Scroll "Scroll Demo"

Now this particular release isn't new. Some of you may already be familiar with it but for those who aren't, keep on reading. Scroll is a one man black metal band from Seattle and this is its first self-titled Demo released back in 2011. It was released as a tape with a very awesome DIY hand-made pouch. For those who grabbed it, lucky you. Scroll's Demo features 5 tracks giving us a total of 30 minutes of very well performed, very good, intense and memorable black metal music. I was really astonished by the quality of this. It's really, really good. I personally love the sound of it. It's very dense, almost as we're involved with this cold tremolo picking blanket in the middle of this grim whirlwind of blastbeats.     I guess the best way to describe Scroll's sound is that it sounds pretty much "cascadian". Very Ash borer-esque or Fell Voices-esque, if you know what i mean. Nevertheless it has a soul of it's own and it's not just another copy-cat band. The barrage of the tremolo picking notes spewing from the guitar melts perfectly with the fury of the drum, creating this thick wall of noisy and impenetrable black metal. I just hope this project hasn't died yet and the man behind it can surprise us with something new soon. You hear that Jesse??

Whispers within the forest

Durazis "Curse"

Yep.. it's one of those days.

forever cursed

Redrighthand "They Sang And Chanted For Hours, Then The Locked-in Hundreds Set Themselves Ablaze"

Damn.. this album title almost looks like a Red Sparowes song name. But no, nothing related at all. But i'm just gonna shoot into the dark and at least say that the band's name was taken from a Nick Cave & Bad Seeds famous track. "They Sang And Chanted For Hours, Then The Locked-in Hundreds Set Themselves Ablaze" is a damn fine album and Redrighthand, the sick maestro behind all of this pain and filth. Feeling almost as a bastard child of a relationship between Khanate and Monarch.

According to some sources, and to my regret, this band no longer exists. Members were in/went on to bands as Hard To Swallow, Narcosis, They Are Cowards, Charger, Ocksen, Like A Kind Of Matador and Gruel.

Although the lifetime of this beast was short, they left at least one brutal discharge of the most filthy and sick doom sludge coming out of old Britannia. Redrighthand's sound is dragged slow producing an atmosphere so thick, we can almost cut it with a knife. And the vocals are simply some of the most distressing i've heard into this genre, very Toadliquor style, very deep as if he is shouting from the deepest of catacombs, way behind the rest of the band. Although it was recorded in 2004, this is one of the best of what UK sludge/doom has to offer. A perfect distillation of fear and despair. Sick people, as me, into this sort of stuff... grab it here. Highly intense record. Recommended!

like a bird of doom

Burnsred "Burnsred" Review

Loosely fitting into the doom/sludge/post-metal genre, San Francisco's Burnsred play music which ebbs and flows through harmonic progressions, tempo changes, and dynamic shifts, while maintaining a presence both raw and unfettered. With this self titled album, Burnsred shows us that the sludge/doom scene can still surprise us. Mixing some classically inspired melodies, elaborate song structures, and caustic tone yield a brand of metal with the Sturm und Drang of Neurosis, the morose gloom of Asunder, the visceral sludginess of Burning Witch, and the tranquil melancholy of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Burnsred have created their unique sound, showing left-field tendencies, incorporating outside influences and favoring nuanced musicianship over adherence to genre norms. The result is ornate in arrangement and composition, yet austere in thematic unity.

The first minute i started to hear this release, it instantly ingrained on me, with their heavy and melodic sludge/doom approach creating a very interesting sonic landscape, like we can hear on the opening track "Beartrap", that starts with some very distant piano notes that give the motto seconds before a giant wave of riffs splashes upon us. Although the tracks are long, they vary from 7 to 9 minutes long, it's impossible to fall into boredom, the band successfully alternates the rhythm and the course within the tracks which is something really remarkable since it's done in a very fluid yet spontaneous way.

