METAL SIDE – REVIEWS
March 19, 2006
Blastmasters
“Twisted Metal”
2005, self-released
Blastmasters debut album "Twisted
Metal" is a must for those who admire Florida’s fast and crushing Death
Metal, and all these great bands from the past and the present: Morbid Angel,
Diabolic, Hate Eternal, Unholy Ghost, Horror of Horrors (not from Florida but
musically very close), and other who chose this most impressive musical style.
Blastmasters didn’t copy anyone. This band has many fresh ideas and exceptional
talent to compose killing Death Metal tracks. “Shellfire and Tombstones”, “Altricial
Meta-Genesis”, or “Shock Wave Undertow” belong to the best compositions I heard
not only this year but in a long time. They have great riffs, great tempo
changes, and incredible strength, typical only for the best Death Metal albums
in history. Their fury is totally destructive. But I should mention at once
other tracks, repeating all compliments. The proof of Blastmasters rare skills
is the fact that not only fast tracks from “Twisted Metal” have the best
features of Florida’s Death Metal. In the middle of the album one can hear
tracks like “Putred Future” and “The Beheadings” that have more mid-paced
parts, and again, memorable riffs and intelligent tempo changes are of the
highest quality. It’s important to say that Blastmasters is a new band of
Aantar Coates. His achievements with Horror of Horrors, Diabolic, Necrosis, and
Unholy Ghost were impressive, but his newest creation is at least equally good.
My enthusiasm is honest – that’s Death Metal on the highest level. www.blastmasters1.com
Harkonin
„Sermons of Anguish”
2005, self-released
This is second full-length album of
Missouri’s band. The debut CD “Seductress of the Unlight” was released in 2003.
Meanwhile they released also a live album (“Live at the Pit” 2004). I must
confess that I haven’t heard “Seductress…” and “Live…” yet. I regret because
the quality of „Sermons of Anguish” suggests that Harkonin’s old material could
have been interesting. The riffing on the new album is based on Death and
Thrash Metal formulas, the old-school ones. To some degree, it reminds me of
Absu, although Harkonin offers a bit more melodic riffs. The vocals have more
in common with Black Metal but definitely more with Black/Thrash Metal
aggressive singing than desperate shrieks typical for Scandinavian BM scene.
Another big advantage of Harkonin’s material are the track-structures. These
compositions are intelligently balanced. The harmony of fast, mid-paced and
slow parts is the result of very competent songwriting. St Louis-based band
avoids the dominant clichés of the genre and that’s why Harkonin is worth a
place in elite of US Black/Death Metal scene. By the way, Harkonin’s drummer is
Clayton Gore who in the early 90’s was drumming for one of the most promising und
underrated Florida’s DM bands – Eulogy. This group cannot be forgotten. www.harkonin.com
Malas
“Conquest”
2005, Utterly Somber Creations
Simple band’s name, simple album’s title,
simple style, and very effective music: that’s my shortest recommendation to
listen to “Conquer”. This trio represents great Chicago’s scene where
traditions of essential Death/Thrash Metal from the 80’s are alive to a degree
much beyond the average of US underground. Chicago’s musicians use them very
creatively that’s why worshipping the past they work as well for better future
of the genre that would be dead forgetting about the roots. One of Malas
members is Erik Pertl who plays also in Lord Blasphemer, another Chicago’s old-school
Death/Thrash Metal warrior. Both his bands are very good, and I’d like them to
have better promotion in the underground worldwide. When I talk about simple
style, this is not an accusation. In such way I want to underline Malas
consequence. They keep playing very traditionally oriented riffs, which bring
the memories of the 80’s. The tempo is changing, but Malas avoids blast beats
and very slow parts, preferring typical Thrash/Speed Metal drumming. I like
such style, and I appreciate the way in which Malas uses old ideas. These ten
tracks are worth regular playing at your homes. www.malas.biz
Motive
“Rock ’N’ Roll Terrorist”
2005, self-released
Each Motive’s new album is always a
guarantee of very solid and intelligent Thrash Metal. I’m very surprised that
after very good “Worn Down Dream” (2003) Arizona’s band didn’t sign a recording
deal with some competent record label. We’ll see if “Rock ’N’ Roll Terrorist”
will be a turning point in Motive’s career leading to money, popularity, and
global promotion. But seriously, I’m very glad that they keep composing and
recording new materials because Thrash Metal scene desperately needs such bands
that have original style and many ideas refreshing a bit stagnant genre.
