Victor Love - Technomancy - 10 Track Album - Metropolis Records - Released 6th May 2016

Victor Love

Technomancy

10 Track Album

Metropolis Records

Released 6^th May 2016

Written for RAMzine

Victor Love – Japan

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/victorloveofficial

Genre: Industrial/Dark Electro

Already creating a stir Victor Love co-founder of the Dope Stars is soon to release his long awaited solo album with the help of various artists on each of the tracks!

It is always a pleasure to review such albums as Industrial Techno isn’t as forthcoming as some genres which surprises me greatly as it has an awful lot to offer.

The tremendous bite that is exceeded with such a genre should surely pique a lot more interest for this music as it is rabid and aggression fuelled with the added melodic pull that makes moving your body a complete pleasure. ‘Bitchcraft’ is a bold track that chants out an addictive chorus that will stay in your head forever and a fever pitch that doesn’t let go!

The pulses don’t stop there as ‘Irrationality’ creeps into view and floods with an ambling plague of devils that personify a musing of rhythms kick starting the body into spasms.

‘Cocaine’ hits with a good smack of indulgence and grabs a slice of the action! It’s something to get your teeth into for sure, as its urgent sound laps at the ears, while the churning myriad of rapture continues with ‘Surrenders’ featuring Deathstars, although not as rumbustious as I would have thought.

‘Machine Gun’ throws a promising array of expletives that are wrapped around a confrontational barb of delights and creates a sonic slice of echoey therapy. ‘The New System’ agitates with brutal realism as it punches its way from the speakers and causes a real storm of insurgence with its booming atmospherics.

‘I Curse you’ bubbles and festers with a hypnotic imagination. Vocally intimate and up close with a rhythmical shuffle of simple beats. ‘Blind or Dead’ boasts some urgency in its lengthy strides and tempting keyboard flurry amid a more melancholic embrace.

‘Can’t you remember?’ is probably my favourite track with bristling pulse of beats that captivate and show off tenacity as well as a haze of urgency. The crooning tones of Victor Love are infused with raw emotion. The final track ‘Black Dreams’ is again another favourite as its racing simplicity comes into view offering a superb overwhelming presence.

Although there are quite a number of good tracks to nestle into on this 10 track album it isn’t as aggressive as first thought, that isn’t to say that is a bad thing, it just boils down to a personal preference.

8.5/10

Track List:

Bitchcraft

Irrationality

Cocaine

Surrenders

Machine Gun

The New System

I Curse you

Blind or dead feat

Can’t you remember?

Black Dreams

Khanus - Rites of Fire - I Voidhanger Records - Released 6th May 2016

Khanus

Rites of Fire

4 Track EP

I Voidhanger Records

Released 6^th May 2016

Written for RAMzine

Khanus – Oulu

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/khanusband

Genre: Cosmic, Shamanic metal of death.

Biography:

