Frozen Soul - Crypt of Ice

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Death Old School

I like the vibe of this album. It's dark, dreary and HEAVY. The sound quality gives it justice as well. Varying tempos, brutal vocals and the riffs are just dynamic! I enjoyed this whole release. It's not too long in length, pretty much about right! I made a purchase to this one it's the first encounter with this band and a debut LP what a steal! The vibe is death metal in a black metal aura, sort of Darkthrone-ish but the death metal genre. The guitars are sick and the feel is totally dark! I thought it pretty innovative though, especially the music. A solid album, it never got old. It's one of those albums you can listen to over and over and not get sick of!

All of the tracks stand out, nothing really on here that's dull or boring. I think the main tempos are not too fast they're not exhibiting blast beats at all, just heavy, slow music that's suitable to my pallet in the vein of death metal that is. This band has a long life to them if they stick together! I'm hoping a decade or more! Hope that they keep it underground as well. I've felt the vibe also to sort of a Dismember-esque type in terms of the tremolo picking pretty neat! Like I said though, it's innovative type of riffs and the sound is just superb! The vocals are very dismal and dark. They set the tone for the music.

My favorite highlights of this album is that the band sticks to its roots and stays grim as well as underground. I like the guitar the most and the vocals just compliments it. The production quality is great they did a good job in the recording! If I were to change one thing about the album, I'd probably say that it'd be more intense if they were playing a little faster in tempos. The album is great, but it's not too fast. Only some blast beats but they were kind of generic. That's my main beef with the album. Other than that, it's all good! I'd have to say this blew me away when I heard it for the first time!

Do the band some justice and check them out! You may be able to download them on Spotify or YouTube, but show the band some respect: buy the CD like I did! Supporting always the industry! I was surprised to read that this band is from Texas. I was for certain out of the country but I was sadly mistaken. But yeah, expect a slow paced death metal album that has some killer riffs to it. If I still played the guitar, I'd like to jam along to this! I just ran into the album at the record store (yes they still exist) so I thought that I'd check them out! I was happy that I did so because I was blown away! Check them out! (Death8699)

(Century Media Records - 2021)
Score: 73

https://frozensoultx.bandcamp.com/releases

Lords of Decadence - Cognitive Note of Discord

BACK IN TIME:

#PER CHI AMA: Melo Death, Children of Bodom, Soilwork

Quando ascoltai la prima volta questo disco pensai ad un side project (identico all'originale) dei Children of Bodom o forse dei Kalmah. No, nessuno dei due, allora forse i Norther? Errato anche questa volta. 'Cognitive Note of Discord' fu infatti il debut album degli austriaci (e non finlandesi!) Lords of Decadence, descritti come un’incredibile band che aveva ottenuto sin qui ottimi riscontri in tutta Europa e che già vantava un’esperienza live al fianco di grossi nomi (Green Carnation, The Forsaken, Suidakra, Mork Gryning, Disbelief). Era l'agosto 2004 quando usciva il disco di questi quattro ragazzi viennesi e il sound proposto si configurava come un perfetto mix tra le band finlandesi succitate, Soilwork (sicuramente udibile nei coretti e nel doppio uso delle vocals) e In Flames (il lavoro delle chitarre è talvolta simile a quello di Anders Fridén e soci di quegli anni). Dopo queste premesse, avrei potuto chiudere la mia recensione e andarmi ad ascoltare qualcosa di ben più originale; la raccomandazione allora è di non fermarsi alle apparenze. Dopo ripetuti ascolti infatti, queste 10 songs, dotate di un incredibile impatto melodico (sicuramente si imprimerà nei vostri cervelli cosi come è successo a me, che fischiettavo i motivetti sotto la doccia), mostrano addirittura un pizzico di personalità, riuscendo alla fine ad essere meno noiose dei ben più blasonati colleghi Children of Bodom. Un massiccio uso delle tastiere a scandire le ritmiche, sorrette dal pregevole lavoro delle chitarre e la perfetta combinazione della doppia voce, rappresentano i punti di forza di questo lavoro. La Scarlet Records ci azzeccò anche quella volta, andando a scovare nella vicina Austria questa giovane band, poi persasi per strada dopo il secondo lavoro 'Bound to Fall'. Combinando il meglio del death e del thrash europeo dell'epoca, mantenendo una fortissima componente melodica, i Lords of Decadence si proposero come una delle stelle nascenti dell’underground austriaco. Peccato che le promesse non furono mantenute. (Francesco Scarci)

