Grave Infestation--Carnage Gathers cd,Lp {Invictus Productions / Dark Descent} posted on 2-19-25

 

Canada's Grave Infestation return with their second full length of pure and monstrusous death metal.Carnage Gathers contains eight tracks of uncomprimising and heavy death metal that will please all fans of this genre.The guitars are played with a mix of mid paced guitars that are heavy in their delievery.But the guitarist plays plenty of  guitars patterns that are equally fast and relentless in their delievery.The drumming is played with a mix of hyperspeed fast drum passages that are crazed in the delievery.The drummer does play some heavier mid paced drums throughout the songs.The vocals are powerful death metal growls and some old school gruff growls are also used.Carnage Gathers is a great release of pure death metal that is violent and straight forward                                                                Grave Infestation                                                                                                                                           https://graveinfestation.bandcamp.com/album/carnage-gathers                                                                   https://www.facebook.com/graveinfestation                                                                                                https://www.instagram.com/graveinfestation/                                                                                             Dark  Descent Rec.                                                                                                                                       https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/                                                                                                 https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords                                                                                       https://www.instagram.com/darkdescentrecords/                                                                                         Invictus  Prod.                                                                                                                                               https://invictusproductions.net/                                                                                                                     https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/carnage-gathers                                                        https://www.facebook.com/InvictusProductions                                                                                         https://www.instagram.com/invictus_productions/                                                                                       

Tjolgtjar “Alleluia” cd.digital{Cianeto Discos} review done by Andrew posted on 2-19-25

J.R. Preston returns with a new Tjolgtjar effort, and a grand effort it is. Mixing 1990s black metal, heavy metal (including some clean vocals), and all sorts of different influences that really give the album a diverse feel, this is some of Preston’s best work to date outside of Bloodcult. The lead guitar solos are reminiscent of melodic 1980’s heavy metal, as is the song structure in a lot of cases, hearkening back to a time when metal was dangerous. The first track, “Return of Tjolgtjar,” runs the gamut from blasting black metal to heavy metal to doom and psychedelia. I love the emphasis on songwriting here – the 13 minute track I just mentioned seems to simply fly by, making it seem like 5 minutes. That’s a hallmark of good songwriting. I can hear the traditional metal influence ringing right through, Mercyful Fate especially, but filtered through the wild and woolly lens of Tjolgtjar. I only mention Fate as a known influence on this band, so I can hear it – otherwise, good luck trying to pin down anyone that Tjolgtjar sounds like. They’re completely original, and don’t sound like anyone else, although you can tell it’s J.R.’s work, since he has distinctive vocals and a distinctive riffing style. If I had to pick a track to show someone what Tjolgtjar was all about, however, it would be the title track, “Alleluia.” It begins with classic black metal style blastbeats, but all underneath a heavy metal style guitar solo. When the verse kicks back in, it’s back to 1990s black metal, but before too long it takes a turn and J.R.’s unique half-clean vocal style makes an appearance in between the more standard reptilian style he has for his black metal vocals. When the song takes a turn toward heavy metal again it’s with operatic vocals over black metal guitars, and then back into straight black metal again, and then we get an amazing ‘80s metal section with more clean singing in falsetto. You see the twists and turns this takes! This is an epic album, epic metal, from one of the most prolific artists in the underground. Tjolgtjar embodies what black metal should be, and shows what can be done when you take the carcass of a decaying genre and progress it a bit, giving it a blast of defibrillator, keeping the core sound and feel, but experimenting musically in such a way that you don’t stray from metal at all. This album is easily one of the best black metal records I’ve heard in quite some time outside the war metal subgenre, and my guess is that I’ll be spinning it time and again.                                                  Tjolgtjar                                                                                                                                                         https://illinoisanthunder.bandcamp.com/music                                                                                    Label Contact                                                                                                                                                cianeto.bandcamp.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Aldaaron--Majestic Heights,Melancholic Depths cd,LP{Paragon Rec} Posted on 2-16-25

