Blut Aus Nord (2017) Deus Salutis Meæ 'Review'

Band: Blut Aus Nord

Country of Origin: France

Genre: Atmospheric / Black metal / Avantgarde / Industrial metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 34:00 min.

Release Date: 10-28-2017

Release Label: Debemur Morti Productions

IR Classification: Good (4.4 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

       

Nearly a masterpiece of atmospheric black metal

Couple weeks ago I was thinking about Blut Aus Nord, when they released their twelfth full length album titled "Deus Salutis Meæ" translated from Latin means "God of my Salvation", I want to make it clear that I am not a die hard follower of this french band, however in the beginning of 1997 one of my friends hand me a copy of their album debut "Ultima Thulée" Yes! I know it wasn't released in 1997, it was released in January 1995, but it was the nineties where underground still underground, it took us more time than today's to find out a new band, my point is; has already passed over twenty two years since their first released and there is plenty of material to elaborate a retrospective to appreciate their up's and downs, being the trilogy of "Memoria Vatusta" in my humble opinion the most representative part of their career.

"Deus Salutis Meæ" delivers a subtle intro called "Dêmiourgos" a tenebrous passage to the Blut Aus Nord world, followed by one of the most bizarre and gloomy tracks in this album "Chorea Macchabeorum" with sickening tremolo picked riffage, certainly set the ambiance for this album, "Impius" is perfectly chaotic crafted, it's fast with repulsive churning riff while the synths play an essential role to transgress your mental state, "Gnosis" works as a little preamble for what's coming at you "Apostasis" from the beginning is crushing and filthy with a more traditional Black metal blast-beat, "Abisme" comes with a different approach mixing doom and sludge riff which is something worthy to listen from this band, "Revelatio" is unsettling the cavernous vocals will deliver the goosebumps, as you entering into the gates of hell, "Ex Tenebrae Lucis" should be the closing track with such malignancy within the musical structure without any doubt complements this subliminal experience.

Blut Aus Nord has proven once again being the most notorious extreme metal band from France, with their singular and sinister vibe won't disappoint to any connoisseur of the genre, the only tragedy that falls upon this album is the length, leaving you wanting for more, but if that is your case, simply go ahead and listen their most respectful trilogy, I certainly recommend it.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Dêmiourgos

02. Chorea Macchabeorum
03. Impius
04. Gnosis
05. Apostasis
06. Abisme
07. Revelatio
08. Hésychia
09. Ex Tenebrae Lucis
10. Métanoïa

Facebook

Debemur Morti Productions

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Endseeker (2017) Flesh Hammer Prophecy 'Review'

Band: Endseeker

Country of Origin: Germany

Genre: Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 42:00 min.

Release Date: 10-20-2017

Release Label: F.D.A. Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

 

Impressive death metal album debut

Endseeker is barely a new up and coming band from the underground, playing an unrelenting old school Death metal, formed in Hamburg, Germany during 2014 by former members of Buried in Black, Ben Liepelt (Guitars) and Torsten Eggert (Bass) both of them joined forces with the talented vocalist Lenny from (Devastator) recruiting former drummer and guitar player of Mephistopheles André Kummer and Jury Kowalczyk, respectively.

Soon they have ready five powerful tracks, they entered at Chemical Burn Studios in July 2015 to record their EP debut titled "Corrosive Revelation" released through F.D.A. Records, raising a good acceptation among the fans of the genre.

Few days ago, they just released their first full length titled "Flesh Hammer Prophecy" with ten tracks in the most pure vein of Death metal from yore, their sound appeals the attention of Bolt Thrower, Entombed and Morbid Angel fan bases, let's dig into the opening track, "Into the fire" works as an intro melding slower riffs, giving a free way to explode with the album's self-title track fast with very well pace, adding some interesting changes of rhythm, "Demon Spawn" just keep up with the intensity injected from the previous track, "Malicious Instinct" takes you right away to the "Left Hand Path" era, followed by "Worshipping the Bloodthirsty" kicking off with a subtle sludg-ish riff and delves with a groovy riff, "Feasting on the Decomposed" sounds very generic and for a brief moment gets me lost, "Shredding Your Graven Image" with a Swedish Gothemburg riff was able to hook me back into the recording, the bass sounds are pretty tight in the background, "Black Star Rising" makes a smooth transitional change of rhythm from the preceding track before breaks abruptly sickening, "Powder Burns" comes in a solid piece of well structured riff with merciless drums from the begining falling into a doomy passages, "Possessed by the Flame" ends the album almost at the same pace of the previous track, but somehow they manage to keep my attention, the subtle guitar solo along the song keeps coming at me over and over. 

