tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72123921075615022372024-03-19T09:47:25.873+01:00 Il Pozzo dei Dannati - The Pit of the Damned"Il Pozzo dei Dannati" è un blog dedicato quasi esclusivamente a musica metal underground.
"The Pit of the Damned" is a blog mostly focused on underground metal musicThe Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comBlogger4976125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-7683945603273229172024-03-11T21:12:00.000+01:002024-03-11T21:12:00.760+01:00Skeletal Remains - Fragments of the Ageless<div><b><a href=" http://www.secret-face.com/"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> http://www.secret-face.com/</span></a></b><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Wncx2gB_2GshPXO0uY6B5ofqsxstzt9nE96ZGtX5dlycatIQA48686lKQUAMYBlxt3jjUX3X1xRaa9MQsFy7hQOHSEUumRlLRd5ETsAt0gOj9xVxqsqLgT-hAstN1UiwK9qPBDE_bKDUbkZ22VteB3e9iTlK935PJlYZNeXGLlBB6hbKl3HFi5nf8LE_/w200-h200/a3986116572_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Brutal Death Metal</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Heavily DEATH and OBITUARY influence like the previous recordings ('Devouring Mortality' & 'The Entombment of Chaos'), they have more of their own sound to them on this release. The vocals are a little bit different too, less echo and reverb, just a grueling sound. The last two releases have been solid, and this one is definitely another "winner" so to speak. The leads are chaotic, the rhythms are chunk filled, and the recording quality is top-notch. These guys put together one creative platter for us death metal fans to incorporate it. Take the last two releases, put them combined into two, and then you have this one ultimately creative. Also features a Hate Eternal cover song entitled "Messiah of Rage."<br /><br />This release is pretty fast metal all in all and it's tight. This one is definitely a "screamer." They seemed to be on the cutting edge and more mature than the previous two releases. This one is another 45 minutes in length and by no means is it "boring." High energy and great riffs.<br /><br />I'm not one into lyrics in metal, just as long as the music is good, and the production quality is awesome, then I'm totally locked in. Anyway, the whole bulk of this album is interesting when you pick apart the riffs. Very good musicianship all the way through!<br /><br />I like the crunch tone guitar sound. And the leads are highly technical and a tad bit of reverb/delay on those navigating through the fretboard. The ultimate quality in sound, and the drums sound great. I dug this whole album, it was an entire masterpiece. Nothing to take away or add to it, the whole album is superb. I caught onto the fact that this album is utterly brutal. They really seem not only to be maturing, but also taking death metal to new heights. I would say that they're constantly maturing. They're taking it a step more brutal each succeeding release. And the guitars are done with ultimate precision! These native Californians sure as hell upped the brutality and are coming into their own, especially on here! (Death8699)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>(Century Media - 2024)<br />Score: 80<br /></b></span> <span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /><a href="https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/fragments-of-the-ageless-24-bit-hd-audio">https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/fragments-of-the-ageless-24-bit-hd-audio</a></b></span> </div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 772px; top: 660px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-43745932874624570342024-03-11T20:54:00.001+01:002024-03-11T20:54:12.997+01:00A/Oratos - Ecclesia Gnostica<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ad4sa8GQNlkTMykoKMeO_g03BePCdRoZV2ZXSF6cjMMBHiGHaTUGT1s_RDE-FXSqfZ1FUsz3I_mqlUa4NUhQailoyN7NeznFmSgLvvrYw5XNmIKRFQtcOzkode6DaMzfXmCrFF8pnZUakbBDwqRDokpbSaNOa4k5U7hJ0OPxyLTazXc5MAcI9scFO81x/w200-h200/a4094836211_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Atmospheric Black</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Non sembra ci sia voglia di cambiar politica in casa Les Acteurs de L’Ombre Productions, della serie squadra che vince non si cambia. Eppure, a un certo punto, inizierei a cercare qualcosa di più originale per evitare di incancrenirsi con proposte che rischiano di divenire un po' troppo scontate. Oggi mi trovo di fronte i parigini A/Oratos che provano a mischiare un po' le carte, muovendosi comunque nel panorama black di casa. 'Ecclesia Gnostica' è il loro primo album su lunga distanza, dopo l'EP 'Epignosis' uscito nel 2019. Ora, dopo un covid di mezzo, la band torna finalmente a far sentire la propria voce con sette nuovi brani che si muovono nei meandri di un black glaciale, contrappuntato da una vena mistico-esoterica che si declina attraverso alcune parti vocali salmodianti in un po' tutti i pezzi. Si parte dalle ritmiche infuocate dell'opener "Le Hiérophante", guidate comunque da una discreta ed epica melodia di fondo e dal dualismo vocale (black/pulito) di Aharon (che abbiamo peraltro avuto modo di incontrare recentemente anche con i suoi Griffon). Diciamo che se non ci fossero state queste parti declamate in francese, avrei tagliato corto nella recensione, descrivendo i nostri come una delle tante band seguaci dei dettami Swedish black dei Dark Funeral. Fortunatamente, ci mettono del loro e in quel caos sonoro generato, riescono addirittura a carpire la mia attenzione. Penso al pacato arpeggio che apre "Deuteros" e che ci dà modo di prender fiato dopo il martellamento asfissiante delle prime tracce. Poi la song prosegue tra le maglie sghembe di un black sinistro (o "gnostico", cosi come definito dalla band stessa). Ancora meglio, citerei le orchestrazioni adoperate nell'incipit di "Le Septième Sceau" (o nell'atmosferica "Ô Roi Des Eons"), un brano le cui trame chitarristiche evocano in un qualche modo la musica classica, un po' come fatto in passato da Dispatched o Windir, cosi come da sottolineare, c'è pure più ampolloso passaggio dai tratti sinfonici. Quello su cui lavorerei ora è una maggior ricerca di originalità, che già emerge a tratti nell'evoluzione di questo disco, ma che rimane spesso ancorata alla brutalità delle ritmiche. Per il resto, la strada imboccata sembra quella giusta, ma qualche accorgimento lo prenderei per il futuro. (Francesco Scarci)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>(LADLO Productions - 2024)<br />Voto: 70<br /><br /></b></span> <span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/ecclesia-gnostica">https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/ecclesia-gnostica</a></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-59929771155009618992024-03-11T20:23:00.003+01:002024-03-11T20:23:21.759+01:00Maledictive Pigs - Bloodshed<div>
<b><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">BACK IN TIME: recensione gentilmente concessa da Nihil Zine </span></span></b><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvpxRPgsa3yYd2u5S421ZVBNfW9QaHn3t6xWqw5fPJcNF_vEAb6YrTm26LxBdMu6Ibs4_drcyXgUkAUDkcoJfWuxMcN_HwSh1SsDSJiaLM1OW8VtfA7G3JBlgs279sA69kebu5nBL6j-wnJav3dTnCIDztmqSaT1zawVUkPZGqetWV7Yb3Pr2ex5j0CKB/w200-h197/7605.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Brutal Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Alla prima occhiata di copertina mi son detto: "...chi cacchio sono questi Maledictive Pigs???" In effetti non avevo mai sentito prima parlare di questa brutal death band teutonica giunta con questo 'Bloodshed' tagliava il traguardo del terzo album (su quattro totali/ndr)! Già, terzo album... devastante terzo album. Questi quattro tedeschi infatti si giostrano molto bene in un'eccellente brutal d'assalto che fonde le sue basi su bands come Deeds Of Flesh, Anasarca, primi Sinister e qualcosa dei primi Krabathor. Il risultato della proposta è interessante, soprattutto perché ben curato dal lato tecnico e sulla produzione, decisamente superiore alla media. Non ci sono pezzi che figurano più di altri, tutto il disco si ascolta piacevolmente senza mai annoiarsi. Maledictive Pigs rules!</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Cudgel - 2001)<br />Voto: 65<br /><br /><a href="https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Maledictive_Pigs/3113">https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Maledictive_Pigs/3113</a></span></b></span> </div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-23540022337862578452024-03-11T19:57:00.001+01:002024-03-11T19:57:14.744+01:00Lamentu - Liack<div>
<b><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">BACK IN TIME: recensione gentilmente concessa da Nihil Zine </span></span></b><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcoIYOOQmpyRtL7DWuJ1gh0hWNotLQRCrZyj9x0p14Bm-T74YDg4blNd3jTL6-BbzeSYbyxPNEFL3OzVjyIlJI0-SAdqTL0aKY17b3POcWNBE2WvnBz_Y9Ti_N7fTa2phXsvw4GjKL-M6bSeOgmPT31zDT22nWtnIoOEJtsGvCrlVE-iZPmy8bWFaCPdH/w197-h200/17327.