Godhole " Self Titled Double EP"

Holy fucking shit. Think of Mind Eraser. Think of His Hero Is Gone. Think of Full of Hell. Think of Man Is the Bastard. You're getting there? Good. Godhole play fucking brutal powerviolence with some hints of black metal and crust from Edinburgh, Scotland. Perfect soundtrack to those days where everything seems to just fail... or not.

Godhole

Forever Cursed Best Of 2014 - The Haxan's Choices

Here we are again.

Personally, it was just another fucking year, just like the last 4 or 5 last years. Time seems to fly. As a matter of fact, it flies so fast that I barely have time to slow down, and look back.. well, some things aren't worth looking back, so... 2014 was all about work, dedicate time to family, friends, buying new music and just enjoying it and most of all, always learning. Music has always been there for me, in good and bad times. It's that safe harbor where I go so many times to be in total solitude and just let my spirit feast with all that magic essence that pours down through every note. I've learned so much through music, whether it's metal or not. Along the years it has also molded me into what I am today, my personal tastes and character.

And once again 2014 proved to be a great year, at least... in the field of heavy music, although so many good albums were also released in another fields of music. Did I enjoyed YOB? Yes I did! Did I liked the new Blut Aus Nord? At first I was a bit sceptic with the sound of it, but the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me, so yes. Did I loved Sinmara? Oh fuck yes! You know what I feel about Icelandic black metal and this band is no exception. The releases I'm about t show you are mostly releases that I've been emerged into mostly this year, so I hope to help you find some new and interesting music that may grab and sweep you from your shoes as well.

I had to make a Top 21, it may sound silly, but I wasn't expecting one of these specific releases would come out so soon. I was counting for it only in the beginning of next year, but since I've heard it in advance... it immediately climbed its own way to the top and I really didn't want to cut out one of the releases I already had figured for my own personal Top. Enjoy.

#21

Towers "II"

Towers are a Portland duo whose demolishing sound basically consists on just a bass and drum. And the apocalyptic visions they can cause with just that, is absolutely crushing. I really loved the whole sound of this album. The whole depth and atmosphere. Killer. 

Listen

#20

Profetus "As All Seasons Die"

Profetus from Finland return with a majestic tribute to the real funeral doom sound. Crushingly heavy, an authentic mournful ode to sadness, grief and pain. Perfect to hear in those cold Winter days in total solitude. 

Listen

#19

Wrekmeister Harmonies "Then It All Came Down"

One of the most emotionally crushing releases of this year, "Then It All Came Down" features J.R. Robinson joined by members of Indian, Corrections House, Twilight, Yakuza, Anatomy of Habit, Come, Mind Over Mirrors, Bloodiest, as well as Wrest (Leviathan) and Ryley Walker. With such collaboration the result is at sight: an amazing introspective journey into our soul.

Listen

#18

11 Paranoias "Stealing Fire from Heaven"

New supergroup featuring members from Ramesses, Bong and Satan's Wrath. "Stealing Fire from Heaven" gathers the right amount of psychedelic doom I just need to hear sometimes. A very smokey and trippy journey indeed with the right dose of heaviness imbued.

Listen 

#17

Harassor "Into Unknown Depths"

"Into Unknown Depths" marks the return of blood thirsty barbarians Harassor. The vicious blend of black metal, punk, death metal is just fucking killer. You won't get two songs alike in this album which proves the heterogeneity and the ability of Harassor to shift the direction of the songs without never losing fucking control. Fucking killer I said!!

Listen

#16

Nuclearhammer "Serpentine Hermetic Lucifer"
Probably one of the most underrated blackened death metal that came out this year. Canada's Nuclearhammer really hits the nail on this. You just need to look into that artwork to realize that this album will bring total bestial and cosmic devastation.

Listen

#15

Nux Vomica "Nux Vomica"
Another one straight out of Portland. Nux Vomica perfect blend of post metal, crust, doom results in the most amazing atmosphere. To prove that, "Reeling" is simply one of the best tracks I've heard this year. Epic.

Listen

#14

Sun Worship "Elder Giants"
I've been following the moves of Germany's Sun Worship since day one, and so far they haven't disappointed me. 2014 is marked by their full-length "Elder Giants" a brilliant, passionate and relentless album that sweeps me away every time I play it. Brilliant.

Listen

#13

Kriegsmaschine "Enemy of Man"
Another great album that passed under the radar of many. Kriegsmaschine "Enemy Of Man", one of the most brilliant black metal albums that came out this year. If you love the dissonant atmospheres of bands like Deathspell Omega or the cold atmopshere of Mgla (who shares a member in this band, in case you didn't know) I strongly recommend you "Enemy Of Man". Perfect.

