Death Metal – Page 223 – Wonderbox Metal

Tortharry – Follow (Review)

This is the eighth album by these Czech Death Metal veterans.

Holy Hell this is good! The first thing you notice is the huge crushing sound. The album sounds absolutely immense. All instruments are clear and the bass is even audible.

There are some hellishly good riffs on this release. From the faster ones to the more devastating slower chugs; by now the band have honed their craft and know how to write a good song. The sense of dynamics and explosive force is strong, with the band doing their utmost to ensure every song is as complete a package as possible.

The vocals brings to mind the singer of Vader; Tortharry’s vocalist has the same kind of clipped growl that has an economy of delivery while remaining as brutal as possible.

After eight albums I have no idea why Tortharry aren’t better known than they are. If their other releases are as tasty as this one then it’s a massive shame that they don’t have a higher profile. They have the sound and songs to challenge the best that the genre has to offer.

After listening to this impressive collection of songs this is definitely a band I am happy to follow.

Samples can be heard here.

Human Decay – Figli Di Dio (Review)

This is the first release from Italian Death Metallers Human Decay; a 3 track EP clocking in at just over 14 minutes.

The cover primes you to expect Old-School Death Metal and that’s exactly what you get.

The EP has a fantastically grimy DIY sound that doesn’t detract from the songs, instead it gives them a feeling of vintage and character. There’s even some bass. And some solos, can’t forget about them.

The vocals are Old-School Death Metal vocals, which are aggressive but remain legible. Well, if you speak Italian they are. Which I don’t, but you can hear what he’s saying for the most part anyway.

The songs show good awareness of pacing and variety and I can almost visualise the band playing their songs as I hear them; the sound of a real, living band doing what they love is that authentic and obvious.

This is a good first EP to break out into the Metal world with. Time to support a new band.

Brood of Hatred – Skinless Agony (Review)

Brood of Hatred are a Death Metal band from Tunisia.

Skinless Agony starts off creeping and crawling with thunderously deep vocals erupting all over the place. Brood of Hatred have some unconventional riffs in their sound and it’s much to their credit.

The production is flawless; no problems here. Every song is given the room to move that it requires, and the instruments couldn’t be clearer, (yes, even the bass is audible).

This is intelligent, atypical Death Metal with a proclivity for interesting and inventive guitar parts. If you think of bands such as Gorguts and Ulcerate, you’ll get the idea of the creative area Brood of Hatred inhabit.

Highly accomplished; the band have created songs with depth and individuality. The playing by all of the musicians involved is exemplary and the brutality of the singer’s guttural vocals anchors the album firmly in Death Metal territory even when the instruments are off exploring other areas.

For me this has been a wonderful discovery of an excellent band – make sure you discover them too.

Graveyard Ghoul – The Living Cemetery (Review)

This is the second full length album from Germany’s Graveyard Ghoul, who specialise in primitive Death Metal of the ugliest type.

This is Old-School to the chewed-on bone but don’t let that fool you into thinking it has nothing to offer. This album contains 31 minutes worth of thoroughly enjoyable romps through the graveyard.

If you take Autopsy as the starting point you’re in a good place, and Graveyard Ghoul embody their Death Metal ideals to perfection.

The songs use the guitars well and have a penchant for the slower, doomier riffs as well as the faster, more brutal parts.

Harking back to a pre-sanitised/sterilised Death Metal era, The Living Cemetery is completely untouched by any and all trends and corruptions of the genre that have occurred through the years.

It’s with hand on gravestone that I firmly recommend you add this album to your collection.

Devoid – The Invasion (Review)

India appears to be a hotbed of Metal talent these days. Devoid are another such band, but can they stand up to the high-standards of their countrymen? Let’s have a listen shall we…

After a short instrumental sets the scene, the band launch into the title track of the EP at speed. This is Thrash Metal with a strong Death Metal edge to it. They successfully manage to play both styles, and just when you think a song like The Invasion is essentially an out-and-out Death Metal track with a bit of Thrash, they slow things right down for the end and it goes all melodic and fades out slowly.

