Reviews – Page 572 – Wonderbox Metal

P.T.O.M.A. – Shit Into Existence (Review)

This is the début album from Greek Thrash Metallers P.T.O.M.A.

This is riff-based Thrash with sharp, spiky guitars and a proper Old-School feel.

The vocals are loose and authentic with gang vocals backing the singer up. The entire thing sounds like it could be some long lost recording by an obscure Thrash band that has just been unearthed.

The recording itself is good and the band have a satisfying sound. The drums are nice and heavy, the guitars sound solid and the bass is surprisingly audible and runs through all of the tracks like a centre line.

The majority of the subject matter is distinctly non-serious, but that doesn’t stop the music from being composed better than I was expecting. There are some good solos too.

If you’re in the mood for some non-serious Thrashing around then you can do a lot worse than this album. Give P.T.O.M.A. a listen and see what you think.

Shards of Humanity – Fractured Frequencies (Review)

Shards of Humanity are a US Death Metal band. This is their début album.

The band play their Death Metal with a nod to Death and a Thrash Metal edge.

The songs are capable of following a good riff to see where it goes and giving it the time to develop and breathe. This sometimes lends the band a pseudo-Progressive edge, (again, akin to Death), and makes their songs all the more enjoyable for it.

For the most part Shards of Humanity’s songs are fast, precise and technically proficient, although they have an ear for a slower riff when the song calls for it.

They give me the impression that these songs have undergone a lot of changes in their history; not due to poor songwriting but due to natural development as there is an exploratory feeling to them.

The tracks feel like they would have been lovingly followed through to their logical conclusions by the band who would have wanted to see where they went to and what would become of them.

Solos are played well and the performance levels all around are good.

The recording is raw and sharp, recalling the Old-School but with more bite.

The vocals are savage, rough barks that are more than capable of competing with the music.

Overall, an enjoyable release. You could do a lot worse than look up this band.

Haemophagus – Atrocious (Review)

Haemophagus are from Italy and play Death Metal with lashings of Grind. This is their second album.

The first track is an intro, and rather than the usual pointless nonsense most bands have as an intro, this is a lovely piece of relaxi-prog that doesn’t really prepare you for what comes next, but sounds great regardless.

The primitive thrashings and grindings of Partying at the Grave exposes the band’s true intentions and the brutally simple heaviness of Death Metal is unleashed.

This reminds me of bands like Atrocity and Abscess; Old-School, brutal, evil and fun!

Groove and chug or blast and burn, Haemophagus rip the house down around you and stomp on the fiery devastation. And then throw turds around. Or something. It’s all gloriously, horrifically messy fun regardless.

With a sound that means this could have been recorded decades ago the band plough head-first into the material and make their dirty mark all over the walls.

Don’t be deceived by the apparent simplicity though as the band know their instruments and are more than capable of shredding out a good solo. The bass also has a good presence, adding an eerie dimension to songs like Dismal Apparition.

A strong album that’s a very enjoyable listen. This may be thoroughly Old-School in many ways but it deserves a place in every modern playlist.

We Have A Ghost – We Have A Ghost (Review)

We Have A Ghost are from the US and this is their début.

The band play Electronica/Industrial-laced Rock. Think Nine Inch Nails/Mogwai/Ulver and you’re on the right lines.

Other points of reference include the little-known/remembered Electronic Rock band Vitro, who released an excellent album named Distort in 1999 of a similar style, as well as the fantastic experimental Paradise Lost album Host.

This is surprisingly complex music that weaves elaborate soundscapes around itself like a cloak of static and charged beats.

Atmosphere and tone are an important part of the We Have A Ghost sound, as well as fostering a futuristic sense of mystery.

A feeling of foreboding is hidden throughout this album. Sometimes it’s hidden underneath energetic sections and other times it’s right out there in the open.

This reminds me of the build-and-release style of Post-Rock/Metal if it had been given an Electronic/Industrial overhaul and the build/release sections were chopped up, warped and separately focused down into shorter songs.

Varied and expansive, this is a great listen, especially if you’re in the mood for something a bit different. The entire thing plays out like some form of soundtrack and the album is suitably cinematic in scope in this regard.

A slow builder that impresses on first listen but nonetheless really shows its charms after repeated spins; this album is a keeper.

Check this out – highly recommended.

Lumbar – The First And Last Days Of Unwelcome (Review)

Coming from the US, Lumbar play Sludge and this is their début.

