REVIEW: Born A Ghost, "“Stairway To An Empty Room” [EP]

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 02/01/2023
Label: Independent

 
“Stairway To An Empty Room” DD track listing:
 
1). 43
2). Halls of Disrepair
3). Stairway To An Empty Room
4). When The Last Light Fades
 
The Review:
 
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 Cult of Luna and Neurosis as reference points, but I can certainly here some early Paradise Lost in here too- at least in terms of the bleakness and the kind of slow dm vibe.
 
This is, it almost goes without saying, very heavy stuff. Opener “43” is dynamic and dark- impossibly so, at times. “Halls of Disrepair” 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 Neurosis-esque and most welcome.
 
This EP rounds out with the title track and “As The Last Light Fades”. 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.
 
“Stairway To An Empty Room” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Death Dealer, "Fueled Injected Suicide Machine" [EP]

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 10/12/2021
Label: Steel Cartel Records

 

“Fuel Injected Suicide Machine” CD track listing:
 
1. The Dead Never Listen
2. Fuel Injected Suicide Machine
3. Freedom Is Not A Crime
4. Blood For Gasoline
5. Invasion
 

The Review:
 
Death Dealer are as prolific as they are metal- that is to say very prolific and VERY metal. The band is a supergroup of sorts, being as it features the imperious Sean Peck on screaming vocals and no less a legend than ROSS THE BOSS on lead guitar. Stu Marshall is the musical mastermind behind the band and is ably assisted by new recruit Mike LePond on bass and the excellent Steve Bolognese on drums.
 

The band have been busy over the lockdown periods; they put this shredding EP together and main man Marshall is quoted as having album four finished and ready to go... and the bulk of album number five finished as well!
 
For those uninitiated, the band put out debut “War Master” a few years back, followed it up with the massive “Hallowed Ground” and then went one better in 2020 with the excellent “Conquered Lands” album- which was a heavy metal tour de force. This is US style power metal; so a mix of trad, power and thrash. It's adrenaline inducing and anthemic in equal measure and it rocks very hard.

 
This EP has a Mad Max vibe/theme running throughout the artwork and songs. Fans of the first film will recognise the title from the Night Rider's rant. It's a perfect theme for Aussie Marshall to riff on, and riff he does. The title track is a rager; you'll break the speed limit to this one- as you will to “Blood For Gasoline”. “Freedom Is Not A Crime” is a heavy metal anthem and sounds MASSIVE, while “Invasion” rounds out the EP with a mid paced headbanging assault by way of Mongol historical epic.
 

There are order options aplenty from the Steel Cartel label, with a couple of vinyl variants, cover variants, t-shirts etc. etc. This is Judas Priest meets Accept in the outback, ready to shoot some guns and make some noise. It's excellent and is heavy metal to the core. If the next Death Dealer full length album lives up to this, then all true metal fans are in for a treat.
 
“Fuel Injected Suicide Machine” is available HERE 

Band info: Official

REVIEW: Supreme Conception, "“Empires of the Mind” [EP]

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 06/08/2021
Label: Independent
 

“Empires of the Mind” DD track listing:
 
1). “Beyond the Antediluvian”
2). “Harboring The Fractured Transcendence”
3). “Transgression I: The Underlying Identity”
4). “Transgression II: Self-Discovery”
5). “On The Path To Divinity”
 
 
The Review:
 
Technical death metal is surely a divisive genre- incomprehensible to many, pointless to some and to others... godly. Godly, that is, when it is done well. Fortunately, Supreme Conception are excellent. The production of these five tracks is crystal clear, the playing razor sharp, the vocals growling. Indeed, the vocals remind me- perhaps somewhat incongruously of a certain Glenn Benton in many places. 
 
From the opener “Beyond the Antediluvian” to the closing “On The Path to Divinity”, this is a technical tour de force. It is fast, furious, and pretty relentless. This Czech two-man project have put out only this and a release back in 2009; it is not a problem when the music is this good, though. If you are a fan of tech-death in all its forms, you will find what you like about the genre here in this five track stormer of an EP.
 
