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CRIMSON
MOON
Xepera Xeper Xeperu (DoCD)
(Deathgasm Records)
61:00min
For once it is a bit confusing knowing that maybe there are two
CRIMSON MOON bands, so who the hell knows who is who, and what is
going to happen, as both sides have been stating that a new album
will come out. Oh well… This release we are talking about here is
a re-issue of this US Black Metal band's first album, as well as a
new EP on a double CD format with a very nice presentation in digipack
format. Probably my only complain for this presentation is that it
is way too dark, and sometimes the lyrics are tough to read. Ok, now
to the music, this is a product that really showcases what time can
make a band progress. The CD that contains the re-issue of the debut
album is a very atmospheric, keyboard sounding Black Metal piece.
The production is quite raw. I don’t
know (or can’t
read it on the booklet) if this is re-mastered or something, but I
guess it is not. It reminds me of the first GEHENNA release “First
Spell”
mainly for the use of keyboards, and the overall atmosphere. Also
the compositions were rather simple, and it has your average Black Metal
shrieks. Blurred in all those atmospheric passages, there are some
good songs that are taken away from all power due to the weak guitar
sound. Now, the new EP, it is like a completely different band. Gone
is the heavy use of keyboards, and the overall sound and execution
is obviously different. This is now more brutal, mainly for more
present guitars, and it is actually a bit more Death Metal
orientated. It has some slight DISSECTION touches here and there,
although the overall sound recalls more MAYHEM from the “TDS”
album. There are still use of keyboards, but the more guitar
orientated production makes the overall sound to be less atmospheric
and more direct. Still I feel that unless you are a fan of the band,
the re-release of their first album is not that interesting, as it
sounds way different from the new material. Obviously this EP is
very promising and something to look for the new material released
from the band (whomever has the name). www.deathgasm.com
Julian Nuñez
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CRIMSON
MOONLIGHT
Veil Of
Remebrance
(Rivel
Records)
43:14min
I have to admit that I
am not familiar with CRIMSON MOONLIGHT's previous work. If I refer
to their info sheet these Swedish based band played a kind of
symphonic Black Metal before. As far as I know the band released
two demos ("Glorification Of The Master Of The Light" in
1997 and "Heralding The Dawn" in 2001), one self
financed MCD called "Eternal Emperor" in
1999, a kind of best of album in 2003 entitled "Songs From
The Archives" (incl. the EP tracks, live tracks etc.) and
their first full length "The Covenant Progress" which
was released 2003 by their current label. So they are far beyond
of being newcomers. The main difference between your ordinary /
standard Black Metal band is the content of the lyrics.
CRIMSON MOONLIGHT's subjects deal with their Christian faith. That
fact caused or will cause for sure some serious headaches /
nightmares for some die hard Black Metal supporters
(Black Metal with Christian lyrics can not be...). If you are
not narrow minded and unprejudiced you will notice that these six
men from Jonköping are very competent musicians. The band dropped
the keyboards (which I think was wise) and are no longer one of
these epic / symphonic Metal bands. Furthermore they have three
guitarists which is also not so typical for this genre. I
wouldn't label them Black Metal anymore (so Black Metallers can
relax again and sit back) as "Veil Of Remembrance" is an
alloy of modern Swedish Death / Thrash with some Black Metal
influences. Just the typical screaming vocals have a more
blackened background. The nine mature tracks of this album have a
lot of variation and are very well executed. You have fast and
blasting drums, thrashing mid tempo parts, variable riffing which is
spiced with excellent guitar solos and harmonies. All
put together to a powerful and sometimes brutal brew. The
vocals are mainly screaming but also some deeper parts can be
heard. The production is crispy & powerful and
compliments perfectly the furious songs. So if you are not so
narrow minded when it comes to faith / lyrics (the music counts)
then you should give them a try as this band has some excellent
tunes and musicians to offer. For further info visit the bands web
site www.crimsonmoonlight.com
or contact the label info@rivelrecords.com.
Michael Oelschlegel
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CRIMSON
THORN
Purification
(self financed)
52:03min
This
Minneapolis' based four piece already released two albums prior to
"Purification" (their debut "Unearthed" in 1994
and the follow-up "Dissection" in 1998), but to me they
were still a rather unknown act until I got this self financed new
album in the mail. The band's musical nucleus is without a single
doubt to be found in the brutal US Death Metal underground, but
CRIMSON THORN obviously try to come up with a little bit more
variety in their writing, by adding some additional, quite unusual
elements to their sound. First of all there's a track like
'Humbled', which combines the typical, brutally grunted American
Death Metal style (CANNIBAL CORPSE / SUFFOCATION etc.) with the
rather melodic Scandinavian aggression, while a song like 'Narrow'
even offers a clean sung, almost chant like chorus middle section.
The band also uses a keyboard once in a while, but not to polish up
their sound, but more in the old MERCYFUL FATE type manner, to
create an eerie atmosphere. Sounds quite weird, doesn't it? Well, it
ain't, as the sheer straight ahead brutality is always their main
concern and those mentioned elements just small exceptions to that
rule. CRIMSON THORN are nevertheless a bit different though. Just
like BELIEVER or MORTIFICATION this is also a band that incorporates
Christian topics and quotes from the Bible into their lyrics. If you
don't have a problem with that, you can experience a technically
very well executed brutal Death Metal outburst, with the usual deep
grunted vs. aggressively screamed vocals (all four members are
singing!!). Not really bad, but for some reason the material became
more and more boring to me towards the end of this disc, which sells
for $12 (US) / $14 (overseas). All further info you may get here: www.crimsonthorn.com,
crimsonthornguys@hotmail.com
Frank Stöver
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CRIONICS
Human Error: Ways To Self-Destruction
(Empire Records)
44:45min
This record is the last out of four new releases that I received
from Empire Records lately and once more a good proof for the
overall very impressing quality that the label offers with every
band they're putting out. While many underground labels often tend
to come up with poor packaging, cheap production or lack of musical
talent, Empire seems to be a good address for top quality in every
aspect. That goes for Polish CRIONICS as well again. This blackened
Death Metal four piece consists of a bunch of very skilled musicians
that by no means could be seen as a cheap SLAYER blueprint (because
of their band name's choice), but a strong and very devastating
unity that somehow continues on where late EMPEROR left off.
Parallels to the sadly defunct Norwegians can easily be tracked down
in a similar mix of violent Black / Death Metal with classical
influences (just listen to some of the leads and the almost LIMBONIC
ART type piano parts), while the vocals are in this harsh Black
Metal / Mille Petrozza type of vein. But while Ihsahn's way of
composing had become more and more sophisticated and weird towards
the end of EMPEROR (or in his other project PECCATUM) CRIONICS
prefer to kill everything in sight in a more straight ahead manner.
In a way you could name Samoth's new musical outlet ZYKLON as
another good comparison... CRIONICS are kinda like the missing link
in-between those two acts (and yes, with a handful of hints of
vintage SLAYER also) and their debut album "Human Error (Ways
To Self-Destruction)" is musically already so incredibly
matured sounding that these guys could without a doubt evolve into
one of their country's leading underground forces rather quickly.
