Deliverance Lost - Death of White Raven (EP Review)

Tracklist:

1. Black Sun    
2. Empty Forest     
3. Newborn 
4. Dying Light
5. Rise and Fall 

This is the second release from the Russian depressive atmospheric black metal project Deliverance Lost. This is the second EP from the project this year, the first being Tears Of White Raven which I reviewed four months ago, and still remains my favourite EP of 2015.

This EP was released two days ago at the time of writing this, and it is safe to say that this was an anticipated release for me. The album starts with the track Black Sun which feels as though it is a clear continuation from the projects last release, with its howling vocals, powerful drum work and the use of the same type of ambient static that a gave Tears Of White Raven a very unique atmosphere. This track is soon followed by my personal favourite track on the album Empty Forest, this track is an instrumental and features the best drum and keyboard work on the entire EP, it has a superb atmosphere of desperation, and isolation which is cleverly conveyed. Newborn, the third track on the album lacks the atmospheric quality of the of the first two, instead replacing it with more great howling vocal work and gloom ridden riffs to create a pure depressive black metal track, that is fairly different from the other tracks on this EP. The final two tracks on the EP are Dying Light and Rise and Fall sadly these tracks don’t really musically bring that much in the way of either atmospheric or depressive sounds, instead the two tracks are pretty dull and a little drab.

This brings me to my problem with this EP. Even the best track on the release (Empty Forest) suffers from a loss of purpose and direction around half way through, and sadly this is present on all of the tracks. The first three tracks all have extremely strong beginnings, but suffer at the half way point until the end of the song with a loss of drive, and this really affects the listenability of the EP.

Personally comparing this to Tears of White Raven is very difficult as that EP is almost unbeatable when it comes to modern depressive atmospheric black metal in my opinion. Therefore it is clear that this EP does not match up to the projects first release, but to look at it on its own terms without comparison elsewhere it is a pretty decent release from what is still a very new project.  

Support the project and download the EP here                     

Sapthuran - Hildegicel (Album Review)

Tracklist:

Side A - Separation 

1. Separation I 
2. Separation II 
3. Separation III 
4. Separation IV 
5. Separation V 

Side B - Steadfast Resilience 

6. Steadfast Resilience VI     
7. Steadfast Resilience VII 
8. Steadfast Resilience VIII 
9. Steadfast Resilience IX 
10. Steadfast Resilience X 

This is the fourth full length album from the independent North American based solo naturalistic/isolationist black metal project Sapthuran which is helmed by Patrick T. Hall. This particular album was released some months ago back in August, but it happened to escape my attention until now.

The album features a strong mix of consistently powerful drum work and crisp atmospheric riffs which are backed by what I think is the albums strongest feature, which is the vocal work. The vocals never take front and centre stage, instead they seem to ominously dwell in the dark sonic reassess of the album, providing a blend of animalistic rage and slow calculated precision. The album also features some interesting usage of classical and instrumental instruments, along with keyboards, that when used within the album, make an impact and give the sound a little more depth and variation.

My only real issue with this album is its use of ambiance between tracks, after what felt like every track an indescribable blend of noise would begin, never being the same after every track, but always failing to provide anything to the album’s overall sonic vision. One particular piece of ambiance that sounded like a prolonged recording of a dog whining was so annoying I was genuinely relived when it was over.

However, overall this is very good album despite its issues with ambient noise as in the grand scheme of things this can be overlooked as there is far better things to focus upon within the album.

Buy the album here        

        

Shadowland - Последняя ночь перед бурей (Last Night Before the Storm) (Album Review)

Tracklist:

1. Забытые ручьи (Forgotten Creeks)      
2. Последняя ночь перед бурей (Last Night before the Storm)     
3. Ночью,в поле (At Night, in the Field)      
4. Тайна тумана (The Mystery of Fog)      
5. Сияние (Shining of...)      
6. Навстречу зиме (Towards the Winter) 
7. Неизведанные тропы (Unexplored Trails)

This is the fourth full length from the prolific independent Russian one man atmospheric black metal/ambient project Shadowland. This is the third full length to come from the project in 2015, and is again helmed by GorDan. I previously reviewed the projects third album Through the Curtain of Falling Leaves which you can check out here.

This album like its predecessor is very synth focused, with much of the sonic driving force being provided by the very sharp and light playing of GorDan. This album however also has some very melodic, and at times very powerful drum work that accompanies the synth very well for much of the first half of the album, it does however decrease in the albums latter half. Vocals are not very prevalent on this record, although when they are used, they are harsh, raw screams that clearly have some powerful emotion behind them, or a soft almost spoken work like chant that also conveys great sadness.

