just one of a huge number of US bands that I'm only just discovering!

Tracklisting:-

1. Dogma - Premeditated Obsolescence

2. Dogma - Wolf

3. Corrupt Leaders - Power Lines

4. Corrupt Leaders - Patterns

5. Corrupt Leaders - Antennas

Dogma start us of with Premeditated Obsolescence that plunges headfirst into grinding punk territory. It’s raw and fast, with some great lead guitar. Wolf is where Dogma lose their shit. They flit between punk and groove with ease and drag a million circle-pitting goons along for the ride. I may be building this up too much, but what they heck. The mix of punk and stoner groove is pretty damn infectious.

Corrupt Leaders follow up in the same fashion and with a more gutter-drenched sound than on their self-titled 7”. Power Lines is a furious minute of squalid crust. CL thrash on Patterns. The opening riffs and drum-blasts are great and their later forays into sludge during the song’s second half, provides a bit of relief (though it’s not light by any means). Their closing tome, Antennas, is stop/start and features dual high/low growls for added bite. Like their previous contributions above, CL manage to weave so many different styles into their crust. 

Stream Dogma's side here:-

Stream CL's side here:-



You can get both sides a pay-what-you-want downloads from the above bandcamp pages.

These records are being distributed by Give Praise Records here - http://www.givepraiserecords.com/fastshop/

Corrupt Leaders - https://www.facebook.com/corruptleaders
Dogma - https://www.facebook.com/DogmaNWI

Frogskin/Lahdon Aika - Split 7"

Finland and doom are two words that fit together like Cheese and Toast. They're just meant to be! Both Frogskin and Lahdon Aika are completely new to me, but when an e-mail appeared in my inbox with a promo for this split attached, I was a little more than curious. I've been enjoying a lot of Svart/Ektro Records releases of late (when I've found the time to just sit and listen to stuff) and so was more than ready for this two-track record.

Frogskin started releasing music in 2005 and are nearly at the ten-year mark, as are Lahdon Aika, who released their first self-titled CD a year earlier. This split was released by three unknown (to me anyway) labels - Ramekuukkeli, 82-Records and Rusto-Osiris. Anyway, less talk and more doom!

Tracklisting:-

1. Frogskin - ITSE
2. Lahdon Aika - Hiljaisuus Kaikkialla

Begin with Frogskin and you’re greeted with some of the slowest/heaviest doom/sludge this side of Profetus! ITSE is a sprawling eight-minute slab of slithering, crawling noise that features deep riffs and hellish growls. Even the occasional flourishes of trebly guitar and organ can’t drag Frogskin up from their deep-water grave!

Lahdon Aika are not as suffocating as Frogskin and their contribution, Hiljaisuus Kaikkialla is more mid-paced. There’s stoner groove and a punk backbone to the song, while the lyrics are in Finnish. When they do break out the doom, they do so in a subtle way. It reminds me a little bit of fellow Finns Terveyskeskus (punk/hc) at times.

Both bands are portray their own ideas of doom/sludge in a unique way. Both bands are well worth hunting down and checking out if you like heavy music with character. Good stuff!

You can stream Lahdon Aika's side of the split via their bandcamp page here:-




You can buy the 7" in physical or digital form from the above page as well.

Also available from the labels via the links below:-

Rusto-Osiris - http://rusto-osiris.com/records
Ramekuukkeli - http://ramekuukkeli.nettisivu.org

Lahdon Aika Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lahdonaika
Frogskin Metal Archives - http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Frogskin
Rusto-Osiris Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rustoosiris
Ramekuukkeli Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rämekuukkeli-levyt
82-records (under construction) - http://www.82records.net

Acrania - Totalitarian Dystopia

Acrania is a UK death metal band who released their debut album via Unique Leader earlier this year.   They're pretty extreme and that extremity has seen them crossover and cross-pollinate with the beatdown scene, just like Ingested and Tintagel have. They're even off out with Desolated in December on a UK tour and then in Jan 2015, they're playing alongside US bands Within The Ruins and I Declare War. Both tours include dates in Leeds, which is handy.

Acrania have been playing their brand of political death metal since 2012, when they released a split with Californian grind band Blue Waffle and a single. Their debut EP, The Beginning Of The End came out a year later and helped them catch the attention of Unique Leader. I should probably stop telling you what you already know now and get on with the review!

Tracklist:-

1. Hollow
2. Festering With Dishonesty
3. Totalitarian Dystopia
4. Servants Of Hypocrisy
5. Survival Sequence
6. A Gluttonous Abomination
7. Susceptible To Retinal Reprogrammability
8. Lobotomise, Dehumanise, Negate (LDN)
9. Messiah Of Manipulation
10. Disillusion In A Discordant System

I think the last slam/death bands I feature on here were Engorgement and Dutch band Kraanium, which was quite some time ago now. Acrania are pretty heavy from the get-go. Their intro song Hollow is full of breakdowns and insanely fast double-bass, which is definitely a sign of things to come. They kick into gear with Festering With Dishonesty, which features more of that double-bass. They use dual-screams and the guitar sound is thick, with solid production. Acrania’s death metal is pretty technical and isn’t just made up of breakdowns. The title-track sees the band railing against authority and the tax system. It suddenly becomes clear why these guys are so angry and why they channel in this way. 

While the title-track seemed like a bit of a long-player at nearly five minutes, Servants Of Hypocrisy is totally the opposite. It sounds crazy and Acrania don’t take their feet of the loud pedal, meaning their momentum is carried right through the song. They show a more varied side on Survival Sequence, which features some awesome lead work and even some piano. This is the sort of thing I was hoping to hear amongst all the slams and Acrania didn’t let me down. I appreciate that it’s an instrumental song, but that doesn’t matter.

