Black metal – Page 160 – Wonderbox Metal

Star Insight – Messera (Review)

This is the début album by Finnish Melodic/Symphonic Black Metal band Star Insight.

First off – I like the album cover. A good start.

This is futuristic Cyber-Metal with Symphonic Black Metal elements in the style of Neurotech, The Kovenant and certain Samael material, and anyone familiar with these bands will immediately have a good idea of what Star Insight sound like.

The band are actually a bit more varied than a lot of this kind of stuff and have a good ear for a song. A lot of these tracks are catchy and filled with hooks and unless you’re completely inured to this style it’s hard not to like them. They have a good Power/Euro Metal influence which gives them an edge over similar bands. Add to this a harsher, Dimmu Borgir-style influence and you have a recipe for quite the enjoyable album.

Vocals are predominately harsh, slightly-deeper-than-the-norm Black Metal vocals. One of the main ways Star Insight differentiate themselves from the aforementioned bands though is through the inclusion of clean and semi-clean vocals, and these are extremely good. The singer has a good range and runs the gamut between these styles. Female vocals also appear on Poem of Misery which sound great and add another aspect to the band’s sound, even if it is for only the one track.

The songs never have a chance to outstay their welcome as only two of them breach the 4 minute mark. Instead, we get focused and catchy songs aimed at maximum enjoyment in minimal time.

The symphonic elements and effects are never overbearing and add to the songs rather than smothering them.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable album that I like way more than I thought I would; the band are more adventurous and varied than I was expecting and this is to their credit.

Give Star Insight some of your time.

Scutum Crux – The Second Sun (Review)

Scutum Crux are from Poland, (although now based in the UK), and this is their Black Metal début album.

The album starts with a Classical piece with a martial feeling that leads into first track-proper, Chaos Ritual; this is fast, scathing Black Metal with snarling vocals and lots of hyperblast.

Scutum Crux’s Black Metal is dark and razor sharp, with blast beats used frequently and interspersed with either fast drumming or slower, groovier sections.

The guitars are steeped in Blackened melodies and the riffs are fast and solid. Occasional atmospherics and classical sections raise their heads out of the whirling maelstrom before being subsumed once more by the Blackened attack.

Demon Scutum is a great example of this as near the middle of the track the song stops and an atmospheric section starts which is soon replaced by an epic heavy guitars and drums part. This even has a guitar solo in it, (welcome and unexpected in Black Metal), before the speed returns once more.

The vocals are snarling creations bellowed out of the darkness. Although they don’t really deviate from the Black Metal template they do benefit from being more rabid than most.

A solid Black Metal release. Be sure to give them a listen.

Grue – Rake (Review)

Grue are from the US and play Black Metal.

This is their latest EP – two tracks, 12 minutes of music.

The first song All Mortal Greatness Is But Disease starts with an immediate and gritty sound. This is fuzzy, underground Black Metal with a good sense of dark melodics and some fiery riffs. The production may be decidedly Necro but the passion displayed is evident.

When the vocals start they’re somewhat surprising on two counts; the first is that they sound much clearer than everything else, recording-wise; the second is they’re not the standard Black Metal shrieks I was expecting, instead they’re a little deeper and have more character.

Overall an enjoyable song that trades between speedy melodics, a riffy swagger and slower, darker moments. Almost 4 minutes in they even inject a lighter, almost-Medieval section. A good song.

The second track Rake is a Townes Van Zandt cover, only all Black Metallified, (yes it’s a word…). The track works very well as Black Metal and I am left with the definite desire to hear more from Grue.

As a taster for whatever they’re going to do next this is a great little release. I know you’ve got room in your collection for this EP, so pick it up and put it on.

Hellhate – Retsonretap (Review)

Hellhate are a Black Metal band from the Ukraine, and this is their début EP.

This is a short EP at only 15 minutes but it functions as a good introduction to the band.

Hellhate have a raw sound that is nonetheless clear and functional. It wraps darkness around the already grim riffs and holds them tight.

The high pitched rasps are demonic and maniacal, giving the impression of an angry imp not entirely dissimilar to the cover.

Each song is a good collection of Black Metal riffs in the Old-School style mixing Darkthrone and Satyricon with a even a little hint of Black Sabbath now and again to the guitars.

Hellhate seem just as comfortable playing slowly as they do when blasting, and they do both producing a well-rounded release that I have really enjoyed.

When they blast they sound tight and focused and when they get a good Black Metal groove going then it’s all I can do to keep still while I’m listening. Up to the Stench is a particularly good example of when the band exhibit both traits in an extremely satisfying way.

It may be little more than a taster EP but this is the kind of Black Metal that it’s easy to like; simple, well-written and evil. If you like Black Metal you can’t fail to like Hellhate.

Nefandus – Reality Cleaver (Review)

This is the third album of Black Metal from Swedish band Nefandus.

After enjoying their previous EP Your God Is A Ghost I was looking forward to hearing the next chapter in their development.

The first track starts out slow and sinuous, uncoiling slowly like a snake charged with lethal energy and ready to kill. The entire album has the feeling of something best left undisturbed, with a brooding malevolence bleeding from every unnatural pore.

Dark melodies are leaked out of a cold vacuum into a warm world entirely unprepared for what they herald. The menace and antagonism is tangible and each song brings this threat closer to reality.

The album name is strong and apt, for it does sound like reality is being assaulted from without, and the thin membrane that separates this world from the next is being slowly eroded to let something through. Nobody but Nefandus can say what will happen when the wall finally falls, but judging by these harbingers it won’t be anything good.

