Winterthrone - The Godslayer (2012)

Winterthrone is a symphonic black metal band from Germany that has a lot of hit or miss tracks in their new album, entitled "The Godslayer." The go about "black metal quality" the wrong way. Instead of the instruments being recorded horribly on purpose they have a really shitty mixing quality. The panning and levels on the album make things very difficult to hear anything. Not all of the tracks are this however. And when you are able to hear what's going on, Winterthrone doesn't sound so bad after all.

The album opens with atmospheric wind sound effects and devilish spoken word in "The Grave Of Thousand Souls." After about a minute of the intro comes a violent wave of guitar riffs and quick double bass drumming. Unfortunately the recording is horribly mixed. It's tough to hear the actually chords over the overly loud cymbals and snares. It gets even worse when the vocals come in. They consist of these wretched black metal screams that are meshed together so closely that it's hard to make out any of the lyrics. Meanwhile the cymbals are still shattering much higher than the rest of the mix. It's tough to get through this eight minute track. You do manage to come across a wild piano and guitar solo that sound pretty decent. It's still kind of hard to tell what's going on exactly though. If the song was mixed and mastered better i think the track would be awesome.

"Cult Of Hate" opens with some eerie keyboards along with haunting sound effects in the background. The mix begins to get a little better starting with the drums. All of the drums sound a lot more evenly panned and leveled. The vocals still have that muffled sound almost as if they placed a filter on the screams. The guitars pound you into the ground with melodic lead riffs and back up chugging patterns. Meanwhile the keyboards take over the background with symphonic strings. It's becoming clear that the vocals are the only down side to this album. The longest track on the album is "The Throne" which runs for just under ten minutes long. It contains on the symphonic black metal sounds that you would expect in an album like this however the vocals just don't get any better. The screechy vocals are very unclear and muddy throughout the whole track. Also the structure of the song begins to get boring after the first four minutes as it seems that they just keep playing the same riffs. The symphonic strings keep the track going and they seem to be the only thing really changing. After about six minutes in you'll find yourself listening for the keyboards only as they are the only thing that stay entertaining.

The only song that actually really enjoyed is the final track entitled "Triumph And Emptiness." The structure is very complex and is constantly changing melodies and styles throughout the nine minutes and 45 seconds. By this point your just used to the vocals. Listen closely to the guitar riffs as they throw punishing riff after punishing riff at you from all directions. Meanwhile the drum fills are absolutely phenomenal. Double bass pedal drumming and constant snares and cymbals knock you out of your chair with thunderous rolls. Epic orchestral instruments pull you in with dark gloomy melodies and string. You'll find yourself hitting the repeat button on this track for sure.

Overall, "The Godslayer" has a lot more downs than it has ups. The quality of the mix in each track go from horrible to decent and back to horrible again. Some of the guitar riffs and song structures have potential but the vocals just bring them down. The only thing that really kept this album alive at all are the epic strings and orchestrated instruments that consumed most of the background. Also he double bass pedal patterns connected well. They just need to be mixed better. I would say to check out the last track if anything and see what you think. Definitely keep an eye on the band though. Winterthrone carries much potential.

6/10

Official Site - http://www.myspace.com/winterthrone

Read more ...

Deimos - TerminUs (EP) (2012)

Italy's one and only Gamma Ray tribute band, Deimos, is ready to do more than cover versions of classic tracks. This four piece from the north spent three years honing their skills, before finally commencing the work on an EP of original material. With the help of some friends, including metal guitarist extraordinaire Chris Caffery and vocalist Raffo Albanese of From The Depth, their dream became a reality. With five tracks of pure progressive power metal, with a splash of 80's hair metal influence, "TerminUs" signifies the arrival of Deimos.

There is something about "Wargreed" that conveys a classic metal style, be it the duel guitar attack of the rolling bass line. Singer Antonio Pecere, most notably of Crimson Dawn, provides the vocal tracks with a style that could be labeled as a subdued Rob Halford. His range is impressive, even when the mix is not. The guitar playing is top notch, and you would be hard pressed to find a missed beat from the rhythm section. The sounds of war serve as a segue from first to second, with "Gates Of Babylon" giving you a massive opening riff. The band hits their stride here, with a pounding drum beat to match the intensity of the guitars. Pecere is at his best, commanding the room with every note. Every element comes together, with a collage of spoken words layered atop a smooth bass line. Caffery cuts in, taking the lead with a ridiculous guitar solo. Not to be outdone, the band kicks things into high gear and shreds along, hitting every possible note along the way. Potential meets performance.

