Album Review: WOE (Gothenburg_ - "...It’s Woe Time" - Reviewed by: Nick Yngve

Album review format: Digital stream

Band Name: WOE (from Gothenburg)
Title: It’s Woe Time
Date of release: 2015
Record label: WOE Music Group/Rambo Music
Genre: Sludge Rock/Metal
Website: www.woe.se

Reviewed by: Nick Yngve

Track listing: 1. Numbers, 2. WOE Time, 3. Bad Situation, 4. Pick You Up, 5. Wolfman, 6. All Alone, 7. No Shame, 8. Personal Hell, 9. Poetical Justice, 10. What You Need

WOE Gothenburg is a rock/metal band from Sweden, formed in 2008. So far they have released one EP entitled “Fuck Your Mental Health” in 2012 and here we have the first full length, simply entitled “It’s Woe Time”. Until now they shared the stage with Dark Tranquility (2012) and Death Destruction (2014). They have also toured across Europe three times from 2013 until today.

The band is a blended mix of Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters and Black Label Society as they say for themselves and I find it completely accurate!

- Even from the beginning of the album the heavy guitars are making a pretty good impact with your ears. The song “Numbers” is fast and sludgy. Very tight rhythm section and the guitars with enough “dirt” to make you dance along and start drinking!

- Time for some WOE. Yep, you guessed it. The next song is called “WOE Time”. In this one we have a strong RATM feeling regarding the vocals. The “punk” feeling is very intense with the rest of the band keeping the sludge in the proper levels. My mind is intrigued for the rest of the album!

- “Bad Situation” is the title of the third song and here things are changing a bit. The first thing that hit my mind when it started was “2x4” from Metallica’s “Load” album. I don’t believe that I need to further explain how the song is… I mean… WOE!!!! Hahahaha… Up to this moment that I am writing this line, is the best song of the 3 I listened to.

- On to the next one. “Pick You Up” is the title and here we can listen to what Zakk Wylde tought this band. Mid tempo, HEAVY and awesome!!!! The only thing missing is some squeals while riffing, but believe me when I say that this song has NOTHING to be afraid of. In the middle of the song, it turns a bit progressive (don’t worry… not that kind of progressive) and again turns to BLS again always in their own special way!

- As it seems, an album can be very surprising. Remember the previous song that the squeals were missing? Well, here is the thing. I am writing this review while I am actually listening to the album. That means that I actually thought that “Pick You Up” was Zakk’s offspring. I was wrong. This one here, entitled “Wolfman” is the heaviest squealing song of this album… so far at least. KICKS ASS!!!!! Mid tempo once more, with a pentatonic guitar solo (they way it should be that is) and my head is explodiiiiiiing!!!!!

- “All Alone” is the title of the 6th song in this album and we are speeding up a little. The guitar work in the song is a bit dirty (in a good way) and it can keep you moving throughout the song. The refrain for some reason reminded me of Annihilator during the “King of the Kill” era for me that is a good thing for me. Cannot wait to listen to the rest of the album.

- The title of the next song… “No Shame”… Indeed they feel no shame and why should they? Their album so far is AWESOME and kicking! One more heavy song in mid tempo drumming and heavy guitars! Probably the heaviest song so far, especially from the middle of the song to the end of it.
- Let us face our “Personal Hell”… Straight in your face with this song. The more I am going deeper in the album, the more influences I find and what I like with this band, is that they are not copycats. They took their influences and made their own thing. Trust me, it is not an easy thing to do. Here we have some more Annihilator mixed with a bit of Metallica style. In this song they created something so melodic and beautiful. I totally love it!

- “Poetical Justice” is the next one and we are heading towards the end. This is the song that will make you drink… and drink… and remember to drink some more… while destroying cars and fighting with random people because they dared to look at you. I think you get the meaning. Let’s go to the last song of this magnificent album…

- I should have known… “What You Need” is the title of the album closer and here we have maybe the “darkest” song of this album… Once again, we find some more influences, this time coming from Danzig and more specifically from the “III: How the Gods Kill” album… You know, that dark and sinister atmosphere filtered through sludgy and stoner riffs… By the way, the solo of this song is the best in the whole album… Melodic and headbanging!

Ok… This is it… This album, this band… First time I ever listened to it and to them as a band. Didn’t know them, but now I do… And they are one of those bands that you know they kick serious ass and I wanna see them live some day. If only there was a way to bring them in Athens! Well, give it a shot and you will not lose your time. Also check out their 3 video clips from this album for the songs “All Alone”, “It’s WOE Time” and “Poetical Justice”.

