Arafel - Skazki Starogo Lesa

BACK IN TIME: recensione gentilmente concessa da Nihil Zine

#PER CHI AMA: Epic Black

I nostri ARAFEL rivendicano con fierezza la loro appartenenza alla Fratellanza Pagana e propongono, dallo Stato di Israele, un black metal epico ed evocativo. L’album rilasciato su musicassetta, consta di quattro canzoni ben registrate (fra cui una intitolata alle "Sorcerers Of Russian Woods") che si ascoltano con piacere. Le tastiere sono onnipresenti, le vocals incazzate dall'inizio alla fine, forse è il suono delle chitarre che lascia, qua e là, un poco a desiderare. Autori successivamente di tre album prima di scomparire nel nulla, vi lascio all'ascolto di questo demo che merita attenta considerazione.

(Beverina - 1999)
Voto: 70

https://beverina.bandcamp.com/album/arafel-skazki-starogo-lesa-tape-1999

Withering Soul - Last Contact

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

#FOR FANS OF: Melo Black, Dissection

Darkness reveled here in the form of minor chords galore via Chris, et al. This one is a notch better than 'Adverse Portrait'. It simply has more substance to it and better constructed riffs, ABSOLUTELY! They've come a long way since their debut which was in an entirely different genre. Still metal just more on the gothic side. This one (like their last) is in melodic black metal. It takes some listens to to get really the overall essence of it. And the songs averaged around 4-5 minutes in length, which is enough for you to get a taste in what goes in to the high volume channel! Definitely progression here, no doubt.

A 4-piece now but in the recording it featured only three. And their stage presence is totally lit up. Within the influence of Dark Fortress, Naglfar and Darkthrone, they kind of carve their way into their own sound. I think that's a little of what they lacked in their previous. On here, there's a good sound in what they have to offer in their own synthesis of melodic black metal. I like this one a lot I think it's their their absolute greatest effort since they formed. Definitely not one to play on a depressing day though which I think it was called upon their darkness visible (William Styron). It's just great to hear their musical abilities are getting better.

I'd have to say that their musicianship keeps on getting better and better and I do hope as this gets stronger the band will attract more followers. It's sounds like the vocals have some effects laced on them kind of like in the realm of Dark Fortress and Dissection's ex-front man Jon (RIP). Nevertheless, it keeps the music underground and depressing. The music and vocals is what steals the show I believe Chris on his 7-string. It's an interesting band that he's amassed here. I'm certain the songwriting took a shit-heap of a lot of work. The riffs stole it for me the music outlining what the vocals accompany them.

This was released on 9/24/21 and it's available via streaming (Spotify/YouTube) and also available on CD. I bought the CD, it's the best way to capture what streaming won't allow: BETTER QUALITY SOUND. They play as good live as they do on the LP. I was waiting for this to get on CD so everything sort of feels flowing not simply going from track to track with major pauses and poor sound quality (my computer). A good album to listen to while you're exercising for all you fitness fanatic metalheads. Let's pay a token of respect to the band and inform friends that are interested in new releases in metal. 'Last Contact' is out, now get a hold of it! (Death8699)

(Mortal Music - 2021)
Score: 80

https://witheringsoul.bandcamp.com/album/last-contact

Lotan - Angelus Pestis

#PER CHI AMA: Death/Black

La Danimarca si sta confermando terra rigogliosa negli ultimi tempi: la band di oggi nasce infatti in quella terra e verosimilmente come side project dei Vanir. Dalla costola di quest'ultimi, ecco arrivare Philip, Martin e Jon con i loro Lotan (il leviatano), a proporre un death/black tirato, dotato di interessanti linee melodiche che chiamano in causa tanto il suono mediterraneo dei Rotting Christ, quanto influenze metalliche di scuola scandinava. 'Angelus Pestis' è un dinamitardo contenitore di musica estrema, di quella martellante come i Rotting Christ sanno proporre e che è testimoniato dalle due tracce in apertura, "Interitus" e la feroce "Invita Lucifer", una song quest'ultima in grado di mettere un assolo di pianoforte tra parentesi di due arrembanti parti di chitarra, in un esperimento quanto meno originale. Poi per carità, non siamo di fronte agli inventori dell'acqua calda, ma a dei buoni mestieranti, musicisti abili con i loro strumenti tra le mani. E la deflagrante "B43-Moab" conferma le doti devastanti del combo danese con le ritmiche che si rincorrono vertiginosamente e furiosamente tra loro, in una proposta musicale che ha un che degli inglesi Akercocke. Strizza l'occhiolino ai Satyricon invece un brano come "In the Shadow of a Falling Star" con quelle sue zanzarose linee di chitarra e lo screaming vocale. Un po' piattino forse il risultato finale, soprattutto perchè un po' più diverso dai pezzi sin qui ascoltati. In chiusura, "Lion and Snakes" che invece mette in mostra un po' del black pagano dei Primordial (anche a livello vocale con ispirate clean vocals) in quello che forse è il pezzo meglio riuscito di questa release. (Francesco Scarci)

