HECK! MUCH HECK! WHY AM I TALKING IN DOGGO SPEAK!? Well, if you were a chainsaw welding, HM-2 worshipping son of a gun like myself, anything Entombed related is gonna get you into a tizzy. Scratch that, Entombed AD! Whilst Alex and co remain in a semi catatonic state (Clandestine Live ain’t enough, sorry guys), the LG Petrov fronted Entombed AD continue to fly the flag for Swedish savagery. Although AD’s last two releases were fairly solid affairs, they didn’t quite scratch that itch, that inescapable yearning for the massacres of old. Then last years Fit For A King happened and BOY OH BOY, was that itch scratched! THE RIFFS! THAT FUCKING SOUND! THEY’RE BACK! Upon reattaching my face, Fit For A King left me yearning for more. More, I say! Fast forward to 2019 and Bowels Of Earth is upon us, chomping at the bit to unleash pure Swedeath carnage. Get yer boots on boys, we’re returning to the left hand path!
Tormented Remains kicks your teeth in, right out of the gate. Filth is turned up to the max, from that instantly recognisable chainsaw tone to LG’s gargling roar. It blasts along at breakneck pace, relentless tremolo riffs running at full force and it’s just so damn satisfying! And for Entombed AD, it’s effortless. Elimination ups the intensity again, blast beats and d-beating with murderous glee. It’s just so….if only y’all, could see my face right now! Gurn inducing, gory glee! Remember when you first heard Left Hand Path or Clandestine? Yep, similar levels of necromancy is being conjured here! Hell Is My Home, another pit starter, is a thrashy wee ditty delivered with force akin to a jackhammer to guts. It relents some halfways through though not for long, as tasty lead work rears it’s head above the ensuing cacophony of carnage. Fairly straightforward stuff so far, if by straightforward you mean devastating! Title track Bowels Of Earth switches it up a bit, opening with a brief atmospherics, until it bulldozes it’s merry way into the fiery beyond. The groove is more apparent, reminiscent of the last two Entombed AD albums, but provides a pleasing and comfortable contrast in styles.
Embracing both melodic and anthem sensibilities, it’s one hell of a stomper! Bourbon Nightmare has pleasing pinches of the ol’ death’n’roll here and there, if the addition of slide guitar is any indication, but things remain disgustingly deathly. FIT FOR A KING IS GREAT AND YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. “Worlds Apart” doesn’t sound a million miles away from the underrated “Morning Star”, whilst Through The Eyes Of The Gods summons some suitably delicious Dismember vibes (alliteration, yo!). They both rip, with the latter making me do that face again. Excellent. I’ll Never Get Out Alive is an alright Hank Williams cover, though kinda pointless and has the unfortunate honour of being completely outclassed by doomy closer To Eternal Night. That was killer. There’s no other way to describe Bowel Of Earth other than…well…killer! It’s been a while since anything Entombed related sounded this PISSED, this fucking URGENT and HELL BENT on pulling spines out of asses! Hellid and co may be keen on revisiting the past, but it’s Entombed AD that are in complete and utter command of the future. RIP AND TEAR! 9/10
Winterfylleth: The Siege of Mercia (Candlelight/Spinefarm Records) [Paul Hutchings]
Recorded live at their main stage appearance at Bloodstock Open Air in 2017, this six-track release captures the ferocity, emotion and atmosphere that Winterfylleth, one of the UK’s most revered and respected black metal outfits, generate live. For those there on the day, this is a superb aural souvenir of that rarest of things … a Winterfylleth show free from technical difficulties. Opening with The Solitary One Waits For Grace (The Wayfarer Pt. 1), one of two tracks from 2010’s The Mercian Sphere, the band power through their set of five classics with an ease that only comes with time and practice. The Swart Raven includes their traditional breakdown and heartfelt choruses, balancing the snarl of Chris Naughton. Musically tight, this is a set of classic proportions, with the central pillar of their set a magnificent performance of Whisper Of The Elements from 2014’s The Divination Of Antiquity.
Before closing the set with a blistering Defending The Realm from 2008’s The Ghost Of Heritage, the band express their gratitude to the Bloodstock family and to Candlelight Records for their support. A heartfelt message and hopefully one that will see the Manchester outfit return in the very near future. Atmospheric black metal in the middle of the afternoon in bright sunshine are not easy bedfellows, but this recording is the very essence of this seminal band. As a bonus track, the album features an eerie ten-minute synth version of Children Of The Stones, which provides a different take on the favourite track from The Mercian Sphere. An essential release for fans of the band, and a great representation of just how important this band are to the UK extreme metal scene. 8/10
SiXforNinE: Parallel Universe (Eclipse Records) [Matt Bladen]
Athenian rockers SiXforNinE return with their second album and it has a lit to live up to as their debut was something of a sleeper hit for me which perfectly blended classic rock muscle, with alternative rock grooves and a heap of prog rock virtuosity. Their second album kicks off with two more direct numbers the punchy Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining which takes a little from Dream Theater's Train Of Thought period and is followed by Life Devouring Demons which has a tonne of groove starting on a heavy note before it breaks into a shimmering proggy middle section, before getting heavier again.
