Thursday, June 20, 2013 08:09

Archive for the ‘Vinyl’ Category

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PORTAL – VEXOVOID LP (Profound Lore Records)

Monday, June 17th, 2013

Portal’s fourth full-length is a typically-challenging listen (although, to be fair, it is arguably more a mini-album than a full-length proper). There may be only 35 minutes of material on ‘Vexovoid’ but it’s so convoluted, abstract, inaccessible, complex, incoherent, disharmonic and headache-inducing that at times it seems to last for an eternity.

You will do well to wrap your head around this particular nightmare. How can an album that’s so downright difficult be so ridiculously rewarding? ‘Vexovoid’ reminds me of the heady days of yore when Death Metal was new and exciting and awkward to digest. It’s an absolute monster of an album, like a warped Gorguts on speed – only far better than that lame description suggests…

Insane, maniacal and very, very intelligent Death Metal that stands head and shoulders above most of the music I’ve listened to so far this year, ‘Vexovoid’ truly is a joy to behold. An LP to cherish, but – as I intimated at the outset – do not expect an easy ride. This is ugly and noisy. The vinyl edition is pure class, too. Bring the pain!

Evilometer: 666/666

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CULTES DES GHOULES – HENBANE 2LP (Hells Headbangers)

Saturday, June 15th, 2013

It is creating quite a stir and my first impressions of this album were that it was quite amazing. Had I written this observation after one or two listens, then I would no doubt have been raving about ‘Henbane’ and it would have received full marks. However, upon repeated listens (and there have been many), much of its magic fades away. It’s still a good full-length but certainly not an exceptional one.

The double vinyl edition is splendid, enclosed in a gatefold jacket with the lyrics included on the inside fold. Speaking of the lyrics – and maybe this is because I’m getting older – they are unbelievably childish. The kind of infantile, puerile Satanism that prompts me to believe that perhaps God is the cooler of the two dumb inventions… (but not quite).

Anyway, Cultes Des Ghoules is an acquired taste; their sound is unique and pretty dramatic. Bordering on cinematic. They perform lengthy offerings of nasty, sinister, evil-as-all-fuck Black Metal that sounds sublime when you are in the mood and corny when you are not.

‘Henbane’ is almost an hour long and it is certainly worth checking out. But you’ll have forgotten all about it in six months’ time.

Evilometer: 333/666

Postscript: upon calm reflection, this is probably one of the most harsh reviews I’ve written. I should stay away from the laptop when I’m in a bad mood!

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SODB – DON SEANTALAMH A CHUID FEIN LP (Into The Void Records)

Friday, June 14th, 2013

‘Don Seantalamh A Chuid Féin’ is a demo which was originally released on cassette format last year and has just been reincarnated on vinyl by the guys who run Dublin’s only record store worth visiting. For the first time in 20 years, I actually purchased a record across the counter – happened to be in the city for the day and just popped in to save myself a few Euros on postage.

It was a nostalgic experience as the excitement of visiting record shops and taking the merchandise home for immediate consumption is largely a thing of the past in this modern era (not that this is a particularly bad thing, I suppose (cyberspace is handy)).

A fledgling Irish Black Metal band that delivers some truly hypnotic fare on this debut release, Sodb’s songs are haunting, melancholic, sombre yet uplifting in that twisted way. There’s a keen sense of melody in their work and a healthy dose of raw aggression as well. Four lengthy offerings comprise almost 35 minutes in total … and this costs just €12.

Half of the songs included are in the creators’ ancient native tongue and all lyrics are printed (as gaeilge and in English) on a nice inlay. Apart from the spoken part on ‘Tethered’ (which isn’t to my personal taste), I really, really like this record. Check it out.

Evilometer: 666/666

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CLANDESTINE BLAZE – HARMONY OF STRUGGLE LP (Northern Heritage)

Monday, June 10th, 2013

Fuck me – has it really been three years since ‘Falling Monuments’? My life must be accelerating past at a ludicrous pace because I thought that album only came out about a year ago… Fuck it! Clandestine Blaze’s seventh full-length, ‘Harmony Of Struggle’ is again released on Mikko’s own label and – as with everything he has delivered under this handle – it is typically excellent.

