Infernal Slave "Oppressed By Inferior"

Another band that I haven't been able to let go since the day I found out about them, are Infernal Slave (formerly know as the underground raw black metal act Abnutivum) with their amazing 2013's debut "Oppressed By Inferior". Infernal Slave's demented raw black metal is just something that surpasses me. i mean... I'm a sucker for this raw and filthy type of recording. It's absolutely mental. That drum sound that quite doesn't sound like a drum at all, instead it sounds like some demented freak hitting on some plastic buckets. The harsh vocals that exhales the rotten stench of violent death on every word seems to fit like a glove on this recording. This is the absolute soundtrack for any serial filthy hooker slasher type of killer out there. This will drive you insane. I must warn you that isn't quite suitable for the most "mainstream" black metal listener. If you're into polished and standard kind black metal featured on those most common webzine$ out there, please get the fuck out. The filthier, the better.

 Many thanks for Terminal Escape blog for this underground gem.

Infernal Slave

Bands You Should Be Hearing Pt.II

First, and to start in a good way, I bring you the putrid sonic attack by Wørsen. A primitive, raw black metal punk band from Florida. This "Rehearsal" tape was released on Primal Vomit Records and the band seems to be writing new stuff at this point. Here we get, basically, six tracks of filthy, disgusting  and raw-to-the-bone style of black metal that will please fans of bands like Black Apparition, Raw Moon, Ancestors, etc. Check'em out.

Wørsen

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Next is a young band from Zurich, Switzerland, Æsop, with their debut EP "Weltengänger". Entirely recorded and produced by the band itself, "Weltengänger", contains three tracks that together, result in a total of 20 minutes length. Although it was all crafted under a very DIY spirit, the result is really astonishing. The sound is great, all the instruments are perfectly combined, the vocals and the songs are really good and interesting. Æsop's sound drinks from atmospheric sludge to post metal with some hints of black metal in the middle. Fans of bands like Year Of No Light (back from when they used vocals), Rorcal or Kehlvin for example, should keep an eye on them. A very solid and strong EP by Æsop. Look forward to hear what the future will bring.

Aesop

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Now it's a band I've talked about some time ago, Grue. This time Grue, delivers "Rake" EP although I recommend you to look back into their stuff and hear the album "Casualty of the Psychic Wars". I'm glad to hear that the band continues their style of ravenous and epic black metal, specially here on the "Rake" EP where the band unleashes two incendiary tracks: "All Mortal Greatness Is But Disease" and "Rake", burning down every little sparkle of hope and life. Soundwise, Grue's sound is very accessible, reaching out not only the usual avid black metal fundamentalist kind of fans but also the usual heavy music fan that seeks new bands and that, once in a while, likes to dig in deep inside the black metal specter. The drum seems a little bit low in the mix, nevertheless you can still feel that it's there. The big highlight for me is indeed the vocals. It's really different from what we usual get from the most standard black metal bands out there, not the usual style of harsh or grim kind of vocals, and that's why it stands out. It's clear yet filled with hate and powerful. Very good stuff, check them out.

Grue

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Next is Naught, a doom metal band from Iceland. Now, we're all used to think about black metal when we relate "Iceland" and "metal". This time, we get to see another side of the cold and desolate landscapes of Iceland. Naught presents us with "Tómhyggjublús", a beast formed by three sluggish, mournful, despairing songs that clock around 7 to 11 minutes long, all filled with this draining negative energy. These guys play really slow... so slow that you can almost see your beard growing along the playing of "Tómhyggjublús". And that's how doom is meant to be: fucking slow and evil. Check them out.

Naught

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Yith, a black metal project from the U.S. that seems to already have a solid cult around it, as every tape that is released is already sold out. Soundwise, Yith blends the best of two worlds: black metal and doom. And you can see the justification for all the adoration around this band: Yith's tracks are really above the average, speaking of a an unknown band, that probably many of you out there never heard about before. Yith sound here is perfect. It really matches that artwork and it's suitable for those cold, foggy Winter days. A very interesting release for you to discover. 

Yith

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For the last, but not the least, I present you Hedge Fund from Boston, MA (Somerville). Hedge Fund play this brute and noisy hardcore punk in the style of bands like Mind Eraser, Rival Mob or Full Of Hell, so that you can get the picture. "Apeiron" was all self recorded and released in cassette that, I think is still available. When Hedge Fund aren't busting heads with their brutal "mongocore" hardcore, they're fucking up with our brain making up some noisy and violent sort of power electronics as heard on the tracks "We Have Transgressed" and "Of The Crooked Timber". I think it works rather well here. I mean, it's the fusion of these two that makes "Apeiron" one hell of a good release. So what the hell are you still waiting? Go and buy the tape Goddamn it!!!