The raucous opening to "Vultures Lead Our Way" only helps to build the momentum gathered. Once again, a classic metal style comes through clearly in the building riffs. It would be impossible to ignore the consistency at play in the drumming, with Massimo Goletti pounding the skins in a way that demands, at minimum, a slow head nod. Somewhere amidst all of this, they strike the perfect balance between heavy aggression and flowing melody. As things slow down for "Locked Heart," you find yourself awash in a staggering duet between Pecere and Paola Gemma. Her voice is such a stark contrast to what the first three tracks have given you, that it leaves you a puddle of your former self. But, fear not, because this is not a sappy ballad to skip. Instead, they take their proven formula and add a second, enchanting voice to the mix. Together, they form a duo that is not to be trifled with. Clean guitars and bass are a solid foundation to build on, growing in sound and scope as the track progresses. A true sign of the talent at play here is taking a track that tops seven minutes, and making it fly by like a song of half the length, and half the content.

And, as a fitting finale to their debut, "Stonetears" sees the band with From The Depth frontman Raffo Albanese, who has a voice all his own. It's as if the old adage of "saving the best for last" has come to life, with every aspect of this track blowing you down. Albanese gives a mind blowing performance, but only with the aid of some of the most energetic guitar work the band could muster. There is not time to dial back the speed and power of this one, as it delivers fill after fill, roll after roll for a solid four minutes of over the top metal action. There are closing tracks that guide you gently to the finish line, and there are those that push you out a seventh story window. This is the latter, a closer of best kind, one that leaves you wanting so much more.

I have long been of the opinion that cover bands are the bane of the music world, giving anyone who can pick up an instrument a way to capitalize on the work of others. So, seeing a tribute band emerge as a true powerhouse in their field of expertise is refreshing, not to mention impressive. Deimos can go on paying homage to Gamma Ray, a band that truly deserves the respect of those who have heard them. But it is time to forge their own path, create their own identity. If the five songs on "TerminUs" are any indication as to what the future holds, no one will ever refer to these guys in the context of any other band again. Deimos may end up with a few tribute bands of their own.

8.5/10

Official Site - http://www.metaldeimos.net
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/heavymetaldeimos

Read more ...

Fear Factory - The Industrialist (2012)

It's time to turn up those speakers kids. Fear Factory is back with their eighth studio album, entitled "The Industrialist." The album contains ten intense tracks of nothing but monstrous riffs and violent vocals. The drumming alone is a real rush when blasted through a pair of sub woofers. The double bass pedal patterns will have you up and moshing in your own living room.

The album starts out with "The Industrialist," which opens with eerie spoken word and dark keyboards in the background. Drums begin to rumble as distorted guitars start to surround you. Next thing you know you're in a whirl chaos. Massive amounts of double bass pedal drums and violent chugging guitars thrash at you. Lead vocalist Burton C. Bell comes in with beastly shouting vocals that will knock you off your feet. Insane double bass pedal continue to pound away at you as your beaten into the ground by thunderous guitar riffs. This track will definitely have you up and thrashing immediately. The violence doesn't stop there. "Recharger" throws more relentless chugging guitar riffs at you while Bell destroys you with reckless lyrics. The refrain has a catchy ring to as as Bell switches over to clean singing. His voice echoes high over the jack hammering guitars surrounding you with dark beauty. The verse become more and more vicious as vocals turn into deeper growls at certain points. Your definitely going to have your devil horns up and thrashing to this beast.

"New Messiah" is the heart and soul of this album as it pulverizes you with monstrous waves of guitar riffs and thumping bass patterns. Relentless double bass pedal drumming rumbles heavily underneath you while cymbals crash from all directions. The thing that really completes this track is the clean vocals in the refrain and its memorable melodies that become stuck in your head for days. It holds a real beauty and the beast feel to the mix and will have you hitting the replay button multiple times.