Listen

#12

Laster "De Verste Verte Is Hier"
After a very well received Demo, Dutch black metal band Laster return with a brilliant album that provides perfect freezing cold atmosphere, perfect for those cold and rainy Winter days. I really love the passion that is behind every riff, every blastbeat and the vocals that just slay me.

Listen

#11

Walk Through Fire "Hope Is Misery"
Desolation. Despair. Depression. These are all words that come to my mind whenever I hear "Hope Is Misery". Many of you out there aren't familiar with this band from Sweden. Their minimalist approach to their sludge doom is just one one of the most heavy I've heard this year. I'm a sucker for this kind of sound and "Hope Is Misery" proved to be a very unpleasant (in a very sadistic way) company.

Listen

#10

Spectral Lore "III"
We all know that, when it comes to black metal, Greece hides many secrets. One of them is precisely Spectral Lore. Don't know why I don't see this name floating more around. "III" quickly grew on me and proved to be one fantastic journey into the realms of atmospheric black metal. The fury of those blastbeats that walk hand in hand with some beautiful melodies. A very beautiful album that, if you don't know yet, then you must discover.

Listen

#9

Funereal Presence "The Archer Takes Aim"
One of the most played here on the Haxan's den. Funereal Presence "The Archer Takes Aim", an album with a very unique and distinctive atmosphere, brought to us by the mind of Negative Plane's Bestial Devotion. It's one of those albums I will never grow tired of hearing. Excellent.

Listen

#8

Skáphe "Skáphe"
One of this year's surprise, brought by the hand of Fallen Empire. Skáphe, a mysterious band involved in a very dense and intoxicating mist, handing us a sample of a very original black metal filled with claustrophobic atmospheres. Addictive.

Listen

#7

Funerary "Starless Aeon"
"Starless Aeon", the debut album of Funerary. I was amazed by this debut, Funerary's funeral doom approach is quite memorable and I just get the riffs of "Beneath The Black Veil" stuck in my head for hours. This track is just remarkably beautiful and it strikes me on the inside like no other. "Starless Aeon" is a very emotional, mournful and introspective journey into the cosmic valley of doom.

Listen

#6

Thantifaxath "Sacred White Noise"
The artwork doesn't reveal much on what is the story here. But as soon as we fall into the downward spiral of "Sacred White Noise" we soon realize that we're pulled into a maze of twisted riffs that don't obey any conventional black metal guideline. It's just Thantifaxath doing the best they can do. And it's just amazing.

Listen

#5

Swallowed "Lunarterial"
It only took one audition to this album to realize that I was in front of my favorite death metal album for 2014. It took a while to get here but finally did. Finland's Swallowed unleash the most lunatic and deranged death metal I've heard. Like a crossbreed between Teitanblood and Cultes Des Ghoules. Can you imagine that? The result is at sight: "Lunarterial". Fucking Awesome.

Listen

#4

Rotting Sky "Sedation"
Rotting Sky is a side project from Tim Messing from Nux Vomica. As Rotting Sky, Tim brings us an excellent formula that mixes black metal, doom with drone, noisy atmospheres. "Sedation" is simply hypnotic and I just want to listen to it in repeat forever.

Listen

#3

Fórn "The Departure of Consciousness"
With was with great pleasure that I was aware the Fórn were going to release their first full-length this year. I really loved their EP (featured here last year) and I was looking forward to hear "The Departure of Consciousness". All my expectations were exceeded when I finally heard the full album. Crushing, devastating and beautiful harmonies from these young doomsters. Just fucking stellar.

Listen

#2

Thou "Heathen"
Well.. it's fucking Thou! What else is to be said about one of the most heavy bands to walk this Earth nowadays. A very ambitious album that proved to us that this band has no match. I really how this album brings back that initial Thou sound and song structure mixed with their most recent material. Excellent.

Listen

#1

Sonance "Blackflower"
Finally, the cherry on top of the cake. An album that caught me by surprise and just climbed its way all by himself to my heart. I really loved what Sonance had brought with "Like Ghosts" but to me, "Blackflower" has just raised the bar. Slightly different from their previous but still you get it's Sonance. The whole melody that evolves us and leads us into the most catastrophic of scenarios is just heartbreaking. With "Blackflower", Sonance have accomplished something that is very rare nowadays. Try to figure what that is.