Listening along to this album, I am struck by the sheer enormity of what an artist like Mikko Aspa manages to achieve with little or no help from anybody. His work is inspirational, unique, life-affirming and truly marvellous. As well as being immense and fierce, ‘Harmony Of Struggle’ is a very emotional album at times and the sound is often more ‘epic’ (for want of a better word) than what I’ve become accustomed to from Clandestine Blaze.

Very simply, you will not be disappointed if you decide to purchase this record. Composed and executed by an inspired individual who clearly knows what he’s doing – and who puts his experience and wherewithal to maximum use – ‘Harmony Of Struggle’ is a veritable tour de force, an exhibition of Black Metal mastery. A monument. I was going to say there were some truly magical moments to be found along the way but, to be fair, this is a magical journey from start to finish.

High calibre, flawless, grim, raw, astonishing Black Metal that oozes nastiness, filth and class and shits all over its peers (with interesting artwork; lyric sheet included, for those who care). Nothing more to say … this is an easy review to write and I am not one for throwing in superfluous superlatives or rambling prose just for the hell of it. If you want to be impressed, then open a new tab right now and buy this fucker.

Evilometer: 666/666

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KADOTUS – VAIENNEET TEMPPELIT LP (Blut & Eisen Productions)

Monday, June 3rd, 2013

Many of you will construe this as a strange / illogical review seeing as I make it clear from the off that there is nothing spectacularly brilliant about ‘Vaienneet Temppelit’ … and then proceed to recommend it unconditionally. While this is by no means an amazing album, it is nonetheless wholly effective in the manner in which it conjures the dark atmosphere and genuine sense of evil so essential to Black Metal.

Nothing ground-breaking at all taking place here; nothing new; nothing ambitious; and very little variety (apart from subtle pace changes, perhaps). So why should anyone purchase this? Because, on their second full-length, the Finns have produced 40 minutes of great, organic, old-style, buzzing, nasty, Satanic blackness with the right vibe.

‘Vaienneet Temppelit’ is a good, solid Black Metal record and the vinyl edition – which sure was a long time coming! – is pretty cool as it is housed within a gatefold cover with lyrics printed on the inside as well as an evil band photo (childish but important). Kadotus perform decent but hardly mind-boggling Black Metal – sure that’s why we’re here at the end of the day. A satisfying fix (even if I do profess to have heard it all before).

Evilometer: 555/666

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AOSOTH – IV: ARROW IN HEART 2LP (Agonia Records)

Saturday, June 1st, 2013

First off, I must note that including a Braille sheet with the vinyl edition of Aosoth’s fourth full-length album was / is a fucking ridiculous idea. Seriously, what in fuck’s name is the point of that? I cannot see (no pun intended) why any band would want to do this. A proper inlay card with lyrics, pictures etc. would make much more sense seeing as the vast majority of Black Metal fans are not blind (I confidently assume).

A really, really dumb decision, that one. Stupid and pretentious in the extreme. Products for blind people are WORTHLESS to able-bodied individuals. What next – a hearing aid with the fifth Aosoth album? Or a discount voucher offering money off a wheelchair? As you can tell, I was more than a little pissed when I pulled that sheet out of the gatefold cover!

Thankfully, the actual album itself is fantastic. Musically (which is what really counts, of course), it’s impossible to go wrong with Aosoth, who rarely put a foot wrong and have banged out yet another addictive brew of harsh blackness and wicked melody. There’s a welcome degree of variety at work across the full duration of ‘IV: Arrow In Heart’, a release which is by and large captivating.

The infuriatingly catchy songs are very cleverly constructed and executed, while the inclusion of a thoroughly-cool, ambient, droning bonus track on Side D (as opposed to nothing at all or, worse still, a damned etching…) scoops back the brownie points lost over that silly sheet of blind man’s paper that 99% of you surely will not want or appreciate. All in all, though, this is great stuff and the sprawling extra track pushes the already-generous running time well past the hour mark. Kudos.

