Album review: Vox Mortis - Avignam Jagat Samagram (2021)

Vox Mortis - Avignam Jagat Samagram

Indonesia

Cerberus Productions

Vox Mortis from Indonesia may have taken inspiration from Cattle Decapitation since they have songs like "Forever No to Dog Meat". This band appears to have a pro-animal stance, as it is evident in their themes. I was expecting to hear something slam-like and brutal prior to playing this album, and that is exactly what I heard considering that Brutal Death Metal is quite popular in Indonesia. The thing that amazes me about that whole scene is that, while it might not be my favorite subgenre, the Indonesians have a knack for performing it and play it with absolute fervor. Vox Mortis' debut album, "Avignam Jagat Samagram", is a gnarly slab of brutal death metal infused with slamming grooves and grating grind sensibilities. As expected with most bands in this genre, the production is relatively clean, but on the other hand, it fits the style rather well.

There is no doubt that these guys are accomplished musicians since the music is bursting with rapid blasts, heavy bass lines and lightning-fast riffs. A few of the tracks also feature keyboards, giving the music a slight symphonic touch. The cover art is quite comical since it shows a monstrous dog about to wreak havoc on humanity. I love dogs, so I'm pretty sure that dog on the cover will spare my life. This will definitely appeal to fans of bands such as Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, and Abominable Devourment. Good stuff. (HT)

Album review: Exhumation - Eleventh Formulae (2020)

Exhumation - Eleventh Formulae

Indonesia

Pulverised Records

Upon first hearing this monster of an album, I am met with a wondrously ominous harsh noise intro that transitions into very old-school vein dissonant death metal. “Eleventh Formulae” is the band’s third full length and 5^th release overall. Formed in 2008, Indonesia’s Exhumation have their sound locked in. This full-length has a lot going on, from pummeling blast sections, galloping segments and old-school death thrash worship. There is even some old-school black metal sprinkled into the mix which is almost always a recipe for making extreme music sound 100 times better.

The sound of “Eleventh Formulae” as a whole if I could sum it up in two words would be primitive and chaotic. The production is absolutely perfect for the style. Not too raw, but not too over produced. That perfect middle ground where I can hear all the instruments fine, but it maintains a lo-fi bestial atmosphere.

The three “Formulae” tracks that are present mid album and at the end add to the band’s disgusting and vile atmosphere as well as creating a dynamic full album listening experience. Definitely some thought was put into this album to keep things captivating, which can be a difficult task when writing black or death metal full-length albums. The vocals have dynamic in them going from full harsh vocals to an almost ritualistic shouting sort of vocals.

Clocking in at a minute shy of 40 minutes, there is not a single mediocre track on Exhumation’s latest offering. The chaotic, frantic style of lead playing with divebombs almost shows influence from the first three Morbid Angel records. This is a death metal full-length that in my opinion verges on being black/ death and death/thrash at the same time. The final “Formulae” track comes in, surprising me after 2 minutes of dark ambient to mid-paced instrumental riffing, almost sounding similar to Sweden’s Craft or Carpathian Forest, ending the album on a strong note.

This is very refreshing death metal to listen to and the only complaint I have is not hearing it sooner, noting that it was released back in February of 2020. Though every track is consistent, the strongest songs here would be “Inferno Dwellers”, “Arcane Dance”, and “Blood Trails”. For fans of Necrovore, “Morbid Visions” era Sepultura, Sarcofago, Morbid Angel and Venenum. (AR)

Album review: Warkvlt – Deathymn (2020)

 

Warkvlt – Deathymn – Full Length (2020)

Indonesia

Sadist Records

Previously known as Impish, Warkvlt from West Java, Indonesia, presents their new album, “Deathymn,” released by their home label, Sadist Records. The band brings the war with a no-holds-barred assault of begrimed black metal terror that goes straight for the throat. Interestingly, there's a theme behind the album which consists of three parts: Blood, Fire, and Death. The music does a good job at conjuring an apocalyptic atmosphere, with songs comprised of militant drums, throat-slitting riffs, and a belligerent vocal attack. The band is all about being heavy and fast, but also makes use of some radical melodies to stomp the weak. The vocal effects on “Plague” is pretty cool, and I think the band should do more songs like that, as well as adding a few solos here and there: that would add more texture to the music. There's nothing particularly “fresh” about Warkvlt's brand of war black metal, so if you're looking for something innovative, then look elsewhere. “Deathymn” is a collection of straight-forward, stubborn black metal tunes, that will appeal to those with a penchant for the more hard-edged underground stuff. Check it out if you enjoy Southeast Asian bands like Infernal Execrator, Diabolical, Zygoatsis, etc. (HT)

https://warkvlt.bandcamp.com/

Album review: Diabolical – Hooligans Regiment Of Terror (2018)

 

Diabolical – Hooligans Regiment Of Terror - Full Length (2018)

Indonesia

Total Death Records / Deadly Throat Productions

Founded in East Java, Indonesia, Diabolical has been making noise in the underground ever since their inception in 2005. The band has already churned out a string of releases, although “Hooligans Regiment of Terror” is their first proper full length. The material is utterly crude, with a sound and style that is idiomatic to the Southeast Asian scene, and brings to mind bands like Impiety, Zygoatsis, Deiphago, etc. The band fuses hardcore punk styled yelling with black/death extremity, which I find to be quite an auspicious formula, resulting in a very chaotic sound. The production is totally raw, yet perfectly suites the music. The vocals are absolutely maniacal and oozes pure, unyielding rage. The music is predominantly fast, and constantly bombards the listener with a wall of excessive audio violence that is bound to make poofters duck for cover. Some of my favourite songs include “Muslimassacre” and “Hail Belial.” The excellent cover art by Jenglot Hitam does a good job at representing the music, and depicts an incursion of demonic forces attacking various religious figures. “Hooligans Regiment Of Terror” is a call to arms against posers and religious pigs everywhere, featuring 11 tracks of malicious war metal that is sure to please all maniacs into this style. (HT)

https://totaldeathrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/diabolical-hooligans-regiment-of-terror