Vrolok - Soul Amputation (Album Review)

Tracklist:

1. Sanctus & Benedictus, Malefactoris   

2. Master of Terrors and Sacrilege          

3. Snake of Unholy Divinity       

4. Macabre Effigy           

5. Sanctus & Benedictus, Malefactoris II            

6. Confusion, Torment, Hatred   

7. Life Lies in Ruins                   

8. November Funeral Mass                     

9. Ghosts of Winter Mourning                

10. Oktober 26th  

11. Abstract Human Element                    

12. Pestilence Beyond the Stained Glass               

13. Devotion                     

14. Black Sacrificial Fear  

15. "...I stand to gain nothing..."   

16. Soul Amputation         

17. Hidden Between The Paths...                

18. Bele'zaghal Diplocephalus

This is the third full length album from the now defunct black metal/ambient project Vrolok based in the USA, and it was originally released in 2005. This album see’s the projects leader “D.” return once again, to, in this case, provide Vocals, Strings, Percussion, Organ and Samples. 

D. is also joined by “Lurker” of Blasphemous Crucifixion who provides the drum work on this release.

This album has some strong, interesting chaotic elements that are built manly upon its very raw and fairly unpredictable sound which is clear from the very begin of the first track. The album does lack any definable structure, and the tracks themselves are crafted in such a way as to leave the listener overwhelmed by the swirling riff work and the pounding drums.  

D.’s vocal work is also very unusual, it regularly shifts from tortured screams to clear whispers, and then shifts to Gregorian chant without missing a beat.

The album also has an intentionally rough and very experimental feel to it that increases the previously mentioned chaos, and gives it a very gloomy and dense feel that is almost impenetrable.

Overall considering the album’s length (over 70 minutes) combined with the general bizarre lack of structure this album is a solid example fairly experimental black metal that perhaps doesn’t always hit its mark, but generally keeps the listener interested and engaged with the music.   

Fimbul - Vinterland (Demo Review)

Tracklist:

1. Vinterland               

2. I de norske skoger              

3. Nattevandring                     

4. Stillhet

This is the first release from the raw Norwegian solo project Fimbul helmed by Ramn, this demo was released in 1995 and is one of only two actual releases from this project.

This demo features some very pronounced influences, specifically from Darkthrone as much of the vocal and riff work is very reminiscent of albums such as A Blaze in the Northern Sky and perhaps Transilvanian Hunger, although it is far harsher here.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by how well drums were used in this release, the track Nattevandring utilised some very powerful snare work that gave the track a sense of force and motion.

The final track on the album also displays great musicianship, Stillhet is an instrumental keyboard track that gives the demo’s conclusion a very cold atmospheric feel that was sublime.

Overall I would say this is a superb release, and I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming new material from the Fimbul project due to be released later this year.

Listen To The Demo Here.      

Lascar - Depths (Demo Review)

Tracklist:

1. Depths        

2. Burial Caves                       

3. Ocean Echoes

This is the second demo from the interdependent one man Chilean post black metal project helmed by Gabriel Hugo.

This release is as much of a depressive black metal record, as it is a post black metal one. Everything about it from the distant tortured screaming vocals, to the slow and repetitive riffs give off a very DSBM vibe. That of course is by no means a bad thing, this is a very powerful release that really gets under the listeners skin with its heartfelt and genuine felling of grim isolation, depression and its strong connection to the natural world.

Musically this release is also very strong, with very good drum and riff work being provided throughout by Hugo.

Overall this a great demo that makes me very excited to hear a full length from the Lascar project.

The Bandcamp Page For This Demo  

Deliverance Lost - Tears Of White Raven (EP Review)

Tracklist:

1. Swamp of Sorrows             

2. The Thaw               

3. Body to Mind                     

4. Echoes of Heaven              

5. Soul

This is the first release form the independent Russian raw atmospheric black metal band Deliverance Lost.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this release going in to it, I didn’t however expect to come away from it so impressed.

This is a superb EP that features both cruelty and beauty in its music. It holds a perfect balance between raw aggression and melancholic gloom and depression that had me enraptured from start to finish.

Despite its very raw and rough sound, this is truly masterful and incredibly moving EP that I felt came from a very dark and honest place.

It is impossible for me to pick a track to be my favourite, this needs to be listened to as a single work, and should not be carved up.

I strongly recommend this EP, it is something very special and needs to be experienced. 

The Bandcamp Page For The Band

The Albums Of Sweden's Pest

Tracklist:

1. Ninth Nocturnal Departure 

2. Commanding Armageddon 

3. Hours of Eternity and Death           

4. Dark Northern Winters       

5. Descending 

6. I Am the Plague

Desecration (2003) was the band’s first full length release and it came after Pest had already put out five Demo’s and an EP. The band then comprised of “Necro” on dums, guitars and vocals, and “Equimanthorn” providing further guitars and bass.

It is immediately clear that this album is not the shoddy work of inexperienced amateurs, instead it is a product of pure hatred and darkness. Considering that this album was released long after the golden days of true raw black metal, it could easily fit into that era and be just as cold, raw and aggressive as any of its competitors.

Everything from the chainsaw guitar work, to the pounding drums, to the hate filled vocals of Necro has an incredibly intense and tight feel that really shows just how musically capable the band was at this point in their career.

