Enigmatical -Transmissions (CD Review)

Enigmatical - "Transmissions"

01.Cosmic Domination

02.Wormhole

03.Call From The Void

04.We Are The Demons

05.E.T.A.I.

06.Dark Energy Entities

07.Zero One (Infancy of Infinity)

08.Enstrangled Cosmic Spirals

09.Ekpyrotic Gateways

The Entity (Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Samples & Programming)

The Voice (Vocals)

 Cosmic Black Metal from Sweden? Well that's what the bio said and it grabbed my attention.

There are few bands who can blend Black metal, Industrial metal and Electronica and create a finished product.

This CD comprises of three previously released Transmission EPs, titled Transmission I, II, and III, now released digitally as a remixed and remastered compilation album.

Well I'm pretty much blown away by this, first couple of songs certainly blend electronics with Black Metal, but for me 'Call From The Void' just levels up. Great synth sounds, full on drum patterns, screaming deathly vocals, wall of pure guitar noise, yes this is the stuff! and then towards the end it goes all weird with synths and samples, perfect ending!

This never ending aural assault continues, lifted on occasion with some simple yet effective synths such as on 'E.T.A.I.'

'Zero One' creates that rarest of paradox', a danceable, techno black metal onslaught, which we return to on the last song 'Ekpyrotic Gateways', fucking amazing!

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of: Axis Of Perdition, NON, Meads Of Asphodel, Blut Aus Nord, Aborym

Meuchelmord - Apathie EP (CD Review)

01.Einklang
02.Seelenfrieden
03.Jahr
04.Apathie
05.Regeneration



Cernunnos (Guitar/Vocals/Drums/Bass/Keyboards)

One man depressive black metal from Germany, began in 2011 and after three releases went away in 2013.Now returning with this new EP.

Beautiful piano opening to 'Einklang', starts to give way to almost industrial metal sounds before moving into a brief black metal blast and then after a bit more piano we come to some evil screams and 'Seelenfrieden', with its quite uplifting and melodic backing, driven by a catchy guitar riff and some timing changes this shapes up into a great almost symphonic styled piece, yes its rough around the edges but not that depressing at all!

'Jahr' with its distortion and downtuned, slow and pounding rhythms is almost into sludge metal, however the growl vocal and piano soon return this to a dark and moody song. Great backing vocal effects help give this a ghostly feel as well.

It's strange but 'Apathie' with its upbeat drums and happy sounding guitar playing, somehow still manages to be an overall downbeat song, maybe its when all hell breaks loose and the heavy guitar riff comes in over the screaming vocal?

'Regeneration' is more of a "pure" black metal piece, the piano really comes through on this one, subtle but near perfection.

Rating 9/10
For fans of: Castle, Triptykon, Balmog, Dryom, Axis Of Perdition

Chiral - Night Sky (CD Review)

01.My Temple Of Isolation
02.Nightside 1 : Everblack Fields
03.Nightside 2 : Sky Wonder
04.The Morning Passage
05.Beneath The Snow & The Fallen Leaves


Chiral (All Instruments/Vocals)

Chiral is an Italian one-man band, from the countryside near Piacenza, started at the end of 2013.
Chiral incorporates musical elements of the North-East USA Cascadian Black Metal (like Wolves In The Throne Room and Agalloch), atmospheric as well as raw black metal influences (like old Burzum and Ulver) with a special taste for acoustic instruments by the likes of Opeth and Falls of Rauros.
The lyrical themes are mainly based on introspection, nature, solitude, pain, death and even love.

If you like 10 minutes of superb acoustic folk, catchy riffs and short blasts of black metal then 'My Temple Of Isolation' is the perfect way to go.
Its a stunning and brilliant mix of styles with perfect production.

'Nightside 1 : Everblack Fields' takes us into a different sound, this is near symphonic with epic keyboards and synthersizers, whilst 'Nightside 2 : Sky Wonder' continues this theme it adds more in the way of guitar and drum and towards the end returns to the black metal.

Very laid back and acoustic comes 'The Morning Passage', this one even has harmonica on it, its a simple but interesting instrumetal.

Finally 'Beneath The Snow & The Fallen Leaves' is another great melodic, laid back piece, at times almost progressive yet somehow it retains that black metal edge.

