Category Archives: Reviews

Reviews we have written for non-Todestrieb artists.

Burzum - Belus
Reviews

Review: Burzum – Belus

“Belus” was the first BURZUM studio album to be released following Varg’s release from prison in 2009. After an almost 11-year long break, this would be the seventh full-length release from BURZUM. Although many understandably shy away from BURZUM due to their aversion to the pro-White beliefs that Vikernes holds, the band offers some of the most awesome atmospheres Black Metal has to offer. Political motivations aside, BURZUM has delivered some of the most distinctive, melancholic Black Metal to date and therefore it was with much trepidation that I first listened to “Belus”. With no doubt, this was going to be a difficult album in terms of the criticism it could face as it not only had to live up to the ghosts of majestic past releases (in particular the first three albums), but also a great deal of suspense and expectation had built following all the years Varg spent in prison.

The release is presented beautifully by Byelobog Productions, aesthetically speaking continuing the traditions of the past, depicting simple but mysterious nature photography and Gothic script. The title “Belus” referring to the archaic name for the the Norse life / rebirth deity Baldr and continuing the inspiration drawn from Mythology that has become integral to BURZUM releases. These elements suggest that BURZUM was to continue what had started so many years before, however, the music itself does not quite live up to previous efforts. The release was intended as a conceptual journey of Belus through his death, passing through the underworld and finally his return to life. This story is told through both instrumental and Metal compositions that are successful in creating those magical atmospheres that are so recognisable for BURZUM. However, although this is positive and essentially “Belus” comprises of well-written songs, the release is severely let down by the vocal delivery. One of the things that always made BURZUM so haunting and eerie was the inhuman high-pitched screams present. These vocals have now been replaced with a lower, more guttural shriek that really is nothing special and is devoid of any real character. At times there are parts sung in a clean voice and though these parts compliment the tracks, they do little to take the attention away from the main vocals. This is not to say that this is a poor release, far from it, however it would be fair to say that the vocals on “Belus” make this an average release when it had the potential to be outstanding.

Overall there are many positive elements despite the vocal criticism; the hypnotic melodies, sincere approach, effective old school lo-fi production and dark esoteric undertones. “Belus” should be commended for its loyalty to the sensibilities of times past and keeping the flames of nostalgia very much alive.

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Fornost Arnor - Death Of A Rose
Reviews

Review: Fornost Arnor – The Death of a Rose

While the debut release from FORNOST ARNOR showed great promise, “The Death of a Rose” proves with no uncertainty that the band is one of Britain’s most talented and professional young bands. Debut “Escaping the Abyss” was an impressive release; technically precise, emotionally stirring & confident among many outstanding qualities. However, “The Death of a Rose” takes the already successful FORNOST ARNOR formula to another level.

Whereas “Escaping the Abyss” tended to draw more upon outside inspiration & influences, “The Death of a Rose” sees the band begin to develop their own identity & sound further when it comes to technicality which is even more awe-inspiring on this release. Therefore the original influences are still detectable, but to slightly less of a degree and work more to compliment the overall sound. So yes, there are still obvious comparisons to bands such as OPETH and ENSLAVED to be made as the compositional style & progressive nature of FORNOST ARNOR does bear resemblance to these bands. The comparison to OPETH is still by far the most striking and in particular to their early material such as “Blackwater Park”. Though it would be fair to say that FORNOST ARNOR err more on the technical side of things as this element is what really stands out as a strength throughout “The Death of a Rose”. The band also experiment more with the use of clean vocals, both female and male which add a neo-classical edge at times. The female vocals are sung in an angelic, folky style and work well to create an atmosphere full of both beauty and lamentation. The clean male vocals are also more varied in their delivery than on the previous release and this adds to the overall depth of the release, especially when laced into the heavier sections of songs. The schizophrenic approach to song structures also seems more pronounced for this release; the acoustic sections, heartfelt song & dark piano melodies appear more poignant when combined with the extra cold, fast blackened riffs, lead guitar wizardry, brutal death growl and a whole battalion of blastbeats!

“The Death of a Rose” comprises of eight epic compositions of which you can expect extremely high quality from all angles; both in terms of creative content and production. FORNOST ARNOR have achieved the sort of results equal to those of OPETH and basically carry on the progressive tradition from this Swedish band whilst also building elements from different genres into their sound so it ranges from Black Metal, Doom, Death, Jazz and nature-inspired Pagan / Folk Metal. The capability to equal OPETH in the skill stakes deserves great credit, however, for future releases it would be good to see FORNOST ARNOR develop their personal approach / techniques further. They certainly have the ability to do so and building on originality may just achieve perfection.

