Blood Red Throne - Blood Red Throne (2013)

Country: Norway
Genre: Death Metal

I'm just writing this review whilst listening to the last songs from the album, and what I can say is that, it was literally "saved by the bell". It's a progressive album in terms of how it grows and how songs become more and more aggressive but effective at the same time. The first songs are boring shuffles of erratic riffs recycled from old and modern death metal. Boring, nothing new and nothing outstanding. But then the compositional part becomes tighter and the band incorporates catchy riffs and passages which make this album worth listening. Songs lack "flow" and that's the major flaw of this LP, but that doesn't mean that the good parts cannot be enjoyed by themselves. Another minor flaw of this LP is certain sounds, for example, the snare. It lacks power, definition, makes the final drum sound a bit dull and void. The guitar/bass mix is very effective, allows to hear lots of bass chopping in the stereo part whilst hearing powerful guitar riffs in the stereo. In terms of lyrics, I have no idea what these guys are talking about, but I don't find it very interesting to explore it either, maybe will be a future exercise when listening to this album. A couple of riffs where stolen directly from the Suffocation department, some others sound Slayeresque; some others sound like a modern version of the sound from early Entombed. I have to confess that there's something in this album that made me feel pissed off at the beginning, and I still can't understand what it was. I think it's the lack of compositional fluency from the album. All the great ideas are trapped inside a carcass of boring death metal disguise. I will try to enjoy the good parts and avoid the bad ones as much as I can. And stop listening to this when I get tired of being filtering...

ngx981

Behemoth - The Satanist (2014)

Country: Poland
Genre: Death/Black Metal

Extreme metal has always been and will always be the black sheep of the music "family". It brings some extreme topics to the surface: it's controversial, irreverent, and discusses life, death, gods, passions and darkness. But mainly, if you're in a extreme metal band, you will hardly make a living out of it. Like some other genres, it's essentially "ars gratia artis", and it's very difficult that you will see some metallers becoming millionaires. Nevertheless, with the boom of new talented young bands around the world, old bands that were already established and had their own musical niches were commercially threatened by these new bands. In the case of Behemoth, it's one of those bands which were able to morph from primitive, raw, ultra-necro black metal to a more stylish blend of death and black metal. Not everyone saw this progression as positive, but what is true is that it allowed the band to continually find its own niche, which was much more important that preserving the musical direction or the initial concept of the band. In this new record, "The Satanist", Behemoth is able to combine two really important elements of extreme music, which enables it to be a commercial success and at the same time, a satisfying musical experience: a convincing, natural and experimental production and the 20+ year experience to write good musical compositions. The final result is beautiful and brutal... It must be clear that the musical focus from this album isn't on brutality, but at the same time it's able to preserve and display considerable intensity. Sophisticated, emotional and lucid arrangements dominate the record, whilst the production puts every riff and passage on another level. I can't just stop praising how great the production is in this album, because you can feel the music in its wholeness and still be able to see through it. You can definitely listen to the music as multiple well-differentiated streams of sound, like threads forming a weave. The mix is impeccable and the recording was done so greatly that no instrument tries to overshadow any other along the record, delivering a crispy and elegant final result. The cover art and the rest of the visual side of the album are of no lesser quality and brilliance. One of the best records of the year. I honestly thought they were about to repeat the same mistake from "Evangelion" in which they tried to imitate the great sounding "The Apostasy" with no success. Luckily for us fans, this was not the case, and we are able to listen to this magnificent follow-up. We need more of this, Behemoth. A dozen of this. 

ngx981

Grave Upheaval - Untitled (2013)

Country: Australia
Genre: Death Metal

Saying that this band is "death metal" could be one of the worst descriptions ever. It's not "just" death metal. Think of the deepest and darkest cave you can imagine, and then you put the most powerful amp you can find, plug your heaviest sounding guitar tuned to some unknown low note and start playing the most cacophonous and destructive melodies. Then you record some of these songs and make an album with no name, finishing it with the darkest and most perverse cover art. Make an altar, lit the candles and make invocations whilst listening to this record... This record itself is an energetic and chaotic display of extreme music and creates a mass (not wall) of sound that can be enjoyed in a single take. Obviously they sound like their friends Impetuous Ritual, which is a silly comparison considering that both are considerably unknown and is quite difficult for people to know them. They sound a bit like Portal as well, but this is because the three bands Portal/Grave Upheaval/Impetuous Ritual share most of their personnel. It seems that they want to produce more bands and collaborations in the same circle of musicians, but because the concepts are different, each have their own flavour, their own "sound". There is uniqueness in this music, but definitely they want to emulate the old glory from one of the heavyweights from Australian death metal: Disembowelment. It's like listening to this old, iconic band and with a different mix. It has the same depth and cavernous power; it also has the same processional rhythmic approach: cadent and slow. I don't want to be exaggeratedly pessimist about the feeling that I had when listening to this record, but I had this morbid thoughts when that happened: this is the soundtrack for the burial of mankind. Say no more, pick the record (if there are some copies still left from NWN) and grab your gasmask before you start hearing the air raid sirens warning you about the nuclear devastation. And press play in your stereo before that happens...

