Notes and echoes - November 23

The night unfolded in a cloak of shadows as he trudged along the dimly lit alleyways, his footsteps echoing the percussive beats of the underworld he adored. The streetlights flickered, but his eyes burned with the fire of a thousand broken sigils. His thoughts, a tempest of disdain for the feeble imitations and diluted strains that dared call themselves metal. The leather jacket, worn and adorned with patches of obscure bands, creaked in tandem with his determined pace.

Arriving home, he entered a realm that echoed his soul: a sanctuary where the air was thick with the musty scent of aged vinyl. The room, a catacomb of sonic relics, housed a dusty desk beneath a flickering bulb. With the precision of a ritualist, he carefully selected vinyl from his sacred collection, the ones that spoke the language of ugliness, of unyielding brutality. The turntable whirred to life as he lowered the needle onto the grooves, each pop and crackle a prelude to the impending sonic onslaught. 

And the needle dropped.

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• Aeon Winds - Night Sky Illuminations (2023)

Quite synth-loaded, aiming for a symphonic / atmospheric black metal template. Okay until some dull guitar solos appear here and there. Aims for epicness but only half-delivers. [3 out of 5]

• Anal Stabwound - Reality Drips into the Mouth of Indifference (2022)

Creative song writing, but all over the place. I don't feel the brutality sometimes. [3 out of 5 - Good]

• Ceremonial Bloodbath - Genesis of Malignant Entropy (2023)

You have to try a lot more if you want to sound heavy. [2 out of 5 - Below average]

• Chaotian - Effigies of Obsolescence (2022)

It's how things should be. [4 out of 5 - Excellent]

• Galvanizer - Sanguine Vigil (2019)

This band should have been found way earlier. Deathgrind worshippers dripping with the traditional sound of early Carcass, General Surgery, Sadistic Noise, all in a blender. [3.5 out of 5 - Great]

• Imprecation - In Nomine Diaboli (2022)

Ugly and brutal. Constantly improving band for the last decade. Production slightly too clean here, but it's fine. [3.5 out of 5 - Great]

• Minenwerfer - Nihilistischen (2012)

The only bad thing here is the damaged drum sound. Hostility and aggression flows through it nonetheless. Great band. [3.5 out of 5 - Great]

• Precambrian - Tectonics (2020)

Covered it when it was released, it still slams. Avanalche album from start to finish. [4.5 out of 5 - Brilliant]

• Stabbing - Extirpated Mortal Process (2022)

Plastic sound, and deplorable cover art. Some tracks are decent, and their newest demo is promising. Not this though. [2.5 out of 5 - Average]

• Ymir - Ymir (2020)

Raw-ish black metal, with some atmospheric elements. However, extremely standard and predictable. [2.5 out of 5 - Average]

Amorphous transmutations - Interview with Cryptworm

A lot of stench thrives in the underground death metal scene, if you're willing to get your hands dirty. Cryptworm's their first steps in 2017 with a potent demo were already promising. After a handful of mini releases for a few years, the band released its debut in 2022 named Spewing Mefitic Putridity, a delectable dose of 90's death metal and filth. Mainman Tibor had a short conversation with A.C. about the status of the band the exciting news for the near future.

Our struggle reflects hope - Interview with Thlipsis

Thlipsis (from the word θλίψις, meaning sadness) is a relatively new name in the underground scene but its band members are no rookies. After a formidable short EP in 2021, the project's debut full length Dawn of Defiance came out just some weeks ago and constitutes one of the best Greek black metal releases of the year so far. Pumped with scourging melodies, fantastic musicianship and an intimidating presence, the record is worth your time both sound-wise and lyric-wise. The band discussed with Arson Cafe topics around its release, ideology and current status.

Gam - Alt Hans Væsen (2023) Review

 

Black metal from Denmark.

 

Album out in 2023 through Den Ottende Kunst.

 

From the Rites of Pestilence Y.T. channel:

Gam's fiery debut full-length, arriving oen year after their first demo, "Hvisken fra Skyggernes Vrå".

Despite the greatness of their demo, "Alt Hans Væsen" is truly a triumph and step up from their previous work, indeed and "escalation on all fronts", this album takes on the old school approach of their previous record, reminiscing to me with bands like Helwetti or early DsO, but adds more elements and is definitely heightened by songwriting prowess.

A tremendous hymn of pagan fury and proudful heritage, Gam honors their ancestry through a no-fringes delivery of pure old school BM sound, definitely with some of the more Punk-ish, galloping elements of their compatriots in Skinliv and the Korpsand circle however. The Black Metal majesty is only interrupted by beautiful Folk passages, but indeed its musicianship is uncanny on all fronts, with the guitarwork remaining ever engaging and powerful, the drums having an absolutely barbaric but spot-on performance, and the vocals especially delivering with full fury on moments of unabashed assault, as well as might and epicness in moments grandeur.

Definitely one of the best old school Black Metal records to come out this year, which should not come as a surprise, having been released on tape through the excellent Den Ottende Kunst.

The A.C. report:

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Music: 3.5
Production: 3
Vocals: 3.5
Text: 3
Cover art: 3.5
Originality: 3.5
Instrumentation: 3.5
Atmosphere: 3.5
Flow & cohesion: 3
Impact: 3
Replayability: 3.5
Innovation: 3

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Overall: 3.3 out of 5 [Good / Great]

Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon

Black metal from the United States.

Album out on September 22nd, 2023 through Realm and Ritual.

From the band's Bandcamp page:

The separation of the human mind and natures spirit has caused the starvation of this planet. The disconnection of earth and mind has destroyed the connection between humans, animals, and plants.

The growth has diminished creating starvation across a planet that is no longer home. The fear of a non-existent future deteriorates the mind, allowing the starvation of the human vessel.

We have reached a point of no return.

_________

Pestmo’qon is the second full-length release from indigenous black metal project Ushangvagush. Composed of a monolithic 45 minute track, Pestmo’qon ( “Starvation” in the Mi’kmaq language) is a dense slab of obsidian darkness lamenting man’s ongoing destruction of the earth and the complete disconnect between the human mind and the spirit of nature.

Ushangvagush’s sole member, D, screams through grit teeth over furious guitars and pummeling drums, “scorch & take, doe, retreat back to the stolen world. the spirits no longer bathe. gatherers flown, fear for nothing. uncertainty awaits the putrid towers.” The raw anger only subsides in momentary waves throughout Pestmo’qon, with the last gasps of beauty fading in sun-laced ambient passages before being snuffed out and returning to bitter misery. Pestmo’qon is a painfully realized album, an immersive and emotive journey through destruction and loss–of nature and of culture–to the end of all things.

The A.C. report:

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Music: 4

Production: 4

Vocals: 3.5

Text: 3.5

Cover art: 4.5

Originality: 4

Instrumentation: 4

Atmosphere: 4

Flow & cohesion: 3.5

Impact: 3.5

Replayability: 3.5 

Innovation: 3.5

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Overall: 3.8 out of 5 [Excellent]