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Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/the-infernal-deceit-the-true-harmful-black-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Infernal Deceit – The True Harmful Black Review</a></p><p><i>By Alekhines Gun</i></p><p> In a year that already looks to be filled with heady pomp and artistry, there’s something to be appreciated about some straightforwardness in back-to-basics. You don’t always need the ultra highbrow and thought-provoking violence – sometimes you just want to throw on an album and veg out. Such wants prompted my newest scourings of the promo pit for something more immediate, something to get fists pumping and bootie shaking with blackened frowns to be had by all. Answering this call is German duo <strong>The Infernal Deceit, </strong>a self-described black/death hybrid outfit who are dropping their sophomore effort <em>The True Harmful Black</em> this month. Sporting some admittedly cool artwork and an uncommonly legible logo, I dove in to see what harms await in the promised black.</p><p>When <strong>The Infernal Deceit</strong> put their best foot forward, what results is a fun, riff-centric album with bounce and groove to be found in fair measure. <em>The True Harmful Black</em> slings some congenial black metal of the punky, catchy stylings ala <strong>Spectral Wound </strong>or <strong>Hulder</strong> with production pulled straight from the book of modern death metal. This gives moments like the “everybody clap your hands” buildup of “The Great Seducer, The Greatest Deceiver (Dethroned)” and the sprawling melodies of “The Primordial Maze and The Crawling Chaos” some real bop-to-the-nose force without losing the requisite trebly underpinnings. Songs wrapped around neck bobbing hooks demand attention and imply greatness ahead, with no genuine surprises to be found, instead opting for a handful of rote but well-implemented ingredients.</p><p></p><p>Instead of targeting for all rage all day, <em>The True Harmful Black</em> opts for a melancholy approach as much as a riff-centric one. Vocalist “R” has a suitably gruff bark, straddling the overlap between a blackened shriek and a deathly growl without neatly falling into either category. His somewhat monotone delivery helps the musical presentation, as he sounds at home whether the music blasts or crawls. Multi-instrumentalist “C” offers up a platter of songs which alternate between the expected bpm pushing swipes at <strong>Necrophobic</strong> melodies while frequently bringing the tempo to a much more somber, mood-drenched drawl. This saves the album from becoming too homogenous despite a bit of an overly familiar palate of riffs and lead stylings. Clean acoustics also litter the album, both as extra instrumentation as well as interlude and closer, offering up a nice flow and easy listening.</p><p><strong>The Infernal Deceit</strong> peddle an enjoyable sound, but the album doesn’t seek to be much more than that. The constant changing of tempo eventually works against the band, particularly in the back half of the album. <em>The True Harmful Black</em> is at its strongest when bringing the pain (“In the Wilderness of Pernicious Black”), but its quest for atmospheric theatrics robs the riffs of much of their staying power. The clean acoustics are pretty when implemented as instrumental flourishes, but focusing on them robs the album of momentum. Combining that with the aforementioned frequent brake pumping leads to an album that doesn’t flow as much as it stutters. This is a bit disappointing because individual moments hint at some truly good stuff waiting to be unearthed; solos in particular rip and shred with delightful melodic prowess. An album with a filthier mix, more consistent strength in riffs, or some more extremity in the disparaging tempos would create a <strong>Deceit </strong>that could be <strong>Infernal</strong> indeed.</p><p><em>The True Harmful Black</em> is a pleasant album, just not a remarkable one. There’s nothing wrong with that; not every album needs to be an earth-heaving, forest-felling, giant slaying leviathan of artistic intent. <strong>The Infernal Deceit</strong> are a competent pair who can craft solid moments and good melodies, but are still on the prowl for that x factor which will launch them further to stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers. I believe they have better in them, and will certainly check out what their next offering holds for us. For the moment, while certainly not challenging for any end-of-year placements, listeners on the quest for a quick black metal fix could do far worse, and might find some select moments of real harm waiting for them in the depicted black maze above.</p> <p><strong>Rating: </strong>2.5/5.0<br><strong>DR: </strong>8 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kbps mp3<br><strong>Label: </strong><a href="https://www.personal-records.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a><strong><br></strong><strong>Websites: </strong><a href="https://theinfernaldeceit.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Official Bandcamp</a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theinfernaldeceitband" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Official Facebook<br></a> <strong>Releases Worldwide: </strong>April 11th, 2025</p><p></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2-5/" target="_blank">#25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/apr25/" target="_blank">#Apr25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/german-metal/" target="_blank">#GermanMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/hulder/" target="_blank">#Hulder</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/necrophobic/" target="_blank">#Necrophobic</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/spectral-wound/" target="_blank">#SpectralWound</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/the-infernal-deceit/" target="_blank">#TheInfernalDeceit</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/the-true-harmful-black/" target="_blank">#TheTrueHarmfulBlack</a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/august-moon-something-eldritch-and-macabre-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">August Moon – Something Eldritch and Macabre Review</a></p><p><i>By Steel Druhm</i></p><p><strong>Written By:</strong> <span><strong>Nameless_N00b_87</strong></span></p><p>As Listurnalia hits these hallowed halls with the year-end release doldrums in full swing, scraping the pit to unearth one last juicy morsel before the holidays can be a fool’s errand. Luckily, I didn’t have to scrape much as <strong>August Moon</strong>’s debut <em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em> was gifted to me from the bone pile. Conceived at the epicenter of Finland’s renowned 90’s death metal scene as a side project and think tank of avant-garde ideas not suitable for their main band, <strong>As Serenity Fades</strong>, <strong>August Moon</strong> are a testament to patience. After a brief one-year run and the release of two demos, the group disbanded in 1994 before re-emerging in 2014 to continue crafting their debut. Though it took another decade to materialize, their initial four-song EP finally saw the light of day at the start of the year. Impressed, Personal Records took notice and promptly commissioned five more tracks within twelve months. Now finally, through the clouds of decade-long breaks, <em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em> arrives.