Demonic Obedience (2018) Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation 'Review'

Band: Demonic Obedience

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Genre: Death / Black metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 33:00 min.

Release Date: 04-17-2018

Release Label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Moderate (3.4 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

                   

Consistently heavy and filthy.

Demonic Obedience the Greek-Scottish band as many of you know for their two previous releases "Morbid Supremacy of Evil" in 2014 for Mexican label Azermedoth Records and "Nocturnal Hymns to the Fallen" in 2016 for Russian label Satanath Records, also the band has been known for being the solo project of George Ntavelas, former Deceptive Incarnation, from Greece, Demonic Obedience returns but this time as a trio recruiting bassist Mark Stormwhipper and vocalist Kruxator, to enter the studio and record what is their third album and it is titled "Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation" released by Satanath Records again and co-released by American label Sevared Records.

While "Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation" manages to retain the band essence heavy, crushing and devilish, it also attains to create more elaborated song structures and matures, in terms of production it sounds a little more clear than the previous releases avoiding the over distortion that made them sound generic, gaining their own personality that takes them away from a crowded Black metal scene and gives them the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

"Conjuration" is the starting point of this album with a full dense guitar riff, the guttural voice of Kruxator stands out, immediately comes to my mind bands like Vader, Morbid Angel and Immolation and that's a good sign for me, "Inception" is an aggressive torrent that bestially combines the fast and slow rhythms in this cut, "Awakening" shifts the pace drastically from the previous song furrowing with doomy and sinister passages to put in evidence the versatility acquired, "Outbreak" retakes the intensity from the beginning with sharp riffs and thoughtless attitude, this track is followed by "Decampment" which is a fast paced track with savages dynamic that will torture you and make you trembling with the hellish winds it carried itself with, Act 6 (66) delivers a bloody texture enriched with a vibrant emotion towards death, "Annihilation" unfolds with such destructive emotion and a perilous guitar to dare those who venture to not take them seriously, the last track delivered is "Scythes Bearer" consistent heavy and filthy lays in chaos through brutality leaving a path of devastation, that's how this album ends.

The overall of this album cannot be bad as its predecessor, the consistency in matter of songwriting excels in many ways from what we heard before with them and that is indisputable, the production is flawless and enhances the rawness and cruelty they want to transmit, however there are two facts I can't ignore, first is the length of the album, eight tracks and barely over thirty-three minutes, that amount of time of course let me down, but I can still survive, the second fact; but mainly reason why this album can't be as good as it sounds, is the lack of a drummer not even as guest or session drummer, at least the band doesn't give credits to anyone, anyway this is a sick album, for sick people, with sick taste.

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

 
Track List:

01. Conjuration
02. Inception
03. Awakening
04. Outbreak
05. Decampment
06. Act 6(66)
07. Annihilation

08. Scythe Bearer

Facebook

Satanath Records

Bandcamp

Share us!

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Nazghor (2016) Death's Withered Chants

Band: Nazghor

Country of Origin: Sweden

Genre: Black metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 55:00 min.

Release Date: 03-11-2016

Release Label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Defiant to the mainstream black metal of nowadays

                

Nazghor was born during the winter of 2012, hailing from the deepest abyss of Uppsala, Sweden, this horde was created by vocalist Nekhrid and guitarist Armageddor with only one purpose to bring a pure, raw but yet melodic black metal and deliver a closer view of satanism in form of a darker, ceremonial, and ritualistic show, the dark message of Tartaros is delivered by unholy words that shroud the starry skies, the band is conformed by guitarist Angst who was recruited, from the ashes of an old group of dedicators, and later on bassist Crowlech joined the legion, currently during their live rituals they count with a guest drummer.

I have to admit it, previously "Diabolical Teachings" which was released last year, never before I had heard of them or listen any early recordings. So when I find them it was a gratifying experience, the kind of black metal this guys are able to bring is ripping, stinging with blasphemous tremolo picking guitars as hell itself, thunderous blast beat, very well accentuated by disturbingly and devilish high pitch vocals, that's what we can get from their fifth and latest album "Death's Withered Chants", it's defiant to the mainstream black metal of nowadays.