“Exploring the boundaries of matter, spirit, consciousness and the universe with the Metal of death as the instrument - since 2015!”

~~~~~~

From the looks of this there is a lot of ‘deep thinking’ going on! Khanus like some bands just want to go all out to explore, create and take up new challenges without digressing totally from the goal in hand.

‘Womb of the Larger Self’ has blackened elements in abundance and a vocal that almost has a ‘tongue in cheek’ effect, although this could be coincidental, but is short lived as this is only an introductory offering.

‘Orgone’ with a bit more to get your teeth into this track has a superb rhythmical pattern that is blackened to the core and Sovereign really shows his worth with a demonic growl although his vocal leanings do tend to go slightly ‘off’ in places which is disconcerting! The guitars are fiery and challenging although sounding very ‘mottled’

‘The Daughters of Fire’ starts off with a great bouncing rhythm but again there is a lot going on, so much so it is hard to remain focused. The choir effect really leaves me ‘cold’ and I feel not really needed along with the shamanic gargling’s that do not serve any purpose apart from to confuse things

‘The Rites of Sacred Ecstasy’ sounds like it has been taken from a bad horror movie! A cold dirge and ritual chants to some un-inspiring goings on, it sounds like a mish-mash of sorts that offer no real goal.

Quite a disappointing EP really! If the band utilised the ‘cosmic’ points to the full they could have got much more out of it, instead of going for the ‘tongue in cheek’ approach and making it farcical.

I know being a metal head there is always, more often than not, a sense of humour involved, but Khanus seems to have concentrated on theirs and as a result lost the ability to provide a comprehensive musical endeavour.

It does fall short despite the genre. Maybe they thought that by going under a ‘new’ genre they could churn out an ‘anything goes’ but with no real goal behind it – it just doesn’t get off the mark and therefore crashes and burns into the fires of hell for all eternity!

It isn’t that the band can’t play either as they do have some good arrangements on ‘Daughters of Fire’ and ‘Rites of Sacred Ecstasy’ but seemingly they have tried to take things one stage further and failed, which is a real shame.

6.5/10

Track List:

Womb of the Larger Self (2:02)

Orgone (4:30)

The Daughters of Fire (4:15)

The Rites of Sacred Ecstasy (2:59

Members:

Sovereign - Guitars, Bass, vocals.

Meltiis - Soprano vocals and Choir.

KHAA-man - Shaman drum and chanting.

Lordt - Drums and Singing bowl

Illdisposed - Grey Sky over Black Town - Massacre Records - To be released 27th May 2016

Illdisposed

Grey Sky over Black Town

13 Track Album

Massacre Records

To be released 27^th May 2016

Written for RAMzine

Illdisposed – Aarhus, Denmark

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/illdisposed1/timeline

Genre: Death Metal

Illdisposed have been in the making since 1991 and it shows in their thunderous presence as these Danish Vikings have proved their longevity for making brutal music with flirtatious connotations.

It has the bands indelible mark stamped all over it, and clear to see how they have stood the test of time. Their irresistible flavour of metal is forthright and no nonsense.

Portraying their individuality the mighty Illdisposed not only have an unusually abrupt language but also an abrupt take on the metal scene. It is what you would expect from a well-seasoned band and more besides. They tick the boxes and have produced a very meaty and imposing album that swipes and festers make no mistake.

All 13 tracks engage as they whip up a maddening storm but my favourite track has to be ‘Setting Sail’ for the sheer pleasure of hearing the Danish accent in all its glory! For me Illdisposed should actually sing in their mother tongue although with death metal it has been well documented that with the scathing vocal chords it’s hard to distinguish anyway, but death metal sung in a Danish tongue would be the ultimate death metal album – no holds barred!

The zeal and ferocity that oozes from the pores of Illdisposed are highly intoxicating and volatile to the point of sheer pleasure!

The mouth-watering rhythms and gruff vocal barrage continues through-out this highly delightful mega ton blast of molten metal, inspiring with scintillating beats and unmerciful potency, the words hardly seem to cover how superb this album is. Although the death metal genre is well underway and been established for a number of years for me it is what a band do with the music and words to mould it into a remarkable timepiece, and Illdisposed have turned this into one beast of an album.

Catchy, melodic, rhythmical, feisty, engaging, brutal and potent, throbbing out superb bounce and persuasion, while being captivating and diverse, not to mention caustic and abrasive too! It is one superb overwhelming rouse of metal that deserves and warrants the attention it so deserves!

Dripping with layers of obnoxious groove and melodic embrace it pulls the ears to such an upward extent and infect them with a haunting and alluring disregard.

The tell-tale swagger of Viking embezzlement is etched in their music and ‘just right’ for the listener to understand that this band are indeed every inch Scandinavian!

10/10

Track List:

Again

Your Darkest Sun

In light of the Moon

I tried to Live

The After All

My Flesh is sealed

You’re an angle of the light

Setting Sail

I’m not one

From the Rain

I’ve been on my own

It’s Almost Night

This is the ride

Members:

Bo Summer - Vocals ·

Jakob Batten - Guitar ·

Ken Holst - Guitar ·

Kussen - Bass ·

Rasmus Schmidt - Drums

Giant of the Mountain - The Empty Quarter - Burning Dogma Records - To be released 27th May 2016

Giant of the Mountain

The Empty Quarter

Burning Dogma Records

To be released 27^th May 2016

Written for RAMzine

Giant of the Mountain – Dallas TX

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/giantofthemountain

Genre: Death Black Doom Prog

Biography:

“Drawing the moon down through the mountains and into the valley, the Giant of the Mountain rears his head to breathe his dreadful anguish unto humanity!”

