ALBUM REVIEW: Dead Empires, "Designed to Disappear"

By: Mark Ambrose


Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/02/2018

Label: Silent Pendulum Records

 

“Witnessed live and through my speakers, “Designed to Disappear” is a juggernaut of a record – one that hops easily between genres while remaining the work of a distinct, remarkable quartet.  I’m onboard for whatever challenging, inspiring output they have in store.”

“Designed to Disappear” CD//CS//DD//LP track listing

1. Spectacular Ruin

2. The Form

3. Slay Rider

4. Reverse Speak

5. A Summertime Song

6. Ones and Zeros

7. Ergot (feat. John Carbone)

8. Designed to Disappear

The Review:        

The term “progressive” gets thrown around pretty egregiously in metal – most often you’re left thinking of bands like Dream Theater or Iced Earth, and even then thinking in terms of scale, length, or concept albums.  Far too frequently, it’s easy to forget how the genuine first wave of “prog” artists, from King Crimson and Santana to Yes and Rush, embraced weirdly abstruse musical styles.  While a ton of modern prog enthusiasts will point to the longform arena rock epics like “2112”, there aren’t many who hold up the 80s pop experimentation of Yes as key progressive cornerstones.  Yet with the supremacy of total oddball artists like Mike Patton and his onetime collaborators in the dearly departed Dillinger Escape Plan in the 1990s and 2000s metal/math/whatevercore scenes, there is growing appreciation for boundary-free heavy music.  New York state’s Dead Empires, formerly an instrumental trio, have all the hallmarks of these monumentally talented virtuosos with a healthy injection of pop sensibility to match. 

Intro track “Spectacular Ruin” displays the muscular guitar- focused energy at the heart of Dead Empires winning formula, allowing John Bryan space to lay down harmonized, rousing leads that will please the Thin Lizzy fanatics out there.  “The Form” unleashes vocalist Jason “PRKR” Sherman for the first time – his monstrously distorted vocals and noisy manipulations are all the more exciting when his melodic strengths come to the foreground later.  The rhythm dynamic of Phil Bartsch and DJ Scully is monumental – heavy as the heart of a neutron star.  And Bryan’s apt countering of chugging rhythm and shrieking high end melodic guitar work sounds like the best Mars Volta leads we never got. 

“Slay Rider”, a thrashy two minute blast of galloping drums and blast beat choruses, is a great example of the Dead Empires’ bold disregard for genre conventions – they could have forged on with the noisy, experimental math rock of the first two tracks and had a pretty solid record, instead, they go full on groove-thrash attack before the heady, jazz grind freakout of “Reverse Speak.”   And that’s only the first two minutes of the track, before a beautifully salsa infused guitar and piano (guest Jason Volpe) tradeoff, pounding double bass drumming of Bartsch, or the magnificently melodic bridge vocals.  Just when you think you have Dead Empires’ formula pegged they drop into a spaced out dub metal (is that even a thing?) track like “A Summertime Song”.  Like a 311 song if they could just muster the grit to be HEAVY, “A Summertime Song” is the unlikeliest, weirdest 7 minutes I’ve heard on an album this year that actually works as a pop single.  DJ Scully’s gnarly bass gets some time to shine here and it’s easy to see why he’s an in demand multi-genre bassist – dude has some serious tone and chops.

The instrumental “Ones and Zeros” is a bit of a palate cleanser after the consistent tonal changeups of the record so far, recalling the meat and potatoes harmonies of “Spectacular Ruin”, with some moments that recall Big Country (maybe the most overlooked non-metal guitar group of the 80s), and others that once again have me thinking of Phil Lynott and company.  “Ergot” may be the most “conventional” post-metal/metalcore piece of the whole record, if a punishing metal song in the midst of all this post-rock beauty, featuring a spoken word coda courtesy of Moon Tooth’s John Carbone, can be called conventional at all.  The epic, titular finale is a 12 minute, anthemic journey through regret and mortality that is cinematic, rewarding, and ultimately uplifting, even with lyrics like “death, the great equalizer / everything will end one day / that’s the hard truth we go to bed with everyday, / designed to disappear we all go away”.  Somehow it’s far more inspiring than you’d imagine, with moments of seriously dissonant brutality.  More than any other track, I could see this as full on arena rock – it deserves an audience of thousands to truly appreciate its massive scale.

Though there are only eight tracks on their newest record, Dead Empires’ offer lightning fast jaunts through multiple genres, embodying the bold heart of progressive music’s infinite potential.  While their forebears like Dillinger Escape Plan have retired, or Mike Patton has stopped only occasionally to focus on projects that exist as more than one-off experiments, Dead Empires has the potential to continue as a band to watch, as every move seems to take you to new, unforeseen destinations.  It’s really amazing to see it replicated live, as I had to pleasure to experience this autumn, and hear so MUCH coming from a stripped down quartet.  If you have a chance to see them during the upcoming tour, I’d absolutely recommend it, as the pure intensity and prowess is somehow just as monumental, even in a small venue.  Witnessed live and through my speakers, “Designed to Disappear” is a juggernaut of a record – one that hops easily between genres while remaining the work of a distinct, remarkable quartet.  I’m onboard for whatever challenging, inspiring output they have in store.

“Designed to Disappear” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

TOP 16 ALBUMS: The Sour 16 June 2017

Vokonis (2017)

Yes, it is that time again O ye lover of riffs, “THE SOUR 16” returns.  You know the drill by now, each month you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  To put it simply, “THE SOUR 16” are the records that have been trending the most at THE SLUDGELORD Headquarters.

The results are compiled based on the amount of page views the reviews have received and are then calibrated into the list below.  All reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and we have included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in the red)

16). Coltsblood - "Ascending Into Shimmering Darkness" (324)

Coltsblood refine their unique brand of bleak, bludgeoning doom to punishing effect on “Ascending Into Shimmering Darkness”. This is a mighty collection that marks out the band as one of the most underrated heavy acts in the world.

15). blyh - "Transparent to the World" (358)

Short, to the point, but excelling in both subtlety and savagery, blyh is a band to watch out for.

14). Iced Earth - "Incorruptible" (361)

This is the kind of album that Judas Priest should be making- and used to make. “Incorruptible” is a great metal album, it delivers on every level, with every band member excelling in their field. Time for me to get hold of the back catalogue as well, as “Incorruptible” has converted me to being a fan of the band. After nearly thirty years of albums, Iced Earth are deadlier than ever.

13). Avatarium - "Hurricanes And Halos" (395)

This is another great record from Avatarium and one which places the band firmly in the upper echelons of doom outfits operating today. There is nothing to fault here. If you enjoyed the band's previous work, don't hesitate. If you have never heard the band, then this is as good a place as any to start. Great record.

12). In Human Form - "Opening of the Eye by Death of the I" (467)

The complexity of the songwriting on all of the tracks leaves the listener discovering many layers over multiple listens. This band has some serious talent, and absolutely deserves your time. A massively unique release weaving together so many influences it’s difficult to quantify them all. This is excellent music, and I can’t wait for future releases from this band.

11). Schammasch - “The Maldoror Chants: Hermaphrodite” (EP) (471)

Schammasch have created something remarkable with this most recent artistic expression, sophisticated, complex and yet somehow, eminently accessible.  Get lost. It is worth your time to find a way out.

10). USA/MEXICO - "Laredo" (472)

This is the kind of garage rock where the car is still parked inside with the engine running, warping the bands minds with fumes.   “Laredo” is an awesome offering from USA/MEXICO, a perfect blend of dumb headbanging heaviness and tripped-out weirdness.

9). Bereft - "Lands" (490)

There are other bands creating doom in a similar style to Bereft but few do it on such a grand scale. The Wisconsin quartet’s latest release comprises  of four epic journeys into the abyss with a massive production that matches their towering ambition.  “Lands” is a fine album that is sure to win Bereft a legion of new followers.

8). Vallenfyre - "Fear Those Who Fear Him" (511)

All in all it’s another good album that sees the band dishing out shorter and faster songs than we’re used to getting from them, while not losing the razor sharp edge of that classic Vallenfyre musical mastery and might.

7). Pyreship - "The Liars Bend Low" (579)

The Houston quartet deal in a captivating brand of complex sludge with a perfect balance of melody and grit. “The Liars Bend Low” is a debut brimming with potential for a glowing future.

6). Mantar - "The Spell" (EP) (669)

Mantar’s strength lies in their ability to maintain a perfect balance of dirty, underground grit and catchy stadium-bothering rock’n’roll ambition. Opening track “Pest Crusade” demonstrates this in style. It is a complex track composed of shifting tempos and styles, encompassing shards of raging black metal, stop/start riffage and blasts of no-nonsense stoner punk.  The three flawless tracks that make up “The Spell” demonstrate that Mantar’s unique brand of heaviness is growing ever more potent.

5). Bison - “You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” (707)

“You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” is an amalgamation of everything that Bison does well. If you love anything in the realm of sludge or stoner metal, this is a must for you.

4). Beastmaker - "Inside The Skull" (762)

It's impressive that, only a year and a bit after their debut, Beastmaker have taken their sound and improved upon it with sharper song writing and an impressive grasp of what makes music of the trad doom genre tick.

3). Paganizer - "Land of Weeping Souls" (787)

Rogga Johansson shows no sign of letting up at all; another album, another line up, another master class in Swedish death metal. This is absolutely business as usual for Paganizer, possibly the finest and purest exponents of this type of metal around. Highly recommended.

2). Elder - "Reflections of a Floating World" (822)

Reflections of a Floating World’ is both a glance back and a stride forward. The direct nature of some of the riffs and the weight of their execution sit it comfortably between ‘Spires Burn/Release’ and ‘Lore.’ The expansion of ambition and variety in musical approach however, keep Elder’s eyes firmly fixed on the horizon

1). Vokonis - "The Sunken Djinn" (964)

Whilst being undoubtedly heavy what makes this sophomore effort stand out is the variation employed in the bludgeon. By embracing less traditional doom landscapes ‘The Sunken Djinn’ has allowed Vokonis room to demonstrate the full raft of their audio-weaponry, and in doing so propelled them to the forefront of the heavy underground.

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  June 2017’s “SOUR 16” features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Andre Almaraz, Charlie Butler, Conor O’Dea, Brandon Green, David Jupp & Mark Tremblay

ALBUM REVIEW: Iced Earth - "Incorruptible"

 By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/06/2017

Label: Century Media Records

This is the kind of album that Judas Priest should be making- and used to make. “Incorruptible” is a great metal album, it delivers on every level, with every band member excelling in their field. Time for me to get hold of the back catalogue as well, as “Incorruptible” has converted me to being a fan of the band. After nearly thirty years of albums, Iced Earth are deadlier than ever.

“Incorruptible” CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. “Great Heathen Army”
02. “Black Flag”
03. “Raven Wing”
04. “The Veil”
05. “Seven Headed Whore”
06. “The Relic (Part 1)”
07. “Ghost Dance (Awaken The Ancestors)”
08. “Brothers”
09. “Defiance”
10. “Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862)

The Review:

Back with their twelfth album, Iced Earth are something of an American metal institution. Yes, the line up album to album often changed, but with Jon Schaffer at the helm the band has been viewed as perhaps akin to the US version of Iron Maiden in terms of scope and ambition. I have to be honest here, I have never really got into the band until now. I bought “Something Wicked This Way Comes” some years ago but could not get into it. On the strength of Tim “Ripper” Owens involvement, I got hold of the deluxe edition of “The Glorious Burden...” same thing. Maybe I didn't persevere enough, maybe I was expecting something different; whatever the reasons I didn't get it. Until now.

“Incorruptible” is a hugely enjoyable record. It is uncategorisable, other than to say that this is metal. Proper metal. Screaming vocals. Shredding guitars. Massive drums. Rumbling bass. Songs about heathen hordes, piracy, history, brotherhood, nature... they are all here.