Nazghor sounds impressive not only for the fact that they are Swedish, they gathered enough elements of the whole scene to blend and give us their most brilliant work to date, the record opens with a beautiful intro "Hymnum Mortis" built in organ notes to inflict an eerie and funebre ambience, intensified by chants and thunderstorms followed by the rabid and fulminant "Requiem Black Mass" which set everything over the table and prove why this band, has reached so quickly the top underground scene, with such melodies and brutality it's inarguably the creativity and conviction they have, "Under the Venomous Spell" subtle start that turns into a storm very intense almost reaching a sublime point for the driven speed used by the drums with it blast beat that shatter harmoniously, flashing guitar riffs and the ominous vocals make of this track one of the best, Anders Strokirk from (Necrophobic) make a guest appearance in the track number four "Craft of the Nihilist" giving the proper vocal style, owning an overwhelming guitar solo, while the drum patterns seems to be unstoppable, "Road to Dead Meadows" has a singular entity and never step back for a second in the ferociously and speed delivered, track after track you can find out how meticulously are this guys "Inheritance of the Cross" falls into a blackened riffing, while "Aeternum Regno Diaboli" add a droning passage in the album, only to unleash the devils towards the end "Complete Unholyness" is very raw and combine exceptionally from fast pace to semi-slow pace adding an epic mood, "Empire of Graves" does not lack of intensity, until we get to the last track "Death's Withered Chants" it reaches a little over ten minutes, from afar you can perceives a thunderstorm which seems to start where the intro left, then a slow pace takes over with heavy and mesmerizing dark melodies, lofty backing vocals gives a stunning perspective to the whole environment, by the end you will hardly notice the length of the album due to the excellent flow of the tracks.

In summary this album takes a hell within the songwriting, the ceaseless raw but melodic black metal recalls bands like Dissection, Dark Funeral, Necrophobic or Dark Fortress just to mention few top bands of the genre, however the strongest critics could fall more upon the band genuineness, because many will point there is nothing new here, but cohesiveness and effectiveness are a must to stand out, they succeed to enthrall the listener for almost one hour, track after track you will feel a torrential flow of melodic aggression as you have not felt it for a while, indisputably a serious contender to add in the end year list.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Hymnum Mortis
02. Requiem Black Mass
03. Under a Venomous Spell
04. Craft of the Nihilist
05. Road to Dead Meadows
06. Inheritance of the Cross
07. Aeternum Regno Diaboli
08. Complete Unholyness
09. Empire of Graves
10. Death's Withered Chants

Facebook

Satanath Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Exterminas (2015) Dichotomy

Band: Exterminas

Country of Origin: Italy

Status: Active

Genre: Black Metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 40:00 min.

Release Date: 11-11-2015

Current label: Satanath Records

Release label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Good (3.9 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Dichotomy it’s a strong and defiant record dense, ruthless and belligerent

Exterminas are relatively a new Black metal band from Treviso, Veneto in Italy, they were formed around 2009 and began as a four members band, Skoll in bass, Raven behind drums, Moloch in guitars and Februus in vocals, their first recording is the EP titled "Abaddon" which came out by the end of 2010 including five tracks. two years later during autumn 2012 they released their album debut titled "Seventh Demonical Hierarchy" as a limited edition for Metallic Media with ten new tracks, gaining the attention of some specialized underground sites, by that time Eskathon was invited to joining the band to support the guitar work.

Exterminas shows their quality at songwriting delivering a solid piece of black metal album, with sharp riff, infectious grooves and brutal growls, you might expect another band treading the already saturated roads, emulating the first wave of black metal, but undoubtedly you will take a wrong guess with the Italians of Exterminas, their sound is particularly remarkable by the Hellenic influence, speaking more clear, their sound is more suitable to the early Rotting Christ.

"Dichotomy" is their second effort with eight tracks forged in hell, somehow they manage to release the beast inside of them "God's Hammer" opens aggressively with fast riff and overwhelming growling vocals as the track passes they infringe some vicious riff and the intensity from the beginning slows down just enough to add a darker ambience, "Unleashing the Cruelty" its dizzying, structured with a Blackened Death metal riff, "Collapse into Time" is more varied in pace and melody, offering more versatility to the band, "Swallowing the Gravity" and "Upheaval Seems Anathema" both falls into a generic Black Death metal sound something that put them in safe ground, "Wandering from the Death's Shore" is the most perfect embodiment of the Doom Death metal sound, heavy riff and hellish vocals the balance in this track is superb, "In Apotheosis of Pandemonium" goes directly pummeling the listener with inherent hatred, the last track in the album is "The Dawn of Deceit" denotes the quality of songwriting I’ve been trying to describe, slow, dense, ruthless and belligerent, the end is awesome a really short guitar solo that lingers in your mind achieving its purpose.