Handling production once again is Fotis Benardo (former Septicflesh & Nightrage drummer) who also again lends his muscular pipes to the record, he is a very accomplished singer giving an emotionally charged performance, at times aggressive and powerful but at others restrained and almost pained. It means that not only do the musical contributions of George Kapa (guitars), Herc Booze (bass), Pete Outfox (drums) sound huge on massive rockers like Never Ending Road but that the band can also experiment a little with light and shade as Benardo can handle any changes they may make such as when Never Ending Road goes into the ambience of Deftones before roaring back again.
Considering this only a second album with a reasonably long gap between both releases Parallel Universe is massively accomplished doing what many more established bands do much better, even when they really explore their alternative roots on the intensive More Than Words Can Say. In fact this album sees them moving towards the more modern rock style away from the classic sounds of their debut. Whether this is the influence of mixer Paul Pavao and masterer Tom Baker who have worked with such acts as Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails and Breaking Benjamin remains to be seen. Though when Meditation Hyperjam sounds so much like a heavier Nickelback (not a bad thing honestly) it's not exactly a secret that they are looking to the mainstream on this sophomore album.
There has been no dropping of the prog which remains on the spacey Karnivool sounding Counting Stars (A Parallel Universe) and it's all the better for it with the slower pace really emphasising the band's talent and Fotis' vocals on a track that lets everything breathe. SiXforNinE are a band who are evolving, keeping their roots but realising that if you don't adapt you get left behind, this is the sound of adaptation, it's heavy and groovy, packed with guitar solos, huge chorus hooks and intelligent songwriting that will appeal to both masses and the minority. 8/10
Scarlet Rebels: Show Your Colours (Rock Of Angels Records) [Matt Bladen]
Ah yes V0iD a band we saw opening for Aaron Buchanan back in May last year, we only managed to catch the end of their set but noted that they played a very radio friendly style of rock. Since then the band have rebranded themselves as Scarlet Rebels, as three members of V0iD Wayne Doyle (vocals and guitar) Gary Doyle (drums) and Wayne ‘P’ Esmonde (bass) were joined by new members lead guitarist Chris Jones and Josh Townshend on guitars and keys, it's a change that seems to have been a positive move as they are now releasing their debut album a 12 track (14 with bonus tracks) record that features Planet Rock fodder by the bucket load. The addition of Jones especially means that Wayne Doyle has found the Mike Campbell to his Tom Petty, his keening guitar playing soaring over the anthemic, down to earth songwriting of Doyle as Gary and Esmonde lay down steady rhythms and Hammond plays the role of the departed Paul Raymond with ivory tinkling and some rhythm guitar.
There's a myriad of classic styles on the record from the sleazy You Take My Breath Away, to the chunky defiant Head's In The Ground as tracks such as Part Of Me have the Southern sound of Black Stone Cherry as Heal is a proper ballad with the the moodiness of the Foo Fighters. Yes it's all well written and composed but much like the other bands in the NWOCR Scarlet Rebels draw on their influences making them more modern, however this album doesn't break any barriers in terms of creativity, the tropes here are well worn and it is a little ballad heavy, in fact it's a little too long to be honest with some of the fat such as Shattered Dreams and Blinded By The Pain needing trimming. Inoffensive rock from South Wales that will be on heavy rotation on Planet Rock and see them featured on numerous classic rock festivals, more power to them but after about 7 songs it was same old same old. 7/10
Winterfylleth: The Siege of Mercia (Candlelight/Spinefarm Records) [Paul Hutchings]
Recorded live at their main stage appearance at Bloodstock Open Air in 2017, this six-track release captures the ferocity, emotion and atmosphere that Winterfylleth, one of the UK’s most revered and respected black metal outfits, generate live. For those there on the day, this is a superb aural souvenir of that rarest of things … a Winterfylleth show free from technical difficulties. Opening with The Solitary One Waits For Grace (The Wayfarer Pt. 1), one of two tracks from 2010’s The Mercian Sphere, the band power through their set of five classics with an ease that only comes with time and practice. The Swart Raven includes their traditional breakdown and heartfelt choruses, balancing the snarl of Chris Naughton. Musically tight, this is a set of classic proportions, with the central pillar of their set a magnificent performance of Whisper Of The Elements from 2014’s The Divination Of Antiquity.
