Ungraved Apparition - Pulse_O - 13 Track Album - Grimm Distribution - Satanath Records - Release Date: 23rd April 2017

Ungraved Apparition

Pulse_O

13 Track Album

Grimm Distribution

Satanath Records

Release Date: 23^rd April 2017

Ungraved Apparition – Ekaterinburg, Russia

Links:

http://www.metaluniverse.net/nouvelles.php?id_nouvelle=29363

Genre: Dark Metal

Biography:

“Ungraved Apparition” is a dark metal unit from Ekaterinburg, Russia. It was founded in late 2014 by three members of Micky Babossa (guitar), Paul Kas (drums), and Leon Kratt (bass guitar). In the process of creating the material, the musicians felt the need for a powerful and heavier sound, thus in August 2015, Bones Taker joined them as the second guitar, mainly for playing the solos. Accompanying him was dammed for the role of the vocalist.

By the beginning of 2016, having formed a concert program and having removed the clip "Гнилостные бактерии" Ungraved Apparition conducted a series of concerts in the cities of Russia. Since 2016, the musicians entered the studio to record a studio album. The main idea behind the album was the merging of two worlds: the world of depression and despair from incurable diseases, the sadism of bloody surgery experiments and the afterlife, inhabited by the suffering souls of the dead people, the chilling horror of which is squeezed by convulsive cries in the throat.

Utilising crushing heavy riffs interlaced with more melodic sections to create an environment of decay, spearheaded by a ghastly vocal attack, the band achieve their goal with aggression as well as atmosphere. PULSE_0 is a single concept of how musicians see the inner world of a person and his desperate struggle for every minute of life!”

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This is really dark and devastating not to mention creepy and cold. The first track meanders and doesn’t really benefit anyone or anything the same as a coma. It is there but nobody is home! Not sure why the band have done the intro’s separate from the tracks as they would really give them more depth and feeling especially the Save Intro which is really atmospheric and eerie. However, it is like the band produced the album in a hospital where people are dying constantly around them or in extreme agony. After the first intro the band really get into their stride and produce some really serious shit, vocally, just like Diablo has come out to claim his lost souls. Again back to an intro and the sound of someone taking their last breath before moving on into the afterlife – hardly joyous stuff here but I have to admit it is quite interesting. This track is like it welcomes its next victim to the afterlife, although sung in Russian no idea if they are being welcomed or initiated into the fold of demons. Hell’s has its fires burning and a woman’s cackle can be heard above a groaning and strange noise along with weird rumbles can be heard, is the devil giving people a chance to take a dark path? That’s anyone’s guess. It definitely sounds like the initiation has begun on the Immortal Phenomenon for sure, and helped along by its Russian tongue makes it that bit more interesting and devious. The guitars are just perfect, in fact, the band works well together on this demonic album. This sounds spread with severe infection – if you have a good imagination! I am OK with the sounds but the pictures it conjures up are a little bit more revealing. I so wish the band had put the intros into their tracks instead of separating them it would have told the story much better. Now it is Gangrene’s chance to spread and cause misery… however, the intros are a lot more talkative and beneficial to the listener as without them for the tracks it is just like a book with the pages missing. Dust is, however, what we will all become one day and so the final track of this strange but interesting album.

It is definitely unique in its own way, vocally seething and gnarly with solid riffs and hard bass with tempered drums – the band do work well together and sung in their mother tongue about things that we never really think about (apart from Death) is quite ingenious.

9/10

Track List:

Кома - Coma

Спаси! (Intro)

Спаси! Save!

