Wonderbox Metal

Sangus – Saevitia (Review)

Sangus are a Black Metal band from the US.

The band play raw, ugly Black Metal that is capable of boiling blood at a hundred paces. This is infernal stuff that channels the underworld into 5 tracks of scorching, noisy Black Metal that recalls bands like Black Witchery and Watchmaker.

The songs are full of Crust and bile as they tear through the short playing time on this release, (a scant 15 minutes that goes by in a blur of whiplash and black tar), and afterwards you’re left wondering what the Hell just happened.

Although primarily concerned with making a horrendous mess of your insides with their focused, direct assault; the band do know how to insert a few Blackened melodies into the short songs and even have time for the odd guitar solo/lead now and again.

There is an impressive amount of rumbling threat to these songs. The violence is out in the open for everyone to see yet there’s always the hint of worse things to come just beneath the surface.

The final track Ossos: SSS is the longest one at almost 6 minutes in length and is a bit different from the ones that precede it. This track is all about the experimental noise and dark sounds. It’s an interesting choice for a closer, although personally I would have preferred another Black Metal track similar to the ones before as these were all so good.

This is a great little release filled with bark, bile, anger and nails. Highly recommended.

Godhunter/Secrets of the Sky – GH/0ST:S – Split

Both Godhunter and Secrets of the Sky are from the US. This is a split between both bands.

Godhunter are a Stoner/Sludge/Doom Metal band and are releasing this not too long after an extremely enjoyable début album – City of Dust – that’s a highly recommended listen. They open the split with two tracks.

They start with Pursuit/Predator which, after some brief feedback and a sample, has a great opening riff with the vocalist’s voice sounding even deeper than usual. For a while he alternates between these deeper growls and his “normal” voice. Although the song is quite different it reminds of the vocals in Pantera’s Slaughtered which alternate between deeper and not-so-deep in similar ways.

The vocals overall strike me as a bit more aggressive than their norm, as if they’ve developed more bite to their attack. The song is an enjoyable groove and riff-fest that’s nicely heavy and plugs a gap. It ends atmospherically with acoustics and feeling.

The second song GH/0ST:S is longer in length at almost 11 minutes. This track is a bit different and is somewhat of a revelation as it sees the band experimenting with their sound a bit. It’s lighter, more expansive and features ethereal female vocals crooning softly over the mournful music. It’s a perfectly judged atmospheric slow-burner and works wonderfully.

The difference between the first and second tracks is marked and shows a band who are willing to try new things and are capable of pulling them off.

Secrets of the Sky’s début album – To Sail Black Waters – came out last year and like Godhunter’s this was also extremely enjoyable and highly recommended. Secrets of the Sky play Progressive Doom/Post-Metal and they contribute the final two songs to this split.

Their first song here is named The Star. It begins slowly and inexorably builds until it’s as heavy as a really heavy thing with a thunderous growl to accompany the slow moving riffs. Serrated screams follow before the song sinks into lighter territories once more. It’s a great example of Secrets of the Sky’s understanding of the build/release mechanics of Post-Metal and this knowledge is applied here masterfully. And heavily.

The second song is titled GH/0ST:S II and is a companion piece to Godhunter’s GH/0ST:S. This is a similar slow-burner that’s atmospheric in a jaw-dropping way; the core music is pure class, but the added strings/effects are just hair-raising. It fades out early and the remainder of the track is a sample.

This wraps up what is a very successful split for both of these quality bands.

I would strongly urge you to listen to this split release. It’s an excellent showcase for two state-of-the-art bands that deserve more exposure.

https://soundcloud.com/earsplit/godhunter-pursuit-predator

https://soundcloud.com/earsplit/secrets-of-the-sky-the-star/s-xYSet

Coffinborn – Beneath the Cemetery (Review)

Coffinborn are from Hungary and play Death Metal. This is their début EP.

This is Old-School Death Metal through and through. The band rip, tear and shred through these 4 tracks with morbid fervour.

This is rotten, stinking Death Metal that’s clawed its way out of the depths of the foetid crypt in search of brains and fresh body parts.

Cavernous vocals fill the air and one can almost imagine some ravenous, giant maw being opened ready to suck in all light and matter.

The dirty, filthy sound they have fits the music perfectly and the tracks pummel and bash with pleasing brutality.