A Gluttonous Abomination is a beast of a song. It’s lengthy, so don’t expect an easy ride. The signatures changes and the transitions are done really well, which isn’t a surprise when you consider the band’s technicality. The closing two-minutes of A Gluttonous Abomination share some of the melodic grandeur from Survival Sequence and it breaks up the brutality. They ratchet the heaviness up again with Susceptible To Retinal Reprogrammability. From here on in, the song-writing and the delivery pulls no punches whatsoever. Their urgency is back to full speed and Lobotomise, Dehumanise, Negate (LDN) threatens to smash your head in.

There’s no time for breath during the final numbers of Totalitarian Dystopia. Messiah Of Manipulation features some great off-kilter sections that are sandwiched between more warp-speed drumming. The guitars retain their thickness and the whole package is intense. The juggernaut ends with Disillusion In A Discordant System. Acrania vent their anger one last time and it dawns you exactly what’s just happened. It’s not often that the true meaning of the word extreme actually comes through on a record. This is one such record that defines the term. Acrania should be proud that they’ve managed to make it so. 

Unique Leader doesn't have a bandcamp page and Totalitarian Dystopia isn't up on Acrania's page yet, but you can stream the whole album vie Youtube below:-




You can buy the album directly from Acrania's Bigcartel store here - http://acrania.bigcartel.com and from Unique Leader Records here - http://www.indiemerch.com/uniqueleader/

Acrania Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Acraniauk
Unique Leader Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UniqueLeaderRecords

The Hammer - Demo 2014

It's hammer time! I'm not sorry for the pun either. I have drunken memories of seeing Swedish hardcore band The Hammer playing with Agent Attitude in Harrogate earlier this year. It was a hot day and I was drinking scrumpy, which looking back was a pretty bad idea. They played at a matinee show along with Clocked Out, Dog Eggs and newish local band Mother Culture, which was really good fun.

I picked up their three-track demo from Headless Guru Records, who were responsible for it's release. The tape is now sold out. The Hammer only formed at the back end of last year, but thankfully had enough material to fill a reasonable live set. They've got a 7" coming out at some point too.

Tracklist:-

1. Intro/Is This Life?
2. Comprehension
3. Born To Lose

This is fast, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it punk. Demo opener Intro/Is This Life? doesn’t even reach a minute. It’s not until the final twenty-seconds of the song that The Hammer's punk kicks in. After that, it’s full steam ahead.

Comprehension is raw and The Hammer’s old-school leanings are more obvious. They kick out fast hardcore mixed with moments of mid-paced thrash-laden punk. There’s no pretence or modern trickery here, just honest noise.

Born To Lose closes out the demo in typical infectious fashion. It’s hard to write a lot about a demo that barely reaches four-minutes, but to be honest, demos shouldn’t be too long or they lose their impact. The Hammer make a short-sharp impression that leaves a definite imprint. 

You can stream the demo and grab it as a name-you-price-download from The Hammer's bandcamp page below:-



The Hammer Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hammerhc
Headless Guru Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeadlessGuruRecords

Oblivionized/Razoreater/Let It Die - This Is Stuck On A Name

Earlier in the year, three bastions of the UK grind/fast scene played a gig at Nottingham venue Stuck On A Name. It featured Oblivionized, Razoreater and Let It Die. It was filmed and recorded live for a split tape that featured both Oblivionized and Razoreater. It was released on swish purple tape by Witch Hunter Records. This review features the live sets from all three bands, including Let It Die's that wasn't committed to tape, as well as various videos.

This one of those moments where I freely admit that I'm gutted I wasn't there. All three bands are really tight live and don't mess about with histrionics. They demonstrate enviable morals and genuine work ethics, while also proving that the UK heavy music scene is a true force to be reckoned with.

Tape Tracklist:-

Side A - Razoreater - 

1. Drown Your Daughters

2. Filth Scheming, Shrill Screaming

3. Strangle Your Sons

4. I, Dreadnought

5. Weyward Covern

6. Eeyore (Slipknot Cover)

7. Necropolitan

Side B - Oblivionized - 

1. Pathetic, Like Everyone Else

2. Lower Your Expectations

3. Cry Yourself To Ash

4. 57% Old

5. Your Mouth Is A Wound 

6. Life Is A Struggle, Give Up

7. Whore Dogs

8. You’re Spineless

Let It Die

I’m starting this review with Let It Die and their set from the gig. It wasn’t committed to tape, but was made available as a special digital bonus for the release. I can’t think of a band that would have been more perfect to open this gig. The live recording manages to capture their intensity straight from the off. Ringing feedback, thick riffs and an overall battering of grind is really all you need. The quality of the mixing and the volume of the recording places you right in the venue with them.

I grew up with an impression of live-recordings that left me a bit let-down. Big arena bands never seemed to cut the mustard and the sound was always pretty weak, this time however; it’s entirely different. The dedication to Oskar Thomas, who tragically took his own life around the time of the gig also provides a poignant snapshot of the true emotion of Let it Die’s performance. 

The sound of the new song mid-way through was huge. The sludge riffs and full-on musical barrage leave no room for breath or respite. It’s the same story throughout the rest of their sub-twenty minute set. The whole thing transports me back to when I first heard their demo. A more than fitting way to start things off.

Razoreater

Next up was Razoreater, starting with Drown Your Daughters (which you should be familiar with if you picked up their split with Iced Out last year. Let It Die’s set was strong, so following them would have been difficult but the momentum was carried with aplomb. The metallic heft of Razoreater’s grinding hardcore was represented brilliantly.

