Throne (2018) Altar of the Dying [EP] 'Review'

Band: Throne

Country of Origin: US

Genre: Blackened Death metal

Type: EP

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 24:00 min.

Release Date: 07-30-2018

Release Label: Independent

IR Classification: Moderate (3.4 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

                   

A vertiginous offensive against you.

From Jackson, Michigan rises Throne, a band with a powerful Blackened Death metal. This quartet is made up of former members of the band Winterus, the band was established in 2015 by vocalist and guitarist Nathan Barnes and drummer Kollin Perpignani, supported by bass guitarist Leslie Drake and guitarist Joe Kesselring, with this line-up Throne starts working on the material for their first release.

"Altar of the Dying" is the title of Throne's first recording which contains seven tracks in digital EP format, it was recorded produced, mixed, and engineered at Bricktop Studios by Andy Nelson, the album artwork cover was designed by Brian Shehan (Wolvhammer).

It starts with an "Intro" which I don't understand quite a lot, it seems to me more like a truncated track that finishes as soon as it gets more interesting, after such an abrupt ending, it comes "Heresy of the Highest Order" it launches a vertiginous offensive against you, loaded with powerful guitar riffs, "Not of Shadow nor Fog" doesn't decrease the intensity displayed at all, they are really convinced at what they do and that means destroying you, outstanding are the jazzy bass lines almost at the end of the track, which is then followed by the self-album title song "Altar of the Dying" where everything here sounds perfect, ceaseless drums reflect the skills and forcefulness to enthrall you, while the vocals are flagrant against the blindful lambs, "Covenant of Darkness" sounds provoking and irreverent, "Where Angel Cower in Fear" and last track "Plague Upon the Unholy" both are relentless, cohesive and malicious, however it just leaves you unsatisfied.

What prevents this record to succeed at all within me are few things, at the beginning we have an intro that sounds more like an unfinished song, then they manage to pick up what they probably envisioned for this recording brutal... fast... but short tracks! Just averaging three minutes and thirty seconds per track, which reflects somewhat the lack of creativity or commitment and I'm not just running my mouth, if you take "Not Shadow nor Fog" the longest track, you can appreciate the capacity and potential they have to deliver something more unforgettable and distinctive, the production is clean and compact, allowing you to appreciate the instruments and that's worthy to mention; So, Throne definitely have potential to grow up and develop into a great band, I will keep my hopes high enough for their next record. 

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

Track List:

01. Intro
02. Heresy of the Highest Order
03. Not of Shadow nor Fog
04. Altar of the Dying
05. Covenant of Darkness
06. Where Angels Cower in Fear
07. Plague Upon the Unholy

Facebook

Bandcamp

Share us!

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Kvalvaag (2018) Seid 'Review'

Band: Kvalvaag

Country of Origin: Norway

Genre: Black metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 40:00 min.

Release Date: 07-30-2018

Release Label: Dusktone

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

       

Exuberant on details, impregnated of evil and unexpected variety.

Kvalvaag was formed during 2012 by Kvalvaag himself, since the beginning he took care basically of everything (guitars, bass, keyboard and vocals) while he brought on board drummer Ishtar better known for his participation in bands like (Dødsfall, and Sorrowful) to mention a couple, the band made their debut by mid of 2014 releasing "Noema", it sounds very influenced by the early sound of Emperor, which make them gain positive reviews around the globe, two years later in 2016 they released their subsequent album entitled "Malum" with Carl Telal (Astaroth, Sarpedon) behind the drums.

What characterizes this band is its well-defined sound from its first recording "Noema", even though "Malum" is more energetic and blazing and what we can expect from their third recording "Seid" is no less than what they have already set; So! let's get digging in their newest album "Seid".

"Mare" opens with an intro seeking the boundaries with a pompous mysticism, the track is filled with such immeasurable rage and gives you the path to the following track "Nattegrøde" which translate as "Night Soil" it sounds so exuberant that it will drag you to a non-return point, "Volvesang om undergang" is marked with a dark atmosphere infused by the guitar work to the purest old school Black metal with keyboards that are impregnated of evil, this a very diverse track as far as composition at some point you can feel a folkish passage, that blend rapidly with the Black metal riff that dominates the entire track, next is "Bergtatt" a symphonic belligerent anthem fast-paced and incisive, blasting drumming as Dimmu Borgir at their best moment, the subsequent theme is "Vinterriket", a cover song from Gehenna which was included in their full length debut album in 1995 entitled "Seen Through the Veils of Darkness (The Second Spell)" a killer track, but the execution is far beyond any expectation, next is "Seid", it might be the weakest track for some, but they manage to deliver some droning with chants adding even more an unexpected variety, the last track is "I dyrets tegn" which means "In the Sign of the Beast" is fast-paced and for some reason reminds me a lot of Rotting Christ with their latest album "Rituals" this is a sweeping song from beginning to end, incorporating elements to enrich and make a bolder sound. 

