Lords of Quarmall (Washington state, USA)

Lords of Quarmall

Iron Exile

C. B. Centauri Productions

January 6th, 2021

1.Inopia Scriptorum 01:24

2.The Prophet's Mirror 03:46

3.Altars & Jesters 01:34 instrumental

4.Iron Exile pt. I: Consigned to the Subterrane 01:41

5.Iron Exile pt. II: Glory Be de'Ath 00:57 instrumental

6.Megapolisomancy 05:23

total time 14:45

released on cassette and CD 2/12/2021; order at http://www.cbcentauri.com

email to order: metalforbreakfast@hotmail.com

Lords of Quarmall seems to be a solo project by Reuben W. Storey, who, according to Metal Archives, has the following names to his credit: Horrible, Yronoxit, ex-Christian Mistress, ex-Funerot, ex-Moldy Castle, ex-Omnicrom, ex-Quayde LaHüe, Restless, ex-Gun Outfit. This EP is a type of rough-around-the-edges heavy metal with several charms. Lords of Quarmall works some elements from the 1970s and 1980s, but it’s relatively heavy as a contemporary recording. These vocals have more in common with Motorhead than with operatic, fancy singing of traditional HM. Musically, Lords of Quarmall may share wavelengths with the 1970s era of Budgie and Motorhead, but also with U.S. bands like Cirith Ungol, Brocas Helm, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, and Ma-nilla Road. This is quite heavier than all of those bands, as the music has a bit of an ex-treme metal feel, but seems strange, maybe literary, perhaps obsessed with kings, queens, battles, magic, curses, spells, mystery, prophets, ancient times or otherwise ob-scure topics from centuries or millennia ago. There is a certain thrash element going on in the music, for plenty of headbanging. The guitar has melodic parts but the rhythms are held up with muscular riffs at the base. Then, in there, the lead guitar does some big 1970s-ish melodies, for a good feel of thrashy heavy rock, as it were. Mr. Storey appar-ently is responsible for guitars, bass and vocals, but he is also a drummer (for example, Christian Mistress and Funerot), and on this recording, the drums sound awesome within this context. This publication is unable to tell readers if these are real drums or not, but they sound very real. It's a strong, lively, noisy sound, as real drums do. Who knows how much the drums have been edited, tinkered, "perfected" with computer software and studio magic, and all that stuff, but the drums do sound good. Might Mr. Storey be making a statement about the sad state of drumming in metal, with all that sampling and editing that avoids real drums? Might Mr. Storey be frustrated with the soft, flaccid, flabby sound of perfectly robotic sampling/programming? Listen for yourself, and see if you hear the difference.

LORDS OF QUARMALL "Iron Exile" DEMO 2021

Kaskaskia -- symphonic black metal from the USA

Some time ago we had noticed this black metal project online, but there wasn't much to go on. There was a 2019 single, and some pictures and hints of things to come. This EP is called Fleecian Winter Majesty and was released on January 20th, 2021. Apparently, the music was recorded in 2018 and only sees the light of day now. There doesn't seem to be any information saying this project is finished, so maybe it just took a long while to get it all together ready for release (It’s not easy when you have to do everything yourself in the name of black metal love). The EP is three songs: 1.Winter Tresses (06:30); 2.The Throne Awaits (04:38); 3.The Brunette (09:31), for a total time of 20:39. Metal Ar-chives shows that Kaskaskia (possibly based in Illinois state, USA) is Damián Antón Ojeda on guitars, keyboards and drum programming. Damián's other projects include A Nightlit Poesy, Aevilian, Comforting, Evocative Atmosphere, Évval, Life, Sadness, and Ser; and formerly of An Open Letter, Born an Abomination, Iniquitous Depression, and Left Alone. The vocals are taken care of by Tony Hicks from Goatswarth and Trollkjerring, and formerly of Born an Abomination, and Terranaut. Kaskaskia is do-it-yourself, homemade music for fans that enjoy this type of expression. The sound quality is that of a pretty good demo. The vocals are done very well, in a strong and wrathful way, but not shrieky, which makes it more appealing to more fans of DIY BM projects. A nice surprise with the vocals is that there is some melodic singing (the beginning of the second song), and sounds good, and apparently is also done by the same person (?), namely, Tony Hicks (Neither Metal Archives nor Bandcamp mention a guest or some other person doing the singing). The melodic singing seems to appear out of nowhere, given that few people would expect such a talent to show itself in lo-fi, homemade, necro BM. Fans of synths might enjoy some of the more melodic passages in the songs. Sometimes the synths are very melodic, even happy, actually, which adds some joy to this otherwise fierce, raging-at-home-in-my-bedroom black metal. The guitar is that barbed-wire, crackling sound that serves as the spear point leading the speed charge. This should be very enjoyable for fans of DIY melodic black metal, but fans that demand a real drummer and a studio, professional, big-budget production, of course, might not be convinced. On the other hand, this would be even better with live drums on the recording, as these sampled drumming sounds too soft. Finally, if there is bass gui-tar on this recording, to this listener it is not evident. Despite these shortcomings, the songwriting and the skills on display are rather convincing.

