Vader-Welcome To The Morbid Reich

Vader of one the preeminent death metal bands, releasing quality album after quality album since the early 90's. Their latest is almost a textbook of great death metal; crushing riffs, intelligent compositions in the old school style, but delivered with modern ferocity and speed. But the highlight of the album is a reworking of an older song, "Decapitated Saints", a psychotic mindfuck; a neck breaker that makes you want to wreck everything within 50 foot vicinity. If only Morbid Angel would get back to making death metal this awesome, then my plans for world domination would be complete.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Black Witchery-Upheaval of Satanic Might (2005)

This is the kind of dumb black metal album that I have an admitted weakness for. Getting by on nothing but a professed aesthetic of speed, Satan, and corpse paint, Black Witchery barely qualify as music. This is a band that polarizes even in the extreme underground. But there is something about the repetitive blur that is enthralling and addicting. It really does have to sink in a bit, you really do have to acquire the taste. Comparing this to their previous outpouring of hate, 'Desecration of the Holy Kingdom', there is a bit of musical advancement here. The riffs are audible, and is not simply a collection thrashing atonality. But you are not here for lullabies, you came searching for a distillation of pure cartoonish evil, and Black Witchery fill that void ably.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Black Breath-Heavy Breathing (2010)

Southern Lord hypes this album as the brutal new thing, a cross between Motorhead, Discharge and Autopsy, but really, it doesn't sound much different than 'Wolverine Blues' ere Entombed. It's a little grungier and lo-fi, which is fitting with this Seattle bands's legacy. But, other than this minor complaint, this album wins you over with its filthy, dark energy and jagged riffery. An uncomplicated pleasure.

Rating: 7 out of 10

The Binary Code-The Black Phantasma (2004)

Old school metal dudes scream to high hell about metal core and death core, but some of it ain't too shabby, like this demo from 2004. Maybe this is more Meshuggah influenced, hell, this old fart can't really tell, but it's not bad in small doses. This math metal for the youngsters, all over the place, the guitar playing fluid and impressive, the vocals soaked in gore. Not really my cup of tea, either, but not bad.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

This song is not off the album, but from their 2009 EP.

Bison B.C.-Dark Ages (2010)

This is serviceable High On Fire style stoner sludge. It is thick, vicious, and aggressive, the riffs sounding like walls of magma descending upon the village. But it's a bit repetitive and you've heard it all before. Not bad, not great, not really my cup of tea.

Rating 6.5 out of 10

Big Business-Mind The Drift

This is one of the best albums of the first decade of the 21st century. The third full album by The Melvins better half is an overwhelming testament of the power and perseverance of heavy sludge rock. It is a magnificent lava of slow flowing riffs and smart, tuneful songs, drenched in analog warmth. It is one of the quintessential beardo/hipster statements. It's as crushing as it is fun. It's as ironic and quirky as any limp indy rock, but with all the power and glory that a guitar, bass and drums can muster. Am I gushing? I am. It's just fucking cool and you should listen to this and bow down and then get up and do something.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Bestial Mockery-Evoke The Desecrator (2003)

All Bestial Mockery albums are the same. They are all primitive, thrashy black metal, drenched in the most ridiculous Satanic imagery possible. Check out this precious nugget from the first song, 'Chainsaw Demons Return':

"Spreaders of hellish agony
Churches drained in blood
Fucked by demonic chainsaw
Virgins molested to death
Chainsaw Demon Attack !!!"

You know what your getting here. All the songs are short, uncomplicated, evil, and fucking awesome. The band is especially tight, making the attack more ferocious than it needs to be. This is not sloppy punk, but the work of a focused band. You either like this sort of thing or you don't. It's regressive for sure, but damn if it doesn't sooth the tortured soul.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Benighted-Insane Cephalic Production (2003)

This is not some goddamn lost Insane Clown Posse album. Benighted are brutal death/grind professors from France, a band sporting intelligence and a unique way around a riff. Apparently a concept album abut child molestation, they do not take the usual exploitation turns that most other bands would with this subject matter, but inject an element of psychological horror, morality, and sensitivity(!). But the music is astoundingly good, by turns dense but light on its feet, so many twists and turns, so many well crafted riffs, all expertly bludgeoned at lightening speeds. This is state of the art death metal, an album that will take a few listens to absorb all it has to offer.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Belphegor-Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn (2009)

This is a nifty blackened death/deathened black metal album from Austria. This 2009 release puts me in mind of a "Son of Northern Darkness" era Immortal, with the emphasis on crushing, slicing riffs and precise rhythms. It's nothing innovative or new, just quality metal comfort food. All the lyrics are bathed in the occult. The production is thick, the guitars adequately trembly and bass heavy, the drums clear and pristine, the vocals a black metal gargle, and somewhat processed. There are some really great songs here, and some weaker ones, best one being the evil majestic 'Veneratio Diaboli - I Am Sin'. Worth your time.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Behexen-Rituale Satanum (2000)

