Now I know where Bloodbath blatantly got their logo from...
The band in question here is yet another Swedish death metal band ca. early/mid Nineties is GOREMENT. I recently ordered their discography CD compilation, Darkness of the Dead, from a label which will remain unknown and as I'm listening to the disc now, this really is just "another Swedish death metal band." However, there is some darkness emitted from the sludge-like riffs and some nice, melancholic melodies (not unlike Finland's Convulse and early Amorphis). Gorement doesn't rely too heavily on speed, as most of the songs are mid-paced, but there are short bursts of blasts and the like. Overall, a varied album and filled with darkness.
This may not blow your mind, but it's a nice addition to your collection and worth a listen or two. This is especially critical if you claim to be into Swedish death metal. Just sayin'.
Well, I never did get to finish my Supreme Brutality series since I got lazy (yet again) but rest assured that Maryland Deathfest was one hell of a fucking time! Words can't really describe how exciting and fun the festival was.
Oh, and the bands! A ton of heavy hitters this year, but obviously the masters that comprise AUTOPSY stole the whole damn show. 70 minutes of unrelenting metal of death...come on. NIRVANA 2002's third ever show was also pretty historic, even if technical problems unfortunately reared its ugly head (and, of course, US customs).
A real hidden gem was on the second day, where Norway's OBLITERATION tore the stage and us in the audience. That band plays with so much feeling, man. Then there were ENTOMBED and Michigan's legendary REPULSION, with the former playing a much more old-school set than I thought! Always a good thing! Bobby Liebling and PENTAGRAM really shocked me with Victor Griffin back on the guitar - and for good I hope! They played "Relentless" though unfortunately I missed it since I needed a spot for Entombed! Ugh! Sacrifices had to be made, unfortunately!
WATAIN, though I wanted to hear a lot more new songs from their brilliant Lawless Darkness, would've been the highlight of the first day had Japan's über-crushing COFFINS didn't play! Talk about riffs! The band has it all: Celtic Frost worship, massive riffs, insanely simple and brutal drumming...classic stuff, for sure.
As for disappointments? Unfortunately, we need to include ASPHYX in this category. Why? They played so well but the sound just sucked! Not only did Mayhem fuck them last year but this year they were destroyed by sound problems. These guys simply can't get a break! D.R.I. were a bit of a letdown as well, as they played an amazing show here in New York City earlier this year. The drummer was just all over the place and, of course, there were problems with the guitar signal.
Some logistical problems definitely include the "Side Lot" stage, where the stage is on a fucking hill and the awfully low-volume PA systems outside. Food was a bit expensive for what it was and the vendors were somewhat of a letdown. Other than that, it surely didn't ruin a good time!
MDF...my life is simply incomplete without it! Here's to next year being even better (if possible)! Cheers!
Never Cross The Dead, the new LP from Finland's HOODED MENACE, is out today via Profound Lore Records. Seriously recommended for everyone into Autopsy, early Cathedral, early Asphyx, Candlemass, Swallow The Sun and Opeth (though, if you only heard of the last 2, you're probably new so prepare yourself for a real experience in filthy fucking death/doom). You can read the review for this record over at MetalKult.
Please note that the first link directs you to Relapse's E-Store where you can purchase the album in a package (w/ either a shirt or a hoodie). For all of you price-conscious, deal-seeking people out there...
Just got this beast in the mail earlier this afternoon. Only Death Is Real is the definitive history of Hellhammer and the early years of Celtic Frost, penned by Tom Warrior with contributions from Martin Eric Ain and a forward from Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto. Needless to say, this is a must-have for any true fan of extreme and underground metal.
Only Death Is Real weighs in at a ludicrous 4 pounds and is packed with awesome photos and artwork from throughout their brief 2-year tenure. I believe it's every photo that ever existed, or at least close to it.
I just started reading it and of course, in true Tom Warrior fashion, the writing is simply immaculate and the attention to detail is almost frightening. In other words... this is fucking awesome.
You can pick this tome up at many online distros, both large and small, but if you want to be guaranteed a copy, order from the publisher: Bazillion Points Publishing.
If you are serious about the underground, Hellhammer or Celtic Frost, you need this book. It is simply essential. Know your roots.