Rating 10/10
For fans of: Burzum Wolves In The Throne Room, HaatE, Ulver, Goblin

IL Vuoto - Weakness (CD Review)

01.And Night Devours Me
02.The Harvest
03.Sea Of Emptiness
04.And Night Took Her
05.Through Mirrors I Saw The Ghost Of Me
06.I, Essence Of Nothingness
07.Closure XVII


Il Vuoto (All Instruments/Vocals)

Guest
Jurre Timmer (Sorrow and Lamentations)

After two demos released previously this year, Weakness is the first full length from Funeral Doom Metal one-man band, Il Vuoto from italy.

Depressing and super-slow doom metal, with a soft drone vein and symphonic elements,
Jurre Timmer of 'Algos' returns on guest vocals, having previously sung on the Sea Of Emptiness demo released this may.


'And Night Devours Me' has this wondeful piano beginning which goes into some stunning and atmospheric music. When the drums and guitars really kick in, this remains a slow, dark and highly melodic ten minutes.
The dark vocals are backed by some fantastic choral work.

A change of pace with 'The Harvest' which is a funeral doom/black metal styled song, painful and slow and very evil.

Returning to more melodic territory is 'Sea Of Emptiness', of course when i say melodic i mean in terms of the backing music, the vocals are very gruff.
The second half of the song has some jazzy guitarwork, nice piano and some spoken word bits.

Strange mix of piano and violin on the short instrumental 'And Night Took Her' is followed by a quiet, melodic almost gothic piece.

Another ten minute monster next with 'I, Essence Of Nothingness', at times this ventures into near progressive rock, a clever and well thought out piece that has the heavy elements of black metal and doom but the melody and structure of neo-prog, outstanding guitarwork at times.

Perhaps 'Closure XVII' is the perfect way to end, a short classical piece with piano and violins.


Rating 10/10
For fans of: Shape of Despai, Nortt, Monumentum

Sigihl - Trauermärsche and a tango upon the world's grave (CD Review)

01.Daymare
02.Non Credo Quia Absurdum Est
03.Christ-Off Waltz
04.The Rite Of Pain
05.Tango Catholico (Repent!)

Kv (Vocals)
Lt.Haunted (Bass)
The Pope (Sax)
Grekh (Drums)

Drone Jazz from the hellyard, Sigihl was brought to life in mid 2012.
They say: "No special story behind us, no achievements, no records, no special gigs. Nothing. There's only Lucifer's love. For now...."

Well there is a record and here's the review.

'Daymare' is a very raw sounding piece, possibly recorded live in the studio, it has that feel anyway.From its ambient start it decends into a hellish drone/doom world of distortion over a solid drumbeat and screamed vocals.The Sax sounds like it is run through a distortion pedal, but then so does everything else, a glorious moise!

The same can be said of the second song 'Non Credo Quia Absurdum Est' though this has the addition of very avante garde jazz sax playing, and i warn you it is very "Avante Garde" !

'Christ-Off Waltz' reels it back in slightly, though the vocals do seem to go a little crazy and high pitched at times.

Following a more traditional doom structure is 'The Rite Of Pain', a somewhat apt title for this torturous song.

Finally 'Tango Catholico' a strange mix of noise (sorry i mean jazz) and slide guitar.

Rating 7/10
For fans of: Sunn 0))), Sigh, King Crimson

HaatE - Breed The Forlorn Majesty (CD Review)

01.Pour The Wisdom Into The Chalice of Life
02.Ritual Of The Crystal Flame
03.The Forlorn Majesty



Wreath (All Instruments/Vocals)




Solo Dark\Black Ambient project from Italy created in 2014.
Wreath says of this album "I firmly believe that we have to defend our human roots and our cultural heritage. We have to cherish our hills, lakes and plains andmost of all we have to protect our traditions. Because it’s the only thing that could tell us apart from being simply…an irrelevant part of the mass.
So, this is the main concept behind this album and its lyrics.
A brief parenthesis has been made with the central track, Ritual of The Crystal Flame, that is mainly about solitude, and it’s role in the life of a human being.

'Pour The Wisdom Into The Chalice of Life' certainly hits the mark with its ambient black metal tag, this is slow, melodic, moody and dark.
Sweeping guitar over superb layered keyboards and a light drum pattern.What i really like about this is the synth pulses that appear throughout like little electronic darts zipping around with a pure analog sound.Towards the end there are a few darkend growls not so much vocals but more as an additional instrument.

This may have a darker start but 'Ritual Of The Crystal Flame' with its speech samples and slow almost ambient/trance/dance rhythms is 21 minutes of pure joy.So many fifferent keyboard sounds each mixed and produced to perfection, even towards the end when it gets louder it still retains this calmness.

