Reviews: Enthroned, Upon A Burning Body, Iron Flesh, Eye Of The Destroyer (Paul H & Liam)

Enthroned: Cold Black Suns (Season Of Mist) [Paul H]

Five long dark years have passed since Sonerigus, the last album from Belgian Black Metal legends Enthroned. Once more there are line-up changes with guitarist Shagäl and bassist Norgath now in the fold alongside long-serving Nornagest [guitars and vocals (since 2007)], drummer Menthor and lead guitarist Nerrath. The 11th album opens with the oppressive and haunting Ophiusa, Satanic mumblings, jangling guitars and swirling mists creating an atmosphere of terror. Huge forest flattening riffs threaten. Ophiusa segues into the explosive Hosanna Satana, an all-out frenzied slashing assault, Nornagest’s roaring voice cutting through the blast beats and rampant riffing before it ceases after 2:17. A marching beat of malevolence leads into Oneiros, slower but no less sinister, this is evil personified. Laden with effects and imposing doom, the underlying keyboards and effects enhancing the horror with which the atmosphere builds.

Following the bludgeoning of Vapula Omega, there’s a more melodic song in Silent Redemption, but this is no lightweight piece. Fear not, Silent Redemption is crushing, with the tremolo picking leading into a skull pounding impact as the track detonates with blast beats, colossal thrashing guitars and a groove that ensure that the head is moving. Flexing their black metal muscles with careful placement, Cold Black Suns demonstrates why they’ve been around maintaining a high level of quality since the early 1990s. Terrifyingly heavy, teasingly mellow for delicious seconds before assault the senses with a battery that is punishing and relentless, their ability to contrast moods and feelings demonstrated perfectly with Aghoria which eases effortlessly to the bulldozing Beyond Humane Greed. Add to the mix the closing epic Son Of Man, a nine-minute monster that builds, broods and simmers before erupting, all the while retaining a devastating level of melody. This is a work which needs to be enjoyed repeatedly. Evil, Satanic and utterly absorbing. 9/10

Upon A Burning Body: Southern Hostility (Seek & Strike) [Liam]

This is a record I've been waiting for since they dropped the single King Of Diamonds. With their first record in three years and first on new label Seek And Strike, the band have found their sound, moving from Deathcore to their own sound if Mexi-core (A mix of Metalcore and their Mexican roots). The album itself is more riff driven than other efforts, such as Straight From The Barrio being more breakdown and chug orientated. It looks as though the band are evolving, not into mainstream music, but to a wider audience of metalcore. And if this album doesn't propel their popularity, I'll be very surprised. The record itself is full of great riffs and songs, with my personal favorite being Burn. 

I've had that riff stuck in my head for days and I'm still not bored of it. I mean the record is still Upon A Burning Body through and through as they haven't given up elements of their previous records, but they have improved. Back to front the album is brilliant, just hitting you with riff after riff and singalong chorus'. After the album is done, there's a cheeky little treat for you. A cover of Alice Cooper's Feed My Frankenstein. Done excellently by the way. I've been waiting for this album for the better part of a year. And it delivered. 9/10

Iron Flesh: Forged Faith Bleeding (Self Released) [Paul H]

Welcome to Iron Flesh, a four-piece death metal outfit from Bordeaux in France. Forged Faith Bleeding is their first full length release, following on from two EPs in 2017 and 2018. Although it sounds as if it has been recorded in a toilet underwater, the basic delivery is spot on for old school death metal, well, in parts anyway. Harbinger Of Desolation is doom from start to finish, a lumbering, breathless old man trying to climb too many flights of stairs and failing to really get to the finish. Invade, Conquer And Dominion and Ripping The Scaral in complete opposite, are fast, frenetic and totally raw. Celestial Disciple’s Incarnation is possibly verging towards thrash rather than DM but that’s splitting hairs; it opens at pace before slowing into a much more melodic track which doesn’t really appear to know what it is doing and then accelerating to warp speed again. Julien Helwin’s gravel soaked guttural roar fits in with the overall sound and the chainsaw guitar work is decent. Overall though, despite a promising start, Iron Flesh lost me about halfway through. Good effort. Can no doubt do better. 6/10

Eye Of The Destroyer: Baptized In Pain (High Potency) [Liam]

Some straight up Deathcore from New Jersey, and I'll be honest, I like Deathcore, but this album does nothing for me. It's repetitive. Every song is the same. There's no flair. There's no differentiation between any of the songs. I mean i commend the guys as the record is self-released and they're trying to break through a scene where you need to stand it and make yourselves known, but this record does not do that. If you like Deathcore but are looking for something new, this album isn't one I'd recommend. But if the inner Deathcore kid in you just wants to come out for some memories, it'll be the one for you. 2/10