On the first day, I have to say that I love the album cover. There’s something deeply satisfying about it.

On the second day, I have to say that as soon as the first song starts properly, (after a brief sample), it’s like a dark haze has been lifted and all of a sudden everything seems crystal clear.

On the third day, I have to say that the power, the majesty…the sheer awe-inspiring intensity of the strong vocals cresting above the Sludgey Doom riffs…it’s almost too much.

On the fourth day, I have to say that the lyrics and theme of the album are deeply felt and rooted in a personal struggle against illness. The vocals match this depth of feeling perfectly.

On the fifth day, I have to say that the songs are shorter than normal for a a Sludge/Doom band but this doesn’t seem to hold them back at all.

On the sixth day, I have to say that this album has it all; filthy bass; crusty riffing; morbid effects; gloriously dark variety; mega-crushing Doom.

On the seventh day, I have to say that this album is fucking brilliant.

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!

Algebra – Feed the Ego (Review)

Algebra play Thrash Metal and are from Switzerland. This is their second album.

The music is complex and delivered by the band with a tight performance. Musically it’s an exciting cross between Slayer and early Sepultura. For all the popularity of these two giants not many Thrash bands seem to play styles reminiscent of them today, so this is a refreshing listen in this sense.

Vocally the singer spends the majority of his time legibly shouting over the top of the heavily aggressive Thrash. A cleaner style appears on occasion and these vocals are individual enough to enhance the songs rather than detract from them.

The songs Thrash their way through their playing time with a strong sound and furious drumming. Each track is played well and Thrash Metal is rarely executed as heavily as this. Solos are shredded and riffs are assaulted; this is a very satisfying listen.

Unexpectedly for a band who take their influences from the heavier side of Thrash Metal; the track My Shelf turns out to be somewhat of a ballad in the Testament/Metallica style. It shows a willingness on the side of the band to inject variety into the album, and overall I like it.

Algebra have produced a thoroughly enjoyable album that takes from the heavier and darker side of 80’s Thrash, the side that a lot of bands forget. Algebra remember, and they want you to as well. Pick up Feed the Ego and remember how good it feels.

Ecocide – Eye of Wicked Sight (Review)

This is the début album of Ecocide, a Thrash-influenced Death Metal band from the Netherlands.

After a very sci-fi intro the band start with a sprawling, heavy, mid-paced riff that showcases the fact that they have a nicely heavy sound and know what to do with it.

Old-School Thrash and Death Metal meet with a familiar feel and a welcome crash.

The singer has a very rough cookie-monster voice that sounds great set against the raging guitars. He reminds of the singer of Bolt Thrower, which is also a feeling given off by some of the music.

The band show good songwriting and use some memorable riffs during the running time of the album. They seem to have a clear vision of what they want to achieve; they know how to accomplish it and have the tools and skills necessary to do this. The result is Eye of Wicked Sight and very enjoyable it is.

Ignoring the intro there are only 7 songs here so the band make use of every second available to them to create crushing Death Metal. It’s a really good début that sticks in the mind after the last riff has faded.

If the band keep this level of quality up they’ll have a bright future indeed. Check out Ecocide. Do it now.

Luna – Ashes to Ashes (Review)

Hailing form the Ukraine, Luna play epic Symphonic Doom.

This is one single track, almost 57 minutes in length. It’s ambitious, epic and immense. If you’re a fan of bands like Monolithe you’ll love this.

The band boast a strong sound that they use to their every advantage as this weighty track unfolds.

Atmospheric Doom, Depressive auras, Funereal dirges, Egyptian-esque soundscapes, crushing riffs, symphonic stylings; this is a release with seemingly all bases covered.

This is splendid stuff, and so easy to get lost in. Rather than one long track it’s like listening to a full album of lengthy, (but numerous), songs and just sitting through the whole thing in one go.

Whether martial and marching or doomy and slow, the song works no matter what it does and ultimately the entire thing just sounds great. There are so many shades and textures on this album it’s simply stunning.

As you listen to it it’s easy to get swept along with the dark feelings the album evokes; it’s almost cinematic in scope and is thoroughly realised and executed. This is the aural equivalent of a massive Sci-fi scene that unfolds with grandeur and terrible awe.

There are no vocals, but they would probably just get in the way anyway. For a band like Luna the music is more than enough.

Haunting and special. A must listen.