8/10 horns

EP Review: Decryptus - "The Necrotic Design" - Reviewed By: Alan Lisanti

Band name: Decryptus
Title: The Necrotic Design EP
Album Review Format: mp3
Date Of Release: September 23rd, 2015
Record Label: unsigned/independent release
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal/Hardcore
Website: www.facebook.com/Decryptus
www.decryptus.bandcamp.com
www.twitter.com/Decryptus
www.reverbnation.com/decryptus
www.soundcloud.com/decryptus
Tracklist: The Necrotic Design (track 1)
Part I: The Chrysalis Throne
Part II: Altars Of A Fleshless Void
Part III: Ouroboros Rising

Reviewed By: Alan Lisanti
Score: 8 out of 10 horns

Decryptus is a Thrash/Death Metal crossover project from New South Wales, Australia. They have a demo (released in 2013 and called Demo XIII), and this EP out so far. I'll be reviewing their latest release, The Necrotic Design EP today. The first thing that stuck out to me about this release and this band before I even heard a single note was their cover artwork, and the fact that this whole EP is just one song long. The song shares the same name as the EP, The Necrotic Design. However, it is split into three parts or sections. Part I is called The Chrysalis Throne, followed by Part II Altars Of A Fleshless Void, and concluding with Part III Ouroboros Rising. For a Thrash/Death Metal band to go the route of epic song writing like this was something unique to the style of music they're playing, and an ambitious undertaking as well. The song is 15 minutes and 18 seconds long. I listen to a lot of different genres. I've seen Sludge, Doom, and some Death Metal bands go the long song route. However, it seems more common in genres such as Doom, Funeral Doom, or even Progressive Metal. For this to be their first EP, and the fact that they describe themselves as Thrash/Death with some Hardcore influence, it certainly had my attention from the get go. For a band to choose to go this route from the onset is something you don't see everyday. The cover artwork looks cool, but the more you look at it, the more little details you seem to notice. Visually, the artwork does a great job of representing the concept through the depiction of an apocalyptic looking scene, and an evil, skulled out Pope. This artwork is an exercise in subtlety to a certain degree, in that it represents the concept well, but does not over do it, or get overly specific. This is the perfect kind of art that achieves its goal, but also leaves you room to think and interpret things for yourself. All of these factors collectively struck me as if this was a band that had something to say. I think when musicians are brave enough to take calculated risks such as these, and when they handle their project with an overall sense of establishing their vision, it comes across in the whole aesthetic of the band and their work. They lured me in with the artwork, and peaked my interest with their 1 long song approach. Of course, the question was: "Could they pull it off?" It is no easy feat by any means to write long songs, or just write songs in general. When a song approaches the 15 minute mark, the biggest thing could be to steer away from redundancy and/or repetition. Once you grab the listener, the last thing you want to do is bore them to the point where they lose interest before the song ends. You want to keep things interesting and moving along. You want the song to breathe, and keep evolving. That said, I think this band accomplishes what they set out to do with this release, and they manage to keep it interesting the whole time as well. Will Magnusson, vocalist/guitarist, has said that this is a concept EP based on a combination of an Orwellian-esque Dystopian future, and government conspiracy theories. I think the artwork, lyrics, and overall delivery meets that mark. By the time you reach the end of the song, I'm thinking you'll agree. Each of the three parts walks a very fine line between maintaining the overall concept, and switching things up for the listener. This is another feat that is handled well by the band, and a key factor in the overall reception of the song. The band never loses sight of it's concept, but isn't afraid to step out of its own box. The quote or excerpt included from George Orwell's,1984, was a nice touch too. Rounding out the lineup is Sam Phillips on drums, Dane Mckenzie on guitars, and Dominic Zambelli on Bass.I gave this one 8 out of 10 horns only because I think these guys are just scratching the surface with what they can do as a band. If this release is any indication where these guys are headed, the future is looking bright. Keep an eye on Decryptus, and give this one a listen. This is a solid 15 minute and 18 second long exercise in sonic indulgence that never loses it's grip on you once it pulls you in.

