3 Feb 2024
Interview: Nuclearhammer
2 Feb 2024
Demo review: Tartarean Vengeance - Genosida (2024)
Tartarean Vengeance from Singapore is the sole project of Hades (Battlestorm, Nocturnized, Devourer, etc.) and “Genosida” is the debut demo/EP of this project. Expect nothing less than a vile onslaught of bestial black/death metal informed by bands like Impiety, Black Witchery and Incantation. A haunting ambient piece opens this EP, followed by a rivetingly crushing assault of black/death metal infused with waves of skull-exploding distortion that is characteristic of the superlative heaviness of "Genosida". Since this is a demo recording, the sound is quite raw, albeit executed with a degree of proficiency. Despite being only 12 minutes long, this EP gets its point across confidently and provides a taste of what is to come. Furthermore, the cover of ‘Blasphemous Onslaught’ by Black Witchery is an excellent rendition and homage to one of the genre’s greats. Prepare yourself for war, as Tartarean Vengeance pummels you right into the heart of it.
27 Jan 2024
Album review: Evil Damn - Necronomicon (2021)
26 Jan 2024
Album review: Blood Chalice - The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism (2022)
“The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism” is the second opus by Finnish maniacs Blood Chalice. It is essentially a continuation of their vicious black/death, although on this recording they seem to have honed their craft to a considerable degree, with the music sounding fiercer and sicker than before. The production is less polished this time around. There’s some good numbers on here, including a good deal of grind influence. In its essence, the album is utterly extreme, feral, and downright murderous. They also mix it up in terms of speed, ranging from blisteringly fast to robust mid-tempos, which adds a great deal of depth to their attack. In summary, “The Blasphemous Psalms of Cannibalism” is one of my favourite black/death albums from the last few years and radiates pure unhinged violence from beginning to end. Recommended to fans of bands like Black Witchery, Conqueror, and Anima Damnata. Stand-out tracks: “The Last Supper of Insects” “Celestial Destroyer” “Blood Worship”
24 Jan 2024
Album review: Morkera - Aggravations (2023)
Morkera – Aggravations
Croatia
Unsigned/independent
21 Jan 2024
Album review: Vølus - Thrown to the Abyss (2022)
Vølus’ second album “Thrown to the Abyss” is a respectable take on blackened death metal that fans of this style will enjoy. The atmosphere is so dreadfully dense, it's like some noxious aura covering you, as if some otherworldly force is feeding you subliminal messages through the music. Deep and vicious growls are belched atop a mountain of face-melting riffs, coupled with dynamic drumming and a production that can only be described as murky – and although the music often descends into chaos, the songs manage to maintain a sense of cohesion. The music eludes descriptors like ‘cavernous’ given the album’s fairly clear production, which is complementary to their style. There's some cool ideas here, especially those discordant riffs, which can sometimes rival the best of them in terms of intensity. Those into bands like Portal, Eskhaton and Morbid Angel should definitely give this band a listen. Stand-out tracks: “Traverse the Arkhanspire” “Black Flame Purification” “Temporal Pathways”
20 Jan 2024
Interview: Cut
Zon: Before joining the band, I told Ironthorn that I just wanted to express my thoughts through Satan's mouth instead of using my brain to think. In other words, we were ready to surrender our minds to him as well. Due to the alignment in themes and ideologies, we could all act on our instincts.
Zon: Blasphemy's first demo accompanied me through my tumultuous adolescence, but personally, I haven't delved too deeply into listening to this style of music. In reality, for me, the functionality of this music is far greater than its musicality, much like a church choir – we just praise a different god. Before and after the band, we were all blind believers in what this music was saying.
After the emergence of the Brazilian monsters, Blasphemy and Beherit created chaotic sounds almost simultaneously, Archgoat had a completely different temperament, Bestial Warlust stirred a frenzy in Australia. Demoncy from the United States expressed another obscure, arrogant, and evil musical texture. Fans categorize them as "black death metal," but their listening experiences are different. You can observe that after 2000, many bands created extremely profound black death music, such as Mefitic. For CUT, I can't determine which atmosphere influences us. But we always exist within the darkness, and I am forever a sincere listener of this dark atmosphere. All warriors are praising it in their own way, and it's an addictive thing.