Promising! All further info at: www.crionics.prv.pl
or www.empire-records.com.pl
Frank Stöver
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CRITERION
The Dominant
(Morbid Records)
34:46min
Who would have guessed that CRITERION hail from Norway after only
listening to their music and not paying attention to the record
company’s info sheet? Well, they are but their sound is totally
late 80s / early 90s US Death Metal. Not too original, I know, but
still far enough from today’s trends in Death Metal. It’s quite
a relief that there are still bands around who give a damn about the
flavour of the month and who simply write good songs instead.
CRITERION sound pretty heavy (no new world records in terms of
speed, that is) and come up with pretty melodic harmonies and solos
(I simply love the one on ‘Obliteration’) but successfully avoid
sounding cheesy or whimped out. AND: singer John R. Urbanski really
sounds as if he deeply believes in whatever he’s singing.
Definitely more than just a cool sounding guy who somehow managed to
remember his lyrics. It’s this combination of heaviness and
(rather sinister) melodies that suggest: these guys are not only a
pleasure listening to on record but are also bound to make you move
in a club. I’d really like to see these guys over here in Germany!
www.criterion.no
Ramon Claassen
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CROM
The Fallen Beauty (MCD)
(Deathlike Sound)
26:11min
You wanna know what’s the worst thing about this CD? Its length!!!
26 minutes of cheesy, slimy “Hammerheart”, “Blood On Ice”
era BATHORY worship are far more than I can take. Where Quorthon’s
songs manage to create an intense Viking-atmosphere
even though Quorthon can not sing, Crom, who does all on
“The Fallen Beauty” except drumming, just can not sing –
that’s the only thing he has in common with his main inspiration.
The flair and raw spirit BATHORY once embodied is absolutely
non-existent on this MCD – check out German MORRIGAN if you’d
like to feel it again! The Kris Verwimp-cover is cool and the layout
of this release is well done and really professional, but despite a
good production the music and especially the vocals on “The Fallen
Beauty” are just awful!!! More information and maybe even sound
files are available here: www.croms-revenge.de
and www.deathlikesound.cjb.net.
Stefan Franke
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CROM
Vengeance (DoLP)
(High-Roller-Records)
I heard quite a lot from this one-man-project and remember that it
mostly gets compared to BATHORY (“Hammerheart” and later), now
finally I can make up my own opinion. This again great layouted
double vinyl in an amazing gatefold sleeve (well-done
High-Roller-Records) offers CROM’s first full-length recording
called “Vengeance” and includes as bonus the 4 tracks from the
demo 2004. Judging the cover and the overall layout (great work done
by Kris Verwimp) the BATHORY influences is essential. First up I
hoped to find another DOOMSWORD here, but this is not the case at
all, as CROM is for sure epic and probably as epic as DOOMSWORD are,
nevertheless it’s besides this huge BATHORY influence, which you
mostly hear in the use of choirs, also a big Power Metal influence
and here I want to mention especially FALCONER at their “Chapters
From A Vale Forlorn” as the most important one. Opening track
‘Wings Of Fire’ has some elements of them in here. Still I would
like to add one more band here: OPETH. Listen to ‘Crom’ and you
will surely recognize the great acoustic work and the fantastic
vocal lines which are a little comparable (in a positive way) to
Mike Akerfeldt’s style. To realise a project like CROM, a release
like “Vengeance” more or less all alone (with just one
additional musician on drums and a little help on guitars and
choirs) is amazing. This is a great debut release and to hold such a
gatefold release in your hands, reading the lyrics while listening
to this plastic creates just a great moment. The readers of Voices
From The Darkside are probably mostly interested in Death and Black
Metal, though I’m sure there are many open-minded persons out
there reading these pages who should risk an ear to the great music
of Walter “Crom” Grosse (besides that he formerly was a
guitarplayer in German Black Metal act DARK FORTRESS). I think this
is only the beginning and I wait for the next release which will
probably even more massive than this one. Well done. Again limited
to 500 copies and available at www.hho-records.de.
Bandpage www.croms-revenge.de.
Thomas Ehrmann
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CROMB
Promo 2004
(self financed)
19:16min
There's no sense in beating around the bush concerning CROMB's first
promo. Although members of the well-known Swedish brutal Death Metal
act INSISION are active in this band the twisted, progressive Death
Metal featuring Hammond Organ, a drum computer and heavy riffing at
the same time is pointless and might appeal to people seriously into
doing drugs. Production wise everything's alright on the four songs
presented here, two of which are instrumentals, one even has to
admit the excellent programming of the drum PC, but something simply
is missing on this CD. It can not be the musical performance of the
people involved in CROMB, but where bands like PANTHYMONIUM go
completely crazy, break boundaries and create unbelievable, freaky
soundscapes or PESTILENCE on "Spheres" who were REALLY
hypnotic (something CROMB also try to achieve) CROMB fade into
boredom and grow more and more uninteresting. I seriously recommend
checking their MP3s to get an impression of the Swedish band
yourself, but I think the three-piece should either smoke more weed
or take some time to work out a more convincing concept, better
songs with more inspiration, more ideas and more atmosphere. Using a
Hammond Organ in a Death Metal band is great and imagining something
like THE DOORS of Death Metal might be fascinating but CROMB are not
mellow enough yet... www.cromb.net
Stefan
Franke
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CROSSWRECKER
Black Flame Divination (MCD)
(No Sign Of Life)
21:31min
Finnish blackened Thrash Metal, with a great name and attitude. Yet,
I must say that the style is growing to be the same ol’ recipe
forged in time many years ago. Fast, beer influenced Thrash Metal
with early Black Metal touches. Got it? Yeah, VENOM and early SLAYER
takes a lot of the potion’s recipe, while some MOTÖRHEAD touches
and a good dose of more punked-out Grind can be added to invoke the
spirits in here. Also, the sound is a bit sloopy both in production
and performance, not in a bad way, but certainly taking away
identity on the band. A good production, does not means that it will
all sound the same, nor the use of triggers and Pro-tooling all is
the solution…just having a good guitar sound and a decent way to
make out what the drummer is doing is on most of the cases a good
way. Has this been a demo, it would be more appropriate and
even understandable, but it is presented as the debut MCD, and in
the thousands of bands in the same style, having lower production
values makes it hard to be competitive. Obviously there is quite
some good black humour to be found on this, and the band sounds like
just trying to have a good fun and nothing else. In that aspect they
do deliver what they were looking for, but to be honest, and while
finding a good potential here, and not being all that bad, this is
just another release more in the countless Thrash Metal revival era
we are being offered now. www.myspace.com/crosswrecker,
www.nosignoflife.com
Julián Núñez
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THE CROWN
Crowned In Terror
(Metal Blade Records)
43:03min
Extreme
aggressions!!!! It seems that I should’ve cared for THE CROWN’s
evolution a bit more as their newest offering “Crowned In Terror”
is a fuckin’ killer of an album! If you ever had any doubts whether
former AT THE GATES frontman Tompa would manage to replace old THE
CROWN singer Johan Lindstrand or not, this album will blow all of
your worries away within seconds! Pure hateful thrashin’ Death Metal
with 200% of adrenalin and a power that could easily do a lot of
damage to your speakers if you aren’t careful enough during your
listening sessions! To me this straight into your face assault is
another proof of the fact that Mr.Lindberg is always far better
whenever the songwriting is simple and full speed ahead instead
of the earlier more complex AT THE GATES material. “Crowned In Terror”
is of a similar (if not superior!) quality as “Slaughter Of The
Soul”, full of many soon-to-become new THE CROWN classics and by
far, the band’s best offering yet! Forget about pussies like THE
HAUNTED – this is a real Thrash inferno! Nuff said – on April 8
(the official release date), you better go out and get it while
its still hot! Incredible!!!
