reviews NOVEMBER 2015

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