Motive’s members don’t concentrate on only one aspect of good Thrash Metal
songwriting. Let’s take first three tracks from “Rock ’N’ Roll Terrorist”. The
opening one, “Cancer of my Life” is catchy and melodic. Track number 2,
“Mourning Serenade” is more complex and technical. The next song, “Religion
Killer”, is aggressive and fast. The next compositions could be described in a
similar way. Although Motive’s songs are so varied, the coherency of the
material is never in danger. My highest notes get “Great Pleasure”, “Expose the
Lies”, and “What Will Become”. All songs deliver very good guitar work, precise
drumming, and interesting singing. That’s Thrash Metal I’ll always be
supporting. www.motivemetal.com
Sathanas
„Entering the Diabolic Trinity”
2005, Pulverised Records
Sathanas history begins in late 80’s, so
they are real veterans of the scene. Their five albums and few EP’s and demos
are important part of Death Metal history. But for me the most important fact
is that they still have fresh ideas and that „Entering the Diabolic Trinity” is
their best album to date, of course, at least according to me. “Descent of the
Holy”, “Under a Black Spell”, and other tracks from the album have simple
structures with memorable choruses. That’s definitely very classical method of
songwriting, typical for traditional Death/Thrash Metal School. Sathanas music
is very deeply rooted in this tradition. That’s tradition which this band in
its early incarnations co-created. So that’s not imitation but very honest
music. My favorite songs are those based on fast drumming, like “Descent of the
Holy” and “Into the Massacre” but I have nothing against mid-paced and slow
parts which are dominant in most tracks. Good album. www.sathanas.net
Scars of Suffering
„Ascension and Annihilation”
2005, demo CD
I know only few Death Metal bands from
March 5, 2006
„Blood’
2005, demo
Deathevokation comes from
“They’re Talking To Me Again”
2005, self-released
Originality is Forevershadows most
important feature. Missouri-based band has a rare gift of songwriting that
avoids typical trends of the scene and is based on different influences and on
very fresh approach in their use. "They're Talking..." is Death Metal
album but with strong addition of Thrash Metal and Doom Metal. The compositions
are mainly mid-paced with rare fast parts that never use blast beats. This
music is based simply on very good riffs. The guitar-work is sometimes
impressive. Especially some guitar harmonies are worth praising as well as
complex tempo changes with precise drumming and perfect use of bass
guitar.Frankly, when I heard "They're Talking..." first time, I
thought that this album needed more fast parts to make it more aggressive and
dynamic. But then all my doubts hale gone... This album has everything to
impress the listener. With such technical approach, Forevershadows is currently
one of the most ambitious US Death Metal projects. www.forevershadows.com
„Blinded By Hate”
2005, Ossuary Industries
Mourning has very interesting line-up.
Three members come from well-known bands that play in very different styles.
Mike Connors is from Dislimb, Bill Pope from Bloodthorne, and J.J. Hrubovcak
from Divine Rapture. I was very curious what they would create in such personal
combination when every band’s member could have brought different influences
and ideas. Bloodthrone is Black/Death Metal outfit, Dislimb plays brutal Death
Metal, and Divine Rapture is well-known from technical Death Metal close to
Florida’s patterns. Listening to Mourning, you will find the elements of all
these styles, united to please those who like brutality, speed, and dark
atmosphere of US Death/Black Metal. The symbolic expression of Death Metal and
Black Metal fusion in Mourning’s songwriting are the vocals. Deep growls and
high-pitched shrieks fit perfectly here. I like also the tempo of this
material. Unstoppable, intense drumming is always a good option for me but
J.J.’s skills to play the blasts, are much higher than typical standards of the
scene. The guitar-work delivers interesting riffs that are full of passion, and
they are responsible for dark and hateful mood of the material. Mourning shows no
mercy, takes no prisoners, but attacks with fury, and in each composition some
many good ideas to offer. “Blinded by Hate” offers only five songs, but luckily
they last over 26 minutes. http://mourningthenewdawn.comwww.ossuaryindustries.com
"Devils In Iron"
2005, self-released
Washington's band knows very well how to
blend the strength of brutal Death Metal with majestic Death/Doom parts. That's
why their albums are always one of the best releases of the year. "Devils
in Iron" continues the style known from previous crushing CD “Gods, Kings,
and Conquerors”. Long, powerful compositions are again original but at the same
time rooted in Death/Doom Metal tradition. On "Devils in Iron" are
audible also some Black Metal influences but not significant enough to change
Death Metal-oriented core of Scorched Earth's style. When I listen to such
tracks like “Scorched Earth, Black Wind & Hell Fire” or “War is Hell”, I
can only admire the fury of this material. It’s exceptional ability to crush,
and only few bands can compete with Washington’s quartet on this field. But
when Scorched Earth slows down, the results are equally impressive. The only
thing this band needs is better promotion, and they will be the gods, kings,
and conquerors of Death Metal scene. www.scorchedearthxxx.com
"Dead Inside"
2005, self-released
"Dead Inside" is the most violent
and fastest Skullpl 8's album. Oklahoma's musicians change their music
consequently and the progression towards more and more brutal style is well
audible when I compare debut CD “Standing in Blood”, the follow-up release
“Planet Hell”, and "Dead Inside". I don't want to say that Skullpl 8
is now brutal as Suffocation, Hate Eternal, or Lord Gore. On "Dead
Inside" the elements close to Florida's Death Metal style are once again
mixed with influences of classical Thrash Metal and Heavy Metal. Such mixture
is interesting and should appeal to those who seek for original materials that
are really different from currently dominant trends in US DM. When I listen to
"Dead Inside", sometimes Death comes to my mind, from
"Human" and "Individual Thought Patterns" era. Some riffs
are similarly effective. Skullpl 8's strength are also parts with very fast
drumming (original!) and generally speaking very well-organized track
structures. It’s good to hear such intelligent music. www.skullpl8.com
„Three in the pink… one in the stink”
2005, self-released
"Three In The..." is one of the
best materials released by bands from West Coast in a long time. I'm not surprised
that Truculence managed to record such effective album because I remember very
well their previous CD which for me was an effective cross of old Death (from
“Scream Bloody Gore”) and Carcass-inspired material. The new tracks are faster
and more intense while the brutality keeps the old standards. When the band has
such good riffs like Truculence, the musical success is obvious. "Three In
The..." delivers everything what fans of brutal Death Metal need:
brutality, speed, heaviness, and some sickness. All these important elements
are packed into relatively short compositions. Everything on this album changes
very quickly, and that’s a good way to achieve a rare intensity. Oregon is
lucky to have a strong scene of bands that play such crazy Death Metal. Some of
them signed deals with Razorback Records and have a good promotion, also
abroad. Truculence is independent, unsigned band. That’s strange taking
consideration how good they are. www.truculence.info
METAL SIDE: www.deathmetalside.com