Immolation - Providence (2011)

EP, Scion A/V
October 11th, 2011

Genre: Death Metal
Region: USA

New EP making the rounds for free next week officially but here it is early. They played the first three tracks on this EP the other night and man are they sick. More Immolation is always welcome.

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Morbosidad / Witchrist - Split (2011)

Split, Hells Headbangers Records
September 28th, 2011

Genre: Death Metal
Region: USA / New Zealand

Another new and wicked 7" split, this time between Morbosidad and Witchrist giving up two tracks from each.

Morbosidad's side are quick blasts of thrashy death metal they're known for. Witchrist's side (both titled in arabic I think, don't know the actual titles) is a taste of what their next album "The Grand Tormentor" will sound like — which is more abrasive, dark and ugly blackened death. Enjoy.

EDIT: New links, proper speed.

EDIT: New 320 better rip (update 12/10/2011).

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Cruciamentum / Vasaeleth - Eroding Chaos Unto Ascendant Flesh (2011)

Split, Hells Headbangers Records
September 28th, 2011

Genre: Death Metal
Region: UK/USA

Newest shit from UK's Cruciamentum and USA's Vasaeleth in the form of a 7" split. Two extremely dirty tracks delivering the churning blackened maelstrom of death metal you'd expect — it's just great. Stop reading and start listening.

EDIT 1: Uploaded a better rip of the Cruciamentum side, apparently it was clipped and not proper speed. Apologies.
EDIT 2: New 320 rip (updated 12/10/2011).

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Capricorns - Capricorns (2004)

EP, Rise Above Records
October 24th, 2004

Genre: Sludge
Region: U.K.

While I enjoy their full lengths I come back to this self-titled EP far more often then both of them. I just find the formula here to be better without the more progressive groovy elements of 'River, Bear Your Bones' and 'Ruder Forms Survive'; it leaves more room for simpler but far more crushing riffs, bigger atmosphere, and subtle melodic touches with a stoner tint. The bass is huge, and despite Capricorns' short career after this being instrumental there is good use gruff vocals on the final track that mesh perfectly with the rest of their sound. It's fairly upbeat as well without detracting from how wonderfully heavy everything is.

The whole EP amounts to three very memorable tracks which take a simpler route, creating some perfect sludge. Highly recommended especially for fans of Russian Circles or Men in Search of the Perfect Weapon.

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Evoken - Antithesis of Light (2005)

Funeral Doom

USA

This is a repost from awhile back. (Actually, I think I posted it in another blog.) I have been listening to this again. I think it's a gem that shouldn't go unnoticed. Being Funeral Doom you should expect lots of slow riffs, chilling sounds and a dark atmosphere. You can compare this to the more popular bands of the genre, like Esoteric and even Ahab. When I draw the comparisons from Ahab, Ahab has a lot of let's say...

"Riffy hook moments."

Meaning, in some songs they play riffs where you can almost bob your head to. For example. Evoken have a lot of moments like that as well. Especially in songs like "In Solitary Ruin" and the title track. These moments change the pace from gloomy despair to crushing fear.

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P.H.O.B.O.S. - Anœdipal (2008)

Full Length, Megaton Mass
2008

Genre: Industrial Doom Metal
Region: France

P.H.O.B.O.S. have a new album coming out soon called "Atonal Hypermnesia" which should be a nice treat no doubt. Until then this is their second full length delivering more dark, disturbing and slow industrial heaviness.

Again their sound is quite unique — P.H.O.B.O.S. really are like a combination of The Amenta or Godflesh with Khanate, and how could that not be excellent? A bleak, spacey atmosphere blankets the winding and deliberate riffs, black metal tinged vocals and the foundation of trudging industrial drumming. Most of the 6 tracks end in some ambient and industrial loops/samples and all of them hit the 8-9 minute mark. Anœdipal is devastating and hypnotic and like Tectonics a bit challenging, though a little less varied (it feels and flows much like a concept album). Don't pass it up.

In 320. (There's a good chance this will get taken down at some point from the looks of how scarce links are for this album around the net).

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Absu - Abzu (2011)

Full Length, Candlelight Records
October 12th, 2011

Genre: Blackened Thrash/Black Metal
Region: USA

Abzu was flying low on my radar for most of the year despite the fact I'm a big Absu fan. I believe this is the second in a 'trilogy', the next being Apsu, and it also might be their first album where Kris Verwimp did not make the cover. The last album wasn't terrible but it felt a little bland and unfocused to me; even with Proscriptor leading everything, Shafteil and Equitant leaving definitely had an impact on song writing. Also following an album like Tara is difficult regardless of all the injuries and line-up changes. So I was a bit apprehensive when I read about their newest record. Fortunately my fears were not confirmed. Abzu is a little different from their previous work but very enjoyable all the way through, and a bit on the short side for an Absu release (35 minutes, 6 tracks).

The two current members definitely flow well with Proscriptor (who's still a beast on drums), there's a clear direction and overall the writing is much better and focused than their last album. Their sound has a very subtle tint of modern black metal spread throughout as well — of course they're still all about blazing riffs, ridiculous screams and technical/quirky drumming but there's a different atmosphere from their past work.

Proscriptor is still quick and odd, splitting the vocal duties with bassist and still showing off his high pitched screams and hoarse snarls. He's great as always. Guitar work is much more memorable than it was on Absu for me while still revolving around their classic formula. They throw in a few twisted riffs which is a nice spice to the thrashy foundation that work perfectly with what they're laying down. There's a 14 minute closing track consisting of six separate parts which could've been split into three tracks and worked just as well in my opinion, but it isn't detrimental. All parts are solid and work fine together.

Overall it's a great release and certainly a step up from their previous album, taking what makes Absu unique and subtly moving their sound forward. Not pants-shitting like Tara or In The Eyes of Ioldanach but a pleasant surprise. Recommended. You can listen to it here.

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Thank You

Recently Equivoke reached 100 followers and while it's a small number compared to the vast jungle of popular blogs out there, I wanted to recognize this and express my sincere thanks and appreciation for following our blog as well as supporting hard-working bands whose material we post here.

Cheers and thank you.

In celebration of this, here's a track off the upcoming Antediluvian album "Through The Cervix Of Hawwah" titled "Scions Of Ha Nachash (Spectre Of The Burning Valley)" in 320:

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EDIT: This is Sagi, instead of making another "thank you" post I'm going to use Sanakan's if he doesn't mind. It was a slow crawl but we finally made it 100 followers. When I started the blog in '09 I didn't think it would ever happen. This blog at first was just me posting music I enjoy with no real motive, and look at it now! I wasn't until I invited a few friends to come contribute when this blog started to actually take off. Ecspecially Sanakan, who has been the most active member. So I thank him the most, if it wasn't for him this blog wouldn't be where it is today, even having a label want us to post an album for them. And thank you all for supporting us dirty pirates, I know we're probably just another music blog on the internet but I mean it. Thank you again.

ANYWAY

To reward you I suppose, the least I can do. I give you one of my high tier death metal albums. I picked up the album in a record store called "Peaches" (I think.) when I was on vacation in New Orleans. And in FLAC too!

Death - The Sound of Perseverance

People consider it to be the runt of the bunch but fuck them I say. I finally got the opportunity to buy it. Enjoy this album from the classic band that was Death!

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Various - Have a Nice Life Covers (2011)

Full Length, Unknown/Unofficial
September, 2011































Genre: Shoegaze/Post-Punk/Experimental/Pop
Region: Various

This interesting compilation album has been in the works under the radar for a little while and I've only heard pieces of it until now. Originally compiled here, nine tracks consisting of covers and variations on Have a Nice Life's 2008 album "Deathconsciousness", a few from EPs, etc. done by Sun Devoured Earth, Airs, Seth Belier, Aceta, Wahlheim and Mackenzie. Some great interpretations of heavy tracks from a brilliant album.

1. Trespassers W, covered by Sun Devoured Earth

2. Woe Unto Us, covered by Airs

3. I Don’t Love, covered by Seth Beiler

4. Earthmover, covered by Aceta

5. Deep, Deep, covered by Wahlheim

6. Bloodhail, covered by Sun Devoured Earth

7. There Is No Food, covered by Sun Devoured Earth

8. Variations on the Theme from Top Gun, covered by Airs

9. I Don’t Love, covered by Mackenzie

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Thantifaxath - Thantifaxath (2011)

Demo, Dark Descent Records
May 27th, 2011

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Canada

Thantifaxath were one of the openers for Wolves in the Throne Room and Thou here in Toronto not long ago. I found out that they share members with Sortilegia and signed to Dark Descent Records who have a great lineup already. I listened to the demo before seeing them and it impressed me as the overall sound I expected to be similar to the more well known atmospheric black metal groups (as that's what they are lumped into), but what I experienced was much different. Not ground-breakingly innovative but definitely not your standard black metal act. Thantifaxath have found their own sound amongst the growing swath of bands in the genre and are worth your time.

This is their first release (limited cassette and soon 7") showcasing a sound straddling orthodox black metal such as Taake and that laid down by Deathspell Omega in some aspects; though certainly not as bizarrely dissonant and in briefer shots. There are elements of atmospheric black metal peppered throughout to be sure but the structure is more along traditional lines and there are no sustained, reverb coated riffs. It's a short release: all 4 tracks, aside from the haunting choir-like intro, span between four and five minutes of well written material that is both memorable and unique. Relentless stormy guitar work which leans from chaotic to depressive and melodic, bass riffs that don't get lost in the mix, howling vocals, etc. — a very promising demo no doubt.

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