Fleecian Winter Majesty by Kaskaskia

https://www.facebook.com/WinterMagicBlackMetal/

review: Xael -- symphonic extreme metal

Xael

Bloodtide Rising

Pavement Entertainment

12 February 2021

Fans of the death metal institution Nile (U.S.) may be very interested to know that Xael involves Brad Parris (bass, vocals) from said band. Other fans of North Carolina extreme metal might like to know that this entity brings together other personalities: drummer Joshua Ward from Rapheumets Well (and is also a Nile drum tech), guitarist Daniel Presnell (formerly of Rapheumets Well), multi-instrumentalist and growler/singer Chris Hathcock from The Reticent (four albums so far), and Joshua Niemeyer (Metal Archives says that Joshua plays cello). With such experienced musicians, it should be interesting to see what they put together. First of all, it is ambitious, like the work in the previously mentioned bands. In addition, given that this is the follow-up to 2018's The Last Arbiter, itself a rather impressive debut album that did not sound like a debut but rather like the work of a long-running band, this new album provides what fans of the subgenre expect. That is, a group of musicians taking their best efforts to make that great album of symphonic extreme metal that fans remember years later. Death growls and melodic singing, intricate songwriting, cinematic atmospheres, and exquisite guitar solos are present as evidence of the mission to create a work hopefully can be remembered as more than just another extreme album in 2021. It sounds like the music that extreme metal fans imagine when watching epic films of ancient wars, civilizations and distant galaxies. Fans can assume that the symphonics is computer work, as is the drumming, as the information available to this publication does mention the involvement of an orchestra. The project would need much bigger budgets/resources for an orchestra. The drum sound is very clean and perfectly clinical, for your information, and not the sound of genuine drums played by a living human being. Unless these two issues (sampled symphonics and sampled drums) are deal breakers, expect to be impressed with the album and the band’s objectives to tell epic stories of distant worlds through extreme metal.

Xael - The Waste of Dreadrift (Official)

https://www.facebook.com/xael.metal/

review: Immortal Guardian -- prog power from the U.S./Canada

Immortal Guardian

Psychosomatic

M-Theory Audio

12 February 2021

Immortal Guardian, says Metal Archives, did demos in 2010 and 2011, EPs in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2018 the debut album was called Age of Revolution (48:30), and is available for streaming in its entirety on Bandcamp. This is the second album. It looks like in the early days they were a Lone Star State band, but now the members are scattered throughout the U.S. and Canada. Immortal Guardian is new-style, genre-mixing prog power that reaches into different areas and takes elements from there. The debut album showed percussion that uses extreme metal speeds and traits; a certain neoclassical, shreddy feel; neoclassical, shreddy keyboards; strong vocal lines designed to be remembered; a chorus-happy style, and with plenty of air raid screams. In terms of genres, we can say that prog, djent, melodic thrash, melodic extreme metal, shred, a bit of a certain 1980s vibe might be detectable. There might be some video gamey things going on, too. Their lyrics and themes seem existentialist, philosophical, historical, and big-picture topics. In short, it is that newer, a bit wilder, bouncy prog power. All these things are true on the second album, too. It is memorable, not too proggy prog power. Credit to them for keeping the prog (egos) in check, and for remembering the songs. Not that we are trying to prove it, but we would say that the new album seems slightly less speedy, but more melodic, catchier, with fuller choruses and things like that. Now, they also seem to have gotten djentier or groovier or chuggier, if you will, showing more elements from post-2010 core/groove, the kind that chugs a bit more. The bass guitar seems not very prominent, but after a bit the listener will perhaps imperceptibly feel that thumping bottom line running right under, anchoring the foundation. The drum sound is the normal sound in metal, which means that it is too soft, plastic and clinically perfect, and is not the sound of real drums by a live human being banging away in the studio.

Psychosomatic by Immortal Guardian

out this weekend: DayGlo Mourning -- hippy caravan doom from Georgia, USA

The 1970s will always be alive as long as DayGlo Mourning is alive. Fans of the doom of 1967 to 1974 will find Southern comfort in the gigantic, slow riffs and the objective of keepings things simple and heavy, and just going for broke on it.

DayGlo Mourning

Dead Star

Black Doomba Records

12 February 2021

ABOUT: Sometimes a band just lands with such impact that their momentum carries them into instant recognition. DayGlo Mourning out of Atlanta are just that band - it wasn’t long after their self-titled début that they signed on the dotted line with established connoisseurs Black Doomba Records, which has been their home label ever since. Now, the time has come for a new record to showcase the best of what they have to offer. Dead Star embodies the band’s name: DayGlo vibrant colors adorn the packaging which envelops the Mourning-laden riffs. The trio are not ones to waste a listener’s time, and go straight to what they do best - an homage to the fuzziest, most classic doom metal they can muster. The drums are on fire; Ray Miner may not be breaking any speed barriers, but he crashes and pounds out a fierce rhythm such as on opener “Dead Star”. Bassist Jerimy McNeil, meanwhile, gets a welcome centerstage slot on more than one occasion, leading the charge on “The Offering” and “Faithful Demise”. Naturally, the guitars are in the constant search for That Tone, and the one here is just the right level of amp-worshipping distortion, counterbalancing the beer-soaked yet melodic vocals of Joe Mills.

DayGlo Mourning didn’t get to this position by resting on their laurels, though, and Dead Star has a few tricks up its sleeve. One of these is the delightful blues-driven solos that litter the record, including a talk box solo on “The Offering”, while “Witch’s Ladder” shows just how low and heavy they go, while featuring intonations of curses to drag the listener into the depths of the occult. On a similar vibe, “Faithful Demise” feels strangely playful given its dark topics of death and religion, while the church-like choirs on “Ashwhore” are suitably sacrilegious. In short, while the début was a strong opening statement, Dead Star is a necessary next step for DayGlo Mourning. Bound to delight fans of doom metal of all stripes, it’s a must-have record that stands proud among the growing accolades of a band who rep their city’s metal scene so strongly.

Dead Star by DayGlo Mourning

out this weekend: Alltar -- doom from Oregon state, USA

In the book of Alltar doom means using stoner to merge with sludge, on the road to meeting up with postmetal, after having spent some time in psychedelia, and then going to a party at an event called "Ceremony of Sludge," all the while calling everybody they meet "Baby."

Alltar

Live At Ceremony of Sludge

12 February 2021

ABOUT: Bring your pain, your loss, and your love and place it on the Alltar, as we honor those that came before us. Emerging from the Pacific Northwest region, Portland’s Alltar set out a two-fold reminder: one, of the potency behind a doom, sludge, and post-metal blend; and two, of just how good live music will be once it returns. After the successful release of their début Hallowed, the quintet’s next move is to release a live record commemorating a stunning set at Ceremony of Sludge in their hometown, which saw a stacked bill including Usnea and Brume shake The World Famous Kenton Club back in March. “Ceremony of Sluuuuudge, baby!” comes booming through the speakers from vocalist Juan Carlos Caceres, whose amiable attitude contrasts with both the Ozzy-like wailing and harsher screaming - both of which hitting impressive peaks on “War Altar”. The lyrics draw from a wide range of topics; in the bands’ words, “the triumphs and tribulations of human-kind. From the technical and artistic birth of society’s achievements in art and technology, as well as the rise of power, war, destruction, and the control of humanity.”

One unusual feature of this release is just how damn good the mix is for such a young band in a festival format. Aside from the vocals soaring and shrieking, the drums pop and crash, the bass rumbles with menace, and the cavernous rhythm guitars are hypnotic. The five work seamlessly to stir the genre-melding pot, the contents of which contain pinches of Neurosis’ Souls at Zero, Amenra’s Mass series, latter-day Elder, and Cult of Luna. The record itself is akin to a beast that awakens - it starts with smooth guitar lines interwoven with Moog synthesizers on “Arcana”, while by the time “Cantilate” rolls around, there’s an unfolding crescendo of crunch. And then, just as the audience recovers from the devastating closer, a simple “thank you, we’re Alltar, Glasghote is up next!” It’s over in a short space of time, but that’s the beauty of live albums - there’s always the replay button.

Live at Ceremony of Sludge by Alltar

out this weekend: Tragedy in Hope -- melodic black metal from Russia

After a string of singles since 2017, and an EP in 2019, Tragedy in Hope is now streaming its debut album Sleep Paralysis. This album is for fans of symphonic black metal, melodic black metal, and gothic extreme metal with shrieked vocals.

Tragedy In Hope Sleep Paralysis 12 February 2021

ABOUT: Saint Petersburg, Russia. The story told in the album's lyrics is as gripping as it is chilling. Guitarist, vocalist, and composer Sasha Giller describes it as follows: "The story you are going to hear isn’t only a trip across the dark dream world; it is also the story of fighting with yourself. It’s the story about how strong you can get once you accept yourself as you are. The story of the album starts when the protagonist wakes up in a dream and goes to the mirror where he sees a twisted image of himself, the phantom monster of sleep paralysis. He escapes the place he found himself in, trying to run away from the bleak reality. He flies among white clouds trying to find a rainbow, but falls to the ground when thunderclouds and a storm come. The world beneath the clouds is filled with rains and a piercing cold. To find a rainbow there seems to be impossible and the darkness slowly starts to swallow him as many others before. He doesn’t give up chasing it, but the truth is, it is him, who is the phantom monster behind the mirror. He is just the mind projection of the true protagonist, who sleeps paralysed seeing nightmares. He tries to explain to the true protagonist that they are two parts of the whole one and only if they accept each other, they both will be able to escape the dark world they are stuck in. But when sleep paralysis finally ends, a lucid dream starts again."

