ALBUM REVIEW: Azaab, "Summoning The Cataclysm"

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 15/04/2022
Label: Maxima Music Pro |
Satanath Records
 

 
“Summoning The Cataclysm” CS//CD//DD track listing:
 
1. Pandemonium Twilight
2. Carbon Plague
3. A Hollow Pact
4. Preachers of Hate
5. When Worlds Collide
6. The Infernal Citadel
7. Trophies of Flesh
8. The Empty Throne (Decapitated cover)
9. B.L.O.O.D.B.O.R.N
 
The Review:

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.
 
Azaab 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.
 
“Carbon Plague” blasts effectively, “A Hollow Pact” is a gnarled beast and the band show their slower chops with the doomy and deathly “Preachers of Hate”. There’s plenty of melody here, along with half stepping riffage the likes of which Morbid Angel applied in their slower moments- see “When Worlds Collide” 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.
 
“The Infernal Citadel” 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 “Trophies of Flesh” which runs a wide range of death metal sounds- dreamy atmospherics, feral blasting and so on. It’s great stuff.
 
The band throw in “The Empty Throne” by deathly Poles Decapitated to give a hint of what they are aiming for overall and it is a solid track- well executed. “B.L.O.O.D.B.O.R.N.” 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.
 
“Summoning The Cataclysm” is available HERE 

Band info: Bandcamp || Facebook || Instagram || YouTube

ELEVEN IS ONE LOUDER: London-based death metallers ABHORRENT DECIMATION choose their top picks for Bloodstock 2017

UK-based death metal titans ABHORRENT DECIMATION released their new album “The Pardoner” on July 28th via Prosthetic Records to rapturous applause.  Conceptually, the new album is an in-depth exploration into "The Pardoner", English poet Geoffrey Chaucer's most depraved and deceitful character from The Canterbury Tales. "The Pardoner" is a religious fraud and hypocrite who preaches against the love of greed, yet whose own love of wealth enabled him to profit off the sins of others. He claimed to work on behalf of the clergy, selling spiritual forgiveness for one's sins in the form of his pardons, which included forged "official letters" from high ranking church officials absolving one of their sins and bones and crystals blessed with healing powers. In Chaucer's story, "The Pardoner" tells a harrowing tale of three men whose materialism becomes the death of them.

It is the bands most inspired, charismatic and dominating material to date and with band set to hit the stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival this weekend, we invited the band to talk about their top picks for festival and bands to look out for.  So come with us as we take our weekly trip into the extreme and turn the volume all the way up to eleven. 

THURSDAY

The Infernal Sea

If you are going to watch any band on Thursday, watch The Infernal Sea.  We have toured with the guys a few times and there is just something so visceral and eerie about this lot, it a real package band. The sounds, the look, the vibe. Go and find out for yourself. PLUS they are unveiling a new look at the festival. Go and check them out.

FRIDAY

Decapitated

This band is hugely influential to us and one we look at with great respect. I have only seen them live once myself, a few years ago – maybe 2011. So I would be very interested in seeing the guys again, playing some of the killer new album ‘Anticult’. But for me, you can’t beat ‘The Negation’/‘Organic Hallucinosis’ era.  

Soilwork

Back in the day, I loved this band dearly. So purely for nostalgic bliss, I will go and check them out. Unlikely they will play any of the stuff I know as its 10+ years old now but still, well worth checking out.

Whitechapel

Another band that has made an impression on us over the years. Not so much a fan of the newer stuff but they still slay and hold it down very well. In fact, we are playing a Bloodstock warm up show with them Thursday 10^thAugust at The Underworld in London.

Inquisition

I’ve seen Inquisition once before and it blew my bloody socks off. Just super moody and a great atmosphere. If you like your Black Metal a little on the primitive side, go and check em out.

Ashen Crown

These guys did a great job of winning Metal To The Masses for a slot on the New Blood Stage. As far as new blood goes, we look forward to seeing how they handle themselves on the sacred NB stage. We know what it means to play that stage and how it feels before you head out. So we wish them the best of luck and hope they have a great crowd for when they go on.

