ALBUM REVIEW: Decrepit Birth - "Axis Mundi"

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/07/2017

Label:  Agonia Records |

Nuclear Blast Records

I think what we’re seeing with Decrepit Birth and “Axis Mundi,” is the future of what death metal will look like a decade from now and this new album  is the torch to light the pathway into the future.

“Axis Mundi”CD//DD//LP track listing:

1.Vortex of Infinity…Axis Mundi
2.Spirit Guide
3.The Sacred Geometry
4.Hieroglyphic
5.Transcendental Paradox
6.Mirror of Humanity
7.Ascendant
8.Epigenetic Triplicity
9.Embryogenesis
10.Orion
11.Desprate Cry
12. Infecting the Crypts

The Review:

Decrepit Birth has become a force to be reckoned with in 2017 amidst a myriad of killer death metal releases so far.  And “Axis Mundi” might just be my favorite record of the band’s career to date.  At the same time it retains every aspect of what you’d expect from a death metal release, especially one from the mighty Decrepit Birth, the production standards, the tightness of the music and the precision of how the songs are played / executed – just outstanding.  I think what we’re seeing with Decrepitand “Axis Mundi,” is the future of what this genre will look like a decade from now. 

As much as I enjoy the freestyle, almost jazz like elements of the death metal and grindcore genre, there’s a lot to be said for technical precision as well.  And this record is a fitting example of this, and dare I say, a high level of expectation for other bands to strive for.  It’s a shame that a band such as Cannibal Corpse grabs the majority of the spotlight when clearly groups such as Decrepit Birth, Haemorrhage, and Pathologyare poised and ready to accept the torch and carry on.  “Axis Mundi” is that torch to light the pathway into the future. 

The songs are brutal yet accessible and catchy as hell.  Blast beats for the sake of blast beats?  No sir, not on this record.  You’ll find a lot of aggression and a ton of brutality because the songs on “Axis Mundi” demand blood, and lots of it and Decrepit Birth are more than happy to provide that service.     

About the songs, though.  You’re not going to find the standard death metal fare regarding corpses and coffins and zombies.  Instead, the Decrepitboys smack you in the head with what I’d refer to as, part existential, and part sci-fi / fantasy conceptual songs, if that makes sense.  Here’s a quick snippet of “Sacred Geometry:”

The journey of my heart guides me..

From the dream-time eclipse of the light

Finding my way..

I follow the path of light

Into this world unknown

Within my mind

Into the universal pattern

Beyond the expanse of imagination

The pattern takes my soul

To an unknown destination

Bodiless I drift through times

Ancient sea of memories

Deep, right?  That seems to be a running theme through this record, even the more fantastical songs, if you will, have a deeper sense of being as well as meaning giving this record a certain depth that just adds to its inherent heaviness.  As you can tell, there’s a lot going on musically with this release. 

As fans we’re lucky to get this record because the band has found it’s zone, they’re firing on all cylinders and then some.  “Axis Mundi” is a well thought out record, well played, and genuine to the tee. I urge you to get this record and play it.  If you’re a fan it’ll grow on you and find a home in whatever playlist you have at the moment.  If you’re not familiar with Decrepit Birth, this is the record you need to get to know the band.  “Axis Mundi.” Another killer death metal release for 2017.

“Axis Mundi” is available here

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Gruntruck - "Gruntruck"

By Theron Moore

Album Type:Full Length

Date Released:13/10/2017

Label:Found Recordings

Gruntruck straddles that line between heavy, melodic, and noisey, not afraid to venture into Pearl Jam territory when it feels like it, then take a hard left and land somewhere near the sound of Alice In Chains.  Listening to “Gruntruck”, I think I finally understand what grunge was about.  Sure it was a trend, but bands like this just wanted to rock.  And that’s what this record does. 

  

“Gruntruck” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Bar Fly

2). Trip

3). War Flower

4). Noise Field

5). Build A Hole

6). Situation

7). It's Alright

8). Reverse Angel

9). Spy

10). Machine II

11). Flang

The Review:

I caught Skin Yard twice, live.  Ben McMillan and Jack Endino.  Heavy beyond heavy and way ahead of their time.  And then came Gruntruck.  Everything I just said multiplied by two.  Only two albums released but an amazing and influential band to say the least.  The voice of Seattle himself, Ben McMillan, Tom Niemyer, Tim Paul and Scott McCollum. The original lineup.  Alex Sibbald and Josh Snider would slide on in during the early 90’s but the band was never the same following an ugly legal battle with Roadrunner Recordsand disbanded in 2002. 

Tragedy struck six years later in 2008 when Ben McMillan passed away from complications with Diabetes, a disease he’d been struggling with for several years prior.  But one thing has always remained a constant with this band.  Their fan base never gave up on them.  For years there’s been chatter of a “lost” record that Gruntruck did that never surfaced. Did it exist or was it just rumor? 15 years after the band calls it a day, Found Recordings will be releasing this very record we speak about.  That’s right, it’s not a rumor any longer.  The infamous “lost” record will be released October 13^th. 

I’ve heard the record.  In fact, to tell you the truth, I’ve listened to it several times.  Classic Gruntruck.  It picks up where the band left off.  Seamlessly I might add.  I referenced Skin Yard above.  This’ll appeal to fans of that band as well, as both Gruntruck and Skin Yard had similar musical visions.  The thing about Gruntruck is / was, they had a wider musical vision than not just Skin Yard, but many of their Seattle peers as well.  Track two, “Trip,” brings this point home.

Gruntruckstraddles that line between heavy, melodic, and noisey, not afraid to venture into Pearl Jam territory when it feels like it, then take a hard left and land somewhere near the sound of Alice In Chains.  It’s interesting to listen to these songs and hear the cross pollination of Gruntruck with say, Mother Love Bone, Skin Yard, Green River, and of course The Screaming Trees.  They were friends, they influenced each other.  They weren’t afraid of letting that sound grow and take on a life of its’ own.  That was an important component of grunge as we know it.

It feels good listening to this record and hearing McMillan’s voice again.  The band sounds just as good now as it did back in the day.  That is, the music is timeless.  Songs like “Situation” ring with that Seattle intensity the scene had back in the 90’s, that brand of heaviness that seemed so unique to the Pacific Northwest.   The Alice In Chains feel of track 8, “Reverse Angel,” brings freshness to the here and now, when so much music feels cookie cutter or obsessed with retro rehash.

Listening to “Gruntruck”, I think I finally understand what grunge was about.  Sure it was a trend, but bands like this just wanted to rock.  And that’s what this record does.  That’s what Gruntruckhas always done. They rock. Give it an honest listen.  I bet it’ll grow on you.  Gruntruckwas and still is, killer for its time.

“Gruntruck” is available to preoder/buy here

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Hour Of Penance - "Cast the First Stone"

By Theron Moore
 
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 27/01/2017
Label: Prosthetic Records

“Cast the First Stone” track listing:

1). XXI Century Imperial Crusade
2. Cast the First Stone
3. Burning Bright
4. Iron Fist
5. The Chains of Misdeed
6. Horn of Flies
7. Shroud of Ashes
8. Wall of Cohorts
9. Damnation Memoriae

The Review:

Hour of Penanceis the Mount Everest of badass, circle pit, death / thrash third rock from the sun can offer.  In fact, if you look close enough, you’ll see a trail of dead and broken bodies they’ve left in their damaged path. Just follow the bones, the blood trails, they lead back to “Cast the First Stone.”

There’s not a bad song on this record, and this coming from a guy that’s super critical of everything I listen to.  I get tired of repetition, cut and paste.  I get tired of hollow, plastic, bullshit.  “Cast the First Stone”has heart and soul.  Hour of Penance scored a gem here, they nailed it.  You get that from the get-go with “Burning Bright” throwing fist to face till “Damnation Memoriae” ends the record in proper fashion, A-Bomb dropped, nuke missile launched, end times upon us. 

Nothin’ but good energy here.  And power.  You feel the power of the band firing on all cylinders, start to finish, on “Cast the First Stone.”  When a band knows how to craft songs, write music and fully grasp the mechanics of their genre, it’s a wonderful, special thing.  Not every band does that, cando that, that’s why bands often fall short and fail.  Not Hour of Penance.  And not their new record.  This thing is a head crusher.

HOP knows metal.  “Cast the First Stone” is a killer mix of death AND thrash, crossover, if you will, but fully realized and well executed.  I’ll drop the usual bullshit tags like “brutal,” “aggressive,” “cuts like a knife” – wait, that’s Bryan Adams, right?  Ah, hell with it.  Still sounds death metal.  Fact is, none of these generic statements come close to describing how truly heavy and ass kicking this record, this band, really is.

