ALBUM REVIEW: Memoriam, "Rise To Power"

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 3/2/2023
Label: Reaper Entertainment

 
“Rise to Power” CD//DD//LP track listing:
 
1. Never Forget, Never Again (6 Million Dead)
2. Total War
3. I Am the Enemy
4. The Conflict is Within
5. Annihilation’s Dawn
6. All is Lost
7. Rise to Power
8. This Pain
 
The Review:

Memoriam return to further cement their status as a British death metal institution. The band’s work rate is very impressive. “For The Fallen” still seems like a recent album for me, but it is now several releases ago- and dropped in 2017!
 
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 Bolt Thrower 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.
 
There is an almost gothic sensibility to some of the sounds here- “I am The Enemy” 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 “The Conflict Is Within” for some deathly and doomy splendour.
 
When the band put the kick pedals to the metal, as they do on “Annihilations Dawn”, it has a great effect. It’s neck snapping stuff, in the vein of, well, you know who. “All Is Lost” 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.
 
The album delivers one epic in This Pain 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 Memoriam 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!

“Rise To Power” is available HERE

 

Band info: official || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Agalariept, "“Desde el Supremo Reino”

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 03/01/2023
Label: Independent

 
“Desde el Supremo Reino” DD track listing:
 
1. Inframundo
2. Cirugía Macabra
3. Miasis
4. Putrefacto
5. Festín
6. Lobotomía
7. Inútil Fe
8. Averno
9. Desde El Supremo Reino
 
The Review:

Chile has given the metal world a number of great things; Tom Araya, Anton Reisenegger, Procession… and that’s the tip of the iceberg. Lurking much further underground than the aforementioned are Agalariept.
 
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.
 
Agalariept definitely have that Latin flavour that means that genres are crossed with each other a fair bit (kind of like the way earlier Sepultura 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.
It’s all very consistent and hard to pick stand outs. I liked the pacing of “Putrefacto”, but equally the opener “Inframundo” 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!
 
“Lobotomia”, “Averno”… 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 Agalariept 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!
 
“Desde el Supremo Reino” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

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

ALBUM REVIEW: Obituary, "Dying of Everything"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 13/01/2023
Label: Relapse Records
 

“Dying of Everything” CD//CS//DD/LP track listing:
 
1). Barely Alive
2. The Wrong Time
3). Without a Conscience
4). War
5). Dying of Everything
6). My Will To Survive
7). By The Dawn
8). Weaponize The Hate
9). Torn Apart
10). Be Warned
 
The Review:
 
Obituary- Florida’s death metal merchants par excellence are back. If the last self-titled album was a rather anthemic collection of death metal, “Dying of Everything” 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, “Inked In Blood”, 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.
 
Obituary 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.
 
As is the band’s way, “Barely Alive” 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.
 
From there, the band runs through an admirable gamut of styles. “The Wrong Time” is catchy and grooves in the mid tempo range. “Without Conscience” is prime Obituary while “War” slows things down and echoes 1994’s “World Demise” with its pacing and main riff hammered home ad nauseum. Obituary’s 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.
 
Ever since “Slowly We Rot”, the band have trodden a different path to their peers. When other bands were getting faster and faster, Obituary slowed down even more. While classic records like “Cause of Death” yielded live staples like “Chopped In Half” and “The End Complete” offered up a particularly bleak and downtuned vision of the world, the band later records are just as compelling. “Frozen In Time” rules. “Xecutioner’s Return” was monstrously weighty, “Darkest Day” was prime Obituary, their self titled work was believed by many to be as defining as “SWR” 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.
 
The one thing that quality has bread is a difficulty to differentiate between albums and eras beyond the first. Much like Motorhead and Overkill- or even Cannibal Corpse closer to home, Obituary 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.
 
As “Dying of Everything” 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 Obituary 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.
 
Whether you are here for the slow-paced crushing songs like “My Will To Live” or the slightly more sprightly “By The Dawn”, 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 Obituary 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.
That said, you cannot argue with the double bass drum grooves of “Weaponize The Hate”, the swagger of the title track or any of the lead work on offer here. It’s prime Obituary- and very heavy indeed. The record concludes with “Torn Apart” and “Be Warned”- rounding out 45 minutes- or thereabouts- of Floridian death metal that is simultaneously familiar and brand new.
 
So where does this sit in the pantheon of Obituary records- now stretching back to the 80s(!). Hmm. I think that “Dying of Everything” 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 “Frozen In Time” but the songs are good throughout and it’s reliably heavy, murky, dark and with all expected Obituary-isms operating in the upper gears. If you like the band, it’s essential listening. If you have never heard Obituary (?!?) 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.
 
“Dying of Everything” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Iron Void, "IV"

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 27/01/2023
Label: Shadow Kingdom Records

 
“IV” CS//CD//DD//LP track listing:
 
1). Call of the Void
2). Grave Dance
3). Living on The Earth
4). Pandora’s Box
5). Blind Dead
6). She
7). Lords of This Wasteland
8). Slave One
9). Last Rites
 
The Review:

The UK’s finest exponents of trad doom return with this- their fourth (!) album. Since the last record, “Excalibur”, 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.
 
This time around, there are no overarching concepts, no knights, no swords- but there are some recurring themes. The atmosphere setting guitar intro of “Call Of The Void” sets things up for a chilling doom experience, rooted often at street level rather than high fantasy.
 
The excellent “Grave Dance” 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. Iron Void are BACK.
 
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 “Pandora’s Box”. 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 Orange Goblin album- something of a throwback to some of the material on “Doomsday” in some ways.
 
Things get heavier with “Blind Dead” 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!
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 “She”, along with a surprisingly catchy hook. The track is kind of a distant cousin of “The Devil’s Daughter” 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.
 
As the record progresses through “Lords of the Wasteland”, 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- Pentagram? Saint Vitus? Trouble? They are now, for the most part, bands of the past. Cathedral are gone. Count Raven are still around, but Iron Void 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.
 
“Slave One” 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.
 
The record concludes with “Last Rites”- a romp through the doom graveyard of quiet and loud dynamics and with that the band is over and out.  Overall, “IV” 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!

“IV” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

REVIEW: Funeral Thirst, "Galvanized in Blood" [EP]

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 20/12/2022
Label: Independent

“Galvanised In Blood” DD track listing:
 
1). Turned to Dust
2). Hanged
3). Galvanized in Blood
4). Woodland Sacrifice
 
The Review:

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.
 
“Turned to Dust” 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 “Hanged” and it’s onwards. The title track and “Woodland Sacrifice” 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.
 
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.
 
“Galvanized in Blood” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Dvvell, "Quiescent"

By: Richard Maw
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 03/06/2022
Label: Transylvanian Recordings

 
“Quiescent” CS//DD track listing:
 
1). Mother
2). Father
3). Son
4). Daughter
 
The Review:

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.
 
The four tracks here comprise of “Mother”, “Father”, “Son” and “Daughter”. 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.
 
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 Conan, but that’s where the comparison would end. Dvvell are very much their own thing.
 
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.
 
“Quiescent” is available HERE 

Band info: bandcamp || instagram