~~~~~~

Like most things they make a comeback and arguably some never really left but stayed tucked away in the background, this is what I feel about prog music. I don’t feel it is over popular but yet it appears alongside Blackened Death metal in quite a few instances.

Prog always reminds me of the ‘Jazz’ element in metal, it can be extremely rewarding if you are in the mood, and at the same time it can go the opposite way, however, where Giant of the Mountain are concerned they have turned prog on its head, adding in the death metal element and a tasty vocal that captures a wicked factor!

The beats are forthright and the rhythms, although following at times, a doom laden aspect don’t sound as much of a dirge as it could do without it because of the ‘death principle. It is a very hard genre to work with although can guarantee a lot of positive results.

‘Crawl’ is very involved and in-depth.  Its tendrils spread over a wide range and ultimately shapes the track. For me it is always about the low toned growls or high pitched screams which fan the flames of a track and really get ‘under my skin’ capturing that aggression that metal is famous for.

‘A Dream so Deep’ is as its title suggests is rather hazy start that quickly manifests into a brazen and brooding passage of vehemence and purpose, again saved by adding in the important ingredient.

‘Instinct’ is a lot slower in pace and the vocals match it by going one octave lower so it resonates at a very low frequency and has that ‘judder’ effect in your stomach. A bit later the track suddenly explodes and bursts into a plethora of rhythmic rampage – where everything happens at once so is just as confusing as jazz!

‘Into Dust’ has a very strong beginning that incorporates a swagger of tasty rhythmical challenges and runs with it! The guitar and bass play a big part here guiding the track to its goal, but sadly it fades before any real climax is achieved.

It is a rather indulgent EP with the first track being a whopping nine minutes eleven seconds and the last being one minute fifty seven, so not the usual prog that has each track lasting around ten minutes which can get a little strained but overall a good effort!

8/10

Track List:

Crawl

A Dream so Deep

Instinct

Into Dust

Members:

Cody D - Vocals/Guitar

Alex S. - Bass/Vocals

Randi M - Drums

End of Salvation - Monolith of Leviathan - 11 Track Album - Released 1st January 2016

End of Salvation

Monolith of Leviathan

11 Track Album

Released 1^st January 2016

Written for RAMzine

End of Salvation – South East England

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/endofsalvationUK/timeline

Genre: Death Metal

Biography:

“The band originally formed in 2011, and have had a few line-up changes. Though in 2015, they have completed the set up and discovered the sound they will be carrying on with.

And that is brutal.

They want to destroy the stage with ground crushing bass drops, brutal high screams descending into low tremors that will send shivers through you. Guitar solos that will melt your brain and turn it to jelly. All carried along by the smashing, thundering and quite frankly annihilation of the drums that will fuel your adrenaline and make you want to throw down harder than an angry chef raging over a burnt lamb shank.