Certainly no one can question the quality that Exterminas offers in their second album "Dichotomy" this time for Satanath Records, of course it has some flaws here and there but nothing to degrade their effort, it’s a strong record to put them up firmly in the worldwide scene as a respectable act and will be worth to follow them very close.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. God's Hammer

2. Unleashing the Cruelty

3. Collapse into Time

4. Swallowing the Gravity
5. Upheaval Seems Anathema
6. Wandering from the Death's Shore
7. In Apotheosis of Pandemonium
8. The Dawn of Deceit





Facebook

Bandcamp



All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Hatecrowned (2015) Newborn Serpent

Band: Hatecrowned

Country of Origin: Lebanon

Status: Active

Genre: Black Metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 40:00 min.

Release Date: 08-13-2015

Current label: Satanath Records

Release label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Good (3.8 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Hatecrowned delivers such level of maleficent dark ambiance without hint of salvation

Middle East is not well known by their metal scene, talking more specifically about Lebanon a country hit by various facts, as politics, religion, terrorism, wars, social segregation, poverty, immigration and more, however the metal scene made its roots there long time ago and although their scene is relatively young, we can rescue some names of bands like Blaakyum playing Thrash / Heavy Metal, Kimaera with a Doom / Death metal style, Symphonic metal band Ostura, Black metal band Ayat and recently Hatecrowned also in the Black metal vein, and this time I want to dedicate a space for this band.

Hatecrowned finds enough elements in the Old-school Black metal, rawness, ambiances and ruthless riff that match the crushing drums, the vocals explore a wide range of sounds going from shrieks, adding some howls and traditional death growls, the band was formed in 2011 by Ayvaal in vocals and Dahaaka in guitar and keyboards, during 2013 they released independently their EP titled "Warpact in Black" with four tracks, gaining international attention which lead them to ink a deal, with Russian record label Satanath Records, to release their album debut titled "Newborn Serpent" in last August 13, 2015 as a limited edition, with five hundred copies, the band accomplished their recording, with some guest musicians Benjamin "GoreDrummer" Lauritsen behind the drums and Eddy Ferekh as bassist.

Despite their rawness and heaviness they were able to craft in this album, there are some tracks that simply fall into a muddy pit, call it a flaw in the mixing or mastering or whatever, but in the other side there are plenty tracks to save this album as the opener cut "Ominous Birth of Serpent" there is a bass intro with middle east vibe and raspy vocals, semi fast pace it takes over with blasting drums, "Infest and Conquer" brings me some memories of the old Immortal more alike to the album Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism the riff are aggressive blends perfectly with a pummeling drums, "Void" the instrumental track precede "Redefining Purgatory" and "Newborn Serpent", both are intense, demolishing fast pace with death growls if you are looking for a feeling that approach to misanthropy and darkness here is an excellent dose for you, the short "Funeral Reverie" brings some depressive doom tones, with blistering drums to explore or expand their own path, "Wolves" will embrace you with an ambiance intro, howlings lost in a vast fog in the middle of the forest, blackened riff, pounding drums and vicious shrieks ends this album.

Hatecrowned delivers such level of maleficent dark ambiance without hint of salvation and I have to admit it, though I'm not very familiar with Lebanese metal scene, I felt somewhat attracted by curiosity but with great hopes, my boldness brought me a feeling of yore, even with the few flaws in this is album it worth your time to spend listening to them.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Ominous Birth of Serpent

2. For Scum Thou Art and Unto Scum Shalt Thou Return

3. Infest and Conquer

4. Coronation of the Eternal and Pure

5. Void (Instrumental)

6. Redefining Purgatory

7. New Born Serpent
8. Cave of Salvation
9. Funeral Reverie
10. Wolves

Facebook

Satanath Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains.

Manipulation (2015) Ecstasy

Band: Manipulation

Country of Origin: Poland

Status: Active

Genre: Deathcore

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 44:00 min.

Release Date: 09-11-2015

Current label: Satanath Records

Release label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Good (3.6 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Ecstasy shines within the sub genre offering a varied listening experience

Here we go! this time with Manipulation a band formed in Gołdap, Poland in 2001, the band was active during six years, during this period they released two demos the first one "Live in Kotlownia" in 2003 a "Promo 2005" and their debut album "The Future of Immortality" in 2007, after releasing the album the band took a break and came up some lineup changes, but basically the core band remains intact, then they reunite to record their EP titled "Resurrection" in 2011 and their second full length "Passion" released in 2012, today they approach to us to perpetuate the stigma with their newest album "Ecstasy".

