Pig Destroyer (2018) Head Cage 'Review'

Band: Pig Destroyer

Country of Origin: United States

Genre: Grindcore

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 31:00 min.

Release Date: 09-07-2018

Release Label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Moderate (3.0 / 5)

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Still plenty of bludgeoning driven force.

It has been almost six years since Pig Destroyer brought us their album "Book Burner" which was very well accepted among its fan-base, the sound of this album was chaotic, aggressive and fulminating, almost comparable to what I consider their best album "Prowler in the Yard" from that distant 2001. So, the only thing I would expect from them is at least a solid continuity.

With that set-in mind, let's begin! for starter I was surprised for the addition of a bassist for first time ever in Pig Destroyer. So, the bar levels up a bit higher, the tracks added to this album average slightly over two minutes which takes your mind back to that album that split their fan-base back in 2007, yes! I'm talking about "Phantom Limb" but don't give up, because in my opinion Pig Destroyer’s "Head Cage" sound is heavier and more intense than their previous release, it might be the bass lines and decremental blast beat but still plenty of bludgeoning driven force remaining to hook you up.

The songwriting accomplished somehow to meld a more varied style, "Dark Train" gets thrown in your face with such power and energy as grindcore should be, connecting with a more vicious riff in "Army of Cops" very irreverent, "The Torture Fields" reveals how grindcore melds with slower melodies and the outcome will shock you up, "Terminal Itch" is genuine grindcore up to its roots and let's skip to the end, where we can find out "House of Snakes," which explores a very different path with slower riff, sluggish drum work and finally the bass lines shine a bit bringing a deeper heaviness, while Hayes has a non-stop reverberation along the thirty minutes of this album.

While it is not the finest work of Pig Destroyer, at least you can appreciate a continuity, that's enough for now, but I will still be waiting for "Prowler in the Yard Pt. 2".

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

Track List:

01. Tunnel Under the Tracks │ 02. Dark Train │ 03. Army of Cops │ 04. Circle River │ 05. The Torture Fields │ 06. Terminal Itch │ 07. Concrete Beast │ 08. The Adventures of Jason and JR │ 09. Mt. Skull │ 10. Trap Door Man │ 11. The Last Song │ 12. House of Snakes

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Gadget (2016) The Great Destroyer

Band: Gadget

Country of Origin: Sweden

Genre: Grindcore

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 27:00 min.

Release Date: 03-11-2016

Release Label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Good (3.8 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

It is really satisfying listen a band with such power and determination to destroy anything

                

Gadget is a grindcore band from Gävle, Sweden. They were formed almost two decades ago, precisely in 1997, I could probably say they are a cult band, despite their discography which is not wide as others, but quality overflows in every album they put out, their newest recording "The Great Destroyer" it was released after ten years of practically absence in the recording studio and it's preceded by two full lengths "The Funeral March" released in 2006 and their debut album "Remote" in 2004.

All the tracks included in "The Great Destroyer" holds an immaculate influence of the old school hardcore, stained with modern elements and a refreshing production by multitasking drummer, producer, mixer and mastering William Blackmon, who definitely knew how to print the energy and sense of devastation needed to drag effectively our attention to them.

The current band line-up is as follows, William Blackmon in the drums, Rikard Olsson in guitars, Emil Englund doing vocals, and Fredrik Nygren in the bass, which is basically the original formation who started Gadget and that, is one of the qualities I most admire in a band.

Diving deep into "The Great Destroyer" it is really satisfying listen a band with such power and determination to destroy anything in front of them in few minutes and you still remain standing waiting for more, Gadget delivers a sonic violence from the beginning to the end the first track "Enemies of Reason" exploit with demented savagery, "Pillars of Filth" is relentless but subtly towards the end delves in an adequate rhythm section, "Violent Hours (For a Veiled Awakening)" features a guest appearance by Barney Greenway of Napalm Death a very distinctive cut, the self titled track "The Great Destroyer" uses pulverizing guitar riffs with an intricate drumming, "In the Name of Suffering" brings a darker groove and slows down the pace adding growling vocals gives another perspective to this album very well intertwined with some grooves, the last track reaches over five minutes, which is unusual for bands within the genre "I Don't Need You / Dead and Gone" here they accomplish to blend some of their influences as is hardcore punk, sludge, doom and death metal, offering an imminent collapse after all damage sustained, however I’m sure you will hit the play button once again.