The use of ambience and samples is also well done, especially with the use of bird calls (mostly ravens from what I could tell), these provide a certain natural gloom that gradually builds throughout the album, and is helped by the fact that instead of distinct riffs the guitar work on this album is more like howling wind in the background.

I personally think that this is the best release from the Shadowland this year, and is well worth a listen for fans of depressive atmospheric black metal and ambient black metal alike.

Checkout the bandcamp page for the project here  

            

Fukpig - This World Is Weakening (Album Review)

Tracklist:

1. ...      
2. Alcohol and Necropunk      
3. Hope Stings Eternal     
4. This World Is Weakening      
5. Fascist Moron      
6. The Prisoner      
7. Unattainable Ideals      
8. A Matrix Made of Shit     
9. In the Absence of Your Saviour     
10. Calculated Tyranny      
11. Hack      
12. Troglodyte      
13. Delight in the Dying of the Light    
14. Archaic Beliefs      
15. Docile Subjects      
16. Mean World      
17. The Eulogy of a Crushed Romantic 

This is the fourth and most recent album from the UK based blackened crust punk/grindcore band Fukpig.

I wouldn’t normally take the time to review a blackened crust grind album, but I had to make an exception when it came to this band, firstly because their from my hometown, and I firmly believe in supporting your local extreme music scene, and secondly because they have managed to create an album that through pure rage and sonic fury can kill a man at ten paces.

After a short and sweet intro, the album kicks into gear with a sequence of the best tracks on the album (2-6) that left me unable to predict what was coming next due to a relentless blend of raw vocals, powerful drum work and some very crusty riffs that just manage to poke their heads through the medley of hatred. One feature of the album that did come as a surprise was the use of operatic and orchestral samples as backing on some tracks, this gave them a very sharp and crisp edge that allowed for some variation throughout the album.

Overall this is an absolutely great example of a genre blend that has come together and succeeded perfectly in delivering its intensions, which in the case of Fukpig are probably a series of firm kicks to the face. 

Support the band here for fuck sake!

  

Revenge - Behold. Total. Rejection (Album Review)

Tracklist:

1. Scum Defection (Outsider Neutralized)      
2. Shock Attrition (Control in Decline)      
3. Wolf Slave Protocol (Choose Your Side)      
4. Mass Death Mass      
5. Mobilization Rites      
6. Silent Enemy     
7. Desolation Insignia     
8. Hate Nomad      
9. ETHR (Failure Erased)      
10. Nihilist Militant (Total Rejection)

This is the latest full length from the Canadian War Grind/War Metal duo Revenge, which is comprised of James Read on drums and vocals and “Vermin” on guitars and bass.

First of all, I know this isn’t black metal, but I decided to expand the genre horizon of the blog, so if you don’t like it, dig a ditch and die in it.

The album begins like all Revenge albums do, with a firm sonic kick in the teeth of every listener. From the very first second of the first, and possibly best track, Scum Defection the album makes it clear that like all of Revenge’s discography it is actively trying to skull rape you with loud savage and untamed noise of the most chaotic nature.

Musically the album is very hard to classify, although it is clear that there is slightly more structure in terms of clearly defined, but still insane, riffs and drum work compared to the bands superb 2012 full length Scum.Collapse.Eradication the album still retains a constant wall of hate noise that cannot be broken by even the most fanatical amongst us. The wall of noise however is not being used as an excuse to hide poor vocals or musicianship, on the contrary this album probably features the best talent from the band, everything from the pummelling drum work to the almost vomit like vocals and screams and the buzzsaw guitars is sharply and purposefully executed.       

I feel like this album compared to previous Revenge albums and perhaps to other war metal bands such as Goatpenis or Conqueror, has a certain sharp edge that seems to come from the almost indistinct lines that the albums draws between tracks leaving the album with a surprisingly fluid feel, despite its pure sonic nihilism.

Overall I really think that Revenge achieved something special with this album, I think it’s the bands best release to date, and I think that this could well be a contender for my album of the year,

So if you’re looking for a nice CD to put in your loved one’s stocking this Xmas look no further, you can watch their faces fall as they are ruthlessly wound fucked by pure nihilism while you cave your turkey and contemplate your own misanthropy.  
   

Buy the album here scumbags