Published: Absolute Underground #48 October/November 2012
This is an Album that was released last year but it deserves a listen. Maybe because it's kind of all over the place or because it's just really interesting. The main and constant person in this band is John Cobbett and he has been in like ten other bands including GWAR and The Lord weird Slough feg. This being his own band he seems to do whatever the fuck he wants. And what he wants to do is try a little bit of everything.
This band used to feature some death metal but with a new vocalist there is no longer any. They go from progressive rock on "17th St" and "the grain" to the metal riffing on "romance valley" and the full-on weepy balled of "summer tears". The only real similarity between all the songs are Joe Hutton's strong vocals and that that they all display solid muscianship. They all have a different sound to them. This isn't one of those albums where it sounds like the same song repeated over and over. It's all rock n roll that doesn't fit a mold and I think it's a pretty good listen. It's not loud party rock but it's still pretty good music. I think it's probably worth checking out.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.hammersofmisfortune.com/
Sunday, 17 August 2014
Darkness Bt Oath-Near Death Experience
Published: Absolute Underground Issue #48 October/November 2012
Spain's Darkness by Oath has a new album coming out at the end of August. It starts with the usual sort of mellow intro before the death metal starts. The second track didn't really impress me much. It just seemed kind of mediocre and that I've heard this song a lot before. Track 3 "Violent Intentions" started the same way but had kind of a cool ending. I think it's takes until the fifth song "A cry of terror" before this album starts to get it's groove. It has a good thrashy feel to it and some decent tempo. Followed by an upbeat "hollowworld" that gets your head moving. The rest of the songs are decent with a little experimentation. A little bit of classical guitar, and a bit of spanish influence used sparingly. During the last song it souns like their guest vocalist suddenly showed up for like a minute.
There's nothing ground-breaking on this album but these guys are solid musicians. They know death metal and play all the elements of it. I think they might just need some inspiration or maybe just need to be a band for longer. The second half of this album is the stuff you don't mind hearing when your Ipod is on shuffle. The first couple of songs are nothing special though, I think these guys could end up making some good music in the future. This ablbum strikes me as something that would get a 5/10.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.darknessbyoath.com/
Spain's Darkness by Oath has a new album coming out at the end of August. It starts with the usual sort of mellow intro before the death metal starts. The second track didn't really impress me much. It just seemed kind of mediocre and that I've heard this song a lot before. Track 3 "Violent Intentions" started the same way but had kind of a cool ending. I think it's takes until the fifth song "A cry of terror" before this album starts to get it's groove. It has a good thrashy feel to it and some decent tempo. Followed by an upbeat "hollowworld" that gets your head moving. The rest of the songs are decent with a little experimentation. A little bit of classical guitar, and a bit of spanish influence used sparingly. During the last song it souns like their guest vocalist suddenly showed up for like a minute.
There's nothing ground-breaking on this album but these guys are solid musicians. They know death metal and play all the elements of it. I think they might just need some inspiration or maybe just need to be a band for longer. The second half of this album is the stuff you don't mind hearing when your Ipod is on shuffle. The first couple of songs are nothing special though, I think these guys could end up making some good music in the future. This ablbum strikes me as something that would get a 5/10.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.darknessbyoath.com/
Auroch-From Forgotten Worlds Hellthrasher Records
Published: Absolute Underground #48 October/November 2012
Vancouver's Auroch will be releasing their first full-length in a few months. I've heard a lot of people talking about these guys over the last year or so. I don't think any of them are going to be disapppointed by this release.They've moved from the thrashy style they were doing before to straight-up death metal. Not only that it's death metal done well and with an awesome Lovecraft theme in most of the songs.Catchy riffs, ghoulish vocals and hard-hitting drums, it's what you want from death-metal. From the beginning it's brutal, the only escapes from brutal are a couple of song intros that put together some eerie atmosphere. Two good examples of the atmosphere are "Slaves to a flame undying" and "Bloodbourne Conspiracy".In all honesty I can't find anything I don't like about this album. All these songs are going to get a lot of play from me. It's better than a lot of death metal I've heard in the last while. Check these guys out, I have a feeling they're going to playing a lot of shows in the near future.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.auroch.ca/
Vancouver's Auroch will be releasing their first full-length in a few months. I've heard a lot of people talking about these guys over the last year or so. I don't think any of them are going to be disapppointed by this release.They've moved from the thrashy style they were doing before to straight-up death metal. Not only that it's death metal done well and with an awesome Lovecraft theme in most of the songs.Catchy riffs, ghoulish vocals and hard-hitting drums, it's what you want from death-metal. From the beginning it's brutal, the only escapes from brutal are a couple of song intros that put together some eerie atmosphere. Two good examples of the atmosphere are "Slaves to a flame undying" and "Bloodbourne Conspiracy".In all honesty I can't find anything I don't like about this album. All these songs are going to get a lot of play from me. It's better than a lot of death metal I've heard in the last while. Check these guys out, I have a feeling they're going to playing a lot of shows in the near future.