What we can appreciate here is a refined Deathcore, chugging guitars, accurate drumming, a crushing bass insertion and decaying vocals, which put them apart from their contemporaries in the other side of the Atlantic Ocean which seems to structure everything with a bunch of palm muted guitars.

Unlike many other bands Manipulation doesn't limit themselves, they explore and add some tremolo guitar picking, as dictated by the old school and in some cases chord progression is there present and of course with the classic palm muted technique, I never said it wasn't part of their sound, but at least is not so recurrent, "Ecstasy" is a ten tracks album which opens with "Insomnia" delivers crushing riff with some dose of melody and hellish vocals that excel, the composition feels more progressive, because they do not fall excessively in just riff, breakdown, riff breakdown, slower breakdown "Sic Itur Ad Astra" and "Paradigm of Existence" fit perfectly to this idea but "Sunset over Vatican" takes the whole album to another level, where they beat you down with a terrific melodeath passage, just to accomplish the highest peak in the record, while "Temples of Vanity" remains intense with unceasing drums, the gutturals, breakdowns, chugging and chords are vast, the closing track is the self titled album "Ecstasy" where they delves into a more ethereal ambience with demolishing riff, mid pace drumming and chants in the background supporting the raspy growls, definitely there is more than enough creativity contained in this album to explode your speakers.

Manipulation recorded this album at Monroe Sound Studio in Poland, the producer and sound engineer of the album was Arkadiusz “Aro” Jabłoński (Shadows Land, Masachist) and "Ecstasy" was released under Satanath Records, the current lineup is as follow: Rado Slav and Vulture on guitars, Bysiek on bass, Kriss on drums and Brużyc on vocals, something interesting to mention about track number six, "Sunset over Vatican" the guitar solo was recorded by special guest Jacek Grecki from Lost Soul.

Overall this album shines within the sub genre offering a varied listening experience and could easily fit as a Death metal act, but they still infuse those breakdowns that defines what they play, sometimes ending quite abruptly and leave you hanging on trying to understand what happened, however if you have predilections for such coarse transition moments, then you should listen to them.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Insomnia

2. Sic Itur Ad Astra

3. Lifetime

4. Bad Boy

5. The Paradigm of Existence

6. Sunset over Vatican

7. Temples of Vanity

8. Burn Motherfuckers!

9. Dźwięk upadku

10. Ecstasy

Facebook
Satanath Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains.

Dalkhu (2015) Descend... Into Nothingness

Band: Dalkhu

Country of Origin: Slovenia

Status: Active

Genre: Blackened metal / Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 44:00 min.

Release Date: 08-15-2015

Current label: Satanath Records

Release label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Good (4.4 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

A crushing blackened death metal album

Dalkhu was formed in 2003 by J.G. on guitars, he was joined by  Kalki on drums and after few lineup changes the band was complete by Jurij on bass and Berstuk on vocals, with this line up ther recorded their album debut "Imperator" which was released back in October 2010, after the album released, Berstuk leave the band around 2011 and he is replaced by P.Ž. in 2012 and this is how Dalkhu began working on their second release, but lineup changes will hit the band again when Kalki and Jurij depart from the band in 2014, leaving the band as a two members band, however doesn't stop J.G. and P.Ž. to put the finishing touches on the songs for the new album, in August 2014 they enter at Nightside Studio, with Spawn of the Void as session drummer to record seven infamous tracks, the mixing ran by J.G. while the mastering was done at Necromorbus Studio by Tore Stjerna, to finally get the album released last August 15, 2015 under Satanath Records.

I have to be honest and tell you two important facts, first; as soon as I started to listen, "Descend... Into Nothingness" it blows me away and second I missed Dalkhu's first album "Imperator" five years ago, but I do not regret for it, because today's I can clearly witness the evolution of the band through all this time, listening both albums one after another and "Descend... Into Nothingness" stands by itself, not for been a groundbreaker but being creative, intricate and interesting, because you just can't get enough of it, this is an album you can hit re-play once and over.

Songs like the first one "Pitch Black Cave" with a superb guitar riff that shift you from one side of the room to the other, it has everything you been asking for catchy, brutality, dense and guttural vocals that freeze your soul, "The Fireborn"  rumbles your speakers and keeps up the same pace, Spawn of the Void does a neat work behind the drum set, while "In the Woods" slows down for couple of minutes and then unleashes their fury to magnificently returned to the starting point and thus continue in a chaotic seesaw, you can pick any cut off this album and you will find out a terrific songwriting riff that excel up to guitar tremolo that captivate your senses, "Soulkeepers" falls into melodious gloomy passages more oriented to the Norwegian influence and the closing epic cut, "E.N.N.F." reaching almost the ten minutes but unfortunately doesn't make the impact I was expecting, musically speaking, is not monotone is structured with different rhythms, probably there are many ideas in a song, that could well have become two tracks, who knows? Perhaps eventually I'll end up accepting.

