A Pretext to Human Suffering is a new band on the technical brutal death metal, with hints of slam and deathcore, scene. The band features some very high profile names within the community where Marco Pitruzzella on drums is probably the one who stands out the most due to his time in bands such as Rings of Saturn, Six Feet Under, Sobek, Brain Drill and Habitual Depravity. Add 3/5 members of Defleshed and Gutted (two of those are also in Devour the Unborn), a band I personally love and spin ever so often and you got a recipe for great metal ahead! Sadly it doesn’t quite live up to my high expectations.
The guitar solos are on point with the title track “Rotting Sanctum” and “No Light Lives” goes super hard which both ends up being highlights on this EP. I do find the vocals being too low on the album overall whereas it’s extra noticeable on “Chain of Command // Oppression” to me, a track I end up skipping quite quickly. On “No Light Lives” that isn’t an issue do for some reason as the mix there is perfect. That kinda ruins quite a bit of the experience with Rotting Sanctum in my opinion which is a shame, but also showcase the importance of great production. The guitars though, song after song the riffing is great which is definitely a main reason for me to get back to Rotting Sanctum for a few songs. Otherwise there isn’t anything that stands out enough on Rotting Sanctum that makes me want to take this album for repeat listens, fans of the genre might want to take this for a spin or two but probably jump on to the next album after that.
A shame the production bothers me quite a bit (the sound quality and levels are honestly quite different from track to track, almost like they were recorded on separate sessions with different hardware) as it could potentially be a more solid album if that was better handled, however for now the album suffers for it. Close to a three but there wasn’t enough for me to justify that score when the mixing was bellow average where there were only really two, maybe three songs on a five song EP that I could recommend. “No Light Lives” is a song that goes damn hard though and that will feature on my playlist(s) for a long time. If they keep the levels of “No Light Lives”, “Rotting Sanctum” or even “Loathe” with a decent mix to go with it then next time around I’m sure to have a way better time with A Pretext to Human Suffering. This is only a debut EP though, which did have some good moments, and the members surely have what it takes to dance with the bigger names out there, just not yet.
Artist: A Pretext to Human Suffering Label: Realityfade Records Release date: November 27th, 2020 Favorite track: No Light Lives For fans of: Defleshed and Gutted & Bleak Flesh Score: 2.5/5 Decent
After numerous of reviews here at The Metal Gamer from Realityfade and Vicious Instinct I finally got around to do my very first label interview! Who would be a better guy to interview than Dimitri Sagaidak, the owner of both labels and who have built Realityfade to a extreme metal powerhouse in just five years. I just had to pick his brain!
What made you decide to start a record label Dimitri?
Hello, Jimmy and the Metal Gamer readers! Since I can remember my love for the Death Metal genre started, I not only liked to follow the bands but the labels that produced all the albums I liked. It was all so interesting to me and I loved to read all the news and check the releases these companies were putting out. In 2015, without any prior experience or knowledge, I went to try the craft for myself and dived into this business full of enthusiasm and excitement. The reason is that I just wanted to do something in the scene I loved. Since I don’t play any instruments I decided to try myself at running a label.
The first release I am sure was a learning experience. What was the number one thing you took away from the release that’s been with you ever since?
The first 2 releases Abhorrent Aggression ‘You Only Die Once’ and Reprobation ‘One Final Autopsy’ were worked on and released simultaneously early summer 2016. Just from these two, I’ve learned a lot of things, such as, for example, that you should never release something without a proper promotional campaign 🙂
Every release for me is trial and error and I still learn every day. Sadly they don’t teach this in uni or online.
A few wise points that I’d like to share are promotion (never stop the promotion), distribution (distribute to as many shops and labels as possible), and money (don’t be afraid to spend some if you want to make a good product).
Have you ever thought of getting your own hardware in order to press albums, castes, LP, or other merch yourselves?
