Back to Bandcamp: January 22, 2016

Blackend Horizon - Monotonous Solitude Within Cold Forests

(http://blackendhorizon.bandcamp.com/album/monotonous-solitude-within-cold-forests)

I like a novelty EP. They bring out the fun, creative side of a band in the way few other projects do. On this little absurdity, Germany's Blackend Horizon renders a few of his own black metal creations in a different kind of lo-fi: what he calls "8-bit blasphemie." This soundtrack to a grim and kvlt 1980s video game that never was is surprisingly listenable and the reinterpretations hold up even without knowing the originals. Monotonous Solitude Within Cold Forests is the best kind of musical joke: the kind worth listening to on its own merits.

Recommended.

Serpethslayer - I
(http://sslayer666.bandcamp.com/album/i)

The epithet "earth-shaking" gets plastered on plenty of doom metal acts that don't deserve it. Russia's Serpethslayer are not one of those acts. This band's brand of doom is deep and throaty. It rumbles like the approaching footsteps of a titanic monstrosity on "Intro/Satan." It hums like a circle of black hooded figures conjuring up some unknown horror on "Coven." And its raw and fleshy growls sound like the band lowered a microphone into their singer's gaping maw.

I've probably gotten your hopes up too high. Serpethslayer are just ominous as bottomless pit and bring just the right touch of Lovecraftian psychedelic kitsch. Try not to bob your head and frown appreciatively to this record. Go on, try it.

Recommended.

WitchHunt - Void Hymns
(http://witchhuntom.bandcamp.com/album/void-hymns)

Hold on to your faces.

These Canadian blackened crust punkers deliver a tight and aggressive 10 minutes of musical savagery on Void Hymns. With excellent, crisp production and some solid songwriting, WitchHunt's second EP cleans up the weaknesses of the band's self-titled debut and improves on its strengths. From the vicious guitar chugs on "Vile" and "Decay" to the bleak, heavy riffs of "Misery," WitchHunt find ways to keep things interesting and blisteringly brutal. Winters in Toronto must be cold indeed.

Recommended.

The Thurible Reviews: Show Me Wolves - "The World They Took Over"

If black metal has a weakness, it's a general lack of dynamism. Apart from more experimental acts like Deathspell Omega, most black metal songs revolve around a few menacing riffs repeated over a standard driving drum beat. It's a great formula for creating the haunting atmospheres that black metal fans love, but it doesn't make the listener involuntarily bob their head in the way death, or doom, or nearly every other kind metal does.

Iceland's Show Me Wolves aren't quite black metal. I don't mean that in a disparaging way; they're not "not quite black metal" in the same way that Cradle of Filth are not quite black metal. Rather, Show Me Wolves straddles the line between progressive black metal and metalcore so effectively that to describe the band as either/or would feel dishonest. This Icelandic solo project of Hörður Lúðvíksson delivers the frosty riffs and blast beats fans of black metal expect, but mixes them with the punk energy and big melodies of modern metalcore for a listen that's more accessible than most black metal and grimmer than most metalcore.

The World They Took Over is packed full of thick, fuzzy riffs. Even more conservative tracks like "Exit The Realm Of The Living" deliver meaty guitar and bass work, but it's the head-bobbing chugs on tracks like "Transparent Figures" and "Mother" that set Show Me Wolves apart—this band knows how to write a powerful riff. Lúðvíksson also incorporates metalcore and death metal drum fills into traditional black metal drumming throughout the album, restoring some of the genre's lost punk aggression. Occasionally, as on "Downfall" he even throws in a double bass-infused breakdown.

Some will probably dismiss The World They Took Over as Baby's First Black Metal Album. They've completely missed the point. The end goal of all heavy music is not to make more Darkthrone fans. Show Me Wolves is not a gateway drug to heavier, kvlter black metal—it's a solid crossover act in the vein of Nachtmystium (or, more recently, Panopticon), cobbling together the best bits from progressive black metal, death metal, and metalcore for a record that appeals to fans of all three. If you're craving black metal you can jog to or metalcore that reminds you of bleak northern mountains instead of sweaty mosh pits, Show Me Wolves is well worth the listen.

Recommended.