Listen

Besides these releases, I've been a lot this year into a lot of stuff, but I feel I must enhance Northward "IJsgang", sadly the last breath of this great band. Australia's Total Control with "Typical System", a very great record that successfully pulls that early 80's punk spirit and blends it with the most contemporary post punk as well, an album filled with great and eclectic songs. Vaniish "Memory Work", probably the best post-punk album that came out this year. Brilliant. Vorde "Vorde", another Fallen Empire release, saw many folks complaining about the vocals on this one, but I think it totally gives a different aura to Vorde's black metal sound. An album that intrigued me a lot at first, but the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me.

That was it for now. Wish you all the best. Let's raise our chalices up high and wish for a better year of MMXV. Hail! 

†H†

Haxan's Halloween Mixtape IV

And yes! 

Another horrific mixtape is unleashed here on Forever Cursed. This time I've decided to put it out a little bit earlier this year, in order for you guys to fully warm up for the whole Halloween spirit that is going to happen in the next couple of days. This time I got a little carried away and compiled over 25 songs (almost two hours) of the most dreadful tunes within' the genres of death, black, doom and punk, that are meant to be played under the glowing moon on Samhain. You can also burn it into a CD and play it at your own Halloween's party.. or share it with your friends, feel free to do whatever you want with this. 

Hope you guys enjoy it and play it fucking loud, please.

Trick or Treat?

Qualm "Passive"

"Passive" is the full-length debut of dutch band Qualm. Qualm play this sloppy, filthy and drunken kind of punk/hardcore (can we call it mongo-core?) that will please for sure, fans of that demented faction of punk/hardcore bands like Hoax, Bleak Bulge (whom I've talked about also here on FC), Hoarders or the majority of bands featured on the Youth Attack catalog. Qualm don't follow any kind of guidelines. Expect those classic and basic punk drum beats, chomping bass lines, lots of feedback as some crude and catchy riffs from the guitars and the gnarly growls from Kevin (the mind behind Svarvit, a harsh noise/electronics project that some of you out there may know). The recording is quite good, not as harsh or inaudible unlike many other releases of gender that consist on one huge wall of feedback with a voice growling from behind. Here we can distinguish ever single instrument perfectly. "Passive" will not let you passive at all, instead it will make you want to move like a fucking mongoloid across the dance-floor, mosh or start a fight. No pain, just fun. Very cool release. You can buy tape here. Follow them on Facebook. 

Keep qualm and mosh

Klikk "Klikk"

Furious, deranged, nervous crust punk fueled hardcore. Klikk are a young quintent from Reykjavik, Iceland introducing this self-titled EP that contains four incendiary tracks that will please fans of bands like Trash Talk, Ceremony, Enabler, etc. This EP barely lasts less than 10 minutes but that's more than enough for us to see the amount of damage that this band can create. Another great act bursting out of the Icelandic hardcore/punk scene along with other great acts like Logn or even World Narcosis that share some members between them. Look forward to hear more from these boys. Until then... keep on shredding! 

Klikk

Bleak Bulge "Bleak Bulge"

I know, I know... it's been a long time. To all out there who took your time to send an email or requesting stuff, I'm get into it in time. Don't worry.

Bleak Bulge are a dutch band coming from the beautiful city of Amsterdam. They play this cool blend of hardcore, punk with some slight, slight hints of black metal (maybe due to those harsh vocals.. maybe?) that I'm pretty sure it will please fans of bands like Hoax or Church Whip. If you're into these bands, wait no more. And if you really enjoy what you hear, please support these dudes by buying their tape (nice layout by the way). Check them out below.

Bleak Bulge

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

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

Sangus Legio "Vengeful Brutality"

Hello boys and girls. Today i bring some rotten, putrid, new evil stuff. You can still see and smell the fresh blood on this one...

Sangus Legio are, as described by themselves, a misanthropic black thrash unit, coming from Providence, RI, formed by members of Paindriver, Haxen, Sin of Angels, Nachzehrer & I, Destroyer. Quoting names as Sarcofago, Impaled Nazarene, Nifelheim and Driller Killer as their main influences, is not difficult to guess what to expect here: three tracks of the most fast, vicious-as-fuck, straight-hate, killer black punk metal assault.

Man... the only thing that comes to my mind every time i hear "Vengeful Brutality" are: rivers of beer, loud motorbikes and worshiping Satan. Shit. This is really good stuff. If you get the chance, please don't miss this band live. I, personally, will be glad with a full-length soon. The Army of Lucifer is recruiting... join the Army now!

