ALBUM REVIEW: Pestilence, "Hadeon"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 05/03/2018

Label: Hammerheart Records

As early as the third track, “Multi Dimensional”, it is certain that Pestilence are well and truly back and firing on all cylinders.  “Hadeon” is business as usual and for Pestilence, business is good

“Hadeon” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Unholy Transcript
2. Non Physical Existent
3. Multi Dimensional
4. Oversoul
5. Materialization
6. Astral Projection
7. Discarnate Entity
8. Subvisions
9. Manifestations
10. Timeless
11. Ultra Demons
12. Layers Of Reality
13. Electro Magnetic

The Review:

Since 2013's “Obsideo”, Pestilence has once again become defunct and been reactivated. The Dutch troupe that made “Testimony Of The Anicents” and “Consuming Impulse” have their place in death metal history assured, so why continue at this point? Well, Patrick Mameli obviously still feels that he still has something to say in the genre, despite his protestations that he no longer listens to metal.

It would be fair to say that this picks up where “Obsideo” left off. The band (or Mameli and cohorts) retains its angular and technical sound. “Astral Projection” is a somewhat unusual example of something different in that it features a robotic sounding voice and some almost jazz like verse sections. The album is not all experimentation, though. “Manifestations” sounds much more like business as usual for Pestilence. There are a couple of extra tracks on here in comparison to “Obsideo”, but they are instrumental interludes and the main tracks such as “Materialization” remain as focused as ever. Once again, Mameli has focused on short running times, bags of riffs and loads going on in each three minute piece. It certainly makes the album easier to listen to from a fan's perspective. You can engage with the sound and songs (or not) fairly quickly.

There are really riffs galore and Mameli has retained the distinctly Euro-death feel that the band has always had- along with a technical approach. One thing to note is that to these ears Pestilence sound nowhere near as extreme as they once did. Maybe this is because times have moved on and extreme metal has only got more extreme, or maybe it is because Pestilence have always been quite a listenable band- even early on. I'll leave that for you to decide.

There are enough adrenaline inducing tracks such as the closing “Electro Magnetic” to keep the die hards happy, while there are enough textures to keep more progressive or tech death fans content as well. The shredding solos of “Layers of Reality” are a joy, the all out assault of “Timeless” a visceral delight. As early as the third track, “Multi Dimensional”, it is certain that Pestilence are well and truly back and firing on all cylinders. The mix is much better than “Obsideo” with the snare in particular being much less intrusive, but overall there is not too much to split the two records to my ears. I think this is superior to “Obsideo” and sounds more pleasing to boot. “Hadeon” is business as usual and for Pestilence, business is good

“Hadeon” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Rebaelliun - "The Hell's Decrees"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 06/05/2016
Label: Hammerheart Records

This is truly vicious stuff and places the band up there with the best of Brazilian musical exports. For those that like their death with a layer of filth with Germanic thrash and doom undertones, this is a must.

“The Hell's Decrees” CD//DD track listing:

1). Affronting the Gods
2). Legion
3). The Path of the Wolf
4). Fire and Brimstone
5). Dawn of Mayhem
6). Rebellion
7). Crush the Cross
8). Anarchy (The Hell's Decrees Manifesto)

The Review:

Brazilians Rebaelliun return with their third studio album after a fifteen year (?!) break. Perhaps it is lazy to use Krisiun as a sonic reference point, but... there we are. This is deathly stuff: blasting drums and growling vocals, but with excellent riffs and changes. The opener “Affronting The Gods” is as vicious as it should be. Excellent lead breaks abound, right to the last.

The album has thus shown its hand early, as things continue in exactly the same vein with “Legion”- another nasty piece of work, delivered with utter conviction! “The Path of The Wolf” has grinding and lurching riffage mixed up with slower tempos and well delivered vocals. “Fire and Brimstone” sounds exactly like it should with that title and again uses the lower tempos to great effect. 

“Dawn of Mayhem” tips the album over the half way point, with a totally rage filled delivery- and again the lead runs really add something to the vortex of riffs. The band give themselves a theme song on this album and it mixes up doom type riffs with their more regular death metal fare.

The blasphemy continues with “Crush The Cross”. The quasi-title track finishes off these eight well paced tracks. This is truly vicious stuff and places the band up there with the best of Brazilian musical exports. For those that like their death with a layer of filth with Germanic thrash and doom undertones, this is a must.

