Skeletor are hailing from Holland and this is their new opus containing eight songs. I must admit that I haven’t listened to such inspiring and various record for a long time. Skeletor play an interesting mixture of Florida death metal influenced riffs, fast and aggressive thrash metal and adding some nineties inspired groove thrash metal to the whole picture. Top that with blistering fast guitar solos that have interesting hooks reminding me of wicked Slayer solos in the prime of legendary thrashers. This album is S.O.D. for the new millenia. But, the most interesting on this record are songs and the way they were written celebrating gore, black humor and metal. Songs like ‘The Rapemachine’, ‘Hordes of the Retarded’ or my favorite ‘Anal Avenger’ are totally awesome. Vocals are brutal and angry, bass is thundering, album is a maelstorm of speed and this is why I recommend this one. Great one indeed!
Memoriam are from Birmingham, UK and its members have played or are playing in respectable number of bands such as Bolt Thrower, Benediction, English Dogs, Annihilator, Sacrilege to name just a few. According to former Bolt Thrower singer Karl Willetts who resumed vocal duties in this band, Memoriam was formed to tribute late Bolt Thrower drummer Martin Kearns and this is their fifth full length opus and a brand new one containing 8 songs. Memoriam plays old school UK death metal, not unlike Benediction and most certainly Bolt Thrower, with Memoriam also having mainly war and apocalyptic battle lyrics and song themes. This is the case with groove of ‘Never Forget, Never Again(6 Million Dead)’, but also there are faster, almost d-beat songs like excellent ‘Total War’. Karl Willets sings and growls better than many of his younger counterparts and guy’s work ethics are inspiring, but the songwriting is what makes this album superb. Songs like ‘I Am The Enemy’, ‘All Is Lost’ or the title song ‘Rise To Power’ are a lesson in old school British death metal like it was played in glory days and shows that this scene is alive, well and ready for war!
Living Monstrosity are hailing from UK and this is band’s fourth full length opus since being formed in 2010. Living Monstrosity play that UK school of death metal, old school death metal, but with added black metal influences in some guitar work, blast beats and atmosphere in songs, like combination of all those glorious UK death bands for example Benediction, Memoriam, Bolt Thrower, Napalm Death whose influence is also obvious, at least I hear it in some d-beat drum song parts like for example in excellent ‘The Worst Mistake In Human History’. Vocals are growled but you can understand most what is being sung, so that is another plus for excellent singer. There are also some atmospheric, calmer parts which serve as a prelude to insanity. Lyrics deal with death and fear of death, modern slavery in corporate world, pollution, nature, radiation sickness and similar more state of the world themes rather than fantasy and gore. Also, songs I must mention as my personal favorites are ‘Gratefully Confined To The Past’ and ‘Return To The Cave’ besides above mentioned song. Great opus by great band.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 