(Uprising! Records - 2021)
Voto: 69

https://www.facebook.com/lotanband/

Leprous - The Congregation

#PER CHI AMA: Prog Metal

Un esordio incessantemente funk-prog, se esiste o e mai esistito qualcosa che si possa realmente chiamare funk-prog, con tanto di vocalismi alla Muse, ma persino più sofferenti, con una punta di Vincent Cavanagh semisbronzo insomma, ed un ritornello immensamente Pain of Salvation ("The Price"), programmaticamente destinato a perdurare per l'intera durata del disco, vale a dire oltre settanta fottutissimi minuti ("Red" e "Down"), spericolatamente fervido di pindariche divagazioni difficilmente o impossibilmente concettualizzabili ("Third Law", ovvero The Mars Volta vs. Ronnie J. Dio e "Rewind", ovvero System of a Down vs. Freddie Mercury sono soltanto due esempi), eppure sideralmente allineato a quella (recentemente) popolosissima traiettoria kappa-dimensionale che conduce da qui/ora al concetto astratto di non-rock utilizzando propellente prog-metal (Anathema, Major Parkinson, Pain of Salvation, appunto). La maestà vocale e il magnetismo acchiappareggiseni di Tor Oddmund Suhrke sono ormai consolidati e indubitabili. E secondi soltanto a quelli di Daniel Gildenlöw, leader dei plurisuccitati Pain of Salvation. (Alberto Calorosi)

(Inside Out Music - 2015)
Voto: 80

https://www.facebook.com/leprousband

Nucleus - Sentient

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

#FOR FANS OF: Death Metal

I didn't think that this was necessarily boring album, I think they experimented a lot to their sound/vibe. It was an elliptical atmosphere and the aggression factor was also there. The riffs were pretty interesting, but not entirely. They did just let the metal flow on here. The production is what could have been better hence the "B-" rating to it from me. I'm sure that their follow-up might've been better. On here, sheer apocalypse. The vocals kept the sound underground as did the music. But the guitars didn't seem that overly sophisticated. I felt that they were kind of in a way a little sloppy.

But a newer band within this genre of so many other bands it's tough to compete and establish your own sound. That I think that they do have. They also do have their own style. When I say "style", I mean it in a sense of their sound formation. But anyway, they did justice to the death metal community on this one. They go from fast to slow to medium tempos in their riff writing. I think this band has a load of potential to be something really great. They just need to dig a little bit more into their creative juices then everything will fall into place. I see them as always progressing and on here you have some sounds that were plain "odd."

Again, the production was at a loss because of the sort of flat sound to it. But the music is good, that's why I'm rating them higher than I think they should've been. If the quality was better then obviously I would've rated higher. These guys will do well if they continue to make music and make it with vigor! Their latest didn't get very high ratings this one actually did better but I need to hear that one before I make a judgement about the quality of it. I felt that this one just lacked in the distortion tone of the guitars. They weren't really overly crunchy or thick, they were just sort of blah or bland feel to it.

Show some respect for the death metal community and check out what this band does on here. I would've gave them better ratings to their guitars, vocals, drums and sound quality if it was better. But still, I think that they did some justice for themselves and put out this album for us to hear and judge. This album is available on a digital source (Spotify) and CD too. I got the CD which I'm happy with just not all the time. But show the band respect and check it out. I think they do have a unique sound to them and definitely their own riff style. Support Nucleus and check this one out! (Death8699)