Sleep Paralysis by Tragedy In Hope

Amor Vincit -- metalcore from Washington state, USA

On Bandcamp it says that Amor Vincit is metalcore from Seattle, USA. Metal Archives shows the EP Meditations (January 9th, 2021) as the only recording so far. It is almost 19 minutes, with the following songs: 1.Narratives (Intro) 01:52; 2.My Fortress 03:33; 3.Parasite 05:28; 4.Embrace the End 03:13; 5.Take This Moment 04:48. This is a solo project by John Espinoza. The guitars feature a persistent chugging style, sometimes there is a bit melody in the riffs for that melodic thrash or melodic death metal affinity. The driving style of the guitars is supported by programmed drumming that keeps up the energy. The vocals can be low growled, higher shrieked and there is melodic singing, like on the song "Parasite." Of the three vocal styles, both extreme styles sound good. The melodic singing is the biggest surprise, and also seems like the style that Mr. Espinoza has decided to keep more restrained, as it does not appear as prominent throughout the recording. The melodic singing is the area where the vocals are the least developed at the moment. This recording is one for the metalcore fans looking for some new music.

Meditations EP by Amor Vincit

Sworn Enemy -- hardcore/metal from New York, USA

Below is the 2019 album Gamechanger by the long-running hardcore/metal band Sworn Enemy from New York, USA. They are known for a metallic form of hardcore. If you are interested, check out the concert that is posted on YouTube.

ABOUT from Wikipedia: Sworn Enemy is an American crossover thrash band from New York City, United States. The band formed as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential New York hardcore scene. At its original inception the band centered on founding members: vocalist Sal Lococo, lead guitarist Lorenzo Antonucci, 2nd guitarist Mike Raffinello, bass player Mike Palmer and drummer Zoli. The band's early output as Mindset was limited to a demo, an appearance on the New Found Hope II - The First Amendment compilation CD, and a 3-song 7 inch named State Of Mind. Soon after the State Of Mind release, another band named Mindset appeared on the underground metal scene, having existed as Mindset before the Queens Mindset. Therefore, Sal and crew changed their name to Sworn Enemy. The band continued to play shows and garner attention in the scene. In 2001 the band released Negative Outlook on Jamey Jasta's Stillborn Records. The record was a mix of old school hardcore punk and new school breakdowns, and it quickly gained the band attention in the broader hardcore scene. Soon after came Integrity Defines Strength, the title being a play on the I.D.S. crew that Sworn Enemy claimed loyalty to. It contained 3 new songs and a live set at CBGB. Sworn Enemy signed a release deal with Elektra Records in 2003. The result was As Real As It Gets. The band changed their style as the CD featured a large thrash metal influence, as well as abrasive, near-black metal. The new style and worldwide distribution led to tours with bands such as Anthrax as well as a stint on Ozzfest that year.

The Beginning Of The End was released on Abacus Records, a division of Century Media focusing on underground metal and hardcore inspired bands. The new record displayed more thrash influence, and was immediately followed with a national tour with Six Feet Under. They have also toured with Dying Fetus and Hatebreed. In 2007, they were on the Trendkill Tour alongside Kataklysm, As Blood Runs Black, Too Pure To Die, and Suicide Silence. They were asked by longtime friends, Earth Crisis, to be a part of their reunion tour. On March 29, 2008 the music video for the first single debuted on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. The video for "A Place of Solace" from the Maniacal CD was directed and shot by David Brodsky and edited by Allison Woest.

Total World Domination was released June 16 in US and June 22 in Europe via Century Media records. The record was once again produced by Tim Lambesis from As I Lay Dying. Lorenzo Antonucci (guitars, vocals) commented: “I'm very excited about this album and its writing process was better than ever. I've been a part of all the writing for every record and I feel this is our best foundation yet. We took it back to As Real As It Gets with a little of Beginning of the End and Maniacal in it. The sound is way faster and more pissed off than ever, harder than ever and a lot more ignorant. It was also fun working with Tim again. This also marks our first recording with Sid (bass) and JRad (drums), so we are all very excited about that. We couldn’t be more proud of this effort and prepare to have your faces melted!” During the next few years the band saw some lineup changes. In May 2014 the band regrouped with new members and released "Living On Borrowed Time" on Rock Ridge records. They followed the album with several tours including tours in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Sworn Enemy is still touring in support of "Living On Borrowed Time."

Gamechanger by Sworn Enemy

Sworn Enemy - July 29, 2018

Empyrean Fire -- symphonic black metal from Oregon, USA

Empyrean Fire

Deliverance

Heavy Gloom Productions

December 26th, 2020

It looks like this symphonic black metal is based in the state of Oregon, in the West Coast of the United States. Bandcamp seems to say that the drumming is programmed, with sampled symphonic elements. The music can go at blasting speeds, but there are slower moments that allow the symphonic elements to shine. They say that they love classic 1990s black metal, including Emperor. Metal Archives shows that this is the debut album, and that apparently no other music has been released before 2020. For fans of the subgenre (who do not mind drum programming), this could be a cool little gem, hidden in the Northwest corner of the United States. For your information, this is what they themselves say about the album: “The concept behind Deliverance was ruminated upon for years by front woman, Tricia Myers, after reading Milton's Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Deliverance is a sinister take on Milton's work, reshaping it with harrowing twists and malevolent revelations, each chapter a battle in the dragon's ascent to gain command over Hell on Earth. Will you bow down in battle, sunken before the spear?” The project is Tricia Myers on vocals and lyrics; Jason Yorke on vocals, guitar, bass, and programming; and Brian Rush on vocals and synths. Metal Archives shows that both Jason and Brian are involved in other extreme metal projects.