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Holocausto - De Volta ao Front (Cover)
Reviews

Review: Holocausto – De Volta ao Front

Riding on the interest created by the reissue of their best work -Campo de Exterminio- Holocausto released De Volta ao Front in 2006.
The band, like many in Brazil, were originally influenced by European and US thrash and speed metal (Venom, Sodom, Slayer). These influences remain, but bring in a strong hardcore edge (Brazilian hardcore – Ratos de Porao) most obviously with the lead vocals, losing the occult deathwhispers of old thrash.
What has remained is a raw guitar sound and overall production, giving it a feel of the old. This importantly means they did not reform and release a modern thrash album like so many older groups in recent years.
So, understanding this is not Holocausto of 1987 and the hardcore influence is strong, this is still a hard hitting record that deserves the attention of 80′s Brazilian thrash/punk fans!

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Maths - Descent cover
Reviews

Review: Maths – Descent

I first became aware of MATHS after seeing them play live in a local venue & it was this strong live performance that cemented my interest in the band, it was impossible to look away during the time the band were on stage & since then… well, I haven’t looked away since. “Descent” is MATHS’ first full-length professionally released album, following their blistering split release with THROATS. The album could certainly be described as a breakthrough & exudes the skill, maturity & creative imagination of a well-established and confident band. It’s obvious from the outset that a lot of effort and attention to detail has been invested in “Descent” and the rewards are certainly reaped in the form of this album.

Early on in their career MATHS successfully mastered the arty Screamo / Post Hardcore approach (in the classic 90s sense not the modern incarnation of “Screamo”) of cult bands such as FUNERAL DINER, ORCHID, CITY OF CATERPILLAR, PAGE NINETY-NINE, etc, with all the spellbinding atmosphere of “Eye of the Storm” era NEUROSIS or later CULT OF LUNA. However, “Descent” sees a distinct development in their sound, a far more personal approach that surpasses the already emotive and passion-filled atmosphere of classic Screamo. This building of character is hardly surprising as members of MATHS are actively involved in all manner of side-projects, including shadowy, obscure & complex depressive Black Metal band LIVIMØRKET, and also notably the Doom / Drone / Ambient project LIFE IN THE DARK. MATHS is a behemoth of creative energy & it’s no wonder that they have become so adept at songwriting to such a degree.

MATHS are one of those bands who sidestep the whole issue of “genre” thus appealing on many different levels. Although the band has roots in alternative Punk / Hardcore, there is much here to be found for those who follow the more obscure, outside edges of modern outsider Black Metal. For example; I have long thought that bands such as ISOLATION, TRIST, & AUSTERE, have much in common with Screamo / Post-Hardcore due to their use of acoustic / atmospheric guitar passages, somber mood & passionately screamed vocals. Even “Springtime Depression” era FORGOTTEN TOMB shares these elements in common. Therefore the aforementioned bands & also those such as LíAM, AMESOUERS & LES DISCRETS, are not a million miles away from MATHS and are certainly comparable though the approach is coming from different angles. However, MATHS includes other interesting elements such as poetic lyrics, spoken and punky shouted narratives that bring to mind SLINT plus also sensitively arranged dark piano / keyboard pieces.

It would be fair to say that MATHS should appeal to open-minded / artistic individuals who appreciate bands that encompass warm yet heavy atmosphere, powerful varied rhythms, melancholic riffs, sorrowful passages and awesome screamed vocals. This is honest and genuine alternative music at its heartfelt best and it’s as simple as that. Amen.

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bonjour-tristesse
Reviews

Review: Bonjour Tristesse – Par un Sourire

BONJOUR TRISTESSE was created by sole-member Nathanael in 2009; “Par un Sourire” is the first full-length album from the band. The band name “Bonjour Tristesse” translates to “Welcome Sadness” & is inspired by the 1954 book written by French author Francoise Sagan. Bearing in mind this carefully considered moniker, it comes as no surprise that the music itself is of the most atmospheric and emotional variety of Black Metal.

The initial comparison would be to BURZUM due to the intense and dramatically screamed vocals, however here the similarity ends as the compositions themselves have a far more modern edge. The album itself combines two main contrasting themes; as you would expect there are elements of depression, negativity, loneliness, fear, sadness, alienation. However, there is also an underlying element of hope, personal strength, and confidence that counteracts these dark emotional subjects. Therefore, “Par un Sourire” isn’t one of those albums that will drain all colour and life from everything in the way that the most vehement of Suicidal Black Metal bands tend to; it has a multi-dimensional approach that inspires thought rather than just simply a sense of crushing emptiness. BONJOUR TRISTESSE has more in common with bands such as AUSTERE, ISOLATION, HYPOTHERMIA, WIGRID, AMESOEURS, ANWECH and LIFELOVER for example. There is of course a strong depressive theme present throughout the release, but it is approached from a different angle that relies more upon the re-telling of a story or the communication of ideas as opposed to overt shock tactics used to appeal to the basic human need for negation.