Album Review: Nattergal / Mortuus Sum - 'Buried And Doomed In Misery' - Split Release - Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Album Review Format: Digital Stream 


Band Name: Nattergal / Mortuus Sum
Title: Buried And Doomed In Misery
Date of Release: May 2013
Record Label: Independent
Genre: Black Metal
Website: http://mortuussum.bandcamp.com/…/buried-and-doomed-in-misery

Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Track listings: 1. Displacement Of Grief 2. Karmatic Devestation 3.My Solitude, Your Silence 4. Prisoner 5. Vargavinter 6. Roswekk 47 (Hypocrisy Cover)

This split Features the 2 bands Nattergal and Mortuus Sum. Nattergal is from Mexico and has been active since 2010. Mortuus Sum hails from Greece has been active by this name since 2007 and as Panzerfaust in 2002-2003.

The three Nattergal tracks have a droning atmospheric quality, and a combination of clean gothic sounding vocals that a latter day Robert Smith might have penned, and gargled spoken word, usually at the same time. Equal parts buzz and depression, Nattergal is mostly atmosphere, you will not find fast tremelo picking or complex instrumental parts. But if music that would go well with long drawn out nightmares of being stuck in a neverending dungeon unable to find a way out is your thing the 3 songs offered here will be your thing.

Mortuus Sum is more traditional black metal instrumentation featuring the common themes of tremelo picked guitars and drums with double bass and blast beats like their predecessor on this spilt nearly spoken word gargled vocals are the norm. Mortuus Sum provides only 2 originals here choosing a cover, Hypocrisy song Roswell 47, as their 3rd offering. The 2 originals are also heavily atmospheric, unfortunately the cover song is the best of the 3.

If you like heavily atmospheric sounds with more than a little creepiness, which really is what black metal is supposed to be, then this spilt is for you. 

6 of 10 horns

Album Review: Raised From Oblivion - "This Is The End" - Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Album Review Format: Digital Stream

Band Name: Raised From Oblivion

Title: This Is The End

Date of Release: 2014
Record Label: Independant
Genre: Metalcore
Website: https://www.facebook.com/RaisedFromOblivion/info…

Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Track listings: 1) Initium 2) Under It's Curse 3) Engulfed In Fire 4) This Is The End 5) Blinded By Suicide

Raised From Oblivion hails from the UK, and claims Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, The Defiled, Alter Bridge, Five Finger Death Punch, Metallica, August Burns Red, Periphery, Asking Alexandria, Architects, & Axewound as influences.

Well yeah it's metalcore, and while this much maligned genre does not really deserve the hate piled onto it, there is a reason it has as many detractors as it does. Raised From Oblivion seems to be intent on proving the haters right, by indulging in pretty much every stereotype the genre has. The instrumentation is fairly uninspired. The clean vocals are weak, nasaly and whiny and would fit well into an emo project. The "screamed" vocals aren't any better, lyrically the band seems to be more intent on ACTUALLY being emo, their lyrical forte apparently being sounding like a jr. high school student's 1st attempts at broken heart poetry.

All that being said, there are some beautiful passages and I liked the intro. However after listening to this ep I truly wanted to slit my wrists. I do not recommend this ep, unless your thing is sitting in a darkened room reliving the hurt and pain that your most recent lover inflicted on you by listening to mediocre metalcore.....wait....no there are far better bands to do that with.

2 of 10 horns

Album Review: Iami - "Inspiracoes" Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Album Review Format: Digital Stream
Band Name: Iami
Title: Inspiracoes
Date of Release: 2015
Record Label:
Genre: Black Metal
Website: https://iamimusic.bandcamp.com/

Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw
Track listings: 1. Servant Of The Nothing 2. Der Astrale Ursprung (Tei II) 3. Gli Spiriti Del Bosco

Iami is a one man project from Brazil. Touted as ambient black metal, this 3 track ep is actually made up of cover songs by "dungeon synth" artists.
Trying to describe the sound included here was difficult until I realized that these songs made me think of low budget sci-fi and horror films. Mix equal parts of John Carpenter, and Tangerine Dream and you pretty much have the idea. These 3 instrumentals would be fantastic soundtrack songs for a sci-fi or horor film. Play these over speakers outside your door at Halloween time to set the mood for the trick or treaters.
Is it black metal, NO. Is it dark, YES. Is it ambient, very much so. It is enjoyable, and worth listening to, but not if you are in a kick ass, take names and hail the dark lord kind of black metal mood. Instead appreciate it in the right environment.