Frank Stöver
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THE
CROWN
Possessed 13
(Metal Blade
Records)
50:33min
Before I start telling you my opinion on THE CROWN’s newest effort
I’d like to make a statement concerning Metal Blade’s/the
band’s new idea of copy protection that made reviewing this CD
definitely no fun. To prevent members of press and media from making
new CD’s downloadable in filesharing programs, each song on
“Possessed 13” was fucked up by beeps that emerge from your
speaker every 20-30 seconds. Just imagine what effect that has on
your listening pleasure! You feel there’s a cool riff coming up
and you start to nod your head or move your feet and then: BLEEP!
The music continues afterwards until the next beep comes up. Since
most people expect me to utter an honest opinion about a new record,
I have to say that I can not give you one, when I’m not allowed to
have fun while listening to an album. I do not want to get mad at
the label or the musicians of THE CROWN, because I can partly
understand their arguments in favor of this method of copy
protection, but I think there are better ways of keeping people from
copying CD’s. Metal Blade’s idea is nothing but fucking
annoying!!! Alright, I think that’s enough and I will now give you
at least a short comment on “Possessed 13”, which I listened to
only one time, because of the aforementioned noises: The Swedish
band has released a well produced, not too polished sounding
contemporary Death/Thrash CD with a couple of Hard Rock elements
primarily manifesting in Marcus Sunesson’s leads (e.g. ‘Kill
‘Em All’). Except one or two weaker tracks, there are just good
songs on “Possessed 13”, of which ‘Zombified’ and ‘Are You
Morbid?’ are my personal highlights. Nice CD for everyone who
dislikes THE HAUNTED because of their too clean and too modern sound
and digs driving, dirty, thrashing Metal. For additional infos
concerning the special DCD version of this CD and MP3 visit www.metalblade.de.
Stefan Franke
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CROWPATH
Red On Chrome
(Earache)
29:56min
Earache's name can sometimes be taken very literally. In the case of
CROWPATH a thirty-minutes "declaration of war on traditional
harmonies and songstructures“ (that's what the info sheet says) is
unleashed upon my ears. The band's approach of avoiding traditional
standards ends in a kind of half an hour jam session of chaotic
Noise- or “Mathcore“ (another quote from the info sheet),
divided into thirteen tracks. Without a doubt, CROWPATH are skillful
musicians, but obviously writing songs you can follow is not their
aim. I have respect that the musicians can remember what to play,
but as a listener I find it almost impossible to distinguish one
song from the other. This piece of wrathful chaos can only be
recommended for fans of pure noise, people who like a minimal dose
of melody and structure can avoid it. www.crowpath.com.
On sale here.
Christoph Göbel
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CROWPATH
Sun Of Sulphur
(Earache)
33:59min
This is my first encounter with the Swedes from CROWPATH who already
relesed the album “Red On Chrome” on Willowtip Records some time
ago (re-released via Earache later on - Frank) and what one
can hear on “Son Of Sulphur” makes me curious about their debut
as well. When I asked some friends about this band, I mostly heard
comparisons with newer GORGUTS and admittedly, there is a
technicality and vibe which lets me think of “Obscura” at times
even though CROWPATH conjure a different kind of atmosphere and rely
on different influences. Actually, this seems like the best of
several worlds, imagine an amalgamation of the bizarre twists of the
abovementioned later GORGUTS, the hyperactive and also technical
power of BURNT BY THE SUN and the misanthropic and hateful doomy
disgust-ridden Sludge of GRIEF. The vocals are the closest thing to
Hard / Sludgecore actually as they are rather screamed in a mid
range, yet very powerful and almost schizoid at times. There is
nothing much to say about the production as it is crisp, clear but
luckily not thin. CROWPATH will surely appeal to both persons coming
from a technical Death Metal background as well as those who prefer
intense Hardcore / Mathcore… Even as the parts of which this
record is comprised of are demanding, the entirety sounds natural
and not even a bit forced. The bands wanders through extremes
without losing track of what they are doing – which is not exactly
the norm with technical material as it presented here. Personally, I
can live without the vast majority of bands in “core” genres but
as I can dig this record you will be able to do so even more. Get
your mindfuck today. On a sidenote: the album artwork has been
created by Juha Vuorma who should be known to some Voices readers
for some time now. www.crowpath.com.
You may order it here .
Ulrich Kreienbrink
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CRUACHAN
Folk-Lore
(Hammerheart Records)
45:44min
With their newest offering "Folk-Lore" Irish CRUACHAN
musically not necessarily fit into the VOICES concept anymore. But
as they originally emerged from this scene, I decided to give this
album a short mention anyway. As the title already gives away, "Folk-Lore"
is an album, with a major focus on Irish folk music, which means
most parts of the songs get performed by instruments such as Mandolin,
Banjo, Bodhrán, Irish Flute, Tin Whistle, Low Whistle and Bouzouki
(whatever that all may be…). CRUACHAN combine that with a solid
Metal foundation and on top of that you'll get a beautiful female
lead voice, courtesy of Karen Gilligan, who shares her duties with
the raw growls of Keith Fay, but still delivers the major part on
the album. So, even though this is completely unique stuff, everyone
who already has a soft spot for bands like SKYCLAD and THIN LIZZY
(for the Irish elements) should give CRUACHAN a listen as well.
There's quite a lot of potential to be discovered and I have the
impression that they will become huge with this very soon. The album
was produced by Shane Mac Gowan (of THE POGUES fame), who also contributes
some guest vocals on the two featured cover tracks ('Ride On' and
'Spancill Hill'). So, everyone who's openminded enough, to experience
something completely new, shouldn't hesitate but give "Folk-lore"
a listen right away. It might leave you speechless for a while…
Frank Stöver
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CRUACHAN
Pagan
(Karmageddon Media)
52:37min
Is
this one relevant for Voices? Not really, or rather: almost not at
all! The rather oldschool Black Metal parts are pretty much
neglected. Most of the songs are kind of Folk Rock or Folk Metal,
sometimes vaguely reminding me of SKYCLAD, just more Irish.
