YETNA APMASKEMA: ‘ANCESTRAL MANIFEST OF EVIL
POISON’-CD 2013-PARAGUAY-8 TRACKS.-
As usual from the previous releases, the
band takes us to the most morbid corners of the human mind. Tracks are worked
mainly as the classic rhythms of death metal, combining perfectly with black
metal topics, without losing the death metal borders. Structures did not change
from their main band MASTER OF CRUELTY. It is so similar because the main
composer and vocals is the same. So the similarity is big. However, the minimal
difference makes this work 100% to devour. I ask myself if everything is
already created and I think yes. The band is similar to SADISTIC INTENT,
MORTEM, ATOMIC AGGRESSOR, with unique touches that turns it into one of the
best PARAGUAYAN DEATH METAL. YETNA APMASKEMA honors death metal. It’s a poem
for hell. Each song is an opus for the unknown and morbid. It has everything:
morbid and fast riffs, brutal solos, growl vocals; but the most important is
that it keeps the true magic of the beginning of 80s death metal. It’s death
metal with occultist and satanic topics. An album that is great if we realize
it is the album debut. Magnificent from the beginning to the
end………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7.8/10
IMPURITY: ‘BONFIM MORITURI MORTIVIS’-CD 2012- 10
TRACKS.-
Who does not know these diabolic
entities, which have been destroying the minds of maniacs of obscure primal
Brazilian black metal? It has a sound clearly influenced by old glories from
Brazil, HOLOCAUSTO/SARCOFAGO/INSULTER, mixed with the ROSS BAY cult BLASPHEMY,
CORPSE MOLESTATION and the first releases of BEHERIT and IMPALED NAZARENE. This
CD takes back the noise that evokes total destruction of mankind and Christian
scum. This band is been in battle for more than 25 years, spreading black pest
with excellent albums as LAMBS OF FURY or INTO THE RITUAL CHAMBER, true
masterpieces of South American Black Metal. Maybe this band already has the
WAR/BLACK Metal sound, before BLASPHEMY released its first demo. Since the
beginning, this release takes you to raw and fast War Metal, with few riffs but
fast between CORPSE MOLESTATION/BLASPHEMY and obviously the trademark of the
band with cuts and serpent rough vocals that vomit the hymns for Satan. Second
song, “SABAT” is without doubt a masterpiece of Brazilian sound. It has a
beginning that reminds HOLOCAUSTO. It’s a heavy song, mid tempo, much doom;
with few riffs. It has the atmosphere that is gonna take you back to the 80s,
the beginning of Brazilian scene. It’s among the best. REIGN OF DEATH, CRUELTY
IN THE REIGN OF GOD follows the patterns of the first song. Fat with few rhythm
changes, extreme violence in the style of IMPURITY (first releases)/BLASPHEMY
with stops and atmosphere. NO FUCKING RESURRECTION is a simple song with
rhythms more in hardcore style. Maybe it reminds IMPALED NAZARENE from the first LP. THE
EXCOMMUNICATION takes to the mind SARCOFAGO/CELTIC FROST in heavy and change
rhythms from both bands. It is a gem if you like to evoke ancient glories. This
band has not lost the sound that made them to be cult. They hold high the flame
of Black Metal. This is not the best album of the band, but takes the exact
dose of energy, extreme dose of brutality that anybody needs. It’s an explosion
of pure South American noise inspired in elder glories. A CD made art, in
design, cover, production and music; which is the important thing. It’s a cult
that should not leave its status. Good work……………………………………………………………………….7.7./10
IMPALEMENT : ‘CEREMONIAL TORMENT’-PERU- CD 2014-16
TRACKS.-
For those that are in PERU, this band is
symbol of being the unique band, playing death metal in European style that has
existed here in this country. For those who did not hear to it, it is a mixture
of NIHILIST, TRIBULATION, MACRODEX and late 80s bands and early 90s bands;
exclusively European in its noise. To be honest, this band is synonym of
quality, extremism, pure old school death metal, with guitars not with too much
quality, but powerful. The riffs are among those that made us to feel passion,
those played by the Swedish; they are obvious in each song. They bet in all
their releases to give us that feeling that only true death metal hordes can
play; without trends or freshness. CD is well produced. It includes different
eras from this band, since demos, to 2 live songs never released before. It is
a whiplash in the head of every lover of death metal. It has 16 songs of hate,