Aspects of the Old-School and the New- collide in Devoid’s songs, resulting in compositions that are a bit of both.

A good EP that promises much for their next album.

Warfather – Orchestrating the Apocalypse (Review)

Warfather sees the return of ex-Morbid Angel growler Steve Tucker; he of the amazing Death Metal Premier League lungs.

His voice doesn’t disappoint on Orchestrating the Apocalypse and he puts in a fine performance full of character and passion. He has a clear, deep growl that nonetheless retains legibility of the majority of the lyrics.

Warfather play Morbid Angel-influenced Death Metal with a lot of ideas and interesting touches. Inventive rhythms, melodies, effects/sounds and even some choral vocals all appear in places. It’s clear that even though they play what is at its core Brutal Death Metal, they are not interested in limiting themselves and instead take the time to add a bit of experimentation into the mix. All of which is very welcome and adds a kind of pseudo-operatic theme to the album.

The tracks are full of expert guitar work; complex riffing, chaotic time-changes and a plethora of solos and flourishes. Each song is seemingly cobbled together from random bits of an Extreme Metal nightmare, and somehow given coherence by a sheer force of will of the musicians involved.

A challenging album that I feel is destined to be misunderstood by many; this is varied, interesting and recommended to anyone who likes a little bit of something different with their Metal.

Interview with Lay Down Rotten

In Deathspell Catharsis Lay Down Rotten have released a monster of a Death Metal album that does the genre proud. With the precision of veterans and the passion of youth it’s time they answered some questions about how this came about.

For those unfamiliar with your band, introduce yourself!

Hello guys. My name is Jost and I am the vocalist of the Death Metal band Lay Down Rotten that was founded 15 years ago. Deathspell Catharsis is our 7th album to date!

What are your influences?

We have our roots in the Death Metal of the early 90s. Influences and inspirations were and are bands such as Death, Edge Of Sanity, At The Gates. But we have developed a lot since we started out and now we got our own style and sound. We see ourselves as an unique autonomous Death Metal act rather than a copy of a plagiation or trendbands which are very common nowadays.

What are you listening to at the moment that you want to recommend?

I constantly listen to Danzig´s Lucifuge at the moment. But also Woods of Ypres is one of my favourites at the moment. I cannot get enough of this band. Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light is a fantastic album and “Travelling Alone” is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. R.I.P. David Gold!!!!!!!

The songs on the album are longer than “standard”. Do you have any guidelines when writing songs?

Over the years we developed an instinct for laying down the right length of a song. We didn´t pay any attention to this aspect with the new record as everything suited us just fine. Even longer sounds do not sound boring. The dynamic and tempo changes make every song interesting and worthwhile listening to.

How did the lyrics come about?

Me and my brother Elmo (singer of the Pornrockband Kamikaze Kings) write the lyrics for Lay Down Rotten. We have been working for years together and wrote the lyrics for 5 albums so far. We wanted pure fucking Death Metal lyrics for this album as we love Death Metal… lyrics about zombies and human sacrifices included. The lyrics can be seen as a homage to our heroes and our view on some topics as well as an expression of our passion for Metal.

How did the recording progress? Any issues?

No problems at all. We worked with T-Low from the Desert Inn studios again because he knows who we are and what we need as he produced the last 6 albums. It is a perfect match and we are a dream team.

You’ve had many releases now, what keeps you motivated to keep playing Metal?

Music and first of all Metal of course. It´s the best thing in the world. What I love the most is being part of this band, to create music. The music that I love: Death Metal. We always look forward. We do not need motivation or anything. We do what we love and we never stop.

The album is very accomplished – are you happy with it or is there anything you’d change?

I feel like this album is a step further in the right direction. We accomplished a fine balance between brutality and melody. This is a fundamental we can count on.

I love the album cover. How important is the artwork to you?

Thanks! It represents the band and the content of a record to the outside world. The album cover is the first thing you notice even before you hear the first riff. Toshihiro Egawa did a great job again on doing this tremendous cover artwork for us. He and our guitarist Nils worked very hard to develop the concept and achieved outstanding results.