Their other contribution to the Iced Out split, Strangle Your Sons was also included in their set and sounds every bit as nuts as it did on that piece of wax. At this point, I’m wondering why I haven’t seen Razoreater live more often. Various things have conspired against me in the past and I’m hoping that my luck changes in the future. 

I realise it’s tough to place yourself in the middle of this gig if you weren’t there, but you don’t need to worry as you get treated to a candid retort about male genitalia that will likely remind you of it for weeks to come. Well, that and the heaviness that Razoreater spew forth throughout their set, which also include a sneaky Slipknot cover. 

Oblivionized

Oblivionized are pretty much one of the most technical grind bands that our fair isle has to offer. This set underlines that point. A three-piece that can make as much noise as the bands that preceded them says it all. Sammy Unwin’s guitar on opener Pathetic, Like Everyone Else is a joy to behold. From here on in their math leanings take the stage, in the least pretentious way possible. Will Merlin’s drumming makes you think it’s being played by someone with eight arms, such is the pace.

This set underlines the sheer breathe of their musical offering. From the head-spinning grind to the sludge-filled dirge, nothing is sacred and all is laid bare. Plus, Zac’s delivery befits his mysterious persona. Oblivionized keep things punchy and brief. There’s no opulence on display, just pure unadulterated rage und blast. 

It’s hard to sum up this review without gushing uber-praise on all three bands here. More bands should do this though, as the format and the delivery worked flawlessly in my opinion. Chris of Witch Hunter was in attendance and set all this in motion, along with Stuck On A Name. Without them, this would not have been possible and a moment in time would not have been captured. Whether you’re familiar with these bands or not, you owe it to yourself to grab this tape and the added digital goodness that is Let It Die’s set. 

You can stream the Razoreater and Oblivionized sets here via Witch Hunter Records here - 




Videos from those sets are available below - 







You purchase the tape from Witch Hunter Records via the link below or grab it digitally from the bandcamp page above

http://witchhunterrecords.bigcartel.com/

Let It Die Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LetItDie
Razoreater Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Razoreater
Oblivionized Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oblivionized
Witch Hunter Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WitchHunterRecords

It’s hard to sum up this review without gushing uber-praise on all three bands here. More bands should do this though, as the format and the delivery worked flawlessly in my opinion. Chris of Witch Hunter was in attendance and set the tape in motion, while the the vision and the gig was sorted out by The Bloated Corpse Of Punk along with Stuck On A Name. Without them, this would not have been possible and a moment in time would not have been captured. Whether you’re familiar with these bands or not, you owe it to yourself to grab this tape and the added digital goodness that is Let It Die’s set. 

Possession (Belgium) - His Best Deceit EP / Anneliese 7"

This was supposed to be a single review, but it's turned into a double review instead. I'm not complaining and neither should you be. Belgian black/death metallers Possession awoke in late 2012 and released their debut EP, His Best Deceit a year later on tape via Iron Bonehead Productions and on CD via Invictus Productions. Then in April 2014. the two-track 7" Anneliese was released, this time as a co-release between the same two labels.

Amongst the many black/death bands that are growing in stature, Possession have been received very passionately by fans of the genre, with both His Best Deceit and Annelise selling out or close to it and having to be repressed. Couple that with live appearances with bands like Denial Of God and Mgla, plus a split with Gospel Of The Horns in the works, there looks to be no time for rest.

His Best Deceit Tape/CD

Tracklist:-

1. Possession
2. The Trust In Cain
3. His Best Deceit
4. Necromancer (Sepultura cover)

Opening with a chilling intro that more than befits their name, the opening bars of Possession are filled with haunting choral singing and blood-curdling screams. The intro and overall song length brings to mind originators like Celtic Frost and Venom. The music itself is raw and fast, with instrumentation that more than compliments the deranged shrieks and growls. The solo towards the end hails subtle thrash influences too.

The Truth of Cain is a more urgent and bestial number. The crashing cymbals that light it up, rage throughout the song and provide the perfect backdrop to Possession’s intense death metal. Darkness courses through it, as it does no the whole demo but when Possession settle down into a controlled groove, they are equally as enthralling. 

The soundstage of this demo’s title-track is as thick and engaging as you’d like. There is no clean or modern production involved, just raw old-school venom mixed with passion for the genre. It’s one of the most accomplished black/death demos I’ve heard ever, period. 

Covering Sepultura’s Necromancer, that appeared on both their very first split with Overdose and the subsequent EP Bestial Devastation makes complete sense. Those were the rawest and heaviest days of Sepultura and that is what Possession are paying homage too here. They make the song their own too, while not twisting or butchering it. It’s every bit as manic and evil as the original. I wish Sep would go back to those days!

Stream it here via Iron Bonehead Productions - 





Anneliese 7"

Tracklist - 

1. Anneliese
2. Apparition

The Anneliese 7” was released earlier this year and here, Possession contain the same intense guitar sound that made Bolzer stand out for me, when I first heard them. By that, I mean the heaviness and genuine feel that it projects within their music. A-side Anneliese sees the band pushing more toward black metal. The song’s tempo switches between mid and fast paced sections, with the thrash elements from His Best Deceit still present.

B-side Apparition follows with a kind of stomp that I wasn’t expecting. A slightly more modern addition to their sound, it’s only brief but doesn’t sound out of place. Their song-writing can’t be questioned either and it’s succinct nature leaves the song feeling almost catchy. Who would’ve thought that!

