tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88560950810208431372024-03-13T12:06:21.038+00:00The SludgelordWelcome to The Sludgelord!
Presenting up to date news, reviews & interviews for riff addicts around the world.
This is 'Liberation through Amplification.'DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comBlogger5486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-15900971317967605042024-02-24T17:53:00.000+00:002024-02-24T17:53:09.635+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: The Obsessed, "Gilded Sorrow"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full
Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">16<sup>th</sup> February 2024<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ripple Music </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiqe8KPvi_vbI9u8GeCvyJgIZf0Srj0br9tggfchUlPY0DrzYPpV6-te0VS0ZHx30incR3lTbxp_ovjny_HWIVNCoNXpjFZzzAmBNrxzEh3V2aWMsCKL0ALoBi8lNNBmOksGlnGoF80j3j_D_ym3y-CEO8v1hmXpRsNWwH69yR8_40R7e_TXMy_W-GKEA/s1200/a3825983304_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiqe8KPvi_vbI9u8GeCvyJgIZf0Srj0br9tggfchUlPY0DrzYPpV6-te0VS0ZHx30incR3lTbxp_ovjny_HWIVNCoNXpjFZzzAmBNrxzEh3V2aWMsCKL0ALoBi8lNNBmOksGlnGoF80j3j_D_ym3y-CEO8v1hmXpRsNWwH69yR8_40R7e_TXMy_W-GKEA/s320/a3825983304_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><i>“Gilded Sorrow”</i> CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1.Daughter of an Echo<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2.It's Not OK <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3.Realize a Dream<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4.Gilded Sorrow<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5.Stoned Back to the Bomb
Age <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6.Wellspring - Dark
Sunshine<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7.Jailine<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">8.Yen Sleep<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9.Lucky Free Nice Machine<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first album in well
over half a decade, the first as a new four piece- Dave Sherman sadly departed
this mortal coil in 2022- so we are in somewhat untested waters here. Well, to
an extent; as Wino is <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The
Obsessed</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>in
the same way that Lemmy was <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Motorhead</span></b>.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He is in fine voice- it’s
fully intact and not ravaged by age or touring. He sounds great. In fact, the
whole album sounds great- a big beefy sounding thing with real drums and real
playing. Musically, you know what to expect here: traditional doom metal and
doom rock. This is the street level doom of Maryland, not the more epic variety
bandied about by <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>or similar.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In that regard, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Obsessed</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are closer to their
stateside cousins <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Pentagram</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and closer family members
like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Saint Vitus</span></b>.
It’s a style of doom I particularly like, and one I find endlessly
entertaining. The opening one-two of “<b>Daughter of an Echo”</b> and “<b>It’s
Not Ok”</b> set the stall out; grooves & riffs, Wino pissed off and
switched on. The record is a little more cohesive than “<b><i>Sacred”</i></b>
was- it hangs together nicely.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I mentioned rock as well
as metal earlier. I say that as there is a distinctly classic rock vibe to the
songs here, kind of like how there was with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Place of Skulls</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and Victor Griffin’s best material. You could
imagine <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Thin Lizzy</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>laying down some of these
riffs, or even <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Nazareth</span></b>.
It has that kind of timeless quality to it. Whether it be the mellow title
track that creeps and teases out of the speakers or the more traditional doom
of Stoned Back to the Bomb Age, this is very convincingly played and presented.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s not all absolute
gold; a couple of song intros are a little drawn out for my liking and the
record has some songs that are clearly stronger than others. But, for every “<b>Wellspring”</b>
there is a “<b>Jailene”</b> and Wino’s story telling is on point throughout. The
record is perfectly paced and curated at nine tracks- and closing statement “<b>Lucky
Free Nice Machine”</b> is a minute lone instrumental. There is no need for any
more than that and each track offers something different. Eight tracks was
often the magic number back in the halcyon days of the 70s and so it proves
today.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, then, you get
another quality album from <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The
Obsessed</span></b>, full of fire and venom as well as some pleasingly hazy
vibes at times as well. Where this will sit in the band’s discography, I am not
quite sure as repeated listens will bring big rewards, I think. For fans of
Wino, this is essential and for fans of ‘doom’ that doesn’t have any songs,
have a listen to this and enjoy some actual songwriting for a change. A still
magnificent beast, refusing to toe the party line. Business as usual, then.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Gilded Sorrow”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/gilded-sorrow"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2836723359/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a </iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/gilded-sorrow"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheObsessedOfficial"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-25222781144289265302024-02-12T18:53:00.001+00:002024-02-12T18:53:09.062+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Blaze Bayley, "Circle of Stone"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">23<sup>rd</sup> February 2024<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blaze Bayley Recordings<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPl2BWYLn0S2EiB0lCmS_mvEd7LT03Rb7uW9RCcFndKHwJWuFx9KL1OkNppW_WR3Ppb9lTyPd4kW6v39TB57x6s7FX9xOIShRZyrtD2TWZIKK9xOtEBxwy_4QG7MeIcQWfclkmCYR_r3UUrbeVo9GZwca_9Y1HaA3lxprB5hw_RAM_qxhTdKOC3i9UPfl/s425/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPl2BWYLn0S2EiB0lCmS_mvEd7LT03Rb7uW9RCcFndKHwJWuFx9KL1OkNppW_WR3Ppb9lTyPd4kW6v39TB57x6s7FX9xOIShRZyrtD2TWZIKK9xOtEBxwy_4QG7MeIcQWfclkmCYR_r3UUrbeVo9GZwca_9Y1HaA3lxprB5hw_RAM_qxhTdKOC3i9UPfl/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Circle of Stone” </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Mind Reader<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Tears in Rain<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Rage<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. The Year Beyond This Year<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Ghost in the Bottle<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Broken Man<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. The Call of the Ancestors<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Circle of Stone<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Absence<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10. A Day of Reckoning<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
11. The Path of the Righteous Man<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
12. Until We Meet Again<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">returns
with another fiery and anthemic album of heavy metal. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>has been on a roll for the
best part of a decade now. Since harnessing the considerable talents of British
metal heroes <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Absolva</span></b>-
now further bolstered by Luke Appleton joining the team to work alongside his
brother- <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>has been on a musical
winning streak. He managed three albums in three years with the<b><i> “Infinite
Entanglement” </i></b>Trilogy, followed that up with a superb collection of
songs in <i>“<b>War Within Me”</b>,</i> plus a couple of live albums and DVDs.<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and
band are exceptionally hard working- the pandemic was a cruel period as it left
them kicking their heels while they couldn’t tour. Significantly, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>suffered a near fatal
heart attack in 2023, so the fact he is still at all here is a blessing. The
fact that the quality of his records is still very high is a real gift to the
fans. After coming close to death, Blaze could be forgiven for dialling things
down, going acoustic, reducing touring or even just retiring.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, a short run of
UK dates last year were a triumph- the voice, the energy and the life force
were still there. That life force runs right the way through this record. “<b><i>Circle
of Stone”</i></b> is a life affirming winner, that’s for sure.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Things start confidently
with “<b>Mind Reader”</b>, “<b>Tears of Rain”</b> references Blade Runner and
is even better. “<b>Rage”</b> is a darker proposition and finds <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>delivering a superb vocal
performance. It delivers a Welsh folk tale, via heavy metal. Excellent. As
usual with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b>’s<span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>recent records, the pacing
and sequencing is great; each track is different from the last and has its own
personality- but it doesn’t sound disjointed.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the contrary, Chris
Appleton has done a good production and mix job here, allowing the album a
distinct sound and character. Sonically, it sounds much better to my ears than “<b><i>War
Within Me”</i></b>. I’m unclear as to whether a pro studio was used or if this
was a home production, but it doesn’t matter as it sounds great. The drum sound
is significantly improved and the instruments are nicely blended with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b>’s<span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>voice front and centre.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">According to the man
himself, the first six songs here represent tales of resilience, fighting
against the odds and so forth. It’s prime <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>stuff and expertly delivered. As the band blast through “<b>The
Year Beyond This Year” </b>and “<b>Ghost in the Bottle”</b> the record flies
high. It comes back to earth with “<b>The Broken Man”</b>,<b> </b>which is more
introspective and a slow burning emotive listen. Any listener might think this
was written in the wake of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b>’s
health problems, but in fact this entire album was recorded before his dance
with death.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The latter six tracks
here represent six connected tracks that tell a story of connection to the past
and redemption. “<b>The Call of the Ancestors”</b> kicks side two off in
grandiose (mostly) instrumental style; bagpipes, guitar, ethereal vocals…. It
sets the scene for the mighty title track. It’s majestic, it recalls “<b>The
Clansman”</b> and is a killer. “<b>Absence”</b> is a straight up rocker, with
killer riffage and guitar work in general.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From there, it’s three
tracks remaining. Numerous moods and approaches are covered; the melancholy and
murderous tale told in “<b>A Day Of Reckoning”</b> gives way to hopefulness,
while “<b>The Path of the Righteous”</b> engages the turbo charger for a
convincing metal romp. “<b>Until We Meet Again”</b> caps the album off with
acoustic atmospherics and a haunting guest vocal from Tammy Rae-Bois, who duets
stirringly with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b>.
It’s a folk-y and hopeful conclusion to an album with hidden depths and themes.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To summarise, “<b><i>Circle
of Stone”</i></b> continues the high-quality music that <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Blaze</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>has been putting out since
2016 and offers some different aspects to his writing and sound. It’s a
triumph, it’s a tour de force and I’m so glad he is still here.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Circle of Stone”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.blazebayley.net/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rMTk_QYugSo?si=sbFuLuk55ZO1EsaV" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.blazebayley.net/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">official</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>|| <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialblazebayley/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">facebook</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-43504748306123263202024-01-08T14:51:00.000+00:002024-01-08T14:51:12.335+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Cruciamentum, “Obsidian Refractions” <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">24/11/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Profound Lore Records</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp54lbr1quYxlseJ0_IZXJeCW-N9uDBZC-7ZCOBJFrONv9yiA69zoCWANMyyMOZPs5_tROaSR55EdUrae1mMRV979d5EZCfq9blxancLQirT7p0abf2a1cbIhDNYSlKRyLJp-GptWN1o6UNXZN_9W04838mZyopUaobeeKP0FflpNCnTQ0PGmaqLh0LyU/s1200/a3678341987_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp54lbr1quYxlseJ0_IZXJeCW-N9uDBZC-7ZCOBJFrONv9yiA69zoCWANMyyMOZPs5_tROaSR55EdUrae1mMRV979d5EZCfq9blxancLQirT7p0abf2a1cbIhDNYSlKRyLJp-GptWN1o6UNXZN_9W04838mZyopUaobeeKP0FflpNCnTQ0PGmaqLh0LyU/s320/a3678341987_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Obsidian Refractions” </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Charnel Passages<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Abhorrence Evangelium<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Necropolis Of Obsidian Mirrors<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Scorn Manifestation<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Interminable Rebirth Of Abomination<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Drowned<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">British death metal?