Тот, кто не дышит (Intro)

Тот, кто не дышит - The one who does not breathe

Неумершее явление (Intro)

Неумершее явление - The Immortal Phenomenon

Гнилостные бактерии (Intro)

Гнилостные бактерии - The Putrefactive Bacteria

Гангрена (Intro)

Гангрена - The Gangrene

Пыль (Intro)

Пыль - Dust

Line-up:

Mickey Babossa - Guitars

Paul Kas - Drums

Leon Krat - Bass

Bones Taker – Lead Guitars

Damned - Vocals

Primal Age - A Silent Wound - 4 Track E.P - Deadlight Entertainment - Release Date: 3rd March 2017

Primal Age

A Silent Wound

4 Track E.P

Deadlight Entertainment

Release Date: 3^rd March 2017

Written for Blackened Horde Zine

Primal Age – Rouen France

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/PRIMALAGE/

Genre: Metalcore

Biography:

“Energy, power, passion & communication with the public it's how we can resume PRIMAL AGE's shows - Defence of animal rights, vegetarianism, ecology denunciation (amongst other things) of the over consumption of mass are so many recurring themes that the band explains about and have asserted since 1993. PRIMAL AGE marked the 90s by being among the first ones to mix Metal and Hardcore styles in Europe.

The band began in 1993. After a lot of shows all over France, Primal Age appeared on the compilation "In This Other Land" (Overcome Rcds), with other bands like Kickback, Drowning, Right for life, Stormcore, Seekers of the Truth and become a revelation by its music inspired by Hardcore and Metal!”

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If there is one genre that makes me smile from ear to ear it is the one entitled METALCORE. It has something to do with the ferocity in which it is delivered and executed. It can create a mosh pit in literally seconds of the tracks coming into play. However, the themes that Primal Age have chosen to write about Whistleblowers VS World Health Organisation to name but one, are very controversial but this is something in the band’s favour for sure! We all have opinions that others sometimes disagree with but when put to music it can take a step back from its political stance as the music tends to wash over you and take complete control. 

A Silent Wound sounds almost black metal as the screaming vocals bind along with the music some frenzied attacks of seething metal that hammers home saying that this track is bold and simply roars with gripping excitement. Such passion and creativity can be experienced on this track alone as it broadens one's horizons with a passionate insight into the bands complete unsettled calm and wages war with eager aggression.

Counterfeiters of the Science is fuelled with distortion and eerie madness until it explodes into a sudden rage of terror. Sparking venomous riffs and a crazed drum beat and it doesn’t stop to catch its breath either as it beats the living shit out of your skull for just getting in the way of its mighty roars. It is a very demanding and powerful track that deserves your full attention and focus.

To Jeff is an ode to Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman who died of liver failure on the 2^nd May 2013 and whose band Slayer covered topics such as murder, serial killers, necrophilia, torture, genocide, human experimentation, Satanism, hate crimes, terrorism, religion, anti-religion, Nazism, and warfare, and that has generated album bans, delays, lawsuits, and criticism from religious groups and the public, but who gives a toss! They have a right to speak their minds like anyone else!! Although I never got into Slayer or the extreme revolution of thrash when it first appeared in the early 80’s but I do have a lot of respect for these guys who gave us this thunderous sound, while I was still into my rock and NWOBHM – however, the local band scene changed things for me in the 2012 era and now thrash and the more extreme end of the scale is far more appreciated than it was for me in the 80’s. But it is an acquired taste and depending on the age you are, you may not appreciate the grunting, growling intensity, but for me it goes a long way to making me want more and more and I regret not liking it in the past, as this track is a fantastic tribute to Jeff who would be proud of it, make no mistake, and well done to the guys Primal Age for producing such an intense listen in just 4 tracks!

9/10

Track List:

Whistleblowers VS World Health Organisation

A Silent Wound

Counterfeiters of the Science

To Jeff

Line-up:

Benoit - Guitar

Florian - Guitar

Mehdi - Drums

xDimitrix - Bass & Vocals

xDidierx - Vocals

From Eden to Exile - Modern Disdain - Attic Records/PHD - Stampede PR - 8 Track Album - Release Date: 2nd June 2017

From Eden to Exile

Modern Disdain

Attic Records/PHD

Stampede PR

8 Track Album

Release Date: 2^nd June 2017

From Eden to Exile – Northampton

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/fromedentoexile

Debut album produced by Neil Hudson (Krysthla) at Initiate Audio and Media

Genre: Metal

Biography:

“Producer Neil Hudson was quick to spot the potential of the group and took them under his wing, providing not just his skills as a producer, but also mentoring the group, thanks to his own experiences as a member in successful metal acts Gutworm and Krysthla. "From Eden to Exile are going to make serious waves with this album. Make no mistake. From start to finish it's an absolute monster” states Hudson!”

