Keitzer – Ascension (Review)

KeitzerKeitzer are a death metal/grindcore band from Germany and this is their sixth album.

Keitzer’s previous album, The Last Defence,  was one that I particularly enjoyed and have returned to again and again since its release. It was a top display of angry grindcore mixed with death metal rhythm. Ascension picks up where The Last Defence left off, and then goes further down the sonic avenues of extreme metal.

Ascension’s songs are, on average, Continue reading “Keitzer – Ascension (Review)”

Wolf’s Hunger – Bež’te Živi, Vraćaju Se Mrtvi (Review)

Wolf's HungerWolf’s Hunger are a Serbian black/thrash metal band. This is their second album.

Despite there actually being a fair few bands out there that play blackened thrash metal in a convincing and enjoyable way, I still always think of myself as someone that’s not a huge fan of mixing the two. I think it’s Continue reading “Wolf’s Hunger – Bež’te Živi, Vraćaju Se Mrtvi (Review)”

Obed Marsh – Innsmouth (Review)

Obed MarshThis is the debut album from Obed Marsh, an Australian blackened doom band.

Well, I love the album cover, so we’re off to a good start already. It’s the music that matters, of course, but it’s always nice to like the artwork too. The band also have a member of Ur Draugr in their ranks, so another plus point in their favour.

Do you ever get the feeling that the doom you’re listening to is just not doomy enough? Do you Continue reading “Obed Marsh – Innsmouth (Review)”

Waldgeflüster – Ruinen (Review)

WaldgeflusterThis is the fourth album by German black metal band Waldgeflüster.

Waldgeflüster play atmospheric post-black metal with lashings of the second wave thrown in for good blackened measure and some healthy old-school doom aspects to parts of their sound. It’s a beguiling mix and Ruinen is a highly emotive and comprehensive release.

Post-metal melodies flare up in their resplendence, warring with Continue reading “Waldgeflüster – Ruinen (Review)”

Sea of Bones/Ramlord – Split (Review)

Sea of Bones RamlordSea of Bones and Ramlord are both from the US. Sea of Bones play doom, while Ramlord play hardcore.

Sea of Bones have produced some monolithic, crushing doom/sludge metal in their time, so it’s with great joy that I prepared to listen to their half of this split – a single track named Hopelessness and Decay, lasting just under 11 minutes.

Slow and full of apocalyptic inevitability, the track unfolds at minimal speed, Continue reading “Sea of Bones/Ramlord – Split (Review)”

Noctem – Haeresis (Review)

NoctemThis is the fourth album by this Spanish blackened death metal band.

It seems like their previous album, Exilium, was only released last year, but no; it was actually 2014. So here we are now, with another 46 minutes of their dark and malevolent brand of blackened death.

First off, let’s state the obvious – Haeresis is the sound of a confident and professional band at the height of their game. This is blatantly apparent from the start. Continue reading “Noctem – Haeresis (Review)”

Veilburner – The Obscene Rite (Review)

veilburnerThis is the third album from US experimental blackened death metallers Veilburner.

Veilburner have produced a monster of an album. This is 60 minutes of blackened death metal, filtered through a corrupted lens of experimental dissonance and pseudo-industrial undertones.

In a way it’s difficult to separate the disparate influences at play in Continue reading “Veilburner – The Obscene Rite (Review)”

Our Place of Worship Is Silence – The Embodiment of Hate (Review)

Our Place of Worship Is SilenceThis is the debut album from Our Place of Worship Is Silence, a blackened death metal band from the US.

Oooh this is ugly, underground stuff that’s as raw and hurtful as having your face shaved off with a blunt razor.

If you take a seething, furious death metal base and pour corrupted blackened hatred all over it, you’ll have a good idea of where Our Place of Worship Is Silence’s proclivities lie. Continue reading “Our Place of Worship Is Silence – The Embodiment of Hate (Review)”