SLUDGECAMP #5: A deep dive into the newest black/death metal releases on Bandcamp w/c 17/08/2018

By: Daniel Jackson

Rebel Wizard

Welp, it didn’t take long, but life got in the way and I missed several weeks worth of “Sludgecamp”. I don’t believe this is going to be a recurring thing, so hopefully I’ll be a lot more consistent from here on in! This week is another largely black metal affair, with a bit of death thrown in for some balance. It’s also heavy on new pre-orders as opposed to albums released this week. As always, I hope you find something to love here!

Released this week:

1). Rebel Wizard, “Voluptuous worship of rapture and response”

This album is garnering plenty of praise and hype, and with good reason! The music is an infectious blend of NWOBHM and black metal, housed within the harsh, fuzzy production B. Nekrasov has favored from the project’s inception. With wild song titles (“Drunk on the wizdom of unicorn semen”, for example) and brilliantly crafted riffs, Rebel Wizard feels like something of a sure bet, with each new release improving over the last. When you combine this kind of excellent songwriting with flashy lead guitar work, and then wrap it in this kind of bat-shit crazy exterior, the appeal seems so obvious that greater success feels like an inevitably at this point.

2). Ladnah, “Within Dark Realms”

Coming to us from Greece is Ladnah, with the two tracks available offering two very different experiences. “The Awakening” has a very strong Emperor vibe, circa ‘Wrath of the Tyrant’ and the self-titled EP. The other song, “Belial Rises From The East” has much more of a current day Sargeist kind of feel to it, but both are well done. This is a total throwback, and would have fit in amazingly well as one of the super underground bands featured in one of those old Blackened compilations back in the 90s. This is well worth checking out if you have an affinity for that mid to late 90s symphonic black metal sound.

New Reissues on Bandcamp:

3). Mactätus, “Provenance Of Cruelty” (Napalm)

In something of a fun coincidence given the previous band’s similar stylistic choices, underrated symphonic black metallers Mactätus have made their way to bandcamp via their old label home Napalm Records, and they’re ready to rouse your late 90s symphonic black metal nostalgia as only they can. Released originally in 1998, this album strikes a nice balance between the early Emperor material and pre-Galder Dimmu Borgir. 

New Pre-Orders:

4). Dödsrit, ‘Spirit Crusher’ (28th of September)

Prosthetic Records has been on something of a tear this year with well-regarded albums from Skeletonwitch, Monotheist, and now this week’s Rebel Wizard all under their belts this year. They’re coming back very quickly with another can’t miss album. This time, they’re presenting us with a brand new Dödsrit album; less than a year following their remarkable debut, and the preview song plain old fucking kills. Their last album was on my year end list, and by the sound of this, they’re damn well likely to be there again this year. If you have any interest in atmospheric black metal, crust, or both: buy this. Immediately.

5). Mutilated by Zombies, ‘Scripts of Anguish’ (5th of October)

Awesome old school death metal, though of a different sort than you might be thinking. This one should appeal more to the Morrisound, Florida death metal devotees of the world, offering that early Deicide viciousness with the rhythmic chops of prime Dying Fetus and Deeds of Flesh.

6). All My Sins, ‘Pra Sila - Vukov Totem’ (23rd of September)

Raging melodic black metal out of Serbia, and self-described as “South Slavic Black Metal Mysticism”. The relentless blasting here is paired with icy tremolo riffs with a touch of folk sprinkled in throughout, with the end result approaches something like the current day Finnish black metal sound, only at hyperspeed and with a cleaner production. “Vetrovo Kolo”, the song available to preview, rarely stops long enough to let you catch your breath, but the ride is well worth the exhaustion.

Band info: Ladnah || Mactätus || DODSRIT || Mutilated By Zombies || All My Sins

Rebel Wizard - ‘Invocation of the Miserable Ones' EP (Review)

By: Daniel Jackson

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 11/12/2015

Label: Independent

If you can handle the programmed drums, you’re in for 17 minutes of truly fantastic music. The riffs here are remarkable.  Lead off instrumental “Too Late” is mid tempo heavy metal bliss, perfectly striking a balance between 80s Judas Priest with European-style melody a sound that returns for “On the Unknown Self They Ride”. Elsewhere, we’re treated to a muscular speed metal/power metal hybrid on “A Place to Rest the Dead Inside is Never to Be Found”, complete with locomotive double kick.  The quality here is best of the year list-worthy, if given the kind of production this music truly deserves.

‘Invocation of the Miserable Ones’ DD track listing:

1. Too Late

2. A Place to Rest the Dead Inside is Never to Be Found

3. On the Unknown Self They Ride

4. Invocation of the Miserable Ones

The Review:

This review, much like this EP, will be quick and to the point.

Rebel Wizard’s a one-man operation, and it sounds like it. I don’t mean that in a negative context, either. What I mean is that outside of a handful of exceptions, you’re not going to find too many solitary metal projects that sound like full-fledged bands. The vast majority of musicians aren’t going to be able to play drums, bass, guitar and do vocals all at a high level in a studio setting. So, some concessions end up getting made, and you work with what you can, because there either aren’t suitable band mates in your area, or you just don’t fucking like other people. Whichever the personal case may be when talking about NKSV and Rebel Wizard, the one big concession at work here is drums and drum programming. If you’re able to deal with some pretty barebones, obviously programmed drums, you’re going to love the hell out of this album. If not, it’s going to be a tough sell.

If you can handle the programmed drums, you’re in for 17 minutes of truly fantastic music. The riffs here are remarkable. Lead off instrumental “Too Late” is mid tempo heavy metal bliss, perfectly striking a balance between 80s Judas Priest with European-style melody a sound that returns for “On the Unknown Self They Ride”. Elsewhere, we’re treated to a muscular speed metal/power metal hybrid on “A Place to Rest the Dead Inside is Never to Be Found”, complete with locomotive double kick. The vocals are done in a black metal style with added distortion layer on top for added filth, which gives the EP a sense of old Witchery by way of Anaal Nathrakh.

The larger point is that these are riffs that deserve better than to be discounted because of their sonic surroundings. I would urge you strongly to do your best to accept or look past the mechanical sound of the drums, because these songs are absolutely worth the effort. The quality here is best of the year list-worthy, if given the kind of production this music truly deserves. Still, I understand the circumstances that lead to this kind of recording quality, and it’s usually out of necessity rather than lack of effort.

‘Invocation of the Miserable Ones’ is available here

Band info: Facebook