The Society For Excellence In Heavy Metal

Oranssi Pazuzu-Kosmonument (2011)

2011-11-03T11:40:00.000-04:00

I saw that this was Finnish black metal, and saw this labeled 'psychedelic black metal', so I thought "Great! Right up my alley!". But the results are not all as good as I thought they'd be. As you would suspect, there are lots of swirling textures; grey, mystical atmosphere; and dark ambiance to satisfy a black metal weirdo like myself. But, and blame the mushrooms, this album is a bit unfocused, and somewhat derivative, as it comes across more like a black metal version of Neurosis. And you'd think, as a sonic masochist, that all the soft, unsettling bits would sooth my tortured soul(ooooh is that Saaatan whispering at me in the background golly geee Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor do the same fucking thing), but they do not, so I was annoyed for a good part of the album. But there is plenty to like about this band, and I hope to hear something more thoroughly caustic from them in the future.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Taake-Noregs Vaapen (2011)

2011-11-03T11:20:00.001-04:00

Odd that I'd complain about a Norwegian black metal album leaving me 'cold', but that the best way to describe my reaction to this album. It works just fine in the faster tempos, but I detect a sense of aimlessness and boredom in the slower songs. No matter how many ways you rearrange the riffs, 10th generation Norwegian BM just sounds so lifeless. And is that a bad thing in black metal? Usually not, but....I don't know....could it be that I just don't like the album and can't quite put my finger on why? Maybe I'm just getting bored with mid-tempo black metal? Probably. The musicianship is excellent, and the attack ferocious, but, in the end, I guess I would rather go back and listen to my old Darkthrone albums or Mayhem.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Ouroboros-Glorification of a Myth (2011)

2011-11-02T23:21:00.001-04:00

This self produced release by Australia's Ouroboros is one of my favorite releases of the year. It is outstanding technical death metal, with more than a touch of thrash metal thrown in. Every aspect of this albums gels. This is no sterile display of technical skill, but an organic collaboration of deft drumming, swift and mighty riff work, the guitars benefiting from a clean crunch, making every note audible. This is no murk-fest. The leads stand out, reaching for guitar hero glory, and most often attaining it. Hopefully, a good label picks up this band, as they deserve much more exposure.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Today Is The Day-Pain Is A Warning (2011)

2011-11-02T22:14:00.000-04:00

Today Is The Day stands as one of the most unique, prickly, hard to catagorize bands in all of metal/rock/music/ect. Their output is extremely diverse, exploring many corners of sonic hell, from grindcore to avant-gard goth metal, to noise rock, all of it tied together by a deeply psychotic vibe. Their latest album, plants them firmly in Rock territory, yes, with a capital fucking R. Unfortunately, as good as many of the songs are, they are marred by a lazy subdued whisper, between Steve Austin's trademark shrill screech, that is as annoying as hell. Ruined the entire album for me. If you are partial to softly creepy whispers, go right ahead. You are entitled to your love of lazy, gimmicky vocal work. I will not suffer through it again. There are many good riffs to be found here, but not good enough for me suffer through the softness.

Rating:5 out of 10

Absu-Abzu (2011)

2011-11-02T21:03:00.000-04:00

Absu's follow up to their brilliant 2009 self titled release is a bit of let down, but since the previous album was nearly flawless, that is understandable. This is not as earth shatteringly good as the previous album, but there is much to enjoy, if you let it soak in. Where that album was both progressive yet strangely accessible in a highly thrashy vein, this album is more difficult, angular, and caustic, and still quite thrashy. 'Abzu' seems to be channeling demons through mathematics occult ritual inherent to the music. But don't mistake this for math metal, as the emphasis is on ferocious attack and speed. Best song is the last one, "A Song for Ea", a 14 minute alchemic conjuring. And if you foolishly attempt to delve deep into the lyrics, your mind will be swallowed by a magic prism that leads straight to the devil. I'm serious!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Wolves In The Throne Room-Celestial Lineage (2011)

