Circle of Ouroborus - The Lost Entrance of the Just (2012)

Full Length, Handmade Birds Records
February 29th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal/Experimental/Post-Punk
Region: Finland

You can always count on this Finish duo experimenting with their sound and staying busy. Recently Moonflares and Eleven Fingers were muffled hazey excursions while Armon Keitaalla switched to a more traditional black metal sound leaving the muddy atmosphere behind.

The Lost Entrance of the Just returns to the post-punk/shoegaze sound on Eleven Fingers and Moonflares. Clean mournful vocals remain dominant as does the murky ethereal mist but slightly tamed, slower. This is most evident in the first two tracks. In fact the first half of the album is more ambiance heavy with dazed and drowning rhythms and less prominent use of tremolo riffs at first. Of course they always have such elements warmly pulsing under every track coupled with a soft drumming technique to entrance you, but it's much more subtle to begin with. In tracks such as Cast in Clay and Black Hole Womb the approach is similar to the clouded sound of The Angelic Process.

Skyline Painter and Ride the Wolf are closest to Eleven Fingers in my opinion as the droning cleans mix with the raw rasps from Antti, and a strong smothered tremolo pattern wails underneath. Grittier aspects of Armon Keitaalla are just barely present in some of the later songs — and only briefly. Often overtaken and smothered by drugged out atmospherics. Toivosta Syntynyt is probably the most unique here with warbled melancholic bends standing out as the lyrics are sung in Finnish.

Overall it's another solid entry into Circle of Ouroborus' extensive library of experiments though a little less gripping than their last few releases. Still enchanting though and unlike much else out there. This album (like their last few releases) is limited to 500 on vinyl so if you want it I'd hurry up and head over to Handmade Birds Records to pick it up before it's gone forever.

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Mgła - With Hearts Toward None (2012)

Full Length, Northern Heritage Records
February 28th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Poland

As with bands like Taake, Inquisition and Lunar Aurora, Mgła prove that despite what elitists whine about the orthodox movement of black metal still plows ahead unharmed by the influx of variations on their prized style.

And what a fucking record this is! This is Mgła's second full length (their first record in four years) and it shows that they've been carefully crafting With Hearts Toward None since Groza. Again, like Inquisition, you'd never know they were a two piece from just spinning their work. The writing on display is fantastic, every track becomes spellbinding — all equally strong, fresh. It's raw but melodic with an unending string of tremolo riffs burrowing through each song, while underneath ghostly chords spring up to support them. The echoing acrid rasps and howls of the vocalist cut through the foggy atmosphere with an occasional break for semi-clean passages as the complex battering drums splash beneath.

Mgła have created quite a powerful assault here, a very satisfying listen. Uncompromising yet refreshing, bleak and cold while still cripplingly gorgeous.

Sure to be a welcome surprise to many. With Hearts Toward None does not disappoint and comes highly recommended. An example of orthodox black metal remaining fresh and addictive. Support this hard working duo by picking up the record at Northern Heritage. Don't pass on this guys.

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Cerebrate - Soul's Abyss (2012)

Demo, Psychic Violence Records
2012

Genre: Death Metal
Region: USA

Like the Fell Voices members who created Ruin Lust, the guys in Ash Borer have begun to dabble in the death metal realm with this project.

Very thrashy and traditional with a nice guitar tone comparable to Denial, that chainsaw growl ripping through bestial riffs. The first song is short, while the second song is just over five minutes and has some wicked hammer-on sections really dredging up the oldschool feeling. This is the same for the scratchy, blazing solos — squeals and bends all over the place. Raw and clouded, the production leaves much to be desired but looking past that the actual core of the two songs here is extremely solid

A nice indicator of how the Cerebrate will proceed. It seems that creators of atmospheric black metal can shred some excellent death metal too. Psychic Violence will be re-releasing this in tape form at some point in the future so be on the look out for it.

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Fire in the Cave - Fire in the Cave (2012)

EP, NK Tapes
February 28th, 2012

Genre: Blackened Sludge
Region: USA

Thanks to The Living Doorway once again for this one. That cover totally reminds me of Inquisition's "Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult" reissue art, and Vasaeleth's debut cover art for that matter.

Dark and heavy. Thick blackened sludgy riffs and deafening bellows emanate from the two eight minute tracks on this EP. At many points the drumming is oppressive but without drowning the other instruments. The thing is they aren't exactly like the waves hardcore bands that implement aspects of black metal and sludge into their sound, while it's clear those genres are an influence here they combine them much more comfortably. One could say they take a more Seven Sisters of Sleep approach — though in a longer form and their direction is much different still. It's very effective, managing to hold your attention all the way through. Fire in the Cave have refined the two songs well.