Wouldn’t be a problem with me if there wasn’t this feeling that
CRUACHAN don’t really seem to know what they want. In my opinion,
the album doesn’t really work as a unit: both the Black Metal as
well as the Folk ingredients don’t sound necessary to me. It’s a
bit like: “let’s do some evil stuff here and some folk there.”
Luckily, the music manages to develop a certain flow, so it
doesn’t sound too artificial but there needs some more work to be
done next time. Solid female vocals. Probably the best song is the
opener ‘Michael Collins’ but ‘Ard Ri Na Heireann’ is a
terribly boring rock song that gets on my nerves very soon. ‘Some
Say The Devil Iis Dead’ is a pretty cool Rock / Metal version of
an old pub song and the bonus track ‘The Fall Of Gondolin’ works
pretty good as well. Maybe the band might have allowed more female
vocals on this one as well and worked a bit more on the contrast
with the Black Metal vocals, but not necessarily. ‘A Thousand
Years’ in a way continues the Irish Aisling tradition: it’s from
the perspective of Ireland itself. Pretty easy to find out and not
as complicated as Yeats, thank whoever you want to (maybe the band).
To sum it up: there still needs something to be done to become
Ireland’s answer to SKYCLAD but I think the band will handle this.
Great cover artwork by the official illustrator for “Lord of the
Rings”, John Howe, by the way. Can I have this one as a gatefold
vinyl, please?
Ramon Claassen
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CRUCIAMENTUM
Convocation Of Crawling Chaos (Demo 2009)
(self-financed)
18:34min
Already in 2008 CRUCIAMENTUM released their first demo in form of a
CD-R including just one song. This song called ‘Rotten Flesh
Crucifix’ is included on this second demo tape as final song here
and it’s the perfect finish for a great demotape. Demotape –
that’s the keyword here. CRUCIAMENTUM spreads this demorecording
as tape and strictly limited. Perhaps I should add here at the
beginning of this review that this recording is close to be sold
out. Better be fast if you are interested. Talking about this
demotape now. Starting with a good but not really necessary intro it
features four tunes of Death Metal, a spiked fist in the face of
trendy Death Metal to quote the band. It’s brutal Death Metal
offered here, neither typically American nor Finish considering such
bands as DEMIGOD or ABHORRENCE and definitely not Swedish sounding.
I would describe the band as a mix of American and old Finish Death
Metal, though this is far from being necessary to talk about if you
ask me as this is one damned killer tape with the highest form of
Death Metal brutality offered here and for a band at this early
stages I can only say that I’m highly impressed. Currently I’m
listening to the above mentioned ‘Rotten Flesh Crucifix’, the
last almost 7 minutes long song on the tape and this one offers
everything which a Death Metal fan can request. This is an
outstanding track, many bands would kill for such a song if you ask
me. Nuclear Winter Records already recognized the quality of this
band and signed them straight away. Better be fast to get this soon
to be classic. If you ask me you should get in touch with
CRUCIAMENTUM now via their myspace page at www.myspace.com/cruciamentumuk
Thomas Ehrmann
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CRUCIFIED
MORTALS
Converted By Decapitation
(Stigmatized Records)
25:16min
Drivingly fast oldschool Thrash Metal offers this young band from
Cleveland, Ohio. Featuring Novy of VADER / DEVILYN fame in their
ranks CRUCIFIED MORTALS certainly do not lack the musical abilities
to perform this type of music the way it should be performed. Though
totally unoriginal the band's enthusiasm and energetic performance
summons the spirit of old KREATOR, SACRIFICE, early SLAYER musically
and BURNT OFFERING or PRIME EVIL vocal-wise. In terms of production
CRUCIFIED MORTALS do not entirely look into the past, but combine
contemporary transparency and power with a little Bill Metoyer /
Brian Slagel-note one should know from "Show No Mercy". A
good feel for hooks, vicious aggression and unstoppable speed make
CRUCIFIED MORTALS an impressive newcomer worth of being checked out
by traditional Thrashers. The song 'Sentenced To Extermination' has
a very nasty, very tasteless intro, but apart from that I can hardly
find anything worth of being criticised, maybe the vocals could be a
little more diversified and hateful, but well... that's all!!! Visit
CRUCIFIED MORTALS at crucifiedmortals.unitedheadbanger.com
and support this talented act.
Stefan Franke
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CRUCIFIER
The Ninth Year
(Elegy Records)
65:42min
Fans
of dark, brutal and blasphemous Death / Black Metal should watch out
for this CD by underground cult act CRUCIFIER. It contains the 1991
“Humans Are Such Easy Prey” demo, the 1992 “Crown Of Thorns”
demo, as well as the 1993 Cassette EP “By Disgrace Of God”, the
“Powerless Against” promo, released in 1994, and finally the
song ‘Foul Deeds Will Rise’, taken from the split 7” with the
mighty NUNSLAUGHTER – a total of 16 Songs, value for money.
CRUCIFIER was founded by GRAND BELIAL’S KEY member Cazz “The
Black Lourde Of Crucifixion” Grant and their releases were highly
appraised throughout the scene. The early CRUCIFIER stuff is raw,
brutal and vicious Death Metal with very deep and inhuman vocals,
which grow more and more blackish (especially due to the
participation of Vlad Luciferian, Ex - ANCIENT / GRAND BELIAL’S
KEY) on the fantastic ’94 promo. This direction continues on
‘Foul Deeds Will Rise’ and I think this song gives a hint of
what we can expect of this sinister horde in the future,
CRUCIFIER’s debut album “Stronger Than Passing Time” will be
released on Death To Mankind Records. The sound on “The Ninth
Year” is quite great, only the 1992 demo is not that good, but
fuck it, the rest kills and should appeal to all fans of
INCANTATION, GRAND BELIAL’s KEY or IMPRECATION. This is definitely
no CD for wimps, because it breeds foul and intense darkness with
each note, I hope CRUCIFIER’s future material can stand up to this
classic collection of blackened Death Metal hymns. Contact:
Crucifier & The Crucifier Brotherhood, International, c/o Cazz
Grant “The Black Lourde Of Crucifixion”, 938 Galbreath Avenue,
Boothwyn, Pennsylvania 19061-3514, USA Email:
thecrucifierbrotherhood@hotmail.com,
Website:
www.thecrucifierbrotherhood.com
Stefan Franke
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CRUCIFIER
Stronger Than Passing Time
(Death To Mankind)
49:40min
Finally...