(Scarlet Records - 2004)
Voto: 74

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Lords_of_Decadence/17367

Enforced - Kill Grid

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Death/Thrash, Slayer

What a dynamic release! Heavy, brutal, fast, and furious! I like the energy on here. It's way high on the thrash/crossover scale in terms of intensity! I hadn't heard this good of a release since now! Their energy is rampant and they've created some high-quality riffs to their music on here. The vocals compliment the music absolutely they remind me a little of the vocals on the band Plague Years. Different genre however. It's the only parallel I could envision this on here to be. Just different yet aggressive sort of hoarse throat. The whole band does a great job of putting together solid music!

I like the riffs the most, they don't seem to let up for most of the release. I'm in favor of all the songs, they're dynamite! The intensity is ferocious and the riffs are rather innovative. I think it's safe to say they've got their own sort of sound. Though they show their influences wholeheartedly. Maybe a little like Slayer, Exodus, et al though their riffs are original. I like the thick sound and chunkiness of the guitar. It's rather charged with voltage they play their solos pretty well out too. It's undying intensity here and it's brought to my attention that the drummer on here Alex came with his awesome influences that made the album possible, along with the rest.

I though that the production sound quality is top notch. And the gallops in the riffs are wholeheartedly amazing. They don't stop in these gallops and tremolo picking yet show more resemblance to old Metallica via 'Kill 'em All' era. There really isn't a part of the album that's left unscathed in regards to the energy put forth. It's mainly the intensity factor that holds true for the entire album. It's a wholehearted effort here in terms of who made contributions. Alex was a say put forth through the drums but the whole band contributed. These guys will exist for a way of time being as masters of their genres.

I did get the CD of this band and thought highly of it! The band is impressive and worth an A- in terms of their effort. They really know how to kick major butt in metal. I would encourage you to check them out if not buying their CD but at least on Bandcamp or YouTube. I was blown away when I first heard this album. It's really interesting that they float in two genres thrash and crossover metal. They dominate entirely and blow away their competition! They're so good at what they do the music just is simply irreplaceable. Please do yourself a favor and check this album out ASAP! It's worth it! (Death8699)

