Christraping

Marduk has been known for their bombastic black metal approach as of late. Armed with an MG42 as a machine gun, a rabid wolf as a vocalist, chainsaw guitars, and distant air strikes for a bass, one cannot deny their potency. Moving from a darker approach with their earlier material and having Panzer Division Marduk being the first of many aggro releases, it's horrible and definitely took some time to perfect (more like, took some time to realize the formula was horrible, better off abandoned).

Panzer Division Marduk follows a simple pattern, drums never stop, guitars are consistently tremolo picked, and the bass is thrown in the back, with Legion's cliche vocals. Their earlier material is the pinnacle of Marduk while the newer material is a nice blend between traditional black metal and orthodox black metal. Panzer Division Marduk contains nothing refreshing or even Marduk, it becomes a typical black metal band out there trying to be the next big thing while not passing that line of War Metal.

I hate this album, the only reason why I purchased it was for the theme and to simply work on my Marduk discography. You are better off with Those of the Unlight or Rom 5:12 which remain high on the list of Marduk's greatest albums. Christ was definitely raped, his ass seemed to be the desired target but the ears are what suffered.

4/10

Very boring, simple formula, humorous lyrics

Mastodon

After watching Mastodon's live performance and humming Oblivion a number of times, I gave in and purchased Crack The Skye.

Crack the Skye is near a great album but considering how much progressive-ness there is, it becomes an OK album. Listening to other songs I often wonder how could I have not liked them but compared to Crack the Skye, how could I really like this. Oblivion contains music, with vocal melodies that remain memorable, heavy chugging, while Ghost of Karella lacks a number of those qualities. Ghost of Karella and Divinations indulge in "how many riffs can I play in this amount of time", I normally don't care for conventional song structures but this is where I do, especially when Oblivion is amazing. Last Baron is this album's last song and this albums last sign of hope. The song is great with minimal neck fucking moments.

The production for the album is what you would expect it to be. Expensive, thousands of dollars and hour. Considering how intricate their music is, it demands no less. But Fuck, get the fuck out of that progressive state.

6.5/10

A real shame.

Nokturne / Todesweihe Split

BLITZKRIEG DEATH INVOCATIONS!
(should have just been Blitzkrieg Invocations, less cheesy)

As of late I have been listening to Nokturne's newest release avidly. It consists of the signature Nokturne sound and WWII influenced lyrics (song titles, no lyrics written) that makes Nokturne the sickest, most followed, Black Metal band of Los AngeleSS (clever, huh)

Nokturne, since Curse of the Nazarene (although that album sucked), have created their own sound. With the ubiquitous Darkthrone clones, Nokturne is sure to satisfy those that have not followed Black Metal closely due to the fact that Darkthrone runs it. Nokturne has managed to synthesize razor sharp riffs, blast beats, marching patterns, and disgusting vocals resulting in something invigorating.

This album picks up right where Wargod Domination left off. The drumming becomes fast and occassionaly drops to a slower pace which also showcases the versatility of Lord Doom, surprisingly, I don't hear much fills and when performed it seems to be consisting of one tom, the snare, and bass work similar to that of Inquisition. The bass is audible which is ALWAYS a plus, in fact their is actually a bass line in White Roaring Abyss. It's nothing very extraordinary as it follows the guitars but it does provide a lower end for the razor sharp effect. You may be wondering why I keep using "razor sharp" as a description but that's all that I can think of which suits the guitar riffs. It's nothing cold in the sense of Immortal nor is it warm like the solos executed by Enthroned. Not very technical, I must say but it is in fact catchy, Sigil Mord has managed to embed itself in my head which always results in frequent listening. Psykho's vocals are still disgusting but they seem to be less dynamic. In Kruelty Kampaign the vocals were in your face throughout the album and as the releases continued it began to blend in. Certainly, vocals blended in with the music creates a dark unhuman atmosphere, but this is an exception. Psykho's vocals are something uncommon thus it deserves to be on it's own level in terms of mixing.

The mixing brings me to the next thing to be criticized. Everything seems to lack UMPH! The vocals seem to lack any power even when he changes the tones, the guitars seem to be drowned out during certain portions of the songs, and the snare isn't quite loud unless it is the deep portion that I hear throughout the song and the bass is what is nonexistent.

