22nd part of short reviews.
BARÚS – Drowned
Year of release: 2018
Label: Memento Mori
Rating: 7,5 / 10
Tricky progressive death metal from France. The release on Memento Mori in itself implies that “progressiveness” is in second place here. So it is: in front of us is very heavy, weird and gloomy death metal which the Spanish label has always preferred. Complex musical constructions only make it even more unfriendly. Perhaps, this is their only function - in my view, all this could have been played in more traditional sizes, but it’s the band's decision. Good and atmospheric album, which requires a lot of time for listening.
GOAT EXPLOSION – Rumors of Man
Year of release: 2018
Label: Into Endless Chaos Records
Rating: 6,3 / 10
Very characteristic Heavy / Stoner Metal, just so much so that nothing to say. Choose any epithet appropriate to this style, and be sure that it fits. The canonical sound, the canonical style of performance. Perhaps the vocals are distinguished by their German origin, which is felt due to the light accent. In addition, the music sometimes unfolds unexpectedly epic canvases to the listener, but not for long. Not a bad album, but nothing outstanding.
ONSET – Unstructured Dissemination
Year of release: 2018
Label: Weird Truth Productions
Rating: 7 / 10
Instrumental ambient doom from Singapore - it would seem, who in their right mind would listen to this? But the cover, made in the spirit of the design of fantastic books in the 70s, is already causing serious curiosity. And the publisher's name finally convinces that this release should be paid attention to. In fact, Singaporeans perform very unusual and atmospheric music, which could serve as a good soundtrack for a dark and slightly psychedelic Sci-Fi series. The riffs, collected along the bottom of the barrel of various Doom Metal styles, are strong but the keyboard parts are even better; they really make difference. It is noteworthy that Mirai Kawashima (SIGH) is responsible for the majority of the synth parts. Apparently, this is the whole secret. I recommend to listen to this album.
RODENT EPOCH – Rodentlord
Year of release: 2018
Label: Saturnal Records
Rating: 6,8 / 10
Driving, malicious and very nasty black metal. A press release proudly states that this release will kill your ego and pull out the dirty animal essence. I have heard more brutal records, but the statement as a whole is justified. All the ingredients of old extreme metal are mixed here - blood, guts, shit, sexual perversions, vomit, satanism, unmotivated violence, occultism, black magic, necrophilia, and so on. Plus killer design of the CD. It is a pity that the music as such has let us down - nothing interesting happens in it, as the group was ashamed to go all the way and flop into a totally piggy madness. The half measures are unacceptable!
RUIN – Human Annihilation
Year of release: 2018
Label: Memento Mori
Rating: 7 / 10
Another release from Memento Mori, and, of course, this is again the gloomy metal of death, but in many respects the opposite of BARÚS. Having formed in 1990 (and having broken up a year later, to return in 2015), RUIN remain faithful to the primitive traditions of the genre. Therefore, their album is stupid, aggressive, dirty and powerful, like an overgrown retard. And that's a compliment. The band tried very hard to make “Human Annihilation” consistent with the spirit of the old era in everything, from music to the cover.The deaf sound and the merciless nature of the album will scare away many, but those who love to lie in other people's guts have every chance to get a new favorite. In fact, after such albums you do not understand how bands like MONSTROSITY, HATE ETERNAL, DECAPITATED, etc. can be attributed to Death Metal genre. The real metal of death is here before you.
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