I definitely believe that Endseeker has a promising future, of course they need to polish some details here and there, but for now they have shown with their effort and dedication that they are worthy of taking seriously, So! from now on I will be on the lookout of your next production.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Into the Fire
02. Flesh Hammer Prophecy
03. Demon Spawn
04. Malicious Instinct
05. Worshiping the Bloodthirsty
06. Feasting on the Decomposed
07. Shredding Your Graven Image
08. Black Star Rising
09. Powder Burns
10. Possessed by the Flame

Facebook

F.D.A. Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Izegrim (2016) The Ferryman's End

Band: Izegrim

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Genre: Thrash metal / Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD Ltd. Edition
Length Approx.: 41:00 min.

Release Date: 03-25-2016

Release Label: Listenable Records

IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

The Ferryman’s End becomes the best Izegrim effort to date

Dutch melodic death thrashers Izegrim are back with just under two and a half years of the release of their previous album "Congress of the Insane" which I believe it was the first conceptual album of the band, delving into evilness and falsehood of the human nature, now with twenty years in the scene they are offering us their fifth full length titled "The Ferryman's End" released once again through the French label Listenable Records, the album contains eleven tracks in the vein of bands like Kreator, Arch Enemy, At the Gates or their countrymen Legion of the Damned, "The Ferryman's End" keeps lyrically the same concept format approaching us to the death row, where an inmate is awaiting for his execution, every cut describes the complex stages into the criminal's mind before he got executed by the end of the album, no doubt a very interesting topic.

Izegrim current line-up has remained pretty stable during the last eight years, with founder and guitarist Jeroen Wechgelaer, the bassist and attractive vocalist Marloes Voskuil, guitarist Bart van Ginkel and drummer Ivo Maarhuis, I want to believe that due to this unity they were able to achieve a very outstanding songwriting and therefore "The Ferryman's End" becomes the best Izegrim effort to date.

"The Ferryman's End" from the beginning offers a crushing melodic death metal dose with "White Walls" built in heavy riffage and somber pace while the drums occasionally slip into a measurable blast beat, "Time to Run" starts with an unrestrained riffs, challenging drums comes in all directions and you feel surrounded by hell itself, Marloes delivers a rawer vocals that strike fear, "Endless Desire" slow paced its way, somewhat predictably when they shift pace, but never reach the ferocity of the previous tracks and sounds bland, "The Evil Within" it charges back with demolishing and fearless riffs, the bass lines sounds outstanding in the background, Marloes raspy vocals owns the track while in the interlude softly adds the whispers, it is followed by "Absolute Necessity" the drum pattern takes the lead due to the intricate, solid  and consistent drumming, the song counts with a brief yet melodic guitar solo, "Reclaim My Identity" is absolutely faultless with filthy riffs and darkly bass lines, open the window to throw some clean vocals by Marloes, "Insanity is Freedom" takes an approach into a blackened death sound, while "Reflection of Redemption" fluctuates between obscure and heavy passages, "Through a Glass Darkly" with a more varied structure, brings freshness and versatility with the vicious riffs involved, "Lost in Tranquility" it's the prelude of the story with some generic death metal riffs and blasting drums doesn't make an impact imminent, the last rack in the album is the self-titled "The Ferryman's End" unorthodox start with pummeling drums and sick riffs, as the track keeps going on, turns into a mid paced theme with a dense and brutal rhythmic section, ripping vocals that shatter into a delightful chaos, to end up with the protagonist execution.

