Serocs (2018) The Phobos / Deimos Suite 'Review'

Band: Serocs

Country of Origin: Mexico, France, Canada

Genre: Brutal Technical Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps

Length Approx.: 46:00 min.

Release Date: 10-26-2018

Release Label: Everlasting Spew Records

IR Classification: Excellent (4.7 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

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Serocs unchain the most extreme brutality.

Serocs has been grown beyond any expectation from being a mere solo project born in Guadalajara, Mexico to become in one of the most successful international partnership acts of Brutal Technical Death Metal that underground scene has seen in a long time, their style is very influenced by bands like Cryptopsy who's unfortunately are no longer in that musical line, Spawn of Possession who were split two years ago and the extinct and deeply missed Necrophagist, only to mention a few of them.

Serocs current formation consists of Antonio Freyre on guitars, Phil Tougas (Chthe'ilist) on guitars, Antoine Daigneault (Chthe'ilist) on bass, Kévin Paradis (Benighted) on drums and Laurent Bellemare (Basalte) on vocals "The Phobos / Deimos Suite" is an album composed by songs written during the last ten years. So, these tracks will be like a walk through their entire career and maybe this could be the secret that makes this album exciting.

"Being" opens this album despite being short is exuberant with a layered riff well-executed proving their technical skills the storming drum work stands out, "Thanatophobia" is the third track in the album and believe me, from the very first moment it sounds explosive and set the listeners into a whirlwind of endless aggression with a ruthless roaring, at a certain point is impossible not to hear their influences and all the sudden feel that refreshing wave taking over and "Oneirology" comes to be a truly delightful piece with pummeling drums and a deeper bass that offers an overwhelming  dynamism, the guitars deliver a slaughter well reinforced by the guttural vocals, "Lethe" create a unique atmosphere only to welcoming the next track "SCP-106" provides a great technical performance but the vocals are crushing then is followed by "Nonbeing" is brilliant and insane at the same time the gorgeous signature riff are eloquent and help to keep things spiced up towards the end, "Deimos" is an odyssey extremely well-conceived, the arrangements are fierce and again their technical skills are put to the test and the result is exceptional as brutal, riff that shatters and re-shape masterfully into a pragmatic chaos.

To sum up, Serocs has accomplished their best record so far, "The Phobos / Deimos Suite" holds a solid concept, the songwriting is faultless, the production is clean but stands out every instrument, everything here sounds neat, it turns hard to point out any flaws when these guys unchain the most extreme brutality and they pack it with the most refined technique, if you are a real follower of the style then this is an album you shouldn't miss.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…™

Track List:

01. Being │ 02. Nihilus │ 03. Thanatophobia │ 04. Rem(nants) │ 05. Oneirology │ 06. Revenants │ 07. Lethe │ 08. SCP-106 │ 09. Nonbeing │  10. Deimos

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Voivod (2016) Post Society [EP]

Band: Voivod

Country of Origin: Canada

Genre: Progressive metal

Type: EP

Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 30:00 min.

Release Date: 02-26-2016

Release Label: Century Media Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

An imminent return to its roots, aiming to recapture some of their old fans and respect of the newest generation

Voivod are one of those few bands who remain and enjoy their creative longevity as anyone, since the beginning of their career they has been pulling album after album of great level, starting with the explosion of the Thrash metal in the eighties they were able to add progressive elements ending with such masterpieces as "Killing Technology" in 1987 or later "Dimension Hatröss" in 1988 and subsequently lead them into a more progressive spectrum to release "Nothingface" during 1989, or the stunning "The Outer Limits" released in 1993, passing through the ephemeral punk progressive of "Infini" in 2009 and lately their successful comeback to their progressive roots embodied in "Target Earth" three years ago, which has revived the flame of their most diehard fans.

Canadians Voivod have been fairly constant with respect to line-up changes, being the most significant the lost of their former guitarist Piggy who passed away in 2005 and the bassist Blacky, the current line-up is Away behind the drums, Snake performing vocals, Chewy in the crushing guitar and Rocky in the rumbling bass, with this formation Voivod record their latest work an EP entitled "Post Society" which contains five tracks, so let's take a look and find out what they have to offer for our delight.