</p><p>Rooted in the Scandinavian melodeath scene of olde, one might expect <strong>August Moon</strong> to be a mere revival of early <strong>Sentenced</strong> or <strong>Amorphis</strong>. Yet, there is more lurking in the shadows than meets the eye. <strong>August Moon</strong> blend black, thrash, and power metal with hints of 70’s rock, and even flashes of 80’s synth (“Journey to Other-Worldly Realms and Beyond”), to craft appealing, dramatic compositions that are both engaging and gratifying. Amongst <em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em>’s core elements are swarming tremolos, Gothenburg harmonies, Hammond-style organ refrains, thrashy <strong>Omnium Gatherum</strong>-esque melodic hooks, proto-metal grooves, and power metal panache filtered through raw and unrefined production. Underpinned by Tom Hendriksson’s rock syncopations and boosted by great songwriting, Peter Viherkanto’s fiery shredding works in lockstep with Mikko Sorja’s sharp bass and demonic growls to render <strong>August Moon</strong>’s genre-bending arrangements.</p><p></p><p><em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em>’s success thrives on dynamic songwriting that balances ambition with restraint. Viherkanto’s creative riff craft frames gripping transitions, unexpected shifts, synth and organ overtures, and triumphant crescendos which balance tension and release. Soaring organ lines following heavy blasts in “Constellations Dislodged from the Night Sky” and driving thrash riffs amidst relentless tremolo in “As Cataclysms Swept Across the Cities,” create irresistible headbanging moments that highlight <em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em>’s strength. Elsewhere, the familiar Gothenburg harmonies embedded within the bridges of “Exitus” or “Summoning of the Feathered Serpent” act to counterbalance the thrash-heavy staccato marches, menacing slides, and frequent stops and starts that resurface throughout the record’s nine tracks. Hendriksson’s measured strikes give Viherkanto’s fretwork space to flourish, employing stylish and inspired rock-centric syncopations with periodic blasts, gallops, and modest tom patterns that enhance <strong>August Moon</strong>’s tactful songwriting with a selective hand. Though precarious a line it may be to walk, <strong>August Moon</strong> avoids the pitfall of going for broke and risking <em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em> becoming a haphazard mess.</p><p></p><p>But <em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em>’s pacing falters early and stumbles late. Opener “In the Gallery of All Things Macabre,” and penultimate track “Something Eldritch Up in the Heavens Soon to Wreak Havoc Down on Earth” feel like underwhelming and ordinary bookends to an otherwise great album full of artistic vigor, while closer “The Vulture Stone (Pillar 43 to Commemorate the Apocalypse)” is an apathetic finale. Additionally, Sorja’s growls are jarring at times and struggle to find their place within a treble-heavy mix that lacks low-end heft. Exacerbated by inconsistencies with volume, the raw production would benefit from a more balanced mix to settle Sorja’s growls and give punch to Hendriksson’s kick. Nevertheless, <strong>August Moon</strong> maintains my interest thanks to the material’s powerful hooks coupled with its concise 39-minute runtime.</p><p><em>Something Eldritch and Macabre</em> is a pleasant surprise and a strong way to close out the year. While production issues and a few weaker tracks evidence that some fine-tuning remains, <strong>August Moon</strong>’s songwriting and unique blend of aggression and melody give me everything I want in a melodeath record. <strong>August Moon</strong> has proven that their decades-long journey has been worth it, and this first offering has only whetted my appetite for more.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 3.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 6 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kb/s mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="http://www.personal-records.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a><br><strong>Websites: </strong>Too Kvlt for da Webz<br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> December 13th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/30/" target="_blank">#30</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/amorphis/" target="_blank">#Amorphis</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/as-serenity-fades/" target="_blank">#AsSerenityFades</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/august-moon/" target="_blank">#AugustMoon</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/dec24/" target="_blank">#Dec24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/finnish-metal/" target="_blank">#FinnishMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/melodic-death-metal/" target="_blank">#MelodicDeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/omnium-gatherum/" target="_blank">#OmniumGatherum</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/power-metal/" target="_blank">#PowerMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sentenced/" target="_blank">#Sentenced</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/something-eldritch-and-macabre/" target="_blank">#SomethingEldritchAndMacabre</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/thrash-metal/" target="_blank">#ThrashMetal</a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/fumes-skeletal-wings-threshold-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fumes – Skeletal Wings Threshold Review</a></p><p><i>By Alekhines Gun</i></p><p>As we slide from the snow-filled January to the rainy and fog-laced February, the mission remains the same: Checking out young hopefuls and their debut releases. This time on the roulette wheel of analysis is <strong>Fumes</strong>, a Mexican black metal band founded a mere three years ago. With sole EP <em>Stellar Murders Upwards </em>under their bullet belts,<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/fumes-skeletal-wings-threshold-review/#fn-210783-1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1</a> they’ve wasted no time in preparing their first full-length <em>Skeletal Wings Domain</em>. Is this the album to finally give Mexico a defined sound on the global scene, or do these wings need more meat on their bones?