If you are going to make a by the numbers black metal album, let it be like this one. Behexen's first full album won't win any prizes for originality, coming across at times like a poor man's Emperor. They sift through tried and true riffs and devises, coming up with little that is unique, but drenching it in suitably icey atmosphere, the riffs and vocals bludgeoning as much as penetrating. The band attacks the material with evil glee, and it is that enthusiasm that ultimately wins you over. The last song is the best, a riff happy tranceathon with a few twists.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Beherit-Engram (2009)

I don't know what the Metallum nerds are raving about. This is boring. I can see that the band is trying for an old school, back to basics black metal approach, but the music is repetitive without conviction, the riffs are dull and lifeless. The production is too sterile to cloak it in a convincing murky atmosphere, which benefits similar minded Finnish necro fiends. A waste.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Behemoth-Evangelion (2009)

This is just a case of trying to hard to be evil. One of the giants of blackened death metal, and one of the biggest bands to come out of Poland, their output, for the most part, inspires apathy in me. On the surface, this one of the heaviest sounding bands you'll ever hear. The production is slick, thick, and makes the band sound like 10 foot tall demon warriors. But the music barely justifies all the fuss. Oh, they certainly dress the part, and writing 'ov' instead of 'of' in your song titles will make the mall rats think yer sooo cvlt, but its kind of embarrassing to anyone that takes their music seriously when a band this big simply does not have the skills to back up the bravado. There are some good ideas here, ideas someone already thought of. It is just mechanical and overly processed death metal, performed better by bands with not even a fraction of the recording budget. Yawn.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Baroness-Blue Record (2009)

I love the new hipster sludge. The Sword, Big Business and these blustery beardos are cranking out some of the best stoner metal ever made. 'Blue Record', only two years old, is already classic. It is tuneful 70's worshipping grunge, with more dymamics and progressive flair than their 90's predecessors thought necessary to concoct. There are songs here, people! Heavy riffs are mere guideposts to the darkly ecstatic journey the listener will embark upon. The band is a gruff workhorse that barely seems barely able to contain the musical bluster within. There are poetic musings and primal screams, acoustic interludes and psychedelic tripouts. This band will rip your face off, and then have an intelligent conversation with you. Great album, highest recommendation, one of my favorites of the past few years. It is nearly perfect.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Azarath-Blasphemers' Maledictions (2011)

Poland is one of the most metal countries on the planet, blessed with hordes of filthy metal beasts. Vader and Behemoth(this is drummer Inferno's band) sit at the top of the heap, but Azarath threatens to topple the regime. Their new album is a brutal and righteous collection of blackened death. They deserve to be bigger than Behemoth, at least, as this is less cheesy. It puts me in mind of 'Sons of Northern Darkness' era Immortal; quality riff after quality, held together by a devastating rhythm section, which utilizes a variety of tempos for variety and dynamics, not just hyper sonic pummelings at all times. Yes, a raging fuckbeast of an album. Recommended, if you can take it.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Onslaught-Sounds of Violence (2011)

I miss the old Onslaught. Their new album benefits from a crisp, thick sounding production. The band is tight and furious, but the songs and riffs are lacking. There is little evidence of the evil, primitive atmosphere of their first two albums. The groove metal nods are half hearted. The band is not without enthusiasm and power, but ultimately this album is just a generic modern thrash exercise. This album does have a rollicking cover of 'Bomber' by Motorhead.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Peste Noire-L'Ordure à l'état Pur (2011)

The new release from these French avante-gard black metal infant terribles is disappointing. The eccentricity and eclecticism that once resulting in entertaining and exciting songs now contributes to a sense of disjointedness and annoys greatly. Perhaps this is because the crystal clear production values enhance the intimacy of the proceedings, intimacy being a negative in this case. The lo-fi approach of previous albums was much more endearing. Though there is much originality and audacity here, there are to many soft parts for this metalhead. I'm hoping the black metal/trip hop genre does not take off. Better luck next time.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Rhapsody Of Fire-From Chaos to Eternity (2011)

Quintessential symphonic power metallers Rhapsody of Fire unleash another bombastic concept album, with Christopher Lee in tow. This is like most other Rhapsody albums: thrashy riffs, lush arrangements, epic scope, neo-classical shredding. This is by turns absolutely amazing and incredibly corny, but they are consistent. Unlike ideological soul mates Blind Guardian, there really are no stand out songs, just a cornucopia of epicness. Best one is five part nearly 20 minute abomination 'Heroes Of The Waterfalls' Kingdom', which contains a touch of black metal.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Stryper-The Covering (2011)

The most successful Christian metal band of the 80's are back with an enjoyable set of classic rock and metal covers. Stryper prove that they are no Van Halen, not even Van Hagar, in their pitiful version of 'On Fire'. You are not a party band, reverends! No matter how candy assed they ever got, they were at their best when they stuck close to their Accept/Judas Priest/Styx inspired sound. The same is true here. 'Heaven and Hell', 'The Trooper', 'Set Me Free', and 'Over The Mountain' crackle with apocalypse and crusader heroism. Their party side is better expressed in The Scorpions' 'Blackout'. Still, this is not a band inspire by hedonism. But throughout, Micheal Sweet's soaring metal tenor carries the album, and the sound is more throughly metal than they have been since 'To Hell With The Devil'. Hopefully, their next album will be as full of fire and brimstone.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Wolf-Legion Of Bastards (2011)