Other than the mixing of the album, it still manages to carry on the Nokturne name. It definitely does deserve proclaiming originality and it definitely does deserve purchasing without hesitation. I must add that this is a split but Todesweihe's portion is not worth listening to, I for one, listened to one song and decided to never listen to that portion AGAIN! It's horrible, and when compared to Nokturne, it evokes the question of "Who ever thought of such a split?"

Note: They are not NS, they have just adopted the symbols of NS because of their interest and lyrical themes much like how bands like Slayer adopt the pentagram to express lyrics relevant to Anti-Christianity. If you were able to add 1+1, you would notice only one member is white and they play in Los Angeles.

The Verdict:
8.5/10

Catchy as fuck without sacrificing any Black Metal "guidelines".

Watchmen

My expectations for this movie was somewhat high I guess you can say. I don't follow any sort of news relevant to movies, comic books, or anything within that realm of entertainment. So what I believed seemed to appear as a good movie appeared as possibly one of the best.

The opening scene of Watchmen was absolutely majestic in all forms. The music was surprisingly fitting in terms of the action that correlated with it. It made the fight seem as if it was some elegant ball room dance and the method used on the fighting could only complement what appeal it had. As for the whole soundtrack itself, I believed the songs could not have been better. Seeing that the movie takes place in the 80s, it would make sense to have 80s music on. The heroes, fighting, lines had comic book written all over it. Definitely well done in every aspect, providing gore, humor, sex, and good ol comic book action. And yes, it is better than Dark Knight, I believe that movie dragged far too long, and it's on a neck and neck race with Iron Man.

And my god, the way Silhouette aka Ursula Vandt (haha. . .) walked in the opening credits and Malin Akerman's hair could not be any sexier, fucking long.

To end the late night. . .
Angelspit - Fuck Fashion

Arysk

Arysk - Devastation

It becomes an annoyance of great size when a band, especially a good one releases a demo and they limit it to so little copies that it is practically impossible to get your hands on. I lack the funds to purchase it off egay from a greedy person who has absolutely no taste in collectibles other than the re-selling it to make himself a living (sometimes a very good one). Unfortunately, I had to download a tape that I had not had, and I must say, it is a mighty good one.

Arysk is an NSBM hailing from the land down under, Australia. What makes this band a remarkable one is the filthy vocals which definitely remind me of Psykho from Nokturne. It's hard to come across bands that manage to create their own unique vocals, and it seems like the one man behind the whole band, Gravsten, does so with least effort.

The music on the other hand seems like it was actually well thought. For some reason, there are plenty of NS bands that remain true to ultra raw Darkthrone style music, music that appeals to me as much as the next big thing on the Disney Channel. Fortunately, Arysk blends in mildly clean production, thrash drum patterns, clean intricate riffs, with the traditional black metal aggression.

This is something I am willing to sacrifice a hundred dollars for so if anybody has this tape and reads this crap, send me a comment. If you are able to get your hands on this, do so even if you don't like NSBM, it's a nice breathe of fresh air in the Black Metal Universe which is plagued with punks posing as metalheads, Darkthrone clones, and bedroom black metallers considering themselves depressed.

The Verdict:

8/10

Too fucking short!

Austere

I spoke to soon, my previous blog entry was referring to the fact that I have no thoughts, and I have just received one that has hit me really hard. The DSBM band, Austere, has managed to embed themselves into my mind, I have been listening to them avidly so it was to my benefit that they would be releasing their second full length. Sadly, I wish they hadn't. I managed to find it, leaked on iMeem, and I gave it a listen. I could not be more dissapointed, I think this has actually hit me harder than when Mustis stated that greedy statement in Decibel magazine.

This album seems to lack all that I loved about the band. Their unsettling atmosphere, rabid shrieks, and technical drumming is absent. The drumming does have some techincallity but it is giving off a sound that doesn't relate to any of their previous material or the emotion that accompanies the vocals. The clean vocals that are used are surprisingly, emo-ish, the clean use of the guitar seems drowned out, and the riffs are bland. I am going to have to give this a few more listens before I actually come to the decision whether or not to purchase this album. Until then it Lay In Old Ashes. So far, it is losing the battle. . . significantly.

