The Embraced - The Birth

BACK IN TIME: recensione gentilmente concessa da Nihil Zine

#PER CHI AMA: Melo Death

Death metal melodico a tratti aggressivo per questo secondo album della band norvegese. I The Embraced riescono nella difficile impresa di catalizzare l’attenzione dell’ascoltatore, senza stancare; questo perché donano ai pezzi varie sfumature inserendo parti potenti alla At The Gates o Eucharist con altre parti acustiche e rilassate. La voce risulta estremamente convincente con un tono greve e deciso. Otto brani per circa un’ora di musica, e come potrete capire, la durata delle canzoni è abbastanza elevata, ma c’è molta carne al fuoco e prima di essere cotta a puntino ce ne vuole, e alla fine però si rimane soddisfatti del risultato. C’è da dire inoltre che pur non avvalendosi di studi rinomati, i The Embraced sono riusciti ad avere una registrazione eccellente. Quindi, anche se il sound non è originalissimo, ha tutte le caratteristiche per essere apprezzato, sia dagli estimatori del genere, sia da chi non è ben addentro, ma non vuole velocità esasperate e opta anche per una ricerca della melodia.

(Aftermath Music - 2001)

Voto: 74

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/The_Embraced

Cadaveric Incubator - Nightmare Necropolis

http://www.secret-face.com/ 

#FOR FANS OF: Death Old School

This is some brutal music that features two genres into one. Death metal mixed with grindcore. One thing that really lagged on this release was the sound quality. But the music is still audible though trying to make out the riffs to each song becomes quite difficult. The leads on the other hand were poetic in the sense of their vibe whizzing through the fretboard. I heard some of their previous LP and didn't like it at all. This is a step-up in quality whereas I failed their predecessor. The music on here is quality, but the extent of the production is where it wanes. Sounds like they tune pretty low on the guitar and have an old-school vibe to the songs.

 

The thickness on the guitars is what makes it heavy as all hell and the vocals are well along the guitar riffs. All eight songs are just striking and HEAVY. Not much into the lyrical content, but the music and vocals I hold onto the most!

A few songs to take note of are "Blood Lust" and "Through The Flesh." They're all pretty well composed. Definitely a step up from their previous (as I previously discussed). This kind of reminds me of old Carcass via the 'Symphonies of Sickness' era. That's what it sounds much alike to. I'm sure old Carcass is amongst their favorites. I'm not saying that they're duplicating Carcass's earlier work, but it's a striking resemblance of it. Carcass nowadays is much more polished and melodic, nothing like the old except the tuning of the guitars. But they're both probably in 70 or 70-flat. The chunkiness is what does it for me.

Thirty minutes of brutal music as I capped off in the beginning to what this is like. So don't expect anything melodic just all destroying your speakers. I'd give this a higher rating if the production was better. But it is what it is. Old Carcass revisited into the Finnish based Cadaveric Incubator! Be sure to check it out! It's worth checking out if you are into extreme metal! (Death8699)

 

(Hells Headbangers Records - 2021)

Score: 70

https://cadaveric-incubator.bandcamp.com/album/nightmare-necropolis

Skythala - Boreal Despair

#FOR FANS OF: Experimental Black Metal

The US-based trio Skythala appeared in the scene with a debut album ready to conquer the listener who wants to escape from a standardized black metal sound, at least in its spirit and how the songs are composed. There is not much information about the origin of this project, although Ryan Clackner, known as ‘R’ in this project, is known to participate in several projects (e.g. Primeval Well, Coffin Hunter), some of them tied to extreme metal. Unsurprisingly, taking into account Skythala’s sound, some of them also have certain tendence to integrate experimentation in their sound.