"The Ferryman's End" clearly puts Izegrim as one of the bands that aging doesn't affect or soften their skills playing a persuasive death-thrash metal as always with extreme and relentless virtuosity and brutality, be sure to grab your copy and enjoy this album, you might regret if you don't.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. White Walls
02. Time to Run
03. Endless Desire
04. The Evil Within
05. Absolute Necessity
06. Reclaim My Identity
07. Insanity Is Freedom
08. Reflection of Redemption
09. Through a Glass Darkly
10. Lost in Tranquility
11. The Ferryman's End

Facebook

Listenable Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Rotten Sound (2016) Abuse to Suffer

Band: Rotten Sound

Country of Origin: Finland

Genre: Grindcore

Type: Full Length

Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 32:00 min.

Release Date: 03-18-2016

Release Label: Season of Mist

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Remorseless and aggressive grindcore

After twenty-three years in the scene Rotten Sound doesn't show any sign of weakness, not even because they always has been playing one of the most confined and limited genres in the underground scene, the grindcore for some, is an endless chaotic mass of riffs, murky bass tunes and battering drums and you know what? Unequivocally, I think that is the best definitions everybody can conclude, every twist and tweaks depend on each band's approach to keep fresh, corrosive and true to its roots.

These Finnish have returned after five years and brings under their arm the seventh album in their career, which they have entitled "Abuse to Suffer" which is slightly over thirty-two minutes of their remorseless and aggressive grindcore as only they know how to do, incredible production, abrupt and heavy riffs, intense blast beats, abrasive bass and guttural vocals are few of the attributes I can attach to this grindcore devotees.

Rotten Sound unfolds their wrath from the beginning with the first theme "Lazy Asses" a blend of cathartic and disharmonic riffs, "Fear of Shadows" throws some groovy riffs at mid pace, while "Time for the Fix" with its infectious riff extends the groovy feeling to create a complex, yet chaotic counterbalance after half way to the end, "Brainwashed" with its distorted hardcore-punk influenced, knock down any conventional structure implied, "Yellow Pain" brings a nauseating sludge pace with under tune riffing, "The Clerk" it's a straight assault that refuses to veer from their hardened formula, "Retaliation" it's a fast and furious onslaught with buzzing guitars and brutal drum pattern, "Extortion and Blackmail" rapidly engage the listener with unmatched violence, but suddenly turns into a massive groove that thrives into a noisy scheme, followed by "Equal Rights" It has a very consistent rhythm section alike the Scandinavian death metal bands, crushing blast beats and shattering vocals, leads to the last track "Someone Weak" sonically slows down with heavier guitar riffs, bone crushing drums and powerful growl vocals.

 "Abuse To Suffer" it’s a clear statement of what grindcore is about, many of their hard die fans will agree with me, despite the lack of innovation Rotten Sound offers a solid album, varied in content and able to break necks; Do not hesitate if you like bands like Nasum, Napalm Death or Gadget then do not waste your time.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Lazy Asses
02. Intellect
03. Fear of Shadows 
04. Trashmonger
05. Crooked
06. Time for the Fix 
07. Slave to the Rats 
08. Brainwashed
09. Cannon Fodder
10. Yellow Pain
11. Machine
12. The Clerk
13. Caged
14. Retaliation
15. Inhumane Treatment
16. Extortion and Blackmail
17. Equal Rights
18. Someone Weak

Facebook

Season of Mist

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Funeral Whore (2016) Phantasm

Band: Funeral Whore

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Genre: Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 41:00 min.

Release Date: 03-18-2016

Release Label: F.D.A. Records

IR Classification: Good (3.9 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Infectious riffs that grind your eardrums and scourge the last of your senses

Funeral Whore the Dutch band rooted in the old school death metal, they were formed around 2006 in Beverwijk, North Holland, they are bringing a hell with them while releasing their second full length, under the label F.D.A. Rekotz, entitled "Phantasm" containing eleven tracks of the most pure and relentless death metal, commanded by guitarists Kellie and Roy, also in vocals, together with Nick behind the drum set and Van Dune in the bass, were able to reincarnate the proper sound of early bands as: Autopsy, Pestilence and Bolt Thrower who were pioneering the genre at the beginning of the nineties.