finally it is there, the debut album of a vicious Death / Black band
from the US, which is known for more than a decade within the
underground scene and released promising demos, EPs and only
recently put out “The Ninth Year” a collection of their previous
material on Elegy Records, which made a lot of people once again
lusting for a real album by Pennsylvanian CRUCIFIER. After this
rather long introduction I guess most of you would like to know, if
the long time of waiting is finally rewarded and hell yeah – it
is!!! Since I am a fan of CRUCIFIER’s old material too, I try my
best to be objective and will not use any superlatives here, but
“Stronger Than Passing Time” is just great! The band has
undoubtedly its own way of blending Death and Black Metal elements,
but with musicians hailing from such excellent acts as GOREAPHOBIA,
GRAND BELIAL’S KEY and DECIEVERION, one should not expect nothing
but quality. CRUCIFIER sound very oldschool, have some cool
traditional Heavy / Thrash Metal riffs here and there, straight
Death Metal parts are mixed with morbid Black Metal-like sounding
stuff, wicked, dark hooks and extremely sick vocals that remind me
of GRAND BELIAL’S KEY, but with a stronger emphasis on growls than
on screams. Highlights on “Stronger Than Passing Time” are the
mighty Doom song ‘Spirits’, which starts off as an eerie,
perverted slow beast and then culminates in an excellent Metal riff,
‘Demons Of Filth’, a brutal Death Metal attack and ‘Fire And
Brimstone’, which has the most memorable hooks on the album and a
furious break I just love. The production is transparent and
powerful too and the CD is due to a nice cover, a really thick well
done booklet with a lot of photos of Cazz “Ex-Afro” Grant
(haha!) and his evil comrades also optically a true masterpiece. Get
it or be crucified! For additional info visit the label’s website www.deathtomankind.com.
Stefan Franke
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CRUCIFIRE
Unblessed Unto Hatred (Demo)
(self-financed)
approx. 9:47min
Some
of you might (should!) remember ENCABULOS from Australia who
released a brilliant MCD entitled “Abandoning The Flesh”,
offering devastatingly massive heavy Death Metal. In my opinion they
succeeded in transferring the atmosphere and impact of early BOLT
THROWER and UNLEASHED to the present in terms of production, riffing
and speed (lots of blastbeats!!!). Some time after that release the
band dissolved but fortunately Steven and Adam, accompanied by
RANDOM VIOLENCE singer Darkfiend, resurfaced under the name
CRUCIFIRE. The heaviness of ENCABULOS is still present but the
result on this three – track tape is is nothing but pure, dark,
blasphemic, fast and untamed Death Metal in the best way possible.
Darkfiend's vocalisations sound like they have been recorded in a
subterranean cathedral. The riffing is mostly fast with a slight
thrashing note, shredding onwards. The merciless drum barrage may
remind some people to early KRISIUN due to the speed but these
Australians sound much more organic and varied with some effective
massive doublebass parts thrown in to create absolute devastation.
So in case you feel unmoved by the flawless, almost sterile
technicality of modern acts like HATE ETERNAL and crave for
malignant obscurity as it is present in IMPRECATION, early VITAL
REMAINS, INCANTATION, MORPHEUS DESCENDS, REPUGNANT (to name a newer
band) this is most certainly for you. Instead of showing (mislead)
skills by constantly changing metrum and uninspired fret – wanking
going nowhere CRUCIFIRE craft powerful and memorable structures. By
chosing the good old tape with a simple b/w – xerox sleeve they
have won anyway, hehe! According to Steven these three incantations
may get released on 7” soon so I propose you contact the band via
mail to get informed about future plans. The demo is sold for 5 US $
/ € if I am correct but ask first! And now act, fukkit!!! Contact
Steven: P.O. Box 1648, Geelong VIC, Australia 3220, email: crucifire@hotmail.com.
Contact Darkfiend: P.O. Box 77, Doncaster VIC, Australia 3108, email:
thedark.1@lycos.com
Ulrich
Kreienbrink
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CRUCIFIX
Threnody Of The Crucifix
(Aural Offerings)
43:25min
Any band that plays with vigor is a band worth your compliments, if not your devotion. CRUCIFIX do nothing original, but that doesn't matter because they outclass their forebears now. If DEICIDE could ever persuade themselves to write another
"Once Upon The Cross" at least, then all the credit would go to them. If GORGUTS ever stopped to think that writing math problems into your songs is boring, then much credit would go to them, too. But,
no - it's time for bands like CRUCIFIX to remind us what moderately technical, yet savagely blasphemous and unrelenting Death Metal is supposed to sound like. This band is a product of the 2000s, so there are several new influences to consider that were never present for any of the
90s bands who started this sub-sub genre that is technical Death Metal. These influences are largely related to timing and execution, all of which is razor sharp in CRUCIFIX. Yet they aren't a band that charts its riffs on graph paper. This is just good Death Metal that happens to be complex, as it should be.
www.myspace.com/crucifix666,
www.auralofferings.com
Nat Shapiro
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CRUCIFIX
Legions Of Death (Demo 2009)
(self-financed)
11:49min
CRUCIFIX, as a gathering of talent musicians, has existed since
1993. As a band that releases music from time to time, they've only
been in business since 1996, and only then with demos. Not until
2008 did the band finally release a full-length album of material.
Not missing a step, CRUCIFIX has most recently recorded a three song
demo, one would hope to whet our appetites before the next album.
There's every reason to like this band: crushing riffs, enjoyably
placed blast-beats, and well-executed melodies. Rather like a
melodic KRISIUN, CRUCIFIX is a storm of chaos, but controlled chaos,
so the listener knows what the heck is going on. Exercising such
control over the direction of one's songs is a sure sign that the
band who wrote those songs is going to go places. www.crucifix666.com,
www.myspace.com/crucifix666
Nat
Shapiro
BACK
CRUCIFIXIONHAMMER
Graveyard Lust (Demo 2009)
(Ghould Wrath Offerings)
To fashion one's band as a tribute to an older, influential band, either sparks derision for the choice of band to pay tribute to, or applause. HELLHAMMER has had every kind of homage payed to them, and despite more than twenty years of bowing and scraping, we're still not done thanking them, it seems. But while one might grow tired of hearing, say, imitation-EMPEROR bands, it's never easy to refuse to devote at least a little time to a band that plays HELLHAMMER music. CRUCIFIXIONHAMMER is the latest and greatest HELLHAMMER band. It's considerably harder to rate them, because they are not a cover band. Their songs are all original, just composed in the vein of HELLHAMMER. Therefore, don't expect a perfect imitation of HELLHAMMER, but you should most definitely sense, when listening to this magnificent tape, the attention to detail and rawness of each track. It's not so much that CRUCIFIXONHAMMER merely sounds like HELLHAMMER, but that they've learned how to write the same sort of songs as HELLHAMMER, giving them an advantage over other such bands who think that the sound alone guarantees success. It clearly does not. Something more needs be done before your band, whatever music you're attempting to copy, is worth listening to.