Well, there are some great examples out there; <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Bolt Thrower</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Carcass</span></b>… <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cruciamentum</span></b>?! Yes, them too- even if they
have US and UK blood. While we are a few years on from “<b><i>Charnel Passages”</i></b>,
this sophomore full length picks up where that nasty slab of malevolence left
off. Indeed, “<b><i>Obsidian Refractions”</i></b> opens with a song called “<b>Charnel
Passages”</b> which is creepy and packed with riffs, blasts and double bass
drum carnage.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This type of death metal
is nothing like the other two mentioned British dead legends. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cruciamentum</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are dark and complex with
an arcane and sinister atmosphere pervading their compositions. It’s not hooky
or necessarily song based- it’s atmospheric and evil but not ‘br00tal’ in the
way of USDM like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cannibal</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Morbid Angel</span></b>, or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cryptopsy</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>etc.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The six songs on offer
here offer up epic soundscapes, during which growled vocals tell tales of
suffering and woe. It’s bleak stuff and made bleaker by some black metal type
riff progressions here and there. “<b>Abhorrence Evangelium”</b> is more of the
same style; lots of tempo changes, some dynamics, a solo of atonal delights and
it’s all wrapped up in a very solid production job. “<b>Necropolis of Obsidian
Mirrors”</b> is the best title on the album and it’s this kind of fantasy
horror that lends itself to death metal so well.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In fact, the whole album
is the aural equivalent of a nightmarish landscape, filled with horror both
seen and unseen. It’s unsettling and violent. With the second half of the album
opening with “<b>Scorn Manifestation”</b> at quite a thrashy gallop, the band
manages to engage the listener straight away (on every song) and the blasting
verses alternated with slower passages. “<b>Interminable Rebirth of Abomination”</b>
starts slower and uses reverb drenched riffage to excellent effect.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As you might expect from
the short tracklist, the songs are lengthy; the band stretches to over ten
minutes on closer “<b>Drowned”</b> (not an <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Entombed</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>cover!) with only “<b>Abhorrence…”</b> clocking
under five minutes. Epic and sprawling is the order of the day, then, which is
perfect for the band’s expansive sound. Drowned mixes sinister atmospherics-
imagine <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Dragged Into
Sunlight</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>crossed
with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Dissection</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and something American,
maybe that’s close-ish to the vibe here. Overall, it’s six dense compositions
of thorn filled death metal, played expertly. If you are a death metal fan,
this is simply a must hear.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Come and get lost in the
labyrinthine nightmare that is “<b><i>Obsidian Refractions”</i></b>; you won’t
escape these charnel passages unscathed.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Obsidian Refractions”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://cruciamentum.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-refractions"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2814951388/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://cruciamentum.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-refractions">Obsidian Refractions by CRUCIAMENTUM</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://cruciamentum.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-refractions"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cruciamentum/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-2121506539701149962024-01-08T11:03:00.003+00:002024-01-08T11:03:30.667+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Green Lung, "This Heathen Land"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">03/11/2023</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nuclear Blast</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3ltMSv3faaFae8mUEiLdijrcH8Kf_7KqNXEm67VGZulzTrf0XQE0oRc0-CgZ3oNY8mrbOwS0Gn5Mc974LGOn2CEmqPrcc_lXg_zEBa7RJl0TXlxp0lRlz2sovpFXcJZYThE2EFp0dkVXTGQTA821pIT1k5vWKvFRgScSjzn1ril-enyreWc_1sR_sqLq/s1200/a2977809576_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3ltMSv3faaFae8mUEiLdijrcH8Kf_7KqNXEm67VGZulzTrf0XQE0oRc0-CgZ3oNY8mrbOwS0Gn5Mc974LGOn2CEmqPrcc_lXg_zEBa7RJl0TXlxp0lRlz2sovpFXcJZYThE2EFp0dkVXTGQTA821pIT1k5vWKvFRgScSjzn1ril-enyreWc_1sR_sqLq/s320/a2977809576_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><i>“This Heathen Land”</i> CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Prologue<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. The Forest Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Mountain Throne<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Maxine<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. One for Sorrow<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Song of the Stones<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. The Ancient Ways<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Hunters in the Sky<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Oceans of Time<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Green Lung</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">are
the best ‘new’ band in the UK today. This is their third album and takes in folklore,
esoteric and occult albion (Britain) and so on. “<b><i>Woodland Rites”</i></b>
was rough and ready with the artwork, the vibe and the songs in place. “<b><i>Black
Harvest”</i></b> was nothing short of a modern classic; beefed up production,
better arrangements and songs with vibe and artwork intact.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“This Heathen Land”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is more developed and varied than the previous albums. It has the muscle of
Nuclear Blast behind it- once again, the artwork is stellar (kind of a Wild
Hunt pastiche), the production is superb and the songs, well….<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A spoken word prologue
sets the scene for a journey into a hidden, pagan, Britain. The first track
proper, “<b>The Forest Church”</b>, should have you invested. If it doesn’t,
please give the rest of the record a chance. The track takes in epic soloing,
doom like pacing and some dynamic tempo shifts- plus a more prominent role for
the keys. Having as they do the line-up of classic <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Deep Purple</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Jethro Tull</span></b>, it makes sense to make use of the keys to a
larger extent.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The grooving tempo of “<b>Mountain
Throne”</b> makes for an excellent and headbanging track, while advance track “<b>Maxine
(Witch Queen)”</b> is just brilliant. Catchy, clever and full of hooks and
ideas. Essentially, this is for fans of folk horror, films like The Wicker Man,
Straw Dogs, Witchfinder General, A Field In England, The Devil Rides Out etc.
It’s got that hard-to-define aspect that makes it somehow otherworldly- much
like compatriots <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Pagan
Altar</span></b>.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The doom vibes are back
for “<b>One For Sorrow”</b>- it’s slow and creepy, with a dose of melancholia
woven into the grim portents. Reference points abound in terms of the band’s
sound. This is not doom, per se, but the spectre of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sabbath</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>looms. However, classic 70’s rock like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Heep</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Jethro Tull</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Purple</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>is also present- as is, in
particular, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Queen</span></b>.
Backing vocals, varied instrumentation, varied styles, well orchestrated guitar
parts and hooky vocals. Yep, Brian et. al. would approve.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band has expanded
their sound- not just by the use of keyboards, either. “<b>Song of the Stones”</b>
mixes folkloric ghost story telling with acoustic instrumentation and is much
further from <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sabbath</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and much closer to <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Tull</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>at their ’77 peak or even <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Led Zeppelin</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>at their most arcane. It’s
fantastic and transportive. Crucially, this is also music played by younger
people; these aren’t a load of middle aged old hands trying their luck at
occult rock. It feels organic and authentic.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The UK, even the world,
needs younger rock bands who are not yet into their 40s to keep the genre alive
and thriving. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sabbath</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are done. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Priest</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Maiden</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are in various stages of
their twilight, other large bands are now just embarrassing corporations or the
core of the bands are dead and buried. Elsewhere on the album, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Green Lung</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>delve into the distant
past and fictional horror with strong success. The band keep the vibe on point
with a forty two minute playing time. It’s all here; Ley Lines, barrows, stone
circles, paganism, sorrow, despair and hope.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Modern day Britain is
becoming increasingly out of touch with its past (the good and interesting
parts of it in particular) in favour of a culture of individualism, consumerism
and distrust. Bands like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Green
Lung </span></b>and albums like <i>“<b>This Heathen Land”</b></i> place the
listener firmly in a different time and a better place. While some of the
material here may be a little more stately (“<b>Ancient Ways”</b>) and grand,
there are also the headbanging thrills of “<b>Hunters In The Sky”</b>, so the
album comes off as balanced and considered in its track list.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The record closes with a
take on the vampire myth- “<b>Oceans of Time”</b>- referencing memorable
dialogue from the early 90s film with Gary Oldman in the lead role. Again, it’s
clever and effective and hugely enjoyable, with some <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Type O</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>style production and arrangements. Green Lung
haven’t put a foot wrong with this record and it may well be the one that puts
them over the top from underground prospects to legitimate headliners. They
deserve it, as having witnessed the band live at Desertfest I can confirm that
they have that indefinable extra factor; charisma, mystery, x-factor- call it
what you will. In short, this band is unique and this album is excellent. Treasure
them both.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“This Heathen Land”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://greenlung.bandcamp.com/album/this-heathen-land"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=982736597/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://greenlung.bandcamp.com/album/this-heathen-land">This Heathen Land by GREEN LUNG</a></iframe>
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <a href="https://greenlung.bandcamp.com/album/this-heathen-land"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp || <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/www\.facebook\.com\/greenlungband\0022";">facebook</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></a></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-40176348174357415062023-11-22T17:00:00.008+00:002023-11-22T17:00:00.133+00:00TRACK PREMIERE: "Laughing Song" by GULA<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6gvtdSa2Vlc2Tsa-XOy3h3N8i0Q3DSE-he-kPl1tWHKDlCYOs_XVJ1lxb9GCcdq_aHnf4sfRTHx9B6WyGKXnMrHxI9rKoPz8d30BDuTzSwQPAqGLv4VSD1VzjcBc0lyid4Ul_-MVlq9oeKww7ZooJzSolZYXgxwqZeqUF_GZP5bMmV7cwENSaqSiwpmB/s4000/Promo%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6gvtdSa2Vlc2Tsa-XOy3h3N8i0Q3DSE-he-kPl1tWHKDlCYOs_XVJ1lxb9GCcdq_aHnf4sfRTHx9B6WyGKXnMrHxI9rKoPz8d30BDuTzSwQPAqGLv4VSD1VzjcBc0lyid4Ul_-MVlq9oeKww7ZooJzSolZYXgxwqZeqUF_GZP5bMmV7cwENSaqSiwpmB/w400-h300/Promo%20photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Netherlands based psychedelic doom/metal group </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">GULA</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;">are releasing their new
album </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><i>“Birds of the Apocalypse”</i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"> on December 15, 2023. “</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Laughing
Song”</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"> is the first single off of it, offering a glimpse of what's to be
expected from the full-length but without giving away too much right away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The slowly brooding monolith of a song takes its time
to grow and evolve, while advancing on fuzzed out feverish sonic fields that
invoke various palpable feels during its seven minute duration. The song
encapsulates the atmosphere of the entire album perfectly, as the potent and
organic production underlines the hazy musical delivery, guaranteed to hit home
with anyone even remotely interested in these particular styles. The final nail
to the coffin, atop the well-executed instrumental department, would be the
aerial vocals that float along the firm pulse to introduce loads of depth and
emotion into the mix. While <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">GULA</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>can be seen as a
relatively new band perhaps, they for certain know their craft in and out, <b>“Laughing
Song”</b> being the perfect example of just that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C0toa3Z3zIM?si=Mr8nUzYi2AaiLmWj" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-79167488766883898312023-11-08T14:26:00.000+00:002023-11-08T14:26:58.389+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Sylosis, "A Sign of Things to Come"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b> <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">08/09/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nuclear Blast<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNSfP3ysZV4931yh__PrUVbMDZYDb-NPHw5Vm9kzFTu76Cf2L83-Sm6BcBK4a_y5mw3VKv5U1_j-0wnAzcxu03qcIulS_erZlN38EyDo-N0XBmm9UEd2HVFXQz71g-m2WEsNiqvt1H1iL4BIK3oGDpeBvVTUW6FFCCqfcwTUWnAAe_9LY7MxmaPoLTgbD/s1200/a3330287848_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNSfP3ysZV4931yh__PrUVbMDZYDb-NPHw5Vm9kzFTu76Cf2L83-Sm6BcBK4a_y5mw3VKv5U1_j-0wnAzcxu03qcIulS_erZlN38EyDo-N0XBmm9UEd2HVFXQz71g-m2WEsNiqvt1H1iL4BIK3oGDpeBvVTUW6FFCCqfcwTUWnAAe_9LY7MxmaPoLTgbD/s320/a3330287848_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“A Sign Of Things To Come”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Deadwood<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. A Sign Of Things To Come<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Pariahs<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Poison For The Lost<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Descent<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Absent<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Eye For An Eye<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Judas<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Thorns<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10. A Godless Throne<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sylosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">follow
up 2020’s excellent “<b><i>Cycle of Suffering”</i></b> with this; have the
British metal icons forged forward effectively? I first listened to the band
back in 2015 with “<b><i>A Dormant Heart”</i></b>; an album I still hold in
very high regard. I felt at the time- and still do- that <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sylosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>had cracked a very
difficult code. They are a modern sounding band with a forward-thinking sound
that won’t alienate old-schoolers (such as myself).<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band, for those that
don’t know, combine thrash, death/melo-death, metalcore, groove metal and more
traditional metal into a very effective alloy fit for almost any type of
metalhead. It pleases me that they have (and have always had) the weighty
backing of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Nuclear Blast</span></b>,
but it pains me to consider that if, IF ONLY, the band were American then they
might well be on a much higher level than they are. The Reading, Berkshire, UK,
crew are instead at a level above underground and cult- but not at the large
theatre/arena level they deserve.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">UK metal- and metal in
general- needs bands that look forward as well as back and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sylosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>fit that bill. As such,
then, you’ll hear synths and layers of sound across the title track, along with
hardcore infused vocals, clean singing and huge riffs. The playing and
performances are on point right out of the gate; “<b>Deadwood”</b> is a very
effective opener, distilling what the band do well into four and half minutes.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The album continues at a
very high watermark; “<b>Pariahs”</b> is heavy as hell, grooves massively, and
hits all the right spots for a pit to go insane to. The record sounds
incredible; massive and thick, precise and streamlined. Once again, the band
combine handily the best bits of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Machine Head</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Lamb of God</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Pantera</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Fear
Factory</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and
so on into their own sound.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stand outs? I’d probably
pick “<b>Poison For The Lost”</b> as a real high point; it thrashes extremely
convincingly with real malice and spite injected into the vocals and playing.
This is metal as it should be; fast, furious and laser-honed.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Incredibly, the band are
six albums in here. The level of experience and confidence shows throughout.
The band don’t put a foot wrong in terms of song writing, production or
performance. Band main-man Josh Middleton has been at this for over two decades
now and he is a master of his craft. The band even ring the changes with the
track “<b>Absent”</b>; a kind of synth-scape ballad that gives way to a more
metallic section. It’s cinematic and daring, showing what the band can do when
they spread their wings. More typical service is resumed with “<b>Eye For An
Eye”</b> as the band puts the pedal and metal to the, er, metal once again- but
not forgetting their sense of melody throughout the song.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As noted on previous
records, things are focused and lean throughout; ten songs only, nothing too
bloated and most clocking the 3.5-4.5min playing time. The riffs of “<b>Judas”</b>
have a kind of ‘doom but sped up’ feel and the dark vibe that it gives off is
great. Naturally, speed also kills on this one. Great track.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“As Thorns”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
and then the epic closer “<b>A Godless Throne”</b> bring this excellent record
to an end, I can’t help but ponder the state of the metal genre in 2023. The
arena filling likes of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Maiden</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Metallica</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>may be on the way out, but
with bands like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sylosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>around, the genre is not
going away. The fact is, to many metallers younger than me THIS IS the sound of
metal. Not <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Priest</span></b>,
<b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Maiden</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sabbath</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>et al, but instead bands
like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sylosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>who have cherry picked the
best aspects of various metal sub genres and then come full circle to be
defined as, simply, METAL. Yep, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sylosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are
a METAL band- and they are the best modern metal band in the UK. Easily. <br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“A Sign of Things to Come”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.sylosis-band.com/product/a-sign-of-things-to-come-cd-digipak/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1806675370/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://sylosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-sign-of-things-to-come">A Sign of Things to Come by Sylosis</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://sylosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-sign-of-things-to-come"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>|| <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sylosis/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-77559567330841819342023-11-08T13:52:00.002+00:002023-11-08T13:52:57.213+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Cannibal Corpse, "Chaos Horrific"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">22/09/2023<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Metal Blade Records</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvh8kfVtilmedJdkELgVfJQkeFUD2s8Vt6dIXeOLItWeHvSxwrtnO6pqG30hOosYf-cWxEl1fwDc9anBj1zxKvpphbphyphenhyphenGylLh2O8Vbqaf5gVc_mSmMo6w2h3fssSuKmJ8GlcBFhpEUNmV9SMyYN8KWG7_5h0kq30FgqBvQDCGnDP8bW__MewP94X-sJ9/s1200/CC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvh8kfVtilmedJdkELgVfJQkeFUD2s8Vt6dIXeOLItWeHvSxwrtnO6pqG30hOosYf-cWxEl1fwDc9anBj1zxKvpphbphyphenhyphenGylLh2O8Vbqaf5gVc_mSmMo6w2h3fssSuKmJ8GlcBFhpEUNmV9SMyYN8KWG7_5h0kq30FgqBvQDCGnDP8bW__MewP94X-sJ9/s320/CC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Chaos Horrific”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1 Overlords Of Violence<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2 Frenzied Feeding<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3 Summoned For Sacrifice<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4 Blood Blind<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5 Vengeful Invasion<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6 Chaos Horrific <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7 Fracture and Refracture<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8 Pitchfork Impalement<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9 Pestilential Rictus<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10 Drain You Empty<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The most reliable of all
the death metal institutions, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cannibal Corpse</span></b>, are back- not that they went away- with
their sixteenth (!) studio record. Thirty three years in, this represents a
very impressive work ethic indeed. It’s all the more remarkable for the fact
that, much like thrash veterans <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Overkill</span></b>, there are no bad <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cannibal Corpse</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>records.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While there are no bad
records, I wouldn’t deny that some are better or more significant than others.