“Empires of the Mind” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Kråkslott, "The Witchhammer" [EP]

By: Peter Morsellino
 
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 27/02/2021
Label: Independent

 
“The Witchhammer” DD track listing:
 
1). Ritual of Lies
2). The Witchhammer
 
The Review:
 
In a hailstorm of Sabbath inspired riffs, Kråkslott unleash hell on “The Witchhammer”. Soothing in its chaos, this quick release encapsulates a bygone era of the doom genre while modifying the formula with modern flairs.
 
The release kicks off with the ever morphing “Ritual of Lies”. A track rich with variety as ever there was one, “Ritual…” kicks off with a slow procession of riffs and pained cries before blasting off into chaotic solos and hard rocking energy and lulling us back to the original somber tones to close things off. The eclectic styles presented here make quick work of the tracks near eight minute time span.
 
The title track is up next to finish things off. “The Witchhammer” keeps a more consistent pace for most of its run time, with a sludgy riff fest dominating the early parts and the track dissolving into a downtempo solo of the blues persuasion. This track really sets a mood for the listener and as such connects a bit deeper on an emotional level.
 
The Sabbath influences are hard to ignore on this release and may end up being a deciding factor for some listeners. Its classic vibes might prove to be a bit derivative to modern fans of the genre, while endearing to purists. Personally, I think the songs presented here are a wonderful mix of vintage blues inspired doom with the chaotic lilt of modern sludge.
 
While the entire release clocks in at only just under twenty minutes, being spread between just two tracks provides a more epic feel. The longer run times of the tracks should not be a deterrent, as the songs move at a quick pace and are varied enough to maintain the listener's attention throughout.  Definitely a must listen for any fan of the doom genre.
 
“The Witchhammer” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Cirith Ungol, "Half Past Human" [EP]

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 28/05/2021
Label: Metal Blade Records

 
“Half Past Human” CD//DD//LP track listing:
 
1). Route 666
2). Shelob’s Lair
3). Brutish Manchild
4). Half Past Human
 
The Review:

Cirith Ungol's comeback was surely the comeback of the decade; it is no mean feat to revive a band decades after their dissolution AND make an album as convincing as “Forever Black”. Cirith Ungol managed it and are now back with this EP. Four Tracks of trad/doom/hard rock idiosyncrasy. Cirith Ungol have never been the easiest band to like or 'get' and this surely continues here. The themes are fantastical. The vocals are an acquired taste, the bass is bobbling in sound and high in the mix- just like on their debut, “Frost and Fire”. All of that said, this rocks. It's great.

Cirith Ungol are a cult band for a reason- they sound like no one else. They meld genres and sounds like no other band. They fall into a similar bracket to Manilla Road or Pagan Altar: you love them or you are just puzzled.

It is crucial to note that these are not exactly 'new' songs. Instead they are revived from the band's dim and distant past. We assume that they were thus written decades ago; certainly, none have been officially released before. This alone makes for a real fan's treat. Of the four tracks here, you get hard rocking proto-metal on “Route 666” and “Brutish Manchild”, The fantasy element (specifically Tolkien) is fulfilled on “Shelob's Lair”- with a great middle section riff and solo. The biggest treat here is saved for last, though. “Half Past Human” is close to seven and a half minutes in length and is a wonderful track. It is evocative of dynamic and maudlin early Judas Priest moments. Thematically it deals with a dystopian glimpse of the future, science fiction and technology providing ample inspiration.

Overall, then, this is four more new-old songs from Cirith Ungol, all of which sit well with anything else in their discography. For true fans, it’s a must. For casual listeners, this is a perfect introduction to the band, with all their eccentricities on display. It's magnificent, obviously.

“Half Past Human” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Black Hole Deity, "Lair Of Xenolich" [EP]

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 05/02/2021
Label: Everlasting Spew Records
 

“Lair of Xenolich” CD//DD track listing:

 
1). Razor Earth Edict
2). Railgun Combat
3). Hypersleep Dementia
4). Multiverse Incantations
5). Lair Of Xenolich

The Review:

Right. Science-fiction and supernatural themes meet in this outstanding death metal release. I'm not familiar with the members' previous/other bands (Chaos Inception and Malignancy) but that didn't stop me getting into this straight out of the gate.

