ALBUM REVIEW: Skrying Mirror - Omnimalevolence (2023)

Skrying Mirror - Omnimalevolence

USA

I, Voidhanger

When it comes to industrial metal, I can’t say that my knowledge extends beyond the more well-known acts like Godflesh, (early) Pitchshifter, The Amenta and (early) Fear Factory – all of whom have released some decidedly enjoyable works in the past. Skrying Mirror, on the other hand, take a much darker route, combining the haunting soundscapes of industrial with the viciousness of death metal to create something truly unique and terrifying.

The trio is made up of seasoned musicians, most notably Matron Thorn, who you may recognize from Ævangelist and Benighted in Sodom – and indeed you can hear his trademark touch in Skrying Mirror, as the project is steeped in darkness and a haunting atmosphere that suffocates you from start to finish.

The album was released by I, Voidhanger, a label known for putting out mainly avant-garde black and death metal releases that are usually of superior artistic quality. Skrying Mirror is no exception, as the nine compositions on “Omnimalevolence” are dynamic and exude an otherworldly and occult atmosphere that takes the listener on a nightmarish journey. The music is quite multi-layered, but also flows very coherently.

The vocals of Vardlokker (Nexwomb, Witchbones) are absolutely inhuman and pairs well with the backdrop of uncanny guitar rhythms and distorted bass riffs. The thick wall of noise creates a verily dense ambiance, which is further bolstered by visions of murder and a world in ruins, as the music begins to subliminally affect you like some kind of dark epiphany. Furthermore, the drumming by Manuel Garcia (Blattaria, Hex Arcana) is really well executed and adds an element of discordance to the mix.

The pitch-black and harrowing soundscapes may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you have an affinity for bands like Autokrator, Ævangelist and Blut Aus Nord, then there’s no doubt in my mind that Skrying Mirror is right up your alley, as “Omnimalevolence” is nothing short of outstanding. Highlights include: “Fractals” “Yearn” “Lux” 

Album review: Acausal Intrusion - Panpsychism (2023)

Acausal Intrusion - Panpsychism

USA

I, Voidhanger

 
Acausal Intrusion is a death metal collective made up of musicians Nythroth (Feral Lord, Slog, etc.) and Cave Ritual (Irradiated Marrow, Ar'lyxkq'wr, etc.), and “Panpsychism” is their third full-length album since their formation in 2020.

Stylistically, this is experimental death metal with a kind of “freeform" approach reminiscent of bands like Ulcerate and Gorguts. You never really know where the music is going to go next, as each song consists of intricate time-changes and complex rhythms, but at the same time there is a lot of atmosphere in the music. Acausal Intrusion is not on the same level as the aforementioned bands in terms of technical prowess, but the music is technical nonetheless, paired with heavy layers of dissonance encompassing the songs. 

Technical death metal has a bad reputation for being overproduced and lacking any sort of depth, and while that is true for the most part, that is certainly not the case here; on the contrary, the production on this album manages to sound organic and gritty, while still complementing the music with an audible mix.

The old tech-death bands like Cryptopsy, Gorguts, Atheist, etc., will always rule. Those bands were technical without resorting to mindless wankery. It’s cool that bands like Acausal Intrusion understand what makes this style work; however, they may adopt the same principles, but they are a different beast entirely, as the music on this record is much more dissonant and has a modern twist to it. The best comparison is undoubtedly Ulcerate from New Zealand, and to be fair, the influence is pretty evident. That’s not to say that’s a bad thing though. The vocals used on this album are definitely a lot more cavernous, and the compositions have a lot more “imperfections”, but this also adds charm to the music. After all, this is an underground death metal act.

The tracks on this album are between four and eight minutes long and are characterised by dark soundscapes and head-twisting riffs that keep you constantly on your toes and give you the feeling that a noose is tightening around your neck, as the suffocating atmosphere evokes a sense of terror in the listener. 

“Panpsychism” is an album best listened to in its entirety, as each haunting layer and segment begins to make sense, though it's also a band that you have to be in the right mood for in order to appreciate, as the music is very dense, dissonant and rhythmically chaotic. If you like death metal with an unconventional approach, or the bands mentioned earlier, check them out. (Jim)
 

Album review: Thecondontion – Supercontinent (2020)

 

Thecondontion – Supercontinent (2020)

Italy

I, Voidhanger Records 

Thecondontion is death metal quartet based in Rome, Italy, and “Supercontinent” is their debut full-length from 2020, released by I, Voidhanger. Having reviewed their excellent split with Vessel of Iniquity recently, I decided to review their debut album as well.

The band refers to their style as “prehistoric death metal,” and I absolutely cannot think of a better way to describe their music. Thecondontion can be distinguished from other bands in the sense that they don't have any guitars, instead relying on two bassists to act as guitars. The bass playing is done exceptionally well and features lots of delay and reverb, giving the music a somewhat psychedelic effect. Aside from that, they have a pretty unique sound with plenty of variation in the songwriting.