In a day and age where extreme music fans seek out and/or are bombarded by new bands every day, it’s exciting to be able to sit down and listen to one band that genuinely embodies what we all look for. True passion, emotion and enjoyment. I may have been slightly late in saying this, but Possession are brilliant and worth all the praise they’ve received so far. 

Stream Annaliese via Invictus Productions here -



You can purchase both releases as downloads from the bandcamp pages above.

Physical copies can be purchased from Iron Bonehead Productions here (when they're back from Nuclear War Now!) - http://ironbonehead.de/shop/ and from Invictus Productions here - http://www.invictusproductions.net/shop/.

Possession Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hisbestdeceit
Iron Bonehead Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions
Invictus Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InvictusProductions

Nervewrecker - S/T EP

This weekend just gone hasn't been very productive on my part. I'm not sorry though. as part of the weekend was spent at Yorkshire Riffer 2, sheltering from the rain in Leeds watching some great bands. Clentsch and Envoys were especially good. Check them out if you're ever in Leeds and they're playing.

Back on it this evening, at least while I can tear myself away from Footie Manager 15! This relief comes from Norwich metal/doom band Nervewrecker, who got in touch with me through the blog about their self-titled EP. They started playing heavy music as a band last year and this is their debut EP. For such a new band, they've managed to play a fair few gigs, including support slots for the likes of Bent Life, Napolean and Vales.

Tracklist:-

1. Intro
2. Stoic
3. Plague Ridden
4. Excerpts Of Lies
5. Empty Vessels
6. Sea Of Trees

The Intro to Nervewrecker’s debut EP is a building wall of guitar feedback that sounds like a jet engine firing up. That’s pretty ominous! Stoic is the first proper song on the EP and is full of equally big riffs. There are dual-vocals, drums that sit high in the mix and rumbling bass. Each instrument is clear, thanks too the mixing job and the mastering, which was done at Audiosiege (it seems like the go-to place now). 

Plague Ridden is a briefer affair but it makes up for that is power. There’s hardcore blood running through this EP, but it’s subtle and it’s the tempo of the song where it’s clearest. Nervewrecker follow the well-trodden path that’s been forged by a lot of UK bands over the last couple years, but that’s not to say that they don’t bring anything new to the table. The single guitar approach on the EP works really well and sounds every bit as heavy on Excerpts of Lies, as it would if two were present. There’s also some surprisingly brief grind exploits woven in for good measure.

As the EP progresses, it gets heavier and more and more influences are noticeable. Metal plays a big part in Empty Vessels. The dual-vocals from earlier on are not as immediate but there’s plenty of groove in their place. EP closer Sea Of Trees is the most batshit mental song and it’s left to end, which is more reason to listen to the whole thing through. It captures elements of grind, hardcore and everything in between and spits it out in the form of something pretty damn nice. It shows the assured nature of Nervewrecker and their song-writing. 

I watched the MTV EMA’s last night and couldn’t believe how crap both it and mainstream music is at the moment. All we need is for more bands like Nervewrecker to come to the fore and we can banish that horrendous drivel for good! I’m not saying that it’ll take over the mainstream, but at least it offers people a more than valid and artistically pleasing alternative to what “they” say we should be listening to. 

Stream it all here:-



Nervewrecker Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Nervewreckeruk

Dakhma - Ungeziefer EP

Fireworks night doesn't grab me much anymore. The thought if standing outside during a typically cold British winter evening isn't my idea of fun, mainly because it usually rains. So, instead of that I have a new and special stream to keep myself and other sensible people warm. This is the debut EP from San Fran hardcore two-piece Dakhma.

Unlike most modern bands, Dakhma chose to join the rat-race (in social media terms anyway), once they actually had music to offer people. They released their five song demo in August and later self-released it on tape and cd, so they had something to sell at gigs. Talking of shows, one of their first gigs happened to be a house show with Leeds' (UK) very own punks Nu, pogodi! in Oakland (Cali) and there's the small matter of a show with ACxDC later this month too.

Tracklist:-

1. Left // Right
2. Waste
3. Exordium
4. Through The Cockroach
5. Caustic Existence

Dakhma are fast and loud. Seems like a simple statement, but that’s the point. Straight from the off, Dakhma know what they’re going for with EP opener Left // Right. Heavy guitar, breakneck drumming and dual-vocals with an old-school feel. Like Lifes, whom I featured a little while ago, Dakhma smash it!

Waste lasts barely twenty-seconds but is still technical enough to lessen the blur of the duo at full speed. Talking of technical, Exordium features some flourishes of metal inspired sweep-picking during the intro and it’s here where Dakhma’s doom influences take root. Low-slung riffs and a complete change in pace replace the grind that has so far made up Ungeziefer, leaving you with speakers full of feedback and dank atmospherics.

They go full-force punk during Through The Cockroach with pogo-inducing rhythms, off-kilter time signatures and double bass. EP closer Caustic Existence is an insane ending. There’s more doomy sections that make use of the production, which I think really adds to Dakhma’s appeal by not being too clean and instead allowing them to sound really fresh.

The lines between sub-genres are becoming more blurred than ever now, but at end of the day they’re really just words. What matters is the music itself and how it makes you feel. Dakhma clearly hold that latter musing to heart, because Ungeziefer is full of energy and enthusiasm, which you’ll feel once you’ve spun it a few times.