Evilometer: 555/666

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BLOODLINE – WEREWOLF TRAINING LP (Blut & Eisen Productions)

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

When this album came out on CD ten years ago, I thought it was amazing. I was thrilled when I heard that it was getting a vinyl revamp and guess what? I still fucking love it. Featuring members of Aborym, Diabolium and Carpathian Forest, ‘Werewolf Training’ is the creation of a veritable Black Metal supergroup and it still sounds as essential and relevant today as it did a decade hitherto.

This album boasts a fantastic atmosphere, wonderful lyrics, a great sound, devilish melody and plenty of animosity. Mostly mid-paced and catchy as all fuck, it’s certainly more accessible than most of the Black Metal I champion on here but, hell, ‘Werewolf Training’ is just a classic in every way. I was surprised that it slipped under the radar first time around and it’ll undoubtedly do the same this time. But who cares?

You could do much, much worse than checking this out. The vinyl version includes a bonus cover of a Ministry song, which represents the icing on the cake (or the blood on the knife?) of a truly fine album. Whereas some LPs are challenging, arcane, esoteric or whatever, this one is just a superb listen from start to finish. Like catching up with an old friend (who doesn’t turn out to be an asshole (which is quite rare (time fucks people up))).

How’s that for grammatical use of the comma?

Evilometer: 666/666

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HORNA – ASKEL LAHEMPANA SAATANAA LP (World Terror Committee)

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Thank Satan for Horna. The Finns are one of those bands you can always depend upon to consistently deliver solid albums and eighth full-length ‘Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa’ is yet another worthy effort from Shatraug and his unblessed partners in grime. The integration of new vocalist Spellgoth into the camp is a possible talking point but let it be known that there is no radical departure from the tried-and-trusted Horna formula (well, not as far as I can detect, anyway).

Horna have kept the bar remarkably high for the last decade-and-a-half, releasing one quality LP after another. My own personal favourites have been ‘Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne’ and ‘Ääniä Yössä’ but I can honestly say I’ve never stuck on a Horna record or CD and thought ‘this blows’ (although, to be fair, ‘Sotahuuto’ was far from a classic).

Five years on from the monstrous clearing of the decks that was ‘Sanojesi Äärelle’, the Finns have returned with a typically brilliant slab of grim Black Metal that sears through the speakers like Lucifer’s cum and takes no prisoners along the way. Creepy intro ‘Alku’ sets the tone and some 48 minutes and nine subsequent tracks later we know we are truly in the presence of evil.

An excellent production lets every note blaze through from the netherworld and a tasty inlay on the vinyl edition supplements an already-fantastic release.

Evilometer: 555/666

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AKITSA / ASH POOL – SPLIT LP (Tour De Garde / Hospital Productions)

Monday, May 13th, 2013

What an intriguing collaboration we have on our hands here! Two great underground Black Metal acts coming together for what can only be termed a cult split, released on vinyl and bled forth from the corrupted womb by labels in which the bands in question have a clear vested interest. The result is quite mind-blowing…

This split is actually called ‘Arraché à la mort, forcé à vivre et mourir à nouveau’ or ‘Ripped From Death, Forced To Live, And Die Again’ depending on which side you’re referring to. But why nit-pick? ‘Split LP’ will do just fine. Fits better above.

I’m a sucker for Akitsa and can’t get enough of their third and fourth full-lengths, which were re-released on vinyl by World Terror Committee recently, namely ‘La Grande Infamie’ and ‘Au Crépuscule De l’espérance’. If you have yet to hear the epic, 21-minute closing track on the former album, ‘Foret Disparue’, then I can only recommend that you check it out asap.

Anyway, returning to the matter at hand, Akitsa’s side of this split comprises three superb examples of stellar Black Metal art, completely and utterly of the underground – as in beneath a north North American forest – complemented by two instrumentals. Cool-as-fuck stuff.