Emo-ish?

Just For A Moment... - Austere

The only sense of hope. . .

To Fade With The Dusk - Austere

FUCK! I WANT TO CRY!

Yelle

I purchased Yelle's album for the song Ce Jeu, and I can't say that I was satisfied with the overall purchase. I was expecting her music somewhere along the line of Nena, which I am a fan of, having purchased two albums, anyways, this was something out of the ordinary. Every song I listened to I hated it with a passion, it's like M.I.A.'s material aside from Paper Planes. I guess the only reason for this is simply because they strive so hard to be abstract that their music can't be received to those with similar taste and I thought the "Kvlt", "Grim", "Frostbitten", "Lycans", and so on, were horrible in terms of singling themselves out. I can tolerate abstract music, Furze to serve as my example, but this, this is horrible. Stay away everyone, Yelle's Pop Up is not even worthy to be deemed the title of, download this.

It's interesting, you have horrible music created by a French Pop star and on the other end, you have some of the most intellectual, aggressive, sophisticated, and distinct Black Metal known to man in the same region. Take a listen for yourself...

Fucking money crisis prevents me from purchasing Glorior Belli's discography.


SAVE ME OBAMA!!!

Death And The Black Work

Upon first listen, Nightbringer captured my attention and had no intention of letting it go. After listening to their split with Temple of Not, this was something much anticipated.

Nightbringer creates very atmospheric, cold, creepy Black Metal. Their music is played so tightly that one little error will be quite noticeable yet, they manage to cultivate such darkness flawlessly. The whole cd is tremolo picked yet the sound remains thick, implying that time was definitely well spent in the studio to make sure that this requires the most polished production for the sound to convey what it has the intention of conveying. Honestly, I have nothing wrong with cleanly produced Black Metal, I prefer cleanly produced over gritty, cacophonous, static filled music, those bands actually don't deserve the title of Music itself, but then again, the term music is easily thrown around towards one simple loop with talking. Anyways, Nightbringer serves as a conduit for the Occult, and I can't think of any other band to do so, perhaps Entity suits Nightbringer more than "band". The sound that erupts is something that words can't comprehend. Rather than having you intrigued, it's entrancing. Naas Alcameth promotes this entrancing feel by inserting raspy orations synthesized with lower growl like passages.

This has got to be a must for those interested in Black Metal of a sophisticated level. Death and the Black Work brings forth all that is dark and releases it in Sonic form. Lazy to read a book, read the lyrics and you will be brought into another world.

The Verdict:
9/10

Something so outworldly can only be fully understood by those of the Void.

Reflections of a Sad Soul

Reflections of a Sad Soul is the newest opus from French DSBM band, Nocturnal Depression. Honestly, I HATE the band name with a passion, it is so cliche, unoriginal, and it gives an impression of a childish group of teenagers attempting to rid themselves of emotions invoked by not being given the necessary shelter/food/etc. from their parents or significant other.

Although their name did take awhile to grow on me, as did the genre itself, it has actually become something I am frequently listening to. Let me give you a brief interpretation of what DSBM is, or what I believe it should be the vessel of. The emotions created through the atmosphere of the music itself is that which is manifested through repetitive, monotonous chords over slow, drone like drumming synthesized with painful vocals. By painful, I mean, high pitched, raspy similar to Varg's vocals but more appropriate, melodic, and rhythmically placed (for the most part). The lyrics don't make reference to a process of depression/suicide through another figure dominately but through a mixture of all that is created. It is not, "I hate you for what you have done to me, therefore I will kill myself," it is more like, "the overwhelming aspects of life fused with that which has been discovered has forced myself into the very depths of over thinking that which is pessimistic." With a name like Nocturnal Depression, it was very unlikely to actually come to the conclusion that the two members actually remain far from any other human contact (I am certain of H.S. doing so), which gives me a hint that they may in fact be serious. Nothing like Kim Carlsson but this will do (I hold him high in thought, if you haven't noticed).

