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Noctem - Exilium Review

Band: Noctem

Album: Exilium

Label: Art Gates Records

Genre: Blackened Death Metal

Country: Spain

Release Date: March 3rd, 2014

Bringing forth 10 tracks of Blackened Death Metal is the entity, NOCTEM. Known as Vhert(Drums), Ul(Bass), Exo & Nekros(Guitars) and Beleth(Vocals) - Here are five individuals hailing from SPAIN where a lot of great talent has been coming from as of late. For those music fans who aren’t well exposed to true underground, some might draw a comparison to that of BEHEMOTH. Definitely not a bad thing, since Poland’s top selling group has come a long way in their evolution. But NOCTEM gives you a sense of pride when you find a relatively new and awesome group in the Extreme Underground. And they’ve been at it for a while. With their follow-up to 2011’s OBLIVION, their 3^rd full-length in 5 years, this is EXILIUM(Art Gates Records).

Part NOCTEM’s sound that makes them a great band is their inclusion of Symphonic elements, such as the track “Enuma Elish”(aka “The Seven Tablets of Creation” according to Mesopotamian ideology), used to introduce the album. Two minutes later, you’re blasted into the abyss by Vhert’s drumming(which by-the-way, really drives this album) with the song “Apsu Dethroned”. There’s some crazy riffage going on in this album. The following tracks ”Decrepit Human Kingdom” and “Tiamat’s Crown” are early examples of the Thrash style which is part of NOCTEM’s sound. With hypnotic guitars which swing you back and forth, never really losing that Blackened element. Once again driven by some insane and tight drumming

Halfway into the abyss known as EXILIUM come the tracks “The Rising Horns” and “Halo of Repugnance” where you might think the fall from grace might lighten up and slow down, but it doesn’t. It’s the Symphonic elements which carry you further, or more like drag you down deeper, guiding you through the varied speed and changes in not only throughout the album, but within the songs as well. It has the right balance of Symphonic, Black, Thrash and Death so you never get tired or expect what’s to come. The only real gauge are instrumentals like “Egregor” that have you believing you’re nearing a climactic and catastrophic end, but sets up for a good climax.

The longest tracks on the record are “The Splint of Destinations” with a great intro, with a heavy bass and drum rhythm. And the track for which a video was excellently made(below) “Eidolon”, which in my opinion, feels like it should have be the final closing track. In closing you reach “The Adamantine Doors” which felt a bit abrupt and short, but I guess they wanted to leave the listener wanting more. It’s like your girlfriend that wants to go at it again after you’ve blown your load (on the previous track) and all you want to do is rollover and sleep or make a sandwich, but you have to go for it anyways.

My favorite tracks on this album are “Apsu Dethroned”, “Halo of Repugnance”, "The Splint of Destinations"  and Eidolon". This album contains the beautiful blackened element that should attract the cvlt Black-Metal following. The songs are nicely written with varied tempo and style changes so you never get bored, and not to the point where they’d become a Technical Death Metal group – which is totally fine. Noctem is a Blackened Death Metal group from Spain, with something to prove. Apart from what I felt was a soft finish, I had hoped for another track or 2, because once you take out the opening track and “Egregor”, you’re only left with 8 songs. It’s too early to tell if this one will make my “Best of 2014” list, but it’s strongly considered. I do recommend you listen to their previous work especially their debut full-length, “Divinity”.

Tracklist:

1. Enuma Elish

2. Apsu Dethroned

3. Decrepit Human Kingdom

4. Tiamat’s Crown

5. The Rising of Horns

6. Halo of Repugnance

7. Egregor

8. The Splint of Destinations

9. Eidolon

10. The Adamantine Doors

Total Playing Time: 46:19

Rating:

Hellyeah - Blood for Blood Review

Band: Hellyeah
Album: Blood for Blood
Label: Eleven Seven
Genre: Groove Metal / Heavy Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: June 10th, 2014

Hellyeah's " Blood For Blood" will make you bleed. Music is supposed to make you feel things and this expresses rage, disgust, and compassion. The compassion is what slayed me because it wasn't sappy, poor me shit. The lyrical themes revolve around the suffering we have all experienced from heart break to self destructive behaviors to an abusive childhood. The ills of society are the thread that connects them. Hell is a prominent theme , as well as fire and blood , and pain- lots of it.

Hellyeah comes off as brutal , lead-footed groove metal but with a classic heavy metal underpinning. The percussion pummels , the guitars are down - tuned and buzzed yet have a melodic sensibility that is connected to the drumming by the bass guitar. This is a slick production , creating a wall of thick sound that is evident in all the songs. I did not want to skip over any of the tracks.