"Post Society" is the first track and gives it the title to this EP, the bass roars loud with some post punk effect and rapidly is joined by striking guitar riff sharp and catchy, Snake vocals is still in good shape, while the drums lead the pace, "Forever Mountain" this track was included in a split with Napalm Death and tends to be in a slower pace, but overwhelming and sullen, the next track is "Fall" with a slightly peaceful guitar work, it turns into a eccentric and dissonant piece with a delirious guitar solo make this one the favorite of the EP, "We Are Connected" is another track previously released in a split with At The Gates one year ago, aiming to recapture some of their old fans and respect of the newest generation, here they shown us a more powerful work as unit, succeeding in every aspect from the fastest riff to the intense and slower pace, the closing song is the cover track "Silver Machine" from the English rock band Hawkwind which is really fun, how they imprint they own style and at the end come to be seriously catchy.

Voivod has been always very distinctive from the pack, at some point I could consider them as the lonely wolf of the prairie, in such case there is no boundaries for them and their creativity and their thirty-five years in the field, it proves how unique they are pick any decade and you will find out, what I'm talking about, definitely Voivod has earned a special place within the metal scene.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Post Society

02. Forever Mountain

03. Fall

04. We Are Connected

05. Silver Machine

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Unleash The Archers (2015) Time Stands Still

Band: Unleash The Archers

Country of Origin: Canada

Status: Active

Genre: Power / Melodic Death metal

Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  61:00 min.

Release Date EU: 06-26-2015
Release Date US: 07-10-2015

Current label: Napalm Records

Release label: Napalm Records

IR Classification: Excellent (4.5 / 5)

The Fury that characterize them with astonishing vocals

The Canadians Power/Melodic Death metal band Unleash The Archers has recently released their newly album titled "Time Stands Still" with their classical fury that characterize them, powerful chords, catchy rhythms and an astonishing vocals, this is their third effort and if you check them up before, (2009) "Behold the Devastation", (2011) "Demons of the AstroWaste" and their EP (2012) “Defy the Skies” you might surprise how this young band has been pushing out the boundaries, should be noted also, that “Time Stands Still” is their first album in which they have the support of a major label like Napalm Records.

Unleash The Archers leaded by the amazing vocalist Brittney Slayes and behind the drums Scott Buchannan they have managed to succeed after several line-up changes in the past years, now days the rest of the band it is complemented by the guitarists/backing vocals Grant Truesdell and Andrew Saunders, the rhythm section by bassist Kyle Sheppard, with this line-up they recorded "Time Stands Still" here you have ten majestically assembled tracks plus a bonus track.

The album start it with "Northern Passage" an instrumental cut that just work as a prologue for the next track which is "Frozen Steel" from the beginning, pumps up adrenaline pure with savage’s heavy riff, a really good indicative to satisfy your senses and don't forget to pay attention to Brittney’s voice which is amazing, next is "Hail of the Tide" here you can appreciate harsh vocals battling Brittney's clean vocals while the music runs with a frenzy pace open a path to a delightful guitar solo, then comes "Tonight We Ride" which is the track for the official video, displaying virtuous guitar elements to exhibit Brittney's vocal range Scott sounds energetic behind the drums and Kyle add a bass line to remember "Taste your Metal" revels in galloping guitars is extremely catchy no doubt it will be an anthem to sing along with Brittney next is "Crypt" is little bit more oriented to the melodic death metal side of the band with vicious riff, powerful blast beats a mid section filled with choruses, "No More Heroes" same as the previous cut delivers a hybrid of power/melodeth, of crushing guitars Unleash The Archers plays outstanding when battling harsh and clean vocals, because doesn't feel like the a classic scream behind Brittney's voice, "Dreamcrusher" is actually the longest track in this album and in their career too, at some point it was boring but there are two elements that holds up this theme, the amazing backing vocals that support Brittney's voice and Kyle once again adding a bass line interlude, "Going Down Fighting" I'm sure it has it's times, it's highs and lows but after nine minutes of the previous track it sounds lacking of something the only remarkable aspect I can remember is the guitar solo, "Time Stands Still" opens with some kind of Gregorian chants giving a way to Brittney's soaring vocals, infectious guitars by Grant and Andrew, while Kyle lays a blunt rhythmic section follow by Scott and his merciless drums, the bonus track is "Tonight We Ride" this is the video edit version.

My particular perception of the album "Time Stands Still" says this is a great album, they are not reinventing nothing, they just play good enough with their own elements and one of these elements is Brittney's voice, she sings with conviction and passion, I sincerely believe that their persistence has led them to where they are now; having a major label as Napalm Records to backing them up, will help Unleash The Archers to spread their name worldwide.

Stay True... Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…

Track List:

1. Northern Passage (Instrumental)

2. Frozen Steel

3. Hail of the Tide

4. Tonight we Ride

5. Test your Metal

6. Crypt
7. No More Heroes
8. Dreamcrusher
9. Going Down Fighting
10. Time Stands Still

11. Tonight We Ride (Video Edit)* [Bonus track]


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Aversion (2015) Aversion

Band: Aversion

Country of Origin: Canada

Status: Active

Genre: Black metal

Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  30:00 min.