6 of 10 horns

Album Review: Decryptus "The Necrotic Design" - Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Album Review Format: Digital Stream


Band Name: Decryptus
Title: The Necrotic Design
Date of Release: 2015
Record Label: Independent
Genre: Death Metal
Website: www.decryptus.bandcamp.com

Reviewed by: Geoff McGraw

Track listings: 1. The Necrotic Design (Part 1:The Chrysalis Throne, Part 2: Altars Of Fleshless Void, Part 3: Ouroboros Rising)
Decryptus is comprised of guitarist and vocalist Will Magnuson, Dane McKenzie on guitars as well, drummer Sam Philips, and thick stringer Dominic Zambelli. This quartet drops a single 15:18 track with 3 subdivisions as their ep, which bears the question is it a single or a 3P?
Well either way it doesn't really matter, I am beginning to wonder what the Australian people put in their water down there. Over the last couple of years very strong releases from the land down under have been cropping up and Decryptus is providing a very healthy entry into the "Holy Shit This Rocks" category. Well composed and powerful, Decryptus manages to stretch their wings and their talents, and within just 15 minutes blow me away. It's got it all, powerful intro, headbanging riffs, powerful beautiful solo, frenetic pit inducing mosh candy, a haunting moment reminiscent of the intro and then stopping suddenly and leaving you wanting more. So much so that you have to listen again, and that isn't gonna help 'cause that cliffhanger ending will lead you straight back to the beginning again. Bundle all this with an intelligent tribute to George Orwell worked in there and DAMN!
There is no weak link on this other than it's just too damn short. Limited to 250 copies of the disc, it is worth the buy even with shipping to own what may very well be the 1st offering, outside of demos, from a band I expect great things from. This is one of those songs that I wish I had written. Count me as Frickin' Impressed!

9 of 10 horns (with a neck snap for good measure)

CD Review: SKOLL -" Grisera"- Review by Dave Wolff

SKOLL

Grisera

Ewiges Eis

http://www.facebook.com/eerec

Skoll is a pagan/black/Viking metal act from Italy consisting of a sole member who plays each of the instruments. M the Bard started the band as Ragnarok in 1994, changed its name and began actively recording in 1996. Grisera is his third CD from 2013; his most recent outings are a 2014 compilation CD The Early Raw Days 1994-1996 and Through The Mountains Mist They Came, a split release he released with Spain’s Uruk-Hai this year. Grisera was limited to 500 copies so I don’t know if you can still acquire one at present; for information on this you’d have to contact the label. Although the four songs appearing here are of familiar territory, you can feel the devotion to ancient times and the sincerity with which it is celebrated. M has session musicians working on the material, including a keyboardist and violin player. One thing I can say makes this album a standout is the keyboards and violins are mixed just under the guitars, giving the songs an edge that works well with the raw production and somber guitars. There’s just enough atmosphere from this mixing job to present a profound mental picture. It’s as if you’re looking through an age-weathered window into a world that’s not dead at all but just as vital as it was way back when. Together with other moments of coldness and longing, it creates a contrast that elevates the music to near-monumental proportions. The title song for example is an excursion into all of these themes, with some impressive double bass percussion, moving into a quieter and more introspective section calling to mind what Satyricon was doing on Dark Medieval Times (still one of my favorite albums of theirs). This album gradually, relentlessly grows on you until you are fully convinced of their sincerity and want to hear more. Now that’s effective songwriting if ever was such a thing. -Dave Wolff

LINEUP

M: Instruments, vocals

TRACK LISTING

1. Grush

2. Grisera

3. Hrothaharijaz

4. Wolves in the Mist

5. The Bard

CD Review: SKUGGAN Kejsaren Av Ett Svart Rike

SKUGGAN

Kejsaren Av Ett Svart Rike

Ewiges Eis

http://www.facebook.com/eerec

Kejsaren Av Ett Svart Rike is the Swedish black metal project’s debut CD released in 2013. Its sole member started composing and recording the year this CD was released. Earlier that year he released a single demo track; more information on this is limited. All I found when researching this on Encyclopedia Metallum was the song title; nothing about the amount of copies made, distribution or availability. His second and most recent effort Slottet I Ändlöst Mörker was released in 2014. Mostly this full length is standard black metal, dark and atmospheric with touches of Throne Of Ahaz and Burzum. The first cut opens without an intro preceding it or lead in with one instrument. The sound is well produced and clear, and the material would work if produced clearly or produced with a rawer mixing job. I found the guitar progressions leaning to simplistic while the drums pushed them forward. The blast sections appearing here kicked the material into overdrive, and there are just enough of them to make their point without overstating it. Keyboards and clean guitars contribute to the atmosphere at inopportune moments, existing to enhance the songs without trying to drown anything out. What especially held my attention were the lead vocals. I’m not sure what effects if any are added, but there is a horrific quality to his voice that doesn’t sound like it had been tried before. Some sort of looping effect, or something to make them sound recorded backwards? It seems like some trade secret but it works well and the effect is chilling and creepy. The cover artwork and sleeve photography help set the tone as effectively as an intro would have; pitch black, cold and snow-covered. -Dave Wolff