I'm not so sure about this one. All the ingredients that made their other albums such retro metal delights are here, but some intangible is missing. Part of the fun of any Wolf album, even though they have a sound of their own, built solidly upon the foundations of NWOBHM, is hearing what old band they were copping from this time around. First few times, Iron Maiden was the reference of choice. Then Grave Digger. Finally Merciful Fate and then back to Maiden. But all those influences are evenly mixed here, and sadly, this leaves the songs sounding oddly generic. Everything else is fine; exactly what you'd expect if you've ever heard this band before. Perhaps that's the problem. With the exception of mid tempo crawler 'Nocturnal Rites' (and it's Danzig inspired riff), there simply are few songs here that stand out from one another.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Autopsy-Severed Survival (1989)

Horror Metal icons Autopsy were just getting started in 1989, regurgitating 3 decades worth of gore soaked drive-in movies into a palatable stew of death metal. What this band lacked in musical adeptness they made up with vibe, atmosphere, and bludgeoning, unsubtle riffery. This band sounded like they came from the sex basement of your perverted uncle's sex basement. They sounded as if they really were the homicidal mutants they bellowed about, and had developed a refined taste for human flesh. There was just something unpretentiously artful about this kind of bestiality. Hard to put a severed finger on exactly what it was; perhaps the muddy production, the weird bass thud. Was it intentional? Whatever. All I know is that this album is a death metal classic and is still terrifying 22 years later. Now I'm going to put a razorblade dildo in your rectum and savor your screams almost as much as I do this monstrosity.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Autopsy-Macabre Eternal (2011)

I'm not quite so sure about this one. To me, Autopsy, at their best, were all about scuzzy vibe and atmosphere. Their comeback album is serviceable death, good in it's own right, but something is missing. Old school Autopsy just had this dank, dark, yet strangely fun vibe. This is just dark and dank. Something about the low production values and somewhat sloppy playing that elevated (or lowered) the music, enhancing the doom inflected death riffage and thrash tendencies. But that is gone here. The production is much too clear, and that weirdo bass sound is also missing. It's kind of like some Hollywood remake of a grindhouse classic, like Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There may be more blood and guts, but the grit and tension is diminished. Not that it's terrible, far from it; the riffs are great and bulldozer heavy, and the band has never sounded tighter. There are some great moments but this clearly not the corpse fucking of old. Oh well. Some zombies are best left to rot.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Atheist-Jupiter (2011)

I love this. Atheist were one of innovators of 'prog death' or 'jazz metal' in the early 90's, falling out of sight after their sterile '93 album, 'Elements', alienated many fans with it's unfocused songs and jazz fusion softness. After last years fierce live comeback album, their first studio album in 17 years is a finely honed killing machine; precision made metal that bludgeons you with it's intricacy you, dazzles you with it's nimble off kilter rhythmic pummeling. And riffs! There are perhaps 100's, but they all add up, as math metal should, making trigonometry out of power chords and double bass. Prog metal may be a dime a dozen these days, with Dillenger Escape Plan and Necrophagia leading the virtuotic hordes, but Atheist prove they can teach the youngsters a thing or two.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Alcatrazz-No Parole From Rock 'n' Roll (1983)

Now I understand what the fuss about Graham Bonnet was all about. Sniggering at the cliche album title, and fully expecting another early 80's hard rock cheese fest, what I found was an intelligent and classy hard rock gem, featuring none other than Yngwie Malmsteen on axe duty. More Deep Purple than Motley Crue, the songs gleam with a fierce (if somewhat stodgy)intelligence. Bonnet's soulful vocals are full of understated(!) nuance and range. His lyrics are unpretentiously poetic, eschewing party hardy themes for grown-up ones. You will find Yngwie at his most restrained(to a point....this is Yngwie, after all), his guitar work adding fire and grace to rest of the band's serviceable but undistinguished rocking out. This album might be missing some of that dumb but exciting pop/rock sensibility that made early 80's hard rock so fun, since there are no obvious hits or anthems. They make up for it with depth and passion. You definitely could have done worse at the discount bin in the late 80's, when I first noticed this album but skipped over in favor of sub-par Quiet Riot or Twisted Sister outings. What was I thinking!?!?!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Asphyx-Last One on Earth (1992)

Swedish death, Florida death, American doom; this dandy of a death metal album has something to please everyone. There are crushing riffs galore and devastating grooves, suitably raw production, but nothing new, even for 1992. Not many blast beat bludgeonings here, but there are tons of slow, heavy grooves that allow the riffs destroy what is left of your sanity. In this, they most resemble Obituary, but with a buzzsaw Swedish death metal sound. They are not going to get any points for originality, but it doesn't matter. The tight performances will crush your skull. This is just a well made old school death metal album.

Rating: 8 out of 10