Release Date: 05-10-2015

Current label: Independent
Release label: n/a

IR Classification: Moderate (2.8 / 5)

Aversion is raw, heaviest and brutal

Aversion is a band formed in 2011 in Montreal, Quebec in Canada, they started as a three piece band consisting of Max Macabre on drums, Vena Kava doing vocals and Nemrod on guitars, this is  how they began to write songs for their "Pre-life Nostalgia" demo  released in 2013, the current line-up is complemented by Vilain taking on drums and Max Macabre moved on guitars and the bassist Leather King, Aversion plays a Black metal with Thrash influences.

The debut album self titled with a production very raw and visceral at moments, gives an early sound of the second wave of Black metal the opening track "Espoirs Brisés" fall into a blackened crust sound the guitars are corrosives remind me the Brazilian band Sarcofago, "Flesh of the Maggot" is more slow paced with a depressive melody, "Pre-life Nostalgia" comes from their first demo as well as "Gangrene Harvest" which closes the album, both were described early for nataliezworld.com in an interview with Vena Kara she comment: "Both songs have a more defined sound and more representative of the direction were heading toward then" http://tinyurl.com/qa8wqdb "Sacrifice" this is the longest track in this album, reaching barely the five minute mark, also comes to be the most melodic and brutal, here you can appreciate the full potential this band has, however after this cut it feel like they just packed up almost ten minutes of generic black metal which really hurt the balance they have been crafted with the previous tracks, but fortunately "Gangrene Harvest" comes to save this album, excellent change of tempos melody and brutality meet again in a unique piece a guitar solo that blends perfect to end the song, Vena Kava does an impressive job delivering strength and passion with her growling vocals.

Despite the production which is not very clear, but focus in the primary elements of their song writing, it helps somehow to define the sound of Aversion as a raw, heavy and brutal bringing an old and refreshing air to this scene that is so saturated, I really encourage you to listen to them, you never know! You might find an enjoyable surprise.

 Stay True... Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…

Track List:

1. Espoirs Brisés

2. Flesh of the Maggot

3. Pre-life Nostalgia

4. Sacrifice

5. Your Hate Against Mine

6. Nie Udalo Sie

7. Stench of Despair

8. Gangrene Harvest




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Xul (2015) Extinction Necromance [EP]

Band: Xul

Country of Origin: Canada

Status: Active

Genre: Blackened Death metal

Type: EP

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  30:00 min.

Release Date: 05-19-2015

Current label: Independent
Release label: n/a

IR Classification: Moderate (3.0 / 5)

Plenty of elements to excel, but baffling mixed choices

Xul is a five piece band based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada they were formed in 2008, since then they began writing music for what will be their first full length titled "Malignance" with eight brutal cuts, it was released in June 16th 2012, as an independent release, their style can be described as Blackened Death metal, taking influences from bands such as Dissection, Behemoth, and Immortal.

In 2015, they come to light their new production as an EP entitled "Extinction Necromance" which contains four tracks full of savagery, literally Xul will destroy you from the opener track "Frozen, We Drown", it comes to fuse brutality and tech death metal fast as hell and with the slow parts it's simply blunt, a guitar riff which comes from the bowels and growling vocals, this cut has wide range of textures to appreciate, then comes "Orbit of Nemesis" the symphonic intro doesn't prepare you for the sonic assault that this guys have crafted for you, overflowing tech death metal, there is a predominant riff along the track which sound incredible and will stick to you, "Chaos Requiem" falls in the more melodic Xul can offer us, but without losing the brutal contrasts, exceptional transition from fast tempos full of energy to the slowest tempos where melody take over, vocals are morbid and disturbing, the last cut is "Summon the Swarn" a peaceful intro that soon blast into a chaotic reverb, drums are possessed by an entity delivering a magnificent job with the drumsticks, this track shows up their skills at composition, instrumentation is devastating a killer piece, guitars are undoubtedly the best part of this epic track, which ends with the same peaceful chords, in my opinion this is the best track in "Extinction Necromance" EP.

However, they fail miserably in production which doesn't help them to much to display their full potential in composition, they have a good riff, good pace, melody and technical, all well mixed with brutality, here there are plenty of elements to excel, however turns out  by baffling their mixing choices, they ended up with a prefabricated sound.

Stay True... Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…

Track List:

1. Frozen, We Drown

2. Orbit of Nemesis

3. Chaos Requiem

4. Summon the Swarn









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