Considering that this is a CD-R demo release, it has a clear and professional sound throughout. The guitar arrangements are atmospheric, with a warm clean tone. The guitars are a similar tone to LIFELOVER or later SHINING whereby there is more focus on the actual songwriting as opposed to murky distortion, and this is no disadvantage as BONJOUR TRISTESSE are skilled at creating narrative through dark passages and melodies. There is also the inclusion of samples that adds to the overall effect of the release, featuring the voice of a depressed, distressed girl speaking in German. BONJOUR TRISTESSE also make good use of double bass drums, which are successful at adding character to the release and also a slightly upbeat, groovy quality that contrasts nicely to the suicidal passages to be heard throughout. “Par un Sourire” has a dualistic quality that holds the attention consistently and always offers interesting stylistic twists and carefully constructed cathartic atmospheres. BONJOUR TRISTESSE have obviously put a great deal of thought and skill into “Par un Sourire” and the rewards are most certainly reaped in this release; the term “relief through release” is an ideal description and well worth experiencing for yourself.

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cloaca-ghost-town
Reviews

Review: Cloaca – Ghost Town

“Ghost Town” is the 2008 release from British band CLOACA and though this is described as an EP, it consists of two epically proportioned tracks that clock in at a closer length to a mini-album. At present CLOACA share links with the highly acclaimed UK Doom band ATAVIST and also the progressive Pagan Black Metal band WINTERFYLLETH; so you can be assured that quality is guaranteed on all levels. However, any pre-conceived notions you may have of this project are likely to be shattered once you hear “Ghost Town” as CLOACA is very much a separate project in terms of approach. The two tracks that appear on this EP are an excellent introduction to CLOACA and not only highlight the fact that the sound encapsulates some of the most successful elements of underground music today, but also that CLOACA are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to live performance and effect (second track “The Golden Path” is recorded Live).

CLOACA have an eclectic approach to Doom Metal, combining elements of Post-Rock, Post-Metal, chilling dark ambience and claustrophobic, monolithic, subtly industrialized soundscapes. As in the case of HATEFUL ABANDON; CLOACA are one of those bands that walk their own path & can’t just be shoved into a category along with everything else. Their experimental approach is genre-defying and should appeal to those who appreciate music which challenges boundaries without compromising on sound, technique or heaviness. CLOACA could be described as a combination of “Oceanic” era ISIS, “The Eye of Every Storm” era NEUROSIS, and GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR!, with the blackened edge of later DEATHSPELL OMEGA and ENSLAVED. The tracks on offer here gradually build and shift in intensity becoming heavier and ever more suffocating like all the best examples of Post-Rock / Post-Metal you will hear, however also reaching the dizzying heights of heaviness that rivals stalwarts of Doom such as ELECTRIC WIZARD at times. CLOACA also have the added individual touches of having cold, blackened screamed vocals, spoken samples, soaring ambience that chills and fires the imagination in equal measure plus an industrial precision that adds a bleak twist to the overall atmosphere. It’s also worth mentioning that the term “industrial” used here should not be taken too literally, it is more a reference to atmosphere than technique. For example; CLOACA features soundscape elements that have more in common with the unearthly ambient works of DARKSPACE and does not fit into the stereotypical mould of “Industrial”.

Fans of bands including NADJA, ASVA, WEAKLING, CULT OF LUNA, GOJIRA, VELVET CACOON, MOGWAI, MONO, CELESTIAL SEA, and the aforementioned bands should not hesitate to experience CLOACA. “Ghost Town” is an ideal choice for open-minded Metallers and also enthusiasts of unusual, sophisticated gloom.

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rosecurl
Reviews

Review: Sleeping Peonies – Rose Curl, Sea Swirl

The term “Black Metal Art” is thrown around quite a lot, though in the case of SLEEPING PEONIES it is an accurate description in all senses. The band resides in the East of England & consists of one main sole member……a welcome discovery for those looking to find outstanding Black Metal from the UK, as in my case. All elements of “Rose Curl, Sea Swirl” reflect a pensive, expressive and artistic approach; from the dreamy sensitively created atmospheres, nostalgic yet pleasingly melancholic CD artwork, to the beautiful & profound poetic lyrics. SLEEPING PEONIES combines a number of genre styles and influences resulting in an individual and creatively rich sound. It is possible to hear a number of influences throughout the release, however SLEEPING PEONIES has a strongly formed character as their imaginative moniker and track-titles would suggest.