SATURDAY

Hatebreed

Again, another act that sparks off pure nostalgia for some us. I stopped keeping up with them after ‘The Rise of Brutality’ but I know they are a great live act and Jamey really brings the good vibes when he’s on form. I look forward to feeling 15/16 for half an hour.

Fallujah

I know Cooke really loves these guys. So we will all no doubt head over and watch them when they hit the Main Stage on Saturday. We played on the same bill as them last year and they were unlucky with the sound quality. So I look forward to seeing them in the BOA set-up, which in the main, has always been pretty good for sound for an open air.  

Abhorrent Decimation

You’ve got to come and see us. BOA 2014, was such a great show for us on the New Blood Stage. Now we have been invited back onto the next stage up, The S.O.P.H.I.E. We can’t wait to come and smash some heads in with a set exclusively full of material from our new album ‘The Pardoner’. We’ve been quiet on the show front for a little while and with our best line-up ever, we are ready to return with a big performance at the festival.

SUNDAY

Obituary

I’ve seen Obituary a bunch of times and every time, I bloody love them a little more. The anticipation of waiting for Tardy to come out, with his luscious golden mane and release the almighty “bee-ki-uuuugh

Courtesans

Goth Pop? Whatever it is, it’s done well. Truly sultry. Great vibe and well formulated songs. I think it will make a nice break for most ears over the long weekend.

Band info: Facebook || Twitter || Website || Bandcamp 

ALBUM REVIEW: Vader - "The Empire"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 04/11/2016

Label: Nuclear Blast

Death metal with a hefty dose of thrash sums up what Vader were and are about. This album has moments of steady rolling, thrash pacing and blast beats. Quite simply, this is an excellent Vader album.

“The Empire” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Angels of Steel (2:16)

2. Tempest (2:41)

3. Prayer to the God of War (2:47)

4. Iron Reign (4:37)

5. No Gravity (4:08)

6. Genocidius (2:59)

7. The Army-Geddon (4:10)

8. Feel My Pain (3:24)

9. Parabellum (2:28)

10. Send Me Back to Hell (3:32)

The Review:

Polish veterans Vader follow up the excellent “Tibi Et Igni” with this; “The Empire”. Death metal with a hefty dose of thrash sums up what Vader were and are about. This album has moments of steady rolling, thrash pacing and blast beats. Quite simply, this is an excellent Vader album. We all have our favourites, “De Profundis” or “Black to the Blind”... even the aforementioned last record they put out (mine, as it goes!). Rest assured, this album is up there with their best work.

The production is crystal clear and very precise. The drums in particular are superb; punchy and with a fine balance of high and low end. The vocal performance of Piotr throughout is excellent but to be fair, all band members are on top form here.

From the off, you know what you are getting. Stand outs? Well, opener “Angels of Steel” and “Iron Reign” really stand out for me, but you cannot argue with any of the ten tracks offered up to the gods of war here. I can see all of the tracks standing up well in the live arena (I saw them earlier this year with Overkill- they slayed). The songs are reassuringly concise- no fifteen minute epics here; you get short sharp shocks aplenty. Riffs, solos, leads... chugging passages. This is proper metal.

The album is strong from front to back with “Send Me Back to Hell” being every bit as immediate as the opener. Vader have created a very strong record here. If you like Vader, you will like this album. If you haven't heard them and are considering doing so, starting with this album and working backwards would be a fine move. If the later person is you, I envy you; I wish I was discovering this band again.

Vader have been in the game since the early eighties, they know how to deliver high quality metal and they do so by the (tank) shell full here. A tour de force of a modern death/thrash album. Buy it and then bang your head!

“The Empire” is available now

Band info: facebook

FFO: Morbid Angel, Slayer, Decapitated, Behemoth

REVIEW: Vader - "Iron Times" EP

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: EP
Date Released: 12/08/2016
Label: Nuclear Blast

‘Iron Times’ CD//DD track listing:

1. Parabellum (2:28)

2. Prayer To The God Of War (2:47)

3. Piesc I Stal (4:05)

4. Overkill (4:17)

The Review:

Vader, a classic Polish metal band need no introduction. Their thrashing death stylings are well known to most death heads and, as their recent tour with Overkill proved, they crossover well to a more thrash/traditional audience as well. I was somewhat surprised to hear that this EP leans firmly towards the thrash end of their output. Across the four tracks you could be forgiven for thinking you were hearing the latest US thrashers on the block.