Hedge Fund

                     

Bleak update: Batilda, Rudjevit and Milumet

Time for just a quick update. Here are some new discoveries I made through one of the music related forums I visit and that I want to share with you guys.

First is Batilda, a very low-fi, very raw black metal project that, according to the info on Bandcamp, comes from Texas, USA. His offering consists of three tracks (all separated through Bandcamp) that I found to be quite interesting. Although Batilda's sound isn't reinventing the wheel here, I truly love this kind of sound. And honestly, Batilda's tracks are very, very good. Harsh, raw black metal filled with melancholy with that kind of very DIY kind of recording. Very, very good. 

Batilda

Next is Rudjevit, another project coming also from Texas. My guts tell me that this project is somehow connected with Batilda, maybe same member(s), the sound is very similar in all of its aspects. I don't know, I'm just shooting in the dark here. Neverhless, Rudjevit is another great surprise. Once again, I really enjoyed the tracks (although they're few) the whole raw atmosphere around it.

Rudjevit

And finally, the third and last bleak offering: Milumet. Delivering a good, yet short, dose of old school black metal in a very raw, low-fi kind of production. Fans of the genre will specially love this band as well, I hope.

Milumet

Three unknown and underground bands with a thing in common: their sound. Raw and uncompromised black metal. Get into them.

Arakk "Self & Distance"

From time to time, from all the requests I get in my inbox, few really have that power to surprise and overwhelm me at a first audition. One of those cases is precisely the band I'm going to talk about next. Arakk, a funeral doom band from Copenhagen, Denmark. Arakk is Jesper Christoffersen (guitars/vocals), Kasper Ralsted Jensen, ex-Hexis, founded Hexis along with Filip (the singer) and Simon (the drummer) back in 2010, (guitars/vocals), Nicholas R. Tesla (bass), Johan Trærup (drums), Aske Øland Kjærgaard (synth/programming) and featuring guest vocal by the beautiful Ayo Krohn Mikkelsen.

Arakk initially formed back in 2012 and have been playing a handful of shows in the Copenhagen underground scene since then. The band has finished recording, mixing and mastering some of their material and now have put out one of their songs called "Self & Distance" recorded last fall. According to them, they have been working on that specific song and some other material for almost 1.5 years now - because it takes a lot of time and patience to make a long, powerful and honest doom metal song. Well, the result is a sight: a majestic track with almost 25 minutes length that leads us into a beautiful introspective journey into the most bleak and sorrowful landscapes of funeral doom.

"Self & Distance" is a monster that awakes in a very slow, soft and calm atmosphere, and as the heavy mournful riffs are thrown almost in slow motion, we begin our journey through this desolate land. If you think that when facing a funeral doom song with nearly half an hour length, that it becomes monotonous, you are mistaken. There are times when the pace seems to deviate from that most funereal pace, progressing a bit more toward its peak, until it suddenly stagnates and calm the waters. We are in the center of this storm and suddenly we start getting surrounded by this mystical fog that seems to be brought by the magical voice of Ayo Mikkelsen. Her appearance delivers a total magical aura to the song, until we are pulled out to the final minutes that curiously, seem to suggest a sequel to this track.

I can only imagine that if the band had another two or three tracks with the same quality as "Self & Distance", then we are about to face the rise of one of the best contemporary doom acts coming from Europe. Amazing track from this band, extremely well executed in every aspect of it. Absolutely recommended for fans of Evoken, Mournful Congregation, Esoteric, Faal, Monads, etc.

For new updates, follow the band through their Facebook page here. 

Self & Distance

NOÛS "ἀηδής"

Today I bring you the latest release from NOÛS, an australian sludge doom metal band from Melbourne. I've been following this band since I first discovered them through the "Eobiont" EP back in 2012. Through all these years, NOÛS sound suffered some kind of a mutation and it turned a very ugly, filthy and evil beast. And a very fine example of that is this latest release "ἀηδής" (that I believe it means "sickening"). This title really fits the music played here. It's beyond slow, every instruments seem to be dragged through the most filthy gutters of doom metal. A 20 minute dose of the most nihilistic and repulsive doom you will ever hear. Not an easy listening for the standard sludge/doom listener but on the other hand I'm pretty sure it will please the hardcore faction of doom lovers that, like myself, love this kind of sound. If you seek comparisons, I can think of bands like Corrupted, Whitehorse or Wreck Of The Hesperus just to name a few.

