hails!!
thank you for taking the time to read our latest blog of
reviews. we have a little bit of most dark genres this time around so
hopefully you will find something that is your main style of metal.
also i would like welcome and introduce our newest "writer" rastako
{who some might know from the serbian dark ambient band shadowdream} i
am extremly thankful for his reviews and help with winter torment.i hope
to have alot more reviews and possibly interviews from rastako in the
near future.
thanks to all for supporting winter torment web-zine!! you all rule.
best regards,
patrick and winter torment web-zine
http://www.friendburst.com/wintertorment
acid witch--stoned cd {hells headbangers rec.}
{reviewed by patrick}
this band has been making quite a name for themselves the last year or
so and heard nothing but good things so i was excited to get this
promo.acid witch are a two-man band from the u.s playing a very strange
mixture of traditional doom,mixed with old-school heavy metal and some
horror-movie soundtrack type ambience.by know you are probably
scratching your head. well you would not think these very different
genres could work together but acid witch make it happen and sounds
good! the guitars are upbeat and rockin with some catchy riffs or slow
crushing doom-filled chords while the vocals are gruff growls with
deeper growls mixed in.the band also has some really cool intro's and
outro's used which give them the horror-metal style. i like the bands
mix and use of the varied dark styles with the horror-atmosphere in the
background.this is a band you will probably have to hear to decide for
yourself but i would say fans of traditional doom,dark metal should
enjoy this.
label contact.
www.hellsheadbangers.com
black witchery--infero of the sacred destruction cd {hells headbangers rec.}{reviewed by patrick}
the u.s black/death metal legion black witchery return with a new
cd.to be totally honest i have never been to big or followed this bands
career so it's kinda hard to review this.infero of the sacred
destruction is pretty simplistic and basic black metal with some
brutal/violent d.m guitars and drums.the vocals are a little deeper for a
gruff/growl for a death metal feel and sound.but the bands thin guitar
chords defintly have the early 90's black metal feel and sound within
them.if you are a fan of black witchery's previous releases then you
know what to expect if you are new to the band and enjoy simplistic yet
effective b.m you might enjoy this band.as for me i am gonna keep
checking out hells headbangers other quality black metal bands on their
roster.
label contact
www.hellsheadbangers.com
cavus-fester and putrefy cd {listenable rec.}{reviewed by patrick}
cavus are a new force within the mighty finnish metal
underground.fester and putrefy is the bands debut release.from the start
the band wastes no time in unleashing the violent and destructive
sound.the drummer blasts the listener into oblivion with powerful and
non-stop blasts. the guitars are fierce cold razor-sharp riffs.while
the music is the band has created is chaotic and violent it is also well
structured and played flawlessly. the vocals are a mix of brutal
demonic growls and some screams/screechs.cavus will defintly impress
fans of barbaric blackend death metal.
label contact
www.listenable.net
dimentianon--collapse the void cd {paragon records}{reviewed by patrick}
after a few years of silence new york's dimentianon have
returned.collapse the void is dimentianon's 3rd masterpiece of blackend
death with touches doom.mixing in elements of old-school swedish and u.s
death with some darker,black metal guitars and atmospheres.
i can
even here hints of some progressive guitars melded into dimentianon's
new songs. before long-time fans get the wrong idea dimentianon is still
as brutal,dark and original as ever. vocalist M.vocals have always been
some of the best in my book how he melds the brutal growls and black
metal screams into his own creative voice. collapse the void is defintly
dimentianon's most complex,dark cd to date!! this will please both
long-time and new fans of the band. so order this now!!
label contact
http://www.themetalunderground.com
band contact
http://www.dimentianon.com
Ghost - Opus eponymous cd {Rise Above}
{reviewed by rastako}
Swedish
enigmatic band Ghost caught my attention several months before the
release of their debut album, with their irresistible retro
presentation, as well as the mystical veil which surrounds the entire
line up. Although the „unknown creatures“ are relatively new to the
underground scene (formed in 2008, in the city of Stockholm), the thing
that they certainly do not lack is experience, and certainly a subtle
marketing, let’s call them, tricks. Year 2010 brought their debut
release titled „Opus Eponymous“.