“The Hell’s Decrees” is available here

Band info: facebook || official

FFO: Krisiun, Abhorrence, Angelcorpse, Mental Horror

Coffins - ‘Craving The Internal Slumber’ (Album Review)

‘No frills necessary, just barbaric riffs and guttural growls’

Album Type: Mini-Album

Date Released: 21/08/2015

Label: Hammerheart Records

‘Craving The Internal Slumber’ CD//LP//DD  track listing:

1. Hatred Storm

2. Tyrant

3. Craving To Eternal Slumber

4. Stairway To Torment

5. An Obscure Pain

6. Decapitated Crawl

7. Hellbringer*

8. Under The Stench* (Alternate Version)

* vinyl bonustracks

Coffins is:

Uchino | Guitar/Vocal
Satoshi  | Drums
Tokita | Vocal

Review:

Coffins new album. Does exactly what it says on the tin...or album sleeve in this case.

Coffins are a very prolific band with this  EP being release number 34 (and 4th this calendar year!) amid a slew of compilations, live albums and splits with the likes of Noothgrush, XXX Maniac, Otesanek, Hooded Menace etc.  For fans of meat and potatoes death metal with the occasional doomy passage, you can't go wrong with this. Opening number 'Hatred Storm' goes straight for the jugular. No frills necessary, just barbaric riffs and guttural growls.

'Tyrant' starts with a mid tempo beat and vocalist Tokita (only a member since 2014) growls like a samurai Chris Reifert. Title track 'Craving To Eternal Slumber' is next and is reminiscent of their 'Mortification To Ruin' album released in 2005 in its slow, crawling riffage. The horrific screams towards the end make this an uncomfortable listen. Next is 'Stairway to Torment' which goes full on in its Autopsy/Obituary worship. There's even some blast beats and a spoken word passage! 'An Obscure Pain', the album's 5th track is back to the meat and potatoes. Uchino riffs away like a mad man and drummer Satoshi hammering away and changing the time signature to 3/4 to provide the album's only frills. Final track ‘Decapitated Crawl’ may remind fans of their earlier work....because it's a rerecording from 2007's spilt with The Arm And Sword Of A Bastard God. In all honesty it's difficult to differentiate between Uchino and Tokita but it's always been a great track nonetheless.

In 2008, it was hard a find a copy of career highlight 'Buried Death' that wasn't sticky with the ejaculate of the extreme music press.  Since then, Coffins have stuck to what they always have done; churning out release after release of neanderthalic Death Fucking Metal. Don't expect a game changer or a landmark because Coffins don't play that shit and that's why we love 'em!

Words by: Chris Bull

‘Craving The Internal Slumber’ will be available here from 21/08/2015

For more information:

Like: https://www.facebook.com/intothecoffin

Official: http://www.coffins.jp/

Follow: https://twitter.com/CoffinsJP

Listen: https://coffins.bandcamp.com/

Lucifer's Fall - 'Lucifer's Fall' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 05/05/2015

Label: Hammerheart Records

‘Lucifer's Fall’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). The Suffering Wizard

2). Lucifer’s Fall

3). The Summoning

4). Unknown Unamed

5). A Sinner’s Fate

6). Deceiver

7). Death March (Instrumental)

Lucifer’s Fall is

Deceiver | Axe Of Satan, Basshammer, Doomed Bellows & Banshee Howls

Unknown Unnamed | Drums & Destruction

Review:

Australia may not seem a likely place for traditional doom to arise from, but then again California probably wasn't thought of that way until Saint Vitus either...

What you get is rough and ready traditional doom: no frills, no tricks, no messing about. The sound is very old school- boxy drums, bass clear in the mix and vocals up front. The guitars solo and riff well and the band plays expansively- tight and loose at the same time (to use a cliché).

Opener “The Suffering Wizard” is lengthy, doom laden and full of soloing with the bass all over the fret board. The piercing scream that opens the title track does not lead to an energetic Priest-esque belter, but instead to slow riffs and vocals in the breaks. The lyrics are literal- again, straight to the point. “The Summoning” is more aggressive and straight ahead- the pace at...mid-pace! Things drop down again for “Unknown Unnamed” but they pick up, with the band making use of head nodding tempos and a keen ear for dynamics.

The album is an interesting snap shot of a band who I suspect are still very much in development. In a way, it is a little like the first Witchcraft LP, but for me does not quite achieve that level of greatness. Regardless, tracks like “A Sinner's Fate” and “Deceiver” establish the band as a force in traditional doom- think The Gates of Slumber crossed with Witchcraft and Candlemass but recorded in a garage and you get the idea. The album closes with “Death March” so you get seven tracks (ranging from just under four minutes to nearly ten minutes in length) of the purest doom. Lucifer's Fall are not to be confused with retro 70's occult style rock acts: this is doom metal of the old school and it is NOT rock (occult or otherwise). Again, there are no frills here and certainly no polish: just a band playing and laying it down on tape. 