</p><p>Rejecting the stereotypical frosty Norwegian sound, <strong>Fumes</strong> present the listener with an album with a degree of weight to the compositions. Guitarists Henri and Alanis slather the album in meaty tones more adjacent to modern <strong>Ragnarok </strong>or <strong>Hades</strong>, with much more emphasis on bottom-end boom than trebly terrorizing. This gives a bounce and bite to the punky riffs, with songs constantly switching from obligatory melodic trems to <strong>Immortal</strong>ized walk-in-place marching tempos. Moments like the outro of “Suppuration Tunnels” conjure up a genuinely evil mood, and solos litter the album with melodic flair while drummer Minos reliably blasts away in place. The sound is pleasing, immediate, and relatively accessible, with Alanis’s vocals echoing menacingly across the space with an expressive, enunciated bellow.</p><p></p><p>Where <em>Skeletal Wings Threshold</em> fails is in its memorability, and it fails in grand style. Things start well enough, true; “Stellar Ascension Infernal” wastes no time in going straight for the listener’s throat, but all too quickly <strong>Fumes </strong>suffer a startling dip in quality and album pacing. “Carrier of Venenifyer” doesn’t have enough interesting riffs to justify its six-minute run time, and multiple songs begin to fade into each other from bloat and pacing. <strong>Fumes</strong> try their best to offset this with heaps of solos, many of which are excellent (“Dead Morning Star” being a real highlight), but the end of such virtuosity leads right back to okay-tier riffing. Attempts at expected tempo assaults invariably give way to tired, slower passages, sounding less like tonal diversity and more like an album that refuses to commit to a mood. This inconstancy undermines the more impactful moments, reducing a full listen to far less than the sum of its parts.</p><p></p><p>Compounding this issue is the back half of the album, where <strong>Fumes </strong>saw fit to place no less than three interludes. These interludes are meandering, with no sense of flow or beauty, and seem to only pad out the album’s length. One of them is re-recorded from <em>Stellar Murders Upwards, </em>and still another ends the album in an outlandish attempt at post-auditory assault calm. There’s no need for three separate pauses in the music, and there’s <em>certainly</em> no need to stack them all in the back half of the album one after another. On top of that, the “real songs” from the EP were also re-recorded, stripping them of the raw charm the original production offered. Removing the re-recordings and two new interludes leaves us with five songs of descent to disposable black metal, and suggests the material would have best been served as a second EP. As it stands, songs replete with boilerplate hooks and bizarre track listing order give a sense of overwrought listening to an otherwise reasonable 38-minute runtime.</p><p>This is frustrating because I think <strong>Fumes</strong> can be a good band. Returning to “Suppuration Tunnels” in particular shows creative riffing, some deliciously dark-sounding moments, and a sudden grasp of good composition. But when taken as a whole body of work, <em>Skeletal Wings Threshold</em> doesn’t have the immediacy to stand next to its peers, let alone in the shadow of its influences. With their old material used up in re-recording, the real test will come at their next release. An extra tablespoon of blackened brutality, more immediate riffing, less interludes, and keeping those solos will do well in helping them carve a more memorable identity. For now, this is easy-listening black metal, from a threshold entirely disposable.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 2.0/5.0<br><strong>DR: </strong>8 | <strong>Format Reviewed: </strong>320 kbps mp3<br><strong>Label: </strong><a href="https://personal-records.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a><strong><br>Websites</strong>: <a href="https://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/skeletal-wings-threshold" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Album Bandcamp</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fumes06" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Official Facebook Page</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide</strong>: February 7th, 2025</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/20/" target="_blank">#20</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/feb25/" target="_blank">#Feb25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/fumes/" target="_blank">#Fumes</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/hades/" target="_blank">#Hades</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/immortal/" target="_blank">#Immortal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/mexican-metal/" target="_blank">#MexicanMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/ragnarok/" target="_blank">#Ragnarok</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/skeletal-wings-threshold/" target="_blank">#SkeletalWingsThreshold</a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/onirophagus-revelations-from-the-void-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Onirophagus – Revelations From the Void Review</a></p><p><i>By Alekhines Gun</i></p><p>2025 has gotten off to a picturesque start. It seems like half my country caught fire, and in the half I dwell in, I woke up to discover my car covered in a pile of icy slush for literally the first time in my life. Such dichotomous, if not ominous, happenings to kick off the review year have me reaching out for appropriate background music, and the fusion of death/doom has answered the call. Hailing from Spain, <strong>Onirophagus</strong> are one of a legion of bands who were gaining some traction before the Great Tour Cease of the early 20’s. Some lineup shuffling and dedicated writing later, they’ve returned with <em>Revelations From the Void</em>, sporting some fantastic artwork and a soundtrack to kick off the year in a depressive, destructive style.