It's a one minute track where, like I said, every instrument is dragged along the 20 minute that this track lasts. At some points, the riffs are sooo)))) stretched out that we fall into a more drone context. The vocals? What can you expect here? The vocals are simply abysmal. So guttural that almost make me shit my pants. This band is on a good track, only wish they keep up like this. This release is indeed sick, sick, sick. Support these boys. Doom on!

Highly Recommended!

The Sickening

Dying Sun "Transcendence"

Dying Sun are a atmospheric sludge metal band formed initially in 2008. They started as a duo, inspired by acts like Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Wolves in the Throne Room and The Angelic Process. "Transcendence" is their third release and latest full-length. With 8 tracks totaling 50 minutes, "Transcendence" represents the continuing evolution and distillation of the band's blend of atmospheric doom, melodic riffing and electronic ambience. 

As the first track, "Generating The Sphere" begins, I really wasn't prepared for what came next. It feels like we are suddenly thrown into a huge storm right in the middle of the ocean where the riffs are the colossal and heavy waves that crushes us. During the almost 10 minutes that this track lasts, we are constantly thrown from one side to the other due to the whole magnitude of power that surrounds us. I must point out that the clever use of electronic ambience really enhances the whole epic feel we get in this opening track, that is clearly one of the best here.

With "The Night Sky" the deluge continues, as the vocals almost spew their lungs out in the midst of this thick atmosphere. But not all is chaotic and brutal, there are still moments where the band offers us quiet times with "Dead", "The Weight Of Time" and the acoustic "We Don't Belong Here". 

Dying Sun's sound is heavy yet melodic. Their sludgier facet isn't dirty enough like most bands in the genre, instead it is quite polished so I guess it crosses the border to a more "post-metal" territory. The influence of Neurosis is very clear but also, the whole dramatic, cinematic atmosphere presented here reminds me a lot of the band Eyes of Fire. But in Dying Sun's sound there is also a big slice of doom metal, although it's not that dark, mournful type of doom. Here we get a more dramatic, melancholic style of doom. And yet in the middle of this, they still manage to deliver great atmospheric sections within' some of the songs like "Generating The Sphere", "Dead" and the beautiful closing track "Transcendence (Leaving)". 

"Transcendence" revealed to be a very eclectic album, all the tracks are different from each other but conceptually, they work very good as a whole. A very beautiful album that will offer you an amazing journey. Absolutely recommended. 

Dying Sun

Host "Death Will Claim These Tired Bones"

Remember this band, Host, that I've talked about here on Forever Cursed back in 2012? Probably not. But it doesn't matter now. The story goes like this,  Host hit the studio to record what could have been their first full-length but due to personal circumstances the band was dismantled shortly thereafter.

So, one of the ex-members of Host, Gabriel, decided to put the tracks up on Bandcamp available for download so that people could hear the album. Now you may notice that this isn't a free/pay what you want download. And it's meant to be this way for a very special cause.

Ana, a close friend of theirs suffers from a pancreatitis liver failure, and she needs all the help she and her family can get in order to be able to pay some serious medical treatments (read more here). All the money coming from the purchase of this download will go straight to help Ana. Just think if it was something close to you, a friend or someone from your family. It really touches me when I see specially such young people facing this kind of trouble. Every donation will be deeply appreciated for sure. It's more than a good cause, it's to help someone to get a decent and good life. Spread the word out, help Ana. Besides the sad news, Host are a killer band and you definitely need this.

Limited vinyl release coming soon on Cricket Cemetery.

HOST

Human Bodies "Demo MMXIII"

Human Bodies are a young band from Boston, Massachusetts, playing a caustic blend of punk and raw black metal. With this first Demo, simply called "Demo MMXIII", Human Bodies unleashes 4 furious and vicious slabs of some good raw black punk (by the way, people must get a new name for this genre fast!), having already a musical background while playing in some underground crust/punk/doom acts like Aspects of War, Negligence and Fórn is already an asset. So I guess they took all of their influences and created this beast. Soundwise, the Demo sounds great. I mean, it's raw... but still audible. It's not that wall of caustic noise that we usually get in most of bands preaching this genre. Keep in mind also that this was a DIY recording by the band, which I think they did a terrific job here. The tracks have a strong punk vibe within its core but they also seem to flow from crust and black metal at some points. To me it sounds almost if Cursed turned into a raw black metal band, because besides their sound being quite harsh, it also holds some melodic and catchy riff work. But falling into reality I guess that Human Bodies sound might fit in the same bag as bands like Witch In Her Tomb, Cape of Bats and other bands in the genre.