Back to Bandcamp: January 15, 2016

Ghost Witch - demo
(http://ghostwitchdoom.bandcamp.com/album/demo)

Beginning your first demo with an ominous rumble is pretty ballsy, but for Ghost Witch it works brilliantly. By the time the heavy riffs kick in on "Lunar Hymn," the anticipation is at the breaking point, and the soaring, distant vocals make it clear exactly what Ghost Witch are up to. This is beautiful doom, the kind made famous in recent years by Windhand or Pallbearer. The wonderful tension between the ethereal vocals and the stomping, booming guitar riffs makes this style of doom work, and Ghost Witch maintain that tension masterfully throughout this frustratingly short demo. Somebody sign this California doom foursome. We need more of this stuff.

Highly Recommended.

Witte Wieven - Silhouettes of an Imprisoned Mind
(http://wittewieven.bandcamp.com/album/silhouettes-of-an-imprisoned-mind)

Female-fronted North Sea black metal is apparently a thing now. Blame Myrkur. Actually, thank her. The more bands that jump on the Myrkur-pastiche bandwagon (as Witte Wieven clearly have), the better. Ethereal female choral vocals and atmospheric black metal was a union long overdue, and the more bands that flesh out that idea the better.

Witte Wieven take a grimmer and darker approach to Myrkur's musical writing prompt. There's more traditional black metal riffing and less beautiful melodies on tracks like "Faces of Unreality" and "Silhouettes of an Imprisoned Mind." Those who felt Myrkur's debut wasn't grim enough will probably like Witte Wieven better, but those of us who felt that M worked best when the folk and black metal elements were equal partners will probably find Silhouettes of an Imprisoned Mind a little uninspiring at times. Average black metal combined with a good gimmick can make a great black metal record, but Witte Wieven don't use their gimmick to its full potential. However, it's a interesting enough debut, and scratches at a musical itch it's usually hard to remedy.

Recommended.

Elagabalus - _
(http://elagabalus.bandcamp.com/album/-)

To call Elagabalus even experimental black metal doesn't do this Baltimore duo justice. On this unpronounceable EP, Elagabalus play a confused jumble of black metal, progressive metal, hardcore, sludge, and experimental metal, complete with the requisite tempo shuffles, style shifts, and dissonant riffs. Oh, and no guitars. "They Know Nothing Else" alternates doomy plodding and manic blast beats, while "Recede in Light" and "Pure Light Society" throw synth solos into an already cacophonous mix of riffs and shouts. _ is punkier than I like my metal, but the band's aggressive tone fits their frantic, transgressive style, and its rare that an EP feels this raw and lively.

Recommended.

The Thurible Reviews: Rothko Chapel - "...mere belief"

There's a fascinating tension to Rothko Chapel's music.

On the one hand, the band's music is raw, brutal, lo-fi, and decidedly old school black metal. Some of these riffs are as frosty as early Darkthrone, and the EP's production is as artfully janky as any classic 1990s black metal release. On the other hand, there's an experimental, electronic quality to the band's style. It's difficult to precisely pin down: the ultra-high-speed riffs that sound almost like video game music are certainly a major factor, as is the precise, yet somehow also frantic drumming.

The band's tendency to throw in unexpected synths and sound effects probably helps too.

In fact, there's a surprise on nearly ever track of ...mere belief. "Chapter V. Rituals Surmounting the Reign" begins with driving, high-speed black metal before skidding to a halt and launching into a synth and brass interlude a few seconds in. Monks chants spring out of nowhere about a minute into "Chapter IV. A Final Night Befalls the Scores as the Ageless Legion Ascends Sanctuaries Once Defiled," appearing just long enough for the listener to register their cameo appearance before vanishing back into the mix. Yet Rothko Chapel never feel like they're just screwing around–the weirdness works, partially because of the solid musicianship behind it.

Uniting Rothko Chapel's bizarre bag of tricks is a dedication to blindingly fast old-school black metal and over-the-top song titles. Tracks like "Chapter III. Archaic Warrior Blood - Visions of Unhallowed Times" alternate between soaring, synth-backed choruses and high-speed, menacing, masterfully-composed riffs. Unbelievably fast blast beats throughout the EP give it an agitated energy many imitators of old-school black metal lack, and make the band's already breakneck riffs feel even faster.

Black metal fans looking for Blut Aus Nord or Deathspell Omega-level weirdness probably won't be too shocked by any of Rothko Chapel's experimental touches. But for those looking for an original spin on black metal essentials with great riffs, blistering tempos, and top-tier word salad song titles, ...mere belief is a free bandcamp release you'll probably feel like leaving a tip for.

And please do. This Wisconsin black metal trio deserves it.

Recommended.