Abigor - Channeling the Quintessence of Satan (1999) Review

Maybe because of their earlier catalog, I always felt Abigor's Channeling the Quintessence of Satan is a bit overlooked when thinking of their 90's material. While their first albums are undeniably spectacular touching classic status, one shouldn't miss out on the abundant intensity and power that is exerted from this record, with tracks like "Dawn of Human Dust" and "Equilibrium Pass By" being some of my favorite Abigor material ever. Recently, the band released on Bandcamp their 2016 vinyl master version of the album, which features rough recordings of the guitars and drums as they were done in 1998, along with re-recorded vocals and bass from 2010. I can't say which version of the two I prefer but this one offers a definitely less polished sound to the music, without throwing mud at the awesomeness of the compositions and made me listen to this fine release once again, as if it was a new experience. The guitar lines are amazing and often complex, Abigor at moments use samples to amplify the atmosphere, the energy in Channeling... is really unique.

Listen to Channeling the Quintessence of Satan:

Death Courier - Necrotic Verses (2020) Review

The mere fact that Death Courier is active in 2020, makes an analogy case to a dinosaur coming back to life in the middle of a history museum. What may be the oldest extreme metal band from Greece, and arguably claiming the first death metal record from the country, is definitely part of the genre's history and the activity we're seeing since the last decades is by no means an irrelevant comeback. The name and logo have been kept intact, the music has been rejuvenated through the lens of modern production but the material itself serves as a reminder of how death metal sounded, when it had the simplest and most crushing form. The essence is in the thunderous riffs, the pummeling drums go along, songs in short structures and sparse solos around the place, with hardly any underwhelming moment except maybe the interlude in the middle of the record. Necrotic Verses is better than Perimortem. It's not Death Courier's extravagant playing that will win you, but the pure death metal bliss and character, coming directly from a veteran. And after all this time, a well designed artwork comes along too.

Listen to Necrotic Verses:

Behemoth are not in a forest anymore

News of coming Behemoth material are very hard to miss now and their new EP is a mini-release consisting of their adaptation of The Cure's classic song "A Forest", a live version of that and a couple of tracks from the I Loved You At Your Darkest time. Nergal also got ridiculously photogenic Niklas Kvarforth for a very fancy video clip, who was hired for his "psychotic appearance, attitude and vibe". If you're giggling already, just wait to watch the actual video.

While I enjoy the Shining albums, Kvarforth has been a shameless sell-out for many years now and just the fact that one person can maintain a self-destructive project for more than two decades gives me the shivers. Behemoth's The Satanist will probably be the last album I will enjoy by them, even if the affection has faded a bit after six years of listening, and I Loved You At Your Darkest really wasn't for me.

In my opinion, they didn't serve any good justice to the song at all, it doesn't fit their style and it was a baffling listen, apparently overproduced with a high budget, as Behemoth in general for some reason choose to come out as some kind of evil Power Rangers. The edge has completely disappeared from this band by now, so if you want some painfully mainstream metal just check it, but be careful if you are fans of The Cure. Frankly, Carpathian Forest did a much better job covering this specific track.

Armagedda - Svindeldjup Ättestup (2020) Review

A quick glance at Svindeldjup Ättestup could almost fool someone that this is not actually a new album by Armagedda but a remake of older material. Produced by Mgła's M.Z. at No Solace, an artwork done by Erik from Watain, at the same colors and aesthetics as where they left off in 2004, along with the first track after the introduction even named "Ond Spiritism", this record at first serves as a joyous flashback into their discography. As I have always been fond of this part of the Swedish black metal underworld, and the fact that Armagedda are masters of this craft, had me excited as a young child in a carousel and the music doesn't disappoint. The band proves they're always on point, they are so effortlessly dominating and mark a return of the project the best possible way, with some of the best musicians of the genre being involved in its release. Svindeldjup Ättestup is very well balanced, at times calm but strong spirited at the same time, definitely a highlight of the year so far not only for the captivating music but also for the fact that Armagedda showed such signs of activity again. Doesn't the beginning of "Ond Spiritism" sound like the intro part of Shining's "Du, mitt konstverk"?

Listen to Svindeldjup Ättestup:

Winterfylleth - The Reckoning Dawn (2020) Review

Even if this album wasn't as good as it is, it almost feels like it would have been what the audience would desperately want from Winterfylleth for the last five years or so, making its case an even stronger banger as in reality. The Dark Hereafter in 2016 was solid but a bit short (could have been a fine EP), and The Hallowing of Heirdom in 2018 was fully acoustic and directed to a part of the listeners that is more selective. I've always been comfortable with the band's acoustic parts but it's the atmospheric black metal that actually hooked me to them, and that's exactly what is openly given in The Reckoning Dawn. Potent tracks with amazing riffs one after the other, well catered production, excellent flow and once again beautiful lyrics is what characterizes what might be the absolutely flawless Winterfylleth album to date. Don't skip any song in the record, but make sure to check the limited edition that contains three additional new recordings, including an amazing cover of Enslaved's "Wotan" from the Frost era, named by Winterfylleth as "Woden". I salute the best atmospheric black metal band from the United Kingdom.

Listen to The Reckoning Dawn: