Author: Alexiel Divine

Sicarius – God Of The Dead Roots

American black metal quintet Sicarius are ready to unleash a venomous sonic onslaught on the sophomore release “God Of The Dead Roots”. 

There is no escape as soon as the initial diabolical atmosphere of “BIA” gives way to belligerent heavy guitar riffs following a vicious fast rhythm confidently channeling the brutal elements of old school black metal.  

“Immortal Plight” continues to generate hellish blackened grooves with solid riffage and fierce drumming but somehow the lead guitar work manages to bring a glimpse of hope with a series of cold melodic phrases. 

Evoking strong occult vibes “Nekromanteia” focuses mainly on slower arcane guitar progressions surrounded by a dense esoteric atmosphere so lead guitars also have the opportunity to craft some mournful melodies. 

The title track features demonic growls and intensely obscure rhythmic patterns diligently built by super fast drumming and crushing guitar riffs that successfully maintain an uncompromising black metal ensemble that eventually evolves into a calmer mysterious momentum. 

“Scythe Bearers” delivers another relentless dosage of unrestrained blackened blasts that seem simply unstoppable yet there are some brief slower and absolutely cryptic moments. 

The asphyxiating sonic realm that Sicarius create on “God Of The Dead Roots” is certainly not for the faint of heart as the band keeps on delivering merciless blackened grooves that might make you feel shattered and desperate. 

Lucifer – Lucifer III

After a series of successful tours Lucifer settled back in the studio to craft the dark magic embodied by the third release “Lucifer III” and continue to proudly carry the torch for timeless vintage rock. 

The guitar riffs on “Ghosts” successfully generate memorable grooves with a delightful gritty sound and while the atmosphere feels quite dark due also to the addition of gothic tinged keyboards Johanna’s vocals evoke a comforting melancholy. 

“Leather Demon” features a slower nostalgic approach focusing on darkly soothing arpeggios energized by the raw distortion of the lead guitar work and accompanied by sultry vocals which feel particularly captivating during the super catchy chorus. 

The eponymous track “Lucifer” picks up speed with guitars taking the center stage to craft alluring melodic phrases and deliciously darkened catchy riffs that lead to a series of addictive grooves around Johanna’s passionate vocal delivery. 

“Coffin Fever” showcases enticing doom nuances that naturally embrace the sorrowful guitar tonalities evolving into a thrilling combo of feverish licks and galloping riffs while eventually a seductive darkness will take over with understated obscure atmospheric vibes. 

The haunting grand finale arrives with “Cemetery Eyes” which often focuses on gorgeous dreamy guitar melodies that emphasize the profound sense of melancholia fully expressed by the soulful vocals yet the rhythmic section still manages to deliver exciting classic rock dynamics that reach the acme with the stylish guitar soloing. 

Listening to “Lucifer III” we witness the third coming of Lucifer as they really worked hard to create a wicked collection of catchy rock songs spiced up by horror themes and enchanting vocals that are bound to put a spell on you. 

 

White Stones – Kuarahy

We are all familiar with the work of Martin Mendez as bassist of Opeth but now he is embarking on a different music endeavor with the new project White Stones which reveals an intriguing death metal oriented manifesto on the debut album “Kuarahy”. 

While on “Rusty Shell” the primal energy of death metal is naturally embedded in the wicked guitar riff and the cavernous vocal delivery the lead guitar work tends to stand out crafting exquisite melodies with a dazzling prog flair. 

On “Drowned In Time” the arcane atmosphere and the spacey melodic textures take you far away while later the eclectic heavier rhythmic section becomes enriched by enigmatic tonalities and sharp guitar phrases. 

“The One” features another round of prog oriented rhythmic variations and the consequent interesting instrumental patterns highlight the multifaceted tonalities of the excellent guitar work while the venomous growls constantly keep alive the death metal roots.  

“Guyra” continues to focus on the development of unique sounds within an obscure tribal atmosphere that makes you feel closer to ancestral legends and matches the mystical nature of the guitar melodies and the shapeshifting rhythmic patterns which showcase a compelling creative force. 

With a slower pace “Infected Soul” offers darkened otherworldly melodic tapestries that emphasize the dominant role of the cathartic guitar work that will also deliver sharp riffage and remarkable proggy style soloing when the rhythmic section acquires a faster ominous energy. 

The shorter final track “Jasy” definitely emphasizes the connection with Martin’s birthplace in Uruguay as the arcane vibes grow stronger due to the magical atmospheric arrangements and the glowing ethereal guitar melodies.  

Even if White Stones embodies a return to death metal for Martin the intricate soundscapes of “Kuarahy” go beyond the classic approach of this genre exploring diverse tonalities and styles that thrive within a spiritual darkened realm. 

Today Is The Day – No Good To Anyone

Experimental metal outfit Today Is The Day returns with the eleventh album “No Good To Anyone” which is a particularly cathartic opus for visionary mastermind Steve Austin as it also symbolizes his personal battle with pain and adversities. 

The title track is drenched in darkness due to the forlorn vocal delivery and the extremely somber psychedelic tonalities of the captivating guitar progressions which will evolve into heavier ominous riffs within a faster enigmatic rhythmic ensemble. 