Michael F Carnage
http://www.auroch.ca/
Auroch Intervieww
Published: Absolute Underground Issue#48 October/November 2012
Answered by Seb Montessi vocalist/guitarist
AU: Was the Lovecraft theme something you started the band with or did it develop after the band starting writing?
SM: We've been interested in HPL's writing for a long time, and as with any literary work one becomes vested and interested in, you start to analyze elements of the world in ways that reflect the depth and integrity of the work. We hardly attempt to maintain a Lovecraftian theme, and the lyrics themselves to not deal solely with his fiction, we merely embrace some of his ideologies and comparisons.
AU: It seems you've made a move from a more thrashy sound to straight up death metal. Was it just a progression or did it fit better with the theme of the band?
SM: It was simply a natural progression, both of interest and skill. The old demos are obselete and do not represent a time of much notoriety for the band; all that matters is thus latest record.
AU: Is it a group writing focus or is one of you kind of take the lead for it?
SM: The writing process between Zack and I for these last 8 songs was extremely natural, and more often than not was an alternation of who had a good riff. We have no real formula, and only go off how the next part, and the next transition, should feel. I generally write most of the lyrics with conceptual contribution from Chandler.
AU: Do any of you have any other musical/art projects, or is Auroch your main focus?
SM: P. Ouzounov, the other guitarist/vocalist aside from myself, has a solo, self-titled project of very technical shred guitar. All fans of that genre should check it out immediately!
AU: You've played a few out of town shows, is there plans for a tour after the album comes out?
SM: We've toured 3 times across the country, as far west as Victoria and as far east as Halifax, so the US and beyond is certainly what's in our crosshairs right now.
AU: I know have a new album coming out, do you have anything else you want to plug?
SM: New record, 'From Forgotten Worlds' out late October on Poland's Hellthrasher records! High regards to Absolute Underground. Make peace with your God, for Death is upon you!
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.auroch.ca/
Answered by Seb Montessi vocalist/guitarist
AU: Was the Lovecraft theme something you started the band with or did it develop after the band starting writing?
SM: We've been interested in HPL's writing for a long time, and as with any literary work one becomes vested and interested in, you start to analyze elements of the world in ways that reflect the depth and integrity of the work. We hardly attempt to maintain a Lovecraftian theme, and the lyrics themselves to not deal solely with his fiction, we merely embrace some of his ideologies and comparisons.
AU: It seems you've made a move from a more thrashy sound to straight up death metal. Was it just a progression or did it fit better with the theme of the band?
SM: It was simply a natural progression, both of interest and skill. The old demos are obselete and do not represent a time of much notoriety for the band; all that matters is thus latest record.
AU: Is it a group writing focus or is one of you kind of take the lead for it?
SM: The writing process between Zack and I for these last 8 songs was extremely natural, and more often than not was an alternation of who had a good riff. We have no real formula, and only go off how the next part, and the next transition, should feel. I generally write most of the lyrics with conceptual contribution from Chandler.
AU: Do any of you have any other musical/art projects, or is Auroch your main focus?
SM: P. Ouzounov, the other guitarist/vocalist aside from myself, has a solo, self-titled project of very technical shred guitar. All fans of that genre should check it out immediately!
AU: You've played a few out of town shows, is there plans for a tour after the album comes out?
SM: We've toured 3 times across the country, as far west as Victoria and as far east as Halifax, so the US and beyond is certainly what's in our crosshairs right now.
AU: I know have a new album coming out, do you have anything else you want to plug?
SM: New record, 'From Forgotten Worlds' out late October on Poland's Hellthrasher records! High regards to Absolute Underground. Make peace with your God, for Death is upon you!