In conclusion, this is a very good album, here you will not get bored thanks to the diversity and dynamics that makes "Seid", with ambitious arrangements to make it grandiose and why not? it could be an icon for the Black Metal releases from 2018; So... do not hesitate to listen them, it's a well worth it to spend forty minutes of your life listening to this album and trust me, you will get back for another dose of greatness.

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

Track List:

01. Mare
02. Nattegrøde
03. Volvesang om undergang
04. Bergtatt
05. Vinterriket (Gehenna Cover)
06. Seid
07. I dyrets tegn

Facebook

Dusktone

Share us!

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

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)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

       

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

Facebook

Southern Lord Recordings

Share us!

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Infernal Execrator (2018) Obsolete Ordinance 'Review'

Band: Infernal Execrator

Country of Origin: Singapore

Genre: Black Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 35:00 min.

Release Date: 07-27-2018

Release Label: Pulverised Records

IR Classification: Excellent (4.6 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

       

A demon that invokes the ancient Morbid Angel

Singapore is not a very big scene and not very well known yet, few bands have emerged from that scene gaining international acceptance to mention some of those bands that were born in the nineties are Impiety and Rudra, followed by brutal death metallers Flesh Disgorge at the beginning of the millennium and during the middle of that decade by black metallers Draconis Infernum, grindcore masters Wormrot and finally black death metallers Infernal Execrator, who are releasing their second full length record titled "Obsolete Ordinance" a demon that invokes the ancient Morbid Angel.

Infernal Execrator have been active for the last thirteen years releasing some recordings, a demo, two EP's, four split albums, a full-length album and a live album, quite a lot for a small scene and now with its second full-length album, Infernal Execrator comes to reclaim its place in the international scene, Infernal Execrator is formed by four individuals who have chosen pseudonyms to be identified, as bass player is Kommando Antichristo, as drummer is Christslaughter, as rhythm guitarists Halphas D. Nihilist and finally as lead guitarist and vocalist Lord Ashir, the style of the band falls completely in Black metal with Death tones accompanied by aggressive vocals addressing messages of anti-religion, hate and worship, so do not expect any kind of mercy from them.

"Obsolete Ordinance" opens with some kind of mystical, ritualistic and demonic intro, it possesses such huge aggressiveness from the beginning with "Infernal Execrator" (True Blasphemour Conqueror) which spits a sonic explosion without mercy, the vicious guitars burn out as the track reaches the end, the second track is "Incinerate Halakhah Theorem" it’s vertiginous, fast converging with the direct brutality that characterized the first wave of Black Metal in the early nineties, while "Scions of Irreverent Bloodshed" delivers a blasting drum work by Christslaughter, "Northern Superiority" it’s simply the result of the influence of bands, like Destruction, Venom with simple but brutal guitar riff, and here is where the best part comes, "Quintessence Of Timeless Void" that has a slower pace at moments shifting into madness of heaviness that drives you into hell between this track and "Supreme Barbarous Ordo" reminds me a lot of early Morbid Angel and that is quite enjoyable and will leave you speechless, "Obsolete Ordinance" is a track in the pure vein of Dark Funeral, frantic, fast and inherent for their own identity, the last track is "Absolute Celestial Condemnation" everything here sounds chaotic, the raspy evil vocals are out of this world; A perfect end for a journey into hell.

Infernal Execrator surpassed any expectations from even the most demanding and dedicated Black metal followers, hailing from Singapore they are here uncompromised just devoted to promoting and spread their anti-religious thoughts filled with hatred and evil, a band that cannot be ignored! 

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

Track List:

01. Infernal Execrator (True Blasphemous Conqueror)
02. Incinerate Halakhah Theorem

03. Scions of Irreverent Bloodshed
04. Northern Superiority
05. Quintessence of Timeless Void
06. Supreme Barbarous Ordo
07. Obsolete Ordinance
08. Absolute Celestial Condemnation

Facebook

Pulverised Records

Share us!

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Forgotten Tomb (2017) We Owe You Nothing 'Review'

Band: Forgotten Tomb

Country of Origin: Italy

Genre: Black Death Sludge metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 41:00 min.