This last piece 'The Forlorn Majesty', just has keyboard legend Claudio Simonetti written all over it, its a superb mix of two basic synth sounds, simple almost stripped back, but utterly compelling.


Rating: 10/10
For Fans Of: Ulver, Wolves In The Throne Room, Goblin, Tangerine Dream

Mekigah - Litost (CD Review)

01.Total Cessation Of One
02.The Sole Dwelling
03.Arangutia
04.By Force Of Breath
05.Sa FII Al Dracului
06.Wurrmbu
07.Circuitous Revenge
08.Mokuy
09.An Overbearing Insanity
10.Bir Yun

Vis Ortis (Vocals/All Instruments)
T.K. Bollinger (Vocals)
Axiam Ziltch (Guitar)

Mekigah is a unique act from Australia formed in 2008, creating a mixture of Black/Doom/Metal and ambient soundscapes.
The record company adds; "It will not appeal to everyone - but at the same time people who appreciate many underground or metal sub-genres will be impressed by this".

So we begin with 'Total Cessation Of One', strange synth sounds and weird vocal f/x, nothing else but layer upon layer of sound.

Heavy distortion chords and more synth weirdness and i am starting to get an understanding of what Vis Ortis is creating here.'The Sole Dwelling' keeps the noise in the background and adds some doom drum patterns and more guitar then comes in an eveil sounding vocal, borderline avant-garde funeral doom, but creates something you can barley listen to.
Now that is not a bad thing here, back in 2006 there were 2 cd's by Occupier, music that was described as a soundtrack to a torture chamber and unlistenable, except that it was listened to in the same way that Merzbow is.

So this music is very difficult to review without sounding negative (which it is not menat to be) you see each of these pieces are long slow, torturous, have little than you can pick up on in the way of a hook or chorus, they are not even nice to listen to, its a nightmare of the worst kind made real through sound manipulation.
Yes there is the occasional piece that has a solid rhythm played out on a cymbal or drum beat.

Some may view this as just a series of noise layered upon more, but its not, the more you listen the more you can see the method in the madness and a solid structure forming.

Think of the werid/spoken passages in the early Axis Of perdition albums, its that kind of style but as a whole body of work.

Rating 10/10
For fans of: Merzbow, Exorium/Occupier, Axis Of Perdition, Zweitstein

Arstídir Lífsins - Aldafǫor Ok Munka Drottinn (CD Review)

01.Kastar Heljar Brenna Fjarri Ofan Onundarfiroinum
02.Knorr Siglandi Birtisk A Löngu Bláu Yfirborði
03.Þeir Heilags Dóms Hirðar
04.Úlfs Veðrit Er Ið CMXCIX
05.Máni, Bróðir Sólar Ok Mundilfara
06.Tími Er kominn At kveða Fyrir Pér
07.Norðsæta Gatis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa
08.Bituls Skokra Benvargs Hreggjar A Sér Stað
09.Sem Lengsk Vánar Lopts Ljósgimu Hvarfs Dregr Narri


Arni (Drums/Vocals/Cello)
Marsel (Vocals)
Stefan (Guitar/Bass/Piano)

Since 2008, the art of the outstanding Icelandic/German Metallers Árstíðir lífsins (Icelandic for “The Seasons of Life“) truly breathes Old Norse history on all levels. Now, and with their 3rd album Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn (Old Icelandic for Óðinn and the God of the Monks), Árstíðir lífsins further depict the vivid and cruel Icelandic Middle Ages from the most realistic angle possible.

Entirely sung in Old Norse-Icelandic and with added Skaldic stanzas from the world-known Icelandic sagas, Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn takes you on a journey to the uttermost vivid and mythic Conversion of Iceland in the year 1000 as it is displayed in the vernacular medieval sources from the stormy North-Atlantic. Árstíðir lífsins, however, represent authenticity on all levels: as diverse as the world views of Christians and heathens are, also the composition and arrangement of music is on Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn: From ambient archaic folklore patterns, supported by dark chants and classical instruments, to Black Metal elements in their finest Norwegian tradition and epic double-bass driven Viking Metal parts, the musical abilities materialize and teach a powerful lession in real craftmanship. So behold, this profound journey is truly intended to capture the listeners and directly depart them into a long gone time of struggling worshippers of Óðinn and the God of the Monks.

Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn is a full length album, in all its meanings; to depict and express such various topics of Scandinavian history and myth.