The overall production is decidedly raw and lean, emphasizing groove by way of lethal bass riffs, which works like a charm. Imagine if bands like Impetigo, Pungent Stench, and The Jesus Lizard were thrown in a blender. That's basically what we have here, even though their music isn't that easy to categorize. The sound and spirit embodied by the band is death metal through and through, and yet they have managed to create something distinctive in a genre in which it’s difficult to invent something new.

The vocals are emphatically harsh and raspy, reminding me of Mark of the Devil from Cultes Des Ghoules. In terms of musicianship, the band proves its worth by displaying a strong sense of craftsmanship and a knack for artistry. Overall, this isn't your typical death metal band, but if you're looking for something creative and different, then look no further. This is a very enjoyable album. Also, those who enjoy bands like Antediluvian, Karnarium and Demilich should check them out. (HT)

Split review: Thecodontion / Vessel of Iniquity - The Permian-Triassic Extinction Event (2021)

Thecodontion / Vessel of Iniquity - The Permian-Triassic Extinction Event

Italy / England

I, Voidhanger Records / Dead Red Queen Records / Bad Moon Rising 惡月上昇

Well, holy shit! The material on this split is great. I have never heard of either bands before listening to this release. Admittedly, I really like splits as it's always interesting to hear how bands represent themselves, and often times splits have great songs from bands that are not always featured on their other releases. The split in question features two pretty awesome bands: Thecodontion from Italy and Vessel of Iniquity from England.

Thecodontion is up first, presenting two tracks that reach the 6-minute mark each. This band has a sound rooted in pure black/death metal, but with an experimental touch, including the fact that the music is quite atmospheric. Now the term "atmospheric" can often times be misinterpreted as music with soothing melodies that bring tears to your eyes or bring a warm smile to your face. This is not the case with Thecodontion, as the music emits a deeply sinister tone that evokes a sense of utter horror, and yet the music is so incredibly catchy that it is impossible to resist. They have some of the best bass playing I have heard from a new black/death band in a long, long time. The bass is a driving force in the music and reminds me of Swedish death metal band Karnarium, as they employ it in an almost similar way. References could be made to bands like Antediluvian, Mitochondrion and Chaos Echoes as they have a similar approach to songwriting and atmosphere. The drums are very adequately played and even quite technical in a kind of straightforward sense. The drums and bass definitely have a good chemistry on this release. Thecodontian has a wholly unique sound and take on black/death metal and all I can say is that I will be listening to more of their music.

Vessel of Iniquity is the far more chaotic entry of the two bands and assaults the listener with a terrifying 11 minute piece of frantic black metal with some harsh noise elements. I think the overlapping elements make this a really interesting and enjoyable split. I am not sure what state S.P. White was in when he recorded this madness, but it certainly sounds like he was in a murderous trance or something. It seems like the track "The Great Dying" is split into two parts but stitched together as one composition, which is interesting because there's a bit of a breather from all the chaos about halfway through when the listener is subjected to a rhythmic percussion with an eerie ambience in the background, followed by more hyper-blasting madness and screams coming straight from hell. The riffs, percussion and vocals are all exceptionally well put together as the music shows a heightened sense of atmosphere that will transport you to another realm.

Overall, it's a very interesting and enjoyable split that I will certainly be coming back to, considering the quality output of both bands. Props to I, Voidhanger for putting out such a harrowing and abstract piece of aural sickness. (HT) 

Album review: Haunter - Sacramental Death Qualia (2019)

Haunter - Sacramental Death Qualia 

Texas / USA

I, Voidhanger Records

Haunter, a four-piece band hailing from San Antonio, Texas, plays progressive black/death metal on their second full-length album, “Sacramental Death Qualia,” which was released by Italy’s I, Voidhanger. There’s a good deal of variety to be found on this album. The songs are quite lengthy, with the shortest track being around 7 minutes and longest track 12 minutes.

Musically, their sound bears resemblance to bands such as Opeth, Blut Aus Nord, Akercocke, etc. As a whole, the performance on this album is quite proficient, and shows a group with a knack for well-crafted compositions and an atmosphere that is nothing short of epic. The album is nicely balanced between extreme and more somber moments. When it’s heavy, it’s pretty damn heavy. The band also has a penchant for haunting clean acoustics, rendering to the overall prog vibe.

“Sacramental Death Qualia” is idiomatic to the kind of strange, experimental, and ominous metal that I, Voidhanger specializes in, and that can be a good thing or bad thing, depending on your taste. Personally, I’m quite fond of Haunter’s take on progressive metal, since they are able to retain a dark intonation and do not sound overly self-indulgent. It’s a prime example of the style done right. A highlight from 2019. (HT)