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Arcturus
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Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2016
The Inferno Festival Live Pics 20050324-26
Monday, November 21, 2016
Weakling - 2004 - Dead as Dreams
This American horde is one of the few exceptions to the rule "American Black Metal is not that good". This is a monster of an album, 5 tracks, 76 minutes long and it is an intense wall of sound all the way through. Weakling play a progressive kind of Black Metal, with screamed, angstridden vocals throughout the album. The vocals sound similar to earlier Burzum at times. There are metal and doom influences here as well as traces of both Shining and Black Sabbath, and keyboards are also used in places. This is not, however, a Dimmu Borgir kind of keyboard, this is more of a mood setter in the background. Unfortunately this is the only album that they ever recorded before disbanding.
The music is midpaced to fast and these guys sure know how to handle their instruments. The massive parts of the songs are kept apart by very well executed calmer parts and nice tempo changes.
These guys sure knew how to do it. The production on this album is very harsh and it adds to the overall feel of this album. This is yet another one of the hidden gems of Black Metal.
The music is midpaced to fast and these guys sure know how to handle their instruments. The massive parts of the songs are kept apart by very well executed calmer parts and nice tempo changes.
These guys sure knew how to do it. The production on this album is very harsh and it adds to the overall feel of this album. This is yet another one of the hidden gems of Black Metal.
Standout tracks are "This Entire Fucking Battlefield" and "No One May Be Called as a Man While He'll Die".
Friday May 28 2004, by :Vragh:
Valaskjalf/Hrodvitnir - 2005 - Under the Ban ner of Vinlandic Heathen Might
Presented on this split effort are two American NS Black Metal bands. Each band contributes with four tracks.
Valaskjalf presents us with Black Metal ranging from slow to mid-paced, slightly melodic Black Metal in the vein of the real early '90ies bands, but with a melancholic sound rarely found. I find both Kvist, Beherit and Root influences here. Also presented on this release is a cover of Hellhammer's classic track "Euronymous".
The vocals mostly sound like a more guttural version of those done by Legion of Marduk and also somewhat like those done by Akhenaten of Judas Iscariot and Quorthon.
The soundquality is quite good, with all the instruments being audible in the mix.
Standout tracks are "Grove of the Neoliths" and "Black Forest".
Hrodvitnir play a mid-paced to fast, more Viking / Folk themed Black Metal, and is the band I liked best on this release. Musically this sounds like a mix of Falkenbach and amore Black Metal oriented version of Borknagar, with vocals that mostly remind me of those done by Garm on the first Borknagar album. Some traces of Wyrd are also present in the overall sound here.
The soundquality on these four tracks varies a bit, which I found to be slightly annoying. You can hear the instruments and all, but the two last tracks have a murky, slightly distant sound to them, and the volume is lower.
Standout tracks are "Dawn of a New Aryan Empire" and "Hrodvitnir (The Wolf Unleashed)".
Quite a good split album, actually, with both bands being quite able to handle their instruments. This release is limited to 500 copies.
Friday December 2 2005, by :Vragh:
Valaskjalf presents us with Black Metal ranging from slow to mid-paced, slightly melodic Black Metal in the vein of the real early '90ies bands, but with a melancholic sound rarely found. I find both Kvist, Beherit and Root influences here. Also presented on this release is a cover of Hellhammer's classic track "Euronymous".
The vocals mostly sound like a more guttural version of those done by Legion of Marduk and also somewhat like those done by Akhenaten of Judas Iscariot and Quorthon.
The soundquality is quite good, with all the instruments being audible in the mix.
Standout tracks are "Grove of the Neoliths" and "Black Forest".
Hrodvitnir play a mid-paced to fast, more Viking / Folk themed Black Metal, and is the band I liked best on this release. Musically this sounds like a mix of Falkenbach and amore Black Metal oriented version of Borknagar, with vocals that mostly remind me of those done by Garm on the first Borknagar album. Some traces of Wyrd are also present in the overall sound here.
The soundquality on these four tracks varies a bit, which I found to be slightly annoying. You can hear the instruments and all, but the two last tracks have a murky, slightly distant sound to them, and the volume is lower.
Standout tracks are "Dawn of a New Aryan Empire" and "Hrodvitnir (The Wolf Unleashed)".
Quite a good split album, actually, with both bands being quite able to handle their instruments. This release is limited to 500 copies.
