Following up on 2018's Rites Of Absolution with some more face melting death/thrash metal, The Bleeding are a band who have an intent to destroy Demonic Oath with a slow burning ominous opening that explodes into frantic double kicks, scything riffs and vocals that are spit with bile. Guitarist Tasos says that this record "is an aural descent into hell that encapsulates the saga of the fall of man" with that in mind you can really hear that Slayer meets Deicide vibe on this album, each track destroys your speakers with some of the tightest drumming I've heard from the always impressive James as the guitars and bass of Tasos and Sean grind your ears into mush with thick grooves, distorted thrash riffs and the occasional explosive guitar solo. Entering The Pandemonium has a tasty breakdown section at the end while the title track sounds like a Morbid Angel track (maybe that's the point) with some technical guitar work. Germ's vocals are savage like a wolf ripping at a carcass with enthusiasm as 7 of these songs that cleave deep spilling blood with every rapid fire riff. Now I said 7 as Repentance is an acoustic number that serves as a breathing space and an intro to the Hammer Of Penance the final ferocious slice of brutality on this imposing lump of extreme metal. Following up on an acclaimed album is always a hard thing to do but The Bleeding have done it with the merciless precision you would only expect from this London death crew, storming! 8/10
Disillusion: The Liberation (Prophecy Productions) [Rich Oliver]
Just when you think you have heard all the best albums of the year another one comes along and takes you by surprise. As a self confessed music addict this is both a wonderful thing seeing the sheer quality of music that is still being released by bands but it also means that compiling a top albums list at the end of the year is going to be an impossibly tough and laborious task. Wowing me this time round is The Liberation which is the third album by German progressive melodic death metallers Disillusion. Disillusion are a band I have heard previously being a big fan of their debut album Back To Times Of Splendor but I had no idea the band were still active seeing as the last album they released was Gloria in 2006 so the release of The Liberation came as a complete surprise. The surprise was made even more pleasant by the fact that despite a 13 year gap between albums The Liberation is hands down the best thing the band have released. Sound wise this album harks back to their debut album rather than the more experimental Gloria being a splendid mix of melodic death metal and progressive metal but expands and builds upon what has been done before resulting in a colossal and breathtaking listening experience with so many layers and intricacies that this is an album requiring multiple listens to fully engage with it all.
After a short intro track the album kicks off good and proper with the massive Wintertide which pretty much acts as a showcase of what is to come on the album. It’s a huge song with a duration of over 12 minutes and the band throw their complete arsenal at you - melodic death metal riffs, a conglomeration of vocal styles, luscious epic melodies, quiet introspective moments and bagfuls of atmosphere. And that is just the start of the album! Highlights which follow include The Great Unknown which is similar to what has come before, albeit in a more cut down and direct form whilst the title track is sweepingly epic with some stunning orchestration, huge melodies and a divine chorus. Tracks such as A Shimmer In The Darkest Sea and Time To Let Go play on the brooding and melancholic side of the band and are must hear songs for any fan of dark contemporary prog whilst the closing 12 minute epic The Mountain brings the album to a mammoth conclusion. The Liberation is quite simply an astonishing album. It is a prog metal extravaganza that will appeal to fans of bands such as Opeth, Insomnium and Devin Townsend. For all the fans gushing about the new Tool album being the progressive metal album of the year give this album a whirl as I’m sure it will change your minds. There’s not much else I can say apart from listen to this album and listen to it NOW! 9/10
Mystagogue: And The Darkness Was Cast Out Into The Wilderness (Vendetta Records) [Paul Hutchings]
Netherlands duo Mystagogue deliver a ferocious onslaught of classic old school black metal on this, their debut album. Drummer Wessel Reijman is on blistering blast beat duty, hammering all shades out of the kit as he pounds away. There’s a bit of Alcest style melody on some of the tracks, such as Here In The White Silence Of The Dawn, the tremolo riffs of Maurice de Jong, the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist echoing in a cacophony of black metal repetition. There is enough to enjoy in this release, although it’s 1990s production and muddy, soup of a mix don’t provide much of a lift. At 27 minutes long, it’s enough to enjoy without investing too much time and effort. A reasonable release, with two talented musicians but not something that I’ll be returning to in the near future. 5/10
Sublime Eyes: Corrocean (Rob Mules Records) [Liam True]
I’m going to make a bold statement. This is the best Melodic Death Metal album since At The Gates’ 2014 comeback At War With Reality. Everything about this album is great. The production. The heavy as a falling cinder block onto your balls instrumentation. The vile snarling vocals of Arvid Tjekla. The eye catching dark artwork. Sublime Eyes are in their top form on this record. From opener We Must Unite the tone of the record is set straight on the current state of the world, with Tjelta proclaiming ‘We Are Fucked! We Must Unite!’ It’s enough to get the blood pumping and adrenaline rushing.
But that’s just the start. The album does not let up, as it gets even more heavier, even more technical and straight up destructive. While taking influence from At The Gates, the band just absolutely crush the current bands in the Melo-Death genre. With the Norwegian quintet setting their sights on making a name for themselves, consider it done. These guys are more than deserving if the limelight. If they can produce one or two more records like this, they’ll be headlining all around Europe and hopefully the UK. 10/10
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