Words by: Richard Maw

For more information:

Listen: http://lucifersfall.bandcamp.com/ | Like: http://www.facebook.com/LucifersFallDoom

Kjeld - Skym (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 2/3/2015

Label: Hammerheart Records

‘Skym’ CD//LP//DD track listing:

1). Tûzen Sinnen

2). Skym

3). Gerlofs Donia

4). Gjin Ferjouwing

5). Ús Grûn

6). Bonifatius

7). Baduhenna

8). Brek en Brân

9). Ivich Libben

10). Stoarm

11). Bern fan Freya

Kjeld is:

Tsjuster | Guitars

Kd | Guitars

Swerc | Bass

Fjildslach | Drums

Skier | Vocals

Review:

This is the first time Kjeld has crossed my path. I was told that the band are inspired by the ancient tradition and the lyrics are in the Frisian language, overall this is a refreshing change to the deeply rooted Scandinavian Black metal they play. I have listened to the record many times and in different environments, it is safe to say ‘Skym’goes well everywhere.

The album opener starts with hammering drums and as the singer starts to sing with the music building a melodic landscape, I am reminded of the melodic parts of Dimmu Borgir but without directly copying them. Kjeld present a magical blend to the music, together with inspiration from the early black metal scene and it works very well. The album continues with the title track, it’s a brutal onslaught but somewhere around the 2 minute mark the tempo goes down just to give the listener a chance to rest. Then it accelerates into the end with a cold, icy feeling and it leaves the listener gasping for breath.

The third track is a favourite of mine. Starting off, like they’re unleashing hell, the track floats seamlessly into a rich variety of the melodic guitar and the faint background synths, completed with trumpets, making the sound landscape familiar with the one we hear from Behemoth. The fourth track starts with a pierced guitar lead with a rampaging intensity and when the keyboard comes in, it casts an aura of dark beauty. It reminds me of the reason I love Black metal. My mind swept away to the smoggy Warfield where the soldiers lay waiting for the end. The vocalist’s snarl is definite highlight on the record.

‘Ús Grûn’ takes us back to the same feeling as the beginning of the record. A midtempo start to make the listener secure before speeding up. Nice furious drums with a lovely atmospheric guitar melody. The following songs are in the same vein as the other ones. Hoarse sawing guitars and as I said with a rampaging intensity sometimes mixed with an eerie atmospheric melody combined with shrieking and very nuanced and strong vocal performance

Skier’s vocals are placed in the background of the production but his shrieking and harsh vocal are still in the centre of the songs and it pierces your brain in the most delightful way. If you should listen to just one Black metal record of the year this could be the one because this is another Dutch fist in the face of God!

Words by: Sven-Åke Alveving

You can pick up a CD/LP copy here.

For more information:

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The Sludgelord News : Rauhnåcht premiere new song!

On March 17th 2014 Hammerheart Records is returning with full pride to it's 90's roots! Hammerheart Records will release Rauhnåcht's new album "Urzeitgeist" on digipak CD and on gatefold 2LP (on Alpine ice coloured vinyl)!

This album will make waves in the Pagan/Black Metal scene! The sheer quality in every aspect of it will make every Heathen heart pound much quicker. To convince all of you out there we have this appetizer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbFpoocyLYE

https://soundcloud.com/hammerheart/rauhn-cht-urzeitgeist 

Source : Hammerheart Records

Serpent Eater - HYENA - Album Review

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: Dec 15^th 2013

Label: Alerta Antifascista Records (LP)/Hammerheart Records (CD) 

Opening track listing:

1.Ebola 05:38

2.Last Cold Word 06:00

3.In The Wall 04:42

4.Hyena 05:19

5.Leitmotif 02:53

6.Trepanation Nation 04:00

Bio:

SERPENT EATER, based out of Cologne, Germany, has been plodding forward with its current lineup since early 2012. With members hailing from HAMMERHEAD (Ger), TUMULT (Ger), DASKRILL (Ger) and THROATS (UK), SERPENT EATER has been well rooted in the DIY Hardcore Punk scene for ages. Living on anger, SERPENT EATER is fuelled, not dispirited, by life’s experiences and struggles.

As such, the lyrical concepts employed in their work mainly focus on the weirdness and deformations of the psyche as well as the emotions of a violated mankind in modern society.

SERPENT EATER creates its signature dark sound to emphasise this lyrical approach by mixing elements of death and black metal to (post) hardcore, crust, heavy and dark 70s rock, and doom to create sludgy, heavy and somber atmospheres of despair and hopelessness infused with moments of calm, sadness and melodic doldrums – only to be interrupted by sudden outbursts of sheer fury.

The Band Members

DW, GR, CM, DS, RGD

Review:

Serpent Eater are here to destroy your entire world with their brilliant new album – HYENA. A stunning 30 minute blast of filth ridden Death Blackened Sludge Hardcore brutality that will shake you to the core.