Friday December 2 2005, by :Vragh:
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Pyre - 2005 - Behold a Pale Horse
American Black Metal band Pyre offers us their first official release. Chaotic mid-paced, but mostly fast, slightly thrashing Black Metal is what we are presented with on this album. Musically I find a few De Mysteriis era Mayhem in some of the tracks, and some Ildjarn moments, in others. Judas Iscariot is something I hear in this too, as well as some very Thorns sounding basslines. Very interesting. A cover of Darkthrone's "En Vind av Sorg" is presented here, which they do rather well
I must say, considering that they're doing it in Norwegian!
The vocals sound a bit like those by Akhenaten of Judas Iscariot, mixed with Nocturno Culto, Maniac and, at times, Attila of Mayhem. Quite an interesting mix to hear.
The production is slightly murky and the bass is a bit unclear, which leads to a somewhat chaotic sound, as stated earlier, but this is something you get used to quickly. The production reminds me somewhat of Gorgoroth for some reason. Over all I must say that this is an album that shows a band with great potential. Well worth checking out, and don't forget to keep an eye on this band in the future.
Standout tracks are "The Torrents of Thamuz", "Devil Pig" (No, actually not a Von cover), "Ten and Forty Centuries" and "Behold a Pale Horse".
I must say, considering that they're doing it in Norwegian!
The vocals sound a bit like those by Akhenaten of Judas Iscariot, mixed with Nocturno Culto, Maniac and, at times, Attila of Mayhem. Quite an interesting mix to hear.
The production is slightly murky and the bass is a bit unclear, which leads to a somewhat chaotic sound, as stated earlier, but this is something you get used to quickly. The production reminds me somewhat of Gorgoroth for some reason. Over all I must say that this is an album that shows a band with great potential. Well worth checking out, and don't forget to keep an eye on this band in the future.
Standout tracks are "The Torrents of Thamuz", "Devil Pig" (No, actually not a Von cover), "Ten and Forty Centuries" and "Behold a Pale Horse".
Friday December 2 2005, by :Vragh:
Nightbringer - 2005 - Rex Ex Ordine Throni
Out of the United States comes this Black Metal act with a promo of their part of a split with Temple of Not, a band they share members with. This promo consists of 4 tracks of mid-paced to rather fast and slightly melodic, wellplayed Black Metal in the vein of Emperor and Carpathian Forest, with parts Watain and a less plastic sounding Limbonic Art at times, even. An interesting mix of Norwegian Black Metal with a slightly American sound.
The vocals remind me a bit of those in earlier Emperor, Ancient and Dark Funeral, but with a slight American sounding twist to them.
The production is a bit towards the thin, rather like the early days of the scene. The drums are what you hear most in the mix, with quite a De Mysteriis feel to the sound of the fills. There is also a keyboard present, which is more towards the front of the mix on the two last tracks. The use of the keyboard is the main similarity to Carpathian Forest. This has clear potential.
Standout tracks are "The Void" and "Mors Philosophorum".
Sunday January 14 2007, by :Vragh:
The vocals remind me a bit of those in earlier Emperor, Ancient and Dark Funeral, but with a slight American sounding twist to them.
The production is a bit towards the thin, rather like the early days of the scene. The drums are what you hear most in the mix, with quite a De Mysteriis feel to the sound of the fills. There is also a keyboard present, which is more towards the front of the mix on the two last tracks. The use of the keyboard is the main similarity to Carpathian Forest. This has clear potential.
Standout tracks are "The Void" and "Mors Philosophorum".
Sunday January 14 2007, by :Vragh:
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Incursus - 2005 - Incursus 7"
American Black Metal act Incursus has released their first 7", containing two tracks plus an intro and an outro. Quite good, fast Black Metal is what we get on this black vinyl.
The mostly snarled vocals remind me of mostly of Spectre of Vultyr, with hints of a less highpitched
Maniac of Mayhem, Cerastes of Mysticum and Wrest of Leviathan (US).
The music reminds me of Vultyr and early Emperor with a bit of Thorns thrown in here and there.
This sounds like Norwegian Black Metal with a twist of USBM thrown in. Not bad!
The soundquality is slightly muffled, with a strangely bass oriented sound with a lot of treble in the
guitars. The drums are present, but a bit unclear and a bit at the back of the mix, with the vocals at the front and guitar in between. The bass is given a bit more space than is usually the case in Black Metal.