The result of that is that the Demo tape is already sold out but the good news is that there might be a repress in the works soon... so don't miss this chance to grab one copy. Negative aspects here? Well, the small amount of tracks, four only, having each one of them around two minutes length. But it's more than enough for you to get an idea of what will you have here. Really good stuff and look forward to hear more from this band. Check them out below and please check out the new track these guys have, it sounds quite different from their Demo, it's going to be a killer for sure.

Human Remains

Osraige "Osraige" Demo

Osraige, an underground raw black metal band from whom I know nothing about. There's not much information floating around on the web about this vile act. I've stumbled upon its name some while ago when I was searching for the Osraige/Indentured Cervix split. It seems also to be attached to a label called Strange Tales from what I don't know nothing about as well. So fuck it. Osraige plays this awesome raw, primitive and murky black metal that I'm pretty sure it will please all the fans of this genre. Featuring three tracks only, that flow from the most rabid and frenetic raw black metal to a more slow, mid-paced almost doomy black metal tempos. Really dig this Demo. The sound is great, it's audible and not that kind of raw black metal that seemed to be played in a cellar and recorded with a Toys R'Us tape recorder, and the tracks are really good as well. Check it out. 

Osraige

Phobonoid "Orbita"

"Orbita", the remarkable debut of Phobonoid, a one man band coming from Italy. "Orbita" is a conceptual and cinematic journey about the end of the civilization on Mars, witnessed there by Phobos where he also meets his brother Deimos, on the already destroyed surface of Mars.

Just for curiosity, and for those who don't know, Phobos and Deimos are the two known moons of Mars who were baptized with the names taken from same gods from Greek mythology. Phobos is the God of Fear/Panic and Deimos, the God of Terror and Fear as well.

"Orbita" introduces a whole new and refreshing sound. Black metal like this doesn't come too often. Phobonoid's blends black metal and doom with industrial and electronic sounds that seem to come from outer space. Besides being mastered by Karl Daniel Liden (who have worked with Breach, Terra Tenebrosa, Switchblade, The Old Wind, etc.) everything else here on "Orbita" has been self-produced in Phobonoid’s home-studio. So this is really almost a DIY release by Phobonoid to whom I take my hat off.

Soundwise, "Orbita" sounds like if black space metal band Darkspace and industrial doomsters P.H.O.B.O.S (curiously this band has nothing to do with Phobonoid) were melted into one. The beats are clearly industrial as they are performed by a digital drum and the sound of the guitar brings the best of two worlds: black and doom metal. The voice whispers and hisses in the background, enhancing this dreary and menacing atmosphere.

It begins with the instrumental intro "Phobos" where this sound coming from nowhere, approaches at a very high speed, almost as if it's revealing something. Something huge and menacing. Thick riffs are slowly thrown as the marching beat announces the mighty and dreaded arrive of Phobos. Tracks like "ex", "Vuoto" and "Omega" takes us to some dense, unquiet and desolated black metal territories. The guitar has a very important role here, since it's the main instrument, the weapon of choice taken by Phobonoid. It feels like there's dozens of these guitar sounds all layered, entangled together. The result is this very powerful, buzzing, thick and menacing almost industrial sound. There are some tracks, like "Lo spettro di Deimos" that just like "Phobos" create these cinematic images in our minds where we can imagine the two dark moons over the desolated surface of Mars, spreading nothing but destruction, fear and chaos.

One of the key factors in "Orbita" is precisely this. The amazing capability of Phobonoid to embrace this concept and creating, through his music, these images, this cinematic journey in our heads. Taking us to a place we have never been (and never will), to be able to feel the horror of Phobos and Deimos. Every single song here is a chapter of this story. Amazing.

"Orbita" closes with two instrumental tracks, "Magnete" and the beautiful "Deimos", an amazing and epic instrumental. Filled with layers of these thick black metal spacial riffs, while a beautiful solo echoes in the background. Somehow it gives me feeling that this isn't the end, but the beginning of something.