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.auroch.ca/
Witchsorrow-God curse us all Rise Above Records
Published: Absolute Underground Issue #47 August/September 2012
Witchsorrow's second album came out a little more than a month ago on Rise Above Records. If you know anything about Rise Above you know you're in for a doom album. Witchsorrow is about as traditional a doom band as you can get. Makes sense with them being a 3 piece from Hampshire UK. That and I think they might have spent a lot of time in a basement listening to the first 3 Cathedral albums over and over.
Five out of the seven songs on this one are getting close to or over the ten minute mark but it doesn't get boring. The pacing of most of these songs is pretty low and slow. You might think you're in for a monotonous hour but it works for what it is. "God curse us" and "Masters of nothing" have a serious old sabbath feel going on. There's a few parts where they pick up the speed like "breaking the lore" and that's the only song that doesn't have the crushing, gloomy feel to it. TThen you'll get a few guitar solos...well doom guitar solos followed by solid but slow riffing. Nekroskull's vocals have a slow raspy delivery to them that fit with bass and drums that are almost seemless together.
Generally I'm not a huge doom fan but most of this made me smile. I know doom isn't supposed to make you smile so I guess I'm weird like that. Must be the sabbath sound. Probably work well for anyone who wants to drink red wine and stare at gravestones.
Michael Carnage
http://witchsorrow.bigcartel.com/
Witchsorrow's second album came out a little more than a month ago on Rise Above Records. If you know anything about Rise Above you know you're in for a doom album. Witchsorrow is about as traditional a doom band as you can get. Makes sense with them being a 3 piece from Hampshire UK. That and I think they might have spent a lot of time in a basement listening to the first 3 Cathedral albums over and over.
Five out of the seven songs on this one are getting close to or over the ten minute mark but it doesn't get boring. The pacing of most of these songs is pretty low and slow. You might think you're in for a monotonous hour but it works for what it is. "God curse us" and "Masters of nothing" have a serious old sabbath feel going on. There's a few parts where they pick up the speed like "breaking the lore" and that's the only song that doesn't have the crushing, gloomy feel to it. TThen you'll get a few guitar solos...well doom guitar solos followed by solid but slow riffing. Nekroskull's vocals have a slow raspy delivery to them that fit with bass and drums that are almost seemless together.
Generally I'm not a huge doom fan but most of this made me smile. I know doom isn't supposed to make you smile so I guess I'm weird like that. Must be the sabbath sound. Probably work well for anyone who wants to drink red wine and stare at gravestones.
Michael Carnage
http://witchsorrow.bigcartel.com/
My first ever attempt at a review, I started drinking less after this
unpublished. Also my first attempt at writing a review
let me start this by saying I have brain damage and I don't know what the fuck I'm talking
about. I was at first weird about the venue being 9one9 because of the lack of metal/grind
shows there.And the way the bouncers act. ANyways I had never been in the basement of the
Strath.I showed up around 815 and there was no lineup, getting in was easy. My first
impression was that it was really posh and I should be doing blow off the tables.
But then I found out there was
$4 PBRs, shut up I liked these before hipters did and there's no hipsters at grind
shows...fuck, I just saw an ironic mustauche. So then compound terror started. theyre the
type of sludgy grind I like.Lots of feedback. At first I thought the sound was bad but then
I found that was what they were going for. There was lots of feedback, distortion and I loved it.
At the end of their set they dragged some guys on the stage who did a song that I think I recognized
but i had no idea what it was, I did like it though. Between the
set it looked like the bouncers were stalking around looking for a fight with their chest all
pumped out, nothing happened but it struck me as funny
Reaver was next. They had some new members. They are not my flavour of metal. That being
said they are good at what they do, they could open well for lamb of god or somethingg like
that, you know those bands...then the napalm death roadie came out and talked about cookies and ,
it was funny because he was a fat guy. there was some cheesecake jokes. Napalm death stage was
better than the openers with new lights and shit because they deserve it. As Barney stated
they were going to play really fucking old and really fucking new...they did. I didn't hear too
much of their more death metal songs. There was some good stage banter between songs. It was a good
stretch of their career. And then they played a SEIGE cover. I'm not sure if this made a lot
of other people happy. I told a girl at the bar that this made my night, she gave me that
"you're making me uncomfortable" look so I guess she wasn't that excited. well whatever, next
they covered DK with nazi punks fuck off! they finished with some new songs, I think they were new.