A perfect example of that is the track "A Sentence", one of the best and most interesting tracks of this album. They could play a one hour track, making us losing track of time, as we're completely in this state of trance caused by their music. Yet another high moment of this release is the track "Standby", clearly one of my favorite tracks, showing us the astonishing ability and versatility of  the band, by combining the various styles and tempos within the track, captivating and keeping the listener always on a short leash. Burnsred is one of those successful cases where i get the feeling that they function very well as a whole, every single instrument is just there, with a perfect notion of time. The vocals are also one of the most interesting highlights in the music of Burnsred, it has a fairly rough and dry tone which i like a lot, very much à la Burning Witch and not so guttural and hollow like most generic bands within the genre.

The album closes with, to me is the perfect track to end this, "Mirror", terminating this brilliant record in an apotheosis and epic way. As doomy guitar and bass weave above pummeling drums and beneath a thin layer of rasped vocals, ambient noise, and keyboards, a sound roaring from the skerries of the San Francisco metal underground... burns red. Without shadow of doubt a very addictive album. Recommended!

Feel free to check out the band's website in order to keep yourself updated. Recommended for fans of Neurosis, Battlefields, Burning Witch, etc. Buy and support good music! It only costs a mere $5.

listen & buy

Blåkulla "Darkened by an Occult Wisdom"

Blåkulla is a one man black metal band that goes under the pseudonym of Surtr Blackmoon Emperor, and "Darkened by an Occult Wisdom" is the first release of this obscure french black metal act. Containing 5 tracks, in which some of them even surpass the mark of 9 minutes, "Darkened by an Occult Wisdom" is a very solid and interesting release, specially when you think that there's only one man behind all of this. I can immediately sense the influence of early Burzum and Darkthrone on Blåkulla's sound, it's primitive, raw, aggressive and extremely nefarious. Said that, Blåkulla's music is filled with all of that true black metal essence but it also carries some occult aura over it, giving the tracks an haunting atmosphere. From the beginning to the end we get these hellish and epic tremolo picking allied with unstoppable blastbeats being constantly fired by the drum kit, Surtr's voice sounds deep, almost as if it was layered behind all of the instruments, and the bass, yes... he is present and is quite noticeable in the entire record. Although the tracks seem repetitive when compared to each other and within them i feel that Surtr must review his formula in order to avoid the common listener to fall into boredom. But even so, Surtr definitely gives us some glorious tracks, like the opening "Ancient Mysticism & Fullmoon", "Revelations Of Celtic Sorcery" and "Victory & Glory Or Death", that are filled with great epic moments and pay true respect to the old canons of true black metal. Recommended to all of those who like their black metal like i like my coffee.. black, no sugar-coating, no faking, and no drama. Released as a limited edition cassette last year on Cold Void Emanations.

†Link removed by request†

Ajuna "Incomplete Circles Becoming Dead Ends" & "Perpetual State Of Disbelieve"

Ajuna is a Copenhagen, Denmark, based quintet, dedicated to grey toned harsh music since 2009. Hard working and committed to assault both listener and live audience, they have earned the reputation of being a rather chaotic and aggressive act live. They assimilate a lot of genres, like black metal, shoegaze, post rock, post hardcore and maybe some post metal side to it too. It all results in this great post experimental blend that culminates in this energetic atmosphere. The sound of Ajuna is indeed fresh and it has that nordic european touch attached to their sound that i personally love. 

So far they have launched these two Demos last year, "Incomplete Circles Becoming Dead Ends" and "Perpetual State Of Disbelieve", and now they are preparing to launch a debut EP called "Death In The Shape Of Winter" that will be launched thru Neh-Owh Records very soon. I must enhance that the production of these two Demos is excellent, the sound is very clean and sharp, you can hear every instrument very clear. I'm glad to witness such great acts like Ajuna sprouting from countries like Denmark from where also come of of my favorite and delicious killer bands, Hexis. I can sense a brilliant future for this band as well, as you dive into their songs you will notice how technically brilliant musicians they are. Their songs might not grow on you at a first listen, but you must listen to it with very attention, and then you will find details like that muscled bass sound, those keen guitars, the vigorous drumming and that harsh voice, that will make you say in the end: "This is great!". There are some slight differences in these two Demos, it really shows the path the band is taking, and you can tell the evolution as they are finding their sound, Ajuna's sound, and i enjoyed a lot these last tracks featured on the single "Death In The Shape Of Winter", it presents us a more dense, blackened kind of depressing, bleak sound. If this nordic beast evolves even more, then we will be facing another monster in the new post black metal wave scene here in Europe. I like it and i wish to hear more please. Thank you. Meanwhile you can check what these guys are doing here. Recommended! In the download link below you will get all three releases. Enjoy!