For instance, The four Chris Barnes helmed early records are often held up as
classics, but I have always preferred the Corpsegrinder years; “<b><i>The
Bleeding”</i></b> IS a classic, but so is “<b><i>Torture”</i></b>, or “<b><i>A
Skeletal Domain”</i></b>, or “<b><i>Red Before Black”</i></b> and so on; it’s
just that “<b><i>The Bleeding”</i></b> has that
zeitgeist-right-place-right-time vibe/nostalgia. “<b><i>Violence Unimagined”</i></b>
from a couple of years back was one of the best- possibly THE best <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">CC</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>records of any era. Was it
as significant as “<b><i>Tomb of the Mutilated”</i></b> or “<b><i>The Bleeding”</i></b>?
Probably not. Was it better? I think so,<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately, the band are
very much switched on here. “<b><i>Chaos Horrific”</i></b> picks up where “<b><i>Violence
Unimagined”</i></b> left off. It’s brutal, chaotic, horrific, aggressive and
crushingly good. “<b>Overlords of Violence”</b> is a fresh and frenetic opener;
busy bass and full tilt aggression in place.
“<b>Frenzied Feeding”</b> manages to keep the vibe and quality going
before an album stand out: “<b>Summoned For Sacrifice”-</b> which combines
crushing slow tempos, breakneck pace, memorable hooks and incredible vocals.
Erik Rutan is firmly assimilated into the band’s sound now; his lead work is
exceptional throughout, and he works really well with Rob Barratt. The rhythm
section remains pretty much peerless, while George Corpsegrinder Fisher reminds
us all why he viewed as the best DM vocalist on the planet by many.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I really like the varied
tempos on this record “<b>Blood Blind”</b> might be slow by <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">CC</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>standards, but this is as
heavy as they come. The band avoid the “<b><i>Gallery of Suicide”</i></b> trap
(having too many tracks on one record) and instead have offered up ten tracks
of three and a half to four and a half minutes each, Perfect, really, as a
little of this goes a LONG way.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is complex riffage
on “<b>Vengeful Invasion”</b> and just unrelenting brutality abounds. At the
half way mark this is a candidate for one of the best <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">CC</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>records. The material is
strong, the sound and production is superb, the playing incredibly tight. From
there, there is no dip in quality or energy. The title track thrashes very
convincingly with lots of changes used effectively.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m not as keen on “<b>Fracture
and Refracture”</b>- for reasons I don’t really even understand, but “<b>Pitchfork
Impalement”</b>, “<b>Pestilential Rictus”</b> and “<b>Drain You Empty”</b> all
impale and disembowel the listener extremely effectively; they are all
memorable, frenzied and ferocious in their approach.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cannibal Corpse</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">have
brought their A-game here; no wasted tracks, no wasted riffs, beats or solos.
Everything counts; there are nifty changes, some really technical playing,
incredible vocals and an overall sense that the band are utilising every year
of their experience to create a death metal tour de force. Death metal simply
doesn’t get any better than this. Imperious.</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=731176144/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/chaos-horrific">Chaos Horrific by Cannibal Corpse</a></iframe>
<div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Band info: </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://cannibalcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/chaos-horrific"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cannibalcorpse/?locale=en_GB"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></div><div><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-25613963869807900092023-10-25T16:56:00.003+01:002023-10-25T16:56:42.714+01:00ALBUM REVIEW: Godthrymm, "Distortions"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b> <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">18/08/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Profound Lore</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXJKUtYp6BohXX_yQqBL9z8tsmkN93xlE7gT7B5DkHobpUg3vucyFgYsYrT1vxgXKTz-DxT7MdMp5sEJT4ypYImQ9uU6rEYLG96OWH8kduCWsHaq0CgDMR6vRoGtJj6om-3lbWQvzV77MaQ0qAL_gAorTDWp-HINvVgAlYJyCjbsLjs4YYWhUXMO5Q-RX/s1200/a1797408974_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXJKUtYp6BohXX_yQqBL9z8tsmkN93xlE7gT7B5DkHobpUg3vucyFgYsYrT1vxgXKTz-DxT7MdMp5sEJT4ypYImQ9uU6rEYLG96OWH8kduCWsHaq0CgDMR6vRoGtJj6om-3lbWQvzV77MaQ0qAL_gAorTDWp-HINvVgAlYJyCjbsLjs4YYWhUXMO5Q-RX/s320/a1797408974_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Distortions”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. As Titans<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Devils<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Echoes<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Obsess and Regress<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Unseen, Unheard<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Follow Me<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Pictures Remain<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yorkshire doom metal is a
specific genre very close to my heart and here we have some of the finest
practitioners of the genre doing what they do best. If you like the idea of
epic doom metal, evocative of grim windswept landscapes and endless rain, then <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Godthrymm</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are also for you.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is epic in scale and
scope; everything over six minutes in length, with two of the tracks stretching
to 11 mins plus. The band comprise ex-members of, deep breath, <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Vallenfyre</span>, <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">My Dying Bride</span>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Anathema</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Solstice</span></b>. So, doom
metal royalty? Pretty much.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Led by Hamish Glencross
on guitars and vocals, the band sound incredible- massive and with plenty of
dynamics via the use of keyboards from Catherine Glencross (who adds ethereal
vocals to proceedings in places) and a rock-solid rhythm section courtesy of
Bob Crolla and Shaun Taylor-Steels.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is doom in the
traditional sense of the word; emotive clean vocals, occasionally pummelling
drums, huge riffs and a generally sad and melancholic feel all add up to a very
atmospheric listen. The suitably massive “<b>As Titans”</b> opens up
proceedings with a big statement of intent while “<b>Devils”</b> equals the
opener for dark vibes.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is variety here. “<b>Unseen,
Unheard”</b> features a fast section of riffage and each song features a lot of
oppressive weight and some lighter textures as well. The production is
excellent; clear and huge with echoey vocals set at the top of the mix within
their own space. There is no title track, but the epic penultimate track “<b>Follow
Me”</b> perhaps serves as a mission statement for the record- it features most
facets of the release in one sprawling epic. The band close with “<b>Pictures
Remain”</b> which leaves a bitter-sweet melancholy for the listener to ruminate
upon.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As an aural reference
point, all the bands mentioned above and- of course- <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Paradise Lost</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>fit the bill. It’s hard to convey just
how much I enjoyed this on first listen; it’s massive, majestic, ethereal,
earthy and every bit as atmospheric and epic as it should be. A must
listen/must buy for fans of the genre.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Distortions”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://godthrymmdoom.bandcamp.com/album/distortions"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> <br /><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3864309261/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://godthrymmdoom.bandcamp.com/album/distortions">Distortions by GODTHRYMM</a></iframe></div>
<div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Band info: </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://godthrymmdoom.bandcamp.com/album/distortions"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/godthrymm/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></div><div><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-41359116261003142992023-07-30T12:28:00.002+01:002023-07-30T12:28:38.911+01:00ALBUM REVIEW: Creeping Death, "Boundless Domain"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">16/06/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">MNRK Heavy</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wuzg7QZF-99rNtDb2i6n3BaQSXQYB4fA0Vbcs7ZPK9mP62pA4TNN16Gw5BIFwqIzTvZ0NZiI6NOqjajFnjwLTo8knGkfhdZkROFbBq8oj1Wc_dERkcQYobAWs2XNa994mKzNnx6eEGDStKG2Vfpey8ldiLilYuxybr23URcRyg8hGPUdZCe5GjAnE1P_/s1200/a1898874432_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wuzg7QZF-99rNtDb2i6n3BaQSXQYB4fA0Vbcs7ZPK9mP62pA4TNN16Gw5BIFwqIzTvZ0NZiI6NOqjajFnjwLTo8knGkfhdZkROFbBq8oj1Wc_dERkcQYobAWs2XNa994mKzNnx6eEGDStKG2Vfpey8ldiLilYuxybr23URcRyg8hGPUdZCe5GjAnE1P_/s320/a1898874432_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><b> <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Boundless Domain”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1) Boundless Domain<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2) Intestinal Wrap<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3) Vitrified Earth<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4) The Parthian Shot<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5) Creators Turned Into Prey<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6) Cursed<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7) Remnants of the Old Gods<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8) Looming<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9) The Common Breed<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /> </span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here we go! Death metal
from Texas with strong thrash and groove elements. Straight away, I knew this
was going to be good. Interestingly, Adam D of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Killswitch Engage</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>produces (insufferable stage performances
aside, he is a superb musician) and Corpsegrinder even turns up for a cameo on
the second track- “<b>Intestinal Wrap”</b>.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The album starts with a
slow burn title track and from there ratchets up the death, the thrash, the
groove and the intensity. The album has enough variation and push and pull to
draw the listener in. this isn’t just mindless blast beats and growls, the
songs feel thought out and solid with speed used as necessary and good variety
in the riffs.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The solos also rip
impressively, so along with a watertight production this represents the full
packages as far as death metal goes. Pinch harmonics infiltrate the riffs here
and there- a nice nod to death metal of a 90s vintage- while the rolling tank
stylings of “<b>Vitrified Earth”</b> show that the band can do different paces
nicely as well.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is to the band’s
credit that there is no fat to be trimmed here at all. As I’ve often said, a
little death metal goes a long way- so at 36 minutes, this record is spot on in
terms of what it offers up. Nine tracks is plenty and the days of bands trying
to fill an hour- or a whole CD, Satan help us- have long gone, it seems.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Certainly, the quality
here is kept up throughout and the band run through their repertoire very
confidently as the album progresses. The sound is unified, even if “<b>The
Parthian Shot” </b>is very different from, say, “<b>Cursed”</b>.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In a genre where
uniqueness is rare, hopefully this second full length will set <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Creeping Death</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>apart from the many, many
brutal outfits out there. The fact is that the best and biggest DM bands all
have a USP; a uniquely identifiable aspect to their sound/style/presentation-
which marks them out and causes other bands to try to emulate them.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pleasingly, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Creeping Death</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>don’t sound like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cannibal Corpse</span></b>, or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b>, or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Deicide</span></b>, or<b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> Morbid Angel</span></b>, or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cryptopsy</span></b>, or <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Autopsy</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>etc. etc. They sound like
their own band, with various genres mixed into the death metal drama.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopefully, “<b><i>Boundless
Domain”</i></b> will see the band lifted out of the death metal milieu and into
their own space. On the strength of this record, they richly deserve a better
level of recognition and reward. They’ve made a very good record. Listen and
find out for yourself.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Boundless Domain”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://creepingdeathtx.bandcamp.com/album/boundless-domain"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=852775530/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://creepingdeathtx.bandcamp.com/album/boundless-domain">Boundless Domain by Creeping Death</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://creepingdeathtx.bandcamp.com/album/boundless-domain"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-24555647534135308092023-07-12T15:05:00.002+01:002023-07-12T15:05:37.803+01:00ALBUM REVIEW: Jag Panzer, “The Hallowed” <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">23/06/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Atomic Fire</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZp7tNj9yNaq0R--VzzAj9vQR3NQuEJkViYbsbZ476cST2oe5kseTjfVS7ZBfCwQrd8mGNfuTYZBTm2HwpTgT9UkR8PpeDcUTa3_uNH2rZZT_PQ7DdQ5SHpq6cysPcGtv_uo4Y-jTMyD6juQTyobB_s4bxeH_8_r8Q87eZJw0WWOCgJshDODNyv_69L3a/s500/Jag-Panzer_The-Hallowed-01-491x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZp7tNj9yNaq0R--VzzAj9vQR3NQuEJkViYbsbZ476cST2oe5kseTjfVS7ZBfCwQrd8mGNfuTYZBTm2HwpTgT9UkR8PpeDcUTa3_uNH2rZZT_PQ7DdQ5SHpq6cysPcGtv_uo4Y-jTMyD6juQTyobB_s4bxeH_8_r8Q87eZJw0WWOCgJshDODNyv_69L3a/s320/Jag-Panzer_The-Hallowed-01-491x500.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“The Hallowed”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Bound As One<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Prey!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Ties That Bind<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Stronger Than You Know<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Onward We Toil<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Edge Of A Knife<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Dark Descent<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Weather The Storm<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Renewed Flame<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10. Last Rites<br /></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Jag Panzer</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">are
an American powerhouse of power metal… but also of trad metal… and even thrash
elements. In fact, it’s not so easy to label the band as ‘this’ or ‘that’ as
they are their own entity. The band got a great start in 1984 with the classic “<b><i>Ample
Destruction”</i></b>, but then effectively went on hiatus for a decade. If 2<b><i>Ample
Destruction”</i></b> had been unbridled youthful aggression, then later albums
were much more sophisticated, varied and subtle.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In fact, it must be noted
that when I refer to ‘power’ metal, this US variant (USPM) is very, VERY
different from its European cousin; it’s leaner, meaner and much weightier.