Deliverance by Empyrean Fire

https://www.facebook.com/empyreanfire666/?ref=page_internal

Pokerface -- melodic thrash from Russia

ABOUT: We are female fronted thrash/death.The band is looking up to such metal stars as Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Testament, Arch Enemy, Holy Moses, etc. The band was created in Moscow in 2013. Doctor (drums) and Dietrich (guitar) organized a group with ironic name – POKERFACE. The band got over some changes of musicians, but it has never stopped to work intensively in studio and on stage and finally had crystallized its unique style. POKERFACE shared the stage with such famous European bands as Sodom, Onkel Tom, Sister Sin Knorkator. In 2014, the band released their first EP “Terror is the law” on the label “Irond / Molot” with female vocalist Delirium Tremens. In September 2014, Dmitry (bass) joined the team. After a number of serious disagreements with the guitarist Dietrich, the band made a decision that he should leave the group. Soon POKERFACE found a new guitarist Maniac and finally had focused on its studio and concert activities. Everyone has idols and POKERFACE – is not an exception. The band is looking up to such stars of American and German thrash metal, as Slayer, Testament, Sodom, Kreator. The music with speed heavy riffs, English lyrics and brutal vocals - this is the very style, which symbolizes real old school thrash metal.

In the Spring of 2015, POKERFACE arranged Russian tour with Brazilian icon Sepultura to support the EP “Terror is the law”. Right after the Summer tour with Overkill, Claustrofobia, Children of Bodom and Vader, the band presented the internet single “Kingdom of Hate”. At the beginning of Autumn 2015 POKERFACE released the debut album “Divide And Rule”, which was supported during Global Technocratic Balkan Tour with Polish band Thy Disease in October 2015. After that the band played some more concerts on the same stage with Megadeth, Kreator and Infected Rain.

At the end of the year Nick (guitar) made up his mind to leave the lineup, though he stayed as a songwriter. Vadim Whitevad took his place and then POKERFACE played several shows in Russia with Death DTA, Sadist and Thy Disease. In the Spring of 2016 the band arranged the “Step into Inferno tour” which took place in Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Romania and Hungary. Unfortunately, for some reasons the frontwoman Delirium couldn’t join the trip, so during the tour Alexandra LadyOwl took her place, the place of the lead vocal for the POKERFACE. After the tour was finished, the band decided to make some more changes in the lineup: Xen Ritter replaced Maniac on guitar and Alexandra LadyOwl became the frontwoman. Now POKERFACE working for their third album.

The Greatest Storm by POKERFACE

Italian power metal band FROZEN CROWN new official video "Battles in the Night"

The video comes the album Crowned in Frost.

FROZEN CROWN - Battles In The Night (Official Video)

Crowned In Frost by Frozen Crown

Christian metalcore upstarts Bloodlines join Facedown Records; new single "Colder" out now

ANNOUNCEMENT from Facedown Records: Facedown is proud to welcome Bloodlines to the Family! From the Gulf Coast of Texas come Bloodlines, a four-piece modern -core outfit taking cues from bands like For Today, Impending Doom and Convictions. The band's 2019 debut LP Hostile | Minds, which marries classic metal core with a distinctly progressive twist, was hailed as a "dark and violent record," with one reviewer noting "A heavy band is born." Bloodlines' mission statement is as clear as their sound is brutal. They plainly assert that their vision is very simple and that's to spread the hope and love of Jesus Christ. Bloodlines have released a brand new single, "Colder," which will be followed by "HEVEL," a 5 song EP slated for spring/summer 2021.

Bloodlines - Colder

https://www.facebook.com/BloodlinesTexas

out now: Neorhythm -- Mudvayne-loving groove extreme metal from Russia

You know it when you hear it. That thick guitar tone, the chugga-chug-chug grooves, and those down rhythms that have made generations of American fans jump into mosh pits and sometimes do martial arts moves. Neorhythm uses those sounds effectively, practically daring the listener to move, jump, and punch the air, and do everything that is sparked in the brain by the simple, fat low-string plucking. Imagine the grooves of nu-metal/rap rock, 90s groove Pantera/Fear Factory/Sepultura/Machine Head, put it all together with a bit of the death metal elements, and you got yourself a nice little party in a bottle. Neorhythm seems to know what they are doing. Therefore, you can bet all your Super Bowl tortilla chips on the fact that Neorhythm did not just accidentally begin their song "Lies" with a very Mudvayne vibe. The beginning of the song must be a big tribute to Mudvayne's 20-year-old song "Dig," which apparently has more than 40 million views on YouTube. Neorhythm's vocals are in Russian, but that does not matter because it's not like we would be able to understand the growling and screaming if it were in English or Martian or Vulcan anyway. Below is the official propaganda about the music. -Metal Bulletin Zine

ABOUT Neorhythm: Prolific duo NEORHYTHM are set to release new EP Evils. As a conceptual link between Terrastory and the next full-length album, the band pesents new EP Evils, sung completely in Russian language. Having studied the history of Planet Earth and all mankind in large stages, it became interesting for the duo to consider poetically and musically the vile animal features of a particular human society, which entailed much of the terror that our whole history has undergone, highlighting in this work the main mortal sins of people, precisely in the band's own interpretation of this concept. “Evils” are the duo's tablets. Evils is about our common vices, internal and external, each of us individually and of society, as a whole, haunting all civilizations from the beginning of time and, probably, never erasable, because such is our dual nature. Musically, NEORHYTHM can be described as a mixture of metal genres such as Groove, Death, Math, Thrash and Progressive Metal, which may resemble in various ways bands like Gojira, Pantera, Death, Mudvayne, Meshuggah, and Mnemic.The band uses different languages of Planet Earth in their lyrics (English, Russian, Latin, Volapuk, Ancient Greek).

Duo NEORHYTHM originates in 2017 in Lapland. Two researchers begin their creative narration in June 2018 with the album Zetetic, containing cosmological and futuristic themes, as well as the themes of general galactic values of a philosophical plan. A continuation of this work in November of the same year was the mini-album Meteoric Thoughts, which musically and lyrically completed the theme of the debut album. Subsequently, the band decided to continue and develop with each next release their own ontological concept of studying the World and Man. The next album Terrastory, released in March 2020, completely dedicated to the Planet Earth and in stages tells the entire history of the Earth and mankind, reflecting different eras and civilizations, lyrically and musically. Man and the study of sociology and psychology of human society became the subject of the next releases.

Язы​/​Evils by Neorhythm

The Airwaves: Metal Heart (featuring Tony Martin from Black Sabbath)

This publication recently was told about this song. It is traditional heavy metal and they say that it is the former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin on vocals on the track. At this moment, there is not much information to pass on to you, but why don't you check it out for yourself and see if you like it. If you do like it, and would like to know more, it looks like their YouTube channel is a starting point to find out more about them.

The Airwaves: Metal Heart (featuring Tony Martin from Black Sabbath)

Buried -- foaming-at-the-mouth rabid meat-and-potatoes brutal death from Holland

The following phrase has never been uttered by Buried, "We like to mix up different genres!" Buried is for the die-hard, love-it-all fans of frenzied brutal, microphone-swallowing-vocals death. Below there is one song to hear, and then they have eight more songs just like it. It is all brutal all the time, all fast chugging every day, and twice on Sunday. If you consume brutal death like children consume candy, then this album is your next victim. Approach it like sharks approach their food once they have smelled the aroma that drives them into a feeding frenzy. Buried won't even know what just happened to them once your death metal thirst gets ahold of this album. This is one is for the total, complete, maniacal fanatics of the fast, brutal death. -Metal Bulletin Zine

ABOUT: Brutal Mind is proud to announce the forthcoming release of Oculus Rot, the new album from Dutch Death Metal crew BURIED.. Featuring former members of PYAEMIA, BURIED pays tribute to old school Death Metal, but with a unique, modern twist. BURIED released the following statement concerning the band's style and the forthcoming album: "You may remember the brutal vocals of Joel Sta and the insane drumming of Robbe V, as they were part of the brutal death metal band PYAEMIA. Now they’re up for something new: together with Worm on bass – who also played in PYAEMIA - they have teamed up with Steve on guitars who adds a lot of groove in his songwriting." "Bands like Suffocation, Revocation and Decapitated are big influences on our sound, and even Pantera comes to mind. We like it heavy, sometimes with odd time signatures and at the same time we want the audience to bang their heads," says Steve. "The lyrical theme is about all dark things we call upon ourselves," Joel adds. "Nothing new on that part, just brutal stuff!" Soon after the recording of their debut album, Oculus Rot, BURIED signed a deal with Brutal Mind. Now get ready for some sick Death Metal from The Netherlands!

Oculus Rot by Buried

Blessed Black -- melodic doom from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Blessed Black issued their debut album Beyond the Crimson Throne in 2020. They are melodic doom with singing that could appeal to listeners that want some catchy choruses to go with the big riffs. The official propaganda describes them as "Transcending genre barriers and infusing influences from the worlds of traditional heavy metal, post punk, grunge, while incorporating the best elements of the doom genre, Blessed Black is primed and ready to be the new name in the crowded stoner / doom landscape." The music is doom heaviness, but the melodic singing will probably surprise listeners, especially if they were expecting the usual vocals of doom/stoner, which is to say, some person sort of making do with their limited skills in vocals, so they usuallly just kind of punkshout and yell and stuff. That's not a crime, of course. You have to make do with what you have. However, Blessed Black may convince you that the vocals have something more going on than just "some person yelling." They are not some experimental, weirdo band, like the official description might lead you to believe. Anyway, they will have a new single called "La Brea" available on the 12th of February. It's not available on Bandcamp yet, but they say that they are doing the new single as a preview because they will record their second album in the spring of 2021. In the meantime their debut is a nice, solid introduction to what could be described as a more musical form of doom or stoner doom. Again, you might enjoy the heavy but melodic style of the songs, and the clear, melodic singing.

