Tag: death metal

REVIEW: Eternal – Cryptic Lust (2023)

If you haven’t heard Eternal yet, I understand. But there comes a time when any self-proclaimed music genre fan needs to listen to something other than the classics and the commercially accessible.

Eternal’s first full length release Cryptic Lust is incredible. Gothic horror gutturals to the nines, as the best old skool Death Metal often does. And crunchy tones, riff city, as the best old skool Thrash Metal often does.

Cryptic Lust is 12 tight tracks clocking in at approximately 45 minutes- perfect. And caps off with a cover of Deathcrush by Mayhem that’s absolutely punishing (in a good way). I highly recommend working this record into your listening rotation.

For my Metal listening sessions I’ve found myself pairing Cryptic Lust with the Feral LP from Concrete Caveman, also released in 2023. The ’20s thus far have been great for Metal music if nothing else. If you rarely find yourself listening to anything released after a certain year, now’s the time to jump back in!

For fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Testament, Gorement

Like Eternal? Give these a listen: Livid, Inhuman Condition, Artificial Brain

REVIEW: At The Gates – Slaughter of The Soul (1995)

The only album using Papyrus font on the album artwork I can give a pass to.

nothing will date a single more than its music video

As someone generally burned out on the plethora of soundalike bands with nothing new to bring to Metal- songs that only sound like chopped and re-ordered versions of other songs by other cut-rate extreme metal bands- finally checking out At The Gates’ 1995 classic Slaughter of the Soul was long overdue.

Slaughter of the Soul is fixated on one thing and one thing only: guitar shredding. While less angular and certainly more melodic than anything approaching grindcore, no one riff lingers long enough to create a greater textural or ambient quality to the record (think: black metal). Every moment is a Guitar Hero blue-lightning power-up moment, and if that’s something you’re in to you’re going to enjoy this record.

For some Slaughter of the Soul may be too commercial- too clean, too produced, too melodic- but it’s a logical progression from Mercyful Fate’s work a decade earlier. And so if Mercyful Fate is as far as you’ve gone into melodic metal, and you’re willing to opt to in for deathly fry screamed vocals and throttling double kick driven sections, At The Gates’ Slaughter of the Soul is a great place to start.

For fans of: Mercyful Fate, Metallica, Grip Inc.

Like At The Gates? Give these a listen: Sodom, Carcass, Edge of Sanity

REVIEW: Witch Vomit – Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave (2019)

Nothing is new under the sun, and that includes this record. But regardless it’s a delightful show of character across 27 minutes of thrashing grind (or is that grinding thrash?).

Clamoring kick-snare pitter-patter interspersed between blast beats give ‘Buried Deep’ a unmistakable Thrash tinge, while the string instruments’ heavy emphasis on downbeats hearkens back to early Metal innovators like Autopsy and Cremation. 

Littered with wild false harmonic wails reminiscent of banshee yells (or more appropriately, witch cackles), ‘Buried Deep’ shows a lot of character which I personally love.

It’s your standard thoroughfare of claustrophobic grind sessions and more ‘breathable’ groove-centric open space, single note synth interludes with rain and horror movie samples shuttling the listener from song to song (Listen to second track Despoilment to hear what I mean).

That’s not to say it’s a bad album though. The songs are strong. Fun band name, fun art, fun titling across the album. ‘Buried Deep’ ends strong, and as musicians Witch Vomit certainly bring the chops necessary for what they’re trying to pull off. 

There’s a dynamic range missing that if added could really elevate the group’s current strengths. I’d encourage all creatives to further experiment outside of the studio. Editing is the creative’s friend, and no one has to know what was cut from a final album. I’d also like to recommend a band like Witch Vomit to listen to something really out of their wheelhouse- Mr. Bungle, Petula Clark, doesn’t matter so long as it jars open new paths of music experience. See what it can rattle out of the creative mind. Serve yourself, serve your art, and keep shredding.

For fans of: Autopsy, Cremation, Regurgitate.

Like Witch Vomit? Give these a listen: Liquid Flesh, Concrete Winds, Pariiah

REVIEW: Liquid Flesh – Chair Liquide (2020)

Liquid Flesh put a fresh breath of life back into Thrash Metal with their 2020 release Chair Liquide. Hailing from Grenoble, France, the trio is a dynamic three-pronged powerhouse dedicated to the finer things in life: b-movies, melting faces, and Twin Peaks.*

The band’s mid tempo brand of Death-infused Thrash Metal has a degree of groove and intricate tune weaving reminiscent of Pig Destroyer guitarist Scott Hull. This is perfectly exemplified on 4th track Toxic Blues, which sounds like Ward 6 or even Prowler-era Pig Destroyer slowed down to almost half speed.

The album is beautiful, and is doesn’t heed the beyond well-beaten path of their Thrash Metal lineage. Chair Liquide is a cohesive collection of well-crafted songs that will make you reevaluate (or re-appreciate) the state of Thrash Metal. They may be a little slow for Cannibal Corpse fans, but their dynamic appeal can reach across the many camps of metal music with relative ease.

Fun fact: Grenoble, France is sister cities with Phoenix, AZ here in the states. I knew it, and now you know it. Congrats!

*Why Twin Peaks seemingly has such a large fan base among the French music scene I don’t know, but I highly respect it. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, I highly recommend our guide to The Fast Paced, Lighthearted World of DOOM JAZZ.

For fans of: Bolt Thrower, Pig Destroyer, Celtic Frost

Like Liquid Flesh? Give these a listen: Ghoul, Vio-Lence, Power Trip