Write to: crucifixionhammer@yahoo.com
Nat Shapiro
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CRUCIFYRE
Thessalonian Death Cult (Demo 2007)
(self-financed)
15:09min
Ok, the sound could be better here, but that’s actually the only
negative thing I can find on this 3 track demo CD of newcomers
CRUCIFYRE. Did I write “newcomers”? Can you dare to call a band
gathering former musicians of AFFLICTED, CREMATORY, CONCRETE SLEEP
and mighty MORBID newcomers? I would say no. Anyway, formed in Winter
2006 CRUCIFYRE released a couple of months ago this demo CD
featuring 3 songs of Death / Thrashing madness in the vein of older
SLAYER (the title song ‘Thessalonian Death Cult’ has serious
“South Of Heaven” vibes if you ask me), POSSESSED (“Beyond The
Gates” - era) and carrying the old charm of the first NIHILIST and
MORBID demos to this modern times. Damn, I’m kinda impressed; I
didn’t expect something like this at all. For sure, the names of
the former bands could make it easy for me to glorify this demo just
because it could be cool (or whatever) to praise a demo like this
due to its oldschool flair, but that’s not the case. I really took
a long time writing this review as I wanted to have many in-depth
listenings to perfectly know what I think about this demo. And now
after many weeks, Yasse (drums) who sent me the demo might kill me
because of taking such a long time, I can tell you that this is a
demo underground maniacs will adore! As I said, the only thing which
could be better is the sound, but to be perfectly honest,
“Premature Autopsy” could have a better sound, too – haha!
Well, while writing this CRUCIFYRE might have already recorded a
couple of new songs and remixed ‘The Fetching’ (opening track of
the demo) and the title track, though don’t know when these
recordings will be officially released. Besides that they will be
featured with one song on the soon to be released compilation LP
“Resurrected In Festering Slime” (see news entry on these pages)
featuring such names as BOMBS OF HADES, FACEBREAKER, EVISCERATED,
DARKCREED, RAPE PILLAGE AND BURN among others – a true underground
jewel! Great things to look out for! The demo sells for 4 € (CD-R
with photocopied cover) from crucifyre@hotmail.com,
or get in touch with them via their myspace-account at www.myspace.com/crucifyre.
Thomas
Ehrmann
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CRUSTACEAN
Insaniac
(Cold Blood Industries)
35:26min
"Crustacean
plays an energetic and unpolished mix between American Thrash from
the Eighties, Nineties' Scandinavian riffing and PESTILENCE - alike
vocals..." It's always highly appreciated when labels not
only supply us with free promo CDs, but furthermore include a review
on that particular album in the same package already, haha. Nah,
just kidding. But in this case I couldn't have said it any better,
cause the aforementioned quote (courtesy of the label's info sheet)
already describes this new Crustacean
record in a very accurate manner. On one hand there's these
hateful vocals, that come across like a cool hybrid of Tom Araya and
Martin van Drunen, with a touch of vintage Hardcore in it (as it was
often the case with many 80's acts), then there's this very
SLAYER-esque, intense songwriting that got mixed with the Death
Metal aggression that's been happening in Scandinavia for quite some
years now, plus maybe a handful of CELTIC FROST elements (the very
beginning of 'Soulsucker' for instance even has a certain HELLHAMMER
feel to it). And this whole coctail is being served in an incredibly
professional and experienced sounding manner... No real surprise,
cause the band already released
a mini CD ("Headcleaner") in 1995, their debut full length
"Burden Of Our Suffering" on Teutonic Existence Records
back in 1998 and another mini CD ("Satanized") exclusively
through the internet in 2000. The members are no newcomers either
and have previously already been playing in (a.o.) SPINA BIFIDA,
MASTER, ACROSTICHON and a SLAYER coverband. So, if
uncompromising oldschool Thrash Metal is still exciting enough for
you these days, you should definitely check these guys out!
Satisfaction guaranteed! www.coldbloodindustries.com
Frank Stöver
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CRYFEMAL
With The Help Of The Devil
(Trinity Records)
35:38min
Phew! What a hateful piece of noise! CRYFEMAL from Spain play
quite some bizarre Black Metal. This duo works with a drum
computer that surprisingly doesn’t get on my nerves. Some of the
songs are arranged rather conservative the way most of us know
Black Metal. ‘Malicia Immortal’, for example, but they also
create unusual tracks like ‘Vision de la destruccion’ which is
somehow more sort of a sound collage than a real song. Then
sometimes synthesizers are used, but not for bombastic string attacks
and sissy things like that. A song like ‘Concilio con los
fallecidos’ seems to be mere noise until you get into it a
little. Noticed something? Yeah, they’re singing in Spanish. I
think more bands should use their mother tongue, especially in
case their English is lousy. Moreover, it enriches our little
Metal universe, don’t you think so? Maybe CRYFEMAL are the
missing link between traditional Black Metal and bands like ABORYM.
I had quite a hard time getting into their sound and couldn’t
listen to their visions all the time, so it’s pretty much Black
Metal for freaks. In case you consider yourself to be one: contact
the band or the label. "With The Help Of The Devil"
offers a solid production and a rather spartan booklet. By the
way: Trinity Records are looking for distributors! www.cryfemal.cjb.net,
www.trinityrecords.com.hk
Ramon
Claassen
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CRYPTICUS
They Called Me Mad
(Razorback Records)
36:11min
What a strange mix of goofy pulp horror, and dead serious writing. CRYPTICUS are unashamed Lovecraft readers and, from the sound of it, no less proud followers of Death Metal's earliest beginnings in the work that REPULSION and NECROPHAGIA produced. The NECROPHAGIA influence may not be apparent throughout much of the album, but it is there nontheless in slight, short bursts. The REPULSION presence is much more apparent. In addition to all of the above, CRYPTICUS have added a modernized version of Death'n'Roll similar to NOMINON which makes the album even more of a theme park roller coaster ride of horror. CRYPTICUS have written a book of sorts in music form. Stephen King will be looking over his shoulder once CRYPTICUS swallow half the world.
www.myspace.com/crypticus,
www.geocities.com/crypticult
Nat Shapiro
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CRYPT
OF KERBEROS
The Macrodex Of War
(Bleed Records)
79:08min
This filled-to-the-brim piece of silicon should be a highly
interesting album for many Voices-visitors, because it showcases a
fascinating, innovative and original band from the early 90s Death
Metal scene and I know that many people coming across this web-lair
have a certain soft spot for this kind of Metal. Swedish CRYPT OF
KERBEROS, founded in 1990, started off with some fantastic demos
& EPs and disbanded after releasing a singular full-length
entitled "World Of Myths" (1993, Adipocere Records) and
some final demos for a second album that was never realized. Members
of the band wound up in Progressive Metal act PAIN OF SALVATION and
Death / Thrashers MAZE OF TORMENT, which can be valued as a hint at
the two different stylistic paths CRYPT OF KERBEROS tried to unite
and successively did. But let's start at the beginning: First up on
this compilation of demos, EPs and rarities is the band's 1991 demo
which offers excellent, gloomy and brutal Death Metal I would have
rather associated with a Finnish band like DEMIGOD, CONVULSE,
FUNEBRE than the Swedish hordes of that time. Though the sound shows
its age the doomy, haunting melodies and overall sinister atmosphere
still exhales its magic. With the second demo, filling tracks 5-10
it even gets better! The sound, the songs, the musical variety had
improved and the latter had been increased by the use of some great
eerie keyboard parts, some screamed vocals between the low growls
and mesmerising melodic leads resulting in a more professional,
totally godly demo release!!! Just listen to 'Yule Horror',
aaarrrgghh, this is so good! The next two tracks represent another
awesome piece of old & rotting Death Metal namely the band's EP
on Adipocere, released in 1992. Again the low and sick sounding
growls, driving parts interchange with atmospheric and at times
pretty technical sections and stand in one line with the before
released demos. Tracks 13-14 offer ’92 rehearsal recordings with
nothing more than a nostalgic value, but fans will probably be
pretty happy to be able to hear them. Of course, musically these two
tracks are excellent, but the sound is extremely raw! Next up are
two songs off a pre-production demo recorded in very good sound
quality after the album’s release. It presents the musical
developments “World Of Myths” hinted at: exclusively clean
Metal-vocals, more melodies, more progressive sounds and absolutely
no Death Metal elements anymore. A pretty serious shock after the
previous 14 songs, especially since they reach a level of slimy
kitsch that is despite the band’s excellent performance more like
a musical à la “Starlight Express” mixed with EUROPE,
unbearable! Unfortunately track 17, a studio demo is in the same
vein and was planned to be on the band’s second album “Nadia”,
which fortunately was never realized. As a violent punch in the face
the closing two tracks taken off the “Visions Beyond Darkness”
EP (released in 1991) will hit you after this short journey into
cheesiness, it’s the harshest material CRYPT OF KERBEROS ever
recorded but they are not satisfied with the way the EP turned out.
