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Posts Tagged ‘Osmose Productions’

VOMITCHAPEL – THE HOUSE OF THE LORD DESPOILED (Osmose Productions)

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

Vomitchapel is Ghoat, the same person responsible for acts such as Hills of Sefiroth, Father Befouled and the rather magnificent Encoffination, to name just three. If you haven’t yet encountered the latter, check them out immediately, especially their debut full-length, ‘Ritual Ascension Beyond Flesh’, and the recently-released ‘Elegant Funerals For The Unknown Dead’ MLP – some of the most inspirational Death Metal you’re going to hear…

How and ever, returning to the matter at hand, Vomitchapel spews out bestial, blasphemous lo-fi fare that’s a 50/50 bastard hybrid of Death Metal and Black Metal. Guttural, depraved and perverse in equal measures, ‘The House Of The Lord Despoiled’ is ugly, perverse and irreverent, tipping its festered cap at legendary virgin-ruining acts such as Archgoat, Black Witchery, Havohej and Profanatica.

The album is brilliantly executed and I’m sure it achieves everything it sets out to achieve. But it’s also ridiculously short at 27 minutes and, no matter how good the music might be (and I find it quite uninspired, to be honest), this is a massive let-down. For that reason alone, I’m not going to recommend Vomitchapel’s debut. A nice tribute, but nothing more.

Evilometer: 333/666

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Posted in Black, Death | No Comments »

ELYSIAN BLAZE – BLOOD GEOMETRY 3LP (Osmose Productions)

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

As I invariably adopt a wham-bam-thank-you-mam approach to writing reviews, an album of the sheer scope of ‘Blood Geometry’ presents obvious difficulties. Comprising eight tracks and some two-hours-plus of music spread out across three records, the third full-length from Australian one-man operator Mutatiis is a sprawling release and then some.

The 3LP edition looks sublime, encased in a triple gatefold jacket, with all the lyrics included and some lovely artwork and a nice layout to boot. Main problem for me is that my short attention span doesn’t allow me the luxury of listening to this collection in one sitting. There’s just too much of it. But I’m certainly not complaining about this – it’s commendable when any band or artist treats fans to such undeniable value for money.

Elysian Blaze performs music that’s generally considered to be a hybrid of Black Metal and funeral doom yet is somehow neither one nor the other. I’d describe ‘Blood Geometry’ as dark, spectral art that veers close to bands like Nortt and the more melodic side of classic Xasthur but maintains an identity of its own. It’s pretty enjoyable stuff and – as stated – there’s plenty of it but, unfortunately, the album still falls slightly short of being essential.

In summing up, this is a good album but by no means a great one. But the fact that you can purchase it in this fantastic format should probably encourage you to splash the cash and give it a go. Chances are you will enjoy it more than I do. And there are worse things you could do with €24!

Evilometer: 444/666

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Posted in Black, Vinyl | No Comments »

SEKTEMTUM – AUT CAESAR, AUT NIHIL (Osmose Productions)

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

Sektemtum is the new band of Meyhna’ch, who you may know from his work with Gestapo 666, the magnificent Hell Militia and – most notably – the now-defunct Mütiilation. A real dignitary of the French Black Metal scene, for sure, joined on this recording by three shadowy figures called Six, James Prick and PLCD. Debut album ‘Aut Caesar, Aut Nihil’ is obviously going to attract plenty of attention from those interested in the main man’s considerable library of work and I think it’s fair to say it won’t disappoint too many of you.

Ten tracks dispersed over 47-odd minutes, kicking off with the title track and pummelling (apart from serene instrumental ‘218’) the listener into submission with huge riffs and some ghastly, guttural Death Metal-like vocals, proving once more that the difference between BM and DM isn’t always as apparent or pronounced as one might believe. Of course, Sektemtum is a Black Metal band – and I’m not trying to insinuate otherwise – but I think fans of Death Metal (or even grindcore) will also find plenty here to enjoy.

The mood that comes across me when listening to this is of an axe sinking into a skull, or sailors lost at sea, surrendering to choppy waters, overcome by the elements but dragged by some spectral figure into another realm just before gasping their final breath. Just general unpleasantness, I suppose… In a way, there’s nothing spectacular or ground-breaking going on; yet at the same time the songs are strangely addictive and do appear to possess that special something that elevates music above the (boring, inadequate) norm.

Not a classic by any means, but still a fairly potent brew heading your way. If you want to try a BM version of Converge or Cephalic Carnage, look no further. And the sick vocals are nothing short of extraordinary.

Evilometer: 555/666

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Posted in Black | No Comments »