Every once in a while, you get a band who understands metal.  And they make a record.  And it kicks ass.  Hour of Penance’s “Cast the First Stone” IS THIS record.  It’s right up there with Havok’s“Conformicide,” which I got an advance listen to, which most likely will be the best record of the year.  My opinion?  Love Havok, but prefer Hour of Penance.  Any band that sinks as much heart, their soul, not to mention, integrity, into a record, you got my vote for band AND record of the year.  This is it.  Buy or die.

“Cast the First Stone” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Morta Skuld - "Wounds Deeper Than Time"

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/02/2017

Label: Peaceville Records

When Dave Gregor screams, concrete walls get cracked and foundations become unstable.  Nothing on “Wounds Deeper Than Time,” sounds forced, rather, the music commands itself.   When a part in a song has to be slow, its juggernaut slow.  When it has to be fast, it’s like a machine gun, and just as deadly.  Start to finish, the record is crushing. 

“Wounds Deeper Than Time” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Breathe in the Black
2. Hating Life
3. My Weakness
4. Against the Origin
5. In Judgment
6. Wounds Deeper than Time
7. Scars Within
8. Devour the Chaos
9. Becoming One Flesh  

The Review:

I’ve been a fan of Morta Skuld since 1990.  I reviewed their demo, “Prolong the Agony” in my ‘zine “Louder Than God.” (BI.  Before internet.)  A few years ago I included the band in my book, “All My Friends Are Rock Stars.”  So when I hear Morta Skuld is releasing a new disc, I’m excited.  It’s been 20 years since Wisconsin’s finest have released a new record.  Back in the day the band couldn’t be touched, they were that good.  Question is, have they stood the test of time?

Five tracks into “Wounds Deeper Than Time,” my question is answered.  Yes.  They have.  I never expect a record to be good beginning to end.  There’s always a clunker, always a song that I personally don’t care for.  “Wounds…” proved me wrong.  Big time.  Start to finish, the record is crushing.  Singer, Dave Gregor’s vocals are spot on, perfect, raging with anger, frustration and aggression.  And it feels genuine, that’s the vibe I got, he conveyed.  When he screams, concrete walls get cracked and foundations become unstable.

I firmly believe this is the best record the band has made, and I’m still a big fan of “Through the Eyes of Death,” my favorite, still.  The music is brutally heavy, reminiscent of Obituary, but better, and yeah, I’m a fan of Obituaryas well.  Nothing on “Wounds Deeper Than Time,”sounds forced, rather, the music commands itself.  When a part in a song has to be slow, its juggernaut slow.  When it has to be fast, it’s like a machine gun, and just as deadly. 

“Wounds Deeper Than Time” is available here

Band info: facebook|| bandcamp

2016 ALBUMS IN BRIEF: Fleshgod Apocalypse - “King”, Despised Icon - “Beast”, Witchden - “Salt of the Earth” & Surtur - “Descendant of Time”

By Theron Moore, Richard Maw & Eric Crowe

Fleshgod Apocalypse- “King”

So, the other day, I was having a conversation with Sir Aardamoor, a knight of the 3^rd Order in the Court of King Gallbreath, and we were discussing the best bands to pump up the troops in the field right before storming a castle.  Fleshgodwas his choice.  No surprise, no shock. 

To say that Fleshgod is epic in a cinematic way is pretty much a no brainer.  Everything they do is big starting off with “March Royale” the instrumental that opens the record and brings forth visions of massive troop movements, Trebuchets hauled in by slaves, and, well, the siege of a castle.  “In Aeturnum” continues the mythical siege replete with soaring, crushing, metallic vocals and background opera as well.  Fleshgod has come to play.

I like what they do.  Fleshgodis good at pulling this off just like Manowar is right on with their chest pounding, bruh-metal.  Both bands are convincing, especially Fleshgodon this, their new record, “King.”   They’ve figured out how to make cinematic metal work, how to construct it, and more importantly, how to execute it to maximum impact.  This is “Ben-Hur,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Timeline,” and lest not we forget, “300” put to music.  Make no mistake about it, Fleshgodisn’t about power ballads or hammers being thrown ala Hammerfall or Hammerfall-lite, Hammer King.  Continuing with the movie theme, those bands would be made for TV movies.  Fleshgodis full on IMAX, 3-D, big budget, franchise stock.

This is heavy music.  Probably some of the heaviest you’ll have heard last year going into this.  This juggernaut will kill posers on sight, so beware.  So, here’s what you do.  Grab a tankard of Grog, watch “300,” and when you get groggy enough, crank up “King” by Fleshgod Apocalypse.  That’s it, that’s your evening.  You’re welcome.

