Category: Album Reviews 2020

Barishi – Old Smoke

Progressive sludge metal band Barishi aims to make a strong impact in the current underground metal scene creating complex darkened soundscapes on the sophomore full length “Old Smoke”. 

“The Silent Circle” depicts a murky sonic realm where the mighty weight of the guitar riffs and the chunky bass lines naturally lead to crushing rhythmic dynamics certainly amplified by the cavernous growls yet within the dense darkness there is also space for contemplative melodic progressions evoking grim feelings. 

The strength of “The Longhunter” can be found within the heavy rhythmic maze channeling the darkest aspects of sludge metal and the eclectic guitar progressions evolve into a wild soloing adding interesting style variations. 

Through the hazy atmosphere of “Entombed In Gold Forever” the guitar work can acquire massive ominous tonalities shifting from crunchy riffage to monolithic progressions that emphasize the doom metal roots while the excellent solo provides some charismatic prog oriented twists. 

On the title track there is a dramatic change of pace as the band focuses on a vibrant melodic ensemble evoking an ancestral connection with nature with deeply melancholic guitar phrases emphasized by a comforting clean vocal delivery and a laid back rhythmic section yet occasionally the significantly heavier guitar riffs will generate colossal grooves. 

“Old Smoke” immediately stands out for the elaborate composition and the ambitious music vision as Barishi clearly works hard to develop a personal sonic identity inspired by a wide range of diverse styles. 

(0) – SkamHan

Danish progressive black metal quintet (0) aims to remain elusive but the debut album “SkamHan” is bound to trigger curiosity in the underground metal scene. 

“Tyndere end Hud” unveils enigmatic atmospheric nuances surrounding a blistering blackened assault fueled by the perfect dosage of primal energy yet there are several rhythmic variations showing a desire to experiment with diverse styles.  

A delightful melancholia lingers throughout “Sjælstjæler” generating slower grim melodic progressions and the monochromatic guitar tonalities confidently channel hazy post-metal nuances leading to lavish desolate soundscapes. 

“Rød Glorie” begins with minimalist darkened guitar phrases that will gradually embrace an intense blackened void with faster riffs and ominous growls until a calmer dramatic mood takes over to highlight a cryptic atmospheric crescendo. 

The trascendental darkness of the title track is embedded within the dense blackened guitar riffs and the mournful phrases are destined to flourish through the monumental doomed rhythmic maze so the resulting gelid melodic passages can easily evoke overwhelming crestfallen emotions. 

(0) arise like a mysterious entity and “SkamHan” definitely symbolizes the arcane nature of the band’s chosen music pathway offering a fascinating blend of  fierce blackened blasts and hypnotizing atmospheres. 

Helfró – Helfró

Black metal duo Helfró arises from the burgeoning Icelandic black metal scene to conjure the coldest and darkest soundscapes on the eponymous debut full length.  

“Afeitrun” brings a shroud of frost as the ominous guitar riffs lead the way to an asphyxiating blackened assault amplified by the malevolent energy of the vocals yet you can almost perceive a mournful melodic flair running through the cascading guitar progressions. 

“Ávöxtur af rotnu tré” relies on unstoppable precise rhythmic patterns proudly favoring the ferocious temper of classic black metal until the theatrical vocal delivery announces a solemn atmospheric momentum reminiscing of an arcane ritual. . 

In the beginning “Þegn hinna stundlegu harma” channels an overwhelming fury with merciless drum blasts and monochromatic tremolo picking yet the resulting frantic sonic realm will eventually slow down a bit to highlight the lugubrious quasi melodic guitars and the eerie atmospheric aura. 

“Hin forboðna alsæla” still dwells in a world of menacing obscurity fueled by the inflamed blackened approach but guitars can skillfully add diversity crafting refined gloomy melodies enriched by the fascinating dramatic vocal delivery.  

On “Katrín” the visceral black metal roots continue to unleash diabolical growls and venomous guitar riffs yet at times the chaotic speed is slightly reduced to enhance the crucial role of the melodic twists and the imposing atmospheric textures. 

The endless arctic darkness is the leitmotif chosen by Helfró and in fact this first album constantly revolves around gelid tonalities and monumental dynamics that generate massive obscure soundscapes. 

Lustre – The Ashes Of Light

Swedish multi Instrumentalist Nachtzeit is renowned for his ambient black metal project Lustre which returns with the seventh album “The Ashes Of Light” to spellbind the listeners with magical wintry soundscapes. 

Listening to “Part 1 (Eyes Like Stars)” you can easily escape the woes of reality as the main harmonious atmosphere surrounds you with uplifting vibes while the tormented growls seem to emerge from a distant darkened dimension. 

