Album Reviews

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    Norse – All Is Mist and Fog (2013)

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    What happens when a release arrives a couple of years late to the party? It just sounds very dated and weak in comparison to others. This is the main problem that we have with Norse and their sophomore release “All is Mist and Fog”. With a tight Blackened Death Metal sound from several years back and a very weak production, this release would have been greatly benefitted from a remastering or something.

    Moving on full steam ahead with the pummeling “Neglect”, the band has a dated sound that while powerful is not quite what most releases these days have. The drumming is quite intense, but it sounds, to be honest, like total shit. It might have been the promo or they tried to give it a weird effect, but it sounds like it was recorded inside a toilet and some muffling effect was added. We don’t like to be this harsh on releases, but when everything else sounds quite ok, we wonder how this could have happened.

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    Beyond The Shore – Ghostwatcher (2013)

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    Diving right into “Ghostwatcher” one might immediately think this is just another Metalcore/Deathcore release, but as one further explores Beyond The Shore’s music, there are quite a few interesting elements that make this release standout from the crowd. Released via Metalblade Records, this album features 10 tracks that at times are hit or miss, but there is a general sense of diversity that will keep your attention on this release.

    Opening with two very vanilla tracks: “Dividers” and “Half Lived”, things really start to get interesting with the intricately crafted “Transitions”. The band delivers run of the mill Metalcore with some interesting guitar melodies and funky drum patters, making this track quite enjoyable and unexpected. The album’s first single “Homewrecker” is another very interesting piece with very tight melodic sections and cool transitions, only the vocals ruin a bit the moment.

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    Sannhet – Known Flood (2013)

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    Delivering 43 minutes of relentless instrumental Post-Metal with Black Metal, Sludge and even some post-punk influences, today we have Sannhet and their debit release “Known Flood”. With a current rise in the popularity of Post-Metal bands that try to be copycats of Neurosis and Isis, it is quite refreshing to hear a band like Sannhet that can deliver the goods and still craft a unique and crushing style of their own.

    The brutal “Abescon Isle” delivers a similar pummeling feeling to bands like Wolves In The Throne Room but with a sludgier edge. The band’s Black Metal influences are very evident and they make them very present in their intense riffing demonstration. Things get more interesting with the strange opening of “Invisible Wounds”, setting a very disturbing and quite engaging atmospheric tone before going back into powerful melodic and heavy riffs.

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    Azure Emote – The Gravity of Impermanence (2013)

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    As the brainchild of Mike Hrubovcak (Monstrosity, etc) today we have the totally wacked out second full-length release of Azure Emote titled “The Gravity of Impermanence”. Featuring 14 tracks and around 60 minutes of very chaotic and somewhat odd music, this release will have listeners at the end of their seats waiting to hear what is coming up next. Mixing all kinds of styles, both musically and vocally, this is one very complex album that takes a bit to sink in.

    Opening with the strange “Epoch of De-Evolution”, you immediately know that this is one of those albums that will keep you confused. Immediately we start to draw comparisons to bands like Sigh, Unexpect, etc, where you don’t really know where the album is going until you decide to give up and just enjoy the weirdness. “Carpe Diem” is quite a good example of this weirdness with haunting vocals and the excellent signature violin contribution of Pete Johansen.

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    Six Feet Under – Unborn (2013)

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    Cranking out another release in less than one year, today we have Six Feet Under and their Groove infused Death Metal. Not lacking in quality and diving a bit into their older sound, “Unborn” delivers 11 crushing tracks that any fan of the band and American Death Metal will enjoy from beginning to end. Being the band’s 13th full-length release, they still have the magic to make the crows mosh themselves to a pulp and they are not afraid to pull the trigger on it.

    Opening with the crunchy “Neuro Osmosis”, Chris Barnes treats us with his powerful growls and the band does a great job in crafting meaty hooks and solid melodic sections. After the quintessential Death Metal track “Prophecy”, the band delivers the groovy goods with the super catchy “Zombie Blood Curse”. With back to back neck breaking anthems with “Incision” and “Decapitate”, Six Feet Under keeps the album varied and entertaining, something that has been a problem with them in the past, but in “Unborn” they deliver without getting repetitive.