(Unspeakable Axe Records - 2016)
Score: 68

https://nucleus.bandcamp.com/album/sentient

Argesh - Excommunica

#PER CHI AMA: Blackened Death, Behemoth

Ci hanno impiegato poco meno di dieci anni dalla loro fondazione i black metallers italiani Argesh ad arrivare al mai cosi tanto agognato debutto. Formatisi infatti nel 2010 in quel di Varese, il trio guidato da HHG, ha in realtà ultimato il qui presente 'Excommunica' un paio di anni fa. Ci si è messo poi il Covid a rompere le uova nel paniere e rallentare l'uscita di quello che in realtà viene considerato un EP. Eppure il dischetto, composto da sei brani, supera la mezz'ora di durata con un genere etichettato dalla band come "Apostate black metal". Le danze si aprono con "Abiura", un'intro che potrebbe stare in un qualsiasi disco dei Cradle of Filth, prima di lasciare lo spazio alle chitarre inferocite della seconda "Suffocate in Oxygen", chitarre che strizzano l'occhiolino nuovamente a Dani Filth e soci, ma che vedono anche in Behemoth e Dimmu Borgir altri punti di riferimento, i primi per le velocità incarnate, i secondi per la vena sinfonica che si percepisce lungo l'ascolto di questo e dei successivi pezzi. La band comunque è apprezzabile anche da un punto di vista melodico, sebbene quelle capre in copertina lasciassare presagire un black old school. Invece i nostri si rivelano abili tessitori di melodie, cambi di tempo, ma anche di voce, con variazioni tra lo screaming (quelli di Michele Spallieri dei Kenos e di Chainerdog dei Grendel) ed un pulito a cura di Lucifero Fieri (Tregenda), che tornerà anche nell'ultimo pezzo. Più death oriented "Source of Miracles", un brano forse più scolastico, che rende meglio laddove il sound risulta più incellophanato in un mid-tempo compassato, che piano piano cresce di intensità fino a suggellarsi in uno strepitoso assolo finale deflagrato da Matteo Gresele (Ad Nauseam). "Praelatorum Paedophilia" è una ridda di riff infuocati che, in compagnia di una devastante batteria, sembra evocare i fasti degli Anaal Nathrakh. Notevoli i dinamitardi blast beat e gli audaci cambi di tempo, con il sound che sembra talvolta incunearsi in tunnel di lugubre bellezza. Intro sinfonico per "Apocalypse 20.7 - 8 - 9" ed un sound all'insegna del blackened death per un pezzo concreto, diretto, cattivo, senza quegli orpelli che poteva lasciar presagire l'epilogo. Violenza pura per un brano da assalto all'arma bianca con tanto di linea di chitarra nevrotica e la voce di Vama Marga (Depths Above) ad affiancarsi a quella di Michele, in un sound nel finale decisamente più ritmato (scuola Septic Flesh?). Chiusura affidata a "The Elohim's Mark", song dal piglio un po' più plumbeo e malinconico, comunque animata da scariche elettriche dissonanti che potrebbero addirittura richiamare i Deathspell Omega, e ancora, screaming e voci pulite. Insomma 'Excommunica' lo vedo come un otre di tecnica, violenza, melodia e suoni maestosi che certamente farà la gioia degli amanti di queste sonorità. (Francesco Scarci)

(Nero Corvino Records - 2021)
Voto: 75

https://argeshita.bandcamp.com/album/excommunica

Death Angel - Act III

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

#FOR FANS OF: Prog Thrash/Heavy/Funk

I thought this album was immaculate. The riffs are what stole me! And the vocals. They have 2 ballads on here "Veil of Deception" and "A Room With A View", both amazing. I'm surprised that this album didn't score higher amongst critics. I thought it to be their best album to date!! I've liked this band since High School in the 1990's. This one didn't disappoint at all. I was glued to it when it first came out. That really hasn't changed but I'm drawn to more modern releases by them nowadays. They put on a good show live as well! But anyway, I didn't think this album failed at all. Quite the contrary.

'Act III' I see it dubbed as Death Angel's black album like Metallica's and I don't agree with that at all! They're still thrashing on here despite the ballads. Maybe they softened up a little from previous releases but I just would never call this one that! Some of their best songs come off their album "A Room With A View" is my favorite track out of them all for sure but their thrash based tracks are still solid like "The Organization" (as an example). I used to own this on cassette that's how far back it traces. I'll agree some riffs are b-bop type but not the whole songs. And that doesn't take away from the magic of this release!