The overall style could be described as a combination of atmospheric ambient Black Metal, Shoegaze, Post-Rock and Dream-Pop. Bands such as ALCEST, BURZUM, early FORGOTTEN WOODS, JOYLESS, LYRINX, ISOLATION, AUSTERE, VELVET CACOON, NUIT NOIRE, WRATH OF THE WEAK, LONESUMMER, TARANTEL, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, & AMESOEURS come to mind while listening. In light of this; supporters of the aforementioned bands would be well-advised to experience “Rose Curl, Sea Swirl” as they would surely enjoy the release greatly. However, SLEEPING PEONIES add other characteristics to this already highly effective art-form. For example; as in the case of NUIT NOIRE, the sound also has unusual punky characteristics especially when it comes to vocal delivery. The vocals may be described as being of the BURZUMic variety; emotionally screamed & reverberated, however, vocally SLEEPING PEONIES also bring to mind Screamo / D.I.Y. Punk bands such as MATHS (UK), ORCHID, & CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE. These sort of eccentric details add to the overall atmospheres present & also the ability of the release to transport the imagination to other realms. SLEEPING PEONIES has an adept skill at storytelling & translating memories through both music and lyrics & throughout the release the listener can explore an isolated, beautiful and dream-filled nautical world that VELVET CACOON themselves would be proud of.

This is outsider Black Metal at its best; a warm, bassy, blistering wall-of-sound, interlaced with raw, honest emotion, subtle ambience, atypical varied tempo drumming, epic soaring melodies, somber piano pieces, haunting female vocals and most of all a real sense of artistry, personality & imagination. “Rose Curl, Sea Swirl” consists of seven tracks that are guaranteed to take you on a subconscious journey. Amazing!

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Xasthur Portal of Sorrow
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Review: Xasthur – Portal of Sorrow

“Portal of Sorrow” has been released as an alternate swansong for XASTHUR and although I believe the full-length predecessor “All Reflections Drained” has its merits, “Portal of Sorrow” is most certainly a superior release.

The album is interesting firstly in that it combines recognisable song structures that hark back to the earlier days of XASTHUR whilst also encompassing new ideas and techniques. For example; I am reminded of early albums such as “Nocturnal Poisoning” as “Portal of Sorrow” features similarly unsettling compositions that take those unexpected paths that makes XASTHUR such compelling and obsessive listening. This is where “All Reflections Drained” was not so successful as despite it being a well-composed and thoroughly listenable release, the sense of character was not so prominent. I remember reading an interview with Malefic years ago about the way in which he composes songs and (if my memory serves correctly); a sequence of notes will be arranged & then re-written or played differently so that they appear to sound “wrong”. I find this notion of songwriting fascinating because it defies convention whilst also challenging the traditional concepts of composing music. This twisting of the song-structures makes for an original sound and those notes that are adapted to sound “wrong” actually result in music that sounds everything but wrong as anyone who supports XASTHUR will know all too well. So, aside these lugubrious and broken melodies, there are also new features added to the XASTHUR formula. Firstly there is the addition of female vocals which add a great deal to the overall atmosphere and effectiveness of the release. Marissa Nadler provides an elegantly sung and ethereal vocal resulting in the album having a truly unearthly and hypnotic effect. Boston singer/song-writer Marissa Nadler has talent in her own right, producing a spine-tingling brand of acoustic Dark Folk for her solo releases; her vocalisations combined with the talents of Malefic therefore work amazingly well. Bands such as WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, UNHOLY, BLOODY PANDA, and ASVA have used beautifully sung female vocals in their music in a similarly convincing manner.

“Portal of Sorrow” is also a more organic and abstracted release. For example; throughout the album there is an almost Neo-Classical approach considering the use of occasional deep and velvety narrations, melancholic piano pieces, subtle experimentation with found sound sounds / sampling, cold ambience and soaring soundscapes in addition to the fuzzy and distorted guitars. At times the tempo of the music is also drastically slowed down and so the music is more depressive, funereal and grand than ever.

In short; Malefic concludes the chapter of XASTHUR with an outstanding album, combining cult signature style and brooding sense of underlying horror with bold new innovations. This release may not be for everyone but is most definitely one for cult followers!