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    Trail of Tears – Oscillation (2013)

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    Delivering their swan song release, today we have Trail of Tears and possibly one of their best albums in their career: “Oscillation”. Surrounded by crazy drama over their facebook page and plastered all over the internet, and internal struggle once more has destroyed this band with Ronny Thorsen finally opting (for now) to put the band to rest. Featuring 13 tracks and over 50 minutes of intense and lush Symphonic/Gothic Metal, this release marks the seventh and final release of a great band.

    Drama aside, “Oscillation” features very emotional tracks that bring the band back to their “Disclosure in Red” style, in terms of melancholy and raw emotions. “Waves of Existence” opens this release with lush symphonic sections and very melancholic vocals from Catherine Paulsen. The atmosphere feels very emotional and quite catchy indeed. Other tracks like “Scream Out Loud” have a more pop-ish feeling similar to bands like Amaranthe and Unsun.

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    Hypocrisy – End of Disclosure (2013)

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    Four years have passed since the crushing “A Taste of Extreme Divinity” and Hypocrisy finally returns with a release that brings them back to their more melodic and epic sound of albums like “The Fourth Dimension” and “The Final Chapter”. Bringing back the demonic aliens on the album cover, this release is both powerful and melodic with epic riffs and haunting atmospheres, a must have for any fan of the band’s earlier work.

    Opening with the atmospheric epic “End of Disclosure” we are immediately transported to the band’s classics like “Roswell 1947” and similar tracks from those years. The band really changed things up from their last album to this one, and we particularly like this more melodic approach they have. The riffing as you can expect is amazing and on “Tales of Thy Spineless” they bust out some crushing Thrash Metal-style passages that will make you headbang instantly.

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    Way to End – Various Shades of Black (2013)

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    After Way to End’s impressive 2009 debut, “Desecrated Internal Journey”, we had huge expectations for this French outfit and with “Various Shades of Black” they have managed to surpass them and set a whole new standard for themselves. Clocking in at 50 minutes, this release is an excellent example of how a band with excellent technical skills can produce something that is both crushing and complex in nature.

    Nicely warming up with the mellow “Sous Les Rangs”, people that don’t know the band will surely be puzzled and not really prepared for what is to come in this excellent release. “L'apprenti” brings back the intricate guitars from the band’s debut but with a more twisted and refined sound. The incorporation of Vaerohn of Pensées Nocturnes on bass allows them to sound richer with equally complex guitar and bass guitar sections.

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    Regarde Les Hommes Tomber - Regarde Les Hommes Tomber (2013)

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    Rounding up our promo package from LADLO productions, today we have another exciting new outfit from France under the moniker Regarde Les Hommes Tomber. With their self-titled debut release, this band manages to blend elements of Neurosis and Amenra and create a very tight and devastating Sludgy Post-Black Metal. If you like heavy and powerful guitars that create a huge wall of sound, Regarde Les Hommes Tomber is the band for you.

    With the hypnotic droning of the bands opening track, “Prelude”, we immediately feel their wrath with punishing riffs and skillful drumming. The Post-Rock/Metal elements thrown into the mix really shake things up and keep their sound very fresh. In full Neurosis/Amenra worship mode, “Wanderer of Eternity” delivers a full blast of power in the shape of harsh vocals and solid guitar work, never letting go of their heaviness and brutality.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Pensées Nocturnes - Nom d'une Pipe! (2013)

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    The moment you think you have heard it all, you get an album like “Nom d'une Pipe!”. Breaking the boundaries of Avant-garde Black Metal by infusing some neo-classical and jazz influences, Pensées Nocturnes manages to deliver one of the most diabolically excellent releases we have heard in the last few years. Taking were Arcturus and their “La Masquerade Infernale” left off, this release has a exquisite circus feeling mixed into the whole Avant-garde BM theme.

    Opening with the dark “Il a mangé le soleil” the band initially sets a very chaotic and aggressive mood that is very typical of Avant-garde BM release. The band’s musical elegance really kicks in when the enthralling “Le Marionnettiste” brings its jazzy and extremely psychotic sound. Reminding us a bit of bands like Angizia and Elend, but with a darker and heavier vibe, the wind and string classical instruments are just excellent and allow the atmosphere to drastically transform.

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