Triple B Centennial. Yay!

Hey kids, guess what?  It's my 100th post today!  I know I've been slow with the updates lately (I should have reached 100 a good month ago), but it takes a lot more energy than you'd think to write these measely paragraphs.  More importantly than that, though, is finding a good album that most of you have yet to hear of, which is the whole point of this blog.

Zombie Inc. - A Dreadful Decease

Today I was lucky enough to find such an album.  I bring you some slick, yet bruising Death Metal by way of Austria.  While not exactly a "supergroup", the roster does include Martin Shirenc of Pungent Stench and Tomasz Janiszewski (ex Belphegor, Fleschcrawl).  This reminds me a little of Gorelord (but better), and a lot of early Bloodbath.  The Bloodbath comparison especially rings true, right down to the "Dan Swanö-esque" production and Zombie theme.  That being said, I still wouldn't call this a "rip-off" band: the concept is the same, but Zombie Inc. just has a different signature.  In other words, you can tell these are other musicians doing their version of the same idea, instead of just being a carbon-copy.  In summation, if you like any of Dan Swano's bands, or just mid-paced, well-produced Death Metal, feast your ears on this platter of brains.

no life crew

Mïsogi - Tofotukami Wemitamafe

Did you like that Hellveto post?  I sure did, and I have something similar, except it's coming from half the world away in Chiba, Japan.  This particular project is significantly less-produced than it's Polish contemporary, as well as more bleak and depressing.  So, you suicidal Black Metal purists might find this one a bit more accessible.  The artistic vision of main member Touko is a bit more ambitious too, as I notice a lot of old Japanese chord progressions and melodies driving much of this music.  That being said, don't mistake this as a gimmick band that doesn't understand Black Metal: there is an authenticity to the feel and riffs displayed here.  That's it.  It's good.  I'll leave it at that, as my arm is bleeding...

yosh

Hellveto - Neoheresy

This is probably the best mix of Black Metal and so-called "Pagan Metal" that I've heard.  What that means is that this musical entity has a Black Metal foundation, but with a liberal addition of folk instruments (flute, strings) as well as a slightly less dark and more "triumphant" overall emotion.  Hellveto is a one-man village of musical company, all instrumentation and vocal incantations are handled by a slavonic shaman known simply as "L.O.N."  While his playing may not be as tight as Infestus "sole-man" Andras, his orchestration skills and diversity of instruments played surely makes up for any technical lukewarmth.  The production pulls no punches either, with all instruments complimenting each other nicely and the overall sound not being too dry or too murky; nicely done.   Don't let the "glossy" name fool you, this isn't the ultra-hyped, commercialized blend that's been all over Terrorizer Magazine, this is honest and personal music, free of trends! 

 

 

we do... we do...

Primus - Green Naugahyde

Primus' first album in 12 years?  It's about fucking time!  Listening to it as I write, It reminds me more of their earlier stuff rather than continuing in the path of Antipop.  Les' vocals are still nasal, but there's more spoken word and less of the high-pitched singing that he's known for.  There also seems to be zero Metal left in their sound.  The approach is more minimal too, where did all the riffs go?  Even after 12 years, this seems rushed.   Still, if you're a fan, it's definitely worth a listen.

link to other blog

Zeni Geva - Maximum Money Monster

It's seemingly impossible for a Japanese band to do anything just like the western world, they always have to put their own spin on things.  Is that unintentional and just a product of their vastly different culture, or are they purposefully trying to add a uniquely Japanese flare?  I really don't know, but I do know that Zeni Geva is definitely part of this phenomenon.  Zeni Geva are often considered the "Melvins of Japan".  I would say that's a pretty fair comparison, but with the vocals being the major differential.  Frontman KK Null's throaty gargle manifests his depraved lyrics perfectly.  Don't count him out as a one-note growler though, as he's more than capable of emitting "dying-woman" shrieks as well.   All that screaming sits on a solid foundation of noisy, sludgy riffs, taylor made to incite violence.  What more do you need?

 

Brack out with your cock out

Wodensthrone - Loss

After 3 days, I return with some epic-as-fuck Black Metal from... England?  Yes, these days great Black Metal can come from any corner of the globe, even those places that are more known for lackluster crap (Cradle, Hecate Enthroned).  These nice English boys (or, ancient heathen warriors) have created Black Art that's inspired and unique, yet is very reminiscent of proven pagan warlords Drudkh, Nokturnal Mortum, and Graveland.  Except, unlike the last two, you don't have to endure any nazi bullshit (as far as I know anyway).  I really can't emphasize enough really how epic this sounds; the pulsing keyboards, the instrument dynamics, and the gigantic production create an almost "Tolkien-level" threatric experience.  The fact that it's over an hour long, doesn't hurt either!  This monumental work is your new inspiration to get naked, paint yourself blue, and cleave Roman skulls!

