Amnis Nihili - Christological Escalation (2011)

EP, Avantgarde Music
September 23rd, 2011

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Greece

It's funny. I was actually going to post this soon and then I got a request from someone to get it up here.

Christological Escalation is wicked. A 4 track EP of anti-judeochristian themed black metal injected with a tiny bit of hardcore/crust and a droney atmosphere that creeps in, making it a sharp and unique release.

Like Dephosphorus there's a spacey and bleak element enveloping each track. A few spoken samples are strewn throughout some tracks, and Panos (of Dephosphorus) fucking destroys on vocals with a commanding abrasive feral screaming — much praise to him. The members are clearly proficient writers, never lingering too long on one sound or riff before transitioning into something new while keeping it cohesive. Guitars swing from grim and fierce churning oldcshool-ish black metal tremolo riffs, to more thick and drawn-out pulsing drones and sustained chords; and there's a miniscule offering of chaotic hardcore styling.

Highly recommended. A wonderful gem I'm glad I heard before compiling my 2011 list. Harsh and malefic but with an ethereal, other-worldly coating. You can pick this nasty EP up on 10" vinyl and cd over to Avantgarde Music, Sound Cave, or their main site.

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Indian - Guiltless (2011)

Genre: Doom Metal / Sludge Metal

Region: USA

Latest album from Indian. Check it out here.

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Icon Of Phobos - Icon Of Phobos (2011)

Full Length, Baneful Genesis Records
November 18th, 2011

Genre: Black Metal
Region: USA

Here we have the first release of a new band entering the circle of black metal, Icon Of Phobos. What a wicked cover.

Icon Of Phobos embrace orthodox and atmospheric black metal elements — if I had to say it would seem there's influence from the likes of Inquisition with a helping of atmospheric black metal. Not enough to be completely on that end of the genre but there is no doubt that the influence is there, and it certainly leans more to that side than anything.

A very ruinous and depressive atmosphere is invoked throughout this release. Seven tracks in all including an intro and instrumental outro which have some noise and sampling to bookend the album. The core tracks are composed of a fair amount of sustained notes and drawn out wavy/bendy semi-dissonant riffs which are quite satisfying and fall into atmospheric black metal territory before hitting more traditional gallops and powerchords. Quite heavy on the tremolo riffs as well when dissonant sustains are not being used but usually at a slower pace than more traditional acts, and there are occasional solos that hit on the more traditional side of the genre.

Also a very palpable bass presence and a massive injection of skillful drumming blankets this release (tons of blasts and kickers). Vocals are rife with despair and contempt, lots of echo/reverb and do not every hit the high end of things, staying low and growly/raspy but keeping the lyrics audible.

Overall this is a very solid first effort with some room for growth/experimentation in my opinion; they could do a lot more with what they have. It's hard to place but this feels familiar in some sense — not necessarily a bad thing of course. That said it's no slouch and certainly an enjoyable release. Fans of black metal with a progressive edge like Ascension and the latest Leviathan release or Mutilation Rites and Castevet will want to take a look at this one. You can pick it up on cd here.

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Pallbearer - 2010 Demo (2010)

Demo, Profound Lore Records/Shadow Kingdom Records
July 11st, 2010

Genre: Sludge/Doom Metal
Region: USA

Pallbearer is a band I knew nothing about going into the Rites of Darkness III festival but boy was I surprised by their performance. This is some epic doom metal.

Comprised of 3 tracks that hit between 5 and 9 minutes long and emanating a classic stoner doom vibe (ala Black Sabbath), it's a great taste of what this promising band has to offer. Massive riffs with some melodic elements mixed in with brilliant clean singing that has a droney, mournful and dreamy feeling to them. The tracks trudge along with a great gloomy atmosphere, staying interesting especially with the vocalists strong presence over top of it all. The solos are wonderful as well and are placed expertly.

Sludge and doom fans should give this demo a listen. I can certainly say that as good as this demo is they're even better live. You can download the demo and listen to it on their bandcamp page.

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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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