Ash Pool’s side is noticeably louder, both sound-wise and in terms of the message it conveys. I keep forgetting to adjust the volume after flipping the black wax over. And they are just crazy, too, these guys. Demented and weird lyrics provide the befuddling backdrop to their four offerings of strange and raw but addictive Black Metal magic, completing a really obscure collection of tunes that all fans of the subgenre should at least consider investigating.

Evilometer: 555/666

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SENTIMEN BELTZA – ILTZEAK LP (Titan Woods / Spitako Studios)

Sunday, May 12th, 2013

‘Iltzeak’ is the sixth Sentimen Beltza release I’ve reviewed here so I’m pretty sure Oindurth SaVinitta now holds the dubious honour of Most Reviewed Artist on Black Metal Reviews. This was actually the Basque warrior’s debut full-length, spat out on tape by Gorpubelatze Productions four-and-a-half years ago and resurrected in the vinyl format sometime last year.

In a way, what you are reading is probably a pointless review as this edition of the album is limited to one hundred units and may be somewhat difficult to acquire at this stage. However, listening to it again recently, I was quite taken by the underground ethic at work (Xeroxed pictures glued on to each side of the all-black cover), which reminded me that those who are truly passionate about Black Metal can overcome lack of funds with creativity and determination. I wanted to give the labels concerned a thumbs-up, even if it is unlikely to boost their sales…

There’s nothing cheap about this release, however. A historic record from one of my personal favourite bands, ‘Iltzeak’ is definitely not Sentimen Beltza’s best album – but is is  still a whole lot better than the produce of most other Black Metal bands.

Evilometer: 555/666

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THE EYE – SUPREMACY LP (Debemur Morti Productions)

Monday, May 6th, 2013

The very mention of the name Vindsval should be enough to pique your interest here. The Blut Aus Nord mainman conceived The Eye in the mid-90s and debut full-length ‘Supremacy’ was released in ‘97 (interestingly, the year after BAN’s second opus, ‘Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers Of The Icy Age’ and a full six years before the epiphanic ‘The Work Which Transforms God’).

I was going to say that, apart from the involvement of Vindsval, The Eye doesn’t really have anything to do with Blut Aus Nord … before realising that this would be a dumb statement. So I won’t say it. But I will stress that, musically, there are few comparisons between the two projects. ‘Supremacy’ delivers 40 minutes of almost-epic pagan Black Metal, very melodious and harmonic and bordering on exotic at times.

I found it fascinating to listen along to this alternate visage and I must admit the fact that the composer / executor was only 18 years old when he threw this together is mightily impressive. As ever, the album has been lovingly resurrected by DMP, with a sumptuous gatefold jacket and a fucking fucker of a poster, hehe. The vinyl edition does tremendous justice to the stunning artwork and reverently complements what constitutes a true musical curio as well as a slice of history.

Debemur Morti should have offered a money back guarantee with this record because it is extremely unlikely that anybody will purchase it and regret doing so. (Having said that, there are a lot of mongs in the world.) Worth acquiring; and I believe a follow-up album from The Eye is also imminent.

Evilometer: 555/666

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KRYPTS – UNENDING DEGRADATION LP (Me Saco Un Ojo Records / Detest Records)

Sunday, May 5th, 2013

The debut full-length from Helsinki-based Krypts comprises almost 40 minutes of great mid-paced, semi-guttural Death Metal with a dark and evil atmosphere. This album is an exercise in simplicity itself, sticking to tried and trusted formulae to spawn a truly fantastic, catchy-as-Leprosy work that sounds spontaneous, organic and downright awesome.

In a way, it’s almost like the last 20 years didn’t happen at all. Certainly no harm in that… There’s no need to overcomplicated Death Metal (or Black Metal, for that matter) and it’s refreshing to listen to some genuine music untainted by post-this and / or avant-that. (Isn’t post-metal the most abominable development ever?)

This is perfectly-produced, excellently-executed DM and – admirably – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to unravel the lyrical themes. The record includes a neat A5 booklet with lyrics etc. and looks as impressive as it sounds. If you like good, honest Death Metal then you are sure to appreciate what Krypts are doing on ‘Unending Degradation’.