Just listen to the opener “Parabellum” for proof. Hyper fast thrash beats, angular riffage... but with those blasts and snaking riffs that scream death metal at you (or growl it, perhaps). Similarly, “Prayer To The God Of War” finds the band in deadly form; fast and furious all the way. Neither of the first two tracks goes close to three minutes, so it is up to “Piesc I Stal” originally by Panzer X to raise the playing time and drop the tempo. What is it about? I don't know as I only speak English! It has a good rolling groove to it and some great lead work (as does the whole album) and marks a change of tack for the band. Great stuff.

This short and spiky EP ends with a cover of “Overkill" by Motorhead, and as expected the band deliver a fast and raucous version. A guitar is used instead of the bass for the well known intro, and the band play it straight thereafter. Still a classic, nearly 40 years after it was first unleashed. Four tracks: two ragers and two covers. A fine stop gap before the next album. Fans will want to check it out. Those new to the band could have a taste here.

‘Iron Times’ is available now

Band info:  facebook

RIYL: Morbid Angel, Decapitated, Hate, Behemoth

Kronos - "Arisen New Era" (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/07/2015

Label: Unique Leader Records

By any definition, Kronos are not re-inventing the wheel, but they have made an artistic and technically impressive death metal album which takes in mythological subject matter and superlative performances matched by the excellent production. As they have now returned, long may Kronos continue. Vive (le/la?) Kronos. Vive La France!

“Arisen New Era” CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. Infernal Abyss Sovereignty
02. Zeus Dethroned
03. Soul-Voracious Vultures
04. Rapture In Misery
05. Klymenos Underwrath
06. Aeons Titan Crown
07. Brotherlords
08. Purity Slaughtered
09. Hellysium

The Review:

Here we are, at last. I often think that what I want to hear, RIGHT NOW, is some French death metal taking in the brutality of Greek Mythology. Thank Mount Olympus for Kronos, then! The band return after a seven year break to re-enter the brutal/tech death metal fray. The band whip up a storm on “Infernal Abyss Sovereignty” and “Zeus Dethroned”. Indeed, this opening pairing hits so hard and fast that before you know it, the band's stall is laid out and you are into “Soul-Voracious Vultures”. There is great lead work on display throughout the record. The production is surprisingly bassy- which I don't dislike- and this gives the album a somewhat unusual sound and character.

“Rapture in Misery” has an excellent “trading rhythm guitars” opening and then adopts an unusual rhythmic motif. The vocals are expertly delivered, too- double tracking and panning are used to good effect. It is also very, very fast. “Klymenos Underwrath” is another blasting example of technical death mastery- pinch harmonics and rolling bass drums are assured. “Aeons Titan Crown” nods to their 2003 work with its title and is again unusual rhythmically. The bass is very prominent on this one and really jumps out of the speakers. This is all very much death metal with a strong tech death bias. Easily more comprehensible than Nile and not as tech as something like Arkaik, but more tech than mid-period Morbid Angel.

With nine tracks on the album, there is more than enough to satisfy your deathly desires- a little goes a long way. “Brotherlords” exemplifies this well with its labyrinthine riffing and myriad time changes- this is challenging stuff and a million miles away from “Scream Bloody Gore” or Bolt Thrower. That said, it is not jazzy like Atheist or Cynic so is easily brutal enough to get your head banging. “Purity Slaughtered” continues the record's tendency towards songs of four minutes in length but with more parts than the average thrash album in one song. A superb lead section in the last minute really lifts the track as the bass continues to stamp its authority on the album.

The coup de grace of “Hellysium” finishes this impressive death metal set in good style. Great changes and trading guitars again add flair to this album. By any definition, Kronos are not re-inventing the wheel, but they have made an artistic and technically impressive death metal album which takes in mythological subject matter and superlative performances matched by the excellent production. As they have now returned, long may Kronos continue. Vive (le/la?) Kronos. Vive La France!