Zon: Between Ironthorn and me, we don't discuss things imposed on us by others because it's a waste of time.
Zon: Anger and aggressiveness are instinctual in animals; learning to coexist with such emotions is a human prerequisite.
Zon: Primarily contemporary classical, avant-garde jazz (the kind with proper notation, like Anthony Braxton), experimental music, some serialism, and Japanese Gagaku. I don't reject any music that helps with compositional needs and requires mental engagement.
Ironthorn: We don't rehearse much. The uncertainty of the live guitarist is a significant challenge for us.
Ironthorn: Personally, I'm looking forward to having a drink with Bloodfire after these two gigs. Most importantly: coercing him to organize Hellward again. Saint Vitus Bar is on our radar; we're working on it.
Zon: "I am viewed primarily as the Satan of modern music." --Schoenberg
19 Jan 2024
Demo review: Nuclearhammer - Xaos Tenawas - Demo MMXXIII (2023)
17 Jan 2024
EP review: Irillion – Mélamar (2023)
10 Jun 2023
Album review: Exaltation - Under Blind Reasoning (2022)
Exaltation - Under Blind Reasoning
New Zealand
Sentient
Ruin
Exaltation's debut album, "Under Blind Reasoning," is certainly a vicious slab of feral death metal. The hostility of the music has a certain apocalyptic quality, reminiscent of bands like Krisiun, Rebaelliun and Morbid Angel, while it also has some war metal tendencies. It also helps that the production isn't overly polished, giving the music a kind of organic appeal and raw urgency that many new death metal bands lack. Exaltation's strength lies in their ability to compose well-written songs while displaying a high level of aggression that is immediately noticeable. Listening to it, I was reminded of albums like "Black Force Domain," simply due to how ridiculously ferocious and unhinged the music is. It's also refreshing to hear a band that opts for a go-for-the-throat approach instead of conforming to trendy "old-school" gimmicks. Fans of gritty and violent death metal are in for a treat!
9 Jul 2022
EP review: Shizoparanoic Platoon – Warfare: Mass Annihilation (2019)
Shizoparanoic Platoon – Warfare: Mass Annihilation
Greece
Askio Productions
The
latest EP from these Greek tyrants, entitled “Warfare: Mass Annihilation,”
mercilessly bludgeons the listener’s brain into submission from the get-go. The
album contains six tracks and clocks in at thirteen minutes, launching a
barrage of straight-ahead aural violence characterized by ugly riffs, sickened
growls, and cavernous drums. The hellish cacophony is supported by a raw
production that fits their style perfectly.
Fans
of bestial black/death metal will absolutely love this release. The EP is
short, but makes up for it with pure visceral brutality. On top of that, there
is no filler, so to speak. There’s a lot of replay value, thanks to the
punishing riffs and well-arranged songs.
Prior
to this release, the band released a compilation album, which I haven't heard,
but after being blown away by this EP, I definitely plan on checking it out.
Every track on this EP is great, especially the cover of Blasphemy's Demoniac, which I highly
recommend hearing. Schizoparanoic Platoon's name pretty much tells
you what to expect, so be prepared to have your brains reduced to a pulp with
this disc. A highly recommended War Metal act from Greece! (HT)
10 Jun 2022
Interview: Wolflust (2022)
R: Greetings! WOLFLUST was formed by Cernunnos Legion - War proclamations, distortions blastbass and sulfuric vomits, Trojillo - Artillery, ammunition and warhammer of doom, with the aim of producing a chaotic WAR DEATHBLACK METAL, rescuing the old spirit of the 80s/90s, inspired by the gods: SARCOPHAGE(old), BLASPHEMY, HELLHAMMER, SODOM(old), ANGELCORPSE, CONQUEROR, MUTILATOR(old), and others.
Tell us about your Satanic Megatons EP and the overall reaction from underground maniacs.
R: When we recorded our ep we had no pretensions, our intention was just to record all our hate and anger in the form of music, we were really impressed with the acceptance of the material in the Underground environment, in all this ep has so far had 7 different versions, 2 on tape(Davao Hellsbangers/Philippines and Southwindland recs/Brazil), 2 on cd(hammer of damnation recs/Brazil and Anti-human prods./Canada), Box cd(Anti-human prods./Canada) on LP(9 Brazilian labels and Raise the dead Recs/England). Until today we receive many messages from maniacs from all over the world commenting on this material.