" Sangre por Sangre ," the title track en Espanol , is a commentary on the state of the Union so to speak. Democracy is hypocrisy / a dictatorship is what we need / because really what's the fucking difference / so come on in and take a seat / listen to the lines they love to preach / because the truth we would see is fucking senseless. It's a no-lube , ear-fuck kind of song. Of similar note are the tracks " Demons in the Dirt , " "Soul Killer , " Gift , " and " Feast or Famine."

" Cross to Bier ( Cradle of Bones ) " and " DMF " ( Die Motherfucker ) are fist pumping , head banging anthems that I devoured. " Say When " has a fast , relentless pace that is hardcore down to it's roots. Throw in a sweet time change at the end of the verse and I had to lean back in a groove induced ecstasy and say " Fuck Yeah ! "

When it comes to slowing it down , Hellyeah surprised me a bit. I don't like slow , sappy songs or power ballads. They make me puke. That's a personal preference. That means if I hate it , a large part of the population will love it and push it right to the top of the charts. Not so with " Blood for Blood's " three slower tracks. They deal with sensitive issues in a confessional manner but with such finesse I was powerfully moved.

The most evocative song is " Hush . " The chorus is catchy with the drums mimicking the stomp of an angry man's feet and the jangle of the guitars bring to mind the metallic " chink " of a belt buckle. Gray's voice pushes a world of hurt and anger into the words: Hell's where I was born / Hell's where I was raised / This hell is where I am from / And this hell is where I will stay. This verse mixes the subtle with the obvious and is perhaps why the song is so powerful. There is an acoustic , stripped down version at the end that only amplifies the shivering rage and pain in Gray's voice. This song brought me to my knees and that's not easy to do.

" Blood for Blood " stripped away the delusions of brotherhood that Hellyeah tried to shove down our throats with " Band of Brothers." In retrospect , I see the last album's theme in the context of the band as a whole trying to kid themselves that things were working. With the departure of guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob " Zilla" due to headspace problems , and the addition of Kyle Sanders , formerly of Blood Simple , there is a stripped down focus to this new entity. The signature sound is still there , only thicker and richer but Gray's lyrics are no longer political. Passion infused each song as a unit. They were effectively able to plumb emotional depths with an honesty that catalyzes awareness.

Tracklist:
1. Sangre por Sangre (Blood for Blood)
2. Demons in the Dirt
3. Soul Killer
4. Moth
5. Cross to Bier (Cradle of Bones)
6. DMF
7. Gift
8. Hush
9. Say When
10. Black December

Total Playing Time: 39:25

Rating: 

R.A.B. 6-24-14

Allegaeon - Elements of the Infinite Video Review

Band: Allegaeon

Album: Elements of the Infinite

Label: Metal Blade

Genre: Melodic/Technical Death Metal

Country: USA

Release Date: 24/06/2014

Allegaeon made real waves back in 2012 when they released "Formshifter", an album that saw them take classic, thrashy melodic death metal leads and fuse them with the technical metal American's have been so good at. "Elements of the Infinite" offers up more of the same. Which is both good and bad.

Listen and order here: http://www.metalblade.com/allegaeon/

Tracklist: 

1. Threshold of Perception

2. Tyrants of the Terrestrial Exodus

3. Dyson Sphere

4. The Phylogenisis Stretch

5. 1.618

6. Gravimetric Time Dilation

7. Our Cosmic Casket

8. Biomech II

9. Through the Ages of Ice - Otzi's Curse

10. Genocide of Praise - Vals of the Vitruvian Man

Total Playing Time: 58:01

Rating: 

Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun Video Review

Band: Mastodon

Album: Once More 'Round the Sun

Label: Reprise Records

Genre: Progressive/Stoner Metal

Country: USA

Release Date: 24/06/2014

Arguably one of metal's biggest releases of the year, "Once More 'Round the Sun" see's Mastodon push their boat in a slightly different direction to the hunter. Bigger, better production and a mix up in songwriting and styles means this one will stay in rotation. Ultimately though? It does feel safe by Mastodon's standards. Enjoy the review!

Stream the album here (requires itunes): http://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?path=mastodon&at=10l6Xd&ct=1se6mbo3ehb86

Purchase Here: http://www.mastodonrocks.com

Tracklist:

1. Tread Lightly

2. The Motherload

3. High Road

4. Once More 'Round the Sun

5. Chimas at Midnight

6. Asleep in the Deep

7. Feast Your Eyes

8. Aunt Lisa (feat. The Coathangers)

9. Ember City

10. Halloween

11. Diamond in the Witch House (feat. Scott Kelly)

Total Playing Time: 54:08

Rating: 

1.