Definitely a very enjoyable album, does not feel flat at all with most of the tracks clocking around the minute or so, is not hard to succumb to their anger, I can bet if you likes, Nasum, Napalm Death, Extreme Noise Terror, Pig Destroyer then you got no excuse to let the guys of Gadget crush your bones.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Enemies of Reason
02. Känslan (Post Patch Anxiety)
03. Pillars of Filth
04. Choice of a Lost Generation
05. From Graduation to Devastation
06. Dedication  02:19   Show lyrics  
07. Violent Hours (For a Veiled Awakening)
08. The 02666 Heritage
09. The Great Destroyer
10. Down and Out
11. In the Name of Suffering
12. Lost on a Straight Path
13. Forsaken
14. Collapse
15. The Lack of Humanity
16. Svart hål
17. I Don't Need You / Dead and Gone

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Obscura (2016) Akróasis

Band: Obscura

Country of Origin: Germany

Genre: Progressive Technical Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 58:00 min.

Release Date: 02-05-2016

Release Label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Akróasis retains all the rhetorical and distinctive elements which makes their sound unmatched

Obscura the German progressive technical death metal band has come with their newest production titled "Akróasis" it took almost five years to put out a record to Obscura's mastermind guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer, but it wasn't easy after a full reformation of the band, until he meets with fretless bassist Linus Klausenitzer, drummer Sebastian Lanser and guitarist Tom Geldschläger, who left the band after recording the album allowing the lead guitarist Rafael Trujillo took over duties, with this facts in mind, it’s hard to answer the question if they were able to top off their previous album "Omnivium" released in 2011, as soon as you listen to their new record, you will figure it out.

"Akróasis" retains all the rhetorical and distinctive elements which make their sound unmatched, versatility remains a key part, very well structures arpeggios supported by a classic jazzy fretless bass, while the drums keeps up its endeavor tracing paths of intricate precision and the balance of the album fumbles between the chaotic and melodious moments of "Cosmogenesis" and the rabid progressive speed of "Omnivium", without a doubt it's complex and unpredictable.

The album opens with "Sermon Of The Seven Suns" it release all the intensity towards the infinite power in a rampant ecstasy, the jazzy elements sprout out through the varied soundscape, the vocals fall in a Schuldiner-esque, while the drums got beaten with determination and precision, "The Monist" reveals some nuanced of the early Florida tech death (Atheist, Nocturnus), the vocals take care of the brutal side in the cut, "Akróasis" the album self-titled track set a state of mind unique with a broad and compulsive sound spectrum, mesmerizing how are they able to retain you with subtle disharmonies, "Ten Sepiroth" bursts with a delicate acoustic guitar which works perfectly before unleash a hell of fast riffing, freezing blast beats shake the ground and open the way to the magnificent "Ode to the Sun" a beautiful mid pace track full of malevolence, heavy and dense riffage, the orchestral percussion are impressive and almost at the end of the cut, a choral arrangements are integrated exceptionally, "Fractal Dimension" skillful guitar work followed by a ceaseless drum builds passages and walls of cosmic sounds converging in a masterful guitar solo that vanishes in eternity, "Perpetual Infinity" remain overwhelming with very creative riff delighting the listener, the bass works towards the song complementing but forgetting the jazzy interludes for a moment, "Weltseele" this track is a subtle display of talent that scales through various hues and mergers of elements, creating a superb songwriting where can appreciate genuine riff death metal, mixed with acoustic guitars, violins, cellos, and double bass as well as clean vocals in narrative form and of course snarling vocals, the drum section play an important role giving the support to lay the pace and moods to this utterly masterpiece within their entire repertoire, the last track is the instrumental "The Origin of Primal Expression" which works pretty good as an end, giving the sense of tranquility and peace.