listen | Danish winter

Cult Of Occult "Cult Of Occult" EP

Cult Of Occult are a evil quartet coming from France and this is their first EP, delivering 4 tracks of the most hated-filled and poisonous sludge made in Europe.  I've seen this floating around a lot when it came out last year, so when i got this request coming straight from one of the members of the band i really couldn't say "No". 4 tracks featured on the digital release, there's a 5th extra track available in the CD that you can order here. Not sure if there are any copies left, please email them or the band, to know if are there any copies before moving on with the order. The EP starts off with "Blurry And Muzzy" where these thick riffs chop their way into this very dense and smokey atmosphere while in  "I Hate You" the band punishes our ears with some real guitar feedback while the voice spits all of this hate towards us. "Walking in the Desert" is a more slow, trippy but groovy track, it has indeed a more stoner facet attached to it. The last track "Cult Of Occult" is an epic track that drags itself at a slow snail paced rhythm that reaches almost the 10 minute mark. Basically this EP presents us a band making very well made sludge with a more stoner/doom-ish approach. Good sound production, good voice, all instruments played right. In general a very tight and effective release that strengthens even more the european sludge scene. The only band i can think of that are playing as equal good sludge as Cult Of Occult right now, are probably the italian Grime. And i really dig that "occult" approach the band made with the cover art on the EP, it reminds me a lot of this amazing album. So check this band out, you won't regret it and most of all... Support! 

listen & download

Fading Sun "Yawning Void"

Fading Sun is a one man band from Minsk, Belarus playing tortured funeral death/doom. "Yawning Void" features only one long track, kinda repetitive but i really dig the whole doomed atmosphere on this one, the voice is very deep and cavernous. Very appropriate to your insomnia nights. Check it out below. Available here.

listen | into the void

Nisroch "Demo" & "Split"

Nisroch are a blackened hardcore band from Jacksonville, they have released so far a Demo and a Split and man... i really hope for a full-length soon. The music of Nisroch is solid and very cohesive, giving you really little few time to breathe, in fact, the only time you have is to engulf just a little bit of air before being sucked in again to the depths of these dark and murky waters. The quality of these tracks are in pair with other well-known acts like Heartless, Full Of Hell, Hexis, Brutality Will Prevail, Young And In The Way and many more. If you enjoyed these guys Demo wait until you hear the tracks from the split with the band Crooked Look. Nisroch definitely are in another league, they are on the right path, destroying and burning everything around them.. i just hope they make enough smoke for someone to spot it and give them some spotlight and recognition. Because with a quality like this, they really deserve it. Check them out below and see what i mean. Follow the band here.

Listen | Demo-lition

listen | split in half

Norke "Era"

An album i've been diving into a lot lately is this debut from the very unknown Norke, the info of this project is so little that the only things i know about it, is that it comes from Canada, that's pretty much it. Besides, this album is self released in CD-R and limited to 100 copies, where can you get it? Have no idea..

In general Norke's "Era" brings us some really deep depressive atmosphere, the album kicks in with "Nihil" an industrial sound intro topped with some random black riffs, after that, the first real track, "La Belle Morte", starts with some classic acoustic notes before swallowing us in into that black hole of depression. You won't find any sort of worship to the unholy goat here, instead you will get some depressive, almost in a romantic way, black metal. I mean depressive but not the kind of wrist-slashing depressive... i mean depressive as in something cold, dramatic, dead. One of the interesting aspect on this album is that we have, a handful of tracks, simply called "I", "II", "III", "IV", "V", that seem to work almost like a play, divided in acts. The purpose of these 5 tracks is for them to be played connected to each one of them, with no interruption. Because they work as a whole. That's the perception i get, as my attention is caught on every single detail by Norke's music. The end is announced by the track "Epitaph" and closed with "Somnis". Now, this last track is the loose end on this album... it doesn't have nothing to do with the rest of the previous tracks, just when we thought we've witnessed the funeral of "Era", "Somnis" comes along exhaling life and light. Maybe it's setting the tone for the next chapter, a new era... i really don't know what the artist thought by ending the album this way. Better listen for yourself and take your own conclusions. In overhaul, "Era" is a pretty solid release with great sound production, that got me hooked up to it in these past weeks.