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="197" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Black/Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Questa fu la terza produzione della Inch Prod., etichetta guidata dal sommo Agghiastru (Inchiuvatu, La Caruta Di Li Dei, Astimi, Visina, Ultima Missa, tanto per citarne alcuni): si trattava del debut album dei Lamentu che, dopo due interessanti demotape ('Erva Tinta' del ’98 e 'Aggrissu' del ’99), giungevano all’obiettivo della pubblicazione di questo 'Liack'. Insolito e affascinante è il concept lirico di questo progetto che vede Liotrum alla voce, alla chitarra e alle tastiere, Ummira al basso e Jafà alla batteria e alle percussioni (in sostituzione di Agghiastru). È infatti loro intenzione portarci nel regno di Liack governato dal demone Liack-Aru e situato nell’Africa nera. I testi (fatta eccezione per un paio di versi in inglese) sono tutti in dialetto siciliano e anche questo disco conferma (come le prime due uscite Inch Prod.) come tale dialetto sia adatto al metal estremo per via della sua cadenza dura e ormai marchio di fabbrica della "Mediterranean Scene". È trascinante e personale il mix musicale dei Lamentu: thrash/black/death supportato da un riffing coinvolgente in cui appare sempre una ben evidente linea melodica in stile mediterraneaneo. Il primo brano, "Trasuta", è un breve strumentale atmosferico che efficacemente ci trasporta verso il regno di Liack; già dal secondo, la title track, compare una delle caratteristiche principali della band, consistente nell’uso di percussioni etniche che ben si amalgamano nel concept generale e nel sound che è composto anche da efficaci melodie orientaleggianti, atmosferici mid-tempo e frequenti armonizzazioni delle melodie. L’ultimo brano “Demons In The Liack-Aru’s Slumber" ha il compito di trasportare l’ascoltatore tra i demoni che affollano il sonno di Liack-Aru tramite oscuri e ipnotizzanti campionamenti. La maggior parte dei pezzi di 'Liack' erano già presenti nei due demo della band e la struttura di questi brani è rimasta pressoché immutata. Ci sono comunque delle differenze che vorrei far notare tra lo stile della band ai tempi dei demo e quello attuale: nei demotape era più diffuso l’uso della tastiera (e compariva anche un flauto) e aveva un effetto più fascinoso, sognante e spiritato. D’altro canto, su 'Liack' è aumentato l’uso delle percussioni per le parti tribali; sarebbe stato ancora più interessante se insieme a quest’ultimo elemento si fossero trovati anche quegli interessanti arrangiamenti di tastiera e flauto tanto riusciti sui demo. Le parti vocali di Liotrum sono all’altezza della situazione e sono molto migliorate rispetto ai demo. Due parole sulla produzione: anche questo disco, come tutti quelli targati Inch Prod. gode di una produzione veramente underground (e completamente autogestita dalla band e da Agghiastru) che penso sia adatta ed efficace. Molto attento e curato è l’artwork del booklet in cui ci sono anche importanti informazioni su tutti i gruppi della "Mediterranean Scene". Con questo disco la Inch Prod. mise a segno un importante obiettivo: l'avanzamento della Mediterranean Scene!</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Inch Productions - 2001)<br />Voto: 70<br /><br /><a href="https://inchproductions.bandcamp.com/album/lamentu-liack-2001">https://inchproductions.bandcamp.com/album/lamentu-liack-2001</a></span></b></span> </div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-86822264429965852672024-03-09T09:37:00.002+01:002024-03-09T09:37:17.321+01:00Luring - Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2odLTMwyJVEMbLA9UYn_eDECKfoYhRiOjNHZTY6gHjxOrg4M3zAON1AwPP2fRcyfg_VggxP66BM4pzBnBR3vlfC0nuDUhJoMdZaa7f_PQPuMdTQVjxIDC784JUYR-z3I_MvEryCkhGeGkalAD69RP9KcyqKg97khg_wBZSvJ5fgq0Pf4CW-y875vyM-u/w200-h200/a1747262539_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Raw Black</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Luring is an interesting project based in Pennsylvania, US. This project belongs to a scene of bands that play a quite old-school form of black metal, hereditary of the '90s golden time of the genre. These projects have a particular mixture of rawness and atmosphere that I find particularly enjoyable. As it usually happens, some members of Luring participate in other similar projects, being their current side-project Azathoth’s Dream. Its debut album entitled 'Nocturnal Vampyric Bewitchment' is another very interesting piece of black metal, full of a dark atmosphere. <br /><br />Going back to Luring, after its first effort, which was just released a year before, the trio returns with its sophomore album entitled 'Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ', which has been released by the well-known label Iron Bonehead Productions. This fact obviously marks a step forward in the career of this band as it will receive a greater notoriety through the scene. The new opus is loyal to what we could expect from Luring and the aforementioned scene. 'Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ' is an honest testimony of the passion of the members for the metal black metal genre. The production is unsurprisingly raw, but not reaching the ‘low-fi’ level of certain bands, which I appreciate as some rawness is welcome, but to distinguish the instruments make the listener appreciate the music a lot more. The atmosphere is also a key element in Luring’s music, although the project tends to sound much rawer in certain songs, and particularly in some songs of the second half of the album. For example, the album opener "Where Forgotten Spirits Dwell" is a furious piece, where the guitars sound truly rough, and the drums have a relentless pace, but the atmospheric touch of the composition in certain moments create a more hypnotic feeling that I truly enjoy. Even more atmospheric is the next track, entitled "Strew Carcass of Christ", where the synthesizers play a major role. As it is in greater part a slower track, this ambience shines even more. An ambient interlude marks the transition to the already mentioned second half, which sounds a bit more brutal and less ambient infused on a couple of tracks. "Death is the Master I Obey" is a fine example of it. I do not imply that it lacks atmosphere, which is not the case, but the lack of keys and the darker and heavier tone of the guitars differ a little bit from previous songs. Even "Feral Spirit" seems to torture his throat even more, as his vocals sound more desperate and raspier. A couple of tracks follow similar patterns before the album concludes, retaking some of the atmosphere of its first half. These mentioned, both sides don’t differ too much, as they could be considered the two sides of the same coin. Personally, I prefer the songs where the synthesizers create a more captivating ambience, but it's up to each listener to make its own judgement. <br /><br />In any case, 'Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ' is a quite good album of pure black metal, where rawness and atmosphere cohabitate quite naturally as it always should be in this genre. (Alain González Artola)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Iron Bonehead Productions - 2023)<br />Score: 75<br /><br /><a href="https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/luring-triumphant-fall-of-the-malignant-christ">https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/luring-triumphant-fall-of-the-malignant-christ</a></span></b></span></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 711px; top: 825px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-2355868362942292492024-03-09T09:25:00.008+01:002024-03-09T09:25:50.092+01:00Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit<div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><b>http://www.secret-face.com/</b></a></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYWmUL2d69AVD8UWFfEkKE66a-tWROH1Kv5fsUjKOXAfZqBYhjLJP_1-rWnLO_lrPt-88HikVxJ-3erJ2eMOtOf1uXwvuElsTuiboyCBC0pPTqw6Hr22uUiKXttBteeCwYDEnteeCJ1-uuC-m64JsagUAY0GcItHDpb6zaIzGJKh3Utje6WhGSeVo9vhp/w200-h200/a3716311474_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Brutal Techno Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Canadian giants unleash another top-notch death metal release that's a little bit slower than their competing band Cryptopsy though Tomb Mold is a lot slower in their tempos but still ranked as death metal. These guys are more on the brutal end of the genre. Brutal vocals and guitar work. All is sounding original in their riffs and some of the songs contain clean portions, especially the outro song. It's rather good, however. <br /><br />The sound quality is good as well. Good mixing and production. Those breaks between the heavy guitar sound is refreshing. So it isn't "brutal" the entire way through, but rather their mixing heavy guitar licks with clean portions. There are some melodic parts too as well as some guitars which are fast and ferocious, the few that there are. This band seems to cover a lot of different portions of metal, but they still hold the death metal label. So that's good! They keep it ever-changing and eye-opening through your cranium.<br /><br />This is one of a better release of 2023 that has them on the top of the charts, despite the "C" average I'm seeing on here. My rank is above for them. And like the tempos, even though it's somewhat odd to have a death metal band that uses quite a bit of clean guitar. Reminds me a little of the older Opeth, but not exactly. The hoarse vocals to the clean guitars keeps them into a realm of their own. No clean vocals here, deep throat here and guitars that are mostly death metal. And leads that well accompany the music. Quite technical, but pretty well flawless!<br /><br />I would venture to say that this is a release that's got a variety of good licks in it and brutal vocals. I like the diversity, makes it more interesting and fluctuating. They don't mess around, as with their style, they keep you guessing as for what's going to happen next! Own it! (Death8699)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>(20 Buck Spin - 2023)<br />Score: 78<br /><br /></b></span> <span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/the-enduring-spirit">https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/the-enduring-spirit</a></b></span></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 727px; top: 685px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-69189403026978409222024-03-08T19:23:00.000+01:002024-03-08T19:23:16.118+01:00Monoscopes - Endcyclopedia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i3f1y19kT8vUO340i14sfxjIJhfc9l69kRu6TfIgtZ_hrB0eS4f5nCr8BL2q4qRiq8_8eLx-pMi9qRxNo-gO1fw0S9aWpTvtCTmETWQFZcKsNps0_aWUw97ap8NMUMIRNgu6Y0Du84nyuHAgrZk2YopaMsRbBrAfw792X4WWRtYZZC9DUiGuu4mTkCGJ/s700/a2495494473_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i3f1y19kT8vUO340i14sfxjIJhfc9l69kRu6TfIgtZ_hrB0eS4f5nCr8BL2q4qRiq8_8eLx-pMi9qRxNo-gO1fw0S9aWpTvtCTmETWQFZcKsNps0_aWUw97ap8NMUMIRNgu6Y0Du84nyuHAgrZk2YopaMsRbBrAfw792X4WWRtYZZC9DUiGuu4mTkCGJ/w200-h200/a2495494473_16.