“Part 2 (A Silent Tale)” certainly holds a darkened arcane spirit but also flows like an ethereal daydream due to the fragile nature of the lavish synths creating a subtle rhythmic crescendo.  

“Part 3 (Like Music In The Night)” feels like sleeping under the stars as the intricate synth arrangements seem to be fueled by a cosmic energy yet darker & mysterious feelings always linger through the comforting harmonies. 

 “Part 5 (The Ashes of Light)” embodies an immersive music journey that will take you to an ancient forest guided by the pale light of the alluring multilayered atmospheric arrangements and the hypnotic melodic tapestries. 

“The Ashes Of Light” dwells within a limbo between light and darkness in fact Lustre successfully depicts contrasting feelings through dreamy nuances and refined atmospheric waves. 

Mountaineer – Bloodletting

Bay Area post-metal doom band Mountaineer have developed an intriguing sonic vision that audaciously channels diverse influences throughout the third full length “Bloodletting”. 

In the beginning, the choral vocals of “Blood Of The Book” create a suspenseful mood introducing mellow shimmering shoegaze nuances that hold an essential role in the composition yet guitars will soon embrace a massive doom inspiration delivering some heavy lugubrious riffage. 

The minimalist melodies of “Shot Through With Sunlight” flow through the hazy atmosphere like a fading daydream and guitars gradually acquire darker doom tonalities amplified by the fierce growls ultimately generating elaborate heavier rhythmic patterns.  

You can easily appreciate the introspective depth of the gorgeous harmonies flourishing throughout the title track which in fact aims to create a moody melodic grandeur emphasizing the darkened melancholia of the soothing guitar progressions and the soulful clean vocals.  “South To Infinity” deliberately follows a significantly heavier doom/sludge formula focusing on mighty guitar riffs and hostile vocals to build imposing groovy dynamics yet there are also pleasant contemplative moments and stylish nostalgic melodies. 

 “Ghost Story” immediately feels like an immersive experience as the guitar work carefully crafts comforting melancholic melodies that will naturally evolve into a majestic rhythmic crescendo expressing ardent feelings. 

Mountaineer are fully embracing the emotive nature of post-metal without sacrificing the crushing force of doom metal and the consequent cathartic musical evolution today naturally leads to the darkly epic soundscapes of “Bloodletting”. 

Witchskull – A Driftwood Cross

Australian trio Witchskull is ready to raise the bar and conquer the soul of doom metal fans with the third release “A Driftwood Cross” which evidently relies on mighty riffs and monolithic grooves. 

The doom worshipping is clear as soon as “Black Cathedrals” kicks off with unstoppable energetic riffage and cohesive groovy rhythmic patterns while the lead guitar work can confidently unleash memorable fancy soloing and slow burning fuzzy progressions that acquire arcane tonalities in the finale. 

“Baphomet’s Child” is a wildly entertaining track that offers a major dosage of charismatic guitar driven grooves blending bold stoner dynamics and fiery occult rock vibes which influence the mournful melodic progressions. 

“The Red Altar” fully showcases an untamed doom spirit through the monumental guitar riffs and the intense vocal delivery while as the rhythm slows down highlighting the chunky bass lines the overall mood becomes increasingly darker embracing a major eerie atmosphere. 

“Nero Order” has some slower gloomy moments skillfully created by hypnotic melodic progressions yet the excellent rhythmic section is always able to provide inflamed galloping grooves amplifying the fuzzy stoner elements. 

The title track incarnates an authentic doom essence as the darkened guitar melodies emphasize the ominous feelings while the colossal riffage builds a powerful rhythmic tension generating an alluring mix of calmer brooding moments and absolutely explosive grooves. 

The irresistible classic doom flair of “A Driftwood Cross” will please all the acolytes of this timeless influential genre and Witchskull once again composed and performed the whole album with undiluted passion. 

Ulcerate – Stare Into Death And Be Still

New Zealand-based death metal trio Ulcerate returns with the monumental sixth full length “Stare Into Death And Be Still” which aims to captivate the listeners with a meticulous harsh composition and overwhelming grim emotions. 

Since the very beginning “The Lifeless Advance” reveals the dark soul of the whole album as the bleak atmosphere puts the spotlight on the melodic twists of the guitar work before entering a chaotic sonic realm fueled by the precise drum blasts, the dissonant riffs and the ominous energy of the imposing growls. 

“Exhale The Ash” stands out for the charismatic grooves which offer a balanced mix of disharmonic progressions and gelid melodic nuances but still emphasizes the presence of brutal death metal dynamics as well as the cerebral songwriting approach.  

The strength of the title track comes from the impressive guitar work that constantly unravels unpredictable rhythmic patterns generating some massive spiteful grooves in contrast with the contemplative momentum carefully built by the recurring haunting melodic motifs.  