Some good riffs and melodies stick out and there’s a good chug and groove in parts.

Mixing elements of the Old-School from bands such as Autopsy, Dismember, Incantation and Death; Coffinborn’s Classic Death Metal is played well and with good songs.

There are only 4 tracks on this EP but at just under 21 minutes in length it’s a good hit of Death Metal for Old-School fans. This is a very enjoyable release that promises good things for the future of this band.

Their début album could be one to watch. Check them out.

Great Reversals – Natural Burial (Review)

Great Reversals are from the US and play Hardcore/Post-Hardcore. This is their latest EP.

The band boast quite the immense sound with guitar riffs sounding like great slabs of granite falling from the sky.

A charismatic vocalist instantly draws the attention and hooks you in. His voice pierces the combination of heavy Metallic Hardcore and the more restrained Post-Hardcore influences to create an aural experience that’s quite invigorating.

This strikes me as the kind of band that would have done very well in the late 90’s/early 00’s; think of a charismatic band from this era, (maybe bits of bands like Skycamefalling and Shai Hulud), and then update the sound with a relatively subtle Post-Hardcore influence and Great Reversals are the result.

This is an impressive EP and I was expecting something less individual and less…striking than this. Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but this is a great little EP and I’m pleasantly surprised by how good it is.

It’s time to show your support – check out Great Reversals and get their EP. Definitely worth a listen.

Sterbenzeit – L’Oltrenotte (Review)

Sterbenzeit are from Italy and play Black Metal. This is their second album.

This is raw Black Metal with slight ostentation mixing the style of early-era bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Darkthrone and Satyricon.

There are no keyboards so the ostentation comes in the form of some of the guitars – the band’s riffs are highly atmospheric; the impression of mystery and of a boundlessly vast and uncaring cosmos is a powerful one.

Blackened rhythms and icy melodies propel the songs and I really like the fact that the band have succeeded in creating atmosphere with dark riffs alone.

The drums are low-key but prominent enough to be a integral part of the songs. The bass is very subtle but is actually audible beneath the fuzzy guitars. It provides a bedrock of support for the tracks and shouldn’t be discounted.

The shrieking screams of the vocalist accompany the music and are befitting the style they play. It’s a standard Black Metal scream but it’s done well and there are no complaints from me about it; his voice scrapes and bleeds Blackened aggression and passion for the cause.

L’Oltrenotte is true to the early Black Metal style and the band have created a worthy piece of Black Metal art.

Mothersloth – Moribund Star (Review)

Mothersloth are from Spain and this is their début album. They play (mostly) Instrumental Stoner/Doom Metal.

This album combines Doom, Sludge and Stoner with a bit of Progressive Rock to create an album that is much better than most albums without a vocalist has any right to be.

The band seem to have a finely judged sense of dynamics and pacing and the songwriting is of a very high standard, especially considering this is only their first album.

They have immense heavy riffs that are also catchy and memorable, as has to be the case for an instrumental band of this type. They’re not entirely predictable riffs either as they do throw in the odd curveball and unexpected touch here and there.

With a crisp, clear sound the band get to shine strongly as the groovy sounds roll out of the speakers.

If the band merely concentrated on the Stoner side of their sound this would be a good release, but it’s the fact that they also incorporate other styles that brings things up to another level. The tempo and time changes, the more Progressive riffs and the more complex arrangements that complement the basic structure of this style makes for a compelling listen.

The final song Dry Tears does actually feature vocals. These are clean and confident; like the rest of the album they’re perfectly judged and executed.

This album has surprised me with just how good it is. I highly recommend this for anyone into any style of heavy music. If they can keep this level of quality up and get a bit more exposure then I can easily imagine big things in the future for this band. Top work.

Spontane – Mojra (Review)

Spontane are from Poland and this is their second release.

It starts with a riff, and a good one at that. In fact this release is peppered with them. Riffs fall like mana from the sky and our job as good listeners is to be thankful and eat them all up quickly.

This is high-energy Melodic Metal with a healthy Hard Rock attitude and liberal use of Stoner Metal touches. The riffs come thick and fast and the melodics back this up well.

Vocals are in Polish and are shouted out with vigour and passion. The main vocals sync very well with the backing vocals and the music to create a cohesive delivery that is very well done indeed.

The band seem to have an easy talent for creating catchy, memorable songs with plenty of hooks. This is a great set of tunes and a very strong album.