With a total of 7 tracks, "Orbita" is an amazing 20 minute journey of terror and fear performed in the most darkest, deepest and cold outer space, leaving us begging for more.

This will be just the first part of the journey, as Man’s inner nature never changes: it’s a cycle that always ends up with its own self-destruction. 

Phobonoid's spacial opus "Orbita" will be soon available on CD through Dusktone Records and on tape from Eternal Warfare. You can stream it on Phobonoid's Bandcamp, just follow the link below. Highly Recommended.

Orbita

Funeral Moon "Funeral Moon"

Ultra Darkthrone-obssessed killer black metal from Adelaide, Australia. Formed by same dudes who play in Night Hag, Space Bong and other underground bands, Funeral Moon play this vicious early-Darkthrone-influenced-black-metal that I'm pretty sure it will please not only fans of the most contemporary black metal bands like Woe and Mutilation Rites, but also the most old-school fans that are into Darkthrone (of course) and Gorgoroth for example. Really great 666 killer material. Funeral Moon have some tapes available for you, get a copy here.

Funeral Moon

Act of Impalement "Hyperborean Altar"

Act of Impalement are a relatively new band coming from Nashville, U.S. They play this interesting fusion of sludge, doom, crust and punk. "Hyperborean Altar" features a total of seven (very good) tracks where the band manages to balance perfectly the gloomier side of sludge/doom with the fury of punk/crust moving, even at some points, into darker territories of black metal. Their sound has a really evil and occult vibe floating around it that I like a lot. Like for example, in the opening track "Necromancer's Theme". It sounds really obscure and nefarious as the voice dwells in the midst of this filthy and foggy barrage of sludgy riffs, summoning the most evil of the necromancers. The tracks dwell from slow, to mid-paced, to fast, giving them an interesting rhythm not boring the listener at all. Act of Impalement know what they do and how to do it. Although nothing ground-breaking here, I've really enjoyed this release. It turned out a very pleasant listening from the beginning to the end. Although there are many bands out there getting into this style, I really like the most occult side of Act of Impalement, maybe there lies their secret to success? The answer lies in the future. In the meantime, check them out. Good stuff.

Hyperborean altar

Best of 2013 - Part I: The Demo/EPs

Man, 2013 was indeed another great year for heavy music. Am I right? 

Along these 12 months we've witnessed great releases coming out throughout the most diverse fields of metal music. I've gathered some releases that to me, gave me a lot of pleasure listening to and was absolutely overwhelmed by. Here you will find such diverse music coming from very different genres, from black metal to electronic ambient music, to death metal to post punk. I'm quite sure that are dozens of great, amazing underground releases out there that deserve to be on the spotlight, but this year was extremely busy for me and I didn't manage to respond all request & stuff. I'll try and justify why I've chosen the releases you will see featured below.

Besides all of the great music coming out, now (and more than ever) it's great to see that many people out there are really into tapes and vinyl again. Although the prices can't please every pocket and the postage/shipping increase between U.S/Canada/Europe is now more insane than ever. But it's good to see that at least some U.S labels are finding ways to keep their european clients satisfied by distributing most of their releases through European labels/distros. It's also nice to see some of the albums getting shape in the most diverse formats, pleasing all the metal music nerds like me, out there.

On the web, I'm sad to see that some of my bloggers-in-arms, like JT from Coffinpsalms and Sanakan from Equivoke have fell into the ground. I totally understand you dudes, that idea has crossed my mind way many times. My man Brett from Annihilate Next Week is still twitching from time to time and last but not the least, the slow dawning return of one of the most charismatic metal related blogs out there, like a phoenix coming out of the ashes, The Living Doorway from my pal, JGD. Good to see you back man.

Ok, so this first part is dedicated to the best Demos and EP's launched this year. This is a selection of my favorite that i've heard. I'm pretty sure I've slept on many others out there, but... Hey! I have a life. Said this, I hope you discover new music and enjoy them as much as i do. Thank you so much for staying on that side of the screen for all of this time. Thank you for your patience. You guys are the best. Thanks for believing in underground metal blogs. Wish you guys all the best. Enjoy the music.

10. Kêres "Old Blood for a New Moon" EP 

Great obscure black metal from Finland. The previous Kêres Demos are really good, but this time with "Old Blood for a New Moon" Kêres presents us a more clear and polished sound without never losing that mystical aura around it. I really enjoy this EP, besides the tracks being simple they're quite dark and the result is a very cohesive release from one of the best hidden gems from Finland. Get it from Ahdistuksen Aihio Productions.