2011-11-02T20:35:00.000-04:00

Wolves In The Throne Room new album is a departure from previous outings. Instead of 15 minute nightmare jams, as in previous outings, the sound is a bit more varied, more composed. There are more quiet, meditative bits, the songs are shorter, and there are more of them. But this is still a brutal, caustic experience for the uninitiated. The main problem is that the actual black metal is unmemorable. This is the band's primary flaw, as I cannot remember one actual riff that the band has ever composed that sounds distinctly theirs. You are primarily overwhelmed by the ambient din and the murky textures, without much to take away, other than the darkly poetic lyrics. But all in all, this is still their best album, and definitely worth a listen.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Craft-Void (2011)

2011-11-02T19:48:00.002-04:00

A well named band. Craft are a Swedish black metal outfit whose albums are being distributed by Southern Lord Records in the states. What we have here is a collection of nasty, clever, riff-centric mid-tempish tunes, (un)polished by a Darkythrone-esque type scuzz. The riffs are angular bulldozers, the screams grating and evil. And the drums are programmed, but you'd never know that without reading the album notes on Encyclopedia Metallum. Best song is the dirgy anthem, 'I Want To Commit Murder.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Vader-Welcome To The Morbid Reich

2011-08-28T23:35:00.000-04:00

Vader of one the preeminent death metal bands, releasing quality album after quality album since the early 90's. Their latest is almost a textbook of great death metal; crushing riffs, intelligent compositions in the old school style, but delivered with modern ferocity and speed. But the highlight of the album is a reworking of an older song, "Decapitated Saints", a psychotic mindfuck; a neck breaker that makes you want to wreck everything within 50 foot vicinity. If only Morbid Angel would get back to making death metal this awesome, then my plans for world domination would be complete.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Black Witchery-Upheaval of Satanic Might (2005)

2011-08-28T23:20:00.001-04:00

This is the kind of dumb black metal album that I have an admitted weakness for. Getting by on nothing but a professed aesthetic of speed, Satan, and corpse paint, Black Witchery barely qualify as music. This is a band that polarizes even in the extreme underground. But there is something about the repetitive blur that is enthralling and addicting. It really does have to sink in a bit, you really do have to acquire the taste. Comparing this to their previous outpouring of hate, 'Desecration of the Holy Kingdom', there is a bit of musical advancement here. The riffs are audible, and is not simply a collection thrashing atonality. But you are not here for lullabies, you came searching for a distillation of pure cartoonish evil, and Black Witchery fill that void ably.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Black Breath-Heavy Breathing (2010)

2011-08-28T22:43:00.001-04:00

Southern Lord hypes this album as the brutal new thing, a cross between Motorhead, Discharge and Autopsy, but really, it doesn't sound much different than 'Wolverine Blues' ere Entombed. It's a little grungier and lo-fi, which is fitting with this Seattle bands's legacy. But, other than this minor complaint, this album wins you over with its filthy, dark energy and jagged riffery. An uncomplicated pleasure.

Rating: 7 out of 10

The Binary Code-The Black Phantasma (2004)

2011-08-28T22:30:00.001-04:00

Old school metal dudes scream to high hell about metal core and death core, but some of it ain't too shabby, like this demo from 2004. Maybe this is more Meshuggah influenced, hell, this old fart can't really tell, but it's not bad in small doses. This math metal for the youngsters, all over the place, the guitar playing fluid and impressive, the vocals soaked in gore. Not really my cup of tea, either, but not bad.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

This song is not off the album, but from their 2009 EP.

Bison B.C.-Dark Ages (2010)

2011-08-28T22:18:00.000-04:00

This is serviceable High On Fire style stoner sludge. It is thick, vicious, and aggressive, the riffs sounding like walls of magma descending upon the village. But it's a bit repetitive and you've heard it all before. Not bad, not great, not really my cup of tea.

