With the death metal extravaganza of last week spilling over into this one, there are islands of brightness and melody emerging from the receding tide of blood and brutality.
Assimilator – Assimilator
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
A half ‘n half death/thrash album that dares to try a few things, but unfortunately ends up neither here nor there, and suffers from a less than satisfactory vocal performance.
Aviana – Corporation
Genre: Metalcore/deathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Massive sounding and with undeniable talent across the board, especially in the rhythm section, this is catchy and melodic in a haunting-brutal way, but also quite formulaic.
Battlesword – Towards The Unknown
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Taking quite a few cues from mid-era Amon Amarth, this is rousing yet aggressive melodeath with a bit of folk flair. It’s not the crispest sound, and the detail level does suffer for it, but the variation in rhythm and melodic approach should be enough to keep even casual listeners engaged.
Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
After two quite conceptually focused albums Behemoth takes a step away from experimentation to deliver a slightly more traditional blackened death metal experience. While it may not be a full on return to the fury of old, there is an influx of energy and urgency that triggers a more primitive response. Aspects of classic and melodic black metal are prevalent throughout, and those signature, infernal riff sections, complimented by thundering drums, kick in at just the right moments. There is also an unusually high frequency of guitar solos, which is a very welcome change. Take it on with “Neo-Spartacvs” and “The Deathless Sun”.
Choke – Desiphon (EP)
Genre: Deathcore/grindcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
An all-out ragefest of meaty riffs, ultra tight drums and demon-roar vocals. The tone is bleak but the overall impression is that of a massive, constant assault. Perhaps helped by the album cover, it does strike me as a deathcore version of Misery Index. Bang your head to “Lobotomy” and “Deranged”.
Confessions Of A Traitor – Punishing Myself Before God Does
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Big, emotional and at times quite heavy, this reminds me a bit of Bleed From Within, but toned down a smigde. It has all the right sort of ingredients, and doesn’t go all sappy in the choruses, but the melodies and lyrics are very… let’s say… recognizable.
Destrage – SO MUCH. too much.
Genre: Progressive/nu metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
When I think progressive, I don’t think of any particular sound. I don’t think of odd rhythms or spacey guitar tones. To me, progressive is what you get on this album: A genuine contribution to pushing the evolution of the metal genre just a little further, by taking some familiar elements, then messing around with them a bit and adding new elements that you wouldn’t necessarily have thought of. SO MUCH. too much. is definitely on the experimental side, but is grounded in recognizable traits from groove, hardcore and nu metal. It’s a hectic experience, but quite an enjoyable one. Jump on with “Everythins Sucks and I Think I’m A Big Part Of It” and “An Imposter”.
The Devil Wears Prada – Color Decay
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Fairly bleak for metalcore, this album hits both peaks of aggression and low lying, withered meadows of sappy, sad softness. If that sort of vibe doesn’t bother you, you’ll probably be quite moved by this. If it does bother you, then you’ll probably hate it.
Epoch Of Unlight – At War With The Multiverse
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A potent fusion of modern melodeath and melodic black metal with some serious sci-fi vibes. The compositions aren’t the most compelling, but there’s talent in them there hills.
The Erinyes – The Erinyes
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A trio of powerful vocal talents that compliment each other really well, but are let down by generic, synth-driven melodies and a serious lack of fullness in the instrumental mix.
Fans Of The Dark – Suburbia
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A fun, uncomplicated retro trip of high pitch vocals, light, choppy riffs and lots of reverb.
Ginevera – We Belong To The Stars
Genre: Symphonic/power metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
High-flying and arena oriented, this is absolutely formulaic, but makes up for it by delivering everything you expect in style – strutting with energy and making the most of their considerable talents. Particularly the vocals are a force to be reckoned with.
Hetroertzen – Phosphorus Vol 1
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Some expansive black metal with its gaze to the cosmos and half a foot into death metal. It’s dark and grim, but not bleak, and delivers both power and atmosphere.