The opener “Great Heathen Army” is epic in sound and delivery, but equally is straight to the point in that it goes for the throat and does not let go. Stirring stuff, for sure, as is “Black Flag” (nowt to do with the hardcore punk band- Rollins fronted or otherwise). Changing pace, “Raven Wing” is sublime- it has some undefinable quality that makes for a classic track. It's not a hard rocker or a ballad, but is perhaps a distant cousin to a track like Accept's “Princess of the Dawn”. Have a listen and you may understand where I am coming from.

There are vicious head bangers such as “Seven Headed Whore” and “Defiance” epic trad metal like “The Relic (Part 1”), an instrumental (“Ghost Dance..”.), trad power balladry with a metal heart (“Brothers”) and a suitably epic closer in the form of “Clear The Way (December 13^th 1862)”. The production is never less than state of the art, the musicianship superlative. More important is that the songs deliver as well.

This is the kind of album that Judas Priest should be making- and used to make. “Incorruptible” is a great metal album, it delivers on every level, with every band member excelling in their field. Time for me to get hold of the back catalogue as well, as “Incorruptible” has converted me to being a fan of the band. After nearly thirty years of albums, Iced Earth are deadlier than ever.

“Incorruptible” is available everywhere now

FFO: Judas Priest, Blind Guardian, Iron Maiden, Nevermore

Band info: facebook

ALBUM PREMIERE: Toronto's Deity deliver chaotic, aggressive and masterful self titled debut album

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines Deity as ‘Godhead; the Supreme Being; a fabulous god or goddess; a divinity.’  That definition needs to be amended to include DEITY the band; who melds old-school metal through a thoroughly unique intense influence of their own into music that is godlike and divine! 
 

Inspired by Suffocation, Emperor, Death, Slayer and Immortal and describing their music as ‘relentless, powerful, intriguing, honest and revitalizing’, DEITY has produced a truly special album, combining the fantastic progressive instrumentals of Metallica and Iced Earth with crushing metal anthems.
 

With the completion of DEITY's self-titled album, the extreme duo, Danny and John are looking forward to taking their sound to live stages in Toronto, Montreal and more in both those cities provinces and beyond. Watch this pair, because DEITY are a band that deserve to break out of the studio into the live arena! Guitarist/vocalist Danny Alessandro had the following to say about the album

“This album has been a long time in the making and we are very proud of what we've created. From start to finish we want to take the listener on a journey of different emotions and feeling. As fans of metal we wanted to create something the listener could play over several times without losing interest. Something with a timeless feeling, and we feel like we've achieved this. Chaotic, aggressive and melodic are the best words to describe this self titled release.  We hope the metal community digs the album cheers!!!”

With the album set to hit the streets on Friday 2^nd June, you can check out the album in all its brutal splendour below.  For more info about this release as it becomes available, like and follow DEITY via facebook below.

Band info: Facebook || Instagram

TRACK PREMIERE: North Carolina Doom trio Temptation's Wings debut "I Destroyer"

Hailing from the mountains of North Carolina, Temptation's Wings maybe new to The Sludgelord, however having formed in 2005, they have been writing and releasing music for over 10 years now.    With a few albums and EPs under their belt, it wasn’t until the release of their 2012 EP “Legends of the Tusk”,  that the band finally began to hit their stride, touring relentlessly in support of the record and earning a slot opening for Iced Earth at a home town gig to their biggest crowd to date.  

Fast forward to 2017 and with a new full length entitled “Skulthor Ebonblade” set for release on March 10^th, the record is the culmination of over 10 years graft, that has seen them refine their song writing skills and grow into the thrashy doomed infused goliathon they are today.  Taking cues from bands such as Grand Magus, “Skulthor Ebonblade” is the complete package with powerful riffs, propulsive rhythms, and emotionally penetrating vocals that will immediately imprint upon your memory. 