This time around, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Jag
Panzer</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>have
gone with a full concept record. They aren’t strangers to this, having told the
story of Macbeth back in 2000 with a “<b><i>Thane to The Throne”</i></b>, but
all the same, 23 years separates the releases, so this is a welcome return.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, this time around
the band have looked to a post-apocalyptic future rather than a literary past.
The record tells the story of a group of intrepid survivors, battling the
landscape, hunger and predatory beasts as they seek survival and redemption.
It’s startlingly well put together. The story, concept, spoken word interludes
and most importantly the songs are fully realised and presented with utter
conviction.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One thing that really
jumps out at here- from the first beat- is the production. Yes, the legendary
Jim Morris mixing the record helps, but the main point of note is that this
sounds like a metal band, recorded in the studio- but not relying on technology
and computers. The drums sound, well, REAL… like a proper drum kit played in a
proper studio by a proper drummer. Rikard Stjernquist, take a bow- ably
complimented by John Tetley’s convincing bass. The rest of the band turn in
equally vital performances, brimming with fire and life. Harry ‘The Tyrant’
Conklin’s voice is one of the best in the genre and his vocals here are
soaring, operatic, pitch perfect and full of grit and conviction in equal
measure.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While Chris Broderick
played on the deliciously dark “<b><i>Casting the Stones”</i></b> albums before
exiting for <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Megadeth</span></b>,
his presence is not missed here (nor on the EXCELLENT “<b><i>The Scourge of
Light”</i></b> back in 2011). Ken Rodarte does a superb job with some real
guitar pyrotechnics, while band lynchpin Mark Briody delivers riff after riff.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As for the songs
themselves, as a concept album it is hard to pick stand outs as they all depend
on each other for the story. That said, “<b>Stronger Than You Know”</b> is
superb, “<b>Prey!”</b> “<b>Dark Descent”</b> and “<b>Onward We Toil”</b> all
offer something different from each other and all showcase the best aspects of
the band and album. I think that every track here is better than anything on
2017’s “<b><i>The Deviant Chord”</i></b>- which was still a more than decent
album!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is an excellent and entertaining
metal album; it’s uniformly strong, packed with personality and fiery playing
and will please fans of such bands as <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Maiden, Manilla Road, Iced Earth</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cage</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Judas Priest, Helloween, Dio, Dio-era
Sabbath</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>etc.
It’s grand, gritty and extremely self-assured. A masterclass in real and unique
power metal.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The Hallowed”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://label.atomicfire-records.com/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJJ2i_2Gi6s" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jagpanzerofficial/?locale=en_GB"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-141352475016395852023-07-12T08:36:00.003+01:002023-07-12T08:36:18.140+01:00ALBUM REVIEW: Vomitory, “All Heads Are Gonna Roll” <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">26/05/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Metal Blade Records<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixAcWrZ-W_yXLGlamcvSmAdxj-Y4k4Fz8AeEpd2C6BqjPUcevhjTBv4GPrdZZyyTdVblUftw7v_sug45XKKqmZG1C8KBlhuldT4W-Weyu9Zl4S67VIdSwTU0KNmKVZ3Qxq9BIsZcMIV1iWiLykYWRjfDDyjI18M0cQT3r4w-dlBJpUe0NUKHBKO2ucTXq/s1200/a0699735899_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixAcWrZ-W_yXLGlamcvSmAdxj-Y4k4Fz8AeEpd2C6BqjPUcevhjTBv4GPrdZZyyTdVblUftw7v_sug45XKKqmZG1C8KBlhuldT4W-Weyu9Zl4S67VIdSwTU0KNmKVZ3Qxq9BIsZcMIV1iWiLykYWRjfDDyjI18M0cQT3r4w-dlBJpUe0NUKHBKO2ucTXq/s320/a0699735899_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“All Heads Are Gonna Roll” </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. All Heads Are Gonna
Roll<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Decrowned<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Ode to the Meat Saw<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. The Deepest Tomb<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Piece by Stinking Piece<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Raped, Strangled, Sodomized, Dead<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Dead Man Stalking<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Disciples of the Damned<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Dead World<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10. Beg for Death<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Vomitory</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">return
after over a decade… but the Swedes haven’t lost any of their rabid aggression
or deathly destructive power. This is death metal from the old school- but
better than the new school. And better than most of the active old school as
well!<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The album sounds thick
and meaty. The performances are very aggressive and fully committed. The moment
the title track races out of the gate, it’s clear that this is a true nitrous
injected deathride of monumental proportions. There is no backward step from
there; “<b>Decrowned”</b> is fantastically aggressive and wild.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band may have been
putting out records since the 90s, but this goes to show that they’ve lost none
of their potency or power. “<b>Ode to the Meat Saw”</b> shows another side to
the band- just as nasty, but at a slower pace. Rolling bass drums and some
guitar riffing reminiscent of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Bolt Thrower</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
</span>in places.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At ten tracks, this is an
old school blast of traditional deathly values and spite. Any fans of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Dismember</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Entombed</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Paganizer</span></b>- even <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Asphyx</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and most other Euro/UK DM
acts you would name will find everything they like here; it’s got the style and
feel of an old school rager but with a crushing modern production and mix. No
bad tracks and some great song titles (“<b>Dead Man Stalking”</b>) make for a
fetid mixture of true death metal.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, this is for all
fans of death metal and should be compulsory listening for all fans of the
genre in 2023; you won’t hear better this year.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“All Heads Are Gonna Roll”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://vomitory.bandcamp.com/album/all-heads-are-gonna-roll"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=134374958/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://vomitory.bandcamp.com/album/all-heads-are-gonna-roll">All Heads Are Gonna Roll by Vomitory</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://vomitory.bandcamp.com/album/all-heads-are-gonna-roll"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vomitoryband"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-25239338410580578002023-05-28T21:38:00.002+01:002023-05-28T21:41:17.661+01:00ALBUM REVIEW: Wytch Hazel, "IV: Sacrament"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type:</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full
Length<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">02/06/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bad Omen Records</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s_Zum9zPJUhZLTAjUYVpuCCG0OrLuKpow6R3FqhOtJwaWti8HdMfTN61tbmmbux_6Ot97IUcoIp4gOncJ6ovNNkvvVrDgKTMrvHo8qjw-2tHojaQBk1ACfSvhQGa2DMMlbH60RQjLzvt4UkBEheRDVrFKwEHCEOfP5N_3k9HSKxvUXAQcOtXsoD1Zg/s1200/a2517776311_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1200" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s_Zum9zPJUhZLTAjUYVpuCCG0OrLuKpow6R3FqhOtJwaWti8HdMfTN61tbmmbux_6Ot97IUcoIp4gOncJ6ovNNkvvVrDgKTMrvHo8qjw-2tHojaQBk1ACfSvhQGa2DMMlbH60RQjLzvt4UkBEheRDVrFKwEHCEOfP5N_3k9HSKxvUXAQcOtXsoD1Zg/s320/a2517776311_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“IV: Sacrament” CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. The Fire's Control<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Angel of Light<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Time and Doubt<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Strong Heart<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Deliver Us<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. A Thousand Years<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Gold Light<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Endless Battle<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Future Is Gold<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10. Digging Deeper<br /></span><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wytch Hazel</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">are
back to save us from ourselves- and mediocre albums- with this, their fourth
full length. Hitherto, the Lancastrian band have been building up quite a head
of steam. “<b><i>Prelude”</i></b> introduced the band with its <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Thin Lizzy</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>meets <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wishbone Ash</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>meets NWOBHM stylings. “<b><i>II
Sojourn”</i></b> was a more straightforward rock proposition and then their
crowning glory, “<b><i>III Pentecost”</i></b> was the best hard rock album of
2020- fairly easily.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While “<b><i>Pentecost”</i></b>
may have borrowed from Argus in terms of its pastoral elements and the overall
Englishness of the vibe and the space of the sound, “<b><i>Sacrament”</i></b>
is different again. Having moved from The Stationhouse studio in Leeds to
pastures new at StudiOwz in Wales, the band have retained their spacious and
expansive sound, along with the analogue vibe of the production courtesy of Ed
Turner who operates here as something like a band-member-once-removed.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s clear that the
band’s Christian themes/element is stronger than ever here; fear of hell and
the control that asserts is the theme of “<b>The Fire’s Control” </b>and “<b>Angel
of Light”</b> is about, well- you know already. There is Hammond Organ in the
mix, multi layered guitars and an excellent bass sound.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are quirks here;
the solo of “<b>Time and Doubt”</b> is extremely fiery, even when the vocals
and lyrics are maudlin. Main man Colin Hendra clearly put in overtime with this
record- he plays drums after the departure of Jack Spencer. His drumming here
is perfectly serviceable, but it is missing the flair of Spencer’s fills and
the subtleties/style of his approach. Hendra instead supplies a bedrock for the
other instruments to build upon, without flash or fuss. It’s competent and
direct. I suspect the album could have been lifted by a full-time drummer, but
the fact that the band and Colin made it work without one is a minor miracle in
itself. The guitars, vocals and other instrumentation is superb. They all sound
incredible and are full of life and purpose. The acoustic guitar overdubs, used
to expand the sound a la the Stones on their best 70s work, work superbly and
the whole sound has the effect of a wall of sound. Majestic.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hendra has kept the songs
tight and focused- no sprawling 20min prog epics- but despite the taut running
times the record has a completely epic feel; it’s a truly immersive experience.
As the listener is exhorted to stay until the battle is won on “<b>Deliver Us”</b>…
well, I believed in the quest and I believed every word that was sung. It’s
powerful, affecting and effective.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Across the record, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wytch Hazel</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>have achieved something in
hard rock/metal that is very difficult to do: they have made a heavy album that
isn’t aggressive. Too much rock and metal these days (and all days) relies on
aggressive chest beating as a trope to confirm heavy credentials. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wytch Hazel</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>instead rely on songs,
melodies and sound. Not many bands have been able to do that over the years- <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Led Zeppelin</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Thin Lizzy</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Queen</span></b>, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wishbone Ash</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and if we extend things a
bit, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Jethro Tull</span></b>.
It’s a fairly small list (you’ll think of others) and places <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wytch Hazel</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>in exalted company indeed.
Yes, make no mistake, this album IS heavy. It’s heavy in themes and vibe, even
if its airy production belies this. It also rocks hard, but without machismo.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As the record reaches its
final triumvirate, the guitar riff and sound that opens “<b>Endless Battle”</b>
is simply excellent. The band immediately change things up and the verse
section is not what you would expect from the opening- again, a little like
classic Tull. The guitar work also echoes <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Maiden</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>a little- the lineage of British rock and metal
is clear and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wytch Hazel </span></b>are
claiming their place in it. The reverbed start to “<b>Future is Gold”</b>
allows for lovely acoustic sounds and excellent layered vocals from Colin
Hendra; it introduces a rather positive outlook missing from previous tracks-
but it is still tinged with a little sadness, a little uncertainty, a little
wistfulness. As the album’s ballad track, it works well and is expertly placed
in the penultimate position.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Naturally, the band close
the album with the longest track- the aptly named “<b>Digging Deeper”</b>. The <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wishbone Ash</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>influence is present and
correct again here, but the band are now just sounding like themselves- as they
did on “<b><i>Pentecost”</i></b>. Their sound is unique and instantly
recognisable. In fact, over the last few years, Wytch Hazel have become one of
my favourite bands. They are peerless at what they do in the modern age and
this record is, front to back, incredibly strong. It’s heavy, but paradoxically
has a lightness of touch to everything within it. It’s dark but uplifting. It’s
much like a <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cathedral</span></b>;
a towering achievement built from the ground up, reaching towards the heavens
above.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you haven’t heard <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Wytch Hazel</span></b>, you must
listen. They are the way, the truth and the light.<br /> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“IV: Sacrement”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available </span><a href="https://wytchhazel.bandcamp.com/album/iv-sacrament"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE<br /></span></b></a><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2109742222/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://wytchhazel.bandcamp.com/album/iv-sacrament">IV: Sacrament by Wytch Hazel</a></iframe></div>
<div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: </span><a href="https://wytchhazel.bandcamp.com/album/iv-sacrament"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">Bandcamp</span></b></a><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> || </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wytchhazel"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</span></b></a></div><div><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-3943054778624443862023-05-07T09:35:00.001+01:002023-05-07T09:35:13.594+01:00ALBUM REVIEW: Overkill, "Scorched"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Full Length<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">14/04/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nuclear Blast</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoTxVimE60HLinSSzj67hDK_LJF-3tistP9DM6i7ZEEXsVfDC3yGtAh2LF-ZyOOmAixqxRMbdYDiK23NbutjDabdgJ9gf4RGZ0e7LMbpi4FvowDGD0HFbp3ALEp_KUI0SFAT1QAzAEkR0vHTJGO4R4l9kTKtbwvRs0HHuNK49-vedwImi-gRk2PujQw/s1200/a0015461598_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoTxVimE60HLinSSzj67hDK_LJF-3tistP9DM6i7ZEEXsVfDC3yGtAh2LF-ZyOOmAixqxRMbdYDiK23NbutjDabdgJ9gf4RGZ0e7LMbpi4FvowDGD0HFbp3ALEp_KUI0SFAT1QAzAEkR0vHTJGO4R4l9kTKtbwvRs0HHuNK49-vedwImi-gRk2PujQw/s320/a0015461598_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">“Scorched”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">
CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Scorched<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
2. Goin’ Home<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
3. The Surgeon<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
4. Twist of the Wick<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
5. Wicked Place<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
6. Won’t be Comin Back<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
7. Fever<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
8. Harder They Fall<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
9. Know Her Name<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
10. Bag o’ Bones<br /></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">The Review: <br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>return after their longest
ever break between albums- “<b><i>Wings of War”</i></b> was 2019! It’s only the
pandemic that has led to this situation, and I suspect that the band would have
put this out in 2021 or 2022 if they had been able to tour it.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First things first: Colin
Richardson has produced and mixed this along with Chris Clancy. It sounds
incredible. The bass is percussive and aggressive with D.D Verni taking his
rightful place in the mix, the drums are crystal clear and have depth along
with attack- Jason Bittner is perfect for the band. The guitars are similarly
in-your-face and precise. I realise that Bobby G is most fans choice of
favourite <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>guitarist, but I love the
Linsk/Tailer axis even more. On top of
all that, of course, is Bobby Blitz Ellsworth’s instantly identifiable shriek.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course, if
identifiable sounds and elements made for classic albums then the <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Rolling Stones</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Metallica</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>would be on a never ending
winning streak of incredible records… Fortunately, this time around <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>have focused and delivered
the songs along with the sounds. With hindsight, I found “<b><i>Wings of War”</i></b>
a little over-long and a little directionless in parts. The good songs were
great, the album tracks were a little more blunt than usual. “<b><i>The
Grinding Wheel”</i></b> suffered from a mid-album bloat with too many long
songs.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Scorched”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
delivers only one song over the six-minute mark and it is a welcome approach.