 Aldaaron is a two man band that comes out of France's black metal scene.Majestic Heights,Melancholic Depths is the fourth  full length featuring seven songs and three very well performed instrumentals.The music on the new release is once again a mix of extreme fast pace and more melodic passages added into the new songs.The guitars are played with once again with a mix of fast and mid paced guitar passages that are flawless in their delievery.The guitars are done with skillful ability whether extrely fast or a more controlled mid paced.The vocals are grim raw black metal screams.Majestic Heights,Melancholic Depths is another great release frrom the French black metal duo.If you are a fan of original,quality black metal then do yourself a favor and check out Aldaaron today.   

Aldaaron                                                                                                                                                                         https://aldaaron.bandcamp.com/album/majestic-heights-melancholic-depths                                             https://www.instagram.com/aldaaron_official/                                                                                                    Paragon Rec.                                                                                                                                                                  https://www.paragonrecords.org/                                                                                                                          https://www.facebook.com/paragonrecordsli/                                                                                                     https://www.instagram.com/paragon_records_official/#

Aldaaron--Arcane Mountain Cult cd{Paragon Rec.} posted on 2-16-25

 

Arcane Mountain Cult is the 2022 release from France's black metal band Aldaaron.Featuring five tracks that combine epic and brutal fast black metal passages to create a memorable release.Starting off with a short intro of somber music and blowing wind.The music starts off with fast paced guitars and grim black metal screams.The guitars range from extremly fast to a more melodic and slower mid paced range.Both fast and the more calm mid paced guitars are played with skillful writing.The drums are a mix of fast blasting drums and some slower mid paced drum patterns.The vocals are grim and raw black metal screeches and screams.Arcane Mountain Cult is a great release of quality black metal that combines both a nice mix of extreme and mid paced black metal for a quality release.                              Aldaaron                                                                                                                                                       https://aldaaron.bandcamp.com/album/arcane-mountain-cult                                                                      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087843489257                                                                   https://www.instagram.com/aldaaron_official/                                                                                             Paragon Rec.                                                                                                                                                 https://www.paragonrecords.org/                                                                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/paragonrecordsli                                                                                               https://www.instagram.com/paragon_records_official/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIdwZFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTiM2TxBABKQPTQehcgk672t29ICr-_4JycbnAt6__LugtmZCoHmm-mq_g_aem_iTTYdZ3WC4f6TZGZYpIbSg#

Lein--The Call Of Grief cd,digital{Masters Of Kaos Prod.} Posted on 2-16-25

 

Coming out of Estonia's old school black metal scene is a new band Lein.The debut demo was self released but is getting a cd pressing through Masters Of Kaos Prod.Starting off with a short intro the music takes off with fast paced guitars that are intense and powerful.The guitars do slow to a slower mid paced range throughout the songs to give each song a nice balance of fast extreme passages and slower mor mid paced guitars.The drumming is a mix of extremely fast paced drum passages and some more controlled mid paced drum patterns.The vocals are a mix of raw black metal screams and some deeper growls both vocal styles are done with power and aggression.The Call Of Grief  is a great debut of traditional old school black metal that doesn't follow any trends just pure black metal is what Lein delievers.                                                                                                                                                        Lein                                                                                                                                                          https://www.facebook.com/leinkvlt                                                                                                               https://www.instagram.com/lein_bm/                                                                                                           https://www.youtube.com/@Leinband                                                                                                         Masters Of Kaos Prod.                                                                                                                                  https://mastersofkaos.bandcamp.com/album/lein-estonia-the-call-of-grief-demo                                      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083264766354                                                                  https://www.instagram.com/mastersofkaosrecords/                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5mrPBaMgDuGn71cyYWpbw                                                     

Ordalie--Indifferent Universe cd{Paragon Rec.} Posted on 2-9-25

 

