Sep 30, 2018

Aborted (2018) TerrorVision 'Review'



Band: Aborted
Country of Origin: Belgium
Genre: Death Metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD
Length Approx.: 45:00 min.
Release Date09-21-2018
Release Label: Century Media Records

IR Classification: Good (3.8 / 5)

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TerrorVision remains hostile and ruthless.

Aborted has been spamming us during the last six years, "Global Flatline" in (2012), "The Necrotic Manifesto" in (2014), "Retrogore" in (2016) and their latest production that was released just a few days ago entitled "TerrorVision," all of them having in common the new line-up that Sven de Caluwé brought up together, since 2012 and therefore reflecting a new personality, venturing into more technical territories as far as songwriting is concerned, bringing a more clear and fresh production, I would dare to compare their current sound to American outfit of Cephalic Carnage and Cattle Decapitation, for a quick reference.


Taking a quick look into their history, we can understand why Sven decided to shift the compass and experiment with a more complexity at composition and production standards, during the half end decade of the noughties, Aborted had to face a harsh reality due to the lack of approbation of their fan-base to albums like "The Archaic Abattoir" in (2005), "Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture" released in (2007) and "Strychnine.213" in (2008) they just fell short, compared to their previous works where they deliver a plenty and grotesque gore fest.



"TerrorVision" lasts about forty-five minutes for eleven tracks, the question here is, will their most recent released album beat down their previous work "Retrogore"? Aborted did a great work in their previous album, very aggressive, violent and straightforward all in one take, however "TerrorVision" bring some moments to enjoy the melodic riff embedded, the album remains hostile and ruthless creating a stunning balance by itself, the first track is "Lasciate Ogne Speranza" an intro conceptually marvelous with frightening piano notes that precede the hell coming after it, the explosive "TerrorVision" not only gives its name to the album, it carry the hell within with, the riff excel by its brutality, while the malignant growls of Sven are fruitful, "Farewell to the Flesh" is fast and full of catchy melodic hooks, the drum work match the guitar intensity, "Vespertine Decay" and "Squalor Opera" both delivers a hammering riff in its own particular way, pushing out grandiose vocals. Let's fast forward to "Deep Red" built with demolishing drum work and grooving guitar riffs that are simply crushingly, "Exquisite Covinous Drama" melds perfectly the dissonant harmony and aggressiveness with the harsh vocals, "Exquisite Covinous Drama" melds perfectly the dissonant harmony and aggressiveness with the harsh vocals, "A Whore D’oeuvre Macabre" unleashes the restrained beast and the imminent chaos begin the guitars are twisted and rabid as the pummeling drums goes into a frantic pace, the last track is "The Final Absolution" made up with a majestic passage in the keyboards, it lands with superb killer tremolo picking, the deeper tones comes through the bass severing the throats of the reluctant to abdicate stereotypes.


Aborted is probably one of the few bands that has been able to adapt properly to the adversities and not only that, they have proven how to master and succeed in their new cycle, the production is top notch and everything else falls just right in its place, "TerrorVision" easily will make its way up to any top ten list of the year.

Stay True... Stay Metal... Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Lasciate Ogne Speranza
02. TerrorVision
03. Farewell to the Flesh
04. Vespertine Decay
05. Squalor Opera
06. Visceral Despondency
07. Deep Red
08. Exquisite Covinous Drama
09. Altro Inferno
10. A Whore d'Oeuvre Macabre
11. The Final Absolution





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Archgoat (2018) The Luciferian Crown 'Review'


Band: Archgoat
Country of Origin: Finland
Genre: Death / Black Metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 35:00 min.
Release Date09-21-2018
Release Label: Debemur Morti Productions

IR Classification: Good (3.5 / 5)




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Full of dark rites and devilish conjures.

Regardless that Archgoat emerged since 1989 it's very clear that they doesn't belong to the now known Second Wave of Black Metal lead by the Norwegian and Swedish Black metal scene, rather they remained true, to their sound is very influenced by the Brazilians Sarcofago and its raw black metal and the Canadian band Blasphemy and its infernal black metal, Archgoat adhered to it with a darker ambience and deeper tone, from a raging slow riff up to reach an explosive and chaotic riff, always with their transgressive and extreme lyrics.

"The Luciferian Crown" represents Archgoat’s fourth full length effort until today's date, this is due to the fact that they got split in 1993, just before the release of what would supposed to be their album debut entitled, "Angelslaying Black Fucking Metal" which didn't saw the street light at that time, it would be up to 2005 when was released as an EP format for the Finnish, Hammer of Hate Records a year after Archgoat got together again.


