Death Metal – Page 208 – Wonderbox Metal

Interview with Annihilation

Annihilation have recently released their stellar new EP The Undivided. This is a big step up from their, (still enjoyable), début and I was keen to find out more about this exciting new phase in their development…

Tell us all about Annihilation and where you came from.

Annihilation was formed in 2004 in a small town called Almeirim (80 kms nearby Lisbon). I was living in England back then and was invited to start the band with a couple of friends from my hometown. Since then we have progressed and at the moment I am the only original remaining member.

What are your influences?

I draw influences from everything, all aspects of life and death, the universe, the day by day, and especially music, I mean all kinds of music styles not just metal.

What are you listening to at the moment that you would like to recommend?

Carnality (sick band from Italy) “Dystopia” is their latest release, the last album from Calm Hatchery called “Fading Reliefs“, At The Gates (love their new album), Hideous Divinity (another sick bastards from Italy, Nader Sadek, just to name a few.

There has been quite a bit of change in the Annihilation camp it seems. The Undivided shows a different side to the band than Against the Storm. Tell us about these changes and how they came about.

Well every band passes through line up changes. With Annihilation I always wanted to have a good vibe within the band. If I feel that someone is not on the same level as the other band members the best option is for him to leave. I don’t wan’t people to think that I’m arrogant, but in a band if you do not share the same vision as the remaining band members or have the same goals you do not belong on this band. I have been always the main composer in this band, all the songs are written in guitar by me and then I share my ideas with the rest of the guys and we start working them and maturing the songs, and basically that’s why “The Undivided” is different than “Against The Storm“. I call it evolution, “Against The Storm” was written between 2008 and 2010 since then I grew up as a musician, songs started to became more intricate and eerie and that was always one of the goals for Annihilation.

Explain the concept behind The Undivided

The Undivided is the first part of our next album that will be released in 2015. The album will be called “The Undivided Wholeness Of All Things”. Lyrically “The Undivided” focuses on the journey of Human energy, or the soul if you want to call it like that, through life and death. How we are connected to the Universe as one entity but have been separated or divided from that source.

Do you have any specific goals for this EP?

Well the EP was intended to be a demo to send for labels, but our PR suggested that we should release it as an EP, so the goal is to get signed by a label to proper support us on releasing our next albums. To tour abroad is also one of our main goals. Lets see where this EP will take us.

Annihilation Band Is there anything on the EP you’re not satisfied with?

Nothing worth to mention. We will rewrite and record these songs again for our next album, since the EP and the album are meant to be connected as one song divided in 3 parts – “The Undivided”, “Wholeness”, “Of All Things”

What’s your songwriting process?

I compose the main riffs and structure them before presenting my ideas to the band. After this first process is completed we then start working on the songs as a band and sharing ideas so that the songs can sound even better.

How do you see your songs/direction developing in the future?

Even more intricate and eerie than they are now, dissonant chords, weird drum patterns. Basically to continue evolving as musicians and as a band.

What does the future hold for Annihilation?

Hopefully a good label and touring abroad. But until that happens we will continue to write music and to release albums.

Centinex – Redeeming Filth (Review)

Centinex are from Sweden and play Death Metal. This is their ninth album and somewhat of a return as it’s their first album after reforming.

Centinex are one of those bands that I’ve been aware of since seemingly forever and yet have never had the opportunity to hear for one reason or another. It’s been somewhat of an oversight for sure, but one that has now been corrected. As such, we turn to Redeeming Filth.

This is an album that gets straight to the point; 10 songs in just under 33 minutes and the band mean business.

This is the original Swedish Death Metal, fully authentic with an immense chainsaw-powered production. They sound absolutely huge and ready to slay.

Redeeming Filth is an album of punchy Death Metal with crunchy, heavy guitars and vocals that sound like they’re biting through a black hole.

There is a definite energy to these songs. It may be Swedish Death Metal but it doesn’t sound dated or mouldy in the slightest. I have a soft spot for this style and this sounds as fresh as any Death Metal subgenre out there. Centinex have taken a the classic sound and imbued it with life once more. No mean feat.

The songs, quite simply, destroy. They’re enjoyable romps through ultra-heavy territory and feature guitar riffs that sound capable of toppling buildings.

Well, if this is indicative of Centinex’s other works then it’s definitely a tragedy I’ve missed out on them for so long.

Great band, great listen.

Resistance – The Seeds Within (Review)

Resistance are a Belgian Death Metal band and this is their fifth album.

