Pantheon - No Way Out!!!

Pantheon – No Way Out -  CD

www.myspace.com/pantheonband

For the metal heads out there that love old school metal Pantheon are top of their game.

Saw these guys on the live stream at the Snooty Fox a few months back when Entropy played and blimey they were amazing as all the bands were on that night when they supported Hamerex.

Formed five years ago and hailing from the beautiful York area this, once five piece formed in 2006 are now a four piece metal band due to changes in the line-up, bring to you their own brand of Metal, incorporating old and new alike, and supported bands such as Evile and Diamond Head to name but two!

Their CD cover depicts what looks like a Viking warrior fighting the demon under the striking pantheon logo complete with a flash of lightening running through it! It pretty much sums up the title of this CD as being No way out… It also comes with a signed poster and 2 stickers! Nice little bundle!

For the band the dates May 28^th and 3^rd June will be their last main shows until their York gig in September. They are deliberately taking some time out from gigging to focus on a project, new material and on taking the band further forward!

Track One: Intro

Great melodic guitar just slides you into the next track…

Track Two: Blade Runner Awesome guitar with gritty vocals chanting out “Blade Runner” to some very sharp melodic guitar,  packed with delicious bass and great riffing, really good old school stuff!

Track Three: Bloodshot The powerful vocals slice through the cacophony of sound, on this track.  More harmonious chants melting into some fast paced drumming. Breakneck shredding just brings it all together, with an awesome ending of crisp drums.

Track Four: Staring into the Abyss Beautiful guitar to open on this track which is constant through-out with crisp clean drumming but not losing sight of the blending bass and more gritty vocals, building up to some faster blazing riffs, Great track!  

Track Five: Shrapnel Sleek shredding here to some slower paced drums, unfold on this track, building up to an awesome crescendo of vocals with some thunderous bass lines…. the shredding continues… absolutely awesome!

Track Six: The Seven Signs This track opens with a prologue, amidst distant noises of horses…!

Track Seven: 1509 some thunderous riffs accompany the great drumming in unique Pantheon style! Rawkus and powerful this is reminiscent of Pagan metal in places which then folds back to old school- a very cleverly written track!

Even after hearing the CD I think that Pantheon is more a ‘Live’ experience. But you will have to wait until September when the band are back gigging… and whirling their golden locks once again! But certainly worth going to see as these guys kick ass! Check ‘em out!!

Members:

Danny Richardson – Guitar/Backing vocals

Simon Dawson – Bass Lead Vocals

Matt Dawson – Guitar/Backing Vocals

Andy Hayes - Drums

Paroxysmal Butchering - Supreme Revulsion

Paroxysmal Butchering – Supreme Revulsion

http://www.myspace.com/paroxysmalbutchering

Why oh why do I have so much hassle pronouncing this name? Just cannot seem to get the hang of saying Paroxysmal, it is hard enough to spell let alone say! But these guys know how to grab your attention, by just the line on their info page which displays the words under influences such as (torture, rape, murder, cannibalism and a general hatred for most inhabitants of the universe.) In other words they tell it like it is!

I was sent a signed copy of the bands full length 10 Track CD Supreme Revulsion by Tim the bands guttural blasting machine.  Shame that there was no packaging with it but as the band hail from North County California it was removed to cut the cost of shipping! But I would love to have seen this CD in its original form as I really love the cover that heralds a manic looking being, with long claws pulverising skulls en mass in just plain black and white.

Not really a big surprise being a death metal band nor some of the titles of the tracks tastefully entitled “Anally Siphoned Innards” and “Acephalic Rape and Disembowelment” conjures up a nice mental image of what Paroxysmal Butchering are all about as well as having a great sense of humour!

Formed in 2007 by Tim who is the guttural secretion and brains behind PB.  Hell awaits you…..

1.      Anally Siphoned Innards

Opens with some terrifying screams that turn into demonic gruesome growling backed by some awesome riffs which scream just as loudly as the woman at the beginning of the track! Nice fuelled mayhem!

2.     Cadaveric Disgorgement

Fast and furious opening to the next track resulting in some awe inspiring drumming and dual vocals, which slow and then the speed picks up again to accompany more great screams. A nice brutal feast!

3.     Axiom of Suffering

Thunderous drumming with some more awesome riffing fused with some more brutal vokils.  Powerful killer track!  That slows considerably, then a ferocious drum beat kicks in again to finish.

4.     Acephalic rape and disembowelment

Some demonic guttural growls to open duelled with some high pitched screams to a fast accompaniment of sound. Very brutal!

5.     Turnoffs include consent

Eerie voices open this track, bursting forth into some dramatic, demonic vocals which sound like Tim is possessed! Perhaps he was when he recorded this… but don’t have an exorcism Tim we like you just the way you are!

6.     Cocooned in entrails

Next up! Some growled secretions with a constant drum beat nestling in there. Just as evil sounding as the title! Incorporating spasmodic riffs and thunderous bass! Relish it!