 

"where a man is a man, and the children dance to the pipes of pan!"

Desolation - Desolation

If Shikabane mixed Crust and Black Metal the most evenly, Desolation mixed them the best.  What does that mean?  The line betweeen their influences was thicker than some of their contemporaries, but they still wrote better music.  Being a side project, Desolation was always overshadowed by the more popular sister band Born/Dead.  It's a shame too, because I think Desolation was easily better.  This project had all the feeling and intensity of their more straight-forward Punk contemporaries, but boasted the added sophistication of Metal guitar leads and playing techniques.  In short, there was just more to this band.

 

the only wee

Oathbreaker - Mælstrøm

When a new Deathwish album is posted on several Death Metal blogs, it's a pretty big deal.  That's how this initially got my attention.  Listenting to it for the first time today, I had to change what album I would be posting tonight, It's that good.  Oathbreaker have created a new prototype for Modern Hardcore here.  They've pulled from many styles of Hardcore and mixed them flawlessly, with no "choppy" transitions to be found anywhere.  Honest vocals, unique riffs, great tones, thick yet spacious production... everything is delivered here.  This should appeal to fans of any Hardcore style across the board, whether you be into: Tragedy, Punch, Integrity, Pulling Teeth, you'll find something to like here.  Being nitpicky, I found only one riff alternation that I didn't like.  Other than that, this album gleams.  Get down on it.

 

french or flemmish?

Dyoxen - First Among Equals

I only just heard of this band and album this morning, and bam! here it is for you.  Dyoxen are kind of like a French Canadian Forbidden or Megadeth, in that they're a medium-strength Thrash band with a technical edge.  It's rare when I've never heard of a Thrash band that's actually good, but it turns out, this is quite the obscure band.  This is their only proper release, but hey, at least it's a good one.  Expect plenty of dive-bombs and stuttering rhythms, with an unexpected bonus of a nicely clear production.  Fans of Mekong Delta, Forbidden, and Watchtower should lend an ear to this.

Canadian Mike Smith on the left, and Milli Vanilli on right

 

Oh là là!

Denial - Catacombs of the Grotesque

It's time to head south of the border again, and I'm not talking about yo mama's loins either.  Nope, it's for down-home, old-fashioned Death Metal fare.  This album has been making the rounds on many a blog recently, and rightfully so, as it's quite fresh sounding.  I know the words "fresh" and "old-fashioned" seem contradictory, but just trust me on this.  What stands out to me is their use of auditory "space" and instrumental restraint.  You see, most extreme bands have one speed: fast; having every instrument at full-bore at all times.  That mindset makes for incredibly boring and "flat" sounding music.  Denial don't fall into this trap, they allow time for "breathing-room" for you to better appreciate the faster parts. 

 

The production is another standout, especially for a debut album from Mexico.  The overall sound is huge and lush with a nice "roundess".  Vocals and guitars are properly deep and bassy without any "boominess".  There's some nice atmosphere during the breaks too.  The drums are a little too low in the mix, but they still cut through.  These guys walk serveral fine lines, but the result is a unique, heavy, and still listenable album.

 

         

rectal void of darkness

Destruction - Infernal Overkill

Best Proto-Black Metal album ever?  Yes.  You can forget about Venom, Bathory, Sodom, this album surpasses anything those bands have done.  Even better than Celtic Frost.  "What makes it so good?"  The atmosphere?  The Speed?  Nope, it's all about the riffs bro-ham.  This album is crammed full of long, grandiose riffery.  Not only that, but it also marks a turning point in the genre where bands started to leave the rudimentary NWOBHM sound of Venom, and started using chord progressions that actually sounded "dark", befitting the name "Black". 

 

evil priests wanted

Shikabane - Why Do You Live?

Crossovers, mash-ups, whatever you want to call them, they've been happening forever.  Ever since about 1980, Metal bands started taking D-Beat and screamed vocals from early Hardcore bands, and those Hardcore bands (in return) were taking the heavy distortion, palm-muted riffing, and solos from the already well established Metal blueprint.  Fast-forward more than twenty years later, Crust Punks are still digging the hell out of Metal records, and   "strict" Metalheads (like I once was) are crossing over to the ultra-political and "P.C." world of Punk.  This particular record is an example of the former.

As is the norm with Crusties nowadays, the members of Shikabane love Black Metal so much that they decided to make a Crust/Black Metal hybrid.  While Shikabane may not be the first to create "Blackened Crust", they pre-date better-known bands of the style (Fall of the Bastards, Martyr Dod) by at least a couple years.  Why Do You Live? is also the first time I've heard the two genres mixed so evenly.  I'll spare you (and myself) the sonic details this time, just hear it for yourself...

listen this record and make die