</p><p>Much like the multi-eyed creature adorning the cover, <em>Revelations From the Void</em> sounds layered, expansive, and intimidating. The drumming of Uretra sounds fantastic, laced with reverb that gives the crunching riffs an open, arena-rock vastness even as the guitars attempt to crush with extreme prejudice. Guitarists Moregod and Obzen drop weaving, interlacing leads over grooving blows and slow dirges that erupt into pit-combusting speeds (“Landsickness”) without ever sounding forced or awkward in transition. Most songs treat riffing as a one-and-done concept, evolving and unfolding as they progress. As a result, <strong>Onirophagus</strong> have mastered the art of seamlessly switching between requisite plods and sudden head-shattering blasts without awkward pauses or the crutch of amateurish feedback buildup, ensuring each song possesses strength of character and personality.</p><p></p><p><strong>Onirophagus</strong> aren’t content to merely weave apocalyptic signals of destruction in their sound. The doomier passages allow for very emotive, somber expressions. The spirit of <strong>Monolord</strong> (particularly their excellent <em>No Comfort</em>) is spread throughout the slower passages, giving moodier and far more human flourishes to what would otherwise be tar-drenched riffs. “Hollow Valley” masterfully weaves mournful melodies under harmonized leads, allowing for peaceful introspection before catching you with a baseball bat from behind to ruin (or improve) your well-being. The fiercer moments unsurprisingly chant the <strong>Incantation</strong><strong> </strong>but sound far more filled with blood and vinegar. Vocalist Paingrinder in particular does a fantastic John McEntee impression, spewing a stomach-gurgling growl and tortured shouts which sound like they crawled from the bottom of ye olde abandoned well.</p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Revelations From the Void </em>is at its best when it experiments. A few riffs are ridden far too long, particularly in “Black Brew”, which takes a nonsensical amount of time to build up to an unexpected and welcome violin abuse by way of <strong>Adaestuo</strong>. On the rare occasion <strong>Onirophagus</strong> do choose to repeat sections, not every obligatory chug-a-thon hits with the same impact, particularly in “Landsickness.” Sporadic flourishes with bells, background choirs, and even excellently placed spoken word pepper the album. Closing track and easy album best “Stargazing into the Void” pulls out all the stops with masterfully paced build, a double violin solo and a vaguely triumphant, uplifting ending, a glimmer of light in an eldritch-laced view of space. Falling into a few genre trappings of prolonged riffing and unequal impact do little to dent the mood presented to us through the album, and this concluding destination is worth the journey.</p><p>The year begins in uncertainty and disaster, and as always, metal is here to answer the call. I am pleasantly surprised by the quality found in <em>Revelations From the Void</em>, particularly for a sub-genre that isn’t generally predisposed to experimentation and evolution. An album of much less literary songs of ice and fire, the pairing of dark filth with excellent emotive expression have made for a thematic, artsy beginning to the adventures in store for 2025. Hopefully, <strong>Onirophagus</strong> continue to spread their artistic wings further and push the limits on what can be done in the death/doom wheelhouse. For now, lovers of the sound should dive in, and if the genre styling tends to leave you cold, give it a chance. You never know what <em>Revelations</em> are waiting for you at the end of the road.</p> <p><strong>Rating: </strong>3.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 7 | <strong>Format Reviewed: </strong>320 kbps mp3<br><span><strong>L</strong></span><strong><span>abel:</span> </strong><span><a href="https://www.personal-records.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a></span><strong><br>Websites:</strong><span> <a href="https://onirophagus.bandcamp.com/album/revelations-from-the-void-3" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">onirophagus.bandcamp.com/album/revelations-from-the-void-3</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Onirophagus" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Facebook.com/Onirophagus</a><br><strong><span>Releases Worldwide: </span></strong><span>January 17th, 2025</span><br></span></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/30/" target="_blank">#30</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/adaestuo/" target="_blank">#Adaestuo</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/doom-metal/" target="_blank">#DoomMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/incantation/" target="_blank">#Incantation</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/monolord/" target="_blank">#Monolord</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/onirophagus/" target="_blank">#Onirophagus</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/revelations-from-the-void/" target="_blank">#RevelationsFromTheVoid</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/spanish-metal/" target="_blank">#SpanishMetal</a></p>
Shardik Media<p>The debut full-length album from death metal band Cryptorium is Descent Into Lunacy. Review at FFR, <a href="https://flyingfiddlesticks.com/2024/12/18/cryptorium-descent-into-lunacy-personal-2024/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">flyingfiddlesticks.com/2024/12</span><span class="invisible">/18/cryptorium-descent-into-lunacy-personal-2024/</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/metal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>metal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/heavymetal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>heavymetal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/rock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rock</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/hardrock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hardrock</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/Sweden" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Sweden</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/Cryptorium" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Cryptorium</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/PersonalRecords" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PersonalRecords</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/deathmetal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>deathmetal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/osdm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>osdm</span></a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/festergore-constellation-of-endless-blight-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Festergore – Constellation of Endless Blight Review</a></p><p><i>By Kenstrosity</i></p><p>The old school death metal revival burgeons as profusely as ever. Countless buzzsaws, endless riff salads, and innumerable gravelly roars populate the landscape of the genre, with only the occasional differentiation to be found in the gene pool. Yet, we metalheads at large eat it right up. From aesthetics all the way down to engineering, albums released under the OSDM umbrella use and abuse a long-standing formula way past its expiration date, and still bangers abound. This, interestingly, makes the field an especially challenging one in which to excel. Staten Island’s newest old-school death quintet, <strong>Festergore</strong>, place their first bid in the pot with their debut <em>Constellation of Endless Blight</em>. Is endless blight fatal enough?</p><p>If you’ve heard anything from <strong>Cannibal Corpse</strong>, <strong>Rotpit</strong>, earlier <strong>Tomb Mold</strong>, or the more energetic side of <strong>Incantation</strong>, you know exactly how <strong>Festergore</strong> sounds. Chunky riffs, big grooving rhythms and beats, and vomiting vocals litter the record with a total disrespect for their surroundings. This is the way it should be. That’s the way it is. <em>Constellation of Endless Blight</em> houses no surprises nor twists, no novelties nor nuance. Meat and potatoes is the only item on the menu, and for what it’s worth, everything is prepared by the book with unflappable consistency.</p><p></p><p>Reliability is a virtue, and <strong>Festergore</strong>’s debut record is nothing if not reliable as far as sound and execution are concerned. Top bangers “Ironborn,” “SMA,” and “What Once Was Proud” excel in their delivery of properly crafted death, yet each take their own course to that satisfying result. “Ironborn” dabbles in the doom-tinged <strong>Incantation</strong>anigans of olde, but supplements them with a punkier <strong>Master</strong> personality to give the whole extra oomph. “SMA” is just pure <strong>Cannibal Corpse</strong> filth, boasting excellent riffcraft and an infinitely repeatable lyrical phrase, “DIE, DIE, DIE WITH YOUR EYES OPEN.” Closer “What Once Was Proud” possesses the same kind of grooving swagger as <strong>Tomb Mold</strong>’s material usually does, though simplified for maximum headbangability. In all these examples and others, the greatest rewards come from living and listening in the moment, as there is absolutely nothing that can stop this runaway train of killer riffs sourced from the tried and the true.</p><p>Unfortunately, that adherence to influence renders <em>Constellation of Endless Blight</em> predictable and derivative. By the time “The View from Halfway Down” passes by, the initial thrill of great riffs and infectious rhythms starts fading out of focus. In its place, the persistent vague impression that I’ve heard every note of this record before. “Surrender to Madness” and “Cryogenic Display,” for example, lose a lot of their charm simply by mimicking the charm of at least two of the aforementioned reference points at a time. While stitching together an amalgam of techniques perfected by great bands is a respectable way to enter a crowded field, I crave something more creative that <em>Constellation of Endless Blight</em> simply can’t deliver. Furthermore, the inclusion of not one, but two fluffy instrumental interludes on a thirty-three-minute record just feels cheap. It’s not enough to totally ruin the experience—after all, four minutes of disposable waste product will never be enough to taint a full twenty-nine minutes of ripping tuneage in my house—but it is enough to mildly annoy me until the next track beats my battered face against another curb.</p><p><em>Constellation of Endless Blight</em> is more than a competent execution of a well-worn style of death. It is also, on the other hand, built almost entirely out of other band’s building blocks. I don’t mean to imply that <strong>Festergore</strong> have committed plagiarism of any sort. They haven’t. But the lack of creativity I can detect out of this seven-song (I am subtracting those interludes) lineup disappointed me in the end. <em>Constellation of Endless Blight</em> offers a lot of bang for the buck if the buyer is already a fan of the style. I definitely fit into that demographic. However, as a work of art, it lacks a distinct identity to help it stand out from an undoubtedly overpopulated crowd.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> Mixed<br><strong>DR:</strong> 6 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kb/s mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="http://www.personal-records.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a><br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="http://festergore.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">festergore.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/profile.php" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/profile.php</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> November 29th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2-5/" target="_blank">#25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/american-metal/" target="_blank">#AmericanMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/cannibal-corpse/" target="_blank">#CannibalCorpse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/constellation-of-endless-blight/" target="_blank">#ConstellationOfEndlessBlight</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/festergore/" target="_blank">#Festergore</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/incantation/" target="_blank">#Incantation</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/master/" target="_blank">#Master</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/nov24/" target="_blank">#Nov24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/osdm/" target="_blank">#OSDM</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/rotpit/" target="_blank">#Rotpit</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/tomb-mold/" target="_blank">#TombMold</a></p>
