Axis of Despair (2018) Contempt for Man 'Review'

Band: Axis of Despair

Country of Origin: Sweden

Genre: Grindcore

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 32:00 min.

Release Date: 07-27-2018

Release Label: Southern Lord Recordings

IR Classification: Good (4.1 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

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Twenty unrelenting, aggressive and fulminant tracks

Axis of Despair is a relatively new Grindcore band in the scene, but their musicianship averages almost fifteen years, formed out of the ashes of bands like Death metal Coldworker and the extinct masters of Grindcore, Nasum among others, they know exactly what they are aiming for, here you will find out a pure and straight forward discharge of the most beautiful blend of Swedish Punk and Crust to deliver a gratifying Grindcore.

By the end of Autumn 2015 we got their first warning in the shape of an 7 inch EP entitled "Time and Again" released by the Polish label Selfmadegod Records containing six furious tracks clocking around nine and a half minutes and then again by mid of Autumn of 2016 almost a year later, their second 7 inch EP called "Mankind Crawls" released by American label Give Praise Records saw the street light and as you know already, they didn't missed their intentions, delivering a total hostility and warlike sound contained somehow in six tracks, timing once again the nine and a half minutes, is it coincidental or intentional? you will have to decide!

It took them practically two years to release their very awaited debut album "Contempt for Man", released by Southern Lord Recordings, enclosing twenty unrelenting, aggressive and fulminant tracks, "Contempt for Man" production sounds remarkable with their previous works, more clear and distinctive, but; don't take my words to excuse yourself and avoid listening to this album, because you will regret it later. The first track is "Värdelös" violent from the beginning is only the prelude for what’s coming the next thirty-two minutes, "The Wolven Law" by a second will catch you off guard to pummel your senses merciless, "Crush the Empire" is one of the two longest tracks on the album, the dynamic here changes for few minutes delivering a semi-slow pace track, inflicting some heavy grooves riff, that allows you to catch your breath, a memorable track, however; Axis of Despair quickly hooks you up again within the next track, "Pre-Emptive Nuclear Strike" filled with their characteristic raging speed, "Vile Behaviour" and "Defeat" won't let you get away both tracks sounds catchy and brutal at the same time, in the closing track "Flytande Död" you are tricked by twelve seconds with a semi-slow pace but suddenly shift gears into the only way they know, fast-paced and untamed, interesting is how they subtly alternate the speed along the track, a noteworthy ending. 

Something to remark in "Contempt for Man", every part that comprises this album, is undoubtedly very well structured, the heavy bass lines by Oskar Pålsson are tremendous, the guitar work is exceptional by Kristofer Jankarls, while the driven force falls totally behind the drum set by Anders Jakobson and nobody can ignore the energy delivered in every bark-style vocals by Joel Fornbrant, Axis of Despair really deserve to be in your forthcoming Grindcore bands list to check, if your likes goes from Napalm Death, Nasum, Repulsion, Pig Destroyer or Brutal Truth, then you don't have any excuse to listen them. 

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

Track List:

01. Värdelös
02. Demons and Angels
03. Pawn Sacrifice
04. The Wolven Law
05. Lockdown
06. The Punishment Begins
07. The Noose Tightens
08. Det går aldrig
09. Crush the Empire
10. Pre-Emptive Nuclear Strike
11. A Life of Ceaseless Grind
12. Streams of Sludge
13. Into the Hard Earth
14. The Pain Maze
15. Vile Behaviour
16. Defeat
17. Dull Dead Future
18. To Smite

                                        19. A Brutal Truth

                                       20. Flytande Död

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Black Breath (2015) Slaves Beyond Death

Band: Black Breath

Country of Origin: US

Status: Active

Genre: Death metal / Thrash metal

Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  49:00 min.

Release Date: 09-25-2015

Current label: Southern Lord Recordings

Release label: Southern Lord Recordings

IR Classification: Excellent (4.7 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

There are genuine riff, torrents full of brutality and harsh vocals that sound evil

Black Breath they were formed in 2006 in Seattle, Washington US, for many of us they are a prominent band for their blend of genres going from Death metal and Thrash metal Crossover spicing up with some Crust, so far they have released a Demo in 2006, an EP "Razor to Oblivion" in 2008, their album debut "Heavy Breathing" in 2010, their second and most acclaimed released "Sentenced to Life" in 2012, the band's current lineup is Neil McAdams (vocals), Jamie Byrum (drums), Elijah Nelson (bass), Eric Wallace and Mark Palm (guitars), it took them three years to release their third album titled "Slaves Beyond Death", this is an eight track album, slightly under the fifty minutes length, like its predecessor, this album was recorded by Producer Kurt Ballou (High on Fire, Nails, Baptists, Converge) at God City studio in Salem, Massachusetts. It was mastered by Brad Boatright with the Artwork by Paolo Girardi.

I honestly believe that Black Breath have surprised us with their new album entering itself a little more into the melodic death metal, with harmonies, some d-beat drumming and more solo parts, moving away from those flashes of good Hardcore, Crust Punk, and those vibrant moments in their second album "Sentenced to Life", but exposing an evil and sicker side than ever before. So! if you were expecting for another dose of their previous recording, I'm afraid you might feel disappointed, but is not bad as you could think, the grooves still present, the relentless aggression remains untouchable, there are more elaborated riff with genuine intensity while the drums delivers torrents of full brutality and the harsh sounding vocals brings back the feeling of their old recordings.

The first track is "Pleasure, Pain, Disease" starting with smooth guitar riff to build up an atmosphere, to scourge you suddenly, with raspy vocals by Neil and the drums are battered by Byrum, "Slaves Beyond Death" is the second track structured in a doomy death riffs and double bass drums heading into a more aggressive and fast pace, a guitar solo that reach the highest point, then comes "Reaping Flesh" I will consider this track as the most representative of the new Black Breath sound, while the groovy riff remain there, the musical structure is more compelling, signs of maturity in the songwriting process, "Seed of Cain" exceptional instrumental intro that drives you through a Swedish tone, with melody and guitar solos, make this cut memorable, I have no question about how good is this album, I could keep on going track by track, but honestly with such level of composition, is hard to do it, I can tell you most of the tracks may fall into the same structure from a simple tone that tends to builds up, but the texture and pace are the keys for each one, “Arc of Violence”, “A Place of Insane Cruelty” fits perfectly to my description, while “Burning Hate” offers some of the most vile riff, sick vocals and pummeling drums with some Old School Death metal vibe, the closing track is "Chains of the Afterlife" an instrumental track reaching almost the eight minutes mark, decadent guitars that evolve with some kind of nuance that create an epic eerie ambience.

Obviously, this album will bring many divided opinions, the old fans are likely to strongly criticized Black Breath, however; we as human beings must understand that change or evolution will always be part of us, so, while you try to understand this, I will enjoy this great album, which certainly has no fillers.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Pleasure, Pain, Disease

2. Slaves Beyond Death

3. Reaping Flesh

4. Seed of Cain

5. Arc of Violence

6. A Place of Insane Cruelty

7. Burning Hate

8. Chains of the afterlife

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