Beyond the Crimson Throne by Blessed Black

Throwback Thursday -- back to the beginning of Agrimonia

For fans of the bands on Southern Lord Recordings this Swedish band is known for "thundering death and black metal soaked doom, with hints of crust, as well as atmospheric and epic darkness." They have three albums are listed at Metal Archives. Good albums. However, before they got the ball rolling, they had a 2008 self-titled demo (below). The demo sounds good and it was an exciting beginning. You can certainly hear the "death and black metal soaked doom" and where things would be going later. As you will hear, this was no average demo.

Agrimonia by Agrimonia

Throwback Thursday -- back to 2007 with Crackdust

"Ruptured" is the first track from the 2007 album Dented Reality by Crackdust, a death metal band from Botswana. It looks like they are no longer active. YouTube appears to have the entire album, in case you are interested in the music.

Crackdust

Dented Reality

December 10th, 2007

Core Riodic Records

1. Ruptured 01:41

2. Birth of Hatred 01:36

3. Desecrate 02:25

4. Breeding the Undead 02:50

5. Grind the Flesh 02:02

6. Consumed 01:47

7. Mass for the Dead 03:04

8. Born of the Sorcerer 02:55

9. Price of Truth 02:09

10. Subliminal Sorrow 04:08

11. Deranged Psychopath 02:56

12. Fate 02:26

13. Mortal Decay 03:39

14. Tainted Saints 02:27

15. Son of Rosobola 03:00

16. Retribution 02:49

total time 41:54

Ruptured

review -- Deiquisitor: Humanoid (death metal from Denmark)

Deiquisitor

Humanoid

Dark Descent Records

5 February 2021

Deiquisitor began in 2013. By that time the founding members were already old hands in other bands, some of whose origins reach back to 1991 and 1992, according to Metal Archives. With the exception of 2015, Deiquisitor has at least one recording for every year beginning in 2013. This six-song EP is devotion to basic, chugging brutal blasting death, with a raw, bestial execution. Here and there, they have a couple of miniscule very brief “solos,” but other than those fleeting seconds, the guitars are too busy chugging to bother with soloing. The bass guitar rumbles away paired up with the speed-obsessed drumming, and the low growling functions like a part of the rhythm section. In some places, vocal special effects come out for emphasis. The whole thing sounds like a big, frantic rush of brutal rhythm. Then, before you know it, it's over in some 25 minutes. They have cut out the fat: no melodies, no real solos, no introductions, no intermissions, no quiet breaks, no nothing. Fans of bestial death should be interested in these Danish cave dwellers.

Humanoid by Deiquisitor

review -- Cult of Luna: The Raging River

Cult of Luna

The Raging River

Red Creek Recordings

5 February 2021

They seem to attract a tremendous quantity of praise, and seem to be well liked even by casual listeners for the combination of prog and sludge, a kind of long-winded, instrumentally loquacious heaviness with growl-scream vocals. This 38-minute recording is considered an "EP," because their albums usually last longer, like the 79 minutes of 2019’s A Dawn to Fear. This is a more accessible work. One way to see it would be that the spacey prog is dialed down a bit, which in turn allows the sludge heaviness to be more present, as it were. Or at least, it feels that way to some extent. In a way, for new fans, this could function as a good introduction to the Swedish band. The duration is not too intimidating or off-putting, but still is their brand: hardcore/punk-based desperate growling scream; a big crawling caravan of chugging, simplistic heaviness peppered with proggy, spacey keyboards. This is probably as accessible as their music is ever going to be! Don’t forget to check out the mellow song “Inside of a Dream” with the guest singing of Mark Lanegan, of whom they are fans.

THE RAGING RIVER by Cult of Luna

review: Revulsion -- in-your-face death metal from Finland

Revulsion

Revulsion

Transcending Obscurity Records

February 5th, 2020

Revulsion was first active in 2005, says Metal Archives, and the first demo came out in 2010: four songs of gore and brutality. A seven-song EP followed in 2011 and two more songs in 2016. All three recordings, which feature a strong execution and a good production, are available for free at their Bandcamp. Here we have the debut full-length album (ten songs in almost 37 minutes). It appears that two of the songs are from 2016. For fans that prefer direct brutality, this Finnish band should be of interest. It’s very accessible, groovy and headbanging. The growling is strong, the music goes into blasting and it has some groovy parts, too, for a balanced approach: fun, brutal, simple death, with no melodies/soloing, and looking for bodies ready to mosh. One more thing that may interest you is the good, clear sound quality of the production. The bass guitar is audi-ble, and the drums sound solid, not soft (we do not know if it’s real drums, or good sampled/replaced drums; we hope for the real thing).

Self Titled (Death Metal) by REVULSION (Finland)

Snow Wight (Washington state, USA)

ABOUT: Snow Wight is a Heavy Metal band, originated from the wettest, filthiest, STD-ridden part of the NW of North America (between Portland and Seattle).

Snow White by Snow Wight

Slutvomit (Washington state, USA)

Metal Archives shows two albums for this black metal band.

Copulation of Cloven Hooves by Slutvomit

Swarming Darkness by Slutvomit

https://www.facebook.com/Slutvomit-123318014412787/?ref=page_internal

Slumber Room (Washington state, USA)

This is "minimal industrial black metal." Metal Archives shows this 2012 recording.