“Arisen New Era” is available here

FFO:  Prostitute Disfigurement, Nile, Katalepsy, Decapitated

Band info: facebook

Hate Eternal - 'Infernus’ (Album Review)

By: Jack Taylor

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/08/2015

Label: Season of Mist

There aren't many bands out there that can punish your ears with such consummate brutality, which is what Hate Eternal succeeds at doing from start to finish on this disc. Highlights? 'The Chosen Ones' has bewilderingly epic bass guitar work which is fully audible beneath the atonal guitar-mashings of main man Erik Rutan.

‘Infernus’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Locust Swarm
2). The Stygian Deep
3). Pathogenic Apathy
4). La Tempestad
5). Infernus
6). The Chosen One
7). Zealot, Crusader of War
8). Order of the Arcane Scripture
9). Chaos Theory
10. O’ Majestic Being, Hear My Call

Hate Eternal is:

Erik Rutan | vocals, guitars
J.J. Hrubovcak | bass, backing vocals
Chason Westmoreland | drums

The Review:

American death metal legends Hate Eternal have been belching forth some of the finest death metal around at a consistent rate of an album every three years since 1998. 'Infernus' is their sixth full-length, and their first on Season of Mist. Many bands evolve and change over time, but the manner in which Hate Eternal jump out your speakers, in such a vicious, uncompromising manner, you are left in no doubt what kind of experience you're in for. This is no criticism of the band – 'Infernus' is every bit as interesting as their previous records.

There aren't many bands out there that can punish your ears with such consummate brutality, which is what Hate Eternal succeeds at doing from start to finish on this disc. Highlights? 'The Chosen Ones' has bewilderingly epic bass guitar work which is fully audible beneath the atonal guitar-mashings of main man Erik Rutan. One of the most impressive tracks on this record is “Chaos Theory”, one of Hate Eternal's customary instrumental pieces. Its mid-paced nature and sublime guitar work gives the listener a much needed (and deserved) break from the relentless barrage, before the final onslaught that is “O' Majestic Being, Hear My Call”.

Despite 'Infernus' being an ace album, for those uninitiated in the ways of Erik Rutan and his cronies, I would recommend 2005's 'I, Monarch' as being the most outstanding Hate Eternal record. If you dig that, then 'Infernus' would be a great follow-up.

‘Infernus’ is available here

FFO: Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Decapitated

Band info: Facebook | Official

The Sludgelord News: Decapitated Announce exclusive UK appearance at UK Techfest

Polish death metal monsters DECAPITATED have announced their only UK festival appearance for 2015. The band will headline UK Techfest in Newark Showground, Newark-on-Trent in July. The event takes place between the 9^th-13^th and tickets are available now. For more information visit uktechfest.com.

Last year DECAPITATED released their sensational new album ‘Blood Mantra’ via Nuclear Blast and toured with the likes of BEHEMOTH, GWAR and LAMB OF GOD.

‘Blood Mantra’ was recorded under the direction of Wojtek and Slawek Wiesawski at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland  – the same location where DECAPITATED recorded 2002’s ‘Nihility’, 2004’s ‘The Negation’, and 2006’s ‘Organic Hallucinosis’. The artwork was once again done by Lukasz Jaszak.

Order your copy of ‘Blood Mantra’ here.

decapitatedband.net | facebook.com/decapitated | nuclearblast.de/decapitated

Source: Nuclear Blast UK

Decapitated - Blood Mantra (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 26/9/2014

Label: Nuclear Blast

“Blood Mantra” CD/DD/LP track listing:

1. Exiled in Flesh 4:05

2. The Blasphemous Psalm To The Dummy God Creation 2:31

3. Veins 5:04

4. Blood Mantra 5:05

5. Nest 6:25

6. Instinct 5:49

7. Blindness 7:37

8. Red Sun 3:01

Bio:

Formed in 1996, Polish Tech Death masters DECAPITATED built a reputation over the years as one of the international leaders of their genre. Over their near 20-year career, DECAPITATED has released five studio albums, which are considered to be some of the most influential death metal releases of the 21st century.