“The Luciferian Crown" is full of dark rites and devilish conjures, inspired by the hellish forces, the first track a twenty second intro and its tenebrous growls in the background bell chimes is enough warning to tell you where are you going to enter, right away comes "Jesus Christ Father of Lies" which sounds raw and brutal due to the fast pace they forged in hell, "Messiah of Pigs" with a horrific pigs squealing intro the track kicks off a hammered riff and blasting drums everything is set for those unsettling growls, another outstanding track is "Star of Darkness and Abyss" it sounds malevolent and aggressive the drum work is relentless with a bloody fast pace assault by merciless guitar riff, all this embraced by a bright and ominous keyboard, "The Obsidian Flame (From my Depths)" goes more slower and catchy, "The Luciferian Crown (Venom of God)" tears down everything around, its sound has an approach to what some call war metal, "I am Lucifer's Temple" powerful doom vibe very well structured track with a murky feeling, which appeals to the darker feelings.



Archgoat’s new album doesn't refrain the blasphemies at all, as a storm they come to destroy and leave nothing behind, many will call it Infernal black metal, others War black metal and few one’s Bestial black metal. You can call it whatever you want, but at least you must have to experience this band once in your life.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…


Track List:

01. Intrantation │ 02. Jesus Christ Father of Lies │ 03. Jezebels Black Mass Orgy │ 04. Messiah of Pigs │ 05. Darkness Has Returned │ 06. Sorcery and Doom │ 07. Star of Darkness and Abyss │ 08. The Obsidian Flame (From My Depths) │ 09. The Luciferian Crown (Venom of God) │ 10. I Am Lucifer's Temple


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Grave Digger (2018) The Living Dead 'Review'


Band: Grave Digger
Country of Origin: Germany
Genre: Heavy / Power Metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 46:00 min.
Release Date09-14-2018
Release Label: Napalm Records

IR Classification: Moderate (3.0 / 5)




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"The Living Dead" doesn't compile their best work.

Grave Digger is one of the few bands that have been hanging around for the last thirty-eight years and one of the most skilled at songwriting that we can recognize nowadays within the Heavy and Power metal genre, "The Living Dead" comes to be their nineteenth album in their career, not all the time has been fanfares for them and frankly, "The Living Dead" falls short especially when you met them at their maximum exponential point; Please, pull out any album from the nineties or early noughties, and you will understand what I'm talking about.


"The Living Dead" struggles to retain your attention, the opener song "Fear the Living Dead" seems weak to me, it lacks of that classic punch that characterizes the Teutonic, in fact the length end up killing this track, while "Blade of the Immortal" comes loose and the riff doesn't land properly, at least doesn't make the intended impact, "When Death Passes By" delivers a decent crushing riff with a stunning guitar solo, "The Power of Metal" is a beautiful song that pull off one of the best sing along choruses in the album and thrives to transmit the feeling of the power metal, "What War Left Behind" give us is a great initial thrash riff, with a solid rhythm section and a terrific guitar solo, but again, "Fist in Your Face" is exactly what it says it is and not for being grandiose, it totally loses a lot of emotion, the next track is "Zombie Dance" what can I tell you about this track? is a Folk experiment that caught me off-guard, in their defense I can say they are looking alternative to entertain their audience, adding new stuff to their long repertoire, the closing bonus track "Glory or Grave" is kind of OK, with a solid and powerful riff that melds pretty tightly well, at most gaining an average level.



At the end I got lost, I end up with doubts because since (2015) "Exhumation (The Early Years)" and (2017) "Healed by Metal" Grave Digger has not shown all that genius and power that backs them up and "The Living Dead" doesn't compile their best work, few tracks are redeemable, but that's it; So please do yourself a favor listen the whole album and make your own conclusions, because here I have nothing else to say.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…


Track List:

01. Fear of the Living Dead │ 02. Blade of the Immortal │ 03. When Death Passes By │ 04. Shadow of the Warrior │ 05. The Power of Metal  │ 06. Hymn of the Damned │ 07. What War Left Behind │ 08. Fist in Your Face │ 09. Insane Pain │ 10. Zombie Dance │ 11. Glory or Grave


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Deicide (2018) Overtures of Blasphemy 'Review'



Band: Deicide
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Melodic Death metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD
Length Approx.: 38:00 min.
Release Date09-14-2018
Release Label: Century Media Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

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Deicide has just nailed down another genuine album.