Going back to Skythala, the band was able to catch the attention of the reputed label I, Voidhanger Records, to release its first opus entitled 'Boreal Despair'. If you want to listen to traditional black metal, I warn that you will be disappointed, but if you are thirsty of some experimentalisms and weirdness, 'Boreal Despair' may be something of your interest. In any case, this album is firmly rooted in the black metal genre, as you will notice in the continuous blast-beasts that songs like the album opener "Eternal Nuclear Dawn" has. Moreover, the sharpened guitars and raspy vocals will inevitably remind you the very own foundations of the genre. But leaving aside these core elements, the riffing and the eclectic arrangements give to the compositions an undeniable avantgarde touch and the usual complexity and unexpectedness that this subgenre usually offers. The orchestrations are as experimental and strange as you may imagine, creating like a chaotic atmosphere that complements the also ‘bizarre’ riffing work. The second track, "Variegated Stances of Self Mockery", combines in an interesting way, the chaotic brutality with atmospheric arrangements and a slightly more varied pace, although the speed is also quite present here. The composition abruptly stops with long and equally bizarre atmospheric interlude, which as intriguing as you could imagine. The second half of the song brings back the metal elements, but with a more hypnotic and slow-paced final section. As aforementioned, Skythala doesn’t disown of the expected brutality and speed, as their compositions are mainly remarkably fast and sharp. The arrangements play a major role in the forge of experimental sound of this album, as they are numerous, varied, and well-placed in each song. They can sound just atmospheric as a counterbalance to the chaos of the guitars or even increase this sense of madness and experimentation depending on the moment, which happens many times. "Boreal Phrenological Despair" is probably my favorite track as it shows how diverse the orchestrations can be, sounding both beautiful and weird in the same composition. Pace-wise the rest on the songs follow similar patterns with the exception of "Rotted Wooden Castles", whose rhythm is much slower until its final section, where the already known velocity comes back.

All in all, 'Boreal Despair' is not an easy album to digest. It can be a bit too experimental and weird for the classic fans, and perhaps too brutal for those who want pure experimentation. But if you like the merge of both worlds, this album can be a demanding, yet satisfactory listen. (Alain González Artola)

(I, Voidhanger Records - 2022)
Score: 72

https://skythala.bandcamp.com/album/boreal-despair

Nenia - La Casa Del Dolore

BACK IN TIME: recensione gentilmente concessa da Nihil Zine

#PER CHI AMA: Dark Ambient

Meravigliosamente agghiacciante il primo disco di Nenia, gravido di desolazione e morte sin dai primi secondi. Musicalmente 'La Casa del Dolore' è composto da lenti e minimali brani oscuri che potrei classificare come dark ambient sperimentale rischiando di non riuscire ad essere sufficientemente esplicativo poiché il gruppo, per tutta la durata di questo capolavoro oscuro, dimostra di essere personale e capace, libero di sperimentare ed esprimersi senza alcun timore. È esaltante la sensazione di immobilità e morte che sprigionano gli otto stupendi brani da incubo per quaranta minuti di morte totale… Hell yez! "Alone" è un notturno per pianoforte che scandisce il movimento delle onde di un mare che trasporta “… una nave senza vita…”, "L’Ultima Stagione" è il sentore della fine ormai prossima (“sento le bestie farsi vicine/ il loro respiro tutt’intorno…”), "Dottrina Psichica" scandisce invece il ritmo delle gocce che riempiono il vaso, in attesa dell’ultima goccia che lo faccia traboccare. Con i Nenia ci si trova ad assistere ad un funerale con le sue noiose ritualità, le futili credenze e i luoghi comuni; poi l’ultimo brano "De Morte Transituri Ad Vitam" ed è la fine.

(Beyond Productions - 2000)
Voto: 80

https://tripsundtraume.bandcamp.com/album/tt4-nenia-la-casa-del-dolore-lp 

Lifeless - The Occult Mastery

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

#FOR FANS OF: Swedish Death, Dismember

Definitely more brutal than 'Godconstruct' just not as catchy, I felt. But still a good album. A lot of screaming and brutality. Some really good melodies as well. They didn't earn this "70" rating for nothing! I just thought that it was their more extreme side to them. And the leads were solid. Pretty clean and fast! I just felt this evil vibe to this one but it's the direction that they wanted to take on here. Everything on here is super intense and tight. I just felt that they should've slowed down a little but the Swedish type of guitar tone is that of other bands that have this vibe on the guitars such as Dismember, Entombed (old) and Entrails (to name a few). However, they're from Germany acquiring this taste in guitar sounding Swedes. Fleshcrawl is another German band with the Swedish sounding guitars. They use the same pedal.

This album spews forth anger and aggression. They really are over-the-top on here. It's something to listen to when you're angry. The music is fast and the vocals are ferocious. I would venture to say it's without a doubt their most extreme release.