Innumerable Forms – Philosophical Collapse
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
This is some solid death doom with a very prototype sound. Slow and anguished for most of the time, with outbursts of chaotic brutality. They incorporate some strong, dystopian melodies that lends a feeling of fallen grandeur.
Irist – Gloria (EP)
Genre: Progressive metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Following up 2020’s excellent Order of the Mind, Irist prove that they mean business. A dark and gloomy little chapter, this EP showcases the band’s ability to do both atmosphere and all out intensity, binding it all together with confident technicality. Flirting with black metal as well as progressive death, this sounds impressively mature for a band that’s only one full-length into their career. Check out “Heal” and “Watchful Eye”.
Medieval Demon – Black Coven
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
This one nods its head to both old school black metal and melodeath, offering up a primitive sound that’s not at all free of bombast, several sections leaning into the symphonic, and a cold, grim take on melody.
Mindforce – New Lords
Genre: Thrash metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This one’s running on coals with ants down its pants. Never truly content slowing down, it does offer up sections of groove, but the guitars and drums sound like they’re tugging at their leashes for every second of it. The beats are stompy and vocals commandingly rebellious. It’s not terribly complicated, but by its nature shouldn’t be. A proper soundtrack to a riot.
Mortuous – Upon Desolation
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Here we have some proper slaughterhouse death metal. It’s grim and chaotic, tripping over itself to get to the next evil guitar squeal or doomy relief section. There’s not a ton of refinement, but plenty of brutality.
Omophagia – Rebirth In Black
Genre: Melodic/technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A technical take on semi modern melodeath, with pleasing results. The production could be both fuller and crisper, but the skill of the band still shines through. There’s a little left wanting for some stronger, more memorable melodies and grooves, but a notable release none the same.
Phobophilic – Enveloping Absurdity
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Sully your senses with this heavy ass filth. Mixing brutal, gurgling vocals with classic, threatening death metal rhythmic charges, a fair dose of groove and some dark prog chops, this manages to stand out without actually straying far from the core of the subgenre. The production secures a full, meaty sound and the slightly subdues vocals help to highlight the nuances of the instrumentation. Two highlights are “Those Which Stare Back” and “The Illusion of Self”.
Silence Oath – From The Womb Of The Earth
Genre: Melodic/atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A collection of long, dark and epic-leaning songs with elements of folk and symphony. The production is a bit crude, which does mar the impression of the performances.
Sinnery – Black Bile
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
This is Slayer-school thrash metal throwing some somber groove into the mix and overall keeping it aggressive and to-the-point stark.
Spiritus Mortus – The Great Seal
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Here’s some mid-to-low tempo, well produced heavy metal that’s donned a bit of a gloomy veil for some extra character. The slightly theatrical vocal style and hard rock-like approach to structure and rhythm might feel like a bit of a stylistic clash to some, but you can’t fault the performances.
Sumerlands – Dreamkiller
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5
A direct injection of straight-up vintage heavy metal with something akin to an upbeat doomy tone, if there is such a thing. They’ve been able to distill the most tasteful elements of early, adventurous power metal and both boosted it with some 80s energy and tempered it with moody, classic hard rock. It makes for a very carefully cultivated and honed sound that radiates purpose. Get a taste with “Dreamkiller” and “Force of a Storm”.
Tribal Gaze – The Nine Choirs
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
On one side, this brings to mind a bit of that early Sepultura sound and has a rather coarse sludge-like production, but at the same time operates very much like single-lane classic death metal. It’s aggressive, dark and threatening, but also not without groove. It’s highly consistent in both tone and style throughout, so if you like one song, chances are good you’ll feel the same way about the rest. The album starts off extremely strong with bangers like “How They Wept for Eternity”, then loses a bit of steam further out, but comes back with the likes of “Jungle Rituals”.
Virtual Symmetry – Virtual Symmetry
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Highly melodical, power metal-leaning, piano-backed and fairly complex prog that gets a bit too jerky-rhythmed for its own good.
Wolfheart – King Of The North
Genre: Melodic death/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
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 