Indeed, with the title track being up first and the longest song on offer, the
band immediately announce that they are BACK. It’s a cracking and thrashy
opener. “<b>While Goin’ Home”</b> may be the most accessible song here, it’s
not one of my favourites as I am here for thrash- as I am on every <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>record. “<b>The Surgeon”</b>
delivers handily as does “<b>Twist of the Wick”</b>.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The band have time for a
detour or two as well, such as “<b>Wicked Place”</b>- that delivers the
Sabbathian lope that the band have perfected over the years (see also “<b>Spiritual
Void”</b> and “<b>Come Heavy”</b>). It’s cool that <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>continue to be OVERKILL at all times. The song
writing is sharp and the band is as hungry as ever. Dave Linsk delivers some
mighty lead work throughout and for a bunch of guys who are mostly in their
60s, well, it’s incredible that they still sound like this and that they are
still making music with this fire and quality.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's not all flawless;
there are a couple of <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b>-by-numbers
tracks; “<b>Won’t Be Comin’ Back”</b> is fine, but no better than that and
leans a little too hard on melody- it’s an average <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>album track, redeemed partially by the solo
section. The albums most left-field track is “<b>Fever”</b>. It is a slow
burning, moody quasi-ballad. This is the type of <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>song that I have never really cared for and
don’t buy the albums for. I didn’t rate “<b>Bitter Pill”</b> on “<b><i>White
Devil Armory”</i></b>, I don’t like “<b>Shades of Grey”</b> on “<b><i>I Hear
Black</i></b>...” the list goes on. On the plus side, it has some unexpected
percussion, quiet and loud dynamics and isn’t a bad song per se. It’s just not
what I want from an <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>track. I’d probably rather
have a throwaway thrasher than a well-crafted moody song like this one. My
loss, I suppose.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fortunately, “<b>Harder
They Fall”</b> redeems the band instantly with a straight ahead rager- fast and
furious with plenty of machismo as is expected from the title. Simply put, it
is this type of song I’m looking for from the band. Not that they owe me
anything at all when they are 20 (!) albums deep into their 43-year career. The
chugging riff of “<b>Know Her Name”</b> is also welcome and feels like an old
friend. Indeed, between this and the (surprisingly funky and groovey) closing “<b>Bag
O’ Bones”</b>, the band don’t put a foot wrong and finish the album in fine
style.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">began
an incredible run of albums with “<b><i>Ironbound”</i></b> in 2010. For me,
that one remains their peak (of any era) but “<b><i>Electric Age”</i></b> was
almost as good. “<b><i>White Devil Armory”</i></b>, “<b><i>The Grind Wheel”</i></b>
and “<b><i>Wings of War”</i></b> are all good records- with perhaps a tendency
for the quality to drop just a little with each album in release date order. “<b><i>Scorched”</i></b>
reverses that slight downward trend and brings them back up a notch.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another year, another great
<b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Overkill</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>album. Enjoy them while
they are still here as sooner or later- much like <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Motorhead</span></b>- they simply won’t be around
anymore. This is recommended to all fans of the band, all thrash fans and is as
fine a starting point as any for anyone who wonders what the band are all
about.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Scorched</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">”
is available now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=4267924965/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://overkillmetal.bandcamp.com/album/scorched">Scorched by Overkill</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Band info: <span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"><a href="https://overkillmetal.bandcamp.com/album/scorched?label=341990631&tab=music"><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bandcamp</span></a> || <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OverkillWreckingCrew/"><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-48446674975191827082023-03-09T21:44:00.001+00:002023-03-09T21:44:20.110+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Memoriam, "Rise To Power" <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3/2/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reaper Entertainment</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixglwqLVnd77iCZhCCYce2S45yJQOgVDEnL7q3_cGq7tvCAf1HvgtbTvYIioqcvAPpw9rjtphFmVuIdKD9_p24xz1dmDtIyxWsMaE0I29rH8dZr9_Me50FzzOoqeBI_TZI4B9Mh9cGuVkqhx86Bdivp1bEAzPDmcwXDy2fFcDl-oForNKx4fXaVq-UkA/s500/Memoriam_Rise-To-Power-01-500x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixglwqLVnd77iCZhCCYce2S45yJQOgVDEnL7q3_cGq7tvCAf1HvgtbTvYIioqcvAPpw9rjtphFmVuIdKD9_p24xz1dmDtIyxWsMaE0I29rH8dZr9_Me50FzzOoqeBI_TZI4B9Mh9cGuVkqhx86Bdivp1bEAzPDmcwXDy2fFcDl-oForNKx4fXaVq-UkA/s320/Memoriam_Rise-To-Power-01-500x500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Rise to Power” </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /> <o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Never Forget, Never
Again (6 Million Dead)<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Total War<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. I Am the Enemy<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. The Conflict is Within<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. Annihilation’s Dawn<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. All is Lost<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Rise to Power<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. This Pain<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Memoriam</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">return
to further cement their status as a British death metal institution. The band’s
work rate is very impressive. “<b><i>For The Fallen”</i></b> still seems like a
recent album for me, but it is now several releases ago- and dropped in 2017!<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, eight tracks all
around the five minute or so mark. This is heavy, slow in places, no blasts,
plenty of grooves…. Well, you know what to expect really- it’s not <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Bolt Thrower</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>but it is of the same
bloodline. That’s probably the best way I can explain this. What I can say is
that it is slower and more melancholy than the first three albums.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is an almost gothic
sensibility to some of the sounds here- “<b>I am The Enemy” </b>being a fine
case in point. In fact, I might even go as far as to say that a lot here is
perhaps even death doom! A long forgotten genre, hardly mentioned anymore; but
loved by many of a certain age. Check out “<b>The Conflict Is Within” </b>for
some deathly and doomy splendour.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When the band put the
kick pedals to the metal, as they do on “<b>Annihilations Dawn”</b>, it has a
great effect. It’s neck snapping stuff, in the vein of, well, you know who. “<b>All
Is Lost”</b> is slower but equally heavy with some nice syncopated ride work to
complement the off kilter riffing. As the album progresses through the title
track, it settles into a pattern- fairly maudlin riffs and leads, melancholy
and doomy vibes, combined with the bursts of bullish firepower.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The album delivers one
epic in <b>This Pain</b> and it features some acoustic work to start and then
kicks off. While this is slower and more doomy than the previous albums, this
is still recognisably <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Memoriam</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and recognisably of the
members’ alma maters. Overall, it’s another solid and battle-hardened record
and another credible entry into the band’s canon (cannon?!). Cool artwork, too.
If you wanted to check the band out, start here. If you are a long-time
follower, you won’t be disappointed. Business as usual, then!</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Rise To Power” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">is
available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.reapermusic.de/reaper"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/463cdG0LJ2s" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.memoriamuk.com/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">official</span></a>
|| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Memoriam2016/?locale=en_GB"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-52673823592693012232023-02-23T23:46:00.002+00:002023-02-23T23:46:32.067+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Agalariept, "“Desde el Supremo Reino” <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">03/01/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Independent</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymQ6OZsVm11SVet0MOz7BBuDjFOXbaGQDsFdcPrrBNDORpsTJr9a1bc_r2pb52HBk-ZConT31UdKN1__iqKm73F9Wcj3Aug9lfwXwEKNPTRkwx3xStUrgQ7eMKxO6dcyt8btIcU6RfIUPiFvDK4FY6jkr2JQDkozpY-26SvBeXJo1BypGPFM6gWyLeA/s1200/a1151268186_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymQ6OZsVm11SVet0MOz7BBuDjFOXbaGQDsFdcPrrBNDORpsTJr9a1bc_r2pb52HBk-ZConT31UdKN1__iqKm73F9Wcj3Aug9lfwXwEKNPTRkwx3xStUrgQ7eMKxO6dcyt8btIcU6RfIUPiFvDK4FY6jkr2JQDkozpY-26SvBeXJo1BypGPFM6gWyLeA/s320/a1151268186_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Desde el Supremo Reino”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> DD track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Inframundo<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2. Cirugía Macabra<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3. Miasis<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4. Putrefacto<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5. Festín<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6. Lobotomía<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7. Inútil Fe<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">8. Averno<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9. Desde El Supremo
Reino<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chile has given the metal
world a number of great things; Tom Araya, Anton Reisenegger, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Procession</span></b>… and that’s
the tip of the iceberg. Lurking much further underground than the
aforementioned are <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Agalariept</span></b>.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is technical death
metal, with lots of thrash leanings and melody through the lead work. Nine
tracks in total, with impressively concise playing times (generally three to
four minutes). This is reliably weighty and also riffy- the blasting sections
never get too much and are counterbalanced with thrashier pacing. It’s all in
Spanish, so to understand any of the song titles or lyrics you will need to
translate it. That hasn’t spoiled my enjoyment of this at all, though.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Agalariept</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">definitely
have that Latin flavour that means that genres are crossed with each other a
fair bit (kind of like the way earlier <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sepultura</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>was thrash, but had death metal in there and
even black metal at the very start).The leads are superb, the playing is great
and the production really suits this type of music. It’s extreme, of course,
but it is also very listenable and easy to bang your head to.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s all very consistent
and hard to pick stand outs. I liked the pacing of “<b>Putrefacto”</b>, but
equally the opener “<b>Inframundo”</b> is just as representative of the band’s
vibe. There are no bad tracks, they are all well-paced and don’t outstay their
welcome and if you like whatever you hear first… you’ll like the whole thing!<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Lobotomia”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">, “<b>Averno”</b>…
all stellar tracks. Quite simply if you do like your death metal with a South
American slant and melting pot of styles, this should be right up your street.
Whether <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Agalariept</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>garner the kind of
attention they should on an international level remains to be seen, but at
least the internet (and bandcamp in particular) allows people from anywhere in
the world to at least have the opportunity to hear their music. The album
absolutely rips all the way through, so give this a go and hear for yourself.