The sound was crappy and ruined the potential slumbering in their
early songs, which of course were still in the Death Metal vein.
Well, to finish this extraordinarily long review the demo tracks, as
well as the “Cyclone Of Insanity” EP are fantastic and
deservedly “cult”-labelled pieces of Swedish Death Metal and
this compilation is the best way to get them today! The later
material, as well as the rehearsals and the debut EP are not that
entertaining because of the above explained reasons, nonetheless
they belong into the history of CRYPT OF KERBEROS and whoever is
interested in exploring it, will find it nicely compiled and
excellently arranged on this CD. Contact the label via anatomybleedrecords@hotmail.com
A special thanks to John G. for getting this CD into my hands…
Stefan Franke
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CRYPTOPSY
And Then You'll Beg
(Century Media)
39:06min
Alongside
with KATAKLYSM Canada's most extreme Death Metal act CRYPTOPSY is
back with its fourth album consisting of nine eruptions of ultra
fast, totally weird and technically sick Death Metal. Compared to
their preceding releases this album is extremely hard to digest
and I really don't know what to think about this one?! On the one
hand I've to admit that the members in CRYPTOPSY are one of the
most skilled and original musicians around, especially the drumming
is totally insane. On the other hand it's almost impossible to listen
to more than two or three tracks in a row, so "And Then You'll
Beg" simply gets on my nerves. Sad, but true! Sick stuff for
sick minds.
Schenk
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CRYSTALIUM
Diktat Omega
(Oaken Shield / Adipocere)
49:31min
When I look at the whole artwork of this CD, and I read the title
of the songs (all written in French), I got the displeasing
feeling these dudes are fascinated by a foul political symbolism.
You can make an idea by yourselves just by visiting the CRYSTALIUM
website (http://www.crystalium.tk)
and by examining the symbolism used by this band from the South
East of France. Personally, I can’t endorse such an attitude. I
loathe this kind of perverted romanticism based on self appraisal
and fascination for certain symbols of the past. The overall look
of this album (their third by the way) speaks by itself, complete
with “rough” musicians in uniform, black and white pictures
inducing a sort of subliminal message directed to our inner
conscience evoking, without actually depicting, images of the
infamous part of European history between 1918 and 1945. I would
like to state here that I am a Metal freak for 25 years by now,
and that heavy music is a kind of religion to me. This is
precisely why I can’t stand this kind of band and record. Metal
music deserves better in my opinion, and deserves above all
respect. So CRYSTALIUM can pack back their silly “art” and
keep it for the ten followers they might have. Their music is a
kind of sub-standard “War” Black Metal (how surprising…)
upon which pretentious bad poetry based on misunderstood
Nietzschean themes is loosely placated. I can guarantee you a
serious headache trying to listen to this in its entirety (what I
did). A total waste of time… One last thing before I close this
subject for good (for note that I am not available to discuss this
matter on the VFTDS website, nor anywhere else): the motto of the
band is “CRYSTALIUM only exist for their enemies”; sorry to
disappoint you guys, I am not your friend, yet you don’t exist
in my world. Enough said.
Edouard Vergriete
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CSSO
Are You Excrements?
(Morbid Records)
40:36min
What a
cool album! I liked this one right from the start and it's growing!
CSSO (Clotted Symmetrical Sexual Organ) are from Japan and their
sound is called Grind Rock. "Are You Excrements?" is their
second full length album and they're focussing on a sort of 70's
Rock with extreme vocals and spacy keyboards. But when you're caught
in a cool part of a song, you're crushed by pure mayhem all of a
sudden! CSSO are excellent musicians and unusual songwriters and
"Are You Excrements?" is definitely worth checking out,
especially the 10 minutes song 'Living Dead A Go Go' represents
CSSO's madness. But if you really can't stand (strange) Rock sounds:
hands off in case you can't listen to the album in advance! No idea
what their lyrics are about but there aren't that much vocals anyway....
I'm definitely looking forward to their tour.
Ramon Claassen
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CULTES DES GOULES / FAUSTCOVEN
Split 7"
EP
(Iron Tyrant Records)
10:43min
The art of the split 7" has largely been lost in these dark ages of Metal. There was a time when bands would produce their best work for inclusion on a compilation or split release in order to demonstrate their full potential to listeners that may not be familiar with their work, but now most bands simply assign their most generic throwaway tracks to such releases. Iron Tyrant has managed to secure two of the best tracks by the two bands featured on this split, however. At first glance, one may think Germany's CULTES DES GOULES and Norway's FAUSTCOVEN to be an awkward pairing. In that way, this split EP is reminiscent of the classic ROTTING CHRIST / MONUMENTUM split. Here, CULTES DES GOULES, like MONUMENTUM, occupy a plane that is uniquely tangential to the more traditional sphere of Metal inhabited by FAUSTCOVEN. CULTES DES GOULES play a macabre blend of Death Rock and Metal informed by the horrific visions of Lovecraft. It is a style that truly sounds unlike anything else. Eschewing the typical guitar oriented approach, CULTES DES GOULES's music is composed using only bass, drums, and keyboards. FAUSTCOVEN share little in common with CULTES DES GOULES in terms of sound, relying on a heavily guitar oriented approach evoking and blending many of the most foundational elements in Black and Doom Metal. The result is devastating and bleak. The track on this split is quite possibly the peak of the band's work thus far. The song begins with a megalithic riff that, although dense, only sparsely populates the cavernous emptiness that surrounds it. During the six minutes that follow, the song gradually builds momentum and is then unraveled again. Although the styles of the two bands could scarcely be more divergent, these two peculiar bands meet at a conceptual nexus. Each draws its influence from the foundational principles of horror and approach their subject matter in an almost that tongue-in-cheek fashion. This approach detracts nothing, however, because the bands each exhibit sincere and novel musical foci. Moreover, this tactic prevents the bands from being overly serious in the manner that many similarly situated bands often are. One cannot help but think that Iron Tyrant gambled with this release. Neither band presented here is of the sort that will appeal to either the impulsive goat-worshipping legions or the self-conscious posturing of the orthodox occult scene. But neither Iron Tyrant nor the bands seem to be aiming toward such easy targets anyway. The goal here is far more obscure and, therefore, the reward is correspondingly greater.