This is brutal and heavy music designed to destroy. Resistance play Modern Death Metal with a hint of Deathcore in places, but only a hint.

The recording is clinical and polished with everything sounding clear and strong. The band play their tunes tightly and use all of their available tools to go straight for the throat.

Resistance’s sound combines the surgical riffing of Decapitated, the groove of Grave and the modernity of Job For A Cowboy. It lends for a very strong sound that isn’t restricted to any one of those three styles as it borrows from all.

The singer has a throaty roar that sounds every bit as muscular as the music. Not dissimilar to the singer of Grave, he provides a catchy Death Metal voice to work alongside the infectious riffing.

And this is an album of riffs. Heavy, groovy, blasting riffs. They dot Resistance’s landscape like bomb craters and leave just as much of a mark. A large amount of consideration and thought has obviously gone into these songs and the result is very enjoyable indeed.

Quality Death Metal from Belgium. Listen at full volume.

The Dead – Deathsteps to Oblivion (Review)

The Dead are an Australian Death/Sludge Metal band and this is their third album.

The Dead are not your typical Death Metal band. This is Death Metal with an added Sludge Metal aspect. This means the songs are longer than normal, (the shortest here is 6:06), very heavy and full of mountainous Sludge riffs that could crush the life from the unwary.

The unholy marriage of Death Metal and Sludge is so complete that it’s truly hard to know how to categorise them – are they Death Metal with a lot of Sludge, or are they Sludge Metal with a lot of Death? It doesn’t really matter of course as ultimately they’re their own beast and one that has created a joyfully miserable album of filthy heaviness.

Glacial riffs and heavy guitars pour out of the speakers whilst pitch-black growls tear through all defences, deep enough to make your ribcage wobble.

It’s not all death and destruction though. The Sludge aspect of their sound means that they get to explore other musical climates that not many normal Death Metal bands get to explore. Here we’re talking about lighter moments, where the band get to ease off the distortion and add more subtlety into proceedings.

This is slow, ponderous music yet strangely carries great nuance with it. These are complex songs in the sense that emotionally they carry great weight in addition to the heaviosity of the more obvious aspects of their sound.

This is a terrifyingly unique blend of Death and Sludge Metal that should be on any Heavy music fan’s to-get list.

Mandatory – Catharsis (Review)

This is Austrian band Mandatory’s second album. They play Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore.

Mandatory play clean Melodic/Modern Death Metal with some Thrash elements thrown in.

Catharsis comes across as mixing elements of Lamb of God, Illdisposed, Darkane and Arch Enemy…kind of a cross between the European melodic style and the North American modern Metalcore style.

Their melodic sensibilities are finely honed and this is mixed in with heavier moments.

The vocals are mainly deep growls but some spoken word sections and melodious cleans are used occasionally too. These are kept to a minimum though and are not overused.

Mandatory’s sound is big, clean and crisp, as you would expect for a band of this ilk. The songs play out quite nicely and the slightly-longer-than-average length of the tracks mean that the band take the time to explore where and what they want to.

Have a listen.

Sidious – Revealed in Profane Splendour (Review)

Sidious are from the UK and play Symphonic Blackened Death Metal. This is their début album.

Sidious have a gargantuan sound that recalls Dimmu Borgir at their aggressive best filtered through the purifying lens of Death Metal’s barbaric heart. If you blend together Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth the resulting ooze will no doubt coalesce into something that wouldn’t be a million miles away from Sidious.

Thick riffs are thrown around with abandon and spiralling drums pound out ritual beats to a backdrop of epic symphonic terror and dark magisterial horror.

This is music for a grim apocalypse that isn’t slow, isn’t pretty and that no-one will survive.

The keyboards and effects are used effectively to highlight the aura of brutal terror that the band create. In a true merging of styles Sidious have the trappings of Symphonic Black Metal wrapped around the molten core of carnage-seeking Death Metal.

Revealed in Profane Splendour is a collection of powerful songs that draw on the rich heritage of both major contributing styles to produce an album that’s a real dark delight to listen to. It’s forthright and confident whilst having a depth about it that flows from well-structured songs and well-composed threatening atmospheres.

It rumbles, it bellows, it curses, it destroys.

Listen loud.

Black Jesus – Everything Black Everything Dead (Review)

Black Jesus are a Death Metal band from Australia and this is their début album.

This is Old-School Death Metal with a Crust influence and a filthy sound. There are elements of Black and Thrash Metal to their sound as well, but this is buried under the mountain of corpses that their Death Metal onslaught has created.