9. Ostots "Arantzen Putzuan" Demo 

Great Raw Black Metal coming from the Basque Country. Here is a band that I believe might be new to many of you out there. I mean, the sound practiced by Ostots is not easy to please the generic black metal fan. Watching where the band started and where it stands now, Ostots have evolved a lot. Growing better and better, release upon release. I had great expectations with it's new Demo "Arantzen Putzuan" and it sure didn't disappointed me. Great tracks featuring the most pure raw black metal. Distributed by Fallow Field, Bubonic Productions also had a few copies, but at this point, I believe the tape is sold out.

8. Witch In Her Tomb "Maleficus Maleficarum" EP 

Raw, rabid and gnarly black metal from Illinois, U.S. It's true that Witch In Her Tomb have already a small cult around them. A proof of that is, whenever their physical releases come out, they fly in a blink of an eye. After a very well received Demo, with "Maleficus Maleficarum" WIHT proves us that they're one the best underground black metal gems in the U.S. actually.

7. Sun Worship "Surpass Eclipse" EP 

Great and epic black metal from Germany. Sun Worship are quickly rising and gaining a strong reputation release after release. "Surpass Eclipse" features two tracks of some of the most amazing black metal I've heard this year. Great construction of tracks, well played and very powerful. In the meantime I absolutely recommend you to check out their latest split with Unru, another great and aspiring band from Germany. You buy from Sun Worship here.

6. Hope Drone "Hope Drone" EP 

Remarkable and solid post black metal from Australia. I was totally blown' away by the quality of this EP. I can see a very shiny future for these boys. Fans of Ash Borer, Alda and other contemporary post black metal acts, take note. I've talked about this release when it came out. You can read it here. Buy it here.

5. מזמור "Untitled Winter" EP

Mizmor, the side project of A.L.N from the monster sludge/doom band Hell. With "Untitled Winter" EP, Mizmor gave me, and I hope to a lot of good folks out there, the perfect soundtrack for this Winter. A bleaking and heavy blend of amazing tunes that embody the best of two of my favorite music genres, doom and black metal. An amazing introspective trip. This release is currently sold out. Meanwhile check it out here.

4. Crypt Lurker "Baneful Magic, Death Worship and Necromancy Rites Archaic" EP

Evil crushing death/doom from the UK. Embodying the old spirit of British doom, Crypt Lurker are one of the heaviest bands out there right now. Released by the hand of Ulthar Records, do yourself a favor and grab one copy of this monolithic release here.

3. Malthusian "MMXIII" Demo 

Another great evil, obscure and hallucinogenic black death act, this time from Ireland. Malthusian are a new name on the scene to keep in mind. Their powerful blend of black and death metal is clearly one of the most asphyxiating and solid I've had the pleasure to hear this year. Released by Invictus Productions this Demo is sold out (and i own one... haha!), but you might get lucky and find some copies floating around although it's planned to come out as vinyl in a near future.

2. Fórn "Fórn" EP 

Crushing, vicious, heavy-as-fuck sludge doom from Boston. Now this is exactly the kind of sludge doom Haxan digs. Filthy riffs that march at the sound of putrid beats commanded by the most caustic style of vocals. Great, great stuff. I don't grow tired of hearing this. Sadly, only few physical copies were made and sold at their gigs. Look forward to hear more of this band. Check them out here.

1. Bölzer "Aura" EP 

Bölzer, fucking Bölzer. A band that, at this point, doesn't need any kind of introduction. The Swiss band that crushed everyone on their path, conquering a legion of fans with just one single song. Those riffs, those motherfucking riffs in "Entranced by the Wolfshook" are truly out of this World, they sound like the fucking lightnings of Zeus falling on our heads. I believe this must've been one of the most played EP's here at the Haxan's den. Amazing. If at this point you don't know or haven't heard this band... dude, you're clearly doing it wrong. Amazing band, amazing sound, amazing EP. The ancient Gods are pleased. Bring on a full-length. You can buy it at Iron Bonehead although there are several distros and Discogs sellers selling this beauty out here.

Download the compilation HERE and taste a few of what I've chosen back there.

That's all for now. Keep an eye out for the best Albums of 2013. Coming soon.

