REVIEW: Poison Blood - "Poison Blood" [EP]

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 11/08/2017

Label: Relapse Records

With the opening cut, "The Scourge and the Gestalt," and throughout, you hear Poison Blood stand among some of the legends – Slayer, Venom and precious few more that can grind you into dust with the sheer force of sound and the rawness of their lyrics.  All you have heard about Poison Blood is completely true. It’s a sensational debut that is exactly what the genre needs, and we can all only wish for more.

“Poison Blood” CD//DD//LP track listing

1. The Scourge and the Gestalt

2. Deformed Lights

3. Myths from the Desert

4. A Cracked and Desolate Sky

5. The Flower of Serpents

6. Shelter Beneath the Sea

7. From the Lash

8. Circles of Salt

The Review:

The only thing that has generated more buzz than the beautiful cover art for Poison Blood's self-titled debut is the devastating music within.

And what a debut it is. You no doubt have seen a great deal of praise for the project,

a collaboration between Jenks Miller of the post-rock outfit Horseback and Neill Jameson of the New Jersey black metal band Krieg. By all accounts, Poison Blood was intended as a creative space for the pair to explore the darker, heavier side of their respective work. They do, in smashing fashion. Smashing, that is, in every way imaginable.

The eponymous recording is probably going to be the most jarring 19 minutes of your life. From the understated opening that turn into rattling, bestial guitars and then into Jameson's harrowing vocal delivery, Poison Blood is positively ruthless. With the opening cut, "The Scourge and the Gestalt," and throughout, you hear Poison Blood stand among some of the legends – Slayer, Venom and precious few more that can grind you into dust with the sheer force of sound and the rawness of their lyrics. "A Cracked and Desolate Sky" compliments the fiery backdrop with technical and melodic guitar work. You catch touches like this across the board too.

Where Poison Blood is most shocking in its quality is with its miniscule but fatal songs. Consider "Shelter Beneath the Sea," 51 seconds of assault from start to finish. Ironically, the most unusually slow and gentle track, "The Flower of Serpents," at 48 seconds, is its lead in. Both are sterling in their composition and production. Poison Blood's longest entry, the four minutes-plus "Circles of Salt," is practically an operetta in comparison and is the passel of tighter entries. You almost wish there was more of this, because this closer swirls with moods, tempos, musicianship and incredible vocal effects. This release is billed as an EP, so you have to expect you may hear more of this on the full-length in the future.

All you have heard about Poison Blood is completely true. Its a sensational debut that is exactly what the genre needs, and we can all only wish for more.

"Poison Blood" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Atriarch - "Dead As Truth"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 11/08/2017

Label: Relapse Records

There is so much to enjoy about the new Atriarch release. You have heavier cuts like "Dead" and "Devolver" to mix among the more pensive songs. The songwriting is superior. And, best of all, you have a talented group back for a release that is sure to remind you why you enjoyed its brutal sound when they debuted.

“Dead As Truth” CD//DD//LP track listing

1. Inferno

2. Dead

3. Devolver

4. Void

5. Repent

6. Hopeless

The Review:

Atriarch are one of those bands that cuts across a ton of subgenres. For many outfits, that can go lots of ways, for better or worse. There are more than a few examples of times this does not work. Too many metal performers trying to be too much to too many people, and it can be exasperating. Similarly, in this Portland-based group, you can hear hard rock, gothic, post-punk, black metal and doom, but it is altogether better than all that sounds.

On their fourth full-length recording, "Dead As Truth," Atriarch does so famously because its members build upon a series of well-received releases with a sound that, for all it is advertised as, does the core parts so remarkably.

Atriarch bills itself as classic death rock, but there is a good chance you will hear tinges of old-school death metal here. From haunting singing to touches of dirge and, in truth, a lot of heavy, sludgy guitar, you will catch the screams of some of death metal's originators in Atriarch's blast. Instead of the screeching, indecipherable C-list material you can find anywhere, though, Atriarch paints some ghastly images without the nonsensical bombast. "Dead As Truth" continues the growth of the group's sound and, in many ways, makes it far more intimidating because it is more cerebral than most.

Fans of the band's past recordings may believe this new package sounds toned down compared to past collections. Such an observation is largely true, but rather than chill, this one feels like a more sophisticated entry. The restraint you hear from the opener, "Inferno," to the closer, "Hopeless," is used to support savage storytelling. "Void" taps a similar lyrical delivery, until it unleashes the full bore of anguish on the listener.

There is so much to enjoy about the new Atriarch release. You have heavier cuts like "Dead" and "Devolver" to mix among the more pensive songs. The songwriting is superior. And, best of all, you have a talented group back for a release that is sure to remind you why you enjoyed its brutal sound when they debuted.

"Dead As Truth" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook