GOD MACABRE
"The Winterlong" Re-Issue
Relapse Records, 2014.
Originally released in 1993 under the label M.B.R. Records (which actually i used to have a copy of the originally press), one more time re-released in 2014 with a bonus track called "Life's Verge" which I could say is not impressive at all and follows the same sound/style (obviously) as the old songs of the entire album.
What it takes my attention its that how a band can release just one album, split up for many years and later return suddenly to become the most wanted Death Metal band to play live and get the status as "cult band". The band members of God Macabre have been busy (or at least the most of the members) doing Metal music in other bands/projects and i think that is why they didn't care anymore about making a name for God Macabre. I mean i am happy to see God Macabre active again and i am really looking forward to see them live in September but i think they should have recorded not just one bonus track, its clearly that they can make an entire album and make it sound like "The Winterlong" and i am pretty sure is what all the followers are expecting from them to do (including me).
Its useless to say one more time that "The Winterlong" its one of the best Death Metal albums from the Swedish old school and if you don't have your copy you just better get it now.
Points: 5 of 5
Listen the new track "Life's Verge" here:
https://soundcloud.com/relapserecords/god-macabre-lifes-verge
SACROSANCT
"Recesses for the Depraved"
1MF (1991)
First time I saw this album was on a magazine back in 1991 on the
reviews section and I remember that there was another great albums that
I'll review after this one. Sacrosanct plays a kind of Thrash Metal but
it is mixed with some Progressive stuff too, some riffs reminded me the
progressions between Atheist and Death, you can hear it
on the track "Illusive Supremacy " Their style its like early Iced
Earth meets Believer meets Metal Church but with less Thrash and speed
and with a very Overkill sound on bass.
These guys are from
Netherlands and they are pretty far from the European Thrash sound, they
sound totally Northamerican on their production. The opening track
"Like Preached Directions " its really amazing, every instrument its in
its place, great guitar solos, bass lines are notable, vocals are great
and reminded me some of the old Sacred Reich stuff.
It seems
that some members of Sacrosanct left Death Metal band Pestilence back in
the day to form this great project. Highly recommended for those who
missed some great Thrash Metal releases from the 80's.
Points: 4 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iDGvwa35Uw
TORCHURE
"Beyond the Veil"
1MF, 1992
Album debut of this band called Torchure, formed in Germany back in
1985 but wasn't until 1992 that his album "Beyond the Veil" saw the
light. This band plays a very good dose of Death Metal with some
elements of other styles that makes the album really interesting and
with a fresh feeling.
Although
they are into the Death Metal channel they have a few spots along the
album of Doom vibes like early Asphyx for example, slow riffs here and
there but fast riffs suddenly shows up like If Death's "Scream Bloody
Gore" decides to turn up the speed for moments along with Napalm Death
and Autopsy.
I always wonder why this kind of bands (who are
really talented) were just lost in time...and then I think that was the
best because this kind of masterpieces are not for everybody. This album
was released by 1MF Records, the one who released the Sacrosanct
albums, it is closed today but certainly they released a few but great
albums back in the day so this is for Death Metal fans of the early 90's
with own style.
Points: 4.5 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqoE9a4imfE
ILLDISPOSED
"Sense the Darkness"
Massacre Records, 2012
Illdisposed its a Death Metal band from Denmark, a country which has very talented bands, I can think immediatly in King Diamond ( I think
all we do) but this guys have been around for a while on the Metal
world. 1991 was when Illdisposed saw the light and since their formation
they have released several albums. I'll be honest
but I'm not familiar with all of their releases, I guess I knew about
them back in 2004 and since then I lost the track of their career
so...Suddenly thanks to a friend I listened this new album called "Sense
the Darkness"
I ve been listening this album for 2 weeks or
something everyday and I am really hocked with this album. The sound its
a mix between classic Death Metal with some guitar melodies that
reminded me immediatly their countrymates Mercenary. Vocals are good
guttural all the time but they sound with so much effects on them. The track "Never Compromise" its just fantastic! On of the most Death
Metal songs of this album, it has even some slow/doomy parts that are
really well handled along with the songs "Stop Running" and "I Am
Possessed".
Although Illdisposed is from Denmark its clear that
they have a bit influence from their Melodic Death Metal heighbours in
Sweden.The production its flawless, it sounds like all the Tue Madsen productions, everything on its place, well mixed. I think this is If not the best album of Illdisposed one of the best
they have released so far. I extremely recommend this album If your
taste its into bands like Puteraeon, Bolt Thrower, Death and Grave.
Points: 4.5 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Kcx1f7Hl4
ENTRAILS
"Raging Death"
Metal Blade Records, 2013.
3rd Full-length of this great band from Linneryd, Sweden, I think Entrails are the best worship version to old Entombed and the Stockholm sound. "Raging Death" sounds fresh, powerful and straight in your face, they turned into a more mature song writing this time compare to the first attack "Tales from the Morgue" which is pure devastation and a bit more melodic. I have to say that i fucking love these creepy piano intros like they did on the track "In Pieces" very good opening track with all this typical Stockholm riffing. Great production, great drumming, the vocals are always present and furious like it must. "Cadaverous Stench" sounds a bit like the old Unleashed and their "Shadows in the Deep" masterpiece.
This band like the rest of Death Metal bands that are dedicated to worshiping this old school style have nothing really original to offer but in fact is that they are just playing what they like, following only their passion for this genre, plain and simple, straight Swedish Death Metal for the likes of Paganizer, Puteraeon, God Macabre, Intement, Demonical, etc... It must be a really good experience seen them live for sure. Entrails is telling the world that Old School Swedish Death Metal will never die and will stay alive for a very long time.
The digipak version contains a second cd and a cover of the song "Dark Endless" of Marduk, pretty much ala Entrails of course.