Legions of doom

No Fealty "In the Shadow of the Monolith"

No Fealty are a Copenhagen based crust/hardcore band formed by current and ex-members of Hexis & Thought Police Brutality that, as they say and I quote: "We care about fast, loud, abrasive and aggressive music, politics, DIY and nice people." So when I got the email by one of the band members, Søren, I decided to take a quick listen and after immediately recognizing the cover that shows Ruben's painting of Saturn Devouring His Son, it only took one listen to the opening track and I was instantly hooked into it. Fast, pissed as hell, abrasive and powerful hardcore fueled crust is what you get here.

"Deprivation" the opening track, is literally a hand grenade that explodes in our hands. Powerful, fast and chaotic crust bridged with some slower parts where the band uses background voice samples i guess taken from a movie although i don't know which one, but that isn't the most important here. The most important is the music, and judging by the tone of this first track, these guys aren't willing to take any prisoners. The next track, "Kadavergehorsam (Do And Die)" sounds like those classic crust tracks that brings to my mind bands like Wolfbrigade or Tragedy and is a track that could've easily been made by one of these two bands. In total "In the Shadow of the Monolith", features 12 explosive tracks that mixes perfectly the viciousness of crust with the most angry side of hardcore resulting in the most savage and violent formulas within' this genre, that you can hear this year.

You get fantastic tracks like "Strict Seawater Diet", "The Emperor Is Laughing (While You Are Making Plans)" that are some of my personal favorites here and on the other hand you get these blasting short fused tracks like "Animalism", "Iron Triangle", "Savior" and the closing "Rabies God" that are short tempered and extremely explosive creating destruction wherever they pass by. No Fealty's "In the Shadow of the Monolith" introduces great lyrics, it's extremely well played, the sound is very muscled and abrasive very well wrapped in this excellent sound production.

If you're into the kind of modern crust bands like Alpinist, Masakari and Early Graves or even if you're into the real and classic crust type bands like Wolfbrigade, Deathraid, Tragedy or His Hero Is Gone then you must, you shouldn't, let this band pass you by. If you like what you hear, the least you can do is to support these youngsters. Head over to their Store and buy some of their shit. In their Bandcamp you'll find several links to several stores, just choose the one who's closer to you. Support.

Feed The Leviathan

Hoax "LP"

"After a relentless string of EP’s and tours, this release marks a new standard in DIY hardcore punk. Taking their pummeling, mid-tempo sound and expanding it into something far sicker and hideous, they have leveled the horizon with a brand new series of anthems. Masterfully engineered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air studios, this huge collaborative effort features contributions from 14 of the underground’s finest artists: Cali DeWitt, Mark McCoy, Matt Adis, Shaun Fillley, Sugi, Heather Benjamin, Sam Ryser, Emma Kohlmann, Guillem El Muro, Alex Heir, Colin Swanson-White, Jaybo Gardner, and Tony Pasquarosa and an introduction by Pharmakon. This LP comes housed in a full-color, double-scored folder enclosing 6 double-sided poster sized inserts."

Hoax are a band that at this point need no kind of introduction. This new latest LP introduces an even more rotten, distorted and vicious-as-fuck kind of sound into Hoax music. The download link was kindly given by the band itself. Get into it, drink beer like there's no tomorrow, start a fight, get nuts, end up in jail. Hoax!

Hoax

Kyrest "Fractures"

Taking influences of Cursed, Trainwreck, Hammers or Perth Express, Kyrest are another band making it's way in the european scene. I must confess that the germans really have a knack for this kind of stuff. Kyrest are no exception. I really dig this kind of hardcore that drinks from this crust (or neo-crust) new kind of influences. Fans of the bands mentioned above, don't sleep on this one. And by the way, the vinyl editions of "Fractures" sure looks awesome, and it's pretty cheap as well. All records comes with a download code and a beautiful 12-page booklet. First press of 500 records. 100 on white vinyl with black splatter, 100 records on pantone blue vinyl and 300 on black vinyl. Kyrest will release their first full-length record "Fractures" in August 30th. Check these beauties here.

Faults and Fractures

Ride At Dawn "Blast Cage"

Toronto's Ride At Dawn are back again with their second full-length "Blast Cage". Recorded in their practice room in midwinter of 2012 using a single harmonica microphone, "Blast Cage" introduces us 6 vicious themes with a more stripped, crude, ugly treatment. The sound on "Blast Cage" is quite different from the one we heard on the "Human Altars" LP, not that the sound on "Human Altars" was all polished and neat. It was more ascertained, but still corrosive as Hell. Here on "Blast Cage" the sound is more.. how can i say: "in your-face". No studio mambo-jambo, no tricks, nothing... it's meant to be served and eaten fucking raw.