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Psych Rock</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Devo ammettere che mi sono sempre piaciute queste band ispirate dalla neo psichedelia, e il loro rifarsi, come nel caso dei Monoscopes, alla musica dei La's, è un toccasana. Quel modo di fare arte, tipico di questo genere musicale, di essere omogenei e coerenti con la propria musica, col rischio di risultare costantemente fuori moda, anche quando negli anni '90, le band potevano vantarsi di un buon seguito e il look e il taglio di capelli alla Tim Burgess, era trendy per i teenagers più scaltri di allora. Non griderò al miracolo per questa nuova band patavina, che per i miei gusti personali, rimane sempre un po' troppo alla larga dall'essere sonica e lisergica in maniera pesante, ma non posso negare che riesca a creare degli ottimi brani, cantabili e cristallini, e ben confezionati, con gusto e capacità, ripercorrendo le terre della neo psichedelia virata al pop d'autore e al folk. Poco contano le relazioni con Travis o in ambito folk rock, ai Camper Van Beethoven al netto del violino, o come dicono loro stessi, con il lato più morbido dei Velvet Underground, i Monoscopes, non tradiscono chi cerca questo tipo di sound, morbido e luminoso, contornato anche dai due bei video psichedelici di "Hey Atlas" e "The Electric Muse", usati per il lancio di questo nuovo disco. Per cercare di descrivere l'opera dei Monoscopes, aggiungerei un tocco della scena psych australiana con echi lontani alla The Dream Syndicate, un'andatura sempre moderata delle composizioni, con poche e controllate deflagrazioni soniche, nello stile dei The Third Sound, e una linea costante di rock evoluto e maturo. Se mi è concessa una critica, direi che l'approccio così soft del cantato, in alcune parti andava trattato con una mano più pesante a livello di effetti, per renderlo più interstellare: è il caso di "The Maker", dove la voce mi sembra troppo normale nei confronti delle incursioni di chitarra noise presenti nel brano, mentre in "This Silly Night", dove un leggero effetto eco si rivela ideale, per rendere una ballata standard, in una passeggiata lunare di scuola Mercury Rev. Questo è solo un punto di vista di un eterno innamorato dei suoni lisergici, e non cambia la mia idea sul fatto che 'Endcyclopedia', sia a tutti gli effetti un buon album, ricordando peraltro l'importante partecipazione di Tommaso Cerasuolo dei Perturbazione, di Francesco Candura dei Jennifer Gentle e di Paolo Mioni al basso in "Today Today Today". Nota di merito per "It's a Shame About You", che sembra un brano tra Swirlies e Weezer d'annata, con quel superbo tocco garage, vintage e retrò, proprio una splendida canzone. La ballata "The Thinghs That You Want to Hide", con appunto Cerasuolo come ospite, risente chiaramente della sua influenza, ha la luminosità e il fascino del sole in una giornata d'inverno, per una canzone che ti obbliga a dilatare le pupille verso l'infinito, mentre la conclusiva "Today Today Today", riporta l'orecchiabilità e il suono del paisley underground all'attenzione delle masse. "You're Gonna Be Mine", rilasciando una formula di suono più corposo e saturo di distorsione e reverberi, rimanda piacevolmente il mio udito ai gloriosi fasti dei mai dimenticati The Wedding Present, per un'altra affascinante emozione sonora. Disco da scoprire nei suoi sofisticati rimandi, nei suoi tanti cunicoli musicali nascosti. Vietato fermarsi al primo ascolto e da evitare l'ascolto a basso volume. (Bob Stoner)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Big Black Car Records - 2024)<br />Voto: 74<br /><br /><a href="https://monoscopes.bandcamp.com/album/endcyclopedia">https://monoscopes.bandcamp.com/album/endcyclopedia</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-83140147334257230362024-03-01T19:48:00.001+01:002024-03-01T19:48:15.109+01:00Griffon - De Republica<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhcwzsZeWCZM-0VSeQ9bl8uhAA5ZzB7FE0ShrokDc-rSV-DngwN7Sc1LzrzihxvuWYIZzxQBjEYBJgK30oES4IeSAVw9PzST1uJe1x_ggGIZve_E76EPMmpym2HemLthj14Hjuo22ZKXHLJZRz6wiyDBDuBAb1wUx0nIIwV8sUAF43jLDUier6iSTCJK8/w200-h200/a1068412736_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Symph Black</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Terzo album per i nostri amici Griffon, band parigina che abbiamo già avuto modo di ospitare qui nel Pozzo un altro paio di volte. 'De Republica' è il terzo album per il quartetto transalpino che continua a mostrarsi particolarmente ispirato, forse qui ancor più che in passato, grazie a un black/death che sembra incrementare quell'eredità sinfonico-goticheggiante che avevamo apprezzato in passato. E cosi, già l'iniziale "L'Homme du Tarn" (ispirata a un'icona antimilitarista francese, Jean Jaurès) regala grandi emozioni tra scorribande in territori estremi, rallentamenti dal taglio sinfonico e i vocalizzi del duo formato da Aharon e Antoine, che si muovono in molteplici territori, dallo scream efferato al pulito gotico, fino ad arrivare a un growling comunque espressivo. Complimenti, dopo il primo brano comprerei il disco a scatola chiusa. I nostri intanto proseguono nella narrazione della storia francese con brani altrettanto corposi, e la violenza espressa in "The Ides of March" ne è la prova, con un'alternanza tra furibonde ritmiche, parti più atmosferiche e altre ancor più sinfoniche che strizzano l'occhiolino ai nostri Fleshgod Apocalypse, ma anche alla musica classica, soprattutto nel comparto solistico di questo brano (ma da estendere poi anche agli altri). "À l'Insurrection" ha un piglio rutilante che ammicca tanto ai primi Dispatched quanto alle forme più orchestrali di black metal, il che palesa la grande personalità e fiducia dei nostri nel proporre un sound fresco che mancava da un po' in questa scena. Bel colpo, mi fa piacere notare la crescita costante dei Griffon, ancor più palese nella successiva "La Semaine Sanglante", forse il brano che più ho apprezzato, per quel suo approccio epico che mi ha evocato anche un che degli Emperor nelle partiture più agguerrite, senza scordarsi della bellezza degli assoli e delle pompose ed eloquenti linee melodiche. Insomma, tanta roba. Anche laddove i nostri partono col freno a mano tirato ("La Loi de la Nation"), per poi lasciarlo in una discesa vorticosa negli abissi, la band si dimostra costantemente ispirata e mai scontata. A chiudere il disco, dotato peraltro di una splendida copertina, ecco la title track, che ci regala gli ultimi sontuosi minuti di un'ottima quanto inaspettata release: qui, tra solenni narrazioni in stile Misanthrope, registrazioni di battaglie, una tensione crescente e un suono compassato ma sempre magniloquente, esempio della grandeur francese anche nella musica, i nostri chiudono in bellezza un disco che si appresta a posizionarsi nella mia top ten dell'anno. (Francesco Scarci)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(LADLO Productions - 2024)<br />Voto: 80<br /><br /><a href="https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/de-republica">https://ladlo.bandcamp.com/album/de-republica</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-43859623397428139622024-03-01T19:39:00.004+01:002024-03-01T19:39:31.275+01:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>L</b><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b><span><span>ooking for people willing to write reviews in The Pit of the Damned, are you interested to be part of our staff?</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b><span><span><br /><span>Write to: <a href="mailto:thepitofthedamned@gmail.com">thepitofthedamned@gmail.com</a></span><br /><span> </span><br /><span> </span><span>--------------------------------------------- </span><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span><br />Sei interessato a scrivere recensioni e far parte dello staff del Pozzo dei Dannati?</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b><span><span><span> </span><br /><span>Scrivi a: <a href="mailto:thepitofthedamned@gmail.com">thepitofthedamned@gmail.com</a></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: -27px; top: 2px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-87370466077225274252024-02-28T19:40:00.002+01:002024-02-28T19:40:43.856+01:00BS Bone – Cerberus Bone<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMqezwSa9S3tDB5HqMb3SDqp9acNS5yWW3wJnhyVfEep9fEruIbaTWyOscRZI-TmQ0iJh93k91bW-0Ch5pitsUQo1ZdvZTbIIPXzfTmH2Tv5wzG4YD4soPQZn4Aqc7bhd59LTYlzpiMuRDskBwA1vfG6q8u49Od9w4p8gpDAx9HjY3jnx-DG1pftJ5trG/w200-h200/a2941419465_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Hard Rock</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Album difficile da inquadrare questo nuovo lavoro dei molisani BS Bone, un disco carico di energia elettrizzante ma incredibilmente fuori tempo massimo sotto l'aspetto sonoro e compositivo. L'album si snoda bene e non rallenta mai, è dinamico e ben suonato, ha dei brani di sicuro effetto, che potrebbero mostrarsi dei singoli perfetti ma espone anche alcuni dettagli negativi. Una buona produzione rimette in pista quattro canzoni già presenti nel primo EP, ma mi destano dei dubbi alcuni dei suoni usati, che risultano come un incrocio tra il sound dei Mother Love Bone, vedi "Always a Cheater", che per il sottoscritto è una splendida canzone, e certo metal di fine '80, anche se qui le strutture si rifanno più alle sonorità di band degli anni '90 come i Mindfunk, o ancora al primo grunge, quello di gruppi ancora in erba che poi diventeranno famosi. Infine, sottolinerei l'uso del riverbero sulle voci che risulta datato e scontato, avrei osato qualcosa in più nell'effettistica. "Bad Influencer" nasconde qualcosa di hard rock vicino ai primi lavori degli Audioslave ed è trascinante, come "IDG (a Fuck)" del resto, anche se tutto è simile allo stile dei mitici e dimenticati troppo in fretta, The Almighty. Possiamo dire che il concetto compositivo è molto classico e segue sempre la logica giusta, senza mai porre deviazioni pericolose, e questo rende l'opera molto omogenea e compatta, e tolto il velo che li riconduce a certo rock duro dei '90s, bisogna ammettere che il disco funziona comunque, pur suonando in una maniera molto vintage, se accostato ai canoni standard di produzione metal odierna. La ballad "Panic and Silence" diventa un classico, "Dysfunctional Souls" ha un coro in stile Anthrax che è puro amarcord, e via fino alla fine, tra assoli pirotecnici perfettamente incastrati e giri di basso a dovere, anche se l'inizio della conclusiva "Suicide Journey" sembra affidato a un riff di Simon Gallup dei The Cure. 