Aftab Alam<p>Understanding PR in the Gym: What It Really Means <a href="https://monannausa.com/understanding-pr-in-the-gym-what-it-really-means/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">monannausa.com/understanding-p</span><span class="invisible">r-in-the-gym-what-it-really-means/</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/PersonalRecords" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>PersonalRecords</span></a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/vomitrot-emetic-imprecations-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vomitrot – Emetic Imprecations Review</a></strong></p><p><i>By Mark Z.</i></p><p>Somewhere along the way I got pegged as this website’s “vomit” guy, and I can’t say I’m bothered by that. Seeing the word “vomit” in a band name tells you absolutely nothing about whether the music will be good or bad, but it does tell you that what you’re about to hear will probably be fukkin <em>nasty</em>. And that’s exactly the way I like my music. Thus, when I learned a band called <strong>Vomitrot</strong> had an album in our promo bin, I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little paws on it. Formed in 2019 by members with experience in the funeral doom band <strong>Gravkväde</strong>, this Swedish trio first spewed their filth upon the world with a 2020 demo before retching up their debut album, 2022’s <em>Rotten Vomit</em>. Somehow my trusty vomit detector didn’t pick up on that record, but with song titles like “Apex Vomit,” “Upheaval of Vomit,” “Rotten Vomit,” and “Bludgeoned by Puke,” you can bet your ass I enjoyed that album. With second album <em>Emetic Imprecations</em>, the band have apparently cut down on their dinner portions, as this puke pile consists of a mere six tracks in just under twenty-six minutes. But is this foul expulsion still worth your bile?</p><p>With a bludgeoning approach and a dense amalgamation of surprisingly varied riffs, <em>Emetic Imprecations</em> treads an interesting line between war metal and death metal. The group roughly sound like they were crafted in the same factory as <strong>Antichrist Siege Machine</strong>, only before they reached the end of the assembly line, some poor underpaid worker lost his lunch all over the components. Unsurprisingly, the result is dirty, disgusting, and utterly unconcerned with whether you enjoy it or not. Opener “Envomited” fittingly begins with a sample of someone puking before erupting into a shitstorm of hammering blast beats, belligerent riffs, lurching chugs, garbled growls, and even a brief bout of squawking notes that recalls <strong>Concrete Winds</strong>. It all sounds like a vat of vomit churning itself into sentience, and things only get better from here.</p><p><em>Imprecations</em> works because it knows how to keep things engaging. The songs frequently shift between ideas but rarely feel overstuffed, and while the music is relentlessly heavy, the use of different tempos and riffing styles results in plenty of notable moments. Second track “Emtophilic Cro-Magnon” employs rushing black metal riffs as a counterpoint to the more visceral assault of its predecessor, while “Odious Fetid Aberrations” invokes its inner <strong>Incantation</strong> with tremolo riffs that alternately swirl and strain for the heavens. “Heinous Sulphuric Phlegm” opts for a more punishing approach, beating the listener into submission with bouts of fast lockstep chugs before collapsing into a segment that could pass for slam. Both guitarist “Rotted Vomitor” and bassist “Vomitroth” contribute vocals, and the two ensure everything remains suitably <span>vile and barbaric </span><span>with their </span><span>gurgling rasps and monstrous growls. Combined with the hostile and pounding drums, the overall effect is like being caught in the middle of an epic war between rival Neanderthal clans.</span></p><p></p><p>My biggest complaints about <em>Imprecations</em> are essentially quibbles. The aforementioned opener “Envomited” feels like it crams a few too many ideas into its three-minute runtime, and the album slows down a bit too much in its back half. In particular, closer “Vomitous Execrations” feels like it needs a few more blast beats to give the record the explosive ending it needs, even if its sharp recurring motif works well overall. Fortunately, the production is great, with a thick cavernous sound that retains more than enough dynamic range to let the riffs breathe.</p><p><em>Emetic Imprecations</em> is a real treat. On paper, this album seems like it should have the IQ of a caveman; in actuality, the record’s primitive pummeling comes via some unexpectedly complex compositions. The result is an album that gets in, hurls all over you, and leaves you dripping in disgust as you sort through all the various bits and pieces that have just been coughed up. Fans of <strong>Infernal Coil</strong> and <strong>Of Feather and Bone</strong> will likely eat this up, as will those who like war metal that oozes with the primal aggression of bands like <strong>Caveman Cult</strong>. <strong>Vomitrot</strong> is a young group, but with <em>I</em><em>mprecations</em>, they’ve easily joined the hallowed ranks of artists like <strong>Vomitor</strong>, <strong>Slutvomit</strong>, <strong>Witch Vomit</strong>, <strong>Anal Vomit</strong>, <strong>Death Vomit</strong>, <strong>Funeral Vomit</strong>, and <strong>Vomitheist</strong>. Get ready to retch, and hail the fukkin vomit!</p><p></p> <p><strong>Rating</strong>: 4.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 10 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kbps mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="https://www.personal-records.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a><br><strong>Websites: </strong> <a href="https://vomitrot.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">vomitrot.