After their debut album "Step into Damnation" released in 2012 which it was quite welcome by the underground community for their ferocious approach and raw sound, they earned a place within the local scene in the Netherlands, giving them the confidence and strength to continue in the dark path and it is not until four years later when they give us their follow-up material and it sounds even more devastating.

"Phantasm" the opener track that has a dramatic theatrical intro that evolves into heavy riffs that blow up, while also having pounding drums with frantic devotion, while the deeper growling vocals remind me the early Sinister, "Evil Manifestation" is the second track the guitars sound massive and morbid with a very infectious pace they succeed throwing riff after riff, "Reanimated" it's bold and barbaric in the drumming section carries a varied pattern allows the shredding guitars, leads the repulsive melodies towards dark passages, "The Graveyard Silence" it's brutal and the lead guitar sounds very violent and frightening, it excels managing the mood with slow pace and later on unleashing a hellish and rabid pace, "Down the Abyss" is an interesting track with a very well mix of thrash and death metal riff it is fast and ceaseless, "Only the Coffins Remains" is structured in a mid-pace inferno, with infectious riffs that grind the eardrums and scourge the last of your senses, "The Mortuary at Night" closes this album with demolishing and vibrant riffs while the double bass drum sounds impressive and ruthless there is no doubt that Funeral Whore are emerging from the deepest depths, as a lethal force to reckon with, few acts nowadays are able to infringe such level of brutality.

"Phantasm" is a truly enjoyable death metal record, influenced by the old school; Funeral Whore only took the best elements of yore to culminate in one of the most overwhelming and cataclysmic records to date during this year, fans of the old school death metal will love this deadly dose, seems like somehow a renaissance of the true death metal is on the way, let's see what else lies ahead.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Phantasm
02. Evil Manifestation
03. Reanimated
04. The Tall Man
05. Population None
06. The Graveyard Silence
07. When Life Turns to Ashes
08. Down the Abyss
09. Morningside Cemetery
10. Only the Coffins Remain
11. The Mortuary at Night

Facebook

F.D.A. Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Convulse (2016) Cycle of Revenge

Band: Convulse

Country of Origin: Finland

Genre: Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 34:00 min.

Release Date: 03-17-2016

Release Label: Svart Records

IR Classification: Good (3.5 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Progressive and technical metal, spiced with psychedelic passages and doom pace

The mythic Finnish death metal band Convulse are back after their 2013 come back "Evil Prevails", their debut album "World Without God" released in 1991 set them up as one of the most influential death metal bands, not only in their homeland, but worldwide, has had a deep impact throughout the time and it is difficult to ignore this fact, said this; I hope you don't have big expectations for Convulse and their fourth full length, "Cycle of Revenge", because musically they departed from their roots into a new adventure, more progressive and technical metal, spiced with psychedelic passages and doom pace, probably the only death part remaining are the vocals.

I have always supported to bands who choose to step forward looking to delve into new horizons, simply because I believe in diversity and creativity, of course there are many bands who are strongly stick to their roots and despite their age still delivering such display of brutality, however Convulse latest record somehow has tempered their brutality and wrath, that define them from the very beginning to their previous album, maybe I sound a bit redundant, but my intention is to make clear what you will hear, not by any instant this is unpleasant, poor or negligible if you listen with open mind, but neither essential to listen.

"Cycle of Revenge" opens with the self-titled track with an eerie devilish intro, however never meets with any brutality in contrast remains between some progressive and psychedelic riff, followed by "God is You", is stuffed with the same line of progressive riffing but resting on a conventional drumming, "Pangaea" brings some melodic groove riffs at the beginning, but soon it's intertwined with the same progressive and psychedelic ambiance, "Fractured Pieces" It sounds interesting due to the addition of some Middle East essence drums the riffs match, but lack pretty much of grip, "Nature of Humankind" sounds heavier than all the previous tracks and achieve to mixed some good death 'n' roll riffs, while the drums are more varied and interesting, next is "Ever Flowing Stream" takes a deadly approach to the nineties Voivod era, especially the clean vocals very reminiscent to them, "War" very pretentious at beginning with the energetic drumming, but retake that progressive groove sound right after the vapid display, the last track in the album is "Into the Void" it sounds indifferent from the whole album they keep digging deeper with a blatant and relaxed attitude with no fear and careless for their detractors.