Looking forward for their next album without a doubt.
Points: 4 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeurxdwV25o
SKOGEN
"I Döden"
Nordvis Produktion
The New piece of art from Swedish Black Metal act Skogen called "I Döden" came out some months ago and to be honest i didn't know much about them until i got hocked completely with this new great release. "I Döden" its almost a masterpiece, or probably it is, maybe its just i am very demanding when it comes to bands i don't know much about.
If you have not heard them i can tell you that they are not doing something new or out of the ordinary into the realms of atmospheric black metal. They have pretty much a Norwegian sound so stuff like old Ulver and old Satyricon (mostly) comes to my mind when i hear "I Döden". Clean and at the same time raw production, well played all over the album, specially the acoustic guitar passages, just fantastic! Vocals are middle guttural i could say with some clean chorus.
Interesting fact is that some members of Death Metal band Entrails play here. An excellent Swedish Black Metal release of 2014 and believe me, its hard to find these days in Sweden.
Tracks like "Solarvore"and "Griftenatt" some of the best of the album.
Points: 4.5 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sog1bTY8GEo
HEDON
"Summon the Demons"
Independent, 2014.
HEDON is a band from Sweden, they started back in 2012 and now in 2014 they released their first full length album called "Summon the Demons". I have to say that it is a bit hard to define their style but i think that they fits mostly into the Melodic Death Metal of Gothenburg (sometimes blackish), sometimes even you can't tell what kind of Metal they are doing. This album was released like many bands did in the past on the independent way which is kind of strange because at this point (2014) there are many labels around the world that happily would release this album.
After a few listening of the album i can see that Hedon needs to work more on develop their musical direction, to decide if they want to sound Melodic Death or just Melodic Metal or Death Black because some songs of the album like "Tides of Blood" sounds very different compared to songs like "Until you Die", this does not means that they are making bad music, i think its the opposite, very nice melodic harmonies along the album with a very skilled and tight drumming.
The vocals are good in general, changes here and there from the very high pitch vocals to the guttural way, something that makes the album interesting and not boring. The track "Sound of Suffering" has a crazy combination of slow and fast riffing with acoustic passages that makes this track one of the best of the album.
Very good production and mix to be self-paid, I believe that they should put more effort in spreading the word of their band and album, to get a record label for the next album would be better for them. Sometimes i think that Melodic Swedish Metal is over/dead but this band makes me think that there might be some good bands out still delivering the goods like Hedon is doing. Hedon made remember so much the old days when Unanimated, Gates of Ishtar or Ablaze my Sorrow were kicking asses.
If you are into Dark Tranquillity, Dissection, Lord Belial and The Forsaken you should check Hedon. Looking forward so much for the next album!!
Points: 3.5 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeqN_mfHKlc
PUTERAEON
"The Crawling Chaos"
Cyclone Empire, 2014.
3rd album and new from this Death Metal act from (Alingsås I guess?) Sweden. I remember perfectly when they released "The Esoteric Order" and it took my attention this kind of old-school looking art/image so i decided to listen the album which later became one of my faves, well crafted Death Metal with high quality. Later "Cult Cthulhu" came out and my surprise was that they changed their sound straight into the old Swedish Stockholm (Sunlight Studio worship/Boss Heavy Metal) sound, which i consider a great album too. It was produced by the master and legendary Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) Sonic Train Studios.
"The Crawling Chaos"
came out this year and well, one more time showing that the Stockholm
sound does not belong to them anymore. Great songs like "Rotten Aeon"
and "Path to Oblivion" are a worth to listen.
No doubt that many bands may come to my mind when i listen to Puteraeon, from the mighty Dismember to the awesome Entrails, some Demonical stuff but what i think could be some of the influences of this band are: Grave (You'll Never see era), Bolt-Thrower (Warmaster/The IV Crused era) and perhaps some old Candlemass since they have a few slow riffing that reminds this doomy vibe but I must to say that Puteraeon has their own sound from the very beginning well established.
Veredict, Great album for the ones whow loves the Death! I am looking forward to see them live someday in Gothenburg.
Points: 4 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9mcFT1UNs
https://www.facebook.com/PUTERAEON/
ARCH ENEMY
"War Eternal"
Century Media Records, 2014.
There is not much to say about this band, they have been making the same music on their last 2 3 albums pretty much but definitely great songs. The new singer makes no change at all on their sound. I have a problem with this kind of "guttural female vocals" since the previous singer Angela was in the band, they sound monotonous and boring.
The drumming of Daniel Erlandsson is just fantastic and flawless as always. I can feel that Christoffer Amott is not there anymore, however the new guitarist plays very good guitar solos though.The bass of Sharlee sounding very powerful and fat as always. I can notice a couple of riffs here and there that sounds like the old albums such as the "Stigmata" style. Definitely I can see that Michael Amott know his business very well but at the same time i don't' see anything new here except for the new members. I am having a good time listening the album but in fact is that they keep repeating themselves over and over. Great for the Arch Enemy fans, that is all. Excellent production.
3.5 of 5
ARMAGEDDON (Sweden)
"Three"
Toy's Factory, 2002
Damn, I don't know how to even start the review...well, this is the band of Christoffer Amott brother of Michael of Arch Enemy. This is the 3rd full- lenght of the band/project which includes Daniel Erlandsson the drummer also in Arch Enemy.
This is pretty much Heavy Metal with this "Arch Enemy riffing style" that Christoffer has developed since long time ago. According to the info found on thew web he is doing the vocals on the entire album and to tell the truth he does a great job! The sound of the band turned more into heavy metal on this album and goes away from this progressive influence they had in the beginning. I guess there is not more to say when it comes to this talented musician, just listen and enjoy!!
Points: 4 of 5
To listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2F4scZD7I