7.     Scourge of Malevolence

No getting away from the thought that has gone into creating these messy titles.  Plenty of gruff and higher pitched screams resulting in a frenzy of sounds or should that be souls…

8.    Shitstorm of Perversity

Some crisp cymbals open this track that is quickly overshadowed by the awesome chant like growls and murderous drumming! A really powerful rhythm to this track.

9.     Macrocosmic Eradication

Stupendous opening for track 9, with a large growl and again cutting into dual vocals.  Offering more demonic style drumming and constant in your face rhythm through-out.

     10. Ingurgitating Putrescence

Some beastly screams and the sound of chopping quickly turns into a monstrous growl.  Conjures up some nasty shit!  A real plethora of evil blood thirsty sounds just escapes through the speakers and will no doubt butcher your ear drums until they bleed! Great fade out at the end.

So there you have it 10 blood thirsty tracks from an equally blood thirsty band Paroxysmal Butchering (wow I did that without having to revert to the cover!)

The negative to the CD is that for the persons who are not familiar with this style of metal the songs can seem very much alike, but the more you listen to it the more you can hear in it, providing your ears are not too badly damaged first time around!

If you love your metal brutal check this band out they really have a lot to offer! And if you live in North County CA go and see them live!!!

Members:

Tim - Vocals

Josh - Guitar

Jake - Guitar

Nacho - Drums

Apollyon - Harsh Reality 8 track CD

Apollyon – Harsh Reality CD

www.myspace.com/apollyonsteel

Apollyon is one of those bands that just sneak up behind you and knock you on the head.  You don’t see it coming but when it hits you the ‘smack’ is remembered long after the act of it happening.

Apollyon hail from Ellesmere Port in the Wirral and are a now three-piece thrash outfit due to the loss of Jamie Ruddock who left the band to pursue his own music project.

Combining melodic riffs with classic thrash riffs just makes them stand out from the crowd.

This 8 track Cd is guaranteed to blow the mind with such a barrage of melodic riffery classic ballsy thrash with evil vocals and grinding bass!  It really packs a punch and if you like your music so, thus will be very pleased to get this Cd.

It comes as a package with decorative sticker, badge and plectrum all with the very tasteful Apollyon logo endorsed on it.

The Cd cover depicts a very futuristic scene like something from Dr Who. With sharks flying around in the sky and onlookers looking puzzled… I would be too if I saw a collection of sharks in the sky…. But there are plenty (sharks) out there… just hope non drop from the sky… but very clever thought provoking cover indeed!

Gareth is the thought behind the lyrics whilst the band as a collective produces the music.

Track one: Intro

A beautiful blend of strings from Glen, to open this savage offering…. But don’t be fooled by it… this is by no means a sweet little CD it will rip your guts out with ferocity… listen on…..

Track two: Harsh Reality

Straight into this highly charged ferocious thrashy track that has more balls than a snooker table! Gaz’s vocals sounding so evil, as the track unfolds into some great shredding and thunderous powerfully charged drumming, courtesy of James who really brings this track together?  Glen burst forth some more melodic riffs until the song fades beautiful ending!

Track three: Emotionless Genocide

More powerful drumming sees us into the third track with relish and lots of it! Gaz sounding even more brutal than he did on the previous track with his unique vocal style.  The savage riffs just keep pummelling your ears with great ferocity, but not losing the melodic feel of the track.

Track four: Morbid Symphony

Great opening to this track too, with exploding drums, and a really awesome driving rhythm. A real thrash explosion combining more evil vocals and thunderous riffs to melt your face off. Not as the name suggests as it is quite a ‘lively’ track but definitely a symphony of extreme power. Glen moulds the strings to produce some great shredding once more.

Track five: Perverted Sin

This track starts slower with some awesome shredding and powerful constant drum beats that even the most hardened metal head couldn’t head bang to without severe brain damage! Vocals come in later on this track backed by a cacophony of sound.  Punchy lyrics and driving bass line.  Really a great track!

Track six: Victory

More thunderous riffs and break-neck drumming on track six of this mind blowing CD. A great thrash sound with awesome rhythm. A very moreish track listen to the hook lines they are just amazing!! A great ‘live’ track with superb explosive ending.

Track seven: Judas

Some more thunderous drumming with a real harsh bass riff.  This track really chucks out some brutality! The riffs melodic and so brutal blend with Gaz’s intense vocals really brings this track together awesomely.  Another great head-banging piece of metal mastery, but listen out for the strings at the end…. Very eastern sounding and a very unusual way to end the track! Nice one guys!

Track eight: Desolation

I just love this track… it opens so beautifully with delicate strings and moody bass. A full symphony of blended sounds it really is a master-piece, with crisp drums fusing it all together. Totally beautiful track with some awesome shredding and riffs to put you in metal heaven!

This Cd lacks nothing.  It has more power than an express train and more beauty than an artist’s pallet!

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure to experience Apollyon *live* I suggest you start now… They are playing at The Rake Hall on Friday 17^th June 2011 – 7.30pm until 12.00. Total satisfaction…… Guaranteed!

Members:

Glen Brazier – Guitar

Gareth Owen – Vocals-Bass

James Roberts - Drums