Album review: Battlestorm - Summon Decimation (2022)

  Battlestorm - Summon Decimation

Singapore

Trauma Records

 

"Summon Decimation" is the second album from Singapore's Battlestorm and their first proper full-length since 2010's "Demonic Incursion." Although it took the band a while to record a new album, Hades has been busy with a number of other projects, such as Nocturnized, Lycanthropic, Devouror and more recently, Tartarean Vengeance.
 
From the get-go, the music violently erupts with nine tracks of incendiary death/thrash that never lets up. The songs on this album show serious compositional depth, as each track features a series of stabbing riffs, bellowing vocals and a barrage of offensive drums that incessantly pummel the listener with unrelenting fury. The hulky riffs give the songs an intense feel, while the drums are comparable to a machine gun, firing continuously for forty minutes straight.
 
Battlestorm draws some similarities to compatriots Infernal Execrator, but while the former is stylistically closer to black metal, Battlestorm leans more towards death/thrash. References to be made include ‘80s Sepultura, Angelcorpse and of course the mighty Impiety. Essentially, they play a militant mix of black, death and thrash that’s more lethal than mustard gas. They also incorporate melodies which emphasize the hellish feel of the music, including razor-sharp leads that add significant depth to the compositions. I believe the artwork by Jenglot Hitam perfectly captures the essence of the music and gives an excellent visual representation of what to expect from this album.
 
In addition to the explosion of speedy drums and scorching guitar riffs, the music sporadically switches to thrashy mid-tempo parts before the intensity kicks into full gear again. There are enough tempo variations in the songs to keep things interesting, as each transition feels natural and masterfully executed. In my opinion, the production is a little thin, although it does manage to give the guitars a sharp, biting sound. I think with a more powerful production and a better mix, the band could be destined for greatness. The whole release is brutal as hell, and I think the influence of fellow countrymen Abhorer and Impiety shows. I’m starting to think that maybe there’s an extremity contest in Singapore and that to play softer would be considered an act of treason among their peers. Ha!
 
Overall, “Summon Decimation” is a solid piece of work that slaps just as hard as anything the band has done in the past, and I simply can't recommend it enough if you’re a fan of the Southeast Asian scene with bands like Infernal Execrator, Impiety, Zygoatsis and the like. Stand-out tracks: “Exaltation of the Fallen”, “Qhagan”, “Subterranean Titan: The Cataclysmic Abhorer" (Jim)

Album review: Infernal Execrator - Obsolete Ordinance (2018)

Infernal Execrator - Obsolete Ordinance 

Singapore

Pulverised Records (CD/LP) / InCoffin Productions (Cassette)

 

Infernal Execrator is a band that lives up to its name, because their music is certainly infernal in the truest sense of the word. “Obsolete Ordinance” is their second album and the follow-up to 2014’s killer “Ad Infinitum Satanic Adherent.” It took the band four years to record a new album and they clearly did not disappoint, as the whole release is total war from start to finish. The band has kept the same style employed on the previous album, playing militant black metal with a dash of melody.
 
There is no other band that sounds like Infernal Execrator, as they have a style all their own, even though the influence of bands like Immortal, Marduk and Impiety can clearly be heard in their music. The riffing is wild, frenetic tremolo pickings, intensified by hard-hitting drumming that ranges from blazing blasts to muscular thrash beats, but mostly fast, as the drummer unleashes hell on the kit. Seriously, the drummer is fucking good and super capable. The eponymous opener “Infernal Execrator (True Blasphemous Conquest)" opens this record with furious intensity, while the follow-up track “Incinerate Halakhah Theorem” only adds insult to injury with a series of surgical riffs and machine-gun drumming. I swear the band has some of the coolest song titles. They really go out of their way to outdo every other band in terms of extremity, and I’m all for it, but I digress.
 
Many people would use adjectives like “brutal” and “extreme” when describing a band like Infernal Execrator, and while that's certainly true, there's definitely more to their arsenal than simply being heavy. The musicians in the band can play their instruments exceptionally well and it's obvious that the arrangements are well thought out, especially the way the riffs are played, which I have to say is one of the album’s high points. Every fiery riff and guitar part is spot on, backed by vicious shrieks reminiscent of Abbath from Immortal. The vocals are delivered with maximum ferocity on every track throughout the album. In addition, the guitar solos on this album will melt your face off with its power and brutal execution.
 
It’s amazing how the melody on this album offsets the brutality and yet the music never lets up in intensity. A good visual depiction of their sound is to imagine a grenade exploding in your face, followed by a scene of being mauled by a horde of demons as you enter hell. Infernal Execrator is a top-notch act from Singapore and this album solidifies their position as one of the best black metal bands from Southeast Asia. Stand-out tracks: “Incinerate Halakhah Theorem”, “Northern Superiority”, "Obsolete Ordinance" (Jim) 

Album review: Infernal Execrator - Diabolatry (2023)

Infernal Execrator - Diabolatry 

Singapore

Pulverised Records

 

The black metal tyrants from Singapore Infernal Execrator are back with their third album “Diabolatry”, which was released on CD and vinyl by Pulverised Records in December 2023.

From start to finish, “Diabolatry” hits harder than a spiked ballista bullet fired at you from a trebuchet straight out of hell. Every track on this album is ruthlessly executed, precise and showcases the band's superb craftsmanship. I was definitely impressed by the level of ferocity and high-octane aggression that this album exhibits.

Frenzied tremolo riffs are executed with relentless precision while the band maintains the pace and intensity as each drum beat mercilessly pummels the listener to dust like a hellish hammer causing multiple broken bones. The music runs you over like a tank, while Ashir’s martial vocals are spat into the mic like a demonic entity denouncing everything that is holy.