'Cerebous Bone' è un lavoro che può essere criticato sotto tanti aspetti, ma credo che riceverà anche tanta stima, visto che per certi versi, ignora quello che il metal offre in genere in epoca moderna, e il suo fascino retrò e la sua grande energia, unite a una ruvida genuinità, lo fanno elevare sopra tutta una serie di lavori appiattiti contemporanei. Ascoltate il riverbero nella voce di "99 Lions", che farà correre i vostri ricordi ai Motley Crue oppure ai White Lion, una cosa impensabile al giorno d'oggi, e sono sicuro che comunque questo disco conquisterà molti fans, sicuramente quelli che conoscono, hanno seguito e seguono l'evoluzione del genere in questione. Un disco interessante, che pecca solo nel suo essere debitore del suono e nelle idee di un'epoca passata ma che viene riportata in vita nel presente da una band viva, che ha voglia di esprimersi con tanto orgoglio e sano carattere. (Bob Stoner)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Overdub Recordings - 2023)<br />Voto: 70<br /><br /><a href="https://bsbone.bandcamp.com/album/cerberus-bone">https://bsbone.bandcamp.com/album/cerberus-bone</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-63990598613554153382024-02-28T19:07:00.000+01:002024-02-28T19:07:29.985+01:00The Pit Tips <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco Scarci<br /><br />Far Beyond - An Angel's Requiem<br />Ewigkeit - Radio Ixtlan<br />Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane<br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />--- <br />Death8699<br /><br />Cannibal Corpse - The Wretched Spawn<br />Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace<br />Death - The Sound of Perseverance<br /><br />--- <br />Alain González Artola<br /><br /> Autrest - Follow the Cold Path <br /> Fathomage - Autumn's Dawn <br /> Monasterium Imperi - Voices of Ecclesianum<br /></span><br /></span> The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-28120812387756114542024-02-26T19:20:00.000+01:002024-02-26T19:20:01.465+01:00Fires In the Distance - Air Not Meant For Us<div><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">http://www.secret-face.com/</span></b></a><br /> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnDbHTyfpLxs1Mg5f0cwshWNMOnzTE-SXXSPm5_XeFhbIrSKV4P2oA_q8BZeApKLsdYmJzSE2XSVsk7TNujBeJE81sYw7dvlG0ayCt1wWfuCWVTspGZLNp-gCC01u6WwWMYXzqbxJ5YX0q28nsvPSbbRZ3LuXSjNC55izJsXTMPxNjIfjThG9o9Er7s2P/s700/a0158876891_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnDbHTyfpLxs1Mg5f0cwshWNMOnzTE-SXXSPm5_XeFhbIrSKV4P2oA_q8BZeApKLsdYmJzSE2XSVsk7TNujBeJE81sYw7dvlG0ayCt1wWfuCWVTspGZLNp-gCC01u6WwWMYXzqbxJ5YX0q28nsvPSbbRZ3LuXSjNC55izJsXTMPxNjIfjThG9o9Er7s2P/w200-h200/a0158876891_16.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Death/Doom</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">A melodic wonder, what a great melodic death/doom metal release! It caught me captivated. The tempos for each track are slow. Hence, the doom metal label, the melodic sounds include the keys, guitars, yet the deep throat gives it that "doom" kind of sound. I had to order this immediately! The atmospheric sound mixed with the heavy guitar gives the album a sense of depressing sounds and melodic overtures.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">I like how they put everything together on here and the overall musicianship. It's definitely one of my favorites from 2023. The deep vocals keep it undergrounds and the fact that they never let up on the melodies. It's there throughout this release. Harmonies, melodies, brutal vocals, beautiful keys, solid production, and ever so changing sounds. All in the vein of melodic death/doom. These guys can go on for quite a while though I'm unsure of their debut album, I haven't heard it to compare this one to that. It came out I believe in 2020. That's not too bad, three years for a follow-up. Their future is bright. The guitars and keys are my favorite elements to this release. The vocals come the last, even though they're fitting to the music's style.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">There's only six songs on here, but it's roughly an hour in length. The songs are long with heavy though crying-like music. It's one big depressive episode, and it reaches up there everlasting. I think that the keys and the guitars are again the most prevalent on here,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">It seems as though the keys mix well with the rest of the music. A kind of atmospheric sense of self that is ever influx with pure drama. The guitars sound like they're tuned down to maybe "B" with utmost crunch thickness. They seem to be in a realm of their own.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">As the top 20 of 2023, these guys are up there with some of the best ratings on there. Simply flawless music! (Death8699)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>(Prosthetic Records - 2023)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Score: 80</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://firesinthedistance.bandcamp.com/album/air-not-meant-for-us">https://firesinthedistance.bandcamp.com/album/air-not-meant-for-us</a> </b></span><br /></div></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 692px; top: 722px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-52649881968897550172024-02-23T18:51:00.001+01:002024-02-23T18:51:19.459+01:00Insomnium - Anno 1696<div><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: trebuchet;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.secret-face.com/</span></b></a><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlBPTphKtJW44LXo99oFe49Ne-tQmCru6bcVKELiBAQKo7e-0KgPfAd9vEjUUZ0u6h565kYA1d99-B4P8z7A_gT4bwOyj8mXOhQHdHIzvidotf0-sSXOHjeJhrJjuVnNgqbyNb29u_XoKM2V9TpzlRWYxPMZooMX9pTh8cY81F0YJMpNmdT8CJR6ODO5t/w200-h200/a3569052482_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Melo Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Good release, I'm just having some animosity with the vocals, not so much the music. So instead of a top rating, I docked some points away because I didn't care for the voice on this album. It usually contains a barometer into my writing up on the band. Sure the intensity is there, I suppose it's an acquired taste as to how much I'd like to enjoy most of this. The screaming is all right, just sort of growing on me, I suppose. I do think that the music is critical here, and in retrospect I think it's definitely the driving force to this album. They sure are an intense band that bring about their all influences, be it At The Gates, or bands within the melodic death arena.<br /><br />Solid recording. No complaints there really, and it seems like the more I hear of the vocals, I like them in small increments. The vocals and guitars I think are the segue into a solid release that this album is and therefore accepting the most good out of it, I must do!<br /><br />Mixing was also good, and if you notice that they've signed with a major label (Century Media). That got them deep into some fame that they must take home and the band shall flourish in this genre. They are by no means as good as say Arch Enemy's old work but maybe that's a band that's more established since they've been around in the metal world since '96, Arch Enemy that is. These guys are not from Sweden though, they're from a Finnish act. They definitely got some good positive ratings on this one, and rightfully so! The music takes everything away. They kind of make me think of Children of Bodom as well, in the vein of Hatecrew Death Roll'.<br /><br />Love the melodic guitar, and the leads are pretty decent! Overall, this album (for me) went from when I first heard it as a maybe 75 or 70 rating to 80. The experimenting was all there and the moods with the guitars are ever so wicked. They're not totally in your face melodic death. They're pretty experimental in sounds, and it fits the mood if you're heavy into melodic death like I am. Definitely one of the top releases in 2023.<br /><br />If you have a way to get a song or two to take a listen to, I think it's the best idea as to see if they're going to be on your radar. Check them out, melodic death freaks, or just lovers of extreme metal! (Death8699)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Century Media - 2023)<br />Score: 80<br /><br /><a href="https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/anno-1696">https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/anno-1696</a></span></b></span><br /></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-70247042830802608582024-02-22T18:36:00.008+01:002024-02-22T18:36:57.611+01:00Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite<div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><b>http://www.secret-face.com/</b></a></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfBFmZhD6Q_SEEnJpXkDtX-n11AYgeprGSE5ZN-p0jUDXZjHj6JSW40V5rk6yxfe-MlLe-D-hA0QrQ1SH8ny_Do1k6hEd9fQSg21hCzSkGAWpabOL8vPkhK0z0cgxOB19Ic39jWpTNsFTKntTWC6oPnT1PsS-CB3kcNijejD6h6VUcOpSnjO1snbpwl0f/w200-h200/a1425566417_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Progressive Death Metal</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Loud, blasphemous, and never letting up, Cattle Decapitation's 'Terrasite' is in my opinion one of the best metal releases of last year. Let me explain. The vocals take on one aspect of the album, one screaming and one hoarse throat. The music, the drums, and the production quality is immaculate. You find the vocals always fluctuating, the music brutal, and this whole release from start to finish is never-ending death metal. The only thing that took me a little bit of time accepting were the screaming voice. But I like how they take it back and forth. The tempos are ever-changing, the intense drums and the original sounding guitar riffs are enticingly invigorating.<br /><br />This is the first album that I've heard from the band, and they have quite a discography. I couldn't pick a better way to find them being listed in MetalInjection.net's best of 2023. I felt that way as previously mentioned. And well, actually this release has vocals in three different types: screaming, hoarse, and clean. Hence, the progressive death metal diagnoses. They cover it all in almost an hour in length.<br /><br />For most of this release, it is intense. The closing song entitled "Just Another Body" is where the progressive sound in the vocals/music takes on. Most of this album does fluctuate. But most of it in retrospect is death metal. I mean fast and ferocious death metal.