Quite a surprising question but yeah I did actually! I’ve had the idea to buy my own screen printing equipment many times. Though after contemplating and researching I found it to be unreasonable. It would have required to print clothing for other bands, labels, and customers out of the music scene which in turn would require additional space and team to run this as a completely separate business. This would ruin the purpose of running a label for me but I do know a local label who does exactly that and we work with them on most of our merch orders.
Realityfade has grown a lot during the years and seems to have always stuck to the profile with slam, brutal death metal and deathcore. Was this a choice from the start or did it just happen along the way?
Initially, Realityfade was not meant to become a serious business as it is now. I wanted to make a few releases to support a more old-school type of Death Metal with no clear plan after that. All the music that was released after just came naturally. I do try to keep the level of sonic extremity high but there are no clear boundaries for genres.
You bought Australian label Vicious Instinct Records two years ago. Known for having had bands like Vulvodynia, Whoretopsy and Internal Devour. What was the decision behind that takeover and how did the deal go down?
Prior to the acquisition, we’ve been actively communicating with ex-owner Matt Turkington, sharing our experience with bands, doing distribution deals, and discussing our day-to-day running of the label. One day out of nowhere I asked Matt how much he would sell his label if such a possibility would appear. This was the first step in that direction, a question asked just for fun resulted in me becoming Matt’s assistant for some time until we arranged a full transition.
At first, when I noticed the communication went into a serious direction, I didn’t think much, I just loved the idea of getting another label who worked with some strong names in the underground scene. Now I have a much clearer vision of VI’s direction.
Do you work full-time with Realityfade and Vicious Instinct or do you have a job on the side?
When I stepped in Vicious Instinct I immediately started working and released 3 very solid Deathcore releases. After a short pause with the label, I started to grind like a madman to make VI as awesome as Realityfade. Both labels take a huge chunk of my time and music is my full-time job now.
Which release has done best so far in terms of sales for Realityfade? Has there been any release you think did a lot worse than you thought it would have?
For the past 2 years, I’d say all releases went similarly well. I do have to point out that all 2020 releases went even better. I think that the underground community (and especially bands) should understand that the release goes as well as the label and the band managed to push it. I’ve seen people release crappy music which got a lot of praise and do well in sales, and I’ve seen outstanding music wither. All because of promotion or the lack of it.
It is very hard for an indie label to push its music when you have to compete not only with many other bands and labels, big or small but also with other types of media such as video-games, movies. I think most if not all RF releases deserve to be loved more and the bands should have bigger audiences, but that’s just the thing of promotional capability.
Has there ever been a band you could have signed but never managed to for one reason or another and regret today?
The most memorable would be Molested Divinity. At the time the label and the band were just starting out. There was no telling if MD would grow big or stay a studio project and we, as a business, were cautious about putting investments into bands like that. We almost had them but the stars didn’t align 🙂
Is there a dream signing for Realityfade? Doesn’t matter how big it is.
I wouldn’t say there is any particular band that I’d like to work with. What interests me more are bands which have already established themselves, bands whose music I like, and bands that have a release or two behind their backs. I still like to get new bands but I rather prefer those who already proved to be serious about what they do, capable of creating great music and growing their fanbase. Sometimes, new bands don’t take their craft seriously, and a label can waste money and more importantly TIME growing and promoting them. In the end they can just split-up or go elsewhere, that doesn’t motivate me.
Have you ever thought of having a Realityfade festival or tour package with Realityfade bands?
Oh yeah we did! This is something that I’ve been dreaming to do for quite a while, and got a few offers too. If the future is bright we might do a Realityfade tour next year featuring a lineup of RF’s Euro bands. That’d be just legendary.
You’re a gamer and a collector like me. Which shows in your new collector’s boxes which has trading cards in them and comes in a nice DVD package with other cool stuff. What made you come up with the idea?
A company called Limited Run Games. When I saw how they treat their game releases I immediately came up with the ‘collector’s edition’ idea for our current release at the time Esophagus ‘Defeated By Their Inferiority’. This is still pretty new for us but people love these editions and they always sell like hotcakes haha.
As a fellow gamer I have to ask, what do you play now and what’s your favorite game of all time?
Oooh, nice question. Like yourself, I’m a huge video-game fan. My very favorite game would be Thief: The Dark Project, so many fun memories and good times with it. Besides the amazing story campaign and 2 awesome sequels, it has a ton of fan-made missions which could make you play it for years.
I also like these franchises a LOT: GTA (with 3’d and Vice City being the best), original Hitman Series, Prince Of Persia Sand Trilogy, Max Payne Trilogy, The Elder Scrolls Series, Gothic Trilogy, Assassin’s Creed, new Batman games, Zelda Series, Castlevania Series. The past few years I’ve been trying to catch up on all the console goodness I missed or haven’t played since I was a kid. I just beat Zelda: The Minish Cap for the Gameboy Advance and currently getting through the Castlevania Circle of the Moon also on GBA, it is such an amazing game!
Final words:
Thank you, Jimmy and The Metal Gamer for the opportunity to talk about Realityfade and Vicious Instinct. Thanks to everyone for reading. Stay sick but stay safe!
Norway, famous for their fjords and beautiful landscape along with their vast black metal scene. Color me surprised when I got a deathcore promo from the country and I just had to check out. The five-man group started in 2016 who has since worked towards releasing their debut album titled Desolate Absolution.
With bangers like “Castle of Broken Dreams” and “Fractured” becoming highlights very early on it becomes apparent quite quick Chase the Dead isn’t playing around and can produce heavy deathcore songs with great songwriting and infuse both metalcore and death metal elements nicely. Sadly the album doesn’t quite keep that intense start all the way through where songs like “Mexico” and “Separated” kinda just pass by without leaving a mark and “Legend” bringing some Born of Osiris vibes to it but not quite on that level. This is the bands debut after all though, and with that in mind Desolate Absolution is killing it, it’s bound to be some bumps down the road. Near the end the album hits me with some down-tempo galore, and another favorite of mine “Worthless” which showcase another side of Chase the Dead and what they can do. Closing Desolate Absolution the song “Making a Murderer Part II” is tasked with, which is yet another solid track. Basically ending the journey with a excellent start, decent middle and great ending.
They bring some of the best parts from Fit For An Autopsy, Thy Art is Murder and In the Midst of Lions together and while they don’t quite reach up to their high standard yet Chase the Dead has laid a great foundation to stand on with having some of the best deathcore songs released this year on their debut. This debut will for certain be in the talks when I will choose a debut album of the year in December, time will tell if the small inconsistencies will make it fall short or if the album might even grow on me more with age. Norway now has a deathcore band chasing the dream and I’m sure they can eventually become a big name when the consistency improves.
Written by J.B.
Artist: Chase the Dead Label: Mechanical Records For fans of: Fit For An Autopsy and In the Midst of Lions Release date: September 13th, 2019 Favorite song: Fractured Score: 3.5/5 Very good
What a month! This year for metal has been good overall, granted some months better than others but May oh my…. There has been not just one, nor two but six albums I could consider album of the year contenders! How freaking sweet is that (and bad for my wallet)!? That being said the album of the month was very very hard to pick and hell even the top five won’t consist of the all the albums that might find their way into the yearly top ten! Hope you find some great metal here, be sure to check all the band out and comment your own lists here, on Instagram, Twitter or on Facebook as I would love to hear them! With this album of the month article I am going on a vacation to Prague for a bit over a week. Catch all of you metal gamers later!
Album of the month
Vale of Pnath – Accursed
Wow what a journey Vale of Pnath has had! They’ve always been of my favorite techdeath bands, much do to their black metal influences, but they really knocked this one out of the park! A perfect five in my book and a crown jewel in their already great, and growing, discography. Released May 17th via Willowtip Records. Read the review here
Runners-up
AngelMaker – AngelMaker
From one of my favorite techdeath bands we have one of my favorite deathcore bands. Angelmaker is not just mine but also my wifes go to band when we want some deathcore quality. This is their most varied release yet and I absolutely love it! Released May 31st as an independent release.
Misþyrming – Algleymi
This is in my opinion the best black metal release so far. Even with strong releases from bands like Nordjevel, Abduction, Murg and their countrymen Sinmara I think Misþyrming got an edge and Algleymi has been one of my most played albums since its release. Released May 24th via Norma Evangelium Diaboli.
Warforged – I: Voice
Warforged was probably the band I had changing up and down the most if it was going to be my album of the month or not. What an experience! Add the very cool music video for the whole album and you got yourself a great time. Released May 10th via The Artisan Era. Read the review here
Murdryck – Födelsen
My biggest surprise of the month. My partner in crime K.P. was all up in flames over this release and it didn’t take more than a couple of songs to understand why. Nearly perfect black metal in the Swedish old school way. Released May 1st via Leviaphonic Records. Read the review here
Honorable mentions
Decomposition of Entrails – Abnormality Darkthrone – Old Star Krypts – Cadaver Circulation Nihility – Thus Spoke The Antichrist Entrapment – Imminent Violent Death Kampfar – Ofidians Manifest Kull – Exile Ontborg – Within the Depths of Oblivion Fleshgod Apocalypse – Veleno Firelink – The Inveterate Fire Mordbrand – Döden/Efter Döden Possessed – Revelations of Oblivion October Tide – In Splendor Below Amon Amarth – Berserker Abnormality – Sociopathic Constructs Osiah – Kingdom of Lies Deathspell Omega – The Furnaces of Palingenesia
This time the album of the month section is coming a late, I’ve simply had too much to do past few weeks. However here it is the 4th edition, 1/3 of the year complete and even though it took a few weeks before most of the good albums dropped we yet again have some great albums to show!
Album of the month
Månegarm – Fornaldarsagor
Månegarm seems to do no wrong and Fornaldarsagor is a stunning album. In my opinion this is their best release since Vargstenen, which is hard to beat as it’s considered a viking metal masterpiece! Released April 26th via Napalm Records.
Runners-up
Gods Forsaken – Smells of Death
Their sophomore album is even better than their also great debut. One of the best HM-2 swedeath albums you will hear all year! Released April 19th via Soulseller Records.
Enterprise Earth – Luciferous
As one that have never truly got behind the Enterprise Earth hype train this took me by surprise. While they’ve released good albums in the past this is one of the best deathcore albums I’ve heard since I started this blog three years ago. If not for Månegarm releasing an album of the year contender this would be my album of the month pick. Released April 5th via Entertainment One Music.
Murg – Strävan
Yet another surprise. This time due to the fact I hadn’t listened to the band prior to Strävan though. Strävan is the bands third release and after going through their old stuff I dare say this is their best yet and the best black metal release of the month. Released April 26th via Nordvis Produktion.
Dawn of Demise – Into the Depths of Veracity
Dawn of Demise is, together with Illdisposed, the best death metal band Denmark has. Into the Depths of Veracity is yet another class release from these mad fuckers. Released April 19th via Unique Leader Records.
Honorable mentions
Numenorean – Adore Istapp – The Insidious Star AntropomorphiA – Merciless Savagery Hath – Of Rot and Ruin Hedonihil – I Dethrone The Corrupted – Sintrophia Belzebubs – Pantheon of the Nightside Gods Marianas Rest – Ruins Allegaeon – Apoptosis Mephorash – Shem Ha Mephorash After The Burial – Evergreen Mist Of Misery – Unalterable Waldgeflüster – Mondscheinsonaten 2 Wolves – …Our Fault Archaic Decapitator – The Apothecary Devour the Unborn – Liturgy of Irreverent Oblation Wormwitch – Heaven That Dwells Within
I have a confession to make. I’d never heard A Wake in Providence since a few days ago when I saw they had dropped their new album The Blvck Sun || The Blood Moon. This American three-piece is back on one last standing original member, guitarist D’Andre Tyre, but that doesn’t stop A Wake in Providence to live on and with Adam Mercer on vocals and Jordan Felion on guitar joining him the band is complete (granted Anthony Adipietro did the drums for this album and isn’t in the band anymore). Having a quick play-through their previous album I found their more down-tempo debut Insidious: Phase II being a solid album but not anything special, but oh man would The Blvck Sun || The Blood Moon sweep my feet and make me surrender to their darkness.
They use their slower section a lot better this time around, to create an atmosphere of sweet darkness that brings you to submission. I also think Adam Mercer has taken the vocals to a whole new level, while Will Ramos sure did have a wide range of highs, lows and gutturals I didn’t really think they were on point all the way through. This time around Mercer nails it! Sick stuff that helps A Wake in Providence to create that sound they are going for. Production wise this is a lot cleaner than the previous albums, which works in its favor because there is so much going on. Any wrong steps here and the atmosphere could loose its meaning.
Deathcore banger after banger The Blvck Sun || The Blood Moon is giving me and on a few tracks like “Oblivion” there is even some clean vocals, which works! They don’t overdo it, it’s just there and makes you go “huh they nailed this too”. Having one of my favorite vocalists in Mark Poida (Aversions Crown, ex-I, Valiance) on that track helps out a lot too. Cj Mcmahon (Thy Art is Murder) also found the time to make a sweet guest appearance on “|The Blood Moon”. It’s not just the great guests that makes this deathcore party a major success to my ears. It’s the hard work, determination to create a quality varied, modern deathcore album while making the right changes and choices along the way that makes A Wake in Providence stand out in a genre that we know is very flooded.
This is nothing short but the best deathcore release in the first quarter of 2019, probably even the best you will hear all year. Last year I think I gave out two 5/5 scores all year, March has already made me give out two masterpiece. What a month! A Wake in Providence redefined themselves, creates an absolute beast with a new sound that’s miles ahead from their debut. I can only bow down to the black sun and the blood moon wishing it will let me bask in its darkness again and again.
Written by J.B.
Label: Outerloop Records For fans of: Shadow of Intent and Aversions Crown Release date: March 29th, 2019 Favorite song: Oblivion Score: 5/5 Masterpiece
Hailing from Finland Medeia were formed back in 2002 and have since then kept most of their lineup intact while releasing two EP’s and four full-length albums with Xenosis being the fifth, coming six years after their last full-length Iconoclastic. They label their music alternative death metal, which in reality means I hear melodic death metal, deathcore and metalcore fused together. Think something along the lines of Threat Signal, Hatesphere and newer Whitechapel joining forces and you get a rough idea on what Medeia is all about.
Labeling aside I get good vibes from what Media offers. Sure it is in many ways a blast from the past and the early 00’s with all that has in store, but it’s fun to listen to (most of the time). There is a lot of energy here, technical riffs that gets you hook line and sinker and a deadly vocal performance by their vocalist Frans Aalto who has taken another step since the bands last EP. Add some great songwriting in the mix then you got an album with a lot of variation and depth that’s easy to get back to for another spin. Sure I could personally skip a few of the slower songs like “Ascension” all together as that’s not my thing but at the same time it adds another dimension to Xenosis you can not ignore.
Xenosis will definitely get a lot of fans on its raw energy alone and even though their style doesn’t win me over completely I am confident it will with many. I might sound a bit harsh on my review but personal taste obviously differs, with that being said I do enjoy Xenosis for what it is. They got something going on here that’s for sure.
Written by J.B.
Label: Playground Music Finland For fans of: (new) Whitechapel and Threat Signal Release date: January 18th, 2019 Favorite song: I’m tbe Abyss Score: 3/5 Good
There is this unsigned deathcore band from Russia whose debut EP Inquisition of Morality I’ve been spinning on and off these past months, that band is called Sin Deliverance. Those that have seen The Metal Gamer best of 2018 list will know that I choose Samsara by The Breathing Process as the deathcore album of the year. A lot of the reason behind the choose is that I personally find blackened and melodic deathcore more memorable in the longrun as the whole atmosphere, use of symphonic elements just clicks with me. The same reasoning can be said of Sin Deliverance as they use the same formula and execute it really well.
The 25 minutes flies by with sweet riffs, great use of keyboard and some classic deathcore vocals. It may not be the most original album I’ve heard but at the same time Sin Deliverance pulls it off wickedly and as a debut this tells the group got a lot of talent in them. From the rainy piano intro to the ending of “Doomsday” I had a great time with this EP and as previously mentioned I’ve gone back to it several times, which in itself does say there is something to get back to. When I discovered Shadow of Intent and reviewed their debut Primordial I got the same feeling, which eventually turned out to become a big hit with the community. While I think Ben Duerr is a big difference maker (he also seems to network a lot) that separates Shadow of Intent from the rest Alexey Slivko also has a great vocal range which further down the line he could develop even more. In the end Inquisition of Morality might not create big ripples in the vast ocean of deathcore but I can see this being the start of greater things, they got the tools for it.
Written by J.B.
Label: Independent For fans of: Shadow of Intent and The Breathing Process Release date: September 29th, 2018 Favorite song: Possessed Score: 3/5 Good
Child of Waste are the new young blood who wants to make a name for themselves in the ever growing sea of deathcore bands. They hail from France, were created almost to the day four years ago and prior to this EP named The Stillborn King the band had a demo out in 2016.
When I first saw Child of Waste calling themselves a brutal death metal/deathcore hybrid I was intrigued. Add the fantastic cover made by the ever so great Swedish artist Pär Olofsson and it all seemed fine initially, this could be something special in the making I thought. I really soon figured out that the BDM stamp was a big lie though. This is straight up deathcore to the bone the way Angelmaker, Enterprise Earth, A Night in Texas and Aversions Crown does it. As much as I enjoy those said bands I feel The Stillborn King is too much of a clone. Child of Waste offers nothing new to the mix and is in many ways just another “standard deathcore” release with no new tricks to add. However with slick production and some fine breakdowns this is something that can be just what you need if you crave more of the same type of candy you usually devour every Friday night.
There is nothing really memorable for me here as it flies by without leaving a mark, but the 18 minutes of playtime is certainly not a lot so with that in mind this EP is worth checking out for the fans of the genre. Otherwise I suggest you check in the latest releases from The Breathing Process or Carnifex.
Written by J.B.
Label: Independent For fans of: Angelmaker and Enterprise Earth Release date: December 14th, 2018 Favorite song: I, Atlas Score: 2.5/5 Decent
Klysma is inviting you to a slamming deathcore party with all their friends and what a party it is! This houseparty goes hard from the start and never stops until you’re completely wasted. When you got friends over like Scordatura, Devour the Fetus and Obsolete Incarnation you’re bound to have a one of a kind, fun, loving and cuddly bash. Add the fact that the members of Klysma can also be heard in bands like Human Barbecue, Putrified J, Human Vivisection and Brutal Sphincter then you know this is no joke.
Let me tell you a not so very secret secret. You know what makes a metal gamer like me go extra hard? When you add some gaming sample in the music! Guess what? Kylsma did just that on the ending of “A Thousand Rotting Corpses” where you can hear music from a Kirby level, that’s right people it’s Kirby slam time! Now that’s fucking brutal! I am not going to lie I’ve heard this kind of music a bunch of times before but Klysma with friends make a rather varied effort on the genre with a lot of sick tunes for the sick minds out there. It’s pure fun and sometimes that’s more than enough. If you just want to check out a couple of tracks to see what Klysma is all about I suggest “Viral Sickness”, “Burning the Dead” and “A Thousand Rotting Corpses”.
Great production, variation to the slaughter, perfect length for this type of music and a lot of fun. It might not end on my albums of the year list but this is definitely worth checking out for fans of early Ingested, Stillbirth and Purefilth!
Written by J.B.
Label: Ghastly Music For fans of: Stillbirth and Purefilth Release date: September 7th, 2018 Favorite song: A Thousand Rotting Corpses Score: 3.5/5 Very good
The Metal Gamer 