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vomitrot" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/vomitrot</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> August 24th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/40/" target="_blank">#40</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/anal-vomit/" target="_blank">#AnalVomit</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/antichrist-siege-machine/" target="_blank">#AntichristSiegeMachine</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/aug24/" target="_blank">#Aug24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/caveman-cult/" target="_blank">#CavemanCult</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/concrete-winds/" target="_blank">#ConcreteWinds</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-vomit/" target="_blank">#DeathVomit</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/emetic-imprecations/" target="_blank">#EmeticImprecations</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/funeral-vomit/" target="_blank">#FuneralVomit</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/gravkvade/" target="_blank">#Gravkväde</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/incantation/" target="_blank">#Incantation</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/infernal-coil/" target="_blank">#InfernalCoil</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/of-feather-and-bone/" target="_blank">#OfFeatherAndBone</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/slutvomit/" target="_blank">#Slutvomit</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/swedish-metal/" target="_blank">#SwedishMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/vomitheist/" target="_blank">#Vomitheist</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/vomitor/" target="_blank">#Vomitor</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/vomitrot/" target="_blank">#Vomitrot</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/witch-vomit/" target="_blank">#WitchVomit</a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/ossilegium-the-gods-below-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ossilegium – The Gods Below Review</a></strong></p><p><i>By Thus Spoke</i></p><p>I would like to go back to Paris one day. Not for its popularity as a romantic destination, nor especially to see the famous art and architecture it hosts. No, the reason I’d like to go back is to pay a visit to a site I missed when I went as a teenager: the Catacombs. This ossuary, home to the bones of around six million people, is one of the few places you can legally be in the presence of so many skulls, and it sounds incredible. Why are we talking about this? Prior to placing a person’s remains in an ossuary, one must conduct an <strong>Ossilegium</strong>, which is, literally, a “collecting of bones.” This <strong>Ossilegium</strong>, “[o]ne of the best-kept secrets of Chicago’s metal scene,” are a duo hoping to come out of the crypt with panache, playing a brand of black(ened death) metal that hearkens back to decades past. No frills, all ferocity. Going for old-school means high expectations for catchiness and bite, if not intrigue. When it comes to <em>The Gods Below</em>, how long will it take for me to start talking about the actual dead sleeping below the ground, over these supposed Gods ov death?</p><p><em>The Gods Below</em> stays trve to its purported authentic style, and its archaic, menacing moniker. Filled with frosty (dis)harmonious “brrrrr”s of tremolo and forward, clanging scale ascents and descents, it alternates between furious d-beat and blastbeat-led charges, and sways of skipping cymbal and drum rollover. Melodic in a muted, afterthought kind of way, outside of some appropriately gnarly soloing, and narrated by barking screams that only rarely deviate into rough growls and higher calls. Other than two short, plucked instrumentals, which absolutely do not need to be there, it’s mean and menacing all the way through. And sometimes it’s rather fun.</p><p></p><p><strong>Ossilegium</strong> know how to write a guitar lick. When they go full force with the shivery, spidery scrambles (“Nightborn,” “To Reach the Eternal Ends”) and lightning-strike, crooning soloing (“The Winds of Astaroth,” “To Reach…,” title track) the effect is electric. The duo gallop out of the gate at full pelt with the bombastic “Nightborn,” and fulfill its promise of no-nonsense black metal in the later callbacks to its theme—the ringing chords of “Serpentine Shadows,” and spiraling layered tremolos of “To Reach the Eternal Ends.” But they also show that they’re not only concerned with the savage and the spooky aspects of their home genre, with the warm, mournful solo on “The Winds of Astaroth”—which reminds me of that <strong>Dödsrit </strong>record from earlier this year—blazing with a fire that makes the rest of the album feel dim, though that on “To Reach…” is a close second. The bounce of rhythmic riffing and d-beating drums (“Constellationrise,” title track) even veers into jauntiness more befitting of <strong>Frozen Dawn</strong> than that most ovbious of comparators, <strong>Necrophobic</strong>. Under its superficially simple exterior, there is, sort of, a lot going on, and much promise on display, and it helps when they throw in a ragged scream (“The Winds..,” “Beyond the Clandestine,” “Constellationrise”) to slice across the chords.</p><p></p><p>The above are the reasons that <em>The Gods Below </em>is so frustrating. Beyond those peaking solos, outside of the flashes of thrilling vigor and vivacity, the music is as grey and cold as its accompanying artwork. Those blazing solos aren’t the only reason so much of the intermediary material seems dull. With repeated, dedicated listens, even the best parts aren’t memorable, so there’s nothing to pull back the listener. Adhering to tradition and an old-school vibe doesn’t have to mean boring and predictable, and yet—highlights mainly excluded—this album is riff-by-numbers blackened death so flavorless and dry I feel thirsty just listening to it. What’s even worse is that the album seems to broadly peter out as it develops, with the best tracks by far (“Nightborn,” “The Winds…”) sitting in the front half, and the later “To Reach…” and title track marred by their bulk being dominated by garden-variety, washed-out, midtempo black metal, plus a few little scale progressions you’ve heard approximately ten thousand times before.</p><p>If <strong>Ossilegium</strong> leaned into any one of the directions they hint at, they could have something very special. The soaring melodicism of “The Winds of Astaroth,” the electric energy of “Nightborn,” or even something uglier, and more menacing. But to remain so firmly in the middle of the road indicates a lack of identity that threatens to bury the young band like so many bones under the Parisian streets. It’s settled, I’m hopping on the first Eurostar over to France to get a proper dose of those <em>Below</em>.</p> <p><strong>Rating</strong>: Disappointing<em><br></em><strong>DR</strong>: 6 | <strong>Format Reviewed</strong>: 320 kbps mp3<br><strong>Label</strong>: <a href="https://www.personal-records.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Personal Records</a><br><strong>Websites</strong>: <a href="https://ossilegium.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bandcamp (band)</a> | <a href="https://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-gods-below" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Bandcamp (label)</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Ossilegium.666/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide</strong>: May 3rd, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/20/" target="_blank">#20</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/american-metal/" target="_blank">#AmericanMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/blackened-death-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackenedDeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/dissection/" target="_blank">#Dissection</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/may24/" target="_blank">#May24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/necrophobic/" target="_blank">#Necrophobic</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/ossilegium/" target="_blank">#Ossilegium</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/personal-records/" target="_blank">#PersonalRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/the-gods-below/" target="_blank">#TheGodsBelow</a></p>