Bands You Should Be Hearing PT.II

Hello. Today i bring a handful of new music that i've discovered recently. I'm not going to write a whole testament on each release, just a couple words. Sorry, but I'm not feeling very inspired today. Besides, you're all here for the music, right? So let's get to it.

First is Boreas, a black metal act from Kansas City. Boreas (who took their name from the Greek God of North Wind or Winter) play this low-fi, harsh, nihilistic style of black metal. Nothing ground-breaking to be honest but when it comes to their music, I just dig the whole sound on this Demo and the tracks are really good too. The Gods are pleased.

Boreas

Kato, a blackened sludge act that blend the furious side of hardcore with the monolithic heaviness of sludge metal, are indeed a band that every fan of the genre should put their ears upon. Introducing three tracks in this Demo, the amazing instrumental "Yet His Shadow Still Looms" and two furious songs "And All Of The Rats Gather" and "Dust Of Earth". The quality is really, really good here and i can see a great future for this band as long as they keep this pace. Good.

Kato

From Portugal, another great and promising young band, Mother Abyss. The band plays this very heavy, heavy post-sludge-metal that will please all the fans from bands like Cult of Luna, Generation Of Vipers, Isis or Mouth Of The Architect. I really didn't payed much attention to this but after a really decent listen, i was blown' away by its quality. Really, really good. You can stream two tracks (no free download) or if you're willing to get a copy, head over to their Facebook.

Mother Abyss

Next, Tutti I Colori Del Buio. A fresh new act from Italy, presenting their first Demo filled with four tracks of heavy hardcore à la APMD and Trap Them. If you dig the most vicious and rabid side of hardcore, then don't sleep on this one.

TICDB

Another great band and album i was introduced to some time ago, due to one of the members of the band itself, is Curse This Ocean. Now, the name may sound that there's some kind of post-hardcore, emocore, screamo band here... but let's not judge the heart through the face. If indeed you think this way, I can assure you, you're totally wrong. Curse This Ocean simply deliver some of the best new hardcore on the scene. I mean, i love this album. The tracks are awesome, catchy, memorable as they are heavy and filled with (dark) emotions . All layered with a superb production. "Lightbringer" is one of those albums that i like to visit at least, once a week. I can tell that there's a heavy influence of bands like (and you're gonna see what I mean when you hear it) Converge and Cursed for example here. Fuck.. I would dare say that i even enjoyed this album a lot more than the latest Converge (I know i'm gonna get crucified for just saying this). Only because Curse This Ocean's "Lightbringer" is fresh and as just as good and sure deserves a whole lot more ears and eyes upon them. Trust me. A very eclectic album, with very great and different moments. Truly one of my favorite albums of the genre for 2013. Check it out, you will love it and please, get this album here.

Lightbringer

That's all for now, i could get more bands but let's leave it for another day. Enjoy these releases, support & shit. Stay tuned. †

Fleshpress "Tearing Skyholes"

Now that we are at the edge of closing another great year for heavy music, I was caught by surprise by this new album from Fleshpress. Their previous "Acid Mouth Strangulation" didn't hit me the way I expected from Mikko Aspa and his crew. I found it really odd and after very listens it still didn't grew on me the way i wanted. But since everything they put out holds a surprise inside, I really don't know what to expect with "Tearing Skyholes" where they seem to explore even more, and deep down inside, the most experimental and psychedelic side of their sound. It's even more stripped down, reminding me acts like Switchblade or the slower, atmospheric parts of Terra Tenebrosa. Just listen for your self and take your own conclusions. Buy it here.

Tearing Skyholes

Haxan's Halloween Mixtape III

As a tradition here on Forever Cursed, i leave you with the third Halloween Mixtape curated by Häxan. Have fun, get wasted. don't drink and drive. Me? Well, I'm about to enter a Hellraiser movie marathon. Enjoy.

Hell... oh... Win!

tracklist:

1 - Intro 

2 - Zombie Society - Nasum 

3 - Witch's Hole - Ablach 

4 - Ghouls of the Endless Night - Bastard Priest 

5 - Nightghoul Of The Graveyards - Drawn And Quartered 

6 - A Ghoul Rising From The Grave - A Transylvanian Funeral 

7 - She is Clenched in the Teeth of Zombies - The Last Surrealist 

8 - Witch-Storm - Bal-Sagoth 

9 - Werewolves On Wheels - Dishammer 

10 - A Night With No Mercy - Muert 

11 - Forest Samhain - Moon 

12 - Infernal Dance of the Wicked - Teitanblood 

13 - Night Of The Deathcult - Hooded Menace 

14 - Pakt - Detritivore 

15 - Cold - Troum 

16 - At Night - Seirom 

17 - Dance With Me - T.S.O.L. 