The sound on that EP is absolutely merciless. Can we expect more of the same with the next attack?
R: Our intention is for each upcoming material to sound as brutal and wild as possible, in WOLFLUST you will never find new trends or fads, only the most profane and brutal WARDEATHBLACKMETAL like the old days! Stand by because the worst is yet to come!
Yes, Cernunnos and I are fans of ANGELCORPSE, for us it is a direct inspiration and influence. Unfortunately the shows of this tour that would take place in Brazil were cancelled due to the pathetic Brazilian producer who screwed everything up.
Who did the artwork for the Satanic Megatons EP? It's pretty sick!
The cover was made by a renowned Brazilian artist called Marcos Miller, he has done several covers for other bands like Exterminate, Mental Horror, Cauterization, and many others. And we will continue to work with him to make the arts for the next materials.
You covered Bathory’s classic “Sacrifice”. How much of an influence is Quorthorn on your band and what do you think of their later Viking era?
Yes it was an immense honor for us to be able to record our version of the song “sacrifice”, as Bathory is a huge influence not only for us but also for thousands of other bands around the world. Personally, I prefer Bathory's early stage more, but all of his works are magnificent!
I live in a city in the interior of the state of São Paulo, there is no scene in my city and no bands. Brazil has always been a barn of great bands that served as inspiration for the rest of the world, currently there are several bands doing excellent works such as: Necrosound, Açoite, Necrogosto, Luvart, Havok666, Kanvass, Ceremony, Antichrist Hooligans, Sade, Negro Bode Terrorist, Barbatos, Spiritual Hate, Diabolism, and many others.
Tell us a bit about your lyrics and what inspires them.
Our lyrics deal with themes of wars, death, desecration, and against all religions that manipulate and imprison human beings. We follow as inspiration the themes addressed in albums from the early 80s/90s such as show no mercy, endless pain, seven churches, morbid visions, INRI, infernal overkill, in the sign of evil, fallen angel of doom, among others..
Well, I've been in this for over 30 years, so I don't think it's a phase hahaha, really I have Metal for me as a lifestyle, there isn't a day that I don't listen to Metal in my life. Unfortunately our country is an extremely Christian country, and many get into this shit looking for something illusory or that will bring them salvation or a better life in some fantasy place. Metal has never had anything to do with religion, Metal has always been anti-Christian and always will be, so we will always execrate the pathetic people and bands that call themselves White Metal.
What’s currently on your playlist?
I listen to a lot, I'm a real maniac who looks for new bands all the time, I can tell you the bands I'm listening to this week: KANVASS, ARCHGOAT, GBK, IMPURITY, GOATSMEGMA, BLASPHEMY, ANTICHRIST SIEGE MACHINE, CHRIST DENIED, MALIGNANCY, THORYBOS , between others.
It goes without saying that Brazil has an endless supply of great bands. What do you think makes people from there want to play such violent and intense music?
Certainly the reason Brazilian bands create songs with so much hate, anger and violence, is the portrait of our lives and realities, we are a third world country, with a totally fucked up economy, where the vast majority work themselves to death, we pay the highest taxes on the planet and we have no return, the vast majority do not have access to good education, medical care or security, violence in large centers is gigantic, that is, the brutal and violent sound is just a reflection of our lives.
What can you tell us about your other band Industrial Noise? It seems the band has been around for a time!
Yes, I created INDUSTRIAL NOISE in 1993 as a totally noise project, then in 1998 it became a band with rehearsals and shows, we released dozens of materials such as demo-tapes, cds, 7eps, etc.. We are currently stopped since the beginning of the pandemic. But a year ago I formed another band with another member of INDUSTRIAL NOISE, it's called ACUSTIC NEUROMA, the sound is a mix of death metal and grind, in the old style like bands like BLOOD, REPULSION, F.O.G., DEPRESSION.
Thanks for your time, Mauro! The Satanic Megatons EP rips. I hope to hear more of the same with the next assault. The last words are yours.
Thank you very much for the interview and space given to WOLFLUST! Very soon we will have several releases coming out like a new EP and other split's 7'EPs, and also other news, keep in touch! Keep up the war against white-shit shit and fake metal! Fuck Peace! Praise war!!!