More info at: www.cultesdesgoules.org,
www.myspace.com/goules,
www.myspace.com/faustcoven,
www.irontyrant.net
Jason Campbell
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CULT
OF LUNA
The Beyond
(Earache Records)
64:56min
Well,
this is definitely not an easy-listening band! Swedish CULT OF LUNA
perform a mixture of emotional Hardcore and atmospheric, spheric
electronics that I can only compare to a band like NEUROSIS. The
whole thing sounds a bit like CROWBAR with programming effects,
keyboards and loops. Although CULT OF LUNA are no band for the
typical Voices-visitor, because they have absolutely nothing to do
with Death, Thrash or Black, I think it would be unfair to make fun
of them or run them down. CULT OF LUNA create their stuff straight
from the heart and I feel obliged to honor that! Who likes modern
sounds like the bands I mentioned should give CULT OF LUNA’s
intense apocalyptic soundscapes a serious chance. Their music was
not made for me, but “The Beyond” managed to touch even my
ignorant Death Metal heart a few times and so I can not talk bad of
this band. I hope no one thinks that I am a wimp now... ha ha. www.cultofluna.com
Stefan Franke
BACK
CULT OF LUNA
Somewhere Along The Highway
(Earache Records)
64:46min
Ah, well... so here it is, the new CULT OF LUNA album. Highly anticipated I can imagine, for CULT OF LUNA
have been hyped quite alot since their debut on Earache Records. Overrated? Yes, what their new efford "Somewhere Along The Highway" very well proofs. But let me take the detour before we get on the
highway: I do not know which band was first playing this type of music, whose greatest representatives are among others NEUROSIS, BREACH and ISIS, to name the best known acts. They began mixing the extremes of quiet and almost peaceful sounds with brutal and aggressive
eruptions in epic and visionary songs: sometimes monotonously hammering, noisy, dark and hateful, with screaming and grunting vocals full of anger, creating an atmosphere of wrath, despair, darkness and sorrow. NEUROSIS startet as an apocalyptic warmachine (their album "Through Silver In Blood" is one of the darkest and nihilistic albums I have ever heard) but later got more quiet, more wise, back to earth. Same with ISIS, who became more spherical, with a cleaner sound and sometimes clean vocals and a slight rock touch. It is not important how you would like to name a genre für these bands, be it Deathcore (as Earache calls
CULT OF LUNA's music), Noiserock, Apocalyptic Doom or whatever – the important thing as a creator of such music is to transform all your feelings directly into your music during monstrous jam-sessions, without analyzing it first. And that exactly is the problem with CULT OF LUNA: neither their self-titled debut, nor their second album "The Beyond" (their hyped debut on Earache) or this new album are able to grip me in any way. Everything just sounds too calculated and emotionless. It is as if they are following rules "how to write a Deathcore-song": when does the clean part has to finish? How long is the aggressive part? When can I scream and how often? Lights on, lights off, orgasm after 3 min, please... The vocals just seem to be there for the sake of having them at all, they appear to be hollow. No flow, no life. Maybe 7 bandmembers is too much for a band like this? Too much compromises? Who knows. CULT OF LUNA is not a shit band, nor is their music bad. They are just too cold and heartless for this music. On "The Beyond" they sounded like an analytic version of ISIS. With "Somewhere..." there are some hints of promising and original ideas. The titletrack eg. sounds like a NEIL YOUNG version from his "Dead Man" soundtrack played by EARTH (but not as good of course) – and that is their best track, with much feeling and a great atmosphere. Here and there you get a touch of GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR or newer ANATHEMA, which is quiet interesting, still not yet convincing. There are still some aggressive parts with Deathcore screams, but CULT OF LUNA got more quiet on this release... like a rose that turned to stone, which by the way is the frontcover-motive for "Somewhere..." and to this I just have no comment!! Thanx for your time folks!
www.cultofluna.com,
www.earache.com.
On sale
here.
Tim Klöcker
BACK
CURRICULUM MORTIS
Into Death (Demo 2003)
21:09min
Fans of
the Swedish Melo-Death Metal genre might get a kick out of this as
CURRICULUM MORTIS is a kind of "all star" project
featuring Fredrik Andersson on drums, guitars and bass (probably
better known for his work with AMON AMARTH, A CANOROUS QUINTET,
GUIDANCE OF SIN), Leo Pignon - guitars (A CANOROUS QUINTET, NIDEN
DIV. 187) and Mattias Leinikka - vocals (GUIDANCE OF SIN). The
original intention of this three piece back in 2001 was to start up
something new together, with influences coming from bands such as
NILE and VADER. Hmm... having this in mind, something obviously must
have gone wrong somewhere down the road as the five featured songs
on their debut demo "Into Death" by no means turned out
that way. This is basically pretty much in the same vein as their
main bands and musically what we've already heard ways too often
before. There's the aggressive (a little bit deeper than usual
though) vocal delivery, the melodic twin-guitar work and the typical
songwriting formular. Ok, it wasn't recorded / produced at Studio
Fredman and therefore differs soundwise quite a bit (this is more
raw, probably due to lack of money), but despite the obvious musical
skills of the guys, it personally already bored me right from the
first minutes of the CD-R, nevertheless... I'm simply not the right
type of guy for this, as I was never the biggest fan of melodic
Death Metal... Maybe you are? Then you might be interested in some
further info, which you will certainly get here:
contact@curriculummortis.com,
www.curriculummortis.com
Frank
Stöver
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CYPHER
Forward Devolution (MCD)
(self-financed)
13:18min
The story is well known: take a new trend, wait for it getting a
little bit sour, and see the underdogs spreading out trying to bite
their slice of the cake. Well CYPHER are one of these underdogs, and
they play neo -Thrash like countless others now. But I would be
unjust to deny them a certain dose of savoir-faire in that. These
Dutchmen offer us three intense and fairly enjoyable tracks, in the
vein the Swedes made us accustomed of. Excellent musicianship,
promising songwriting and obvious enthusiasm are the keywords to
grasp what the CYPHER boys are in for. Their style owes a heavy debt
to DEW-SCENTED, and the title track shows a lot of potential and
gives a clue of what CYPHER could become. The sound on this MCD is
very powerful, the production is more than OK, even if the drums are
a little buried in the mix. No doubt that CYPHER deserve a record
deal, considering what they have to offer with this. Support them
and check their website at http://www.cyphercore.com.
Edouard Vergriete
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