listen | radiant depression

Vansköpun "Alsæla Gegnum Endurfæðingu"

I discovered this band as a recommendation from a member of Ignifer. And what a great recommendation. So after i streamed the track "Alsæla Gegnum Endurfæðingu" over and over and over on their Bandcamp, i really got curious to hear the rest. So i bought the tape. It's good to see that tapes are back on the map. Just the other day i saw on the news about a portuguese company that, in their glory days, used to supply big part of Europe. They are still going nowadays, not with the same workflow they had some years ago but.. they are still running. But the main thing is that tapes are cheaper than CDs and they are this little nostalgic time machines that make me travel back in time. And i like the sound that comes out of that dark brown tape. One thing that really stood out of this EP is in fact the sound. In this specific case, it's excellent. No wonder this was produced by Kark (from Dødsengel) at the Kark Mastering studio.

Although the format might be ancient, Vansköpun’s black metal is modern. There’s a hint of Swedish orthodox Black Metal to be found here with a lot of suicidal tendencies added to the mix with horror and death. "Alsæla Gegnum Endurfæðingu" EP consists of three tracks; “Genesis 6:17″, which could be put down as an intro as it clocks in at little under three minutes compared to the eight minute mark the two full tracks, “Botnlaust Tómið Hungrar” and “Alsæla Gegnum Endurfæðingu”, seem to be going for. The approach that Vansköpun make to their black metal is really interesting, although i would like to hear more, these three tracks can basically give you an idea of what they are here for. Mixing variations on from slow-mid-fast, the whole environment on the songs is inert, dense and hypnotic. Perhaps suffering from that "First Demo Syndrome" at some points we might find some stagnant points, but it doesn't seem fair to judge that from only three tracks from the band. In short, it's a good and one of the "freshest"  releases i've heard so far this year. Let's wait and see what might emerge from the shadows of Iceland. Buy it here (great guys to deal with, and tons of awesome releases). Recommended.

listen | deformed shades of black

Monads "Intellectus Iudicat Veritatem"

I believe that everything happens for a reason. The whole set of events which takes place in our lives every day, is the accumulation of big, or even the small decisions, we have to take every day during our lifetime. It's that whole concept of unity that puts us right where we are today. And today i bring you a band that i believe it crossed my path for a very good reason. 

Monads are a belgium funeral doom band that started their path in the beginning of 2011, as told to me by one of the members of the band, to whom i appreciate the attention and kindness that made this review possible, the name Monads is derived from the philosophical "monad", and this term is used to describe the idea of a person as a focal point of consciousness within a sea of greater consciousness, and it is believed that all things that can be considered a unity unto themselves constitute a monad as well. Confused? I'll try to give you an example: the sound of breaking waves on the beach is a perception composed of individual drops of water (minuscule perceptions). We consciously perceive not every single drop of water, however, when the droplets come together in a sufficient amount, they produce a perception: the sound of breaking waves. 

That's exactly what Monads, this "pentad", have created with "Intellectus Iudicat Veritatem". With their music they have created an overwhelming perception of this multiplicity of feelings and emotions that lie in every note, flooding our ears and filling our soul with great music. "Intellectus Iudicat Veritatem", latin for "Intellect judges over truth", materializes this whole concept brought to you by Monads. The cover of the Demo illustrates a snake circling a cross, and the interpretation of it is that only perfection can bridge the gap between that which is temporal, causal and infinite. "Intellectus Iudicat Veritatem" consists in 5 massive and crushing tracks, blending classic funeral doom elements with some modern doom and the result is quite majestic and overwhelming. The Demo begins with "The Stars Are Screaming" and what starts as a dark and monolithic track soon evolves, just when we thought that was impossible within the track, into a more grieve-full but amazingly beautiful track. And this is just the first example of what is about to follow: a perambulation into deep, dark and desolate valleys, inhabited by colossal riffs that exhale sorrow and grief on every single note. I love to death all tracks but my favorite is "Absent as in these Veins", a track that with its simplicity, sweeps us high and suddenly brings us to fall on our knees. The passages through the heaviness and melody are perfect and flawless. Monads know exactly and have meticulously studied, the effect of every note on this essay.