They don't change it up much in terms of their brutality here. It's just over-the-top noise-terror! They have a little variety here in clean guitars but not much. They're overall release is utterly uncompromising. It's one of those albums that is just balls out intensity.

They haven't been actively releasing albums since 2017 when this one came out. Maybe they're going to re-assess and slow down a bit. But I'm not sure if they're going to venture on that route. Maybe or maybe not. Overall, the guitars were devastating and the vocals totally blaring in your speakers! They fit the music pretty well. The guitars featured a lot of tremolo picking and other fast melodies. Can they reenact this intensity I'm not sure. But this album deserves some recognition for being extreme as it is. I'm surprised there have been no reviews for this release. It's baffling, what an intense and melodic yet evil vibe. What are you waiting for? Check it out! (Death8699)

(F.D.A. Records - 2017)
Score: 70

https://fda-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-occult-mastery

Die Sünde - Strega

#PER CHI AMA: Post Metal/Hardcore

No, i Die Sünde non sono l'ultima new sensation tedesca, i nostri sono infatti una nuova realtà del nostro paese, di Padova per l'esattezza. Questo è il loro EP di debutto che li vede proporre un sound all'insegna di un post metal/sludge dalle forte tinte crepuscolari. L'unico pezzo incluso nel disco è rappresentato dai 20 minuti abbondanti della title track, "Strega", che si apre con le tiepide percussioni e dove la batteria assume il ruolo cardine, con la chitarra relegata solo in secondo piano. La voce fa la sua comparsa al quarto minuto con una tonalità stridula in uno screaming quasi black. Nonostante questi vocalizzi, la musica si conferma però come un mid tempo guidato dal tremolo picking delle chitarre che disegnano con discrete melodie. Largo spazio poi allo strumentalismo con una lunga parte scevra da isterismi musicali fatti di furia e violenza. Detto che la batteria si conferma costantemente in primissimo piano, un break quasi di mutismo cosmico si palesa verso il minuto 7.30 per segnare qui una sorta di punto di svolta per la band, con la proposta dell'act veneto che si fa ora ben più cattiva. Tuttavia, la musica stenta a decollare se non per una sfuriata post black al minuto 9.30. Forse un po' poco per ascrivere questo disco tra i debutti più memorabili della scena metal nostrana. Una nuova variazione al tema, soprattutto a livello vocale, per l'utilizzo di un cantato post hardcore, lo sentiamo verso l'undicesimo minuto, con la musicalità che si fa altrettanto malinconica. E qui sembra di aver a che fare con una band totalmente differente, peraltro che si lascia apprezzare maggiormente rispetto al più spigoloso lato black ascoltato sin qui. Al dodicesimo minuto (manco fosse una telecronaca di una partita) assistiamo ad una nuova ripartenza, un break chitarristico, una lunga parte strumentale che di certo non ruba l'occhio per originalità. Il disco scivola cosi quasi mestamente lungo la sua conclusione, senza ulteriori spunti degni di nota. Il lavoro alla fine necessita urgentemente di un miglioramento sia a livello musicale che di sognwriting, soprattutto laddove (leggasi nel finale) la band finisce per avventurarsi in territori più disarmonici e particolari. Da riascoltare. (Francesco Scarci)

(Drown Within Records - 2022)
Voto: 63

https://drownwithinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/strega-2

Municipal Waste - Electrified Brain

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

#FOR FANS OF: Thrash/Crossover, Nuclear Assault

Some great crossover/thrash. I got the CD, it's totally worth it! They have A LOT of energy. Still a 5 piece I believe with vocals that are tight with the music. I like the guitars the most. The rhythms are fantastic. The songs clock about 2-3 minutes in length, but they're still good! And the energy is all there. The music is what grabs me the most. The vocals not so much. They're a little annoying it's an acquired taste with them. I don't think they're bad just take some getting used to. I own previous albums of this band and I've had the same issue. A lot of guitar solos too but good! The songs are really catchy.

I'm glad they came out with a new album. It's totally tight too! Clocks in only about 33 minutes and 14 songs. All of them are good but if I had to select some to check out would be "Demoralizer", "High Speed Steel" and "Barreled Rage."

I think this band will be active for a while. They make very good music and they're consistent. They kind of remind me of old Nuclear Assault. There are some similarities to that band with this one. Both very good songwriting.