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I have come to learn the names to fear when being instantly drawn to the more extreme end of the musical scale and the name Neil Hudson makes me shudder with excitement as when he gets his mitts on your work you know he is going to squeeze everything he can out of it – Krysthla are proof of that for sure. Eden to Exile are now reaping their rewards with this mesmerising album produced by the master himself and it shows. Gospel Untold is gut-wrenching and gnarly and instantaneously is corrosive and noisy until the last! Modern Disdain gets increasingly dark and repugnant as the large metal slabs make a bee-line for your ears and split them in a second. Your ears do not have any time to react to the bullying they are about to receive… and may we be truly thankful! Violate simply molests with rampaging urgency. How on earth do they play something to that level of quickness? I can almost see Neil standing over them with a horse whip!

Victim allows for the drums to make an appearance while the riffs judder and scream for their lives. It is a moreish track with plenty of lingering violent emotion. The Dreamer holds a rugged forthright beat and as fleeting as the riffs are creating so much frenzy and intoxicating rhythms that can’t be ignored.

From Eden to Exile wounds with serious intent but just with whiplash as it intentionally pushes you to obey its whims with rhythmic causticity. What you’ve done is a rhythmical dodgem car that literally has sparks flying from its wheels as they turn frantically to a monstrous swathe of high intensity. Sentiment twists and turns so much it purposefully digs its own hole. It is a screeching passionate delve into the band's world of an exciting and thrilling compendium of rhythms.

This album has teeth so just be prepared to be bitten!

9/10

Tracklist

Gospel untold

Modern Disdain

Volatile

Victim

The Dreamer

From Eden to Exile

What you’ve done

Sentiment

Line-up:

Matt Dyne -Vocals

Tom Kelland - Guitars

Joey Jaycock - Bass

Mike Bell - Guitars

Liam Turland - Drums

Written by Wolves - Timebombs & Hurricanes Official Music Video - Released 30th March 2017

Written by Wolves

Timebombs & Hurricanes

Official Music Video

Released 30^th March 2017

Written by Wolves – Auckland, New Zealand

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/writtenbywolves

Written by Wolves would like to give special thanks to:

Huge effort once again from Bahador Borhani and massive thanks to Lauren Kate Went for braving the hoverboard to help shoot this sucker. Thanks so much to the team at the Bruce Mason Centre for making this possible and letting us use their incredible theatre...

Genre: Progressive, New, Cinematic-Rock

Biography:

Formed in 2014 Written by Wolves have strode towards fame all guns blazing. Their sound is rock, alternative, electronic and pop all rolled into one mighty sound that is more than satisfying but groundbreaking, and I would go as far to say earth shattering too! Bit by bit the band have gathered over 50,000 fans who have listened to them on Spotify and had over one million plays so far… but hardly surprising really with their calibre of sound. These four guys are not just musicians they are magicians also because each track they produce is magic in every sense of the word.

Nothing is sleight of hand though, it is all out in the open and these four guys have once again brought me to my knees in utter shock! How do they do it? How do they keep on producing winning tracks? What is their secret? The secret I feel is behind Written by Wolves popularity isn’t as you would expect, it is just simply four extremely talented guys who have a deep passion for producing music and they do it with such finesse! In other words the magic works!

The latest Music Video Timebombs & Hurricanes is a bit like how you are going to feel after having a brush with it. The first breath of the track leaves you spellbound and perplexed. They can play catchy pop tracks and then play something heavy like Pretty Lies but whatever they play is compelling and moreish – the magnetism draws you into its fantastic grooves and gives your ears something good to feast on… a banquet for muso’s you could say!

Superb new music video from Written by Wolves

Timebombs & Hurricanes!

The melody is strengthened by superb vocal harmonies by the band and of course the superbly carved vocals by the amazing Michael Murphy who pulls the band together with his compelling voice and Bahador, Davie and Karl's thrilling escapades that go all out to seduce and conquer and they do it in a blitzkrieg moment.

Written by Wolves are just so unique, they can turn their talented hands to anything they set their minds to. They give you that wanton hunger to listen and to explore the boisterous simmering under the surface and to feel their energetic force, in fact, the whole track creates a bounce that adds to its own personality that screams Written by Wolves it couldn’t be anyone else!

Loaded with dynamism, that will have you singing along to its catchy lyrics in seconds!! GO WOLVES!!!!!

10/10

Line-up:

Michael Murphy - Vocals

Davie Wong - Bass

Bahador Borhani – Guitar

Karl Woodhams - Drums

Krysthla - The Minor Mystery of Death - New single from Peace of our Time - (Rel 7th April 2017) Stampede PR - Release Date 3rd April 2017

Krysthla

*The Minor Mystery of Death Official Video

New single from Peace of our Time (which is to be released 7^th April 2017)

Stampede PR

*Release Date 3^rd April 2017

Krysthla – Wellingborough, Northants

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/krysthla

Genre: Part Extreme, Part Technical, Part Progressive, Part Metal

Biography:

“Guitarist Neil Hudson says of the track: "The Minor Mystery Of Death is about embracing the end. Death is an absolute certainty and we're living lives that seem like they're going to last forever until it's too late and your mortality is thrust into your hands. “We're very precious towards our lives but don't actually live them.”

Peace in Our Time was influenced by Krysthla’s 2016 European tour with Decapitated – with Hudson revealing that one experience on the road will live with him forever:

“On the Greek border, I saw a refugee girl stood on the other side of the motorway while we were parked up getting fuel. She saw us looking over at the thousands of grubby tents cooking the inhabitants in the scorching heat and fixed her eyes on me for a few seconds. “I gave her a nod. She jumped over the barrier and ran over the motorway to the garage, dodging traffic on her way. She walked over, looked me straight in the eye, said something in Syrian and gave me a high five and hugged my leg. “I left a bit of me behind that day. We sobbed in the van as we left. It was utterly heart breaking to hear the hum of bodies murmuring in the boiling sun.” Hudson adds: “The album is influenced heavily, and almost solely by the fact I am a father. With so much unrest and violence in the world, it's easy to turn your back and pretend none of it has an impact on your life. “Or somehow because it's a long way from home it's someone else's problem. War does not sleep. War does not stop. It doesn't choose who dies and who lives. But the people who light the fire and fan the flames do!”

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Death is such a bitter sweet thing. There is death all around us just as there are births, births signify a new beginning and oddly enough so does death. Where we move to a different plane of existence is anyone’s guess, however, after experiencing an OOBE (Out of Body Experience) I cannot shake off the idea of this higher existence and believe that one does move on to pastures new, but can also keep an eye on what is happening in the here and now. Just as with death in life there is death in music and none so fierce and poignant than Krysthla. Death metal has been with us for around 30 years or so, quite hard to imagine but it started in the mid 80’s and comes with various sub-genres attached to it like Tech death, Melo Death, Death Core and Death Grind to name but a few.

It is serious music that reaches out and swipes with an intensity all its own. With each new band bringing their own slant on death Metal it has really grown and so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Krysthla leaves no stone unturned, no ground fertile, no sky clear, they devour and demolish as they go along but leave a thought provoking pattern behind them. The vocals by Adi enhance the track while the guitars grip instinctively. It is emotionally scarring and offers us an antagonistic character which is displayed within the confines of the black and white disturbing video.

It certainly brings out the sincerity of the track and makes you think of your own mortality. Life is fragile, in the blink of an eye, it is gone. The moments we hold dear are just fleeting but this video will poke at the conscience and last for a long time to come.

9/10

Line-up:

Adi Mayes - Vocals

Neil Hudson - Guitars

Carl Davis - Bass

Noel Davis - Guitars

Wayne Minney - Drums

Bitterfeldt - Götzen.Dämmerung - 10 track Album - massacre records - Release date: 24th March 2017

Bitterfeldt

Götzen.Dämmerung

10 Track Album

Massacre Records

Release Date: 24^th March 2017

Written for RAMzine

Bitterfeldt – Terra Obscura

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/bitterfeldt

Genre: Psychedelic End Time Noise

Biography:

2012 by EVEREVE-Frontman Micha (singing, keys, music & lyrics) and his long-time friend Sascha (ex-GAU, guitar, didgeridoo), has now seen the first album of Bitterfeldt the shadows of the world.

With the support of Matze (ex-CREMATORY, guitar), Oliver (EVEREVE, bass) and  Christian Bass (HEAVEN SHALLBURN, drums) and the musicians Sascha Dürk (several winners of the Future Music Awards) and André Höche. Variegated and dark grey - produced by Gerhard Magin (among others THEATER OF TRAGEDY, TOTENMOND, AGATHODAIMON, MYSTIC CIRCLE). The soundtrack to the apocalypse. Epic, intense, abysmal...

Part of the musical and textual concept of idols. Dawn are short claustrophobic sound cascades between the individual songs, refined by Nietzsche's quotations, by Giorgios Tzitzikos (among others ARTE). Food for heart, soul and spirit. And for the eyes: photo and video artist Markus Richter (among others Eastman Kodak USA, ProSiebenSAT1) and graphic artist Aleksandar Zivanov ensure the appropriate visual implementation.

The eternal night, the end-time mood in word, image and sound: Bitterfeldt.

Get rid of your idols! Determine about yourself!

Nihil Verum est! Dolor vincit omnia!” (From beginning to end)

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The stark reality of this band hits you straight between the eyes as soon as the play button is released. The dark, anxious strides of rhythm plumb out like billowing smoke fumes turns into a track called Nordlicht, which for the few people who do know ein bischen deutch means north light. The track is sun ‘auf Deutsch’ which makes it highly delightful hearing the tones of German ring through the speaker units. Arktus spins us into a haunting madness but sadly just a filler – it's eerie whispering voice and demonic darkness overshadow the light in this chilling track. Eines Tages is the track that will wake you from a deep coma, as it preys on your weakness with mind blowing darkness and haunting keyboard. It agonises over its doom-laden melody with a crisp clean German vocal which is very addictive. Its heaviness is prolonged by deep cavernous rhythms that shoot from the hip! Anatole throws a cold crisp and sparse blanket over the proceedings with incidental noises that coincide with a dark and callous voice. Zauberland or translated means magic place or magic land and is a very malevolent dark spirited track that is like a thick acrid smoke that chokes and infests with acid rain keyboard and deep sonic bass hooks. Mesembria actually touches on the psychedelic fringes be it only very briefly indeed, and quite harrowing for such a short track. Fiebertraum one can hardly fail to be amused by this track as the sound of someone who has been running breaths heavily while the soft plinking of keys underlies the darkened mysteriousness while the deep clean and deathly vocal sings out some sad lyrics as if under the spell of a fever!  Dysis scratches the surface and produces a gritty track with a demonic voice and is haunting as it is disturbing. The fact it is only another filler track makes no difference here it certainly gets its impending point across. Unendlich briefly and I mean very briefly touches on a moment’s psychedelia and then spirals into an unending large stride of metal rhythms with an urgent vocal spewing out eye widening horror! Art.Zero finally sees the end of this magical album that just sweeps you into a dark place where your dreams are realised and turned into nightmares.

I love the way the vocals bring the music alive with a deep and harrowing experience!