(Century Media - 2021)
Score: 78

https://enforced.bandcamp.com/album/kill-grid

DxVxDxD SxLF - Before the Dawn

#PER CHI AMA: Symph Black/Gothic

Adoro la creatività umana, forse perchè ne vorrei avere anch'io ma quando ho letto il moniker di questa band francese, ammetto di non averci capito un bel niente. Fortunatamente, le istruzioni allegate al cd specificano che la corretta pronuncia per quel DxVxDxD SxLF non è altro che "Divided Self", il che mi ha lasciato piacevolmente colpito, peraltro visti anche i riferimenti letterari all'opera "The Divided Self: an Existential Study in Sanity & Madness" dell'autore britannico R.D. Laing. Il terzetto originario di Clermont-Ferrand (che vede tra le proprie fila membri ed ex di Ad Vacuum, Cøld e Aphelion) propone un sound piuttosto originale, che si esplica in questa loro seconda fatica intitolata 'Before the Dawn', attraverso una mistura di black, gothic e symphonic metal, sulla scorta di quanto fatto ad esempio dai Malevolentia, parlando esclusivamente di suolo francese. Quello dei DxVxDxD SxLF si presenta forse un pizzico più morbida, giusto perchè confluiscono quelle reminiscenze gotiche che potrebbero evocare i primi Moonspell o addirittura i Fields of the Nephilim nella seconda "Somewhere Far Beyond". L'approccio con i nostri è comunque notevole sin dalla robusta opener "Man in a Vortex". Più in pompa magna invece l'inizio di "After Dark", un brano che mantiene intatta l'identità sinfonica del trio transalpino che va a intersecarsi con il black solo a livello vocale con le grim vocals (da migliorare a mio avviso) del batterista Ludy Wotton. Il brano poi è davvero convincente con pezzi di musica classica che subiscono improvvise accelerazioni blackish e deliranti cambi di tempo che spezzano le brevi sfuriate. Ottimi pure i cori e le improvvisazioni che rendono il pezzo decisamente più accattivante e degno di nota. I nostri ci sanno fare, lo sottoscrivo appieno, sia quando c'è da andare di fioretto, splendide le atmosfere create in tal senso in quella che sarà la mia traccia preferita, cosi come quando c'è da pestare sull'acceleratore. C'è classe, non l'avrei mai pensato di primo acchito, quando ho visto l'artwork di copertina. Ripeto, peccato per quello screaming irrimediabilmente fastidioso che mi ha richiamato gli ungheresi Sear Bliss, avrei preferito una voce in stile Fernando Ribeiro. Un po' più piattina in apertura la quarta "Weal & Woe", risollevata ben presto da un brillante assolo tipicamente rock nella prima parte e da atmosfere horrorifiche nella seconda, con un finale intrigante tutto da assaporare. Un pianoforte (e poi un organo) aprono "The Start of the Ending", uno di quegli intro che starebbe alla grandissima su un qualsiasi disco dei Cradle of Filth. Il pezzo poi è piuttosto lineare dotato di una buona linea melodica e un grande armamentario di effettistica, cosi come roboanti blast beat che tempestano per una manciata di secondi la parte centrale della traccia prima di affidarsi ad un bel riffing heavy metal che mostra una delle tante facce dei nostri. Heavy metal che torna anche nella successiva "Swan Song", almeno nel suo incipit, poi spazio ad un rifferama black, con parti ritmate ad alternarsi a scudisciate di somma violenza e ancora improvvisazione a gogo tra assoli eleganti e backing vocals oscure a cura di Lord Necron dei Gergovia. C'è davvero tanto nella musica di questi DxVxDxD SxLF, lo dimostrano le ritmiche di "Ocean of Possibilities", un pezzo che mi ha evocato un mix tra Paradise Lost e di nuovo i lusitani Moonspell, con una prova vocale finalmente convincente, prima che il sound divenga dirompente a livello ritmico. Bene, un crescendo convincente, che ha modo di concretizzarsi ancora nelle note sinfoniche della breve e tagliente "Lux in Tenebris Lucet". A seguire "Darkstones Cathedral" con un'altra ospitata, quella di Rhiannon Celine, in un brano che abbraccia il misticismo dei primi Therion combinato con il symph black dei Dimmu Borgir, in una cavalcata corredata da magnifiche atmosfere, pompose orchestrazioni e soavi voci eteree, che ne fanno il mio secondo pezzo preferito di 'Before the Dawn'. In chiusura, le spoken words dell'outro "The Turin Horse", che sanciscono la dignità di un sorprendente quanto inaspettato lavoro. (Francesco Scarci)

(Wolfmond Production - 2021)
Voto: 77

https://wolfmondproduction.bandcamp.com/album/dxvxdxd-sxlf-before-the-dawn

Ananda Mida - Karnak

#PER CHI AMA: Psych Rock

Poco più di 21 minuti di musica per saggiare lo stato di forma dal vivo degli Ananda Mida, che abbiamo già recensito nel 2017 e nel 2019 qui sul Pozzo, con 'Anodnatius' e 'Cathodnatius', rispettivamente. La band torna oggi con un nuovo EP, 'Karnak', che comprende in realtà due tracce registrate live nel 2018 al Teatro delle Voci Studios (la strumentale "Anulios" e "Jam With Mario") e una nel luglio 2019, al Mirano Summer Festival ("The Pilot"). Si parte appunto con "Anulios", pezzo già incluso nel primo album, che vede nella raffinatezza delle chitarre il punto di forza di un brano che sembra qui dimenticare le fiammate stoner rock del combo italico. Tanto blues rock in sinergia con suoni psichedelici e il gioco è fatto per sei minuti spensierati, a tratti venati di un sottile velo di malinconia ma pure di una robusta dose di rock nel finale. Si passa ad una sorta di jam session, come riportato nel titolo del brano, a "Jam With Mario" e i suoi otto minuti e mezzo in compagnia di Mario Lalli dei Yawning Man, da più parti definito il fondatore del desert rock. Cosa aspettarsi quindi se non pura improvvisazione, con Mario a prendersi giustamente la scena con le sue magie alla sei corde, tra psych rock settantiano, blues e jazz. Che volete di più? C'è ancora tempo per "The Pilot" in effetti, song inclusa nel secondo lavoro, che dispiega in sede live tutta la forza e l'energia di cui si può godere assistendo ad una esibizione live del collettivo nostrano, con alla voce la performance inconfondibile di quel Conny Ochs, songwriter tedesco divenuto punto di contatto tra doom e folk americano. Insomma per ingannare il tempo e in attesa di vedere alle stampe una nuova release targata Ananda Mida, potreste dare un'occasione a questo 'Karnak', c'è il rischio di conoscere un aspetto dei nostri che forse vi era sfuggito in passato. (Francesco Scarci)

(Go Down/Vincebus Eruptum - 2021)
Voto: 72
 

https://godownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/karnak-ep

Felled - The Intimated Earth

#FOR FANS OF: Atmospheric Black/Folk

Felled is an interesting project founded in Oregon in 2014. The band was born from the ashes of Moss of Moonlight, a project previously located in Washington, where Jenn Gruningen and Cavan Wagner sang about a hypothetic independent Cascadian land. Felled, now relocated to Oregon, has become a four-piece band, and continues similar conceptual paths, but with a broader connection to nature and paganism. Felled combines black metal with some neo-folk influences, which is not an unknown combination in that area of the country. These neofolk influences usually come in the form of melancholic melodies, making this sort of bands to have a certain somber atmosphere.

In its seven years of existence, Felled hasn´t been particularly prolific, releasing a demo in 2017 only, but the band has finally signed a deal with the respected underground label Transcending Obscurity Records, and releasing in these days the debut album 'The Intimate Earth'. As soon as the album begins with the first track "Ember Dream", we have a clear picture of how Felled sounds. Aggressive rasped vocals domain accompanied along the song by guitars with a raw tone, yet melodic when its needed. The pace varies constantly between fast and slower sections, creating an interesting piece of music. But what stands out is generous use of the violin, an instrument I personally love and that has a brilliant participation in this album. Tiffany’s mournful melodies add the expected neo-folk touch to Felled’s music, not sounding straightforwardly depressing, but with this melancholic tone that a genre like neo-folk usually has. The second track "Fire Season on the Outer Rim" follows similar patterns, even though it adds a greater contrast between the heaviest parts and the calmer ones, including some short atmospheric and folk interludes, which serve as a bridge between the different sections of the song. The addition of occasional clean female vocals, usually done by Jenn, with the help in the backing vocals by Tiffany, also enriches the compositions, which are tastefully composed and executed. As mentioned, the mixture between the raw guitars, which include also melodic riffs, and the violin, create a truly hypnotic atmosphere, which makes you feel the profound connection to nature, specially to the vast and beautiful landscapes that can be found in Oregon and Washington states. The album contains only five songs, but their length is quite long as they have an average of almost seven minutes. This length usually works well with this genre as the compositions need time to expand and create the wanted absorbing atmosphere. Its hard to pick a favourite song, but the album closer "The Salt Binding" is a wonderful way to close this excellent debut. The feeling is strong in this track as the melodies are truly outstanding. The mournful beauty of the riffs is captivating, the violin is as beautiful as you can expect, but the novelty here is related to a more presence of clean female vocals in the first half, which gives a truly unique touch to this song. They sound like a farewell song sung in the middle of distant forest. Moreover, when they are combined with the raspy vocals in the heavier second half of the song, they sound like a storm suddenly appearing in the horizon. This is indeed a classy song to leave the listener totally satisfied with this album.

In conclusion, 'The Intimate Earth' is the remarkable debut album by Felled, which has created a quite emotional release full of great melodies, where the violin has a predominant role, though the rest of instruments, and obviously the excellent vocals, help to create a very recommendable album. (Alain González Artola)

(Transcending Obscurity Records - 2021)
Score: 85

https://felledblackmetal.bandcamp.com/album/the-intimate-earth-folk-black-metal

Dordeduh - Har

#FOR FANS OF: Atmospheric Black

Romania’s extreme metal scene hasn´t been one of the most notorious ones, but it has always offered undoubtable quality every time I have had the chance of checking out something new. If someone thinks about this scene, there is a particular name which always comes to our mind, Negură Bunget. This project began as a pure atmospheric black metal project, which included absolutely hypnotic keys and excellently composed and executed compositions. Their first songs were, indeed, something closely related to the purest form of this genre. In any case, as time passed NB’s compositions became more and more original, which was something clear in its third opus ‘'N Crugu Bradului', a much more experimental album, which included progressive influences. But it was with the subsequent album, entitled 'Om', where the band perfected its sound with an outstanding mixture of black metal, atmospheric keyboards, progressive sound and a strong connection to the Romanian folklore and folk music. Thanks to this album, the band gained a great recognition in the scene, but as all good histories the end was near, as the disputes between original members Huppogramos and Negru, ended with the departure of Huppogramos and the long-time member Soul Faur. Negru decided to continue with the band and released the excellent 'Vîrstele Pămîntului', before NB lost almost every inspiration with the last and disappointing two works, prior to Negru’s unfortunate death. Meanwhile, the other two members created Dordeduh, whose debut album 'Dar De Duh' received great reviews. This album continued the path that was previously developed in 'Om', though I must admit that I didn´t fall in love with that album, at least completely. The good ideas where there, but it lacked something, including a more suitable production.

After this convulsive time and the well-received debut Dordeduh continued as an active band, though sadly we have waited a full decade to listen to something new from them. Was the long wait worth of our time? For sure. With 'Har', Dordeduh hasn´t changed a lot as the irremediable influences from the magna work 'Om' are still there. But the band’s members have put a lot of work on it and have made an undeniable step forward in terms of composition, musical evolution, and production. Now yes, the production seems to be perfectly balanced, leaving the room to these compositions to sound experimental, but at the same time with a strong feeling and ambience. 'Har' is an impressive album with no weaknesses, as every single song has an incredible quality, richness of details and its own personality. The album opener "Timpul Intilor" has the expected immersive introduction, as spiritual and hypnotic as you could expect from these guys. The change of tempo is also brutal, as the band sounds smashing with a powerful production, where guitars, drums and a solid and quite present bass guitar do their work perfectly well. The riffing is original, complex, but at the same time absolutely captivating. The vocals, courtesy of Huppogramos, are top-notch, with intimidating growls, wisely combined with the excellent cleans used for the most atmospheric sections. The pace is as rich as the rest of elements integrated in this composition, flowing from straightforward aggressivity to calmer sections, always with a flawless naturality. One of my favourite tracks of this album, and to choose one is a quite tricky track, is the second song "In Vielistea Uitarii", where the band’s trademark atmospheric keys are absolutely absorbing. Every element of this album is made to transport you to a distant place, not only the keys, but also the tasteful guitar lines and the primordial voices, which give the necessary rawness to the music. The balance between originally and ‘true’ atmosphere is something that Negură Bunget mastered back in time, and now Dordeduh unsurprisingly shows the same enormous talent. Even the clean vocals have something spellbinding, which make them special. And if this is not enough, the always excellent folk elements appear to perfect, which is already an astonishing piece of music. "Descent" is one of the softest pieces, though it still retains the expected originality and complexity. The particularity of this song is that the clean vocals almost sound catchy, which is always a surprising element in bands like Dordeduh. Anyway, this shows the level of inspiration that Dordeduh has reached with 'Har'. "Desferecat" is another impressive piece with a ritual touch in its pace, slow and hypnotic, where the always flawless combination of deep grows and fine clean vocals catch your attention from the very first moment. In this song the listener will find one of the most beautiful keyboard interludes which serves as a bridge to the final part of this extraordinary song. Huppogramos and Soul Faul has always shown an enormous talent with the keys, and this is another proof of their marvellous capacity. The album closer, if we don´t take into account the short, yet great outro "Vaznesit", "De Neam Vergur", is another long piece which includes most of the elements which make this album a quite special release. The ambient intro evolves and gains strength with a clear progressive evolution, showing again the experimental soul of this band, as the song become heavier and more intense. The combination of the most progressive elements and the extremer influences is made once again with taste and naturality, as the different sections are built up with sense and musical cohesion. The end is intense and majestic, a perfect ending without any doubt.

In conclusion, Dordeduh’s sophomore album 'Har' is nothing less than an immense album, that enriches the legacy of these incredibly talented musicians. If the debut was praised by many fans, this second album will convince all the fans who will find rich and complex details, always with an enthralling atmosphere, to digest and taste with time and all the listens that this album requires and deserves. A must for everyone who looks for originality and quality. (Alain González Artola)

(Prophecy Productions - 2021)
Score: 90

https://dordeduh.bandcamp.com/album/har

Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

BACK IN TIME:
http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Symph Black

This is by far the best Dimmu Borgir album that I've ever heard! Every song on here is amazing! The music, the guitars, the synthesizers, the keyboards, the vocals all innovative and amazing! This is a pretty symphonic album, but the riffs and aura is totally unique. I wish they didn't take a path for the worst in the black metal community. The rhythms on here are simply amazing! I've not heard such amazing riffs especially on "Mourning Palace", that one is an amazing track. But all of the tracks are equally good! The synthesizers go well with the music. They actually compliment it. Careful orchestration!

The music itself is the best to talk about here. Just the distortion filled guitars make every track just amazing. They just knew what they were doing on here. They carefully paved the way for many bands to follow in their foot-steps and with this in existence there's still time for the band to improve. It seems as though with the newer material they've abandoned their creative roots and lost a lot of fans, including me. But I'll always be a fan of some certain albums. Maybe 4 or more of their albums. But this one is insuperable. I don't know how they went from such an interesting band to making what they now make. It happens.

The production quality was a little raw, but still awesome that you can hear everything going on and it just all fits. I don't have any complaints with this release. They went from slowly progressing in the old albums to this one then started regressing. It's sad. I wish that some day that they'd create something like this one again. But it's just wishful thinking. We'll let this one alone in a category of its own. Their music on here just slays. I like the guitar riffs and vocals the most. And I hate to say it but the synthesizers as well. They weren't annoying at all. They made the album more atmospheric.

If you're new to this band, this is a good start! They're at their best on here and the riffs just tear your speakers apart! Amazing album and interesting band but caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) with the albums. This one is a good one to start with, the previous are too raw. That's my opinion at least. This one is raw but the music steals the audience, absolutely! You need to hear this release it's so epic and dominates on so many different levels! Show the band that fans are still interested especially those not exposed to the older material! (Death8699)

(Nuclear Blast - 1997)
Score: 95

https://www.dimmu-borgir.com/