The first thing a man
will counter is the visual presentation of the band - a counterpoint to
the mass religion, with the dark, but at the same time attractive aura.
Hidden faces of these „dishonorable creatures“ with haunted, rotten
„Pope“, attract interest and attention. Album art is in the manner of
classic horror and giallo genre, but without any influences of
stereotypes, let alone any kind of pathos. Add to it the themes of
theological Satanism and you will get a coffin full of intrigues, one
which must be open.
Passing on to the audio component,
the first noticeable thing is consonant songs, exceptional melodies
which are scratching the surface of the "forbidden", as far as metal is
in question, realm of pop music, with very hypnotizing vocals and the
omnipresent retro sound. Such cohesion in compositions is used in order
to expanded darkness and Satanism to a broader range of people,
unconnected with the dogma of Satanism, and, as the „Ghouls“ themselves
say, in order to recruit new followers of Satan. On the other hand, such
cohesion can cause a lot of clichés, but members of the cult Ghost
avoided this and they putted together a body of work without any trace
of kitch. Music touches the early period of metal, and since the
civilization has a tendency to live in the recollection, I would
„classify“ it as a mixture of Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult and
Mercyful Fate, of course, as a definition of style. The music is
pleasant, memorable and listenable and has an exceptional atmosphere.
The vocals, as the foreground of each composition, are dream-like with
surreal surroundings. Guitars have a lot of fuzz, while bass has a
groove tone which adds to the whole concept of retroactivity. Electric
organs and Rhodes are used to represent subtle surface in the structure
of songs, which closes the vicious circle of melodic and engaging
sensibility of the material. From „Con Clavi, Con Dio“, through the
irresistible „The Ritual“, the hymn-like „Satanic Prayer“, to the
fearful „Death Knell“, band Ghost does not lose the initial idea and
manages to maintain a complete whole, and you are drawn. as a recipient,
inside their musical sphere.
Finally, I note the
excellent production that sets it apart from loads of other bands, and
that everyone can accept it, regardless of musical commitment and
sensibility. Highly recommended.
inquisition-omnious doctrines of the perpetual mystical macrocosm cd {hells headbangers rec.}{reviewed by patrick}
i remember hearing a previous release from inquisition through hells
headbangers and not being that impressed. well this is a new day and a
new release! the new cd is 10 songs of dark,complex black metal.their
are moments of fast,intense black metal with some very unique musical
ideas. the vocals defintly stand out for me as they are mid-era immortal
with some deeper vocal patterns in some parts.the music the band
creates is extremly fast and intense but also slows down from time to
time as to keep the listeners attention and doesnt get boring in the
least.if the band keeps on this musicial path they are on i see big
things for inquisition in 2011 and beyond!!! a must hear/have for fans
of dark unique black metal!!
label contact
www.hellsheadbangers.com
Melechesh – The Epigenesis cd {Nuclear Blast}
{reviewed by rastako}
From the landscapes where cradle of civilization flourished,
Mesopotamia, which was decorated with the magnificent Ziggurats, comes a
new "sandstorm" in the form of new works of Sumerian thrashing black
metalers Melechesh. Despite the fact that this band went through many
difficulties offered by a modern "civilized" world, they have already
survived nearly 20 years (formed in Jerusalem, way back in 1993) and
they manage to produce, with each opus, a specific Metal sound,
recognizable, intriguing and unique.
After five years
of work and composing, Melechesh finally released opus titled „The
Epigenesis“- one of the highest anticipated albums in 2010. The first
thing that I hear is the progress of the band in every sense, as well as
still an inherent unique conceptual approach and a great embodiment of
their ideals into the music. Many tend to compare the new albums with
the old (face the fact that modern civilization lies on the doctrine of
reminiscence), therefore I avoid any comparison, because each album by
Melechesh is an indigenous work. The amplitude of each composition is
not decreasing, they all hold our attention, the pace is extremely
colorful, with many influences of, of course, Middle Eastern melodies,
which are used tastefully, as well as the influence of progressive rock,
which just shows the progress of the band. Heavy riffs and eastern
rhythms are ubiquitous, thus giving the "razorness" of the sand storms
to the image, and they are accompanied by great vocal expression.