This is the End of Salvation!”

~~~~~~~~~~

From the off you know something ominous is about to happen and it isn’t long before it does! The anticipation breeds fear into your soul and shakes your very foundation! The gruelling vocal edge gargles its utterings and then you are truly hooked! It may only be a short introduction but it means business and piques the interest nicely, if that is the word to use for a death metal band!

The second track ‘God of Annihilation’ is much more forthcoming and brutal, with its scathing lunge of rampant rhythms that march into battle and replenish the ears from the short opening track. Captivating and cruel it badgers the senses and paves the way for what is further on the agenda!

‘Serpent Messenger’ again likes to make a beef about its presence as the prowling melee continues with devastating effect! The rumbling blast beats and thumping rhythms are indeed concocted to cause a stir and make a bold statement.

‘Resurrection’ holding its own as the feisty textures mesmerise with distinct fury and aggression. As the grooves take over it is very clear that the band have you in their sights and locked on target for annihilation of the very brutal kind!

‘Nightbringer’ knows just how to brutalise the audial cavities and wreaks its havoc almost instantaneously. No surprise there really, as this savage genre only has one thing on its mind and imposes its dirtiest encounter, unleashing a bruising decaying outcome with all its might!

‘Monolith’ possesses a hard edged resonating sound that envelopes the senses and leaves one feeling very exposed to its surrounding encounter. It harbours an urgent angst within its core and made more urgent by the sound of sharp strings.

‘Devastate_Obliterate’ Back to the putrid vocal bait that sucks you into their fierce and intense arrogance, with a very formidable gargle blasting and blast beats that compliment it to the extreme

‘Arrogance’ A very apt title as ‘End of Salvation’ delivers it with success as a brooding bass and inflamed melodic rhythms come crashing around your ears enveloping the soul in this bone crushing track.

‘Worthless’ the drama continues as this track beats up a storm that can only cause a tantalizing whirlwind of pleasure. Its rhythms are heavy and forthright as expected and filled full of rancour and bite.

‘Fire to the Flesh’ starts with a primal skulking of sorts and then unleashes a terrifying vocal scourge as it creeps into the darkest recesses of the mind and slowly infiltrates with utter abandon.

‘Tyranny’ is a superb track to end this bonanza album on! Its battering’s are equal to 10 on the Richter scale! The confrontations of such a track will surely leave utter devastation in its path.

9.5/10

Track List:

The End of Salvation

God of Annihilation

Serpent Messenger

Resurrection

Nightbringer

Monolith

Devastate Obliterate

Arrogance

Worthless

Fire to the Flesh

Tyranny

Members:

Alec Pearson - Bass

Brad Hanson - Drums

Frank Clow - Guitar

Conor Reid - Guitar

Ryan 'Dooders' Duddridge - Vocals

Discharge - End of Days - 15 Track Album - Nuclear Blast Records - Released 29th April 2016

Discharge

End of Days

15 Track Album

Nuclear Blast Records

Released 29^th April 2016

Written for RAMzine

Discharge – Stoke on Trent

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Dischargeofficial

Genre: Hard Core Punk

“Make noise not music!” is a great way to describe these Hard Core Punks who formed in the dark distant past of 1977 in Stoke on Trent by Terence "Tezz" Roberts (vocals) and Royston "Rainy" Wainwright (guitar) and still making waves despite a lot of line-up changes, however their music is still close to the bone and is more than capable at causing a stir today!

Discharge in their earlier days followed in the vein of the Sex Pistols shouting lyrics that contained no melody and then a bit later on in the 80’s they adopted a sound very similar to Motorhead utilizing a ‘wall of sound’

On February 10th, 2016, the band announced their 7th studio album, entitled End of Days, to be released on April 29th. It will be Discharge's first album with singer JJ as a five piece.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hard Core Heroes!”

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In true punk vein Discharge write about violence, hate, and all the usual things that punk bands are associated with, however, this time round they have made inroads singing about The New World Order and things closely associated with it which is always a good subject to talk about as well as sing about as it keeps people mulling things over in their heads.

The dynamic rhythms are just so eager to boil over and jangle violently which is what makes punk so enjoyable and brings new depth to a track.

As the genres shuffle about Punk has remained in the background for quite some considerable time now – approx. 36 years and counting! But the level of aggression remains high!

Stoke on Trent isn’t what I would call the punk capital of the North and it does leave a rather surprised look on my furrowed brow, even more so when you realise that up there they call each other ‘duck!” However, punks do not get the credit they deserve, half of them look intimidating only for you to find they are the nicest guys on the planet and that their hardy exterior is just for show only!

I feel punk was created so that a generation of like-minded individuals could be as crude as they liked, say what they wanted and give the middle finger to society as a whole and today that hasn’t changed, nor is it likely to thanks to Discharge we can go on giving society the middle finger! Up yours!

10/10

Track List:

New World Order

Raped and Pillaged

End of Days

The Broken Law

False Flag Entertainment

Meet your Maker

Hate bomb

It can’t happen here

Infected

Killing yourself to Live

Looking at pictures of Genocide

Hung Drawn and Quartered

Population Control

The Terror Alert

Accessories by Molotov II

Members:

Royston "Rainy" Wainwright – guitar

Anthony "Bones" Roberts – guitar

Terence "Tezz" Roberts – vocals

David "Proper" Caution – drums

Jeff "J.J." Janiak - Lead Vocals

Cetacean - Breach Submerge - 3 Track EP - Apes who looked up Records - To be released 27th May 2016

Cetacean

Breach Submerge

3 Track EP

Apes who looked up Records

To be released 27^th May 2016

Written for RAMzine

Cetacean – Los Angeles CA

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Cetaceanband

Genre: Heavy Progressive Blackened Sludge mix

Biography:

“Drawing from various traditions of progressive and extreme metal music, Cetacean's debut EP "Breach | Submerge" morphs deftly from one mood to the next. Waves of cascading clean guitars and saxophone yield to crushing death marches and lush, blackened blasts. Haunted vocal harmonies and anguished screams meld with intricate chord melodies in a glorious ode to life and death in the cosmic chaos.

Conceived from the mind and influences of L.A. native David Sais, Cetacean was realized in 2015 with a complete line-up that includes Daniel Pouliot (Ancestors, Horse the Band), Trae Malone (Ex-Black Sheep Wall), Swansong (Exhausted Prayer), Benigno Esaú, and Stephen Charouhas!”