Tracks like “Infernal Storm of Oblivion” show a more mid-paced side to their sound, introducing various dynamics and haunting melodies, while “Marauders Prayers of Profanation” opens with a terrifying scream and simply obliterates everything in its path with all-out viciousness. The riffs are both catchy and blistering, but ultimately very well crafted, which also happens to be one of the focal points of this album. The music strikes a seamless balance between brutality and melody, the way it was always meant to sound, while the album’s excellent production brings out the best of the performance.

After several listens, I can confirm with absolute certainty that “Diabolatry” is the heaviest and best album the band has released to date and another excellent addition to their epic discography. The whole record is packed with incendiary songs that once again show why countries like Singapore, in spite of its small size, are no underdogs when it comes to producing quality extreme metal. Highly recommended. 

Demo review: Tartarean Vengeance - Genosida (2024)

Tartarean Vengeance - Genosida

Singapore

Self-released/Independent

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.  

Demo review: Nortavlaggh.377 – Demo 2021 (2021)

 Nortavlaggh.377 – Demo 2021

Singapore

Independent

Nortavlaggh.377 is a Singapore-based one-man project that has been around since 2004 with only a couple of demos and one split under its belt. Now, I haven’t heard much of their old material, but I can confidently assert that the new demo slays on all fronts. The three tracks featured here are absolutely fierce Black/Death in the purest sense that sometimes borders on War metal.

Whether it's the riffs, the vocals, or the arrangements, everything is exceptionally well-executed, with the music itself inspiring homicidal impulses. It would be silly to compare Nortavlaggh.377 to other Singaporean bands like Impiety, Infernal Execrator, and Abhorer because honestly, this project sounds nothing like those bands, except maybe for the fact that they all exude a similar kind of war-like fury. It is no secret that Singapore produces some pretty extreme bands, and Nortavlaggh.377 just further confirms that fact. The vocals are wartorn screams filled with hate, while the riffs crush wimps with fast tremelo pickings and a black metal-like atmosphere. The drums are fast and merciless, befitting of the style.

Nortavlaggh.377 will satisfy black/death fans who appreciate fast, relentless and violent music, particularly those with an affinity for bands like Diocletian, Witchrist, and Arkhon Infaustus. (HT)

Album review: Vrykolakas - And Vrykolakas Brings Chaos and Destruction (2021)

Vrykolakas – And Vrykolakas Brings Chaos and Destruction

Singapore

Dark Blasphemies Records (CD) / Vidar Records (12’ Vinyl) / Sadist Records (CD/Tape)

I'm not gonna lie, I've only recently came across the name Vrykolakas while accepting promo submissions, and I have to say that the band and the album in question are certainly a nasty surprise considering the level of depth that encompass the songs on this Singaporean band's latest album, "And Vrykolakas Brings Chaos And Destruction".

This whole album is solidly executed death metal through and through with razor-sharp riffing, which brings to mind the best of bands like Morbid Angel, Mortem, Sadistic Intent and even more modern bands like Necros Christos (especially when it comes to the vocals). I have heard a fair share of bands from Singapore, and I can safely assert without a doubt that Vrykolakas is one of the best I have heard from that country.

The new album is a punishing affair of pummeling death metal that blows you away with brutal and sick riffs. It sounds like they put a lot of effort into the construction of the riffs, as the guitarist is basically a damn riff machine. It's incredible to think that the band only consists of three members, considering the finely crafted output. The drummer displays a nice variety of beats and fills and I must be frank, the production suits the music in this case as it gives it a very crisp, clear and powerful sound. Every segment on this album complements each other as the music is exceptionally well-put together and fun to listen to. The vocalist emits a perfect mid-range growl reminiscent of none other than Mors Dalas Ra of Necros Christos. 

The compositions are also quite lengthy, yet never gets dull for a second, as each song is replete with an array of killer riff phrases, devilish vocal lines and top-notch drumming that hits harder than a train at full speed. That being said, if you want to hear one of the best death metal albums of 2021, then do not hesitate to check out this beast. It's worth picking up and I can not recommend it enough. (HT)

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: Lycanthropic - Lycanthropic (2021)

Lycanthropic - Lycanthropic

Singapore

Self-released

Lycanthropic from Singapore is the solo project of Hades (Battlestorm/Nocturnized) and is basically a continuation of his former band, Nocturnized. The album under review is his self-titled debut album.

The music conjures that same apocalyptic atmosphere, which can clearly be heard in how the riffs are played. The bulk of the music is made up of incendiary riffs, fast tempos, and a touch of melancholy in the atmosphere. The project is definitely more emotive compared to Hades’ other band, Battlestorm, which is more militant Death/Thrash. Lycanthropic, on the other hand, sounds like a mix between bands like Impiety and Sargeist. It’s an interesting and highly distinct sound that not many bands can call their own. There’s a variety of elements, from folk-tinged melodies to fast-paced all-out battery. Lycanthropic shines on the track “Gehinnom”, which boasts crushing fast parts and well-structured riffs. The music strikes an auspicious balance between warlike ferocity and more sombre moments. The aforementioned folk elements can be heard prominently on the track “Funeral Hymn.”

Naturally, the project is still in its evolution phase, as this sounds more like an experiment in development than a fully realized manifestation. That being said, the mixture of styles do feel a bit incongruent at times, although I'm sure Hades will find a more fluent balance with their next release. Adding more abrasive elements might not be a bad idea either. Nevertheless, It’s still a solid effort and worth checking out if you enjoy bands such as Nocturnized, Battlestorm, and Impiety. Looking forward to hearing more from Lycanthropic! (HT)