A bit of a break from the doom and gloom this week, but still offering up plenty of aggression and a few quirky palate cleansers that stand testament to the creativity abound in heavy music today.
Aara – Triade II: Hemera
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Alright, starting off with some atmospheric black metal that actually feels misleadingly fast and intense because they frantically play their drums and guitars at high frequency over slow, lamenting melodies. The vocals are pushed way back in the mix, and the lead guitar play these repetitive metalcore-y tremolo melody lines that I feel is a failed attempt at giving the songs character. The atmosphere is good though, but drowns slightly under the rest.
Anniken – Climb Out Of Hell
Genre: Heavy/power metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Some promising sounding instrumental work unfortunately paired up with vocals that don’t really match up with the energy of the playing, and fail to deliver anything but fairly clichéd lyrics.
The Big Deal – First Bite
Genre: Symphonic/power metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Slickly produced, edge-devoid, poppy… The only redeeming quality for me is some genuine enthusiasm behind it all, which gives it good energy.
Cage Fight – Cage Fight
Genre: Hardcore/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Been a while since I heard some good thrash, and this one scratches the itch. It’s definitely got a strong hardcore… core, which suits it quite well, but the meat on those bones is made up tasty, tasty riffs. It doesn’t stray much outside of uncharted territory, but it works great for what it is. It’s high energy and suitably aggressive without going over the top. “Hope Castrated” and “Respect Ends” serve as good representatives of the rest.
Cartilage – The Deader The Better
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
If you’re into the nastier side of death metal but can still appreciate a good dose of irreverence, this is for you. These guys clearly don’t take their image too seriously, and have honed in on a musical style that fits this attitude like a glove. It’s heavy, fast and loose, and they get up to all kinds of antics with changing rhythm, dissonant guitar licks and fun little melody lines. It’s a bit too chaotic for me to get really into it, but I think this will definitely find its fans.
Cavernlight – As I Cast Ruin Upon The Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
It’s a sluggish affair this one, even as moody doom records go. I found it rather tedious, with the anguished-angry harsh vocals landing ineffectively as they feel mismatched with the rest of the soundscape.
Demiricous – III: Chaotic Lethal
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Some ominous thrash here for you, lending some brutality from the death end of the spectrum. This is solid stuff, serving up great riffs, good variation in speed, and a kind of Sabbath-y take on an evil tone. Unfortunately, it’s also a bit predictable, with too few standout parts.
Ecstatic Vision – Elusive Mojo
Genre: Psychedelic sludge metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good, silly psychedelic record with some real groove, but this one is a bit too far out there. Not that it’s weird, it’s just a little too… staggering. Like it’s improvising, and I’m just not feeling the jam. Other than that, it’s actually pretty straightforward.
Everlust – The Tale Of The Noble Knight
Genre: Goth/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
The best I can say abut this is that I quite like the melodies they shape their songs around. The rest is just a tad lackluster when it comes to execution.
Glassbone – Spirals: A Safe Place to Self-Destruct (EP)
Genre: Hardcore/industrial/nu-metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
This is an interesting one, mixing a nu-metal approach with lots of electronic, industrial elements and layering it with a hardcore attitude, especially in the vocal style. There’s also some metalcore melody and a bit of djent to be found on here. Still, for all that, I feel like they’re lacking in real standout moments. Also, the dissonance of some of the more harsh parts don’t mix all too well with the melodic ones. I sense great potential though.
Gonemage – Master of Disgust… (EP)
Genre: 8-bit death/black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
No, this isn’t full-on 8-bit game-boy soundtrack music, but it certainly has elements of it. It’s apparently themed around the Nintendo character Wario, but I feel like that matters little when it gets started, cause in essence it’s some pretty chaotic, dissonant death metal with a veneer of blackness draped over it. It has some whacky moments for sure, but I feel like much of the fun drowns in the harshness of it all.
Graham Bonnet Band – Day Out In Nowhere
Genre: Hard rock
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
As melodic hard rock albums go, I supposed this isn’t too shabby, but it’s still very run of the mill. It has some moments of nice grooves and uplifting melodies, and if you’re already into this then I don’t see you being disappointed.
Heterochrome – From The Ashes
Genre: Progressive/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
This is another group I’d be excited to see keep evolving their sound, cause they’re on to something here. The vocalists work their voices well to the rhythm and melodies, I appreciate the subtle folk-y elements in there, and they definitely don’t shy away from variation, making this a colorful listen. The melodies definitely need some work though, as they fall a bit flat in the middle of all the prog antics.
J.B.O. – Planet Pink
Genre: Comedy metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
For the record, this kind of metal – when it’s more about the comedy than the music – is completely lost on me. I’m not gonna dismiss it as bad, but judging it purely on its musical merits it’s about as fresh as a fossil. Which, to its target audience, probably doesn’t matter one bit.
Jungle Rot – A Call To Arms
Genre: Death/groove metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This is death metal that turns to the old school for its musical approach but also settles for no less than a stellar, modern production. While this isn’t quite as heavy as you typical contemporary brutal death metal, it doesn’t need to be. The tone is sinister, the riffs threatening and the vocals rusty. They also know how to get a groove going, and most every song has parts to inspire some serious headbanging. It’s not pioneering a new style, but it’s damn solid. Try “Total Extinction” and “Maggot Infested”.