This is well above average Black Metal with a few surprises along the way. Of the two tracks "Black Burial" was the one that stood out slightly more. My only complaint with this release is that it was not a fullength. This is a band I will keep an eye on, for sure. Well worth checking out!
The mostly snarled vocals remind me of mostly of Spectre of Vultyr, with hints of a less highpitched
Maniac of Mayhem, Cerastes of Mysticum and Wrest of Leviathan (US).
The music reminds me of Vultyr and early Emperor with a bit of Thorns thrown in here and there.
This sounds like Norwegian Black Metal with a twist of USBM thrown in. Not bad!
The soundquality is slightly muffled, with a strangely bass oriented sound with a lot of treble in the
guitars. The drums are present, but a bit unclear and a bit at the back of the mix, with the vocals at the front and guitar in between. The bass is given a bit more space than is usually the case in Black Metal.
This is well above average Black Metal with a few surprises along the way. Of the two tracks "Black Burial" was the one that stood out slightly more. My only complaint with this release is that it was not a fullength. This is a band I will keep an eye on, for sure. Well worth checking out!
Wednesday October 15 2008, by :Vragh:
Horn of Valere - 2004 - Blood of the Heathen Ancients
From the U.S comes this Black Metal horde with their first official release containing their two demos so far, the first one being recorded with the bandname Basiliskk. Their music is wellplayed, slightly melodic mid-paced to fast Black Metal with influences from Bathory, Enslaved, earlier Satyricon and Thornium. The overall feeling is of slightly progressive and epic mid '90ies Scandinavian Black Metal. Not at all bad for an American band.
The vocals mostly remind me of those by Grutle of Enslaved with some earlier Marduk and also some slight Nocturno Culto from back in the early days, at times.
The soundquality here is quite good. The instruments can all be heard clearly, and the vocals are slightly in the background of the mix, which is quite good here. The bassdrum is slightly unclear, perhaps, but this is nothing that I feel is a problem. There is a slight difference in the soundquality between the two recordings, and I must say I prefer the older, slightly rougher sound, if I were to choose between the two.
Almost all of the tracks on this CD are longer than 7 minutes, with half of them being 10 minutes or longer. The shortest track is a cover of Bathory's "Call from the Grave".
Standout tracks are "Ageless Winds of Infinite Wisdom", "...of Pure Blood", "Eternal Desolation of the Weak" and "A Prophecy of Ivory Skies".
Friday December 2 2005, by :Vragh:
The vocals mostly remind me of those by Grutle of Enslaved with some earlier Marduk and also some slight Nocturno Culto from back in the early days, at times.
The soundquality here is quite good. The instruments can all be heard clearly, and the vocals are slightly in the background of the mix, which is quite good here. The bassdrum is slightly unclear, perhaps, but this is nothing that I feel is a problem. There is a slight difference in the soundquality between the two recordings, and I must say I prefer the older, slightly rougher sound, if I were to choose between the two.
Almost all of the tracks on this CD are longer than 7 minutes, with half of them being 10 minutes or longer. The shortest track is a cover of Bathory's "Call from the Grave".
Standout tracks are "Ageless Winds of Infinite Wisdom", "...of Pure Blood", "Eternal Desolation of the Weak" and "A Prophecy of Ivory Skies".
Friday December 2 2005, by :Vragh:
Friday, November 18, 2016
Eaten Alive - 2005 - Demo 2005
Out of the US comes this Death Metal band with their first demo. We are presented with three tracks of mid-paced to fast Gore/Death Metal similar to earlier Cannibal Corpse and some of the slower Cryptopsy tracks with the random Slayer sounding guitar solo thrown in as well.
There are two vocal tracks on this release. The main vocals are deep, dark growls with the occasional screaming. They remind me mostly of those by Ross Dolan of Immolation, only darker. The backing vocals are more towards the highpitched, sounding somewhat like those by Nathan of Graves at Sea.
The soundquality is quite good, with all the instruments clearly heard in the mix. A quite enjoyable Death Metal demo, quite above par.
Standout tracks are "Eaten to Deformity" and "Meat Grinder".
Saturday October 21 2006, by :Vragh:
There are two vocal tracks on this release. The main vocals are deep, dark growls with the occasional screaming. They remind me mostly of those by Ross Dolan of Immolation, only darker. The backing vocals are more towards the highpitched, sounding somewhat like those by Nathan of Graves at Sea.
The soundquality is quite good, with all the instruments clearly heard in the mix. A quite enjoyable Death Metal demo, quite above par.