<br /><br />The intro gets you pumped in what you're about to hear: ferocious riffs/music. I mean, ear-piercing. Every part of this album is filled with intensity, and where they want to slow it up in the outro song is fine because most of it never lets up. The lead guitar, rhythm, and every aspect of vocals that you can imagine is well received. But get ready for some extreme intensity. One of my outstanding monuments, you can imagine. Coming from death metal, turning into progressive death metal. But most of this release is blistering and uncompromising. These guys do well on the songwriting aspect. What an original and talented act of whom knows how to blare in your eardrums with this unimaginable and ferocious extreme metal! (Death8699)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Metal Blade - 2023)<br />Score: 85<br /><br /><a href="https://cattledecapitation.bandcamp.com/album/terrasite">https://cattledecapitation.bandcamp.com/album/terrasite</a></span></b></span></div> </div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 682px; top: 737px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-16427272086914367462024-02-22T18:13:00.007+01:002024-02-22T18:13:45.738+01:00Azathoth’s Dream - Nocturnal Vampyric Bewitchment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEf7OYMXUW9f8QcL6cv_8HpTKMUuhVvbZnJYCTH-p8yTN6y4m72PeMvJHBE01CfXJ6mQzOGDEnSZTMQC4QH2PgAjAyKS48MeRphyphenhyphenMEFmlU5nyYKlAyLgFghHDKb0w6IupoKkryT9odjXzEbeDVWZCUBZ_6CKMQ6LgSoQ389v95ZKYbUHVW5HX1Bj_b4Uh/w200-h200/a3968742741_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Raw Black Metal</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Hailing from the US, Azathoth’s Dream is a new one-man band, whose debut EP entitled 'Necromanticism', caught the attention of a well-known label like Iron Bonehead Productions. Apart from this, there is little information about this project, so we will let the music speak, which is obviously the most important thing here. <br /><br />As mentioned, Iron Bonehead is set to release the first full length of this obscure project. The first effort is entitled 'Nocturnal Vampyric Bewitchment'. The album title and the dark artwork give a clear clue about how this project sounds. Azathoth’s Dream’s debut album shows its devotion to black metal’s '90s golden era and more particularly to these bands tagged as “vampiric black metal”, where the sound is an interesting mixture of rawness, melody, and atmosphere. And this is exactly what we can find in this album. Consisting of nine tracks and lasting less than 28 minutes, this effort gets right to the point. After a haunting intro, the fury begins with the ferocious "Instatiable Sanguine Thrist". As soon as the song begins you will notice the murky production which is typical in this sort of bands. The lacerating high-pitched vocals are combined with the expected tremolo picking guitars melodies. Even though the production is remarkably raw, the guitars are able to create some melodic harmonies and a bewitching atmosphere, which will be a constant through the whole album. This is what makes Azathoth’s Dream music so enjoyable, it gets the right balance between aggression and melody, as it still sounds loyal to the underground. Another good point of this song and the album overall is the pace, it never focuses too much on being fast, as slow, and mid-temp sections are also adequately used. Especially captivating songs like "The Grace" and "The Moor" obtain fantastic results doing this. Furthermore, the addition of some atmospheric and even majestic elements creates glorious and lasting melodies that you want to listen to over and over again. A track like "Extinguish the Light" shows in its third minute length a good range of riffs, being some of them particularly crushing and raw. The contrast between this heaviness and the inclusion of atmospheric keys is again very well-done and makes the tracks very alluring. The rest of the album follows very similar patterns, but the inspired work with the guitars, the always changing pace, alongside the excellent atmospheric resources never fail, and consequently let you desire that the album would last a bit more. <br /><br /> 'Nocturnal Vampyric Bewitchment' is undoubtedly an honest and outstanding homage to the classic '90s black metal scene, where rawness and atmosphere coexisted greatly. The tastefully created compositions and its short duration, leave the listener wanting more, and this is indeed a good foundation for the hopefully, next album of this project. (Alain González Artola)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Iron Bonehead Records - 2023)<br />Score: 80<br /><br /><a href="https://azathothsdream.bandcamp.com/album/nocturnal-vampyric-bewitchment">https://azathothsdream.bandcamp.com/album/nocturnal-vampyric-bewitchment</a></span></b></span></div> </div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 659px; top: 797px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-32219040689901699412024-02-16T20:13:00.001+01:002024-02-16T20:13:02.762+01:00Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg For Death<div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><b>http://www.secret-face.com/</b></a></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfIWGEeOuxc9tGp03pNOWaay99F0kpfD46CJnO5sbaqQsD3YtrP28VPN79yT_uVbaZEU9QFIexLocy1BJFu1YlqZON9yEnwfHXjG_T1u5s6MrGbtgTFCUTNYmPYzWWk1aEKnFqCTAdxzTm9DYA9RuUxcIZGVc6u6CXDc-VoaictnfIxHCAZioL8smX8Pp/w200-h200/a3403903361_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Brutal Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Immaculate release, better than 'Wrong One To Fuck With', their previous release. What an onslaught of brutal death metal! The vocals seem to be the same as their predecessor, but the riffs are a lot better this time around. These guys know what they're doing, a heavier yet technical release yet again. But it seems like they put more time in writing this one. Some people shy away from this band for whatever reason, but in my opinion, if you like death metal, this one is no one to fuck with! The technicality is there, but the rhythms are tight, making this release even more intriguing than the previous album. They just are a notch up from that one, and you'll hear it if you compare the previous to this one.<br /><br />They take off from their predecessor, only the songwriting (to me) is better. The riffs stick out the most and (of course) the burly vocals. They fluctuate and there are two members that are trader off in this department. I feel like there's more emphasis on the music rather than the vocals.<br /><br />I would classify them to be not only brutal death/grindcore but also technical death metal, which makes them very diverse. I liked this one from start to finish. And I'm showing support for the band by purchasing the CD. The vocals go well with the music because you have that heavy-duty sound of the axe and burly voice along with it. It's uncompromising death metal mostly, despite what I said previous and just to generalize. The guitars are immaculate. This album is intense the whole way through it, and they even put in some melodic guitar riffs alongside the brutal intent. There's really nothing that I would change here, even the production quality was quite good!<br /><br />Lead guitars were good as well! But mostly, I like the rhythms with the vocals. It's quite immaculate on how they chose to proceed in this recording. All the songs are good, you can just take a listen if you attempt to dispute me over this. Amazing metal quality from start to finish! (Death8699)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Relapse Records - 2023)<br />Score: 75<br /><br /><a href="https://dyingfetus.bandcamp.com/album/make-them-beg-for-death">https://dyingfetus.bandcamp.com/album/make-them-beg-for-death</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-13054021585188648922024-02-16T20:00:00.006+01:002024-02-16T20:00:45.866+01:00Esoteric - Epistemological Despondency <div><b><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;">BACK IN TIME:</span></span></b><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5AMIoe_vZuKP-3_hThLtgpKSSWU6k4PvIiuiIigu4cm2CQgZdnu7fpH38OvaPHsh_M4WFa5Yulx4eQ4iBhJS8Is9TI8JurR0SGCODqku5bwYHdLtMyVSMiUOy-oDXZDGW_fN1tB80JsLttGZjzjMl9nEGfZYfskH_sX-sZGCsB_yhf4_uggfZjESPISS/w200-h199/1320.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Funeral Doom</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Sono passati 30 anni, ben tre decadi dall'uscita di questo memorabile lavoro che risponde al nome di 'Epistemological Despondency', atto primo dei britannici Esoteric. Era peraltro sempre la Aesthetic Death a far uscire una release che torna oggi in digipack, edizione limitata e rimasterizzata, un evento che celebra la storica uscita di un doppio cd che probabilmente ha fatto la storia in ambito funeral doom e, al contempo, inaugura la Vynil Series dell'etichetta inglese. E allora che dire di nuovo di un disco che già il fatto che duri ben 88 minuti per sei brani, rappresenta già il manifesto programmatico della band originaria di Birmingham. Ah Birmingham, quante ne hai viste, dai Judas Priest ai Napalm Death, passando per i Black Sabbath, fino ad arrivare agli Esoteric appunto. Esoteric che con questo lavoro pongono una pietra miliare di un genere, cosi come avevano fatto i loro illustri concittadini. E allora, se ancora non conoscete questo ambizioso e mastodontico album, non potete far altro che lasciarvi avvinghiare dalla morsa mortifera dell'allora sestetto (dotato di tre chitarristi) guidato da Greg Chandler. Vi accompagnerà già dall'introduttiva "Bereft" (20 minuti!!) in un viaggio nel profondo della vostra psiche, tra chitarre ultra ribassate, atmosfere super psichedeliche condite da voci che rimbalzano come l'eco contro le pareti, mentre le chitarre producono caleidoscopici e camaleontici riff. La musica vi entrerà cosi dentro, arrivando a toccarvi direttamente le budella, estraniandovi dal mondo che vi circonda. Vi renderete presto conto che questo sarà uno dei tanti effetti psicotropi in grado di generare questo disco, visto che la successiva "Only Hate (Baresark)" potrebbe sembrarvi semmai un tributo ai Napalm Death di 'Scum', visti i soli due minuti e 40 a disposizione, affidati a ritmiche incendiarie grind e vocalizzi animaleschi. Esperimento stravagante che serve forse a spezzare la monoliticità dell'opener prima di affidarvi ai 19 asfissianti minuti di "The Noise of Depression", una song che si affida nuovamente ad atmosfere iper dilatate, almeno per i primi cinque minuti, per poi sfociare in territori che potrebbero evocare un altro (capo)lavoro uscito un anno prima, 'Transcendence into the Peripheral' dei Disembowelment per poi sprofondare nuovamente in lugubri e pachidermiche atmosfere funeral. "Lamented Despondency" apre il secondo terzetto di brani con suoni peculiari in