Taking track one on face value, its a stunning, awesome and mind blowing epic 12 minutes of pure musicianship!
From the traditional folk elements it moves into a very dark almost black metal song except every time you think its going somewhere you know it then throws in a different sound, the vocals go from what sounds like chanting monks, to normal vocals then spoken words.
Half way through we border on extreme metal with frantic double pedal work and demonic vocals just as that gets into its stride it drops away for some simple and ambient keyboard and guitar playing.
The one draw back is that it is in their native tongue, but then that never did Rammstein any harm and somehow it doesnt matter it has atmosphere by the ton.

That review covers the next few tracks, each seemingly adding to the quality of the album, when we get to track six however we are treated to a classical piece with some more of that monk chanting style vocal.

The remainder of the album returns to the original style, honestly if i were to write about each song I would just be repeating myself, this is a stunning and essential body of work to own!

Rating 10/10
For fans of: Ulver, Sunn 0))), Rammstein, Mono

Norse - Pest (CD Review)

01.Encoded Weakness
02.Disarmed, Toothless, Weak
03.Pest
04.True Insignificance
05.Irradiator
06.Aimless


ADR (Vocals/Bass)
Forge (Drums/Guitar)

Shayne Querruel (Session/Live Guitars)
S. Maher (Session/Live Guitars)
Marcus Bastiaanse (Session/Live Bass)

Austrailian band Norse began in 2006 with 7 years of turmoil, member changes and conflict, with Forge (drums) at the core. At Norse' heart lies experimentation and innovation, which is driving force behind each album. Consistently pushing boundaries and showcasing the bands unique ideologies, Norse is not interested in genres or trends but creating unique music and atmospheres.

'Encoded Weakness' is a strange and wonderful mix of styles and ideas, some traditional elements of extreme metal blended with avant-garde noise and drone, add to this screamed and spoken vocals and you have a rare example of a band really pushing forward.

'Pest' is a little more restrained, this one has more in common with the doom genre, slow pounding and atmospheric.

Then comes 'True Insignificance' a full on extreme/death metal tirade of instruments and screams, reminds me of early Anaal Nathrakh.

Dispite the drums being stuck on full speed times infinity, the overall feeling you get from 'Irradiator' is one of a slow and gloomy black metal style, this due mainly to the guitarwork.

Finally 'Aimless' opens with some dark synth then falls into this nightmare world of strange noise and extreme metal, before ending back with more dark synthwork.

This kind of music has always been of intrest to me, any band can just play straight forward metal (any sub genre of your choice) but this band like a few others like to play around with what they can do and create a kind of musical artform, though it may be a hellish noise to many it is clever and well thoughout, intense and intresting.

Rating 10/10
For fans of: Anaal Nathrakh, Axis Of Perdition, Sunn 0))), Blut Aus Nord, Aborym, Ulver

Atrum Tempestas - Neant (CD Review)

01.Quitter Ceux qui Etaient Deja Partis
02.S'eclipser
03.Et Apres...Le Neant


Perttunen (Vocals/Instruments)
Kylmäaho (Vocals/Instruments)

Finnish duo formed the band in 2007 to create atmospheric black metal, Perttunen is also vocalist with another Finnish band 'Catamenia'

'Quitter Ceux qui Etaient Deja Partis' certainly has a mix of styles, starting with some near gothic guitar playing over a solid slow drum beat, it then changes to a much more melodic and laid back piece, then a bit of doom and then finally its all mixed together for some more obvious black metal complete with growl vocals.

Track two is 'S'eclipser' is more slow funeral doom than black metal, when not doing the growl vocal the clean vocal is borderline old school goth style.
When the music picks up a little speed it definatley gets that Triptykon vibe going.

Finally 'Et Apres...Le Neant' on this all too short album (should have been billed as an EP??).Pretty much same as before almost typical of the genre, cant help but think that with 11 minutes you could do more.

Rating 6/10
For fans of: Wolves In The Throne Room, Triptykon, Alcest

Infestum - Monuments Of Exalted (CD Review)

01.Void Of Nebulae
02.Ordo Infestum
03.Iron Hammer Upon The Skull Of Slave
04.Temple Of Mirrors
05.The Art Of The Beast
06.The Evil One
07.Zero Beyond
08.Obsidian Exile
09.Renaissance
10.Monuments Of Exalted

Bonus Tracks
11.Renaissance (Displacer Remix)
12.Renaissance (Sunao Inami Remix)


Ion The Saint (Vocals)
Wrathtodd (Guitars/Keyboards)
Werwolfe (Bass)
Forneus (Drums)

Guest:
Mono Son (Piano on tracks 5 and 6)

Infestum was formed in Belarus in June 2000 by Grond as drummer and Skald as guitarist. Afterwards, Ion joined on vocals and Thorngrim joined on bass. With this line-up, Infestum started to create their music in the style of Mayhem, Venom, and Bathory.

