Now, that’s what I like! A mixture of metal and horror. Agarwaen are hailing from Finland and this is their second full length opus. There are intro and eight more songs on this opus. I love the use of samples, orchestrated keyboard and symphonic parts. This is basically melodic black death metal with modern thrash metal and symphonic black metal influences thrown in for good measure. Vocals are dual, from black metal/Gothenburg death metal screaming vocals to death metal growls and clean spoken word parts. Lyrics are horror based on a story about bloodthirsty cult so the album has some kind of loose concept behind the music. Heavy hitters like ‘Channel Of Lunacy’ with blast beats and melodic hooks, also ‘Graveyard Shift’ and ‘Delirium’ are sure to win you over and let you know that not only King Diamond plays horror metal. There are more extreme yet melodic bands full of energy that do this style of metal and I really enjoyed every single minute of this opus. This album creates a great cold atmosphere, so go grab this one.
Public Serpents are band based in New Jersey and this is their new album containing 13 songs. This band may be new in the scene, but they are in no way strangers to the scene. Public Serpents are led by singer Skwert known for his playing with Choking Victim and being a pioneer of crack steady and crust ska punk scene. This is his new band and they deliver such energetic and mighty album with this one. From fast hardcore punk oriented songs like ‘Why Can’t I Tell’ to ska core anthems of ‘When Pigs Lie’, ‘Armageddon Stomp’, these guys deliver a storm of melody, rough vocals courtesy of Skwert but fitting perfectly to the song melodies, brass elements, and more rawer and dirtier sound of guitars with catchy hooks and at time street punk riffs and melodies thrown in. ‘Farewell’ is also one of the songs I must mention as being my highlight of the album having such melancholic and sad, yet at the same time uplifting melody. This is a superb ska core album, go listen and grab this one!
By A Storm published the second single ‘We Carry On’ from the upcoming album ‘Beware Of The Underdogs’ The record will be released on May 19 via Backbite Records. Stay tuned!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 