ngx981

Nightbringer - Ego Dominus Tuus (2014)

I met this band in 2011 with their album "Apocalypse Sun" knowing also that they will release a new albun that year...and they got me hooked since. this is a different black metal band...as many other that have emerged recently...and by different i mean that their lyrics and music is so sophisticated and well written...that it is a tribute to philosophy...the occult dark philosophy. going in a different direction from where all black metal bands are...specially in the satanic subject...they are way ahead of the curve...and they´re not alone...bands Such as Blut Aus Nord, Deathspell Omega, Inferno; and a few more...they are into a different sense of the Luciferian theme...doing it based on the Prometheic Doctrine And Also The Thelema Writings...making an "Intelligent Black Metal"...why? because i presume that they got fed up of the same shit over and over again...just check their lyrics and you will understand why. and that is why i like this band so much...i mean...they left the boredom that implies to mention satan in every song...and even some stupidity about jesus and doing tons of shit to a corpse already mutilated and abused so many times trough the years...that is so dull and simplistic to even talk about it anymore...no...in this case we are at the first steps of musicianship and lyricism greatness...a black metal well done...furious, mercyless...and totally above the majority of bands nowadays. and it´s funny to see how the "iconic" bands react to this kind of material, cause...honestly they are been left behind by this movement which is so young...that in the next 10 years they will be the new black metal icons. mark my words black metal fans looking for something better and even born from the depths of this occult philosophy that was hidden...this is a new era of consciousness...a new era of darkness...for the open minded and elitist thinkers...and of course not suitable for those who think of satan as a cartoonish being...Lucifer is more interesting...and even bettet described.

Enjoy!!

Joe Bonamassa - Different Shades Of Blue (2014)

Unlike other successful blues-rock guitarists, Bonamassa's influences are British and Irish blues acts, rather than American artists. Comparing the music in the United States to the "European" versions of the blues, Bonamassa found the English blues - fostered by the Jeff Beck Group, Eric Clapton and Irish blues player Rory Gallagher - to be far more interesting to him than the original Delta blues players. In an interview in Guitarist magazine, he cited the three albums that had the biggest influence on his playing: John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (the Beano album), Rory Gallagher's Irish Tour and Goodbye by Cream. He also stated Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood was a big influence at a young age. He also listed the early blues playing of Jethro Tull as one of his influences, putting both Martin Barre and Mick Abrahams as important musicians to him. His first solo album was named after and includes a cover version of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday" from their album Stand Up.

Now in 2014...his new album, Different Shades Of Blue...takes us into a melodic journey of his influences and old sounds like never before...that we wish it never ends...great solos...that branded Bonamassa´s sound acquired trough his career makes us understand that we will have his musicianship, refined and class act as always...for a while.

"Enjoy!

Appalachian Winter - The Epochs That Built The Mountains (2014)

Appalachian Winter is a one man black metal band from the rural mountains of Pennsylvania. The theme of this band is the various entities of Pennsylvania's environment, with a focus on the harshness of Winter.

All albums are available for free download online. As he stated in an interview, D. G. Klyne used to make physical copies, but decided against doing so in the future. He changed that with the release of "Ghosts of the Mountains" which again is being released physically but still available for free download.

I love one man band projects...cause they have proven that you dont need that many people if yoire talented to do such things as a whole album...even a song is a challenge and a victory also...and doing it by yourself it demonstrates the opposite as stated in the music canons and conditions...that nowadays are getting obsolete and practically useless.

Mr. Klyne has already to this date, 6 albums...being this one his last masterpiece...and it is a really good album indeed...even though it has his atmospheric passages invoking the clear influence by Summoning...it also has some symphonic elements that are unique in its style...defined by the many influences he has in that area...vocals are great...guitars are well done...drum machine sounds clear...altough maybe later as a suggestion if he tries a real drum sound or even a drummer to join him...that will improve the music to a whole new level...but so far...it is good in my opinion.
something to check on in a rainy day or even when winter season begins...wherever you are.

Enjoy!

Singularity - Singularity (2014)

While i was doing my usual surfing in Bandcamp checking new bands and new sounds subgenre by subgenre...this band showed up...Hailing From Tempe, AZ....when  i saw the pic from the band...i was like...naah...not worth it...but then...leaving my cocky and arrogant mindset aside...sweet lord...this band has an enormous potential...being this their first and only full length...it is something to check on...i still cant believe that these young men do something like this...specially how demanding is tech death metal about techinique, proficiency and basically a really good musician...this men have that...skillful solos...amazing techinque...and of course they understand how this shit is done...also it has a little black-ish element as well that makes me want more of this band. something to consider in the near future...and a name to remember as days go by if they keep on doing this and even improving to higher levels of musicianship. well done...and sincerely wish them the best.


Enjoy!