There was a few
stagedivers who were quickly thrown out of the bar. I'm not sure if they were worried about liability
or they werre just being dicks...I think they were being dicks. As soon
as the set was finished I was told to go upstairs and drink...which I did. totally against their
nature the bouncers were helpful in getiing me into the upstairs bar for one last beer so I
could make these shit notes.
let me start this by saying I have brain damage and I don't know what the fuck I'm talking
about. I was at first weird about the venue being 9one9 because of the lack of metal/grind
shows there.And the way the bouncers act. ANyways I had never been in the basement of the
Strath.I showed up around 815 and there was no lineup, getting in was easy. My first
impression was that it was really posh and I should be doing blow off the tables.
But then I found out there was
$4 PBRs, shut up I liked these before hipters did and there's no hipsters at grind
shows...fuck, I just saw an ironic mustauche. So then compound terror started. theyre the
type of sludgy grind I like.Lots of feedback. At first I thought the sound was bad but then
I found that was what they were going for. There was lots of feedback, distortion and I loved it.
At the end of their set they dragged some guys on the stage who did a song that I think I recognized
but i had no idea what it was, I did like it though. Between the
set it looked like the bouncers were stalking around looking for a fight with their chest all
pumped out, nothing happened but it struck me as funny
Reaver was next. They had some new members. They are not my flavour of metal. That being
said they are good at what they do, they could open well for lamb of god or somethingg like
that, you know those bands...then the napalm death roadie came out and talked about cookies and ,
it was funny because he was a fat guy. there was some cheesecake jokes. Napalm death stage was
better than the openers with new lights and shit because they deserve it. As Barney stated
they were going to play really fucking old and really fucking new...they did. I didn't hear too
much of their more death metal songs. There was some good stage banter between songs. It was a good
stretch of their career. And then they played a SEIGE cover. I'm not sure if this made a lot
of other people happy. I told a girl at the bar that this made my night, she gave me that
"you're making me uncomfortable" look so I guess she wasn't that excited. well whatever, next
they covered DK with nazi punks fuck off! they finished with some new songs, I think they were new.
There was a few
stagedivers who were quickly thrown out of the bar. I'm not sure if they were worried about liability
or they werre just being dicks...I think they were being dicks. As soon
as the set was finished I was told to go upstairs and drink...which I did. totally against their
nature the bouncers were helpful in getiing me into the upstairs bar for one last beer so I
could make these shit notes.
King of Asgard-To North Metal Blade Records
Published: Absolute Underground Issue #47 August/September 2012
Upon first listen all I could think was that I was really liking this. It has a lot of really galloping riffs that make your head move.Solid sorytelling vocals with some good chant along choruses. Has you thinking of northern forests and viking warriors. The folky blackness mixed in with the norse legends make this a really easy and enjoyable listen. Just four swedes passing on stories of the oldtimes along with some pretty decent guitars.
It's only their second album and I'm already hoping for a third. I hate to gush this much but this is want to hear from a band of this genre. These guys have obviosly listened to an Ophthalamia album a few times over. Wait, that's a pretty vague reference but if you get it you will like this album for sure. And then after you listen to it you need to check out some Ophthalamia. The one song that I think is the best example of the album is "Nordvegr". "Up on the mountain" would be a close second if only just because it has the best main riff. Check out those two songs and if you like them you'll likely love this whole album. In my totally made up rating system I'll give this one 5 hammers held high.
Michael Carnage
http://www.kingofasgard.com/
Upon first listen all I could think was that I was really liking this. It has a lot of really galloping riffs that make your head move.Solid sorytelling vocals with some good chant along choruses. Has you thinking of northern forests and viking warriors. The folky blackness mixed in with the norse legends make this a really easy and enjoyable listen. Just four swedes passing on stories of the oldtimes along with some pretty decent guitars.
It's only their second album and I'm already hoping for a third. I hate to gush this much but this is want to hear from a band of this genre. These guys have obviosly listened to an Ophthalamia album a few times over. Wait, that's a pretty vague reference but if you get it you will like this album for sure. And then after you listen to it you need to check out some Ophthalamia. The one song that I think is the best example of the album is "Nordvegr". "Up on the mountain" would be a close second if only just because it has the best main riff. Check out those two songs and if you like them you'll likely love this whole album. In my totally made up rating system I'll give this one 5 hammers held high.
Michael Carnage
http://www.kingofasgard.com/
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