Dalkhu does an extraordinary job, there is no question about it, they delivered a crushing Blackened death metal album, if you liked their debut album, prepare yourself to experience a renewed, energetic and aggressive sound, So if you are a fan within the genre don't hesitate to order your physical copy or download, you will not regret it.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Pitch Black Cave

2. The Fireborn
3. In the Woods
4. Distant Cry
5. Accepting the Burried Signs
6. Soulkeppers
7. E.N.N.F.

Facebook
Bandcamp
Satanah Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains.

Funebria (2015) Dekatherion: Ten Years of Hate & Pride

Band: Funebria

Country of Origin: Venezuela

Status: Active

Genre: Black metal / Death metal
Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  43:00 min.

Release Date: 08-29-2015

Current label: Satanath Records

Release label: Satanath Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

South American Black metal aggressive, fast and full of anger

Directly from Maracaibo, Zulia in Venezuela emerge Funebria with a ruthless, heartbreaking and infernal album called “Dekatherion: Ten Years of Hate & Pride” under Satanath Records, this is their second full length which is preceded by their debut album titled “In Dominus Blasfemical Est... Ad Noctum Sathania” released back in 2009  as an independent effort, the band was formed around 2004, the current lineup is Seth aum Xul doing vocals, Iblis as bassist, Daemonae as guitarist and Ed Thorn behind the drums.

At the beginning they started playing old school black metal and it is reflected in their first demo entitled "Manifesto Slave" released in 2005 with a single track, but that was just the beginning, because Funebria begins a process of exploration, with new ideas and influences, as well as a lyrical concept more mature which is finally materialized in their EP "Holocaust Impio Golgotha in the Desert" in 2007 and their debut album “In Dominus Blasfemical Est... Ad Noctum Sathania” according to the band, their first album reached a distinctive and mature sound, starting with guitar riffs full of hate, devastating voices and drums guided by personal ideology, based on Nihilism and its complete absence, with a total rage against Christianity and I can tell you that’s a fact and on this occasion I refuse to talk more about this album, because they simply exceeded my expectations with "Dekatherion: Ten Years of Hate & Pride”.

The album kick off with a bombastic intro which make me think of the trumpets welcoming you to the gates of hell and quickly without losing the atmosphere sown by the introduction it’s linked to “Consolamentum” begins with marching drums and a rabid guitar riff, while Seth aum Xul blend his screams with their chaotic sound, this is the kind of track you expect when you first hear an album, delivering hell for your ears, “Serpent Sign” It is one of my favorite tracks on this album, their musical structure reflects its progression in terms of song writing is concerned, powerful, fast and brutal, Ed Thorn shows his class behind the drums handling fast paced with subtle changes to slower paced, coming near the end of the track Daemonae brings a unique guitar solo that makes memorable this track, I can tell you is a combination of elements bordering perfection, “Nihilist Revelation” with a more cohesive structure, deeper tones and voices to tear the depths of your soul, they know how to manage each change of pace, “Divide & Conquer” it is a track full of savagery, riff that appeal to be more thrasher with some good bass lines at the beginning by Iblis, the harsh vocals, assault and penetrate through the pores of your skin, while the drums sound overwhelming, “Azag (The Crown of Void)”  and “Cult of Cosmic Destruction” brings to this records some of the most conventional Black metal which both are well executed, but doesn’t show their full capacity, the last track in the album is the bonus track titled “Tormento” which seems to be a track re-recorded from their album debut, with Spanish lyrics but this time it sounds more aggressive, faster and full of anger.

In my opinion, I consider this album contains a strong concept and a solid musical structure, the production is good enough a slightly over produced on the drums section, but it doesn't affect drastically, Funebria it could be nominated as the best Black metal band from South America, they have set their own bar high enough for upcoming releases and we will be here waiting for them, horns up!!

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Intro

2. Consolamentum

3. Serpent Sign

4. Whores of Babylon

5. Nihilist Revelation

6. Divide & Conquer

7. Aeon of Tyranny

8. Azag (The Crown of Void)
9. Cult of Cosmic Destruction
10. Tormento


Facebook
Bandcamp
Satanath Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains.