Serbian black metal institution The Stone released brand new, ninth full length opus. Existence of this band goes back to 1996 when they were called Stone To Flesh but let us speak of this new opus. It contains eight songs of pure and merciless black metal with some thrash and death metal influences in some songs, but mainly it is black metal, fast, atmospheric and without gothic or sympho parts, only pure black metal evil the way it should be done. Most of the songs are in Serbian language and since we basically speak the same, I understand all of it. Lyrics are not your typical in your face, but rather deep and personal, dealing with inner evil and fighting your own demons and darkness. Besides blast beats and speed, there are some slower melodic and melancholic parts that add to the drama, emotions, anguish and aggression. My personal favorites are: Okamenjen, Kosturnice and Jebes pero dodaj mac. For sure one of the best black metal releases this year.
Qwälen are hailing from Helsinki/Oulu area in Finland and this is their new record out with Time To Kill Records. This band plays their vision of black metal, raw and uncompromising, often blistering fast and aggressive, but there are lots of hardcore punk influences in the song structures, but to me this music leans more on black metal side of things. Guitars are raw, vocals screaming tortured black metal screams yet they fit perfectly to the music and aggression, but also melancholic, saddened melodies behind the overlayers of drama, that only Finnish bands are capable of providing such melancholy and emotions behind the music. There are seven songs on this opus, with titles all being in Finnish language so I don´t really understand what the lyrics are about, but let the power of music speak for itself. For me the best songs on this record, being my personal favorites are Han Ei Tule Koskaan and Unohdan Sinut. Superb album.
Pando are entity hailing from USA and this is their new record with Aesthetic Death. What do we have here? This music and this record is definitely not for everyone. These 9 tracks are a soundtrack to apocalypse and ending of the world and I love it. Pando play experimental drone/ambient black metal and noise with some sludge influences thrown here and there in the songs like on of my favorites Total Station Theodolite. What I love is a use of samples together with dark ambient and drone noises, coupled with whispers and screams and it reminds me of some broken down tv that stayed playing after the apocalyptic ending of humanity and it keeps repeating some residual nightmares over and over again. Vocals are screamed, guttural and music is black metal in its foundation, but so much more indeed. There is aggression, there is atmosphere and there is darkness that can almost be touched if you reach out with your hand and close your eyes and open your mind to this dark and beautiful opus. Great record indeed.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 