So let the hymns of hopelessness that Nefandus have come to spread into your life, but hide behind the sofa while you listen as this is not for the weak and you may not survive the sermon.

Harken!

Wolvhammer – Clawing Into Black Sun (Review)

This is the third album from US Sludgy Black Metal group Wolvhammer.

This is music that’s covered in filth and reeks of the underground; Black Metal that’s so impure it’s slowly mutating into a hideous Sludge Metal behemoth that threatens to corrupt and taint everything around it.

The band are absolutely focused on their misanthropic mission and are honed and coiled to a lethal point.

The great thing about this album is the songs themselves; there is a great sense of Doom’n’roll to these tracks that are propelled forwards with a Punk/Crust swagger that builds on their Black Metal roots and persists through the Sludgy mire they have created for themselves.

Put simply; the songs bleed negative emotion through every sickened pore.

The poisonous, bile streaked vocal shrieks are representative of dire inner struggles. They seem to reach out of the songs and force you to pay attention, all the while though you’re distracted by the grim musical bonanza that is spreading around you.

The guitars ply their Blackened trade with consummate ease and the entire album is just flowing with feelings artfully plucked, brutalised and abused by these purveyors of filth.

Does this sound good to you? Does it? Well it should. Wolvhammer have created a wonderfully dank album that I heartily recommend to all.

This is a stunning album.

Favourite Track: Death Division. It’s just so damn good.

Chiral – Abisso (Review)

Italy’s Chiral return with a new release in the form of this EP.

I previous encountered this band on their Eternal Winter demo and was suitably impressed. At only 10 minutes in length it was an enjoyable listen of frozen Black Metal, and as I said at the time, I have been looking forward to hearing what comes next.

Well the wait is over, as now Abisso is here; this time delivering us 22 minutes of music to feast on.

Things start off slow and atmospheric with Alto I: Disceso Nel Buio, which really, really does it for me in establishing a mournful but almost martial atmosphere. The vocals this time around are even more bowel looseningly deep than previously.

Alto I: Oblio is fast and razor sharp and the vocals are high shrieks that can cut flesh at 100 paces. Frozen melodics quickly give way to soft acoustics that have almost and Opeth-vibe to them before we’re back in the fast lane once more. Propelled by atmosphere and driven by a love of Black Metal, this is a great track. As a bonus, you can even hear the bass doing some great things.

Track three is Alto II: Abisso; at almost 12 minutes long this is the main event, so to speak, of the EP. This once more explores the waters of 70’s inspired Opeth-style acoustics with some nice leads making an appearance. The atmosphere doesn’t let up and the dirgy sounds build and morph into a more Blackened landscape with ease. Vocals streak like static across this icy tundra and the entire song really hits the spot.

Finally we have Alto II: In Assenza, which at just over 1 minute in length is an outro of sorts.

Elite Black Metal.

So, another win for Chiral.

Frozen Ocean – The Dyson Swarm (Review)

This is the eighth album from Russian band Frozen Swarm.

The band play atmospheric Black Metal/Ambient.

They open with Syzygy which is a wonderfully composed piece of Dark Ambient that sounds straight out of a science fiction film and is a great piece of music.

The second track CE-4 starts in a similar vein until the addition of drums and light Black Metal-esque guitars add a gentle beat to the emerging aural tapestry.

Vocals are present, very much low-key and used like another instrument.

The Sci-Fi/cosmos-themed album is powerfully atmospheric with Black Metal, Electronica and quasi-Industrial sounds merging with a cinematic soundscape to create and involving and absorbing journey into deep space and beyond.

This album has surprised and impressed me.

Mortals – Cursed to See the Future (Review)

Mortals are from the US and play Black Metal. This is their second album.

This is a Crusty form of Black Metal that takes the Darkthrone sound and kind of crosses it with a band like High on Fire to create something a bit different yet recognisable instantly.

This is an album of long songs that are primitive but not in a negative way. There is a sort of primal power to the riffs and energy that the band offer the listener.

The vocals are serrated rasps that call out to the darkness and the terror within. They’re ably produced and a satisfying listen, the same of which can be said for the album as a whole really.

The song lengths give the Darkthrone-esque riffs time to germinate and seed, allowing the band to develop them fully.

The tracks are bleakly emotive and hit the spot whether the band are playing fast and sharp, slow and dirge-like or mid-paced and rocking. Whatever, it all hinges around razor sharp riffing and a guitar tone to die for.

A very nice release indeed. Old-School Black Metal with a helping of Sludge and arrogance. Just what the doctor ordered.

Void Ritual – Holodomor (Review)

Void Ritual is a one-man project out of New Mexico.

This is brutal Black Metal with a harsh vibe running throughout. The songs are ugly, dense and crawling with filth and hatred.

Blastbeats charge and guitars hack and bleed Black blood. Based on the concept of starvation and horror the music is suitably uncaring and swift to move on.

I love the guitars; not only is the sound really good, (in general as well as specifically the six-strings), but the Blackened moods created are expansive and corrupting whilst the melodies employed are subtly invasive and work their way slowly into your brain.

Passionate screams overlay the grim guitars and the singer has a great rasp. He’s capable of unleashing both high-pitched venom and deeper, powerful growls. Both work with the riffs for maximum effect to create a cohesive attack.

This is straight-for-the-throat second-wave Black Metal that’s fiercely impressive and talented.

Highly recommended.