105th part of the short reviews.
GHASH – Ordinance
Year: 2024
Label: self-release
Rating: 7,9 / 10
Let me remind you that GHASH is a very young, young in every sens, band from Harodnia, formed only a few months ago. But this is already their second release (you can read a little about the first one here). These guys continue to develop their medieval epic-atmospheric metal, and I like what I hear more and more every time. This is the case when everything is done very cheap and very traditionally, but with an outstanding - I don't know, conscious or instinctive - understanding and feeling. For example, in the first track there are small BURZUM-style fragments, literally a couple of chords, and they hide more meaning than the whole songs of some bands. Listening to "Ordinance", I felt like I was 18-19 years old again, when new music really touched me deeply on a subconscious level. GHASH can be criticized, but somehow I don't want to do it at all, because there is magic here. And not only magic, but also great music. Just listen to it.
...And yet I will not refrain. According to the Bandcamp page, the band decided to rename itself to TURRIS OBSCURA. This is a very short-sighted decision, since Latin-language names usually are associated with pretentious boring shit. They could've choose at least CIOMNAJA VIEŽA, as it should be here, in Krywia.
SUMMONING DEATH – A Traumatic Night of the Creeps
Year: 2023
Label: Chaos Records
Rating: 8 / 10
A freshly killed EP by a Mexican band playing Horror Death Metal in the well-known style of acts such as BLOODBATH, THE GROTESQUERY, VOMITORY, etc. Unlike similar groups from the wealthiest countries of the world, these Mexicans take their business very seriously. There is no forced black humor, malicious "fun", dancing on bones. The music, although very frisky, is imbued with a heavy, fetid, intense feeling of nightmarish horror, as it should be in this genre. I would especially like to mention the totally Swedish chainsaw sound of guitars and the most powerful female vocalist, whose manner of roaring I would compare to George Fisher himself. SUMMONING DEATH's love for Sweden is also highlighted by two covers: of the ancient underground band TRAUMATIC and the well-known EDGE OF SANITY.
WINDARK – Wildergrave
Year: 2024
Label: self-release
Rating: 8 / 10
WALKNUT worshipper from US continued his activities after a 6-year hiatus, and during this time, the influence of WALKNUT on his music has almost ceased. "Wildergrave" turned out to be a very unhurried, thoughtful atmospheric metal, where all the music is driven by not even guitars, but keyboards. In form, it is closer to the first wave of atmospheric home-made metal; in spirit - to old WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM (minus the gay stuff). As before, the author may not have expensive musical equipment, but has a deep understanding of the music he plays, so “Wildergrave" sucks you in from the first minutes and does not let go until the very finale, despite the external simplicity of the music. 25 minutes of dark calmness and estrangement. As always, the release can be picked up for free at Bandcamp.
WANDERER – Awakening Force
Year: 2020
Label: Helldprod Records
Rating: 7 / 10
Heavy Speed Metal from Portugal. Nothing that we haven't heard before, but the great sound of WANDERER kicks asses even of the most bands of Dying Victims Productions. For fans of RUNNING WILD, RAZOR, IRON ANGEL and true old metal!
AVSKRÄDE – Awakening Force
Year: 2023
Label: Purity Through Fire
Rating: 6,66 / 10
Surprisingly primitive (in a positive sense) Swedish Black Metal. In terms of content and sound, it resembles the old DARKTHRONE. Unfortunately, the Swedes still couldn't resist and tried to create a dynamic (one where after a fast track there is a slow one, and then a medium-tempo one, and then the band suddenly adds a lead guitar part for depth of sound, and so on), and it all messed up a lot. Stupid music doesn't work in those forms where the listener has time to think about its structure. He should be beaten on the head incessantly, and let your album last 27 minutes instead of the traditional 40, but the listener will be stunned and satisfied. There are exceptions, of course, but I'll be ready to talk about them only after AVSKRÄDE writes a track on the level of “To Walk The Infernal Fields".