This is a razor sharp and brutal five track EP of the finest quality death metal. No blast or solo is wasted, no moment without enjoyment. It's quite reminiscent of Steve Tucker era Morbid Angel to these ears. It's speedy, dark, violent and really quite stunning.

Of the four tracks, “Hypersleep Dementia” acts as a pretty clean/acoustic bridge between the other four tracks of unrelenting heaviness. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the raging “Railgun Combat”, but equally I like the interesting pacing of “Multiverse Incantations”.

Between this and Fractal Generator's latest beastly album, I have been spoilt for death metal these past couple of weeks. This is superlatively played, composed and produced and I urge all fans of the death metal genre (particularly those with an interest in the more technical end of the genre) to check this outcheck this out. Five stars for sure.

“Lair of Xenolich” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Cult of Luna, "The Raging River" [EP]

By: Josh McIntyre

 

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 05/02/2021

Label: Red Crk Recordings

 

“The Raging River” CD//DD//LP track listing:

 

1). Three Bridges

2). What I Leave Behind

3). Inside of a Dream (feat. Mark Lanegan)

4). I Remember

5). Wave After Wave

 

The Review:

 

While listening to Cult of Luna’s “Salvation”, one of my favorite albums of all time, I had the sudden realization that the classic post-metal gem is nearly 17 years old now. I’ve closely followed this band evolve throughout the years into true veterans and masters at creating emotionally invigorating heavy metal. Sure my all time favorite LP might be old now but these Swedes are still quite active and continuously release critically acclaimed material. I feel that “The Raging River”, released more than two decades since the unit’s founding, is the apex of this feat.

 

I have to poke a bit of fun at calling “The Raging River” an EP even though it is 38 minutes in length but I suppose when you’re used to making 70+ minute monsters anything that can fit on a single 12” record would feel short. Each Cult of Luna release is truly its own journey; “The Raging River” is no exception. Songs tend to dirge and sway as they build up (or down), hypnotizing the listener in a way that feels like drifting on a river. While the current can shift between calming and tense it still flows nonetheless. It all feels connected.

               

There is nothing really ‘surprising’ here but that is far from a fault. We’ve come to expect Cult of Luna’s usage of ambience shifting into chunky guitars, the occasional and rather beautiful melody lines coming from either a guitar or keys, and the throaty growls that further remind us of the humanity behind the art. CoL has a method and they use it to near perfection. This is especially aided by what is some of the best production of any release of theirs. Purely from a sound quality perspective this EP sounds like an engineer’s dream. Every instrument, every piece of the music is crystal clear even when the band is at its most explosive. It is so much more invoking when the placement and purpose of every layer is apparent. It makes it so much more comforting to sit in the mist and explore its components, whether it’s the catchy groove of “Wave After Wave” that feels quite Can-ish or the uplifting soundscapes that come at the last section of “Three Bridges”. My one complaint is the middle track, “Inside of a Dream”, which features Mark Lanegan (of Screaming Trees fame). I can’t help but feel like a song that doesn’t evolve much musically, remaining a soft meander throughout, misses a chance to create a fully fleshed out post-metal piece with his distinctive baritone. In full honesty I was hoping for something more akin to his features on Earth’s “Primitive and Deadly” album with Mark’s full voice over roaring guitars. Instead it feels more like he was stuck on a functional interlude. However, one must not let that small loss distract from the other four brilliant tracks that absolutely stand up to the rest of the band’s discography.

 

“The Raging River” is the latest testament to the greatness of Cult of Luna. We’re over two decades into their career but whatever fire they have that is inspiring them is far from burning out. If anything we are lucky to be here to take part.