On “Son Of Man” the overdose of fuzzy guitars leads to psychedelic twisted harmonies that might make you feel dizzy and the spontaneous blend of laid back grooves and heavier rhythmic blasts amplifies the grim feelings.  

“Burn In Hell” has the capacity to unleash some aggressive noise borderline death metal guitar riffs shifting from a moody slow paced approach to a dramatically faster and chaotic sonic realm. 

“Cocobolo” often focuses on mellow spacey guitar passages and calm vocals but there is also a quite fierce groovy momentum and such sonic diversity definitely emphasize the contrasting emotions. 

“Callie” sounds quite different as the glowing soulful guitar melodies become the main focus and the introspective vocals flow gently through the melancholic instrumental passages evoking even a fragile sense of hopefulness. 

The murky atmosphere of “Mercy” surrounds the monochromatic vocals and the fuzzy guitar riffs but later this anguished mood is spiced up by the rebellious attitude of the groovy rhythmic ensemble.  

On “Born In Blood” there is an increasingly darker vibe embedded in the slow burning guitar riffs that will eventually become wilder with intense spaced out tonalities and vibrant psychedelic accents. 

“Rockets And Dreams” is a longer track that offers loads of comforting dreamy guitar melodies and the emotive themes feel particularly strong in the midst of extremely trippy atmospheric layers. 

From all the darkness embodied by “No Good To Anyone” a message of love emerges triumphantly and you will instantly appreciate how Today Is The Day focuses on an innovative composition and a sincere emotional turmoil. 

Insect Ark – The Vanishing

Insect Ark features a powerful partnership between Dana Schechter (Swans) and Andy Patterson (ex SubRosa) and the new full length “The Vanishing” promises to be a hypnotic sonic experience so get ready to space out like there’s no tomorrow. 

“Tectonic” is surrounded by a blurry atmosphere with drone style sounds that enhance the darkened composition and the guitar work focuses on moody melodic phrases that shine through the steady monochromatic rhythmic patterns. 

On “Philae” the slow burning guitar melodies and electrifying distorted tonalities will induce a trance state and the soft rhythm surrounded by a perennial murky atmosphere amplify the cinematic approach. 

The smooth melodic guitars on “Danube” almost feel like a comforting lullaby even if the tonalities can often sound darker flowing gently through the mesmerizing atmospheric waves and the occasional rhythmic crescendos continue to maintain a dreamy mood. 

The title track tends to stay true to the ethereal vision of the whole album with the perfect dosage of gloomy & graceful melodies yet it showcases major experimental twists leading to borderline claustrophobic atmospheres and dissonant tones. 

Like a wild unpredictable journey “The Vanishing” could take you anywhere, maybe even to outer space, as Insect Ark invite you to join their personal daydream with trippy melodies and enigmatic atmospheres. 

Blood And Sun – Love & Ashes

With Blood And Sun multiinstrumentalist Luke Tromiczak has embarked on an inspiring music journey that today leads to the genesis of the sophomore full length “Love & Ashes”, a darkened neo-folk opus dedicated to kindred spirits and wanderers. 

“Resurrection Charm” marks a charismatic beginning as an arcane chant provides a darkly enigmatic introduction for the more accessible melodic ensemble offering rich melodic guitars and moody rhythmic crescendos accompanied by the theatrical vocals. 

“Dusk Century” has a softer & catchy melodic approach with graceful acoustic phrases embellished by luminous violins while the imposing baritone vocals naturally evoke darker sentiments. 

“By What Road” is a gorgeous work of music that delivers the perfect dosage of wistful feelings through the introspective vocal delivery and the exquisite intricate melodic tapestries courtesy of luminous strings and fervent acoustic guitars. 

On the title track there is a hypnotic brooding atmosphere that leads to a darker melancholic mood perfectly matched by the sorrowful vocal delivery while the enticing blend of warm violins and passionate melodic guitars maintains a spiritual folk approach. 

Listening to “Until The Dawn” feels like being in the middle of a pristine forest watching the stars and pondering about the meaning of life surrounded by haunting harmonious violins while the acoustic guitars can build an energetic yet soothing rhythmic rampage. 

It would be hard to resist the overwhelming nostalgia that Blood And Sun constantly evoke throughout “Love & Ashes” which is destined to captivate and comfort you with the magical beauty of the dark folk soundscapes. 

Drown – Subaqueous

Under the Drown moniker multi instrumentalist Markov Soroka has created the fascinating ambitious opus “Subaqueous” which dwells within a realm of darkness and light with a strong funeral doom inspiration. 

As soon as “Drowned VI: Mother Cetacean” begins we enter an underwater world lulled by the gentle sound of waves. The guitar melodies almost glow within the darkened doom ensemble which can feel quite lugubrious due to the cavernous growls and the monolithic riffs yet everything moves slowly favoring an immersive listening experience and the melancholic motif gains strength from the dreamy tonalities and the blurry atmospheric nuances particularly hypnotizing when accompanied by the ethereal violin during the finale.  