"God Eater" and "Depraved Mind Murder" remind you that Fear Factory is still an industrial band which I personally am not a big fan of the genre but if any band can pull it off well it's this one. Futuristic sound effects and synths take over the background as wild chugging guitars lead you to the chorus. "Depraved Mind Murder" also has a catchy melody that will have you humming along with the melody. "Difference Engine" goes a little overboard with the industrial sound effects in the beginning of the track but its still definitely worth it to check out. The exploding guitar riffs will have you addicted the entire time while Bell steps in with more monstrous vocals. Meanwhile booming drum rolls show off with reckless double bass blast beats and complex fills.

"The Industrialist" is a solid industrial metal album that delivers everything and more. Fear Factory has been around for quite some time putting out solid albums that hold a unique sound from each other. This album is definitely worth checking out. There's a good mix of solos, thrashing guitar riffs, and relentless double bass pedals that are sure to have you hooked.

8/10

Official Site - http://fearfactory.com/
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/fearfactoryofficial

Read more ...

Vallendusk - Vallendusk (EP) (2012)

Like it or not, black metal is a genre that will never fade away. It will grow, it will change, but it will always be a large, proportionate chunk of metal as a whole. Whether or not you enjoy it is key to your discovery of new bands, with thousands of raw black metal projects cropping up every day. In the case of Vallendusk, a four piece band from Indonesia, their love of all things blackened isn't a passing fancy. They are crafting their own version of the classic sound, with little bits and pieces borrowed from folk and post styles. But on their self titled debut EP, the boys from Jakarta can't seem to make all the moving pieces work together.

Sweet, almost sullen clean guitars are the first thing to cross the sound threshold on "Antimatter," a soothing opening that is pleasant, albeit short. Even when the true assault begins, there is still a hint of melody to the guitars. Vocally, you aren't going to get anything overly surprising, with the standard black metal screams and screeches covering everything. The true dynamic pairing here is in the rhythm section and guitar work. Drumming is key, with high speed kick/snare/cymbal combinations running throughout. But somewhere out of left field comes an interlude that would be a suitable lullaby, light and airy in nature. It puts you in this uneasy state of rest, before a thunderous return to distortion snaps you back to a waking state. The problem that comes into play is that it becomes all too easy to separate the blackened eruptions from the delicate interludes, making them almost feel tacked on, despite the beautiful touches.

If you find yourself looking for the more melodic side of the black metal genre, then songs like "Foghymn" have a lot to offer you, though sifting through a nearly seven minute run time can be a daunting task. Hidden within each changing guitar pattern is a distinct flow, one that is barely audible when paired with the coarse vocal style that black metal tends to demand. But in the instrumental passages, be they few and far between, you can find that extra bit of musicianship. Yes, you may hear faint folk tones, or even elements of the ever popular shoegaze genre that Alcest has become known for. In these stretches, Vallendusk is at their very best, giving something that most traditional outfits wouldn't dare touch. They seamlessly combine the rolling double kicks with a haze of guitar distortion and atmospheric riffs.

As with the others, "The Wooden Sphere" begins softly, but does carry the proverbial big stick. This track represents a welcomed shift in style, with the song playing out in a more folk inspired way. What you are greeted with is blackened folk, instead of straightforward grind of the former. The percussion might not have much lateral movement, something it could definitely use going forward, but the guitars carry the weight of the song atop wave after wave of melodic, yet heavily distorted, riffs. Hell, bits and pieces of this finale descend into pure post rock, with a bass groove that may get your head swaying from side to side. Wild, jazz style drums cut in, and take you into a new realm. The instrumental lifts the track to new heights, enough to elevate the one dimensional vocal line. isolate the final four minutes of this track, and you have a cross section of what the band is capable of.

Fans of black metal will always say that its raw nature is what makes the music endearing, a style that will go on forever. Those on the outside looking in will never totally see the merit. And, for a new band like Vallendusk, falling squarely into that arena may be a disservice to the band's sound. There are flashes of brilliance in this release, little touches here and there that make this a much deeper album than it may initially appear to be. But, does five minutes of a twenty five minute album equate to a purchase, or merely a passing listen? With some fine tuning, and a little polish, Vallendusk may be able to shine through the tar that is the black metal scene.

6/10

Bandcamp - http://pestproductions.bandcamp.com/album/vallendusk
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Vallendusk

Read more ...