They have a crusty southern feel when not wallowing in the black metal aspect (especially in the solos), flashes of dissonance and melody help add variation to the onslaught of massive angry doom grooves and momentary lapses into quiet atmospheric summits.

An awesome debut. These guys have a great handle on their style, the potential to capture a huge audience is quite obvious. And they're nice enough to put the EP up at pay-what-you-want on bandcamp. Follow their shit on facebook.

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Funebrarum / Undergang - The Dead of Winter (2012)

Split, Doomentia Records
February 10th, 2012

Genre: Death Metal
Region: USA / Denmark

Fucking hell. I didn't have any idea that this split existed until the guys at Pervert The Church threw this up today. Praise them.

How could anyone pass up a split from two monsters of death metal? One track from each band to crush you to dust. I don't know what you want from me here. It's great. Ugly catastrophic violence on all fronts.

Highly recommended obviously. I think it's already sold out everywhere but it was available from Doomentia for a short time.

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Marnost / Seeds in Barren Fields - Split (2012)

Split, Self-released /Independent
February 9th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Czech Republic / Sweden

As it stands I'm way behind on the requests so I'll try to sort through them when this semester's done. This is one that I'll gladly post by two great bands. Marnost  a young "veganarchist" four piece with only a demo and this split, and the "green anarchist" Seeds in Barren Fields who I remember A. Lundr of Panopticon promoting a while back. Both bands offer up two gigantic tracks with quite different styles of black metal.

Marnost's song titled Svůdcové lidstva is interesting in that it seems to carefully straddle elements of post-metal, crust, traditional black metal and the more atmospheric blend across the full thirteen minutes. After the feedback intro what surfaces is shimmering drawn out notes and strong bass akin to Cult of Luna or Tesa as wails ebb in the background. Suddenly the pace is switched to thunderous black metal with the drumming picking up and the crusty deep groans seeping through. At this point the tone still has an element post-metal there without falling into familiar post-metal quirks. This is felt throughout the track as they manage to weave their way elegantly through both genres. After a spoken passage the post-metal and black metal influences meld comfortably with furious tremolo riffs and glistening chords over howls and noise. The end comes with a hypnotizing acoustic passage.

Seeds in Barren Fields is a band I have heard of though until recently I didn't get a hold of their 2011 full length. From their contribution on this split, the sixteen minute Beneath the Somber Halls, I'm quite compelled to check out that album. Beginning with rain and distant thunder, the guitars enter softly and sadly. The style here is largely melodic or atmospheric black metal though not like their North American counterparts. They're more subtly progressive with crunchy death metal gallops between powerful black rhythms, melodic twangs, and fast clanging percussion; vocally more acidic and raspy aside from a spoken passage midway through. Both guitars often follow their own paths that occasionally intersect and always ringing out beautifully. The interplay is nice. Near the ten minute mark, leading up to a long fade out, things get a little heavier with an gripping repeated passage and some notable drumming.

This is a great collaboration from two virtually unknown acts. Marnost show they are a sleeping giant while Seeds in Barren Fields have encouraged me to seek out what I've missed from them. You can hear each side by Marnost and Seeds in Barren Fields on their respective bandcamps, both have links to where you can grab a physical copy (such as Music For Liberation or directly from the bands) or download digitally for a small price. Definitely recommended.

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Black Breath - Sentenced To Life (2012)

Full Length, Southern Lord Recordings
March 27th, 2012

Genre: Thrash/Hardcore/Death Metal
Region: USA

Fuck yes for new Black Breath!

I overlooked Heavy Breathing in 2010 admittedly but caught it not long after. It was a wicked dose of addictive heavy thrash bred with hardcore and Sentenced To Life continues where it left off. Nothing but power grooves, galloping anger and thrashing death galore spewed through a seriously vicious guitar tone.

Don't have much to say about this one to be honest, it's a prime slab of high-energy crossover metal no question and speaks for itself. Simple, ruthless riffs and bendy solos spill out of every gnarled corner with rarely a pause for breath. The cutthroat vocals rasp and roar as they plow over your bloodied face with disgust while devastating drumming crashes down to knock you on your ass. The slower moments are beyond heavy, sprinkled carefully amongst the searing thrash. It smacks of oldschool fury and shredding. Black Breath once again bring the awesome without hesitation.

Such a strong release. Don't hesitate to bang your heads to this mean release. Highly recommended so pick it up ASAP from Southern Lord's shop.