This is in fact one of the best releases created by Nocturnal Depression. They have come quite a long way, their previous releases had only one song that I was really hooked on because the riffs weren't something meant to be repetitive. They were fairly horrible when they have the intention of making them 5+ minutes. Nostalgia and Autumn/Fall/Host have got to be the only songs that I had found myself listening to avidly. This release on the other hand manages to pick up the speed a bit when appropriate and slowed down when it was necessary. The drums simple, Guitars repetitive, vocals amazing. Lokhraed seems to possess one of the best and distinct vocals in the Black Metal genre. In addition to the distinction, he gives ND a bit of an edge.

This is something for fans of the band, not much for fans of the genre. Their style isn't that which is worth exalting such as Hypothermia, Austere, Lyrinx, among others, and the music remains dormant in the Black metal section rather than branching out into other genres, particularily Post-Rock which has proven to be popular (due to Alcest and Sigur Ros seems to make a big impact as well).

The Verdict:

7/10

DSO

The thing that I really hate about buying multiple items is the time it takes to digest them all. At times I don't even realize how great an album is till 10 months down the road. Anyways, here is an album that has taken my opinion of this band to another level.

Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum
(By divine law, go, you cursed, into the eternal fire!)

Deathspell Omega has left an impression since their last album. With such intellectual lyrics revolving around romantic, existentialist, and occult literature, they definitely do widen the Black Metal spectrum. Interestingly enough, they use biblical references in order to get their point across resulting in another ironic statement being revealed.

Deathspell Omega play a progressive, melodic, yet chaotic form of Black Metal, similar to that which was expressed in Si Monumentum... This is definitely a cacophonous affair of ferocious vocals, technical, chaotic drumming, razor sharp riffs, and the occasional prayer-like intermission. Although, the drumming can become a bit to chaotic leaving yourself confused, for the most part it is extraordinary. The drummer, who may be real or artificial (not much is known about this band's lineup), fuses together fast, precise riffs with groovy drum beats to unholy tremolo picking with inhuman blast beats. In order to become fully captivated by their music, the intermissions MUST be listened to, these are what sets the dynamics and tempo of the album, sadly, prayers are not used as much, instead, ambiance sound effects are dominant. Although they can still be enjoyed without them, you would just feel like you are missing a huge chunk.

Intellectual lyrics synthesized with guttural yet raspy vocals and hellish soundscapes is something that can't be easily ignored. This is blasphemic Black metal at it's finest, DSO have delved deep in the world of literature and have emerged with the twisted words of the Disciples to the darkest depths of a human's mind. I rate this album a 9/10.

One Final Action

Since I decided to stay up and work a bit on my homework tonight, I finished most of it and decided to begin on a few of the reviews.

I'm In A Coffin - One Final Action

I.I.A.C. is comprised of two humans, although the vocals make this duo seem to be from the darkest depths of the Void. Sad-ist and Adorable (the reason for the name is unknown) play a dissonant form of DSBM. Their style definitely branches out from the now, over done DSBM sound, simple drumming, tremolo picking, and high pitched screams.

Musically speaking, there are only three songs that really stand out those being Chapter V, Vein Deep in Solution, and Wrist Deep in Depression. Everything else seems to drag on a bit and is only added as filler material. After listening to the album a couple of times, I began to like the other songs, sadly, not that many people are as patient as I am. The drums are fairly simple, nothing over done and nothing technical like what is heard on Austere's albums. The guitars are played in an unheard of manner. They seem to be tremolo picked yet chugged at the same time, perhaps it is the effects that make it sound odd but no matter what it still has capabilities of boring the listener. If I am hearing correctly, bass is used to the fullest (particularly the last two strings), which is nowadays, unheard of. Suprisingly, that is what sets the actual mood of the album. The song writing of this album doesn't seem very much intact. The mood and the tempo is achieved, other than the 3 songs mentioned above, the song writing needs some polishing up on.

Despite the music, the vocals definitely do keep you interested, and thats what makes up for the lack of innovation in music. At times, it just becomes a dual between the guitars and the vocalists, placing far more emphasis on the vocals more than anything else. The vocals are a major point of the album, they are nothing I have ever heard before, harsh, unsettling, tormented, and negative. The only person that comes to mind that is better is Kim Carlsson, which I doubt will ever be beat, and he is the only I know of that has a shriek that screams depression.

Overall, I will rate this album a 6/10 due to the fact that the vocals are unique and literally sends chills down my back. This band has LOTS of potential, I will just have to wait to see their skill fully exercised.