Although Deicide has had many ups and downs during their career, they are still one of my favorite bands, I was raised with it and fortunate enough to listen to the band, this is what we currently call "old school", in those days it was the new, it was evil incarnate and there were no points of comparison, it was the beginning of what we know now and Deicide helped me out to expand my taste for this fabulous genre, that seems limitless and endless.

Deicide started twenty-eight years ago and at that time they clearly appeared to be the American answer for the Norwegian black metal scene, with albums like "Deicide" and "Legion" released in (1990) and (1992) respectively. They came up with problems of acceptance among their followers, due to many factors, changes of line-up, creative issues and others; some of my favorites albums are "Serpents of the Light" in (1997), "The Stench of Redemption" in (2006), "In the Minds of Evil" released in 2013 and of course their newest jewel "Overtures of Blasphemy" which has been a great addition, not only for what they achieve musically; Also, for the continuity they demonstrate and therefore the enthusiasts of the genre they will know and recognize it quickly, so let's take a quick look at the next thirty-eight minutes, shall we?



"One with Satan" is responsible for opening "Overture of Blasphemy" in a glorious way with a slow rhythm and heavy riffs, it shift into madness with killer drums and possessed bass tones, rapidly is followed by, "Crawled from the Shadows" awesome speed to carry on with such extreme exhibit, glorious groovy riff keeps the devilish within, next is the rabid and melodic "Seal the Tomb Below" it grabs a classic thrash riff to dig into a merciless pace. No matter if you hate them, this track will make you bang your head, it has a very decent guitar solo; Honestly, they are delivering very sophisticated songwriting. "Compliments of Christ" sounds very aggressive and lethal, riffs are stained in a bloody mess, while the drumming discharge a defiant upbeat, melding with cavernous vocals, let's skip to "Excommunicated" takes again a brief thrash riff which evolves into a more technical level, infringing that punch which only they can deliver, "Anointed in Blood" is very tight with the killer drums and perfect guitar work, the bass lines layered in the background fuse everything smoothly with the intense vocals. "Defying the Sacred" has outstanding lead guitar work at the beginning, delves quickly into a more Deicide classic sound with ceaseless drum work and again the hideous vocals steal the show, with that renewed energy, pulled off from hell, "Flesh, Power, Dominion" it's basically the thrasher assault of the album from the beginning all hell breaks loose with its fast pace riff and ruthless drum work, the last track is "Destined to Blasphemy" made out of a feral tones that unfolds as a sick groove riff that repeats over and over, but distant to be boring due to the excellent shift of pace, this consequently brings it to a deadly end.

In my humble opinion, Deicide has just nailed down another genuine album into their discography, despite the ups and downs, "Overtures of Blasphemies" puts them in the road back to its origins, as long as they keep its path, I'm pretty confident that Deicide will regain all those loose enthusiasts, who continue to revere only in their beginnings of the band.

Stay True... Stay Metal... Stay Brutal...


Track List:

01. One with Satan
02. Crawled from the Shadows
03. Seal the Tomb Below
04. Compliments of Christ
05. All That Is Evil
06. Excommunicated
07. Anointed in Blood
08. Crucified Soul of Salvation
09. Defying the Sacred
10. Consumed by Hatred
11. Flesh, Power, Dominion
12. Destined to Blasphemy





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Sep 26, 2018

Conan (2018) Existential Void Guardian 'Review'


Band: Conan
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Stoner / Doom Metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 58:00 min.
Release Date09-14-2018
Release Label: Napalm Records

IR Classification: Good (3.7 / 5)




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Doom metal intense, irreverent, heavy and bizarre.

The mighty lords of the genre stoner doom metal have returned just two years after releasing their previous recording "Vengeance" having a good acceptance among the genre disciples, this time they brought us their brand-new album entitled "Existential Void Guardian" with eleven tracks full of riffs with the most infamous and deliriant tunes that you've heard lately.


Many people argue about the order of this album, some people claim to be the fifth album of the band, some others said it's the fourth, due to the polemic arise from their recording entitled "Horseback Battle Hammer" back in 2010, the truth is that I do not care about that, what really matters here is their distinctive sound of Doom metal that they deliver which is intense, irreverent, heavy and bizarre. "Prosper on the Path" give us a dark entrance, for an instant you can appreciate nuances of Godflesh with a doomy-industrial vibe that is well balanced. "Eye to Eye to Eye" will certainly decimate your soul very slowly. It is undeniable that this track will peak your interest. Then comes the superfast "Paincantation" which clearly states, that sometimes the slower can be devastating at a Grindcore pace; So, let's skip to "Volt Thrower" made of visceral riffs that exploits as the melodies arrive, "Vexxagon" with a repetitive and catchy riff assaults the listener with punishing torrent. "Eternal Silent Legend" distorted and perilous, subtly slow melt riffing, drives you through a known but intangible maze.