In spring 2001 they started to play concerts actively. But in October the same year, Grond got injured and was not able to play in the band anymore. He was replaced by Burglar, who played in Morbid Victory at that time.

They then recorded a full-length album, which was called "Last Day Before the Endless Night".

In 2003 they started work on a new album "Ta Natas", eventually released in 2007 just as Skald left the band.By 2009 A\Vesh and Burglar left the band.
Guitarist Wrathtodd, a friend of the band, joined and later Forneus replaced Grond.
In 2010 they released the internet single "Void of Nebulae" and later the EP "Renaissance".

Okay i was not expecting this at all!
'Void Of Nebulae' starts with a quiet synth and then blasts into some of the best industrial black metal i have heard for years, the synth sound is just fucking awesome, the whole song is driven by some stunning and powerful drumming, riffs and some deathly screams.

‘Ordo Infestum’ contains lyrics contains some excerpts from of ‘Liber Novus’ book (‘The Incantations’ Chapter) also known as ‘The Red Book’, written by Carl Gustav Jung.
Another synth start into more of the same except this one is a little slower and darker in delivery.

Again some great use of keyboards with 'Iron Hammer Upon The Skull Of Slave' then comes 'Temple Of Mirrors' a slower almost gothic metal song.
A pounding stop/start style of drums, powerchord driven and simple keyboards, another stunning track!

'The Art Of The Beast' is just a 2 minute piano instrumental, surprisingly atmospheric, the piano sound is then carried through to quite an unexpected cover version of Venom's 'Evil One', proving that Venom's agressive style can be turned into near symphonic black metal when in the hands of talented musicians.

Up next is 'Zero Beyond' with an opening spoken sample then all hell is let loose with a full on drum lead onslaught!

The pace slows with 'Obsidian Exile' a dark and brooding near doom song until the speed picks up towards the end.

With some weird synth playing comes 'Renaissance', a "Dimmu" styled song, again with some great keyboard work in the mix.

The final track is ‘Monuments of Exalted’ lyrics are drawn from ‘Thus spoke Zarathustra’ book written by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Another near doom delivery laden with furious double pedal work and melodic keyboards.

Now to the bonus tracks, two versions of 'Renaissance', the first one is the 'Displacer Remix' very typical of Industrial remixes full of drum machines and synth pulses, with elements of the original song still intact.
The next remix is 'Sunao Inami', more akin to the EDM style of Skrillex and quite ambient but has nothing in common with the original version at all, more glo-sticks than headbanging.


Rating 10/10
For fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Aborym, Blut Aus Nord

Ars Moriendi - La Singulière Noirceur D'Un Astre (CD Review)

01.De L'Intouchable Mort
02.Verite
03.De Ma Dague
04.Ars Moriendi
05.La Singuliere Noirceur D'Un Astre

Arsonist (All Instruments)

Formed in 2001 by french musician 'Arsonist' to produce atmospheric black metal mixed with electronic music.

well 'De L'Intouchable Mort' may have an ambient start with nice piano under spoken words, but this starts to get nasty after a few minutes with some full on symphonic black metal and screaming vocals.
Two thirds in to this 10 minute epic and the mood changes again to modern smooth jazz and some added weird vocal effects.

'Verite' is traditional symphonic black metal, fast drums and epic riffing do however give this one a slightly different feel towards the end.

Another melodic almost jazzy start leads you into a false sense that you know what ypu are getting because 'De Ma Dague' soon turns once more into black metal, and again there are numerous changes of style as it progresses, some simple but effective bass playing over a synth backing and then this gets very ambient like tangerine dream.

'Ars Moriendi' is another great mixture of mainstream but melodic black metal that changes half way through to allow another layer of ambience to be created and even some movie samples thrown in.

Final track 'La Singuliere Noirceur D'Un Astre' seems to follow the same pattern, first half metal second half ambient.

I think i was expecting more from this, but i do like it, would have liked it to be mixed up as opposed to half and half at times.

Rating 8/10
For fans Of: Ulver, Axis Of Perdition, Dimmu Borgir, Wolves In The Throneroom, Blut Aus Nord