Putrevore - Macabre Kingdom

Jesus, I guess it's been nearly two weeks since my last post.  It's mainly because it's my final week at school and I really have to hit the shit for a few days.  But, there have been a few gold nuggets that I've found recently, and Putrevore's newest is one of them.  This is really regressive and simplistic Death Metal, just what you would expect from Death Metal "hit-master" Rogga Johansson.  Although Macabre Kingdom is a bit more dark and obscure than his more popular projects Revolting and Ribspreader (which is good).  Admittedly, I usually don't like Rogga's projects, but this really hits my proverbial spot.  The excellent atmosphere is a key ingredient to this otherwise "ho-hum" stew.  The murky tones add just enough obscurity to the overtly simple riffs, resulting in an album that's tastefully dark, decrepit, and brutal.  Not at all cheesy or slick like his other endeavors often are.  Recommended for any fan of early 90's Death Metal and even casual Death fans.

copious amounts of battery

Desecresy - The Doom Skeptron

Ah, I've been sitting on this record for a couple months now, but for some reason it kept slipping my mind.  Desecresy are among the finest modern purveyors of the old Finnish sound.  Without sounding like any one particular classic band, they've surely exhumed the corpses of their brutish ancestors (who are probably only 40 by now) and have expelled this cavernous collection as their newest offering.  All the traditional ingredients can be found here: visceral groans, relentlessly buzzing guitars, and overall nauseating atmosphere.

the doomed skeptic      

Witchrist - The Grand Tormentor

Have you guys ever put salad dressing on a sandwich?  If you haven't, you're really missing out.  I just took my bland supermarket sub to the next level by serving it with a side of Caesar dipping sauce.  What's next, bleu cheese?  The possibilities are endless!

I really didn't expect to like this record.  Their debut "Beheaded Ouroboros" bored me so much that I didn't even bother to download it for free.  Knowing that bands (no matter how supremely kult) do usually mature and diversify their sound is what led me to try it out.  This is exactly the case with The Grand Tormentor.  The production has been cleaned up, the speed is more varied, and the riffs are more memorable and palatable.  Witchrist haven't evolved into Death Metal royalty just yet, but have gone beyond their stylistic indulgence and become a formidable name in the international scene.  Together with Ulcerate, Witchrist are putting 'Aotearoa on the Death Metal map.

Kickin' it Witchrist

Black Breath - Sentenced to Life

These kids, they grow up so fast.  You know, how they go through periods of change trying to figure out who they are until they finally find their own path.  This is what seems to have happened to Seattle's Hardcore/Death Metal crossover sons.  In the beginning, they  were more of a Black/Thrash type of thing, then they went more Swedish Death Metal with a hint of Metalcore mosh.  Now, they've left almost all their Hardcore tendencies behind to become an almost pure Death Metal sasquatch.  Their sound is now darker, faster, and more sophisticated.  The playing technique has been bumped up a couple notches too.  You can now hear guitar harmonies and melodies in addition to the standard power chords, and there's a decent portion of time changes without becoming "techy".  You can even occasionally hear that bluesy, 70's rock vibe coming through just like with the originators 20 years ago.  I kind of miss the fun, hard-dancing quality of their last album, but I'm liking this ambitious, new direction as well.

life is more painful than death

Ritualization - The Abduction Mass

You know, sometimes, I'm just at a loss for words.  I feel like I've thrown out every adjective and sub-sub-genre reference there is.  This is the predicament I find myself in with Ritualization.  I can say that Ritualization occupy a space within the realm of Angelcorpse, early Morbid Angel, and Sadistic Intent.  The Abduction Mass is early American-style Death Metal with lyrics about Satan, Hell, and Shitting on Jesus.  Would you expect anything less?  I try to only post albums that are unique, but this is just too good to keep a secret

 

the obstructed ass

Horrendous - The Chills

Boom, just two weeks in and we already have what will probably be the best Death Metal release of the year.  This one is from the mass grave of Dark Descent Records, who are largely responsible for the "New Wave of Old School Death Metal" that seems to be sweeping the globe.  The roots of Horrendous is pretty much split between the California and Swedo/Finnish sound of the early 90's.  In other words, like a mix between Autopsy and Dismember (what's better than that?).  This is truly the essence of Death Metal.  You won't find any Thrash "gang vocals" or Black Metal costume parties here; just no-bullshit brutality.  Like being clobbered to death by the last clan of neanderthals.  But don't be fooled by it's beastly nature, this band can play too.  All instruments are ultra-tight and have a great feel; there's even some tricky time signatures for good measure.  Did I mention the amazing production?  Deep, clear, warm and yet still "biting".  It's hard to believe it wasn't recorded at Sunlight.  To all other Death Metal bands: your move...

   

extra drippy and disgusting