ALBUM REVIEW: The Obsessed, “Incarnate (Ultimate Edition)”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/10/2020

Label: Blues Funeral Recordings

The Review:

“Incarnate” is a compilation of various EPs, rare tracks and demos- as many doom fans will know. The track list is legion and it is thus a lengthy but rewarding listen. Some of the track names you will recognise- and will have heard- in different forms across The Obsessed’s other studio albums.

Some of the material represents the band at their zenith; Wino sounds magnificent and much of the material is top notch. Like the other records by the band, the material has aged incredibly well, or is ageless- if you prefer. For a compilation first released 21 years ago (!) it sounds great and the material is pretty much timeless. The fact that “Sodden Jackal” was re-recorded for the “Sacred” album of a couple of years ago speaks volumes about the quality on offer here.

There are real highlights here; opener “Concrete Cancer” is wonderful, the Grand Funk cover of “Inside Looking Out” is similarly great. It's accurate to say that the likes of “Iron and Stone” sound pretty rough (well, it's a demo from decades ago, so... it isn't going to sound like “The Church Within”, ditto and moreso “Neatz Brigade”) but equally accurate to say that the riffs and atmosphere pf those tracks and of “Mourning” more than make up for the sound quality.

Wino's influences are on display, whether it be the aforementioned GFR or Lynyrd Skynyrd on the cover of “The Hunt” (great song, delivered well here). The versions of more familiar songs, as mentioned above, or of “Hiding Mask”, “Streetside” etc. have something to offer as well- they are different and worth hearing.

How essential any of this is for the casual listener is not for me to say. That said, how many casual listeners of The Obsessed are there?! For a fan, this is a must have. The remaster has made the contents sound better than ever before and this is certainly a sprawling and comprehensive set. Would I recommend this as a doomer's first venture into The Obsessed? Probably not. I would go with the self-titled or “The Church Within” and then go from there.   

It's an essential document of The Obsessed and features a lot of their best material. That's high praise as this band really are a touchstone of the doom genre- as are most records Wino has been involved with.  Of Course,. it’s recommended! 

“Incarnate (Ultimate Edition)” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Mordhau, "Immaculate Massacre"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 06/11/2020

Label: Independent

“Immaculate Massacre” CD track listing:

1). Temporal Insanity

2). Bereft of Rotting Flesh

3). Pig Society

4). Born of Celestial Blood

5). Where Sunlight Goes to Die

6). Cascade of Flames

7). Immaculate Massacare

The Review: 

Nottingham noisemongers Mordhau bring some serious death metal grit to the road to hell here. It's their debut album and one that is full of distorted bass, chainsaw guitars, vocals with a hint of black metal and a rough and ready sound that is both very clear and noisy at the same time.

You get seven tracks of the finest deathly vintage. The band are clearly in thrall to the original Swe-death masters- in particular Dismember (to these ears) and why not? If you are going to play in a specific genre, why not try to emulate the best of the genre you choose?!

Across the seven tracks, there are plenty of riffs, plenty of thrashing drum beats and variety to the sound- this isn't just endless blastbeats or mindless brutality; the likes of “Pig Society” have great riffs and changes, opener “Temporal Insanity” is a solid breath of fetid air and there are some atmospheric passages here and there throughout the album.

It's hard to pick a stand out as the seven tracks are uniformly strong. A little of this type of music can go a long way. “Left Hand Path” and “Like An Everflowing Stream” were not long albums- they were razor sharp and effective in their economy, as is the case here. I might pick “Where Sunlight Goes To Die” as a highlight for me- great riffs and I really like the changes- but that said, the rather epic title track is also an untamable beast.

You cannot go wrong in picking this CD up direct from the band- or sampling their wares via bandcamp for a good flavour of what they are about. Ultimately, this is excellent old school death metal done right- and there are not too many albums or bands you can say that about these days.

“Immaculate Massacre” is available HERE

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

VIDEO PREMIERE: Prepare to be bludgeoned as False Gods deliver the crush on "Lords of Emptiness"

For your listening pleasure today, welcome New York’s False Gods.   Formed in late 2015, False Gods wasted little time creating a propulsive and addictive from of sludge/doom, that incorporated the best elements of your favourite artists.  False Gods succeed where many other fail because they feel innovative and more importantly, they sound fucking monstrous.  False Gods delight in delivering massive and malignant sludge doom.

If the power of the riff compels thee, then today’s exclusive premiere will feed your riff addiction. When our friends at Seeing Red Records asked us to premiere the track, I ab-so-lute-ly did not hesitate, because it fucking rules.  Check out "Lords of Emptiness", below, but be warned ear protectors are advised.

“Lords of Emptiness” is taken from their new record, “No Symmetry…Only Disillusion” which is available to buy HERE

Band info: facebook || bandcamp