Here's the latest band that is blowing my mind right outta my fucking head: New York City's THE ICEMEN! This band formed in the early 80's around the same time the New York hardcore scene is starting to roll but didn't release anything until 1992 with their only EP, R.I.P. Obviously, this cult status means they are simply amazing.
I heard of these guys when connecting various NYHC people together. One of my favorite drummers, Mackie Jayson from Cro-Mags and Madball, played with these guys and I've heard a few songs by them a while ago. Last night I was lurking in Generation Records with some friends before the Ace Frehley show and I stumbled upon the band's second official release, The Iceman/It'll Be Your Grave 7" single.
This single pretty much has everything I love about hardcore punk and metal. It's quite evident from the first few measures of "The Iceman" that these guys, rounded out by guitarist/vocalist Marco Abularach and bassist Noah Evans, worship heavily at the altar of Motörhead. Add Mackie's signature power-drumming style and you have some totally crushing crossover. "It'll Be Your Grave" has some serious Bad Brains feeling and this dates back before Cro-Mags(!)... no shit.
I seriously can't stop listening to this. I'm pretty happy that it came with a download card. This is 4 and a half minutes of solid fucking gold!!
This is a band that I've been raving about for a while now. Germany's Violent Force sticks out of the thrash scene over there in that they do not possess the early black metal vibe like the early Kreator, Sodom and Destruction releases. I guess this is why them and Tankard never got that same "recognition" as the "Big 3"? Whatever the case may be, those of us in the know have another band that we can all worship and glorify. Violent Force are truly a gem.
After much search for their sole album, Malevolent Assault Of Tomorrow, I finally got it a few weeks ago through The Omega Order. Don't check there now, though. It seems that I've purchased the last copy and when a product is "on order" with them, it never comes. Sad, but true.
With that bullshit out of the way, let me discuss this album briefly. Basically, it's another "classic cult" album that's reissued by Metal Mind Productions of Poland and thank goodness for that. Violent Force's brand of thrash is more in tune with the way thrash first started out as in America - which was super punk and super Motörhead-like. The album's opener, "Dead City", could easily be a G.B.H. song had I not known any better. "Sign Of Evil" has a nice speed metal (sorta like Running Wild) edge to it while "S.D.I." shows the band's more "proper" early-German sound (which was all about SPEED!). The guitarist/vocalist, who's name is for some odd reason Lemmy, has what I believe is the ideal thrash vocals and I can put him up there with Paul Baloff of (duh) Exodus. It's harsh, but clean, and not in a James Hetfield-circa-1984 way (nothing against him, of course).
Violent Force performing "Dead City" in the 1986 German film Verlierer
All and all, a fine slab of Teutonic thrash attack. Not much is known about these guys today. Their official website is in German and their official MySpace hints that they are still active, though I don't see any hard proof. Well, whatever - just get this fucking album.
Violent Force's official website is over here and their MySpace is over here. I hope you know German.
Well, well, well... what do we have here? Well, we have another fine band from Sweden and the one I'm gonna focus on now is Tribulation. These guys are in a very interesting state of affairs over yonder in Scandinavia, much like how bands like Bonded By Blood and Warbringer are over here in the States. The "interesting state of affairs" that I'm referring to is the "sudden resurgence" of the bands' respective scenes/genres. Over here, we have the thrash "revival" where many journalists (in some cases) lump any young band that sounds/looks thrash as "thrash revival" and the same rules apply in Scandinavia with death metal. Thus is the sad truth about the industry "know-it-all's"...
Tribulation are not, in any way, shape, or form, a "revival" band! There! I said it! So what are they then? A death metal band. I would also say they have some pretty strong thrash influences as well, which seems logical since the band evolved from Hazard. Again, I must reiterate the fact that these guys don't sound "retro" and even though they are from the same country that spew forth Entombed and Dismember, they have nothing in common with their Heavy Metal Pedal countrymen.
One good listen to the band's debut LP, The Horror, will make you aware of this fact. There's no shortage of speed here. There's also no shortage of insane riffs! I'm actually gonna stop right here and direct you over to MetalKult's review of the album. Why? I don't like to repeat myself.