Band info: facebook

Despised Icon- “Beast”

Whoa.  “Beast” is an apt way of describing this record.  Its ten tons of bricks fallin’ on your head, smacked in the face by a wrecking ball, with an iron pipe to the balls.  Although the band hails from Canada I’d describe their sound as US, East Coast hardcore with a slight hint of death metal thrown in for good measure. 

Despised Iconreturns from the dead with “Beast” via Nuclear Blast Records, again showcasing the mighty pipes of dual vocalists Alex Erian and Steve Marois who come ‘atcha like a tsunami.  Track four, “Bad Vibes,” is testament to this.  This song’s gonna hurt people in the pit.  I like the recurring death metal break in this song reminiscent of bands like Putrified, Gorevent or Fetal Disgorge.  Nice touch.  Cranks the brutality factor up by 10.

“Beast” kinda swings me over to bands like First Blood or Terror that have that street grittiness, back room, bare knuckles fighting feel.  Reunions often feel like lame money grabs without soul, tryin’ to sell you a brand but not the case with Despised Icon.  “Beast” is this band firing on all cylinders, lookin’ and soundin’ refreshed, stompin’ around the stage, words getting spit out of the mic like bullets out of a gun. 

Undoubtedly what makes Despised Icon stand out is the dual vox.  That’s why songs like “The Aftermath” and “Drapeau Noir” sound as heavy and tough as they do. 

The switch up between hardcore and death metal sounds, adds that extra layer of aggressiveness that puts this band over the top and allows them to change up musically at the drop of a hat and not skip a beat.  The problem you run into with a lot of hardcore bands is the fact that they can only work within set boundaries, often fencing themselves in.  With dual vocalists in Despised Icon, and the bands killer ability to nail a thrash groove, hardcore or death metal, the music is constantly evolving and staying fresh which is exactly what you get with “Beast.”  Buy it and mosh!

Band info: facebook

Witchden - “Salt of the Earth”

Minnesota, Minneapolis sludge mongers Witchdenhave finally returned this year with “Salt the Earth” and damn it’s a stellar follow-up from the 2012 “Consulting the Bones”. Released October 31 last year, this new album has really blown me away with well crafted songs, solid riffs and a slow mean drive. Guitars are unforgiving with amazing tone, with clarity and crunch and blend perfectly with the thick chest rumbling bass. Drums are crushing and on point the entire album and exactly what it needs.

Most of the album keeps about the same tempo, a good heavy drive, but does break into so aggressively sludgy moments that add such a weight to that album that really sticks with you. But a song like “The Old Blood” breaks away from the dark tone and has a stronger groove to it, good for night driving. “Unholy” tends to be one of my favorites; it recently appeared on Doomsayer Records ‘Volume Two” compilation. It’s just got that previously mentioned slow mean drive with guttural / throaty vocals leaning toward a death metal side of things, which to me is a nice touch. Like I said before, this is a stellar release with tracks like “Negasus”, “Salt The Earth”, The Old Blood” and “Unholy” that really stand out to me for their uncompromising heaviness and being a killer album from start to finish. A must have from 2016.

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Surtur - “Descendant of Time”

What do we have here? No less than the finest thrash from the intense heat of Bangladesh! With Exaltertreading the boards in the same country, the Bangladeshi's are making a name for themselves in this genre; violent thrash. The band photo shows one of the guys wearing a Kreatort-shirt. It's a good reference point.

This is certainly thrash in the Teutonic vein: riotous and evil sounding. After the scene setting intro “Prologue to Chaos”, the title track kicks off with some paint stripping riffing, vocalising and soloing (in that order). Vicious stuff. “Demolisher” follows up with a slower and steadier start, but it soon accelerates to early Sepultura pace.

The EP is shamelessly influenced by the late 80's German thrash squads- and the South American greats, too. This is a more satisfying approach than many modern American bands; who are too clean sounding and too slick. This is music played for the joy of it, played for the violence of it and, despite the violence it is, indeed, fun.

“Maggot Filled Brain”is the charmingly titled closing track which shifts through the thrash gears impressively, with each band member laying down an impressive and forceful sound. Simply put, this is a sharp EP for all those who like their thrash feral and unfriendly.

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Tombstoned - "II"

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/04/2016

Label: Svart Records

Tombstoned works.  It’s unlike anything I’ve heard in a while but it’s catchy and it’ll stick in your head.  It’s doom but a different kind of doom I’m used to listening to.  Give it a listen, I think you’ll enjoy it.

“II” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Pretending to Live
2. Brainwashed Since Birth
3. Time Travels
4. And I Told You
5. Haven’t We Seen All This Before
6. You Can Always Close Your Eyes
7. Remedies

The Review:

I’ll be honest with you.  I had to listen to this record several times to really get the feel for this band.  Musically I like what they’re delivering.  But the vocals I couldn’t figure out.  As strange as it may seem I heard influences like The Cure as well as Trouble, Candlemass and Cirith Ungol coming through.  I couldn’t figure out if I liked the vox on this record or not but they finally grew on me.  I think Tombstoned is best described as early 80’s straight doom, straight fuzz. 

“Brainwashed Since Birth” should’ve been the record’s opening track but I’m not complaining, I dug the vibe of “Pretending to Live” which sounds like a fusion between 80’s era Cure and the band Trouble.  Weird, right?  But it works. 

Tombstoned aren’t heavy in the same vein as Holy Serpent, or Sleepor Cathedralbut more in line with, say, Trouble meets The Cure meets Candlemass.  Clear as mud?  But it works.  “Time Travels,” track three, picks up where “Brainwashed Since Birth” left off and continues this journey of cosmic strangeness.  Track four, “And I Told You,” is a cool little gem of heavy Cirith Ungol inspired madness.  That’s where the aforementioned early 80’s doom inspiration was kinda apparent. 

One of the best songs on this record is “Haven’t We Seen All This Before” that features, of all things, a Smashing Pumpkins inspired guitar groove combined with a traditional Trouble inspired doom breakdown.  But, damn if it doesn’t jam.   Look, without going into the rest of the songs I can tell you this.  Tombstonedworks.  It’s unlike anything I’ve heard in a while but it’s catchy and it’ll stick in your head.  It’s doom but a different kind of doom I’m used to listening to.  Give it a listen, I think you’ll enjoy it.

“II”is available here

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: The Judge - "The Judge"

By: Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/07/2016

Label: Ripple Music

This one is crazy good, and crazy Sabbath inspired too. Give this band a listen, you’ll dig it.

“The Judge” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). The Witcher

2). Heepster

3). Evil Woman

4). Tartarus

5). Mivub’ and Groovin’

6). Planet Doom

7). Suite of Jam

8). Desire

9). Rock Kickin’ Blues

The Review:

You walk a fine line when you play the retro rock game.  Kadavaris a band that’s pulled it off seemlessly.  Radio Moscow too.  Wolfmother not so.  Kadavar’s music is truly music out of time, you wanna talk being born too late?  Kadavar is.  Radio Moscow is.  But if you cross that line you wind up in imitation land.  Just another sludge rock wannabe.  The previously mentioned Wolfmother occupy this no man’s land.  The Judge, I’m happy to say, has pulled off a real gem here with their self-titled record. 

This one is crazy good, and crazy Sabbathinspired too.  Dylan Jarrett’s guitar playing on “The Judge” is so close to Tony Iommi it’ll mess with your head on this record.  He’s got the technique and sound down to near perfection.  There’s gonna be a ton of comparisons to Sab but the question at the end of the day, is, did The Judge pull it off?  Hell yeah.  And then some.

“The Witcher” opens the record with a spot on take of early era Sabbath.  It’s crazy how close to Sabbaththis is, really makes you do a double take.  But the song works as a whole.  The guitar is so close to Tony Iommi’s sound it’s insane, the vocals sound so much like Ozzy, its nuts, but, you can’t stop listening to it.  It has an ebb and flow to it that works, though. 

“Heepster” keeps the fab Sab vibe moving forward but the vocals are starting to take shape.  I can hear less Ozzy and more Tyler Swope, that band’s singer, but the Oz man inspiration still flows through. 

Two things stand out about third song “Evil Woman.”  Tyler Swope’s vocals are sheer velvet, nothing but heavy cream that in turn allows Jarrett’s guitar playing to get showcased here.  Swope has a nice, bluesy aspect to his voice that carries this song. 

“Tartarus” finds me getting into the groove of the band as a whole.  Only because Swope and Jarrett are as good as they are, you tend to focus on those two and not the whole band but “Tartarus” brings The Judgeinto full perspective.

I won’t go through every song but you get the idea.  “The Judge” as a whole works for me.  It’s not Sabbath rehash, it’s four guys who know how to handle this type of sound and groove, they craft it, they shape it, in the end, they made this sound entirely their own.  Give this band a listen, you’ll dig it.

“The Judge” is available here

Band info: facebook || bandcamp