9/10

  

Track List:

Nordlicht – North Light

Arktus - Arctic

Eines Tages – One Day

Anatole

Zauberland – Magic Place

Mesembria

Fiebertraum – Dream Fever

Dysis

Unendlich – Unending, Infinity

Art.Zero

Line-up:

Micha (Vocals, Keyboards)

Sascha (Guitar, Didgeridoo)

Crnkshft - Crnkshft - 4 Track E.P - Self-release - Release Date: 24th March 2017

Crnkshft

Crnkshft

4 Track E.P

Self-Release

Release Date: 24^th March 2017

Written for RAMzine

Crnkshft – Canada

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/crnkshft

Genre: Hard Core/Grunge Rock

Biography:

“CRNKSHFT is an explosive band composed of five musicians from Vancouver, Canada. Their brand of rock is high in energy and it’s something you can notice when you see the band live and listen to their songs. CRNKSHFT’s original sound is influenced by hard core bands like Five Finger Death Punch and Korn. Grunge bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains, and metal bands such as Pantera and Metallica. That gives them a refreshing sound that forges these genres together. Their riffs are designed to get your blood pulsing, their dynamics get your fist pumping, and the melody keeps you singing along. CRNKSHFT prides itself on writing raw, emotional, music; that is transforming a genre that they themselves have branded “H.F.R.” Between 2013 and 2014, CRNKSHFT recorded and released their first album « HFR ». In the summer of 2015, the band plays around Vancouver with a new line-up of musicians which will be the definitive line-up. The band then signed a deal with Rednyne Productions who brought the formation to a new level in the Vancouver music scene!”

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Oh yeah, this is like the music that appears in my dreams – along with a lot of other genres, however, this raucous, heavy, bone-shaking madness is top of the list and this track ‘Systematic’ just does the trick! It wraps its harsh melodies around your head never mind your ears and weaves its own turmoil. It's catchy and solid and to be honest a track that should carry a warning of being very addictive as your fingers reach for the replay button yet again to bask in its extreme pleasure bound twists that lock into your head and won’t leave you alone for a second.

This track Tears me apart leads you into a false sense of security as a large sigh can be heard at the start and then an almighty “Yeahhhhhhhhhhh!” overtakes with utter madness. Holding a superbly strong beat, powerful vocals, deadly bass licks and fabulous riffs as well as being drenched in an inescapable rhythm it is one track that is a real adventure. The compelling edginess draws you into its penetrating craziness and forces you to obey its grand master plan with ease. The sampled voice is a nice touch and although been done before by many bands this band make you feel you have walked on the undisturbed ground.

With a deep and ravenous beating of drums, squealing guitar and swearing lyrics it gets underway, with an impressive hunger for breeding more and more excitement into its mesmerising structure. Old Habits is one track that will be easy to teach the converted but will also sway the unconverted, due to its addictive flair, highly soaring and powerful riffs that torment with absolute fuelled agitation.

The final track on this wondrous E.P is entitled Breaking the Silence and if anyone can do that it is CRNKSHFT! The thunderous riffs simply slice through you but it is a painless experience and more a pleasurable one. The melodic rhythms just wrap themselves around you like a feather boa and yet the vocals remain steadfast on being harsh and unyielding, it’s a superb combination indeed. It leaves behind a lingering sensation like once heard never forgotten kind of thing as they know how to embed their musical magic where it belongs – and that is deep inside your head!

For an E.P this has four very powerful tracks attached to it and demands your attention – Do yourself a favour and listen!!

9.5/10

Track List:

Systematic

Tears me apart

Old Habits

Breaking the Silence

Line-up:

Shane - Vocalist

Geoff - Lead / Rhythm Guitar

Seb - Lead / Rhythm Guitar

Tre - Bass

Josh - Drums

The Projectionist - Exhalted Solitude - 10 Track Album - Qabar Extreme Music - Appalachian Noise Records & The True Plague Records - Release Date: 20th April 2017

The Projectionist

Exalted Solitude

10 Track Album

Qabar Extreme Music

Appalachian Noise Records & The True Plague Records

Release Date: 20^th April 2017

The Projectionist – Canada

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/The-Projectionist

Genre: Black Metal

Biography:

“The Projectionist (previously known as Lord Matzigkeitus), was initiated by the frontman Lord Matzigkeitus (Ex - Idolatry). He was soon joined by comrades from some other diabolic acts including Vile Insignia, Unrest, Ov Enochian, Belchior etc., however, the line-up has continued to change. The music is centred on themes of hatred and isolation, to evoke new unexplored domains of intellectual fury and bleakness in black metal with complete despotic will poured over its endeavours.

