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Friday, April 23, 2004
"'Mirrorworlds' by Eucharist"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 17, 2004 A.D.
This band has a well-deserved reputation for greatness. Eucharist plays Melodic Swedish Death Metal that is monumental. The 2003 re-issue of their classic opus, "Mirrorworlds" [The End/Regain Records], is a must for any Death Metal collection. Sharp guitars, fierce vocal barrages, and precision brutality are just a few of the reasons why this release is such an epic.
Ferocious, hellish growls propel an extremely tight instrumental assault. Fiery and caustic, the hyperkinetic rhythms bleed groove. It's insane, but very good. Eucharist has a chaotic glory that is truly unrivalled.
The best of these eviscerating cuts includes the explosive fury of "Bloodred Stars," "Mirrorworlds," the psychotic power of "With The Sun," and "Dissolving." Eucharist is fierce, yet amazingly melodic.
In summary, this release is a classic. And Eucharist is still as awe-inspiring as ever. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Divine Souls, Hypocrisy, In Flames,
Gardenian, Darkane, Carnal Forge,
Carcass, Soilwork, Soulless, Centinex,
Arch Enemy, Anata, Pestilence, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 9:01 AM
Thursday, April 22, 2004
"'Insanity' by Legen Beltza"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 21, 2004 A.D.
From the lesser known genre of Armageddon Thrash is spawned the mighty Legen Beltza. Their aptly titled 2003 opus, "Insanity" [Crash Music, Inc.], is a refreshing tangent into the more classic Speed Metal milieu ala Slayer. Legen Beltza is precision violence executed with devastating intent.
The guitars are throbbing slabs of molten power. The sound is thick-powerful drumming, weighty guitars with ample grooves and skill, and clean yells with a D.I.Y. charm highlighted by low-intensity screams (and the rare growled vocal). It's progressive yet very Old School. Legen Beltza is extreme with a classic, aggressive feel.
The best of these vicious numbers includes the retro-angst assault of "Eternal Life," "Nuclear Winter," "Hate," "Insanity," the fiery hostility of "Black Star," and the frenzied glory of "Klaustrophobia." Legen Beltza is simple aggression at its finest....
Overall, Legen Beltza is a good example of the glory of Armageddon Thrash. The classics never die.... Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Slayer, Oblivion, Testament, Anthrax,
Anacrusis, Powermad, Exodus, Prong,
Death, Massacre, Deceased, D.R.I.,
Deathcore, Hallow's Eve, Megedeth,
Sacred Reich, Sanctuary, Adversion,
Flotsam & Jetsam, Metal Church,
Armored Saint, Forced Entry, Body Count,
Carcass, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 5:52 PM
"'Since the Day All Came Down' by Insomnium"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 22, 2004 A.D.
Extremely dark and melodic, Insomnium adds an interesting twist to the Melodic Death Metal genre. Their 2004 opus, "Since the Day All Came Down" [Candlelight Records], fuses eclectic elements with Death Metal. It's diverse, powerful, and extremely sublime.
Behold the beauty of darkness....
Insomnium has a radiant quality that surpasses mere heaviness-it transcends to a level of stark, poetic brutality. Combining an utter melodiousness with Gothic elements and Death Metal, Insomnium has created an enthralling work. Piano, keyboards, acoustic and electric instrumentation beautifully couple in harmonious dread. The mid-range, growled vocals crown this emotive style in perfect melancholy.
Insomnium is like witnessing the graceful downfall of the ever dying sun.
Like the last rays of light.... The best of these powerful tracks includes "Death Walked The Earth," the down ode "Under The Plaintive Sky," "Resonance," the manic angst of "The Moment Of Reckoning," and the distraught intensity of "Bereavement" (my favorite cut). Insomnium is a tenebrous wonder.
In summary, Insomnium has created one of the most stunning releases of 2004. It's beautiful, dark, and totally addictive. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Eucharist, In Flames, Gardenian,
Hypocrisy, Pyogenesis, Divine Souls,
Psychotogen, Sentenced, Entwine, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 4:55 PM
"'Scars Of The Crucifix' by Deicide"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 22, 2004 A.D.
The ever controversial Black/Death Metal act Deicide has their moments, and this is one of them. Their 2004 opus, "Scars Of The Crucifix" [Earache Records], is a razor-sharp package of high-intensity aggression bristling with violent energy. It's a frenetic, insane ride.
Let the blast-beats begin....
Regardless of their views, they make some great Death Metal. Combining Blackened Thrash and Florida Style Death Metal, Deicide fuses speed, power, and groove-dredging aggression. This is pure, apocalyptic hostility unleashed. Guttural growls are interlaced hellish shrieks. (The lyrics are offensive...so you have been warned.)
Expect nothing less than full-speed, blasting aggression here. It's fast, fast, fast....
The best of these gut-wrenching cuts includes the hyperkinetic "Scars Of The Crucifix," the skull-shattering groove of "From Darkness Come," "Enchanted Nightmare," and "When Heaven Burns." Deicide has a merciless, glimmering hostility to their sound.
Overall, this is one fiery opus. It may not be for the beginning listener of Deicide, but long time fans will be well pleased. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Fog, Cradle Of Filth, Kult Ov Azazel,
Sepultura, Throcult, Horrified, Order
From Chaos, Mayhem, Naglfar, Marduk,
Emperor, Venom, Death, Believer, Throes
Of Dawn, Aborym, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 1:17 PM
"'The Arsonist And The Architect' by Luddite Clone"
by
Bill Vogel III
Thursday, April 22, 2004 A.D.
Dark realizations are the best...even better than epiphanies. Such was hearing Luddite Clone for the first time, and they grow ever better with every dose. They are essential brutality, and their debut 2000 release "The Arsonist And The Architect" [Relapse Records] is easily one of the BEST of the Year as well.
Luddite Clone is a beautiful disaster in action and intensity. Their sound verges the fiercest qualities of Death Metal, Hardcore, Grind, Metalcore, and Sludgecore. Mixing distortion, vicious growls, and heavy Psychedelic, sludgy guitars in tight and loopy rhythms is this New Jersey act's style of din. They obliterate the extremities of aggression as they redefine fuzzy Hardcore power with a psychotic's jagged, bloodstained genius.
Luddite Clone is Psychedelic Sludge Death Metalcore at its finest and fiercest. The growls are a vicious barrage of vocal deconstructionism, mixing with fiery, distortion drenched guitars with a guttural roar and bestial savagery. Humorous, yet wicked spoken word samples open several cuts, offsetting the grinding, brutal rhythms and aggressive, artful melodies.
Frenzied tempos augment the din, leaving beauty juxtaposed against pure aggression. The effect is sheer, brilliant darkness. All of the cuts are excellent, but my 3 favorites are the frenetic "Circle Template," the savage "Oratory Of The Jigsaw" (which is my favorite), and the title track as well.
Overall, this is a soul-crushing, mind sharpening opus that will be remembered as a monumental piece of brutal beauty. It is a definitive work by the BEST NEW BAND of 2000. Forget the trendy junk, and get angry with Luddite Clone. After all, anger is a gift. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Indecision, Hatebreed, Dim Mak, Anoxia, Blood For
Blood, Dillinger Escape Plan, Turmoil, Today Is The
Day, Earth Crisis, Haste, Scar Culture, Silverstein,
Darkest Hour, Acid Bath, Atreyu, Dead To Fall, A18,
God Forbid, Lungbrush, Candiria, Closer Than Kin,
Agony Scene, Training For Utopia, Dying Fetus, Zao,
Rotten Sound, Napalm Death, Godflesh, Figure Four,
Pig Destroyer, Skinless, Agoraphobic Nosebleed,
Nocturnus, Unseen Terror, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Provided courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
Copyright 2004.
W.B. Vogel III 9:40 AM
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
"'Suffering The Loss' by Figure Four"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 20, 2004 A.D.
Metalcore is one of the fastest progressive, exceedingly dynamic styles of Metal music. A great new band from this genre is Figure Four. Their blistering 2003 opus, "Suffering The Loss" [Tooth & Nail Records], is a solid work of visceral aggression. With massive, obliterating grooves and explosive rhythms, Figure Four leaves a scorched earth testimonial in their trail.
Their Hardcore roots shine through the sheer brutality. Guttural, growled vocals crown in eloquent thorns the fiery guitars and frenzied drums. Figure Four is utterly, beautifully catastrophic.
The best of these rampaging odes includes "Suffocation," the primal glory of "Poison In Me," "The Loss," "Hear My Words," "Carried Away," and the bruising radiance of "Miles Away." Figure Four was built to destroy, and they do it brilliantly.
In summary, Figure Four is insanely cool. Metalcore fans will be well pleased with "Suffering The Loss." Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Hatebreed, Agony Scene, All Out War,
Zao, Earth Crisis, Norma Jean, Atreyu,
Demon Hunter, Living Sacrifice, A18,
Buried Alive, Acid Bath, As I Lay Dying,
Lungbrush, Hate Theory, Closer Than Kin,
Sworn Enemy, Freya, Dead To Fall, Haste,
Darkest Hour, Scar Culture, How It Ends,
If Hope Dies, Silverstein, Candiria,
Dead Horse, Luddite Clone, All Else
Failed, Between The Buried And Me, Today
Is The Day, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 11:14 AM
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
"'Violence, Blasphemy, Sodomy' by Deathwitch"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 16, 2004 A.D.
There is nothing quite like pure aggression, and Deathwitch is all about aggression. Their 2004 opus of blunt force brilliance, titled "Violence, Blasphemy, Sodomy" [Wicked World Records], is an old school Death Metal with enough hook to gut a brontosaurus. Deathwitch is highly-skilled extremity.
With a relentless, fiery assault, Deathwitch charges forward. Super tight, Thrash guitars form the skeleton of their ferocious sound. Crushing rhythms, frenetic and dense, give it added power. Raspy growls mix with guttural ones, unleashing utter mayhem. Deathwitch doesn't do quiet time.
The best of these insane beasts includes the fierce "Flamethrower Carnival," "Total Morbid," the chaotic glory of "Worthless Scum," and the aptly titled "Death Maniac." Deathwitch is primal, pristine hostility....
Overall, Deathwitch takes no prisoners and offers no mercy. So, get ready for Hell. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Usurper, Death, Massacre, Carnage,
Anata, Pestilence, Deceased, Sadus,
Obituary, Malevolent Creation, Konkhra,
Entombed, Atrocity, Deicide, Diabolic,
Centinex, Monstrosity, Vader, Samael,
Sepultura, Under Threat, Pestilence,
Soulless, Hedfirst, Psychotogen, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 1:05 PM
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