The production quality was clear the instruments and vocals are mixed well absolutely! It does the band justice and more desirable to own. That's the problem with some crossover acts like Enforced or Power Trip. Their recordings are too solid. But on here, everything is crystal. I'm really pleased on how this album turned out to be. Aside from just marginally liking the vocals, the music and energy were stifling. A lot of songs but they're solid and catchy. They're not overly heavy just fast paced. There are not many songs that are slow. The tempos are pretty much fast throughout. What a great full-length yet again! (Death8699)

(Nuclear Blast - 2022)
Score: 77

https://municipal-waste.bandcamp.com/album/electrified-brain-2

A Forest - Fury of the Elements

BACK IN TIME: recensione gentilmente concessa da Nihil Zine

#PER CHI AMA: Black

Gli A Forest sono un duo di Novara, M. e Mayhem, già membri di Skoll e The True Endless. In 'Fury of the Elements' il gruppo propone tre pezzi, più un’intro (l’outro è indicata sul booklet, ma non è presente). Si tratta di buon black metal selvaggio, come si addice al loro nome; la musica è di chiaro stampo norvegese, e mi riferisco agli esordi del black, dal momento che non ci sono contaminazioni di alcun genere (tastiere ed orchestrazioni varie) all’interno dei pezzi. I testi, invece, parlano della vendetta finale della Natura nei confronti dell’uomo, quindi parlano della Verità! Con queste premesse, non vi aspetterete di certo un demo-tape registrato in maniera iper-professionale: infatti, gli A Forest, fedeli alle loro scelte, hanno prodotto questo demo in maniera un po’ casalinga, anche se alla fine l’unica cosa che risulta confusa all’ascolto è la batteria, nelle parti più veloci. Insomma, un demo che ci riporta alla mente i bei tempi in cui il movimento black era veramente underground!

(Chanteloup Creations - 2000)
Voto: 66

https://www.facebook.com/A-Forest-570937746324697/

Entrails - An Eternal Time of Decay

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

#FOR FANS OF: Swedish Death Metal

Pretty solid release the whole way through! This is a good listen to especially withholding that Swedish sounding guitar. Oh, so sweet! I've given these numerous spins and every time I hear something new. The guitar riffs are killer, and they fit with the vocals, absolutely! It's kind of like if it were modern day Entombed with LG (RIP). The vocals sound a little different though. I really like the music on here. I think that it's solid the whole way through and the tempos are ever-changing. The vocals go well with the music. This is traditional Swedish death metal in the vein of Entombed's first two releases.

A lot of good to say with this release. I think that they’re much more fluid and the guitars are sounding a lot better. This is all not over hashed with the pedal to makes that Swedish sound. It’s been well thought out. I felt like this whole release in hearing is so thick. I think it’s about to B rating. I can’t give it more, but I still think it’s above average. Definitely, these guys don’t take too long to put out new material and they have well thought out music. The guitar riffs in general are great. I like the overall sound of the album. It’s pretty unique to death metal with a great production. There is a great Swedish sound to it. I liked this whole album. There’s nothing really that I’d change and it’s not too overly fast or ambitious. The drums pack a real big punch. The quality of the sound of the album is top notch. They’ve really done good and I think it could’ve been a longer album. However, this would be by little bit more than 45 minutes.

The vocals are really good too! They really sound low I think they fit well with the music. Overall, this is a great album and they put together sounds that are so original and heavy. At this dimension, thick at times. Great follow up release I hope that they have a long life making music like this. The metal sound, Swedish, is unique and again to the vein like Entombed and Dismember. But they have their own unique sound which is definitely a solid follow up from ‘World Inferno’. But I think it’s a little bit lesser of a good album than the previous. It’s still right up there. I think they did really well.

I got the physical copy of the CD. I thought it was good enough to purchase and I recommend taking a listen on Spotify or YouTube see how you like it (but slow at times). It still picks up and it was somewhat fast at places musically speaking. The guitars are chunky and really original! Please show some support for the band they’re not rich or maybe purchase on bandcamp something to show the band that you appreciate their music. Check it out now! (Death8699)

(Hammerheart Records - 2022)
Score: 75

https://hammerheart.bandcamp.com/album/an-eternal-time-of-decay