 

“The Raging River” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Gatecreeper, "An Unexpected Reality" [EP]

By: Josh McIntyre

 

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 15/01/2021

Label: Closed Casket Activites 

 

“An Unexpected Reality” DD/LP track listing:

 

1). Starved

2). Sick of Being Sober

3). Rusted Gold

4). Imposter Syndrome

5). Amputation

6). Depraved Not Deprived

7). Superspreader

8). Emptiness

 

The Review:

 

 

This new EP from Gatecreeper shows them both at their grindiest and doomiest. Inspired by Black Flag’s “My War” album the first seven tracks show them at an almost deathgrind pace and fury. It’s in your face and it’s raw. It’s riff city. I’ve caught the band live three or four times, each time being a blast, and this just sounds like the soundtrack to pitting when shows eventually come back.

 

However, the majority of the EP’s length is actually contained within the final eleven minute song. The listener is circle pitting for awhile and suddenly these droning guitars come in as if someone slammed on the brakes. There’s even a sorrowful lead part, typical for traditional doom metal. The song evolves quite nicely through its various sections, from chugging guitars, a short clean section, some double kick, and some great lead lines.

 

Overall this EP is a wonderful, headbang-worthy experiment in dynamic taste and songwriting experiments from the Arizona death metallers. They show that they’re more than capable of writing both brutal grinders and longer, more emotionally impactful dirges. This adds a bit more flavor to the band that I already consider to be one of the better ones out there making straight-forward, riffy, and simply ‘fun’ death metal.

 

“An Unexpected Reality” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Thou & Emma Ruth Rundle, "The Helm of Sorrow"

By: Josh McIntyre

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 15/01/2021

Label: Sacred Bones Records

 

“The Helm of Sorrow” DD//LP track listing:

1). Orphan Limbs

2). Crone Dance

3), Recurrence

4). Hollywood

 

The Review: 

Thou is really, really good at being a (heavy) alt rock band. This EP, sibling to the full length (“May Our Chambers Be Full”) that came out a few months ago, also shares with it a spirit of the early 90s grunge era. The fusion of Thou’s and Rundle’s thick guitars, dynamic songwriting, extremely tasteful drumming, both clean and growled vocals, and a focus on hooks makes for a sonic ride that I cannot get enough of.

The truth is that this does sound like the leftovers, or b-sides, of the full length project. The truth is also that these tracks are still of high quality. B-sides of one of 2020’s best records still make for a phenomenal EP. Maybe the first song takes awhile to build up, my only real complaint, but then the huge, disgusting guitars come in like a runaway truck ramming into concrete. Our next tracks are just so damn excellent. They drift perfectly from section to section with a display of dynamic taste, versatility, energy, soul, and guitar riffs that Kim Thayil probably wishes he had written. Finally, we conclude with a well executed cover of The Cranberries’ “Hollywood” where Rundle’s vocals are a highlight. As different as her style is from Dolores’ (RIP) she did a fantastic job and the cover is a brilliant tribute.

Overall, like the full length before it, these musicians combined their efforts and tastes into a phenomenal project of 90s flavored sludgy alt metal. It feeds right into my love of artists like Deftones, Alice in Chains, Melvins, Neurosis, and the like. The songwriting is so catchy and full of flavor that I think anyone who can withstand screamed vocals will appreciate this sound (your dad will definitely say he likes the song “but why do they have to scream?”). I really, really hope that we will see more collaboration albums and EPs in the future. 

“The Helm of Sorrow” is available HERE

REVIEW: Hidden Mothers, "Hidden Mothers" (EP)

By: Peter Morsellino

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 18/09/2020

Label: Surviving Sounds

“Hidden Mothers” DD//LP track listing:

1). Beneath, To The Earth

2). My Own Worth

3). My Blindness, Your Burden

The Review:

Sheffield UK's own Hidden Mothers make an incredible impression with their debut EP. A devastatingly heavy and emotive piece that will pull on your heartstrings while keeping your head banging for days.

Mixing a beautifully melodic post rock sound with the emotional dissonance of black gaze, Hidden Mothers bring to the table a style that is distinctly their own. The music rises and falls with an intensity rivaling the greats of the post rock genre, with Explosions in the Sky style instrumental passages giving way to extreme turmoil and pained shrieks.  The vocal style I would describe as like Deafheaven but much more emotive, a great improvement in my opinion.

