Spawn Of Possession - Incurso (2012)

Album: Incurso
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Label: Relapse Records
Website: Facebook / Myspace


Im not dead! Almost two weeks have passed since i last posted, but im here, i moved to my family's house for the Christmas holidays and i left my collection back at my place, so i have nothing to post here.

So, the new SoP album is not simply heavy as it can be, its also perfect musically. The variety of riffs and solos along with fast drumming and brutal growls is what this band is all about, they are one of my favourite technical death metal bands for some reason. There is no useless shredding here. Can't get enough of this, it will break your neck.

Empty - The House Of Funerary Hymns (2009)

Country: Spain
Genre: Black Metal
Label: De Tenebrarum Principio
Website: Facebook / Myspace

Great spanish act with awesome releases one by one, it also has that simple and enigmatic name, one could think the very simplest to the most complicated explanation out of it. This is by far my favourite album by Empty, they mix some cold symphonic elements with the fact that they are heavily influenced from the 90s norwegian scene, we have a wonderful combination of perfectly executed songs that provoke nothing less than what the rest of the landmark albums of the genre do. I think they could go even further but i dont know their status and i dont really wait for anything. Its a flawless album in general.

Prion - Time Of Plagues (2003)

Prion "Time Of Plagues"

2003, Orion Music

Myspace

South America is known for the awesome death metal scene it has, for the thrash metal maniacs and the general rawness of their bands, as well as having offered some huge names to the game (Sepultura and Sarcofago come to mind).

Here, Prion are playing traditional death metal that combines the elements of south american with the old school sound of the classic bands from the US. They are not experimenting, its just a non-stop agressive album with lots of good moments in it. Definitely deserves a listen.

Necromantia - Ancient Pride (EP, 1997)

Country: Greece
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Osmose Productions
Website: Myspace

What makes this band different is the fact that they have dual basses and they use an 8 string bass, some albums have been recorded without any guitars at all. They are a colossal band for the greek underground, im not amused by most of their early stuff even though they were well placed ideologically, still this EP is, for some reason, my favourite release.

They have added guitars with woderful riffs, they even have solos, there are some ambient parts, there is a flute, there are keys, there is a classic guitar, it creates a wonderful almost pagan black metal scence that i personally love in that music.

I strongly believe that the self-titled song "Ancient Pride" is one of the most beautiful black metal songs done by greek bands. I might be overtalking, but you should listen yourself. The copy i own is a reissue by the greek zine Metal Invader, and it contains a fifth bonus song.

Impending Doom - The Serpent Servant (2009)

Country: USA
Genre: Deathcore
Label: Facedown Records
Website: Facebook / Myspace

They're a top band in the deathcore industry and they've released some really good albums, i think this is my favourite one along with "There Will Be Violence". They have the talent to make heavy songs whatsoever, despite the facts that can make one easily hate them, like the scene they're in, or the lyrical theme. Its a bit annoying to make music this heavy and praise christianity, it bothers me but not to a level that i couldn't listen to them. Its a change from their first release, a more complete and well worked one.

Cataract - Cataract (2008)

Country: Switzerland
Genre: Thrash / Death Metal / Metalcore
Label: Metal Blade Records
Website: Facebook / Myspace

Cataract were originally quite hardcorish, i dislike that genre a lot so i skip their first album, however, in their newer ones, they have some modern metal elements and their music has become quite cool, one can recognize their origins on this album too, but still they have improved to a better mix of genres. Metal Blade has done its job and they've gotten quite popular, i have my doubts on that, it should not discourage you to listen the album though.

Ingested - Surpassing The Boundaries Of Human Suffering (2009)

Ingested "Surpassing The Boundaries Of Human Suffering"

2011, Siege Of Amida Records

Facebook / Myspace

I think the cover art for this album is elegant enough for this blog. And im glad. I love this fact with brutal death metal bands, they usually have extra detailed gore cover albums done with extreme talent and precision, and when you start listening you feel like they recorded it with broken tape players.

Thats not what happens here though, the music is as extreme as the cover, awesome band that has released awesome albums, i don't care if they label it under the deathcore genre or anything, they have some good ideas for brutal death metal and when they make songs out of them, im happy. This debut release is a clear death metal album, the second one has more deathcore influences, but its still pleasant to listen to. Its one of the bands that im never bored to listen, the heaviness just feels good inside.

Don't expect the noisy squeals or the shitty drums of average BDM albums, they have a solid production (Abominable Putridity & Pathology) and the album lasts over 20-25 minutes, again unlike other albums of the genre.

Megadeth - Cryptic Writings (1997) [Remastered 2004]

Country: USA
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label: Capitol Records
Website: Facebook / Myspace

Another one from the remastered series that were released in 2004. This is the Megadeth album with the most pop elements, its a bit slower, with softer lyrics and a sound that can be easily approached by fans in and out of metal. I like the songs here and i think its still a good Megadeth album, despite the fact that its not as intense as their first ones, and their new ones (they are still releasing strong albums, to me, even though the  metal scene would not approve).

Megadeth - Greatest Hits-Back To The Start (2005) [Compilation]

Megadeth "Greatest Hits-Back To The Start"

2005, Capitol Records

Facebook / Myspace

One of the many Best Ofs they have released, this one was with a DVD too. The classic Megadeth songs, nothing more and nothing less, in case you are a die hard fan and want everything by them, get it too. I know they are not much of a thrash metal band, but they are known for it so its not a big deal.