Beginning their warpath in 2016, they released a full-length and EP, entitled “Poisonous Disengagement” and “The Gallows Forest Eulogy” respectively, which attacked listeners with ghoulish screams and mournful yet ultimately violent guitar work, gaining good reviews in the process. Exalted Solitude is the Projectionist's next phase in evolution. Refined and despotically black. Here, the ramparts of hell are fully manned and blotting out the sun with hateful arrows. Meant to vanguard the tortured isolation of satanic rule. Lord Matzigkeitus, Parageist and new drummer Malphas bludgeon True cultists with eloquent savagery and indomitable power!”

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So if you are looking for something grizzly to get your teeth into with a bit of ambience thrown in for good measure look no further than The Projectionist the first track 11 strikes to incite incurable silences is not only aptly titled but sure to cause a bit of alarm and will either have you running off into the distance or madly stunned and seduced by its ferocity and disturbing sounds, least of all by vocalist Lord Matzigkeitus himself, who I believe must be the devil incarnate! The cover also gives out that caustic vibe that makes you feel very uncomfortable indeed and more so as you cannot stop staring at it as you feel it will just come alive and devour you in minutes. Suckling a Most Hateful Claustrum the second track on the album doesn’t sound like black metal musically although the vocals leave you in no doubt! It is a maddening flurry of biting and abrasive riffs that seethe below a frightening vocal entourage that you can’t escape from. Ineffable Inner Void is a sneaky and creepy track that gargles blood and makes you feel chilled to the bone, every second you listen but of course you cannot stop listening because it is very powerful and beguiling. If you thought you were listening to an Exorcism you would probably be right!! Oubliette Threnodies is a bleak dark escapade that ambles with an evil black magic that surrounds it. The pace is slower but fully recognisable as being scary and indeed corrosive in delivery. The vocals seem to be getting further demonic and astringent, the fact it is distorted brings the goose bumps out in force.

If Erased, So Fertile Ought is a bit of an unexpected twist as it is a light track that meddles with an acoustic guitar and a whispered vocal, although it leaves you guessing as to whether it will suddenly explode and rip your face off, However, it doesn’t but it still has that edgy feel attached to it. Draw Away like a dial being turned quickly this track shunts its calm little acoustic track to one side and explodes once again. Its vocals ride on turbulent waves that engulf with severe ferocity and harbour bold undercurrents. Its powerful streak has not gone unnoticed. Chapel of Astaroth is a hard faced track that fiendishly savages the ears in such a malicious way it almost grows fangs! This track harbours cruel intentions by the bucket load. Zarathustra is another scandalous track that weaves a web of destruction as it gnaws on the audible and causes a heinous crime as it does so. There is nothing tame or restrained within this album bar ‘If erased, so fertile ought’ the rest of the album will indeed devour on contact. Sleepless Witching Curse instinctively goes for the jugular and rips at the flesh with such savagery it is beyond belief! It is unpredictable and menacing at times, although predictable that it will haunt you for a long time to come. Harpy Whispers Malice (The Regent's Downfall) could be the theme to a horror movie as the large banging noises can be felt juddering the speakers. It is devious and manipulative – and certainly, keeps you in the pitch black. This album wants you for its own dark intent and purpose and will draw you into its rotting and festering world with ease, it won’t take much to pull you in and torture your mind and soul.  Lord Matzigkeitus has now worked his evil magic spells and you have become cursed forever more. Life can never be the same again after listening to this album.

Haunting and savage until the last note! You have been warned – this one bites!

10/10

Track List:

11 Strikes to Incite Incurable Silences

Suckling a Most Hateful Claustrum

Ineffable Inner Void

Oubliette Threnodies

If Erased, So Fertile Ought

Draw Away

Chapel of Astaroth

Zarathustra

Sleepless Witching Curse

Harpy Whispers Malice (The Regent's Downfall)

Line-up:

Lord Matzigkeitus - Vocals

Parageist - Guitars

Malphas - Drums

(Guest appearance by Christopher Hernandez of Xasthur)