"Existential Void Guardian" puts back Conan as a spearhead within the genre, I really enjoyed the first seven songs, about thirty-five minutes of this deadly band, the bonus track included is too much for me, but there is always the digital version, which will avoid you this part, my recommendation is get it as soon as possible!


Track List:

01. Prosper on the Path │ 02. Eye to Eye to Eye │ 03. Paincantation │ 04. Amidst the Infinite │ 05. Volt Thrower │ 06. Vexxagon │ 07. Eternal Silent Legend │ 08. Total Conquest (Live)* │ 09. Satsumo (Live)* │ 10. Foehammer (Live)* │ 11. Hawk as Weapon (Live)*


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Sep 25, 2018

Monstrosity (2018) The Passage of Existence 'Review'


Band: Monstrosity
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Melodic Death metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD
Length Approx.: 58:00 min.
Release Date09-07-2018
Release Label: Metal Blade Records

IR Classification: Excellent (4.8 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)
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This new album attains a status near masterpiece definition.

I have to admit it, since I found out that Monstrosity would launch a new production this year, many expectation arose within me and I felt anxious to listen this album, because I consider Monstrosity as an iconic figure in the Florida death metal circuit, it was 1992 few days after my birthday, when I attended to my local music shop looking for Obituary's latest album at that time "The End Complete", but it ran out; So I ended up buying Monstrosity debut album "Imperial Doom", as soon as I heard it, this album blew me away!  my blind purchase was worth every single cent.

These veterans of a thousand battles have been able to create an impeccable album in all its aspects, do you want to compare their sound? all right! I'll tell you to forget Cannibal Corpse and their crushing brutality, discard Deicide and their blasting sound, nor the technical sound of Atheist, but with enough elements and more diverse than Obituary; So you can only compare Monstrosity to themselves for instance listen their previous work "Spiritual Apocalypse" released over eleven years ago, then you will know what I am talking about.

Currently the band consist of their lead man behind the drums Lee Harrison, bass player Michael Poggione, lead guitarist Mark English, vocalist Mike Hrubovcak and guitarist Matt Barnes, this line-up has been steady since 2010, the album was recorded at three different studios, the drum tracks where recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida while the guitars and bass where recorded at Ascension Sound in Tampa and finally the vocals where recorded at Obituary's Redneck Studios in Gibsonton; Under the production of another metal veteran Jason Suecof, and the mixing was perform by Mark Lewis.



"The Passage of Existence" surpass any of my expectations, I liked their work at "Spiritual Apocalypse" but undoubtedly and despite the followed up their monstrous formula, this new album attains a status near a masterpiece definition, the first track "Cosmic Pandemia" heavy punching riff nothing intricate but sophisticated old fans will be grateful, "Kingdom of Fire" offers a nice shredding through versatile guitars and blistering drums, "Radiated" brings with itself an unrelenting brutality, fast with superb snarls to rip out your guts, "Solar Vacuum" the sickest track of the album very unrepentant and threatening, "The Proselygeist" sounds dense and give the listener to experience a mid-pace track conceived utterly dark, "Maelstrom" will drag you into hell with such voracious riff and its solid rhythm section, "Eyes Upon the Abyss" they ruthlessly lash out with extreme and engaging twisted realms and sharp turns, next is my favorite track of the album, "Dark Matter Invocation" very elaborated, layered with melodies that morph into passionate and belligerent riff, while the vocals enhance and set in another level this track, "The Hive" sounds frantic and moody, "Eternal Void" is a natural anthem of hostility for the mosh pit, they threw in excellent bass near the end to highlight this song, "Century" delivers an unequaled state of devastation, the last track is "Slaves of the Evermore" whit forceful instrumentation and abominant growls keep's the intensity and hostility up to the last minute.

"The Passage of Existence" doesn't lack of anything at all contains brutality, achieve a technical level, fast, well balanced, but the outstanding part of this album is what makes metal what it is, furious unbridled and distorted guitar solos, all of them memorable and pretty well executed, I truly believe the wait, well worth it! with this album your highest demands will be satisfied I have no doubt about it.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…


Track List:

01. Cosmic Pandemia
02. Kingdom of Fire
03. Radiated
04. Solar Vacuum
05. The Proselygeist
06. Maelstrom
07. Eyes upon the Abyss
08. Dark Matter Invocation
09. The Hive
10. Eternal Void
11. Century
12. Slaves to the Evermore



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