Dakhma have kindly given me permission to carry a stream of Ungeziefer on my bandcamp page, so check it out below - 



If you dig it, head over to their bandcamp page and pick it up as  a name-your-price download or on tape/cd - https://dakhmasf.bandcamp.com


Dakhma Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dakhmasf

Nebiros/Nekromanteion - In Commvnio Tenebrae Split 7"

It's Monday night, TV's crap and blasting some South American black/death metal is far more rewarding anyway. The South American duo that share this split are Colombian black metal two-piece Nebiros and their Bolivian brethren Nekromanteion. Released earlier this year by Iron Bonehead Productions, it features one song from each band.

Nebiros have been creating hellish black metal since 1990. They released a number of demos and a full-length up to 1996, after which they took a break. They resurfaced in 2006 and went onto release a number of compilations, splits and two further full-lengths, which brings us up to date. Scrolling through their Facebook page, I noticed their devotion to their fans, as they've posted a lot of pictures of merch collections that were submitted by people.

Nerkomanteion from Bolivia, are a much newer band. They began in 2011 and have so far released a demo and this split. They are much more illusive, with no such presence on Facebook.

Tracklist:-

1. Nebiros - Yo Pecador
2. Nekromanteion - Occult Revelations

Both bands contribute one song to this split. Nebiros are up first with Yo Pecador. It starts with an acoustic guitar intro that I wasn’t expecting. Things take a turn shortly after and Nebiros lurch into some low-fi black metal. Low-fi might be doing them a disservice, because being a two-piece comes with limitations by Nebiros seem to cope with that extremely well. The drums and vocals are clear, while the guitar provide buzzing melody, while sometimes sounding symphonic. That melody from the lead guitar comes across well towards the end and the Spanish vocals at real bite to the song.

Nekromanteion sound more menacing as Occult Revelations begins. Their black/death begins in simpler fashion with a brooding intro and low-pitched vox. The bells that ring out herald in some raw as hell death metal. Despite their Bolivian roots, Nekromanteion sing in English and their sound is much more akin to that of British bands. They are more frenetic early on, but balance that speed with a groove-laden section mid-way through. There are elements of thrash throughout and they fit perfectly alongside Nebiros here.

It’s great to see a veteran band (if you can call Nebiros that), sharing a split with new-blood and both bands compliment each other here. Fans of underground black/death will enjoy this split and if it opens more people’s ears to these two bands, then it’s gotta be worth it.

Stream this split it all it's unholy glory here -



This split is now sold-out from Iron Bonehead, but you could contact the bands directly via the links below to see if they have copies.

Nebiros Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebiros
Nekromanteion Metal Archives - http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Nekromanteion
Iron Bonehead Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

Black Art/Surrender The Coast - Split 7"

UK hardcore punk has always led the way. It's influence so many bands from around the world for longer than I can remember. I've seen it change and grow over the last ten years, with new bands going over the top of the invisible "trench" of the underground and getting into people's faces. Black Art and Surrender The Coast are two such bands and this split 7" is a perfect of example of two bands   making their way into public consciousness. I say that because until Footloose Records shoved this under my nose, I hadn't heard of either band.

Black Art are from the South West and play self-professed "hard punk". They recently toured Europe in September and October, taking in shows in The Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. Meanwhile, Leicester troupe Surrender The Coast are also no strangers to the road and recently toured the UK with Sworn To Oath.

Tracklist:-

1. Black Art - Life Stalker
2. Black Art - The Endurance
3. Surrender The Coast - Lost Souls
4. Surrender The Coast - Dreamcatcher

Black Art’s side of this split begins with Life Stalker and their sound is strangely familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. There’s melody in their riffs, with hints of post-hardcore. The vocals switch between intense screams to semi-shouted/gruff singing. There’s also plenty of rock n roll swagger too. This is reminiscent of the late Alexisonfire and even The Ghost Of A Thousand. Second song The Endurance is equally as rousing, with a great intro and powerful tempo. Black Art ring the necks of their instruments but still manage to sound controlled and focused. Those groove-laden riffs are more than welcome within their hardcore-punk. They’re catchy and will definitely appeal to a pretty wide group of hardcore fans, while bridging the gap for those who are into rock and more straight-up punk.

Surrender The Coast are equally as catchy with Lost Souls, while being slightly heavier. There’s off-kilter guitars in there and a pretty big stomp too. Separating both bands is harder than you think on this split, because they both come from a similar end of the spectrum. Dreamcatcher follow the same formula, with plenty of Southern flavour akin to that of A Life Once Lost’s Iron Gag. The pace is pretty frenetic, as it has been throughout this split and  you can’t fault Surrender The Coast for keeping the momentum high. The production levels across both sides compliment the furious styles and pace of both bands.

So, here’s two bands that are putting the groove and swagger back into British hardcore and punk. They come across really well, showing strong intent and song-craft. Whichever way you look at it, the UK is getting stronger all the time and both Black Art and Surrender The Coast are definitely going to move on to bigger things.

You can buy the split from Footloose Records here - http://www.footlooserecords.com/products/black-art-surrender-the-coast-split-7

You can stream Black Art's track The Endurance and Surrender The Coast's track Lost Souls via Youtube below:-

Black Art Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Blackartuk
Surrender The Coast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/surrenderthecoast
Footloose Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Footlooserecords

Twilight Fauna - Hymns Of A Forgotten Homeland

A lot of people write about music on the Internet, I know that. There are more and more blogs popping up and people writing because they have a platform. It's a good thing for bands, but bands, they can inherently lazy. This reminds of a thread on good old Facebook recently about bands not taking up opportunities for exposure. It pretty much boiled down to the fact that they expect everything to come to them and not the other way around. People were commenting about seeing and hearing less up and coming or unknown bands and their music, while on the flipside, I mentioned that I was seeing more and more bands approaching me (not blowing my own trumpet) looking for attention and exposure. While, I don't consider myself to be a pro writer, I do this because I enjoy and as a way to give something back to the genre that I enjoy and the bands that take the time to produce music.