Serpent Eater are mega-pissed and they stay that way through out. First track – Ebola – is aptly named as this song spreads like the legendary disease it was named after. Brutal riffs will soon take over your body and there is no escaping the inevitable outcome. Devastation at every corner. Vocals and riffs are played loud and mean through out. Death and destruction is lurking through out this album. There is no cure and there is no escape. It's best to comply with these dark overlords of noise. As it's pretty meaningless to escape.

Serpent Eater are very hard to describe. They play a mixture of Death Metal, Doom, Sludge Metal, Black Metal and Hardcore but they don't play to one specific genre. The band play a brutal mix of all these great genres and the results are equally electrifying as your worst nightmares come to life.

Tracks such as Last Cold World, In The Wall and Hyena fully embrace the dark visions that the band will soon have you looking over your shoulder. As the band have written some horrific lyrics to match the constant onslaught of dangerous vocals and music through out. And I loved every filth ridden second of it.

Serpent Eater are another great band coming from the German Sludge/Doom Metal scene. It was my good friend Michael from German Doom-Sludge-Popsters – WALL – who first recommended this band to me. And boy was I hooked. So Michael – I thank you for the recommendation my friend.

This album does have a great hard-rocking vibe despite the dark lyrical content. I even started to head-bang to this album the more times I listened to it. It's a dark and mysterious vision that will have you begging for more. Serpent Eater is an album that will go down a storm with the hardcore moshpit crew as it embraces the dark and dangerous side of Sludge Metal that we all need to hear now and again.

All in all, Hyena is a stunning release that you all need to check out now.

Brilliant and Highly Recommended.

Hyena is now available to buy Digital Download, Vinyl from Alerta Antifascista Records and CD through Hammerheart Records

Check The Band From Links Below

Facebook

BandCamp

Written by Steve Howe

Fehler - 'Dissona' (Album Review)

 Written by: John Slaymaker

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/04/2012

Label: Hammerheart Records

This is a first class stoner metal album with the emphasis on metal, this band has arrived and they make this sound their own.  This is a fantastic metal album, and I think the metal loving masses should check this out.  Their next release has even more potential to be even more awesome.

‘Dissona’ CD//DD//LP track Listing

1) First Rites (4:19)

2) Revelations (5:13)

3) Vanity (3:57)

4) Plagues and Strangers (4:19)

5) Affluenza (7:06)

6) Knife Chase (3:33)

7) Dreams of Lead (2:23)

8) Kingdoms (3:06)

9) Miserablist (5:42)

  

Fehler is:

Twan | Guitars

Demian | Guitars

Freek | Bass, vocals

Ruud | Drums

The Review:

Fehler are a four piece stoner/sludge/doom metal band from the Netherlands. They play a great blend of sludgey doom with a stoner twist.  Fehler means mistake, flaw or blunder in German and with this record, ‘Dissona’, Fehler are neither mistaken or flawed and have definitely not made any blunders here.  ‘Dissona’ is released on Hammerheart records. This is their first release on the label, but the band’s debut EP ‘Adharma’ came out on Black Death Records in 2009.

‘First Rites’ is a sweet introduction to the album, instrumental with clean guitars riffing tightly and melodically together, while the bass and drums dig defensive positions for later on. Then we all sit back for the last minute as a viola or cello, I’m not sure and I think I might be a philistine, but it’s bowed and it takes us to the next stage in a kind of melodic cadence.  ‘Revelations’ kicks off with a proper riff twisting and turning, then some nice high chords bring in the verse, Freek’s vocal, dark and growling provide a good contrast with the guitars then some sweet thrash drumming.

These Dutch boys know how to arrange a great song, but I personally cannot see the comparisons with Crowbar they keep getting! There is an influence there but that's all. This is a first class stoner metal album with the emphasis on metal, this band has arrived and they make this sound their own.  Nine songs in total and the third track, ‘Vanity’ contains my favourite riff on this record. Then we have ‘Plagues and Strangers’ and ‘Affluenza’ both choc full of riffs and unsettling themes.

With ‘Knife Chase’ take my advice and don’t play this song at any anger management course, I love the way this song winds down, a bit like a slow motion explosion on a fairground carousel. The discord of the arrangements in ‘Dreams of Lead’ show for great metal song writing, even on this, the shortest song.  ‘Kingdoms’ the slowest and most reflective song, has great structures and vocals, and on ‘Miserablist’ this very angry title says it all.  This is a fantastic metal album, and I think the metal loving masses should check this out.  Their next release has even more potential to be even more awesome.

You can buy the record here

Band info: Official | Facebook