It's been quite a while since i've heard some well played funeral Doom. And to be honest, this Demo doesn't even sound like a Demo at all. Fans of Mournful Congregation, Esoteric, Aldebaran, Ocean, Ataraxie,  beware. Monads did an amazing work creating, through every single note, their own perception, that fills, in a majestic way, our senses and our soul. Head dive into the dark waters of "Intellectus Iudicat Veritatem" and let yourself drown in it... slowly. Epic. Highly Recommended.

Right now, the band are looking for options to re-release the demo on CD and/or vinyl so if by the way you're in the music business or know someone who does, who's honest and serious, please contact them here. 

listen | E pluribus unum

Embrace of Thorns "Praying for Absolution"

Another release that maybe passed unnoticed through many people is the latest Embrace of Thorns's "Praying for Absolution" released last year. With it, Embrace of Thorns, continue their path to total devastation, delivering 13 tracks of some of the best Black/Death made out there. I must tell you that this is no "Atonement Ritual", even the artwork isn't as cute, but don't get me wrong, this album sweats more blackness, darkness than its predecessor. Another thing in this album is the amount of interludes, it can be cool at a first auditions but after hearing it for quite some time, we tend to skip them to the real deal, the songs. Nuclear War Now has some interesting versions of this album so check them out here.

listen | the fangs of the great AntiChrist

The Hunt "The Hunt" LP

The Hunt are a Hardcore/Crust/D-Beat band from Perth, Australia. They're said to be influenced by such bands as Tragedy, Fall Of Efrafa and Buried Inside. This is an "alternate"/earlier mix of their debut LP, made available for free download by their former guitarist (the final version would be re-mastered, with many of his guitar parts removed). The album is presented here as two gapless tracks, symbolizing the two sides of a vinyl LP. It is designed to be listened to as such, with the songs fading in to one and other to create a cohesive full-album experience. I've already posted the band's Demo here on FxC, but this LP sounds a hundred times much better, i had to split each side into separated files, so be sure to grab both. This heavy crust that The Hunt play is really awesome. It will be available soon on vinyl, although i can't tell you when it will come out or how you may get it, when i found out, i will drop a line in the comments of this post. Fans of the heavier and corrosive side of crust, like Masakari, Fall of Efrafa or Black Ships must give this a listen. Excellent material here. The hunt is on.. Recommended.

bark at the moon

Hoarders "Demo"

Hoarders are a hardcore/punk band from Brooklyn, delivering in this Demo, 4 tracks of filthy, dirty but energetic punk tracks. I quite enjoyed it, the track "Filthy Wet" is one of the best tracks in this Demo, it has all that classic punk components, a bass intro, the classic punk rock beat, a two note only based guitar, a catchy refrain and a frenzy solo near the end. Not bad at all. Let's fuck up the bar at the sound of the Hoarders.

listen | punk chains

The Hunt "The Hunt" Demo

Destroy or be destroyed.

listen | i saw the Devil last night

Mollusk "Mollusk" Review

Now here is a band that i already had stumbled upon Bandcamp, but since i received an email requesting a review some time ago, and since i enjoyed what i heard, i thought i might just spread the word. So i might just warn you that there's no free download here. But if you're into enrich your musical culture and listen to some sludge goodness, keep on reading..