~~~~~~

‘Earth is a Whisper’ is a rather ambiguous track that switches its guise from billowing to progressive in the flash of a hat and then in comes the most gratuitous vocal insurgence ever – it is a very clever change incorporating a blackened sludge mix that only comes into play when you least expect it, so the band’s diversity cannot come into question here at all. They lull you into a false sense of security and reward you with these cunning tracks and this makes them a very unique outfit.

‘Relationships Deteriorate’ Starts off more or less the same as before with a plume of smoke and a haze of cymbals the track meanders into its range of sight and stays within its boundaries - for now! But here it comes the vocals that sink a million battleships! And now in a progressive vein it changes once more. The harmonies are really creative and forward thinking, although listening to the band on record I can see a bigger pull for seeing them in a ‘live’ setting as this is quite potent and not easy to pin down.

‘Outpour I II III’ the edginess is ever quickening on this track as it battles its demonic forces and cuts a new force field into its own territory! The drama continues to unfold in a cosmic array of expressive and intense magnitude. Nobody could foresee this climatic element without first engaging on a level with its primary encounter and now I have I find it is very hard to ignore.

Progressive is a genre that is always hard to get into unless you really enjoy it as there are so many too-ing and fro-ings but somehow Cetacean have succeeded their own boundaries and come up with an EP that has the workings of genius’s. It still incorporates the magnitude of aggressive and the beauty of progressive – you could call it pro-aggressive for want of a better word, as it ties you into its web of deceit.

I am not sure I have ever heard anything, as diverse as this previously that incorporates this gruelling madness like beauty and the beast with such amazing results it is quite breath-taking.

The fact the band use saxophones and all lend a hand with the vocals is a defining moment for them and they should be very pleased with the results they have forged together!

Ones to watch!

9/10

Track List:

Earth is a Whisper

Relationships Deteriorate

Outpour I II III

Members:

David - Guitar

Swansong - Sax, Guitar, Vocals

Stephen - Bass, Vocals

Trae - Vocals

Benigno - Guitar, Vocals

Daniel - Drums