Before closing the set with a blistering Defending The Realm from 2008’s The Ghost Of Heritage, the band express their gratitude to the Bloodstock family and to Candlelight Records for their support. A heartfelt message and hopefully one that will see the Manchester outfit return in the very near future. Atmospheric black metal in the middle of the afternoon in bright sunshine are not easy bedfellows, but this recording is the very essence of this seminal band. As a bonus track, the album features an eerie ten-minute synth version of Children Of The Stones, which provides a different take on the favourite track from The Mercian Sphere. An essential release for fans of the band, and a great representation of just how important this band are to the UK extreme metal scene. 8/10
SiXforNinE: Parallel Universe (Eclipse Records) [Matt Bladen]
Athenian rockers SiXforNinE return with their second album and it has a lit to live up to as their debut was something of a sleeper hit for me which perfectly blended classic rock muscle, with alternative rock grooves and a heap of prog rock virtuosity. Their second album kicks off with two more direct numbers the punchy Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining which takes a little from Dream Theater's Train Of Thought period and is followed by Life Devouring Demons which has a tonne of groove starting on a heavy note before it breaks into a shimmering proggy middle section, before getting heavier again.
Handling production once again is Fotis Benardo (former Septicflesh & Nightrage drummer) who also again lends his muscular pipes to the record, he is a very accomplished singer giving an emotionally charged performance, at times aggressive and powerful but at others restrained and almost pained. It means that not only do the musical contributions of George Kapa (guitars), Herc Booze (bass), Pete Outfox (drums) sound huge on massive rockers like Never Ending Road but that the band can also experiment a little with light and shade as Benardo can handle any changes they may make such as when Never Ending Road goes into the ambience of Deftones before roaring back again.
Considering this only a second album with a reasonably long gap between both releases Parallel Universe is massively accomplished doing what many more established bands do much better, even when they really explore their alternative roots on the intensive More Than Words Can Say. In fact this album sees them moving towards the more modern rock style away from the classic sounds of their debut. Whether this is the influence of mixer Paul Pavao and masterer Tom Baker who have worked with such acts as Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails and Breaking Benjamin remains to be seen. Though when Meditation Hyperjam sounds so much like a heavier Nickelback (not a bad thing honestly) it's not exactly a secret that they are looking to the mainstream on this sophomore album.
There has been no dropping of the prog which remains on the spacey Karnivool sounding Counting Stars (A Parallel Universe) and it's all the better for it with the slower pace really emphasising the band's talent and Fotis' vocals on a track that lets everything breathe. SiXforNinE are a band who are evolving, keeping their roots but realising that if you don't adapt you get left behind, this is the sound of adaptation, it's heavy and groovy, packed with guitar solos, huge chorus hooks and intelligent songwriting that will appeal to both masses and the minority. 8/10
Scarlet Rebels: Show Your Colours (Rock Of Angels Records) [Matt Bladen]
Ah yes V0iD a band we saw opening for Aaron Buchanan back in May last year, we only managed to catch the end of their set but noted that they played a very radio friendly style of rock. Since then the band have rebranded themselves as Scarlet Rebels, as three members of V0iD Wayne Doyle (vocals and guitar) Gary Doyle (drums) and Wayne ‘P’ Esmonde (bass) were joined by new members lead guitarist Chris Jones and Josh Townshend on guitars and keys, it's a change that seems to have been a positive move as they are now releasing their debut album a 12 track (14 with bonus tracks) record that features Planet Rock fodder by the bucket load. The addition of Jones especially means that Wayne Doyle has found the Mike Campbell to his Tom Petty, his keening guitar playing soaring over the anthemic, down to earth songwriting of Doyle as Gary and Esmonde lay down steady rhythms and Hammond plays the role of the departed Paul Raymond with ivory tinkling and some rhythm guitar.
There's a myriad of classic styles on the record from the sleazy You Take My Breath Away, to the chunky defiant Head's In The Ground as tracks such as Part Of Me have the Southern sound of Black Stone Cherry as Heal is a proper ballad with the the moodiness of the Foo Fighters. Yes it's all well written and composed but much like the other bands in the NWOCR Scarlet Rebels draw on their influences making them more modern, however this album doesn't break any barriers in terms of creativity, the tropes here are well worn and it is a little ballad heavy, in fact it's a little too long to be honest with some of the fat such as Shattered Dreams and Blinded By The Pain needing trimming. Inoffensive rock from South Wales that will be on heavy rotation on Planet Rock and see them featured on numerous classic rock festivals, more power to them but after about 7 songs it was same old same old. 7/10
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