“Skulthor Ebonblade” will be released on CD and digital formats on March 10 and you can stream the track “I Destroyer” below.  The CD version will include an acoustic bonus track called "Solitude." The album was mixed, mastered, and recorded by Andy Bishop at Giraffe Studios, Hendersonville NC, with the impressive artwork by none other than David Paul Seymour.  You can preorder/buy a copy here

“Skulthor Ebonblade” CD//DD track Listing:

1. Burning of Hjalmar
2. I Destroyer
3. Into the Maelstrom
4. To Forge a Legend (Ulfbehrt)
5. Lair of the Gorgon Queen
6. Solitude*
7. Treachery of the Blind Raven
8. Witches of Dredmoor
9. My Name was Skulthor

*CD Bonus Track

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Charred Walls of the Damned - “Creatures Watching over the Dead"

By Theron Moore
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released; 23/09/2016
Label: Metal Blade Records

 

 

Richard Christy & Co have created something special with “Creatures Watching over the Dead.” It needs to be heard and talked about.  This is metal with heart.  Metal with soul.  And most of all?  Metal that’s larger than life.

 

“Creatures Watching over the Dead” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). My Eyes

2). The Soulless

3). Afterlife

4). As I Catch My Breath

5). Lies

6). Reach into the Light

7). Tear Me Down

8). Living in the Shadow of Yesterday

9). Time Has Passed

 

The Review:

 

It’s been five years since “Cold Winds on Timeless Days” dropped.  This band is hungry.  They’ve got blood in their eyes.  The result is “Creatures Watching over the Dead,” a solid offering of slab heavy, emphasis on heavy mind you, metal.  Songs range from melodic (“My Eyes”) to speed / thrash (“The Soulless”) but more so than not, this record finds a good middle ground to satisfy metal fans of all genres and tastes. 

 

When I think of the term “heavy metal,” it’s the sound of this record that plays inside mind’s eye.  When founder / drummer Richard Christy set out to make “Creatures…” he had this one goal in mind – “"To bring the metal! I want people to listen to this album, bang their head, and have fun."  And fans will.  You can’t help but bang thy head…

 

“Creatures Watching over the Dead” is a return to a style of old.  You won’t find screamo, metalcore or any of that nonsense here.  This is metal the way it was meant to be made; a musical tapestry of song, structure and style.  If the song needs to be slower, maybe more in line with a ballad, it is.  If it needs to rock harder and heavier, it’s done, as in the case of “The Soulless.”  That’s the great thing about this band and level of musicianship in it – they know how to write songs and bring them to life.  They’re seasoned pros and know metal inside and out. 

 

Says Christie, "When I write for Charred Walls I never really plan anything out. I just start playing riffs and if something sounds really cool, I'll build a song from there. My only intent is that I want our music to be heavy, melodic, and catchy. Jason and I then get together for pre-production. I'm an average guitar player so he takes my riffs and makes them amazing, and then we spend a lot of time re-arranging and crafting the songs to refine them and make them flow really well. Once we have the songs where we want them, we get together with Tim and Steve to take them to the next level."

 

Two great examples are the opening song “My Eyes” and track number eight “Living in the Shadow of Yesterday,” in fact “Living…” could easily be a radio single, it’s that good.  And for you Priest fans, track six, “Reach into the Light,” finds Tim “Ripper” Owens finding a return to style here, straight up, horns high, Priest influenced. 

 

Christy:  "Tim is such an incredible singer, and it's so fun to build those huge choruses in the studio," Christy enthuses. "Jason and Tim have such a great ear for harmonies, and to hear the choruses take shape is so exciting. The first cassette that I ever bought was Quiet Riot's 'Metal Health', and I always loved their huge choruses, so that's definitely an influence on us!" Without doubt, the Ripper is in top fighting shape throughout this record; the range in his voice, his ability to switch up musical styles, simply phenomenal, driving “Creatures Watching over the Dead” to be the outstanding record it is.

 

Metal fans need to seek out this record and support this band.  Richard Christy & Co have created something special with “Creatures Watching over the Dead.” It needs to be heard and talked about.  This is metal with heart.  Metal with soul.  And most of all?  Metal that’s larger than life.  Rock soldiers unite…

 

“Creatures Watching over the Dead” is available now

Band info: facebook

FFO: Iced Earth, Control Denied, Judas Priest, Nevermore