darkness, morbidity and quality band that know how to execute the instruments
in the most proper ways. Drums are usual on this death metal with mid speed
tempos, growls vocals, hard passages; where morbid rhythms increases and
simplicity of solos gave priority to melody than virtuosity of a solo. Anyway,
it is a great work from a good band, which is in on hold, but not dead, because
any time they join, they go up the stage. Get this Cd if possible, you won’t be
disappointed………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7.6/10
TUNJUM: ‘SAGRADO TIEMPO DE CAOS’- PERU-CD 2014- 5 TRACKS.-
Each day I realize more women involved
in the underground Metal and this is something excellent when they play music,
edit zines and produce shows. It is the case of TUNJUM, a band led by CLARA,
who also makes an excellent zine, which shows their thoughts and what to be a
women means, inside a musical style filled with men. So, her idea is closer to
bands like MYTHIC; without doubt her maximum inspiration. I think this band
changed the world for CLARA. In each song is clear the extreme influence of
this great North American band. The difference is about the topics. It is
influenced from the bloody Peruvian culture, los MOCHES. It turns the music
something like death/pagan metal, with simple mid tempo rhythms, even close to
doom, using growls like MYTHIC. This release is an EP that from the beginning
to the end goes across the death metal path. A true death metal, without
innovations or modern sounds just pure noise from 90s. It is clean with heavy
and simple rhythms, with rawness that take us to the essence of death metal, as
it born and should kept. Here is no extreme brutality, no fastness; that is
another style which in my opinion, death metal as I knew it, does not exist.
This release is the revelation of Peruvian death metal. Not because it is made
by women, with the support of AEX from GRAVE DESECRATION. The conception and
topics, songs construction, are strictly born in the head of this great female
banger. Attention! I don’t search for
virtuosity when I hear a new material. I want a release to make me get
vibration, to make me to put once and again and feel all the force of the
music. Without energy there is nothing. But this release leaves this energy
want. Just the bad side, the release is too shot in my opinion. I would like to
get more, even with some more songs it could have be a full length. The good
side is the revelation of a good band that follows the basic concepts of DEATH
METAL, raw, heavy and dark. It’s a great debut. …………………………………………………………………………………….7.5/10
CASTIFAS : ‘BLOODLUST AND HATE’-BRA-CD 2015- 8
TRACKS.-
I heard previously a release of this
band, “JOURNEY THROUGH THE DARKNESS PATH’ CD”, a couple of years ago. It was a
release from 6 years before and did not get me at all, because their simplicity
and low quality of the recording. Usually, Black Metal bands need to add some
new sound to get my attention and this time it has done it. BLOODLUST AND HATE
is an album that keeps tradition about structures and creativity in their
songs, and this time improved a lot the quality of recording. At the time to
play riffs are slower in comparison to the previous releases, where they
sounded like a band desperate to play fast, instead the complexity of the same
riffs and loosing quality in execution. This time, the band added this
complexity that any Black Metal band wants and has added a kind of Brazilian
style, which is trademark in the Brazilian and South American Black Metal
bands. The band delayed so much to release an album, almost 16 years later, and
this one is 22 years since the beginning. The band changed a lot. Now is more
focused in the quality that it offers for the audience. Each song has force,
different rhythms from heavy to faster, without being extreme. Beside the
various rhythms, it has double pedal in drums, which fits well with the
shredder vocals. It is a devastator release for anyone that can hear it. 8
songs in the same style, everything worked in sequence, mid tempo and fast
parts with whiplashing riffs and rhythms changes. Good songs with 5 minutes in
average; more than the usual current Black Metal bands. Tracks as ´BLOOD LUST
AND HATE’, ‘A WORLD OF BONES´, ´KINGDOM OF SATAN’, are among my favorites and
they shows that sometimes taking a time between albums give good results. It is
a good album that deserves the attention of black metallers from the world…………………………………………………………
7/10.
ANTHARES : ‘ O CAOS DA RAZAO’-BRA-CD 2015- 10 TRACKS.-
For me it’s an honor and pleasure to
review this CD because ANTHARES was the first Brazilian band that I contacted
in 1986. Back then, they were recording NO LIMITE DA FORCA album; an icon in
South American power/thrash. 30 years later they have returned with this new
album, almost without changing the essence that made them known. They did not
decided to play a fresh Thrash Metal, but to play the basic and traditional
Thrash Metal from 80s, not copying this, but playing with true feeling and
essence. Maybe it is because the age of the members that they have made a not
plastic album. Nothing copying 80s bands, because they are from the 80s and the
old spirit still lives here. Each song has those blaster riffs, fast and
furious, with high solos in guitars with precision, which I think are the best
on this work. Guitars are well worked. In structure, the songs has from fast to
mid tempo rhythms, something common in thrash bands, where the basic change is
to have added a bit more thrash sound that in 80s. It is the only change. Even
if vocals are sung by another vocalist, they keep the style of singing a Thrash
Metal in Portuguese, their original language, which gives the sensation to back
to the past. This album is a mixture between ANTHARES (old) and RATOS DE PORAO/
“Aracnofobia”. In my opinion an album that takes them back in the way of the
great bands. O CAOS DA RAZAO is an album that you will eat since the beginning
to the end, because it does not tires you. It keeps the level, adrenaline flows
from song to song. It is a great work that hopefully will keep them in the
scene for too much time long. …………………8/10
MIASTHENIA: ‘LEGADOS DO INFRAMUNDO-CD 2014-9 TRACKS-BRASIL.-
This album was long waited and finally
arrived to my hands, to give thanks to all that I like to listen and knowing
about a band that makes clever lyrics, with much knowledge about our ancient
and primal cultures, those that are combined with beautiful passages of total
PAGAN and mystic music of rituals and ancient dance. This entire put in music
of technical skills, rich rhythms, mixed with keyboards well used, giving a
gloomy sensation and different atmospheres, turning it theatrical sometimes. Each
song has fast doses, intense guitars of variation in riffs, good vocals,
sometimes high pitched singing in Portuguese, which is not so common used by
Brazilian bands. I think they should use this more frequently because it links
well the melody and harmony of the songs. This is the best worked from the
previous CDs; the fourth to be exact. All of these with the same topics of
Latin-American ancient culture, with strong music which our identity is
emphasized. This time the album has MAYA culture topics, they made the same
with INCA too, both some of the great civilizations of Latin-America, rich in
culture that without doubt gives to this band too much topics in the musical as
cultural, making this musical pieces of marvelous art. It is a great album that
each banger should get because this work has pure heavy metal solos, s in the
song 13, AHAU KATUN, passing from the BACK/PAGAN metal of SAGA AO XIBALBA. A
masterpiece, a conceptual album at 100% that surely is gonna be on my top to
listen each morning. …………………………………………………………..8.5/10
DEFORMITY : ‘ENDLESS ATROCITY’-COSTA RICA –CD 2013- 9
TRACKS.-
I cannot stop listen this band, since it
arrives as a gift from a friend that knows very well my tastes. I have almost
left DEATH METAL because I felt the occultist and obscure feeling was left
aside instead of death/grind without sense. There were some bands that I still
listen like ASPHIX, MORGOTH, MALEVOLENT CREATION, SUFFOCATION, because I
listened to these since early 90s; later the style went down. My friend gave me
again the wish to listen this style and sent me a good band. Since the first
song it tied me to its sound which is a mixture between ASPHIX/MORGOTH in
vocals and MEAT SHITS in intros and fast parts; also in some vocals parts and
guitar rhythms. Since the first strike is a bullet straight to the head. It has
ultra-fast drums, criminal vocals and total heaviness. Double vocals are brutal
and fit well in the rhythms, which are simple but really keeps the spirit of
extreme death/grind Metal and pure Death Metal, without narrowing in one style
only. Guitar solos are more for decoration, instead of showing musical skills,
which does not need. Song title that has the same than CD title is well done.
AGONIZING, the second song has from both worlds, pure DEATH/GRIND; that is what
I was expecting. Vocals, growl and death metal fits perfectly. Blast beat drums
are from a putrid band. Riffs have changes from mid tempo to doom, to fast and
honestly bestial. PLEASURE OF MISCARRIAGE, another missile, the same as the
second song, even with more DEATH METAL riffs, a la ASPHIX/CANCER. It’s a great
masterpiece of how death/grind should be played, without the monotony of many
current bands, that made those that started with traditional death metal, left
to listen the new bands because of the bands don’t showing the pure and honest
feeling of death metal. Following songs go in the same musical style. Without
fear to get an error, each time I listen Costa Rica bands, I realize there are
much quality that we should explore to enter deep on that scene. It’s a great
production. It’s a surprising band in this scene full of copycats. ……………………………………………………………………………………...7.5/10
SAVAGE AGGRESSION: ‘SATAN’S STRIKE’-CD 2013-11 TRACKS-COLOMBIA:
It was long time since I don’t listen a
Thrash Metal band without stop. I have 2 days listening this cursed work and
does not bores me, does not stresses me, does not takes me to sleep; something
unusual in the current tons of clones bands that exist. Even being an old
school Thrash, it is rich in rhythms and riffs, strong in excess that makes
each track in some glorious Metal dose that should be eaten carefully to don’t
get down. Each song is well played, with rhythms changes, a thrasher guitar in
the old German style, hard riffs, a skilled drums cutting like a bomb and
vocals like a mixture between SCHMIER and BOBBY “BLITZ”. Would you ask for
more? In my opinion the best from both scenes: German and North American, with
a mixture of Latin power that makes this release among the best I listened in
Thrash Metal in the last years. It has passed long time in which Colombia did
not show me good bands as WITCHTRAP, METAL KING and REVENGE, which unleashed
time ago their artillery. Now Savage AGRESSION takes the leadership from their
godfathers WITCHTRAP, taking them aside from the top of Colombian Thrash Metal.
The Cd carries again that mosh of the old school. If we speak about mosh, the
first song has riffs like the first MEGADETH. Later starts the discharge of
violent thrash, intense of pure life from SCREAM OF DEATH. It has typical
choruses of thrash bands, continuing whiplashing your body, double pedals in
mid tempo with good solos, bends and hand topping. Very good job. THRASH
COMMAND continues with the same intensity and good work in guitars. SATAN’S
STRIKE is the song I like the most. It’s amazing, giving priority for the
vocals with that shout in the end of the sentence. All songs are in the
Black/Thrash for the lyrics side and musically is strictly Thrash Metal in its
great essence. This is an album that rescues the old essence and does not leave
anything aside. Well worked, changes with precision, not too much rhythms
changes, but intense and fast. Another song for the thrash maniacs is THRASH
METAL ATTACK. Highly recommended………………………………………………………….. 8.3/10
OPHICVS: ‘ÁZREVER NE ALEMAMAN’-CD 2015-12 TRACKS-COLOMBIA:
Since few time ago it
started to appear many bands in the black n Roll style, as SABAT and
METALUCIFER from Japan, adding obscure and satanic lyrics; porn, lust, alcohol
and drugs. A street and rock n roller Black Metal. In South America we already
have WHIPSTRIKER that combines so well the Punk/Heavy n roll, PROFANE from
Paraguay with its Death n Roll style, ATOMIC ROAR and POWER FROM HELL, closer
to what Ophicvs shows in its lyrics. Band is formed by a member of LUCERA,
another well Colombian Black n Roll band. This work let me satisfied since the
first song “CAOS LATEMORCEM”, which gets to my mind BARBATOS/SABBAT with a mid
tempo traditional Rock n Roll/Heavy, catchy riffs and classical Heavy Metal
shouts in vocals. It also has an interesting solo that fits well in the song,
to the video bonus which includes satanic porn film scenes. Going to the music
side, which obviously is what I liked more, because the mixing of the music
styles I like. But let’s start with the songs that this work gets. MARCH TO THE
ETERNAL FIRE has a sound closer to Norwegian Black Metal in mid tempo riffs.
WHORE OF BABYLON in the style of METALUCIFER/MIDNIGHT, in mid tempo and 80s
Heavy Metal sound with solos and tremolo in some parts, good song. “BLACKOUT”,
is a cover of Scorpions, well played with 80s style, with stronger vocals,
obviously and arrangements as the original version. MOTHER DEATH has a 90s
Norwegian BLACK METAL style, strong, with typical high vocals and in mid tempo.
It also includes raw and hard Heavy Metal. It’s an interesting song because the
solo that shows virtuosity of classical Metal, without losing force. The rest
of songs are in the same style. A trademark that turns them in a new band that
many metalheads should have in mind to increase their collection. The bonus track
is one that many will adore, “CONDOR LEGION”, that also has a musical structure
in the 80s style of the American wave, with those changes to Speed rhythms. Is
an excellent work that made this song one of my favorites in the CD. Worth to
mention, the CD comes with a bonus video with satanic porn scenes for the lust
of male public, hahaha!!!! Good job……………………. 7.4/10