Convulse album "Cycle of Revenge" is not exuberant or generous as we would like, because it is true they are showing us a new era in their career but unfortunately they sounds limited and repetitive, lack of resources musically speaking, it took me couple listening to assimilate, but at the end it will be very good appreciated for fans of bands like Voivod, Vector, or Coroner.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Cycle of Revenge
02. God is You
03. Pangaea
04. Fractured Pieces
05. Nature of Humankind
06. Ever Flowing Stream
07. War
08. Into the Void

Facebook

Svart Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Criminal (2016) Fear Itself

Band: Criminal

Country of Origin: Chile

Genre: Death / Thrash / Groove metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 43:00 min.

Release Date: 03-11-2016

Release Label: Metal Blade Records

IR Classification: Moderate (3.3 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Powerful, compact and crude due largely to the production, still inconsequential but certainly not a bad album

Criminal originally from Santiago, Chile in South America and currently located in Ipswich, UK; are coming back after five years with their eighth and latest album titled "Fear Itself" delivering their unique and unmatched blend of thrash death metal and groove, Criminal history dates back to the early nineties, their discography consists of two demos, seven albums, an EP and a live album, their sound is similar to bands like Sepultura, Slayer, Carcass, Exodus, Sick of it All and Cavalera Conspiracy, so you can imagine what it is this about.

The album "Fear Itself" carries twelve tracks strictly attached to their roots in thrash metal infected with some groove riffs and hardcore essence, while the death part comes in form of vehement vocals, it is true that this new material, doesn't add absolutely anything new to what we already know, although the sound of the band is powerful, compact and crude due largely to the production, still inconsequential but certainly not a bad album.

The album opens with a dormant chord intro which honestly doesn't inflict the expected reaction, sometime there are albums out there, that should not have intros and "Fear Itself" is one of them, it's followed by "Down Driven" built in groove riffing, shift into an aggressive thrash sound, the raspy vocals are stick to the genre, the bass carries an effective lines through the song granting a memorable rhythm section with the drums, "False Flag Attack" delivers a relentless display of technical thrash-groove very distinctive of Criminal, screaming vocals works very well for this kind of cut, "The Needle and Knife" begins with a very convincing rhythmic section very technical drum pattern and powerful bass lines, aggressive guitars shredding are incorporated masterfully to let the screaming vocals takes over to command the assault, "Summoning the Apocalypse" shift everything you heard before into a immeasurable speed to create a crushing and energetic thrash sound, ensuring the right aspects to frame a beautiful guitar solo in this track, "Deep in the Rot" contains a very infectious guitar riffing and a very skillful drum work make this track very compact and consistent with the rest of the album, "Wasted Youth" tries to infuse some melodic feel at start, but rapidly shift into a chaotic hardcore appeal, a very brief guitar solo shines and leaves you wanting for more, the scream and raspy vocals holds a crossover vibe, "Carne Molida" is the last track of "Fear Itself" structured with technical and intricate guitar work blend the speed and hostile grooves in a singular way, the lyrics are sung in Spanish, the drumming offer a more varied pace through the cut, very effective at the end.

The oscillation between tracks is very tight, which make sound "Fear Itself" something predictable and I do not mean that there is no value at all, with ten tracks; averaging 3:39 minutes, feels like they stick to the ordinary songwriting formula lacking of venturing and innovation, despite the powerful and compact sound accomplished, I still having troubles to digest this conventional blend of metal.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Intro
02. Down Driven
03. False Flag Attack
04. Shock Doctrine
05. The Needle and Knife
06. Scream of Consciousness
07. Summoning the Apocalypse
08. The One Who Speaks at Night 
09. Animals to Gods
10. Deep in the Rot
11. Wasted Youth
12. Carne Molida

Facebook

Metal Blade Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.