Production quality was all right though the audio was a little bit lower so you'll have to crank it on your stereo (if you have one!). This album clocks around 45 minutes in length and it's so worth it. The music and vocals stole it for me. I'm a devout fan now I took kind of a hiatus from the band a friend got me back into them. That's my reason for covering 'Act III'. I felt like it needed justice since I listened to it early on in their career. I sort of lost interest in the band for a while. But they do put on a good live show especially playing some songs from this album! The streaming music that we deal with now doesn't measure up having a physical cassette of this or CD.

I would just say to buy this because from start to end they dominate in the thrash genre! Some songs they're a little quirky on but the main riffs are good as well as the ballads. I like the vocals a lot and that's what I look for in bands as well as the guitars (of course). Death Angel has both and on here you cannot go wrong. I'm surprised they got a "C" average on here and some people even bashing this release. The music was amazing and not duplicated anywhere else needless to say original as all hell. People just buy this show respect for the metal community and it'll keep this band going. Over 30 years in the scene still making guality albums! 'Act III' is their top! (Death8699)

(Geffen Records - 1990)
Score: 90

https://www.facebook.com/deathangel

Noltem - Illusions in the Wake

#FOR FANS OF: Atmospheric Black

Noltem is a tree-piece band coming from Connecticut, US. It was founded in 2003 by Max Johnson and it seems that for some reason, the mastermind spent many years without being particularly active, with only one demo released in 2005. Fortunately, the inclusion of a drummer into the line-up, Johan Kerr, also as singer, reactivated the project with a release of a second EP in 2015. The return to a more active life of the band was finally fulfilled with the incorporation of a third member in 2018, Shalin Shah, who plays the bass. Noltem, at that point finally a trio, worked hard to present a debut album that would make possible to give some notoriety to this obscure project.

Twenty-twentyone is the year when Noctem’s full length has finally seen the light of the day, with the support of the always active label Trascending Obscurity Records. 'Illusions in the Wake' is the title of their debut, which contains seven songs, lasting around forty minutes. The colourful artwork, which depicts a misty mountainous landscape, rightfully represents the band’s musical vision as there is a quite clear strong connection with nature. This closeness is not only lyrically, which is easily demonstrable taking a look to the nature and mystical-themed lyrics, but also musically, as Noltem plays a very personal atmospheric black metal with some folky connections. This influence is not so obvious, although it can be felt in the way the melodies are build and played. The album begins with "Figment", where the guitars play a key role. The riffing is tasteful and mesmerizing displaying a variety of different melodies in terms of textures and richness. The strength of the guitars marks the intensity of the song with some nice up and downs, enriched by some acoustic sections which are simply beautiful. The drums are solidly played and establish the necessary ground for the songs, where the vocals have a deep tone, like being in a mid-point between the death metal vocals and the black metal ones. As said, the intensity varies very frequently, having this song a multitude of tempo-changes, which is always a good proof, when it is done in the right way, that the composition has a great amount of work behind it. The homonymous track offers another menu of excellent melodies, accompanied by slightly more rasped vocals and some clean voices in the background. One of the melodies even has a a bit of medieval touch reminding me the excellent Obsequiae. I don't know if this was made on purpose, but this is what I felt and I sincerely have no complaints about this influence. As the album goes on, the songs seem to take a more intimate tone in certain moments, having a greater contrast between the heaviest sections and the softest ones. This is something I notice in "Beneath the Dreaming Blue", mainly in the initial part which progressively carries to a final heavier section; the opposite is done in "Ruse". This song has a quite intense beginning which hits you, then the pace and the intensity progressively slow down, offering to the listener a clearly calmer and more, as said, intimate tone which is quite hypnotic. The album closer, entitled "On Shores of Glases", includes some hypnotic melodies and even a psychedelic section, making it the most different and experimental track of the whole album. It may not be my personal favourite, but it’s a good way to close thi work, as it keeps the general absorbing tone of this record and it doesn't lack the expected good dose of nice melodies.

To conclude, 'Illusions in the Wake' is definitively a very good platter with a quite personal sound thanks to the great amount of work put in the compositions. The guitars are excellent and always display a great palette of colours in terms of melodies. The compositions try to avoid sounding stereotyped and create a quite absorbing atmosphere. (Alain González Artola)

(Trascending Obscurity Records - 2021)
Score: 80

https://noltemband.bandcamp.com/album/illusions-in-the-wake-atmospheric-black-metal