It is true they took a long time to perform their fourth album "Akróasis", but it is also true that you will not be disappointed, however if you are expecting somehow they follow the steps of "Omnivium" I fear you might question this album because lies more on elements we hear in "Cosmogenesis" but still I cannot clearly defined as a progeny of it, due to the expansive work in their songwriting and arrangements as ever before, it is highly recommended for enthusiasts who likes to venture in the intricate of the subgenre progressive and technical.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Sermon Of The Seven Suns
02. The Monist
03. Akróasis
04. Ten Sepiroth
05. Ode To The Sun
06. Fractal Dimension
07. Perpetual Infinity
08. Weltseele
09. The Origin of Primal Expression 



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Black Tusk (2016) Pillars of Ash

Band: Black Tusk

Country of Origin: US

Status: Active

Genre: Sludge metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 35:00 min.

Release Date: 01-29-2016

Current label: Relapse Records

Release label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Good (3.9 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Pillars of Ash is a swamp-tastic sludge metal, infected with crust punk

Tragedy has marked the past of this band, as everyone in the metal scene read or heard before, Jonathan Athon passed away on November 9th 2014 due to sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident, it was indeed regrettable and the future of Black Tusk seemed to fade away in a maze for an instant, however in times of adversity is when the strength, the passion and the courage prevails, being all the Athon's parts already recorded, his band mates James May (drums and backing vocals) and Andrew Fidler (guitars and backing vocals) were able to set the final touches to their latest album which was titled "Pillars of Ash" this album is the fourth full length in their discography and turns out to be a swamp-tastic sludge metal, infected with crust punk.

For over a decade Savannah, Georgia has treated us as never before, musically speaking first we meet Kylesa, then Baroness and last but not least Black Tusk, these three bands have forged that sound so distinctive and we have become more familiar to the Swamp metal and "Pillars of Ash" in my opinion keeps the path already traced in their previous album "Set the Dial" back in 2011 but this occasion their sound is a little more raw and aggressive, offering an emblematic record within the genre.

"Pillars of Ash" bring to us 11 tracks fully energetic, ranging from hardcore going through a heaviness and distortion which is spiced up with some crust punk, the outcome can be heard since the first track "God's on Vacation" with a distinctive drum that precedes a corrosive guitar riff with screamed vocals, "Desolation of Endless Times" with a deeper groove that guarantees an unstoppable headbanging, "Bleed on Your Knees" a blend of rock and metal, "Born of Strife" with a relentless thrashy and faster riff, start to put things upside down it is almost indescriptible the feeling that "Pillars of Ash" is able to produce, "Black Tide" seems to be the link that holds the transition from one end to the other with powerful riff and defying drums, "Still not Well" with a raw sound certainly confronts the band with its own roots, while "Walk Among the Sky" succumbs to the speed of the initial riff but subtly turns into an explosive sing along, great for a closing live performance, "Punkout" dare to busting your speakers with a terrific bass work, a total indulgent hardcore, the last track is "Leveling" shredding guitars that doesn't last as you would expect, leading to a piano outro and works more as a filler in the album,  I think they could have omitted the last track and maybe it would have the same impact.

Black Tusk delivers 35 minutes which emphasizes the insertion of rock, metal and punk with a singular dynamic ensuring a high repeatability in your playlist, this is a good album, solid and contemporary without noticeable flaws but will transcends as one of the finest within their discography and as a turning point in their career, Black Tusk actually are hitting the road with Corey Barhorst doing bass and vocals along with Holy Grail and The Well, don't miss your chance to see them live.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. God's on Vacation

2. Desolation of Endless Times

3. Bleed on Your Knees

4. Born of Strife
5. Damned in the Ground
6. Beyond the Divide
7. Black Tide
8. Still Not Well
9. Walk Among the sky
10. Punkout
11. Leveling



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Hooded Menace (2015) Darkness Drips Forth

Band: Hooded Menace

Country of Origin: Finland

Status: Active

Genre: Death Metal / Doom metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 43:00 min.

Release Date: 10-30-2015

Current label: Relapse Records

Release label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

A non stopping raw, morbid and macabre experience like no other

When it comes to talk about doom metal, come to your mind names like Candlemass, Cathedral or nowadays bands like Swallow the Sun and Novembers Doom, only to mention some bands within the genre, the truth is that there are lots of talented bands out there, while some are picked by their low frequency riff, some others are by their dispersed percussion and some by their slowly decaying solos and few ones by their exceptional capacity to blend all this elements and fusing with other genres, generating a brutal and extraordinary sound, Hooded Menace would represent properly my words and their latest album "Darkness Drips Forth" is a non stopping raw, morbid and macabre experience like no other.