Starting off with the venomous "Serpent Riders" which has carved in it, a very punk-ish black metal vibe, very similar to the kind of stuff you can hear on Darkthrone's "F.O.A.D" in their later punk/d-beat, call it what you want, phase. But not all here runs at a frenetic pace, the next track immediately cuts us down from the initial rhythm the first track put us in. "The Eldritch Matriarch" moves at a more slow almost morbid pace, crawling in a foggy cemetery where shadows seem to creep behind old and mossy tombstones. This is probably the slowest song on this new release since the four following tracks continue to distill the corrosive black punk metal from Ride At Dawn filled with simple, yet effective, riffs that tear our flesh apart as we penetrate deeper into the tracks. A rabid blast of mean, ugly and vicious black punk metal. Like raging rats trapped in a rusty cage... Great stuff.

The first run of 100 tapes will be available via survivalist so keep your eyes out for this one.

Dawn riders

Cape of Bats "Olcott Rites"

Latest release from these black horror punk metal aficionados. Expect nothing but true cold and noisy black punk metal.  Sharp your fangs below.

Bat wings

Euthanizer "Permanent Damage"

Viscerally raw and brutally noisy black metal, this basically sums up Euthanizer's "Permanent Damage". In just 5 minutes, the band blasts our eardrums into blood with some corrosive low-fi black/punk metal. I love this kind of sound, i mean, it's raw to the core, evil, violent, loud but honest. The songs have a simple and basic structure where three or four notes are played repeatedly and the next song sounds just like the previous but played backwards! Euthanizer's sound is not meant to be sophisticated or beautiful. No. It's meant do be dirty, aggressive and to be played really, really loud. I believe the tape is no longer available at the "Ataque Jovem" cartel but i still believe you can buy/trade through Discogs.

Link provided from the mystical SVN OKKLT.

Urgh

Guidelines "Guidelines" EP

Here is a cool request i received some days ago (by the way, to all you guys who have sent me material, you have not fallen into oblivion) on my mailbox. Guidelines are a hardcore/punk/screamo band from New Jersey presenting their new self titled EP that consists on 4 tracks of new and fresh material.

The sound of Guidelines distinguishes itself within the genre and that is precisely what caught my attention for this release. Their sound just doesn't conform to any schema or skeleton. The voice is very abrasive and could almost fit into any subgenre of black metal, but beyond that there are all over the EP, constant explosions and unexpected riffs that throw us against the wall with their sound waves in which the band outline their design, all of that transpires simple but honest and emotional raw screamo. In fact, despite being a genre that by now it doesn't say much to me, this EP did not fail to impress me. Guidelines are a young band who give their heart and soul in what they do and that is evident in their music. We must continue to respect and admire this new generation of artists who follow the guidelines of those classic icons within the genre. An EP that certainly cannot to be missed by fans of the genre.

listen | fuck the guidelines

Noose "Death and Hatred to All"

Rhode Island's Noose deliver, with this first Demo, a wave of primal and raw as fuck black metal. Five tracks of the most blistering and demented black metal with some punk influences. If you're into this kind of stuff be sure to not miss this one. And if you're feeling gloomy, be sure to visit them at their website.

listen | kill em all

Severe "Severe"

Another cool newness is this self-titled by Belgian band Severe, brought to my attention through my pals PTD171 and Luxury_Cannibal over at Perception Through Dissonance. Severe play this really abrasive and raw sounding black punk metal. Do not confuse them with the roll of latest blackened hardcore crust wave, these guys have nothing to do with that.. these are true grim punkers with their hands dirty with blood. Delivering 5 tracks of the most pure and filthy caustic black punk metal made here in the old Europa, Severe present us some really good tracks and i look forward to hear most of this band in the future. Recommended for fans of acts like Black Monolith or even Hexis. Check them out below and stay out of drugs kids.

listen | broken statues

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

VA "Primitive North America"

Now here's a kvlt-as-fuck mixtape. "Primitive North America" is a homage to "Primitive Finland" and it features some of the most horrible and unlistenable Black/Punk/Noise/Metal from the U.S. You get Bone Awl, Grinning Death’s Head, Arts, Horrid Cross, Ash Pool and many more... i just put this up here because there's a band called Haxan. All the songs have been ripped from cassettes, so if you don't know the relation between a cassette and a Bic pen, fvck you.

"omg... it's so kvlt!!"