Necrophiliac: No Living Man Is Innocent (Xtreem Music) [Paul Hutchings]
These are strange times. The constant addiction to social media as the Covid-19 virus grips the world. Checking every couple of minutes for the latest news and then doubting whether the information can be believed. So maybe, just maybe, immersing oneself in a bludgeoning block of death metal is one way of coping with the chaos?
Necrophiliac is a Spanish outfit from Andalusia, who formed in 1988, releasing Chaopula – Citadel of Mirrors in 1992 before splitting. Reforming in 2016, they have finally released sophomore album No Living Man Is Innocent, and it is a punishing 55 minutes of total brutality. With ample variation, the music that Necrophiliac deliver varies between all-out old school death metal and the more complex, intricate and dare I say, challenging approaches. Multiple screaming time changes, variations in tempo and style all add to the swirling maelstrom. The Egyptian feel to When Mother Ate Son is just one example where the band blend their intensely aggressive assault with more nuanced styles to create a tasty piece. Opening track Piper Leading Innocents is the blueprint for this impressive release, whilst the added effects provides a real chill to the horror drenched Horseaters.
Full of crunchingly heavy riffs, the snarl of singer Bongo, the duel guitar assault of Sweich and Ery and the driving power of new bassist Ramon and drummer Sweich combine into a maelstrom of explosive death metal which should interest all but the elite edgelords. Powerful, corrosive and decently delivered, Necrophiliac are certainly making up for years of lost time and the 55 minutes absorbed in this release also helps to transfer focus, even if just for a short time. 7/10
Carnosus: Dogma Of The Deceased (Satanath Records) [Matt Bladen]
As Paul says above sometimes all you need is metal that beats around the head until your brains rattle. So may I present to you from Örebro Sweden: Carnosus a band prone to aural violence, their approach to melo-death is to ramp up the death and tone down the melo, making for a debut album that reminds me of At The Gates, Entombed and their biggest influences modern death/thrashers like Sylosis and Revocation. These tracks are extraordinarily technical, intricate guitar leads give way to blistering riffs and blast beats that are like an artillery barrage, while the vocals of Jonatan Karasiak start off guttural and stay there throughout grunting this albums conceptual lyrics. Yes Dogma Of The Deceased is a concept record about a "totalityrannic empire" (how apt at the moment?) it gets this point across through the frankly daft guitar prowess of Felix Ringmyr and Rickard Persson who duel on every track exploding into furious solos whenever possible as the rock hard rhythm section of Marcus Strindlund (bass), Jacob Hedner (drums) demolishing everything in their path. It's a savage, uncompromising record that hits you like a big smack to the chops. Crank up the volume on this one! 7/10
Wardaemonic: Acts Of Repentance (Transcending Obscurity Records) [Manus Hopkins]
Often, black metal albums either sound raw or well-produced. Black metal records with good production often lose a lot of what makes black metal what it is, and end up with a commercialized sound. But then, music that sounds like TV static with someone screeching over it isn’t everyone’s bag. With Acts Of Repentance, Australia’s Wardaemonic have pulled off the not-so-common feat of maintaining that black metal rawness on a record that sounds quite good. Throughout the five songs—or “acts,” as they’re titled—the music progresses into more and more atmospheric territory, going gradually from a pummeling, in-your-face wall of sound to slower, more sinister compositions, while maintaining that aggression on which the band pride themselves. Make no mistake—this is only a five-track record, but is absolutely a full album, and a fine one at that. 8/10
Deathless Legacy: Saturnalia (Scarlet Records) [Liam True]
Despite being labeled as ‘Horror Metal’ Deathless Legacy are a Symphonic Metal quintet from Italy. Released on the unluckiest day of the year, Friday 13th, the band unleashed Saturnalia. A 24 minute single that took over a year to put together from start to finish. Was it worth the wait? Personally, I think it was. Combining the elements of Horror Metal with a blend of Power/Symphonic Metal to create an atmospheric ambiance of the softer, calmer side of Metal than we usually see. This goes hand in hand with the more in your face hard hitting side full of riffs, arena filling chorus’ & duel vocal duties from both female vocalist Steva, and male vocalist C-AG1318 (Real name Michael Cavallini). Everything is blended together perfectly to create this 24 minute epic journey. And they also released a music video alongside it too which is sort of a mini film which is pretty cool. If you’re a fan of Symphonic styles, check these guys out. Not too be missed. 9/10
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