Review: Celtachor – Nine Waves from the Shore
Mar 19Celtachor – Nine Waves from the Shore For as popular and widespread as folk and Celtic flavored metal is nowadays, there seems to be suspiciously few bands making a tangible impact from the very island nation that epitomizes the cultural inspiration behind the movement. There are a few hallowed names from Ireland that have their place in the annals of the sub-genre, a few even on the first page, but lately the greatest enthusiasm seems to come from across the stretch of water in Scandinavia, Germany, and a few other places. Much of this outward spread probably has to do with some of the first bands bearing the label of ‘folk metal’ having hailed from the Celtic nation, inspiring the first seeds of Viking metal to the east. Which makes for an interesting reversal of history, as it had been the Norse invading Ireland so many centuries ago, implanting hints of their culture along the way. But while a discussion of cyclical cultural anthropology in regards to heavy metal may be tempting, we’ll stick with the music for now. Which brings us to the blackened Celt band Celtachor and their newest effort, “Nine Waves from the Shore”.The first thing you will notice when playing “Nine Waves” is the form with which the young Irish band weaves their folk flavored songs. Both lyrically and structurally, the songs are constructed in the vein of epics and sagas, long form poems of voyage, conquest, and other historically inspired chronicles. Rasped out in a guttural black metal voice are stories of Irish folktales and mythology, and behind that a thick wall of guitars and drums. The music is progressive in nature, written with variety and exploration in mind; stretching from the soft and melancholic melodies of acoustic guitars and Irish whistles found in Tar eis an Sidhe, to the ferocious and pummeling calls to arms like Conn of the Hundred Battles and Anann, Emmas’s Daughter. Most songs on the album stretch the gamut, offering an interesting and full-flavored listen both as a whole and from song to song, especially considering that some of them are granted up to ten minutes to divulge the full story they have for the telling. The general tone also compliments the form and subject, with climbing chord progressions that herald the epic and grand. Which is not to say that there are not plenty of helpings of straight...
New Band Watch: Depth Beyond One’s
Feb 15Depth Beyond One’s – Monuments of Control Check out some brain twisting prog death metal from Finland, courtesy of Depth Beyond One’s. Their newest release is the Monuments of Control EP, which you can stream below and even download for free here. Their sound is a crazy mix of crushing metal, discordant melodies, odd rhythms, and plenty of strange, so give them a listen and tell ’em what you think! Find DBO at: Facebook Main Site...
Review: Hate – Solarflesh
Feb 13Hate – SolarfleshIn the world of extreme metal, Poland seems to be the only country that is almost exclusively identified with the genre. From the thrash minded Vader to the blackened aggression of Behemoth, the nation has developed some noteworthy armament in heavy metal. For several years now, sibling rage-spewers Hate have brought up the flank of Poland’s most horns worthy export, and they continue to do so with their brand new offering of blackened death metal, Solarflesh. While certainly as aggressive and ferocious as their past efforts, this new album comes somewhat short of doing much else beyond those previous releases by refraining to expand on their sound or to explore any new territory. Nonetheless, Solarflesh does prove to be a solid listen worth lending your ear to, granted that you do not mind getting it back bruised and burnt.If the album has one distinct feature beyond its brutal assault of the senses, it would be the ominous mood of foreboding and despair. This anguishing aura is set in place right from the get-go with the opening piece “Watchful Eye of Doom”, a haunting instrumental intro track with tribal drums and female chanting. What immediately follows is the extreme aggression of pummeling drums, furious growls, and frenetic riffing that defines not only the album as a whole, but Hate as a band. A name which clearly is as appropriately garnered as any band’s. The style of blackened death metal is not necessarily unique to the band themselves, especially considering their national counterparts, but it is one that they have down rather solidly. The mix of components are equally vicious, ear-searing, and forcefully in-your-face, making for dominating cacophony of extreme metal.While the sound and style of their brand of unholy metal may be tight and practised however, there is not much in the way of variations on that sound to be had on Solarflesh. There are some moments of change on the album, and the songs are written dynamically enough to open up every once in awhile; for example, when the wall of assault and battery falls away to allow the guitar to weave some occultishly meandering melody. But on the whole, the effort seems one dimensional, like a long forceful note played with a few breaths taken here and there, leaving the listener with few memorable impressions of individual moments. In essence, the main point of the album...
New Band Watch: Nonsun
Jan 31For all you dwellers of doom out there, take some time to check out the new EP from Ukrainian sludge stalkers Nonsun. The music is thick, heavy, and all around crushing as it slowly burns its way through 48 minutes of textured doom. The EP, Good Old Evil, is available free through Bandcamp, and you can stream it below, so check it out and find the band on Facebook!Good Old Evil by...
Review: Fliptop Box – Anxiety’s Manifest
Jan 28Fliptob Box – Anxiety’s ManifestThe metal genre has been in a slight flux in the past few years, due mostly to the explosion of experimentation into sub styles and their various amalgamations that has taken place over the last decade. Because of that, we are not necessarily left with any real flagship styles that define the genre, and as a result new bands are left with a broad sandbox to play in when finding their own ‘sound’. Recently, that has resulted in the resurgence of several bygone era’s of music, especially including variants of stoner rock, progressive song structuring, and a healthy throwback scene for classic NWOBHM. Flying slightly more under the radar has been the alternative leanings of the 90’s post-punk sound, which is exactly where Greece’s Fliptop Box comes into the picture with their 2012 release of “Anxiety’s Manifest”.Album opener Lost is a good introduction for the release as a whole, showcasing nearly everything that will be offered throughout the listen. The backbone of the group’s style is the post-thrash guitar riffing that accentuates itself at times with melancholic chords and high-string leads between punchy rhythm playing. The vocals however, are the forefront of the songs on “Anxiety’s Manifest”, perhaps not sonically, but most definitely in presence and melody. They tend to spread into the background, soaring in their own realm of the mix, while still melding with the music’s chord progression. The singing is consistently melodic and carries a heavy dose of heartfelt emotion, never feeling forced or unnecessary, and they are delivered with a laid back introspectiveness that harkens directly to the shoegazing era of alternative rock, striking the same balance between sorrow and reprieve that the singers of that vein exemplified.The songs on this album vary themselves somewhat while staying firmly within the comfort zone of post-grunge melody and hard edge that the group has made for itself, ranging from the upbeat and punk-infused like Scarfaced God to the more mellow and thoughtful moments on songs like Wings and Close My Eyes, a song which stands as one of the more emotionally heartfelt on the album. Some moments even have a distinct crossover feel when the energy gets high enough. This variety does not venture too far though, not quite to the point of monotony, but it does prevent any sense of real exploration or experimentation outside of the formula. That formula however, is...
New Band Watch – Forlorn Remembrance
Dec 14I’m always looking for new metal bands and material out there, so if you’ve got a group or know of one you’d like to get some attention for, let me know and I will always try to see if I can get you promoted in some way or another.This week, check out Sweden’s Forlorn Remembrance and their ‘Dystopian Dreamscapes’ EP. For all you progressive metal heads out there listening to Opeth and Katatonia, this should be right up your alley. From slow, melancholic death metal excursions to soft and melodic soundcapes, this up and coming band has the Scandinavian sound down from both the modern and classic angles.Check out the video below, featuring the full ‘Dystopian Dreamscapes’ EP, and find them on Facebook and Myspace. Download the EP...