You may ask what that previous, slightly long paragraph has to do with this review. Well, Twilight Fauna and it's sole protagonist Ravenwood is exactly the kind of band I was talking about when I commented about new bands contacting me off their own back. Ravenwood is used to the DIY approach, I mean you have to be when you're the sole contributor. Earlier this year, Twilight Fauna's fourth full-length was released via Fragile Branch, which is a pretty big deal I think. To think that Ravenwood has only been releasing music as Twilight Fauna since 2012, things are really moving forward.

Tracklist:-

1. Coming Home (A Wilted Harvest)
2. Baying In The Hills
3. An Autumn Longing
4. Roots Stained By Time
5. The Wind Chimes Through The Trees
6.  Of River Willow

Twilight Fauna has always been very much influenced by it’s surroundings and American culture. You get that feeling instantly with album opener Coming Home (A Wilted Harvest). It’s minimal, with a mix of acoustic guitar and bass sitting on top of distant screams that sound like chants. Previously. I reviewed TF’s 2013 full-length Grief and it felt more instant and more brash almost. Baying In The Hills and the whole album for that matter, sounds very different. There’s a calmer and more focused feel to everything, almost a sense of accomplishment on Ravenwood’s part. Most people are used to black metal being loud and raw but it’s not all about that here. Twilight Fauna seems to have transcended that and moved on. with Ravenwood’s influence taking more of a controlling seat.

An Autumn Longing is dripping with acoustic guitar and lowly vocal melodies. It’s really laid back in fact and moves Twilight Fauna further away from the black metal roots of the band. It’s a bit of jolt when the initial riffs of Roots Stained By Time ring out. This is the longest offering on Hymns… and still carries the same laid-back approach as the songs it’s followed. This is where TF mixes the black metal of old with the more reflective textures that have found home on the album. The Wind Chimes Through The Trees is a beautifully piece of music. By now, you’ll stop expecting TF to break out into full, crunching BM and will be well and truly wrapped up in Ravenwood’s interpretations of the Appalachian countryside that surrounds him. It’s almost like being there at times. You feel the atmosphere through every note and sound.

On album closer Of River Willows, there’s a gruff melody in the vocals and that melody follows through the whole song. Again, as mentioned before, it’s not what you expect and I think it’s all the better for it. Metal’s many sub-genres need progressions and experimentation and black metal is no different. Here, Twilight Fauna has created a record full of emotion and genuine inspiration. One that, without being elitist or obtuse, gives the listener something that they’ve perhaps been missing.

Stream Hymns Of A Forgotten Homeland here:-




You can purchase it digitally from Twilight Fauna's bandcamp page above; however, it's best listened to on the analog warmth of vinyl. That's why Fragile Branch released it that way and you can buy a copy here - 

http://fragilebranch.com/?product=twilight-fauna-hymns-of-a-forgotten-homeland-lp

Twilight Fauna Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twilightfauna
Fragile Branch Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FragileBranch

Putrid Yell/Eaten Alive - Vicious Manifestation Of Horror And Death Split 7"

Today's been a testing day. Monday sucks I know, but this particular one sucked more. Thank god then for nasty death metal. Chilean death metal to exact, in the form of Putrid Yell and Eaten Alive. I the UK especially, underground South American metal is not represented all that often, unless you count Mystifier's recent jaunt to these shores. Iron Bonehead released this split 7" in the early part of this year. With the exception of entries on Metal Archives, I knew very little about either of these bands. This is a perfect excuse to get to know them a bit better.

Tracklist:-

1. Putrid Yell - Wrenching Putrid Yell
2. Eaten Alive - Mangled In The Morgue

Putrid Yell begin their side with a haunting sample that feels pretty unnerving. Once their death metal kicks in, it’s raw and noisy. The vocals are low and gargled, sitting on top of blackened-thrash filled death. The screaming solo mid-way through conjures images of bullet-belts and blood! Wrenching Putrid Yell is as underground and as true as you’d expect. 

Eaten Alive offer up a song of similar length, but with the added bonus of twin-guitars. They too are mid-paced and feature an old-school sound, paying homage to the originators in both South America and indeed Sweden. Mangled In The Morgue occasionally breaks into a classic rock n roll rhythm that accompanies the their thrash-laden sound, adding their own melodic yet atmospheric solo to round out the split.

Die-hard death metal fans will lap this up, especially due to it’s old-school delivery. In spite of the relative obscurity of both Putrid Yell and Eaten Alive, being brought to more people’s ears by Iron Bonehead will do them no harm at all. 

You won't find this split streaming on the Iron Bonehead bandcamp page, but both bands are streaming the songs (though Putrid Yell only provide a sample of theirs) via their own pages below:-





You can still buy copies of the split (limited to 500) from Iron Bonehead Productions here - http://www.ironbonehead.de/frame.htm

Putrid Yell are not on social media.
Eaten Alive Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/praisethehorror
Iron Bonehead Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

Sea Bastard - Scabrous 2xLP

There's nowt like a lazy, lumbering Sunday. Thankfully I have a clear head, which is about to tackle this hefty double slab of black wax. Scabrous is the second full-length release from Brighton's Sea Bastard and was released earlier this year in a four-way collaboration between Mosh Tuneage, Dry Cough Records, Black Reaper Records and Cat Face Records, while once again featuring brilliant artwork by guitarist Oliver Irongiant.