The harrowing tonalities of “Inversion” foreshadow a darkly enigmatic essence that fully comes to life through an obscure rhythmic maze featuring venomous guitar riffs and hostile drumming yet you can definitely perceive the refined melodic flair within the complex progressions. 

The tempo slows down as “Dissolved Orders” highlights the dramatic depth with gorgeous undulating melodies flowing through an increasingly desolate atmosphere that once again intensifies the majestic guitars which can effortlessly craft opulent melancholia infused phrases and inflamed technical riffage. 

Undoubtedly listening to “Stare Into Death And Be Still” you will immediately notice how Ulcerate showcase a truly skillful musicianship and while the aggressive death metal roots are often quite evident they manage to keep everything more intriguing with a cathartic darkened melodic blend that ultimately manifests their unique sonic identity. 

Vader – Solitude In Madness

Polish death metal icons Vader have been around for 37 years and are ready to begin a new chapter in their long successful history with the release of the 16th studio album “Solitude In Madness” which definitely proves that they have no intention to stop delivering merciless grooves. 

“Shock And Awe” announces an imminent destruction with the fast unrestrained march of the rhythmic section and through these massive bursts of fury the lead guitars effortlessly add variety with some charismatic licks. 

“Incineration Of The Gods” begins with precise drum blasts and the rhythm gradually acquires more speed and malevolent vibes amplified by the venomous screams and the sharp guitar riffs that will give way to a satisfying fancy solo.  

The obscure mood of “Sanctification Denied” is fueled by a consistent series of visceral rhythmic dynamics and the ominous guitar tones are bound to make an impact delivering fiery riffage and skillful shredding. 

“Emptiness” certainly maintains a robust rhythmic rampage with all the moshpit friendly riffs but the lead guitar work is destined to steal the spotlight crafting majestic shredding and alluring darkened melodic phrases.  

“Final Declaration” goes straight to a ferocious rhythmic assault based on an old school death metal formula in fact guitars are always ready to induce instant headbanging with energetic riffs and masterful soloing. 

The mid-tempo rhythm of “Bones” still favors crushing guitar driven grooves accompanied by the absolutely menacing vocal delivery but this is not just a chaotic sonic realm as the lead guitar work has the capacity to diversify the main patterns with sophisticated melodic progressions. 

Those already familiar with Vader’s extensive discography will be pleased to see that “Solitude In Madness” stays true to the band’s legendary death metal legacy providing the expected generous dosage of ruthless dynamics. 

Elder – Omens

Progressive stoner metal band Elder aims to push boundaries confidently developing an intricate sonic vision on the brand new eclectic album “Omens”. 

The title track promises to be a wild ride as the kaleidoscopic synths channel major psychedelic vibes that will continue to enrich the atmospheric depth lingering through the multifaceted rhythmic ensemble while guitars skillfully shift from magical harmonies to heavier & wilder riffage showcasing an inflamed prog approach. 

There is a ravishing melancholy at the center of “Halcyon” consequently guitars tend to focus on the creation of eloquent melodies flowing freely like blurry dreams accompanied by ethereal atmospheric textures yet an energetic momentum will generate loads of fiery psychedelic stoner dynamics. 

“Embers” immediately delivers a groovy rhythmic section keeping alive the band’s stoner metal roots while the addition of detailed synths arrangements successfully craft a polychromatic sonic palette around the convoluted guitar progressions that continue to blend technical prog accents and shimmering melodies as the whole instrumentation engage in a spacey jam session. 

The extremely complex composition that generates the shapeshifting soundscapes of “Omens” proves that Elder are fully embracing an audacious sonic evolution that still retains a stoner metal spirit but certainly enhances a cerebral prog approach. 

Witchcraft – Black Metal

In the realm of occult rock Witchcraft holds an influential status but on the new acoustic album “Black Metal” founder and sole remaining member Magnus Pelander chooses a different direction focusing on a minimalist and deeply emotive approach. 

“Elegantly Expressed Depression” perfectly represents the grim and probably depressing feelings of the whole album as the sheer beauty of the monochromatic acoustic passages surrounds Magnus’s solemn vocal delivery creating a quite intense emotional turmoil. 

“Sad People” might in fact make you feel sad due to the slow & quiet mournful guitar phrases that highlight the essential role of the heart wrenching vocals. 

“Grow” is a longer track that manages to channel some darkened vibes while maintaining a relaxed stripped back acoustic approach shifting from extra mellow arpeggios to understated rhythmic crescendos that match the contrasting emotions expressed by the vocals. 

On the brief final track “Take Him Away” the acoustic phrases and the whispered vocals create a simply contemplative atmosphere. 

From an album entitled “Black Metal” you might have expected some ominous heavy grooves instead Witchcraft focuses exclusively on a gloomy acoustic ensemble so in the end this new release turns out to be widely accessible.