MORDBRAND
"Imago"
Deathgasm Records, 2014.
After some EP's and split albums at last the album debut of Swedish Death Metal band Mordbrand is out and is nothing but old-school Swedish Death Metal and i was thinking "one more Death Metal release from a Swedish Death Metal band" but as a matter of fact while listening i realized that it is not just another copycat of the old Stockholm sound or similar, "Imago" shows 90% of that style but here are some differences that makes this band different from others. They have a more raw sound on the production of guitars and drums, sometimes you can hear even some Black Metal riffs and they do it very good.
Songs like "Imago" shows this creepy atmosphere like coming out of a terror movie, other tracks like "Revelate" and "Sever the Limbs That Grace" shows this classic "hardcore" beat on the drums which is very common on the old school style and of course at the same time sounds like God Macabre here and there. But this is no surprise since Per and Björn plays in that band too.
I am glad to see these kind of bands that are worried to offer something different, looking to have their own sound and not only to remain in that channel and play this old-school Swedish style over and over which i really like it so much but at some point you have to make a difference like Mordbrand its doing on "Imago".
Probably with a better production and even having this HM-Boss pedal on could sound fantastic this album without a doubt.
Points: 4.5 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHWcKfqV6Ts
EVOCATION
"Illusions of Grandeur"
Century Media, 2012.
"Illusions of Grandeur" is the latest album of the Swedish band Evocation, it was released sometime ago but i decided to review it anyway.
They were called like and i quote "A unique mix of the Gothenburg and Stockholm Death Metal sound" and yes, they did that but in this album they decided to quit to that Boss HM-2 Pedal now and to move on to make their sound more clean and jump into the Melodic Death Metal/Gothenburg sound of the glorious days entirely. If you know Evocation's music you probably know that the biggest inspiration comes from At the Gates (if not, that is what it looks like for me) and at the same time i have this feeling like their sound its like if At the gates meets Amon Amarth and Dark Tranquillity sometimes.
Great production and musically very skilled but not original at all, great drumming from mr. Janne Kenttäkumpu but this is not a surprise since almost all the Swedish bands have talented drummers. This is Evocation's debut with the great label Century Media which it seems they believe in Evocation's talent without a doubt. The cover art its awesome and reminded me the art of Pestilence's "Testimony of the Ancients" and i think the plus (could be) that Johan from Amon Amarth has a special guest in the track "Into Submission".
No more words to say about it, If you are into Melodic Death Metal, "Illusions of Grandeur" its for you.
Points: 4 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaVzhqrtA6g
DIABOLICAL
"Neogenesis"
ViciSolum Productions, 2013.
Diabolical from Stockholm, Sweden... Damn it! The first word i have to say for this "Neogenesis" release... FANTASTIC!!!
My first encounter with them was when they release their debut album "Synergy" and later on their 2nd album "A Thousand Deaths" which was pretty much like a Melodic Death Thrash Metal with some progressive stuff sometimes, strong, straight and well played. I lost the track of them until i decided to take a deep listen to "Neogenesis", my first impression was that they changed completely their style into a more extreme and violent Death Metal going far away from the Swedish sound they played in the past.
After several listening i came into the conclusion that "Neogenesis" its one of the most impressive and best albums i have listened in a long time! Their sound remains into the realms of Death Metal but extremely original and majestic song writing while at the same time the keep this progressive influence they had before and they don't overload their music at all of it. The drummer its a monster!! Mr. Sverker Widgren and company have created a MASTERPIECE which is very hard to do when you are into Death Metal. They decided to add orchestral vocal choirs and female vocals in some parts along the album too and they do it just amazing!!!
A quote to the album's description says: "'Neogenesis' is also a novel (11 chapters) telling the story of the end of the world and what lies beyond. The book is written by guitarist Carl Stjärnlöv and each chapter of the book is represented by a song on the album."
Some names comes to my mind when listening to "Neogenesis" but i think if i mention these names probably will numb your judgment so i extremely encourage you to get this album but i have to warn you people that "Neogenesis" its dangerous!!!
Fave tracks: "Reincarnation of the Damned", "Oracle" and "Wolves' Choir" (and more...)
Points: 5 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcT8TcB410U
ILLDISPOSED
"With the Lost Souls on Our Side"
Massacre Records, 2014.
A new ILLDISPOSED album has been released a couple of days ago and it was a surprise for me because i didn't know anything about it!!. What can i say, my first impression was that it sounds just like a completely follow-up of their previous release "Sense the Darkness" and it follows the same path regarding the sound, i don't hear anything new here but perhaps just a couple of new ideas here and there and a bit more melodic. Excellent drumming and tight as fuck and great guitar solos all over the album.
ILLDISPOSED have been a very underrated band since they started their musical career i must say, they are extremely talented and they know how to create High quality Death Metal and to not sound like anybody else, there are sometimes that the vocals reminded me Gorefest but without a doubt they are one of the best (if not the best) Death Metal band from Denmark. One more time produced by the one and only Tue Madsen (Dark Tranquillity, The Haunted), i hope they can get the credit they deserve in the near future because believe it or not they have been playing since 1991 and that is something.
My fave tracks: "A Dreaded Pursuer", "The Way We Choose" and "On a Clouded Morning"
Points: 4 of 5
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-JuNfVVeEM
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
