Album review: Adarrak - Ex Oriente Lux (2021)

Adarrak - Ex Oriente Lux 

Singapore

Satanath Records

Adarrak is an international trio based in Singapore with members hailing from countries such as Spain, Colombia and Singapore. The band plays Death Metal and Ex Oriente Lux is their debut album, released earlier this year by Satanath Records.

The music on Adarrak's debut album is modern death metal through and through, including the fact that the production is as clean as a whistle, but that seems to work in their favour because that's what they were going for. Just like the previous band I reviewed, I am not a huge fan of this clean sounding production and modern death metal, including the clean vocals on some of the songs. It sounds like something taken from the Roadrunner roster, like Trivium. I don't like Trivium. Anyway, on the plus side: The music is well crafted and it definitely sounds like these guys know how to play their instruments, as each track is peppered with crunchy instrumental parts and brain-melting progressive leads. The vocalist gives off a growl that falls somewhere between metalcore and death metal, which is not surprising considering he previously sang in a metalcore band. It's fine, although I generally prefer different growls. If you like melodic death metal with clear production and prog influences, you should definitely give this band a listen, because if I am honest, the music is good, it's just not something I generally listen to. “Ex Oriente Lux” can be obtained through Satanath Records on CD. (HT)

Album review: Conceived By Hate - Putrid Realms Of The Occult (2020)

 

Conceived By Hate - Putrid Realms Of The Occult

El Salvador

Satanath Records

What we have here is a band that has been smashing skulls since 2003. In the beginning, the band played melodic death/thrash with old-school tendencies, which was quite different from what is reflected here – their third and latest album called “Putrid Realms Of The Occult.”

There is a slight inclination towards black metal on this album, at least with the vocal parts and on opener, "Nihilistic Ecstasy," although it is true that on some songs the band opts for a style quite similar to what they were doing earlier in their career. The only original member left is Jorge Montesino (better known as Morbid) who has been with the band since its inception. Jorge is also responsible for the vocals, guitars, and bass for this production along with Iosif Najarro (drums) who formed part of Conceived By Hate from 2013 to 2018, but was invited as a session musician for this album. He is a renowned drummer in the Salvadoran scene for being involved with bands such as Disorder, Arcane, Invocation of Death, and Morbid Stench. Today Iosif is officially back in the band, and was part of the recent split with Chile’s Soulrot.

Morbid's screams on this album suggest that he was possessed by some demonic entity, as they are fierce and absolutely aggressive. The distortion of the guitars remind me of that classic Swedish sound. I even think that the influence towards this style is remarkable, since it has a bit of that melodic, melancholic vibe, which makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a desecrated graveyard. All songs are shrouded in a distinctly mournful and apocalyptic atmosphere. Something that I must criticize a bit is the lack of keyboards, since it was utilized more on previous recordings and gave the band more personality. Here they make up for it with the final theme of the album, which is a relaxing instrumental to subdue the fury that manifests throughout the album. Recommended! (Catacombs Walker)

Album review: Skjult - Lucifer Hominum Salvator (2020)

Skjult - Lucifer Hominum Salvator

Cuba

Satanath Records

Cuba is not a country I know much about in regards to its metal history, although I have managed to hear a number of killer bands from there, such as Narbeleth (now situated in Spain), From the Graves, Infector, Sectarium, Combat Noise, and now, Skjult from Havana. (Most of the good ones hail from the country's capital, Havana) “Lucifer Hominum Salvator” is the band's third album, and was released by Satanath Records.

Skjult play a rather pristine and straightforward black metal that puts a lot of emphasis on atmosphere. It's not groundbreaking by any means, but it's a formula that works. The fact that this is a one-man project is quite impressive; the music is very well-crafted and manages to easily draw the listener in. Conspirator, the sole individual behind the music, demonstrates a knack for excellent craftsmanship. The songs are quite lengthy, yet coherent, as each instrument is skillfully arranged and integrated into the mix.

There are definitely some similarities to the Scandinavian school of black metal, with the aggressive vocals laid atop a mountain of freezing cold riffs, including a barrage of straightforward drums and blasts. The drums aren’t overly technical, but they’re on point and clearly well-played considering that Conspirator handled all the instruments. The guitars definitely take center stage here, as each song is peppered with somber, immaculate riffs that evoke an atmosphere of pure anti-cosmic darkness.

The style employed on this album is very much a tried and tested formula that bears similarities to bands such as Watain, Dissection and Urgehal. The lack of originality is not necessarily a problem considering how well composed the material is, including the fact that the album boasts an excellent production that allows the instruments to shine. The band also seems to be quite prolific, as “Lucifer Hominum Salvator” is Skjult's third full-length in just four years.

All in all, Skjult's third album is an excellent effort and should not be overlooked by fans of the genre, especially if you’re curious to hear some truly dark and morbid black metal from a country like Cuba, which isn’t exactly known for its metal scene. Recommended. (Jim)

Album review: Black Crown - Caverns of Thantifaxath (2020)

 

Black Crown - Caverns of Thantifaxath (2020)

USA

Sathanath Records

Black Crown is the sinister manifestation conjured by The Mountain VVitch (ex-Necrophagia, Haxxan) and "Caverns of Thantifaxath" is their debut album, joint-released between Satanath Records, More Hate Productions, and The End Of Time Records. The duo offers a lethal slab of cold, belligerent black metal that aims to corrupt the mind with a corrosive atmosphere and vocals replete with spite. The themes all pertain to the occult, as Thantifaxath literally means “Great Ghoul” and is known to be one of the pathways and tunnels of Set. The band does a good job at transmitting those abysmal energies; however, I feel that a rawer sound would have benefited the music more, as I find the album's production a little too clean and polished for my liking. Nevertheless, there's still some enjoyable moments to be found here, with an atmosphere and sound that brings to mind bands like Thorns, Temple of The Maggot, Carpathian Forest, etc. The pace of the album varies from mid to fast, with some exceedingly heavy riffs scattered throughout. I'm not a big fan of the high-pitched vocals, although I can tolerate them. Overall, "Caverns of Thantifaxath" is a passable entry featuring 9 paeans of blasphemous metal to satiate the morbid mind. (HT)

https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat275-black-crown-caverns-of-thantifaxath-2020

Album review: Carnosus - Dogma of The Deceased (2020)

 

Carnosus - Dogma of The Deceased (2020)

Sweden

Satanath Records

Hailing from Örebro, Sweden, Carnosus presents their debut album, “Dogma of the Deceased,” released by Russia's Satanath records. Melodic death metal does not draw me in easily, but Carnosus is an exception: their high-quality music is a seamless balance of melody, technique, and heaviness. Each song is packed to the brim with excellent riffs, incorporating some neoclassical influence. This genre benefits from proper production to stand out, and that's exactly what the band has opted for by teaming up with Fredrik Nordström (At The Gates, Dark Tranquility, Lord Belial, etc.) and Robert Kukla to record “Dogma of the Deceased.” Musically, they share some idiomatic traits with bands like Sacramentum, At The Gates, The Crown, etc., mixed with their own unique sound that also borrows from progressive metal and thrash. The overall result is something to behold, with songs that bleed passion and superb songwriting and musicianship, favouring substance and atmosphere over superfluous technicality. “Dogma of the Deceased” boasts an excellent production, a full sound that really brings out the best in the band and its individual members. The music also doesn't border on sounding plastic, retaining a certain rawness and pugnacious edge that gives the music just the right amount of punch to make them stand out. Check them out if you enjoy good melodic death metal. For fans of Anata, Sarcasm, and Arsis. (HT)

https://carnosus.bandcamp.com/album/dogma-of-the-deceased