sottofondo, ma quando attaccano le cavernose vocals di Greg, vi renderete ben presto conto di essere stati catapultati in un altro incubo a occhi aperti. "Eradification (of Thorns)" suona più ruvida, forse perchè sembra mostrare un retaggio ancorato al death doom dei My Dying Bride degli esordi, con qualche ammiccatina anche ai Cathedral di 'Forest of Equilibrium', anche se le demoniache vocals del frontman sembrano distanziarci un po' dai due colossi inglesi. Chiusura affidata ai 26 minuti (si avete letto bene) di "Awaiting My Death", una maratona vera e propria, una song che da sola avrebbe potuto costituire un disco a sé stante, una traccia ancor più liquida delle precedenti tra partiture arpeggiate, un'effettistica ricercata, echi e riverberi ancor più forti, derivanti dalla psichedelia dei famigerati anni '70, che fanno forse ricadere la band nel funeral forse solo per le growling vocals. Non temete perchè l'ossessività del doom farà breccia nelle vostre anime ormai straziate anche nel resto della song, che vanta peraltro un fantastico assolo che chiude un super pezzone per un disco quasi unico nel suo genere, che merita di stare nella collezione di tutti gli appassionati di queste sonorità. (Francesco Scarci) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"> </span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Aesthetic Death - 1994/2023)<br />Voto: 90<br /><br /><a href="https://www.aestheticdeath.com/artists.php?mode=details&artist=esoteric">https://www.aestheticdeath.com/artists.php?mode=details&artist=esoteric</a></span></b></span></div></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 130px; top: 19px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-57167930677155654032024-02-14T21:09:00.003+01:002024-02-14T21:09:51.779+01:00Katatonia - Sky Devoid of Stars<div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.secret-face.com/</span></a></b></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoociMYYferEFC7MfiuA37CmBn2hOW928EDhWOZkkcbgTJn9jgN5WJbBrnj7IwzQnSQJlKNIAaio9ze9JU-LLijwIEg5iUErst1p7bXT9YCwY1JlJ42SFhnAK-3e__DeJRd6UhcDSuA6xHvSlXzKAbLGNyeWU7M2VuvBCIXguhM9e8u2a3KtImQPqW1OL/w200-h200/a1893181602_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Alternative Metal</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Well, this metal is more on the alternative side of that genre, very eclectic! I liked this whole album, there were really no peaks and valleys in it, it was solid the whole way through. I didn't play favorites with any of the songs, either. They were all good, the 11 tracks featured a bonus song. I kind of didn't want this to end, it was so mesmerizing. It's anything but aggressive though the roots are still in that genre, I wouldn't call this alternative rock really like see more modern Anathema. This band is Swedish based and a lot of excellent albums are from that country, especially melodic bands. That would be At The Gates, Dismember, et al though those are really heavier bands. Dark Tranquillity and Arch Enemy are other metal bands that are melodic too!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">The recording quality was quite good. The instruments were well mixed too, and I'd have to say that it's a more romantic sort of recording, featuring more clean vocals throughout. That's what made this album so appealing if you're not expecting anything heavy. It's just not there on here!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">I kind of didn't want this album to end! But it met the mark in my top albums for 2023. It would be the one that I've held most in high esteem for that genre, and others that are a bit heavier would be Fires In The Distance. They're melodic too but a little bit heavier. And good news that yet another Dark Tranquillity album is coming out soon they've just finished with that recording so my sources say! It's a year that has done well with metal in 2023. This year, in terms of melodic bands, Everdying is another melodic band that's heavier though and much more aggressive than Katatonia. Anyway, all the songs on this Katatonia release are favorites. I can't site one that's better than another. They all have a special place in their discography.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Not to digress like I did previously, this is something that's so esoteric and surreal! They're not balls out intensity, it's wholly melodic with so many intriguing instruments in the mix that are essentially clean. Basically, they have light-to-metal guitars and keys that play well with the vocals.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">I think this is my favorite release from the band. It's so consistent, just don't expect it to be balls out heavy the element here is "feel" opposed to aggression. These guys take melodicism to the next level with genius syndrome effects and essence, as I'll revisit my previous state. Check it out! (Death8699)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Napalm Records - 2023)<br />Score: 85<br /><br /><a href="https://katatonia.bandcamp.com/album/sky-void-of-stars">https://katatonia.bandcamp.com/album/sky-void-of-stars</a></span></b></span></div></div> <div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 672px; top: 834px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-4910890049494463472024-02-14T20:56:00.002+01:002024-02-14T20:56:50.294+01:00Dominion of Suffering • Phobonoid - Split <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioauaBgxFE3U6OhRwtRbM20rhHXDCSpUEUtpQzUSiFhb95ptHKR9ZffmbaBSKuu1K5W8JRSKN4y03z6pfGjTtdc3HcmMADGMtFONpOvK3d2FJfAQaj2buNOIHX_xxKZD2lH__e9cznth5i49ELwNvTYJ73Rstnkn38gdaV5XZkQ762P4gq-Y02yWBSauN9/w200-h200/a0802814910_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Black/Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Split album in casa Godz ov War Production che mette insieme i nostrani Phobonoid con gli elvetico/slovacchi Dominion of Suffering per quaranta minuti di vorticose, sanguinarie e intriganti sonorità estreme. Sono proprio questi ultimi ad aprire le danze con un sound sparato ai mille all'ora che ci annichilerà con la furia delle sue ritmiche e di belluine screaming vocals. Quello che mi sorprende durante l'ascolto di "The Way of Destruction", ma ancor di più in "Descendant of the Fallen Gods", è la capacità del quartetto di coniugare il black con porzioni heavy metal anni '80, come se questo lavoro fosse stato concepito ormai 40 anni fa. Interessante poi il fatto di proporre qualche assolo che potrebbe evocare i fasti del thrash/death teutonico (questo lo si evince anche in alcune linee di chitarra), cosi come pure porzioni ritmiche che paiono ispirarsi all'oscurità dei Celtic Frost. Decisamente di un piglio diverso la proposta di Lord Phobos, il mastermind che si cela dietro al moniker Phobonoid, che già abbiamo avuto modo di apprezzare in passato per quel suo black sperimentale. "Cosmonauta Eterno I" ci impiega però oltre due minuti a ingranare ma per fortuna ne dura circa dieci e mezzo. Qui la one man band trentina torna a deliziarci con suoni dallo spazio profondo, quel cosmic black freddo e cibernetico, capace invece di scaldarmi l'anima con quelle partiture atmosferiche in cui ammicca ai Blut Aus Nord o ai Progenie Terrestre Pura, soprattutto nella seconda metà del brano, ove le vocals rimangono in sottofondo e il driver del brano è dato dalle melodie sci-fi del polistrumentista italico. Ottimo, come sempre, ma devo ammettere di essere già un fan dei Phobonoid. "Cosmonauta Eterno II" riduce il numero dei giri del motore, con un'atmosfera mortifera, quasi catacombale, fonte di disagio interiore grazie ai suoni pilotati da un plumbeo basso e dalle vocals mefitiche del frontman. Il flusso melodico si canalizza poi attraverso essenziali linee di chitarra e porzioni di synth che rendono la proposta più bombastica all'ascolto e che confermano le eccelse qualità di Lord Phobos. L'ultima traccia è poi un outro ambient che segna la fine di un nuovo viaggio interstellare in compagnia dei Phobonoid. (Francesco Scarci)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Godz ov War Productions - 2023)<br />Voto: 70<br /><br /><a href="https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/dominion-of-suffering-phobonoid">https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/dominion-of-suffering-phobonoid</a></span></b></span></div><p></p></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-18654675989141025612024-02-14T20:15:00.002+01:002024-02-14T20:15:30.212+01:00Zmarłim - Ziemie Jałowe <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfdCujdx4_RfqaYu0ATDeIol8TrY_zZuNCSk7dC2RGJahMuT8z_K8Yg8lQqIZ18_yXnmNdGuvxIbeLHF-Oxq2a4FY6IRv082GPOCQpEU7ahEm_A67yloFk5iA1Qr302N9kZow_-Ukkk7kVlpl9I2HoA_rvz1PBISO-MR88P1SkzcQhpdJ4n-HXblQG8mT/w200-h200/a1477407453_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">#PER CHI AMA: Black/Death</span></b></span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Stranamente gli Zmarłim non sono riportati su Metal Archives, quindi non starò troppo a tediarvi su che album sia il cui qui presente 'Ziemie Jałowe' nella discografia della band polacca (ma vi direi che quello di oggi è in realtà l'EP del 2018 con una nuova cover, e con l'aggiunta di un breve intermezzo ambient e un nuovo brano). Per chi non li conoscesse, vi basti sapere che il trio originario di Konskie propone un black alquanto caustico, di quelli che non lasciano troppo spazio alla melodia, ai fraseggi ricercati o all'avanguardismo. Le prime tre tracce sono datate 2018 e ci si potrebbe aspettare che suonino più grezze rispetto alle successive, palesandosi con un suono che evita troppi spargimenti di sangue, dimostrandosi chirurgico nell'esecuzione, nelle rasoiate ritmiche, cosi come negli inaspettati rallentamenti pseudo-atmosferici della lunga "Szuflady" o nelle glacialità delle sue chitarre. Diciamo che il terzetto polacco offre una proposta piuttosto tradizionale per il genere, differenziandosi magari da altri colleghi, per soluzioni chitarristiche un filo sghembe ("Wędrowcy"), inserite in un contesto davvero privo di compromessi. Detto dell'inutile intermezzo strumentale, focalizziamoci maggiormente su "Patrzą Na Nas Tylko Satelity" che ipotizzavo meno grezza rispetto alle precedenti. La sensazione comune è invece che i nostri siano diventati ancora più sporchi e cattivi con influenze che spaziano dal punk/hardcore al grind/death, con una violenza tale da non lasciare prigionieri e sprigionare anzi una malvagità che sembrava quasi inespressa nei precedenti pezzi. Staremo a sentire in futuro che direzione prenderanno i Zmarłim, per ora provate a dargli un ascolto. (Francesco Scarci)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Godz ov War Productions - 2023)<br />Voto: 65<br /><br /><a href="https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ziemie-ja-owe">https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ziemie-ja-owe</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-52318236567568223422024-02-11T22:47:00.003+01:002024-02-12T23:28:01.198+01:00Suffer Yourself - Axis of Tortures<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlBFWP3GS2YIVhFaCa24BnEHzObL8N85u1hVVchyphenhyphensq047qhfDrdtRal9E3HlQFJmWVW91kj5nbl2JaD3M0Zqe5PrOF4oSYYOZrIt9sJ2OVhlKAlSdYiC-GOxFXf1sTvtckqo_TKsiH8Iu-WfOZ_yA3U_fzDE1tVH1udbMjx5rv4q75dmJQDAuOeVDS_sH/w200-h200/a0861741857_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Funeral/Doom</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">Quel che si suol dire un facile album da recensire... Si perchè qhuello degli svedesi (ma in realtà originari di Kiev) Suffer YourSelf, è un'angosciante proposta di un'ora tonda tonda di funeral death doom. 