France's Ordalie  return with their second full length featuring a intro and six songs.The songs presented on Indifferent Universe are very well composed and written with a variety of extreme fast and some slower mid paced passages.The guitars are played with skillful passages.That are mainly played with fast paced guitar patterns but does add some slower mid paced passages to give the song a nice mix.The drumming is blasting drums that are done with chaotic and frenzied patterns.Like the guitars the drumming does slow to a mid paced drum style in a few of the tracks.The vocals are brutal gruff growls and some talking vocals are used in a few of the songs. Indifferent Universe is a really  well done release with a mix brutal black metal and some melodic slower passages that is ccomposed to create a great black metal release.

Ordalie

https://ordalie-blackmetal.bandcamp.com/album/indifferent-universe                                                         https://www.facebook.com/people/Ordalie-Official/100088861988150/                                                    https://www.instagram.com/ordalie_official/#                                                                                            https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwIjbthrZ8f-sVxXicTVXA                                                           Paragon Rec.    

https://www.paragonrecords.org/                                                                                                                   https://www.facebook.com/paragonrecordsli/                                                                                              https://www.instagram.com/paragon_records_official/#                                                                             

Ordalie--Mass Of Perdition cd{Paragon Rec.} Posted on 2-9-25

 

Mass Of Perdition is the debut full length from France's Ordalie.The debut cosists of seven songs of brutal and uncomprimising black metal at it's best.The musicians know how to write and perform some excellent musicial passages.Going from an all out assault of fast and frenzied guitars and drums that are played with intensity and skill.The musicians do slow to a mid paced range throughout some of the tracks to give the listener a mix of speeds.The vocals are raw and grim black metal screams that fit the music perfectly.If you are a fan of dark and brutal black metal at it's finest i  highly recomend picking up a copy of Mass Of Perdition when it is released.                                                                                    

Ordalie                                                                                                                                                                            https://ordalie-blackmetal.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                   https://www.facebook.com/people/Ordalie-Official/100088861988150/                                                   https://www.instagram.com/ordalie_official/                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwIjbthrZ8f-sVxXicTVXA                                                                   Paragon  Records                                                                                                                                                        https://www.paragonrecords.org/                                                                                                                 https://www.facebook.com/paragonrecordsli/

Vehemence Abyss--Shadows Of Sin:Chronicles Of Portuguese Serial Crimes digital{Supergoat Wreck-Whoreds/Studio 13) Posted on 2-4-25

 

This is the debut release from solo artist Melkor who resides in Portugal.Shadows Of Sin:Chronicles  Of Portuguese Serial Crimes is seven tracks of fast and intense black metal.Each song is crafted with well performed patterns.For the most part the guitars and drums are played at hyperspeed fast passages but does slow to a mid paced range throughout a few songs.The vocals are traditional raw black metal screams.If you are a fan of traditional well crafted black metal then be sure to check out Vehemence Abyss.                                                                                                                                                        Vehemence Abyss                                                                                                                                          https://studios13.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-of-sin-chronicles-of-portuguese-serial-crimes              https://www.facebook.com/people/Vehemence-abyss/61569666942447/?rdid=mcsN8vAQ8MNHi2Mg&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1FGuLcpKYb%2F

https://www.instagram.com/vehemenceabyss/?igsh=MWpmaTIyOGpkN2dyZg%3D%3D#                      

Vehemence Abyss--Echoes Of The Macabre:True Crime Legends digital release{Supergoat Wreck-Whoreds/Studio 13) Posted on 2-4-25