I will, however, repeat one point that was touched upon in that review: the artwork. Holy. Shit. Two words, when put together, that means... you know - something awesome. Guitarists Adam Zaars and Jonathan Hultén apparently aren't just skilled at their instrument. They actually have their own art/design firm called Necromantic Art and if you're looking for something brutal for your band or whatever, be sure to get in touch with them (details below).
Another interesting thing about these guys are their other bands. Bassist/vocalist Johannes Andersson and Hultén are in another (excellent) death metal band called Stench and Zaars is in the traditional heavy/speed metal band Enforcer. Without giving too much away in this particular post about Tribulation: if you like either genre, you're most likely enjoy gonna both bands.
If you want to know more about Tribulation (though you probably won't since this band is pretty mysterious), head over to their MySpace. For Necromantic Art, check out their official homepage for contact info.
For the CD version of The Horror, go to Pulverised Records' webstore. For the super-awesome vinyl version, head on over to Blood Harvest's webstore. While you're there, you can also find their great 7" EP, Putrid Rebirth. Check out Detest Records for the EP as well.
*****
One last thing about the band: if you're in Germany around early-mid August, be sure to attend Party.San Open Air! Tribulation will be playing alongside the best of the best in the realm of death and black metal! More coverage on this later...
It's pretty exciting to be writing the first real post for Morbid Rupture. I think that the atmosphere is just right: sitting in a pretty brisk room with one of the biggest blizzards to hit New York City in a long time. Actually, it's the perfect scenario to introduce (or re-introduce) New Jersey's Annunaki. I bet some of you are wondering, "what does Annunaki have to do with blizzards?"
Three years ago, I saw this band open for Immortal at B.B. King's to a sold-out audience. They went on right before the Blizzard Beasts themselves and I can assure you that the crowd was getting restless. However, when Annunaki went on, everyone there ate 'em up. They were that great. People still talk about that particular performance and they definitely won a number of new fans. This was one of them.
Annunaki put out their debut album, Throne of the Annunaki, in 2007 on the band's own Militia Records - a sign that this band is the real deal. Their sound can be best described as "death-thrash", with a hint of black metal. My personal favorite on the disc, "Blunt Scalpel Extraction", sums up the band quite well. Vocalist Tony Stanziano's raspy growls remind me a bit of the legendary Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg's (At the Gates, Lock Up, Disfear) and the riffs and solos brought to the table by John Blicharz are top-notch. The man can rip solos that puts the entire ESP roster to shame and can knock riffs that are, most importantly, cold, heavy and memorable - at the same time! On the other end of the sonic spectrum, cuts like "Dysphoria Delirium" and "Torture" display the band's fine ability to play a great blend of black and death metal while the title track and "March of the Militia Dead" shows the band's excellent execution of the two aforementioned styles thrown into a thrash metal tornado. Prepare to have your head BANGED!
In terms of production, they really pulled out all the stops. Throne of the Annunaki was tracked at the famous Trax East Studio and mastered by the even more famous Alan Douches. Expect the sound to be pretty clean-cut and modern, but don't worry: THE RIFFS BACK IT UP! The only complaint that I have is the length of the album, which clocks in at a little over 50 minutes. The tracks on their own stand out and shouldn't be seen as filler in any way. However, when everything is put together, it might feel like it drags on at first listen. I guess this is something to weed out the amateurs from the start. I typically like my thrash records to be a bit shorter, but every time I come back to Throne of the Annunaki I can hum back the melodies and it feels like I'm returning to familiar territory. If an album can do that to you, you know something is right.
Of course, for all of you underground freaks out there, you might recognize the drummer's name: the one and only Kevin Kuzma of the cult thrash metal legends Blood Feast. Yes, he is back and thank goodness for it. As you might have suspected, he took part in the founding of Annuanki alongside bassist Karl Odenwalder and John after the breakup of their previous band Lament.
Since that hot summer night playing with Immortal (ironic?), the band has played with countless bands legendary in their own right. To drop a few names: the Swedish Panzer Division Marduk, tech-thrash titans Believer, legendary Floridian brutes Vital Remains, masters of death from the Czech Republic-via-Chicago Master, Finnish black metal horde Horna and Norway's hellish 1349, just to name a few. Talk about impressive.
So where can you purchase this intense slab of brutality? Where can you listen to some tracks? Check the links below. After all is said and done, this band is the real fuckin' deal.