18 - Werewolf - The Frantics 

19 - Sleeping With The Witch - Dax Riggs 

20 - Beneath the Mask - Bell Witch

Nomadic Rituals "Holy Giants"

Nomadic Rituals are a recent doom/sludge metal band coming from Belfast, Northern Ireland. This 3-piece, bring in their luggage a fucking heavy debut album entitled "Holy Giants" and holy crap... this sounds exactly like music for giants. The tracks are heavy as fuck, proving us that once in a while there are great sludge/doom acts coming from northern Europe. Specifically from Ireland, where the scene appears to be very small when it comes to this genre. Shit... I can only think of names like the disgusting Wreck of the Hesperus, De Novissimis and another recent case, Tome. So, Nomadic Rituals, we all welcome you. Please smash our skulls with your powerful sludge/doom sledgehammer.

The production of "Holy Giants" is excellent, very professional and the sound speaks for it self. Just adjust the volume up when you play "Don't Fuck with Giants"... the ground will shake as slow and heavy riffs strike from above nailing us down to the ground. Almost as if they're being played in slow motion. As we all know, when it comes to doom/sludge, the tracks don't evolve too much, and here in "Holy Rituals" there's no exception. Everything here is about weight, as the music is played 90% of the time, very, very slow. A very great album for you to discover. Buy it, stream it, download it. Just play it loud. Recommended for fans of Zoroaster, Abest, Bädr Vogu, etc.

Don't fuck with Giants

Nefaria "Demo II"

I bumped into this band the other day, Nefaria, a raw black metal band from Portland. Nefaria play this insane, primitive and noisy style of black metal that brings to my mind bands like Black Cilice, Invertebrate, Ostots, just so you can get the picture here. Nefaria's sound swings between the depressive and most raw side of black metal although at some points there might be some parts we can consider slightly atmospheric, slightly... As the first track "Dragged Through Dirt, Gravel, and Broken Glass" begins, the riffs are spilled on the floor as blood coming out from a fresh knife wound. But the most demented and tenebrous part arrives with the introduction of this ill keyboard. Absolutely insane. There are great riffs throughout this Demo, as heard in "As a Dying and Never Repeated Echo" and "Supreme Intellect Through Scorched Earth" for example, making this a must-have for fans of the genre. I find this Demo is really good indeed, but like i said, only real fans of the genre will give true credit to it. Support the artist, buy the tape.

As a Dying and Never Repeated Echo

THOU "Call No Man Happy Until He Is Dead"

While i dream about the next Thou album, that I'm pretty sure it will crush everything and everyone, here is something that caught me a little by surprise. Thou like you never heard before. As said on the Bandcamp site, this was recorded before Brian aka "The Jeff Walker of sludge/doom" joined forces with the band. And I'm glad he did. No offense, i just enjoy a LOT of his style of vocals and i think it suits Thou's sound just fine, giving the band an unique touch. I'm sure a lot of you out there agree with me. In the meantime enjoy these early-days tracks by Thou. Cool!

Call No Man Happy Until He Is Dead

Afterwalker "Afterwalker"

While browsing my playlist, trying to organize it and stuff, I was face to face with this very nice release from Afterwalker, the solo project of D.P.Pearce of Kigo. To be honest with you guys, I've never heard of him or Kigo. But it doesn't matter. D.P.Pearce is the whole master-mind here and he basically does everything: the guitars, bass, synth, vocals, recording and mixing. The result is quite interesting. Very mesmerizing and mysterious atmospheric black metal, so don't be scared and run off when you first hear "Callus", the first track, entirely played acoustically even featuring some piano too. My favorite tracks here are "Left to Burn" and "The Dweller", i really dig the atmosphere of these tracks. The whole balance between that evil and more melodic side of black metal on "Left to Burn" is just perfect, very Drudkh-esque but played in a more raw and harsh way. While "The Dweller", reminds me a bit of Tardigrada, that i personally love. I just think that D.P. should bet more on this type of sound and tracks. Really good stuff. The Demo is available as "name your price" on the artist Bandcamp. Worth a listen for sure.

Moongazing