Evilometer: 555/666

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SHROUD OF THE HERETIC – BOILED TO DEATH MLP (Blood Harvest)

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

Sometime in January, Blood Harvest unleashed the 12” vinyl edition of this debut EP from American band Shroud Of The Heretic. What we have here is six tracks of guttural, chugging and at times doom-laden slow-to-mid-paced Death Metal which sounds a little like Incantation in slow motion.

The label namedrops five bands as reference points – Aethyrvorous, Cruciamentum, Encoffination, Vasaeleth and Undergang. Of these five, Encoffination is the only one I’m properly acquainted with and I do detect certain similarities, especially in spirit and tone and also the use of samples, particularly at the start of the excellent fifth track ‘Ageless Shadow’.

While I don’t think ‘Boiled To Death’ is as essential as anything the magnificent Encoffination has released to date, it is nonetheless a worthwhile record, with a generous running time (for an EP) of 35 minutes. The record is well packaged and presented, too, which is always an added bonus.

There’s no real gamble involved, either, as you can listen to the entire album / LP / MLP / EP or whatever you want to call it on the label’s Bandcamp page prior to investing. What more do you want?

Evilometer: 444/666

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WULKANAZ – PAURPURA FRAEOVIBOKOS LP (Seedstock Records)

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

‘Paúrpura Fræovíbôkôs’ is Wulkanaz’s second full-length album and has been released in a limited vinyl edition, which I’m predicting will sell out very quickly and will prove extremely difficult to acquire – and much sought-after – in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised if this doesn’t resurface, either as a tape or a CD. That’s how the underground tends to operate and Wulkanaz is very much of the deepest, deepest underground.

The eponymous project of Tomhet’s driving force, this one-man vehicle from Sweden has been spewing out splits and EPs for a few years now, as well as the debut full-length (cassette) ‘HaglaNaudizEisaz’ last year. I hadn’t heard any of the material prior to now but my curiosity was aroused enough to tempt me to hunt ‘Paúrpura Fræovíbôkôs’ down. I’m delighted I did because this truly is a fabulous slab of occult Black Metal.

Not as psychedelic as I was expecting (thankfully), this is still trippy but essentially evil, erratic, indifferent, pacey and almost punk-y (at times), genuinely-esoteric Black Metal that’s so simple and uncomplicated that it’s bordering on genius. The record also looks absolutely incredible, housed in a sumptuous gatefold sleeve with 12-page booklet glued on.

A fresh and exciting new voice is always most welcome. Make room in your collection for ‘Paúrpura Fræovíbôkôs’ (if you can manage to get your grubby paws on a copy).

Evilometer: 666/666

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PHLEGEIN – SILVER VEINS LP (Northern Heritage)

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

Phlegein’s debut album comes in a tasty-looking gatefold sleeve with some delightful artwork. It sure looks the part and that’s half the battle won straight away. First impressions and all that… Aesthetically, this is a fine product to own but the positives stop right there.

Musically, I was expecting something more. As standard Black Metal goes – or ‘Finnish Black Metal without compromise’ – I can’t find any obvious fault with ‘Silver Veins’ as it does precisely what it says on the tin. However: a quarter of an hour of monotonous, unadventurous, emotionless, banal, authentic BM is all fine and well, but does it really have to be this run-of-the-mill?

Obviously, all Black Metal sounds kind of alike anyway so it’s almost redundant to criticise an album for sounding all-too-familiar but my gripe is not necessarily relating to the monotony; more that this is, erm, let me think … boring, for want of a better word. To my ears, Phlegein are just plodding along, going through the motions, never quite arriving anywhere; directionless and rudderless.

I was expecting so much more from this album that I can’t help but feel disappointed. Having said that, it’s not Phlegein’s fault that I had high expectations of them and, to be fair, ‘Silver Veins’ still provides some good (but hardly great) Black Metal, even if you have heard it all a thousand times before (and often done much better than this).

Solid enough but lacking that x factor that separates the true ghouls from the men. “Nothing much happening here, folks, move along…”

Evilometer: 333/666

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