Sea Bastard are one of the bands currently leading the surge in UK doom/sludge and are already in the process of releasing a new split LP with Californian band, Keeper. Scabrous itself was only released in May, so it's a productive period for the band.

Tracklist:-

1. Nokken
2. Nightmares of The Monolith
3. Door Sniffer
4. Metamorphic Possession

There aren’t many bands I know of that choose to open a record with a seventeen-minute song (or who could indeed get away with it), but then there’s no rule book when it comes to music. Nokken is that song and it’s initially full of feedback and drawn out riffage. The vocals are low and the cymbal crashes keep the time-signature at a crawl. It’s not rammed with melody either, just crushing low-end heft. After a while, the rhythms drag your head back and forth, threatening the muscles and bone that holds it up. Nokken is split into movements that are bridged by minimal guitar/bass driven sections and when the heavier riffs ring out, it’s punishing. 

Sea Bastard’s formula is obvious to spot on Scabrous, but that’s no bad thing at all. Nightmares of The Monolith takes the feedback drenched feel of the album opener and condenses it into a song with more urgency (if that’s even possible from a doom band!). It’s not warp speed and will never be, but live it’ll be a beast. It’s the musical equivalent of the fat that is slowly wrapping itself around your arteries.  The excellently named Door Sniffer starts off in a pretty laid back fashion and retains part of that feeling throughout. I guess it would have made Scabrous ultra challenging if Sea Bastard kept it at the claustrophobic level of the previous songs. The lead guitar adds melody and there’s extras groove hidden within the song. Add to that some trippy guitar effects and the mood of the album changes from dank to subtly psychedelic, at least for a few minutes anyway.

Sea Bastard leave the most torturous song till the end. Metamorphic Possession takes the hints of the psychedelic guitar from Door Sniffer, adds some jazz and fire headfirst into one final twenty-minute slab of doom. It’s instrumental for the most part, allowing the vocals to take a back seat at times. I think the slightly different approach that Sea Bastard take with this song underlines how heavy they are. As the feedback builds toward the mid-point before giving way to bass-heavy riffs, it’s hard to imagine things getting lighter. That does happen though shortly after, when the band settles into an introspective passage. It’s short and acts as a mere break before they pick up the sludge one more time. It ends with a barrage of riffs, in the same way it started.

Scabrous, like other doom/sludge long players, definitely deserves a full sitting. It’s not the sort of album that you can listen to is small doses. It’s more focused than the band’s self-titled debut full-length and it benefits from all of the honing they’ve picked up from the road. Sea Bastard have settled on a formula that hits right where it should. Good job!

You can stream Scabrous and grab it as a name-your-price download from Sea Bastard, via their bandcamp page:-

Grab vinyl copies from the below places:-

Mosh Tuneage - http://moshtuneage.bigcartel.com
Dry Cough Records - http://drycoughrecords.bigcartel.com
Black Reaper Records - http://blackreaperrecords.bigcartel.com
Cat Face Records - http://catfacerecords.bigcartel.com

Sea Bastard Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/seabastarddoom
Mosh Tuneage Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MoshTuneage
Dry Cough Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords
Black Reaper Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/blackreaperrecords
Cat Face Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/catfacerecords

Dodsferd - The Parasitic Survival Of The Human Race

I was at the pub with a mate last night and he mentioned that he'd been listening to a lot of Dodsferd recently. The conversation reminded me that I still had this album to review. Released in 2013 via Razorbleed Productions and then re-released in 2014 via Moribund Records, this is the eighth full-length from the Greek black metal four-piece (I seem to be on a bit of Greek extreme metal binge at the moment!).

As a band, they have been writing and releasing truly hateful black metal since 2003. They have been a constant since then, with splits, live-albums and of course those aforementioned albums. They are a band that don't care for people's opinions yet show great respect for their loyal fans. In November, they will be playing first-time shows in Italy and Switzerland, playing the latter alongside Negura Bunget and Glorior Belli amongst others.

Tracklisting:-

1. Breeding Chaos
2. Creator Of Disease
3. Stupid Worthless Sheep
4. Doubting Your Worth
5. We Are 138 (Misfits Cover)

Dodsferd aren’t your typical black metal band. They have transitioned over the years and on this record, their sound is bolstered by rock n roll. Breeding Chaos seems to channel the energy of Motorhead into it’s riffs, while the screams from vocalist Wrath are really intense. That’s not all that Dodsferd have in their arsenal though. Mid-way through the song, they lurch into hyper-speed, filling the song with blastbeats and buzz-saw guitar. A rip-roaring opener if ever I’ve heard one.

The songs are linked by samples of what sounds like rioting and other forms of chaos. I like that because it stops the album from losing momentum due to silence between songs. Creator Of Disease keeps the album’s pace up while the production gives Dodsferd a raw and honest sound. There’s no overproduction here and a scuzziness lurking in the background that reminds you of Dodsferd’s musical allegiance.  

The intensity doesn’t stop and Stupid Worthless Sheep carries that band’s anti-human message. It’s the longest song on The Parasitic Survival… and for the most past, it remains mid-paced. It doesn’t quite have the same punch as the songs before it, but it’s still to plenty of presence. Dodsferd’s final original offering here is Doubting Your Worth. The rhythms played by drummer Maelstrom are really catchy (I’m sorry, I tried not to use this term) and at times the song sounds industrial, though it still retains an air of punishing quality.

Dodsferd finish up with a Misfits cover (We Are 138), which includes both clean singing and Wrath screaming the same lyrics over the top. It’s bizarre ending the EP, but actually fits their sound perfectly. The Parasitic Survival Of The Human Race is over pretty quickly but is strong enough to stick in your head. You don’t hear people say that about a black metal very often!