With only three tracks taking up a less than twenty minute time frame, I will say that the EP comes in a bit short in terms of granting the listener the full release promised by the music. To me, this is long form art. I want to sit down with it for an hour and really take in all the feels that are being thrown around, coming out of the experience with a sense of completion.  But hey, I smoke a lot of weed. Anyway, this is a solid start if nothing else.

Hidden Mothers is a band that needs to be watched out for. These guys are going to be accomplishing amazing things with their music.  Grab this EP for a glimpse of what they are capable of and wait patiently for what is sure to be a masterpiece once it comes to fruition.

“Hidden Mothers” is available HERE

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

REVIEW: The Secret, "Lux Tenebris" EP

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 31/08/2018

Label: Southern Lord Recordings

“Lux Tenebris” is absolutely terrifying in its delivery and atmosphere, by the time the slower riff of “Cupio Dissolvi’ cascades into the ether, you’ll begin to wonder whether you’ve listened to an EP or been sacrificed to a dark entity.

“Lux Tenebris” DD//LP track listing:

1). Vertigo

2). The Sorrowful Void

3). Cupio Dissolvi

The Review:

Italians The Secret are a band that are difficult to pigeonhole. Equal parts blackened hardcore, sludgy crust and nihilistic grind, with a pinch of apocalyptic doom for good measure, they seem to get heavier...and indeed better, with each new release. So it comes as no surprise that ‘Lux Tenebris’ the new 3 track EP is a maelstrom of hell fire and fury.

From the slow build of 'Vertigo' with its evil melodies penetrating the methodical black magic ceremony within, it switches gears as it struggles to contain the raging beast that is 'The Sorrowful Void'. Absolutely terrifying in its delivery and atmosphere, the track takes no prisoners and the blastbeat halfway through is almost a respite from the oppressive nature of the music.

Closer ‘Cupio Dissolvi’ is probably the blackest and nastiest the band have ever sounded; the tremolo riffs, blasts and d-beats create a magnanimous and utterly filthy piece of music that stands out among this year’s releases. By the time the slower riff cascades into the ether, you’ll begin to wonder whether you’ve listened to an EP or been sacrificed to a dark entity.

“Lux Tenebris” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW & VIDEO PREMIERE: Close The Hatch - "VI" (EP)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 29/09/2017

Label: Red Moth LLC

“VI” is another impressive release from Close The Hatch that explores the boundaries between post rock, noise rock and sludge in distinct and captivating fashion. Hopefully it will gain the band the wider acclaim they truly deserve.

“VI” CD//DD track listing:

1). Purgatory

2). II

3). III

4). The Art of Knowing

5). Little Did He Know

6). VI

The Review:

Close The Hatch continue to develop their intriguing brand of muscular post metal on new EP “VI”. The Ohio quartet’s 2016 EP “Death And Resistance” was a tantalising fusion of post rock atmosphere and super-dense sludge condensed into focused mini epics. Over the course of “VI”, the band refines this sound to perfection and reach new heights of spaced-out heaviness.

“Purgatory” begins with chiming guitars that craft an ambience reminiscent of Russian Circles in their quieter moments. The mood is soon shattered by an avalanche of filthy distortion and a full-throated guttural roar. As the track progresses it shifts between massive angular riffs and swathes of dirty fuzzed-out melody that bring to mind an unbeatable alliance between Sumac and Deftones.

Throughout “VI” Close The Hatch utilise this quiet/loud dynamic to devastating effect. The band manages to negotiate these sonic manoeuvres in an interesting way and avoid obvious slow-building crescendos but still make sure every riff hit home hard. The pummelling noise-rock rumble that erupts from the ominous calm of the central section of “The Black Art Of Knowing” is a particularly fine example of this. Even when the band head into more obvious epic territory on the seven minute title track they maintain their identity helped by the addition of some guest vocals.

“VI” is another impressive release from Close The Hatch that explores the boundaries between post rock, noise rock and sludge in distinct and captivating fashion. Hopefully it will gain the band the wider acclaim they truly deserve.  Check out the brand new and exclusive for their devastating hymn "Purgatory" below

Band info: bandcamp || facebook