Shardik Media<p>The debut long-player from Santiago doom band BlackFlow is Seeds Of Downfall. Review at FFMB, <a href="https://flyingfiddlesticks.com/2023/12/15/blackflow-seeds-of-downfall-personal-2023/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">flyingfiddlesticks.com/2023/12</span><span class="invisible">/15/blackflow-seeds-of-downfall-personal-2023/</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/metal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>metal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/heavymetal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>heavymetal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/rock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rock</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/hardrock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hardrock</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/PersonalRecords" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PersonalRecords</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/BlackFlow" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BlackFlow</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/Chile" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Chile</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/doom" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>doom</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/doommetal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>doommetal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/stoner" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>stoner</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/stonermetal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>stonermetal</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/stonerrock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>stonerrock</span></a> <a href="https://universeodon.com/tags/Santiago" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Santiago</span></a></p>
Ether Diver<p>Supposing I get at least one stream in the next 18 hours or so, I will hit another cool milestone today: 100 days in a row with at least one stream! So literally the next person who clicks play will set that record for me.</p><p><a href="https://etherdiver.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">etherdiver.bandcamp.com</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p><a href="https://ravenation.club/tags/MyMusic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MyMusic</span></a> <a href="https://ravenation.club/tags/MusiciansOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MusiciansOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://ravenation.club/tags/Streaming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Streaming</span></a> <a href="https://ravenation.club/tags/PersonalRecords" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PersonalRecords</span></a></p>
KMäNriffs<p>2023 - THE UPCOMING TERROR!⚔️<br>➡️February 3rd, 2023⬅️</p><p>CARATHIS - Moonstone &amp; Amethyst Double EP🌐🔥</p><p>9 Track Double EP from International Medieval Black Metal outfit🔥</p><p>BC➡️<a href="https://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/moonstone-amethyst" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">personal-records.bandcamp.com/</span><span class="invisible">album/moonstone-amethyst</span></a> 🔥</p><p><a href="https://metalhead.club/tags/Erechleleth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Erechleleth</span></a> <a href="https://metalhead.club/tags/MoonstoneandAmethyst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MoonstoneandAmethyst</span></a> <a href="https://metalhead.club/tags/PersonalRecords" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PersonalRecords</span></a> <a href="https://metalhead.club/tags/TheUpcomingTerror23" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>TheUpcomingTerror23</span></a> <a href="https://metalhead.club/tags/KM%C3%A4N" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>KMäN</span></a></p>
Seth Abrikoos<p>Majestic Downfall at the Dutch Doom Days XX Today :)<br>.<br>.<br>.<br>.<br>.<br><a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/MajesticDownfall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MajesticDownfall</span></a> = <br>Jacobo Córdova <br>Alfonso Sánchez <br>Dahern <br>Alÿ <br>.<br>.<br>.<br>.<br><a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/sethpicturesmusic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sethpicturesmusic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/sethabrikoos" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sethabrikoos</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/blackandwhite" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>blackandwhite</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/blackandwhitephoto" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>blackandwhitephoto</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/fotografie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fotografie</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/rotterdam" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rotterdam</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/personalrecords" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>personalrecords</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/popunie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>popunie</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/rotterdamcity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rotterdamcity</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.online/tags/rotterdamzuid" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rotterdamzuid</span></a></p>