Sabrewulf - Prophecy (2011)

EP, Independent
November 25th, 2011

Genre: Hardcore/Sludge
Region: USA

A young hardcore/sludge band from Texas sent this in and I quite enjoy it, I'm always up for some low and slow dark hardcore.

Sabrewulf is some really doomy shit kind of reminiscent of Minus the Herd-era Ion Dissonance in some ways (low tuned and chunky) but slower and without the emphasis on technicality/breakdowns, adding some crusty-sludge elements. It's simple, slow, and menacing.

Prophecy starts of with a quiet clean riff on Life in the Echo that leads into feedback and chunky opens with heavy, slow pounds of the drums. The next song is where we get a true feel for the tenebrous, depressive nature of the EP. 

Down-tuned, beefy, dark riffs creep and stumble all over the remainder of the album, only breaking the slow pace to hit a brief moment of mid-paced hardcore sections (as in "The Nameless Dead") then falling back into the dissonant slabs. Tracks like "Black House" and "Marked for Death" have the deliberate bendy slides and tasty moments of discordant open strings that I really fucking like. Some gruff and ugly vocals accompany the heavy guitars and slow percussion. The EP ends on the self-titled track with then same clean riff it opened with neatly sealing the it in an ominous fashion.

Recommended for dark hardcore enthusiasts. You can listen to and download the EP on their bandcamp page and follow them here.

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Rites of Darkness III Festival

— RITES OF DARKNESS III — 

A HALF-ASSED REVIEW THAT NO ONE WILL CARE ABOUT

Early Monday morning on December 12th, a mere 4 hours after the final band left the stage at Backstage Live in San Antonio, Texas I was on a flight back to Toronto; sleep deprived, sore and totally destroyed from 5 days of head-crushing metal.

There wasn't much activity on Equivoke during the past week and that's because I was busy having a shit ton of fun down in Texas at the Rites of Darkness III festival. Despite the bitching an whining in the weeks and days leading up to it (some of it justified) the show was definitely one I would've regretted missing even if Evoken/Funebrarum/Disma/Dead Congregation/Pagan Altar/etc. didn't make it in the end — there was ample amounts of brilliant bands that made the trip absolutely worth it. It may have been too much for a 3 day fest if the 11+ bands that dropped off had been able to show up since even without them shows went pretty late (10 hour days man, I barely got any sleep).

So yes this post is going to be a lazy review of the fest and a shameless plug of my youtube shit. Skip it if you don't care, I won't make a habit out of these kinds of posts I assure you and I'll get back to posting albums soon.

Cruciamentum - Engulfed In Desolation (2011)

EP, Nuclear Winter Records
November 25, 2011

Genre: Death Metal
Region: UK

Latest release from the killer group of English maniacs Cruciamentum.

Four tracks of excellent death metal that will rip a hole in your face continuing from the split with Vasaeleth and their insane demo "Convocation of Crawling Chaos". These guys are really tight live too, blew me away at Rites of Darkness III a few days ago and played the last two tracks from this beauty (I'll have video of their whole set up pretty soon). Mounds of delicious, evil riffs to be consumed right here.

Don't know when this will go up for sale outside of live shows but I'll post a link when I find out. Enjoy.

EDIT: For now you can get it at Nuclear Winter Records if you're in Europe.

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Grave Upheaval / Encoffination - Split (2011)

Split, Psychedelic Lotus Order
November 11th, 2011

Genre: Death/Doom Metal
Region: Australia / USA

A fucking oppressive, crushingly dark release. Would you expect anything less from these bestial, gloom-ridden acts?

This is the second release for Grave Upheaval (who I'll be seeing at Rites of Darkness III in a few days) and the first split for Encoffination, released just before their recent somber, crawling and terrifying second full length "O' Hell, Shine In Thy Whited Sepulchres".

I think you all know what lies within this split: unbearable darkness and suffering in sonic form. Encoffination open with "Inurnment of Fleshless Disembodied Remains", their classic use of chiming cathedral bells emanating throughout the track followed by a slow build of feedback and a quick sample dragging you into a down-tuned apocalypse. If you love their recent release this will be greatly satisfying. Grave Upheaval's untitled track follows with a muffled and turbulent hatefilled atmosphere. The riffs are pitch black and unbearably heavy, with grievously haunting rasps permeating the spiraling ferocity. This track has a huge low end as well — it will shake your place without question.

A truly perfect pairing of bands on this release. It couldn't be more appropriate. Highly recommended, do not pass this up. It's limited to 250 copies on vinyl from various places (I got mine from Dark Descent Records but it looks like they're out). This is a vinyl rip, any problems let me know.

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Begrime Exemious / Nuclearhammer - Heretical Serpent Cult (2011)

Split, Dark Descent Records
November 15th, 2011

Genre: Black Metal/Death Metal
Region: Canada

Here we have the latest outings recently released on Dark Descent Records of two excellent Canadian metal bands, one black metal, one death metal and both wicked. Six tracks from each band, with three covers on Nuclearhammer's side (Razor, Slaughter, Discharge) and one from Begrime Exemious (Black Sabbath).

If you've heard either of these bands you know what to expect:  Nuclearhammer is chaotic and dark coming at you in quick, ugly bursts pausing only once in the first track for a slow and heavy descent before picking back up into frenzied, tumultuous riffs. Begrimes Exemious is ruthless, dirty death metal blasting your face with tangled, semi-angular riffs and varied snarled and shrieked vocals. Both offerings continue to push traditional styles of their respective genres building well on their past outputs (especially Begrime Exemious) with their own abrasive twist, fast paced with no compromises.

Good shit from both groups. You can hear the Begrime Exemeious side on their bandcamp page.

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Nux Vomica - Embrace the Cycles (2011)

7" (2011)

Genre: Metallic Crust
Region: USA

Support the band by picking it up over here. 

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Mutilation Rites - Demo (2011)

Demo, Independent
January 1st, 2011

Genre: Black Metal
Region: USA

Another band I slept on this year. Been hearing word from Gilead Media that they're pressing their upcoming record "I Am Legion" and the band just signed to Prosthetic Records not long ago. I almost missed this one and would've regretted it. Mutilation Rites walk the fine line between atmospheric black metal and the more raw Barghest black metal with a few hints of death in there. In this short three track demo they harmonize it all very well.

Filled with a ton of blackened riffs that dip into melodic and dissonant territory with an ugly vocal presence over top of it all. The album starts with the 7 minute "White Death" which starts off slowly with a thick bass line behind a heavy sustained melody, eventually plummeting into furious powerchords and hammering drum kicks ending on a slightly slower note. "Pariah" is 30 seconds shorter but quickly follows with fervid tremolo riffs that only let up for a gallop here and there or a brief section of feedback, crashing drums and bouncy bass lines. Around the 4 minute mark it becomes a little melodious before slowing down into death metal territory with noisy feedback underneath.

The final track "Negative Space" is the shortest and easily my favorite, beginning with catchy death riffs and then into more mid-paced tremolo goodness. From about the 1:00-2:20 minute mark the leads are even more wickedly lively. The best section starts at 3:20ish after a short pause for a percussive build up: evil, cacophonous chords build up the atmosphere adeptly with echoing rasps and screams below the mounting disarray. It's a fucking brilliant way to end an already impressive demo.

Excellent blackened madness sure to quench your thirst for all sides the genre has to offer. This will leave you wanting more guaranteed. Recommended especially for fans of Barghest, False, Taake, and Thantifaxath. Listen to this at their bandcamp page.

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Batillus - Furnace (2011)

Full Length, Seventh Rule
April 19, 2011

Genre: Sludge/Doom Metal
Region: USA

Seventh Rule Recordings are the guys who put out Atriach's massive "Forever the End", so they seem to know a little something about good and lumbering metal. Last week they had a promotional free download of all the releases on their bandcamp page, and I was perusing some of them until I came to Batillus. The cover caught my attention first (reminds me of something Godflesh would use) and when I gave the album a listen I was not disappointed.

The title "Furnace" is appropriate as this will smoulder with intensity in your ears until your brain turns to ashes. I wouldn't say its has never been done before but that's no reason to pass over this record. Furnace opens with a brief noise-backed clean section before rumbling into feedback and an avalanche of murky sludge riffs that will hypnotize without question from that point on. In rare instances it will pick up above a crawl or go silent and clean but it inevitably slides back into a dim and ugly mist. It's a solid, atmospheric and monolithic doom release with a few blackened tendencies which will please any fan of slow and pounding riffs. Truly heavy and austere — thick and fuzzed out guitars/bass writhe over a 45 minute journey with reverb covered, spectral rasps and howls from the vocalist. There are some synths and cycling ambient noise carefully placed throughout complimenting the gloomy atmosphere perfectly.

Despite the length and pace it's over before it has a chance to wear you down. Absolutely recommended; doom and sludge fans will certainly enjoy this record immensely especially if you like crushing shit like Thou and Atriarch. You can listen to it on their bandcamp page where you can also pick it up on vinyl and cd (or through Seventh Rule directly).

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Necros Christos - Doom of the Occult (2011)

Full Length, Sepulchral Voice Records
March 11th, 2011

Genre: Death Metal
Region: Germany

What a record. Necros Christos can be counted as masters of death without question. This is their second full release and before their 2007 album "Triune Impurity Rites" they were pumping out splits and demos at a breakneck pace, refining their sound and pushing themselves to this point.

Doom of the Occult is a 22 track behemoth of doom smothered death with a slight middle eastern flare sprinkled throughout, both in terms of riffing and solos as well as instrumental, ambient and folky interludes (labeled as Gates or Temples). I was concerned these instrumentals would break up the punishing death metal too much but to their credit add a lot too the record overall.

Interludes are composed of a range of elements. Some are short ominous organ-like keyboard sections, others are dark choirs, and my favorites are flute, tar, acoustic guitar, and setar melodies that produce an antiquated and medieval atmosphere — all of which flow well into the delicious main course. These tracks are expertly crafted slabs of rolling death metal that follow a simple formula: sick mid-paced tremolo riffs punctuated by pinched harmonics, crunchy powerchords and plodding drums, followed a truly wicked solo; while not groundbreaking it's truly satisfying. The vocals are deep and monstrous while still decipherable with lyrical themes that range from the wrath of ancient gods and kings, the afterlife, disease, necromancy, towering temples and bleak abyssal mysteries; all that apocalyptic shit (in various languages). It all amalgamates to form an imposing ediface of archaic death you don't want to pass up.

Surely high on any death metal fan's list this year. You can pick it up the cd at Hells Headbangers or the vinyl at 20 Buck Spin (which has been given great treatment). Highly recommended for fans of Diocletian, Cruciamentum, Sonne Adam and Sanguis Imperem.

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Forgotten Spell - Desecrated, Decayed and Still Holy (2010)

Demo, Parasyte Curse Records
June, 2010

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Germany

Forgotten Spell truly have a unique sound. Very unorthodox while still retaining an exceedingly raw black metal feeling. And oh fuck is it raw — the production might put some people off but once you look past or embrace it (and you really should) there is hugely complex/creative song-writing and skillful musicianship buried underneath. One might be inclined to describe it as technical or even progressive but if so it's certainly not in a flashy, wanky sense. "Desecrated, Decayed and Still Holy" is still well within the realm of traditional occult black metal but their song structures, atmosphere and guitar tone are far different then most black metal acts out there.

The guitar tone at times resembles horns of some kind, warped and wailing over chaotic and furious drum blasts and the caustic, frantic growls, moans and howls of the vocalist ("Into Sulphuric Vortex of Abyssic Cult" is a perfect example). Blazing tremolo riffs screeching through the thick, filthy production with moments of darkly groovy powerchords; the bass is there though barely poking through the rest of the madness. Sparing use of piano and acoustic guitar work very well for quick breathers from the distraught whirlwind of chaos that your ears are saturated with all the way through. This is their second demo and it hits the 1 hour and 29 minute mark with 9 tracks which is enormous and ballsy — the material here is very strong and compelling but a demo of such length will no doubt wear down many people.

Forgotten Spell have conjured a magnificent storm of strange and foul black metal with this demo. They succeed in straddling the realms of "true" black metal while pushing technical and atmospheric boundaries without falling into common trappings of either side. I'd really like to here the demo they put out this year. This particular release is limited to 333 copies on tape and only available from the label as far as I know.

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