Release Date: 10-27-2017

Release Label: Agonia Records

IR Classification: Good (4.1 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

       

Creative Black Death Sludge metal

In my humble opinion, here we have a general misconception of what really delivers Forgotten Tomb within their ninth album entitled "We Owe You Nothing" for starters, I believe that Forgotten Tomb definitely walked away from their roots, What is wrong with it? Nothing! I believe, that is the perpetual path that a musicians have to go across, keep on moving, expand their boundaries, blend elements from here and there and by doing that, they should know that some fans will abandon them and while others will remain faithful to them.

The trio leaded by Herr Morbid, deepens in previous directions they had taken for "Hurt Yourself and the Ones You Love" adding more versatility into their songwriting giving a result to something between a groovy southern Sludge and Death metal sound; They still have some Black metal elements and some dark ambience to show up and they really try to highlight those moments.

"We Owe You Nothing" is the first track of the album from the very beginning is strong, with powerful riffs of accentuated grooves and is able to achieve such unrelenting aggressivity, followed by "Second Chances" it doesn't softener the pace and just keep on going with merciless chords, at a certain point the voice echoes in my head and inevitably the vague memory of the vocals of the album "The End Complete" by Obituary emerge, "Saboteur" the musical structure is more varied with faster riffs, while Asher pummeling incessantly the drums to deliver an outstanding work and once again the vocals with that Tardy-scheme appear, next is "Abandon Everything" elaborated with such a contrast among the raw and acoustic composition, seems like they approach to the boundaries of Death-Doom metal, "Longing for Decay" certainly grabs a handful of slow pace riffs defining indisputably the ground where Forgotten Tomb stands up nowadays, the closing and instrumental cut "Black Overture" feels like a constant torrent that drags you by a desolate landscape, where souls collide and fade away to see the inheritance of humanity.

I have to end up admitting that "We Owe You Nothing" indeed, it means exactly that, they don't owe you nothing, if you're still loving the old stuff and you're not ready to depart with them, let me tell you one thing, we will be just fine without you and I include myself because I like what I hear and expect more new elements to come.

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

Track List:

01. We Owe You Nothing

02. Second Chances
03. Saboteur
04. Abandon Everything
05. Longing for Decay
06. Black Overture

Facebook

Agonia Records

All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.

Sorcerer (2017) The Crowning of the Fire King 'Review'

Band: Sorcerer

Country of Origin: Sweden

Genre: Epic Doom metal

Type: Full Length

Format: Digital 320 kbps
Length Approx.: 01:11:00 min.

Release Date: 10-20-2017

Release Label: Metal Blade Records

IR Classification: Excellent (4.6 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

© Insanity Remains Webzine.

       

Excellent Epic Doom metal, no complaints allow.

Sorcerer is simply like a fine wine, you gather the best ingredients, crush them, leave them to ferment, extrude the mixture and let it blend and age, bottle up and finally enjoy a unique mixture of twenty-five years of aging, that's how Sorcerer can be compared, only as the finest bands within the genre, you just can't skip "The Crowning of the Fire King".

Is very rare that I pick two Epic Doom metal albums within a short period of time, as I picked already Forsaken and their album "Pentateuch" and I'm sure I didn't go wrong with them, but neither will I go wrong with Sorcerer and "The Crowning of the Fire King", because it excels in all the ways you want to see this album, the songwriting is stunning, I can't point anything negative about it, the vocals surpass way beyond my expectatives, the length of the album doesn't turn into a boredom and they always managed to keep you engaged at listening, it never let you get away, So! yes... this definitely is a excellent album.

"The Crowning of the Fire King" contains ten tracks of varied tunes that are easy to classify in three groups the opener cut "Sirens", Abandoned by the Gods" and "Crimson Cross" belong to the energetic tracks with such vehemence, then we have "Ship of Doom", the self title track "The Crowning of the Fire King", "Unbearable Sorrow" and "Disciples of the Dark" with a very accentuated Epic Doom metal sound, down tempo with an excellent guitar work a majestic vocal work to sing along with Engberg and last we have "The Devil's Incubus", "Crimson Cross" and "Bringer of Misery" these tracks fits more into a melodic scheme with catchy choruses; Also we can't skip "Nattvaka" the acoustic interlude that's simple but dominant; So everything here exceeds what you're looking for, it is not necessary to say it, but Sorcerer has consolidated with this as their second work.

I would say that Sorcerer has establish their own brand of Epic Doom metal with their sophomore work, a very distinctive sound that allow them to be apart and dig up their own legacy, an album that will surely reach more than just one list of the top ten of 2017, they sure will have a place in ours!

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

Track List:

01. Sirens

02. Ship of Doom
03. Abandoned by the Gods
04. The Devil's Incubus
05. Nattvaka
06. Crimson Cross
07. The Crowning of the Fire King
08. Unbearable Sorrow

Facebook

Metal Blade Records


All rights reserved © Insanity Remains Webzine.