Drudkh - Blood In Our Wells (2006) [Reissue 2010]

Drudkh "Blood In Our Wells"

2006, Season of Mist (Saturnal Music)

Facebook / Myspace

Another band with special musicians, and very energetic too, several other bands and side projects. Drudkh are classic in the business and every metalhead into black metal has at least once listened to them, i doubt the ones that don't like them are many either. 

They are excellent band and this album is an example. The reissue here is done by Season of Mist, just with a new cover (there are no remastered or bonus songs), it was originally released under Saturnal Music.

Mortualia - Blood Of The Hermit (2010)

Mortualia "Blood Of The Hermit"

2010, Dark Adversary Productions

Myspace

This act released a ridiculously good album back in 2007, set the expectations very high despite the fact that it was the debut release. With the second album "Blood of the Hermit" it has been made clear that Mortualia are nothing but a DSBM maestro. The mainman of the project is Shatraug, you might know him from Horna or Sargeist, and lately played guitars for the new Behexen album.

This is strictly for fans only, it has long songs (each one 10 to 12 minutes long) and ugly shrieking vocals, the best ones for the genre if you ask me. The simplicity of the cover is captivating too, i would think twice before buying if it wasn't for it, still its an impressive album for the late night hours.

The Breathing Process - Odyssey (Un)dead (2010)

Country: USA

Genre: Symphonic Black / Melodic Death Metal

Label: Candlelight Records

Website: Facebook

When it comes to the modern sound of melodic death metal, im very picky, since i dislike the boy looking bands, the clean vocals, the fanbase of the scene, weak riffs and everything that can go wrong on an album combined. However, this is much different, a wonderful blend of synths, keys, melodies and well worked growling vocals. 

Plus, even the very carefully put cleans in the songs are not destroying anything now. Its an intense album even though it has interludes and "silent" parts, all the songs are fast paced and sound quite heavy. If there is anyone open to genre mixing, you might as well check this, if you have certain styles you like and would not change, do not waste your time.

Abominable Putridity - In The End Of Human Existence (2007) [Reissue 2009]

Country: Russia
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Label: Lacerated Enemy Records
Website: Facebook / Myspace

Infamous band in the brutal death metal scene, Abominable Putridity's debut is nothing less than a noisy and annoying sickness, experienced via music listening. Dirty guitars and these gargling vocals, lots of slams and groovy lines, i can actually dance on this album, i don't know if that's weird. Such bands are easy to be hated, but once you get on the other side, you just love them and want more, i enjoy lots of disgusting BDM bands for their rawness and apathy towards fame (almost all of them).

In case you have listened to their second album, it has nothing to do with this one since it has a crystal sound quality, this one is a toilet recorded one.

Testament - The Formation Of Damnation (2008)

Country: USA
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Website: Facebook / Myspace

Testament are a huge band that has released huge albums, from their early thrash era, to the death metal era, then again to their own music era that stays till today, they haven't released a bad album yet and all of them have something to offer, that to me makes them are pretty solid band, with an excellent carreer so far.

"The Formation Of Damnation" has blasting songs in it and it makes me move more than any other Testament album, i know they have a long history but with this one i started listening to them so all my favourite songs are in here. Their new album "Dark Roots Of The Earth" is a kick ass album as well, they have decided not to go downhill and we're happy to follow then.

Municipal Waste - Massive Agressive (2009)

Country: USA
Genre: Thrash Metal / Crossover
Label: Earache Records
Website: Facebook / Myspace

The crossover movement is not my thing at all, i think it gets repetitive, it talks about garbage subjects and is a very bad form of thrash metal gone wild. However, i think Municipal Waste are good. I often get tired with these vocals they use as all crossover bands do, but the musicianship is cool and it can get a party going, i guess.

When i think of these guys i always recall throwing up in random parties and humiliating myself in random public places, its appropriate if you wanna get wasted and lose your way home tonight, "Massive Agressive" will not only encourage you, you will have a great time hopping up and down in the middle of the road after midnight with a suspicious ignorant smile on your face. Check all their albums and have fun.

Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse (1994)

Country: Norway
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Label: Candlelight Records

On the album now, Emperor are not new in the metal scene and they (and their musicians) have had a great run the last 20 years or so, before they split up, this debut depicts the full awesomeness of what the guys could do, it is considered one of the top albums in black metal and more, since it lacks nothing whatsoever. 

Ihsahn is a talented keyboardist and at the time he had the youngster's blood burning inside him, these combined with the black metal aura that was around Norway then, it was almost inevitable that he would make extraordinary synths. There is a great job done on the lyrics too, not to mention how much inspiration one can draw from the compositions here, as it indeed happened in the later years. Personal favourite when it comes to them, im sure im not the only one.

This is not the first press of the album, its a special edition that was released via Candlelight in 2007, it contains an interview of the band, a poster, lyrics booklet and a special CD case, they also released the rest of their albums like this, look out for them, its really cool to own one of these in your collection. There are two bonus songs in this, a cover of Bathory's "A Fine Day To Die" and a cover of Mercyful Fate's "Gypsy".