Superlative South American Savagery!<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Desde el Supremo Reino”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://agalarieptdeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/desde-el-supremo-reino"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1128175380/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://agalarieptdeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/desde-el-supremo-reino">Desde el Supremo Reino by Agalariept</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info:<b> <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://agalarieptdeathmetal.bandcamp.com/album/desde-el-supremo-reino"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/agalariept.deathmetal/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-80748240628174899692023-02-06T12:39:00.002+00:002023-02-06T16:07:40.269+00:00REVIEW: Born A Ghost, "“Stairway To An Empty Room” [EP]<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">EP<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">02/01/2023<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Independent</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivNCbzgABC0nOMDodP3HMq6iPBg58wkVKF7CAMhLoGeeS_aaL0o-SLSpGxaacyubSp8OXZxy8hk6_9zLFDg_Vb6UwIK9Be47JctFowo-yl11Xm7hUXHxmFP-meKCbxHe3nm1gRxFDek-Nps_C_ekd8uYtnePEdOSVDUsN3YwGpuRUhleFO-y1gHGUIg/s1200/a1038334897_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivNCbzgABC0nOMDodP3HMq6iPBg58wkVKF7CAMhLoGeeS_aaL0o-SLSpGxaacyubSp8OXZxy8hk6_9zLFDg_Vb6UwIK9Be47JctFowo-yl11Xm7hUXHxmFP-meKCbxHe3nm1gRxFDek-Nps_C_ekd8uYtnePEdOSVDUsN3YwGpuRUhleFO-y1gHGUIg/s320/a1038334897_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><a name="_Hlk126573074"><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Stairway To An Empty Room”</span></i></b></a><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
</span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">DD track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1). 43<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2). Halls of Disrepair<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3). Stairway To An Empty
Room<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4). When The Last Light
Fades<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /> </span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twenty minutes of death
doom with some post metal thrown in. That’s what you get here. But you also get
more; there are synths (I assume?) and droning guitars. These guys are out of
Tacoma, Washington and sound very bleak indeed. Their bio lists <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cult of Luna</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Neurosis</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>as reference points, but I
can certainly here some early <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Paradise Lost</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>in here too- at least in terms of the bleakness and the kind
of slow dm vibe.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is, it almost goes
without saying, very heavy stuff. Opener “<b>43”</b> is dynamic and dark-
impossibly so, at times. “<b>Halls of Disrepair”</b> is just as weighty. The
band have captured a pretty cool sound- a fair amount of dynamic twists and
turns and layering of guitars. The experimental soundscape vibe is certainly <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Neurosis</span></b>-esque and most
welcome.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This EP rounds out with
the title track and “<b>As The Last Light Fades”</b>. Again, both are in
keeping with the blueprint established in the first half. This EP is weighty,
full of despair and very, very good. If you like any of the bands mentioned
here, definitely check this out.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Stairway To An Empty
Room”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"> is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://born-a-ghost.bandcamp.com/album/stairway-to-an-empty-room"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=655058045/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://born-a-ghost.bandcamp.com/album/stairway-to-an-empty-room">Stairway To An Empty Room by Born A Ghost</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://born-a-ghost.bandcamp.com/album/stairway-to-an-empty-room"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bornghost"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-80432529004537046422023-01-16T21:20:00.000+00:002023-01-16T21:20:07.840+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Obituary, "Dying of Everything"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">13/01/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Relapse Records<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcseNtUuKH34hJbxlVy3wA1VdLnR7uyLWJs-FfDEYWh-9aPfCyPvc-pS0nT8V73jWlaZNKfFAI4XsrrC-LNVBSgG231C0oJRQlvGQRDg4MGvKrqIxMU7uAmN-YPlUP58FKpgVoXNmxpv3dVZoIPRRlO5NQ_kimbZC0ZWOrIj17b_12c0IqyY4TmsTyFw/s1200/a3273700339_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcseNtUuKH34hJbxlVy3wA1VdLnR7uyLWJs-FfDEYWh-9aPfCyPvc-pS0nT8V73jWlaZNKfFAI4XsrrC-LNVBSgG231C0oJRQlvGQRDg4MGvKrqIxMU7uAmN-YPlUP58FKpgVoXNmxpv3dVZoIPRRlO5NQ_kimbZC0ZWOrIj17b_12c0IqyY4TmsTyFw/s320/a3273700339_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Dying of Everything”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> CD//CS//DD/LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1). Barely Alive<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2. The Wrong Time<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3). Without a Conscience<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4). War<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5). Dying of Everything<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6). My Will To Survive<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7). By The Dawn<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">8). Weaponize The Hate<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9). Torn Apart<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">10). Be Warned<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">- Florida’s death metal merchants par
excellence are back. If the last self-titled album was a rather anthemic
collection of death metal, “<b><i>Dying of Everything”</i></b> is perhaps a
little murkier and a little darker. I rated the previous album very highly- not
least because it seemed energised and turbo charged in a way that, say, “<b><i>Inked
In Blood”</i></b>, was not. The core of the band remains intact- Donald and
John Tardy alongside the perennial axeman Trevor Peres. Most recent joining
member, Ken Andrews, is firmly embedded here on guitar and pops up in the
writing credits while the formidable low end of Death alumni Terry Butler fills
out the line-up.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">are
a unique proposition within death metal. No one else sounds like them. They mix
death, doom, mid tempo grooves and the inimitable vocals of John Tardy into a
swampy concoction that is immensely heavy, occasionally catchy, sometimes fast
but never hyper speed.<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As is the band’s way, “<b>Barely
Alive”</b> opens things here; it’s a characteristically speedy start with Don
firing on all cylinders and the band sounding fired up. The production is
massive- serious low end and large drum sizes coalescing to make a thunderous
racket.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From there, the band runs
through an admirable gamut of styles. “<b><i>The Wrong Time”</i></b> is catchy
and grooves in the mid tempo range. “<b><i>Without Conscience”</i></b> is prime
<b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>while <b>“War”</b> slows
things down and echoes 1994’s “<b><i>World Demise”</i></b> with its pacing and
main riff hammered home ad nauseum. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary’s</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
</span>appeal lies in their ability to come up with surprisingly
straightforward and catchy songs; often repetitive but never boring- they are
masters of their fairly minimalist craft.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ever since “<b><i>Slowly
We Rot”</i></b>, the band have trodden a different path to their peers. When
other bands were getting faster and faster, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>slowed down even more. While classic records
like “<b><i>Cause of Death”</i></b> yielded live staples like “<b>Chopped In
Half” </b>and <i>“<b>The End Complete”</b></i> offered up a particularly bleak
and downtuned vision of the world, the band later records are just as compelling.
“<b><i>Frozen In Time”</i></b> rules. “<b><i>Xecutioner’s Return”</i></b> was
monstrously weighty, “<b><i>Darkest Day”</i></b> was prime <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b>, their self
titled work was believed by many to be as defining as “<b><i>SWR”</i></b> and
so on. The band have never really put a foot wrong- other than splitting up a
couple of times… but even then the comeback records have been worth the wait.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The one thing that
quality has bread is a difficulty to differentiate between albums and eras
beyond the first. Much like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Motorhead</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Overkill</span></b>- or even <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cannibal Corpse</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>closer to home, <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>have never really made a
bad album, but they remain defined to some fans by their earliest work. They
have their own slot, their own groove and sound and remain one of a kind.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As<b> “Dying of
Everything”</b> progresses, the band continue to do what they do best- simple
riffing, massive drums, insane vocals… it’s all here. If you have listened to <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>in the past and not been
convinced or won over, it’s unlikely that this record will change that. If you
have liked any of the band’s albums, you’ll like this one.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whether you are here for
the slow-paced crushing songs like “<b>My Will To Live”</b> or the slightly
more sprightly “<b>By The Dawn”</b>, your tastes will be catered for. My only
wish is that the band would put the pedal to the metal a bit more often. I like
when <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>speeds up and thrashes
out. You are always guaranteed a fast opener, but it would be nice if the band
exceeded the speed limit more often.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That said, you cannot
argue with the double bass drum grooves of “<b>Weaponize The Hate”</b>, the
swagger of the title track or any of the lead work on offer here. It’s prime <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b>- and very
heavy indeed. The record concludes with “<b>Torn Apart” </b>and “<b>Be Warned”</b>-
rounding out 45 minutes- or thereabouts- of Floridian death metal that is
simultaneously familiar and brand new.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So where does this sit in
the pantheon of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>records- now stretching
back to the 80s(!). Hmm. I think that<b><i> “Dying of Everything” </i></b>is
probably going to settle as a mid-table/high mid-table showing. It’s not as
instant as the self-titled record and not as vicious as “<b><i>Frozen In Time”</i></b>
but the songs are good throughout and it’s reliably heavy, murky, dark and with
all expected <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b>-isms
operating in the upper gears. If you like the band, it’s essential listening.
If you have never heard <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Obituary</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>(?!?) then you can pick this
album and get the idea. There are few bands at the very top table of the death
metal genre, Obituary reserved their place well over thirty years ago and
remain there to this day. No mean feat.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Dying of Everything”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://obituary.bandcamp.com/album/dying-of-everything"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1773339604/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://obituary.bandcamp.com/album/dying-of-everything">Dying of Everything by Obituary</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://obituary.bandcamp.com/album/dying-of-everything"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ObituaryBand/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-80747528912573037422023-01-14T13:17:00.000+00:002023-01-14T13:17:03.298+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Iron Void, "IV"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">27/01/2023<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shadow Kingdom Records</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhaqCzCBJAiTqcZCN_6obhWY35AnIQzObkM7VEF-XkXtdpD2O4sxGdQugsQ94sCNDUTXw6NqsFMsqtBy9oPjD-Sm5zCIFxkWNNaqa-P26nA-g4zE0kdZ0ffGgsvMQG42rInWRGCqSwrpXCYzTPHxAOw0PWfQcY3Ugks-O6oOK1Qe7vH-EuqTYnRQ3NA/s1200/a1439867654_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1089" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhaqCzCBJAiTqcZCN_6obhWY35AnIQzObkM7VEF-XkXtdpD2O4sxGdQugsQ94sCNDUTXw6NqsFMsqtBy9oPjD-Sm5zCIFxkWNNaqa-P26nA-g4zE0kdZ0ffGgsvMQG42rInWRGCqSwrpXCYzTPHxAOw0PWfQcY3Ugks-O6oOK1Qe7vH-EuqTYnRQ3NA/s320/a1439867654_10.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“IV”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
CS//CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1). Call of the Void<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2). Grave Dance<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3). Living on The Earth<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4). Pandora’s Box<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5). Blind Dead<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6). She<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">7). Lords of This Wasteland<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">8). Slave One<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">9). Last Rites<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The UK’s finest exponents
of trad doom return with this- their fourth (!) album. Since the last record, “<b><i>Excalibur”</i></b>,
there has been a change of personnel- with yours truly bowing out due to family
commitments and the eminently capable Scott Naylor joining the band. Sealey and
Steve Wilson are still in place, so the dual vocal attack remains along with
that rumbling bass and intricate solo guitar work fans of the band are familiar
with.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This time around, there
are no overarching concepts, no knights, no swords- but there are some
recurring themes. The atmosphere setting guitar intro of “<b>Call Of The Void”</b>
sets things up for a chilling doom experience, rooted often at street level
rather than high fantasy.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The excellent “<b>Grave
Dance”</b> is the first song proper and it is a belter. The lolloping triplet
time feel coalesces into a highly critical barb against… well, I’ll let you
have a listen and make up your mind about what the conspiracy of silence and
lust for power while another wave comes is! Whatever your views on civil
liberties, the last couple of years and/or the powers that be, this is a superb
track. Wilson’s vocals and riffing are excellent. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Void</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are BACK.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From there, the record
retains a street level and real-world approach for the most part. Sealey takes
the lead vocals for the catchy and groovesome “<b>Pandora’s Box”</b>. The beefy
mix courtesy of Chris Fielding allows these straightforward compositions to
shine; it’s a great sound and that Skyhammer/Foal Studios sound is hugely
weighty. The drums in particular sound massive. Good variety from Naylor on the
kit and nice phrasing through the transitional fills. As a track, it wouldn’t
be out of place on an <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Orange
Goblin</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>album-
something of a throwback to some of the material on “<b><i>Doomsday”</i></b> in
some ways.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Things get heavier with “<b>Blind
Dead”</b> as the band sow down to a crawl. It’s the kind of occult/arcane track
that the band do so well- souls, rituals, blasphemy… Templars! It’s all here.
Fantastic. I can see this one being a live favourite with its slick changes in
the middle and strong refrain. Also: bass wah!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band have gone for a
good variety and breadth of material on this album- it’s by no means one paced
and features some excellent dynamics on “<b>She”</b>, along with a surprisingly
catchy hook. The track is kind of a distant cousin of “<b>The Devil’s Daughter”</b>
and is a really welcome change of vibe. Naturally, the cleaner guitars don’t
last forever and there is some serious weight in the middle with some enjoyable
guitar work before the original approach returns.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As the record progresses
through “<b>Lords of the Wasteland”</b>, many doom fans may have this as a
possible doom album of the year contender. It’s riffy, varied, well put
together in all aspects and doesn’t outstay its welcome. In terms of trad doom,
the old guard are going or gone- <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Pentagram</span></b>? <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Saint Vitus</span></b>? <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Trouble</span></b>? They are now, for the most part, bands of the
past. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Cathedral</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are gone. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Count Raven</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are still around, but <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Void</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are possibly successors to
all the bands listed. They’ve got a unique and identifiable sound, well written
songs and well produced records. The crown is there for them, surely.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Slave One”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is another album highlight- again, thematically it’s in keeping with other
musings on the album- despite utilising a kind of science fiction motif… or is
it science fact?! It is viciously delivered, certainly. It’ll get heads banging and its cautionary
tale of robot death for you and I feels, at the least, prescient and plausible.
It’s Sealey’s best vocal performance on the record, I think- with real venom
and spite in the delivery.<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The record concludes with
“<b>Last Rites”</b>- a romp through the doom graveyard of quiet and loud
dynamics and with that the band is over and out. Overall, “<b><i>IV”</i></b> is the record the
band needed to make: straightforward but varied, heavy but with lighter
elements here and there. This is excellent doom metal and stands shoulder to
shoulder with the band’s other albums. Support the underground, support real
bands and support real doom metal. Buy this album!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“IV”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://ironvoid.bandcamp.com/album/iv"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1626441701/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://ironvoid.bandcamp.com/album/iv">IV by Iron Void</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://ironvoid.bandcamp.com/album/iv"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a>
|| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ironvoid/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-58837996667409448752023-01-05T21:04:00.002+00:002023-01-05T21:04:14.060+00:00REVIEW: Funeral Thirst, "Galvanized in Blood" [EP]<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">EP<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">20/12/2022<br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Independent</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-5eZPc3vF6DJfCJ1dRiVst1rzj1BQgSKXAKYWVXn4mTbuMTF7hcHUHGz8_nFGnprtnLLod3CdtQQjwJp9fYrd5iYVKYtoXUST6XwDM6PcxWX-vHE8aKz2P0E3zEA4xbLxJvyYjGn_IFBceJswbEuXe_c2y8t5RNjT3c64Ua2-QdMR-t4a4RiLCYLpg/s1200/a0170820805_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-5eZPc3vF6DJfCJ1dRiVst1rzj1BQgSKXAKYWVXn4mTbuMTF7hcHUHGz8_nFGnprtnLLod3CdtQQjwJp9fYrd5iYVKYtoXUST6XwDM6PcxWX-vHE8aKz2P0E3zEA4xbLxJvyYjGn_IFBceJswbEuXe_c2y8t5RNjT3c64Ua2-QdMR-t4a4RiLCYLpg/s320/a0170820805_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Galvanised In Blood”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> DD track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1). Turned to Dust<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2). Hanged<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3). Galvanized in Blood<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4). Woodland Sacrifice<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A nasty little four track
EP- a throwback to the days when death metal didn’t rely on computers and
technology. This US four-piece outfit certainly knows how to make death metal
great again; gargling vocals, raw sounding drums and plenty of fills on the high
toms combined with grinding riffage and time changes aplenty.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Turned to Dust”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
shows the band operating at full power- rolling tank riffs, blasts, low and
high vocals… it’s all here. The band inject some chilling (not the relaxing
kind) atmosphere on “<b>Hanged”</b> and it’s onwards. The title track and “<b>Woodland
Sacrifice”</b> round this out. This is almost like a demo from the early 90s in
some ways; rough and ready with the right amount of grit to indicate that these
guys really mean it.<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you are an old school
death metal fan who is a little disillusioned with the modern production sheen
of many albums, then this is resolutely for you. Band lynchpin Chris Hannan has
done a great job with the mix and mastering (death metal is supposed to sound
like this!) and the band as a whole have brought great material and
performances to the table. Recommended.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Galvanized in Blood”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://funeralthirstnh.bandcamp.com/album/galvanized-in-blood"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=918709353/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://funeralthirstnh.bandcamp.com/album/galvanized-in-blood">Galvanized in Blood by Funeral Thirst</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info:<b> <span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://funeralthirstnh.bandcamp.com/album/galvanized-in-blood"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-82634450758772185772023-01-04T10:29:00.000+00:002023-01-04T10:29:15.349+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Dvvell, "Quiescent"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">03/06/2022<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Transylvanian Recordings</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEeiiV5SAhyS4gLiO_f6AdPJV4x9c3IYBCgYn4EHaPTujWANneRnQLcRgPWLHfEi1Rtr9qLK6Xt1TpwuPjxkqLY3FJeWhBwl-sVz-9oRYaljnEbBUvx-R5pBzClpzkzEPBckLoF34WgXyQnm8UfTz5X-ITLU1EdHCdIROAMXmfucGC34yu_WZBLzfrg/s1200/a4153487474_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEeiiV5SAhyS4gLiO_f6AdPJV4x9c3IYBCgYn4EHaPTujWANneRnQLcRgPWLHfEi1Rtr9qLK6Xt1TpwuPjxkqLY3FJeWhBwl-sVz-9oRYaljnEbBUvx-R5pBzClpzkzEPBckLoF34WgXyQnm8UfTz5X-ITLU1EdHCdIROAMXmfucGC34yu_WZBLzfrg/s320/a4153487474_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Quiescent”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
CS//DD track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1). Mother<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2). Father<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3). Son<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4). Daughter<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Four tracks. Many
minutes. Funeral doom/sludge with synths. Santa Cruz, California?! There must
be something very bleak about living in Ca. The crime rate? The threat of
earthquake? The relentless good weather?! Certainly, this music is as bleak as
it gets. This is thick as tar and just as dark.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The four tracks here
comprise of “<b>Mother”</b>, “<b>Father”</b>, “<b>Son”</b> and “<b>Daughter”</b>.
It is far from a happy family, though. The soundscapes are nightmarish, slow
and low. The vocals, when they appear, are shrieked and rasped- the sound of
despair. Only one track is much below fifteen minutes, so with a running times
north of eighteen minutes for the opener, you know you are in this for the long
haul.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course, there are no
hooks or ‘songs’ here per se. This is just a horrible journey through an
underground tunnel with minimal to no light. It is as down-tuned as <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Conan</span></b>, but that’s where
the comparison would end. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Dvvell</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are very much their own
thing.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you like your doom
with sludge, synths and truly epic playing times, then this is undoubtedly for
you. It’s hard to know what else to say here; it’s dark, troubling and
relentlessly bleak. If that sounds like something you might enjoy- that word
used very loosely, then you are already a fan of this band even if you haven’t
heard them as this is very, very good.<br /> </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Quiescent”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://transylvaniantapes.bandcamp.com/album/dvvell-quiescent"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1331490940/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://dvvell.bandcamp.com/album/quiescent">Quiescent by dvvell</a></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://dvvell.bandcamp.com/album/quiescent"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bandcamp</span></a></span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>|| <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/__dvvell__/?hl=en"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">instagram</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-15294031967253647012022-12-28T20:37:00.001+00:002022-12-28T20:37:25.356+00:00LIVE REVIEW: Sellsword supported by The Mighty Wraith and Iron Void @ The Fulford Arms, York, Saturday December 10th 2022<p> <b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ovCye1UQcdZnBLWPM3hQoMsi9N13JGlYUFUylypMzavdsCyQ4LkQxVtKAQPt-s6WEN_54wG7-REY1MsVER5wPz6nvQbGuzbjdQy2CtbHGRZqbx_5xnqvNAtCE2g5kM6byYyIoK3f6sDT6mEubrSyV5QsQH8PW200Zqf3FggUU7xpSGNHkE43Q0CXbg/s1200/319285061_10162357153934447_5726933645713594989_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ovCye1UQcdZnBLWPM3hQoMsi9N13JGlYUFUylypMzavdsCyQ4LkQxVtKAQPt-s6WEN_54wG7-REY1MsVER5wPz6nvQbGuzbjdQy2CtbHGRZqbx_5xnqvNAtCE2g5kM6byYyIoK3f6sDT6mEubrSyV5QsQH8PW200Zqf3FggUU7xpSGNHkE43Q0CXbg/s320/319285061_10162357153934447_5726933645713594989_n.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">York on a Saturday night in December, during the World
Cup… will there be a crowd?! The answer, thankfully was: YES.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Fulford Arms is a live venue- it’s not really a
pub with a stage- it is a venue with a bar. This kind of venue is the lifeblood
of the music scene, and they must be kept alive. It was immensely gratifying to
see it packed out. Rammed. Standing Room only. Full from front to back. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sellsword</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
</span>hailing from York and <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron
Void </span></b>being from Wakefield, a crowd of some kind would be expected,
but to see 150 metalheads crammed into a Northern local venue show on a weekend
at a time that England were playing in a World Cup quarter final was a
throwback to the halcyon days of live metal. It warmed my heart of steel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Void</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">opened things up and
played some older classics like “<b>The Devil’s Daughter”</b> alongside some
superb new material from their forthcoming “<b><i>IV”</i></b> album- out in
January on <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Shadow Kingdom
Records</span></b>. “<b>The Tolling Bell”</b> was a vampiric number of
impressive weight. Having once played in the band, I was glad to hear “<b>Lancelot
of The Lake”</b> played with such aplomb- and moved that it was dedicated my
way. The band sounded really cohesive and the vocals of Sealey and Steve Wilson
sounded great over the PA. The technicality of Scott Naylor behind the kit is a
welcome expansion of the band’s sound and the setlist was well paced with
enough gallop to win over the crowd and enough weight to satisfy any doom
diehards.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The crowd at The Fulford Arms were there for faster
paced trad and power metal, so for a doom band to go over as well as <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Void</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>did was a triumph. By the
end of the set hands and horns were raised on high. <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Iron Void</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are often unsung heroes of the doom scene in
the UK. That must change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Mighty Wraith</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">were up next in a kind of
special guest slot that saw the style of metal move closer to the headliners.
The boys from the West Midlands- the heartland of metal- did not disappoint. If
you’ve not heard them, the band are traditional metal powerhouse with wailing
vocals, thrashing drums and razor-sharp guitar work. If you think <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Maiden</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>crossed with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Priest</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>with a hefty dose of US
power metal grit then you’d be on the money. In charismatic frontman Matt Gore,
the band have something special. He really brought the street level grit of a
prime Paul Di-Anno and the theatrics of a Rob Halford to the crowd. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band’s second album “<b><i>Elegies”</i></b> has
been out for three months now and the material displayed from it sat really
well with the crowd. As a measure of the confidence the band displayed, they
threw in a great cover of “<b>Bark At The Moon”</b> and closed with a very
unexpected run through of “<b>The Number of The Beast”</b>. The fact that
neither of these tracks outshone their own work is testament to the band’s
quality. There is simply nothing here not to like; great band and frontman. If
you haven’t seen them, watch out for them. Big things ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sellsword</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">play power metal in a
more European style- that is to say it is symphonic power metal. It’s fun, sing
along and technically challenging stuff- it requires total confidence and
belief to pull off in a live context. Fortunately, I found the band even better
live than on record- the softer textures of their albums were stripped away to
reveal metal forged in the hottest of furnaces and un-tempered by synths. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sellsword</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">took the stage just after
9.30pm with a portentous intro tape and a look of steely confidence. New
frontman Nathan Harrison (of excellent doom band <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Human Condition</span></b>) has been installed only
for a couple of gigs prior and with this being a hometown show for the band,
the stakes were high. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately, Harrison was up to the considerable
challenge. From the moment he took the sword shaped mic stand (!) he got the
crowd on his side. The whole band was tight- incredibly tight. The muscular
bass playing of Tom Keeley laid a concrete foundation for the fleetfooted
rhythms of drummer Tom Warner. Meanwhile, the dual lead guitar team of Stephenson
and Keeley matches any out there; Denner/Sherman? Tipton/Downing? Mustaine and
whoever it is this week? Yep, these boys are right up there with them. They
were astonishingly deft in delivery and performance- way above the quality I
have ever witnessed in a small venue type show before. Astounding. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band laid waste to the venue with energetic opener
“<b>Blackened Sky (pt 1)”</b> and then continued doing exactly the same with “<b>Sagaborne”</b>
and the band’s eponymous signature song. Harrison’s vocals were never less than
masterful and he hit the notes imperiously- with some real Halford/Ripper style
screams added into the mix. Points must also be added for the wearing of a
Jugulator t-shirt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sellsword</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">really pulled out all the
stops with the setlist, rolling out second album title track “<b>Unto The
Breach”</b> along with “<b>Pendragon”</b> and “<b>Inquisitor”</b>. The heavy
hits (mace blows?!) never stopped coming. The encore brought something special-
former band members Stuart Perry and Jacek Mazur took the stage and Perry and
Harrison duetted on “<b>Merchants of Menace”</b> with Mazur bringing added
guitar pyrotechnics which flayed and pounded the audience’s flesh until the
tank was emptied. Bring on album number three, lads. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The hour and a half show was superb throughout and the
crowd loved it. Heads were banged, ale was quaffed, victory was delivered and
the whole experience was preferable to when original long haired troublemaking
Vikings descended upon York over 1000 years ago- excitement and adrenaline
without the violence and death. This was the best small show I’ve been to in
years and every band brought something unique and impressive to the table.
Heavy metal is alive and well. With bands like these around, it will be in good
health for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-74548578279310562502022-12-28T20:10:00.001+00:002022-12-28T20:10:29.991+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Candlemass, "Sweet Evil Sun"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><b><o:p></o:p></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">18/11/2022<br /><b><o:p></o:p></b></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Napalm Records</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG0cP6dZ86lohw5ieON0CF3HUENlQVxGzsdzdaHfDUN8zhv2jN3U9fuwQNDnpVitYKUz4ln36MZIrn8rUvdhZc2rKRJp0GyC01sE1rHFsaYxI55xkIVmxJd9laSBR5h3yDVfavWxMgHkKM_w_gOBzyF_byVXiL4tdqNyTrIooLRzj9zHfMK88-nTDOQ/s1200/candlemass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG0cP6dZ86lohw5ieON0CF3HUENlQVxGzsdzdaHfDUN8zhv2jN3U9fuwQNDnpVitYKUz4ln36MZIrn8rUvdhZc2rKRJp0GyC01sE1rHFsaYxI55xkIVmxJd9laSBR5h3yDVfavWxMgHkKM_w_gOBzyF_byVXiL4tdqNyTrIooLRzj9zHfMK88-nTDOQ/s320/candlemass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><b><o:p></o:p></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Sweet Evil Sun”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Wizard Of The
Vortex<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Sweet Evil Sun<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. Angel Battle<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Black Butterfly<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. When Death Sighs<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. Scandinavian Gods<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Devil Voodoo<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. Crucified<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. Goddess<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
10. A Cup Of Coffin (outro)<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /> </span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Swedish doom legends <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>return with- depending how
you look at it- yet another album or an exciting new album!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are no Iommi guest
spots this time, but original vocalist Johan Lanqvist is still there and with
material written for him in mind, this is lined up to be a more cohesive and
convincing album than “<b><i>The Door To Doom”.</i></b> Now, it goes without
saying that <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>are one of THE seminal
doom bands- usually mentioned along with <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Saint Vitus, Trouble, Cathedral</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>and so on- that legacy,
though is a blessing and a curse.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When a band makes a
record as seminal and legendary as “<b><i>Epicus Doomicus Metallicus”</i></b>,
it’s hard to follow it. Fortunately, for many <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>fans records like “<b><i>Ancient Dreams”</i></b>
or “<b><i>Nightfall”</i></b> are even better. It would be hard to find fans who
pick their latter-day output above the debut and the Marcolin classics, but
there must be some out there.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For me, I enjoy most of
their records. I thought the aforementioned “<b><i>The Door To Doom”</i></b>
was a good album- catchy, solid, well produced and overall a quality return to
form. “<b><i>Sweet Evil Sun”</i></b>, for me, continues that trajectory. “<b>Wizard
of the Vortex”</b> is a suitably riffy opener and the BIG song of the album-
the title track- follows with big choruses, pagan references and big riffs. Is
it groundbreaking? Does it match up to EDM? Does it need Iommi soloing away?
