Turn that cross upside-down and light a few torches – this week is a triumph of black metal, both in its purest form and hand-in-hand with its extreme brethren.
Arrival Of Autumn – Kingdom Undone
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Aggressive and leaning towards the same kind of harsh-ish groove that bands like Kataklysm employs, it’s quite satisfying technically.
Balance Breach – Abyzmal
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Although overproduced to the point of anthemic EDM-music, this one’s steeped in a dark atmosphere and offers enough moments of intensity to remain vigorous and exciting.
:BOLVERK: – Svarte Sekunder
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Retaining some rough edges and light uncertainty of approach, this is still a very promising mix of Darkthrone-ish primitive-rhythm black metal and measured progressive experimentation.
Carry The Torch – Delusion
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Comfortable with both groove, catchiness and even a bit of atmosphere, this lack the punching power to knock your socks even halfway off.
Cloak – Black Flame Eternal
Genre: Black/gothic/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Mixing Witchery’s wicked black ‘n roll riffs with Tribulation-levels of gothic groove and a bit of Satyricon loftiness proves a successful recipe when executed like on this album. There’s something to like for pretty much any fan of dark metal. It’s mostly energetic, but delivers some solid graveyard atmosphere as well, at not-too regular intervals. It feels like a very complete package that invites repeated listens.
Highlights: “The Holy Dark” and “Black Flame Eternal”.
dEMOTIONAL – Scandinavian Aftermath
Genre: Electronic/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Catchiness and modern, big production above all, this is reminiscent of a fairly well executed marriage of alternative- and pop-oriented metal.
Elegant Weapons – Horns For A Halo
Genre: Heavy metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Mixing hard rock sleaze with 80s heavy metal and adding some sting to the riff approach works really quite well for these guys and will absolutely please fans of old school groove.
Ethereal Void – Gods Of A Dead World
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
A very headbanger-friendly death metal album that goes all out on working catchy riffs around a slightly to insistent wicked-toned lead guitar.
Hate Manifesto – ΑΠΟΣΤΑΤΗΣ
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Blackened death metal that’s got charred brutality in spades, but perhaps not too much else to contrast it.
Immortal – War Against All
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Successfully tapping into the rousing qualities of the glorious past, the identity of Immortal remains strong, taking the march-to-war blackened melodeath approach to a new, enthusiastic level that doesn’t quite drown out the feeling of predictability.
Inherus – Beholden
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Ominous and at times quite forceful doom metal with a blackened flair.
Kostnatení– Úpal
Genre: Experimental black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Dissonant and hostile in its lack of approachability, this taps into the chaos and “ugly” sound of the original second wave of black metal while taking the technicality and experimentation a good step further in search of a unnerving expression.
Legion Of The Damned – The Poison Chalice
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A thrash/death record that utilizes the best of each camp to deliver an unstoppable pummeling of raw-toned riffs, steadfast rhythms and scorching solos.
Metal Church – Congregation Of Annihilation
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
There’s not much to say about this record, other than you get what you expect, with a noticeable and laudable energy behind it.
Mournful Congregation – The Exuviae of Gods – Part II
Genre: Funeral doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Melodic and mournful with some driving lead guitar work, this is slightly ptempo funeral doom that moves on many levels, but doesn’t quite reach the peaks of dramatic atmosphere that would’ve taken it to the next level.
Nattverd – I Helvetes Forakt
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A meaty and well-controlled take on the classic Norwegian black metal sound, that’s at it’s best when laying into the aggression and incorporating energetic thrash elements.
Olkoth – At The Eye Of Chaos
Genre: Technical death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
An impressive blend of brutality and ferocious technicality that isn’t out to overwhelm you. That isn’t to say that it doesn’t feel like a momentous assault on your eardrums, but it’s a relatively measured one, with rhythms that normal humans can actually comprehend. The unholy tone to the riffs is somewhat reminiscent of Behemoth, although this is quite a bit more death metal oriented. The riffs land hard, and the raspy vocals keep the overall impact from feeling polished.
Highlights: “Incendiary prayers” and “To Eat of the Lotus”
Phlebotomized – Clouds Of Confusion
Genre: Progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A (mildly) melodically experimental death metal album that interrupts its otherwise old school approach with synth elements and alternative rhythmic interludes.
Reasons Behind – Architecture Of An Ego
Genre: Symphonic/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
A very run-of-the-mill female fronted symphonic/power metal album that feels more like techno half of the time.
RUÏM – Black Royal Spiritism – I.O Sino Da Igreja
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5
An album that rekindles that early black metal sense of containing something forbidden – something that you really shouldn’t be listening to if you want to keep the purity of your soul intact. The level of dissonance in the tone is cranked to a level beyond melancholy – to something that can only be the sound of damnation incarnate. There is a writhing, malevolent aggression to the riff work, the lyrics are spat as dark incantations, and the drums rumble and snap slightly below the rest, as if emanating from the deep. An extremely well crafted record.
Highlights: “The Triumph (Of Night & Fire)” and “Black Royal Spiritism”.
Sarvekas – Woven Dark Paths
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Cold and hissing Finnish black metal with Nordic melancholy dripping from its melodic work.
The Silent Rage – Nuances Of Life
Genre: Power/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Power metal with a clean production and tight, almost thrashy riff and rhythm work.
Sirenia – 1977
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
As expected, this is gothic-tinged, epic and melodic symphonic metal with an industrial quality to the guitars and rhythms.
Suffering Quota – Collide
Genre: Grindcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Attacking the instruments with maniacal purpose, this is mostly a shake-you-by-the-cuffs, harsh riff and rhythm assault.
Trespass – Wolf At The Door
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
A really rather mellow old school metal experience bringing a bit of stoner groove.
Trold – Der Var Engang…
Genre: Folk metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Much in the vein of Finntroll, this is jolly, low-brow storytelling in the guise of extreme folk metal, and it’s quite enjoyable if you like that sort of thing.
Under Attack – Fury Of The Thunder God
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Barebones, rather predictable thrash metal with lofty traditional metal themes.
Usnea – Bathed In Light
Genre: Doom/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Ominous is taken to a new level on this one. With a crushing depth to the bass end, a crackling ambient noise in the background and vocals shifting between dragged-out roars and snarls overlaying threatening riffs and hope-deprived melodies, this is a purposeful, all-consuming wave of darkness.
Vexing – Grand Reproach
Genre: Progressive sludge/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A busy interpretaion of a progressive sludge/death metal and grindcore collision, that isn’t as brutal as that might sound, and quite interesting in its experimentation.
Violent Sin – Serpent’s Call
Genre: Speed metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
An aggressive, blades-out take on thrashy speed metal, that’s first of all playful, invoking Kill ‘Em All-era Metallica.
Vomitory – All Heads Are Gonna Roll
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Invoking the raw groove of early Swedish death metal and supercharging it with a modern production and brutal technicality, this is pretty much everything you want in a straightforward, non-doom death metal album today. The riffs never end, the vocals sound like they’re ripping flesh, and the energy behind it all just doesn’t let up.
Highlights: “Piece by Stinking Piece” and “Ode to the meat Saw”.
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 