Slumber Room Ep by Slumber Room

Slave Traitor (Washington state, USA; 2005-2012)

Slave Traitor, says Metal Archives, was a band in Washington state. Metal Archives shows: Black Narcissus EP 2006; Man Infest Destiny EP 2008; Too High to Reach EP 2012.

A person on Metal Archives wrote about this band: For their 2nd EP, Seattle's Slave Traitor deliver six flowing tracks of sludge and doom infused death metal, complete with some bluesy leads and gruff vocals. I could liken this to a less aggressive EyeHateGod, or a less noisy Buzz*oven as far as its riffs are concerned.

"Wilderness of Mirrors" opens the EP and I believe this is the real strong point. It develops a nice atmosphere in its opening riffs and then kicks out a groovy jam with angry vocals, and a little death metal riff over the chorus. I wasn't feeling "Burning Sniper" or "Pill Cutter" as much, both have a groovy sludge dynamic to them with some more uplifting melodic riffs. "The Middle Passage" has a stony heavy metal vibe, and the vocals on this track are pretty nice, it's like a death metal Cirith Ungol, Cathedral or Trouble. It's another of the better tracks. "Insult" rocks out but there is little of note after its initial driving rhythm. "Dust in the Wound" is grooving and angry, with some nice gang shouts.

The EP sounds spectacular, with the perfect bite to the guitars and the vocals sit just above at the proper volume. I also dig the band's aesthetic, especially the cover art with the gasmask visor reflection of a Seattle holocaust. Gives it a sort of thrash feel which actually meshes well with the band's music. I did enjoy a few songs here, but others not so much. Maybe next time. They've definitely got a strong style and if you dig heavier doom with some groove to it (Eyehategod, Grief, etc) then you might get more from this.

Slave Traitor - Watching The Sky

Slaughter Haus 5 (Washington state, USA)

This publication has no further information about this band from the 1980s.

Slaughter Haus 5 (WA / USA) - Reckless Endangerment

Slam Shifter (Washington state, USA)

Slam Shifter seems to be a band in the Everett area. This publication does not at this moment have links to their recordings, if they have any. This is a video from YouTube.

Slam Shifter

https://www.facebook.com/Slam-Shifter-583485265088678

Skinwalker (Washington state, USA)

ABOUT: Omak black metal. Skinwalker's riffs and beats represent the period of time when black metal wasn't saturated by the masses. That primal beginning of the second wave of black metal.

Magic and Gore by Skinwalker (WA)

review: Lawrence Wallace -- instrumental guitar shred magic and wizardry

Lawrence Wallace

Journey Through Time

1 February 2021

As you already know very well, in metal music there is a whole lot of growling, screaming, yelling, gargling, snarling, screeching, pig squealing, shrieking, hollering, shouting, and gnashing of teeth. Really, it’s all a bit distracting, isn't it? Here's how it goes when you are in your music zone: "Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, I like that riff, that's cool. I can dig it. I’m vibing. Oh, no, wait, who dis? Wha? That's, what now? Oh, I get it. I guess those are them vocals for this music. Yikes! Is that a person trying to sound like a rabid dog? Yup, yup, that’s it. Oh, wait, there's more, that sounds like a pig ha ha! This person is trying to sound like a pig, oh that's so funnieee! Let me see if I can imitate that sound, and see if I can also sound like pig ha ha, hwurghwurghwurgh, that's hilarious!"

Next thing you know, you totally forgot about the guitar work, didn’t you?! That person that makes animal farm sounds got you distracted, didn't they? Now you're not even noticing the bass lines (and the bass player worked so hard, so very hard, there, living in the van down by the river, to write those lines so that you would notice!). Of course, you forgot the drummer, too. Now the drummer feels so neglected because the pig squeals got you all dazed, amazed and confused. Metal is kind of weird because we seem to enjoy some person shouting in our ear, but we wouldn't want that person at school shouting at us to do our homework or yelling at us when it is time to go out for recess.

Do you know who has had it up to here with all that yelling nonsense?! Lawrence Wallace, that's who! Lawrence Wallace is here to keep you totally focused on the music. The first thing that Mr. Wallace did is that he fired the vocalist since the inception of the music. You’re fired! No more vocalist! Finally! Freedom! I’m freeeeeeee! What a sense of relief not to have to listen to somebody using their mouth and make noise to annoy me. You can finally feel your guitar wavelengths join the wavelengths in which Mr. Wallace is travelling. Here's the situation: this is fast metal music guitar shredding all the live long day. If you want fast guitar soloing, you want shredding, then you see what Mr. Wallace is doing. The best thing is that it is melodic and it sounds like songs. There are eight songs, and one quick intermission slow track. Of those eight songs, only one seems to be a slow song. That's probably about the right ratio for the album. Keep the fast songs going, Mr. Wallace.

Mr. Wallace is DIY and is not perfect because he’s no billionaire. The drum sound could stand improvement, for instance, and Mr. Wallace, we are sure, already knows that very, very well. This music is very catchy and it seems like a guitar player interested in turning shredding into songs. Nice! Very nice songs, and who needs a singer when you can make the guitar sing?! The name is Wallace. Lawrence Wallace, at your service.

Journey Through Time by Lawrence Wallace