Ashmedi’s virtuosity is apparent in the guitar parts, which bear an
uncanny resemblance to jazz improvisations, while eclecticism is visible
in acoustic compositions. The album is full of contrasts, from the
devastating guitars, to guitars with dream-like overtones. My personal
experience is that this album has no weaknesses - both in the
compositional and in the executive part. Above all, the theme of ancient
Sumeria and other areas of Mesopotamia complete this mystical journey.
Melechesh
is a true oasis of Metal, refreshment of the everlasting copying
syndrome. Album „The Epigenesis“visualizes distant landscapes, tart from
the sand storms and the graceful civilization achievements in every
detail. Balance of the Metal music crudeness and Middle Eastern
inscrutability is in well adjusted balance .Because of its eclecticism, I
highly recommend this album for all music admirers, not just fans of
Metal.
sargeist-let the devil in cd {moribund rec.}
{reviewed by patrick}
i have been a "fan" of this finnish black metal horde since hearing
their 2003 release "satanic black devotion".now with let the devil in
the band continues on their dark quest to unleash sinister,cold,grim
black metal that we have all come to know and love {or hate?} cold
violent screams spew out blasphemies while the rest of the band creates
raw,mid-paced black metal that fits perfectly with the demonic
vocals.their is a dark-atmosphere within the music on let the devil.but i
defintly would not consider sargeist a atmospheric band at all.this is
by far sargeist's strongest and most impressive release to date.and
should not be over-looked by any fans of quality black metal.
label contact.
http://www.moribundcult.com
svart crown--witnessing the fall cd {listenable rec.}{reviewed by patrick}
svart crown from france have released a powerful new release mixing in
brutal death and some modern day black metal for a journey into a dark
place of punishing drums,razor-sharp guitars and a combination of death
growls and blackend screams.this band should please most fans of brutal
blackend death.
label contact
www.listenable.net
the eyes of a traitor--breathless cd {listenable rec.}{reviewed by patrick}
this
is the bands second release and reading the bio it looks like most of
the members of the band are fairly young{in their early 20's}which
doesnt mean to much until you hear the complex music,riffs,solo's being
played on "breathless".the band has a good mix of newer generation death
metal,some technical guitar patterns and heavy,fast drums played with
some precision and perfection.the vocals are ok brutal growls,screams
and even some "clean" vocal lines. the eyes of a traitor have some good
guitar playing but overall is not really my kind of death metal. fans of
newer death metal might enjoy this though.
label contact
www.listenable.net
the gardnerz--the system of nature cd {self-released}{reviewed by patrick}
this is a fairly new band out of the legendary swedish metal scene.
but the band has decided to try a differnt approach instead of the
ultra-fast blasphemous black metal or raw brutal death metal style. the
gardnerz has more of a slower/mid-paced almost death/doomish feel to
their structures. the band does have some some somber atmospheres
throughout some of the songs.the guitars have a heavy death metalish
sound and feel with some well-written riffs and solo's.this is a band
that is hard to catagorize on one hand i'd say they will appeal to most
fast of early 90's death/doom bands but the band also has some
expirmental ideas within their music. this is a band i think has
potential and this is a good debut. but i would say listen to em on
their myspace,web-site or some internet-radio show before you purchase.i
am interested in hearing more from this band to see if they stick with
the road they are on. or if they go full death/doom in future releases.
band contact
www.thegardnerz.com
the order of apollyon-the flesh cd {listenable records}{reviewed by patrick}
the order of apollyon feature ex-members of c.o.f and aborted so my
interests were defintly peaked. well i guess my expectations were too
high or something cause this is basic fast blackend death metal.a few of
the songs are catchy but not really memorable at all. i would say pass
this up and look for other brutal black/death bands from listenable that
deserve your hard earned money and respect.
label contact
www.listenable.net