The Podcast: Episode 49 (A Fist(er) right in the ass)

We seem to be coming up to the halfway point of the year, with July only four slim weeks away. So, we are nearing the final push for our first half "Top 10" lists. With another strong week, it will soon get even more difficult to narrow down the candidates. This week, Darrell adds Sam Locke and Nightmare to his ballot, while Justin gets down and dirty with the latest Burzum album from Varg Vikernes, and Greek outfit Litrosis. Our final Band Of The Month for the first half has arrived, and they can, and will, knock your teeth out.

Download it. Yeah, you there. Download the podcast here.

Read more ...

The Massacre Cave: The Interview

One half of the Scottish powerhouse The Massacre Cave, Ben and Joe, sat down to wax poetic about all things near and far. They tell us about their home, their music, and give us some major laughs along the way. These two brothers sure do put the "i" in Eigg.

Note: Normally we would edit their audio together with ours, so it sounds like a brilliantly executed Q & A. But this time, their audio was too good to touch. This is unedited and untouched, just cut into YouTube approved pieces. Maybe we should have been called Sorrow Enema after all...

Part 1 is here.

Part 2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

The whole damn thing is right about...... HERE!

Read more ...

Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead (2012)

The veteran doom metal band, Candlemass, is back with a new album, entitled "Psalms For The Dead." This is the bands eleventh full length studio album following their 2009 album, "Death Magic Doom." The album is nine tracks long and delivers nothing but power drum fills, aggressive vocals, and depressive guitar riffs.

The album starts out with pulverizing guitar riffs in "Prophet." Dominating chugging chords rush through you as you find yourself bashing your head to the beat immediately. Exploding drum rolls come rumbling in with quick double bass pedal patterns and shattering cymbals. Relentless snares pound you into the ground as you continue to drown is massive guitar riffs. Aggressive clean vocals take over the verses. They echo high above the melodic guitars and bass carrying you straight to the chorus. The refrain contains addictive lyrics with a catchy melody and wicked guitar solos that follow afterwards. You'll also come across another wild guitar solo towards the end of the track that will absolutely blow your mind.

Slow thumping snares open up "The Sound Of Dying Demons" as devilish guitar riffs take over. The verses fade in slowly with a haunting delivery. Meanwhile complex drum rolls take over the background. Toms and high hats smash from all directions. The refrain comes in soon after as lead vocalist, Robert Lowe, comes in with ghostly lyrics that send chills down your spine. The chorus holds a catchy yet evil tone to it leaving you completely hooked to the track. Gloomy synth sound effects surround you added a very demonic feel to the mix. You'll definitely find yourself playing this song over and over again. "Waterwitch" also has that muddy guitar intro that "The Sound Of Dying Demons" had in the beginning. This definitely has that epic doom sound that they are known for. The verses are filled with depressive vocals as the tempo runs slow deep chugging guitar riffs. The drum fills continue to destroy you with detailed rolls. Later you're hit with a deadly guitar solo that drops notes on your from all angles.

Tracks like "The Lights Of Thebe" and "Psalms For The Dead" really show off Lowe's vocals as some of them could pass as straight power metal vocals. Hit has no problem hitting both high and low octaves and can hold a note for quite some time. The verses in "Psalms For The Dead" are delivered in a very soothing manor. Meanwhile bone crushing riffs come through and completely knock you on your ass. The structure keeps you guessing as to whats coming up next. "The Killing Of The Sun" adds a little bit of a groove sound to the album with its catchy upbeat guitar riffs and thumping bass lines. Basic kick snare patterns fill the air with crashing cymbals as Lowe throws some aggressive vocals at you.

The final track on the album, entitled "Black As Time," opens with a short speech defining the word "time" as he rambles on about how time is black. After this minute introduction comes a killing wave of monstrous guitar riffs that blast away with booming drum rolls. Devilish chugging guitars take over as the lyrics "Time is black" echo over and over as more beastly guitars drop in. Later your hit with another murderous guitar solo that absolutely destroys the musical scales. The final two minutes pick up with fast pace drums and guitars as Lowe steps in with high clean vocals that soar through the air with catchy melodies. This final track definitely concludes the album with a bang and will leave you begging for more.

You'll find yourself hitting the replay button as soon as "Psalms For The Dead" comes to an end. It has that addicting effect where you just have to hear it again. Candlemass has really stepped up with this album showing that not only are they still good but that they're getting better with every new album. Definitely check this album out. You won't be disappointed.

8/10

Official Site - http://www.candlemass.se/candlemass/band/

Read more ...