Montreal based Iron Asparagus released their new debut e.p. containing four songs. I love album and song titles like this one, so it was a hitter. This one starts aggressive in thrash metal vein but continues as kind of melodic doom on choruses and later on in the song, the title song is a hit and I like it very much, kind of like Overkill meets Sabbath patchwork. ‘Orbitoclast’ starts a bit atmospheric almost ballad like, continuing in the vein of stoner grease mixed with thrash metal. But, basically this song is ballad sometimes reminding me of Queensryche but maybe that is only me hearing that. ‘Mr.Molotov’ has eerie atmosphere with that melody being sung quietly in the start and end of the song and although not fast, it is probably the heaviest song on the record. Heaviness continues with ‘Diamond In The Dirt’ being somehow classic Bay Area influenced thrash metal with all the best this genre provided, also with some death metal growls in the vocals. Great debut.
Sometimes you discover the band and music in this our underground scene that brings joy to your black heart and Bloody Hammers from North Carolina are just that. Although this is their sixth studio opus, to me is the first and I freakin love it. There are nine songs on this opus and one better than the other. There are only two members in this band, two entities called Anders Manga and Devallia. Music is basically horror punk with lots of melody and superbly energetic songs, but there is also lots of melodic metal, almost power true metal in the songwriting, especially in And Soon The Darkness, punk rock is more on the surface in Black Sunday. Vocals by Anders Manga are one of the best vocals I have heard in this genre in last couple of years. This voice is so melodic, yet so powerful. Keyboards fit perfectly in the songs wherever they are applied creating atmosphere of melancholy and sadness, but first they create darkness but such darkness you wish for it to engulf you. Two more songs that I must mention as personal highlights are Last Rites Of Lucifer and Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark. Excellent, excellent album and my heartily recommendation.
T.O.M.B. are hailing from mighty American scene and they have been in the scene since 1998 with many releases, this being their seventh full length opus. What to expect on this one? Well, 6 songs of gritty, industrial darkened droning black death metal with lots of doom metal influences here and there. This one is raw, this one shows all bleakness and anger of dark energy this opus provides. Some songs are a bit longer but no matter, they do not get boring for one second. Vocals are screamed, growled, sometimes whispered like in some haunting horror movie with lyrics about ghosts, death, occult, paranormal, hatred and reincarnation. My personal favorites are Wraiths and Reincarnation.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 