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Saturday, 15 November 2014

Blodhemn - (Vengeance in Blood) - H7 - 7 Track Album - Indie Recordings - Released 10th November 2014

Blodhemn – (Vengeance in Blood)
H7
7 Track Album
Indie Recordings
Released 10th November 2014

Superb Album - Out now!

Written for Metal Gods Meltdown

Blodhemn – Fedje, Norway

Links:

Genre: Black Metal

Biography:
“Since its inception in 2004 Blodhemn has been working tirelessly to further the sound of Black Metal, and after the E.P “Brenn Alle Bruer” and debut album “Holmengraa”, both critically acclaimed, the Norwegian one-man band is now preparing to unleash yet another untitled sophomore effort on Indie Recordings. In support of the record due out in November 2014 and proud to confirm the first ever European tour as direct support to the legendary Norwegian black metal band, Mayhem!”

Flammenes_Virke – Real Flames
In a tumultuous fanning of flames and indeed vitriolic pounding the menace is spewed forth in a form of black metal fever! The hearty rhythms burn the hefty meat that resides on its bones, but not for long! Its’ edgy and erupts with a keen vigour to exhaust its dark energy. The increasing beats never submit to the ferocious vocal squalls that are damming and equally dynamic!

Slettet_Av_Tid – Erased by Time
Offering an eerie ambient flare of gnawing riffs and harsh resounding vocal squalor the track carves and sculpts its familiar black metal path into the dirt. The hooks are toxic and intense, as you would expect. The grazing vocals penetrate the aural while the drumming beats its way to a frenzied and turbulent conclusion.

Evig_Heder – Eternal Glory
This is a rather threatening track that looms with formidable and exciting riffs coupled with a potent rhythm that will have heads bobbing up and down in unison to the tracks feisty presence! It engages with a hearty roar of vocals that push through the thick structure and impacts severely! Sung with conviction, and satisfyingly rewarding!

Veiten
Taking a slow step, but with large strides, the drama unfolds as it builds to a magnitude of unruly riffs that lock and enthral with stunning conviction. Enhanced by a lurid vocal enticement and flourishes with a meaty bass hook that is crafted to sheer perfection. The rhythms have instant appeal thus creating total addictive scourge.

Åndenes_Ansikt – Spirits Face
Slow to move, but creates an immense anticipation on proceedings. It can be described as almost hypnotic in delivery. It triumphs through the vicious vocal breath that demands full on attention. Adding further sustenance to it are deep hungry riffs and tempered beats that are thoroughly enjoyable to witness along with a stabbing groove element that obliterates with very distinct qualities.

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“You have exactly 41:01 playing time to thoroughly engage and focus on this dominating masterpiece!”
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Fandesvenn
Adding an all-out aggressive brawl into their black metal madness comes this track. Its striking guitar riffs are mesmerising and infectious! The vocal causticity carves a wedge from the ears and ploughs right through! Radiating a menacing encounter of which it also can boast a quickening tempo that explodes effortlessly and completely overwhelms.

Holmengraa
Quite an absorbing number that possesses the emotions as it combines snarling vocal and constantly delivers a coaxing rhythm, fired with expressive beats that thump proudly through-out the track. The balance is thrown off kilter from its quickening tempo to one of slower origin, however it weaves evocatively, and casts dark shadows over the ears, but never loses its focus.

Summary:
Providing an unwavering balance of fast and slow paced tracks, however all of them are contenders for offering some form of excitement ad anticipation, it isn’t all one way with Blodhemn.

Although their music could not be anything other than Svart Metal, it indeed hosts superb unpredictable qualities that really warrant further investigations. Some points within the album Evig_Heder and Fandesvenn imparticular, pushes the rasping tendencies to the limit! Rapturous and malevolent with virulent punches of rhythm and intense to the end! While Holmengraa – still dark, offers a sinister disturbance and stalks with predation and agitation.

You may have noticed that the translations are not forthcoming on three of the tracks on the album and this I feel that maybe Norwegian slang may have been used here, I could be wrong, but Blodhemn is calling the shots, so it is in our best interests to ‘just listen’ and make the most out of what we perceive as the album plays out.

So in all quite a devilish album that houses equal amounts of hostility and a slightly warmer embrace. Ignites serious emotions for the listener, it goes out in a scintillating blaze of glory, just as it came in.

You have exactly 41:01 playing time to thoroughly engage and focus on this dominating masterpiece.