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Ignivomous - Contragenesis (2012)

Full Length, Nuclear War Now! Productions
March 29th, 2012

Genre: Death Metal
Region: Australia

Hugely anticipating this release since Death Transmutation raped my ears in 2009. So when Nuclear War Now! put this up for streaming on bandcamp for this weekend only it tore me away from Mass Effect 3 and threw me into a chasm of ugly darkness for 50 minutes. I ripped it though I didn't upload it, but you can thank Haxan of Forever Cursed for procuring a link.

Ignivomous are a proud display of aussie death metal destruction in every avenue. If Death Transmutation didn't solidify this then it can not be doubted that Contragenesis etches it in stone. Composed of uncompromising and violent hurricane-force riffs strewn through the anarchic frothing drums, and a petrifying growl emitting from the unholy beast of a vocalist. I love their continued expert placement of pinched harmonics and chilling bends more than anything.

Everything on this album is tailored to pure death metal with an old school lean — focused into extreme unending power. It's entirely oppressive beginning to end, from the general five minute tears of thrashing pointed hatred to a staggering and dark nine minute crawl Ignivomous offer nothing but the best here, the essence of death in a nuclear catastrophe of gritty sound.

If you don't pick this up you're missing out. Highly, highly recommended death metal, top of the pile and sure to be in the top 10 of the year. It's up to order from Nuclear War Now! Productions in cd and vinyl right now.

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Mutilation Rites - I Am Legion (2012)

EP, Gilead Media
March 30th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal
Region: USA

I haven't posted or in fact done anything important in the last 3 days because Mass Effect 3 is ruining my life, so this review may be a little lack luster but believe me I Am Legion is fucking awesome.

This is the new Mutilation Rites EP, they have a full length in the works too. Their demo was promising and I'll be seeing them at the Gilead Media festival so this is a nice prelude to that. I Am Legion builds nicely on the demo with an amped up melodic sheen, ugly rasps, tasty drumming, a strong bass presence and bouts of fury amongst dark atmosphere — improving immensely on their sound.

Cloaca Maxima sounds very familiar to me specifically in the first half of the track. It's really bothering me that I'm having trouble putting my finger on it. It opens with an expansive melody, descending into swirling riffs for time before returning to a choral wave. A build up lead by the drums starts and a sharp tremolo riff then returning to previous ground. Blood Will Tell is next, again beginning with sustained melodic chords but quickly turning to much more coarse territory with gallops and scratchy tremolo leads. A slow portion hits with restrained dissonance suddenly leading to a very old school section, reminding me of the thrashy blends the genre was more known for, before a blunt ending.

Terrestrial Hell is the final track. Lecherous and conjuring the old school again in the opening moments. This continuous before a drum break, and then another addictive riff emerges with a strong lead behind it. Slow bending tremolos strike out, a pause for silence, then the fury returns — interrupted for a bout of melody broken up by chunky rhythms; these cycle before returning to earlier riffs, leading the final moment..

Highly recommended indeed as you can hear great growth from the demo. Gilead Media have this up on bandcamp for you to hear/buy and you can preorder the vinyl over at their store. This label rules so support them and the band.

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Lunar Aurora - Hoagascht (2012)

Full Length, Cold Dimensions
March 2nd, 2012

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Germany

Lunar Aurora are influential in the black metal arena, much of that influence can be felt in the waves of atmospheric black metal that have emerged in the USA and Canada of late. They have done nothing but put out consistent, high quality ambient black metal since their inception in the '90's. Hoagascht is their first release in 5 years, their 9th full length album, and unsurprisingly it is proof that these cold Germans have continued this tradition and remain strong force in the genre.

Amongst the spoken "upper Bavarian" dialect and nocturnal animal, weather, or falling trees or rock samples that add depth to the glacial atmosphere the core of their sound is spellbinding ice-cold melodic riffs, scratchy and ancient croaking vocals, and subtle, extremely effective keyboards. Hoagascht does not deviate from their past releases sticking with the "don't fix what isn't broken" creed and no one would have it different here. Whether focusing on the celestial bodies or the unforgiving winter landscapes the music is always ethereal, their songs here as always run at perfect lengths and at an even clip — strong writing always touted. When not chilling you to your bones with breathtaking waves of mellifluous chords, buzzing pleasantly, heir melancholic keyboard interludes grab you tightly, enfolding you in a dark and dulcet mist.

Another win for Lunar Aurora. If you enjoyed their previous outputs then you'll be pleased by this one no question. I really should post Mond, Andacht, or any of their previous releases at some point. Until then check this out, and find out how to pick up a copy over at Cold Dimensions or Lunar Aurora's website.

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