Katharos – Of Lineages Long Forgotten
Genre: Symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
If you’re ready for some cold, aggressive black metal infused with a healthy dose of grandeur, look no further. At its core it reminds me of Dimmu Borgir, but without the over-the-top-elements that makes said band a bit of fun as well. This is more serious and hateful, while still refraining from low-fi production or a ridiculous overuse of blast beats. I will say it’s fairly predictable though, but that doesn’t necessarily have to bother you.
Master Boot Record – Personal Computer
Genre: Electronic/industrial/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
I honestly didn’t expect this album to be this good when first reading about it. I usually don’t mind a bit of dark synth in my rock and metal, but not when it compromises all the other musical instruments by being too overpowering. The songs on here somehow manage to feel like industrial metal with a bit of a lighthearted streak to it, even though the entire sound seems to be synth driven. It’s adventurous, dark yet uplifting, and has some genuinely strong melodic sequences derived from classic heavy metal. It’s a little hard to tell the songs apart though…
Misery Index – Complete Control
Genre: Death/groove metal/grindcore
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Okay, here we go. I’m a big fan of this band, so expectations going into this new release were definitely high. On a speedy first listen I was certainly impressed, but not entirely convinced. But I quickly realized that the level of craftmanship behind these songs couldn’t really be appreciated in bits and pieces. There’s so much going on, without it ever losing control and becoming chaotic. The riffs and rhythms are ultra tight, and they seem to want to turn a new corner all the time, evolving each song as they go. While I might miss some of the absolute monster tunes from their last album, the level across the entire album is uncommonly high, with “The Eaters and the Eaten” and “Infiltrators” being my picks for the best of the bunch.
Moon Tooth – Phototroph
Genre: Progressive hard rock
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This one hits a pretty sweet spot between hard rock catchiness and prog playfulness. It’s like what would normally be pretty bland riffs and melody lines have been mutated into something significantly more vibrant, without becoming too complex. It’s altogether surprisingly accessible for the level of pure musicianship on display. Maybe not as successful on every single song, there is still a rich selection of strong, characterful tunes on here, with “Back Burner” and “Nymphaeaceae” being two I’d like to recommend.
Natjager – At Kende Bølge Fra Hav
Genre: Electronic/pop/metalcore
Subjective rating: 1.5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Let’s get this one over with quickly. With excessive use of autotune and leaning heavily on contemporary, poppy electronica and hiphop, what there is of heaviness on here feels fairly tacked on. Not for me.
Nechochwen – Kanawha Black
Genre: Black/folk/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
It’s one of big contrasts, this. I feel like it’s a folk album in essence, that turns into black metal as a means to crank up the intensity. Sort of a Jekyll and Hyde thing. There’s also a few prog twists and turns, and a the odd section of rad melodeath riffing. What they lack is a better sense of cohesion, both in the way the vocals and instruments play together and the way the transitions between the different musical approaches work.
Outshine – The Awakening
Genre: Gothic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Nothing particularly wrong with this one. It just… stands still. The rhythms are very plain and the overall output un-dynamic. The tone isn’t bad, but the performances and melodies are a bit bland.
Primitive Man – Insurmountable
Genre: Atmospheric doom/death/black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Now for something that sounds like it’s emerging from a deep, black chasm. If you’re looking for something ominous, this is your best offering of the week. For the rest of us, there’s not really much else apart atmosphere on there. The progression is dirt slow and offers very little in terms of musical variation. The production is great though, and they obviously nail the tone that they’re going for.
Sacred Son – The Foul Deth of Engelond
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
We’ve got some wistful, epic-leaning black metal coming in. The melodies, which are fairly typical yet still somehow strong and distinct, lean into folk-y, medieval territory, and the vocals are suitably solemn, yet snarly. The overall mood it conjures up is unified and well defined. The progression does get sluggish at times, and it doesn’t quite offer as much to keep your attention in the slow parts. But It still manages to stand out in a subgenre relying heavily on old tricks.
Steaksauce Mustache – All Juice No Noise
Genre: Experimental/comedic hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
These guys know how to wrestle the music to their cause. This is slightly chaotic, versatile hardcore where it’s pretty clear that the music serves the message. The former is still stimulating though, with lots of variation between disharmonic and melodic parts. If you pay attention to the lyrics, you’re in for a treat. The rest works decently to a more passive listener, but will reveal parts that tend to get repetitive.
Visions Of Atlantis – Pirates
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Up for some rousing symphonic metal that won’t make you actively cringe? This is lively and bombastic, but manages to avoid a lot of the pitfalls of the genre. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not exactly challenging music. But they know how to balance the soft and heavier parts to achieve a very pleasing progression that rarely becomes monotonous.
Woorms – Fatalismo
Genre: Experimental sludge metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5
This is a difficult one to listen to for someone not into experimental, dissonant stuff. I feel like you really need to know what you’re looking for when going for something like this. There’s a lot of repetition, sluggish progression and much of the groove gets killed off by disharmony. Tone is strong though, and I’m sure these guys know what they’re about.
Zero Hour – Agenda 21
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Closing the week with some technically competent, classic progressive metal that I can’t help but describe as a little stale. There are very few surprises for a prog record, and they have a tendency to get bogged down with slow, loopy, mellow parts with focus on vocals, which just kills the momentum.
As always, if you think I’m completely off on an observation, unfairly dissed your favorite band or need to give an album another shot, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
The Metal Dispatch 