9½/10

Track List:
Flammenes_Virke
Slettet_Av_Tid
Evig_Heder
Veiten
Åndenes_Ansikt
Fandesvenn
Holmengraa

Members:
Invisus - All studio instruments and Vocals
Dan - Live Drums
Hauk - Live Bass
Ånneland - Live Guitar

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Spires - The Whisperer - 7 Track Album - Released 10th November 2014

Spires
The Whisperer
7 Track Album
Released 10th November 2014

Engaging album!

Spires – Manchester

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/SpiresOfficial

Listen/Buy here:

Genre: Progressive Metal

Biography:
“Spires” are a four piece Progressive Metal band, based in Manchester, UK. Initially the brainchild of vocalist, guitarist and producer Paul Sadler, he was later joined by Paul Cuthbert on guitar, Alex Jolley on bass, and Chris Barnard on drums.
Unfortunately in March 2014 original guitarist Paul Cuthbert left to focus on family life. However a replacement was very quickly found in previously unknown Richard Corrie, who settled into the material very quickly. They have been very busy in the studio recording their second CD, which has now been released entitled “The Whisperer”

Ethereal Organisms
Just like music from a drama or horror story, this sombre but very distinctive track is not exhaustive of energy that exudes from its very muscular gait. It broods mesmerically through an enchanting heavy splendour. There is just something magical about Spires’s music and it must come from the towering inferno of brisk and unrelenting mountainous waves that engulf on listening.

At His Behest
Emerging as an aggressor, the powerful and squally riffs surround the senses with a rhythmic motion, matched by an equally intense vocal grazing. The emotional impact reaches new heights and are all touched in such a way that it is hard to ignore. The magical drum beats pound furiously within their magical bubble of sheer immensity while the vocals scathe in a sweeping motion over highly acute ears.

Surrogate
An atmospheric stringed arrangement brings another sombre but very poignant moment to the forefront on this track. Everything slots into place in a rather dream-like state and is quite majestic.

Primal Revelation
Do not adjust your hearing! For the next six minutes eight seconds Spires will control the settings! A harsher Spires materialises and wakes the senses with a spiky poke in the eye! Combining elegance but in a brisk and harsher way it engages with a potent promise of enthralling enterprise and navigates you through a rich soundscape. Trailing off to produce a brief respite, until it once again double backs and embraces its harsher beginning - Best six minutes eight seconds ever spent!

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“A deserved album that needs putting in the spotlight!”
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The Fevered Spirit
Superbly crafted to portray the Spires trademark of smouldering persuasion and rich beauty that perfectly outlines their amazing talent. Infused with irresistible traits of a deeper seduction that is contained within its corrosive imagination.

Elsewhere
The harmonic qualities are exceptional as are the tempered strings of wizardry that wash over the senses in a skilled and purposeful manner. Delicately outlining the more serious side of their music in crisp and dutiful proportions.  Eager to win over the attention and surround it with thrilling promise.

The Whisperer
A classical master-piece that bristles with the finest quality and probes with high level intent. Its sultry strings and solid bass melt with a coaxing of very persuasive beats that are riveting until its close.

Summary
This isn’t your usual prog album for sure! Since first seeing Spires live at the Snooty Fox back in 2010, the ‘progression’ has increased to a more serious level of euphoria.

It still holds a dark malevolence that pushes its boundaries while still being elegant and very convincing. The power and energy the band exude is a force only Spires know how to create and once within their gigantic bubble it goes all out to capture and mesmerise.

Demanding and forthright it holds the most explosive moments with steadfast qualities that burrow seductively into the very heart of its listeners. Creating an almost dark force of its own this album compels, enthrals and powerfully dominates with sheer brilliance.

The rambling passages provide immediate hypnotic tendencies that work themselves into your mind and leave a mark with indelible ink!

I certainly think that Spires have exceeded their own expectations with this album.

The final onslaught is over twenty minutes and contains complex passages that ooze dark and light and pull at certain emotions, from high octane to slower sombre moments that create a mesmerising backdrop.

It won’t perhaps appeal to every metal head but for prog lovers it is an ideal dream that offers complete solitude in order for you explore fully the hypnotic and enticing tones while putting your own pictures into place.

A deserved album that needs putting in the spotlight!

10/10

Track List:
Ethereal Organisms 14:05
At His Behest 06:09
Surrogate 02:43
Primal Revelation 06:28
The Fevered Spirit 11:08
Elsewhere 04:27
The Whisperer 20:57

Members:
Paul Sadler - Guitar/Vocals
Richard Corrie - Guitar
Alex Jolley - Bass
Chris Barnard - Drums