Rating 6.5 out of 10

Big Business-Mind The Drift

2011-08-26T17:35:00.001-04:00

This is one of the best albums of the first decade of the 21st century. The third full album by The Melvins better half is an overwhelming testament of the power and perseverance of heavy sludge rock. It is a magnificent lava of slow flowing riffs and smart, tuneful songs, drenched in analog warmth. It is one of the quintessential beardo/hipster statements. It's as crushing as it is fun. It's as ironic and quirky as any limp indy rock, but with all the power and glory that a guitar, bass and drums can muster. Am I gushing? I am. It's just fucking cool and you should listen to this and bow down and then get up and do something.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Bestial Mockery-Evoke The Desecrator (2003)

2011-08-26T17:19:00.000-04:00

All Bestial Mockery albums are the same. They are all primitive, thrashy black metal, drenched in the most ridiculous Satanic imagery possible. Check out this precious nugget from the first song, 'Chainsaw Demons Return':

"Spreaders of hellish agony
Churches drained in blood
Fucked by demonic chainsaw
Virgins molested to death
Chainsaw Demon Attack !!!"

You know what your getting here. All the songs are short, uncomplicated, evil, and fucking awesome. The band is especially tight, making the attack more ferocious than it needs to be. This is not sloppy punk, but the work of a focused band. You either like this sort of thing or you don't. It's regressive for sure, but damn if it doesn't sooth the tortured soul.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Benighted-Insane Cephalic Production (2003)

2011-08-26T16:56:00.001-04:00

This is not some goddamn lost Insane Clown Posse album. Benighted are brutal death/grind professors from France, a band sporting intelligence and a unique way around a riff. Apparently a concept album abut child molestation, they do not take the usual exploitation turns that most other bands would with this subject matter, but inject an element of psychological horror, morality, and sensitivity(!). But the music is astoundingly good, by turns dense but light on its feet, so many twists and turns, so many well crafted riffs, all expertly bludgeoned at lightening speeds. This is state of the art death metal, an album that will take a few listens to absorb all it has to offer.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Belphegor-Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn (2009)

2011-08-26T16:37:00.001-04:00

This is a nifty blackened death/deathened black metal album from Austria. This 2009 release puts me in mind of a "Son of Northern Darkness" era Immortal, with the emphasis on crushing, slicing riffs and precise rhythms. It's nothing innovative or new, just quality metal comfort food. All the lyrics are bathed in the occult. The production is thick, the guitars adequately trembly and bass heavy, the drums clear and pristine, the vocals a black metal gargle, and somewhat processed. There are some really great songs here, and some weaker ones, best one being the evil majestic 'Veneratio Diaboli - I Am Sin'. Worth your time.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Behexen-Rituale Satanum (2000)

2011-08-18T19:08:00.001-04:00

If you are going to make a by the numbers black metal album, let it be like this one. Behexen's first full album won't win any prizes for originality, coming across at times like a poor man's Emperor. They sift through tried and true riffs and devises, coming up with little that is unique, but drenching it in suitably icey atmosphere, the riffs and vocals bludgeoning as much as penetrating. The band attacks the material with evil glee, and it is that enthusiasm that ultimately wins you over. The last song is the best, a riff happy tranceathon with a few twists.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Beherit-Engram (2009)

2011-08-18T15:01:00.000-04:00

I don't know what the Metallum nerds are raving about. This is boring. I can see that the band is trying for an old school, back to basics black metal approach, but the music is repetitive without conviction, the riffs are dull and lifeless. The production is too sterile to cloak it in a convincing murky atmosphere, which benefits similar minded Finnish necro fiends. A waste.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Behemoth-Evangelion (2009)

2011-08-18T14:39:00.001-04:00

This is just a case of trying to hard to be evil. One of the giants of blackened death metal, and one of the biggest bands to come out of Poland, their output, for the most part, inspires apathy in me. On the surface, this one of the heaviest sounding bands you'll ever hear. The production is slick, thick, and makes the band sound like 10 foot tall demon warriors. But the music barely justifies all the fuss. Oh, they certainly dress the part, and writing 'ov' instead of 'of' in your song titles will make the mall rats think yer sooo cvlt, but its kind of embarrassing to anyone that takes their music seriously when a band this big simply does not have the skills to back up the bravado. There are some good ideas here, ideas someone already thought of. It is just mechanical and overly processed death metal, performed better by bands with not even a fraction of the recording budget. Yawn.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Baroness-Blue Record (2009)