Mollusk are a rocking sludge quartet from Cincinnati / Pittsburgh and they have released last year this self-titled album with 9 sludge muscled tracks. At a first audition the structure and the sound of the songs, brought immediately to my mind the sludge band Black Cobra, it's almost impossible not to notice that, except the sound that Mollusk create is not that fuzzy. Their sound is more "controlled", think of something like Sweet Cobra. The album kicks in with an "intro" that sounds like nothing more than a warm-up for what we're about to witness. Suddenly a dam breaks and a flood of sludge follows with "Endless Mountains". From there on it's about 25 minutes of fat riffs, ambient interludes and insane drumming. One of the negative aspects of this album is that is too short, the amount of interludes i think is excessive. The songs are quite good and they left me begging for more of that rock/sludge/metal goodness. Besides digital (only for $3) The album is available on tape, and i bet that it will make it sound twice as heavy on your cassette player, so if you're interested, you can grab a copy here.

listen & buy

Temple Nightside "Prophecies of Malevolence"

Here is some dark, ritualistic Black/Death Metal straight from the depths of the australian underground. "Prophecies of Malevolence" EP is the first release of the mephistophelian duo Temple Nightside. Basically it's a side project from two members of Nazxul, but they also hold on their repertoire other devilish acts from the aussie underground scene. With "Prophecies of Malevolence", Temple Nightside, takes us into a fall to the darkest pits of Hell. Layered with some dark ritualistic interludes, the instruments seem distant, as if they are distributed in several places, each one farther than the other, i'm talking about the drumming and guitar, that expel this really obscure and satanic nihilistic vortex of sound. The voice kinda reminds me of the most spine-chilling whispers from Portal's Curator. In general, it's a good start for Temple Nightside and it just leaves me begging for more. The last thing you will recall, before embracing  total darkness, will be the suffocating sulfurous vapors. Behold this offering to the mighty Lord ov Darkness. Recommended for fans of Witchrist, Impetuous Rituals, Void Meditation Cult, Diocletian, etc. You can buy "Prophecies of Malevolence" here or here.

listen | black prophecies

Ignifer "Le Jardin des Supplices"

Picture yourself in a beautiful and vernal garden, dwelling around its maze with all your senses drunken by the scent and colorful palette from all the flowers, but suddenly something awakens you from that dreamy reality, screams... of pain. You walk towards that sound.. a moan. And when you look through the bushes you finally see the twisted horror that was hidden in such a beautiful place, several bodies being tortured as rivers of blood, inflicted from the wounds, flow through the floor towards the flowers in the garden.

This is basically the vision i get as i hear "Le Jardin des Supplices", the debut EP by atmospheric Black Metal Band, Ignifer. As some of you might recognize the name, "Le Jardin des Supplices", means "The Torture Garden" and that is nonetheless than a classic work of literature from Octave Mirbeau. Described as "the most sickening work of art of the nineteenth century," Mirbeau's classic novel follows a young man's journey to the ends of desire and depravity in a garden in China where torture is practiced as a work of art. And being a conceptual, or more as an homage, to Mirbeau's classic,  Ignifer really do justice to Mirbeau's work by transmitting that sick and twisted feeling, leaving the listener really uncomfortable at some points due to that agonizing voice from vocalist Déhà. The sound of Ignifer is a more low distortion, sorrowful and atmospheric Black Metal, the sound is really, really deep, the real wild-card here is in the voice, it's really special, it almost matches B. from Bosse-de -Nage. "Le Jardin des Supplices" is a really interesting piece of work that i totally recommend. Enter this secret garden and just follow the trail of blood...

I want to thank LRNT from Ignifer from introducing me to this. Merci mon ami!

listen & download

Draug "Draug"

Nothing better than some vile, disgusting and putrefied Death Metal to warm you up in this cold afternoon. Great downtuned old school death metal with many grinding parts, reminding the British masters of deathly grindcore (think of old Carcass), with strings hanging down to the floor just like the Finnish way and growls from the deepest bowels of the darkest abyss. Draug is Jared Moran (according do Metal-Archives) who has more projects than i have Death Metal tshirts. This tape, available from Plague Tapes, just crushes all my internal organs, smashes my face and skins me alive, that's basically it. Fans of Antediluvian, Ritual Necromancy and of all that barbaric and twisted low profiled Death Metal, must check this asap. And be sure to check Plague Tapes, they have some sick and killer tapes there.

listen | turned inside out