“Drowned VII: Father Subaqueous” can sound quite comforting with refined guitar melodies and the graceful violins that emphasize the introspective depth and might even hold a fragile sense of hope while in the midst of ambient tapestries and aptly aquatic sounds you will also find moments of extremely mournful and significantly heavier guitar riffs.  

Both the two lengthy tracks of “Subaqueous” maintain a classic funeral doom approach that evolves into ‘aquatic doom’ to fit the chosen conceptual themes as Drown takes you on a melancholic journey to the depths of the ocean. 

Seven Planets – Explorer

Heavy rock instrumentalists Seven Planets search for absolute freedom embarking on a cosmic journey into the unknown perfectly embodied by the cathartic grooves of the third full length “Explorer”. 

It feels good to space out listening to “Vanguard” as the excellent guitar work leads the way to big grooves and acidic melodies that showcase a warm bluesy approach as well as a taste for psychedelia. 

With a laid back atmosphere “Plain Truth In A Homespun Dress” focuses on elaborate slow burning guitar melodies that continue to channel a strong psychedelic flair and later the guitar work will also deliver some wild fancy progressions. 

It’s not surprising that the title track makes you dream of exploring new galaxies with the fluid atmospheric arrangements surrounding the spacey guitar phrases that once again will evolve into a more complex jamming session. 

“Seven Seas” continues to revolve around otherworldly themes and the desire to escape reality grows within the soulful bluesy guitar progressions and the bouncy bass lines that often emphasize the full blown psychedelic essence.  

The pace gets faster on “The Buzzard” and consequently the rhythmic section generates heavier bold grooves full of catchy & fuzzy riffs while the guitar leads still have the chance to craft evocative melodic waves. 

The cosmic force and the spaced out vibes of “Explorer” will make you feel dazed and happy as Seven Planets showcase their incredible musicianship and spontaneous jam style songwriting. 

Body Count – Carnivore

Ice-T’s pioneering rap metal band Body Count returns with the savage entertaining grooves and the spiteful lyrical themes of the seventh album “Carnivore”.  

The title track begins with an extremely somber atmosphere and slow darkened guitar phrases that will continue to recur through the significantly heavier rhythmic blasts and the consequent hostile grooves are certainly amplified by the inflamed soloing and the enraged lyrics. 

Featuring guest vocalist Riley Gale of Power Trip “Point The Finger” confidently unleashes relentless thrash metal dynamics and the contrasting vocal deliveries perfectly express all the eloquent feelings and the undiluted wrath.  

The indisputable groovy force of “Bum-Rush” comes from the tight rhythmic section while the lead guitar work is always ready to deliver fiery soaring licks and the social awareness lyrical message definitely increases the song’s inner passion. 

In the beginning “Another Level” feels a bit gloomy due to the captivating somber tonalities of the melodic guitars but the untamed rage is always present in the strong vocals which also features guest vocalist Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed. 

“When I’m Gone” might sound a bit softer mainly due to the presence of the mellow emotional vocal delivery courtesy of Amy Lee of Evanescence but there is still a fair dosage of fury embedded in the hardcore approach of the bold guitar riffs. 

“The Hate Is Real” is full of harsh guitar driven grooves spiced up by some fast ravenous guitar licks and fueled by a massive classic thrash metal momentum that easily matches the perennial outrage of the lyrics plus the chorus will get stuck in your head. 

Ice-T always speaks frankly and the rightfully angry lyricism remains a key element from beginning to end on “Carnivore” adding an overdose of raw energy to the massive belligerent grooves that Body Count executes with unrestrained enthusiasm. 

Karg – Traktat

Karg started as a one-man project by J.J. of Harakiri For The Sky and the new addition to the extensive discography is the 7th studio album “Traktat” which revolves around eloquent atmospheric black metal soundscapes and immense melancholia. 

“Irgendjemand Wartet Immer” can truly express an emotional whirlwind with a mixture of gelid guitar melodies and poetic atmospheric multilayers flowing freely through the main blackened and at times borderline enraged rhythmic sections.

The gorgeous melodic tapestries of “Stolperkenotaphe” depict a wintry sonic realm full of pure melancholy courtesy of delicate arpeggios, elegant classical arrangements and cold guitar tonalities and such cathartic ensemble often feels like a fading dream. 

On “Alaska” the monochromatic screams channel despair and misery but the melodic guitar work seems to glow through the heavier rhythmic patterns always embellished by the dreamy atmospheric layers. 

On “Alles Was Wir Geben Mussten” the anguished screams and the soaring guitar riffs constantly channel a raw blackened energy leading to sharp rhythmic crescendos while the clean melodies and the subtle atmospheres enhance the introspective depth. 

“Tod, wo bleibt dein Frieden?” continues to rely on a contemplative blackgaze sonic formula and offers a multitude of fragile melodic moments that tend to steal the spotlight evoking wistful feelings especially through graceful arpeggios and soothing atmospheric tapestries.  

Shifting from luminous shoegaze melodies to extremely darkened black metal blasts on “Traktat” Karg crafts a personal immersive journey that allows emotions and music to naturally embrace.