My personal favourite track on the album is Dark Northern Winters, it’s such a harsh track that it completely overpowers the listener. In contrast to Dark Northern Winters speed and brutality, Descending has a much slower, far gloomier pace that gives the latter half of the album good contrast.

Overall this is a truly stunning album that is a must for fans of raw, cold black metal of the kind we once saw with bands such as Darkthrone and Mütiilation. 

 Tracklist:

1. Thrones Ablaze      

2. Beyond Redemption           

3. In Total Contempt   

4. A Vengeance Rising

5. Cold Stare   

6. Slaves of Celestial Bounds 

7. Dreams of Life Seem Morbid         

8. Into Deep Black Halls   

After the release of the excellent Dauðafærð EP in 2004, Necro and Equimanthorn once again came together in 2005 to make their second full length album, In Total Contempt.

The album begins to beat the listener black and blue from the very first track, with almost the same extremely harsh and raw sound that we heard in Desecration. Although this album isn’t as aggressive, for the most part, as Desecration, instead it at times replaces raw brutality with some technicality and slightly slower gloom, while still delivering a very raw sound. This is especially true for the track A Vengeance Rising which does have a strong pounding speed element but also delivers an element of gloom that we probably wouldn’t have heard in Desecration.

Necro once again delivers extremely harsh and almost cruel vocals that are possibly not as raw as his vocal work on Desecration, but are still none the less impressive.

Ultimately I don’t think this album is as strong as its predecessor, it’s still an extremely harsh. raw black metal album that is worth taking the time to check out, but it doesn’t have the timeless quality of Desecration.

Tracklist:

1. Possessed by the Beast                   

2. Nights in the Cursed Chapel            

3. Blessed by Hellfire             

4. Rest in Morbid Darkness                

5. Bestial Crucifixion              

6. Vomit Up the Blood of Jesus                      

7. Shadows of the Dead          

8. Final Strike of Doom                      

9. The Lust for Cruelty

Rest in Morbid Darkness (2008) came three years after the last album, during those three years the band had made some changes to both their musical and aesthetic style, as can be seen by the new logo which was introduced in the 2006 EP Evil Returnm, and the change in album artwork style. 

Even though the band’s sound had switched fairly dramatically from Desecration on this release it was still created by the same line up of Necro and Equimanthorn.

This album is certainly taking the band’s music in a different direction, one that introduces more technicality than we heard in In Total Contempt, and one that still allows moments of the raw fury of the kind that we heard in Desecration. The band’s changing sound is perfectly summarised in the last track on the album, The Lust for Cruelty, which is around 15 minutes long and sounds like something from the Darkthrone album Panzerfaust. It is a perfect blend of pounding drums, noticeable riffs, and typically harsh vocals.

On the subject of riff work, this album is the first full length from Pest that has clearly definable and notably individualised riff’s that don’t just blend into one long blur of savagery, and maintain a constant sound.  

Overall this is a very solid album, certainly better than In Total Contempt and approaching the quality of Desecration for sure.   

Tracklist:

1. The Funeral Hours (instrumental)

2. A Face Obscured by Death 

3. Volcanic Eyes         

4. Devil's Mark           

5. Holocaust               

6. The Abomination of the God          

7. Thirteen Chimes     

8. Demon        

9. The Crowning Horror         

10. Eternal Curse

With a total of five years between the release of Rest in Morbid Darkness and this album, The Crowning Horror (2013) certainly had a lot to live up to, not mention that this album was the band’s first chance to introduce a new member to the line-up and the first to change roles played by its members. 

Instead of the usual line up that we saw with their previous full lengths, this album features both Necro and Equimanthorn providing vocals, with Equimanthorn only providing vocals for the tracks Volcanic Eyes and Thirteen Chimes. It also features further drum work provided by “Insulter” who was formally the drummer for Nifelheim.

This album is clearly the culmination of the gradual progression of Pest’s music. It is much slower and far more refined than any of their other releases, and features a lot of strong melodic elements that we wouldn’t have heard on previous work.

It still however has a harsh core to it that is, as usual, displayed mostly through Necro’s vocals, but not so much through Equimanthorn’s.

My personal favourite tracks on this one are The Abomination of the God and Eternal Curse both of which have a sound reminiscent of later Darkthrone, and both have a very dark atmospheric feel that makes them extremely interesting to listen to.

To me, Pest is a hugely important band, their martial may not have always been the most original, but no matter what style they played, it was always clear that it was from a cold, dark place, that most bands fail to write from. I thoroughly recommend looking into their work!     

 

           

Elurra - Alles was kommt ist Schnee (EP Review)

Tracklist:

1. Alles was bleibt ist Schnee

2. Die Jagd

3. Ragnarök

4. Ewiger Winter

5. Alte Götter

6. Unser Krieg

This is the latest release form the four man German black metal band Elurra, who describe themselves as an RABM (Red and Anarchist Black Metal) band.

Musically this EP is a very good example of no strings attached black metal that is well crafted and creates a multi layered often gloomy sound that I found to be very enjoyable. This release is awash with different speeds and musical textures, that give it a nice variety and keep the sound fresh throughout.

One of the most varied elements of the EP is the vocal work, which shifts seamlessly from the slow elegant whispers on the first track Alles was bleibt ist Schnee, to the very aggressive growls and screams on the last track Unser Krieg, which happens to be my personal favourite track on this release.

Overall this is a very interesting release that because of its varied sound will probably appeal to fans of many different styles of black metal.