For their sixth full-length record, the band returned to Hertz Studio, located at Bialystok in their native Poland. Recording the new creation, entitled »Blood Mantra«, has proven to be an extremely demanding process for DECAPITATED, as they have never before faced a challenge as testing as the new songs turned out to be. The band cross-bred various styles and sounds, setting the bar higher with this new release. Flirting with various tempos, mixing Death Metal with Grindcore, Black Metal atmosphere with more groove laden beats and Stoner-Rock vibes, there are also modern Metal rhythmic riffs on DECAPITATED’s latest output that hark back to their 2006 release, Organic Hallucinosis.

“I'm certain that the very fact we are again, after nine years, in Hertz studio will evoke the spirit of that album. The vocals sound very promising. Rasta is a much more experienced vocalist compared to the »Carnival Is Forever« album times. And his voice sounds more powerful and deeper“, stated guitarist Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka.

»Blood Mantra« is set for a release on September 26, 2014 via Nuclear Blast and will be the first to feature the bands new drummer Michal Lysejko, who joined the foursome in time for their tour with LAMB OF GOD in January 2014.

Commented guitarist Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka: “Some of you had a chance to meet him already during tour with LAMB OF GOD this January. Also I want to say THANK YOU to the rest of the people who took a challenge and sent their video for an audition”.

With their emphasis on inventive songwriting and technical prowess, DECAPITATED has earned the respect of their musical peers and have gained a devoted fan base. Vogg, the band’s musical mastermind, creates songs that often feature blazing tempos, crushing riffs and memorable guitar solos – all of which can be expected on their new release, Blood Mantra.

The Band:

Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka | Guitars

Michal Lysejko | Drums

Rafal "Rasta" Piotrowski  | Vocals

Pawel Pasek | Bass

Review

Decapitated’s journey through death metal has gone from strength to strength. The consistently virtuosic writing and playing has produced some of the finest technical and straightforward death metal to date, with many new bands now sighting them as one of their main inspirations. A lot of what makes them so exceptional is the diversity of the albums. Instead of sticking to constraints of a writing style, they constantly change their game, while keeping a central groove. The groove is probably the only thing that they have kept throughout their career, and is what gives them their signature sound.

This album is no exception, and in fact ramps up the groove to near Meshuggah (albeit 10 times faster) style. The use of off beat chugging and riffing counterbalanced with the double kick on the 16^th of the beat creates this devastating death metal groove that I’ve yet to hear another death metal band replicate. They slide from groove centred chugging to typical death metal tremolo picking seamlessly, proving that even though they have their own sound, they can slip into that classic death metal style with ease, blast beats and all.

The new album takes their sound in a slightly easier to listen to direction, more akin to their first album. The songs have a slower more controlled feel to them, and feature more straightforward riffing over technical single note picking. I’ve no problem with this direction, as the first album to me is a death metal masterpiece.

But what it lacks in some songs, it makes up for in others. They haven’t completely lost their tech death feel; some songs feature more technical and blasting guitar and drum work. The only gripe I have however is that I feel as if the tones were created with a more riffy approach, meaning some of that stupidly fast tremolo picking that guitar god ‘Vogg’ does is slightly lost in the mush of gain. The greatest aspect of the diversity in tracks on the new record is that none of it feels like filler. It just goes on and on doing exactly what you want it to do, yet surprising you with how well composed it is.

Production wise, it is yet again another step up. The bass and drums have such a rich sound, with every note and hit so prominent, it should be taken as an example for future death metal albums to base their production on. The fantastic production doesn’t stop there however, the vocals are some of the clearest on a Decapitated album, and due to the overall production being no where near as harsh in the higher frequencies, the rhythmic devices Rasta uses are perfectly audible.

For any Decapitated fan, this will be a welcome addition to the now huge collection of material this band have put out, and for new listeners it’s a perfect introduction to Poland’s grooviest death metallers. Thanks for reading Y’all!

Words by: Asher G. Alexander

You can pick up a copy here

 

For more information:

www.decapitatedband.net

www.facebook.com/decapitated

www.nuclearblast.de/decapitated