Hooded Menace is currently integrated by Lasse Pyykkö in guitars and vocals, Pekka Koskelo in drums, Markus Makkonen in bass and Teemu Hannonen in rhythm guitar, "Darkness Drips Forth" was recorded and mixed by Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studios and recorded and mixed by Hooded Menace at Horrisound Studios, Mixed by Mikko Saastamoinen at Transistor Studios and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege.

"Darkness Drips Forth" come to be the fourth full length for the Finnish band and includes four tracks of immeasurable Death Doom metal, the opener track "Blood for the Burning Oath / Dungeons of the Disembodied" is quite long but is not boring they handle the pace perfectly going deeper into a funeral doom tunes and without any afraid, they speed up the pace in a subtle manner, with the appropriate dose of Death metal riff, the second track "Elysium of Dripping Death" it's simply unmerciful they were able to blend slow riff with superb melodies, forget how brutal it may sound, the sensation is most like, to the waves dragging your body into the sea, the growl vocals are impotent leaving you stranded in limbo, "Ashen with Solemn Decay" this cut unveils an outstanding guitar work and dive into a dronish passage, heavy melodies backed up for fine drum work and the powerful vocals make this track something to enjoy, "Beyond Deserted Flesh" is the closing track and it ends with a powerful roar while the drums keeps the intensity with the double bass drum, the guitar riff are darker and bizarre adding a vibe with shades of morbid evil that you will love.

There is not much to argue, Hooded Menace has achieved to bring together the somber of their sound with something more melodic, giving a new proportion to their catalog, "Darkness Drips Forth" is a fine album crafted meticulously, taking care of all elements that composes, it has everything you have been craving for so long.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Blood for the Burning Oath /
    Dungeons of the Disembodied

2. Elysium of Driping Death

3. Ashen with Solemn Decay

4. Beyond Deserted Flesh

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Skinless (2015) Only the Ruthless Remain

Band: Skinless

Country of Origin: US

Status: Active

Genre: Death metal

Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  36:00 min.

Release Date: 06-02-2015

Current label: Relapse Records
Release label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Good (3.8 / 5)

Good things are given over time in a small dose

New York metallers Skinless are back! Almost nine years have passed since we heard their latest studio recording "Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead" fortunately for us, fans of old-school death metal, they surprised us with this album "Only the Ruthless Remain" through the label Relapse Records, it is their fifth full length album and brings together their original line-up Noah Carpenter, Bob Beaulac, Joe Keyser, Sherwood Webber and the first time adding a second guitarist Dave Matthews known by his job in (Held Under & Incontinence).

Unquestionably this is an absolute and brutal discharge right in your face, since the opener track "Serpenticide" this guys offer us their most pure and heaviest riff within the genre, this is the kind of death metal you had been craving for, guitars sound sharpened while the bass holds a lower tone behind the guitars, there are slightly nuances of progressive influence that can be heard, followed by the self titled track "Only the Ruthless Remain" it keeps up with the strength and brutality offered in the previous track with excellent throat-tearing vocals by Webber, "Skinless" take us trough a melt of growls, blast beats and striking guitars, they know how to handle smooth transitions between slow paced, mid pace and of course their brutal fast parts, "Flamethrower" appeals to be the thrasher track in this album, the guitars are powerful filled of wrath, infernal screams make this cut one of the most enjoyable, "The Beast Smells Blood" a track fast and ulcerating crushing drums that put you one foot from the brink, wrenching guitars that lead to an exceptional guitar solo next is one of my favorites "Funeral Curse" feels dense pack in rawness again they play outstanding paced through the cut, the closing track "Barbaric Proclivity" mesmerizing drums give way to forceful guitars to shred your guts, growling vocals that match the intensity of this cut.

Personally I think this album shows up their musicianship and put together a lot of their expertise crafting a demolishing record as a comeback, It seems to be true what is says, the good things are given over time in a small dose, I am glad to be able to listen to this band again, despite the long time they knew how to forge their way back, Skinless are here, don't you dare ignore them if you're an old school death metal fan you have to prove yourself.

Stay True... Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…

Track List:

1. Serpenticide

2. Only the Ruthless Remain

3. Skinless

4. Flamethrower

5. The Beast Smells Blood

6. Funeral Curse

7. Barbaric Proclivity






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