The relative obscurity of the band and their Polish delivery will probably limit their international appeal somewhat, which is a real shame as this is a very good band. I see no reason why Spontane shouldn’t be primed for big things in the Metal world on the back of this release. It has attitude, style and songs; a dangerous combination.

Listen to Spontane loud and get ready to Rock out hard.

Winter Gate – Disillumination (Review)

Winter Gate are from India and this is their début EP.

Winter Gate play Progressive Death Metal. Theirs is an expansive style that incorporates a good degree of melodics and melancholy. The band channel the same creative impulses as old Opeth and Katatonia whilst not really sounding too much like them and stamping their own personality and flair to the sound.

After a brief piano intro we get two tracks that are both epic in length and scope. Each track is filled with good riffs, strong melodics, heavy guitars and great songwriting.

The growling vocals are filled with character and are quite emotive for extreme vocals. Clean singing does make an appearance but this is not overdone and serves the songs well.

Each song is powered by Melodic Death Metal that has been given a Progressive Metal makeover and told that it’s not allowed to play with the other bands any more as it might show them up.

The dynamics of the tracks and overall songwriting skills of the band are impressive to behold and this could easily be double the length and still hold the attention. Indeed; as this is a couple of years old now it would be a good time for a full length, and if they manage to keep the quality levels up then when/if it’s eventually released it’ll probably be quite the album.

So far I can say that I’ve never met and Indian Metal band I didn’t like, and Winter gate are no exception.

Like Metal? Get this.

As We Draw – Mirages (Review)

As We Draw are from France and this is their second album.

As We Draw have developed over the years from a noisy Hardcore band to their current incarnation, which is a combination of Post-Hardcore and Post-Metal. They still have the heavy, angry side to their sound but this has become more expansive and the songs on this album are more varied and atmospheric than ever before.

Their longest song opens the album and it’s a good microcosm for the album as a whole. Aggressive screams ring out over Post-Hardcore music that develops over time to create an angular piece with both aggression and restraint, heaviness and light.

The band appear to have set out to challenge themselves and the listener on this album by creating dark, heavy music that’s no longer confined to the older restrictions that they used to place on themselves by sticking to a more restrained genre than the more woolly one they now work in. Whether you term their music Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, Progressive Hardcore or whatever, the key thing is that the band have become bolder, bigger and better because of it.

The songs on this album are a joy to listen to and they are the sound of a band embracing their potential and living up to it remarkably. The older As We Draw material was always very good but Mirages is something else. The band truly have taken themselves up to an entirely new level.

This is not to say, of course, that fans of their old material will find this album unrecognisable. Far from it. They’re still the same band; it’s just that now they have turned a corner, so to speak, and they’ve become more than they once were. The foundations that they laid with their previous work have been built on, added to and enhanced. Mirages is the resulting creation and its time is now.

Impressive and far reaching. Fans of stand-out heavy music take note.

Sorxe – Surrounded by Shadows (Review)

Sorxe are from the US and play Sludge/Doom.

Two bassists? Layered vocals? Textured soundscapes? Heavy as fuck Doom? Yes please!

Sorxe have a crushing sound that’s befitting of a band who have double the normal number of bass guitars. This is as monolithic and colossal as you might imagine. The music is expansive with Progressive Doom tendencies and has a warm and heavy sound. Surrounded by Shadows has strong ambitions and the talent to see them through.

Special note should be made of the vocals, as they are diverse and wide ranging in their style. The singer shouts and bellows his voice raw, uses powerful semi-cleans and even manages soft crooning. It’s extremely impressive.

The songs on this album combine the unbearably heavy with the richly evocative and highly emotive. The band seem adept at switching from crushing passages to sections of energetic feeling seamlessly. Each song is highly accomplished and the band have truly unleashed something special.

The instruments are all used creatively and the synth effects add a further layer to their already involved sound.

Surrounded by Shadows combines elements of bands like Neurosis, Ufomammut, Electric Wizard, Yob, Isis and Mastodon to create an album that spends as much time destroying the listener via harsh sounds as it does through emotional weight.

These songs are diverse and well-written. They resonate with feeling and are richly textured and layered. This album has the complete package and offers a holistic, cohesive listening experience.

A stunning début that I’ll be playing for a long time to come. Essential listening.