 Vehemence Abyss started out as a solo project but  recently added a new drummer and Catia who handles writing the lyrics for the music.Main man Melkor handles writing the music for the band.The music is fast paced black metal that is well executed with some well played guitar and drum passages.The guitars do have some well executed and performed patterns even adding some well played solo's in a few songs.The vocals are raw black metal screams that grim in their delievery.The music does slow to a more mid paced range throughout a few of the songs both the extreme fast pace and mid paced passages are equally as good.Echoes Of The Macabre:True Crime Legends is a really good release of fast paced black metal that should please fans of this genre.                                                        Vehemence Abyss                                                                                                                                         https://studios13.bandcamp.com/music                                                                                                       https://www.facebook.com/people/Vehemence-abyss/61569666942447/?rdid=UeM9maL2ZJz1l2HC&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1FGuLcpKYb%2F                                                                                                                                                      https://www.instagram.com/vehemenceabyss/?igsh=MWpmaTIyOGpkN2dyZg%3D%3D                      

S.L.U.T--Four Shadows of Ruin {Self-Released} done by {Cátia Godinho "Caos) Posted on 1-18-25

 

There are few projects with the intensity of S.L.U.T. (Shadows Lurking Underneath Time) Based on true stories, S.L.U.T. was born at the hands of Portuguese musician José Carlos “Melkor” (Martelo Negro, Vehemence Abyss, Culto Macabro...).

With their first album “Four Shadows of Ruin” we have in four tracks the promiscuous story between lies, tragedy and ruin of a human being.

This is a one-man musical project that focuses on dense, dark, terrifying doom metal, with a very deep soul, but with guitar and drum techniques on a more death metal level, as the musician has already accustomed us to.

Even his voice, with a vocalization that we didn't know he had, is obviously orchestrated to create an unprecedented album.

Not only will it appeal to doom metal fans, but also to a wide audience of extreme music in general.

In this true intensity we find very romanticized soundscapes at the beginning and end of the songs, an unexpectedly melodic soundscape, but with the voice guaranteeing an overwhelming weight.

Each track is quite long, but the minutes pass between the romantic tone of the doom sound and complete death metal inspiration, in very complete transitions, with all four songs being imposing and outstanding.

Audacious, extremely powerful and completely unique.

10/10

Cátia Godinho "Caos"

Naked Whipper--Chapel Defilement cd,Lp{Iron Bonehead} Posted on 1-4-25

 

Germany's Naked Whipper  return after nearly thirty years of silence with their second full length.Chapel Defilement contains thirteen vicious and crazed black and grinding songs that will devestate the listener.The guitars are played with insanely fast paced guitars patterns.The drumming is chaotic and violent in their delievery with a barrage of blasting drums.The vocals are deep death metal growls that are intense and brutal sounding in their delievery.Naked Whipper delievers a assault of black and grinding metal at it's most fierce and furious.                                                                               Naked Whipper                                                                                                                                             https://www.instagram.com/naked_whipper_/                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/@NakedWhipperOfficial/videos                                                                        Iron Bonehead                                                                                                                                                https://ironbonehead.de/                                                                                                                              https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/                                                                                       https://www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions                                                                                https://www.instagram.com/ironboneheadproductions/?hl=en                                                                     

Amock--Dod Innvendig cd/digital{Plague Demon Rec.} posted on 1--4-25

 

Amock Puerto Rico's old school black metal band returns with a new recording.Dod Innvendig is the latest full length that was released at the end of 2024 through Plague Demon Rec.The music on the new release is a mix of primitive raw mid paced black metal that is extremly well performed.The guitars and drums are done with well played passages and patterns.The music does speed to a faster tempo in a few of the songs to give each song a nice balance.The vocals are black metal whispering style of vocals that are done in a very demonic and unique vocal style.Dod Innvendig is another masterpiece of raw,unholy black that should not be missed by those who love their black metal unpolished and raw.                          Amock                                                                                                                                                           https://www.facebook.com/Amockofficial                                                                                                   https://bsky.app/profile/amockofficial.bsky.social                                                                                       https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo0QDBvMRmo6LUTN_wdII2Q                                                    Plague Demon Rec.                                                                                                                                       https://plaguedemonrecords.bandcamp.com/music                                                                                      https://plaguedemonrecords.storenvy.com/                                                                                                 https://www.facebook.com/Plaguedemonrecords.net/