Most of the songs are quite short and to the point, generally hovering around the 3 minute mark. But that’s fine, as Black Jesus don’t need any crazy ostentation or filler; theirs is an older, purer style of Metal that goes for the throat and piles on the beatings.

The production may be the aural equivalent of a graveyard but it’s still a powerful sound they have nonetheless. The music is sufficiently dirty and grimy for a band like this yet with a clear drum sound and tasty, chopping guitars Black Jesus come off well.

The songs are memorable and there are a some good riffs on display. Angry and Crust-fuelled belligerence powers the songs along and the band never let up with their deadly attack. The Thrash influence keeps things spiky and Black Jesus never enter friendly territory as everything is full of hate and rage.

Everything Black Everything Dead is a testament to these Australian’s passion for all things dead and rotten. Get on board with Black Jesus and embrace their Death Metal assault today.

Unsaint – Watch Them Bleed (Review)

Unsaint are from Poland and play Death/Thrash Metal. This is their second EP.

I enjoyed Unsaint’s début EP so this latest one is a welcome listen.

Unsaint’s chosen style of Metal is a combination of Death and Thrash Metal. Some of it has a modern sheen to it that recalls bands like Lamb of God, whilst other parts harken back to bands like Kreator with their aggressive brand of Thrash.

The singer has a personable growling shout that works well with their particular style. It’s gruff and aggressive but not totally indecipherable.

The instruments are well-played and there are some nice solos and leads on the songs. Sharp riffs and tight drumming make for songs that are focused and directed.

Watch Them Bleed has a good sound that allows the band to make the most of their energetic Metal anthems.

This is a nice collection of songs that showcase the band’s aggressive Thrash style.

Have a listen and see what you think.

Whore of Bethlehem – Upon Judas’ Throne (Review)

Whore of Bethlehem are from the US and play Blackened Death Metal. This is their début album.

Whore of Bethlehem play Death Metal that’s saturated with Black Metal down to its very core. There is an aura of darkness that pervades everything on this album and it seeps out from every Blackened riff or thunderous vocal.

Said vocals alternate between deep growls and higher screams. It’s a very satisfying performance and both styles do the job admirably.

It’s a pleasure to hear such twisted, Blackened guitars on this release. Straddling the two genres sometimes means choosing between a Death Metal part here or a Black Metal part there; Whore of Bethlehem however have merged the two styles down at the cellular level and their riffs combine the brutality of Death Metal with the evil reek of Black Metal perfectly.

The riffs are evocative and punishing, yet not without nuance. The band work their dynamics well and the guitars have the right balance between feeling and aggression.

Even the production manages to capture the essence of both styles as it’s both heavy and sharp. Everything is perfectly matched against each other, with no one instrument gaining ascendancy to the detriment of any other.

These are very enjoyable songs; I’m quite partial to Blackened Death Metal when it’s done well and I always compare bands like this to Arkhon Infaustus who created in their 2003 album Filth Catalyst what is, for me, an exemplar of the style. Whore of Bethlehem could easily be spiritual successors to Arkhon Infaustus and Upon Judas’ Throne is a very meaty slab of dark Metal if ever there was one.

What a great album! More like this please.

Annihilation – The Undivided (Review)

Annihilation are from Portugal and this is their latest EP. They play Death Metal.

Their début album Against the Storm was a very enjoyable slab of Death Metal with plenty of brutality and top vocals to enjoy.

So what does The Undivided give us? More of the same?

Not at all.

In the years between releases it seems Annihilation have been busy refining and updating their sound. It’s still Death Metal, of course, but now they’ve added in more technicality and dissonant riffing that takes them away from the Deicide influence on their début and moves them closer to a more interesting, Progressive Death Metal style in line with bands like Gorguts and Execration.

This time the songs are more involved and intricate. Dark, expansive melodies dominate rather than the fully brutal riffing of the first album. They still do have a brutal aspect to their sound but it’s now clothed in grimier materials and surrounded by lurking menace and sinister complexity.

The songs on this EP are real growers and have genuine depth and longevity. Seeing a band spread their wings like this and embrace their potential is a very rewarding sight and bands such as this should be supported at every possible step in their journey.

I must say I heartily approve of this change of direction. Although I really enjoyed Against the Storm ultimately it was nothing different, just an enjoyable Brutal Death Metal album. The Undivided, however, sees the band reaching for something different, something more individual. The results speak for themselves.

I genuinely can’t wait to hear what they do next.

Well done Annihilation.