127th part of short reviews.
ABOMINATOR – The Fire Brethren
Year: 2025
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Rating: 8 / 10
Traditional Australian Black/Death Metal madness with huge balls made of wrought iron. If you love this style, then ABOMINATOR embodies it!
GEGENENTWURF – Høstens fargeglede
Year: 2025
Label: self-release
Rating: curiosity
I wrote about GEGENENTWURF before in 118th part of Blitz. The majority of what I wrote can be said about this album as well, but not everything.Høstens fargeglede" has primarily an autumn theme, so it puts a clear emphasis on melancholy from the very beginning. Again, there's a MAYHEM-like dissonance here, and the overall feeling is still uncomfortable, but all this is somehow calmer this time. In some places, the album resembles late BURZUM, in some places it sounds like a soundtrack for a moody criminal drama, in some places it makes you remember LIK, or even sounds almost bluesy. Despite the fact that this is undoubtedly a metal release, “Høstens fargeglede" is far from any typical metal forms. I would say that this is rather the result of directed improvisation. The author had an idea: to write a song about autumn. From here, the first fragment was born, and then: "What happens if you insert this here? And that?”. Et cetera. Therefore, the final parts of the tracks are not much like their beginnings, but it all sounds surprisingly complete. Again, I can't give this album a rating, as it's very different from what I work with 99% of the time. GEGENENTWURF is an example of how you can cross the boundaries of metal, but remain metal. And to do all this without the pretentiousness and arrogance that are so typical of most of those who have learned to play something other than a standard set of chords.
VERDALACK – Force from the Grave
Year: 2025
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Rating: 7,5 / 10
The debut album of the Japanese band, which previously bore the enchanting name ASSAULT ATTACK (sorry, but I can't help myself - I'm waiting for the bands AUTOMOBILE CAR and IRON METAL!). VERDALACK play ultra-true Speed Metal, in which there is literally not a second of anything else. No slowdowns, no disgusting mid tempos, nothing of that. Half an hour of sincere, upbeat old-school music, poured with virtuoso solos in several layers. The only problem is the vocalist. First, he sings according to the Japanese tradition of English pronounce (that is, as if he lost half of his tongue; you can't understand SHIT, not a single word), and he also does it with some kind of moronic growl and practically on the same note all the time. From time to time, he demonstrates a strong falsetto and good transitions, but immediately returns to what can be described as hammering nails with his voice. It gets tiresome already on the second track. If you get used to it, the album is killer!
AZATHOTH’S DREAM – Solitary Forest Necromancy
Year: 2025
Label: Iron Bonehead Productions
Rating: 7 / 10
Another product from the United States about vampires, the occult, night, darkness, and so on. Not to complain about Iron Bonehead, but... Although tradition is always a good choice, it also needs its own personal approach. One glance at the textual component of AZATHOTH'S DREAM is enough to sigh sadly. How many such groups are there already, endlessly combining the same set of words (black, forest, flame, necromancy, ancient, blood, night, magic, evil, nocturnal, infernal, etc.), hiding a bottomless emptiness that stands behind them? It's as if these groups are just giving ChatGPT lyrical tasks (which is probably exactly what they're doing) and focusing solely on music. Fortunately, in the case of AZATHOTH'S DREAM, the music is worth listening to. This is an atmospheric and melodic "wall of sound" in the style of the old French with some depressive episodes. But the American toughness prevents the music from falling into the wimpy tearfulness of many French-speaking acts. Those who love WINTER FUNERAL and BEKHIRA - give it a try. I wish they could do something with the lyrics.…
LIGNUM MORTIS – Lignum Mortis II
Year: 2025
Label: self-release
Rating: 7 / 10
An independent multi-genre one-man band from Chile. Rough and primitive (sometimes almost to the level of HELLHAMMER) Doom / Death / Black Metal. There are also some dark NORTT-style keys. Darkness and anger in all directions. The distinctive vocals with a rough Latin American pronunciation only enhances the effect. I would say that LIGNUM MORTIS sounds even more Brazilian or Peruvian, as Chileans usually have an enhanced sense of melody. But here, everything smells of death. Very negative music. Not for everyone.