'Axis of Torture', quarta opera del quartetto, è un disco di quattro pezzi più intro e outro, quindi potrete immaginare come quella da affrontare sia in realtà una staffetta di quasi 15 minuti per ognuno dei pezzi inclusi, fatta di suoni soffocanti, annichilenti la mente e l'anima grazie a sonorità che, già dall'iniziale "Axis Insanity", ci stritolano nella morsa di un plumbeo funeral doom che vede alternarsi a violente schitarrate death, mentre la voce cavernosa del frontman, affronta altrettanto leggere tematiche legate alla sofferenza, al dolore e alla disperazione. Lo ribadisco, un disco facile facile, anche nell'ascolto. Ovviamente, continuo a essere ironico, però i Suffer Yourself (un nome, un programma) ci mostrano come oggi sia ancora possibile proporre funeral doom, senza scadere nel problema del "già ascoltato". Questo perchè i nostri sono abili costruttori di ossessive partiture al limite della tensione emotiva, a cui accostare quelle accelerazioni death che strizzano l'occhiolino indistintamente a Incantation o Disembowelment, mentre tutto il disco potrebbe rievocare i fasti funerei dei primissimi My Dying Bride. La differenza con questi ultimi sta però in una maggiore classe dei nostri che si declina in più raffinate partiture atmosferiche e in una maggiore cura dei suoni. La prima traccia (anzi la seconda per diritto di cronaca) quindi supera di sicuro la prova, lasciando il campo poi ai 17 minuti di "Axis Despair", che risulta essere ancor più asfissiante nel suo monolitico incedere che si dipana attraverso un incipit che sembra stringerci al collo, generando pensieri negativi e mortiferi, con quelle stridule chitarre in sottofondo, raddoppiate da un altro strato di suoni che non possono far altro che produrre incubi a livello subconscio. E pian piano, i nostri aumentano i giri del motore, mentre le voci si fanno più demoniache, il suono ancor più mastodontico tra un rifferama compatto e profondo, e una serie di assoli alla sei corde, a rendere il tutto più convincente e accattivante. Ma i Suffer Yourself non sono certo dei pivelli e la loro esperienza maturata attraverso 13 anni di vita e quattro album, nonchè il mastering di Greg Chandler (Esoteric, Lychgate), li consacra a essere una valida alternativa ai mostri sacri del genere, e penso a Evoken o My Shameful. E arriviamo ai dieci minuti e mezzo di "Axis Pain", che sembrano quasi una passeggiata rispetto alle due precedenti mostruose tracce, complice anche una maggior ricercatezza sonora, almeno nelle linee iniziali della song, prima di perdersi nei labirinti psicotici di un death metal poco affabile, direi sghembo e malato, che si saprà alternare a porzioni atmosferiche e melodiche per un risultato di sicuro valore. "Axis Time" si apre con il cantico del soprano Kateryna Osmuk che, non solo è responsabile delle backing vocals growl del disco e della batteria, ma ci delizia per alcuni secondi con la sua magnifica e raffinata ugola. Poi il canovaccio non muta poi di molto nel resto della traccia, se non per proporre qualche parte di tastiera più spettrale, cosi come stralunate linee di chitarra o eleganti arpeggi che confermano l'ottimo lavoro dei nostri. Ora spetta a voi armarvi di santa pazienza e affrontare questa indolente discesa verso gli abissi dei Suffer Yourself. (Francesco Scarci) </span><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Aesthetic Death - 2023)<br />Voto: 75<br /><br /><a href="https://levtkvlt.bandcamp.com/album/axis-of-tortures">https://levtkvlt.bandcamp.com/album/axis-of-tortures</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-52895231575794389652024-02-08T19:53:00.000+01:002024-02-08T19:53:26.039+01:00Satanic Warmaster - Aamongandr <div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="http://www.secret-face.com/"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: medium;">http://www.secret-face.com/</span></b></a></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6L_Lb_MkXA6AVJmSt2w1MRcJJ3H2CaF8Nbn8Ft-2r-HWUO5sWY4GiNR2gXK50zJIqhgtfrejMLMLn1dxNLlhvqnrr3UjxnpDOw0whVVaLECpeBYSa9FsCAsO8NgnKXSNHE3hII8h-sIwycZhlngWb6d5KWEcRWSNAhSxaaL7mjaT95-Ab-rZzZswMhoF/w200-h200/1103735.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Black/Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">I'm surprised that this album didn't get much playtime for listeners or fans of pure black metal. It's one of my favorite releases from 2022. This LP is about 40 minutes in six songs. Ultra powered metal that stays uncompromising! It doesn't really let up in intensity. Full-blown metal.<br /><br />I like the fact that the vocals don't change throughout, and the music plays some great melodies. The raw production makes it loud and uncompromising. These guys mean business, and I love the way the music goes with the vocals. The songs are pretty fast with some keys in the background making it sound more evil than ever. They really make a statement with their blistering music. It's quite an amazing release. The melodies are top-notch, and every song deserves praise! The blast beating leaves a hole in your cranium, and the keys make it sound even more drastically underground. I made sure that I'd buy the CD from Hells Headbangers.<br /><br />There's nothing that's really poor to say about this album, it shines the whole way through. It's totally evil and brutal. The production seems as though it was such that it was so raw in sound, and the mixing was also top-notch. I really love this release, it has so many great elements to it.<br /><br />I don't need to know what they're saying lyrically, that I'll leave with the band/album. From a musical perspective, these guys know exactly how to make a black metal album that is totally underground. It's worth checking out and given a chance to get a lot of spins! (Death8699)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Werewolf Records - 2022)<br />Score: 75<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/satanic.war.terror">https://www.facebook.com/satanic.war.terror</a></span></b></span></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 677px; top: 698px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-5758377719508903372024-02-08T19:38:00.008+01:002024-02-08T19:38:58.372+01:00Eternal Storm - A Giant Bound to Fall<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rrRhaFlHRL50HStegFrCxwT_hEOuFTg5qY_FFecz1DySyZNQ0xIypmRyThqWMqlGmqL7vvaTIJwd-QenVjZbM1ZlSc35AJRbWYJUiadKe39A71ofE4e4ZjwuIgBLlBgGh0_DDIPMPnwDiM-d21frfqp0frD0ChqVxOUUo-gvTkA9EFpUk_QGFfmBqU1L/w200-h200/a2601943870_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#FOR FANS OF: Prog/Melo Death</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Three years ago, I was lucky enough to review Eternal Storm’s debut effort entitled 'Come the Tide', a genre refreshing first album which impressed me a lot. Created in Madrid back in 2009, although the band relocated to Scotland some time ago, Eternal Storm needed a few years to release a full-length album, but the wait was worth of the time. Firmly rooted in the melodic death metal genre, the Spaniards reached a great balance between aggression, atmosphere, and tasteful melodies. For this reason, I was reasonably hyped with the fact that the band is set to release its sophomore album 'A Giant Bound to Fall' this February, with the always reliable label Transcending Obscurity Records. <br /><br />Surpassing a great debut always puts some pressure on the band and this new album needed to be something especial, at least, to continue carving a position in the scene for Eternal Storm. I can safely say that this new opus won’t disappoint the fans, even though I consider that it requires time to properly judge if it is better or not. The first impression is that the band has pushed the boundaries of the mixture they created in 'Come the Tide'. Its melodic death metal tinged with atmospheric and pure aggressive parts is still there, with renewed enthusiasm I would say. I can feel some stronger progressive touches through the album. This is immediately noticed in the lengthy album opener "An Abyss of Unreason". The complex structures, the ups and downs in the intensity, the variety in the riffing work, plus the great combination of clean and aggressive vocals make this initial song an outstanding piece of music. "Last Refuge" is another highlight of the album, although it is quite complicated to choose the best tracks as the whole work is wonderful. I choose this one as its melodies and initial furious part make it remarkably catchy and a good candidate to be played in the concerts quite often. I would like to praise the top-notch work with the guitars, the riffs are excellent and melodies absolutely tasteful and captivating. This is what one can expect from a melodic death metal band, but Eternal Storm undoubtedly reaches a level of excellence in this aspect. Another key aspect is that the aforementioned complexity and progressive influences don’t deprive of soul and emotion to the music of this album. This is something I truly appreciate, as I always expected some emotional moments regardless of the work behind the songs the bands create. "Lone Tree Domain" is another superb track which I would like to highlight. The contrast between the heaviest parts and the most atmospheric ones is masterfully built, and it shows the amount of work the band has done creating this album. I love when bands go back from the calmest to the most furious ones with a progression that doesn’t lack of emotion and beauty, and this track is an absolutely fine example of it. Last but not least, the production of 'A Giant Bound to Fall' also deserves some praise, and it is absolutely well-done. It’s clean but not overproduced, and it sounds heavy and crushing when needed. The balance between the instruments and vocals is perfect and permits the listener to fully enjoy the music. <br /><br />In conclusion, Eternal Storm’s third opus 'A Giant Bound to Fall' breaths grandeur in its entirety. Albums like this are the perfect example of how a stagnated genre like melodic death metal can find a path to sound fresh and exciting again. Well-done guys.(Alain González Artola)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Transcending Obscurity Records - 2024)<br />Score: 87<br /><br /><a href="https://eternalstorm.bandcamp.com/album/a-giant-bound-to-fall-2">https://eternalstorm.bandcamp.com/album/a-giant-bound-to-fall-2</a></span></b></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><div class="simple-translate-system-theme" id="simple-translate"><div><div class="simple-translate-button isShow" style="background-image: url("moz-extension://f9614476-f034-46f3-b28b-9937d2764200/icons/512.png"); height: 22px; left: 671px; top: 799px; width: 22px;"></div><div class="simple-translate-panel " style="font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="simple-translate-result-wrapper" style="overflow: hidden;"><div class="simple-translate-move" draggable="true"></div><div class="simple-translate-result-contents"><p class="simple-translate-result" dir="auto"></p><p class="simple-translate-candidate" dir="auto"></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-7363039923178843792024-02-06T20:05:00.002+01:002024-02-06T20:05:23.596+01:00NI - Fol Naïs<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCqTE3sNsyQB0_Fvq_Uqt9P80o4kHJbT5TOKzpjhrz-fFpBmpUH_pPIG1M1hLOecnEYoTmlJbR0wWS81bnT3N5SJCExKovcHP0nqj-n15d8zJAsNSs6XR8X-JYqjCRPJZu6unNehP1np17F0u0zdH6jZTayKGuXk-2xRqWQfgVkiVb4rO4w7jGQbpcA9V/s700/a2253511879_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCqTE3sNsyQB0_Fvq_Uqt9P80o4kHJbT5TOKzpjhrz-fFpBmpUH_pPIG1M1hLOecnEYoTmlJbR0wWS81bnT3N5SJCExKovcHP0nqj-n15d8zJAsNSs6XR8X-JYqjCRPJZu6unNehP1np17F0u0zdH6jZTayKGuXk-2xRqWQfgVkiVb4rO4w7jGQbpcA9V/w200-h200/a2253511879_16.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Prog Rock</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Per capire una band come i francesi NI, bisogna semplicemente fingere di non capirli e assimilarli così come sono e per quello che ci fanno sentire. Mi spiego meglio. Ho letto in rete recensioni che li mettevano in parallelo col mathcore e le opere diversificate di Mike Patton, e il paragone in minima parte ci può anche stare, ma secondo me l'aria che si respira dalle parti della band transalpina è da ricercare altrove, e trova radici molto più indietro nel passato della musica. Se vi capitasse di ascoltare l'evoluzione de "L'Elefante Bianco" degli Area, nell'album "Crac!" del '75, troverete infatti grosse analogie con alcune delle costruzioni sonore dei NI, poiché questa band ha un legame particolare fin dalle sue prime opere con il progressive rock più folle e libero dagli schemi, e qui non posso non citare un loro precedente geniale lavoro qual era 'Les Insurgés de Romilly', e poco importa se in questo nuovo album, fino al brano "Berdic", sembrano aver ascoltato una volta di troppo i The Dillinger Escape Plan o i Psyopus, per cercare di far presa su di un pubblico più vasto con un suono più carico. Il fatto è che la frenesia, la follia, e alcuni stilemi del rock in opposition, erano già nel DNA di questo gruppo ed è bastata una produzione più scura e pesante, dove si riesce a carpire l'essenza buia di lavori come '777 - the Desanctification' dei Blut Aus Nord (anche se qui non stiamo parlando di black metal), per aprire un nuovo fronte per questo combo di gran valore, composto da musicisti di qualità, che sanno esaltare il potere dei suoni dell'avanguardia, restandone caparbiamente e intelligentemente lontani, per cullarsi una loro completa e intoccabile originalità. Vi si trovano anche tracce di free jazz contorto e schizoide ("Chicot", "Rigoletto"), sulla scia di certe composizioni sentite su 'Blixt' del trio Bill Laswell, Raoul Bjorkenheim e Morgan Agren, e per non farsi mancare nulla, anche una tensione sonora tangibile di band come gli oramai dimenticati ma mitici Jesus Lizard. Nella triade di "Triboulet part 1, 2 e 3" si sente tutto il legame con gli album precedenti con le loro evoluzioni sofisticate ma aperti anche a momenti di atmosfera, che poco si lasciano apparentare con il mathcore o il metal, ritornando a parlare di vero e proprio prog d'avanguardia di casa Zorn. Pur trattandosi di musica rumorosa e distorta, vi trovo anche una bella attitudine nel plasmare la materia prog alla maniera degli Universe Zero, ovviamente con le dovute distanze dal gruppo belga. Mi permetto di dire anche che i NI possono avere un retaggio futurista alla Meshuggah, come citato dal press kit di presentazione del disco, ma a mio avviso non li percepisco assolutamente freddi e chirurgici come i colleghi svedesi anzi, per essere prevalentemente strumentali, suonano caldi, avvolgenti ed espressivi, e mostrano un'aggressività più devota all'arte dell'immaginario astratto che alla rabbia o alla tecnica in sè. Penso si sia capito che questa loro nuova opera è uno dei migliori album del 2023 per il sottoscritto, copertina superba come sempre d'altronde, una grande produzione, musicisti in splendida forma esecutiva e compositiva, un'ottima uscita per la instancabile Dur et Doux, un disco immancabile nella vostra bacheca dell'avanguardia. (Bob Stoner)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>(Dur et Doux - 2023)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Voto: 80</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://niiii.bandcamp.com/album/fol-na-s">https://niiii.bandcamp.com/album/fol-na-s</a></b></span><br /></div><p></p>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212392107561502237.post-20497508004306777362024-02-06T19:54:00.000+01:002024-02-06T19:54:06.206+01:00The Cosmic Gospel - Cosmic Songs For Reptiles In Love<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdL2MdgGjMSCjYhs0BpZw6v5HYZYniNRFLt2HpfdM3BYP1ynjdihyphenhyphenZq4dE4B9DKMJrEKDheADG8XS1Mkvd93dpo6iRBBBgln4X1aaTEryun2H0196rKl1ZF3z7BbLxISreaqu9R_W-f3kGyxelA3mrS3fTgwjQF2aPcN-eutu7W8tOcEP_QS4j3kh8Ee0/w200-h200/a0918889846_16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">#PER CHI AMA: Psichedelia/Indie Rock</span></b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">Nel valutare il primo full length dei The Cosmic Gospel, mi sono trovato in difficoltà, per la difficoltà nel dargli una giusta collocazione. Si tratta infatti di un album pieno di belle sonorità, ricercate con dedizione nei cassetti della psichedelia del passato, ma le derivazioni sonore, per quanto efficaci e rieducate a dovere in ambientazioni più moderne, di scuola lo-fi, non lasciano molto spazio a un'autentica originalità. L'amore per i The Beatles più allucinati è palese, basti ascoltare "The Richest Guy On The Planet Is My Best Friend", e in parallelo esiste anche una certa devozione, come annunciato dal polistrumentista di Macerata, unico responsabile del progetto, per Damon Albarn, Beck e Donovan, con il sound cosmico di "Hurdy Gurdy Man" e quella velata felicità dai toni pacati, a tratti malinconici, coperti da una finta spensieratezza esistenziale, tipica dei '60s o dell'album 'Odelay' del già citato Beck. Questo approccio in stile power flower, dona a giusta ragione, un'immagine d'artista completo, e mette in evidenza un amore viscerale per un certo tipo di psichedelia, fino a renderlo, anche se solo sporadicamente, ossessivo. Il musicista italico trova quindi sfogo tramite questi otto brani solari, dal taglio psych folk, ipnotici e molto space rock oriented, creando cosi un album colorato, curato e ben confezionato, quasi perfetto, che nel suono dei synth di "Core Memory Unlocked", oppure in quello di "Hot Car Song", trova la sua collocazione ideale. Il disco è interessante e vivace, eppure soffre del fatto che in taluni frangenti, sembra incombere il pericolo di ricordare in qualche pezzo, altri artisti o </span><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">composizioni </span><span style="color: white; font-family: times;">famose. Questo non è un male assoluto ma crea nel sottoscritto un certo sconcerto, un dubbio atroce sul come giudicare quest'opera, se un capolavoro o una normale buona replica di musica del passato. Quello dei The Cosmic Gospel è sicuramente un buon progetto che lavora al di sopra della media dando vita a una musica surreale, pop e dal gusto vintage, avvalendosi peraltro di nuove e moderne tecnologie di registrazione, con eccellenti esiti di produzione, e sono sicuro che il passo futuro sarà ancora più articolato e personalizzato, in un ambiente non certo facile come quello della psichedelia. Mi piace il coraggio della proposta di questo musicista che impugna i The Beatles come gli EELS, cercando di fonderli assieme e lo immagino proiettato nel raggiungere il cosmo, inspiegabile e floreale, del genio di Julian Cope, magari sulla scia del suo ultimo album 'Robin Hood', dello scorso anno. Un disco da assaporare lentamente, sposandone l'ottica derivativa ma anche assaporandone le sfumature di colore e luce che vi sono nascoste tra le note delle sue composizioni. Un album che ha dei centri di gravità permanenti molto definiti ma al tempo stesso ben rimescolati tra loro, per un consigliato, gradevole ascolto, ovviamente al limite dell'allucinogeno. (Bob Stoner)</span><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">(Bloody Sound - 2023)<br />Voto: 75<br /><br /><a href="https://bloodysound.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-songs-for-reptiles-in-love?from=embed">https://bloodysound.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-songs-for-reptiles-in-love?from=embed</a></span></b></span></div>The Pit of the Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037908900346514914noreply@blogger.com