Standout tracks are "Eaten to Deformity" and "Meat Grinder".
Saturday October 21 2006, by :Vragh:
Bone Awl - 2003 - Bog Bodies
Out of the US comes this quite prolific Black Metal duo. This is their third release of so far 19 tapes and vinyls, presenting us with four tracks of Lo-Fi Black Metal, the last one being an instrumental outro. What really makes this band stand out from the crowd is the aggression that seems to boil just under the surface, becoming visible from time to time, a feeling of barely controlled rage.
The vocals are mostly raspy guttural shrieks, reminiscent of a more guttural version of Ildjarn and perhaps even of Varg Vikernes earlier vocals, though on the opposite side of the spectrum, being not shrieky but lower and darker, somewhat towards the vocal approach found in some of the depressive Black Metal acts or even in grindcore bands.
Musically the closest thing to Bone Awl would again be Ildjarn but with a bit more Punk in the mix and with a bit more variation. This takes the concept of minimalistic Black Metal a bit further, actually making good music and presenting it in a rougher and less polished way, rather than not being able to handle their instruments as many other bands today, that present their music very stripped down just because they can not play properly.
The soundquality on the different Bone Awl releases varies a lot, but this release actually has quite good sound. What you hear most in the mix are the drums, followed by the guitar and vocals. The bass can be heard as well, which is not the most common thing in this genre. This is above regular demoquality, but still quite rough. The original tape was limited to 300 copies, but there is a vinyl out that collects this and the first demo, which most likely is more readily available, simply called Bog Bodies/Magnetism of War. Highly recommended!
Standout tracks are "Lindow Man" and the outro "Virvatulet", a track I greatly appreciate. A slow, repetitive and crushing eleven minute beast.
Sunday October 12 2008, by :Vragh:
The vocals are mostly raspy guttural shrieks, reminiscent of a more guttural version of Ildjarn and perhaps even of Varg Vikernes earlier vocals, though on the opposite side of the spectrum, being not shrieky but lower and darker, somewhat towards the vocal approach found in some of the depressive Black Metal acts or even in grindcore bands.
Musically the closest thing to Bone Awl would again be Ildjarn but with a bit more Punk in the mix and with a bit more variation. This takes the concept of minimalistic Black Metal a bit further, actually making good music and presenting it in a rougher and less polished way, rather than not being able to handle their instruments as many other bands today, that present their music very stripped down just because they can not play properly.
The soundquality on the different Bone Awl releases varies a lot, but this release actually has quite good sound. What you hear most in the mix are the drums, followed by the guitar and vocals. The bass can be heard as well, which is not the most common thing in this genre. This is above regular demoquality, but still quite rough. The original tape was limited to 300 copies, but there is a vinyl out that collects this and the first demo, which most likely is more readily available, simply called Bog Bodies/Magnetism of War. Highly recommended!
Standout tracks are "Lindow Man" and the outro "Virvatulet", a track I greatly appreciate. A slow, repetitive and crushing eleven minute beast.
Sunday October 12 2008, by :Vragh:
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Ancestors - 2006 - Ancestors
Out of the US comes another very interesting horde with five intense tracks of aggression. Filthy, hateful and noisy, this band fills the gap left by Ildjarn. The simplicity is there, as is the hatred. The sound is also rather similar of Ildjarn's later releases, just slightly more chaotic. Many bands have tried to reach the sound that Vidar Vaaer had on his classic output before he declared Ildjarn dead, however the simplicity of Ildjarn seems to be rather hard to copy as there are few who succeed. Some have made their own interpretation to much greater success. Bone Awl for one, Ancestors and Vordr are other good examples.
As with Ildjarn, the vocals are high pitched shrieks, though the vocals presented here have a distinct sound of despair which I don't find in Ildjarn.
The sound is set very high on this release, which makes for a very chaotic experience. You mainly
hear the guitars in the mix, followed by the drums and the vocals. This is pure audial aggression!
Stand out tracks are "III" and "IV".
As with Ildjarn, the vocals are high pitched shrieks, though the vocals presented here have a distinct sound of despair which I don't find in Ildjarn.
The sound is set very high on this release, which makes for a very chaotic experience. You mainly
hear the guitars in the mix, followed by the drums and the vocals. This is pure audial aggression!
Released as a tape twice and then as a 12", all released in very limited quantities. I would suggest you buy it if you find it!
Stand out tracks are "III" and "IV".
Saturday August 22 2009, by :Vragh:
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