2011-08-18T14:11:00.002-04:00

I love the new hipster sludge. The Sword, Big Business and these blustery beardos are cranking out some of the best stoner metal ever made. 'Blue Record', only two years old, is already classic. It is tuneful 70's worshipping grunge, with more dymamics and progressive flair than their 90's predecessors thought necessary to concoct. There are songs here, people! Heavy riffs are mere guideposts to the darkly ecstatic journey the listener will embark upon. The band is a gruff workhorse that barely seems barely able to contain the musical bluster within. There are poetic musings and primal screams, acoustic interludes and psychedelic tripouts. This band will rip your face off, and then have an intelligent conversation with you. Great album, highest recommendation, one of my favorites of the past few years. It is nearly perfect.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Azarath-Blasphemers' Maledictions (2011)

2011-08-18T13:52:00.000-04:00

Poland is one of the most metal countries on the planet, blessed with hordes of filthy metal beasts. Vader and Behemoth(this is drummer Inferno's band) sit at the top of the heap, but Azarath threatens to topple the regime. Their new album is a brutal and righteous collection of blackened death. They deserve to be bigger than Behemoth, at least, as this is less cheesy. It puts me in mind of 'Sons of Northern Darkness' era Immortal; quality riff after quality, held together by a devastating rhythm section, which utilizes a variety of tempos for variety and dynamics, not just hyper sonic pummelings at all times. Yes, a raging fuckbeast of an album. Recommended, if you can take it.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Onslaught-Sounds of Violence (2011)

2011-08-11T16:15:00.002-04:00

I miss the old Onslaught. Their new album benefits from a crisp, thick sounding production. The band is tight and furious, but the songs and riffs are lacking. There is little evidence of the evil, primitive atmosphere of their first two albums. The groove metal nods are half hearted. The band is not without enthusiasm and power, but ultimately this album is just a generic modern thrash exercise. This album does have a rollicking cover of 'Bomber' by Motorhead.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Peste Noire-L'Ordure à l'état Pur (2011)

2011-08-11T13:55:00.001-04:00

The new release from these French avante-gard black metal infant terribles is disappointing. The eccentricity and eclecticism that once resulting in entertaining and exciting songs now contributes to a sense of disjointedness and annoys greatly. Perhaps this is because the crystal clear production values enhance the intimacy of the proceedings, intimacy being a negative in this case. The lo-fi approach of previous albums was much more endearing. Though there is much originality and audacity here, there are to many soft parts for this metalhead. I'm hoping the black metal/trip hop genre does not take off. Better luck next time.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Rhapsody Of Fire-From Chaos to Eternity (2011)

2011-08-11T13:12:00.003-04:00

Quintessential symphonic power metallers Rhapsody of Fire unleash another bombastic concept album, with Christopher Lee in tow. This is like most other Rhapsody albums: thrashy riffs, lush arrangements, epic scope, neo-classical shredding. This is by turns absolutely amazing and incredibly corny, but they are consistent. Unlike ideological soul mates Blind Guardian, there really are no stand out songs, just a cornucopia of epicness. Best one is five part nearly 20 minute abomination 'Heroes Of The Waterfalls' Kingdom', which contains a touch of black metal.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Stryper-The Covering (2011)

2011-08-11T12:11:00.000-04:00

The most successful Christian metal band of the 80's are back with an enjoyable set of classic rock and metal covers. Stryper prove that they are no Van Halen, not even Van Hagar, in their pitiful version of 'On Fire'. You are not a party band, reverends! No matter how candy assed they ever got, they were at their best when they stuck close to their Accept/Judas Priest/Styx inspired sound. The same is true here. 'Heaven and Hell', 'The Trooper', 'Set Me Free', and 'Over The Mountain' crackle with apocalypse and crusader heroism. Their party side is better expressed in The Scorpions' 'Blackout'. Still, this is not a band inspire by hedonism. But throughout, Micheal Sweet's soaring metal tenor carries the album, and the sound is more throughly metal than they have been since 'To Hell With The Devil'. Hopefully, their next album will be as full of fire and brimstone.

Rating: 8 out of 10