Persefone – Aathma (Progressive Death Metal)

Ah Persefone, a band that I’ve always liked when I want “sofisticated” progressive/technical metal as I like to call it. Plus the fact the have some of the coolest album covers I’ve seen on literally every single album. Andorra’s offering to the metal world Persefone now gives us Aathma, the bands 5th release since they formed in 2001.

You are instantly hit with sweet guitar solos and riffs that will make you blush like if your crush were singing to you from the guitar sound. I know a lot of my readers aren’t fans of clean singing but how can you not like Persefone when musically everything just clicks. Aathma is as much as an outer body experience as it is progressive death metal madness.

The fun thing with Aathma is how the tracks leads up to one another and you can feel the emotions flow through this album. Opening songs are instrumental and will guide you through the journey to come. Then comes Prison Skin and you’re left numb. After that you just sit down and relax, take it all in as I am sure Persefone fans know by now. You enter such a calm and blissful place in your mind while listening to Persefone it’s a nice change from the worlds usual sorrow and death. Let go of anger, fear and guilt.

If you were to listen to only a few tracks on this album then do take Aathma Part I to IV. The ending of this album is superb and could easily be an EP by itself (actually looking at metal archives they have it down as a 20 minute long track). Lucky enough it’s on Aathma and the one hour soul searching experience is over in a great fashion. Fans of Persefone don’t worry Aathma is another hit from Andorra’s finest, granted hard to top Spiritual Migration as that’s one of the best progressive albums released in my opinion but still an insanly good album. If this was a release from a band which didn’t have such a high average level then it would be named progressive album of the year right away. Question is readers, are you ready to transcend?

Persefone – Aathma is out now through ViciSolum Productions.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/persefoneband
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/persefoneband
For fans of: Ne Obliviscaris and Edge of Sanity
Favorite song: Aathma Part I-IV

Morgue – Sense of Fear (Death Metal)

Morgue from Israel is a band not many might have heard of but they are actually a piece of history being active between 1990-1994 (releasing a demo during this time), making them one of the very first metal bands from Israel still active that I know of (only Salem seems to be older dating back to 1985). The band reformed in 2014 and Sense of Fear is the first album the band has released since their comeback. What’s also special about the band is that it features Sami Bachar on vocals. Bachar was an original member of the famous progressive band Orphaned Land, back then he was on drum duty.

Sense of Fear features five tracks and is 24 minutes of death metal madness with a progressive and oriental touch. There are elements on some songs that takes me to the early stages of Orphaned Land due to that progressive and oriental feeling while yet keeping it dark and heavy. Sense of Fear also feature Orphaned Lands vocalist Kobi Farhi as a guest appearance, making the links between the bands even bigger.

Ve Hamaskilim Enon Heikhalin (Intro) starts with oriental chants leading into Slaughter of Thousands which got some classic old school death metal riffs and vocals going. Perfect for fans of early Entombed or Dismember. The albums title track Sense of Fear brings in the prog and oriental music into the mix which makes it stick out from the classic death metal and get Morgue their more unique sound to it. While on Free from Perfect the band brings more of the death metal solos and grove. The Evidence on Stones (Deny the Pain) keeps this going and ends Sense of Fire with a bang.

Sense of Fear is a great comeback from Morgue, who not only brings you old school death metal but with a oriental and progressive twist to it that will surely surprise a few of you. Sense of Fear is out now as an independent release.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/morgueband
For fans of: Entombed and Orphaned Land
Favorite song: Sense of Fear

Sons ov Omega – Reign (Melodic Black/Death Metal)

It’s been a while since I reviewed an album from Black Lion Records, a record label I’ve come to love for underground metal, so it’s about time I do so. Sons ov Omega is a new and upcoming band from Umeå, Sweden featuring the talented Tiamat Invictuz who is in the black metal band Wormlight too (who are also on Black Lion Records). The music differs a lot between the bands though.

So what are the Sons ov Omega about? Well for one they got some of the coolest stage paint I’ve seen (look it up). It goes perfectly fine with their lyrical theme which is very mystic and songs about occultism, mythology and darkness keeps on raining over me. Sound wise they sound like a crossing between Opeth, Enslaved and Edge of Sanity, taking influences from all three with a melodic/progressive side on black and death metal. Also comes to show you can still be playing great black metal even with a lot of clean singing and melodic parts. If anyone even disbelieved that fact, seeing as Bathory showed that being possible in the very start years ago. Just has to be said as sometimes I hear people saying clean singing doesn’t belong in black metal.

I’ve come to listen through this album several times these past days. There is something new to notice every time I listen to it and for me that makes an album extra special and lasts longer. My favorite song has changed each time, which is a really good thing. It’s full with great riffs and tempo changes between a sweet melodic harmony to a utter destruction. Fans of older Opeth, Enslaved or Edge of Sanity will surely love this as there aren’t too many newer bands around that I know of who produce music like this. So take the opportunity when it comes.

Sons ov Omega’s debut album Reign is out now from Black Lion Records.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sonsovomega
For fans of: Opeth and Enslaved
Favorite song: Pandora

Blind the Sacrifice – The Desecration of Existence (Deathcore)

Browsing through music albums on youtube I find this gem. Blind the Sacrifice is a rather new band that I didn’t find too much information on, but it seems they were formed in 2015 in Chicago. They call their music Progressive Deathcore and I do hear progressive influences on most tracks (Eridian and Parasitic Breed or the instrumental track Lord of the Sands for example) but while I can agree this isn’t typical generic deathcore I will still simply call it deathcore.

It’s not too often I find new bands I’ve never heard of from browsing youtube so this was a nice surprise and also shows how many good bands exists out there that might just need an extra push to gain a following.

Musical wise I would put Blind the Sacrifice somewhere around the area of Aversions Crown, Enterprise Earth and Shadow of Intent. Bands that have a technical feeling to the deathcore genre (instead of just aliens take in some Egyptian style in the mix though) and can showcase a wide range of vocal styles. It’s been a while now since I reviewed a deathcore album and this is actually the first one I review that’s been released this year since the latest ones have been late 2016 releases. That said we are off to a great start on 2017 deathcore releases as this is better than most of the deathcore that came out in 2016, and the year has only just started.

If you want a technical/progressive twist on your deathcore then Blind the Sacrifice’s debut The Desecration of Existence is the album for you. It even comes with a wicked All Shall Perish cover There is no Business to be Done on a Dead Planet.

The Desecration of Existence is an independent release out now digitally.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BTSbandChicago
For fans of: Aversions Crown and Enterprise Earth
Favorite song: Devoid of Existence

Decimated Humans – Dismantling the Decomposed Entities (Technical Brutal Death Metal)

Starting with the sound of a brutal death by some alien, apparently a sample from a video game, it lays the grounds for what is to come, and it is brutal torture by aliens! I got to know of Decimated Humans as I got some recommendations that they got some kind of progressive mix with their brutal death going on, just like Swine Overlord who hit me like a bulldozer the other day. Difference between the two bands though is this is more towards slam and less progressive but more techdeath. Good, technical and brutal nevertheless, just not as progressive as I had in my mind when I first heard of them.

Decimated Humans is an international two-piece band and Dismantling the Decomposed Entities is the sophomore release from the well received To Provoke Genocide, which came out two in 2014. I really like their technical take on brutal death and even though their sound have a lot in common with slam overlords Vulvodynia or Ingested they mix it up with some brutal tech Unfathomable Ruination vibes. Speaking of Vulvodynia and Ingested there are guest vocals on the album from Vulvodynia, Ingested, Goemagot and Disfigurement of Flesh. Some heavy hitters in the genre.

I am still in awe with how many good brutal death metal bands there are out there that I’ve never heard about. As much love Unfathomable Ruination and Vulvodynia releases got during 2016 Decimated Humans should be within those same talks, because this is bloody awesome. If you’re a fan of brutal or slam death metal and want it on the technical side then this is an album for you.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DecimatedHumans
For fans of: Vulvodynia and Unfathomable Ruination
Favorite song: Consumed By Cadirus

Swine Overlord – Entheogenesis (Progressive Brutal Death Metal)

What’s this, progressive brutal death metal? Does that even exist? Apparently it does and it’s the American duo Will Peplinski and Anthony Viscusi who’s made something rather unique and named it, as awesome as it is, Swine Overlord. Entheogenesis is the bands second full-length actually as the band released Parables of Umbral Transcendence in 2014. Since then the band has taken the song-writing even further and Entheogenesis is a concept album “which offers a unique look at the development of the human psyche through the lens of western religion and eastern spirituality” as stated on their store. The album cover is stunning and is created by Chinese artist Yang Guang (Equilibrium, Putridity, Inanimate Existence) who’s made one of his best works as of yet.

I was unsure what to expect from this album as I’d never heard of this cross-over of genres before. After listening to Entheogenesis though I just want more of this. Think Beyond Creation molded with Black Crown Initiate on speed and you’re halfway there. This is great. The song-writing and religious horror-story filled with gore is crazy epic and Swine Overlord are great at changing the tempo throughout the whole album. The instrumental intermissions, as you can call it, in the album works great to add extra prog to the party (I: The Creator and Riverchrist for example). Meld it all together and you have yourself an album that stands out and is beautiful yet sick and brutal. Now excuse me while I dig into all of Swine Overlord’s discography while I keep on telling you how great they are.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SwineOverlord
For fans of: Decimated Humans and Beyond Creation
Favorite song: Procreating the Offspring of Gods and Men

The Metal Gamer Top 20 Albums of 2016

Just in time for Christmas I’ve made my choice of 2016’s best albums. The only rule I have to be in this list is that the album has to have been reviewed this year by me. Meaning, even if I love the album, no Jomsviking by Amon Amarth, Magma by Gojira or no King by Fleshgod Apocalypse for example. Reason I started this blog was initially because I wanted to use my English more and I have friends asking me for new bands quite often, hence I stick to the lesser known bands out there and will continue to do so. They are by no means any worse though, as a matter of fact all these bands should be known by every metalhead out there! Anyways without further ado here you have my top 20 albums for 2016 (in no order).

Krepitus – The Eyes of the Soulless
Wastewalker – Funeral Winds
Nordjevel – Nordjevel
Gatecreeper – Sonoran Depravation
Fimbultyr – Niddikter
I Shall Devour – The Misanthropist
Wayfarer – Old Souls
Netherbird – The Grander Voyage
Saor – Guardians
Uada – Devoid of Light
Ereb Altor – Blot – Ilt – Taut
Volturyon – Cleansed by Carnage
Centinex – Doomsday Rituals
Shokran – Exodus
Dawn of Demise – The Suffering
Hyperion – Seraphical Euphony
Illdisposed – Grey Sky over Black Town
October Tide – Winged Waltz
Be’lakor – Vessels
Whispered – Songs of the Void

Last of all I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you next year and stay metal!

Inanimate Existence – Calling from a Dream (Progressive/Technical Death Metal)

Calling from a Dream is Inanimate Existences third full-length since their formation in 2010. Meaning they’ve been quite productive since their debut Liberation Through Hearing came out in 2012. During their six years they’ve had quite a few lineup changes but the core of the drummer Ron Casey and vocalist Cameron Porras have always remained, keeping the quality high even with those changes. Has to be said this is the first album featuring Taylor Wientjes, who has performed with the band live for some time though, can say he passed his trial so congratulations! Oh and in case you didn’t already know Inanimate Existence are under the Unique Leader Records label. Which we all know means high quality death metal incoming.

What hits me first is the female clean singing vocals, which I know has been Inanimate Existence thing but it always hits me as I don’t really expect it. I guess that’s also something that’s been bugging me with Inanimate Existence and made me not fully get on the hype train surrounding the band. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Calling from a Dream is a good album but I guess I don’t like the changes of tempo the way they do it like many other tech death fans. That’s more of a personal liking that I want it to be more brutal, less progressive though and that definitely shouldn’t stop you from grabbing this album. There are some tracks on the album I really do dig and get back to though, like Pulse of the Mountain’s Heart. There the vocals fit into perfect symphony, together with the use of a flute (!) I can imagine it being the mountain in the woods calling.

So to sum it up. Is Calling from a Dream by Inanimate Existence a good album worth recommending? Yes, these Americans are great musicians that have their unique touch of tech death that will leave many in awe. Is the album a personal favorite of mine? No, I sadly can’t get passed how the clean vocals sounds and too much prog for my taste. Who knows though, music taste changes and in a few years I might get back to this album and absolutely love it.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheInanimateExistence
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Inanimatetweets
For fans of: Decrepit Birth and Arkaik
Favorite song: Pulse of the Mountain’s Heart

Wastewalker – Funeral Winds (Technical Death Metal)

Having one of the most brutal album covers I’ve seen this year (lets face it a great album cover means a lot) I instantly got the feeling that Wastewalker – Funeral Winds would be something special. How glad I was that I decided to make Funeral Winds one of my final reviews of the year! Starting of with Hazmat Birth, this is a great introduction on what is to come. The high and low growls, guitar solos, melodical teachnical death performs a sweet symphony of death and it’s not a surprise that I see the band featuring ex members of Conducting From The Grave and Alterbeast. You can tell Wastewalker consists of veterans within the metal community.

The way Wastewalker can switch from death, tech death to progressive in one song is a feat not many bands can pull off. Take Fleshwounds as an example, to me that song is near the complete package of showing different genres, without it feeling forced, in less than 5 minutes. Great stuff from the Americans.

This has been a truely great year for technical death metal. So many new bands making great debut albums and veterans releasing new material where they still showcase greatness. Wastewalker – Funeral Winds is a sick album and even though you might think you’ve had your fill of tech death for a year you would do good not to miss this one as it’s one the best albums coming out this year.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wastewalkermetal
For fans of: The Ritual Aura and Alterbeast
Favorite song: Fleshwounds

In Mourning – Afterglow (Progressive/Melodic Death Metal)

The Swedish doom veterans In Mourning have had an interesting discography. At first they only released demos until they eventually got it all going full scale and released their first full-length in 2008. Since then the band went from a release every second year, up until the last album The Weight of Oceans and we have been waiting long four years for the Afterglow. It is here now though so time to dig in!

The four years seems to have done In Mourning good as the opening song Fire and Ocean reels you right into their oceanic dreams, and oh how sweet it is. Since The Weight of Oceans release In Mourning has taking in the drummer Daniel Liljekvist, which many of you have probably heard during his years in the legendary band Katatonia. Liljekvist is doing a superb job on Afterglow, as expected, and adding the three guitarists to the mix Tobias Netzell, Björn Petterson and Tim Nedergård then you got yourself a riffing solo machine that’s well oiled and has that blasting punch to it from the drums.

If you’re a fan of the older Opeth or bands such as Insomnium and Swallow the Sun then In Mourning will be exactly what you are looking for.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/inmourningband
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/inmourningband
For fans of: Opeth and Insomnium
Favorit song: Fire And Ocean