What’s next for Lay Down Rotten? What does 2014 bring?

We will support and promote the new record. We want to play as much open air’s, festivals and club shows as possible. We are planning right now and a tour with our heroes Massacre has been confirmed for May in Germany. Please check our Facebook page and website http://www.laydownrotten.com for further details.

Your Last Wish – Desolation (Review)

Canadian band Your Last Wish play Melodic Death Metal.

After the usual perfunctory opening, first track proper Crisis To Creation opens with a much more impressive dual display of melodics slipping into heavy chugs, repeating over and over until the appetite is well and truly whetted.

Their brand of Melodic Death Metal is fast and sharp, which matches the high-pitched screams of the vocalist who has a rasp to challenge the best of them, although she also does deeper vocals when required.

A starting reference point for this album would be someone like At The Gates or early In Flames. These are only as reference points though as Your Last Wish are not merely wishing to repeat past glories of the masters. They have something of their own to offer.

The riffs are enjoyable and substantial and the crisp, professional sound makes the most of them. Well played solos pour out of the tracks, the vocals are scathing and the drummer provides a backdrop to the carnage.

This is the kind of Melodic Death Metal that they rarely make any more. There is no pretension or leanings of commerciality; no clean harmonies of radio-friendly compromises. This is Metal through and through, and I for one can’t help but like this very talented band.

Give them a listen and give them your support.

Hiss From The Moat – Misanthropy (Review)

Hiss From The Moat play a modern brand of Blackened Death Metal.

After a perfunctory intro we’re straight into the action with Conquering Christianity which is full of solid blasting and evil mayhem. If you think of a band like Goatwhore and have them take their cues from the New-School rather than the Old-School you’ll be in the right ball-park for Hiss From The Moat.

Deep, guttural vocals and higher rasps steer the songs towards their logical conclusions, while well-played, hyperspeed drums anchor everything and allow the guitars to concentrate on the ultra-brutality or blackened rhythms, depending on how the mood takes them. Additional orchestration heightens the atmosphere in select places, and is strategically used for surgical strikes rather than mass slaughter.

Depth and carnage are the watchwords, for the songs stick around long after they have stopped playing, filling you with the urge to experience their nihilistic bludgeoning once more.

The riffs seem to flow like pulsating tar through veins of blackened darkness and spewed out into the unsuspecting light to corrupt and infect everything they touch. The songs offer nothing but hatred and want nothing in return but your demise. Misanthropy in more than just title.

The album is 30 minutes of extremity wrapped in malevolence and served up by a talented group of individuals and guests who know how they like their Extreme Metal, and I heartily agree with their obvious good taste.

Top marks for a top band. More please.

Annihilation – Against the Storm (Review)

Portuguese band Annihilation play Death Metal. This album came out a good few years ago now and judging by what happened when I pressed play it’s a sin that I’ve overlooked them for this long.

When the first track Tortured With Hate started I involuntarily exclaimed “ooooh yeaaah!” under my breath. This is the stuff that keeps me returning to Death Metal again and again and again! After the excitement of the cataclysmic opening I calmed myself and tried to listen objectively, but it was no good; the sheer wanton brutality, infectious guitar melodies and multi-layered demonic-Deicide vocals had me hooked. Bye bye reason, hello Death Metal passion.

The rest of the album doesn’t disappoint. Mechanized drum brutality and sinuous, malevolent guitars battle each other for pride of place. All the time the vocalist, who appears to be blessed with Satan’s own lungs, is giving Glen Benton a serious run for his money in the Top Growler competition that I’m sure is running somewhere in the world as we speak.

It’s not all focused brutality though; there is an evil melodic streak to the band when they want to show it. They also throw in some guitar solos; especially enjoyable are the ones that sound almost lazily played; meandering over the thick chaos of the rest of the song .

This is somewhat of an unexpected revelation; Annihilation have certainly made me a very happy bunny. Can they do the same for you?