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fornost-arnor-escaping-the-abyss-cover
Reviews

Review: Fornost Arnor – Escaping the Abyss

“Escaping the Abyss” is the debut release from UK band FORNOST ARNOR, it is also the first release for new label Witch King Records. Although this is the band’s first release, they have already had reasonable coverage in well-known publications such as Zero Tolerance magazine and it is easy to see why. It’s hard to believe this is a debut release due to its mature approach, technical precision, effective production and overall professional quality. Although the band name references J.R.R Tolkien, that’s as far as it goes, in fact the most obvious influences that may be heard when listening to “Escaping the Abyss” are OPETH and ENSLAVED. FORNOST ARNOR combine elements of Black Metal, Folk, Pagan Metal, Doom, Technical Death Metal and of course progressive extreme Metal.

The similarity to OPETH is striking, though it’s obvious FORNOST ARNOR have incorporated a myriad of influences into their sound due to the complexity of the eight epic compositions on offer here. The growled vocals are the element most reminiscent of OPETH plus there is also often a clean vocal present which is sung in the same style of delivery as OPETH but is perhaps slightly smoother and more melancholic than OPETH. There are also a few elements that FORNOST ARNOR use that will surely intrigue the listener. For example; “The Tragedy of Delusion” features some beautiful female vocals that compliment the harsher elements of the album. There are also some complex scales and solos present that strangely bring to mind bands such as RED CHORD, MORBID ANGEL, GOJIRA or perhaps DECAPITATED which surely adds interesting and unexpected twists, these elements also contrast nicely to folky acoustic passages and ensure that the attention is always well and truly grabbed. Musically, FORNOST ARNOR is also close to later ENSLAVED in terms of progressive song-writing, inspiration coming from the natural world, ice cold atmospheres and a strong sense of dark, turbulent emotion.

Overall this is a band that shows great promise having achieved such excellent results at such an early stage in their musical career. Make no mistake, this is one to watch and it would be no surprise if great success and respect greets FORNOST ARNOR in the near future. For fans of AGALLOCH, IRONWOOD, ENSLAVED, OPETH, later EMPEROR, INSOMNIUM, MOURNING BELOVETH, NOVEMBER’S DOOM, MORGION, RUSH, PINK FLOYD, MYRKGRAV, HELRITT, etc.

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highgate-highgate-cover
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Review: Highgate – Highgate

The first thing that strikes about HIGHGATE is the similarity to bands such as KHANATE, OTESANEK, NEGATIVE REACTION, STUMM, WRECK OF THE HESPERUS and GRIEF. However the most striking similarity is to KHANATE certainly when bearing in mind their slower, more abstract offering of “Things Viral”; the style of vocals HIGHGATE use is very much in this vein, in fact astoundingly so, though perhaps less restrained and a little more tormented than KHANATE (that is just about possible!). “Highgate” is basically a combination of Sludge, Black Metal and Doom Metal with a few elements of Noise, Drone and synth experimentation thrown in here and there plus the sort of sampling you would expect from EYEHATEGOD in places.

The album consists of one long track of almost an hour in length so a moderate degree of perseverance and patience is needed when giving it a listen and therefore this will certainly not appeal to those who are looking for variety. The track itself is ultra-slow, raw and abrasive with fairly simplistic, repetitive and monotonous riffs, the production is not in any way polished and the atmosphere is as ominous and bleak as you would expect. So, in other words as far away from “accessible” as you can get. The question is whether this album is too inaccessible for some, especially those who are not so accustomed to the swamp-like depths that Sludge can offer. Around the 20 minute mark there is a section that is surprisingly reminiscent of the repetitive yet effective MCD released by SKEPTICISM entitled “Aes”, albeit a less grand and more filthy sounding “Aes”. This is certainly a higher point of the album as it changes the atmosphere slightly during this apocalyptic and colossal soundscape. The Black Metal elements heard here are fairly subtle, heard in riffs at times, though perhaps having more in common with the more depressive end of the Black Metal scale. The primitive nature of the release may appeal to those who look for this trait in Black Metal / Doom, however, HIGHGATE is an acquired taste as it is what could be described as extreme, ultra-primitive, minimalist Doom and is very far away from any form of technical wizardry.

Inspiration behind this release, of course, comes from the more negative aspects of life; with themes of War, death, suicide, and desolation being present. HIGHGATE are certainly masters of creating feelings of building tension, discomfort and nihilistic darkness. Overall the album is an unrelenting experience, perhaps not the most original but ideal for the most anti-social followers of the genres HIGHGATE combine in such an ugly manner.

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