Arch Enemy - War Eternal Review

Band: Arch Enemy
Album: War Eternal
Label: Century Media
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Release Date: June 4, 2014

The word " awesome" is often thrown about in our little world of metal and rock. So much so that I feel it has lost much of its impact. The word is defined, in the Oxford Dictionary (online) as " Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe". So we have a double meaning, off the bat. Arch Enemy have, in their previous works, been as daunting as they have been awesome. Many of their albums are brilliant while others seem to fall well below the bar. With Arch Enemy's newest release, Eternal War, there is a great deal of trepidation. Not just because of some of their previous below par works but because they have undergone a big change with Gossow relinquishing the microphone to White-Gruz. As always a change in a front woman (or man) can have devastating impact. In this case it also means that Gossow is taking the role as band manager. Will this double change have an awe inspiring impact or will it leave us feeling daunted?

Normally my reviews are a track-by-track rundown but I feel this particular release lends itself to a different format. The reason being that so much hype has surrounded this album both pre and post release that I feel we need to get a feel for the album. After all, we pretty much know how Arch Enemy perform, we know that musically they perform well, at least when they want to. So what's different here, apart from the line-up changes?

The first thing you'll notice about this album, which is somewhat different, is its reliance on symphonic elements. It is book ended by two such tracks and they're great if sombre. The next thing you will notice is the raw, visceral vocals of Alissa White-Gluz. Seriously, I think she may have the edge on Gossow and she can actually sing when she is not growling like some lower dimensional being. Also, her vocals seem to fit nicely with Arch Enemy's new catchier melodies without actually becoming too fluffy. Indeed tracks such as "Never Forgive, Never Forget" have some great galloping riffs, almost as if the band have become some uber raw and heavy Maiden.
 Another new comer to the fold is guitarist Nick Cordle, formerly of Arsis. Cordle provides a stellar performance throughout with utterly catchy riffage and some scorching solos.
 The production through the album is incredibly polished. Too polished in places, especially for a band in this genre but it definitely doesn't detract from the death metal elements. Given that, as mentioned before, the album is classically tinged with a lot of catchy moments. This may rankle with death metal purists, even those who prefer the melodic side of things but it works nicely. One area I feel does detract from this are the moments of, dare I say, electronica, which set to confuse the whole mish-mash.
 That being said there are still plenty of moments of aggression, "Never Forget" being a case in point and what would any album be without a blast beat inducing master like Daniel Erlandsson on the tubs?
 Arch Enemy also enter a somewhat cinematic landscape with "Time Is Black", which feels unlike any other Arch Enemy track I can think of but certainly works well here. Perhaps a sign of pastures new, so to speak.
 As mentioned there are some weak moments on the album, the aforementioned electronica feel but standout moments are certainly present in tracks such as "War eternal", " As The Pages Burn" and "Stolen Life". The latter providing some classic riffage.

But, when it comes down to brass-tacks is this really an Arch Enemy album? Personally I feel that 'hell yeah!'. It's as familiar in parts as any of their best work but there are some new elements such as the more catchier riffs and melodies which only help to reinforce the sense of a new beginning. New guitarist and new vocalist both provide stellar moments, especially vocalist White-Gruz is. She can certainly stand up to Gossow's legacy and bring her own feel to the band and it's the latter which I feel will ensure Arch Enemies progress in the future and defend against stagnation, which, let's face it, has been a problem for them of late. This album is certainly not their best but it is a step in the right direction and maybe Gossow will breathe as much new life into the band as their manager as she did when she took over the microphone in the early 2000's.

My rating of this album reflects both the material and the promise I feel is present in their new direction

A cracking 9 out of 10


Tracklist:
1.Tempore Nihil Sanat (Prelude in F Minor)
2. Never Forgive, Never Forget
3.War Eternal
4. As The Pages Burn
5. No More Regrets
6. You Will Know My Name
7. Graveyard Of Dreams (Instrumental)
8. Stolen Life
9. Time Is Black
10. On And On
11. Avalanche
12. Down To Nothing
13. Not Long For This World (Instrumental)

Total Playing Time: 50:32

Rating:

Septicflesh - Titan Video Review

Band: Septicflesh
Album: Titan
Label: Prosthetic Records
Genre: Symphonic Death Metal
Country: Greece
Release Date: 20th June 2014

Greece's premier metal export Septicflesh return with their first new album in 3 years entitled "Titan". Following up three amazing albums in "Sumerian Demons", "Communion" and "The Great Mass" was always going to be hard, so does this one make the cut? Find out below!

Stream the album here: http://metalasfuck.net/zine/news/2014/septicflesh-listen-their-new-album-here-full
Purchase from Prosthetic: http://store.prostheticrecords.com/bands/septicflesh

Tracklist:
1. War in Heaven
2. Burn
3. Order of Dracul
4. Prototype
5. Dogma
6. Prometheus
7. Titan
8. Confessions of a Serial Killer
9. Ground Zero
10. The First Immortal

Total Playing Time: 45:26

Rating: 

Matt Roe