June 2014 – Page 5 – Wonderbox Metal

Mordbrand – Imago (Review)

This is the début album from Swedish Death Metallers Mordbrand.

I can’t help but have a soft spot for Swedish Death Metal, especially when played by actual Swedes, (although it doesn’t really seem to make much difference in the long run), and Mordbrand are no exception.

They play the style well with the trademark chainsaw guitars front and centre. They occasionally accentuate with some spooky keyboard effects which adds an interesting layer of atmosphere that’s really good. Add to this a very small Blackened influence to the riffs and you have an interesting and surprisingly refreshing take on a classic genre.

It’s little touches like this that show Mordbrand as not merely content to imitate past glories; they’re interested in the here and now as well as the past and as such this could almost be described as Modern Swedish Death Metal, if that didn’t sound like such an oxymoron. There’s no Deathcore or breakdowns here, don’t misunderstand; the recording is suitably rotten and the riffs more-classic-than-not; it’s just that they’re focussed on more than the past – they seem to be more interested in what Swedish Death Metal is and what it could become than only what it was.

In a world where this style of music, no matter how good, is essentially regurgitating older times, it’s great that bands like Mordbrand and Skinfather are doing what they can to move the sound forwards whilst still keeping that central core of what makes it so damn addictive.

Well worth a listen.

Strafk – Phaseshifting (Review)

Strafk are from Russia and play Black Metal.

This is Experimental Black Metal with an Industrial feel. The sound is a very nice one; warm and deep but tinged with a rougher, almost creepy vibe that complements what the band is doing well.

The dark and menacing guitars combine piercing, angular riffs with fuller sounding sections to have a good mix of the both. They seem to creep around the songs with nary a care in the world.

Slouching, at ease; this is Black Metal that’s unhurried and almost free form in its composition in some respects, although everything is held together by the drums on one side and the electronics/effects on the other.

Vocally we have sub-audible mutterings that, like the guitars, only loosely follow what is going on with the rest of the track. Like the guitars though, this lends things a feeling of freedom to explore the surroundings while the aforementioned percussion and noises stop things from wandering off too far.

This is the sound of a band experimenting with Black Metal; exploring the ruins at the base of the genre, collecting what remains of past travellers and using them as a basis for reanimation and a new creation.

I don’t know what they will end up with eventually but I’m quite happy to spend time with them as they build it.

Infecting the Swarm – Pathogenesis (Review)

This is the début album from Brutal Death Metal band Infecting the Swarm, who hail from Germany.

This is Death Metal with a sci-fi theme, and a suitable cover to match.

But what of the music? Well this is pure, unbridled, undiluted brutality and sheer wanton carnage. With a production as heavy as it is crushing the band tear through these nine tracks with all the subtlety of an explosion. A big explosion.

Vocally they follow suit with absolute pig-noise vocals that are so extreme they’re bound to divide. A lot of the time I find these kind of vocals awful and I can’t help but feel that the band in question would be better off with a different singer. Why? It’s because most of the time these pig-noise vocals just sound like deep belching and they just suck all of the brutality out of it for me.

Thankfully the vocals on Pathogenesis, although definitely teetering on the line, manage to keep an air of aggression to them and therefore don’t ruin what is, musically, brutal as Hell. It is a very fine line though, and although I can’t help but feel the songs might be improved by a proper savage bellowing I still find myself on the right side, (just), of approval, largely because the music is so ferocious that it carries them nicely.

And besides, sometimes it just works, you know?

So, vocal misgivings aside; this is brutal, (have I mentioned that word yet?), savage, brutal, heavy, brutal, crushing and brutal again.

This hits the spot for me. For the times when you absolutely need the most brutal, destructive music you can get, Infecting the Swarm are there for you.

Oh yes; this is brutal.

Brutal Blues – Brutal Blues (Review)

Brutal Blues are a Grindcore band from Norway and this is their first release.

The band play ferociously aggressive Grind that feels unhinged and dangerous. The music seems refined to the point of Mathcore and the musical assault is relentless.

The vocals are demented and inhuman, sounding as if someone is strangling a murderous clown in someone else’s nightmare and the howls and screams are bleeding through into your consciousness.

Coming across like a more maniacal mix of Discordance Axis and Association Area with a hint of early The Dillinger Escape Plan; Brutal Blues provide a hypnotically mental 15 minutes of inventive, interesting and effective Grind.

I haven’t heard anyone really play this style of music that became quite popular in the early 2000’s for quite a while. I’m reminded of bands like Botch, Luddite Clone, Uphill Battle, etc. only more extreme. It’s a welcome reminder of something I was heavily into at one point, always seeking out the latest band at the time, and I’m very happy to see that the style is alive and well in the hands of Brutal Blues.

A blast from the past and a warning shot to the future.

Konkeror – The Abysmal Horizons (Review)

Konkeror are a Death Metal band from the US.

This is their début album, almost 49 minutes of music – 8 originals and a Bolt Thrower cover.

When it starts it’s immediately impressive with the sheer musicality and flowing riffs; then the brutality kicks in and everything shifts up a gear.

Konkeror merge Death Metal with a Progressive/Thrash influence that allows the songs to have technical flourishes and melodic edges concurrently occupying the same space.

The songs are catchy and have lots of hooks, proving that just because a song might be Brutal or Technical doesn’t mean it has to sacrifice song structures in order to be so.

The recording perfectly balances a band that play both brutally heavy and subtly melodic. Everything sounds great and the sound allows the musicians the freedom to do what they do best.

The most enjoyable thing about this album is just how Metal it is; they are clearly Death Metal but add sprinklings of Progressive, Technical and Thrash Metal into the melting pot. Mix these all up with some great songwriting skills and all that’s left to do is sit back an enjoy as the band shred, rip and dazzle with the songs.

The songs are all of a decent enough length so that you have time to get your teeth into them, (or the other way around…), and there’s abundant opportunities for the band to demonstrate just how good they are.

Once you know about this album it’s important that you get it. If you’re into Death Metal and don’t get this album…well…I’m not sure how that’s possible…

Brilliant.