The answer is… no; to all of those things. However, this is good stuff.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sure, it sounds like <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b>. Yes, it’s
doom metal. As the likes of “<b>Angel Battle”</b> and “<b>Black Butterfly” </b>rolled
by, I found myself enjoying the record for exactly what it is: one of the
classic doom bands still doing what they do best. Good songs. Good epic
sounding riffs. And, honestly, it’s great that they are still around, let alone
actually producing cohesive bodies of work like this.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band still plough the
<b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Sabbath</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>furrow like few others- it
has that Nordic darkness along with the Iommi-esque menace. The writing uses
good and tested methods; faster riffs for the middle sections, dramatic vocal
shifts when required, female backing vocals (“<b>When Death Sighs”</b>), solid
production and a dark and ethereal atmosphere throughout.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, it’s probably best
not to compare this to the early records- or even to attempt it. A lot of time
has passed since then, a lifetime really. The band just cannot be the same. I’m
just happy that there is still a <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
</span>and they still make records I enjoy. Yes, I’m not that keen on “<b>Scandinavian
Gods”</b>, or the intro to “<b>Devil Voodoo”</b> but that’s ok. The fact is
that most of the stuff here I DO like and I’ve liked it more each time I’ve
listened to it.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is another solid
entry into the canon of <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Candlemass</span></b>.
If you like/d the band, you might well like this. The band won’t reinvent the
wheel again, but at this stage I don’t want or expect them to. Epic Doom metal,
as it should be.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Sweet Evil Sun”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">
is available now</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1469872913/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://candlemass.bandcamp.com/album/sweet-evil-sun">Sweet Evil Sun by CANDLEMASS</a></iframe>
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/candlemass/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">facebook</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-78619600275861397182022-12-19T18:23:00.005+00:002022-12-19T18:23:43.488+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Azaab, "Summoning The Cataclysm"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Album Type: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full Length<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">15/04/2022<br /><o:p></o:p></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maxima Music Pro |<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Satanath Records<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rDSNuS2vDYr8AlNdQiyBd8q8AxtZaosYfV8DdkJ_FEb3RXNjXwu-GEsAkZOukuApMxi7fDe6SJ6zZTgr15N4eteeSuIJTCb-NfSr0Kv1DHfp9d7gXCWtN8HpFzRqCit5W3-VryLduSS3w5aMLL2fcbd2hKgt303IZ7IGdowFazSiG4-8eQFOCUY6nw/s500/Azaab-1-500x445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="500" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rDSNuS2vDYr8AlNdQiyBd8q8AxtZaosYfV8DdkJ_FEb3RXNjXwu-GEsAkZOukuApMxi7fDe6SJ6zZTgr15N4eteeSuIJTCb-NfSr0Kv1DHfp9d7gXCWtN8HpFzRqCit5W3-VryLduSS3w5aMLL2fcbd2hKgt303IZ7IGdowFazSiG4-8eQFOCUY6nw/s320/Azaab-1-500x445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">“Summoning The Cataclysm”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> CS//CD//DD track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Pandemonium Twilight<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
2. Carbon Plague<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
3. A Hollow Pact<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
4. Preachers of Hate<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
5. When Worlds Collide<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
6. The Infernal Citadel<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
7. Trophies of Flesh<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
8. The Empty Throne (<b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Decapitated</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>cover)<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
9. B.L.O.O.D.B.O.R.N<br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Death metal and Pakistan
may not seem to be immediately obvious bed fellows, but the more you think
about it… the more it makes sense.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Azaab</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">set
the scene with an atmospheric intro that is melodic and foreboding. From there,
you get vocals reminiscent of Glen Benton’s lower register, technical drumming
courtesy of Indonesian Adhytia Perkasa and a real spread of death metal influences
and approaches.<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Carbon Plague”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
blasts effectively, “<b>A Hollow Pact”</b> is a gnarled beast and the band show
their slower chops with the doomy and deathly “<b>Preachers of Hate”</b>.
There’s plenty of melody here, along with half stepping riffage the likes of
which <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Morbid Angel</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"> </span>applied in their slower
moments- see “<b>When Worlds Collide”</b> for proof. Lovely lead guitar work
here, too. The band have some great grooves and riffs up their sleeves and
while the feel may be fairly old school, the sound is polished and ultra-modern-
a killer combination.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The Infernal Citadel”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
has a wonderfully evocative fantasy type title and the band run through some
impressive chops while creating a great DM atmosphere. This could equally be
applied to “<b>Trophies of Flesh”</b> which runs a wide range of death metal sounds-
dreamy atmospherics, feral blasting and so on. It’s great stuff.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The band throw in “<b>The
Empty Throne”</b> by deathly Poles <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Decapitated</span></b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">
</span>to give a hint of what they are aiming for overall and it is a solid
track- well executed. “<b>B.L.O.O.D.B.O.R.N</b>.” finishes off this nine track
feast of unearthly delights in style. This is a good death metal record which
is thoroughly convincing throughout. Recommended for any fans of the genre.<br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Summoning The Cataclysm”</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">is
available <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://azaab.bandcamp.com/album/summoning-the-cataclysm"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">HERE</span></a></span></b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=158191900/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://azaab.bandcamp.com/album/summoning-the-cataclysm">Summoning The Cataclysm by Azaab</a></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://azaab.bandcamp.com/album/summoning-the-cataclysm"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bandcamp</span></a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/azaabmetal"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a> || <a href="https://www.instagram.com/azaab_deathmetal"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Instagram</span></a> || <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChN-Iij-GelYf2Mj_4ozn1g"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">YouTube</span></a></span></b></span></p></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-73286092472764073762022-12-08T15:05:00.001+00:002022-12-19T18:20:18.869+00:00ALBUM PREMIERE: Maharaja, "Aviarium"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ8bCZNsXJ-c3xfrRJLTkNuM23j8zKRNrEIVR1yssVavNBlHpm0SKaMdIRAszX4KZfDWXIPlEMaSoiuvlgAIzqXSbor2FgEa0BAbqnbrhgm2D3LyU_NalQ7YICR-E0ihjiF4dTqjWTjAaC1gDC6owAuThyAEbWA7kojI9nSMaxXyYQMYcexNvAT7uTQ/s800/624577.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ8bCZNsXJ-c3xfrRJLTkNuM23j8zKRNrEIVR1yssVavNBlHpm0SKaMdIRAszX4KZfDWXIPlEMaSoiuvlgAIzqXSbor2FgEa0BAbqnbrhgm2D3LyU_NalQ7YICR-E0ihjiF4dTqjWTjAaC1gDC6owAuThyAEbWA7kojI9nSMaxXyYQMYcexNvAT7uTQ/w400-h266/624577.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Formed in late 2013 in the Gem City, </span><b style="font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Maharaja </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">are a
sludge steamroller ready to lay waste to everything in their path. Their sound
is undeniably heavy and visceral; theirs is a sound you can feel; it jars your
bones and shakes you to your core. </span><b style="font-size: 9pt;">Maharaja</b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">'s truth lies
within their bottomless heft, groove, and subject matter. While the seeds were
planted with their 2014 demo and 2017 debut album, </span><i style="font-size: 9pt;">Kali Yuga</i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">, the
band have completely blossomed on new album “</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b><i>Aviarium</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">,” which you
can stream in all it ungodly glory below. Official release date is tomorrow, 09/12/2022 via </span><b style="font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Seeing Red Records</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://maharajaohio.bandcamp.com/album/aviarium"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">PREORDER
Vinyl / Digital</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"> or via <b><span style="color: #ed7d31; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><a href="https://shop.seeingredrecords.com/"><span style="color: #ed7d31; text-decoration-line: none;">https://shop.seeingredrecords.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RRhEdIydK0w" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span><!--more--></span>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856095081020843137.post-14843787863637744482022-11-19T15:41:00.001+00:002022-11-19T15:41:29.717+00:00ALBUM REVIEW: Alter Bridge, "Pawns & Kings" <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By: Richard Maw<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Album Type: Full Length<br /> </span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Date Released: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">14/10/2022<br /><b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Label: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Napalm Records<br /></span><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZgGwVV_Hbrr7PG_tDSyv9o77XWsbLxZsxdZsSXnGNC9TIJd8-orFQ0HZsk8XdMj8SE1EjzwTlKHwOR1rjvRHULzE2s7IZDEQWHr3ZISEOPPVD0PH6h6_E6SlIvZHhlHJMwmIvIaqRp4hx1gNMio0ppUey1GhNZOQ46ShznDLtEjrnA53gT2_ESXmVA/s1000/Alter-Bridge-Pawns-Kings-album-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZgGwVV_Hbrr7PG_tDSyv9o77XWsbLxZsxdZsSXnGNC9TIJd8-orFQ0HZsk8XdMj8SE1EjzwTlKHwOR1rjvRHULzE2s7IZDEQWHr3ZISEOPPVD0PH6h6_E6SlIvZHhlHJMwmIvIaqRp4hx1gNMio0ppUey1GhNZOQ46ShznDLtEjrnA53gT2_ESXmVA/s320/Alter-Bridge-Pawns-Kings-album-cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"><br /></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">“Pawns & Kings”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> CD//DD//LP track listing:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> <br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. This Is War<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
2. Dead Among The Living<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
3. Silver Tongue<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
4. Sin After Sin<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
5. Stay<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
6. Holiday<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
7. Fable Of The Silent Son<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
8. Season Of Promise<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
9. Last Man Standing<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
10. Pawns & Kings<br /></span><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">The Review:<br /></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Alter Bridge</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">are
now one of a very few select rock acts who hold arena headlining status- or at
least one of the few who have existed for less than twenty years- there is no
shortage of should-be-retired-bands around. On that basis, I greet every
release of theirs with interest as they represent a gateway to harder rock and
metal as well as being a fine band in their own right. They have a surprising
breadth of styles within their sound- from soaring melodies to thrashing riffs-
all delivered with a slick production sheen that is ready made for rock radio
and arena stages.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Pawns & Kings”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
is their seventh studio effort since their 2004 debut- testament to their work
ethic. It is also much more focussed than recent outings. There are ten tracks
here- a proper album length! After some poppier diversions on “<b><i>The Last Hero”</i></b>
and synth-ier diversions on “<b><i>Walk The Sky”</i></b>, the band are back to
what they do best here: guitar pyrotechnics, rock songs, rock sounds.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is easily the best <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">AB</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>album since “<b><i>Fortress”</i></b>
and sits nicely alongside their holy trinity of “<b><i>Blackbird”</i></b>, “<b><i>AB
III”</i></b> and “<b><i>Fortress”</i></b>. The album starts pretty heavy with “<b>This
is War”</b> and the band makes use of the thrashier leanings of Mark Tremonti
on “<b>Silver Tongue”</b> with its lightning fast riffage and time changes. Even
on the slower material- such as “<b>Sin After Sin”</b>- the band sound darker
and more focussed than they have for some time.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In terms of musicianship,
the drumming from Scott Philips is excellent throughout- varied, great use of
the kit and some tasteful double pedal work here and there. It blends
seamlessly with the bass of Brian Marshall and the two together form a
distinctive rhythm section that sound fluid no matter what the tempo. The
guitar work- as per- is sublime. In Myles Kennedy the band have a frontman with
a golden voice- no signs of deterioration whatsoever even in his 50s.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The band still have some
melodic syrup too- “<b>Stay”</b> is slick and sweet in equal measure and closed
the first half of the album. Side two kicks off with a pretty belting rocker in
the form of “<b>Holiday”</b>, though. From there, it is more melody and less
foot on the pedal. However, the likes of “<b>Season of Promise”</b> and “<b>Last
Man Standing”</b> are well crafted songs; with no shortage of solos and riffs.
The title track closes this impressive selection of songs in some style. The
band have a knack for strong title tracks and this is no exception. It’s dark,
varied, anthemic and essential <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">Alter Bridge</span></b>.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Overall, then, this is
strong throughout and an impressive return to the kind of dark heavy rock that
the band do best. Indeed, everything good about the band is to be found over
the course of these ten tracks and “<b><i>Pawns & Kings”</i></b> is easily
up there with the best in <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;">AB’s</span></b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"> </span>catalogue.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Pawns & Kings”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
is available now<o:p></o:p></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VjUeexVBgSc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Band info: <b><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6;"><a href="https://alterbridge.com/"><span style="color: #f79646; mso-themecolor: accent6; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Official</span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>DOUBLEADOOM77http://www.blogger.com/profile/13666793578092661264noreply@blogger.com