New Heavy Metal Album Reviews: April 29, 2014
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Empty - 'Etica Profana Negativa' (Osmose)
Genre: Black Metal
If you're looking for a little pick me up, the Spanish band Empty's latest album (and first since 2009) Etica Profana Negativa isn't the place to find it. If, on the other hand, you want to wallow in misery, sadness and pain, this is the perfect album.
Song titles like "...And Also Misery," "The Deepest Void" and "The Funeral Song Be Sung" are an indication of what's in store. You'll hear moments of anger and torment that are extreme and dense alongside more introspective, atmospheric and somber parts. The songs are diverse and creatively composed, equally able to quickly bludgeon you or slowly cut your heart out.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Existance – ‘Steel Alive’ (Mausoleum)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Utilizing ripping leads and melodic vocals, France’s Existance are an excellent throwback to the early '80s. Their debut release Steel Alive combines NWOBHM and speed metal influences that embody Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Accept with a harder edge. Their songs are filled with hooks and some excellent dual lead guitar work is played throughout.
Vocalist Julian Izard utilizes a wide range vocally and does an admirable job of not over singing. Each song is driving and in your face. There are no ballads to be found, which works in the bands favor. Existance would have fit perfectly with the great artists that were on the Metal Massacre series in the early '80s.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
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Exorcism – ‘I Am God’ (GoldenCore/ZYX)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Featuring three members of the power metal band Raven Lord, Exorcism explore more of a doom metal approach on their debut record, I Am God. Inspired by Dio era Black Sabbath and early Trouble, the band confidently wears their influences proudly. The riffs are straightforward and are a perfect backdrop for vocalist Csaba Zveken to utilize his powerful voice.
The title track creates a gigantic crushing groove as Csaba gives a passionate vocal performance that embodies the late Dio. Guitar phenomenon Joe Stump shreds throughout and utilizes many different influences. His neo classical shredding on “Voodoo Jesus” is mind-blowing. A solid debut as the band does a great job of creating diversity within the context of playing a similar style.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
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Floor – ‘Oblation’ (Season of Mist)
Genre: Stoner/Doom/Sludge Metal
Oblation is Floor’s first full-length since their debut dropped over 10 years ago. Any preconceptions that the Florida trio has lightened up over the years or that Steve Brooks’ more melodious side might seep in and take over the proceedings due to his recent output with Torche are shattered within the album’s first few seconds.Slow and low is still very much the game here, with enough bomb string barrages to level an entire small country – that is, if the weight of the attack wasn’t so darn catchy.
It doesn’t quite have the same quirky charm of its predecessor, but at the end of the day, this is new Floor we’re talking about. Oblation is proof that the stuff Brooks, Anthony Vialon and Henry Wilson can cook up when they get together is just as potent and refreshing in 2014 as it was in 2002.
Rating: 4
(Kevin Sirois)
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Forest of Tygers – 'Bruises' (Primitive Violence)
Genre: Blackened Post Hardcore
Married duo Jim (guitar/vocals) and Rachel (drums) Valosik hail from Nashville, Tennessee, and together they create massive, pulverizing waves of destruction as Forest of Tygers. “Bruises,” “As Flakes of Ash” and “Tiger Stripe” are tight, with progressive, blackened passages while “Wet Death” is a brutal, straight up tear your face off jam. The message they deliver over the four songs is clear. Destroy. Conquer. Reign. Repeat.
Shroudeater’s Jean Saiz will release a cassette version of Bruises through her Primitive Violence imprint. It’s limited to 100 copies, 50 of which will include a patch, sticker, two buttons, cassette and limited edition stainless steel lock-back pocket knife engraved with the Forest of Tygers logo. Cool.
Rating: 4
(Ken Kopija)
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Fu Manchu – ‘Gigantoid’ (At the Dojo)
Genre: Stoner Rock/Metal
So-Cal stoner rockers Fu Manchu are back with Gigantoid, their first album in nearly five years and their eleventh record. It hears the band floating further away from the desert and deeper into the fuzz-heavy borders of the galaxy. Progressing from Signs of Infinite Power, Gigantoid’s alien template is a welcome destination for the quartet as their mixture of doomy chords and outlandish solos are effectively inhuman.
From Scott Hill’s vocals to the grooved-out rock-belts, Gigantoid sounds very to-the-point for such a celestially tinged record. It doesn’t meander and cruise as much as one would hope, but the music is so coolly played, especially on a track like “Last Question,” that one can’t help but drift along.
Rating: 3.5
(Evan Mugford)
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Ikillya - 'Vae Victus' (Megaforce)
Genre: Groove Metal
A groove-laced thrashing is what to expect from Ikillya on Vae Victis, and they hardly falter in that goal. Chunky riffs dominate a great deal of the material, though an occasional solo breaks the mold. The groove is strong with this album, and it’s hard to keep still when the tempo picks up.
“Not Dead Yet” is a solid anthem, and the band liven up their sound with flourishes of horns on “Bear Your Name” and “Last Breath.” Ikillya doesn’t completely separate from other groups of this style, but Vae Victis still turns out to be an enjoyable follow-up to the band’s promising Recon debut.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
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Infestus - 'The Reflecting Void' (Debemur Morti)
Genre – Black Metal
Listening to the one-man show Infestus reminds me of the better Shining albums (not the jazz band, the other one); atmospheric, melancholic, and not afraid of progressive melodies. Personally, I think this is the sort of black metal which can really give a sense of what the genre is capable of.
It may not have anything particularly new on offer, but The Reflecting Void uses what’s available remarkably well; arguably, it’s stronger because of it. This is one of the best black metal releases I’ve heard of late.
Rating: 4
(Sam Thornton)
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Kublai Khan - 'Balancing Survival & Happiness' (Artery)
Genre: Metallic Hardcore/Metalcore
On their debut album Balancing Survival & Happiness, the Texas band Kublai Khan bring a lot of intensity, passion and aggression to the table.
The album consists of short, bludgeoning doses of metallic hardcore. Many songs clock in at under two minutes, delivering maximum impact before moving to the next. Songs like the title track and the semi-instrumental "A Quarter Up The Staircase" bring different tempos and textures. There are no melodic choruses here, just angry vocals, quality riffage and breakdowns.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Lake of Tears – ‘By the Black Sea’ (AFM)
Genre: Gothic/Doom Metal
Never earning the recognition that they deserve, Sweden’s Lake of Tears are a cornerstone of the gothic doom metal movement. Forming in the early '90s, the band has released eight stellar records. They now unleash their first live album, By the Black Sea. Throughout the years the band has embraced progressive elements in their music, but the live record captures the band heavier and dirtier.
They do an excellent job of diversifying the set list as seven of their albums are represented. They blaze through sixteen songs, with the show almost 75 minutes in length. The performance is not without its blemishes, as vocalist Daniel Brennare doesn’t sound nearly as polished. However, it gives the performance a needed heavier edge. The CD also comes with a live DVD of the performance.
Rating: 4
(Dan Drago)