You can stream the whole record online currently, but you can here the opening track via Razorbleed Productions below:-

You can buy CD copies from Razorbleed Productions here - http://www.razorbleed.com/eshop/ and from Moribund Records here - http://www.moribundcult.com.

Dodsferd Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDodsferd
Razorbleed Productions Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Razorbleed
Moribund Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MoribundRecordsOfficial

Moloch/Haggatha - Split 7"

Earlier this year, Moloch (the UK sludge act) and Canada's Haggatha joined up to release a two-track split, that ended up seeing the light of day with help from Dry Cough Records (UK), De Graanrepubliek Records (NL) and Choking Hazard Records (Can). This followed up Moloch's previous two split records with Meth Drinker and Ensorcelor, so it had big shoes to fill and expectations to smash.

Moloch have been active since 2007 and have one full-length to their name is "Possession", which was released in 2011. They've mainly been releasing splits since then including the aforementioned ones. Moloch also has links to UK label/distro Feast Of Tentacles, for those who don't know. Vancouver's Haggatha are of a similar age and have released two previous EPs and two albums. This split marls their first recorded material for two years. Their drummer also plays in Bison B.C. and appeared on the second 3 Inches Of Blood record, Advance And Vanquish!

Tracklist:-

1. Moloch - Head Of Coil
2. Haggatha - Time And Suffering

Moloch’s side of this split is full of stop/start groove and an urgency, that only they seem to possess. More recently, Moloch haven’t favoured overly long slabs of sludge. Head Of Coil slithers it’s way through just over four-minutes of bass-laden feedback and minimal growls. Sometime less is more and Moloch don’t over complicate things.

This is my first experience of Haggatha, but the prove to be perfect split companions here. They contain more melody, but at the same time they are darker thanks to the low/high vocal attack they spew forth on Time And Suffering. The guitar noise at two-minutes is squalidly low yet thick like molasses. This song fits perfectly with Dry Cough’s modus operandi, which is to continually find and release the slowest of the slow.

There seems to be more sludge bands around now than ever and picking your way through them can be hard. Just stick this on and in ten short minutes, you’ll have found two of the best.

Stream the whole thing here:-


Grab the vinyl from the following labels:-

Dry Cough Records (UK) - http://www.drycoughrecords.com/products
De Graanrepubliek Republiek (NL) - http://www.degraanrepubliek.com
Chocking Hazard Records (CAN) - http://chokinghazardrecords.blogspot.co.uk

Social media links to the bands and labels are below too:-

Moloch Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/molochsludge
Haggatha Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Haggatha
Dry Cough Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords
De Graanrepubliek Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Graanrepubliekrecords
Choking Hazard Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Choking-Hazard-Records

Great Reversals - Natural Burial 7"

I've spent some of today listing all of my vinyl records and some of my tapes, so I know what I have in case something happens or I try to re-buy what I already own. It made me feel tired, but also left me feeling as though I've accomplished something. Now it's time to truly relax with a new-ish 7" from Detroit hardcore band Great Reversals. Natural Burial was released in April via How Soon Is Now Records, Protagonist Music and Hydrogen Man Records. As I write this review, Great Reversals are either playing or have just played with Homewrecker and Pharaoh in Ohio. I'm not sure about the time difference between the UK and that part of the US, so sorry for the vagueness.

Great Reversals have been together since 2009 and have quite a resume, when it comes to opening/support slots. They've played with the likes of Defeater and Agnostic Front along the way. They've also released a demo, EP and two splits so far. Natural Burial is their latest output.  With the US's current record in terms of top-notch new hardcore, as well as recent new music from scene stalwarts like Bloodlet, Drop Dead and Haymaker (to name a few), this should be good.

Tracklist:-

1. Leviathan Smiles
2. Siren Song
3. Reason In Madness

Like the 7” artwork at the top of this review, Leviathan Smiles opens with plenty of atmosphere. It features big-sounding guitars and shouted vocals that sound a bit like La Dispute. Screamo though, this ins’t! It’s mid-paced hardcore with plenty of stomp. This 7” instantly grabs you with it’s musicality and production, which are both stellar. Siren Song features acoustic guitar during it’s intro, which provides a gentler sound. Again, when Great Reversals kick into a higher gear, you’re left with a cavernous offering. I mean, I know everything’s bigger in the US but the sound on here reaches as high as the church roof on the cover!

With so much hardcore around nowadays, it’s hard to pick out genuine contenders in terms of quality and originality. Great Reversals separate themselves from their peers with subtle metal influences, while not seeing the need for “br00tal” breakdowns on Reason In Madness. In fact, that goes for the whole 7” really. Three tracks really ain’t enough here. This is the sound of a band who have honed their chops live and know how to write hardcore songs that stick in your head. There’s aggression, but it’s channelled and mature. Things may be over quickly, but that just means you have to press repeat!

You can stream the entire 7" via GR's bandcamp page here - 




Natural Burial is available as a free download, but you really should make an effort to grab a vinyl copy from the below labels and the band themselves:-

Great Reversals Bigcartel - http://www.greatrev.bigcartel.com
How Soon Is Now Storenvy - http://howsoonisnow.storenvy.com
Protagonist Music Bigcartel - http://protagonistmusic.bigcartel.com
Hydrogen Man Storenvy - http://hydrogenman.storenvy.com

Great Reversals Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Reversals
How Soon Is Now Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HSINRecords
Protagonist Music Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ProtagonistMusic
Hydrogen Man Records Tumblr - http://hydrogenmanrecords.tumblr.com