LINEUP

Skuggan: Instruments, vocals, lyrics

TRACK LISTING

1. Graven i skogen

2. Mörkret inne

3. I djävulens skuggan

4. Fördömde till avgrunden

5. En nattlig kamp

6. Den mörka lågan (instrumental)

7. Trolltjärn

8. Jonsereds strömmar

9. Kejsaren av ett svart rike 

Album Review: MOURNING Blinded By Hate

Mourning
Blinded By Hate
Ossuary Industries
http://www.facebook.com/MourningNJ
This is an earlier release from the New Jersey black/death metal band, having been recorded in December of 2004 when the old Myspace was still an active social network and the corporate sellout hadn’t yet happened. This was also when extreme music still belonged solely to the underground; MTV and VH1 had just started including B/M and D/M bands in rotation. People bought CDs on a regular basis, went to shows as often, and internet downloading was a non-issue (with the exception of Metallica vs Napster). The five cuts recorded for this EP retain that exclusivity many of us recall from the 90s. We all know what has happened in metal since then, with those stations and others introducing the underground to every trend jumper who got tired of their pop records (smile). But in the early part of the decade we had that by-the-fans-for-the-fans attitude by which sincerity and falsity were easier to differentiate. The material on Blinded By Hate is mostly straightforward black/death crossover with unexpected time changes making just enough appearances to sustain your interest and have you wondering where they’ll go next. It could just be me but hints of Marduk, Internal Bleeding and Carcass showed themselves in the song structure and vocal arrangements. The closest they approach Swedish black metal are Impending Doom and Embrace The Apocalypse, the first and last songs respectively. Bands like Mourning help me stay in touch with the time the term “underground metal” had a clear definition. -Dave Wolff

LINEUP
Mike: Guitars, vocals, bass
J.J.: Drums
Bill: Bass, guitars

TRACK LISTING
1. Impending Doom
2. Entormented Visions Of Domination
3. The Ballad Of Joel
4. Destroying The Innocence
5. Embrace The Apocalypse

Album review: TOXEMIA Ancient Demon

Toxemia
Ancient Demon
The 3rd Inferno
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ToxemiaPH/268632073164892
The full length from this Philippines death-thrash band plays similarly to a horror film. Not from the contemporary era but rather the pulp occult period (late sixties to mid-seventies). Think of The Devil’s Rain or something more obscure like Virgin Witch with a thrash soundtrack and you’ll know what you’re getting into. The bell chant and haunting female voices opening Holocaustic Ritual III feels like the house lights dimming as the movie’s introductory sequence shows on the screen. Soon after we hear the opening guitar riffs introducing the album. There’s a certain amount of buildup before a brief vocal section establishing what could be a unifying concept depicting Armageddon itself. The sound is extremely raw, especially in the vocals; this somehow seems to suit the imagery resulting from all we heard previously. Fans of Blasphemy and Sacrofago will appreciate the rough-hewn production and the equally abrasive vocals the most. The rawness is akin to material being recorded live with inexpensive equipment. But you can hear each instrument for all the distortion the material is delivered with, and there is a cult like motif much like the early DM from the 80s/90s. The playing is tight and the guitar solos in songs like Ang Manabas Ng Kadjiliman show dexterity amidst the chaos experienced through this CD. A few movie samples and some embellishment help the concept along, reinforcing the occult noir this recording presents an impression of. You can only guess how things turn out in the end; as a hint the album closes with a cover of Celtic Frost’s Dethroned Emperor. -Dave Wolff

TRACK LIST:
1. Holocaustic Ritual III    
2. Sa Kagabhiong Kahadlokan    
3. Death Blood And Murder    
4. Ang Mananabas Ng Kadiliman    
5. Destroying Relics    
6. Drunkards Law    
7. Summoning The Beast    
8. Dethrone Emperor